Jerred Golden, director of grounds, Hershey’s Mill Golf and Landscape, West Chester, Pa., was elected chair of the board of trustees for the Pennsylvania Turfgrass Research Trust by the Pennsylvania Turfgrass Council (PTC) board of directors at its regular meeting last week.
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Immediate Past President of PTC, Golden helped in the founding of the Trust, an endowment fund created by the Board a year ago to ensure a permanent source of reliable funding for critical ongoing research at Penn State’s Center for Turfgrass Science.
Golden also served as President of the Penn State Agriculture Council from 1998 to 2000, and was President of the Philadelphia Association of Golf Course Superintendents from 1992-1993.
In his work, Golden pioneered the first use of effluent water on golf courses in Pennsylvania and developed a landscape division to install and maintain plant material and lawns for a 1,700-home community. Presently, he oversees an 18-hole private golf club and a landscape division of 50 employees. He is responsible for the wastewater treatment plant and all community environmental issues.
A member of Penn State’s Armsby Honor Society, Golden is a certified golf course superintendent and a Pennsylvania water and wastewater certified operator, in addition to having his Pennsylvania pesticide certification.
Golden is a graduate of Penn State’s two-year program in ornamental nursery management in 1975, and turfgrass management in 1976.
While PTC contributes to Penn State’s research annually through its educational activities, conferences, trade shows and membership fees, the Pennsylvania Turfgrass Research Trust will be an endowment that will yield annual income for the Turfgrass Program. It also provides an avenue for golfers, both individually and through their clubs and/or course affiliations, to contribute significantly to the game they love.
Golden said directors have recognized the need for a more permanent and reliable source of funding to ensure the ability of PTC both to continue to support and to expand vital research. Golden was elected chair in acknowledgement of his leadership in establishing the Trust and his vision for its potential.
The Center for Turfgrass Science at Penn State is internationally recognized for being a leader in research targeted to improve turf conditions on golf courses. Penn State’s research is available to all turfgrass managers, and more information about the research fund is available on the PTC website.
The Pennsylvania Turfgrass Council promotes professionalism in all facets of the turfgrass industry by providing educational opportunities, grants and support for education and research projects, encouraging future industry leadership through scholarship and awards, and promoting interaction with government agencies, private institutions and the general public.
Members include golf course superintendents, owners/operators of lawn care services, nurserymen, landscapers, sod growers, sports field managers and industrial representatives. For more information, contact their Web site at www.paturf.org.