RobertJonesDiaries
Rob Jones is part of the Ohio State University’s programme for young greenkeepers. In part II of his diary he tells us about the trepidations of leaving behind his family and his first ‘wide eyed’ experiences of the United States
have now arrived in America and I am safe and well and hope you enjoyed reading my last article. I am going to talk about my experience of coming out here to the States (Ohio), and the first things I have experienced since being here.
I
When I left Manchester early on March 26th, I had so many emotions running through my head. At one point I was thinking “Is this the right thing to do?”, but I told myself “I have got to do this!” My parents came with me to the airport to see me off, which made me really emotional, and when I was going through passport control, that is when the tears started to flow but, thankfully, I pulled myself together and got through that part!
Once in the departure lounge, I phoned a friend to pass the time and that helped me get over everything. Soon, it was time for me to board the plane and, at that point, I knew there was no turning back! I had to give this my best shot. I flew from Manchester into Newark, New Jersey, which is next to New York. Everything was straightforward - or so I thought!. As I got to passport control I realised that I had left behind one of the most important forms. Not good! I then had to go to security to get in to the country. The form I left behind was my DS-2019, a visa that entitled me to take up my internship in America. Security asked me a few questions and told me that my mom should send out the paperwork as soon as possible. They could, and should, have sent me home on the next plane, but they were very understanding and helpful.
Then it was on to catch the connecting flight to Columbus Ohio. I only had two hours to get through Newark, but I found that was plenty of time. I flew into Columbus International Airport in Ohio, collected my bags ( I had already cleared customs in Newark) and phoned the University Plaza hotel. The hotel is owned by OSU. Here I met other internees. The following morning we were collected from the hotel at about 9:30am and taken to the University where we did our ‘orientation’ or induction. There were ten others doing their induction at the same
time, but we were not all going to work on golf courses. Some were going to farms and one was going to a massive pig operation. There was a mix of nationalities - two lads from Denmark, an Australian, a Brazilian and an Irishman. The remainder were from England. One of the lads was an old work mate of mine from Carden Park. He was going to Merion Golf Club in Philadelphia. During the induction the OSU team explained in detail about taxes, Social Security, immigration and even sorted out the fact that I had forgotten my visa!
Then it was off for lunch where we met the OSU staff who, themselves, were from many countries - England, Ireland, Brazil, Czech Republic, Denmark, Greece, China, Poland, France and, of course, America. In the afternoon we were shown around the campus including the OSU College team grounds. It was amazing to see just how big the stadium was - even bigger than the new Wembley Arena!
The bit that blew me away was that it was only used for between seven and ten college games each year. It holds 105,000 people, and the score board alone cost $10 million. The campus covers an area of 15,000 acres. It was at this point I realised that everything in America is on a much bigger scale than England. Then it was on to the Jack Nicklaus Museum. Columbus Ohio is his home town. It housed all the trophies he has ever won from a very young age up to the last tournament he played. There was even the only Masters Green Jacket
outside of Augusta. Later that day, back at the hotel, I went to the Programme office, where I met my new boss Todd Voss, Course Superintendent at Double Eagle Golf Club. He appeared to be very professional and I am looking forward to working under him. On my way to the golf course, and my accommodation, I had to take a drugs test. This is compulsory and has to be taken by every person who comes out here as an intern on the programme. On arrival at Double Eagle Golf Club I was surprised because, if you didn’t know the golf course was there, you would drive right past it. This is the way the owner, Mr John McConnell, wanted it. The boundary of the golf course has a big fence, trees and very long grass so you can’t see what is behind. It is not signposted and there is no big entrance saying ‘Welcome to Double Eagle’. Just a gate set back off the road and, inside, a little sign saying ‘Welcome’. That’s it! I had been told it was a private club, but I hadn’t realised just how private! Double Eagle have three machinery sheds. They don’t call the main shed, a shed. Out here they call it ‘The Shop’, which I am still getting used to. The golf course is very exclusive. It has 50 local members and 100 International members. It is a Par 72. The course opened in 1992. It was designed by Tom Weiskopf, who also designed Loch Lomond in Scotland. It has moved up from 7th to joint 5th in the ratings of condition in the top 100 courses in America. Todd took me on a whistle-stop tour of the course before taking me to my house to let me settle in. At this point I made a quick phone call home to England to let them know I had arrived safely. On my first evening Todd took me out for tea and, the next day, it was left to me to put my accommodation in some sort of order!
My first day on the course didn’t disappoint me. The first person I
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