Award Date

12-15-2025

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Educational Psychology, Leadership, and Higher Education

First Committee Member

Jonathan Hilpert

Second Committee Member

Lisa Bendixen

Third Committee Member

Amanda Hoffman

Fourth Committee Member

Christopher Cain

Number of Pages

149

Abstract

The golf industry faces a critical workforce shortage, exacerbated by impending retirements and a lack of new PGA Members. This exploratory sequential, mixed-method study investigates the barriers and facilitators PGA Associates encounter during their education and identifies support strategies to enhance completion rates. Employing both qualitative and quantitative approaches, the research explores barriers, completion metrics, facilitator impact, and perceived support benefits. Qualitative data from interviews with Section Executive Directors who oversee PGA Associate development, analyzed through thematic coding, informs the survey instrument. Quantitative data, collected via surveys with PGA Associates themselves, was analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM) to identify predictors of the intention to drop out of the program. Guided by expectancy-value theory, this study aims to provide actionable recommendations for improving PGA Associate education. Understanding the needs and motivations of aspiring members, this research seeks to develop strategies that foster persistence, engagement, and success. This will aid in securing a stable and skilled workforce for the golf industry. Findings will inform the PGA of America on how to better support Associates, potentially through flexible educational delivery, enhanced career-aligned outcomes, and reduced financial barrier.

Keywords

Golf; Mixed Methods; PGA; SEM

Disciplines

Education | Educational Psychology | Teacher Education and Professional Development

File Format

PDF

File Size

1185 KB

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

Rights

IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

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