Volunteer Coaches

Become a volunteer coach

Support the delivery of coaching in your club by assisting a more qualified coach.

Routes to becoming a volunteer coach

Through The PGA’s training and education programmes, there are two routes to learn more about coaching.

Option 1

Go through the PGA’s Training Programme to become a PGA Professional. Coaching and Sports Science sit within a wider array of subject area that lead to becoming a PGA Professional.

If you are interested in becoming a PGA Professional click here.

Option 2

Start with the ASQ awarded Coaching Qualifications (L1 upwards) and become a licensed volunteer assistant coach, helping grow the game through your actions, whilst maintaining your amateur status (a requirement for playing amateur golf at club, county or national/international level).

The various stages are all mapped out below.

Being a volunteer coach

Volunteer coaches should be:

Supporting the delivery of coaching in their club or area through assisting a more qualified coach.
Recruited to assist or work alongside PGA Professionals in clubs or areas where there is a specified need for coaching.
Operating within their coach licence*; obtained once they have completed the coaching qualification. Any breach of this will result in the coaching license being withdrawn.
Abiding by the R&A’s Rules of Amateur Status and not receiving payment for their coaching activity

Successfully completing an ASQ Level 1 qualification and becoming licensed to operate as a volunteer assistant coach is not a short cut to becoming a PGA Professional. The Volunteer and Professional pathways are completely separate; at no point along the Volunteer pathway is there a transition point leading to becoming a PGA Member.

Non-golfers are welcomed, although they must be able to explain and demonstrate golf skills to a satisfactory level during the course and practical assessment.

Requirements to becoming a coach

In order to obtain a Volunteer Golf Coach Licence (L1 or 2) you will need to evidence that you have:

Successfully completed the appropriate ASQ coaching qualification.
A valid and enhanced DBS check (England and Wales), or Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme (PVG) (Scotland), Access NI (Northern Ireland) or Garda Vetting (Ireland)
A valid Child Protection Certificate (e.g. sports coach UK, Children 1st, NI Sports Council (Sport Northern Ireland) or Irish Sports Council Safeguarding and Protecting Children).

PGA Assistant Professionals
Please note that PGA Assistant Professionals enrolled on to the three-year PGA Training Programme undertake coaching qualifications at Levels 1 and 2 as part of their training.

The initial course fees for both Level 1 and 2 are included within their Training Programme fees. Refunds cannot be given to anyone who completes either level prior to enrolment on to the PGA’s Training programme.

Applying to be a coach

As the lead organisation for coaching, The PGA is fully committed to working in partnership with the governing bodies of golf to further the growth and development of the game.

Each Home Country has adopted a particular approach to the recruitment of such coaches in line with their specific development plans for growing the game of golf.

England

Find out more about coaching in England

Click here

Ireland

Find out more about coaching in Ireland

Click here

Scotland

Find out more about coaching in Scotland

Click here

Wales

Find out more about coaching in Wales

Click here

Coaching Levels

ASQ Level 1 Award in Coaching Golf

The ASQ Level 1 Award in Coaching Golf will provide individuals with the knowledge and competence to assist more qualified coaches, delivering aspects of golf coaching sessions, normally under direct supervision.

Find out more

ASQ Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Golf

The ASQ Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Golf will provide individuals with the knowledge and competence to lead the planning and delivery of coaching sessions to improving golfers.
Currently suspended for new applications

Find out more