鈥淚t is essential to provide professional development opportunities for students pursuing a career in the tennis industry,鈥� said Scott Schultz, USTA managing director. 鈥淲e are proud to partner with 麻豆原创 to ensure the development of the next generation of tennis industry leaders in the sport.鈥�

Rosen College students who select the track will receive a strong academic foundation in hospitality management education and complete three paid internships in the tennis industry. USTA will provide specialized training in the sport synchronized with their internship experiences. Graduates will be well equipped for fulfilling careers as tennis teaching professionals, club managers, directors of tennis or other business roles associated with the industry.

has been named director of hospitality in sports and will oversee the PTM track. She previously developed Rosen College鈥檚 golf and club management curriculum and designed the first online education courses for the LPGA Teaching and Club Professionals Division. She is also a former professional golfer and coach.

鈥淩osen College鈥檚 reputation for top-notch hospitality management education combined with USTA鈥檚 leadership in the sport will produce outstanding graduates ready to lead the tennis industry into the future,鈥� said Fjelstul. 鈥淥ur students will gain all the skills necessary for success and will benefit from access to the country鈥檚 leading tennis organization right in our backyard.鈥�

The USTA鈥檚 new complex in Lake Nona is located on 63 acres and will feature more than 100 tennis courts, a tennis pro shop, fitness area, locker rooms, player lounge, cafeteria and offices. The target completion date is the fourth quarter of 2016. The site will house a collegiate tennis center capable of hosting a number of college events and will serve as the home for the 麻豆原创鈥檚 men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 varsity teams.

For more information about Rosen College鈥檚 Professional Tennis Management Track, visit hospitality.ucf.edu/tennis or contact Fjelstul at 407-903-8096 or Jill.Fjelstul@ucf.edu.

Fjelstul earned her bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees from UNI and served on the School of HPELS faculty from 1988 to 1991. She is also a 2001 UNI Athletic Hall of Fame inductee for her achievements in golf.

UNI’s School of HPELS is one of the oldest HPELS programs in the U.S., tracing its roots back to 1896. Inductees were chosen using the following criteria: demonstrated mastery of their profession; significant contributions to their profession; demonstrated scholarly activity through publications and presentations related to their profession; positions held in professional organizations; and completion of at least 10 years of service to their profession.

Fjelstul has been instrumental in bridging hospitality and sports at 麻豆原创 through research and the classroom, developing Rosen College鈥檚 golf and club management curriculum. She also oversees professional tennis management education at Rosen College, part of a new partnership with the United States Tennis Association.

Learn more about at Rosen College.

RCRA is a non-profit organization dedicated to communicating, educating and promoting standards of professionalism within the tourism industry and to provide opportunities for continuing education, networking and awareness of industry trends. The Journal of Tourism Insights serves commercial recreation, events, travel, tourism, resorts, private clubs, campgrounds, theme parks, hotels and convention centers.

Dr. Fjelstul joined the Rosen College faculty in August 2005.聽 Her research interests are aligned with the RV industry, golf and club management and online education. Dr. Fjelstul is also an avid RVer, affording her a true understanding of the RV lifestyle.聽She is a widely recognized author and speaker of RV trends and patterns, and is actively involved in the leading RV industry associations.

Visit Rosen College’s website for more information about hospitality management education at 麻豆原创.

麻豆原创鈥檚 Rosen College of Hospitality Management and the Lee Westwood Golf School in Apopka are teaming up to help students prepare for careers in the industry, including the 1,200 public and private golf courses in Florida 鈥� more than any other state.

The program is a natural fit for Florida, said Dr. Jill Fjelstul, a Rosen College professor in the Department of Tourism, Events and Attractions, and a member of the LPGA.

鈥淭he weather is great all year and this will be an exciting program because we鈥檙e partnering with a major brand such as Lee Westwood,鈥� she said.

Classes for this non-credit certificate will cover topics such as club management, events, leadership, food and beverage, equipment analysis, club fitting, and tournament preparation.

Students will take academic classes at Rosen College and add player-development activities at the Lee Westwood Golf School, which started last year at Errol Estate Golf & Country Club. Lee Westwood has other golf schools in the United Kingdom, but this is his only school in the United States.

Westwood, one of the world鈥檚 top players, is from England and moved to West Palm Beach last year. He has been a pro since 1993, has had victories on the PGA and European tours, and has represented Europe in several Ryder Cup matches versus the United States.

鈥淭he program is designed to enhance 麻豆原创鈥檚 position as a partnership university,鈥� said Dr. Youcheng Wang, a professor and associate dean at Rosen. 鈥淩osen College is designing and delivering a tailor-made program to serve the needs and interests of industry professionals.鈥�

Fjelstul said some of the targeted students for the continuing-education certificate are graduates just out of high school and international students who have not decided whether to pursue a college degree. She also has met with 麻豆原创鈥檚 Veterans Academic Resource Center about promoting the certificate because she said many veterans are interested in pursuing golf schools after leaving the military.

The World Golf Foundation based in St. Augustine says the golf industry supports about 167,000 jobs and generates about $13.8 billion a year for the economy.

And what is the key to becoming a good club manager?

鈥淯nderstanding why a member joins a club and exceeding those expectations. Every member is unique and with varying needs,鈥� Fjelstul said. 鈥淲hat will set us apart from the other golf schools are the faculty credentials at Rosen College, the Rosen College educational offerings, and the golf training facility at Errol Estates.鈥�

To find out more about the course, contact Fjelstul at Jill.Fjelstul@ucf.edu, 407-903-8096, or Wang at Youcheng.Wang@ucf.edu, 407-903-8039.