This week’s post is pretty straightforward, if you’re a Class C member, this one’s for you.

42. EXCEL Leadership Program

Nufarm and the GCSAA announced their partnership in the creation of the EXCEL Leadership Program in October 2017 to offer leading-edge development opportunities for future golf course management leaders.

Fast Forward to 2023, this program is the premier program for GCSAA Class C members and has been churning out future leaders and superintendents since its inception.  

What is the program:

The EXCEL Leadership Program features two, two-day education and training sessions and a trip to the annual GCSAA Conference and Trade Show for assistant golf course superintendents. The three-year program offers leadership training for personal, career and community/industry stewardship exclusively for assistant superintendents. The EXCEL Leadership Program focuses on education, cross-training and creating, encouraging and developing community leaders.

Some of the previous two-day education and training sessions have included:

• Trip to the home of GCSAA in Lawrence, Kans.
• Visit to Nufarm HQ in IL along with training and education events in Chicago
• Participation in National Golf Day activities in Washington, D.C.
• Trip to Frisco, Texas, the home of the PGA of America

Each of the three years also includes a trip to the GCSAA Conference and Tradeshow.

Eligibility:

To be considered, a GCSAA Class C member must complete the application and respond to two pre-selected essay questions. Up to eight assistant superintendents will be selected for this opportunity to develop their leadership skills over a three-year period.

Applicants must be:

• Currently employed as an assistant golf course superintendent within the United States (including Alaska and Hawaii) or Canada.
• A Class C member of GCSAA
• Able to participate for three full years
• Not be working for current members of the GCSAA Board of Directors or GCSAA Foundation Board of Trustees, children of GCSAA or Nufarm staff, or current employees of those organizations.
  

This program was not around when I was a Class C member, but if it had, I would have been all over it. If you’re a GCSAA Class C member, I highly encourage you to apply for this unique experience. Applications close at the end of May, so you’ll need to act quickly.

As always, if you’ve missed a previous post, check them out 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
9. First Green
10. Affiliated Chapters
11. Disaster Relief Fund
12. Planning for Retirement
13. Career Resources
14. Compensation and Benefits
15. FFA
16. Priority Issues Agenda
17. Action Alerts
18. Grassroots Ambassadors
19. Advocacy Teams
20. Webinars
21. Assistant Superintendent Certificate Series
22. Equipment Manager Classification
23. Equipment Manager Certificate Program
24. Certified Turf Equipment Manager (CTEM)
25. Modernized CGCS Program
26. GCSAA Golf Championships
27. There’s an app for that: GCSAA and Conference and Trade Show apps
28. Collegiate Turf Bowl
29. Envu Superintendent Grant Program
30. GCSAA Scholarships
31. GCSAA Scholars Competition
32. GCSAA Virtual Education Event
33. Chapter Leadership Symposium
34. Chapter Outreach Grant
35. Chapter Connection
36. Masters Admission
37. Class A Membership
38. Class AS Membership
39. Rounds 4 Research
40. GCSAA Foundation Research Programs
41. GCSAA and National Golf Day