PGM Programs

Here at the Hub, we know what it's like to catch the "golf bug." Golf is an absorbing sport, and it's easy to fall in love with the game. For some of us, this love will extend even beyond golf as a competitive sport and include golf as a prospective career. Great! There's just one problem, though. Colleges provide clear majors for such well-trodden paths as accounting and engineering. But what about golf? Where can you learn the rules of golf? And how to run a tournament? And the basics of teaching? And club fitting?

Enter the Professional Golf Management Program (PGM). This unique 4.5- to 5-year program at 16 accredited universities allows you to leave college with both a degree and your PGA of America membership. Not bad!

Here's how it works.

1. Apply to your favorite program:

See the list below for the 16 accredited colleges with PGM programs. Check the entrance requirements, as enrollees typically must have a handicap of 10-12 or better. Lastly, we recommend applying early in the academic year, as many of the most popular programs (Coastal Carolina, Penn State) fill up fast!

2. Take both general education and PGM core courses:

General education courses are your traditional college courses (math, humanities, etc.), and PGM courses are golf-specific, including courses on such disparate topics as swing analysis, merchandising and inventory management, tournament operations, rules of golf, golf car fleet management, club design, and more.

3. Take the Level I, II, and III exams:

These are tests necessary for PGA certification and are embedded into the curriculum of the PGM programs.

4. Pass the Playing Ability Test (PAT):

To pass the PAT, you'll need to play 36 holes and score within 15 shots of the course rating.

5. Complete your internship:

The PGM program mandates on-the-job experience, and you'll typically need to complete a total of 16 months of internships to obtain your PGA certification.

The reward for all that hard work? A bachelor's degree. Membership in the PGA of America. And maybe best of all, a nearly 100% job placement rate (Mom and Dad will love that!).

Here's a list of the institutions that have a PGM program. Feel free to click through each program's homepage to learn more about what they can offer you.

• Campbell University

• Coastal Carolina University

• Eastern Kentucky University

• Ferris State University

• Florida Gulf Coast University

• Methodist University

• Mississippi State University

• New Mexico State University

• Penn State University

• Sam Houston State University

• University of Central Oklahoma

• University of Colorado Colorado Springs

• University of Idaho

• University of Maryland Eastern Shore

• University of Nebraska-Lincoln

• University of Nevada-Las Vegas

And here is a sample PGM curriculum:

Qualifying Level — The first half of the first semester on campus is spent covering this material.

• Topics: Introduction to the PGM Program; The History and Constitution of the PGA; Rules of Golf

Level 1 — Takes the student through the fall semester of their sophomore year.

• Topics: Business Planning; Tournament Operations; Customer Relations; Golf Car Fleet Management; Introduction to Teaching and Golf Club Performance

Level 2 — Takes the student through the fall semester of their junior year.

• Topics: Golf Operations; Turfgrass Management; Merchandising and Inventory Management; Intermediate Teaching and Golf Club Alterations

Level 3 — Students will typically finish Level 3 in the spring of their senior year.

• Topics: Human Resources/Supervising and Delegating; Food and Beverage Control; Career Enhancement; Player Development Programs/Teaching as a Business; Advanced Teaching and Golf Club Fitting

Along the Way

Internship Experience — You will complete a total of five internships to fulfill the program's 16-month internship experience requirement. All five internships are credit-based classes, in which you will complete assignments in the PGA of America's education program to supplement and enhance your learning experience.

Pass the Playing Ability Test (PAT) — To pass the 36-hole PAT, you must achieve a score within 15 shots of the course rating. For example, if the course rating is 72, the target score for the 36 holes would be 159 (72 x 2 = 144 + 15 = 159).

Hub note to prospective "PATers": Passing the PAT may seem like a daunting task, but with your newfound experience in and around the game, we think you'll be just fine. It may take a few tries, but you'll get through it!

Finally, here is a list of possible majors that go nicely with the PGM program:

• Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management

• Marketing

• Business Administration

• Agribusiness

• Math

• Science

• English

• Communications

• Finance

• Accounting

Enjoy your Journey!