Environmental Institute continues with plan

Change is constant, which is evident with the Environmental Institute for Golf, a collaborative effort of the golf and environmental communities.

A philanthropic organization of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, the institute conducted its strategic planning session in 2003 to develop a roadmap for the institute and identify agreed-upon areas that needed to be addressed to fulfill the institute’s mission, which is to strengthen the compatibility of the game of golf with the natural environment. The planning session consists of invited parties from organizations such as Audubon International, Environmental Protection Agency, Golf Course Builders Association of America and the PGA of America, as well as various golf courses, clubs and industry suppliers.

Teri Harris, director of development with the GCSAA, says almost 50 organizations are included for a broad view on issues.

“By including the many diverse perspectives from these organizations, it allows the institute to collaboratively advance and promote environmental stewardship for the long-term vitality of the game and the environment,” she says. “The collaboration also ensures that we do not duplicate any efforts of other organizations.”

The session identified water management as the most critical topic to be addressed. In addition to water management, the participants recommended integrated plant management; wildlife and habitat management; golf course siting, design and construction; and energy conservation and waste management as important areas of focus.

Michael J. Hurdzan, of Hurdzan/Fry Golf Course Design in Columbus, Ohio, serves on the institute’s board of trustees. He says task groups were formed to break larger problems into smaller issues. From there, goals were established and research was gathered to put best management practices in place.

“As we’ve become more environmentally aware, there has not been a central clearinghouse of information,” Hurdzan says. “Where there were gaps in research, the institute will fund research to fill in those gaps. It’s very comprehensive.”

Hurdzan says the effort goes beyond just golf course superintendents. It’s an industrywide approach involving superintendents, suppliers and even club manufacturers.

“It brings resources from the entire industry,” he says about the institute. “That’s what makes this group so powerful.”

New in 2005 is the launch of the first phase of EDGE, which is a new Web-based tool that features best management practices for the five areas of focus.

“The tool will evolve over this next year to include case studies, success stories, research and education resource information,” says Harris. “It is designed to be used by a variety of audiences, including golf course superintendents, golf course owners, architects, builders, developers, legislators/regulators, environmental organizations, golfers and non-golfers.”

The first phase is debuting at the upcoming Golf Industry Show (Orlando, Fla., Feb. 10 through 12) and is designed to allow users to test it and provide feedback to ensure it provide the information for which they are looking. Future development of this tool will include the addition of case studies, success stories, research and education related to the five areas of focus.

The institute also will undertake the collection of environmental performance data to better understand the diversity of natural resources and the environmental stewardship practices on golf course properties.

Jim Snow, national director of the United States Golf Association Green Section, serves on the institute’s board of trustees and sees it as a vital tool to advance the game.

“It’s critical for the future of the game of golf,” he says. “Environmental issues continue to grow, including in golf.

“There are a lot of things happening around the world as far as restricting fertilizer and pesticide use on golf courses,” Snow adds. “Based on what golfers expect in our country, pesticides are essential.”

Snow says the USGA has been conducting extensive research for the last 20 years but the data is no good if people don’t know about it.

“There’s a lot of good information available,” he says. “The GCSA is perfectly suited to pull that all together and get it in the right format.”

A survey of natural resources will be conducted this year to collect data on features such as surface water, forested areas, buffer zones, low-maintenance areas and wildlife habitats that are available on golf properties. Future efforts will include the collection of environmental stewardship practices, such as the use of integrated pest management strategies, water conservation practices, groundwater protection devices, proper pesticide/fertilizer handling, equipment washing practices, use of organic materials and composting practices.

The data collected from these surveys will be used to set a baseline from which targets can be established and measurable progress can be demonstrated. The data also will identify areas where additional information, research, education and resources are needed.

Hurdzan says all environmental concerns are local, meaning what might be a concern in the California desert isn’t even on the radar of a course in the Northeast. The institute’s task groups on siting and wildlife and habitat management will compile information on a national scale to be used within different regions.

The philanthropic arm of the institute touches many areas. According to Harris, the institute provides more than $1 million annually to fund environmental, research, education, information collection, outreach and scholarship programs. To date, more than 1,300 scholarships have been awarded.

Two of the 24 agronomic and environmental research projects funded by the institute are the development of a tool that identifies key environmental traits of pesticides, which will allow superintendents to make more informed decisions on product use and the review of water quality impacts by golf courses.

Also, the Web-based education series, a GCSAA education program launched in 2004, will expand from 12 programs to 36 in 2005. One of the new topics will be how to conduct an environmental assessment of a golf property and innovative recycling techniques.

Lastly, the institute will develop and implement an outreach program to communicate consistent and targeted messages about golf’s positive impact on the environment. It will feature components on the environmental advancements within golf thus far.