MGA Kicks Off Education Series With Green Chairman Seminar
GARDEN CITY, N.Y. (March 17, 2022) -- The 2022 MGA Green Chairman Seminar hosted over 80 guests at Garden City Country Club on Thursday, March 17th. The event, part of the MGA’s Spring Education Series sponsored by the MGA Foundation, featured presentations from industry experts to a crowd of green chairmen, superintendents, and club officials.
Related: Seminar Photos | Presentation Videos | Spring Educational Opportunities
At the event, Rockville Links was presented with the 15th Annual Arthur P. Weber MGA Club Environment Leaders in Golf Award, which was accepted by superintendent Luke Knutson. The honor is presented to a club who is distinguished in environmental leadership in golf course maintenance, construction, education and research. The award’s namesake comes from past MGA President Arthur P. Weber, who wrote an Environmental Code of Conduct for golf course maintenance for Old Westbury, his home club, which is still used nearly two decades later. Some of Rockville’s accomplishments in the environmental field include: Enhanced agronomic and cultural practices to greatly improve thatch problems, soil, and playability, the development of a course-specific water management process to improve turf health and playability and the use of modern technology to monitor moisture and firmness, to keep turf healthy and elevate playability.
“It means a lot to be recognized by the MGA and my peers and everyone who votes on this,” said Knutson. “It doesn’t seem like I’ve done a lot sometimes, but then when you take a look back at what you’ve done over the last decade it starts to add up and it’s something I’m pretty proud of.”
This year’s seminar highlighted presentations from the following industry professionals:
Dr. Brian Horgan - Professor at Michigan State University
Natural Capital Project: The Environmental Impact That Golf Courses Have On Their Communities
Horgan discussed the Natural Capital Project, which launched to help the golf industry understand the range of possible values and impacts that golf courses as natural capital provide to both golf facility owners and operators and the surrounding community. He discussed his findings of the research done as new technology can quantify the results much more accurately. Horgan’s study is the most comprehensive study ever conducted on the environmental impact that golf courses have on their communities.
David Oatis - MGA Consultant/David Oatis Consulting LLC.
Top 10 Most Common Green Committee Mistakes
Oatis, who has more than 30 years of experience in the industry and is a former Director of the USGA Northeast Green Section. Green committees and course officials have enormous power over the direction of golf course maintenance programs and budgets. The presentation was geared towards helping current committees avoid some of the many pitfalls that have plagued committees for decades.
John Daniels - Agronomist, Northeast Section, USGA Green Section
Golf Course Traffic: A New “Old” Problem!
Daniels talked extensively about the boom in golf rounds recently and how, while positive for the game, it has had a negative impact on course conditions. The biggest issue facing courses when it comes to wear and tear is the heavy use of carts. Daniels discussed strategies for reducing the amount of wear and ways golf courses can promote rapid recovery from golf cart issues.
Tom Kaplun - CGCS, Superintendent, North Hempstead Country Club
Did you Know? Regulatory Updates That Impact Your Course
Each year new state and local regulations impact our golf courses and those that fail to comply are subject to significant consequences. Kaplun presented information on recent regulatory changes that many may not be aware of and discussed the volatile political environment surrounding the golf industry in NYS and what you can do to help combat these damaging bills going forward.
Adam Moeller - Director of USGA Green Section Education
Lightning Round: Quick hitting round up of important problems, issues, and solutions
Moeller wrapped up the morning with a comprehensive discussion on a host of important issues facing the industry including labor challenges, increased costs for products, higher play volume, and rising golfer expectations. He also covered practical solutions to these issues and new trends being implemented at courses that focus on improving the golf experience.