Training Turf Managers for Oregon Landscapes

More than 300 graduates of the turf management program at Oregon State are currently employed as superintendents and managers of golf courses, parks, and lawn care companies, representing an 85% retention rate over a period of nearly 30 years. Our graduates are national leaders in environmental stewardship with programs ranging from providing habitat for western bluebirds to developing spawning and rearing habitat for salmon.

Turf provides:

  • recreation for school and local sports programs.
  • environmental advantages such as pollutant filtration, improved air and water quality, and flood control by returning precipitation to groundwater rather than runoff.
  • habitat for a wide range of birds and other wildlife.
  • beauty and increased property values.
  • employment opportunities for people within the communities.

Students studying turf management develop the knowledge and skills to become golf course superintendents, professional groundskeepers, or park managers. Classes and Turf Club activities allow students to build a solid foundation in turf management, and participation in state, regional, and national professional groups allow students to network with turf professionals

Key classes include:

  • Introduction to the Turfgrass Industry
  • Basic Turf Culture
  • Landscape Maintenance
  • Woody Plant Materials
  • Turf Nutrition
  • Irrigation and Drainage
  • Golf Course Management
  • Internship