Program matches Golf Course Superintendents Association members with members of Congress
Lawrence, Kan. (March 22, 2016) – Most fathers help shape their sons’ interests. But for Scott Ramsay, certified golf course superintendent (CGCS) at Yale University Golf Course in New Haven, Conn., it was his son Bennett’s decision to pursue a political science degree that led the elder Ramsay down a path of political activism.
Ramsay is one of 237 Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) members who volunteer as Grassroots Ambassadors for the association. The program matches members of GCSAA with members of Congress to build trusting relationships between them. Ambassadors serve as the “go-to” people for lawmakers and their staffs on golf course management issues.
Ramsay has spent more than three decades in the golf course management industry and has overseen operations at Yale since 2003. While he had been actively involved in his local GCSAA chapter, the Connecticut Association of Golf Course Superintendents, it wasn’t until his son picked a college major that his interest in the politics of the industry began.
“Bennett went to the University of South Carolina to study political science, and I wasn’t even sure exactly what that would mean for him, so I started learning more about it,” Ramsay said.
“I always thought political advocacy was outside of the (superintendents’) cause. I slowly came around that the best way to advance our profession and the industry was through this advocacy component.”
Ramsay was serving on GCSAA’s government relations committee just as the Grassroots Ambassador program launched in 2014. Through the Grassroots Ambassadors program, he is matched with Rep. Rosa DeLauro, a Democrat who has served Connecticut’s 3rd District since 1991. Ramsay works through her staff on concerns facing the industry, such as water restrictions and labor issues.
“It’s time that we became a leader in our messaging for the golf industry and have a voice to speak for ourselves about the good work we are doing as stewards of the land,” said Ramsay.
Grassroots Ambassadors like Ramsay receive training and resources from GCSAA to assist in their efforts. For the last two years, Ramsay has attended National Golf Day in Washington, D.C., as part of GCSAA’s coalition, meeting with lawmakers to share the positive impact golf courses have on the communities they serve and discussing challenges facing the industry.
“It is a tremendous opportunity,” Ramsay said of National Golf Day. “It’s amazing how open Washington, D.C., is. The first year I was intimidated. By the second year, I went to every Connecticut congressional office to drop off literature and offer myself up as a resource to them.”
Although his Grassroots Ambassador duties usually only take a few hours each month, his advocacy efforts go beyond the program, and he is often called on to speak for the industry at the state level. He is the Connecticut chapter’s government relations liaison and was asked to serve on the board of the Connecticut Environmental Council, which is focused on the responsible use of pesticides and fertilizers. Earlier this month, he was in Harford, Conn., to testify on a state Senate bill concerning pollinator health and habitat.
Yale has been very supportive of his advocacy work and the new knowledge he has gained from it. And the experience has altered his own view on the role that superintendents can play in benefitting the golf industry.
“It started slowly for me,” Ramsay said. “But then I just realized, why don’t we speak up? We all need to do our part to speak up and be heard.”
About GCSAA and the EIFG
The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) is a leading golf organization in the United States. Its focus is on golf course management, and since 1926 GCSAA has been the top professional association for the men and women who manage golf courses in the U.S. and worldwide. From its headquarters in Lawrence, Kan., the association provides education, information and representation to nearly 18,000 members in more than 78 countries. The association’s mission is to serve its members, advance their profession and enhance the enjoyment, growth and vitality of the game of golf. Visit GCSAA at www.gcsaa.org or find us on Facebook or Twitter.
The Environmental Institute for Golf is the philanthropic organization of the GCSAA. Its mission is to foster sustainability through research, awareness, education, programs and scholarships for the benefit of golf course management professionals, golf facilities and the game. Visit EIFG at www.eifg.org. or find us on Facebook or Twitter.
Contact:
Craig Smith, Director, Communications and Media Relations
Phone: 800-472-7878, ext. 4431 or 785-691-9197 (cell)
csmith@gcsaa.org
