Golf is an expensive sport, compared to other athletic activities. Much of the cost stems from the need for specialized equipment as well as maintaining the expanse of land needed for an 18-hole course. The average green fee to play a round of golf on a public US course is about $36. Private courses can be 25 percent more expensive.

The average cost of a set of golf clubs can range from $200 to $400, not including a bag for carrying them. You can also spend $600 on a single putter.

Because people are willing to spend this kind of money, they’re willing to do what it takes to get better at the sport.

This is where a private golf instructor can make a difference and earn a good living.

You’ll also continue to enjoy the social, mental and physical benefits of golf while helping others get better at the game. A good afternoon walking in the fresh air does wonders for your well-being. Getting paid to do it makes private golf instruction even more attractive.

Golf is also great exercise. Along with walking the course, which can cover 5-6 miles, swinging the golf club provides a full-body workout while maintaining flexibility.

Perhaps best of all, golf is one of the few sports you can play all your life. That means you can coach it, too. If becoming a golf pro is appealing, you’ve probably got some experience under your belt. With training and certification, you can take your love of the game to the next level and help others improve their swing. Let’s get started.

In this article you’ll learn:

• How much money you can make as a private golf pro
• The required training and certifications
• Professional groups to join
• Employment opportunities
• Finding players as a private golf coach
• Plus helpful tips for private golf instructors.

How much money can you make?

Private golf instructors currently charge between $75 and $90 an hour. You’re likely to make the most money offering private lessons, followed by work as a country club golf pro.

Training and Certification

Many organizations offer accreditation for aspiring golf instructors. Let’s go over the two most popular and respected.

The Professional Golf Association offers an Associate Member training program that is recognized worldwide. There are 5 courses to complete within 6 months at a total cost of $200 for the training, plus $32 for an exam after each course.

The process also involves a criminal background check and a successful score on the 36-hole Playing Ability Test (PAT).

To pass the PAT, you must post a 36-hole score that’s within 15 shots of the course rating.

The main drawback with the PGA’s Associate Member program is the time commitment. You’re expected to complete the PAT at least 8 years prior to registering for the associate program.

With the PGA, another option is the University Program.

The PGA Golf Management University Program provides classroom courses, internship experience and opportunities for player development in a 4 ½ to 5-year program for aspiring PGA Professionals. Offered at 18 universities nationwide, the program allows college students to earn a degree in fields such as Marketing, Business Administration, Hospitality Administration, and Recreation and Park Management.

Students earn a bachelor’s degree in a golf industry-compatible major and can apply for PGA membership following graduation. The PGA claims graduates of the program have a 100% employment placement rate.

A faster route to certification is available through the Professional Golf Teachers Association of America, which offers a home-study course and a supplemental 5-day on-site training program.

The home study course costs $995. 

Here’s what you’ll learn:

•         How to teach golf. All the facets of coaching the sport, including the 12 most important golf lessons you will use.
•         Business & Marketing – Learn techniques and tools to help your success as a professional golf instructor.
•         Success secrets for golf instruction – What you need to know to have confidence in your methods and help your students advance their game.
•         The Playing Ability Test (P.A.T.) – in which you’ll demonstrate your skill as a golfer.
•         An open-book written examination to test your golf teaching knowledge.

Upon successful completion of the Home Study exam course, which requires an 85 percent pass rate, you will be named a certified Master Teaching Professional of the PGTAA, which comes with a membership card recognized worldwide and a Certificate of Completion.

The 5-day onsite training course is currently $2,495. This includes the home study portion of your training, The onsite course is for members who’ve successfully completed the home study exam and want hands-on teaching experience and constructive criticism. During the in-person training you’ll also learn about club fitting and how to use video to help clients study and improve their game.

Coach training also covers the fundamentals of lesson planning, time management and measuring clients’ progress.

Sessions focus on various techniques, including posture, fairway driving, putting and chopping. You’ll also learn how to offer tips on helping students with their mental preparation for a round and preparing for tournament play.

You’ll also work on using video equipment to record a golfer’s swing to provide tips for improving techniques.

Here’s a sample video in the style golf pros often use to teach swing technique.

Professional Groups to Join

Being a PGA member gives you instant credibility on any golf course in the world, as well as the respect of students.

The US Golf Association is probably the most-recognized advocate for the sport of golf. Individual memberships start at $36 a year. At the upper end of the membership spectrum, $4,200 a year gets you into the USGA’s Patron Plus Club, which includes perks such as tickets to the U.S. Open.

Employment

Online job search sites like ZipRecruiter and Indeed.com can turn up opportunities around the country for golf instructors.

A more proactive approach would be to take your resume and golf clubs to every public and private golf course in your locality and offer your services.

Above all, stay active in your professional organizations and network with as many people as you can. Don’t be shy about alerting your connections that you’re looking for work. Someone might be able to refer you to a job opening that hasn’t even been advertised. Plus, that person may be willing to serve as a reference, which opens the door even wider.

Finding Clients

Get listed in the PGA nationwide directory of individual golf instructors. If you work for a country club or private course, sign up on Golfable.com, which maintains a directory of 17,000 courses and clubs in the United States.

You can sign up with PGACoach to use their marketing services in attracting new golf students. Fees vary.

Contacting local colleges and even some high schools with golf teams or clubs can also produce results. This is a way to find students who want to improve their skills while school’s out.

Ask your clients to post reviews of your private coaching on social media platforms and golf forums, if the forum rules allow for promoting small business owners.

Good to know:

Important points for new coaches to remember when working with golf students:

Compatibility

Do you feel there’s a good fit between you and your student, including personality and mutual goals?

Do some research

Call around to find out what other private instructors are doing – their pricing, reputation, location, and success with students.

Maintain your accreditation

This supports your professional reputation and gives you instant credibility when meeting with potential new students.

Use technology to help students see their progress

Swing Aids show rather than tell students how their swing is improving. You’ll need a video camera and the ability to share clips with students for their own study. This means setting up a dedicated website where you can post student videos to their private accounts, or hand them some sort of physical media containing the video. This could be a DVD or memory stick, which might be preferable because students can return the memory stick before each lesson so you can reuse it to record the next video.

Provide plenty of feedback

Whether online after the lesson or in-person, you’ll need to keep students apprised of their progress, give them praise and keep them engaged so they keep coming back.

Cultivate contacts

At some point your student athletes may ask about sports fitness, nutrition, game psychology or some other aspect of golf outside your domain of expertise. Developing professional contacts in these areas means you are able to provide instant referrals – and these professionals can do the same for you.

If you enjoyed this article, check out some other PocketSuite.io content that can help you grow your career as a private golf instructor. Here’s a great place to start.

PocketSuite has thousands of business owners who all started where you are right now. Our community is always happy to help you ramp up, grow your client base, and achieve your income goals, both within the PocketSuite app and as part of our exclusive Facebook Community Group. PocketSuite’s vision is for any professional to be able to work for themselves and make a great living. It starts here. It starts with you. It starts today. Let’s get started, download PocketSuite now! Feel free to reach out with any questions (we’d love to hear from you)! Text us @ (415) 841-2300.

Membership in the National Golf Foundation comes with educational resources and networking opportunities within the golf industry. Members include golf pros, equipment manufacturers, turf suppliers, facility management companies, appraisers, retailers, associations, architects — anyone involved in the game and business of golf.

NGF membership provides access to golf market research, insights, databases and other resources that can help you better understand your market.

How to Join National Golf Foundation

Member dues and sponsor support underwrite the many research projects and publications that the NGF produces. Learn more about the benefits of an NGF membership by visiting the website linked below.

Resources for National Golf Foundation

Location: 501 N Highway A1A Jupiter, FL 33477-4577

Website: https://www.ngf.org/

Email: member@NGF.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NationalGolfFoundation/

The golf teaching professional has few quality sources to build a foundation of knowledge to work from. Many of these sources also have conflicting views on the mechanics of the golf swing. Plane Truth Golf developed a platform of innovative tools and information that provides continuous education for the instructor. Organized, clear, and thorough. Available 24/7 year ’round. Continuously updated. 

Training Programs at Plane Truth Golf

• Certified golf teaching professional training
• Price Range: Check website for updated details.

Resources for Plane Truth Golf

• Phone: (281) 241-1100
• Website: https://www.planetruthgolf.com/certification-program/
• Email: info@planetruthgolf.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PlaneTruthGolf

Learn the skills and techniques to become the best golf instructor you can be with this golf teacher certification course.

Training Programs at EduKaytion Golf

• Teacher certification professional program
• Price Range: Starting at $990

Resources for EduKaytion Golf

• Phone: (518) 669-1551
• Website: https://www.edukaytiongolf.com/85-teacher-certification-1
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/edukaytiongolf
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eduKaytiongolf/

Teaching the game of golf is a lifetime learning process, and until now there have been few shortcuts. Improving quickly as a golf instructor with the aid of a mentor who has the knowledge, reputation and experience to guide you to a game plan. Developing the skills to be a great teacher requires a solid foundation of accurately analyzing and correcting swing mistakes. 

Trainers at hank Haney Pro each average over 27 years experience teaching golf.

Training Programs at Hank Haney Pro

• Certified Golf Teaching Professional
• Price Range: Check website for updated details.

Resources for Hank Haney Pro

• Phone: (972) 315-5300
• Website: http://www.hankhaneypro.com/Programs/Programs.aspx
• Email: cmishler@hankhaney.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hank.haney.1

Keiser University’s Associate of Science degree in Golf Management prepares students for positions in the golf industry. Students are trained to provide golf instruction, manage golf course operations, maintain golf facilities and equipment, as well as blend the game of golf into the broader hospitality and recreation domain. 

Training Programs at Keiser University College of Golf & Sport Management

• SPM1050 Traditions of Golf: History and Culture (3 credit hours)
  
• SPM1051 Golf Swing Fundamentals (3 credit hours)
  
• SPM1052 Short Game Fundamentals (3 credit hours)
  
• SPM1053 The Mental Approach to Golf (3 credit hours)
  
• SPM1054 Fundamentals of Golf Instruction (3 credit hours)
  
• SPM1056 Golf Club Fitting and Repair (3 credit hours)
• SPM1057 Rules of Golf (3 credit hours)
  
• SPM2440 Tournament Management (3 credit hours)
  
• SPM2640 Golf Course Design and Maintenance (3 credit hours)
  
• SPM2641 Club Management (3 credit hours)
  
• SPM2058 Advanced Golf Instruction (3 credit hours)
  
• SPM2810 The Business of Golf (3 credit hours)
• Price Range: Check website for updated details.

Resources for Keiser University College of Golf & Sport Management

• Phone: 888-355-4465
• Website: https://collegeofgolf.keiseruniversity.edu/programs/associate-of-science-in-golf-management/
• Email: rlewis@keiseruniversity.edu
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ku.collegeofgolf/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CollegeofGolf

GLT Golf offers online training courses designed to help golfers improve their game & help golf teachers enhance their teaching skills. Online training courses focus on different aspects of the game. Golf’s mental game, motor skillsz, practice, and teaching golf with technology are some of the available online golf training courses.

Training Programs at GLT Golf

• Golf Online Courses
• Price Range: Starting at $149

Resources for GLT Golf

• Phone: (770) 809-6117
• Website: https://www.gltgolf.com/golf-online-courses.html
• Email: info@gltgolf.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gameliketraininggolf/

The United States Golf Teachers Federation® trains and certifies golf teaching professionals. It is the largest national organization of certified golf teaching professionals in the world.

The USGTF incorporates three levels of certification for the golf teaching professional. You select either of the first two levels of certification in order to progress at your own pace. The third level is reserved for fully-certified USGTF members. Choose from an online option (Associate Member) or a five-day onsite option (Certified Golf Teaching Professional®).

Training Programs at USGTF

• Certified Golf Teaching Professional
• Price Range: Check website for updated details.

Resources for USGTF

• Phone: (772) 595-6490
• Website: https://www.usgtf.com/
• Email: info@usgtf.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/usgolfteachers/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/USGolfTeachersFed/

Become a certified Class A PGTAA Master Teaching Professional to boost your golf career and income. Choose between the Home Study Course or the 5-Day on-site course. Get full certification as a Class A PGTAA master teaching professional upon completion of the written test and PAT, which can be taken on any golf course in the world that is over 6,000 yards.

Training Programs at PGTAA (Professional Golf Teachers Association of America)

• Home Study Course Professional Golf Teaching
• Price Range: Starting at $995

Resources for PGTAA (Professional Golf Teachers Association of America)

• Phone: (760) 335-0600
• Website: https://www.pgtaa.com/product/home-study-course-professional-golf-teaching/
• Email: president1@pgtaa.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pgtaaace/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PGTAA

Golf has grown in momentum since its introduction in the 15th century. Since then, golf instructors / coaches have become increasingly sought after. Associations have developed over this time to represent those professionals in the industry, and to help regulate and promote ongoing learning and career opportunities. Associations allow individual professionals to come together and create a unified voice, offer support and advice to professionals both new and experienced, to help in the legal  of industry-specific issues and the creation, collaboration and sharing of industry-specific resources. By joining an industry-specific association, a golf instructor can feel supported, encouraged and engaged in the community of professionals, benefitting golf instructors as well as sporting instructors of all types across the world.