Kenneth Benoit, Jr., CGCS, awarded GCSAA Excellence of Government Affairs Award

Kenneth Benoit, Jr., CGCS, 28-year Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) member and past president of the Metropolitan GCSA, earned the 2023 Excellence in Government Affairs Award from the GCSAA.

The award recognizes a chapter or superintendent or coalition for outstanding advocacy or compliance efforts in government affairs.

Benoit received this award for his efforts in establishing best management practices (BMPs) for New York golf courses, educating those outside the industry on BMPs and developing a strong working relationship with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

“Like most regions around the country, we have a very politically charged relationship with environmental groups and lawmakers,” Benoit said. “Fortunately, we have a very politically active core of superintendents in the Northeast, who help communicate the great things our industry is doing for the environment.”

The MetGCSA credits Benoit’s vision, leadership and hard work, along with other MetGCSA superintendents and Cornell University, was instrumental in creating and drawing attention to the New York state BMP project at the 2012 GCSAA Conference and Trade Show in Las Vegas, Nev. More than 10 years later, the organization said Benoit continues to be both a steward and promoter of BMPs in New York.

The MetGSCA said Benoit was a fixture at New York’s Turfgrass Advocacy Day in Albany, N.Y., during the creation, adoption and promotion of the state’s BMPs. He met with state lawmakers, presented and briefed attendees on the status of the BMP project during the legislative visits.

In 2019, Benoit also attended his first National Golf Day in Washington, D.C., and has been a member of GCSAA’s Grassroots Ambassador program since 2016.

Today, Benoit serves as the executive director of the New York Golf Course Foundation (NYGCF), whose mission is to further golf’s environmental efforts and curate the New York state golf BMPs, which protect New York state’s natural resources. Most recently, Benoit and the NYGCF have been working closely with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to create a partnership where New York state golf course superintendents can earn commercial pesticide applicator credits for completing their facility BMPs.

“I would ask all superintendents from around the country to do their small part by participating in the GCSAA BMP online tool,” Benoit said. “Formally adopting BMPs at your facility will go a long way toward helping our industry communicate to outsiders all the great things we’re doing to help create an environmentally healthy and sustainable world.”

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