What are the responsibilities and job description for the 2026 Agronomy Internship position at Sand Valley?
Sand Valley is a golf resort and community settled gently upon 12,000 acres of rugged, pre-historic sand dunes in central Wisconsin. Here, residents and guests will find five world-class golf courses built in harmony with the land: Sand Valley, Mammoth Dunes, The Sandbox, The Lido, and Sedge Valley. Founded in 2016 by brothers Michael and Chris Keiser, the resort is known for its friendly hospitality and a community of golf and outdoor enthusiasts who have been drawn to the raw beauty and serenity of the vast Wisconsin Wilderness. Inspired by the heathland golf courses of London, Sand Valley showcases golf as it was meant to be, much like the other Dream Golf properties, Bandon Dunes and Rodeo Dunes.
Beyond premier golf, Sand Valley is a year-round celebration of all the outdoors from fat-tire biking, hiking, and kayaking to ice hockey, skating, or a guided cold plunge. The resort now features a 13,000-square-foot Tennis Center with 16 grass tennis courts and the eleventh Court Tennis facility in the United States. Alongside soul-stirring golf and outdoor exploration, Sand Valley offers a variety of savory dining venues showcasing globally inspired and rustic Wisconsin cuisine.
The Sand Valley team works together to create experiences of a lifetime by asking questions and sharing ideas. With authenticity and a hard-working attitude, Sand Valley helps guide guests through an immersive experience in Wisconsin's natural beauty and away from the demands of daily life.
Skills
Our internship program is designed to provide the intern with a practical account of all aspects of golf course maintenance and management skills including but not limited to:
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Beyond premier golf, Sand Valley is a year-round celebration of all the outdoors from fat-tire biking, hiking, and kayaking to ice hockey, skating, or a guided cold plunge. The resort now features a 13,000-square-foot Tennis Center with 16 grass tennis courts and the eleventh Court Tennis facility in the United States. Alongside soul-stirring golf and outdoor exploration, Sand Valley offers a variety of savory dining venues showcasing globally inspired and rustic Wisconsin cuisine.
The Sand Valley team works together to create experiences of a lifetime by asking questions and sharing ideas. With authenticity and a hard-working attitude, Sand Valley helps guide guests through an immersive experience in Wisconsin's natural beauty and away from the demands of daily life.
Skills
Our internship program is designed to provide the intern with a practical account of all aspects of golf course maintenance and management skills including but not limited to:
- Finish and grow-in work including: seeding greens, tees, fairways, native areas using various techniques including hydro mulching, seed bed preparation
- Aquatic maintenance of lakes and ponds
- Toro Lynx central control training
- Fertilizer/pesticide application, calibration and record keeping
- Management of small crews for various projects
- Turfgrass cultural practices (mowing, verticutting, topdressing, aerifying, rolling, etc.)
- Management of fine fescue fairways
- Management and restoration of natural areas/sand barrens
- Management of grass tennis courts
- Exposure to minimalist maintenance approach producing firm and fast conditions
- Positive attitude and eager to learn
- Understand the commitment and time required in maintaining a world class golf resort
- Excellent work ethic
- Have a strong eye for detail
- Willing to work as part of a team in an organized, high-paced environment
- Ability to listen and efficiently competed assigned tasks
- Interns are categorized into 3 tiers based on knowledge and level of experience
- Currently enrolled or planning on enrolling in a 2- or 4-year Turfgrass program. Also open to recent graduates looking for more experience.
- The internship includes free housing, discounted dining, golf privileges, grass tennis courts, bocce ball, fat tire biking, hiking trails, uniforms provided, discounts in the Pro Shop, monthly barbeques as well as other group appreciation events/outings. Employee meals provided, free Coca-Cola products.
- Please note that housing is allocated on a first-signed, first-served basis, with preference given to six-month interns who are available from April or May through October.
- If you are interested in joining the Sand Valley Team, please contact:
- Director of Agronomy - Rob Duhm - rduhm@sandvalley.com
- Otherwise, you may contact each Superintendent directly:
- Sand Valley - Joe Jehnsen - jjehnsen@sandvalley.com
- Mammoth Dunes - Andy Brownlow - abrownlow@sandvalley.com
- The Sandbox - Michael Mageles - mmageles@sandvalley.com
- The Lido - Brandon Behrend - bbehrend@thelido.com
- Sedge Valley - Sam Weber - sweber@sandvalley.com
- Commons Course - Zach Jasin - zjasin@sandvalley.com
- Common Grounds - Mike Blazich - mblazich@sandvalley.com
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