Divot Mix

World Golf Hall of Fame to showcase Bob Hope artifacts

World Golf Hall of Fame member Bob Hope shared his love of golf with millions and beginning Saturday, Nov. 8, the hall in St. Augustine, Fla., will pay tribute to his life in a special exhibition, "Bob Hope: Shanks for the Memory."  

Set to offer the largest collection of Hope memorabilia ever placed on public display in a single exhibition, "Shanks" will remain on display throughout 2009.

"The family is thrilled that the World Golf Hall of Fame is going to exhibit Dad’s golf memorabilia," said Linda Hope, Bob Hope’s daughter.  "Dad would have loved the idea that things he saved and cherished will finally be shared with others who love the game of golf."

Visitors will find rich storytelling alongside more than 300 artifacts as they wind through a variety of set pieces designed to reflect the different eras and locations significant to Hope’s life, including England, Cleveland, New York, Hollywood, Palm Springs, Washington, D.C., and sites of USO shows around the world.

Some highlights include:

• The Old Tom Morris Award presented to him by GCSAA in 1984, along with information from GCM magazine about the presentation
• The 1997 Congressional Resolution naming Hope an Honorary Veteran for his humanitarian services to the United States Armed Forces, which was the first such award granted in American history
• The Knight Commander of the British Empire Medal (KBE) Hope received in 1999, when he became only the third American to receive the award at the time
• The Honorary Oscar Hope received at the 25th Annual Academy Awards in 1953 "For His Contribution To The Laughter Of The World – His Service To The Motion Picture Industry and His Devotion To The American Premise"
• The PGA money clip he received in 1942 by the PGA of America, which he carried through his life
• A familiar driver that Hope used on stage as a prop during his USO Tours

"Bob Hope: Shanks for the Memory" is the latest in a series of Hall of Fame member-focused exhibitions developed by the World Golf Hall of Fame.  Other members that have been featured include Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson, Bobby Jones, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus.  For more visit www.wgv.com.

Woodward among golf industry's most powerful

Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) CEO Mark Woodward, CGCS, has been named to Golf Inc. magazine's 2008 "Most Powerful People in Golf."

Woodward joins 34 others listed in Golf Inc.'s October 2008 issue, including previous GCSAA Old Tom Morris Award recipients Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Tim Finchem.

"We are pleased to see that Mark is recognized as one of the most powerful people in golf," said GCSAA president David S. Downing II, CGCS. "This reinforces why we selected him to lead our association and it is also recognition that the CEO of GCSAA is one of the key leaders in the game today."

The list also includes several Advisory Council members of The Environmental Institute for Golf:

• Dana Garmany, chairman and CEO of Troon Golf
• Joe Steranka, CEO of PGA of America
• Greg Norman, chairman and CEO of Great White Shark Enterprises, chairman of the Advisory Council, an Institute trustee, and the GCSAA 2008 Old Tom Morris Award winner
• Bill Kubly, founder and CEO of Landscapes Unlimited, past chairman of The Institute's board of trustees

The list focuses strictly on the impact individuals have on the business of golf, through golf course development, operations, management or equipment.

Leaf raking may be a thing of the past

Scientists at The Scotts Miracle-Gro Co., working in partnership with Michigan State University turfgrass researcher Thom Nikolai, Ph.D., have a new fall regimen for obtaining a healthy lawn without backbreaking leaf raking.

Over years of study, Nikolai found that turf was healthier when homeowners mowed fall leaves back into the lawn instead of raking. Recycling the fallen leaves back into autumn lawns saves time and money, adds nutrients, speeds spring greening and reduces weeds.

ScottsMiracle-Gro scientists partnered with Nikolai for further study on this innovative leaf and lawn practice. The team found that following leaf mulching with a feeding of fall lawn fertilizer reduced leaf refuse on lawns the following spring. What neither partner anticipated was discovering a fall leaf recycling practice that homeowners and municipalities alike could embrace: retiring leaf rakes and reducing municipalities' fall leaf pick-up.

"In the fall 2007 leaf mulching study with ScottsMiracle-Gro, I discovered yet another way to encourage decomposition: fertilizing after the mulching process," said. Nikolai. "We tested up to 18 inches in leaf litter topped with Turf Builder or Turf Builder Winter Guard and showed that the fertilized areas had significantly less leaf refuse in the spring."

"Partnering with Dr. Nikolai on this research is an exciting way to develop innovative products for lawn care," said Jeff Garascia, Ph.D., vice president of research and development at Scotts. "ScottsMiracle-Gro views this connection between leaf mulching and fertilizer as integral in our continued efforts to offer sustainable products that further enhance the already acknowledged environmental benefits of turf."

Rundle wins 2009 Joe Dey Award

Dick Rundle of Dallas, Texas – who has served on the Regional Affairs Committee of the United States Golf Association for more than 15 years and has contributed countless hours to many USGA championships as a committee member, organizer, rules official and referee – has been named the recipient of the 2009 Joe Dey Award.

The award, named after the late Joseph C. Dey Jr., recognizes an individual’s meritorious service to the game as a volunteer. The 78-year-old Rundle will receive the honor Feb. 7 at the USGA’s Annual Meeting in Newport Beach, Calif.

"To have one’s efforts noticed, acknowledged and commended by the folks he works with, is the highest honor there is," said Rundle. "Certainly, the most precious accolade one can ever receive comes from his peers. I am proud that my work has been worthy."

In 1990, Rundle became a volunteer rules official working in the NTPGA (Northern Texas Section PGA of America). It was then that he began a relationship with the late Frank Anglim - winner of the 1999 Joe Dey Award - and Rundle had the honor of introducing Anglim at the USGA’s awards ceremony that year.

"Dick has always given the USGA his best, both with his supreme competence, and his generosity with his time and expertise," said USGA President Jim Vernon. "He exemplifies what we value and appreciate in a volunteer, and I cannot think of a more deserving recipient of this honor."

Auctions raise $10,000 for The Institute

Silent and live auctions held during "Green Night at Camelback" at the recent Golf Inc. Conference raised more than $10,000 for The Environmental Institute for Golf.

The auctions included autographed items from Greg Norman and architect Michael Hurdzan, Ph.D., an African photo safari and a Colorado golf vacation. More than 500 course owners, operators and golf industry executives attended the three-day conference and discussed issues such as environmentally responsible water management and escalating business costs.