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Introductory Statement

The name of the agency that this internship is being conducted at is The Wizard Golf

Course, located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina just off of highway 501. Due to it being a golf

course, it is technically considered a part of amusement, gambling and recreation industries. The

course itself hosts upwards of 200 golfers per day and even has a full pro-shop and clubhouse

that golfers can mingle in as well as purchase food and beverage.

History and Development

The Wizard Golf Course was originally built in the year 1996. It was originally built to

mimic a Scottish Highlands style course, but it has turned into a course that local golfers as well

as groups coming into town love to play. This agency has evolved from being a small place that

typically local people played, to a popular links-style course that golfers traveling all around the

US come to play as well. The terrain around the course has allowed the golfers to play a slightly

“mountainous” course that one may not typically find in Myrtle Beach, due to the fact that

Myrtle Beach is primarily flatlands.

Purpose and Philosophy

From my experiences at The Wizard Golf Course so far, the main mission/ purpose of

this agency is to provide golfers with an ample golfing experience without having to pay an arm

and a leg for it. The agency's philosophy is to strive to keep golfers happy without having to go

through all of the hoops that golfers typically have to go through to enjoy a golf outing in Myrtle

Beach. Sportsmanship is a major philosophy that is stressed upon at The Wizard. The agency

strives to keep both members and guests happy by making sure not to condone any sort of foul

play or cheating on the premises of the course. Golfers are expected to follow a specific set of
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rules and regulations while playing at the course and can potentially be in trouble if they fail to

abide by those rules. Good sportsmanship as well as fair play and fun are the utmost important

aspects for this agency (Ashton Gordon, personal communication, 2023).

Services

The services and activities that the agency consists of are obviously golf, as well as the

driving range and a free to use putting green for any guests of the course. The course offers many

different programs/packages that are available for golfers both locally and those who aren’t

locals to Myrtle Beach. Firstly, there is a member package that is available for Horry County

residents that consists of a 60 dollar enrollment fee and then each round the member plays after

that is only a cart fee with no green fee after 12:00 noon. This package is specific to locals and

eligibility varies depending on age. There are also many options for those who aren’t local

members. These packages consist of staying in the condos located around the course which gives

you a cheaper course rate to play and also the guest to a member package which allows a person

to play with a member for significantly cheaper than the tee time rate without the guest pass.

These services are all typically marketed through word of mouth from the pro shop and locals,

but there are also various online websites that allow golfers to gain knowledge on the course.

Clientele

There are a range of populations that are served at The Wizard Golf Course. The course

population typically consists of males ranging from ages 30-65, but there are also a fair share of

females who also come out to golf as well as children, and out of state residents. The

demographics of the clientele are usually consistent of white men, ranging from the ages of

30-55, and they usually play in groups of 3-4 golfers during the hours of 7:30-12:00 noon. There
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are some restrictions within the agency. We don't currently have any programs for golfers who

are handicapped to my knowledge. This could be easily changed with a little bit of thought into

the idea but it hasn’t occurred yet.

Funding

The funding for this agency all comes from income that is generated by the amount of

golfers that the course sees every year. There is a sister course to The Wizard as well, named the

Man-O-War. The courses are both owned by the same person and funds are used to help both

courses regarding maintenance and repairs. A majority of the funding that is made by the courses

goes to the maintenance and upkeep of the course, but there are also tournaments that are hosted

by the course that benefit homeless children, such as the annual Christmas tournament. I worked

the Christmas tournament this past December and 100% of the proceeds went towards a

homeless children organization.

Problem Areas

Some areas of concern for the agency are the rapid-growing development that is

occurring around Myrtle Beach at the moment (Ashton Gordon, personal communication, 2023).

There is a growing demand for housing in the area and this is causing buyers to offer large sums

of money for the property that the golf course is currently located on. A lot of other courses

around the area are currently being bought out and this is a concern for our property as well. In

order to address these issues, the course is making sure to try and stay busy with golfers in order

to continue to bring in good income to keep the owner as well as other golfers satisfied.

Responsibilities
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While working in the pro shop at the course, my typical duties/ responsibilities consist of

answering the phones to book tee times, checking in golfers for their rounds that day, and also

organizing/ cleaning the pro shop. If I’m working outside, the day typically consists of grabbing

golfers bags out of their cars and also loading them up onto their golf carts. I send them down to

either the 1st or 10th tee depending on where they are on my tee sheet. Typically, I answer to

whoever the head pro is that is working in the po shop on any day that I’m working, but that can

change if the GM happens to be there on any day. The only training and skills I received during

my practicum are how to book tee times through the OmniGolf website and how to work the

register in the pro shop. The head pro also taught me how to make membership cards when new

members sign up.

All of the RSM classes I've taken have prepared me for this through different concepts

that were taught. Two concepts that apply to this practicum the most are Title IX and also risk

management. We are sure to treat every golfer, whether male or female, with the most respect

possible. Risk management applies because we have a lot of golfers that come out and drink

while they play as well, so we have to ensure the safety of both them and others that are playing

on the course.

Opportunities

For students who are going to be enrolled in RSM 392 or RSM 496 in the future, The

Wizard golf course provides a lot of different roles that can help students gain attributes that they

haven’t had to work on prior to being involved. The Wizard Golf Course pays 7.25 an hour, but

when working outside at the bag drop there are also tips that can be given by golfers. This allows

students a chance to make money while learning how to work in the sports tourism or
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management world. The course doesn’t provide housing for employees, but they do provide a

free lunch for all employees who are working. In order to work, you must have your own form of

transportation to get to and from work as the course doesn’t have one to provide for you. The

requirements for employees are a polo shirt, tennis shoes, and presentable pants but not slacks.

The fall and/or Spring semester will make the days shorter due to the sun going down earlier, and

the summer will allow for longer work days due to the ability of the shop to be open later. There

are no special requirements as far as prior experience in order to be hired at The Wizard Golf

Course.
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References

Industry synopsis: NAICS 713910 – golf courses and country clubs - OECD. (n.d.). Retrieved

March 9, 2023, from https://www.oecd.org/sdd/prices-ppp/40435676.pdf

Wizard golf links. Myrtle Beach Golf. (n.d.). Retrieved March 9, 2023, from

https://www.mbgolf.com/golf-courses/myrtle-beach/wizard-golf-links

Wizard. MyrtleBeach.com. (2019, April 3). Retrieved March 9, 2023, from

https://www.myrtlebeach.com/golf/wizard/