Certified Superintendent Cancel The title field is required!

1. David Brudwick

   

   1 posts
   
   3/22/2013 9:03 PM

   Hello everyone. Is there anyone out there that does not have a two or four year degree in turf but you are a certified golf course superintendent? I don't have a degree, but I have twelve years of golf course experience. I was thinking about giving it a try... With all the information I've read on how to be come certified it seems really tough..... Any feedback would be great. Thanks...

   
   
   
   
2. Clay Putnam

   

   33 posts
   
   3/22/2013 10:03 PM

   David Brudwick said: Hello everyone. Is there anyone out there that does not have a two or four year degree in turf but you are a certified golf course superintendent? I don't have a degree, but I have twelve years of golf course experience. I was thinking about giving it a try... With all the information I've read on how to be come certified it seems really tough..... Any feedback would be great. Thanks...

   
   
   David,
   
   If certification is your goal then go for it. Degree or no degree. It may take a bit more time but don't let that hold you back. Chip away at the requirements and before you know it, your done. The satisfaction achieved will be well worth the effort.

   
   
   
   
3. Mark Van Lienden

   

   14 posts
   
   3/23/2013 6:03 AM

   David, I have never been to turf school and am certified and proud of it.I didn't pursue it and was a superintendent almost 20 years before I became certified.The people I have met along the way at classes from the gcsaa are worth at least as much as the education I received at the classes themselves.I do not believe the title CGCS has helped my career nor has it hurt it.There are ways of getting points now that are easier than before and there is paperwork that is harder as is with being a superintendent.If your goal is to be the best superintendent you can be then certification will merely be a documentation of the work that you do.

   
   
   
   
4. McDaniel Gregory B

   
   3/23/2013 3:03 PM

   Go for it, it would be a good substitute for a degree since you don't have one. If you have a degree it is a much easier path, but it just takes more CEU's and more service time etc. It should help in your case, but for those who have a degree it is just a personal choice really. It appears to make a difference in the job market because employers often ask for CGCS when they post a job on ERS, but they usually end up not even hiring a superintendent.

   
   
   
   
5. David Brudwick

   

   1 posts
   
   3/26/2013 5:03 PM

   Thanks everyone for your advice. I appreciated the comments...... Take care Dave

   
   
   
   
6. Stephen Ravenkamp

   

   1 posts
   
   3/27/2013 8:03 AM

   Dave,
   I don't have a turf degree or certificate; my degrees are in Business and Education. I had 11 years in the business, 8 of them as a superintendent, when I became Certified. Becoming certified is a personal decision. It may or may not help you in your career. To me, it was a personal challenge not a professional necessity. By all means, complete the career assessment. Be honest and it can tell you whether you are ready for certification or not. If you think you are ready, and you want to complete the process, go for it. I also believe you learn a lot about your strengths and weaknesses as you progress through the process. One word of advice: I have been on the certification committee for several years and have evaluated many portfolios. Rarely have I seen a lack of agronomic knowledge. The most frequent deficiency is attention to detail. But that is what our profession is all about and that is what sets professional superintendents apart from the "grass farmers". If I can be of any help to you feel free to contact me. Good luck.
   Steve Ravenkamp, CGCS
   Apache Stronghold Golf Course
   San Carlos, AZ