RIGOROUS COURSE FOR COURSE CAREER.

Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Daily News Staff Writer

Randy Cardoza worried about his future. After investing nine years in the Navy, budget cuts and downsizing forced him to look for a new job.

At 33, he was an unemployed aviation technician with no real plan for the rest of his life.

Except that he wanted to play as much golf as possible.

Well who doesn't?

``To be honest,'' he said, ``I didn't know exactly what I wanted to do.''

Ironically, Cardoza's love for golf convinced him to take a gamble that, if it paid off, would allow him to accomplish two goals: find a new career and satisfy his fondness for golf.

Cardoza enrolled in San Diego Golf Academy, a two-year management and instructional college designed to prepare students for all facets of the golf industry.

The price was steep, $15,000 for the 16-month program, but Cardoza's friends and family urged him to give it a try.

``Actually they were all pretty envious,'' Cardoza said. ``They knew I was doing something that I loved to do. They all thought it was great.''

Cardoza, now 38, is a customer-service supervisor for Titleist in San Diego. Although he's not convinced that attending the academy is the reason he landed a job in golf, it certainly didn't hurt.

``I think it helped me the most as far as networking,'' Cardoza said. ``You meet so many people who are in the golf industry while you're there.''

Founded in 1974, the academy has grown from one San Diego campus to additional schools in Phoenix, Myrtle Beach and Orlando. Each location includes classrooms, computer labs, club repair shops. Students have practice and playing privileges at a wide selection of nearby courses.

``When students graduate, they are on the fast track to a career in golf,'' said academy CEO Peter Towell.

Students can earn associates degrees in two programs - the first a business degree, which offers areas of emphasis in golf professional and general manager, and the second in academic and golf training (AGT), which combines industry-specific educational courses with training in the basic and advanced skills of golf.

The emphasis is on practice and supervised play.

``It was the best two years of my life,'' said Doug Mertz, a 1995 graduate who runs the pro shop at Rancho Santa Fe Farms Golf Course. ``Obviously, nothing beats actual hands-on experience. But you're going to school for something you love, you get to play golf all the time and you're making contacts.''

Each program is two academic years in length. Graduates receive six credits toward the 36 credits needed for certification as a PGA teaching professional.

Students can choose from a wide range of course offerings, including golf course management, physical education (rules of golf, short game and putting techniques, planning and organization of tournament golf, clinic planning); marketing, business management and communication skills.

A typical week consists of classroom work, practice and tournament play.

Although Rob Camacho is content with his decision to enroll in SDGA, he isn't sure he'd do it again. Camacho, a 1994 graduate and now a teaching professional at Oaks North Golf Course in San Diego, is confident he would have made it anyway.

Still, Camacho admits the contacts he made in school have been essential.

``Between the education I got and the people I met, it was an invaluable experience,'' said Robert Bunn, tournament director at Torrey Pines Golf Club. ``I've got friends all over the world that I keep in touch with. And I'll tell you, I had a blast going there. It's just like going to college, only you're playing golf all day. What can be better than that?''