Guelph Turf Management Students Doing Their Part

I have always been impressed with the Turfgrass Management Program at the University of Guelph. Their graduates are among the finest in the business. Over the years I have befriended a number of them and a few have even written a few stories for us at Flagstick Golf Magazine.

This year they have really been stepping up their game. Just last month we heard about their Blogging project where the students each started their own space to talk about the industry and provide their perspective to the world as a communications exercise. Now we hear they have developed a Symposium that is very timely in subject matter.

Knowing they need to support the industry they plan to work in, the students in the Guelph Turfgrass Program have created a free seminar for Turf Businesses. It is designed to help them deal with the challenges of competing and surviving in the current working climate - one not only impacted by a tough economy but increasingly strict environmental barriers as well.

Run by 30 first year students, the Symposium is scheduled for November 27th from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Cutten Club in Guelph, Ontario. It is titled "Doing More with Less: Turf in Tough Times." A full line-up of speakers will tackle the issues that their industry currently faces and speak to how to secure a strong bottom line, even with limited resources.

Student Brad Moyer comments, "The knowledge gained and industry connections made at the symposium will be valuable to class members and industry professionals alike."

The three keynote speakers come from a variety of industry backgrounds and sectors, creating a program suitable for golf course superintendents or just about any turfgrass professional. They include Ron Schiedel, co-owner of Green Horizon Group of Farms Ltd, Keith Bartlett, Superintendent of St. George's Golf & Country Club (Host of the 2010 RBC Canadian Open), and Dr. Tom Hsiang, pathology researcher at the University of Guelph.

The students will also have a hand in the presentations by each providing two-minute tips based on the knowledge they have gained from their educational and practical experience.

If you would like more information about the Symposium or want to sign up for one of the limited spots you can contact Rae Urwin at 1-226-979-3955 or via email at rurwin@uoguelph.ca.

More information of the Symposium can be found here: http://turfintoughtimes.weebly.com/

It looks to be an educational line-up and in tight economic times, the price is certainly right!