Walking the historic grounds of Shinnecock Hills, a future site of the US Open, Shawn Luce feels the weight of golf history under his feet. The sweeping views of the Long Island Sound are breathtaking, but for Luce, this moment represents more than just a spectacular round of golf. It's a tangible result of a journey that began when he wasn't entirely sure of his path entering college. He knew he loved golf, a game he'd played since age ten, but wasn't drawn to a standard business degree. Then he discovered PennWest University's Professional Golf Management (PGM) concentration, part of the Sport Management major. "What's professional golf management like, what does that... entail?" he wondered. The answer turned out to be a perfect blend of his passion and practical career preparation, concentrating his studies on something he loved while opening doors to diverse experiences like this one. "Being able to work down the management side, but also be able to teach it, it... it's opened up a lot of doors, traveling, experiences," Luce reflects.

What sets the PennWest PGM program apart for Luce is its emphasis on immediate, hands-on learning. Unlike programs where fieldwork comes only after years in the classroom, PennWest integrates internships from the start. "It's a lot more hands-on compared to most," he explains. "You have to learn everything in the... classroom first, and then you go out into the field after four years. So this, you can kind of do both at the same time." This structure allowed Luce to gain invaluable work experience concurrently with his studies, making his education feel immediately relevant and impactful.

Luce's internships took him up and down the East Coast. He started close to home in Syracuse, New York, then moved to the prestigious East Hampton Golf Club in Long Island for six months—an opportunity that led to playing Shinnecock—and later to Colleton River Club near Hilton Head, South Carolina. Each placement offered unique insights and responsibilities. He particularly enjoyed "running the business side of things," learning the intricacies of managing a golf shop, from operating POS systems to handling inventory. Applying classroom concepts like anticipating customer needs—recognizing that "the customer is always asking for something... you have to find what that is"—directly in the workplace solidified his learning. "It feels like I... I'm getting something out of it when I'm going to school," he states.

These experiences culminated in opportunities few golfers ever get, including his round at Shinnecock Hills. "Pretty incredible," Luce recalls, "Just the views... and to be all that history while you're walking around is incredible." He also participated in PennWest's involvement with the Masters Tournament for two years. Now, as graduation approaches, Luce is heading to Saucon Valley Country Club near Philadelphia for another internship, with the goal of achieving PGA membership by year's end. His PennWest journey exemplifies how practical experience, woven throughout his education, empowered him to turn a lifelong interest into a tangible, exciting future.