As summer unfolds across Colorado, the state’s golf courses are showing what environmental leadership looks like. In just seven months, the “Path to 100%” initiative - led by the Rocky Mountain Golf Course Superintendents Association (RMGCSA), the Rocky Mountain Environmental Golf Institute (RMEGI), and BMP Hero - has reached 70 percent facility BMP adoption. With 30 percent to go, momentum is building toward a future where every golf course in Colorado has a customized, facility-specific Best Management Practices (BMP) guide.
In July, BMP Hero hit the road for a two-day tour across the Centennial State, celebrating the superintendents who are leading the charge. The “BMP Hero Road Trip”, held July 14–15, stopped at 15 courses across the Eastern Plains and Front Range. Every stop marked a completed BMP guide and a celebration of golf courses going the extra mile for sustainability.
Superintendents are the quiet heroes of Colorado golf, managing 33,000 acres of green space, 12,000 acres of water and wetlands, and ensuring the sport stays strong for future generations. Facility BMPs give them the tools to do that, in a way that’s customized to their course and easy to update as things evolve.
The BMP Hero platform makes the process straightforward. It’s cloud-based, mobile-friendly, and preloaded with the Colorado BMP guidelines developed the RMGCSA, RMEGI, and Radius Sports Group in 2019. Superintendents can select, customize, and document their practices across 12 key areas including water conservation, surface water protection, pollinator habitat, nutrient management, energy use, and more.
Each facility that completes a guide receives a downloadable BMP Completion Certificate—proof of sustainability leadership and, increasingly, a vital tool for staying ahead of policy shifts.
Colorado House Bill 24-1178, which would have allowed cities and counties to regulate pesticide use locally, didn’t pass session - but it sent a clear message. Future legislative efforts are likely, and golf courses that lack BMP documentation could face restrictions or inconsistent local rules.
Completing a guide now is more than just smart planning. It demonstrates a course’s commitment to responsible environmental management and positions it to thrive in a changing policy landscape.
Golf in Colorado is more than fairways and greens - it’s about community, water stewardship, wildlife habitat, and preserving the natural beauty that defines the state. By adopting BMPs, superintendents are creating healthy, resilient courses that deliver exceptional playing conditions while protecting local ecosystems.
Reducing water use through efficient irrigation and drought-tolerant turf
Protecting rivers and streams with buffer zones and erosion controls
Creating and preserving pollinator habitats with native plantings and wildlife corridors
Responsible nutrient management to safeguard water quality
Minimizing pesticide use and applying science-based integrated pest management
With 70 percent of facilities on board and a clear goal in sight, Colorado is poised to be the first state in the nation to achieve full facility BMP adoption. That’s something every golfer - and every Coloradan - can celebrate.
