Gaylord MI (February 1, 2007) – Treetops Resort has been added to the roster of environmentally sound golf courses certified by the Michigan Turfgrass Environmental Stewardship Program (MTESP). Debbie Swartz, who manages the MTESP program for the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA), awarded the certificate to Treetops Resort on January 10, 2007.
The Michigan Turfgrass Environmental Stewardship Program (MTESP) is a voluntary program in which golf property managers can evaluate and improve practices on their golf courses that benefit the environment. Since the program started in 1998, 67 courses have been certified. MDA partners with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Michigan State University (MSU), and the golf industry to increase compliance, prevent pollution and establish course specific environmental action plans.
Treetops Resort is an award-winning complex long known for exciting and memorable golf. Treetops Resort boasts 81 holes of championship golf by designers Robert Trent Jones, Sr., Tom Fazio and Rick Smith. Treetops is a seven-time recipient of Golf Magazine’s "Silver Medal Resort" award and was rated No. 32 in "America’s Top-75 Golf Resorts" by Golf Digest.
The protection of water resources is a high priority for the property and involved securing wellheads and installing buffer zones along water features. "This program provides a site specific master plan for golf facilities to protect ground water, and an avenue to promote environmental stewardship", stated Mark Wildeman, Golf Course Superintendent.
"Treetops is one of only a few golf facilities in the state that has taken the time and effort to write a SPCC (Spill Prevention Control and Counter Measure) plan", continued Wildeman. "The purpose of the plan is to outline procedures that limit the potential for a petroleum spill and to provide a guide for emergency response actions to be taken in the event of a spill or leak".
"The major goal of this plan is to ensure that absolutely no petroleum product or other polluting materials are released or spilled at the facility. This goal can be achieved through proper engineering controls and equipment maintenance, in conjunction with the concerted efforts of all Treetops Resort personnel", Wildeman further explained.
"The courses certified by the MTESP have gone beyond what is required by law to prevent pollution, enhance habitat and protect water resources," said Debbie Swartz. "These golf courses are truly good neighbors and an asset to the community. They are doing their part to protect the natural resources we all share," said Swartz.
Golf courses use MTESP environmental action plans as management tools to keep pesticides, fertilizers, fuel and hazardous materials from adversely affecting the natural resources. Since certification requires an on-site visit to verify accomplishments, insurance companies have begun to lower rates to recognize reduced risks to the environment.
At the present time over 224 golf courses statewide are participating in the Michigan Turfgrass Environmental Stewardship Program and are moving toward certification. Michigan, the only state in the United States to have this program, has nearly 875 golf courses – more per capita than any other state. It ranks third in the nation in actual number of courses, behind the warm-weather states of Florida and California. Michigan golf is a $1 billion dollar industry supported by Michigan’s estimated 1.2 million golfers and visiting golfers from other states and around the world.
For further information on the MTESP program go to www.mtesp.org or contact Debbie Swartz at 517-355-0271 ext.145 or swartzd@msu.edu. For more information on Treetops Resort please visit www.treetops.com.
Contact:
Kevin Frisch, (989) 614-024
kevin@resortandgolf.com
Dave Richards, (248) 642-6420
dave@resortandgolf.com