Super Notes

GCSAA Class A superintendent Paul F. Grogan, CGCS, is hosting the John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run in East Moline, Ill.

GCSAA superintendent Daniel K. Salois is hosting the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic at Highland Meadows Golf Club in Sylvania, Ohio

GCSAA Class A superintendent Gary J. Grandstaff is hosting the Nationwide Tour Players Cup at Pete Dye Golf Club in Bridgeport, W.Va.

Dick Fluter gets OGCSA Hall of Fame award

The Oregon GCSA has recognized Richard A. Fluter as the 2008 recipient of the Hall of Fame Award.

At age 12, Fluter began working at Glendoveer Golf Course in Portland for his father Edward, a previous Hall of Fame Award recipient.

At Glendoveer, he learned a deep appreciation for the game, hard work, and the value of serving others.  He was the first undergraduate in turf management at Oregon State University in 1966, and began a career of service to the industry that has spanned 40 years.  During that time he worked at Oswego Lake Country Club for 28 years, and most recently as president of Pacific Sports Turf, all the while being willing to give advice and help anyone in need. 

An Oregon GCSA member since 1966, he served as president from 1974 to 1977.  During his term on the board he helped organize the first official superintendent’s pesticide exam sessions in Oregon, the Pro/Superintendent/ Manager/Director Tournament, and organized local efforts involved in the 1977 GCSAA Conference and Show held in Portland.

In the years since, Fluter has served in advisory roles with local college programs and state agriculture committees.  He has been a strong supporter of Oregon State through board service with Trysting Tree Golf Club, and the Guistina Foundation, and was instrumental in helping to acquire the recent $1 million endowment for the OSU Turf Program.

Superintendents in the news

Naples (Fla.) Daily News, July 4: "Grey Oaks golf course superintendent dies in boat crash," about GCSAA Class A member Rick Tatum, director of golf course operations at Grey Oaks Country Club in Naples, Fla., who was killed in a boating accident in the Florida Keys July 2, featuring GCSAA Class A members Mark Black, CGCS, director of golf course and grounds at Quail West Golf & Country Club in Naples, Fla.; Darren Davis, director of golf course operations at Olde Florida Golf Club in Naples, Fla., and president of the Florida Turfgrass Association; and Matt Taylor, CGCS, director of golf course operations at Royal Poinciana Golf Club in Naples, Fla.

The Everglades GCSA is sponsoring a tournament raise funds for Tatum's family on Friday Aug. 1, at Grey Oaks Country Club in Naples. Due to previous medical conditions, Tatum did not have life insurance at the time he died. For details on the event, click here

Riverside (Calif.) Press-Enterprise, July 9: "Inland golf courses face challenges of water conservation," about the effects of California’s drought on the golf course industry, featuring GCSAA Class A member John Martinez, director of golf operations at the SCGA Golf Course in Murrieta, Calif.

Green Bay (Wis.) Press-Gazette, July 9: "Super ‘amigos’ share golf journey," about three former golf course superintendents in the Green Bay, Wis., area who began their careers on the staff together at Shorewood Golf Course on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, remained close as they each took head superintendent jobs at Shorewood, Brown County Golf Course and NorthBrook Country Club, and now in retirement as well, featuring GCSAA members Paul Delfosse and Tom Schaller.

Binghamton (N.Y.) Press & Sun-Bulletin, July 8: "Players praise conditions at En-Joie," feature on Andrew Cain, GCSAA Class A superintendent at En Joie Golf Club in Endicott, N.Y., host of the Champions Tour’s Dick’s Sporting Good Open.

Hilton Head (S.C.) Island Packet, July 7: "Belfair’s East Course called into duty again for Players Amateur," preview of the Players Amateur Championship at Belfair Golf Club’s East Course in Bluffton, S.C., featuring GCSAA Class A member Eric Greytok, director of golf course maintenance.

Philly Burbs, July 6: "Heritage Creek course on hold," about Heritage Creek Golf Club being built in Jamison, Pa., and scheduled to open in 2009, ceasing construction because of financial concerns, featuring GCSAA members Ryan Woodard, superintendent, and Jay Woodring, assistant superintendent, of the six completed holes which are open for play.

Quad-City Times (Davenport, Iowa), July 6: "JDC bunkers down, repairs traps," about TPC Deere Run’s bunker renovation and preparations for the PGA Tour’s John Deere Classic, featuring Paul Grogan, CGCS.

Lima (Ohio) News, July 6: "Greens going green," about increasing eco-friendly practices in golf industry, featuring GCSAA member Tom Holtsberry of Colonial Golfers Club in Harrod, Ohio.

Carthage (Mo.) Press, July 5: "Independence Day in Carthage," about the Carthage (Mo.) Municipal Golf Course hosting the city’s fireworks display, featuring Kurt Neubert, GCSAA Class A superintendent, and his all-night cleanup efforts in order to re-open the golf course the next morning.

Escanaba (Mich.) Daily Press, July 5: "Golf soars to a new level," review of Sweetgrass Golf Club in Harris, Mich., featuring John Holberton, GCSAA Class A superintendent.

Franklin (N.C.) Press, July 4: "Smoky Mountain Country Club gets facelift," about the $3.5 million renovation at Smoky Mountain Country Club in Whittier, N.C., featuring GCSAA member Tony Belcher, superintendent.

Toledo Free Press, July 4: "Grounds crew keep Farr home on par," coverage of the LPGA’s Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic presented by Kroger at Highland Meadows Golf Club in Sylvania, Ohio, featuring GCSAA members Dan Salois, golf course superintendent, and Jason Bultemeier, assistant superintendent.

Toledo Free Press, July 4: "Salois prepares for first Jamie Farr," feature on GCSAA member Dan Salois, golf course superintendent at Highland Meadows Golf Club in Sylvania, Ohio, host of the LPGA’s Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic presented by Kroger.

Decatur (Ala.) Daily, July 4: "Course changes provide new challenges for players," tournament coverage from the Daikin America Spirit of America golf tournament at Burningtree Country Club in Decatur, Ala., featuring Tom Dickman, GCSAA Class A superintendent.

Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader, July 3: "Highland Springs gets more bit," preview of the Nationwide Tour’s Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr. Pepper at Highland Springs Country Club in Springfield, Mo., featuring Ken Smith, CGCS.

WOWK TV 13 (Charleston/Huntington, W.Va.), July 3: "Preparations underway at the Pete Dye Golf Club," story and accompany video on Charleston/Huntington, W.Va., CBS affiliate previewing the Nationwide Tour’s Players Cup at Pete Dye Golf Club in Bridgeport, W.Va., featuring GCSAA members Gary Grandstaff, Class A superintendent, and Jay Sporl, Nationwide Tour agronomist.

Binghamton (N.Y.) Press & Sun-Bulletin, July 3: "En-Joie looks better than par for the course," preview of the Champions Tour’s Dick’s Sporting Good Open, and the widespread satisfaction with the conditioning at En Joie Golf Club in Endicott, N.Y., featuring Andrew Cain, GCSAA Class A superintendent. "I told the superintendent, 'Anybody says anything about your greens, you come get me and we'll just have a little talk.' These greens are perfect." – Champions Tour player Steve Thomas.

Quincy (Ill.) Herald-Whig, July 3: "Golfers defy astronomical odds to create memory to last a lifetime," about Rick Miles, GCSAA Class A superintendent at Westview Golf Course in Quincy, Ill., and his assistant, Kevin Ritter, both getting a hole-in-one, while playing in the same foursome, on the same 176-yard, par 3 seventh hole at Quincy (Ill.) Country Club, during the twice yearly competition between the two golf course staffs, called the Maintenance Cup, on June 30.

(Fayetteville) Arkansas Democrat Gazette, July 3: "Pinnacle pinpoints accuracy," preview of the LPGA P&G Beauty Northwest Arkansas Championship and the course setup at Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers, Ark., featuring Todd Towery, GCSAA Class A superintendent.

Washington Post, July 3: "Water use habits get a splash of fresh ideas," about how the advances in management techniques and understanding of grasses address environmental concerns, featuring GCSAA; results from GCSAA’s Environmental Profile Project; GCSAA members Tim Hiers, CGCS, director of golf course management at The Old Collier Golf Club in Naples, Fla.; James Murphy, Ph.D., turfgrass professor at Rutgers University; Paul Vermeulen, director of agronomy for the PGA Tour; and Jim Snow, director of the USGA’s Green Section and Environmental Institute for Golf trustee.

Hartford (Conn.) Courant, July 3: "A beetle battles the purple loosestrife invader," about Scott Gennings, CGCS at Wallingford (Conn.) Country Club successfully using Galerucella beetles, instead of herbicides or costly equipment, to remove purple loosestrife, an invasive plant overtaking the wet areas of the golf course.

Columbus (Ind.) Republic, July 3: "Timbergate tending to turf troubles," report on flood damage to Timbergate Golf Course in Edinburgh, Ind., featuring GCSAA member Troy Yarnell, superintendent.

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