RPTM Team Roster: Dan Merrell, PGA (’13) | Penn State College of Health and Human Development

Dan Merrell's Stats

Title

Assistant Teaching Professor
Head of Coaching and Player Development

Teams

Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management
Suzy and Jim Broadhurst Golf Teaching and Research Center

Education:

B.S. in Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management--PGA Professional Golf Management Option, Penn State University

M.Ed., Penn State University

Hometown:

Originally from Marlton, NJ

Area of Research, Teaching and/or Service in RPTM:

Head of Coaching and Player Development with Penn States’s PGA Golf Management Program in the Suzy and Jim Broadhurst Golf Teaching and Resource Center
Assistant Teaching Professor with the PGA Professional Golf Management Program
My focus is on developing our students as players, as well as teaching them how to teach golf.
In the GTRC, we also conduct research in partnership with other entities, primarily focussing on the game of golf.

How did you find RPTM and your career path?

My family was given (or found) a CD about Penn State's PGA PGM program back in the day. I sort of stumbled upon the major, I had no idea that option existed.

What is your favorite college memory?

My favorite memories are canning trips with my classmates in New York City, and dancing at THON 2009 for PGA PGM Student Society.

What do you like to do in your leisure time?

Go to the gym
Travel
Read
Watch television

What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

To embrace failure without fear. There were so many times when I was younger where I was afraid of being wrong or afraid of failing that it held me back from learning and growing. Developing a better mindset around failure has helped me grow as a person and as a coach.

Anything cool happen recently?

Our PGA PGM team placed 2nd at the 2023 PGA University Championship. This is our second time in the last four PGA University Championships with a 2nd place finish. This team set a school record at this event with a stellar two-day total of 597. The PGA University Championship is comprised of the 16 PGA accredited universities, and was held in Mississippi this year.