Nielsen is the certified golf course superintendent at Bedford (N.Y.) Golf & Tennis Club
Lawrence, Kan. – Robert Nielsen, CGCS, superintendent at Bedford (N.Y.) Golf & Tennis Club and 34-year member of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA), has been named to the EPA’s Office of Pesticide Program’s Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee (PPDC).
Nielsen will serve on the federal advisory committee in 2024 and 2025. He takes over the committee position from Mark Johnson, GCSAA director of environmental programs, who served from 2020 to 2023.
Established in 1995, the PPDC is a diverse group of stakeholders chartered under the Federal Advisory Committee Act to provide feedback to EPA on various pesticide regulatory, policy and program implementation issues.
The PPDC is comprised of 43 members from environmental and public interest groups, pesticide manufacturers, trade associations, commodity groups, public health and academic institutions, tribes, federal and state agencies and the general public. Other groups represented on the committee include the American Bird Conservancy, Center for Biological Diversity, CDC National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Tribal Pesticide Program Council, USDA Office of Pest Management Policy, Pollinator Partnership and Weed Science Society of America.
“Bob brings a wealth of knowledge and first-hand experience to the PPDC, and he’ll be able to share the environmental best practices that superintendents engage in every day,” GCSAA CEO Rhett Evans said. “His appointment means that GCSAA members will continue to have a voice on this crucial EPA committee.”
Nielsen has worked for 40 years in golf course management and is currently the vice president of the New York State Turfgrass Association (NYSTA) and president of the New York Golf Course Environmental Foundation. He has been instrumental in promoting the widespread adoption of GCSAA’s Best Management Practices at golf courses in New York state.
“I am honored and privileged to serve on this committee,” Nielsen said. “I look forward to working with this diverse group to bring our environmental message to the table.”
About GCSAA
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 20,000 members in more than 78 countries. The association’s mission is to serve its members, advance their profession and improve communities through 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 GCSAA Foundation is the philanthropic organization of the GCSAA. Its mission is to secure funding and support to strengthen advocacy, education, and research that advances the work of golf course management professionals. Visit the Foundation at www.gcsaa.org/foundation.
