Golf Summit Features Green Industry's Mark Kuhns Of Baltusrol

Mark Kuhns, director of grounds at Baltusrol Golf Club, and Nancy Sadlon, executive director of the New Jersey Green Industry Council, will discuss the impact of local and national legislation on the golf industry as part of the annual New Jersey State Golf Association Golf Summit on Tuesday, March 25, at the NJSGA Headquarters at Galloping Hill Golf Course in Kenilworth.

The Golf Summit is considered the premier event in the state for networking and discussing hot-button topics among those in the golf industry.

The Golf Summit, sponsored by Block Vision, welcomes 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.

The New Jersey Green Industry Council, on whose board Kuhns sits, represent, promote and defend the its interests and those of its partners through education, communications and advocacy at both the local and state level.

The efforts of the NJGIC - which help keep golf courses in top condition - do not go unnoticed by the NJSGA. Both recognize that quality playing conditions are important to golf, to golfers, to business and to the state of New Jersey.

The NJGIC is the first line of defense against negative laws and regulations, working with a contract lobbyist in Trenton. It is the green industry’s watchdog group looking out for the interests of all professionals that manage the outdoor environment, including golf courses and golf-related facilities.

The NJGIC is dedicated to representing member interests for a broad range of industry regulations and legislative concerns including fertilizer restrictions and regulations, junk science, licensure laws, local ordinances, pesticides regulations, pesticide notification laws, product restrictions, taxation of services, trade restrictions, water quality and water restrictions, and anti-industry propaganda.

Kuhn has worked at Baltusrol since 1999 and is past president of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America , serves on the NJGIC board.

“When I arrived at Baltusrol in 1999, the turf was in very poor condition due to stress of heat and drought. It was my mission to make it better. This was possible due to the availability of new products and improved course management practices. We are not using the pesticides of a bygone era. We are not polluting our air and streams by using heavy metals. We are using new reduced risk products and cutting edge management techniques.

“The EPA and DEP monitors what we use and tests for safety. We are very contentious of potential effects on the wildlife on our golf course. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service found that 128 species of birds frequent our courses. We have native fish in our streams. These are things we are monitoring constantly. This is testimony that our management practices, including pesticides and fertilizers are not creating harm,” Kuhns continued.

“There are a lot of benefits to having good healthy grass. It provides good, healthy oxygen and cools the environment. We are environmentalists. We are sensitive to the use of water, pesticides and fertilizers.”

Matthew Pringle and Jim Moore, both of the USGA, will discuss “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.

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.

Bradley Klein, an industry lecturer on golf design, maintenance, economy and the media, will share his insights on his new book “Wide Open Fairways: A Journey Across the Landscapes of Modern Golf.” Those in attendance will each receive a free copy of the book. Klein has been writing for Golfweek since 1988.

R.J. Donnelly, the president of Donnelly Energy in Wayne, N.J., will speak on the financial benefits of green energy efficient buildings. He will be followed by Klein’s presentation.

The Golf Summit begins at 2:30 p.m. for registration and networking, then includes a welcome from NJSGA Board of Trustees member Kevin Purcell.

Following Klein’s presentation, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will be served.

The registration fee for the Golf Summit is $35, which includes the reception and all handout materials. Participants must respond by March 17.