GCSAA to Guide Project on National Mall
Lawrence, Kan. — Members of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America will lead 17 teams of representatives of the We Are Golf Coalition during the third annual Community Service Project on the National Mall, the day before National Golf Day.
The event, done in coordination with 27-year GCSAA member Michael Stachowicz, turf management specialist for the National Park Service, will focus on the projects between the Lincoln Memorial and 7th Street in Washington, D.C. Teams will be involved in activities such as mowing, planting, sod installation, pruning and more.
Jon Lobenstine, a 19-year GCSAA member and director of agronomy at Montgomery County Golf in Mount Airy, Md., has been a part of National Golf Day for nine years and has participated in all three Community Service Projects.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to get to work in the nation’s front yard with superintendents who have come to town to work toward a common goal,” Lobenstine said. “All of the guys and gals that come are getting to put all of their years of training on display for everyone to see.”
Like Lobenstine, Michael Bostian, superintendent at Waverly Woods Golf Club in Westminster, Md., is a 19-year GCSAA member, regular participant in National Golf Day, and both men have been leaders in GCSAA’s Mid-Atlantic chapter.
“I initially got involved in advocacy because of my work with the chapter,” Bostian said. “It’s exciting to see more and more people get involved in National Golf Day and service project. The optics of it are great. It’s not every day that you see fairway mowers going down the National Mall.”
The 200 volunteers will be out on the National Mall from 8 a.m. to noon on April 30 before joining an even larger contingency for National Golf Day on May 1.
National Golf Day celebrates the game’s $84.1 billion economy, nearly $4 billion annual charitable impact and many environmental and fitness benefits. Industry leaders will meet with Members of Congress, the Executive Branch and federal agencies to discuss golf’s 14,000-plus diverse businesses, two million jobs impacted, tax revenue creation and tourism value.
“It is a really cool experience to be on Capitol Hill and be able to let legislators and their staff know we aren’t just cutting grass,” Lobenstine said about the importance of National Golf Day for golf course superintendents. “It’s a chance to show golf in a different light and to give back to GCSAA, which does so much for us.”
In addition to GCSAA, other organizations that will be taking part in National Golf Day as part of the We are Golf Coalition include the Club Managers Association of America, Golf Course Builders Association of America, Ladies Professional Golf Association, National Alliance for Accessible Golf, National Golf Course Owners Association, PGA of America, PGA Tour, The First Tee, Sports and Fitness Industry Association, United States Golf Association, World Golf Foundation and more.
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 more than 18,000 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. Visit our industry-leading magazine at GCMonline.com.
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.
