College students specializing in golf-course management and maintenance will have the opportunity to participate in The Ford Plantation’s Pete Dye Agronomic Scholarship and Internship Program. The program is named after legendary golf-course architect Pete Dye, who designed the award-winning course at The Ford Plantation.
The Ford Plantation’s Golf Maintenance Department is preparing to host the third annual scholarship and internship program this summer. Each year, professors from leading universities, including the University of Georgia, Penn State, Purdue, Clemson, North Carolina State and the University of Florida, submit nominees for the program.
“This program has been met with enthusiastic support from the members of our club and the universities involved in the program,” Nelson Caron, director of golf-course maintenance at The Ford Plantation, said. “The financial support we get for this program from our members has been essential to the success of program.”
The student nominees are submitted to the Pete Dye Scholarship Committee, which includes director of golf C.W. Canfield, director of golf-course maintenance Nelson Caron, Greens Committee chair Dr. Bill Thompson and Ford Plantation members Mike Killian and Stephen Rabinowitz. 
Students are selected based on individual academic merit and achievement and receive scholarships to be used for educational expenses, hourly wages for the duration of the three-month internship and free housing on-site at The Ford Plantation.
“The capstone of the internship program takes place when each intern is responsible for the management of the golf maintenance crew for three to four days at the end of the summer,” Canfield said. “This unique portion of the program, coupled with competitive wages and an academic scholarship, make The Ford Plantation’s Pete Dye agronomic program one of the most sought after internships in the country.”
For more information about the Pete Dye Agronomic Scholarship and Internship Program or to make a tax-deductible donation to the scholarship fund, call Canfield at 756-5776 or email cwcanfield@fordplantation.com.