Today we’d like to introduce you to Gena Dells.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I grew up playing golf with my mom and grandma and at that time there were very few ladies playing. I started the golf team at my high school and had to play with the boys because there were no other girls in my school that played. I loved every minute of it and knew that golf would be a part of my life forever. I played in college and decided to take a break my junior year to focus on graduating.
Once I graduated, I decided that I wanted to become a golf professional and help people with their golf swings especially women and children. I worked hard to become a PGA Class A golf professional in 2004 and since becoming a PGA professional I have witnessed many courses close in the area and have also been directly involved with change in ownership too when I was managing a course in Temecula. I now have found myself a magical new home in Carlsbad at a small Par 3 course called Rancho Carlsbad Golf Club. The course is a hidden gem right in the heart of Carlsbad and with some much needed TLC in the past 5 years since I have arrived, it is becoming the spot to be!
I have been having such a great time introducing new and seasoned golfers to experience the joys of golf in a welcoming atmosphere. I am a single mom and I am so blessed that I get to have my son be a part of this great community my staff and I have worked hard to create.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
The road to where I am now has been not smooth at all. I realized early in my career that I entered an elitist male dominated industry that can be cutthroat. Within the first 2 months of me becoming a PGA professional I was offered a job at a local private golf club to be unnamed and unfortunately the manager (who later became named PGA professional of the year) did not fire the person I was replacing.
I was given a call by the manager that hired me telling me the job was no longer mine. When I asked him why he said, “Well, we are a private golf course and it’s just the way it is.” No other explanation. I went back to my employer where I was finishing up my last 2 weeks and informed him that my job offer had been rescinded and he told me I was able to keep my job. Later that day he called me and told me I had to be off the property (I was still able to teach) by the end of the month because “that’s just the way it is”. No explanation. That was the first experience that made me stronger to tackle the next golf course a competitor which I was hired to manage and within first year we doubled our budgeted revenue. There are more hurdles but I could go on forever.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I love what the game of golf does for everyone’s health- what I mean is it just brings the best out of people and I love helping people find that joy. I am the general manager and my job includes pretty much everything from all financials, maintenance, golf shop, lesson/ game improvement, food and beverage and leading a great team to make sure all our customers have a great time.
I am most proud of making people happy and find a space where they are able to forget about everything else and just have fun!
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
The industry is in a huge shift at the moment since the pandemic. I was trying to compare it to something and only thing I can think of is when Tiger Woods was at his height the golf industry was booming and people were coming in droves to play because he made it fun and exciting. Now, with the pandemic a new crowd is taking up golf and people that have not played in years are suddenly back at it!
It is so fun to see new faces along with old friends that are excited to play golf again. The great thing is since we re-opened after the closure I, along with my staff have felt very safe creating an outdoor space that provides an escape from the unknown we are unfortunately all navigating. Golf is cool again is what I keep finding myself saying and if you go to any golf course right now you can feel it and honestly just see it with smiles and a welcoming atmosphere.
Contact Info:
- Email: gdells@touchstonegolf.com
- Website: www.ranchocarlsbadgolf.com
- Instagram: ranchocarlsbad3
- Facebook: Rancho Carlsbad Golf Club
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