F
or many aspiring golf professionals, earning PGA of America Membership is a transformative experience marked by dedication, skill and perseverance. At the heart of this journey lies the PGA Playing Ability Test (PAT), a critical milestone that challenges golfers to demonstrate their game mastery.
It is crucial to grasp the importance of the PAT. Unlike casual golf, which is more relaxed, the PAT requires consistent performance, strategic thinking and mental resilience under challenging conditions. Achieving or surpassing a set target score over two rounds of golf is daunting, with only a few participants succeeding on their initial attempt. The stress of the examination can exacerbate self-doubt, highlighting the necessity for comprehensive preparation and a confident mindset.
I recently had the pleasure of discussing this topic with Mike Miller, the PGA of America Head Golf Professional at Big Canoe Golf Course in Jasper, Georgia. He is a second-career PGA Professional who started his life as a music educator for 13 years. As the Georgia PGA Vice President, Mike has some insightful ideas on tackling the PAT challenge.
“The PAT was my biggest obstacle to becoming a Class-A PGA Member,” he said. “I often joked about being on the ‘PAT Tour,’ always contributing but never succeeding until my 23rd attempt. With countless stories from these experiences, I could write a book. However, I’d like to share the key advice that ultimately led to my success.”
Doug Wert: What do you see as one of the overall roadblocks to success in the Playing Ability Test?
Mike Miller: Golfers often view bogeys negatively, leading to a mental spiral during a PAT. Many players let the fear of bogeys ruin their performance. Imagine aiming for a 78, but an early bogey from a wayward drive shakes your confidence, making you abandon your strategy. Instead, embrace bogeys — they’re part of the game. Even tour professionals make them, and we must adjust our mindset as professionals playing the PAT. While playing, a bogey isn’t the end; it’s just part of the round. The key is to be calm about bogeys to keep them from affecting your performance during the 36-hole day.
Wert: What do you see as a common challenge during the PAT?
Miller: A common PAT challenge is focusing on the total score too early. During my first PAT, I planned to avoid knowing my score until after the 36th hole. But at the 35th hole, my scorekeeper said, “Par the last two holes, and you’ll make it,” which unsettled me. Despite an incredible drive, I began overthinking, and nerves led to double bogeys on the final holes, making me miss the target by four shots.
Wert: What was your approach to finally “conquering” the PAT?
Miller: Someone suggested viewing an 18-hole golf round as six 3-hole mini-tournaments with a target of plus-1 for each set, and achieving this target results in a score of plus-6 on a par-72 course, totaling 78, a common requirement for the PAT.
I found that accepting bogeys helped keep my mental game steady. In the first round of my final PAT, I played a 3-hole sequence with a birdie and two pars, putting me ahead of the plan. The next set featured two bogeys and a par. This outcome placed me at plus-1 for those two sets, but I was one shot ahead of my goal despite consecutive bogeys. It reinforced the idea that bogeys are OK and helped me stay focused and grounded.
Being a visual learner, I drew brackets around each 3-hole set on my scorecard (pictured) to maintain focus. This approach allowed me to visualize the round as six 3-hole mini-tournaments.
With all of Mike’s thoughts, viewing the PAT as six three-hole tournaments simplifies the challenge, making the overall score less daunting. Like the saying, “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.”
Breaking the PAT into smaller parts makes success more achievable. The PAT can seem like a big hurdle to membership, but it’s not insurmountable. Keep your perspective in check, and don’t let it become overwhelming.
Doug Wert, PGA, is a PGA Career Services Consultant serving the Georgia PGA Section. He can be reached at (719) 351-2738 or dwert@pgahq.com.
