Introduction
Connecticut's terrain spans across coastal towns, mountains, plains, river valleys, urban centers, and forested areas. Golf plays a special role within the State, as Connecticut is home to some of the oldest golf clubs in the country. There are more than 185 golf facilities ranging from municipal golf courses like Richter Park and Shinnecossett to top-ranked New England courses, including The Stanwich Club, the Country Club of Fairfield, and Yale Golf Course.
The industry generates $1.1 billion in total economic output, produces 11,570 jobs, and contributes $336 million in wage income, based on a study from the Connecticut Golf Alliance in 2010. Connecticut golf also serves as a significant driver of tourism, with an estimated $89.7 million spent on golf-related activities and entertainment, including the Travelers Championship on the PGA Tour played at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut.
The Connecticut Association of Golf Course Superintendents (CAGCS), founded in 1929, is comprised of hard-working agronomists and golf maintenance professionals who are responsible for maintaining golf courses throughout the state.
Connecticut golf course superintendents hold strong family values and are deeply rooted within their communities. They are committed to providing high quality recreational facilities, while protecting the natural environment and preserving open spaces through using science-based practices.
One way the CAGCS is working to demonstrate its dedication to communities, the public, golfers, and the environment is through developing this guide of best management practices (BMPs). This guide serves as operating standards for superintendents to strive toward and an educational resource for all stakeholders.
The BMP guide details 12 sections to address sustainable golf course operations ranging from irrigation to integrated pest management to water quality and wildlife protection, to name a few. Each section contains principles, BMPs and regulatory considerations, as well as local resources for additional information.
A steering committee of superintendents worked together to create the document, in collaboration with Radius Sports Group, a sustainability consulting firm. This guide has been reviewed by leaders in golf course management, architecture, construction, regulatory, academic, and sustainability fields.
The CAGCS cares about the communities in which it operates. Its commitment is demonstrated throughout this guide with a goal of providing sustainable golf course operations now and for many years to come.
