Local superintendents to partake in leadership academy

Three superintendents from the Mid-Atlantic region will be attending the 2017 Golf Industry Show in Orlando on a fully-paid scholarship as part of the EIFG's Melrose Leadership Academy. The Melrose Leadership Academy supports the professional development of GCSAA members, and is set up to provide up to 20 scholarships every year.

Please join me in congratulating:

• Thomas R. Bass Jr., Falling River Country Club in Appomattox, Va.
• Eric Pockl, CGCS, The Club at Blackthorne in Jeanneatte, Pa.
• Derrick S. Wozniak, Radley Run Country Club in West Chester, Pa.

Find out more on this year's winners.

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The Melrose Leadership Academy was established in 2012 by Ken Melrose, retired CEO and chairman of the board of The Toro Co., and is supported by a $1 million gift to the EIFG from The Kendrick B. Melrose Family Foundation. This program will have a positive impact for each superintendent selected and ultimately, the game of golf.

First Green takes off in Mid-Atlantic

At the conclusion of Wednesday's First Green field trip at Westminster National Golf Course, the invigorated fifth-grade students putted golf balls and mounted turf equipment, persistent in their quest to test drive the unfamiliar but intriguing power machines. As for those of us teaching the labs, we were tired. But it was well worth it. Because throughout the day we got to talk to 100 students from Spring Garden Elementary about applied STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) education within the context of golf.

Over the course of 5 hours, two separate groups of 50 kids arrived at Westminster to participate in a rotation of labs focusing on water conservation, math, golf and the environment, equipment and putting. We talked about things like wildlife habitat, calculating area, soil moisture, watersheds, living filters, and simply golf.

For most, it was their first introduction to the game, and what a great introduction it was. For them to learn about our industry, for them to learn about applied science in the outdoors, for them to experience something new, that is what First Green is all about.

And the success of the day was appropriately summed up when one student told me he'd enjoyed the trip to the golf course better than the trip to planetarium because, well, he got to hit golf balls.

And maybe, unbeknownst to him or us, he found his future career.

Special thanks to the Mid-Atlantic Association of Golf Course Superintendents and Finch Services, who provided the day's equipment display.

Students sprint toward their first lab of the day

Superintendent Galen Evans describes different turf species

Superintendent and MAAGCS President Chris Harriman teaches kids applied math

Students mount power equipment next to the putting green

Michael Bostian and Jon Lobenstine teach water conservation

Students learning to calculate area

Superintendent Tyler Bloom introduces kids to turf equipment

Craig Kirby (background) of Golf. My Future. My Game, works with kids on the putting green