Super Notes

Blair Kirby, GCSAA superintendent at PGA National Resort & Spa (Champion Course), is hosting the Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

VGCSA announces its annual awards

The Virginia GCSA has presented Steve Burnette of Lake Chesdin Golf Club with its Distinguished Service Award for outstanding service to the association and the profession over the past year.  He was recognized for his role in leading the Old Dominion GCSA as its president, during a most stressful drought season.
 
Til Hankley received the association's highest award, the Presidents Award for Lifetime Service. Hankley was instrumental as a founder and leader of the association, and recently retired after a distinguished career at outstanding Richmond-area clubs.  He was also known as a mentor to many superintendents in Virginia.
 
The association also honored Virginia Tech student Gregory Caldwell with its annual scholarship award.

Superintendents in the news

(Phoenix) Arizona Republic, "Golf groomer to get ‘inside the ropes’ at U.S. Open," about GCSAA past president Mark Woodward, CGCS, golf operations manager for the city of San Diego, calling on former assistant Don Flavell, GCSAA Class A superintendent at Dobson Ranch Municipal Golf Course in Mesa, Ariz., to join Woodward’s volunteer staff at Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla, Calif., for the U.S. Open.

Myrtle Beach (S.C.) Sun News, "Green color of choice this time of year, regardless of what course needs," about the challenges Myrtle Beach, S.C., area golf course superintendents face in trying to provide premier course conditions because of economic peak time of season, even though its not the peak time agronomically, and the balancing act of customizing their golf course management schedules to fit the golf seasons rather than those of Mother Nature. It features Randy Allen, CGCS, director of golf course and grounds maintenance for Burroughs & Chapin, which owns five courses and manages another four along the Grand Strand.

Elgin (Ill.) Courier News, "Bowes Creek golf course to open in 2009," about a new Chicagoland golf course being built, Bowes Creek, featuring GCSAA affiliate member Mike Lehman, golf services manager at The Highlands of Elgin (Ill.), and Brad Legnaioli, CGCS.

XM Satellite Radio, "PGA Tour Live," Radio interview on the PGA Tour Channel with Paul Ellwood, CGCS at The Gallery at Dove Mountain in Tucson, Ariz., host of the World Golf Championships Accenture Match Play Championship.

New York Times, "A face travelers will find on every Southwest flight," about GCSAA member Terry Buchen, CGCS, MG, president and consulting agronomist of Golf Agronomy International, and his photo shoot for Southwest Airlines advertising department, which has landed his face on Southwest’s ticket jackets.

Club & Resort Business, "The Country Club at Mirasol moves smoothly to member-owned," about management team at The Country Club at Mirasol in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., taking important steps to ensure a comfortable transition to a member-owned facility, featuring GCSAA member Michael Thomas, director of golf course maintenance, who stays accessible and visible through regular and effective weekly golf course updates e-mailed to members and summaries of those which are printed in the club’s printed monthly newsletter.

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