19 replies to this topic

[davepharmd]

After reading one of the replies on the Most Prestigious Course thread, I started thinking....what would a PGA Pro or Assistant Pro actually do at Augusta National?
I mean, it's not like they are arranging ABCD Draws and Flighted Match Play Tournaments, right?
Are these Augusta members actually taking lessons there?  My impression of membership at AN was that you came into town 2-3 times a year to play then head back home.  Is this perception wrong?
Obviously don't know any members, just some impressions I've gotten over the years.  Any insight would be interesting to hear.

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[1puttwoods]

If you have to ask you probably wouldn't understand.  What do the Golf Professionals do at any exclusive private club?  Take care of the members.

[rob_roy28]

Im seconding what 1puttwoods said.  Welcome to the world of a personal shopper.  If member wants a skort for his mistress from a company you dont do business with you better believe you are getting that skort

[J13]

I know a few members who belong to both Augusta and pine valley.  They play those course A LOT more 2-3 times a year.  

[ExProGoingBack]

I knew two assistant pros at Augusta....they start organizing the Masters Tournament a week after the current one has ended.  Lessons are far and few between.  As for how many rounds played and taking care of the members?.....they membership count is approximately 300...maybe a tad more.  75% do not live near the course so play is quite minimal contrary to what some may think..( like how many rounds does Bill Gates play?). Most rounds are usually a member who flies in with 3 guests...stays in one of the cabins for the night...then it's see you next year. The average rounds played are about 40 players a week...with about 20 on the weekend.   At a course I worked at....we had 4 members at Augusta...they would do just that...one golf junket a year with 3 friends.  Dues is quite low at Augusta....amazingly not what you would think....their revenue is made thru the one week of the tournament. In addition the club is closed during the summer.

[Guia]

Why do they close during the summer?

[ExProGoingBack]

 Guia, on 06 February 2011 - 06:03 PM, said:

Why do they close during the summer?

They are very critical maintaining the condition of the course. The summer in Augusta is very humid...humidity breeds fungus....I'm not that knowledgable about horticulture...but if I rememeber correctly....if there are spots of fungus..especially on the greens...they don't want players walking on it and spreading it via shoes. I believe some years it was closed for longer periods when they lenghtened the course for the tournament.

[farmer]

They close because they do changes in the off-season, and they have bent greens which would not stand the heat and humidity if cut to playing height.  I wish I could be the token poor guy member.

[teejaywhy]

 davepharmd, on 06 February 2011 - 03:01 AM, said:

After reading one of the replies on the Most Prestigious Course thread, I started thinking....what would a PGA Pro or Assistant Pro actually do at Augusta National?

Spend all day on the phone turning down access requests.

[dlygrisse]

 ExProGoingBack, on 06 February 2011 - 06:08 PM, said:

 Guia, on 06 February 2011 - 06:03 PM, said:

Why do they close during the summer?

They are very critical maintaining the condition of the course. The summer in Augusta is very humid...humidity breeds fungus....I'm not that knowledgable about horticulture...but if I rememeber correctly....if there are spots of fungus..especially on the greens...they don't want players walking on it and spreading it via shoes. I believe some years it was closed for longer periods when they lenghtened the course for the tournament.

I also wonder if that is how Bobby Jones wanted it, and so the tradition has just stuck.  Probably because Jones did not play much golf during the summer months becasue of the heat and humidity, he picked up the clubs in the fall and played a few rounds with his friends and business associates.  Someone correct me if I am off base here.

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[ExProGoingBack]

 dlygrisse, on 07 February 2011 - 07:01 PM, said:

 ExProGoingBack, on 06 February 2011 - 06:08 PM, said:

 Guia, on 06 February 2011 - 06:03 PM, said:

Why do they close during the summer?

They are very critical maintaining the condition of the course. The summer in Augusta is very humid...humidity breeds fungus....I'm not that knowledgable about horticulture...but if I rememeber correctly....if there are spots of fungus..especially on the greens...they don't want players walking on it and spreading it via shoes. I believe some years it was closed for longer periods when they lenghtened the course for the tournament.

I also wonder if that is how Bobby Jones wanted it, and so the tradition has just stuck.  Probably because Jones did not play much golf during the summer months becasue of the heat and humidity, he picked up the clubs in the fall and played a few rounds with his friends and business associates.  Someone correct me if I am off base here.

Could be...but I think it's more to maintain condition.  Everything is very traditional at Augusta...from the food which isnt terribly fancy...to other traditions as to lights out by 10pm or so in the bar/dining area.  Dues is rather inexpensive when comapred to clubs such as Winged Foot or Baltusrol.  It's a who do you know to get in here place....

[DLiver]

They close in the summer to preserve the bent grass.

[ahl3bomber]

I had also heard that they strip all of the fairways, since they are bermuda grassed, and then sell the turf to other courses who are willing to pay top dollar...
the grass grows back fairly quick and is perfect for next year...this eliminates the need to aerify and pretty much eliminates the thatch build up...
this could be false but I thought this was true

[hitsalittle]

I knew a kid in college whose uncle was an assistant there - according to him, they got to play a fair amount.  I know he went down there a couple times a year to play - the frickin' *****.

[ExProGoingBack]

the two assistants I knew who worked there said they did not get to play much....lucky if they were allowed to play 9 holes.

[tkentuckyfan]

I swear it seems like the place is always spotless like no one ever plays it

[ChxDigLongBall]

Asst's at PV do a lot of little stuff, custom fittings and grip changes and stuff. However, they do play quite a bit and do spend a lot of time setting up member tournaments and the Krump Cup. Head pro pretty much does the same thing as the asst's now since the former head pro is the GM. Asst's at PV don't stay for more than about 2 years.

[J.W.]

 ChxDigLongBall, on 07 February 2011 - 11:07 PM, said:

Asst's at PV do a lot of little stuff, custom fittings and grip changes and stuff. However, they do play quite a bit and do spend a lot of time setting up member tournaments and the Krump Cup. Head pro pretty much does the same thing as the asst's now since the former head pro is the GM. Asst's at PV don't stay for more than about 2 years.

Well that would make a lot of sense for any major big name course really.  Most of the assistants there probably are working on or already have their Class A.  So after 2 years working at Pine Valley they can put that on their resume which would make the move to a Head Pro or DoG a lot easier.

[ChxDigLongBall]

 Dizz, on 07 February 2011 - 11:29 PM, said:

 ChxDigLongBall, on 07 February 2011 - 11:07 PM, said:

Asst's at PV do a lot of little stuff, custom fittings and grip changes and stuff. However, they do play quite a bit and do spend a lot of time setting up member tournaments and the Krump Cup. Head pro pretty much does the same thing as the asst's now since the former head pro is the GM. Asst's at PV don't stay for more than about 2 years.

Well that would make a lot of sense for any major big name course really.  Most of the assistants there probably are working on or already have their Class A.  So after 2 years working at Pine Valley they can put that on their resume which would make the move to a Head Pro or DoG a lot easier.

Exactly. It's really not that much different being the pro or asst. at PV than it is at any big, reputable course. They really get 2 years in order to be able to move on to another good course as a head pro.

Now, being the pro or asst. at Augusta seems like it would be a little different to me, but I can't say that for sure because I've never hung around there.

Reason for edit: added last part

Edited by ChxDigLongBall, 07 February 2011 - 11:34 PM.

[wvuwhat]

If anyone has a contact down there, please pm me.  I know this is a longshot, but I'm trying to get into the business.  I'm unemployed at the moment in the Northern VA area and would move down there (on my dime) in a heartbeat to just have the chance to shine the shoes of the members and hopefully move my way up over the years.

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