How PGA Excel can enhance your career as a PGA Member

13/12/2023

Tristan Crew MBE, PGA Executive Director - Member Services, reflects on the first 12 months of PGA Excel, outlines its importance to Members and employers, and provides valuable insight on how to complete a successful application.

PGA Excel, replacing the old APAL system, offers an assessment framework for showcasing impact and achievements in the golf industry.
Over 100 PGA Members have completed applications, validating the system's value to both PGA Members and the golfing community.
PGA Excel emphasises showcasing actions taken and results achieved, offering recognition and celebration of career milestones.
The process is streamlined, transitioning from the paper-heavy APAL system to a user-friendly, gradual construction of profiles over time.
Completing PGA Excel encourages self-reflection, aiding in setting future goals, and leveraging designations for personal and professional distinction.

CLICK HERE to find out more about PGA Excel and to start your application.

PGA Excel was launched one year ago to replace The PGA’s old APAL system. This new, best in-class assessment framework enables you to demonstrate your impact and achievement to employers, golfers and the wider industry.

So far more than 100 PGA Members have completed their application, with many more having started the process, and the system has proven its worth to both PGA Members and the golfing industry.

In today’s thriving golf industry, we understand that Members are busier than ever. Finding time to invest in your future can be challenging, but we encourage as many of you as possible to consider starting your PGA Excel application.

Simplistically, PGA Excel is about what you’ve done whereas your accredited status is about what you have learned. The PGA Excel system therefore recognises how you have used your learning and experience to deliver impact and achievement. It allows you to demonstrate where you sit in the hierarchy of Members in relation to what you’ve actually delivered. Gaining recognition from your peers and having an opportunity to celebrate your career and achievements is incredibly valuable.

Unlike the arduous process of the old APAL system that involved lengthy paper submissions, PGA Excel makes starting and finishing your application easier than ever.

The essence of this new system is gradual construction throughout your career. It’s not a matter of initiating and completing your PGA Excel submission in one go. Instead, you should focus on gradually developing your profile over time and dedicate your attention to submitting your application once you’ve gathered the necessary evidence in each section.

Feedback from individuals who have completed their PGA Excel applications suggests that they enjoyed the process because it provides an opportunity for self-reflection. It has allowed many Members to ‘reset’, ponder their future goals, and devise plans to achieve them.

We highly recommend that those PGA Members that achieve PGA Excel recognition use their new designations to promote and distinguish themselves from others. For those who haven’t obtained a higher designation yet, our commitment to promoting PGA Excel remains unwavering. We will continue to promote PGA Excel to the industry and beyond so that employers, deployers and golfers that use the services of PGA Members better understand the value of these designations so Members can continue to delineate themselves.

PGA Excel and these designations may soon become key parameters in future job applications, as employers begin to prioritise certain designations, raising the importance of these assets.

Five tips to completing your PGA Excel application:

Start by reading the guidance notes in the brochure. Understanding the self-assessment, marking criteria and Value Blocks is vital for a successful application and make sure you have gained accredited status through PGA Learn.
Select the right category from the beginning. The categories of PGA Professional, Coach, and Manager have different evaluation criteria. Being accurate here is crucial as it can significantly affect your score.
Comprehend how applications are assessed, specifically the inclusion criteria and the average years of experience in your field. Align your application with the evaluator's expectations.
Identify sections with the most marks and provide detailed information accordingly. For instance, professional representation contributes only 10% to your overall score. Prioritise sections that can have the most significant impact.
Avoid hasty submissions. Quality matters more than speed.

CLICK HERE to find out more about PGA Excel and to start your application.

Common faults to avoid when applying:

Applicants often repeat information between sections, which doesn't add value to their PGA Excel submission.
Providing excessive information without relating it to achievements and impact is a common mistake.
PGA Excel focuses on what you've delivered, not just what you've learned through CPD.
The application should be concise, with clear justification of challenges, your actions and your impact.
Consider the marker's perspective when explaining your accomplishments
Some applicants believe they deserve a certain designation without putting in sufficient effort or justification, risking wasted time and opportunity.