Super Notes

Joseph Hubbard, CGCS, GCSAA Class A director of golf maintenance of The Old Course at Broken Sound Club, is hosting the Allianz Championship in Boca Raton, Fla.

Manuel L. Sousa, GCSAA Class A superintendent of Poppy Hills, is hosting the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in Pebble Beach, Calif.

Chris Dalhamer, CGCS of Pebble Beach Golf Links, is hosting the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in Pebble Beach, Calif.

Robert C. Yeo, GCSAA Class A superintendent at Spyglass Hill Golf Course, is hosting the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in Pebble Beach, Calif.

Zimmers named superintendent of the year

Oakmont Country Club’s John Zimmers, who hosted the 2007 U.S. Open, was named the 2007 Golf Course Superintendent of the Year by TurfNet. The award is sponsored by Club Car.

Zimmers was selected from superintendents throughout the U.S. who were nominated for the honor by club members, general managers, assistants and club professionals in recognition of their contributions to course conditions, labor and budget management and service to golf clientele.

"The work John and his team did to overcome challenges they had no control over and provide the conditions Oakmont and the USGA required for the U.S. Open was phenomenal," said Mike Packer, Club Car vice president, who presented a Club Car Carryall Turf 252 utility vehicle to Zimmers during the Golf Industry Show.

After planning for more than five years in anticipation of hosting the Open, Zimmers watched as a late-spring snow turned to freezing rain and a sheet of ice covered Oakmont’s prized greens. "It was like watching five or six years of work just go down the tubes," Zimmers said. "You couldn’t have prepared for it and you couldn’t stop it, either."

Vlach named superintendent at TPC Sawgrass

The PGA Tour has appointed agronomy veteran Tom Vlach, CGCS, as the superintendent at TPC Sawgrass, replacing Fred Klauk who is retiring after 27 years.

Vlach’s will begin after The Players Championship in May 2008.

"Tom’s proven success hosting PGA Tour events, outstanding leadership skills and commitment to service excellence make him ideally suited for this demanding and high-profile position," said Cal Roth, vice president of agronomy.

Klauk, who will assist in the transition as well as remain active with the tour as a project manager, was instrumental in selecting his replacement. Vlach was previously director of grounds maintenance at Greystone Golf and Country Club in Birmingham, Ala.

He also was assistant superintendent at TPC Sawgrass under Klauk.

Superintendents in the news

(Jacksonville) Florida Times Union, Feb. 6: "TPC Sawgrass lands new superintendent" Article about Tom Vlach, CGCS, replacing Fred Klauk at TPC Sawgrass. Vlach first worked for Klauk at age 14 when his high school golf team worked on the Honda Classic course.

San Francisco Chronicle, Feb. 5: "January rains could be boon to February scoring"
Notebook from PGA Tour’s AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, featuring Chris Dalhamer, CGCS at Pebble Beach (Calif.) Golf Links.

Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer, Feb. 5: "Superintendent at Bayonet has Augusta ties"
Story about Bayonet at Puppy Creek hiring Sam Murphy, GCSAA Class A superintendent.

MontereyCounty (Calif.) Herald, Feb. 4: "Last-minute tweaks for AT&T"
Article about tournament preparations and course conditions at Poppy Hills Golf Course in Pebble Beach, Calif., co-host of the PGA Tour’s AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, featuring Manny Sousa, GCSAA Class A superintendent.

Jupiter (Fla.) Courier, Feb. 2: "The Shark schmoozes"
Story about Jupiter (Fla.) Country Club featuring its designer, Greg Norman, mentioning the Old Tom Morris Award from GCSAA.

Golf Business, February: "Getting wet"
Story in the On Course section of the National Golf Course Owners Association’s official publication about the Club at Carlton Woods in The Woodlands, Texas, solving a maintenance problem and securing a lucrative real estate sale by transforming a waste area to a water feature, featuring Eric Bauer, GCSAA Class A superintendent.

Sebastian (Fla.) Sun, Jan. 31: "Newest Treasure Coast course debuts Friday"
Column about the reopening of Vista Meadows Country Club in Sarasota, Fla., with nine new holes, featuring owner/operator Robert Carter, GCSAA Class A member.

XM Satellite Radio, Jan. 31: "PGA Tour Live"
Radio interview on the PGA Tour Channel with Jeff Plotts, GCSAA Class A superintendent at TPC Scottsdale (Ariz.), host of the PGA Tour’s FBR Open.

Green Section Record, January-February: "Don’t wait until the well runs dry"
Article about proactively seeking water resources in the USGA Green Section’s official publication written by Tom Werner, CGCS at Shadowhawk Golf Club in Richmond, Texas.

Green Section Record, January-February: "Washing your cares away"
Story about the construction of Prairie Dunes Country Club’s wash pad for its turf management center, featuring Stan George, CGCS.

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