Jacobsen Celebrates Earth Day with Sustainability Leader (April 22)

Jacobsen®, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, celebrated Earth Day (April 22) by sponsoring a golf sustainability event in Tennessee. The Earth Day event was hosted by The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay, a national leader in golf course environmental sustainability.

Event attendees learned about the many benefits of creating sustainable golf environments from officials at the State of Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), the University of Tennessee, the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) and Jacobsen.

The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay installed 45 nesting houses, created a large plant bed comprised of 218 plants native to Tennessee, and renovated the golf course’s chemical storage facility. Over 50 acres of the course have been naturalized to minimize maintenance. The Bear Trace is also one of just 939 U.S. golf courses certified by Audubon International and one of only 19 in the state of Tennessee.

In March of 2013, The Bear Trace purchased a fleet of all-electric turf maintenance equipment, including seven Jacobsen ECLIPSE 322 small-area reel mowers. Since that time, the course saved over 9,000 gallons of fuel and posted over 175 days of emission-free operation – resulting in the elimination of over 180,000 pounds of point source CO2 emissions.

“The Jacobsen ECLIPSE mowers fit perfectly with our overall philosophy,” said Paul L. Carter, CGCS, Superintendent of The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay. “Not only have the mowers helped us eliminate noise, emissions, hydraulic fluid, and the use of over 9,000 gallons of fuel, we’re also getting the best quality-of-cut I have ever seen in my career.”

Attendees also embarked on a wildlife walk and viewed first-hand some of the environmental initiatives The Bear Trace has implemented. The wildlife walk concluded at a Bald Eagle’s nest perched above one of the course’s putting greens. The feathered family, recently blessed with two eaglets, has become a worldwide phenomenon thanks to the USGA-sponsored Harrison Bay Eagle Cam.

The event also marked The Bear Trace’s recent Golf Environment Organization (GEO) Certification, golf’s international assurance for environmental enhancement and community contribution. Jacobsen President David Withers was on hand to present Paul L. Carter with the GEO Certification.

“Courses like The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay are leading the industry down a more sustainable path that will provide better golf environments for everyone,” said Withers. “As a company, we’re proud that machines like our ECLIPSE reel mowers can help The Bear Trace achieve its sustainability goals and be recognized for its achievements by organizations like the GEO and Audubon International.”

About Jacobsen
With over 90 years of experience in the turf maintenance industry, Jacobsen, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) Company, has built a legacy of precision craftsmanship, legendary quality of cut and unmatched expertise. Dedicated solely to delivering perfectly groomed turf, Jacobsen equipment is used on some of the finest formal turf areas across the United States and the world, through an extensive distribution network and the international Ransomes brand. Additional information about Jacobsen can be found at jacobsen.com.

About Textron Inc.
Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna, Beechcraft, Hawker, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, and Textron Systems. For more information visit: http://www.textron.com

For further information please contact:
Adam C. Slick, Public Relations & Communications Manager, Jacobsen
11108 Quality Drive, Charlotte, NC 28273
Tel: 704.504.4867 Email: aslick@textron.com