PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- The inaugural report card is in and the PGA of America Certified Professional Program (CPP) is off to a remarkable start.
With nearly 25 percent of The PGA membership initiating the first two portions of the self-assessment (CareerView and StyleView) and roughly 1,200 members completing the entire self-assessment phase, the numbers clearly show that members are receiving the PGA CPP with open arms.
Moving beyond the initial participation numbers, the PGA CPP is also boasting 80 newly certified PGA Professionals since the programs inception in August 2004. Combine this number with the average 70 to 100 hours of work-study preparation typically required to pass each ProFiciency Test and you see can the sweeping commitment that members are making to further their education to become the most experienced and highly trained professionals in the golf industry.
Since the founding of The PGA 90 years ago, education and training has been at the core of its mission. Last years creation of the PGA CPP was in response to the increasing demands that the golf industry is placing on PGA Professionals and shows the PGA’s ongoing commitment to developing new coursework and innovative programs. The PGA CPP offers six main career paths and includes self-assessment tools, a formal ProFiciency Test and nearly 240 courses online (at roughly $1 per course). The six career paths include:
- General Management, which includes facility operations, strategic planning and other skills necessary to manage and oversee a golf facility;
- Golf Operations, which focuses on a curriculum that targets directors of golf, head professionals and assistant professionals;
- Instruction, which concentrates on classes that are required for to elevate current practices in golf instruction, including group dynamics, human learning psychologies and new teaching tools and technologies;
- Retail, which includes topics pertaining to golf shops and merchandising;
- Executive Management, which covers topics that golf administrators may encounter including classes on associations, human resources, marketing and public relations, meeting planning and membership;
- and Ownership and Leasing, which includes financing golf facilities and topics that are associated with construction and facility ownership.
In the first year of the program there have been 5 certifications in Executive Management, 29 in General Management, 40 in Golf Operations, 19 in Instruction and 8 in Retail. In addition, the classes with the highest enrollment across all career paths are Accounting, Business Planning and Budgeting, Turfgrass Management and Customer Relations. Below is a complete summary of the PGA CPP as of September 20. Likewise, The PGA of America wishes to congratulate its’ newest group of Certified PGA Professionals:
Recently certified professionals:
General Management
- John L. Bishop; Tangle Ridge Golf Club, Fort Worth, TX
- Kenneth R. Cashwell; Oakwoods Country Club, Wilkesboro, NC + (Golf Operations)
- Scot A. Forbis; Atlantic Golf at Queenstown Harbor, Centrevilla, MD
- Brian K. Gerard; Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, Meggett, SC
- Joseph Klinchock; Chartiers Country Club, Pittsburgh, PA
- Patrick O’Leary; Dick’s Sporting Goods, Williamsville, NY
- Jason N. Schuman; Orange County National Golf, Orlando, FL
- John Stovall; Sherman, TX
Golf Operations
- Bradley M. Rekstad; Ridgeview Country Club, Blaine, MN
- Mark G. Schaffer; Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, Kiawah Island, SC
- Kevin Schreel; Isleworth Country Club, Orlando, FL
- Ward H. Sutton; Stockdale Country Club, Bakersfield, CA
- Timothy M. Underwood; Hodge Park Golf Course, Kansas City, MO
Instruction
- Guy W. Ashley; Dave Pelz Scoring Game School, North Palm Beach, FL
- Perry R. Green; Rockford Park District Aldeen Golf Club, Rockford, IL
To learn more about PGA CPP visit The PGA booth (number 176) or go online to www.pga.com/employment. In addition, you will not want to miss the PGA Certification Program Seminar held Wednesday, September 28 from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. in room S224. The seminar will be led by PGA Master Professional and Senior Manager – Member Education, Greg Martzolf, and will provide an overview of the program and an opportunity to explore the process of obtaining certification.
