Blue Dot

Blue Dot 212: USGA Science: Making Golf Courses More Environmentally Sustainable

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USGA

Dave talks with two scientists from the United States Golf Association about their efforts to make golf courses more environmentally friendly in a world where green spaces are highly valued, and water is an increasingly precious commodity.

Matt Pringle discusses the high-tech "Deacon" program named after Arnold Palmer's father, who was a golf pro and course manager in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, when Arnie was growing up.

Deacon uses a data-driven system to help golf courses manage precious resources to enhance resource conservation and make the game more enjoyable for players.

Dave also visits with Cole Thompson, who is head of the USGA's Turf Management and Environmental Research Program, which strives to make golf courses more efficient in using water and other resources.

From putting surfaces to rough and fairways, golf is literally going green in the 21st century, thanks to data-driven science.

Deacon Map
USGA

Dave Schlom is the longtime host and creator of Blue Dot. From surfing to Voyager in interstellar space, rock guitar to orcas in our imperiled oceans, the topics on Blue Dot are as varied as the host’s interests and connections -- which are pretty limitless! An internationally respected space history journalist, Dave is also deeply fascinated by all aspects of the grand workings of nature’s awesome machinery on scales ranging from galactic to subatomic. And topics take in all aspects of the arts and sciences.
Matt Fidler is a producer and sound designer with over 15 years’ experience producing nationally distributed public radio programs. He has worked for shows such as Freakonomics Radio, Selected Shorts, Studio 360, The New Yorker Radio Hour and The Takeaway. In 2017, Matt launched the language podcast Very Bad Words, hitting the #28 spot in the iTunes podcast charts.