Colorado Springs, Colo. The general manager and director of golf at the Pennsylvania State University Golf Courses will become the first program director of the Professional Golf Management program at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, university officials announced today, July 14.
Gary Klein, interim dean, College of Business Administration, announced the appointment of Douglas Wert, 37, of State College, Pa. Wert, a professional golfer, will begin at CU-Colorado Springs Sept. 2. He will be responsible for administering the university’s recently launched program that is accredited by the Professional Golfer’s Association of America.
“A national search brought forward the names of more than 25 individuals,” Paul Miller, the program’s academic director, said. “Doug Wert stood out because of his exceptional experience and strong personal skills. He was highly recommended by colleagues and students. We are pleased that he will join our effort to create an outstanding program.”
Since 1997, Wert has served as the general manager and director of golf at Penn State’s golf course and as the official liaison to that university’s PGM program. He also taught classes in the program including “Introduction to Teaching Golf.”
Previously, Wert was the head golf professional at the Tournament Players Club at Southwind, Memphis, Tenn., and assistant golf professional at the Tournament Players Club at Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra, Fla., and Tournament Players Club at Eagle Trace, Coral Springs, Fla.. In 1989-90, Wert played on the Ben Hogan Tour.
During his career, Wert has earned several awards including four-time “Merchandiser of the Year” honors from the Philadelphia PGA and the “Best 100 Golf Shops” Award from Golf World Business magazine. Wert held the record for playing the most golf holes in 12 hours, according to the Guinness Book of Records. He completed 440 holes as part of a charity fund raising event in 1993. The record stood until 2000.
His professional associations include the PGA, Association of Golf Merchandisers, the Pennsylvania Turfgrass Council and the education committee of the Philadelphia PGA.
Wert holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and Professional Golf Management from Mississippi State University.
In April, CU-Colorado Springs announced that it would be among only 14 universities in the nation offering a Professional Golf Management Program. Offered through the College of Business and Administration, the PGM Program will prepare highly motivated men and women for careers in the industry by providing them with a university degree and PGA membership. The students complete three cooperative internships and a PGA/PGM training program.
The university’s PGM Program is one of only five west of the Mississippi River and the only one in Colorado. Applications for the fall 2003 semester are still being accepted. More than 25 students will enroll for the fall’s inaugural class. Eventually, the program hopes to enroll more than 200 students. Applicants compete for a limited number of positions and must meet academic entrance requirements and have above-average golf skills, including a handicap of 12 or less. The PGM Program is far more focused on professional management than golf, according to Miller.
The program has access to a flagship learning laboratory through a partnership with the management of Pine Creek Golf Club in northeast Colorado Springs. Besides a challenging course, PCGC has a golf shop, restaurant, practice areas, cart facility, and maintenance area, all of which will be used to teach the students.
Students will complete general education and business courses as well as specific courses related to golf management. All students will be full-time and complete their studies in four and one-half years. The program requires 16-18 months of professional internships under qualified PGA members at sites in Colorado and around the U.S. In addition, the students hone skills in a player development program.
The College of Business and Administration is among the fewer than 30 percent of all business schools accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, and one of only six AACSB schools to offer a PGM Program.
CU-Colorado Springs, located on Austin Bluffs Parkway in northeast Colorado Springs, is the fastest growing university in Colorado and one of the fastest growing universities in the nation. The university offers 25 bachelor’s degrees, 17 master’s and two doctoral degrees. The campus enrolls more than 7,400 students annually.