Kelsie Horner
Each year one day is dedicated to celebrating the earth we walk and reside on. Every day should present an opportunity to recognize its beauty.
Through my role as assistant editor, I have been able to research and learn about environmental efforts being made at golf courses nationwide. The golf industry has been scrutinized for years for its negative impacts on the environment and wildlife, but working in this industry, I’ve realized superintendents’ duties have the exact opposite effect.
The golf course can provide a sanctuary of nature’s finest work, from the well-maintained turfgrass that makes up the playing area, to fulfilling the habitats of a wide range of wildlife.
I can’t speak for all superintendents, but I believe protecting the habitats and space of golf courses is a high priority in their role. Through my monthly column, Conservation Mindset, I have discovered what sustainable implementations can look like and the impact they can have. Efforts can look different, from water conservation to birdhouses, to pollinator gardens and reducing inputs.
Superintendents take pride in earning certifications in recognition of their work. Organizations like Audubon International and GEO Sustainable Golf Foundation provide guidelines and steps that courses can take toward being eco-friendly.
A few examples of actions being taken:
- Superintendent Ken Yates and director of environmental affairs Dr. Joseph Platt at Utah’s Black River Resort are helping repopulate the Virgin River chub.
- PGA WEST in California is decreasing water usage through testing a liquid binder solution.
- Eastmoreland Golf Course in Portland is replacing chemicals and tools with goats and a llama to clear out a gully.
- Georgia’s Flat Creek Country Club superintendent Harold Ammons has implemented bird boxes and turtle habitat protection, planted milkweed and pollinator gardens, and added honeybee boxes to the property.
Each action taken, no matter how small, is one step toward protecting and healing our earth. On this Earth Day, I encourage you to do your part, say thank you to Mother Nature and take a moment to appreciate beauty.
— Kelsie Horner