October 30, 2003

 

NDSU Turfgrass Management Program Starts Strong

Twenty-three students are enrolled in the first year of the Sports and Urban Turfgrass Management program at North Dakota State University, according to Deying Li, program coordinator. "Experts feel there will be strong, continued growth in the industry especially here in North Dakota because the industry is not well developed."

The Department of Plant Sciences offers the four-year program. Students can specialize in fields such as maintaining a sports complex, managing a golf course, developing equipment, consulting, establishing a business in the industry, sod farming, chemical and equipment sales, irrigation design, and sport facility architecture. "Some students will take business courses because they want to start their own company," Li says. "Others may take soil or plant protection related courses because they want to manage turfgrasses. There are many options depending upon the students interests."

Some call it the "baby boom," Li prefers to call it the "golf boom." "After World War II golf courses were built at a rapid pace. Today, that demand continues as almost 400 golf courses are constructed each year. I’m also optimistic that more courses will be built in North Dakota."

"Students going into turf management, such as a golf course management, will have lots of public pressure. On one hand, the superintendent will be pressured by management to keep the course green and lush so golfers are happy while the public may have concerns over possible chemical pollution from over-spraying or endangering wildlife," Li says. "That is why we train students in communication skills, leadership ability, and environment awareness."

Li also sees the potential for the program to change the dynamics of the state’s economy. "On average, a typical sod farmer will sell his product in a 75-mile radius. Other than a couple of hobby sod farms, there are currently no sod farmers in the state. Some landscapers must haul sod 300 to 400 miles. It’s an opportunity for a producer to diversify or someone to enter the turf grass business."

Research will also be a big part of the new program. "With research you have to look at the positive effect on the students," Li says. "Research gives students the opportunity for hands on training as well as classroom work." There are some research plots currently dedicated to turf grass studies but Li is hoping to expand those plots. The program has received a joint USDA-United States Golf Association grant for a national turfgrass cultivar evaluation program. The USGA also is sponsoring research on putting green construction.

On a more local level, Li is working on research with some small-scale sod farmers and golf course superintendents. "In one case, a golf course superintendent contacted us about flooding on one of the holes," Li says. "He wanted to know if there was any way to save the grass in the future because the hole floods almost every year. We’ve discovered that other golf courses are having the same problem because many of them are built along rivers. We’re looking into cultural practices or chemicals that may help the grass survive.

We get a lot of samples from golf courses and home owners wanting to know why their grass is having problems. We identify excellent research topics from local and regional turf management problems."

The new program is located in Loftsgard Hall on the NDSU campus, which also houses the Department of Plant Sciences. It includes classrooms, research labs and student learning centers. Other facilities include a newly constructed greenhouse to be used for turfgrass research and teaching. Research plots are located on campus and at Research Extension Centers in Dickinson and Williston.

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Source: Deying Li, (701) 231-8037, deying.li@ndsu.nodak.edu
Editor: Rich Mattern, (701) 231-6136, richard.mattern@ndsu.nodak.edu