Opinion: Why take lessons from a PGA Professional

Although there are a large number of people who play golf in Great Britain many of them either take only the occasional lesson or no lessons at all.
Ironically this is despite the members of the PGA of Great Britain and Ireland being arguably the best qualified in the World. I would suggest that it is a combination of stubborn (usually male) pride, public perception and the structure of golf that is responsible.

It is certainly part of the British culture that we do not believe we need to be taught new skills. Sport is often seen as something that is relatively easy and all that is needed is to have a go. Even when it becomes obvious that determination alone is not sufficient there may be a fear of failure that prevents people putting themselves in a position where an expert will be judging their worth. It is not only golf that suffers from this, it is clear from observing people playing tennis, squash and badminton and crawling around the edge of an ice skating rink that they have never had a lesson in their lives.

Public perception may be that the golf professional is someone who is simply
good at playing the game and either has to play in sufficient tournaments or
serve sufficient time as an apprentice to become a full Professional. This could not be further from the truth as all PGA Professionals have had to undertake a three year training programme before becoming qualified. The PGA has been in existence since 1901 and has been running educational programmes for over 30 years. In the 1980s and 1990s there was a sharp increase in the demand for golf and therefore golf professionals. It is estimated that there are currently 50 million golfers world-wide. The PGA qualification is recognised internationally and there are PGA Professionals employed in over 110 countries. The three-year Diploma programme is accredited by OCN and has been running since November 1998. The first year of the programme recruited over 375 students. And subsequent years have each recruited approximately 300 students. There are currently almost 1,00 students on the programme.

In order to access the programme candidates must satisfy selection criteria of academic and playing ability. Candidates must have four GCSEs (grade C or above) or the equivalent . (BTEC First, GNVQ Intermediate, for example). For mature candidates (over 25) appropriate experience may be accepted in lieu of formal qualifications. Candidates must have a handicap of 4 or less. At this stage they are eligible to take part in a two day Admission Review Programme (ARP). These are held throughout the summer months at the National Training Academy. During the ARP candidates are able to gain information relating to life as a Golf Professional, have an induction to the Diploma Programme and are assessed as to their potential to become a Golf Professional. Following the ARP, candidates take part in a Playing Ability Test (PAT). These are held regionally and administered by the PGA. Candidates are required to play 36 holes in one day to within 15 of scratch. Three attempts are permitted each year.

Students study five modules in each year:
* Swing Theory and Practice
* Sports Science
* Equipment Technology
* Business Management
* Rules and Tournament Organisation

All students are employed by an approved PGA Professional and the place of
employment must have been approved as suitable for training purposes. The
Professional is more than their employer as he or she also has a role as tutor/trainer/mentor. Each course starts in October and consists of Distance
Learning, Residential Week at the National Training Academy (each year) and
Regional Seminars. Assessment is through assignments (equivalent to 10,000
words each year) and examinations. In years one and two these are held regionally over one day. In year three they are held over three days at the National Training Academy at the Belfry which has the following resources:
* Two Swing Rooms with studio lighting, video cameras and computer
analysis system
* Equipment Technology Room.
* Driving Range, putting green, practice green and bunkers.
* Three 18 hole golf courses.
* Three Lecture Rooms.
* Golf Science Lab, indoor putting green, swing analysis, endurance
strength, flexibility and psychology areas.
* IT Room
* Library

Not only do PGA Professionals understand the mechanics of the golf swing but
they area also taught how to become good teachers, they have an understanding of how the human body works (covered in anatomy and physiology, and biomechanics). The PGA Professional is given a grounding in sport psychology and an understanding of how people learn. All in all the PGA Professional is someone who is well equipped to teach all shapes, sizes, ages and sexes how to play the game of golf. However a word of warning, anyone can call themselves a golf professional, it is the PGA membership that is the sign of quality.

Finally the structure of golf in this country does not require people to take lessons. In other countries (for example Germany) you cannot play golf until you have passes a test. This is given by the golf professionals and requires a certain level of performance as well as a basic understanding of rules and etiquette. Consequently the players get in the habit of taking lessons from the outset and see the golf professional as the person who will help them improve.

Dr Kyle Phillpots
Head of Training and Education
PGA National Training Academy