August 29, 2006

Media spotlight shines on superintendents

Weather talk and major championships garnered much of the media’s attention concerning superintendents and golf course conditions over the last five months. The following report is a sample of the industry news covered by the mainstream press in recent months.

  • Technician, April 11 “Pack prepare for Pinehurst No. 8” – Article features GCSAA member Bob Erickson, CGCS, the director of golf turf management at North Carolina State University and his cooperation with the Wolfpack men’s and women’s golf teams to prepare their short game practice facility to mimic the course conditions of the upcoming ACC Championship.
  • PGATour.com, April 12 “Super intentions yield super results from superintendents” – Article features the 29 golf course management professionals and students from Colorado, Wyoming and Oklahoma who volunteered to travel to New Orleans for spring break to help four golf courses damaged by Hurricane Katrina.
  • Sports Illustrated Golf Plus, April 24 “Fractured Fairways”– Article features a few golf courses in New Orleans and the challenges their superintendents have faced post Hurricane Katrina.
  • Golf Digest, May 2006 ”Getting it right” – Article features 2005 Environmental Leaders in Golf overall award winner Los Lagos Golf Course in San Jose, Calif.
  • Club & Resort Business, May 2006 “Nothing to Hide” – Article focuses on the demands for better golf course maintenance facilities.
  • Golf Business, May 2006 “Liquid Lessons” – Article focuses on the efforts of Colorado golf course superintendents who are dealing with limited water supplies.
  • The Met Golfer, June/July 2006 “Let the sun shine in” – Article features GCSAA Class A member Eric Greytok, superintendent at Winged Foot Golf Club, and the changes made to the West course in anticipation of the 2006 U.S. Open.
  • Pacific Northwest Golfer, June 2006 “Wildhorse super leads the country” – Article features GCSAA President Sean A. Hoolehan, CGCS and how he balances his duties as the superintendent at Wildhorse Resort and his duties as president of GCSAA.
  • Club & Resort Business, June 2006 “Home-Grown in Michigan” – Article by Dan Dinelli, CGCS at North Shore Country Club in Glenview, Ill., features fellow GCSAA member Ken Hunt, superintendent at Pilgrims’s Run Golf Club in Pierson, Mich., host of a 2007 U.S. Open qualifier.
  • The Journal News (Westchester County, N.Y.), June 7 “Alonzi’s honored as Met Golf’s Family of the Year” – Article features GCSAA members Joe and Bob Alonzi and their sons, Christopher and Robert, all GCSAA superintendents in Westchester County, who were honored at the Metropolitan Golf Writers Association annual national awards dinner.

  • “We bowed to the superintendents because they did a wonderful job of getting the course ready. They've worked harder than we have getting this tournament done. So while we're sitting in the clubhouse feeding our stomachs, they're out there doing the work.”

    — Ben Curtis’s post-round news conference after winning the PGA Tour’s Booz Allen Classic, June 27*

    *GCSAA member Dennis Ingram, CGCS, is the superintendent at TPC Avenel in Potomac, Md., which was plagued by heavy rains during the Booz Allen Classic. Play concluded Tuesday, making it the first PGA Tour event to stretch an extra day since 1980.
    Greeley Tribune, June 7 “Course finely crafted”
    – Article features GCSAA member Tim Miller, CGCS, superintendent at Highland Hills Golf Course in Greeley, Colo.
  • Hutchinson News, June 25 “Keeper of the Course”–(PDF)  Article features GCSAA member Stan P. George, CGCS at Prairie Dunes Country Club in Hutchinson, Kan., host of the 2006 USGA Senior Open Championship.
  • Sports Illustrated Golf Plus, June 26 “Rough Justice” and “The Cruelest Cut” – Article features GCSAA Class A member Eric Greytok, superintendent at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, N.Y., host of the U.S. Open and the difficult test of golf the USGA setup provided. Sidebar features Greytok’s apprentice, Ben Stover, who was given the task of grooming the intermediate rough.
  • Moline Dispatch, June 27 “New JDC superintendent knew what he was getting into” – Article features GCSAA member Paul Grogan, CGCS, new superintendent at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Ill., host of the John Deere Classic.
  • Patriot News, June 30 “Superintendent earns her grass stripes” – Article features GCSAA member Rebecca Matis, superintendent at Mayapple Golf Links in Cumberland, Pa.
  • Wichita Eagle, July 7 “Not a blade out of place” – Article features GCSAA member Stan George, CGCS at Prairie Dunes Country Club in Hutchinson, Kan., host of the U.S. Senior Open.
  • Golfweek, July 8 “Newport staff pulls off minor miracle” – Article features GCSAA member Bob Reynolds, superintendent at Newport Country Club, host of the U.S. Women’s Open. Reynolds’s staff pumped more than 3 million gallons of water off the course in order to continue play through the rain.
  • St. Cloud Times, July 9 “St. Cloud superintendent says he has the perfect job” – Article features GCSAA member Dan Hanson, superintendent at St. Cloud (Minn.) Country Club.
  • Lawrence Journal-World, July 16 “Not easy being a greenkeeper”
    – Article features GCSAA CEO Steve Mona and the evolution of the golf course superintendent profession.
  • Utica Observer-Dispatch, July 17 “Atunyote conditions pristine” – Article features GCSAA member Andrew Knappenberger, director of golf courses and grounds at Turning Stone Resort, home of the Atunyote course which became the last minute host for the PGA Tour’s B.C. Open after flooding forced the Tour to move the event from En Joie in nearby Endicott, N.Y., to Turning Stone in Verona.
  • Toledo Blade, July 18 “Farr MVPs: grounds crew” – Article features GCSAA member Mark Mixdorf, CGCS at Highland Meadows Golf Club in Sylvania, Ohio, host of the LPGA Tour Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic Presented by Kroger. After receiving a tremendous amount of rain that nearly cancelled the tournament, Mixdorf and his crew were credited by tournament officials, local media and the players for pulling off the event in what some have called “the miracle at the Meadows.” In one week the Toledo Blade ran 14 stories about the event mentioning Mixdorf, including an editorial pronouncing him the MVP of the tournament.
  • Steubenville Herald-Times, July 25 “Golf course etiquette” – Article features an anonymous survey with various golf course superintendents about golfers responsibility, or lack there of, to golf course maintenance.
  • New Orleans Times-Picayune, Aug. 3 “Northern Exposure; Locals are combing forces to help City Park’s North Course reopen as soon as early fall” – Article features a New Orleans golf course that closed after Hurricane Katrina left eight feet of water on the course and how Orleans Parish Prison has provided inmate labor to assist area golf course superintendents with repairs.
  • Omaha World Herald, Aug. 5 “It’s on the Green: This carpet stretches more than 7,000 yards” – Article features GCSAA Class A member Jeff Latka, superintendent at Champions Run in Omaha, Neb., host of the Nationwide Tour’s Cox Classic.
  • Lawrence Journal-World, Aug. 6 “Mind your manners” – Article features GCSAA member Dick Stuntz, CGCS, general manager at Alvamar Golf and Country Club in Lawrence, Kan., discussing proper golf etiquette, including divot replacement, ball mark repair, bunker raking and golf cart driving.
  • Rocky Mountain News, Aug. 7 “Course undergoes only minor tweaks”
    – Article features GCSAA member Marshall Fearing, director of grounds at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock, Colo., host of the PGA Tour’s The International.
  • New York Newsday, Aug. 10 “Giving Oyster Bay a facelift” – Article features GCSAA member Steve Matuza, CGCS at Town of Oyster Bay Golf Club, and his recent improvements to the Tom Fazio-designed public golf course, thanks to the support of new Town of Oyster Parks Commissioner, Richard Betz.
  • Golfweek, August 12 “Medinah could yield scoring ambush” – Article features GCSAA member Tom Lively, CGCS at Medinah (Ill.) Country Club, and his preparations for the PGA Championship.
  • London (Ontario) Free Press, Aug. 12 “Pattinson Honoured For Service”
    – Article features GCSAA Class A member Bob Pattinson, superintendent at London Hunt Country Club in London, Ontario, Canada, host of the LPGA Tour’s Canadian Open. The article also notes Pattinson's 34 years of service at the club and recognition by the Canadian Golf Course Superintendents Association.
  • Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Aug. 14 “Atlanta Athletic Club prepares for 2011” – Article features GCSAA member Ken Mangum, CGCS, the director of golf courses and grounds at the Atlanta Athletic Club, host of the 2011 PGA Championship, and his $4 million dollar upgrades project to the Highlands Course.
  • Chicago Tribune, Aug. 16 “It’s rough enough” – Article features GCSAA member Tom Lively, CGCS at Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Ill., host of the PGA Championship.
  • Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Aug. 16 “Hazeltine gets ready for U.S. Amateur spotlight” – Q&A with GCSAA member Jim Nichol, CGCS at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn., host of the U.S. Amateur Championship.
  • Chicago Daily Herald, Aug. 17 “Four years of work has course ready for tourney” – Article –features GCSAA member Tom Lively, CGCS at Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Ill., host of the PGA Championship.
  • Tulsa World, Aug. 19 “Course begins setting up for PGA” – Article features GCSAA Class A member Russ Myers, newly hired golf course superintendent at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Okla., host of the 2007 PGA Championship and his site visit to Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Ill., host of the 2006 PGA Championship.
  • Hickory (NC) Record, Aug. 26 “Golf course lookin' good at Rock Barn” – Article features GCSAA Class A member Guy Hollar, director of grounds at Rock Barn Golf & Spa in Conover, N.C., host of the Champions Tour Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn.

GCSAA’s success in securing placement of information in publication and in broadcasts is part of its strategy to create awareness and understanding of the profession and the association. Focusing on media coverage through relationships fostered with members of the media, GCSAA dedicates resources to create exposure for its members.

For more information on media opportunities or assistance, contact Bill Newton, GCSAA media/public relations manager at (800) 472-7878, ext. 3688.