By Kelley Brooke, LPGA
The world of golf, often associated with elegance, precision and tradition, has been traditionally male-dominated. This applies not only to playing professionals but also to the teaching professionals who play a critical role in imparting knowledge and improving the skills of golfers. For female teaching professionals, working in a male-dominated industry can be both rewarding and challenging.
One of the most significant challenges female teaching professionals encounter is breaking through long-standing stereotypes about gender roles in golf instruction. Golf, often perceived as a male-centric sport, has faced gender bias for years, and this bias extends to the teaching profession. Female instructors often have to work twice as hard to prove their expertise and gain the trust of their students, who may hold preconceived notions about who can be a credible golf teacher.
Despite their qualifications and passion for the game, female teaching professionals may find that they have limited opportunities compared to their male counterparts. This can manifest in several ways:
a. Fewer Job Openings: Golf clubs and academies may have fewer job openings for female teaching professionals, making it challenging to find suitable employment.
b. Pay Disparities: Some female instructors report lower salaries compared to male colleagues in similar roles. This wage gap not only affects their income but also reflects the broader gender inequities in the golf industry.
c. Networking Challenges: Building a network in the golf industry is essential for career advancement. However, female teaching professionals may face challenges in networking with male-dominated industry circles, which can limit their career growth and development opportunities.
When I started teaching in 1993, I made a conscious choice not to let these challenges get in my way. I pulled out an index card and reverse-engineered my plan. I decided that in 10 years I would own my own facility and therefore jump over the industry obstacles that I was faced with.
I then constructed a plan that would allow me to achieve my goal. Rather than relying on others to shape my career, I took control of it myself by analyzing the industry in New York City, finding holes and filling those holes. I found that women and junior golf was almost non-existent in NYC.
At the time I worked as an independent contractor at a golf range on Staten Island. In addition to giving private lessons, I worked on my “Index Card Plan.” Immediately I started the NYC Junior Golf Club, a not-for-profit that provided instruction, league play and tournaments for NYC youth. I started the Police Athletic League Golf program for 4,000 economically challenged kids. Additionally, I created women’s clinics, leagues and tournaments. You see, by giving back, I circumvented the old boys club restrictions and built a resume worthy of winning the rights to operate my own facility.
In 2003 (ten years after creating my “Index Card Plan”) I won the rights to operate Brooklyn Golf Center and Riis Park Golf Course, both federal properties. Since then I have operated four other large golf venues. Currently, I operate the concession at Bethpage Black, the #1 municipal course in the country, along with the #5 municipal course – Montauk Downs Golf Course.
Much like women in other industries, being a female teaching professional in a male-dominated golf industry may come with its share of challenges, but it also offers unique opportunities for growth, impact and empowerment if you think outside the box and seek alternative paths. I am thankful to say that I am one of those women who have found a way to succeed and to shatter the glass ceiling that was placed above me.
LPGA Professional Kelley Brooke is the owner of Brooke Management Group/Brooke Holdings. She has spent the last four decades in the golf industry as a top notch player, a golf professional and a businesswoman. Her career has included the teaching of 50,000 golf lessons, television appearances, ownership of golf venues and more. In 2018, Kelley was awarded The LPGA Professional of the Year Award.
