Golf for Grads

By Jocelyn Wright     10/30/08 7:00pm

Juniors and seniors looking to improve their professional networking skills can do so through Golf for Grads, a new program for Rice students organized and designed by Houston real estate company Redstone Companies, which teaches students golf skills and fundamentals. The program starts next semester and costs $85 per student and consists of six Sunday sessions in which participants learn golf in partnership with a mentor from the industry they are studying, Laura Klein, associate director of the Center for Student Professional Development, said. No prior golfing experience is required, and students are provided with clubs, balls and other golfing necessities.

Redstone has been collaborating with the CSPD and the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Management, and has been making presentations in several classes to raise awareness about the new program, Klein said. The professional development advisers in the CSPD have also made program brochures available at each of the residential colleges.

"[Redstone] found that a lot of students graduate and have never been exposed to the game of golf," Klein said. "After they graduate, they get invited to play in company outings or with various executives or managers. For those who do know how to play or at least know some fundamentals, this is less intimidating and might open some doors for them professionally as well."

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Redstone started the program as part of a professional development initiative and social responsibility goals. Baker College senior Natalie Kirchhoff helped design the program when she worked at the company as a marketing intern last summer.

Klein said the program could be valuable for students.

"Especially for the students that may never have any access to a golf environment before they graduate, it's a unique opportunity," Klein said. "For Redstone, their philosophy is that a lot of business is done on the golf course, and if you're in an industry where that's the case and you can't participate, you may be losing out on some opportunities."

Applications for the program can be obtained from the professional development advisors at each college, and are due Monday, Dec. 1. Students can also obtain the application by e-mailing Stephanie Anders at the Redstone Company, sanders@redstonecompanies.com. Acceptance notifications will be sent out by Wednesday, Dec. 10.

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