Super Notes

GCSAA Class A superintendent Mark Wilson, CGCS, is hosting the Ryder Cup at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky.

GCSAA Class A director of golf course operations Al Osteen is hosting the Viking Classic at Annandale Golf Club in Madison, Miss.

GCSAA Class A superintendent Brent D. Doolittle, CGCS, is hosting the USGA Senior Amateur at Shady Oaks Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas

GCSAA Class A superintendent Brady Finton, is hosting the USGA Senior Women's Amateur at Tulsa Country Club in Tulsa, Okla.

GCSAA Class A superintendent Randy B. Marshall is hosting the Oregon Classic at Shadow Hills Country Club in Junction City, Ore.

CGSA announces 2008 award winners

The Canadian Golf Superintendents Association has announced the 2008 winners of its Superintendent of the Year, Future Superintendent of the Year and John B Steel awards. The President’s Scholarship Award recipients were also announced.

The Superintendent of the Year award went to William Fach, master superintendent, AGS, CGCS, at the Black Bear Ridge Golf Club in Belleville, Ontario.

Fach has been a CGSA member since 1978 and holds the association’s Master Superintendent designation which he earned in 1996. He has been the superintendent at Black Bear Ridge Golf Course since 2003, and has worked for 29 years as a golf course superintendent. He is also a former president of the CGSA, has been a board member of the Ontario Golf Superintendents Association and for the past five years he has served on various committees, including education, webcast and year the conference logistic group for GCSAA.

The Future Superintendent of the Year went to Mitch Davidson, golf course technical supervisor of The Fairmont Banff Springs, in Banff, Alberta. As the winner, Davidson will travel to Scotland and take part in a six-week training and work experience program. In March, 2009, he will speak at the CGSA Conference in Halifax. He will also participate in a trip to Toro Headquarters in Minneapolis in 2009. Olds College will be presented with a personal computer on behalf of Davidson.

The CGSA John B. Steel Award is presented annually to an individual chosen by the board of directors who has made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of the profession of golf course superintendent. The 2008 recipient is Walter Gooder, Master Superintendent and AGS, of the Country Hills Golf Club, in Calgary, Alberta.

Among his many accomplishments, Gooder served as a member of the CGSA Environmental Committee, as chairman of the AGSA Challenge Cup and is a founding member of the Alberta Golf Industry Association and the Alberta Turfgrass Research Foundation. He was a driving force in the establishment of the AGSA Property Managers Conference and was the recipient of the AGSA Distinguished Service Award.

President’s Scholarship Awards, a new post secondary scholarship award for the children or grandchildren of a CGSA member enrolled in any full time post secondary education program, were given to Kevin Bishop, son of Ted Bishop, AGS, superintendent at Rolling Meadows Golf Club, and Kelsy Leavins, daughter of Doug Leavins, superintendent at the Chinook Golf Course.

Superintendents in the news

East Valley (Scottsdale, Ariz.) Tribune, "Scottsdale golf course a sanctuary of nature," article and accompanying slideshow about the Sanctuary Golf Course at WestWorld in Scottsdale, Ariz., earning Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program certification from Audubon International, featuring T.J. Winzeler, GCSAA Class A superintendent.

Belfast (Ireland) Telegraph, "Irish ‘spy’ busy cleaning up Ike’s mess but also taking note of green speeds," feature on GCSAA member Paul O’Donoghue, turfgrass science and design student at Ohio State University from Europe, who is an intern on the staff of Mark Wilson, CGCS at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky., and his work to help repair the golf course from Sept. 14 storm damage caused by remnants of Hurricane Ike, days before hosting the Ryder Cup.

KEYC 12 (Mankato, Minn.), "As winter approaches, tips to keep lawn safe," video on Mankato, Minn., CBS/Fox affiliate about home lawn care, featuring Eric Peters, GCSAA superintendent at North Links Golf Course in Mankato.

WFMZ 69 (Lehigh Valley, Pa.), "Border collie finds golf balls," video on Lehigh Valley, Pa., local TV station’s Web site about GCSAA Class A Superintendent Shane Miller’s border collie, Augie, who helps golfers at Berkleigh Country Club in Kutztown, Pa., find their golf ball after each hit.

(Dublin, Ireland) Irish Times, "Going to course despite storms," article about the quick repairs to Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky., following Sept. 14 storm damage from remnants of Hurricane Ike, featuring GCSAA members Mark Wilson, CGCS, and Valhalla intern Paul O’Donoghue, turfgrass science and design student at Ohio State University.

Middletown(Ohio) Journal, "Storm changed area golf landscape," report on Sept. 14 storm damage from remnants of Hurricane Ike to Middletown, Ohio-area golf courses, featuring GCSAA member Terry Taylor, superintendent at The Golf Club at Yankee Trace in Centerville, Ohio.

Louisville(Ky.) Courier-Journal, "Damage shouldn’t affect Valhalla," update about course cleanup following Sept. 14 storm at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky., in preparation of the Ryder Cup, featuring Mark Wilson, CGCS.

Reuters, "Valhalla recovering after brush with Hurricane Ike," wire story about damages sustained at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky., Sept. 14, from the remnants of Hurricane Ike, five days before hosting the Ryder Cup, featuring Mark Wilson, CGCS.

Louisville (Ky.) Courier-Journal, "Course will bounce back, superintendent says," brief about storm damage at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky., from the remnants of Hurricane Ike Sept. 14, five days before hosting the Ryder Cup, featuring Mark Wilson, CGCS.

Belfast (Ireland) Telegraph, "America’s Ryder Cup heroes feel the need for speed," article about the course setup for the Ryder Cup at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky., featuring Mark Wilson, CGCS, and Gerry Byrne, GCSAA superintendent at the K Club in Ireland, host of the 2006 Ryder Cup.

Louisville (Ky.) Courier-Journal, "A man powered by green energy," feature on Mark Wilson, CGCS at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky., and his preparations for the Ryder Cup.

Fort Worth (Texas) Star-Telegram, "Greening up," business section feature on Fort Worth, Texas-area golf courses being environmental stewards, featuring GCSAA Class A members Ron Cline, superintendent at Hawks Creek Golf Club in Ft. Worth; and Mark Cliburn, superintendent at Tierra Verde Golf Club in Arlington, and winner of the 2008 Lonestar Land Steward Award from the Texas Parks & Wildlife department for preserving natural habitats and managing the landscape in a sustainable manner.

Irish (Dublin, Ireland) Times, "Harrington baffled by U.S. ‘big hitters’ myth," article about the course setup for the Ryder Cup at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky., featuring Mark Wilson, CGCS.

GolfWorld, "Kentucky wild card," Geoff Shackelford column about the course setup at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky., for the Ryder Cup, featuring Mark Wilson, CGCS.

Anguilla News, "Royal St. Kitts Golf Club becomes first Caribbean golf course to achieve Audubon certification," release about Royal St. Kitts Golf Club in Saint Kitts, West Indies, earning Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program certification from Audubon International, featuring GCSAA member Steve Williams, superintendent.

GolfChannel.com, "Ryder Cup Q&A: Valhalla Superintendent Mark Wilson," Tour Insider Q&A with Mark Wilson, CGCS at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky., host of the Ryder Cup.

New Orleans Times-Picayune, "Houma course endures hard hit from hurricane," story about $250,000 worth of damage at Ellendale Country Club in Houma, La., from Hurricane Gustav Labor Day that "looked like a couple of dinosaurs out of ‘Jurassic Park’ walked through the course," featuring GCSAA member Scott Guidry, superintendent.
           
Armchair Golf Blog, "2008 Ryder Cup: Valhalla is ready," post about Valhalla Golf Club’s course conditions in Louisville, Ky., and tournament preparations for the Ryder Cup and course setup, featuring Mark Wilson, CGCS.

Green Reading, "Valhalla set up for U.S.," post by Myrtle Beach (S.C.) Sun News golf writer Al Blondin about the course setup at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky., for the Ryder Cup, featuring Mark Wilson, CGCS.

ASAECenter.org, "A foursome changes the game," post on the American Society of American Executives and the Center for Association Leadership Web site from the 7 Measures of Success Reporter about GCSAA’s Leadership Team’s work to find new ways for GCSAA to increase staff awareness of its strategic indicators, featuring Kathy Thomas, former GCSAA director of human resources.

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