what experience/education do golf course mowers need?

by Lue Graham 10 min read

Golf Course Groundskeeper Job Requirements
Education: Most employers require a minimum of a high school diploma or GED and a minimum of one year of experience in groundskeeping, landscaping or another related field. Some employers prefer a bachelor's degree in horticulture, agriculture or a related field.
Apr 13, 2022

How do I choose the best mowers for my golf course?

Superintendents should select mowers that will produce a top-quality cut on the areas of the golf course where they will be used. External influences such as disease, drought and heat influence mowing practices. Superintendents must adjust their mowing strategies accordingly.

Is your mowing equipment as good as your golf course maintenance fleet?

The end result of any mowing strategy will only be as good as the mowing equipment in a golf course’s maintenance fleet. Ralph Kepple, Certified Golf Course Superintendent at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, relies on machines that are easy to operate and easy to maintain.

What are the qualifications of a golf course maintenance worker?

With that said, golf course maintenance workers should possess the same qualities as other maintenance technicians. They should be physically fit, detail-oriented, able to work under pressure, and skilled at repairing routine assets. Most golf clubs require at least a high school diploma or GED and some equipment maintenance experience.

Why choose LASTEC golf course mowers?

One in four of the world’s top 100 PGA championship golf courses rely on Lastec Golf Course Mowers for maximum cut quality and performance with minimum investment, maintenance, and man power. Built in the USA! Home Mowers Zero Turn

What education do you need to be a golfer?

Earn a bachelor's degree or complete an apprenticeship The PGA apprenticeship program requires that golfers complete three levels of training, which includes areas like: Tournament operations. Golf club design. Swing analysis.

How do you become a golf course starter?

Starters are responsible for the orderly and timely movement of tee times, controlling the pace of play, and ensuring the golf course policies and dress code are followed in addition to providing guests high quality customer service. Interacts with golfers in a friendly, helpful manner.

What kind of mower do golf courses use?

reel mowerRather than the more familiar rotary-style lawn mower, a specialized type of reel mower is required to cut turf at low, putting green heights. A reel mower creates a scissor-like action where turfgrass leaves are clipped by the crossing of two cutting edges—the reel blades and bedknife.

What does a groundskeeper do at a golf course?

Tasks specific to golf course maintenance include: raking bunkers, mowing greens, changing hole locations, hand watering, blowing debris, filling ball washers, filling water coolers, moving tee markers, etc.

What skills do you need to work at a golf course?

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:Good communication skills.Good interpersonal skills.Organizational skills.Customer service experience.Positive attitude and willingness to work in a team.Knowledge of the game of golf.

Do you tip the starter at a golf course?

Standard tip is $2-$3 per bag, maybe $5 if you want to make sure they assist you after the round. Tips for the starter aren't necessary unless the starter is doing something special for you. Most starters simply check you in at the first tee, maybe announce that it is your turn to tee off.

How much does a golf course lawn mower cost?

Golf course mowing equipment is much more complex and expensive than most people think. A walking greens mower will run about $10,000 while a riding greens mower will cost roughly $40,000. A mower for fairways costs about $70,000!

What height are golf greens cut at?

about 0.125 inchThe standard mowing height for golf greens has been about 0.125 inch. A good speed for the green has been around 7.5 to 8.5 feet.

How long does it take to mow a golf course?

Golf course superintendents would much prefer to complete fairway and rough mowing ahead of play because mowing during play can be very inefficient. Unfortunately, fairway mowing often requires three to four units mowing for three to four hours to complete the process.

What do you call a person who maintains a golf course?

A golf course superintendent (or greenkeeper) is a person responsible for the care and upkeep of a golf course or a sport turf playing surface.

What do you call someone who works at a golf course?

PGA teaching professionals are sometimes called assistants and work underneath the head pro. Many of them teach, work in the golf shop and coordinate golf course events and tournaments. These staffers are many times certified PGA professionals or in the PGA apprentice program.

What is golf course maintenance?

Golf Course Maintenance Personnel Duties include but not limited to: lawn care maintenance, fertilizing, watering, weeding, irrigation maintenance, tree pruning, spring/fall cleanups, golf course maintenance, basic equipment…

How wide is a Lastec golf mower?

The 9.8 feet wide belt-driven rotary mower became the first in a complete range of mowers that has dominated high-end rotary mowers for more than the last three decades. Today, one in four of the world’s top 100 golf courses rely on mowers built by Lastec.

What is a wide area mower?

Wide area mowers = more grass cut with each pass. The articulation and flexing decks of the XR700 are important for our golf course with all the rolling hills, mounds, and slopes. It is important that we don’t get the scalping that you get with other mowers. Nate Bryant.

Who is Lastec mower?

Lastec Mowers was founded by an innovative engineer who was faced with the problem of mowing his golf course with rolling terrain. At the time, there was nothing on the market that minimized investment, maintenance, and man-power while maximizing cut quality and performanceuntil Lastec introducedflex decks in the turf industry in 1990.

What are the factors that affect golf course mowing?

External conditions such as disease, drought and heat also affect golf course mowing practices. Many properties in various parts of the country struggled with a prolonged heat wave last summer, and maintenance crews had to adjust their mowing practices accordingly.

What is mowing in golf?

Mowing is the primary input in golf course maintenance, and the growth rate of the grass is a product of the environment . Consequently, superintendents must always be prepared to adjust their mowing practices according to prevailing conditions. Mother Nature had even more to say than usual about turf conditions at many golf courses nationwide in ...

What kind of mower does Glen Echo use?

Glen Echo uses reel mowers on the greens, tees and fairways, and rotary mowers in the rough. Wachter is considering using a large-area mower in open areas and tee boxes, and quicker, lighter mowers to get around a large stand of 50- to 70-year-old trees that provide lots of shade and take moisture out of the rough.

What are the features of a lawn mower?

When evaluating mowers, superintendents rely on a number of features to help them select the best equipment. They include: 1 Price 2 Size and speed of the mower 3 Maneuverability 4 Durability 5 Design 6 Ease of operation 7 Ability to maintain the mowers 8 Size and type of terrain to be mowed

What are the factors that affect mowing?

External influences such as disease, drought and heat influence mowing practices. Superintendents must adjust their mowing strategies accordingly. Other inputs, such as the use of growth regulators, can affect mowing practices. Mowing is the primary input in golf course maintenance, and the growth rate of the grass is a product of the environment.

What is a good cut on golf course turfgrass?

A quality cut on golf course turfgrass is a top priority for any superintendent— and being able to readily adjust mowing practices according to conditions is the key to quality control. Superintendents should select mowers that will produce a top-quality cut on the areas of the golf course where they will be used.

Does East Lake use reel mowers?

While the East Lake staff uses reel mowers on the fairways, tees and greens where the cut heights are lower, it relies on rotary mowers for the rough. “The rotaries have more horsepower, and they’re more productive—they can cut a lot of acres in an hour,” Kepple explains. “They also leave a cleaner finished product.

How many credit hours do I need to become a golf course manager?

Most bachelor of science programs require the student to complete a minimum of 120-200 credit hours (units) for the degree. Associate of science/applied science degrees normally require a minimum of 60-100 credit hours (units).

What do you need to be a golf course superintendent?

Preparing for a career as a golf course superintendent. Golf facilities are complex business operations. Superintendents need much more than just technical ability. Formal education in plant sciences, landscaping, business management, personnel administration and public relations is essential.

Why is continuing education important for GCSAA?

Even after attaining a degree, continuing education is critical for keeping current on the advancements in management practices, regulations, new turfgrasses and equipment. GCSAA also has set certain levels of competencies for the GCSAA superintendents’ varying career paths and provides comprehensive continuing education for GCSAA members to achieve their goals.

What is golf course management?

Golf course management carries a variety of responsibilities. Superintendents enjoy an attractive employment setting with frequent opportunities to be outdoors on the golf course. The profession is highly competitive. It’s advantageous to have a strong educational background and some practical work experience.

What is the difference between a two year and a four year program?

The same curriculum outlines a typical four-year program to give you a more concrete idea of the courses you may take in pursuing your degree or program. A two-year curriculum generally has fewer general education courses and electives than a four-year program.

What is the best way to become a pro golfer?

Developing an outgoing personality and the ability to listen to customers’ needs and concerns are important aspects of becoming a pro. Giving lessons to club members or daily fee golfers also requires a winning personality and a positive attitude.

What is a golf pro?

A golf pro at a club must be a proficient player and instructor. At both public and private courses, the head golf professional oversees the operations of the golf shop, including merchandise sales. The head pro may also give golf lessons, but at some golf facilities this is done by a teaching professional--a separate position.

Reelmaster Series

Known for providing a consistent, rewarding playing surface, Reelmasters are used at some of the most iconic and prestigious golf courses in the world. From special surrounds and tight trim areas to wide open fairways, Toro has a Reelmaster that will give a tournament-level cut every time.

Service Tips for Reel Mowers

Tips and techniques gathered by experts at Toro and in the field, as well as information from service bulletins and service schools.

Selected with Care

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The end result of any mowing strategy will only be as good as the mowing equipment in a golf course’s maintenance fleet. Ralph Kepple, Certified Golf Course Superintendent at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, relies on machines that are easy to operate and easy to maintain. Although East Lake is “not overly hilly,” he says, t…
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Proper Mechanics

  • The selection of mowing equipment is not the only key to achieving a quality cut, however. The people who maintain and operate the machinery are vital to the process as well—and of these, no one is more critical than the mechanic. “He’s my key employee, and he would be the hardest to replace,” Patton says. “He can do things I can’t do.” Kepple agrees. “A great mechanic will take y…
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Extremes Are No Game

  • External conditions such as disease, drought and heat also affect golf course mowing practices. Many properties in various parts of the country struggled with a prolonged heat wave last summer, and maintenance crews had to adjust their mowing practices accordingly. “We live with the weather the same way a farmer lives with it,” explains Patton. Last year’s heat did not affect t…
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Added Inputs

  • At Forest Creek GC, the staff rolls greens after aerification to smooth out the turf, and the crew rolls or double-cuts greens in preparation for tournaments or other special events. However, notes Patton, the crew can double-cut greens faster than it can roll the greens, because the property has a fleet of 20 walking greens mowers but only two rollers for 36 holes. The property also uses gro…
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