In early March, Bernd Leinauer, New Mexico State University professor extension turfgrass specialist, travelled to Beijing and Xiamen, China, to speak at the Asian Golf Show on water conservation and teach students about golf course maintenance.
The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, the Reed Guanghe Exhibitions and the Golf Institute at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University invited him to give a series of lectures.
“Our research program in the turfgrass water conservation program has been recognized nationally and internationally by both scientists and practitioners as one of the leading programs in the world,” Leinauer said. “The Chinese government will begin regulating water use on golf courses on July 1, 2015, and the organizers of the show wanted to use the opportunity to present different perspectives on reducing irrigation water use on golf courses.”
Leinauer and Clint Waltz from the University of Georgia were selected by the GCSAA to speak about irrigation water conservation and water management. Both scientists have presented regularly at the national Golf Industry Show organized by the GCSAA and are recognized as experts in the field.
After the presentation at the Golf Show, Leinauer traveled to Xiamen, a city in southern China, where he met with students from the Shanghai Jiao Tong University at a newly constructed golf resort. He lectured on various golf course maintenance practices, such as mowing, fertilization, as well as irrigation for golf green construction and water conservation.
“It took a lot of time and effort to prepare for the trip because all teaching material had to be submitted well ahead of time to be translated into Chinese. It was interesting for me because I had to lecture with all my slides in Chinese,” Leinauer said. “I was really honored to be invited. It was a great experience for me. Everybody was very friendly and hospitable.”
He added there is a possibility for collaboration in the future to help China with their water issues. It shows that “the work we do is relevant not only to New Mexico and the U.S., but also applies to other countries,” he said.
Information from NMSU