How to become an assistant pro?

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Tadhger Woods

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hi
Im 14 and playing all day everyday at the the weekends and on the holidays. I practise for about 2 hours after school. Am I dreaming by thinking that I could become a pga pro? I know I have too become an assistant first but how to I do this? Any advice would really help.
Thanks
 
Hi mate Im 15 so Im only a year older than you so I can relate to this a bit :)

Firstly whats your handicap? I assume youre playing at a decent standard judging by how much you play?

Secondly, the amount you play is not sustainable, if you are serious about getting good GCSE results there is no way you will able to play that much in 6 months-a years time, I'm coming into exam season now (im in year 11) and Im doing well if I get 2 practices a week, whereas when I took the game up last May-June time I was playing 4-5 times a week, coursework and revision take up a huge amount of time

Finally do what DarthVega suggested, speak to your pro, get him to be honest with you about what he thinks your chances are, but even if he says he doesn't reckon you'll make it doesn't mean you have to give up, if you want that job and lifestyle and youre prepared to work on your game enough to get down to that level then go for it :)

Hope this helps
 
Here's a link to the PGA website http://www.pga.info/AboutThePGAPro/31851301.htm

I think fees are about £4k as it's linked in with a degree / foundation degree course and Birmingham uni. Loans can cover the fees and don't need to be paid back until after you've finished the course and are earning above a certain amount.

I believe you also need to work 30 hours or more a week at an approved PGA establishment during training.

You'd need to be off 4 or lower (male) 6 or lower (female) to apply and then pass a playing ability test, before been eligible for assistants role.

Handicap limits and hours working may be different if you were just went for the degree course at Birmingham uni. I'm not sure if you could then just take the playing ability test and turn PGA pro.
 
from my experience i would say your handicap is a little high,you need to get down to 4 to become an assistant pga pro i believe,when i was 13 i played off 7 and was aspiring to become a pga pro etc but i gave up,lost interest.

keep at it and get the handicap down.......
 
I have a a daughter just turned 16 and a son just turned 15 both play off 4 handicap and both want to try to take their golf as far as they can. You really have 2 choices from what i have learnt. you continue practising your golf and stay on at school until you have done your 'A' levels then if you have sufficient A levels you can apply to do a PGA golf course at somewhere like the Belfry which is attached to Birmingham university. The other route which my daughter is taking is get sufficient 'O' level grades to do a college Btec course in Golf for 2 years and then you can apply to do a PGA course from that.
 
nil1121 said:
I have a a daughter just turned 16 and a son just turned 15 both play off 4 handicap and both want to try to take their golf as far as they can. You really have 2 choices from what i have learnt. you continue practising your golf and stay on at school until you have done your 'A' levels then if you have sufficient A levels you can apply to do a PGA golf course at somewhere like the Belfry which is attached to Birmingham university. The other route which my daughter is taking is get sufficient 'O' level grades to do a college Btec course in Golf for 2 years and then you can apply to do a PGA course from that.
Click to expand...

This is incorrect. All the info as stated earlier can be found here - http://www.pga.info/AboutThePGAPro/31851301.htm

You can start the PGA Training Foundation Degree with 4 GCSEs playing off of 4...
 
Thanks for all the replies. Im living in Ireland so only junior cert (which dosent matter) :) Theres only been two qualifiers this year and Ive played terrible in both but still got cut. My PB is 82 so hopefully Ill get cut again this week. If I was off single fingers by 2013 would I have a chance? Thanks again.
 
Back in the day (1982) I basically bunked off the 5th year at school and was working cash in hand for the pro with a view to taking it further. In the end I went back in the January and did my O Levels but my parents couldn't afford the fees, the pro and club wouldn't sponsor me and I walked away and found lager and women.

I started off helping the pro in the shop at weekends and school holidays. Real menial work like hoovering the shop, tidying the workshop and eventually helping serve. Ask is the best thing to do. Nothing ventured
 
My cousin use to be a PGA Pro until he had to give up though ill health. Back in the day he started by doing a Saturday job in the pro shop. Then the pro took him on full time after he left school. He worked in the Pro shop and studied for his qualifications at the same time. Took him a while but he got there in the end.
 
HomerJSimpson said:
I started off helping the pro in the shop at weekends and school holidays. Real menial work like hoovering the shop, tidying the workshop and eventually helping serve. Ask is the best thing to do. Nothing ventured
Click to expand...

Agreed, I do what Homer did without the tidying and hoovering ;) I was lucky he asked me for the help, but it really does help your understanding of being a PGA Pro, tbh it wouldn't be my first choice career but I could see it being a lot of fun in the summer, it can be a bit boring in the winter as the customer level drops but still, its all good money :) As I said ask your pro, and theres no point him lying to you, get him to be honest, but keep at it and you never know in a few years you might prove him wrong :)
 
Looking at the weather we're getting at the moment im tempted to jack it all in and go down this route.

Pity i dont have age or handicap on my side :(
 
If theres no rush, go to Birmingham and do the Applied Golf Management Degree. You'll then have the next few years playing golf, then 3 at uni working with top coaches and playing competitive golf. Plus you'll have a quality time and get a degree out of it, with full PGA qualifications. You might then want to enter the golf industry at a different place, you could pretty much do anything. Work for a club maker, coach, or get a club pro job.

The only downside is cost, as it would probably set you back close to £30k by the time you're old enough to go. You'd also need some good A-Level results as entry requirements are higher than average plus handicap of 4 or lower is needed.

Other route is just making yourself known around your local club, offering to help out while improving your game. Then get handicap to 4 or lower, work over 32 hours a week and start PGA Training. Thats part-time while you work and takes 3 years. That might be the best way if you're on a budget or a rush.
 
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