A sports field, golf course, or other outdoor area needs good field turf management to survive the test of time. Business leaders in charge of these facilities or leaders at turf companies need to think about outfitting their staff with the education they need to successfully maintain and manage these kinds of land resources.

Now, busy managers and owners can get help over the Internet. Online schools and organizations post their options, rates and course content for getting staff competent in aspects of turf management. Business leaders can look for a variety of training options including the following:

1. Training in irrigation for correct use of water resources to keep turf looking good.

2. Soil and fill training and overall sports turf management options for dealing with ongoing maintenance and problem-solving.

3. Other training oriented toward a customer service or design view of landscaping and maintaining any facility for a turf manager or other groundskeeper job.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find training solutions for irrigation for turf management

One major part of keeping turf in good shape is in the appropriate use of water and other resources. Irrigation is a critical factor in landscaping and especially in actual turf fields. Even if the turf is artificial, managing water is still ultra-important, as poorly routed water will destroy a course from below. That's why irrigation training is key for turf management.

I recommend: Get instructed in irrigation aspects like pipe sizing and plot plan development at Irrigation Education, offering nationwide training options. Get more turf management training in irrigation from Irrigation Consultants and Control.

Look for training on soil and fill management for turf management

Another big part of turf management is in what's below the surface. Training in fill and soil solutions will help staff fix problems of shifting that cause sinking in greens or other large problems.

I recommend: ACS Distance Education offers training on aspects like fill materials, soil sampling, and clay or runoff management in remote alternatives for staffers anywhere in the world. For a much different option for information on turf management, use the handy course description pages to see about turf management certification from Rutgers.

Get comprehensive turf management training in groundskeeping

Turf management can be more than just lawn care or lawn grooming - the rest of the job has to do with general sustainable management practices. Online firms can offer solutions to get staff savvy about the generally desirable practices for groundskeeping in any outdoor facility.

I recommend: Ed-Reference is a great resource toward groundskeeping programs and degree options. Eastern New Mexico University is just one of many educational facilities across the country offering general occupational training for groundskeeping relevant to golf courses and other turf fields.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When considering training options and information about turf management, it helps to know who is going to be staying on a project long term. Some staffers come and go, and others go the distance. Find the senior staff most likely to stay on before investing in advanced training.

Field turf management can be challenging. Heavy use, time constraints and the requirement for the turf to look great at all times can add to a turf manager's workload. Whether it's synthetic turf or the real thing doesn't make much difference, because specialized expertise is needed for both to look healthy, extend longevity and maximize performance.

Sports is a big business with golf courses, baseball and football fields bringing in lots of money. Much money is in turn spent on effort, equipment and products in maintaining and building such fields. For golf courses alone, a surveyed group in Georgia spent between $100,000 and $250,000 on maintenance annually.

Sports turf management requires the mastering of several factors including:

1. The demands on the field are important in lawn maintenance.

2. Turf species or composition will determine how often and what will be needed for care and lawn maintenance.

3. Soil makeup is important in field turf management and can give clues into texture and details how the field can handle demand and stress.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Receive advice and information on turf management

Many turf management companies are also in the consulting industry and are able to assist you with such decisions as what species to use, how best to maintain your turf and many other issues.

I recommend: Advice, training and support can be found with J.R. Simplot Company when it comes to turf management. The United States Golf Association also offers on-site visits from skilled agronomists to help you produce the best possible golf turf.

Find a turf management company for installation and maintenance

Whether it's seeding the land or installing synthetic turf, you'll need to find experts to handle the job. Many companies also provide service work from regular maintenance and watering to soil analysis and fertilization, among other considerations.

I recommend: Turfgrass America sods, sprigs and provides specialty turf management. Wilson & Associates Sports Turf offers a number of services including lasergrading, soil analysis and amending, as well as overseeding, fertilization and insect and disease control programs.

Consider your own turf and landscape management

Perhaps you have the skilled workers on staff to construct a new turf, maintain or refurbish an existing field. You'll still need to find the turf companies who supply equipment and especially turf grass seed.

I recommend: From turf seed to plant a golf course to fescue and bluegrass, check out Ampac Seed Company to purchase turf seed. Albright Seed Store also offers a number of turf seeds and ground cover for purchase.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Careless application of fertilizer can cause major problems with lawn care as well as turf care. When applied properly to turf, fertilizer will not leach or runoff. It's important to apply the right rate and product and to make uniform applications following spreader and fertilizer instructions for proper overlap. Avoid fertilizer running into water bodies by maintaining an untreated buffer strip around the water's edge.

Turf management classes are an excellent way to further the education of superintendents, field crews, grounds crews and irrigation technicians from golf courses, sports complexes and turf companies. An investment in turf and landscape management education will pay off with better playing surfaces, a more efficient use of irrigation and fewer insects.

Turf management education and training comes in several forms. So before you sign anyone up, you'll want to decide which classes are best. Consider if the student is:

1. A novice who has much to learn about lawn care;

2. An experienced employee who is looking to further his turf management education;

3. Or a needed worker who will not have time to get away and take traditional turf management classes.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Earn a college degree in field turf management

For a comprehensive education in turf management, there is no substitute for a two- or four-year college program. Through course work and field work, students typically learn proper techniques for irrigation, applying pesticides and managing employees.

I recommend: The turfgrass management program at the University of Maryland is a two-year program that educates students on all aspects of managing turf for golf courses, sports complexes and sod fields. At Mount San Jacinto College in California, students earn a degree in turf management by gaining a strong foundation in topics such as water usage, soils, horticulture and human resource management.

Complete a brief certificate program in sports turf management

A three-, five- or seven-week turf management certificate program is ideal for professionals who want to update their skills or learn new techniques. These brief, intense programs are usually offered during the winter. They are a great opportunity for lower-ranking employees to learn the information about turf management that they need to earn a promotion.

I recommend: A three-week program from Rutgers helps students improve their technical skills, learn to better manage their staff and gain a better understanding of the science behind lawn maintenance. The University of Massachusetts offers a seven-week winter program that covers topics such as the principals of turfgrass management, disease management, insect management, soils, fertilizers, irrigation and drainage.

Take turf management classes on the Internet

If you can't commit to a two- or four-year college degree program, or if you can't get away for several weeks to attend a winter certificate program, an online course may be the way to go. These flexible classes allow you to learn whenever you have free time.

I recommend: Ohio State University offers two online turf management courses. There are no books to buy or classes to attend, so students anywhere in the world can learn turf management skills at their own pace. The online courses offered by Washington State University explain current turf management techniques for golf courses and athletic fields.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Choose turf management education and training courses that give students an opportunity to gain hands-on experience as a turf manager through lab work or internships with local turf management companies.
• •  Schools that provide turf management courses typically offer financial aid.

From lawn and landscape, to keeping up the golf greens, those involved in turf management have a broad range of areas in which they can practice their skills. Turf species and composition, soil makeup, horticulture, fertilization and irrigation all go into a solid turf management program. Along with those, you have to factor in the turf's usage and demand when coming up with an individual turf management program.

Whether you're doing the work yourself or looking to outsource the job to an outside company, knowing the key terms involved can help get the job done.

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The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Turf management

Turf management refers to the area of study or field of practice relating to the planting and care of turf grass areas such as lawns, parks, golf courses and athletic fields. Managing turf includes work in planting, irrigation and landscape design.

I recommend: Learn more about turf management from Penn State’s Turfgrass Management program.

Cultivation

Cultivation is the preparation of the soil for crops, but for turf that poses problems. The turf must be kept intact when working with the soil. Turf cultivation can be completed by coring, slicing, spiking or other means.

I recommend: Read through this Penton Media article on turf cultivation and dethatching to learn more.

Winter overseeding

To get a lawn or turf to stay green through the winter, you must overseed. By seeding cool-season turf grasses over warm-season turf grasses near the start of winter, you can grow turf during the dormancy period.

I recommend: Review the seven steps to winter overseeding provided by Evergreen Turf.

Topdressing

Topdressing is a prepared soil mix which is combined with the turf by raking or irrigating. Topdressing is mostly used on athletic field turf to increase the turf grass's resiliency to wear and tear.

I recommend: Check out this Earth&Turf article about topdressing.

Localized dry spot

A localized dry spot is an area of sod that exists amid normal turf and resists water saturation through normal methods of irrigation. A localized dry spot can indicate fungal activity, a thatch problem or elevated turf terrain.

I recommend: The Horticulture & Crop Science page at The Ohio State University gives more information about dry spots and potential causes.

Thatch control

Thatch is a tight, intermingled layer of decomposed organic material above the soil surface and below the green turf. Excessive thatch accumulation can be controlled through mechanical and biological means.

I recommend: The University of Minnesota Extension offers another definition of thatch and ways you can prevent and remove it from turf and lawns.