New president named for CGCSA

Doug Lowe, from Greensboro Country Club in Greensboro, NC is the new president of the 1,800-member Carolinas GCSA. Lowe has a long history of service to the association even before he joined the board of directors in 2005.

He was instrumental leading efforts to protect golf’s interests when drought struck the Southeast and was later recognized for those efforts with an Excellence in Government Relations Award from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. Drought restrictions Lowe helped craft for golf courses in collaboration with water authorities gave golf greater flexibility in watering times but managed to increase conservation at the same time.

“There is not always someone or some group out there solving every problem on your behalf,” Lowe said at the time. “There are times when individuals must get involved and take action. When we do, we really can accomplish some things for ourselves, our employers and our industry.”

He reiterated that message as he took over from outgoing president, John Davis, from Secession Golf Club in Beaufort, SC this week. Lowe urged all superintendents to get to know their local lawmakers and help them understand golf’s role in the community. “Golf is a good and responsible citizen economically and environmentally,” Lowe said. “The industry does not expect special treatment but we do need decisions that affect how we do business to be based on fact and sound science.”