Supplier News

February 2004 marks the launch of John Deere’s full-service platform designed to meet a wide variety of needs for golf course superintendents in North America. The new division, John Deere Golf & Turf One Source includes mowing and maintenance equipment, irrigation and landscaping supplies, credit, parts and service to end users.

"One Source enables John Deere to offer customized service during every step of golf course development and maintenance," explained Greg Breningmeyer, director of sales and marketing, John Deere Golf & Turf One Source.

Breningmeyer notes that the new format will now allow golf course owners, managers and superintendents to benefit from John Deere’s experience in the golf market during the conception and construction phases of development in addition to maintenance benefits after course completion. "Our customers understand that we’re committed to their success every step along the way — not just when it’s time to buy some equipment," he comments. "This program saves them time and allows them to build strong relationships with a trusted brand."

Offering a single source for all customer service needs allows John Deere to leverage high-volume buying power and provide competitive pricing for its customers. With product partners that include Advanced Microbial Solutions, Aquamaster, Howard Fertilizer, Hunter Irrigation, John Deere Landscapes, Nu-Gro, Profile Products, Spring Valley and Turf-Seed, One Source customers benefit from fewer vendor contacts, which boosts efficiency and increases bottom lines.

"Golf & Turf One Source is also a single source for customer service," Breningmeyer says. "We have a team of strong supplier experts, distributors and John Deere staff who will offer the full support that golf course superintendents need and expect."

Dupont has acquired Griffin Corp.’s interest in Griffin LLC, thereby becoming the sole owner. Financial terms were not disclosed. This purchase will enable DuPont Crop Protection to provide its customers with a broader product portfolio in key segments, including cotton, fruit, vegetable and professional products. Griffin LLC’s product line will complement the existing crop protection business. Griffin LLC, formed in 1998, has five manufacturing sites in North and South America.

"Purchasing Griffin Corp.’s equity interest in Griffin LLC will provide opportunities for profitable top line growth," says James C. Borel, president, DuPont Crop Protection. "This action is consistent with our objective to grow our specialty markets business globally, and these additions to our portfolio will help us serve customers better."

Syngenta Professional Products is partnering with The Environmental Institute for Golf to fund an expansion of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) e-Learning online education program. Beginning in spring 2004, GCSAA’s e-Learning program will include a Webcast "Lunch & Learn" series consisting of a 90-minute presentation held the second Thursday of each month at noon, CST. After pre-registering, members can log onto the Internet and participate in the live event taught by experienced GCSAA seminar faculty. Attendees will be able to respond to online polls and surveys, ask questions of the instructor and use the Internet as a resource in the virtual classroom.

"The partnership between Syngenta and the e-Learning initiative of the Environmental Institute for Golf is very much in tune with our ongoing stewardship activities and commitment to delivering up-to-date technical knowledge and education to golf course professionals," says Joe DiPaola, golf market manager for Syngenta. "The e-Learning endeavor is a natural fit with the Syngenta online technology platform. We appreciate the opportunity to work with the GCSAA and the Environmental Institute for Golf in bringing this exciting opportunity to golf course superintendents."

Affordable and accessible education for superintendents continues to be one of our key goals," says GCSAA CEO Steve Mona, CAE. "We’re pleased that Syngenta and The Institute are helping us to acquire new technology to help make this possible."

Bayer Environmental Science has picked up the tab for five lucky golf course superintendents to attend the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) Conference & Show.

The five winners, selected at random from a pool of over 400 applicants are:

Only head superintendents who had not attended a GCSAA show in the previous two years were eligible to apply. Winners receive airfare, six nights hotel accommodation, full conference registration, two educational seminars, two tickets to the GCSAA Dinner Show and $200 spending money.

"The grant is part of Bayer’s commitment to furthering the opportunities available to golf course superintendents," says Brian Gooch, programs manager for Bayer Environmental Science. "We believe the GCSAA Conference & Show is the best way to enhance professional development for this industry."

Deere & Co., has signed an agreement with Integrity Interactive Corp., to roll out Integrity Interactive’s ethics and compliance training courses as part of Deere’s enterprise-wide compliance and ethics program. The comprehensive program will assist Deere in its continuing efforts to raise employee awareness of important ethical and legal issues in the workplace. Integrity Interactive’s Web-based training courses will allow Deere to more easily reach its employees for training on business conduct guidelines.

Tee-2-Green was among the sponsor’s of the annual Musser/Whitworth Memorial Golf Tournament held in October 2003 at the Arrowhead Golf Club in Molalla, Ore. The tournament helps contribute money to a scholarship fund to benefit turfgrass research graduate students’ studies. This year’s tournament raised $9,270, 75 percent of which will go to the Musser Foundation. The remaining 25 percent will go to the Norm Whitworth Memorial Scholarship fund. The tournament has raised more than $700,000 since its inception 28 years ago. The tournament is co-named for professor H.B. Musser who helped develop Penncross, the first Penn bentgrass variety marketed by Tee-2-Green, in 1955. Norm Whitworth was a supplier of turfgrass products in the Northwest for over 30 years and is a recent inductee into the Oregon Golf Course Superintendents Association Hall of Fame.

Redexim Charterhouse recently announced the addition of two area distributors that will carry the company’s full line of professional turf equipment. The two new distributors are Simpson Norton

Corp., located in Goodyear, Ariz., with branches in New Mexico and Nevada; and Turf professionals Equipment Co., based in Hazelwood, Mo., with five branches throughout Illinois, Kansas and Missouri.

Aquatrols is sending out a call for papers for its first Aquatrols Scholarship Essay Contest. The essay competition is open to children of turf management professionals who will be attending an accredited college or university during the 2004-2005 academic year. Entrants will compete for a grand prize of $2,000 and two runner-up prizes of $1,000 each. Full instructions, rules and eligibility requirements are available on the Aquatrols Web site, www.aquatrols.com. The deadline for submissions is March 1, 2004.

New Riverside Ochre announced the creation of a new division, Riverside Path Solutions. Beginning in 2004, Riverside Path Solutions will be responsible for all golf-related sales, including marketing of natural pigments used in concrete golf cart paths. "We are excited to create a new venture to specifically handle our golf industry products," says Mark Bridges, vice president of sales, New Riverside Ochre, Cartersville, Ga. "Having a product line and sales effort dedicated to this industry will enable us to better meet the needs of our golf clients."

Avendra LLC has completed a group of golf contracting deals that includes nearly 60 golf suppliers representing over $65 million in annual purchases. The golf offering now comprises suppliers for golf course needs ranging from pro shop apparel and clubs to grounds and landscaping needs, fertilizer and maintenance equipment.

"In the past year, Avendra doubled its base of golf customers," comments George Pfeiffer, vice president of golf services procurement. "I think our customers can see that we have broadened our offering of quality suppliers and are serious about the golf segment."

Avendra’s Vice President of Sales John Maier explains, "Our now completed golf offering gives Avendra’s golf customers a one-stop solution for everything a golf facility will need."

New partners in the deal include RedMax, LESCO, Flowtronex and The Toro Co.