A unique program at FGCU is allowing students to live out their dreams in the golf capital of the world. The PGA Golf Management program - or PGM for short - is designed specifically for students who want a career in the golf industry. It's one of the largest programs in the country and is the only one in the state of Florida.
"My first goal is to [be] a golf professional," said Leonie Wulfers, a PGM program student from Germany. "But I know as a backup, I want to stay in the golf business and be active. So I want to get in the teaching business a little bit more."
Students spend time in the classroom learning business and teaching strategies, but also get hands on experience, like learning how to repair clubs for instance.
"Fitting and repair is becoming a whole niche industry and business," said FGCU Director of Golf Management Tara McKenna.
They can also analyze their technique in the Swing Lab, a room with more than $100,000 dollars worth of equipment that the students have access to daily.
"Really what this room allows us to do and the students to do is to gain the knowledge necessary in the latest technology in the instructional and game space to be prepared to deliver high level and high quality instruction, analysis," said McKenna.
Each station in the Swing Lab compiles data about your swing, and it features virtually every resource needed to perfect your game.
"[The students] also will schedule dedicated lessons and private instruction with my player development team, which is a win-win," said McKenna.
In addition to the students in the program having unlimited access, the Swing Lab also doubles as an indoor resource for the FGCU golf teams.
"We obviously play a lot of courses and play a round, but this is like where I settled myself," said Wulfers. "Like, my technique is right and my swing is in a good spot. So I really like it."
"That's pretty much what we use it for," said FGCU women's golf coach Shannon Sykora. "Is just to try to see where their numbers are at and then just be more consistent."
The Eagles get to show off the skills they've been honing in their spring season, which launched at the Sea Best Intercollegiate hosted by Jacksonville University from Monday, Jan. 27 to Tuesday, Jan. 28.
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