Coming off yet another successful First Green field trip last week — hosted by 40-year GCSAA member Randy Brehmer, CGCS at the Fort Golf Resort in Indianapolis, Ind. — and as we head into the fall school year, this is a good time to highlight this great program as the ninth post.

9. First Green

The First Green has been around for 25 years. Beginning in 1997, First Green is the only STEM education and environmental outreach program in the United States and Canada that uses golf courses as learning labs.

First Green — officially a GCSAA program for the past handful of years — pairs golf courses with local schools, youth groups, clubs or junior golf programs for unique Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) learning opportunities.

Not only exposing students to the game of golf, First Green gives students a first-hand look into the life of a golf course superintendent.

Learning labs are set up on the golf course during field trips. These labs expose students to the STEM education golf course superintendents utilize each day.

There is no one size fits all field trip for each course and learning labs can consist of any of the following:

• Cool tools on the green
  • Cup cutters
  • Soil prisms
  • Macroscopes
    

   

• Soil science
  • Sand, silt and clay
  • Water infiltration rates of various soils
  • Native soils vs. green construction
    

   

• Equipment
  • Various mowing equipment
  • Rollers, aerifiers
  • Tractors
  • Discuss how various engineering is used in the different pieces
    

   

• Native areas on the course
  • What wildlife lives on the property
  • Are pollinators part of your property
  • What environmental stewardship practices are implemented
    

 

• Driving range and/or putting
  • Always popular with the students, learning to hit balls and/or putt is a great way to expose students to the game

The First Green is an excellent program to grow the profession and expose students to careers available on the golf course. It helps inspire the next generation of superintendents, assistants, equipment managers as well as promote the benefits golf courses bring to the local community. If you’re interested in hosting a First Green field trip, please reach out to your field staff rep!

If you have missed any of the previous posts, you can find them below:

1. GCSAA Association Health Program
2. GCSAA Foundation
3. Awards Anyone?
4. Conference and Tradeshow
5. Melrose Leadership Academy
6. Melrose Equipment Experience
7. Thank a Superintendent Day
8. Golf Course Environmental Profile