MANHASSET, N.Y. (March 20, 2014) –The MGA Foundation hosted the 2014 MGA/USGA Green Chairman Education Series at North Hills Country Club in Manhasset, N.Y. on Thursday and featured an impressive panel of experts in the fields of golf course management, maintenance and agronomy. With a full audience that included superintendents, professionals, green chairmen and club officials, the meeting was productive in discussing current issues and trends that are emerging for courses.

One of the highlights of the meeting was the presentation of the 2014 Arthur P. Weber MGA Club Environmental Leaders in Golf Award to Manhattan Woods Golf Club in Pearl River, N.Y. This award recognizes an MGA member club that demonstrates environmental leadership through their efforts 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 at his home club (Old Westbury on Long Island) nearly two decades ago that many Met Area clubs still use as a model. Weber died in 2008. Past recipients include Wee Burn Country Club (2013), Rockland Country Club (2012) The Round Hill Club (2011), GlenArbor Golf Club (2010), Westchester Country Club (2009), Sebonack Golf Club (2008), and Trump National-Bedminster (2007).

This year’s panel featured the following topics and presenters:

· Sustainability in Golf Course Management - David Oatis, Director, Northeast Region, USGA Green Section
Oatis shared the USGA’s plans and goals for continued sustainability for golf courses. As environmental factors are some of the major challenges that courses face, there are certain efforts and practices that courses can take to help not only their courses, but also the future of the game of golf.

Watch David's Presentation

·Natural Areas or “Unnatural” Natural Areas - Jim Skorulski, Senior Agronomist, USGA Green Section
Skorulski focused on the building of natural areas at courses and the benefits and risks that they bring. He mentioned that the development of natural areas in courses can actually lead to slow play and increased costs, and discussed how to avoid that result.

Watch Jim's Presentation

·While We’re Young: The USGA’s Strategy for Improving Pace of Play - Hunki Yun, Director, Strategic Projects, USGA
Since introducing the “While We’re Young” campaign to reduce slow play in 2013, the USGA has worked to educate the golfing public on factors that can cause slow play. Yun discussed the USGA’s research on slow play and its efforts to speed up the game.

Watch Hunki's Presentation

·Update on the Development of BMP’s for New York State Golf Courses - Ken Benoit, CGCS, Superintendent at Glen Arbor 
Benoit shared news on the Best Management Practices program. The program focuses on ways to protect, promote, and manage New York’s natural resources when it comes to golf courses upkeep and maintenance.

·The Pinehurst Story - Bob Farren, CGCS, Director of Golf Course and Grounds Management, Pinehurst Resort
The famous Pinehurst No. 2 course has been undergoing major preparations for the 2014 U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open Championships. Farren took the audience through the changes and how they incorporated sustainability into the plan.

Watch Bob's Presentation

·Current Trends in Golf Course Management - Adam Moeller, Agronomist, Northeast Region, USGA Green Section
Moeller covered some of the major emerging challenges that golf courses have been facing in recent years and shared solutions for how courses can best deal with these obstacles.

Watch Adam's Presentation

·Tri-State Research Update - Matt Ceplo, CGCS, Superintendent, Rockland Country Club and President, Tri-State Turf Research Foundation
Ceplo provided an update on the recent focuses and projects of the Tri-State Turf Research Foundation, a group that funds turf grass research projects that are crucial to courses in the Met Area.
 

The MGA/USGA Green Chairmen 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.