A revolutionary new FREE online custom-fitting course has been launched for PGA members.
The internet-based resource, which will secure members up to 25 Continual Professional Development (CPD) points, comes via a joint venture between the PGA and long-established PGA partner PING.
The PING I-Learn custom-fit course, which has already been a huge hit with members of the USPGA since its launch in 2009, is viewed as another significant step forward as the PGA continues to expand on its educational opportunities away from the traditional classroom setting.
This new web-based course takes around 90 minutes to complete and includes a 30 question assessment at the end. A minimum pass rate of 85 per cent is required for PGA members taking the course to be recognised as a ‘PING accredited fitter’.
The internet instruction will replace the previous visits to the PING factory. The PGA’s head of member education and PGA Advanced Fellow professional David Colclough believes the online course will have widespread appeal among PGA members.
“This has been up and running in the United States and one of the benefits of this course is that PGA professionals can do it in their own time,” he said.
“It only takes a couple of hours and you can come back to it when you like to complete the course. There is an assessment at the end, which once passed will see members receive 25 CPD points and also be accredited PING fitters for three years. The benefit to PGA members is immense as the online course is a more flexible format and it’s completely free.
“Moving it online is just another way that the PGA is trying to assist members improving their knowledge and education. The PGA wants to be able to offer members multiple opportunities that will help them develop their own knowledge and career.
“The PING I-Learn custom-fitting course provides a broad look at custom-fitting but also pays special attention to the nuances of PING clubs and how a PGA professional can fine tune them for each individual player.”
Dave Fanning, PING’s European marketing manager, explained how the company’s approach to custom-fitting had led to the development of the online course – enabling them to reach all PGA professionals.
“We have always been very committed to the area of custom-fitting and this next step is continuing our efforts to improve that in tandem with the PGA,” he said.
“We have a training programme that has been running for a number of years and has been very successful but we have been limited to the number of people we can get through the doors at our factory in Gainsborough.
“This will allow us to open up our custom-fitting to all of the PGA professionals both in the UK and overseas and to give them the opportunity to be accredited by us and the PGA.
“This also differs as there is an exam at the end, whereas that wasn’t the case with the factory visit, and so we see this as improving what we offer to the PGA members.
“The course is quite robust and certainly not something to breeze through, but it does cover all aspects of custom-fitting from PING’s perspective and what goes into the design of our clubs.”
The web course was two years in development and has been used by golf professionals in the United States for a year.
“It has proved very effective in the United States, especially after the USPGA came on board,” said Fanning.
“There has been a high take up and success rate which makes us very optimistic that PGA members will like the course and the chance to get CPD points and PING accredited status.”
PGA pros can log on and register for the course via www.PGA.info