1. Agricultural Careers Greenskeeper By: Dr. Frank Flanders and Tabitha Lovell Georgia Agricultural Education Curriculum Office Georgia Department of Education June 2005

2. Job Duties & Responsibilities Maintains turf area by raking and mowing sod, pruning shrubs or trees and routinely performing pest control applications Removes and replaces sod Applies pesticides and fertilizers Installs, maintains, and repairs irrigation systems Performs or oversees performance of golf cart maintenance Assists in special construction projects as required Ensures proper care in the use and maintenance of equipment and supplies Promotes continuous improvement of workplace safety and environmental practices Performs miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned

3. Qualities and Skills Must be able to read, understand, follow and enforce safety procedures Must be self-motivated Must be able to motivate those under their supervision Must be able to get along well with others Must be able to perform duties outside Must be able to engage in strenuous physical work, such as heavy lifting, pushing or pulling objects of over 50 pounds Must have good manual dexterity

4. Salary Median hourly earnings in large industries in the year 2002 were about $9.00 per hour for those careers related to amusement and recreation industries

5. Work Environment Almost all of the work is done outside in all kinds of weather Can be repetitive and involve bending, lifting, and shoveling Work involves considerable exposure to unusual elements, such as extreme temperatures, dirt, dust, fumes, smoke, unpleasant odors, and/or loud noises Work environment involves some exposure to hazards or physical risks, which require following basic safety precautions. Involves strenuous physical work

6. Becoming a Greenskeeper Usually no formal education required for entry-level positions A four year degree in turfgrass management or landscape maintenance would be beneficial Most states require certification (a test on proper and safe use and disposal of insecticides, herbicides and fungicides) for pesticide application Some states require a license of landscape contractors

7. Career Resources Associated Landscape Contractors of America Associated Landscape Contractors of America 150 Elden St., Suite 270 Herndon, VA, 20170 Internet: http://www.alca.org Professional Grounds Management Society Professional Grounds Management Society 720 Light Street Baltimore, MD 21230 Internet: http://www.pgms.org/index.htm Professional Lawn Care Association of America Professional Lawn Care Association of America 1000 Johnson Ferry Rd. NE, Suite C-135 Marietta, GA, 30068-2112 Internet: http://www.plcaa.org Greenskeeper Greenskeeper Internet: http://www.greenskeeper.org/main.cfm