Brendan Walsh, PGA,Director of Golf,The Country Club,Brookline, Massachusetts
Brendan Walsh is known for being a PGA of America Golf Professional who helps his assistants move on to their own leadership positions – more than 40 of his past assistants have done just that over his time at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts. But once upon a time, Walsh himself was new to the golf business, and he quickly discovered the importance of networking.
“I learned that early through the people I worked for,” says Walsh, the longtime PGA of America Director of Golf at The Country Club. “They had networks that opened up doors for me. It’s critical to not be afraid to reach out to folks.”
That lesson came quickly in his career. As a golfer in Worcester College, Walsh found his first summer job in the golf business through his coach, who introduced him to Drew Johnson, the PGA of America Head Professional at Sankaty Head Golf Club on Nantucket at the time. That single connection launched a chain of relationships that shaped his career.
“Drew knew the new professional coming in, Jim Fitzgerald, and made that relationship,” Walsh recalls. “After my year at Sankaty, Jim came to me and said, ‘Hey, you could be pretty good at this.’ He put me in touch with Bill Adams, who became part of my network and offered me a job at Ridgewood Country Club that lasted for five years.”
Even in the off-season, Walsh’s network kept growing. Fitzgerald, Adams and Johnson connected him to winter opportunities around the country, and each new stop introduced him to professionals who became mentors, colleagues and lifelong friends.
“Every time I go to an event, I always love meeting people and having that opportunity,” he says. “Some of my closest friends in the business are people I met at my first business school or playing in tournaments. Networking is huge, and everybody needs to do it. You can’t be afraid to follow up when you meet people, collect contacts and keep learning. We can learn from so many people.”
Walsh’s enthusiasm for connection is contagious – and deeply rooted in optimism. He believes that the instinct to help others is part of what makes the golf community special.
“People want to help people. People want to do nice things for people,” he says. “I’d say to any young golf professional: Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask to have a cup of coffee with somebody. They’re going to do it. I think a lot of people are afraid – ‘Oh, they’ll never call me back.’ But I’ve met some wonderful people just by saying, ‘Hey, would you mind sitting down with me?’”
As he transitions into an ambassador role within The Country Club organization – with his longtime PGA of America Assistant Professional, Nick Hallowell, having been promoted into the director of golf position – Walsh looks forward to spending more time mentoring the next generation of professionals, just as his mentors did for him.
“You can’t be afraid to stick your hand out and introduce yourself,” he says. “We call it the seven points of contact – the five fingers and two eyes – with a big smile. When you meet somebody, make them feel warm. Ask them who they are, where they’re from, and then you can get into conversations. It’s an easy way to start, and it works from there.”
To Walsh, networking isn’t about checking boxes or collecting business cards. It’s about genuine curiosity and generosity – the willingness to share, listen and stay connected.
“I don’t look at networking as a chore,” he says. “I feel like it’s an opportunity. I’ve been blessed to make an impact on people, and we’re in a sharing business here, the golf professional business.”
