Becoming a Golf Instructor in Australia
By Grant Garrison
So, you’re thinking about teaching golf. Well, your in the right place. This article was written to help you decide if its something you want to pursue. To start your journey, you need to understand the golf instruction industry in Australia and that’s what this article is all about. I encourage you to read on and I hope to welcome you personally to help you build the skills needed for success.
My journey started when I married an Australian and moved here from the US in 2010. I had an extensive golf professional background but knew nothing about golf in Australia, I had no Australian certifications and didn't know anyone who could assist me. I needed to quickly apply everything I knew about building a golf coaching business. It was not easy but I’m happy to say that I have enjoyed a full-time income for many years doing what I love and can help you do the same.
You may feel like you don't play well enough or know enough about the golf swing to become a golf instructor. Well, every dream starts with one giant step and all you need is a strong desire to learn, improve, and take others on your journey with you. I’ve been doing this for 35 years and figure I’ve given over 70K golf lessons and guess what? I’m still learning, still uncovering the secrets to my own golf swing and those of others. Learning never ends for those called to be a guide, an instructor, or a coach.
First things first, you need to be clear on the difference between a Professional Golfer and a Golf Instructor. The fact is, the majority of the golfing public considers anyone who calls themselves a ‘Golf Pro’ someone who competes in tournaments for a living. While this may be true for Professional Golfers, A Golf Instructors focus is on improving the ability of others. Being a good player themselves can indeed give you a degree of credibility and give you the ability to demonstrate. However, it will never replace the skills needed as a teacher and coach. At the end of the day, it’s your students improvement that will define your success.
Now let’s talk about amateur status. According to the rules of golf, you are either an amateur or a professional and there is little middle ground. Someone who receives financial rewards that are directly related to their skill or reputation is deemed a Golf Professional. In other words, if your receiving money for giving golf lessons, your automatically considered a Golf Professional. The one exception is that an employee of an educational institution working as a golf coach may receive compensation if the coaching is less than 50 percent of the time spent in the performance of those duties. The good news is that you can still have a golf link handicap at your local club and with committee approval play in club competitions. Playing in amateur events outside your home club is something you should not plan on doing. However, if your a good player playing in professional events is always an option.
Let’s talk about the PGA...Countries that have Professional Golfers Associations are - United States, Australia, Canada, Europe, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Japan, South Africa, and Sweden. In these countries, many are made to understand that the only way to become a Professional Golf Instructor is to go through the trainee program and become a PGA member. I'm here to tell you that this is simply not true and you might be surprised how many of the most recognized golf instructors in the world never followed the PGA membership pathway.
However, for some, its an option and although applications are already closed for 2021, lets take a look at Australia's Trainee program which is known as the Membership Pathway Program. First, you must be chosen and approved where you will undergo on the job training under another PGA member at an approved golf course over a period of 3 year. You must have a handicap of 3.4 (males) or 6.4 (females) or better within 12 months of submission. If chosen, you will be required to play in trainee golf tournaments and must pass the scoring tests which are of a high standard. The program is all-encompassing meaning you learn all aspects of golf operations while serving the golfing community. The cost of the program was $4,250 in 2020 with a 90% placement in a job which may include Head Professional, Assistant Professional, Golf Operations Assistant/Manager, Teaching Professional, Tournament Professional, Development Officer, Company Sales, or Golf Club Manager.
I became a trainee in the US when I was 22 years old. Like many, I wanted to be a Professional Golfer but was only a 2 handicap so becoming a PGA member seemed like the best alternative. I remember these years being very difficult as I was working behind the counter full time at a golf resort. I was paid minimum wage and had to do my studies on my own time at my own expense. Answering the phone, checking people in for golf, managing the first tee, selling merchandise, and managing tournaments were my primary duties. Becoming a PGA member was a significant personal accomplishment that gave me credibility at an early age. However, my career didn’t take off until I was in my early 30s when I was mature enough to be offered my first Head Professional position. As a club pro, you have many duties but it was giving the occasional golf lessons that brought me the most joy. Finally, at 39 years old, I dedicated myself to teaching golf full time with no regrets, I only wished I had taken this step earlier in my career. If becoming a PGA member is a consideration for you, I recommend you meet with several in your area and asked them about their experience and how they have benefited from membership.
The golf instruction industry is wide meaning there are heaps of areas you can specialize in and become an expert. You can teach part time or full, in retirement or as a second career. You can offer your services at golf courses, indoor centers, schools, colleges, fitness centers, or at a home golf simulator. Listed below are some ideas of services to offer and ways to brand yourself in the industry.
Clients are either attracted by the facility and its location or by the reputation of a good instructor. Golf courses often employ PGA members to provide lessons along with the many other duties of managing a golf course. These instructors will get the 'walk-in' client simply due to location. However, today the trend is to find an instructor by reputation, someone who is solely focused on the skill of teaching and coaching. These coaches stand out in the community and are found through word of mouth and presents on social media. In fact, my number one question from a client inquiry is ...where do you coach? Negotiating with club managers to find locations is much easier when you are bringing your clients to the course who may be spending money on food and beverage, range balls, and might become a club member. A great strategy is to teach at several locations to hit several demographic areas making it more convenient for your students, this allows you to expand your client base. If you form a good relationship, the manager will be open to promoting your services to club members.
If you have a heart for promoting the game to non-golfers, the PGA of Australia along with the amateur body Golf Australia have joined forces to get more people teaching the game as Community Golf Coaches, this is their answer to growing the game in Australia. They offer 3 different accreditation - Community Instructor, All Abilities, and MyGolf. These certifications can be attained online in a few hours for $99.00. This allows you to start teaching golf at schools and clubs and posting your custom designed programs on their website while using the on-line registration. Community instructors are encouraged to transition their students to the local golf course by partnering with the PGA member at the local courses. The Community Coach can then assist or run the program themselves. Golf Australia offers several programs you can run including MYGolf (Kids), Get Into Golf (Adults), Teen Girls Golf, FreeStyle (Fitness), and an all-inclusive program (Disabled). You are provided teaching manuals, insurance, and equipment at a low cost. You may even maintain your amateur status as long as you don't coach more than 15 hours per week and make more than 15K per year. The fact is, there is no better time in Australia to become a golf coach because you have the full support of the governing bodies.
And here is what you might not know. Many courses don’t have a PGA member or if they do, they don’t have time or the ambition to teach golf or develop successful programs. The fact is, the governing bodies are hoping that Community Coaches will fill this gap to grow the game in Australia. They are allowing you to build your coaching business under their banner and are giving you everything you need to get started. Now here is the great thing about targeting beginner golfers, you can transition them into intermediate and advanced programs that you create. Research shows that beginner golfers take the most golf lessons so this becomes a great way to build a coaching business.
So here is the situation, you can pursue PGA membership which takes years with no guarantee of gaining membership or do a 3-hour online course. Seems we have a major gap in Australia and that’s where the AGTF comes into the picture. The AGTF is the Australian division of the World Golf Teaching Federation which represents 42 nations, established in 1989 in the US, its the largest organization of qualified golf teaching professionals in the world. Passing the initial 5-day course provides you with the skills and confidence to begin your career as a golf instructor or coach. You will be a member of a global community with 35K members that provide continual learning through advanced courses, magazine, and newsletters.
The federation also provides member golf tournaments, job listings service, and various online courses. Also, a Master's accreditation is offered with the opportunity to qualify as one of the top 100 golf teachers in the world. You also become qualified to become a member of the International PGA which is a global body of both PGA members and WGTF members dedicated to teaching and promoting the game globally.
What you can expect in the 5-day course is a jump start into the golf instruction and coaching industry. Based on your individual goals, you will receive expert training and advice on the skills you need to develop and how to promote yourself. You will be mentored by a Master certified instructor that built his own coaching business in Australia. You will be a member of the AGTF, a group of like minded Australians who are doing the same. You will also be a member of the USGTF and WGTF, a global network of teaching professionals from who you can network, socialize, and learn from.
The AGTF certification fills a hole in the Australian golf coaching landscape by providing essential education, professional development, mentoring, and the chance to be part of a global group of like-minded professionals.
By Grant Garrison
So, you’re thinking about teaching golf. Well, your in the right place. This article was written to help you decide if its something you want to pursue. To start your journey, you need to understand the golf instruction industry in Australia and that’s what this article is all about. I encourage you to read on and I hope to welcome you personally to help you build the skills needed for success.
My journey started when I married an Australian and moved here from the US in 2010. I had an extensive golf professional background but knew nothing about golf in Australia, I had no Australian certifications and didn't know anyone who could assist me. I needed to quickly apply everything I knew about building a golf coaching business. It was not easy but I’m happy to say that I have enjoyed a full-time income for many years doing what I love and can help you do the same.
You may feel like you don't play well enough or know enough about the golf swing to become a golf instructor. Well, every dream starts with one giant step and all you need is a strong desire to learn, improve, and take others on your journey with you. I’ve been doing this for 35 years and figure I’ve given over 70K golf lessons and guess what? I’m still learning, still uncovering the secrets to my own golf swing and those of others. Learning never ends for those called to be a guide, an instructor, or a coach.
First things first, you need to be clear on the difference between a Professional Golfer and a Golf Instructor. The fact is, the majority of the golfing public considers anyone who calls themselves a ‘Golf Pro’ someone who competes in tournaments for a living. While this may be true for Professional Golfers, A Golf Instructors focus is on improving the ability of others. Being a good player themselves can indeed give you a degree of credibility and give you the ability to demonstrate. However, it will never replace the skills needed as a teacher and coach. At the end of the day, it’s your students improvement that will define your success.
Now let’s talk about amateur status. According to the rules of golf, you are either an amateur or a professional and there is little middle ground. Someone who receives financial rewards that are directly related to their skill or reputation is deemed a Golf Professional. In other words, if your receiving money for giving golf lessons, your automatically considered a Golf Professional. The one exception is that an employee of an educational institution working as a golf coach may receive compensation if the coaching is less than 50 percent of the time spent in the performance of those duties. The good news is that you can still have a golf link handicap at your local club and with committee approval play in club competitions. Playing in amateur events outside your home club is something you should not plan on doing. However, if your a good player playing in professional events is always an option.
Let’s talk about the PGA...Countries that have Professional Golfers Associations are - United States, Australia, Canada, Europe, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Japan, South Africa, and Sweden. In these countries, many are made to understand that the only way to become a Professional Golf Instructor is to go through the trainee program and become a PGA member. I'm here to tell you that this is simply not true and you might be surprised how many of the most recognized golf instructors in the world never followed the PGA membership pathway.
However, for some, its an option and although applications are already closed for 2021, lets take a look at Australia's Trainee program which is known as the Membership Pathway Program. First, you must be chosen and approved where you will undergo on the job training under another PGA member at an approved golf course over a period of 3 year. You must have a handicap of 3.4 (males) or 6.4 (females) or better within 12 months of submission. If chosen, you will be required to play in trainee golf tournaments and must pass the scoring tests which are of a high standard. The program is all-encompassing meaning you learn all aspects of golf operations while serving the golfing community. The cost of the program was $4,250 in 2020 with a 90% placement in a job which may include Head Professional, Assistant Professional, Golf Operations Assistant/Manager, Teaching Professional, Tournament Professional, Development Officer, Company Sales, or Golf Club Manager.
I became a trainee in the US when I was 22 years old. Like many, I wanted to be a Professional Golfer but was only a 2 handicap so becoming a PGA member seemed like the best alternative. I remember these years being very difficult as I was working behind the counter full time at a golf resort. I was paid minimum wage and had to do my studies on my own time at my own expense. Answering the phone, checking people in for golf, managing the first tee, selling merchandise, and managing tournaments were my primary duties. Becoming a PGA member was a significant personal accomplishment that gave me credibility at an early age. However, my career didn’t take off until I was in my early 30s when I was mature enough to be offered my first Head Professional position. As a club pro, you have many duties but it was giving the occasional golf lessons that brought me the most joy. Finally, at 39 years old, I dedicated myself to teaching golf full time with no regrets, I only wished I had taken this step earlier in my career. If becoming a PGA member is a consideration for you, I recommend you meet with several in your area and asked them about their experience and how they have benefited from membership.
The golf instruction industry is wide meaning there are heaps of areas you can specialize in and become an expert. You can teach part time or full, in retirement or as a second career. You can offer your services at golf courses, indoor centers, schools, colleges, fitness centers, or at a home golf simulator. Listed below are some ideas of services to offer and ways to brand yourself in the industry.
- Private lessons at local course
- Private lessons at indoor facility
- On Course playing lessons
- Golf coach at a colleges or school
- Beginner program at local course
- On-line golf lessons
- Private coaching in different language
- Holiday Junior Camps
- Group, clinics, and workshops
- After school Junior Golf Academy
- Elite Junior Program
- Create a following on YouTube Channel
- Golf academy or golf school
- Adult and Junior Leagues
- Golf Schools
- Mental game specialist
- Long Drive Coach
- Golf fitness / Golf Pilates
- University scholarship program
- Club Fitting specialist
- Short game specialist
- Juniors program at indoor facility
- All Abilities coaching for disabled
- Senior golf program
Clients are either attracted by the facility and its location or by the reputation of a good instructor. Golf courses often employ PGA members to provide lessons along with the many other duties of managing a golf course. These instructors will get the 'walk-in' client simply due to location. However, today the trend is to find an instructor by reputation, someone who is solely focused on the skill of teaching and coaching. These coaches stand out in the community and are found through word of mouth and presents on social media. In fact, my number one question from a client inquiry is ...where do you coach? Negotiating with club managers to find locations is much easier when you are bringing your clients to the course who may be spending money on food and beverage, range balls, and might become a club member. A great strategy is to teach at several locations to hit several demographic areas making it more convenient for your students, this allows you to expand your client base. If you form a good relationship, the manager will be open to promoting your services to club members.
If you have a heart for promoting the game to non-golfers, the PGA of Australia along with the amateur body Golf Australia have joined forces to get more people teaching the game as Community Golf Coaches, this is their answer to growing the game in Australia. They offer 3 different accreditation - Community Instructor, All Abilities, and MyGolf. These certifications can be attained online in a few hours for $99.00. This allows you to start teaching golf at schools and clubs and posting your custom designed programs on their website while using the on-line registration. Community instructors are encouraged to transition their students to the local golf course by partnering with the PGA member at the local courses. The Community Coach can then assist or run the program themselves. Golf Australia offers several programs you can run including MYGolf (Kids), Get Into Golf (Adults), Teen Girls Golf, FreeStyle (Fitness), and an all-inclusive program (Disabled). You are provided teaching manuals, insurance, and equipment at a low cost. You may even maintain your amateur status as long as you don't coach more than 15 hours per week and make more than 15K per year. The fact is, there is no better time in Australia to become a golf coach because you have the full support of the governing bodies.
And here is what you might not know. Many courses don’t have a PGA member or if they do, they don’t have time or the ambition to teach golf or develop successful programs. The fact is, the governing bodies are hoping that Community Coaches will fill this gap to grow the game in Australia. They are allowing you to build your coaching business under their banner and are giving you everything you need to get started. Now here is the great thing about targeting beginner golfers, you can transition them into intermediate and advanced programs that you create. Research shows that beginner golfers take the most golf lessons so this becomes a great way to build a coaching business.
So here is the situation, you can pursue PGA membership which takes years with no guarantee of gaining membership or do a 3-hour online course. Seems we have a major gap in Australia and that’s where the AGTF comes into the picture. The AGTF is the Australian division of the World Golf Teaching Federation which represents 42 nations, established in 1989 in the US, its the largest organization of qualified golf teaching professionals in the world. Passing the initial 5-day course provides you with the skills and confidence to begin your career as a golf instructor or coach. You will be a member of a global community with 35K members that provide continual learning through advanced courses, magazine, and newsletters.
The federation also provides member golf tournaments, job listings service, and various online courses. Also, a Master's accreditation is offered with the opportunity to qualify as one of the top 100 golf teachers in the world. You also become qualified to become a member of the International PGA which is a global body of both PGA members and WGTF members dedicated to teaching and promoting the game globally.
What you can expect in the 5-day course is a jump start into the golf instruction and coaching industry. Based on your individual goals, you will receive expert training and advice on the skills you need to develop and how to promote yourself. You will be mentored by a Master certified instructor that built his own coaching business in Australia. You will be a member of the AGTF, a group of like minded Australians who are doing the same. You will also be a member of the USGTF and WGTF, a global network of teaching professionals from who you can network, socialize, and learn from.
The AGTF certification fills a hole in the Australian golf coaching landscape by providing essential education, professional development, mentoring, and the chance to be part of a global group of like-minded professionals.