PGA Training Professional Mentoring Programme: Empower the future of PGA Professionals

10/07/2024

Bookings have now opened for the next cohort of The PGA Training Professional Mentoring Programme. Delivered in partnership with sport education specialists: MiMentor, this course looks to enhance PGA Members’ mentoring skills.

PGA Trainees bring fresh ideas, passion, and a willingness to learn while working with a PGA Professional. They also already possess substantial knowledge in areas like coaching, custom fitting, and other services, ensuring that your members and customers receive top-quality service. Hiring a Trainee not only enhances your business's immediate capabilities but also nurtures a potential long-term asset, likely to remain with you well beyond their training period.

The PGA offers additional support through The PGA Training Professional Mentoring Programme in conjunction with PGA Learn. This programme provides extensive benefits, including knowledge and skills in mentoring, helping Trainees navigate challenges, offering solutions, and establishing best practices. It also includes a detailed overview of the educational elements of the PGA Training Programme and strategies to support your PGA Trainee’s studies.

Free of charge to all PGA Members taking on a Year 1 Trainee this coming academic year, the course takes place online, providing a convenient opportunity for PGA Training Professionals to gain well-rounded knowledge on how to support their Trainees and build on their own mentoring confidence going into the academic year.

This 2-month course starts in September 2024, with course content being accessible via the learning platform from 17th September 2024.

The bespoke course is split into three blocks, and participants have access to a wide variety of materials, including online live sessions and online activities. All the live sessions are recorded allowing for those who are unable to attend to still access the material. Each block takes two to three hours to complete, with course content ranging from learning how to provide supported practice for Trainees in the workplace to maintaining mentoring relationships, and more.

All blocks include a small assessment, allowing participants who complete the programme to be awarded a certificate in mentoring, endorsed by ASQ (the awarding body for The PGA’s golf coaching qualifications).

The Programme starts with an introductory webinar from Head of Training Programme Simon Hubbard on Tuesday the 24th of September at 18:30 BST. The webinar will provide an overview of the educational elements of the PGA Training Programme and recommend ways Training Professionals can best support Trainees with their studies. This webinar is open to all Year 1 Training Professionals, even if they are not enrolled on the Mentoring Programme. To register for the webinar, click here.

If you’ve taken on a PGA Trainee or are looking to do so in the future and you’re interested in the programme, register your interest now by clicking here.

Mark Skinner, responsible for Member Education at The PGA, showed keen support for the mentoring programme: “We know the crucial role that Training Professionals play in their Trainee’s development through the opportunities they provide to learn in the workplace and the wealth of experience they pass on. We also appreciate that Trainees are an asset to their Training Professional, so we are eager to help them develop their Trainee for the benefit of their own businesses.”

You can also view the new qualifications toolkit by clicking here. This provides links to print and digital assets which you can amend for your needs, designed to support Member recruitment of PGA Trainees.

Why should you hire a PGA Trainee?

West Lancashire Head Professional, Gavin Abson is an advocate for helping to shape the future of PGA Pros and places huge importance on having Trainees within his shop: “My Trainee, James Rooney, is excellent when it comes to hardware and club repairs. We use those skillsets to our advantage by giving him responsibilities within the shop. It’s fantastic to be able to do that because Trainees feel that they have got a sense of responsibility as well as a more clearly defined role in the business.”

Unlike typical hospitality employees, who often stay in the industry for only 12-18 months, PGA Trainees are required to work under a Training Professional for the duration of their PGA Training, which can lead to them being with you for three or more years.

Gavin continued: “I have now got a trainee who will be qualified next year so, if a qualified assistant left, I have got a trainee going into that role who knows my business and who can step into that role. “

If you require more information on hiring a Trainee, visit our PGA Training Professional’s resource hub by clicking here.