With winter almost upon us, PGA Members may find themselves with a little extra time to focus on professional growth and development. This quieter season provides the ideal opportunity to invest in yourself and your career by embarking on your PGA Excel journey.
What is PGA Excel?
PGA Excel, formerly known as the APAL system, is designed to recognise PGA Members for their significant impact and achievements within the golf industry. As you progress through the framework, you can earn higher designations such as Advanced, Fellow, Advanced Fellow, and the pinnacle, Master status—recognition that applies to PGA Professionals, Coaches, and Managers alike.
These designations highlight a PGA Members’ specialised skills and experience, enabling them to market themselves as such, enhancing their professional credibility. PGA Excel is a valuable tool to articulate your impact and demonstrate value to both current and potential employers, helping to elevate your career opportunities and distinguish yourself in what is a competitive industry.
How do I start?
The first step is earning CPD (Continuous Professional Development) accreditation. This can be achieved by meeting the minimum CPD standards for the current year (1st November 2024 – 31st October 2025) which is 15 hours of learning hours. This can be achieved through PGA Learn resources which include webinars, courses, and conferences. These resources cover a wide range of topics, from coaching techniques to retail and management insights.
Once you’ve earned accreditation, you’ll move on to the five-minute self-assessment, which is a simple tool to enable you to review the scoring criteria prior to the PGA Excel application. This gives you immediate guidance so that you can assess whether you meet the appropriate level of skill and capability for the designation you wish to apply for. You can view the easy-to-use eligibility criteria table within the new PGA Excel brochure.
You are then ready to complete your application, with the previous offline process replaced with a new, digital form. This is your opportunity to showcase your achievements and impact, drawing on examples from your current and previous roles. As this process requires thoughtful attention to detail, the slower-paced winter months offer a perfect window to focus on this to ensure you cover all the necessary areas of your experience.
David Addison, who earned PGA Fellow Manager status earlier in 2024, believes the framework is now easier than ever, emphasising the importance of showcasing your achievements and offering a word of advice to his fellow Members.
He said: “I’ve been a PGA Professional for 15 years and I thought to myself ‘I’ve got the experience and expertise but I’m not great at showing that off.’
“That’s why I went through PGA Excel. If you have the evidence to support your work, it’s a pretty easy process. It’s so important to tell people about your skills and more and more, I think golf clubs will look to The PGA when looking for a manager, professional or coach.”
Now is the time for PGA Members to invest in their professional growth. With a quieter schedule, you can earn CPD accreditation and accurately complete the self-assessment, setting yourself on a path to well-deserved recognition and career advancement. Whether you aim to elevate your expertise, increase your visibility in the industry, or gain credibility with employers, PGA Excel is a valuable tool for showcasing your achievements.
Take the first step today by downloading the new and updated PGA Excel brochure HERE..
For more tips on completing your PGA Excel application, click HERE..
