Head Golf Professional, Exeter Country Club PGA of America Drive Your Search Harness the Power of the PGA of America
BoardRoom magazine · Exeter, NH
Posted 1 day ago
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About the Role
ABOUT EXETER COUNTRY CLUBExeter, NH | Exeter Country Club is a private, member-owned club with a rich, 135-year tradition of excellence and community, situated in picturesque Exeter, New Hampshire. The club offers a unique blend of heritage and modern excellence, highlighted by a welcoming, down-to-earth culture where members and families build lasting friendships centered around a shared passion for the game.
The core of the Club experience revolves around its amenities: a historic and challenging 9-hole golf course, classic pro shop services, and a vibrant calendar of member events and tournaments.
Founded in 1889, Exeter Country Club is notably historic as one of New England’s early golf venues. Redesigned by legendary golf course architect Manny Francis, the course features a scenic, well-maintained, walkable par-35 layout spanning 2,760 yards. The course seamlessly blends its rich history with modern playability, providing an enjoyable challenge for accomplished players while remaining accessible, fun, and fast-paced for higher-handicap and developing golfers.
Looking to the future, Exeter Country Club is actively planning ongoing course and practice area enhancements, clubhouse updates, and modernized dining experiences to ensure the club continues to serve as a premier community gathering place.
SURROUNDING AREA & COMMUNITYLocated in Rockingham County in southeastern New Hampshire, Exeter is a quintessential New England Seacoast town rich in history, charm, and quality of life. Positioned just minutes from New Hampshire’s Seacoast and downtown Portsmouth, Exeter features classic brick architecture along the Squamscott River, local dining, independent boutique shops, and deep cultural roots dating back to the American Revolution. The area boasts top-tier public schools and is home to the world-renowned Phillips Exeter Academy.
CLUB DETAILSFacility: Member-Owned
Course Access: Semi-Private
Number of Holes: 9
Total Annual Rounds: 9,600
Members: 255 + Public Play
Primary Golf Season: April – November
Practice Facilities: Practice putting green, warm-up hitting bays, and chipping/pitching areas
Number of Staff Managed: 12 Part-Time
POSITION OVERVIEWTitle: Head Golf Professional
Reports to: Golf Committee / Board of Directors
Supervises: All Golf Operations Staff: Assistant Golf Professionals, Pro Shop Staff, Outside Service Team, and Seasonal Staff
Position Description: Exeter Country Club (ECC) is seeking an energetic, approachable, and member-focused Head Golf Professional to lead our comprehensive golf operations. The ideal candidate will model a “member-first” mentality that fosters a fun, welcoming, and inclusive atmosphere for all members, families, and guests. This dynamic leadership role requires balancing high-level operational strategy with a passionate, “hands-on” approach to member service, tournament management, golf instruction, and club culture growth.
Core Candidate Profile & AttributesHighly Visible Presence: Consistently engages with the membership throughout all club areas, acting as an approachable and energetic ambassador for ECC rather than managing strictly from an office.Hospitality & Member-Focused Mindset: Demonstrates exceptional customer service skills, actively listening to member feedback and maintaining an unwavering commitment to elevating the member and guest experience.Exceptional Communicator: Possesses strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to work collaboratively across departments, committees, and Board leadership.Operations & Tournament Acumen: Demonstrates proven expertise in day-to-day golf operations, tee sheet flow, pace of play, and organizing creative, inclusive member events and leagues.Collaborative Team Player: Works effectively with the golf maintenance team, food & beverage department, and volunteer leadership to deliver a seamless, high-quality club experience.Family & Junior Friendly: Possesses a natural comfort level interacting with golfers of all ages and skill levels, showing genuine enthusiasm for developing robust junior and family programming.ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONSGolf Operations & Club ManagementManage all daily pro shop operations, including point-of-sale activities, merchandising, retail displays, and inventory management.Plan and execute an engaging schedule of member tournaments, leagues, outings, and special golf events, introducing fresh and inclusive formats for all handicap levels.Oversee daily tee sheet flow, starter presence, pace-of-play management, and golf cart fleet operations.Coordinate routinely with the Golf Course Maintenance crew to ensure optimal course conditions, etiquette awareness, and event preparation.Collaborate with the Food & Beverage team to ensure seamless service execution during tournaments and club social events.Provide a “hands-on” approach to service execution, directly handling or supervising essential tasks such as cart operations, course setup, and pro shop management.Staff Leadership & DevelopmentRecruit, train, schedule, and retain a high-performing golf operations team, including assistant professionals and seasonal staff.Supervise, mentor, and empower pro shop and outside service staff to deliver the club’s signature member-first customer service standards.Member Service & Proactive CommunicationBuild and maintain strong, authentic relationships with club members and guests across all skill levels and demographics.Maintain proactive, transparent, and frequent communication regarding tournament calendars, league schedules, instruction opportunities, and general club updates.Remain highly accessible and receptive to member feedback, concerns, and programming ideas.Deliver excellent, professional verbal and written communication across all club channels, including regular email updates and contributions to newsletters or website updates.Maintain close alignment and transparent communication with the Golf Committee and Board of Directors.Financial & Business AcumenCollaborate with club leadership to develop and manage comprehensive annual golf operating budgets.Manage golf operations budgets diligently, ensuring accurate revenue tracking, inventory control, and retail margin performance.Leverage vendor and brand relationships to secure premium merchandise, meet member retail preferences, and drive pro shop growth.Technology IntegrationUtilize modern golf operations and tournament software for online event preparation, pairing generation, handicap tracking, and live scoring.Adopt technology tools to streamline digital tee sheet operations and enhance member communications.Explore and integrate modern instructional tools and technology (e.g., launch monitors, video analysis) as teaching facilities evolve.Instruction & Player DevelopmentProvide top-tier individual and group golf instruction customized for players of all ages, skill levels, and backgrounds.Design, implement, and lead vibrant clinics, junior golf camps, learn-to-golf initiatives, and specialized women’s and senior golf programming.Maintain a deep knowledge of the game and modern swing mechanics to serve as the club’s trusted authority on golf instruction.EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONSPGA / LPGA Certification: Must hold a current Class-A PGA or LPGA certification in good standing (or experienced Assistant Professional on an active track to Class “A”).Proven Experience: Direct past experience serving as a Head Golf Professional or a Senior Assistant Golf Professional (5+ years of industry experience preferred).Private Club Background: Demonstrated successful experience within a private, equity, or member-owned club environment, with familiarity in 9-hole operations highly valued.Rules of Golf: Possess a verified strong knowledge and execution competency of the USGA Rules of Golf.COMPENSATION AND BENEFITSThe club will provide a compensation and benefits package commensurate with experience and qualifications. This includes but is not limited to:
Competitive base salary commensurate with qualifications and experience.Ownership of the Golf ShopPotential performance bonus and retainage of instructional revenue.PGA Dues allowance and continuing education supportThe club provides a benefits stipend to the Professional.