On Friday, December 7, 2012, Mr. Carl Schwartzkopf gave a gift to the Hancock Turfgrass Research Center at Michigan State University in the amount of $100,000 to be placed into an endowment for eternal support of the HTRC lab as well as an additional $400,000 for expansion, modernization, and equipment. These funds will be used to update the pre-existing laboratory with growth chambers, an on-site gas and water lab bench, and microscopes, all of which improving functionality, limiting contamination and increasing overall research efficiency.
In 1969, Carl received a certificate in Turfgrass Management from MSU. In 1971, he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Crops and Soil Science, and received a Master’s of Science degree in 1989. In 1968 he did his summer internship at Oakland Hills Country Club with the late Ted Woehrle and returned to Oakland Hills after graduation as an assistant golf course superintendent. In 1971, he joined the USGA Green Section as the Mid-Continent agronomist and in 1976 he was appointed Director of the Mid-Continent. In 1979, he was transferred to USGA headquarters in Far Hills, NJ to assume the responsibilities as the Assistant National Director. In 1981, he returned to Michigan to work with McKay Golf Properties and assumed responsibility for the development of Timber Ridge Golf Course in East Lansing, Michigan. Upon completion of his master’s degree, he accepted a teaching position in the golf course management department at Horry-Georgetown Technical College in Conway, SC and later taught in the Professional Golf Management program at Coastal Carolina University in Conway. Upon retiring, he ran for County Councilman, was elected, and then re-elected twice.
The Michigan Turfgrass Foundation and Michigan State University would like to thank Carl for his gift to the Turfgrass Industry.
