Alumni Spotlight: Alan Rogut
Posted on September 12, 2018
Just before the turn of the Millennium, Alan Rogut set out to begin a new path in a new country. Rogut moved from South Africa to arrive in Southern California and start training for a career within the golf industry. After operating his own manufacturing and retail business for 15 years he sought a career in golf because he saw opportunity in the evolving field. Rogut’s research lead him to the Professional Golfers Career College. “I researched golf management schools in the USA as they did not exist in South Africa and PGCC seemed to tick all the boxes.” Rogut has since seen much success in the golf world and is currently the Golf Director at Pravets Golf Club, a Troon Golf course, in Bulgaria.
Alan Rogut was introduced to the game of golf by his father at the age of 7. He went on to play on the local South African amateur scene. As well Rogut represented his golf club, the Metropolitan Golf Club in Cape Town, “for many years in top amateur league golf.” Interestingly after graduating from the Professional Golfers Career College Rogut’s second job would bring him back to the Metropolitan Golf Club where he’d serve as the General Manager for four years.
Along with golf, Rogut played rugby and studied martial arts. He is also an accomplished musician. He attended Christian Brothers College in Cape Town and shares that after “I did my national service in the South African Navy and became a musician in the S.A. Navy band.” Rogut later shared his musical talents with PGCC which remains one of his favorite memories. “As a musician, writing and performing a song for the college – played at our graduation – with the collaboration of two of my friends was a highlight.”
After Rogut ran his own business for 15 years he sought “to pursue golf management realizing that the job of club manager was evolving from committee members running clubs to professionals with the proper expertise.” The Professional Golfers Career College was the clear choice for him. Rogut shares now that “In every sense PGCC gave me the structure and confidence to kick start my career in golf management.” From properly searching and securing the job you desire, interviewing insights, and “above all to have the knowledge and expertise to do the job.”
During his time at PGCC, Rogut made solid friendships which endure to this day. “There was a tremendous camaraderie amongst us and PGCC offers a wonderful network which remains relevant today.” Along with the growth of his network of golf professionals, “PGCC supplied a wonderful mix of academic and playing opportunities.” During his time here, he strengthened his computer skills, “learned how to construct business plans specific to golf courses, gained confidence in many areas such as public speaking, as well as developing a detailed understanding of the golf swing and teaching methodology.”
After his time at PGCC, Rogut returned to his home country of South Africa and “was appointed Golf Director at Durbanville Golf Club for 2 years.” Following that position was when he returned to his former golf club, the Metropolitan Golf Club, for 4 years as the General Manager. Rogut would then move to Bulgaria to pursue an opportunity to help launch a new golf course which would require him to utilize the tools gained at PGCC. Rogut describes the process at “St Sofia Golf Club … we opened after 2 years, having to complete the construction of the course and the clubhouse, put in systems, hire and train staff, and then market and operate the facility.”
Rogut then received an invitation to join the up and coming Bulgarian Golf Association. He was offered the position of Golf Development Manager with the goal “to construct a strategy and structure to develop the game from grass roots level.” A goal in which he succeeded at as he helped in “introducing approximately 6,000 children to the game during my tenure there.” Rogut was truly becoming a leader in the world of golf.
“After 2 years I was approached by Braemar Golf to take the position of Golf Director at the Pravets Golf Course in Bulgaria, which was a start-up and under construction.” He accepted and once again tapped into the database of knowledge gained at PGCC to help fulfill the given deadline of opening the course within 3 months. During that time Rogut worked on “completing the golf course construction, putting in the relevant systems, pro shop and merchandising, hiring and training staff…” Along with focusing on “preparation for a PGAs of Europe Championship and pro-am, which would take place as part of the opening ceremony.” Everything went according to plan and the opening ceremony was a success. The PGAs of Europe ran events at the Pravets Golf Course for 6 more years following the open.
Helping a course launch and seeing a project finish successfully is one of the most rewarding parts of Rogut’s work. Rogut gets great satisfaction in helping his staff develop and grow, which creates a greater experience for guests and facilitates a more seamless operation of the course. “The challenge of taking a project from start to finish and continuously adding value so that ultimately the financial projections can be reached I find exciting,” Rogut shares. Rogut has been recognized for his hard work having been “honored by the National Sports Academy in Bulgaria” for his contribution to the game of golf. He was also selected as one of three finalist “by the Associated Clubs of South Africa in 2005” which was another highlight of his career.
Rogut truly enjoys being a golf professional and is purely satisfied with the new career path he set out on nearly 20 years ago. “I love working with people and the opportunity to meet so many people from various walks of life.” He’s had the opportunity to golf with famed rock star Alice Cooper in Bulgaria. “I had dinner with Paul McGinley who was in Bulgaria to re-design a golf course and it transpired that Gordy Severson was his mentor – Gordy was also an instructor at PGCC during my time there.” Perhaps one of his favorite aspects of working in the golf industry is, “I can leave my office and walk onto the golf course and enjoy the natural landscape rather than working in a concrete jungle.”
For those shifting career paths or taking their first steps into the job world and considering the golf industry. Rogut shares, “There is no question that PGCC was instrumental in getting me where I am today.” To anyone looking to get into the golf business, “look no further than PGCC, not only for the excellent academic program they offer, but also for instilling the confidence and attitude that are demanded in the very competitive golfing world today.” Rogut still feels part of the PGCC extended family as the college was “very helpful in offering many levels of assistance after graduation.”
Wherever your path takes you, Rogut advises, “Continue to educate yourself after graduation, hone your social media skills and remain current.”
(Photos Taken from Alan Rogut’s Facebook)
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