HOLIDAY RESPONSES

Thanks to you who answered the survey: "What should courses do on family oriented Holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas?" One opinion was to close the facility completely, while one was to offer programs to grow the game - interesting paradox! I may revisit this issue later as we approach Christmas. I'll also see if I can keep that survey up a bit longer. I'd like to see more responses since it's a more complicated question than we think.

As a disclaimer, don't yank my PGA membership because I suggested that you NOT play two days out of the entire year. I love golf and I even earn my living through golf. I want people to play! I also hear rumors that the divorce rate for PGA professionals approaches 80% (may not be true, of course) and I know I worked nearly every holiday for years - both as a part time employee and a PGA Professional. When I consider what I gave up with my family to try to please my employer and our guests, I'm not sure that it was worth it. Therefore, I feel some responsibility to make this issue just a bit more visible. I know there is no easy answer, but it really is something to think about.

BLACK FRIDAY

Today was "Black Friday, " the day that retailers traditionally hope to get their finances into "the black" as the Christmas season approaches. I've worked on Black Friday in both the green grass and retail environments, and I have a few observations that I'd like to share:

• Many of the staff and customers have arranged for a pre-4:00am wakeup call for the first time in the last 364 days. No wonder we're all short on patience!
• Black Friday may be more perception than reality for most consumers. In most cases with most items, we're probably not looking at a better price than we could get at any other time. I understand a few incredible deals may make heading out worth the effort, but I generally think we let the circulars glowing under the moonlight cloud our judgment.
  
• For most people, the Holiday season is about giving thanks and showing generosity. With that in mind, does it really make sense to wake up on a cold, dark morning to go argue, shove, and grow our debts just to get some new gadgets with minimal savings?
  
• Perhaps we're talking about the rush of the hunt itself. We could scroll over right now, click on WalMart or Amazon, and purchase almost any item with convenience and a good price. (Of course, we don't have anybody to answer our questions or make suggestions when we do that.) BUT we'd rather go out and conquer the retailers, knowing we got the best of them on a given purchase. We boast to our friends about our conquest, while the retailers boast to their shareholders about how you took the bait. So maybe its a lose-lose. Maybe its a win-win.

Anyway, I'm tired and I'm going to bed. I got up early today. Please make some comments, though, I'd love to know what you think! Also, please scroll down and answer my Holiday poll.

try the Holidays!

I am a proud PGA Professional, so I'd like to speak on behalf of my colleagues who will have to work potentially long days on Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. I understand that many people in many industries - and especially in public service and the military - work these days, but as a PGA Professional, I'd like to say the following:

• If you are a member of a club, it is welcome and appropriate to give the club staff a gift for the Holiday season. I've had members give me an envelope of cash and ask me to distribute it among the staff. I was always grateful for that opportunity. The staff, often under appreciated, do appreciate it.
• One member always gave me and my assistants gift cards to the local mall. Perfect!
  
• When you give a gift, this does not give you permission to be a difficult member and a bad tipper for the rest of the year.
  
• If you have a desire to play golf on Thanksgiving or Christmas, don't. (Did I, a PGA Profesisonal, just write that?) I know, I know, they are the staff and they're paid to serve you when you want to play, but be considerate. They are lowly staff, but they might have families and really want to be home for those times - if only because they are home so rarely otherwise. Will somebody else make them work? Probably - but you don't need to be a part of it.
  
• Don't call the course and ask "are you open?" For a staff member, there is no right answer. One Thanksgiving morning I tried to get around that question by saying, "We are open now, but if you come out, somebody will miss Thanksgiving dinner to put away your cart." He answered "OK you're open. I'll be there soon." Email me at kbless@pga.com and I'll tell you how I handled it from there.
  
• Bosses, please appreciate every staff member who volunteers (or gets forced) to work these days. Do all you can to make their day as short as possible and thank them. I know you warned them about working Holidays when you hired them, but that doesn't mean they like it.
  
• Facilities have done well by offering double tees or shotguns to get the play "in and out" for the day. Owners and Execs are happy with the bottom line and the staff go home. It's as close to a win-win as we can get. Please try it.
  
• If you disagree with me, please respond on November 27th or December 25th. That would be a good time to do it. Also, please scroll down to the bottom of this Blog site and respond to my survey.

Thanks so much! I appreciate your thoughts!

If you think golf is hard....

I am a husband, a father of four, and a proud PGA Certified Professional (Golf Operations, Instruction, and General Management.)

Although I previously worked as a golf professional with the TPC Network for nine years, I currently live in Central Pennsylvania and have a lots of different jobs and interests. Full time, I work as a PGA Professional at Dick's Sporting Goods. That provides a modest but steady salary and some strong benefits for my large family. Aside from my full time position, I work with the following:


I teach private golf lessons at Nittany Country Club: http://www.nittanycc.com/

• My primary instruction focus is on short game and course management. Overall, I feel that the golf swing itself is generally "overtaught" while the rest of playing the game is generally"undertaught."


• I try to give my students practical, real-life information rather than focusing too much on angles, swing positions, and basic golf jargon. I try to give my students something different than what they could read or watch on TV.


• I work as an independent contractor, and Nittany CC benefits with a percentage of my lesson fees.


• Nittany CC is really a different, strategic hole facility. I've never seen a club where the members themselves get involved in the facility's daily operations. I really enjoy the casual "just be yourself" atmosphere.

I coach the State College High School Boys Golf Team: http://www.scasd.org/254720916124951260/site/default.asp

• What a favorite! I love working with the boys and helping them with their games and their lives as much as I can.


• The downsides include driving the big van and the occasional criticism, but I still wouldn't trade it.


• I'm very proud of our boys and think the class of 2011, specifically, has some really strong players.

I work with Golf Recruiters Network: http://www.golfrecruitersnetwork.com/ http://www.tmggolfmanagement.com/

• This site is currently under construction as Golf Recruiters Network is transitioning to become part of the larger Trenchant Management Group.


• GRN helps student golfers find the ideal schools where they can play collegiate golf. GRN works with creating a student profiles, sending out mailings and DVDs, and making initial contacts with coaches.


• GRN provides families some help with legwork and also somebody to talk to who has been through the process.
  

I stay in touch with Penn State PGM Progam: http://www.hhdev.psu.edu/rptm/pgm/

• Last spring, the PGM Program let me be a part of their Player Development Program, which helps students focus their practice time with the goal of passing the PGA Playing Ability Test.


• The Penn State PGM program is the best. Their faculty and student leaders really care about the program, the students (on a personal level,) and their standing in the industry.


• The Penn State PGM program has graduates in the TPC Network, as well as at facilities like Augusta National, Pebble Beach, and Shinnecock Hills.


• If you want to be a PGA Professional, go to Penn State.