Anthony L. Williams, CGCS at Stone Mountain (Ga.) Golf Club by Marriott will host Green Links, Highlights from EDGE in 2009. Green Links is a monthly feature on The Environmental Institute for Golf's Web site, www.eifg.org, and highlights case studies from EDGE, golf's environmental resource.
The Institute, the philanthropic organization of the GCSAA, offers EDGE as a comprehensive location for information on golf and the environment that, in addition to case studies, features relevant best management practices and links to environmental resources.
Williams will take over hosting duties in January and continue through the end of the year. As host, he will provide additional insight and information about the featured case study.
"This opportunity to host Green Links is a very worthwhile way to help the golf community learn from each other about environmental stewardship," Williams says. "The blueprint Bob Farren and David Phipps have created by hosting Green Links will make this a smooth transition. As we continue to stockpile quality case studies in EDGE, it is becoming the 'go to' site for those interested in furthering their knowledge about golf and the environment."
Williams is a three-time GCSAA/Golf Digest Environmental Leaders in Golf Award winner, capturing the overall award at Marriott's Stone Mountain in 2006. A 12-year GCSAA member, Williams is one of only approximately 1,900 individuals in the world who currently hold the GCSAA certified golf course superintendent designation. He is also one of only approximately 35 people to have completed all six specialized certification programs of GCSAA's Environmental Management Program.
Williams is a two-time Marriott Golf Grounds Professional of the Year winner and was honored with the 2008 J. Willard Marriott Award of Excellence for his record of success in directing golf grounds operations at two distinguished Marriott Golf-managed properties, the Renaissance Pine Isle Resort and Stone Mountain. His environmental leadership efforts are built around water management. Filing a Best Management Practices for water management with the state of Georgia, Williams worked with the University of Georgia to develop a detailed water-quality testing program. He was co-chairman of the Georgia Golf Course Superintendents Association government relations committee and played a key role in the Georgia GCSA receiving a 2007 GCSAA Excellence in Government Relations award.
A Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, Marriott's Stone Mountain Golf Club is a 36-hole public facility located 16 miles from Atlanta. Williams also developed a maintenance plan that resulted in Marriott's hotel property at Stone Mountain, the Evergreen Conference Resort, being recognized as the first hotel to become a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary.
Bob Farren, CGCS, grounds and golf course manager at Pinehurst (N.C.) Resort and Country Club, will pass the Green Links host duties to Williams. Farren, along with the rest of the Pinehurst team, was rewarded for his environmental work when Pinehurst was presented with GCSAA's 2007 President's Award for Environmental Stewardship.
"We are extremely grateful to Bob for his service and dedication to Green Links," said Greg Lyman, GCSAA director of environmental programs. "He is a superb example of the environmental expertise of GCSAA superintendents. We are very fortunate to have his successor be another great environmental steward, Anthony Williams, and we look forward to his hosting of Green Links over the next year."