by Sean Saunders
My name is Sean Saunders and I’m the Manager / Golf Instructor at Swing Right Golf Learning Facility. I also own a teaching business called SWS GOLF, LLC. I have had the opportunity to work at many different golf facilities such as private country clubs, resorts, golf stores, and driving ranges. I have also been fortunate to learn from some of the top Golf / Teaching Professionals in the country. I have seen the best and worst parts of being a PGA Professional. My goal for writing these articles is to educate the general public about golf and the life of a PGA Professional. I want to give insight on my life in balancing my teaching business, managing Swing Right, and starting a new family all while having fun in the process.
I started my golf career at Sioux City Country Club. I worked for a Master PGA Professional, Mitch Merrill. Mitch taught me many valuable lessons. I started as a bag room attendant and worked my way through the ranks to become an Assistant Golf Professional. The most valuable lesson I learned from Mitch is to write everything down. I learned quickly that when multi tasking it is important to make a to-do list and notes throughout the day. When answering the phones, taking tee times, receiving inventory, club repair, teaching lessons, delegating tasks to bag attendants, developing junior golf programs, organizing merchandise, and getting ready for the next big tournament or outing, it is easy to get overwhelmed and miss an important task that needs to be done. Not a lot of people realize how much work and responsibilities there are for a PGA Professional.
The Professional Golfer’s Association of America (PGA) is the largest golf organization in the world and has set the standard for being mentors of the game. The mission of the PGA is to grow the game through professional instruction and management. A PGA Professional is not a Tour Professional like Tiger Woods. A PGA Professional manages a PGA golf facility such as a driving range, learning facility, golf store, golf course, or country club. A golf facility becomes PGA Recognized based on a number of factors such as size, location and business plan. In order to become a PGA Professional, you have to pass a 36 hole playing ability test, three checkpoints (tests), give a presentation to the education staff, interview with a professional portfolio, and have 36 credits (months) of work experience at a PGA Recognized Facility. I am planning on taking my 3rd checkpoint and finish my work experience credits in November. It takes dedication, determination, and good study habits to pass the PGA Professional Golf Management program.
Becoming a PGA Professional has been a goal of mine since I started working in the golf industry nine years ago. It is similar to receiving your master’s degree in the golf business. I have a new found respect for PGA Professionals because they are a select few. The majority of PGA Professionals work 50-60 hour weeks during the season and rarely get the chance to play unless it is a playing lesson or Section tournament. They are dedicated to their profession. The PGA Professionals that stay in the industry do it because they are passionate about golf and enjoy helping others learn and improve their game. There are many sacrifices that are made, but their also many opportunities and benefits of being a PGA member. They are similar to the sacrifices, opportunities and benefits of anyone who is “on the move”!
