Head Pro
The head pro is the lead golf instructor and sports manager of a club.
The head pro stands at the top of a facility's team of instructors. He coordinates the lessons, often looks after the better players and teams, and is frequently also responsible for the pro shop and tournament organization. In many clubs he is the sporting face to the outside: he welcomes visiting players, runs the course certificate courses and represents the club at association events. Other instructors work under him, often designated as a Teaching Pro. The head pro is usually a fully trained, fully qualified pro with several years of experience.
In practice he is your first port of call when it goes beyond individual lessons. An example: you want to take your handicap from 30 towards 20 and are looking for a long-term plan. The head pro analyzes your game on the course, sets the training content and distributes the lessons within the team. He can also help with the club question, because he knows your game and has no sales commission in mind.
A common misconception: the head pro is not automatically the best player on site. That could be the club amateur or a salaried playing pro who plays tournaments. His real strength lies in teaching, organizing and leading. When you look for a course, ask about the team and its focus areas, not just about the name on the door.
FAQ
How do you find the right pro for your training?
Ask about the team of instructors and its focus areas, not just about the name on the door. The head pro coordinates the lessons and distributes them, and depending on your goal you often work with a teaching pro from his team. For a long-term plan, such as lowering your handicap significantly, he analyzes your game on the course and sets the training content.
Is the head pro automatically the best player in the club?
No, that is a common misconception. The best player on site can be a club amateur or a salaried playing pro who plays tournaments. The head pro's real strength lies in teaching, organizing and leading the team of instructors.
Can the head pro also help you choose clubs?
Yes, and often better than specialist retailers. He knows your game from the lessons and has no sales commission in mind. Many clubs also run their pro shop under his responsibility, so advice and test clubs come from a single source.