Adam Lois, TAP Program Student, Oconomowoc Golf Club
The TAP program, it’s a 12-week program, six before Christmas and six after Christmas, the really nice part is that’s only six days a week. Mondays and Fridays I can work at a course, I can take what I’m learning today and then I can talk with my boss on it on Friday, and talk with him again on Monday and see what kinda translates over from that.
Brad Young, TAP Program Student, West Bend Country Club
I mean I never really had any of the formal education we get with the TAP program, it’s here you learn the sciences, you learn the grasses, you learn the soils, you learn practices, and it all kinda just seems to me overemphasizing why we’re doing what we’re doing.
Jacob Anderson, TAP Program Student, Cog Hill Golf and Country Club
How I heard about the TAP program was I was looking for a schooling option to further advance my career in the turfgrass industry, and there was a variety of different selections that you could make of, I know the Rutgers program, but specifically the UW TAP program was one that I wanted to go to because it was in person, I really wanted that hands-on experience, instead of, you know, something that’s more impersonal online.
Arianna Roquemore, TAP Program Student, Sand Valley
My friends at the job I work at now that actually did this program last year where they told me all about it, and how it was a great program, how they enjoyed going through all of the teachings that Doug and Paul had given and everything. So I was thinking to myself, “Well, if they liked it, and there’s three other guys that also did it from where my course is, I think it would be a good fit.” And it takes less time too, we’re trying to move, being a women in this industry, I’m definitely trying to move up as fast as I can.”
Adam Lois, TAP Program Student, Oconomowoc Golf Club
The other thing I like is to isolate the shop talks, not just sitting in a lecture hall, and just hearing someone say the same thing over and over again, and then you just write it down and memorize it by Thursday, or something like that. You’re getting to ask the people that you want to be in their shoes one day of how to get to that position and then, once you’re in that position what do you do.
Brad Young, TAP Program Student, West Bend Country Club
But you can only learn so much watching, and you can only see what your course does, so this is good to see other courses, talk to their supers, talk to mechanics, talk to other prospective young people that we’re here with.
Jacob Anderson, TAP Program Student, Cog Hill Golf and Country Club
I love the in-person aspect, meeting some good people, meeting a lot of different faces in the industry as well, whether it be golf course superintendants, Doug and Paul have been great as well, very informative. I’m learning a lot, and then also, you know, I’m taking that next step in my career.
Brad Young, TAP Program Student, West Bend Country Club
It’s kind of like an apprenticeship for an electrician, or construction, how they send them through there, plumbing. Now this is kind of the same for the turfgrass industry.
Jacob Anderson, TAP Program Student, Cog Hill Golf and Country Club
You know it’s extremely fun so far, it’s been a great opportunity. You know I’m really thankful to be a part of something, and have such an affordable option, but then as well something that you’re going to get a lot of baseline knowledge from, and you know, you’ll really be able to progress your career.