2011 Internship Visits Begin in Germany

If you have been following the enhancements that I have been initiating within the Golf Course Turfgrass Management Program (aka, The 2-Year Program), then you know that the enhancement of the 6-month internship program has been a top priority. Students now complete an "Internship Preparation" class which helps prepare them for all aspects of the internship including selecting the right golf course, preparing the application, improving their interviewing skills, developing their summer goals and objectives, and various other aspects. In addition to this class, I have also made it a priority to visit each student mid-way through the internship to assess their performance and refocus their efforts for the second half of the season.

This year's visits started last week with a trip to visit David Serra during his internship at WINSTONgolf in Germany. David is native to Spain and decided to conduct his internship in Germany for many reasons including his ability to speak German as well as his desire to ultimate work in Europe following graduation from the program.

At WINSTONgolf, David is working hard to prepare the Links Course for its grand opening in early July. The WINSTONlinks course was designated by Golf Magazin as the Best New Golf Course in Germany for 2011. The course was particularly interesting to me because it was established tee to green with a blend of find leaf fescue.While there, David has been an integral member of the WINSTONgolf maintenance team and is making great progress towards a successful career as a golf course superintendent.

View a map of the 2011 internship locations.

View photos from the visit to WINSTONgolf below.

Graduate lands job at Putnam National

Mahopac, N.Y. –Putnam National Golf Club, a New York, daily-fee 18-hole championship golf course owned by Putnam County and operated by RDC Golf Group (RDC), announces that Brian Gallagher has been named golf course superintendent.

Gallagher comes to Putnam National from the private Brae Burn Country Club in Purchase, N.Y., where he served for six years as senior assistant golf course superintendent. Previously, he served as assistant golf course superintendent at the Charles Banks-designed, private Tamarack Country Club in Greenwich, Conn.

At Putnam National, Gallagher is responsible for preserving and enhancing the club’s 6,804 yards of lush, rolling fairways and greens. Gallagher supervises the club’s maintenance staff, maintains annual operating budgets, plans long-range course improvement and oversees clubhouse landscaping.

“Brian’s 10 years of proven success at high-end private golf facilities in the Metropolitan area, makes him uniquely qualified to lead our golf course maintenance team,” said General Manager John Napier. “His extensive experience working with Poa annua grass greens, which are the putting surfaces we have at Putnam National, will also ensure that our guests enjoy a first-class round of golf.”

Born and raised in the suburbs of Allentown, Pa., Gallagher graduated from The Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Turfgrass Science. He is a member of the Metropolitan Golf Course Superintendents Association as well as the New York State Turfgrass Association, among others. He currently resides in Port Chester, N.Y., with his girlfriend Gady and their dogs Maxx and Cozy, who split time at the course chasing geese.

Read the full story at golfclubbusiness.com

Penn State Alum behind the scenes at the Golf Channel

Darren Davis (2-Year class of '91) of Olde Florida Golf Club in Naples speaks with Jeff Bollig of the GCSAA about the production of Golf Channel media.