Indian River Community College students are finding that success is par for the course as they prepare for new careers in golf course operations and work towards completing their training and education in the Golf Course Operations Institute located at the IRCC St. Lucie West Campus.

To learn more about the Golf Course Operations Institute and related courses, interested individuals can attend a special Open House, Wednesday, May 16, at 4:30 p.m. at the IRCC St. Lucie West Campus at 500 N.W. California Boulevard near Tradition Field/Mets Stadium in Port St. Lucie. Participants will learn about available careers as golf course superintendents, sports turf managers, and as turfgrass science professionals. Jan Beljan, ASGCA from Fazio Golf Course Designers, will be the special guest speaker. In addition, two attendees will be awarded a tuition free 3-credit class in the Golf Course Operations Program at the event.

Stan Mrozek, a small-business owner, operates a lawn maintaince service while attending the Golf Course Operations Institute at IRCC. Owning and operating a business while attending school full-time can prove challenging, but he feels it is well worth the work to receive the specialized training the Institute provides, and according to Mrozek, "It is never too late to get more education." After 15 years running his business, Mrozek is looking forward to pursing a job in a career field that is unique and in demand.

Rick Hill is a 30-year employee of the Florida Department of Corrections, who most-recently worked in the 19 th Judicial Circuit, serving Okeechobee, Martin, Indian River and St. Lucie counties. When he retired in 2006, Hill began to look for new career options offering "a change of pace," After considering options for a second career, and looking at the available career choices that an A.A.S. degree in Golf Course Operations provides, Hill enrolled in the Golf Course Operations Institute at IRCC. "There is no place I'd rather be than on the golf course," Hill says. Hill is looking forward to seeking full-time employment as a Golf Course Superintendent, after completing the program and spending some time as an Assistant Superintendent. Hill is excited by the prospects of a career field that has opportunities both locally and nationwide.

Both Mrozek and Hilll value the on-the-job training internships through the Golf Course Operations Institute offer. "What is taught in the classroom, is hands-on at the golf course," according to Mrozek. Each week, through the Institute, students receive two days of instruction in the classroom and on IRCC's six-hole golf course laboratory at the St. Lucie West Campus. Three days a week, students intern at area golf courses where they apply what they learn through their class work and receive valuable hands-on experience.

For more information on the Golf Course Institute or the upcoming May 16 Open House, contact Michael Platt at (772) 336-6233 or by e-mail mplatt@ircc.edu. Call toll free at 1-866-866-4722 or online at, www.ircc.com.