National Golf Day invades DC

WE ARE GOLF. That is the sentiment that echoed throughout Capitol Hill on Wednesday as members of the We Are Golf coalition gathered in support of the game we all love. Included in the day's activities were meetings with congressmen and senators (and/or their staffers), golf exhibits on display in the Canon House building, and media activity that included an appearance by Jack Nicklaus. What a great way to spread the good word about golf's value apart from its intrinsic entertainment advantages.

So what was discussed in our meetings with America's legislators? Well, how about the direct economic impact of golf across the U.S.? It's almost 70 BILLION dollars per year. Or how about the fact that golf employs 2 million American people? Another great example is charitable initiatives. Golf donates more to charity (almost 4 BILLION dollars annually) than the NFL, NHL and MLB combined. Yes, that's right, COMBINED. The list goes on. How about our environmental stewardship and value as community green spaces? Or the value of golf for physical activity - 1,300 calories are burned playing 18 holes, and that's if you take a cart! Do yourself and your industry a favor and commit these stats to memory for the next time you encounter a cynical golf critic.

Specific to GCSAA's agenda during the day's meetings, we spoke to our lawmakers about the proposed language changes to Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS), found within the Clean Water Act. To summarize, the proposed changes are very vague in language and open to interpretation. If the changes are approved, this could mean the EPA has jurisdiction over an area that has flowing water at any point throughout the year. In other words, if you get a 3-inch rain storm, and have runoff flowing across 7 fairway, that then becomes the EPA's jurisdiction. So what does that mean? It means costly permits and susceptibility to huge fines - up to $37,000 per day. We believe the EPA is overstepping its boundaries with these suggested amendments, and we want to stop it. To learn more and request an extension to the comment period for these proposed changes, please visit GCSAA's Government Relations portal. Believe me, this is a BIG deal, and we all need to keep an eye on this issue.

All in all, I would say National Golf Day was a great success. This initiative speaks to advocacy in the highest light, and I believe we can take this model and use it on a state level. Some have already started to do so, and those of us who haven't should be excited to follow their lead. For more about the National Golf Day initiative, the day's activities, or about the We Are Golf Coalition, please check out the website referenced above. For relevant twitter feed, check out #NGD14.

Special thanks to GCSAA's government relations team led by Chava McKeel, who did so much to make this day happen, including setting up dozens of meetings with legislator's offices. Likewise, I'd like to thank my trusty fellas from the Mid-Atlantic GCSA, who manned an extensive turfgrass exhibit throughout the day, complete with different types of sod, irrigation equipment, soil probes and profilers, and even a digital prism to get a close up look at the green-height bentgrass. Lastly, thanks to all the people who made the day possible and all who participated. Afterall, WE ARE GOLF!

Jack Nicklaus addresses the media at National Golf Day.

Shelia Finney of Gaylord Springs Golf Links speaks with a staffer from Representative Marsha Blackburn's office (TN).

JD Dockstader (GCSAA), Matt Shatto (GCSAA) and I prepare for the day's activities on the steps of the Capitol Building. 

Tough questions, educated answers

We work in a wonderful industry that we love for a number of reasons: birds chirping in the early morning, the dawn sun rising through the lifting fog, and the beautiful green landscape that we see as a work of art.

Of course, like any industry, we also have some bummer aspects of our craft that we must face, albeit hopefully not too often. But when we have to face tough questions, particularly those concerning pesticide use, we must be prepared to provide a well-educated, non-defensive, honest answer that can help educate the general public and golfers about what we do on a daily basis. We all need to be responsible for advocating on our industry's behalf, and this is one of those cases.

Recently, an investigative news report was aired on WTAE in Pittsburgh regarding the hazards of pesticides on golf courses. I won't go in to the details of that story, but I want to take the opportunity to discuss how we can handle tough pesticide questions (or accusations) in a professional  manner. An important thing to remember is not to get defensive. Getting defensive in some ways can make you look like you have something to hide. Rather, we should think of this as an opportunity to shed positive light on our industry and the care with which we handle pesticides and environmental management. Likewise, remember to be sympathetic. Emotion is often tied to these topics, and you may find your emotions escalating in your response. Stay calm, and exhibit sympathy. We may not be able to change everyone's mind, but we can share some facts about our industry and pesticides that are proven and backed by science and research.

Please take a look at this document that was developed by GCSAA to ensure that you are prepared for these questions in the future. This may even be a good thing to share with golfers and/or members on your blog, website, newsletter, or through twitter. But always remember - be sympathetic, be sincere, and don't get defensive.

http://www.gcsaa.org/course/communication/golfcoursefacts/golf-course-pesticides-faqs

Tweet tweet tweet

This week I attended a social media roundtable at Independence Golf Club in Midlothian, VA. Among those in attendance, curious superintendents wanted to learn how to better utilize social media to help them gather relevant information that is floating around the ever-expanding world wide web. The main social media players, as most of you know, are Facebook and Twitter.

In my opinion, Twitter is the most applicable for golf course superintendents. Why? Because you search keywords, post pictures, hashtag a topic, and communicate directly to other tweeters. Most people seem to use Facebook more for family and close friends, while Twitter can be used more for business purposes, although that doesn't mean you can't share personal information there as well. Furthermore, you can tweet out course conditions, cart restrictions, or frost delays to members of your club. And even link that post to Facebook so it will automatically post to your Club's Facebook page.

As far collecting and sharing relevant information to those managing turf in the state of Virginia, David McCall, pathologist at Virginia Tech, suggested they start a hashtag campaign that is #VATurf. This way, everyone interested in sharing information about turf news in Virginia can use that hashtag, and make it easily findable by simply searching that hashtag on Twitter. Likewise, many industry companies and organizations share relevant news and information through Twitter. The beauty in this is how fast you can receive that information right into the palm of your hand. For example, GCSAA, Toro, Jacobsen, Syngenta, USGA, PGA, many professors and other vendors all have Twitter handles that are active daily.

No need to be overwhelmed - you can simply open a twitter account (Twitter.com), create a username (a handle), and start following people to get an idea of what Twitter is all about. Don't even worry about posting until you get a feel for how the whole Twitter world operates. As far as finding people to follow, you can import your contacts into Twitter, and that will give you a starting point.

If you need help getting started, or have questions along the line, feel free to contact me and I will be happy to help you work through the kinks to becoming more connected.

Superintendents and industry reps gather for a Twitter tutorial and roundtable at Independence Golf Club.

The passing of old man winter

This winter has served up quite a platter of brutally cold temperatures, record snow falls and its fair share of stress on golf course superintendents in the region. While I'm sure we're all ready to hear spring birds chirping, smell fresh-cut grass and tackle spring aeration, let's take a minute to reflect on what our good friend the polar vortex brought to the table over the previous five months.

Could cold temperatures mean a cutback in nematode and other insect populations? Opinions vary, from what I've heard. On one hand, you would think a freeze as deep as we experienced this winter would really cut back overwintering populations. On the other hand, some believe the effect isn't so cut and dry. Some people I've spoken with believe there must be a short period of warm temperatures to stimulate biological activity, and then a drastic drop in temperature that knocks out the emerging populations. Well, at least in the Pittsburgh area, both of the given scenarios have occurred. Time will tell, but I'm sure it would be a welcoming development if nematode populations decreased heading in to the season.

Tree pruning and/or removal: This one can go either way. I've talked with a couple of people who had ice storms take down trees they have been wanting to get rid of for years. See, winter isn't so bad! But on the other end of the spectrum, some guys had trees taken out that they absolutely did not want to see go (see Eisenhower tree at Augusta). Either way, hopefully this winter at least you had the opportunity to get outside and catch up on any pruning that needed attention.

We'll also learn more about ice cover and cold tolerance of bermudagrass. While ice cover is not something new to superintendents around here, and literature widely states that ice can be tolerated for as many as 120 days, it still doesn't ease your mind when your greens are sitting under 4 inches of ice. Until we really start to see grass greening up, any winterkill will remain a mystery. With bermudagrass now being utilized as far north as Philadelphia, this winter will be quite a test of endurance for those courses experimenting with the C-4 grass. Again, time will tell.

Regardless of whether you enjoyed the dramatic stormy theatrics of old man winter, or loathed its existence more than ironing your entire wardrobe of golf shirts, let's keep our fingers crossed that this summer will be the best grass-growing season in memory. Here's to warmer temperatures!

What's the value of networking?

So, what IS the value of networking? How do you really place a value on it?

I think to truly determine its value, we can only look back and see what past networking has accomplished for us. For example, I can take every significant move in my career thus far and track it back to a number of first-time handshakes that ended up creating new opportunities later in my career. When you look at the value of networking through this hindsight lens, I'd say it's pretty high.

Why do I bring this up? Well, in this day and age, we are always trying to assess the value to things to gain an understanding of what they are worth to people. I always stress the value of face-to-face networking and how important it is, especially in the context of Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and other social media trends. I still believe the highest value in our local, regional and national conferences and meetings is networking. Eh hem, excuse me, face-to-face networking.

When is the last time you heard about Joe Bean getting hired because his employer enjoyed his tweets? Or that the same potential employer could get a good feel for Joe's personality and character based off his Facebook posts? Or that the employer really valued Joe's team-oriented attitude after seeing his Instagram photographs? My answer: never!

Don't get me wrong, I am an avid user of social media myself, and I believe it is a tremendous tool in today's business and personal worlds. But do these social media outlets replace the value we realize in face-to-face networking? No. Absolutely not. Period.

I do believe these social media sites are a great way to stay in tune with current news and information from around the world, which is pretty cool. They can also work as a great "introductory" tool if you find yourself shaking hands with a potential colleague or employer - for example, "Oh yeah, I recognize your name from Twitter; I think I follow you."

While there is no doubt that social media has its place in today's business world, the key cog in professional network development still remains face-to-face interaction.

BMPs: A model for success

Best Management Practices (BMPs), nutrient management plans, nutrient applicator certifications and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed -- what do all these things have in common? The answer is a cleanup initiative. Golf has long been scrutinized as a contributor, even a large contributor, to the deteriorating water quality of the Chesapeake Bay. For that reason, many states in the Bay's watershed have embarked on legislative-driven journeys to create environmental accountability as it relates to golf course maintenance practices. So, how do we create accountability? Well, let me circle back around to BMPS, nutrient management plans and nutrient applicator certifications.

We have all heard the saying "perception is reality." And in this case, I just laid out the perception. Now, do I believe that we are massive polluters of the environment? Of course not. But that doesn't change the fact that we need to do our part to show our legislators, our communities and our customers that we take environmental stewardship seriously. Reacting to legislation is OK; but instead of being reactive, we must actually be proactive.

Different states have turned to different models. For example, in New York and Virginia, there is a BMP website and a BMP manual, respectively. In Maryland, there is the nutrient applicator's certification, which is not dissimilar from the pesticide applicator's certification. Also in Virginia, there is the development of nutrient management plans that must be approved by a certified nutrient management planner. Regardless of the chosen model, it is the initiative that counts. And there is funding out there to help.

In Pennsylvania, we have a BMP manual that was constructed years ago, but we have done a poor job of implementing this plan. Often you will hear that superintendents already adhere to 98 percent of the BMPs outlined in said manual and/or website. It's not about re-inventing the wheel. Rather, it's about documenting these initiatives so that we can have hard data that stands behind our efforts. There are several different ways we can do that, including a self assessment and documentation -- a "self-audit" if you will. Documentation will be a key piece to this initiative as we progress.

These processes don't have to be painful. In fact, I would say they can be quite rewarding. But we must have buy-in and commitment. Implementation isn't going to happen overnight, but engagement with these plans can help change the perception and grow the game of golf. Envision a time when every state has a BMP model in place and every golf course is committed to its implementation -- not because legislation is forcing us to do so, but because it is the right thing to do. It is the right thing to do for our environment; it is the right thing to do for the communities we serve; and it is the right thing to do for the game of golf.

Field Staff - How can we help you?

The following post was written by Field Staff Director Steve Randall.

Recently, GCSAA received results from its Member Needs Assessment. First, thank you for participating in the survey. We take information received from our members very seriously. We use this information to ensure programs and services of value are offered.

If you are unaware, the field staff program began as a pilot program in 2006. It started with a chapter liaison of organizational development, then expanded with a chapter liaison of association management.  I was fortunate to obtain that position more than seven years ago. The roots of this program are in "chapter effectiveness."

Because of member support, the program has expanded to include nine regions in which a resident field staffer resides. A question I hear from members across the country is, "What does this field staff person do?" Or, "Why haven't I seen my field staff representative at our course?" This article hopes to shed some light on those questions.

We have been able to connect chapters to GCSAA in many areas. Through the connection with their field staff representative, chapters have successfully added assets and resources for their industry partners. Field staff representatives have also visited member and non-member facilities and individuals.

As the program evolves, I would love to hear your ideas and suggestions to enhance the program. While site visits have been conducted, would expanding this concept be an effective way to broaden our membership outreach? There are financial considerations to consider, but if evolving the program to include more direct member interaction is of benefit, let me know.

Without the efforts of everyone at GCSAA, the field staff program could not be effective. This is an organization-wide effort. We take information from the field and apply that to ensuring quality programs and services.

 Let's take a look at the basics of the program. Call it "Field Staff 101" if you wish:

Objectives of the field staff program:
The mission of the field staff program is to: Administer outreach and support to members and affiliated chapters to provide direct services to our members

The vision of the field staff program is to: Accomplish the "we" between chapters, members and the GCSAA

Accomplishing this vision is important. We want to eliminate the "us and them" mentality. We are all together to benefit the industry.

So, how do we accomplish the mission and vision?

• Be a two-way communication vehicle - we only know what we know
• Establish a direct voice for chapters to relay their needs and opinions to GCSAA and golf-related organizations
• Expand the superintendents role as being a leader in the golf community. Support allied organizational efforts, state/regional golf days, events that support the the growth and enhancement of golf

Day-to-day functions of our field staff members:

• Assist chapters with developing and implementing best practices
• Facilitate strategic planning sessions. From sessions conducted in 2013 alone, chapters developed new outreach programs, assistant education sessions, networking events for members, membership recruitment and retention programs, communications plans and much, much more!
• Assist chapters to improve financial standing. This includes working with chapters to identify proper revenue streams, effective cost/benefit analysis efforts and adding programs of value
• Support chapters and research development through Rounds4Research
• Work with chapters and members who have gone through natural disasters. Providing tool kits and communicating the message about the importance of golf to our communities is essential
• Be part of board and membership meetings to provide information on the golf industry. Be a voice to provide resources provided by GCSAA that can be used by members and chapters alike
• Provide communications tools and articles for publication. This includes our regional pages on www.gcsaa.org 
• Enhance the profession through:
• Working with allied organizations to provide communications tools and golf industry information
• Coordinating education and information with chapter executives
• Providing case-study analysis for member retention, recruitment and meeting attendance
• Working with chapters on educational programs and providing educational sessions
• Facilitating communications for government affairs/advocacy issues
• And much more!

This month alone I have facilitated strategic planning sessions, provided information and education at regional turfgrass conferences and been part of board meetings to share best practices and ideas that have worked across the country. This outreach is consistent among all our field staff members.

We are skilled at facilitation and listening to your requests. Working with our chapters and members directly while providing strategic oversight for the program is why we need to hear from you!

Please look for me at the GCSAA Education Conference and Golf Industry Show. If you have not met your regional field staff representative, please give them a call. These regional pages are a tool to introduce you to our quality staff and to the programs and services GCSAA offers. Take advantage and have a great start to 2014!