PGA Golf Management

• Provides the graduates of professional curricula with a better insight into the management of golf operations and programs. Hence, they enter the field more aware of their roles and responsibilities
• Provides a mechanism whereby the profession can screen future PGA members before their employment

• Contributes to the education and preparation of future professionals
• Allows the facility to enhance its operation through the use of student and university resources
• Ability to benchmark operations with what has been learned in the classroom
• Stimulates the facility’s professional staff and strengthens the overall operation
• Provides the facility with the opportunity to evaluate prospective staff candidates

The University is responsible for the review and selection of internship sites, and ultimately the approval of students to the golf facilities. When feasible, we encourage a facility representative to visit the campus and interview prospective students as a part of the placement process.

Facility Considerations

In accepting an intern, the facility is helping to prepare future leaders in the golf industry by assisting the University in producing individuals better qualified for responsible positions. The facility must have a desire to participate in this educational process and be willing to cooperate with the University in preparing these future PGA professionals.

Before placement, an internship agreement letter must be signed by the facility supervisor, the student and the PGA golf management director indicating duties and responsibilities to be performed by the student during the internship. The following should also be included: the duration of the internship by indicating the start and end date, compensation, housing arrangements and any additional benefits.

Students are responsible for the following before during and after their internship placement:

Before placement

The student will meet with the PGA golf management assistant director to review all PGA/PGM work experience activities.

During the placement

• Report to the golf facility on the date specified by the facility.
• Become immediately acquainted with the structure, operation, functions and policies of the facility.
• Conduct all actions, both on and off the job, in a professional manner.
• Be properly groomed and appropriately dressed on all occasions. When in doubt ask the supervisor.
• Meet with your supervisor at least once a week to discuss progress and job performance.
• Promptly seek help from your supervisor if problems arise.
• Promptly submit a weekly activity report to the PGA golf management administrative assistant.
• Fill out a mid-term site progress report online and submit to the PGA golf management administrative assistant.

After the placement

• Site evaluation form
• Summary report
• Post-internship review form with the PGA Golf Management Assistant Director 

All Student Forms

Find all of the forms referenced above here for easy access:

1. Weekly report of activities engaged in at the internship site. 
2. Mid-term evaluation including progress and experiences to that point. 
3. Final evaluation of the agency. Comments made will not be directly communicated to the facility without your permission. This information will be used to help place future students with the facility. 
4. Summary report. This information will be used to help place future students with the facility.  This could include anticipated expenses, housing suggestions, and other helpful comments. 

Facility Responsibilities

• Before placement, provide the PGA golf management director with a copy of the internship agreement letter that offers the student an internship position with the golf facility. It should include the starting date, end date, a description of the student’s responsibilities and work experiences anticipated, compensation, and the title of the supervisor appointed to work with the student.
• Appoint a supervisor to work with the student.
• Provide a variety of experiences appropriate to the facility, which should not include more than 50 percent of the student’s time working in outside operations such as bag room and cart staff activities.
• Present the student to your staff in such a manner as to insure high professional status.
• The supervisor should meet with the student once a week to discuss the performance of the student.
• Immediately call the PGA golf management director if the performance or behavior of the student is unsatisfactory and/or detrimental to the program.
• Submit a mid-internship report concerning the student’s progress and send it to the PGA golf management assistant director.
• After the student completes his or her internship, promptly fill out the student evaluation form provided and send it to the PGA golf management assistant director.

Read the Supervising Professional's Guide to the PGA of America's PGA Golf Management Program.

Financial Considerations

The University encourages the facility to pay the student a wage sufficient to cover modest living expenses in the area. This may be expressed in dollars per hour, week or month. It may include lodging with a stipend to cover food, travel and uniforms where necessary. In short, the student should at least meet expenses for the duration of his/her internship. The student is normally expected to pay all tuition and fees and the cost of transportation to and from the facility location.

Student Supervision

It is requested that the supervisor have weekly meetings with the student to discuss definite means to help the student gain work experiences and information not usually obtained in general staff meetings or while working on the job. This part of the internship should also help the student understand the total concept of the facility through the discussion of actual problems and situations in the operation. During these meetings, assistance may also be given to the student regarding PGA/PGM work experience activities required by the PGA.

Suggested areas to be covered:

• Administration (as appropriate) -- The student should study and observe the policies and practices of the golf operation. This would include experiences in budgeting and record keeping, personnel and supervisory practices and general staff relations.
• Golf Program Services -- The student should gain practical experience in a broad range of golf program services to include tournament operations, teaching and coaching, golf car fleet maintenance and merchandising.
• General Experiences (where applicable) -- The student should gain experience in dealing with public or member relations concerns and attend golf committee or community meetings.

Required Internship Supervisor Reports

The internship supervisor is required to submit the following reports to the University:

Mid-Term Evaluation Report

• A report of the student's progress at mid-term. 
• Complete the Supervisor Mid-Term Evaluation Report. 

Final Evaluation Report

• A final evaluation of the student is required. This report will serve to guide professional development activities and aid in the future placement of the student intern. 
• Complete the Supervisor Final Evaluation Report. 

Before the placement

• The Director of the PGA Golf Management program will conduct a thorough evaluation of each internship site before placement. A written evaluation of each facility will be on file.
• Be responsible for selection and evaluation of internship sites.
• Before placement, initiate an agreement stipulating the specific intern experiences anticipated for each student. This agreement must be validated in writing by the host professional, the school, and the student before placement.
• Develop an agreement with the student and internship site for facilitation and completion of PGA/PGM work experience activities.
• Approve the student’s placement based on his/her PGA/PGM work experience activity and learning needs.
• Prepare the student for his/her work with the facility.

During the placement

• Serve as a mediator for problems that cannot be resolved between the intern and site supervisor.
• Remove the student from a facility when either the facility or student is not suited to the program. A student will receive a failing grade if they are negligent in their duties or exhibit conduct that reflects badly on the University during employment.
• Visit internship sites when available to observe students in field training.

After the placement

• Determine student’s grade after receiving evaluation from facility supervisor and review of PGA/PGM work experience assignments.
• Investigate negative site evaluations by students before future placements.

• Employer Application Form
• Download all forms (student and employer) in one PDF
• Supervising Professional's Guide to the PGA of America's PGA Golf Management Program