Written by: Brad Ernske, Assistant in Training at Links at Perry Cabin in St. Michael’s, Maryland

For many assistant golf course superintendents, our position is much more than simply being second in command. We are expected to understand agronomy, manage employees, make sound financial decisions, communicate effectively, protect environmental resources, and continue preparing ourselves for greater leadership roles.

A lot of that knowledge comes from experience and the lessons we learn every day on the golf course. However, there is also a GCSAA resource specifically designed to help assistants develop those skills: the Assistant Superintendent Certificate Series (ASCS).

The ASCS is a professional development program built around four areas:

• Principles of Golf Course Agronomy
• Principles of Golf Course Business
• Principles of Golf Course Environmental Stewardship
• Principles of Golf Course Leadership and Communications

Going through all four areas reinforced something that I think becomes more apparent as we progress in this profession: becoming a successful superintendent requires much more than knowing how to grow healthy turf.

One of the biggest benefits I found while completing the series was that it made me look beyond my normal day-to-day responsibilities. As assistants, it is easy to get caught up in what is directly in front of us—mowing schedules, irrigation issues, pesticide applications, course setup, weather, equipment, and managing the crew. Those responsibilities are important and teach us lessons that cannot always be learned in a classroom.

At the same time, if our goal is to eventually move into a superintendent position, we have to understand the larger operation as well.

The business portion of the ASCS is a good example. An assistant who hopes to become a superintendent needs to understand budgeting, purchasing, capital planning, inventory, personnel management, and the financial decisions that affect a golf course.

We may not be responsible for every one of those decisions in our current positions, but eventually we could be. Learning about them before taking the next step in our careers makes us better prepared when that opportunity comes.

The same can be said for environmental stewardship. Modern golf course management requires an understanding of water conservation, integrated pest management, nutrient management, environmental regulations, best management practices, and responsible use of resources.

These are not simply environmental topics; they are becoming increasingly important parts of being a knowledgeable and responsible turfgrass professional. Agronomy may be the area most familiar to assistants, but the ASCS challenges participants to evaluate the depth of their knowledge.

Turfgrass management involves understanding soils, irrigation, fertility, pests, cultural practices, construction, drainage, and many other interconnected systems. Working through this portion of the series can reinforce what you already know while exposing areas where additional education or experience may be beneficial to your career.

Perhaps one of the most important areas for career advancement is leadership and communication. Eventually, our ability to grow great turf is only part of our responsibility.

We must also be able to lead a team, communicate with golfers and club leadership, work with vendors, mentor employees, explain agronomic decisions, and represent our facility professionally. Developing those abilities can be just as important as developing technical expertise.

Another advantage of the ASCS is its flexibility. The four certificates do not have to be completed in a particular order, and there is no time requirement for completing the entire series.

This allows assistants to work through the program while balancing the long hours and unpredictable schedules that come with working on a golf course.

There is no certificate or class that can replace experience on a golf course. Some of the best lessons in this profession come from early mornings, long days, difficult growing conditions, mistakes, successes, and learning from the people around us.

What the ASCS can do is help connect those experiences with the larger responsibilities we may face later in our careers.

For me, completing the ASCS has become more than adding four certificates to my resume. It has helped me recognize areas where I am confident, areas where I still need to grow, and responsibilities that I need to continue preparing for.

If you are an assistant superintendent and this is the first time you have heard about the GCSAA Assistant Superintendent Certificate Series, I encourage you to look into it. Whether your goal is to eventually become a superintendent or simply become a better assistant superintendent, there is value in continuing to challenge yourself and expand your knowledge.

As I finish this article and, with it, my final requirement of the ASCS, the biggest thing I am taking away from the experience is simple: we do not have to wait until we become superintendents to start preparing ourselves to be one.

The next opportunity does not always come when we expect it. The best time to prepare for it is before it arrives.

About the Author

Brad Ernske

Brad Ernske is an Assistant-in-Training at Links at Perry Cabin with more than 10 years of golf course maintenance experience and a background in competitive junior golf. He has completed the Greenskeeper Certification Program and is completing GCSAA’s Assistant Superintendent Certificate Series, reflecting his commitment to professional growth and a career in golf course management.