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In this section you will find details of the qualifications and qualities needed for golfing careers.

So You Want to Be a Golf Pro – how do you start?

The PGA Trainee Diploma Programme – full details of the qualification

PGA Trainee Diploma Costs

Turning Professional is a Big Decision – valuable advice from Lewine Mair, golf correspondent with The Daily Telegraph. This article is included by kind permission of the Ladies Golf Union.

Sports Journalist/Golf Writer – An account from Alan Hedley, member of the Association of Golf Writers, on what it takes to make a career as a Sports Journalist.

European Tour Manager - Details of how Ian Watts became European Tour Manager for Taylor Made adidas Golf.

Life in the United States - Gregg Tarplee gives an account of how he secured a dream job in the United States.

Coming Soon …………………

Details of the qualifications and qualities necessary for other golf-related careers. So, keep surfing this site.

SO YOU WANT TO BE A GOLF PRO

How do you start?

Unless you are one of the lucky few leading juniors in the country who aim to move directly into becoming a Tour Professional you will first become an Assistant Club Professional.

Once you have been working as an Assistant Professional for at least 6 months you are able to train to become a PGA member and a full Professional, as long as you are at least 18 years old.

The PGA runs a 3 year Trainee Diploma Programme which has been designed to meet the needs of the professional golfer in all aspects of the profession, including sports science, coaching and managing a business.

Not everyone is allowed on the course, but if you fulfil the entry criteria you will be invited to attend a two day Admission Review Programme which takes place at the National Training Academy at The Belfry. This residential programme will assess your suitability to enter the profession.

Advice will be given on other career options for anyone thought unlikely to be successful on the programme. It will also provide you with an in-depth knowledge of career opportunities in golf, with Professionals who took different career routes sharing their experiences.

You will be introduced in detail to the training programme, spending time in the training facilities for swing, technology and commercial studies. Time will also be spent on the role of the PGA and its history.

If you are successful on the Admission Review Programme then your golfing ability will be tested as you take the Playing Ability Test, held over 36 holes on selected courses at regional venues throughout the UK. Don’t worry if you should fail this ability test as just over 40% pass at their first attempt. There will be another 2 chances to pass this test during the year, with fewer than 20% failing after 3 attempts.

Once you have passed the Playing Ability Test you become eligible to sign contracts and register for the three year Trainee Diploma Programme.

If you successfully complete the Trainee Diploma Programme you are able to apply for jobs as a Golf Club Professional. This does not entitle you to automatically play on the full European Golf Tour with the Tour Professionals. A lot of hard work and dedication will be required before you make this standard. GOOD LUCK!

THE PGA TRAINEE DIPLOMA PROGRAMME

The PGA has kindly allowed rookiegolf.com to reproduce the full details of its Trainee Diploma Programme:

The programme has been designed to meet the developing needs of the professional golfer in all aspects of the profession, including sports science, coaching and managing a business and as such the programme contains many new subject areas. The programme structure is such that trainees will have the opportunity, if they wish, to pursue National Vocational Qualifications.

Programme Framework:

An Admission Review Programme (ARP) will take place at the National Training Academy. The programme provides the opportunity to assess the suitability of potential students to enter the profession, testing their commitment to the PGA, its values and philosophy. It will also provide potential students with an understanding of career opportunities within the profession. Those successfully completing the ARP will be eligible to take the Playing Ability Test (PAT). This will be held over 36 holes, to a defined national standard, on selected courses at regional venues throughout the U.K., during the summer.

To be eligible for both the Admission Review Programme and the Playing Ability Test, candidates will:

• hold a handicap of 4 or better
• have four GCSE passes at Grade "C" demonstrating literacy and numeracy – or;
  Intermediate GNVQ in Business, Information Technology, Leisure & Tourism or Retail & Distributive Services – or;
  NVQ (Level 2) in Administration, Customer Service Information Technology, Management, Retailing, Sports & Recreation or Travel & Tourism.

Information Technology is an important part of the programme and students will be assessed on their I.T. skills during the Admission Review Programme (ARP). The PGA expects, as part of the programme, individuals to be capable of working in the areas of word processing, spreadsheets and databases.

Training will commence at the beginning of November with receipt of distance learning study material, with Year One courses, being held at the PGA National Training Academy, from the beginning of November until the end of December.

Before training can commence, candidates will be required to have:

• attained the age of 18 years
• be working on a full-time basis with a fully qualified Member of this Association, holding A(T) status.

Syllabus:

The Trainee Diploma Programme will contain a wide range of subjects, in addition to the traditional areas of coaching, commercial studies and repair technology, for example:

• Biomechanics
• Physiology
• Psychology
• Physical fitness
• Ball / Equipment Technology
• Computer Skills / Information Technology
• Basic Greenkeeping / Agronomy
• Health & Safety
• Video Skills (Teaching Technology)
• Nutrition and Dietetics
• Personal Playing Skills
• Interpersonal Skills
• Marketing & Management

The Programme will comprise core units and optional studies, allowing students the opportunity to select subject areas of particular interest to them.

Course Delivery:

The three year Programme comprises the following elements:

• Five day residential course, held at the National Training Academy, in each year.
  
• Self-study programme, which will be delivered through distance learning packages over the three years. This distance learning will be supported with a variety of teaching materials.
  
• One day regional examination day in both Years I and II.
  
• Three day final examination, at the National Training Academy, at the end of final year (Year III).

  

Costs:

Details of the current fees for the Trainee Diploma Programme are shown below and include:

• Admission Review Programme
• One attempt at the Playing Ability Test*
• Residential Courses, regional examination days (Years I & II), Final Examination
• Study Materials

Application can be made for a Career Development Loan, through one of the four major Banks operating the scheme. Details can be obtained from the PGA Training Department.

Trainee Diploma Programme Costs - 2002 Intake

(All figures are inclusive of VAT)

Admission Review Programme (ARP) &
Playing Ability Test (PAT) (one attempt) 515.00
(Additional PAT attempts (if necessary) = £61.10 each)

In addition to the above trainees will be required to pay annual subscription fees of approximately £135.00 (VAT not applicable). Please note the Board of Directors reviews subscription fees each year and this figure is based on the current rate.

If you would like an application form or want any further information contact the Training Department at:

The Professional Golfers’ Association
PGA National Training Academy
Ping House
The Belfry
Sutton Coldfield
West Midlands B76 9PW

Tel: 01675 470333

TURNING PROFESSIONAL IS A BIG DECISION

Turning professional is a bigger decision than many would have you believe. It is not just about what you want to do now, but what you want to be doing in 10 years’ time.

For the 20-year-old who has made stirring progress in the amateur game, it is difficult to imagine a more exciting prospect. There is plenty in the way on round-the-world travel, together with the opportunity to play golf on a mix of famous courses, such as Sunningdale and Gleneagles, and on some little-known gems like Il Piccolo in Sicily or Saint Endreol in France.

There is also the point that it makes sense for a girl to turn what she does well into a career. At its best, it could be a lucrative exercise, with the possibility of winning majors and playing for Europe in the Solheim Cup.

Moving on ten years, the golfer of 30 who has had ten years competitive play under her belt should be reaching her peak. Though Annika Sorenstam and Karrie Webb have both hit the heights in their early twenties, players like Laura Davies and Alison Nicholas definitely made a further advance when they moved into their 30s.

Which is where the dangers come in. Anyone whose life has been given over to the game for so long is liable to have lost touch with old friends and to have little or no social life left at home. Those who, at heart, still cling to that once almost universal concept for a woman of husband, house and home, might worry that such a dream can become increasingly elusive.

Looking down the list of names on both the American and European tours, the first thing to capture the attention is how many more of the players are single than married. Both Davies and Nicholas have explained how difficult it is to meet the right man in a walk of life which involves being in one country one week and another the next.

Sue Moon, from the European tour, is one to have met her husband while playing in a pro-am, but that is a rare occurrence, for most of the men cropping up on the pro-am scene are over 40 and already accounted for.

A pro-am partner can also be a potential sponsor, though here, of course, players must be alert to the fact that there are those in this category whose intentions may not always be wholly honourable.

On much the same tack, the newcomer on tour will need to think twice before leaning too heavily on a fellow tour member. Laura Davies maybe summed up this situation in her book "Laura Davies, Naturally". What she said was that the tour has changed over the last ten years, with more and more of the young players arriving with boyfriends, or even husbands in tow. Her suggestion is that a girl should make a point of fending for herself when she starts out on tour and not become indebted to others.

In truth, the best advice for a girl’s social well-being is much the same as that handed out by the sports psychologist who is helping a player to get the most out of her game. Namely, that it is vital to hang fast to a life outside golf.

LEWINE MAIR
GOLF CORRESPONDENT, THE DAILY TELEGRAPH

SPORTS JOURNALIST/GOLF WRITER

THESE days most people start out with a pretty clear intention of being a journalist and the route into the profession is very well defined, although by no means set.

The route is:

A levels
university degree
and then a journalism training course, although the latter is by no means essential.

It's also possible to start at the age of 17-18 with just GSCEs, but very unusual nowadays. Your powers of persuasion to get an editor to give you a chance will have to be good, but there are cases of youngsters doing that after work experience and also working on newspapers during their vacation time.

Most newspapers have someone who can advise on how to approach a career in journalism and then there is the National Council for The Training of Journalists (Latton Bush Centre, Southern Way, Harlow, Essex, CN18 7BL. 01279 430009) who can also advise.

Once a graduate is taken on, he or she will generally be indentured or tied to the company for two years and the company undertakes to train them.

It's normal to go through training in all departments and it's unusual for someone to go straight into sport. That usually happens after a few years in news.

This is not the only route into sports journalism. An increasing number of former sportsmen and women end up moving into the media when they retire from sport.

Having said all that about the usual route and the celebrity route, I have to say that I came into journalism by neither! I did, in fact, train as a teacher but had second thoughts six months into that and, purely by chance, was given the opportunity to cover soccer for a local weekly paper.

I was given a six-month trial, got the job thereafter and apart from a brief spell as a news reporter specialising in court and industrial reporting, it's been 32 years of covering soccer, then rugby and golf with the Shields Weekly News, Shields Gazette, Sunderland Echo, Newcastle Chronicle and now The Journal.

I write occasionally for national newspapers and magazines and have done some television and radio work, but essentially I am a writer and have never felt the urge to move to the production side of newspapers.

It's not easy for young journalists or those who may fancy dabbling in writing to get their copy published, as newspapers, magazines, radio, and tv tend to go for experienced journalists. However, anyone who shows talent and persistence will often succeed.

The best route is often to try your local paper by writing something and sending it to the editor or sports editor and asking if they will consider publishing it. Remember, it is a newspaper - it's no good writing a report of last week's Newcastle v Arsenal match and expecting it be published six days later. A better idea would be to write a piece about something which only you can provide and which is of interest. Even better is to talk to the sports editor or editor beforehand and persuade them to commission the article...it won't be easy.

It's hard to say what a typical day is. For me they are pretty changeable and unstructured, although there are a certain number of regular tasks on any given day.

When the rugby and golf seasons overlap, I can be at a rugby press conference in the morning, interviewing a player at midday, covering a rugby match in the afternoon and dashing off to catch the end of a golf tournament in the evening, although that's rare.

I take a lot of calls from local clubs and golfers who tell me what's happening at their clubs. I also go to as many county tournaments as I can, to cover the action, which means watching the play and talking to people. The same applies to major tournaments, but the key throughout is talking to people and therefore the ability to communicate is paramount for a journalist. Everyone always has something worth saying, even if you think it's boring!

Anyone who wants regular hours and time off shouldn't even contemplate being a sports journalist. There is no such thing as a day off if there is a story breaking.

Anyone who wants regular hours and time off shouldn't even contemplate being a sports journalist, there is no such thing as a day off if there is a story breaking.

If I would give anyone any advice about journalism, it is straightforward – learn to write and develop your own style. Reading newspapers and magazines will give you an idea of style, but don't copy anyone - develop your own. Also, anything you can do to increase your vocabulary and command of any language, not just English is an advantage.

A strong constitution is also an advantage and so is being nosey, persistent and the ability to get into places that you might not be supposed to!

Alan Hedley,
Sports Writer, The Journal








Ian Watts - European Tour Manager for Taylor Made adidas Golf.

Many thanks to Taylor Made adidas Golf and S2 Marketing Ltd for providing the following information on what looks like a dream job for any keen golfer.

Background/schooling?
I left college when I was sixteen having taken no real interest in pursuing my A-Levels. I remember really disliking school and team sports were never part of my agenda. I wanted to be a golf professional and no one was going to stand in my way. Of course now I wish I had studied a little harder but those years on the golf course when I was young were part of the best experiences of my life. I realise now just how much time I spent playing golf as I appear to be absent from almost all family pictures from that period. It was for sure a safe place for me to be though and I guess my parents were at least comfortable with that fact although they were not so with my input into my studying.
At sixteen having spent a few months working in a petrol station, which I hated, I turned to the professional golf ranks and joined my local golf club as assistant professional. I needed to complete three years probation before I could become qualified and have my own position as club professional. I achieved this at the age of nineteen and at the time was the youngest qualified professional in the UK.

Family influences on your chosen career?
It was my brother and father that introduced me to the game of golf at the age of eight. I remember being taken out to the golf course and following my brother and his friend, I'm sure I was a nuisance at the time but I have a lot to thank them for. My parents were always very supportive once they realised it was a golf career that I was pursuing.

Summer jobs/work placements you would recommend?
For anyone interested in getting involved in the industry the best place to look would be in the golf publications, there is such a variety of jobs in the golf industry from Sales, Marketing, product development etc. and you don't necessarily need to be a golf professional. A good understanding of the game is important though and it does help in some areas if you can play to a reasonable standard, in my job it has definitely helped being a professional as it has helped me to liaise with players on the tour a lot easier.

Jobs you loathed?
When I first joined Taylor Made I started as the European Tour technician which meant I had to drive our 7.5 ton mobile workshop around Europe. It was really exciting at first and I got to see a lot of interesting places during my travels. It became very tiring though towards the end and it was difficult being away from home for long periods of time. In 1994 when travelling across Spain I found myself in the middle of nowhere at 11 O'clock in the evening caught in a storm high up a mountain. On the road ahead I could see cars being blown off the road into a ditch, there was apparently a gap in the hedge row that the wind was rushing through and I just managed to stop in time, or so I thought. As I stopped I could feel the front of the truck sliding the right and as I look down I could see a big drop to rocks below. I thought that was it for a moment. I managed to get the truck reversed in time before I went over the edge. I had to reverse back down the road for two miles before I found a wall that I could park next to to shelter from the wind. I stayed there the whole night until the winds died down enough for me to be on my way.
Undoubtedly the most frightening experience I've had.

How you got into your present job?
I was playing golf professionally on a full time basis in 1989 and 1990 in the South of England. I was doing quite well but when I saw the advertisement for European Tour Technician in a golf magazine I thought I would apply. It was January at the time and there was not much golf happening so it was out of boredom and a bit of curiosity that I applied. I didn't really want the job as I was set for another season playing but when I got a second interview I became fascinated by what would be involved. It seemed really exciting and when I was offered the position I thought I would go for it. There hasn't been a single day since when I have doubted my decision.

Responsibilities in your job - what do you do?
My current responsibilities have changed greatly from what they were a couple of years ago. Since our marriage with adidas I am now responsible for all promotional activities related to professional golf in Europe for Taylor Made adidas Golf. My main focus at the moment is with the main tour, which is The European Tour. This is where we test new products and introduce new lines to the players for important feedback to our engineers. At the moment we have a prototype driver which is proving a huge success with players, it's at times like this that the job is really rewarding as you can see the things you do making a real difference, not only to the company but to the players themselves. I am responsible too for all our contractual commitments with player's which means that I negotiate all the deals with their agents. This too is quite an interesting area of my work as it's always interesting to see how each player is presented and how it is felt that they can represent our company. Not every player fits our company profile so sometimes can be difficult turning down proposals but that's just part of the job. I am involved too in a lot of the marketing side of things when it comes to the players. This can range from updating our Internet site, creating magazine adverts to reporting tour news to our sales force throughout Europe.

Your main strengths & weaknesses in job?
With my job I need to be very flexible. The hours can be very long and sometimes work just takes over but I don't mind that, as I am lucky enough to be doing a job that involves my main interest. I need be able to apply myself to many different tasks along with managing a team of seven employees. I think my greatest asset to the company is my ability to adapt and learn fast to keep up with the rapid expansion of the business.

Describe yesterday
Yesterday I was with Ernie Els at a photo shoot for a Taylor Made equipment catalogue and then an adidas apparel catalogue. We spent the whole day at Wentworth Golf Club in Surrey. Ernie had to be very patient with the crew as it seemed to be taking a lot longer than it should have. He was very good though and we had a good laugh in the process. We finished up at around 6pm and enjoyed a welcome cool drink afterwards. For me it was back home and Ernie headed off to the gym to work out for an hour or so. When I do days like this I feel very fortunate to not only be involved with the second best player in the world but to see how good he actually is at what he does. It also reminds me that I've chosen the right career instead of that of a touring professional. Having seen what it takes to succeed I often admit to myself that I wouldn't have made it to that level. It's nice to know I have a regular salary coming in at the end of each month.

Your greatest achievement at work
Helping to put our company back in it's rightful place as being the number one choice of the worlds best players is a process I'm going through right now. It seems to be happening quicker than I had expected so things are looking pretty good at the moment.

The worst side of your job
Without doubt travelling is the worst part of my job. It often sounds great to be travelling to all these great countries and it is but doing it all in the space of ten months is a challenge. Last year I travelled to Perth, Sydney, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Dubai, Qatar, Madeira and nearly every other mainland European country finishing off with Thailand at the end of the season. I was away from home on thirty-eight of the fifty-two weeks of the year. It's fair to say it hasn't helped the social aspect of my life and is probably a good reason why I have remained single.

Could you transfer your skills to another job?
I could only see myself working within the golf industry, I have a very unique job and I'm well aware that I'm lucky to have it. My job changes every year so there is always something different on the horizon.

Earnings & perks?
I get paid a very good salary that helps make up for all the time away from home and the hard work I have to put in. Eating out on the company used to be a perk but that wore off about eight years ago.

Travel & hours you work?
When I'm travelling I usually put in about twelve hours a day and when I'm at the office it varies. I have been known to stay to seven or eight in the evening but I'm trying to cut down on that.

Your motto at work?
Get in, get it done and get out.

What changes the next 10 years will bring to your job/what will happen to job in foreseeable future - ie. impact of new technology?
Technology in the golf industry moves very fast. Product cycles tend to be around eighteen months or even less sometimes. Any change in products always means a change to my role as it is my job to ensure that players on the tour are using the most up to date products.




Gregg Tarplee - Age 22



I first took up Golf through my father at about 9, when we lived in Harrogate Our back garden went down to the 17th green at Oakdale Golf Course, and I used to climb over the wall to practice putting and chipping.
I got thrown off many times by the then secretary, Mr Hindmarsh, who said that if I wanted to play Golf that much then they had better let me in as a junior member, and that was that, I was in.

Played at Oakdale for about 1 year before moving to Tynemouth, where I became a Junior Member, and it was here where things really took off.
One Sunday, I think I was 12 at the time, I got a call from the pro John McKenna to say the Junior League team were short and would I play, so they gave me a handicap of 18 and off I went to play against Westerhope juniors who at the time had a really great team. Needless to say I got well beat, something like 9 & 8, but I was now hooked.

During my time at Tynemouth, I won all the Junior trophies, and became a regular at Northumberland County Junior Events, and it was through good performances in these competitions that I became a member of the County side. I played for the side right up until leaving for America, and in fact at the time was Vice Captain. Northumberland Junior Matchplay Champion, Northumberland Spring Open Champ & Northumberland Schools Champ, played many times for Northumberland Schools. Also lucky enough to play for the Men's County side.

Played in many national comps, Scottish Boys & Youths, English Boys, Carris Trophy and played as a Junior on the Daihatsu Tour. Particularly enjoyed playing in the Scottish Youths, which involves playing 36 holes to qualify, in one day, but over two different courses, 18 on one & 18 on another, really tough.

Favourite golfer when I was younger was Seve, and still is I suppose, I admire Nick Faldo, for his achievements at the Masters but at the moment it has to be Tiger, he's just awesome, although, since I 've been at Sea Island, I have been fortunate to meet, talk to and watch play and practice Davis Love III, and he's a really good player.

Myerscough
I went to Myerscough because I've always wanted to be involved in the Golf Industry, either as a player, or in golf course management. So this was a really good chance to see if liked the idea of being in the industry, without having to turn assistant Pro and losing my amateur status.

I did the N.D. in Golf Studies, which is a two year course, and involves everything connected with Golf, such as The development of Golf throughout the world, Golf course maintenance and design, Principles of Sports coaching & physcology, Event management and Business systems and of course Golf equipment design, retail and repairs.

I found the course very interesting indeed and thoroughly enjoyed my time there. We got to play on some really great courses such as Royal Lytham, Royal Birkdale, Southport & Ainsdale and Hillside just to name a few. We also had visits to golf courses to see how they were run, and visited the Ping factory in Lincolnshire.
Myerscough has it's own Golf course and has good indoor practice facilities, with an A star machine and nets, but if you go there thinking you will be playing golf all the time, then it's not the place for you. There is a lot of classroom work involved, but if you work hard it has its rewards.

The States
After qualifying at Myerscough, my course tutor rang me to say would I be interested in experiencing golf in the States? Naturally I said yes, because it has always been my belief that if you want a career in golf, then at some stage you have to go to America. Myerscough have always sent greenkeeping students to the states through their association with The Ohio State University, but never sent golfers before, so myself & another student from Myerscough were contacted by the University and everything was arranged, Visas, accommodation etc. And because it is classed as training, you are allowed to be paid. We get approx. 9$ per hour but we have to pay for our accommodation and living costs out of that.

So off we went to Columbus, Ohio to the university, and then on to Sea Island Golf Club in Southeast Georgia. What a place! The only other experience I have had like this was when I played at The Emirates Golf Club in Dubai. This place is something special. It has two great courses, The Plantation course, and The Seaside Course, which many Juniors may have heard of, as it is where the final of The Daily Telegraph competition is held. The practice facilities are incredible and even the practice range looks like a Golf Course, not just a flat field.

My job here involves everything connected with the day to day running of a top Golf Resort. I can be working outside on what is called Outside Services, which is making sure that everything on the golf course is running smoothly, such as starting, caddies, bag drop area, where members arrive at the club, drop off their golf clubs and have them waiting for them either on a golf cart, or with a caddy ready for them to play. Then I can be working in the Pro Shop. In fact we have been working hard recently as we have just opened a new multi million dollar Lodge, incorporating Restaurants, Clubhouse, Shops and 30 Hotel Suites. Another day can be spent in the offices, booking tee times, employees work schedules, so everyday is different.

I have also been lucky enough to work at The Golf Digest Teaching School, which is situated at Sea Island, with top teaching coach Jim Goergan, setting up lessons and playing with the golfers after their lessons. It is in this area where I think my future lies as I love the mechanics of the game, so at some stage, I will be turning Pro, and hopefully if everything works out I will stay in the States, at Sea Island, to do this.

So far I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here. I have been lucky enough to play at Ocean Forest, where the Walker Cup is to be held in August, I have caddied for Luke Donald in the inaugural Jones Cup at Sea Island, and have played Golf with my good friend from national Junior events, David Griffiths, who comes to Sea Island at the beginning of each season, to practice in the great weather that we have here.

So if any Junior would like to experience this, then I would recommend that they go to somewhere like Myerscough, work hard and who knows, in 2 or 3 years time, they could be out here working hard, but having the time of their lives.

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