I am an avid golfer whose passion for the quality of golf courses I play began at a young age. I played junior golf and spent my summers at the golf course, practicing and playing almost every day. In addition to experiencing the golf courses I played in my hometown, I was fortunate enough to see some of the most pristine courses around the country while traveling to watch my brother’s college golf team compete. Experiencing the difference between these top golf clubs and the local courses I played initiated my passion for the green industry. While playing junior golf, I gained experience as a caddy and first tee manager at Great Oaks Country Club in Rochester, Michigan. I also worked in the professional shop and at the bag drop at Naples Grande Golf Club in Naples, Florida in 2016. Before pursuing my degree in Golf Course Turf Management, I graduated from Michigan State University in 2019 with a degree in Communications. From there, I began a career in mortgage underwriting and was quite successful, but I always wondered how I could work in the golf industry. I began to realize that my true passion revolved around anything related to golf, which prompted me to consider working at a golf club on the maintenance side of the golf course operation, thinking that my 20 years of golf experience and passion for the game could go hand in hand with having a career overseeing and maintaining a golf course as a superintendent. Last summer, I left my job as a mortgage underwriter and joined the grounds crew at Bloomfield Hills Country Club in Bloomfield, Michigan to see if I would enjoy working the agronomy side of the industry. Working on a golf course felt like I was coming home and I fell in love with my new job after just a few days. I enrolled in the 2-year Golf Course Turf Management program at Michigan State University and anticipate a completion date of March 2024. Within this program, I jumped at the opportunity to intern with the grounds crew at Jupiter Hills Club in Jupiter, Florida. This has been an incredible experience as I put agronomic principles into practice daily, and applying concepts from my classes has been very fulfilling. Upon finishing the Turf program, my initial goal is to work as an assistant superintendent, where I wake up every day and head to the golf course. Ultimately, I plan to make a difference within the green industry by leading a successful team as a superintendent at a premier golf course, measured by the course's playability and a strong supportive environment. Not only is it essential to have the skills required to know when to mow, fertilize, cultivate, irrigate, etc., but it is also important to understand how a great golf course should play and what it should look like. As a golfer, I have an eye for this. My combined background in golf and communications, both educationally and working within professional teams, has provided me with a great understanding of how a golf course is run and equipped me with the necessary skills to lead a successful team and excel in the green industry. From my experience, a team with a great leader is more efficient than one with a leader who doesn’t seem to care for everyone. I look forward to leading an effective team responsible for increasing golfers’ enjoyment while they play the game I love and maintaining a great golf course that adds to their fun.