 |
 |
Three brothers who graduated from Ohio State University’s Agricultural Technical Institute have announced a scholarship for turfgrass management students at their alma mater. Eric, Nick and Kurt von Hofen, who all work in the golf course management field, started the von Hofen Turfgrass Scholarship, which will provide $1,000 per year for a student at the school majoring in turfgrass management.
“We really wanted to give back, we all went to school there, and we always wanted to work with some of the turf students,” says Eric von Hofen, the oldest of the brothers and director of agronomy at Riviera CC in Coral Gables, Fla.
Nick von Hofen is superintendent at the Ritz-Carlton Members Club in Sarasota, Fla., and Kurt von Hofen is assistant superintendent at the Bear’s Club in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
Scholarship recipients must be a U.S. resident and maintain a high school grade point average of 3.0 or better. The scholarship’s advantages aren’t limited only to giving students in their field financial support.
“This is really going to give us a lot of access to students and try and help them out, whether it’s an internship with one of us or a job after they graduate,” Eric von Hofen adds.
Announced at the commencement of the institute’s 33rd graduating class, where Eric von Hofen delivered the commencement address, the scholarship is funded for the first 10 years, and he says future financial support is already in the works.
“It’s amazing how many more people want to put money toward this and help grow it,” Eric von Hofen says, adding that three major corporations have already agreed to back the scholarship. The first recipient of the scholarship is Zachary Wike, a second-year turf student who’s maintained a GPA of 3.7 and held an internship at Pine Valley GC.
In a nationwide effort to bring more kids to the game of golf, the Golf Course Builders Association of America Foundation has paired with the National Recreation and Park Association to boost its “Sticks for Kids” program. Aimed at youth between seven and 15 years old who may not otherwise have access to the game, the year-round program includes both in-class and on-course instruction. More opportunities to expose kids to golf are possible through more than 6,000 municipal and county park and recreation agencies across the nation. The program shows kids golf fundamentals such as stance, gripping, pitching, chipping, putting and swinging from local golf course professionals. Participants also learn about golf safety, etiquette and discipline.
Jacobsen, a Textron company, has been named as the official turf equipment supplier to The PGA of America and the exclusive supplier for the association’s golf properties. The 10-year agreement kicks off as the PGA begins renovations on two of its championship facilities — the PGA Village in Port St. Lucie, Fla., and Valhalla GC in Louisville, Ky., host of the 2008 Ryder Cup.
Suunto, manufacturer of precision sports instruments, has reached an exclusive distribution agreement with Datrek Miller International in which it will promote and distribute Suunto’s wristop golf computers. DMI now will pursue the sales of Suunto G6 wristop launch monitors to “green grass shops,” pros and golf specialty stores, the companies say.
People news
George Walters has been promoted to national sales manager for Compact Power Inc.’s compact brands division. He most recently worked as the company’s Western and Central regional sales manager. Walters will manage the company’s regional sales representatives and support its eight manufacturing representative groups. Compact Power also has hired Kevin Vinroe as its Northeast regional sales manager. With more than 20 years of experience in sales and management, Vinroe will assist and manage regional dealers and manufacturing representatives to ensure the division’s sales budget is met.
Gregg Daly has been named director of sales for Onset Computer Corp., a supplier of battery-powered data loggers and weather stations. Daly previously served as the company’s sales manager and has more than 20 years of sales management experience.
Jessica Held has joined Vermeer Manufacturing Co. as its marketing communications manager. In her new role, Held will develop corporate marketing strategies for industrial product segments, direct international advertising, oversee branding efforts and manage corporate events and trade shows. She succeeds Tony Briggs, who was recently promoted to Vermeer’s director of underground sales.
PowerHouse Equipment, a division of Compact Power Inc., has named Bobby Harrison its vice president of sales. Harrison joins the company from Home Depot, where he served as regional rental manager. He previously worked with Hertz and NES Rentals. His primary responsibilities will be ensuring sales budgets are met and developing and maintaining national accounts.
SynaTek has promoted Tom Valentine to director of sales and marketing. Previously, Valentine served as the company’s golf sales representative for the Philadelphia region for nine years. Succeeding Valentine is Warren Savini, who has worked as a superintendent for more than 20 years at courses in Philadelphia such as Paxon Hollow CC, Plymouth CC and Rolling Green GC. He previously worked as senior superintendent for Shearon Golf Inc.
Adam Smith has joined Bernhard and Co. as its regional manager for the Midwest. Smith most recently worked as distributor salesman for Outdoor Equipment Co. In his new role, he’ll support distributors in the Midwest and parts of Canada, as well as provide education, training and tournament support.
Jason Straka, senior design associate with Hurdzan/Fry Golf Course Design, has been elected to serve as adjunct professor at Ohio State University’s department of horticulture and crop science. Over the last six years, Straka has served as extended faculty for the university’s departments of landscape architecture and horticulture and crop science.
Synthetic Turf International has named William Hatfield its vice president of operations. Hatfield joined STI, a turf supplier and installer, in 2004 as project manager. In his new position he’ll oversee the design, installation and construction of commercial, municipal and residential projects including putting greens and tee lines.
Buffalo Communications, a media relations, publicity and marketing firm aimed at the golf industry, has hired Andrea Latta as its new public relations specialist. Latta will organize media tours, develop public relations plans and attend trade shows for clients, including golf companies.
Nancy Schwartz has joined DuPont Professional Products as marketing manager of turf and ornamentals. She will develop and implement marketing strategies to expand DuPont’s portfolio of products in the golf and lawn care markets. Schwartz has more than 20 years of experience in marketing new products.
Golf briefs
Jack Nicklaus hosted hundreds of guests recently at the grand opening of the Millsboro, Del.-based golf course he designed — The Peninsula G&CC, part of The Peninsula on the Indian River Bay. The 18-hole course is Delaware’s first private Jack Nicklaus signature golf course. Nicklaus gave guests an explanation of the course’s design and was joined by its developer for a press conference.
In addition to designing The K Club, the Straffan, Ireland-based course that played host to this year’s Ryder Cup, Arnold Palmer also made upgrades to the course to prepare for the event. The 7,315-yard par-72 course looked and played much differently, Palmer says. Alterations included: new bunker placements, redesigns of greens, more trees and added length to eight holes. The order of holes also was modified in anticipation of the Ryder Cup. Holes 10-17 are now 1-8, now followed by the original ninth hole. This move was intended to set up a finish with a par 4 in between two par-5 holes.
The Hale Irwin-designed Jewel GC, Lake City, Minn., its clubhouse and maintenance facility were auctioned off to the highest bidder this fall. Held at the Auction Information Center on the Jewel GC, the auction was operated by Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers also included real estate in Lake City, a master-planned golf community.
Sod for 18 holes on a Greg Norman-designed course at the Cornerstone Club in Colorado was laid this summer. The course, on 350 acres of the 6,000-acre resort framed between the San Juan and Cimarron mountains, will debut in summer 2007, the resort says. Superintendent Tom Huesgen says construction is three weeks ahead of schedule. The layout spans 7,900 yards and features bentgrass tees, greens and aprons and Kentucky bluegrass on other maintained areas.
RECENT issues
 |
 |
October |
September 2006 |