Super Notes

GCSAA Class A Director of Golf Course Maintenance Ernie R. Pock is hosting the Frys.com Open at Grayhawk Golf Club (Raptor Course) in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Follow the preparations for the Frys.com Open when Pock appears on "Making the Turn with Peter Kessler" on XM Satellite Radio's PGA Tour Channel (XM 146 and Sirius 209) at 7:20 a.m. (Central), Friday, Oct. 24. Pock will also record an interview with "PGA Tour Live" that will air during the tournament on the PGA Tour Channel and posted at pgatour.com.

GCSAA Class A superintendent Craig M. Felton is hosting the AT&T Championship at Oak Hills Country Club in San Antonio, Texas.

Golf course superintendent Daniel P. Hyland is hosting the Miccosukee Championship at Miccosukee Golf & Country Club in Miami, Fla.

Lavrenz wins Leo Feser Award

Thomas K. Lavrenz has been honored with the 2008 Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) Leo Feser Award for his article, "Stress: What's really important," which appeared in the February 2008 issue of Golf Course Management magazine.

Nearly five years ago Lavrenz was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease and more than a year ago he was also diagnosed with mitochondrial myopathy. Last year, Lavrenz retired from his job as director of golf for the city of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. In his golf career, he has been an active member of GCSAA for 18 years, working as a Class A superintendent at such Iowa courses as Jones Park Golf Course, Squaw Creek and Ellis Golf Course. Lavrenz now spends his time enjoying the company of Julie, his wife of 25 years, and his five boys, ages 19, 18, 16, 12 and 8, at their home in Hiawatha, Iowa.

The Leo Feser Award is given annually to the best superintendent-written article published in GCM, the association's monthly magazine. The award winner is selected by members of GCSAA's Strategic Communications Committee. Lavrenz will receive the award Feb. 5 during the Opening Session of the GCSAA Education Conference at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center.

Lavrenz's article is about the difference between what is important and can be changed, and what is important but cannot be changed. He tells the reader:

"Stress often results from not being able to differentiate between the two. You must recognize this, figure out what is most important, and then tackle it in a straightforward manner. While all superintendents are different, we have one thing in common: We belong to one of the finest professions in the world. This is not just a job to us … it is our chosen profession. All the way from the CEO of GCSAA to an assistant superintendent in Small Town, U.S.A., our association has been trying to help us recognize our own strengths and weaknesses and improve the quality of our lives. Now I want to help my colleagues in a similar manner."

Read Lavrenz’s article online.

"Tom is a dedicated GCSAA member who has always been willing to share his experience both on and off the golf course" said GCSAA President David S. Downing II, CGCS. "Though not a typical GCM article, we believe it holds meaning for our members and it obviously struck a chord with the Strategic Communications Committee."

As the winner, Lavrenz will receive an all-expense paid trip to the 2009 GCSAA Education Conference and Golf Industry Show in New Orleans. Lavrenz’s name will also be engraved on a plaque that is on permanent display at GCSAA headquarters.

Superintendents in the news

San Antonio Express-News, "Praise from the pros for Oak Hills," preview of the Champions Tour’s AT&T Championship at Oak Hills Country Club in San Antonio, featuring Craig Felton, GCSAA Class A superintendent.

Allentown(Pa.) Morning Call, "NBC, USGA visit Saucon Valley," story and accompanying video about Jim Roney, GCSAA Class A superintendent at Saucon Valley Country Club in Bethlehem, Pa., helping Mike Davis, USGA senior director of rules and competitions, and Tom Roy, executive producer of golf for NBC Sports, scout the Old Course in preparation for the 2009 U.S. Women’s Open.

Houston Chronicle, "Moody Gardens springs back," story about the reopening of Moody Gardens Golf Course in Galveston, Texas, a little more than a month after Hurricane Ike struck, and despite being under four feet of salt water after the storm hit, there was no major turf damage to the salt-tolerant Paspalum grass, featuring Steve Yarotsky, GCSAA superintendent.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Medinah tweaked for 2012 Ryder Cup," Golf Beat post by Gary D’Amato about Medinah (Ill.) Country Club’s preparations for the 2012 Ryder Cup, including the replacement of 88,000 square feet of sand in all 74 bunkers with white sand and a new 12-acre practice facility and short-game practice area that includes three new chipping greens, featuring Curtis Tyrrell, CGCS.

Houston Chronicle, "Administaff switch a hit," Steve Campbell column about the success of the Champions Tour’s Administaff Small Business Classic’s move to The Woodlands Country Club’s Tournament Course only five months before the event, featuring Russell Birkhimer, GCSAA Class A superintendent.

Fort Myers(Fla.) News-Press, "Estero’s Potgieter wins Cape crown," recap of the Cape Coral (Fla.) City Championship at Coral Oaks Golf Course, won by Riaan Potgieter, GCSAA superintendent at Bonita Bay East in Naples, Fla.

Charlottesville (Va.) Daily Progress, "Pooch named Tweed diligently protects country club’s golf course," article about a 12-year-old border collie named Tweed that chases off geese for Farmington Country Club in Charlottesville, Va., featuring Scott Kinnan, GCSAA Class A superintendent.

Worcester (Mass.) Telegram & Gazette, "Pair to be honored at tournament," column about Mike Hermanson, GCSAA Class A superintendent retiring from Gardner (Mass.) Municipal Golf Course, being honored with a special ceremony before the Central Massachusetts Division 1 Championship Oct. 21.

Galveston County (Texas) Daily News, "Island golf course reopens to praise from players," story about the reopening of Moody Gardens Golf Course in Galveston, Texas, 35 days after Hurricane Ike made landfall, leaving debris that included three boats, a truck, a canoe, a swing set and couches, but no major turf damage despite being under four feet of salt water after the storm hit, thanks to the new paspalum turf installed with a recent 16-month, $17 million renovation, featuring Steve Yarotsky, GCSAA superintendent.

Phoenix Golf Examiner, "Green green grass of home," post by David Marrandette about the cycle of costly overseeding to keep dormant golf courses in the South green all year and whether it would actually increase play to transfer the savings from eliminating overseeding, to the golfer.
 
(Madison) Wisconsin State Journal, "Retiring golf course guru leaves legacy," column about the accomplishments and legacy of Monroe Miller, GCSAA Class A superintendent at Blackhawk Country Club in Madison, Wis., who is retiring after 35 years there.

Sioux City (Iowa) Journal, "Sioux Center development in final phase," progress report on The Ridge, an 18-hole public course in Sioux City, Iowa, set to open this spring that is the centerpiece of a $20 million economic development project, featuring Steve Roseberry, GCSAA Class A superintendent.    

Palm Springs(Calif.) Desert Sun, "2 hopefuls share priorities for city," recap from the Indio, Calif., City Council’s fourth candidates forum Oct. 14, featuring Planning Commissioner Glenn Miller, CGCS, director of grounds for La Quinta (Calif.) Resort and Club, who is one of five candidates vying for two open seats.

WWNC (Asheville, N.C.) News Radio 570 am, "Speaking of golf," live radio interview (30 minute mark of Oct. 18 show) with Chuck Borman, executive director of the Carolina’s GCSA, and Greg Lyman, GCSAA director of environmental programs, about golf facility water use and environmental stewardship.

PGA Tour Channel, "PGA Tour Live," XM Satellite Radio interview with Dale Hahn, CGCS at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas about course conditions and preparations for the PGA Tour’s Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.

Michigan City(Ind.) News-Dispatch, "Park Board discusses future of city’s public golf courses," report from an Oct. 16 Michigan City, Ind., Park Board meeting that discussed the city’s golf operation’s financial situation, featuring Randy Durham, GCSAA Class A superintendent at Michigan City Golf Course.

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