The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) and the Australian Sports Turf Managers Association (ASTMA) are partnering to have ASTMA exclusively present GCSAA’s First Green STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education program in Australia.
Founded in 1997, First Green is the only STEM education and environmental outreach program using golf courses as learning labs.
The First Green curriculum helps students apply their classroom knowledge in an outdoor setting. Using STEM concepts connected to golf course management and conservation, students find new inspiration in their schoolwork and learn about the possibility of a career in golf or a STEM-related field.
Since its inception, First Green has reached students in the United States and Canada through learning labs that bring the classroom to life on the golf course.
First Green also gives students a first-hand look at the important role superintendents (or turf managers as they are known in Australia) play in their communities.
As part of the agreement, ASTMA will work closely with GCSAA to adapt the program for Australian schools, golf courses, and facilities, and the program will be launched in Australia in the coming months, in addition to tailoring concepts to be used at Australian sportsfields and grounds.
First Green field trips have been held across the U.S. and Canada, and more than 21,000 North American students have participated.
In addition, in January GCSAA announced a partnership with the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) to bring First Green to the UK.