Georgia Senate lauds superintendents

The Georgia Senate has lauded the Georgia Golf Course Superintendents Association for developing a manual detailing maintenance practices that serve golf’s environmental compatibility. Senators passed a formal resolution commending the association for publishing Best Management Practices for Georgia Golf Courses in collaboration with scientists from the University of Georgia and the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. 

 

Senators Matt Brass (R-28th), Frank Ginn (R-47th), John Wilkinson (R-50th), Jeff Mullis (R-53rd) and Mike Dugan (R-30th) sponsored the resolution which notes that today’s superintendents draw on more environmental science than any previous generation, “uniquely qualifying them for their duties.” The resolution also highlights how golf in Georgia generates $2.4 billion in economic activity every year supporting nearly 57,000 jobs.

 

Importantly, the resolution acknowledged that “carefully adopted best management practices can potentially improve the financial sustainability of golf courses…” Using more than the minimum required amount of any inputs not only wastes money but can also lead to expensive problems. The resolution also cited golf’s role providing recreational open space that also serves as an effective filter of run-off, sequesters carbon and provides wildlife habitat.

 

The publication launched online late last year with the help of grants from GCSAA and was based on a template developed by the Environmental Institute for Golf with support from the United States Golf Association.