If you’re interested in a career in golf, then knowing where to apply for jobs is half the battle. To help you with that, we’ve put together our list of the ten best states for golf.
Top 10 States for Golf Professionals
Our list of the top states for golf jobs is based on a few factors. We’ve taken into consideration the following:
- The total number of jobs available in the state
- The average annual salary of gold professionals in the state
- The average annual salary of the highest and lowest 10% of golf earners
Finally, as you look at the best states for golfers, keep in mind that every state offers a wide variety of job opportunities in the field of golf, including:
- Club fitters
- Caddies
- Greenskeepers
- Golf writers
- Golf retailers
- Golf teachers
- Golf directors
- Golf agents
- Sales and marketing positions for golf courses
- And more
Related Jobs
- Assistant Women's Golf Coach
College Coaching - Northeast Region
1. Massachusetts
Types of jobs:
- Golf Courses
- Granite Links
- Pinehills Golf Club
- Taconic Golf Club
- George Wright
- The Ranch Golf Club
- College/NCAA
Average annual salary: $58,587
2. Pennsylvania
Types of jobs:
- Golf Courses:
- Wyncote Golf Club
- Olde Stonewall Golf Club
- The Links at Gettysburg
- Iron Valley Golf Club
- The Golf Course at Glen Mills
- College/NCAA:
Average annual salary: $42,065
3. California
Types of jobs:
- Golf Courses
- Torrey Pines Golf Course
- Spyglass Hill Golf Course
- Pebble Beach Golf Links
- Pasatiempo Golf Course
- Indian Wells Golf Resort
- College/NCAA
Average annual salary: $44,539
4. Texas
Types of jobs:
- Golf Courses
- The Rawls Course
- Wolfdancer Golf Club
- Cowboys Golf Club
- TPC San Antonio
- Pine Dunes Golf Course
- College/NCAA
Related Jobs
- Account Manager
Sales - Central Region
Average annual salary: $41,339
5. Minnesota
Types of jobs:
- Golf Courses
- Giants Ridge Recreation Area
- The Wilderness at Fortune Bay
- Chaska Town Course
- StoneRidge Golf Club
- The Quarry at Giants Ride
- College/NCAA
Average annual salary: $49,332
6. New Jersey
Types of jobs:
- Golf Courses
- Twisted Dune Golf Club
- Neshanic Valley Golf Course
- Ballyowen Golf Club
- Ballamor Golf Club
- Blue Heron Pines Golf Club
- College/NCAA
Average annual salary: $58,794
7. North Carolina
Types of jobs:
- Golf Courses
- Pinehurst Resort
- Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club
- Mid Pines Inn and Golf Club
- The Currituck Club
- Tobacco Road Golf Club
- College/NCAA
Average annual salary: $34,083
8. Maine
Types of jobs:
- Golf courses
- Belgrade Lakes Golf Club
- Sugarloaf Golf Club
- Sunday River Golf Club
- Kebo Valley Club
- Ledges Golf Club
- College/NCAA
Average annual salary: 40,908
9. Indiana
Types of jobs:
- Golf courses
- The Pete Dye Course at French Lick
- Brickyard Crossing
- The Fort Golf Resort
- Purgatory Golf Club
- Prairie View Golf Club
- College/NCAA
Average annual salary: $35,458
10. Michigan
Types of jobs:
- Golf courses
- Forest Dunes Golf Club
- Arcadia Bluffs Golf Club
- Bay Harbor Golf Club
- Eagle Eye Golf Club
- Pilgrim’s Run Golf Club
- College/NCAA
Average annual salary: $32,558
Related Jobs
- Assistant Women's Golf Coach
College Coaching - Northeast Region
Education, Certifications, and Experience
If you want to get a job in golf, then these are the three types of qualifications you should focus on building. We’ll look at what each of them entails in this section.
1. Education
You’ll have the most opportunities as a golf industry professional if you earn a bachelor’s degree. Many schools offer degrees in golf management specifically. These are great programs to pursue because they show that you’re serious about the career path.
But don’t worry if your school doesn’t. You can also look for programs in sports management and even hospitality.
2. Certification
It may also be beneficial for you to earn a certification, such as the PGA Certification Professional Program. Completing things like this is an excellent way to develop your skills and signal your expertise to potential employers.
3. Experience
Finally, experience is a big part of the equation for many golf employers. Companies in this industry want to know that you’ll be able to do the job competently without needing a ton of training first if they hire you.
If you don’t have any experience yet, you can start getting it by completing an internship as a part of your college experience. Or you can accept entry-level golf jobs to gain some insight into what it’s like to work on a course.
Finding the Right Career
Once you’ve built your qualifications, you’re ready to search for your golf career. This three-step process will help you find the best position for your goals.
1. Know Your Skillset
There are tons of different golf job opportunities out there. These range from marketing and sales to greenskeeping and coaching.
If you want to maximize your chances of getting a job, you need to focus on positions that align with your skills and experiences.
For example, if you have a lot of experience as a player, coaching could make sense. But it might not be your best career path if you’re a marketing expert.
2. Form Connections
Part of getting a job in any industry is knowing the right people. If you can start developing a presence at some of the courses you’d like to work at, that could go a long way toward landing your dream job.
3. Look For Jobs On JobsInSports.com
Finally, you need to know where to look for golf jobs to give yourself the best chance of applying for the right one.
That’s where JobsInSports.com comes in. We maintain an up-to-date list of the latest golf job opportunities across the country.
Create an account with us today to start seeing new golf jobs as soon as they become available. It could just be the missing piece to starting your career in the golf industry.