John Deere Partners with Quail Hollow Club to Form Golf Fellowship Program

The Quail Institute is focused on developing the skills of those interested in pursuing a career in golf course management.
The Quail Institute is focused on developing the skills of those interested in pursuing a career in golf course management.

To support a new group of young graduates interested in learning more about golf course management, John Deere has partnered with Quail Hollow Club to form the Quail Hollow Institute.

“The John Deere Fellowship at the Quail Hollow Institute is going to be a fantastic opportunity for the next generation of leaders in the golf business,” said Quail Hollow Club golf course superintendent Keith Wood. “It’s vital that we go and invest and keep the game going, to keep the clubs going, to make sure we have the best and brightest people out there...and that we recognize who these people are, and give them an opportunity to learn all aspects of the industry, and to flourish.”

The Quail Hollow Institute has three different cycles for candidates – agronomy, professional, and club management. The goal is to give participants a wide array of experiences before they attempt to forge a career in the golf industry.

“Being in a fellowship like this, you have the chance to rotate through different departments that you necessarily wouldn’t have exposure to in full-time jobs,” explains Rachel Nesbitt, a John Deere fellow at Quail Hollow Club.

The 2018 program is being developed to go beyond current club curriculums. Throughout the year, three fellows will participate in six different modules to better help them understand the challenges of the job. The upcoming application process will be announced in fall 2017.