Florida Golf Course Superintendents Association recognized with award (Jan 8)

The Florida Golf Course Superintendents Association (FGCSA) has earned the 2015 Excellence in Government Relations Award from the national association for its statewide collaboration with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to establish best management practices for golf courses. The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) annually recognizes a chapter or superintendent for outstanding advocacy or compliance efforts in government relations.

This award lauded the completion and long-term use of the publication titled Best Management Practices for Enhancement of Environmental Quality on Florida Golf Courses, which was first published in 2007 and has been adopted by nearly 300 of the state’s more than 1,000 golf courses.

“This is a nice recognition for all the advocacy efforts on behalf of Florida golf course superintendents. What we have done can be a good foundation for a lot of other associations,” said Bill Davidson, CGCS, president of the FGCSA.

The goal was to agree on attainable management practices to keep golf a profitable business in Florida while protecting state water and natural resources, according to the Clean Water Act and other state and local ordinances.

The result is a valuable document that has become an aid for all state regulatory agencies, including the Florida DEP, the Florida Department of Agriculture and the Florida Department of Community Affairs.

“The golf management industry as a whole is working toward statewide and regional best management practices so that we demonstrate environmental stewardship in all that we do,” said Rhett Evans, GCSAA chief executive officer. “Florida is clearly a leader in this regard, and we applaud their efforts.”

The chapter will be formally recognized Feb. 25 at the Opening Session of the Golf Industry Show in San Antonio. The Florida chapter will also be featured in an upcoming issue of GCSAA’s official monthly publication, Golf Course Management magazine.

Nominees were judged on how their efforts best serve the interests of the golf course superintendent profession and the golf course management industry. The GCSAA government relations committee made the selection.

The FGCSA consists of 11 local chapters and more than 1,000 individual members.

About GCSAA and the EIFG
The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) is a leading golf organization in the United States. Its focus is on golf course management, and since 1926 GCSAA has been the top professional association for the men and women who manage golf courses in the U.S. and worldwide. From its headquarters in Lawrence, Kan., the association provides education, information and representation to nearly 18,000 members in more than 78 countries. The association’s mission is to serve its members, advance their profession and enhance the enjoyment, growth and vitality of the game of golf. Visit GCSAA at www.gcsaa.org or find us on Facebook or Twitter.

The Environmental Institute for Golf is the philanthropic organization of the GCSAA. Its mission is to foster sustainability through research, awareness, education, programs and scholarships for the benefit of golf course management professionals, golf facilities and the game. Visit EIFG at www.eifg.org or find us on Facebook or Twitter.

Original: http://www.worldgolf.com/newswire/browse/88023-Florida-chapter-earns-Excellence-Government-Relations-Award-Golf-Course-Superintendents