Sierra Nevada and Southern Nevada GCSA Chapters partner with Radius Sports Group to create a 14-section guide focused on golf course sustainability

The Nevada BMP Committee recently released the Nevada Golf Industry Best Management Practices Guide that will assist superintendents and operators with managing facilities throughout the expansive and diversified state. The guide is a partnership between the Sierra Nevada and Southern Nevada Golf Course Superintendents Associations, the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA), the Environmental Institute for Golf (EIFG), the PGA Tour and the United States Golf Association (USGA).

The guide is focused on 13 sections: Plan, design and construct; irrigation; water management; nutrient management; cultural practices; integrated pest management; pesticide management; pollinator protection; maintenance operations; landscape; energy, community outreach and air quality.

The Nevada BMP Committee started the process in October 2018 with the assistance of Radius Sports Group, a sustainability consulting firm based in Reno, Nev. The committee was compromised of Wolf Creek Golf Club superintendent Scott Delpiere, TPC Summerlin superintendent Dale Hahn, GCSAA Southwest Field Representative Jeff Jensen, Aliante Golf Club superintendent Jeff Lezon, Radius Sports Group Principal Gina Rizzi, The Club at Sunrise superintendent Scott Sutton, Southern Nevada Water Authority Conservation Services Administrator Patrick Watson and The Club at ArrowCreek superintendent Rob Williams. 

In addition to best management practices in each of the 13 sections, the guide features links to State of Nevada regulatory requirements as well as a guideline for requirements to meet and exceed expectations in each section. With the diverse information contained in the guide, the committee was able to address agronomic concerns in both the North and South portions of Nevada. 

The guide follows up the recently released “The Economic Impact of Nevada Golf” study, giving the industry two useful tools to educate the public, Nevada Legislature and regulators on the importance of the golf industry in the state. 

The guide was financed by $15,000 in GCSAA grants and peer reviewed by numerous experts from Nevada’s academic, golf, landscape and regulatory communities. 

Find the document in its entirety here.