Recent graduates work at Valhalla in Louisville and golf courses in New York and Alabama. A successful internship program provides students with hands-on experience, including one this summer at Augusta National, home of The Masters. Western's Agriculture Department has strengthened the turf program in the past 10 years. The most important development was the addition of the two-hole golf course at the Agriculture Research and Education Complex in 1994, Dr. Liu said. The course is a laboratory for turfgrass research and for student learning, he said.
Students maintain the course, greens and irrigation system.
In turf mechanics courses directed by Pete Dotson, students learn to operate and maintain mowers and other equipment. The programs couldn't thrive without the support of the department, University and industry, Dr. Martin said. The programs actively recruit students through high school contacts and an annual FFA field day at the L.D. Brown Agricultural Exposition Center. Through the grant, Western is developing a series of instructional materials for high school turfgrass, landscaping and lawn care programs. The instructional materials and activities should give high school students a solid foundation in horticulture, turfgrass and golf course management.