I am Brad Milne formerly of Whitford Park Golf Course in Auckland, New Zealand. Whitford Park was a great course and aided in my extensive learning in the turf Industry. Whitford is where I was able to complete my Level 4 Apprenticeship in Sports Turf Management. Throughout my three years at Whitford and learning, fellow work colleagues from other clubs and the industry had opened my eyes to a possible shift to America to work in the big time. Nearing the end of my apprenticeship started to think more about it and decided it would be the best way to progress my learning.
After a successfully getting accepted for the program and some discussions with Mike O’Keefe I found my way over to Columbus, Ohio to meet the fellow interns for the year. Post meeting a bunch of enthused Greenkeepers, I found myself boarding another plane and making my way down to Robert Trent Jones Golf Course, Virginia where I would call home for the next 6 months. Robert Trent Jones Golf Course has hosted four Presidents Cups and the Quicken Loans Competition. Working Under Superintendent Scott Furlong has been a real eye opener, from 45 staff on a daily basis to the timing and techniques used to prepare and maintain the best possible surface year in year out. My responsibilities at RTJ include the majority of the Greens and Tees spraying, course set up and hand-watering to name a few.
The opportunity arose to be able to volunteer at the PGA Championship at Beth Page Black early on in the piece. This was an amazing experience to be able to cut greens at a Major Championship for the best players in the world, and see how they negotiated the tough terrain of Beth Page which is an experience I’ll never forget.
I am very grateful for this wonderful opportunity to learn from the very best to take me further in this profession, would highly recommend it to any and all aspiring greenkeepers.