Since 2020, the Super-Scratch Foundation has been helping fund education for the next generation of golf course greenkeepers.
The program's goal is to promote turf management as a profession and help fund education for the future superintendents who might face financial barriers to pursuing their education. To that end, the foundation recently introduced regional fundraising events across the country designed to support turf students while connecting golfers with those responsible for caring for their courses.
The expansion comes at a time when the golf industry faces a growing shortage of future superintendents, providing an opportunity for Super-Scratch to bring greater awareness to the issue while sharing its mission with a national audience and supporting additional turf programs.
The number of students enrolled in college turfgrass management programs, according to the foundation, has declined by more than half in the past 20 years.
Originally created as a competition pairing a scratch golfer with their course's superintendent, Super-Scratch events are evolving to provide opportunities for players of all levels to participate and support this venture.
The foundation recently announced a series of events to help support turfgrass education.
Each regional event will feature a $10,000 scholarship purse with the top teams designating a university turf program to support. Super-Scratch then works directly with those schools to distribute funds to students for tuition assistance.
Top teams in the Gross Division will earn exemptions into the Super-Scratch National Invitational being held at Huntingdon Valley Country Club in Philadelphia on Oct. 15. Last year's invitational had a scholarship purse of $120,000.
Registration is open for the first three events being held in Philadelphia, Milwaukee and Canton, Ohio. Events in Texas and Rhode Island also are scheduled and additional locations will be added throughout the year.