Director of Golf Qualification

What is the Director of Golf qualification?

The title ‘Director of Golf’ is already widely used in the golf industry. It has been adopted by many different organisations and is applied to a variety of working situations. It is evident that the position of Director of Golf is usually accepted as one with responsibilities that extend from and are additional to those normally expected of a golf club professional; however, to this point there has been no clear standard or job description to consistently define the role.

In response to the demand by our members, the PGA has examined this situation, researched various possible solutions and has developed the PGA Director of Golf Qualification. This qualification is designed to provide a means of recognition for those who already perform effectively in the role of Director of Golf as well as a framework for acquiring the skills needed for those who aspire to such a role.

Trainee Assistants can attend the Induction Day only, however they would need to qualify and be elected to membership and also meet the requirements of the Certificate of Golf Management Theory to progess on to this stage.

What is the process?

The process includes three stages: Induction, PGA Certificate of Golf Management Theory and PGA Director of Golf.

1. Induction Day

The whole process kicks off with an Induction Day. On the day full details will be given of the knowledge and performance criteria that pertain to the PGA Certificate of Golf Management Theory and the PGA Director of Golf qualification. Prior to the day members will be issued workbooks that they must work through (self assessment of current knowledge & competence) and then on the day members will work with an assessor (1 assessor to 4 member basis) to develop an action plan which will plot the pathway ahead. As part of the Induction Day fee, two hours of professional discussion have been allocated per member.

Once registered on to the course, 30 minutes of this time is allocated prior to the course, in which one of the assessors will contact the member personally approximately 3 weeks before the Induction Day. An hour and half is then allocated after the course for further professional discussion and advice in order that communication between the member and the PGA assessors does not stop when you leave at the end of the day.

Some will leave the Induction with some targeted professional development to undertake before moving to the next stage, whilst others will move on to the next phase of the programme and complete the PGA Certificate of Golf Management Theory.

Dates for Induction Day:

Date	Venue
12 September 2024	Online Event
5 December 2024	PGA National Training Academy

PGA of South Africa Members are more than welcome to attend an Induction Day in person at the PGA National Training Academy, but it is recommended they attend the online Induction Date to reduce their personal costs.

2. PGA Certificate of Golf Management Theory

This is a part of the overall qualification which members may work towards and achieve while working in a role without all the responsibilities expected of a Director of Golf. This part of the complete PGA Director of Golf Qualification has been introduced by the PGA as a ‘stand alone’ award, specifically to provide ongoing training support for experienced PGA professionals to develop their skills and abilities and wishing to develop the knowledge required to become a qualified Director of Golf.

As a result of this, the PGA Certificate of Golf Management Theory now identifies a member who has demonstrated that they have the required knowledge of a Director of Golf role, but who for whatever reason does not currently have the opportunity to demonstrate competence through their daily work. All credit gained through this part of the process will be taken forward to the full Director of Golf qualification. Those who pursue this route will receive formal recognition through the awarding of a PGA Certificate which, in turn, may help them to apply for more senior posts in the industry.

This stage of the qualification does not require and does not have any in-person contact, so can be completed remotely at a distance.

3. PGA Director of Golf Qualification

Those members able to demonstrate that they can practically apply that knowledge and understanding in the role of Director of Golf (or equivalent) can then progress to the final stage of the programme and, on successful completion, gain the full PGA Director of Golf qualification.

A member must be in a Director of Golf role (or equivalent) to be able to enrol on this phase of the process.

Please note, each of these three sections will be costed separately, to ensure that money is only being taken for the relevant section of the process that is applicable to the individual, rather than one sum for all members on point of entry. This will allow members to segment their own individual development and only trigger further activity and support when they feel ready to move on with the next stage. Members will also be able to access additional support (at an additional cost) at any time in their development

Periods of Registration

After Attending the Induction Day (Stage 1)
You have 18 months to enrol on the Certificate of Golf Management Theory (Stage 2) after attending the Induction Day (Stage 1). If you miss this deadline and want to continue later, you will need to repay the Induction Day fee and attend another Induction Day.

PGA Certificate of Golf Management Theory (Stage 2)
Once enrolled on Stage 2, you will have 24 months to complete it.
PGA Director of Golf Qualification (Stage 3)
Once enrolled on Stage 3, you will have 18 months to complete it.

The programme is self-paced, so it is possible to complete each stage much sooner than the registration period expiry date. The time it typically takes members to complete Stage 2 is 12 months. The average time it takes members to complete Stage 3 is 10 months.

You are expected to finish all assessments within your registration period. If your registration for your current stage expires, you'll be removed from the programme.
To continue after expiration, you'll need to pay the full fee and start the stage you were enrolled on again.

What does it cost?

Stages	Title	Cost
1	The Induction Day	£225
2	PGA Certificate of Golf Management Theory	£525
3	PGA Director of Golf	£850

How will it be assessed?

Members are assessed by submitting a workbook at Stage 2 and via submitting evidence at Stage 3 to their assessor. All workbooks and evidence are submitted digitally to the assessor, typically via email, and it is highly unlikely assessors will need to travel to a member’s place of work to collect or verify evidence.

This qualification differs from existing PGA awards as it will be achieved through a process of assessment rather than a distance learning programme with assignments, tests and examinations. The qualification still involves a significant element of learning, however it is primarily aimed at those with business/management experience who wish to gain credit for the skills and competences they already have. We recognise that many members are currently operating in the role and we consider it essential that this level of competence should be accredited through assessment rather than re-tested with examinations. So the PGA Director of Golf Qualification will provide a balance between learning and assessment and offers a fair and consistent route to the award for all who seek to work towards it.

The Qualification uses National Occupational Standards to set out clear and consistent requirements for competence, knowledge and understanding required by anyone performing or wishing to perform in the role of Director of Golf. There is a structured process for demonstrating and providing assessable evidence of personal competence and experience as well as for learning the necessary skills and acquiring the required knowledge. This process is designed to be flexible and to take full account of a member’s prior achievements. It will allow those already working in the role of Director of Golf to offer valid evidence of their personal competence and therefore gain credit for their existing skills and experience. For those wishing to develop into the Director of Golf role, it will provide a supportive structure for learning using a variety of proven resources.

Which areas will I be assessed in?

For practical purposes the qualification is divided into seven units. To view the units, click here.

What do you have to do to achieve the qualification?

To become a fully qualified PGA Director of Golf, a member must successfully demonstrate that they meet all the criteria laid down in the qualification. This includes evidence of working knowledge of those criteria, as well as evidence that the knowledge can be applied in the workplace. To achieve this, the member must also provide evidence of competent performance drawn from their current and past experience.

From our experience so far it is clear that a member who is currently performing as a Director of Golf or in a similar management position can offer a variety of acceptable evidence to meet the criteria. It is also clear that a member who meets the performance criteria will, almost by default, demonstrate the necessary working knowledge required. In such cases, the qualification can be achieved relatively quickly – and becomes a recognisable confirmation of the member’s ability.

What if you are not currently in a Director of Golf role?

The 3-phased process (Induction day; PGA Certificate of Golf Management Theory; PGA Director of Golf) also serves members who do not currently operate in the role of Director of Golf yet aspire to do so. Members who are not currently employed in a Director of Golf position, they will be invited to attend an induction day, which will provide full details of the qualification, whilst also assessing their suitability to progress onto the second stage of the qualification.

Following this assessment a member will either progress directly onto the second stage of PGA Certificate of Golf Management Theory, or they will be tasked with some professional development to undertake before moving on. A member is perfectly capable of being accepted onto this next stage (PGA Certificate of Golf Management Theory) without currently operating in this role, however, they will not be allowed to move onto the final stage of the PGA Director of Golf Qualification before they operate within a Director of Golf position.

It should be noted that this second stage acts as a stand-alone award at the PGA, and it is hoped that by completing this a member will be in a better position to secure such a role.

Terms and Conditions

For full terms and conditions on the Director of Golf Programme, please click here.

Register your interest

To register your interest or to book onto an Induction Day please contact the Member Education Department at pgalearn@pga.org.uk or 01675 470333.