07/26/06
SUNY Delhi GMP grads could go pro
Clinton, Schumer give their support as college to apply for PGA accreditation
AREA COLLEGES
By P.J. Harmer
Staff Writer
SUNY Delhi’s Professional Golf Management Program could be getting an upgrade.
Tom Philion, director of the program at Delhi, said the school will FedEx its application Friday to the Professional Golfers’ Association of America in the hopes of becoming an accredited program with the PGA.
If the application is successful, students will graduate in 4½ years with a degree and membership in the PGA as a Class A Professional.
[an error occurred while processing this directive]"It shows you’ve been through the most rigorous education and player development in the country," said Philion, a Class A professional since 1993.
"I’m glad the whole proposal thing is done and now it’s kind of a waiting game," he said. "I’m really confident. We have some people high up in the PGA that have seen our facility and realize we can offer what they want for these kids to learn to become good PGA members."
Philion and Delhi are getting some help, too.
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Sen. Charles E. Schumer said Tuesday in media releases that they each had written Chris Hunkler, the PGA’s managing director of membership programs, in support of Delhi’s application.
Delhi is looking to become the first New York school to offer the accredited program. Eighteen schools nationwide have the program, with Penn State the closest in proximity to Delhi.
"I think it’s a great gesture on their part," Philion said. "It’s good for the state of New York for us to get that program accredited, and that’s probably what the bottom line is for (Clinton and Schumer). It would really be a boom for the state, I believe."
"SUNY Delhi has long had a reputation for excellence and their Golf Management Program is no exception," Clinton said in her release. "This accreditation would make them one of a handful of select schools across the country with PGA certification, which would lend extra weight to their program and hopefully encourage more students who want to study sports and golf management to come to New York."
This isn’t the first time Delhi has attempted to become accredited.
Philion said the school, which started the PGM program in 2000, applied in 2003 but was rejected. He said some of the major issues at that time included young four-year programs and a curriculum that was too heavy with turf classes.
Philion said once rejected, a school has to wait three years before reapplying.
"During that three years, we feel we’ve addressed all the issues the PGA had questions with the last time," said Philion, who has been with Delhi since the fall of 2005. "I’ve worked closely with the PGA with the development of the curriculum. They’ve been helpful and forthcoming with what they expect."
Delhi has an 18-hole golf course and an indoor practice facility. It’s the only school in the Northeast that has an 18-hole course as an academic laboratory, Schumer’s release said.
"SUNY Delhi’s golf management program is one of the most notable in the country," Schumer said in his release. "Already the university boasts several new and impressive facilities, but with accreditation, Delhi will be able to provide students from New York and across the nation with an incomparable educational experience."
Once the PGA gets Delhi’s application, it has 60 days to respond. If the PGA has any questions, the school will have 30 days to answer, Philion said. If there is still interest, the PGA will do a site visit and look at its facilities.
Philion said he’s hoping it will get to that point so the school can show off what it has.
"We feel like we’ve dotted the Is and crossed the Ts, and I’m confident," Philion said. "We have the facilities and some good support. Now it’s a matter of getting them up here and showing them how good our facilities are. We have everything they ask for in a PGM program."
