Students in the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s hospitality, restaurant and tourism management program are teaming up with students in the PGA golf management program to host the “Teeing Off Summer” Golf Tournament on April 24 at Mahoney Golf Course in Lincoln.
The event is designed by HRTM students in the Intro to Event Planning course in collaboration with the PGM program and will bring together more than 50 PGM students for a day of sport, community, and co-curricular learning.
As part of this real-world project, PGM and HRTM students have spent the semester coordinating all aspects of the tournament, including logistics, marketing, hospitality, food and beverage planning, sponsorship outreach, and day-of event execution.
“This is more than a golf outing,” HRTM Assistant Professor of Practice Vernetta Kosalka said. “It’s a live learning lab for students who are planning, problem-solving, and leading a full-scale event from the ground up.”
The golf tournament will showcase students’ work in themed branding, sponsor engagement, and professional communications, as well as real-time collaboration with Mahoney Golf Course and the PGM program. All PGM students are invited to participate as golfers, while industry representatives will be invited as hole sponsors to interact with students and support the event’s purpose.
Prior to the tournament, a golf clinic held at UNL’s Golf Simulator Lab will give event planning students a hands-on introduction to the fundamentals of golf. This added layer of preparation is meant to help them feel confident and informed while supporting tournament operations.
“Through golf events such as this one, the game generates $3.9 billion for philanthropic causes, almost all of which are unrelated to the golf industry,” said Joseph Canny, director of the PGA Golf Management program. “It is important for our students at Nebraska to know how to use golf as an avenue for fundraising, networking and more. This event helps accomplish exactly that.”
The event’s theme, “Teeing Off Summer,” celebrates the transition to summer internships and seasonal industry work for many of the student participants. The tournament will also include interactive hole contests, custom branding, and professional photography for players and sponsors.
The HRTM program prepares students to become leaders in the hospitality industry through a blend of academic study and hands-on experiences. Students develop key skills in customer service, operations, event planning and team leadership.
Accredited by the PGA of America, UNL’s PGM program combines classroom education with hands-on golf experience, internships and professional development to prepare students for successful careers in the golf industry.
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