Association news

Association News

GCSAA Conference & Show a success
The International Golf Course Conference & Show held by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) was held Feb. 9 to 14, 2004, in San Diego, Calif., and boasted an increased attendance from the 2003 show.
The weeklong schedule of activities had 19,317 attendees overall, up from last year’s total of 18,164. Approximately 6,200 attendees were qualified buyers or individuals who make purchasing decisions at a golf course, and 6,780 people attended the conference’s educational seminars. Attendees also visited the 675 exhibitors on the trade show floor.
At the GCSAA annual meeting, members named their 2004 board of directors with the election of three officers and two directors from a field of seven candidates. Officers are: Mark Woodward, president; Timothy O’Neill, vice president; and Sean Hoolehan, secretary/treasurer. Directors are: Cary Carls and David Downing.
Next year, the International Golf Course Conference & Show will take on a new form, appearing as the Golf Industry Show. This will combine the trade shows hosted by GCSAA and the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA). However, the associations will operate separate education seminars that will run concurrently with the trade show. The 2005 Golf Industry Show is scheduled Feb. 10 to 12 in Orlando, Fla. The GCSAA education conference will be held Feb. 7 to 12, and the NGCOA education conference will be held Feb. 8 to 12.

EIFG receives two industry donations
The Environmental Institute for Golf (EIFG) received two $10,000 donations from industry suppliers during the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) International Golf Course Conference & Show in February.
Aquatrols formally presented a $10,000 check to the EIFG. The endowment fund was established with money from the corporation and various family members in 2000 to honor the company’s founder Robert Moore. Aquatrols has committed to maintaining the contributions from sales of the company’s turf management products.
“Establishment of a research endowment fund is a fitting way to give back to the industry and recognize the contributions made by Bob Moore and Aquatrols,” says Tracy Jarman, president and chief executive officer of Aquatrols. “This is a way to contribute to the golf industry on a long-term basis.” Grants will be made from the endowment fund by its board of trustees.
Also, Hunter Industries donated $10,000 to the EIFG in support of the group’s environmental stewardship and water management on the golf course. “The institute is a vital part of our industry’s efforts to strengthen the compatability of golf with the natural environment,” says chief executive officer Richard Hunter. “We are priviledged to be a partner with the Institute in this initiative.”
“We are very appreciative of these companies’ support of the Institute,” says GCSAA Chief Executive Officer Steve Mona. “The advancements in course conditioning are made possible in part by the support and contributions we receive from our industry partners.”

ITODA announces 2004 board
The Independent Turf & Ornamental Distributors Association (ITODA) named Chris Petersen president of the organization for 2004. Through ITODA, Petersen said he plans to continue to foster a trusted environment in which colleagues and vendors can share business concerns and viewpoints. “I want to help develop stronger business strategies through networking and education,” he says. “I have found my membership in ITODA to be a most rewarding experience.”
Other officers include Brian Feury, vice president; Chad Will, secretary/treasurer; and Don Naumann, past president. ITODA directors will be Wally Boilek, Michael Fisher, Gary Grigg, Dan Henderson and Ned Herod.

Thomas Cousins will receive ASGCA Donald Ross Award
The 58th annual meeting of the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA) will take place April 23 to 28 at Hilton Head Island, S.C., where Thomas Cousins will receive the 2004 Donald Ross Award.
The society’s most prestigious honor, the Donald Ross Award is presented annually to an individual who has made significant contributions to the game of golf and the profession of golf course architecture. Cousins, who spearheaded the renovation of East Lake Golf Club, Atlanta, Ga., and the rehabilitation of the surrounding neighborhood, is receiving the honor for both saving the historic club and for rebuilding the neighborhood, which was notorious for its crime and drug traffic.
Since it reopened in 1995, the renovated golf course has attracted three PGA Tour Championships and the U.S. Amateur Championship. East Lake also recently was selected as the long-term site of the PGA Tour Championship. These tournaments generate hundreds of thousands of dollars annually for further neighborhood improvement, the East Lake Community Foundation founded by Cousins and his family, and efforts to encourage similar programs across the country.

NGCOA links up with weather insurance firm
The National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) teamed up with Adverse Weather Insurance Group (AWIG) to provide a solution to the negative impact that severe weather has on a  golf course’s bottom line. AWIG has joined the NGCOA purchasing program as a preferred supplier and will provide NGCOA members with reduced premiums on its adverse weather insurance and income stabalization programs.
“We are very pleased to partner with Adverse Weather Insurance Group to offer our members access to a program created specifically for the golf course industry to meet the needs of golf course owners and operators,” says Mike Hughes, NGCOA executive director. “AWIG offers our members access to affordable adverse weather insurance, which is tailor-made to meet their specific operating requirements and to protect their profits.”
The AWIG program provides a supplemental rain and/or snow insurance policy for golf course owners. In rainy or snowy conditions, insured courses receive reimbursement revenue based on parameters and coverage amounts defined by the course. Annually, severe weather costs businesses $7 billion in revenue and a recent Golf 20/20 Industry Report found that weather is the No. 1 reason why courses experience an increase or decrease in rounds.
“We look forward to working closely with the NGCOA and providing an affordable and effective solution to their membership and the golf industry,” says John Peterson, managing partner for AWIG. “Our company’s goal is simple: work as a parter with the golf course owners/operators to develop a comprehensive plan that is specific to their golf course, eliminate weather as a budgeting and operational concern, restore profitability to the operator and provide an affordable solution.”

PTC establishes permanent research fund
The Pennsylvania Turfgrass Council (PTC) announced the establishment of an endowment fund to ensure a permanent source of funding for critical ongoing research.
The Pennsylvania Turfgrass Research Fund will yield annual income for Penn State University’s Turfgrass Project, and will allow those who benefit most from top-quality golf courses to contribute to continued improvement of golf courses everywhere.
To raise money for the fund, PTC initiated the “Growing the Game” campaign, creating awareness of the fund and the research it will support, and offering suggestions of ways to support the fund.
“We believe this endowment is a major step in ensuring that the world-class research being conducted at Penn State will not be interrupted because of lack of funds,” says PTC President Jerred Golden. “The Growing the Game campaign will provide an important avenue to reach out to golf club superintendents and to individual golfers to help them understand the value of the research being done.”
In the past, PTC has contributed $200,000 annually to the project from membership and educational activities fees. In 2003 alone, funding was available for Penn State to conduct 55 field research studies covering 623 weed control treatments, including more than 120 for broadleaf weed control.