What Does a Pro Shop Manager Do?
Pro shop managers make sure every round of golf starts on time, with tee times booked, golfers checked in and green and cart fees paid at the counter. At public courses, private clubs and resorts, the same manager also buys the season's shirts, balls and clubs and schedules the counter staff and starters. Weekend shifts start early.
Also known as: Assistant Pro Shop Manager
Other Job Titles for This Work
Workers in this occupation report titles such as Bakery Manager, Delicatessen Manager, Department Manager, Department Supervisor, Grocery Manager, Key Carrier, Meat Department Manager, Parts Sales Manager.
Pro Shop Manager Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of a pro shop manager include:
- Book tee times, check in golfers and collect green fees, cart fees and range payments.
- Buy apparel, balls, clubs and accessories for the season, working within the merchandise budget.
- Set up displays and markdowns to move slow-selling stock before the season ends.
- Schedule counter staff, starters and cart attendants around tee sheet demand and events.
- Run point-of-sale and tee sheet software, and balance cash drawers at close.
- Take inventory counts and reconcile stock against sales and supplier invoices.
- Arrange club fittings, repairs and special orders with manufacturers' representatives.
- Prepare prizes, pairings and merchandise packages for tournaments and outings.
- Handle member questions and complaints about bookings, rules and charges.
- Train staff on course policies, customer service and product knowledge.
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as a pro shop manager, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- Tee sheet and POS systems such as Club Prophet or foreUP
- Retail buying and inventory control
- Merchandising and display
- Staff scheduling and supervision
- Friendly, quick customer service
- Knowledge of golf equipment and rules
- Cash handling and daily reconciliation
- Flexibility for weekends and early mornings
Education and Training
A job behind a pro shop counter or in golf operations is the usual start, followed by a spell as assistant manager. A high school diploma covers the formal requirements. Private clubs often prefer candidates who are PGA of America members or working through its professional program, though plenty of shops are run by managers without that credential.
Salary and Job Outlook
Typical pay: $38,590 - $62,130 per year, with a median of $48,520.
The range covers the middle half of earners nationwide. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers.
BLS projects employment of first-line supervisors of retail sales workers, the group this job falls in, to decline about 4 percent from 2025 to 2035. Even with that dip, the group should see roughly 113,500 openings a year, since many supervisors retire or change jobs. Golf shops are a small, seasonal corner of that group, and pay tends to follow course size and membership.
Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, First-line supervisors of retail sales workers.
Pro Shop Manager Pay Range
| Earners | Annual pay |
|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $33,120 |
| Bottom 25% earn less than | $38,590 |
| Median (half earn more, half less) | $48,520 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $62,130 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $77,080 |
Highest-Paying States for Pro Shop Managers
The states with the highest median pay for this occupation are Washington ($60,750), Rhode Island ($58,570), District of Columbia ($58,470), New York ($58,300), Colorado ($58,200). Pay is lowest in Kentucky ($40,080), West Virginia ($39,740), Arkansas ($36,950).
Median pay in all 51 states with BLS data
| State | Median annual pay |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $44,860 |
| Alaska | $57,080 |
| Arizona | $48,010 |
| Arkansas | $36,950 |
| California | $54,870 |
| Colorado | $58,200 |
| Connecticut | $56,510 |
| Delaware | $55,710 |
| District of Columbia | $58,470 |
| Florida | $48,410 |
| Georgia | $46,150 |
| Hawaii | $55,850 |
| Idaho | $46,140 |
| Illinois | $47,990 |
| Indiana | $47,790 |
| Iowa | $46,610 |
| Kansas | $46,950 |
| Kentucky | $40,080 |
| Louisiana | $43,860 |
| Maine | $53,580 |
| Maryland | $47,000 |
| Massachusetts | $57,490 |
| Michigan | $46,430 |
| Minnesota | $48,770 |
| Mississippi | $45,760 |
| Missouri | $46,860 |
| Montana | $49,300 |
| Nebraska | $45,280 |
| Nevada | $46,900 |
| New Hampshire | $51,650 |
| New Jersey | $57,320 |
| New Mexico | $46,550 |
| New York | $58,300 |
| North Carolina | $47,760 |
| North Dakota | $49,350 |
| Ohio | $45,680 |
| Oklahoma | $45,430 |
| Oregon | $50,660 |
| Pennsylvania | $46,690 |
| Rhode Island | $58,570 |
| South Carolina | $47,770 |
| South Dakota | $56,680 |
| Tennessee | $47,880 |
| Texas | $46,280 |
| Utah | $47,470 |
| Vermont | $55,760 |
| Virginia | $47,990 |
| Washington | $60,750 |
| West Virginia | $39,740 |
| Wisconsin | $49,550 |
| Wyoming | $45,980 |
What the Work Is Like
O*NET surveys people who work as first-line supervisors of retail sales workers about their daily conditions. Of those surveyed:
- 98% say teamwork is very or extremely important in their job
- 85% work indoors in a climate-controlled space every day
- 78% say being exact and accurate is very or extremely important
- 74% are on the phone every day
- 66% use their hands on tools, objects or controls for more than half the day
- 63% spend more than half the workday on their feet
- 57% deal with rude or angry people at least once a week
Education Workers Say the Job Needs
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or GED | 52% |
| Associate's degree | 19% |
| Less than high school | 14% |
| Post-secondary certificate | 9% |
Tools and Software Pro Shop Managers Use
Tools and equipment
Software
Is This Job a Good Fit for You?
People who do well in this job tend to enjoy leading, persuading and making business decisions as well as organized work with data, records and clear procedures.
Skills O*NET rates most important: Active Listening, Speaking, Service Orientation, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Social Perceptiveness.
Knowledge areas used most: Customer and Personal Service, Administration and Management, Sales and Marketing, English Language, Education and Training.
Preparation: O*NET places this occupation in Job Zone 2 of 5, which means some preparation.
Related Careers
These jobs use similar skills, according to O*NET's related-occupation data:
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Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035.
- O*NET 30.1 Database, occupation 41-1011.00 (First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers). View on O*NET OnLine.
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. The Job Explorer has modified some of the information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these changes.