Wayne Mills Wins President’s Award for Environmental Stewardship from GCSAA

Lawrence, Kan. (Dec. 5, 2023) Wayne Mills, 39-year GCSAA member and superintendent at La Cumbre Country Club in Santa Barbara, Calif., has been named the recipient of the 2024 President’s Award for Environmental Stewardship from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA). Mills will officially be recognized during the Send-Off Celebration at the 2024 GCSAA Conference and Trade Show, presented in partnership with John Deere, on Feb. 1 in Phoenix.

The President’s Award for Environmental Stewardship was established in 1991 to recognize an exceptional environmental contribution to the game of golf; a contribution that further exemplifies the golf course superintendent’s image as a steward of the land.

“From water conservation to wildlife habitat enhancement, Wayne Mills’ dedication to being an environmental steward has undoubtedly contributed to the sustainability of the game of golf,” GCSAA President Kevin P. Breen, CGCS, said. “The numerous ways in which he advocates for protection of the environment, both at La Cumbre and other local golf courses, makes a measurable difference and embodies all that the President’s Award represents. We commend his efforts and congratulate him on this honor.”

In his more than 40 years of working in the golf industry, 22 of which have been at La Cumbre Country Club, Mills has demonstrated what it means to be an effective leader, garnering the respect of all team members and mentoring some of the best superintendents in the industry.

A member of the GCSA of Southern California, Mills’ efforts helped established La Cumbre CC’s golf course as an Audubon International Certified Cooperative Sanctuary, receiving the Audubon Certification for Water Conservation. He allows the local Audubon Society to conduct bird banding at La Cumbre, and he has worked with the California Conservation Corps on the removal of invasive plants from the Arroyo Burro Creek in a collaborative restoration effort.

Mills served as a founding member of the Goleta Valley Golf and Water Taskforce, which was instrumental in advocating for local golf courses and reasonable water use restrictions during recent times of extreme drought. He continually improves water conservation practices at La Cumbre Country Club and puts in extra effort to work with local officials on water restrictions by participating in Goleta Water District’s turf rebate program.

Additional areas of Mills’ focus on environmental stewardship at La Cumbre include the establishment of an Integrated Pest Management plan, recently updating the pump station, evaluating the installation of solar panels at the maintenance facility and creating a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan specific for the maintenance facility operations. La Cumbre Country Club was also recently certified by Audubon International for Wildlife Management under his leadership. It’s also worth noting that local environmental inspectors are always impressed with La Cumbre’s best management practices and its compliance with environmental regulations.

“It seems overwhelming at first, like you’re taking on this new aspect of the property and the challenges of managing that come with it, but as you go, there’s a satisfaction that’s different,” Wayne Mills said. “On our property, we maintain good grounds for golf, but we also plant for wildlife, and they show up. It differentiates us from other properties and adds to the La Cumbre member experience. If you look at the club’s website and social media, incorporating native plants for different wildlife is embraced by members and promoted to prospective members.”

Mills’ hard work has also earned him numerous Environmental Leaders in Golf Awards recognition from GCSAA, including Natural Resources Conservation Award winner in 2022; Communications and Outreach Award runner-up in 2023; Natural Resources Conservation Award runner-up in 2021; Healthy Land Stewardship Award runner-up in 2020, 2019 and 2018; and ELGA Chapter Award winner in 2017.

“I’m at a loss for words. We’re just trying to groom everything back to a more natural feel,” Mills said. “It’s nice and humbling that people think that highly about the work we’re doing.”

To learn more about the President’s Award for Environmental Stewardship, visit gcsaa.org/awards.

Categories

Articles
Australia
Dream Destinations
Africa
Alaska
Alberta
Anguilla
Antigua
Argentina
Arizona
Aruba
Australia
Austria
Bahamas
Baja
Bali
Banda Islands
Banff
Barbados
Barbuda
Belgium
Belize
Bequia
Bonaire
Bora Bora
Boston
Botswana
British Virgin Islands
Cabo San Lucas
California
Canada
Canary Islands
Cancun
Canmore
Canouan
Capri
Chicago
Chile
Colorado
Columbia
Connecticutt
Costa Rica
Cozumel
Crete
Croatia
Curacao
Denmark
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
England
Europe
Fiji
finland
Florida
Florida Keys
France
Galapagos
Georgia
Granada
Grand Cayman
Greece
Grenada
Hawaii
Hilton Head
Holland
Hungary
Ibiza
Iceland
Idaho
Illinois
India
Indonesia
Ireland
Isla Mujeres
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Kauai
Kentuck
Kenya
Key Largo
Key West
Lake Como
Lake Tahoe
Las Vegas
London
Los Cabos
Louisiana
Mackinac Island
Malaysia
Maldives
Mallorca
Manzanillo
Marrakech
Martinique
Massachusetts
Maui
Mazatlan
Mexico
Michigan
Minneapolis
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Monaco
Montana
Morroco
Mykonos
Napa Valley
Nashville
Nevada
Nevis
New Hampshire
New York
New York City
New Zealand
North Carolina
Norway
Ohio
Oregon
Palm Harbor
Palm Springs
Panama
Paris
Patagonia
Pennsylvania
Peru
Phuket
Portland
portugal
Prague
Puerto Rico
Puerto Vallarta
Punta Cana
Punta Mita
Qatar
Rhode Island
Rhodes
Riviera Maya
Riviera Nayarit
Saba
Saint Lucia
San Francisco
San Jose
Santorini
Scotland
Scottsdale
Seattle
Seychelles
Sicily
Singapore
South Carolina
Spain
Sri Lanka
St. Augustine
St. Barths
St. Croix
St. Eustatius
St. John
St. Kitts
St. Lucia
St. Maarten
St. Thomas
Sweden
Switzerland
Tenerife
Tennessee
Texas
Thailand
Toronto
Trinidad
Tulum
Turkey
Turks and Caicos
Tuscany
US Virgin Islands
USVI
Utah
Vancouver
Venice
Vermont
Viet Nam
Virginia
Washington
Washington DC
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Dream Golf
Alabama
Anguilla
Arizona
Bahamas
Baja
Barbados
Bermuda
Britain
British Columbia
Cabo San Lucas
California
Cambodia
Cancun
China
Colorado
Costa Rica
Cyprus
Dominican Republic
Dubai
England
Finland
Florida
France
Georgia
Hawaii
Hilton Head
Iceland
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Ireland
Italy Golf
Jamaica
Japan
Kauai
Kentucky
Key Largo
La Romana
Lake Tahoe
Lanai
Las Vegas
Los Cabos
Malaysia
Maldives
Maui
Mauritius
Mazatlan
Mexico
Michigan
Minneapolis
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Myrtle Beach
Napa Valley
Nayarit
Nebraska
Neuvo Vallarta
Nevada
Nevis
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
Norway
Nova Scotia
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oman
Oregon
Palm Springs
Panama
Pennsylvania
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Puerto Vallarta
Punta Cana
Punta Mita
Qatar
Rhode Island
Riviera Maya
Riviera Nayarit
Scotland
Scottsdale
South Carolina
Spain
St. Augustine
St. Barths
Switzerland
Tennessee
Texas
Tokyo
Turkey
Turks and Caicos
Tuscany
USVI
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
Wisconsin
Dream Jobs
Anguilla
Antigua
Argentina
Arizona
Aruba
Bahamas
Barbados
Bonaire
California
Dominica
Dominican Republic
England
Florida
France
Georgia
Grand Cayman
Grenada
Illinois
Italy
Key Largo
Key West
Londo
Loreto Mexico
Los Cabos
Maldives
Maui
Morocco
Napa Valley
Nevis
North Carolina
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
Peru
Punta Cana
San Diego
Sedona
South Carolina
St. Augustine
St. Barths
St. Croix
St. John
St. Thomas
Texas
Trinidad
Turks and Caicos
USVI
Virginia
Zimbabwe
Dream Specials
Featured
Jamaica
St. Barths
Whistler

Sandals New Over Water Bungalows

Authentic Watches

Sandals Summer Savings

Check out Orbitz Best Travel Deals

Kiwi.com – Book Cheap Flights!