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AMERICAN INTERN
LESSONS FROM WIMBLEDON Amy Wilbur from Ohio State University discusses the benefits of her internship at the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club in Wimbledon
How did you get involved with the internship opportunity at the AELTC? I became involved through the Ohio Programme at the Ohio State University, with help from Mike O’Keeffe and my professor, Pam Sherratt. By Karen Maxwell Managing editor
What has been your career pathway? I grew up on a family farm that grew and sold bent grass, Bermuda grass, zoysia and tall fescue. Aged 13, I visited the University of Maryland football stadium to see the grass and I was fascinated to find that taking care of the playing surface was a real job. From then I knew exactly what I wanted to do! I have just finished my second year of university and have taken courses in plant and turf grass management. I’m also involved in the Ohio State Turf Club, serving as president last year, and for the past two years I have attended the Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA) Conference. Last summer, I worked at a golf and country club to try golf turf management, and during the school year I worked at the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation research facility in Ohio State maintaining plots for golf and sports turf research. I also helped plan a summer day camp for middle schoolers to introduce them to STEM in turf grass science, including site visits to local sports stadia. What qualification do you hope to achieve? I’m striving to become a Certified Sports Field Manager (CSFM), a recognition awarded by STMA. What are your and your team’s main responsibilities in the lead up to the Wimbledon Championships? So far, we have been working on preparing the courts for opening to the AELTC members. Our main responsibilities are mowing and marking, honing our skills to prepare for the tournament tasks. We make sure the presentation of the grounds is up to the standards of the club, and try to create the healthiest and strongest surfaces going into the tournament.
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50 THE GROUNDSMAN July 2018
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Amy is learning a lot during her internship at AELTC
I have done various tasks at the club to give me a wellrounded experience and a taste of all the possible jobs. What are the different challenges encountered in UK and US turf management? The work environment in the UK is a lot more relaxed but the certification system has provided challenges. In the US, under the supervision of a trained or certified adult, interns are allowed to do basically any task. Simple things, like driving a buggy, I can do in the US but in the UK I need certification. One of the challenges working at the AELTC is the cross-departmental planning that makes day-to-day operations work, such as planning which courts are in play. The attention to detail is something I will take back to the US – everything is noted and addressed. With over 200 employees, seeing good communication in such a large organisation illustrates its importance. For more information on how to engage with the Ohio State University intern programme, visit www.ohioprogram.org or email Mike O’Keefe at okeeffe.1@osu.edu
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