Articles

GCSAA Update - "STEM at the Stadium"

Do you remember the article written by Nashua CC member Greg Hollick last year:

On Wednesday, May 22^nd, over 1,400 students from across the state participated in the "STEM at the Stadium" event at the New Hampshire Fisher Cats game. This event is a New Hampshire Golf Course Superintendents Association initiative to spark interest in the golf industry.

STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and math. Studying these disciplines early in life is important for students to help them develop crucial skills like critical thinking while having fun in an academic setting.

During this recent event held at Fisher Cats Stadium in Manchester, NH, students were able to visit a number of different booths and speak to a variety of vendors and educators. Kids were able to engage in hands-on learning through participation in activities set up in the stadium.

Representing the NHGCSA, Kevin Doyle, Pat Lanman, John Clark and I spoke to interested students about several facets of golf course management. We fielded many good questions and were impressed by the knowledge and level of interest expressed by the participants. We hope to inspire tomorrow’s superintendents by promoting a rigorous STEM based education in schools across New Hampshire.

The students went through four stations pertaining to golf course and turf-related topics. Participants:

  - Identified turf grass species by looking at leaf blades.

  - Engaged in identification of four common turf seeds.

  - Used a Field Scout TDR moisture meter to test moisture levels in two different soil samples.

  - Viewed turf grass leaf blades and seeds under a macroscope.

The day was a success for promoting the partnership between STEM educators and students and the NHGCSA. We look forward to the next opportunity to further this exciting initiative.

Best Regards,

Greg Hollick

Nashua Country Club

Well, it’s happening again in 2025!  That’s right, there are two more chances to introduce hundreds of children to the world of turfgrass and golf course maintenance.  The day is a lot of work, and a lot of fun.  Here are two dates for 2025:

           Wednesday May 7^th vs Hartford Yard Goats

           Wednesday May 21^st vs Somerset Patriots

If you are interested in helping on either, or both dates, please reach out to the board or GCSAA’s Kevin Doyle ([email protected]) and we can ensure that you get your complimentary ticket and parking passes. 

STEM at the Stadium is a great way to tell our story!  Please consider helping out.

Upcoming GCSAA Deadlines:

Outstanding Contribution Award

The Outstanding Contribution Award recognizes an individual/group (singular award) who has made a significant contribution to the membership through outstanding contributions for the golf course industry.

Criteria

An individual/group may be nominated by a chapter of GCSAA, a college/university representative, a member of the industry or any member of GCSAA, including self-nominations. Evidence of substantiation must accompany the nomination. Nominees must not currently be a Class AA, A, B, C, EM or ISM GCSAA member or must not have retired in any of the membership classification listed. A nominee must have made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of the golf course superintendent’s profession. The contribution must be significant in both substance and duration. The outstanding contribution may be or have been regional in nature. The nominee must not have been a recipient of the Outstanding Contribution Award in the past.

The Outstanding Contribution Award Task Group makes a recommendation to the GCSAA Board of Directors from the nominations, and then the board selects the award winner.

Nominations

Nominations for the 2026 Outstanding Contribution Award are open through May 11, 2025.

Apply here: https://form.jotform.com/212455705563961

GCSAA/Golf Digest Environmental Leaders in Golf Awards: Deadline May 31^st

Applications for 2025 ELGAs  are open!

In 2018, the ELGAs were updated to recognize more superintendents in more focused areas of environmental sustainability. The ELGAs are based on the environmental best management practices that GCSAA recommends all courses utilize.

There are four ELGAs available:

• Natural Resource Conservation Award
• Healthy Land Stewardship Award
• Communications and Outreach Award
• Innovative Conservation Award

There will be one winner and two runners-up recognized for each award. GCSAA members may apply to one, two, three or all four awards in a single year. However, an individual can only win one award per year.

Winners will be recognized at the GCSAA Conference and Trade Show.

NERTF Update!

The NERTF Board of Directors recently met to evaluate the 2025 Regional Turfgrass
Conference and Show. It’s hard to believe that this was the 28th year of the show! I
remember the heated discussions within our chapter concerning creating such a
collaboration among the state associations and allied groups. It has been nothing but a
success! And the 2025 show continues that run.

This show follow-up meeting gives the board the opportunity to review how things went.
Positive and negative comments are reviewed to maintain the high standards and
quality programming the Conference and Show has come to be known for. Many say it
is the best regional show in the country! The Board strives to keep this outstanding
reputation through constant analysis.

Attendance continues to be strong with 1903 registrants which includes full conference,
one day, trade show only, and complimentary. The Tuesday seminars were also well
attended with 780 seats sold. As I mentioned earlier, the Board looks to stay current
with industry changes. This year, a synthetic sports field seminar was offered as
increased field use has brought more interest to this field option. Last year a cemetery
seminar was offered for the first time. Although all the final figures are not in yet, it will
once again be a profitable show.

You may have noticed the show floor had a different look this year. With all the past
success brings the opportunity to expand the floor plan. The Show Director, David
Rosenberg, acquired 26 additional booths to bring the total to 361. A few were to
enlarge existing spaces, but the majority were new companies to the show. It’s not an
easy job but he does a great job of making each year a success.

Industry partners continue to step up and provide amenities like show floor lunches,
show program printing, welcoming receptions and other events that take place
throughout the show. A hearty Thank You to all who participated.

It has been the norm for the NERTF to fund $100K for turf research annually. The covid
years saw less funding to keep the foundation financially sound. The board decided to
provide $198K in funding for 2025 and $109K for 2026. These projects include those
ongoing as well as new proposals. I have included the project schedule and funding to
review.

Thank you to all of you who participate in the Conference and Show each year. With
your support success will continue well into the future!

John Clark - Rochester Country Club

Randy Weeks - Laconia Country Club

2024 NH Legislative Session Recap

We are all finally seeing some genuinely nice weather as we move into the fall season after going through another exceptionally tough summer and I hope everyone is doing well and finding the time to catch up on the course and get some personal time outside of work! I know I have been waiting for it.

At the same time, we would like to share with you the culmination of the 2024 NH Legislative Season. This is a very important piece of the work done by the NHGCSA in partnership with the NHGA and Demers and Prasol, Inc. Demers and Prasol Inc. plays a key role as our eyes and ears for our government advocacy program keeping both associations informed of everything occurring within the State Legislature that could impact our industry so we are able to take action when required to protect our interests.

Another key piece to this is the GCSAA based Rounds 4 Research, as the funds generated from those donated rounds allow us to fund the government advocacy program and then other initiatives as allowed. Please consider this as next years Rounds 4 Research gets underway in the spring of 2025. Every round donated helps tremendously to keep this important work going.

Below is the 2024 NH Legislative Session Recap put together by Demers and Prasol Inc. for you to review and to learn all about what occurred during the 2024 session.

Enjoy the dry air and much more seasonable temperatures we are experiencing, and I hope everyone has a successful fall! See you all at the 2024 Gold Ball Tournament on October 15^th at Rochester Country Club.

Matt Fiorentino

President NHGCSA

2024 NH Legislative Session Recap

NHGCSA

The 2024 NH legislative session ran unusually long for a non-budget year, jam-packed with over 1,300 bills introduced/considered in what was a little over 5 months.  This made it particularly challenging along with a still closely divided legislature - a 14-10 Republican majority in the Senate and in the House (as of May 29, 2024), 200 Republicans, 193 Democrats, 2 Independents, and 5 vacancies.  Given the House's 400 members, it comes down to attendance.  The Democratic minority in the House successfully killed several Republican priorities on the last day of session, including a sanctuary city ban, new voter registration/identification requirements (although a separate, similar bill is heading to the Governor), and expanding the Education Freedom Accounts program.  The House also struck down an apparent compromise on recreational cannabis legalization between House and Senate leadership, as well as the Governor's Office.  Of the 1,300 bills, about 400 passed both houses, 275 were sent to Interim Study, and the remaining about 625 were killed or otherwise died.  The Governor has vetoed 15 bills and it could be more since he has not completed action on all passed legislation.  A one-day veto session will take place sometime after Labor Day.  Also after Labor Day, the legislative committees will return to look again at bills sent to Interim Study for consideration as possible new legislation in next year's session.  

The first 2025 House filing period runs from September 3-13, 2024, for incumbents running for reelection.  Then, after the election, there is another from November 6-22, 2024.  The last day to file 2024 Interim Study reports is October 25, 2024.  The Senate deadlines have not been set but generally run a little later than the House.  All 424 legislators are up for reelection this year.  The Senate will lose Republican Senate President Jeb Bradley and "Dean of the Senate" Democratic Senator Lou D'Allesandro, who are retiring, as well as Democratic Senator Becky Whitley, who announced her campaign for NH's 2nd Congressional District but later dropped out.  Republican Senator Carrie Gendreau is also not seeking reelection.  Also, with Governor Sununu not running for reelection, the Governor's race is currently in full swing.  The state primary election on September 10, 2024 will see former U.S. Senator and former NH Attorney General Kelly Ayotte face off against former State Senate President Chuck Morse on the Republican side, and on the Democratic side, former Mayor of Manchester Joyce Craig against Executive Councilor Cinde Warmington.  There is a lot of uncertainty looking ahead to next year's session, which is also a budget year amid slowing state revenues.

Below is a summary of the top issues we worked on your behalf along with an attached list of all bills tracked for you.         

Fertilizers

HB1293 as originally introduced would have prohibited the use of certain fertilizers using phosphorus, but with an exemption for golf courses.  However, in working on a clarifying amendment to more effectively focus on "run-off from lawns," the committee's ranking member, Representative Peter Bixby, said about golf courses during a work session: although the exemption remains, it would only apply to courses with a nutrient management plan.  Given concerns how this seemed like a gray area and specifically questions about who would write and/or approve the plan, etc., Shaun Thomas reached out to Representative Bixby.  He shared his then draft including the requirement that golf courses "have a nutrient management plan in accordance with best management practices.  The nutrient management plan shall be made available to the department upon request."  However, after further discussions, he agreed to remove "nutrient management plan" and instead reference the Department of Agriculture's best management practices for chemical fertilizers, which are generally less restrictive than the golf BMPs.  The amendment with this new carve-out passed both the House and the Senate but was vetoed by the Governor, because, he said, "it contains several unworkable and impractical provisions."  Similar legislation will likely come back again next session.                       

Golf Economic Impact Study

Matthew Schmidt and Jonathan Melanson met with the Department of Business and Economic Affairs (BEA) - specifically Commissioner Taylor Caswell, Director of Travel and Tourism Lori Harnois, and Director of Economic Development Chase Hagaman - to discuss the NH Golf Economic Impact Study.  The Department seemed very much engaged and already considering how it could partner with the golfing industry to further outdoor recreation.  Director Harnois will also be including Matt in her tourism leadership group with similar organizations (e.g., Ski NH) to have a seat at the table and get involved in conversations around expanding/promoting NH tourism attractions.     

Groundwater Withdrawals

HB1326 would have expanded the notification and testing processes for large groundwater withdrawal applications, by adding a requirement to notify all owners or private properties within a 10,500 foot radius (approximately 12.5 square miles) around the proposed withdrawal, along with an offer to test private wells on the notified properties and report the results of testing.  The House voted it Inexpedient to Legislate.

Shaun P. Thomas

Director, Advocacy & Tax Law
Demers & Prasol, Inc.

Seeking Help For Winter Kill Research

For the last three years, a team of researchers from across the U.S. and northern Europe have been working collaboratively to identify solutions to winter stress damage. Our objectives for this WinterTurf research project include developing best management practices to prevent and recover from winter injury, breeding more winter hardy turfgrass species, and exploring alternative snow mold control strategies, all in an effort to develop easy-to-implement solutions for turfgrass managers in cold climates.

We need your help. For this to be successful, we need to enlist the help of hundreds of golf courses located in cold climates throughout the world. Collecting data across many courses will allow us to discover the combinations of conditions that are responsible for damage, and even predict when damage might occur. 

Please consider helping our team (and by extension, turfgrass managers across the globe) by signing up to collect data at your course over the 2024-2025 winter season. We’ll ask you to monitor at least one green throughout the winter – measure snow, take pictures, and record any other interesting observations on a regular basis. Early data modeling results are promising, and with your help we can make even more progress toward our ultimate goal of reducing the harmful effects of winter stresses on golf courses.

Figure description: Map showing golf courses where superintendents collected data last winter in support of the WinterTurf project. Courses marked in red also hosted environmental sensing units. To learn more about how to get a sensor placed on your course, go to z.umn.edu/sensors.

Note: The WinterTurf project is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture Specialty Crop Research Initiative and is a collaboration between several institutions: University of Minnesota, University of Wisconsin, University of Massachusetts, Michigan State University, Oregon State University, Iowa State University, Rutgers University, and the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research.

Please contact Paige Boyle at [email protected] if you have questions.