For years, the question for superintendents has been how to increase awareness of the job and elevate the profession to a level at least equal to that of other positions throughout the industry.
It might not seem like it, but progress is being made on this front, even if it is coming in dribs and drabs. Elected officials are becoming increasingly aware of the environmental stewardship efforts of superintendents and acknowledging the significance of BMP programs.
Just in time.
For longer than anyone in the business cares to remember, golf courses have had the reputation of being environmentally unsound. They use too much water, and pesticides, fungicides and fertilizers pollute the environment.
That’s been the historic reputation, anyway. Although a reversal of fortune, as slow as it is, is in the works, there still is much work to be done.
After a quick Google search of the phrase “golf courses are …” the top four results were “closing”, “a waste of space”, “a waste of land” and “bad for the environment”.
A glance into the social media frenzy waged against Bayer over the Roundup controversy is proof of the importance of education of the misinformed.
The reality is, superintendents are mindful users of water and protectors of the environment and employ practices that maximize the efficacy improved fertilizers low use-rate pesticides.
As 16th-century English playwright John Heywood said, “Rome was not built in a day,” but finally the work of golf course superintendents is being recognized outsized the turf industry. Just look at Iowa and North Carolina for proof with Rick Tegtmeier, CGCS at Des Moines Golf and Country Club, and Bob Farren, CGCS at Pinehurst Resort recently were inducted into the Golf Hall of Fame in their respective states.
Just look at Iowa and North Carolina for proof with Rick Tegtmeier, CGCS at Des Moines Golf and Country Club, and Bob Farren, CGCS at Pinehurst Resort recently were inducted into the Golf Hall of Fame in their respective states.
The Georgia chapter has been a leader in environmental stewardship for more than a decade. It has an equally long history of working with state lawmakers and water officials as well as being able to get the word out on its accomplishments.
In June, the Georgia state senate passed a resolution endorsing the Georgia GCSA for publishing its Best Management Practices for Georgia Golf Courses in 2018.
According to the resolution, Georgia’s golf industry employs 57,000 people and has an economic impact of $2.4 billion.
The resolution also stated:
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today’s superintendents draw on more environmental science than any generation before them; their training included biological sciences, chemistry, horticulture, soils, environmental sciences, and many related disciplines, uniquely qualifying them for their duties; and
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carefully adopted best management practices can potentially improve the financial sustainability of golf courses, as well as environmental sustainability; these methods and techniques are found to be the most effective and practical means of achieving an objective, such as preventing water quality impacts or reducing pesticide usage; and
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pesticide best management practices provide the necessary guidance for the proper transport, storing, mixing, and application of pesticides to address target pests and minimize impacts to non-target species; design and construction best management practices and storm-water best management practices address the potential for erosion and sedimentation and ways to mitigate that potential; and
- the design and maintenance of irrigation systems, as well as proper irrigation scheduling, careful selection of turfgrass cultivars, and incorporation of cultural practices that increase the water-holding capacity of soil are addressed through these best management practices.
The Georgia chapter’s history with state lawmakers and agencies is a long one.
In response to one of the worst droughts in the state’s history, superintendents in Georgia drafted a water BMP manual in 2007 that convinced state officials, lawmakers and environmental agencies that golf course turf managers are capable of drafting their own water-use programs, even in the face of an emergency of epic proportions.
Although getting the word out to the consumer public about what you do will always be a challenge, it makes sense to foster and maintain positive relationships with agencies at the state level that will control access to water and pesticides now and in the future.