Can i be a club pro

[Prodigy]

Hi everyone i was just wondering what it takes to be a club pro? I am only 14 and when ever i play i seem to get better i just want to know if its realistic

[Arsenal Forever]

If you're playing off a 12 at the age of 14 and if you keep improving, yes, you may be able to.

[WhiteSoxFan]

Peter Kessler said on his show this morning that there are 28,000 PGA teaching professionals in this country. I have no idea what it really takes to become a club pro, but I would think if you set that as a goal and you work hard at it you can do it.

A quick google search produced this - http://www.pga.com/improve/thepgains...instructor.cfm

[FIJIGolf23]

Hopefully Ben will chime in. He is an apprentice to become a club pro at the moment.

If I can find the funds after I graduate college then this is something that I am going to pursue for sure.

[Jeepthrills]

There are schools out there that have programs designed for this. Ferris State University in Michigan has a Professional Golf Management program. it is part of their business program and you actually earn a Bachelors Degree. It requires both academics and playing ability. The links below show what it takes to get in. I was up there a couple months ago and the course is very nice. It's a smaller school, but the campus is also very nice.

http://www.ferris.edu/pgm/admissionreq.cfm

http://catalog.ferris.edu/programs/122/

[Free Ballin]

Clemson University has a golf pro degree.

[Ben]

Hopefully Ben will chime in. He is an apprentice to become a club pro at the moment.

pin pon

To be thinking of this at age 14 is great! You'll be the best club pro ever. Here's what you need. 1) Get a job at a course, entry level Range or Cart Attendant. 2) After 6 months of working in a job you are eligible to take the Playing Ability Test. (PAT) 3) Go through the three levels of PGA certification. Receive your Class A certification. 4) Viola, you pretty much guarantee yourself a Head Pro, General Manager, Director of Golf, Tournament Coordinator, etc. job at any course that's looking. The kicker, I'm pretty sure there's an age restriction (18 years old). Which will be alright. In the Southern CA Section of the PGA, we have a special program for Juniors. Getting yourself invloved with the PGA, at no matter the age, will do nothing but good for you. I wish I'd have known about this when I was 14. To be young and a Class A Pro is something that can open a lot of doors. Tremendous opportunity. Took a little searching but, I found the home page to what would be your section. The PGA New England Section.

[Jeepthrills]

I wish I had not taken 6-7 years off from the game when I was in High School and college. With a program like the one in my own state I could have had a career in the field. I would love to be making a living from the sport.

[$2 Nassau]

I don't see any reason why you would not be able to do it. Keep playing and improving and who knows what will happen with your golf career. Good luck.

[Prodigy]

pin pon

i just have one question what do you have to shoot for the playing test also i say thanks to everyone who is giving me support

[janzaruk]

i just have one question what do you have to shoot for the playing test also i say thanks to everyone who is giving me support

Don't forget, free rounds to Sand Trap members when you are at Pinehurst

Good luck man, I was WAY TOO immature at your age to be thinking that smart

[NM Golf]

Don't make the mistake, there is no connection between being a great player and being a club pro. I know lots of golf pros who are not great golfers. In fact, the PAT (player ability test) is really easy to pass. They had one at our course, the players played the white tees 6400 yds, the pins were right in the middle of the greens, and they had to shoot like 76-76.

Why I am saying this is don't worry about the playing side of becoming a club pro, make sure you do well with your academics. You would be surprised to see the difficulty of the academic side. Way more guys don't finish the program due to academic struggles rather than because they can't play well enough.

Don't get me wrong though, there are some really good players too. Its just not a requirement.

[Ben]

i just have one question what do you have to shoot for the playing test also i say thanks to everyone who is giving me support

Typically, you've got to shoot less than 13 over for two rounds. Both rounds played the same day with no break between. So it's a little tougher than "really easy." But still not terribly hard.

Don't make the mistake, there is no connection between being a great player and being a club pro. Way more guys don't finish the program due to academic struggles rather than because they can't play well enough.

Quite true...

[iacas]

Typically, you've got to shoot less than 13 over for two rounds. Both rounds played the same day with no break between. So it's a little tougher than "really easy." But still not terribly hard.

I've heard the cut line is usually about 15 above the course rating (times two for the two rounds). So 156 or 157 is the usual number around here.