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INDUSTRY NEWS |
A rainstorm that brought damaging flood waters to northern Iowa last year ultimately left a silver lining for students at Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon, Iowa. A Hitachi excavator and three pre-production John Deere excavators that sustained severe damage during the flooding at a Cedar Falls, Iowa, business were donated to the college for students in heavy equipment operations and maintenance classes to clean up and work on, gaining valuable hands-on experience. The machines, which had been tested and photographed, were in the shop awaiting final updates when the rain waters inundated them in 6-foot-deep water, according to Mark Tilson, product engineer for John Deere. “The amount of water and muck and damage, especially to complex electronics, was just too much for Deere to really gain anything out of rehabbing them ourselves for resale,” he said. The students began by taking the machines apart, identifying what was working and what wasn’t, and putting together a detailed plan of repair, a timeline and the estimated cost of repairs. The students gained a working knowledge of the equipment and the jobsites they’ll likely be working on in their futures, said Denny Wallace, an instructor in truck and diesel technology at the school. He added: “…now they will have seen just about the worst you can do to a piece of machinery. Other repair jobs in their career might not seem so daunting.”
JacklinGolf will sponsor educational programming and resource development for the American Society of Golf Course Architects. A subsidiary of Simplot, JacklinGolf joins The Toro Co. in the major partner category of the group’s new supplier partner program. The major partnership supports educational programming in addition to tools to help ASGCA members work more effectively in golf development and remodeling.
BioSafe Systems announces that its TerraClean broad-spectrum bactericide/fungicide is now registered for use on New York commercial farms, greenhouses and nurseries. Said to control soil-borne pathogens and promote healthy root development, TerraClean works to eliminate disease and releases oxygen that can help stimulate plant growth, root development and nutrient uptake. It can be applied at planting or through drip irrigation at any stage of plant growth, or between two or more consecutive crop plantings for the control of phytophthora, pythium, fusarium, rhizoctonia, verticillium and thielaviopsis.
Sod Solutions says it recently resolved a case involving what it calls unauthorized production of its Celebration bermudagrass in Texas with the infringing grower paying a substantial settlement. “This case of protecting and enforcing a plant patent involving turf sends a strong message to the industry that turf patents are valid and enforceable,” said Tobey Wagner, president of Sod Solutions. Celebration bermuda-grass is patented and trademarked, and has more than 50 licensed growers nationwide with additional producers in Brazil, Australia and Europe.
A new online resource from the Club Managers Association of America is devoted to club governance. The new section of the CMAA Web site contains a wide variety of information designed for club managers, including a club governance model, sample board policy manuals, common questions and answers and a library of papers, templates and articles. Topics covered in the library are audit committees, board evaluations, conflict-of-interest policies, mission and vision statements, strategic planning and succession planning. To learn more, visit www.cmaa.org/clubgov.aspx.
A hotbed of headquarters and offices of many companies in the turf industry, the Research Triangle Park region of North Carolina is also now the new home to Sipcam Agro USA Inc., as well as its two wholly owned subsidiaries, Advan LLC and Sostram Corp. The new corporate headquarters officially opened Jan. 5, 2009. The company, which moved its headquarters to North Carolina from the Atlanta area, says the transition coincides with its plans for growth based on new technologies and traditional plant protection chemistries.
Two new courses in landscape management have been added to the curriculum for 2009 at the University of California, Davis. Practical Pruning, a workshop for arborists and landscapers, offers a review of pruning principles and techniques for landscaping trees, while Managing Low-Budget Sports Fields provides information and scientific background for effective management of sports turf and other high-traffic facilities with limited maintenance budgets. For more information, visit the UC Davis Extension Web site at http://extension.ucdavis.edu/agriculture.
Longtime superintendent Mike Burkholder was recently named the winner of the President’s Award for Lifetime Service for 2008 by the Virginia Golf Course Superintendents Association. Given in recognition of a career of distinguished and meritorious service and commitment to advancing the profession of golf course superintendents in the Commonwealth of Virginia, the award recognizes Burkholder’s 63 years in the profession, mostly in northern Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley. Burkholder got a job while in high school in 1941 working part time at Fairfax Country Club, a gig that turned into a 20-year commitment. A self-taught superintendent through the help of his mentors Bill Glover and John Connolly, Burkholder had relationships with both the Middle Atlantic Association of Golf Course Superintendents and GCSAA, both of which lasted more than 50 years. He helped found the Shenandoah Valley Turfgrass Association and served as its president. He has been named a life member of the Virginia Turfgrass Council and the Virginia GCSA.
Last year John Deere implemented a new name and numbering system for its full line of tractors with the introduction of its 5D, 5E, 5M and 6D series. The updated system will allow a more consistent approach to naming the equipment globally, said Steve Robisky, marketing administration manager for the company. Customers can now quickly and easily identify the engine horsepower of a tractor, its capability and its size by viewing the decal on the hood. Each new tractor model number has six figures: the first number represents its size; the second, third and fourth positions are numbers that signify its relative metric engine horsepower according to 97/68/EC standards; while the fifth position is a letter that indicates its capability and/or price level within its family. The sixth figure is available for a specific configuration.
This year the Executive Women’s Golf Association is unveiling a new logo, new name and new membership options. Now the group is going by its acronym, EWGA, while its new logo features vibrant green letters and a stylized woman golfer and club in red and orange. Accompanied by the tagline “Connect, Learn, Play, Belong,” the logo is designed to look powerful yet feminine with a modern edge, the group says. With the goal of building the organization to more than 30,000 members in the next five years, EWGA also announces three new categories of membership: student, virtual and corporate. Visit www.ewga.com for more information.
Members of the National Golf Course Owners Association who participated in the group’s Smart Buy purchasing program in 2007 collectively received more than $500,000 in rebates, the group says. The savings adds up to an average of $416 for each participating facility, says Mike Hughes, CEO of the NGCOA. Members additionally received discounts and value-added services from companies that support the program, including Club Car, The Toro Co., Entegra Procurement Services, Pepsi, ETS Corp. and Helena Chemical Co. Companies joining the program for 2009 are Avis and Budget rental car companies, Bauer International and QBE Insurance Group.
BASF Turf & Ornamentals wants superintendents to make a name for themselves on a popular encyclopedia-like Web site where users provide the content. Its new initiative, called “Defend Your Turf. Define Yourself,” encourages superintendents to define themselves on Wikipedia under the Golf Course Superintendent heading, which is currently void of a comprehensive definition. More than 30 million people visit Wikipedia each month, according to Toni Bucci, the company’s business manager. “…we understand and applaud the superintendent community and encourage superintendents to take the lead in defining their professional responsibilities and accomplishments…” See the superintendent category on the site at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golf_course_superintendent.
Bernhard & Co., in cooperation with Reynolds Golf and Turf Equipment, have loaned their reel and bedknife grinding system to the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation/Ohio State University Turfgrass Research and Education Facility, Columbus. The machinery will be available at the research facility for maintaining more than 20 cutting units used to mow research plots.
Global Golf Advisors Inc., a company that specializes in financial engineering and structures deals for golf businesses, announces its support of the Club Managers Association of America by becoming a bronze partner for the group’s Corporate Advantage Program. Global Golf Advisors’ multiyear commitment supports professional development programs offered and funded by CMAA and The Club Foundation. The company also is co-sponsoring the group’s 2008 Club Executive/Manager of the Year award.
Samuel R. Snyder VII, CGCS, a former GCSAA board member and retired member of GCSAA, has won the David Rafferty Distinguished Service and Leadership Award from the Central Pennsylvania GCSA. Honoring David Rafferty, a past president of the chapter, the award recognizes Snyder’s many years of support and contributions to the association members and the turf industry. A 31-year GCSAA member, he has served on local, state and national boards, worked with the state government on regulatory issues including water restrictions,
and mentored several who are now superintendents.
More than 40 new salesmen for Redexim Charterhouse were welcomed at the company’s annual “School of Champions” sales training program held this year at Glen Echo Country Club in St. Louis. Designed for Redexim sales members to learn about the company’s line of turf equipment, the program included two days of educational seminars that included classroom and field demonstrations. Guest speakers were A.J. Powell from the University of Kentucky and Brad Fresenburg from the University of Missouri.
People news
Golf course architect Kevin Hargrave has opened his own firm, Kevin Hargrave Golf Course Architect. While working as an associate for Keith Foster for 13 years, Hargrave was involved in the remodeling or development of more than 35 courses. Hargrave is focusing his work on the Kentucky market and the surrounding states, and his services include consultations, site surveys, master plan development, course routings, cost estimates, construction plan development, specifications, bid documents, bid analysis and construction review.
Valent U.S.A. Corp. has named Robin Demouth its acting president and general manager, Americas region. He succeeds Trevor Thorley, who resigned his role with Valent Jan. 2, 2009. Demouth has worked for Valent since 1998 as a vice president, general counsel, secretary and treasurer.
Steve Garske, president of Par Aide, has launched his blog, titled, “Out of Bounds.” From the blog, available at www.garske.wordpress.com, Garske will express his thoughts on the golf industry, Par Aide, current events and more. The blog can also be accessed through Par Aide’s Web site, www.paraide.com.
Douglas Rider is the new territory manager for the lawn and garden staff of Syngenta. Rider’s territory will include southeastern Pennsylvania, Delaware and the Eastern shore of Maryland. An affiliate member of GCSAA, he previously was the superintendent at Brandywine Country Club, Wilmington, Del.
David DeWeese, superintendent at FarmLinks Golf Club, Sylacauga, Ala., has been appointed as a new board member of the Alabama GCSA. DeWeese will serve a two-year term for the group and his responsibilities will include planning upcoming events, maintaining the group’s Web site and finding new members.
BioSafe Systems announces Carlos Burbano as its new technical representative for the western U.S. While his main expertise is agricultural, Burbano will also support the company’s ornamental and turf industries through golf courses, greenhouses, nurseries and landscapers.
Wood Bay Turf Technologies announces the addition of Dave Clark to its regional sales staff. He previously worked at Blackhawk Golf Club in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and has 13 seasons of experience in golf course maintenance.
Shaun Barry, golf sales representative for Bayer Environmental Science, was recognized recently by the Rutgers University Turfgrass Alumni Association for his outstanding dedication, service and contribution to the turfgrass industry. Barry received the honor during Rutgers’ annual alumni banquet. An active member of the GCSA of New Jersey for 30 years, Barry is president of the GCSANJ Foundation, whose mission is to support research, scholarships and charities throughout the state. He also is active in the New Jersey Turfgrass Association.
Golf briefs
Okeeheelee Golf Course, West Palm Beach, Fla., has achieved designation as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary by the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary systems. Under the direction of ValleyCrest Golf Course Maintenance, Okeeheelee is the 99th course in Florida to achieve the designation. Deron Rake, CGCS, ValleyCrest’s regional superintendent, led the effort to attain the certification, including providing a sanctuary for wildlife on the property.
D.A. Weibring and design partner Steve Wolfard, partners of Weibring-Wolfard Golf Design, have been hired by 18-Links to design a new championship-caliber 18-hole course in the village of Metamora, Ill. The public course will be designed cohesively with the land and topography of the area with heather, native grasses and evergreen trees incorporated into the look to accompany the course’s undulating terrain. A mixture of distinctive holes will provide strategy and multiple options, the firm says. The 240-acre property also will include a practice range, clubhouse and short game practice area. Contractor Turf Solutions Group is expected to break ground on the course this spring, while Weibring and Wolfard estimate a completion date of summer 2010.
Pierce County (Wash.) announces it has extended its agreement with KemperSports to operate Chambers Bay Golf Course in University Place, Wash., beyond the 2015 U.S. Open to be held at the course. Located on the Puget Sound, the course also plays host to the 2010 U.S. Amateur event. Recently named the Best New Public Course of 2008 in the U.S. in Golf Digest’s January 2009 issue, Chambers Bay is the first Robert Trent Jones Jr.-designed course to host a U.S. Open and the first course in the Northwest to do so. It was also designed by Bruce Charlton and Jay Blasi. KemperSports has managed the property since its opening in 2007.