Instruction
6 drills to help you pass the PGA Playing Ability Test (PAT)
Want to talk about pressure? How about stepping on the first tee, and knowing there’s an exact number, or better, that you need to shoot. For aspiring PGA Professionals, that’s exactly the case.
The Playing Ability Test, or “PAT,” is the PGA of America’s measure of golfing ability for aspiring PGA Professionals. It’s like taking a midterm or final, but instead of needing a 70/100 (a C-minus in most cirriculum) or higher, you need to shoot a certain number or lower in order to pass.
Here’s how the target number is determined for each individual host course:
The PAT is administered at over 300 golf courses in the U.S. each year, and is played, on average, from approximately 6,400 yards for men and 5,500 yards for women.
On paper, it seems any player with a single-digit handicap could pass the PAT with no problem. However, the passing rate nationally among apprentices and PGA Golf Management students is less than 30 percent, with the average participant who passes attempting the test nearly five times before passing.
Why? Well, being the psychological sport that golf is, focusing on shooting a certain number can cause chaos in a golfer’s brain, and physical mistakes ensue.
As the Assistant Director for the PGA Golf Management Program at Mississippi State University, part of my job is to help students pass the PAT, so we’ve implemented a program specifically designed to do just that. And in just two years, we’ve been able to increase the pass percentage for our students up to 50 percent!
Below, we’ll highlight the drills that are part of the program. But first, you’ll want to put yourself through our evaluation to determine what “group” you are in. I’ll explain…
Through the use of the Trackman Combine and Steven Guiliano’s “Putting Evaluation” from his eBook The Scoring Zone: Part 2 Putting, (click here for Steven’s information), we are able to determine each student’s capabilities and likelihood of passing the PAT. We take both the Trackman Combine and Putting Evaluation score and combine them to create the overall score for each student.
After completing the evaluations, we then assign students to the following groups based on those scores:
- Group 1: Total Score of 100 and Below (Average 18 Hole Score of 85 and Above)
- Group 2: Total Score of 101-128 (Average 18 Hole Score of 78-84)
- Group 3: Total Score of 129 and Above (Average 18 Hole Score of 77 and Below)
Each group is then assigned four weekly challenges (drills) to complete. They will complete a putting, short game, full swing, and on-course drill that matches their current skill level. The goal of the challenge is very simple: Make each player SCORE each challenge and submit the score at the end of the week. This is designed to have the player actually focus on a certain outcome and score in practice, rather than aimlessly beating balls.
Here the drills for each group, which will help both prospective PAT participants, and any golfer who’s looking to improve:
Group 1
18 hole, 2-putt drill
On the putting green, you will choose 18 total putts from a variety of distances, lengths and difficulty. Your scoring goal is simple: record how many strokes it takes you to hole out from each distance. Each hole will be a par-2 where a score of EVEN PAR is 36. You will need to hit the following putts:
This drill will train your speed and distance control on a variety of putts. It is important to go through your pre-shot routine as you hit each putt.
25-shot pitch drill
Place a 6-foot diameter circle around a hole on your short game area. Hit 20 pitch shots and five bunker shots to that hole. Each shot should vary in lie, length and difficulty. The same shot should not be hit twice. Record how many of each shot you hit inside of the ring and how many shots end up on the putting surface. The scoring is as follows:
Miss the Green: 0 Points
Hit the Green: 1 Point
Hit it inside of the Ring: 2 Points
Remember, pitch shots are to be hit with wedges where the ball flight and roll is determined by a higher trajectory and spin from a minimum of 15 yards from the putting surface. Bunker shots are to be played from the sand in a variety of lies (buried, downhill, etc).
Group 2
20-foot speed drill
Place a club 3 feet behind the hole and hit five putts from 20 feet. You will record where each putt finishes with the following scores:
- -5 Points for putts left short of the hole,
- +5 Points for a made putt,
- +3 Points for a putt hit even with/past the hole to the club, and
- -3 Points for a putt that hits or goes beyond the golf club.
Record each score. You will repeat the process three more times, moving 90 degrees clockwise around the hole. You will need to reposition the golf club each time you move around the hole.
3-point driver drill
The 3-Point Driver Drill is an accuracy and solid-contact drill. Pick a small target in the distance (tree limb, flagstick, etc) where you would like for your ball to come to rest. Record as follows:
- 1 point if you hit the ball at your target,
- 1 point if you make solid contact (center contact), and
- 1 point if it was the correct shot shape.
Do this for 25 shots with the driver. Accuracy is measured by where your ball comes to rest and is considered accurate if it comes to rest within 10 yards left or right of the intended target. You will record scores of 0, 1, 2, or 3 after each shot.
Group 3
Drawback drill
Hit 18 putts around the putting green from varying lengths (10-40 feet). If the putt is made, record it as 1. If the putt is missed, pull the ball back one putter length away from the hole from the ball’s resting position and putt from there. This “drawback” will happen after each putt missed. Record each score.
52-card drill
The 52-Card Drill requires a deck of cards (or an app). You will write different shot shapes (shape, distance, and trajectory) and clubs to use on each card in the deck (see table below). You will record the shot as acceptable or unacceptable and put the cards into two separate stacks. Acceptable shots consist of center contact, correct shot shape, proper trajectory, proper direction and distance control. There is a lot of latitude given for determining the quality of the shot. The smaller the margin of error for an acceptable shot, the better your game will be following the drill. At the end of the deck you will determine how many were in the acceptable pile and subtract how many were in the unacceptable pile. Example: 33 in the acceptable pile and 19 in the unacceptable pile (33 – 19 = 14). You score is 14 for this drill.
Your set makeup will determine what club to assign to each card. See the chart below to mark your cards properly.
You will pull cards at random. This way, you will rarely hit the same club two times in a row. It is very important that you go through your pre-shot routine for each shot, pick a target, and execute the shot just as you would on the golf course.
Final thoughts
If you are planning a career in the golf industry and want to take the PAT soon, I encourage you to focus on playing and completing drills/challenges that require you to record a score.
You can search for a PAT in your area by visiting www.pga.org. My advice would be to find a PAT site with a target score of 156 or above to help your chances of passing. In our experience at Mississippi State, our students have performed better at facilities that are more difficult as they provide a higher target score.
For more information regarding the PGA Golf Management Program at Mississippi State University, please visit www.msupgm.com.
There may be no more painful affliction in golf than the “yips” – those uncontrollable and maddening little nervous twitches that prevent you from making a decent stroke on short putts. If you’ve never had them, consider yourself very fortunate (or possibly just very young). But I can assure you that when your most treacherous and feared golf shot is not the 195 yard approach over water with a quartering headwind…not the extra tight fairway with water left and sand right…not the soft bunker shot to a downhill pin with water on the other side…No, when your most feared shot is the remaining 2- 4-foot putt after hitting a great approach, recovery or lag putt, it makes the game almost painful.
And I’ve been fighting the yips (again) for a while now. It’s a recurring nightmare that has haunted me most of my adult life. I even had the yips when I was in my 20s, but I’ve beat them into submission off and on most of my adult life. But just recently, that nasty virus came to life once again. My lag putting has been very good, but when I get over one of those “you should make this” length putts, the entire nervous system seems to go haywire. I make great practice strokes, and then the most pitiful short-stroke or jab at the ball you can imagine. Sheesh.
But I’m a traditionalist, and do not look toward the long putter, belly putter, cross-hand, claw or other variation as the solution. My approach is to beat those damn yips into submission some other way. Here’s what I’m doing that is working pretty well, and I offer it to all of you who might have a similar affliction on the greens.
When you are over a short putt, forget the practice strokes…you want your natural eye-hand coordination to be unhindered by mechanics. Address your putt and take a good look at the hole, and back to the putter to ensure good alignment. Lighten your right hand grip on the putter and make sure that only the fingertips are in contact with the grip, to prevent you from getting to tight.
Then, take a long, long look at the hole to fill your entire mind and senses with the target. When you bring your head/eyes back to the ball, try to make a smooth, immediate move right into your backstroke — not even a second pause — and then let your hands and putter track right back together right back to where you were looking — the HOLE! Seeing the putter make contact with the ball, preferably even the forward edge of the ball – the side near the hole.
For me, this is working, but I am asking all of you to chime in with your own “home remedies” for the most aggravating and senseless of all golf maladies. It never hurts to have more to fall back on!
Over the last couple of decades, golf has become much more science-based. We measure swing speed, smash factor, angle of attack, strokes gained, and many other metrics that can really help golfers improve. But I often wonder if the advancement of golf’s “hard” sciences comes at the expense of the “soft” sciences.
Take, for example, golf instruction. Good golf instruction requires understanding swing mechanics and ball flight. But let’s take that as a given for PGA instructors. The other factors that make an instructor effective can be evaluated by social science, rather than launch monitors.
If you are a recreational golfer looking for a golf instructor, here are my top three points to consider.
1. Cultural mindset
What is “cultural mindset? To social scientists, it means whether a culture of genius or a culture of learning exists. In a golf instruction context, that may mean whether the teacher communicates a message that golf ability is something innate (you either have it or you don’t), or whether golf ability is something that can be learned. You want the latter!
It may sound obvious to suggest that you find a golf instructor who thinks you can improve, but my research suggests that it isn’t a given. In a large sample study of golf instructors, I found that when it came to recreational golfers, there was a wide range of belief systems. Some instructors strongly believed recreational golfers could improve through lessons. while others strongly believed they could not. And those beliefs manifested in the instructor’s feedback given to a student and the culture created for players.
2. Coping and self-modeling can beat role-modeling
Swing analysis technology is often preloaded with swings of PGA and LPGA Tour players. The swings of elite players are intended to be used for comparative purposes with golfers taking lessons. What social science tells us is that for novice and non-expert golfers, comparing swings to tour professionals can have the opposite effect of that intended. If you fit into the novice or non-expert category of golfer, you will learn more and be more motivated to change if you see yourself making a ‘better’ swing (self-modeling) or seeing your swing compared to a similar other (a coping model). Stay away from instructors who want to compare your swing with that of a tour player.
3. Learning theory basics
It is not a sexy selling point, but learning is a process, and that process is incremental – particularly for recreational adult players. Social science helps us understand this element of golf instruction. A good instructor will take learning slowly. He or she will give you just about enough information that challenges you, but is still manageable. The artful instructor will take time to decide what that one or two learning points are before jumping in to make full-scale swing changes. If the instructor moves too fast, you will probably leave the lesson with an arm’s length of swing thoughts and not really know which to focus on.
As an instructor, I develop a priority list of changes I want to make in a player’s technique. We then patiently and gradually work through that list. Beware of instructors who give you more than you can chew.
So if you are in the market for golf instruction, I encourage you to look beyond the X’s and O’s to find the right match!
Most pros take months, even years, to win their first tournament. Lottie Woad needed exactly four days.
The 21-year-old from Surrey shot 21-under 267 at Dundonald Links to win the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open by three shots — in her very first event as a professional. She’s only the third player in LPGA history to accomplish this feat, joining Rose Zhang (2023) and Beverly Hanson (1951).
But here’s what caught my attention as a coach: Woad didn’t win through miraculous putting or bombing 300-yard drives. She won through relentless precision and unshakeable composure. After watching her performance unfold, I’m convinced every golfer — from weekend warriors to scratch players — can steal pages from her playbook.
Precision Beats Power (And It’s Not Even Close)
Forget the driving contests. Woad proved that finding greens matters more than finding distance.
What Woad did:
• Hit it straight, hit it solid, give yourself chances
• Aimed for the fat parts of greens instead of chasing pins
• Let her putting do the talking after hitting safe targets
• As she said, “Everyone was chasing me today, and managed to maintain the lead and played really nicely down the stretch and hit a lot of good shots”
Why most golfers mess this up:
• They see a pin tucked behind a bunker and grab one more club to “go right at it”
• Distance becomes more important than accuracy
• They try to be heroic instead of smart
ACTION ITEM: For your next 10 rounds, aim for the center of every green regardless of pin position. Track your greens in regulation and watch your scores drop before your swing changes.
The Putter That Stayed Cool Under Fire
Woad started the final round two shots clear and immediately applied pressure with birdies at the 2nd and 3rd holes. When South Korea’s Hyo Joo Kim mounted a charge and reached 20-under with a birdie at the 14th, Woad didn’t panic.
How she responded to pressure:
• Fired back with consecutive birdies at the 13th and 14th
• Watched Kim stumble with back-to-back bogeys
• Capped it with her fifth birdie of the day at the par-5 18th
• Stayed patient when others pressed, pressed when others cracked
What amateurs do wrong:
• Get conservative when they should be aggressive
• Try to force magic when steady play would win
• Panic when someone else makes a move
ACTION ITEM: Practice your 3-6 foot putts for 15 minutes after every range session. Woad’s putting wasn’t spectacular—it was reliable. Make the putts you should make.
Course Management 101: Play Your Game, Not the Course’s Game
Woad admitted she couldn’t see many scoreboards during the final round, but it didn’t matter. She stuck to her game plan regardless of what others were doing.
Her mental approach:
• Focused on her process, not the competition
• Drew on past pressure situations (Augusta National Women’s Amateur win)
• As she said, “That was the biggest tournament I played in at the time and was kind of my big win. So definitely felt the pressure of it more there, and I felt like all those experiences helped me with this”
Her physical execution:
• 270-yard drives (nothing flashy)
• Methodical iron play
• Steady putting
• Everything effective, nothing spectacular
ACTION ITEM: Create a yardage book for your home course. Know your distances to every pin, every hazard, every landing area. Stick to your plan no matter what your playing partners are doing.
Mental Toughness Isn’t Born, It’s Built
The most impressive part of Woad’s win? She genuinely didn’t expect it: “I definitely wasn’t expecting to win my first event as a pro, but I knew I was playing well, and I was hoping to contend.”
Her winning mindset:
• Didn’t put winning pressure on herself
• Focused on playing well and contending
• Made winning a byproduct of a good process
• Built confidence through recent experiences:
- Won the Women’s Irish Open as an amateur
- Missed a playoff by one shot at the Evian Championship
- Each experience prepared her for the next
What this means for you:
• Stop trying to shoot career rounds every time you tee up
• Focus on executing your pre-shot routine
• Commit to every shot
• Stay present in the moment
ACTION ITEM: Before each round, set process goals instead of score goals. Example: “I will take three practice swings before every shot” or “I will pick a specific target for every shot.” Let your score be the result, not the focus.
The Real Lesson
Woad collected $300,000 for her first professional victory, but the real prize was proving that fundamentals still work at golf’s highest level. She didn’t reinvent the game — she simply executed the basics better than everyone else that week.
The fundamentals that won:
• Hit more fairways
• Find more greens
• Make the putts you should make
• Stay patient under pressure
That’s something every golfer can do, regardless of handicap. Lottie Woad just showed us it’s still the winning formula.
FINAL ACTION ITEM: Pick one of the four action items above and commit to it for the next month. Master one fundamental before moving to the next. That’s how champions are built.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “The Starter” on RG.org each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more Tips!
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jim
Jun 7, 2022 at 1:37 pm
Am I missing something on the final column of the 53 card drill? What does Club 3/4 mean?
Joew2328
Feb 8, 2016 at 10:49 am
Passed my PAT in 2009 after failing once. Have since gotten my AM status back, but the PAT taught me a lot about competitive golf. Opened with an 81 and shot 74 to pass by 2 strokes. One of my favorite rounds was the back 18. Fun challenge, and these drills would have helped me a lot!
James
Dec 31, 2015 at 7:49 pm
While I’ve no plan to do the test, these do look like great drills to help me w my 2016 golf targets! Hoping to drop to under a 6 hcp, and these look the goods- thanks for the article.
Ron
Dec 30, 2015 at 3:18 pm
Too bad the PAT is even part of becoming a PGA pro. Just because someone can play is absolutely NO indication that they can teach the game. I recently did a survey of over 30 local PGA pros regarding lessons for men and women. Only 3 acknowledged that there is a difference between teaching men and women. Yes, the fundamentals are the same, but the approach is very different as the perspective of the two is different. I could go on but won’t. Useless test!
Wes
Dec 23, 2015 at 12:23 pm
The PAT…. Good times. Passed my first try in 2007 with scores of 69, and 65. Was -11 and got 3rd place, tough competition :/ (first place went to a mini tour player and 2nd went to a PGATour player’s son). Now I’m back as an amateur and enjoying the game.
Stretch
Dec 22, 2015 at 12:22 pm
My first PAT came to a crash on the 34th holes on an extremely difficult desert course. The hole was a par 5 and it seemed prudent to hit a one iron for accuracy. The first tee shot and provisional went right into the desert and never found. Back to the tee and another clone of the first two tee shots. Then the driver came out. Sure enough the third tee shot was lost and the fourth was in a small cactus. Pin high in eight and up and down for a 10. Finished with two tap in birdies to miss by one shot. The second PAT tried to medal and passed easily.
The medal score does play head games. Earlier in the summer I had tied for the medal in the Local U. S. Open qualifier and missed by two in the final qualifier. Seemed odd the PGA would not accept that performance as a valid PAT equivalent.
Tom Wishon
Dec 22, 2015 at 11:20 am
I took the PAT in 1974 in the Nor Cal section, the very first year that the PGA added this to the requirements for membership. What a hoot that first PAT turned out to be because going into it, all of us were scared to death. No one knew if we were going to lose our jobs if we failed or what. And in that first PAT, well over 3/4’s of the field choked (me included) and failed where the score to make was 158 !!
Once we found out we could keep re-taking it until we passed, that took the pressure off, well sort of. I passed it my second try at Almaden CC in San Jose, CA with help from a good buddy who caddied the 36 for me to keep me calm ! (He was the road Mgr for the Steve Miller Band, in between tours for Steve so he had the time and insisted he could keep me calm!) As luck would have it, I got very hot on the first 9 of the first 18 (31) and cruised in from there – and tried to choke in the last 18 ! Shot 69-79 so you can see what I mean when I say I tried to choke in the end !
I’m not sure how I feel about it as I look back on it. I had a VERY good asst pro friend at the time who was a fantastic teacher and superb manager at his club who never could pass it. Since that meant he could not be a PGA Member, he did drop out of the program and quit the golf business. I kept thinking how sad that was because he really could teach so well and could run a golf course better than 90% of the people who do that.
He was the person who taught me never to associate teaching ability in the game with playing ability. It does happen and I wish there were a way for guys like this to not be forced out if they can’t break 80.
smccanjr
Dec 22, 2015 at 10:45 am
I passed the PAT on my first attempt 70-74 at a joke of a course near Orlando in the early 90s…But the Real story the guy in front of my needed a birdie to pass on the number and he made birdie!!! He passed on his 17th attempt! I have since got my Am status back after a shirt folding accident as a Head Professional 😉 I have fun as a club pro but when I had children the hours were just too much.
steve
Dec 22, 2015 at 9:56 am
I took my PAT back in the early 1990’s and it took me twice to pass it on a course I knew like the back of my hand. The first time I took it I was a complete disaster. After growing up playing competitive golf and playing in college, I thought how hard can it be? But it is mental and the pressure of thinking that your career rides on this is about as close to Tour golf as it get for most. So, the next time I took it it played a ton better and the results spoke for themselves. Now I’m out of the golf business and working as an engineer but the accomplishment lasts a lifetime. Good luck to all those who will be embarking on this adventure.
Ronald Montesano
Dec 21, 2015 at 8:40 pm
Giuliano, not Guiliano. We Italians are quite sensitive about vowel syntax.
Setter02
Dec 21, 2015 at 7:30 pm
Been there, done that and have since gotten my Am status back. The courses aren’t set up to be too penal, but make sure that you can hit the shots needed. It is 95% mental, and a solid 5 capper and lower can do it. Above, your going to struggle. The biggest thing is not getting down on yourself on making bogeys, because you will. And if you stick to when you know and do well, you’ll make a few birdies. I had 4 triple bogies on my cards, but had 11 birdies as well to offset it.
I still consider the last 4 holes I played as the best golf I’ve ever played given that I had so little room for error, and the juices flowing. Nothing like 180+ yard 8is when your pumped up and shaking. its a great feeling of accomplishment to those who don’t play a lot of tournament golf (I was a 12ish capper 2 years prior to the start of my PGM course with no tournament experience at all). My main prep going in knowing where I was to be playing, irons only for the 3 months leading up. I’ve never had a season where I hit a 2i better, and it was all I needed to get around.
John
Dec 21, 2015 at 7:21 pm
Why I am writing this is purely on my experience and hope to offer some insight on a different career path. I passed my pat after third attempt. I was definitely good enough to pass with a breeze but with out question the physicological part is the toughest. At the time I was 19 years old. Upon reaching level two I realized the long shop hours and making money was either the lessons or becoming a Gm/head pro/director of golf probably not until my 40’s? So I choose to go back to school for agronomy. I wanted to still work at the golf course and taking care of what I love. Aspiring to be a golf course superintendent some day. Within 1 year I was already making double what I did in the shop, out early to still practice and play. By the time I was 26 I got my first super gig. Bottom line, if you like teaching I completely understand, but if you like playing and want to work in the industry stick to golf course maintenance. Hard work but pays off when you play your own product.
RJ
Dec 21, 2015 at 6:58 pm
At no point has anyone mentioned the competition aspect of passing the PAT. Nothing can simulate competition like competition. If it isn’t a few amatuer events leading up the test date or solid count all stroke money games with friends. Getting comfortable with the perform under pressure mentality is the next step of taking your game on the road. The AJGA, US Kids juniors all play so many tournaments that by college years the youthful veteran is able to not feel the nerves of the non seasoned player.
I have taken the PAT 3 times in 2 different states in 3 separate years and never sweated or came close to not making it. My past sports back round has helped me in performing in tournament golf. I have played baseball at a professional level, basketball in many tournaments plus softball on traveling teams. Now that I play golf for sport and money, the taking your game to the course just gets easier the more it is done. I have been paired with guys that have been on the PAT Tour. Their ability to play is somewhat there but the execution and nerves are all over the map that causes the bad nerves. So I like the idea of the authors drills just add some work in playing the game under pressure also and play like you know how too.
Just sharing my opinion… Happy Holidays to all!!!!
Former assistant
Dec 21, 2015 at 6:04 pm
I did mine at a really short course. Around 5900. Just hit irons or hybrids off the tee trying to have 90 yards in on every hole. Just a smooth wedge to the middle of the green, lag it up there, tap it in. Next hole. Worked like a charm. Don’t think I ever hit driver. Two others in my group started the same strategy after 9 holes. We all passed.
mhendon
Dec 21, 2015 at 4:53 pm
I had a friend years ago tell me I should take the PAT I could pass it easily. My response was why so I could get a 8 dollar an hour assistant pro’s position. NO THANKS!!!
mhendon
Dec 21, 2015 at 4:48 pm
I had a friend tell me years ago I should go take it I could pass easily. My response was why so I could get a 8 dollar an hour assistant pro’s position, NO THANKS!
Pccasstpro
Dec 21, 2015 at 4:38 pm
The PAT is the most basic of playing tests … I have know guys that have been on the “PAT Tour ” , it does come down to one thing , State Of Mind. It is purely psychological, a battle of the mind ! I have seen guys that are good players blow up and shoot in the 100’s . You play from a course that is no longer than 6500 yards (men) and 6000 yards (woman), but it gets into your head. The course is set up with the pins cut in the center or the flattest part of the green! You look at the comp sheet that is given to you, you read through the locals, and then you see it !! THE TARGET SCORE, at this point for some guys just stick a fork in them cause they are done ! To be honest a caddy helps out a ton, just have him look at the comp sheet and rip off or black out the target score, it works! I took it four times, should have passed my second but called a drop on myself while reviewing my card. The first time was a 3 shot miss, on my former high school home course. The guy that I am playing with, who was twice my age, is behind the first tee sign puking . Third time was pouring rain so hard they pulled us off and scrapped the day. Forth time ,I just played my game didn’t worry about score just played as if it was a medal tournament qualifier. I fired at every pin , and didn’t try to “steer” my ball around the course like many participants do ! You have to think about it as just another round! A day of attrition, you have 36 holes to play and soon forget about!
By the way for all of you guys posting , “13 over a 157 slope rating you suck!” First off, just try it before you say that . Second, some of the greatest / highest paid instructors, swing gurus, and swing coaches have NEVER passed the PAT !!
Tom
Dec 21, 2015 at 10:37 pm
my post was meant to be in jest I attempted three times and failed.
BJ
Dec 21, 2015 at 3:40 pm
I took three. I failed the first one, the second got rained out, but I’d have failed it, too, and the third one I past pretty easily.
It’s completely psychological. The first two, I listened to people that told me to play conservatively off the tee and “just make pars”. I got focused on the number. When I did make a mistake, it was harder to recover on both the hole where I made the mistake and on other holes. I’d hit iron off the tee. Then if I missed it, I had a long way in. Or I’d aim at the middle of the green and hit it a little off line and suddenly have a 60′ putt. Or if I made a bogey, I wasn’t getting any real birdie looks because I was laying up everywhere and never had any birdie chances.
Before the third, I decided I was being stupid. I was a good enough player that 13 over from that length course should be a cupcake. And I felt like, I’d already failed two, so what would it matter if I failed again.
So I approached it like I was getting a day off of work to have fun playing 36. I stayed out a little bit late the night before, didn’t hit more balls then I needed to get loose, and approached it with the mindset that I was going to try to medal. I hit driver everywhere I could and attacked. I didn’t medal, but I did shoot 73-74 and passed with about 10 shots to spare.
My advice to all the kids I know trying to pass the PAT is simple. Forget the number. Don’t play to try to shoot the number. Play like it’s any other event and simply try to shoot the lowest score you can. If you are good enough, you’ll pass. If not, practice more.
Guy
Dec 21, 2015 at 3:39 pm
Na ooffa is right… If you cant shoot that, then yeah you need to do some thinking. But I do understand the difference between pitching up and playing on a Sunday at the local vs turning up and “having” to shoot a score.
Alex
Dec 21, 2015 at 3:38 pm
I shot 148 (+4) and finished second at the PAT I attended. A lot of the guys don’t have any business even attempting the PAT, but I saw guys used to shooting in the 60’s flirt with 90’s and above. That being said, great players make it through just fine.
It’s one of those tournaments that will challenge you to the extreme mentally if you allow it. Guys are so focused on the number to make it through instead of making shots and scoring. My preparation for the tournament was a hole by hole strategy to best attack each hole. Led to 33/36 GIR and a fairly stress free PAT. I was just happy to get out of the pro shop for two days…
BJ
Dec 21, 2015 at 3:46 pm
One of the guys in my group in one I passed shot 95-98. I asked him where he worked and why he wanted to get into the business. He told me he had no intention of getting in the business. He simply looked at the PAT schedule and signed up for the ones at nicer courses just to play them cheap. Back then, the fee, onsite fee, and practice round were like $130-140 total. This guy was like “this place costs $60 bucks a round. If I do the PAT, it’s $45 per round for 3 rounds and I get free lunch…”
Dumbo
Dec 21, 2015 at 4:34 pm
Sounds like that guy was a true wrxer!
iPassedIt
Dec 21, 2015 at 3:09 pm
You state that the problem is one of psychology but then you provide physical drills to help people improve. It seems that you are not treating the problem, but instead are focusing on making people better golfers. In essence you could have left out the whole intro and just said “These drills will help you improve.” The reality is that those drills have nothing to do with playing to a target score – you should reevaluate how your “program” is improving your pass rate, if it is at all or if you just have recruited better students who have less trouble with the psychology of the PAT.
Jason
Dec 21, 2015 at 2:40 pm
I’ve been a scratch golfer since I was in my early teens. Played college golf and two years of regional mini-tour golf. I failed my first PAT attempt. It was all psychological. Instead of playing golf like a normal tournament where you try to shoot as low as possible, PAT’s seem to make people play defensively. I remember hitting 3 woods instead of drivers and playing for par. Made a huge mental mistake on the 36th hole and teed off from the tips instead of the blue tournament tees and missed by 2 shots. Second time around, I played all out, 12 birdies, went for everything and passed by 20 shots. This is a mental game and the PAT situation is not one we often confront. Passing is all about the right mindset.
ph00ny
Dec 21, 2015 at 2:06 pm
52 card drill sounds fun. Who decides on whether the shot was acceptable?
CPGA Pat
Dec 21, 2015 at 1:25 pm
Ooffa, spoken like someone who’s never taken the PAT. It took me 3 attempts. Trust me, I thought of it the same way as you did before I took it. Don’t judge until you’ve been there…
Philip
Dec 21, 2015 at 12:58 pm
At my age I am not thinking of the PAT, but still thanks! This is an awesome set of drills to work on after work when it is to late to really play 9, but the course, range and practice areas are more than quiet enough to do these evaluations. Best Christmas present I received in a long time – going to PDF it right now. Thanks again!
ooffa
Dec 21, 2015 at 12:57 pm
If you can’t 13 over for 36 holes perhaps golf professional is a poor career choice
cdvilla
Dec 21, 2015 at 1:21 pm
I’m sure there are some people who might be excellent teachers or facility managers who might not be able to pass the PAT. That like saying your have to be great athlete to be a great coach. Granted, you shouldn’t be terrible at golf… 🙂
John
Dec 21, 2015 at 2:21 pm
If you are having that much difficulty passing the PAT then you really don’t have any business giving golf lessons. 13 over from the middle tee’s to easy pins.
Tom
Dec 21, 2015 at 3:40 pm
Ya man I agree. If you post thirteen over on a 157 slope rating you suck! No teaching status for YOU!…ROFLMAO… NOT.
Jam
Dec 22, 2015 at 11:51 am
I get that a poor player can be a great teacher, but where do you draw the line? There has to be some standards. It is the golf business after all, you should be able to play a little.
Jay
Dec 21, 2015 at 3:51 pm
“If you can’t 13 over for 36….”
If you can’t what? Perhaps posting comments is not for you?