Courses

Welcome to My Learning Hub, powered by GCSAA's Professional Development Department. Browse GCSAA’s library of both Live and On Demand webinars. These are now free to members - no additional fee and earn education points. Choose Log in in the upper right hand corner and you will be able to Register.

Anthony Rittof shares information on navigating our Learning Hub in this 3-minute video.

Switch your catalog to Programs to find the certificates that are part of the Assistant Superintendent Certificate Series (ASCS).

The U.S. has experienced some severe storms this season with the potential for more remaining. Ron Wright, CGCS, updates this webinar from our series on disasters to help you create or update your emergency response plan.

Each webinar in the series is designed to focus on a single crisis type. You'll hear what happened, what plan was in place and what the CGCS in charge learned and now recommends. In Wright’s case, he experienced several hurricanes first hand at the Country Club of Mobile. During this quick hour, he’ll cover tips for clean-up, how best-laid plans may need to adapt, and review systems and plans you’ll want to put in place as soon as you can. 

At the onset of this micro learning event, Beth Guertal, Ph.D., explains, “A soil test report is supposed to give you an idea of what the nutrient status is of various soil nutrients in your soil and then give you a recommendation for how much you need to see your plant through the next cropping season.” She then proceeds to use BEER as an example to help you better understand the nuances of soil reports. Take a look to learn more about the differences between labs and how that impacts the report you receive.

In order for trees, shrubs, groundcovers, vines and other ornamentals to be successful on the golf course, they must be well sited, planted properly and provided with the initial appropriate care. In this 60-minute webinar, John Fech covers many components to providing a good start.

Maintained turf is critical to the playing field of golf and provides a valuable green space in urban environments. There are other elements to the golf course that can provide pollinator and wildlife habitat. You can learn more about it and what you can do from Jay McCurdy, Ph.D., as he covers interesting aspects of sustainability in this 40-minute presentation.

The Annual Bluegrass Weevil (ABW) has a known destructive preference for annual bluegrass. Can this be harnessed for good? Researchers evaluated withholding ABW control; in this 40-minute webinar, Katie Diehl explains.

Proper identification of pests, including weeds, is a key first step toward control. In this 60-minute webinar, presented by PBI-Gordon, you’ll get a better understanding of the full life cycle of Goosegrass as it relates to implementing control strategies. Matt Elmore, Ph.D., discusses herbicide options for control in cool-season turfgrass, including creeping bentgrass. You’ll get tips you can use on how to best implement these herbicides into your overall weed control program. This event was approved for external education points and is available at no cost for all.

Facility BMP Plans provide many benefits for the superintendent, the superintendent profession, the golf facility and the golf course industry. GCSAA has received funding from the USGA and PGA Tour, but superintendents must participate in order for the industry to be successful.  Join J. Bryan Unruh, Ph.D., for this hour-long webinar to learn why having a written facility plan is so important.

Ponds and other water bodies bring both beauty and benefit to the golf course. Different types of algae can disrupt that beauty and become problematic. Erwin McKone, CGCS, leads this 90-minute webinar to review the role of algae in the aquatic ecosystem. Classic and alternative treatments of algal blooms will be examined. McKone will explain ways this has changed in the ten years that have transpired since he first taught on this topic, including new permitting issues. Join us to make sure your management program is up-to-date.

Among the biggest projects any turf manager may undertake will be a new irrigation system. While many shy away from playing an active role in the system’s design, Ashley Wilkinson explains why and how you should help in planning for such a large construction project in this 90-minute webinar.
This course has captioning as part of the recording.

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Rick Fredericksen, CGCS, and assistant superintendent Ryan Ebeling share the action plan implemented at Woodhill Country Club to address impacts from COVID-19. Working in partnership with Wayzata Country Club, the team shares priorities established to address both reductions in staff and minimum maintenance practices. This 20-minute event wraps up with Woodhill’s golf pro, Paul Kelly, emphasizing the importance of communication during times of crisis and beyond.

This event is available to all at no cost.

Would you know how to respond if you heard shots fired where you are? There are many steps that can be taken to increase your odds of survival if you should have such an incident. Rick Capozzi of CapozziGroup and Survival Mindset has researched FBI statistics, worked with military, law enforcement and Homeland Security to develop this very up-to-date program that really helps people prepare for a day that they hope never comes (but could.) Watch this 90-minute webcast and update your emergency plan.
 

In this 90-minute webcast, Jim Ferrin, CGCS, and Sam Samuelson, CGCS, briefly review the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) and cover ways you can make your course more user-friendly for this growing segment of the community.

The need for state-level best management practices (BMP) programs is greater than ever. Many golf courses in urban environments are seen as much less than the positive green spaces we know them to be. In this 90-minute webinar, J. Bryan Unruh, Ph.D., and Stacey Kingsbury will cover the nuts and bolts of BMP planning and development.
This recording has the option to play closed captioning.

Soil aeration is key to growing healthy turf that is better able to withstand biotic and abiotic stressors. The ever-increasing pressure for pristine conditions coupled with recent advances in technology have prompted golf course superintendents to rethink their aeration practices. In this 90-minute webinar, J. Bryan Unruh, Ph.D., discusses the principles behind good soil aeration and shares some novel approaches, too.

As a turfgrass professional, you understand just how much the quality of cut affects the quality of turf. Your golfers want a stellar playing surface and you want to provide the best conditions. Greg Turner and Jim Nedin provide unique insights in this recording from a seminar held at the Golf Industry Show in Orlando in Jan. 2020, where they explore the vital relationships between reel mower applications, quality of cut and after cut appearance.

There are 3 chronic issues in turfgrass management:

Drainage, Air movement, Shade

This second in the series of one-hour webinars is Air Movement with Bud White. This series was Live Captioned as presented.

En la presentación, de carácter práctico, se estudiará cómo afecta el ciclo del agua y su calidad en nuestros campos de golf. Conocida la calidad del agua a partir de un programa de análisis, primero ponderaremos el peso de los contenidos en sales y nutrientes, y posteriormente, calibraremos la repercusión de sus características en el manejo del cultivo del césped. La relación de las medidas correctoras y ajustes se establecerá para las situaciones de manejo más comunes.

Thank you for your support of this program. It has concluded as of Feb. 15, 2021. If you have any questions please contact Eileen Bangalan at ebangalan@gcsaa.org

In this 60-minute webinar, Bryan Unruh, Ph.D., reviews the importance of facility BMP plans and what’s involved in using the new Facility BMP Tool. The online tool can help you develop a BMP manual for your facility based upon your state’s BMP program. You’ll see how to use the work done at the state level – Unruh will demonstrate how you can copy, create and adapt your state’s manual for your facility. Having a written facility manual documents and supports your professional course management while providing the means to educate management, golfers and the public. Unruh demonstrates how easy the tool is to use once your state plan is in place. Watch to see the steps involved.