Courses run by management companies or pga of America ?

[biker74]

Been touring the great states with our mixed couple singles groups.Many resorts,newer semi public facilities seem to distancing themselves from the pga of America logo. And being run and managed by a golf management or sports affiliated firm.The workers are shop managers and shop assistants with no pga golf program background.But have or are avid golfers in one point of their lives.The teaching pros were the same.Independent style contractors with no PGA affiliation.Is the pga of America criteria and curriculum a thing of the past? Slowly fading away like the dinosaurs 🦕 

[smashdn]

It could be that it has proven to just be a certification that the public is not willing to pay extra for.

 

I get lessons (when I want them) from guys that I trust and that know how to show me my swing in a way that I can make the changes to get me fixed or better.  A certification or title from PGAofA does not insure that to be the case nor does the absence mean the guy cannot teach the swing.

 

I would think the same holds true for managing a club or course or shop.  If you can manage a blend of retail and service businesses, I would think it would not take long for a person familiar with golf or that also plays golf to get that unique aspect of it figured out.

 

---

 

I see the value of certain certifications and levels of training ebb and flow in my line of work as well.  If you watch the job listings in the environmental, health and safety field the CSP and CHMM accreditations will go through periods where they are on every job listing and other times a masters degree is more oft found.  It sort of changes every 3-5 years as to which or in which combination job posters place emphasis on these.  Or not. 

[Bonneville85308]

I'm guessing that for public/resort/semi-private golf course jobs like assistant pro, assistant manager, etc. people realized there is no point in going through the PGA programs just to make $18/hr for decades when you can get those jobs off the street now with no PGA certs. Maybe people no longer want the career path of making a non-livable wage as an assistant pro for many years until they can get one of the few head pro type jobs out there. If I think back to the numerous assistant pros (all in the PGA program) from the private club I belonged to for most of the 2000s and 2010s, literally none of them are still in the golf industry, they all left for something else that provides a better living instead of waiting it out for a head pro job.

 

Very few of the public courses I'm familiar with in the bottom two thirds of the price range have anyone with a PGA affiliation on staff anymore. Many are not directly replacing staff like "Head Professional" when they quit or retire and are replacing them by shifting some duties to a combination of the general manager of the property or a multi-property manager from a golf management company, and minimum wage shop attendants.

[bcjim]

Can you join the PGA of America as a dues paying person who works in the golf industry? Or can you only be a member of you go through whatever certification process exists for "golf professionals " as they define it?

Edited July 29 by bcjim

[DArnie]

11 hours ago, bcjim said:

Can you join the PGA of America as a dues paying person who works in the golf industry? Or can you only be a member of you go through whatever certification process exists for "golf professionals " as they define it?

How to below. You might scroll around their site to see if your specific question can be answered.

 

 

https://www.pga.org/uploads/path-to-membership/3.1_Associate_At_A_Glance_2024.pdf

[bcjim]

1 hour ago, DArnie said:

How to below. You might scroll around their site to see if your specific question can be answered.

 

 

https://www.pga.org/uploads/path-to-membership/3.1_Associate_At_A_Glance_2024.pdf

Thanks. I'm not in the industry, nor contemplating it, but was just curious about what they do, for who, and why. And I'm still baffled. 

Just to be a PGA "Associate" you have to pass a PAT??? Isn't this different than being a PGA "Pro" who teaches golf and that sort of thing?

I guess as other seem to think, working at a golf course is not exactly brain surgery.

[Carolina Golfer 2]

6 minutes ago, bcjim said:

Thanks. I'm not in the industry, nor contemplating it, but was just curious about what they do, for who, and why. And I'm still baffled. 

Just to be a PGA "Associate" you have to pass a PAT??? Isn't this different than being a PGA "Pro" who teaches golf and that sort of thing?

I guess as other seem to think, working at a golf course is not exactly brain surgery.

Passing the PAT—Players Ability Test shows you have a better than most ability to play the game.  Completing the whole curriculum takes at least 4 years and costs  several thousand dollars.   
 

As others have said there is no law that you have to be PGA to teach.  Some management/ownerships will require it snd some won’t want to pay the higher salary that a PGA will demand.   
 

Not sure if that answers your question or not. 

[bcjim]

20 minutes ago, Carolina Golfer 2 said:

Passing the PAT—Players Ability Test shows you have a better than most ability to play the game.  Completing the whole curriculum takes at least 4 years and costs  several thousand dollars.   
 

As others have said there is no law that you have to be PGA to teach.  Some management/ownerships will require it snd some won’t want to pay the higher salary that a PGA will demand.   
 

Not sure if that answers your question or not. 

But my question is can you be a PGA member and NOT be an instructor? Do they represent/advocate for anyone besides guys/gals that teach golf? 

[ShortGolfer]

I play at Goodwin Park in Hartford

 

During the Spring of 2014, the City of Hartford contracted the Connecticut Section PGA to serve as the consultants to help restore the course operations to its heyday. Under guidance and restoration of its original design, the course returned to excellent conditions and customer service. Goodwin Park offers excellent opportunity to play golf at a quick pace and learn the game.

[delftw]

I went through the PGA program and I do not give lessons.

 

Also, you don't need to pass your PAT to become an associate. You just have to pass your PAT by the time you become a full Class-A PGA Pro. As well, it doesn't have to take 4 years if you can do it quicker. The minimum time requirement is 18 months, assuming you have some sort of college degree. I have personally worked with multiple people that finished all 3 levels in under 2 years. 

 

Final note, if you work at a facility that supports your growth, there's a good chance your club will help with your payments. When I went to PGA Frisco for Levels 2 & 3, my club paid for my flights, 5 nights of hotels (seminars are always Mon-Fri), and the $750 seminar fee both times. All I had to cover on my end was food/drink/ride share to and from headquarters.

 

Obviously, this is not the case with every facility, but not super uncommon either.

[Carolina Golfer 2]

On 7/29/2025 at 9:46 PM, bcjim said:

But my question is can you be a PGA member and NOT be an instructor? Do they represent/advocate for anyone besides guys/gals that teach golf? 

No a PGA Designation doesn’t require you to give lessons. But many young guys just starting out will do for the extra income.  

On 7/30/2025 at 12:22 AM, delftw said:

I went through the PGA program and I do not give lessons.

 

Also, you don't need to pass your PAT to become an associate. You just have to pass your PAT by the time you become a full Class-A PGA Pro. As well, it doesn't have to take 4 years if you can do it quicker. The minimum time requirement is 18 months, assuming you have some sort of college degree. I have personally worked with multiple people that finished all 3 levels in under 2 years. 

 

Final note, if you work at a facility that supports your growth, there's a good chance your club will help with your payments. When I went to PGA Frisco for Levels 2 & 3, my club paid for my flights, 5 nights of hotels (seminars are always Mon-Fri), and the $750 seminar fee both times. All I had to cover on my end was food/drink/ride share to and from headquarters.

 

Obviously, this is not the case with every facility, but not super uncommon either.

Thanks for clarifying a few things i was a bit off on.