If you are thinking about a career in golf, one name keeps coming up: PGA. The three letters stand for "Professional Golfers' Association", and in Germany that is the PGA of Germany. It is something like the home of professional golf in this country and at the same time the central address for qualified golf instruction and the training of coaches. In this overview I show you exactly what the PGA does, how it is structured and who it really matters to.
The essentials up front
- The PGA of Germany is the professional association of golf professionals, founded in 1927, based in Munich.
- With more than 2,000 members it is the largest PGA in continental Europe.
- Its core business: training golf instructors (PGA Professional), tournaments and member services.
- The PGA Business Division covers the management and business side of golf.
What is the PGA of Germany?
The PGA of Germany is the professional and specialist association for everyone who works professionally in golf, that is, for golf instructors, tour players and coaches. It sees itself as the home of professional golf in Germany and bundles what defines the job of the golf pro: playing at a high level, teaching that game and the structures around it.
The distinction matters: the PGA is not the governing body of the golf facilities or players, that is the German Golf Association (DGV). The PGA is the association of the pros. So anyone who wants to take the pro route inevitably ends up here.
To the official website of the PGA of Germany
History and size
The PGA of Germany looks back on a long tradition. It was founded as early as 1927, at a time when golf in Germany was still a niche sport. Since then it has grown with the sport.
Today the PGA of Germany has more than 2,000 members and is therefore the largest PGA in continental Europe. It is based in Munich. This size is more than a number: it means a dense network of trained pros, an established training path and a strong voice for the profession.
What does the PGA do?
The PGA's tasks can be roughly grouped into three areas: training, competition and member services.
Training golf instructors
The heart of the PGA is the training to become a PGA Professional, that is, a qualified golf instructor. This training runs over several years alongside work and combines golf technique, coaching theory, the rules and basic business knowledge. Anyone who completes it may carry the title PGA Professional and in German golf that is the seal of quality for qualified instruction.
One requirement, among others, is a certain playing standard of your own. So you don't only have to be able to explain golf, you have to play it well yourself. What the route into the training looks like in detail and what alternatives exist alongside it I have put together in the overview of golf education and training.
Tournaments and championships
As the association of the pros, the PGA also organises the competition side for its members. This includes tournaments and championships that allow pros to compete and at the same time offer a stage for up-and-coming talent. For ambitious players who want to take the tour-player route, the PGA is therefore an important point of contact to show themselves and gather competitive experience.
Services for members
Alongside training and competition, the PGA is also a service provider for its members. Via the service portal MyPGA, professionals get access to internal offerings, information and administrative functions. This ranges from further training and networking to practical support for everyday working life.
The PGA Business Division
Golf has long been about more than the game on the course, behind it stands a whole industry of facilities, management, marketing and staff. That is exactly what the PGA Business Division is for. It covers the management and business side of golf and is aimed at everyone who is not (only) on the tee but shapes the operation behind it.
This way the PGA builds a bridge between the classic pro profession and the commercial side of golf. For you that means: even if your path leans more towards golf operations management or marketing, the PGA world is relevant to you and not only that of the DGV or individual facilities. How the jump into management works is a topic of its own, which I also touch on in the education and training overview.
Who is the PGA relevant for?
The PGA affects more people than you might think at first glance:
- Aspiring pros and tour players: for anyone who wants to play or teach golf professionally, the PGA training is the central route, including the playing test and examinations.
- Coaches and golf instructors: the title PGA Professional is the recognised seal of quality for instruction in German golf. What you can earn with it you can read in my article on what a golf pro / instructor earns.
- Management and business: through the Business Division, the PGA also becomes interesting for the commercial and organisational side of golf.
Frequently asked questions
What does PGA mean?
PGA stands for "Professional Golfers' Association", that is, the professional association of golf professionals. In Germany that is the PGA of Germany, based in Munich.
How do I become a PGA Professional?
Through the multi-year, work-accompanying training of the PGA of Germany. It combines golf technique, coaching theory, the rules and basic business knowledge and requires, among other things, a certain playing standard of your own.
Is the PGA the same as the DGV?
No. The PGA is the association of the pros (players, coaches, professionals). The German Golf Association (DGV) is the governing body for golf facilities and amateur golf. The two complement each other but have different tasks.
Do I need the PGA if I want to go into golf management?
Not necessarily, but it is relevant in that case too. Through the PGA Business Division, the association covers the management and business side. For a purely commercial career there are also other routes such as courses and degree programmes.