Puget Sound-Based First Green to Draw International Attention during U.S. Open at Chambers Bay


Besides the fact that the U.S. Open is coming to the Pacific Northwest for the first time and the world's best golfers will be here, one of the most intriguing storylines this week is that a local nonprofit is emerging onto the national and international stages.

Originated in the Seattle area in 1997, First Green is being featured in a Public Service Announcement during the U.S. Open. The PSA will also run throughout this summer on all FOX Network broadcasts of USGA championships. In addition to FOX, the PSA will appear on affiliate channels Fox Sports 1, FX and the National Geographic, as well as Golf Channel and NBC. This heightened level of attention will introduce First Green to over 200 million viewers of the USGA broadcasts.

In addition, the USGA produced a two-minute video of a recent First Green field trip at Chambers Bay.

On Sunday's U.S. Open Kick-Off Celebration at Chambers Bay, approximately 500 kids visited First Green's outdoor exhibit and participated in four STEM learning labs.

The USGA-sponsored First Green PSA is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_j8NLIEjK0&feature=youtu.be. The USGA video can be found at www.usga.org.

About First Green

First Green is an innovative environmental education outreach program that uses golf courses as environmental learning labs - the only program of its kind. First Green provides extensive resources to golf course superintendents, including online lesson plans.

First Green has been providing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) learning since 1997.

Golf course superintendents and/or local golf course representatives host students on field trips where they test water quality, collect soil samples, identify plants, design plantings, assist in stream bed restoration, and are involved in the ecology and environmental aspects of the golf course. The students are also introduced to many other aspects of golf.

Supporters of First Green include the United States Golf Association (USGA), Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA), Washington State Golf Association, Pacific Northwest Golf Association, the Northwest Turfgrass Association, Western Washington Golf Course Superintendents Association, local golf clubs, public and private school systems, and individual contributors who assist the organization through monetary grants and participation in field trips.

A tax-exempt nonprofit, First Green was founded in the State of Washington in 1997 and is expanding nationally. For more information and to view First Green introductory videos, visit www.thefirstgreen.org.