Turfgrass management is a combination of art and science. Your scientific
knowledge is the backdrop against which you work your art to produce the end
result or product: an appealing high-quality product that is durable, playable
and safe.
"No two days are alike," says Mark Altman. He works for a sports turf management
consulting firm. "One day I am working on a sports field at the professional
level, and the next day it is little league. I attempt to provide the safest
playing surface for the athletes, whether they be participating at a pee wee
or professional level."
With environmental issues creeping very quickly to the top of most agricultural
groups' agenda, turfgrass managers are keenly aware of the need to apply approved
pesticides only when necessary.
Gord Lang, superintendent of an 18-hole golf course, suggests that people
outside of the horticulture industry probably do not realize just how much
environmental issues impact on turf management.
"We [turf managers] know exactly what pesticides we have used and work
towards ensuring environmentally friendly codes of practice. As a golf superintendent,
you are required to have a pesticide applicator's license."
Jane Arnett-Rivers is the president of the Sports Turf Association and
supervisor of parks for a municipality. She says turf managers must keep a
close eye on the grass and its roots to make sure they use pesticides when
it's necessary.
"Myself, I'm not comfortable dumping pesticides down a lot," she says.
"But there are situations where you have to if you want to have quality turf
for athletics."
She says dumping pesticides on a small neighborhood park does not make
sense. "For the most part, residents don't want it," she says. "Their kids
are playing [there], and the turf quality is not as important. But the turf
quality is extremely important on a sport field."
That's because weeds make the soil more compact, and this increases the
possibility of sports injuries. "It's a real delicate balance," she says.
Striking that balance requires good decision-making skills. And sports
turf managers have to use those skills in other areas also.
"As an agronomist, in order to problem solve, you must take into consideration
many problems which are not agronomy-related -- for instance, coaching staff,
public relations, client expectations, budget and agronomy," says Altman.
"All the pieces have to fit together and be taken into consideration when
working on a project."
Altman says the biggest challenge he faces is the budgetary restraint on
the client. "Often times, the client doesn't have the funds to do things correctly,
so we have to think creatively to find solutions."
Communication skills are key in this career. You will frequently interact
with the board of directors, or with the owner of the resort or club, management,
contractors, staff, clientele and players.
Ron Hume is a golf superintendent who manages an 18-hole golf course. "Generally
speaking, 70 percent of the people interaction is good, pleasurable and positive,
while the remaining 30 percent is dealing with difficult communication issues
such as non-performing subordinates or disgruntled clientele," he says.
Golf instructor Rick Pow elaborates: "The golf superintendent directs the
style of the golf course. This, together with the maintenance of the greens,
impacts on how you play." So it's not too difficult to understand why disgruntled
players every now and then may seek out the golf superintendent, who will
be asked to explain their drop in par.
"I find it difficult to identify or isolate one or two factors or aspects
of my job that are thoroughly enjoyable," says Hume.
"It's probably the creativity and innovation. Whether it's construction
of a golf course or buildings or the planning and design of a turf maintenance
program, the innovation that goes into the program which results in the presentation
of an end product that is durable, and aesthetically appealing
is truly enjoyable."
A lot of time is spent outdoors, either inspecting the plants and greens
for disease and insect problems or playing the course or field for playability,
says Lisa Perkins, turf management instructor at Joliet College.
"The weather is an unpredictable factor that presents challenges to the
turf manager -- how to grow and manage the turf area for top performance given
the conditions of the site and the environment."
Dealing with figures is another aspect of the turf manager's job. Hume
points out that you have to have a head for figures as you manage inventory
and purchases, budget and payroll. Then, of course, there are the formulas
and ratios for the pesticide and fertilizer applications and programs.
A working knowledge of computer software programs, particularly for record
keeping, tracking weather trends and budget requirements is becoming more
and more important as technology and computer software programs impact on
everyday life.
"With the advent of e-mail and digital cameras, a client can now take a
picture of a problem and send it to me no matter where I am in the country
or the world," says Altman.