
September 22, 2025
19th Dr. Joseph Troll Turfgrass Classic
Worcester Country Club
Worcester, MA
Adam Moore, GCS Hosting
Our Honoree

Dr. Scott Ebdon
Stockbridge alumni know Dr. J. Scott Ebdon as a kind, funny, warm, and knowledgeable mentor. Today Ebdon is a gentleman and a scholar who has earned a well-deserved retirement, and emeritus status with the University of Massachusetts. Scott received his PhD from Cornell University and joined the faculty of what was then called the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences way back in 1997, when Hanson's song "Mmm-Bop" was popular, and the first Harry Potter book saw its release. Undistracted by popular culture, Ebdon focused on the well-being of turf grasses, identifying cultivars capable of tolerating both biotic and abiotic stress. By studying how different types of turf grass interact with both natural and cultural environments, Ebdon's work has helped to develop more sustainable practices for keeping turf grasses healthy. Turfgrass majors, and others at Stockbridge, will remember his teaching style from classes such as Turf Management (Intro and Advanced), Applied Calculations in Turf, and Integrated Turf Management, where he could often be seen teaching in his favorite T-shirt "I played on grass at UMass." We're fairly sure that his shirt referred only to the research of grass tennis courts at the Joseph Troll Turf Research Center, the longest-running turf grass research center in the country.
About Worcester CC

Worcester Country Club
Worcester Country Club has a long and storied history, hosting the 1925 U.S. Open and the inaugural Ryder Cup in 1927. Worcester Country Club’s stature as one of the pre-eminent golf clubs in the Northeast results from the time-tested greatness of its golf course and the rich history with the traditions of the game of golf. The course, designed by Donald J. Ross in 1913, is a crafted gem that stretches to over 6,600 yards and plays to a par of 70. One unusual feature is the five par-threes, which make the course play longer and tougher than the yardage indicates. Its design and character create a route that is always a challenge and never the same and stands on its own as a premier test of golfing excellence.
2025 Keynote Speaker

Gil Hanse

OUR MISSION
The Alumni Turf Group (ATG), formed in 2005, is made up of turf professionals who are graduates of the Stockbridge School of Agriculture and the University of Massachusetts. The Alumni Turf Group’s mission is to:
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Use our fundraising capabilities through the distribution of funds, to enhance and further research and education at the University of Massachusetts.
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Promote UMass alumni in the turf management profession.
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Recognize the achievements of successful individual alumni through annual events.
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Provide a directory of active turf alumni.
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Provide reunion opportunities.
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Instill pride and commitment in the turf programs at the University of Massachusetts.

“The turf world lost a friend, a great professor, and mentor of mentors. Joseph Troll left an indelible mark on the turf industry by educating and mentoring some of the most successful superintendents of his time. This mark was so impressed on those he taught, that the impact is felt today by those who are two and three generations removed from his teaching. As the driving force behind the construction of a new research center at the UMass turf facility in 2004, Joe further extended his impression on many superintendents and students. This effort led directly to the formation of the Alumni Turf Group in 2005 for which Joe deserves much credit in his inspiration and dedication. Many of Joe's students, and those they mentored, hold some of the most influential or prominent positions in the turf grass industry today."