In late February, the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) will begin conducting a national survey of golf facilities, focusing on energy use and environmental practices.
The survey is part of a multi-year, first-of-its-kind project undertaken by GCSAA that will document environmental stewardship practices and establish an environmental profile of golf courses. The Golf Course Environmental Profile project is designed to collect information that allow superintendents and other facility personnel to become better managers, help them operate more efficiently and leads to GCSAA developing more valuable programs and services. The information will include details about playing surfaces, natural resources, environmental stewardship efforts and maintenance practices on the golf course.
To date, four phases of the survey have been executed, concentrating on the physical profile of a golf facility; water use and conservation; nutrient (fertilizer) use; and pesticide use. Results from each phase will first appear in a peer-reviewed scientific journal, then in the association's monthly publication. It then will be widely distributed for consumption by interested parties. Information on water use and conservation was published in Applied Turfgrass Science in January and a full report of the survey is available at www.eifg.org.
The energy use and environmental practices survey will be distributed to GCSAA member and non-member golf facilities on Feb. 23 and must be completed by April 5. Funding for all surveys comes from The Environmental Institute for Golf, thanks to a grant from The Toro Co. Giving Program. Toro has contributed more than $250,000 to this project since it was launched. All superintendents may participate with the survey regardless of previous survey participation. GCSAA members will receive 0.25 service points for completing the survey.
"We are pleased to be launching this fifth survey," says GCSAA Director of Research Clark Throssell, Ph.D. "The data from the four previous surveys has helped us in establishing a baseline for environmental performance of golf facilities. Thanks primarily to the United States Golf Association and to GCSAA and its affiliated chapters for a supporting role, millions of dollars have already been invested to research golf's impact on the environment. The data show that properly managed golf courses are compatible with the environment and that golf facilities contribute positively to communities. Our project will fill in information gaps and provide a road map for advancing golf course management."
Throssell noted that this survey is different from previous surveys in two areas: 1.) data is requested for energy use for the entire golf facility and not just the maintenance operations; and 2.) energy use records are not as readily available to some superintendents as agronomic information. Information will be sought for electricity use; natural gas, propane, heating oil use; and gasoline, diesel, bio diesel use. The companies that provide energy to golf facilities can provide a yearly summary of the specific type of energy used in 2008. In most cases, a phone call or email message requesting the information is all that is needed and the service provider will supply the information within days.
"We believe in the importance of advancing the compatibility of golf with the environment," says Mike Hoffman, chairman and CEO of The Toro Co. "GCSAA's Golf Course Environmental Profile is a project that falls directly in line with that focus and the results of the project are already having a positive impact on the industry. We are pleased to partner with The Institute in this valuable effort."
"One of the most encouraging aspects of the previous four surveys has been the high response rate," Throssell says. "That speaks to the commitment of our members. It is important that we have strong participation by both GCSAA-member and non-member superintendents to compile the necessary data. It is also vital that we get data from all types and sizes of facilities, and that leaders of those facilities support the project. It is also important that Toro is recognized for its ongoing commitment to this project. We could not do this without its support."
