Nina Caldwell
Becoming a professional golfer is a dream for many, but it requires a lot of hard work, dedication, and sacrifice. While natural talent is important, it's not the only factor that determines success in the golf industry. Aspiring golfers need to be extremely driven and prepared to make significant lifestyle changes to pursue a career in this competitive sport. In addition to talent and dedication, financial considerations play a crucial role in an aspiring golfer's journey. Tournament fees, travel expenses, lodging, and access to practice facilities can quickly add up, and having sponsorship support can make a significant difference. For those aiming to reach the pinnacle of golf and compete in prestigious tournaments like the Masters and the PGA Tour, here is an introduction to what it takes to become a professional golfer.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| PGA Qualification | Not required, but highly beneficial |
| Education | Professional Golf Management (PGM) education curriculum or a degree in Golf Studies |
| Experience | Start young, gain experience in junior tournaments, progress to amateur competitions and then professional events |
| Skills | Extremely driven, dedicated and skilled |
| Financial Backing | Requires significant financial investment for tournament fees, travel, and equipment |
| PGA Membership | Requires a competency exam and a player ability test (PAT) |
| PGA Tour | The world's largest professional golf tournament organiser, with a standardised system for determining event fields based on rankings |
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What You'll Learn
Join a golf club and get certified
Joining a golf club and getting certified are crucial steps in becoming a PGA golfer. Here's a detailed guide to help you through the process:
Join a Golf Club
The first step towards becoming a PGA golfer is to join a golf club or association. This is important as it provides you with access to golf courses, practice facilities, and a community of fellow golfers. You can start by searching for local golf clubs or associations in your area and exploring the membership options they offer. Some clubs may have different tiers of membership, so be sure to choose one that aligns with your goals and budget. Additionally, consider the amenities and services offered by the club, such as coaching availability, practice ranges, and tournament opportunities.
Get a Handicap
Once you've joined a golf club, the next step is to establish your handicap. A handicap is a numerical value that represents your golfing ability and is used to measure your progress over time. It also allows you to compete on a more level playing field with other golfers. Contact your club's handicap committee or the relevant golf association to register your handicap. They will guide you through the process, which may involve submitting scores from recent rounds and providing evidence of your playing history. Maintaining an official handicap is essential for participating in amateur tournaments and tracking your improvement.
Participate in Amateur Tournaments
As a member of a golf club, you'll have access to amateur tournaments, which are excellent for gaining competitive experience and building your reputation. These tournaments are usually open to players with an amateur status and can help you develop your skills in a competitive environment. They also provide an opportunity to network with other golfers and establish connections that could be beneficial for your golfing career. Remember that tournament fees can vary, so choose events that align with your budget and skill level.
PGA Membership and Certification
The path to becoming a PGA golfer often involves pursuing membership and certification with the Professional Golfers' Association (PGA). The PGA offers two main routes to becoming a golf professional: the PGA Associate Program and the PGA Golf Management University Program. The Associate Program is a flexible, self-paced curriculum that requires you to work at a golf course, while the University Program combines a degree with the PGA curriculum and internships. Both programs prepare you for the Playing Ability Test (PAT), a critical step in becoming a PGA member.
The PAT is a qualifying test that assesses your playing ability and ensures your skills meet the PGA's standards. It typically involves completing two rounds of golf (36 holes), with the challenge of shooting equal to or lower than the course rating. Passing the PAT demonstrates your competency as a golfer and is a significant milestone in your journey to becoming a PGA golfer.
Progressing to Professional Status
After obtaining your PGA membership, you can start exploring professional opportunities. This may involve progressing through the ranks within the PGA system or transitioning into professional events. In the UK, becoming a PGA member makes it easier to enter the PGA Open series, which offers a more accessible route to professional tournaments. As you gain experience and establish a reputation, you can aim for more prestigious events, such as the PGA TOUR, which is the world's largest professional golf tournament organiser. Remember that turning professional often requires significant financial investment, so consider sponsorship opportunities or other sources of funding to support your career.
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Compete in amateur tournaments
Competing in amateur golf tournaments is a great way to test your skills and gain exposure. Amateur golf is thriving, and there are numerous tournaments at various levels, so you can find one that suits your skill level.
To start competing in amateur tournaments, it is recommended to begin at the local level. This allows you to try out the competition without incurring high costs and dealing with the hassle of travel. Check with your local golf courses to see if they host any tournaments or have a calendar of events. Most golf courses and country clubs have a men's or women's league with 1-2 tournaments each month. Joining these leagues can help you establish a regular playing schedule and connect with like-minded golfers. There may also be independent golf tours in your area that you can join, providing a level playing field for golfers of varying abilities.
If you live in a bigger city, you can look into national tours, which often have flighted events so you can play with similar golfers. City championships, such as the Phoenix City Championship, are also great options for avid golfers and are usually cost-efficient. State tournaments are another avenue to explore, as you can get to know other players and become more comfortable with the golf course, as they tend to be played on the same course each year.
As you gain experience and confidence, you can start aiming for bigger tournaments. The Amateur Players Tour (APT) is the fastest-growing amateur tour in the United States and Canada, with over 40 chapters across both countries. It offers a professionally run tournament experience for golfers of all skill levels, with divisions based on skill to ensure fair competition. The Golfweek Amateur Tour also runs local and regional events, with a Tour Championship held annually in October.
USGA qualifiers, such as the U.S. Men's and Women's Open Qualifying, are among the most competitive and expensive tournaments for amateurs. These events can push you to test your game under extreme conditions.
Remember, you don't have to be a highly skilled player to compete in amateur tournaments. The handicap system ensures that golfers of all abilities can participate and compete with others at their level. So, get out there, test your skills, and enjoy the thrill of competition!
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Get a PGA qualification
Gaining a PGA qualification can lead to a wide variety of career paths. The PGA has been involved in training and educating golf professionals for over 50 years, and its graduates go on to work in over 80 different job roles worldwide. Some of these roles include retail, coaching, golf management, technology, golf course architecture, and refereeing.
The PGA offers flexible, part-time courses that are well-suited to those already working in the golf industry, as well as full-time degrees that prepare students for the varied demands of the golf industry. The FdSc and DipHE courses are delivered part-time, with trainees undertaking their studies alongside a role working at a golf facility under a PGA Training Professional. Students can expect to commit at least 10 hours per week to attending online lectures and completing assignments.
The FdSc and DipHE courses have specific playing requirements, including a WHS certificate and a handicap of not greater than 6.4 for males or 8.4 for females. There is no handicap requirement for the AGMS degree, but the above handicap criteria must be met by those applying for PGA Membership upon graduation.
For those who want to become professional golfers, the traditional route has been through the notoriously grueling Q School, which occurs during the PGA off-season between late August and December. Q School includes four sequential stages, each requiring a large entry fee, typically necessitating sponsor support. The Pre-Qualifying Round is the first stage, with six locations across the country, each including 54 holes of tournament play. 35-40 of the top players qualify for the next round. The First Stage has twelve tournaments at different locations, with about 80 participants, and 25 advancing. The Second Stage has five locations, and only 18 players advance to the final.
Once a player has qualified for the Korn Ferry Tour via Q School, there are multiple ways to receive a PGA Tour card. The first is through the "Battlefield Promotion", where a player who wins any three events on the Korn Ferry Tour is automatically awarded a PGA Tour card. A more common route is to finish in the Top 25 in total earnings for the Korn Ferry Tour regular season. The last and most difficult opportunity occurs at the Korn Ferry Tour Finals, where the last 25 PGA Tour cards are earned for the year.
There are other ways to earn a PGA Tour card as well. For example, non-members who compete in PGA Tour events through sponsor exemptions and Monday qualifiers can earn Special Temporary Membership by accumulating enough FedExCup points. Once a player has accepted Special Temporary Membership, they can accept unlimited sponsor exemptions into PGA Tour events and can earn their card by finishing in the top 125 of the FedExCup points list during the regular season. Additionally, players can bypass the Korn Ferry Tour and jump straight to the PGA Tour by gaining PGA Tour Special Temporary Membership and then parlaying that into a PGA Tour card.
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Enter the PGA Tour
Entering the PGA Tour is the ultimate goal for many aspiring golfers. The PGA Tour is the world's largest professional golf tournament organiser, with events featuring top players and offering large prize money.
To enter the PGA Tour, you must first become a PGA member. This requires passing a competency exam and a qualifying test called the Player Ability Test (PAT). The PAT involves completing two rounds of golf (36 holes) and shooting equal to or lower than the course rating for 36 holes, plus 15. There are options to combine scores from multiple 18-hole PAT events to meet the 36-hole requirement.
There are two main pathways to becoming a PGA member: the PGA Associate Program and the PGA Golf Management University Program. The Associate Program is a flexible, go-at-your-own-pace curriculum that requires you to work at a golf course and pass a background check. The University Program combines a degree with the PGA curriculum and includes internships, offering a more traditional college experience. This program takes between 4.5 to 5 years to complete.
Once you have entered the Associate or University Program, you will have eight years to pass the PAT. After becoming a PGA member, you can start competing in amateur tournaments to build your reputation and gain experience. These tournaments usually cost between $85 to $200 to enter.
As you progress and improve your rankings through consistent performance, you may qualify for more prestigious events, eventually leading to the PGA Tour level. It is important to note that tournament fees can be expensive, and aspiring golfers need to consider the financial costs involved, including travel, lodging, and practice expenses.
The PGA Tour uses a standardised system for determining event fields, based on the current season's Priority Ranking, exemption categories, and qualifying categories. The specific eligibility criteria and pathways may vary for each tournament within the PGA Tour.
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Become a golf professional
There are two distinct pathways to becoming a professional golfer. The first is to become a golf professional, who works in the business or management side of golf, or teaches and coaches golfers. The second is to become a professional golfer who competes in high-profile tournaments. Many pro golfers become golf professionals first, getting certified and becoming heavily involved with their club from a young age. However, many also start as amateurs, relying on their talent to get noticed.
If you want to become a golf professional, you can go through the PGA Associate Program or the PGA Golf Management University Program. The former is a go-at-your-own-pace style, award-winning Professional Golf Management (PGM) education curriculum that requires you to work at a golf course. You'll have to pass a background check, then you're off to the Qualifying Level, which is an introduction to being a PGA of America Golf Professional. The latter option is more geared towards those seeking a traditional college experience, allowing you to get your degree and go through the PGM curriculum simultaneously. This takes 4.5 to 5 years to complete, including 16 months of internships and a degree program, which can range from business to hospitality to turfgrass management.
To become a PGA of America Golf Professional, you must complete the Playing Ability Test (PAT), which showcases your playing ability. This involves completing two rounds of golf (36 holes), shooting equal to or lower than the course rating for 36 holes, plus 15. Once you've entered the Associate or University Program, you'll have eight years to pass the PAT.
If you want to become a professional golfer, you need to be extremely dedicated and driven, and prepared to put the rest of your life on hold. It is very expensive to attempt to become a pro golfer, with tournament fees, travel, and lodging all adding up. It is also extraordinarily difficult to become good enough to turn pro. You would need to be able to consecutively shoot 4 under par or better on a 140 slope-rated course, which would require an enormous amount of practice and playing time.
If you are good enough, there are several pathways to turning pro. One option is to join your local USGA-sanctioned Golfer's Association and register your handicap. You can then find local amateur tournaments, which cost around $85-200 and are a great way to build your reputation and confidence. Another option is to try to qualify for an event on the MacKensie Tour (Canada PGA), and if you do well, you'll become eligible for the Korn Ferry Tour. If you perform well enough there, you'll be able to move on to the PGA Tour, the world's largest professional golf tournament organizer.
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Frequently asked questions
PGA stands for Professional Golfers Association. The PGA Tour is the world's largest professional golf tournament organiser.
There are two main pathways to becoming a PGA golfer. The first is to become a golf professional beforehand, which often involves having a strong involvement with your golf club and getting certified. The second is to start as an amateur and rely on talent to get noticed.
To become a PGA golfer, you can go through the PGA Associate Program or PGA Golf Management University Program. The former is a go-at-your-own-pace style curriculum that requires you to work at a golf course. The latter involves getting a degree and going through the PGM curriculum at the same time. This takes 4.5 to 5 years to complete, including internships and a degree program.
To become a PGA golfer, you need to pass a background check and a competency exam. You also need to pass the Playing Ability Test (PAT), which involves shooting equal to or lower than the course rating for 36 holes, plus 15.
