Turf Internship Position at Winchester Country Club – Winchester, Massachusetts

Overview

Winchester Country Club’s course opened in 1903 with a nine-hole layout by Alexander Findlay. Six years later, the club consulted with Donald Ross to add bunkers, and thus began a relationship that would last into the 1930s, spanning the height of Ross’ prolific career as a golf course architect.

By 1915, the club had acquired a total of 175 acres and handed to Ross this canvas upon which to paint an 18-hole masterpiece. On and off over the next two decades, Ross would continue to tweak and expand his layout as more property became available. Most notable about this parcel of land is its substantial elevation change. From the low point near the first tee to the course’s peak at the 13th green, there is a 165-foot differential. The front nine traverses rolling terrain that at one time served as farms and pastures. The back nine features back-to-back par-5s sandwiched between two par-3s, yielding a finish of four consecutive par-4s that rivals any other closing stretch in the state.

Since 1919, Winchester has hosted seven Massachusetts Amateur championships and two state opens in addition to other state and regional tournaments. However, its best-known contribution to Massachusetts golf is its annual father & son tournament, the longest running such event in the country. First held in 1919, as sons and fathers returned from World War I, the invitational tournament quickly became a mainstay in Massachusetts golf.

Today, Winchester Country Club remains one of the premier courses in the state. Featuring views of both the Mystic Lakes and the Boston skyline, this Ross layout remains intact, with help from Ron Forse Golf Design most recently, providing both challenge and enjoyment for its members and their guests.

Position

Turf Internship Position

The Turf Internship position is a collaborative one with the Superintendent, Assistants & AITs. The position will strengthen the candidate’s agronomic knowledge and course conditioning expertise. The position will prepare the candidate for an Assistant-In-Training position here at Winchester or wherever the candidate would like to progress their career. The objective of the position is to educate the individual on the basics of turf management as well as how the course is set up for play each day. The individual is asked to absorb information pertaining to plant health, course conditioning, course set-up and learn to understand operational logistics. The position is designed to build the ground work and establish a foundation of agronomics (plant & soil science), infrastructure (drainage, irrigation piping & electrical components, pumphouse, buildings, transportation paths), be a part of course projects big & small, boost crew morale, understand weather & disease pressure forecasting and observations, cultural practices, moisture management, quality of cuts, and course set-up (tee locations, pin locations, green speeds and firmness, shot selection, how the course is played through the golfers viewpoint each day, fescue/rough/bunker playability) to name a few.

Qualifications

The candidate will be immersed in educational and informative conversations relating to agronomics and course preparations with the Superintendent, Assistants & AITs. He/she will experience all aspects of what it takes to be a great turf manager and to provide the members with the best possible golfing experience through unmatched golf course conditioning on a daily basis.

The candidate will communicate with the Turf Team (Super, Assts & AITs) on the details of general maintenance performed on course and clubhouse grounds, and work with the Greenskeepers on upholding the expectations of the Grounds Department. They will work side-by-side with the crew on their staff assignments, be responsible for irrigation/water needs to all surfaces and become an expert with plant health and conditioning.

Compensation/Benefits:

• $16-17/hour DOE + OT
• Lunch Provided
• Uniforms
• Housing
• Golfing Privileges