Super Notes

GCSAA Class A director of golf course maintenance Casey Conlin, CGCS, is hosting the LG Skins Game at Indian Wells Golf Resort in Indian Wells, Calif.

GCSAA Assistant director of golf course maintenance Henry Ng is hosting the Omega Mission Hills World Cup at Mission Hills Golf Club in Shenzhen, China.

Anderson gets Carolinas Award

One of the longest-serving golf course superintendents in the Carolinas will receive the Distinguished Service Award from the Carolinas GCSA. Bill Anderson, CGCS, director of greens and grounds at 36-hole Carmel Country Club in Charlotte, N.C., was honored at the association’s annual conference in Myrtle Beach, S.C., this month.

The award is the highest that the organization bestows and recognizes outstanding achievement and contribution in the service of golf course superintendents and the golf industry in the Carolinas.

Anderson, a certified golf course superintendent, is now in his 35th successive year at Carmel Country Club, an extraordinarily long tenure in a profession where the average stay at one facility is seven years. He was Carolinas GCSA president in 1982 and has served two separate periods on the association’s board of directors. Through Carmel Country Club, one of the leading private clubs in Charlotte, he has also hosted numerous association events over the years.

He has also trained and mentored many young superintendents towards successful careers. But it is his contribution at a strategic and association management level that is perhaps his greatest legacy. Anderson’s input at critical times has been a major factor in the Carolinas GCSA growing to what is now the largest regional superintendents association in the country with an annual budget well in excess of $1 million.

"The one thing that has always impressed me about Bill is his ability to ask the right question," said GCSAA President Dave Downing, CGCS. "He can sit there with all sorts of information and arguments going back and forth, then he’ll ask the one question that makes sense of it all. That’s an extremely valuable quality and the Carolinas GCSA has been extremely fortunate to have access to it over many years."

Superintendents in the news

Abilene(Kan.) Reflector, Nov. 25: "Shopping spree fits spirit of season" Story about Pat Irvine, GCSAA superintendent member at Indian Hills Golf Course in Chapman, Kan., who lost his home in a June 11 tornado and received an Extreme Makeover: Home Edition from ABC and a $500 shopping spree at Duckwall-ALCO variety store.

San Diego Union-Tribune, Nov. 25: "LPGA tournament could be here in ‘09" Tod Leonard column about the possibility of the LPGA moving its Samsung World Championship. Scheduled for Sept. 17-20, 2009, to Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla, Calif., featuring GCSAA past president Jon Maddern, CGCS, golf operations manager for the city of San Diego.

White Mountain (Ariz.) Independent, Nov. 25: "White Mountain CC’s Jack Bartko inducted into Arizona Golf Hall of Fame" Note about GCSAA superintendent member Mike Pock entering the Arizona Golf Hall of Fame.

Shelby (N.C.) Star, Nov. 24: "Shelby native lands high post in Carolinas’ Golf Association" Feature on Shelby, N.C., native Randy Allen, CGCS, director of golf course operations for Burroughs & Chapin Co. in Myrtle Beach, S.C., becoming the first-ever golf course superintendent named to the Carolinas Golf Association’s executive committee.

Meeting News, Nov. 24: "Green your golf" Article about more golf courses becoming better environmental stewards, featuring data from GCSAA’s Environmental Profile Project, and Eric Ward, CGCS at Mont Tremblant (Quebec) Ski and Golf Resort.

San Diego Union Tribune, Nov. 24: "Counting the cost of staging U.S. Open" Financial report from the city of San Diego about expenses and revenue surrounding hosting the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course, featuring GCSAA CEO Mark Woodward, CGCS, former manager of golf operations for the city of San Diego; and GCSAA past president Jon Maddern, CGCS, San Diego’s current golf operations manager.

Cybergolf, Golf Business Wire, Club & Resort Business, World Golf News, BunkerShot, From the Desk of GCM, Nov. 24: "Azinger to keynote GCSAA Opening Session" News release about Paul Azinger being the keynote speaker for the GCSAA 2009 Education Conference Opening Session Feb. 5 in New Orleans.

Syracuse (N.Y.) Post-Standard, Nov. 24: "Defilippo’s loss was shocking and avoidable" Letter to the editor by Steve Kurta, GCSAA Class A superintendent at Tuscarora Golf Course in Camillus, N.Y., and president of the Central New York GCSA, and CNY GCSA Executive Director Richard Perry, CGCS, about Mark DeFilippo, longtime GCSAA Class A superintendent at Drumlins Golf Course in Syracuse, N.Y., being recently laid off.

Columbia (S.C.) State, Nov. 23: "Economic downturn impacts golf course care" Bob Gillespie column recapping the Carolinas GCSA convention in Myrtle Beach, S.C., and the sagging economy’s impact on golf course maintenance, featuring Paul Jett, CGCS at Pinehurst (N.C.) No. 2 and incoming CGCSA president.

Indianapolis Star, Nov. 23: "Robot entrepreneurs take shot at the greens" Article about Indianapolis-based Partner Precise Path Robotics, a GCSAA Silver Partner, releasing the RG3, an unmanned robotic greens mower, at the Golf Industry Show, featuring GCSAA past president Scott Woodhead, CGCS, GCSAA senior manager of governance/member standards.

Las Vegas Review-Journal, Nov. 21: "Landscape conversions spur rebate changes through 2009" Article about the Southern Nevada Water Authority having to adjust its rebate rules so its cash-for-grass program won’t go over budget before the end of the fiscal year, featuring Kent McCutcheon, GCSAA superintendent member at Canyon Gate Country Club in Las Vegas.

Club & Resort Business, November: "Sudden impact" Joe Barks’ cover story about Chambers Bay Golf Course in University Place, Wash., featuring David Wienecke, GCSAA superintendent member.

Club & Resort Business, November: "Developing a smart bunker mentality" Betsy Gilliland’s Course & Grounds story about superintendents guarding against the maintenance hazards that can threaten optimal conditions, featuring Gale Hultquist, CGCS at Wanakah Country Club in Hamburg, N.Y.; Paul Hoarston, GCSAA Class A superintendent at Highland Country Club in Fort Thomas, Ky.; Kent Turner, GCSAA superintendent member at Brookside Country Club in Canton, Ohio; and Ed Kutt, CGCS at Annandale Country Club in Pasadena, Calif.

Golf Inc., November: "Honors & awards" Note in the Top News section about Dan Dinelli, CGCS at North Shore Country Club in Glenview, Ill., earning the 2009 GCSAA President’s Award for Environmental Stewardship.

Club & Resort Business, November: "CSI: Couse sleuthing intelligence" Dan Dinelli, CGCS at North Shore Country Club in Glenview, Ill., submits his "Super-to-Super" Q&A with GCSAA member Sean Tully, assistant superintendent at the Meadow Club in Fairfax, Calif.

Club & Resort Business, November: "Dinelli earns GCSAA Environmental Award" Note about Dan Dinelli, CGCS at North Shore Country Club in Glenview, Ill., and contributor to the magazine’s "Super-to-Super" Q&As, earning the 2009 GCSAA President’s Award for Environmental Stewardship.

World Golf News, Nov. 21: "Chris Flynn named Golf Grounds Manager of the Year by Marriott" News release about Chris Flynn, CGCS, director of grounds at Grande Pines Golf Club in Orlando, being named Golf Grounds Manager of the Year by Marriott Golf.

West Central Tribune (Willmar, Minn.), Nov. 20: "Benson’s Kjos has Trump course ready for LPGA final" Feature on Andy Kjos, CGCS at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Fla., in his hometown Benson, Minn., newspaper about his preparations for the LPGA Tour’s ADT Championship.

Glenview (Ill.) Announcements, Nov. 20: "People in the news" Note about Dan Dinelli, CGCS at North Shore Country Club in Glenview, Ill., receiving GCSAA’s 2009 President’s Award for Environmental Stewardship.

Orange County (Calif.) Register, Nov. 19: "Black Gold gets close call, but still intact after wildfires" Column about the Black Gold Golf Club’s close call with Southern California wildfires in Yorba Linda, Calif., featuring Bill Houlihan, GCSAA Class A superintendent.

Casper (Wyo.) Star-Tribune, Nov. 19: "Back pay: Charges files in alleged backhoe theft" Story about a man who had been contracted to do cement work at Three Crowns Golf Course in Casper, Wyo., allegedly stealing its backhoe, featuring Michael Smith, GCSAA superintendent member.

Houston Chronicle, Nov. 19: "Golf Notebook: Jackie Burke Cup finale for juniors" Note about the South Texas GCSA’s election results featuring its president-elect Lee Gravett, GCSAA Class A superintendent at Golfcrest Country Club in Pearland, Texas; and board members Willy Plowman, GCSAA Class A superintendent at Willow Fork Country Club in Katy, Texas; Wade Warms, CGCS at the Golf Club at Cinco Ranch in Katy, Texas; Russell Birkhimer, GCSAA Class A superintendent at The Woodlands Country Club’s Canongate; Kevin Borowski, GCSAA superintendent member at Houston Country Club; Steven Chernosky, GCSAA Class A superintendent at The Deerwood Club in Kingwood, Texas; and Blayne Sparks, GCSAA superintendent member at The Wilderness Club in Lake Jackson, Texas.

eCALS, Nov. 18: "Nation’s golf course superintendents honor Monroe Miller" Post on the University of Wisconsin’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences’ blog about Monroe Miller, GCSAA Class A superintendent at Blackhawk Country Club in Madison, Wis., receiving GCSAA’s 2009 Col. John Morley Distinguished Service Award.

Club & Resort Business, October: "There’s a new super in town" Dan Dinelli, CGCS at North Shore Country Club in Glenview, Ill., submits his "Super-to-Super" Q&A with Matt Springer, GCSAA Class A superintendent at Quincy (Ill.) Country Club.

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