Golf has always been important in my life, so when I realized I could be around the game I love and make a living doing it, I became interested.”
Paige Gross
Jillian Drinkard
GAVIN PARKER; CHRIS LANG( 3)
Larkin Gross was in seventh grade when a visit to Methodist University in Fayetteville, N. C., put him on the path to a career in the golf business.
“[ My mom, a college counselor ] brought me to a lot of schools, and I really didn’ t love any of them like I did Methodist. From that point on, I really felt like I had a calling in the golf industry,” he says.“ Methodist is one of, if not the most storied PGM( Professional Golf Management) program in history.
“ Getting the opportunity to play [ on the golf team ] and earn my PGA credentials was what really drew me to Methodist,” says Gross, a PGA assistant professional at Westwood Country Club in Vienna.
Jillian Drinkard first heard about the PGA of America’ s PGM programs the summer before her senior year at Appomattox County High School. She was set on playing collegiate golf, but she wasn’ t sure working in the golf world interested her.
“ Golf has always been important in my life, so when I realized I could be around the game I love and make a living doing it, I became interested,” she says.
PURSUING A PASSION
Gavin Parker knew at 16 years old that he“ wanted to be in
Golf has always been important in my life, so when I realized I could be around the game I love and make a living doing it, I became interested.”
— Jillian Drinkard
golf. I was at the first Pebble Beach Open( PGA Tour Champions / First Tee event) when my buddy Trip Bose asked me,‘ Hey Gavin, have you heard about the PGM program?’ I hadn’ t, but that conversation changed everything.”
Professional Golf Management programs provide the knowledge and skills necessary for success in the golf industry. Sixteen schools nationwide offer the programs. Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan, established the first PGM program sanctioned by the PGA in 1975. It took 10 more years before Mississippi State became the second school to offer the program.
“ I went and toured a few PGM schools in North and South Carolina, but after meeting with the staff at Methodist and seeing their amazing facilities, my heart was set on MU,” Drinkard says.“ The program was unique and special, not to mention they were the most accredited PGA program in the country. I knew I wanted to be a part of that.”
The Methodist men’ s and women’ s golf teams are NCAA Division III powerhouses. The men’ s teams have won 14 Division III national titles. The women have been victorious 26 times. Both Gross( 2018) and Drinkard( 2021) played on national championship teams.
Their playing records at every level are stellar. For example, both were Virginia High School League state champions. Drinkard was vsga. org M AY / J UNE 2025 | V IRGINIA G OLFER
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