If you've been a follower of the Peak Performance Golf Swing for any length of time, you should know that I'm a PGA Master Professional. I'm very proud of this distinction, especially since there's only been 333 people that have achieved Master Professional status since the program's inception in 1969.
But, what exactly is a PGA Master Professional? That's the question Calvin Howe submitted, so today I'm going to explain the process and what it means. I'm also going to share my own story, when I was awarded this honor back in 1992.
Here's an recent announcement from the PGA of America that talks about the Master Professional program and history:
The Professional Golfers' Association (PGA) of America is pleased to announce that six PGA Professionals have graduated from the PGA Master Professional Program.
Since the program's inception, 333 PGA Professionals have graduated from the Master Professional Program. The PGA Master Professional program is the highest educational level in The PGA. It was established in 1969 to recognize PGA Members who make a significant effort to improve themselves as golf professionals and maintain the highest degree of excellence for themselves and their operations.
One of the original requirements for earning Master Professional status was the submission of an extensive thesis on one aspect of golf, which was reviewed by a panel of professional experts in the field. The thesis topics range from the mental and physical aspects of the golf swing to golf course construction and computer technology in the golf shop. The Master Professional Program then changed to require the completion of one of the seven Specialty Certification courses: Instruction, Rules, General Management, Golf Operations, Tournament Operations, Golf Car Fleet Management or Merchandising. Professionals desiring Master Professional status also had to be active PGA members for a minimum of eight years.
As of August 2004, the PGA Master Professional Program now originates from the PGA Certified Professional Program. After a PGA member passes the Certified Professional Program's proficiency assessment test, he or she is eligible to work toward their "Masters Degree" in education by preparing a special project in their selected career path that meets the approval of examiners. This process is similar to the "Masters Thesis" project previously required to earn Master Professional status. The Master Professional applicant then presents his or her project to a panel of examiners and answers questions on the project. Since then, there have been 22 individuals that have obtained the Master Professional status.
I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of you in the Surge Nation for supporting what I do. I wouldn't be able to teach golf and do what I love if it wasn't for all of you. Being a PGA Master Professional is a huge honor, but it wouldn't mean anything if I didn't have any students to teach!
Sincerely,
Don Trahan
"The Surge"
If you can't view the YouTube video above try CLICKING HERE. You must allow popups from this site for the link to work.
Comments
we ( I ) Appreciate You
Don I don'r believe I have ever commented before But I want You to know how much I appreciate You. Most of Your colleages as a very sellect group of Master PGA professionals would not do what You on a daily basis. Not going to mention any names but most of them in that very elite group are running huge multinational golf schools at very pertigious resorts and hosting televisions shows and showing up at PGA events where their focus is more on themselves and self promotion and the next great gimmick to cure your slice or make You the next PGA winner on Tour. Not One of Your esteem colleages would ever conside doing Daily videos for FREE in there back Yards to help people Master a very difficult game. Not one of them has a son who is a pga winner but I bet if they did or even a distant relative of a PGA winner they would exploit it the Hilt. Don't get me wrong all of You need to be compensated for what You offer. But Do THEY really care or is it about the Fame and Fortune that they can get by having such a pretigios title as a Master Profesional. YOU are what the PGA meant to have this title I am proud and I am sure the PGA is proud of the title that has been bestowed on You Keep up the GREAT work WE ALL LOVE what you do for us
Don Trahan, Swing Surgeon and Master Professional.
Don Trahan,
You are a sterling example of professionalism in every way. The two fellow 'Master Professionals' who failed you, should be Master Professional Members of the Flat Earth Society! It is clear to me that they marked you down and made comments from a completely biased position.
Personally your qualifications were earned through dedication and hard work. As a loyal Surgite I for one will support you and the Peak Performance Golf Swing against ALL COMERS! As well as being an accomplished golfer in your own right, with a son who has earned respect and success on the PGA Tour,due in no small part to your tutelage.
For me, it is your homespun, down to earth way of connecting with your Surgite Nation and your school clients around the world, which makes you unique. Many professionals may have the qualifications and expertise themselves, but do not have the gift of being able to impart that knowledge to their clients, we golfers.
We are all in a battle to improve our game, while at the same time safe guarding our fitness. I shudder to think just how much damage my previous rotational golf swing wreaked on my now raddled old carcass! It is my intention to continue with the PPGS methodology for as long as I am able to hold and swing a club. I see the benefits in this method every day I swing a club. The lack of pain and the smiles it has brought to my face this very day. On a VERY, VERY windy day here, we played 18holes of golf and confirmed that when "We just do it right!" as Surge says, the results are sublime. Even in the windy conditions both drivers I used stayed on the fairways off the tee. I was even cheeky enough to use the driver off the fairway to very good effect. Another pleasant and fruitful visit to the hallowed turf and ALL due to a man I have the deepest respect and admiration for, Don Trahan, Swing Surgeon and Master Professional. God Bless you Donald Trahan a man of integrity and humanity towards we hackers of the hallowed turf. DH in NZ
Amazed.
Don, thank you for the tutorial on the Master Professional, it was enlightening and simply amazing that there are so few over that time period. Have not commented for awhile but sure do watch the videos and the responses by all the regulars and new comers. Thanks to Tina who sent one in a few weeks ago and it sure hit on my biggest issue, the takeaway and the left hip.
I have just moved to AZ full time and will be playing my first round in two months at my new home club in Desert Highlands. Started playing 10 years ago in Kansas at Hallbrook and my first score was 151, the exact slope of the black tees my brother said I needed to play from(, yea, I knew then I was a white tee and I have learned to not follow other's suggestions or advice. I now shoot in the upper 80's with a 14 handicap, although I play just 20 rounds a year, and for the past 4 years have been pain free after switching to PPGS. Hope to get more playing time in and see the impact on my pain free game. Thank you, Surge and all the Supporting Surgites. Kevin McCarthy
Golf Plan and Simple
GPaS is a well put together book, and worded in a way that all can understand and benefit from whether just starting out or seasoned golfers. Yes, I found my copy on Amazon and likely there are still ones available. Important addition for any Surgite. I do wish the updated "theses version" were available for us to consider. Likely it contains the studies Don made about how the 3/4 vertical swing is a desirable option to the rotational 'X' factor which had gained popularity in the early 90's. It was around that time(83-90ish) that Surge along with his fellow doctors and bio-engineers, et discovered that the 3/4 swing was as fast, hit the ball as far, was accelerating (not decelerating as the parallel was) through impact and was safer for the body. The 3/4, less than parallel and quiet knees, left thumb on grip at 11oclock position was not celebrated yet in "Golf Plain and Simple" 1986 (among other points). Interestingly while the "in the 'mit' and up the 'tree' "was already part of his teaching (along with an upright swing) his students were still allowed to coil into past 70* and allow the left (front knee) to turn in ala Jack Nicklaus style. So in 1986-92 Surge was still evolving, studying and learning no doubt (and still is a student as all teachers are). Particularly from Dr. Ned Armstrong and Henry Ryyfel. It was around that time that he was seeking relief for his ailing back that he discovered the advantages of the vertical, limited turn 3/4 swing. So perhaps those were the revelations that were included that offended the disagreeable chaps that sat in judgement. Would be interesting to have Surge clear those details for us. I may ask him about it. In any case the very thorough book is an educational read and I would say mostly still in harmony with his teaching today with a few important modifications.
The mere fact that he allowed himself to be ego-less and make the needed research and changes has benefited thousands of golfers since then including us today.
Keep in mind, all the important changes and updates are found in the Fundamentals manual and that is our main PPGS book now.
Here are some of those 'mega points' of change in Surges own words:
https://www.swingsurgeon.com/daily-video-tips/swing-change
The following is an interview many of you may recall. Lengthy but very educational and enthusiastic about Don Trahan's development of the 3/4, vertical limited swing. Make your favorite beverage before this one along with some snacks:)
Worth the watch by any Surge fan.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0hX7-7dauU
Master PGA professional? You bet!
google video
thanks for that second video Robert. not seen it before. those other 3 never had a chance !
PGA Master Professional
Surge ~ I just watched your discussion of the process that you went through to become a Master Professional. Truly inspiring! Well done.Also, I tracked down a First Edition copy of the Harper version and I am so glad that I did. It is marvelous. But, it is not the only book on golf that I have collected. Of course, I have Ben Hogan's book, Jack Nicklaus's book, Tom Watson's book, Greg Stadler's book, and BoB Tosti's book and, frankly speaking, your book trumps them all. This is not to say there is anything wrong with their books. It would be heresy to imply so. But, from an instructional standpoint, you provide a mental model with your descriptions and pictures that connect with the student in a real and personal way. The other's are 'talking at the student', whereas, at each point in the swing, you are creating authentic metaphors that the student can 'feel' and 'perform' and enjoy repeatable success. You couldn't get me to give up this swing at the point of a gun... I don't give a tinker's damn what other swing guru's say--the limited turn, 3/4, vertical back swing is absolutely is the most accurate and repeatable swing that is anatomically friendly and to argue against the observable results is sheer lunacy. this is not to say that a golfer can't be successful with a high-torque, rotational golf swing. Obviously they are. Practice anything long enough and hard enough and you are bound to achieve some success. I have noticed that Doug Tewell is marketing a limited turn, 3/4 back swing method now. but, the vertical swingers are starting to fight back and you are leading the way. I'm proud to be a Surgite and my golf scores are too. Thanks a million for all you do. Roland Isnor
Home Sweet Home
to ALL:
This could be titled "The Ancient golfer" does it again (apologies to Johnny Carson as "el Moldo)
Today was the first day of San Marcos re-opening after overseeding. As expected, longish damp fairway grass, soft fuzzy greens(hadn't been mowed yet) and Cart Path Only. I soon realized that under these conditions, one more club was needed for the distance involved, and that instead of my normal 9 iron chips, the 8 iron was a better choice. Hit 5 of 7 fairways on the front nine, only 1 GIR (resulted in a 15 foot birdy) - for 1 birdie, 4 pars and 4 bogies - for a 3 over par 39 -- my best ever on the front side. I got 6 one-putts in spite of the soft slow fuzzy greens. It really does help to get you chips inside the 4 foot circle to the hole -- you will make a lot of them -- specially the 1 footers ! lol
The back nine was almost as good -- hit all 7 fairways, got 2 GIRS, and 4 more pars, but only 3 one-putts for a 41. Just missed a 4 foot putt for par on 18 -- almost another 79 :<(( -- but under the conditions, I thought 80 was EXCELLENT! :<))
NOTE: Ignore the nae sayers -- the PPGS (or a close approximation to it_ WORKS!
Keep hitting them STRAIGHT and LONG
Amos
Ancient golfer
Amos,
Nice play my friend. Our over seeding is now one month past so fairways and greens are decent now. Cindy and I will likely play 18 tomorrow. Weathers been perfect lately in the mid 70's. Days are getting shorter again though. That is my favorite part of summer. The kids in the lands down under are ready for there summer now. Teeing off earlier here now but still playing several days a week. I know our pals in the colder, wetter and soon snowier midwest and northeast would expect us to be playing so play on we must :) Glad your playing well.
Off-topic for Doc Griffin
Doc,
I just received an email regarding the new TaylorMade-Adidas Golf Speedblades. Without regard to the actual fitting process, what is your opinion of the Speedblade club head with its Speedpocket? Would it be worth it for a high-handicapper to purchase a set and then get them fit by you or another PPGS-certified fitter?
Thanks, Kevin
Hi Don,
Hi Don,
I really enjoyed your video on becoming a Master Professional. It was very interesting and I was surprised to learn of the opposition you faced. Fortunately for us, you have stuck with it and we all have benefited. I have your DVD,s, try and practice what you teach and I enjoy your daily instruction immensely so please keep it up!
Thanks, Tim
Thanks Again!
Don I've thanked you before and I thank you again especially after hearing your story regarding obtaining your certification. It is so wonderful for me to now be able to trust my swing and focus on picking targets and envisioning my shots while on the course. Your advice about not focusing on what went wrong with a shot but to make sure I get in my proper setup position for the next shot is invaluable. For me when it is all said and done, your swing theory along with Drs. Rotella and Parent's mental game writings will be the standard for golfers of the future.