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Turfgrass management is a combination of art and science. Your scientific knowledge is the backdrop against which you work your art to produce the end result or product: an appealing high-quality product that is durable, playable and safe.

"No two days are alike," says Mark Altman. He works for a sports turf management consulting firm. "One day I am working on a sports field at the professional level, and the next day it is little league. I attempt to provide the safest playing surface for the athletes, whether they be participating at a pee wee or professional level."

With environmental issues creeping very quickly to the top of most agricultural groups' agenda, turfgrass managers are keenly aware of the need to apply approved pesticides only when necessary.

Gord Lang, superintendent of an 18-hole golf course, suggests that people outside of the horticulture industry probably do not realize just how much environmental issues impact on turf management.

"We [turf managers] know exactly what pesticides we have used and work towards ensuring environmentally friendly codes of practice. As a golf superintendent, you are required to have a pesticide applicator's license."

Jane Arnett-Rivers is the supervisor of parks for a municipality. She says turf managers must keep a close eye on the grass and its roots to make sure they use pesticides when it's necessary.

"Myself, I'm not comfortable dumping pesticides down a lot," she says. "But there are situations where you have to if you want to have quality turf for athletics."

She says dumping pesticides on a small neighborhood park does not make sense. "For the most part, residents don't want it," she says. "Their kids are playing [there], and the turf quality is not as important. But the turf quality is extremely important on a sport field."

That's because weeds make the soil more compact, and this increases the possibility of sports injuries. "It's a real delicate balance," she says.

Striking that balance requires good decision-making skills. And sports turf managers have to use those skills in other areas also.

"As an agronomist, in order to problem solve, you must take into consideration many problems which are not agronomy-related -- for instance, coaching staff, public relations, client expectations, budget and agronomy," says Altman. "All the pieces have to fit together and be taken into consideration when working on a project."

Altman says the biggest challenge he faces is the budgetary restraint on the client. "Often times, the client doesn't have the funds to do things correctly, so we have to think creatively to find solutions."

Communication skills are key in this career. You will frequently interact with the board of directors, or with the owner of the resort or club, management, contractors, staff, clientele and players.

Ron Hume is a golf superintendent who manages an 18-hole golf course. "Generally speaking, 70 percent of the people interaction is good, pleasurable and positive, while the remaining 30 percent is dealing with difficult communication issues such as non-performing subordinates or disgruntled clientele," he says.

Golf instructor Rick Pow elaborates: "The golf superintendent directs the style of the golf course. This, together with the maintenance of the greens, impacts on how you play." So it's not too difficult to understand why disgruntled players every now and then may seek out the golf superintendent, who will be asked to explain their drop in par.

"I find it difficult to identify or isolate one or two factors or aspects of my job that are thoroughly enjoyable," says Hume.

"It's probably the creativity and innovation. Whether it's construction of a golf course or buildings or the planning and design of a turf maintenance program, the innovation that goes into the program which results in the presentation of an end product that is durable and aesthetically appealing is truly enjoyable."

A lot of time is spent outdoors, either inspecting the plants and greens for disease and insect problems or playing the course or field for playability, says Lisa Perkins, turf management instructor at Joliet College.

"The weather is an unpredictable factor that presents challenges to the turf manager -- how to grow and manage the turf area for top performance given the conditions of the site and the environment."

Dealing with figures is another aspect of the turf manager's job. Hume points out that you have to have a head for figures as you manage inventory and purchases, budget and payroll. Then, of course, there are the formulas and ratios for the pesticide and fertilizer applications and programs.

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