Billy Turf: LINKS AS LABS

This past week, Dan Meersman and Robb Moulds , of The Philadelphia Cricket Club, hosted a "First Green" Event , at the Militia Hill Course, on the PCC property.

As the First Green website states:

First Green is an innovative environmental education outreach program using golf courses as environmental learning labs – the only program of its kind in the world. First Green has extensive resources for golf course superintendents, including online lesson plans, as well as facilitating the connections between golf courses and local schools and science/horticulture teachers.
Golf superintendents, course staff and/or local industry representatives (such as regional associations and members) host students on field trips where they test water quality, collect soil samples, identify plants, preserve wildlife habitats, assist in stream-bed restoration and learn about the ecology, conservation and environmental aspects of golf courses. The kids also visit the practice green or hit balls at the driving range, giving them their first taste of playing golf.
First Green has been providing STEM learning labs since 1997.

You had about seventy 3rd grade students, broken into six groups, for 20 minute stations, for different types of golf education. While I am pretty sure the Philadelphia section of the PGA wins just for having a blowup dinosaur, I will say most of the kids really enjoyed the soils station and what happens when clay and water meet! Luckily, we had some help from Chase Rogan and Ralph Dain from the GCSAA and Nick Dunlap from the USGA at our station to present.

The support from the Philadelphia Golf family and attendance of some national organizations represented, was impressive to see. In attendance was the Golf Association of Philadelphia (GAP), Philadelphia Section of the PGA, The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia (TFTGP), Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA), United States Golf Association (USGA) and the Philadelphia Association of Golf Course Superintendents (PAGCS). Also, there were students from Temple talking about Environmental Hydrology (or here in Philadelphia Wudder), representatives from the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association and Morris Arboretum. Also, in attendance, was Dr. Doug Linde, of Delaware Valley University's Turf Program and a large group from Ewing-Rain Bird Irrigation, including Brad Helcoski and Tim Riismdel.

Too busy seems to be the mantra of our world today, but the efforts to grow the game, by planting the seeds with young students, is truly imperative, for the future of the golf industry.

Congratulations to Dan, Robb and the staff, at Philadelphia Cricket Club, for their efforts to put together such a great program for the kids!