how to become a local golf pro

The first step towards becoming a PGA

Professional is to contact the PGA Membership Department for information on how to join your local district association. – Meeting other golf professionals in your area who share the same interests and who are working at the same level. -Meeting people in your community who share your passion for golf.

Full Answer

How do I become a golf pro?

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.

How do professional golfers live?

Most professional golfers live by providing services to other golfers rather than by winning tournaments. 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.

What is the career path of a PGA professional golfer?

A golf pro’s career path includes earning membership in the Professional Golfer’s Association (PGA) of America. Many people who eventually become members of the PGA started their careers as a staff member at a public or private course.

What skills do you need to become a professional golfer?

You will need top golf skills if you are going to develop other people to play the game at the best level they can. You will also require complete knowledge of the rules of golf, something you will have to revise as they change with new developments.

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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.

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 long does it take to become a pro golfer?

Assuming reasonable levels of talent and physical longevity, in 10 years or less with deliberate focused effort you could be a professional golfer. Learn more about the PGA Performance Program. Tournament play, specialised coaching and training.

Do golf pros pay to enter tournaments?

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.

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.

How hard is it to become a pro golfer?

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 ...

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.

How much do Amatuer golf tournaments pay?

The Rules of Amateur Status still indicate that taking prize money in a handicap competition is against the rules and would require a player becoming considered a professional. However, in a scracth competition, an amateur golfer can earn up to $1,000, primarily to help cover expenses.

Who is the oldest golfer to turn pro?

Allen DoyleThe Oldest Golfer to Turn Pro The oldest person to become a pro golfer is Allen Doyle, who turned pro at the age of 46 and qualified for the PGA Tour at 48. He would go on to win 11 PGA Tour Champions victories.

How do I start a career in golf?

Here is how to start a career in golf if you want to become a professional golfer:Start as early as you can. ... Get golf lessons. ... Practice everything. ... Join a golf club. ... Sharpen your competitive edge in college. ... Go to “Q-School” – the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament. ... Start entering pro tournaments. ... Get your PGA Tour card.

How do I start a professional golf career?

In order to become a golf pro certified by the Professional Golf Association, there are several steps that you can take:Complete a background check. ... Become employed in a golf-related field. ... Pass the qualifying courses. ... Complete the PAT. ... Earn a bachelor's degree or complete an apprenticeship. ... Continue practicing.More items...•

How do you become a pro golfer?

In order to become a golf pro certified by the Professional Golf Association, there are several steps that you can take:Complete a background check. ... Become employed in a golf-related field. ... Pass the qualifying courses. ... Complete the PAT. ... Earn a bachelor's degree or complete an apprenticeship. ... Continue practicing.More items...•

How much does it cost to go through the PGA program?

QUALIFYING LEVEL TEST FEE $ 15* A passing score is valid for 12 months – Failure to register as an associate within that time period will invalidate the test and require re-purchase of the online access and re-test. ASSOCIATE 3.0 PROGRAM $ 3957 (Average time to Membership is approximately 4 years.)

Do PGA pros play for free?

PGA of America Members (other than Class F) and their accompanying spouse/partner or guest (not both) may receive complimentary PGA Member Club tickets. Members' immediate children, under 21 years of age, will also receive complimentary access.

How much does it cost to get your PGA card?

Players are required to pay a large entry fee at each round, usually to such a high amount that sponsor support is necessary. Each tournament-style round varies in length and costs between $2,500 and $4,500. The Pre-Qualifying Round is the first stage in the series.

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.

How to become a professional golfer as a teenager?

If you are an adult, begin playing today. The sooner you begin playing golf, the sooner you can reach your goal of becoming a professional golfer. Take golf lessons.

What skills do you need to be a professional golfer?

You will need to master putting, bunker, full swing, chip, pitch, lob, and approach wedge skills.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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 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.

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, ...

Is free equipment a guarantee?

Free equipment is not necessarily a guarantee, especially not before you have established yourself, but once you do get settled in as a professional, you can expect to get some free goodies.

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.