Golf-
Professionals
Professional golfers are those who play for money and in
tournaments that are organized at all levels. An amateur golfer is
the one who does not play for money. Playing for money even once,
he loses his amateur status for ever and is debarred from playing
amateur tournaments after that. A professional golfer is not
allowed to play in amateur tournaments. Once having lost his
amateur status it is very difficult for a professional to regain
it. So for playing in an amateur tournament if the professional
golfer doesn't take money, then it doesn't mean that he has
regained his amateur status.
There are two kinds of professional golf players or
rather they can be divided into two categories.
The American
English term of golf –pro is used for professionals that work in
the field of teaching golf, dealing in golf equipment and running
golf courses. A player whose main concern is teaching golf is known
as a teaching professional, a golf coach or a golf instructor.
These players only occasionally register themselves for playing
tournaments but their main mode of living is not being earned
through playing these tourneys.
The other category of players although small in number but more
involved with the game directly, earn or aspire to earn their
living by playing in golf tournaments. The earnings are in the form
of prize money and endorsements. Such individuals are known as pro
golfers in American English. Otherwise in official nomenclature
they are known as tournament golfers or tour professionals.
The distinction between professional golfers and amateur golfers
goes back into history. The 18th and the 19th century saw golf
emerging as a pleasure game of the rich. However professional
golfers were those who played during that time to earn a living
form the game. Even in America when golf arrived in the 19th
century it remained an elite sport.
The present day world however does not play host to any such
class barriers and golf is played mostly by people from middle
class background and also learnt by similar people. However in some
countries golf is still reserved for the elite group and if people
from financially weaker classes have wish to play this game then
they need to first work their way around like caddies etc, and this
is the way professional golfers have emerged from such countries.
These professional golfers have gone on to earn a very reputable
name with their astounding success.
Professional Golfer's Associations in various countries serve
both these categories of golfers, professional and amateur. For
women there are separate women's golfer's associations. The
Professional Golfer's Association of America comprises of about
28,000 members, both men and women, The Association is a non profit
organization, which dedicates itself to the advancement of the game
and the upholding of certain regulations while participating in the
game.
The idea for forming the association could be said to date back
to 1916, when a few prominent amateurs and professional golfers,
discussed the formation of a national organization that would
promote the game of golf and raise the pedestal of the vocation of
golf professional, met at a luncheon by Rodman Wanamaker, the
department store magnate.
There are three other major tournaments that The PGA of America
conducts apart from the PGA championship. These are The Ryder Cup,
The Senior PGA championship, and the PGA Grand Slam of Golf. All
professional golfers who are eligible participate and the craze for
watching these tournaments worldwide has grown thanks to the
widespread media coverage.
Two major trade shows of golf are conducted by the PGA, The PGA
Fall Expo and the PGA Merchandise show. The PGA Merchandise show is
conducted each year in Orlando, in January. The Fall Expo is held
in autumn in the western United States.
The PGA has made an endeavor to and succeeded in establishing
better standards of excellence by expanding the educational
opportunities and programs for its members.
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