Binks Forest Golf Club

Archive for the ‘Golfers’ Category

The desire to become a professional golfer has increased throughout the years, due mainly to the success of pro golfers such as Tiger Woods.

Tiger Woods did not have this career handed to him. He worked hard. Like him, with a lot of effort you can achieve your pro golfer goal.

How To Become A Professional Golfer.

First and foremost you need to be absolutely positive that this is your career of choice, because at times it will be hard and you will want to give up. You will need to make a living as another job, because at the beginning of your pro golfing career, you might not earn much money.

You need to practice HARD and OFTEN. Every game you play is a practice, so try to fit in as many games as you can.

Once you have fine-tuned your skills and strategies, you must enter small tournaments and place among the top

Once you start to establish your name as a champ in the small tournaments your name will gain some much needed recognition.Then you are ready to take the biggest step, which is entering in qualifying school.

Qualifying school is your first step to getting on tour. You do have to pay $3,000 and the competition will be fierce. Remember there are thousands trying to do the same thing you are.

That is why you must practice until you feel you can call yourself a professional and enter confidently, knowing that you deserve to be there and you will bring your best game.

To officially get on tour you need to place above 130th. Once you reach 130th or higher, this does not guarantee that you are on tour for good. You can still lose your place if you let your game slip.

However, if you become more and more focused you can climb up the ladder and place even higher. The higher your placement, the more respect you earn.

Virtually everyone who is looking for a career in the golf industry starts with a passion for the game of golf. When people think of a golf professional, naturally they think of someone who plays golf all the time.

However, this is one of the biggest misconceptions of working in the golf business. There was a time when there was a greater emphasis placed on the golf professionals’ playing and teaching abilities.

In today’s environment, the golf professional has responsibilities as a manager, merchandiser, teacher, player, promoter, leader, etc. In today’s business environment, a golf professional’s career path within the golf industry can be much more specific as well.

How to Earn PGA Membership

It takes about five to seven years to earn membership with the PGA. There is a qualifying test and a series of three checkpoint tests that must be completed. The checkpoints are in-depth courses covering different aspects of the golf industry.

In addition, you must pass a 36-hole playing-ability test. Finally, apprentices must complete 36 work-experience credits. Once all these requirements are met, you are eligible for membership with the PGA.

PGA Programs

There are two ways to achieve membership. First, there is the PGA Golf Management University Program. The popularity of the golf industry has skyrocketed in the past decade. Today, there are 20 universities offering the PGM program. Students who choose the PGM schools will graduate with a degree from the university and membership with the PGA.

There is also the PGA PGM Apprentice Program. This method is for those not interested in attending the PGA University Program. Often people who already graduated or switch careers utilize this program. Both programs have identical requirements to earning membership. However, the programs offer different opportunities while working on attaining membership.

Qualifying Test

To register as an apprentice, participants must pass a Qualifying Test. The Qualifying Test includes three online courses. The three courses are: Introduction to the PGM and the Golf Profession, PGA History and Constitution and Rules of Golf 1. Participants must than pass an online test on the course work before registering as a PGA Apprentice.

Playing Ability Test

The Playing Ability Test is conducted over 36 holes. The course is set from the middle tees with the flags generally in the middle of the green. In order to pass the Playing Ability Test, players must achieve a 36-hole score within 15 shots of the course rating.

The course rating can be found on the course scorecard. Simply double the course rating and add 15 and you will have your target score. For example, a course with a rating of 70 would have a target score of 155 (70 + 70 + 15 = 155).

Checkpoint

Apprentices are responsible for attending level 1, 2 and 3 seminars at the PGA Education Center. A few of the seminar topics include: Customer Relations, Teaching, Business Planning, Tournament Operations, Inventory Management and Supervising and Delegating. Apprentices will test on all the seminar and book work topics at a later time in their geographic region.