Golf Summit Examined Landscapes, Pace Of Play, Green Industry
Bradley Klein, architecture editor of Golfweek, Matthew Pringle and Jim Moore, both of the USGA, Baltusrol Golf Club’s Director of Grounds Mark Kuhns, Nancy Sadlon of the New Jersey Green industry Council, and R.J. Donnelly of Donnelly Energy, all presented lively discourses at the fourth annual NJSGA Golf Summit on Tuesday, March 25, at NJSGA headquarters at Galloping Hill Golf Course in Kenilworth.
Kevin Purcell of Darlington, chairman of the Golf Summit and member of the NJSGA Board of Trustees, served as presenter. NJSGA president Frank O’Brien provided remarks.
The Golf Summit is considered the premier event in the state for networking and discussing hot-button topics among those in the golf industry. A record crowd of 150 attended the event.
The Golf Summit, sponsored by Block Vision, welcomed all members, officials and staff from any private or public golf facility in New Jersey, as well as members of golf-based associations in the state.
Klein, an industry lecturer on golf design, maintenance, economy and the media, shared his insights on his new book “Wide Open Fairways: A Journey Across the Landscapes of Modern Golf.” Those in attendance received a complimentary copy of the book. Klein has been writing for Golfweek since 1988.
“My own view of the game of golf is inspired by architecture,” said Klein, who sited old-time designers such as C.B. MacDonald and Donald Ross as among the best. “I like designers who incorporate a sense of where you are, a sense of place. Classic courses were wide open. There is such a sense of beauty in variety. I enjoy a sense of openness, a sense of the land form.
“The climate is changing. We’re seeing more weather extremes. We are seeing massive rain events and longer periods of drought. It’s not global warming. I think weather extremes will be the next big issue in golf. It’s not only about water conservation, but also about drainage. I think climate change is God’s way of telling us we’re doing something wrong,” Klein stated.
Pringle and Moore discussed alternative aspects of “While We’re Young,” the USGA directive on fundamentals of pace of play and how course management affects pace of play .
Pringle is the manager of research and development for the USGA. Since his start with the USGA in 2000, he has contributed to the invention of the TruFirm device used to measure the firmness of greens and the Pendulum Tester, used to measure the spring effect in drivers.
He said the USGA is implementing GPS devices to measure and control times of lead foursomes and following groups in an effort to speed pace of play.
“In order to have control over pace of play, we need to control things that matter. If we’re out of balance, round times will climb,” Pringle said.
Moore is the director of the USGA’s Green Section’s Education Program. His duties include the development of educational materials for construction information, the presentation of educational seminars throughout the country, and editor of the Green Section Record.
Moore has conducted experiments using GPS to see where golfers are going and not going on a particular course. By measuring data, courses can figure out how to save money on resources such as labor, fuel, energy, water, chemicals and fertilizer by only attending to the areas that are being played.
“We need more efficient mowing patterns and to take advantage of more efficient equipment,” Moore said. “We need to measure which course factors result in a slowing of play, where players are stuck waiting on maintenance staff, where a restroom is badly needed, and where there are traffic problems on the course.
“The current irrigation of tee complexes are extremely inefficient. They can be reduced by 90 percent by only watering the tops of the tee complexes,” Moore added. “We can change the way golf courses are maintained. Instead of starting a fairway 30 yards from the tee, start it 100 yards from the tee.”
Nancy Sadlon of the New Jersey Green Industry Council, and Mark Kuhns, Director of Grounds at Baltusrol Golf Club, combined to address the impact of local and national legislation on the golf industry.
“We’re all about balance and science-based fact for the golf industry,” Sadlon said. “The Green Industry Council is needed by the golf industry to study proposed legislation, for communication and education, and for industry promotion, telling people that golf is good for the environment. We need to tell those positive stories,” Sadlon said.
“We are a non-profit that is a defender for green industry, providing education of proven industry practices, watchdogs for New Jersey laws and regulations and providing a voice for you in Trenton,” said stated. “Communication is critical and access to legislators is critical.”
Kuhns said that certain types of pesticides are needed to grow turf on golf courses.
“Grasses are an important part of our lives,” he said. “Turfgrass prevent nutrient runoffs. Most of the turf chemicals we use today are milder and friendlier to the environment than in the past. We owe an awful lot to turfgrass in the golf industry. We couldn’t live without it. It enhances the wildlife on our golf courses. We find water entering our property is a lot less toxic when leaving the property. We need to educate homeowners. That’s where the vast majority of harmful chemicals are coming from,” Kuhns noted.
R.J. Donnelly, the president of Donnelly Energy in Wayne, N.J., spoke on the financial benefits of green energy efficient buildings and the governmental programs available to reduce costs of implementing efficient retrofits.
“Green clubs are financially responsible. The financial benefits green clubs have are ongoing operational efficiency, next generation membership that is technologically aware, and direct incentives from the government. There are billions of dollars out there for energy efficient retrofits,” Donnelly said.
