GCSAA News

Dear GCSAA members,

The purpose of this communication is to inform you of a leadership change at GCSAA.

Mark Woodward, CGCS, has resigned from his post as GCSAA chief executive officer to pursue other career interests, effective immediately. Mark has done a solid job managing the organization during one of the worst economic climates in our country’s history. His leadership also served to position GCSAA prominently for its research, programs and education regarding golf’s relationship with the environment. We wish him success in his future endeavors. continue

A letter from SCGA Executive Director, Kevin Heaney:

Brendon,

I enjoyed speaking with you today. I wish to again apologize for the omission of the superintendents in the 2010 SCGA Directory of Golf; it was an oversight and not in any ways meant to diminish the critical role of the superintendent. As I noted, we have changed many things simultaneously including Directory design, website, new CRM application, new handicap vendor as well as a complete overhaul of our branding initiative. In that process, some errors were made and this is unfortunately one such mistake.

On the positive side, we will feature the superintendents in our expanded course directory section of our new website (still populating the data) and as I noted in our discussion, we hope to expand the amount of information available on that site to make it a much richer experience for the visitor. In that regard, we will feature stories on initiatives such as water, environment and the like. We will look to the superintendents to create stories that may include interesting profiles, turf and water matters, helpful information for our members (frost, overseeding, aeration, etc.), links to videos, and other things that will hopefully enhance the role of the superintendent and crew in keeping the game healthy and moving forward.

As I noted, we will need help from your members in creating these stories and links. We will reach out but would also encourage input from those that might have something new, unique or interesting to share.

The SCGA has always held the superintendents and their staff in the highest esteem and are very cognizant of their important contributions to the golf industry. We look forward to this expanded relationship; if you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact me or our Communications and Marketing staff.

All the best,

KEVIN HEANEY l Executive Director

The LPGA Tour’s Kia Classic is March 25 thru March 28 at La Costa Resort and Spa.  Seventeen of the top twenty female players in the world are committed to playing in the event.  The tournament will be televised on the Golf Channel.  If you are looking for something to do this weekend, head out to La Costa to check out the best female players in the world. 

The LPGA Tour honors all active green and gold GCSAA membership cards with complimentary admission.  I am sure Steve Auckland and the entire staff at La Costa will have the course in great shape for this premier LPGA Tour event.  Come out and support professional golf in San Diego

To give you insight on how this article comes about, it started with GCSAA sending the GCEP water news release to a database of environmental journalists, which includes this reporter. After contacting GCSAA for background, GCSAA then put the reporter in touch with key experts such as Greg Lyman, those quoted in the article and others not quoted. The reporter then did research, interviewed contacts, made a site visit to Atlanta, the verified the research with others in the field. The result is the article below:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/06/science/earth/06golf.html?_r=1&hp

The GCSAA has updated their website to reflect new events and schedules for the 2010 Golf Industry Show in our backyard! Visit the Golf Industry Show’s website for more info.

J. Rhett Evans, director of the parks, recreation and commercial facilities division for the city of Mesa (Ariz.) has been selected as the association’s chief operating officer.

“I am pleased that Rhett will be joining the GCSAA team,” said GCSAA Chief Executive Officer Mark Woodward, CGCS. “I witnessed his talents first hand working with him in Mesa and have always been impressed with how he goes about his work. He is great in developing relationships and his business acumen is sharp. He will be a great fit with our team and our members.” continue

THE GOLF INDUSTRY IN THE UNITED STATES

Golf is a sport played by more than 28 million Americans, and enjoyed as a favored spectator activity by millions more. But it is far more than a game: golf is a leading U.S. industry that makes a wide variety of positive contributions to our society.

GOLF’S ECONOMIC BENEFITS

• The golf industry provides 2 million jobs in the U.S. and total wage income of $61 billion.
• The total economic impact of golf in America has been measured at $195 billion, including golf’s direct, indirect and induced impacts.
• Golf provides a direct economic impact of $76 billion. continue

EIFG , Toro add incentive to GCSAA survey program: Respond by May 19 to win!

The Environmental Institute for Golf and The Toro Co. are enhancing GCSAA’s Golf Course Environmental Profile effort by offering use of a Toro Pro Force™ Debris Blower for one year to one lucky survey respondent.  One winner will be drawn at random from those who submit a completed survey by May 19, 2009. Toro has demonstrated their support for the Golf Course Environmental Profile by providing a series of grants to fund all the survey work of the Golf Course Environmental Profile. Toro shares our belief that the data collected will allow The Institute to act more effectively on behalf of the golf course industry.

The new Toro Pro Force(TM) debris blower delivers tremendous air power for fast removal of grass clippings, leaves, aeration cores, or other debris from your golf course, maintained turf areas, and paved areas such as golf cart paths and parking lots. Operated by a wireless remote control with unmatched functionality, and with design features such as the durable one-piece plastic nozzle, the Pro Force sets a new standard. For more information, visit Toro’s Web site at http://www.toro.com/golf/utility/debris/blower/proforce.html. continue

GCSAA Members,
As the world has its collective eyes affixed on the first golf major of the year, it is disappointing to see that some media outlets have chosen to attack a game that has proven itself for centuries as one that delivers the utmost in honor and integrity.
Below are two articles that I believe are important for you to read. Both attack golf and further various inaccuracies and myths about the game. The first is an opinion article in USA TODAY and the second is a feature online at NBCsports.com/MSNBC:
http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2009/04/masters-of-the-universe.html
http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/30106555/ continue

On Jan. 16, 2009, the MAA Research Task Force – a group of basic producers of MSMA – signed an agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency which permits the continued use of MSMA.

In August 2006 the EPA issued a decision to make inorganic arsenicals ineligible for re-registration. GCSAA has worked closely with the Task Force to preserve MSMA use through extensive staff and member involvement in grassroots campaigns, direct contact with EPA regulatory officials, information gathering and input from members, chapters and turfgrass scientists, and by providing EPA with usage and economic data, and guidance on proposed mitigation measures. continue