Industry News

Silent Auction donors support the profession and the industry

GCSAA would like to thank the companies who have made generous donations to the 2008 Golf Industry Show Silent Auction. Double Eagle donors contributed an estimated value of $7,500 and above, while Eagle donors contributed an estimated value of $5,000–$7,499. You can now preview the auction items online, with bidding scheduled to open Jan. 7 at noon (Central). Proceeds from the auction support research and education, player development programs, and grants and scholarships.

Monsanto attains Silver Partner status

Monsanto Co. has pledged its support of GCSAA and its members by committing to participate in the association's Partner Recognition Program. Monsanto will invest resources at the program's "Silver" level.

"We are proud to welcome Monsanto to the GCSAA Partner Recognition Program," said GCSAA CEO Steve Mona, CAE. "These resources are invested for the benefit of GCSAA's stakeholders -- member superintendents, their facilities and the golf course management profession. We are appreciative of Monsanto's support and I know our members are as well."

"Monsanto has long supported the work of golf course superintendents and is pleased to be a part of their ongoing educational and career development," said Curt Uebele, Monsanto’s turf and ornamental marketing manager.

Monsanto Co. is a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality. For more information on Monsanto, see: www.monsanto.com.

Powell honored at Ohio Turfgrass Conference and Show

The 41st Annual Ohio Turfgrass Conference and Show, Dec. 3, opened with a very special awards ceremony. 

William Powell, the owner of Clearview Golf Club, was presented with the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation Professional of the Year Award.  Ninety-one-year-old Powell is the only African-American to design, build, own and operate a golf course.  In 1946, after his return from fighting in World War II, he broke ground for Clearview Golf Club near Canton, Ohio, after being refused permission to play area golf courses because he was black.

Powell has won numerous other awards, including The Jack Nicklaus Golf Family of the Year Award; Cornerstone of Freedom Award from the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission, and the "Diamond in the Rough Tribute" by the National Golf Foundation.  He also has been inducted in the National Black Golf Hall of Fame and the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame, among other accomplishments.

Powell’s award was presented by Michael Hurdzan, Ph.D., Hurdzan/Fry Golf Course Design.  

Other highlights from this year’s Ohio Turfgrass Conference & Show included:

OTF Professional Excellence Awards were presented to John Miller, CGCS, and Mike O’Keeffe. 

Miller, former superintendent at Yankee Trace Golf Club in Dayton, Ohio, and recently accepted a position as the first GCSAA LPGA Agronomist.

O’Keeffe is program manager of Global Turf/Golf Training Programs in the International Exchange Program at The Ohio State University.

In addition, outgoing OTF president Mark Jordan, superintendent at Westfield Company Country Club, presented a $154,000 check to Bobby Moser, Ph.D., dean of the OSU College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. The check represented OTF’s 2007 donations of $132,000 for turfgrass research and extension outreach, and $22,000 in student scholarships awarded to 12 turfgrass students from around Ohio.

UF/IFAS summit helps plan for the future

Nearly 80 representatives of turfgrass science, education and industry gathered in December to discuss University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences turfgrass research, teaching and Extension programs.

"There’s a lot going on in the turfgrass field, and it’s important that the university communicate with its constituents and the industry to tell them about what we do," said Laurie Trenholm, UF/IFAS environmental horticulture associate professor.

The summit was held to summarize research, identify program strengths, hear industry feedback and plan a roadmap for the future.

 "We’re always striving to improve both our materials and their availability through sites like www.solutionsforyourlife.com," Extension’s statewide Web site," said Trenholm.