Nearly 27 million Americans play golf, making golf a multi-billion-dollar industry. And these days, serious golfers have begun to understand that the most expensive clubs and technology are no substitute for excellent form and technique. If you’re already certified as a personal trainer but are interested getting involved in this growing industry by helping golfers improve their game, then becoming a Golf Conditioning Specialist could be an excellent path for you.
Necessary Traits and Skills for Golf Conditioning Specialists
Becoming certified as a golf conditioning specialist will be the first step towards working in this challenging and rewarding industry. To earn your certification, you’ll want to pursue and complete an American Fitness Professionals and Associates (AFPA)-endorsed course. As a pre-requisite to such a course, keep in mind that you will already need to be certified as a personal trainer and be CPR-certified.
Throughout your formal golf-conditioning education, you’ll learn what it takes to serve your clients, providing them with the professional guidance they need to:
- improve posture, endurance, flexibility, and strength
- avoid common golf injuries
- learn exercises to avoid swing faults
As a golf-conditioning specialist, you’ll also learn how to better attract new clients and market yourself.
As you explore the many golf-conditioning courses that are available, be sure to select one that suits your lifestyle and learning habits. For instance, if you’re already busy working full-time as a personal trainer, then a fully online and/or self-paced course may be the best option for you. Once you successfully complete your course and pass your certification exam, you’ll officially be certified to work as a golf-conditioning specialist.
How to Land a Job as a Golf Conditioning Specialist
While having your certification is a must, your certification alone won’t guarantee you any work. You’ll need to use the marketing and self-promotional skills you learned in your training course to land work. Fortunately, with millions of golfers seeking to improve their game in the United States, you’ll never be at a loss for potential clients. The key to landing these clients as your own customers will be understanding today’s average golfer.
Many golfers looking for assistance have made a realization that the most expensive clubs and golf technology aren’t going to improve their game as significantly as the right form, posture, and technique can. And with around 50% of golfers experiencing game-related lower-back pain at some point in their lives, many of these potential clients are also looking for some assistance in avoiding such injuries. By understanding your clients and catering to them with custom-tailored conditioning plans, you’ll have a much greater chance of landing a job.
For instance, you might consider offering potential clients a free consultation, during which you can take time to ask them what their main goals for improvement are. From there, you might consider testing the client’s flexibility and assessing his or her golf swing. Ultimately, you can end the session with your proposed game plan for working on your client’s goals.
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Marketing Yourself for Success
Knowing how to promote yourself is also a must if you want to be a successful golf-conditioning specialist. One of the best ways to do this these days is to take advantage of social media; all it takes is a few minutes to set up a business Facebook page, which you can use to spread the word of your services to others, post updates on your current clients, and perhaps even offer special promotions to help boost your business. Having your own website set up is also important; be sure to include a copy of your resumé, testimonials from previous clients (if applicable), certifications, and a “contact” page where prospective clients can reach out to you and request a consultation.
Of course, marketing yourself in-person will also be important. Don’t be afraid to hand out your resumé at local country clubs, golf courses, and driving ranges to meet more clients and help spread the word about your business.
Overall, working as a golf-conditioning specialist can be a fun and rewarding experience, especially if you have an interest in golf and enjoy helping others improve their game. By earning your certification and knowing how to promote yourself, you can make a comfortable full- or part-time living in this position.
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