John Hood IGFR-Australia Memorial Scholarship

The aim of the scholarship is to provide financial assistance to young people aged between 20 and 29 years who have completed an apprenticeship in “Greenkeeping”.

Each year a student is selected from one of the States or Territories of Australia, this is done in rotation from year to year.

With the assistance of The Ohio State University, the awardee is enrolled as an International Student in the Agricultural and the Horticultural Intern program at the University. This combines theoretical studies at the University with some nine months of paid practical work at some of America’s finest golf courses.

In recent times however, because of the high standard of our Australian academic level in Turf Grass study, our awardees are assessed on arrival by the Ohio State University and most now spend their full year gaining practical experience working at top courses in the USA.

The Ohio Program arranges the placement, visa, insurance, housing and working conditions. Most of the courses where students are placed are in the top 100 in America.

The program offers interns experience in PGA event course preparation, construction, irrigation, chemical spraying, overseeding and all maintenance practices performed at a golf course that has an annual budget in excess of one million dollars.

Interns in most cases are living and working with other interns from all over the world. Courses are offered for full time study at the Ohio State University and an annual weekend workshop is held where the best turf lecturers from around America visit.

At the present time the scholarship is worth $5,000 and goes towards paying the travel expenses etc of the awardee.

For further information about the program contact can be made with – Mr. Michael O’Keeffe at The Ohio International Agricultural & Horticultural Program by email to okeeffe.1@osu.edu or visit the website at www.top.osu.edu

2015 Launceston Slide Presentation JHMS.pdf (2.1mb)

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank The Fellowship of Golfing Rotarians, Ohio State University’s Mike O’Keeffe, the Australian Golf Course Superintendents Association and TAFE for their assistance.

HONOUR BOARD
John Hood IGFR-Australia Memorial Scholarship

YearRecipientHome ClubStateUSA ClubsWhere Are They NowMore Details
1992Andrew HeslipEmerald CC, Emerald, VICMuirfield VillageJubilee GC, Wangaratta, VicMore details
1994Steven JohnsonQLDShoal Creek GC, Birmingham, AlabamaAl Mouj Golf Club, Muscat, Oman
1995Steven HarrisTASBear Lakes Country Club West Palm Beach FloridaVintage Golf Club, Newcastle, NSW
1996Marcus HartupVICBear Lakes Country Club, West Palm Beach Florida, Indian Creek Country Club, Miami FloridaThe Els Club Malaysia
1996Shannon MurphyVICIndian Creek Country Club, Miami Florida
1997Ryan MulchasterACTBear Lakes Country Club, West Palm Beach Florida
1997Adrian RobertsSAVirginia Oaks GC Manassas Virginia
1998Chris GoopyQLDShoal Creek Golf Club Birmingham Alabama
1999Mark SnooksGolf Pro, Beijing ChinaTASKingsmill Resort, VirginiaGolf Pro, Beijing China
2000Paul CameronWillunga Golf clubSAKingsmill Resort, Virginia
2001Sarah KerrQLDKingsmill Resort Virginia, Augusta National GC, Georgia
2002Dan CookPambula-Merimbula Golf Club, Merimbula, NSWNSWKingsmill Resort, Virginia, The Polo Club Boca Raton Florida, Oak Hill CC Rochester NYElanora G C, Sydney, NSWMore details
2003Sam McEachernVICOak Hill CC Rochester NY, Tiburon GC Naples FloridaBrookwater Golf & Country Club
2003Carl McPhersonVICWhistling Straits Wisconsin, Pinehurst Resort, Whistling Straits
2004Ben ButtonTASKingsmill Resort Virginia, Sea Island Georgia
2005Haydn ReidFlafstaff Hill Golf ClubSAKingsmill, Virginia
2005Luke PartridgeMt Osmond Golf Club. Sponsored by Rotary Club of AdelaideSAOakmont Country Club, PennsylvaniaAsst Super, Emirates GC Dubai Middle EastMore details
2008Brett StaffordQLDBerkeley Hall South Carolina
2008Luke MortimerVICHarbour Town Golf Links South CarolinaBrookwater Ipswich, QLD
2009Matthew StylesRoyal Canberra Golf Club NSWHarbour Town Golf Links, South Carolina
2011Jack SimsQueens Park GC, Highton, VicVICBreakers West, Palm Beach, Florida
2011Alistaire MarshJoondalup C C, Perth, WAWALos Angeles CC, California
2012Simon ReesEynesbury GC, Eynesbury, VicVICCongressional Country Club, Bethesda, Maryland; TPC Sottsdale, Arizona; Sunningdale Golf Club, Berkshire, UKTrump National Golf Club, Bedminster, New Jersey,More details
2012Ben BaldersonToowoombaQLDSea Island GC, Saint Simons Island, Georgia More details
2013Nathan TurnerHamilton Island & National GCVICKirtland CC, Willoughby, Ohio; Mediterra Golf Club, Naples, Florida; Congressional Country Club, Bethesda, Maryland;Sanctuary Lakes GC, Victoria. Superintendent, Geelong Golf ClubMore details
2014Sam DonnellanMowbray Golf Club, LauncestonTASTrump National Doral, Miami, FloridaRoyal Canberra ACT, St.Andrews Scotland
2015Kurt EldridgeBermagui Country ClubNSWRobert Trent Jones Golf Club, Gainesville, Virginia. Tails Park Golf Club, Naples, FloridaRoyal Canberra Golf Club, Yarralumba, ACT. Cape Wickham Links, King Island
2015Simon WinzarLakelands Golf Club, Merrimac, Queensland QLDPlainfield Country Club, Edison, New Jersey. Isleworth Golf & Country Club, Windemere, Florida. Hazeltine National Golf Club, Chaska, Minnesota Senior Assistant Superintendent at Trump International Golf Club Dubai
2016Marlon JohnsonNew South Wales Golf ClubNSWOakmont Country Club, Pittsburgh PA.The Lakes Golf Club, Sydney, NSW
2016Mitchell DriverNew South Wales Golf ClubNSWCongressional Country Club, Bethesda, Maryland. TPC Potomac at Avenell Farm, TPC Sottsdale, Arizona; New South Wales Golf Club
2017Angus VosRoyal Freemantle Golf CLubWARobert Trent Jones Golf Club, Gainesville, Virginia. Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club & Lodge, Orlando, Florida, TPC Potomac at Avenell Farm, Maryland, Cal Club San Francisco, USA
2017Keagan MeadBallarat Golf ClubVICCongressional Country Club, Bethesda, Maryland. TPC Sottsdale, Arizona. TPC Potomac at Avenell Farm, Maryland
2018Daley ClarkeClub Banora Golf Club, Banora PointNSWPebble Beach Golf Links, California
2019No Application
2020Jordan PhillipsNewcastle Golf ClubNSWMuirfieldNewcastle GC, NSW
2021Leighton KnowlesKingston Beach Golf ClubTASFirestone CC, Akron, Ohio. TPC Sawgrass, Florida. Austin Country Club, Austin, Texas
Kingston Beach GC, Hobart
2023Will StratfordKooyongaSAMuirfield Village GC , Dublin, Ohio, TPC Sawgrass, FloridaAvondale GC, Sydney, NSW
2023Jonty MullinsBarnbougle Dunes GCTASScioto GC, Columbus, OhioOcean Dunes GC, King Island.
2023Sam McGaffinSorrento GCVICChevy Chase GC, Washington, Los Angeles CC,Los AngelesBaltimore CC, Baltimore, USA