Professional Golfers' Association of America
Encyclopedia
Founded in 1916, the Professional Golfers' Association of America (PGA of America) is headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
, and is made up of more than 28,000 men and women golf
professional members. As “the experts in the game and business of golf,” the PGA of America’s undertaking has been to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf.
manager Rodman Wanamaker
hosted a luncheon for a group of New York-area golf professionals and well-known amateur golfers at the Taplow Club in New York City
. The purpose of the assembly was to converse on the subject of forming a national association that would promote interest in golf, as well as to help elevate the vocation of golf professionals. Subsequent meetings were held over the next two months, and on April 10, 1916, The PGA of America was created via the 35 charter members signing the constitution and by-laws.
To be elected to membership in The PGA, aspirant golf professionals (apprentices) and students must go through three levels of education courses, written exams, simulation testing, seminars, and pass the PGA Playing Ability Test. These men and women have the option to pursue the PGA Education through self-study, by the use of accredited PGA Golf Management Universities, or through an accelerated PGA Golf Management Program.
, Senior PGA Championship
, PGA Grand Slam of Golf
, and the biennial Ryder Cup
. The PGA also conducts more than 30 tournaments for its members and apprentices, including the PGA Professional National Championship
, PGA Cup, and the TaylorMade-adidas Golf PGA Assistant Professional Championship, among others.
, National Golf Course Owners Association, PGA Tour
, USGA, and others involved in the annual Golf 20/20 Conference).
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Palm Beach Gardens is a city in Palm Beach County in the U.S. state of Florida. The city is in the center of a rapidly-developing area north of West Palm Beach in the northern part of the county and the South Florida metropolitan area. , the population was 48,452...
, and is made up of more than 28,000 men and women golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
professional members. As “the experts in the game and business of golf,” the PGA of America’s undertaking has been to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf.
History
On January 17, 1916, department storeDepartment store
A department store is a retail establishment which satisfies a wide range of the consumer's personal and residential durable goods product needs; and at the same time offering the consumer a choice of multiple merchandise lines, at variable price points, in all product categories...
manager Rodman Wanamaker
Rodman Wanamaker
Lewis Rodman Wanamaker was a Republican and was a Presidential Elector for Pennsylvania in 1916. Wanamaker created aviation history by financing a two plane experimental seaplane class in response to a prize contest announcement by London's The Daily Mail newspaper in 1913 – the flying boat...
hosted a luncheon for a group of New York-area golf professionals and well-known amateur golfers at the Taplow Club in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The purpose of the assembly was to converse on the subject of forming a national association that would promote interest in golf, as well as to help elevate the vocation of golf professionals. Subsequent meetings were held over the next two months, and on April 10, 1916, The PGA of America was created via the 35 charter members signing the constitution and by-laws.
Mission
The mission of The PGA of America is to promote enjoyment and involvement in golf among the general public, as well as to contribute to the game’s growth by producing services to golf Professionals and the industry. The PGA seeks to accomplish this mission by enhancing the skills of the PGA Professionals and expanding playing opportunities for the general public, employers and manufactures. Through these efforts, The PGA elevates the standards of the PGA Professional’s vocation, enhances the economic well-being of the individuals PGA member, stimulates interest in the game of golf and promotes the overall vitality of the game.PGA Professionals
Today’s PGA Professionals endure rigorous training, instruction, certification, and over 800 hours of education. The PGA professional is not only a talented teacher and player, but also an expert tournament director, merchandiser, Rules administrator, businessperson, and community leader.To be elected to membership in The PGA, aspirant golf professionals (apprentices) and students must go through three levels of education courses, written exams, simulation testing, seminars, and pass the PGA Playing Ability Test. These men and women have the option to pursue the PGA Education through self-study, by the use of accredited PGA Golf Management Universities, or through an accelerated PGA Golf Management Program.
Championships
The PGA conducts a number of major events including the PGA ChampionshipPGA Championship
The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, and is the golf season's final major, usually played in mid-August, customarily four weeks after The Open Championship...
, Senior PGA Championship
Senior PGA Championship
The Senior PGA Championship is one of the five major championships in men's senior golf. It is administered by the Professional Golfers' Association of America and is recognized as a major championship by both the Champions Tour and the European Seniors Tour. It was formerly an unofficial money...
, PGA Grand Slam of Golf
PGA Grand Slam of Golf
The PGA Grand Slam of Golf is an annual off-season golf tournament contested by the year's winners of the four major championships of regular men's golf, which are the Masters Tournament, the U.S. Open, The Open Championship , and the PGA Championship...
, and the biennial Ryder Cup
Ryder Cup
The Ryder Cup is a biennial golf competition between teams from Europe and the United States. The competition is jointly administered by the PGA of America and the PGA European Tour, and is contested every two years, the venue alternating between courses in the United States and Europe...
. The PGA also conducts more than 30 tournaments for its members and apprentices, including the PGA Professional National Championship
PGA Professional National Championship
The PGA Professional National Championship is a golf tournament for golf club professionals and teachers who are members of the Professional Golfers' Association of America...
, PGA Cup, and the TaylorMade-adidas Golf PGA Assistant Professional Championship, among others.
Growth of the Game
In 2003, The PGA of America created the Player Development Department within the Association in an endeavor to reach out to new, past and sporadic adult golfers. This is accomplished through the growth, promotion and support of instructional programs and events at PGA member facilities that support adults and families to play golf and have fun doing so. Included in these programs is Play Golf America, instigated in 2004 with the help of the Allied Associations (LPGALPGA
The LPGA, in full the Ladies Professional Golf Association, is an American organization for female professional golfers. The organization, whose headquarters is in Daytona Beach, Florida, is best known for running the LPGA Tour, a series of weekly golf tournaments for elite female golfers from...
, National Golf Course Owners Association, PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
, USGA, and others involved in the annual Golf 20/20 Conference).
PGA Foundation
The PGA Foundation serves as the PGA of America’s philanthropic arm, as it is a charitable, educational, and research organization that was founded in 1954. The Foundation distributes funds to golf instruction and community golf programs, research and education, minority golf programs and junior golf tournaments and events.PGA Golf Properties
The PGA of America has acquired, created, and developed various facilities, including:- PGA Golf Club (Port St. Lucie, FloridaPort St. Lucie, FloridaPort St. Lucie is a city in St. Lucie County, Florida, United States. The population of Port St. Lucie was 88,769 at the 2000 census but grew rapidly during the 2000s. In 2009 the State of Florida estimated the City's population at 155,251. Port St. Lucie forms part of a metropolitan area called...
) — 54 holes of public-access resort golf designed by Tom FazioTom FazioThomas Fazio, ASGCA is a golf course architect.Fazio graduated in 1962 from Lansdale Catholic High School and was inducted into its "Hall of Fame" in 2007. He began his career in golf course design with his family's firm in suburban Philadelphia, which he left in the 1960s; he established his own...
and Pete DyePete DyePaul B. "Pete" Dye is a world-renowned golf course designer and a member of a famous family of course designers. He is married to fellow designer and former amateur champion Alice Dye.-Early life:Pete Dye was born in Urbana, Ohio...
in PGA Village, which is ranked among the "75 Best Golf Resorts in North America" by Golf Digest (No. 51). - PGA Center for Golf Learning and Performance (Port St. Lucie, Florida) — 35 acres (141,640.1 m²) golf park featuring a lighted driving range, short game practice area, the latest in golf technology and fitness, and a three-hole teaching course. Ranked among the Top 100 Golf Ranges in America from 1999 to 2011 by Golf Range Magazine.
- PGA Museum of Golf (Port St. Lucie, Florida) — Museum traces the story of The PGA of America, holds golf's four major ChampionshipMen's major golf championshipsThe men's major golf championships, commonly known as the Major Championships, and often referred to simply as the majors, are the four most prestigious annual tournaments in professional golf...
trophies, the oldest-known written mention of golf for the Articles of Parliament in the 15th Century; Walter Hagen's birth certificate; Donald Ross' 1900s-era workbench, the PGA Golf Professional Hall of Fame, and is home to the Probst Library, one of the foremost collections of golf periodicals in the world. Open to the public with complimentary admission. - PGA Education Center (Port St. Lucie, Florida) — Provides dynamic, cost-efficient education programs to serve both PGA members and apprentices.
- PGA Country Club (Port St. Lucie, Florida) — 18 holes of private golf designed by Jim Fazio Sr.
- Valhalla Golf ClubValhalla Golf ClubValhalla Golf Club, located east of Louisville, Kentucky, USA, is a private golf club designed by professional golfer Jack Nicklaus. The course, which sits on a property on Shelbyville Road in the eastern portion of Louisville just outside the Gene Snyder Freeway, was envisioned by local business...
(Louisville, KentuckyLouisville, KentuckyLouisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
) — Designed by Jack NicklausJack NicklausJack William Nicklaus , nicknamed "The Golden Bear", is an American professional golfer. He won 18 career major championships on the PGA Tour over a span of 25 years and is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional golfers of all time. In addition to his 18 Majors, he was runner-up a...
. Site of the 20082008 Ryder CupThe 37th Ryder Cup Matches were held September 19–21, 2008, at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, USA. Team USA won 16½ - 11½ to end the streak of three successive victories for Team Europe. This was Team USA's largest margin of victory since 1981, and the first time since 1979 the...
Ryder CupRyder CupThe Ryder Cup is a biennial golf competition between teams from Europe and the United States. The competition is jointly administered by the PGA of America and the PGA European Tour, and is contested every two years, the venue alternating between courses in the United States and Europe...
; 2004 and 2011 Senior PGA ChampionshipSenior PGA ChampionshipThe Senior PGA Championship is one of the five major championships in men's senior golf. It is administered by the Professional Golfers' Association of America and is recognized as a major championship by both the Champions Tour and the European Seniors Tour. It was formerly an unofficial money...
s; 2002 PGA Professional National ChampionshipPGA Professional National ChampionshipThe PGA Professional National Championship is a golf tournament for golf club professionals and teachers who are members of the Professional Golfers' Association of America...
; and 19961996 PGA ChampionshipThe 1996 PGA Championship was the 78th PGA Championship held from August 8-11 at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky. Mark Brooks won his first major championship with a birdie in a sudden death playoff over Kentucky native Kenny Perry.-First round:...
, 20002000 PGA ChampionshipThe 2000 PGA Championship was the 82nd PGA Championship held from August 17-20 at the Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky. Tiger Woods won his second straight PGA Championship and fifth major overall in a three-hole playoff over Bob May...
and 2014 PGA ChampionshipPGA ChampionshipThe PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, and is the golf season's final major, usually played in mid-August, customarily four weeks after The Open Championship...
s. Ranked No. 95 among "America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses" by Golf DigestGolf DigestGolf Digest is a monthly golf magazine published by Condé Nast Publications in the United States. It is a generalist golf publication covering recreational golf and men's and women's competitive golf. Condé Nast Publications also publishes the more specialized , and Golf World Business. The...
. - PGA Village The Bahamas(Cat IslandCat Island-North America:* Cat Island , Bahamas* Cat Island , United States* Cat Island , United States* Cat Island , United States* Cat Island , United States...
) — Future home to a new PGA Village.
External links
- PGA of America - official site
- PGA Village - official site of PGA Village
- PGAs of Africa and Middle East - official site
- USGTF of America - official site
- LPGA of America - official site
- PGTAA of America - official site
- United States Golf Association - official site
- The R&A - official site
- PGA Tour - official site
- PGA European Tour - official site