Great Lakes School of Turfgrass Science

Any investment in quality continuing education opportunities benefits employees and employers alike. The Great Lakes School of Turfgrass Science courses are designed to help meet the continuing education needs of any individual or organization.  This program will have training sessions accessible live online on Wednesday evenings and the option to view the recorded sessions. The certificate program aims to provide participants with thorough and practical continuing education in turfgrass management.  The course is directed by university educators and turfgrass scientists from several Land-Grant Universities as well as practitioners from the golf course and lawn care industries.

Turfgrasses are a resource in our urban community environments and best management practices are aligned with environmental, economic & societal priorities. The Great Lakes School of Turfgrass Science provides participants with the science-based principles needed to effectively manage turf for recreation, sport, aesthetics and environmental protection. This program is recommended for:

• Practitioners that establish and maintain turfgrass for athletic fields, consumer/commercial lawns, golf courses, recreation/parks, and sod production

• Technical representatives from industry (suppliers of equipment, plant protectants, fertilizer, etc.)

• Those new to the industry – wanting to get trained and off to a great start

• Those with experience in the industry – to review/update their knowledge and practices

Students will have access to the course and materials at their convenience during the period via a class management system.  The fee for the course is $550, which includes supplemental materials and a certificate after successful completion of the program.

The 2025 session has ended. You are still welcome to register and access the content from the 2025 session, but most participants find they get the best experience if they’re able to join the live discussions instead of viewing them as recordings. Once registered, you have access to the content for the full 2025 calendar year to complete at your own pace if needed. If you’d prefer to wait and take the class with the live component, send us an email at GreatLakesTurfSchool@gmail.com and we’ll be sure to reach out when registration opens for 2026.

For more detailed information on the content, schedule and instructors you can check out the 2025 Great Lakes School of Turfgrass Science Syllabus for either the Cool-Season Golf Edition or the Cool-Season Lawns/Grounds/Sports Edition.