Industry News

Golf Industry Show solution centers announced

Following up on the success of the Solution Center concept, the 2006 Golf Industry Show will again feature a series of solution centers, each with dynamic, hands-on displays and demonstrations, and dozens of informal educational offerings.

The planned solution centers will progress from a master planning center at one end of the trade show floor, to an interactive driving range for playing the game at the other.

As a special highlight, a stream and wetlands area will be built on the show floor at the “Environment and the Game” solution center. Those who enjoyed last year's “Building of the Green,” won't want to miss this year's signature event.

The 2006 solution centers are:

Master Plan and the Game will show the importance of developing a master plan, along with communication tips for presenting your master plan to the membership, board or governance group.

The Environment and the Game attendees can watch a stream and wetlands being constructed before their eyes while they learn about solutions to issues such as erosion control and stream bank restoration, water quality monitoring, buffer zones and site assessments.

Constructing the Game covers planning a course renovation or restoration or new construction and includes a project in action.

Conditioning the Game offers information about the latest course maintenance research and technologies through innovative presentations, displays and demonstrations. Featured topics include: integrated plant management, irrigation technology, best cultural practices and solutions to pace of play issues.

Operating the Game demonstrates ways to improve total facility operations through a food and beverage display that demonstrates selection and preparation, storage and staffing techniques, and new advancements in back-office technology.

Playing the Game has an interactive driving range and offers the opportunity to test the latest range equipment.

The GCSAA Education Conference and Golf Industry Show also includes more than 100 education sessions and seminars, and a chance to see the latest products on the market while networking with golf industry peers. The registration brochure will be packaged with the September issue of Golf Course Management magazine. Visit www.golfindustryshow.com for up-to-date information.

GCSAA contributes to “Building a Practical Golf Facility” reprint

GCSAA has made a $5,000 contribution to the American Society of Golf Course Architects Foundation to assist with the reprinting of “Building a Practical Golf Facility,” authored by Michael J. Hurdzan, Ph.D., past president of the ASGCA and current chairman of The Environmental Institute for Golf.

The book, first published in 2003, was designed to help grow the game of golf by providing guidelines for easy-to-play facilities that will encourage individuals to bring golf to their communities. It provides step-by-step instructions for those interested in developing a practical golf course, along with a resource guide that takes much of the guesswork out of the process. More than 20,000 copies of the book have been distributed, mostly to public officials, according to ASGCA.

“GCSAA is committed to growing the game and providing the resources that foster the creation of accessible and affordable golf,” said GCSAA CEO Steve Mona, CAE. “In addition, we fully support the ASGCA's efforts to help educate others on how to initiate such projects. Mike Hurdzan has long been a proponent and a leader of providing practical alternatives. We are enthusiastic supporters of his vision.”

For information, visit the ASGCA publications page or call (262) 786-5960.

On September 8, Hurdzan will present the webcast “How Siting Principles Can Help Your Renovation Project.” The first 10 people to register for the webcast will receive a free autographed copy of “Building a Practical Golf Facility.” Details on the webcast are available on GCSAA online.

Nature has starring role at Oldfield Club

Hugh Williams, golf course superintendent at Oldfield Golf Club in Okatie, S.C., is part of a growing wave of golf course superintendents, owners and industry leaders who value wildlife and natural habitat as much as low scores and regular customers.

He was first attracted to the profession by the beauty of the course he learned on, and now, as superintendent of the Greg Norman-designed Oldfield club, he has the chance to provide that for the golfers who play it.

Associated Press writer Pete Iacobelli recently visited the Audubon International certified course, and talked to Williams, course naturalist Marvin Bouknight and Chuck Borman, executive director of the Carolinas GCSA. To see the whole story, visit MyrtleBeachonline.

FMC gets injunction in TalstarOne label case

FMC Corp. says that after hearing evidence presented in a lawsuit brought by the company against Control Solutions Inc. (CSI), the U.S. District Court judge Gene E.K. Pratter has issued a preliminary injunction against CSI for violating FMC's copyright in the TalstarOne multi-insecticide product label and for selling its Bifen I/T product with an infringing product label.

In the decision, Pratter said, "Instead of investing the resources necessary to develop an independent product label, CSI simply appropriated FMC's existing copyrighted labels. Wholesale copying, as CSI did with FMC's label, is not consistent with the statutes, regulations or process mandated by the EPA."

The injunction orders CSI and any entity acting in concert with CSI to: (1) stop manufacturing the infringing label or causing the label to be manufactured; (2) halt using the infringing label; (3) stop placing any product that has the infringing label affixed to it into the stream of commerce; (4) destroy all existing infringing labels; and (5) immediately provide all of Bifen I/T's distributors, customers and sub-registrants with a copy of the preliminary injunction order.