Out of Play and Native/Naturalized Areas are an important part of the golf course’s green space. Planning, developing and maintaining these areas takes professional education, skill and practices to ensure success within the golf environment. In this 90-minute webinar, you will hear from Matthew Ceplo, CGCS, Jay Randolph, CGCS, and Kyle Sweet, CGCS, who share the successes they’ve had using Best Management Practices for native areas at golf courses in three different growing zones. J. Bryan Unruh, Ph.D., helps explain some of the science behind the essential BMPs.
You’ll walk away with a better understanding of:
- Science based and successful BMPs for native or out of play areas
- Planning, implementing and maintaining quality native areas with important collaboration
- Educating members or golfers while promoting the valuable greenspace golf courses provide
Original presentation date: April 30, 2020 Education points: 0.20
About the Instructors
Matt Ceplo, CGCS, has been the golf course superintendent at Rockland Country Club for the past 24 years. Rockland is a private 18-hole golf course established in 1906 and is located only 10 minutes from the George Washington Bridge in Rockland County New York. Ceplo’s excellence in the turfgrass industry has been well-documented through numerous awards including the 2013 GCSAA President’s Award for Environmental Stewardship and the 2016 Environmental Steward Award from New Jersey Turfgrass Association.
Jay Randolph, CGCS, is currently Sebastian County Park Administrator for Ben Geren Regional Golf Course in Fort Smith, Ark. Located in the southern part of historic Fort Smith in Sebastian County, Arkansas, Ben Geren offers 27 challenging holes. Randolph has worked on golf courses since he was 14 years old, earned his bachelor's degree from Oklahoma State University and has twice been president of the Arkansas GCSA.
Kyle D. Sweet, CGCS, is the superintendent at The Sanctuary Golf Club, Sanibel Island. The Sanctuary is neighbors with J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge both helping preserve natural habits around the island. From age 12, Sweet has been a golfer and a golf course employee in some capacity. He graduated from Lake City Community College and joined The Sanctuary Golf Club where he has led the way environmentally for the Audubon Certified club.
J. Bryan Unruh, Ph.D., is a professor of Environmental Horticulture at the University of Florida - IFAS, West Florida Research and Education Center and holds a 70 percent extension and 30 percent teaching position. Results from his research team’s work are included in all three Florida turf industry Best Management Practice (BMP) manuals. His research improves quality of life by providing aesthetically pleasing green space and safe places in which to recreate. Unruh has been instrumental in the success of GCSAA’s BMP project, teaching both webinars and seminars.
