07/08/2026
Never Too Old to Learn
People often assume that golfers make the best golf course managers. The logic seems simple: they know the game, they understand what players want, they can spot problems on the course quickly, they know how a green should feel, and they can talk easily with club members. On paper, it makes perfect sense.
But here’s the confession: I have never played a game of golf in my life. The last time I held a golf club was at a driving range in Mesa, Arizona back in 1994 😁. And yet, for the past three years, I’ve been managing a golf course.....a role I had never worked in before.
At first glance, this sounds like a mismatch. How can someone who doesn’t play golf manage a golf course? But here’s where the lesson comes in.....management is not only about technical expertise in the game. It’s about leadership, organization, and the ability to bring out the best in people and operations. I may not know how to perfect a swing, but I know how to build a team, create systems, and deliver experiences that members value.
In fact, not being a golfer has given me a unique perspective. I approach the course as a business, not just a playground. I listen more carefully to members and staff because I don’t assume I already know what they want. The best lessons I learned in the past 3 years was from members and my mentor Dato Paduka Beh.
So I relied on data, feedback, and observation rather than personal bias. And I’ve learned that humility. admitting what you don’t know.... can be a powerful management tool.
The bigger point is this: you are never too old to learn, and you don’t need to have “done it before” to succeed in something new. Every career pivot, every fresh challenge, is an opportunity to grow. Whether it’s managing a golf course without being a golfer, leading a resort without being a chef, or running a business in an industry you’ve never worked in before, the skills of leadership, adaptability, and curiosity are what truly matters.
So, while golfers may make good golf course managers, so can non golfers who are willing to learn, listen, and lead.
And sometimes, that outsider’s perspective is exactly what a place needs to thrive.