Golf and Grounds Intern, 2025 Spring/Summer Season
Job Details
Description
POSITION TITLE: Golf & Grounds Internship
DEPARTMENT: Golf & Grounds
REPORTS TO: Grounds Managers
POSITION LOCATION: Indianapolis, IN
FLSA STATUS: Non-Exempt, Seasonal
DURATION OF INTERNSHIP: Spring 2025 - Summer 2025. Flexible start and end dates along with scheduled times to accommodate school schedules.
Company Summary
Penske Entertainment is a leading provider of world-class sports and entertainment. The organization consists of three prominent entities:
• Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the world’s largest spectator sporting facility and annually hosts the world’s most prestigious auto race: the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge.
• INDYCAR is the Indianapolis-based governing body for North America's premier open-wheel auto racing series, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, and its developmental series, INDY NXT by Firestone.
• IMS Productions is a multifaceted broadcast and multimedia division that helps bring INDYCAR and IMS events to life for global audiences.
Position Summary
Be a part of the team that maintains the most unique turf and landscape in sports. The Golf and Grounds Department of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is responsible for maintaining the turf and landscape of the historic motor speedway, including the Brickyard Crossing Golf Course. Brickyard Crossing, designed by architect Pete Dye, features 4 holes inside the motor speedway and has the unique distinction of having hosted PGA, Senior PGA, and LPGA Tour events. Under the Ground Managers supervision, Interns will learn and participate in the overall planning and maintenance of both IMS grounds and golf course maintenance. Perspective interns should have the goal of working as a Golf Course Superintendent or in the Sports Business or Management industry. This is a hands-on learning experience intended to help the candidate grow professionally. This is a flexible internship; beginning and ending dates can be adjusted. Accommodations can be made for those looking for part time work throughout the school year along with daily work schedules to accommodate school schedules or other situations.
Specific Duties
• Be a part of the unique preparations, grounds maintenance execution, and cleanup for multiple events including the Indianapolis 500, Brickyard 400 and other racing events from the facilities and grounds management perspective.
• Under the guidance of the Golf & Grounds leadership team, participate in the planning, execution, and follow up of all agronomic practices performed on the IMS campus.
• Assist in all aspects of daily preparations of a championship caliber golf course.
• Experience the continuation of campus-wide and golf course modernization projects.
• Assist the Irrigation Coordinator in maintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing an irrigation system with over 5,000+ irrigation heads.
• Assists Grounds Managers in scheduling, conducting tasks, and follow up of projects.
• Assist in the calibration and application of plant protection products and fertilizers.
• Assists in community outreach project maintaining properties of active-duty military families.
• Enthusiasm for and commitment to the company and the Vision, Mission, and Values.
• Experience ‘off-season’ tasks such as capital improvement projects which include but are not limited to golf course bridge reconstruction, bunker and greens complex redesigns, creekbank restoration, tree removal and trimming, and landscape installations.
• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor.
Qualifications
Supervisory Responsibilities
• This position does not have any supervisory responsibilities.
Education
• Currently pursuing, or graduated with, a degree in Golf Course Management, Turfgrass Management, Horticulture, Sports Management, or related fields.
Skills/Experience
• Candidate must possess a positive attitude, strong work ethic, attention to detail, eagerness to learn, and organizational skills.
• High integrity, strong people skills, and effective communication skills.
• Innovative thinker and self-starter with perseverance to work on a team to succeed.
• Requires valid driver's license.
Benefits for Interning with IMS Golf & Grounds
• Experience the unique, behind the scenes history of the 100+ year Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
• Gain experience in preparing for, hosting, and wrap up of major racing and golf events including the Indianapolis 500 and the Brickyard 400 race weekend.
• Uniform polos provided + golfing privileges.
• Flexible Scheduling.
• Ticket Accommodations for all IMS sponsored events.
Work Hours
• Interns working a full-time schedule must be available for 40+ hours per week, including one weekend day during the golf season. Overtime may be required for special events or based on the needs of the golf course. During the shoulder season (September-April), flexible scheduling can be arranged to accommodate students' class schedules or other special circumstances, which will be discussed during the interview process.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
• Regularly required to talk and listen
• Frequently required to stand; walk; use hands or feel; and reach with hands and arms
• The position involves walking or standing for long periods of time throughout the day
• Position requires lifting, up to 50 pounds
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Employee will frequently work outdoors, which requires physical strength and stamina to endure extreme heat, cold, rain and other adverse weather conditions.
• Employee may be exposed to fumes or airborne particles, moving mechanical parts and vibration.
• The noise level in the work environment can be loud, due to professional racing events and mowing equipment.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Penske Entertainment provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. The Company complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities and/or events.