The role of a Training Professional represents one of the foundations of the PGA, which is to pass on and share knowledge to the next generation.
Many PGA Members taken on Trainees each October when the academic year starts, and look to pass on their experience, as well as provide opportunities to put the theory they are learning into practice within a working environment.
PGA Professionals Andrew Pickering and Lee Edwards have built a strong reputation at Penrith Golf Hub in Cumbria not only for coaching and business development, but also for developing the next generation of PGA Professionals.
As PGA Training Professionals, both play an active role in mentoring Trainees at Penrith, combining academic learning with hands-on industry experience.
With Trainees Jamie Sowerby and Adam Chapman currently learning their trade at PGH, Pickering and Edwards aim to run a business that demonstrates the long-term value of creating a supportive environment for aspiring Professionals.
Pickering, with over 25 years of experience as a PGA Professional, took us through some of the most important parts of nurturing Trainees at the start of their career journey, and provides actionable pointers that fellow Members can use within their own operation.
The key pillars of being a Training Professional
Beginning the journey to become a PGA Professional is a very exciting one as it holds a lot of credit in the industry and The PGA is a worldwide recognised association.
The role blends sport, business, coaching, and professionalism. A lot of people go in thinking it’s mostly about playing golf - it’s not. Most successful PGA Pros build careers around coaching, retail, or management rather than competitive play.
The main thing is this is a choice that offers them (Trainees) a career in something they love doing, and then the ability to control their own lives on the back of it.
Play golf, teach and do well for themselves, which is what me and Lee have done. Me and Lee have come through the system. I’m very passionate about The PGA. I think it does a great job for us.
The value that Trainees bring to a business
They offer fresh ideas.
I'm getting to 52 now. I'm not saying that I'm the most dynamic person! I like to keep in touch with what's going on, but they offer that youthful look at things.
A Trainee Pro brings a fresh set of eyes - mostly from a customer/player point of view as that’s what most will have been previously, before starting the role.
They also tend to be excited and enthusiastic about it as they are keen to get stuck in and learn more about the industry and business model.
Why it’s important to invest in Trainees
As a business, we’ve always had the same philosophy.
We invest £3,500 of sponsor money to develop in schools. If we don't invest in the future, then there's no future, whether that's school, whether that's PGA Pros…
If you get a good Trainee coming through, they're worth their weight in gold, because they're there with you for the journey.
If we don't continuously have that passion to reinvest in trainees, I think we go backwards as a business. We continuously take in more trainees, it’s great.
Pictured: PGA Training Professional Andrew Pickering
The working requirements for a Trainee
To meet the employment criteria, the Trainee needs to secure a position at a facility where a PGA Training Professional is based, and this must be their primary place of employment.
They need to be working a minimum of 25 hours per week with a contractual agreement in place, earning at least minimum wage, and your Training Professional must be a fully qualified GB & Ireland PGA Member.
The traits that make a Trainee application-ready
Good ethics, good morals, good with people. They’ve learned the trade.
I suppose we lead by example; that's the best way to say it.
Both me and Lee and John (Ingham, director with Andrew and Lee at Penrith) as business owners, one of us will be on site every single day, one of us will lock up most of the time.
We try and encourage really good practices, clean and tidy, and a reasonable connection with social media.
That's important nowadays, and I wholeheartedly believe these lads should be playing golf. If you stand up and play golf, and you're trying to be a coach, but you can't play golf, it’s really hard to get that point across sometimes.
I do believe that you still need to be able to play the shot, so I think your golfing ability needs to be kept to a standard.
As a business, we support all the lads with all the clubs. If someone comes as a Trainee with us, they automatically get a contract with the company.
We make sure they've got all the gear. We give them uniform. They get well looked after. They're on a bonus programme.
Andrew’s best advice for developing Trainees
There needs to be an aspect of cuddling, nurturing and instilling good morals, and education to different aspects of the business.
For instance, with Jamie, to be able to mow greens and mow semi-rough, he is fully integrated within the business.
Me and Lee have never been shy to encourage education to these youngsters, they become very rounded as a golf pro.
Listening. That would be a really good thing.
Give them tough shifts - Do I like locking up on a Friday night? No, I don't. I'd rather be at home or at the pub with my wife. We have to rotate it, and that's part and parcel of it, so all of them get a fair crack at the whip to enjoy their life balance.
Balance, listening and nurturing.
What key dates should Training Professionals and Trainees be aware of?
The trainees get monthly and yearly assignments that they have to fulfil. They have to be in on time.
They also have to attend a week at the training college at The Belfry, and they have to pass their first-year exams, second year exams and third year exams.
But as a business, we pay them for that time to go down there. In other words, they don't have to take holidays for that. That's a little bit that we're giving back to that training area.
They’d have to pass each year, and then in the final year, they sit the final exams, and then they have to be formally accepted into The PGA.
Debunking myths around Trainees
The biggest premeditated thoughts would be from prospected customers thinking they are inexperienced, meaning less competent at teaching or assisting in knowledge.
This isn’t always true as they undergo extensive training at The Belfry during their course and on site at their club.
- To find out more about becoming a PGA Training Professional and how to develop Trainees, click here
