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Mike Rademaker is the new golf pro for Dickinson's Heart River Golf Course.
Rademaker has been a PGA-certified golf professional since January 2000.
A club professional is different from a touring professional, Rademaker explained.
"There's many different classifications of PGA golf professionals," he said. "There's PGA golf professionals who act as coaches, who act as general merchandisers, who run stores. There's lots of different faces a PGA golf professional has, but the most common are guys like me who run public facilities, private facilities. We do the business of golf."
Rademaker was inspired to take the job at Heart River to be nearer to his family.
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A native of Montana, born in Great Falls and raised in Lewistown, he has family in Billings.
Recently, Rademaker served in Grass Valley, Calif., as head golf pro and general manager of nine-hole country club.
He also served in Tacoma, Wash., as a facilities manager, running two golf courses for Pierce County.
"I ran an 18-hole golf course in Tacoma, at Lake Spanaway, and a nine-hole golf course in Fort Stellacoom," he said. "That was a fun four years in the Seattle area."
Rademaker's love of the game brought him into the business of golf.
"It's a sport you will never master, but it is so fun trying to master it," he said. "It challenges you mentally, physically and emotionally. And the fact that there's a lot of integrity in golf. It's the only sport I know of where you, in competition, call penalties on yourself."
The PGA has kept up with modern times, Rademaker said.
"It's a really big help for people like me," he said. "They provide a lot of resources, continuing education as far as teaching, financial management, club management, from managing fleets of golf carts, agronomy. There's just all kinds of things."
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He added, "The PGA makes it a point to force us to keep our education and training up to date so we actually are the experts in golf."
As Heart River's golf pro, Rademaker is in charge of day-to-day operations of the golf course, including its staff, merchandising, instruction, tournament operations, fleet of carts, security and more.
"My days are full, but I get to do a lot of different things," he said. "I get to meet people and work with people, work with customers and the staff. Just continue to upgrade the facility, and attract as many people to the facility as we can."
James Kramer, Dickinson Parks & Recreation executive director, called Rademaker a welcome addition the department.
"We are very lucky we attracted a golf pro of Mike's caliber," he said. "Mike brings a wealth of experience in teaching lessons, equipment merchandising and pro shop operations, and will be a tremendous asset."
He added, "Mike's personality and work ethic is exactly what we need to continue to elevate
the public's golfing experience at Heart River Golf Course."
