How to Teach Professional Golf

If you want to teach professional golf, you will discover early on many possibilities, some of which might have never occurred to you. As you investigate the field, you will probably run into many chances to teach, coach and instruct. In addition to one-on-one teaching, you might also find opportunities to coach long distance, via the Internet or by writing for publications.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Teach Professional Golf

1. Work on your own game. Learn as much as you can about golf, including innovative techniques being used in other countries or by new and up-and-coming players. Read and educate yourself, and constantly practice your swing so you accurately claim that you have mastered the basics.
2. Obtain a college degree from an accredited university, such as the San Diego Golf Academy, which offers a 16-month Associate Degree Program that gets students deep into the golf industry (see Resources below). Golf college programs are not numerous, but the ones that do exist are prestigious and will give you a big push as you work toward becoming a professional golf instructor.
3. Look into becoming certified by the Professional Golf Teacher Association of America (PGTAA), the only recognized institution of its kind in the country (see Resources below). Their certifications, which can be obtained after a full 5-day workshop or a home-study course, are well respected and thorough, so you will learn not only about the game itself but also the techniques and secrets of teaching others properly.
4. Start by training locally, at a course nearby or with amateur players. Unless you are a well-respected player in your own right, this may be the best way to work your way up until you can teach professional golf.
5. Find out what other coaches are doing. A quick online search will give you an idea of what other trainers offer, the type of work they do and how much they charge. You can also get a good idea of the different techniques and levels offered by coaches around the country.

Tips & Warnings

• As early as you can, become involved in the field by tagging along with other professional coaches or getting an internship that allows you to learn about the teaching process.