A summer in sales is birdie for student

By George Sweda
Courtesy of the Plain Dealer Reporter

To some, Greg Ciavarelli might have an ideal summer job. He's working for a golf company owned by the game's greatest player and his nearest boss is about 500 miles away.

Ciavarelli, 20, of North Royalton, is a junior at Methodist College in Fayetteville, N.C., enrolled in the school's Professional Golf Management program. Part of the program includes spending a term each year in an internship. That's what Ciavarelli is doing working for Nicklaus Golf Co.

"The Nicklaus Company came to Methodist to put together the internship. It's their second year of offering the internships. There are five of us in the program," Ciavarelli explained during a recent demo day at Little Mountain Country Club in Concord Township, where director of golf Jimmy Hanlin is a Methodist/PGM graduate.

Usually internships are spent working in a pro shop, not for an equipment maker. But once selected, Nicklaus interns are provided with a golf swing launch monitor, a laptop computer, products for testing, a 10 x10 display tent and literature for consumers.

Ciavarelli finished the academic year on the dean's list. Methodist, a Division III golf power, is one of 17 colleges or universities offering the PGM curriculum. Graduates not only get a college degree but also a Class A PGA membership. The program lasts 4 1/2 years, during which students serve between 16 and 20 months of internships in the golf industry.

Ciavarelli might not have a boss within 500 miles, but he's responsible for the Nicklaus club demo program throughout the area and in adjacent states.

"His name is still an asset," Ciavarelli said. "There's still a 'Wow' factor to it and the response to the products has been good."

Making up his own appointment schedule, Ciavarelli said, "My success is up to me. I've got to use my contacts, meet new pros, get attention for our products and try to develop a new network. It's a self-motivated type job. I have to do it all on my own."

Ciavarelli hopes to become an equipment salesman when he graduates. But he'll have a degree in business administration to fall back on if he sours of the golf business.

Ciavarelli was introduced to golf by his father, grandfather and uncle. He grew up playing at Ridgewood Golf Course and played the Southwest Junior Tour. "That was my tournament experience," he said, although he did play as No. 1 man for North Royalton High School.

After three summers working at Signature of Solon while in high school, Ciavarelli enrolled at Methodist after learning about the program on a golf trip to Pinehurst. The schools involved in the PGM program offer other programs as well - business, recreation, hospitality management, etc.

Ciavarelli's three-month internship will end in mid-August. He hasn't met the Golden Bear yet, but hopes to one day.

"I don't expect him to just randomly walk in," he said

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