Tee Time: A Conversation with an Assistant Golf Professional

Parker Antis graduated in 2014 with a Bachelor of Science in professional golf management. He is now working as the assistant golf professional at Hope Valley Country Club in Durham, North Carolina. We recently spoke with him to learn more about his experiences in this role and at the College of Natural Resources.

What is a typical day in your job like?

A typical day for me always begins with a cup of coffee and getting the golf shop opened. I am in charge of our merchandising for the golf shop, so I will receive any items that have arrived into inventory and display them in the shop.

From here, I will go through the tee sheet for the day. We have several regular groups that always play together. I will create pairings for these groups to balance the handicaps in each tee time so teams will be fair depending on which style of game they choose to play that day. Mornings are most commonly used for checking in members and guests for their rounds. Typically around noon to 1 p.m., I will head to the back of the driving range for lessons and club fittings.

What inspired you to study professional golf management?

My inspiration to study professional golf management spawned at a young age, as I was introduced to the game of golf when I was seven years old with my dad and grandfather who were both avid golfers.

Where did you complete your internships? How did the experience prepare you for work in your field?

I completed three internships while studying at NC State. The first was a three-month internship at Cape Fear Country Club in Wilmington, focused primarily on organizing and running their junior golf camps, golf car fleet management and driving range operations. 

My second internship was at Desert Willow Golf Resort in Palm Desert, California. This was the most influential and educational experience of my time studying professional golf management. During this internship, we were exposed to nearly every aspect of the golf operation. We would work two days a week outside with the guest services handling bags and managing carts, and two to three days a week inside the golf shop, checking in golfers, booking tee times and managing the tee sheet.

My favorite opportunity was shadowing the lead instructor, Paul Beucy at the Palm Desert Golf Academy, as he conducted lessons and club fittings. This internship was incredibly helpful due to the structure allowing us the opportunity to see every aspect of the golf operation and get hands on experience. 

My final internship was at the World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Florida where I was able to get the majority of my tournament operations experience. We were extremely fortunate to have two championship golf courses which hosted several collegiate events, including the Peach Belt Conference Championship and most recently the King and Bear Classic Korn Ferry Tour event.

What was your favorite experience in the professional golf management program?

My favorite experience in the professional golf management program, aside from the amazing internships I was able to complete, were the relationships built during my four and a half years at NC State. Some of my very best friends to this day were a result of this program.

The professional golf management program for my class was essentially our own fraternity. We did everything together, from eating in the dining hall to tailgating for football games, to living together off campus. One month from now I will be flying to Wisconsin to be a groomsman in a friend’s wedding. We met the first week of freshman year and still talk on a regular basis. Those are the types of relationships that will last a lifetime.

What’s the best piece of advice you could give to a current College of Natural Resources student?

The best piece of advice I can offer a current student would be to get outside of your comfort zone. Enjoy every minute of being on campus with your friends and classmates.

The professional golf management program at NC State is such a special place and the family-like atmosphere that was created by the administration while I was on campus was incredible. That extremely comfortable environment had a trickle-down effect through the entire program, making it so much fun to be a part of. Enjoy it!