My DipHE helped me get a job at a major venue in the USA
PGA Member Chris Finnie completed the Diploma in Higher Education in Professional Golf (DipHE) in 2024, and it didn’t take long to put his qualification to use.
Just a few months later, Finnie joined Atlanta Athletic Club, a major championship venue in America, as an Assistant Professional.
Finnie worked there for a year, utilising key skills in coaching and business from the three-year course delivered by the University of Highlands and Islands (UHI) in Scotland.
Here, Finnie describes his experience of the DipHE, how he juggled his studies with working at Gullane, and how he used his studies to thrive in Atlanta.
How challenging was it to balance study with work?
I worked at Gullane the whole time throughout my three-year degree.
It was quite a challenge at times. One of the big benefits was, because it's a hybrid course, a lot of it was online, that makes it a bit easier.
There are a few one-day assessments that you need to attend, but it's a challenge.
Which parts of the course did you find most valuable?
I liked the business side a lot. Business and coaching were the two things because they are two passions of mine. They were both great.
Having that in-depth look at how to run a golf-specific business, and what's entailed with that was really good.
If you’re doing anything in the golf industry, it should be paramount that whether you're coaching or retailing or custom fitting, it falls under that umbrella of business.
I love coaching, so being able to learn more about that, looking at the old school models of John Jacobs was great, and how coaching has evolved over the years.
Pictured: PGA Member Chris Finnie
What was remote learning like?
I liked it a lot, just because we were so busy at work. There was a commitment to go in on the odd day, but nothing too strenuous.
There’d be deadlines for assessments for a month or two, you can sit and pick away. You've got to educate yourself a little bit. But the great thing is, you're set a tutor for your year, and you can always reach out to them with any questions.
The tutors at UHI were great in getting back in touch. If you emailed or called, they were there to help.
How much would you encourage people to do the degree?
I couldn't advise you enough. If you just engage yourself, you're going to learn good things that you can take into their day-to-day role.
It can be time consuming when you're working, but you're going to learn something that's going to benefit you. I would say it's paramount to any professional.
How did the DipHE help you secure and excel in your role at Atlanta Athletic Club?
I was on a J1 visa, and I got that through completing the degree within 12 months of going out there. That was a benefit.
A lot of the coaching I learned is present in my philosophy. That was a big thing.
Looking at the retailing side, that element of the degree I was able to use at Atlanta. Through the degree course, and through my time at Gullane, I was able to bring that to the fore at the Athletic Club.
There are lot of tournaments at the club. We all got assigned a number of tournaments that we looked after for member groups.
You’d go through a billing process and use spreadsheets to keep on top of the finances. That's where that business degree came in very useful.
It's a big move away from home, but I would strongly advise it. On a personal level and life skills, it teaches you so much, moving away to a new environment and dealing with stresses and challenges.
The ability to go and see a different operation makes you a better professional and better person.
What steps did you take to work at Gullane?
I grew up in the south-west of Scotland, so I relocated when I went to Gullane. They call it Scotland's Golf Coast. There are so many golf courses there.
I wanted to start at a high-end club, and Gullane was perfect, because it's such a big, busy operation. You get exposed to all the elements. You get exposed to the retailing, coaching, integrating with people – you do everything.
I saw the job advertised on the PGA website, and I wanted to get involved in the golf industry.
What would be the main takeaways from working at Gullane?
The value in relationships with people involved in the golf industry, members, and other members of staff.
Golf is a relationship industry, and it really highlighted to me how important relationships are, and the value of hard work.