Getting Young Golfers on Board

It is pretty common knowledge these days amongst those in the golf industry that the game we love is embroiled in a battle with misconceived perceptions. Amongst the general public it seems that golf courses are deemed to be evildoers that go about their business with little regard for its effects on the environment.

A main part of my business is trying to change these misperceptions as well as to change the attitudes of the few golf industry personal who still believe that global warming and the environmental crisis is a hoax (yes, there are still an ignorant few out there).

For the most part golf course superintendents have gotten on board with the whole environmental movement and they are doing their best to maintain their respective golf courses with care and respect for the environment. The problem is that until golf course owners and golfers understand the necessity for environmentalism it is very difficult for the average superintendent to change the way golf courses are maintained. I am talking about things like buffer zones around water bodies and creating naturalized areas on the golf course.

Which brings me to my point. I am very excited to have been asked by Camosun College in Victoria to speak next week to a class of 2nd year studuents in the golf course management program on the topic of "What it Takes for a Golf Course to Become Audubon Certified". This is a great opportunity to share first hand knowledge with the future leaders of the golf industry.

I will be speaking for approximately one hour on topics such as Wildlife and Habitat Management, Chemical Use Reduction and Safety, Water Conservation, Water Quality Management and Outreach and Education. I feel that getting the up and coming leaders of our industry on board is an excellent way to change the way golf courses are perceived in the public. The more people that understand the issues faced by golf superintendents the easier it will be for the caretakers of the game to perform their duties with environmental accountability at the forefront.

Public speaking is something I enjoy doing and started doing quite a bit of last summer. I think that it is important to spread the good word about what it is that superintendents are doing to create more environmentally friendly golf courses.