Institute of Applied Agriculture (IAA) Golf Course Management major Shaun Clark wanted to know what it was like to work at an exclusive, prestigious golf club. And he found out by interning at Burning Tree Country Club in Bethesda, MD.
Known for its beauty and exclusiveness, this men’s only club—a rarity in the United States—put Clark right into the mix with a management-style internship. He led crew members in general labor tasks, and he worked side by side with the Forman/Irrigation Tech. Soon Clark was comfortable enough to handle irrigation breaks and repairs on his own. In addition, Clark hand watered greens and handled water management tasks. He cut and rolled of greens and performed general maintenance of the golf course. Clark says he did whatever he could to “make the boss’s job easier.”
Clark is passionate about the golf course industry and believes that once he graduates from the IAA, he’ll be well prepared for his career. He plans to find an assistant superintendent job somewhere on the east coast.
The IAA has a well-respected internship program that provides students with the right skills and experience needed to succeed. Focusing on getting students prepared for the real world is the IAA’s number 1 focus, and as far as Clark is concerned he got the experience he was looking for.
