The Mid-Atlantic Association of GCS (MAAGCS) board
and members are committed to being environmental stewards.
The chapter raises funds to support environmental
efforts in the Mid-Atlantic area. This is done by
hosting the Stewards of the Chesapeake Tournament.
Established in 2000, the tournament was developed
as a primary source of funding to support local research
projects, environmental efforts and government relations.
It has also provided a great opportunity for MAAGCS
members to bring their respective club or company
officials to participate in this event aimed at the
preservation and improvement of both the game of golf
and the local environment. The tournament is held
in close proximity of the Chesapeake Bay to heighten
awareness of the superintendents’ responsibility
to help preserve one of the area’s most treasured
resources – the Chesapeake Bay. The MAAGCS has
raised in excess of $50,000. These funds have been
used for turf research and to help fund the chapter’s
lobbyist.
The 2007 Stewards of the Chesapeake was held Aug.
6 at The Chevy Chase Club in Chevy Chase, MD. The
MAAGCS sent out invitations to members, as well as
to neighboring chapters. There were 108 golfers who
played in the tournament. The teams for the day were
made up of all different members of the golf community.
Golf course superintendents, golf professionals, golf
course architects, general managers, green committee
chairmen, board members and vendors were partnered
with each other to create a truly memorable event.
Theresa Baria, executive director of the MAAGCS, said
it was quite a sight to see the golfers start the
day with 54 caddies following along. Chevy Chase does
not allow golf carts. The chapter was pleased to have
a representative of the Environmental Protection Agency
as its guest for the event.
While the bulk of the funds raised are granted to
universities for turf research, the chapter does tag
some of the money to help with the costs associated
with its lobbying efforts. The MAAGCS shares a lobbyist
with other green industry associations in their region.
Randall Pinckney, chapter president and golf course
superintendent at The Manor Club in Frederick, MD,
knows how important it is to have a presence in Annapolis.
“We can’t help but see what’s going
on in other states in terms of water restrictions
and pesticide legislations. It’s important that
our voice is heard before any legislation is written,”
Pinckney says.
Building relationships with environmental officials
is also why the chapter invited a representative from
the EPA to the tournament. “Many environmental
officials have superintendents lumped in with the
green industry as a whole. It’s really important
for them to be educated and create a relationship
with them, so they understand how educated our members
are on the proper use of pesticides,” Pinckney
explained. In fact, the tournament isn’t the
first time the MAAGCS has reached out to the EPA.
The Chevy Chase Club was the site of a meeting several
years ago with 30 EPA officials. Dean Graves, CGCS,
superintendent at Chevy Chase took the group around
the course and explained its maintenance practices.
Resources for your chapter
Interested in learning how to reach out to become
a better advocate for your chapter? Check out these
resources:
Advocacy training:
http://www.gcsaa.org/advocacy/advocacy.aspx
Learn from other chapters:
http://www.gcsaa.org/chapters/ps/chapActivities.asp
