Connections help pave the way to Green Start Academy

Headshot: Sarah Jackson

Sarah Jackson, first assistant superintendent at TPC San Antonio and Green Start Academy attendee, is no stranger to tournament golf.

She has volunteered at several tournaments and was employed as assistant superintendent at Trinity Forest GC when it hosted the AT&T Byron Nelson.

“I saw everything come full circle when it was our turn to host,” Jackson says. “That helped me get into tournament golf, which is why I’m at TPC San Antonio.”

Jackson is also quick to mention that since Trinity Forest GC was newly constructed during her tenure there, she got to “rub elbows” with quite a few industry veterans.

Those seasoned pros included Jeff Freshwater, sales manager for John Deere Golf, who initially put the bug in Jackson’s ear to apply for the Green Start Academy, a leadership and development program co-hosted by John Deere and Bayer.

She says, “Making those connections at Trinity Forest helped with my progression in my career, especially for how long I’ve been in the industry. In reality, I’ve only been in for five years and an assistant superintendent for 3 1/2 years.”

Jackson hopes the Green Start Academy will have a similar effect on her upward career path.

“I’m really looking forward to the John Deere facility tour and the workshops geared toward budgeting and interview skills and how to make your own personal brand,” she says. “I think it’ll be worth its weight in gold.”

With the Green Start Academy as another tool in her toolkit, Jackson may soon be ready to tackle even bigger challenges.

“I feel like I might be ready to be a superintendent in five years, but now, I just have so much to learn,” Jackson admits.