Mullins bound for Ohio
• Jonty Mullins has been selected for a greenkeeping internship in Ohio.
March 1, 2023
By Daisy Baker
Barnbougle Dunes greenkeeper Jonty Mullins will jet off to the United States in April for an experience of a lifetime as part of the Ohio Program, training on world-class courses.
He is one of three young greenkeepers in the country to receive the $5,000 John Hood AGFR Memorial Scholarship though Rotary, to help with funding towards the prestigious internship.
One scholarship is usually awarded each year, alternating between states, however this year after a several year hiatus due to Covid, three have been awarded.
Mr Mullins will be placed at the Donald Ross-designed Scioto Country Club, for a minimum of six months but up to 12 months.
The 23-year-old from Scottsdale said he plans to stay for the full term, excited about the learning opportunity.
“With the seasons over there, where I’ll be they actually shut the courses due to the snow. So then I’ll get moved to Florida or somewhere else to try to skip the colder weather,” he said.
“I was pretty excited about it when I found out I’d been selected and it was going to be a go ahead.”
The keen golfer has been working at Barnbougle for nearly seven and a half years, securing an apprenticeship after doing some work experience there throughout grade ten.
He said while it was not a career he’d imagined himself in, he couldn’t be happier.
“I love it because it’s outdoors and it’s doing something different every day, and it’s good hours – we start early but knock off early too so you’ve still got a fair bit of the day left.”
He has watched Barnbougle evolve over his time on the green, including the construction of the 14-hole course, Bougle Run.
“In the last 12 months, it has just skyrocketed with the number of people we are getting through,” he said.
The three Australian intern greenkeepers will be stationed at different courses but will come together for conference days throughout the program.
“The industry over there is massive from what I hear so it will broaden my horizons with everything,” he said.
“We only have one sort of grass here so I’ll be getting more knowledge of warm season grasses and seeing the bigger picture with everything.
“I’m pretty lucky with the opportunity that I’ve been given, especially with the Rotary Club who I’d like to thank for helping out with the grant which is a massive help.”
After the internship Mr Mullins will be more well-versed in green management, agronomy and soil science, with the potential for international course work on the horizon in the future.