How to Become a Professional Golf Instructor

Becoming a professional golf instructor is easier than you may think. For those who are already golf aficionados and only need the extra push to get certified and start teaching, the options have never been more open. Once certified, instructors can work in a variety of settings, from an actual golf course to a resort to cruise ships.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Become A Professional Golf Instructor

1. Learn as much as you can about the game. Practice to improve your own abilities and to be able to teach others later on. If you have the option of training a friend or an acquaintance, it can be a great way to get a feel for what the job will be like and to see whether or not you actually enjoy it.
2. Invest in training videos and books if you want to learn more about the career itself before you pay to become a certified instructor. You can find appropriate material online, at sport shops or even at your local library.
3. Contact the Professional Golf Teachers Association of America (PGTAA) to find out about their certification requirements(see Resources below). They are considered the top organization in their field when it comes to certifying professional golf instructors and offer workshops year round in several states.
4. Choose a face-to-face workshop if you want direct contact with other professionals, but keep in mind that most professional golf instructor courses require a minimum of 5 days of attendance and are usually held only in certain states, such as Nevada and Florida. If you live far away, you will have to factor in the costs of travel and lodging in addition to the price of the course itself.
5. Choose a home-study course if you have previous knowledge of the sport and there are no other options available where you live. Distance courses are also cheaper, so it may be the best option if you cannot afford to pay for a face-to-face workshop.
6. Be ready to showcase your talents. Before you can become a professional golf instructor, you will need to present a scorecard of a game played, where you scored 83 or less (85 or less for women) on a professional course that is at least 6,000 yards long.

Tips & Warnings

• The rules are somewhat different for seniors (individuals over 55) who want to become instructors, so it's important to let the school know your age when you are making inquiries.