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Internship Program
 Intern Class of 2026 Robert Trent Jones Golf Club offers a summer internship within our golf course maintenance operation. Most of our students are enrolled in two or four-year turf grass degree or related programs. The internship program has seen over 100+ students throughout the past 24 years coming from all over the world. We have many past students who have moved on to become very successful within the Turfgrass industry. During the course of an internship, students will receive training and gain valuable experience for the future. We manage the program as an extension to the classroom studies. This gives the students an opportunity to use their knowledge in a work environment. Interns will work very closely with assistant superintendents and leave RTJ ready to progress in their careers. PESTICIDE & FERTILIZER APPLICATIONS During an internship at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club you will gain a great deal of experience from our Integrated Pest Management program. This will include spray rig operation, calibration, application rates and tank mixing. We use John Deere GPS spray rigs, along with backpack prayers and walking push spreaders. Given our location in the Mid-Atlantic region, fungicide applications are crucial for us to get through the summer, so Interns will be relied upon heavily to apply our program. It is also important for interns to learn all the products they are spraying and why we spray them.  2026 Intern Cade spraying number 10 fairway WATER MANAGEMENT Our water management philosophy here at RTJGC is a high management program. This involves micro-management on all areas of the golf course. The aim is to keep the playing conditions firm and fast. This means all surfaces are monitored throughout the day checking for moisture. There is a dedicated crew of up to 25 people continually checking the surfaces. We break the golf course into sections. This is where the interns will be given the responsibility of managing a section of greens throughout a heat stress period.  2026 Intern Blake watering 3 green surround IRRIGATION REPAIR & MAINTENANCE The experience that you will gain in this field will be extensive, you will be involved in all aspects of irrigation work. We installed a brand-new irrigation system in 2022, a Toro two-wire HDPE system with the latest LYNX software. We are always fine tuning our irrigation system throughout the year, continuously checking flow of nozzles and adjustment of heads, in addition to fixing problems as they happen (they always do).  16" Mainline repair using electrofusion welding. COURSE SETUP Our golf course setup meets tournament standards on a daily basis. This is probably the most important job on the golf course each day. Setup is changing cups and moving tee markers while taking into consideration playability and the balance of play. We are constantly pushing greens speeds, so perfect pin placement is extremely important, along with setting tees in ways that are creative to provide variety for the golfer. This is where interns learn a championship eye for detail, and get a feel for what assistant superintendents are looking for.  Cutting the pin on hole 16 AERIFICATION We usually aerify in late May and mid-August, so most interns get to experience two aerification processes with us. Not only are these two of the most fun weeks of the year, but great opportunities for interns to operate all different kinds of equipment and experience new techniques. Every golf course aerates a little differently, so since we do it so late, interns at RTJ have a unique opportunity to see how a spring aerification heals and how it impacts the golf course going through the summer.  2026 Intern Grant aerifying 1 green  2026 Intern Cade topdressing 14 tee  Interns loading topdressers MACHINERY OPERATION You will gain a great deal of experience on all types of walking and riding mowers, greens rollers, sand pros and tractors.  2026 Intern Colin mowing our practice putting green ORNAMENTAL CARE AND PLANTING We have 10 acres of ornamental beds that add to the beauty of the golf course. There is a dedicated crew that looks after all these areas. CAREER DEVELOPMENT The experience you will gain at RTJGC will greatly benefit your future career prospects, and help you to make that next step on your career path. PAST INTERN PROJECTS  Member-Guest 9 hole putting course  New Tee Seeding  2026 Intern Grant doing Better Billy Bunker liner repair BENEFITS Housing: We provide all housing free of charge at a luxury apartment complex less than a mile from the Golf Club. Uniforms: We will provide you with work shirts as part of your uniform. Social: There will be many opportunities to play golf and interact with other Superintendents from the local area. You will get the chance to play in a local GCSAA Superintendent's Tournament. Also, there will be chances to go to Nationals (MLB) games, Commanders (NFL) games, and summer concerts with tickets from our vendors. Meals: We provide lunch five days a week. Scholarship: All interns are given the opportunity to participate in the annual Vernon E. Jordan, Jr. Scholarship Tournament. After the tournament there will be a dinner, in which scholarships are awarded to students that have shown enthusiasm and a willingness to learn in all facets of the golf course operations. Networking & Future Employment: RTJGC is a well-known golf club in the Mid-Atlantic region. There are many past Assistants that are now Superintendents. There are always future opportunities for employment here or in this region following a successful internship. Tournament Event: We have a rich history of hosting tournaments at RTJ and have connections with every major golf league. As part of the internship program, interns will be given the opportunity to volunteer at a PGA Tour, LIV golf, PGA of America, or USGA championship. APPLICATION INFORMATION To apply for the internship program please send a cover letter and resume to sfurlong@rtjgc.com. Please feel free to contact us for any further information or questions. Scott Furlong, CGCS 20 Turtle Point Drive Gainesville, VA 20155 Office: 703.754.1750 |