Charleston, S.C. (September 20, 2023) - The Colorado Basin Golf & Water Summit is pleased to share the full education program for this one day event being held Thursday, October 12 at the Vdara Hotel & Spa in Las Vegas.
This event is designed to provide golf course owners, operators and managers in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming with current and forward-looking research, perspectives and guidance, insight into the drought’s current impacts, and what to expect in the future.
Education will include an exploration of federal and state policies, and funding that is available to golf facilities, steps to continue successful water consumption reduction efforts, and discussion of the industry’s significant progress and how it will continue to contribute to the Southwest’s economy and lifestyle. Attendees will also be provided with examples of effective public relations messaging and techniques to educate customers about what they can expect when visiting courses.
Current State of Policy – Federal Level
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Amy Ostdeik, Chief of Interstate, Federal, and Water Information Section, Colorado Water Conservation Board
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Stacy Wade, Lower Colorado Basin Deputy Director, United States Bureau of Reclamation
Current State of Policy – Lower/Upper Basin and State Level
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Robert Cheng, PhD, Assistant General Manager, Coachella Valley Water District
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Amy Ostdeik, Chief of Interstate, Federal, and Water Information Section, Colorado Water Conservation Board
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Colby Pellegrino, Deputy General Manager of Resources, Southern Nevada Water Authority
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Sarah Porter, Director, Kyl Center for Water Policy, Arizona State University
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Deven Upadhyay, Assistant General Manager & Executive Officer, Southern California Metro Water District
Best Practices – Short-Term and Long-Term Tactics
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Pat Christoffer, CGCS, Director of Agronomy, Red Ledges Golf Club (Heber City, UT)
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Tyler Truman, Director of Agronomy, Mountain Vista Golf Club (Palm Desert, CA)
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Curtis Tyrrell, CGCS, MG, Director of Agronomy, Desert Highlands Golf Club (Scottsdale, AZ)
Impact of Reduced Water – Examining Our Options
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Parker Cohn, Founder & CEO, Performance Resource Management
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Stephanie Duer, Water Conservation Manager, Salt Lake City
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James Symons, Director of Agronomy, Anthem Country Club (Las Vegas, NV)
Marketing to Your Golfers — Customer-Minded Communications and PR Messaging Strategies
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Thom Blinkinsop, General Manager, Red Rock Country Club (Las Vegas, NV)
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Shelley Caiazzo, General Manager, Anthem Country Club (Las Vegas, NV)
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Kevin Fitzgerald, Assistant Director, Public Affairs, Southern California Golf Association
New Research — What’s on the Horizon?
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Dr. James Baird, Turfgrass Specialist, UC Riverside
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Dr. Tony Koski, Professor and Extension Turf Specialist, Colorado State University
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Dr. Bernd Leinauer, Regents Professor and Turfgrass Extension Specialist, New Mexico State University
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Dr. Matteo Serena, Senior Manager, Irrigation and Research Services, USGA Green Section
Click here for session descriptions
The Water Summit is being organized by the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA), the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) and the Southern California Golf Association (SCGA). It is also supported by various organizations and industry suppliers including the PGA of America, the United States Golf Association (USGA), Rain Bird and many others.
About the National Golf Course Owners Association
NGCOA is the leading authority on the business of golf course ownership and management. The association represents and promotes the interests of golf courses as the principal businesses and economic assets of the game of golf. The not-for-profit organization is the only trade association dedicated exclusively to golf course owners and operators. Through advocacy, education and information resources, purchasing programs and networking opportunities, the NGCOA helps golf course owners and operators run more successful businesses. For more information or to join, visit ngcoa.org or call 800-933-4262.
About the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America
GCSAA is a leading golf organization in the United States. Its focus is on golf course management, and since 1926 GCSAA has been the top professional association for the men and women who manage golf courses in the U.S. and worldwide. From its headquarters in Lawrence, Kan., the association provides education, information and representation to more than 19,000 members in more than 78 countries. The association’s mission is to serve its members, advance their profession and improve communities through enjoyment, growth and vitality of the game of golf. Visit GCSAA at gcsaa.org or find us on Facebook or Twitter. Visit our industry-leading magazine at GCMonline.com.
About the Southern California Golf Association
SCGA is devoted to providing all Southland golfers with the best experience possible. Its primary goal is to enhance the enjoyment of the game for those who actively live the golf lifestyle or have just learned to swing a club. Advocating on behalf of our community of passionate golfers, the SCGA provides accessible and affordable opportunities for anyone looking to be involved with the game. Whether crowning champions at amateur tournaments or providing a Handicap Index to track a golfer’s progress, the SCGA is committed to providing exceptional service to its members. Learn more at scga.org.
Media Contacts:
- NGCOA: Renée Flowers, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications, rflowers@ngcoa.org
- GCSAA: Angela Hartmann, Director, Communications, ahartmann@gcsaa.org or Mike Strauss, Media Relations Manager, mstrauss@gcsaa.org
- SCGA: Adam Hawk, Assistant Director, Communications, ahawk@scga.org