FAIRBORN, OH – The Southern Ohio PGA is thrilled to recognize Mizuno Golf’s Tim Botschner as the 2023 SOPGA Sales Representative of the Year.
Tim Botschner has excelled as a hard goods sales representative creating successful, meaningful partnerships with and providing high-level service to Southern Ohio PGA Professionals for almost five years. Beginning his career at green-grass facilities, Botscher learned what it takes to be a PGA Professional through positions as an Assistant Professional at clubs in Columbus and Dayton before transitioning to be a Sales Representative in 2018. As a student in the PGM Program at The Ohio State University, he explored all the opportunities the game of golf has to offer as a career and found a passion for the sales side of the business. In his experience, patience and hard work make all the difference in building relationships with PGA Professionals throughout Ohio. Although still early in his career, Botschner has achieved a dream role with a organization he has held a passion for as long as he can remember – a Mizuno Golf Territory Manager. He has been recognized for his outstanding work with awards including the 2022 Northern Ohio PGA Hard Goods Sales Representative of the Year, Mizuno Golf’s Rookie of the Year Award, and two-time recipient of Mizuno Golf’s Territory Managers of the Year Award.
Q: What does it mean to you to be named the Southern Ohio PGA Sales Rep of the Year?
TB: To be recognized by PGA professionals as the 2023 Sales Rep of the Year is an incredible honor, and very humbling. I am very grateful for the many outstanding partnerships I have created in a short time. In my early career as an Assistant Golf Professional and PGA Associate, I never thought this was a possibility. Not just earning a career in golf sales, but to be honored by the Section’s professionals as the best of the year is beyond what I thought possible.
Q: How did you get started in your career as a Golf Sales Rep?
TB: My original goal as an Ohio State PGM student was to find a way into golf sales upon graduation and be a part of this great industry. After school and five internships, I started my career in golf as First Assistant Golf Professional at NorthStar Golf Club in Sunbury and finished as Lead Assistant Professional at NCR Country Club in Dayton, before taking a field service rep position with another brand for just over a year. I wouldn’t change my path as an Assistant Professional for anything, as it was beyond valuable to learning what it takes to be a PGA Professional and has helped me immensely in creating a plan and partnership with PGA Professionals throughout Southern Ohio. I never had the ability myself to play at a high enough level to earn my PGA membership, and I knew this was a way to still have a positive impact on the game and be involved locally with growing golf.
Q: How would you describe your approach to representing your brand(s)?
TB: Mizuno was my first love, and my first staffing agreement as an Assistant Golf Professional in 2016. I was given a chance as a young professional with no game, and I’m forever grateful for that. Mizuno is a brand known for product innovation, quality, and reliability. At Mizuno we stand by the finest equipment and product in the world with a humble and respectful approach, which matches my personality perfectly. Loud and flashy isn’t my style in my presentations or on the range fitting golfers and members at my accounts. I want to create long-term partnerships with PGA Professionals who can count on me to handle their business as if it were my own.
Q: What key traits make a successful Sales Rep in the golf industry today?
TB: Honesty, reliability, and accountability. When I partner with a PGA Professional and others throughout Ohio, being trustworthy and likable is the #1 factor in finding success. Having great product like Mizuno has helped, but no one would want to partner with me if I didn’t follow through, communicate, be honest, and be relatable. There is no place for arrogance or showmanship in golf sales.
Q: What has been the most surprising / interesting thing about your career that you have experienced?
TB: Patience and hard work combined makes all the difference. Early in my career I would set these wild goals to achieve by certain ages and want to rush to get there. I worked as hard as I could to get there without taking any shortcuts, and to think by 31 I would be wrapping up my fourth year as a Sales Representative for the only hard goods company I have ever had passion for, is crazy to me. In my first three years at Mizuno I have already collected Rookie of the Year, and two National Territory Managers of the Year by Mizuno, plus Northern Ohio PGA Hard Goods Rep of the Year for 2022 and now SOPGA Rep of the Year. Each recognition means as much as the last, and only pushes me to do better the next.
Q: What would you say is the best part of working with Southern Ohio PGA Professionals?
TB: SOPGA Professionals have been so welcoming to me and open to having Mizuno in their golf shops as a partner. Their trustworthiness, humility, and integrity have made my job so much easier. Without great partners that work with me to be a part of Mizuno’s success, I couldn’t be here right now. So often I find PGA Professionals throughout Southern Ohio who are actively rooting for Mizuno and my success; I am incredibly grateful for all of my partners and anyone who has supported me over the past 3.5 years and the many more to come.
The Southern Ohio PGA recognizes a sales representative (hard or soft goods) serving the Section who has made significant contributions to the game of golf at the Section level and within his/her company and whose overall performance as a sales representative including service to accounts, overall integrity, courtesy, and professionalism is second to none. Click here to learn more about the Southern Ohio PGA Special Awards and to view previous recipients.
Botschner and all the 2023 Southern Ohio PGA Special Award recipients will be recognized at the annual Special Awards Celebration later this year. All members of the Southern Ohio PGA golf community are invited to join in the celebration. More information will be shared in the coming weeks.