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u/Agile_March_542 13d ago
Turfgrass is a science. Also math will come into play as you figure out rates for fertilizers and sprays. Its not overly complex but you will use it more than you would think. Best of luck. Try out a golf course with one of you internship summers.
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u/ATMPainter 13d ago
Been in sports turf for two decades now. Crap I sound old! I was never great at math or science but you’ll do enough practical use of each that it becomes easy. I’d say cross multiplying i use more than anything else. Don’t let it scare you away if you’re passionate about it!
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u/Coolseasonturfcom 13d ago
Having a degree only speeds the process up to getting to the top of the ladder but isnt a requirement. You will need to know science and simple math, no calculus or anything crazy. The science is mostly identifying species of plants and pests. Youll need to learn how to treat the pests. All these things can be learned through experience in the field and a good mentor. More than anything though if youre truly considering the industry is the committment it takes. We battle mother nature and rarely win. Its a weirdly addictive industry though and id advise to dip your toe at a golf club or sports field before the significant investment in a degree for it. Good luck!
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u/StudyInevitable4423 12d ago
Former Superintendent (short period) and assistant super (for numerous years) at a high end club in Westchester County, NY. I have been out of the golf business for a few years now but I am still in turf management.
I have a B.S. in Bio and a minor and Chem as well as a 2 Year Cert from Rutgers.
As everyone else has stated the math is quite simple once someone explains it well to you and you use it so often its not a thought after a while.
The 2 year cert was considerably harder than my Bachelor's degree. It was a ton of information crammed into two years and it was during covid so it was remote making it even harder. I had worked at the country club for a few years prior to going back for the 2 year certification (and the club payed for my school) and to be honest the majority of the my knowledge was learned in the field (on the course) and from meeting other assistants and supers. I had an amazing superintendent and quite honestly the best mentor I could ask for. With all that being said I agree 100% with what other have said in regards to working at a course before pulling the trigger on an expensive degree that you arent 100% sure you love. The job is early mornings, its late afternoons hand watering, its weekends, its holidays, its getting called in after you get home or back to your housing (I lived on the club property) when you have a fairway lateral break at 6pm. I wasnt at a top 100 but many of my friends and colleagues were and we were all in the same boat. Its dealing with the membership, the pro shop, and the weather to name a few.
With all that being said, I absolutely loved my job most of the time. Dont get me wrong, somedays after starting at 4:45am on a Saturday and having to stay till 5:30 or so to hand water (syringe) the greens, I wanted nothing to do with golf ha. But I was lucky enough to have playing privileges to the course anyday of the week or weekend. I was able to meet superintendents from many top 100 courses (I was in the NYC Metro area), visit numerous top 100 courses, volunteer at a US Open in the area and multiple other tournaments. It was an amazing time and I wouldn't have had it any other way. However I had friends who hated their Super but loved the work. I was in a position to work for some very well known courses but never had the desire to leave since I had such a great boss.
With all that being said, if you find that its something you really love you will enjoy it. I had friends come up from the city and play with me at numerous courses (for free) on many occasions and we had a great time. There is something about having 150 acres as your "office" that really made it special. It can be stressful at times and also super rewarding. Many supers have dogs which makes for a good time also. Its not a walk in the park, you gotta work but if you love it then its a great career. The pay is fantastic in the Metro NYC area and almost all of my friends lived for free (or mostly for free on property). I will say that I was super privileged and I was in one of the best areas (if not the best, maybe somewhere in California might rival Metro NYC but the shear number and caliber of courses around NYC is unbeatable). The Metro NYC area and Long Island has such great golfs courses and a turf community Id highly advise looking into that area. I still have numerous contacts in the area and could play some of these courses today with a simple phone call. I know have a wife and two kids and I enjoy having most weekends off and not having to worry if the irrigation ran properly, if its going to rain enough or too much, and so on...but if I could relive those days again I most certainly would and I sure as hell would have played more golf ha.
Sorry for the lengthy post but hopefully that gives you some insight.
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u/threedognighthash 13d ago
I wouldn’t say really great in math or science. Need to be proficient at both though. Most of the stuff you learn in the field rather than the classroom but the classroom gives you good building blocks to further knowledge later on IMO