When you pass the test, you can proceed to the next modules. Qualifying for a professional golf tour is another way. * If you have any questions concerning this information or requirements to become a PGA Member, call PGA Membership Services at (800) 474-2776. Practising with the worst equipment gives you an edge over your competitors and means you will be able to make the most out of the good equipment when you finally use it. Have proof of U.S. citizenship or be a registered alien. Work with the Head Golf Professional or General Manager to manage and maintain the golf range and instruction area. http://www.thebestyou.co/ John Richardson discusses how he became a professional golf player in less than a year! Step 5. Since players will often consult professionals on what sort of equipment they should purchase, you will be expected to encourage players to sample the wares of your equipment partner. Ensure consistency of quality service in lessons and work to generate maximum revenue in lessons, club fitting and program equipment sales. Step 2. Module 2 consists of swing analysis, business planning, and customer relations. Step 1. If you elect the other route, chosen by the Gateway Tour among others, you will become a pro when you tee it up in your first event. Offered at 19 universities, this provides golfer's to earn a bachelor's degree in a compatible major while learning what is needed to become a PGA professional. The level 1 kit will cost you another $500 dollars. Enter in some Golf professional training program: – This will help a golfer to practice the game of golf dedicatedly. Since we’ve looked deeply into that component of the career, it is only fair that we now examine some of the sweet benefits of taking up a job as a golf professional. I'd love to have 12 years to just work on my golf game and try to become maybe the best golfer between my friends. 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. After all, the lure of playing a game for a living on lush green fairways is tantalizing and exciting. Golf Teaching Pro is a professional magazine that keeps the members of the United States Golf Teachers Federation informed on the latest up-to-date teaching methodology, member benefits, tournament information and ongoing education. If you require a more traditional class setting to keep you motivated, there are accredited two-year colleges designed specifically with the intention of starting people out in a career in golf. Tournament experience. 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. If you are a professional golfer, joining the PGA (Professional Golf Association) will open several doors and the opportunities as a pro golfer will benefit you. There is no shame in taking a year or two to work on getting your scores down. How to Start a Professional Golf Career. With advancements in a variety of areas from nutrition and training to golf pro schools and professional golf college, there are ways players can enter the profession later in life. "Similar to other professional industries, golf presents the opportunity to use leadership and entrepreneurship to advance your career. Improve your life by getting certified as a PGA teaching professional. Get your eyes checked out and make sure that everything is working the way it should. In order to register you will need to be eighteen years old and have completed high school. That said, there are certainly golf professionals out there that are making the big bucks. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. The vast majority of players never even glimpse scores like that, but the vast majority of players also do not consider making a career out of golf. It, however, is so much more than that! Below is a list of the latest vacancies. Like most sports, a player’s golf game isn’t something that can be developed quickly, and it takes years to hone each shot. The Professional Golf Teachers Association of America is and always will be the foremost 100% professional golf teaching certification institute in the world. Regardless of how long it takes you to overcome this hurdle, once you are able to shoot two qualifying scores, you can move on to the next step. A golfer is only as good as his club. There are many people who would like to follow this career path. If you decide to take the above-illustrated steps towards becoming a teaching professional, workplace dissatisfaction is one thing that you will never have to worry about. Another route to becoming a PGA Professional is by the three-year PGA training course which involves distance learning whilst working in golf and now incorporates a Foundation Degree in Professional Golf in conjunction with the University of Birmingham. Level 1 includes testing material on the rules of golf, tournament operations, and club design and repair. This is yours. Play in amateur events: – Amateur means playing a sport for pleasure rather than for financial benefits. Golf equipment can be very expensive, and as an amateur, it can be hard to know what exactly to get. Club manufacturers will often establish partnerships with professionals allowing them to use their latest and greatest equipment for free. The things listed above certainly were not cons – but they were aspects of the job that many people might find challenging or difficult. The name “Professional Golf Teachers Association of the United States”, formerly operated by National Golf Schools has ceased to exist after a settlement was reached between the parties. You’ll occasionally hear people mention that teaching professionals are so busy teaching people the game that they never have the time to actually play it themselves. Pass the Player Ability Test (playing 36 holes in one day with a specific score) Take qualifying courses and pass a test on many subjects with 10% of the curriculum being golf instruction. Getting into shape is a must for any golfer. The process of becoming a pro (which we will get into shortly) is long and difficult so be sure that your love for the game of golf is something that will last for many years to come. It takes years of dedication to receive a PGA Tour card. LEARN MORE. I have read and agree to the terms & conditions. Any higher than that and you will not meet their requirements. In addition to that, you will also need to purchase your “level 1 kit,” which is essentially a set of educational materials that you will need to complete in order to advance to the next stage. A golf pro’s career path includes earning membership in the Professional Golfer’s Association (PGA) of America. However, there are still plenty of opportunities for a career in golf, and you can get it started by becoming a PGA Class A member. And even if you can’t land a job teaching the game’s best, you can certainly set higher rates once you earn a reputation as a good instructor. Averaging two-three over par per round certainly is not an easy feat. These schools offer a structured environment in which can get the education that you need to become a golf professional. Now that we have examined the triumphs and tribulations of the job, let’s dive right into how you can make it yours, shall we? Set out with the intention of mastering a certain area of the course and do exactly that. You can keep doing it even you your 60’s, if you go professional it pays really well, … In the meantime, here are a few things that you will need to consider to determine whether or not the life of a golf professional is even suitable for your lifestyle. Nearly all professional golfers began playing the game as children and developed their skills during their youths. It’s a great bargain for those that don’t want to spend thousands of dollars regularly updating their bags, but the only con (if you could call it that) is that you won’t be able to sample clubs from other manufacturers while under contract. If you are not a citizen you will need to be a registered alien. If you’ve ever taken golf lessons before, you are probably well aware of how important it is to have an instructor that is able to articulate their instructions well. Stretches are something you should always prepare with to ensure your muscles can function the way that they are meant to. Either way, once you complete the work, you turn it in for review, and are then required to take a test on the material. Very rarely are we given the opportunity to make a living doing something that we love. Understanding Golf Operations. There are two paths to becoming a PGA professional, the first is through the PGA Golf Management University Program. Now, if you do want to make your money teaching golf but you aren’t quite good enough as of right now to go pro (so to speak) you can always work on improving. While this path is going to be more expensive than the last option that we looked at, you will be given more resources, more guidance, and more connections. This is accomplished via the “Player Ability Test,” or the PAT. Golf is fun, versatile, and good for you. It would be much more true to say that you won’t be able to play during prime time anymore. Fortunately, this part of the process can be achieved while you are completing your other modules so that once you complete your third phase you will be able to get your certification. Golf is a sport often associated with middle-aged businessmen. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still a very livable wage but you shouldn’t go into the job expecting doctor money. Copyright©2014-2021.The Nerdynaut. Unlimited free golf is certainly a big pro. After all, even tour pros need teachers. Although the first point says you should play with the best equipment you can afford, you must practice with the worst equipment. The PAT takes place over two rounds, with the player being expected to shoot a low score both days. It will give you an excuse to play more golf, and I have even known pros to allow those chasing a career in golf to practice for free. I’ve been looking for a good sport to get into and I’ve heard that golf is a really good one. The game requires you to know where your balls have gone at all times, and if you cannot see, you will be hindered and will not be able to play to your full potential. Just be aware of the fact that starting salary for most teaching professionals may leave something to be desired depending on the lifestyle that you are used to. You can find an extensive list of what jobs they consider relevant on their website. Manziel has other ideas and knows this dream is … Stretching is something you should do before any sport, and you should ensure you stretch properly and for an adequate amount of time. To get the best jobs, it is not uncommon for qualified professionals to have to move great distances to get a job. Tournament experience + Deliberate Practice + Coaching x Time = Pro level golf. Becoming a professional disc golfer is possible, and might be easier than you think, but that’s just the start. Not all golf courses employ teaching professionals at all, and the ones that do usually only keep one on the payroll at a time. Pass the Player Ability Test (playing 36 holes in one day with a specific score) Take qualifying courses and pass a test. What started as a simple idea to enhance the game of golf has grown into a movement where people from all walks of life … Check Your Eyes Out Golf is a sport that requires good eyesight. You’ll recall earlier that I mentioned finding a job might not be extremely easy. However, when you do get the chance to sneak away, you can count on getting your golf for free, especially if you plan to play at the course that you work for. Golf requires strength, and if you are not fit, you will tire yourself out very quickly. If you truly love the game of golf, it may be your dream to make a living from it by teaching others how to play. How to become a Golf Pro. While some golf retail stores will keep a pro on staff this is somewhat rarer, and generally also less lucrative than working for a course. It is not necessary to become an Associate member prior to becoming a Certified Golf Teaching Professional®. How To Become a PGA Golf Professional. To be recognized as a golf pro, you generally need to have membership on a recognized tour or be a member of a professional golfers association. Get a job at a golf course pro shop, and learn all … Complete three levels of coursework within eight years. There are two main routes to becoming a qualified PGA Professional, both routes involve academic study and work placements; the main difference being the ratios. If you meet these requirements you will be able to begin the first steps of the program. Step 4. Unless you are already shooting scores like this, there really isn’t much of a point in considering trying to become a teaching professional. As a young person stepping out onto the green for the first time, surrounded by seasoned veterans, you may feel uneasy, but by improving your swing will develop confidence and become a better golfer. Having a strategy and a plan already thought out is a great way to master the golf course, and a great way to dominate. Choosing this career path can open up many different opportunities within the golf industry in the UK and across the world. www.PGAofCanada.com Register for a Playing Ability Test with the PGA of Alberta. Following are some steps for becoming a PGA Golf Professional. You must be 18 years of age or have a high school diploma to be eligible. The Pro Golf Association will also require that you have six months of relevant employment experience at the time of registration. Although it is challenging to rise through the stages and become one of a few hundreds PGA professionals, you can follow the guidelines and make your dreams come true. In order to start working on the PGA’s testing material you will first need to demonstrate your chops as a player. How to Become a PGA Teaching Pro. Open, Pro or Touring Pro? The Greatest Golfer No One Knows The professional golf instructors of https://theleftrough.com/ say that selecting golf equipment can be very daunting. Pro Tour Golf College The Professional Golf Tour Training College. The truth of the matter is that not everyone can be a golf professional. Get out onto the course today and see what everybody is raving about! If you are a citizen, proof of citizenship will be required to register. The good news is that with the exception of tournament operations, the passionate golfer may already have a firm understanding of the materials covered in this module. While their expectations will depend on the slope rating of the course, you can generally plan on shooting 2 – 3 over par per round. Nina is a journalist from the US who loves to explore new things and travel across the world. Have a golf-related job. It is a sport more people should take up and is a sport that younger people are starting to take an increased interest in. Golf is a sport that requires good eyesight. You will need top golf skills if you are going to develop other people to play the game at the best level they can. For that reason, it helps to live in an area that has a high concentration of golf courses and a strong golf community, like Florida. One could define a professional disc golfer as someone who plays disc golf and earns money from it. Good communication skills really are a must with this career path. Our site uses cookies. There are three total testing modules during your apprenticeship that get more difficult as you go along. To become a golf professional, you need to make sure your eyes are in good condition, and that you can see as far as you need to see. This three-year course is your gateway into the world of professional golf. If you want a career teaching people the game you love more than anything, then you know what to do. Know how to become a successful tour professional. This is a critical element to your quest to become a professional golfer. This is where the process begins to get a little bit expensive. Given how competitive finding a job on a golf course can be, anything that sets you apart from other candidates is sure to be beneficial. There are months, even years of build up for one day; a moment in one day even, but now you are a pro. A typical touring professional with a full card on a tour might play on average 25 multi round tournaments per year. If you do not have good eyesight, golf may not be the sport for you. This is not explicitly true. It is important, however, to find the best equipment that you possibly can with your budget, as the equipment you use defines you as a golfer. If you want to become a top golf coach, you will need to become PGA master certified. Work towards PGA membership, which is part of becoming a club professional. This is a critical element to your quest to become a professional golfer. Become a PGA Pro / Employment at a golf facility To start the Foundation Degree Course or Diploma in Higher Education, you need to have secured employment at a golf facility. Requirements for becoming a golf pro vary with the type of position desired. When you are setting out onto a course, be sure to have a plan. It is very easy to pull a muscle when playing golf, as you will often be making grand sweeps and stretching your muscles. Being a hard worker … We’ve looked at how to become a golf pro. Is it something that you enjoy on the weekends, or is it a game that you love so much that your passion will come across to all those that you teach? If you are a citizen, proof of citizenship will be required to register. That is true, but you may find that it becomes easier if you are able to make the extensive connections that can develop in a school setting. While your ability to get hired may not be contingent on your capacity to do this, your success as a teacher may very well be tied to your ability to make complex aspects of the swing understood by your students so try and make an honest assessment of your ability to accomplish this. A lot of people hate their careers and dread going to work. A teacher of golf is still a teacher so make sure that you are up for the challenge of imparting knowledge to even the most difficult to work with students. These experience hours can be collected through a wide variety of ways, including college courses. If you or someone you know has … 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. Many of golf’s elite started out with similar plans and went on to become indomitable forces in the golfing industry. There is no delicate way of saying this, but golf professionals don’t necessarily make the highest incomes. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Golf is really fun, very engaging, and a great way to make friends. There are plenty of careers in golf that don’t hinge on your ability to teach or play the game. These golf pros make it to the elite ranks by successfully touring at an amateur level before moving on to progressively larger tournaments. Turn up with the best equipment you can and get stuck in like you own the place. That’s all there is to it. If you fall in love with the game of golf, sooner or later the fantasy of making a career of your passion is going to surface. Practising with cheap, mass-produced, and poor equipment is a good way to get started toward becoming a professional golfer. I’m sure you have heard the old phrase “if you love what you are doing you never work a day in your life.” It definitely pertains here. In exchange, you are expected to serve as a sales representative. Offer to work as a golf course caddy for local golfers at your area country club. HOW TO BECOME A GOLF PROFESSIONAL Register with PGA of Canada before June 1st. Another route to becoming a PGA Professional is by the three-year PGA training course which involves distance learning whilst working in golf and now incorporates a Foundation Degree in Professional Golf in conjunction with the University of Birmingham. If a golfer wants to play in a PGA tour then one should firstly play in amateur events. SEND ME 7 CRITICAL STEPS TO BE A PRO THE TOUR GOLFER CAMPUS PROGRAM. Develop the experience, industry connections and knowledge you need to compete at the highest levels. Become intimately familiar with the game. If all of the golf courses in your area are already fully staffed you may need to look elsewhere for employment. Tournament experience + Deliberate Practice + Coaching x Time = Pro level golf. In order to become an apprentice, you need to first register with the PGA, which will set you back somewhere in the neighborhood of five hundred dollars. Of course, I cannot guarantee any of those experiences, but I can tell you without a doubt that you will be an integral part of the sport you love if you choose this career path. As far as upfront costs are concerned this is fairly high, but do keep in mind that career education nearly always comes with a price tag, and often enough it is one that is a great deal more significant than this. How passionate are you really about the game? By continuing to use our site, you are agreeing to our. Contact us now! This page will tell you exactly how you can improve your swing and become a better golfer so that you can show the veterans who is the boss! For touring professionals, there is usually no certification required other than a PGA or Ladies Professional Golfers' Association (LPGA) membership. All Rights Reserved. Technically you have two years to complete the coursework for each level, though you should be able to get it done much quicker than that. To become a PGA Member, you'll need to become a registered Associate before completing the PGA Professional Golf Management (PGA PGM) Program–an award-winning educational program designed for aspiring PGA Professionals that focuses on the People, the Business and the Game. By having a plan, and working toward it, you will become a much better golfer. To become a golf professional, you need to make sure your eyes are in good condition, and that you can see as far as you need to see. A Certified Golf Teaching Professional® is one who can effectively teach all phases of the game, from beginning to advanced players. Golf Clinicians Golf Clinicians are individuals who make a living doing golf shows or clinics. Becoming a golf instructor is a competitive endeavor. About Topgolf Entertainment Group Topgolf Entertainment Group is a technology-enabled global sports and entertainment community that connects people in meaningful ways through the experiences we create, the innovation we champion, and the good that we do. The life of a golf professional is not, by definition, transient, but there are also a limited number of teaching jobs available. Otherwise, you can earn one credit a month working alongside a certified PGA professional. Step 3. Home College Elite Golfer Improvement System 300+ Articles your path to the tour starts here. Enroll in a Golf School Avail yourself of training and instruction from professional golfers, golf camps, special coursework and any unique training available in your area. Want to play on Tour? If you are reading this, you very obviously love golf. Tournament experience. Exercise is essential to becoming a better overall golfer, and regular exercise is also very good for your health. Before heading out on the course, be sure to do your stretches. Once you have completed all three of your modules, you will be able to take your third and final step to becoming a pro. Today’s article is part of a Two-Week series on “How To Get Your Dream Golf Job”: SERIES – Week One: “How To Become a Tour Pro” (Monday) “How To Own and Run a ProShop” (Tuesday) “How To Become Golf Club Designer” (Wednesday) “How To Become A Golf Sales Rep” (Thursday) “How To Become a Professional Long Driver” (Friday) The Pro Golf Association will also require that you have six months of relevant employment experience at the time of registration. Disappointing, I know, but don’t fret too much. As you can see, it’s not going to be easy but that is not to say that it isn’t worthwhile. One of the most common complaints issued against teaching professionals is their inability to put complicated concepts into terms that the struggling beginner will be able to understand. Five P.A.T’s are offered every golf season Once you have passed the Playing Ability Test paid your dues and completed a police check, you are officially a Candidate for Membership. Every teaching pro that I know (and I do know many) has their share of stories about the interesting way in which their careers have allowed them to interact with golf history. If you wander into your local sporting store and ask them, they should be able to advise you what the best club is for your budget and instruct you on the other things that you may need to get started. If you are not a citizen you will need to be a registered alien. Keep in mind that making a career of golf requires getting up early and working weekends and many holidays so determine whether or not those are trade-offs you can live with before you begin the process. There are a number of different categories under which you may be a pro in the PGA, for example. Developing Your Skills 1 Start playing as early in life as possible. An in-depth look at one golf career: golf coaching. A typical touring professional with a full card on a tour might play on average 25 multi round tournaments per year. Complete three levels of coursework within eight years. Today’s article is part of a Two-Week series on “How To Get Your Dream Golf Job”: SERIES – Week One: “How To Become a Tour Pro” (Monday) “How To Own and Run a ProShop” (Tuesday) “How To Become Golf Club Designer” (Wednesday) “How To Become A Golf Sales Rep” (Thursday) “How To Become a Professional Long Driver” (Friday) Those, after all, are your main business hours. It is not necessary to become an Associate member prior to becoming a Certified Golf Teaching Professional®. Stretching before golf is recommended by all professional golfers, as if you do not, you are very likely to pull a hamstring, and that can hinder your ability to play golf for a long time. Ultimately you will have to decide for yourself which method best suits your needs but do also note that there is a degree of pedigree that accompanies attaining your certification through a classroom setting. *Note: All applicants are required to read and write in English to successfully complete the PGA Professional Golf Management Program. If you do not have good eyesight, golf may not be the sport for you. Making a living out of it can be accomplished, but takes a lot of hard work, time, and determination. Golf club professionals serve as mentors and guide young, aspiring pros through the course study and tests necessary to earn … The third and final phase studies swing concepts, management, and supervising. In order to become an apprentice, you need to first register with the PGA, Playing out of the sand – how to hit bunker shots.