Is Becoming a PGA Professional Not Worth it Anymore? | Rough Cut Golf Podcast 089

Peter Finch and Kieran Mulhall are joined by Social Media Manager Sam Forrest in this week's episode of The Rough Cut Golf Podcast. The team are in Ireland after a long week filming a new Head Pro series. In this weeks episode they discuss how the trip went, Augusta National charging $30,000 for 1 round of golf and Peter Finch gives his view on weather it's actually worth becoming a PGA Pro in 2024
Follow the Rough Cut Golf Podcast on...
Instagram - / roughcutgolfpodcast
TikTok - / roughcutgolfpodcast
Join our Discord here: / discord
Check out the podcast here:
On Apple Podcasts - podcasts.apple...
On Spotify Podcasts - open.spotify.c...

[@barrielees186]

In fairness guys that was a great episode, free flowing and good listening. Structure is great at times but also a less structured (tiredness inflicted) episode makes it funny and easy to listen to. Thank you 😊

[@freuinforsyth9767]

One of the best podcasts you’ve done. A bit of structure but off the cuff conversations make for the best listening 😊

[@newwy5981]

peters posh voice sounds like a harry enfield skit, had me in stitches

[@esfkb22]

I have a feeling that a big factor in the reduction of brand sponsorship in the club pro style events is evolution of social media and its value to marketing. Brands have come to realize that if they stop sponsoring hundreds or thousands of these small events and instead put that money towards social media campaigns and influencers, they can reach a larger # of people in a shorter period of time.

[@Snowtonk666]

Naff all golf but brilliantly entertaining hour and 20. Sometimes it’s fun to just hear people chat, definitely wasn’t a waste of your guys time!

[@peterhartley7838]

As a head PGA Professional I feel that Head Professionals are constantly restraint, monitored and knit picked at every single thing we do where committees always look for the negative and never praise you for the positives and work you do. As the motto go The Heart of Golf. A club CAN NOT be successful without a PGA Head Professional. Golf clubs GIVE US FREEDOM to do our jobs and stop pointing every little flaw out 👍🏼

[@jasondentongolf]

As a new PGA pro that has just finished my final year of training I can say there are a lot more opportunities in golf with the PGA Qualification than without. The knowledge I have now will help me be FAR more successful than I would of without it and provide a platform of excellence to build upon. The training is not easy, and to get through it is a great achievement. I can agree and say that the PGA members do need more from the events side of things, however, it is understandable that sponsorship is hard to get as most companies ask ‘what do I get for my money?’, similar to the clubs and retainers. A good Pro will have the answers to those questions… what value do and can I offer. However, smaller fields of players don’t yield a good return on investment for the companies…. They would get more views of their brand by paying £10 on ad spend on Facebook! The way sponsors are procured surely needs to be more innovative. Equally a PGA pro can be the backbone of a club, be it a club pro, pga manager, or pga coach, and is someone who is in the know and has the right knowledge for people to turn to and ultimately enjoy our fantastic game!

[@johnnywade9865]

Unpopular opinion: Augusta isn’t all that - overhyped, over manicured bit of grass. Plenty of other places just a beautiful albeit divots ain’t cut out and replaced on the spot. Give me 1,000 - £30 rounds on a public course over 1 round there Imagine giving your local course £20million (conservative estimate) per year to maintain and landscape and how immaculate it would be?

[@Hartlepoolgolfer]

Love the easy flowing conversational structure to this. Part therapy podcast. More like this. More of Sam too.

[@tomyandrade]

This is definitely the best podcast in the world 🎉🎉

[@Mowser63]

Love the weekly pod… well done for churning this out despite your obvious tiredness 👍👏

[@toledodawg]

Not a series, but 24hr challenge was the best video you guys have done that I have watched.

[@benstanseski9431]

Why was Pete's Posh Rich Guy accent EXACTLY Jeremy Clarkson 😂

[@ericchambers9914]

Pete, was really really rooting for you at East Lake and although I like Kwon I was hoping he missed that putt on 18!!! Congrats on a solid round and I'm sure you'll soon learn that the announcers were singing your praises (the rest of us were already in the know). BTW, that was a tight hair cut you were rockin'! 😀 Quick edit: at least you lost to the tourney winner!

[@Mikedun1]

Golf for me is something to look forward to....it makes all the hassles of daily life less of an issue if I can look forward to playing a round. A single, or even yearly round for rest of my life at Augusta (free of charge), isn't worth losing that routine thought or hope for the next round.

[@jerryky2580]

No that was a very good one I love the senseless banter😊😊😊

[@Croy01]

Such a class Podcast Well done Lads, So so so funny, Love it 👏👌🏌‍♂⛳ PS love the Tracers 🤣

[@RogierVoet]

I really like the podcast but I would really like timestamps in the description.

[@MarkSamora]

Looking forward to watching the forthcoming challenge videos!

[@daft-not-punk]

Giving up golf would be absolutely awful! Screw the story for the pub, I’d sooner become a sober off the grid recluse than give up golf completely loool 😭

[@lukewoolfenden3323]

As someone relatively new to golf, I can see a lot of ways PGA could do to improve. For a start the igolf app and online membership is brilliant for new golfers (of which there’s plenty right now) but it’s marketed terribly. If it was marketed better they could sell more and make more money, which then if spent better, could bring more money in. The sport across the board needs to catch up with the times, it’s a brilliant sport but it needs dragging to the present especially at a local level at clubs etc

[@darnosull]

Love the pod lads - any chance ye can drop the base on yer mics its making my ear drums wobble - but if i'm the only winger please ignore!!

[@RoughCutGolfPodcast]

we will take a look at this

[@bluesclues6157]

People paying ridiculous green fees is making golf inaccessible to genuine golfers. £250+ for half decent courses in Scotland now. If they dont charge it, the American tourists wont play. Would love to play Augusta but wouldn't consider $30k for a second and love golf way too much for it to be my last round of golf.

[@ShotShapeFitness]

Hahaha . Pete’s Augusta member impression sounds like Tobias Menzies

[@ericchambers9914]

Manchester is in New Hampshire, not Massachusetts. 😀

[@daft-not-punk]

We’ve got a Manchester-by-the-Sea but no plain old Manchester 😂

[@gweave17]

Love how uncomfortable you make Keiran, Pete! lol

[@TallGolfPar72]

Interesting points about local PGA events, big problem is the quality of professional now has deteriorated. The standard of golf is quite poor in Pro-Ams, but costs have gone up.

[@mummi01]

Great podcast but think you guys need to work on volume control. Pete's volume perfect but Kieran speaking softer and often barely heard what Sam said (without having to ramp up the volume on my side and then drop it back down for Finchy)

[@Shift2375]

Yeah - you boys are definitely tired - had to start listening at 1.75 speed 😁 Update - That was some of the best ribbing I've heard in a long time. Keiran just kept lobbing them up to be hit out of the park. Well done Pete, well done! 🤣

[@michaelgulik5846]

Absolutely worth it 🔥🔥

[@dannyfielding]

Gutted all comments are about Augusta. Incredible content t for pga professionals right here. I’d love to tell you and listeners the wonderful benefits of becoming a pga professional whilst understanding you got to do it all yourself! lol 20 year head pro, east region committee member

[@joshfedge]

Definitely wouldn't play augusta

[@seanbarnes3166]

Does Pete know he's got ADHD?😂. I have ADHD and After watching him for years and listening to this podcast we share such similar outlooks and behaviours. I did 1 year of my PGA and got disillusioned with it as I felt it wasn't fit for purpose. Great episode gents! 🙌🙌

[@crompz4025]

I think you should play the head pro at Penrith golf club Cumbria

[@DannyKelliher]

I have to say lads I loved this episode, not even sure why. BTW the 30k is ridiculous but if money wasn't an issue than yes I think I would pay it as a once in a lifetime event.

[@joshramirez7]

To be fair, Scottie did say the format was silly because it didn't benefit him throughout the entire year. I think Scottie has some ego about him for sure. Not saying he wants it handed to him, but he may feel like its not fair to him since he never seems to win the entire Fedex Cup no matter how well he plays throughout the year. Its a playoff, Scottie. Thats how it works..haha

[@indianajim]

That’s not really what he was saying. If someone like Morikawa can come in with zero wins and win the FedEx Cup, then it’s not really the “season-long race,” is it? They only use this format to artificially narrow the gap, because it’s all for TV ratings.

[@ronswinford4952]

You will enjoy East Lake, it is a very good course, but if the rough is up, it can get very tight because that bermuda grass rough is no joke. I have been lucky enough to play Augusta twice and while it is the best course in the world, it is not worth $30,000 for a round. This does not sound like them, unless they are about to fund a major project. You should stay over the weekend in Atlanta and go to the Georgia-Clemson football game, you would enjoy that a lot.

[@mikewilson4371]

A few points in the PGA: Playing standards of PGA pros is now aweful. One of the main reasons pros had the respect of members was their playing ability-now gone PGA lose around £1m per year running PGA events PGA allow ex tour players and Ryder cup players to play in their events who hoover up all the cash in prize money away from club pros. Clubs make nothing really from holding PGA events at their club PGA qualification is basically completely unknown outside of the industry and tbf not very well understood within the industry PGA events used to be a way some aspiring players could become full time players- now not Head pro jobs are disappearing rapidly as clubs take shops “in house” therefore earning good money outside of coaching is now getting harder and harder. I could go on for hours

[@MarvinofMars]

Castlerock is a great course, great staff are very helpful.

[@outwithdadog]

Trucks tyre actually blew up. No worries, got ya back

[@karlportsmouth5571]

Great chat lads. Augusta,30k.....obscene Kieran....get a grip,throw a hissy fit,stamp your authority!(but not with Pete) PGA pro accreditation overrated? Yep

[@NextFairwayNorm]

Good Evening from Australia Gents. No to Augusta for $30k It makes £320 for St Andrew’s Old good value. Hopefully coming over from Oz 2026

[@jlambert1971ify]

Why am I thinking Clarkson, Hammond & May? 😂😂

[@viewfield5]

Who does the opening theme tune ??

[@UpAndDown480]

Is Keira’s really happy to see you?

[@joelafives]

whether not weather ??

[@Hudnut52]

Could play Adare Manor a lot of times for $30K.

[@DanB-]

£30k is just the same problem as alot of the courses you guys play that are £300-1000 per round, its ridiculous but plenty of people pay it and these places are booked up all the time. People pay it so they keep charging more! However on your question if I got 250k per year salary then yes I would pay it as a one off.

[@JanCronje]

Definitely worth it.

[@michaeldellorso889]

With KZbin and Instagram, it’s not necessary to be a PGA pro, if the goal is to teach. The novice would gravitate to credential, but moderate to advanced players should be a able to tell if someone is legitimate through their content. I’ve never seen good content and thought “but is this guy a PGA pro?”

[@mikelinehan5589]

£30k is an obscene amount of money - i know its not rhe same but you could fund a nurse for a year or play a round of golf tells you a lot thats wrong in the world.

[@rhutchins88]

No chance am I giving up golf to play Augusta. If you even consider it you are not a true golfer who loves and lives the game.

[@neilcooper2127]

nope wouldnt take the money to play augusta. Im bad enough at golf as it is without feeling worse by hacking my way round there in 150, but i would take great delight in beating musk to a pulp with his own cash. Is the 30k offered in a big bag of pound coins?

[@0987slater]

One hour into a podcast about being a PGA pro and we find out Kieran doesn't know what a PGA pro is 😂

[@peterbate1842]

If you were on £250k then this would be 12% of your salary, so put it in real terms say you are on £45k per year, 12% would be £5400, personally if would save and pay that amount if I was on £45k, therefore someone on £250k probably would pay the £30k and go

[@pittimps3459]

30k for Augusta. There are Presidents that can’t get on that course. If I had it I’d pay it.

[@scotttempleman1287]

30k for Augusta yes i would pay it if i had 30k to just waste, as a life long golfer could you honestly say you could die happy by never playing Augusta when you had the chance?

[@mikebrownphotography2784]

Augusta is not nearly that special. $30K gets you a full fitted bag and golf for years and years to come. Or even an incredible trip somewhere to play other courses.

[@mysticmikeable]

Its been so over commercialised and with blocked video coverage... and consequently no public personalities with the sports passion rather than the cash motivation... such that to watchers its a business not a passion based meritocratic sport so coverage has fallen, ad revenues have fallen, interest and generational inspiration has fallen... The bubble of initial money lust and interest is over - in favour of pusing instant gratification... Perhaps more meritocracy in the sport might refresh things... same malaise as many 'view'/ad industries (eg Music Snooker Tennis etc)... Style and pure ethics needs to return...

[@dougosborn2314]

So is a 1000!

[@stancamp1742]

Elon can take a long walk off a short pier... One final round at Augusta? no way.

[@skeeter3080]

You can ask the same question about marriage......

[@scouser97]

If i give up golf forever for Augusta, then id have to start paying for actual real therapy which would probably cost more than 30k in the long run. So a hard no for me 😂😂

[@AJBusta97]

Timestamps for the PGA not worth it chat??

[@AndrewBorthwick]

36:13 or so

[@davidfletcher6836]

30 grand to play there once no thanks so much more useful things I could spend 30 grand on like 25 years membership fees. No way Elon clear off

[@simonwolfensberger5813]

Play Augusta and never play golf again? No chance😂

[@antonk27]

Why does Pete look like he’s been digitally inserted?

[@toddm7683]

There are about 3000 billionaires in the world so Augusta should sell out easily. It’s a shame the average Joe Golfer will never get a chance to play it.

[@angelarichards3588]

You can play a lot of golf for £30.000 . I'm a no.

[@diggingupnorth3453]

nothing is worth it anymore when you can just play with your buddies and do "challenges" and make more than an average salary. its getting a bit ridiculous

[@mathyscazenave]

less sponsorships because of social media, a brand can easily reach a MUCH bigger audience for so much less (hiring a part time uni student to make tiktoks) than sponsoring events.

[@icewipe]

Do a go fund me. Get 30,000 people to send a dollar. Get to Augusta. I'll send the first dollar.

[@mikaman247]

Sooo,any content,or ya just babbling?

[@tehhud5]

If there’s no guide as to when you talk about certain things and at what time in the podcast, I ain’t gonna listen, as there’s so much junk I’ve no interest in. Do what Rick does and put the times in for when you discuss different topics. Skipped.