Green Start Academy participants pose for photograph on golf course

20th Annual

Green Start Academy
Application period opens June 12th, 2025

Green Start Academy – World-Class Training for Assistant Superintendents

Green Start Academy is a leadership and development program co-hosted by Envu, John Deere and Rain Bird.

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Since 2006, the goal of this program has been to help assistant superintendents build a strong foundation for their careers as well as to support the future of golf courses and the entire golf industry by offering growth through networking, professional development courses and interactive peer groups.

Each year’s program features educational and mentoring sessions from some of the most respected superintendents and leaders across the industry. The Academy is a chance to forge connections and skills that can last a lifetime.

We’re looking for the top 50 assistant superintendents. Are you one of them?

The application period for the 2024 Green Start Academy class is now closed. Applicants who were selected were notified in September and we look forward to seeing them in December. The 2025 Green Start Academy application timeline will be shared in early 2025.

Are you an Alumni or past Mentor? If so, join our new LinkedIn Group.

2025 Program Timeline

Application period: June 12 – August 1, 2025
Panelist evaluation period: August 2 – August 29, 2025
Selection notification: Early September 2025
Program: December 2 – 4, 2025

green start academy speaker presenting to assistance superintendents

“The importance of networking and camaraderie is everything in this business, I was telling my group today that’s the key to moving up in my opinion.”
– Todd Bohn – Director of Agronomy, Desert Mountain Club

“I think the big things they can look forward to taking back is just the wealth of knowledge.”
– Stephen Tucker, Director of Golf Maintenance and operations, Four Seasons Orlando

“The Green Start Academy is a great platform for these young professionals to learn a little bit more about leadership. They’ve been to all the agronomic classes and talked aerification and top dressing. Here, we are talking about leadership and the future of the industry. The next generation of turf grass leaders are in this room.”
– John Cunningham General Manager, Grandfather Mountain Golf and Country Club.