The Professional Golfers’ Association Limited (“The PGA”) Training Programme: Access and Participation Statement
This statement is reviewed annually by the PGA National Training Academy and approved by The PGA Executive Committee Board. Approval was given on the 1 May 2026. The next review will be made in May 2027.
1. Introduction
The PGA Training Programme is committed to widening access to careers in golf, supporting individuals from all backgrounds to enter, succeed in, and progress within the golf industry. This Access and Participation Statement outlines The PGA’s approach to addressing inequalities in access, continuation, achievement, and professional progression.
2. Commitment to Widening Participation
The PGA recognises that certain groups remain underrepresented within the golf industry and gratefully acknowledges the esteem that the PGA qualification and membership holds. Therefore, The PGA aims to expand participation and success for learners from low socio-economic backgrounds, ethnically minoritised communities, women, mature learners, and individuals with disabilities; whilst ensuring the entry criteria requirements are maintained.
3. Target Groups
As a member’s association there are established entry criteria parameters. These include an appropriate work placement facility and an approved standard of golfing ability, and the necessary academic requirement. Any person can apply to the PGA Training Programme, and the following groups are actively targeted:
- Learners from any household income
- Women entering golf coaching and management
- Ethnically minoritised learners
- Learners with disabilities
- Mature learners transitioning careers
4. Access: Outreach and Recruitment
- Collaboration with schools, colleges, and community sports organisations
- Targeted outreach to underrepresented groups
- Flexible entry routes from people with specific needs
- Clear pre-enrolment support and guidance
5. Student Success
- Inclusive curriculum design and assessment, relevant to the golf industry
- Personalised academic support and feedback
- Enhanced support for learners with additional needs, including international students, or those choosing to work and study overseas
- Focus on belonging and wellbeing
6. Progression
- Structured and relevant online work-based learning at the learner’s golf facility
- Targeted progression support for all our students, including females, ethnically minoritised, and international or overseas learners
- Professional skills development embedded throughout the programme
- Strong partnerships with industry employers to ensure successful career progression after completion of the programme
7. Targets (2026–2030)
- Increase enrolment of underrepresented learners by 5%
- Reduce continuation gap between underrepresented learners and whole cohort to below 3%
- Increase proportion of women in the programme to 12% by 2030
- Increase ethnic minority representation to 6% by 2030
- Achieve 90% positive graduate outcomes across all groups
8. Monitoring and Evaluation
The PGA will review progress annually, report outcomes to senior leadership and its partner universities, and adjust interventions based on data insights and student feedback.
9. Partnership with Learners
All learners will support programme design, evaluation, and decision-making through feedback structures and advisory groups, via individual feedback and the Staff Student Committee.
10. Conclusion
The PGA Training Programme is committed to fair access, equitable success, and strong professional progression pathways.
Annex
Target groups – The PGA has an existing outreach programme which includes schools (where golf is taught), junior golf tours, and has worked with the European Disabled Golf Association (EDGA) to ensure disabled golfers have an appropriate entry pathway onto the programme.
Targets – The data from the targets is based on the information submitted in the programme’s annual review.