Unit V Golf Course Management Lesson 2

Lesson 2. Career Opportunities in the Golf Industry

A Challenging and Rewarding Career
Terms
assistant superintendent: an assistant to a
National Science
superintendent, serving as superintendent when the Education
superintendent is absent: This position usually attracts a Standards, Grades
recent college graduate majoring in golf course 9-12

management or related areas with experience in golf Unifying Concepts

and Processes:
course management.
Systems, order, and
golf course management crew: a team of three to several organization
dozens of people with special training to maintain a golf Evidence, models
course including mowing, irrigating, fertilizing, pest and explanation
control, ground maintenance, tournament preparation, Science as Inquiry:
and other aspects to keep the golf course's playability. Understanding
golf course management: the science and art used to about scientific
inquiry
maintain a golf course for golfers: It includes turfgrass
Abilities to do
management, financial management, human resource scientific inquiry
management, and environmental management.
Life Science:
golf course superintendent: the supervisor and leader of Interdependence of
the golf course management crew. A superintendent is organisms
usually required to have a college degree or training in Matter, energy, and
golf course management, turfgrass management, or organization in
living systems
related areas and skills in financial management and
human resource management. It usually takes a person 2 Behavior of
organisms
to 3 years in a position as assistant superintendent to
History and Nature
become a superintendent. of Science:
irrigation technician: a trained specialist responsible for Science as human
maintenance of the irrigation systems on a golf course endeavor
Nature of scientific
mechanic: a trained specialist responsible for repairing knowledge
and maintaining equipment including mowers, sprayers,
Mathematical Skills
and related machines
pesticide technician: a trained specialist responsible for
pest management and application of pesticides with a
pesticide license
student interns: college students working on a golf
course majoring in golf course management or related
areas to meet course credit requirements for a college
degree
turfgrass management: the science and art of studying
turfgrasses and their uses for different purposes including
golf course turf, lawns, sports turf, and utility turf
workers: people who work on a golf course including
qualified high school students: These workers have skills

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Unit V Golf Course Management Lesson 2
in communication and equipment operation and a general
knowledge of golf course management.
Performance Objectives
The student will
• list five jobs and their responsibilities in golf course
management.
• describe the purpose and training of a college intern
working on a golf course.
• list three major training areas required to be a qualified superintendent.
• visit a local golf course and interview the golf course maintenance crew.
• use the web sites: www.gcsaa.org and www.turfnet.com to print out one job
announcement for golf course superintendent (optional).
Materials Needed
For the class
a school bus for travel to a local golf course
a camera
For each small group of students
a camera (optional)
For each student
the student sheet
Background Information
Golf course management is a complicated task and it deals mainly with four
major areas: turfgrass management, human resource management, financial
management, and environmental enhancement. Maintaining a golf course to its
playability requires multiple personnel involvement. A golf course
superintendent is a leader of his/her crew. They maintain the golf course at a
level that allows the golfers to enjoy the game on a daily basis.
There are more than 16,365 golf courses in the U.S. and more than 26,000 golf
courses in the world. Therefore, there must be 26,000 golf course
superintendents to manage the people working on all the golf courses. Since
1800, golf has become a popular game and sport in American life and now there
are 25 to 30 million regular golfers in the U.S. To serve these American golfers,
well-trained superintendents and crew are required. The Golf Course
Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA), founded in 1928, is the
largest golf course management related professional association in the world.
There are 160,000 to 250,000 employees directly working on golf courses in the
U.S.
There are some successful superintendents with less than a high school
diploma. However, it is now generally agreed that a post-secondary diploma is
required. There are many superintendents who have Bachelor's and Master's

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Unit V Golf Course Management Lesson 2
degrees in turfgrass science or related fields. According to a recent survey
conducted by GCSAA, about 85% of the superintendents have formal training
in the turfgrass science area or related fields. It normally requires two to three
years' experience as an assistant superintendent to become a superintendent.
The general trend shows that a golf course superintendent is one of the favorite
positions in the green industry. It is also a highly demanding position.
Assistant golf course superintendents, mechanics, pesticide technicians, and
irrigation technicians are professionals trained in different areas. It is very
common for these professionals to have a college degree or post-secondary
training.
For all employees working on golf courses, knowledge of turfgrass management,
golf rules, and equipment operation are essential. Continuing training and
education in these areas are required to keep up with the profession.
Thousands of college and high school students have worked on golf courses as
part-time employees. Students also can earn course credits to work on golf
courses as interns. In North America, there are more than 100 institutions that
have golf course management programs leading to a college degree.
Teacher Preparation
• Visit the GCSAA web site: www.gcsaa.org and www.turfnet.com for information
about the golf industry.
• Get a current issue of Golf Course Management and read the articles.
• Contact a local golf course superintendent and arrange a visit for the class.
• Get the school bus and camera ready for the field trip.
Procedure
Before the visit to the golf course (10 to 15 minutes)
1. Explain the terms listed at the beginning of the lesson.
2. Ask students to describe the job responsibilities of golf course maintenance
workers.
3. Ask the students to review the questions on the student sheet and prepare to
ask these questions during the visit.
During the visit to the golf course (30 to 45 minutes)
1. Ask the superintendent or the assistant superintendent to give a 10 to 15
minute presentation on the job responsibilities of the golf course management
crew.
2. Divide the students into small groups to interview the pesticide technician, the
irrigation technician, or the mechanic for 10 minutes and record their findings
on the student sheet.
3. Ask each student to write down the interview information on the student sheet.
4. Take a tour of a complete hole.

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Unit V Golf Course Management Lesson 2
After the visit
1. Review the notes and photos taken during the visit.
2. Share the interview results from the small groups among the students.
3. Discuss the career opportunities in the golf industry.
4. Ask the students to finish the student sheet.
5. Conduct optional lab projects:
Ø Organize a poster competition based on the visit to the golf course
Ø Ask the students to write an essay to describe and discuss a typical day of a
golf course superintendent
Ø Ask the students to write an essay to describe and discuss the state golf
course industry and local golf course industry
Ø Organize a debate among students on issues such as golf courses and the
environment, golf courses and job opportunities, and golf courses and public
perceptions.
6. Send a thank you note to the superintendent within 4 days after the visit.
Reflection
What are the career opportunities in golf course management?
What training and skills are needed to be a golf course superintendent?
List the duties of a golf course worker.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of working on a golf course in the
summer?
Enhancement
• Visit more turf related web sites (appendices)
• Visit additional golf courses and make comparisons
• Ask a college student majoring in golf course management to give a talk to the
class
• Ask a college turf professor to give a talk to the class
Assessment
Determine the students' performance based on
• the degree of accomplishment on the student sheet.
• the performance during the class or the field trip.
• the participation in the discussion and the reflection questions.
• the degree of accomplishment on the "Scoring Rubric".

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Unit V Golf Course Management Lesson 2

STUDENT FACT SHEET Student ________________ Date____________

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN THE GOLF INDUSTRY

1. There are more than 16,365 golf courses in the United States.
2. There are more than 160,000 employees working on these golf courses.
3. A college degree in turfgrass science and management is highly
recommended to pursue a career in the golf industry.
4. A golf course superintendent should have knowledge and training in the
following aspects: turfgrass management, human resource management,
financial management, and environmental management.
5. Knowledge of turfgrass management, golf rules, and equipment operation
is essential for all employees working on golf courses.
6. In North America, there are more than 100 institutions providing formal
training in golf course management.

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Unit V Golf Course Management Lesson 2

STUDENT SHEET Student ________________ Date____________

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN THE GOLF INDUSTRY

1. Write the definition:
assistant superintendent:

golf course management crew:

golf course management:

golf course superintendent:

irrigation technician:

mechanic:

pesticide technician:

student interns:

turfgrass management:

workers: working on golf course based on a part-time schedule including

qualified high school students. These workers have skills in communication
and equipment operation and a general knowledge of golf course management.
1. Answer the following questions:
1) List at least five golf course jobs and their responsibilities

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Unit V Golf Course Management Lesson 2

2) Why are internships on golf courses beneficial for college students?

3) What are the three major areas of knowledge and the skills required to be a
successful golf course superintendent?

2. Based on the visit to a local golf course, try to answer the following questions

1). Define the responsibilities of a golf course superintendent, and list things he/she
was doing on the day you visited
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________

2). Define the responsibilities of a golf course assistant superintendent, and list
things he/she was doing on the day you visited
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________

3. Answer the following questions based on what you have learned from the golf
course crew.
1). How many holes does the golf course have? _____________
2). Is the golf course a public or private golf course? _______
3). How many people are working on the golf course? ___________
4). What is the operational budget for the golf course per year? _______
5). How many rounds of golf per year are played on the golf course? _____________

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Unit V Golf Course Management Lesson 2
6). What is the total square footage of the total putting green area of the golf
course? ________________
7). What turfgrass is used for the putting greens? _______________
8). What is the total fairway area in acres? ___________________
9). What turfgrass is used for fairways? _______________________
10). What is the total square footage of tees? _____________________
11). What turfgrass is used for tees? __________________________
12). What are the current maintenance tasks for the greens, fairways, and tees?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

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Unit V Golf Course Management Lesson 2

A SCORING RUBRIC Name ________________Date _____________

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN THE GOLF INDUSTRY

The purpose of this

lesson was

The main method(s)

or procedure(s) we
learned was (were)

The best example(s)

that I can use to
describe the content
of this lesson

Subjects or courses
that I can relate this
lesson to

The information of
this lesson can be
applied to

In summary, what I
learned

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Unit V Golf Course Management Lesson 2

A Typical Golf Course Job Announcement

Assistant Superintendent

Job Title: Assistant Superintendent

Club Name: Collier's Reserve C.C.
Address: 11700 Collier's Reserve Drive
City: Naples
State/Prov: FL
Zip/Postal: 34110
Contact Name: Bill Davidson
Contact Address: same
Phone: 941-597-7063
Fax: 941-597-7520
E-mail: colliercc@hotmail.com

Requirements and Qualifications

Educational Requirements:
Turf degree or minimum of five years experience
Experience Required:
Chemical application, irrigation repair and maintenance
Special Requirements:
Must be professional, able to deal with employees tactfully,
extremely self-motivated, and thinks outside the box to solve issues
Salary: $28,000 - $30,000
Benefits: Truck, medical, dental and life insurance, lunches, uniforms,
and golf privileges
Date Posted: 2/15/2001
Date Available: May 1, 2001
Comment: We are an 18-hole upscale course built in '93. We were the
first Audubon Signature Course in the world and are looking for a
highly motivated person to help sustain our level of maintenance.

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Unit V Golf Course Management Lesson 2

A Typical Summer Intern Position

Announcement
College Student Summer Intern Position

Job Title: Summer Intern

Club Name: Whitemarsh Valley CC
Address: 815 Thomas Road
City: Lafayette Hill
State/Prov: PA
Zip/Postal: 19444
Contact Name : Tony Gustaitis CGCS
Phone: 215-233-3906
Fax: 215-233-0180
e-mail: wvcc@hotmail.com

Educational Requirements:
Enrolled in Turfgrass Management program.
Experience Required:
Basic golf course experience. We will teach the intern all the different aspects of
golf course management.
Special Requirements:
None
Salary: $ 10 per hour
Benefits: meals ,golf ,uniforms
Date Posted: 4/10/01
Date Available: immediately
Comment: Whitemarsh Valley CC is a George Thomas Jr. designed golf
course. We are going through a golf course renovation project to get us back to
the early 1900's look.

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Unit V Golf Course Management Lesson 2

Golf Course
Career Profile
Superintendent
A golf course superintendent supervises the maintenance crew for daily
operations of a golf course to the desired playability. A golf course superintendent's
skills and knowledge include three major aspects: people management, turfgrass
management, and business and financial management. A golf course superintendent
is required to have sound training in these three areas plus communication skills.
Most superintendents have a college degree in turfgrass science and management or
related areas. It is very common that a superintendent also has formal training in
human resources and business areas. Most golf course superintendents have had
experience as an assistant golf course superintendent before they become
superintendents.

Similar to many other professionals, the golf course superintendents have their
own associations and organizations. The national organization is called the Golf
Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA, http://www.gcsaa.org). It is
the largest international organization with more than 20,000 members. In the last 70
years, GCSAA has provided its members with education, conferences, trade shows,
and many other activities to promote their profession.

After several examinations and evaluations by the GCSAA Certification

Program, an experienced golf course superintendent with five-year's experience is
qualified to apply to be a Certified Golf Course Superintendent (CGCS). In the USA,
about 15% of the golf course superintendents are certified superintendents.

There are more than 16,365 golf courses in our country and more than 26,000
in the world, so there is a need for at least 26,000 golf course superintendents in the
world. They practice their profession on a daily basis and work hard with their crews to
maintain the best playing conditions for the golf game, which provides fun and a
challenge to golfers, enhances our life's quality and enjoyment, and attracts millions of
young people.

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