I'm very interested in basing my career in life around sports, I was very curious where to begin with groundskeeping, and I didn't have the slightest idea of where to begin looking for a career like this in my area(Louisville,KY) and I thought I would leave a post on here hoping to get some advice from the people of SOSH.
I have a hunger to work very hard and a perfectionist, and I would like to apply these things towards something I would enjoy and cherish once I completed it.
Thanks for anyones help. Go Sox.
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Groundskeeper Jobs(Where to begin?)
Started by
patriotsox09
, Oct 25 2007 04:12 PM
8 replies to this topic
#2
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Posted 26 October 2007 - 11:08 AM
I'm very interested in basing my career in life around sports, I was very curious where to begin with groundskeeping, and I didn't have the slightest idea of where to begin looking for a career like this in my area(Louisville,KY) and I thought I would leave a post on here hoping to get some advice from the people of SOSH.
I have a hunger to work very hard and a perfectionist, and I would like to apply these things towards something I would enjoy and cherish once I completed it.
Thanks for anyones help. Go Sox.
Go to school or back to school. For example:
http://www.turffiles.ncsu.edu/
Work anywhere that can get you started working in the area. Work at a golf course. Start somewhere, work you're way up.
#3
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stupidity monitor
Posted 26 October 2007 - 11:21 AM
Believe it or not, UMass/Amherst has a program for students interested in this called the Extension Turf program. A friend's son is doing it, and he got to work at a golf course in the Carolinas over the summer. His goal is to do this work at a baseball park some day.
http://www.umassturf.org/
http://www.umassturf.org/
#4
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Dick Button Jr.
Posted 26 October 2007 - 11:46 AM
The turfgrass programs at Penn State have a reputation as being among the best in the US.
Penn State Turfgrass
I PM'd you about it too.
Penn State Turfgrass
I PM'd you about it too.
#5
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Posted 26 October 2007 - 11:03 PM
A friend of mine is also in the UMass program and worked at a golf course in baltimore this summer. It seems like a ton of work.
#6
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SoSH Member
Posted 19 July 2008 - 09:21 PM
My friend did the NC State program and is about to begin an internship at Oak Hill Country Club in NY. It can get you a lot of places. Also, NFL teams have summer internships in a lot of different areas. Maybe try to see if they have a groundscrew one.
#7
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Carrie Nation
Posted 24 July 2008 - 11:01 PM
Here is a link to many of the Turfgrass programs offered at universities across the country.
http://www.agry.purd.../links/univ.htm
Here is the link to the Turfgrass program at the University of Kentucky.
http://www.uky.edu/Ag/ukturf/
UK has a bunch of Athletic Field Maintenance Programs that are offered online.
http://www.uky.edu/A...ublications.htm
Here is a link to the courses offered by the Department of Agriculture at Western Kentucky University.
http://www.wku.edu/c...ubcategoryid=50
http://www.agry.purd.../links/univ.htm
Here is the link to the Turfgrass program at the University of Kentucky.
http://www.uky.edu/Ag/ukturf/
UK has a bunch of Athletic Field Maintenance Programs that are offered online.
http://www.uky.edu/A...ublications.htm
Here is a link to the courses offered by the Department of Agriculture at Western Kentucky University.
http://www.wku.edu/c...ubcategoryid=50
#8
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Posted 25 July 2008 - 04:11 PM
My experience is in baseball, so I'll speak to that...
The route you choose to take will really depend on your finances, free time and of course the opportunities around you. I wouldn't bother trying to study turf in college. Most of the groundskeepers I've met have never set foot in a classroom, and I'm not just talking about old, grizzled vets. A lot of young guys work their way up from the grounds crew or from maintaining other fields.
There are a lot of guys who study to be groundkeepers and get good jobs, but I think most of them have to do their time just like everyone else once they get out of college. I really can't imagine anyone I know hiring someone to take care of their field on the basis of their degree in turf science. Almost every groundskeeper I know worked their way up from the grounds crew or they were well-known for taking care of some high school or municipal fields. The groundskeeper at our team spent a few years taking care of one high school field by himself on the weekends. He also made himself available to us in emergencies (field flooded, warning track got messed up, etc.). When our old groundskeeper decided to move on, he recommended this guy for the job and he's been fantastic. The guy we had before that worked his way up from the grounds crew (about 4 seasons I think) as did the guy before that. My experience has been that most groundskeepers in minor league baseball got their jobs through similar means.
I'm not saying that a college degree is worthless to a groundskeeper, it's not. I would imagine most of the guys coming out of those programs become great groundskeepers. However, a knowledgeable GM is interested in your college background primarily for your organizational and clerical skills. There is a lot of supply ordering, inventory tracking and sometimes bill paying involved in being a groundskeeper and a college degree shows a GM that you're not just some retard that knows how to cut the grass. But do you really need a four year degree in turf maintenance to demonstrate that? I'd say no. If you have an AA in English and have cared for a high school field for a couple of seasons, you're going to be a pretty strong candidate.
In baseball, most of the hiring for entry-level grounds crew takes place in January or February. Your job as a member of the grounds crew doesn't entail everything you need to know about being a groundskeeper, but it is a great opening to learn. A lot of these guys love talking about their jobs and have no problem showing you the ins-and-outs if you're willing to provide them with an extra set of hands every once-in-a-while. Just make yourself available.
The route you choose to take will really depend on your finances, free time and of course the opportunities around you. I wouldn't bother trying to study turf in college. Most of the groundskeepers I've met have never set foot in a classroom, and I'm not just talking about old, grizzled vets. A lot of young guys work their way up from the grounds crew or from maintaining other fields.
There are a lot of guys who study to be groundkeepers and get good jobs, but I think most of them have to do their time just like everyone else once they get out of college. I really can't imagine anyone I know hiring someone to take care of their field on the basis of their degree in turf science. Almost every groundskeeper I know worked their way up from the grounds crew or they were well-known for taking care of some high school or municipal fields. The groundskeeper at our team spent a few years taking care of one high school field by himself on the weekends. He also made himself available to us in emergencies (field flooded, warning track got messed up, etc.). When our old groundskeeper decided to move on, he recommended this guy for the job and he's been fantastic. The guy we had before that worked his way up from the grounds crew (about 4 seasons I think) as did the guy before that. My experience has been that most groundskeepers in minor league baseball got their jobs through similar means.
I'm not saying that a college degree is worthless to a groundskeeper, it's not. I would imagine most of the guys coming out of those programs become great groundskeepers. However, a knowledgeable GM is interested in your college background primarily for your organizational and clerical skills. There is a lot of supply ordering, inventory tracking and sometimes bill paying involved in being a groundskeeper and a college degree shows a GM that you're not just some retard that knows how to cut the grass. But do you really need a four year degree in turf maintenance to demonstrate that? I'd say no. If you have an AA in English and have cared for a high school field for a couple of seasons, you're going to be a pretty strong candidate.
In baseball, most of the hiring for entry-level grounds crew takes place in January or February. Your job as a member of the grounds crew doesn't entail everything you need to know about being a groundskeeper, but it is a great opening to learn. A lot of these guys love talking about their jobs and have no problem showing you the ins-and-outs if you're willing to provide them with an extra set of hands every once-in-a-while. Just make yourself available.
Edited by YouLookAdopted, 25 July 2008 - 04:13 PM.
#9
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- 15,603 posts
swabbie bastard
Posted 28 July 2008 - 12:22 PM
A lifetime ay groondskeepin' isnae somethin' tae be taken lightly ... ye dornt choose it, it chooses ye!
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