how to become a golf pro at a golf course

1. Complete a background check. Prospective golf pros must complete a background check. Candidates are responsible for scheduling and paying for their background check.
2. Become employed in a golf-related field. The PGA requires golf pros to work in a golf-related field prior to seeking certification. ...
3. Pass the qualifying courses. These courses prepare candidates to pass the qualifying test required of all golf pros. ...
4. Complete the PAT. The PGA requires potential golf pros to complete the PAT, or player ability test, prior to awarding golfers with the pro golf certification.
5. Earn a bachelor's degree or complete an apprenticeship. In order to be certified by the PGA as a pro golfer, you either have to complete a bachelor's degree in ...

Full Answer

How does one become a pro golfer?

What Does it Take to Become a Professional Golfer?

• Continuously learn about the game. It’s essential to keep learning about the game so you can continually grow as an athlete and golfer.
• Stay focused on your goal of becoming a pro in golf. ...
• Make use of driving ranges. It’s important to spend hours and hours driving balls at the driving range. ...

How much money do pro golfers make?

How much money do golfers make? The typical full-membership PGA golfer makes $703,000 a ...

Can anyone become a pro golfer?

Technically, anyone can become a professional golfer, but there are some characteristics you will either have or not have that will make or break you on tour. 1. Athletic Ability If you are going to make it as a professional golfer, you will need to have athletic ability. Hitting a golf ball well is not always easy.

How to become a better golfer?

• Place ten balls in a circle, three feet from the hole. Move around the circle and try to sink all of the puts. ...
• Try to practice your putting for fifteen minutes each day. The better you become at putting the more your confidence will increase.
• You can also start off with two-foot putts and then graduate to three-foot putts.

How long does it take to become golf pro?

Recognizing the business aspects of being a golf professional, the PGA offers a PGA Golf Management (PGM) University Program through large universities in various parts of the U.S. such as Penn State, Arizona State and Florida State. The program requires a 4.5 to 5 years to complete.

What is a golf pro at a golf course?

A golf club professional is an expert golfer who helps run a golf club and teaches others how to play the game. The specific duties of golf club professionals, or "golf pros," vary depending on the size and type of club where they work.

How much does it cost to become a golf pro?

It costs a minimum of $110,000 to compete for a year on the PGA Tour—$75,000 on the Nationwide—and there are no guaranteed paydays. Each week the worst-scoring half of the field is eliminated after the second day of the four-day tournament and earns nothing.

How much does a golf pro make on average?

How much does a Golf Pro make? The average Golf Pro in the US makes $85,498. The average bonus for a Golf Pro is $2,979 which represents 3% of their salary, with 100% of people reporting that they receive a bonus each year.

How good do you have to be to be a pro golfer?

It has been reported that athletes need 10,000 hours of practice to master a skill, but practice quality also counts in becoming a professional golfer. So, playing the most high-quality rounds or training sessions can help you become a better player.

How much does a local golf pro make?

"A golf pro can have a small base salary of $25,000 to $40,000 but make many times that amount when all is said and done. It's an area where most people have little idea at all of what their pro earns, with estimates as much as $10,000 to $100,000 off," Sibbald said.

Can anyone play at Augusta?

Can I play a round of golf at Augusta National or can I go visit the course? No. Augusta National Golf Club is a private club and is only accessible to club members and their guests. The public may visit the course only during the Masters Tournament and only with the proper ticket or badge.

How do I get a PGA card?

Win a PGA Tour Event or Major Championship Anybody who wins a PGA Tour event gets an immediate two-year PGA Tour exemption. This means that any non-member who gets into the field at a PGA Tour event via a sponsor exemption or Monday qualifier, and goes on to win that event, gets their PGA Tour card.

Who is the richest caddy in golf?

1. Jimmy Johnson. What is this? Jimmy Johnson is currently caddying for Justin Thomas, but he has a successful history on tour.

What sport pays the most?

basketballIt is not surprising that basketball is the world's highest paid sport. As well as earning millions per year in salary, the NBA's best basketball players earn a huge amount of money from their various endorsements and sponsorships, more so than any other sport.

How much money can an amatuer golfer win?

US$1,000As an amateur golfer, you may accept prizes up to a limit of US$1,000 in value, including prize money (for example, cash) in a scratch competition.

Do pro golfers pay entry fees?

Except at the highest levels, professional golfers must pay entry fees to play in tournaments. It may seem counterintuitive, but a player at the top of golf's food chain often doesn't have to pay an entry fee, because expenses for high-profile tournaments are covered by sponsors and TV networks.

What handicap do you need to be a golf pro?

The majority of top golf professionals played to handicaps of +4 to +6 before entering the professional ranks. Some current pros still hold active handicaps, and these serve to highlight how much better than “scratch” they really are.

What does a club pro do?

A club pro runs the pro shop, which can be a key profit center for a golf course. The club pro's duties include ordering merchandise, stocking the shop, selling merchandise and understanding the needs and desires of the club's golfers.

How hard is it to be a golf pro?

Professional golf whether at mini tour level or major tour level is extremely competitive and any amateur golfer-male or female that wishes to take this path needs to appreciate that from the time you turn professional it will take you at a minimum 7 to 10 or more years of hard work, dedication and patience to make it ...

What qualifications do you need to be a PGA pro?

The course involves working for a minimum of 30 hours per week in a golf environment, along with being employed by a certified PGA golf professional. Male applicants must have a handicap of four or better, while female applicants must have a handicap of six or better.

Is becoming a golf pro right for me?

The first step to choosing a career is to make sure you are actually willing to commit to pursuing the career. You don’t want to waste your time doing something you don’t want to do. If you’re new here, you should read about:

How to become a Golf Pro

Requirements for becoming a golf pro vary with the type of position desired. For touring professionals, there is usually no certification required other than a PGA or Ladies Professional Golfer's Association (LPGA) membership.

What is the best way to become a pro golfer?

Developing an outgoing personality and the ability to listen to customers’ needs and concerns are important aspects of becoming a pro. Giving lessons to club members or daily fee golfers also requires a winning personality and a positive attitude.

What is a golf pro?

A golf pro at a club must be a proficient player and instructor. At both public and private courses, the head golf professional oversees the operations of the golf shop, including merchandise sales. The head pro may also give golf lessons, but at some golf facilities this is done by a teaching professional--a separate position.

Who was the first person to make money playing golf?

It was not until well into the twentieth century that golfers began to make enough money to live on their prize money. Walter Hagen is generally considered to be the first man to have done this.

What is the job of a golf club manager?

It is the top job. You will oversee all the operations at a golf club. It includes staff, maintenance of the course, hospitality and other matters which ensure the success of the club.

What does a caddy do in golf?

The duties involve helping the golfer pick the right clubs, maintaining equipment and repairing the course after they have made the shot. But the essential skill is understanding and motivating people. If you caddy for a top professional, you will need to manage their quirks and know their strengths and weaknesses. To do this well, it helps to have substantial experience as a tournament player yourself.

How many classifications does the PGA have?

The PGA has thirty-one classifications for professionals. You can see the whole list on its website. But to give you some food for thought, here are some of the roles it includes. Organizational roles such as head professional at a golf course or golf range administrator or organizer of tournaments.

Where is golf spreading?

Golf is spreading around the world, to developing countries such as China and other parts of South East Asia and India and South America. Tournaments follow as this interest grows.

Can a professional golfer teach?

There are a whole number of ways it is possible to do this. Professional golfers might teach the game and act as coaches. Some run golf clubs and courses. Others sell and advise other golfers on golf equipment. You can do this and still take part in golf tournaments as well.

Is there a growing number of professional golf tours?

You can be the best player in the world, but if there is nowhere to play for money, then you will never make a living. The good news is that the number of professional golf tours is growing, for both men and women.

How many hours of experience do you need to become a PGA professional?

Amidst all of this you will also be expected to get thirty-six hours of experience. These experience hours can be collected through a wide variety of ways, including college courses. Otherwise, you can earn one credit a month working alongside a certified PGA professional.

How long do you have to be a registered alien to play golf?

If you are not a citizen you will need to be a registered alien. The Pro Golf Association will also require that you have six months of relevant employment experience at the time of registration. You can find an extensive list of what jobs they consider relevant on their website.

How many rounds does a pat take?

The PAT takes place over two rounds, with the player being expected to shoot a low score both days. While their expectations will depend on the slope rating of the course, you can generally plan on shooting 2 – 3 over par per round. Any higher than that and you will not meet their requirements.

Is golf a transient job?

The life of a golf professional is not, by definition, transient, but there are also a limited number of teaching jobs available. Not all golf courses employ teaching professionals at all, and the ones that do usually only keep one on the payroll at a time. If all of the golf courses in your area are already fully staffed you may need ...

Can everyone be a golf pro?

The truth of the matter is that not everyone can be a golf professional. 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. Disappointing, I know, but don’t fret too much. There are plenty of careers in golf that don’t hinge on your ability to teach or play the game.

Is it easy to become a golfer?

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. 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. If you want to make money doing the thing that you love the most, ...

Do golf courses have a pro on staff?

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.

How to Become a PGA Golf Pro

A PGA Golf Pro is usually someone who runs a golf course or has a golf-related professional and will be responsible for teaching, running tournaments, and other related tasks.

How to Become a Touring Pro

Becoming a touring pro requires much less formal coursework than becoming a PGA golf professional.

Final Thoughts

If you’re an avid golfer with a dream of making the game into your career, you have options to make this dream reality.

How much does a golfer make?

Golf Professionals in America make an average salary of $43,145 per year or $21 per hour. The top 10 percent makes over $71,000 per year, while the bottom 10 percent under $26,000 per year.

What are the best states to work in golf?

The best states for people in this position are New Jersey, Hawaii, Minnesota, and Rhode Island. Golf professionals make the most in New Jersey with an average salary of $65,846. Whereas in Hawaii and Minnesota, they would average $59,909 and $58,880, respectively. While golf professionals would only make an average of $58,062 in Rhode Island, you would still make more there than in the rest of the country. We determined these as the best states based on job availability and pay. By finding the median salary, cost of living, and using the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Location Quotient, we narrowed down our list of states to these four.

What is the best way to become a golf instructor?

Becoming a golf instructor requires a unique blend of an analytical mind and an outgoing personality that works well with people.#N#An analytical mind helps to make judgments on a golfer’s swing and come up with a lesson plan that addresses their primary difficulties.#N#An effusive personality helps because people respond to training when they feel the instructor understands their unique situation and is ready to work with them closely to build the correct skills and outline steps to improvement.#N#This does not mean that you have to be an entertainer.

Why is it important to compete in golf?

Competing will help you become a better instructor, because you become intimately familiar with the pressures of the game. While you are more advanced than your students, every golfer feels tension and nerves. Winning golf tournaments also lends significant credibility to your teaching.

Why is it important to attend golf conferences?

Attend golf camps and conferences. There are two benefits to attending golf conferences: – Knowledge and skills. You will learn a ton at sessions. – Contacts. Some people believe this is more important: you make lots of good contacts in casual settings outside the conference meetings.

What are social skills in golf?

Social Skills. However, you are working with people, and likability and warmth are qualities that will go a long way in a teaching environment. At the end of the day, golf is a social sport, and utilizing social skills to improve golfer’s games is a useful teaching tool.

What are the different types of golf instructors?

Two Types. There are generally two types of golf instructors: – Club professional. Traditionally, the club professional was responsible for giving lessons, repairing clubs, working in the pro shop, ordering merchandise and selling product.

Can you be a golf instructor outside?

While becoming a golf instructor may seem like a dream job for many people, keep in mind you will be outside much of the time. Depending on the part of the world you live in, this could mean working in inclement weather. Even when the sun is shining, many states are humid outside much of the year.

Do golf pros play on the PGA Tour?

However, most golf pros do not play on the PGA Tour. They are the managers of golf shops and provide lessons to amateur golfers of all levels. If you are interested in becoming a golf instructor, there are several steps you can take.