Divot Mix

Does the average player really know what he likes himself? When he plays it successfully, it is everything that is good, and when he is unsuccessful it is everything that is bad. -- Alister Mackenzie

Mona accepts new job with World Golf Foundation

GCSAA CEO Steve Mona, CAE, has accepted the newly-created CEO position of the World Golf Foundation. Mona has been with GCSAA since Nov. 15, 1993. He has agreed to continue to serve up to another six months to assist in the succession of GCSAA’s new CEO.

Mona's responsibilities will include overall management of the foundation, as well as overseeing the foundation's industry relationships and ongoing global focus, plus its newly announced anti-doping administration office.

"We are extremely pleased that Steve Mona has accepted the newly created position of CEO of the Foundation," said Tim Finchem, commissioner of the PGA Tour. "Steve is recognized as an outstanding leader and a selfless contributor, lending his expertise and energy to numerous executive boards and committees both within and outside of the golf industry."

It was also announced that Joe Louis Barrow Jr., who has been as executive director of The First Tee, will have the new titles of executive vice president of the foundation and CEO of The First Tee. He will report to Mona and The First Tee advisory committee.

Also reporting directly to Mona will be: Jack Peter, senior vice president/COO of the World Golf Hall of Fame; Ruffin Beckwith, executive director of GOLF 20/20; and Helen Atter, vice president, who oversees legal, administration and diversity for the foundation.

"Speaking for the GCSAA Board of Directors and the association's 20,000-plus members, it is indeed a bittersweet day," said GCSAA President Ricky D. Heine, CGCS.

"We are extremely happy for Steve and his wife Cyndi for this wonderful opportunity. The World Golf Foundation is fortunate to have a person of Steve’s intelligence, integrity and vision to be its first chief executive. Just as GCSAA has prospered under his leadership, so too will the World Golf Foundation achieve even greater accomplishments with Steve at the helm.

 "It is difficult to put into words how tough this decision was to make," Mona said. "The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America is a wonderful organization and I will miss my direct association with it. The professional members -- the superintendents and their assistants – are extremely talented, possess great integrity, are passionately loyal and are tireless in their support of each other. They truly are golf’s ‘unseen heroes.’"

"I have had the good fortune of serving with more than a dozen loyal, dedicated and visionary boards of directors. They have never wavered in their commitment to GCSAA’s mission and they have always provided the resources to enable the staff to achieve GCSAA’s objectives. The achievements of the association are due in large part to their foresight."

For more extensive statements from Mona and Heine, click here. Seth Jones, GCM Senior associate editor, has posted on the GCM blog after talking to Mona about his years at GCSAA. To see the PGA Tour announcement, click here.

Course management teams to compete for Pit Crew Challenge

GCSAA member registration for the 2008 GCSAA Education Conference and Golf Industry Show is less than a month away, but attendees can begin planning now to take part in the ultimate team-building experience: the Pit Crew Challenge.

Part of this year’s Team Solutions Center, the challenge allows teams of four to participate in a simulated stock car pit experience. Teams will need to think quickly and work together to claim the championship trophy. TrackTime Racing Schools will facilitate, providing practical learning activities and teaching team members to utilize their skills effectively. To participate, contact Caroline Gollier, trade show manager, via e-mail or at 800-472-7878.

Standard Golf supports Army unit with donation

Standard Golf Co. is bringing a "slice" of home to an American Army unit stationed in Iraq with the donation of numerous golf course accessories for the unit's home-made driving range at Camp Victory, located west of Baghdad.

Psychological Operations Task Force, a reserve and active-duty unit whose members are primarily from the St. Louis, Kansas City and Fort Bragg, N.C., areas, will be the recipient of a bevy of items such as flags, cups, golf balls, clubs, a ball washer, towels and signs.
 
"We just want to thank Standard Golf for this donation and for all they're doing in support of our troops," said LTC Wayne Tasler, commander of the unit.
 
Standard Golf's donation was initiated when Tasler's father contacted Diana Hoffman, customer service representative for Standard Golf.  Tasler's father sought replacement parts for a Standard Golf ball washer that had been previously donated to his son's unit for their newly constructed driving range.  Standard Golf representatives not only sent the replacement parts - they elected to also send Tasler's unit multiple other accessories to outfit the range. 

Standard Golf coordinated this donation with Hornung's Golf Products Inc., located in Fond du Lac, Wis.  Hornung's agreed to donate such items as golf clubs, golf balls, red, white and blue head covers, putting greens, mats and tees.

"So seldom do we get to say 'thank you' to our soldiers for the great and important work they're undertaking," said Hoffman.  "Standard Golf merely sees this donation as a way to give back and support our troops."

GCSAA contributes to Special Olympics tournament success

Nearly 200 golfers with intellectual disabilities from across the United States participated in the eighth annual Special Olympics Golf National Invitational Tournament, Sept. 14-17 at the PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

For the third consecutive year, the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America served as a supporting sponsor of the event. GCSAA Class A member Doug Miller, director of agronomy, and the rest of the PGA Golf Club staff hosted more than 500 athletes, playing partners, family members and Special Olympic staff members.

GCSAA’s sponsorship of the Special Olympics is just one of several events that it supports on a national basis and among the countless national, state and local activities in which its members participate to grow the game of golf and enhance the communities in which they live.

"GCSAA members are tireless in their commitment to the game and to helping others," GCSAA President Ricky D. Heine, CGCS, said. "Whether it is a charitable event at their facility, an activity in their community or coming together as a result of national disaster, GCSAA members are true leaders."

In addition to the Special Olympics event, this year GCSAA provided support for the America Junior Golf Association’s Care Fore the Course program, Patriot Golf Day, Women’s Golf Week and Take Your Daughter to the Course Week. It also contributed to other activities to enhance the game including the National Alliance for Accessible Golf's Pro-Am, the PGA National Minority Golf Championship, The First Tee, and the USGA’s JuniorLinks Web site, among others.