PGA PUTS GOLF EDUCATION
ON COURSE

The PGA National Training Academy is forging links with Further and Higher Education institutions, and has brought together a host of colleges and universities to discuss key developments in golf education.

A recent forum has already identified an opportunity for a network of colleges to provide sports science support. This would focus on knowledge of how the body and mind work in golf performance and help professionals utilise this to improve their performance.

Initiatives discussed also included the accreditation of college and university courses to the current PGA training structure.

As Gerry Paton, Director of  Training at the PGA explained: “Our aim is to develop the UK’s education in golf to offer a variety of educational route-ways into the professional game.

“It’s therefore imperative that we work in tandem with those colleges and universities running National Diploma and degree courses and a growing need to maximise skills so that they are transferable”, he added.

The role of the golf professional is a changing one, and one that requires a wide range of skills to embrace the requirements of directors of golf, managers with golfing environment and administrators in golf and leisure.

Career opportunities available to students graduating with a Higher National Diploma currently include degree courses, the PGA Diploma Programme, hotel chains, PGA and PGA European Tour Appointments.