Under fourers' finishing school

A new golf programme gives a professional edge to the game

Even if you can't hit, chip or putt like Tiger Woods, just ensure that your handicap comes under four. Then, there is still some chance of striking it big one day, drawing huge prize monies and subsequently owning jet planes and private golf courses just like Tiger does.

In what is surely a landmark decision, the Higher Education Funding Council of England has given its approval to introduce a Foundation Degree course in golf. The course is the result of a unique partnership between the University of Birmingham and the Professional Golfers' Association which will jointly run the course.

This is one step forward for the university which introduced a part-time Applied Golf Management Studies degree in October 2002. Today, it's a full time three-year BA (Honours) degree course in the same programme.

In 2002, when it teed off its programme at Belfry course, venue for the Ryder Cup in 2003, it attracted more than 100 applications from all over the world, including the US, Australia, Thailand, Japan, Belgium, Germany, France and Russia.

And the first batch of students, 26, came from all walks of life: One was a 33-year-old banker who gave up his job of 19 years to start learning all over again. Nineteen-year-old Zoe Humphris, with a handicap of three, signed up because she wanted to become a golf coach in Ireland.

Interestingly, an analysis of the first group of students revealed that the average handicap was 3.2 and an average A-level score of BCC.

On completion of the course, students can now follow it up with the Applied Golf Management Studies Degree at the university. The length of the course depends on the number of subjects taken, which include engineering, materials and management.

The basic requirements for the Foundation degree and, subsequently, the BA Honours degree are four GCSE's at grade C (or equivalent). Besides, the students must have a maximum handicap of four for men and six for ladies, which, anyway, makes a fine golfer. One of the possible reasons why PGA chose Birmingham University is due to its proximity to The Belfry, near Sutton Coldfield, where its National Training Academy is based.

Here, students are given a wide "historical perspectives" of the game, including analysis of the swing theory, and a wide range of lessons from equipment technology to psychology, or how to develop mental toughness. Apart from coach education, fitness and nutrition, emphasis is laid on the golf business at large, including sport and event management.

Golf is today a big industry. While professional golf is lucrative, other areas in golf management have been steadily growing in importance. For instance, turf management, hospitality, golf club administration at golf clubs as well as golf tourism have become part and parcel of tournaments.

In fact, countries like Malaysia and Thailand market golf tourism in a big way. It may be too early to see a degree in golf being offered in India but the potential of the sport is undeniable.

India must first raise the base of golfers in the circuit. And it's possible that 15 years from now, youngsters who wants to follow their heart and take up the course will be taken seriously.

 

What's Up
Last week (ending April 18, 2004)
Tour	Tournament	Champion
USPGA	MCI Heritage	Stewart Cink
European PGA	Open de Sevilla	Ricardo Gonzalez
LPGA	Takefuji Classic	Cristie Kerr
Nationwide	First Tee Arkansas Classic	Daniel Chopra
Indian	SRF Matchplay	Digvijay Singh
This week (ending April 25, 2004)
Tour	Tournament	Defending champ
USPGA	Shell Houston	Fred Couples
European PGA	Canarias Open, de Espana	Kenneth Ferrie
Nationwide	Rheem Classic	Zach Johnson
Japan	Tsuruya Open	Hirofumi Miyase
Indian	Hero Golf, Chandigarh	Harmeet Kahlon