By Ginger Andrews, Cornell undergraduate student
As winter settled into Ithaca, a group of Cornell undergraduates traded snow and cold temperatures for sunny weather, where they gained firsthand experience with California’s agricultural management and technology. While most students were from production and animal based agriculture, the group had the opportunity to go behind-the-scenes of one of the most specialized sectors of agriculture – turfgrass management.
This year’s trip, we were invited to tour Pebble Beach Golf Links, a world-renowned course encompassing over 100 acres of the Monterey Peninsula, known for its iconic landscape and meticulous management. Beyond its scenic beauty, Pebble Beach offers us an up-close look at the specialized management practices that keep the course in world-class condition.
I am currently a sophomore at Cornell studying agricultural sciences, with concentrations in education and sustainable cropping systems management. Originally from Western New York, I have experience working in greenhouse and garden center operations, as well as stone masonry and landscaping. I aspire to work with golf courses, athletic field facilities, or professional sports organizations.
The goal of the trip is to broaden students’ perspectives on the differences between Northeastern and West Coast agriculture. Frank Rossi, the director of the Agricultural Sciences major at Cornell, joined the trip, offering the farm-based crew valuable insight into turf-focused systems.
The tour included conversations with the course’s director of agronomy and superintendent, Pete Bachman, and assistant superintendent, Paxton Swartz, both of whom worked their way up through the ranks at sister courses before joining Pebble Beach.
Unlike the other types of agriculture explored on the trip, turfgrass management focuses on maintaining a controlled, consistent product, rather than maximizing overall yield. I observed how precision irrigation and turf maintenance are used to keep greens, fairways, and surrounding landscapes at peak performance year-round. Even during the winter months, Pebble Beach maintains active management, with daily mowing and reduced rolling to protect against disease while also maintaining tournament-level conditions, as the course hosts over 60,000 rounds of play annually. To direct turf care, they focus on sustainability initiatives that protect the surrounding coast line and natural areas. These efforts include using 100% reclaimed water through reverse osmosis, targeted irrigation strategies, regular water testing, and installation of seawalls and reinforced concrete to prevent coastal erosion.
As someone looking for a place in the industry, it was encouraging to see younger professionals in leadership positions on the course. The primary sister courses operated by the Pebble Beach Company are Spyglass Hill Golf Course, The Links at Spanish Bay, and the Del Monte Golf Course, with the short course The Hay also being part of the resort.
For many students, this portion of the trip reinforced the value of experiential learning and a fresh perspective on the agricultural industry. For others like myself, it inspired them to explore new opportunities within the field, from focusing their studies on horticulture to pursuing turf grass management itself.
At Cornell, students interested in specialized agricultural management can take PLSCI 4931, It’s Just Grass: Grassing the Urban Eden. The course emphasizes practical aspects of sports, golf and lawn turf management, including sustainable design and establishment. Taught by Frank Rossi, he values the importance of continuous learning and emphasizes the importance of strong written and verbal communication to understand and explain the complex sciences that shape managed ecosystems, including plants, soils, climate, agriculture, food, and fiber.