So why not a degree in golf?

New Mexico Business Journal, May, 1995 by M. Gene Aldridge, Susan C. Aldridge

Yeah, sure.

Actually, it's very possible. Just enroll (if you qualify) in the professional golf management program at the School of Business Administration and Economics at New Mexico State University and your dreams will be fulfilled.

There are four university programs in the United States that offer the PGA Professional Training program, according to Pat Gavin, the director of the NMSU golf curriculum at the Las Cruces campus. The others are at Mississippi State, Ferris State in Michigan and Pennsylvania State.

The New Mexico program was established in 1988 and now has 300 students. They'll be at it for four and a half years.

"The best part of this program," Gavin said, "is that we are able to get jobs for our students. Most students get three offers for employment." Graduates can become assistant golf pros or they may work in marketing for golf-related corporations. These jobs start at $16,000 to $22,000 per year plus perks. At a time when many academic programs are finding it difficult to place students in jobs, the NMSU program is a no-nonsense academic program chuck full of long drives and short putts.

Students take regular business courses in marketing, managerial accounting, business law, finance and international business. In addition, they must take required courses in landscape horticulture, turf management, golf course operations, golf kinesiology and other electives to obtain their business degree requirements in the marketing/professional golf management sequence.

And, oh yes, these professionals-in-training must also participate in cooperatives where they spend 16 months actually working on at least two different golf courses in the U.S. "Can you imagine," Gavin observers, "they get to choose from over 500 participating golf courses in which to enjoy their cooperative internship program?" The cooperatives are usually taken during the summer months each year while students are out of school. The good news is that the students get paid, too. Some students get $1,500 per month plus room and board. Nice work if you can get it.

To complete the program at NMSU, the PGA requires that students also receive the regular PGA Golf Training Program workshops in addition to their business subjects and their cooperative experience at a golf course. The PGA workshops are a four level program with checkpoints all along the way to ensure that each student can become a Class A professional according to PGA standards. So what kind of handicap must they have to graduate from the program? Eight or better. Duffers need not apply.

There are 285 men and 15 women enrolled this academic year. The women especially have unlimited markets for their job skills. Christine Campbell, 18, a first-year student, from Wheaton, Ill., said, "It is the best decision I have ever made. The weather in New Mexico allows us to play all year round. The cost is reasonable. But the best part is that I'll get help finding a job with I get out." She reflects the attitude of many golf enthusiasts in the program who come from Thailand, Korea, Japan, Sweden, and Spain, as well as the U.S.

What does it take to be admitted? High School graduates must have at least a 2.5 grade point average and transfer students a minimum of 2.25 GPA. Most students admitted to the program are entering with a 3.0 grade point average because the competition is so stiff.

M. Gene and Susan C. Aldridge are freelance writers who live in Las Cruces.