Internship/Assistant in Training: The Rim Golf Club

Internship/Assistant in Training: The Rim Golf Club Golf Course Superintendent Justin C. Ruiz, CGCS Description: The Rim Golf Club is surrounded by the largest stand of ponderosa pines in America. Each hole has a view of either the surrounding Granite Dells Mountains or the Mogollon Rim. The Rim was Weiskopf and Morrish's finally collaboration. Greens are Providence Bentgrass. Fairways, Approaches, Tees and Rough are all Kentucky Bluegrass/Perennial Ryegrass. The course yields many elevation changes through each hole with relatively subtle greens. Qualifications: Some golf course experience is preferred but not required. Going to school to become a golf course superintendent is a must. Must be able to work long hours. Must have the drive and passion to move forward in your career (advancement may be available). You can look us up at: www.therimgolfclub.com www.therimgolfclub.blogspot.com www.twitter.com/justinruizcgcs www.cactusandpine.org www.turfhugger.com www.linkedin.com/in/justincruiz

A little about our internship opportunity: I am looking for individuals that want to learn the importance of Integrated Plant Management. Our insect and disease pressure is above average during the months of July and August. Learning to scout and properly identify insects and disease is a definite at our location. Calibration of any product applied to the golf course will be the assistant in training’s responsibility. I am open with budgeting and the decision making process. I will allow the intern to manage the crew for one week during the program to get the full experience of scheduling, and managing. You will learn that respect is earned not forced and when you are finished with this program you will be ready for an assistant position in the industry. I do not try to bog our assistant in training down with general maintenance although learning how each piece of equipment is operated will be done. You will be expected to manage projects with my direction and follow through with quality control. Expectations are high at our club and this is not a position for a person that is on the fence about becoming a superintendent but rather a person that wants to strive to become better than the rest. I am a passionate superintendent and would like to see the same in our applicants.

The Rim Golf Club Internship Program

Each year at The Rim Golf Club we advertise for interns. On my way to becoming a superintendent I too did an internship. I graduated from Oregon State University and did my internship at Waverley Country Club in Oregon. An internship’s purpose is to close the gap between academic skills and in the field experience. I feel like I can teach students things that I was not taught during my internship and schooling. The Rim Golf Club is a great place to learn with many issues that are uncommon to the average facility.

Our past interns have included Adam Troyer, from Ohio State University. He went on from our facility to become and assistant superintendent at New Albany Country Club. William Bosland, from New Mexico State University, went on to become an intern at the #1 course in America, Pine Valley. He is now an assistant superintendent at the Olympic Club in California. Eric Scharf from State University New York Delhi, he became our second assistant superintendent and now resides at Desert Mountain in Scottsdale. Matt Ruth from North Carolina was hired onto our crew for a while and then took an assistant position in Virginia. Andrew Fortin was our most recent intern from Walla Walla Community College. He has proven his work ethic and is considering coming back to be my assistant next season. These are a few great interns that have worked with me over the past three years and have gone on to become successful in the industry. We are going to advertise for interns for this next season. They have a great opportunity to learn about water management, Integrated Plant Management and personnel management on a high maintenance property. These young individuals are the future of our industry and are eager to learn and work hard. They are highly motivated students and are great crew members.

I usually advertise nationally and then select certain schools to send a more descriptive notification too. I usually target Oregon State University, my Alma mater. We also send information out to Walla Walla Community College, because of our recent networking with Andrew Fortin, and University of Arizona.

The benefits of having interns during the season are having knowledgeable crew members that have the common goal of becoming a manager in the industry. In most cases they have been trained on a majority of the equipment and have the “eye for detail”. These individuals are always well motivated and are here to impress. They help keep the quality of the golf course elevated during the season.

If you would like to know more about our internship program or have any questions regarding our interns please feel free to contact me.

Justin Ruiz, CGCS

justinr@therimgolfclub.org