- Facility: Awbrey Glen GC
- Hometown: Grew up in Kelso, WA, currently Bend, OR.
- PGA Member Since: 2008
A lifelong golfer, Tommy Berg started in the golf business while still in college, working as a cart attendant. The following year, he was promoted to supervisor and moved up to the golf shop. He became a PGA Professional in 2008 and has been working at Awbrey Glen since 2010.
“I’ve had the opportunity to work for some outstanding professionals in my career, including Mike Oberlander (Ironwood CC, Palm Desert, CA) and Doug Doxsie (Seattle GC). I learned a lot from both Mike and Doug about planning ahead, preparing early and being available and visible for members.”
Because Tommy Berg is so available and visible to members, Tim Fraley nominated him to be featured in this article. “Tommy consistently provides quality service to members and staff as the Associate Head Professional,” said Fraley.
We asked Berg to share some of his tips for success. His philosophy consists of two key components – interacting with staff and interacting with members.
“With staff, my goal is to provide positive feedback to each staff member every day,” said Berg.
- Staff members want to know they are appreciated. Make sure they know what they are doing well.
- Positive interactions also make it easier to educate staff about areas that are lacking.
- New staff members need constant and consistent positive interactions with management.
- Train staff early on, in this manner, to be aware of their surroundings and alert to member needs.
As for member relations, Berg stated, “It’s more than providing great customer service, it’s building relationships. The more I know about each member, the more I can provide the service that makes each visit to the club more enjoyable.”
- My goal for each interaction to make sure the member feels welcome and cared for.
- My overall goal is to build a relationship with each member and find out what about Awbrey Glen they enjoy most.
Berg, who recently earned certification in the PGA Master Professional Program, feels that education is an important part of the profession and serving his members.
“There have been a few educational opportunities I’ve been working on or looking forward to for a few years. Three came to fruition this year, as I completed the Certified Professional Program in Golf Operations, became a U.S. Kids Golf Certified Coach and attended the USGA/PGA 3 ½ Day Rules of Golf Workshop. All three provided great opportunities to expand my knowledge and improve my services to Awbrey Glen and our members.”
Congratulations, Tommy Berg!