Adelaide’s Glenelg Golf Club, in conjunction with the ASTMA hosted students participating in the First Green initiative last week. The First Green Program is designed to provide school-aged students with an exhilarating introduction to the industry of sports turf management. 

Students are exposed to various exciting components of the job and see firsthand how science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) can be integrated into real-world environments. By making learning fun and interactive, students are captivated by the industry’s varied ideas and principles.

Across two separate days at Glenelg (Tuesday and Thursday), students from Banksia Park International High School and the Transition Pathways Program took part in club’s inaugural First Green events. The sessions began with an introduction to the venue, industry and course led by superintendent Tim Warren, followed by a program introduction from ASTMA SA state training manager Chris McCulloch. The cohort were then divided into three groups, each participating in different interactive presentations which included:

Water Usage and Conservation: Led by Tim Warren, students learned about how water is sourced and used on the golf course. They conducted water testing on bore water, wetland and potable water samples, focusing on pH and EC testing. Students also disassembled a valve-in-head sprinkler and experimented with turning on course sprinklers using an iPad.

‘Mower Magic’: Presented by Glenelg assistant superintendent Adam Fry and course mechanic Tim Cowin, this session took students around the maintenance shed, discussing machinery and cutting requirements. They demonstrated blade sharpening and allowed students to sit on and explore some of the mowers and equipment.

Cool Tools on the Golf Green: Chris McCulloch and Glenelg senior assistant Susana Oliveira led this session, with students gaining hands-on experience with a moisture meter, TruFirm, stimpmeter and soil sampling, including testing and root measuring.

The event concluded with a putting competition, which the students thoroughly enjoyed. Feedback from the day was overwhelmingly positive, with students expressing their enjoyment of the hands-on experience and introduction to the world of sports turf management.

If you and your club are interested in hosting a similar event in your region, CLICK HERE to find out more information.