AMI Kids Croquet Tournament

Preparations underway for the May 11th event

For the past 22 years, Owners at Brays Island Plantation in Sheldon, SC have invited individuals and businesses throughout the county to support the AMI Kids Beaufort formerly called Beaufort Marine Institute. Teams from all over the county come to compete in the spirit of having fun and raising funds for this terrific cause.

 

Since IGM began maintaining the Brays Island Plantation Golf Course in 2008, our team has been responsible for laying out and preparing the courts for this event. At the conclusion of the club’s Member/Guest, the driving range tee is closed and intensive maintenance practices begin. From a range tee that shows the traffic of a busy golf season to a top quality croquet surface in just two weeks.

 

About AMI Kids

AMI Kids which has "campuses" throughout the country, is the last hope for third strike delinquent boys. AMI saves these kids and makes them productive citizens in today's society. The local chapter has a 78 % success rate, while state and county centers can claim around 15 %. With the decrease in funding over the years, this fundraiser is even more important. In the past 22 years, the money raised has purchased a boat, a van, and an outdoor teaching center, to name just a few items. For more information visit  http://www.amikids.org/.

National Golf Day

On April 16^th the We Are Golf coalition met with Members of Congress during the sixth annual National Golf Day to share stories and data about golf’s diverse businesses, employees, tax revenue creation, tourism and charitable benefits, and environmental leadership. A snapshot of the information they are shared includes:

• Economic Benefits of Golf: Golf is a nearly $70 billion industry, providing nearly 2 million jobs and total wage income of $55.6 billion. That’s larger than spectator sports and performing arts industries combined.
• Golf's Charitable Impact: Golf’s national charitable impact was $3.9 billion in 2011— more than 12 million people participated in 143,000 golf-related charity events at 12,000 different golf facilities.
• Supporting our Troops: The PGA TOUR has raised more than $10 million for US military and their families through Birdies for the Brave. PGA professionals and USGA members have raised more than $16.4 million for the Folds of Honor Foundation, which has provided more than 3,600 scholarships for military families. The Salute Military Golf Association has helped rehabilitate wounded warriors, providing more than 1,700 free, private lessons and custom-fitted clubs to our veterans.
• Health Benefits of Golf: Walking 18 holes of golf is the same as taking a 5 mile walk or running 3.5 miles – well in excess of the 10,000 steps recommended for daily exercise. You burn about 2,000 calories when you walk and 1,300 when you use a cart – and your blood glucose levels fall anywhere from 10 to 30 percent.
• Environmental Stewardship: Golf is now on the leading edge of environmental sustainability and stewardship efforts. Golf courses account for two million acres of green space across the country, which are home to a vast array of wildlife species. New, industry-wide principles on sustainability ensure continual improvement in the design, development, construction, and management of golf courses.

We Are Golf is led by the Club Managers Association of America, the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, the National Golf Course Owners Association, and The PGA of America, We Are Golf is a new coalition formed to tell the true story of golf. Not just the game, but the stories of the hardworking men and women who make it the greatest sport in the world and whose livelihoods depend on it. It is these accounts that affirm the continued health and growth of the golf industry is vital to thousands of communities across the country and instrumental in enhancing the lives of millions of Americans.

 

By showcasing golf’s diverse businesses and their employees, the tax revenues it creates, the tourism it spawns, the charity it generates, and the environmental benefits it provides, We Are Golf is leveling the playing field for the thousands of small businesses that make up the industry and depend on the sport for their success. Visit http://wearegolf.org/ to learn more.

Golf Course Maintenance Tip: Spring Weed Control

Spring means something different to everyone. For Golf Course Superintendents who strive for high quality turf grass, spring can be all about weed control programs. Remember that first and foremost, healthy turf is the best preventer of weeds. Long before you even think about mixing up a tank of herbicide, be sure to know what your soil needs to produce healthy turf. Take regular soil samples and use that data to develop your plan for the entire year. Sustainable turf management is multi-faceted. Responsible and successful managers never go straight to the pesticides. 

When pre-emergent herbicides are part of your plan, be sure to get the most out of them with proper timing. Know what your target is, how your herbicide works and when to apply it to achieve optimum results. Many people still use natural indicators to determine pre-emergent timing such as the application of crabgrass control when the forsythia plants bloom.

Regardless of the indicators you choose, know the facts and make good decisions based on your data. This will help you to reduce your golf course maintenance costs and be a good steward to the environment.