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PGAjay Golf Business Podcast

PGAjay Golf Business Podcast

By Jay LeDuc, PGA

A Golf Business Podcast for Golf Professionals who want to innovate and drive change in the Golf Business and their careers. Created by PGA of America Professional and change maker Jay LeDuc. I share my personal experiences and insights along my journey as a PGA Golf Professional, Strategist, Innovator and Creator and how they can be applied by golf professionals.
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Be Nice For You, Not Them

PGAjay Golf Business PodcastAug 16, 2019

00:00
03:42
Punishment By Promotion

Punishment By Promotion

Before you promote a high performer, ensure the promotion will put them in a position to continue to display the skills that got them the recognition in the first place.
May 29, 202105:35
Be Your Own Best Critic.

Be Your Own Best Critic.

Being openly critical of our own ideas and plans is a great way to show your value within an organization. It shows that not only were you creative enough to come up with a good idea, you were smart enough to know when that idea needed to be adjusted or killed. Be your own best critic, before someone else becomes your worst.
Nov 11, 202007:31
You Always Have a Choice

You Always Have a Choice

Sometimes a PGA Professionals and humans, we feel trapped like we don’t have any control over our career, life, or golf game. But by taking a few seconds to really look at we think is holding us back, you might be surprised at how much control you do have. Even if the decision you make doesn’t move you forward, at least it’s your decision and that’s the part that matters.
Oct 30, 202006:41
You Have To Drop a Few Balls To Get Better At Catching Them.

You Have To Drop a Few Balls To Get Better At Catching Them.

In an episode inspired by a game of catch with my son, we discuss how dropping the ball is all part of the process of learning to catch it. We discuss how this advice applies to your career as a golf professional and as a player. We also, talk specifically about how you can use this advice to help you pass the PAT after a first missed attempt.
Oct 22, 202008:38
3 Tips to Pass Your PGA P.A.T. (Player Ability Test).

3 Tips to Pass Your PGA P.A.T. (Player Ability Test).

Passing your PAT to become a PGA member can be on of the hardest steps in becoming a PGA Member. Even for the most accomplished player, the format of knowing the score you need to shoot messes with your head. Use these three tips to help overcome the challenge.
Oct 07, 202007:36
When you should quit on an idea, and when you should keep going.

When you should quit on an idea, and when you should keep going.

It’s hard to know if an idea is good or not and if you should keep going forward with it. So, instead of trying to figure out if the idea is good. Find out if you like the work of going after it.
Aug 31, 202003:44
Don’t Let Good Decisions Turn Into Bad Ones.

Don’t Let Good Decisions Turn Into Bad Ones.

In poker, you can make a good decision with the odds in your favor and still end up losing. The same can happen in your job and in life. The key is not letting those results cause you to make worse decisions next time around. Make the best decision you can based on what you know, and let the cards fall where they may.
Jul 16, 202005:31
Do You Have A Purpose or Just a Plan

Do You Have A Purpose or Just a Plan

We all had a lot planned for their year before fate intervened and threw that all on its ear. But when things change, do you have a purpose that you can fall back on to collect yourself and help you determine your next plan?
Jun 06, 202009:04
Getting the Right Job References

Getting the Right Job References

References for jobs always seem like that left step in the process of applying for a job and often get overlooked. In this episode I give a tip on how many defenses you should have and how to get the right ones for the right situation.
Jun 05, 202007:52
Why We Should All Be Ready For (and hoping for) An Eventual Decline in Golf’s Recent Popularity.

Why We Should All Be Ready For (and hoping for) An Eventual Decline in Golf’s Recent Popularity.

As golf courses and clubs around the world report record rounds and membership sales, let’s not all forget how we got here. Just because Golf is enjoying a surge in activity lately doesn’t actually translate to growth.
May 25, 202005:14
Will It Sell In Your Golf Shop?

Will It Sell In Your Golf Shop?

Picking new lines for the golf shop is always tough. And you never really know how it will do, and what your margins will be, until you have had time to sell it all through. This can take weeks or most often months to see the whole picture. In this episode I provide a tip for how to find out how an item will do much faster.
May 21, 202008:29
Are Premium Green Fees Acceptable During Covid-19?

Are Premium Green Fees Acceptable During Covid-19?

I’m not saying that clubs should, but is there a case to be made for charging a premium for green fees amidst the restrictions created by vivid-19? Is it price gouging? Aren’t you providing a better products under some of these restrictions? I look forward to hearing your reaction to the topics brought up in this episode and to any feedback you have on if you are doing this at your club.
May 14, 202006:47
Reduce Your Golf Shop Merchandise Inventory Levels Now

Reduce Your Golf Shop Merchandise Inventory Levels Now

With many golf shops still closed, inventory levels can remain higher than where you want them. Now is the time to look at where you need to be by the end of the year and start offering promotions to help get you there. You may have to give up the margins you were looking for for this year. But, just make sure you don’t sacrifice next year too by trying to hold out for higher prices. Use what communications channels you have to start some one day hot sales by email, social or website to start moving things now, before it’s too late.
May 11, 202006:26
Do This, Before Going Back To Normal at Your Golf Club.

Do This, Before Going Back To Normal at Your Golf Club.

There has been a lot of longing for life and golf to “Get back to normal.” But don’t forget to look at the changes you have been forced for make at your facility and ask yourself the question, “What parts of what we are doing are actually working better than before?”
May 05, 202006:50
Winning on Profit Margins, But Losing Profits

Winning on Profit Margins, But Losing Profits

Being more efficient managing your costs can be a good thing. But just make sure the systems you put in place to become more efficient, don’t create friction for your customers. You may end up making more per customer, but just having a lot less customers... and profits.
May 02, 202007:23
Don’t Plan the Ending to Your Story, Earn It

Don’t Plan the Ending to Your Story, Earn It

Sometimes we have an idea of how a plan will come together, other times we just need to start telling a story and let the ending reveal itself. This was a paraphrasing if a quote by Rose Tremain by the way. Hers was better but too long for the title. “ In the planning stages of a book, don’t plan the ending. It has to be earned by all that will go before it.”
Apr 09, 202007:46
Sharing the Action, NOT the Ambition

Sharing the Action, NOT the Ambition

There is no grand plan. But I just want to start sharing what I’m up to, without having to worry about where it’s going or what I’m trying to do with it. Let’s just enjoy the process together and I hope that helps more than anything.
Apr 06, 202005:04
Making Money While Your Golf Course is Closed

Making Money While Your Golf Course is Closed

With courses closing around the world, many Golf Professionals and Facilities are scrambling to find sources of revenue. With it being the start of the season, many golf shops are loaded with merchandise they can’t sell, and many golf pros are out of work. Over the weeks and months ahead I hope to share my own process of building and online golf shop to help golf shops do the same for themselves. I will also be sharing what I have learned about buying and reselling on eBay and Amazon in the hopes some out of work pros can make a little extra money during these tough times.
Apr 01, 202007:11
Golf Course Closures on the Rise

Golf Course Closures on the Rise

Based on a very unofficial pole I ran across socials it appears that the number of golf courses that are closing is on the rise as many cities and states mandate the closure of non-essential business.
Mar 26, 202006:13
What’s Happening at Your Club or Golf Course?
Mar 23, 202005:01
“Always think with your stick forward.” - Amelia Earhart

“Always think with your stick forward.” - Amelia Earhart

Sometimes you don’t have to know exactly what to do. You just have to focus on keeping your speed and your spirits up so that you avoid stalling out.
Mar 19, 202004:57
Making The Right Decision.

Making The Right Decision.

It’s not always about making the right decision, but making the decision right.
Feb 22, 202003:34
Accountability and Autonomy

Accountability and Autonomy

In this episode we discuss the relationship between accountability and autonomy and how managers and employees are held responsible for results.
Feb 10, 202005:37
Stop Telling Employees To Smile and Be Kind to Customers.

Stop Telling Employees To Smile and Be Kind to Customers.

This episode elaborates in a quote I put on Instagram (@pgajay) the other day. It was “Stop telling your employees to smile and be kind to customers. Instead, make them want to smile and be kind to customers.”
Jan 27, 202006:06
Keep Members Coming Back After The Off Season.

Keep Members Coming Back After The Off Season.

Giving an end of season gift that members will use on the off season will help ensure they return for another year.
Jan 18, 202002:29
Making Golf Work for Today’s Busy Golfer

Making Golf Work for Today’s Busy Golfer

The game of golf as we think of it most of the time, 18 regulation holes over 4-6 hours, doesn’t fit in to many peoples busy lives anymore. What if we started thinking about ways we can shape and adjust the golf experiences to satisfy the core needs of golfers without being stymied to traditional restrictions?
Dec 28, 201905:44
Creating Huge Excitement and Buzz Around A Skins / Horse Race Game

Creating Huge Excitement and Buzz Around A Skins / Horse Race Game

This Idea for a Skins / Horse Race event at your club could be just the ticket for drumming up some excitement around a short event at your club.
Dec 17, 201904:37
Instagram Can Build Up Your Golf Lesson Business

Instagram Can Build Up Your Golf Lesson Business

Giving free lessons has always been an effective way for new golf professionals (or professionals who are new to an area) to build up a client list. In this episode I talk about using Instagram to do this can be even more effective.
Dec 09, 201906:56
What Members, Margins and Merchandise numbers say about your Golf Shop

What Members, Margins and Merchandise numbers say about your Golf Shop

Splitting your members into different buying profiles can help you determine what is actually driving your golf shop profits and losses.
Dec 05, 201908:00
How Much are Your “Most Valuable Members” Costing You?

How Much are Your “Most Valuable Members” Costing You?

Sometimes the members you think are most valuable are actually the ones that are costing you the most.
Dec 03, 201904:59
Get Paid For Referring Members to The Club

Get Paid For Referring Members to The Club

In an recent poll I did among my followers on social media, I found out that 85% to 95% of Golf Professionals, don’t get paid for member referrals. In this episode find out how to change that trend.
Nov 25, 201909:08
A new beginning for PGAjay

A new beginning for PGAjay

November 19, 2019 Marks my first day as just PGAjay.
Nov 21, 201901:52
Old and Young Golf Professionals Tackle Social Media Together

Old and Young Golf Professionals Tackle Social Media Together

An original article posted on PGAjay.com. How young and old golf professionals can use their skill-sets to tackle social media together.
Nov 15, 201904:58
Where to Find More Videos on Social Media For Golf Professionals

Where to Find More Videos on Social Media For Golf Professionals

In this podcast, I talk about where I will be storing and organizing all fo the new educational content on social media for golf pros. Working to update my website PGAjay.com will be the perfect place to store it all where I can have a little more control. It's a work in progress still but you can go check it out at www.pgajay.com and while you are there be sure to subscribe for updates by email. And, let me know what you think when you visit so I can make it better for everyone.
Nov 05, 201903:45
S2 Ep2 - Why Golf Professionals Hate Social Media

S2 Ep2 - Why Golf Professionals Hate Social Media

Ok.... So not all Golf Professionals "Hate" Social Media. And there are some examples out there of clubs and pros that have used these platforms to increase very traditional metrics like, selling more outings, increasing rounds and many other things that are important.
But it takes understanding what the Golf Professional faces every day and the capabilities of the platforms to start to understand where we should focus our efforts.
I hope to create some videos base around specific interests of different Golf Professional roles and types of clubs, and share very specific but easy to adopt practices on some of these platforms.
Oct 30, 201912:47
How to Make Original Golf Instruction Videos

How to Make Original Golf Instruction Videos

In this episode. Golf Professionals and Instructors can lean how to make a little tweak to their golf content videos that will separate them from the crowd of other golf coaches and help them connect more with the people that matter the most.
Oct 24, 201904:27
Going Exclusive On One Apparel Brand In Your Shop...... Without the Risk.

Going Exclusive On One Apparel Brand In Your Shop...... Without the Risk.

There are a lot of great benefits to having an exclusive golf shop with one brand across all lines. There is also a huge perceived risk in making the all or nothing’s switch. Here’s and idea on how to test out being exclusive without over committing.
Oct 23, 201909:40
Rep Your Sales Reps To Sell More Golf Merchandise

Rep Your Sales Reps To Sell More Golf Merchandise

Creating a video with your Merchandise sales reps is a great way to build excitement around your golf shop, and to even pre-sell some merch. Thanks for the show idea Jake! He’s @jbutta on Instagram go check him out.
Oct 21, 201906:22
Don’t Count On Other People To Make The Right Decision

Don’t Count On Other People To Make The Right Decision

Never leave it to somebody else to make the right decision.
Oct 03, 201901:19
Putting Your “Best Sellers” To The Test

Putting Your “Best Sellers” To The Test

A great way to find out if you can or can’t do without something is to take it away and see what happens. From golf shop merchandise to extended teaching hours, sometimes cutting things out has less of an impact than you think it will. But sometimes the taking away will actually prove how impactful that thing is.
Oct 02, 201905:05
Being Better Than Average

Being Better Than Average

Make sure to make space for yourself to be exceptional in your career. Even if you current job responsibilities don’t include being exceptional. Make it a part of your job and your life.
Oct 01, 201905:52
The Greatest Golf Shop Credit Book Hack

The Greatest Golf Shop Credit Book Hack

I heard a great idea on how to handle credit book so members can’t clean you out at a discount at the end of the year sale.
Sep 26, 201901:54
Why I started making videos again

Why I started making videos again

Published 9-21-19. Recently started posting some VLOG videos. I did it because I needed to confront a little bit of fear about being judged and putting out content for people to see. But it was also a way for me to start thinking creatively again and see the world in a fresh way. I also think being able to produce an edit videos as a golf professional is a great skill to have an a great resource for any golf course to have as well.
Sep 21, 201903:14
Customizing Your Golf Shop Merchandising Operation Using Basic Technology

Customizing Your Golf Shop Merchandising Operation Using Basic Technology

How to use basic technology like email and text to offer your members a customized pre-order apparel offering.
Sep 16, 201907:21
It Shouldn’t Be That Hard

It Shouldn’t Be That Hard

Great little life and professional insight I picked up from someone recently.
Sep 15, 201901:24
Most Great Writers Were Great Readers First.

Most Great Writers Were Great Readers First.

Creating something new and different often requires pulling from all types of areas of expertise. In this episode I discuss how even creating something new requires us to educate ourselves and continue to educate ourselves through the process.
Sep 10, 201905:14
Get Members To Listen or Watch Your Golf Shop Content

Get Members To Listen or Watch Your Golf Shop Content

How to get members to customers to tune in, and keep tuning into your golf shop merchandising podcast or social media content.
Sep 04, 201902:46
If You’re Not First, You’re Last

If You’re Not First, You’re Last

In this episode I take some inspiration from one of the great sports films of all time, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. Reminding us that you’re always first if nobody else is in the race.
Sep 03, 201906:17
Junior Golf Equipment Pre-Orders and Membership Retention.

Junior Golf Equipment Pre-Orders and Membership Retention.

How creating a Junior Golf Equipment Preorder for the next year can not only grow the game but improve your membership and customer retention.
Sep 01, 201905:07
Holiday Party Sales Without Additional Inventory

Holiday Party Sales Without Additional Inventory

An idea for a Special order Christmas sale at your club Holiday Party.
Aug 30, 201902:50