Bottom row, left to right: Rosemary Kurtz, Jerry Kurtz, Dave Vader, Luke Delgado, Jason Whitehill; second row: Patty Brown, Nancy Dusenberry, Lena Godebu, Paul Vienna, Jerry Treece, Dave Korba; back row: Rick Miller, Larry Jacobs, Bruce Ehret, Ronnie Decker. Absent from photo: Karyn Swinford, Nancy Kyle
Vickie Hamilton
Working in a golf pro shop may seem like an easy job; however, spend a little time with a Golf Shop employee and it soon becomes evident how skilled these employees must be in this busy, often demanding and yet rewarding job. Multi-tasking is an important skill for an employee who is trying to get golfers onto the golf course with instructions, answering questions, managing phone inquiries, selling golf clothes and equipment and offering a sympathetic ear about the problems of the game.
Lena Godebu has been a golf shop assistant at Eagle’s Nest for 17 years and has performed the myriad tasks involved in this high paced often hectic job. “At the beginning of the day,” explains Lena, “staff will process the information in the Chelsea automated time system and prepare the tee sheets for the day indicating who is scheduled to start play at what time.” Golf Shop employees collect golf course fees and also call players to the first tee box over the PA system. At Tuscany Falls, due to having three nine hole courses, they must also identify which courses are to be played and in which order.
Golf shop assistants must also respond to a number of questions on the phone and from customers in the Golf Shop. Golfers may call or come in to ask prices, schedule tee times, ask about merchandise or inquire about golf lessons. Golfers also call in to ask for changes in tee times or for cancellations.
Golf Shop assistants open and close the shops and help with the ordering, staging and selling of shop merchandise. This includes ringing up sales, balancing the day’s receipts, checking inventory and initiating re-stock orders as well as keeping inventory organized and neatly displayed. Lena finds it particularly rewarding to help folks who come into the shop find what they are looking for, suggest items that may interest them and answer any questions about the merchandise. “We like to stage the shops to show off merchandise and often change displays to make it look fresh and attractive to our golfers,” explains Lena.
Once the fees are collected and instructions given, shop employees direct golfers to carts if needed; then they are off! Golfers call the Golf Shop if they encounter any problems on the course and the shop assistants contact the ranger to go and assist when appropriate. “You never know what might happen out there,” explains Lena. “It could be anything from a flat tire to a medical emergency.”
“Customer service is always first – a welcoming smile, a friendly voice, enjoying the customers are all important. If you have fun at your job and enjoy working with your co-workers, it shows in how you treat your customers,” explains Lena.
“Interpersonal skills, the ability to communicate and explain rules and policies in an upbeat and positive manner sets the tone for the golfer’s experience,” adds Jason Whitehill, Director of Golf. Lena likes to have fun with the customers encouraging them to laugh and have a good time. “Lena’s positive attitude has set a professional standard for the golf shop assistants in both golf shops,” according to Jason. Lena believes “it doesn’t take much to make people happy so why not make the effort and be rewarded with a laugh or smile. Making golfers happy makes me happy,” according to Lena who has been making golfers happy in the Golf Shop at Eagle’s Nest for 17 years!