Pat Finlen has had an iconic career in the golf course industry as a superintendent, a director of grounds, and as a general manager. At The Olympic Club, he hosted the 2012 US Open. Pat recently switched gears and became the Executive Vice President at Denehy Club Thinking Partners, a staffing and recruiting company that specializes in placing general managers and golf course superintendents.
In this conversation with Joel Simmons, Pat gives us some insight into the hiring practices of clubs, what they are looking for, and some tips on how to get the job. When asked how he felt about the change of careers he reminded us that one of the most important jobs a Superintendent or a General Manager has is recruiting the right people and he had been doing it his whole career. We talked about some of the changes that are occurring in the industry, how golf courses are becoming much more family focused, and how these changes impact both the Superintendent and the General Manager.
Pat feels the future for both positions is very bright and salaries continue to rise. However the labor market continues to be tight but hopefully there is a light at the end of the tunnel on this front. It is always great catching up with Pat and this conversation is an important one for anyone in the business.