Super Notes

Eric Bauer, GCSAA Class A director of grounds at The Club as Carlton Woods is hosting the USGA Men's State Team Championship on the Fazio Course and USGA Women's State Team Championship on the Nicklaus Course in The Woodlands, Texas.

Matt Falvo, GCSAA superintendent at Atunyote Golf Club, is hosting the Turning Stone Resort Championship in Verona, N.Y.

Ron Gilmore, GCSAA Class A superintendent at Prestonwood Country Club, is hosting the SAS Championship in Cary (Raleigh), N.C.

Joe Aholt, GCSAA superintendent at Hillcrest Country Club, is hosting the Albertson's Boise Open in Boise, Idaho.

Superintendents in the news

Saanich (Canada) News, “Redefining green,” article about Dean Piller, GCSAA Class A superintendent at Cordova Bay Golf Course in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, and his award-winning environmental efforts.

Syracuse (N.Y.) Post-Standard, “Stimp master on a mission,” Columnist borrows a stimpmeter from Mike O’Neill, GCSAA superintendent at Bellevue Country Club in Syracuse, N.Y., in search of measuring ground surfaces with speeds similar to those of Turning Stone Resort & Casino’s Atunyote Golf Course on the Oneida Nation Homelands in N.Y., host of the PGA Tour’s Turning Stone Resort Championship. It features Matt Falvo, GCSAA superintendent at Atunyote.

Forbes, “Green fees,” Story about the public’s changing perception about golf’s relationship with the environment; the successful transformation of a former gasoline refinery and bio-hazard into Three Crowns Golf Club along the North Platte River in Casper, Wyo.; and the number of golf facilities registering for the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program versus the number of facilities certified. It features GCSAA and affiliate member John Strawn, CEO of Robert Trent Jones II, LLC.

Naples (Fla.) Daily News, “Naples water rate increases coming soon,” Article about the Naples (Fla.) City Council proposal to increase water, wastewater and reuse water rates, featuring Dale Walters, CGCS at Moorings Country Club in Naples, Fla.

Green Section Record, “Great sign!,” Article in the USGA’s official publication about providing signage on the golf course that points out the golf course’s unique natural features and highlights the benefits of environmental stewardship to educate golfers and the public. It features Dave Phipps, GCSAA Class A superintendent at Stone Creek Golf Club in Oregon City, Ore.

Columbia (S.C.) State, “After 100 years, Pinehurst’s charm does not fade,” Review of Pinehurst (N.C.) No. 2, which celebrates its 100 year anniversary this year. The story features Paul Jett, CGCS at No. 2 and Bob Farren, CGCS, manager of grounds and golf course management.

Myrtle Beach (S.C.) Sun News, “Area students keep Augusta green,” Golf column mentioning the ongoing working relationship between the administrators and professors in Horry-Georgetown Technical College's (Conway, S.C.) Golf and Sports Turf Management program and the directors of course maintenance at Augusta (Ga.) National Golf Club that send five students to Augusta to take part in the four-day winter overseeding process. It features GCSAA members Marsh Benson, Class A senior director of golf course and grounds at Augusta National; Brad Owen, Class A superintendent at Augusta National; Jim Evans, assistant superintendent at Augusta National; and GCSAA educator Paul Daniel, HGTC professor.

Birmingham News, “On the tee with…,” Q&A with Owen Coulson, GCSAA superintendent at Vestavia Country Club in Birmingham, Ala.

XM Satellite Radio, “Live coverage of the PGA Tour Championship presented by Coca-Cola,” Radio interview on the PGA Tour Channel with Ralph Kepple, CGCS at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, host of the PGA Tour Championship presented by Coca-Cola and the final round of the inaugural FedEx Cup Playoffs.

Club & Resort Business, “Band of Brokers,” Article about how more than ever, superintendents are relying on strong relationships with suppliers to ensure optimal on-course performance and profitability. It features Mike Wooten, CGCS at Cedar Ridge Country Club in Broken Arrow, Okla.; James Nicol, CGCS at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn.; Ed Walsh, CGCS at Shelter Harbor Golf Club in Charlestown, R.I.; Dick Stuntz, CGCS, president of Alvamar, Inc., which owns two 18-hole golf courses in Lawrence, Kan., Alvamar Country Club and Alvamar Public Golf Club; and Dick Zepp, CGCS, director of maintenance at Cyprian Keyes Golf Club in Boylston, Mass.

Club & Resort Business, “How Oakmont ensured U.S. Open success,” Article about how the principles applied on the grandest scale by Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club’s staff provide a model for any event, featuring John Zimmers, CGCS.

Greensboro (N.C.) News & Record, “Golf courses paying price for drought,” Article about the toll record heat and drought in North Carolina has had on Greensboro area golf courses, featuring Kevin Smith, CGCS at Bryan Park Golf Course in Browns Summit, N.C., and Jay Gardner, GCSAA Class A superintendent at Jamestown (N.C.) Park Golf Course.

Golf.com, “East Lake rolls out sandy carpet,” Column about player reactions to the stressed greens at East Lake Golf Course in Atlanta, going in to the PGA Tour Championship presented by Coca-Cola, the final round of the inaugural FedEx Cup Playoffs, featuring Mike Crawford, CGCS at nearby TPC Sugarloaf.

NBCSports.com, “It ain’t easy being green,” Column about the stressed greens at East Lake Golf Course in Atlanta, going in to the PGA Tour Championship presented by Coca-Cola, the final round of the inaugural FedEx Cup Playoffs, featuring Ralph Kepple, CGCS.

We need your help

Do you know a superintendent who's done something interesting? We'd like to hear about it, so click here.