Golf Coach Career

Question
Hello Eddie: I came across your name after googling "golf coach career phoenix az". My husband and I have been financially supporting our son in Phx for the past several years. He graduated from SDGA 2006. He is no further in his career than before school. My husband and I are stumped. We paid $$$ for school and support. The jobs he has attained after graduation have been no different than before, oh, except now he is able to get an Assistant Pro job and make less wages than outside service. He is now working for Legend Trails in Scottsdale which seems to have fueled his motivation...but he cannot make a living at Outside Service nor Assist. Pro. His desire is to teach. He cannot seem to find any opportunity to teach because he is low on the Totem pole? Or does not have the required PGA?  I need to find a Golf Career Coach for our son. Can you help?

Answer
Hello Antonette:

Sorry to hear about your son and his career issues.  He is not alone.  Unfortunately in golf, you start at the bottom and depending on your desire, will move up the chain and hopefully, attain a position that pays something.  In this business, it's who you know.  I don't know what your son's goals are in the golf business, but whatever they are, he needs to align himself in that direction.  If he wants to teach, you cannot do that full time until you have obtained your Class A PGA Membership.  The other option is to go teach for a John Jacobs Golf School or another golf school.  The problem there is it's just a job.  Not much money, maybe $12-15/hr.  At least you get to teach and then on your own time, after you teach your 40 hrs. per week for them, you can probably give some personal lessons.  There is no shortcut.  What I would do is locate yourself at a facility where a well known, good PGA instructor is and then shadow him.  Listen, learn, do anything and everything to learn.  Most teachers will let you watch them and if you have questions, are usually gracious with some answers.  Unfortunately, at this stage, there is no place to go to get trained or certified to teach that is worth mentioning.  Learn on your own, teach when you can and the more you do it, the better you'll get.  If your son wants to learn the golf business and get the best education and knowledge about the golf business on his way to his PGA Membership, I would suggest to go to Desert Mountain and get started.  They are known for producing good golf professionals because of their system.  Highly recommended.  Sorry to not have a great answer, but in the golf business, it's who you associate with and how much do you want it.  You make your way and get what you ask for.  Let me know if I can help in any way, and I'll be glad to meet with your son if it would help.  

Eddie Kilthau