Sacramento Golf Industry Water Conservation Taskforce formed

Group formed to work proactively with water agencies in the Sacramento and Sierra Nevada regions

The Sacramento Golf Industry Water Conservation Task Force was formed at a Feb. 14 meeting at Empire Ranch Golf Club in Folsom, Calif.  
 

The meeting, hosted by Southern California Golf Association director of government affairs Craig Kessler and I, featured over 40 GCSAA superintendents, PGA professionals, club managers, owners and irrigation industry experts. 

Craig and I provided information to the group on similar task forces in the Coachella Valley, Los Angeles and San Diego areas, discussed long-term water policy in California (including the water bond that will be on the 2014 ballot) and provided strategic planning and messaging for the group that will allow them to move forward with efforts in the Sacramento area.  

The goal of the task force is to establish a long-term and cooperative working relationship with water districts throughout the region.  Main objectives will include:

·        Establishing water conservation mandates in a manner consistent with sound golf business practices, i.e., in a manner that permits golf courses to reduce consumption while retaining 100 percent control over irrigation practices. Developing an “alternative means” of complying without being restricted to watering only certain days of the week and only certain hours of those days.

·        Exploring turf reduction programs that may be available for golf facilities through their respective water agencies.  “Cash for grass” programs have proven very beneficial for courses in Arizona, Southern California and Southern Nevada, and can assist the golf industry to help meet the state’s mandated 20 percent water cutbacks by 2020.

·        Address media and public perception that the golf industry is an irresponsible user of water.

The group will be headed by Granite Bay Golf Club superintendent Matt Dillon and Winchester Country Club superintendent Jeremy Payne, who is a past president of the Sierra Nevada GCSA.  Marc Connerly, executive director for the California Golf Course Owners Association, will serve as the group’s official spokesperson. 

Other task force committee members include:

·         Jim Ferrin, Sun City Roseville

·         Jesse Creencia, Cameron Park Country Club

·         Greg Bliek, Sacramento County Golf Courses

·         Dave Bermudez, Del Rio Golf & Country Club

·         Rob Williams, Stockton Golf & Country Club

·         Bob Brueggeman, Lake of the Pines

·         Kurtis Wolford, Cherry Island Golf Club

·         Shawn Mcphedran, Valley High Country Club

·         Mike Woods, PGA - Haggin Oaks 

·         Jim Barbuto, Ewing Irrigation

·         Rodney Muller, Empire Ranch Golf Club

·         Jeff Frontz, Golf Maintenance Solutions

·         Jeff Wilson, PGA - Wilson Golf Management

·         Mike Scully, Valley Crest Golf Course Maintenance

Congratulations to the golf industry in Sacramento/Sierra region for working together to not only address the current drought situation but put long-term plans in place that will ensure that golf is part of the decision making process in the future.

If you have any questions regarding the Sacramento Golf Industry Water Conservation Task Force or would like to assist the group, please contact me at jjensen@gcsaa.org and I will be glad to get you involved.