From the MTC Executive Director
Here’s What’s Happening!! Hi Folks,
A lot is happening, including the Maryland MTC Winter Turfgrass Conference and Trade Show coming back to Maryland! This year we are at Turf Valley Golf/Resort/Spa in Ellicott City on December 11, 2018. It is a one day show this year, but the format and excitement is all new with different educational tracks. It will also provide you all the necessary re-certifications you need to update your required licenses. If you have special needs such as licenses from states other than Maryland, please let us know and we will see if we can get those for you too. We have already expanded and locked in the dates for 2019. We will be back at Turf Valley on December 10 & 11, 2019 so mark your calendars now. Another piece of information which should be of critical interest to all of us is that the University of Maryland, College Park, announced in July that it was considering converting parts of its Golf Course into new athletic facilities for a Track and Field Complex and an additional 600+ space parking lot. They are considering taking a beautiful 18-hole golf course where the men’s and women’s golf teams play 500 to 600 rounds each year (as well as daily practices) and shutting down 22.2% of the course. High School Tournaments, clinics and lessons all take place frequently on the course and changing it to less than 18 holes will destroy much of that opportunity. In addition to golf, this course provides sanctuary to the surrounding urban environment. The University of Maryland
It’s time to write to:
and tell them how you feel.
See you in Ellicott City,
Vernon W. Cooper MTC Executive Director 6
MTC Turf News
Golf Course is more environmentally friendly than most due to its bioretention systems, rain gardens, and large tracts of milkweed that provide a sanctuary to Monarch Butterflies, which may very soon become an endangered species. This is a critical area for the University Environmental Studies and Outdoor Recreation Classes. Plus, this would change the wildlife in the area, as well as possibly change the runoff to the nearby Anacostia River. The plan is to shut down the 1st, 9th, 10th and 18th holes, leaving a 14-hole course, which as we all know would essentially be a 9-hole course. Do you think the football team would be satisfied with an 80-yard field? How about only 2/3rd of a basketball court or tennis court? Better yet, do you think the administration would give up 20% of their plush office space or 20% of their coveted parking spaces? The University had other alternatives, including the Chapel Fields, Fraternity Row, the south lawn of the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, and a dozen or so more. However, University Vice President Carlo Colella likes the golf course because it simultaneously addresses the need for new Track & Field facilities and more intramural fields. What is wrong with making all the parking lots into taller parking garages and place athletic fields of natural turf on top? Once the Golf Course is lost it will NEVER come back!
University President Wallace Loh 1101 Main Administration Bldg College Park, MD 20742-5025
&
Vice President Carlo Colella 2119 Main Administration Bldg College Park, MD 20742-5035