• Contracted Position, Minimum 3-Year Term

Wanaka Golf Club is seeking a PGA Head Professional to take ownership of one of the South Island’s most respected member-focused golf operations. This is a rare opportunity to step into a traditional, owner-operator Head Professional role.

The current Head Professional has spent a number of years building the foundations of a thriving club business and is preparing to move into retirement in March 2027. The Wanaka Golf Club is now looking for the right person to continue that legacy: someone who will protect what has been built, invest in it and grow it further for the benefit of the members and the wider Wanaka golfing community.

About Wanaka Golf Club
Wanaka is one of New Zealand’s most picturesque golf settings — a course renowned among members and visitors alike for its stunning lake and mountain views. They are a proud members’ course rather than a resort: affordable, welcoming, and built around continuity and genuine relationships rather than transience. The Club is also currently investigating a programme of facility and course upgrades, reinforcing its long-term commitment to the golf experience at Wanaka.

• Approximately 1600 members, including a strong country membership base
• Around 55,000 rounds played per year, with roughly 13% played by green fee visitors
• A pronounced peak season, with 30–35% of annual rounds played in January and February alone
• A well-established golf academy and coaching business, including a thriving junior programme of around 120 juniors per week
• A driving range operation forming a core part of the coaching business
• A club culture defined by approachability, continuity, and a strong sense of community, with a full annual calendar of club competitions run by the Club Captains

The Opportunity
The Head Professional operates as a contracted business owner, not an employee, reporting regularly to the General Manager and at least twice annually to the Board. You will be responsible for funding and stocking the retail shop, employing and managing your own team, and overseeing all aspects of golf operations while working in close partnership with the Club to align with its future strategy and reinvestment plans.

The incoming Head Professional will have the opportunity to negotiate an agreement to purchase the existing stock and plant from the outgoing Head Professional, taking on the rights and the responsibilities that come with running the business at Wanaka Golf Club. In return, you gain a self-determined, income-generating enterprise within an established and trusted club environment, with a transition plan in place to support a smooth handover ahead of the current Head Professional’s retirement in March 2027.

The Business
An 85 sqm Pro Shop and a dedicated workshop facility
A driving range operation, with the Contractor responsible for 50% of range balls supplied & replacement tokens.
Revenue is structured on a service fee / revenue-share (commission) basis with the Club

Key Responsibilities

• Fund and operate the Pro Shop retail business at your own cost, including stock investment, merchandising, and customer service standards
• Act as the key liaison with members and guests of the golf course, overseeing the tee sheet and bookings and the overall member and visitor experience
• Lead all golf operations including some tournament support, working alongside the Club Captains who run the Club’s full competition calendar
• Run and grow the Club’s golf academy and coaching operation, including the junior programme (around 120 juniors per week), working alongside two further PGA coaching professionals.
• Recruit, employ, and manage a peak-season team of coaching professionals, and assistants, all employed through the Contractor’s own payroll. (There are currently 11 full and part time staff).
• Meet regularly with the General Manager and Superintendent to align on course and operational matters and report formally to the Board twice yearly.
• Partner with the Club on its facility and course upgrade programme.
• Maintain the standards of continuity, approachability, and member-first service that Wanaka Golf Club is known for

What We’re Looking For
Current PGA Professional qualification, with proven Head Professional or senior retail/golf operations experience
A genuine entrepreneurial mindset and sound funding to support both the potential retail purchase and the ongoing cost of living in Wanaka
Strong retail and commercial acumen.
Demonstrated coaching and golf academy leadership experience, including junior coaching, or a clear strategy for growing this side of the business
Excellent relationship-management skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with a Board, General Manager, Superintendent, and Club Captains.
A long-term outlook — this is a minimum three-year contracted commitment, with the expectation of building a lasting, sustainable business at the Club

The Commercial Arrangement
This role is structured as a contracted position with Wanaka Golf Club for a minimum term of three years, reporting weekly to the General Manager and formally to the Board twice yearly. A contribution may be required to purchase the existing retail and golf operation from the current Head Professional, including existing stock and fittings, with a transition and handover plan to be agreed ahead of his retirement in March 2027.

The Club’s preference is to have the incoming Head Professional appointed by October 2026, to allow time for a considered handover. We recognise this is a significant financial commitment; especially the cost of establishing yourself in Wanaka.  The Wanaka Golf Club and the outgoing Head Professional are committed to working with the right candidate on the detail of the transition, funding structure, and timeline.

Why Wanaka?
Beyond the business opportunity, Wanaka offers an exceptional lifestyle in one of New Zealand’s most sought-after locations — lake, mountains, and a close-knit community, paired with a growing golf club that genuinely values its Head Professional as a long-term partner in its success. This is a chance to build something of your own, within a Club that wants to see you, and your business, thrive.

How to Apply
Confidential expressions of interest, including a covering letter and current CV, should be directed to the Chairman of Wanaka Golf Club – Terry Carr C/o Denver Dafoe (Denver.Dafoe@pga.org.nz). Enquiries regarding the role, the transition arrangements, or the equity and funding structure are welcomed and will be treated in strict confidence.

Applications close: 31st July 2026 at 5:00 PM

Contact: Denver Dafoe (Denver.Dafoe@pga.org.nz)