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How to become a club pro

  • 12-05-2010 8:24pm
    #1
    TheRiddler
    Closed Accounts Posts: 425 ✭✭


    Hey guys.

    So I've been playing a lot recently every day either at the course or on the range and I'm loving it.

    I'm 18 and I play off 5 but I've been playing a lot better then that lately. I'm finished college until october so I'm going to play everyday in the summer. Unfortunately I'm at the stage of my life where I have to think about a career.

    It would be a dream for me to become a tour pro but obviously a long way off that. I'd love to be a club pro or teacher as a career but I'm not sure how i would go about it? I heard something about being an apprentice under a current pro whats the story with that? And is there some kind of course I could do or does anyone have any experience or advice to share with me?

    Thanks for any replies.


Comments

  • #2
    neckedit
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,492 ✭✭✭neckedit


    Contact the PGA or website www.pga.info, Basically you need to get the handicap down to 4 or better, get yourself a job with a qualified PGA member, pass you Playing Ability Test (PAT) go to the Belfry, outside Birmingham for induction and start a 3 year diploma course in all aspects of becoming a fully qualified PGA member.


  • #3
    TheRiddler
    Closed Accounts Posts: 425 ✭✭TheRiddler


    Is a three year course in England the only option? Nothing like that in Ireland is there?


  • #4
    neckedit
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,492 ✭✭✭neckedit


    TheRiddler wrote: »
    Is a three year course in England the only option? Nothing like that in Ireland is there?

    Its a distance learning Diploma, you do residential's and exams there. Ireland is part of the PGA of Great Britain and Ireland, There were plans to do the course in Ireland but i'm not to sure if its ever gonna happen man, the Belfry is a serious set up for all aspect of PGA training.


  • #5
    TheRiddler
    Closed Accounts Posts: 425 ✭✭TheRiddler


    neckedit wrote: »
    Its a distance learning Diploma, you do residential's and exams there. Ireland is part of the PGA of Great Britain and Ireland, There were plans to do the course in Ireland but i'm not to sure if its ever gonna happen man, the Belfry is a serious set up for all aspect of PGA training.

    Have you heard anything about apprenticships with current club pros or is that part of the Diploma? I know a guy being an apprentice to the pro in my club but I'm pretty sure he didn't do any three year courses.


  • #6
    neckedit
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,492 ✭✭✭neckedit


    TheRiddler wrote: »
    Have you heard anything about apprenticships with current club pros or is that part of the Diploma? I know a guy being an apprentice to the pro in my club but I'm pretty sure he didn't do any three year courses.

    you need to get a job with a PGA qualified professional and do your apprenticeship with him/her, and the diploma course is the only way to qualify as a PGA member. I went down this route a good few years ago.


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  • #7
    In_tuition
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,242 ✭✭✭In_tuition


    TheRiddler wrote: »
    Hey guys.

    So I've been playing a lot recently every day either at the course or on the range and I'm loving it.

    I'm 18 and I play off 5 but I've been playing a lot better then that lately. I'm finished college until october so I'm going to play everyday in the summer. Unfortunately I'm at the stage of my life where I have to think about a career.

    It would be a dream for me to become a tour pro but obviously a long way off that. I'd love to be a club pro or teacher as a career but I'm not sure how i would go about it? I heard something about being an apprentice under a current pro whats the story with that? And is there some kind of course I could do or does anyone have any experience or advice to share with me?

    Thanks for any replies.

    Would you not consider a scholarship in the USA?


  • #8
    In_tuition
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,242 ✭✭✭In_tuition


    Visit this site and ask for the same information as you have done so here.

    You will probably only get a US perspective on it though but I reckon that's your best route.

    Nick O'Hern and Ian Poulter to name but two were 2 & 4 handicappers and club pro's before they turned their hand to the professional game.

    Ex-players, caddies and friends of PGA Tour pro's post on this forum.

    If anyone can guide you in the right direction someone on there will.


  • #9
    EnjoyandImprove
    Closed Accounts Posts: 28 ✭EnjoyandImprove


    woodbrook golf club pro is looking for an assistant, give him a bell, pga course costs about 10 grand for the 3 years all in, pga pros are a dime a dozen now though....


  • #10
    mirrorball
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 150 ✭✭mirrorball


    EnjoyandImprove wrote: »
    pga pros are a dime a dozen now though....

    They really are - It's next to impossible to get a club position in Ireland once you've qualified.


  • #11
    Ginny007
    Closed Accounts Posts: 59 ✭✭Ginny007


    You would wonder why they go through all that training for very little chance of getting a club job.


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