Industry News

Nike's Wood elected EIFG chairman

The Environmental Institute for Golf has elected officers and added three new members to its board of trustees

Bob Wood, president of Nike Golf, was elected chairman. Ken Melrose, president of Leading By Serving, LLC, and retired chairman and CEO of The Toro Co., was elected vice chairman/treasurer.

LPGA board member Rae Evans, founder and president of the Evans Capitol Group in Washington, D.C., and GCSAA Secretary/Treasurer James R. Fitzroy, CGCS, director/superintendent at the Wollaston Recreational Facility/Presidents Golf Course in North Quincy, Mass., were added to the board of trustees for three-year terms. Fitzroy will serve as secretary.

Mark J. Woodward, CGCS, returns to The Institute's board of trustees as GCSAA's recently-hired CEO.

"We had some very positive outcomes at the last meeting," said Wood, who also serves on The Institute's Advisory Council. "The addition of Rae, Jim and Mark strengthens The Institute's board of trustees, and they will all play a key role in advancing The Institute's mission." For more on The Institute and its board of trustees, click here.

IAC provides input on upcoming Golf Industry Show

The Industry Advisory Council met in New Orleans in April to discuss the 2009 Golf Industry Show, Feb. 5-7.

The group, which consists of industry representatives from all facets of the golf course, facility and club management industry, advises Golf Industry Show management in its efforts to be strategically well-positioned in the industry and provide outstanding products, programs and services to members and industry partners. Discussions included the 2008 exhibitor and attendee survey, 2009 trade show floor, marketing efforts and technology.  Additionally, the IAC conducted an event SWOT analysis, discussing the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the event.

Mark Bisbing, GCSAA director of corp. sales and marketing, said that the recommendations made by the IAC will be considered as the show management staff continues to prepare for New Orleans and beyond.  "The IAC is an integral part of our strategic planning.  The input we get from it helps us deliver an event that is relevant and continually evolving to meet the needs of our attendees and industry supporters," said Bisbing.

Mid-Am presents awards to horticulture schools

The 2008 Mid-America Horticultural Trade Show hosted a record-setting 726 students from 48 area universities, colleges, trade schools, and high schools at its student career center.  Continuing its yearly tradition, Mid‑Am presented nearly $5,400 in cash awards to the top schools represented.

For the first time in eight years, a new school sponsored the most students.  Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences sponsored 76 students, earning a cash award of $760.  Continuing its commitment to the industry, Joliet (Ill.) Junior College, sponsored 73 students. The University of Wisconsin Extension sponsored 67 students, the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Ill., sponsored 53 and Kishwaukee College in Malta, Ill., received $440 for sponsoring 44 students, rounding out the top five schools. 

The rest of the top ten schools sending students to the career center were:  Purdue University, the University of Indiana, Parkland College, Andrews University, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College and Chicago Vocational Career. 

Mid-Am is being relocated next year to Chicago’s McCormick Place West and will be held Jan. 14-16. Contact 847-526-2010, http://www.midam.org.

Rounds down in March

Rounds of golf played in the U.S. were down 9.9 percent on a same-facility basis in March 2008 vs. March 2007 according to the National Golf Foundation.

Even with one extra weekend day this March vs. last, most regions doing relatively high volume in the month were down: Central/South Florida (-3.1 percent), Gulf Coast (-1.8 percent) and South Central (-8.5 percent). However, the Southwest was up 0.5 percent. With three fewer play days this March vs. last, the South Central was particularly hard hit with poor weather.

March accounts for only about 5 percent of annual rounds volume, and the first quarter for 12 percent, so the impact of recent performance on the full year will be minimal.