The UMass Turf Club is composed of students primarily from our Turfgrass Management associate degree program, and our Applied Plant and Soil Sciences bachelor degree program. Recent activities of the UMass Turf Club include inviting turfgrass industry speakers to campus, competing in industry competitions, and participating in community service events such as athletic field renovations and repairs to campus green spaces. Upon graduation, our members are asked to join the UMass Alumni Turf Group (ATG) where they can enjoy lifelong career networking alongside opportunities to support the Stockbridge turf programs with fundraising events.
Support for Career Development
The UMass Turf Club is a Student Chapter of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA). We are an active organization on campus, helping to promote career development through networking with turfgrass industry professionals, and learning about different employment areas across the turfgrass industries. Facilitating student-to-student support and encouragement is a strong tradition for the Turf Club. Students are also supported by the College of Natural Sciences Career Center, which offers a full range of services including resume revision, cover letter writing, and preparation for internship and job interviews.
Academic Competitions
Each year, undergraduate students in the Turf Club participate in two national academic competitions: the Collegiate Turf Bowl Competition sponsored by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, and the Student Challenge sponsored by the Sports Turf Managers Association. These three-hour team exams test for breadth and depth of knowledge in various areas of turfgrass science and management, including plant growth and development, physiology, soils and fertility, pest management, environment, and business and personnel management. Our UMass team recently won third place, competing against over 80 college and university teams from around the country. Due to the strength of the Stockbridge program our team consistently places in the top ten year after year. These industry competitions are managed by employers, some of whom are Stockbridge alumni, giving our students an advantageous position from which to apply for jobs before they graduate.
Funded Travel to Professional Conferences
To make travel to academic competitions and professional conferences possible, Turf Club students typically spend several weekends during the fall semester performing fundraising activities, which include leaf cleanups, fertilizing, and renovating home lawns in the Amherst area. Their fundraising is then matched and supported by donations from the UMass Alumni Turf Group, allowing our students to travel to professional conferences in California, Colorado, Texas, and Florida. Participation in these conferences has proven to be a great opportunity for our members to meet and network with turfgrass industry professionals.
Learn More About the UMass Turf Club
Email Michelle DaCosta to learn more about the UMass Turf Club.