PGA

PGA stands for Professional Golfers' Association, a label used by several national organizations that support golf professionals and the sport at various levels. The best-known bodies are the Professional Golfers' Association of America and The PGA in Great Britain and Ireland. These organizations share a mission of professional development, certification for instructors and club professionals, and the promotion of golf, but they operate independently and organize different competitions.

The PGA of America, founded in 1916, is a United States–based membership association comprising club professionals, instructors, and other golf professionals. It oversees professional education and certification, runs the biennial PGA Championship, and supports the network of PGA Professionals through education, events, and services. The organization focuses on the professional workforce at golf facilities and teaching studios, rather than directing a single touring circuit. The PGA Tour is a separate organization that operates most of North America’s regular tour events.

The PGA in Great Britain and Ireland, established in 1901, operates as The PGA and serves golf professionals in the UK and Ireland. It concentrates on professional education and certification, runs the PGA Professional Championship, and oversees events such as the PGA Cup, a team competition against the United States. The association emphasizes training for club professionals and instructors and maintaining professional standards within its region.

Notes: The acronym PGA is used by multiple national bodies, and context is often required to determine which organization is being referenced. In golf, the term is most closely associated with these professional associations rather than with a single global tour.