Vail Golf Club is open for six months of the year, so the leadership team is no stranger to staffing turnover. That’s why PGA of America Director of Golf Alice Plain, the 2021 Colorado PGA Section Golf Professional of the Year, knows it’s so vital to cultivate a positive and supportive work environment for her staff.
She first noticed the trend a number of years ago of fewer young professionals emerging from Professional Golf Management University Programs (PGM) across the country. It made it harder than ever for golf facilities, especially seasonal ones, to attain quality talent and retain them for the long term.
“Recognizing the problem at the time, I started a strategy to bring in interns to work during the busy summer season. Five individuals from the Campbell University PGM Program joined us that summer, one of whom came back as an Assistant Professional and worked his way up to Head Professional,” says Plain proudly. “Looking back, I’ve brought in over 30 interns (including those pictured above with Plain) since that first year and it has been an effective way of introducing our club to some bright young PGA of America talent.”
Feedback over the years indicates that Vail Golf Club offers one of the best internship experiences out there, as interns get to learn everything about the golf operation, regardless of their level in school. Everyone knows that attracting good people is one thing; retaining them is another.
“We have created a culture that is more like a family than a team of business professionals. We all support each other, regardless of one’s title or list of responsibilities,” explains Plain. “We’re truly in it together – no one says ‘It’s not my job.’
“If we see a member of our team struggling to carry some golf bags or doing several things at once, we step in to lend a hand. This culture has carried over across the years and definitely aids in retaining good employees.”
Furthermore, every team member learns multiple areas of operation – golf shop, starter, ranger, outside ops, etc. This provides diversity in their workday, leading to increased job satisfaction and added flexibility in how tasks and duties are assigned.
Finally, Plain has incorporated a policy that everyone on the golf staff comes once or twice per month to pick the range on a Wednesday night before it’s mowed Thursday morning.
“It doesn’t matter what your position is – it’s about making everyone’s life easier,” Plain says. “It’s that team environment that’s the driving force in helping us overcome staffing issues and retain the most talented professionals.”