If you are an avid golfer, or someone who simply loves the game - did you know you could earn a college degree focused on golf? Whether you are someone who aspires to be a PGA pro, or maybe you would love to work on course management or design, we will drive a few options right down the fairway for you!

The most highly regarded pathway is the PGA Golf Management University Program. This college degree program is accredited by The Professional Golfers’ Association of America (PGA), and is designed to attract and educate men and women who aspire to become proficient in all aspects of the industry while producing PGA Members. Typically these programs are four and a half to five years in duration. Students will have the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree in a golf-adjacent major such as Marketing, Business Administration, Hospitality Administration, Recreation and Park Management. Students will also experience golf-centric course work, internship opportunities, and additional opportunities for player development. 

Currently, there are 16 colleges in the US that offer this PGA-accredited option. They range in size, region, and climate - there is truly an option that is accessible for students across the country. From the traditional golf states of Florida and North Carolina, to the dry and warm climates of Texas and Oklahoma, and even as far north as Michigan - there is a program within reach. You may find the PGM (Professional Golf Management) program to be across the academic spectrum at a university - business, hospitality management, recreation, or even agriculture are some of the main umbrellas for golf course management degrees. At the University of Nevada at Las Vegas (UNLV) - which boasts the top rated undergraduate hospitality and leisure program in the US -  you will find the PGA PGM pathway. At Penn State, you’ll find the PGA PGM program within their Recreation, Park, and Tourism school. At the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, PGA PGM is in their agriculture division. 

Many students note that your passion for golf must be evident, as this major is not for the faint of heart. The hours are long: you will be a full-time student with coursework AND you'll be spending a significant amount of time at a course or facility. Pre-dawn course preparation, early morning tee times, or evening leagues can bookend a busy academic schedule. Placements for great internships are competitive and crucial to future success in the field. 

If you are a working professional (either at a golf course, or in a totally different field), you can still gain access to the world of a PGA accredited program through their Affiliate Program. This takes about two years, and is also considered very rigorous. Think of this as an option to reverse engineer your way into the golf industry, or if college may not be your first option. 

Many other schools offer golf-related degree programs that are not affiliated with the PGA such as Ohio State’s 1 +3 PGM Degree (one year of Turf Management + 3 years of business/golf focus), Keiser University’s “College of Golf” with both associate and bachelor degree options, or Arizona State’s Agribusiness degree (dubbed “the business of golf”). There are a variety of Turfgrass Management programs which are great options for those looking to get into golf course management. These can be either two-year (offered by Michigan State, Rutgers, or a variety of community colleges) or four-year programs (offered at Texas A&M and NC State, to name a few). Oregon State and Iowa State also offer golf course design tracks for students pursuing Landscape Architecture degrees. 

If golf is your passion and you can envision it as your future career path, finding the right program is easier than hitting a hole-in-one!