How to Get Paid to Play Golf & 10 Best Companies That Pay

Getting paid to play golf is more achievable than you may think at first.

Golfing experts are needed in many professions.

Moreover, golfing is a useful activity for maintaining client contacts and building professional relationships.

This article reveals some of the different ways you can get paid and some of the best companies that really pay.

 

Why Get Paid to Play Golf

If your passion is playing golf, then getting paid to play golf is probably your dream job.

You could be paid as little as $10 an hour, but that might be okay since you are doing something fun.

Making golf your job means you will not be stuck inside and behind a desk when the weather is too gorgeous to miss out on.

You will spend your days sharing your knowledge and love of the game with others, instead.

Read on for ideas on how to get paid to play golf.

 

9 Best Ways to Get Paid to Play Golf

 

1. Become a Professional Golf Player

Duh, right?

This is obviously the first best way to make money playing golf.

It’s easily one of the highest paying sports out there with millions of professional players around the world.

Becoming a professional golf player can really be very lucrative, as players earn millions of dollars yearly.

Even if you don’t hit the top spot in the game, you can still make tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of dollars playing professionally.

And it’s not even that hard to play professionally. You can decide to partake in many of the tournaments around the world, starting of course from your state.

Of course there’s a massive difference between the different professional golf players out there – from a PGA Tour professional, a non PGA Tour professional, a Mini tour professional, a club professional, a golf teaching instructor and of course a Head professional.

 

2. Become a Golf Instructor

Many places hire golf instructors.

Golf courses and driving ranges are the main ways to get hired as a golf instructor.

However, schools and universities also sometimes offer golf classes.

Moreover, many parents hire private gold instructors to teach their children.

To be successful as a golf instructor, you will want a solid resume of experience.

You may also need a college degree, for example, if you want to teach in schools.

One way to both build experience and earn a degree is to play golf in college.

Some universities may even award a scholarship, thus paying you to go to school and play golf.

 

3. Work in a Sporting Goods Store

Some sporting goods stores prefer people with extensive expertise in the sport for their department.

If you know a lot about golfing and like chatting with people about golfing equipment, you could work in the golfing department of a sporting goods store to get paid to play golf.

To earn the most money, look for specialty stores.

For example, some driving ranges and golf courses have sporting goods stores specializing in golf gear where you could work.

 

4. Work at a Golf Range

There are a lot of jobs available at golf ranges.

Not all will pay you just to play golf, but many will give you an employee discount.

Some possible jobs are:

• Caddy
• Bartender
• Membership Sales
• Customer Relations
• Greenskeeper
• Golf Marshall
• Team Leader

Some of the jobs require special experience or skills, but not all.

Many golf courses have entry-level positions where you can gain skills on the job.

Some golf courses are associated with country clubs.

These have even more jobs available, such as host, server, chef, and other restaurant-oriented positions.

They may have a spa and other facilities with open jobs, as well.

 

5. Golf Course Greenskeeper

A greenskeeper at a golf course is a highly skilled landscaper and lawn maintenance technician.

Golf courses must be precisely maintained.

This requires daily work, including cutting the greens, removing leaves, maintaining trees, and other maintenance.

Many golf courses hire entry-level greenskeepers with little to no experience.

They provide training on the job.

There are certificates in greenkeeping, however, such as the Penn State Turfgrass Management certificate.

Greenskeepers make about $25,000 to $30,000 per year.

More advanced greenskeepers who know more about turf management earn more.

 

6. Open a Golf Franchise

You can get paid to play golf by opening your own golf franchise.

Everything from golf courses and mini-golf courses to driving ranges may be franchised.

The average minigolf course, for example, earns several hundred thousand in revenue each year.

Once the golf course is built, there is very little overhead involved in running the golf course.

 

7. Social Media Manager for Golf Course

Being a social media manager for a golf course involves capturing breathtaking images of the golf course and writing posts for social media that make people dream of taking off to the golf course.

You may need your own equipment, such as a professional camera and photo editing software.

There are courses on professional photography that may give you important skills to get this job.

 

8. Golf Simulator Consultant

Golf simulators require several pieces of equipment.

Choosing your setup can be complicated and overwhelming for some customers.

As a golf simulator consultant, you will help customers pick out the projector, screen, green, and other equipment necessary.

You could create the entire environment, including seating and decor.

This may be more of a freelance position, so you could control your own schedule and set your own pay.

 

9. Become a Lawyer

Lawyers and other professionals play golf to network with clients.

They essentially get paid to play golf because client relations are essential to their work.

Becoming a lawyer just to get paid to play golf might be a bit of a stretch.

But if you are a lawyer, consider learning golf or using golf as a way to build your professional network.

Learning how to maintain client relationships is essential to being a successful lawyer.

Using common interests like playing golf with clients will make you more successful by letting the clients get to know you and enjoy time spent with you.

 

10. Get a Scholarship to Play Golf

Competition for golf scholarships is usually tough.

To increase your chances of getting a scholarship to play golf, start competing in golf tournaments at a young age.

Play on your school golf team and any local teams available.

You may need extra lessons from a golf professional.

Finally, have a strong academic record and recommendations.

 

Experience Needed to Get Paid to Play Golf

Some positions do not require any experience to get paid to play golf.

For example, cart attendants and entry-level greenskeepers do not require experience.

Other positions require both a degree and experience in golf, such as golf coaches and golf instructors.

Some jobs even require experience competing in golf, like golf professionals.

The more you demonstrate knowledge and skill in golf, the more you will be paid.

 

10 Best Companies That Pay You to Play Golf

 

1. Harris Minigolf

Harris Minigolf is a golf course design and construction company.

You buy the land and they help with building the golf course.

Harris Minigolf helps you get paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenues from your golf course.

If you invest more upfront to build two 18-hole courses, you will maximize your profits.

Designing a fun, unique golf course is essential to succeed in running your own golf course.

Hiring a design firm like Harris Minigolf will increase your chances of success.

Click here to check out Harris Minigolf

 

2. Top Golf

Top Golf is a nationwide driving range company that also offers other entertainment such as lessons, kid zones, food, and drinks.

They are common destinations for large groups like corporate team building activities, bachelor and bachelorette parties, birthday parties, and other celebrations.

Top Golf hires a lot of people.

One job that will pay you to play golf is to be a golf instructor.

This job is one of the hardest to get, however.

Jobs with more availability include:

• Cook
• Dishwasher
• Server
• Bartender
• Hospitality Manager
• Porter

Click here to check out Top Golf

 

3. Pebble Beach Golf Links

Pebble Beach Golf Links is one of the top golf courses in the country.

Its beautiful setting and perfect weather combine to make it a world leader.

Pebble Beach Golf Links hires many roles to maintain its renowned reputation.

Because Pebble Beach is a higher-tier golf course, it probably prefers employees with experience.

For example, the golf instructors more than likely played professionally.

As a patron, you can sign up for Pebble Beach Insider to receive discounts.

Although you still pay to play golf, you will pay less.

Click here to check out Pebble Beach Golf Links

 

 

4. X-Gold Franchise Corporation

X-Golf Franchise Corporation is an indoor golf franchisor that helps people build and open their own indoor golf centers.

It costs about $550,000-$650,000 for the initial investment, which includes a $30,000 franchise fee.

The benefits of working with a franchisor are that you have access to expert advice, advertising, a business model, supplier discounts, and assistance in building the location.

Click here to check out X-Golf Franchise Corporation

 

5. Private Club Marketing

Private Club Marketing manages social media for golf courses.

They hire expert social media managers to do this work.

You would be paid to visit golf courses, play golf, and create social media posts marketing the golf course.

To be a social media manager, you need to know what makes a golf course marketable and how to sell the best points of the golf course.

Private Club Marketing usually hires its content developers on a freelance basis.

Click here to check out Private Club Marketing

 

6. Benchmark Hospitality

Benchmark Hospitality is a global hospitality company that hires hotel employees, including golf course employees.

For example, Benchmark Hospitality hires golf professionals to manage golf courses.

This job requires a bachelor’s degree or three years of experience in managing golf courses.

Moreover, the golf professional must be a member or apprentice in good standing of the PGA of America.

Other positions Benchmark Hospitality hires are cart attendants, front office managers, and servers.

These require varying amounts of experience and responsibilities, but all involve working at a golf course.

Click here to check out  Benchmark Hospitality

 

7. Rain or Shine Golf

Rain or Shine Golf is a golfing simulator company.

They sell gold simulators, launch monitors, hitting bays, golf mats, and other accessories for golf simulators.

Rain or Shine Golf emphasizes excellent customer support provided by knowledgeable representatives.

You could get paid for your golfing knowledge by working for them as a customer service representative.

Click here to check out Rain or Shine Golf

 

8. University of Oklahoma

The University of Oklahoma has one of the best university golf teams in the country.

Oklahoma offers athletics scholarships.

Moreover, there is an Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame scholarship available to golf enthusiast high schoolers in Oklahoma.

A scholarship gets you paid to play golf in two ways:

1. you get paid to play golf in college.

2. you earn a degree that could be used to pursue a career in golf.

Click here to check out University of Oklahoma

 

9. Pace Academy

Pace Academy is an elite private school in Atlanta, Georgia, that was hiring a high school golf coach as of November 2021.

The position requires coaching and golf experience.

Moreover, the applicant must know the USGA rules of golf/basic etiquette.

This coaching position is part-time and seasonal.

You would only work a few days a week for two to three hours a day.

You may have to drive the team to practices and supervise the team at events.

Pace Academy does not list the salary, but similar positions usually pay about $5,000 to $6,000 per season.

Click here to check out Pace Academy

 

10. U.S. Amateur Golf Tour

U.S. Amateur Golf Tour organizes and manages golf tournaments for amateurs.

They hire directors that plan, promote, manage, execute, and operate local golf tournaments.

The job pays about $5,000 to $25,000 per year.

The U.S. Amateur Golf Tour requires directors to have college degrees and experience with golf.

They prefer golfers with experience competing.

Moreover, they prefer directors with a strong network of golfers interested in competing in golf tournaments local to them.

Click here to check out U.S. Amateur Golf Tour

Check out the following games you can also make money playing for fun:

• Get Paid to Play Coin Master on Mobile
• Get Paid to Play Warzone on Mobile
• Make Money & Get Paid to Play Basketball
• Make Money & Get Paid to Play Xbox
• Get Paid to Play Animal Crossing
• Get Paid to Play Candy Crush on Mobile

 

How to Make Money Playing Golf FAQs

 

Do Amateur Golf Players Make Money in Tournaments?

Amateur golf players do not win cash in golf tournaments, but they do earn points for rankings.

This can lead to being paid because it demonstrates expertise and skill.

The highest-paid golf instructors have a strong history of winning golf tournaments, even on the amateur level.

 

How Much Do Golf Instructors Get Paid?

Golf instructors who teach on a freelance basis earn as much as $75 to $100 per hour.

This depends on experience and how many students you have.

Golf instructors that work for golf courses usually make around $45,000 per year.

Golf instructors that work for golf equipment brands, like TaylorMade, earn significantly more because they are supposed to sell golf clubs and other accessories while teaching golf lessons.

 

Conclusion

You can get paid to play golf both directly and indirectly.

Directly, golf instructors and coaches play golf while teaching others how to play.

Indirectly, customer service representatives for golfing equipment, golf course owners, and employees at country clubs or hotels associated with golf clubs get paid to play golf because they must demonstrate an interest in golf to get those jobs.