Golf College Essentials: The Path To A New Career
http://www.educationbuzz.net/articles/1962/1/Golf-College-Essentials-The-Path-To-A-New-Career/Page1.html
Andy West
Andy West is a writer for San Diego Golf Academy. SDGA has four golf schools across the U.S. including the Phoenix Golf School and the San Diego Golf School. By Andy West
Published on 12/17/2008
Attending a golf college enables junior golfers to work in the area of their passion.
For those junior golfers who want to make golf part of their professional lives, golf college is the way to go. Anyone from a new high school graduate to a seasoned adult player can get an Associate's degree or a Bachelor's degree in an industry area, such as management, landscape architecture, or event planning. Your options are endless.
Those that get a degree from an accredited college can take a position in professional management, managing a public course or private country club. Others positions abound, such as equipment tester, administrator or supervisor with a manufacturer, club manufacturer or club researcher. You can easily find over 100 career options for an education by searching for schools on the Internet.
Colleges that only focus on the sport offer Associate's degrees in operations and management with a focus on Golf Professional or General Management. These two paths could lead you to become a golf pro at a public or private course, or you could manage the entire course, including the food and beverage aspect. Specialized colleges offer these types of degrees. Just make sure you find an accredited university that offers the curriculum and subjects you know will be advantageous to your future career.
In your search for an institution, don't overlook those with general management majors. You can also receive a Bachelor's degree in areas like Applied Management with an emphasis in the sport. Many parks- and recreation-related Bachelor's degrees also have an emphasis option, offered at state universities as well. Another option for a Bachelor's degree is in sports-related majors, like Sports Science or Sports Management. Within this degree many colleges offer a Professional Golf Management specialization. For a Bachelor's degree, you not only have to finish the required courses, but you must also pass the PGA's Playing Ability Test.
Whatever the program, basics about the theory and practice of shop operations will be covered, as will teaching methods and rules of the game. Country club management is generally also covered as well as service-oriented classes. Most of the Associate's degrees are completed within 16 straight months, with summer terms included. An internship must also be completed, and students are encouraged to do multiple internships at different facilities to help them decide on a career track. On the job training is the best in this industry if you want to get ahead.
Depending on the school, tuition can include lessons from PGA professionals (up to five times per week) and green fees, range balls, instructional clinics and tournament fees. Many colleges require students to enter certain tournaments or enter a certain number of competitions during their college career. Tuition varies from college to college, but the total average cost is $30,000 for an Associate's degree.
For those who have received an Associate's degree, many credits can be transferred and applied to a Bachelor's degree in similar majors. In some cases, half of the Bachelor's degrees required credit hours will be fulfilled by the Associate's degree. You have the option of getting your Bachelor's degree online at many schools, you just have to search around to find one.
To get into a golf college, you must fill out an application and submit an application fee, which can cost anywhere from $50 to $75. Along with the application and high school transcript, many colleges require a letter from a high school coach or PGA professional that will attest to your abilities. Each college has its own standards, but a common standard is to accept those with a handicap of 8 or better. It's a good idea to visit the college of your choice for a tour and to ask more detailed questions if you are interested in a career in this industry.
Those that get a degree from an accredited college can take a position in professional management, managing a public course or private country club. Others positions abound, such as equipment tester, administrator or supervisor with a manufacturer, club manufacturer or club researcher. You can easily find over 100 career options for an education by searching for schools on the Internet.
Colleges that only focus on the sport offer Associate's degrees in operations and management with a focus on Golf Professional or General Management. These two paths could lead you to become a golf pro at a public or private course, or you could manage the entire course, including the food and beverage aspect. Specialized colleges offer these types of degrees. Just make sure you find an accredited university that offers the curriculum and subjects you know will be advantageous to your future career.
In your search for an institution, don't overlook those with general management majors. You can also receive a Bachelor's degree in areas like Applied Management with an emphasis in the sport. Many parks- and recreation-related Bachelor's degrees also have an emphasis option, offered at state universities as well. Another option for a Bachelor's degree is in sports-related majors, like Sports Science or Sports Management. Within this degree many colleges offer a Professional Golf Management specialization. For a Bachelor's degree, you not only have to finish the required courses, but you must also pass the PGA's Playing Ability Test.
Whatever the program, basics about the theory and practice of shop operations will be covered, as will teaching methods and rules of the game. Country club management is generally also covered as well as service-oriented classes. Most of the Associate's degrees are completed within 16 straight months, with summer terms included. An internship must also be completed, and students are encouraged to do multiple internships at different facilities to help them decide on a career track. On the job training is the best in this industry if you want to get ahead.
Depending on the school, tuition can include lessons from PGA professionals (up to five times per week) and green fees, range balls, instructional clinics and tournament fees. Many colleges require students to enter certain tournaments or enter a certain number of competitions during their college career. Tuition varies from college to college, but the total average cost is $30,000 for an Associate's degree.
For those who have received an Associate's degree, many credits can be transferred and applied to a Bachelor's degree in similar majors. In some cases, half of the Bachelor's degrees required credit hours will be fulfilled by the Associate's degree. You have the option of getting your Bachelor's degree online at many schools, you just have to search around to find one.
To get into a golf college, you must fill out an application and submit an application fee, which can cost anywhere from $50 to $75. Along with the application and high school transcript, many colleges require a letter from a high school coach or PGA professional that will attest to your abilities. Each college has its own standards, but a common standard is to accept those with a handicap of 8 or better. It's a good idea to visit the college of your choice for a tour and to ask more detailed questions if you are interested in a career in this industry.