Professional Golf Management Program Established

PGM Director Richard Ballinger

The PGA of America has accredited Sam Houston State University as the 17th Professional Golf management Program in the United States and the first in Texas.

The SHSU College of Business Administration is accepting applicants for the program, which begins in the fall of 2005.

The PGA/Professional Golf Management program is a five-year college curriculum for aspiring PGA professionals. While graduates will work in a number of golf industry jobs, there is an admission requirement of a verifiable 12 handicap or better.

Richard Ballinger, hired recently by Sam Houston State to direct the program, is himself a graduate of a PGA/PGM program. Ballinger graduated in 1994 from the Ferris State University program, which was the first such program in the United States, established in 1975 in Michigan.

"Not everyone can play on the PGA or LPGA tours," said Ballinger. "but this is a wonderful opportunity for those who love the game to prepare for a rich and rewarding career in this growing industry."

Ballinger said that the Sam Houston State University program will have two especially appealing features. One is that the university's College of Business is among a limited number accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

Also, said Ballinger, students will have access to the highly-acclaimed Raven Nest golf course, a cooperative effort by the City of Huntsville and Sam Houston State University, which opened just over two years ago.

In addition to traditional university classes, PGM students will study such topics as retail merchandising and inventory management, turfgrass management, food and beverage management, business planning and operations, and business communications.

In addition to the PGM curriculum, the program requires students to pass a playing ability test and complete a 16-month internship before graduating as Class A members of the PGA of America.

Jobs available for graduates include head golf professional, director of golf, teaching professional, assistant golf professional, college golf coach, general club management, golf retail, golf course development, golf course maintenance, golf industry sales representative, rules official, and golf equipment fitting, repair, and testing specialist.

The closest PGA/PGM programs previously were at Mississippi State University and New Mexico State University.

After graduating from the Ferris State program, Ballinger worked as an assistant and head professional at a number of golfing operations in the Carolinas and for almost two years as internship/recruiting director for the Coastal Carolina University PGM program.

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SHSU Media Contact: Frank Krystyniak
March 21, 2005
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