Monthly Feature Hosted By:
	David Phipps, GCSAA Class A member at Stone Creek Golf Club, Oregon City, Ore.

We all know a lot of business is conducted on the golf course, but in this case the golf course caught the attention of some teachers who were playing golf while attending an agricultural education conference. While playing they realized that many key concepts of their education programs were on display right before them. They realized that using the golf course as a classroom could be an innovative and fun way to teach their students. With the help of Bill Meyer, President of the Washington State Junior Golf Association, a host of agricultural educators, and Superintendent Jeff Gullikson, CGCS, a science curriculum was soon developed for the high school level. The program is simple; bring science to life by using the golf course as a real world science lab. It makes science “real”, introduces students to the basics of golf course management, and exposes them to a potential career opportunity after high school.

After six years of use, over 120 high schools across the State of Washington and well over 9,000 students have been touched by the program and are now familiar with day to day operations of golf course management.

If this story sounds familiar, it may be that you recall Jeff Gullikson, CGCS winning the 2004 Presidents Award for his outstanding work and dedication to the First Green "Links as Labs" Program. (Scott Hollister, GCM, February 2004).

This case study was written by Karen Armstead, Executive Director of the First Green Foundation of Washington. What began as a grass roots effort in Washington is expected to be available across the nation over the next few years. Read part one of Karen’s case study and learn how the program was developed and how quickly it gained acceptance in the State of Washington’s schools.

If you are compelled to share an environmental case study, we would love to hear from you. Your completed case study will earn you 0.25 service points. If you have any questions feel free to contact myself at dcphipps@bctonline.com or Mark Johnson, GCSAA’s Senior Manager, Environmental Programs.

February's Guest:
	Stephen A. Kealy, CGCS at Glendale Country Club, Bellevue, Wash.

I got involved with the First Green Program very early in its development, not by choice, but by default. Jeff Gullickson, superintendent, at a nearby club and founding member of First Green accepted a job located on the other side of our State. He was working with the horticulture teacher at a high school six blocks up the street from our course, Glendale Country Club, in Bellevue, Washington, and since I was closest to the school; I had to take over his activities with the teacher. Another founder of the program was our club’s champion, so my only real choice was to say yes to the project. I knew nothing about the program, and my work day was already busy enough without dealing with the local high school. Also, I was uneasy about hosting the class for a field trip at our course; what would I show them?

I called the teacher and during a field trip the class visited the club. I had no idea what to expect and I was very surprised by their reactions. Some of the kids had never been to a golf course before. They were all very impressed with the beauty of the site. They had no idea of the amount of wildlife present on the course. They saw a bald eagle and several redtailed hawks soaring overhead. We looked at cutthroat trout in a stream on the course and watched a mother coyote with three pups cross a fairway into a wetland area. The kids all had a great time and so did I. It was so easy; all we did was walk around and talk about the things that I deal with every day.

That was eight years ago. Since then, I’ve become very involved with the program and currently work with three teachers at three different high schools close to our club. The classes include two environmental science and two horticulture classes. Each class comes to our course several times per year to see things that they have learned in the classroom. Water quality testing, soil types, insects, plant diseases, fertilizer, other chemical issues, and salmon habitat are some of the subjects that the teachers cover while at our golf course.

First Green is a great opportunity for teachers and students to see that golf can have a positive influence on the environment. The schools appreciate the invitation and the opportunity to get involved with a local business and the course receives free positive public relations with the local community.