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Meet Jack Nicklaus. Visit St. Andrews and play the Old
Course. And earn a business degree from the only
four-year golf management program in North America.
These are few of the opportunities offered by Georgian
College, located in Barrie, Ontario just north of Toronto,
in their golf management degree program focusing on
high-level positions in the golf industry.
The Bachelor of Business (Golf Management) program
fills a void in golf post-secondary education by preparing
graduates with financial, management and business
skills to be successful as senior managers and
executives in the golf industry.
"With the increasing sophistication of the golf business,
post-secondary education was not keeping up with the
demand for graduates who are capable of executive level
decision-making and management capabilities,
particularly around finance, human resources, and retail
management," said Brad Doey, program coordinator for
Georgian's golf management degree and two-year
diploma programs.
"This is why the golf industry has brought people into golf
management positions from the hotel and restaurant
world. But many of them lack experience in golf
operations, turf or golf retail. They face a very steep
learning curve," Doey added.
"We created the four-year degree program to fill that
vacuum, and give high achievers the preparation they are
seeking, and provide employers with the highly educated
personnel they require."
The degree program builds on Georgian's success in
hospitality and tourism education. Students get hands-on,
in-class instruction with industry professionals as well as
three paid co-op work terms.
Students take industry-specific courses such as retail
management, turf operations, clubhouse management,
as well as instruction, rules, fitting, tournament and event
operations. These courses are combined with business
courses such as micro- and macroeconomics, marketing,
principles of networking, and law.
Second-year student Jasmine Paton can't say enough
about the merits of the program.
Course. And earn a business degree from the only
four-year golf management program in North America.
These are few of the opportunities offered by Georgian
College, located in Barrie, Ontario just north of Toronto,
in their golf management degree program focusing on
high-level positions in the golf industry.
The Bachelor of Business (Golf Management) program
fills a void in golf post-secondary education by preparing
graduates with financial, management and business
skills to be successful as senior managers and
executives in the golf industry.
"With the increasing sophistication of the golf business,
post-secondary education was not keeping up with the
demand for graduates who are capable of executive level
decision-making and management capabilities,
particularly around finance, human resources, and retail
management," said Brad Doey, program coordinator for
Georgian's golf management degree and two-year
diploma programs.
"This is why the golf industry has brought people into golf
management positions from the hotel and restaurant
world. But many of them lack experience in golf
operations, turf or golf retail. They face a very steep
learning curve," Doey added.
"We created the four-year degree program to fill that
vacuum, and give high achievers the preparation they are
seeking, and provide employers with the highly educated
personnel they require."
The degree program builds on Georgian's success in
hospitality and tourism education. Students get hands-on,
in-class instruction with industry professionals as well as
three paid co-op work terms.
Students take industry-specific courses such as retail
management, turf operations, clubhouse management,
as well as instruction, rules, fitting, tournament and event
operations. These courses are combined with business
courses such as micro- and macroeconomics, marketing,
principles of networking, and law.
Second-year student Jasmine Paton can't say enough
about the merits of the program.
Georgian College golf management
Only 4 year program in North America
By TIM O'CONNOR
Only 4 year program in North America
By TIM O'CONNOR
"Most golf management programs only offer diplomas,"
Paton says. "Once I heard about a business program that
gives you a degree, and it had the 'side-order' of golf
management, I knew it was for me," said Paton, who is
working this summer at Silver Springs Golf & Country
Club in Calgary.
"It is the first in North America, so why not be a part of it?"
Executives in the golf industry acknowledge that
Georgian's four-year program is preparing students who
will be ready for the complex needs of the golf business.
"Georgian's degree program ensures the college is
meeting the ever-changing needs of the golf industry,"
says Patrick Bowers, Vice-President, Guest Experience at
Horseshoe Resort just north of Barrie.
Each year, students take an educational trip that involves
experiential learning, follow-up reports and presentations.
First-year students head to Florida to visit and play TPC
Sawgrass (home course of the PGA Tour and site of the
PLAYERS Championship). They also visit the head
offices of The Golf Channel and Nicklaus Design.
"One year at Nicklaus Design, the students met and
talked with Jack Nicklaus," Doey said. "They were in awe
but they also learned a lot."
In their second year, students return to the Sunshine State
and spend one week at Orange County National near
Orlando. "Hundreds of elite amateurs and touring
professionals play and practice at Orange County, which
gives it a rich golf atmosphere of competition and striving
for excellence. Our students feed off that energy," Doey
says.
Paton says. "Once I heard about a business program that
gives you a degree, and it had the 'side-order' of golf
management, I knew it was for me," said Paton, who is
working this summer at Silver Springs Golf & Country
Club in Calgary.
"It is the first in North America, so why not be a part of it?"
Executives in the golf industry acknowledge that
Georgian's four-year program is preparing students who
will be ready for the complex needs of the golf business.
"Georgian's degree program ensures the college is
meeting the ever-changing needs of the golf industry,"
says Patrick Bowers, Vice-President, Guest Experience at
Horseshoe Resort just north of Barrie.
Each year, students take an educational trip that involves
experiential learning, follow-up reports and presentations.
First-year students head to Florida to visit and play TPC
Sawgrass (home course of the PGA Tour and site of the
PLAYERS Championship). They also visit the head
offices of The Golf Channel and Nicklaus Design.
"One year at Nicklaus Design, the students met and
talked with Jack Nicklaus," Doey said. "They were in awe
but they also learned a lot."
In their second year, students return to the Sunshine State
and spend one week at Orange County National near
Orlando. "Hundreds of elite amateurs and touring
professionals play and practice at Orange County, which
gives it a rich golf atmosphere of competition and striving
for excellence. Our students feed off that energy," Doey
says.
This fall, students entering third year will head to Scotland,
which includes playing the Old Course at St. Andrews.
They will spend a week in Scotland playing golf and
soaking in the history of the game.
"It's important to understand business principles, but to
succeed in the golf industry you must have golf in your
soul. These trips provide inspiration and experiences that
connect our students to heart of the game."
Three paid co-op terms of about 4.5 months provide
students with valuable work experience, allowing them to
explore a variety of career options. The placements, which
begin in late April and end in early September, include
one season in turf, one in golf operations and one in
clubhouse operations.
This past summer, students worked everywhere from
Aronimink Golf Club in Pennsylvania- host of the 2010
AT&T National PGA Tour event- to Fairmont's Jasper Park
Lodge Golf Course.
Thain Moyles, who interned this summer for the second
year at Aronimink, says the experience has provided him
with mentoring, experience in both turf and golf
operations, and insights into high-level golf events.
"I had no idea what it takes to showcase a PGA Tour event
successfully," Moyles said. "When signing up for this
program in 2008, I never could have pictured shaking
hands with Tiger Woods. This opportunity has meant the
world to me on a personal, educational, and career level."
Degree students also learn how to teach and improve
their own game. They have access to an HD golf
simulator, V1 swing analysis, T.O.M.I putting analysis unit,
and 300 sq.-foot putting surface. Georgian students have
playing privileges at seven courses around Barrie.
"To excel in this business, you have to excel in the game
so it's important that our students are solid players," Doey
says.
"With all that they experience during our four-year degree
program, they are ready for positions such as general
managers, directors of golf, golf project managers, retail
managers, resort and tourism management,
manufacturer's account representatives and
management, golf association executive staff, and more."
which includes playing the Old Course at St. Andrews.
They will spend a week in Scotland playing golf and
soaking in the history of the game.
"It's important to understand business principles, but to
succeed in the golf industry you must have golf in your
soul. These trips provide inspiration and experiences that
connect our students to heart of the game."
Three paid co-op terms of about 4.5 months provide
students with valuable work experience, allowing them to
explore a variety of career options. The placements, which
begin in late April and end in early September, include
one season in turf, one in golf operations and one in
clubhouse operations.
This past summer, students worked everywhere from
Aronimink Golf Club in Pennsylvania- host of the 2010
AT&T National PGA Tour event- to Fairmont's Jasper Park
Lodge Golf Course.
Thain Moyles, who interned this summer for the second
year at Aronimink, says the experience has provided him
with mentoring, experience in both turf and golf
operations, and insights into high-level golf events.
"I had no idea what it takes to showcase a PGA Tour event
successfully," Moyles said. "When signing up for this
program in 2008, I never could have pictured shaking
hands with Tiger Woods. This opportunity has meant the
world to me on a personal, educational, and career level."
Degree students also learn how to teach and improve
their own game. They have access to an HD golf
simulator, V1 swing analysis, T.O.M.I putting analysis unit,
and 300 sq.-foot putting surface. Georgian students have
playing privileges at seven courses around Barrie.
"To excel in this business, you have to excel in the game
so it's important that our students are solid players," Doey
says.
"With all that they experience during our four-year degree
program, they are ready for positions such as general
managers, directors of golf, golf project managers, retail
managers, resort and tourism management,
manufacturer's account representatives and
management, golf association executive staff, and more."
First year students in Georgian College's golf management
program during a visit last spring to TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra
Beach, Fla. The trip included time at Nicklaus Design and the
Golf Channel offices.
program during a visit last spring to TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra
Beach, Fla. The trip included time at Nicklaus Design and the
Golf Channel offices.