Questions at Interview for a Golf Course Manager

Suggested Questions at Interview for the Position of Golf Course Manager

The following information has been posted on this site as it has proven to be helpful with interviewing candidates for the position of Golf Course Manager. It will be useful to read if you are going for an interview to prepare you for the questions you may be asked.

Introduction & Principals

Qualifications - It is assumed that the requirement for the achieving of technical qualifications for the position has been met – qualifications however should never be taken on face value – hard evidence is better than anything – ask the preferred candidate/s if they would mind you visiting their golf course to play or at least look at photographs/documentation of real work and pick up references before a decision to employ is made.

Verbal CV - At the beginning, following the welcome and introduction to the interviewers, request that although you have the candidate’s CV you would like the candidate to verbally describe their career in brief relaying the most important experiences – both highs and lows!

Questioning - Always ask ‘open’ questions inviting the candidate to share real life situations and how problems were solved – nothing is learned if the candidate just answers “yes” or “no”.

I have given many examples of questions – just select what is most relevant in the circumstances with each candidate – many good candidates will have already covered real situations within their verbal CV.

The questions are also within categories which keeps the interview organised and easier to keep notes for discussion later, when decisions have to be made – you as the golf club official/s will decide which will be the most important areas relevant to your situation.


Questions

Managing

• Working for a typical members’ golf club may be described as ‘difficult’ – dealing with committee structures etc – can you give me your views and describe some of the difficulties you may have come across and how they were solved?

• Golf Course Policy – what experience have you had in assisting in the formulation of such a policy and if so how has it helped, or hindered, the management of the golf course?

• Project Management – can you describe any major projects you have managed and your experiences, both highs and lows? (e.g. installation of automatic watering/drainage systems, construction works etc.)

• Plant & Equipment – an expensive commodity in both purchase and maintenance – what systems have you/do you use to monitor equipment maintenance and what records would you recommend should be kept?

• How do you keep up to date with modern methods, equipment, and materials?

Financial control

• How do you see your role in the financing of the golf course and the monitoring of expenditure?

• How do reach decisions on the buying of materials and equipment?

• Describe how you would approach the golf club if you believed a major purchase was required?

Staff Management

• Can you give us some examples of difficult to deal with situations in handling staff members and what you did to resolve the problem?

• What training have you experienced and how has it helped you?

• What assistance in training do you give to your staff - do you have a training plan for your staff and if so describe it?

• What experience do you have in the recruitment of staff?

• What experience do you have in staff appraisal systems, both giving and receiving, and give us your views on their worth?

• Do you involve your staff in decision making and if so how?

• Give us some examples of delegating some specific tasks?

Communication

• Please give us some examples of how you would communicate with the following:-

1. Staff
2. Members
3. Officials
4. Fellow department heads (Pro/Catering etc)
5. Immediate manager

Health & Safety

• Describe your experiences in this area - what systems are you familiar with?

• How would you ensure you cover all Health & Safety requirements relevant to your position?

Responsibility

• In your opinion how important do you view the position of the course manager?...................................and if extremely important why?





Duncan McGilvray (Managing Director, Enviropro H2O Ltd)

Duncan has over 37 years experience in interviewing and being interviewed for golf course managerial positions. He has also had many years experience in an advisory capacity on interview panels.