FGC Golf and Landscape Operations
FGC Golf and Landscape Operations
The Tradition
Florida Gateway College has a long-standing tradition of providing education in Turf Equipment, Golf Course Operations, and Landscape Technology, dating back to the mid-1960s and continuing to the present day. The college offers online programs in Horticulture and Advanced Horticulture, strongly emphasizing turfgrass. These certifications provide students with a solid foundation to pursue the Agribusiness Management, A.S. degree. This degree enables graduates to advance their careers in various fields, including golf course operations, landscaping, nursery management, sports turf, and other agricultural industries.
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Erik (William) Smith
Erik is originally from Gainesville, FL, and graduated from Gainesville High School. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Forest Resources from the University of Georgia in 1995 and worked as a land management forester before transitioning to the turf management industry in 2007 as a horticulturist at Palma Ceia Golf and Country Club in Tampa, FL. He excelled in his role, becoming a second assistant/spray technician, and obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Turfgrass Science from Penn State University in 2010. Erik then worked as an assistant superintendent at Gateway Golf and Country Club while pursuing his Master's degree in Turfgrass Management, which he completed in 2013. He subsequently became the Superintendent of the Stadium Course at TPC Prestancia in Sarasota, FL. Erik and his wife, Jocelyn, are now residing in Lake City, FL.
| Email:william.smith@fgc.edu | Phone: 386-754-4279 |
Jason D. Stanley
Jason Stanley is a Florida native who has worked for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Jason has 20 years of experience in the industry, holding various roles such as Laboratory Technician, Biological Scientist, and Assistant Bureau Chief for two bureaus: the Diagnostic Bureau and the Bureau of Plant Inspection. He holds a B.S. in Entomology and an M.S. in Nematology from the University of Florida. Since 2010, he has been an adjunct instructor at Florida Gateway College, teaching subjects like Mathematics and Biology, and developing IPM classes. Jason is married for 30 years, resides in High Springs, and has a daughter who is a Junior at Flagler College majoring in Coastal Environmental Science. His hobbies include fishing and kayaking.
Ellen Cochrane
Ellen Cochrane, originally from rural Pennsylvania, values agriculture and nature. She earned a BS in Environmental Management of Agriculture and Natural Resources and an MS in Environmental Horticulture from the University of Florida. Currently, she is a lab manager at the USDA's Citrus Scion breeding lab in Fort Pierce, Florida, where she enjoys a mix of lab, greenhouse, and fieldwork. Since 2015, she has also been an adjunct professor in horticulture at Florida Gateway College. In her free time, Ellen enjoys caring for her pets and tending to a variety of plants on her property.
Non-Credit Workforce Program
ORHX 0001 – Introduction to Plants: An overview of how plants function throughout their life cycle.
ORHX 0002 – Landscape Plants and Design: A study of various types of plants found in different regions of the world, including turf and plant identification, as well as morphology.
ORHX 0003 – Warm-Season and Cool-Season Turfgrasses: A continuation of the study on turf and plant identification and morphology.
ORHX 0004 – Introduction to Irrigation: An introduction to the design and troubleshooting of both residential and commercial irrigation systems.
- FGC offers a non-degree, non-credit introductory program that includes courses in Botany, Landscape Plants, Introduction to Turf, and Introduction to Irrigation. Each course lasts eight weeks, and students must complete them in the prescribed sequence. The courses are available in both English and Spanish, with a cost of $150 for each topic.
- This non-degree workforce program does not require the standard admission process. Simply complete the Continuing Education/Workforce application and registration form, then email or fax it to the Enrollment Services (contact information is at the top of the application).
If you have questions about the workforce course, please send an email to: brian.lloyd@fgc.edu.
If you have questions about the enrollment process, please send an email to: enroll@fgc.edu or call 386-752-1822.
Horticulture Certificate
The Horticulture Certificate instructs you in the cultivation of all edible plants and non-food crops such as turf and ornamental plants and trees. It also includes plant conservation, landscape design and restoration, golf course maintenance, residential lawn maintenance, and arboriculture. This is an excellent certificate for those who already work or aspire to work in the horticulture industry. These industries include plant and tree nurseries, farming, golf course maintenance, lawn care, and both residential and commercial gardening.
- This certificate program includes six courses and is worth a total of nineteen credits.
- This program is fully online for two semesters, with an average enrollment of over 40 students each year.
- Visit the Horticulture page and Academic Catalog Information
Ready to get started?
- Visit our Admissions Information page
- Find the enrollment steps that apply to you (whether your first-time, transfer, or returning student) and don’t hesitate to ask for assistance!
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If you have questions about the workforce course, please send an email to: brian.lloyd@fgc.edu.
If you have questions about the enrollment process, please send an email to: enroll@fgc.edu or call 386-752-1822.
Advanced Horticulture Certificate
The Advanced Horticulture Certificate program provides training in cultivating a diverse range of edible plants, as well as non-food crops like turf, ornamental plants, and trees. The curriculum includes essential topics such as plant conservation, landscape design and restoration, golf course maintenance, residential lawn care, and arboriculture. Completing this certificate can help you start a career in horticultural management, allowing you to pursue positions in lower to middle management at plant and tree nurseries, farms, golf courses, lawn care services, as well as in both residential and commercial gardening.
- This certificate includes 12 additional credits in addition to those required for the Horticulture Certificate.
- This program is entirely online and typically has over 60 students enrolled each year.
- Visit the Advanced Horticulture page and Academic Catalog Information
Ready to get started?
- Visit our Admissions Information page
- Find the enrollment steps that apply to you (whether your first-time, transfer, or returning student) and don’t hesitate to ask for assistance!
-
If you have questions about the workforce course, please send an email to: brian.lloyd@fgc.edu.
If you have questions about the enrollment process, please send an email to: enroll@fgc.edu or call 386-752-1822.
Agribusiness Management, A.S.
The Agribusiness Management Degree, with an emphasis on turf management, prepares you for careers in various fields such as golf course operations, landscaping, nursery management, sports turf management, and other agricultural industries. The curriculum covers essential topics including plant growth, turfgrass management, soil science, plant identification, landscape calculations, and integrated pest management.
- This program requires completion of all ten horticulture courses, eight business courses, and one course each from Math, English, and Humanities.
- This program is 61 credits and 100% online.
- Visit the Agribusiness Management, A.S. page and Academic Catalog Information
Ready to get started?
- Visit our Admissions Information page
- Find the enrollment steps that apply to you (whether your first-time, transfer, or returning student) and don’t hesitate to ask for assistance!
-
If you have questions about the workforce course, please send an email to: brian.lloyd@fgc.edu.
If you have questions about the enrollment process, please send an email to: enroll@fgc.edu or call 386-752-1822.
FGC has been training students for careers in the golf and landscape industries for over 60 years!
Top 3
For many years, FGC has ranked among the top three programs for golf and landscape education, alongside Penn State and Rutgers University.Affordable
We offer some of the lowest tuition rates in the nation, with in-state tuition at $104 per credit hour and non-credit continuing education courses at $150 per topic.Online
Our golf and landscape programs are offered entirely online, allowing you to balance your other commitments while advancing in your career or starting a new one.
"The decision to attend FGC was not an easy one for me. I already had an Associate degree and had plans to continue and earn a Bachelors. After researching the program and speaking with past graduates I quickly realized that FGC was the premier program for anyone seeking a career in the turf industry. Attending FGC was the absolute best decision I ever made in my career! The program content, students, faculty, and professors were all outstanding and I thoroughly enjoyed every day! The program gave me the solid foundation needed to excel in the turf/golf industry. Looking back on my career, every single position I have held or promotion I have received has been directly impacted by a FGC alumni! I highly recommend anyone interested in a career in the turf/golf/horticulture industry consider attending FGC!"
David H. Robinson, CGCS , Senior Director Golf Grounds Marriott Golf