When an institution is one of only 16 in the country with a PGA‑accredited golf management program — and the only one in Florida — it’s only fitting that its facility is state-of-the-art and built to drive success for every student. That is exactly the case at Florida Gulf Coast University, where the bachelor’s degree program is tailored to equip future golf professionals for success in a variety of industry roles.

Students take classes in Sugden Hall, where they gain hands-on experience using specialized technology to refine their knowledge and skills. The building houses the Swing Performance Lab, Golf Club Fitting Lab and a model merchandise shop. The Swing Performance Lab includes two full-swing hitting bays, each featuring Trackman launch monitors that uses radar, infrared and high-speed imaging to capture and deliver accurate ball and club data.

German native Leonie Wulfers is a junior on FGCU’s women’s golf team who’s enrolled in the degree program with the aim of becoming a golf professional or teacher. She said the technology available to students in Sugden Hall is transformative.

“The swing lab has been a game changer for me. You have the best practice tools right here next to your classroom — this is very special,” she said.

Golf management a specialized program

Program director Tara McKenna  emphasized that Trackman and other lab tools are integral to helping students develop advanced teaching, fitting and analytical skills that set them apart in the job pool.

“What this room allows us to do is 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 and  analysis,” she explained.

The integration of club fitting and repair and merchandising coursework further rounds out students’ expertise in specialized industry roles.

Golf management, part of the Lutgert College of Business, is one of FGCU’s specialized admissions programs, with limited space in each incoming class and a competitive selection process. Students who qualify take four to four-and-a-half years to complete the program, which includes 16 months of structured, paid internships in real golf-industry settings nationwide. After completing the degree, graduates are eligible for PGA Class A membership.

With more than 140 golf courses situated within an hour of campus, FGCU’s PGA-accredited program is well located and connected to advance student success. Students in the major regularly intern, work part-time or network with over 550 local PGA professionals, gaining hands-on exposure and mentorship in real-world golf settings.

“The teaching and coaching space can be very competitive, so the more knowledge you can bring to that space, the more you can separate yourself from other coworkers,” said McKenna.

All these factors contribute to making FGCU more desirable to students nationally and internationally, and local golf clubs’ professionals are constantly cultivating FGCU students to help build future successful professionals in the area.

Getting in the swing of things

The third bay in the Sugden Hall labs houses a Wellputt putting platform paired with SAM PuttLab and Blast Motion technologies for detailed stroke and speed analysis on the simulated putting green.

The Golf Club Fitting Lab offers lie/loft machines, grip‑workstations, frequency analyzers and swing‑weight tools that help professionals optimize the tools of the game.

McKenna believes all this technological equipment makes a difference and enhances the overall experience for students while exposing them to a variety of prospective careers. The program also hosts club vendors and sales reps from well-established golf club companies who engage students in demonstrations and new product introductions. Club fitting has recently become a more specialized employment opportunity.

“So for our students to have a fully appointed fitting cart with all the pieces, they now know how to club fit with different components, allowing them to interchange shafts and heads,” McKenna said. “So this can be a full-circle moment for students.”

Learning inspires entrepreneurship

Christian Oster, who graduated from the program last May, recalled the valuable experience of his time at FGCU.

“One of the most impactful lessons I learned was how much equipment truly matters to a golfer’s performance,” he said. “That inspired me to start a business that not only helps players play better but get the proper equipment.”

Oster spent two years honing his skills as an intern at The Vineyards Country Club in Naples. In 2024, he founded Oster Golf Co., which focuses on regripping and club building services.

“Overall, FGCU and the PGM program not only taught me the technical skills to succeed in golf management but also provided the spark, the vision and the connections to turn my passion into a thriving business.”

Based on the strong foundation of knowledge and experience they acquired at FGCU, students such as Oster and Wulfers will continue perfecting their craft in whatever career field they choose.