Jump to content

From the TurfNet NewsDesk

  • John Reitman
    Attaining work-life balance is a goal for many across a multitude of professions, but often feels out of reach.
    Failure to achieve the proper balance between life at work and at home might be because those seeking it have yet to properly define it, according to Julie Wayne, Ph.D., professor and the David C. Darnell Presidential Chair in Principled Leadership for the Wake Forest University School of Business in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
    One of the leading researchers in her field, Wayne's work has appeared in scientific publications such as the Journal of Organizational Behavior and the Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology.
    Recently, she kicked off this year's Syngenta Business Institute with a session entitled "Maximizing satisfaction and success in all areas of life. In its 17th year, SBI is a three-and-a-half-day professional development, leadership and networking event presented by Syngenta and the Wake Forest University School of Business graduate program.
    "What does balance mean? It is an evolving process over time — at a given time," Wayne said. "There is no magic bullet that I can give you in three-and-a-half hours. I wish there was, but it's a process."
    That process, she said, is a combination of evaluating priorities and aligning them with values.

    From left: Jake Gargasz of Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel, Indiana; Kevin Malloy, CGCS at TPC Colorado in Berthoud, Colorado; Patrick Tuttle of Baylands Golf Links in Palo Alto, California; and Jordan Caplan, CGCS at Belvedere Golf Club in Charlevoix, Michigan participate in a group discussion at this year's Syngenta Business Institute at Wake Forest University. All photos by John Reitman One attendee likened work-life balance to juggling multiple balls simultaneously.
    Wayne agreed to a point, likening balls to the many tasks pulling at work life and home life.
    "Balance is like juggling balls, but some are rubber and some are glass," she said. "There are some that are too important to drop, and there are some we can drop once in a while.
    "People think if they are giving to their family, they must be taking away from work. And if they are giving to work, they must be taking away from their family. There is a notion that work-life balance is bad for business. That is not supported by research."
    The results of improved work-life balance:
    Better job, life and family satisfaction. Better mental and physical health. Reduced turnover rate. Better job performance. Better family performance. Alan FitzGerald, CGCS at Rehoboth Beach Country Club in Delaware, thought he had work-life balance figured out until he was chosen to attend this year's SBI.
    "I always thought work-life balance was there's work and then there's home and that was it," FitzGerald said. "I learned there's more to balancing both. There are a lot more components to it."
      Achieving balance requires more than being at work and at home physically. You have to be at both mentally, too. 
    That means effectively managing time, priorities and expectations at both. It means delegating authority for those who think they have to do everything.

    Julie Wayne, Ph.D., of Wake Forest University says achieving balance at work and at home can be a long process. And sometimes, it means recognizing you can't be everything to everyone all the time.
    "We invest our time in ways that are not always physically or mentally healthy," Wayne said. "We say yes to things because we don't want to lose out on that opportunity in the future. It takes courage to say no, but sometimes we have to say no because we have a bigger yes. It goes back to your value statement of who you want to be and where you want to go. Does saying yes advance that? It's not a sign of weakness to share the load at work or at home. Even Batman had Robin."
    The curriculum has been updated and tweaked since the initial program nearly 20 years ago. The three-plus day event also included sessions on "Leading Across Cultures and Generations" and "Influencing and Negotiating" led by Amy Wallis, Ph.D., and "Managing Individuals and Teams" and "Decision Making for Leaders" led by Sherry Moss, Ph.D., who has been an instructor at all 17 editions of SBI.
    "It's fun to be around these working professionals because they're in management positions, and like other working professionals they don't always get training," Moss said. "They develop the skills through trial and error over time, but I like working with them and teaching them to think about things in new ways and gain information that probably hasn't been provided to them. It happens in every field and the golf industry is no different."
    The highly interactive event held at the university's Graylyn hotel and conference center also included round-table discussions where superintendents share tips and ideas on what works for them and where they need help.
    "We all have a lot of skills and knowledge, and collectively being able to get all these people together, we are able to build on each other's knowledge and learn new things together and challenge each other to be better at what we do day-in and day-out," said Kevin Molloy, CGCS at TPC Colorado in Berthoud. "You have to understand you don't have to have all the answers, and that they're attainable by using the resources that are available to you, from colleagues to professors to educational opportunities to make yourself better."
  • For superintendents who want to dial in on plant health by finding out what is going on beneath the surface, Bernhard and Co. and Soil Scout have recently launched North American distribution of the Soil Scout underground, wireless soil-monitoring system.
    This distribution agreement brings Soil Scout's real-time underground monitoring platform – already in use by many European golf and sports turf venues – to the U.S. and Canadian markets. Soil Scout's sensors continuously measure moisture, temperature, salinity and oxygen levels beneath the playing surface, helping superintendents and sports turf managers protect their rootzone, improve turf performance, and make more informed maintenance decisions.

    "Turf professionals across the country are constantly seeking better ways to understand what is happening beneath their surfaces," Soil Scout CEO Jalmari Talola said in a news release. "With Soil Scout, they can finally see the unseen, and make more precise, data-driven decisions that improve turf quality, enhance playability, and reduce unnecessary inputs."
    Soil Scout's North American distribution is in direct response to the growing demand from golf and sports turf professionals looking to gain deeper insights into their soil profiles.
    The North American offering will include Soil Scout's Happi100 wireless in-ground oxygen sensor designed for use in the turf and agriculture markets.
    Superintendents will be able to learn more about Soil Scout at next year's GCSAA Conference and Trade Show in Orlando.
  • Sometimes, it is necessary to take a step backwards before moving forward.
    Golf course architect Brian Curley of the firm Curley-Wagner Golf Design recently finished work on The Palms Golf Club, returning the course in La Quinta, California to what he and former design partner and World Golf Hall of Famer Fred Couples intended in 1999 when they built it.
    The work by Curley to reclaim the clean, classic look at The Palms while updating it to ensure the course remains relevant for today's players.
    They reconstructed creeks, removed trees to enhance strategic options and long-range views and cleared vegetation to reveal features that had disappeared over time. Fairways were widened to improve playability and revive the doglegs that defined the original design. The result is an open, playable design that is visually connected to its desert surroundings.

    No. 2 at The Palms in La Quinta, California. Curley-Wagner Golf Design photo "Over the past 25-plus years, the course had seen subtle changes that were mostly imposed to cater to the elite player," Curley in a news release. "These included tighter fairway widths and added trees that took out alternative angles of play. Fred and I feel that this recent effort brought back much of the original width creating more playability for the average player, yet the course certainly remains one of the more challenging layouts in the desert."
    The Palms was conceived as a walkable, old-school golf club where there are no tee times, and fast play is central to the club's history that borrows some aesthetics from places like Augusta, Riviera and Oakmont.
    The routing offers variety and character. The opening holes unfold through a mesquite environment reminiscent of the Sandbelt, while later stretches are framed by towering palms that lend the course a timeless Coachella Valley vibe.
    The club's membership reflects that tradition. The Palms historically has been home to a collection of PGA and LPGA Tour professionals, as well as many of the region's top amateurs. Arnold Palmer was among its past members.
    The portfolio of Curley's current design firm of Curley-Wagner includes private, resort and residential projects throughout the U.S., Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Egypt, Mexico, Sweden, and elsewhere. The firm specializes in creating challenging, beautiful and enjoyable courses, often located on difficult sites, by balancing classic golf course architecture with ever-advancing technology.
  • Throughout his career, Charlie Fultz has faced many challenges. Few years, however, were as difficult as this past golf season has been at Heritage Oaks Golf Course in Harrisonburg, Virginia, where he is general manager and superintendent.
    "This has been the second-hardest year of my career," Fultz said. 
    "It was a tale of two seasons. It was wet in the spring, then it was wet and hot during the summer. I shortened my spray intervals to every three weeks, and I still lost turf. I couldn't dry the place out. Even with all our drainage we got smoked. You could just watch the water run across the fairways."
    What in the world throughout his career as a superintendent could have been worse than that?
    "In 1998 I almost got fired," he said. "That was the hardest year I've faced. I questioned my existence. I went to my GM, and he told me I had just survived a board vote of 5 to 4 the night before."
    The 2025 golf season was a challenging one for many superintendents.
    Too much rain early in the season, too little rain and too much heat late in the summer were the catalysts for a variety of challenges for many superintendents.
    Kevin Moores of Oakfield Golf and Country Club in Enfield, Nova Scotia was plagued by a lack of rain through the summer.
    "A major lack of rainfall over the last 8 weeks has had us chasing wilting turf in a way that has not been seen here in years," Moores wrote in August through social media. "The average rainfall totals from June 8th (the last time we had a significant precipitation event) through August 6th is around 200mm rain. To date we have received approximately 35mm of rain, which is about 17% of the average over this timeframe."
    In Virginia, rain fell for three consecutive days in July at Heritage Oaks (right), which received 8 inches in three weeks after Independence Day. As quickly as the rain fell, it went away just as fast, as conditions turned to bone dry by August.
    "The wind was blowing every day, and I think I was curled up in my office in a fetal position," Fultz said. "I stopped PGR use to try to get fairways to heel."
    It was equally unpredictable in western Tennessee at Persimmon Hills Golf Course, a daily fee where Steven Scott is owner and superintendent.
    "This was a wild year weatherwise," Scott said. "It was a rainy spring, then a drought by summer. Then the winter weather we had at the beginning of the year. Ice, snow, hot, cold; we saw it all. Now, we've got Poa popping everywhere because the temperatures have been on a see-saw in October and November."
    Scott's corner of Tennessee received about 30 inches of rain from April through July, then none in August, according to the National Weather Service. That total was about 10 inches above the normal average, according to NWS.
    "Everybody here said this is the most rain we've ever had, then in August they said it was the driest it's ever been," he said. "If you look at the numbers, it's about average. We just got it all at one time."
    Problematic for Scott was much of that rain came on weekends, which was a drag on play — and revenue. It also was a downer for golfers. The course in Sharon, Tennessee is one of just a short list of options in that part of the state and has a core group of dedicated golfers.
    "It seemed like it rained every Saturday and Sunday, which, of course, is when most of your golf is played," he said. "That was a problem, but I think the golfers, it affected them more."
    Excessive heat was an issue up and down the East Coast in the Philadelphia area as well as in the North Carolina Piedmont.. 
    The average high temperature at Laurel Creek Country Club in Moorestown, New Jersey was 99, 96 and 92 degrees Fahrenheit in June, July and August, respectively.
    "July is already the hottest month of the year, so when you have 21 days in that month that are above average, it shouldn't come as a surprise that our cool-season grass isn't going to be happy," Laurel Creek superintendent John Slade wrote in his blog in August. "The green which has seen the most thinning turf over this stretch has been the practice green at #1 tee.
    For decades the USGA has said that building a new green without changing the environmental conditions is not a recipe for success.  In the case of the driving range putting green, not only have the growing conditions not improved, but they have actually taken a couple of steps backwards."
    Slade used a portable fan to keep air moving on the first green and closed a portion of the putting surface. 
    "In the long run we clearly need to install a dedicated fan for this green, as well as try to do some selective pruning," he wrote.
    Doug Lowe, CGCS, faced similar conditions at Greensboro Country Club in North Carolina.
    "Between May 1 and July 15, we recorded nearly 25 inches of rainfall — more than double the seasonal average," Lowe blogged in August. "This, combined with extended periods of high temperatures (mid-90s highs and mid-70s lows), has created extremely challenging growing conditions for our Bentgrass greens."
    Slightly cooler temperatures arrived in August provided a chance to stabilize conditions and prevent further damage.

    Fairy ring on the No. 10 green, among other things, was a problem this summer at Heritage Oaks in Harrisonburg, Virginia (above). Rushing water (top right) caused a lot of damage on the 15th fairway. Photos courtesy of Charlie Fultz Agronomic practices employed by Lowe to promote recovery included:
    Raising mowing heights and doing so earlier than ever before Less aggressive roller to preserve leaf tissue Small-core aerification in early July Solid tine aerification early August "While these practices help sustain the turf, they do impact green speed and smoothness," Lowe wrote. "Our priority is not peak performance in August, but optimal conditions as early as possible in September.
    Back in Virginia, Fultz also put into place a program of solid tining and dropping seed, followed by light topdressing every 10 days.
    Without that previous experience, like what he endured in 1998, Fultz says he might not have been able to stand up to the pressure of the spring and summer of 2025.
    Conditions were so poor in 1998 that he hired a USGA agronomist to conduct a site visit, and told his general manager: "I wanted to make sure it was not my fault, and if it was, I would resign."
    "I had a lot of sleepless nights then, because I wasn't sure I would be able to do this," he said of that summer 27 years ago. "But '98 got me through this year. I learned then that slow and steady wins the race. If I hadn't gone through ‘98, I wouldn't have been ready for this year, even with 20-plus years under my belt." 
     
  • Between them, brothers Bob and Joe Alonzi have more than a century of combined experience delivering impeccable playing conditions to some of the world's most demanding golfers.
    Both are retired certified superintendents with more than 50 years of experience in the Northeast, and both will be honored by the GCSAA for their contributions to their profession.
    Bob, the former superintendent at several clubs, including Winged Foot, and Joe, formerly of Westchester Country Club, recently were named the recipients of the GCSAA's 2026 Col. John Morley Award. They will be formally recognized on Feb. 3 during the Opening Session at the GCSAA Conference and Trade Show in Orlando.
    The award, named for the GCSAA's founder, is presented annually to a current or former superintendent "who has made a significant contribution to the advancement of the golf course superintendent's profession." They  are the first brother duo to win the award.
    At Winged Foot, Bob was the host superintendent for the 1984 U.S. Open and 1997 PGA Championship. Joe hosted 17 PGA Tour events and the 2011 Senior Players Championship at Westchester. Both also are recognized for giving back to the industry and mentoring others through the years.
    Both were born in Picinisco, Italy, and their family moved to the United States when Bob was 12 years old and Joe was 6. Their introduction to golf came in their teens when each caddied at Taramack Country Club in Greenwich, Connecticut.
    After graduating from Rutgers University and serving in the U.S. Army, Bob worked as a foreman at Taramack before being named superintendent at Rye (New York) Golf Club in 1967. He had stops at Burning Tree Country Club and Fairview Country Club, both in Greenwich, before he replaced the legendary Sherwood Moore — the 1982 recipient of the Morley Award — at Winged Foot in 1984. He left Winged Foot in 1999 for Fenway Golf Club in Scarsdale, New York, where he retired in 2011.

    Brothers Bob (left) and Joe Alonzi were named co-recipients of the GCSAA's 2026 Col. John Morley Award. "Hopefully, my legacy will be that I was just a guy who had great opportunities," Bob said in a news release. "I shared everything I experienced. I tried to contribute to research. I think we're all just one big family. This is the best profession in the world, and we're all working toward a goal of perfection. It's not achievable, but you're always striving for it. I just tried to be approachable. I value the hundreds of friends I made in the industry. There's a lot of unity there, and we all share."
    Joe took a more circuitous route to becoming a superintendent. He earned a degree in electrical engineering from RCA Institute of Technology in 1971. His first job was working on radar systems for the General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark fighter-bomber. 
    Wanting a job outdoors, Joe joined his brother's team at Burning Tree in 1973 and went back to school at Rutgers. A year later, he was named superintendent at the Huntington Crescent Club in Huntington, New York, before moving on, first to Fenway in 1984, and then on to Westchester in 1992 until he retired in 2015.
    Both were very active in the Metropolitan GCSA, with each serving as president and on the board of directors. Each was a recipient of the MetGCSA's Sherwood A. Moore Award, with Bob winning in 1991 and Joe in 2000 — Bob Alonzi in 1991 and Joe Alonzi nine years later. 
    The family legacy carries on through their sons. Rob Alonzi who succeeded his father, Bob, as superintendent at Fenway in 2011, and remains there today. Joe Alonzi's son, Christopher, is the superintendent at The Summit Club at Armonk (New York). Each also has mentored several former employees who have gone on to successful careers as a superintendent.
    "Way too many to count," Joe said. "I'm so proud of all those superintendents out there who worked for me at one point or another. I take that as one of my greatest contributions to the industry. That's how I've tried to give back to the industry, whether they learned from me how to do it right or how not to do it. That's great, as long as they learned something from me."
    They will officially receive the award in February at the GCSAA Conference and Show in Orlando. 
    Click here for a list of past winners.
  • Consistent with a dedication to produce fun, playable golf course designs that also can help grow the game, Zinkand Golf Design recently completed work on a short course and practice facility at the Saddle and Cycle Club in Chicago.
    With more than 25 years experience as a golf course architect, Dave Zinkand, the company's founder and principal, designed a course with a reversible routing to maximize golfer options and interest. Bisected by Lakeshore Drive, the urban layout is near Lincoln Park and adjacent to Foster Avenue Beach on Lake Michigan.
    The reversible layout consists of eight par-three holes that can be played in opposing directions with a four-hole routing in play at any given time. 
    The design maximizes use of limited space, with unused greenspace set aside for members to practice their short game and putting.
    Work entailed the demolition of the parcel's existing golf features, followed by the construction of four new greens and a 30,000-square-foot putting course. Installation of seven CapillaryFlow-lined bunkers, an artificial tee line and more than 15,000 square feet of new teeing ground were other highlights of the project. The course is expected to open next summer.

    Dave Zinkand recently completed work on a short course at the Saddle & Cycle Club in Chicago. The club, along the Lake Michigan shoreline, is bisected by Lakeshore Drive (running horizontally across the top of the image). "The decision to implement a reversible routing was driven by a desire to maximize variety and interest within the site’s limited footprint," Zinkand said. "Saddle & Cycle's gently contoured terrain gave us latitude to flex our creative muscles with the routing. Additionally, the greens have been designed with ample size to support consistent play, multiple pin placements and adequate recovery time for turf health. It's a really cool project and the type of brief we think golf will see much more of in the coming years."
    It is the second project Zinkand has completed this year in the Chicago area. Earlier this year he finished work on a multi-year restoration at the Old Elm Club in Highland Park.
    The club was founded in 1895 as a bicycle club. Now celebrating its 130th year, it has long been an oasis in the city and committed to being the finest private club in the Chicago area.
    "While we previously offered a golf amenity, Dave and team's creativity is going to take it to a level we had not anticipated and set the standard for city clubs," said Saddle & Cycle Club GM and COO Susannah Miller.
    Zinkand's design experience includes studying his craft in Great Britain and Ireland and 14 years working for Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. Some of his recent clients include Old Elm Club, Monterey Peninsula C.C. in Pebble Beach, California, Sharon (Ohio) Golf Club (OH) and Chechessee Creek Club in South Carolina.
  • Amid the many challenges and demands in the workplace coupled with everyday barriers to finding work-life balance, it can be difficult to remember the things that matter most. As the year winds down, we asked people across the golf turf industry to take a moment to reflect on what they are most thankful for. 
    Disclaimer: We knew everyone would mention their family first (and they did), so we asked them to skip that answer for the sake of avoiding too many redundancies.
    Justin Sims, CGCS
    Director of Grounds and Facilities
    Alotian Club, Roland, Arkansas
    Thankful I work at a club where resources match expectations. Thankful for the wonderful team I'm fortunate to work with on a daily basis. Thankful I have the support and flexibility that allows me to break away and attend all my three boys sporting events. Charlie Fultz
    General Manager and Superintendent
    Heritage Oaks Golf Course, Harrisonburg, Virginia
    Colleagues in the turf business who are always willing to help each other ADHD medication The golfers who helped us achieve the most rounds played and highest revenue year in our 24 year history. My 16 and 11 year old cats Greta and Gigi. That they are here another year healthy. Jared Viarengo
    Director of Grounds and Club Operations
    Applebrook Golf Club, Malvern, Pennsylvania
    My health. The older I get, the more I realize its importance. My career/job. I still get a tremendous amount of satisfaction going to work every day. My relationships. Some of the fantastic friends and accomplished people I have gotten to know through the years, both within and outside the golf industry. Wendell Hutchens, Ph.D.
    Assistant Professor of Turfgrass Science
    University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas
    I am thankful for the incredible impact that (the late) Dr. Bruce Martin had on the turf industry. He was a great man and he left a lasting legacy. I am thankful for a fantastic turf team here at the University of Arkansas. My graduate students Mike Battaglia, Sharandeep Chahal and Sam Kreinberg are truly remarkable. Also, my mentor, Dr. Mike Richardson, has given me more opportunities than I ever thought possible. I am thankful that I have the privilege to work in the best industry in the world. The turfgrass managers that I have the joy of interacting with day to day make my job fulfilling, and I am just thankful to be a part of such a special industry. Jim Pavonetti, CGCS
    Golf and Grounds Superintendent
    Fairview Country Club, Greenwich, Connecticut
    I'm thankful for my network of friends in the industry that help me succeed year after year. You cannot thrive in this industry all alone.  I'm thankful for a wonderful membership that listens and understands that without their support the golf course cannot be what they hope it could be.  I'm thankful for a great staff with a warm family culture. Everyone helps and supports each other, making the golf course better and better each year. It truly makes the season fly by and not seem like a burden that it could easily be during tough stretches of weather.  Paul MacCormack
    General Manager and Superintendent, and TurfNet Contributor
    Fox Meadow Golf Course, Prince Edward Island
    Editor's note: Although Paul is from Canada and Thanksgiving is traditionally an American holiday, we figured The Godfather of Mindfulness probably lives a life of gratitude every day.
    This year has been a trial in so many ways, so my gratitude flows for all the small things. The sunrise, watching a flower bloom over time, or seeing the joy in people's faces that comes from enjoying the simple things in life.
    Mike Goatley, Ph.D.
    Professor and Extension Specialist
    Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 
    Health A job that I enjoy  A great team to work with at Virginia Tech Carlos Arraya
    General Manager and CEO
    Bellerive Country Club, St. Louis, Missouri
    Daily support of my community. Grace for when I screw up. Spiritual grounding that provides direction, strength and humility in leadership decisions every day. Jorge Mendoza
    Green River Golf Club
    Corona, California
    Brand new spray rigs. Problem-free aerifications. My love for this career. I do not see this as simply a J.O.B. (Journey of the Broke). This is my passion. Bradley S. Klein, Ph.D.
    Writer and Consultant, and TurfNet Contributor
    Divot Designs, Bloomfield, Connecticut
    That the inevitable aging process and gradual limitation of physical capacities I used to take for granted have not limited my joy and appreciation for the things I can still do and experience. That I am able to earn a living and make a career doing what I love to do. That we still live in a democracy. Paul Koch, Ph.D.
    Department Chair, Professor
    University of Wisconsin Department of Plant Pathology, Madison, Wisconsin
    My research team, including lab manager Kurt Hockemeyer and my grad students past and present. Their dedication to our work is incredible and inspiring. They do all the hard work behind the scenes, and I get to do the fun part and travel around the world and present it to turf managers. But it doesn't happen without them. My fellow turf professors. Research is complex, and different skill sets and perspectives are needed to make true progress. I'm thankful I get to do this job with so many other talented turf nerds. The turf associations. It takes special people to dedicate considerable time to improve things for others, and we have incredible turf associations with incredibly dedicated people in Wisconsin. I'm grateful to be able to work with them. Kevin Ross, CGCS
    Consulting Agronomist, and TurfNet Contributor
    OnCourse Turf, Edwards, Colorado
    Thankful for retirement and the ability to wake up in the morning and do whatever I want. Thankful for the beautiful outdoors and the ability to hike, bike, fish and camp in some of the most wonderful places on earth. My time with TurfNet will come to a close at the end of the year as I will hang up my video camera. I'm so thankful for all the years working with TurfNet, it has been a big highlight of my turf career.
  • It has been an eventful, if not tumultuous, year for Jack Nicklaus and the company he founded.
    In a year marked by litigation, the Nicklaus Companies has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection a month after a Florida jury awarded the golf legend a $50 million judgment in a defamation suit against the company.
    "To protect its employees, clients, and ongoing business operations, Nicklaus Companies LLC (the 'Company') and certain of its subsidiaries today announced that they have commenced voluntary chapter 11 cases in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware," according to a news release on the Nicklaus Companies website.
    Nicklaus filed suit against his former company, now controlled by New York banker Howard Milstein, earlier this year after it claimed he considered a $750 million offer to join the LIV Golf league, suffered from dementia and was unable to manage his affairs, according to published reports. Bloomberg News reported that, citing the Chapter 11 filing, Nicklaus Companies has estimated assets of $10 million to $50 million and liabilities of between $500 million and $1 billion.
    Although the jury ruled against Nicklaus Companies, it cleared Milstein and company executive Andrew O'Brien.
    "The filing will allow the Company to proactively address its long-term funded indebtedness and other liabilities, as well as a jury verdict returned in a Florida state court last month following a lawsuit filed by company founder and former Co-Chair Jack Nicklaus. The jury ruled in favor of two Nicklaus Companies' executives but awarded $50 million in damages against the Company," continued the Nicklaus Companies release.

    Nicklaus sold exclusive rights to his golf course design services, including marketing, promotional and branding rights in 2007 for $145 million to Milstein, but stayed on as the face of the company. Nicklaus stepped away from the company he founded a decade later after repeated clashes between the golfer and Milstein, according to Golf Digest, supposedly triggering a five-year noncompete clause. 
    Shortly after Nicklaus stepped down from the board, his former company filed suit alleging he violated terms of the contract and should be restricted from using his name in his own design services. Golf Digest reported that Milstein wanted Nicklaus to continue to run his golf course design business through the company and use of his name for any other endeavor violated the noncompete clause. 
    A Florida arbiter ruled in July 2024 that the golfer was no longer bound by the noncompete agreement. Then in March, a New York judge dismissed the case entirely, ruling that Nicklaus could indeed use his name to promote his course design efforts. Nicklaus then filed a countersuit in response to the LIV Golf claims, the most recent round of litigation between Nicklaus and Nicklaus Companies.
    The company says it plans to dispute the $50 million verdict that triggered the Chapter 11 filing and explore options to appeal.
    The North Palm Beach, Florida-based company also says the recent decision will not affect employees.
  • The numbers are in for this year's Carolinas GCSA Conference and Trade Show. And a record-setting show it was.
    A record 2,250 people attended this year's show, held Nov. 17-19 at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. That topped the previous record of 2,162 set in 2024.
    Many other records fell this year, including 1,515 seminar seats filled. That bested the record set in 2023 of 1,508. Other records set this year were 256 exhibiting vendors, up from 240 in 2024; 446 booths sold, up from 425 in 2007; and 429 participants in the golf championship, up from 374 in 2023.

    Brian Green (right) of Lonnie Poole Golf Course at North Carolina State University, right, takes over as Carolinas GCSA president, succeeding Alex Tolbert (right) of Orangeburg Country Club in Orangeburg, South Carolina. Photo courtesy of Trent Bouts The record-setting success of the show illustrates the need for superintendents to network and learn from industry experts as well as from colleagues.
    "Of course, the golf industry is riding high but a week like this doesn't happen without something to bring it together," said Carolinas GCSA executive director Tim Kreger. 
    "And we certainly have 'it' here in the Carolinas with the community that has been built over the years. Our members thrive on getting together and learning from each other. Put that together with the service, quality and value we provide here at Conference and Show and that's why our show is what we saw last week - the biggest and best regional gathering of the golf course maintenance industry in the country."
    Another milestone this year was the number of companies that offered support outside presence on the trade show floor. A total of 50 companies sponsored a range of other activities associated with the gathering.

    Bob Farren, CGCS at Pinehurst Resort, (left) was named the recipient of the Carolinas GCSA Distinguished Service Award at this year's conference held recently in Myrtle Beach. USGA image In other news from this year's show:
    Brian Green of Lonnie Poole Golf Course at North Carolina State University was named the association's 52nd president, taking over from Alex Tolbert of Orangeburg (South Carolina) Country Club. Tim Carpenter, CGCS at Gaston Country Club in Gastonia, North Carolina, and Zac Ramey of The Country Club of Spartanburg (South Carolina), were elected to the Carolinas GCSA board of directors. Doug Lowe, CGCS at Greensboro (North Carolina) Country Club was elected to fill a board seat reserved for past presidents. Bob Farren, CGCS at Pinehurst Resort, was named the recipient of the association's Distinguished Service Award. Students from Clemson University won the 12-team turf bowl, breaking a five-year run by Horry-Georgetown Technical College. Chad Kintzer of The Dunes Club in Myrtle Beach, was elected to a three-year term as president of the Turf Equipment Technicians Association of the Carolinas. Jake Teeter, from Winding Creek Golf Club in Thomasville, North Carolina, received the Bill Ledford Award as Turf Equipment Technician of the Year. Next year's conference is scheduled for Nov. 16-18 at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center.
  • Jim Pavonetti, CGCS at Fairview Country Club in Greenwich, Connecticut, is a regular on the environmental awards circuit. Jim Pavonetti photo Throughout his career as a superintendent, Jim Pavonetti, CGCS, has been dedicated to making the golf course where he works a more enjoyable experience for members and the community where he lives a more environmentally sustainable place to live for his family and neighbors.
    For his efforts, Pavonetti (right), a longtime member of TurfNet and the GCSAA, has been named the recipient of the association's 2025 President's Award for Environmental Stewardship.
    The award was established in 1991 to recognize "an exceptional environmental contribution to the game of golf; a contribution that further exemplifies the golf course superintendent’s image as a steward of the land" according to the GCSAA. Pavonetti will receive the award Feb. 2 at the GCSAA Conference and Trade Show in Orlando.
    "Being named the recipient of the President’s Award for Environmental Stewardship is both an incredible honor and a complete surprise," Pavonetti said. "I had no idea I’d even been nominated, so when (GCSAA president) T.A. Barker called to share the news, I was genuinely stunned."
    The news should come as no surprise to anyone familiar with Pavonetti's stewardship work.
    Pavonetti has been a regular ELGA honoree in his 18 years at Fairview Country Club. Recently he was named an ELGA winner in the Healthy Land Stewardship category, marking Pavonetti's third consecutive ELGA win. He was named the recipient of the Natural Resource Conservation Award last year and the Innovative Conservation Award recipient in 2023. He also is a four-time first runner-up in the ELGA competition — 2018 and 2019 Natural Resource Awards and 2021 and 2022 Innovative Conservation.
    Pavonetti employs what he described as an integrated approach to sustainability where every decision considers the impact on the environment. Those decisions are made to demonstrate how efforts to protect natural resources and demonstrate how environmental sustainability and course quality are not mutually exclusive.
    That integrated environmental plan includes:
    Water Conservation: Implemented advanced irrigation technology to save water and energy, while also making the golf course play better. Habitat Restoration: Established naturalized areas and pollinator habitats that enhance biodiversity and refuge for wildlife. Nutrient and Chemical Management: Use precision application and organic alternatives to minimize runoff and protect nearby waterways. Energy Efficiency: Transitioning to electric and hybrid equipment, while improving energy performance throughout the entire club’s facilities.
    Jim Pavonetti, CGCS, was first drawn to a career in golf by his love for the outdoors. Jim Pavonetti photo Pavonetti cites the work of a host of great superintendents in the Metropolitan New York area as inspiration for his own work in implementing environmental sustainable practices.
    "My love for the outdoors is what first drew me to a career in golf course management,"  he said. "Throughout my career, I’ve looked up to the hall-of-fame superintendents whose leadership and commitment to environmental stewardship set the standard for our industry—they inspired me to follow the same path. Guys like Ted Horton, Bob and Joe Alonzi, Peter Salinetti and Matt Ceplo were pioneers in these efforts, and I wanted to be like them as I grew in my career."
    In his 18th year at Fairview, Pavonetti is a graduate of the Rutgers turfgrass management program. He previously was superintendent at the Edison Club and the West Point Golf Course at the U.S. Military Academy.
    Last year, Pavonetti was named to the board of directors of Audubon International, which certifies the environmental stewardship efforts in several arenas, including golf, lodging and sustainable communities. Two years ago, he submitted his work at Fairview that netted the 2023 ELGA Innovative Conservation Award for consideration for a sustainability award given by the Greenwich Sustainability Committee. He did not win the award, but he was invited to sit on the committee as an expert on the BMP's of Fairview and eight other golf clubs in the Greenwich area.
    "Just as we refine our agronomic programs each season to improve the course for our membership, we continually look for ways to strengthen our sustainability practices," Pavonetti said. "When you apply those ideas consistently over decades, the impact truly adds up."
    A graduate of the Rutgers turfgrass management program, Pavonetti worked at West Point Golf Club at the U.S. Military Academy and earned a winter golf turf management certificate from Rutgers University. He served as the superintendent at two New York golf courses, West Point Golf Course for two years and The Edison Club for five years, before moving to Fairview Country Club in January 2008. He became a Certified Golf Course Superintendent (CGCS) in 2009.
    The win places Pavonetti in elite company.
    Previous winners are: 2025 — Matt Gourlay, CGCS; 2024 — Wayne Mills; 2023 — J. Bryan Unruh, Ph.D.; 2022 — Andrew Jorgensen, CGCS; 2021 — Matt Crowther, CGCS; 2020 — Gary Ingram, CGCS; 2019 — CourseCo; 2018 — Frank Rossi, Ph.D.; 2017 — Josh Heptig; 2016 — Peter McDonough; 2015 — Paul Carter, CGCS; 2014 — Roger Stewart, CGCS; 2013 — Matt Ceplo, CGCS; 2012 — David Phipps; 2011 — Dean Graves, CGCS; 2010 — Anthony Williams, CGCS; 2009 — Dan Dinelli, CGCS; 2008 — Jeff Carlson, CGCS; 2007 — Pinehurst Resort; 2006 — Golf in Colorado: An Independent Study of the 2002 Economic Impact and Environmental Aspects of Golf in Colorado — a collaborative effort by the Rocky Mountain GCSA, Colorado Golf Association, Colorado Women's Golf Association, Colorado Section of the PGA, Colorado Chapter of the Club Managers of America and the Colorado Chapter of the Golf Course Owners Association; 2005 — Stephen A. Kealy, CGCS; Peter Lund, CGCS; Oregon Golf Course Superintendents Association; 2004 — Jeffrey L. Gullikson, CGCS; 2003 — Center for Resource Management; 2002 — Environmental Management Resource Manual; Canadian Golf Course Superintendents Association; 2001 — Michigan Turgrass Environmental Stewardship Program; 2000 — Tom Watschke, Ph.D.; 1999 — Ted Horton; 1998 — Joseph A. O' Brien; 1997 — Michael J. Hurdzan, Ph.D.; 1996 — USGA Environmental Research Program; 1995 — Tim Hiers, CGCS; 1993 — Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program; Audubon Society of New York State; USGA; 1991 — Cape Cod Study Participants: Bass River Country Club (Erwin Nash), Eastward Ho! (Brian Cowan, CGCS), Falmouth Country Club (J. Buckner Hall), Hyannisport Club (Charles Passios, CGCS).
  • Another historic golf course is about to bite the dust.
    Designed by Devereux Emmet and Alfred Tull, Cape Cod Country Club in Massachusetts is three years shy of its 100th year serving golfers in New England. It will not make it to its centennial.
    Representatives at a Falmouth town meeting on Nov. 17 voted to approve a plan that will transform almost one-third of the property's 137 acres into a solar energy farm, according to Boston.com. 
    The Cape Cod Commission voted in September to approve plans to include the golf course in the plans for the town's solar farm project. The measure then went before representatives Nov. 17 for approval. 
    "I believe that a sustainable energy project where the town would own the land, have no noise, have no traffic, need no town services, and have a portion of the donated land preserved as conservation seemed like a win for everyone," wrote CCCC owner David Friel in a letter about the project and the future of the property he says he has tried to sell for the past decade.
    Long before the November vote that green lights the plan to repurpose the nearly century-old course, Friel Golf Management already had reached a deal to sell the property to PureSky Energy, according to CapeNews.net. Under the terms of the plan PureSky has agreed to donate the land — comprising 137 acres — to the town and lease back 82 acres to erect more than 45,000 solar panels. The remaining land — about 55 acres — is earmarked for green space, including 42 acres of permanently conserved open space, 1.1 acres of wetlands and a 12-acre pond, according to the plan.
    Friel Golf Management had cited financial hardship fueled by declining popularity of the game as the trigger for selling the property.
    More than 2,100 golf courses (in 18-hole equivalents) have closed in the past 20 years, however, that trend has slowed since the Covid pandemic sent golfers old and new to the course in record numbers.

    Opened in 1928, Cape Cod Cod Country Club is set to be sold and part of the property used to house more than 45,000 panels as part of a solar energy project. CCCC photo Despite Friel's claims, According to the annual State of the Golf Industry report delivered by Pellucid Corp. and Edgehill Golf Advisors during the PGA Merchandise Show, there were 23.4 million golfers in the market last year as reported by TurfNet. Those figures include 4.3 million players who left the game, a number that was offset by a gain of 4.9 million new players, for a net gain of 600,000 new golfers, 400,000 of whom are women.  Those 23.4 million golfers played a record-high 532 million rounds in 2024, according to the report.
    "It was a motivated seller and a town that loves conservation, green energy and hates golf," said former CCCC superintendent Matthew Crowther, CGCS. "A real shame because it is a great piece of property and a tremendous golf course."
    The club has had several names since it opened in 1928, but the integrity of the course has remained relatively unchanged. For example, the course still utilizes a pump station that was built in the 1940s by German prisoners of war who were confined during World War II at nearby Otis Air National Guard Base on Joint Base Cape Cod (known then as Naval Auxiliary Air Facility Otis).
    "Designed by Devereux Emmet and Alfred Tull it is a perfect example of a classic era golf course," Crowther said. "The terrain is rolling hills with elevated tees and greens with blind shots and expansive corridors. The green complexes are the defense and truly amazing. It has never had extensive budgets or the renovations that alter the original design. I believe only one green has been rebuilt."
    Measures that went before the town on Nov. 17 were:
    Article 12, that allows the town to accept the donated land and authorize a lease for solar development. Article 13, that grants the Select Board the authority to petition the state legislature to accept the land as a gift and lease it back for solar development. Article 14, a petition counter-measure that would have nixed the plan.  Articles 12 and 13 passed, while the anti-solar Article 14 measure was defeated. A petition in support of Article 14 on Change.org to keep the property as a golf course has received more than 3,800 signatures.
    PureSky Energy says the project will provide enough energy to power 7 percent of the electricity needs in Barnstable County, located on the southwestern tip of Cape Cod.
    According to Energy Sage, a clearinghouse for information on green energy, solar projects have an average lifespan of 25-30 years. PureSky says after the project's operational lifespan, the panels will be removed and the land will be returned to conservation use.
    The project will next go before the Falmouth Planning Board for site plan review on Nov. 25, and, according to PureSky, is expected to be fully operational by mid-2027.
    "It has always been a public resort course with accommodations, polo fields and water sports in its hey day," Crowther said. "Although it has been just a golf course for decades it was a favorite of all who played it and will be sorely missed."
  • Toro and TerraRad have teamed up to provide superintendents with another tool to precisely meet their site-specific irrigation needs.
    Spatial Adjust is a software tool from Toro developed with TerraRad that integrates with the Toro Lynx Central Control system to provide streamlined, precision irrigation control for golf course superintendents while also eliminating the need for manual soil monitoring and sprinkler adjustments. 
    The software uses TerraRad smart sensors that are installed on Toro equipment to map soil moisture levels in real time during mowing. The data is logged by Spatial Adjust and transmitted to the Toro Lynx Central Control platform.
    The Spatial Adjust software analyzes the data, creating color-coded maps that highlight variations in soil moisture throughout the golf course and sending the superintendent sprinkler-specific irrigation adjustment recommendations. 

    Spatial Adjust software connects TerraRad's sensing technology with the Toro Lynx Central Control platform. Users can customize specific moisture level settings and even override the system as needed. Spatial Adjust is designed to help superintendents create consistent conditions and save water.
    Founded in 2020 with headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, TerraRad specializes in advanced soil-moisture sensing technology.
    Spatial Adjust is available for order now through the Toro network of distributors.
  • Nearly 100 active listings for interns on the TurfNet Jobs board illustrate the intense competition to attract tomorrow's golf course superintendents.
    Superintendents who are able to routinely attract top interns — as well as assistants — know that success hinges on showing candidates what they will take away from the experience, not telling them what will be expected of them — or else.
    At the Quechee (VT) Club, that means a customized experience based in part on what the intern wants to learn. 
    "When we interview people, we tell them they are going to get hands-on experience. We are going to tailor the job to your experience," said Ken Lallier (right), property manager at Quechee. "We try to get them for more than one year, and when they leave they will be ready to be an assistant superintendent."
    That experience also means on-site housing in a farmhouse on Lake Pinneo that the club owns. The building has a restaurant on the ground floor and apartments upstairs.
    "We've always offered housing for the simple reason that every intern we get is typically young and not from the area," Lallier said. "They need to find a place to live. In our area, housing is cost-prohibitive: $2,000 is the starting rate for a studio apartment. If you're making $20 or $22 an hour, that's just not realistic. It's not the Taj Mahal, but we don't charge them anything."

    Pine Canyon Club in Flagstaff, Arizona, where Josh Clevenger, below, is director of agronomy, covers the cost of off-site housing for interns. Pine Canyon photo Josh Clevenger tells a similar story at Pine Canyon Club in Flagstaff, Arizona, where he is in his fifth year as director of agronomy after a decade at Claremont Country Club near Oakland, California.
    Pine Canyon used to help cover the cost of housing. That has changed to fully funding the cost of short-term housing for interns since Clevenger has been there.
    "We wouldn't be able to attract interns without it," Clevenger said. 
    "We don't have on-site housing. We rented apartments in the past. This year, we rented a townhome for the entire summer. We were able to provide housing for two interns and two assistants."
    Unlike places like Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tucson, where play peaks in winter and during the shoulder seasons, Flagstaff, with an elevation of nearly 7,000 feet, has a traditional summer golf season.
    This year, Clevenger was looking for winter housing, to provide a longer experience for Pine Canyon's interns. He used the Furnished Finder web site to locate short-term housing in Flagstaff, the site of Northern Arizona University. The school has an enrollment of 28,000.
    "I always wanted to start an intern program in California, but we didn't have housing. The only courses that had interns also had housing. In the Bay area, you had to go 30 miles east of Oakland to find something that was affordable. Flagstaff is a college town with no shortage of options for housing.
    "I don't see how we could be competitive in the market without (housing)."
    That was a lesson he learned in California, where the club did not offer housing for interns.
    "I always wanted to start a program there," he said. "The only courses that had interns also had housing."
    Even with free on-site housing at Quechee, competing for interns with larger clubs in the Northeast can be a challenge, so Lallier, who is in his 38th year at the club, also sells amenities and lifestyle experiences that do not show up on a paycheck. The club converts to a ski resort in the winter, and there are other outdoors activities throughout the area.

    Ken Lallier says he also sells the proximity to other outdoor activities to attract interns to the Quechee Club in Vermont. Quechee Club photo "The pool of people who want to come here is already shallow. The big clubs build dorms and siphon off a dozen interns. That doesn't leave much for the rest of us who want interns," he said. 
    "We'll interview them, and they'll have six other interviews. You think it's a good interview, then they call and they're taking another job. If you like the outdoors, there is so much to do here: fish, ski, hunt. We try to sell that."
    The Country Club of Detroit has had housing for interns in an on-site house the club owns since before director of agronomy Ross Miller, CGCS (right), arrived there 13 years ago.
    Although that makes it easier to recruit interns, Miller says it is as important if not more to focus on the intern experience.
    "There are tons of world-class facilities within a half-hour," Miller said. "It's not just about housing. You have to build relationships with the universities so they know their interns are going to learn a lot when they are here. Eighty percent of our interns are not married to a property, but more so to a learning experience.
    "When we interview them, we look to see if they are going to be a good culture fit. What are they looking to get, and what are you able to provide?"

    Ross Miller, CGCS at the Country Club of Detroit, says golf maintenance is not just a turf business, but is also a people business. Ross Miller photo Trying to find the right person begins long before that initial interview. It is important, Miller says, to be up front when listing a job. And it is just as important for those seeking internships to be just as open and honest about their expectations and what will be expected of them. 
    "It's a turf business, but it's also a people business. You can damage relationships with potential interns from universities for quite some time if you are not transparent with them," Miller said. "Part of that transparency is in the job posting. But there has to be an understanding, but to get that you have to earn that. Show us that you are proficient and excel in the basics then we will teach you want to learn."
  • A tool to help professional turf managers manage many species of nematodes as well as a variety of common soil-borne diseases recently received federal label registration by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
    With the active ingredient cyclobutrifluram, Trefiniti is a nematicide/fungicide product that utilizes Syngenta's Tymirium technology that supports the plant's ability to resist pressure from root diseases and nematodes on greens, tees and fairways.
    The new product from Syngenta is registered for control of sting, lance, root-knot and Anguina Pacifica nematode species. It also is registered for control of diseases such as fairy ring, mini-ring, spring dead spot and take-all root rot.

    "While light sandy soils have historically been conducive to nematode issues, nematodes can be found in all soil types," Lane Tredway, Ph.D., technical services manager for turf at Syngenta, said in a news release. "Over the past decade, we have conducted extensive testing to address this growing issue for turfgrass managers. The sustained R&D investment has led to Trefinti, a groundbreaking solution for controlling elusive, damaging nematodes that also offers powerful control of root diseases."
    Researchers recommend rotating Trefinti with another nematicide in areas with high nematode populations or substantial damage. A rotation with another nematicide also can help expand control of other nematode species, such as spiral and stubby root, as well as resistance management for sting and root-knot species. Trefinti can be applied as a broadcast spray or spot treatment. It will be available once it receives registration at the state level.
    "Trefinti delivers what superintendents have been asking for—broader-spectrum nematode control including lance," said Stephanie Schwenke, turf market manager at Syngenta, "plus the added benefit of soil-borne disease protection in one solution."
  • Ask any golfer, and they will say that providing great putting greens is Job 1 of a golf course superintendent.
    In an era where the anti-golf crowd can be loud, the job also is about education and environmental stewardship. The GCSAA recognizes those efforts through an annual awards program.
    The association recently honored four superintendents as recipients of the 2025 Environmental Leaders in Golf Awards. Seven runners-up also received recognition for their environmental stewardship efforts.
    The 2025 ELGA winners are: Healthy Land Stewardship Award — Jim Pavonetti, CGCS, Fairview Country Club, Greenwich, Connecticut; Communication and Outreach Award — Kevin Goss, Sugar Creek Golf Course, Villa Park, Illinois; Innovative Conservation Award — Robin Sadler, Mickelson National Golf Club, Calgary Alberta; and Natural Resource Conservation Award — Justin Brimley, Crystal Springs Golf Course, Burlingame, California.
    Since 1993, the awards have been conferred upon superintendents and golf courses around the world for their commitment to environmental stewardship, and since 2018 have reflected environmental best management practices and specific areas of focus.
    ELGA Award Categories
    Communications and Outreach Award: Recognizes effective communication of conservation strategies with facility employees, golfers and other members of the community. Healthy Land Stewardship Award: Recognizes effective strategies for efficient use of pesticides and nutrients, as well as pollution prevention. Innovative Conservation Award: Recognizes unique and innovative strategies for conservation. Natural Resource Conservation Award: Recognizes effective strategies for water conservation, energy conservation and sound wildlife management. "Golf course superintendents are committed to environmental sustainability and producing enjoyable playing conditions," said GCSAA CEO Rhett Evans. "The ELGA recipients are great examples of being able to combine these goals. We are proud of their accomplishments."
    The 2025 ELGA winners and runners-up include:
    Healthy Land Stewardship Award
    Jim Pavonetti, CGCS
    Fairview Country Club, Greenwich, Connecticut
    Pavonetti is a regular ELGA honoree in his 18 years at Fairview Country Club. This year marked Pavonetti's third consecutive ELGA win. He was named the recipient of the Natural Resource Conservation Award last year and the Innovative Conservation Award recipient in 2023. 
    Pavonetti also is a four-time first runner-up in the ELGA competition — 2018 and 2019 Natural Resource Awards and 2021 and 2022 Innovative Conservation.
    His stewardship efforts are not limited to Fairview's greens, tees and fairways. He is a member of Greenwich's Sustainability Committee that identifies and implements environmental policies throughout the town, and he serves on the board of directors of Audubon International.
    He praised the work of his team in securing this year's ELGA award. Pavonetti says his team has embraced data-driven course-management programs, and the detailed information they yield have helped reduce pesticide use by 10 percent and cutting water usage by 20 percent.
    He achieves water savings thanks to air diffusers and barley straw in cages for pond aeration, infrared cameras, moisture meters and sensors to identify and manage areas of need and interseeding newer drought- and pest-tolerant varieties of creeping bentgrass. 
    "I am incredibly thrilled and honored to receive the Healthy Land Stewardship Award," Pavonetti said in a news release. "As the golf course superintendent of Fairview Country Club, this recognition means so much. It reflects the passion and teamwork of our staff and members who care deeply about keeping our course sustainable and our property naturally beautiful."
    First Runner-up: Jorge Mendoza, Green River Golf Club, Corona, California
    Second Runner-up: Michael Bednar, Palouse Ridge Golf Club, Pullman, Washington

    Jim Pavonetti, CGCS, has been named an ELGA recipient the past three years at Fairview Country Club in Greenwich, Connecticut. Jim Pavonetti photo Communication and Outreach Award
    Kevin Goss
    Sugar Creek Golf Course, Villa Park, Illinois
    Goss has been the superintendent at nine-hole Sugar Creek Golf Course since 2009. Sugar Creek also is where Goss learned the game growing up and where he started working on golf courses at age 16, so he has a unique affection for the property.
    Goss shares the word about Sugar Creek's environmental initiatives through presentations, journal articles, posters and on social media. He also hosts field trips for community groups and students from the College of DuPage, where he is a guest speaker and advisory committee member.
    During his time at Sugar Creek, Goss has contributed to Elmhurst Park District environmental committees in the areas of environmental policy, energy conservation, invasive species management, and recycling.
    In 2024, the golf course completed a streambank naturalization project that positively affected the watershed and local ecosystem.
    "Thanks to the whole group involved in the Sugar Creek Restoration Project, I have been asked to give tours to many groups," Goss said. "Many are surprised and excited to see butterflies, bees, herons, hummingbirds, turtles, and native plants thriving at their local golf course."
    Goss, the first runner-up for the Healthy Land Stewardship ELGA in 2023, also designs posters about local wildlife, native plants and environmental projects to keep golfers informed at the clubhouse.
    First Runner-up: Christopher Hayman, The Crossings at Carlsbad, Carlsbad, California
    Second Runner-up: Carl Thompson, CGCS, Columbia Point Golf Course, Richland, Washington
    Natural Resource Conservation Award
    Justin Brimley
    Crystal Springs Golf Course, Burlingame, California
    Crystal Springs, where Brimley has been the superintendent for six years, is surrounded by native habitat that supports abundant wildlife, and is adjacent to the Lower Crystal Springs Reservoir. The 58,000 acre feet impoundment is a major source of potable water for the San Francisco Bay area. 
    The course, where former superintendent Tim Powers, CGCS, was a National Overall ELGA winner in 2011, has been certified with the Audubon Sanctuary Program and Habitat Control since 1998.
    Conservation efforts under Brimley include expanding native areas to reduce water use and creating 20 acres of habitat corridors.
    Brimley was the recipient of the 2022 ELGA Healthy Land Stewardship Award and was the second runner-up for the Natural Resource Conservation Award each of the past two years. He also was the second runner-up for the Healthy Land  Stewardship honor in 2015.
    First Runner-up: Patrick Parkins, TPC Las Vegas, Las Vegas
    Second Runner-up: Robert Esposo, Pacific Grove (California) Golf Links

    Wildlife corridors are an integral part of the stewardship efforts at Crystal Springs Golf Course in Burlingame, California. Crystal Springs photo Innovative Conservation Award
    Robin Sadler
    Mickelson National Golf Club, Calgary, Alberta
    Sadler is in his fifth year at Mickelson National Golf Club, which has been recognized as one of the top environmental golf courses in the world.
    Sadler's environmental initiatives include utilizing solar power for eco-friendly algae control, grass clipping separator, reducing water use by 13 percent, honey harvesting and a lithium battery-powered equipment fleet.
    He also has become a voice for sustainable management practices throughout Canada.
    First Runner-up: James Sua, CGCS, Pei Tou Kuo Hua Golf and Country Club, Taipei, Taiwan
    Click here for a complete list of past winners and runners-up.
  • Nearly a century of golf history at the University of Minnesota ended this fall.
    Citing financial challenges and the increasing cost of maintenance, the University of Minnesota has closed the 96-year-old Les Bolstad Golf Course and plans to sell the 140.9 acres on which the course is located, according to the university.
    Designed in 1929 by Tom Vardon, the course officially closed its doors on Oct. 30. The course employed about 60 University of Minnesota students in a variety of roles.
    According to the university: "The golf course does not generate funding needed for the extensive repairs and upkeep that would ensure its ongoing viability."
    The property will be sold as-is, including all existing infrastructure and buildings. The adjacent John W. Mooty Golf Facility and associated short game outdoor training area, used by the university's golf teams, as well as Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium that is used by the women's soccer team are not part of the sale.

    The University of Minnesota closed the Les Bolstad Golf Course permanently on Oct. 30. The course has been serving the university and the local community since 1929. Playing 6,259 yards from the back tees, the golf course was home to both accomplished college players as well newcomers to the game and everyone in between.
    The university's golf teams, while continuing to practice on the adjacent site, will play home matches 15 miles away at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minnesota.
    The golf course was identified by university officials as a potential area of opportunity for sale as far back as 2021. Proceeds from the sale will be earmarked for use in "areas more directly aligned with the core mission of teaching, research and service."
    The course's namesake, Les Bolstad, was the youngest U.S. Public Links Championship winner in 1926, at age 18, a record that stood for almost 40 years. He joined the University of Minnesota golf team the following year in 1927, where he won two Big Ten championships. 
    After a professional golf career, Bolstad was named coach of the university's men's golf team in 1947, a position he held for 30 years.

×
×
  • Create New...