 |
Presented in partnership
|
Pioneering reach to the future
|
The students participated in the first-ever Future Leaders Forum, presented by The Toro Co., The First Tee and Walt Disney World Resort, a three-day examination of the sport, business and science of golf in an effort to help prepare high school students for college and ensuing careers.
The participants were selected through an essay competition that centered on their post-high school plans and career aspirations. The forum was held in early November at the Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., and in conjunction with the Children’s Miracle Network Classic presented by Wal-Mart, the final stop on the PGA Tour’s Fall Series.
The forum’s innovative educational program provided the students with an opportunity to learn about career possibilities beyond the game, including professional golf management, turf management, tournament preparation, entertainment, human relations and marketing.
The event also was a chance for many of the students to experience their first professional golf tournament and provided access to some of the world’s most famous players and industry leaders.
Reggie Williams, vice president of Disney Sports Attractions, notes that most of the forum participants already had shown a commitment to incorporating the values they’ve learned on the golf course — integrity, honesty, sportsmanship — into their personal lives.
“The young people selected represent our future,” adds Joe Louis Barrow Jr., CEO of The First Tee as well as the new executive vice president of the World Golf Foundation. “This is a unique learning platform that will allow The First Tee participants to explore a variety of career opportunities within and outside the golf industry.”
Toro imparted its expertise to the forum’s curriculum topic of turf science, with Van Cline, manager of turf agronomics and research for the company, leading interactive discussions on the various aspects of turf, turf maintenance and the impact modern turf equipment and irrigation technologies have not only on the golf industry, but also domestic landscaping. The students also learned about the emergence of alternative fuel sources in the golf course industry.
“We all stand to be inspired by these young individuals’ desire to learn,” says Michael Hoffman, chairman and CEO of Toro. “A career in the golf business isn’t limited to being a professional golfer. We’re excited to introduce these talented students to many related career opportunities so that, someday, they might be leaders in our industry.”
Other educational presenters included Barbara Blake, Disney’s programming manager for youth education; Sue Parson, network operations supervisor for The First Tee; Bill Cioffoletti, PGA Master Professional and director of recruiting and community outreach for the PGA of America; and Kevin Weickel, head golf pro and tournament chairman at the Walt Disney World Resort.
Customers of Dow AgroSciences’ turf and ornamental herbicides, fungicides and insecticides are eligible for cash rebates through a new program called The Power of More. Purchases made between now and May 31, 2008, will be eligible for the rebates, which will be mailed at the end of the program period. Users must submit invoices and a claim form to qualify, the company says. Customers who earn base rebates of more than $500 will also receive bonus rebates. Qualifying products are available in a program guide that’s available online at www.powerofmore.com. Rain Bird celebrated a dozen years of Rose Parade participation Jan. 1 with its 2008 Tournament of Roses Parade float entry, titled, “Preservation Celebration,” in accordance with the parade’s theme, “Passport to the World’s Celebrations.” The float recognizes the relationship between water and life by featuring 1,500 gallons of flowing recycled water cascading over eight separate waterfalls, a tribute to India’s tradition of including water in its cultural celebrations. The company, a manufacturer of irrigation products and services, also received the 2007 Tournament of Roses Judge’s Special Trophy for its 2007 float entry, “Natural Beauties.” |
RECENT issues
 |
 |
December |
November |