PGA Professional
Golf Management
The Power of Penn State
For more than 150 years Penn State has been a leader in higher education, as shown by rankings from those who monitor academe from the outside. Penn State ranks No. 50 overall among national universities in U.S. News & World Report’s 2017 “Best Colleges” rankings. The University comes in No. 14 among national public universities.
PGM Program Overview Since 1990, the PGA of America has accredited the Penn State PGA Golf Management Program. The Program prepares students for a career in the business of golf. In addition to the core curriculum, this option has a strong business focus and draws from several nationally recognized academic disciplines on campus. Courses from the Smeal College of Business, Hospitality Management, Turfgrass Management, and Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management will complement students’ general education courses. Additionally, students gain membership with the PGA of America as a Class “A” PGA Professional upon graduation.
A Tradition of Success PGM graduates go on to exciting careers in the golf industry. Our extensive alumni network affords students with numerous internship and employment opportunities.
Paying it Forward PGM alumni often return to Penn State to teach, mentor, and network with current students. Alumni also create opportunities for Penn State students through internships and employment.
PGM Mentoring Program Alumni mentors are assigned to each Penn State PGA Golf Management student based upon career goals and shared interests. The mentors work with each student to establish and pursue goals academically and within the golf industry.
The PGM Program has supportive faculty and staff members who help create a family environment while ensuring a quality education is first priority. Left to right, Eric Handley, PGA; Brian SoulĂŠ, PGA; Darla Houseman; Matthew Bakowicz, PGA; and Dr. Burch Wilkes.
Student-Centered Education Academic excellence is the cornerstone of the Penn State PGA Professional Golf Management Program, offering world-class instruction and personal attention in a close-knit atmosphere.
PGA Leadership Course The Developing Golf Industry Leaders course combines classroom lectures, presentations, guest speakers, outside reading assignments, culminating projects, and an immersive program at the PGA Merchandise Show, the largest golf industry convention in the world. The class also gives PGM students an opportunity to see facets of the golf industry that many of them would not otherwise have the opportunity to experience. Additionally, the course provides students with mentoring opportunities with alumni and industry professionals.
“The Penn State Program helped me develop as an individual and a professional. One of the greatest assets is the incredible network for students. I attribute all my success in the golf industry to the experiences Penn State provided.” – Patrick Gunning ’08, PGA Head Professional The Kittansett Club
Student-Centered Education Internships Five required internships ensure PGM students acquire the necessary skills to reach their career goals following graduation. Students intern at prestigious golf facilities across the country, including: • Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, New York • The Kittansett Club, Massachusetts • Desert Mountain Golf Club, Arizona • Glenwild Golf Club, Utah
Beyond Golf A PGM degree can prepare students for careers in industries that go beyond the world of golf, such as: • Other Sports
While most PGM alumni pursue careers in golf, some alumni have embarked on other paths and hold professional titles such as:
• Entertainment
• Financial Adviser
• Business & Entrepreneurship
• CEO & Entrepreneur
• Finance
• Certified Financial Planner
• Travel
• Account Executive
• Recreation
• Chief Market Technician
“My overall academic, cultural, and social experience at Penn State provided me with the essential tools to compete in the ever changing business world.” – Jon Boland ’99, Vice-President Donald Ross Sportswear
The Golf Teaching and Research Center Penn State’s Golf Teaching and Research Center (GTRC) features high-tech equipment for swing analysis and highly regarded biomechanics research.
Student Access The lab provides students with hands-on experience to complement coursework and valuable professional development for PGM student interns.
Innovative Technology Using innovative technology, faculty and staff can pinpoint characteristics and errors that occur in a golfer’s swing, short game, equipment, and more. The GTRC’s innovative teaching technologies include: • 3D motion capture systems • Force plates • Doppler radar launch monitors • Putting green • Modifying club equipment
Student-Focused Expansion The 2017 expansion includes two additional hitting bays with updated technology and more cameras, force plates, and 3D biomechanics systems. This will enhance student access to the GTRC throughout the school year, grow outreach to the golfing public, and advance the center’s cutting-edge research.
World-Class Facilities Penn State Golf Courses All Penn State Professional Golf Management students are members of the Penn State Golf Courses. This membership gives you full playing and practicing privileges on both the Blue Course and the White Course, along with the ability to make advanced tee times.
Golf Shop For three consecutive years, Penn State Golf Courses received the “100 Best Golf Shops” Award by the Golf World Business Magazine, a Golf Digest publication serving golf retailers. Golf Management students learn from this “Model Golf Shop,” which was also recognized by the Philadelphia PGA Section as a “Merchandiser of the Year” for four consecutive years.
Practice Facilities The Penn State Golf Courses practice facility is exclusively for PGM students and Penn State golf teams. Set up to simulate all of the necessary practice situations that might be found on any course, the facility contains multiple hitting tiers, a chipping and pitching green, green-side bunkers, fairway bunkers, and uneven lies.
Club Repair Facility All PGM students have complete access to the club repair facility at the Penn State Golf Courses. The club repair room contains all of the necessary tools to re-grip; re-shaft; and adjust lie, length, loft, and swing weight of any club.
PGM Office and Student Lounge PGM students have full access to the PGM Office and Student Lounge on the seventh floor of the Donald H. Ford Building. The student lounge includes comfortable seating, TV, and multiple computers with access to the internet and internship database system. It’s conveniently located near PGM faculty and staff offices.
Unforgettable Experiences Spring Break Trip to Scotland While completing the PGM program, students have an opportunity to experience some of the world’s top golf destinations at the “home of golf” in St. Andrews, Scotland. Leading up to the trip, students meet weekly to prepare for the trip by gaining an understanding of: • Scotland’s history and culture
• Golf course architecture
• Golf history
• Golf facility design
While in Scotland, students gain a better understanding of the golf industry from an international perspective, experience the history and culture of Scotland, and play some of the most historic and best courses in the world, including: • Carnoustie
• Jubilee
• Castle
• Muirfield
• Crail
• Old Course
Spring Break Trip to Bandon Dunes, Oregon PGA Golf Management students are also able to experience a special trip to the #1 Golf Resort in the world - Bandon Dunes. In a trip that rivals a trip to Scotland, the students get to play some of the best public golf courses in the world. Students have an opportunity to golf at: • Bandon Dunes
• Old MacDonald
• Pacific Dunes
• Bandon Trails
Students also meet with administrators of Bandon Dunes and visit Nike World Headquarters.
Sea Island, Georgia (PGA Tour Experience) Students have the chance to experience Sea Island, Georgia, where they gain an understanding of the management practices necessary to manage one of the top resorts in the world. Students also learn more about Sea Island’s top ranked fitness facility and golf course and architecture, meet with facility administrators, and visit TopGolf, a business focused on golf and hospitality.
Student Tournament Series The PGA Student Society manages a series of competitive golf events throughout the fall and spring semesters where students become better golfers and meet their fellow classmates. The events feature: • Weekly formats and tournament supplies
• Wall of Champions in the PGM Office
• Tournament payouts to the top eight finishers
• Penn State representation at the PGA’s Jones Cup
• Food and drinks
• Overall tournament prizes for Player of the Year and Vardon Trophy winners
• Tournament prizes
The Tournament Series features over 13 events, including: • Welcome Back Tournament
• Chili Open
• Nittany Lion Open
• Ice Breaker Tournament
• Fall Championship
• PGA Foursomes
• Blue White Invitational
Getting Involved PGM Student Society The PGA Professional Golf Management Student Society provides a forum for students to openly discuss relevant golf related issues; organizes and achieves the objectives the Society feels are important for the golf management option; and assists students so that future internships and golf related employment will be executed in accordance with the established guidelines of the Professional Golfers’ Association of America (PGA).
THON Penn State Dance Marathon (THON) is the world’s largest student-run philanthropy, engaging more than 16,500 students in the fight against childhood cancer – including PGM students who are actively involved each year. THON’s yearlong fundraising and awareness campaign culminates in a 46-hour no-sitting, no-sleeping dance marathon every February. Since 2006, the PGM students have raised more than $300,000 for Four Diamonds at Penn State Children’s Hospital.
“THON weekend is one of the most difficult, emotional, and rewarding weekends a person will ever experience and it will always be the biggest highlight of my time here at Penn State.” – Josh Christopher, senior PGM THON director
PGA Accreditation Since 1990, the Professional Golfers’ Association of America has accredited the Penn State PGA Golf Management Program. The program provides extensive engaged learning opportunities through classroom experiences, cooperative education internships, and player development. Expanded career paths are available in addition to traditional green grass locations. Upon graduation, students gain membership with the PGA of America as a Class “A” PGA Professional.
Schedule a Visit Schedule a personal visit by calling 814-865-7034 Professional Golf Management The Pennsylvania State University 801 Ford Building University Park, PA 16802-1307 hhd.psu.edu/rptm/PGM facebook.com/PennStatePGM twitter.com/PennStatePGM
Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to minorities, women, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and other protected groups. Nondiscrimination: http://guru.psu.edu/policies/AD85.html (KINES18012) U.Ed. HHD 18-012