Tour winner among many taking PGA plunge

The last chance saloon opened its doors this week enabling the next generation of wannabe PGA Professionals to jump straight in and begin their careers.

Over the past six months, golf professionals of the future have been taking part in the Admission Review Programme (ARP) process with a view to starting the world-renowned PGA foundation degree.

A total of 50 hopefuls were undergoing the two-day programme that introduces them to all facets of the course including equipment technology, business, coaching, sport science, psychology and rules.

Amongst those partaking in the last of this year’s ARP sessions were Ladies European Tour winner Lydia Hall, who has been coached by PGA Fellow Professional John Peters since aged 11, and American Jason Wu, who is based in Mission Hills China.

Hall, who won the ISPS Handa Ladies European Masters in 2013, has taken advantage of a new initiative for current Tour players, enabling them to combine their playing commitments and taking the PGA Foundation degree.

“I saw the opportunity on the LET website that we can do the PGA foundation degree while playing on Tour so this is perfect timing for me,” said Hall, who turns 27 in December.

“Looking ahead to my future I want to go into coaching and it’s a perfect way to get my PGA qualifications and continue playing. 

“I’ve spoken to a few of the girls on Tour and I don’t think any of them have tried it yet but I know there’s a few interested. I think I’m the guinea pig to get it going. I’m looking forward to starting it and getting a qualification at the end of it.”

Hall has spoken with Peters and the PGA assistants as Southerndown to get an insight as to what will be expected over the coming years.

Equally optimistic was Wu, who has spent the last 18 months in China. The 23-year-old, who hails from Los Angeles, learned about the course from the PGA’s Matt Davies, who is based at Mission Hills.

Wu, whose work at Mission Hills has included helping translate for world stars Suzanne Pettersen and Inbee Park, acting as a tournament starter and assisting with summer camps, is now considering the next stage of his golf career.

“Mission Hills is my first real job,” said Wu, a graduate of UCLA in San Diego.

“I went there last year just trying to soak up as much experience of the golf industry that’s developing in China.

“It’s something you can’t imagine in the western world. There are so many courses and you can see the industry growing. Golf is still relatively new in China and I’m looking at developing my coaching and business career paths and growing the game of golf.

“I learned about the PGA course about six months ago and decided to take a shot at it. It gives me an opportunity to work where I want to and to also get this qualification.”

For more information about the PGA foundation degree and being a PGA Professional click here.