Joseph Chun, born in Orange County, California, now lives in Switzerland with his Swiss partner and their three children. His path into the Swiss PGA was anything but conventional: it led first through an apprenticeship as a carpenter at Vogel Design AG, where he later worked as a machinist, content creator, and kitchen installer.

Returning to His First Passion

Before moving to Switzerland, Chun had already spent ten years working in the American golf industry. Returning to golf was therefore less a change of direction than a deliberate step back toward his roots.
“Golf has always been my first love,” he says. This time, however, his motivation has shifted: not to advance his own playing career, but to help develop the next generation of golfers.

A Defining Moment

During his university years, Chun experienced a moment that still shapes him today. After helping a teammate with his putting during a brief practice session, that same teammate went on to win the next tournament — comfortably ahead of Chun himself.
“Seeing someone else succeed was unexpectedly fulfilling,” he recalls. That realisation — that teaching can be just as valuable as playing — strongly influences his approach today as a Swiss PGA apprentice.

Demanding Years of Training

Chun describes the Swiss PGA Education as “compact, high-quality, and internationally respected.” He highlights the playing requirements in particular: eight qualification rounds over three years, each contributing to an average score of four over par or better.
“Anyone who graduates from this program is a good golfer,” he says.

Balancing a young family with the demanding training structure made his return to competitive golf challenging — but also disciplined and purposeful.

Teaching Between Diagnostics and Responsibility

For Chun, golf instruction is first and foremost about precise analysis. A detailed understanding of the swing is the foundation for any meaningful correction. “A single wrong tip can do more harm than good,” he says — echoing Butch Harmon’s principle of identifying the single root flaw that causes all the others.

His teaching philosophy combines technical expertise with a strong sense of responsibility. Corrections must be logical, targeted, and individually meaningful — not quick fixes, but lasting improvements.

Language is also part of that professionalism. Speaking Swiss German — even imperfectly — helps him connect with students and establish trust. For him, communication is the bridge between diagnosis and effective teaching.

People as Motivation

What shapes Chun most are the people he encounters through his training. From elite players to business leaders to children picking up a golf club for the first time — each perspective broadens his understanding of the sport.
“These different viewpoints constantly show me how diverse golf really is, and what it can mean to each individual,” he says.

Looking Ahead

Chun is cautious when speaking about future plans, but it is clear that he envisions a long-term role in the industry — perhaps as a head professional or within a project of his own in the golf sector.

His wish for the revised Swiss PGA Education starting in 2026: the integration of TPI for all apprentices, in order to further strengthen diagnostic quality and long-term training methodology.