Have you ever lived a day where everything seemed to go wrong at once?
One hot summer day in the middle of June, Mason Hofmeister was attending to his daily duties at Rattlewood Golf Course, a Montgomery County, public golf course when the stresses and challenges of the job seemed to be multiplying by the minute. The weather was not cooperating, the young and in-experienced crew was making mistakes, conditions were dry, disease pressures were high, and equipment malfunctioned. For Hofmeister, a Golf Course Management major at the University of Maryland’s Institute of Applied Agriculture a fun summer internship was becoming a stress-filled career.
That was until one moment re-kindled his passion. As Hofmeister stood on a green next to his manager, stressed out and feeling the pressure of the situation, he remembered a quote that he loves to use when talking to his crew, one that he vowed he would never forget, “you've got two options here, you can either like it or you can love it.” That day Hofmeister chose to love it!
Hofmeister, a Sykesville, Maryland resident and a second-year student at the IAA, says that he has had a passion for golf ever since was young. Whether it be going to golf related events or going to work with his father who is also a golf course superintendent, he wanted to be around golf. As someone who loves being outside, experiencing nature, and watching the sunrise, this internship was a no-brainer for Hofmeister.
Within his position as Assistant Superintendent, Hofmeister was responsible for crew management, moisture management, disease/pest scouting, as well as daily setup and cleanup of ground operations. Since Hofmeister’s duties are highly valued and respected by those he works with, he has gained many valuable skills over the summer time including many leadership roles, interpersonal skills, and creating good work relationships. This internship has motivated Hofmeister to seek out the superintendent position at a course where he can finally be able to implement the changes he believes need to happen so he can make his own mark on a property and the game of golf.
