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INDUSTRY NEWS |
The U.S. Ryder Cup team, which recently won the 37th Ryder Cup, is donating $2.6 million to support a variety of charities, including grow-the-game efforts. Each member of the U.S. Ryder Cup team, including captain Paul Azinger, contributed $100,000 to a charity of choice — $90,000 to a university for Play Golf America University programs and $10,000 to the Folds of Honor Foundation to support scholarships for families of veterans who died or were wounded in the line of duty while serving in Iraq or Afghanistan. The PGA of America will distribute the monies on behalf of the team. Since the Ryder Cup Outreach Program began in 1999, $13 million has been donated by the Ryder Cup team and captain to 130 player-designated charities and 38 colleges and universities.
A new H-2B rule proposed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is designed to simplify the process for hiring workers under the H-2B program. The proposal, which has been sent to the Federal Register, aims to require an approved temporary labor certification in regard to all H-2B petitions, implement a land-border exit system program that mandates H-2B workers to enter and exit through the same port of entry and eliminate recruiters who charge fees to prospective H-2B workers in connection to an offer of employment, among other conditions. For more information, visit www.uscis.gov.
The Dow Chemical Co. and the PGA Tour have announced a four-year marketing partnership that designates Dow as the official chemistry company of the PGA Tour, Champions Tour, Nationwide Tour and the TPC courses. Under the agreement, Dow AgroSciences will continue to offer assistance to course management at the TPC courses.
A tradition at Target Specialty Products continued as the company sent care packages recently to soldiers of the U.S. Marine Corps stationed in Fallujah, Iraq. The care packages included a gun cleaner, sunglasses, socks, beef jerky, trail mix and mixed nuts. The first donation to soldiers from Target Specialty Products began in 2006. Since then, the company has raised more than $13,000 in donations from its employees, suppliers, customers and friends. The company matches each donation dollar for dollar.
TrynEx International announces that Timberland Machines Inc. is its new distributor for the SnowEx and TurfEx product divisions. Lancaster, N.H.-based Timberland will offer both products at its lawn and garden dealerships in Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island.
Meridian insecticide from Syngenta Professional Products has received registration for use in California. Meridian is designed to control soil and foliar pests at low rates through contact and ingestion activity. Effective for managing a broad spectrum of grubs and insects for turfgrass, trees and shrubs, Meridian controls white grubs, billbugs and sod webworms.
The Canadian Golf Superintendents Association has announced William Fach, CGCS, AGS, MS, as its Superintendent of the Year for 2008. Fach is superintendent at Black Bear Ridge Golf Club in Belleville, Ontario, a course that was hailed by the press as the best new course in Canada east of Toronto in 2006 and the best new public course in 2005. Fach has been a member of CGSA since 1978 and has worked as a superintendent for 29 years. He served as director of the Ontario GCSA and the CGSA and, in 2002, was elected as president of the CGSA. He also has served on various GCSAA committees, including education, webcast and the conference logistic group.
Unveiling a new corporate identity to reflect its foundation as a company, Mi-T-M Corp. introduced a new logo. The company says the “M” in the new look represents integrity, dedication, quality and excellence. As a secondary graphic element, colored stripes border the primary “M.” The logo also features the tag line, “Performance Under Pressure.” It will appear on advertisements, product packaging and the Web site, www.mitm.com.
The Irrigation Association has joined the Coalition for Affordable American Energy in a move the group says recognizes the need for urgent action regarding increased fuel costs. Rising fuel costs increase operating costs for irrigation equipment manufacturers, distributors, contractors and end-users, according to the IA. The coalition provides a unified voice for businesses affected by the spike in energy prices and will urge Congress and the administration to take action to increase the development of domestic energy resources in an environmentally sensitive manner. Visit www.irrigation.org.
Soil Reliever has launched a new brand identity that represents the company’s commitment to setting the industry standard for deep-tine aerification, it says. Part of the revamped image is a revised Soil Reliever logo, which features a depiction of a mountain lion intended to portray strength, quickness and efficiency, the company says. Also part of the rebranding effort is a new descriptive phrase that will be used in future marketing efforts: “The most effective purpose-built deep-tine aeration equipment in the world.”
From more than 800 entries in Briggs & Stratton’s “Tell Us Your Story” contest, Tim Ingram, Louisville, Ky., was selected as the winner of the Ultimate Garage Package, including a lawn mower, trimmer, generator, leaf blower, lawn tractor, rear-tine tiller and other products. As part of the company’s centennial celebration, Briggs & Stratton summoned its customers to write personal essays that showcased the company’s core values. Ingram’s submission was about how Briggs & Stratton intertwined with his life: learning how engines work from his father, mowing lawns as his first job and later sharing his knowledge with his own children. For more information about the company’s 100-year celebrations and to view the “Tell Us Your Story” submissions, visit www.briggsandstratton100years.com.
Working for a private club over a public course has at least one advantage — compensation, according to a survey issued by the National Golf Course Owners Association and the National Club Association. The 2008 Golf and Club Industry Compensation and Benefits Report reported that a lead agronomic manager or head superintendent at a private facility earned an average salary of $118,186, while the same position at public-access facilities earned $75,351. The average total compensation for general managers at facilities with yearly gross revenues of more than $7.5 million was $208,706. In contrast, employees in the same position at clubs with annual gross revenues less than $2 million earned $72,222. The survey also studied trends in health care, showing that facilities paid $5,337 in health care premiums per staff member in the most recent fiscal year, up from $4,889 a year earlier, or an 8 percent increase. To order the complete report, visit www.ngcoa.org.
Horizon, a professional distributor based in Phoenix, has been selected by The Toro Co. as the exclusive distributor of the Toro Sentinel Water Management System in Arizona, southern Nevada and northern California. An irrigation central control system, Sentinel is designed to provide ultimate irrigation efficiency for golf courses as well as master-planned communities, school districts, sports fields and other facilities.
Milliken & Co. recently acquired Western Nonwoven Inc.’s geotextile business and other assets out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy through one of Milliken’s wholly owned subsidiaries. Milliken now owns the Sandmat business, including Sandmat geosynthetic bunker liner products.
Floratine Products Group announces its relationship with Tom Watschke, Ph.D., professor emeritus of turfgrass science at Penn State University. Watschke will serve Floratine as a consultant in the area of university research protocol. An expert in turf growth regulation, Watschke has spent much of his career studying and evaluating biostimulants and plant growth regulators and their effects on turfgrass development and management.
Redexim Charterhouse announces two new authorized distributors to carry the company’s full line of turf equipment in Montana — Triple W Equipment and Yellowstone County Implement. Triple W Equipment, Missoula, will cover the western portion of the state while Yellowstone County Implement, Billings, will be responsible for the eastern half.
A new design of the Executive Women’s Golf Association Web site reflects the group’s ongoing drive to connect more women to golf, it says. The site provides easy access to locate the more than 125 EWGA chapters throughout the country, search for upcoming events and learn more about the group and its golf programs. Other features include free tips on business golf, a listing of more than 200 courses that provide discounts through the EWGA Golf Club Network, and an “Inside the Ropes” blog on the EWGA Championship. For more information, visit www.ewga.com.
The efforts to reduce energy consumption and promote environmental sustainability by Club Car were recently recognized by Golf Inc. in its 2008 Green Awards competition. The contest drew more than 50 entries, including several in the golf course category. Troon Golf won in the associations and operators category, while W.R. Love Golf Course Architecture won in the product-service provider category. Club Car received honorable mention in the product-service provider category. Club Car’s trend toward zero-emission electric vehicles and sourcing of recycled parts were recognized as its environmental contributions. In 2007, Club Car recycled more than 2 million pounds of waste and decreased the amount of landfill trash produced by 25 percent.
For every golfer who switched to PrideSports’ Red, White & Blue Softspikes brand cleats at the recent FedEx Cup Playoff event, PrideSports made a donation to the Folds of Honor Foundation, a group that provides scholarships for dependents and spouses of soldiers who were killed or disabled while serving at war. The company also announced its support of Patriot Golf Day through more than 30 PGA Tour golfers who switched to the company’s cleats at the Deutsche Bank Championship.
Jacobsen has become the official turf equipment supplier and partner to Methodist University’s professional golf management program. Located in Fayetteville, N.C., the program at Methodist University is the largest PGA of America-accredited professional golf management program. The program’s curriculum includes agronomy, tournament operations, accounting and club fitting. Jacobsen will provide the program with greens mowers, fairway units, rough mowers and other turf equipment through local Jacobsen distributor Tri-State Pump and Controls.
As part of Bobcat Co.’s 50 Years Unleashed North American Road Tour, the company selected two winners to receive its Great Road Tour Giveaways. Brian Beaumont of Beaumont Landscaping, Flanders, N.J., and Roger Coyle with Diamondback Pool Excavation, Chandler, Ariz., won $50,000 contractor’s packages. The funds can be applied toward Bobcat products through local dealers.
According to the 2008 Golf Industry Review released by the National Golf Foundation, the golf market is continuing to move sideways. 2007 was a flat year for rounds played in the U.S. Same-store rounds played were down 0.5 percent, while total rounds volume has been virtually flat at about 500 million rounds for the past six years. There were 113 golf course openings in 2007 in 18-hole equivalents against 121.5 closures, or a net loss of -8.5. However, golf course development was still active with openings in 35 of 50 states. The survey estimated that about 100 18-hole equivalents would open this year.
California facilities that use underground storage tanks to dispense gasoline have until April 1, 2009, to comply with California Air Resources Board regulations and the Enhanced Vapor Recovery Phase II requirements. The process requires permits for EVR equipment installation. More than 1,200 contractors have been licensed to install the systems, and inventories of the required equipment are said to be well stocked. For more information, visit www.evrhome.org.
People news
Jason Koenigsfeld, Ph.D., has recently been appointed new senior vice president of professional development for the Club Managers Association of America. Koenigsfeld has academic history in the hospitality and club management industries.
Terry Plemons is the new vice president of worldwide sales for Turfline Inc. He will manage the company’s U.S. sales efforts and focus on expanding its international business. He previously served as vice president of sales for Turf Professionals Equipment Co.
Bayer Environmental Science recently named David Crank its new national accounts manager for its green professional products division. Crank will handle several national accounts in the golf, lawn care and formulator business segments. He previously worked as the company’s lawn care and landscape market specialist.
Advanced Sensor Technology Inc. recently hired Joe Enciso as its senior vice president of sales. He will be responsible for the company’s sales initiatives throughout the U.S. He previously worked for Century Equipment. The company also announces Joseph Cahill as its chief financial officer and chief operating officer. He previously was the CFO for Gamesa U.S.
Grigg Bros. Foliar Fertilizers announces Michael Steve as its technical representative for the U.S. Southwest. Steve’s territory will include Hawaii, California, Nevada, New Mexico, southern Utah and Mexico. He will assist the distributor network through product education, fertility recommendations, agronomic support and promotional support. He previously worked as the product manager for Gowan Co.
Synatek announces the hiring of Rick Broome as a new member of its technical sales representative team. Broome will service northern and south central New Jersey as well as southern New York. He spent more than 25 years as a superintendent in New Jersey at Links GC, Little Mill CC and Harbor Pines GC.
Andy D. Lee is the new chief executive officer for Advan and Sipcam Agro USA. With experience in the agrochemical industry, Lee previously held senior leadership roles with BASF Corp. and other chemical companies in the U.S. and Europe.
Donald F. Moro Jr. is the new director of product development for Integrated Business Systems, a software and services company that serves the needs of the club industry. He has more than 20 years of experience in the software industry.
Golf briefs
The Stanwich Club in Greenwich, Conn., recently completed a two-year, $4.4 million renovation with Tom Fazio Golf Course Designers. The work included 20 new tees that increased length by about 300 yards to 7,455, a rebuilding of all existing bunkers and 23 new fairway bunkers, seven recontoured greens built to USGA recommendations and a realignment of the fairway direction and contours on five holes. The renovation also removed 800 trees, dredged six ponds, installed a new irrigation system and pump house and installed extensive drainage and new car paths. The Stanwich Club’s superintendent is Scott Niven, CGCS.
After almost three and a half years of planning and construction, the renovation of North Oaks Golf Club was completed earlier this year. The 18-hole championship course’s renovation included new bunker strategies on almost every hole, updated fairway lines and enlarged greens to make angles to the holes more scaleable. Lehman Design Group planned fairways and bunkers around existing mature trees and landscaping to maintain and enhance the original vision of the course, designed by Stanley Thompson. Jack MacKenzie, CGCS, is the superintendent at North Oaks.