History of the Turf Equipment Management Program at Lake City

[JohnPiersol]

The Associate in Science degree Golf Course Operations and Landscape Technology programs started on the campus of Lake City Community College (LCCC) in 1967. By the early 1970’s, there was concern among leaders in the golf industry about the increasing sophisticated golf course equipment and the lack of specifically trained golf course mechanics. Dr. Nutter, the first Director of the Golf Course Operations and Landscape Technology programs worked with industry to establish an Industry Advisory Committee for what was then called Golf Course Mechanics Technology (GCMT). The first curriculum was developed with direct input from industry.
Following is direct information written by Dr. Nutter to the curriculum committee on the LCCC campus:
A. Introduction
Golf Course Mechanics Technology is a new one-year credit-hour program to be offered in Golf and Landscape Operations Department, scheduled to begin fall 1973. It will be a unique program in the turf industry in the United States.

The need for this specialized program has been projected by the State Department of Education Advisory Committee for the Turf Industry since 1971 in their State Manpower Profile Study. They suggest it be located at this college because of the logical tie-in with the existing program in Golf Course Operations, now a proven program known nationally.

Based on the above endorsement, the recommendations of an Advisory Committee for Golf Course Mechanics and further personal contacts with the golf course industry in Florida, the Southeast and the nation, need for this specialized curriculum more that justifies its earliest possible commencement.

B. Objective of New Program
The objective of this program is to train golf course mechanics whose duties combine mechanics technology, shop management and in some cases supervisory responsibilities. In the golf course table of organization the mechanic is directly responsible to the golf course superintendent (who is trained in our Golf Course Operations program).

C. Program Justification
In Florida alone it has been estimated by leaders in the golf course equipment industry that sales and service of golf course equipment exceed $10,000,000 annually. This is increasing rapidly with the expanding number of golf courses (increased from 125 in 1953 to over 500 in 1973).

As the volume of golf course equipment increases, so does its complexity and sophistication. Not only does the volume of equipment sales increase due to the expanding number of golf courses, but also due to the increasing expenditure per course. The high costs and shortage of labor has forced increased mechanization and today the equipment inventory on a modern 18-hole golf course facility may vary between $75,000 and $100,000. Many of the golf courses in Florida and the Southeast are multi-course complexes in which the value of the equipment would be much higher.

In order to maintain this increasing volume and complexity of equipment requires a mechanically oriented specialist who is familiar with golf course operations and the specialized type of equipment used thereon. Thus, he must be trained differently than the typical automotive mechanic. To my knowledge there is no such training program anywhere in the United States. Therefore, in exploratory discussions, both the golf course superintendents and the equipment industry (manufacturers, distributors, and service specialists) have enthusiastically encouraged the development of this new program in Golf Course Mechanics Technology as an adjunct to our school of Golf Course Operations.

In addition to golf courses, graduates of the proposed curriculum will be in demand by the commercial elements of the industry (dealer and distributor sales and service) and will be better trained than any other available manpower for other facilities in the environmental industry who use much of the same types of equipment including landscape construction and maintenance firms, parks, sod farms, etc.

A further need for this training program is increased by the impact of OSHA (the Federal Occupation Safety and Health Act) regulations which are demanding modernization of all shop facilities in the golf course and landscape industries. In many cases this calls for a better trained mechanic than currently employed and currently available.

It is estimated by industry leaders that once the program is established, the market for this highly specialized technician will easily absorb 25-30 graduates per year. They further estimate that starting and benefit salary ranges for successful graduates will be between $7,500 and $8,500 per year with an increased earnings potential of $10,000 to $12,000.

D. Advisory Committee
Anticipating the development of this new program, an industry task force was selected in 1972 by the State Advisory Committee to explore the job requirements for modern golf course mechanic and shop operations. From this a list of job skills was developed as the starting point for curriculum development. A preliminary curriculum was presented to the State Advisory Committee and after review was endorsed in principal with recommendations that the new program be developed through proper channels at Lake City Community College.

In March, President Phillips appointed an official Advisory Committee for the proposed program in Golf Course Mechanics Technology, comprised of the original task force plus additional leaders in the golf course equipment industry throughout the Southeast. The first meeting of this committee was held March 23, 1973.

(End of Dr. Nutter’s quoted information)

This background information from Dr. Nutter written in 1973 is very interesting as the need for trained equipment managers has increased tremendously, but the supply, even after about 35 years has not increased. Also, interesting are the 1973 statistics, and equipment costs, and salaries.

The Golf Course Mechanics Technology program started in fall 1973. Steve Bolton, a local small engine shop owner, was the first instructor. In 1975, a retired Navy Chief Petty Officer, Ed Combest, joined the faculty as the instructor, and the program began to make a major move toward shop management and preventive maintenance which Ed learned well from his Navy career in aviation and ground support equipment mechanics. Ed was also a master at training young people another skill he developed in the Navy as an instructor and leader.

From 1975 until 1988, the program was in an old wood framed building on campus. It was not much to look at, but Ed had it as neat, clean, and organized as one could get the small space. There clearly was a need for a larger more modern facility. With industry and legislative help, state money was budgeted for the first facility developed specifically for golf course mechanics in the state and most believed, the nation. The program moved into the new 15,000 square foot building in 1988.

In the mid to late 1970’s, the one year program in golf course mechanics became a mandatory part of the Golf Course Operations (GCO) program making GCO three years. This increased the total number of students in golf course mechanics to 35-40 requiring more sections of classes and more instructors. The faculty team increased to three full-time instructors: Ed Combest, Jim Lones, and BJ Cannon, all retired military.

Industry has always been heavily involved in the program going back to 1973 with the advisory committee, and Ed Combest immediately solicited industry support in 1975. It was important for the students to see and work on specific golf turf equipment. Ed worked with the distributors and manufactures to expand the equipment loan program so that students could be introduced to more equipment from the major manufacturers. The equipment loans have continued so that today the program receives annual loans of turf equipment, grinders, lifts, and more valued at easily $300,000.

Going back to the late 1970’s and 1980’s, there was a push to recruit more golf course mechanics. The student numbers were good in the program because all of the golf students had to take the mechanics module, but the program was only graduating five to ten technicians. Interestingly, this problem still exists today, even though numerous recruiting efforts have been tried over the past 25 plus years.

Today the mechanics program is called Turf Equipment Management. The students can go one year and get an Applied Technology Diploma in Turf Equipment Technology and go to work or go to school for a second year of general education and business courses and receive an Associate in Science degree in Turf Equipment Management. Most students do the one year program and go to work, and some work towards the AS degree while they are working.

Recruiting students for turf equipment is still a major problem even though the job market is excellent. It is common for LCCC to receive 40 to 50 job offers for five to ten students. Lack of career awareness is the problem.

There is a need for golf course superintendents to get involved in local high schools and bring principals, counselors, teachers, and students to a modern, organized golf course maintenance facility loaded with over one million dollars worth of equipment. This would be a tremendous community service, and it would introduce students to a career in turf equipment about which they know nothing. It is hoped that organizations like the International Golf Course Equipment Managers Association (IGCEMA) working in conjunction with local, state, and national superintendents’ associations will develop career awareness programs for high school students. Introducing young people to this career is critical to the future of the golf industry.


John R. Piersol is Director of the Golf/Landscape/Forestry programs at Lake City Community College where he has been for 33 years, 20 years as Director. He can be reached at 149 SE College Place, Lake City, FL 32025 or via email at piersolj@lakecitycc.edu or by calling 386-754-4225.