Rolling with a next generation superintendent

Rolling greens for the 2017 U.S. Open preparation is no easy task, but Maintenance Intern Drew Monogue hopes it’s just the start of the path that will lead to becoming a superintendent.

Monogue is in his third year at Erin (Wis.) Hills as a maintenance intern, and for the past two months leading up to the U.S. Open his daily job on the course has been extremely focused.

“For the championship I’m rolling greens,” says Monogue. “Actually, all I have been doing like the last two months straight is rolling to get it down perfect.”

Monogue adds that his favorite part of the U.S. Open experience has been watching the volunteers and the entire golf world see the Erin Hills with their own eyes, and say how much they they love the course.

“This being my third year it was nice to see the transition from my first year when the course was empty to now with all of the grandstands put up and the course dialed in,” says Monogue. “All of the hard work really paid off.”

Monogue had limited golf course maintenance experience when he completed the online application for the maintenance intern. Soon after he submitted the application Monogue received a call from Erin Hills’ Associate Superintendent John Jacques asking if he wanted to come to Erin and visit the course. During that visit Jacques offered Monogue the job.

Monogue says he was drawn to golf course maintenance because of his love for the game and after a year at Erin Hills he knew that he wanted to pursue a career in the industry. So, he asked Erin Hills Superintendent Zach Reineking and Jacques about what it took to be in the industry.

Jacques is an alumnus of Penn State’s two-year turf program, and suggested Monogue look into the Penn State World Campus online program. Monogue followed Jacques’ advice and is currently two classes away from graduating in August.

“I’m really excited to graduate and I’m already looking for courses to start my career, preferably in the Green Bay or Oshkosh area,” says Monogue, a native of Jefferson, Wis., about 45 minutes west of Erin Hills. “My search for a new job has gone really well. There’s a bunch of assistants jobs open across Wisconsin and the country.”

Monogue isn’t sure what the future holds but he knows his goal is to become a superintendent of his own course one day.

“I’d like to be a head superintendent at a private country club. Preferably in Wisconsin, but I’m very open to traveling for the job.”