Presented by the USGA, this summit brings together experts from science, government, business, academia and golf to identify and discuss the most challenging issues regarding golf’s use of water. The speakers are:
Doug Bennett
Conservation Manager, Southern Nevada Water Authority
Bennett oversees one of the most comprehensive water conservation programs in the United States, helping the region handle a long-term drought on the Colorado River.
Veronica Blette
Chief, WaterSense Branch, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Blette manages a program that looks at potential risks associated with water shortages and lack of access to clean, safe water supplies.
Paul Brown
Extension Specialist and Research Scientist, University of Arizona
Brown oversees the Arizona Meteorological Network, made up of automated weather stations that provide information to producers of agricultural and horticultural crops.
Henry DeLozier
Principal, Global Golf Advisors
Formerly a golf developer, DeLozier consults with golf operators regarding the best practices for the development and management of golf facilities.
Mary Ann Dickinson
President and CEO, Alliance for Water Efficiency
Dickinson leads a nonprofit organization that works with utilities, planners and regulators to promote the efficient, sustainable use of water in the United States and Canada.
Mark Esoda
Golf Course Superintendent, Atlanta Country Club
A member of the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame, Esoda has worked with legislators and regulators in Georgia to improve awareness and conservation of water in the state.
Bob Farren
Director of Golf Courses and Grounds Management, Pinehurst Resort
Farren is the superintendent of the site of the 2014 U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open, a course that recently underwent a redesign that reduced the area of irrigated turf from 90 acres to 50.
Pat Gross
Director, USGA Green Section Southwest Region
Gross joined the USGA in 1991 and has consulted with numerous courses in California and Mexico in areas such as turf-reduction projects and conversion to grasses that require less irrigation.
Karen Guz
Director of Conservation, San Antonio Water System
Guz manages the water supply in a city that has dealt with severe droughts over the past several years.
Ali Harivandi
Environmental Horticulturist, University of California, Davis
A member of the USGA’s Turfgrass and Environmental Research Committee, Harivandi is internationally known for his expertise in turfgrass, soils, irrigation-water salinity and recycled-water irrigation.
Chris Hartwiger
Senior Agronomist, USGA Green Section Southeast Region
Hartwiger works with superintendents in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi and Tennessee to help them develop the best maintenance programs for their location.
Tim Hiers
Golf Course Superintendent, Old Collier Golf Club
Under Hiers’ direction, Old Collier used Paspalum grass on the entire course and became the first facility in the world to irrigate solely with brackish water.
Jim Hinckley
President and CEO, Century Golf Partners
Hinckley’s company operates 76 facilities around the country, including all the courses under the Arnold Palmer Golf Management network.
Mike Kenna
Director, USGA Green Section Research
Kenna oversees the USGA’s turfgrass and environmental research activities and works closely with the U.S. Department of Agriculture on water and energy conservation research relating to golf courses.
Dana Lonn
Managing Director, Center for Advanced Turf Technology, The Toro Company
Lonn leads a group that is working on developing the next generation of products and technologies for professional turf markets.
Bill Love
President, WR Love Inc.
A golf course architect for more than 30 years, Love has been involved in the design and development of more than 200 projects, focusing on sustainability and the environment.
Greg Lyman
Director of Environmental Programs, Golf Course Superintendents Association of America
Lyman has led a comprehensive national project to collect information on the maintenance practices, inputs, stewardship efforts and resource conservation of golf courses.
Rick Robbins
President, Robbins and Associates International
A former senior design association for Golden Bear Design, Robbins has been involved in numerous projects, including many in China, an area for growth in golf where the use of water will be a major sociopolitical issue.
Michael Sullivan
Worldwide Program Director, IBM
Sullivan leads a team of researchers, technical experts and business executives to deliver water-management solutions for customers around the world.
Brian Whitlark
Agronomist, USGA Green Section Southwest Region
Working extensively with golf courses with challenging soil and water conditions, Whitlark consults with facilities in Arizona, California, New Mexico and Nevada.