Industry News

National Alliance for Accessible Golf awards GAIN grants

The National Alliance for Accessible Golf announced today it has awarded more than $50,000 to expand the GAIN (Golf: Accessible and Inclusive Networks) program nationwide.  Due to the strong interest in the program, the deadline for 2009 grant applications has been extended to Jan. 16, 2009.

Recipients of the GAIN  funding include the following organizations:

• Accessible Golf of Wilmington: ACCESS Inc. in Wilmington, N.C.
• The Children’s Course, Home of The First Tee, Gladstone, Ore.
• Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation in Salt Lake County, Utah
• The Ability Center of Greater Toledo in partnership with The First Tee of Lake Erie in Toledo, Ohio

"The Alliance is pleased to continue funding for inclusive golf programs that will touch hundreds of children and adults with disabilities," said Alliance President Trey Holland.  "Because of the strong interest in GAIN, we’ve extended the grant application process through mid-January," he added.

 Through GAIN and other programs, the Alliance promotes inclusion and awareness to the golf industry, golf instructors, and the public. GAIN couples community programs and other resources to provide opportunities for people with disabilities to become involved in the game of golf -- not just through lessons on how to hit the ball, but by involving them in the social aspects of the game as well.
           
The National Alliance for Accessible Golf is a charitable organization working to ensure the opportunity for all individuals to play the game of golf. The Alliance is represented by major golf organizations in the United States, organizations that provide services for people with disabilities, and other advocates.

GCSAA is a founding member of the Alliance with a seat on the board of directors and supports it each year financially and with in-kind services.  For more information visit:  www.accessgolf.org.

IA Unveils New Brand Identity

The Irrigation Association has unveiled a new logo and tagline as part of a strategic plan to become the recognized authority on irrigation.
 
The new logo communicates the critical link between irrigation and making things grow, while the tagline "Smart practices. Sustainable solutions." is a powerful message of IA's mission and its members' commitment to better water management.

"IA's logo has served us well for more than 30 years," said IA President Stephen W. Smith during the general session of the Irrigation Show 2008. "But as we expand our efforts to promote efficient irrigation and the importance of working with irrigation experts, we need a brand that helps policymakers, consumers and those outside the irrigation industry understand who we are and what we're about."
 
Increasing IA's role and visibility in the water management debate is a strategic goal of the organization. The new logo and brand will:

• Communicate IA's role in bringing industry stakeholders together to define and implement water management best practices.
• Support expanded efforts to promote efficient irrigation and the importance of working with irrigation experts.
• Enhance IA's credibility with policy makers at the local, state, regional and national level.
  Unify the association's major programs, including certification and the annual Irrigation Show

The process for the new brand launch began in early 2008, with a market assessment by the association's board of directors and staff. More than 900 members provided input on the association's logo, with most reporting that the old logo was dated, and did not properly communicate irrigation's role in the green industry. Visit http://www.irrigation.org.

Precise Path Robotics attains GCSAA Silver Partner status

Precise Path Robotics has pledged its support of GCSAA and its members by committing to participate in the association's Partner Recognition Program at the program's Silver level.

"We are proud to welcome Precise Path Robotics to the GCSAA Partner Recognition Program," GCSAA CEO Mark Woodward, CGCS, said. "These resources are invested for the benefit of GCSAA's stakeholders -- member superintendents, their facilities and the golf course management profession. They are put to work to develop education programs, conduct research, offer career resources, create information resources and develop tools to assist our members."

"Our GSCAA Silver Partner status demonstrates our long term commitment to the golf course industry," Doug Traster, president of Precise Path, said. "Helping golf course superintendents, owners and operators realize the benefits of robotics is our top priority, and we intend to be here for the long haul to support the industry in making this important technology adoption."