AGMS students graduate in the sizzling sun

The class of 2018 from the Applied Golf Management Studies (AGMS) degree programme were reunited this week as they returned to the University of Birmingham to receive their cherished certificates.

Graduates, alongside their family and friends, basked in the West Midlands sunshine as they gathered in their cap and gowns to celebrate the culmination of three years’ hard work.

The AGMS course, run jointly between The PGA and the University of Birmingham, provides graduates with a comprehensive knowledge of golf, including business and event management, equipment technology, coaching and sports science.

In addition, each student undergoes three work placements at the end of each year of study.

This year six students graduated with first-class honours, including Sophie Mills, 21, who won the prize for the top performing student academically on the AGMS Degree Programme.

“The course has really given me that platform I needed to go into the golf industry and do what I want to do,” said Mills (pictured right).

“It has been great for me because I managed to do a work placement with the Ladies European Tour. I’ve also worked out in America for the Solheim Cup and at the Women’s British Open. 

“I think when people hear about the course they think it’s very one-sided to golf but it’s very diverse. We covered event management, financial performance, and for me now involved in tournament operation, the event management side was incredible.”

The Munrow prize is awarded to the student who has gained a first-class degree and has made an outstanding contribution to the School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Birmingham.

The 2018 recipient was 21-year-old Thomas Hall (pictured left), who commented: “To be able to study a degree at such a prestigious university in a subject I love has been an amazing experience.

“One of the main benefits of the degree when comparing it to others would be the variety of stuff you do whilst you’re here; from marketing, finance and economics to the real practical golf stuff such as equipment technology or out on the range coaching.

“If you want a career in an industry you enjoy and something you love then this degree is really the best route in and I would snap up the opportunity to study here.”

Luke Bell, 22, graduated with an upper second class honours and worked under the stewardship of PGA Captain John Heggarty while on placement at Royal Liverpool (Hoylake) Golf Club.

ABOVE - Luke Bell pictured with PGA Captain John Heggarty 

He said: “I was looking for a course where I could fit in the theoretical side of golf in as well as obtaining the PGA qualification so I could so some coaching as well, and this course combined them both very well.

"I’m a full-time teaching professional at the moment so I’m going down the teaching route but then I’m hoping to go into some sort of management role later in my career, that’s where the business aspect of this degree is going to come in really handy.

Gary Jackson, AGMS Programme Manager, added: “I’ve been involved with the course since it started in 2002 and during that time we’ve had over 350 students go through the AGMS degree.

“We’ve had some amazing success stories with people working in all sorts of roles around the world.

"The AGMS course gives students the opportunity to learn all about the industry, acquire the skills and knowledge they need to work within it and study at the first-class University of Birmingham to obtain a full degree.”