CCP Internship Program Has Global Impact

For the third year the Country Club of Peoria has participated in a Chinese student internship program that is offered through Michigan State University.  The students attend one of 5 universities in China and MSU faculty teach the courses via the web and in person with trips to China.  Every year in August the students come to Michigan State and attend 3 weeks of equipment training at the Hancock Turfgrass Research Center on campus before heading out to their internships across the U.S.  We are very fortunate to be involved in the program with courses like Baltusrol Golf Course, Boca Rio Golf Club and Desert Mountain to name a few.  The golf business is booming in China so the students will return to their country and be some of the first generation of turf managers at the many courses currently being built. 

Our intern this year is Yuan Hu but we have given him the nickname of Willie.  He has been with us for a week and is adjusting to life in Peoria.  Willie will be with us for three months and around Thanksgiving he will return to China to finish his last semester of college at the University of Beijing.  He wants to be a Golf Course Superintendent when he graduates. 

2012 Chinese intern Yuan Hu "Willie" 

 The Chinese students are always very willing to learn and are hard workers.  We have had two female interns in the past and Willie is our first male intern from China.  Last years intern Lu Huang returned to China, graduated and then landed a job as the personal interpreter for Jack Nicklaus.  He is building his first course in China in the Beijing area and Lu works side by side with him explaining to construction crews and the Golf Superintendent what Mr. Nicklaus is asking to be done.  Lu asked me in an e-mail if I "had heard of a famous American golfer named Jack Nicklaus?"  I let her know that I have some pictures of him on the walls of my office and yes, I have heard of him.  She wanted to know why I had pictures of her boss in my office.  I don't think Lu realizes who she is working for!! 

2011 Chinese intern Lu Huang with'"her new boss"

It is rewarding to think that our internship program here at the Country Club of Peoria is having global impacts half way around the world.  We take pride in all of our past interns that are in the industry scattered around the U.S. and now in China.  All of them have done well for themselves as they advanced in their careers.  In some small way we feel like we can share in their success.  It is important to give back to the industry and be a mentor to the next generation of Superintendents.  When we see them be successful that validates why the Country Club of Peoria supports an internship program and the impact we can have on the golf industry around the world.