What is the Winter School for Turf Managers?

It’s one of the key prizes awaiting the winner of the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards, but how much do you actually know about the University of Massachusetts Winter School for Turf Managers?

For both the student and their golf club, the benefits of attending the course – held online since the pandemic – are extraordinary, making the nomination of student greenkeepers a potential win-win for the greenkeeping teams as a whole and the courses they manage.

The UMass Winter School for Turf Managers is an intensive, nine-week certificate programme that is designed to convey concepts that are essential to producing and maintaining high performance turf. There is an emphasis on environmental stewardship, input reduction, efficiency and fiscal responsibility.

The programme fees amount to $2,854 and Toro and Reesink will cover these entirely, with tuition including all course materials.

 

 

1: The course takes place via a series of online lectures and sessions
2: Prior to COVID the course was held in-person at UMass
3: Awards winners still go to the United States to visit Toro's headquarters

The course is entirely virtual, providing attendees with online lectures, activities and resources. That enables UK greenkeepers to attend without ever leaving home or the workplace.

The course runs for 9 weeks and a Certificate of Completion is awarded to those who complete the programme requirements. This certificate is held by thousands, carries weight in the industry and has a century-long legacy behind it.

Curriculum

Fundamentals of Turf Management

Essential principles of responsible and effective turf management: basic growth and development of the turfgrass plant; climatic and environmental adaption; management and performance; turfgrass selection and use; establishment practices; nutrition and fertility; cultural practices including mowing, irrigation, cultivation and topdressing.

Soil Science and Management

In-depth study of the nature and properties of soils as related to the culture and management of fine turf

Turf Pathology

Causes and identification of disease, including how they begin and environmental conditions that lead to infection and turf damage; examination of cultural practices and management materials that reduce and prevent diseases

Turf Entomology

Discussion of turf damaging insects including: life cycles; weed management strategies; including Integrated Pest Management strategies; techniques for effective weed control with reduced pesticide use

Weed Management

Weed biology and life cycles; weed management strategies, including Integrated Pest Management Strategies, techniques for effective weed control with reduced pesticide use

Special topics

Advanced Topics in Turf

Turfgrass physiology and biological processes; environmental stress resistance and tolerance; competition in turfgrass communities

Irrigation and Equipment Management

Principles of hydraulics; precipitation rates; irrigation system components and system design; troubleshooting and retrofitting

Arboriculture

Special consideration for maintenance of trees and shrubs

 

 

 

Nominations for the 2024 Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards open in March.