Golfdom, January 2013

Its all about the kids Continued from page 41 As courses became longer irrigation designers increased the pressure that water was subjected to in order to irrigate their courses says Wolfrom To move more water farther at higher pressure you need bigger pumps And of course the bigger the pump the more electricity After observing other courses irrigation methods Wolfrom has theorized that with larger high pressure irrigation systems water is often sprayed too far As a result most of the water is either windswept or evaporated rather than actually irrigating the turf We believed we could accomplish better saturation with less energy by using more sprinkler heads at lower pressure Its the single best decision we made in the beginning that minimized our impact on the environment I was always intrigued with the prospect of taming nature Since 1992 White Pines electric bill has consistently been 50 percent lower than other courses of similar length and elevation The system has also saved millions of gallons of water National environmental associations and organizations have taken notice Back in 2000 White Pine received recognition as a regional winner of the GCSAAs Environmental Stewardship Award Later that year Audubon International named the course one of the top 100 environmentally friendly courses in the U S From the selection of the land to its one of a kind low pressure irrigation system White Pines design and maintenance continues to have a minimal impact on the environment Wolfrom says Golf and nature As general manager Wolfroms current staff consists of only four maintenance professionals who help him sustain White Pines irrigation system and turf on the white pine way Children have a special place at White Pine National because general manager superintendent Bruce Wolfrom feels they are the future of the game So any child who comes to White Pine National with a playing parent or grandparent plays for free Yes free Wolfrom has always believed its important to give back to the game of golf which has provided him with many hours of recreation good friends and a livelihood Beyond care and concern for the environment Wolfrom and his staff believe that if they dont invest in the future of the game it wont continue to grow Therefore White Pine National developed a Free Golf for Kids program He also believes that if children spend quality time playing golf with their parents some day theyll do the same with their children and as adults will remember those special family times and continue to play the game White Pine has hosted classes for school children offering afternoon introductions to the game as a reward for a years worth of good classroom behavior according to students respective teachers For nearly 20 years high school and community college players have also practiced and played at White Pine National In addition elementary and middle school children have attended summer day camps at the course learning about the mechanics etiquette and ethics of the game Its a win win situation Parents or grandparents can enjoy a great time with their children or grandchildren for the same fees theyd pay if they were playing alone White Pine also wins as parents and grandparents are grateful for the opportunity and ensure their children or grandchildren learn to respect the course and the equipment Children win by being introduced to a game they will be able to play for a lifetime while enjoying quality time with their family And finally the community of Hubbard Lake Michigan wins because those children are learning the importance of respecting the course their equipment their fellow players and other golfers on the course Everyone wins 42 Golfdom January 2013 Golfdom com