Big Cedar Golf Host First Green Event

The Ozark Turf Association would like to recognize some of their members at The Golf Courses at Big Cedar, who hosted a First Green event last week. Staff members from all their facilities participated in setting up STEM Education stations for students from the School of The Ozarks to visit.

Led by Todd Bohn, Director of Agronomy, at Big Cedar Lodge, the students were given a tour of the maintenance facilities and golf courses.

They were able to visit with Equipment Manager, Clinton McKee, who showed them the set up and basics of a cutting unit and other equipment, hopefully sparking the interest of a future equipment manager.

Steve Johnson, CGCS, Golf Course Superintendent at Payne’s Valley, led a soils learning lab.

Aaron Lorenz, Golf Course Superintendent at Buffalo Ridge, Led a math learning lab.

Austin Peters of Ozark National and Justin Thomas of Top of The Rock, led a gadgets and technology lab.

Staff members from Wonders of Wildlife led a wildlife management lab.

FIRST GREEN'S STORY

Founded in 1997, First Green is the only STEM education and environmental outreach program in the United States and Canada that uses golf courses as learning labs.

First Green, a Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) program, pairs golf courses with local schools for unique Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) learning opportunities.

Read more:https://www.thefirstgreen.org/about-first-green/#ixzz6u7uvYM8U

If any of our other OTA Members are interesting in hosting a First Green event, don’t hesitate to contact Leann Cooper, Senior Manager, Chapter Services, or Steve Randall, Director of Chapter Outreach, at GCSAA, who can help provide guidance and materials to host a First Green event at your golf course. Also contact us at the Ozark Turf Association if you need a couple of volunteers to help.

Congratulations and thanks again, to Todd and the team at Big Cedar for hosting this event that introduces, encourages, and highlights the potential careers in the golf industry and the game of golf to these students.