Who has a better job than a golf professional? No one—at least according to Heath Wassem.
“Most guys are jealous of my office,” he says. “It’s a beautiful golf course. And my wife doesn’t nag me about playing golf all the time because that’s my job.” The 44-year-old pro has been at Fenway for the last 14 years.
Golf has always been Wassem’s life. “I chased the dream,” he explains. “I played the mini-tours, went to Q-School, then lost to Andy Bean in a playoff and decided I was done. Q-School was the worst and best experience of my life. You can’t make a single mistake.” He also missed qualifying for the European PGA by one shot. He settled at Fenway after stints as an assistant pro on Long Island and in Florida.
With a typical workday running from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and days off during the season few and far between, Wassem does admit that he doesn’t get to spend quite as much time with his three kids as he’d like, but there are compensations. “During the season,” he explains, “I don’t have much spare time at all, but during the winter months I look forward to spending time with the kids, shuttling them to school and things like that.” His wife, Rebecca, manages the golf shop for him as well. His official season runs from March through Thanksgiving, although he also teaches during the winter months and meets with various member groups to coordinate their events; works on the retail shop to get it ready for the next season; and, like any manager, has paperwork to deal with.
Wassem enjoys teaching the game, particularly giving playing lessons. “I play with members quite a bit,” he says. “They also encourage me to play in tournaments, which is a key part of the job since it keeps my game sharp. It gives me credibility as an instructor and helps me advise members in their competitions.”
