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FRISCO, Texas (February 17, 2025) - PGA of America Golf Professional Brandon Stooksbury, Owner of Stooksbury Golf in Metairie, Louisiana, has earned PGA Master Professional status, the highest education designation available through the Association.
Backed by more than 30,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals within the PGA of America, Stooksbury, a Member of the Gulf States Section PGA, joins a special group as the 480th PGA Member to earn the Master Professional designation. He achieved his designation in Teaching & Coaching.
“Becoming a PGA Master Professional has been on my radar for a long time; I’ve been working on this project for about eight years,” said Stooksbury. “I’m a big fan of lifelong learning and live my life by the idea that you’re either moving forward or moving backward, there is no standing still. In this industry, PGA Professionals are looked to as the experts, so it was an important milestone for me to prove that I’m going to keep getting better.”
The PGA Master Professional program was established in 1969 to recognize PGA of America Members who make a significant effort to improve as Golf Professionals and maintain the highest degree of excellence for themselves and their facilities. The curriculum is designed to ensure Golf Professionals are prepared to meet the growing demands of the marketplace within the Executive Management, Golf Operations and Teaching and Coaching Designations.
The PGA Master Professional program is available to individuals with at least 10 years of PGA of America Membership along with having achieved advanced certification through the PGA Specialized and Certified Professional Programs.
The curriculum includes an extensive project based on the specific certification previously acquired by the PGA of America Golf Professional. PGA Master Professional status is earned upon successful completion of the project’s presentation.
A PGA of America Golf Professional since 2008, Stooksbury spent time in the South Florida, Southwest and Georgia PGA Sections. Before returning to the Gulf States, Stooksbury served as the Head Golf Professional and Director of Instruction at The Idle Hour Club in Georgia for eight years. Stooksbury was named PGA Director of Golf of Metairie CC in 2021. In January 2026, he transitioned full-time to Stooksbury Golf, dedicating his focus to coaching and player development.
With a commitment to service, Stooksbury is on the Gulf States PGA Board of Directors and previously served on the Georgia PGA Board of Directors and as President of the Section. Stooksbury has regularly been recognized by Golf Digest as one of the “Best Teachers” in his state, while also being honored with the Georgia PGA’s Teacher of the Year Award in 2018. Additionally, Stooksbury is a four-time Professional Development Award recipient from the Southwest, Georgia and Gulf States Sections.
A decorated author, Stooksbury published Amazon #1 best seller “The Wedge Book: An Owner’s Manual for Your Short Game” and “The Putter Book: An Owner’s Manual for Your Green Game.”
Stooksbury resides in Louisiana, with his wife and their two children.
About the PGA of America
The PGA of America is one of the world’s largest sports organizations, composed of more than 30,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals who love the game, are expert coaches, operators and business leaders, and work daily to drive interest, inclusion and participation in the sport. The PGA of America owns and operates numerous championships and events, including major championships for men, women, seniors and the Ryder Cup, one of the world’s foremost sporting events. For more information, visit PGA.com and follow us on X, Instagram and Facebook.
Media Contacts:
Jesse Dodson, PGA - PGA of America, jdodson@pgahq.com
Jared Minski, Mastro Communications, jared@mastrocomm.com