Women in Turf Program 2025. Empowering The Next Generation Of Turf Managers

The Women in Turf Program 2025 is officially underway, providing six female candidates from across the turf industry with a year-long mentoring and development program designed to empower and support women making their mark in the turf industry.

Running throughout 2025, this initiative represents a significant step forward in increasing female participation in Australia’s turf management sector. Developed in collaboration with the Australian Sports Turf Managers Association (ASTMA), Envu, and John Deere, the program builds upon existing industry initiatives and expands opportunities through a year-long mentorship, hands-on experience, and career development support. By bringing together past programs from ASTMA and John Deere, this initiative accelerates efforts to provide essential resources and networks that help women thrive in this traditionally male-dominated profession.

As part of the program, the six Women in Turf candidates recently gained invaluable tournament experience at the Webex Players Series at Cobram Barooga Golf Club. Working alongside Superintendent Terry Vogel and his team, the group played a key role in preparing the course for the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and WPGA Tour of Australasia event, an exciting opportunity for some of the cohort to experience tournament conditions for the first time. 

The event not only showcased the skill and professionalism of the Women in Turf cohort but also provided them with unique insights and hands-on experience through volunteering. Immersed in the day-to-day operations of tournament preparation, from course setup to maintenance, the candidates gained a deeper understanding of the meticulous work that goes into managing a high-profile event.

For Abbey Taylor, an apprentice at Charlestown Golf Club in Newcastle, the program has already broadened her skillset.

“I was able to do a few jobs I wouldn’t normally do at my course, and the staff at Cobram Barooga were great in explaining different things and helping me out as I learned,” Ms Taylor said.

“I was very nervous coming into the week not knowing anyone, but getting to know all the other women and hearing how they’ve got to this point in their careers has been great. It’s important that more people know they have opportunities like this in the turf industry.”

Chrissy Wilson, from Green By Nature in Brisbane, has over a decades experience in horticulture and conservation land management, but this was her first time working at a golf club.

“My supervisor, Shana Stopp, came to Cobram Barooga for the work placement program last year and highly recommended it,” Ms Wilson said.

“It’s been fascinating learning what goes into preparing a course this size – the attention to detail is outstanding. Terry and his team have been really understanding with me not knowing some of the golf terminology and have really taken me under their wings.”

For Superintendent Terry Vogel, the volunteers bring more than just extra hands to the club’s biggest event of the year.

“We really look forward to this week each year because the volunteers bring a big uplift in energy around the shed,” he said.

“They’ve each got their own unique set of skills and experiences, so we try and pair them up with our guys based on that and make sure everyone gets a chance to experience the different jobs – whether it’s greens mowing, changing holes, raking bunkers etc.
This group has really jumped into everything this year, and haven’t needed a whole lot of guidance from the staff. It’s definitely a win-win for our team and the volunteers.”

“Labour is a big issue in the golf industry, so recruiting more people into the industry is crucial. The problem is the career is often not promoted to females, so we’re missing out on a big opportunity. This program is a huge positive in promoting greenkeeping and encouraging more women to join”, Explained Terry.

“Over the next 12 months we’ll be providing the participants mentoring around turf maintenance, career development and other soft skills that will help grow their careers,” John Deere Australia & New Zealand Golf & Turf Sales Lead, Corey Clark, said.

“The goal is two-fold – to keep these talented individuals in the turf industry, and to encourage more to join. This program is crucial to growing the game by encouraging more women to consider this profession.”

Rachel Carson, Managing Director of Australia and New Zealand at Envu, echoed Corey’s sentiment. “It’s been exciting getting this collaboration off the ground and establishing the Women in Turf cohort for 2025. Watching the women establishing their network and lean into all the opportunities and sessions through the week in Cobram was inspiring. We have some incredibly talented women within the industry and this group and I am excited to see where they go.” 

With the Women in Turf Program 2025 now in motion, it stands as a testament to the industry’s commitment to fostering diversity, supporting professional development, and championing the role of women in turf management. With a strong foundation and growing support, this initiative is set to leave a lasting impact on the future of the industry.

Keen to stay informed about future intake? Complete the below form to be the first to know when enrollments for the 2026 cohort open. 

To find out more information, reach out to our team.

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