Ford Plantation Looking For 2014 Summer Interns

Job Title:	Summer Intern
Club/Course/Firm:	The Ford Plantation
Address:	123A Ford Maintenance Rd.
City/State:	Richmond Hill, GA
Zip/Postal:	31324
Phone:	912-547-4072
Fax:	912-756-3380
Email:	ncaron@fordplantation.com
Educational Requirements:	Must be currently enrolled in a 4 year turfgrass                                  management program.
Experience Requirements:	Experience on a golf course management staff a plus.
Special Requirements:	Must have a clear-cut objective to pursue golf course management as a career. Punctuality and dependability is required.
Salary Range:	$9/hr, 50+hrs per week
Benefits:	On-site housing and uniforms are provided.
Date Available:	Mid-May
Duties:                     Comments:	Interns will be expected to take part in chemical/ fertilizer applications, learn how to use all equipment, assist in agronomic decision making, and work on various irrigation and drainage projects. Above all, interns will be instrumental                in the grow-in of the newly renovated golf course that began in October 2013.    The capstone of the internship program will be a chance for each intern to run the golf maintenance crew for 4 days at the end of the internship.   The Ford Plantation Golf Club is a newly renovated Pete Dye designed 18-hole exclusive golf course that is scheduled to open October 2014. This is a developmental internship for young professionals with a passion for golf course maintenance and golf course architecture.

 

2012 Summer Interns

Brendan Davis and Steven Tyler were selected for the three month internship at The Ford Plantation and the Pete Dye Scholarship. Brendan is a sophomore from PurdueUniversity and Steven is a junior from the University of Georgia.

For the last three years, The Ford Plantation Golf Maintenance Department has been operating The Pete Dye Agronomic Scholarship program. This is a developmental internship program for young professionals with a passion for golf course maintenance. 

 This program has been met with enthusiastic support from the members of our club and universities.  Dr. Bill Thompson, Green Committee Chair, has graciously allowed interns to stay in his guest house, free of rent, during their three month internship. 

“The financial support we get for this program from our members is astounding. Without their help this program would not exist.” says Director of Golf Course Maintenance Nelson Caron.

Interns take part in all facets of golf course maintenance from daily course preparation (Photo 1) to spending time in the equipment area learning how mowers and equipment are set up (Photo 2). Along with learning the green side of our industry they also see what goes into managing the business side of our department (Photo 3). However, the capstone of the internship program is when each intern will get the opportunity to run the golf maintenance crew at the end of the summer.
 



Picture 1. Interns that come to the Ford Plantation are trained on a variety of equipment while they are here.



Picture 2. Interns take a hands on approach sharpening reels with Alan Bussey, the Head Equipment Manager.

Picture 3. Along with learning how to grow grass and operate equipment, they also learn what it takes to run the business side of golf course maintenance. 

If you would like to make a tax deductible donation to the scholarship fund please contact CW Canfield (cwcanfield@fordplantation.com) or Nelson Caron (ncaron@fordplantation.com).

Meet Our New Interns For The 2011 Summer

Jon Conatser and Nick McLennan were selected to our 2011 summer internship program. Along with being selceted for the summer internship they also were awarded the 3rd annual Pete Dye Scholarship.

Jon Conatser is a senior at Purdue University majoring in Turfgrass Science. He already has earned a Bachelor's Degree from the College of Architecture and Planning at Ball State University in Urban Planning. Jon also has worked at Muncie Elks Country Club for four years. Jon is a scratch golfer and is currently in the lead in the weekly golf maintenance points game.

Jon Conatser

 Nick McLennan is a junior at Purdue University majoring in Turfgrass Science. This is Nick's first year working on a golf course and he his learning much about the basic science and agronomic practices that go into maintaining a high end golf course. While in high school Nick was co-captain of the football team where he also earned Special Teams Player of the Year.

Nick McLennan

The funding for our internship program would not be possible without the generous contributions from our members. On behalf of the golf course maintenance department we thank you for your help.

The Pete Dye Internship Program to New Heights!

For the last two years, The Ford Plantation Golf Maintenance Department has been operating The Pete Dye Agronomic Scholarship program. This is a developmental internship program for young professionals with a passion for golf course maintenance. 

 

Figure 1-2. Interns take part in all facets of golf course maintenance including irrigation break repairs and chemical applications.

In December The Ford Plantation and the Savannah Community Foundation have teamed up to make the newly named Pete Dye Internship a 501(c)(3) tax deductible donation.  Professors from leading turfgrass universities (Georgia, Penn State, Purdue, Clemson, North Carolina State and Florida) will submit up to two nominees for the internship/scholarship program.  Nelson Caron and CW Canfield will submit these names to the Pete Dye Scholarship Committee comprised of Mike Killian, Steve Rabinowitz and Dr. Bill Thompson.  Selected golf course interns will receive a scholarship to be used for educational expenses.  Along with this scholarship they will also receive an hourly wage for the duration of the 3 month internship. Free housing, competitive wages and scholarship makes the Pete Dye Internship one of the most sought after internships in the country.

This program has been met with enthusiastic support from the members of our club and universities.  Dr. Bill Thompson, Green Committee Chair, has graciously allowed interns to stay in his guest house, free of rent, during the summer months.  “The financial support we get for this program from our members is astounding. Without their help this program would not exist.” says Director of Golf Course Maintenance Nelson Caron.

In 2009 we accepted two interns from Purdue, Brent Seyer and David Cooper.  Brent graduated from Purdue in January 10’ and is now working full-time at Augusta National Golf Club.  David Cooper will be graduating this fall and intends to join Valhalla Golf Club in KY full-time. This past summer we had two more interns from Purdue University, Dane Alexander and Kurt Hockemeyer. Dane will be interning at another golf club this upcoming summer.  Kurt is considering pursuing a Masters Degree from Purdue University when he graduates in spring.  The capstone of the internship program is when each intern gets to run the golf maintenance crew for 3-4 days at the end of the summer. David Cooper commented, “Running the crew for a week was the highlight of my summer. This is not something all interns get to do at other clubs.”

Figure 3.The highlight for most interns is managing the crew for 4 days at the end of the summer.

Figure 4. Last summer interns had an opportunity to spend a day with golf course architect Tim Liddy and engineer Ray Pittman.

The Pete Dye Internship Committee is currently accepting nominations for the upcoming 2011 summer.  If you would like to make a tax deductible donation to the scholarship fund please contact CW Canfield (cwcanfield@fordplantation.com) or Nelson Caron (ncaron@fordplantation.com).