GBN University Podcast

Serving with Purpose with Hill Herrick | Episode 1204

Spencer Clouatre Season 12 Episode 4

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0:00 | 1:09:30

Live from the PGA Show, Spencer Clouatre interviews PGA professional Hill Herrick, longtime director of golf at The Greenbrier, about his career path and decades-long tenure there, plus his lifelong passion for playing French horn. Herrick contrasts the old, travel-heavy PGA training and pre-computer operations with today’s technology-driven education, instruction, tournaments, and booming retail. They also discuss The Greenbrier’s history, its Cold War congressional bunker, and relationships with figures like Sam Snead and Tom Watson. Herrick highlights challenges including declining service, high turnover, and whether simulators and entertainment golf will pull players away from outdoor golf, urging professionals to keep the human element, keep learning, and take accountability.


00:00 Live at PGA Show

01:09 Music and French Horn

03:01 Life at Greenbrier

04:07 Golf Beginnings

06:44 PGA Membership Path

08:19 Pre Internet Golf Ops

10:10 Mentors and Early Jobs

10:49 Work Ethic Roots

12:03 Why Stay at Greenbrier

15:08 Greenbrier History

19:02 Cold War Bunker Story

23:56 Golf Industry Changes

26:34 Ryder Cup Evolution

29:12 Next Gen Golf Pros

34:03 Trends and Tech Ahead

35:20 PGA Show Growth

35:34 Cart Tech Upgrades

35:52 Associations And Education

37:21 Tech Versus Service

39:33 Turnover And Burnout

41:31 Service Standards Culture

44:23 Simulators Threat Or Gateway

46:09 Too Much Lesson Data

54:02 Advice For New Pros

01:00:37 Mission Standards And Training

01:03:43 Human Element Finale


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