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Environmental Initiatives

Every year, our grounds crew, led by Green Superintendent Bob Nielsen, spearheads projects and practices intended to create exceptional playing conditions on the Golf Course while also holding the highest levels of care in reducing our impact on the environment. Demonstrating his commitment to eco-friendly practices, Bob currently serves as a director on the New York State Turf Grass Association board and is also a co-chair for the organization’s government relations committee. He is treasurer of the New York Golf Course Environmental Foundation and a past president of the Metropolitan Golf Course Superintendents Association. Bob has received awards from the New York State Turf Grass Association, the Golf Course Superintendent Association of America, and the Metropolitan Golf Association commending him for his environmental stewardship.


  • Read More About Environmental Initiatives
    • Included below is information on practices we currently employ at BGTC.

      In early 2020 we partnered with Global Organics – a company that provides biological nutrients for sustainable and healthy soil, plant, animal, and human bioactivity and development. Global Organics comprises turfgrass scientists from throughout the country who consult on turfgrass conditions to reduce the Environmental Impact Quotient (EIQ). The EIQ is a formula created to provide growers with data regarding the environmental and health impacts of their pesticide options to make better-informed decisions regarding pesticide selections.

      BGTC has reduced our EIQ by more than 50% in the first year. We are committed to continuing this practice and further reductions are anticipated. This is truly a remarkable achievement, and we are grateful to Bob and his team for executing this initiative.

      We report annually to the Bedford Wetlands Control Commission and regularly test the stream water where it enters our property and where it leaves. Registered testing facilities do these tests, and we are happy to report that BGTC complies with all required levels as the water traverses the property. In fact, in many cases, the water leaves our property cleaner than when it entered!

      We have engaged a certified golf course architect to develop a master plan for the property. We believe that it is of the highest priority to have a plan! Over the past two years, we’ve developed a plan that incorporates playability and turf health and gives an awareness of what our property was like in the early 1900s before it was a golf course. We have also taken into account how the course was originally designed. BGTC was founded in 1891, but it was not until 1896 that golf was introduced. Originally there were just nine holes, mostly our current back nine, and the course was redesigned and added to in the early 1920s by famed golf course architect Devereux Emmet.

      Over the years, many non-native trees have been planted and more “volunteer” trees have grown. Our goal for the underway tree work includes ensuring that damaged trees are safe, conducting annual pruning, removing dead or declining trees, and establishing a plan in conjunction with our arborist and golf course architect to replant trees. As part of our process a couple of years ago, we removed some trees behind the 17th green. In doing so, we replanted two trees for each one we removed in the area around the pond adjacent to the 10th green. This practice will continue as we institute the new plan.

      In keeping with our philosophy on the grounds, our food and beverage team follows a similar path. The Food and Beverage Department is committed to using biodegradable products when available. We purchase from responsible vendors that serve their communities and the environment. We are proud to be working with the best farmers and merchants in the Hudson Valley and Westchester to provide our members with the finest products New York State has to offer.

  • Local Farms and Purveyors
    • In keeping with our philosophy on the grounds, our food and beverage team follows a similar path. The Food and Beverage Department is committed to using biodegradable products when available. We purchase from responsible vendors that serve their communities and the environment. We are proud to be working with the best farmers and merchants in the Hudson Valley and Westchester to provide our members with the finest products New York State has to offer. Our team works hard to source ingredients, products, produce, and vendors that minimize our impact on the environment and our community.