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Virginia College News

The Golf Academy of America (GAA) recently hosted members of its Advisory Board at Cahaba Grand Conference Center near the schools' Birmingham, Alabama, corporate headquarters. The board is charged with offering professional input into the Academy's curriculum.


"We are extremely proud of the makeup of our current advisory board," says GAA President Chris Hunkler. "We feel we have as strong a representation from the golf industry as we have ever had, and that simply means a solid curriculum for our students and a better group of potential employees for the business of golf."

Attending the meeting were:

* Brent Krause, 2007 PGA Professional of the Year
* Jim Brotherton, 2003 PGA Professional of the Year
* Jock Olson, 2002 PGA Professional of the Year
* Ken Morton, 1998 PGA Professional of the Year
* Ken Lindsay, 1983 PGA Professional of the Year and Past President of the PGA of America
* Hank Johnson, 2004 PGA Teacher of the Year
* Paul Reinking, 2003 PGA's Bill Strausbaugh Award Winner
* Steve Napoli, 2002 PGA's Bill Strausbaugh Award Winner
* Charlie Lanzetta, 2001 PGA Junior Golf Leader Winner
* Mark Darnell, 1986 PGA Horton Smith Award Winner
* Bob Barrett, 1986 PGA Merchandiser of the Year Award Winner
* Steve Braley, 1982 PGA Merchandiser of the Year Award Winner
* Perry Dickey, Jim Richerson, Scott Cain, Jon Drago, Billy Dettlaff, Paul Levy, Brad Redding, and Todd Sones (all PGA professionals) along with Dr Elmer Knight, higher education specialist.

Golf Academy of America staff members attending included Campus Directors Jim Hart, Brad Turner, Tim Eberlein, and Rich Iorio, Curriculum Design Specialist Phil Pendergrass and Hunkler.

The group discussed at length what employers are looking for when hiring for entry level positions within the golf industry as well as what core competencies a student should have upon graduating from the Academy. They also reviewed the course learning outcomes in the newly revised Academy curriculum and each provided his number one idea to improve the Golf Academy of America.

"This highly decorated group of industry professionals provided GAA staff with many ideas as we continue to strive to improve the overall quality and experience of the student at each of our four campuses," Hunkler commented.