Motivation, Incentives, and Barriers for Voluntary Environmental Program Participation in Golf

Purpose:

Thank you for taking this brief survey on the motivations, incentives, and barriers associated with Voluntary Environmental Program (VEP) participation in golf. VEPs, such as The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program, GEO's OnCourse program, e-par's EMS for Golf, and others are most-often centered on helping golf course professionals find the best ways to operate more sustainably, supporting credible ways to monitor and measure results, and helping to tell golf's positive story. The purpose of this survey is to find out why or why not Golf Course Superintendents in the United States chose to participate in VEPs, and for those who do, what types of benefits are being realized. Answering these questions will help all VEP developers/managers better serve the golf industry while also continuing to drive overall improvement. Survey results will be shared with survey participants (upon request), VEP program staff, and golf associations/leaders.

This survey is coming to you from Audubon International, based in Troy, NY. Audubon International (AI) is a pioneer in the development of VEPs, working with golf courses to improve environmental management for over 25 years. AI is working with Dr. Kevin A. Fletcher (Greener Futures Consulting LLC and The Sage Colleges, Albany NY) to develop, distribute, and analyze the data, and share results broadly. Dr. Fletcher pioneered research around this issue in the 1990’s by analyzing economic and environmental trends in the golf industry.

Please direct your questions to Doug Bechtel, AI Executive Director (doug@auduboninternational.org) or Kevin A. Fletcher (kevin@greener-futures.com).

What You Need to Know:

1. All survey responses are confidential and individual responses will never be shared.

2. The entire survey should take no longer than five minutes to complete.

3. Providing contact information is optional. However, if you would like to receive a copy of a summary report of the survey and be entered into a sweepstakes to win a $100 Visa Gift Cards, you will need to complete the optional contact information (below) and complete the survey.

4. Those not already enrolled in a VEP of some type only need to complete the survey through Question #10.

Please begin the survey--sweepstakes information and information in receiving a final summary report of the survey are found at the end of the survey.

Optional Contact Information

Question Title

1. Complete this section if you want to receive a final summary report of this survey and enter to win one of three $100 gift cards.

Name

Company

State/Province

Email Address

General Information

Question Title

2. Which best describes your position/title?

Owner

Club Manager

General Manager

Director of Golf

Director of Agronomy

Golf Course Superintendent

Assistant Golf Course Superintendent

Head Golf Professional

Other (please specify)

Question Title

3. How long have you been working at this golf course (years)?

Question Title

4. Which describes your golf facility? (Please select all that apply.)

Privately Owned Daily Fee

Semi-Private

Private

Municipal

Resort

University/College Affiliated

Homeowner Association

Affiliated with a Multi-course Owner/Operator or Management Company

Other (please specify)

Question Title

5. What is the size of your annual maintenance budget (including labor and overhead) for your golf course operation (select one)?

Under $200,000

$200,001 - $350,000

$350,001 - $600,000

$600,001 - $1,000,000

$1,000,001 - $1,500,000

Over $1,500,000

Question Title

6. Estimate the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) employees who have responsibilities associated with golf course maintenance at your facility, including yourself.

Question Title

7. Please check all of the following Voluntary Environmental Programs (“VEPs”) you belong to (select all that apply):

Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program

Audubon Signature Program

GEO’s OnCourse® program

e-par Environmental Management System for Golf

Groundwater Foundation’s Groundwater Guardians Program

Michigan Turfgrass Environmental Stewardship Program

Salmon Safe Golf

Syngenta’s Operation Pollinator Program

Florida BMP Professional Exam

NONE - We do not participate in any VEP.

Other (please specify)

Question Title

8. How many years has your course participated in one or more of the VEPs indicated above?

Question Title

9. Please indicate whether you have completed one or more of these programs or have earned recognition for completion (i.e., certification).

Yes

Not Applicable - We do not participate in any VEP

If you indicated “None” to Question #7 (i.e., your course does not participate in any VEP), please answer the next Question (#10) and then go to the end of the survey for information on entering the sweepstakes.

If you participate in one or more VEP, please skip the next question and continue with Question #11.

Question Title

10. How much of a role has each of the following played in your decision not to enroll your golf facility in a VEP?

	Not at all important	Low importance	Slightly important	Neutral	Somewhat important	Very important	Extremely important
Never heard of any of these VEPs	Never heard of any of these VEPs Not at all important	Never heard of any of these VEPs Low importance	Never heard of any of these VEPs Slightly important	Never heard of any of these VEPs Neutral	Never heard of any of these VEPs Somewhat important	Never heard of any of these VEPs Very important	Never heard of any of these VEPs Extremely important
Lack of upper management/owner commitment or support (generally)	Lack of upper management/owner commitment or support (generally) Not at all important	Lack of upper management/owner commitment or support (generally) Low importance	Lack of upper management/owner commitment or support (generally) Slightly important	Lack of upper management/owner commitment or support (generally) Neutral	Lack of upper management/owner commitment or support (generally) Somewhat important	Lack of upper management/owner commitment or support (generally) Very important	Lack of upper management/owner commitment or support (generally) Extremely important
Lack of upper management/owner commitment or support due to budget concerns (i.e., extra cost)	Lack of upper management/owner commitment or support due to budget concerns (i.e., extra cost) Not at all important	Lack of upper management/owner commitment or support due to budget concerns (i.e., extra cost) Low importance	Lack of upper management/owner commitment or support due to budget concerns (i.e., extra cost) Slightly important	Lack of upper management/owner commitment or support due to budget concerns (i.e., extra cost) Neutral	Lack of upper management/owner commitment or support due to budget concerns (i.e., extra cost) Somewhat important	Lack of upper management/owner commitment or support due to budget concerns (i.e., extra cost) Very important	Lack of upper management/owner commitment or support due to budget concerns (i.e., extra cost) Extremely important
Upper management/owner personal resistance to the goals of the VEP	Upper management/owner personal resistance to the goals of the VEP Not at all important	Upper management/owner personal resistance to the goals of the VEP Low importance	Upper management/owner personal resistance to the goals of the VEP Slightly important	Upper management/owner personal resistance to the goals of the VEP Neutral	Upper management/owner personal resistance to the goals of the VEP Somewhat important	Upper management/owner personal resistance to the goals of the VEP Very important	Upper management/owner personal resistance to the goals of the VEP Extremely important
Course/Club member resistance to change	Course/Club member resistance to change Not at all important	Course/Club member resistance to change Low importance	Course/Club member resistance to change Slightly important	Course/Club member resistance to change Neutral	Course/Club member resistance to change Somewhat important	Course/Club member resistance to change Very important	Course/Club member resistance to change Extremely important
Lack of staff training or knowledge to complete the VEP	Lack of staff training or knowledge to complete the VEP Not at all important	Lack of staff training or knowledge to complete the VEP Low importance	Lack of staff training or knowledge to complete the VEP Slightly important	Lack of staff training or knowledge to complete the VEP Neutral	Lack of staff training or knowledge to complete the VEP Somewhat important	Lack of staff training or knowledge to complete the VEP Very important	Lack of staff training or knowledge to complete the VEP Extremely important
Lack of my time to work on/complete the VEP (as environmental champion)	Lack of my time to work on/complete the VEP (as environmental champion) Not at all important	Lack of my time to work on/complete the VEP (as environmental champion) Low importance	Lack of my time to work on/complete the VEP (as environmental champion) Slightly important	Lack of my time to work on/complete the VEP (as environmental champion) Neutral	Lack of my time to work on/complete the VEP (as environmental champion) Somewhat important	Lack of my time to work on/complete the VEP (as environmental champion) Very important	Lack of my time to work on/complete the VEP (as environmental champion) Extremely important
Lack of staff time to work on/complete the VEP	Lack of staff time to work on/complete the VEP Not at all important	Lack of staff time to work on/complete the VEP Low importance	Lack of staff time to work on/complete the VEP Slightly important	Lack of staff time to work on/complete the VEP Neutral	Lack of staff time to work on/complete the VEP Somewhat important	Lack of staff time to work on/complete the VEP Very important	Lack of staff time to work on/complete the VEP Extremely important
Concerns that VEP participation will cost too much to implement/complete	Concerns that VEP participation will cost too much to implement/complete Not at all important	Concerns that VEP participation will cost too much to implement/complete Low importance	Concerns that VEP participation will cost too much to implement/complete Slightly important	Concerns that VEP participation will cost too much to implement/complete Neutral	Concerns that VEP participation will cost too much to implement/complete Somewhat important	Concerns that VEP participation will cost too much to implement/complete Very important	Concerns that VEP participation will cost too much to implement/complete Extremely important
Lack of technology, infrastructure, or equipment needed to participate in the VEP	Lack of technology, infrastructure, or equipment needed to participate in the VEP Not at all important	Lack of technology, infrastructure, or equipment needed to participate in the VEP Low importance	Lack of technology, infrastructure, or equipment needed to participate in the VEP Slightly important	Lack of technology, infrastructure, or equipment needed to participate in the VEP Neutral	Lack of technology, infrastructure, or equipment needed to participate in the VEP Somewhat important	Lack of technology, infrastructure, or equipment needed to participate in the VEP Very important	Lack of technology, infrastructure, or equipment needed to participate in the VEP Extremely important
Not a fit for our business plan/approach	Not a fit for our business plan/approach Not at all important	Not a fit for our business plan/approach Low importance	Not a fit for our business plan/approach Slightly important	Not a fit for our business plan/approach Neutral	Not a fit for our business plan/approach Somewhat important	Not a fit for our business plan/approach Very important	Not a fit for our business plan/approach Extremely important
Do not see the value	Do not see the value Not at all important	Do not see the value Low importance	Do not see the value Slightly important	Do not see the value Neutral	Do not see the value Somewhat important	Do not see the value Very important	Do not see the value Extremely important
Do not think the VEP will positively impact our bottom line	Do not think the VEP will positively impact our bottom line Not at all important	Do not think the VEP will positively impact our bottom line Low importance	Do not think the VEP will positively impact our bottom line Slightly important	Do not think the VEP will positively impact our bottom line Neutral	Do not think the VEP will positively impact our bottom line Somewhat important	Do not think the VEP will positively impact our bottom line Very important	Do not think the VEP will positively impact our bottom line Extremely important
More concerned with maintaining course conditions	More concerned with maintaining course conditions Not at all important	More concerned with maintaining course conditions Low importance	More concerned with maintaining course conditions Slightly important	More concerned with maintaining course conditions Neutral	More concerned with maintaining course conditions Somewhat important	More concerned with maintaining course conditions Very important	More concerned with maintaining course conditions Extremely important
More concerned with keeping/improving rounds played	More concerned with keeping/improving rounds played Not at all important	More concerned with keeping/improving rounds played Low importance	More concerned with keeping/improving rounds played Slightly important	More concerned with keeping/improving rounds played Neutral	More concerned with keeping/improving rounds played Somewhat important	More concerned with keeping/improving rounds played Very important	More concerned with keeping/improving rounds played Extremely important
Already doing enough to protect the environment	Already doing enough to protect the environment Not at all important	Already doing enough to protect the environment Low importance	Already doing enough to protect the environment Slightly important	Already doing enough to protect the environment Neutral	Already doing enough to protect the environment Somewhat important	Already doing enough to protect the environment Very important	Already doing enough to protect the environment Extremely important
Don't think any existing VEPs are effective/are a good fit	Don't think any existing VEPs are effective/are a good fit Not at all important	Don't think any existing VEPs are effective/are a good fit Low importance	Don't think any existing VEPs are effective/are a good fit Slightly important	Don't think any existing VEPs are effective/are a good fit Neutral	Don't think any existing VEPs are effective/are a good fit Somewhat important	Don't think any existing VEPs are effective/are a good fit Very important	Don't think any existing VEPs are effective/are a good fit Extremely important
Waiting for golf industry leadership to help me know what VEP to join	Waiting for golf industry leadership to help me know what VEP to join Not at all important	Waiting for golf industry leadership to help me know what VEP to join Low importance	Waiting for golf industry leadership to help me know what VEP to join Slightly important	Waiting for golf industry leadership to help me know what VEP to join Neutral	Waiting for golf industry leadership to help me know what VEP to join Somewhat important	Waiting for golf industry leadership to help me know what VEP to join Very important	Waiting for golf industry leadership to help me know what VEP to join Extremely important

Other (please specify)

VEP Participant Questions

Question Title

11. Who was involved in the decision to approve the VEPs you're currently participating in--i.e., individuals who needed to approve the decision (select all that apply, if they're not you, and feel free to clarify in the comments section):

Owner

Green Committee

Director of Golf

Director of Agronomy

General/Club Manager

Golf Course Superintendent

None - I had the authority to make the decision myself

Additional Comments:

Question Title

12. Did you seek buy-in or input from others at your golf course before joining/participating in a VEP? If so, who? (select all that apply--not including you):

Owner

Green Committee

Director of Golf

Director of Agronomy

Club/General Manager

Golf Course Superintendent

None - I made the decision alone.

Other (please specify)

Question Title

13. Prior to your involvement with the VEP(s) indicated above, in your opinion what was the level of environmental performance at your golf course?

Very Poor

Somewhat Poor

Poor

Average

Good

Very Good

Excellent

Very Poor

Somewhat Poor

Poor

Average

Good

Very Good

Excellent

Question Title

14. As a result of your involvement with the VEP(s) indicated above, what is the current level of environmental performance at your golf course in your opinion?

Very Poor

Poor

Slightly Poor

Average

Good

Very Good

Excellent

Very Poor

Poor

Slightly Poor

Average

Good

Very Good

Excellent

Question Title

15. How important were each of the following in the decision to join/participate in one or more Voluntary Environmental Programs?

	Not at all important	Low importance	Slightly important	Neutral	Moderately Important	Very Important	Extremely Important
General expectations about association benefits	General expectations about association benefits Not at all important	General expectations about association benefits Low importance	General expectations about association benefits Slightly important	General expectations about association benefits Neutral	General expectations about association benefits Moderately Important	General expectations about association benefits Very Important	General expectations about association benefits Extremely Important
The expectation of realizing cost reductions as a result of VEP adoption	The expectation of realizing cost reductions as a result of VEP adoption Not at all important	The expectation of realizing cost reductions as a result of VEP adoption Low importance	The expectation of realizing cost reductions as a result of VEP adoption Slightly important	The expectation of realizing cost reductions as a result of VEP adoption Neutral	The expectation of realizing cost reductions as a result of VEP adoption Moderately Important	The expectation of realizing cost reductions as a result of VEP adoption Very Important	The expectation of realizing cost reductions as a result of VEP adoption Extremely Important
Potential regulatory benefits in the form of regulatory relief	Potential regulatory benefits in the form of regulatory relief Not at all important	Potential regulatory benefits in the form of regulatory relief Low importance	Potential regulatory benefits in the form of regulatory relief Slightly important	Potential regulatory benefits in the form of regulatory relief Neutral	Potential regulatory benefits in the form of regulatory relief Moderately Important	Potential regulatory benefits in the form of regulatory relief Very Important	Potential regulatory benefits in the form of regulatory relief Extremely Important
Overall improved business performance and achieving some competitive advantage (i.e., increased sales)	Overall improved business performance and achieving some competitive advantage (i.e., increased sales) Not at all important	Overall improved business performance and achieving some competitive advantage (i.e., increased sales) Low importance	Overall improved business performance and achieving some competitive advantage (i.e., increased sales) Slightly important	Overall improved business performance and achieving some competitive advantage (i.e., increased sales) Neutral	Overall improved business performance and achieving some competitive advantage (i.e., increased sales) Moderately Important	Overall improved business performance and achieving some competitive advantage (i.e., increased sales) Very Important	Overall improved business performance and achieving some competitive advantage (i.e., increased sales) Extremely Important
Employee sense of pride/accomplishment	Employee sense of pride/accomplishment Not at all important	Employee sense of pride/accomplishment Low importance	Employee sense of pride/accomplishment Slightly important	Employee sense of pride/accomplishment Neutral	Employee sense of pride/accomplishment Moderately Important	Employee sense of pride/accomplishment Very Important	Employee sense of pride/accomplishment Extremely Important
Personal sense of pride/accomplishment	Personal sense of pride/accomplishment Not at all important	Personal sense of pride/accomplishment Low importance	Personal sense of pride/accomplishment Slightly important	Personal sense of pride/accomplishment Neutral	Personal sense of pride/accomplishment Moderately Important	Personal sense of pride/accomplishment Very Important	Personal sense of pride/accomplishment Extremely Important
Member sense of pride/accomplishment	Member sense of pride/accomplishment Not at all important	Member sense of pride/accomplishment Low importance	Member sense of pride/accomplishment Slightly important	Member sense of pride/accomplishment Neutral	Member sense of pride/accomplishment Moderately Important	Member sense of pride/accomplishment Very Important	Member sense of pride/accomplishment Extremely Important
Expectations for gaining energy efficiency	Expectations for gaining energy efficiency Not at all important	Expectations for gaining energy efficiency Low importance	Expectations for gaining energy efficiency Slightly important	Expectations for gaining energy efficiency Neutral	Expectations for gaining energy efficiency Moderately Important	Expectations for gaining energy efficiency Very Important	Expectations for gaining energy efficiency Extremely Important
Expectations for reducing water use	Expectations for reducing water use Not at all important	Expectations for reducing water use Low importance	Expectations for reducing water use Slightly important	Expectations for reducing water use Neutral	Expectations for reducing water use Moderately Important	Expectations for reducing water use Very Important	Expectations for reducing water use Extremely Important
Enhanced sales (i.e., number of golfer, rounds, or members)	Enhanced sales (i.e., number of golfer, rounds, or members) Not at all important	Enhanced sales (i.e., number of golfer, rounds, or members) Low importance	Enhanced sales (i.e., number of golfer, rounds, or members) Slightly important	Enhanced sales (i.e., number of golfer, rounds, or members) Neutral	Enhanced sales (i.e., number of golfer, rounds, or members) Moderately Important	Enhanced sales (i.e., number of golfer, rounds, or members) Very Important	Enhanced sales (i.e., number of golfer, rounds, or members) Extremely Important
Improved image and reputation within the local community/general public	Improved image and reputation within the local community/general public Not at all important	Improved image and reputation within the local community/general public Low importance	Improved image and reputation within the local community/general public Slightly important	Improved image and reputation within the local community/general public Neutral	Improved image and reputation within the local community/general public Moderately Important	Improved image and reputation within the local community/general public Very Important	Improved image and reputation within the local community/general public Extremely Important
Improved image and reputation with regulatory agencies	Improved image and reputation with regulatory agencies Not at all important	Improved image and reputation with regulatory agencies Low importance	Improved image and reputation with regulatory agencies Slightly important	Improved image and reputation with regulatory agencies Neutral	Improved image and reputation with regulatory agencies Moderately Important	Improved image and reputation with regulatory agencies Very Important	Improved image and reputation with regulatory agencies Extremely Important
Improved image and reputation within the industry (i.e., peers)	Improved image and reputation within the industry (i.e., peers) Not at all important	Improved image and reputation within the industry (i.e., peers) Low importance	Improved image and reputation within the industry (i.e., peers) Slightly important	Improved image and reputation within the industry (i.e., peers) Neutral	Improved image and reputation within the industry (i.e., peers) Moderately Important	Improved image and reputation within the industry (i.e., peers) Very Important	Improved image and reputation within the industry (i.e., peers) Extremely Important
Improved image and reputation with the environmental community/groups	Improved image and reputation with the environmental community/groups Not at all important	Improved image and reputation with the environmental community/groups Low importance	Improved image and reputation with the environmental community/groups Slightly important	Improved image and reputation with the environmental community/groups Neutral	Improved image and reputation with the environmental community/groups Moderately Important	Improved image and reputation with the environmental community/groups Very Important	Improved image and reputation with the environmental community/groups Extremely Important
Personal commitment to protecting the natural environment	Personal commitment to protecting the natural environment Not at all important	Personal commitment to protecting the natural environment Low importance	Personal commitment to protecting the natural environment Slightly important	Personal commitment to protecting the natural environment Neutral	Personal commitment to protecting the natural environment Moderately Important	Personal commitment to protecting the natural environment Very Important	Personal commitment to protecting the natural environment Extremely Important
Belief that joining the VEP was “the right thing to do”	Belief that joining the VEP was “the right thing to do” Not at all important	Belief that joining the VEP was “the right thing to do” Low importance	Belief that joining the VEP was “the right thing to do” Slightly important	Belief that joining the VEP was “the right thing to do” Neutral	Belief that joining the VEP was “the right thing to do” Moderately Important	Belief that joining the VEP was “the right thing to do” Very Important	Belief that joining the VEP was “the right thing to do” Extremely Important
Alignment of VEP (environmental management) goals with corporate or business goals	Alignment of VEP (environmental management) goals with corporate or business goals Not at all important	Alignment of VEP (environmental management) goals with corporate or business goals Low importance	Alignment of VEP (environmental management) goals with corporate or business goals Slightly important	Alignment of VEP (environmental management) goals with corporate or business goals Neutral	Alignment of VEP (environmental management) goals with corporate or business goals Moderately Important	Alignment of VEP (environmental management) goals with corporate or business goals Very Important	Alignment of VEP (environmental management) goals with corporate or business goals Extremely Important
Amount of positive support for VEP adoption by upper management/organization/management company	Amount of positive support for VEP adoption by upper management/organization/management company Not at all important	Amount of positive support for VEP adoption by upper management/organization/management company Low importance	Amount of positive support for VEP adoption by upper management/organization/management company Slightly important	Amount of positive support for VEP adoption by upper management/organization/management company Neutral	Amount of positive support for VEP adoption by upper management/organization/management company Moderately Important	Amount of positive support for VEP adoption by upper management/organization/management company Very Important	Amount of positive support for VEP adoption by upper management/organization/management company Extremely Important

Question Title

16. Please indicate if any of the following served as initial barriers to VEP participation (prior to joining) and how important they were to overcome in order to participate in a VEP.

	Not at all important	Low importance	Slightly important	Neutral	Moderately important	Very important	Extremely important
Lack of upper management/owner commitment or support (generally)	Lack of upper management/owner commitment or support (generally) Not at all important	Lack of upper management/owner commitment or support (generally) Low importance	Lack of upper management/owner commitment or support (generally) Slightly important	Lack of upper management/owner commitment or support (generally) Neutral	Lack of upper management/owner commitment or support (generally) Moderately important	Lack of upper management/owner commitment or support (generally) Very important	Lack of upper management/owner commitment or support (generally) Extremely important
Lack of upper management/owner commitment or support due to budget concerns	Lack of upper management/owner commitment or support due to budget concerns Not at all important	Lack of upper management/owner commitment or support due to budget concerns Low importance	Lack of upper management/owner commitment or support due to budget concerns Slightly important	Lack of upper management/owner commitment or support due to budget concerns Neutral	Lack of upper management/owner commitment or support due to budget concerns Moderately important	Lack of upper management/owner commitment or support due to budget concerns Very important	Lack of upper management/owner commitment or support due to budget concerns Extremely important
Upper management/owner personal resistance to the goals of the VEP	Upper management/owner personal resistance to the goals of the VEP Not at all important	Upper management/owner personal resistance to the goals of the VEP Low importance	Upper management/owner personal resistance to the goals of the VEP Slightly important	Upper management/owner personal resistance to the goals of the VEP Neutral	Upper management/owner personal resistance to the goals of the VEP Moderately important	Upper management/owner personal resistance to the goals of the VEP Very important	Upper management/owner personal resistance to the goals of the VEP Extremely important
Golfers/Club member resistance to change	Golfers/Club member resistance to change Not at all important	Golfers/Club member resistance to change Low importance	Golfers/Club member resistance to change Slightly important	Golfers/Club member resistance to change Neutral	Golfers/Club member resistance to change Moderately important	Golfers/Club member resistance to change Very important	Golfers/Club member resistance to change Extremely important
Lack of staff training or knowledge to complete the VEP	Lack of staff training or knowledge to complete the VEP Not at all important	Lack of staff training or knowledge to complete the VEP Low importance	Lack of staff training or knowledge to complete the VEP Slightly important	Lack of staff training or knowledge to complete the VEP Neutral	Lack of staff training or knowledge to complete the VEP Moderately important	Lack of staff training or knowledge to complete the VEP Very important	Lack of staff training or knowledge to complete the VEP Extremely important
Lack of my time to work on/complete the VEP (as environmental champion)	Lack of my time to work on/complete the VEP (as environmental champion) Not at all important	Lack of my time to work on/complete the VEP (as environmental champion) Low importance	Lack of my time to work on/complete the VEP (as environmental champion) Slightly important	Lack of my time to work on/complete the VEP (as environmental champion) Neutral	Lack of my time to work on/complete the VEP (as environmental champion) Moderately important	Lack of my time to work on/complete the VEP (as environmental champion) Very important	Lack of my time to work on/complete the VEP (as environmental champion) Extremely important
Lack of staff time to work on/complete the VEP	Lack of staff time to work on/complete the VEP Not at all important	Lack of staff time to work on/complete the VEP Low importance	Lack of staff time to work on/complete the VEP Slightly important	Lack of staff time to work on/complete the VEP Neutral	Lack of staff time to work on/complete the VEP Moderately important	Lack of staff time to work on/complete the VEP Very important	Lack of staff time to work on/complete the VEP Extremely important
Cost or budget concerns from VEP participation	Cost or budget concerns from VEP participation Not at all important	Cost or budget concerns from VEP participation Low importance	Cost or budget concerns from VEP participation Slightly important	Cost or budget concerns from VEP participation Neutral	Cost or budget concerns from VEP participation Moderately important	Cost or budget concerns from VEP participation Very important	Cost or budget concerns from VEP participation Extremely important
Lack of technology, infrastructure, or equipment needed to participate in the VEP	Lack of technology, infrastructure, or equipment needed to participate in the VEP Not at all important	Lack of technology, infrastructure, or equipment needed to participate in the VEP Low importance	Lack of technology, infrastructure, or equipment needed to participate in the VEP Slightly important	Lack of technology, infrastructure, or equipment needed to participate in the VEP Neutral	Lack of technology, infrastructure, or equipment needed to participate in the VEP Moderately important	Lack of technology, infrastructure, or equipment needed to participate in the VEP Very important	Lack of technology, infrastructure, or equipment needed to participate in the VEP Extremely important
Already doing enough to protect the environment	Already doing enough to protect the environment Not at all important	Already doing enough to protect the environment Low importance	Already doing enough to protect the environment Slightly important	Already doing enough to protect the environment Neutral	Already doing enough to protect the environment Moderately important	Already doing enough to protect the environment Very important	Already doing enough to protect the environment Extremely important
Don't think any existing VEP is effective	Don't think any existing VEP is effective Not at all important	Don't think any existing VEP is effective Low importance	Don't think any existing VEP is effective Slightly important	Don't think any existing VEP is effective Neutral	Don't think any existing VEP is effective Moderately important	Don't think any existing VEP is effective Very important	Don't think any existing VEP is effective Extremely important
Waiting for golf industry leadership to help me know what VEP to join	Waiting for golf industry leadership to help me know what VEP to join Not at all important	Waiting for golf industry leadership to help me know what VEP to join Low importance	Waiting for golf industry leadership to help me know what VEP to join Slightly important	Waiting for golf industry leadership to help me know what VEP to join Neutral	Waiting for golf industry leadership to help me know what VEP to join Moderately important	Waiting for golf industry leadership to help me know what VEP to join Very important	Waiting for golf industry leadership to help me know what VEP to join Extremely important

Other (please specify)

Question Title

17. Which of the following benefits have you or your golf business actually realized as a result of VEP participation (check all that apply):

Saved money (generally)

Improvements in energy use/energy efficiency

Improvements in recycling or waste reduction

Decrease in hazardous waste use/disposal

Decrease in leaks or spills

Improved employee morale

Improved employee productivity

Reduced insurance costs

Ability to charge higher greens fees

New golfers/increased rounds of play

Complements or support from golfer/members

Complement or support from upper management

Regulatory scrutiny relaxed

Enhanced regulatory compliance

Positive press and/or recognition for the golf course

Increases in real estate values associated with the golf course

Positive press or recognition for me/staff

Increased job satisfaction

Enhanced job opportunities (i.e., raise, promotion, job offers)

None -- No benefits have been realized

Other (please specify)

Question Title

18. Did you save money directly from projects or improvements made as a result of your voluntary environmental program participation?

Yes

Question Title

19. If YES, please indicate what type of return or savings were they:

One time

Annual (recurring)

Both

Not Applicable - We have not saved any money.

Question Title

20. If “One Time,” please indicate the level of saving/return on investment:

Under $5,000

$5,001 - $10,000

$10,001 - $25,000

$25,001 - $50,000

Over $50,000

Not Applicable - We have not saved any money.

Question Title

21. If “Annual,” please indicate the level of savings/return on investment seen each year:

Under $5,000

$5,001 - $10,000

$10,001 - $25,000

$25,001 - $50,000

Over $50,000

Not Applicable - We have not saved any money.

Question Title

22. Are these monetary savings answers based on “best guess” or actual documented amounts?:

Best Guess

Documented/Recorded

Question Title

23. Would you be willing to be contacted by a research team member to learn more about the specific benefits you've experienced the VEP participation (if so, please include your contact information as requested in Question #1)?

Yes

You're Done -- About the Sweepstakes...

Question Title

24. By supplying us with your contact information, you are entered into a sweepstakes for a $100 Visa Gift Card. Winners will be selected at random from the group of survey participants who provide contact information (name and email required) and complete the survey. There is no cost to enter. Winners will be notified by email by December 30, 2016. Please also let us know if you’d like to receive a summary of the survey once completed (leave blank and click "Next" if not interested).

I would also like to receive a summary of the final survey results (optional)