2006-2007 Featured Alumni
Joe Hughes (B.S., 1999) Emerging Professional: Undergraduate Award
Since August of 2002, Joe has been serving Penn State and the local community as General Manager/Head Golf Professional at the PSU Golf Courses. Prior to returning to his alma mater, Joe was employed post graduation at the Shannopin Country Club, Pittsburgh, PA.
Since graduation, Joe has been an active alumnus, serving the university and his profession with success. He was elected Secretary of the Professional Golf Management APG Board in 2007 and was named to the PGA President’s Council on Growing the Game for 2006. In 2005, he was identified as the recipient of 2005 Penn State Professional Golf Management’s “Pride of the Lions” PGA Professional of the Year Award. This award is given to PGM alumni by the students of the PGM Student Society.
Joe has many additional certifications and recognitions, in addition to being recognized by the Professional Golf Association (PGA) of America as a member in 2001. What separates Joe from many of our other very strong and active PGM graduates has been his commitment to community service. Joe serves on several local Golf Tournament Charity Fund-Raisers within our community; Second Mile, Youth Service Bureau, Mount Nittany Medical Centre, and Coaches vs. Cancer. Through Penn State Continuing Education, he provides presentations to fundraising groups on how to run a charity golf tournament.
In 2004, Joe was recognized as a “Star” volunteer for Special Olympics of Centre County for his work in implementing a golf training program for athletes with developmental disabilities. As an alumnus, Joe continues to support the activities of undergraduates and of the RPTM program. He provides leadership opportunities for RPTM 236 (Leadership and Group Dynamics) as well as RPTM356 (Programming and Event Planning). His role in this support is to assist in developing leadership activities and coordinating with the students on how to conduct organized group activities. He also works cooperatively with the Professional Golf Management program on the PGM Player Development Program. This class helps develop PGM students on how to become better players and how to manage their games in tournament atmosphere. He organizes Penn State Golf Courses Membership social activities. He works with our students in recruiting and coordinating volunteers for PGA Junior Tournaments.
Also Visit:
Recreation, Park and Tourism Management (RPTM) Alumni Affiliate Program Group