Okay, so, about this PGA PAT thing. I’ve been trying to get into the whole golf scene, you know? And part of that is getting through this Playing Ability Test, or PAT. It’s like a rite of passage or something. I heard about it and thought, “Alright, let’s give this a shot!”
First off, I needed to figure out when and where these PATs were happening. I found out the schedule was up on their website. They’ve got this whole list of dates and locations, super handy. So, I started looking through the 2024 PAT Schedule and picked a date that worked for me.
Next, I had to actually register. I went back to their website and found a registration section. All I needed to do was to fill in some personal details, pay the fee with a credit card, and I was in! It felt like a big step, like I was really committing to this.
Now, the test itself, that’s a whole other story. It’s not just about showing up; you’ve got to play two rounds of golf, 36 holes in total. And you’ve got to do it well. I learned that the passing score is the course rating for 36 holes plus 15 strokes or less. Sounds doable, right? But then I heard that only about 20% of people pass! That made me a bit nervous, not going to lie.
I started practicing like crazy. I’d go to the driving range, work on my swing, try to get my handicap down. They say you need to play at a 6 handicap level or better to have a good shot at passing. So, every day, it was all about golf, golf, and more golf.
- Go to the driving range.
- Practice my swing.
- Focus on reducing my handicap.
Then there’s the whole dress code thing. Apparently, you can’t wear denim, and if you’re a guy, it’s slacks only. No shorts, unless the host section says it’s okay. I had to make sure I had the right clothes, or else I wouldn’t even be able to play.
I also found out that you need to attempt the PAT at least once within the eight years before registering into the PGA PGM Program. I mean, I had plenty of time since I was just starting, but it’s good to know these things beforehand.
Finally, the day came. I was at the course, clubs in hand, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. The first round went okay, but I knew I could do better. Took a break, tried to relax, and then went back out for the second round. I was just focused on each shot, trying to keep my score down.
In the end, I did my best. I’m still waiting on the results, but whatever happens, it was an experience. I put in the work, faced the challenge, and learned a lot about golf and myself along the way. Now it is just a waiting game to see if my scores were good enough. Fingers crossed!
