There is much more going on behind the scenes of a golf course than you may think. My name is Anthony Santos and this past summer, I did an internship in greenkeeping at Manor Country Club. The 431-acre property, located in Rockville, Maryland, is home to 27 golf holes, 10 tennis courts, 2 pools, and a clubhouse. It is one of the nicest clubs in Maryland.
As a greenskeeper, it is a very big responsibility to keep the course in perfect condition. My day started at 6:00 a.m. when I was setting up all the equipment that was needed for the day ahead. At 6:30, we were sent out onto the course to begin work. The first job of the day could be anything from raking bunkers to mowing greens, fairways, bunkers, and more. The morning jobs normally require harder work since we need more time to complete them, and there are fewer golfers on the course. After we complete our first job, we are given a second task that we do until 2:30 p.m., when our shift is over. These jobs tended to be easier because of the rising temperatures, and the growing amount of golfers on the course. They could be anything from watering fairways, pulling weeds, and spraying fertilizer, to filling green marks on greens and filling fairway divots. As you can see, keeping golf courses in pristine condition is very hard work.
One thing that was nice about working on a golf course was always being outside. Although it was very hard work, it was refreshing to work in the sun and always have fresh air. There was also a lot of wildlife on the course, including snakes, birds, deer, and squirrels. There was a hawk nest on hole 4, and they would always fly over my cart in the morning. I also saw a 6-point buck on the course.
My favorite part of working as a greenskeeper was working with my team. Almost all of my coworkers were Hispanic, so working around the language barrier was a big challenge. That didn't stop us from getting to know each other as much as possible and having funny moments. Many of my coworkers had 20+ years of experience in the greenkeeping field. When I told one of my coworkers that I was an intern, he said, “One day maybe you can be the boss and I'll come to work for you.” That quote alone shows how close me and my coworkers became over the 3 months I worked there.
Overall, I would say that my internship was a great learning experience. Not only did I gain a lot of new skills that had to do with managing a golf course, but I also gained skills that will help me in the future, such as how to balance working hard and enjoying my time. I never knew how much went into running a golf course, but I am excited to continue to pursue it in the years to come.
