A large group of eager students spent their week learning from some of the golf profession’s top pros at Methodist University’s PGM College Summer Experience.
A large group of eager students spent their week learning from some of the golf profession’s top pros at Methodist University’s PGM College Summer Experience.
The week-long camp invited rising high school juniors and seniors to Methodist University’s vast 600-plus acre campus this week – giving them a chance to learn from faculty and staff at MU’s highly-successful PGA Golf Management (PGM) program that boasts a 100-percent job placement rate and 40 golf national championships (including a men’s national championship in May).
“The PGM College Summer Experience is a chance for prospective students to learn more about what our program has to offer, but also experience life on a college campus,” said Bailey Stromberg, the program’s recruiting, alumni relations, and social media engagement specialist. “Students learn about the PGM curriculum, career opportunities outside the program, and receive instructional sessions throughout the week. We are always excited to show students what makes our program unique.”
This year’s camp welcomed a record number of students, allowing them the unique opportunity of playing on MU’s private, on-campus, 18-hole golf course known as “Downback”. The camp provided one-on-one teaching from MU’s faculty and staff while giving students a deep dive into some of the more impressive features of the PGM program, including video swing analysis at Krick Teaching and Technology Center. Campers also received in-depth knowledge from PGM alumni and current students.
Away from the golf course, students were able to immerse themselves into a normal day as an MU student – living in the residence halls, eating meals at Green & Gold Dining Hall, and walking around campus. The four-day stint also included other fun activities such as watching movies and a trip to Main Event.
The camp was an experience that camper Joshua Vendemia will likely never forget.
“I’m absolutely loving camp,” said the high school senior from Monterey, Md. “We’ve had the chance to play the course and it has been amazing. We’re having a lot of fun.”
In fact, the PGM College Summer Experience has inspired Vendemia to consider Methodist University for his next step in education.
“I still don’t know exactly where I’m going yet, but Methodist University is my main option for where I’d like to go,” said Vendemia.
Methodist University’s PGM program can graduate students with a bachelor’s degree in several majors including Marketing, Business Administration, Financial Economics, and Accounting. Each graduate is required to complete approved internships totaling 16 months in the golf industry. Better yet, in addition to the 100-percent job placement, it showcases the largest PGM staff out of the 18 accredited programs in the nation.