Advice on looking to work for OEM manufacturer

[felsteinb]

First off I just want to say that I know this isn't the best time to be looking for a job in the golf industry but I am mostly looking for tips for up coming late winter early spring to apply.

I live in Milton and don't mind commuting as I work downtown and am use to it. I am looking to get a job with a OEM manufacture. I am currently taking courses with the GMIC (Golf Management Institute of Canada) and I am looking to get into the sales side of the golf industry.

I know that when starting out with OEM's you are working in demo days at driving ranges and what not and I would like to get into that side of things. I am looking to learn and know that this is a great way to start out.

Does anyone know what manufactures are around the GTA area? I know Ping is as there is a Ping demo truck parked at my building all the time. I really want to find out who drives that but never see them lol.

I will let this form go from here and roll with it as it goes. I look forward to hearing any comments or advised who guys/gals have for me.

[golfer40]

I work in the industry, amd have been golfing with a few of the reps around the Eastern GTA... Ive asked the same question as i would love to do the same thing... Ive heard the same answers from 3 different reps, which is that they are very deep with staff, and the guys that have those jobs arent goin anywhere soon... This isnt to say that new jobs arent poping up, but in 3 years i havent seen any new reps... Except Ping...

[felsteinb]

Thanks for the heads up, What part of the industry do you work in?

I work in the industry, amd have been golfing with a few of the reps around the Eastern GTA... Ive asked the same question as i would love to do the same thing... Ive heard the same answers from 3 different reps, which is that they are very deep with staff, and the guys that have those jobs arent goin anywhere soon... This isnt to say that new jobs arent poping up, but in 3 years i havent seen any new reps... Except Ping...

[felsteinb]

Does anyone else have any advice? :$

[hogannut]

As a former customer service rep at Spalding (now Callaway obviously) you are close to many OE head offices. Callaway and Taylor Made are right around the corner from each other in Vaughan. Mizuno is in Mississauga, but I have heard bad things about Mizuno, but it's all just rumours I can't confirm one way or the other. Ping I believe is in the west end of GTA as well.

I have worked for 2 OE head offices and to be honest it's just a job after a while. THe industry is highly volaitile too. THe first OE I worked for went from a $40 million company in 1994 to closing its doors in 1998 and going to the States. I started with Spalding in 2000 with much better hopes but by 2002 the company fell apart and was in the process of declaring bankruptcy. If I had known Callaway was interested I may have hung in there, but it was extremly stressful going to work everyday not knowing if you were going to have a job when you got there or not.

The only reason why Callaway bought Spalding was for the golf balls. They were not interested in Hogan or Etonic, and Etonic has since been sold to a distributor around Kitchener. I forget the name right now, but they are distributor who deal with multiple product lines.

Anyway, as I said Callaway really wanted in the ball market and I guess it was more effecient to buy an exisisting product line and develop it from there. If it wasn't for Callaway I am sure everything would have been liquidated and who knows who would have picked up Hogan.

The golf industry pays poorly, and generally speaking there is not much room for advancement except for sales, or if someone leaves or retires. Being a sales rep isn't as glamorous as it sounds. You drive all over h*ll's half acres and deal with whiny complaining golf pros and retailers. Many club pros are terrible business people and that makes the job of sales rep that much harder.

Jobs do not come up and when they do it is usually in customer service which means you can expect to earn anywhere between 30-35K. You do make contacts at golf courses and sometimes the course will let you come and play for free, but other than that there are not a lot of "perks". Once a while we got a dozen balls or something like that, but other than that it's a regular old job.

Personally I am glad to be out of the industry. It is a nowhere industry and not very many people are getting very rich working in it. If I were to go back to golf it would only be if I could get a facility for myself. Driving ranges can be lucritive, but are expensive to set up and it is getting harder and harder to get the zoning for the land.

IMO....go get a regular job that has a future and play golf on your off time. OE head offices are just like anywhere else and eventually the product lines just become a bunch of SQU numbers anyway.

I also forgot to add that working at an OE head office you can forget about taking any time off between April and July. THis is their busy time and may not allow vacaction time during their peak periods. So if you like to play in say GAO events....forget it, they are during the week.

[felsteinb]

Thanks for a great advice! I am really between a rock and a hard place right now when it comes to wanting to work in the golf industry. I have worked a past three years with schooling and what not to get into the golf industry and am now enrolled with the GMIC (Golf Management Institute of Canada) it is a great online course and I am learning quite a bit however I can't help but look at the golf industry and see/hear nothing but dead end jobs with very little pay. Can anyone shed some light at the end of this tunnel of is everyone pretty much at the consensus that there is just no real money in the industry unless you own something for yourself? I really hope the last three years was not just a big waste of time!

[hogannut]

Thanks for a great advice! I am really between a rock and a hard place right now when it comes to wanting to work in the golf industry. I have worked a past three years with schooling and what not to get into the golf industry and am now enrolled with the GMIC (Golf Management Institute of Canada) it is a great online course and I am learning quite a bit however I can't help but look at the golf industry and see/hear nothing but dead end jobs with very little pay. Can anyone shed some light at the end of this tunnel of is everyone pretty much at the consensus that there is just no real money in the industry unless you own something for yourself? I really hope the last three years was not just a big waste of time!

THis course GMIC will give you opportunities to work at golf courses in administration, and that is different than working for a head office. These jobs are OK, pay is not bad, although not as good as other management positions. However as a GM for a golf course you usually can play.

However, jobs like that do not come up very often, so you would be playing a waiting game.

There's always the CPGA (can't play golf anymore) where you can utilize your college education by working 60 hour weeks for $10 an hour taking tee times and folding shirts!! You can also supplement your income as an assistant pro by teaching, which pays OK, but you have to be extremely patient and understanding with your students who rarely practice in between lessons and then expect you to wave a magic wond over your head and give them a decent repeatable golf swing.

Sounds like fun....doesn't it?:eek: :cookoo:

[guitarman]

Thanks for a great advice! I am really between a rock and a hard place right now when it comes to wanting to work in the golf industry. I have worked a past three years with schooling and what not to get into the golf industry and am now enrolled with the GMIC (Golf Management Institute of Canada) it is a great online course and I am learning quite a bit however I can't help but look at the golf industry and see/hear nothing but dead end jobs with very little pay. Can anyone shed some light at the end of this tunnel of is everyone pretty much at the consensus that there is just no real money in the industry unless you own something for yourself? I really hope the last three years was not just a big waste of time!

If you can get a job in the industry that allows for free golf it might offset the low pay. I make pretty good money but after you take off all the money I spend on golf I think I'm left with minimum wage.:D

[Bradley]

THis course GMIC will give you opportunities to work at golf courses in administration, and that is different than working for a head office. These jobs are OK, pay is not bad, although not as good as other management positions. However as a GM for a golf course you usually can play.

However, jobs like that do not come up very often, so you would be playing a waiting game.

There's always the CPGA (can't play golf anymore) where you can utilize your college education by working 60 hour weeks for $10 an hour taking tee times and folding shirts!! You can also supplement your income as an assistant pro by teaching, which pays OK, but you have to be extremely patient and understanding with your students who rarely practice in between lessons and then expect you to wave a magic wond over your head and give them a decent repeatable golf swing.

Sounds like fun....doesn't it?:eek: :cookoo:

For the record it's not 60 hours a week and it's not $10 an hour. It's 65 hours and $9.50!

No I'm just kidding, working as a golf pro is not as bad as people make it sound. Some golf courses might make you those hours, but at a decent course you willl be working somewhere between 40-44 hours a week. The pay isn't $10 an hour but it's not fantastic either.

Teaching is a source of second income, and you do have to be patient but it can also be very rewarding if you enjoy what you do.

It is a fun job, you don't make alot of money at first, but the respect you get from people can make up for alot of it. I know since I turned pro members at my course look at me differently.

Brad

[JEBS]

I would suggest getting into Nevada Bobs or Golf Town in their corporate sales, from there keep your ear to the ground since you will be seeing the reps pretty often, volunteer to help them during their summer demo season. Its all about building the right contacts and being in the right place at the right time. Also the beer industry is very tied in with the golf industry with even more perks ;)

Etonic has since been sold to a distributor around Kitchener. I forget the name right now, but they are distributor who deal with multiple product lines.


I think it is tournament sports they rep Tour edge, Nancy Lopez and Bridgestone as well

[Merlot]

For the record it's not 60 hours a week and it's not $10 an hour. It's 65 hours and $9.50!

No I'm just kidding, working as a golf pro is not as bad as people make it sound. Some golf courses might make you those hours, but at a decent course you willl be working somewhere between 40-44 hours a week. The pay isn't $10 an hour but it's not fantastic either.

Teaching is a source of second income, and you do have to be patient but it can also be very rewarding if you enjoy what you do.

It is a fun job, you don't make alot of money at first, but the respect you get from people can make up for alot of it. I know since I turned pro members at my course look at me differently.

Brad

If you want to work at a nice busy course, you will work alot and not get paid much at all.

[cfgolfer]

I think you found your answer! That is why so many Golf Pro's are leaving the Golf bus, and many reps have other golf line to support them. I know a few reps, it is a great job if have a Sugar Mama of DAD which many of them do!

[north ridge]

I worked for an OEM part time while in university in customer service and their warehouse, then as a tech rep for six months after graduating. These opportunities are few and far between, but the GTA is the only real market in Canada.

After several years in sales, I decided that I really wanted to get back into the golf business. I soon realized that retail was the only real area with any opportunities, unless you're qualified to work at a course or club.

It's a long road, but if you love golf, you need to pay your dues and accept that lower salaries and weekends are part of it.