David Cole, the Course Superintendent at Loch Lomond Golf Club, the world-famous private golf club in the West of Scotland, has won the international category in the prestigious Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) Environmental Leaders in Golf Awards for 2010.
Cole received his award at a special ceremony held in Orlando, Florida during the annual GSCAA Conference and Show last week.
Other recipients included Brian Green, from Sunset Valley Golf Course, Illinois (US National, Public and Overall Award), Todd Bunte, from the TPC Jasna Polana, New Jersey (US National Private Award) plus Thomas Vlach, CGCS at the TPC of Sawgrass, Florida, and Christopher Flynn, CGCS at Marriott’s Grande Vista Resort in Orlando (both of whom won US National Resort Awards).
Altogether, a total of 20 golf course superintendents from 12 different US states were recognised at the 2010 Awards ceremony. Cole, who has been a member of the GCSAA for 12 years, was the only recipient from outside the USA.
“It’s a huge honour to receive this prestigious international award from the GCSAA,” said Cole. “I am immensely proud to be the recipient of the award but want to share it with members of staff at Loch Lomond who have worked tirelessly to develop and implement the club’s Environmental Plan.
“Loch Lomond’s plan includes strategies to minimise water usage, waste and energy consumption, to reduce carbon emissions and protect and to enhance biodiversity and the quality of the landscape.
“We are totally committed to the maintenance of the natural environment at Loch Lomond and have been working with partners Scottish Natural Heritage, the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority, the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, the Scottish Forestry Commission and local government to preserve our local landscape and natural heritage.”
Loch Lomond is widely regarded as one of the world’s premier private golf clubs and is renowned as an industry leader when it comes to adopting policies to maintain and enhance its natural environment.
The club is a certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, is Golf Environment Organisation registered, and is a six-time winner of the British and International Golf Greenkeepers’ Association’s Environment Award.
Cole has a national certificate in turfgrass management from Langside College near Glasgow and a higher national certificate in turfgrass management from Elmwood College in Cupar, Fife. He is working toward GCSAA certification and BIGGA master greenkeeper designations.
Loch Lomond Golf Club was recently acquired by its Members securing its future and protecting the jobs of around 100 full-time Club employees and over 200 people from within the local community who are employed on a seasonal basis.
Loch Lomond Golf Club www.lochlomond.com