A CHANCE TO SHINE

Mike O’Keeffe has been running The Ohio State University internship programme for many years that without doubt has offered UK greenkeepers a fantastic opportunity to work at some of the world’s most renowned golf courses, such as Pebble Beach and Sawgrass.

Mike has provided TurfPro with an exclusive video of one of this year's internees, Greg Jones from The Belfry GC near Birmingham, who is seen in the video from Pebble Beach, explaining how this programme has changed his life and expectations of working in the turf grass industry.

The Ohio Program participants use the J-1 non-immigrant visa that allows them to experience living in the USA and gain professional training related to their field of study and future career plans.

The Ohio International Turfgrass Intern Program offers students the chance to experience working in warmer climates while improving their turf grass management skills. It attracts applicants from all over the world.

The intern will assist with general golf course maintenance. Responsibilities will include mowing, fertilising, aerating, watering, pest management and maintenance of equipment and irrigation systems. Many turfgrass interns enjoy preparing golf courses for the most important tournaments in the US.