Once upon a time the golf links was described as a place where rabbits and professionals earn a precarious living.
Sir Walter Simpson's description of golf in the 19th century couldn't contrast further with the modern golf professional, particularly the tournament pros who play for millions on a weekly basis.
The origins of the golf pro are pretty humble, a working class existence built up around the cottage industries that surrounded the game such as club and ball making.
Even when the famous triumvirate of JH Taylor, James Braid and Harry Vardon (pictured) inspired the formation of The Professional Golfers' Association in 1901, the golf pro was still essentially a jack of all trades, practicing the traditional skills that had developed hand in hand with the growth of the game in Scotland during the 18th and 19th centuries.
Social Barriers
In 1847 there were 23 clubs in Scotland but a surge in popularity saw 1,300 golf clubs spring up across the UK between 1875 and 1900. During this time the pro was club maker and repairer, producer of golf balls, caddy, playing partner to the amateur (particularly when there was a juicy wager on the match), source of lessons and greenkeeper.
Whatever niche the pro fitted into, it was clearly defined by social barriers - essentially cap in hand servant to the amateur players of the day, a scenario which didn't change in many cases until the 1950s when pros were still very much seen as club servants and often not even allowed in the club house.
Naked Rebellion
Some pros rebelled against the stiff and intolerant club attitudes. Henry Cotton would signal his contempt for the social barriers that were placed in front of the pro by eating his lunch from a Fortnum and Mason hamper while sitting in the limousine in the club car park.
In 1920 the great American Walter Hagen disrobed in a hired car outside Royal Cinque Ports in protest at the fact professionals competing in that year's Open Championship had to change in the professional's shop. But the stock of the pro was helped by the game's popularity in America with the likes of Walter Hagen and amateur Bobby Jones adding to the lure of the sport.
Rise of the Tournament Circuit
In addition to their work as club professional positions, a tournament circuit slowly emerged, enabling the best players, to compete against each other. In a tradition which continued well into the 60s and 70s, the tournaments would be played during the week enabling pros to be back at their clubs at the weekend for club duties. In 1924 there were five major domestic tournaments with more than 5,000 in prize money and by 1934 there were nine national tournaments.
After the war in the early 50s some 490 PGA members participated in tournaments run by the Association with prize money up to 30,000. Juggling the demands of club professionals and tournament players was a tricky job for the PGA Executive and led to the establishment of a separate tournament division in 1974 and eventually the creation of the PGA European Tour in the mid 80s.
A Shift in the Landscape
In the last 30 years the remit of the traditional club pro has changed in tandem with the reshaping of Britain's golfing landscape. An explosion of pay and play clubs and the sheer numbers playing the game has increased the demand for PGA pros. PGA pros are a huge presence at clubs the length and breadth of Britain - the point of contact for everyone connected to the club. In the 21st century, the term 'golf pro' in the old sense of the phrase no longer does full justice to the role or the skills they are equipped with. It's rather like saying Jack Nicklaus is just 'a golfer', rather than the man who has won 18 Majors, or that St Paul's Cathedral is just 'a church'
Both true, in the broadest sense perhaps, but not quite doing either justice. With millions more playing, and countless new clubs, it's brought a catalogue of new jobs to the industry. The advent of golf complexes, for example, has seen the creation of roles with such titles as director of golf and golf manager.
As competition among clubs hots up, pros as well as giving lessons to the members, are also drumming up marketing strategies to attract new members, consulting on course development and running corporate days. Over the years the PGA has recognised this shifting of boundaries and has adapted accordingly to keep its members in a position where they emerge not only qualified in the arts of the game but with the means to tackle all aspects of what can be multi-million pound business.