Time for a renovation? A case study on the recruitment and retention of women into the turfgrass industry

Abstract

AbstractThere is a labor shortage in the turfgrass industry due to a decline in interested applicants, as well as a lack of gender diversity. Women make up roughly 2%–4% of the entire membership in the major professional associations for turfgrass managers in North America. There are many barriers that stand in the way of fixing the shortage and diversifying the workforce, but before interventions can be initiated, the current pathways of entry and sentiments held by those women in the industry must be investigated. A case study approach was used to assess the recruitment and retention of women in the golf course maintenance industry through a survey instrument administered to a sample of women who have volunteered on the golf course maintenance crew at the Women's United States Open Championships from 2021 to 2023. Results indicated a lack of exposure to the turfgrass industry for recruiting women, as well as insufficient support for mentorship and significant harassment events for those already in the industry. The current study offers a baseline to begin targeted work investigating specific challenges in the turfgrass industry that will improve the experience for women and promote future diversification and mentorship initiatives.