Mr. Golf

By Sharon Oswald

In the state of Mississippi, there is only one man who could hold the title of Mr. Golf. That man is Ben Nelson. And if one family personifies the world of golf at MSU, it is the Nelson family.

Ben Nelson’s career in the golfing world is legendary. He was a member of the Mississippi State golf team and later became one of three former Golf Dawgs inducted into the MSU Sports Hall of Fame. After graduating in 1966, he first became an assistant golf professional then a golf professional at the Vicksburg Country Club. He served on the PGA tour from 1987 to 2010 as a rules official, presiding over major golf championships including the Masters, the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship and the Ryder Cup. Branching out from the tour circuit, he founded Ben Nelson Golf & Outdoor, headquartered in Madison, a dealership for golf carts, utility vehicles, power equipment and trailers.

Nelson instilled the love of golf in his immediate family, with both son Benji and grandson Benjamin following in his footsteps as members of the Mississippi State men’s golf team. Benji played in one of three NCAA championship appearances in 1991. Benjamin recently graduated from MSU with his MBA and is now an assistant golf coach at Augusta State University.

But the senior Nelson’s “family” stretches far beyond the traditional lineage. More than 750 graduates of the PGA Golf Management (PGM) Program in the MSU College of Business further cultivated their love for the game in large part due to Nelson’s vision. In 1985, MSU became the second school in the nation to have a PGA sanctioned professional golf management program offered at the collegiate level. It was Nelson who saw the need for a program in the South, where students could golf most months of the year.

Mr. Nelson was an incredibly important part of the PGA Golf Management Program’s start at Mississippi State,” says Adam Scott, PGM Director. “Along with some prominent leaders in golf and at Mississippi State, Mr. Nelson was able to orchestrate meetings and conversations that helped establish our storied program.

Nelson took his idea to MSU landscape architecture professor Bob Callaway and Dr. Luther Epting, Director of MSU’s Cooperative Education Program, connecting them with representatives of the PGA of America. As the team worked through the details of a curriculum to satisfy PGA standards, the program eventually found its way to the College of Business and the late Dean Harvey Lewis. In the end, the PGA Golf Management Program became a concentration in the marketing curriculum under the direction of marketing professor and avid golfer Dr. Roland Jones. Jones remained at the helm until his passing in 1998. Today the program, in its 37th year of existence, is fully accredited by the PGA of America and has risen to a position of prominence among the 17 golf management programs in the United States, boasting graduates from 48 U.S. states and three foreign countries. MSU PGM graduates can be found at golf courses and golfrelated businesses throughout the world.

Ben Nelson, third from left, and family pose for a photo at the Ben Nelson PGM Suite announcement event.

Photo by Autumn Welborn

Over the years, Nelson has lent his knowledge and leadership toward making the program better. All involved credit Nelson with helping to make it the premier program that it is today.

Without Ben Nelson’s hard work, perseverance and influence, Mississippi State likely would not have been awarded the secondever Professional Golf Management Program by the PGA of America,” explains Joe Assell, a PGM graduate and the President and CEO of GOLFTEC. “Ben is a legend in golf, and MSU should be forever grateful for his longtime support.

Nelson’s contributions to the golf industry are still felt within the walls of the PGM suite in McCool Hall, locally at the MSU Golf Course and globally through the PGA of America. In 2021, the Nelson family, PGA professionals and PGA Golf Management Program graduates from all over the country had the idea to honor “Big Ben.”

“When I became the Director of the PGA Golf Management Program, it was clear we needed to make some improvements to our existing space,” says Adam Scott. “The program has always called McCool Hall home, and it had been almost 30 years since the last renovation.”

With that, Scott began some discussions with various leaders in the golf industry in Mississippi, and all discussions led to one name: Ben Nelson.

After these discussions, it was clear the golf community wanted to tip its cap to Nelson by renaming the PGM office suite after him. Now known as the Ben Nelson PGM Suite, the facility has been renovated and has a welcoming atmosphere. With his name on the office, students and alumni for years to come will associate Nelson with the gentlemanly qualities and professionalism that all future PGA members should embody.

“You know, my dad really cares about this program and the PGA of America,” says Benji. “What better way to honor him than to have his name on something he helped establish? We have friends all over the country because of this program and are lucky to be a part of it.”

The office space was modernized with new flooring, furniture and lighting. The brighter colors and added trophy case for all PGM golf tournament awards have been welcomed on the third floor of McCool, as many of the faculty and staff have commented about how much more inviting it is.

“The office space allows us to look forward while also remembering the individuals who helped lay the foundation for the program,” allows Scott. “As we continue to educate and attract new students, the office is a crucial part of our being able to put forward a professional and inviting atmosphere.”

To hundreds of PGM graduates over the past 37 years, Ben Nelson IS golf. The Ben Nelson PGA Golf Management Suite will keep Nelson’s influence burning bright for a new generation of golfers.

Students and alumni entering the suite will associate it with Nelson and his gentlemanly qualities and professionalism, which all future PGA members should embody.

Photo by Grace Cockrell