Golf course superintendents lead the development of statewide best management practices with a grant from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America
Lawrence, Kan. – A collaborative effort by golf course superintendents in Indiana from five affiliated chapters of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) and the Midwest Regional Turfgrass Foundation has resulted in the publication of “Best Management Practices for Indiana Golf Courses.”
The Indiana BMPs were developed in part by using the BMP Planning Guide and Template created by GCSAA and funded and supported by the USGA. The five GCSAA-affiliated chapters involved in the effort include Hoosier GCSA, Indiana GCSA, Michiana GCSA, Tri-State GCSA and Kentuckiana GCSA.
The group received a $10,000 BMP grant that GCSAA funded through the association’s Environmental Institute for Golf (EIFG) in part by the PGA Tour. The BMP grant program provides funding through the EIFG to chapters for developing new guides, updating existing guides or for verification programs. GCSAA’s goal is to have all 50 states offer established BMPs by the end of 2020.
The BMPs provide guidance in 12 key areas including irrigation, pesticide management, pollinator protection, surface water management, and energy, that speak to the superintendents’ dedication to protecting the state’s natural resources.
GCSAA member Ryan Cummings, superintendent at Elcona Country Club in Bristol, Ind., served as chairman of the Indiana BMP Steering Committee.
“It was a very important process to go through in creating a tool for our state,” Cummings said. “We can learn from each other, inspire each other and show that we are good stewards of nature.”
Others who played key roles in the development of the BMPs include Cale Bigelow, Ph.D., professor of horticulture at Purdue University; Kevin Custis, superintendent at River Glen Country Club in Fishers, Ind.; Jeff Sexton, CGCS, superintendent at Evansville (Ind.) Country Club; and Jim Held, golf division manager, Automatic Supply.
“The BMPs are critical because there are a lot of people who don’t understand what it means to maintain a healthy golf course,” Bigelow said. “The general public can use a bit of an education on how important it is for golf courses to use their resources wisely and to understand that golf course superintendents want to be the best stewards of the land that they can be.”
To read “Best Management Practices for Indiana Golf Courses and to learn more about GCSAA’s BMP program, visit www.gcsaa.org/bmp.
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 19,000 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. Visit our industry-leading magazine at GCMonline.com.
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.
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Mike Strauss
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mstrauss@gcsaa.org
