PGA Coach Education

In line with the United Kingdom Coaching Certificate (UKCC) requirements, the PGA has been chosen by the National Governing Bodies (NGBs) of golf in Scotland England, Ireland and Wales, to lead on the development of coaching qualifications and to develop a career-coaching pathway for golf. In Scotland the clubgolf programme in golf clubs and facilities will be delivered by PGA-qualified coaches.
 

Level 1  
 

1. Who is it designed for?
The Level 1 golf coach qualification is ideal for parents, interested volunteers, golfers, sports leaders and schoolteachers. This is the first qualification of the coaching pathway in Scotland and will enable you to deliver the clubgolf Stages One and Two Development programmes.

2. What will I be able to do?
As a PGA Level 1 Coach, you will play a very important role in delivering Scotland's National Junior Golf Strategy (clubgolf). You will be able to interpret session plans and deliver sessions from the designated clubgolf Stages 1 and 2 Development courses, ensuring that the coaching points are covered and participants are safe and engaged throughout. You will learn about communication, demonstration and positioning - as well as skills challenges and the importance of progression within a coaching session. Throughout your training an emphasis will be placed on making your sessions safe and fun for all involved.

3. Where and when do they take place?
Courses will take place at venues across Scotland and will generally be staged during the closed golfing season - from October to April. See Coach Training Calendar for details of forthcoming courses in Central.

4. How are the courses delivered?
This qualification is competency based. The training is split into two distinctive areas:

• Home Study - This element of the course is where you will develop your knowledge. The purpose of this is to make the contact time as practical as possible. By your undertaking an element of home study, the PGA Tutors will be able to combine your newly acquired knowledge with the practicalities of delivery. The Home Study pack will enhance your enjoyment of the course and it is essential that you read it thoroughly as it will be assessed by a multiple-choice questionnaire during the course. The material will not be covered by the course tutors prior to the multiple-choice questionnaire.

• Tutor Contact Time - This is delivered by PGA Tutors normally over two consecutive days. The two days will be a combination of tutor-led opportunities combined with the practical delivery of micro-coaching sessions to your peers during which you will undergo continuous assessment. Whenever you demonstrate competence within a particular area, your PGA Tutors will recognise this and credit you. The course generally runs from 9am until 5pm.

Throughout the PGA Tutor contact time, there will be opportunities to conduct individual and group reviews, helping you to develop an actionplan for your next micro-coaching session.

5. When can I start coaching?
Before receiving your Level 1 Certificate, you must attend all Tutor contact sessions, be successful in your multiple-choice assessment and be deemed competent at Level 1 by your PGA Tutor. You will then be issued with your Certificate.

To begin operating as a PGA Level 1 Coach you must be in possession of the PGA Level 1 Licence. This will be forwarded to you once your Certificate has been issued.

6. Pre-application Requirements
In addition to completing the application form, you must enclose the following documentation :

• £130.00 fee inc VAT
• An enhanced Disclosure Scotland Certificate
• a sports coach UK Safeguarding and Protecting Children Certificate

7. What is a Disclosure Check?
Disclosure Scotland is a service designed to enhance public safety by providing potential employers and organisations within the voluntary sector with criminal history information on individuals applying for posts. Disclosure Scotland issues certificates ( known as 'Disclosures' ) which give details of an individual's criminal convictions (and in the case of Enhanced Disclosures, where appropriate, non-conviction information) or state that they have none.

9.  What is a sports coach UK Safeguarding and Protecting Children Course?
The sportscoach UK course "Safeguarding and Protecting Children" is a 3-hour non-assessed module.  The course teaches you to protect yourself, the young people you are coaching and your club by understanding and following good coaching practice.

10.  How can I attend a sportscoach UK Course?
Contact your clubgolf Regional Manager who can advise you where courses are planned.  The Regional Manager may refer you to a local course co-ordinator for further detauls - most local authorities run this course quite frequently.  You will gain a certificate of attendance at the end of this course.

Stage 2 CPD

1. Who is it designed for?
The clubgolf Stage 2 golf coach workshop is designed for PGA Level 1 volunteers who were trained prior to 2007.

2. What will I be able to do?
The Stage 2 course adds to the putting, chipping and full-swing shots of Level 1, then adds in bunker play. There will also be the opportunity to refresh previous coaching experience.

3. Where and when do they take place?
As with Level 1, courses will take place at venues across Scotland and will generally be staged during the 'closed' golfing season - from October to April. See Coach Training Calendar for details of forthcoming courses in Central.

4. How are the courses delivered?
The course is a three-hour tutor-led session. It is practical in nature.

5. Pre-application requirements
PGA Level 1 Licence  £15 fee  

Level 1 Advanced CPD

1. Who is it designed for?
The Level 1 Advanced CPD course has been designed to provide qualified Level 1 golf coaches with further coaching knowledge enabling them to deliver Stage 2 of the clubgolf coaching programme. This course is not a qualification and does not contain any assessment elements, but attendees will be required to demonstrate clear understanding in each area covered in order to be considered competent to deliver the clubgolf Stage 2 programme.

2. What will I be able to do?
The Level 1 advanced CPD Course covers new skills that will complement and enhance the skills learnt on the Level 1 course. Coaches will also learn about questioning, listening skills, developing observation and developing analysis. Alongside these skills coaches will learn how to effectively analysis a golfer and their performance. This will be supplied through new knowledge of ball flight & ball flight laws, basic motion analysis, what the impact factors look like in motion and static analysis,  how the set up affects the ball flight. Attendance at this course does not guarantee progression on to the Level 2 qualification although it does count towards obtaining the Level 2 qualification. The aim of this CPD day is to enable attending coaches to deliver Stage 2 of the clubgolf coaching programme.

3. Where and when do they take place?
As with Level 1, courses will take place at venues across Scotland and will generally be staged during the closed golfing season from October to April. See Coach Training Calendar for details of forthcoming courses in Central.

4. How are the courses delivered?
The course is a one day tutor-led session. It is practical in nature.

5. Pre-application requirements:

• PGA Level 1 Licence
• Minimum of 20 hours logged delivery of the clubgolf Stage 1 coaching programme
• £100.00 fee inc VAT

Child Protection and Clubgolf

What is required?
Child protection is a fundamental part of the clubgolf structure, and as such the Scottish Golf Union is committed to helping clubs and facilities delivering clubgolf with this important issue. To help keep coaches, children and clubs safe during this programme, the following areas must be covered:

2. Child Protection Officer
Each club or facility must have their own Child Protection Officer. This person will be the Scottish Golf Union's main point of contact for child protection issues, they will be responsible for implementing the Child Protection Policy, and will also be a signatory for Disclosure Scotland checks. Once your Child Protection Policy and Officer is in place your club or facility will then be able to use the Scottish Golf Union central vetting system to access Disclosure checks.

3. Disclosure Scotland Checks
Every coach delivering clubgolf (paid or voluntary) must complete a satisfactory Disclosure Scotland check at Enhanced Level. This should beconducted through your club Child Protection Officer, and through the Scottish Golf Union central vetting system.

4. Training
sportscoach UK Safeguarding and Protecting Children training will be delivered through the Level 1 training courses. This training is paramount for anyone working with children in sport, ensuring that both adults and children are safe in their sporting environment.

A copy of the Scottish Golf Union Model Child Protection Policy is available electronically from Anna Thomas, Scottish Golf Union Child and Adult Protection Officer.

For more information, or if you have any questions, please contact Anna on 01382 549500 ext.515, or at athomas@ This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it