The dream job... A Pro!

DaveyG

DaveyG

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Joined
Jan 27, 2012
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Hi Guys,

I only joined last night and have been playing badly for just short of a year. As I posted on my newbie thread I have recently been having lessons off a pro at my local range and have noticed a massive difference and love the game more than ever.

I work as a mortgage adviser and as I'm sure you can imagine love life to the full when sitting in my office. I have been thinking for a while I want a career I enjoy and can get up everyday looking forward to work.

My questions are mainly to pro's who are qualified to teach and anyone who knows exactly what you have to do to get there.

What steps and hoops you have to go through to do the job?

I'm only 26 and although I am starting out I love the game that much I'm playing every day near enough when the joys of work aren't keeping me entertained.

It would b great to get an idea. Thanks guys,
 
its not all glam, any job at the top is glam but some pro's have to work very hard and effectively be shopkeepers to earn any money never mind decent money.

I'm sure Bob and Jason can enlighten more but we all know a pro or pro's and its hours and hours of thankless work and your not playing the game you love.

It can also be very very rewarding I'm sure even at club level
 
Well for a kick off you need to get your handicap to at least 4.4 and then do the PGA course. After that I guess you would need to like teaching! Oh and have deep enough pockets too as I was chatting to a pro who recently moved clubs and had to start from scratch with the shop!!
 
Not perhaps as glamarous as you'd imagine. Long hours, lots of hard work to make the business profitable amidst tough competition from the internet and big chains. You need to be a people person and thick skinned and impervious to the cold as you watch Gladys top another 40 yards down the practice ground.
 
My mate loves being a head pro. Ok it is hard work like he has told me many times when I comment on it. But hey if you want to succeed in any job is it not hard work fighting off the competition. If you are a good teacher and have good people skills then you can make a good go of it. Too many of the older pros still think that they rule the market and do not do anything to compete with the internet and the discount stores, like the 70 year old pro that has just retired from my course.

If you think you can get down to a 4 handicap then go for it mate, I would not mind being a head pro somewhere. Spending all your time teaching golf and selling kit is not a bad way of life.....Unless of course you have a job like a solicitor that you earn big bucks and get plenty of time to play golf.....:whistle:
 
i think its pretty competitive, bearing in mind there are only soo many golf clubs out there and a lot more pro's. At my last club the old pro was forced out due to a new guy turning pro who's dad was a good friend of the club president.

I know a number of very good pro's who work as assistants at a driving ranges and/or are one of the many assistant pro's at a club.

I think to be successful you have to be a very good people person or be talented enough to go on tour.
 
Cheers for the info guys. I genuinely feel like the teaching/people skills i will be fine with as i do alot of training in work. I just need to work on my golf but im still young and in the next few years hope to really improve. Im guessing the handicap tends to come down quicker at first when you get to a decent level and then starts to level out?
 
DaveyG said:
Cheers for the info guys. I genuinely feel like the teaching/people skills i will be fine with as i do alot of training in work. I just need to work on my golf but im still young and in the next few years hope to really improve. Im guessing the handicap tends to come down quicker at first when you get to a decent level and then starts to level out?
Click to expand...

Good luck and I hope you make it.
 
First you get down to 4
You must work in a authorised pro shop for a minimum of 30 hours a week.
You spend 2 days at the Belfry on a "meet and greet" to find out what's involved.
Then you must pass the playing test.
Once you've done all that, you sign the contracts and lose your amateur status, you start the Foundation degree course with Birmingham University. Your course work is sent to you in October.
You work your way through it writing essays on all the subjects ranging from custom fit, IT, workshop, business studies, coaching, (new ball flight laws), bio-mechanics, rules, employment laws etc etc. You also spend a week at the Belfry in Jan/Feb each year.
The "term" ends in April leaving you free to play all summer.
Only when you pass all 8 modules do you move forward to the second year.

The second year is the same as the first, only the essays get longer.

The 3rd year longer still, finishing up with the final exams which are theory and practical.
To qualify, you must pass all the subjects. Then you wait 3 months for the results.
On top of that, you must also play 21 pro events keeping a record of your scores and after the 3 years, you must still be under 4 handicap. (Although I heard that may have changed)

Then you have the option of going and applying for jobs all over the world as the PGA qualification is recognised all over.

Then you go on a forum and argue with 21 handicappers who have been playing golf for 6 months ;)

On average, around 300 qualify each year

If you want to know any more, drop me a line or go to

http://www.pga.info/AboutThePGAPro/31851301.htm
 
Bob - you make it sound like it's hard work.................!!
 
I'm guessing Bob that those 3 years of study also have a fairly hefty price tag whilst said student is earning just above minimum wage for 30 hours in the shop?! Sounds tough...
 
bobmac said:
First you get down to 4
You must work in a authorised pro shop for a minimum of 30 hours a week.
You spend 2 days at the Belfry on a "meet and greet" to find out what's involved.
Then you must pass the playing test.
Once you've done all that, you sign the contracts and lose your amateur status, you start the Foundation degree course with Birmingham University. Your course work is sent to you in October.
You work your way through it writing essays on all the subjects ranging from custom fit, IT, workshop, business studies, coaching, (new ball flight laws), bio-mechanics, rules, employment laws etc etc. You also spend a week at the Belfry in Jan/Feb each year.
The "term" ends in April leaving you free to play all summer.
Only when you pass all 8 modules do you move forward to the second year.

The second year is the same as the first, only the essays get longer.

The 3rd year longer still, finishing up with the final exams which are theory and practical.
To qualify, you must pass all the subjects. Then you wait 3 months for the results.
On top of that, you must also play 21 pro events keeping a record of your scores and after the 3 years, you must still be under 4 handicap. (Although I heard that may have changed)

Then you have the option of going and applying for jobs all over the world as the PGA qualification is recognised all over.

Then you go on a forum and argue with 21 handicappers who have been playing golf for 6 months ;)

On average, around 300 qualify each year

If you want to know any more, drop me a line or go to

http://www.pga.info/AboutThePGAPro/31851301.htm
Click to expand...

You forgot the cost to do the course too!
 
it certainly takes some commitment by the sounds of it. The 4.4 handicap is just the start.

Bob/Jason which part did/do you find the hardest/most challenging? (just out of interest)
 
I'm guessing you were ok on the financial side of things being ex-forces. Did you leave after your 22 year point so you had the luxury of being backed up financially by your pension? That is what I am considering doing when I leave on my 22 year point.
 
Dream job being a Pro? It is my dream job. I would't swap playing for running a shop. Guys who run a shop are finding it tougher to compete with the internet. They buying in stock at sometimes a higher price than what it is being sold for on the internet. Profits are so small and when you factor in wages of assistants and all other overheads there is not much money to be made. The money is made on food and drink, clothes and lessons.

Playing is no easy ride, I work on my game all day every day, be it out on the course, in the gym or working on my mental game. This time of year is spent working on trying to gain some sort of financial backing to be able to play the year. Last winter I got a job to help fund myself this winter I have done more teaching. I am trying to arrange teaching days like the one in arrange a game section. I am organising a teaching break to Egypt for a week. All to get me to into another tournament or two.

Throughout all of this I love what I am doing, the thrill of winning, gaining sponsorship through all the hard work. I don't drink/smoke or party doing any of this would drain the funds and limit my playing chances. I still get excited to go play a tournament or go practice. It is my dream job.
 
And then, once you've worked your way up the tree a bit, you get to be your own boss and live the life of luxury with all the money that comes across the counter in your own shop. Your loyal members will buy mars bars and bottled water with such ease. You'll see them waggle clubs in the shop, some may even ask to hit a taped up driver out on the practice ground. They'll then say, I can get this cheaper online, will you price match ? Your loyal members will also see you as the first point of all for all moans and groans about the course, the greens, the tees, the fairways, the slow play, the two ball behind that plays too fast, the car park and many more irrelevant things that the poor Pro has no real control over.


I may seem cynical, but in essence, we have change little since the days when the Club Pro was seen as just a hired help by the club. We the members treat them badly and often don't give them the respect they are due. It's a hard life being a Club Pro. I noticed our own Pro huddled round a heater in his shop yesterday, wrapped in full winter outdoor gear. It was only -2° outside, but, hey, he's been in the shop from first light to be available for his members. Bet he didn't sell much bottles water yesterday.

Treat your Pro with a bit of respect, it's amazing what they have to do for us members.

I know I couldn't do a job like that, even if we had glorious summers ;)
 
Trainees are normally on basic min. wage.
And the cost of the course when I did it.....
About £1500 per term

And yes Adey, I did have my pension to help.
But then of course i was taxed at 20 % for anything earned.


G1bbo, I found the hardest bit were the essays.
Having to sit down every night through the winter to study and learn and then write it all down took some discipline and at 44, that wasn't easy going back to school.

But would I do it all again???
In a heartbeat :thup:
 
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