COVER STORY: Superintendent as change agent

As a golf course reduces its carbon footprint, the superintendent will play a vital role in communicating this image makeover to his community.

Superintendents need to develop or engage in educational outreach programs to spread the message of how their courses are not only active as good environmental stewards, but they are having a positive impact in the overall carbon debate.

For example, Stuart Cohen, an environmental scientist and founder of Environmental and Turf Services, suggests superintendents reach out to state and local officials several times a year to educate them about the positive actions taken at their courses as well as throughout the industry. He also advocates working with local high school biology departments about the course’s role in habitat preservation and rehabilitation. Lastly, he adds superintendents can engage in annual educational seminars at their courses about water and energy conservation and measures taken to meet efficiency standards.
 
“If golf courses, as an industry, begin to make a big push for this and they’re able to attract media publicity, then they can serve as role models for everyone else,” Cohen says.