Industry News

The Institute to fund Chapter Leaders/Executive Symposium

The Environmental Institute for Golf, the philanthropic organization of GCSAA has announced that the Williams Leadership Endowment target has been reached and that funding has begun for the GCSAA Chapter Leaders/Executive Symposium to be held Mar. 20-21 at GCSAA Headquarters in Lawrence, Kan.

More than $50,000 has been raised through contributions by GCSAA chapters, organizations and individuals and by GCSAA Past President, Bruce R. Williams, CGCS at The Los Angeles Country Club, who established the Williams Leadership Endowment in 2002. The endowment recognizes GCSAA Past President Robert M. Williams and his son, Bruce, for their contributions and ongoing commitment to mentoring golf course superintendents to become leaders in the golf course management profession. Both have dedicated their careers to strengthening the profession and instilling leadership qualities in superintendents.

"We have been involved with GCSAA in many ways for more than 85 years collectively," said Williams. "We are especially proud to be involved in an exciting program to help enhance leadership training, development and support to chapter leaders."

Now fully funded, the Williams Leadership Endowment will help support the GCSAA Chapter Leaders/Executive Symposium, which focuses on interpersonal and organizational leadership.

"We applaud the leadership provided by Bob and Bruce Williams," said GCSAA Vice President David S. Downing II, CGCS and chairman of the Chapter Relations Committee. "The GCSAA Chapter Leaders/Executive Symposium will continue to expand on the education opportunities for our members."

The Experience at FarmLinks launches "On the Course Tour"

The Experience at FarmLinks, a component of FarmLinks LLC, has expanded its living laboratory to include agronomic training and product demonstrations on its 18-hole, championship golf course.  This new program, called the "On the Course Tour," offers superintendents the chance to see and use cutting-edge products while touring the FarmLinks course.  The tour also provides corporate sponsors with a unique opportunity to showcase innovations to an audience of current and new end users who can view, use and experience these products first-hand.

"The On the Course Tour enables us to build on our customized, solutions-oriented program," stated Erle Fairly, president of FarmLinks.  "The Experience is not just for marketing products; we’re creating an environment that provides real-world solutions that superintendents can act upon to improve their courses." 

During each On the Course Tour, Mark Langner, FarmLinks director of agronomy and applied research, takes a group of superintendents on a guided agronomic tour of the course, stopping at selected sites to discuss and/or demonstrate products from FarmLinks’ corporate sponsors.  

The first corporation to partner with FarmLinks in the new On the Course Tour is Tycrop, a forward-thinking company that’s been prototyping the new program since early May 2006.  Presently on the course at FarmLinks is Tycrop’s PP-180, ProPass broadcast topdresser, and an MH-400, Material Handler. 

To allow for additional companies to showcase their products and services to the industry’s top professionals, FarmLinks hopes to bring in several more corporate partners to the On the Course program. Contact http://www.farmlinks.org/.

Project EverGreen invites college students to apply for scholarships

College students preparing for careers in the green industry are invited to apply for the 2007 Because Green Matters scholarships now being offered by Project EverGreen.  Applications must be postmarked no later than June 1, 2007.

Den Gardner, executive director of Project EverGreen, said two $2,500 awards will be made to students working toward a major or minor in a field related to the green industry.  This includes studies such as horticulture, plant sciences, botany, agronomy, plant pathology and water management. Scholarship applications can be obtained by accessing http://www.projectevergreen.com/pdf/2007ScholarshipApp.pdf.

Eligibility, as determined by a committee made up of members of the Project EverGreen Board of Directors, extends to two- and four-year program students attending institutions that offer turf, landscape and golf management curriculums.

"We were impressed with the quality of our 2006 applicants," Gardner said. "It was the first year for a program which we hope will play a continuing role in encouraging students to work in the green industry and to contribute to the role it plays in enhancing our environment and our economy."

Winners of the 2007 scholarships will be announced by July 15, 2007.  The winners in 2006 were Amy Hegwood, who is working toward an environmental horticulture degree at Gwinnett Technical College, Lawrenceville, Ga. and Tao Fan, who is studying landscape management at Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah.

NFF announces graduate assistantship at University of Florida

The National Foliage Foundation has announced a new partnership and support of a graduate assistantship for the purpose of foliage research.
The Foundation has transferred $350,000 to a permanent endowment through the University of Florida Foundation to support graduate student assistantships in the UF/IFAS Department of Environmental Horticulture.

"With Florida producing approximately 80 percent of the foliage grown in the United States and the University of Florida doing about 99 percent of the nation’s research, it was a perfect match just waiting to happen," said Joe Cialone, NFF president.

The endowment qualifies for a 50 percent match from Florida’s Major Gifts Trust Fund. The NFF board will serve an advisory role and the assistantship will be monitored by chair of the environmental horticulture department. The graduate student’s research will focus on specific foliage related issues.