Jacobsen’s headquarters in Charlotte, NC hosted 28 students from universities across the United States from March 16-19, for this year’s Future Turf Managers (FTM) program. Also, included in the group was a student from Myerscough College in the UK, marking the first time a European student has attended the program. Jacobsen is a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company. Professors from the top university Turfgrass programs in the country recommended one deserving student-leader to attend the 5-day, 4-night event. Since its inception back in the 1970s, over 700 students have participated in the Future Turf Managers program. Educational seminars were given by University of Nebraska horticulture professor Roch Gaussoin, himself a Future Turf Managers alumnus, and Steve Randall, senior manager of Chapter Outreach at the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA). Quail Hollow Club superintendent Jeff Kent, on hand during a demonstration event at the course, explained how he prepared for, and then helped the course recover from, the recent Wells Fargo PGA Tour Championship. The students were then able to test out a selection of Jacobsen equipment at the course’s 11th hole.
This year’s agenda also included a visit to Sage Valley Golf Club in Graniteville, SC and a walk-the-course question and answer session with Chuck Green, the entertaining superintendent at the exclusive private facility. This was followed by a tour of the baseball and football complexes at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, with sports field manager Clark Cox.
Commenting on the benefit of the Future Turf Managers program, Tammy Wroblewski of the University of Minnesota-Crookston said,
“My favorite part of the event was the networking opportunities with industry professionals including superintendents, field managers and the Jacobsen staff. We learned so much from the presentations and tours of Quail Hollow, Sage Valley and USC – it’s been a really wonderful experience. I’ve also come away with some good friends in the other participants. I’m honored that my professor picked me out of all of my peers to visit Jacobsen for this program.”
Students also received a complimentary one-year student membership to the GCSAA, sponsored by Jacobsen.