Friday, May 26, 2017

First Tee STEM Links seeks to grow

First Tee is an organization with international reach whose name is practically synonymous with golf. As stated, its mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices through the game of golf. And one way they are looking to achieve this mission is by leveraging golf to teach Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).

When you think about it, these four disciplines are widely used throughout the inception, design and maintenance of a golf course. Our practicing GCSAA members are experts in applying this knowledge to their work, so whom better than to teach STEM education on the golf course than superintendents? These on-course laboratories, dubbed "STEM Links," teach a curriculum centered around soil science and agronomy, ecosystem management, plant identification, water conservation, applied sensory technology, applied math and of course, golf!

Our friends at the Mid-Atlantic Association of Golf Course Superintendents (MAAGCS) have taken initiative to collaborate with The First Tee of Greater Baltimore to bring this program to the Mid-Atlantic. On May 23, almost 30 students attended a field trip at Waverly Woods Golf Course, home to MAAGCS president Michael Bostian, to take part in the second field trip of its kind co-hosted by these two chapters. And to say the event was a hit, well, just take a look below at the candid photographs captured throughout the day.

The field trip works by setting up "lab" stations around the golf course, each with a specific teaching topic. At this particular field trip, we had four lab stations: soils and turf ID, calculating area, water management, and golf driving range (you gotta have some fun!). The students are split in to four groups and spend 25 minutes at each lab station. While First Tee coaches typically handle the golf lab, superintendents are relied on to teach the applied sciences at the other three lab stations.

On hand to observe the day's activities was Benna Cail, First Tee's senior director of outreach programs & implementation. Benna noted the strong relationships First Tee has within schools across the country thanks to their National School Program, in which First Tee brings its curriculum to more than 9,000 elementary gym classes. Through those programs, First Tee is able to leverage its relationships in schools to organize field trips for the First Tee STEM Links Program. In essence, First Tee's multi-faceted programming creates different interfaces in which it can engage young people and get them interested in the game of golf. Whether it's STEM education or a gym class on the driving range, First Tee is finding ways to reach the future players and professionals who will carry the sport forward.

And that vision aligns nicely with The Toro Company, which has been a longtime partner of the First Tee and graciously provides funding for a grant program that helps First Tee chapters offset the costs of hosting a STEM Links field trip. However, they still need superintendents to serve as teaching experts. That's where our GCSAA chapters come in. The expertise of our members is a key element to fulfilling this program's potential. While the First Tee Chapters can handle the logistics of organizing the field trip, GCSAA members will be relied upon to help teach labs. And really, it seems to come quite naturally for our members to teach kids about the varying qualities between turfgrass species, or the critical threshold for moisture in greens, or the wildlife habitat areas around the course. It's a win-win!

So let's recap: Your local First Tee chapter organizes the field trip. Your local GCSAA chapter helps teach the on-course labs. Students come, students learn, students play some golf, everyone wins. Nice and tidy. 

Call to Action: Chapters or members interested in engaging The First Tee STEM Links program can contact Benna Cail at bcail@thefirsttee.org or reach out to your local First Tee chapter.

Students gather around in anticipation of the day's activities. 

Students in awe of a sprinkler head turned on through a walkie-talkie

Checking out the green's soil profile

Feeling the texture of the soil

Checking the moisture in the putting green

Learning moisture thresholds

Keep measuring

An end to a fun-filled day

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Advocacy initiatives abound throughout the region

Spring is a beautiful time. It's an exciting time, and a busy time. Superintendents through the region are working diligently to prepare their venues for a successful golf season as we usher in the month of May. And while the demands of the job this time of a year require a big time commitment, I've been thoroughly impressed with our members' dedication to participate in numerous advocacy initiatives that aim to advance our game and our profession.

Just last week superintendents from across the country joined forces with our allied bodies to gather in our Nation's Capital for National Golf Day. This was the 10-year anniversary of this event. New this year, attendees participated in a robust community service project, helping to polish up the National Mall. The event was a huge success as golf's leaders sacrificed their time to serve in an arena unrelated to golf. 

Then, for the official National Golf Day event on April 26, we took to Capitol Hill to share with Congressional leaders the benefits of golf. We shared with them the economic impact of golf –
almost 70 billion dollars across the U.S. Likewise, we promoted the charitable impact of golf – almost 4 billion dollars annually, mostly to charities outside of golf, and more than all other major spectator sports combined. And the environmental and physical benefits our courses provide. Furthermore, we discussed our position on legislation that affects our ability to do business – namely WOTUS, H-2B, and more. 

But that isn't all that is going on in the spirit of advocacy. This week, I will be participating in the 2nd First Green field trip hosted by the Mid-Atlantic AGCS. Our initial field trip was hosted last fall at Westminster National Golf Course in Westminster, Maryland. That event was such a success that the MAAGCS board of directors almost immediately got the ball rolling on hosting another field trip this spring. Not only does this program promote STEM learning in the context of golf course management, it also allows us to showcase our profession and the game of golf to young inquisitive minds who may find their interests piqued by participating in such an event. 

Later this month, MAAGCS is at it again with their second First Tee STEM field trip, hosted at Waverly Woods Golf Course. First Tee STEM is also a program that aims to leverage golf course management to teach students about STEM education and introduce them to the game. 

All these initiatives highlight our commitment to growing the game and managing our government affairs. I am also working with chapters through the region to continue our development of BMP programs for each state as we strive to reach the goal of 50 states with BMP programs in place by the year 2020. 

Thank you to leaders throughout the region and industry who see the value in advocacy and sacrifice their time for the benefit of not only our industry, but also the benefit for others outside the industry that these initiatives help serve. If you would like to get more involved in these projects, please give me a call or reach out to your local chapter.