GCSAA at the Ryder Cup

More than a decade ago, GCSAA’s leadership made the decision to transition from a turfgrass organization involved in golf to a golf organization involved in turfgrass. As a result, according to CEO Steve Mona, “as golf goes, so goes GCSAA.” This month, golf goes to the Ryder Cup in Straffan, County Kildare, Ireland, and GCSAA will be there also.

GCSAA is active in several golf industry initiatives, from The First Tee program, the World Golf Hall of Fame, Golf 20/20 and the National Golf Foundation to the efforts of The Environmental Institute for Golf. The association also has representation at all major golf tournaments except the British Open, including the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship, the Masters and the Ryder Cup.

Each major event offers GCSAA the opportunity to reconnect with golf’s major organizations and personalities and promote the golf course superintendents’ contributions to the game. Direct outcomes of some recent meetings have included free USGA memberships for GCSAA members, a joint communication initiative with the USGA concerning golf’s relationship with the environment, several major contributions to The Institute, and ongoing discussions concerning the Golf Industry Show and a pace of play initiative.

The association will be represented at this month’s Ryder Cup by GCSAA President Sean A. Hoolehan, CGCS; Vice President Ricky D. Heine, CGCS; Secretary/Treasurer David S. Downing, CGCS; Immediate Past President Timothy T. O’Neill, CGCS; and Mona, who, along with their spouses, will attend the tournament and accompanying events, including:

• Wednesday, Sept. 20 – Hoolehan, Mona and spouses will attend a black tie dinner that includes the teams, the captains, sponsors and allied associations.
• Thursday, Sept. 21 – The officers, Mona and spouses will attend the opening ceremony. An invitation-only reception with the teams, the captains, sponsors and allied associations will be attended by the Hoolehans and Monas. Later, the officers, Mona and spouses will attend a reception and dinner hosted by Club Car.
• Friday, Sept. 22 – The GCSAA officers and Mona will meet with representatives of the Ireland GCSA in Dublin, followed by lunch and a “mini Ryder Cup” with the Irish group. Later, the two groups will be joined for dinner by their spouses.
• Saturday, Sept. 23 – The officers, Mona and spouses will attend a reception and dinner hosted by The Toro Co.
• Sunday, Sept. 24 – The officers, Mona and spouses will attend the closing ceremony. An invitation-only reception with the teams, the captains, sponsors and allied associations will be attended by the Hoolehans and Monas.

Throughout the five days, formal and informal meetings also will take place with representatives of the Club Managers Association of America and the PGA of America. Mona also plans meetings with Michael Smurfit, Ph.D., owner of The K Club, this year’s Ryder Cup venue; Old Tom Morris Award winner Jaime Ortiz-Patino; and former Environmental Institute for Golf Chairman Herb Kohler. All three men were generous contributors to GCSAA’s “Investing in the Beauty of Golf” campaign.