Looking for a new career in 2019?

Steps to becoming a PGA club pro

By Phillip Ellis, Golf Today News
Posted 11/29/18

The golf industry is an exciting career with several good options. If you’re a skilled enough player you might become a member of the PGA Tour. Members compete weekly in events all over the world. …

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Looking for a new career in 2019?

Steps to becoming a PGA club pro

Posted

The golf industry is an exciting career with several good options. If you’re a skilled enough player you might become a member of the PGA Tour. Members compete weekly in events all over the world. Another choice is to become a Greens Superintendent. You’d work at a golf course and be in charge of the grounds and its maintenance.
A third option is to become a member of the Professional Golfers Association of America and become a club professional.
Club Pro’s supervise play, teach, play in tournaments, and you might eventually become a Director of Golf or General Manager at a golf facility.

If the last option is your goal than the question is, how to get started?


Let’s begin with the basics. The PGA, is made up of more than 27,000 men and women golf professionals serving in various jobs. Founded in 1916, and currently based in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, their headquarters’ will move to a new facility in Ponte Verdra Beach in 2020. It’s the largest working sports organization in the world.
Their goal is to enhance the enjoyment and involvement of the game, while providing services and support to golf professionals, consumers, and the golf industry.

Each year the association puts on major events including the PGA Championship, Senior PGA Championship, and the Ryder Cup. They also host more than 30 tournaments for its member and apprentices, including the PGA Cup, PGA Professional National Championship, PGA Assistant Professional Championship, and the KPMG Women’s’ PGA Championship.

Prospective PGA members have two paths, either apply to a PGA Golf Management University Program or become a PGA apprentice. The simplest and most popular way to start your new career is to become a registered assistant at a PGA recognized facility. You can train while you earn a 3-year Foundation Degree in Professional Golf Studies.

An apprenticeship offers multi levels of training which include: education courses, simulation testing, seminars, written exams, and finally they must pass PAT or player’s eligibility test. These tasks may be accomplished in various manners such as an accelerated PGA Golf Management Program, accredited PGA Golf Management Universities, and self study.

If you’re seriously considering becoming a golf professional visit PGA.com (SEE RELATED LINK BELOW) for more details or stop by a course and speak with a PGA member.