Overview

Golf instructors and course managers all around the world are professionals who hold PGA (Professional Golfer’s Association) certifications. If you want to become a golf professional, it’s crucial to understand the many duties that come with the job, the rewards of the profession, and what golfers make on average. You can evaluate if this job path is a suitable fit for your objectives and personality by being aware of the prerequisites. This article explains what a golf professional is, what they do, how to become one, and offers advice for those interested in pursuing this career.

What is a professional golfer?

A golf professional is someone who has met the Professional Golfer’s Association’s qualifications to get certified as a professional. Golf professionals frequently oversee golf courses and give instruction to other players. Golf professionals frequently maintain holes, schedule golfers to play on the course, run stores connected to the course, and help golfers on the course when managing a course. Golf professionals use their knowledge to provide helpful advice to other players on how to improve their form, use the proper clubs, and raise their overall golf scores when giving lessons.

What does a professional golfer do?

Depending on the position a golf club has employed them for, golf professionals carry out a number of basic tasks.

Keeping your course

Golf professionals are frequently in charge of keeping all holes in playable condition, which includes mowing the grass, managing sand traps, and pulling weeds. To fulfil many of these chores, golf professionals frequently use landscapers.

Maintaining a business

Pro shops, which are adjacent stores that sell clubs, balls, and other golf-related equipment, are common on golf courses. These shops are frequently run by golf professionals who offer shoppers advice on the best equipment.

Setting up tee times

Tee times on golf courses specify the time when golfers can start playing there. Using the club’s scheduling software, golf professionals assist with setting up tee times for both individuals and groups.

Providing lessons

Many people see PGA golfers as possessing expert-level knowledge of the game. Golf professionals are therefore well-suited to instruct beginner golfers on how to develop their game.

Steps to becoming a professional golfer

1. Conduct a background investigation

A background investigation is required of potential golf professionals. The background check must be scheduled and paid for by the candidates. You might need to provide the PGA with proof and an explanation for some convictions.

2. Find work in a golf-related industry

Prior to applying for certification, golf pros must hold a job in a golf-related industry, according to the PGA. Golf coaches, golf media associates, and golf assistants are all occupations associated with golf. You need to work in this golf-related position for at least six months in order to continue the certification procedure.

3. Complete the required courses.

Prospective golf professionals must complete five qualifying courses before the PGA will certify them, including:

The PGM and the Golf Management Profession: An Introduction

• PGA Heritage
• PGA Declaration
• The Golf Rules
• Enhancing Your Career

These programmes prepare students to pass the qualification exam needed to become a golf professional. Candidates can sign up to take the exam at a testing facility nearby.

4. Finish the PAT

Prior to granting golfers with the pro golf certification, the PGA requires aspiring pros to pass the PAT, or player ability exam. Two rounds of golf must be played in order to pass this test. To pass the test, golfers must acquire a minimum score.

5. Completing an apprenticeship or obtaining a bachelor’s degree

You must either earn a bachelor’s degree in a related discipline, such as professional golf management, or the PGA professional golf management apprenticeship programme in order to be certified by the PGA as a professional golfer. Golfers must complete three stages of training as part of the PGA apprenticeship programme, which covers things like:

• Competition operations
• Design of golf clubs
• Swing evaluation
• Consumer assistance
• Swing principles
• Inventory control

Skills development

As soon as you can, begin playing

It’s critical to get going as soon as possible if you or someone you know aspires to play golf professionally. Do not wait till you are an adult to start living out your dreams if you are a youngster or adolescent. Adults, start playing right away.

The sooner you start playing golf, the sooner you’ll achieve your dream of turning pro.

Learn to play golf

Golf lessons are still beneficial even if you’ve been playing for a while. Lessons provide you the chance to practise specific skill sets and receive feedback from your instructor. Try taking golf lessons at your neighborhood course or enrolling in a class offered by your high school or community college.

Find out who the best golf teachers are by asking your friends, family, and fellow golfers.

Find out what kinds of instruction are available at the golf course or country club in your area.

Establish a dependable practise schedule for golfing

You need to play golf frequently if you want to become a professional. Spend time honing your short game, putting, and striking the fairways and greens.

Start by devoting 10 hours per week to playing golf on a course in various environments.

Work your way up to practicing golf for 20 hours a week.

Possess a variety of skills

You will need to practise on particular abilities that will enable you to perform at your best if you want to become a professional golfer. Your putting, bunker, full swing, chip, pitch, lob, and approach wedge skills must be perfected.

During golf lessons, try to focus on improving each particular skill while taking your instructor’s criticism into consideration.

Spend enough time practicing each golf technique.

Spending as much time as you can on the golf course is crucial, but so is making time to work on each individual ability. Your ability to develop a wide range of talents will be maximized if you follow this advice.

Set aside an equal amount of time per week to practise your putting, bunker, full swing, chip, pitch, and approach wedge techniques.

Work your way up to 3 hours per skill each week by starting with 1 hour per skill every week.

Develop your mental faculties

Working on both physical and mental abilities is necessary to become a professional golfer. Accept the hurdles you face and keep your attention on the process rather than the end result. When playing golf, stay in the moment and try not to be too hard on yourself if you make a mistake.

Most importantly, you need to have complete faith in your abilities to win the game.

Your game should be led by your confidence.

Opportunities for gaming

Find a trustworthy golfing companion

To become a pro, you must develop your abilities both on your own and via competition with others. Finding a regular golf partner will help you improve as a player and hasten your ascent to the professional ranks.

Ask a friend or relative whether they would be willing to join you for a round of golf once a week.

To find a local partner, you can also post in online forums or utilize an app like Golf Match.

Sign up for a local golf club

The advantages of joining a neighborhood golf club are numerous. You will develop relationships with other golfers in your region and gain experience. You may receive invitations to take part in the club’s competition programme after joining, giving you the chance to compete in neighborhood and regional events.

Participate in college golf

It will be a good learning experience for you to play golf while you are a college student. Scholarships are another way that it might assist with paying for your education. Consider playing intramural or club golf as a college student if you can’t play on your school’s or team’s team. 

Participate in amateur competitions

Take advantage of chances to compete in regional, national, and local amateur golf competitions. You will get experience competing in these events. Participating in amateur competitions will also provide you the chance to establish a name for yourself in specific golf circuits, which will be helpful as your golf career develops.

Advantages of turning professional at golf

Here are several advantages that professional golfers frequently enjoy:

Contentment at work

You can make a living by pursuing your passion if you decide to become a professional golfer.

Adaptable working hours

The ability to create one’s own schedule is common among golf professionals, allowing for a more flexible work-life balance. Professional golfers who can make their living primarily from giving lessons frequently control their own lesson schedule.

Working circumstances

A career as a professional golfer enables you to work outside while taking advantage of the weather if you live in an area of the world where golfing is possible all year round.

Golf advice for professionals

Golf pros must have a deep understanding of the sport and be exceptionally talented players. Here are some pointers for turning into a prosperous golf professional:

Maintain your practise

You should practise playing golf as frequently as you can if you want to become a professional. The majority of professionals train their swing, hit balls, and play entire courses practically daily. Golf professionals may deliver better instruction during lessons and offer insightful management and maintenance when they practise.

Develop your communication abilities

You need to communicate effectively if you want to instruct others on how to enhance their golfing abilities. It’s important to listen to students and communicate in a way that will be simple for them to understand and apply. Effective golf professionals may effortlessly go from discussing the game in a style that will be more engaging to amateur golfers.

Continue to take retraining courses

Even after earning your PGA golf pro certification, you can continue to improve your game by enrolling in refresher courses. You may enhance both your own game and your ability to instruct others in golf by taking these courses. You can network with other professional golfers at refresher courses, which can lead to opportunities for you to advance your golf career.

Become professional

Participate in a number of professional golf competitions

Try to participate in as many professional competitions as your schedule and budget will permit. You’ll gain experience by doing this in addition to meeting other professional golfers and potential sponsors. The Moonlight Tour, NGA Pro Golf Tour, and eGolf Professional Tour are a few tournaments to take into consideration.

Participate in a PGA Tour qualifying event.

This competition, sometimes referred to as Qualifying School or Q School, is played in four phases that follow one another. Only 144 contestants go to the final stage after qualifying for each stage in turn.

Obtain a PGA Tour card.

To be considered a legitimate professional golfer, you must obtain your PGA Tour Card after qualifying for the Web.com Tour through Qualifying School. By winning any three Web.com Tour competitions, you can achieve this.

Wage 

A professional golfer makes an annual salary of $29,569 on average. Golf professionals have a variety of positions at golf facilities, including

• PGA Tour chief professional
• Manager in charge
• Superintendent of a golf course

Depending on the precise duties involved with the role and the club where you work, these positions may pay golf pros more. It’s crucial to do your homework on particular chances to find out how much pay they offer.

FAQs

What exactly is a “short game”?

Anything that occurs on or near the green, which is where the hole is and where players typically putt, is referred to as the “short game.” Most of the short game consists of pitching, chipping, and putting.

What exactly does “lipping out” mean?

How great would that be? Sadly, no smooching is allowed here. Lipping out is what occurs when a person attempts to putt but the golf ball touches the rim, also known as the “lip,” of the hole instead of falling in.

What does “approach” mean?

any shot made with the goal of connecting with the green. When trying to position yourself for successful putting, it typically refers to those second and third shots on a hole.

Is physical fitness required to play golf?

No and yes. Both sides have valid points to make. Some claim that the better you are physically fit, while others assert that skill and finesse are everything. Although we really believe that being fit helps, it does not guarantee success. And that’s another factor in why we adore it. You can participate in this sport from the age of 10 to 90 because it isn’t particularly physically demanding!

What does “green jacket” mean?

The Masters, the most renowned of the four professional men’s golf majors, presents the coveted green jacket. But despite its fame, the Masters has a troubling history of racism and sexism.

What do professional golfers do following a round?

During practice rounds, professional swing coaches accompany their golfers around the course and offer advice on course management. As their clients perfect their swings and putting strokes, they also spend countless hours on the driving range and putting green.

What sets professional golfers apart from amateurs?

Golf pros have their shoulders roughly 39 degrees to the right at impact, compared to recreational players who prefer to have their shoulders more level. They can hit the ball farther and with a shallower angle of attack because of this.