Trying to become an instrutor, any tips?

[sonomajake]

Hello team, Im thinking about becoming an instructor, at least on the side. Anyone out there who does this already? Any tips anyone might have on how to do this? Thanks in advance.

[alf174]

I believe getting a PGA certification-recognition would be a good start.

[Jax]

Some random guy came up to me and my friend and started helping us lol he said he has been playing 36 years. Then he said left and said he was going to the bar lol! Never seen him after that really strange guy.

Just go to random ranges and look like a pedo and help kids

[eahollis4]

There's different organizations that can make you a certified instructer. I recomend if your good enough to pass the PAT(playing ability test) to gain an apprenticeship with the PGA of america. I believe inorder to pass it you have to shoot better than 15 shots higher for two rounds on the course rating. I'm currently a member of the PGA and most all the good clubs will take a pga member over the other organizations. This is because the other organizations don't having a playing abilty test and an instructer might not be able to get the ball airbourne themselves. Plus the PGA will teach you the buisness aspects of the game and many other fields related to golf.

[Kingfisher]

Hello team, Im thinking about becoming an instructor, at least on the side. Anyone out there who does this already? Any tips anyone might have on how to do this? Thanks in advance.

Some advice would be to get your handicap down first!

I think if folks are looking for an instructor, they'd expect a certain level of proficiency, at least low single figure or scratch player?

[timtim]

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[CG031]

Some advice would be to get your handicap down first!

well i don't think you need to be a very good player in order to teach - especially beginners. you do need to know the fundamentals inside and out of the golf swing though. so yeah i'd getting the pga teacher certificate would be you're first step.

[shankapotamus]

well i don't think you need to be a very good player in order to teach - especially beginners. you do need to know the fundamentals inside and out of the golf swing though. so yeah i'd getting the pga teacher certificate would be you're first step.

Maybe not necessarily, but if you want business, you should probably be good.

[CG031]

Maybe not necessarily, but if you want business, you should probably be good.

It depends, though, who he expects to teach? Does he expect to teach top junior ameatuers? Club Champions? Someone who can't break 100? Someone who has picked up a club once?

If he's going to teach really good players, then your right, you should be a great player yourself - but if your teach a beginner or someone who has yet to break 100, a 12 handicap to a beginner can look like a god because they can strike the ball fairly decent and obviously have experience at the game...

[shankapotamus]

It depends, though, who he expects to teach? Does he expect to teach top junior ameatuers? Club Champions? Someone who can't break 100? Someone who has picked up a club once?

Well yeah, but if they see another instructor shooting scratch, who are they going to go to?

[CG031]

Well yeah, but if they see another instructor shooting scratch, who are they going to go to?

But, that's not what you should look for in an instructor. Some of the best and most famous instructors are not very good players.

[shankapotamus]

But, that's not what you should look for in an instructor. Some of the best and most famous instructors are not very good players.

Because that is all they do. A local instructor probably has more time off. Also, you have to admit you would feel more comfortable taking lessons from a scratch golfer, as supposed to somebody with the same handicap as you.

[CG031]

Because that is all they do. A local instructor probably has more time off. Also, you have to admit you would feel more comfortable taking lessons from a scratch golfer, as supposed to somebody with the same handicap as you.

Oh, I agree completely with you there...but I'm saying I don't think it's an issue unless this guy plans on trying to give lessons to top players.

[shankapotamus]

Oh, I agree completely with you there...but I'm saying I don't think it's an issue unless this guy plans on trying to give lessons to top players.

Oh okay. I thought you meant it didn't matter at all how good you were.

[Kingfisher]

I know it is perfectly feasible to obtain some kind of golf coaching certification without being a Pro.

However, I'm sure many people would be far more confident with a coach who can actually practice what he preaches. He absolutely needs to be able to execute shots, rather than just knowing the theory behind them.

Imagine midway through a lesson, the coach steps up to demonstrate 'how it should be done' only to chunk one / hit a big slice?

Not very confidence inspiring for the student(s)?

[timtim]

And, around here, you have to have permission from the range to teach, so you have to prove to the range owner that you know what you are doing.

I recommend to you, and to any other teachers reading this thread, that they think more about marketing than any of the teachers that I see advertise. If I taught, I would create posters that say things like: "Cure your slice in three lessons or your money back" "Three lessons to get out of the sand in one swing most of the time or your money back"

I would also recommend that even if you are not a club fitter that you gather together a bag full of drivers with lots of shafts and lots of degrees. Maybe pick a good driver head from a year ago or so and start searching ebay for that head in different combinations of loft. Stiff 9.5 degree, Stiff 10.5 degree, Reg 9.5 degree, Reg 10.5 degree. The Ping G5 or G10 would be a good head to look for. Lots of those around.

[chriskzoo]

Golf is an alluring business, but unless you can become the head pro at a nice course or even own a course yourself, it's mostly just long hours for fairly little pay. Plus, if you are instructing at a course, you usually have to kick some of that lesson money back to the head pro.

[clubchamp]

First either find a college with a PGM program or pay to get the certification. You have to pass the PAT which the last time I checked was two rounds under 82. All these people are talking about being scratch which some pros are great golfers but MOST of them are are not. Most pros don't have any more time than the normal person to golf since it is a job. The whole being a scratch is not true at all because a lot of the top 100 teachers are not anywhere near scratch.