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News Commentary Opinion
A Nice Follow Through…The Life of a Club Professional
“Clubs must change. Some will last, but others will not.”
By CAROLYN MCCOOL
“Clubs must change. Some will last, but others will not.”
By CAROLYN MCCOOL
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Today there are programs for young
men and women who wish careers in
golf however in even the recent past
the pathway to being a golf
professional was not always as clear
and certainly today’s career seekers
have better resources available.
Consequently many golf professional’
s lives make wonderful stories and
the life of Gene Mattare, director of
golf at Saucon Valley Country Club in
Bethlehem, Penn., is one of them.
Mattare’s professional life serves as
encouragement to those starting out
as well as producing a smile of
satisfaction from others who have
traveled similar pathways in a
profession they love and would
choose again.
men and women who wish careers in
golf however in even the recent past
the pathway to being a golf
professional was not always as clear
and certainly today’s career seekers
have better resources available.
Consequently many golf professional’
s lives make wonderful stories and
the life of Gene Mattare, director of
golf at Saucon Valley Country Club in
Bethlehem, Penn., is one of them.
Mattare’s professional life serves as
encouragement to those starting out
as well as producing a smile of
satisfaction from others who have
traveled similar pathways in a
profession they love and would
choose again.
Gene Mattare, director of golf at Saucon Valley CC, at his desk in a somewhat
cluttered office loves being in the golf business. (Photo by the author)
cluttered office loves being in the golf business. (Photo by the author)
Growing up in Northern Virginia, Mattare lettered in golf at George
Washington University and graduated in 1974 with a degree in
psychology after a switch from pre-med. Four years after graduation
having acquired some job experience he decided to make golf his career
or at least try it for five years he reasoned. If he did not have a
professional’s position by then, he would reevaluate.
Mattare’s first golf job was working for head professional Ward Burgess
at The Chevy Chase Club (Chevy Chase, Md.) and in 1981 he was
named the head golf professional at Princess Anne County in Virginia
Beach, Va. He stayed in Virginia for 10 years before taking the director of
golf position at Saucon Valley, subsequently assuming the duties of
general manager in 2005. Mattare has received the Merchandiser of the
Year award from the Philadelphia Section of the PGA of America, as well
as the National Fitter of the Year from Ping.
“The golf business is really not a job for me,” says Mattare. “It is really a
pleasure to go to work each day; there is nothing I would rather do,
although, as with any job, some days are better than others! I have met
some great people and had tremendous experiences throughout my
career that I would not trade for anything.”
Mattare’s teaching style is to keep it simple, emphasizing the basics to
begin. He leads his students with the ‘close-to-the-hole-and-work-back-
plan’ and though he has had taught many, he likes to relate this success
story. “A 40 year-old businessman wanted to learn golf. I told him if he
would follow exactly what I would teach him I would. Within two years he
was playing in pro-ams, in eight years he was the club champion and
senior club champion.”
Washington University and graduated in 1974 with a degree in
psychology after a switch from pre-med. Four years after graduation
having acquired some job experience he decided to make golf his career
or at least try it for five years he reasoned. If he did not have a
professional’s position by then, he would reevaluate.
Mattare’s first golf job was working for head professional Ward Burgess
at The Chevy Chase Club (Chevy Chase, Md.) and in 1981 he was
named the head golf professional at Princess Anne County in Virginia
Beach, Va. He stayed in Virginia for 10 years before taking the director of
golf position at Saucon Valley, subsequently assuming the duties of
general manager in 2005. Mattare has received the Merchandiser of the
Year award from the Philadelphia Section of the PGA of America, as well
as the National Fitter of the Year from Ping.
“The golf business is really not a job for me,” says Mattare. “It is really a
pleasure to go to work each day; there is nothing I would rather do,
although, as with any job, some days are better than others! I have met
some great people and had tremendous experiences throughout my
career that I would not trade for anything.”
Mattare’s teaching style is to keep it simple, emphasizing the basics to
begin. He leads his students with the ‘close-to-the-hole-and-work-back-
plan’ and though he has had taught many, he likes to relate this success
story. “A 40 year-old businessman wanted to learn golf. I told him if he
would follow exactly what I would teach him I would. Within two years he
was playing in pro-ams, in eight years he was the club champion and
senior club champion.”
Change is a part of life, and the golf
business is no exception. Those
who have been in golf for a while can
recall different, and sometimes,
better days. “The biggest change is
the amount of administrative work
the golf professional has to handle
on a daily basis,” says Mattare.
“When I started in the business, the
professional played golf with
members, taught golf, and
coordinated tournaments and events
for members. We had time to relax
during the off-season, but now retail
operations take a great deal of time
to manage effectively.”
“Today the professional is often
understaffed. He or she doesn’t
have time to play as much and there
is virtually no off-season.
business is no exception. Those
who have been in golf for a while can
recall different, and sometimes,
better days. “The biggest change is
the amount of administrative work
the golf professional has to handle
on a daily basis,” says Mattare.
“When I started in the business, the
professional played golf with
members, taught golf, and
coordinated tournaments and events
for members. We had time to relax
during the off-season, but now retail
operations take a great deal of time
to manage effectively.”
“Today the professional is often
understaffed. He or she doesn’t
have time to play as much and there
is virtually no off-season.
In the winter months everyone reduces staff and there is not the time to re-
charge the batteries as in past days. There are more organized events and
gone are the days when one could simply come to the course and play golf.
The demands on the golf professional’s time are many.”
“I was disappointed I was not selected as the head golf professional at The
Chevy Chase Club when Ward Burgess retired in the late ‘80s,” explains
Mattare. “I was not sure I wanted to return to the DC area, and it probably
came through in the interview process. Three years later, I was named
director of golf at Saucon Valley. I am a firm believer that everything happens
for a reason and everything works out for the best.”
Highlighting his time at Saucon are the three USGA events played there (the
1992 and 2000 U.S. Senior Open and 2009 U. S. Women’s Open) and he
especially remembers teeing it up with Arnold Palmer prior to the 1992
Senior Open. Palmer’s secretary called Mattare asking him to play a practice
round with the King and Mattare responded that the club president, who
carried a single digit handicap, would enjoy playing with Palmer. A while
later though, the secretary called back, “Arnold said if he wanted to play with
your club president he would have asked your club president. He wants to
play with you.” Mattare’s words were, “What day and what time!”
Turning serious Mattare says, “The demographics of golf are changing,
especially age wise and use wise. The economy is driving much of it. The
consumer is rethinking how they spend their money and should they have
their golf membership. The club has a lot of competition for the member’s
money and time. People are working longer hours and have less time to
play golf. The club must find a way to show value for the member. There are
incredible deals for the consumer today, with discounts, no upfront
membership fees, interest free memberships, and years to pay off initiation
fees. Clubs must change. Some will last, but others will not.”
Carolyn McCool is a free lance writer and creator of a greeting card line
"Sharing a Word Fitly Spoken." She is the mother of college age twin sons,
and currently resides with her husband in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
charge the batteries as in past days. There are more organized events and
gone are the days when one could simply come to the course and play golf.
The demands on the golf professional’s time are many.”
“I was disappointed I was not selected as the head golf professional at The
Chevy Chase Club when Ward Burgess retired in the late ‘80s,” explains
Mattare. “I was not sure I wanted to return to the DC area, and it probably
came through in the interview process. Three years later, I was named
director of golf at Saucon Valley. I am a firm believer that everything happens
for a reason and everything works out for the best.”
Highlighting his time at Saucon are the three USGA events played there (the
1992 and 2000 U.S. Senior Open and 2009 U. S. Women’s Open) and he
especially remembers teeing it up with Arnold Palmer prior to the 1992
Senior Open. Palmer’s secretary called Mattare asking him to play a practice
round with the King and Mattare responded that the club president, who
carried a single digit handicap, would enjoy playing with Palmer. A while
later though, the secretary called back, “Arnold said if he wanted to play with
your club president he would have asked your club president. He wants to
play with you.” Mattare’s words were, “What day and what time!”
Turning serious Mattare says, “The demographics of golf are changing,
especially age wise and use wise. The economy is driving much of it. The
consumer is rethinking how they spend their money and should they have
their golf membership. The club has a lot of competition for the member’s
money and time. People are working longer hours and have less time to
play golf. The club must find a way to show value for the member. There are
incredible deals for the consumer today, with discounts, no upfront
membership fees, interest free memberships, and years to pay off initiation
fees. Clubs must change. Some will last, but others will not.”
Carolyn McCool is a free lance writer and creator of a greeting card line
"Sharing a Word Fitly Spoken." She is the mother of college age twin sons,
and currently resides with her husband in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
