Getting Better Now from the Golf Business Network with Dean Kandle, PGA

In this episode of the GBN University Podcast, host Spencer Clouatre sits with PGA professional Steve Scott, a well-rounded golf professional, author, broadcaster, and keynote speaker. Spencer highlights Steve's accolades, including his notable sportsmanship during the 1996 U.S. Amateur final against Tiger Woods. They delve into Steve's background, discussing how early influences shaped his career and his transition from a competitive golfer to a head pro and founder of the Silver Club Golfing Society. The conversation centers around the importance of integrity in golf, with Scott recounting his decisive moment of honesty during a crucial match. They also explore the vital role of communication in professional settings, emphasizing nonverbal, verbal, and written forms. Steve shares insights on balancing professional commitments with family life and underscores the significance of finding a supportive club culture. The episode concludes with reflections on the value of maintaining honor in both personal and professional arenas. GBN is the leading private network for today's most successful PGA Professionals. Exclusive events at premier facilities, vendor partnerships to grow your business, education to increase your knowledge, and access to the top Professionals in the industry are just some of what membership in Golf Business Network will get you. Go to www.golfbusinessnetwork.com to find out more and become a member.

In this episode of the 'GBN University Podcast' Colonel Retired Spencer Clouatre hosts Nick Yaun, the Head Golf Professional at Century Country Club, to discuss leadership, mentorship, and personal growth. They cover Nick's journey from a small town in New York to his current role, emphasizing the importance of passion, continuous learning, and the concept of commitment. The episode touches on maintaining high standards, handling failure, and building trust. The conversation also highlights the value of human relationships, teamwork, mentorship, and having a supportive partner, concluding with practical advice for aspiring professionals. GBN is the leading private network for today's most successful PGA Professionals. Exclusive events at premier facilities, vendor partnerships to grow your business, education to increase your knowledge, and access to the top Professionals in the industry are just some of what membership in Golf Business Network will get you. Go to www.golfbusinessnetwork.com to find out more and become a member.

In this episode, Retired Colonel Spencer Clouatre interviews John Mascari, the Director of Golf at Alpine Country Club. They explore John's journey to becoming a prominent golf professional, delving into personal and career challenges, including navigating job interviews. Key themes include leadership, mentorship, continuous improvement, effective communication, and optimism. John emphasizes balancing a demanding career with personal life, mentoring future generations, and the supportive nature of the Alpine Country Club community.  GBN is the leading private network for today's most successful PGA Professionals. Exclusive events at premier facilities, vendor partnerships to grow your business, education to increase your knowledge, and access to the top Professionals in the industry are just some of what membership in Golf Business Network will get you. Go to www.golfbusinessnetwork.com to find out more and become a member.

Explore the impact of golf on this episode of the GBN University Podcast. Special guest, Cary Cozby, Head Golf Professional at Southern Hills Country Club, talks through career insights, personal growth stories, and the importance of creating exceptional experiences for club members. From navigating a successful career in golf to embracing life's challenges, this episode captures Cary's dedication to self-improvement on and off the course, fostering meaningful relationships, and true healthy competition. GBN is the leading private network for today's most successful PGA Professionals. Exclusive events at premier facilities, vendor partnerships to grow your business, education to increase your knowledge, and access to the top Professionals in the industry are just some of what membership in Golf Business Network will get you. Go to www.golfbusinessnetwork.com to find out more and become a member.

Gain valuable lessons on effective team building, managing failure, and the impact of self-awareness in leadership in the latest episode of the GBN University Podcast. Delve into the world of the golf industry with insights from Cameron Doan, the Director of Golf at Preston Trail Golf Club. Learn about the significance of leadership, teamwork, and personal development in the golf industry. Discover key topics such as creating successful teams, fostering a culture of genuine care and mutual support, and continuous personal and professional growth. GBN is the leading private network for today's most successful PGA Professionals. Exclusive events at premier facilities, vendor partnerships to grow your business, education to increase your knowledge, and access to the top Professionals in the industry are just some of what membership in Golf Business Network will get you. Go to www.golfbusinessnetwork.com to find out more and become a member.

In this episode, Col (R) Spencer Clouatre, PhD talks with Chief Operating Officer and Director of Golf at Plainfield Country Club, Scott Paris. This episode touches on the importance of hospitality and culture, measuring feedback from members, the significance of recon and intelligence in decision-making, and the value of creating an environment where employees feel comfortable sharing ideas. Scott talks through the unique career opportunities available in the golf industry for younger individuals and stresses the importance of remaining curious, putting in effort, and owning mistakes to drive success. GBN is the leading private network for today's most successful PGA Professionals. Exclusive events at premier facilities, vendor partnerships to grow your business, education to increase your knowledge, and access to the top Professionals in the industry are just some of what membership in Golf Business Network will get you. Go to www.golfbusinessnetwork.com to find out more and become a member.

In this episode of "Getting Better Now," Col (R) Spencer Clouatre engages in a dynamic conversation with Jason Prendergast about the journey of being dream driven and supporting others in achieving their aspirations. Jason shares his personal experiences and insights, guiding listeners through the multifaceted process of chasing a dream with numerous goals and milestones. Drawing from his own career path, Jason illuminates the challenges and triumphs encountered along the way, offering practical advice for navigating the pursuit of one's dreams while aiding others in theirs. The discussion underscores the significance of perseverance and dedication in the face of obstacles, echoing the ethos of continuous improvement and growth. Listeners gain valuable perspectives on leadership and the power of mentorship as they embark on their own journeys toward realizing their dreams. Tune in for a transformative exploration of the pursuit of dreams and the profound impact it has on both individuals and communities.GBN is the leading private network for today's most successful PGA Professionals. Exclusive events at premier facilities, vendor partnerships to grow your business, education to increase your knowledge, and access to the top Professionals in the industry are just some of what membership in Golf Business Network will get you. Go to www.golfbusinessnetwork.com to find out more and become a member.

In this episode of “Getting Better Now” Col (R) Spencer Clouatre sits down with Tom Wildenhaus to discuss effective leadership in the golf industry. Drawing from personal experience and offering insights aimed at helping listeners understand the core principles of leadership. Tom emphasizes the importance of fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement within the industry. He provides actionable advice and lessons learned from his 40-year career sharing valuable guidance to aspiring leaders. Touching on parallels between military leadership philosophies and effective organizational management, and highlighting the balance between delegation and micromanagement. Tom stresses the importance of cultivating a culture where trust, humility, and accountability flourish. Empowering team members to make decisions aligned with the organization's goals. Keep listening for more practical applications of the core principles of leadership in your life and career.GBN is the leading private network for today's most successful PGA Professionals. Exclusive events at premier facilities, vendor partnerships to grow your business, education to increase your knowledge, and access to the top Professionals in the industry are just some of what membership in Golf Business Network will get you. Go to www.golfbusinessnetwork.com to find out more and become a member.

How do you gain buy-in when managing a large, organization-wide change? In this compelling continuation of the interview with CW Canfield from S10 EP02, Spencer talks about the mechanisms of appealing to logic and data, as well as being a leader who inspires your team to follow, even when the path is uncharted, rocky, or takes an unexpected turn. Great leaders apply the key mechanisms of psychology and rely on their team to make informed, sound decisions. Keep listening on for more practical applications of the principles of economics and leadership in your life and career. GBN is the leading private network for today's most successful PGA Professionals. Exclusive events at premier facilities, vendor partnerships to grow your business, education to increase your knowledge, and access to the top Professionals in the industry are just some of what membership in Golf Business Network will get you. Go to www.golfbusinessnetwork.com to find out more and become a member.GBN is the leading private network for today's most successful PGA Professionals. Exclusive events at premier facilities, vendor partnerships to grow your business, education to increase your knowledge, and access to the top Professionals in the industry are just some of what membership in Golf Business Network will get you. Go to www.golfbusinessnetwork.com to find out more and become a member. GBN is the leading private network for today's most successful PGA Professionals. Exclusive events at premier facilities, vendor partnerships to grow your business, education to increase your knowledge, and access to the top Professionals in the industry are just some of what membership in Golf Business Network will get you. Go to www.golfbusinessnetwork.com to find out more and become a member.

When change is on the horizon, what helps you weather the hurricanes and unexpected hurdles that sometimes cross your path? In this episode, Spencer and CW, both West Point graduates, cover the key elements that motivate staff to optimize scarce resources and navigate uncertainty with sound decision-making. What role does empathy and cooperation play in executing the master plan? Check back soon for the second portion of this compelling discussion.GBN is the leading private network for today's most successful PGA Professionals. Exclusive events at premier facilities, vendor partnerships to grow your business, education to increase your knowledge, and access to the top Professionals in the industry are just some of what membership in Golf Business Network will get you. Go to www.golfbusinessnetwork.com to find out more and become a member.GBN is the leading private network for today's most successful PGA Professionals. Exclusive events at premier facilities, vendor partnerships to grow your business, education to increase your knowledge, and access to the top Professionals in the industry are just some of what membership in Golf Business Network will get you. Go to www.golfbusinessnetwork.com to find out more and become a member.

How do hospitality, golf, and leadership intersect? In this episode, Spencer and Phil Owenby discuss the nuances of creating a memorable customer experience that keeps people coming back time and time again, while remaining engaged with every member of your staff and making the most of the scarce resources we sometimes all face. GBN is the leading private network for today's most successful PGA Professionals. Exclusive events at premier facilities, vendor partnerships to grow your business, education to increase your knowledge, and access to the top Professionals in the industry are just some of what membership in Golf Business Network will get you. Go to www.golfbusinessnetwork.com to find out more and become a member.

GBN University has launched the Leadership Accelerator program, the only leadership program developed by Golf Professionals FOR Golf Professionals.  Registration is open to any PGA Professional or Associate but space is limited!  Go to https://golfbusinessnetwork.com/gbnu/leadership-accelerator/ for more info and to grab your spot!Ryan Hawk is the host of The Learning Leader podcast, one of the most popular leadership shows in the world, and is now a best-selling author of two books, “Welcome to Management” and “The Pursuit of Excellence”.  I've been a fan of Ryan's for a long time and was humbled that he took the time to sit down for a conversation with me.  It was such a pleasure to have the chance for a long form conversation to ask questions and get more insights into his experience and knowledge.  As he told me, his show started out as a way to educate himself and now I had the opportunity to be educated by him.  You'll hear him discuss the importance of leadership, how to actually interview candidates to help ensure success, and the power of his morning routine.  If you recognize his name, Ryan has a brother, AJ, who was a successful linebacker in the NFL with the Packers and in college at Ohio State.  Ryan chased his football dream after playing quarterback in college for Ohio University with a stint in the Arena Football League, eventually packing it in to start his career in corporate America.  Now he's a successful podcaster, speaker, author, and leadership trainer, doing what he loves everyday.  Even if you caught this conversation the first time, I encourage you to give this another listen.  I promise you'll walk away with something new.GBN is the leading private network for today's most successful PGA Professionals. Exclusive events at premier facilities, vendor partnerships to grow your business, education to increase your knowledge, and access to the top Professionals in the industry are just some of what membership in Golf Business Network will get you. Go to www.golfbusinessnetwork.com to find out more and become a member.

Are you looking to hire team members on your golf staff?  GBN's Recruiting Services make hiring easier with our best in class network of Golf Professionals that helps you reach deep into the market to locate your next staff member.Go to www.golfbusinessnetwork.com/recruiting to get started and get ahead of the competition.If you've been listening for a while, you've come to understand how important I believe leadership is to being a successful PGA Professional.  In these times of low retention levels and poor employee engagement, your ability to lead your team and your facility has never been more critical.  It's the reason we're launching a much anticipated leadership program from GBNU here this fall, 2022.  We're going to give PGA Professionals the chance to develop their leadership skills so they can become somebody that people want to follow, somebody that people want to work for, and somebody that can produce results for their facility.  All through the lens of what you, the PGA Professional does every day.  I can't wait to tell you more about it.  And right on queue, we have an episode that can be a masterclass on leadership.  I was so honored to have the chance to speak with our featured guest, David Novak.  David is one of the premier leadership minds out there.  He's the former CEO and co-founder of Yum Brands, which operates KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and The Habit Burger.  He's been named Chief Executive of the Year, and oversaw explosive growth as the company doubled its number of restaurants under his leadership and grew to a market cap of almost $32 billion.  His marketing background includes such big wins as developing and launching Cool Ranch Doritos, and Pizza Hut's meat lover's pizza…along with one notable marketing mishap, which we'll discuss.  You'll want to hear that.Now after retiring in 2016, David launched “David Novak Leadership” where he coaches leaders using his time tested methods and practices, including Purposeful Recognition.  He's the host of the very popular “How Leaders Lead” podcast where talks with world class leaders every week.  In addition he's a New York Times bestselling author.David is busy to say the least, but not too busy to find time for one of his biggest passions…golf.  He's the definition of a “golf nut” and not to mention,quite a player as you'll hear early in our conversation about a huge accomplishment he achieved this summer.  So David knows golf and he know golf pros.  That's why this conversation is so powerful.  Whether you're in a leadership position, or aspire to get to one, David's lessons here are priceless and ones you can implement the very next time you walk in the door at work.  This was such a pleasure to have this conversation and I'm excited to share it with you.  

Are you looking to hire team members on your golf staff?  GBN's Recruiting Services make hiring easier with our best in class network of Golf Professionals that helps you reach deep into the market to locate your next staff member.Go to www.golfbusinessnetwork.com/recruiting to get started and get ahead of the competition.Welcome back for part two of my conversation with Seth Waugh, the CEO of the PGA of America.  In part one we focused on a critically important topic for Golf Professionals today, the supply and demand issues in the labor market.  Every PGA Professional should hear what Seth had to say on the topic.  It was an honest and frank conversation and personally I think we should be encouraged by what we heard.  Now we get into two more important topics.  As you know, prior to the PGA, Seth was the CEO of Deutsche Bank Americas.  I took the opportunity to ask him about his leadership philosophy and what it takes to lead organizations of such immense size.  Any leader can benefit from his thoughts on the topic, especially his “Golden Rule”, which you'll hear him explain.  Leadership is such an important skill when it comes to retaining great people, and in this labor market, it's never been more critical.  This is a great opportunity to take some leadership insights from an experienced and successful leader.  Lastly, I ask him the question about LIV.  One perspective we haven't heard much is how that tour can impact the PGA of America and specifically PGA Professionals.  Seth will be at the forefront of some of the most important decisions that golf's governing bodies will make regarding LIV.  You'll get his thoughts.  You won't want to miss them.

Are you looking to hire team members on your golf staff?  GBN's Recruiting Services make hiring easier with our best in class network of Golf Professionals that helps you reach deep into the market to locate your next staff member.Go to www.golfbusinessnetwork.com/recruiting to get started and get ahead of the competition.In this season of Getting Better Now, we've talked a lot about the state of the golf industry.  We heard from the Golf Professionals when we highlighted “The Club Pro Crisis” in Episode 01 of this season.  We heard from the CEO of the PGA of America himself in a candid conversation with Seth Waugh in Episode 02.  Now in Episode 04 of Season 8, we hear from another association chief, Jay Karen.  Jay is the CEO of the National Golf Course Owner's Association (NGCOA), where he's spent nearly 17 years in multiple roles with the association.  He has a pulse on the issues impacting owners throughout the country, many of which end up impacting us as the PGA Professionals working for those owners.  A self-proclaimed “learner”, Jay is actually pursuing his membership as a Class A PGA Professional and you'll hear his own war story about passing the PAT.  In addition, we'll obviously get into the labor situation from the perspective of the owners as well as Jay's personal feelings about how we got here, and more importantly how we can fix it.  Jay also watched the downturn in golf happen after the “Tiger Boom” and has great insight into how we can avoid that from happening again, post COVID.  Jay is the co-host of Golf Business LIVE, where he shares the screen with the PGA's own Don Rea.  You can catch up on past episodes on YouTube.Not only was Jay fun to talk to, he is really knowledgeable on the issues impacting golf so I know you're going to get a lot from this conversation.

Are you looking to hire team members on your golf staff?  GBN's Recruiting Services make hiring easier with our best in class network of Golf Professionals that helps you reach deep into the market to locate your next staff member.Go to www.golfbusinessnetwork.com/recruiting to get started and get ahead of the competition.Most of you listening to this are working at golf clubs that are busier than they have been in a long, long time.  Maybe even busier than ever before.  Rounds of golf are high and membership rosters are full.  Now that we're settled into this new reality, the focus is on retaining all of these golfers so our clubs don't return to the struggles that existed before this recent golf boom.  How can we do that?  If you ask Shep Hyken, it's by creating an amazing customer experience. Shep Hyken, calls himself the CAO (Chief Amazement Officer) of Shepard Presentations. He's a customer service and experience expert and a sought after keynote speaker, as a Hall of Fame Speaker from the National Speakers Association.  For decades, he's worked with companies that want to build loyal relationships with their customers and employees. As a New York Times and Wall Street Journal best-selling author he's written 8 books focusing on delivering amazing customer service, customer engagement, managing the customer experience and creating customer loyalty.  His new book “I'll Be Back” on building returning customers, is a perfect fit for the situation in our industry today.  He's also the host of “Amazing Business Radio”, a podcast where he profiles leaders and their customer service expertise.  With all this said, Shep is a big golfer and as a member at his local club, he understands the customer experience at clubs from both the staff's perspective and from the members'.  That's why this is such a valuable conversation.  There are plenty of takeaways in this conversation to help you and your team build a better service experience at your club.  

Are you looking to hire team members on your golf staff?  GBN's Recruiting Services make hiring easier with our best in class network of Golf Professionals that helps you reach deep into the market to locate your next staff member.Go to www.golfbusinessnetwork.com/recruiting to get started and get ahead of the competition.Seth Waugh came to the PGA of America after a highly successful career on Wall Street and most recently as the CEO of Deutsche Bank Americas.  His love for golf and respect for the Professionals that power the game were the driving forces behind his move to the PGA.  He's often been quoted as saying his goal in this position is to better the lives of PGA Professionals so they can impact more lives.  It's a noble cause that was never going to be easy, and that has turned even more difficult than we could have imagined.  Seth's tenure has already endured more tough decisions and crises than most would ever handle in this position.  For a while it seemed like the biggest challenge he would face would be the PGA's move to Frisco, TX,  which is now nearing completion.  However, a once in a lifetime global pandemic threw golf into a new stratosphere of demand which quickly erased the constant conversations of how we were going to grow the game and stop the bleeding of a reduction in golfers year after year.  Seth's previous leadership experience in crisis helped him and the rest of the PGA leadership team guide the game through the pandemic as well as provide support to PGA Professionals.  Tough questions have come one after the next.  There was the decision to move the 2022 PGA Championship site after January 6th, should they hold the PGA Championship or the Ryder Cup in 2020?  Now there's the question about how to handle the LIV Tour players as it pertains to the PGA Championship and the Ryder Cup. All while PGA Professionals battle a never before seen labor shortage at a time when demand for play remains near all-time highs.  And that's where we start the conversation in part one of my interview with Seth Waugh.  You will hear how he sees the labor situation and how the PGA is working to combat this challenge.  How does he feel about the work-life balance question?  Is it possible in our industry?  You'll want to hear his answers.  

This episode is brought to you by GBN University.  GBNU is where today's PGA Professionals come to grow their skills, advance their careers, and increase their bottom lines.  Go to www.golfbusinessnetwork.com/gbnu for more info.Welcome to Season Eight of the Getting Better Now podcast!We kick things off with an important conversation about a topic you're all too familiar with.  There probably isn't anyone listening that didn't either read or hear about the Golf Digest article “The Club Pro Crisis”, published earlier this spring.  Author Shane Ryan dove deep into the personal stories of a number of PGA Professionals, who opened up to him about their struggles in our industry.  For those of us in the business, it was both familiar and a little bit (if not a lot) depressing.  We all read the article saying to ourselves, “Yep, I've done that.”, “That's right, that happened to me too.”, or even “You think that's bad, how about this one?”.  Since the article put a spotlight on why our industry is struggling and what the job of a PGA Professional is really like, the good news is that a lot of people saw it and were awakened to our reality.  Personally, I had former members of mine reach out and ask if all this was true and what I thought we needed to do. Solving this problem has to start with an awareness from decision makers that there is indeed a problem, and thanks to Shane Ryan, the ball is rolling a little faster now.  That's why I wanted to bring him on the podcast and talk more about the article, the people that he spoke to, and his thoughts on what the problems are and how we can solve them.  My goal is to put as much attention on this issue as I can, and hopefully this episode helps.  If this gives you one more opportunity to send something to the leaders at your club to help prove that you need change at your facility, then please use this as a way to help.  You know all of the stories that you'll hear about, because you've lived them.  But don't assume the members at your club or the owner of your course knows them too.  As Shane tells us, Golf Professionals have leverage like never before and an opportunity to force change for the better.  We just need to make it happen.

One thing we could probably all agree on is that traditionally the golf industry is pretty resistant to change.  Look at the way we staff our golf operations with a Head Professional and X number of Assistants.  That's been the model for as long as anybody can remember.  Add to that the scope of the job for everyone on the staff from teaching some, running events, doing some merchandising, etc. It's been the same for a long time.  As we know we're either in or approaching a crisis in the golf business.  We need more Golf Professionals and while there are differing views on how we're going to find them, no one has their finger on the definitive answer.  With that said, with challenges like these come innovation and now is the time to start thinking differently about how we structure the jobs at our facilities.  At the forefront of this are two players in particular.  The first, Club Corp, isn't really known for innovating in the employment department within our industry.  The second, Retail Tribe, is dedicated to helping clubs and Golf Professionals grow their business.  The marriage between the two has created a new role for the modern Golf Professional that is revolutionizing how we view the impact a Golf Professional can make on the bottom line.  In a nutshell, as you will hear, Club Corp took traditional teaching professionals and Assistant Professionals and started incentivizing them to engage with members, develop programming, and generate excitement around the golf program.  In turn, the Professional receives a cut of membership dues, program revenue, membership retention dollars, and spend on other items at the Club.  Because they found that the more engaged a golfer is, the more the use the facility and the more they spend.  And who better to engage golfers than a PGA Professional.  It's something that when you say it out loud, you respond with “of course”.  But only now has someone stepped up and rewarded the Professional for the true impact they're making.  This model has been so successful, that Club Corp is rolling it out at every one of their facilities.  That's right, all of them.  Take the time to listen to this entire presentation that GBN hosted at the PGA Show this year.  This model has the potential to revolutionize how Golf Professionals work and could save the industry in a time of crisis.  Yes, it's that powerful.  Here's GBN's presentation with Ian James, the CEO of Retail Tribe, Mark Gore, the Sr. Vice President of Golf Operations at Club Corp, and Matt Anzalone, the Regional Vice President of Player Development at Club Corp.

It's not often that we get to hear a conversation on the issues facing our industry directly from the leaders at the PGA of America.  In the summer of 2021 I had the opportunity to record a conversation with Don Rea, the current Secretary of the PGA, and feel this conversation was definitely worthy of releasing again.  This was a wide ranging discussion that covered the challenges of recruiting in our industry today as well as goal setting for your future, while profiling Don's unique rise through the industry to one of the most influential positions in golf today.  If you've ever wondered if it's possible to go from cleaning carts and picking the range to becoming the owner of the golf course, you need to hear this conversation!www.golfbusinessnetwork.com

For close to half a century as a PGA Professional, John Kennedy has supported, coached, and mentored people for a living.  Whether it was his team of Assistant Professionals and other staff at the famed West Chester Country Club where he spent 26 years as the Director of Golf , the students he loved to help on the lesson tee, or bringing the game of golf to military veterans, he's used his role as a PGA Professional to enrich the lives of others by helping them improve in both golf and life.  Along the way he was recognized by the PGA of America for 3 National Awards, 10 Metropolitan Section Awards and inducted into the Met PGA Section Hall of Fame in 2020.  Even since his retirement in 2016 he's still counseling and consulting with PGA Professionals, always available to share his advice and experience.  That was on full display in this conversation as he talks about the current state of the industry, how to succeed at your facility, the critical importance of having a time management system, and more. 

Whether it was managing golf course operations as a Superintendent or now heading his own consultant and search firm, Tyler Bloom has always been a problem solver.  After working at some of the top clubs in the country as an Assistant Superintendent, Tyler landed his own job as a Golf Course Superintendent and spearheaded some innovative ways to address the challenges of recruiting and retaining people to his team.  And now in the nearly two years since he left his position to start his own business, Tyler Bloom Consulting, he's quickly becoming a go-to resource in the areas of recruitment and workforce development.   Working with clubs for placements in  multiple roles across all departments, he's been battling the current labor market, and in most cases, winning that battle.  How can you implement some of his strategies to help your own recruiting efforts?  Let's learn how.https://golfbusinessnetwork.com/

This episode is brought to you by GBN University, powered by Golf Business Network.  GBNU is where leading PGA Professionals come to improve their skills, build their careers, and increase their impact.  Go to www.golfbusinessnetwork.com/gbnuniversity for more info. The last time we heard from Kraig Kann on the Getting Better Now podcast, he was giving a keynote (or as he tells us he doesn't do keynotes, he does experiences) at the Golf Business Network annual members meeting in late January 2020.  So much has changed since we sat there not knowing what we were about to endure, but one thing that's consistent is Kraig's message. Communication mattered then, and it matters just as much if not more now.If you don't know, Kraig was one of the original anchors on the Golf Channel and spent nearly 20 years as a staple on the channel's golf coverage.  Following the Golf Channel he served the LPGA as their Chief Communications Officer where he took part in a resurgence of the tour's visibility and success.  He now leads his own company, Kann Advisory Group where he coaches business leaders to clarify and amplify their message.In this episode we get to dive deeper in a one on one conversation into the importance of personal branding for your career, why knowing your story is critical and what questions to ask yourself to understand your message and what you have to offer.  All of this and a whole lot more are detailed in Kraig's award winning book, “Can You Get Our Attention?”.  I encourage you to pick up a copy.www.golfbusinessnetwork.com

This episode is brought to you by GBN University, powered by Golf Business Network.  GBNU is where leading PGA Professionals come to improve their skills, build their careers, and increase their impact.  Go to www.golfbusinessnetwork.com/gbnuniversity for more info.  Whenever you hear anyone talk about Caves Valley Golf Club, the first thing they'll mention is the “experience”.  From the moment you arrive throughout your round and after, the emphasis is on creating a lasting memory that few other clubs can match.  And throughout the club's existence, until the end of 2021, a single individual was at the head of the golf experience at Caves.  Dennis Satyshur, known to some just as “Football”, spent 31 years fostering the original vision for the club, where in its early stages success was not a foregone conclusion.  Caves Valley was a new model at the time, committed to a National members, committed to caddies, committed to hosting Championships, committed to the community, to inclusion, to the game of golf, and committed to the “experience”.  In retirement, Dennis will be joining the team at Golf Business Network as a consultant.We pick up our conversation with Dennis discussing his recent departure, as well as their equally tenured General Manager, and passing the torch to Dennis's faithful and highly capable Assistant and Head Professional, Matt Fuller.

If you’re in a leadership role, there’s no doubt the spotlight has been shined on you to respond appropriately for all of the people that you impact. How should a good leader respond?What if you’re not in a leadership role yet but are hoping to be in one someday soon? Are there lessons you can learn from this crisis? Where can you focus so that when it’s your turn to respond, you have the answers?Thanks to our guest, Leadership Expert John Eades, we get the answers to these questions and more. John has been on the show before. Back in episode 008, he coached us through the importance of building a positive culture on your staff and the elements of a great culture. I encourage you to go back and listen if you didn’t hear that one.This time, John encourages us as Golf Professionals to use this time to evaluate where we are in our skill development and capitalize on this unique opportunity to improve. Because as we’re finding out, the most valuable staff members are being retained in many cases. So, have you asked yourself, how much value are you bringing to your facility?John is a very accomplished player, actually the reigning North Carolina Amateur Champion, and wants nothing more than to see all the Golf Professionals that make up our industry succeed and thrive. He’s passionate about his work and passionate about golf and you’ll hear all of that in this episode.If you’ve been wondering if you’re taking advantage of the opportunities that come alongside such a difficult time, let John coach you through it in this episode.www.learnloft.comwww.golfprofessionalgrowth.comwww.golfbusinessnetwork.com

In this episode we're joined by Jason Sutton, aka “The Golf Guru”, who is the Director of Instruction at Carmel Country Club in North Carolina and the host of the appropriately titled podcast, “The Golf Guru” show. But long before Jason was putting out 90+ episodes of his show, he was building a following online and developing his own brand, which as we talk about, has paid major dividends. He’s a personal development junkie and as we walk through his story, we find out how his commitment to learning and growing inside and outside of golf has led him to the successful spot he’s in right now. Jason is open about one of lower points of his career and I think all of our listeners should tune into this part of his story. It’s an invaluable lesson and reminder that many times in order to achieve our goals, we need to experience some failures and learn from those lessons. Jason loves to mentor young golf coaches and we get into how you would know if you’re meant to be a full time golf coach and what all young coaches should do first, if they want to get better. So no matter where you are in this industry and what type of Golf Professional you are, this is a great conversation with a lot of insight. Check out Jason's podcast, The Golf Guru Show, and stay tuned for his new show "Coaching Better Now" which is part of the new Instructor Division of the Golf Business Network. www.golfbusinessnetwork.comwww.golfprofessionalgrowth.com

What’s your story? If someone asked you that, do you have an answer? How are you making an impact in the position where you currently serve? Are you confident that you’re truly making an impact? What are you doing to stand out from the crowd, so that someone might tell another person about you? Anything?Some of these may be difficult questions for you to answer. I know I didn’t have a great answer to all of them. For Kraig Kann, he’s on a mission to show others the importance of answering these and many more questions, so as he puts it, you can “Stand Out When You Stand Up”. If you’re in the golf business you most likely recognize Kraig from his 17+ years as an anchor on the Golf Channel. As one of the originals when the channel launched in 1995, he eventually left for an opportunity to become the Chief Communications Officer at the LPGA. While there his efforts led to an overhaul of the LPGA brand, which helped transform a once struggling tour. But these days Kraig spends his time coaching individuals, teams, and companies about the importance of delivering their message, building their story, and generating influence. Which in this day and age, is easier than ever to get out to the world, but still a monumental challenge for a lot of us.Kraig was the featured speaker at this year’s Golf Business Network Annual Meeting at the 2020 PGA Show. In this episode, we cut in during Kraig’s presentation where he challenges the audience with a word he says defines him….elevate. And he asks the question, “what word defines you?”

As PGA Professionals, we’re in the business of “Growing the Game”. It’s a phrase we hear ad nauseam in our business. Grow the game at our facilities, in our Sections, and in our communities. So in order to do our job of growing the game, we develop programs for our members and customers that consist of clinics, lesson packages, golf schools, junior programs, beginner programs, the list goes on and on. However, we rarely ask the critical question. In our efforts to “Grow the Game”, are we making a lasting impact on the game by actually creating golfers? What does it even mean to create a golfer? Ryan Dailey and Matt Reagan have been asking this question, and they’ve come up with an answer. Who are Ryan and Matt? There aren’t many of you out there that don’t know, but just in case you’ve missed it, they’re two regular Golf Pros that are revolutionizing how we introduce new players to the game. Through the development and evolution of Operation 36, they’ve impacted thousands of golfers and helped Golf Professionals all over the world develop successful programs and businesses, all with an idea seemingly so simple you say “why didn’t I think of that?!”.Start from 25 yards and shoot 36 for nine holes and them move back to 50 yards. Rinse and repeat.But beyond creating a long term development model for junior golfers, they’ve set out on a mission to create one million new golfers by 2025. As audacious as that goal seems, they have a plan to reach it. And it begins with a question we should all be asking at our facilities…”How do I create a golfer?”When we ask that question first and then work backward from there, the way we structure and create our player development programs fall into place.If you’re in the planning stages for 2020, this is a fantastic conversation to help you get on the right track and truly make an impact on your facilities this year and beyond.

If you’re a typical Golf Professional that takes on a number of different roles and responsibilities, even if you love to teach, finding time to fit in golf lessons can be a challenge. Do you come in early? Stay late? Sacrifice time you set aside for other tasks and say yes to the lesson request? It’s a conundrum that we often fall into.And for a lot of Golf Professionals, the opportunity to teach provides one of the few chances to significantly increase their income. So we squeeze in lessons so we can make our members and customers happy, while telling ourselves “at least I’m making a few extra bucks”. Then there’s the question of whether or not we’re helping our students actually lower their scores. Does the traditional range session truly develop a better golfer? Or should we be out on the golf course, practicing in the field of play, coaching our players to get the ball in the hole in fewer strokes?Will Robins has the answers to these questions.For years now, Will has been producing results for players by taking them on the golf course, often in groups and teams, to show them how to shoot lower scores, instead of starting with mechanical fixes and technical training on the range. His patented “Scoring Method” provides a foundation for his players to grab what amounts to “the low hanging fruit” by tracking simple stats and bringing their opportunities to light. The results he’s produced, speak for themselves.Will is “Revolutionizing Golf Instruction” and it’s the mission behind his company RGX. With RGX, Will guides golf coaches all over the world to discover their ability to produce impactful results for their players and their businesses. Through RGX, there are Golf Professionals that have generated life changing improvements to their business, without standing on the lesson tee from sunup to sundown, day after day. Will is producing solutions to two major issues for today’s Golf Professionals. How do we help our players improve so that they play more golf and get value out of the time and money they spend at our facilities? And personally, how do we make a positive impact on our income without committing to more time spent on the lesson tee?Will’s backstory is unlike any other. As an aspiring Professional, ready for life on tour, his life changed in an instant as the devastating Indonesian Tsunami swept up his new wife and him on their honeymoon in 2004. While he and his wife were lucky to survive the disaster that claimed over 200,000 lives, due to injury, Will’s tour aspirations eventually disappeared. He wasn’t able to play to the level he once did, and began to give lessons as a way to stay around the game. However as Will has said, he doesn’t view this as a negative. Instead, it created the opportunity for him to uncover his true purpose. The purpose of improving the games of golfers young and old, while bettering the lives of Golf Professionals all over the world. While Will’s personal story is inspiring, I hope that you find more motivation in this conversation. It’s all about how to quickly and easily generate more income in 2020. There’s the chance that this will be the start of the best season you’ve ever had in lesson income. Just follow Will’s advice and I certainly think it can be.You can find out more about RGX and Will at www.robinsgx.com and at www.thescoringmethod.com.

It’s been said that you can’t grow personally or professionally without developing self awareness. Knowing how you’re perceived by others, what your strengths and weaknesses are, how you handle stress, and how you impact those around you, are just some of the elements of self awareness, that can go a long way in helping all of us reach enjoy success at work, and also at home.For Cameron Doan, the Head Professional at Preston Trail in Dallas, this pursuit of developing self awareness for himself and his staff members, has paid huge dividends. For Cameron, he’s been able to lead each team member with a higher level of effectiveness, since he knows their individual needs and how they will respond in certain situations. As he tells us, this has also allowed him to raise his level of self awareness and understand how his staff members perceive his actions.As the 2018 National Bill Strausbaugh award winner and a recent inductee into the Texas Golf Hall of Fame, Cameron has spent his career devoted to getting the most out of staff and helping them achieve their personal goals, no matter what those goals may be. He's mentored countless PGA Professionals onto successful positions throughout the industry. You’ll hear him describe the methods he uses to achieve this and plenty more valuable insight. You'll also hear Cameron's thoughts on the most critical skills for PGA Professionals, you'll learn the six types of motivation, and the four areas he focuses on, which he learned from a Hall of Fame basketball coach. This episode is a little longer than normal, but I thought it was too good to split up into two episodes. This conversation is a wealth of knowledge from an expert in development and mentorship, and contains a lot of great lessons for all of us.

In this episode, we dig into the ins and outs of the Head Professional interview process. This discussion is going to be a great resource for any of you listening that are either planning on interviewing for a Head Professional position or if you will be helping to coach an aspiring Head Professional through the interview process. We brought back Patrick Seither (Episode 001 & 003), the President and CEO of the Golf Business Network, to pick his brain about his experience running the Executive Search side of GBN’s business. Patrick sees this process through from start to finish, working with both the candidate as well as the clubs, so his insight is really unique in this area. We discuss what clubs are looking for today in their next Head Professional, how you can stand out from the pack in a competitive interview process, the nuts and bolts of the interview including reference letters and portfolios, and how to ask thoughtful questions that can impress a search committee. Hopefully this helps anyone out there that will be going through this process. And if you are...good luck!Links:www.golfprofessionalgrowth.comwww.golfbusinessnetwork.comwww.golfgenius.com

In Part II of our interview with the President of the PGA of America, Suzy Whaley discusses what’s going to help attract young people to our business and the PGA’s recruiting efforts, while addressing the need for manager’s today to evaluate the hours and days that they require from their staff during the season. She continues with a discussion about the changes to the PGA education system and whether being able to select a specific career track will funnel too many young professionals toward “Teaching and Coaching” and away from traditional roles. Suzy finishes with what she hopes she, the Board members and the Association can accomplish by the end of her Presidency.This is another entertaining and insightful conversation with one of the most influential individuals in our game today. If you missed Part I, go back and hear Suzy talk about how she handles the challenges of managing all of her commitments on a daily basis and what methods she’s used to stay organized while building an incredibly successful career.This episode is sponsored by Golf Genius Golf Shop. Find out more at www.golfgenius.comLinks:www.golfbusinessnetwork.comwww.golfprofessionalgrowth.com

In this episode Clay Scroggins, author of "How to Lead When You're Not in Charge", walks us through the four behaviors that he’s pinpointed to be able to cultivate influence when you don’t have the title, while preparing you to succeed when the time comes and that title is yours. This truly is one of the most important episodes we’ve done, because this information isn’t really taught in our business, but it can really help aspiring leaders in our industry to improve and make an impact. Clay’s four behaviors are an outline on how to truly become an “A” player at your club and someone that stands out from the pack. Follow them, and you'll be on the path to success. And for those listening that are in a position where we often coach and mentor younger professionals in this business, Clay’s information provides a great framework to help guide us through that process.You can find out more about Clay at www.clayscroggins.com and pick up his book “How to Lead When You’re Not in Charge” on his site or on Amazon.

In many ways Suzy Whaley is just another Golf Professional. She struggles with many of the same challenges that PGA Professionals face every day. Parts of her story sound the same as many, many others. But on the other hand….Suzy is the head of the largest organization in sports, and not to mention, the first woman to ever do that. She holds one of the most powerful and influential positions in the game of golf. She’s a trail blazer. Not only has she played in LPGA tour events, but she played in a PGA Tour event. She’s probably done more media interviews than any PGA Professional in history. In part one of our conversation, we tackle a couple of age old issues with PGA Professionals. Time management and work-life balance. If you’ve been following along, you’ve heard about these topics on this podcast before. Partly because these issues are nearly universal in our business. And because they’re probably not addressed with practical solutions often enough. So what do you do if you get 600 emails a day? How do you handle the stresses of raising a family and succeeding in this industry? Suzy shares her methods and what’s helped her over the course of her career along with plenty of other great insights.

When times are toughest, we feel like work is controlling our lives. We feel it’s the only thing we have time for (and sometimes don’t even have enough time for) while everything else (family, friends, health, finances) sits on the back-burner until things “slow down”.It’s why most PGA Professionals will tell you either directly or indirectly that finding “balance” in this industry is elusive, if not impossible, but something they wish they had.If you've ever struggled with the challenges of this business and feeling like you're being pulled in too many directions, this episode will help. Based on data from experts, you'll learn where you can place your attention to help reduce the stress of being a busy Golf Professional and how success doesn't have to come at the expense of living a happy and fulfilled life.You can learn more by reading "The Balance Series" at www.golfprofessionalgrowth.com.To learn more about the Golf Business Network, head to www.golfbusinessnetwork.com.

One of the most beneficial aspects of the Getting Better Now podcast has been the ability to hear unique insights from leaders both inside and outside of the industry. In this episode, we highlight some of our most popular guests and their advice for Golf Professionals as it pertains to furthering their careers. We learn from Jim Smith of the Philadelphia Cricket Club, Tony Pancake from Crooked Stick, Sports Performance Psychologist Bhrett McCabe, Cary Cozby of Southern Hills, and Kevin Muldoon from Jupiter Hills. If you haven't already, go back and listen to the full episode to hear everything these guests taught us during their appearances on the show.

Jay LeDuc is a PGA Professional who’s spent over two decades in the golf industry and held positions running the gamut from Outside Services to Head Golf Professional. Now from his spot outside the industry running strategy and innovation for a luxury travel club, he’s giving back to his fellow PGA Professionals through his podcast, the PGA Jay Show, and wealth of content on multiple social media channels. Through this work, Jay’s been helping promote the usage of social media for Golf Professionals, showing how when used properly, social media can help you add value to your facility and advance your career. In this episode, we get specific with his experience and share some tactics you can use right away to improve the results you get from social media. Whether you’re an everyday user or you try to avoid social media like the plague, there’s something for you in this episode. Follow Jay on Instagram @pgajay and subscribe to his podcast “The PGA Jay Show” on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or Spotify.

In this episode, we’re back with part two of our conversation with the GM/COO at Medinah Country Club, Robert Sereci. Robert has profiled his “Top 10 Lessons They Didn’t Teach You in School” and in part one we covered 1-5. In lessons 6-10, we continue to discuss these critical success skills that can make or break your career.We get into the difference between coaching and mentoring, and why you need to stop just being a coach, as well as how putting the success of others first will put you on the path to success. If you haven’t done it yet, follow Robert on LinkedIn where he’s taken the time to write many pieces and articles that will benefit anyone working in the club industry, whether you’re on the golf side or food and beverage."The 10 Lessons They Didn’t Teach You in School" by Robert SereciThe difference between passion and purpose.You don’t know what you don’t knowUnderstand that your success is determined by others.How to manage and lead in a world of greyUnderstand how your club keeps scoreUnderstand that your success is determined by othersYour technical skills will become less important as you climb the ladderStop Coaching and start mentoringYour club governance model is more important then you realizeIt’s not about you. It never was.Episode 019 is brought to you by Golf Genius Software and their new product "Golf Shop". To learn more, go to www.golfgenius.com.

Welcome back to part two of our conversation with Cary Cozby, the Director of Golf at Southern Hills Country Club. If you missed part one, be sure to head back to episode sixteen and take a listen. We talked about his mindset when he heard his dream job was open and what steps he took during the interview process, and after landing the job how he’s managed to maintain his operation at the highest levels on a daily basis.In part two we discuss, among other things the Oklahoma Sooners prospects of a national championship in 2019, what he looks for when filling Assistant Professional positions on his team, and how he handles the eternal question of the illusive work-life balance Find out Cary’s opinion on that topic and more.Subscribe in Apple Podcasts here

As young professionals working in the golf business, often times our focus is on developing the set of what I call “vocational skills” that are specific to our industry...the teaching, playing, merchandising and event administration skills, among many others that our jobs require from us.But as our careers continue to evolve, success or failure can hinge on a new and different skill set. Often referred to as soft skills, they should more properly be referred to as success skills. These success skills include the ability to build and sustain relationships, developing emotional intelligence or EQ, learning how to lead and why that matters, becoming a mentor to your team, and many others. I feel these are so important, it’s what motivated me to develop golfprofessionalgrowth.com to dig deeper into how to develop these skills.Our guest in this episode has summarized these skills so well, I had to have him on to discuss this further. Robert Sereci is the GM/COO at the renowned Medinah Country Club. You know Medinah from it’s storied history in major championship and Ryder Cup golf, but ironically Robert came to Medinah with little to no knowledge of that history. And he’s used that to his advantage. You’ll hear how being a “non-golf” guy has allowed him to view Medinah through a different lens that allows him to lead and strategize without any bias. Robert is known as an intelligent businessman, a calculated risk taker and a mentor to many in our business. The result for Medinah has been a thriving club atmosphere which is now a leader and innovator in the industry. In part one, Robert walks us through the first five of his “Top 10 Lessons They Didn’t Teach you in School”. These lessons are universally applicable to golf professionals and general managers alike...and even if you’re not in a leadership or management position yet, you’ll want to take notes and know where you can begin to develop the critical success skills that will help you down the road.Robert's Top 10 Lessons:The difference between passion and purpose.You don’t know what you don’t knowUnderstand that your success is determined by others.How to manage and lead in a world of greyUnderstand how your club keeps scoreUnderstand that your success is determined by othersYour technical skills will become less important as you climb the ladderStop Coaching and start mentoringYour club governance model is more important then you realizeIt’s not about you. It never was.

Cary Cozby, the Director of Golf at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is likely the most decorated PGA Professional you will ever find. As a winner of 13 section awards plus the national Merchandiser of the Year award, his most unique and special recognition came in 2016 when he was named the PGA Professional of the Year, joining his father Jerry, the 1985 winner and the two became the only father/son duo ever to receive this national recognition from the PGA of America. But as you’ll hear, this humble Oklahoman isn’t in it for the awards. His love of his job and the opportunity to call Southern Hills his home, where he walked the fairways as a kid at major championships and spent five years as an Assistant, are what drives him everyday. We talk about how to maintain your motivation each time you show up for work by using our natural competitive nature, and the mantra of “interviewing every day”. Also, in part one, we cover how Cary manages to stay on top of the sizable and active golf operation without letting anything slip through the cracks.Cary Cozby's Awards and Accomplishments:Director of Golf, Southern Hills Country Club: 2015- PresentHead Professional/CEO, Wichita Country Club: 2000-20152002 PGA Merchandiser of the Year2003, 2009, 2010 Golf Professional of the Year, South Central Section2009, 2011, 2014 Bill Strausbaugh Award, South Central Section2002, 2007, 2010, 2014 Merchandiser of the Year, South Central Section2016 PGA Golf Professional of the Year2012 South Central Section Champion

In this episode of the Getting Better Now podcast, we have the opportunity to learn from one of the most highly regarded sports and performance psychologists in golf today. Dr. Bhrett McCabe is the founder of The Mindside and works with numerous athletes from the PGA and LPGA Tours, NFL, NBA, MMA, and also serves as the sports and performance psychologist for The University of Alabama Athletic Department.In addition, he’s a golfer himself, a long time member at a private club in Alabama, a student of the game, and a former pitcher on a National Championship winning baseball team at LSU. In a nutshell, he knows what we do at our clubs everyday and understands the challenges that we face as PGA Professionals at clubs when balancing our jobs with playing the game as well.He offers some terrific insight into how your mindset and self image will drive how you feel about yourself and your game, and is at the center of the results you’re able to produce on the course. We also cover why it’s difficult to stay committed to doing all of the little things at work and in your game that can make the difference over time. His knowledge and insight can be applied not only in golf and not only in sports, but can transform how you perform in your job and the results you produce in your everyday life.I definitely recommend that you check out his book, The Mindside Manifesto, and listen to his weekly podcast called Exploring the Mindside. Be sure to listen at the end when Dr. McCabe lets us know how you can work with him personally and how you can bring him to your facility to work with your members and students.

Most of us in this business are in agreement that when working at a club, it’s important to place a special focus on your ladies program and for the ladies that are playing golf at your facility. We also know that based on statistics, female golfers serve as a huge opportunity to bring players into the game both as beginners and as those that are interested in returning to golf after a long lay off. With this said, it can be a challenge to run new and innovative programs for your ladies that create interest, that develop their golf skills, and nurture their specific needs. Our guest in this episode is an expert in this area and will help all of generate some new ideas to make our ladies programs stand out and be unique.Gia Bocra Liwski is a Class A LPGA Professional that’s been teaching the game for over 20 years and for the last 10 years has been teaching at Hamilton Farm Golf Club in Gladstone, NJ..Gia has been selected as one of Golf Digest’s Best Young Teachers in America as well as, a Golf Digest Best Teachers by State. One of Gia’s most unique experiences is that she was able to be the host of two separate golf, lifestyle and travel shows that only served to increase her love for the all of these areas and how things like travel, food, wine, and fashion integrate so perfectly with golf. Gia recently launched Golf Experiences For Her, where she personally creates a very special & sophisticated day for women centered around getting better at golf while enjoying some of the finer things in life. She’s going to detail what goes into planning such a fantastic day for women and let us know some of the details we can all add into our ladies programs, to improve what we’re offering in 2019.Gia’s available to visit your club and host a Golf Experiences for Her event for your members, or as a way to showcase your facility to potential members. She could also be a great resource for you on a consultant basis, so if you have questions, you can find out more at trywithgia.com or find her on Instagram at trywithgia.

Ever feel like you can't get away from your computer or phone during the day, because you're tied to an endless flow of email into your inbox? In this day and age, communicating with our members, customers, students, and vendors frequently takes place over email. Because of that fact, email can bog us down and keep us from getting other important tasks done throughout the day. In this episode, we detail six methods that productivity experts agree can reduce the strain...and stress... that email can have on you, while letting you break away and get back to doing what most important for you in your daily work.

In this episode we kick off the new year with a throwback. For the next 60 minutes, you’ll have the opportunity to listen as, someone who most regard as the most successful and respected Golf Professional of our time, Bob Ford, and one of his many ultra successful proteges, Steve Archer, (who’s put together a phenomenal career in his own right) take questions from GBN President and CEO,Patrick Seither, and other Golf Professionals on topics ranging from building your career, what it takes to get to a Head Professional position, training and leading staff, and many other valuable topics.This was recorded in 2016 when Patrick had an opportunity to sit down with these two gentlemen at Ocean Forest Golf Club. This wasn’t recorded to be a podcast, so I’ve done my best to improve the audio to make this work as well as possible. Either way, turn up the volume, throw on some headphones, sit back and listen. This is a unique opportunity that any Golf Professional won’t want to miss.

Leader. It’s a term thrown around so often that it’s almost cliche. As PGA Professionals, we’re tasked with being leaders in the industry, leaders at our facilities, and leaders in our communities. But even with all this responsibility to lead, how many of us have ever tried to actually define what that means? How does being a leader fit into what we do everyday, and what do we have to do everyday to become the leaders that we all should be.Michael Haywood has taken the time to define leadership for PGA Professionals. In this episode we learn about the framework he created that takes a rather intangible subject and turns it into an system that we can refer to every day to develop into more effective leaders in our jobs. As you’ll learn, Michael took the word leader, and created an acronym with the most relevant and important words that represent how a PGA Professional should lead. He’s presented this concept to multiple sections throughout the country and continues to promote these beliefs to groups both inside and outside of the industry. Michael’s involvement, awards, dedication to the golf industry, the PGA of America and charitable causes is almost too long to list. During 21 years as the Director of Golf at Tuscon Country Club, he’s served on 23 Chapter, Section and National Committees, including as a candidate for national secretary of the PGA. He’s a multiple section professional of the year and Horton Smith Award winner as well as being recognized as an award winning, teacher, coach and clubfitter. All of this coming after he served our country for four years in the United States Army’s 1st Cavalry Division.There’s a ton of information packed into this episode as Michael delivers advice that can benefit anyone out there, no matter where you currently stand in your career.

If you’re in a leadership position at your club, or aspire to be one at some point in your career, what if I told you there was one specific area you could focus on that would guide the thinking and behavior of the people on your team? One point of emphasis that’s effects would be felt throughout the entire operation. That would guide decision making, customer service, attitude, motivation and more?What is it?As we find out from our guest in this episode, that one thing is culture.John Eades is a Leadership coach and educator and the CEO of LearnLoft. He’s was also once an aspiring professional golfer after putting together a successful amateur career where he played in 3 US Amateurs as well as fantastic career at the University of Maryland. So being around the game and around clubs, John knows what we go through and has seen successful Golf professionals throughout his career. I’m excited to apply his knowledge to our situation so everyone can be more proactive about creating a positive culture at their club, no matter your position.John wasn’t here to pitch anything or to sell anything, but I encourage you to follow him on LinkedIn where’s he’s putting out really beneficial content almost daily about how to be a better leader. He’s also the host of the Follow My Lead podcast, which I hope everyone will tune in to. Follow John on LinkedIn Here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johngeades/Find out more about LearnLoft Here: www.learnloft.com

One of the phrases we hear all the time as Golf Professionals is something to the effect of “to meet or exceed expectations in every interaction”. It’s an admirable goal and certainly a worthwhile mantra if we want to succeed in our positions as Golf Professionals.But how many of us have taken the time to find out exactly what those expectations are? What questions should we be asking during an interaction to get clarity on what our members, customers, bosses, and club leaders really want from us?In this episode, we find out. And it starts with a very powerful, but challenging phrase to use consistently...tell me more.Charles White, of White Ridley, is an executive leadership coach who, during a long and successful career, has coached company presidents, corporate executives and CEO’s to improve their performance on the job and create positive outcomes for their organizations. He coaches his clients to build a culture of integrity, where leaders do what they say they will do and clearly define expectations and results.All the while, he’s been a golf junkie and an active member of multiple high-end clubs on the east coast. He’s a friend, mentor and coach to multiple golf industry professionals and understands the challenges that we face and where our opportunities are to build a successful career. If after listening, you’re interested in working with Charles to become a better leader, find out more and contact him by heading to whiteridgely.com.

Jim Smith, Jr. is the Director of Golf at the Philadelphia Cricket Club in Flourtown, PA. A Past President of the Philadelphia Section, Jim has been awarded that sections’s Bill Strausbaugh award twice, the Merchandiser of the Year award, as well as Golf Professional of the Year in 2005. Jim has become a “go-to” guy for career advice and operational insight. He has successfully guided many of his staff members on to their own Head Professional positions and continues to recruit and train at a very high level.In this episode, Jim shares his keys to staying organized and succeeding in such a high volume and fast-paced environment. As well as his experiences in coaching Assistants through the Head Professional interview process. He also explains his model for collecting feedback from his membership so he can be responsive and keep his finger on the pulse of the club...it’s a simple system, but as you’ll learn, it takes a consistent commitment.And as promised in the title, we also go into his background and the “non-traditional” path he navigated to land as the Director of Golf at a Top 100 Club. I think that may be the most valuable insight in this episode for many of you out there that may fall into the same situation.

Have you had trouble attracting interns to your facility? If so, you're not alone. The market for seasonal labor at such an affordable cost is very competitive. If you're like some facilities, you might have just stopped trying.This episode has the potential to put you back on the right track to developing an attractive internship program at your club. We’re talking with Brian Soule, Assistant Director and Internship Coordinator at Penn State’s PGA Golf Management Program. Since Brian speaks with each of his 100 students that go out on internships every year, he has direct knowledge of what facilities are doing well, which helps attract interns for the future as well as maximize the interns contribution to your operation, but he also hears what makes for a bad internship experience and how that can kill your aspirations to utilize interns on a regular basis.Enjoy.

Kevin Muldoon is the Director of Golf at the Jupiter Hills Club in Florida. During a successful stint as the Head Professional at the Country Club of York in Pennsylvania, Kevin was likely in a position that he could have remained in for years, maybe for his entire career.But as he tells us, his desire to continue his career progression and to expand his experiences, lead him to seek more. So, what was he doing to prepare himself for this new position where he’s doubled his levels of responsibility and is now leading twice as many team members? And what challenges was he facing as he stepped into this job?Find out in this episode and learn what you can do to help keep your career moving on the right trajectory.In addition, if you're an Assistant Professional, check out what Kevin looks for in hiring new team members and where you can focus to make yourself attractive to future employers.