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Donald Trump has announced the formation of a new company, Trump Golf Management. The company, which will be overseen by managing partners, Carolyn Kepcher and Ashley Cooper, consolidates clubhouse and golf course operations, purchasing, human resources and marketing under one umbrella. Currently, Trump’s investment in the golf industry exceeds $200 million. There are four golf clubs in the company’s portfolio: Trump National GC, Westchester, N.Y.; Trump National GC, Bedminster, N.J.; Trump International GC, Palm Beach County, Fla.; and Trump National GC, Los Angeles. We will continue to grow our membership base by gradually exposing more and more of the golf community to the phenomenal projects we have developed over the last six years, Cooper says. Over the next few years, Cooper indicated that Trump Golf Management might seek to take its standards and golf operations expertise to the management of other high-end golf clubs.
The California GCSA has launched an electronic newsletter to provide the state’s superintendents with the latest California turf news. Association Manager Bob Tillema, CGCS, says he got the idea for the monthly newsletter from similar ones he receives. I get a lot of e-mails. Several of them are one-page magazines, he says. That’s where I got the idea for the California GCSA E-Magazine, a once-a-month, one-page magazine, with the latest California news for California superintendents. I’ve also included links to different information our members may be interested in viewing. The electronic newsletter is available at www.californiagcsa.org.
The new organization formed by the union of the Associated Landscape Contractors of America and the Professional Lawn Care Association of America has a new identity. PLANET, The Professional Landcare Network is creating a new Web portal for the green industry at www.landcarenetwork.org, but members can continue to visit www.alca.org and www.plcaa.org for all the latest news and information.
The Cactus and Pine GCSA and the USGA are planning an Arizona Golf Summit for March 16 at the Arizona Biltmore. Lynn Cannon, executive director of the chapter, says the summit is a product of the fact that, although golf is big business in Arizona, rounds of golf and the revenue generated has decreased at individual golf courses. The event has invited national and local golf industry leaders to provide insight into these issues and offer ideas for those who work in Arizona’s golf industry or for avid golfers who want to see the game grow. Among the speakers on national trends and opportunities for golf will be: Ruffin Beckwith, executive director of Golf 20/20; Sue Wegrzyn, executive director of the National Club Foundation; Paul Metzler, PGA of America; Steve Mona, GCSAA CEO, CAE; Sara Hume, executive director of the Executive Women’s Golf Association; Mike Tinkey, deputy executive director of NGCOA; and Anthony Zirpoli, USGA director of regional affairs.
Nate Patrick has been hired by Redexim Charterhouse as an assistant marketing manager to support its network of North American distributors. Patrick was previously business development manager with GCSAA.
Steven M. Valles, entomologist with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology in Gainesville, Fla., and his colleagues there and at the ARS laboratory in Fort Pierce, Fla., have identified a new virus that infects the destructive red imported fire ant. The entire genome has been sequenced, and studies suggest the virus, tentatively named Solenopsis invicta virus-1, may be an excellent biological control agent. A survey in Florida locations found that approximately 23 percent of nests examined were infected with the virus. It infects all fire ant castes and stages, and Valles was able to successfully transmit the viral infection to uninfected fire ant nests. Researchers are currently examining the virus to determine its effectiveness and potential for use as a sustainable, microbial control agent.
Dow AgroSciences has promoted Ryan Messner to serve as a sales representative for the turf and ornamental business. Messner will develop and execute business plans, manage accounts, build awareness and increase trial of products from Dow AgroSciences in the mid-South, particularly in Mississippi, Tennessee, Louisiana and parts of Arkansas and northern Alabama. A native of Oxford, Ind., Messner earned a bachelor’s of science degree in marketing with minors in both finance and economics from St. Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Ind. Previously, Messner worked for the U.S. agriculture group at Dow AgroSciences.
According to the Las Vegas Sun, Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., has announced a $200 million rebate program to help public agencies remove turf and save water. The program would be funded through proceeds of federal land sales authorized by the 1998 Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act. Under the plan, schools and local, state and federal agencies could replace grass with desert landscaping, which would save enough water for about 500,000 people in southern Nevada annually. Ensign says the Nevada congressional delegation supports the legislation he plans to introduce, which would amend the public land management act.
Cindy Davis, U.S. General Manager for Nike Golf, and Leigh Bader, 1995 and 2001 PGA of America National Merchandiser of the Year, have been named to the executive board of Golf 20/20, a strategic alliance of the golf industry that addresses the issues of growth, participation and interest. Davis is the chairman of the National Golf Foundation, while Bader is co-owner of Joe & Leigh’s Discount Golf Pro Shop, recognized for 12 years as One of America’s Top 100 Golf Shops by Golf World Business.
GCSAA has withdrawn its request for a critical use exemption for the application of methyl bromide on golf courses. The action was taken after the U.S. Department of Agriculture notified association officials that GCSAA’s 2006 and 2007 applications would not be forwarded to the international advisory group that provides technical expertise on methyl bromide. The basis for the group’s decision was that the absence of methyl bromide for golf course use would not result in a significant market disruption. In 2002, GCSAA applied for and was granted a critical use exemption for golf in 2005. In 2004, a similar application was made for 2006 and 2007. Government officials now indicate there is likely to be enough stockpiled to serve golf courses in 2006 and 2007. We realize that there is concern among our members about this issue and had hoped the exemption would have been granted until a universally accepted replacement was developed. However, we worked through the system and accept the decision, says GCSAA CEO Steve Mona, CAE.
Cleary Chemical Corp. has given two Rutgers University students $1,000 scholarships. Timothy Connolly of Gaithersburg, Md., received the Dr. Paul Sartoretto Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship was established in honor of Sartoretto, an employee of Cleary Chemical for 50 years, who was technical director of the company’s turf and ornamental products business. James Schmid of Goshen, N.Y., received the Cleary Chemical Corp. Academic Scholarship at the annual turfgrass awards banquet. The recipients are both in their second year at Rutgers’ professional golf turf management school and were selected by a committee of the university’s turf faculty based on their academic performance and commitment to a career in golf turf management.
Frank DeRosa, the superintendent at Cedar Brook CC in Old Brookeville, N.Y., will have a Ford F-150 pick-up truck for two years as part of Bayer’s year-long sweepstakes celebrating the 10-year anniversary of Merit insecticide. DeRosa was the contest’s grand prize winner in the golf industry category. DeRosa chose between the Ford F-150 two-year lease, a trip for four to the Richard Petty NASCAR driving school or a $10,000 gift card to Lowe’s. The Merit Ten-Year Sweepstakes awarded more than $70,000 in prizes in 2004, including computers, airfares and various gift cards.
Chris Nordling has been hired by Shindaiwa as product manager for trimmers, brushcutters and lawn edgers. Previously, Nordling was a technical service representative for the company and most recently has been in charge of technical publications.
Jim Doll has joined Tecumseh Power Co. as product line manager for walk-behind mower engines. His work will focus on market trends and customer preferences. Doll was previously with Accenture and has worked with several companies, including Sprint, Amoco, Allstate and Caterpillar. The company also named Gary Weber as product line manager for snow engines. Weber previously held the same position for walk-behind mower engines.
Dawn Dreggors has joined Proderma, maker of sun and skin-care products for golf, as a sales representative for central Florida. Dreggors will expand the company’s services in a 15-county area that includes Orlando and Tampa.
Steve Anderson has been named by Golf Ventures West as equipment territory manager for the southern Phoenix market. Anderson has been in the golf course industry his entire life, and previously worked at a Jacobsen dealership owned by his family.
The Irrigation Association Education Foundation is ramping up its efforts to improve the quality of irrigation professionals entering the market by hiring its first full-time manager. Pat Kearns, former president of the National Association of Japan-American Societies, is the new manager. The foundation is currently focusing on introducing high school students to water management and careers in irrigation and developing irrigation teaching modules to make it easier for secondary educational institutions to institute or broaden irrigation education programs.
Agrotain International has added John Wilson as a regional manager. Based in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Wilson will be responsible for promoting the company’s stabilized nitrogen products.
Project EverGreen has elected officers and board directors for 2005, including Paul McDonough, LESCO Inc., president; Cindy Code, GIE Media Inc., first vice president; Chris Kujawa, Kujawa Enterprises Inc., second vice president; Bill Klutho of John Deere, secretary; and Tom Delaney, PLCAA, treasurer. Also elected to the board were Cynthia Amos, The Irrigation Association; Scott Frith, Lawn Doctor Inc.; Norman Goldenberg, TruGreen ChemLawn; Bruce Hunt, The Brickman Group Ltd.; Chris Schmenk, The Scotts Co.; Gary Trinetti, The Garick Corp; Jeff Bollig, GCSAA; Sandra Burns, The Davey Tree Expert Co.; Ron Johnson, Syngenta; Rich Kalik, BASF; Anita Matlock, The Toro Co.; Steve Trusty, Trusty & Associates; Kristin Van Veen, Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment; David Zerfoss, Husqvarna; Tom Hofer, Spring-Green; Tim Maniscalo, Dow AgroSciences LLC; Kirk Hunter, Turfgrass Producers International.
Roger Ramsey, Ewing Irrigation-Golf & Industrial, has received the Arizona Landscape Contractors Association’s Outstanding Customer Service Award. The award was presented at AZLCA’s 2004 Excellence in Landscaping Awards program. Ramsey specializes in landscape lighting sales, service and design and has a territory that covers Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Utah. He also offers national support, serving markets as far away as Louisiana, Mississippi and Georgia.
The 2005 International Network of Golf has announced a new advisory board following an election by its membership. The new board members are Tom Landers, Pub Links Golfer; Mitch Laurance, Ace Productions; John Steinbach, TaylorMade-Adidas Golf; and Dean Stoyer, Nike Golf. Re-elected to new three-year terms were Jack Bacot, Carolinas PGA Golfer, and Tony Leodora, TL Golf Services. The 15-year-old International Network of Golf is a nonprofit, media-based networking organization whose mission is to enhance and promote communication and education in golf. It is managed by a six-person executive committee, elected by the advisory board.
Michael Higuera Sr. has been appointed head superintendent of Coyote Creek GC in Morgan Hill, Calif. With more than 30 years experience at top-ranked courses, Higuera is well known and respected for his agronomic and management expertise. During his first full year as superintendent at Coyote Creek, his responsibilities will include overseeing many projects, including the completion of a $1 million capital enhancement program. This program includes shaping and seeding areas of the Valley Course to increase aesthetic appeal, golf car path renovations and the expansion of native areas that provide habitat for animals and plant life. An accomplished player who boasts a single-digit handicap, Higuera, the son of a head professional, began his career as an assistant golf professional at the U.S. Navy GC in Monterey, Calif., before becoming a superintendent. He most recently worked as superintendent at another Castle & Cooke property, Saddle Creek Resort in Copperopolis, Calif., which is ranked as one of the state’s Top 10 public courses.
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