PGA PGM 3.0 QUALIFYING LEVEL STUDY 2026
EXAM Q&A STUDY GUIDE
◉ What does positive self-talk accomplish? Answer: Enhances a
player's confidence level
◉ Cheryl is ahead at the final hole of her club's stroke play
championship. She takes extra time surveying the green, but three
putts and loses the event by one stroke. What most likely happened?
Answer: She played with fear and focused on the wrong things
◉ What are the benefits of an effective pre-shot routine? Answer:
Help players stay mentally in the present and prepare players to hit
each shot
◉ What do effective pre-shot routines help players to focus their
attention on? Answer: Playing the game rather than the outcome
◉ What is one purpose of a practice swing taken during a pre-shot
routine? Answer: To reproduce the actual swing
◉ What can golfers do to get out of their own way? Answer: Become
aware of psychological playing problems
,◉ Should emotion management strategies be part of both pre- and
post-shot routines?(True/False) Answer: True
◉ What should be included in the post-shot routine following a good
shot? Answer: Positive self-talk
◉ What is the recommended immediate post-shot means for
controlling one's emotions following a poor shot? Answer: Stay
rational and accept the shot
◉ What doe pre- and post-shot routines provide? Answer: A
meaningful way to play your best
◉ What pre-shot routine problem could cause a poor shot outcome?
Answer: Not committing 100% to the swing
◉ What must one learn in order to gain the benefits of the
progressive muscle relaxation technique? Answer: To detect
undesirable tension in the body
◉ How should players use the post-shot routine to achieve complete
focus on the process of playing the game? Answer: Accept each shot
and manage emotions
,◉ Why is it important to have students with similar skill and fitness
levels, motivation and experience for group instructions? Answer:
More likely to benefit from group instruction where interests vary
◉ What type of player is best served by individual lessons? Answer:
Advanced player
◉ What is a group lesson advantage? Answer: Uses others as
learning resources which builds a community of learners and team
cohesion
◉ What is the recommended practice regarding writing out a
complete lesson plan before beginning golf instruction? Answer:
Make a mental map of the instructional journey with the student
◉ What is the correct planning assumption behind a skill
development sequence for individual lessons? Answer: Must be well
conceived and properly constructed
◉ How should teachers respond to lessons that are getting off track?
Answer: Have a clear vision of the lesson's purpose
◉ Why should one have contingency plans? Answer: No instructor
can predict exactly what will happen
, ◉ What should be included in long-term player development
planning? Answer: A written statement of the program's purpose
and goals
◉ What is the purpose of golf instruction from the standpoint of
long-term lesson planning? Answer: Allows players to build from
one success to the next
◉ What is the difference between a lesson plan and a long-term
developmental plan? Answer: Long-term planning is presented
progressively
◉ How does the PGA define the elite player for purposes of
developing a long-term player development plan? Answer: Primary
goal of being competitive at a high level
◉ What are the two guidelines that define both the purpose and the
activities of a junior golf development program? Answer: Safety, fun,
and proper mechanics
◉ What is one misconception regarding who is best qualified to
teach people with a disability or injury to play golf? Answer:
Teaching must come from someone that has expertise outside of golf
EXAM Q&A STUDY GUIDE
◉ What does positive self-talk accomplish? Answer: Enhances a
player's confidence level
◉ Cheryl is ahead at the final hole of her club's stroke play
championship. She takes extra time surveying the green, but three
putts and loses the event by one stroke. What most likely happened?
Answer: She played with fear and focused on the wrong things
◉ What are the benefits of an effective pre-shot routine? Answer:
Help players stay mentally in the present and prepare players to hit
each shot
◉ What do effective pre-shot routines help players to focus their
attention on? Answer: Playing the game rather than the outcome
◉ What is one purpose of a practice swing taken during a pre-shot
routine? Answer: To reproduce the actual swing
◉ What can golfers do to get out of their own way? Answer: Become
aware of psychological playing problems
,◉ Should emotion management strategies be part of both pre- and
post-shot routines?(True/False) Answer: True
◉ What should be included in the post-shot routine following a good
shot? Answer: Positive self-talk
◉ What is the recommended immediate post-shot means for
controlling one's emotions following a poor shot? Answer: Stay
rational and accept the shot
◉ What doe pre- and post-shot routines provide? Answer: A
meaningful way to play your best
◉ What pre-shot routine problem could cause a poor shot outcome?
Answer: Not committing 100% to the swing
◉ What must one learn in order to gain the benefits of the
progressive muscle relaxation technique? Answer: To detect
undesirable tension in the body
◉ How should players use the post-shot routine to achieve complete
focus on the process of playing the game? Answer: Accept each shot
and manage emotions
,◉ Why is it important to have students with similar skill and fitness
levels, motivation and experience for group instructions? Answer:
More likely to benefit from group instruction where interests vary
◉ What type of player is best served by individual lessons? Answer:
Advanced player
◉ What is a group lesson advantage? Answer: Uses others as
learning resources which builds a community of learners and team
cohesion
◉ What is the recommended practice regarding writing out a
complete lesson plan before beginning golf instruction? Answer:
Make a mental map of the instructional journey with the student
◉ What is the correct planning assumption behind a skill
development sequence for individual lessons? Answer: Must be well
conceived and properly constructed
◉ How should teachers respond to lessons that are getting off track?
Answer: Have a clear vision of the lesson's purpose
◉ Why should one have contingency plans? Answer: No instructor
can predict exactly what will happen
, ◉ What should be included in long-term player development
planning? Answer: A written statement of the program's purpose
and goals
◉ What is the purpose of golf instruction from the standpoint of
long-term lesson planning? Answer: Allows players to build from
one success to the next
◉ What is the difference between a lesson plan and a long-term
developmental plan? Answer: Long-term planning is presented
progressively
◉ How does the PGA define the elite player for purposes of
developing a long-term player development plan? Answer: Primary
goal of being competitive at a high level
◉ What are the two guidelines that define both the purpose and the
activities of a junior golf development program? Answer: Safety, fun,
and proper mechanics
◉ What is one misconception regarding who is best qualified to
teach people with a disability or injury to play golf? Answer:
Teaching must come from someone that has expertise outside of golf
