 |
Presented in partnership with BASF
|
Massachusetts super
takes honor
 |
Jeff Carlson, CGCS, adds the 2008 President’s Award for Environmental Stewardship to his list of environmental honors. Photo courtesy of |
One of GCSAA’s more environmentally acclaimed superintendents, Jeff Carlson, CGCS at Vineyard Golf Club on Martha’s Vineyard near Edgartown, Mass., is the 2008 winner of the President’s Award for Environmental Stewardship.
A 23-year member of GCSAA, Carlson has long established himself as an environmental leader through his work on the golf course, in the community and on behalf of the industry and thus has become one of the profession’s top figures in demonstrating the superintendent’s role in environmentally sensitive golf design, construction and maintenance.
Today, Carlson’s innovative all-organic turf-management regimen at Vineyard GC is one of only a few of its kind in the country.
“We recognize Jeff with this prestigious award because he has chosen a different path of golf course management and has effectively communicated its virtues to the members of Vineyard Golf Club so that he has their full support,” GCSAA President Ricky D. Heine, CGCS, said in an association release. “All-organic turf care would not work in every climate, but Jeff has created awareness for environmental practices and he has been a leader in meeting environmental challenges.”
The path blazed by Carlson is noteworthy. He refined his touch with golf and nature while at Brewster Golf Course (now Ocean Edge) on Cape Cod for three decades, then in 1998 he left the Cape for a much-anticipated venture with architect Michael Hurdzan — the creation of America’s first environmental demonstration course, Widow’s Walk in Scituate, Mass. He won a GCSAA Environmental Steward Award later that year for his work on that project.
In 1999, Carlson was hired as construction superintendent at Vineyard GC, the first course built on Martha’s Vineyard in 30 years. He stayed on to guide the unique management strategies and in 2003 was the national private course winner of the GCSAA/Golf Digest Environmental Leaders in Golf Award.
Carlson was a member of the original group of participants who in 1996 crafted the Environmental Principles for Golf under the guidance of the Center for Resource Management.
Even after a lifetime of working close to the environment in ultra-sensitive coastal areas, the President’s Award “came out of the blue,” says Carlson, who adds that he believes environmental awareness “becomes part of who you are as a superintendent.”
“You grow into it,” he explains. “I’ve been working without certain pesticides for years now, and that’s something that becomes a habit.”
The President’s Award will be presented to Carlson on Jan. 31 during the Opening Session of the 2008 GCSAA Education Conference and Golf Industry Show in Orlando.
Club Car announces a new element to its efforts to promote sustainable environmental practices — nitrogen. The colorless, odorless gas that forms 80 percent of the earth’s atmosphere by volume is now used to inflate tires on Club Car’s Precedent golf cars and Villager 4 hospitality vehicles. Nitrogen improves fuel economy, promotes longer tire life and is friendlier than compressed air to the environment, says Mike Packer, vice president of the company’s worldwide sales. Membrane technology is used to pump nitrogen into the tires. Club Car says it’s the first company to use nitrogen to inflate tires on an assembly line and bring those benefits to golf courses. Aquatrols has become the third Technical Supporter of Golf Environment Europe and sponsor of the group’s Environmental Innovation and Technology Network. In doing so, Aquatrols says it’s committing to support environmental education and information exchange within and beyond European golf. Aquatrols’ support will facilitate the production of a new Environmental Resource Centre for European golf, and the company will help collate and disseminate information to help achieve greater water use efficiency and conservation in turf management. |
RECENT issues
 |
 |
September |
August |