Turfgrass Education
Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center

Turf job openings exceed the number of candidates, by a 2:1 ratio, based on a recent survey of southeastern Universities.  Sports managers, pest control operators, golf course superintendents, and others are needed in Florida's $8 billion turf industry, who are trained in turfgrass and environmental technology.

Job opportunities concentrate in South Florida, with a large tourism industry, over 300 golf courses, year-round growth, and the use of plants to enhance business and the environment.  Sales people need advanced knowledge to communicate effectively to increasingly more knowledgeable clients.  The B.S. degree in Turfgrass Science is a valuable credential for jobs with municipalities, regulatory enforcement, and other supervisory positions.  The B.S. degree will be required for certification of golf course superintendents. 

Students in Turfgrass Science earn the B.S. degree at the University of Florida Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, without leaving South Florida.  They continue in careers in golf course management, sales, teaching, lawn care, and sports turf management.

All major departments to support the degree are housed under one roof (such as Agronomy, Entomology and Nematology, Environmental Horticulture, Plant Pathology, and Soil Science.)  A few supporting classes are offered by compressed video.  Most classes are taught in the evenings or on Saturday morning, one time per week.  This accommodates nontraditional students, most of whom are working in the Green Industry and who are caring for their families in the South Florida area.

In addition, each year, thousands of turfgrass managers attend workshops, field days, and other special training at Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center.

The South Florida Golf Superintendents constructed a USGA (United States Golf Association) research green, which is actively used for studying the leaching of turfgrass chemicals (nitrates and pesticides) and improved management recommendations are based on actual conditions similar to the South Florida golf course.