For every golfing aficionado in the United States, becoming a full-fledged member of the Professional Golfers Association of America is a dream.
Earlier this month, Hillsdale College men's golf head coach Matt Thompson had that dream come true. On Tuesday, May 2 Thompson was voted in as a Class A member of the PGA of America, the end of a six-year process to earn his spot in the organization.
In order to be eligible for official PGA membership, aspirants must have successfully completed a PGA-recognized training program, obtained an Association of Sports Qualification level two certificate in coaching golf, obtain certificates in emergency first aid and child protection, and done well enough in professional competition to meet the PGA's standards.
Once eligible, applicants must get through the qualifying level, which includes a written test and a player ability test, then proceed through three levels, each of which includes a week of seminars, completion of a work portfolio, and a passing grade on another test to proceed.
Thompson's completion of the program and certification allows him to join an elite club of golf professionals, and gives him access to additional resources and opportunities that will allow him to help grow the game of golf on a regional and national level.
"Becoming a member is something I have been working towards for a while, and has been a long learning experience," Thompson said. "We are introduced to a lot of material and learn everything from how to fix a broken club, to the different parts of a blade of grass, and the most effective way to teach people the game of golf.
"Being a member of the PGA of America will allow me to compete at the national level in tournaments and use the vast amount of resources that the PGA of America provides to grow the game of golf."
All newly inducted members into the PGA of America start as Class A professionals. After three years as a Class A member, Thompson will have the opportunity to advance to AA status by earning and maintaining a minimum total of 100 Continuous Professional Development points in the course of a calendar year. Professionals can accumumlate points by engaging in relevant professional development programs and pursuing further education opportunities in the game of golf.
Thompson joined Hillsdale College as the interim head men's golf coach in February of 2020, and was promoted to the position full-time in April. In his first full season in 2020-21, Thompson coached the Chargers to their best-ever finish in a spring conference championship, taking runner-up honors at the 2021 G-MAC Championships, and to qualify as a team for the NCAA Midwest/Central Regional. The following year, Thompson sent Oscar Darlington to the NCAA Midwest/Central Regional as an individual qualifier.
Prior to taking the job at Hillsdale, Thompson was the head golf professional at the Marshall Country Club, following a standout career as a collegiate golfer at the University of Michigan where he recorded seven top-five finishes and helped lead the Wolverines to the NCAA Division I semifinal round in 2009.