Under Tiger Woods' Feet? Colton Powell, a Master of Turf Management, Works the Colonial and Preps for Augusta as Western Texas College Builds a Pipeline to PGA Tour

Dallas, Texas (PRWEB) July 19, 2013 -- Western Texas College student goes Pro.

It's doubtful that Colton Powell will ever be the guy who puts a "Keep Off The Grass" sign in his yard. He likes the greens. The tee boxes and fairways, too.

Colton, a 19-year old student in the Turfgrass and Landscape Management program at Western Texas College was recently honored with an internship at the prestigious Crowne Plaza Invitational Golf Tournament in Ft. Worth. The Colonial is the longest running PGA tour event still being held as its original site, the inaugural tournament being played in 1946.

Colton, one of only seven interns chosen for the event, arrived a week early to help prepare the course. "I was on the bunker crew. There are about 80 bunkers on the course. We straight line raked each one every day. After the players completed their rounds, we walked every fairway with the PGA agronomist. Using his approved mixture of dirt, mulch and green sand, we filled in every divot. It's positive turf management and it makes for good TV because the colored sand makes everything look green on camera."

Colton also worked with the PGA agronomist on all the outside hazards. "We looked at every tree branch and bush on the course. Anything in the path of people walking had to be trimmed and squared up so there wouldn't be anything poking or scratching spectators as they walked by."

Colton has been invited back for next year's tournament at Colonial and is also pursuing a fall internship at Augusta National to help prep for The Masters. Both are excellent training opportunities toward his goal of becoming a golf course superintendent.

When asked about the Turfgrass and Landscape Management Program at Western Texas College, Colton said, "The program attracted me because it's very "hands on". In addition to the book studies, you're outside learning and working with the equipment. I work at the college golf course and getting to maintain the fairways, approaches and greens is great experience. I also like the program because graduates are working at great businesses. From running their own turfgrass farm to being a grounds crew member for the Texas Rangers ballpark."

The Turfgrass and Landscape Management program at Western Texas College offers an Associate of Applied Science degree. Courses include Soils, Landscape Design, Irrigation, Turfgrass Maintenance, Ag Chemistry, Horticulture and Plane Surveying. Information on this and other WTC programs can be found at http://www.WTC.edu.

And remember the next time you are watching Tiger, Phil and Rory battling it out (most likely this weekend at the British Open), without people like Colton and training grounds like Western Texas College, the game might not be near as beautiful.

May you enjoy your own game on the best grass.

Go low.

Go grass.

Benjamin Donley, [email protected], 310 770-2061, [email protected]