Carter Named for Top GCSAA Award


Paul L. Carter, a certified golf course superintendent (CGCS) at Bear Trace at Harrison Bay, Tenn., for the last 13 years, has been selected to receive the 2015 President's Award for Environmental Stewardship by the board of directors of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA).

Carter, 45, will officially receive the award Wednesday, February 25, during the Opening Session at the 2015 Golf Industry Show in San Antonio (February 21-26).

The GCSAA President's Award for Environmental Stewardship was established in 1991 to recognize "an exceptional environmental contribution to the game of golf; a contribution that further exemplifies the golf course superintendent's image as a steward of the land."

"Paul's work is a shining example for all superintendents," said GCSAA President Keith Ihms, CGCS. "Through his impactful environmental stewardship, he demonstrates the full benefits of what golf courses can be for recreation and a healthy environment through professional management. We are pleased to honor him for his accomplishments."

A 22-year member of GCSAA, Carter worked to promote environmentally friendly golf from the start of his career. A graduate of Auburn University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in horticulture-landscape design, Carter previously won the GCSAA national public and overall Environmental Leadership in Golf Award in 2013 after four consecutive association regional awards for environmental leadership (2009-12).

He also brought Bear Trace to certification in 2008 as one of just seven golf courses in Tennessee in the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses. The facility is one of only six in the U.S. to earn certification with the Golf Environment Organization.

Bear Trace has also been recognized twice for the Governor's Environmental Stewardship Award, in 2009 and 2012. The public course is a Jack Nicklaus design and one of nine stops on the Tennessee Golf Trail.

In addition, Bear Trace has been designated a Groundwater Guardian Green Site as a result of Carter's management, which has eliminated pollution in groundwater runoff. He has managed on-course changes as well: moving to a more suitable bermudagrass turf and reducing chemical use by 75 percent with a variety of conservation programs.

He also trimmed 50 acres of highly managed turf to save more than 7.4 million gallons of water annually. "This is a tremendous honor," said Carter. "I consider myself fortunate to be considered and even more blessed to receive the award.

"I am lucky to work for the Tennessee state parks system, so I have had support for every environmental project we wanted to do. Protecting the environment and our natural resources falls right in our wheelhouse. And we have been able to limit expenses and resources without sacrificing conditioning."

Carter has served as president of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association for the past two years and been instrumental in promoting Rounds 4 Research for the Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association.

The above report is courtesy of the GCSAA. For more information, visit www.gcsaa.org. For a full list of past winners, visit www.gcsaa.org/community/awards.