The window to apply for the 19th Green Start Academy (GSA) – co-hosted by Rain Bird, John Deere, and Envu, has opened. GSA brings in the top assistant golf superintendents in the nation for a leadership and development program. This year, the academy is taking place in Pinehurst Resort, North Carolina. This experience aims to boost and polish the knowledge of assistant superintendents to empower them to realize their full potential and thrive in the golf-management industry. 

This year, GSA will be hosting 50 assistant superintendents who will be immersed in numerous lecture discussions, networking experience, and training conducted by very well-respected figures in the golf industry. 

Rain Bird’s Golf Division, along with its industry partners, will educate rising professionals on the importance of irrigation and how it impacts the quality of the game. Irrigation in golf is extremely important as multiple measures must be taken to provide precise watering that allows for a healthy golf turf in which professionals can thrive in. 

“This is one of my favorite weeks of the year,” says Tony Whelan, national sales manager at Rain Bird. “Spending time with the mentors, our friends at John Deere and Envu at Pinehurst, the Home of American Golf...what could be better? Except developing a program that helps prepare assistant superintendents from across the U.S. and Canada for their next role and seeing them building a network of peers and mentors. I know the golf course community’s future is bright and in good hands with the graduates of this program.” 

Applications for this year’s Green Start Academy are open through August 1, 2024. Apply Here