Horry-Georgetown Technical College, USGA launch ‘Greenkeeper Apprenticeship’
CONWAY, S.C. (WBTW) — Horry Georgetown Technical College has partnered with the United States Golf Association to launch the “Greenkeeper Apprenticeship” program in Myrtle Beach.
The program, also known as “GAP,” aims to address the growing demand for skilled professionals in golf course maintenance.
The Golf and Sports Turf Management program has been at HGTC since 1970, making the college a natural fit.
The USGA has committed $1 million over five years, with additional funds from industry partners to support tuition-free education and paid training positions to aspiring greenkeepers.
“We are excited to not only develop people in the community, but also hopefully in the future, bring people in from out of the area to this area to get this training and to maybe keep some of them here,” Associated Professor of Golf and Sports Turf Management Jim Huntoon said. “Possibly even allow some of them to move on up to our associates program that’s been here for so long.”
The year-long “GAP” program not only aims to meet the growing demand in the industry but also promote sustainability within it.
Huntoon said the program will allow hands-on experience for students to see firsthand what the jobs outside of the classroom entail.
“They’ll be paired up with mentors at the various golf facilities around Myrtle Beach,” Huntoon said. “So, it’s a classroom plus mentoring in the field applied learning program. Very similar to the way our associates program is structured.”
HGTC is only one of two schools in the U.S. to offer the program.
The program is set to start in January 2025.
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Gracie is a multimedia journalist at News 13 and is from Cleveland, Ohio. Gracie joined the team in June 2023 after graduating from the University of Alabama in May. Follow Gracie on Facebook, Instagram and X, formerly Twitter, & read more of her work here.
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