the week before, and the week after the barclay's

with finally having time to update this blog, there is plenty to talk about. during the week before we had rain almost everyday which was bad because we wanted the course to be fast and firm so we were mowing  
the greens, fairways, tees. everyday. we had to make sure that all the little things were in perfect order. weeds, ball marks, and native areas had to be maintained. tents where being built trough out the course, trying to meet the deadline. during the week of the tournament was the best week ever i got to meet people through out the new jersey area. and my job during the barclay's i got to cut the cups which was the best job you can get your hands on. i had a helper and a rules official followed me around through the front nine making sure everything was done. with the greens mowed twice and rolled, tee's prep, and fairways drag, and bunkers where rake. during the evening we had to mow the ruff, fairways, and tee's. and making sure the driving area was done the tournament was cut to 54 holes, to tropical storm Irene and the course was flooded the next day there was one hole completely under water, there was standing water everywhere we had to set pumps everywhere and wake up every two hours during the night to make sure they were running. the rest of the week we had to clean up the course which took all week. with my internship coming to an end, I'm glad to come out here and show my talents. I'll  be headed home in a couple of days to finish up school. I'll be keeping up on the blog, and who knows maybe i'll be going oversea's to work next year.

6 weeks out until show time!

With the Barclays right around the corner, we've been watching the course very careful for wear and tear spots. The course is getting beat up pretty bad, it seems like everybody wants to play the course since we have the Tournament. The grand stands are being build around the course, pics soon to come.The greens are getting there but i keep noticing that they are pretty bumpy, but the speed is at the right pace. The watering hose is my best friend right now with temps well above 90's. I'll be posting all week during the Barclays. 

getting ready for the Barclay's.

With about two months in the books I've been learning a lot to better myself for a full time position. Everyday we are getting closer to the big event the Barclay's, We are mowing the greens twice every other day, Then only mowing once and rolling. also been verta-cutting the greens twice a month, With topdressing sand to fill in the lines then brooming the greens to smooth out the greens. There is a road being put in to going about a mile and some. The past week I was working at a different golf course called Hamilton farms golf club for the LPGA tournament, I got to meet people around the world from LA to Germany. It's a great way to start networking.

It's been great working here so far, sleep,eat, and work it's my life right now.    

Going back to the drill and fill, this is it. It will drill holes 12 inches deep, and put topdressing sand in at the same time. crazy long process.

two weeks in the books.

with having two weeks in the books, and I learned a lot! During the second week we had to Double drill and fill, and airifaction week, Which that means a long week. With the double drill and fill we contracted with an outside business. Without knowing what in the world they were talking. In till i saw the machines in action. It was a very long process the machine has three wheels, Two hoppers, and 12 inch drill bits. My job was to make sure the hoppers was filled with sand. Walking back and forth with two 5 gal buckets filled with sand. It was a good workout. during the next day we were going to aerifiy but it rained. So we had to wait, then the next day, they assigned me to aerifiy greens! with this going on, we were verta-cutting fairways all day. with a dragging after, And a giant vacuum to clean every all up.

With the whole grounds crew being Latino it was to hard to work with then the first week, then with the little Spanish that i know. Was able to talk to them, and now i have friendships with everyone on the crew. Usually i can trade English for Spanish. All the interns are good guys too, One is from Australia and he is a very good guy. And another is from Rutgers and he is a good guy too. With two weeks in the books I I'm learning a lot with plenty of the season ahead.      

day one in the books!

made it to new jersey in two days (sat night) so i had plenty time to unpack and get things squared away before work starts on Monday, and with today being Monday i got to see how Plainfield is ran. Plainfield is not a very well know course, thinking it's from new jersey it would be, but it's not. we have a lot more equipment then what i'm use too. and the staff is not from new jersey at all, closest one is from new York, some are from the Midwest like Wisconsin, Ohio, and from Pennsylvania. they also mow fairways different to they use a tri-plex type mower to mow fairways. i only thought these types of mowers would be only for greens and tees. but using these types of mowers are lighter than your typical fairway mower. and they do it because it has less compaction and having bent grass fairways that type of grass cant handle alot of compaction, so there would be four guys at once mowing a fairway. there is a green that didn't do too well over the winter so there is a flag in the fairway to finish the hole. so with only working one day i have learned a lot. pictures will  be coming soon! 

8 days out until i leave for New jersey

so here I I'm working on homework and decided to write about how i got this internship. so it was last Nov. and looking on turfnet.com and i wanted a course to hold a PGA event. with seeing a posting from Plainfield country club, sent my cover letter and resume. with about a week later the assistant superintendent called me and interview me and a day later boom I got the position. now I'm counting the days and getting stuff ready to go. the purpose for this blog is to post what i learn during the 2011season at Plainfield country club.