14 Golf Operations in Clubs - CMAA

Golf Operations in Clubs 493
in the United States. It also serves as a major sponsor of turf-grass and golf-coursemaintenance
research. The NGF provides golf-industry research data for both private
clubs and public golf courses.
Professional Golfer’s Association. In 1916, the Professional Golfer’s Association
(PGA) of America was founded. It is now the world’s largest working sports
organization with more than 28,000 members. More than 10,000 facilities throughout
the country employ PGA members. It sponsors four premier tournaments each
year:
• Ryder Cup Matches
• PGA Championship
• Senior PGA Championship
•
PGA Grand Slam of Golf
The PGA is the primary association for golf professionals who teach golf. A
primary focus of the PGA is to educate golf professionals through an apprentice
program and by off ering PGA Business School I and II (week-long training programs),
seminars, workshops, clinics, and publications. The PGA also off ers a certifi
cation program to ensure that certifi ed golf professionals are skilled players
who are educated on the basics of running a successful golf operation. Assistant
or head golf professionals must complete an apprentice program before becoming
PGA members. There is also the PGA Master Professional certifi cation, which is
achieved by golf professionals with outstanding credentials.
The PGA certifi es golf professionals and encourages their professional development.
Their basic certifi cation for golf professionals is Certifi ed Professional
Program (CPP) which includes mastery of general management (see Exhibit 2),
instruction, retail, golf operations, ownership/leasing, and executive management.
They also have a Master Professional (MP) program.
The PGA has several diff erent member classifi cations, many of which apply
to private club managers. A1 is a golf professional, A4 is a director of golf, A8
is an assistant professional, A13 is a general manager, and A14 is a director of
instruction.
The National Sporting Goods Association and Sporting Goods Manufacturers
Association. These organizations specialize in the merchandising and manufacturing
of sporting goods. Both organizations carry a great deal of information
on golf products. A new golf organization is Hook a Kid on Golf. The goal of this
organization is to provide information and products to help people educate children
about golf and encourage them to participate in the game.
Golf 20/20. In 1994, the World Golf Association was formed to oversee the
World Golf Hall of Fame. In 1999, it initiated the Golf 20/20 program which brings
together many golf associations and organizations to help advocate and promote
the sport. According to the Golf 20/20 Website, their mission is “to align the global
golf community behind initiatives that address the future of golf in a strategic
manner, with an emphasis on accelerating growth in participation and interest
creating new avenues of access into the game.” They do this through research and