The PGA of America is pleased to announce that five PGA Professionals have achieved PGA Master Professional status, the highest educational designation that can be attained within the Association.

The following PGA Professionals recently graduated from the PGA Master Professional Program 2.0 (PGA MPP 2.0), and have joined an elite field of Master Professionals:

• Tom Morton, Director of Instruction, Haggin Oaks Golf Complex, Sacramento, CA, (Player Development)
• John Cooper, PGA Head Golf Professional, Longshore Club Park, Westport, CT (General Management)
• Joseph C. Plecker, Director of Instruction, The Elkridge Club, Baltimore, MD (Teaching & Coaching)
• Jason Rockhold,Director of Instruction, Impact Performance Golf Learning Center, Charlotte, NC (Player Development)
• Andrew Fisher, PGA Head Golf Professional, The Kansas City Country Club, Mission Hills, KS (Player Development)

Morton, Rockhold and Fisher earned PGA Master Professional status with a certification in Player Development, while Cooper received his certification in General Management and Plecker achieved certification in Teaching & Coaching. Both Morton and Plecker followed in the footsteps of their fathers, Ken Morton Sr., and Coleman Plecker - also members of the acclaimed fraternity of Master Professionals.

Since the program’s inception, 358PGA Professionals have earned the prestigious PGA Master Professional designation.

The PGA of America recently updated its member education curriculum to ensure PGA Professionals are prepared to meet the growing demands of the current marketplace. The PGA Master Professional Program was established in 1969, to recognize PGA members who have made a significant effort to improve as golf Professionals and maintain the highest degree of excellence for themselves and their operations.

The updated PGA Master Professional Program (PGA MPP 2.0) is available for PGA Professionals who have achieved advanced certification through the PGA Certified Professional Program (CPP 2.0), which was launched in 2004. After a PGA member obtains PGA Certified Professional status, he or she is eligible to work toward their Master Professional designation by preparing a special project in one or more of the seven designated career paths that must meet the approval of a panel of examiners from the PGA Education Department. The PGA Master Professional applicant then presents his or her project to a panel and explains their methodology.

The PGA MPP 2.0 curriculum is comprised of an extensive project based on the specific certification previously acquired by the PGA Professional. The project includes a detailed demonstration that is overseen and evaluated by PGA Master Professionals, PGA Subject Matter Experts and professional testing consultants.

The program requires a minimum of eight years of PGA membership, in order to be eligible to earn PGA Master Professional status.

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