• Ornamental Horticulture, A.A.S.
  Turfgrass Management
  
• Overview

SUNY Cobleskill has a two-year (AAS) program in Turfgrass Management. Upon completion of this program, students can continue their focus on turfgrass management by pursuing a Bachelor of Technology Degree in Plant Science. The majority of students pursuing the two-year degree specialize in golf course management. The Plant Science Department offers more than 75 courses enabling students to gain knowledge in many areas of horticulture.  The SUNY Cobleskill Turfgrass Management program is highly respected by industry employers. Upon graduation, students typically receive several job offers.

Superb Facilities

The college has excellent turfgrass facilities including 75 plots composed of different turfgrass species and cultivars,  two USGA greens, which are maintained by the students,  and a  turf building with a classroom and equipment storage area. Students also gain practical experience on the college's extensive athletic fields and lawn areas and at the Cobleskill Country Club, which is located  only a few miles from the campus.

Each year companies such as Jacobsen, John Deere and Toro loan us their newest models for student use. Cobleskill also has an outstanding Agricultural Engineering Technology Department and students are able to choose from a wide assortment of courses.

Expert Faculty

Members of the turfgrass faculty include Dr. Zhongchun Jiang and Dr. Alex Ellram. Dr. Jiang received a Ph.D. degree in turfgrass from University of Rhode Island, an M.S. degree from Chiba University, Japan, and a B.S. degree from Central China Agricultural University. He is a recipient of three excellence awards from the Crop Science Society of America, the American Society of Agronomy - Northeast Branch, and the Soil Science Society of America - Northeast Branch. He has received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Internationalization and the SUNY Cobleskill Academic Affairs “Above and Beyond” Service Award. Dr. Jiang is a member of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi and Sigma Xi -The Scientific Research Society. He is also a member of International Turfgrass Society, New York State Turfgrass Association, and many golf course superintendents associations. He has published articles in Golf Course Management, Grounds Maintenance, and Turfgrass Trends, along with over 65 turfgrass papers.

Dr. Alex Ellram earned a M.S. degree in horticultural science (turfgrass) from the University of Minnesota, and a Ph.D. in plant pathology from the University of Minnesota.  His recent research included field studies in mowing practices to reduce dollar spot on creeping bentgrass.  Dr. Ellram has been teaching turfgrass management at the college level since 1999.  Prior to teaching, he worked in the turfgrass field for 17 years managing golf courses, athletic fields and turfgrass research plots.  He is a member of the Gamma Sigma Delta Honor Society, the American Phytopathological Society, the American Society of Agronomy, and the Golf Course Superintendents’ Association of America. 

Notable Alumni VIEW THE SHOWCASE

Mark Michaud, 1989 SUNY Cobleskill Turf graduate, formerly Golf Course Superintendent at Pebble Beach Golf Course, now Golf Course Superintendent at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, site of the 1995 and 2004 U.S. Opens.

Dr. Frank Rossi, a SUNY Cobleskill Turf graduate now works as an Associate Professor of Turfgrass Management at Cornell University.

Craig Currier, 1993 SUNY Cobleskill Turf graduate is director of turfgrass maintenance in charge of the five golf courses at Bethpage State Park, site of the 2002 and 2009 U.S. Open.

Russ Myers, Golf Course Superintendent at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Okla., host of the 2007 PGA Championship

Jeff Kent, Golf Course Superintendent at Quail Hollow Country Club, site of Wachovia Championship

Jeff Corcoran, Golf Course Superintendent at Oak Hill Country Club

David Pughe, Golf Course Superintendent at Garden City Golf Club