Kenneth Jones, director of the Professional Golf Management Program, has been notified of the awarding of a grant to the Campbell Professional Golf Management Program (PGM) in the amount of $35, 000 by the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) of America. Funding in the grant will be purpose driven in that $25,000 will be used for teaching and $10,000 will be used for infrastructure.

The grant monies are awarded through the Growth of the Game Committee of the PGA Foundation. The funding initiative is designed to teach and improve the golf skill of students through instruction provided by PGA Professionals, and to suggest ways in which the students can use golf as a business tool as they enter the professional world. The program is a collaborative effort between the university and PGA of America.

“We expect the majority of the students taking the course to be classified as beginner golfers. Retention of these players after graduation will be the key to growing the number of active golfers,” stated PGM Director Kenneth Jones. The thirty-four students registered in the Golf: For Business & Life course fulfill their Physical Education activity requirement while learning a game for life.

The Golf Management major was initiated by the Campbell University Lundy-Fetterman School of Business in 1995. The PGA of America accredited the program in 1998. The inaugural class of 24 students started the program in 1999. The total number of students in the program today is 160.

Dr. Benjamin Hawkins, dean of the Lundy-Fetterman School of Business, said, " I support the efforts of the PGA/PGM™ Program to develop the business and golfing skills of the future graduates of the Lundy-Fetterman School of Business. As an avid golfer and leader of the Business School, I realize the importance of the business networking opportunities that the game of golf fosters. Involvement in the game of golf can only enhance the personal and professional lives of our graduates."

Kenneth Jones is a native of Gouveneur, NY. Jones is a former head professional at Sea Trail Resort & Golf Links in Sunset Beach, NC. He received a Bachelor of Science in marketing and professional golf management from Ferris State University in Big Rapids, MI, and a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in management from Campbell University. He joined the Campbell business faculty in 1998 as director of placement for the PGM program.

In addition to his responsibilities as director of the PGM program, Jones serves as the advisor to the Professional Golf Management Student Association. He is also the creator of the PGM Lecture Series at Campbell, a program that brings prominent figures in the golf industry to speak to PGM students.

Bulletin 0290-10/22/04