My Internship at Wianno Club
Golf course maintenance is about much more than simply mowing grass. Over the course of a summer, I learned just how much planning, attention to detail, teamwork, and problem-solving go into producing a high-quality golf course every day. My name is Lily Thoma, and I am a student at the University of Maryland's Institute of Applied Agriculture studying Turfgrass Management. This summer, I had the opportunity to intern at Wianno Club, a private country club in Osterville, Massachusetts, where I gained hands-on experience in many different areas of turfgrass management.
Throughout my internship, I worked in many different areas of golf course maintenance. I performed tasks such as walking and mowing greens, mowing tees and approaches, rolling greens, cutting cups, and managing landscaping at the main club. I also learned how to use a TDR meter to check soil moisture and determine when areas needed water. This helped me better understand the importance of making maintenance decisions based on the conditions and needs of the turf.
One of the most valuable parts of my internship was learning skills that I had not used before. I learned how to hex plug weak areas, repair damaged turf with sod, and spray rough for gray leaf spot. I also learned how to aerate greens and gained more experience operating different types of equipment. Developing these skills gave me more confidence in my ability to identify and respond to different turfgrass problems.
One experience that stood out was preparing for the Member Guest and Invitational tournaments. The crew worked long days and had to pay close attention to every detail. I helped with mowing, rolling greens, watering, cutting cups, tee service, and making last-minute repairs. I also had the opportunity to run the crew for a morning by assigning jobs and organizing the work. Being trusted with that responsibility was one of my most significant accomplishments because it showed me how much I had developed throughout the summer and gave me valuable leadership experience that will eventually apply to my goal of becoming a superintendent.
My time at Wianno Club was an extremely valuable experience because I was able to work outside, learn from an experienced crew, and continue developing new skills throughout the summer. Just as importantly, the internship taught me what I value in a supervisor. A good supervisor should be knowledgeable, willing to teach, communicate clearly, and trust employees with responsibility. These are qualities I hope to carry with me as I continue developing my own leadership style.
Overall, this internship gave me much more than experience with turfgrass management. It taught me the importance of teamwork, communication, attention to detail, and taking pride in your work. Being trusted with increasing responsibility also gave me confidence in my ability to lead others, which will be important as I work toward becoming a superintendent. I am grateful for everything I learned at Wianno Club and know that the skills and experiences I gained will stay with me throughout my career in the turfgrass industry.
