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RPTM Team Roster: Dan Merrell, PGA (’13)
![Merrell Postcard](/sites/default/files/styles/page_image_909x564/public/recreation-park-and-tourism-management-rptm/internships/recreation-park-and-tourism-management-rptm-internships-merrell-postcard.jpg?itok=KmolQk-u)
Dan Merrell's Stats
![Dan Sea](/sites/default/files/styles/paragraph_image_card_half_small/public/recreation-park-and-tourism-management-rptm/recreation-park-and-tourism-management-rptm-dan-seajpeg.jpeg?itok=tc4r7nly)
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
![Dan Scotland](/sites/default/files/styles/paragraph_image_card_half_small/public/recreation-park-and-tourism-management-rptm/recreation-park-and-tourism-management-rptm-dan-scotland.jpeg?itok=Z9JR3yIQ)
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
![Dan Adventures](/sites/default/files/styles/paragraph_image_card_third_small/public/recreation-park-and-tourism-management-rptm/recreation-park-and-tourism-management-rptm-dan-adventures.jpeg?itok=0Fl2fRhq)
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.
![Merrell Presenting](/sites/default/files/styles/paragraph_image_card_half_small/public/recreation-park-and-tourism-management-rptm/recreation-park-and-tourism-management-rptm-merrell-presenting.jpeg?h=c3bc325f&itok=WtIwScz9)
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.
![Merrell Teaching](/sites/default/files/styles/paragraph_image_card_half_small/public/recreation-park-and-tourism-management-rptm/recreation-park-and-tourism-management-rptm-merrell-teaching.jpeg?itok=cU_-QS9s)
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.
![Merrell Travel](/sites/default/files/styles/paragraph_image_card_third_small/public/recreation-park-and-tourism-management-rptm/recreation-park-and-tourism-management-rptm-merrell-travel.jpeg?itok=o-XN9IO8)
What do you like to do in your leisure time?
- Go to the gym
- Travel
- Read
- Watch television
![Merrell Player Development](/sites/default/files/styles/paragraph_image_card_third_small/public/recreation-park-and-tourism-management-rptm/recreation-park-and-tourism-management-rptm-merrell-player-development.jpg?itok=MiCqXPuo)
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.
![Merrell PGA UC](/sites/default/files/styles/paragraph_image_card_half_small/public/recreation-park-and-tourism-management-rptm/recreation-park-and-tourism-management-rptm-merrell-pga-uc.jpg?h=4899d0ea&itok=sc9pHyar)
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.