by
Shane Conroy
| May 26, 2023
This week’s post is pretty straightforward, if you’re a Class C member, this one’s for you.
42. EXCEL Leadership Program
Nufarm and the GCSAA announced their partnership in the creation of the EXCEL Leadership Program in October 2017 to offer leading-edge development opportunities for future golf course management leaders.
Fast Forward to 2023, this program is the premier program for GCSAA Class C members and has been churning out future leaders and superintendents since its inception.
What is the program:
The EXCEL Leadership Program features two, two-day education and training sessions and a trip to the annual GCSAA Conference and Trade Show for assistant golf course superintendents. The three-year program offers leadership training for personal, career and community/industry stewardship exclusively for assistant superintendents. The EXCEL Leadership Program focuses on education, cross-training and creating, encouraging and developing community leaders.
Some of the previous two-day education and training sessions have included:
- Trip to the home of GCSAA in Lawrence, Kans.
- Visit to Nufarm HQ in IL along with training and education events in Chicago
- Participation in National Golf Day activities in Washington, D.C.
- Trip to Frisco, Texas, the home of the PGA of America
Each of the three years also includes a trip to the GCSAA Conference and Tradeshow.
Eligibility:
To be considered, a GCSAA Class C member must complete the application and respond to two pre-selected essay questions. Up to eight assistant superintendents will be selected for this opportunity to develop their leadership skills over a three-year period.
Applicants must be:
- Currently employed as an assistant golf course superintendent within the United States (including Alaska and Hawaii) or Canada.
- A Class C member of GCSAA
- Able to participate for three full years
- Not be working for current members of the GCSAA Board of Directors or GCSAA Foundation Board of Trustees, children of GCSAA or Nufarm staff, or current employees of those organizations.
This program was not around when I was a Class C member, but if it had, I would have been all over it. If you’re a GCSAA Class C member, I highly encourage you to apply for this unique experience. Applications close at the end of May, so you’ll need to act quickly.
As always, if you’ve missed a previous post, check them out below: