Contributor Joel Jackson moves from the Sunshine State to the Golden State

This column deadline really snuck up on me. You say, “Well, Joel, why didn’t you plan ahead?” Well, folks, I did, but this time I’ve got a good excuse — my wife and I packed up our Orlando, Fla., home of 37 years and moved cross country to Sherman Oaks, Calif., to live near our daughter now that I’ve retired from my Florida GCSA duties.

Happily, I’m still a contributing editor for Golfdom, so I’ve got that going for me. I’ve just changed my base of operations, from one golf hub to another.

Since I’ve become a “Left Coaster,” I thought I’d reach out to the GCSA of Southern California to see what’s on the agenda. Cyndy Neal, executive director of the GCSASC and Hi-Lo Desert chapters, sent me a welcoming email with several upcoming events that I hope to make. I’ve got my Golfdom hat on and I’ve hit the California ground running.

Neal mentioned their January event is the annual joint meeting with the USGA, Southern California Golf Association, Professional Golfers’ Association and Club Managers Association of America. I definitely want to make that event to meet and greet the movers and shakers of the southern California golf community and get a handle on all the issues facing our industry here.

Meanwhile, drought conditions linger, and while most southern Californians voluntarily reduced water use and even exceeded mandated reductions, some glaring examples of disregard for the common good are being called out in the L.A. Times. Beverly Hills, that bastion of the rich and famous, is gaining infamy for its failure to meet the required reductions. One estate was reported using 11.8 million gallons of water per month. This is definitely not the only abuser, and the article hinted that the annual posting was a sort of status game to see how they ranked in use (or abuse).

Because golf courses are always targets for finger pointing when it comes to environmental issues, I looked at the average annual water use for California golf courses. It was roughly 90 million gallons per year before the cutback mandates.

That estate uses 141.6 million gallons per year! At least golf courses have taken water conservation seriously and have reduced water use. The debate is whether or not to list the urban scofflaws publicly.

Moving on, how about our crackerjack U.S. Congress bringing up House and Senate bills to enact WOTUS, while at the same time “we the people” have court orders pending review to delay its enactment based on confusing descriptions of exactly what constitute “Waters of the U.S.” and the lack of good science in describing why some of the restrictions are needed.

A few weeks ago the agriculture and green industries were breathing a sigh of relief when judges said our case had merits and deserved a hearing before implementation of WOTUS. While it’s politicians’ job to pass laws, given their track record of getting things done the past few years of deadlocked party politics, I think the courts could do a better job of sorting out the poor language of the act.

I’m through complaining now, so I’d like to mention a few benefits we’ve discovered from our move from the Sunshine State to the Golden State. First, the cool mornings and evenings are great for coffee, wine and chatting with our condo neighbors. The second benefit is improved health. I’ve lost 10 pounds walking up and down our condo stairs and to the grocery store and bank. Best of all, our daughter lives across the street and we get together several times a week for outings or home-cooked meals.

Until the next time, write your U.S. Senators and Representatives about WOTUS via the GCSAA Government Affairs website, and I’ll be back soon with an update from SoCal. Hey, I’m not really retiring, I’m just recycling!