castle pines golf club
2025 Internship Program
Expand and develop your skills and knowledge at one of the top clubs in the world.
Discover Castle Pines Golf Club
One of America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses
From its origination in 1981, Jack Vickers envisioned a golf club that would set a standard of excellence in all phases of its operation. From the Jack Nicklaus designed course to the dining experience, on-site cottages, the classic clubhouse atmosphere and beyond, accommodating hospitality and world-class quality remain a signature of Castle Pines Golf Club today.
Located just 30 minutes south of Denver, Castle Pines is currently ranked #46 in Golf Digest’s “America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses,” and was the host of the 2024 BMW Championship.
Why work at Castle Pines Golf Club?
Just 30 minutes from Denver 30 minutes from Red Rocks Amphitheatre 45 minutes from Colorado Springs Easy access to the Rocky Mountains Discussions about any industry topics encouraged Complimentary housing options
Become an Intern
The Internship Program at Castle Pines Golf Club is designed to further develop and expand upon the skills and knowledge of aspiring grounds and maintenance professionals. This will also serve as an opportunity for the student to network and build relationships with other top clubs and peers around the country.
Castle Pines Golf Club is committed to operating one of the best internship programs in the country. It remains our vision to not only develop young professionals but advance them to opportunities where they can implement their learned educational value at other institutions.
Founder Jack Vickers hired Jack Nicklaus to design Castle Pines in 1980.
THE INTERNATIONAL
Castle Pines ran THE INTERNATIONAL tournament on the PGA TOUR for 21 years. Past champions include Phil Mickleson, Ernie Els, Davis Love and Vijay Singh.
“Amen Corner [at Augusta] famously got its nickname because of the unpredictability of being down there in that pocket, there’s Amen Corners all over this place out there so you’re going to need a Fields Medal to work out what the winds doing with the altitude.” - Brandel Chamblee
On the BMW Championship...
“...the crew have done an incredible job with this golf course. Just fantastic. A lot of work into this and money the last decade.” - Steve Sands
“Castle Pines is the finest venue on TOUR.”
- Shane Lowry
Internship Experience
• Participate in daily maintenance activities
• Learn and participate in all agronomic activities including ride spraying, spray hawking, fertilizing, and in-season cultural programs.
• Opportunities to participate in daily management meetings and weekly team transfer meetings.
• Opportunity to schedule and run crew
• Participate in monthly Intern Learning Program with a variety of topics and guest speakers. Some topics and speakers may include:
• USGA Agronomist
• Irrigation Design Consultant
• Water Quality Expert
• Plant Growth Regulators
• PGA TOUR Agronomist Q&A
• Professional Development classes
• Resume Class
• Mock Interview
• Opportunity to interface with other departments, Golf Ops, etc.
• Tournament volunteer opportunities (PGA TOUR, Korn Ferry, USGA, etc.)
Requirements & Benefits
Requirements
• Applicants of all experience and education levels will be considered. Your internship will be tailored to your skill and education level
• Must be motivated to succeed in the turf industry
• Good attitude and team player mentality
Compensation and Benefits
• Housing
• Uniforms
• Lunch provided by club
• Golf privileges
• $20 per hour plus overtime
Meet the Team
Led by Director of Golf Course & Grounds, Scott Pavalko
Trevor Meints Superintendent of Ground & Agronomics
John Calendine Superintendent of Grounds
Travis Friar Senior Assistant Superintendent
Kyle Epperson Assistant Superintendent
Conrad Hoover Assistant Superintendent
Julia Berry Head Horticulturist
Additional Key Turf Staff
Carson Licht
Kip Evans
Billy Lacheta
Andrew Bliss
Unique Turf Learning Program
Each intern will join one of our three turf teams. In order to spread out responsibilities and diversify experience, turf teams rotate through three general areas of responsibility for one week at a time.
week one Water Management
This week can be the most demanding. Turf team members are responsible for all water management on the golf course. This includes hand watering greens, supplementing tees, fairways and rough as needed.
week two
Crew Management
During crew management week, turf team members are responsible for scheduling the entire golf course maintenance crew. This includes morning jobs, second assignments and managing any projects. Interns will have the opportunity to participate in the daily scheduling of our staff and possibly run morning meetings.
week three
Agronomy
Agronomy week involves participating in the spray operation, learning to run GPS ride-on sprayers, spray hawk greens and participating in all other agronomic activities.
Tournament Tradition
A rich history of hosting professional tournaments
Jack Vickers always dreamed of building a world-class golf club capable of hosting professional tournaments. His dream was realized soon after opening Castle Pines, with the creation of The INTERNATIONAL in 1986. Running on the PGA TOUR for 21 years until 2006.
After an 18 year hiatus, the TOUR returned to Castle Pines in August 2024 with the BMW Championship.
Alumni Exchange Program
2025 will be year one of a new program we are calling the Castle Pines Golf Club Alumni Exchange Program. This program is designed to expose CPGC Turfgrass Interns to other operations run by former Castle Pines Golf Club Team Members.
For 2025, interns will have the opportunity to spend a week working and learning from Brandon Wollesen who is the Director of Agronomy at Greeley Country Club.
Brandon spent four years at Castle Pines Golf club and served as Superintendent of Grounds and Tournament Logistics during the 2024 season and BMW Championship. This program will provide participants with the opportunity to learn and participate in a different turf maintenance operation, see a different region of the greater Denver area and gain an understanding how skills and knowledge obtained at CPGC can be applied at a different facility.
Additional Information
Below are links to learn more about Castle Pines and the Golf Course Maintenance team.
Golf Digest’s “Every Hole at Castle Pines Golf Club”
Jim Nantz narrates a hole-by-hole flyover of Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock, Colorado, site of the 2024 BMW Championship.
https://www.golfdigest.com/video/every-hole-at/every-hole-atcastle-pines-golf-club
Superintendent Network Educating, promoting, inspiring, and connecting the superintendent community.
https://www.superintendentnetwork.com/network-clippings/aconnection-from-the-course
https://www.superintendentnetwork.com/network-clippings/not-a-zerosum-game
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C-3HL32gc_U
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C-4zqKpvW4X
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C-77MfRg5II
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C-_NgFWP9et
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C_BVdoVuQA_
https://www.instagram.com/p/C-WNvc8NRoy
If you are interested in interning at Castle Pines Golf Club, send your resume and cover letter to Scott Pavalko, Director of Golf Course & Grounds, at spavalko@castlepinesgolfclub.club.
