Pga pat??

[TN94z]

Are there any benefits to passing this if you aren't interested in the management school? They are having one at a local course in October and looking at the scores it takes to pass, it seems pretty easy.

[Ben]

You have to pass it if you plan on going through the PGA/PGM program. Whoops, misread the original post, didn't see the "aren't" interested in part. If that's the case there really is no point to taking it. It is purely the starting off point of the PGM program. To make sure one has the ability in the game to call themselves a working golf professional.

13 over for 36 holes in one-day. Seems easy, sure. Is easy, maybe a different story. It took me two times to pass. Its not uncommon for aspiring pros to find themselves on the "PAT Tour". My boss took it eight times before he passes, yes, eight.

[TN94z]

You

Yeah, I am sure it is harder than what I think. I looked at the scores for the course here and it is a total of 160 from like 6300 yards. It would be tough but certainly in my average scoring range. I would like to get into the PGM program if I was about 10 years younger

I have a good career now and not looking for change. Thanks!

[David in FL]

13 over for 36 holes in one-day.

13 over course rating , right? Or did that change? I tried it once, 10 years ago or so, just for the heck of it. Greenskeeper considered it a personal challenge and the course was set up pretty tough. Rough grown in a bit, double cut greens, "Sunday" pins, etc.... I missed it by 1 stinkin' stroke with a pair of 79's, but enjoyed it nonetheless......prob because it didn't mean anything to me other than an opportunity to play in tournament conditions with some pretty good players. TN94z, I don't know that there's any real benefit to doing it, but it's still a good test of your ability and I'd bet you'd enjoy it too.

[TN94z]

13 over

From what I read, it is 15 strokes over the rating. Yeah, I would like to do it just to do it but it's 100.00 to take it and then you have to pay for the cart too.

[Jay-Bird]

...They are having one at a local course in October and looking at the scores it takes to pass, it seems pretty easy.

80,80 isn't EASY by any means. The local course our PAT is held at has a course rating of 76.0 and a slope of 150 - not easy!

[David in FL]

From what I read, it is 15 strokes over the rating. Yeah, I would like to do it just to do it but it's 100.00 to take it and then you have to pay for the cart too.

Factor in the normal cost of two rounds.....green fees + cart, and the cost for the 36 hole "tournament" prob isn't much more than $50. Not so bad.

Worst part for me, was having to wear long pants in FL, in summer!

[TN94z]

80,80 isn't EASY by any means. The local course our PAT is held at has a course rating of 76.0 and a slope of 150 - not easy!

72.9/132 is not quite as hard as that. They also said that the pins are set on the flat area of the greens. I have played the course here many times and usually shoot in the 70s (unless something is pretty off). Maybe "easy" was a bad choice of words. It is just very doable because that is higher than my average score there.

Factor in the normal cost of two rounds.....green fees + cart, and the cost for the 36 hole "tournament" prob isn't much more than $50. Not so bad.

You are right. Factoring in those things makes it better. But I did read that the cart fees were not included in the 100.00. So, it would actually be a little higher. Yeah, long pants here won't be so nice either! Although it has been cooler lately and it is scheduled for October which isn't usually too bad!

[Jay-Bird]

72.9/132 is not quite as hard as that. They also said that the pins are set on the flat area of the greens. I have played the course here many times and usually shoot in the 70s (unless something is pretty off). Maybe "easy" was a bad choice of words. It is just very doable because that is higher than my average score there.

Tournament golf is a different animal. If you're used to playing in tournaments it's very doable.

good luck.

[billm408]

If you're not interested in joining the PGA, there's no reason or benefit to take it.
Not sure how it's set up now, but when I took the PAT the cut line was 156. And, FWIW, you're playing from the white tees not the tips.

[TN94z]

If you're not interested in joining the PGA, there's no reason or benefit to take it.

The cut is basically just the course rating +15 strokes, so it varies. I would like to do it but I just don't have time to go through the program. Yeah, I read that it is from the middle tees...basically around 6300 yards or so.