Quote:
Originally Posted by TheDoc
Don't you become a PGA member when you pass the golf instructor classes? I think you have to shoot two 78's.. Not hard to become a PGA member, and have the title pro attached to it.
Real pros to me are the guys in the top 20 of each tour, from around the world, and hold that position for many years, that's a real pro. The rest are just playing catch up.
Pros gave up playing for fun, I still like to see if I can drive the water on the 350y hole, and try it until I do. Then give myself 1
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In the US it's a lot easier to get your PGA card, not as easy as you suggest but it's still relatively simple. Here in Australia we have the most comprehensive process to become a PGA member.
Firstly you have to do a three year traineeship at a golf course. To start the three year course you have to be playing off an official handicap of two or better.
During the three year course a trainee has to play 36 holes each monday, and if our average score for first year is more than 5.75 over par then you have to repeat the year.
If our average score for the second year is more than 5 over par then you repeat the year.
And if our average score is more than 4.75 over par you have to repeat. (doesn't sound that hard, but week in week out all sorts of weather, it's not that easy)
We also have to pass exams each year on body science, golf instruction (theory and practical) golf club construction, rules and ethics etc. and if you fail any one exam you have to repeat the year.
We also have to complete a home correspondance business management course.
Due to our system anyone who does succesfully become a PGA member is pretty much guaranteed of having a thriving career as either a player, golf instructor (which is what I do) or running a golf course as a director of golf.
I completed my traineeship, 20 years ago and have been a successful head teaching professional at one of our golf courses here,
www.golfinstructiononline.net so while I don't play on any tours anymore I am proud to be a member of the most difficult to complete PGA system in the world.
Greg Norman, Ian Baker Finch, Wayne Grady, David Graham (all major winners) etc etc all had to do this traineeship to become a professional.
You can also, just get a playing card wich means playing in a tournament where 300 amateurs playing off a 1 handidcap or better play for around 30 spots on the PGA tour for 1 year. But they are members of the PGA tour, and are not fully qualified PGA members.