Paul Carter (right) explains the benefits of using moisture meters in water conservation to Grant Braaksma (left), field representative for Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, and Lane Gutridge, district director for Sen. Marsha Blackburn. Photo by Paul Payne
When Paul Carter arrived at Bear Trace at Harrison Bay in 2001, the golf industry was experiencing an unprecedented demand for new courses and development on the heels of Tiger Woods’ emergence — and attracting widespread interest in golf.
However, that boom abruptly ended in conjunction with the financial crisis of 2007-2008, bringing about a contraction of golf courses while also drawing scrutiny regarding the industry’s effect on the environment.
Since the recent resurgence of golf’s popularity that began during the pandemic, Carter has approached this latest revival with a different tact at the course north of Chattanooga, Tenn., that is one of nine layouts on the state-owned Tennessee Golf Trail. Instead of being driven by cheap credit and real estate speculation like before, there is now a keen focus on sustainability and environmental stewardship. Under Carter’s guidance, Bear Trace at Harrison Bay has embraced these advances.
Carter, president of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, hosted a delegation of state and federal government leaders at the facility on Sept. 1 to discuss progress that has been made at the course along the shores of Chickamauga Lake.
The gathering was part of GCSAA’s Grassroots Ambassador Program, which helps educate political leaders about developments in water and energy conservation, implementation of environmentally friendly pesticides and fertilizers and preservation of natural habitats.
Carter, who also serves as director of agronomy for the Tennessee Golf Trail, was joined by Lane Gutridge, district director for Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R, Tenn.); Grant Braaksma, field representative for Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R, Tenn.); and Republican Bo Watson, Tennessee state senator.
Joining Carter were GCSAA Southeast field representative Ron Prescott; Shane Newton, Tennessee State Parks hospitality area manager; and GCSAA grassroots advocacy specialist Kelly Lonker.
“From an industry standpoint, we've gone away from having this lush, glorious green turf from wall to wall,” Carter said. “We realized that we could provide movement corridors through the golf course while preserving nesting and habitat for wildlife and birds in areas that golfers do not play.
“We've also taken out over 55 acres at Harrison Bay and let those go back to native, which has saved us over 7.3 million gallons of water per year.”
The Tennessee Golf Trail made the conversion to electric greens mowers a decade ago, and it also utilizes electric carts and bunker rakes, creating substantial savings in fuel costs and carbon emissions. Carter has also implemented robotic mowers at the various Trail sites, allowing the maintenance staff to deploy their energy elsewhere.
“Just two mowers are currently cutting 29% of our fairways and 20% of our roughs,” Carter said. “If I could get funding for more, I would buy them in a heartbeat. This is not the wave of the future — it is here. If people don't get on board, they're going to get passed up, because it’s just so beneficial for the turf grass and the environment.”
Carter also added solar-powered lighting around the clubhouse at Harrison Bay two years ago, which enhanced safety and security measures for staff and golfers.
“We're out in the middle of nowhere, so to speak, so there's not a lot of ambient light,” Carter said. “There aren’t any streetlights out here, so this place was pitch dark. We’re also running solar power on some pond aerators at our irrigation lake to be more energy-efficient.”
As part of Harrison Bay State Park, the golf course features 38 bluebird houses and provides nesting tubes for the local duck population. There is an ongoing partnership with local park rangers, who utilize the golf course for regular field trips to explore native habitats and see indigenous wildlife — including a bald eagle’s nest behind the 10th green that has seen 25 eaglets emerge into the wild.
“There's just so much that goes on at this golf course,” Carter said. “I go home at the end of the day, but this is their home. We have to be mindful and respectful of that and not do things that would adversely impact our native wildlife.”