When Jayson Jackson tells people he’s getting a degree in turf grass science, he gets a lot of strange looks.

“It’s not a degree people hear [about] every day,” the 23-year-old winner of the Hibiscus Garden Club scholarship said.

“Even at university I have to explain to a lot of people. It does get tiring.”

Mr Jackson describes what he does as a cross between arts and science.

“It’s pretty much about maintaining the aesthetic look of a golf course and trying to improve the manoeuvrability for golfers,” he said.

The University of Guelph student grew up playing golf with his father, Walter Jackson.

He had no plan on venturing into a related career, but changed his mind after a summer internship at Riddell’s Bay Golf and Country Club.

“I really enjoyed taking care of the grounds, working with the environment and being out on the golf course.

“It wasn’t something that just clicked one day, it was a progression that built up over time. My supervisor at Riddell’s Bay, Joshua Breda, was the first one to suggest I should pursue this as a career. He was the one to plant that seed.”

He worked for a few years after high school. He thought the time off might put him at a disadvantage when applying for a scholarship, but he did it anyway.

“I actually saw the scholarship posted in the newspaper,” said Mr Jackson, who’s entering his sophomore year at the Canadian university.

“It was exactly what I was looking for, seeing that I’m studying horticulture and it’s a horticulture scholarship, so it was right up my alley. I didn’t want to apply for a scholarship that was non-specific.

“I was really nervous about it because I wasn’t sure if I would get it because of my age. I thought maybe I was too old to and kids straight out of high school could apply and have a better shot, but it all worked out in the end.”

He said he was “speechless” and felt “really blessed” when he found out he’d been awarded the $10,000 scholarship.

The Hisbiscus Garden Club has been around for 55 years.

The $10,000 scholarship was a one-time-only award. The club’s members raised the money through calendar sales, a special exhibition and donations from businesses.

“The committee was looking for a candidate who was interested in studying botany or horticulture in some form,” said member Winette Phillips.

“Jayson stood out because he was able to display his passion for his area of study. It was truly encouraging to meet a young man who was not only excited about his chosen career path, but also active in school activities.

“When explaining to the committee the different types of grass, it became clear to all of us that he was our candidate for the scholarship award. His enthusiasm was contagious!”

Mr Jackson said it was a challenge settling into his freshman year.

“It was hard for me to grasp some of the learning concepts at first and being in the classroom and studying all day from nine to five was really difficult,” he said.

“But after three or four months it finally clicked and became a little easier for me.

“I had a better understanding of the information and how to apply myself, where to spend my time and how to study. I had to relearn everything that I had learnt in high school almost.

“I had to learn how to play the university game. There are certain rules you have to abide by, like how to hand in your work and do what the teacher expects of you.

“With the golf course it’s the same thing. You learn the techniques you need to in order to succeed at the game.”