Episode 021

Building Stronger Relationships for Career Success

with guest Eric Schultz

In the latest episode of Leadership on the Links, we were thrilled to host Eric Schultz, whose career journey and industry insights provide valuable lessons for golf professionals and enthusiasts alike.

Eric Schultz’s journey and insights provide a wealth of inspiration for anyone in the golf industry. His emphasis on relationships, empathy, and collaboration, combined with his personal anecdotes, make for a compelling and insightful episode.

From Humble Beginnings to Prestigious Clubs

Eric Schultz’s career path is a testament to the unexpected twists that can lead to success. Growing up in Buffalo, NY, with no prior golfing background, Eric initially ventured into various sales and teaching roles. It wasn’t until he discovered his passion for the golf industry that his career truly took off. Eric shared how he navigated his way through the golf world, including stints at renowned clubs like Pine Valley, and ultimately found his role as the Director of Golf at Colleton River Club in South Carolina.

Eric described his pursuit of a role at Pine Valley where he wasn’t actively pursuing the opportunity, but was recommended by the head pro at his club in Florida who had worked at Pine Valley previously. The interview process was informal – he was just told to wear a tie and if he got the job, he’d be the only one interviewing. Pine Valley saw something they liked in him despite his lack of experience. 

His story is a reminder that sometimes, the journey to our true calling is filled with diverse experiences that shape who we become. Eric’s transition from a non-golfing background to a leadership role in the golf industry illustrates how passion and perseverance can pave the way to achieving one’s career aspirations.

The Power of Relationships in Golf

One of the standout themes from our conversation with Eric was the importance of building and nurturing relationships within the golf industry. Eric emphasized that strong, authentic connections with everyone from superintendents to assistants are crucial for success.

At Colleton River Club, Eric has worked diligently to create a warm, supportive environment. He believes in developing his team members and fostering a culture where everyone feels valued, even if they eventually move on to new opportunities. This approach not only enhances team morale but also contributes to a positive and collaborative work atmosphere.

Eric focuses on consistency and routines like high performers do. He gives a lot of autonomy to his assistants to make decisions and fail, as long as they learn from it. He tries to understand their goals and enable them to move up in their careers, whether in golf or outside of it.

Handling Challenging Course Conditions

In a thought-provoking segment, Tyler presented a scenario where members were pressing the superintendent about less-than-ideal course conditions. Eric’s advice for handling such situations was grounded in empathy and open communication.

He highlighted the importance of understanding the concerns of all stakeholders and working collaboratively to address issues. Eric recommended a problem-solving approach that involves both the golf and agronomy teams, ensuring that solutions are effective and mutually agreeable. 

Identify the source of the issues through open communication between golf and agronomy leaders. Clearly explain the reasons behind the problems to members. Develop an action plan and get member buy-in. Invest time to have in-person conversations to turn members into supporters.

Soundbytes:

“You’ve got a network of people that you can call on, you have this fraternity of people that you just want to be with and the best of the people that like yourself, you get jazzed up to talk to you you hang up the phone inspired to go to the next thing.” 10:37-11:00

“The best professionals inherently have some of the softer skills early on. We can train the hard skills. The best that we hire have the ability to smile and have good soft skills, even if their hard skills are still developing.” 33:22-3:50

“The movers and shakers all know each other one way or another. It’s all interconnected. The power of three: even if you impact one person, they know three others, and so on. The networking power in this industry is profound.” 42:50 – 43:05

Quotes:

“Whether I was inspired to stay in it because I kept moving to the next spot, the responsibilities became more, and I spent time with people who I loved and with I loved.”

“I think there’s a lot of laziness around leadership and maybe part of the problem why we have a shortage or went through a period of shortage and people getting enrolled is because we weren’t doing a good job encouraging people and nurturing talent.”

“Building relationships is about finding common ground. Ask about their family, where they went to school. Spending time around the golf shop, asking for a golf lesson, and engaging in the game helps in building better relationships.”

“The best superintendents and people on the agronomy side that I’ve seen that network with the golf professionals have some ability to play and fast forward that and say, you know, what does a general Saturday look like? Well, it’s mow and go. Well, what does mow and go turn into mow and play with the nine hole, you know, the nine o’clock game and you did that once a month.”

Links Mentioned in This Episode:

Tyler Bloom Consulting: https://tylerbloomconsulting.com/

Connect with Eric on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-schultz-3b687443/I