In May, Fore Hire will hold its third Women Who Want to Work in Golf event in Carlsbad, California. A simple number quantifies the company's mission to place women within the golf industry: 41.6%.
Of the 60 participants in 2023's two events, 25 women were hired for internships or full-time roles. And Fore Hire’s events have not only shone some light on misconceptions — and missed opportunities — in the golf industry, but have become an integral part of the solution.
"Aside from the camaraderie and information-sharing sessions, I think it is great to get so many thoughtful women into the same room and introduce them to all the opportunities that are around the game that we all love,” Fore Hire president and CEO Courtney Trimble said.
This year's sessions will be held May 19-21 in conjunction with the NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Championship. The program was created in collaboration with the Women’s Golf Coaches Association, is presented in partnership with PGA of America Career Services and will be hosted by Callaway Golf.
To be eligible, applicants must have played women’s college golf at any level during their college career and must be seeking full-time employment or an internship in the next 12 months. Women of all ages are eligible and those selected will be awarded a stipend for travel, hotel and meals. The deadline to apply is Friday, March 29 at 6 p.m. ET.
Each Fore Hire event consists of multiple days of programming around career development and networking. Every participant learns how to not only make her best impression but also about lesser known paths in the golf industry. Sponsors in attendance also take away insights around hiring more women and often find mentees.
For those participants still trying to find their best fit in the golf industry, Trimble is introducing an additional session to her next event called “Career Exploration.” There, each participant will have an opportunity to explore her own strengths to identify a fulfilling path in the industry.
Participants from a previous Fore Hire conference share general observations that can help anyone searching for his or her next position.
1. NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK
The participants found networking to be of the utmost importance in their respective searches for a job in the golf industry. Cultivating relationships with company representatives and fellow players in the space could be the difference between finding employment or continuing on the job search.
Abby Douglas, a Whitworth University golf alumna looking to empower others through the game, said: "I think my biggest takeaway from this Fore Hire event has just been to grow your network and give back to that. And through that process of gratitude and supporting each other, you'll make great connections and find out about great opportunities that will probably, in turn, be what you're looking for."
2. FIND MENTORS
Along the lines of networking, it’s important to leverage those relationships and find a mentor or team of mentors to help you navigate your career — not just the job search portion.
Rebecca Kapusta, who successfully pivoted from higher education back into the golf industry thanks to a Fore Hire event, said: "What I took away most from the week is that there are incredible women in this industry who want to invest in us and are willing to help us do what they can to get us in the positions that they know we are worthy of having and capable of completing within our career journeys."
3. CONFIDENCE IS THE NAME OF THE GAME
The importance of confidence also made a big impression on the attendees. According to Undercover Recruiter, women are more likely to apply to jobs where they believe they meet 100% of the role’s criteria whereas men will apply even if they believe they only hit 60%. Having the confidence in their background and ability to learn on the go will help more women join the golf industry.
Denielle Newman, who was the first participant to accept a full-time job after the first Fore Hire event, said: "My biggest takeaway from this week is just believe in yourself. I feel like there's a lot of opportunities out there, especially as a woman, that we don't realize that we're capable of achieving or doing, and it's always great to just see if you're able to get into something. You never know who's going to be your next 'Yes.'"
4. SHOWCASING YOUR SKILLS
Once the participants felt more confident about going after the jobs they’re interested in, they learned how to market their individual skill sets and experiences. A collegiate or professional golf career translates well in the business world, and having that first-hand knowledge of the game makes them prime hires.
Christina Massei, who wants to leverage her degree to grow the game, said: "My biggest takeaway from the event was definitely learning how to market myself better to future employers and understanding my worth, and knowing what questions to ask when I'm in a situation where I'm being interviewed or I'm applying for a position."
5. EXPLORE ALL THE JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Trimble’s main objectives with her events are to broadcast how many golf jobs are available and how many talented women there are for hire. She has succeeded in both.
Many participants were excited to learn about the different aspects of working in the golf industry, from coaching to agronomy. With so many jobs on the horizon, Trimble and sponsors also advocated for getting your foot in the door and pivoting as you learn more about yourself and what you want to do.
Raquel Trevino, who left the golf industry to work in healthcare and now wants to return, said: "My biggest takeaway from this entire experience is not only putting your foot in the water, but diving a little bit deeper into that, knowing that when there's a will and there's a way, and the hardest part is getting involved and asking those questions. And the sooner you can do that, the sooner you can look into doors opening up, and a job you may have never considered just might be the job that you end up working for."
These five valuable insights can help anyone going through a job search, not just those in the golf industry. With confidence, connections and some practice, you can start stepping through those open doors.
