PGA Coach was originally launched as a training and development platform through the PGA of America's alignment with Golf's American Development Model (ADM). Developing exceptional coaches is crucial to ADM's driving mission of creating positive experiences for as many as possible, for as long as possible, with the best experience possible.
As the platform has continued to grow and evolve to incorporate business tools for coaches and a connection to those coaches for consumers, it is essential for the PGA of America to stabilize the business by ensuring its future success and investing in long-term growth. In April, the PGA Coach platform will open its doors to a select group of non-PGA of America Members. This expansion is being thoughtfully managed, beginning by targeting golf professionals who actively support PGA Professionals at their facilities, LPGA Members and PGA of America partners. This will allow us to foster a more inclusive, yet intentional, coaching community.
By creating two tiers of PGA Coach – the free Starter version and now the paid Plus option – it will allow us to elevate premier features, produce exclusive content and provide concierge-level support to users who subscribe to Plus features. Additionally, the PGA of America is also partnering with Onform to deliver industry-leading tools for video analysis to PGA Coach, with a discount provided to PGA of America Members.
General
What prompted this decision? With strong support from PGA of America leadership, PGA Coach is positioning itself for the future. Expanding access allows for opportunities like PGA of America Members who want to use PGA Coach services with their non-Member staff, as well as partner organization members like LPGA Professionals to leverage the platform.
When does this take effect? Starter and Plus plans will debut in April 2025.
Transition
I’m a PGA Coach user. How do I know if I will need to upgrade to the Plus plan in order to keep my features? Please reach out to our team at support@pga.com. In the near future, areas of your account that require an upgrade to Plus will be highlighted within your dashboard on the web and in the mobile app.
If I am an active user of PGA Coach, how will my existing data and setup transition to the free tier? Our team is here to guide you through this transition. Should you need support or have questions about upgrading your account, please reach out to us at support@pga.com. As an active user of PGA Coach transitioning to the free tier, please note the following:
Private Offerings: You are limited to two (2) private offerings, including booking types and lesson packs. A designated timeframe will be provided to help you adjust, with guidance and support available throughout.
Group Events: You are allowed up to two (2) actively bookable group events. If you currently exceed this number, you will not need to remove any events from your calendar. However, you will not be able to add any additional events until you upgrade your account or if the event is completed or deleted. Please note: If you are a PGA HOPE Coach, these events will not count toward your group event limit.
Leads: Starting from the launch of the paid tier, you’ll have access to up to two (2) leads. Previous leads collected will not count toward this limit.
I want to move off of the PGA Coach platform now that it costs money, but I need more time to make this transition beyond the April 2025 launch. Please reach out to our team at support@pga.com.
Tiers
Will PGA of America Members and non-Members be charged the same amount for the paid tier? Yes. For compliance reasons, the pricing options must be equal for Members and non-Members.
How did you determine “market value” pricing for the paid tier? We’re committed to the tools, features, and support provided today and in the future with the Plus subscription being the best value in the market.
What additional features and benefits do I receive in the Plus tier? In addition to all of the Starter plan features, Plus subscribers can access unlimited leads, offer unlimited booking types, Plus subscribers will receive dedicated concierge support, first access to new features, access to exclusive content as well as special partner and promotional opportunities.
Can payment for my subscription be added to my annual dues? Not at this time.
Can I get a cheaper rate if I pay year-to-year vs. month-to-month? Yes. Paying yearly provides a nearly 20% discount.
Can I pay for my subscriptions with payments that I receive within the platform? No.
Can my club pay for my subscription? Yes, however it is recommended that you pay and bill your club for the charges. This ensures you own your subscription in the long-term.
Can my facility pay a sum for a number of seats or users within PGA Coach? No. Each PGA Coach subscription needs to be paid and managed individually.
Can I pause my subscription? Yes, you can manage your subscription type online.
Will paid subscribers have an advantage in the coach search rankings? If a PGA of America Member does not upgrade their account, has reached their lead limit and does not have bookable offerings in the platform, he or she may be lower on the search results than a non-Member.
Will Members have an advantage over non-Members in the coach search rankings? No, but Coach Profiles of PGA of America Members will receive a different visual treatment within these results and rankings.
Will there be updates to the Starter tier going forward? The PGA Coach platform will continue to be generally improved over time. There are no immediate plans for new features in the free tier at this time.
Can we expect future updates or expansion of features if I pay for the Plus tier? Yes. The intention is to continually enhance the Plus tier.
Will there be a trial period for the Plus tier to allow me to assess its value? No. The Starter tier will allow you to assess and trial all features, just in a limited capacity.
If I am on the Starter tier, will my support change when I have questions? The Plus tier will receive concierge support, which could impact response times for the Starter tier.
As an active user, will there be opportunities for feedback or suggestions during the transition? Yes, we’d love your feedback! Please contact us at support@pga.com or reach out to your Player Engagement Consultant.
I understand that leads will be limited in quantity for the Starter tier. Will spam or junk leads count against my total? The PGA Coach support team will credit you for junk leads and spam attempts. We monitor these daily, but please email support@pga.com if you have any questions or concerns.
Is the Starter tier limited to two leads total, or two leads per year? Two leads total, beginning in April 2025.
What happens to my Coach Profile if I say on the Starter tier? Your Coach Profile will continue to be promoted on pga.com, with no changes to how the algorithm works today. The only change to your profile will be your ability to collect additional leads if you have reached your two lead limit.
What happens to the leads I receive beyond my limit on the Starter tier? Once you reach the limit of two leads, your ability to collect additional leads will be paused. The contact button and lead form on your profile will be disabled, preventing further lead collection unless you upgrade. However, any leads you collected before the launch date of the paid tier will remain accessible to you through PGA Coach.
How do you define the two active private offerings available through the Starter tier? The limit of two active private offerings includes both booking types and lesson packs. However, there is no limit on the number of times these packs can be booked, or on the quantities within each pack, providing flexibility in managing your sessions.
Is the Starter tier limited to two live group offerings at a time, or I can only create two group offerings total? Two “bookable” group offerings at a time (unlimited sessions for each). PGA HOPE clinics will not count toward these limits.
Are there incentives available if I refer someone to PGA Coach? Not at this time.
Opening the Platform
How is the PGA deciding which additional groups of non-members get access to the platform? Three categories of non-Members will be given access to the platform, including LPGA Professionals, PGA of America partners and golf professionals endorsed by PGA of America Members. Representatives from PGA Committees and PGA of America staff will review additional non-member groups through the lens of growing the game responsibly through access to qualified golf professionals.
What defines a PGA of America partner? The PGA of America partners with organizations that might employ non-PGA of America Members. These golf professionals will be able to request to join the platform.
Will non-Members be listed in the PGA.com “Find A Coach” marketplace? Yes.
How will consumers know the difference between a non-member and a member? Members will be visually differentiated from non-Members, and the value of working with PGA Professionals will be advertised on Coach Profiles and other landing pages.
Why is a non-Member listed above me in the search results? The results are ordered strictly by geographic distance from the user and display the closest result first.
Since one of my coaches is now on the platform, can we have a facility account (Academy)? Not at this time.
Onform Partnership
How does the partnership with Onform benefit me as a PGA Member? You have access to a discounted subscription to Onform. Subscribing to Onform allows you to record high definition videos with just a click from the PGA Coach app, then instantly share feedback and analysis back to PGA Coach. You can also add your PGA Coach booking and scheduling link directly into Onform, allowing you to manage lessons and connect with athletes all in one place.
Do non-members get the benefits too? They do not receive a discount, but if they pay for Onform, they are able to use it with PGA Coach.
Do I need to pay for the premium tier of PGA Coach to get access to Onform or the Onform discount? No, your PGA Coach level has no impact on your Onform access or discounts.