Industry News

$1 million professorship created at Oregon State University

A Northwest family with more than 40 years in the golf business has donated $1 million to endow a faculty position in turf management at Oregon State University .

The N.B. and Jacqueline Giustina professorship in turf management will help recruit a faculty member to the program established by Tom Cook, who is planning to retire in fall 2008. The gift honors the late Nat Giustina, a 1941 OSU graduate, lifelong golfer and owner of an Oregon timber business.

"I am deeply grateful to Nat's wife Jackie and the entire Giustina family for honoring Nat in this way," said Cook. "Nat was always our strongest supporter from the day I arrived at OSU. This generous gift will ensure our turf program will continue to meet the challenge of educating future superintendents who can produce outstanding playing surfaces for the public and enhance the unique environmental benefits that golf courses can provide urban areas."

Under Cook's direction, OSU's turf management program has earned national recognition. In 30 years at OSU, Cook has lead the development of new grass mixes that require less water and chemicals and devised new approaches to making golf courses environmentally "green" without compromising functionality, rigor and form.

The program has also produced graduates who have served as superintendents of prominent golf courses all over the West Coast and beyond, including Bandon Dunes, Pebble Beach and Pronghorn. For his many contributions, Cook was honored with the Distinguished Service Award by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America in 2006.

The gift is a boost to a fundraising effort started by the Oregon GCSA and its foundation to benefit the turf management program, in anticipation of Cook's upcoming retirement.

The fundraising drive includes support from the Oregon Seed Trade Association, Northwest Turf Grass Association, Oregon Turf and Tree Farms, as well as several other individual supporters. OSU's College of Agricultural Sciences is seeking additional gifts to grow an endowed fund to provide resources for the turf program's research, education and outreach activities.

In the 1960s Giustina established the Tokatee Golf Club, which is still a family business headed up by Nat's son Larry Giustina. Nat Giustina was also a long time volunteer for OSU and served 25 years on the OSU Foundation Board.

The professorship is part of a larger $4 million gift by the Giustina family in support of The Campaign for OSU.

Heart of America GCSA donates to The Institute

The Heart of America GCSA has continued its support of The Environmental Institute for Golf with a $5,000 donation toward research and education to enhance golf's relationship with the environment.

"The Environmental Institute for Golf's research, education and technological advancements have resulted in positive results for golf's association with the environment," said World Golf Hall of Fame member Greg Norman, Institute trustee and chairman of its Advisory Council. "Golf course superintendents are the chief environmental stewards for golf, so it speaks volumes of GCSAA's Heart of America chapter to continue these donations to The Institute, further strengthening the compatibility of golf with our environment."

With this donation, the Heart of America GCSA has reached the Governor's Club level in the Cumulative Giving Program, which recognizes organizations that have contributed between $50,000 and $99,999 to The Environmental Institute for Golf since 1987. An affiliate chapter of GCSAA, the Heart of America GCSA also has attained Platinum Tee Club status again. The Platinum Tee Club is the giving club for organizations that contribute a minimum of $5,000 annually and Heart of America GCSA has given $5,000 for 14 years. The Heart of America GCSA, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, is represented by the metropolitan Kansas City region.

"The Heart of America GCSA is pleased to continue its support of The Institute," said Heart of America GCSA President Scott Johnson, CGCS at Shadow Glen Golf Club in Olathe , Kan. "We believe Institute programs such as research are worth investing in because of the benefits they provide to our members."

2009 GIS site launches

The 2009 Golf Industry Show Web site is now available online with information about the show, scheduled for Feb. 5-7 in New Orleans. Exhibitors to the show can sign up for 2009 now. Over the coming months the site will grow to include information for GCSAA members and attendees.

NGF presents customer loyalty awards

The National Golf Foundation has named the winners of its the 6th annual Customer Loyalty Awards to managers of public golf facilities that received high approval ratings from their customers. In addition, NGF has created a new award for "most improved" facilities who conducted customer surveys in 2006 and 2007.

The Customer Loyalty Awards are based on surveys fielded through the online Golfer Survey Program. As part of the program, golfers indicate how likely they would be to recommend a particular golf course to a friend or colleague. The most recommended facilities, and the most improved, are being recognized with these awards.

"This year's awards recognize golf facilities as far away as Japan and Alaska ," says Ben Fowler, NGF's golf facility research and consulting sales manager. "Our extended geographic reach is exemplary of the growth of the GSP system."

Awards are given two categories, highest scoring facilities in 2007 and most improved facilities between 2006 and 2007. Within each category, facilities are separated by high, medium and low price points. For more on the awards and a list of Most Improved, click here .

Facilities with highest loyalty scores: