Eloise Lays Her Eggs While We Are at the 2014 Golf Industry Show

A lot has happened in the past week for us at The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay.  This past week Mitch and I attended the 2014 Golf Industry Show in Orlando, Florida.  This annual event is held by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America and this was a special year for us as we accepted the 2014 GCSAA/Golf Digest National Public and Overall award presented by Syngenta and RainBird in the Environmental Leaders in Golf Awards program.  Being recognized by our peers for the environmental work we do is great and having our supervisor Mr. Mike Nixon join us for this recognition was a true honor.

We had the privilege to meet many new people at the conference as well as reconnect with some old friends.  I always enjoy the Celebration Certification Luncheon presented by Syngenta which is a gathering of fellow Certified Golf Course Superintendents from around the world.  Having lunch with many of my good friends from Tennessee as well as other parts of the country is one of the highlights of the conference for me.

As if the festivities and activities at the GIS were not enough our favorite feathered family started off the 2014 nesting season for the Harrison Bay Eagle Cam Project while we were gone.  Eloise surprised us with her first egg on Tuesday evening around 6:00 PM.  This egg was laid 6 days earlier than last season.  She continued the fun with a second egg laid on Friday evening around 6:30 PM.  With a normal incubation period of around 35 days we will be anxiously anticipating a new arrival around March 11.

GCSAA/Golf Digest 2013 Environmental Leaders in Golf Award

For years we have been working to limit or reduce our use of natural resources and how our golf course maintenance practices impact the environment and the wildlife that call our golf course "home".  We manage our golf course with an environmental mindset because that is how we feel it should be done and it works great for us.  We have been blessed over the years, and this year especially, with a great amount of recognition for our efforts and we are very grateful.

I am proud to announce that The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay has been selected as the 2013 National and Overall GCSAA/Golf Digest Environmental Leaders in Golf Award winner.  To receive the phone call from Mr. Mark Johnson of GCSAA informing me of the selection was exciting and humbling.  I am very proud of the work and passion the staff at Harrison Bay has put forth to garner us this recognition and I thank GCSAA and Golf Digest, along with the supporting sponsors Syngenta and RainBird, for making this award possible and for selecting our course.

GCSAA/Golf Digest Announce 2013 Environmental Leaders in Golf Awards

Golf Digest Article by Ron Whitten