The Certified Golf Course Superintendent (CGCS) designation made its debut in 1971. At that time, certification was accomplished after five years of experience as a head superintendent with three as a GCSAA Class A member and successfully passing a challenging six-part exam. That process would eventually change in the early 2000s. The process was overhauled to require earning continuing-education credits, facility attesting and submission of a portfolio.

The program was revamped again in 2021, when the GCSAA Board of Directors approved revisions to the certification program, principally in response to modern workplace requirements on superintendents. With guidance from the Certification Committee, GCSAA staff and psychometricians — professionals who study people’s knowledge skills and abilities — the substantial portfolio process was removed. However, even with that requirement removed, the program remains just as professional and challenging. The proficiencies that were previously acknowledged through the portfolio are now verified through the exam, onsite course attesting and through the leadership and communication requirements.

Five decades after creating the first certification for golf course superintendents, GCSAA debuted the Certified Turf Equipment Manager (CTEM) program to bestow upon turf equipment management professionals who have demonstrated a high degree of knowledge and proficiency in their profession.

The CTEM designation was developed by turf equipment managers and educators under the guidance of a professional psychometrician. The CTEM designation is the highest recognition turf equipment management professionals can achieve and is the first certification program in the world for turf equipment manager professionals.

The CTEM program is the culmination of an ever-expanding list of programs for equipment managers since GCSAA added the Equipment Manager membership classification in 2015. Two years later, the Equipment Manager Certificate Program (EMCP), which demonstrates key competencies in eight different areas on two different levels, began. To be eligible to enter the CTEM program, individuals must be currently employed as a turf equipment manager, have three or more years of experience, and have successfully completed the EMCP Levels 1 and 2.

Between the changes in the CGCS program and the introduction of the CTEM designation, the number of superintendents and equipment managers who achieve the CGCS and CTEM designations respectively, continues to grow nationally, as well as in the Great Lakes region.

Eight members across the region have earned their CTEM designations since the program began, including Jason Goebel, CTEM, and Austin LaVoie, CTEM, here in 2024.

In the Great Lakes region, five members earned their CGCS designation in 2024: Ryan Franklin, CGCS, Ian Gallagher, CGCS, John Gianopoulos, CGCS, Steve Hammon, CGCS and Jordan Caplan, CGCS.