Inside the UMass School for Turf Managers: Jack Vowell on the course that opens doors

The Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Award is one of the turfcare industry's most coveted prizes for young professionals. So, you might expect its most recent winner, Jack Vowell, to have always had his sights set on a career in greenkeeping.

But Jack's career path wasn't always clear-cut. Before making his mark in the world of greenkeeping, he was on track to become an accountant. However, an unexpected six-month trial at Farrington Park quickly turned into a new career - and he hasn't looked back since.

Winning the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Award is more than just a career milestone, it also has the potential to unlock exciting new opportunities and give winners a huge advantage within their chosen industry.

The prize, which is sponsored by Reesink Turfcare and Toro, is a fully-funded place at the University of Massachusetts' Winter School for Turf Managers, an internationally-recognised turf management course completed online over a 10-week period.

We recently caught up with Jack to discuss his experience of the prestigious ocurse, the challenges of balancing work and studying, and what winning the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Award has meant for his career.

It was a massive honour to win, but I never expected it," he begins. "It's been a door opener already and I've been able to meet new people and be part of different projects, which I wouldn't have had the opportunity to do before."

The UMass course covers a variety of turf sports, not just golf, giving its students a holistic view of the turfcare industry. Students study a carefully curated curriculum of modules, covering everything from the fundamentals of turf management and soil science to turf pathology and weed management – plus much more.

"It was really interesting learning about different turf conditions around the world," said Jack. "Since Massachusetts is a cool-season grass area in the US, there was a lot that I learned, which I can now use in my current role as deputy course manager at Farrington Park Golf Club.

"I particularly enjoyed the turf pathology lessons; they were really eye-opening and taught us all about the causes and contributing factors of different diseases. It was also great to learn from guest lecturers about how those at the top of their game manage their teams to get the best results."

Enrolling on the UMass Winter Turf School suddenly gave Jack a global perspective on turfcare, but also exposure to other up-and-coming greenkeepers as well as top professionals within the field.

"From beginning to end, it was an incredible experience," said Jack. "Alongside the learning, it was an opportunity to be in the same room and talk with people from all over the world, about their goals and greenkeeping careers.

"One of the guest lecturers, for instance, was the head superintendent at Oakmont Country Club in America. I never would have the opportunity to listen to him, learn from his expertise and ask him questions about greenkeeping."

Despite being remote, UMass encourages a strong sense of community on the course. "The university was really keen to make you feel like the class of '25," explained Jack. "They put a lot of emphasis on us sharing information with our classmates and made sure we all had each other's contact details.

"I became friendly with a groundsperson at Fenway Park in the US, which is home to the Boston Red Sox baseball team. He's left the door open for me to experience the ground there and learn about how they look after their turf. Opening international doors like this is just invaluable. I will definitely be keeping in touch with my classmates."

For those considering applying to the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Award for 2025, Jack can't recommend anything better for a young(ish) greenkeeper. "At 30, I thought I was going to be the oldest in my category and a relatively old greenkeeper, although very new to the profession – but you can't let your age hold you back. If you're studying, it's an opportunity well worth investigating.

"The opportunities are endless once your name's out there from the award – not to mention, you build a great network with other young greenkeepers. Off the back of the award, I've now joined the BIGGA Regional Board as vice chairperson and have attended National Board meeting, which is a huge step forward for my career.

"In regards to the course, my advice would be to take in as much as you can," Jack concluded. "The label of being with UMass, one of the leading turf universities in the world, gives you a great standing. It's a massive opportunity that, without the award and sponsorship by Reesink and Toro, you wouldn't get otherwise, so you've got to take it with both hands!

It's a big commitment for those 10 weeks and it can be tough balancing the learning, assignments and exams alongside your day job, but every ounce of information is worth absorbing, so just enjoy it!"

Entries for the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards for 2025 are now open. Entries are open from 1 March to 11 April 2025.