Messages focusing on golf's relationship with the environment will be front and center on PGA Tour telecasts broadcast on the Golf Channel later this fall and in 2009. As part of its new emphasis on weaving environmental content into its productions, the Golf Channel turned to GCSAA and The Environmental Institute for Golf as the experts. In mid-October, a series of 40-plus vignettes were filmed for placement as a feature segment.

Participating were GCSAA Director of Environmental Programs Greg Lyman, ASGCA member Bill Love, and GCSAA members Kevin Breen, CGCS at Lahontan Golf Club in Truckee, Calif.; Dan Dinelli, CGCS at North Shore Country Club in Glenview, Ill.; and Nancy Miller, Class A superintendent at Maple Leaf Golf and Country Club in Punta Gorda, Fla.

Subjects include such maintenance practices as syringing, aerifying and verticutting; golf course features such as buffer strips, retaining ponds, native habitat; and new technology affecting irrigation, mowing and turf breeding. Love focused on some of the issues relevant to golf course design and construction.

"We believe the golf course has always been an integral part of our PGA Tour productions," said Ralph Bilyeu, Golf Channel account executive. "But we have not told the story about the environmental aspect in the necessary detail. But in order to tell the story, we needed the experts of the GCSAA and EIFG."

These vignettes and other similar content will also reside in a "green" micro-site accessible through www.golfchannel.com. The information will also be featured in other prime Golf Channel programs including "Golf Central" the nightly one hour news magazine. This content will also be shared on gcsaa.org and eifg.org

"I think this is a wonderful opportunity for GCSAA and The Institute," Lyman said. "This is a bit of a watershed moment. We have been pushing for the mainstream media to weave a more comprehensive environmental message into its work."