Sport Management (BS): Professional Golf Management Concentration
Through extensive classroom studies and internship experience, our program prepares students to take on the business side of the golf industry, including marketing, budgeting, merchandising, instruction, golf cart fleet management and tournament operations. Students also develop valuable skills around the social impacts of the sport to help them deliver excellent customer service in the areas of teaching, customer relations and technology.
We provide small classes that work specifically with the PGA Work Experience Kit and offer in-class testing and preparation for the PGA tests. Students must have a handicap of 12 or below to be admitted to the program.
Students complete 16 months of required internships at golf facilities around the country and world under the direction of Class A PGA professionals. We work with more than 600 facilities, including Interlachen Country Club in Minnesota, Pebble Beach Resorts in California, Pacific Pine Sports Group in China, NBC’s Golf Channel and Stitch Golf. Through innovative service-learning partnerships with Inspiration Golf, First Tee of the Triangle, and SwingPals, Inc., PGA Golf Management students practice their teaching skills regularly with at-risk and middle school youth and students with limited abilities. Our graduates receive PGA membership upon job placement.
Scholarships
We host an Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament to raise money for incoming freshmen and current student scholarships in PGA Golf Management. We also encourage our students to apply through PACKAssist to be eligible for all college and departmental scholarships as well.
Contact Person
Plan Requirements
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| PRT 150 | Recreation, Sport, Tourism, and Event Management Orientation | 1 |
| PRT 156 | Professional Golf Management Orientation | 3 |
| PRT 266 | Introduction to Sport Management 1 | 3 |
| Mathematics Elective | 3 | |
| Acad Writing Research 1 | 4 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| PRT 210 | Golf Management I | 1 |
| COM 110 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| PRT 250 | Facilities Management in Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Event Management | 3 |
| Select one of the following Economics courses: | 3 | |
| Fundamentals of Economics 2 | ||
| Principles of Microeconomics | ||
| Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics | ||
| PRT 238 | Diversity and Inclusion in Recreation and Sport | 3 |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Summer | ||
| COP 100 | Co-Op Work lst Alt | 0 |
| Hours | 0 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| PRT 211 | Golf Management II | 1 |
| MIE 201 | Introduction to Business Processes | 3 |
| PRT 286 | Writing and Speaking in Sports Organizations | 3 |
| PRT 375 | Professional Development and Internship Orientation | 2 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| COP 200 | Co-Op Work 2nd Alt | 0 |
| Hours | 0 | |
| Summer | ||
| COP 300 | Co-Op Work 3rd Alt | 0 |
| Hours | 0 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| PRT 212 | Golf Instructor Development | 2 |
| PRT 277 | Sport in a Changing Society | 3 |
| PRT 366 | Sport Programming | 3 |
| Hours | 8 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| PRT 312 | Golf Management III | 1 |
| ST 311 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 |
| PRT 380 | Evidence-based decision making in Recreation, Sport, Tourism, and Event Management 1 | 3 |
| PRT 376 | Leadership in Sport Administration 1 | 3 |
| Hours | 10 | |
| Summer | ||
| COP 400 | Co-Op Work 4th Alt | 0 |
| Hours | 0 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| COP 500 | Co-Op Work Graduate Alt | 0 |
| Hours | 0 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Concepts of Financial Reporting 2 | ||
| Survey of Financial and Managerial Accounting | ||
| PRT 413 | Golf Management IV | 1 |
| Hours | 4 | |
| Fifth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| PRT 411 | Club Management | 3 |
| PRT 414 | PGA Apprentice Program Completion | 0 |
| PRT 476 | Sport Marketing | 3 |
| PRT 406 | Sports Law | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| PRT 478 | Sustainable Sport Facility Management | 3 |
| PRT 458 | Special Events Planning | 3 |
| PRT 466 | Sport Finance and Economics | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 76 | |
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| GEP Natural Sciences | 7 | ||
| GEP Humanities | 6 | ||
| GEP Social Sciences | 3 | ||
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 2 | ||
| GEP Additional Breadth (Humanities/Social Sciences/Visual and Performing Arts) | 3 | ||
| GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 2 | ||
| GEP U.S. Diversity (verify requirement) | |||
| GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement) | |||
| Foreign Language Proficiency (verify requirement) | |||
| Free Electives | |||
| Free Electives | 21 | ||
| Total Hours | 44 | ||
- 1
C- or better
- 2
Required for students wishing to also earn a Minor in Business
Math Electives
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| MA 105 | Mathematics of Finance | 3 | |
| MA 107 | Precalculus I | 3 | |
| MA 111 | Precalculus Algebra and Trigonometry | 3 | |
| MA 114 | Introduction to Finite Mathematics with Applications | 3 | |
| MA 121 | Elements of Calculus | 3 |
Acad Writing Research
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENG 101 | Academic Writing and Research | 4 | |
| FLE 101 | Academic Writing and Research | 4 | |
| Transfer Sequence | |||
| ENG 1GEP | 3 | ||
| ENG 202 | Disciplinary Perspectives in Writing | 3 | |
Semester Sequence
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| PRT 150 | Recreation, Sport, Tourism, and Event Management Orientation | 1 |
| PRT 156 | Professional Golf Management Orientation (CP) | 3 |
| PRT 266 | Introduction to Sport Management (CP) 1 | 3 |
| Mathematics Elective | 3 | |
| ENG 101 | Academic Writing and Research | 4 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| PRT 210 | Golf Management I | 1 |
| COM 110 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| PRT 250 | Facilities Management in Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Event Management | 3 |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: 4 | 3 | |
| Fundamentals of Economics | ||
| Principles of Microeconomics | ||
| Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics | ||
| PRT 238 | Diversity and Inclusion in Recreation and Sport | 3 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Summer | ||
| COP 100 | Co-Op Work lst Alt 2 | 0 |
| Hours | 0 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| PRT 211 | Golf Management II | 1 |
| MIE 201 | Introduction to Business Processes | 3 |
| PRT 286 | Writing and Speaking in Sports Organizations | 3 |
| PRT 375 | Professional Development and Internship Orientation | 2 |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| COP 200 | Co-Op Work 2nd Alt 2 | 0 |
| Hours | 0 | |
| Summer | ||
| COP 300 | Co-Op Work 3rd Alt 2 | 0 |
| Hours | 0 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| PRT 212 | Golf Instructor Development | 2 |
| PRT 277 | Sport in a Changing Society | 3 |
| PRT 366 | Sport Programming | 3 |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| Free Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| PRT 312 | Golf Management III | 1 |
| ST 311 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 |
| PRT 380 | Evidence-based decision making in Recreation, Sport, Tourism, and Event Management (CP) 1 | 3 |
| PRT 376 | Leadership in Sport Administration (CP) 1 | 3 |
| GEP Requirement | 4 | |
| Free Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Summer | ||
| COP 400 | Co-Op Work 4th Alt 2 | 0 |
| Hours | 0 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| COP 500 | Co-Op Work Graduate Alt 2 | 0 |
| Hours | 0 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ACC 210 | Concepts of Financial Reporting 5 | 3 |
| PRT 413 | Golf Management IV | 1 |
| GEP Requirement | 2-3 | |
| Free Elective 3 | 6 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Fifth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| PRT 411 | Club Management | 3 |
| PRT 414 | PGA Apprentice Program Completion 2 | 0 |
| PRT 476 | Sport Marketing | 3 |
| PRT 406 | Sports Law | 3 |
| Free Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Free Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| PRT 466 | Sport Finance and Economics | 3 |
| PRT 478 | Sustainable Sport Facility Management | 3 |
| PRT 458 | Special Events Planning | 3 |
| Free Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- 1
A minimum grade of C-
- 2
Students must pass the PGA Golf Management tests, complete Work Experience Activities and pass the Playing Ability Test prior to graduation
- 3
A maximum of 12 credit hours of free electives can be taken for credit only
- 4
Students wishing to complete a Business minor must take EC 205 Fundamentals of Economics
- 5
Students wishing to complete a Business minor must take ACC 210 Concepts of Financial Reporting. If not ACC 280 Survey of Financial and Managerial Accounting is also acceptable.
Career Opportunities
The U.S. golf industry is growing. Annually, it generates around 70 billion dollars and employs nearly 2 million people. This means our PGA Golf Management students graduate with options. Since they learn all aspects of the industry, it’s up to them to decide where they want to go and what they want to do.
Career Titles
- PGA Director of Golf – Manage and develop all aspects of the golf business and oversee golf operations, including the golf shop, golf course maintenance, food and beverage, outside golf services, golf-specific sales and marketing and the facility’s administration. Recent employers include Valhalla Golf Club, TPC Dorado Beach Resort, Pinehurst Resort and Lonnie Poole Golf Course.
- Tournament Director – Oversee general operations of a tournament, including coordinating staff and volunteers, logistics, communications, scheduling, promotions and participant recognition. Recent employers include TPC Sawgrass.
- Teaching and Club Fitting Professional – Provide lessons and club fitting experiences to develop a student’s playing ability in all aspects of the golf game. Recent employers include GolfTEC, 1757 Club and Tour Edge.
- Sales/Merchandising Representative – Promote products for a variety of clients, from a merchandising or technology company to green-grass golf facilities. Recent employers include Peter Millar, Trackman Golf and Cleveland Golf.
- Marketing Representative – Develop and promote the services of a golf facility or company, including customer service and strategic planning. Recent employers include Golf Channel and GolfNOW.
- Athletes Business Manager
- Athletic Coach
- Athletic Director
- Athletic Trainer
- Camp Director
- Exercise Physiologist
- Fitness Trainer
- Professional Sports Scout
- Recreation and Fitness Studies Professor
- Sports Agent
- Sports Events Planner
- Talent Agent
Learn More About Careers
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North American Society for Sport Management