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Orlando magic
The 2008 GCSAA Education Conference and Golf Industry Show shattered records in a number of categories.
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Opening session
Opening session awards
General session
Annual election
Collegiate Turf Bowl
More show highlights
Orlando has long been Valhalla to tourism and conventions. To the Golf Industry Show, it’s indeed the next-best thing to heaven.
Traditionally the most popular stop in GCSAA conference and show annals, Orlando outdid itself this time around, with the key attendance figures setting all-time highs not only in the four-year tenure of the GIS, but also in GCSAA’s 80 years of show history.
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Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center has hosted GCSAA’s conference and show five times since 1990. |
Total attendance at the 2008 event was 25,737, which surpassed the previous high of 23,099 at Anaheim last year. GCSAA-generated attendance, 22,027, was also the best-ever. Qualified buyers soared to a record 10,553, including distributors, and GCSAA education surpassed 8,000 in seminar seats for the first time ever.
As for the trade show, the story was the same, with 965 exhibitors commanding an all-time high of 300,900 square feet.
Three’s a charm
The numbers reflected not only Orlando’s appeal, but also the continuing success of the alliance among the show’s presenting partners — GCSAA, the National Golf Course Owners Association and the Club Managers Association of America.
“I think the collaboration between the three organizations definitely moved up a notch,” said Mike Hughes, CEO of NGCOA, in noting his association’s positive reaction to the 2008 GIS during the show wrap-up session with the leaders of the presenting organizations.
James Singerling, CEO of the CMAA, also was happy with the results, but also warned against a “can-we-top-this mentality” and instead favored emphasis on the quality of the show.
“I think we should be cautious about focusing on numbers and look better at what the overall reaction is from the people who are here,” he said.
Presiding over his final GIS as GCSAA’s CEO, Steve Mona, CAE, viewed this year’s event from the standpoint of both the association’s members and its industry partners and vendors.
Mona, who became CEO of the World Golf Foundation last month, said the members’ unprecedented participation in 2008 embodies GCSAA’s current key concept: focusing on the success of the facility.
“Our members are taking a more global view of the show than in the past,” he said, adding that the reaction from the trade show floor was positive, especially in what exhibitors termed the quality of attendees this year. “In my view, the exhibitors are very pleased with what they experienced.”
All three executives were notably happy with the big increase in the all-important qualified buyers category, attributing much of the boost to a change in definition that has broadened the category and also to a considerable influx of foreign attendees, especially among CMAA participants. Singerling noted that CMAA had 140 representatives from 27 countries attending.
Plaudits for Mona
The show, for all intents and purposes, marked the end to Mona’s 14-year run at GCSAA. Mona is considered by many to be the chief architect of the evolution of the GIS over the last four years, and his exit was not overlooked by the other executives who have long considered Mona the glue that has bonded the partnership.
“The vision and the leadership Steve provided to this partnering effort and will continue to provide to the industry needs to be recognized and applauded,” Singerling said. “... He truly has added leadership as well as friendship to an industry that relies on that for its existence.”
A concept for the ages
GCSAA’s emphasis on the success of the overall facility resonated throughout the Education Conference and GIS, whether cloaked as customer service, a call for teamwork among course managers in the public golf sector or, as Greg Norman, feted as the 2008 Old Tom Morris Award winner at the Opening Session, said in his analysis of who should be running the show:
“The superintendent should probably be on the top of the heap, not the bottom. How many times does the superintendent have to react? ... The superintendent should be dictating to others what to do. If you just allow the superintendents to do their job, they’ll make sure to take care of the environment and the golf course will be better for it.”
Next ...
The Orlando show put almost everyone in a great frame of mind for next year’s stop — New Orleans. Hughes said the 2008 results and the maturation of the interaction between the presenting partners nurtures optimism for 2009.
“Each year we just get a little bit better at integrating all three organizations and get better at doing the show,” Hughes said.
Mona added that it was fitting that the record-setting Orlando event came on the heels of an agreement by the show’s presenting partners and supporters (American Society of Golf Course Architects, Golf Course Builders Association of America and the National Golf Foundation) to extend the GIS through 2014.
“This show is no longer an experiment; it’s here to stay,” he said.
— Terry Ostmeyer,
GCM senior staff writer
Norman talks environment at Opening Session
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Greg Norman, 2008 GCSAA Old Tom Morris Award winner, discusses with The Golf Channel’s Adam Barr how he learned to lose with grace on the PGA Tour. “If you give it your best, you walk off proud at that moment,” Norman said. Photos © Bruce Mathews |
Though Greg Norman, winner of GCSAA’s 2008 Old Tom Morris Award, may be more well known for his losing than his winning, at the Opening Session, his talk — and the new talk show format — was a winner.
Presented in partnership with Bayer Environmental Science, the Opening Session featured a unique talk show format this year. With The Golf Channel’s Adam Barr serving as host and outgoing GCSAA CEO Steve Mona, CAE, and 2007 president Ricky Heine, CGCS, serving as co-hosts, the Opening Session was more interactive, conversational and free-wheeling than in years past, when speakers would talk from behind a podium.
This year, the guests came out and sat down in comfy chairs, brought their bottled water with them, relaxed and had a few laughs while the crowd listened in. The only thing missing was a house band.
EIFG importance
Prior to taking the stage in the packed Valencia Ballroom at the Orange County Convention Center, Norman held a media conference with 10 reporters to speak further about the environment and its importance in golf.
“The golf courses get a bum rap,” he told the reporters. “Look at the residential communities. We pay the price for the water they
are wasting. You come here
to the Golf Industry Show, and you can see the efforts being made by the Toro’s, the Rain Bird’s, the John Deere’s… all the way down to the superintendents.”
Norman was then the final guest of the Opening Session and took the opportunity to talk to the audience about the importance of the Environmental Institute for Golf, and how superintendents are advocates for the environment.
“The Environmental Institute for Golf is a necessary path to making the world aware that golf is environmental,” said Norman, who has been a member of The Institute’s board of trustees since 2003. “I’m very passionate about it for that reason.”Norman also talked golf in general, not shying away from a question from Barr about how he faced his many memorable defeats on the golf course admirably.
“Thanks for bringing up a bad subject,” Norman joked as he sat up in his seat. “If you give it your best, you walk off proud at that moment. Look at me now — I have this beautiful lady sitting down here with me,” Norman said as he gestured to his fiancée, tennis hall of famer Chris Evert, who was seated near the stage, “My life is on the upswing.”
Norman credited his father and Jack Nicklaus as the two people who taught him how to lose gracefully. He said that by losing with grace, he hoped there were young golfers somewhere who learned a life lesson through his actions.
When the questions were opened to the crowd, Walter Woods, retired superintendent at Scotland’s renowned St. Andrews, asked Norman if he knew how good he was going to be when they first met, at St. Andrews years before he’d become a golfing legend.
“First, I want to say thank you for what you’ve done — St. Andrews is one of the great golf courses of the world,” Norman said. “I had no idea if I was going to make it as a pro. Your dreams are your blueprints of reality. I was chasing a dream.”
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(From left) Neil Cleveland, green business managing director for Bayer Environmental Science; 2007 GCSAA President Ricky Heine, CGCS, general manager of The Golf Club Star Ranch in Hutto, Texas; GCSAA CEO Steve Mona, CAE; and The Golf Channel’s Adam Barr sit on the talk show set that was presented at the Opening Session. |
Mona’s last GIS
This being Steve Mona’s final Opening Session as CEO of GCSAA, he took the opportunity to discuss his 14-year career at GCSAA. He listed the acceptance of the Professional Development Initiative, the forming of the Golf Industry Show and the work of the Environmental Institute for Golf as the three most important accomplishments during his time at GCSAA. He also said that he takes no personal credit for anything — the members, the committees, all work as a team.
“What’s most important to me is the way in which our members are perceived,” Mona said in conclusion, choking up a little along the way. “To the members, thank you, it’s been a great ride these last 14 years.”
State of the association
Outgoing president Ricky Heine also had a chance to talk shop with Barr on the talk show stage. Heine conversed about the state of the association and where it’s headed.
“The superintendent was selected by golfers to be the leading employee at a facility in terms of enhancing enjoyment of the game,” Heine said. “For example, 99 percent of employers and 94 percent of golfers consider superintendents to be key to the economic vitality of a golf facility.”
Since he would be stepping down as president the next day, Heine talked to the members about what kind of foundation the association had as he was moving on.
“Financially, the association is secure. Second, we have the best education and career resources in the industry,” Heine said. “Third, GCSAA and its members are focused on facility success. That is the bullseye — the facility. I see GCSAA as being strong from many different perspectives. And that is not only good for our members, but for facilities and ultimately golfers as well.”
— Seth Jones,
GCM senior associate editor
The Opening Session also included presentations to several other GCSAA award winners, including:
• Chris Carson, Class A superintendent at Echo Lake Country Club, Westfield, N.J., and the winner of the Leo Feser Award for the best superintendent-written article to appear in GCM. It was Carson’s second Feser award.
• Seth Strickland, superintendent at Miami (Fla.) Shores Country Club was crowned GCSAA Golf Champion for the second time.
• Peter McDonough, Class A superintendent at the Keswick (Va.) Club, and winner of the Excellence in Government Relations award.
• Michael Maffei, CGCS, Morefar Golf Course, Brewster, N.Y., and winner of the Excellence in Government Relations award.
• Richard Staughton, CGCS, Towne Lake Hills Golf Club, Woodstock, Ga., and winner of the Excellence in Government Relations award.
• Mark Dinan, superintendent at Valle del Sol Golf Course, Santa Ana, San Jose, Costa Rica and Jay Miller, superintendent at the Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica, Liberia Guanacaste, Costa Rica, both winners of GCSAA/Golf Digest Environmental Leader in Golf Award (International).
• Todd Lawrence, CGCS at TPC Wakefield Plantation, Raleigh, N.C., winner of GCSAA/Golf Digest Environmental Leader in Golf Award (Private).
• Jonathon Moulton, superintendent at Old Greenwood Golf Course, Truckee, Calif., winner of GCSAA/Golf Digest Environmental Leader in Golf Award (Resort).
• Chris Gray, The Marvel Golf Club, Benton, Ky., winner of GCSAA/Golf Digest Environmental Leader in Golf Award (Overall/Public).
• Charlie Tadge, CGCS Retired, was honored for attending his 50th consecutive conference and show.
Leadership the keynote at General Session
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Keynote speaker Doug Keeley talked about types of leaders and how every organization needs more of each type. He used rock ’n’ roll guitar, videos of professional runners and stories of leaders in the past to strengthen his points. |
On the Golf Industry Show’s second-ever Team Day — Friday, Feb. 1 — teamwork was a fitting theme for the conference’s General Session.
Former GCSAA CEO Steve Mona, CAE, kicked things off, announcing the affiliated partnering organizations’ agreement to extend the event for five years, through 2014.
Mona was joined on stage by the partner organizations’ leaders, who together signed the official extension agreement: Mike Hughes, NGCOA; Jim Singerling, CMAA; Chad Ritterbush, ASGCA; Paul Foley, GCBAA; and Joe Beditz, National Golf Foundation.
Mona also thanked the presidents of the partner organizations for their service: Ricky Heine, CGCS, GCSAA; Charlie Birney, NGCOA; Linda Carroll, CCM, CMAA; Steve Forrest, ASGCA; and Bob Pinson, GCBAA.
Mona, who bid adieu to the audience at what was his last general session as GCSAA’s CEO, finished his Golf Industry Show tenure with record statistics to report this year (see “Orlando magic,” Page 60).
“That’s a tremendous honor,” he said. “It speaks well of our members and to the health of the Golf Industry Show.”
Eight years ago, the organizations began discussing the vision of the combined show to serve those who site, design, build, maintain, manage and own the nation’s and the world’s golf courses, and “we’re well on our way to realizing our vision,” Mona said, adding his confidence that the show is becoming “an absolute must-attend event.”
Mona’s last order of business was to introduce Doug Keeley, founder and former CEO of Integrated Communications and Entertainment, who delivered the keynote address, “The Mark of a Leader.” Keeley puts leaders into three categories: a person with hierarchal power, a person in control and a person who goes first. All three types are important and can lead to success when working congruently, he said.
As an example, Keeley showed a 1954 video of three runners working in conjunction to accomplish what was considered at the time to be impossible — a 4-minute mile. Only one man, Roger Bannister, made it over the finish line in less than four minutes, but each of the three runners played an integral part in making it
possible.
Keeley also led the audience through a game of “Name that Tune,” as he played guitar and likened our jobs to those of musicians: Millions of musicians are competing for fame with the same 12 musical notes. “It’s not the tools, but what we do with them,” Keeley said.
He also summoned a golf reference, saying that golfers dread the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass, a green surrounded by water, because they focus on the distraction, on what could go wrong. Leaders and winners in golf, a mental game, as well as in life, focus instead on where they’re going, Keeley said.
— Darcy DeVictor,
GCM associate editor
Downing elected GCSAA president; dues increase passes
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Newly elected GCSAA President David S. Downing II, CGCS (left), receives the gavel from outgoing President Ricky D. Heine, CGCS, at the 2008 Annual Meeting and Election in Orlando. Photo © Bruce Mathews |
David S. Downing II, CGCS, vice president of operations and construction for Signature Golf Group in Myrtle Beach, S.C., was elected president of GCSAA at the 2008 Annual Meeting and Election in Orlando.
GCSAA members also approved a dues increase for the association at the meeting, held Feb. 1 at Orlando’s Rosen Centre Hotel.
Downing told the voting delegates and other members assembled that he was honored to be the association’s first president from the Carolinas and that he was eager to serve during what promises to be a busy year for the board.
“(The board) will work ’til it’s over, and we’ll get it right,” he said. “We’re here for you.”
Elected vice president was Mark D. Kuhns, CGCS, director of grounds at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, N.J. James R. Fitzroy, CGCS, director of golf at Wollaston Recreational Facility/Presidents Golf Club in North Quincy, Mass., was elected secretary/treasurer.
Robert M. Randquist, CGCS, director of golf course and grounds at Boca Rio Golf Club in Boca Raton, Fla., will continue his term on the board. Patrick R. Finlen, CGCS, director of golf course maintenance operations at The Olympic Club in San Francisco, and Sanford G. Queen, CGCS, manager of golf operations for the city of Overland Park, Kan., were re-elected to two-year terms on the board.
John J. O’Keefe, CGCS, director of golf course management at Preakness Hills Country Club in Wayne, N.J., was appointed to the board.
Remaining on the board with one year left on a two-year term is Keith A. Ihms, CGCS at Country Club of Little Rock (Ark.). Ricky D. Heine, CGCS, general manager and director of grounds at The Golf Club Star Ranch in Hutto, Texas, will serve one year as immediate past president, while Sean A. Hoolehan, CGCS at Wildhorse Resort & Casino on the Umatilla Indian Reservation in Oregon, retired from the board as immediate past president.
After receiving his white past president’s coat from Heine, Hoolehan spoke emotionally about his passion for the profession, and urged the gathered members to volunteer for board service.
“What defines us is the desire to serve,” Hoolehan said. “Contrary to popular opinion, there’s no ‘perfect’ time to run (for office). Service is not easy, but you have to be willing to sacrifice.”
Heine echoed the theme of service to the profession before handing over the gavel to Downing.
“The more trust and confidence you have in your board, the more it will encourage good members to serve,” he said, adding, “That trust has been earned.”
In other action, the voting members approved a board recommendation to increase dues using a CPI-based formula. The increase will be $20 for Classes A and SM members and $10 for Class C members.
— Bunny Smith,
GCM managing editor
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A record number of students competed in the 14th GCSAA Collegiate Turf Bowl in Orlando. Photo © Bruce Mathews |
The action was heated Friday as teams of student GCSAA members competed in the 14th annual Collegiate Turf Bowl. Iowa State University was the first-place winner for the seventh consecutive year and for the ninth time in the 10 years since the format was changed from individual to team competition in 1999. The winning team members were Adam Hebbel, Matt Hoffman, Shane Brockhoff and Brad Johnson.
The second- and third-place teams were both from Purdue University.
A record 92 teams comprising 341 individuals participated in the competition. Teams of up to four participants were challenged to identify soils, turfgrass species, diseases, weeds and insects, as well as answer questions on mathematics, growth and development and business management.
Leah Brilman, Ph.D., and Gwen Stahnke, Ph.D., oversaw the competition.
The 2008 Silent Auction drew more than 350 participants registering bids. Preliminary results indicate that The Environmental Institute for Golf received more than $133,400 in bids from the 114 items donated, including $12,100 generated from the inaugural live auction.
As in past years, a random drawing of all registered bidders was conducted to award complimentary registration, education and hotel accommodations in New Orleans for the 2009 GCSAA Education Conference and Golf Industry Show. This year’s winner was Reuben Wedgeworth, Class A superintendent at Timberton Golf Club in Hattiesburg, Miss.
Action on the floor
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The Pit Crew Challenge took attendees away from golf, but made them focus on teamwork. |
With more than 25,000 attendees making the rounds of more than 300,000 square feet of space, the Solutions Centers were busy destinations on the trade show floor. One of the most popular was the Team Solutions Center in the heart of the show hall, where TrackTime Driving Schools’ crew of professionals reinforced the value of teamwork to Golf Industry Show attendees in the Pit Crew Challenge.
Teams were made up of three to five individuals and were given three chances to gain the fastest time at removing two tires from a stock car, rotating them and reinstalling them. Between each timed trial, the TrackTime professionals offered advice to the team members and challenged them to look beyond the obvious to find ways to improve processes, be more efficient, and achieve their overall time goal. Each team’s best time was displayed on the electronic leaderboard provided by Magnolia Golf Group.
Other featured Solution Centers included the Environmental Solution Center, which focused attention on how golf facilities can communicate their environemtnal benefits to communities; the Golf Course Solutions Center, which featured two teeing ground construction projects; and the Range and Outdoor Facility Solutions Center.
Cash prize drawings
New in 2008, two $500 cash prize drawings were conducted at random times each day of the trade show. Names were drawn from the GCSAA, NGCOA and CMAA registration database and announced over the exhibit hall PA system.
On Thursday, Jan. 31, Jim H. Thomas, CGCS at the TPC Southwind, and David L. Smith of Fawn Lake Country Club claimed $500 prizes. Two unclaimed prizes on Friday and one on Saturday morning were added together, which resulted in Christopher Boettcher winning a cash prize of $2,000. Boettcher immediately donated his winnings to The Club Foundation.
Solutions Challenge winners
This year’s Solutions Challenge featured 21 stops, where participants solved a problem, collected a stamp and then submitted completed scorecards at the Solutions Challenge score booth to compete for prize drawings. The winners were:
• Darrin M. Batisky, Chartiers Country Club, Pittsburgh —Grand prize: six-night, seven-day vacation for two to a choice of Interval International resort properties in the U.S. including airfare compliments of Golf Industry Travel.
• William T. Smith, Panther Creek Country Club, Springfield, Ill. — $1,000 Home Depot gift card donated by Advan.
• Fernando Diaz, Randall Oak Golf Club, Hampshire, Ill. — one case of two jugs of Disarm fungicide donated by Arysta LifeScience North America.
• Tom J. Bottensek, Westridge Golf Course, Neenah, Wis. —$1,000 worth of iPod products donated by DryJect.
• Ronald B. Hill, CGCS, Amelia Island Plantation, Fernandina Beach, Fla. — 2 tons (5.7 cubic yards) of Axis soil amendment donated by EP Minerals LLC.
• Richard S. Cirino, CGCS, Deep Creek Golf Club, Cape Coral, Fla. — Registration for the 2009 GCSAA National Championship and Golf Classic, Education Conference and Golf Industry Show including airfare donated by Ewing Irrigation.
• Charles J. Miller, Goodrich Golf Course, St. Paul, Minn. — $500 worth of GreenCare International products and a $500 gift card to Home Depot donated by GreenCare International.
• Thomas W. McKenzie, LaoLao Bay Golf Resort, Saipan, Mariana Islands — two cases (customer choice) of G870, G875, G880, G990, G995 donated by Hunter Industries.
• Fred N. Taylor, CGCS, Mankato Golf Club, Madison Lake, Minn. — 356BT backpack blower and 335LX professional trimmer donated by Husqvarna.
• Ronnie L. Adkins, CGCS, Aspen Corp., Daniels, W.Va. — $1,000 Best Buy gift card donated by J.R. Simplot Company’s BEST/Jacklin Seed.
• Brenda Wills, Arrowhead Country Club, Rapid City, S.D. — Single row, 25-yard marking system with installation kit valued at $5,595 donated by Kirby Markers.
• Douglas R. Abbuhl, Seminole Golf Course, Tallahassee, Fla. — Tank Mix Easy True foliar nutrition program for five acres of greens donated by Milliken Turf Products.
• Douglas J. Walter, Bright’s Creek Golf Club, Mill Spring, N.C. — one case of TriCure soil surfactants, one case of DewCure moisture suppressant and one case of TriCure pellets donated by Mitchell Products.
• David Phipps, Stone Creek Golf Course, Oregon City, Ore. —Aqua Series Deluxe fractional aerator donated by Otterbine Barebo Inc.
• Michael P. McCulloch, Cross Creek Country Club, Port Charlotte, Fla. — three rolls (approx. 2,000 square feet) of SandMat 400 donated by SandMat (WNI).
• Drew J. Peddie, Caves Valley Golf Club, Owings Mills, Md. — one case of Octane herbicide, two pails of Cutless Granular landscape growth regulator and one case of Pentathlon DF fungicide donated by SePro.
• Richard G. Fredericksen, CGCS, Woodhill Country Club, Long Lake, Minn. — all-purpose utility trailer donated by Speed Roller.
• Michael Matchen, Wilmette (Ill.) Golf Course — 1 ton of Bolster Granular 4-4-4+3Fe donated by Sustane Natural Fertilizer.
• Keith Kresina, The Golf Club, New Albany, Ohio — a pair of iPhones and related accessories donated by Western Pozzolan.
• Peter J. Grass, CGCS, Hilands Golf Club, Billings, Mont. —$1,000 gift certificate for online shopping at Lowe’s donated by West Technology Systems Inc.
GCSAA Partners
GCSAA National Championship and Golf Classic
The Toro Co.
Welcoming Reception/Opening Session
Bayer Environmental Science
Certification Luncheon
Syngenta Professional Products
Innovative Superintendent Breakfasts
BASF Corp.
GCSAA/Golf Digest Environmental Leaders in Golf Awards
Rain Bird Corp. — Golf Division
Syngenta Professional Products
International Resource Center
Syngenta Professional Products
Phillip Jennings Turf Farms
Internet Café and satellite cafés
DuPont Professional Products
Coffee Talk
John Deere Credit
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