Editor’s Note: November 30, 2020, marks the 100th birthday of the USGA Green Section. This announcement from the first issue of what is today known as the Green Section Record eloquently describes the reasons why the Green Section was founded and the ways in which it hoped to improve golf in the United States. The article also conveys the values of the Green Section, values that we hold dear to this day – to share information with anyone interested, to rely on science and proven best practices, to stay free from “entangling alliances” that would impact our objectivity, and to work cooperatively with golf courses across the country toward the betterment of the game for everyone. A lot has changed in the golf world since this announcement was made in 1921, but the fundamental mission and values of the Green Section have remained consistent and we look forward to keeping it that way for another 100 years.
It is estimated that American golf clubs spend annually in the maintenance of their golf courses between $15,000,000 and $25,000,000. Figure it out for yourself. There are many more than 2,000 clubs, which on the average spend not less than $7,500 a year. Some a trifle less and a great many several times as much.
The melancholy fact is that at least a third of this amount is wasted through ignorance and the use of ineffective methods. If the money wasted was applied in a proper direction, better results and a higher standard of maintenance throughout the United States would be accomplished. The aim of the Green Committee of the United States Golf Association (appointed to oversee the Green Section) is to remedy this situation.
It is intended that the Green Committee shall serve nationally as the local green committees serve locally, to the end that the interest and cooperation of local committees may be aroused. If the information and experience possessed by local committees, local greenkeepers and others who can contribute something in a practical and scientific way are made available to all, the results cannot be otherwise than beneficial.
The Committee is composed of amateurs – amateur green committeemen – who will serve without financial recompense and will feel amply rewarded if they are able to stimulate the interest of local green committees. The Committee will keep itself perfectly free from entangling alliances, either real or implied, so that its ideals can be accomplished.
The Bulletin will contain no advertisements and the Committee will neither favor nor disfavor anyone who is interested commercially or professionally. The Bulletin will not seek to occupy the field of the golf journals, golf architects, construction men or the like, and it will contain no golf news or stories. It will carry nothing more than articles and information of interest and benefit to local green committees. The Bulletin will be issued monthly, with perhaps an occasional special Bulletin, and the service and aid of the Green Committee of the United States Golf Association will be available at all times.
Any question relating to greenkeeping or the duties of a green committee may be submitted at any time and will be answered to the best of the ability of the Committee. All information of a technical nature will be obtained from qualified persons. In every issue of the Bulletin will be printed the more important questions and answers handled by the Committee during the interim between the publication of Bulletins.
It is intended that the service and aid of the Committee in the way of answering questions shall be personal. In other words, the Committee will make the same effort to give a complete and satisfying answer to inquiries that would be expected if the green committee of any club asked a question of the committee of another club.
It is believed that if the interest of local green committees can be aroused and if they will come to seek information as to what others are doing and as to the best methods and practices, a cooperative spirit will be induced that cannot fail to produce good results. Everyone can contribute something of value to the others and so that this may be accomplished it is hoped that green committees will make the freest possible use of the service and aid of the Green Committee of the United States Golf Association.
View the originally published article here.