Coastal Carolina’s PGM Program Tops The Leaderboard

July 18, 2011

Coastal_Carolina_Logo.jpgWhat do Baltusrol Golf Club, Medinah, Congressional Country Club and many of America’s most renowned public and private facilities have in common?

They have all reaped the benefits Coastal Carolina University’s Professional Golf Management program

Home to one of just 20 PGM programs nationally, Coastal’s thriving internship program annually disperses its students to the best courses along the Grand Strand and beyond.

Coastal students are parlaying their degrees into fulltime jobs – Legends Resort and TPC Sawgrass sound familiar? – and serving as unofficial ambassadors for one of the best programs of its kind in America. 

The idea of pursuing a golf career along the Grand Strand is a powerful lure for students, and the strength of Coastal’s academic offerings solidifies the degree’s national reputation.

Enrolled students major in business with an emphasis on PGM, something that distinguishes the program from many of its counterparts. Requiring students to earn a degree from the Wall College of Business makes the 4.5-year program more rigorous and valuable.

Available majors within the business school include accounting, marketing, finance and economics, giving graduates a bright future in a clubhouse or a boardroom. Coastal’s goal is to produce the game’s next generation of leaders and the PGM class load reflects that aim.

In addition to the academic work required to fulfill the credits for the business major, the PGA of America has a detailed curriculum that must be completed to receive certification, in addition to the on-course skill required.

Coastal Carolina also owns Quail Creek Golf Club, a long-time Myrtle Beach favorite that is located on-campus. The head pro and first assistant at Quail Creek are PGM alumni and the rest of the staff is comprised of enrollees in the program, providing them hands-on experience.

But it’s not all work and no play. PGM students have unlimited access to Quail Creek and Coastal has a player development instructor on staff to help them develop a practice routine in preparation to pass the player aptitude test, a requirement for PGA certification.

At Quail Creek, PGM students must shoot a two-day total of 157 to earn PGA certification.

Beyond the classroom and course time, the most valuable part of the program is the 16-credit hours of internships required. Students serve four internships, a process that culminates with a seven-credit term at the conclusion of the senior year. By the time a student reaches the fourth internship they should assume the responsibilities of a Class A PGA pro.  

PGM graduates are prepared to contribute in nearly every facet of the golf industry.

Just ask the folks at European Ryder Cup headquarters where a Coastal student spent last summer helping out.