01 - COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
First Green Program
The golf industry is noteworthy for its commitments to philanthropy and charitable giving. The We Are Golf coalition estimates that courses contribute $3.9 billion nationwide in charitable giving. Golf courses also provide venues for charity events and golf tournaments. The Texas GCSA chapters are known for important contributions of service and volunteerism to communities throughout the state.
Texas GCSA chapters have helped numerous charitable organizations including:
The Wounded Warrior Project
Sticks for Kids
Toys for Tots
Various children’s hospitals
Rounds for Research
First Tee Organizations
Each year, Texas superintendents participate in Patriot Golf Day which generally raises millions for Folds of Honor and funds more than 1,400 scholarships. Folds of Honor raises scholarship money for children of disabled and fallen American soldiers to honor their service to the country. PGA HOPE has also been added as a partner to help serve the needs of veterans and their families through the game of golf.
Effective community engagement brings together neighbors, local stakeholders, and nearby golf courses, building trust through mitigating conflicts, encouraging participation, and optimizing resources. To foster community well-being and environmental health, superintendents should aim to create relationships that allow for communication between golf courses and community members, customers, legislators, regulators, and civic leaders. Superintendents should meet with legislators regularly to discuss environmental, economic, and health-related legislation through participation in events like National Golf Day.
BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
Conduct stakeholder mapping to understand who to best engage in outreach efforts.
Identify what is important to each stakeholder
Identify community values and principles
Establish engagement targets, goals, and desired outcomes
Understand the importance of building trust
Plan engagement efforts, strategies, and methods of communication
Additional information on community engagement:
https://extension.psu.edu/understanding-community-engagement
How to Involve
Eco-tours (farm-to-table onsite garden/meal/demo, bee tours/honey cocktails/demo, bird watching, tree walks, etc.)
Texas Junior Golf Tour https://www.tjgt.com/ https://www.tjgt.com/scholarships/ and
PGA Northern Texas Section Junior Tour https://www.ntpgajuniorgolf.com/index.php https://www.ntpgajuniorgolf.com/fairway-to-success.html# https://www.ntpgajuniorgolf.com/scholarships.html
Texas Audubon https://tx.audubon.org/
Host school STEM programs and youth groups
The First Green http://www.thefirstgreen.org/
USGA STEM http://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/stem-resource-center.html
Invite community members, schools and clubs and organizations for a tour
Host an open house providing interactive stations for non-golfers to introduce them to the sport, workshops, presentations
Provide scholarship programs and apprenticeships
Community Safety and Coronavirus
Sometimes golf course play has to be adapted to ensure public safety during times of crisis, like duringa natural disaster and pandemics. Creating recreational opportunities is still important to health and community morale, so BMPs were developed toreduce certain risks for the safety of the community.
It is important to adhere to local, state, and federal guidelines from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/cases-in-us.html
https://www.dshs.state.tx.us/coronavirus/
Best Management Practices
• Removal of ball washers, bunker rakes, and most trash cans
• Use pool noodles or PVC or EZ Lift devices to limit golf ball settling in cup
• Single rider golf carts
• Sanitation programs to kill virus
• Manual clocking in of staff
• Staggering start times to limit exposure
• Maintain minimum of six feet of social distancing
• Wash hands frequently with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds
• Wear masks as required
Additional resources related to golf club operations:
