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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 9, 1989)
The Battalion Pages Taking golf seriously Intern learns game’s ups and downs Story and Photos by Fredrick D. Joe Of The Battalion Staff Imagine how it would feel to ditch a “serious” degree plan and pursue a career in your favorite sport. That’s what Scott Michael Arnold did when he left behind two years of studies at Central Michigan University and en rolled in the Professional Golf Man agement program at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan. Arnold, who is interning as a golf professional at the Texas A&M Golf Course, said that at Central Michi- an he could not Find a degree plan e wanted to pursue, so he decided to make golf his career. Arnold said that as a golf profes sional, “Wages aren’t high, hours are long, and you’ll never be a million aire — but you gotta do what you lo ve.” He said most people have the mis conception that all golf professionals p/a/golf for a living. In reality, most golf professionals manage golf courses, sell equipment, run tourna ments, repair golf clubs and give golf lessons. At Ferris, students take classes in areas such as golf club repair, golf cart repair, rules and golf instruc tion, all of which are required by the Professional Golfers Association to achieve status as a golf professional. When Arnold graduates from Ferris he will recieve a bachelor’s degree in marketing with a golf management option. He has completed all the re quired coursework and two of the four required internships. Each in ternship lasts six months and must be completed at four different golf courses. His First internship was at the Flint Golf Club in Flint, Michigan, and his second was at the highly ex clusive Loxhatchee Club in West Plam Beach, Florida. Arnold is working toward the completion of his third internship here at A&M. Arnold said Ferris interns are in high demand because club and course professionals like to have knowledgeable help. Despite the high demand for Ferris interns, Ar nold said that most internships do not pay too well. “On most internships you just break even on expenses, but the ex perience is well worth it,” he said. Matt Schewe, head golf profes sional at Texas A&M and a Ferris graduate, is one of the many golf pros who have sought Ferris interns. He called Ferris and had A&M in cluded on a list of interships from which students could choose. Arnold chose the Texas A&M Golf course for his third internship because his first two were at private clubs and he wanted the experience that comes from working at a public golf course. In September, after getting the Texas A&M internship, Arnold jumped into his pick-up and de parted on his first trip to Texas. “I like it and I might jist stay down he re,” Arnold said teasingly, with a heavy Texas drawl. Schewe said Arnold’s internship is working out well and that he would like to continue hiring Ferris stu dents after Arnold leaves in Feb Matt Schewe, A&M’s head professional, jokes with Scott Ar nold in the A&M pro shop. ruary. Arnold said he has not decided on the location of his fourth and final internship. Many students seek per manent employment when they con sider their fourth internship, he said. Arnold said that Ferris’ golf management program is highly re garded and that “a lot of great club professionals have come from Fer ris.” Arnold plans to become a profes sional’s assistant for a couple of years, until he can get the financial backing he needs to start his own golf enterprise — which probably will be a driving range. Whether Ar nold works at a golf course or a driv ing range, he still will have the chance to teach. “I really like teaching a golfer and watching him improve,” Arnold said. When asked if golf is as popular in Texas as as it is in the east, Arnold said that “golf is popular eveywhere right now.” He added that high school golfers here might be better than those in Michigan because they have the benefit of playing year round in the mild southern climate. Arnold said golf is more popular than ever. More retirees are golfing, junior golf programs are taking off, and golf is turning into a family sport, he said. He said he has never regretted his decision to become a golf profes sional and he likes dealing with peo ple in the recreational atmosphere that golf provides. “They come out here to have a good time and it’s my job to be sure they do.” Helping amateurs improve their game is an important part of being a golf professional.