Few PGA Members better reflect the value of continuous professional development (CPD) than Andrew McIntyre, whose career has been defined by an unrelenting drive to improve.
The Hilton Park General Manager started out as an Assistant Professional at Ranfurly Castle, where he spent seven formative years under the guidance of a PGA Advanced Professional. He later worked as a Teaching Professional at The Carrick on Loch Lomond before moving to Mar Hall Hotel Golf & Spa Resort, where he progressed from Head PGA Professional to Golf Manager. A return to Ranfurly Castle as General Manager followed before he took up his current position in 2020.
A consistent theme of that career journey has been his willingness to engage with educational opportunities, with one course in particular, part of the PGA Director of Golf Programme, having provided the catalyst.
"I've always had a passion for self-development, but this passion grew significantly after undertaking the Certificate of Golf Management Theory course with The PGA," he said. "I was able to broaden my knowledge and it undoubtedly reinforced the benefits of continuous learning and how this could best support me in my career development."
Since then, McIntyre has repeatedly sought further training opportunities and surrounded himself with others who share his enthusiasm for learning. He said the real motivation comes from seeing that knowledge translate into positive results.
"My motivation to continue to learn undoubtedly comes from seeing the benefits of applying my new-found knowledge in the workplace and enjoying the positive impact that this can have on others," he explained. "Whilst formal learning is great, never underestimate the power of your network and the knowledge that can be gained by simply picking up the phone to a colleague who is similarly passionate about learning and improvement."
The ability to turn learning into action has become one of the hallmarks of his management style. McIntyre said that embracing new opportunities for education allowed him to refine the way his teams operate and improve the efficiency of the business overall.
"By actively seeking additional learning opportunities, this allows me to implement new ideas, methods or to develop improved processes which ultimately will have a positive impact on the people that I work with and the overall efficiency of the business," he said.
He recalled one seminar, focused on employment law and disability discrimination, that directly led to meaningful changes at his club.
"This event allowed me to review our current practices and confidently implement some changes which have undoubtedly strengthened our compliance," he said. "Ironically, this has proven to be crucial since, with one newly created policy giving the club a structured document to refer to during a sensitive club matter."
Making the time to put such a keen emphasis on CPD has not always been easy, but McIntyre remains determined to maintain it as a high priority.
"The greatest obstacle has undoubtedly been finding the time to invest in my own professional development," he said. "That being said, I make considerable efforts to prioritise this. It's important that I also find learning opportunities which don't impact my work and home life. This can be as simple as listening to a podcast on the commute to and from work."
His commitment has also had a powerful influence on colleagues. He believes that setting the standard is one of the most effective ways to encourage others to grow.
"I think it's important that as a manager, you lead by example and demonstrate that you're hungry to continue to learn and to apply your new-found knowledge for the benefit of the team," he said.
For McIntyre, CPD represents much more than merely a professional obligation, as it offers a source of fulfilment and a pathway to continuous growth.
"I've always believed that new-found knowledge without action is simply time wasted," he said. "Improvement is an exciting journey and one which even the very best in the industry continuously undertake."
Find out more about The PGA's CPD offering and how it can support your own professional journey by clicking here.
