Golf Management

Golf Management encompasses the comprehensive study of overseeing and executing various tasks within public, private, or resort golf facilities. Undergraduate students pursuing this field commonly incorporate business, marketing, and management into their academic journey. All students can benefit from the Golf Management coursework, enhancing their problem-solving and communication skills.

At College of the Desert, the Golf Management curriculum provides both theoretical knowledge and practical training aligned with industry standards. The offerings include a Certificate of Achievement, an Associate of Arts degree, and transferable courses. The certificate equips students with essential skills for entry-level positions in golf management, with options to further their education. Graduates have secured roles as General Manager, Director of Golf, and Head Professional across the country.

Those earning an associate degree can pursue apprentice positions as PGA golf professionals or continue their studies towards higher degrees. The program prepares students for diverse career paths within the golf industry, emphasizing both practical expertise and academic advancement.

Tanner Bown
tbown@collegeofthedesert.edu

Associate Degrees (AA)

Certificate of Achievement

GOLF 025  Golf Shop Operations   Units: 2

This course is the study of the principles and techniques involved in managing the modern professional golf shop: selling techniques, customer service, merchandise displays, and an understanding that the golf shop is the heart of all golf activity at the facility. The ability to purchase, price, control and sell golf equipment, golf apparel, and golf accessories is an important aspect of this course. The course emphasizes the principles of organizing, financing, budgeting and controlling a golf facility's revenue and cost centers.
Lecture Hours: 18         Lab Hours: 54          Repeatable: No
Grading: Letter
Prerequisite: None
Advisory: None
Limitation on enrollment: None
Transfer Status: CSU                 Degree Applicable: AA/AS
COD GE: None                 CSU GE: None                 IGETC: None

GOLF 029  Methods of Teaching Golf   Units: 2

This course will provide students a foundation in the methods of teaching the game of golf. Students in the course will learn how to take a systematic approach to helping clients improve their golf game. Students will learn best practices about how to give a golf lesson. Students will understand the cause and effect in terms of golf ball flight, and will learn to use that information to improve outcomes of their clients. Students will be able to diagnose golf swing errors, relate them to ball flight, and offer corrections and ways to practice the corrections.
Lecture Hours: 36         Lab Hours: None          Repeatable: No
Grading: Letter
Prerequisite: None
Advisory: None
Limitation on enrollment: None
Transfer Status: None                 Degree Applicable: AA/AS
COD GE: None                 CSU GE: None                 IGETC: None

GOLF 030  Teaching the Short Game   Units: 2

This course is the study of the techniques used to develop an effective short game and putting stroke. It emphasizes basic swing fundamentals and the modern approach to chips, pitches, greenside sand shots and putting. This course is intended for students pursuing a career in golf.
Lecture Hours: 18         Lab Hours: 54          Repeatable: No
Grading: Letter
Prerequisite: None
Advisory: None
Limitation on enrollment: None
Transfer Status: CSU/UC*                 Degree Applicable: AA/AS
COD GE: None                 CSU GE: None                 IGETC: None

GOLF 032  Golf Teaching Laboratory   Units: 2

This course is the study and practice of the methods used in teaching the game of golf. It includes learning the techniques and instructional skills necessary to teach golf to individuals and groups. It emphasizes how to adapt golf swing fundamentals to the physical attributes and prior experience of the client (student). It also includes practical application of these methods in a golf practice range environment. This course is intended for students pursuing a career in golf.
Lecture Hours: None         Lab Hours: 108          Repeatable: No
Grading: Letter
Prerequisite: None
Advisory: None
Limitation on enrollment: None
Transfer Status: CSU/UC*                 Degree Applicable: AA/AS
COD GE: None                 CSU GE: None                 IGETC: None

GOLF 036  Fundamentals & Rules of Golf   Units: 2

This course is the study of the basic fundamentals of playing golf and the application of the rules of the game of golf. It emphasizes understanding of the rules of golf and the responsibility of the golf professional to ensure compliance with the rules in order to uphold the integrity of the sport. Students will learn the fundamental skills and knowledge necessary to play the game. This course is intended for students pursuing a career in golf.
Lecture Hours: 18         Lab Hours: 54          Repeatable: No
Grading: Letter
Prerequisite: None
Advisory: None
Limitation on enrollment: None
Transfer Status: CSU/UC*                 Degree Applicable: AA/AS
COD GE: None                 CSU GE: None                 IGETC: None

GOLF 038  Golf Tournament Administration   Units: 2

Students taking Golf Tournament Administration will gain valuable skills and hands-on experience at running golf events. Students will learn all aspects of running a golf tournament program from best practices of marketing the events, planning a tournament schedule, daily tournament operations, and the business and sales of golf events. This class will provide marketable skills for students looking to join the golf industry.
Lecture Hours: 18         Lab Hours: 54          Repeatable: No
Grading: Letter
Prerequisite: None
Advisory: GOLF-036.
Limitation on enrollment: None
Transfer Status: CSU                 Degree Applicable: AA/AS
COD GE: None                 CSU GE: None                 IGETC: None

GOLF 040  Advanced Methods of Golf Instruction   Units: 2

Students in this course will learn advanced techniques to help golf instruction clients improve and reach their goals. Students will access the latest teaching technology and learn the best practices that top instructors and coaches use to help players reach their potential. Students will also learn about how to build a coaching business and ways to make themselves more marketable to golf facilities and potential clients.
Lecture Hours: 18         Lab Hours: 54          Repeatable: No
Grading: Letter
Prerequisite: GOLF-036 and GOLF-029.
Advisory: None
Limitation on enrollment: None
Transfer Status: CSU                 Degree Applicable: AA/AS
COD GE: None                 CSU GE: None                 IGETC: None

GOLF 042  Clubfitting and Golf Club Repair   Units: 2

Students in this course will learn the essential skills in custom fitting a set of clubs for a golfer. Students will also learn some basic elements of club repair and how to evaluate a client's current set of clubs by doing a "bag check." This course will cover all elements of clubfitting such as clubhead design, club length, lie angle, loft, swing weight, and the process of a clubfitting session. Students will also get hands-on training in a clubfitting environment.
Lecture Hours: 18         Lab Hours: 54          Repeatable: No
Grading: Letter
Prerequisite: None
Advisory: None
Limitation on enrollment: None
Transfer Status: CSU                 Degree Applicable: AA/AS
COD GE: None                 CSU GE: None                 IGETC: None

GOLF 044  Golf Player Development   Units: 1

Students in this course will learn the techniques to become better golfers and improve their scoring average dramatically. Students will work with their instructor to set goals, and then they will build and execute a plan to reach that goal. Topics in this course will include practice planning, assessing your game, making swing changes, tracking golf statistics, improving play with the scoring clubs, as well as course strategy.
Lecture Hours: None         Lab Hours: 54          Repeatable: No
Grading: Letter
Prerequisite: None
Advisory: None
Limitation on enrollment: None
Transfer Status: CSU/UC                 Degree Applicable: AA/AS
COD GE: None                 CSU GE: None                 IGETC: None

GOLF 046  Golf Career Pathways   Units: 2

Students in this course will learn about the many diverse and exciting career opportunities in the one-billion dollar golf industry. Students will be able to understand important aspects about each career path in the industry to help them make decisions about the career options best for them. In addition, students will receive best practices about job preparedness and applying for jobs specific to the golf industry.
Lecture Hours: 36         Lab Hours: None          Repeatable: No
Grading: Letter
Prerequisite: None
Advisory: None
Limitation on enrollment: None
Transfer Status: CSU                 Degree Applicable: AA/AS
COD GE: None                 CSU GE: None                 IGETC: None

GOLF 095A  Golf Work Experience   Units: 1-5

This work experience course of supervised employment provides students the opportunity to connect academics to applied experiential learning in the workplace. It assists students in developing transferable employability skills, career awareness, learning industry culture, competencies and norms, and developing professional networks that support career mobility. To enroll, students must have a job or internship placement in a part-time or full-time capacity. Credit may be accrued at the rate of one to five (1-5) units per semester based on the student's ability to meet the hours required per unit enrolled. Students must work 54 hours per unit earned. This Work Experience course is available to students whose job or internship placement is directly related to Golf.
Lecture Hours: None         Lab Hours: 270          Repeatable: Yes
Grading: Letter
Prerequisite: None
Advisory: None
Limitation on enrollment: None
Transfer Status: CSU                 Degree Applicable: AA/AS
COD GE: None                 CSU GE: None                 IGETC: None