You must be skilled at and enthusiastic about golf if you want to work as a golf instructor. Certification in your area, state, or country can help you gain the credentials you need to get hired as a golf instructor. While anyone can give golf lessons in most areas without certification, getting certified increases your chances of becoming a professional in the sport. If you think you have what it takes to be a golf instructor, you can seek advice from well-known professional organizations like the United States Golf Teachers Federation (USGTF) or its equivalent in other countries.
Joining golf professional organizations, in addition to education and training, can help you meet other people who share your passion for the game. You might hear about job openings or get leads on which country clubs to contact if you want to work as a golf instructor. Teacher’s cup tournaments and skills workshops are common events for golf teaching organizations. These events can be great places to meet new people who are interested in the sport while also learning more about it.
Golf certification programs are typically very short. It could take as little as a week to become a certified golf instructor in your area. Make sure you’ve thought about how you’ll get customers once you’ve earned your certification. You’ll need to know how to market yourself as a professional golf instructor, which includes knowing which markets and teaching opportunities to pursue. Some golf instructor classes include marketing lessons as well as job placement assistance.
If you’re in college or planning to go to college, you might want to consider majoring in golf management. Majoring in the management side of the sport could be beneficial if you want to become a golf instructor and eventually work full time in the industry. As a golf management major, you’ll almost certainly be required to complete numerous internships, which will introduce you to potential employers. An internship at a country club can help you learn more about the needs of your future customers by teaching you customer service skills.
You may be able to take some home study courses on the Internet as part of your certification, whether you want to become a golf instructor part time or full time. If you have another job and only want to teach golf on weekends, depending on demand and competition in your area, this may be possible. To ensure that you have enough clients willing to pay you for lessons, you’ll need to establish a strong reputation as a pro golf instructor.