how to become a pga golf pro at a golf course

by Flavie Cronin 10 min read

How to Become a PGA Golf Pro.

  • Get a Job in the Golf Industry. If you don’t already have, the first thing you will need is a job in the golf industry.
  • Pass a Background Check.
  • Pass the Entry Exam.
  • Prove Your Golf Abilities.
  • Register and Begin Your Course Work.

In order to become a golf pro certified by the Professional Golf Association, there are several steps that you can take:
  1. Complete a background check. ...
  2. Become employed in a golf-related field. ...
  3. Pass the qualifying courses. ...
  4. Complete the PAT. ...
  5. Earn a bachelor's degree or complete an apprenticeship. ...
  6. Continue practicing.
Jun 17, 2021

Full Answer

How to get PGA certified?

Staff members of a golf facility who are seeking to become PGA members can do so through a combination of course study and on-the-job mentorship by the club’s head professional. The apprentice must...

How do you become a member of the PGA Tour?

Welcome to The PGA Your career in golf begins here – it's great to see you Discover Meet some of our Members Get inspired by current PGA Professionals, Coaches and Managers ... Why Become A PGA Pro? Discover. About The PGA. Discover. Women in The PGA. Discover. Virtual Open Day. Find Out More. What our students say. Find Out More. Enquire Now.

How to become a PGA Class A member?

Take qualifying courses and pass a test on many subjects with 10% of the curriculum being golf instruction. Complete three levels of coursework within eight years. Travel is involved to take examinations and therefore additional costs associated with travel. 3- 4+ years. Have a golf-related job for at least two years.

Who are the best players on the PGA Tour?

Become a certified Class “A” PGTAA Master Teaching Professional and boost your golf career and income! We offer the “ Original ” Home Study Course for your certification and our optional 5-Day On-Site Course ( restrictions apply ). Home Study Course 5-Day Onsite Training 1 2 3 4 5 SPECIAL OFFER SPECIAL CERTIFICATION FOR FORMER PGA & LPGA MEMBERS

How do you become a PGA Tour pro?

To become a professional golfer, you must play golf regularly. Dedicate time to practicing your short game and putting, as well as hitting fairways and greens. Begin by dedicating 10 hours per week playing golf on a golf course, in a variety of settings. Work your way up to 20 hours per week of golf practice.

What does a golf pro do at a golf course?

A golf club professional is an expert golfer who helps run a golf club and teaches others how to play the game. The specific duties of golf club professionals, or "golf pros," vary depending on the size and type of club where they work. The smaller the club, the more likely they are to wear many hats.

How long does it take to become a PGA professional?

The PGA of America allows up to eight years to complete the program—the average is four years. In Canada, passing the PAT is followed by the submission of a membership application and successfully navigating these four courses: Instructor of Beginner Golfers Workshop.Jun 30, 2021

What handicap do you need to be a PGA pro?

The majority of top golf professionals played to handicaps of +4 to +6 before entering the professional ranks. Some current pros still hold active handicaps, and these serve to highlight how much better than “scratch” they really are.Jan 27, 2016

How hard is it to become a golf pro?

Research indicates it could take seven to ten years to become a top professional golfer. It has been reported that athletes need 10,000 hours of practice to master a skill, but practice quality also counts in becoming a professional golfer.

How much does a golf pro make?

The salaries of Golf Pros in the US range from $73,478 to $105,174 , with a median salary of $82,469 . The middle 57% of Golf Pros makes between $82,469 and $89,955, with the top 86% making $105,174.

Can I become a pro golfer at 40?

The good news from the research is that players can still turn professional even in their early 30s. It was also found that the best years for a golf professional are between 30 and 35, although plenty of tour players have shown they can still win tournaments in their 40s.

How do I get my PGA card?

Win a PGA Tour Event or Major Championship Anybody who wins a PGA Tour event gets an immediate two-year PGA Tour exemption. This means that any non-member who gets into the field at a PGA Tour event via a sponsor exemption or Monday qualifier, and goes on to win that event, gets their PGA Tour card.

Do PGA pros pay green fees?

The only expense he must pay to play in a tournament is a mandatory $50 locker room fee. Most professionals competing in a pre-tournament qualifying event pay entry fees of $400 apiece, except for Champions and Nationwide Tour players ($100 each) and non-exempt PGA Tour members (no entry fee).

Is 7 a good golf handicap?

Congratulations. As a 7-handicap, you're in the top 21 percent of male golfers—top 3 percent for females—according to the United States Golf Association. A professional career isn't happening anytime soon, but you should be proud of the level you've attained.Feb 20, 2018

How hard is it to become a PGA Tour player?

Professional golf is one of the toughest careers you could ever consider pursuing. The mind-set for professional golf is relatively easy to understand - achieve a low golf score average in tournaments, but the application of this is extremely difficult to achieve. “I lived on the road for 15 years.

What is a good golf score for professionals?

A good score for a professional golfer is typically under 72. Professional golfers are a clear outlier in this discussion. Typically, the pros perform somewhere below this 90 stroke average and often have games below the 72 stroke par of a course.

How long does it take to become a PGA member?

To become a Class A member of the PGA, you must be employed in the golf industry for 12 months, pass a playing-abilities test, go through a professional-readiness orientation and pay all PGA apprentice fees.

What is a class A member in golf?

This means you are not only teaching students, but you also are in charge of all employees who keep the golf course running and teach other students.

Who is Steve Silverman?

Steve Silverman is an award-winning writer, covering sports since 1980. Silverman authored The Minnesota Vikings: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly and Who's Better, Who's Best in Football -- The Top 60 Players of All-Time , among others, and placed in the Pro Football Writers of America awards three times. Silverman holds a Master of Science in journalism from the Medill School of Journalism.

Is being a class A member of the PGA a good thing?

However, that title doesn't make you a good teacher. In addition to having the skills yourself, you must be able to demonstrate them to your students and advise them of errors and flaws. You must also listen to questions and answer them. It's all about communication when you are working with students.

How to Become a PGA Golf Pro

A PGA Golf Pro is usually someone who runs a golf course or has a golf-related professional and will be responsible for teaching, running tournaments, and other related tasks.

How to Become a Touring Pro

Becoming a touring pro requires much less formal coursework than becoming a PGA golf professional.

Final Thoughts

If you’re an avid golfer with a dream of making the game into your career, you have options to make this dream reality.

How long does it take to become a pro golfer?

The Pro Golf Association will also require that you have six months of relevant employment experience at the time of registration. You can find an extensive list of what jobs they consider relevant on their website. If you meet these requirements you will be able to begin the first steps of the program.

How many hours of experience do you need to become a PGA professional?

Amidst all of this you will also be expected to get thirty-six hours of experience. These experience hours can be collected through a wide variety of ways, including college courses. Otherwise, you can earn one credit a month working alongside a certified PGA professional.

Can everyone be a golf pro?

The truth of the matter is that not everyone can be a golf professional. If you play a few times a month and struggle to break bogey, chances are the life of a golf pro probably is not for you. Disappointing, I know, but don’t fret too much. There are plenty of careers in golf that don’t hinge on your ability to teach or play the game.

Is free equipment a guarantee?

Free equipment is not necessarily a guarantee, especially not before you have established yourself, but once you do get settled in as a professional, you can expect to get some free goodies.

Is it easy to become a golfer?

Becoming a golf professional (the teaching kind, not the Tiger Woods kind) isn’t easy but that doesn’t mean that you can’t do it. There are plenty of people who are paying their bills by their love of golf and with the proper practice and knowledge, you can certainly be one of them. If you want to make money doing the thing that you love the most, ...

What is the best way to become a pro golfer?

Developing an outgoing personality and the ability to listen to customers’ needs and concerns are important aspects of becoming a pro. Giving lessons to club members or daily fee golfers also requires a winning personality and a positive attitude.

What is a golf pro?

A golf pro at a club must be a proficient player and instructor. At both public and private courses, the head golf professional oversees the operations of the golf shop, including merchandise sales. The head pro may also give golf lessons, but at some golf facilities this is done by a teaching professional--a separate position.

Who is Brian Hill?

Brian Hill is the author of four popular business and finance books: "The Making of a Bestseller," "Inside Secrets to Venture Capital," "Attracting Capital from Angels" and his latest book, published in 2013, "The Pocket Small Business Owner's Guide to Business Plans."

How to become a golf teacher?

How to Become A Professional Golf Teacher 1 Pass the Player Ability Test (playing 36 holes in one day with a specific score) 2 Take qualifying courses and pass a test on many subjects with 10% of the curriculum being golf instruction. 3 Complete three levels of coursework within eight years. Travel is involved to take examinations and therefore additional costs associated with travel. 3- 4+ years. 4 Have a golf-related job for at least two years 5 Pay fees – The cost to attend PGA of America ranges from $7,500 to $10,000 depending on the qualification, with a median cost of $7,500. Annual due are $561.00

What is the PGTAA?

For the past 23 years, the PGTAA has been considered the premier golf-teaching organization in the United States, Europe, and Africa. PGTAA graduates hold positions throughout the world including those of Director of Golf, Head Teaching Professional, ...

Who is Terry Ross?

Terry Ross. Terry Ross has covered sports as both a print and radio journalist for more than 45 years and is the Associate Editor of Golf Vacations Magazine. He has served as a consultant to the golf industry in a variety of capacities, including PGA Tour events.

Who is Leonard Finkel?

Leonard Finkel is the author of The Secrets to the Game of Golf & Life and former editor in chief of Golf Journeys Magazine. His work has been featured in almost 200 publications including Golf Magazine, Golf Digest, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Golf Illustrated, Golf Tips, and Player Magazine. He has written more than a dozen cover stories for Golf Today Magazine. He has written extensively about golf and travel and added poker to his writing repertoire and also works as a marketing and public relations consultant. Prior to his career in golf, Finkel owned a chain of retail stores and a consulting and import company based in Asia. He attended the University of Utah.

What is PGTAA certification?

Next to the PGA, the PGTAA certification and credentialization are the most highly sought after teaching designation in the golf industry. In recognition of the industry’s growth, and in response to the demand for qualified teaching professionals, the PGTAA was established to provide extensive training to individuals as well as recognized golf teachers with years of experience behind them.

What is the most iconic golf shoe brand?

The most Iconic Golf Clothing Brand in Golf – FootJoy “FootJoy, the #1 Shoe and Glove in Golf and the leader in on-course Apparel” FootJoy is synonymous with style, quality, elegance and durability. FootJoy comes under the umbrella of Acushnet Holdings Company, which...

What is a meandmypro?

MEANDMYPRO is an outstanding online reservation, scheduling, marketing and back office system designed specifically to help you grow your business. This system is exclusive for golf instructors and golf academies.

Who is Mark's brother?

Mark’s younger brother, Trevor, a former Master’s champion and a personal friend, will join the CBS team as an analyst on PGA Tour events as well as the Masters and PGA Championship, both CBS properties.

Who is Mark Immelman?

The PGTAA congratulates Mark Immelman, a long time PGTAA member, on his appointment by CBS to his expanded role for the network. Mark has worked partial schedules for the network in recent years on top of his duties at Sirius/XM radio and as Director of Golf at Columbus State University. Mark’s younger brother, Trevor, ...

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Different Requirements Between The United States and Canada

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In America, there are two ways to gain PGA membership– through the Professional Golf Management (PGM) Associate Programor via one of the 18 colleges and universities that offer the PGA-accredited Professional Golf Management Program. Being 30 years old when I realized I wanted to pursue a career in golf, I …
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Different Types of Golf Professionals and Job Opportunities

  • There are many diverse career options available to PGA members. Whether destined to be a head professional at a golf course, a general managerat a golf entertainment venue, or a member of the media like me, there are many career options for an individual who earns the seal of his or her country’s Professional Golfers Association. When I was an Associate, called apprentice at the ti…
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Costs Associated with Becoming An Accredited PGA Professional

  • The PGA of America charges $100 for each PAT attempt, and the host facilities may charge an additional fee. This is reasonable considering you’ll play 36 holes of golf. The PAT in Canada costs $325, with additional attempts, if needed, costing $150 each. Once registered into the PGM Associate Program, there are online access fees, test fees, and costs to attend seminar session…
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Maintaining Your Membership

  • Once a member of these organizations, there is required continuing education that one must pursue each year, again the trade-off for the dues one must satisfy annually. It is important to find your niche and seek employment in an area of the industry that you will enjoy and thrive in—whether on the grounds of a golf facility as a superintendent, in the golf shop as head or assi…
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Conclusion

  • When completing high school and entering college, we don’t always know what we want to do when we grow up. I always knew writing was for me, but the golf aspect of it came a little later. The PGA of America has two vital programs in place for those who figured it out early, as well as for folks like me who worked in other fields first. The PGA of Canada offers an affordable progra…
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