How to Become a PGA Profesional
Becoming a golf professional entails a multi-year, road-wearying commitment, with proficiency checks along the way. The Professional Golfers Association (PGA) offers a straightforward path to completion of their PGA Management Program (PGA/PGM). It designates a series of steps beginning with its Apprenticeship program. The PGA also offers a route for college students.
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Instructions
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Graduate from high school, or get a GED (General Educational Development) certificate. You must be at least 18 and have achieved this level of education to enter the PGA's program.
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Document your citizenship, or show proof that you are a registered alien.
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Work in an eligible employment position for at least six months before taking the next step. The PGA/PGM offers a list of acceptable professional employments. This is a prerequisite for registering for the PGA/PGM program.
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Take the Playing Ability Test (PAT) and pass it. As of October 2010, playing 36 holes 15 strokes over par or better is the requirement.
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Register with the PGA as an apprentice and pay the registration fee. You will have to pay fees to the national and sectional branches of the PGA.You will now be involved in the Professional Readiness Orientation (PRO) stage of your training.
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Work for three years in a PGA-sanctioned job. These three years will be marked by tests at various points, which you must pass to attain three different tiers of proficiency. These tests, called "Checkpoints," cover management, business principles and teaching golf, among other things.
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Apply yourself to the program. There are time limits on your progress toward professional status. According to PGALink, "In order to remain in good standing, the Level 1 Checkpoint must be successfully completed within two years of the Level 1 start date; the Level 2 Checkpoint must be successfully completed within four years of the Level 1 start date; and, the Level 3 Checkpoint must be successfully completed within six years of the Level 1 start date. Apprentices have eight years from their Level 1 start date to graduate from the PGA PGM Program and get elected to membership."
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Tips & Warnings
If you are going to college, another path to PGA Professional Status is through the PGA Golf Management University Program. Offered at 20 PGA-accredited universities in the U.S., the program is a four and one-half- to five-year college curriculum that provides students with internships and guaranteed job placement to support their golf studies in the classroom. On graduation you receive full PGA member status.
Don't play in any amateur events while you are enrolled in your apprenticeship, at the risk of having to start all over again. According to the PGALinks website, "Participation in an amateur event will forfeit all work experience credits earned prior to the event."
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Resources
- Photo Credit Golf cart on golf course image by Jim Mills from Fotolia.com
