DEMAREST, N.J. (March 24, 2015) - The MGA Foundation hosted the 2015 MGA Green Chairman Education Series at Alpine Country Club in Demarest, N.J., on Tuesday, March 24 and featured a panel of experts in the fields of golf course management, maintenance and agronomy. With a full audience of golf course superintendents, professionals, green chairmen and club officials, the seminar focused on important industry topics and trends for courses in the Met Area.

Related: Photo Gallery

Also at the meeting, Neshanic Valley Golf Course in Neshanic Station, N.J., was honored with the 2015 Arthur P. Weber MGA Club Environmental Leaders in Golf Award. This annual award is presented to an MGA member club that demonstrates environmental leadership in golf course maintenance, construction, education and research. The award is named in honor of past MGA President Arthur P. Weber, who wrote an Environmental Code of Conduct for golf course maintenance for Old Westbury, his home club, nearly two decades ago that many Met Area clubs still use as a model. Past recipients of the award include Manhattan Woods Golf Club (2014), Wee Burn Country Club (2013), Rockland Country Club (2012), The Round Hills Club (2011), GlenArbor Golf Club (2010), Westchester Country Club (2009), Sebonack Golf Club (2008), and Trump-National Bedminster (2007).

This year's panel of speakers featured the following:

• The Green Committee: A Guide to Building an Effective and Productive Committee, Dave Oatis -  Director Northeast Region, USGA Green Section (Watch Video) 
  Oatis discussed the importance of relationships between the golf course superintendent and green committee and focused on best practices for how the chairman, superintendent, club board and the members can work together to produce the best possible product.

   

• Trees - Impact on Difficulty of Play, Course Rating and Hidden Costs, Adam Moeller - Agronomist, Northeast Region, USGA Green Section (Watch Video)
  Moeller's presentation focused on the various impacts of tree removal on turf performance, course playability and maintenance budgets, and reviewed how trees on the golf course affect the USGA Course Rating System

   

• A Survivors Guide for the Next 15 Years of the Golf Industry, Bradley S. Klein - Author, Speaker and Senior Writer,
  Golfweek Magazine (Watch Video)
  Klein discussed the increasing challenges that superintendents, club managers and golf professionals are facing in recent years, and offered suggestions for ways that clubs and courses can stay ahead of the game in this competitive market.

   

• Update on the Development of BMP's for New York State Golf Courses, Ken Benoit - CGCS, Superintendent,
  GlenArbor Golf Club (Watch Video)
  Benoit provided an update on the joint project developed by Cornell University and area golf course superintendents for New York State golf courses.
   

• Tri-State Turfgrass Research Foundation Update, Matt Ceplo - CGCS, Superintendent, Rockland Country Club; President, Tri-State Turf Research Foundation (Watch Video)
  Ceplo shared an update on the current projects that the Tri-State Turf Research Foundation is funding and how they benefit courses throughout the Met Area.

The MGA Green Chairman Education Series is presented annually by the Metropolitan Golf Association Foundation and is part of a two month-long program of educational forums that are designed to educate club leaders and golfers about different issues pertinent to Met Area clubs and courses. The range of topics include the Rules of Golf, handicapping, technology, and MGA member services and benefits. For more information about the MGA Green Chairman Education Series, please contact Kate Keller or Kevin Kline.