GCSAA Government Affairs Meeting

Capital Hill Club in Washington DC.

Members of the GCSAA government affairs committee participate in 2 days worth of meetings.

This morning's meetings started at Capitol Hill Club in Washington DC. The GCSAA Government Relations Committee consists of Superintendents from across the United States. Below is the roster of members and the Golf Club they are affiliated with. 

TA Barker, CGCS:   Fore Lakes GC, Utah

Paul Carter CGCS:   Bear Trace at Harrison Bay, Tennessee

Greg Brandriet CGCS: Spearfish, South Dakota

Chris Cook: Bailey Ranch GC, Oklahoma

Eric David: US Naval Academy GC, Maryland

Jean Esposito CGCS: Hinckley Hills GC, Ohio

Parker Farren CGCS: Copperleaf GC, Florida

Sean Reehoorn: Aldarra GC, Washington State

Robert Searle: Abenakee Club, Maine

Brian J. Stiehler CGCS MG: Highlands CC, North Carolina

Kurtis Wolford: Woodbridge Golf and CC, California

Chava McKeel: Director, Lawrence Kansas

To give you an idea of the discussions that occurred, here are the top issues facing the golf industry as a whole:

1.  Opposition to Local, State and Federal pesticide bans.

2.  Ensuring that golf isn't descriminated against in regards to disaster relief.

3.  Ensuring that pesticide and fertilizer laws are preempted, preventing local government interference.

4.  Passing some form of comprehensive immigration reform that increases the availability of labor.

5.  Remove unnecessary Clean Water Act permitting for pesticide applications.

6.  Opposition to local noise ordinances that target equipment used to maintain golf courses.

7.  Support and aid in the development of science based pollinator protection plants at the State level.   

The topic that consumed the most time, was that of the “Megadrought” that the Southwest US is currently dealing with.  Lake Meade is currently less than 30% full due to the severe drought. This lake, outside of Las Vegas, is critical to the water supply of several states from Utah to California, Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada. This led to several states recently adopt laws that make it illegal to plant and maintain grass in your home landscape. This problem is so serious that some think that golf will have a different look in the next 1-2 years, if golf courses are cut off from using any irrigation water at all. The outlook for rain and northern snowfall is predicted to be minimal in the coming months, making this scenario more likely.  According to a Southwest Water Authority, golf courses accounts for less than 5% of total water used vs. homeowner irrigation systems, which exceeds 40% of the total amount of water used in the Southwest.

This afternoon, we spent several hours at Langston Golf Course in Washington DC, meeting with leaders from the EPA.  During this meeting, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed, establishing a partnership where both parties (EPA and GCSAA) agreed to continued open communication and working together for the benefit of environment stewardship.  

Tomorrow morning and afternoon is another day full of additional meetings including those with members of Congress.  We have a hard stop at 2:30pm at which point it is back to the airport and home to Highlands!