Where can a degree from The Penslyvania State University get you?

I interviewed a Penn State Alumnus to see how he is doing 4 1/2 years after graduating.

Matt Dachowski (First Assistant at The Los Angeles Country Club, CA) got started in the golf course maintenance industry from a passion of the game at a young age. As a college freshman, Matt made the career choice of turfgrass management. Advice from Matt includes to be patient, try and look at the big picture, and keep a goal in mind. Try to make well thought through decisions. Don’t try to fast track your way to a Superintendent position until you are truly ready. Staying positive and motivated will lead to good things.

Matt’s favorite class at Penn State was turfgrass nutrition. This has helped him in the managing of Poa annua greens at several golf courses. Matt believes:

I have an affinity for Poa annua greens. It is most likely due to the fact that every course I've worked at has Poa annua greens with the exception of 2 of them (golf courses). It provides a challenge that no other grass can provide.

The importance of a diverse knowledge of a turfgrass management is so important, but you don’t need to necessarily travel to gain such knowledge. Matt believes other superintendents and assistants are only a phone call away and more often than not willing to offer an opinion or just be happy to bounce ideas around. It’s important to be a rounded turfgrass manager and have the ability to adapt to many circumstances.

Matt's intern experience came from two years at Quaker Ridge:

I learned that it is all about building trust with your boss. If you consistently perform and are self motivated things will go smoothly. Internships are learning experiences and interns should take on any and all responsibilities that the superintendent is willing to give them and take pride in them no matter how little or big they are.

Now working in California, Matt is vigilant on the conservation of water. With restrictions becoming more common and water being such a valuable resource, we must learn to eliminate its use in certain areas at certain times of the year. With golfer expectations being so high the turfgrass manager of the future will be challenged with adapting to new management programs.

Matt currently works at a golf course with a fine tennis facility but can see the benefits of certain clubs where their sole business is golf. There the superintendent only has to concentrate on agronomics relating issues. After working in the industry for several year and having a four year turfgrass degree Matt now felts ready to hold the position of superintendent. However, Matt feels there is something new to learn ever day and as an assistant there is less pressure to know everything.

Matt is of the opinion that staff in a uniform look professional and if a club is fortunate enough to be able to afford it, highly recommends crews to wear one at all times.

Graduating from Penn State, Matt became even more of a die-hard football fan attending as many games as possible. While at Penn State he never missed a home game and even traveled as far as Miami and Nebraska. Matt feels strongly in wanting to aid other graduate, and will offer his advice when asked. Having a good mentor is a great thing and when he happens to be your brother (also a Penn State graduate), you feel even more passionate with what you do.