CGCS Exam Cancel The title field is required!

1. Ryan Green

   

   2 posts
   
   1/28/2016 7:01 PM

   Does anyone have any good resources that helped them prepare for the CGCS exam? From other certified guys I heard that years ago there was an actual study manual. As this is no longer the case I was wondering if anyone found any particular materials, seminars or webinars particularly helpful for preparation. I have watched all of the GCSAA videos on the topic of CGCS prep and have done the assessment and understand GCSAA's recommendation to certain resources based on my knowledge of certain areas, but didn't know if anyone out there had something they found to be beneficial for preparation.

   
   
   
   
2. Andy Jorgensen

   

   1 posts
   
   1/28/2016 7:01 PM

   GCSAA offers a class each year at the GIS titled Preparing Your Way to Certification. They provide a sort of manual outlining the process, as well as some of the things you may find on the test. The whole idea of a CGCS is to be knowledgeable in all areas of golf course management, and I found some things catch me off-guard while I took the test.
   
   Good luck!

   
   
   
   
3. Holt Michael

   
   1/29/2016 3:01 PM

   I went about it a different direction. I didn't really study but rather took the test to let me know what I needed to study up on. Answered the questions that I felt I knew and took notes on the ones that I wasn't sure about and then did a calculated guess to complete the answer on them. Remember the test is multiple choice so I spent the weekend before my test studying up on how to take a multiple choice test. It helped me a lot as guessing isn't always easy to do for me. Also, if you fail one portion, you only retake that portion. So why study what you already know? I passed the first time. I didn't think it was all that hard but I am a 20 year veteran also. If you're just making all of the requirements, I would imagine it is a little more difficult. Good luck!

   
   
   
   
4. Ryan Green

   

   2 posts
   
   1/29/2016 5:01 PM

   Thanks for the feedback. I was planning on taking the test as you mentioned and seeing how it goes. Being a northern superintendent and having gone to school up here too, the warm
   season knowledge is not nearly as strong as cool season, so I know I'll have to brush up there. Otherwise I just wondered if anyone found a particular piece of reading beneficial to preparation. Appreciate the comments.

   
   
   
   
5. Timothy Connolly

   

   0 posts
   
   3/11/2016 8:03 PM

   I'm also working on certification and was wondering if the $35 GCSAA book on certification is worth it? I'm finished with the skills statements and just started on the case studies. It's been a good experience so far.
   
   Thanks
   
   Tim Connolly
   TPC Jasna Polana
   Princeton NJ

   
   
   
   
6. Keith Bennett

   

   2 posts
   
   3/12/2016 8:03 AM

   Tim,
   I thought the book was worth it. If nothing else it gave me a place to organize my ideas for the case studies and skill statements and gave some sample questions that at least gave me an idea of what the test would be like. In the end I have wasted a lot more than $35 on lesser things.
   
   Keith Bennett, CGCS
   Grass Roots Turf Products