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Alternative-Fuel Turf Equipment Now Operating at 8 High-Profile Golf Courses09-01-15 | News

Alternative-Fuel Turf Equipment Now Operating at 8 High-Profile Golf Courses
Each Course Received Four Pieces of Propane-Powered Equipment.

Propane Education & Research Council, Audubon International and R&R Products partnered with courses last year to test emissions-reducing propane equipment in research and demonstration program. Photo: Propane Education & Research Council

Propane-powered turf equipment is now maintaining the fairways, greens, and rough at eight renowned U.S. golf courses. They were originally selected in the fall of 2014 to participate in an inaugural research program with the Propane Education & Research Council.

Beginning in early 2015, the equipment was rolled out to the courses over several months to ensure each course had a high level of support when the demonstration equipment arrived. The courses were chosen for their commitment to environmental practices. Personnel are recording 12 months' worth of data with the leased propane-powered turf equipment. Early indications show that the equipment is making a positive impact.

"We couldn't be happier with the reception the equipment is receiving by the superintendents and their staffs," said Jeremy Wishart, deputy director of business development for PERC. "We are excited to see the final data from each course once the 12-month program wraps up, because many of the superintendents are already reporting significant operational cost savings with the propane equipment "?u some in the thousands of dollars range "?u compared with their gasoline- and diesel-fueled equipment."

The courses included in the research program include: Stone Mountain Golf Club, Stone Mountain, Ga.; Fernandina Beach Golf Club, Fernandina Beach, Fla.; Marriott Desert Springs Golf Club, Palm Desert, Calif.; The Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club, St. Petersburg, Fla.; Columbus Municipal Golf Courses, Columbus, Ohio; Reston National Golf Course, Reston, Va.; George W. Dunne National, Oak Forest, Ill.; Eagles Pride Golf Course, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.

For more information on propane and propane equipment offerings in the commercial turf industry, visit www.buildwithpropane.com/golf.