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Rye, NH
Head Golf Professional
ABOUT WENTWORTH BY THE SEA
ABOUT WENTWORTH BY THE SEA
Rye, NH | Wentworth By The Sea Country Club is a private family club rooted in over a century of history, focused on maintaining the quality, comfort, and prestige that members expect within a framework of Old New England style. The club is situated near historic Portsmouth, NH, featuring striking panoramic ocean views.
The core of the Club experience revolves around its amenities: an 18-hole championship Scottish links golf course, a modern tennis and pool complex, and a traditional clubhouse. The grounds also include a function pavilion used for seaside weddings, receptions, and various corporate and social events.
The golf course is notably historic. Built in 1897, it was designed by George Wright and Alex Findlay. Its creation was spurred by Frank Jones, the Wentworth Hotel owner, who responded to guests' desire for a local course. Around 1911, the course was significantly rebuilt by the legendary architect Donald Ross, and later expanded to 18 holes by Geoffrey Cornish in 1964. Today, it remains the only genuine links-style course in New Hampshire.
After 33 years, Head Golf Professional Gordon Sweenes will be retiring at the end of 2026. The club is seeking a professional who understands the significance of this heritage and is prepared to contribute to the operation and maintenance of this unique, historic facility. The successful candidate will have a year to work alongside Gordon and take over the day-to-day operations of the club.
CLUB DETAILS
CLUB DETAILS
Facility: Single Owner
Course Access: Private
Number of Holes: 18
Total Annual Rounds: 27,000
Number of Carts: 60
Members: 395 Members, 100 Social Members, 200 Sport Members
Initiation: $15,000
Annual Dues: $10,000
Golf Season: 8 Months
Club House: 12 Months
Practice Range: Yes
Short Game Area: Yes
Number of Staff Managed: 28
POSITION OVERVIEW
POSITION OVERVIEW
Title: Head Golf Professional
Reports to: General Manager
Supervises: All Golf Staff: Assistant Golf Professionals, Service Team, and Seasonal Staff
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Member Visibility & Communication: Maintain a highly approachable and visible presence across all golf areas (tee, shop, course). Utilize emotional intelligence and clear, proactive communication to build genuine relationships and foster a warm, familial club environment.
Leadership & Staff Development: Lead the golf department with professionalism and integrity, demonstrating strong operational acumen. This includes recruiting, training, and motivating a cohesive staff (including rangers and attendants) and upholding the highest standards of service and etiquette.
Customer Service & Trust: Excel at navigating member personalities, fostering trust, and resolving issues with grace, patience, and professional composure, ensuring every member feels seen and valued.
Program & Culture Enhancement: Enhance tournament experiences and creatively expand golf programming for all member segments (men, women, juniors, social players), focusing on increasing participation and building an inclusive, engaging golf culture.
Course Advocacy & Standards: Act as the primary member liaison to Maintenance and Club Leadership, proactively gathering feedback and advocating for course condition improvements. Consistently enforce club rules and course conduct with a balanced, member-first approach.
Key First-Year Successes
The Head Professional’s first year will be defined by success in the following areas:
Building Member Trust: Learning names, establishing rapport, and ensuring members feel valued from day one.
Ensuring a Seamless Transition: Successfully stepping into a long-tenured legacy role by maintaining continuity while gradually and thoughtfully introducing operational improvements.
Enhancing the Day-to-Day Golf Experience: Refining tee time systems, improving pace of play, and ensuring smooth tournament execution to the point where members feel an undeniable enhancement in the golf experience.
Team Development: Assembling a motivated golf staff with clear expectations and reliable service standards that reflect a top-tier private club.
Wentworth by the Sea seeks a leader who embodies confidence, organization, and integrity—someone who is not only the golf leader but also a community ambassador dedicated to upholding the tradition and advancing the member experience at Wentworth By The Sea Country Club.
EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
Including, but not limited to, the following:
Experience Leading Golf Operations: Prior experience as a Head Professional or substantial, high-performing time as a First Assistant is strongly preferred. Experience at equity or top-tier private clubs is a major advantage.
Exceptional Interpersonal Skills: Proven ability to engage members, manage diverse personalities, and maintain composure under pressure.
Operational Proficiency: Demonstrated acumen in tournament management (including technology integration like Golf Genius), staff oversight, and financial management.
Instructional Capability: Strong teaching skills, comfort with player development, and the ability to mentor staff in instruction.
Technology Skills: Proficiency in modern golf management systems, tee time technology, and communication platforms is required.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
The club will provide a compensation and benefits package commensurate with experience and qualifications.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
All applications MUST be submitted through the PGA of America's Career Services Department as described below.
Resume deadline is January 16th, 2026 at 11:59 pm Eastern Time
Combine your cover letter, resume, references, and any supporting documents into one (1) PDF document with the following file naming convention: Last Name, First Name, Wentworth by the Sea Country Club, Head Golf Professional
Please address all correspondence to - Mr. Chad Mitchell | General Manager | Wentworth by the Sea Country Club
David Wilson, PGA, and Scott Kmiec are leading this search, please contact them with any questions.
Email: dwilson@pgahq.com
The employer does not wish to be contacted at this time
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