Sustainable Golf Demonstration Park

This morning I presented our Zero Waste Park at Dairy Creek to a group of Rotarians, the SLO Daybreak Chapter specifically.  I have given this presentation probably 30 times since we began promoting Zero Waste at Dairy Creek.  The response has been tremendous and people are surprised an effort like this is happening at a golf course!  I have a blast each time as it is fun to promote golf and talk to people about what we do behind the scenes. 

I usually start the presentation by asking how many golfers are in the room.  This percentage ranges from 15-50% of the group.  I then follow up with a questions for the non-golfers, "What comes to mind when I mention the term golf course?"  I get responses like Tiger Woods (he is definitely still relevant), money, country clubs, etc.  There are also a number of responses like, water polluters, pesticide contamination, and water wasters.  I promise them that I will try to change their minds before the presentation is finished.  This morning I had nearly 10 people come up after the presentation who provided some of the negative comments about golf courses and express gratitude for what we are doing and that they are joyful to know the strides that golf courses take to protect our resources and communities.

There definitely needs to be more information shared with the world about what we do as golf course superintendents as stewards of the environment!  On a daily basis we are monitoring our water usage, fertility programs, pesticide applications, fuel usage, habitat availability, etc.  Many would argue that this is for business purposes and that is true that we must always be conscious of the bottom line and our budgets, but Integrated Pest Management, personal interests, and "its the right thing to do" are also drivers of our actions.  Get out, profess what YOU and our industry are doing for our communities and get active in different programs and organizations.  I have not even mentioned the charitable activities that happen on golf courses, the economic impact our small businesses have within out communities, and how about the recreational and social benefits of this great sport.  All of those are for another post.  Bye for now.

" The site of a golf course should be there, not brought there...Many an acre of magnificent land has been utterly destroyed by steam shovel biting out traps and bunkers, transposing landmarks that are contemporaries of Genesis. "

~ Perry Maxwell, golf architect

Another example of why golf is such an incredible game!

The First Tee is program that helps get kids into the game of golf.  It origiinally started as a way to instill values and morals within kids that grew up in less than ideal situations.  The life lessons and values are still the cornerstone of The First Tee as the program has grown and gained quite a following.

Please read below as this is an excellent example of why those of us in the golf industry continue to do what we do each and everyday.

THE MISSION OF THE FIRST TEE

To impact the lives of young people by providing
educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values
and promote healthy choices through the game of golf.

 

Billy Gibbs is a PGA teaching professional that I have had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with on Golf Talk Radio show on ESPN Radio 1280 here on the Central Coast.  Billy Co-Hosts the show with Mike Brabenec every Saturday at 8:05 am.  Billy is a First Tee Coach and National Trainer and also serves as the Program Director the First Tee of the Central Coast.  This past year he was honored with the award of 2012 Southern California PGA Junior Golf Leader of the Year.  The following email depicts why Billy was selected for this distinction as well as how golf and the First Tee can help young (and old) find their way through life!

 

Billy,

Now that the next season of First Tee is rolling around again I have
had a chance to think back on what a positive experience this program
has been for Audrey. Through the past two seasons of First Tee you
have made a special connection with Audrey and have been able to
bring out special qualities in her that she rarely exhibits. One of
these qualities is self-confidence. In groups Audrey is usually
withdrawn and unfocused. However, during First Tee she was very
confident, spoke her mind, and participated with her peers in the
activities. The skills and environment that First Tee provided
enable Audrey to achieve success which built her self-confidence. We
will be forever grateful that you took the time to get to know Audrey
for the person that she is. We look forward to the upcoming season
to watch Audrey grow as a golfer and as a person overcoming Autism.

Best Regards,
Bernadette Corona

 

 

 

" Golf has probably kept more people sane that psychiatrists have. "

 

~Harvey Penick, golf instructor

August SLO Golf Card promotional offer

SLOGolfCard

August Promotion

Featuring

Dairy Creek Golf Course

Exclusively for

SLOGolfCard Members Only !!

We will be serving Complimentary

Food and Wine Every Wednesday

in August

beginning August 8th

(From 1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.)

~ We will not be serving on August 1st ~

If you are not able to come out and play golf on any of these days, please feel free to still come out and enjoy some great food and drink

Menu's

Wednesday, August 8th

Top Sirloin French Dip sandwich with Swiss cheese & horseradish cream

Served on an Onion roll with Red Bee Potato salad.

Wednesday, August 15th

Vietnamese baked Bahn Mi Meatball sandwich with

Asian slaw and sriracha dressing With Peanut noodle salad

Wednesday, August 22nd

Southwestern marinated Pork Loin Torta with Spicy garden veggies

and chipotle mayo served with Chile-vegetable Pasta salad

Wednesday, August 29th

Chicago Italian Beef sandwich with hot mix giardiniera,

served with Orzo macaroni and vegetable salad

 

 



Check out this video where a Mercedes Benz catches a golf ball.

The First Staff Cup

 All three of our courses are assisted by the help of concession operators to some degree.  Chalk Mountain is fully operated by Golden State Golf and I am the only County staff member that has any duties or responsibility to the property.  Morro Bay and Dairy Creek Pro Shops and Restaurants operations are managed by Fairway.

I have been working with the management of Fairway to find a way that we could integrate our staffs together as a teambuilding activity.  The solution was quite easy.  Since we manage golf courses why not hold a tournament?  We have held many outings in the past for staff, but not with the intent to team build or event to have one course play another course.  
This time however there were to be bragging rights and an trophy associated with the event not to mention some great cullinary delights afterward.

Peter's classic follow through that has an uncanny resemblance to the Morro Bay logo.

The competition involved 3 teams of 4 individuals per course and each team combined staff from County, Fairway, and our volunteer staffs.  The winner was determined by combining the 9-hole scramble scores from all three teams into a team total.  Wouldn't you know there would be a tie at 6 under!  So, onto the putting green. 

John trying to solidify par at the 9th.

Each course randomly drew names from a hat to determine their 3 putters that would each putt a stroke toward a designated hole and the team with the lowest combined miss distance would take the cup.  The trick was that no golfer was allowed to watch any other golfers putt so that they all had an equally challenging time with the shot. 

Alan rolling in a crucial putt for birdie on the 9th hole.

Ryan serving up some delicious Tres Leches cake.

Randy and Ryan after everyone has been served.  Thanks for the great eats!

After the first four played their shots it was pretty even with two putts not staying on the green and the other two missed by about 12 feet. The final player for each team then gave it a try and Mo Brockman's missed putt of 14" clinched the title for Morro Bay. We plan to continue this event twice per year and the next event will be held sometime around November/December.


Morgan's winning putt is on its way

And the winner is...Morro Bay.  The line has been drawn in the sand!

Congratulations everyone!  Two things are certain...we are blessed to live on the Central Coast and have great team members that deliver consistent quality and service on beautiful golf courses!

"When I get out there on that green carpet called a fairway, and poke the ball right down the middle, everything looks like heaven on earth." 

~ Jimmy Demaret, former PGA Tour player