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GCSAA Approves Aquatrols Seminars for CEUs

The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America approved Aquatrols’ presentation entitled “Opportunities for Irrigation Efficiency and Conserving Water” for .15 continuing education units through its external education program. The presentation focuses on water conservation, why it is important and how superintendents can make improvements to save water and money. The seminar “Making the Most of Water Without Spending a Fortune” will be presented at the 2009 Golf Industry Show by Dr. Dara Park, assistant professor of soil and water in turfgrass systems, Clemson University, and Dr. Stan Kostka, director of technology, Aquatrols. This seminar is worth .55 points.

Lebanon Acquires Emerald Isle Line

Lebanon Seaboard Corp. has acquired the Emerald Isle line of foliar and other granular fertilizer products from Milliken Chemical, a division of Spartanburg, S.C.-based Milliken & Co. Lebanon will continue to work with Ocean Organics, Waldoboro, Maine, to produce key ingredients in the Emerald Isle formulations.

From left, Juergen Wiedenmann, Ralph Wiedenmann, Margit Liable and Will Wolverton.

Wiedenmann Distributor Awards

Wiedenmann GmbH pre­sented awards to the best distributors in its worldwide sales network, which spans 48 countries. Its North Ameri­can distributor, Wieden­mann North America, LLC, received best developing importer and importer of the year. On hand to receive the awards was Will Wolverton, general manager.

Turfgrass Developer Riley Passes Away

Rod Riley, an Australian turfgrass developer, has passed away. He is best known in the United States as the developer of Celebration bermudagrass. Riley worked to develop varieties with consistent texture, darker color, better fall color retention, and shade and drought tolerance. Riley’s Super Sport was released in Australia, and the characteristics led Riley to expand the grass globally. He gave licensing and distribution rights outside of Australia to Sod Solutions, who released the variety under the brand name Celebration.

Clark Joins Wood Bay

Dave Clark has joined the regional sales staff of Wood Bay Turf Technologies. Clark previously worked at Blackhawk Golf Club, Edmonton, Alb., and has 13 seasons of golf course maintenance experience. He also has a strong business background.

Toro Sponsors Leadership Forum

The Toro Co. and Walt Disney World sponsored the second annual Future Leaders Forum. Fifty students from 20 states and Singapore traveled to Walt Disney World Resort for the three-day forum aimed at strengthening leadership skills and exploring career disciplines in and outside the game of golf. The forum was held in conjunction with the Children’s Miracle Network Classic. The students, from 38 chapters of The First Tee, were selected through an essay competition and application process.

Students learned what it takes to put on a professional golf event, including the various careers involved. Components of broadcast journalism, creating top course conditions, media relations, corporate sponsorship, and retail and marketing were all discussed.

Rain Bird Awards Smart Water Use

Rain Bird announced that Christopher S. Gray Sr., superintendent at Marvel Golf Club, Benton, Ky., is the recipient of the 2008 Intelligent Use of Water award. Gray led the development and implementation of a wastewater recapture program in which all stormwater and wastewater from homes around the course is captured, treated and pumped into the course’s irrigation retention ponds. Harvesting over 14 million gallons of reclaimed water per year, the system eliminates the need to pull water from the local water district or nearby Kentucky Lake for irrigation purposes.

Notes from GCSAA

Paul Azinger, PGA Tour professional and captain of the victorious 2008 U.S. Ryder Cup team, will deliver the keynote speech at the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America 2009 Education Conference opening session. Azinger turned pro in 1981 after playing college golf for Florida State University and has had 15 professional wins.

Colonel John Morley, the founder and first president of the GCSAA, has been selected to receive the association’s 2009 Old Tom Morris Award. In 1926, Morley and 59 other greenkeepers founded the National Association of Greenkeepers of America, which would later become the GCSAA.

Precise Path Robotics and Quali-Pro have pledged their support of the GCSAA by committing to participate in the association’s Partner Recognition Program at the Silver level.

Agrotain Expands, Holds UFLEXX Promotion

Agrotain International, LLC, along with parent company Lange-Stegmann, celebrated the grand opening of its $20 million expansion project. The expansion includes the Stabilized Nitrogen Center, a granulation production facility; and the St. Louis Urea Center, a urea storage warehouse. Production capacity is expected to be 125,000 tons.

As part of a UFLEXX promotion held during the 2008 Green Industry Expo, Agrotain presented a Garmin nüvi 750 GPS system to James Hood, owner of Weeds & Seeds, LLC, Louisville, Ky. Hood was one of 3,000 entrants in the drawing and plans to use the unit to plan routes more effectively.

Gilmartin Receives GCSAA Certification

ValleyCrest Golf Course Maintenance announced that Vince Gilmartin has received certification status from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. Gilmartin, a 10-year veteran of ValleyCrest, is the Northeast regional superintendent and the course superintendent at Hidden Valley Resort Golf Club, Hidden Valley, Pa.

Notes from the GCBAA

The Golf Course Builders Association of America elected three new directors and re-elected five to serve two-year terms. Newly elected directors are Patrick Karnick, Wadsworth Golf Construction; Ed Kruse, John Deere Golf; and Stephanie Zimmerman, Hancor, Inc. Re-elected directors are Steve Christman, Ellen Davis, Rick Boylan, Oscar Rodriguez and Bob Bryant.

The GCBAA selected Byron Nelson as the recipient of its Don A. Rossi Award. Nelson, who passed away in 2006 at the age of 94, established himself as a great golf player in the 1930s and ‘40s by winning 52 PGA events. His 11 consecutive tournament wins in 1945 is a PGA record that stands today.

Golf Club at Newcastle Names Superintendent

The Golf Club at Newcastle appointed Scott Phelps to the position of golf course superintendent for its two 18-hole courses, Coal Creek and China Creek. A 26-year industry professional, Phelps most recently served as director of grounds at Teton Valley Golf Associates. He earned a bachelor’s degree in landscape horticulture with a concentration in turfgrass management from Colorado State University and completed additional associate studies in wildlife management.

Golfpreserves Explores Initiative for Environmental Stewardship

Golfpreserves was established to act as an aggregator to package the sequestered carbon created by participating golf courses and sell the verified credits. Revenue generated from the sales will be routed into research projects that are vital for the future of the golf industry, focusing primarily on carbon sequestration, environmentally improved turfgrass, irrigation and pesticide usage. Visit www.golfpreserves.com to learn more.

Carolinas GCSA Elects Jett President

The Carolinas Golf Course Superintendents Association elected Paul Jett president at its annual business meeting. Jett is superintendent at Pinehurst No. 2 and joined the association’s board of directors in 2000.

Barry Recognized for Dedication to Industry

Shaun Barry, golf sales representative for Bayer Environmental Science, was recognized by the Rutgers University Turfgrass Alumni Association for his dedication, service and contribution to the turfgrass industry. The award was presented at the annual alumni banquet held at the university. Barry has been an active member of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of New Jersey for 30 years.

Courses Achieve Audubon Certification

Several golf courses have recently achieved certification through the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses. The program provides information and guidance to help courses preserve and enhance wildlife habitat and protect natural resources. Marriott Golf properties receiving certification include Willow Crest Golf Club, Oak Brook, Ill.; The Rookery at Marco, Naples, Fla.; Hawk’s Landing Golf Club, Orlando, Fla.; Westfields Golf Club, Clifton, Va.; Wildfire Golf Club, Phoenix, Ariz.; Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club, St. Petersburg, Fla.; and Cattails at MeadowView Golf Course, Kingsport, Tenn. Other courses include ValleyCrest Golf Course Maintenance’s Okeeheelee Golf Course, West Palm Beach, Fla., and Dataw Island Club’s Cotton Dike and Morgan River golf courses, St. Helena Island, S.C.

NaEx Announces New Uses for Soyaplex

NaEx Corp. announced that its all-natural Soyaplex fertilizer, for use in agricultural applications and on golf courses, is now available and labeled for use on sports fields, commercial landscapes, home lawns, parks and all other turf applications. Soyaplex is made from 100 percent non-GMO, food-grade soybeans.

News from John Deere

The 22nd annual John Deere World Championship was held at Grande Dunes in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The winning team, which beat 70 others, included Andy Means, AA Equipment, Montclair, Calif.; Mike Snyder, Sun Lakes Country Club, Banning, Calif.; Ian Sturge, Hidden Valley Golf Club, Norco, Calif.; and Ron Benedict, The Newport Beach Country Club, Newport Beach, Calif.

The winners in John Deere’s search for the Most Beautifully Brutal Golf Holes in North America are: Aspen Lakes Golf Course, Sisters, Ore.; Cordillera Ranch, Boerne, Texas; Colbert Hills Golf Course, Manhattan, Kan.; Classic Club, Palm Desert, Calif.; Oak Quarry Golf Club, Riverside, Calif.; Tucson National—Catalina, Tucson, Ariz.; Legends Club, Lakeville, Minn.; Sutton Bay, Agar, S.D.; TPC at Deere Run, Silvis, Ill.; Butter Brook Golf Club, Westford, Mass.; Grand Cypress, East Course, Orlando, Fla.; Ocean Course, Palm Coast, Fla.; Atlanta Athletic Club, Duluth, Ga.; Copper Hills Golf & Country Club, Oxford, Mich.; The Creek Club at Reynolds Plantation, Greensboro, Ga.; Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Club, Banff, Alb.; Blackhawk Golf Club, Spruce Grove, Alb.; and Lethbridge Country Club, Lethbridge, Alb.