Association news

Association news

GCSAA ratifies candidate choices for 2005 elections

Lawrence, Kan. – The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America ratified the slate of candidates for its 2005 elections. Voting members will elect three officers and three directors at the annual meeting Feb. 11, which is held in conjunction with the GCSAA education conference and Golf Industry Show in Orlando, Fla.

The following individuals will appear on the ballot:

For president: Timothy T. O’Neill of the Country Club of Darien (Conn.)
For vice president: Sean A. Hoolehan of Wildhorse Resort Golf Course in Pendleton, Ore.

For secretary/treasurer: David S. Downing II, director of golf operations at The Pearl Golf Links and Ocean Isle Beach Golf Course in Sunset Beach, N.C.; and Ricky D. Heine, general manager at The Golf Club Star Ranch in Austin, Texas

For director: Gregg A. Blew of Wellshire Golf Club in Denver; James R. Fitzroy, director/superintendent at the Wollaston Recreational Facility/Presidents Golf Course in North Quincy, Mass.; Mark D. Kuhns, director of grounds at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, N.J.; and Robert M. Randquist, director of golf course and grounds at Boca Rio Golf Club in Boca Raton, Fla.

All candidates are certified golf course superintendents.

Jon D. Maddern, immediate past president, and Robert J. Maibusch, director, are retiring from the board. Mark J. Woodward will serve on the board for one year as immediate past president. Gary K. Carls has one year remaining on his two-year term as director.

Audubon group designates courses for environment

Selkirk, N.Y. – The following properties have been designated as Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuaries, according to Audubon International:

• Ekwanok Country Club in Manchester, Vt. – Tedd Mattocks,
superintendent;

• Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Ancaster, Ont. – Tracy Fowler, assistant superintendent;

• Maroon Creek Club in Aspen, Colo. – John Upthegrove, superintendent;

• IGM – Broad Bay Country Club in Virginia Beach, Va. - Dan Schlamp;

• Telluride (Colo.) Golf Club - Deanna Belch;

• Braemar Golf Course in Edina, Minn. – Bob Atol, assistant superintendent;

• Newport National Golf Club - Orchard Course in Middletown, R.I. – Scott Roche, director of maintenance operations; and

• Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont. – Peter Kinch, superintendent.

Also, Audubon Park Golf Course in New Orleans and St. James Bay Golf Course in Carrabelle, Fla., were designated as Certified Signature Sanctuaries.
Four hundred and ninety-eight golf courses have achieved designation as Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuaries for implementing a complement of environmental activities.

PGA launches certificate program for management

Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. – The PGA of America launched the PGA Certified Professional Program, an online, career-enhancing educational curriculum that supports goals of PGA Professionals who are improving their management skills. The program enables golf professionals to achieve certification in one of six career paths: general management, golf operations, instruction, retail, executive management and ownership/leasing. Once professionals select a career path, they can begin the online course work, which can be completed at their convenience from any location. The program follows five steps: self-assessment, courses, proficiency test, career path certification and master professional program. Certification enables PGA professionals to prove they have quantifiable and measurable skills that will have a positive impact on their employers’ bottom line.

Almost 80 percent of all golf courses with 18 or more holes have a PGA member present.

Irrigation group presents awards for achievements

Falls Church, Va. – The Irrigation Association announced the recipients of its annual awards, which were presented at the 25th International Irrigation Show in Tampa, Fla., Nov. 15.

Retired Irrometer Co. president William R. Pogue received the Irrigation Association 2004 Industry Achievement Award, which was established in 1966 and recognizes the achievements from an individual within the industry who has contributed to the advancement of the irrigation industry and its products.

Edward M. Norum, the first executive director of the Center for Irrigation Technology, and Dr. Stuart Styles, director of the Irrigation Training and Research Center, received the 2004 Person of the Year by the Irrigation Association. Established in 1952, the award goes to individuals outside the industry who have made outstanding contributions toward the acceptance of sound irrigation practices.

Jack Buzzard, who spent 35 years developing international markets for Rain Bird, received the Irrigation Association’s 2004 Crawford Reid Memorial Award, which is for significant achievements in the promotion of proper irrigation techniques. It was established in 1995. Buzzard is vice president for international and agriculture for Rain Bird.

Disney’s Horticulture, which maintains the grounds of the 47-square-mile Walt Disney World Resort, received the Irrigation Association 2004 Partner of the Year for its commitment to education and certification of irrigation specialists. Disney’s staff maintains four theme parks, resort hotels, irrigated peripheral areas and all support areas for the Florida resort.

Nebraska’s Upper Republican Natural Resource District received the 2004 Water and Energy Conservation Award, which honors significant achievement in the conservation of water and energy relating to irrigation procedures, equipment, methods and techniques. It was established in 1982.

Builders association joins in to present Golf Industry Show

Lincoln, Neb. – The reach of the Golf Industry Show will extend to those who shape the game’s courses as the Golf Course Builders Association of America agreed to join the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, the National Golf Course Owners Association and the Club Managers Association of America to present the Golf Industry Show.

The inaugural Golf Industry Show, which combines the GCSAA and NGCOA trade shows, will be conducted Feb. 10-12, 2005 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. The CMAA will become associated with the event in 2007 in Anaheim, Calif., after conducting its 2005 World Conference on Club Management and Exposition, Feb. 27 - March 3 in New Orleans and its 2006 gathering in Hawaii.

The GCBAA previously had a presence at the GCSAA International Golf Course Conference and Show. This year, the GCBAA will participate in various trade show features, most notably the building of the green solution center. GCBAA members will be demonstrating construction methods and providing information regarding putting green complexes.

“From the GCBAA member standpoint, exposure to key decision-makers whether by exhibiting or networking is of significant value,” says GCBAA president Tommy Sasser. “From the attendee perspective, securing comprehensive business solutions from those who own, build and manage a course will only strengthen their facility’s operations.”

IAEF awards trip to college student for irrigation show

Falls Church, Va. – The Irrigation Association Education Foundation awarded Michelle Bunch, a University of Tennessee student who promotes water conservation through the use of reclaimed water, a trip to Florida to the 25th International Irrigation Show.

Bunch’s instructor, Gary Menendez, received show registration and a complimentary hotel stay, as well.

Students were asked to submit a paper or project that encourages water management and conservation related to irrigation systems used in landscape or agriculture sites.

Several technical papers for turf and landscape were presented during the show and addressed various aspects of using reclaimed water. Researchers are looking at using air-conditioner condensate and rainwater gathered in cisterns for irrigation.

College students chosen by GCSAA for scholarships

Lawrence, Kan. – The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America selected two national honorees in the 2004 Scotts Co. Scholars Program. Winners are Jacob Schneider, a soil science major at the University of Wisconsin - Madison, and Benjamin Stover, a horticulture management major at Iowa State University.

The Scotts Co. Scholars Program, administered by The Environmental Institute for Golf, recognizes promising students from culturally diverse backgrounds who have an interest in pursuing a career in the green industry. As part of the program, five finalists are selected for summer internships, a $500 award and the opportunity to compete for the two $2,500 scholarships. Additionally, the two scholarship winners will receive an all expense paid trip to the 2005 Golf Industry Show in Orlando, Fla., Feb. 10-12.

New process for certification implemented

Lawrence, Kan. – The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America is implementing a new certification process and exam. Since Nov. 1, GCSAA members interested in becoming certified have been subjected to the new exam and certification process.

The Professional Development Initiative began with a mission to improve the knowledge, skills and abilities of the professional superintendent that contribute toward improved playing conditions and enjoyment of the game of golf. During the initial discussions of PDI, the primary goal of the certification committee was to define the competencies necessary to be a successful superintendent to redesign the GCSAA’s existing certification examination to a competency-based program in line with the PDI.

More than 200 GCSAA members were involved in the program’s redesign. Members served as committee members, subject matter experts, survey participants, item writers, beta testers and portfolio judges, all of whom had specific goals throughout the process that contributed to the final product.