Three-Week Golf Turf Management Short Course

John Humphrey: Greenskeeper,

Beacon Hill Country Club
Attracted to Turf at a Young Age
John Humphrey may be young, but he knew he wanted to be a golf
Humphrey began course superintendent for a long time. “I was always interested in turf
his turf education management,” he says, beginning his turf education at just 14 years
earlier than a of age at the Monmouth County Career Center (MCCC). MCCC’s turf
resources, including a par 3 golf course that students maintain, gave
many turf him a solid foundation in golf course turf care and management.
Professionals: at Humphrey, who enjoyed playing golf and working outdoors, knew right
away that it was for him and decided to strive to become a golf course
the young age of superintendent.
14.
He began working at the Beacon Hill Country
Club in Atlantic Highlands, NJ, on the week-
ends, gaining valuable real-life experience and
a foot in the door to a beautiful course. During
his senior year at MCCC, the Center held a turf
competition for students in the program. Hum-
phrey entered and identified a variety of weeds
and turf diseases to win the first prize—a schol-
The Three-Week arship for the Rutgers University Professional
Golf Turf Management School’s Three-Week
Golf Turf Program, offered by the Office of Continuing
Management Professional Education.
Course was much
From Student to Professional
more than a review In January 2009, Humphrey was the youngest student in the Three-
for Humphrey, who Week Golf Turf Management Certificate Program. The Professional
Golf Turf Management School runs both Three Week and Two Year
had been studying Turf Management Certificate Courses. The three-week course is an
turf management introduction to the science behind the practices used by golf course
for four years. superintendents and an overview of the technical skills needed for a
golf course turf management job. Since Humphrey already had an ex-
tensive background in turf, his age did not put him at any disadvan-
tage. “I had a foundation already, so I knew the concepts,” he ex-
plains.
 Three-Week Golf Turf
Management Short Course
Humphrey now has Despite having studied turf before, Humphrey’s experience in the
three-week course was not merely a review. “I thought it was a really
a renewed great course,” he says after finishing. “They touched on everything.
excitement for turf It was more than what I expected.” Despite its length, Humphrey em-
management. “It phasized how well-rounded the three-week course is, where he
learned everything from growing turf and identifying weeds right down
makes me want to to the math that superintendents need to properly fertilize the grass!
pursue my career “I’m prepared for the two year program,” he says, which he intends to
begin this coming year.
even more,” he
says. Sending His Career in the Right Direction
Humphrey has already begun to see the impact of the three-week
course on the work he does every day. His enthusiasm has only in-
creased: “It makes me want to pursue my turf management career
even more,” he says. Since attending Rutgers, Humphrey says, his
boss at Beacon Hill (where he now works full-time as a greenskeeper)
has definitely taken notice of his dedication and the quality of his
work. By earning his Three Week Turf Management Certificate, Hum-
Earning his Three- phrey’s boss knows that he is serious about his career choice, and it
Week Turf gives him an edge over other employees who have not committed as
fully.
Management
Certificate from With his high school diploma and his Three-Week Turf Management
Rutgers shows Certificate in hand, Humphrey can definitely see himself reaching his
goal and becoming a golf course superintendent. The education and
Humphrey is skills he has acquired from the three-week course have made Hum-
dedicated to his phrey ready and excited for the two-year course. “I think it’s a really
great program,” Humphrey says of Rutgers’ Professional Golf Turf
work and serious Management School. “I’d recommend it to anybody.”
about his
career.
Beacon Hill Country Club is located in Atlantic Highlands, NJ. For
information about memberships, golf schedules, and hosting
events, call 732-291-0533 or visit http://www.beaconhillcc.org/.

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

NJAES Office of Continuing Professional Education
102 Ryders Lane
New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8519
Phone: 732-932-9271
E-mail: ocpe@njaes.rutgers.edu
Web: http://www.golfturf.rutgers.edu