Even if you hate golf you've probably heard of Tiger Woods. But not everyone can be that particular cat. That's why Humber College's Professional Golf Management program emphasizes the business side of the game for the 50 to 60 students a year who enroll.
Peter Madott, associate dean at Humber, puts teaching playing skills at about 10 to 15% of the three-year program. "Most of the rest," he says, "is about the business of golf."
Well-Rounded
That includes such courses as golf club administration, golf operations, turf management, bar and restaurant operations, marketing, accounting and so on. "And because this is Humber College, students must take general education courses. They're aimed at making people well rounded," Madott says.
Ray Chateau, the program's co-ordinator, echoes Madott's remarks. "We're not turning out tour professionals," he says, noting only one grad, Bob Beauchemin, made it to the PGA touring ranks. Beauchemin now teaches in the program, and many of the other instructors at Humber are golf professionals at courses from across the GTA.
The majority of Humber's students come directly to the college armed with a high school diploma. There are also some international students, Madott says, and a small handful of mature students.
Unlike most programs at Humber, where classes usually start in September, the professional golf management course begins in October and each semester runs for 11 weeks rather than the typical 15. Classroom hours have been lengthened to accommodate a shorter semester timed to coincide with the golf season in Canada, Madott says.
As well as the academic courses in the program students also have to complete a paid work placement of at least 18 weeks. During the placements students are expected to keep a journal and discuss the points that they've noted when they return to school.
Job Fair
The placements are relatively easy to obtain although students are expected to find them themselves. Humber equips the enrollees with resume and interview skills, Madott continues, and during a job fair in December about two-thirds of students secure their work placement. "We have no end of contacts," Madott says.
And the golf industry in Canada has no end of money too, it seems. Chateau puts the turnover at between $2 billion and $2.5 billion, although none of his students can ever expect to earn Tiger-like paydays. New grads' salaries here start in the $30,000 range.
Quick Facts:
• The Professional Golf Management program at Humber enrolls 50 to 60 students a year.
• Applicants should have some golfing ability.
• Classes start in October rather than the more usual September.
• The program's emphasis is on business rather than playing.
Source: Toronto Sun, David Chilton, May 9 2007
