Rules of Golf

Amateur Status Spotlight: Community Golf Instructors in Africa

The R&A

21 Sep 26

3 mins

Earlier in 2026, The R&A rolled out its Community Golf Instructor Programme to the continent for the first time, delivering the established training programme across Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda.Earlier in 2026, The R&A rolled out its Community Golf Instructor Programme to the continent for the first time, delivering the established training programme across Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda.

The initiative is designed to grow and strengthen the grassroots golf workforce by allowing amateur golfers to provide instruction for payment or compensation as part of an Approved Programme operated by a national federation. The instructors play a vital role in increasing access to golf for juniors, women and underserved communities, helping to create more inclusive and welcoming entry points into the sport. Community Golf Instructors that took part in the training will be deployed nationwide through schools and community golf programmes, delivering fun, engaging and beginner-friendly experiences that introduce new audiences to the game.
The introduction of Approved Programmes and the ability for amateur golfers to offer instruction in specific circumstances formed part of the modernisation of the Rules of Amateur Status which came into effect in 2022. These programmes are intended to complement the work of qualified professional coaches by focussing on introducing more people to the game. Such programmes must be approved by the appropriate national governing body or federation in advance, to ensure coaching is coordinated effectively and delivers the greatest benefit within the region. Approval also ensures that amateur golfers provide instruction only within the scope of the programme.

The Community Golf Instructor Programme reflects The R&A’s ongoing commitment to developing the game globally by empowering local workforces and supporting national federations in growing participation from the grassroots level. The programme has already been successfully implemented in countries including Great Britain, Ireland, Romania, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Vietnam, Egypt and Uganda, as well as most recently in Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. Across these regions, trained amateur golfers work alongside PGA organisations to successfully deliver introductory coaching programmes to new golfers. Its introduction to Africa comes at a timely moment, with competitive golf continuing to grow across the continent. Alongside the African Amateur Championship which provided the winner with an exemption into The 154th Open, and the Africa Amateur Women’s Invitational, which showcases many of the region’s leading female amateurs, the 2027 World Amateur Team Championships will be hosted in Morocco and the continent of Africa for the first time. As opportunities for African golfers to compete at the highest amateur levels continue to increase, the Community Golf Instructor Programme aims to support and strengthen the grassroots pathways that will help sustain the game’s development across the continent in the years ahead.