Opportunity knocks for Scottish PGA golfers

** Alan Fleming, Gary Dingwall, the director of instruction at Royal Dornoch, and Alastair Forsyth

The partnership set up to stop Scottish students being disadvantaged when accessing the PGA's vocational degree programme is on course for a healthy first-year intake.

But there is still time for those eager to pursue a career in golf to sign up to take either a BA Honours Degree in Professional Golf or in Golf Management at the University of the Highlands and Islands.

On offer at the University’s base next to Royal Dornoch Golf Club through the partnership with the PGA is a new Diploma in Higher Education in Professional Golf, which will be studied while PGA trainees are in work at Scottish golf facilities.

The courses are aimed at those aspiring to a career in the golf industry which, in Scotland, is estimated to support the employment of more than 20,000 people.

The honours degrees are being delivered over a four-year period on a full-time basis and are also available for part-time study. The diploma will be delivered by distance learning, and will ultimately lead to the opportunity for graduates to become PGA members upon completion.

One of the main reasons for the new partnership was to stop Scottish students from having to fork out £4,000 plus per year to take the equivalent course in England.

"Because it has been delivered through the University of Birmingham and the two national academic funding systems are different, Scottish students didn't have access to funding," said Alan Fleming, programme leader for the university’s golf curriculum and a PGA Member.

"People were paying over £4,000 per year and up to £7,000 depending where they were and if you added in travelling expenses for residential aspects of the programme.

"They are now able to access funding for their fees paid through SAAS, as long as they are eligible and haven't already used that for another degree. Even those who are ineligible for the SAAS fees support will still only be required to pay annual fees that are significantly lower than was previously the case. If students are studying via the Diploma in Higher Education students may only have to pay for their accommodation costs at The Belfry for the annual residential sessions. If they are doing the full-time degree, their costs are the same as any other degree programmes ie accommodation and living costs."

A close working relationship with Royal Dornoch will offer a unique opportunity for students to be involved in coaching, hosting golf events and placement opportunities at the world renowned golf club facility.  The courses cover topics such as coaching, equipment technology, sport science and business management plus other subject areas developed to meet industry expectation and requirements.

"The Diploma in Higher Education in Professional Golf starts from October, when there should be 40 odd enrolling on that," added Fleming.

"People in the profession have heard about it after it was announced at the PGA in Scotland AGM. There were a number of first-year students starting at that time so they decided to pull out of the University of Birmingham programme and wait a year to effectively start again."

The programme has been boosted by former European Tour golfer and 2006 PGA Trainee Rookie of the Year Lesley Mackay taking up a lecturing role with UHI.

"There's no reason why we can't achieve the same high standards as the University of Birmingham," insisted Fleming. "We've had a Golf Management Degree here since 2001, enjoying good success with that as students have gone out and secured jobs in the golf industry in the UK and abroad, and it's been a strategic decision to build on that."

Shona Malcolm, the PGA in Scotland, secretary, said: “The PGA is committed to making a positive contribution to all aspects of golf in Scotland. Through this partnership with UHI, we not only provide the right educational environment for young PGA professionals in this country, but open up further opportunities for collaborative working to develop and enhance the game in Scotland."