sev112
Tour Winner
Argument for the sake of it
Views ?
Looks like a closed shop to me ...
he he he
Views ?
Looks like a closed shop to me ...
he he he
Should you have to be a PGA Pro to teach golf ?
- Thread starter sev112
- Start date
d2cko
Assistant Pro
In my view, yes. Otherwise it's just the blind leading the blind.
d2
d2
Would you want you anyone other than a trained solicitor to defend you in court. Maybe your mate the plumber could do it because he's seen a few re-runs of Crown Court. Daft question. If you want the best advice in ay walk of life go to the professional in that field. Simples
sev112
Tour Winner
Ok, so who gets to decide what constitutes "a professional" ? And why ?
chris661
Money List Winner
The PGA get to decide because thats the way it is
sev112
Tour Winner
And what's wrong with someone who is not a PGA Pro teaching if what they teach is sensible, or if someone is happy to pay for it ?
In many otehr industries there are numerous "quango" or "industry accreditation schemes that are just quality assurance bods charging you money for no real benefit - is golf any different ? And if so why ?
In many otehr industries there are numerous "quango" or "industry accreditation schemes that are just quality assurance bods charging you money for no real benefit - is golf any different ? And if so why ?
Imurg
The Grinder Of Pars (Semi Crocked)
If you're paying for it, go to a Professional.
If you're taking advice for free.. - hell, we do it every day on here...
Anyone can teach someone to drive, build a brick wall, skin a rabbit etc if they have practical experience of it.
Whether you're doing it properly is another matter.
If you're taking advice for free.. - hell, we do it every day on here...
Anyone can teach someone to drive, build a brick wall, skin a rabbit etc if they have practical experience of it.
Whether you're doing it properly is another matter.
sev112
Tour Winner
who says your PGA Pro is teaching you the "right" way - there are all sorts of theories and teachniques in the books and on the web - how do you be satisfied that you are being taught the right way, and not just teh PGA way ? or whatever that particualr Pro thinks is right ?
chris661
Money List Winner
Are you serious?
sev112
Tour Winner
No - read the OP !
TonyN
Money List Winner
This is a great argument with a simple answer.
If your happy to take advice from a non pro..whats the problem. If your happy to pay for it... more fool you.
Pro's are becoming more and more expensive these days. Locally I have seen rates of 40 pound per half hour. Thats insane. I'd happily take advice from someone who knew what they were talking about, regardless of qualifications. I just don't know if i'd pay him/her.
If your happy to take advice from a non pro..whats the problem. If your happy to pay for it... more fool you.
Pro's are becoming more and more expensive these days. Locally I have seen rates of 40 pound per half hour. Thats insane. I'd happily take advice from someone who knew what they were talking about, regardless of qualifications. I just don't know if i'd pay him/her.
sev112
Tour Winner
Aha - thanks for entering into th debate 
no!
jammag
Challenge Tour Pro
I dont think you should have to be a PGA Pro to teach golf as such. If you are teaching youngsters about golf etc then I think if you have a basic understanding of the golf swing etc then you should be able to do that. If you was a putting master but couldnt hit a driver you are hardly likely to get down to under 4 to qualify to teach yet you could be very useful in getting people to putt properly.
Where as if you was giving a technical lesson to someone and trying to sort something out then I feel it would bebetter to go a professional.
It may benefit to do a football style coaching awards to allow to coach at different levels as such so then people who are willing to give up time could do something helpful with youngsters for example and leave the paid coaching to the professionals.
Where as if you was giving a technical lesson to someone and trying to sort something out then I feel it would bebetter to go a professional.
It may benefit to do a football style coaching awards to allow to coach at different levels as such so then people who are willing to give up time could do something helpful with youngsters for example and leave the paid coaching to the professionals.
redcatjazz
Hacker
Great question - I feel that if a person with a great game (scratch or better) wants to hang up their shingle and offer lessons without being a PGA pro, then who is to say they cannot, or should not? If someone wants to try them out for a lesson, they'll either like and benefit from the instruction, or not, just like if you went to see a PGA pro. Free enterprise!
I took a lesson from a PGA pro and benefitted greatly. I also took a lesson from another PGA pro and he basically watched me hit balls for 90 minutes and barely uttered a word - at the end of the lesson he said, "you'll shoot in the 70s this year, that's $150 please" - so they're not all great instructors, although I'm sure the majority of them are.
My father who studied the game intensely over a long period of time, was an excellent teacher who made his living in a completely different field. I personally witnessed him help his fellow golfers and strangers with their games with incredibly positive results. One man even said, "Maurice, I can now die happily - thank you, thank you".
He never charged anyone a dime and he always brushed it off when I suggested that he should offer formal lessons for money.
So I say, no, you do not have to be a PGA pro to offer lessons - you just have to know what the hell you are talking about and be a good communicator of that information.
I took a lesson from a PGA pro and benefitted greatly. I also took a lesson from another PGA pro and he basically watched me hit balls for 90 minutes and barely uttered a word - at the end of the lesson he said, "you'll shoot in the 70s this year, that's $150 please" - so they're not all great instructors, although I'm sure the majority of them are.
My father who studied the game intensely over a long period of time, was an excellent teacher who made his living in a completely different field. I personally witnessed him help his fellow golfers and strangers with their games with incredibly positive results. One man even said, "Maurice, I can now die happily - thank you, thank you".
He never charged anyone a dime and he always brushed it off when I suggested that he should offer formal lessons for money.
So I say, no, you do not have to be a PGA pro to offer lessons - you just have to know what the hell you are talking about and be a good communicator of that information.
bobmac
Major Champion
I guess being a pro is like being a member of a recognised body in any trade. Whether you're a plumber, electrician, child minder, lawyer etc etc.
If you go for an amateur, how do you know he/she knows what they're talking about?
If you go for an amateur, how do you know he/she knows what they're talking about?
USER1999
Grand Slam Winner
But do all pro's keep up to date? The modern golf swing is quite different to that from 20 years ago, when a lot of teaching pro's qualified. What you are being taught could well be rubbish. Or it could be fine. How do you find out, before shelling out the cash?
bobmac
Major Champion
Word of mouth I guess would be the best way.
How do you know the pro knows what they are talking about? We've all met pro's with unconventional ideas and methods, I'll never forget the pro who gave me a 1 hr lesson and never let me hit one ball and had my hands left of my left foot, wtf was that all about
The23rdman
Challenge Tour Pro
This is a subject I've thought about a lot over the years. On one hand a pro spends many years accruing knowledge on the swing, but often not as long as some amateur swing theorists.
There are pros who, like many GPs, simply stop learning or reading new information when they become qualified. Then there are the pros with a real passion for learning, improving and improving us! The really, really good ones also have the ability to communicate at whatever level you need and have many different ways of conveying the same information.
The thing is I've come across some amateurs who have all of these skills too. Some are scratch or better players and some are ten handicappers who care more about others games than their own.
The bottom line is that if someone, pro of other, can identify faults and offer fixes that are based on sound fundamentals that actually improve your game then that is all that matters. Unfortunately, as soon as you take money for anything I think you become a pro.
There are pros who, like many GPs, simply stop learning or reading new information when they become qualified. Then there are the pros with a real passion for learning, improving and improving us! The really, really good ones also have the ability to communicate at whatever level you need and have many different ways of conveying the same information.
The thing is I've come across some amateurs who have all of these skills too. Some are scratch or better players and some are ten handicappers who care more about others games than their own.
The bottom line is that if someone, pro of other, can identify faults and offer fixes that are based on sound fundamentals that actually improve your game then that is all that matters. Unfortunately, as soon as you take money for anything I think you become a pro.
