About Capilano
Capilano Golf and Country Club combines natural beauty with world-class design to offer members an exclusive golfing experience. Carved out of the rain forest and designed by the renowned Stanley Thompson, generous tree lined fairways, artistic bunkers and spectacular green sites make Capilano challenging and enjoyable for players of all abilities. The course has a uniquely West Coast style, set against the backdrop of the North Shore Mountains with spectacular views of Vancouver and beyond.
The Club's members are passionate about golf but equally enthusiastic about enjoying all aspects of the North Shore lifestyle.
Capilano is consistently ranked in the top 10 courses in Canada. In 2022, Score-Golf magazine ranked Capilano as #6 in the country and ranked #4 by Golf Digest.
The club was the recent host of the 2023 Pacific Coast Amateur Championship, part of the Elite Amateur Golf Series.
Course & Grounds
Operating out of a state of the art maintenance facility constructed in 2011, our high performance team is comprised of up to 40 seasonal and full time employees that enjoy working outdoors, the company of others and take pride in their work. The team is comprised of hard working individuals from 4 continents across the world!
Click here to meet the Course and Grounds Leadership team!
C & G Leadership Team
Stuart Sheridan
Golf Course Superintendent
Nick Daley
Senior Assistant Superintendent
Emerson Coulter
Assistant Superintendent
Eric Andrejicka
Assistant Superintendent
Andy White
Fleet Manager
Fertilizer & Chemical
The Capilano Internship program has a large focus on fertilizer and chemical applications. Interns will have the opportunity to work closely with and learn from the Environmental Coordinator, Assistant Superintendents and the Golf Course Superintendent.
Capilano has a robust and demanding fertilizer and chemical program that interns play a key role in executing.
Learning experiences for this portion of internships are tailored to the individuals previous experience. These are gradually expanded throughout the season to provide new challenges for individual growth.
Interns will typically learn how to:
- Calibrate a variety of application equipment
- How to operate that equipment safely and effectively
- Spray greens, tees and fairways
- Apply granular products to all surfaces
- Apply pesticides in accordance with government regulations
Supervisory
Learning how to effectively plan and execute daily maintenance is a key part of being a turfgrass manager.
Interns at Capilano will have opportunities to be 'Assistant for a day'. They will plan a daily maintenance program, conduct the morning meeting and execute all facets of the daily plan through on course supervision of staff and processes.
This experience gives Interns an insight into the day to day challenges of managing a team and to give them a basis from which to improve their organization and communication skills.
They will have the guidance of the Assistant Superintendent team throughout the process to aid them in making decisions and understanding where to focus their attention throughout the day.
The goal of each internship is to repeat the process to provide the opportunity to improve on previous experiences.
Cultural
Interns will learn how to operate a variety of equipment and turf engagement attachments to carry out cultural practices.
To produce firm, fast playing conditions Capilano maintains an aggressive cultural practices program. Interns will gain experience with the frequent verti-cutting and top dressing that is conducted throughout the playing season as well as during the spring and fall aerations as they are available.
More importantly, Interns will have the opportunity to discuss the benefits of each process and the decision making that goes into the timing and settings of each practice.
Interns will typically learn:
- How operate both walk behind and tractor mounted aerators
- How to verti-cut and top dress greens
- Why these processes are done and what to look for in the planning and executing
Irrigation
Interns at Capilano will have the opportunity to learn and hone their irrigation and water management skills through participating in:
- Annual course wide sprinkler head audits
- Scheduling nightly watering through the Toro Lynx central computer
- Operate a hybrid 2-wire and satellite system with exposure to Lynx VP and Smart satellites, and Smart Hubs
- Toro sprinkler head adjustment, maintenance and replacement
- Lateral and main line irrigation line fixes as needed and as they occur
- Learn about and monitor the unique gravity fed irrigation system and Pressure Reducing Valves required to maintain adequate operating pressure throughout the course
Interns will work closely with the two irrigation technicians, Michelle Smith (former Capilano Intern) and Tom Ballingall with 45 years of experience at Capilano!
Interns will also have the opportunity to learn from the Golf Course Superintendent as a new irrigation system is planned and from the Assistant Superintendents and what is required to maintain the current system.
Construction
Capilano is continually committed to restoring and improving the golf course as part of a Course Long Range Master Plan that has been in place for several years.
The club works with Golf Course Architect, Doug Carrick to guide design improvements that promote and preserve the Stanley Thompson legacy at Capilano.
In 2020 the club underwent a full green side bunker renovation, installing the Better Billy Bunker liner system. Since then Capilano has continued to make significant improvements to restoring original views from the property and most recently underwent a full renovation of the Pro shop, 1st tee, 18 green surround and putting green area.
2024 will be another exciting year at the club with more projects planned.
"The Capilano team has been very supportive and accommodating of my learning goals which has made my internship a valuable stepping stone in my career. I've had the opportunity to experience a wide range of work involved in the many projects and daily operations that make Capilano a top caliber course"
- Michelle Smith (2021 Summer Intern, now the current Irrigation Technician)
"The internship program at Capilano must be one of, if not the best learning experience for any turf professional to advance their career."
- Will Takenaka (2021 Assistant in Training and most recently the Environmental Coordinator for 2022 and 2023. Will has just accepted an Assistant Superintendent position at Trinity Forest Golf Club, Dallas TX)
"My internship at Capilano was an incredible experience. I was welcomed by everyone on the staff and learned a lot within a short period of time. I was able to participate in chemical/fertilizer applications, irrigation maintenance, construction projects as well becoming the Assistant for a day. I would recommend Capilano to anyone that is looking for an elite golf course experience"
- Carl Shin (2022 Summer Intern, current Assistant in Training at The National Golf Club, ON)
"The internship experience at Capilano is still one of the highlights of my turfgrass management career. I was exposed to all aspects of the operation and was able to put a focus on a learning aspect of my choosing. I would highly recommend the Capilano Internship to anyone wishing to gain next level turfgrass management experience at a high end private club.”
- Morgan Robins (2014 Summer intern, current Assistant Superintendent at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club, BC)
“My internship at Capilano was a huge career boost for me. By not only getting hands-on experience with fertilizer and chemical applications, irrigation system upkeep, and routine maintenance of a world class course, but being able to listen in on the decision making process behind the day to day operation of a high performing team, I can say without a doubt that the Capilano internship is among the best in the country.”
-Rob Munro (2019 Summer Intern, current Assistant Superintendent at Cabot Cliffs, NS)
Morgan Robins
(2014 Summer intern, current Assistant Superintendent at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club, BC)
"I completed a six month internship at Capilano from April 2014-September 2014. I would highly recommend completing a six month internship in order to be involved with two of the club aerations in the Spring and Fall.
The internship experience at Capilano is still one of the highlights of my turfgrass management career. I was exposed to all aspects of the operation and was able to put a focus on a learning aspect of my choosing. The management team at Capilano is always highly skilled and professional and as an intern you gain hard skills on the golf course as well as higher level soft skills in terms of crew and people management. As an intern you get exposure to local professional development events which can help build relationships early on in your career. I met my current Superintendent through a golf outing at another local golf course which was organized by one of the Capilano Assistant Superintendents. This initial networking opportunity was key to me obtaining the role I am in now. The relationships that I developed at and through Capilano will last a lifetime and I am still so happy that I made the choice to intern here.
I would highly recommend the Capilano Internship to anyone wishing to gain next level turfgrass management experience at a high end private club. If you are from the East of Canada like me this is a great opportunity to step outside of your comfort zone and get an introduction to the Vancouver private club market. The property is one of the best in Canada and the turfgrass management team is always at the forefront of industry trends and agronomic practices. The clubs turfgrass management facility is top notch and experience you gain from this club is transferable to any level of club throughout the world. I would not be working in the lower mainland of Vancouver at the level I am currently at without the assistance of the Capilano Internship Program.
“My internship at Capilano was a huge career boost for me. By not only getting hands-on experience with fertilizer and chemical applications, irrigation system upkeep, and routine maintenance of a world class course, but being able to listen in on the decision making process behind the day to day operation of a high performing team, I can say without a doubt that the Capilano internship is among the best in the country.
To add to this, I was able to attend industry events as a Capilano intern and begin to build my professional network, which is the greatest tool in any golf course manager's arsenal. I would recommend the Capilano Internship experience to any aspiring turf professional that is looking to take their career to the next level.”
Rob Munro
(2019 Summer Intern, current Assistant Superintendent at Cabot Cliffs, NS)
Work - Life Balance
Vancouver, British Columbia is consistently ranked as one of the worlds most livable cities. Located at the foot of the Coastal Mountain range, Vancouver has excellent access to world class recreational activities locally and within a 1.5 hour drive from Whistler. Capilano Golf and Country Club is located on the mountainside in West Vancouver, less than 20 minutes away downtown Vancouver and from hiking and biking trailers of the North Shore mountains.
Intern's are scheduled to work 5 days each week with 2 days off to enjoy and explore Vancouver and its surrounds.
Internship Information
Wage and Schedule
- $23.70 per hour
5 Days on 2 Days off per week and
5 vacation days to enjoy the Vancouver and West Coast lifestyle!
- 40 hrs per week plus available overtime
- Seasonal full-time position with flexible start and end dates facilitating school schedules. 6 month internships available
Additional Benefits
- Association memberships for the BCGSA and CGSA
- Select conferences as mutually arranged
- Golf privileges
Free access to play one of Canada’s premier golf courses!
- Discounts on golf apparel and food
- Extended health and benefits package
- Our team appreciation (including monthly team events, BBQ’s, golf competitions, and work environment) are second to none
Internship Program Itinerary
The internship program will be tailored to the experience level of the successful candidate(s). Interns at Capilano will have the opportunity to:
- Conduct fertilizer & chemical applications, including calibration and record-keeping processes
- Perform irrigation audits, repairs, nightly scheduling, and hand watering
- Schedule and perform cultural practices
- Manage data collection on a daily basis
- Take part in supplier and industry consultant coordination sessions
- Attend industry events and conferences
- Gain supervisory experience through leading occasional morning meetings and daily maintenance
- Opportunities for in season 1 on 1 meetings with the Golf Course Superintendent and Assistant Superintendents
- As time allows, assist the on-staff Horticulturist and Arborist in their duties managing 4 acres of garden beds / horticultural areas and approximately 20,000 trees respectively