March 23, 2011 - The Metropolitan Golf Association Foundation honored the Round Hill Club in Greenwich, Conn., as the recipient of the fifth annual Arthur P. Weber MGA Club Environmental Award. The award recognizes an MGA member club that has demonstrated environmental stewardship through golf course maintenance, construction, education and research.

The award was given at the 2011 MGA/USGA Green Chairmen Education Series and Award Luncheon on Tuesday, March 22, at Wheatley Hills Golf Club in East Williston, N.Y., and as Blake Halderman, Superintendent at Brae Burn Country Club and Vice President of the METGCSA said, “It was very well attended and it is great to see all of the different organizations (MGA, USGA, METGCSA, Tri-State Turf) working together as a team to benefit golf in the Met Area.”

Presenting this year’s Environmental Award was Ken Benoit; last year’s recipient and superintendent at GlenArbor Golf Club. Accepting the award for Round Hill Club was Sean Foley, golf course superintendent. Foley highlighted a multi-tiered approach to renovating the environmental policies at the club, which opened in 1924 and has strived to be environmentally friendly since its inception.

“We essentially began with an internal, full-facility audit,” he said. “Our first step was extensive in-house training for our staff on how to be more environmentally conscious. We’ve also made fundamental changes to our club-wide policies ranging from new recycling methods to power conservation. Finally, we’re ensuring the future of conservation through capital investment funds at the club.”

In addition to the physical enhancements seen at the course, Mr. Foley believes these programs can also position the club, and golf as a whole, in a role that the community highly values. “Over the past three years we’ve made constant improvements, and it’s extremely important to be vocal about the positive impact an environmentally friendly golf club has on the surrounding community,” he added.

The award is named in honor of past MGA President Arthur P. Weber, who died in 2008. Weber wrote an Environmental Code of Conduct for golf course maintenance at his home club nearly two decades ago that many Met Area clubs still use as a model. Weber was a long-time member of the USGA Green Section and helped found the MGA Green Committee and the Tri-State Turf Research Foundation.

The award presentation to Round Hill was the highlight of the Green Chairmen Series program, which featured more than 130 club representatives enjoying outstanding speakers on topics ranging from environmental and economic issues, along with new and innovative ways to optimize the playing conditions of their respective courses. Presentations included:

• “2010: What the Heck Happened to my Golf Course?” by USGA Agronomist Adam Moeller, in which he addressed the extreme conditions seen throughout the northeast in 2010 and what lessons can be learned from it.
• “Ten Things I Wish my Golf Course Superintendent Knew/Ten Things I Wish my Green Committee Understood!” by USGA Senior Agronomist Jim Skorulski, who offered his insights into the intricacies of both superintendent and green chairmen’s positions along with how they can optimize their relationship.
• "Tri-State Turfgrass Research Foundation Update,” given by John Carlone (photo, above), CGCS, Property Manager at the Meadow Brook Club in Jericho, N.Y., and President of the Tri-State Turfgrass Research Foundation.
• “Practices to Improve Playability and Keep the Grass Alive” by Dr. Jim Murphy, Turfgrass Management Extension Specialist at Rutgers University, who reviewed his research on putting green management and the analysis and prevention of various turf diseases.
• Finally, Adam Moeller spoke again in a presentation entitled “Firm and Fast: What does it mean and what does it mean at your golf course?” In it, he explained the benefits as well as potential ramifications of “firm and fast” conditions as well as the difference in meaning of the terminology between courses.

The 2011 MGA/USGA Green Chairmen Education Series is part of a month-long program of educational forums that are designed to educate club leaders and the golfing public about a wide range of issues affecting Met Area clubs and golfers. Topics include the Rules of Golf, handicapping procedures, new technology and MGA and MGA Foundation services and programs. Video of all presentations from today’s program will be available soon on www.mgagolf.org.