by
Shane Conroy
| May 31, 2023
A couple weeks ago, I highlighted National Golf Day. The day really encompasses a week, where GCSAA leaders take part in meetings with the EPA, and USDA, a community service project, followed by hundreds of meetings with members of Congress.
While a variety of topics are discussed with Congress during these meetings, a couple of the main items are golf’s environmental benefits and the Best Management Practices (BMP) program which includes a golf course management BMP document for all 50 states.
43. Best Management Practices (BMP)
BMP offer guidelines for superintendents to manage their facilities in an efficient and environmentally sustainable manner. BMP manuals document all the science-based practices and professional course management which many people need to see. While superintendents spearhead BMP efforts, the use of BMPs benefit everyone in the community that a golf course serves.
Recognizing the need to be a leader on the BMP effort, in 2017, GCSAA engaged in an initiative to establish golf course BMP in all 50 states by the end of 2020. As of Dec. 31, 2020, each of the 50 states had established state-specific BMP featuring agronomic practices which support environmental stewardship.
This initiative was not done lightly and was completed thanks to BMP leaders and GCSAA superintendents in each of the 50 states. Steering committees were established and worked diligently with universities, state agencies, allied associations as well as other organizations to produce a thorough and comprehensive manual that documents the science-based practices and professional course management mentioned above.
Completing all 50 state BMP manuals was Phase I of the BMP process, with BMP facility manuals encompassing Phase II.
All 50 state BMP manuals are housed online through GCSAA’s website. Each of the state BMP manual is available through GCSAA’s BMP Planning Guide and Template, where superintendents can easily create a facility BMP manual. Access is easy with your GCSAA website member log-in. Also, just last week this process was simplified when GCSAA streamlined the process to enable golf course superintendents to efficiently create a facility BMP manuals.
Unfortunately, golf courses have sometimes been seen as a detriment to the local environment. We know this couldn’t be further from the truth as golf course superintendents are professional land managers and environmental stewards, and BMP dispel this myth once and for all.
As always, if you’ve missed a previous post, check them out below: