First Assistant Golf Professional

FACILITY DESCRIPTION: Located in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, PGA National Resort is one of the country’s most recognized golf destinations, combining a celebrated championship history with an expansive and diverse golf experience for members, resort guests and groups. The Resort’s golf offering features four distinct 18-hole courses—The Champion, The Palmer, The Fazio, The Match—each providing a unique style of play and experience. The collection is anchored by the renowned Champion Course, one of the most recognized tournament venues in American golf and home of the PGA TOUR’s Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches.

PGA National’s championship history is exceptional. The Champion Course hosted the 1983 Ryder Cup, the 1987 PGA Championship, won by Larry Nelson, and 19 consecutive Senior PGA Championships from 1982 through 2000. Today, the annual Cognizant Classic continues that tradition, bringing many of the world’s best players to PGA National and showcasing the Resort and its famed “Bear Trap” on the international golf stage.

Complementing its championship courses are extensive practice and instructional facilities, comprehensive golf retail operations, tournament and group-golf programming, and a robust calendar of member events and activities.

PGA National serves a dynamic golf community that includes approximately 1,100 golf members, resort guests, corporate and leisure groups, tournament participants, junior golfers and players utilizing the Resort’s instructional programs. The scale and diversity of PGA National create a distinctive environment that combines the service expectations of a premier private club with the energy and reach of a world-class golf resort.

Golf is central to the identity and heritage of the property, with an operating philosophy focused on exceptional service, outstanding playing conditions, thoughtful programming and consistent attention to detail.

The goal is to create a genuine sense of ownership and belonging for members while ensuring every resort guest experiences the recognition, hospitality and service of “a member for the day.” Building upon decades of championship golf and significant investment in the property, PGA National is entering an exciting new chapter—honoring its storied history while establishing a modern standard for golf, hospitality and service in South Florida.

POSITION CONCEPT:

The First Assistant Golf Professional is a key member of the Golf Leadership Team at PGA National Resort and plays an integral role in the daily leadership, execution and continued advancement of the Resort’s Golf Operations. Reporting directly to the Resort Head Golf Professional, this position serves as a highly visible leader within the operation and assists in translating the vision, standards and priorities of Golf Operations into a consistently exceptional experience for members, resort guests and associates.

The First Assistant will be actively involved across all facets of the golf operation, including daily golf operations, professional staff leadership and scheduling, member programming, tournaments, pace of play, practice facilities, retail, outside operations and interdepartmental coordination. The successful candidate will possess strong leadership and organizational skills, exceptional attention to detail, sound judgment and the ability to anticipate operational needs in a complex, high-volume golf environment.

A significant responsibility of the position is the leadership and development of the Golf Professional staff. The First Assistant will help establish expectations, reinforce operating and service standards, provide coaching and accountability, and create meaningful opportunities for professional growth. PGA National is committed to developing its Golf Professionals and preparing them for increased responsibility and advancement within PGA National Resort or throughout the golf industry.

This position requires a hands-on, visible leadership style and an individual who takes ownership of the operation rather than simply completing assigned responsibilities.

The First Assistant is expected to build strong relationships with members, support fellow leaders and departments, proactively identify opportunities for improvement, and consistently reinforce a culture centered on service, professionalism, accountability and excellence in the details. The ideal candidate views the First Assistant position as an important leadership opportunity and a pathway toward becoming a Head Golf Professional.

PGA National is seeking an ambitious, high-performing Golf Professional with the potential and desire to develop into the Resort Head Golf Professional role within approximately two to three years, based on demonstrated performance, leadership growth and the evolving needs of the operation.