While GCSAA’s government advocacy efforts span a broad spectrum, few initiatives match the visibility and impact of National Golf Day. Still, targeted local efforts can leave a lasting impression when the right opportunity arises.

One such opportunity came this year when Abigail Nickelson of the Washington Department of Agriculture reached out with a unique request. She was helping coordinate the Western Region Pesticide Meeting, a gathering of pesticide lead agency representatives from West Coast states, held in Vancouver, Washington. Topics included pesticide user training, worker protection standards, and the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

I first connected with Abigail at an ESA workshop, where we discussed GCSAA’s Best Management Practices (BMP) initiative. She immediately recognized the value of our science-based approach and suggested adding a golf course visit to the tour schedule—an idea that took root quickly.

On April 30, as much of the golf industry was convening in Washington, D.C., sixty pesticide agency representatives traveled across the Columbia River to Columbia Edgewater Country Club in Portland, Oregon. Superintendent Jim Myers, CGCS, and his team graciously opened their doors, giving attendees a firsthand look at how BMPs help protect water quality and wildlife habitat.

To add depth to the tour, we enlisted several subject matter experts. Tom Calabrese, RG, CWRE, of EnviroLogic Resources, Inc., who has been instrumental in BMP development in the Northwest since 2008, provided foundational context. We were also joined by Ross Niewola of the USGA and Chas Schmid, Ph.D., from Oregon State University, who both contributed valuable insights into agronomic research and environmental stewardship.

Our message throughout was clear: golf courses are professionally managed green spaces where science drives environmental protection. Attendees received a copy of the 2009 study, Surface Water Quality Impacts from Golf Course Fertilizer and Pesticide Applications by Hindahl, Miltner, Stahnke, and Cook—research that underpins many of our current BMPs.

Since fewer than half of the attendees had ever stepped foot on a golf course, the tour also introduced the daily tools and practices we use. Interest was high, from foliar versus granular feeding, data-driven water management, and aerification practices to discussions on pollinator habitat and conservation efforts. One particularly memorable moment came when Jim Myers was asked about mosquito control. His response? “I’ve never treated for mosquitoes—we rely solely on the Little Brown Bat, which is native to the Portland area.”

We wrapped up the visit with a Q&A session and informal networking around the equipment displays. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and it was clear that many attendees walked away with a new appreciation for golf course management—and the professionals behind it.

Article By David Phipps, Northwest Regional Field Staff Representative, GCSAA