If you are out and about in the golf industry, sooner or later you come across the same abbreviations: DGV, PGA, GMVD, GVD, BVGA. At first glance it sounds like a bureaucratic jungle. In fact, however, each of these associations has a clear role, and once you have understood them, you also know who to turn to for training, profession or running a facility. I go through them here one by one.
The associations at a glance, each with its own page
- DGV: national umbrella body, organises play, handicaps and the Platzreife through the regional associations.
- PGA of Germany: professional association of golf pros, responsible for coach training.
- GMVD: professional association of golf managers.
- GVD: professional association of greenkeepers, around course maintenance and further training.
- BVGA: representation of golf facilities and operators.
- CMAE: European association for club management (international).
- Internationally in addition: R&A, USGA and European Golf Association.
DGV: the German Golf Association
The German Golf Association (DGV) is the national umbrella body of golf in Germany. Under its roof the golf clubs and facilities are organised, usually through membership in one of the regional golf associations. The DGV represents German golf nationally and internationally and is the body that holds the sport together organisationally in this country.
For you as a player or industry newcomer the DGV is tangible above all at three points:
- Handicap and play: the handicap system and the rules for play run through the DGV and its regional associations.
- Platzreife: the framework for the "Platzreife" (course permission) as the entry into the game is anchored here.
- Membership card: the DGV card is the proof with which you can play at most facilities.
The regional golf associations
Below the DGV sit the regional golf associations, the regional bodies at the level of the federal states. They are the link between the individual clubs and the umbrella body. They organise regional competitions and leagues, take care of youth and performance sport in the region and are often the first point of contact for the clubs locally.
Anyone who works in the industry usually deals more often with the responsible regional association than with the national body, because the concrete play and competition operation is organised here. For club work, youth development and regional tournaments the regional association is the right address.
PGA of Germany: the association of golf pros
The PGA of Germany is the professional association of golf instructors, that is, the golf pros. Anyone who teaches golf professionally is usually organised here. The central role of the PGA from a career point of view: it is responsible for the training to become a golf pro (PGA Professional).
This training is a multi-year, work-accompanying qualification with golf technique, coaching theory, the rules and basic business knowledge. It is the recognised route if you want to teach people to play golf and make a living from it. What the path there looks like and what further routes into the industry exist I describe in the overview of golf education and training.
GMVD: German Golf Management Association
The German Golf Management Association (GMVD) is the professional association of golf managers. It represents the interests of the people who run a golf facility commercially and organisationally, that is management, club management and senior administration.
The GMVD is the address for everyone who works in golf operations management or wants to get there. Professional associations like this bundle experience, offer exchange among colleagues and support qualification and further training in management. If the commercial side of a golf facility appeals to you, member management, marketing, staff, food and beverage, finance, then this is your environment.
GVD: German Greenkeepers' Association
The German Greenkeepers' Association (GVD) is the professional association of greenkeepers, the experts for course maintenance. Greenkeeping is the heart of every golf facility, and the association represents the interests of this profession around maintenance, qualification and professional exchange.
For a career in greenkeeping the association is particularly important at one point: further training and certification. Courses such as the certified greenkeeper or the agricultural specialist in golf course maintenance are carried by the greenkeeper associations and educational institutions. It is exactly these qualifications that have a direct effect on pay and job choice in greenkeeping, which I describe in detail in what a greenkeeper earns.
BVGA: German Golf Course Operators' Association
The German Golf Course Operators' Association (BVGA) represents the interests of golf facilities and their operators. While the DGV organises the sport, the BVGA is about the economic and operational side of the facilities, that is the concerns of the operators as businesses.
For you the BVGA is interesting if you run or manage a golf facility, or if you want to understand how golf facilities tick as businesses. What the day-to-day and the topics of the operator side look like becomes very concrete in my interview with the German Golf Course Operators' Association, Thomas Hasak, a good complement to this overview.
The international associations briefly explained
Above the German associations stands an international level. Three names you should know:
- R&A: one of the two authorities for the worldwide rules of golf and the handicap system (based in St Andrews, Scotland). It is responsible for the rules together with the USGA.
- USGA (United States Golf Association): the national association of the USA and second rules authority alongside the R&A. Together both issue the official rules of golf.
- European Golf Association (EGA): the union of the national European golf associations, to which the DGV also belongs. It coordinates European competitions and common topics at continental level.
In everyday professional life in Germany you rarely deal directly with these international associations. What matters is only the basic understanding: rules and handicap logic ultimately come from above, the DGV implements them for Germany.
Which association is relevant for you?
You don't have to know all the associations, but the one that fits your path. Anyone who wants to go into greenkeeping looks at the GVD. Anyone who wants to become a coach, at the PGA. Anyone who manages a facility, at the GMVD. And anyone who simply wants to understand better how German golf is organised starts with the DGV.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the DGV and the BVGA?
The DGV is the sporting umbrella body, it organises play, handicap and the Platzreife through the regional associations. The BVGA, by contrast, represents the golf facilities as businesses and thus the economic and operational side. In short: DGV for the sport, BVGA for the operators.
Which association is important for my training?
That depends on the career goal. For the pro path the PGA of Germany is responsible, for greenkeeping the GVD and the greenkeeper associations, for management the GMVD. An overview of the routes into the industry you find in the education and training overview.
Do I have to be a member of an association to work in the golf industry?
No, an association membership is not a must for many jobs. In some professions, such as golf pro via the PGA, the attachment to the association is part of the training and the job profile. In other areas the associations are valuable above all for further training and networking.
Where do I find first-hand reports from the industry?
In my interviews, people from various areas of the golf industry speak for themselves, from the operator to the expert at the facility. That gives you a realistic impression beyond the pure association structure.