Deciding on a college major is difficult, but UCCS offers an option specific to only 15 universities nationwide: PGA golf management.
College of Business students have the option to take this as an area of emphasis, as it requires classes specific to the Professional Golfers Association’s requirements, in addition to the general requirements of the Management degree. This program automatically gives students a membership with the PGA.
Students in this program take one PGA-specific class every semester, learning everything from teaching and coaching to operations and golf car fleet management. Students also enter into a cohort they take classes with every year. This fall, roughly 70 students will be admitted into the cohort.
The smaller cohort allows for more direct mentoring of the students. “They’re able to do that because we’re not one of those giant programs,” Paul DeSandro, recruiting and outreach specialist for PGA Golf Management, said. “There are programs in the country that their freshman class is as big as our entire program.”
Audrey Rosen, a senior in the program, mentioned that DeSandro and Jon Husby, principal program and internship coordinator of PGA Golf Management, regularly sit down one-on-one with each student to ensure their success. She found this was greatly beneficial to her college experience.
“A lot of us chose this industry because we’re passionate about the sport and everything that comes with it,” Rosen said. “It’s a way for students to make their passion their profession.”
Once a month, they host Professional Golf Management Service Society (PGMSS) meetings that bring in industry professionals to speak to the students. Students are required to attend and engage with speakers. In February, the president of the PGA of America came in as their guest speaker.
This degree requires 16 months of paid internships to complete. “They’re not only accountable to their actual job [internship], but also to their program. They’re accountable to the PGA,” DeSandro said.
Students commonly learn how to run tournaments, manage a car fleet, sell merchandise and run golf clinics during their internships, but other options are available as well. The first internship takes place at a “green grass facility” or traditional outdoor golf club. After that, internships can be specialized to fit the interests of the students.
Internships take place for three months over the summer. Students are placed at one of 60 golf clubs around the country. According to DeSandro, housing is often provided or heavily subsidized since these interns are in such high demand.
Ed’s Room, an on-campus lounge on the top floor of Dwire only for students in the program, is the set meeting place for resume workshops and interviews leading up to internship placement. This year, the program held over 140 interviews between students and clubs in one week.
DeSandro works with Husby to prepare students for interviews and get them placed. Husby handles outreach to golf clubs, especially for students interested in interning somewhere outside of their existing 60 partners.
Two students are completing their internship overseas this summer, as they attempt to rebuild international partnerships. “Before COVID-19, we had a lot more international internships, and then COVID-19 kind of stopped that,” DeSandro said.
Rosen enjoyed her internships and loves the fun culture of the program. “I’m going to have a job whenever I graduate. That’s nice, knowing what I’m going to do with my life and have my career set early,” she said.
There is a Swing Lab in Dwire Hall available to students that allows them to practice for a test related to their golfing abilities. Students are also able to practice club fitting.
The PGA Golf Management Club is for students within the program to meet and discuss their studies. Students outside of the program can reach out to a representative from the club if they are interested in attending a meeting to learn more about the program.
Graphic by Olivia Davis.