John Deere Golf has made a donation to the GCSAA Foundation, the philanthropic organization of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA), to support First Green, which provides hands-on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education at golf courses.
John Deere Golf will be the exclusive sponsor of all equipment management education within the First Green curriculum.
Founded in the Pacific Northwest in 1997 prior to GCSAA assuming leadership in 2018, First Green is the only STEM education and environmental outreach program that uses golf courses as living laboratories.
Each field trip averages 75 students who learn about golf and the environment. For many students, these “outdoor classrooms” represent their first exposure to a golf course.
With this donation, John Deere Golf returns to the Foundation’s Platinum Tee Club, which recognizes organizations that donate $5,000 or more. They are also part of the Star Club level of the Foundation’s Cumulative Giving Program for donors who have contributed $500,000 – $999,999 since 1987.
John Deere is also a supporter of other GCSAA programs, including sponsoring the Assistant Superintendent Certificate program and providing complimentary GCSAA memberships to high school and college students interested in careers related to golf course management.