By Dominic Sainsbury
New Zealand PGA General Manager

A life dedicated to education and helping others is a life worth living.

As 2019 came to a close and we welcome in a new decade with the start of 2020 we would like to take the time to reflect on what was a great year for the New Zealand Professional Golfers’ Association and for golf. 

The NZ PGA has a major focus on education and our members have a passion for helping people enjoy the game of golf. A number of years ago the PGA began writing golf business management education for its members. This has a strong focus on golf specific business and management education.

We strongly believe that a highly educated work force will lead the game into the future and we are seeing the seeds all this hard work coming to fruition.

We have PGA members running golf programmes for all abilities and for people from all walks of life. We have PGA members engaging, inspiring and providing innovative membership and new golfer recruitment initiatives.

We have members providing experienced focused events that are aimed at the fun and social aspects of the game. We have numerous charity events where PGA professionals across New Zealand are raising awareness and money for local and national not-for-profit charity organisations.

Golf is a game that is played during our leisure time for fun and enjoyment but it can also be the vehicle to bring communities and people together. The game enriches lives and installs strong values in those that play.

The PGA has aligned our education programmes to the New Zealand Qualifications Authority and the national education framework. This means annually we are audited by the sport and recreation training organisation where we are rigorously challenged to continually develop and keep our qualifications at the forefront of industry trends.

Our education programmes are providing the necessary skills for PGA professionals to make sound business decisions that have a positive effect on the growth of the game. 

Last year the PGA graduated our first master professional. To achieve this status a PGA professional must have at least 10 years industry experience and complete a thesis. 

Gareth Winslow, from Paihia, achieved this highest class of PGA membership. Gareth has been applying his skills as a PGA professional overseas for the past 15 years and has worked as the national Chinese women’s team golf coach.

Gareth completed two years of research on the barriers faced when learning golf from a coach who does not have the same first language as the pupil. He found the instructional approach got very poor results but a holistic constraints coaching approach received good results on player performance. 

Gareth is now back in New Zealand and will be using his wealth of knowledge to help support and grow the game.

When you engage with the services of a certified PGA professional you can rest assured you are being served by an industry educated and highly skilled professional who is passionate about golf and helping others.

PGA professionals are not just champion golfers — they are a work force committed to the game of golf.