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 to utilise this and improve their performance. Initiative discussed also included the accreditation of college and university courses to the current PGA training structure.
“Our aim is to develop the UK’s education in golf to offer a variety of educational route-ways into the professional game,” explained Gerry Paton, director of training at the PGA. “It’s therefore imperative that we work in tandem with those colleges and universities running National Diploma and degree course for students who later wish to join the PGA Diploma Programme to become golf professionals.
“The purpose of this initiative is to provide a fast track route to our own Diploma Programme by working with educational establishments to develop and cover essential elements which could aid a trainee’s entry qualification. There is a lot of common ground between our course and a growing need to maximise skills so that they are transferable.”
The role of a golf professional is a changing one and one that requires a wide range of skills to embrace the requirements of directors of golf, managers within a golfing environment and administrators in golf and leisure.