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2009 GCSAA Education Conference and Golf Industry Show preview
Plan your New Orleans experience
with this comprehensive guide.
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The city
GIS dollars and cents
Special events
In the classroom
Habitat for humanity
Partner activities
Trade show tech
Trade show highlights
GCSAA board candidates
With Hurricane Katrina in the rearview mirror, GCSAA members don’t seem concerned about visiting a rebuilt and refurbished New Orleans.
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“A couple of guys asked me, ‘Is New Orleans as good as it used to be?’” Les Kennedy Jr. says. “My response was, ‘It’s even better.’” Photos courtesy New Orleans CVB |
Normally, the annual GCSAA Chapter Delegates meeting takes place near the Kansas City airport, a 45-minute drive from GCSAA headquarters in Lawrence, Kan.
Last year, GCSAA decided to host the event in New Orleans in late October. The main reason was quite simple: to show GCSAA representatives from around the country that New Orleans was ready to host the GCSAA Education Conference and Golf Industry Show.
But today, some 40 months after Hurricane Katrina, allaying those fears may be a waste of time.
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New Orleans has moved on since Hurricane Katrina, and is now a better convention city than before. |
Troy A. Mullane, the Class A superintendent at the Farms Golf Club in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., a 13-year GCSAA member and the delegate for the San Diego GCSA, doesn’t believe a concern over the condition of New Orleans is a factor when his colleagues are deciding whether to book a room in the Big Easy.
“I think most people are either going or not going based on whether their club can afford it or their club can’t afford it,” he says. “I don’t think anyone isn’t going because they think New Orleans is unsafe. (Members) trust that GCSAA wouldn’t schedule the show at a place that wasn’t safe for members.”
Les Kennedy Jr., CGCS at Blind Brook Club in Purchase, N.Y., and the delegate from the Connecticut Association of Golf Course Superintendents, said that only a handful of his colleagues asked him about the condition of the city.
“Only a couple guys asked me, ‘Is New Orleans as good as it used to be?’” Kennedy says. “My response was, ‘It’s even better.’”
Wayne Slaton, the Class A superintendent at the Golf Club at Crystal Falls in Leander, Texas, and a 12-year member of the association, says that there’s a lot of interest in the condition of New Orleans in his area because many people who were displaced from New Orleans found new homes in his region.
“I wondered how quickly the turnaround would be in New Orleans, and I had a few people ask me about what I saw,” he says. “I saw that they’ve made a quick recovery. They’ve made a lot of improvements, too — the convention center was very inviting. The tourism is alive and well.”
Moving forward
It may be a formality, but GCSAA wants to do its part to encourage potential GIS attendees that New Orleans is a great location for the show.
“New Orleans has moved forward. The city has improved upon what they had for hosting events like this, and by now, most people realize that,” Bonnie Stephenson, Certified Meeting Professional and GCSAA’s director of conference events and meeting planning, says. “Still, we want to make every effort possible to make sure our members know that we have their best interest in mind when we choose a location. We’re going to New Orleans not out of charity, but because it’s an excellent venue for a show the size of the Golf Industry Show.”
Indeed, when GCM visited the Big Easy back in July of 2007, the locals were already clamoring for the arrival of the GIS, saying the city was more than prepared to host the many golf industry professionals who attend the show every year.
“It’s a joke to me to think that New Orleans can’t handle the GIS,” Walker Sory, the Class A superintendent at Audubon Park Golf Course in New Orleans, told GCM. “I can’t fathom how people would think that; we can handle Jazzfest and Mardi Gras.”
“We’re beyond the storm — it’s business as usual,” Robb Arnold, the Class A superintendent at TPC Louisiana, told GCM. “We’re back and we’re rolling. That’s the message that needs to get out.”
Kennedy says that is exactly what he saw while walking around downtown New Orleans while he was there for the delegate’s meeting.
“The convention center is rebuilt, the area around it, the Harrah’s Casino, it all looks great. I did a lot of walking around — from the convention center to Bourbon Street. There’s no evidence of the hurricane at all, except that it all seemed cleaner, neater.”
Slaton said his report back to his chapter was a fun one to give.
“I gave them an update that covered a lot of ground, but the main point was that it’s going to be a great show.”
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What to do and see
So we’ve established that New Orleans remains one of America’s premier destinations for visitors. Now, what is there to see and do while you’re in the Big Easy (other than the world-class education and events at conference and show, that is)?
Of special interest to superintendents and their families might be the Audubon Institute’s recently opened Insectarium. Superintendents battle some insects while embracing others, but at the Insectarium, all insects are celebrated. The Insectarium is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Tuesday through Sunday (www.auduboninstitute.org).
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Speaking of bugs, the New Orleans Hornets will be playing at “The Hive” (also known as New Orleans Arena) the week of the Golf Industry Show. The Hornets host Portland, Chicago, Toronto and Minnesota during GIS week (www.nba.com/hornets).
For those with a passion for history, the city of New Orleans is the proud host of the National World War II Museum, America’s official World War II museum. The museum blends personal accounts, artifacts, documents, photographs and never-before-seen film footage to tell the story of the war that changed the world. The National World War II Museum is open seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (www.nationalww2museum.org).
Of course, it is New Orleans and that means Mardi Gras.
Though Fat Tuesday is Feb. 24, New Orleans celebrates the event for a full month leading up to the main event of Fat Tuesday. There will even be a parade during GIS week — on Saturday, Feb. 7, the Krewe du Vieux parade will take place at 6:30 p.m. in the French Quarter. While this is one of Mardi Gras’ more anticipated parades, be forewarned: it does have adult themes (www.nola.com/mardigras).
Guide to good food
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A trio of New Orleans locals give their suggestions on the best places to eat in the Big Easy
“Any of the Brennan’s Restaurants. I like Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse, that’s one of my favorites. If you’re looking for seafood, the Acme Oyster House (pictured left) does a great char-grilled oyster.” Walker Sory, Audubon Park GC
“The Bayona is one of my favorite restaurants. It’s a Cajun cottage in the French Quarter; it’s an unknown restaurant. If they want a nice garden to sit out in that time of the year, they have a courtyard.” Peter Carew, Brechtel Park GC
“Brennan’s downtown is a good one. Pat O’Brien’s is a good one. Just walking downtown in the French Quarter is a good experience.” Robb Arnold, TPC Louisiana
GIS pushes recovery
for Big Easy
Show offers significant economic boost to a city still traveling down comeback trail after Hurricane Katrina.
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The New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau estimates that the average convention visitor spends nearly $150 in the city’s shops. Photo courtesy of the New Orleans CVB |
It takes more than a hurricane the size of Katrina to wipe out New Orleans’ status as a great American city. But while the culture may not have been lost, the economy certainly suffered a blow, and the city is counting on events like the 2009 GCSAA Education Conference and Golf Industry Show to regain its footing.
“The Golf Industry Show is an extremely important show for us,” reports Jennifer Lotz, communications coordinator for the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau.
When compared with other events that brought visitors to New Orleans last year, the Golf Industry Show ranks firmly below such blockbusters as the Essence Music Festival 2008 in July (with an estimated attendance of 200,000) or the NBA All-Star Game and its related festivities (60,000 visitors), is in the same ballpark as the Institute of Food Technologists (20,000) and the American Heart Association (27,500), and solidly above the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (8,900) and the American Association of Airport Executives (2,600).
But they’re all part of an aggressive plan for economic recovery in a city that claims tourism as its largest industry.
“A strong tourism economy means tax revenue for schools and city services, jobs for our citizens and accelerated recovery citywide,” says J. Stephen Perry, president and CIO of the New Orleans CVB. “The hospitality industry is united unlike ever before and dedicated to that recovery as we start to see progress from our significant investments in sales, public relations and marketing.”
Post-Katrina progress
The city sees progress in the fact that the number of visitors to New Orleans increased from 3.7 million in 2006, just after Katrina, to 7.1 million in 2007, according to a survey conducted by the University of New Orleans Hospitality Research Center for the CVB and the New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corp. But during a healthy year prior to Katrina, New Orleans hosted nearly 9 million visitors annually.
“Momentum is returning with multiple recent successes, yet we still have a long way to go to successfully re-image the destination in the minds of millions of visitors, meeting professionals and travel decision-makers worldwide,” Perry admits.
Expect to spend …
There’s no doubt that the 20,000-plus superintendents, club owners, managers, architects, builders and others attending the Golf Industry Show will be a welcome sight for the hotels, restaurants and shops that look forward to the big business conventioneers generate. Just how much dough will the golf course industry leave behind when the GIS closes down Feb. 7?
“Our research shows us that figure is $1,176 per delegate per stay — that’s what the normal convention attendee spends here in our city,” says Nikki Nicholson, the CVB’s vice president of sales. That figures out to a total of more than $23 million for a show the size of the Golf Industry Show.
From that average total, the CVB expects each conventioneer will spend:
• 27.4 percent on lodging
• 32.2 percent on restaurants
• 9.5 percent on bars and nightclubs
• 6.6 percent on transportation
• 9.5 percent on entertainment
• 14.8 percent on shopping
“It’s hard to overstate the importance of GCSAA to our industry and our city,” says Fred Sawyers, who is a board member of the CVB, the Greater New Orleans Hotel and Lodging Association and the New Orleans Morial Convention Center as well as general manager of the largest hotel in New Orleans — the Hilton New Orleans Riverside, which is GCSAA’s HQ in the city.
“Large citywide conventions are the lifeblood of the convention and tourism industry here, and the dollars spent help keep our vibrant and unique culture alive. We look forward with great anticipation to hosting GCSAA once again.”
Bunny Smith is GCM’s managing editor.
From Paul Azinger to Stephen M.R. Covey, there are plenty of reasons why special events in New Orleans truly will be special.
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The Welcoming Reception kicks off conference and show week, offering attendees the opportunity to visit with colleagues and enjoy some New Orleans-style fare. Photo by Bruce Mathews |
In New Orleans, they do everything with style and pizzazz, and this year the 2009 GCSAA Education Conference and Golf Industry Show follows in the tradition of its host city with an exciting lineup of innovative education programs and festivities.
Connect with old friends and meet new ones at the Welcoming Reception, the official kick-off to the GCSAA Education Conference and Golf Industry Show on Wednesday, Feb. 4, from 5:15 to 6:45 p.m. Presented in partnership with Syngenta, this year’s reception will bring all attendees together to sample sumptuous New Orleans cuisine, enjoy a refreshing beverage and mingle with peers.
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U.S. Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger will be the keynote speaker during the Opening Session at the GCSAA Education Conference and Golf Industry Show. |
You’ll want to arrive early to get a seat at the always-packed Opening Session on Thursday, Feb. 5 from 9 to 10:45 a.m., where Paul Azinger, captain of the victorious U.S. Ryder Cup team this past September, will be the keynote speaker. Also, GCSAA will honor its founder, Col. John Morley, with its highest award, the Old Tom Morris Award.
Other top GCSAA awards to be doled out at the Opening Session, which is being presented in partnership with Tycrop, include the Leo Feser Award, the Excellence in Government Relations Award, GCSAA/Golf Digest Environmental Leaders in Golf Awards (presented in partnership with Syngenta and Rain Bird), the President’s Award for Environmental Stewardship and the newly named Col. John Morley Distinguished Service Awards.
Is trust considered a career skill? It is to Stephen M.R. Covey, author of the best-selling “The Speed of Trust” and keynote speaker for the Golf Industry Show General Session, who counts trust among critical leadership competencies in today’s business world that are essential to the success of a golf facility. Covey, a passionate speaker who will deliver his keynote address at the session Friday, Feb. 6 from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., knows first-hand what qualities in a person can lead to success — he led the Covey Leadership Center, which is the largest leadership company in the world.
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Stephen M.R. Covey, author of the best-selling book “The Speed of Trust,” will keynote this year’s Golf Industry Show General Session. |
Along with Franklin Quest, Covey formed the FranklinCovey organization. The Golf Industry Show General Session is co-produced by GCSAA, the National Golf Course Owners Association and the Club Management Association of America.
Times are tough, and golf courses take a direct hit during economic turmoil. That’s the theme of this year’s USGA Green Section Education Program, aptly named “It’s All About the Economy! Good Ideas to Help You Tighten Your Belt.” Programs feature presentations by USGA Green Section agronomists on how to save money and be more efficient with the resources available at each facility. Attendees at the education program, to be held Friday, Feb. 6, from 10 a.m. to noon, can select from a variety of educational sessions, with topics ranging from the cost efficiency of wind energy on a course and developing naturalized areas to whether a facility can afford bunkers.
Darcy DeVictor is GCM’s associate editor.
Education takes center stage at conference and show, with NC State’s Brandenburg regularly playing a starring role.
GCSAA conference and shows have always been about education, and the program these days definitsely justifies the top billing.
GCSAA offers a vast array of essential topics presented by industry experts, researchers and superintendents themselves. While the gathering of golf course management professionals is a valuable opportunity to learn, share and network with one’s peers, the success of the education conference has long had direct ties to the quality of its faculty.
A typical fit as a conference-and-show educator is Rick Brandenburg, Ph.D., of North Carolina State University’s Department of Entomology — a veteran of many GCSAA education conferences with a reputable pedigree. Brandenburg, a William Neal Reynolds Professor and co-director of the Center for Turfgrass Environmental Research and Education at NC State, is a noted authority on IPM and related issues.
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Rick Brandenburg, Ph.D. |
Brandenburg is presently involved in developing an IPM template for GCSAA’s philanthropic organization, The Environmental Institute for Golf, which will be a hands-on guide to help superintendents develop and implement a sound, customized IPM program for their specific situations and locations.
For more than a decade now, Brandenburg has been teaching at GCSAA conference and shows, regional and chapter seminars and even a couple of Golf Asia conferences. He has also been instrumental in the curriculum at most of those events, having served on GCSAA Education Committees dating back to 1998.
“The Education Committee has really played an important role in developing education for the conference and show to the high level it currently enjoys. A lot of work each year goes into reviewing current seminars, seeing what can be modified, what is missing, the overall goals of education and more,” he says.
“In GCSAA education, there is a plan,” Brandenburg adds. “Not taking anything away from the programming in earlier years, but we have the luxury now of a lot of quality faculty in a wide range of areas of expertise, and that has allowed the committee to develop a long-term, comprehensive educational plan. It is a cohesive program with a purpose.”
Brandenburg says what he enjoys most about teaching at conference and show is the challenging interplay and the response from participants.
“I take feedback from my seminars very seriously. The audience is so diverse and every year some feel left out because you didn’t spend enough time on the issues they deal with most commonly. You learn and improve each year,” he says.
“GCSAA education is a two-way street. It makes me better at what I do. I learn a lot, I make connections that benefit me and I develop relationships that last a lifetime.”
Editor’s note: Brandenburg will be teaching a pair of seminars during the GCSAA Education Conference in New Orleans — “IPM: Putting Together an Effective Plan for Your Golf Course” and “Advanced Management of Warm-Season Turfgrass Insect Pests.”
Terry Ostmeyer is GCM’s senior staff writer.
This year’s GCSAA Education Conference will feature 23 new educational seminars for attendees to choose from. You can check out the complete list by clicking on www.gcsaa.org/conference/ed/newsems.asp.
Free registration for New Orleans
New GCSAA members are eligible for free registration to the GCSAA Education Conference and Golf Industry Show, as are current members who have never taken advantage of the free registration offer.
This member benefit also is available to GCSAA retired members, inactive members, student members and educator members.
So if you’ve never taken advantage of the complimentary registration opportunity, 2009’s conference and show in New Orleans is a great place to do so.
To qualify for complimentary registration, new membership applications must already be approved and your membership dues fully paid. New members using this option must register by mail or fax only.
Note to members who have attended conference and show before but have not taken advantage of this member benefit: On your registration form (A-1, found on Page 49 of this year’s conference and show brochure) mark the “1004 New Member” box, and write on the form “Not new member; first-time attendee.”
GIS attendees are helping rebuild New Orleans by volunteering their time.
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While in New Orleans, some Golf Industry Show attendees will volunteer their time to help rebuild homes for low-income families in New Orleans through Habitat for Humanity. Photo courtesy of New Orleans Habitat for Humanity |
For many people around the country, Hurricane Katrina is a distant memory. For those trying to rebuild in New Orleans, it’s an everyday way of life.
GCSAA members who want to lend a hand to those people rebuilding New Orleans will have the opportunity: GCSAA and its partner associations are teaming up with New Orleans Habitat for Humanity to host a series of work days before the trade show opens to help build homes in some of New Orleans’ most devastated areas.
“This is the first time the Golf Industry Show has been back in New Orleans since Katrina, and we are excited to join our partnering organizations to help the great people of this great city,” GCSAA CEO Mark Woodward, CGCS, says. “GCSAA has a compassionate membership, so helping the city rebuild is something that our members have felt very strongly about participating in when conference and show returns.”
The work days will be 7:45 a.m.-3:15 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb. 3-4. All volunteers will be placed in teams of 15 to work on homes within a particular area. The GIS will provide transportation, lunch, water, sunscreen and a T-shirt.
“Since Hurricane Katrina, New Orleanians have experienced hardships, but have continued to persevere in hopes of making New Orleans better than it was,” says Melissa Manusellis, volunteer coordinator for New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity. “The Golf Industry Show volunteer days will greatly assist New Orleans Habitat in achieving our mission of building safe and decent shelter for low-income families. The group’s enthusiasm is critical in maintaining our level of building.”
Registration is required to participate in the event, but those who missed the deadline and still would like to help can still make a contribution to New Orleans Habitat for Humanity.
“I was overwhelmed by the enormity of it,” Les Kennedy Jr., CGCS at Blind Brook Club in Purchase, N.Y., says of his recent visit to the more devastated outlying areas of New Orleans. “Driving through those areas that had 8 feet of water, seeing the X’s on every house, it had a profound effect on me … It’s like how you can’t really get the full scope of what it’s like in Iraq just by seeing it on TV. Wait until you see (New Orleans) in person; it’ll give you the right perspective on what went on there three years ago.”
By helping rebuild New Orleans, volunteers will be taking part in modern American history, helping aid in the recovery effort of one of America’s most devastating recent natural disasters.
“New Orleans is on the recovery track,” Kennedy says. “They’re bringing it back and beyond.”
Seth Jones is GCM’s senior associate editor.
The Big Easy will have plenty to offer turfgrass students attending the GCSAA Education Conference and Golf Industry Show. A listing of activities is available by clicking on www.gcsaa.org/conference/students.asp.
GCSAA’s show partners will offer their members a unique and varied menu of activities in New Orleans.
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For the past five years, the CMAA has held its Chautauqua cycling tours as part of the conference and show week, and this year’s edition is a three-day journey on bikes through Louisiana, interspersed by two-hour debriefs on issues prevalent in the club management world. Photo courtesy of the CMAA |
In your hurried pace through the aisles and hallways at the Golf Industry Show, ever stop for a moment and wonder to yourself what exactly those plaid-jacketed architects are up to? For that matter, what about the golf course builders, club managers, owners and other professions represented by differently colored badges that circulate through the massive convention center corridors?
Between GCSAA, its presenting partners (the Club Managers Association of America and the National Golf Course Owners Association) and its participating partners (American Society of Golf Course Architects, the Golf Course Builders Association of America and the National Golf Foundation), nearly every component of the golf facility is on hand at the annual event. And each profession’s organization has a different agenda — much of which will likely come as a surprise to superintendents.
In the club
The CMAA may boast the most fitness-oriented schedule, with a three-day bicycle tour of Louisiana and a 5K charity run with the association’s presidents on the agenda. Participating members (around 20 to 30 are expected) will embark Tuesday, Feb. 3, on the group’s Chautauqua Experience, a series of bicycling rides exploring the countryside interspersed with four two-hour debriefs focused on issues facing the club management industry. Chautauquas originated in the mid-19th century as mobile universities that trekked across the country and presented insight and entertainment to rural America. The CMAA edition is intended to provide a chance for members to escape from the daily grind, connect with ideas and people and to reflect on topical issues. CMAA has held this nonconventional portion of the conference and show for five years.
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Conference and show week for the Club Managers Association of America is an active one — the group hosts a 5K race and a three-day bicycle tour of Louisiana at this year’s show. Photo by Bruce Mathews and courtesy of The Club Foundation |
For the third year, CMAA is hosting the Club Foundation Run with the Presidents, kicking off Friday, Feb. 6. It began in 2006 when then-CMAA president Burt Ward, CCM, an avid marathon runner, wanted to incorporate a charitable running event into the schedule during conference week. With proceeds going toward The Club Foundation (CMAA’s charitable organization) and the St. Bernard Project, a group that rebuilds homes ravaged by hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the event is expected to garner 150 runners and walkers. Staff and members of all GIS organizations are welcome to participate. Visit www.cmaa.org for more information.
All about ownership
Over in the owners’ corner, NGCOA kicks off its show in New Orleans fashion Feb. 3 with an art and jazz opening reception. A first-time event, NGCOA University, is designed to cater to new owners, next-generation owners and those wanting basic information, says Anne Lyndrup, NGCOA’s director of conference and trade show. Taught by some of the industry’s most experienced and successful owners, the one-hour educational sessions are broken down into 15-minute increments devoted to a variety of topics, including marketing, finance, budgets, point-of-sale systems, customer service and player development. “The idea is to provide networking among members to have someone to call with later questions,” Lyndrup says.
An oldie but goodie is the Golf Business Idea Fair, where attendees present ideas they have implemented in the past to improve revenue or reduce expenses. Ideas are submitted ahead of time, 10 ideas are selected, and the winner receives a prize. Members often say this session alone pays for the entire trip, Lyndrup says.
Get busy
The golf course builders get down to business during their section of conference and show, holding a board meeting and a general membership meeting within the week.
An exciting newcomer to the trade show floor this year is a project to construct a fairway and water feature in booth No. 1639, which is being carried out by the GCBAA in conjunction with the architects (ASGCA), GCSAA and the Irrigation Association. With a topical focus on the efficient use and management of water, the area will serve as instruction on how design and construction techniques can enhance water conservation. Components of the project will include a drainage system, a cross-section of the fairway and ponds with waterfalls.
While superintendents are accustomed to the Friday night lineup of a President’s Reception, the builders celebrate in their own way with the GCBAA Winter Meeting Awards Dinner that evening.
Solid foundation
In recognition of today’s economic woes, the National Golf Foundation will showcase in New Orleans the ways in which it can help its members stay vital and save money. NGF is incorporating its affinity partnership into the look of its booth on the trade show floor this year. International shipping service provider Fed-Ex will share some of the spotlight at the NGF booth, but for good reason — the affinity partnership saves NGF members an average of $1,500 a year on shipping, a savings that far outweighs the cost of NGF membership, says Mike Soper, member services manager for the group. The program, which has been active for several years, is geared at smaller businesses that don’t ship enough volume to meet a minimum requirement and can benefit from the collective volume offered through the partnership. The organization is also raffling off from its booth a round of golf for four at any TPC course nationwide.
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Forrest Richardson, ASGCA, helps attendees with their golf course designs at the ASGCA’s Guest Architect class during the Golf Industry Show. The class gives non-architects a chance to design a routing on a golf property with the help of consultants on-hand at the popular educational session. Photo courtesy of ASGCA |
Design demand
The American Society of Golf Course Architects plans a number of education sessions, many of which can benefit superintendents. The group’s Remodeling University is a four-hour class that’s particularly popular with superintendents. Taught by three or four ASGCA members, the session walks attendees through the steps of a golf course remodel, touching on inception, design, communication, permitting, construction phasing and completion. Case studies of successful renovations are also presented.
Back by demand, the popular Guest Architect class gives non-architects a crash lesson in golf architecture history and design principles before letting attendees design a routing on a piece of property, along with the help of consultants. It can be a great way for superintendents to understand more about the nuts and bolts of the design process and could give them a leg up when working with an architect on their courses, says Aileen Smith, director of communications at ASGCA.
Another well-liked session that draws around 200 attendees each year is the “Trends in Contemporary Golf Course Architecture” and panel discussion. Moderated by ASGCA’s sitting president, Bruce Charlton, ASGCA, the discussion will focus on water management and how design comes into play with the pressing issue of water conservation.
ASGCA also is involved in the unique project on the trade show floor — the “Water Use and Maintenance” project that will be designed by ASGCA to feature a stream, pond, fairway, tee and rough area, all featuring the latest in water management tools and techniques in the industry. On Thursday and Friday of the trade show, speakers at the project will present topics such as choosing turfgrass appropriate for growing conditions, understanding stormwater management, irrigation technology and more.
GCSAA golf tournament
hits the beach
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The sun and sand of the Gulf Shores area in Alabama will play host to the 59th playing of the GCSAA National Championship and Golf Classic, Feb. 1-3.
Presented in partnership with The Toro Co. for the 15th consecutive year, this year’s event returns to coastal Alabama for the second time ever and the first since Mobile was the primary host to the 2000 tournament. And the three facilities playing host to tournament play are no strangers to this event.
Kiva Dunes Golf Club, the host to the National Championship portion of the week, along with the hosts to the Golf Classic and Four-Ball competition — the Cotton Creek and Cypress Bend courses at Craft Farms and Peninsula Golf Club — are all holdovers from 2000.
Two-time champion Seth Strickland, the superintendent at Miami Shores (Fla.) Country Club, will be defending his title this year. Strickland won last year’s tournament in record-setting fashion, with a three-day total of 12-under-par 204, which was 16 shots better than his closest competitor.
Gulf Shores’ Perdido Beach Resort will serve as the host hotel for the event. For more information on the GCSAA National Championship and Golf Classic, visit www.gcsaa.org/conference/tour.asp.
Technological advances are making the conference and show experience easier and more efficient for attendees.
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Attendees will be able to keep in touch with their families and facilities at any of the seven Internet cafés located in the lobbies and the Networking Parks on the trade show floor. Photo by Bruce Mathews |
Online and on-site, technology is playing an ever-increasing role at the annual Golf Industry Show. In the months leading up to the 2009 event in New Orleans, the Web sites for the GCSAA Education Conference (www.gcsaa.org/conference) and GIS (www.golfindustryshow.com) have offered an array of online tools, including conference registration, a preview and bidding for the Silent Auction, and a searchable electronic brochure and trade show floor plan. On-site, the GIS partners will be focusing on technologies that help attendees maximize their time and also help show management staff collect data to improve future events.
Gathering attendee data
The Golf Industry Show will again incorporate RFID into attendee badges. Introduced last year at the show in Orlando, the technology involves a radio frequency identification chip placed in all badges. RFID portals at the entrance to the trade show floor and at other key events record the chip’s serial number, providing show management with information about attendance, timing and traffic flow.
RFID is also being taken to the next level with its use in the Road to Riches event (formerly the Solutions Challenge). With a simple badge scan, participants will record their visits at booths throughout the trade show floor. The system will enter their names automatically into that day’s cash prize drawings. Badges can be scanned only once per kiosk per day, but attendees can increase their odds by visiting participating kiosks each day of the show.
Online registration, on-site
Another technological step for 2009 will be the introduction of self-service registration for current GCSAA members who wish to register on-site. Those members will enter a separate, “fast-track” line to use the online registration forms, which are already integrated with the GCSAA member database. Once registered, members will be able to pick up their badges and other materials. This feature should help ease congestion at the busiest registration times and will be expanded for 2010.
Online planning
Three cutting-edge tools have been added to the conference and show’s Web presence this year that should enhance attendees’ planning for the trip to New Orleans. They include:
• Conference and show brochure (www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gcsaa/2009conferencebrochure): The digital version of the GCSAA Education Conference and Golf Industry Show brochure allows you to search by key word or title, bookmark pages, forward links to colleagues and print pages.
• Exhibitor list (www.golfindustryshow.com/exhibitor/
exhibitorlist.aspx):
This comprehensive list allows you to search exhibitors and product categories.
• Floor plan (www.golfindustryshow.com/2009/onlinefloorplan.asp): Updated daily as booths are assigned, the online plan not only shows the overall layout and booth locations, it can also be searched by product category, exhibiting companies or key words. In addition, the “My Expo” tool allows you to create and print your own personal map of exhibitors and products.
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Seven Internet Cafés will be featured throughout the lobby of the Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. Photo by Bruce Mathews |
Staying connected
While you’re at conference and show, there will be plenty of opportunities to stay connected with your course and family back home.
Networking Parks, located throughout the trade show floor, will be easy to spot — each will feature one of the host cities of the annual Golf Industry Show: New Orleans, Orlando and San Diego. With Internet kiosks, presented in partnership with DuPont Professional Products, concession vendors and ample seating, the networking parks are designed to provide a convenient and comfortable place to meet with your facility team, peers or exhibitors, or to simply relax without leaving the show floor.
Seven Internet Cafés, presented in partnership with DuPont Professional Products and set up around the lobby of the Morial Convention Center and at the Networking Parks, will allow attendees to browse the Internet, print documents and check e-mail.
Finally, for attendees with their own laptop computers, the convention center has designated Wi-Fi hot spots throughout the facility.
An eye to the future
GCSAA has joined with its show partners, the National Golf Course Owners Association and the Club Managers Association of America, to form the GIS Technology Partnership Team, composed of the IT directors and other key staff from all three associations. The goal of the team is to research and implement new technologies for 2009 and beyond.
Two key areas of focus for future shows involve tools for personalized planning and technologies that integrate attendees’ and exhibitors’ trade show goals. Advanced personalized planning tools will help superintendents and others easily identify the education programs, events and exhibitors that address their facilities’ specific needs, and thereby justify the expense and time away from the course. New information-sharing technologies — and enhancements to existing products — will help attendees and exhibitors exchange information, plan meetings and follow up with contacts.
Christina Slape is the editor of GCSAA This Week (www.gcsaa.org/thisweek/default.asp).
The annual Silent Auction, which benefits The Environmental Institute for Golf, begins online Jan. 5. For more information and to review items up for bid, click on http://auction.golfindustryshow.com.
This year’s Golf Industry Show puts the focus on helping superintendents achieve their personal and
professional goals.
When the Golf Industry Show hits the Big Easy during the first full week of February, success will be in the spotlight. And this year’s annual gathering will be particularly suited to helping attendees achieve personal and professional goals.
From personal meetings with exhibitors about new products and services to a comfortable spot to rest your feet, this year’s show is designed to help you navigate the largest show floor in the industry with ease. Here’s a look at some of the highlights that you’ll be able to take advantage of during your trip to New Orleans.
Special projects
One of the most visited parts of the Golf Industry Show floor this year promises to be the Water Use and Maintenance Project. The focus for 2009 is on water with an emphasis on its efficient use and management. You will learn how both can be enhanced by design and construction techniques through a bird’s eye view of a drainage system, a cross-section of the fairway and construction of ponds with waterfalls. The Golf Course Builders Association of America, the American Society of Golf Course Architects, GCSAA and the Irrigation Association will make this area come to life.
In addition, this project will be tied into one or more of the GCSAA Education Conference offerings throughout the week, including Thursday’s Remodeling University course, in which seminar participants will take a field trip onto the show floor to see this project in action. Complementing the project on Thursday and Friday, Feb. 5-6, will be presentations by some of the marquee names in golf course architecture, construction and renovation.
Another special project can be viewed in the indoor range on the show floor, where attendees can view one of two putting greens constructed by Golf Greens “Fore” U, and take a few practice putts. As an added incentive, attendees will be able to participate in a longest-putt contest and be eligible to win a $500 cash prize provided by Golf Industry Show management. The winner will be announced on Saturday afternoon, so stop by the greens each of the three days of the Golf Industry Show to try to sink the longest putt.
In addition, Golf Greens “Fore” U will create a bocce court, an amenity that can be added to any facility with virtually no maintenance costs.
On the road again
Traveling the entire show floor by following the Road to Riches (formerly the Solutions Challenge) could make you $500 — or maybe even $5,000 — richer.
Entering the Road to Riches contest is simple:
1. Locate each of the kiosks highlighted on your trade show floor map or check the “You Are Here” signs on the show floor. You’ll also find Road to Riches information in GCSAA Answer Zone.
2. Tap your badge to the kiosk’s badge scanner to log your stop. Each time you stop at a different kiosk, your name will be entered once into that day’s cash drawing for $500. One badge scan per kiosk per day is allowed. You can increase your odds of winning a daily cash prize by visiting each kiosk each day of the trade show.
3. To be eligible for the $5,000 grand prize drawing, you must swipe your badge once at each kiosk at some point during the three-day trade show. The grand prize winner will be drawn at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 7.
If your name is called over the PA system, you’ll have 30 minutes to claim your prize. You must be present on the trade show floor at the time of the drawings to win. Unclaimed $500 daily cash prizes will roll over to Saturday’s grand prize, so the $5,000 pot could grow even larger.
Participation is open to the following attendees affiliated full-time with a facility:
• GCSAA Class A, Superintendent and C members
• NGCOA course owners/operator members
• CMAA general manager or chief operating officer members
Road to Riches sponsors include: Arysta LifeScience, Becker-Underwood, Gasser Chair Co., Hcareers, Simplot/Jacklin Seed/Best, Sunbelt Rentals and Standard Golf. More sponsors are being added daily, so visit www.golfindustryshow.com for the most current list.
On the auction block
A great way to try new products from companies you know and trust is by participating in the Silent Auction. Join the excitement and discover the hidden savings at the Silent Auction. Bidding opens Jan. 5, and you can preview items now at http://auction.golf
industryshow.com.
Computers will be available in the Silent Auction booth for bidding, and staff members can assist you with the process. Booth hours are:
• Thursday, Feb. 5, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Friday, Feb. 6, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Saturday, Feb. 7, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Proceeds support environmental stewardship programs, including research and education to strengthen the compatibility of the game of golf with our natural environment, player development programs, grants and scholarships to advance the club management industry and support to give young people the opportunity to learn golf and the life values the game of golf represents.
Water works
In an effort to reduce its impact on the environment, the Golf Industry Show will feature hydration stations in various, convenient locations on the trade show floor. The hydration stations will allow attendees to pick up a reusable and refillable sports bottle. By drinking from and carrying these bottles as you make your way across the trade show floor, you are helping to reduce plastic waste that comes from bottled water and shrinking the Golf Industry Show carbon footprint. In addition, you can use these sports bottles long after you return home from New Orleans.
The hydration stations are being presented in partnership with a new fungicide that will be introduced at the Golf Industry Show.
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Got a question? Stop by the Answer Zone to find the solution. Photo by Bruce Mathews |
Getting the answers
The GCSAA Answer Zone will have staff available to answer all your questions about association programs and services and to help you maximize the value of your membership. GCSAA staff members will be on hand with information on career services, certification, membership, chapter services, education and public policy.
The Answer Zone is also the place to go to pick up a limited-edition collector’s print of a noted golf figure illustrated by David Pursell, the retired president and CEO of FarmLinks LLC. While supplies last, the prints will be available to A, Superintendent and C members.
In addition …
New Product Showcase. The most recent product introductions in the industry will be spotlighted in the New Product Showcase, an area that will run the length of the main aisle at the center of the trade show floor. This is the spot for exhibitors to unveil their freshest innovations and latest technologies for golf course, facility and club management solutions. Visit www.golfindustryshow.com to view a list of exhibitors and their products that will be featured in the 2009 New Product Showcase.
Networking parks.The networking parks have been expanded for 2009 and are the perfect places to share ideas and best practices with peers or to network with industry exhibitors. Located across the trade show floor, three parks will feature Internet kiosks presented in partnership with DuPont Professional Products, concession vendors and ample seating.
You can easily spot a networking park on the trade show floor as each one is themed after one of the three host cities of the Golf Industry Show: Orlando, New Orleans and San Diego. Upon entering the parks, you may feel as though you’ve taken a mini-vacation as the sights, sounds and offerings are unique to each host city.
People movers. Get a unique view of the Golf Industry Show by utilizing the people movers, presented in partnership with Club Car. Running down the side and back perimeters of the trade show floor, the people mover can help you navigate the show with ease and give you a grand tour of the floor. The people mover will operate during trade show hours, and its 12 stops can be found on your trade show map.
From Internet cafés to the merchandise and bookstore, there will be plenty of areas at the GCSAA Education Conference and Golf Industry Show designed especially with the attendee in mind. Click on www.gcsaa.org/conference/attendresources.asp for more information.
A trip across the trade show floor in New Orleans can offer more than just a look at products and services that can help your golf operation. Want to know how? Check out the details of the new Road to Riches program by clicking on www.golfindustryshow.com/2009/challenge.asp.
Leadership, teamwork
top Team Deay agenda
The Golf Industry Show’s Team Day returns on Friday, Feb. 6. Now in its third year, the day’s activities will focus on developing teamwork and leadership skills for the entire golf course, facility and club management team.
The day starts with the 8:30-9:30 a.m. Golf Industry Show General Session and some inspiration on the subject of trust from Covey Leadership Center CEO Stephen M.R. Covey, whose best selling book, “The Speed of Trust,” claims that trust has become a critical leadership competency in today’s business world.
Teams can hear tips on surviving an economic downturn at the USGA Green Section Education Program, 10 a.m.-noon. The program, “It’s All About the Economy! Good Ideas to Help You Tighten Your Belt,” will include presentations on water, wind energy, naturalized areas and inorganic soil amendments.
From there, Team Day continues with the trade show. With no competing education from noon-4 p.m., teams can travel the show floor together and work on their facilities’ objectives.
Assistants' session
inspires action
Alexis Wenker, assistant superintendent at Oswego Lake (Ore.) Country Club, attended the inaugural Assistant Superintendent Session and Reception last year in Orlando, hoping to expand her network of contacts.
This year, Wenker takes that effort another step forward: She’s a presenter at the Assistant Superintendent Session and Reception in New Orleans, 1:30-5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5, presented in partnership with Syngenta and The Toro Co.
“After attending this session at the GIS in Orlando in 2008, I was inspired to become more involved with the national and my local golf course associations,” she recalls. “This seminar gave me ideas on how to do that.”
Wenker will present a template for chapter engagement and will join fellow assistants Tavis Horton (dealing with politics) and Dan Schuknecht (interviewing tips) on the podium along with several superintendent panelists. Sandy Clark, CGCS, is moderator.
“If you’re an assistant superintendent going to the GIS in New Orleans, the Assistant Superintendent Session is something you shouldn’t miss,” says Wenker, who has been a GCSAA member for six years.
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For President
Mark D. Kuhns, CGCS
Mark D. Kuhns, CGCS, has been the director of grounds at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, N.J., since 1999. Previously, he served as superintendent at Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club; Laurel Valley Golf Club in Ligonier, Pa.; and Ligonier (Pa.) Country Club. He has a bachelor’s degree in agricultural science from Penn State University in University Park.
A 28-year member of GCSAA and a member of the board since 2003, Kuhns currently serves as GCSAA’s vice president and is chairman of the Industry Advisory Council and Conference Logistics Task Group, and vice chairman of the Conference and Show Resource Group and the Chapter Relations Committee.
Kuhns is a member of the GCSA of New Jersey and an honorary member of the Greater Pittsburgh GCSA. He is also a past president of the Mountain & Valley GCSA and past vice president of the Greater Pittsburgh GCSA. He currently serves as secretary of Pennsylvania Turfgrass Research Inc. and has previously served as a director with the O.J. Noer Turfgrass Research Foundation, as a sustaining member of the New Jersey Turfgrass Association, and as a member of the Tri-State Turfgrass Research Foundation and the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation.
Kuhns statement
We live in a constantly changing world. While the traditions of the game of golf endure with little change, the business of golf has changed dramatically in this generation. In the 1990s, it was not unusual for 300 new courses to open in a single year. Today, many courses are closing their doors as their owners opt to reap the rewards of commercial and residential development.
These are difficult times in light of the current energy crisis and chaotic economic trends. Growth and interest in the game continue to wane. Operating budgets are being slashed, and capital expenditures are not keeping up with depreciation. Many facilities are searching for solutions to sustain memberships and shore up bottom lines.
We are a major part of the solution to these challenges. As professional superintendents, we cannot be content to sit back and focus only on the confines of the golf course. We must now sharpen our business acumen to more clearly understand the full range of factors that determine the success or failure of our facilities. Who else could predict, analyze and communicate the agronomic, environmental, labor and playability impacts of various business strategies?
GCSAA continues to maintain a strong presence and leadership role in the golf industry. The Golf Industry Show has demonstrated to the world of golf that implementing a strong team concept can effectively consolidate resources and spell success for the facility and its leaders. Our relationship with the LPGA Tour and our commitment to provide a Tour agronomist has been a rewarding experience for both organizations. Ongoing annual strategic meetings with the PGA of America, USGA, Club Managers Association of America, National Golf Course Owners Association and others will only strengthen our positive impact on the game and the success of our facilities.
We continue to lead the way with strong educational programs, industry recognition of elevated membership and certification standards, and an environmental role that is second to none. An extensive branding initiative uses industry publications, The Golf Channel and radio to highlight the important role the GCSAA members play in today’s golf environment.
GCSAA will continue to develop and provide the support and resources you need for your career and facility success. We are truly blessed with a talented and caring staff in Lawrence. Following in the footsteps of Steve Mona, CAE, will be no easy task, but our new CEO, Mark Woodward, CGCS, is working tirelessly to accomplish a smooth transition. I have the utmost confidence in Mark and look forward to working with him in the coming years.
The price tag for all of GCSAA’s services and resources is far greater than what our dues statements reflect. We are truly thankful for the participation and involvement of our industry partners. They have supported our many endeavors over the years, including environmental and educational programs, and many of the programs held at our conference and show. As with GCSAA, their very existence depends on the strength and viability of golf facilities like yours.
Indeed, our members are our greatest resource of all. The recognition and professionalism we experience today would not be possible without your involvement. Your participation through committees, resource groups, chapter service, surveys, educational programs and online communities is invaluable
to the success of GCSAA. Like everything in life, you only get out of it what you contribute.
I appreciate all I have learned and had the chance to contribute during my board service. All of our initiatives of the past six years have had a positive impact on members and the industry as a whole. My membership at Baltusrol is very excited and proud of my involvement with GCSAA. I am very grateful for their support over the past six years. My wife, Janet, and our children Elizabeth, Stephan and Kristen are my pillars of strength. My life has always revolved around my family, and I am very fortunate to have their loving support.
I will be truly proud and honored to serve as your next president. Thank you for your support over the past six years. It has been a privilege to work with all of my fellow board members over that time. They are the finest gentlemen I know, and they are committed to giving you the very best that GCSAA has to offer. I look forward to the next year and feel very strongly that we will make significant strides to secure a bright future. Remember that your involvement is crucial to our success. Get involved today!
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For Vice President
James R. Fitzroy, CGCS
James R. Fitzroy, CGCS, is the director of golf at Wollaston Recreational Facility/Presidents Golf Course in North Quincy, Mass., and has been at that facility since 1975. Previously, he was superintendent at Pleasant Valley Country Club in Sutton, Mass., and Cazenovia (N.Y.) Country Club. He has an associate’s degree in turf management from the Stockbridge School of Agriculture at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst and a bachelor’s degree in park administration from UMass.
A 42-year member of GCSAA, Fitzroy has served on the board of directors since 2005. He is currently the vice chairman of the Chapter Relations Committee and the Conference Logistics Task Group.
Fitzroy is a member and past president of the GCSA of New England and also holds membership in the Golf Course Managers Association of Cape Cod and the Rhode Island GCSA. He is a former member of the executive committee of the Massachusetts Golf Association and currently serves on that organization’s course rating team. He also serves on the plant science advisory committee for the Norfolk County Agricultural High School and UMass’ turf research building committee.
Fitzroy statement
It is an honor to be nominated for the position of vice president of GCSAA by my peers within the GCSA of New England, the Golf Course Managers Association of Cape Cod and the Rhode Island GCSA. I appreciate their support and confidence. I have been privileged to serve GCSAA for three years as a director and this year as secretary/
treasurer.
Prior to being elected to the GCSAA board of directors, I felt I was an engaged and informed member. Serving on a number of committees and as chapter delegate from the GCSA of New England, I thought I had a good sense of the services and programs offered by our national association. However, as a member of the board of directors, I have had the opportunity to view firsthand the depth and breadth of what GCSAA offers to its members. And I was certainly overwhelmed by the scope of the programs and services our association provides for our members and industry.
As members of the board of directors, we are often questioned on what GCSAA has to offer. We can be proud of our leadership in the areas of advocacy, professional development, community, environmental stewardship and our association’s ability to respond to the needs of our industry. While there may be other resources that provide some of these programs and services, these items are the core of what makes GCSAA the leader in the golf course management field.
An area that has generated much discussion in the last year has been the disparity between the programs and services that are in the GCSAA portfolio and what is actually consumed by the members. This discrepancy served as a starting point for our field staff program, and we are certainly encouraged by the early successes this program has experienced. However, we need to develop a multifaceted approach to educate our members, employers and the golfing public about the golf course management resource that is GCSAA.
Last year I spoke about how we grow when we move out of our comfort zone. As a board, 2007 and 2008 afforded a growth opportunity in the form of hiring a new chief executive officer. I never worked harder or was more proud to be involved with my fellow directors than during this search and hiring process. Our common goal is to now give Mark Woodward the tools and resources he needs to make his tenure as our leader the most productive time in the history of GCSAA.
I would like to thank the Norfolk County Commissioners; my wife, Maureen; and the players at Presidents Golf Course for their continued support of my efforts to serve GCSAA. But most importantly, I want to thank my staff at Presidents Golf Course. Headed by Class A superintendent Carlton P. Miner, they have consistently performed above and beyond the call of duty while I have traveled on behalf of GCSAA. With this kind of support, serving our association has been a pleasure.
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For Secretary/Treasurer
Sanford G. Queen, CGCS
Sanford G. Queen, CGCS, has been the manager of golf course operations for the city of Overland Park (Kan.) since 1984. Previously, he served as superintendent for the city of Overland Park.
A GCSAA member for 31 years, Queen has served on the board since 2006 and currently serves as chairman of the Membership and Scholarship committees and vice chairman of the Strategic Communications and Environmental Programs committees.
Queen is a member and past president of the Heart of America GCSA and a member of the Kansas Turfgrass Association, the Missouri Turfgrass Association and The First Tee of Greater Kansas City.
Queen statement
My service to GCSAA for the past three years as a director has been a learning experience and the opportunity of a lifetime. The one thing that stands out is what an exceptional group of men and women are part of
our profession. I strongly believe that we are a unique group of individuals who truly care about our customers and our fellow golf course superintendents.
And, at times, I think we care more about others than we do about ourselves. When I saw how our members responded when we had natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, the floods in Texas last year and then again in the Midwest this year, I am truly proud of our members. The way that superintendents support each other during local and national tournaments and especially when a fellow superintendent is having difficulties at his golf course is something in which we can all take pride.
I continue to believe that GCSAA plays an important role in promoting and serving the golf course superintendent. We are the key to the economic success of a facility and a critical part of the management team. I also think that working with local chapters provides us with our best opportunity for success.
As I begin my campaign to seek the office of secretary/treasurer, I have several goals I would like to champion and pursue. The first is to increase the recognition of the golf course superintendent by investing dollars in strategic television and print campaigns. I would like to develop cooperative programs with chapters to better leverage our dollars and increase our return on investment. I strongly believe chapters must play a significant role in the success of this endeavor. During my first three years on the board, I have become convinced that chapters that are able to invest in professional, paid executive directors are more effective chapters. We must utilize our combined strengths, leadership, strong management and the networking ability of both organizations to further our shared initiatives.
Secondly, as a professional organization and as individual superintendents, we must play a major role in growing the game. I strongly believe in our diversity initiatives. I am personally committed to the promotion of juniors, seniors, women and minorities in golf and have implemented programs at my courses to increase participation in golf by these groups. We must introduce new players to the game and keep them playing by offering creative ideas in course setup, practice and learning areas and by partnering with our golf professionals. This is a great opportunity for us to clearly position superintendents as key components in the economic vitality of our facilities.
I appreciate your consideration in support of my candidacy for secretary/treasurer and will commit to serve with your best interest in mind at all times, to spend our dues wisely and in such a way that will deepen your trust of our leadership.
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For Secretary/Treasurer
Robert M. Randquist, CGCS
Robert M. Randquist, CGCS, has been the director of golf course and grounds at Boca Rio Golf Club in Boca Raton, Fla., since 1998. Previously he was the superintendent at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Okla., and Quail Creek Golf and Country Club in Oklahoma City. He has a bachelor’s degree in metallurgical engineering from the University of Oklahoma in Norman.
A GCSAA member for 32 years, Randquist has served on the board since 2005. He is currently the chairman of the Conference Education and Environmental Programs committees and the Compensation and Benefits Task Group.
Randquist is a member of the Palm Beach GCSA and a past president of the Oklahoma GCSA. He is also a member of the Florida Turfgrass Association and the USGA Green Section Committee.
Randquist statement
Thank you for the support, opinions and advice you have given me during my service as a GCSAA director for the past four years. These four years of service have afforded me terrific opportunities to make new friends, interact with fellow members and other people involved in the game of golf, and impact decisions that influence the future direction of our profession and GCSAA. It is extremely gratifying to serve people who are so passionate about their profession and their personal commitment to the golf industry and the game of golf.
I am honored and humbled that the Florida GCSA and its board of directors have nominated me again as a candidate for the office of secretary/treasurer for GCSAA. I am ever grateful for both their steadfast support and the encouragement and counsel that the members of the Palm Beach GCSA have consistently provided to me during my tenure as a GCSAA director.
I am very thankful that my wife, La Vada, and my employer, Boca Rio Golf Club, clearly recognize, appreciate and support the contribution that volunteers make to their professional organizations. Without hesitation or reservation they are encouraging me to continue my commitment to GCSAA and its members by continuing my service as a GCSAA officer.
It has been a real privilege to serve with each set of GCSAA board members during my tenure as a GCSAA director. Throughout the history of GCSAA, the spirit of teamwork exhibited by members, committees, staff and elected leadership has allowed GCSAA and our profession to make steady progress over the years. As a result, golf course superintendents are better recognized, compensated and appreciated than at any time in the past. I am confident that this cooperative approach will continue to serve our members well as we work diligently to address issues regarding membership services, membership standards, education programs, Golf Industry Show participation, membership numbers and participation, chapter relations, marketing and branding programs, field staffing programs and increased transparency by GCSAA’s board and our accountability to our members.
I am also confident that we will continue to host our board meetings in different locations around the country to allow us to meet with chapter leaders and members, media representatives, and allied golf and academic representatives. This step to increase our accessibility to our membership has provided significantly improved input from our membership over the past few years and will continue to keep future GCSAA boards properly in touch with our members.
With the selection of Mark Woodward as our new CEO, our continued emphasis on marketing the value of golf course superintendents to employers and golfers and the expansion of our field-staffing program, it is a very exciting time to serve GCSAA’s membership. I hope you will seriously consider my qualifications and support my election to the office of GCSAA secretary/treasurer.
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For Director
Peter J. Grass, CGCS
Peter J. Grass, CGCS, has been the superintendent at Hilands Golf Club in Billings, Mont., since 1991. Previously, he served as the assistant superintendent at Hilands for nine years. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Eastern Montana College in Billings.
A 24-year member of GCSAA, Grass currently serves on the Competency Task Group, and has served on seven different committees since 1994: Membership, Election, Education, Career Development, Nominating, Certification and Chapter Relations.
Grass is a member and past president of the Peaks & Prairies GCSA.
Grass statement
I am honored to have been nominated by the Peaks & Prairies GCSA, Inland Empire GCSA and Idaho GCSA chapters to run for a position on the GCSAA board of directors. Having been a member of both the Peaks & Prairies GCSA and GCSAA for over 23 years, I have seen many different things happen as our profession has evolved during that time.
My entire career has been spent at the same facility. Hilands Golf Club is a nine-hole, 85-year-old private facility located in Billings, Mont. Starting out as a bag room attendant, I progressed to grounds staff, to assistant superintendent and, for the last 17 years, to superintendent. The reason I have been at the same facility for 33 years is that my work ethic, honesty, ability to compromise, ability to manage sometimes difficult people and situations and, most importantly, admit when I was wrong, has been recognized and rewarded by my membership. Come to think of it, those same qualities have been helpful during 28 years of marriage, too.
I am a volunteer by nature, whether it be for personal or professional organizations. I receive great satisfaction in serving others, something I learned by example from my parents. I have served both my chapter and GCSAA for many years. My history of GCSAA service began in 1993 when I was a delegate attending the first-ever chapter delegates meeting, something I continued to do annually through 2003. I have served on various GCSAA committees for the past 15 years. In addition to these committee assignments, I was involved in both the certification programs testing revisions and in establishing the competencies used in the Professional Development Resource.
My history of experience on both the chapter and national levels provides an understanding of the current issues affecting our industry, as well as an awareness of how the relationship between GCSAA and the chapters has evolved. Knowing where we have been should always help guide us into the future to achieve the mission, vision and values established for our association.
To close, I will share a story that I think characterizes both me and how I operate. During a GCSAA Education Committee meeting years ago, we were brainstorming topics of interest for the upcoming conference and show. After some good-natured ribbing about being from a nine-hole course, someone asked, “What does the nine-hole guy think?” My response was, “I’m nine and I’m OK with that.” Immediately someone said, “That is a presentation right there.” The committee agreed, and I spoke on that very topic at the Innovative Superintendent Session that year. It was a great learning experience for me and it helped others understand the differences, as well as the many similarities, of all golf courses, regardless of size.
I look forward to the election process and will continue to serve the GCSAA membership regardless of the outcome, because it is important to me and it is my responsibility to contribute to the profession in any way I can. Thank you for this opportunity.
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For Director
Keith A. Ihms, CGCS
Keith A. Ihms, CGCS, has been the director of grounds maintenance at the Country Club of Little Rock (Ark.) since 2005. Previously, he served as the superintendent at Bent Tree Country Club in Dallas; Pine Forest Country Club in Houston; Walden on Lake Houston Golf and Country Club in Humble, Texas; and Golfcrest Country Club in Pearland, Texas. He holds a bachelor’s degree in agronomy from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas.
A 28-year member of GCSAA, Ihms has served on GCSAA’s board of directors since 2007. He currently serves as the chairman of the Government Relations and Professional Development committees and the Competency Task Group and vice chairman of the Membership Committee.
Ihms is a current member of the Arkansas GCSA and a past board member of that organization, and is a past president of the Lone Star GCSA, the North Texas GCSA and the South Texas GCSA.
Ihms statement
I am honored to be nominated once again as a candidate for director of GCSAA. I want to thank the Arkansas GCSA for their confidence and support in my leadership role. My service these past two years has been very rewarding, and I appreciate the trust and support the GCSAA membership has given me. My desire to serve on the national level has only been strengthened during my service as a member of the board of directors, and I look forward to representing this vibrant industry and membership in the years to come.
The past year has been both challenging and exciting for GCSAA. In addition to hiring a new CEO to lead us into the future, the board has spent many hours discussing how the sagging golf economy will continue to impact programs and services provided by GCSAA to our members. Our plan involves long-range strategic solutions that will grow services to assist our members to be successful at their facilities in the future.
One key area of commitment has been the efforts made toward branding Class A superintendents and communicating their key role in the success of the facility. Through strategic changes made with the Golf Industry Show, various media buys, the LPGA agronomist position and strengthening relationships with allied groups, we continue to make strides forward in these areas. It is important that we continue to support these efforts and maintain our positive momentum.
Another area of emphasis has been ensuring the success of the local chapters. Our relationship with those chapters and how we administer our programs to them is of upmost importance to our overall success. The concept of field staff began several years ago, and we continue to look for different models to determine how best to reach our wide variety of chapters. I believe efficient, successful chapters are a necessity for GCSAA to continue to grow and provide the programs needed to assist our members in reaching their career goals.
The motto of the board is “Serve our members,” and I commit to keeping this in the forefront as I make decisions at the board level. I will always work diligently to represent you and our industry with integrity and look forward to the opportunities that are before us.
A special thanks to the board of governors and membership of the Country Club of Little Rock, as well as my staff, for their strong endorsement in supporting my continued service to our professional organization.
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For Director
John J. O’Keefe, CGCS
John J. O’Keefe, CGCS, has been the director of golf course management at Preakness Hills Country Club in Wayne, N.J., since 1986. Previously, he was superintendent at Westchester Hills Golf Club in White Plains, N.Y. He received an associate’s degree in turfgrass management from the Stockbridge School of Agriculture at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.
A member of GCSAA for 29 years, O’Keefe was elected to GCSAA’s board of directors in 2008, and currently serves as the chairman of the Certification and Assistant Superintendent committees and is vice chairman of the Professional Development Committee.
O’Keefe is a member and past president of both the Metropolitan GCSA and the GCSA of New Jersey, and also is a member of the Hudson Valley GCSA. He also is a member and past president of the Tri-State Turfgrass Research Foundation and a past member of the Metropolitan Golf Association Green Committee and the Massachusetts Turf Research Building Committee.
O’Keefe statement
It is an honor to be nominated once again for the GCSAA board of directors. I have enjoyed the challenge of serving on the board over the past year. I feel in that short time, we as a board have succeeded in many areas, including the hiring of our new CEO, Mark Woodward.
I am proud and thankful to receive the nomination of my peers in the following chapters: GCSA of New Jersey, the Metropolitan GCSA and the Long Island GCSA. The boards of these organizations continue to show great faith in me, and for this I am truly honored.
After serving on the GCSAA board, I realize now what past board members have told me regarding how much there is to know about GCSAA. I have learned so much and still feel there is a lot more to discover about our amazing association and our membership. GCSAA has great programs to continue the high standards of our field. I am sure those who have taken advantage of the educational opportunities and other professional development services and resources will agree with me that our association is second to none when it comes to the valuable programs that it offers our membership.
As in my last campaign, my commitment to boosting our ranks remains strong. GCSAA is embarking on its greatest membership drive in its history. Membership is imperative to our success. No matter how great our programs, seminars, conferences and literature are, they cannot serve the membership … without the membership. I feel we have to continue to build our reputation not only to those outside our field, but to our own potential members as well.
Superintendents shouldn’t debate whether or not they can afford to join our organization; they should be encouraged to realize that they can’t afford not to be part of our great network. As our membership builds, it should be easy to maintain affordability of the cost of our services. As our numbers grow, we become more valuable to our affiliate sponsors, allowing us to provide more services to our membership.
Superintendents should encourage their assistants to become members. This enables them to take part in our amazing opportunities, therefore making them more valuable team members. I have had the honor to chair the Assistant Superintendent Committee since my appointment to the board. These individuals are full of enthusiasm for our profession as well as our association. Our assistants are our future leaders and we should support their professional growth through mentoring. I would not be in the position that I am in today if I did not have positive role models throughout my career. These mentors showed me the importance of professional ethics and conduct. As my mentors taught me, I hope that my efforts to instill these same principles of professionalism in others are effective.
Our association will be more successful with the further development of our chapter field staffing program. This is a great idea that goes a long way to strengthen our chapters. We have started out with two field staff members and have recently hired a third staff member. I see no limits to the benefits of expanding this network.
I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to my experience over the past six months. I am especially grateful to my assistant superintendents for all their extra efforts. My entire staff has stepped up, making it easier for me to continue my commitment to serve GCSAA. With the faithful support of the board of governors and membership of Preakness Hills Country Club as well as my wife, Margaret, and daughters Adrienne and Maureen, I am committed to continue my service to the membership of GCSAA. The most important part of our association is its members, and I will continue to use my experience and hard work to be dedicated to serving our membership with pride and integrity.
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For Director
Jay D. Stine III, CGCS
Jay D. Stine III, CGCS, is the director of golf course maintenance at Brookhaven Country Club in Dallas. Previously, he served as superintendent at Canyon Creek Country Club in Richardson, Texas; Pine Dunes Resort in Frankston, Texas; and the TPC Four Seasons Las Colinas in Irving, Texas. He holds a bachelor’s degree in agronomy from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas.
An 18-year member of GCSAA, Stine is a current member of the Membership Committee. He is a member and past president of the North Texas GCSA, and also is a member and the current vice president the Lone Star GCSA. Stine is also a member and director with the Texas Turfgrass Association.
Stine statement
It is an exciting time for GCSAA as positive progress has been made in many areas due to the hard work and foresight of our past directors, GCSAA staff and GCSAA committees. The field-staff initiative has been well received and very effective, and is a program that should be expanded gradually in the coming years. Our environmental focus and recognition programs are a shining light within our industry and exhibit our collective dedication to protecting the natural resources and wildlife that we work with on a daily basis. Our image in the golf community has been enhanced with the addition of the LPGA Tour agronomist position, and the benefits are being realized as the new relationship has been publicized positively by many of the LPGA competitors.
This year, GCSAA will enter a new era with the introduction of Mark Woodward as the new CEO. The strategic indicators that have been implemented will help to ensure that we maintain our course throughout the transition period. I feel that the positioning of GCSAA and its membership’s value in the marketplace will continue to be a key focus point in the coming years, and staff leadership will be instrumental in that process.
In my opinion, the ultimate success of GCSAA will be driven by the vitality of the local chapters and the members within those chapters. We have made some great strides toward improving chapter effectiveness, but there is much more work to be done. The communication links between GCSAA and the local chapters are more organized and stronger than ever, and the field-staffing model will be a primary influence in improving the functional operation of the chapters.
It is a true honor to be considered as a candidate for election to the GCSAA board of directors. By serving as a chapter delegate for the past few years, I have observed the qualities one must possess to serve as a leader at the national level. To serve as a GCSAA director, one must be passionate, knowledgeable, personable and objective, among other things. These are all qualities that I have acquired over the past eight years as a director, officer and chapter president at the local level.
In closing, I want to express my gratitude to the North Texas GCSA and the Lone Star GCSA chapters. They have shown their support and confidence in my ability to serve at the national level by nominating me as a candidate for director. I am also extremely grateful to have the support of my employers at ClubCorp and Brookhaven Country Club.
Throughout my career, I have benefited tremendously from GCSAA and the local chapters. Volunteerism to the organizations that have meant so much to me has been a constant theme for me over the past 10 years, and I look forward to continuing my involvement through service as a director of GCSAA for years to come. I hope
that you will grant me that opportunity.
The GCSAA Annual Meeting and Election will take place Friday afternoon in New Orleans. Information on voter check-in, the chapter delegates breakfast and the meeting itself can be found by clicking on www.gcsaa.org/conference/election.asp.