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Norm Leising is the recipient of the Western New York GCSA’s 2006 Lifetime Achievement Award. Leising was honored for his 30 years of service as superintendent at the Country Club of Buffalo (N.Y.), among other achievements, such as starting a lawn spraying business and overseeing a shooting program at the CC of Buffalo. He is known as a pioneer in the practice of spoon-feeding nitrogen, which has since become common practice. A 42-year member of GCSAA, Leising also helped develop a sand washer to recycle bunker sand. He served on the board of directors and as president for the Western New York GCSA in the early 1970s. He spearheaded a turf newsletter for the association and today continues to work as a private consultant for area courses and individual estate owners who seek expert advice in greens maintenance and manicuring.
As the first golf management company to become a supporting partner of the Executive Women’s Golf Association, Troon Golf has been recognized for managing 13 women-friendly golf facilities. The facilities, which the company says are the first to receive such recognition from EWGA, are: Estrella Mountain Ranch GC, Goodyear, Ariz.; Ocotillo Golf Resort, Chandler, Ariz.; Poston Butte GC at Anthem Merrill Ranch, Florence, Ariz.; Talking Stick GC, Scottsdale, Ariz.; The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa, Scottsdale, Ariz.; Troon North GC, Scottsdale, Ariz.; Escena GC, Palm Springs, Calif.; Monarch Beach Golf Links, Dana Point, Calif.; The Ridge at Castle Pines North, Castle Rock, Colo.; The Revere GC, Henderson, Nev.; Teravista GC, Round Rock, Texas; Classic Club, Palm Desert, Calif.; and The Westin La Cantera Resort, San Antonio. As a supporting partner, Troon Golf is offering all EWGA members silver status in its rewards program and gold status for the association’s executives.
Ewing has opened three new locations in Auburn, Wash.; Rio Rancho, N.M.; and Cedar Park, Texas. Additionally, it has appointed Dana Dodge to manage its New Mexico facility, Geoffrey Simpson as manager of the Washington facility and Sean Wimble as manager of the Texas branch. Dodge previously managed Ewing’s Santa Fe and Albuquerque branches and has worked for the company for more than eight years. Simpson previously supervised Ewing’s branch in Tacoma, Wash., and has worked for Ewing for five years. He will manage the new store along with Rick Perry. A member of the board of directors of the Texas Nursery and Landscape Association, Wimble previously managed Ewing’s Austin, Texas, facility.
At the fourth annual Christmas Tournament held by the Everglades GCSA, the group held a holiday gift drive in conjunction with the Children’s Home Society, Southwest Florida Division, to gather gift donations that went to more than 2,000 families and children in the Southwest Florida region. Participants were asked to give gifts ranging in value from at least $10 and up, which ultimately benefited services such as adoption, family health care, independent living programs for children in foster care and special gift deliveries. With each gift donated, a player received a raffle ticket for prizes.
At its annual fundraising reception in January, the National Foliage Foundation raised $45,000 through pledges and contributions, presented awards to donors and announced a new partnership and support for foliage research. The foundation announced it had recently transferred $350,000 to a permanent endowment through the University of Florida Foundation to support graduate student assistantships in the UF/IFAS Department of Environmental Horticulture. The University of Florida was an appropriate partner for the group because the state produces about 80 percent of the foliage grown in the U.S., and the University of Florida conducts about 99 percent of that research, said Joe Cialone, president of the group. The endowment qualifies for a 50 percent match from Florida’s Major Gifts Trust Fund. The foundation’s board will serve an advisory role, and the assistantship will be monitored by the Environmental Horticulture Department’s chairman.
At the 40th Annual Ohio Turfgrass Conference & Show last December, the 2006 Ohio Turfgrass Foundation annual awards and scholarships were presented to multiple recipients. Long-time foundation member and past president Joe Duncan won the Professional of the Year award. Professional Excellence awards were given to David Gardner, Ph.D., of Ohio State University’s department of horticulture and crop science, and Gary Rason, superintendent of Ohio State University golf courses. Academic scholarships totaling $25,000 were awarded to 15 turfgrass students from six Ohio colleges. The group also gave more than $150,000 to Ohio State University’s Turfgrass Science Program for turfgrass research and education.
Sioux Corp., a manufacturer of application-specific equipment, has launched a new field service program that includes complete startup training and field service conducted by Greg Heiberger, the company’s service manager. Customer requests prompted the launch of the program, which will provide factory-trained assistance with initial equipment startup, equipment service and troubleshooting. A startup training package includes system familiarization, safety, operator training and preventive and corrective maintenance. Participants will receive parts training and will discuss key components of the equipment, how to determine the correct part number, use of the parts in the service manual and how to order service parts.
Bayer Environmental Science has awarded scholarships to 31 undergraduate students who are pursuing careers in the green industry and who have demonstrated academic excellence and leadership skills. In all, the company granted $22,000 through the scholarships in amounts of $1,000, $500 and $250.
Two Australian patents have been granted to Aquatrols Corp. of America for blends of certain surfactants that increase the wetting of water-repellent soils. The inventions, which received U.S. patents in 2005, are credited to Stanley Kostka, director of technology, and Paul Bially, the company’s former formulations chemist. Aquatrols has now received 12 patents in the last 10 years. Other domestic and international patents are pending.
Friesen USA Inc., Wheatland Bins and Meridian Industries have merged and been renamed Meridian Manufacturing Group. All three locations have standardized the product lines and integrated sales and operations into one larger, more cohesive group, the company says.
Kalo Inc., a company specializing in bacterial legume inoculants and tank mix spreader-activators, is celebrating 75 years of service this year. Established originally in 1932 as the Kalo Inoculant Co. in Quincy, Ill., the company got its start marketing inoculants to farmers of alfalfa and clover hay in the Midwest. After a series of acquisitions and purchases, the company became Kalo Inc. in 1981 and focused on the adjuvant, turf specialty and private label businesses.
To support Project Evergreen’s Shovels ArtWork campaign fundraiser, Corona Clipper, manufacturer of long-handle and pruning tools for the green industry, donated 100 shovels to the cause. With a $1,000 contribution, each sponsor received a Corona Clipper shovel to paint in a way that reflects its company and how it enhances green spaces. The artwork was on display at last year’s Green Industry Expo in Columbus, Ohio.
People news
KemperSports has named Gary Piotrowski as general manager of a club it manages, Desert Willow Golf Resort in Palm Desert, Calif. Piotrowski will oversee daily operations of the 36-hole resort in California’s Coachella Valley. A member of CMAA, he has more than 12 years of facility management experience.
Grigg Bros. has hired Gordon L. Kauffmann III, Ph.D., to serve dual roles — one coordinating university and independent research trials and new product development, and one as the company’s technical sales representative serving the Northeast. Most recently, Kauffmann contracted with Syngenta Crop Protection as a field technical and sales support specialist in the Northeast.
Target Specialty Products has hired Ryan Klein as its new account representative for the golf and sports turf markets in San Diego. Klein previously worked as a regional territory sales consultant for Excell Minerals, a supplier of turf products, agricultural materials and specialty fertilizers.
The International Association of Golf Administrators presented its Distinguished Service Award to Larry Adamson at its 40th annual meeting in La Jolla, Calif. Adamson began working at the USGA in 1979 as director of championship administration and retired from the group in 2002. He continues to volunteer with the Tennessee Golf Association.
Hunter Industries has added Jeff Fleming to its staff as national sales representative. Fleming will concentrate on the golf market in the southeastern U.S. He previously worked for one of Hunter Industries’ largest distributors, earning the Hunter Trailblazer award in 2003. Fleming also was a superintendent for three years.
Avendra, a procurement services company for the hospitality industry, has promoted Hetz Wochholz to senior vice president of customer care. Wochholz will oversee all customer-facing departments, including account management, field support and customer service. He joined Avendra in 2001 as vice president of founder relations.
British Columbia Golf Association Executive Director Kris Jonasson has recently been elected president of the International Association of Golf Administrators. Jonasson replaces outgoing president Tom Morgan, past executive director of the Southern California Golf Association. Jonasson also sits on the advisory board for the municipal golf course in the District of North Vancouver and on the green committee at Richmond G&CC.
Dana Albert is the new brand sales and marketing representative for Graphite Design. Albert will service and grow distributor accounts and increase brand recognition for the company, which manufactures graphite driver shafts. He previously worked as an associate golf professional and director of outside services at the Bridges Club of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.
President George W. Bush made a recent appearance and speech at Caterpillar’s manufacturing facility in East Peoria, Ill. In his address to company staff, Bush highlighted free trade agreements that have benefited companies like Caterpillar and commended the company for demonstrating how U.S. companies can compete in the world marketplace. Caterpillar says it set a company record in 2006 by exporting more than $10 billion in products from the U.S. The president also recognized Caterpillar’s worker training programs, safe workplaces and competitive health care benefits.
KemperSports announces officer changes in an organizational restructuring. Steven K. Skinner was named president and chief operating officer of the company; Joshua W. Lesnik was named president of KemperSports Properties; James Seeley, the company’s executive vice president, has assumed supervision of its Illinois properties; James Stegall was named executive vice president; Gary S. Binder has been hired as senior vice president; and John C. Clark has joined the company as vice president of accounting and corporate controller.
Bayer Environmental Science has named Eric Kalasz its southern regional manager for the golf sales group. Kalasz will manage golf sales activities in eight Southern states and a team of six regional sales representatives.
Todd Howard has been named director of golf operations at JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa in Tucson, Ariz. Howard will oversee all golf shop operations, retail merchandising, golf programming, outings and tournament coordination at the newly renovated Arnold Palmer Signature 27-hole golf layout. He previously worked as director of golf operations at Grande Pines GC in Central Florida.
PGA golf professional Joe Bartko, amateur champion Donna Cumming and University of Arizona turfgrass researcher David Kopec were recently inducted into the Arizona Golf Hall of Fame in a ceremony at Moon Valley CC in Phoenix. Bartko served on the Southwest Section PGA’s board as secretary and tournament chairman before serving as president in 1972. He also received the PGA Professional of the Year award twice. Cumming was named Arizona Senior Golfer four years in a row and won multiple championship titles. Her service to Arizona’s golf industry includes support of the Arizona Women’s Golf Association and serving as chairwoman for the State Junior Girls Championship, among other contributions. Kopec was honored for more than 21 years of work in the turfgrass research field. He teaches golf and sports turf management, bermudagrass greens management, irrigation schedule and irrigation water quality at the University of Arizona. He has helped make available research information to the university, the Cactus and Pine GCSA, GCM and more than 350 golf courses in Arizona through education seminars, classes and other programs. Spearheaded by the Arizona Golf Association, the Southwest Section of the PGA, the Arizona Women’s Golf Association and the Cactus and Pine GCSA, the group has recognized 61 people since its inception in 1968.
AquaMaster has hired Jeffrey Suttner as its Midwest regional sales manager. Suttner will oversee sales in 11 states: Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
Ron Wolfarth, director of Rain Bird Corp.’s landscape irrigation division, has been named to the board of directors for the EPA’s Alliance for Water Efficiency. One of 19 board members selected, Wolfarth has worked in landscape architecture and irrigation and water management consulting for eight years and for Rain Bird for 21 years.
Bucky Trotter has joined Midwest Golf and Turf as its director of sports turf. Trotter will be partnering with facilities and grounds managers from schools and parks to maximize field maintenance results and consult on projects and issues. He previously worked as director of grounds and maintenance for the University of Kentucky. The company also has hired Brian Powers as its territory manager responsible for Central and Eastern Kentucky, as well as the state’s northern counties of Kenton, Campbell and Boone. Powers, a former superintendent, most recently worked in equipment and supplies for course maintenance.
Rain Bird Corp. has hired Paul Roche as its national specification manager of its golf division. Roche will be responsible for the development and management of relationships with architects, irrigation designers and contractors in the golf industry. He also will further develop the company’s services offered to its customers and business partners. He brings more than 20 years of experience in the
irrigation field.
Bart Becker has joined St. Louis-based Lange-Stegmann Co. as its sales and distribution representative. Becker will market agriculture fertilizers in Missouri and Illinois.
Michael Williamson, Tony Morris and Lance Howerton, all employees at Jerry Pate Turf & Irrigation, recently received Toro distributor honors at the Toro University training awards banquet. Williamson received the Toro Golf Irrigation Rookie of the Year Award, Morris won the Toro Golf & Grounds Green Blazer Award for top salesman in commercial sales and Howerton received the 2006 National Commercial Excellence in Parts Customer Service Award.
Golf briefs
Golf Magazine has named Erin Hills GC, Erin, Wis., of Hurdzan/Fry Golf Course Design its Best New Course of the Year for 2006. The January 2007 issue of the magazine features Erin Hills in its Top Ten New Courses You Can Play feature. Before its Aug. 1, 2006, opening, Erin Hills also received the nod from the USGA to host the 2008 U.S. Women’s Public Links Championship. Jeff Rottier, a nine-year GCSAA member, is superintendent.
La Tour golf course, one of the first signature designs from Louisiana Tour professional David Toms, is set to open later this year in Lafourche Parish, La. Plans for the course, in addition to a development community with more than 500 lots, have been approved by the U.S. Corps of Engineers, and construction began last winter. La Tour, a 7,100-yard 18-hole public course that Toms says was designed with the everyday golfer in mind, is being built in association with Ken Morgan of Morgan Golf Design.
We-Ko-Pa GC’s new Saguaro Course, which opened for play last December, was recently named The Best New Course You Can Play in the United States by Golf Magazine. The Bill Coore- and Ben Crenshaw-designed Saguaro Course in Fort McDowell, Ariz., plays to a par of 71 and stretches to 6,912 yards from the tips. A mix of short and long par 4s including a drivable 316-yard, par-4 second hole, the course is rated 72.1 with a slope of 138 from the tips.
Sand Creek Station GC in Newton, Kan., which opened in
July 2006, has received two environmental awards and engineering awards. The American Council of Engineering Companies presented the city with its City Public Improvement Award for 2006 in Kansas, and the course was also named one of five finalists in the Daily Fee Development of the Year honor by Golf Inc.
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