Bob Kerber is a golf professional, not a professional golfer. There is a difference. Professional golfers -- like Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson -- play in various tournaments to make a living. Golf professionals, by comparison, are as deeply involved in the business of managing a course as they are in actual golfing. "In general, the golf professional is here to make sure the club runs smoothly and to make sure the members can enjoy their days," Kerber said. Still, it's a pretty good way to make a living. Kerber, a 30-year-old graduate of Norwin High School, knows that, having taken over as the head golf pro at The Club at Nevillewood Nov. 1. "We have 18 great holes of golf and one of the best practice facilities in the area," said Kerber of the course located in Presto, near Carnegie. "This golf course is challenging for golfers of all abilities from beginner to expert." Kerber's responsibilities include giving golf lessons, running club and corporate events, and acting as a rules official when needed. He manages the golf shop staff, too, and develops purchasing plans and budgets for the golf shop. When he gets a little extra time, he even does basic club repair for members. Kerber did not take a direct path to becoming a golf professional. He loved the sport and practiced regularly on the putting green his father Tom had installed a in their back yard. That helped him to become good enough to be a member of Norwin's varsity golf teams for four years running. Upon graduating from Penn State University in 1995 with a degree in accounting, though, he became an accountant and securities lending advisor with Mellon Bank. All the while, a little voice kept reminding him how much he missed working outdoors and with people. "I always loved golf and talked to some local PGA professionals," Kerber said. "They told me what the golf business was about and how to get involved." Kerber's path to Nevillewood began at McDain's Golf Center in Monroeville, where he worked as a teaching professional. He gave 25 to 35 lessons each week and studied golf swings and golfers' habits. From there he moved on to become the golf professional at Legend Trail Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz. Two winters there gave him experience both inside and outside the golf shop, where everything was based on customer service. He earned his stripes by serving as a starter, ranger and bag drop attendant while wearing every other hat imaginable as needed. When the director of instruction at McDain's moved to the same position at Nevillewood, "he put me in touch with the right people," Kerber, said, "and here I am. "All of my work experiences made me a good candidate," Kerber said. "At Mellon Bank, I developed an awareness for the business end of the corporate world. At McDain's, I acquired a good understanding of the teaching components of golf and the individual golfer's needs. At Legend Trail, I discovered what a golfer does from the time he arrives at a club until he leaves. "All of these were traits that Nevillewood was looking for and I happened to be in the right place at the right time." When he was first hired at Nevillewood, Kerber was the third assistant. In that role he made tee times for members, sold merchandise in the golf shop, and assisted in all member and corporate events. He succeeded in those roles and has moved up the ladder since. "I knew he was a special person when we hired him," said Jim Antkiewicz, Nevillewood's golf director. "At his first and only interview, he was the one asking the questions. "He has a special sense and feel of what golf is all about. He is a teacher, player, rules expert, merchant. He understands that end of the business and that playing is not the only part of the profession. He is extremely organized and one of the hardest workers I have seen on a course. His priorities are in line. He is just a great person." Although his job keeps Kerber at the course, his time on the fairways is limited. He averages about one round of golf per week. But Kerber doesn't mind if his score inches its way up ever so slightly. He's where he wants to be, and it doesn't his hurt his image if the members beat him at his own game. "I can still shoot some good rounds," he laughed, "but they don't come as often as I would like. Golf is a very difficult sport and you cannot expect to play well unless you are practicing or playing a lot."

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