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GOLF RESOURCE GUIDE:
Founders' Note
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 But the number of touring professionals pales in comparison to another type of golf professional — the men and women who serve as PGA professionals across the country. Whether head professionals, teachers or assistants in the golf shop, their influence cannot be underestimated. Not every golf professional is certified by the PGA, which is the governing body for golf professionals in the United States. And not every pro needs to be. We know plenty of outstanding teachers who don’t carry a PGA card. But with our cover story focusing on the game’s movers and shakers — including governing members of the Southern California Professional Golfers’ Association — we thought it would be a good time to recognize what it takes to earn a PGA credential. In Southern California, there are nearly 1,800 men and women who have received their Class A PGA certification or are working toward it. PGA professionals have an intimate knowledge of the fundamentals and mechanics of the swing, rules, etiquette and history of the game. But beyond their role as golf experts, many PGA professionals also are well-versed in the business of the game. They know how to run a successful golf operation by utilizing resources, implementing programs and making sure that a course, whether private or public, is run more efficiently. It’s a big task, which is why the training and educational process for PGA professionals is so rigorous. After serving six months in a golf-related employment program, prospective PGA professionals must pass a 36-hole playing ability test that, if passed, allows them to work as a PGA apprentice. They work in that capacity for three to six years, and must pass checkpoints to advance through three levels of certification. After putting in their time and displaying their proficiency in golf instruction and the principles of golf management, they receive their Class-A certification, meaning they are PGA members for life, as long as they pay their dues and further their education through meetings and seminars. No, you don’t see club professionals taking home $1 million checks, endorsing products or having household names. But the tasks they do in the trenches of golf, painstakingly working to keep golfers interested in the game and constantly trying to grow the game, is just as important as the work Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson do in electrifying galleries and television viewers. In terms of growing the game, teaching the game, managing the game and loving the game, there aren’t many people in the golf business more deserving of a hearty thanks than those who work in our area golf shops and practice facilities to make the game a more enjoyable time for all of us. |
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