Tennessee latest state to publish BMP guidelines for golf courses

The hard work of the Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association has resulted in the publication of “Best Management Practices for Tennessee Golf Courses”.

The Tennessee BMPs were developed in part by using the BMP Planning Guide and Template created by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) and funded and supported by the USGA.

The Tennessee GCSA received a $10,00 BMP grant that GCSAA funded through the association’s Environmental Institute for Golf (EIFG) in part by the PGA Tour. The BMP grant program provides funding through the EIFG to chapters for developing new guides, updating existing guides or for verification programs. GCSAA’s goal is to have all 50 states offer established BMPs by the end of 2020.

The Tennessee BMPs provide guidance in 14 key areas including planning, design, and construction; irrigation; surface water management nutrient management, pollinator protection, and Wildlife Habitat Management.

Brad Marcy, superintendent at Indian Hills Golf Course in Murfreesboro, Tenn., served on the Tennessee GCSA BMP Steering Committee.

“This has been in the making for a couple of years and we believe that it has all of the management tools that a golf course could need to be a better steward of the environment or to help guide someone in a major project like new construction, redesign or irrigation renovation,” Marcy said. 

“We had a lot of great people that put a lot of work into these superintendents, architects, college professors, and sales representatives.  This will be a great tool for the golf market in the state of Tennessee for the future.” 

To read “Best Management Practices for Tennessee Golf Courses” and to learn more about GCSAA’s BMP program, visit www.gcsaa.org/bmp.

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 19,000 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.