AMBITION will only take you so far, hard work a little farther. However you just might reach your goal by attending and completing the PGA International Golf Institute (PGA IGI) Diploma of Golf Management. That’s the opinion of students Byungwook Song and Terrence Ng took, with both harbouring ambitions of being touring professionals.
Song and Terrence, 19 and 21 respectively, can’t recommend the PGA IGI Diploma of Golf Management highly enough. Both are outstanding golfers who have had a taste of playing professional tournaments thanks to their education and training through the PGA IGI.
Song, who recently completed his PGA IGI studies, played in the NSW Open while Terrence played in the Hong Kong Open after winning the Hong Kong Amateur Championship. Terrence completed his PGA IGI Diploma of Golf Management and is currently in his second year of a Bachelor of Business in Sport Management at Griffith University.
“My long-term goal is to turn professional and play on the Asian Tour, but I won’t do that until I finish my degree,” Terrence said. “I also want to do the PGA Professional Year and become a PGA Member with the PGA of Australia.
I would recommend the PGA IGI program to anyone who wants a career in the golf industry.”
“The coaches Chris Lee, Darren and Ian Triggs are excellent and the lecturers are so helpful with your studies. The Gold Coast is a great place to study and play golf, because the weather is perfect all year.”
Song has already turned professional, but hasn’t ruled out completing the Bachelor of Business in Sport Management at Griffith University. In April, he will attempt to secure a card on the Korean Tour through the Tour’s second stage of qualifying school.
“I passed the first stage, but if I miss out at the second stage I will do the university course and keep practising my golf until I get better,” he said. “The PGA IGI course is great because you learn so much. Sure, you become a better player but there is so much more they teach you about golf course maintenance and golf management.”
“I have already recommended PGA IGI to four or five other people. I tell them they will get better, improve and learn a lot of other things as well.The lecturers are very good and make the course easy to understand even though my English is not perfect. They always go out of their way to help us.”
PGA IGI Dean and General Manager Geoff Wessling said Terrence and Song were shining examples to other students. “It is great to see Terrence and Song experience playing top level professional golf tournaments,” he said.
“Their consistency on the golf course with PGA IGI shone through and helped them reach these heights in 2015.”
Wessling said the pair had used the PGA IGI as a stepping-stone to joining the professional ranks. “When they complete their studies we look forward to seeing them succeed down the professional golf pathway as a PGA Tour player or as an accredited golf coach, becoming a full vocational member of the PGA of Australia,” he added.
“Each year we have graduates take their first step into a career in golf. This may be through pathways into the PGA Trainee Program to become a PGA Professional or towards a career in golf management working in golf clubs with members, administrations or managing golf events around the world.”
PGA IGI enrolments are now open for 2016 for intakes at their Sydney and Gold Coast campus locations. Classes commence in February 2016 at both campus locations.
By David Newberry – Inside Golf Magazine (January 2016 edition)
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