People News

Golf course architect Ted Robinson dies at 84

Theodore (Ted) G. Robinson, a past president of the American Society of Golf Course Architects, died March 2, 2008, at his home in Laguna Beach, California after a 10 month battle with pancreatic cancer.  He was 84.

Robinson served as ASGCA president from 1983-84.  He joined ASGCA in 1973, and ascended to Fellow in 1995. Robinson is credited with more than 160 projects that bear his influence, including courses in the Western United States, Hawaii, Mexico, Japan, Korea and Indonesia.

"ASGCA is saddened by Ted’s passing," said ASGCA President Steve Forrest.  "His work over the past 50 years represents some of the best in the industry and he was a true pioneer in golf course architecture.  His integrated design concepts set the standard for many of today’s architects.  As both a colleague and a friend, he will be missed."
 
Dubbed the "King of Waterscapes," Robinson endorsed the use of water as a defining hazard for course designs.  He believed waterscapes gave putting greens maximum character and provided players with an appealing challenge. More on Robinson’s career and video clips of him discussing his work, can be found on in the "Architects Gallery."

Lebanon Seaboard hires Heegard

Lebanon Seaboard Corp. has added Dave Heegard as national sales manager. He will be responsible for the sale of all LebanonTurf branded fertilizers and seeds in the golf, landscape and professional markets.
  
Prior to joining LebanonTurf he spent more than 20 years in roles of increasing responsibility within the Scotts organization, and most recently was vice president of sales and marketing for Pursell Technologies Inc.

Profile adds Gauthier to technical service team

Profile Products has hired Becky Gauthier as a technical service associate. Previously, Gauthier worked for Fiber Marketing International/Canfor, and has been a member of the hydraulic mulch industry since the beginning with Weyerhaeuser in 1991.
 
Gauthier will support the Profile sales and marketing team by helping to integrate Canfor customers into the Profile distribution network, following Profile's recent acquisition of the Canfor hydraulic mulch product. She will also support Profile's western distributors and regional managers with technical product expertise, application assistance and product education.

Agrotain expands sales and marketing staff

Agrotain International has announced the completion of a major personnel expansion.

Jeff Whetstine joined the company as vice president of global marketing in St. Louis. He was formerly with Osborn & Barr Communications in St. Louis working with clients including Monsanto Com., Michelin, Becker Underwood, and Solutia.

Ryan Vidrine has been hired as a regional manager in Louisiana, Jeffrey Perrotti is the new as the regional manager in the Pacific Northwest and Daryl Clay is the regional manager for Delaware, Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina.

Two new international regional managers were also added: Richard Sherman in Mexico and Central America, and Gordon Welch on the South Pacific Rim.