A hands-on educational program that helps prepare non-traditional students for careers in golf course maintenance is growing like a proverbial weed.
The USGA says its Greenkeeper Apprenticeship Program will expand into the Charlotte area through an arrangement with Central Piedmont Community College.
Developed in 2023 by leaders at Pinehurst Resort and the USGA in cooperation with Sandhills Community College, the program provides a mix of classroom instruction with on-the-job training, and pairs each student with an on-course mentor, intended to advance their professional development.
The program was expanded in 2024 to include instruction in cooperation with Horry-Georgetown Technical College in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The program provides tuition-free learning for all students for one year and paid on-the-job training positions at partner golf courses.
Through Central Piedmont, apprentices in the Charlotte area will have access to instruction that complements hands-on training at leading golf facilities throughout the region.
Courses are taught by industry professionals, including former golf course superintendents, who pair subject-matter expertise with practical lessons apprentices can apply in daily course maintenance work.
“Expanding GAP will continue to help address the industry’s need for skilled turf maintenance professionals while creating meaningful career pathways for people interested in the field,” said Jordan Booth, senior director of course consulting at the USGA. “Bringing the program to Central Piedmont Community College reflects strong industry demand for this training, and we are encouraged by the momentum.”
Based on superintendent feedback about the challenges associated with attracting and retaining employees, the apprenticeship program was created to address the industry’s growing need for skilled workers. The program helps crew members and entry-level workers further their education and build long-term careers in golf course maintenance, rather than viewing the work as seasonal employment.
To date, 68 apprentices have graduated from the program’s Pinehurst and Myrtle Beach locations. That number will exceed 100 by the conclusion of this year’s program. According to the USGA, 93 percent of graduates are still employed in the golf industry. Several graduates have advanced into leadership roles, including superintendent and first assistant superintendent.
For Central Piedmont, the program reflects a broader approach to workforce development, working side by side with employers to build programs that meet the region’s demand for skilled talent. Apprenticeships and work-based learning are central to that approach, providing students with paid, hands-on experience that prepares them for careers in the field.
The Charlotte location will strengthen GAP’s presence across the golf-centric Carolinas, one of the country’s most golf-dense regions. Apprentices at the new site are expected to be placed for employment at clubs such as Carmel Country Club, Charlotte Country Club, Pine Lake Country Club and Quail Hollow Club.
“Our partnership with USGA demonstrates what is possible when education and industry work together with a shared purpose,” said Kandi Deitemeyer, Ph.D., president of Central Piedmont Community College. “Through the Greenkeeper Apprenticeship Program, participants will have the opportunity to learn alongside professionals, gain hands-on experience and advance careers that contribute to one of Charlotte’s signature industries.”
Longtime Central Piedmont instructor John Royals will lead instruction at the college. He has a bachelor’s degree in horticulture, turf and turfgrass management, as well as a master’s degree in plant pathology, all from Clemson University.
Instruction will focus on soil and plant science, water management and conservation, and integrated pest management.
The program is supported by the Dedman Foundation and Pinehurst Resort, the Carolinas GCSA and Ewing Outdoor Supply.
