Wheaton, Md. – More than 15 years ago, Stuart Cohen, PhD., entered the golf industry scene, unveiling research proving the industry was not the pariah many environmental activists had declared.
The ground-water team leader in charge of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Cape Cod Study, which assessed impacts of golf course maintenance in worst-case scenarios, Cohen revealed findings that came at a crucial time. Certain activists had the golf industry on their hit list, and the industry had little scientific evidence defending its impact on the environment, wildlife habitat or waterways.
But, through extensive well digging and water testing, the EPA study showed that even on sandy Cape Cod, golf courses and the chemicals correctly applied on them did not cause significant impact on water supplies.
Cohen continued to debunk activists’ arguments – in courtrooms and planning board meetings around the country – since creating his own company, Environmental & Turf Services, Inc. in 1991. The firm is celebrating its 15th anniversary at the turn of the year.
Today, ETS’s team of scientists includes senior agronomist Gregg Rosenthal, CGCS, senior hydrogeologist and professional geologist LaJan Barnes, environmental hydrologist Qingli Ma, environmental scientist Stephen Reid and others. They’re involved in water-quality monitoring and impact assessments for turfgrass, lawn care and agriculture as well as risk assessment, risk management, agronomic support for proposed and existing golf courses, and environmental and occupational assessments for firing ranges and gun clubs.
ETS has worked on 133 turf-related projects over the 15 years, and has consulted on golf development projects across the continental United States and Hawaii, giving expert opinion on wetlands, groundwater and surface-water contamination and environmental risks in general and drafting Integrated Pest Management programs for many properties.
The United States Golf Association and the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America both have presented research grants to ETS in the areas of water-quality monitoring, computer-simulation modeling of turfgrass pesticides in runoff and leachate, and risk assessment.
From the East Coast to California and Hawaii, Cohen and his team have worked with many golf courses and other projects to develop plans to maintain the environmental integrity of scores of sites. Several ETS clients have earned national recognition for environmental stewardship, including: Pebble Beach Golf Links and the Links at Spanish Bay in California; Giants Ridge Golf and Ski Resort in Minnesota; Blue Heron Pines in New Jersey; and Nantucket Golf Club in Massachusetts.
ETS celebrates 15th anniversary
Stuart Cohen, PhD., worked to debunk the idea that golf courses had a negative affect on the environment.