April 3, 2000

Bowling Green, Ky. -- Dreams of walking up the 18th green at Valhalla or making the turn at Augusta National's Amen Corner are being nurtured at a two-hole golf course on Western Kentucky University's farm.

The dreamers aren't members of WKU golf teams, but students in the Agriculture Department's ever-growing turfgrass, landscape and golf course management programs.

Western has 30 students in its landscape horticulture program and 41 in the turf/golf course management program. "We recognize a real important need in the area of turfgrass and golf course management because of the number of golf courses today," said James Martin, horticulture professor.

The United States has about 16,000 golf courses with more than 270 in Kentucky. At a rate of one new golf course opening each day, students graduating from Western with a two-year or four-year degree in turf science have an excellent job outlook, said Haibo Liu, assistant professor of turf science.

"In both the landscape area and the golf course management area, we have never had a problem placing students in jobs," Dr. Martin said.

Graduates of the horticulture program find jobs available in landscape nursery or design businesses, public gardening programs, education and the Extension service, Dr. Martin said. "With the training and background from Western, it is easy to establish a business and work anywhere," he said.

WKU turf graduates also are finding work at local and national golf courses. Recent graduates work at Valhalla in Louisville and golf courses in New York and Alabama.

A successful internship program provides students with hands-on experience, including one this summer at Augusta National, home of The Masters.

Western's Agriculture Department has strengthened the turf program in the past 10 years. The most important development was the addition of the two-hole golf course at the Agriculture Research and Education Complex in 1994, Dr. Liu said.

The course is a laboratory for turfgrass research and for student learning, he said. Students maintain the course, greens and irrigation system. In turf mechanics courses directed by Pete Dotson, students learn to operate and maintain mowers and other equipment.

The programs couldn't thrive without the support of the department, University and industry, Dr. Martin said. The "urban agriculture" programs of horticulture and turf management attract students who aren't from traditional agriculture backgrounds, he said.

The programs actively recruit students through high school contacts and an annual FFA field day at the L.D. Brown Agricultural Exposition Center. But the department soon will have another recruiting tool, thanks to a $146,900 grant from the National Council for Agricultural Education.

Through the grant, Western is developing a series of instructional materials for high school turfgrass, landscaping and lawn care programs.

The goal is to develop a CD-ROM or website "that will provide in one place the materials teachers can use," he said. The instructional materials and activities should give high school students a solid foundation in horticulture, turfgrass and golf course management.

A writing team is coordinating and developing the curriculum for golf course management, lawn care, landscaping and sports turf. The material will include plant science, soils, basic techniques and environmental components.

The material will be reviewed by an advisory committee before being presented this fall at the National FFA convention in Louisville. Next February, Western will conduct a training session for teachers from across the nation.

"We are really excited to work on this much-needed project," Dr. Liu said.