Sara Dickson ’09: A Successful Student, Alumna, and Mentor to MU Graduates

Growing up in Providence, Rhode Island, Sara Dickson ’09 thought her plan was set. She was going to graduate high school and go on to play college basketball.

“In my senior year, I tore my ACL, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise,” Dickson said. “I didn’t get into the school I thought I was getting into. But then, I learned about Methodist University and the PGA Golf Management program.”

As a multi-sport athlete, Dickson was recruited to the women’s golf team and quickly decided to enroll at MU in 2005. She excelled both in and out of the classroom. As a student-athlete, Dickson helped the program win two NCAA Division III National Championships while being named 2008-09 College Sports Communicators Second Team Academic All-America. She then graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in PGA Golf Management in 2009.

Since graduation, Dickson has found success in the golf industry, holding various club professional positions in Chicago, Florida, and New England while earning seven awards from the Golf Digest and PGA, including most recently the 2021 Golf Digest’s Best Teachers in Your State Award for Florida.

Dickson is now the director of golf at Wilderness Country Club in Naples, Florida, where she leads the golf department and golf operations.

“Without Methodist University, there’s no way I would have felt comfortable entering the workforce,” Dickson said. “I would have never broadened my horizons if it weren’t for MU. By the time you graduate from the program, you’re ready to be an assistant golf professional.”

In her current role, Dickson has found a way to be loyal to MU by applying her connections within the golf industry. In 2020, while following the Methodist University PGA Golf Management social media, Dickson pinpointed two upcoming graduates who would be a perfect fit at the country club she directs: Nicole Triano ’20 and Zane Brownrigg ’21.

“When I had an opportunity to hire them, I reached out to the program and now they both work here,” she said.

Triano works as an assistant golf professional while Brownrigg was recently promoted to head professional.

“They’re absolute rockstars. They went through the same training and same program I went through, and we have a common bond because of that. Methodist University is a natural place to start because I know the quality of the program,” Dickson added.

Dickson hopes her personal story encourages other members of the MU community to use their talents as an opportunity to show their loyalty and make a difference.

“Keep in touch with Methodist University and follow who’s graduating. If you have a chance to hire alumni, great,” she said. “You can also reach out and talk to a class in your respective field. There are lots of ways to get involved with current students or alumni.”