Industry News

Comments needed on proposed ADA regulations

The U.S. Department of Justice has issued proposed regulations that will impact golf course accessibility. The newly proposed requirements will mandate an accessible (pedestrian) route that connects all accessible elements within the boundary of the golf course and facility.

In its mandated Regulatory Impact Analysis, the DOJ has assumed that virtually every tee and putting green on an existing course will need to be regraded in order to provide compliant accessible (pedestrian) routes to these features.

However, the agency has proposed an exception for the route where a "golf car passage" is provided. DOJ officials would like to hear from owners and operators of public and private golf courses about their existing golf car passages. GCSAA will be preparing comments on behalf of its members in response to the regulations.

The deadline for submitting individual comments to the federal docket is Aug. 18. Learn more.

Get a career head start with Green Start Academy

Nominations are now open for Green Start Academy, a two-day educational and networking event for assistant superintendents sponsored by John Deere Golf and Bayer Environmental Science. This exclusive program offers an opportunity for assistants to enhance their careers by learning best practices, meeting industry experts and networking with peers.

Once nominated by their superintendent, any assistant from the U.S. or Canada can apply to attend Green Start by submitting an essay. Only 50 assistants will be selected to attend the event.

"By combining equipment, irrigation and chemical management education, Green Start provides assistant superintendents with professional development in all golf course maintenance areas," said Neil Cleveland, managing director, Bayer Environmental Science, Green Professional Products. "We’ve heard a lot of positive feedback from past participants and pleased to be actively involved."

Selected winners will attend Green Start Academy Oct. 1-3, 2008, held in Clayton, N.C., at the Bayer Development and Training Center and John Deere’s Turf Care factory in Fuquay Varina, N.C.

"Not only do these assistant superintendents benefit on a personal level, but their golf courses and the entire industry benefit as well," said Gregg Breningmeyer, director of marketing and sales, John Deere Golf.  "We’re proud to help provide this opportunity and are looking forward to a promising group."

Essays will be judged by a panel of industry experts including:  Shawn Emerson, CGCS at Desert Mountain Golf Club; Bob Farren, CGCS at Pinehurst Country Club; Ken Mangum, CGCS at Atlanta Athletic Club; Dean Miller, GCAA Class A superintendent at PGA West and La Quinta Resorts, and Bruce Williams, CGCS at Los Angeles Country Club. For more information, visit www.JohnDeere.com/Academy.

Toro celebrates anniversary

The Toro Co. is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its Center for Advanced Turf Technology, a cross-functional team of engineers and agronomists dedicated to developing cutting-edge technologies in turf care.

"This is a great milestone for us, but it's just the beginning," said Michael Hoffman, chairman and CEO. "There's always an opportunity to innovate, develop and apply technologies that benefit both customers and the environment. It's listening to customers today to anticipate their needs in the future."

The center's team was established in 1998 to develop innovative solutions to customer problems, and environmentally-friendly technologies for customers in the professional turf markets including golf, sports fields, grounds and landscape maintenance. The group's mission was to work across organizational and product group boundaries to discover new innovations that help customers increase productivity, conserve water and energy, and control costs.

"We had direction to work with customers, academic leaders and industry experts to develop solutions that could emerge as breakthrough products. We've had the freedom to be innovative, while focusing on practical solutions - not theory," said Dana Lonn, PE, center director.

Lonn pointed out that while ongoing research and development activity occurs throughout the organization, the special turf technology group ensures Toro is looking strategically across the entire marketplace to identify long-term trends and technologies.

Water management has been a key initiative for the center during its 10-year history with the goal of helping customers better manage water resources and energy.

The center is also working to identify new ways to help its customers use labor more efficiently. Other innovative developed by the company include bio-diesel, subsurface drip irrigation, evapotranspiration controllers that utilize satellite data and sensing technology to detect turf stress.

Grasshopper gets Best in Business Award

Grasshopper Co. has been awarded a 2008 Best in Business Award by the Wichita (Kan.) Business Journal as one of the region's best managed businesses.

The company was one of five overall winners from more than 250 nominees. The award is based on recent growth, financial health, product and marketing innovations, and involvement in the community.

"Being recognized as a progressive and stable company gives me an opportunity to thank our employees for their hard work and dedication," said Stan Guyer president.

"The Best in Business Award adds a great deal to our 50th anniversary celebration this year," said Ruthanne Sticky, marketing director. As part of the award, Grasshopper representatives will attend a meeting of the minds in Napa Valley Calif., where they will discuss business strategies and receive economic forecasts from UMB National Bank.