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INDUSTRY NEWS |
E-Z-Go partnered up with the Atlanta Motor Speedway and NASCAR in October to present the E-Z-Go 200, a 130-lap event. Won by Ryan Newman, the event is part of the 2008 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. The personal utility car provider says it took the opportunity to present the race as part of an ongoing effort to extend consumer awareness of its line of vehicles. E-Z-Go markets vehicles to consumers through a network of 600 dealer locations nationwide. In addition to presenting this event, the company also has a relationship with veteran NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Mike Skinner and Landon Ball, its own engineering manager, in the National Auto Sport Association’s American Iron Series.
Effective last fall, Advan LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sipcam Agro USA Inc. Advan’s lineup of traditional and biorational products for turfgrass, ornamental and specialty agriculture and garden markets in the U.S. and Mexico remains unchanged, while core Advan personnel continue with the company. Formed in 2005 by Mitsui & Co. of Japan and the Sipcam-Oxon Group of Italy, Advan LLC has headquarters in Roswell, Ga.
CSG, provider of surface treatments and antimicrobial products for the turf industry, announces a partnership that makes Redexim Charterhouse the nation’s largest distributor of CSG products. As a result of the agreement, Redexim Charterhouse will carry six products formulated and tested specifically for synthetic turf systems.
The Georgia GCSA announces its new leadership team in place for 2009. The 2009 Executive Committee comprises Mike Crawford, CGCS, TPC Sugarloaf, Duluth, president; Anthony Williams, CGCS, Stone Mountain (Ga.) Golf Club, vice president; Richard Staughton, CGCS, Towne Lake Hills Golf Club, Woodstock, immediate past president; and Lane Ferguson, Creekside Golf & Country Club, Hiram, secretary/treasurer. The group’s board of directors includes Mike Brown, The Standard Club, Duluth; Berry Collett, CGCS, Sea Island Co., St. Simons Island; Ivey Dyal, Green Island Country Club, Columbus; Lee Fillingim, Canongate at Healy Point, Macon; Brian Long, Doublegate Country Club, Albany; Craig Ketlesen, CGCS, Orchard Hills Golf Club, Newnan; Jerry Matthews, CGCS, Brookfield Country Club, Roswell; and Brad Owen, Augusta National Golf Club.
The Toro Co. has extended its sponsorship of the popular Remodeling University program of the American Society of Golf Course Architects through 2011. Toro’s three-year commitment means the company is the first to sign on as a major partner in ASGCA’s new supplier partner program, which supports the group’s educational initiatives. Remodeling University, an instructional take on the facets of the golf course remodeling process, will be featured at the 2009 GCSAA Education Conference and Golf Industry Show.
The National Golf Course Owners Association has added car rental company Avis to its Smart Buy Purchasing Network, which grants members discounts on vehicles rented in the U.S. and Canada. Through the agreement, NGCOA members will receive up to 25 percent off normal rental rates. Other companies in the Smart Buy Network are American Express, Club Car, Entegra, ETS, Pepsi and The Toro Co.
Axion International Holdings Inc., a company that’s historically served the railroad and transportation industries, is venturing into the golf world with a new golf division touting one particular product — vehicular and pedestrian “green” bridges and walkways for golf courses. Made with the same 100 percent recycled material Axion supplies for railroad structures used by the Union Pacific, the U.S. Army and Burlington Northern Santa Fe, the bridges satisfy strict environmental guidelines of planning and zoning authorities and homeowners’ associations, the company says. In addition to bridges on golf courses, the technology is used to create landscaping materials for bulk-heading and framing walkways, car paths, tee boxes and steps. The products rank high in independent tests for durability and are built to last more than 50 years with minimal wear and tear, the company adds. For more information, visit www.axionintl.com.
In a move designed to enhance its remanufacturing focus, Deere & Co. has acquired full ownership of ReGen Technologies Inc. Deere already owned 50 percent of the remanufacturing company. ReGen, a Springfield, Mo., company founded in 1998 to remanufacture engines for John Deere products in the U.S. and Canada, has since broadened its product line to include other engine components like fuel injection systems, starters, alternators, air conditioning components and other key parts. Barry Schaffter, senior vice president of manufacturing in Deere’s construction and forestry division, says remanufacturing is important to the company because of the environmental benefits of recycling heavy equipment components. Financial details of the transaction were not released, though the operations of ReGen will become more integrated with remanufacturing operations in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The overall name of the business will be John Deere Reman.
Rain Bird Services Corp. has recently unveiled the details of the Rain Bird Academy 2009 training season for irrigation and landscape professionals. The instructional workshops are available at 28 event locations across the country and include the company’s professional and regional training camps, which focus on how to conserve time, money and water through improved irrigation practices. Irrigators will earn a CEU with the Irrigation Association for each hour of class attended. The larger professional irrigation training camp features a choice of 35 courses over five days, instructing on such topics as best practices in irrigation design, installation methods, the latest irrigation products and preparation for Irrigation Association tests. Classes at the professional training camp are also available in Spanish. For more information, visit www.rainbird.com/training.
At the 19th Annual Rutgers Turf Awards Banquet in November, Cleary Chemical Corp. awarded two $1,000 scholarships to second-year students in the school’s Professional Golf Turf Management School. Chad Fetter received the Dr. Paul Sartoretto Memorial Scholarship, while James Wallace was the recipient of the Cleary Chemical Corp. Academic Scholarship.
In partnership with Hunter Industries, Ewing Irrigation Products announces it education workshop series for the year. Most courses, which are offered across the nation, combine classroom instruction with hands-on experience. The company says each workshop offers ways to make daily operations more economical. This year the courses feature topics such as irrigation troubleshooting, advanced installation troubleshooting and design, water management strategies, introduction to landscape lighting, how to build small water features, pond design and construction and more. Several classes are also available in Spanish. Ewing offers continuing education units for specified courses that complement the education programs at GCSAA, the Irrigation Association and the Oregon Landscape Contractors Board. For more information, visit www.ewingeducationservices.com.
The newly redesigned Web site of Tee-2-Green offers interactive features, information and resources for all Penn bentgrass varieties. Available at www.tee-2-green.com, the site also features a customizable presentation tool that comes pre-loaded with photo and informational slides that superintendents can arrange and customize for renovation and other presentations, the company says. A new extension photo and video library allows superintendents to see different varieties of Penn bentgrass used on courses worldwide. The company says it’s also upgraded the site’s layout and visuals and boosted its functionality. An interactive version of “Seeds of Fortune,” the Penn bentgrass trivia game featured in the company’s booth at the Golf Industry Show, can also be found on the Web page. Visit www.tee-2-green.com for more information.
BMS Products LLC, manufacturer of golf course accessories, turf care tools and signage, has opened its new U.S. office and warehouse in Asheville, N.C., to service current and new distribution partners in North America. The company is headquartered in Bedfordshire, England.
Sean R. Kearney, a territory representative for PBI/Gordon Corp., died last September after a brief and sudden illness. An affiliate company representative member of GCSAA, Kearney had served the company’s turf and ornamental customers in the upper Midwest states since 2005. Mark Miller, vice president of professional sales at PBI/Gordon, said: “Sean was a great guy, a real team player. He was well-known and respected in the turf industry and a major asset to PBI/Gordon. His life was cut short much too soon, and all who knew him will miss him very much.” Throughout his career, Kearney worked at Lesco and ChemLawn before coming to PBI/Gordon, and he was active in the Minnesota GCSA and other industry organizations.
The presence of royalty marked the opening of Bernhard Court, the new flagship offices of Bernhard & Co. in Rugby, England. His Royal Highness Prince Edward, The Earl of Wessex, attended the event, as well as representatives from the industry’s international management associations, including GCSAA, the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association and the Golf Course Superintendents Association of Ireland. Attendees also participated in a full-day session at the new offices discussing major issues facing the golf course management industry. Top sales representatives from Bernhard’s North American sales operation also attended as part of a week-long sales incentive trip.
People news
Susan Vance is the new director of marketing communications for Target Specialty Products. She previously was a principal in an advertising and marketing company and has also worked in public relations.
Mark R. Baker is the newly named president and chief operating officer for The Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. Effective Oct. 1, 2008, the move puts Baker, a member of the company’s board of directors since 2004, in charge of all business units and operating functions. He previously was president and CEO of Gander Mountain, an outdoor retailer, and an executive with The Home Depot.
Seth Greenwood has been added to the sales staff at SynaTek. As the technical sales rep, Greenwood will service customers in Delaware, Maryland and the eastern shore. He will be responsible for existing golf accounts with particular focus on fertigation and water quality customers. A member of GCSAA and the Mid Atlantic AGCS, Greenwood is a former superintendent and most recently worked in sales for Helena Chemical Co.
DuPont Professional Products announces Scott Parker as its sales representative in the Midwest for the turf and ornamental industry. Parker, based in Kentucky, will cover territory from North Dakota through Ohio. A former assistant superintendent, he’s worked in sales for 10 years.
Tycrop has hired Robin Lott as a factory sales representative for its turf products division. A 20-year veteran in sales, Lott previously worked in the pressure washer and industrial cleaning equipment industry.
Profile Products LLC has named Kurt Chirbas its new market development manager for the Western territory. Chirbas will be responsible for driving the company’s erosion control product sales, industry education and research opportunities. He previously was a project engineer and manager for Advanced Concrete Technologies. The company also announces Todd Lagerlof as its new international sales and service representative. He will coordinate product exports, process orders for international distributors and support customer sales in the new position. His most recent work experience was as an export representative for Illinois Tool Works/Signode.
Turfline Inc. has hired Ryan Jerome to its sales staff as the vice president of domestic sales. In the new position, Jerome will handle 50 percent of the company’s U.S. sales efforts. He previously worked in agronomic sales for John Deere Golf.
Barry Engle is the new president and chief executive officer of New Holland Agricultural Equipment S.p.A., a position occupied previously on an interim basis by CNH president and CEO Harold Boyanovsky. Engle has worked in the automotive industry since 1992 at various divisions within Ford Motor Co.
Jeffrey C. Anthony is now the senior vice president of finance and administration for Ewing Irrigation Products. He will help ownership and senior management in streamlining and evaluating operations.
AquaSpy Inc., maker of soil moisture sensors for the golf turf industry, has appointed Steve Quindlen as its president. Quindlen will be responsible for all operations, strategic development and sales for the U.S. operations of the company’s golf and sports turf division, GolfLinx.
Peter Rummell is the new CEO for Nicklaus Companies and will also head the NicklausMilstein Fund to pursue real estate investment opportunities. Rummell, who started his real estate career in 1971, retired last year as CEO of the St. Joe Co., a real estate company.
Bill Anderson, CGCS, director of greens and grounds at Carmel Country Club in Charlotte, N.C., is the winner of the Distinguished Service Award from the Carolinas GCSA. One of the longest-serving superintendents in the Carolinas, Anderson was honored with the award in late November at the group’s annual conference in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The Carolinas GCSA’s DSA, the highest the association bestows, recognizes outstanding achievement and contributions in the service of superintendents and the golf industry in the Carolinas. Anderson has worked at Carmel CC for 35 years, was president of the Carolinas GCSA in 1982 and has twice served on the association’s board of directors. At Carmel CC, he’s hosted several association events. Anderson has also mentored and trained young superintendents over the years, and his input is considered invaluable to the growth of the Carolinas GCSA.
Golf briefs
Nantucket Islands Land Bank and Moors Inc. recently announced the reopening of the 18-hole Miacomet Golf Course, the only 18-hole public course in Nantucket Island, Mass. The reopening is a culmination of five years of renovations, including the addition of nine holes and the redesign and reconstruction of the original nine holes. Nantucket Islands Land Bank, a land-acquisition program, is charged with protecting Nantucket and its surrounding islands’ endangered landscapes through land purchases, including golf. NILB purchased Miacomet GC, then a nine-hole course, several years ago when a developer had plans to convert it into a housing project. Sean Oberly is the Class A superintendent at Miacomet GC.
Thirteen days after being forced to close from the damaging effects of Hurricane Ike, High Meadow Ranch Club, Magnolia, Texas, reopened for play last September. High winds and heavy rains from the storm uprooted and toppled several hundred trees on the property, and power and utilities were knocked out for almost two weeks. The staff at High Meadow Ranch worked during all daylight hours to clean up the timber and debris on the course and surrounding roadways. The course appeared to have sustained little damage despite the loss of power and inability to irrigate. The course is managed by OB Sports Golf Management. Cody Spivey, Class A GCSAA member, is superintendent at the course.
OB Sports Golf Management was selected to manage Stone Canyon Golf Club in Independence, Mo., just east of Kansas City, Mo. The private club includes an 18-hole Greg Norman Signature Design course that’s in the final stages of grow-in and scheduled to open to members and guests this spring. The layout features many Norman signature design traits such as closely mown green surrounds, creative bunkering and landscape accents. OB Sports is overseeing the grow-in of the course, hiring of key personnel and developing a comprehensive membership plan for the facility. Upon opening, the company will manage all club operations from turf care and member services to the golf shop, food and beverage, and sales and marketing.
Jack Nicklaus has been selected to design BearsBrook Golf Club, a member-owned club north of Dallas in Prosper, Texas. The site is expected to provide a core golf experience, with no tunnels, street crossings, estate residences within 250 feet of the golf corridors, tennis courts or swimming pools. Situated on 225 acres, the property is being considered as a Jack Nicklaus Golf Club, a network of 25 courses where members are granted reciprocity and exclusive access. Nicklaus Design has 334 courses open for play in 32 countries and 39 states, while more than 55 courses are currently under construction in 45 countries.