DENTON (UNT), Texas — Students at the University of North Texas can learn about the business side of an $84.1 billion industry and one of the United States’ most popular recreational activities directly from the experts themselves this summer.
The university’s sport entertainment management program has partnered with the PGA of America (PGA) to offer students an inside look at the modern-day business of golf. The course, listed as MGMT 4980 “Special Topics – The Business of Golf in the 21st Century,” is an eight-week summer course (May 11-July 3). It will be offered at UNT Frisco, and will be open to all students, not just sport management majors. There are no prerequisites for registering.
“We think this course is a great way to recognize the strong partnership between the PGA of America and UNT by creating an opportunity for everyone at the university to engage with our partners in an educational, valuable and interesting way,” said Bob Heere, program director of UNT’s undergraduate and graduate sport entertainment management programs. “Co-teaching this course perfectly blends the PGA of America’s educational mission with our own. It’s an amazing opportunity for our students to hear from top executives about best practices from a world-class organization.”
UNT and the PGA of America signed a partnership agreement shortly after the organization announced it would move and build its new headquarters at PGA Frisco, a short distance from the university’s Frisco campus. The collaboration benefits both UNT and the PGA with hands-on educational experience for students, and research and educational expertise from a Tier One research university for the PGA. The summer course delivers on both fronts.
Students will explore every facet of the golf industry and its evolution throughout history, but the class will pay particular attention to the PGA’s move to North Texas. The course will cover golf operations, revenue generation and contemporary challenges facing the industry that currently reaches an estimated 101 million Americans.
"The enthusiasm and growth of golf in North Texas is undeniable,” said PGA of America Senior Director Dawes Marlatt. “This collaboration provides us an opportunity to connect locally with a talented and diverse group of students. Throughout this experience, we envision that the insights shared will help them add value to the game and business of golf."
UNT offers both B.B.A. and M.B.A. programs in sport and entertainment management. Classes are offered either online or in Frisco, in close proximity to the Dallas Cowboys and Dallas Stars headquarters, FC Dallas, the Frisco Roughriders, the Texas Legends and the PGA of America. Under the supervision of world-class faculty, UNT students continuously engage in project-based learning with many of the professional sport entertainment organizations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and have completed projects over the last two years with the Dallas Cowboys, PGA of America, StadiaVentures, the Dallas Mavericks, the Dallas Stars, Major League Rugby, the Professional Futsal League, the Frisco Roughriders and the Dallas Jackals among others.
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