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Feature
Auburn University Turfgrass Program Update
By Dave Han, Ph.D., Auburn University
At Auburn University, students majoring in Turfgrass Management are returning from their summer 2024 internships ready for an active, educational, and fun fall semester. We welcome six new students to the major this fall (three freshmen and three transfers / major changes), who join with our 18 returning undergraduates to bring the total number of enrolled turfgrass students to 24 for the fall – five more than in fall 2023. This is the third consecutive fall semester with an increase over the past year. After some tough times with enrollment in the aftermath of the pandemic, it is good to see more students pursuing turfgrass management at Auburn. Turfgrass students make up approximately 60% of Crop and Soil Science majors this fall.
Turfgrass remains one of two main options in the Crop and Soil Science major at Auburn after a recent revision to the major which goes into effect this year. The turfgrass curriculum is much the same as you may remember, including the usual classes in biology, chemistry, plant biology, weed science, soil science, plant pathology, entomology, environmental science, and (of course) turfgrass management, but there are now increased elective options and an increased emphasis on high-impact experiences, such as internships and participation in the GCSAA Turf Bowl and the SFMA Student Challenge. Last year was the first time since the pandemic that we had teams at both of these competitions, and we look forward to more this year.
Although turfgrass students have always completed an internship as part of their studies at Auburn, today’s students often do two, and now they can obtain academic credit for a second internship. This allows them to gain broader experience working with both cool and warm season grasses and to develop a wider network of contacts to help them as they begin their careers. As most in the turfgrass industry know, internships are an excellent way to recruit future leaders and indeed many of our students find their jobs either where they interned, or through contacts made during an internship. If you would like to know more about what Auburn students learn during internships or would like to recruit an Auburn student for an internship, look for their poster presentations at the Deep South Turf Expo in October. Auburn students have interned at some amazing golf courses, teams, and companies all around the country for a long time, and we definitely want to keep that tradition going strong.
Speaking of the Deep South, a dozen AU turf students made the trek down to Biloxi last year and two even came away with first place in the cornhole tournament! The students all enjoyed meeting and talking with so many people in the turfgrass industry from all over the South. They returned full of ideas to make their experience even better this fall. A special thanks goes to all of you who mentored, fed and recruited students and to the Deep South Board for sponsoring their attendance! We hope to see you all again this fall. You might even be able to pick up some new Auburn Turfgrass merchandise.
Auburn’s long-dormant Turf Club is active again, thanks to the efforts of a number of people but especially Justin Bacon (Club Chair), Claudia Ann Landrum, and Dr. Scott McElroy, faculty advisor. The club instituted monthly meetings last year to organize their participation at the AU Turfgrass Field Day, design new AU Turf Club shirts and hats, talk turf, and socialize. A social gathering that including fishing, boating, and a chicken dinner hosted by Wayne Bassett at Beck’s Turf was the highlight of the spring semester, followed closely by a night of lawngolf at Tiger on the Green after the Field Day, sponsored by the ATA. Recent alumni also returned to share their experiences after graduation, including James Rogers with Atlanta United and Matthew Harrison with the Texas A&M athletic department.
The turf club members currently are busy planning their fall schedule, highlighted of course by the Deep South Turf Expo. In addition to the DSTE, the students plan a golf and dinner outing and monthly meetings. They are still recruiting guest speakers for the monthly meetings, so if you are interested in sharing your knowledge and wisdom with the turf club, please contact Justin Bacon, Dr. McElroy or Dr. Han. Farther on the horizon are trips to the SFMA Conference in January and the GCSAA Conference in February. If you will be at any of these conferences and want to meet with the students, please let us know. We would love to make that happen.
Our faculty working in turfgrass full-time continue to be Dr. Scott McElroy (Research & Teaching) and Dr. Dave Han (Teaching & Extension). Faculty in other departments continue to conduct some research in turfgrass, such as Dr. David Held and Dr. Amanda Scherer. Alan Hill continues to manage our turfgrass research facility with the help of several turf students. Other students work for the athletic department grounds crew or local golf courses.
As many of you know, the Crop, Soil and Environmental Science department head, Dr. Steve Hague, has been working with the College of Agriculture administration and you, the leaders of the Alabama turfgrass industry, to gain support for hiring an additional faculty member. Although there is no public information at the time of this writing, all of us at Auburn hope and are optimistic that your efforts will bear fruit very soon.
This is an exciting time for the Auburn turfgrass major. The students are as enthusiastic as they have ever been, and it shows. They are a close-knit group and came back to campus eager to listen to and tell stories about their summers, and to work this fall. It is a privilege to teach these students and a joy to watch as they gain knowledge and confidence, and to see them move into positions of responsibility right away after graduation. As always, we thank the ATA, GCSA chapters and all of you, the Alabama turfgrass industry, for supporting our students and helping to improve our program.
Auburn Turfgrass Student Internships, 2023–2024
• Colleton River Club
• The Country Club of Birmingham
• The Honors Course
• Hoover Country Club
• Medinah Country Club
• Oak Hill Country Club
• Oakmont Country Club
• Old Collier Golf Club
• Pine Valley Golf Club
• The Tree Farm Golf
• Winged Foot Golf Club
• Boston Red Sox
• Milwaukee Brewers
• Washington Nationals
• Reno Aces
• Beck’s Turf
• SiteOne Landscape Supply
• Diamond Designs, LLC
Auburn Turfgrass Graduate Placement, 2023–2024
• Greystone Country Club
• Atlanta United FC
• Texas A&M University Athletic Department
• Montgomery Biscuits
• Auburn University (M.S. student)
• New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div. student)
