Tuesday's Golf Summit Features Latest On Energy Efficiency
R.J. Donnelly, the president of Donnelly Energy in Wayne, N.J., will speak on the financial benefits of green energy efficient buildings, particularly at golf facilities, 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.
In 2008, Donnelly created Donnelly Energy to meet his customer’s increasing demands for energy-efficient, environmentally-friendly buildings. In 2010, he was elected to the Board of Directors of the U.S. Green Building Council, New Jersey chapter, and now serves as treasurer. He is currently enrolled in gthe Owners/President’s Management Program at Harvard Business School.
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.
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.
Kuhn has worked at Baltusrol since 1999 and is past president of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America , serves on the NJGIC board.
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.
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.
