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Students Volunteer at THE PLAYERS PGA Tour
Golf and Sports Turf Management Students Work Behind-the-Scenes to experience Championship.
(left to right) Luke Brinkley, Irakli Japharidze, Jason Reynolds, Reed Trusselo, Steve Hamill, and Professor Charles Granger.
Horry-Georgetown Technical College (HGTC) is proud to announce Golf and Sports Turf Management students participated in the extraordinary opportunity of a behind-the-scenes working experience at THE PLAYERS PGA Tour event held at the famous TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida March 7-12, 2023.
The students were involved with the TPC Sawgrass Agronomy team and worked to prepare and maintain the golf course for play. The students were busy mowing and providing bunker and detail preparation for the tournament conditions. In addition, students received insight in the tournament preparations and operations through a special tour of the Agronomic Operations Center. Students were able to network with prominent industry partners and leaders. Participation gives students an opportunity to bring back small tips they will be able to utilize in their career development.
“This is the 15th year that HGTC students have participated as volunteers and observers at the tournament,” said Charles Granger, HGTC Chair and Professor of Golf and Sports Turf Management. “What our students experience while working professional tour events cannot be duplicated in a classroom setting. As much as we try, we just cannot replicate the unbelievable quality and world-class conditions. It also gives our students the ability to network and start working on soft skills. This is as much of an interview week as it is a work week.”
Originally from the nation of Georgia, Irakli Japharidze is a first year Golf and Sports Turf Management student at HGTC. He decided to attend HGTC because of the one of kind program in South Carolina and access to a uniquely designed Turf Care and Demonstration Center on the college campus that provides applications-based learning for student, community, and industry engagement. He reflected on his experience at THE PLAYERS PGA Tour as a once in a lifetime opportunity.
“Serving as one of the student ambassadors at THE PLAYERS PGA Tour was the experience of a lifetime for me. I was amazed at the golf course operations and management team for one of the best courses in the world,” said Irakli Japharidze, HGTC Golf and Sports Turf Management Student.
Japharidze already has an internship secured at Chicago Golf Club in Wheaton, Illinois and will be on course for graduation in May 2024.