Turn your passion for golf into a lifelong career
As the only program of this type in Ohio, we provide the elite training you need to become a Class A PGA Member while earning a world-class degree. You won’t just study golf; you’ll live it - spending 16 to 20 months on full-time internships at premier courses across the country and training in our state-of-the-art club repair lab and PGA Tour simulators. Whether you want to manage a Top 100 course, innovate in golf research and development or become a master teaching professional, our program delivers the business, hospitality and technical expertise to put you at the top of the leaderboard.
Mentor-driven success
The Ohio State University Professional Golf Management Program is a four and a half year college curriculum designed to prepare you for a successful career in the golf industry. The goal of this program is to assist students in becoming members of the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA). While in school you'll work directly alongside PGA professionals who provide the coaching and feedback necessary to thrive in your future career.
The program is designed to provide the necessary skills and knowledge base for future golf professionals to succeed in a wide variety of positions such as Director of Golf, Head Golf Professional, Director of Instruction, Tournament Director, golf manufacturer sales representative, golf association administrator and golf club repair, as well as positions in golf club research and development, general management, and golf retailing.
Students will acquire these essential skills through classroom studies and 16 to 20 months of full-time co-op internships at one of the nearly 15,000 golf courses across the country. In addition to business, finance, marketing, turfgrass science and hospitality management classes, the curriculum will also encompass specialty classes in swing analysis and swing concepts, tournament operations, golf club repair, club fitting, retail merchandising, golf course design and coaching golf. Students will also be a part of the PGM Student Club which is a professional organization that is heavily involved in community outreach, administers an active PGM tournament schedule for competition and camaraderie, obtains guest speakers from the golf industry, and hosts many social activities.
The Ohio State University Golf Club
Experience golf history in your own backyard at The Ohio State University Golf Club, featuring two legendary 18-hole courses and premier practice facilities for every aspect of your game. Both the Scarlet and Gray courses were designed in 1932 by the iconic Dr. Alister MacKenzie—the mastermind behind Augusta National—and today serve as the elite home base for the Professional Golf Management Program.
The world-renowned Scarlet Course, restored by Jack Nicklaus in 2006, is a championship powerhouse that has hosted everything from PGA Tour events to NCAA Championships. Stretching over 7,400 yards of rolling terrain, it challenges players with a massive lake, winding streams and strategically bunkered greens that demand precision on every shot. Meanwhile, the Gray Course offers a beautiful par 70 layout that focuses on finesse and short-game accuracy. With smaller greens and challenging par threes, it is the perfect training ground for mastering your iron play and preparing for the PGA’s Playing Ability Test.
PGM golf simulator
Step into the future of the game with our state-of-the-art PGA Tour aBoutGolf simulator, located right in Howlett Hall. Exclusively for PGM students, this high-tech lab gives you access to over 40 world-famous courses and elite swing analysis tools with a simple swipe of your BuckID. Whether you are competing in virtual tournaments, fine-tuning your mechanics with multi-angle cameras or practicing on legendary fairways from across the globe, this designated facility ensures your game stays sharp all year long.
Club repair lab
Master the tools of the trade in our Club Repair Laboratory, a dedicated space where PGM students build and fine-tune professional-grade equipment. Fully outfitted with everything from lie/loft machines and re-gripping stations to shaft frequency analyzers and swing weight scales, this lab provides hands-on experience with the technical side of the game. Whether you are grinding wedges, cutting shafts or experimenting with custom builds, you will have access to the high-end supplies and specialized machinery needed to become an expert in club fitting and repair.
Ken Youngman PGM library
Dive into the rich heritage and strategy of the game at the Ken Youngman Library, an exclusive resource for PGM students located right in our office suite. With a collection of over 300 books and instructional videos, you can explore everything from advanced swing mechanics and golf psychology to the history of the majors and legendary course design. Whether you are studying the biographies of the greats or collaborating with peers around the meeting table, this dedicated space provides the ultimate environment for mastering the mental and technical aspects of golf.
Elevate your education with the Ohio State PGM Internship Experience, a series of five high-impact placements designed to bridge the gap between the classroom and the clubhouse. Totaling 16 to 20 months of professional work, these internships go far beyond a typical seasonal job—they are mentored, credit-bearing experiences that satisfy PGA requirements and build your resume. Through a formal "Statement of Understanding" between you, your employer and the University, we ensure every placement provides a nurturing environment where you can master the complexities of the golf industry.
Our structured curriculum guides you through three levels of professional mastery. You will start by learning the ropes of customer relations and tournament operations, advance into merchandising and turfgrass management and eventually master executive skills like human resources, food and beverage control and advanced club fitting. With constant support from our PGA professionals and regular progress checks, you will graduate not just with a degree, but with the proven expertise to lead at the highest level.
- Director of Golf
- Head Golf Professional
- Director of Instruction
- Tournament Director
- Golf Manufacturer Sales Representative
- Golf Association Administrator
- Golf Club Research and Development
- General Management
What you'll study
Professional Golf Management involves studying every aspect of the golf industry to achieve the goal of becoming a member of the PGA of America. Students will take classes in golf operations, club design, fitting repair and performance, swing analysis, teaching, finance, marketing, food and beverage management, and human resource management.
Program requirements can grow and change - always be sure to check with your academic advisor to ensure you are on the right track.
Major coursework
- CSFRST 3585: Retail Merchandising I (3 credit hours)
- CSHSPMG 2700 & 2710: Principles of Food Production Management (3) & Laboratory (1) (4 credit hours total)
- CSHSPMG 3700: Controlling Food, Beverage, and Labor Costs (3 credit hours)
- CSHSPMG/CSFSRST 3910: Consumer Experience Management (3 credit hours)
- CSHSPMG 4610: Beverage Management (2 credit hours)
- HCS 2250: Intro to Professional Golf Management (2 credit hours)
- HCS 2260: Data Analysis and Interpretation for Decision Making (3 credit hours)
- HCS 2270: Historical Perspectives on Golf Course Design and Management (2 credit hours)
- HCS 2502: Basic Rules of Golf and Golf Etiquette (1 credit hour)
- HCS 3501: PGM Basic Golf Operations (2 credit hours)
- HCS 3502: PGM Club Design, Performance, Fitting and Repair (2 credit hours)
- HCS 3475: Turfgrass Management for Golf Courses (3 credit hours)
- HCS 3488.02: PGM Player Development (1 credit, taken twice) (2 credit hours)
- HCS 4191.02b: PGM Internship (1 credit, taken three times) (3 credit hours total)
- HCS 4503: PGM Advanced Golf Swing Analysis & Teaching (2 credit hours)
- HCS 4504: Advanced Golf and Turf Operations Capstone (3 credit hours)
Major-supporting coursework
Prerequisites for required courses in the major
- CSHPMG 2600: Introduction to Hospitality Management (3 credit hours)
Professional experience
Taken concurrently with HCS 4191.02 and FAES 3191
- HCS 4501.01: PGM Advanced Professional Experience I (1 credit hour)
- HCS 4501.02: PGM Advanced Professional Experience II (1 credit hour)
- HCS 4501.03: PGM Advanced Professional Experience III (1 credit hour)
- HCS 4501.04: PGM Advanced Professional Experience IV (1 credit hour)
- HCS 4501.05: PGM Advanced Professional Experience V (1 credit hour)
Open elective suggestion
- CSHSPMG 5780: Leadership for the Service Industry (3 credit hours)
General education requirements
- GE Seminar: GENED 1201 (1 credit hour)
- Writing and Information Literacy: Student Choice (3 credit hours)
- Mathematical & Quantitative Reasoning/Data Analysis: Major requirement: MATH 1130 or 1148* (or Student Choice – see below) (4 credit hours)
- Literary, Visual and Performing Arts: Student Choice (3 credit hours)
- Historical & Cultural Studies: Student Choice (3 credit hours)
- Natural Science: Major requirement: BIOLOGY 1101* (or Student Choice – see below) (4 credit hours)
- Social & Behavioral Sciences: Major requirement: ECON 2001.01* (or Student Choice – see below) (3 credit hours)
- Race, Ethnic and Gender Diversity: Student Choice (3 credit hours)
- Theme: Citizenship for a Diverse & Just Worlda: Student Choice (4-6 credit hours)
- Theme: Student Choicea: Student Choice (4-6 credit hours)
- GE Reflection: GENED 4001 (1 credit hour)
B.S. in Agriculture degree requirements
- College & Department Survey: FAES 1100 (0.5) & HCS 1100 (0.5) (1 credit hour)
- Oral Expression: AGRCOMM 3130 or COMM 2110 (3 credit hours)
- Additional Science: HCS 2200 (3) & 2206 (1) (4 credit hours)
- Internshipb: FAES 3191 (0) & HCS 4191.02 (2) (2 credit hours)
- Minor (Business): Minor requirements below (15 credit hours)
Prerequisites for the minor: successful completion of college algebra (MATH 1130/1148, or Math Placement Level M or higher), microeconomics (ECON 2001.01), and basic computing (CSE 1110 or higher)
- ACCTMIS 2000: Foundations of Accounting and MIS (3 credit hours)
- BUSMHR 3100: Foundations of Management & Human Resources (3 credit hours)
- BUSFIN 3120: Foundations of Finance (prereq: ACCTMIS 2000) (3 credit hours)
- BUSOBA 3130: Foundations of Operations Management (3 credit hours)
- BUSMGT 3150: Foundations of Marketing (3 credit hours)
Credit breakdown
- General Education (33-37 credit hours)
- Degree Requirements (25 credit hours)
- Major-Supporting (3 credit hours)
- Major (45 credit hours)
- Open Electives (11-15 credit hours)
- Minimum Total Credit Hours (121 credit hours)
Please note
- * Indicates a pre/corequisite course for this major that also satisfies this GE category. If a student chooses an alternative course in this GE category, they must also complete this course.
- a Students complete either a 4-credit course or two 3-credit courses in each of two General Education Theme areas: Citizenship for a Diverse & Just World (required), and the student’s choice of available GE Themes. If any major-required courses are identified as a GE Theme course, one course in each GE Theme area may double count in the GE and major hours. Theme courses are identified with a ** symbol.
- b HCS 4191.02 is taken for two credits to meet the college internship requirement for internship, and another three credits as a major requirement. This internship course should be taken concurrently with FAES 3191 and the PGM Professional Experience courses (HCS 4501.01-.05).
How to become a PGM major
The PGM program at The Ohio State University has two requirements for admission. The first is general admission to The Ohio State University and the second is proof of an 18-hole golf handicap of 10 or better. This second requirement provides evidence that PGM students have the potential to pass the PGA of America's™ Playing Ability Test (PAT). All students admitted to the PGM major program must have the ability and inclination to pass the PAT.
All PGM majors must show proof of an 18-hole golf handicap of 10 or better. Proof of this handicap may be established by any one of the following:
- Confirmation of playing ability form signed by a high school golf coach
- Confirmation of playing ability form signed by a PGA of America member
- Current United States Golf Association Handicap card
Please reach out to Chris Walsh or Tim Kerr for a copy of the confirmation of playing ability form.
We're happy to welcome major changers and transfer students into our PGM program. Students doing so must complete all major curriculum requirements in the same sequence and time frame as students enrolling as first-year PGM students. This is done so students will matriculate through the program as a cohort group and so students can complete work experience and internship requirements according to a schedule which provides the greatest opportunity for successful completion of the program.
We welcome international students to enroll in our PGM program. Please note all PGM students must complete all aspects of the PGM program including the minimum 16 months of internship. It is important that the proper work visa is in place to allow for this employment in the United States.