Super Notes

GCSAA superintendent member Gregory K. Hrycyk is hosting the PGA Tour Q-School Finals at the PGA West Stadium Course  and the PGA West Nicklaus Tournament Course in La Quinta, Calif.

Superintendents in the news

Grand Island (Neb.) Independent, Dec. 3: "Two small colleges produce a huge Nebraska rivalry," college men’s basketball story picked up from the Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald about the rivalry between the University of Nebraska at Kearney and Hastings (Neb.) College, featuring former Hastings guard Doug Sweeney, GCSAA superintendent member at Jackrabbit Run Golf Course in Grand Island, Neb.

Myrtle Beach (S.C.) Sun News, Dec. 2: "Grande Dunes honor shows growing importance of superintendent," Trent Bouts’ monthly column about Steve Martin, GCSAA Class A superintendent at Grande Dunes Golf Club in Myrtle Beach, S.C., which was named Golf Course of the Year by the National Golf Course Owners Association for exceptional quality of the course, among three other criteria, featuring Martin; Palmetto GCSA President Shaun Donahue, GCSAA superintendent member at Tidewater Golf Course in North Myrtle Beach; Joel Ratcliff, CGCS, sales manager with Floratine; Randy Allen, CGCS, director of golf course operations for Burroughs and Chapin, which owns and operates Grande Dunes; and GCSAA President David S. Downing II, CGCS, vice president of operations and construction for Signature Golf Group in Myrtle Beach.

Knoxville(Tenn.) News Sentinel, Dec. 1: "UT turfgrass students get opportunities for growth," article about the University of Tennessee athletic department donating $535,000 to fund a new teaching position in the UT turfgrass science and management program, which 80 of its students want to be golf course superintendents.

La Cañada Valley (Calif.) Sun, Nov. 27: "Four-legged crew clears brush," story about a homeowners organization near La Cañada Flintridge (Calif.) Country Club working with GCSAA superintendent member Larry Garcia to clear a four-acre area off the eighth fairway by borrowing about 100 goats as a more quiet and environmentally friendly abatement technique than using weed whackers.

Bellevue (Neb.) Leader, Nov. 27: "Course of action: Calentine and Fischer rescue owl at La Vista Falls," article about Jeff Calentine, GCSAA superintendent member at La Vista Falls (Neb.) Golf Course rescuing an owl that was caught in a large net separating the first fairway from nearby homes.

Arizona Republic, Nov. 26: "3 going into Arizona Golf Hall of Fame," local golf column with note about GCSAA superintendent member Mike Pock entering the Arizona Golf Hall of Fame.

Naples(Fla.) Daily News, Nov. 26: "TPC Treviso Bay opening up on Tuesday," local golf column with note about the Everglades GCSA donating $5,000 to The Environmental Institute for Golf, featuring GCSAA members Todd Draffen, chapter president and Class A superintendent at TPC Treviso Bay; and Greg Norman, Institute trustee and Advisory Council chairman.

Sacramento Bee, Nov. 26: "Golf Council in need of TLC," local golf column with note about Greg Bliek, GCSAA Class A superintendent at Ancil Hoffman Golf Course in Carmichael, Calif., building forward tee boxes on every hole to create a 5,300-yard minimum layout, as well new back tees on several holes to create a 7,000-yard maximum layout.

South Central Golf, October-November: "Ice storm impact lingers at many section venues," brief (page 9) about the tree damage suffered by many Tulsa, Okla.-area golf courses from a severe ice storm Dec. 10, 2007, featuring Mike Wooten, CGCS at Cedar Ridge Country Club in Broken Arrow, Okla.; and Brady Finton, GCSAA Class A superintendent at Tulsa Country Club.

South Central Golf, October-November: "Pinnacle swings for the fences," story (page 12) about the renovation project at Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers, Ark., featuring Todd Towery, GCSAA Class superintendent.

NCGA Golf Magazine, Fall: "The greener the better," article in the Northern California Golf Association’s official publication about golf courses in Northern California joining the green movement, featuring GCSAA member Mike McCullough, NCGA director of environmental and water resources and Tim Powers, CGCS at Crystal Springs Golf Course in Burlingame, Calif.

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