The Whiteboard

2013 Turf Bowl winners crowned

University of Massachusetts Amherst team named winners at the GCSAA Collegiate Turf Bowl

Students from more than 35 universities and colleges participated in the 2013 GCSAA Collegiate Turf Bowl Feb 7 at the 2013 Golf Industry Show in San Diego. The competition tested their agronomic skills, turf care knowledge, leadership and ability to think on their feet., since these are the same skills a successful turf student needs in the golf course industry. The challenges and questions are based on what superintendents might face on a day-to-day basis on the course.

The Turf Bowl has been in existence since 1995. Each year, the exam is looked over and modifications are made to the sections that include essay, multiple choice, identification, short answer and fill in the blank. There is also a hands-on portion. Because of the annual changes and the span of topics covered, the GCSAA provides faculty advisors with a study guide for the participants. There is no limit to the number of participants, but each student must meet all of the eligibility criteria.

The winning team received $4,000 cash, bragging rights, a trophy and the chance to volunteer at TCP Sawgrass in order to experience firsthand what goes into preparing a course for a PGA tournament. The 2013 winning team was the University of Massachusetts Amherst, whose members included Kevin Shewmaker, Sean Raposa, Peter White, Evan Bradstreet and University of Massachusetts Amherst professor Patricia Vittum. Teams placing second through 10th place also received graduated prize money.
 

In honor of Stan

If you’re reading the issue from front to back, you already know about the Stan Zontek Memorial Scholarship Award. If you’re paging your way backward from Parting Shots, we’ll just go ahead and stop you right here for a moment.

The scholarship is GCI’s way of honoring Stan’s legacy and passion for the game, with an unrestricted grant of $2,500 awarded to one outstanding college student with the same fervor and the drive to head into a career in turf. The criteria for the scholarship comes down to academics, recommendations and their personal story with the game of golf.

The application needs to include:

• The student’s most recent academic transcript or student advisory tracking report
• At least two letters of recommendation from a college professor, employer/mentor, councilor, adviser or clergy
• A resume outlining relevant activities, internships and work experience
• 1,000-word essay describing the student’s personal and professional goals, plus how Stan’s accomplishments help them inspire leadership in the golf industry

Applications for the award must be postmarked by Apr. 15, so get them in soon. Use bit.ly/Zontek13app to download the PDF of the application.
 

Bringing home a win… for a good cause

To end GIS on a “good” note, members of the golf turf media battled it out in a round of “Superintendent Pyramid: Media for Charity” on Thursday, Feb. 7 at the Golf Industry Show in San Diego. The competition was put on and held at the BASF booth. Two team members from five publications; Superintendent, Golfdom, Golf Course Management, TurfNet and our own Golf Course Industry; picked one of six categories offered in BASF’s pyramid. They were then given 30 seconds for one teammate to describe a word to the other teammate, similar to the game Catchphrase.

When the dust settled, GCI’s Kyle Brown and Heather Tunstall came out on top yet again, going six for six and winning $2,000 for the USO. Golf Course Management and TurfNet each won $1,750 for the charities Wee One Foundation and Chopin Hall respectively. Superintendent magazine won $1,350 for Brother’s Brother Foundation and Golfdom won $1,100 for Disabled American Veterans. Overall, BASF donated $7,950 to various charities.
 

Making the move

A big “Attaboy!” goes out to Nate Jordan, who recently informed us that he’s been hired as superintendent of Saratoga Lake Golf Club in upstate New York.

You may remember Jordan as one of the assistant superintendents GCI profiled in November’s cover story “The Waiting Game.” The feature examined assistants’ struggles and frustrations vying for superintendent jobs in a recovering economy and beleaguered industry market.

Jordan, who is also a regular contributor to GCI, previously worked as an assistant at Mt. Hawley Country Club in Peoria, Ill.

Enter bit.ly/127MHAC into your web browser to read “The Waiting Game.”
 

From the feed

GIS 2013 is in the books, but that doesn’t mean we’re done talking about it online. We heard from plenty of our friends at the show itself and after – and that’s not even counting the GCI TweetUp, with our own social media awards. Here are some of our favorite tweets from the show!

Nadeem Zreikat @campbellturf
I’m with Pat

Dave Wilbur @TurfgrassZealot
RT if you think @GCImagazine looked good in Pink today.

Andrew Hardy @pheasantturf
@Aquatrols Pounding beers at your booth yesterday. Thank you and thanks for hosting #GCITweetUp13 #kickedoutofthetradeshow.

Aquatrols @aquatrols
The turnout for #GCItweetup13 was so big that Pat had to switch to a mic. RIP red bull horn!

Ryan Howard @TWRyanHoward
when they come up with a “best blog yet to be started” award my work will be recognized.

Greg Shaffer @gtshaffer
Another #LSOT victory. @pheasantturf wins best blog award at @gcimagazine tweetup. #theaward.

Bill Brown @iTurfapps
Thank you! Big honor following the Dr. Team effort with @hiawathaturf and @URITurf.

Join the conversation on Twitter @GCIMagazine!