Approximately 20 Arizona State University students studying sports business recently visited Papago Golf Club for an immersive field trip. Joined by faculty members, the group explored The Thunderbirds Golf Complex and the new Arizona Golf House, gaining firsthand insight into how golf, education, and industry create dynamic career opportunities.
The Thunderbirds Golf Complex
The Thunderbirds Golf Complex serves as the home for ASU’s men’s and women’s golf teams. Students were particularly inspired by the trophy room, which showcases the Sun Devils’ many achievements.
Arizona Golf House: A Collaborative Center for Growth
The tour continued at the Arizona Golf House, a first-of-its-kind collaborative hub. The facility brings together the state’s leading golf nonprofits to serve Arizonans by advancing research, championing sustainability, and promoting an industry deeply woven into the state’s economy, environment, and identity.
The nonprofit organizations housed there provide thriving pathways for personal and professional growth, using golf as a catalyst. They also support workforce development through real-world training, internships, and career placement in golf, hospitality, tourism, and philanthropy. One student was even offered an internship on the spot after passionately discussing her interest in hospitality careers.
Students also participated in an informative panel discussion with industry leaders: Daniel Shoup of AZ GOLF; Brandon Rogers of the Western Golf Association Evans Scholars Foundation; Katie Prendergast, Executive Director of the Arizona Alliance for Golf; Gaby Speh of the Club Managers Association Southwest Chapter; Barnie Eaton, Southwest PGA Executive Director; and Scott McNevin of the Junior Golf Association of Arizona.
Building the Next Generation of Golf Leaders
Elana Kutz, Managing Director of Student & External Affairs for ASU’s Sports Business Program, expressed deep gratitude for the experience.
“We felt truly honored and privileged to have time with you on the tour at Papago Golf Course,” she said. “The opportunity to visit The Thunderbirds Golf Complex was incredible. Thank you for coordinating this outstanding local outreach trip.”
Katie Prendergast emphasized the facility’s forward-looking mission: “The Arizona Golf House is home to a diverse and vibrant group of organizations, all doing amazing work to serve the Arizona populace, with much of it now in collaboration thanks to the culture that is being fostered through the facility. Growing our relationship with Arizona State University students to build the pipeline of future golf leaders is incredibly important, and it’s just the start of what we hope to achieve via the growth of these internship programs.”
The visit illustrated how universities serve as pipelines to diverse and impactful careers in golf and hospitality. Open to the public, the Arizona Golf House also functions as a community outreach, research, and education hub while offering a rentable reception and event space.
