Support for Career Development

The UMass Turf Club is composed of students primarily from our Turfgrass Science and Management A.S and B.S. programs. We are an active organization helping to promote career development through networking with turfgrass industry professionals. Recent activities of the UMass Turf Club include organizing the Stockbridge Turf Internship Fair, inviting turfgrass industry speakers to campus, and participating in community service events such as athletic field renovations. Student-to-student support is a strong tradition for the Turf Club. Students are also supported by the College of Natural Sciences Career Center, which offers supports such as resume reviews and preparation for internship and job interviews.

Academic Competitions

Since 2007, undergraduate students in the Turf Club have annually participated in two major 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 first place, competing against over 80 college and university teams from around the country, and the team consistently earns a Top Ten ranking year after year.

Funded Travel to Professional Conferences

The 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. In the past they have been able to raise anywhere from $6,000 to $10,000 each year, which has allowed them to travel to professional conferences in California, Colorado, Texas, and Florida. All in all, participation in these conferences has proven to be a great opportunity for the students to meet and network with turfgrass industry professionals and alumni.

Learn More

Email Michelle DaCosta to learn more about the UMass Turf Club.