Talkin' Turf

Wat R Wi dewg 

License Plates. Who doesn’t like trying to figure out what a license plate means? Slowly sounding out the words or letters and desperately trying to figure out what the hidden message can become as addictive as Sodoku. I find it to be an entertaining exercise during the confines of bumper-to-bumper traffic. 

How about practicing with the title of this column? Wat R Wi dewg. The obvious answer is - What Are We Doing. From reading the other columns in this magazine, one can quickly determine the vision and commitment the NCGA has in regards to carrying out the objectives and action-plan items identified in the newly-formulated strategic plan. We welcome the new challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. 

One of the challenges that our industry faces is water and more specifically, water availability. This topic was identified in the strategic plan as one of the key issues for our organization. Wat R Wi dewg to protect the water rights of golf courses and to ensure our golf courses have access to adequate supplies of water that is of acceptable quality?

The process that is underway has three components. A Golf Water Council will be formed to bring together a number of industry leaders and agency personnel to develop helpful tools for improved resource stewardship. We will also assemble a Crisis Management Team which will identify and train appropriate industry leaders for handling media requests in the case of a water shortage emergency. Finally, we will continue to educate golf industry and related organizations on various water issues and conduct beneficial research at the local level to support the Golf Water Council and the Crisis Management Team. 

The timing is also right to shift gears in regard to my current title. Over the past three-plus years, my position has been morphing into one which has more emphasis on water-related topics and issues. My new title will be Director of Environmental and Water Resources. This title will better reflect my current job responsibilities as well as introduce a new component for our organization and member clubs. 

It is still important to note that I will continue to be the coordinator for the Superintendent Intern Program and the host for the Assistant Superintendent Boot Camp. These successful programs are the backbone of the agronomy department and will continue to add value to our member clubs. 

So the next time you are driving down the road and are stumped by a license plate message, remember; IN sE Je Ay. .  . . . mOc M Pur TnT § n Ur bGuH.