Kim Kincer

June 23, 2006 - The rapidly growing golf industry in Kentucky has received a major boost with the establishment of the Commonwealth's first PGA/Professional Golf Management™ Program at Eastern Kentucky University.

Only the 18th such PGA-accredited program nationwide, with none located in any state adjacent to Kentucky, Eastern's PGA/PGM™ program will launch this fall. It is expected to enroll approximately 200 students within seven years and ultimately 300, preparing graduates for a variety of administrative careers within the golf industry. The program is housed in the Department of Management, Marketing and Administrative Communication within EKU's College of Business & Technology.

“Being the 18th PGA/PGM program in the United States accredited by the prestigious PGA is quite an accomplishment,” said Dr. Bob Rogow, dean of EKU's College of Business & Technology. “The program will become one of Eastern's signature business majors.”

Kim Kincer, a member of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) who guided Eastern through the PGA accreditation process, will direct the program. She is the first female PGA/PGM™ director in the nation.

Kincer, a Lexington native who was the first female head golf professional in Kentucky when she served as head golf pro and manager at the Tates Creek Golf Course 1990-98, brings impressive academic and athletic credentials to the post. She has a bachelor's degree from the University of Cincinnati, a master's degree in administration from Central Michigan University, and is a Class A member of the LPGA Teaching and Club Professional Division.

From 2002 to 2005, Kincer served as associate PGA/PGM™ director at Methodist College in Fayetteville, N.C., after four years as assistant director and head women's golf coach. As coach, she led Methodist College to two NCAA Division II/III national championships and three NCAA Division III titles. In 2001, she was named National Coach of the Year by the National Golf Coaches Association. In addition, she is a four-time Golfweek Coach of the Year.

The combination of a nationally accredited business program, a turfgrass management program that has produced many golf course superintendents and the Arlington golf course makes EKU “a natural fit for this program,” said Kincer. “This university has a lot to offer and the PGA accreditation team recognized that when they visited.”

After the visit, which included tours of EKU's new Business and Technology Center, the golf facilities at Arlington and Gibson Bay, as well as interviews with faculty, staff, EKU President Joanne Glasser and other administrators, the team unanimously recommended accreditation.

The 4 1/2-year bachelor of business administration program will give students the opportunity to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills through extensive classroom studies, cooperative education experiences and player development. Students will graduate with a major in marketing with a professional golf management option. Along with all University requirements, PGM students must also complete all PGA Education Curriculum requirements, including the PGA Playing Ability Test and 16 months of cooperative education experience. Students having satisfied all requirements upon graduation may apply for PGA membership.

Mark Hill, executive director of the PGA Kentucky Section and the Kentucky Golf Association, said the program will have “positive long-term effects on golf in Kentucky. The Kentucky PGA is very excited about it.”

One immediate impact, he added, will be the steady supply of interns for Kentucky golf courses.

“Many of our future PGA professionals will be EKU alumni,” Hill predicted.

Kincer said students will be recruited nationally.

“I think students will be pleasantly surprised when they visit EKU,” Kincer said. “Our campus is beautiful. The College just moved into a state-of-the-art facility, Arlington Golf Course is a wonderful place, and the support this program is receiving from the administration, faculty and staff is quite evident.”

The accreditation was achieved “through the efforts of a number of people,” Rogow said. “We especially want to thank President Glasser, the EKU Foundation Board, Kim Kincer, the golf staffs at Arlington and Gibson Bay, Kentucky PGA and several dedicated alumni for their support.”

For more information about Eastern's PGA/PGM™ program, call 859-622-4976 or 859-622-1377.