Is Your Clique Holding You Back?

There is a great divide among Pro’s in the golf business.

There is the MBA Pro clique thats in it as a business.  They want to do what a successful business does…make money.  Their decisions are based on what is best for the bottom line and a good year ends in the green.  They beat their projections because they make projections and they know what works because they track what they’re doing.

Then there is the Purist Pro clique thats in it for the art.  They love the game, they love to learn and they love to teach.  Their main focus is on the instruction, getting better at what they do and working with the players they enjoy.  When asked about their “business” they shrug it off assume all of that will take care of itself if they just focus on learning and getting better.

What’s It like to be an MBA Pro.

At the top of the MBA’s, you have guys that are making well over 6 figures a year, some are even tapping a mill.  They have developed elaborate businesses with multiple income streams.  Almost all of these guys are instructors with schools and academies in multiple places.  They may teach a few PGA Tour players but their biggest skill and success has come in business.  They’re constantly ridiculed by the Purists because they are charging way too much for knowledge and information that 1) Every Purist has and 2) “Isn’t worth that much.”  The MBA says “I’m great at what I do and its worth what people will pay for it.”

In the middle you have Head Golf Professionals at elite clubs and golf school owners looking to grow.  They have a long way to go till they reach their goals, but they are still bringing in a great income and most importantly…they are running successful businesses.  They are known in the professional world for their management and business savvy.

At the bottom you have just about every PGA Professional.  They see the guys at the top…at elite and exclusive clubs and they hope to get there some day.  Grinding it out in the pro shop or taking the first available Head Pro job is, in there mind, the next step in their travels to the top.  A lot of Pro’s don’t make it out of the bottom, but the ones that have what it takes, the business abilities, move up quickly.

What It’s like to be a Purist Pro.

The Purists at the top have all the knowledge in the world, they are on the cutting edge in both technology and instruction.  They can debate and dominate just about any discussion with their supreme knowledge.  They are known as the best golf instructor in their area, the word of mouth has grown student base rapidly…but they aren’t making much money because they aren’t making any business decisions.  They are great at what they do, and they can devour any top MBA on the lesson tee…but they’re making less than they should because they don’t tend to their business.  All of the purists are uncomfortable with what some MBA’s are getting for a lesson and they could never imagine asking someone to pay $500/hr with a straight face.

The middle of the Purists are pros that think they’re on the path of the MBA’s…they aren’t.  They think continuing to learn, learn, debate, discuss, learn, learn then teach will get them where the MBA’s are.  It will help…but it won’t get them there.  They’re mistaken with the path they are on…they’re going to underachieve like the Purists at the top, but  they just don’t know it yet.

At the bottom are the new golf instructors learning what they should, setting the foundation of their career and getting their feet wet with some lessons.  Most are terrible teachers at first, so $35 a lesson is fantastic…because they’re just learning anyways.  The hopes and dreams of being a well respected golf instructor motivates them.  Wether they want to be recongnized locally, regionally, nationally or internationally the drive and determination to be the best and know the most is the same.

Obviously These Two Cliques Are Worlds Apart

If you love golf, love to teach and love to learn there is no way you could learn anything from the MBA Pro’s.  Those Guys don’t know how to give a lesson thats worth the socks they wear to the gym.  And if you love to run a business, make money and be recognized for your business abilities, there is no way you could learn from a Purist.  Those guys don’t make any money, they don’t pay attention to their business and they’ll never enjoy my success.

I hope I’m not too optimistic here, but I think a third clique can come together.  One that loves golf, teaching and learning but isn’t scared to make business decisions and try to make money.  There is the possibility that you can maintain a Purist approach while truthfully, carefully and sincerely making business decisions that will benefit you and make you the money you deserve.

Is it possible that these two cliques could actually come together, learn something from one another and blow the lid off the success they’ve already had.  I don’t know, that may be asking a bit much…what do you think?

Tagged as: Golf Marketing