The PGA of America and Golf’s Governing Bodies
PGA of America
PGA & Golf’s Governing Bodies Fact Sheet
Websites - PGA.org/PGA.com
Based - Frisco, Texas
The PGA of America is a membership organization of PGA of America Golf Professionals who work daily to drive interest and participation in the game.
PGA of America Golf Professionals are the leaders in the business of golf and can be found working at numerous facilities and companies across the world in a variety of career paths including Golf Operations, Executive Management and Teaching & Coaching.
The PGA of America also helps its members by providing additional educational opportunities through our lifelong learning programs.
We are the national governing body that drives support to 41 local PGA Section Offices who help golf professionals and golf consumers in your local market. Programs that the PGA of America helps to oversee for consumers include PGA Jr. League, PGA Family Golf, PGA Team Golf and more.
In addition, we own and operate the Ryder Cup, PGA Championship, KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship as well as numerous member and junior championships.
PGA REACH is the 501(c)(3) charitable foundation of the PGA of America. The mission of PGA REACH is to positively impact the lives of youth, military, and diverse populations by enabling access to PGA of America Golf Professionals, PGA Sections and the game of golf. We are proud that our PGA HOPE program has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which enables direct referrals to the PGA HOPE program as a form of therapy.
The PGA of America also works with the games governing bodies for the betterment of the sport. Below is a little bit of information about each and how we, as the PGA of America interact with them.
Augusta National
Based - Augusta, Ga.
About
Augusta National is the host of the Masters Tournament and Augusta National Women’s Amateur as well as the Drive, Chip & Putt National Championship.
PGA of America Interactions
Augusta National and the PGA of America work together on a number of golf industry initiatives including Drive, Chip & Putt (along with the USGA) and the American Development Model (ADM) for Golf.
Club Management Association of America (CMAA)
Based - Alexandria, Va.
About
The Club Management Association of America (CMAA) is the largest professional association for managers of membership clubs with 6,800 members throughout the US and internationally. Founded in 1927 as the Club Managers Association of America, the name was changed in 2018 to better reflect the composition of CMAA’s membership. CMAA’s members contribute to the success of more than 2,500 country, golf, athletic, city, faculty, military, town, and yacht clubs. Under the covenants of professionalism, education, leadership, and community, CMAA continues to extend its reach as the leader in the club management practice.
PGA of America Interactions
The CMAA and PGA of America work together on golf advocacy initiatives and toward establishing best practices for golf course management.
DP World Tour
Based - Wentworth, England
About
Legally the PGA European Tour or the European Tour Group, it is the leading men's professional golf tour in Europe.
PGA of America Interactions
DP World Tour players can qualify to compete in the PGA Championship and Ryder Cup.
Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA)
Based - Lawrence, Kan.
About
The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) is an association for professionals who manage and maintain golf courses.
PGA of America Interactions
The GCSAA and PGA of America work together on golf advocacy initiatives. Also collaborated with the PGA of America on the Back2Golf efforts, which led to Golf being the first sport to reopen during Covid and spearheading the acceleration of the golf industry post pandemic.
National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA)
Based - Charleston, S.C.
About
The National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) is the only trade association dedicated exclusively to golf course owners and operators. NGCOA members include owners, operators and general managers of daily-fee, semi-private, private and resort courses of all sizes. While diverse in its makeup, the association offers information and inspiration on how to operate golf facilities as efficiently and profitably as possible.
PGA of America Interactions
The NGCOA and PGA of America work together on golf advocacy initiatives, educational opportunities, and industry meeting collaboration.
National Golf Foundation (NGF)
Based - Jupiter, Fla.
About
The National Golf Foundation (NGF) provides research and business services for the golf industry through actionable data and insights to help golf business professionals stay informed. Examples of this include the state of the industry and rounds played reports.
PGA of America Interactions
The NGF provides data to the PGA of America and its members to help drive the profession forward.
Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA)
Based - Daytona Beach, Fla.
About
The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) is one of the longest-running women’s professional sports associations in the world. Founded in 1950, the organization has grown from its roots as a playing tour into a nonprofit organization involved in every facet of golf. The LPGA Tour and the LPGA Professionals comprise the backbone of what has become the premier women’s professional sports organization in the world today. The LPGA maintains a strong focus on charity through its tournaments, its grassroots junior and women’s programs, and its LPGA Foundation.
PGA of America Interactions
LPGA players can qualify to compete in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
The LPGA and PGA of America work together on a number of golf industry initiatives including Make Golf Your Thing and the American Development Model (ADM) for Golf.
PGA TOUR
Based - Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
About
The PGA TOUR is the world’s premier membership organization for touring professional golfers, co-sanctioning tournaments on the PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions, Korn Ferry Tour, PGA TOUR Latinoamérica and PGA TOUR Canada.
The modern-day PGA TOUR was formed in 1968 when a subset of touring professionals broke away from the PGA of America.
PGA of America Interactions
PGA TOUR players can qualify to compete in the PGA Championship and Ryder Cup while PGA TOUR Champions players can qualify to compete in the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship.
The PGA TOUR and PGA of America work together on a number of golf industry initiatives including Make Golf Your Thing and the American Development Model (ADM) for Golf.
The R&A
Based - St. Andrews, Scotland
About
The R&A is a leading body within the world of golf and engages and supports activities to ensure it is a thriving sport for all on a global scale.
The R&A group of companies was formed in 2004 to take on The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews’ responsibilities for governing the Rules of Golf, staging The Open, golf’s original championship, and developing the sport. The World Golf Museum in St Andrews is part of The R&A group.
In 2017, The R&A merged with the Ladies’ Golf Union (LGU) and now stages the AIG Women’s Open and amateur championships and international matches for women and girls.
Together The R&A and the United States Golf Association (USGA) govern the sport of golf worldwide, operating in separate jurisdictions with a commitment to a single code for the Rules of Golf, Rules of Amateur Status, Equipment Standards and the World Handicap System.
PGA of America Interactions
USGA and The R&A rules govern play at PGA of America events and golf courses around the world where PGA Professionals work.
United States Golf Association (USGA)
Based - Far Hills, N.J./Pinehurst, N.C.
About
The United States Golf Association (USGA) hosts Open championships including the U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open as well as numerous amateur events. Together The R&A and USGA govern the sport of golf worldwide, operating in separate jurisdictions with a commitment to a single code for the Rules of Golf, Rules of Amateur Status, Equipment Standards and the World Handicap System.
PGA of America Interactions
USGA and The R&A rules govern play at PGA of America events and golf courses around the world where PGA Professionals work. The USGA and the PGA of America work together on a number of golf industry initiatives including ADM, Drive, Chip & Putt (along with Augusta National) and Make Golf Your Thing.
World Golf Foundation (WGF)
Based - St. Augustine, Fla.
About
The World Golf Foundation’s (WGF) mission is to unite the golf industry around initiatives that promote, enhance the growth of and provide access to the game worldwide, while preserving golf’s traditional values and passing them on to others. It accomplishes its mission through The American Golf Industry Coalition (formerly “We Are Golf”) and World Golf Hall of Fame.
PGA of America Interactions
The PGA of America and WGF work together as part of the America Golf Industry Coalition which emphasizes initiatives focused on golf’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, contributions to the economy (local and national), health and wellness benefits, charitable giving, and environmental and sustainability initiatives.