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William Powell, owner of Clearview GC near Canton, Ohio, and the only African-American to design, build, own and operate a golf course in the world, is the recipient of the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation’s Professional of the Year Award. Powell, 91, fought in WWII and, upon his return, broke ground for Clearview GC after being refused permission to play on other golf courses in the area because he was black. He’s won numerous other awards, including the Jack Nicklaus Golf Family of the Year Award, the “Diamond in the Rough” tribute from the National Golf Foundation and the Cornerstone of Freedom Award from the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commission. Powell also has been inducted into the National Black Golf Hall of Fame and the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame.
Club Car recently announced its continued support of the National Golf Course Owners Association as its Premier Partner. Club Car became NGCOA’s first exclusive Premier Partner in 2002. Club Car also extended its role as NGCOA Canada’s exclusive golf car supplier and Platinum Partner. That agreement began in 2004. The company’s multiyear sponsorship extension will provide assistance to NGCOA’s U.S. and Canadian members through its Club Car Solutions Network, which gives owners a wide range of products and services, including those offered by Club Car’s parent company, Ingersoll Rand. The company’s partnership with NGCOA Canada includes category and product exclusivity, and NGCOA Canada members can qualify for reimbursed association dues and conference fees through their support of Club Car products.
Jacobsen is expanding the territories of three existing equipment dealerships and is adding one new dealer to its national authorized dealer network. Kansas Golf & Turf, Wichita, will serve the northeast corner of Kansas and the western half of Missouri, in addition to Kansas regions. Dallas-based Luber Bros. will now serve customers in southeast Texas, the Houston market, plus its current territory of northern Texas, Oklahoma and western Arkansas. Midwest Golf & Turf in Cincinnati will now cover Michigan and the northwest corner of Ohio, added to its current regions of Kentucky, Indiana and the southwest corner of Ohio. Finally, Tri-State Pump & Controls Inc. in Liberty, S.C., is the newest authorized Jacobsen dealer for customers in North Carolina and South Carolina, minus the coasts.
Announced earlier this year at the 2008 Golf Industry Show in Orlando, Watertronics Inc., manufacturer of pumping systems for the golf market, has been acquired by Lindsay Corp., a provider of irrigation systems and infrastructure products. Watertronics will operate as a subsidiary of Omaha, Neb.-based Lindsay Corp. Most of Watertronics’ management team is intact, except company president Richard Reinders, who retired. His son, Rick Reinders, will take over the role of division president, while Frank Carlson has been appointed COO.
Underhill International Corp. has moved into a new production and administrative facility in Lake Forest, Calif., about 50 miles south of Los Angeles. The move was made to accommodate its growing line of irrigation products, the company says.
The Virginia GCSA recently honored Steve Burnette, the Class A superintendent at Lake Chesdin GC, Chesterfield, Va., with its Distinguished Service Award. Burnette was recognized for outstanding service to the association and the profession over the past year, and specifically, his role in leading the Old Dominion GCSA as its president during a stressful drought season. The group also awarded Til Hankley, a retired GCSAA member, its President’s Award for Lifetime Service. Hankley, an instrumental founder and leader of the association, recently retired from a distinguished career at Richmond-area clubs. Finally, Gregory Caldwell, a student at Virginia Tech, won the association’s annual scholarship award.
More than 450 attendees from 20 countries gathered in Las Vegas recently for a Floratine University event, hosted by Floratine Products Group. The event featured presentations from such industry experts as Joe Vargas, Ph.D., Michigan State University; Tom Watschke, Ph.D., Penn State; Al Turgeon, Ph.D., Penn State; John Zimmers, CGCS, Oakmont CC; Russ Myers, superintendent at Southern Hills CC; Tim Moraghan, Aspire Golf Consulting; and designer Tom Marzolf, Fazio Golf Course Designers Inc. The first Floratine University of 2008 took place in February and covered topics such as plant physiology and nutrition, disease and pest management, and water and environmental issues. Attendees at Floratine University events can earn 0.8 education points toward GCSAA certification.
A.O. Smith, manufacturer of water heaters and hydronic boilers, will sponsor PGA newcomer Tommy “Two Gloves” Gainey in the upcoming 2008 PGA Tour season. Gainey is a self-taught golfer from Bishopville, S.C., and a former employee at A.O. Smith’s water heater plant in McBee, S.C. In 2007, Gainey won the Tarheel Tour Oldfield Open and the Hooters Tour Bentonville Open. In December, he earned his Tour card by finishing tied for 19th at the PGA Q-School, and he made the cut in his first PGA tournament appearance in 2008 at the Sony Open in Honolulu.
Kevin Neal, CGCS, regional superintendent for ValleyCrest Golf Course Maintenance at Industry Hills GC, recently won the GCSA of Southern California’s award for Superintendent of the Year-Public Clubs. A past president of the GCSA of Southern California, Neal is an 18-year member of GCSAA.
GreenFix Golf, maker of the patented GreenFix Wizard ball mark repair tool, recently entered into a partnership with the PGA of America in which the company is recognized as the “Preferred Ball Mark Repair Tool” of the PGA GC, a 54-hole course owned and operated by the PGA. GreenFix Golf is offering a discount on the purchase of its GreenFix Program to GCSAA members and any facility staffed by a PGA Professional.
The Experience at FarmLinks announces its newest partnership with Tru-Turf, manufacturer of golf greens rollers. Mark Langner, FarmLinks’ director of agronomy, says that by using Tru-Turf rollers on the research and demonstration golf course in Sylacauga, Ala., the company has decreased labor by 50 percent versus rolling with walk mowers. The products are also said to increase greens speed.
In light of the University of Florida’s more than 50 years of commitment to research and education that supports the turfgrass industry, the university’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences recently held a Turfgrass Summit to summarize research, identify program strengths, hear industry feedback and plan a focused direction for the future. Nearly 90 university administrators, turfgrass faculty and leaders of the Florida turfgrass industry gathered and came to a consensus to increase communication efforts and incorporate new scientific data into public policy. It also discussed methods of communication to complement its efforts with county extension agents in all of the state’s 67 counties.
In an effort to target young audiences about the importance of water conservation, Rain Bird has launched its “Explorations Into Water” curriculum aimed at elementary-aged children. Developed in partnership with Stefanie Saccoman, Ph.D. at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, the curriculum teaches students about the properties of water and the importance of conservation in ways that are educational, fun and interactive, the company says. Ideal for parents or educators to use, the curriculum is downloadable at www.rainbird.com/iuow/community/curriculum.htm.
TrunkPump is offering customers a trade-in credit for their used pumps good toward the purchase of a TrunkPump. To find out how much your old pump is worth toward a new TrunkPump, send its make, model and year to the company, which says it will accept new or old pumps no matter the condition. Contact Chris Pappalardo at 910-463-1282 for more information.
The Heart of America GCSA continues its support of The Environmental Institute for Golf, the philanthropic arm of GCSAA, with a $5,000 donation toward research and education to enhance golf’s relationship with the environment. With the donation, the Heart of America GCSA reaches the Governor’s Club level in the Cumulative Giving Program, which recognizes groups that have contributed between $50,000 and $99,000 to the Institute since 1987. It also has attained Platinum Tee Club status again for its contribution of $5,000 annually. The Heart of America GCSA has given that amount annually for 14 years. The group represents the metropolitan Kansas City region.
Software provider Integrated Business Systems announces a multiyear consulting contract with Mark Lipsitt, founder and principal of The Lipsitt Group LLC. Lipsitt will help IBS develop ways to lead the company in the private club software market and review all aspects of its products and services.
The USGA’s Rules of Golf have changed to allow a golf club to be adjustable, beyond traditional weight adjustment. The decision introduces a new element to golf club design, ranging from diverse club fitting options to interchangeable golf shafts and club matching designed to address different playing conditions. Industry experts gathered recently at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando to discuss the effects of the ruling. Dick Rugge, technical director of the USGA, said the ruling will give the average player the chance to enjoy the same benefits as Tour players.
The U.S. Federal District Court, northern district of California, has issued a ruling that could require Marriott International Inc. to provide accessible golf cars for disabled golfers. Marriott’s golf division, which operates 26 golf courses in the U.S., said it was not required by current Americans with Disabilities Act rules to maintain single-rider golf cars. Judge Phyllis J. Hamilton in a summary judgment wrote: “The Court declares that Marriott violated the ADA, and for those courses which Marriott owns and operates in California, the California Disabled Persons Act, and the Unruh Act as well, by failing to provide accessible golf carts as a reasonable accommodation for plaintiffs’ mobility impairments.” The plaintiffs in the case are Laurence Celano and Richard Thesing, both residents of California, and Bill Hefferon, of Florida. All three plaintiffs say they require a single-rider car to play golf. Their suit alleges that Marriott’s policies prevented them from playing the company’s golf courses. The court declined to offer injunctive relief at this time, but under separate order will set a settlement conference to permit the parties to address the scope of such relief.
At the third annual U.S. Pond Hockey Championships held last January, The Toro Co. served as the official provider of snow removal equipment. Toro and MTI, the Toro distributor in the Minneapolis area, supplied three Groundsmaster 7200 units to transform the frozen surface of Lake Nokomis for the three-day hockey event. The work began a week in advance of the event, when the Toro machines cleared snow from the lake and set up the boards for 25 rinks. Rinks were flooded every night with water pumped from the lake.
People news
Bayer Environmental Science announces three new sales representatives: Mike Kelly, Bob Ducote and Mike Hirvela. Kelly joined the company as a golf field sales rep in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota and South Dakota. Ducote will cover southeast Texas for golf and Arkansas and Louisiana for golf and lawn care. Hirvela will be responsible for the golf market in Michigan.
Dan Fick, the northeast regional sales manager for Profile Products LLC, recently was nominated to join the executive board of the Atlantic Seed Association. An associate board member, Fick will focus on recruiting new members and representing the group at its national conference.
Jim Nygren is the new market analyst on the marketing staff of Standard Golf Co. in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Experienced in working with dealers and distributors, Nygren will market the company’s products to its core golf market and work to develop other emerging markets.
The Australian Golf Course Superintendents Association has named Sam Hole, business unit manager for lawn and garden, and Robert Rein, national sales manager for golf for Toro Australia, as industry representatives to sit in on future AGCSA board meetings. The two will share the role to provide opinion and feedback.
SubAir Systems announces Brian Key as its new agronomist and golf project manager. Key will work in all stages of a SubAir golf project, including planning, installation and customer service. He will also assist company engineers on projects on research greens at SubAir’s office and production facility in South Carolina. He has more than 15 years of experience in environmental horticulture.
Chemilizer Products Inc. has appointed Greg Hayslip to the position of sales manager. Formerly a general manager at a retail and wholesale distributor, Hayslip will oversee the company’s expansion into water treatment, fertigation and swimming pool markets, as well as manage the company’s existing presence in horticulture, animal health, agriculture and landscaping/irrigation.
John Bruce is the new regional sales manager for Redexim Charterhouse, based in Pittston, Pa. Bruce formerly worked in sales for Wiedenmann North America and Dakota Peat & Equipment.
Golf briefs
Smugglers Run Plantation, a 1,000-acre community in Belize City, opened last year as Belize’s first destination resort with a championship golf course. Construction on the 18-hole layout designed by Arthur Hills finished early this year, and the opening is scheduled for early 2009. The 7,223-yard, par-72 layout is complemented with a 34,000-square-foot clubhouse.
The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colo., has been selected by the USGA to host the 2011 U.S. Women’s Open Championship. Donald Ross designed the original 18-hole course in 1918, and Robert Trent Jones Sr. completed the design for an additional nine holes in 1958 and finished a second 18-hole course that incorporated the Ross holes in 1965. The event will be the second U.S. Women’s Open at The Broadmoor. The first time, in 1995, Annika Sorenstam won her first professional victory. It also has hosted the 1982 U.S. Women’s Amateur, the 1959 and 1967 U.S. Amateurs and the 1962 Curtis Cup Match. The Broadmoor also plays host to the U.S. Senior Open Championship this year.
PGA National Resort and Spa recently completed a multimillion dollar renovation of the Arnold Palmer-designed General Course. The facelift included physical enhancements to the course in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., plus improvements aimed at guest comfort. The resort also says it plans similar renovations for its other four championship courses. Renovations to the Palmer course include a new irrigation system, redesigned native landscaping, reshaped and rebuilt bunkers and new laser-leveled tee locations with a minimum of four tees per hole. The project will also improve the course’s car paths, restrooms, shelters, signage and recycling options. John Andersen, CGCS, is the director of golf at the facility.
Doug Brede, Ph.D., research director at J.R. Simplot Co. and Jacklin Seed, received the Innovator of the Year Award, given by Turfgrass Producers International. Brede has developed more than 60 popular turf varieties, including Nu Destiny Kentucky bluegrass and T-1 creeping bentgrass. His research team has developed, released and patented top cultivars in nine other grass species. Author of 53 Plant Variety Protection certificates, 73 peer-reviewed journal articles, 94 technical articles, 72 magazine articles and a book on optimizing a turf maintenance budget, Brede also was inducted as a Fellow in the American Society of Agronomy in 2004. Winner of several other awards and accolades, Brede received his bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees from Penn State University, and also previously served on the faculty of Oklahoma State University’s turfgrass management program.
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