You really have to eat, sleep and breathe golf if you're one of the lucky few who both play collegiately and major in it.
The PGA Golf Management University Program is a unique, PGA accredited focus of study offered at only 16 schools across the country for those wanting to become an expert in the game and business of golf.
Two of the three Division II schools that offer the program — Ferris State and Central Oklahoma — qualified for the 2024 Division II Men's Golf Championships in Orlando, Florida, and both teams have student-athletes majoring in PGA golf management. Ferris State has two and Central Oklahoma has five men's student-athletes on the team in the program.
Students can specialize in areas such as marketing, business administration, hospitality administration, recreation and park management. A hands-on, intensive internship at a golf course is part of the schedule of classes that also focuses on areas such as giving lessons, swing mechanics, facility management, servicing golf carts and turf grass management.
Central Oklahoma junior Bennett Baldwin has goals to teach the game to others in lessons or junior clinics. Being able to both study and play golf in Division II has been a rewarding experience.
"It's the question, would you rather be a big fish in a small pond or a small fish in a big pond?" Baldwin said. "I definitely feel like a big fish in a little pond, and I've gotten to know a lot of people as I've been playing since I was a freshman and been in the lineup. It's been awesome."
Because the demands of playing collegiate golf and the intensive program and internship can conflict, it takes special coordination and understanding to make it work.
"It's fun, like we have a great time obviously, but there's time commitments," said Ferris State senior Nathan Kraynyk, who will start this summer as an assistant pro at a Northern Michigan resort while also aiming to play professionally. "It's a lot of work and like if this is something that someone wants to do, they just kind of have to come in knowing it's just going to be a lot of work. But if it's what you want to do, right, it's all so fun."
Ferris State's PGA golf management program was the first to be accredited by the PGA, starting in 1975. Not many schools allow for their student-athletes to both play golf and major in PGA golf management. Methodist, the only Division III school that offers the area of study, just won the 2024 men's golf championship and the program's Division III record 14th national title, with eight students majoring in the program.
The success of Methodist, Ferris State and Central Oklahoma are prime examples that being on a college golf team while completing the golf management program is doable. Students in the program have a 100% job placement rate, and the schools focus on providing the experience talented student-athletes want.
Ferris State coach Sam Stark and senior Nathan Kraynyk survey the course at the 2024 Division II Men's Golf Championships.
Central Oklahoma coach Derrick Thompson is more than happy to adjust the schedule to work around his PGA Tour management students. They'll adjust tee times and travel schedules and navigate the unpredictable Oklahoma weather to not conflict with the team's academic commitments. A lot of communication and planning is required, but it's worth it.
"They want the best experience for their students. I want the best experience for my guys," Thompson said. "We're all in the same path, right? Just have to figure out how can we merge together and get that done. It's been pretty easy."
Ferris State men's and women's golf coach Sam Stark played for the Bulldogs from 2010-15 and coached at three other Division II institutions before returning to coach his alma mater. Through navigating the academic and athletic time commitments, Stark appreciates the benefits of how Division II empowers student-athletes to grow in juggling a lot of responsibility.
"I'll beat the drum for DII all day long because it just allows you to do what you would like to do and to have unique major opportunities," he said. "I don't like to tell someone at 18 years old, 'Hey, you can't live out your dream because I want you to play golf with me for four years.' That doesn't make sense. That doesn't compute. I know it's a business, and I have a job to do. But at the same time, this is a degree they're going to have the rest of their life, so why am I trying to stunt that growth if they can handle it? It takes a special kind of person."
