5 minute read
Know your PGA Pro: Quintin Byleveldt, Director of Golf - Pinnacle Point Estate.
Quintin Byleveldt, Director of Golf - Pinnacle Point Estate
1. When did you qualify as a PGA Professional?
I studied Sport Management at Tshwane University of Technology in conjunction with the PGA. I very quickly realised that I love the game of golf more and qualified as a PGA professional in 2011.
2. What made you choose this career?
I grew up with golf, so why not make your hobby your job?
3. Has it always been golf for you?
Yes absolutely!
4. Did you ever play or did you ever want to play on tour?
Yes, I think it’s any schoolboy’s dream.
5. You have been in the golf industry for a long time, who has been your biggest mentor?
I qualified in 2011 so I am going on 11 years in the industry, I was fortunate to work at Sun City and my hospitality General Manager at the time, Raul De Lima was such an inspiration, managing 2000 plus staff and being able to make time for each and every person when needed!
6. You were at Sun City before moving down to the coast, what has been your biggest challenge at Pinnacle Point?
The weather and moving from a corporate environment with all the power and say to a committee that guides and advises you.
7. Describe a typical workday for you at Pinnacle Point?
I’m at the club at 7am and make sure all the golf carts are out. I do a meet-and-greet, make sure the pro shop is open, then check my emails.
At around 11am I take a drive around the course with the greenkeeper, we normally plan things the day before. In the afternoons I make sure the members are all good; I spend time with them upstairs, listening to their comments and feedback.
Around 4pm I take a last drive around the course, make sure the carts are clean, the GPS system is updating, and then I go through my emails again and say goodbye.
There are a lot of unseen things, though, like budgeting, preparing the course, generally being on duty.
On Wednesdays I play with members, which helps give me a feel of their expectations. There’s been a mindshift for members. We’re now winning awards and the golf course experience is reaching a standard where we want it to be.
8. Has golf grown in your opinion over the last 2 years?
Absolutely, golf has benefited from sport hungry people that came out of the covid-19 epidemic wanting to play a sport. Golf was the safest sport to practice and a lot of people took up golf to exercise.
9. With consumers already being careful on how they spend their money these days, what is your plan to attract people to the Club?
We do a lot of up-selling. We don’t discount our golf course, due to the quality of product.
10. Slow play is one of the biggest problems in golf today, how do you manage slow play at Pinnacle Point?
We are very fortunate to have a fantastic marshal and our GPS system monitors all carts. In my opinion this problem has come from a lot of new golfers that have entered the game and who have never learnt the etiquette and rules before going out on the course.
11. The members of a golf club always come first. Do you agree with the phrase “The member is always right”?
I am more of a Richard Branson manager where I look after my staff and they in return take care of my customer which gives me limited complaints.
12. Does your position require you to be available on weekends, evenings, and holidays, and if so, does this place demands on your personal life?
Well, all Golf Directors and Club General Managers will tell you that this industry is one where it requires all your attention if you want to be the best at what you do. I work 11 days on and 3 days off, that has up to now given me a good balance.
13. What are your short & long term goals?
I am living in heaven here at the beautiful Pinnacle Point so for a lot of people this is the ultimate and you have achieved greatness.
So short term is to be with Pinnacle Point for at least another 10 years.
Long term, is to look at opportunities across the water.
14. What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I love fishing and spending time with my family on the beach.
15. Do you still get time to play?
Once a week in the club competition with our members.
