This summer, the Groundwater Blog will be profiling participants of the Groundwater Guardian Green Site program. The program recognizes green spaces (golf courses, parks, nature areas, educational and office campuses, etc.) for using groundwater-friendly practices to maintain the site. Find out more.
Site: Lake Tahoe Golf Course, South Lake Tahoe, California
Site Manager: Bobby Jaeger, Golf Course Superintendent
Tell us a little about your site and its history.
Our golf course was built in 1959. The land the Golf Course is on was purchased by California State Parks in the 1980’s, from there California State Parks hired American Golf Corporation to manage the property and has since been a huge success, attracting golfers from all over the world.
What’s the most unique feature of your site?
The Upper Truckee River runs through the Golf Course. It is the largest tributary into Lake Tahoe. It makes the course challenging to play, provides habitat for wildlife, and makes for a scenic golf outing.
What groundwater-friendly practices are you most proud of?
Our very limited use of fertilizers. We never fertilize the rough or native areas. Our tees and fairways get half the text-book recommended amounts of NPK per growing season, and our greens are primarily fed from liquid foliar applications. Thus greatly reducing any chance of run off or leaching into ground or surface waters.
What would you tell another site manager about being a Green Site?
It helps educate people in your community about what you do at your property and lets them know about your efforts in environmental stewardship.
What’s the best part about your job?
The best part of my job is not only working outside in Lake Tahoe and providing great golf conditions for locals and visitors from all over the world, but knowing that my environmental stewardship efforts help in ensuring Lake Tahoe is clear and blue for many generations to come.
________
Bobby Jaeger has been the Course Superintendent at Lake Tahoe Golf Course for five years. Find out more about Lake Tahoe Golf Course at www.laketahogc.com or super@laketahoegc.com.
1 comment:
People don't realize how big of an impact those fertilizers have on water supplies. From increasing the amount of bacteria in the water, to fueling huge algae blooms that suffocate the wildlife and plants by covering the surface. I do wonder though, it seems like there is always a really swampy area around a lot of farmland. I wonder if that is where at least part of the runoff goes, and it causes the water to be like that.
Post a Comment