As one of the larger sporting events in the region, the Honda Classic PGA TOUR event held each year at the PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida requires a monumental effort from volunteers to be successful.
For most of the last 12 years, a portion of that effort has involved Keiser University College of Golf (KUCOG) students serving the role of caddies during the Pro-Am portion of the event. This year over 40 students participated in the action at Wednesday’s Pro-Am at a TOUR event which involved groups of amateur golfers playing with the PGA TOUR players as a prelude to the competition which began on Thursday. For the professional golfers, the event provides one last chance to see the course before the competition, and the amateur golfers gain the opportunity to rub shoulders with the best players in the world on the tournament playing field.
While the professionals have their own caddies to do their heavy lifting, the amateurs require volunteers to provide those same services. For Keiser students, the opportunity to be inside the ropes working for the amateurs allows them to see up close how the professionals play the course and also to help guide their amateur players around the links. At the end of the day, students enjoy a memorable experience, meet important people and hopefully gain insights about the game of golf that will help them in their future careers.
The mission of the KUCOG is to educate the future leaders of the golf industry by providing a well-rounded education. With faculty comprised of PGA Master and Certified Professionals, students have the opportunity to earn associate and Bachelor of Science degrees in Golf Management.
Keiser University is a private, independent, non-profit university serving nearly 20,000 students at 21 Florida campuses, online, and two international sites. Co-founded in 1977 by Chancellor Arthur Keiser, Ph.D., and Evelyn Keiser, Keiser University currently offers more than 100 degrees from associates to the doctoral level. Keiser University is a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution, a member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, and was ranked No. 5 in the U.S. in Social Mobility by U.S. News And World Report in 2022.
My instructors believed in me. They were more than instructors, they tried to get to know you as a person and tried to understand your goals so they could push you towards them. Student services helped me find a job before I even graduated. Everyone was dedicated to my overall success.
