Turfgrass Students Taking Care of Famous Golf Courses

For some Penn State students, a nice summer day on a golf course is ideal, but for turfgrass science majors, it doesn't necessarily mean they will be hitting a ball around. For four students, it meant an opportunity to get valuable, real-world experience through internships at top golf venues.

Senior Matt Reifert, a native of Norfolk, Neb., spent his internship helping prepare Medinah Country Club's course in Illinois for the prestigious PGA Championship tournament last August.

"It's great working alongside the PGA at a championship course because now I know what it's like and what to expect in the future," he says.

Senior Tim Huber interned at the Muirfield Village Golf Club in Ohio, which ranks 18th nationally among courses. He says his favorite experiences are seeing the different operations that happen throughout a day and preparing the course for members and the annual memorial tournament. "There are a lot of changes to the course; every day there's something new to do," says the Cleveland, Ohio, resident.

Brian Moesch, a senior from Men-omonee Falls, Wis., says working for Hazeltin National Golf Club in Minnesota gave him experiences on the links that he was not familiar with. He says he is used to small, hometown tournaments, not working with national organizations and having the competition broadcast on CBS.

"It's good to learn this in class, but to go and actually do it really makes the process stick," Moesch says. "I know what to expect now."

In addition to all the experience, senior Evan Thomas, who is originally from Arklow, Ireland, says the job - which includes applying pesticides, mowing greens, fixing irrigation and landscaping - improves a person's physical and mental health.

"The active nature of the job obviously keeps you physically fit, but - maybe more importantly - you can get peace of mind being detached from everyday problems," he says.

This kind of real-world experience can pay off - Penn State turfgrass grads occupy some of the most prestigious jobs in the industry, including positions as superintendents at 15 (including the top four) of Golf Digest's top 25 U.S. golf courses.