The Environmental Institute for Golf (EIFG) is leading a coalition to examine existing best management practices (BMPs) and will identify practical performance statements for the entire golf facility as part of Golf's Drive Toward Sustainability. Five committees have been created to collaboratively identify, review and establish BMP performance statements relevant nationwide.

The EIFG is the philanthropic organization of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA). Golf's Drive Toward Sustainability is a program led by the EIFG and backed by the leaders in golf through the support of We Are Golf and the World Golf Foundation's Golf 20/20 effort that will provide the golf industry with a sustainable approach to golf facility management.

Four committees will focus on specific areas recognized as critical to the industry and Golf's Drive Toward Sustainability. They are: water conservation, water quality protection, energy conservation and pollution prevention. The fifth will serve as an oversight committee responsible for providing overall direction of the development process.

Committee members are composed of a varied and diverse group of representatives from allied golf organizations, including GCSAA, PGA of America, National Golf Course Owners Association, Club Managers Association of America, American Society of Golf Course Architects, Golf Course Builders Association of America, USGA; golf's industry partners, university scientists, environmental advocacy groups and the EPA.

"We appreciate the commitment these professionals have made to develop the performance statements," said GCSAA CEO Mark Woodward, CGCS, who also serves as CEO of the EIFG and chairman of Golf 20/20's environmental committee. "The BMPs are a vital element of this initiative and will serve as the cornerstone for golf's sustainability efforts."

The BMPs will be broad-based and encompass the entire golf facility including management of turfgrass, landscape, environmental resources, buildings and operations. They will prompt the creation of new tools and resources, support existing programs, and will be used to recognize and award performance. The materials and performance statements are scheduled to be announced in late July.

"It is important to understand that sustainability includes more than just the environment," said EIFG Board of Trustees Chairman Bob Wood, vice president of Nike, Inc. and general manager of the SPARQ Training business. "It is the way in which you conduct your business by providing greater returns to the bottom line, providing a healthy sport for the communities in which golf operates, and by properly managing the resources the earth provides."

The Environmental Institute for Golf is a collaborative effort of the environmental and golf communities, dedicated to strengthening the compatibility of golf with the natural environment. The EIFG concentrates on delivering programs and services involving research, education and outreach that communicate the best management practices of environmental stewardship on the golf course. For more on the EIFG, visit www.eifg.org.

GCSAA is a leading golf organization and has as its focus golf course management. Since 1926, GCSAA has been the top professional association for the men and women who manage golf courses in the United States and worldwide. From its headquarters in Lawrence, Kan., the association provides education, information and representation to more than 20,000 members in more than 72 countries. GCSAA'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.

A complete list of the EIFG Working Groups is available at www.eifg.org/sustainability.

For more information contact:
Teri Harris, EIFG senior director, development, 800-472-7878, tharris@gcsaa.org