The EVOLUTION of GOLF TEACHING CERTIFICATION
Golf instruction undoubtedly began when the first golfer offered to show his friends how he played. And, for several centuries after this first golfer took stick to ball, golfers everywhere delighted in helping family, friends, and even complete strangers by imparting a tip or two.
Eventually, a group of golf professionals got together and formed the PGA of America in 1916. For African-Americans, this posed a
problem, because starting in 1943, the PGA wrote a “Caucasians-only” clause into its constitution, barring black professionals from joining until the clause was repealed in 1961. In 1959, the LPGA formed its teaching and club professional division to complement its growing ladies tour. From that point on for the next 30 years, these were the only two options for those who wished to have some sort of certification while teaching the game of golf.
Men, of course, were not (and still not) eligible for the LPGA teaching program, so their only option was to either be uncertified or join the PGA. Although the PGA offered teacher training, it was not mandatory, and was, to be frank, sorely lacking. The task of teaching new professionals how to teach fell mainly to the head professional, but this resulted in a chaotic mish-mash of different views on the fundamentals, learning, and teaching. It was also commonplace for these club professionals to not offer their apprentices any help at all in learning how to teach, and these apprentices were left to venture out onto the lesson tee for the first time with absolutely no training in the art and science of teaching golf. (This paradigm still exists today, unfortunately, to a degree much greater than the PGA would care to admit.) To the LPGA’s credit, it did require teaching education for its members, but
again, the vast majority of professionals were not eligible for this program.
It wasn’t until 1989 that someone had the idea that it was possible to start a new organization that focused strictly on teaching. Geoff Bryant founded the USGTF that year, and 12 candidates showed up at Lehigh Acres, Florida, that fall. At the next certification course in early 1990, over 40 attended, and the USGTF was off and running. For the first time, demonstrating a certain proficiency and acumen for teaching golf were required to gain official accreditation through a golf professional organization open to all. Prospective members learned the fundamentals of teaching from experienced teaching professionals using a set curriculum.
This development caught the PGA completely off-guard, because remarkably, at the time it didn’t have a set curriculum for its members to learn to teach golf. In fact, it wasn’t until 1990 that Dr. Gary Wiren authored the PGA Teaching Manual, a book that is still used today in the PGA program.
At the annual PGA members meeting in 1992, the USGTF was a hot topic. PGA members were incredulous that another organization could actually be successful in the marketplace. What the upper management of the PGA didn’t realize was that there were a lot of people who didn’t want to wash golf carts, sell shirts, ring up green fees, and work mainly indoors in a pro shop running a golf course. No, they wanted simply to teach the game of golf.
The other problem with the PGA program was that it required apprentices to work long hours at low pay. (In fact, the PGA got into trouble with the Federal Trade Commission, because such a program meant that assistants were working for below minimum wage.) This was fine for new high school or college graduates, but those who had families to support were unable to do this. These people, often middle-aged with successful career experience, became the USGTF’s gain and the PGA’s loss when they earned their USGTF membership.
Later in 1994, the PGA instituted its Golf Professional Training Program, and for the first time in history, apprentices were required to learn something about teaching – although the program didn’t measure up to the USGTF’s in term of minimum required time, content, and testing procedures. The USGTF, meanwhile, not choosing to stand pat, initiated its Master Golf Teaching Professional® program. Thirty-one fully-certified USGTF members showed up in January 1995 at the Quality Inn Resort & Country Club in Naples, Florida, hoping to earn the newly-designated status.
As the 21st century dawned, USGTF training classes were expanded by two hours during the week. New playing ability test scores were introduced to better reflect the playing abilities of the different age groups that were present at the certification courses. Shortly thereafter, four levels of certification were introduced to better reflect the abilities and needs of prospective members. Level I affiliate members were given the tools to teach the full swing to beginners and novices. Level II associate members learned the entire teaching
curriculum and could effectively teach all phases of the game to average players. Level III Certified Golf Teaching Professionals® demonstrated a playing ability commensurate with someone qualified to teach the game to advance players. Level IV Master Teaching Professionals earned their designation by demonstrating teaching acumen and knowledge to the highest degree.
In 2013, the USGTF moved its Level I and II programs exclusively online so that candidates could access the material from any location, and the program was given a step-by-step curriculum. This made the learning process more uniform, and at the same time gave candidates the ability to access the material from their smartphones, laptops, and tablets. Certification class time for the Level III program was again expanded by two hours.
The year 2013 also saw the creation of the World Golf Coaches Alliance, an entity that serves those who prepare golfers for competition. Training and certification specifically for golf coaches had been in somewhat short supply; in fact, prior to the formation of the WGCA, it really didn’t exist. The WGCA gives high school, college, and professional coaches, along with golf teachers who prepare their students for individual competitions, a governing body to oversee the industry for the first time.
Today, the USGTF enjoys its status as the largest organization of Certified Golf Teaching Professionals in the world, and only Level III and IV members are able to identify themselves in that manner. Level IV members may also use the Master Teaching Professional identifier, and no one who does not hold WGTF membership are able to identify themselves as either Certified Golf Teaching Professionals® or Master Golf Teaching Professionals®, as these are federally-registered trademarks of the USGTF and WGTF. USGTF professionals today also enjoy widespread recognition from most golf facilities in the US.
Even the PGA knows a good thing when they see it. At the PGA Merchandise Show, one of the recognized associations is…you guessed it…the USGTF.
