History of the PGA
In the beginning
In the beginning it was a letter from a North Wales professional in Golf Illustrated on 12th April, 1901, that triggered the idea of a Professional Golfers' Association.
Within months, the leading players of the day, led by the legendary JH Taylor with James Braid and Harry Vardon had galvanised enough support to form the London and Counties Golf Professionals' Association on 9th September 1901. At the first AGM, on 2nd December 1901, the name was changed to 'The Professional Golfers' Association' - the original 'PGA'. Initial Membership of the Association was reported as 59 Professionals with 11 Assistants.
In comparison, current Membership of The PGA is reported at over 7,500 Professionals with an annual intake of Assistant Professionals of around 300.
The golfing landscape in those early days was very different to the modern game. However, with Professionals, even the very best like Taylor, Vardon and Braid, earning a living from club duties, club and ball-making, green-keeping, teaching and competing in tournaments, the fundamental essence of the PGA Professional, and therefore The PGA, remains relevant.
A brief history of The PGA
The original aims of the Association were based on the desire to raise the profile of the professional golfer in order to gain greater credibility.
The Association also set out to be recognised and respected as the body that promoted the general welfare, created the best working conditions, and looked after the interests of its members – professional golfers – throughout their careers.
In the early days, The PGA was heavily male dominated and it was not until the emergence of the women's game in the mid twentieth century that women demanded a more prominent place within the professional game.
The Women's Professional Golfers' Association (WPGA) was established in 1978 and became a recognised part of the wider PGA.
It was from this moment that the PGA truly became the heart of golf.
In the beginning
At the beginning of the 1880s remarkably few people played golf and, with only 111 golf clubs in existence in the British Isles, mostly situated in Scotland, it was a game that was not overly popular. However, the number of courses would double by 1886 and by 1898, astonishingly, the number of clubs would increase to 1,460, with slightly more than half of them now in England - quite an explosion.
A band of brothers
It all began following a letter published in Golf Illustrated on April 12th, 1901 in which a professional in north Wales wrote: ‘the time is now ripe for the professionals to band themselves into an association to promote the general welfare of the professional and look after his interests'.
A rivalry begins
The first international match played between professionals from Great Britain and the United States of America took place on June 6th, 1921 at Gleneagles in Scotland.
The birth of a legend
The first Ryder Cup Tournament was held in 1927 at the Worcester Golf & Country Club, Massachusetts where a strong American team prevailed by quite a winning margin.
A twenty year crusade
Together with a number of likeminded senior professionals, Eddie Whitcombe organised the first meeting of a new PGA Teaching Advisory Committee, which took place on January 30th 1961.
The birth of lady professional
The PGA formed a Ladies’ section in March 1962 some 12 years later than their American counterparts. The new section, however, did not launch a tournament circuit. Nor were ladies allowed to hold office in The PGA or to vote at meetings unless, of course, the matter concerned their own section. The men did not directly oppose a women’s circuit, they simply thought it was not commercially viable and left it at that.
The battle of two PGA's
From 1975 matches were organised by the two PGAs of America and Great Britain & Irelkand. The PGA Cup was born
The PGA moves into new premises at Apollo House, The Belfry
The PGA moves into new premises at Apollo House, The Belfry
Ryder Cup announces first European team for matches at The Greenbrier, USA
Ryder Cup announces first European team for matches at The Greenbrier, USA
The Belfry hosts the first of four Ryder Cup matches (1989, 1993, 2002) with Europe winning under captain Tony Jacklin
The Belfry hosts the first of four Ryder Cup matches (1989, 1993, 2002) with Europe winning under captain Tony Jacklin
The first female PGA Trainee of the Year
Lynne Sweeney becomes the first female PGA Trainee of the Year. PGA National Training Academy, European Centre of Excellence for Golf officially opens at Ping House
Centenary House officially opens
Centenary House officially opens
PGA partners with the University of Birmingham
PGA partners with the University of Birmingham
The PGA Centenary celebrated in September – 100 years of the world’s oldest Professional Golfers’ Association
The PGA Centenary celebrated in September – 100 years of the world’s oldest Professional Golfers’ Association
Beverly Lewis becomes first female PGA Captain
Beverly Lewis becomes first female PGA Captain
PGA partners with the University of Highlands & Islands
PGA partners with the University of Highlands & Islands
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Heritage
About the PGA
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