INSIGHT | PGA EXCEL
PGA Excel: A Game-Changer for Hiring Top Talent in the Golf Industry
The PGA’s assessment framework enables employers to identify the most highly skilled and knowledgeable staff
IN what is a highly competitive employment landscape, the need to stand out against your peers has never been more pressing. For PGA Members and the facilities or companies that employ them, the Association’s flagship assessment framework – PGA Excel – is really proving its worth in this area, helping to progress careers, fill advanced positions and add genuine value.
More than 150 PGA Members have been awarded a new designation since the launch in 2022, when PGA Excel replaced APAL, with the new titles of Advanced, Fellow, Advanced Fellow and Master applying to all three Member specialisms of PGA Professional, PGA Coach and PGA Manager. Achieving any of the designations illustrates the individual’s impact and achievement, with PGA Master status representing the pinnacle of achievement, having been awarded to just 64 individuals in the Association’s 120-year history.
PGA Members demonstrate the value of Excel
A recent survey of PGA Members who have received new designations through PGA Excel revealed the true value of the awards.
Tristan Crew, Executive Director – Member Services, believes that PGA Excel also offers an extremely beneficial reference point for those that are that are looking to recruit PGA Members:
“There is a clear correlation between highly skilled and motivated staff and the overall success of every element of a golf facility,” says Crew.
“Put simply, better PGA Professionals, Coaches and Managers make the game more enjoyable for golfers, and lead to more efficient, popular and profitable facilities.”
“We want employers or deployers of PGA Professionals to look at the individuals within their facility and encourage them to engage with PGA Excel because it benefits everyone.”
John Blanch, General Manager of Loch Lomond Golf Club, interviewed while General Manager of Wentworth Club where he had around 20 PGA Members working across all areas of the facility – and cites PGA Excel as a key indicator for golf facilities looking for the highest quality candidates:
“PGA Excel allows PGA Members to demonstrate their impact, achievement and what they’ve done in their career, so the golf facility is more likely to hire someone who has come through PGA Excel. It demonstrates further certification in what they’ve done with their career. I think it’s very important for golf clubs to understand what PGA Excel is, because when they do, they’re likely to hire the best people for the role.”
“How will a golf club decide on a Director of Golf when they’ve got 15 applicants? PGA Excel is one way to help golf clubs make that decision”
James Leah, Secretary & Club Manager at Royal Cinque Ports, also recognises the value of the PGA Excel framework as part of the recruitment process:
“The type of individual that we would look to recruit is one who can demonstrate that they are ambitious, keen to develop and looking to progress in their career – the PGA Excel process is an excellent way of someone evidencing this,” he says.
Chris May, CEO of Dubai Golf, has been at the forefront of shaping the growth of golf in Dubai for the last three decades. He understands the vital role of PGA Professionals within the golf industry and the importance of professional development through initiatives like PGA Excel:
“I place a great amount of emphasis on continuous improvement and learning, so I think that the development of PGA Excel is something that should be commended,” says Chris. “We encourage our entire team to continuously up-skill so that they can go on to bigger things in the future.”
For employers and the wider golf industry, the designations achieved through the PGA Excel process are a valuable way to identify and recruit individuals to specific roles, where definite skills and experience are required, as well as being a stamp of approval and expertise.
To find out more about PGA Excel and its value to the golf industry, click here
To speak to the PGA Recruitment team about your requirements, click here
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