Three-Week Golf Course Turf Management Preparatory Short Course - Curriculum

We offer a Two Year Certificate Program. Are you looking for a Golf Course Turf Managment Degree. Click here to read about the differences.

Basics of Golf Course Construction
Introduction to golf course design principles and their effects on golf course construction, including contours, slopes, tee construction and sand bunker construction. You will gain a sound, basic understanding of principles and methods for constructing ponds, cart paths, and greens as well as costs, scheduling, and contracts.

Introduction to Irrigation Principles
This unit takes the mystery our of even the most complex irrigation system. It presents fundamentals of components, installation and repair, including sprinklers, nozzles, valves, wiring, pipes, control system components, and accessories. Review of winterization, spring set-up, and other practical aspects of a system.

Applications of Plant and Landscape Science
This unit shows you how to manage and maintain landscape plants, and covers proper planting procedures, pruning techniques, and design basics. You also learn to identify shade and small trees, deciduous shrubs and groundcovers, and how to best use each type in your golf course landscape.

Managing Your Golf Course Employees
Do you know what your management style is? Any good Golf Course Superintendent certianly does. Leadership dynamics, motivational strategies and strategic planning on the golf course are critical to your success. Learn about these essential skills and how to make them work for you and your course.

Introduction to Soil Characteristics
To grow high-quality turf, you need to understand the physical properties of soils, including soil components, texture, structure and density. In this lively and challenging unit, explore soil-water movement with applications in drainage and aeration; chemical properties of soils, including soil colloids; cation exchange capacity; acidity; and the essential elements of soil health.

Introduction to Soil Fertility Options
This unit focuses on identifying and assessing fertilizers and how to use them for growing healthier turfgrass, trees and shrubs.

Introduction to Turfgrass Diseases
If you want to be a success in this industry, you must know how to identify and control the most common golf turf diseases. What this unit teaches you about turfgrass diseases is worth the entire admission fee—you’ll walk away with great information and even greater confidence in your ability to maintain an outstanding turf for your course!

Turfgrass Establishment Practices
This highly practical unit presents techniques, plans and specifications for establishing turfgrass, including seeding, sprigging and sodding.

Turfgrass Management and Maintenance Practices
Turfgrass management practices, including mowing, watering, fertilizing, cultivation, and controlling thatch in turf, are important for maintaining an outstanding course while managing your expenses. This unit shows you how to maintain a great playing surface on established turf.

Turfgrass Renovation Strategies
For turf that needs renovation, learn techniques and methods for improving turfgrass and for introducing new cultivars on your greens, fairways, and tees.

Turfgrass Morphology and Agronomic Principles
Understanding the different turfgrasses and their lifecycles helps you keep consistent appearance and texture in your course. Learn about the identification, morphology and development of turfgrasses. Agronomic identification, characteristics and selection of grasses, seed production, seed certification and grass breeding also will be shared.

Managing Your Most Challenging Turfgrass Weeds
Identifying, classifying and understanding how weeds reproduce are all critical skills. Controlling weeds on the golf course through cultural and chemical methods and applying pesticides and calibrating pesticide equipment round out this stimulating unit.

Managing Turfgrass Insects
Identifying insects, understanding their life cycles and managing your "favorite" insect pests are reviewed in this very practical and entertaining unit.

Mowing Heights and Machinery Maintenance (hands-on)
What’s the perfect height for golf turf? The answer may surprise you! Find out what you’ve been doing wrong in this hands-on session. You’ll learn how to select the proper machinery for the correct cutting height and discover the ins and outs of each piece of equipment you need.

Pond Management
Do you have lakes, ponds, and steams on your course? This section shows you how to keep the water clean, the nearby banks safe, and the surrounding areas playable.

Golf Course Set Up
This lecture explores the steps necessary to prepare your golf course for tournament play.

Financial Matters
One of the responsibilities of a golf course super is to formulate a budget each year. This session will provide the student with basic principles on which to build their budgets.

Comparison
Managing Bentgrass or Poa Annua on golf greens is difficult. This lecture will explain how you can better manage each of these species.

Proper Divot Repair
Repairing divots is a practice on all golf courses which is vital to the quality of fairways and tees. We will discuss how this can be properly done and incorporating this practice into your maintenance plan.

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