GMs at Golf Resorts Command Healthier Bonuses, Whopping Salaries Over Peers

By: Keith Kefgen and Rosemary Mahoney - Aug, 1997

Quote from Shivas Irons Golf in the Kingdom "It is important to remember that your handicap is not an exact match of your soul. It is your relation to your score that really matters"

The same holds true in the business world. What you earn does not define you. It is how you get paid and what you do with it that matters. As an update to a similar study we did in 1994, we surveyed General Managers at resort properties that off golf. We found that the average salary of a golf resort General Manager is now 2.5 times greater than the national average for a typical hotel GM.

Salary Survey - Golf Resort Managment Positions *represents total compensation

Source: HVS Executive Search

Position Mimimum Base Salary Average Base Salary Maximum Base Salary
Golf Resort General Manager $95,000 $174,681 $350,000
Director of Golf * $55,000 $108,113 $250,000
Director of Golf Course Maintenance * $48,000 $80,176 $135,000
General Manager Nationwide $15,000 $67,496 $350,000

Bonus Survey - Golf Resort Managment Positions

Source: HVS Executive Search

Position Minimum Base Bonus Average Base Bonus Maximum Base Bonus
Golf Resort General Manager $0.00 $38,087 $96,250
General Manager Nationwide $0.00 $10,133 $175,000

Furthermore, the average golf GM's salary rose by approximately $13,000 or 8% from 1994 levels. The average bonus on the other hand remained flat at about 24% of base salary. The survey results were based on data from 51 golf resorts in the continental United States, compared to 134 standard resorts and 4,886 hotels overall.

The Director of Golf and Director of Golf Course Maintenance positions saw average compensation move to $108,113 and $80,176 respectively. This represented a 10% increase in pay over 1994 levels.

It appears that golf courses still have a positive effect on salary. Managers of resorts that offer golf earned 19% more than their counterparts at resorts without golf. So for you non-believers, it's time to join the Golf Kingdom.

HVS Executive Search is a Mineola, NY based human resources consulting firm. The firm is headed by Keith Kefgen, President, and Rosemary Mahoney, Director. HVS Executive Search provides retained executive search, compensation consulting, employee-opinion surveys and organization development.

For additonal information contact the firm at

HVS Executive Search

372 Willis Avenue

Mineola, NY 11501

Phone: 516-248-8828 Fax: 516-742-1905

or Email Mr. Kefgen at kxk@hvs-intl.com


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