[Jack Davis]

CGA crew,

 As part of the PGA/PGM program at Penn State I will be interning at a golf club this summer for three months. My last two summers have been at Plainfield and Spyglass. In the next few weeks I will be hearing back from a very nice golf course in the Hamptons that has hosted a US Open in the past few years on whether or not they have a spot for me on their staff. Hopefully that works out but if not my next portfolios are heading to Merion and Maidstone. I would love to hear your advice as obviously both the course and the club itself are very important to me. Any words of wisdom you could share about these 3 courses would be appreciated and of course write in options are always welcome!

P.S. Penn State over Ohio State...the world is heading in the right direction

Thanks

[Lou_Duran]

I understand that a unique club in Death Valley is looking for a summer intern.

[Pat Burke]

I understand that a unique club in Death Valley is looking for a summer intern.

Just bring sunblock spf 2000

[Anthony Gray]

   Bandon

[John Kavanaugh]

   Bandon

No, no, no...Those are the most bitter assistants I have met in my life.  The one exception was a reasonably attractive blond merchandising woman in the main Bandon Dunes pro shop. 

[Mike Sweeney]

Jack,

You are looking at this the wrong way! Summer in The Hamptons versus a summer in Ardmore. None of these are going to hurt your resume, so let's see some focus here and we want reports from Flying Point Beach next summer, and I don't want to see any Matt Wardian written descriptions of the beach scene. We want pictures!

[Brian Laurent]

It was a tough weekend here in Buckeye Land...congrats on the big win.   

I have not played Maidstone, but have met D.O.G. on several occasions.  He's a great guy and spends his winters down in Naples at Calusa Pines.  Not a bad duo.

Looks like your resume is getting a nice addition whichever course you decide on.  Good luck! 

[Anthony Gray]

   Bandon

No, no, no...Those are the most bitter assistants I have met in my life.  The one exception was a reasonably attractive blond merchandising woman in the main Bandon Dunes pro shop. 

 For 3 months you can put up with alot. Spyglass and Bandon on the same CV looks impressive.

[JESII]

maybe Shiv, but this ain't life saving surgery...

[John Kavanaugh]

I'd find a small course where the pro staff helps out with mowing and basic maintenance.  The future will require pro's, supers, chefs, finance guys and bar tenders to be the same person just like the good ole days.  I see you are required to take a turf class.  Could you tell us what that class covered and what you might have learned about nutrition at the turn?

The curriculum: http://www.hhdev.psu.edu/rptm/PGM/curriculum.html

[D_Malley]

doesn't the PGM program recomend that your internships be diverse.
private / public / resort

[John Kavanaugh]

Is there a rule of thumb on how many hot dogs should be placed on the rotisserie based on tee times over a specific period of time?  In my estimation approximately 6,000,000 uneaten hot dogs are wasted per year because of poor management.  No wonder LCCC used to have franks and beans fridays.

[Andy Troeger]

I can see the argument for diversity, but if Jack went to a muni or daily fee course that wasn't super top of the line it would potentially look like he was "demoted" or couldn't get as good of a job the third time around as the first two. That could be more of an issue than any lack of diversity.

It depends on what Jack wants to do long run. If he wants to work for those types of clubs then why not continue to try to gain experience there. He already has the public/resort side covered with Spyglass anyway.

[M. Shea Sweeney]

John-

I sense you are mocking the PGM program. Eaaassy.

Methodist University, which sometimes is a pretty good program and sometimes is not, has a great Turf Grass class.

Methodist has an unbelievable practice facilty, and pretty good 18 hole golf course.

Students attend 3 50 minute classes a week, led by the Super, who does an unbelievable job with the smallest budget you can imagine, this guy knows his stuff to say the least.

There is also a lab portion of the class where students are required to attend a 2 hour lab twice a week. This lab allows them to observe and participate in all facets involved with maintaining a golf course. From picking up garbage to top dressing to mowing a green. All hands on.

pretty good stuff. Nutrition at the turn, I'll let our boy handle that question.
-Mike Shea Sweeney

[archie_struthers]

 


Listen ...you already have a nice resume relative to experience...and you are only going to be twenty something once in you r life...I'm with Sweeney...live by the beach  !!!!!

[Kalen Braley]

Can you go overseas for an internship?

I'd think that could be valueable in diversfying the vita, especially if it was TOC or something.

[PCCraig]

You could try The Country Club of Brookline. Free lodging and food, close to downtown Boston. Plus Boston is a great college town, esp. in the summer when the old people head to the Cape.

[archie_struthers]

 

Live by the water.....trust me

[Brian_Sleeman]

I second what Shivas said...you've already got some nice names on the resume, but what an employer will be looking for is someone who has worked in a variety of settings and situations.

Also, I'm not sure how much responsibility you were given at Spyglass and Plainfield, but the buddies I had who went through the PGM program basically worked as glorified bag boys when they went to big name places.  They made some nice cash in tips, but they only learned things about the shop from the outside looking in.  If this has been the case for you, go somewhere where you'll be in charge of how the shop runs to a greater extent. 

A high-volume muni is a great idea to vary things up, but I'd try to find a busy mom-and-pop type place that could really use your help.  Somewhere where there's a head pro and a shop worker or two and that's it.  It might not be the biggest name or greatest course, but it'd give you invaluable experience.

I'd be happy to speak with you in further detail if you'd like - just PM me.

Good luck!

[Ian Larson]

Ill third that Brian...

Its all about diversifying the portfolio and not collecting top 100 clubs like badges on the resume. Youve already got some names, go somewhere that you will have a ton of responsibility. Its the same way in the super business out of college. You can have all the best clubs names on the resume but when it comes time to go after the first REAL job the employer is looking for actual experience.

[Jack Davis]

Hey guys let me give you a little more information from my end...

At both Plainfield and Spy I was really fortunate to work as an assistant pro and not the bag boy that several of my classmates were stuck as. Also the 3 places I'm striving for this summer, Shinny, Merion, or Maidstone would also use me as an assistant. The argument of big name club vs. job responsibility really doesn't apply and I feel very lucky for that. My goal is to work at the best club, the best course, and for the best pro possible every summer. A few more things to note...

1. Our PGM program requires us to intern for at least two different types of facilities. Since I've been at PCC and Spy that is covered and I'm free to look where I want.

2. It is a PGA of America rule that PGM students can not intern at clubs with discriminatory membership policies so Pine Valley and Garden City are out. (Which sucks as I'm from NJ)

3. A few people mentioned Bandon Dunes. My roommate was there this past summer and while the golf was obviously spectacular the overall experience in Oregon was not ideal. Also, our program is taking a spring break trip there which will include rounds at all 3 courses, a preview of Old Mac, and a round at Pumpkin Ridge. A week at Bandon should be just perfect.

4. We must work for a PGA professional so over seas is very limited as most pros are R&A if anything.

5. At this point I'm looking for possible after school positions. If this summer goes well I could possibly be staying on after my last semester in Happy Valley so the quality of life in the surrounding area is pretty important. Sorry but Sand Hills and Bandon are out.

[Kalen Braley]

Jack,

Thanks for the clarification. 

Was Bandon not ideal because its a small town with little-to-none nightlife or was it a cost of living issue?

[Carl Nichols]

Life is short.  Spending a summer working at Maidstone, golfing at other terrific courses, and otherwise enjoying the Hamptons during the summer months will be one of the great experiences of your entire life.  So even assuming Maidstone isn't the absolute best fit for your future plans (which may or may not be true), the fun/experiences you'll have during those three months will make up for any difference between Merion and Maidstone (if there is any). 

[Dean Stokes]

Ill third that Brian...

Its all about diversifying the portfolio and not collecting top 100 clubs like badges on the resume. Youve already got some names, go somewhere that you will have a ton of responsibility. Its the same way in the super business out of college. You can have all the best clubs names on the resume but when it comes time to go after the first REAL job the employer is looking for actual experience.

I will not third that at all.

If Jack wishes to work the rest of his golf career at high end private facilities then that is all he needs on his resume.

I have worked for several head golf professionals and at  private facilities they dont seem to care if you have shagged balls at your local muni.

The members also seem to like to know that their assis. pro came from another top club under another named pro. Probably a club they frequent.

I would suggest Long island all day long. Go to a club where there is a caddy program. That way you can tell the head pro you need to caddy a few days a week to understand that department and how it runs. ( You don't really but that is going to enable you to have a couple of flexible days a week while earning your beer money - v. important on an interns wage).

Any questions?

[Brian_Sleeman]

If that's the goal, then of course that's fine.  Then it's more a matter of working for a variety of name head pros who all do things in their own way so you can learn the different characteristics and put them all into your own style.

The issue then is: those jobs are in high demand and there aren't many of them.  A little flexibility is a good thing.

Sounds like Jack's got himself on the right plan.  Good luck!

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