The Carolinas Golf Course Superintendents Conference once again brought together turfgrass managers, industry professionals and students for a week of education, networking and competition. Held in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, the annual event focused on modern challenges facing the turfgrass industry, offering strategies and insights from leading experts.
A team of four Clemson University turfgrass students claimed the title of Turf Bowl Champions. The team consisted of Keegan Brown of Fort Mill, South Carolina; Sean Crowe of Cleveland, South Carolina; Adam Hicks of Ware Shoals, South Carolina, and Gavin Trout of Loris, South Carolina.
Turf Bowl triumph
Clemson fielded three teams, two of which advanced to the final round. In a nail-biting finish, Clemson Team Two claimed the title of Turf Bowl champions.
To prepare for the event, the Clemson teams participated in weekly study sessions. Their victory underscored the collaborative spirit of the Turfgrass Club, with all members contributing to the success.
“We created Jeopardy mock practices that would be the same as the competition,” said Crowe, club president and a senior turfgrass major who plans to graduate in Fall 2026. “The material used for these practices has been gathered by the club for years. When studying for the competition, we use a mixture of old questions and new questions as the industry is ever changing and new products are being developed.”
The new material comes from students notes and research. Clemson professors help create a wide a diverse range of topics.
Brown used knowledge gained from classes taken at Clemson, including Advanced Turfgrass Management taught by Bert McCarty, Turfgrass Diseases and Insects taught by Joseph Roberts and Introduction to Turfgrass taught by Haibo Liu.
“I spent a lot of time studying with the team,” said Brown who is graduating Dec. 18. “We conducted different Jeopardy- and Kahoot-style review sessions to sharpen our speed and fine-tune our knowledge.”
Hicks is also graduating Dec. 18. In addition to knowledge gained from taking classes, working part-time at the Walker Golf Course under the direction of Don Garret also helped.
“We met just about every Monday evening of the semester and studied books from our professors,” Hicks said. “And Mr. Garret is a great mentor. I learned a lot from him while working at the Golf Course.”
Trout plans to graduate in December 2026. Preparing for this competition was a “team effort,” he said.
“Clemson Turfgrass won as a whole, not just us four guys,” he said. “I am super happy to compete with these gentlemen and with our win. These are guys that I will work with for my entire career. We will continue our friendship throughout our careers and call each other if we need help with any matter.”
In addition to Clemson, other teams vying for the Turf Bowl championship were Horry Georgetown Technical College, North Carolina State University, Sandhills Community College and Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.
Joseph Roberts, state turfgrass pathologist, is a new advisor to the Clemson Turfgrass Club.
“It has been exciting to see the initiative from students throughout this group, especially the officers, who have been diligent in organizing regular meetings, recruiting new members, fundraising and generating an open encouraging environment for future students interested in the profession,” Roberts said. “By participating in events such as these, students get to test their knowledge of all aspects related to turfgrass management, highlighting technical skills and comprehension of concepts covered in the courses or internships taken as a Clemson student.”
Building the future
Beyond competition, the conference provides valuable networking opportunities. Clemson students connected with superintendents offering internships and potential career paths, as well as industry professionals and manufacturers showcasing the latest innovations in turf management.
These experiences help build diverse networks that will support the students throughout their careers.
As for careers, Crowe plans to pursue a profession in golf course management. His goal is to become a superintendent. Trout also plans to work in the turfgrass industry, with a goal to become a golf course superintendent.
Following graduation, Brown will work for Golf Course Services Inc., a golf course reconstruction and renovation company based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Hicks also has a job lined up. He will work as an assistant project manager for Environmental Golf and Athletic Construction where he will participate in construction/renovation jobs all over the southeastern U.S.
Academic and research highlights
The conference also offered students opportunities to learn directly from instructors from sessions that bridged classroom learning with real-world applications. This gave the students firsthand exposure to the challenges golf course superintendents face daily.
A major topic of discussion throughout the conference was Waitea zeae – mini ring management. This is an area where Clemson has been at the forefront of research. Clemson graduate student Grace Gable delivered an update on her ongoing research during the closing session, earning recognition for Clemson’s continued leadership in turfgrass pathology.
Grateful for support
All of the members said they are grateful for the generosity of sponsors and donors as opportunities such as this would not be possible without their generosity. Their contributions ensure students can attend events like the Carolinas Conference, where education, competition and networking converge to prepare the next generation of turfgrass professionals.
Pictures from the event
