How to Become Involved
How to become involved, as a PGA Professional and as a University
Colleges/Universities Interested in Developing a Golf: For Business and Life Program
The first step a college/university interested in developing the Golf: For Business and Life Program must take is to complete a Growth of the Game Grant Application. New applications will be accepted December 1, 2008.
Since this golf developmental program is for college students, University Officials should approve the program. This program is a collaborative effort between the college / university and The PGA of America. The university should designate the discipline appropriate for the program (i.e., Department of Physical Education, Department of Business and Management, Department for Student Recreations). They should also assign a coordinator to work with the PGA Professionals. Other things to consider when starting this program:
Program planning should incorporate the Universities Officials and the PGA Professionals.
Golf Skills
The golf instruction should be administrated and taught by PGA Professionals. For effective instruction, we recommend eight (8) students to each PGA Professional. The PGA Instructor should follow the class structure established by the PGA of America Director of Instruction. This will allow for program consistence. The goals are:
Program Requirements
- Appoint a Program Coordinator who will handle all the logistics of the program.
- Coordinator will need to confirm with the University where the program will be placed in relation to academia requirements
- The need to determine if activity will receive hours toward graduation
- Site selection for program to take place
- Equipment needs
- Define working with the PGA Section office in an effort to coordinate PGA Professionals who will teach the program
- A minimum of 2 (two) PGA Professionals are required with a student to PGA Professional ratio of 8:1
- Classes should be scheduled for 1½ to 2 hours per session, with a minimum of 16 sessions. It is recommended that there be two sessions per semester.
- Coordinate the number of textbooks (provided by the PGA of America necessary for students)
- Establish the cost of the program for the student if any
- Determine the transportation needs requirement
- Schedule the classes
- Distribute the manuals to the students
- Be responsive for making sure students complete both the pre and post surveys on-line to the PGA of America
- Develop future funding of the program with university officials creating a plan for future funding in order to keep the program running
- Evaluate the success and failure of the program based on program requirements and student evaluations
- Market and publicize the program
- Completion of Annual Report from the college or university to the PGA of America
- Letter of support from the university concerning program
Professional Instruction
Golf: For Business and Life is to be taught by PGA Professionals. The university should make the commitment to schedule and pay PGA Professionals accordingly ($35-$50 per hour). If the college/university is having a difficult time in contacting or obtaining PGA Professionals, please contact the Section Office in your areas so that the Executive Director may work with the university program coordinator to help identify teaching professionals.
Program Funding
The estimated funds required to operate this Golf: For Business and Life Program range between $25,000 - $35,000 for two semesters. These costs include:
Note: The PGA Foundation can provide a limited number of golf clubs that can be used to help start the program.
Future Funding
The primary concern that the PGA has with the present program is how to keep the program going in the future. The initial funding by The PGA of America is adequate to start a successful program (in many cases for several semesters), however we recommend that each college or university create an endowment funding strategy to ensure that the Golf: For Business and Life program is properly funded for periods beyond The PGA of America financial support. This is one reason why the pre and post surveys are extremely important; the student's input will hopefully create donors.
Business Development
The program coordinator should consider bringing in businesspersons from the community who will discuss the importance of playing golf and how to use golf as a business tool.
Assessment
The importance of collecting data both pre-class and post-class is significant. The PGA of America has created on-line surveys for your students to complete. This will be done at the beginning of the class and at the end of the class. It is important that your college or university recognizes the importance and makes sure that these students are completing these particular surveys.
The PGA of America will be happy to provide a summary of their evaluation of the program.
Evaluation Procedures
Semi-annually evaluations at each school to collate the following information:
