GCSAA Scholars Competition

These scholarships range from $500 to $6,000. Applicants must be enrolled in a recognized undergraduate program in a major field related to turf management, have completed at least 24 credit hours or the equivalent of one year of full-time study in the appropriate major, and be a member of GCSAA.

Selection criteria for this program includes academic excellence, work experience, extracurricular activities and potential to become a leading professional in the golf course management industry.

The annual deadline is June 1.

The GCSAA Scholars Program was developed to recognize outstanding students planning careers in golf and turfgrass management.

The first place winner of the competition receives a $6,000 scholarship and is honored as the Mendenhall Award Winner. The second place winner in the competition receives a $5,000 award and is designated as the recipient of the Allan MacCurrach Award. The MacCurrach Award is funded by the PGA TOUR. Ten to fifteen GCSAA Scholars ($1,500-$2,500) and up to ten Merit Winners ($500) are selected to receive scholarship awards based on the final ranking in the competition.

In addition, students who are citizens of countries other than the United States may apply for the Ambassador Award, a special scholarship for outstanding international students. To be eligible, students must provide documentation of non-US citizenship, meet the eligibility requirements for a GCSAA scholarship, be enrolled in a university in the United States, and rank as one of the top candidates in the GCSAA Scholars Competition. (Note: If the score of the highest Ambassador Award applicant is ranked 1st or 2nd place, then the award will go to the next highest Ambassador Award applicant.)

The Mendenhall and MacCurrach recipients receive an all-expense paid trip to the Golf Industry Show.

Applications will be reviewed by the GCSAA Scholars Competition Task Group and all decisions will be final. Applicants will be notified by mail of their status by August 1 in the year submitted. All scholarship award checks will be made payable to the applicant and his/her educational institution.