Learn How to Become a Professional Golf Teacher
By Barry Lotz, J.D., Ph.D. • PGTAA President
Want to Become a Professional Golf Teacher?
2024 has been an exceptional year for golf, especially post the Covid pandemic. Opportunities for golf teachers abound! Golf participation has boomed as many Americans appear to see golf as a great escape. Golf’s estimated reach is, according to the National Golf Foundation (NGF), over 123 million!
45 Million
– Americans age 6+ –
played golf – BOTH on-course and off-course – in 2023.
This record-setting total includes 26.6 million people who played on a golf course and another 18.4 million who participated exclusively in off-course golf activities at places like driving ranges, indoor golf simulators, or golf entertainment venues like Topgolf.
The record number of people who played on a golf course for the first time in 2023:
3.4 Million
The industry has had 10 straight years with more than 2 million beginners, with the past four topping 3 million. Prior to the pandemic-boosted totals of recent years, the previous recorded-high of 2.4 million was set in 2000, when Tiger Woods was at the height of his popularity. Off-course forms of golf — such as entertainment golf venues — are proving a valuable on-ramp for introductions, helping participants build confidence and comfort before visiting a golf course for the first time. Retention and conversion of newcomers remains an industry focus, and obstacle. (Source: NGF) For the full report visit: https://www.ngf.org/golf-industry-research/
The post-pandemic increases in participation and play across the golf landscape have extended to golf instruction, where requests for and lessons given have been at their highest level in the past 20 years. With the influx of so many new and existing golfers participating, a 60% increase in rounds played over last year has been noted. This has led to the demand for golf lessons and teachers to fulfill the demand.
The PGTAA Gives Its Students a Unique and Competitive Edge in the Golf World.
The Professional Golf Teachers Association of America, the PGTAA, now in its 27th year of operation, is a unique organization that offers more than any other golf teaching school. What is it that makes this organization’s course unique? It gives its graduates real-life skills and experience that they can use when they enter the world of professional golf. It emphasizes teaching golf, as well as other organizational tasks and golf basics, so that they can earn a good living in their chosen field.
PGTAA students teach all over the world from Australia to Zimbabwe.
While the PGA and LPGA give their graduates general golf skills such as how to run a golf organization, organizing golf tournaments, how to run a golf shop, maintenance and organization of parties, the PGTAA is unique because it offers 100% instruction on learning how to teach golf and making an excellent living in the golf teaching profession.
The PGTAA has a reputation throughout the golf world for the high quality of their graduates. Its graduates have gone on to become Directors of Golf, Tournament Directors, Head Teaching Professionals and University Golf Directors in major golf instruction organizations in Europe, Canada, Asia, Mexico, the United States and Africa.
Graduates include the likes of Mark Immelman, the CBS on ground announcer, former Columbus State University Golf Coach and coach to three Tour players, former PGA Tour players Brenden Pappas and Scott Gardiner both at Paradise Valley Athletic Club in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Belen Mozo, a former LPGA player, Scott Crutcher of the Maverick Golf Academy, Rahim Gulam Golf Academy – Canada, Jon Mahanna, the Director of Golf at Angel Fire Resort in New Mexico, Mark Hammons the GM and Head Professional at Las Barrancas Golf Complex in Yuma, Arizona, Mike Kletz, the Director of Golf at Huddle Park Golf Club in South Africa, Aubrey Daniel at Bahrain’s most exclusive Golf Club, Will Goodreu at the Marble Island Golf Academy and Glen McCartney, the assistant golf coach at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania for the women’s golf team and Patrick Parrish, formerly of Pebble Beach Academy, Poppy Hills and Nicklaus Club Monterey.
Other PGTAA graduates have also gone on to teach at well-known resorts such as Torrey Pines, Westin Roco Ki Beach & Golf Resort, Houghton Golf Club in South Africa, and many more.
PGTAA graduates have also found positions at various golf related operations, including schools, universities, golf retailers, country clubs, driving ranges, and teaching schools such as the Dave Pelz Short Game School. Topgolf, Roger Dunn Golf Stores, Dick’s Sporting Goods, GOLFTEC, X-Golf Indoor Golf Simulators, and many of the major golf companies are additional employment sources for PGTAA graduates.
The PTGAA’s edge comes from its unique and detailed curriculum. It includes mastery of the game of golf – both the technical aspects of the game as well as mental aspects, which are just as powerful in determining success. The real uniqueness of the course comes from its emphasis on teaching golf, organizational skills and marketing skills.
The PGTAA is the originator of the Home Study course and the optional Onsite course for PGTAA graduates. The optional onsite course is available ONLY to PGTAA graduates.
The Onsite course offers those PGTAA graduates an opportunity to receive face-to-face instruction by seasoned PGTAA and PGA professionals, to use cutting edge technology such as Trackman and Flightscope and can cement their teaching skills. The On-site course, in and of itself, is not a requirement for PGTAA certification. Certification is only through the Home Study course.
The On-site course is taught by PGTAA, PGA and LPGA instructors. Attendees work with actual students, receive constructive advice, learn new teaching techniques and usage of teaching tools, thereby improving and fortifying their teaching skills.
Both the home study and on-site modules contain detailed and current teaching materials, marketing trends, information relating to teaching golf, and resources to help graduates find a good job after completing their studies, as well as skills to help them market their abilities in the real world.
On-site courses are held throughout the year at different locations in the USA and internationally.
Finally, the PGTAA is known as an institution with a high level of integrity. Unlike other schools that force enrollment to pay their high advertising costs, the PGTAA only encourages and accepts enrollment by students who are interested in taking their careers to a new level and who possess both excellent communication and golf skills.
Admission to the PGTAA is via a telephone interview to ascertain the fitness of a prospective student and their skills. The PGTAA course also doesn’t have “levels” that force students to take additional courses to graduate. The PGTAA offers one intensive, no-time limit to complete course, and upon successful completion thereof, the certification as a Class “A” PGTAA Master Teaching Professional is awarded. Unlike many other teaching institutions, yearly dues are just $100. There has not been either a course fee increase or dues increase in 27 years!
The PGTAA is a quality school that offers a course of study you won’t find anywhere else. While the PGA and LPGA teach players to improve their golf skills to the highest level, the PGTAA goes one step further by teaching career skills to get your golfing career going. In fact, the PGA and USGA have been known to refer prospective students who do not, or cannot, enroll in their programs, for whatever reason, to the PGTAA. This speaks to the quality and credibility of the PGTAA. It is truly a unique, high-quality program that educates, supports, inspires and challenges every student.
For more details visit http://www.pgtaa.com or call Dr. Lotz for more information at 760.335.0600 or on WhatsApp 760-574-7676.