#GCITweetUp18: Social media inspiration and innovation

See something inspiring, innovative or informative on social media this year? We’re ready to hear about it.

The industry’s biggest social media celebration returns for a seventh straight year as GCI and Aquatrols will present the Super Social Media Awards at 2018 Golf Industry Show in San Antonio. Before arriving in Texas, we need help from our readers, follower and listeners.  

Nominations for the Super Social Media Awards are open from Monday, Dec. 4, 2017 to Thursday, Jan. 4, 2018. Winners of the awards, which recognize individuals and organizations who do the best job of using social media to communicate about programs, practices and the industry at large, will be honored during the annual TweetUp at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7 at Aquatrols Booth #5097 inside the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. The event, which will include a happy hour with beverages and live music beginning at 2 p.m., can be followed by using #GCITweetUp18 on Twitter. 

Industry professionals will be honored in five categories: Best Overall Use of Social Media, Best Twitter Feed, Best Blog, Best Use of Video and John Kaminski Award for Leadership in Social Media. Winners will be announced in January and recipients will receive their awards at #GCITweetUp18.

“I want to urge everyone to nominate a colleague, professor or chapter leader who inspires them via social media,” GCI publisher Pat Jones said. “Think back over the past year and consider which tweets, videos or communications campaigns made a difference. It’s absolutely OK to nominate yourself. In fact, we encourage it. Finally, we’re always interested in presenting special awards to those who’ve accomplished an important goal using social media. In short, now is the time to tell us who deserves that special recognition for their social efforts.”

Judging will be conducted by the GCI editorial staff and a panel of industry experts and educators. Readers are encouraged to nominate others or nominate themselves. Multiple nominations in the same or different categories are acceptable. Please include the category and appropriate links to senior editor Guy Cipriano at gcipriano@gie.net or @GCIMagazineGuy. Email, tweet or call Cipriano at 216-393-0230 with questions. 

PAST WINNERS
2017
Kaminski Award – Chris Tritabaugh, Hazeltine National Golf Club, Chaska, Minn. 
Best Overall Use of Social Media – Kyle Callahan, Victoria National, Newburgh, Ind.; Steffie Safrit, TPC Piper Glen, Charlotte, N.C. 
Best Twitter Feed – Matthew Marsh, Santa Ana Country Club, Santa Ana, Calif.; Sean McCue, The Country Club at Castle Pines, Castle Rock, Colo.; Mike Richardson, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Ark.; Jesse Shaver, Gull Lake Country Club, Richland, Mich. 
Best Blog – Brian Stiehler, Highlands Country Club, Highlands, N.C.; East Lake Golf Club Agronomy Team, East Lake Golf Club, Atlanta, Ga.
Best Video – Phil Scully, Granite Golf Club, Stouffville, Ontario, “It’s Your Course!”; Georgia GCSA, “Golf is Greenspace” 

2016
Kaminski Award – Paul Carter, The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay, Harrison, Tenn.
Best Overall Use of Social Media – Rick Tegtmeier, Des Moines Golf and Country Club, West Des Moines, Iowa; Joe Wachter, Glen Echo Country Club, St. Louis, Mo.
Best Twitter Feed – Eric Bauer, Bluejack National, Montgomery, Texas; Paul Koch, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis.; Patrick Reinhardt, Georgia Southern University Golf Course, Statesboro, Ga.
Best Blog – Joel Kachmarek, Tacoma Country & Golf Club, Lakewood, Wash.; Brad Novotny, Hillendale Country Club, Phoenix, Md.
Best Video – Graeme Roberts, Camberley Heath Golf Club, Surrey, United Kingdom
Megaphone Award for Outstanding Advocacy – Mike Huck, Irrigation and Turfgrass Services, Orange County, Calif.

2015
Kaminski Award – Steve Cook, Oakland Hills Country Club, Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
Best Overall Use of Social Media – Matthew Wharton, Carolina Golf Club, Charlotte, N.C.; Pat O’Brien, Hyde Park Golf and Country Club, Cincinnati, Ohio
Best Twitter Feed – Scot Dey, Mission Viejo Country Club, Mission Viejo, Calif; Kevin Hicks, Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Club, Coeur D’Alene, Idaho; Jason Hooper, Quilchena, Golf & Country Club, Richmond, B.C.
Best Blog – Joey Franco, Brookstone Golf & Country Club, Acworth, Ga.; Adam Garr, Plum Hollow Country Club, Southfield, Mich.
Best Video – Georgia GCSA, “Stewards of the Land”

2014
Kaminski Award – Micah Woods, Asian Turfgrass Center
Overall Social Media Program – Nick Christians, Iowa State University; Adam Ikamas, MiGCSA
Best Use of Facebook – Gary Grigg, Idaho/Florida; Jason Chennault, Turfgrass World
Best Blog – Jason Haines, Pender Harbour Golf Club, Madeira Park, BC; Jason VanBuskirk, Stow Acres Country Club, Stow, Mass.; Tom Vlach, TPC Sawgrass
Best Use of Twitter –  Randy Samoff, Champions Golf Club, Houston Texas; Ellie Parry, TurfJobs, Loughborough, U.K.; Justin VanLanduit, Briarwood Country Club, Deerfield, Ill.; Cale Bigelow, Purdue University
Best Multimedia – Adam Garr, Plum Hollow Country Club, Southfield, Mich.; Rick Brandenburg, North Carolina State

2013
Kaminski Award – Bill Brown, Hartefeld National Golf Club, Avondale, Pa.
Outstanding Blogger – Andrew Hardy, Pheasant Run Golf Course, Sharon, Ontario; Dan Meersman, Philadelphia Cricket Club; Brian Boyer, Cinnabar Hills Golf Club, San Jose, Calif.
Outstanding Use of Twitter – Chris Tritabaugh, Hazeltine National Golf Club, Chaska, Minn.; Matt Gourlay, Colbert Hills Golf Course, Manhattan, Kan.
Special achievement in video/other – PACE Turf LLC, San Diego, Calif., PACE Turf YouTube Videos; Steve Biehl, Naperville Country Club, Naperville, Ill., GCM Blogging World

2012
Kaminski Award – Darren Davis, Olde Florida Golf Club, Naples, Fla.
Best of Blogs – Chris Tritabaugh, Northland Country Club, Duluth, Minn.; Steve Cook, Oakland Hills Country Club, Bloomfield Hills, Mich.; Bill Brown, Hartefeld National Golf Club, Avondale, Pa.
Innovative Use of Twitter – Greg Shaffer, Elcona Country Club, Bristol, Ind.; David Phipps, Stone Creek Country Club, Oregon City, Ore.
Excellence in Video – Justin Ruiz, Indian Summer Golf & Country Club, Olympia, Wash.