“Upon our arrival, we did not know a single person,” Brandt said. “However, after two days of golf and participating in a common passion, I felt as though I knew everyone for years.”

Each of the nation’s 20 accredited PGA Golf Management universities send two student representatives who possess leadership qualities at their respective schools to the conference.

Over the course of two days, students participated in various seminars covering leadership skills and the new Golf 2.0 initiative, and played two rounds of golf at the PGA Golf Club.

Duderstandt said that “the best part of the conference was getting to meet and create relationships with fellow PGA Golf Management students from across the nation as well as some PGA members holding prominent positions in our association. We played two rounds of golf on championships courses and had a fun time.”

Player Development and Recruiting Coordinator Ross Lingenfelder said: “The PGA Leadership Conference is a great opportunity for PGA Golf Management students to network with leaders of the PGA of America as well as fellow PGA Golf Management students from other PGA accredited universities. EKU PGA Golf Management student leaders are able to bring back new ideas to EKU through discussion in the classrooms as well as on the golf course. I still have fond memories of attending the PGA Leadership Conference as a student many years ago.”

EKU’s PGA Golf Management program is an option within the College of Business and Technology’s Department of Management, Marketing and International Business. Graduates of the program earn a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a major in Marketing and the PGM option. Students receive a comprehensive business education that prepares them for responsible positions in the golf industry. Upon graduation, a PGA Golf Management student will be eligible to apply for PGA membership.