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From the TurfNet NewsDesk

  • John Reitman
    For the better part of two decades, Syngenta has been helping provide about two dozen superintendents per year with business education not typically taught in turf school.
    With the help of faculty from the Wake Forest University business school, the company has brought non-agronomic topics like negotiating skills, managing across cultures and generations and creating work-life balance to the forefront for more than 400 superintendents during the past 17 years through the Syngenta Business Institute held on the university's campus in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. 
    Just as important as the curriculum presented at SBI by some of the country's leading educators are the networking opportunities and the chance for superintendents to learn from each other, and not just for an hour or two at a conference, but for parts of four consecutive days, making for a completely immersive experience.
    That opportunity to learn from common and shared experiences also results in a rare and fast-forming camaraderie.
    The significance of peer-to-peer networking has come as no surprise to Stephanie Schwenke, turf market manager for Syngenta. What has been a surprise is how quickly those relationships can develop in a room filled with strangers.
    "When we originally formed SBI, we wanted to make sure it was a small, intimate group for them to share their experiences, and building a network leaving here is critically important. And we have seen that every year," Schwenke said. 
    "What has surprised me is how quickly these relationships happen. It's always awkward the first night in that social event, but really by the next morning and that first day of education they're already becoming friends and forming relationships. And then over those next three days it gets stronger.
    "As these relationships form, they learn they all have similar challenges. Why not lean on each other more to work through the day-to-day?"

    Alan FitzGerald of Rehoboth Beach Country Club (left) and Jake Gargasz of Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel, Indiana, share a thought during the 2025 edition of the Syngenta Business Institute in December at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Photo by John Reitman Entering his 14th season at Indian Springs Country Club in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, David Jones came to Wake Forest for business education, but gained as much from networking with peers.
    "I've been at my place for a long time. Any time I can learn something to make me a better leader, I want to do it," Jones said. "The networking is great too; learning how other superintendents do things is very beneficial."
    The interactive event promotes idea sharing through a host of group-think projects, round table discussions and offsite social events. It is not long before the group of strangers are asking questions of each other and sharing tips and advice.
    Brian Woods of Saltleaf Golf Preserve in Bonita Springs, Florida, had heard not only about the business curriculum at SBI, but the also about the chance to learn from other superintendents.
    "Iron sharpens iron," Woods said. "I wanted to meet with superintendents from around the country, and gaining valuable knowledge from Wake Forest University professors is a no-brainer. I will be able to take those practices I learned back to the golf course and put them into practice."
    Although the interpersonal relationships and networking opportunities afforded to superintendents has been a critical part of the SBI experience since the inaugural event 17 years ago, Syngenta's Schwenke always enjoys watching that part of the program unfold.
    "It surprises me how quickly those relationships happen," she said. "But I'm delighted to know that when they walk away they can be friends and peers and lean on each other."
  • Perhaps no one epitomizes the profession of golf course superintendent more than Paul R. Latshaw.
    One of the most accomplished figures in golf course maintenance, Latshaw helped set the standard for major championship playing conditions as the host superintendent for four Masters Tournaments, two U.S. Open championships and one PGA Championship. He is the only superintendent to have hosted all three U.S.-based major championships.
    In recognition of his contributions to the golf course maintenance profession, Latshaw has been named the recipient of the 2026 USGA Green Section Award. 

    USGA Green Section Award recipient Paul R. Latshaw helped define the role of the professional golf course superintendent. Marc Longwood photo via USGA "This recognition means a great deal to me," Latshaw said. "Turfgrass work is often behind the scenes, but it plays a critical role in the golfer's experience and the long-term health of the game. I've been fortunate to collaborate with superintendents, researchers and industry partners who are passionate about improving how we care for golf courses, and the USGA's recognition of our work means the world."
    In a career that spanned from 1964 to 2001, Latshaw's leadership shaped some of the game's most iconic venues, including Augusta National, Congressional, Oakmont, Riviera, Wilmington and Winged Foot.
    Latshaw's impact on the business of golf course maintenance also can be measured by the people he mentored and practices he helped develop. Latshaw had a well-earned reputation for demanding much from his employees. And those who were serious about their careers lined up to be part of his team. More than 100 of his former employees have gone on to become superintendents, turfgrass scientists and industry leaders. 
    Latshaw protege Eric Greytok once said of his mentor: "He was a good teacher and taught a lot of people in turf, and a lot of people sought him out to learn from him."
    Latshaw also played a key role in advancing modern course-maintenance practices, including innovations in putting-green performance, environmental management and bunker construction that remain widely used today.
    He will receive the award Feb. 28 at the USGA's annual awards dinner in New York City.
  • PBI-Gordon Corp. recently named Kevin Laycock as the company's vice president of sales as well as its Order to Ship division.
    Laycock's responsibilities include leading revenue growth, sales initiatives and organizational leadership. He also will work with cross-functional teams to advance customer engagement and support long-term growth.
    Based in Kansas City, Missouri, employee-owned PBI-Gordon is a manufacturer of herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, growth regulators and other products for the professional turf and ornamental management, lawncare and agriculture markets.
    Laycock brings more than 20 years of industry experience leading commercial organizations and delivering profitable growth across professional, consumer and distribution channels. Most recently, he served as senior director of Category Management at SiteOne Landscape Supply. His previous leadership roles include positions with FMC Agricultural Solutions and Bayer CropScience. Laycock is a graduate of the University of North Carolina where he earned an MBA in marketing and strategy.
  • After 32 years of vision, leadership, and unwavering commitment, Peter McCormick has announced his retirement from TurfNet, the company he founded and guided from its earliest days into one of the most respected voices in the turfgrass industry.
    Since establishing TurfNet in 1994, Peter built far more than a business. He created a trusted platform for education, communication, and connection—bringing together superintendents, industry professionals, researchers, and commercial partners from around the world. Under his leadership, TurfNet became synonymous with credible journalism, thoughtful commentary, and a genuine dedication to advancing the profession. His retirement is effective Jan. 31.
    Peter’s career has been defined by curiosity, integrity, and a deep respect for the people who work in turf management. His ability to anticipate industry needs, embrace innovation, and foster meaningful dialogue helped shape TurfNet’s unique role as both a news source and a community. Many careers were supported, many voices amplified, and many friendships formed because of his efforts.
    “It has been a great run, well beyond anything I could have imagined back in 1994,” said McCormick, 71. “Memory tends to blur over time but the things that jump out at me are the people, the friendships and the fun we had… all while quietly going about changing the industry for the better. But fatigue does set in, the fire in the belly flickers, and there comes a point when it’s time to step aside.”
    McCormick sold the business in 2001 to Turnstile Publishing Company (publishers of Golfweek and SuperNEWS, among other titles) and stayed on to manage it for them for the next 25 years. When Turnstile folded SuperNEWS in the mid-2000s, Jon Kiger and John Reitman came over to TurfNet and have also stayed for 20+ years. Kyle Taylor will be joining the TurfNet staff in addition to his responsibilities for The Golf Wire, another Turnstile product.
    As he steps into retirement, Peter leaves TurfNet on strong footing and with a lasting legacy that will continue to influence the industry for years to come. His impact is evident not only in the organization he built, but also in the countless professionals who benefited from his leadership, mentorship, and belief in the value of shared knowledge.
    Please join us in congratulating Peter McCormick on an extraordinary 32-year career and thanking him for his lasting contributions to TurfNet and the turfgrass industry. We wish him the very best in his well-earned retirement and whatever adventures come next.
  • There was a time when there was a stigma attached to publicly discussing one's mental health. Fortunately, those days are gone and recognizing the need for help is seen as strength.
    Longtime turf manager Charlie Fultz, who is general manager and superintendent at Heritage Oaks Golf Course in Harrisonburg, Virginia, disclosed his personal struggles in the pages of GCM Magazine, and his efforts have resulted in him being named the recipient of the GCSAA's 2025 Leo Feser Award that recognizes the best superintendent-written article published in the magazine.
    Fultz's struggles with mental health were triggered in 2023 by a string of events that included his father being diagnosed with cancer, one son with serious health issues and another facing significant legal challenges, all on top of a crumbling home life.
    The first step in getting help, he wrote, was admitting he needed it.
    It is the second win for Fultz who also won the Feser award in 2006.
    "Winning the award 20 years ago was something I never thought I would be capable of doing, but winning it a second time with the article that I wrote had a much more personally deep and emotional aspect to it  than what the first one did," Fultz said. "The first article was really focused on helping superintendents be better communicators with the public and for the people that they worked for, which those ideals still hold true today. This article goes much deeper than the first one; it's discussing mental health and the taboo that exists, especially for men, as it relates to dealing with deep emotional and mental challenges."

    Charlie Fultz with sons Lukas (left) and Jakob. Fultz finally found help in the way of a therapist, and telling his story in print in the June 2025 edition of the magazine was cathartic for him. However, his true inspiration was the hope that others could benefit from his experience.
    "When I got to the end of my weekly counseling run and began to reflect on it, I really began to think about what the previous 18 months had meant," Fultz said. "I thought to myself, I wonder if there are people out there that have similar life experiences like I have had that are holding them back because they're not willing to open up to someone professionally and are just afraid to peel back those layers. I eventually wrote the article with the hopes that if one person found it helpful, then my intentions for the article were satisfied. I've already had several folks reach out to me who have read it since it was published and said it hit them in a way that I hoped, so I've achieved everything that I ever wanted to when I wrote it."
    The award honors the legendary superintendent Leo Feser, who is credited with keeping the association’s official publication alive during the Great Depression. From 1933 to 1936, he wrote, edited and published each issue of The Greenkeepers' Report — then the GCSAA's official magazine — from his home in Wayzata, Minnesota. The award was first presented in 1956 and has been given annually since 1977. 
    Fultz will receive the award in February at the GCSAA Conference and Show in Orlando.
    Click here for more about the award and a list of past winners.
  • Access to adequate supplies of water is one of the major issues facing golf courses in many parts of the country. There is little doubt that access to sufficient amounts of water will become increasingly more important from coast to coast.
    As the need to be more efficient users of water, superintendents have used far less water during the past two decades.
    According to a survey by the GCSAA and USGA, U.S. golf courses used 31 percent less water in 2024, compared with usage in 2005. The 2025 survey was conducted as part of its Golf Course Environmental Profile program, which began in 2005.
    The report states that U.S. golf facilities used 1.63 million acre-feet of water in 2024, representing a 3.2 percent reduction since 2020 and a 31 percent reduction since 2005. 

    Water use on U.S. golf courses is down by 31 percent in the past 20 years, according to a GCSAA survey. GCSAA photo The study also provides data on average water use in the seven agronomic regions, with all regions reporting lower projected applied water since 2005. From 2020 to 2024, the Southwest and Upper West/Mountain regions reported the highest reductions, using 16.9 percent and 7.8 percent less water, respectively. 
    The survey results from nearly 1,700 golf facilities were collected and independently analyzed by scientists Travis Shaddox, Ph.D., Bluegrass Art and Science LLC., and Bryan Unruh, Ph.D. University of Florida, and the National Golf Foundation. The findings were published for peer review in the HortTechnology Journal in September. The most common sources of golf course irrigation water, according to the report, were wells (32 percent), lakes and ponds (27 percent), and recycled (19 percent). 
    Much of the reduction in water use can be attributed to the focus on and implementation of BMPs nationwide. The most common water-management practices across the regions include the use of wetting agents, hand-watering and managing turf under drier conditions. 
    Golf facilities also have been incorporating more technology into watering decisions in the way of hand-held moisture sensors, irrigation scheduling, irrigation audits as well as using ET data from onsite weather stations. New irrigation system components, new nozzles, updated software and master controllers also contribute to greater water-use efficiency. 
    GCSAA will publish additional national reports related to pesticide use and nutrient management on golf courses over the next year as part of the fourth series of its Golf Course Environmental Profile program.
  • It was easy to figure out which stories on TurfNet drew the most interest from golf course superintendents in 2025. Headlines that received the most clicks throughout the year ranged from breakthroughs in autonomous mowing, memorials about two longtime turf professors who we lost during the year and legal proceedings surrounding one of the world's most recognizable golf course design brands.
    A clutch of large blue and yellow autonomous mowers from what then was a largely unknown company called FireFly Automatix spoke volumes about the future of golf course maintenance as they silently mowed fairways at the PGA Tour's 2024 Black Desert Championship in Ivins, Utah.
    The emergence of large-area autonomous mowers by FireFly Automatix was the most viewed story on TurfNet in 2025.
    Click here to read the story in its entirety.

    FireFly Automatix caught the attention of the golf world when its autonomous large-area mowers showed up at a PGA Tour event. FireFly Automatix photo FireFly Automatix was founded in 2008 when Steve Aposhian and a small group of fellow mechanical engineers began fabricating replacement parts for sod harvesters on Aposhian’s family’s turf farm in Salt Lake City. They began selling the high-quality parts to other sod farms and later began building their own harvesters.
    "We were the first to implement a lot of electric technology on a piece of mobile equipment like this," said Aposhian in a TurfNet podcast in January 2025.
    "Traditional machines used hydraulics and traditional control mechanisms. My background as a mechanical engineer is in automation, so we implemented a lot of factory-type automation on a sod harvester. Since then we've become the largest producer of automated turf harvesters in the world."
    Eventually, the company looked into expanding into mowing turf and not just harvesting it.
    Mark LeBlanc and his design team at FireFly looked at what was in the turf market at the time, which were only early prototypes.
    "Sod being an adjacent industry to golf, and knowing that a lot of our customers provide sod to golf courses, we always envisioned ourselves expanding into that market," LeBlanc said in the podcast interview. "After a couple years Steve gave me a team and a blank board and said, go design an automated fairway mower."
    Click on the headlines below to read each story that makes up the rest of the top 10 most-read stories of 2025.
    Retired superintendents share their tough times and how they overcame them
    From St. Louis in the east to Kansas City in the west, Missouri is famous for its hot and oppressively humid summers. Conditions there can be so severe that Jon Miller, the late baseball announcer, once quipped during a Royals broadcast that visiting Missouri in summer was the world's most effective way to lose weight fast.
    To that end, it did not take Joe Wachter long to recount the most challenging weather years during his long career as a golf course superintendent in the St. Louis area. Those memories are seared into his memory like a sun-baked green.
    Ash borer research focuses on trees that are naturally resistant to the invasive pest
    For more than two decades, the face of many golf courses across North America has changed thanks to an invasive pest no larger than a dime.  
    Since it was detected in southeastern Michigan in 2002 after arriving in Detroit in packing material aboard a cargo ship from China, the emerald ash borer has cut a swath of devastation across the continent, and has left a trail of millions of dead ash trees in its wake, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.
    Finally, help is on the way that might prevent a virtual wipeout of ash trees across North America by the emerald ash borer, and could result in repopulating forests and other areas, including affected golf courses, with naturally resistant trees.

    The turf community lost a friend, advocate and ambassador in 2025 with the passing of Clemson professor emeritus Bruce Martin, Ph.D. Clemson photo Martin remembered for unyielding service to superintendents worldwide
    Not everyone would climb aboard a plane, fly half way around the world just to work for a few hours then head back to the airport and return home without ever checking into a hotel.
    Bruce Martin, Ph.D., not only would do that, he did do that.
    A plant pathologist and extension service specialist at Clemson University for more than 30 years, Martin's expertise in diagnosing, preventing, treating and diagnosing turf diseases built a following among golf course superintendents in the Carolinas, throughout the country and around the world.
    A native of Conway, Arkansas, Samuel Bruce Martin died Oct. 16. He was 71.
    Colo stands as a symbol of what it means to face life's challenges head-on
    Some people are equipped to handle adversity. Others are not.
    Metaphorically speaking, longtime superintendent John Colo has taken a series of gut punches that would leave many unable to get off the mat. Even real-life challenges like job loss and wife Peggy's terminal battle with cancer were not enough to count out Colo, who has been director of golf course maintenance at Frenchman's Reserve in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida for the past five years.
    The past decade has been an example of what it means to face adversity head-on and beat it. But that ability to bounce back from adversity began a long time ago, says Colo's twin brother Jim.
    Historic Nicklaus project in St. Louis edges closer to completion
    Normandie Golf Club has a history matched by few golf courses. Designed by Old Tom Morris protege Robert Foulis and opened in 1901, the course in St. Louis is one of the oldest tracks west of the Mississippi.
    Through the years, many famous athletes and Hollywood personalities have walked the fairways at Normandie. But the historic St. Louis Club is casting aside its historic past for a place in the game's future.
    Located in one of St. Louis' most underserved communities, the course is undergoing a rebirth thanks to Jack Nicklaus and members of the city's golf community.
    Contractor electrocuted while working at Connecticut golf course
    A tragedy that occurred at a Connecticut golf course serves as a sobering reminder about the importance of workplace safety.
    According to published reports, a contractor working at Yale Golf Course was electrocuted Aug. 21 after he touched a downed power line at the golf course in New Haven. The line came down when a tree had fallen at the golf course during a recent storm. The worker, whose identity has not been released, was an employee of Eastern Land Management, a commercial landscape management company in Stamford, Connecticut.
    It was unclear how the worker came into contact with the power line. Neither the Yale University Police nor the Hartford office of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration returned phone calls.
    Study links threat of Parkinson's disease to golf course proximity
    The scientific community has found another arrow in its quiver to fire at golf.
    A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association indicates a link between increased incidence of Parkinson’s disease and living near a golf course.
    According to the study, people who live within three miles of a golf course showed a greater risk of contracting Parkinson’s disease than those outside that three-mile arc. Those living within a mile of a golf facility faced a 126 percent greater chance of getting the disease than those who lived at least six miles from a course.
    Although the study indicates a possible link between golf course management practices and the likelihood of contracting Parkinson’s disease, it does not and cannot prove a direct cause and effect.

    Kress unveiled the battery-powered KR800 40 "Cut N Go" robotic mower in 2025. Kress photo Kress unveils robotic mower with 40-inch cutting deck
    A pioneer in autonomous mowing, Kress Commercial Robotics provided a sneak peak at its latest innovation in outdoor power equipment during the company's NEXT Summit.
    Held April 3 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the summit was the site of the unveiling of the company's new battery-powered KR800 40 "Cut N Go" robotic mower. The emission-free, electric, ZTR-replacement mower helps improve operational efficiency and profitability by mowing large areas in the background as crews focus on detailed and more time-consuming tasks. Cut N Go is designed to navigate with by mapping — a simple ride-on process — multiple areas.
    With a 40-inch cutting deck, the battery-powered Cut N Go can mow as many as five acres on a single charge. The mower autonomously loads and unloads from a trailer, and can move on its own from one project to another after initial property mapping. It features a 5,000-hour operational life and fully integrates into the Kress Fleet Management System. With boundary-wirefree navigation and 360-degree obstacle avoidance Cut N Go avoids people and other objects.
    Nicklaus Cos. files for bankruptcy after golfer wins $50 million judgment
    In a year marked by litigation, the Nicklaus Companies 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.
    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.
  • As the owner of a career-development firm serving the golf industry, Erin Wolfram already is a familiar face to many superintendents.
    The GCSAA recently named Wolfram (right), owner of Career Advantage Golf, as director of First Green and workforce development. She will be responsible for increasing interest in turfgrass management careers through the GCSAA’s First Green STEAM-education program, career growth and development initiatives and developing programs to find and retain employees.
    Wolfram, who brings 15 years of experience in careers services, has supported superintendents through individualized career coaching and job-search services since 2020 as the owner of Career Advantage Golf, which offers career consulting for golf industry professionals. She takes over from Leann Cooper, who has been named the GCSAA's senior director of member programs.

    The First Green program helps introduce golf course maintenance as a potential career path for school-aged students. First Green photo "After working with hundreds of GCSAA members through Career Advantage Golf, I am excited to transition into a full-time role at GCSAA," Wolfram said. "I am looking forward to strengthening the relationships I already have with members and continuing to help them and the industry grow while applying skills and knowledge from teaching, career services and program management."
    In addition to working with superintendents through her own company, Wolfram most recently served as program director for the University of Kansas Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships. With two master’s degrees from the University of Kansas in educational technology and counseling psychology, she previously held several additional positions at the University of Kansas, spanning career management, technology, online education and internships.
    Wolfram, who will begin her new position Jan. 5, will be assisted by GCSAA staff member Kera Matchett, specialist, First Green and workforce development.
  • Audubon International certified or recertified a host of properties in several categories in 2025.
    Most new certifications by Audubon International were awarded in the golf and lodging categories, while many of the almost 200 recertifications were to entities dating back to the 1990s. Programs include Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary for Golf, Green Hospitality, Signature Sanctuary and Sustainable Communities. Each program provides third-party, on-site verification of science-supported sustainable practices and benchmarks. In the case of golf, that includes Environmental Planning, Wildlife and Habitat Management, Chemical Use Reduction and Safety, Water Conservation, Water Quality Management and Outreach and Education.
    "Once again, 2025 was a strong year for new certification growth across our suite of programs," said Christine Kane, CEO. "We continue to see great interest in and pursuit of certification in our Green Lodging/Green Hospitality programs, which reflects the industry's acknowledgement of sustainable best practices as a business and market response necessity. Audubon International continues to lead the way helping golf courses, resorts, communities, and businesses of all kinds invest in a brighter future for the planet."

    Sleepy Hollow Country Club along the Hudson River in New York was among the golf courses newly certified by Audubon International in 2025. Sleepy Hollow CC photo The ACSP for Golf continues as the organization's flagship certification path with nearly 2,000 courses worldwide. New certifications in 2025 include Old Sandwich Golf Club and the Kittansett Club in Massachusetts, Sleepy Hollow Country Club in New York, Grand Bear Golf Club in Mississippi and Victory Ranch in Utah.
    Each year, Audubon International's environmental specialists perform initial site visits at prospective certified properties as well as recertification visits across the country and around the world. They then provide point-by-point feedback based on each venue's location, resources, budgets and needs, help keep them on track through the process, and sign off on new certifications and recertifications once all criteria are met. Certification timelines can take up to a year or more.
    Audubon International certifications are designed to increase environmental awareness, encourage sustainable environmental efforts and educate both its members and their communities.
  • Editor's note: This letter, shared with TurfNet, is from SUNY-Delhi professor emeritus Dominic Morales to the New York State Turfgrass Association board of directors.
    Dear NYSTA Board, Alumni and Industry Partners
    This letter is most likely my final official correspondence with the NYSTA board members, alumni and industry partners. It has been 50 years (1975) of collaboration with SUNY-Delhi, the association and the industry. It's been a most gratifying journey, and I'm blessed with the support and collegiality the association has honored me with over the years. In the beginning it was both difficult and challenging to navigate, building a viable academic program that was compatible and satisfied the needs of an expanding Turf industry. I realized that reaching out to the industry, especially NYSTA, was a necessity. Honestly, it did not come naturally, I had to work at it. Developing contacts, cultivating lasting trusting relationships and at the same time mentoring students, developing a viable academic program with a valuable internship component, plus finding the budget dollars needed for success.
    The '90s were when SUNY-Delhi's Turf management programs entered a new level of success thanks to a new college president who saw the potential for growth. Mary Ellan Duncan was instrumental in taking the lead and enabled me to venture beyond my comfort zone. Her first mandate was to assist me and give me the chance to expand our lab facilities. We began meeting with industry leaders such as the NYSTA board, S.V. Moffett Co. (now MTE), Grassland Equipment Co. and NYSGCSAA chapters. We presented our vision and plan of action. I was on the road presenting at all industry meetings. It snowballed and our support expanded exponentially. This experience gave me confidence and most of all a sense of personal gratification.

    Dominic Morales' career in turfgrass education and research in New York began in 1975. Photo courtesy of Dominic Morales The results of the industry/academic partnership:
    1991-1993: Construction of a state of art turf education instructional lab facility. Over $150,000 in donations was secured monetary and in-kind donations from various turf-related manufactures and suppliers, NYSTA and all the NYSGCSAA chapters. 1993-1995: Expanding The college golf course from 9 holes to 18 holes. $550,000 raised, both monetary and in-kind donations from various turf related manufacturers and suppliers, NYSTA, and all the NYSGCSAA chapters. Construction costs, new irrigation system, sand-based greens and bent grass fairways, seeded with the latest varieties. This project gave students including myself the opportunity to learn golf course construction, budgeting, and construction scheduling. 1998-2000: Developed a bachelor's degree program in golf course management. The curriculum was based on industry needs that required management skills. Industry representatives from all aspects of the profession met at SUNY-Delhi for three days to develop the core skills required for managing golf courses. The bachelor's program was approved by SED and SUNY Central in 2001. NYSTA has continued to support various projects at Delhi through foundation dollars. Our partnership has contributed to the overall success of the program.
    Serving as an official board member (2012-25) was my way of paying forward for all the years of NYSTA's support. During those 12 years we developed a strategic plan, developed the ambassador program developing career awareness at the K-12 education level, initiated a career outreach program, partnered with FFA and developed the successful apprenticeship program. Your support and faith in these initiatives illustrates a commitment to the future success and viability of our industry. It gives me great satisfaction to be part of our collaborative efforts.
    In closing, you, my colleagues and friends, have afforded me the opportunity to grow and achieve things that were way beyond my expectation.
    Thank you for making my 50-year ride exhilarating and rewarding. Please consider becoming a NYSTA member
    All the best.
    Dom Morales
    Professor emeritus, SUNY-Delhi
    NYSTA board member
  • Located in one of the country's most golf-centric locations, the Philadelphia Association of Golf Course Superintendents recently celebrated its 100th anniversary.
    The event took place Oct. 30 at Union League Liberty Hill. The event marked the conclusion of the association's centennial year and honored the individuals and traditions that have shaped one of the nation's oldest superintendent organizations.
    "Inspirational is the best word I can use," said association president Pat Michener of Bidermann Golf Course in Wilmington, Delaware. "To gather so many influential people in one room to celebrate the PAGCS was a major feat, and all involved should be very proud."

    Jay Wright, who led Villanova University to a pair of basketball national championships, spoke to the group of Philadelphia-area superintendents about leadership and team-building. PAGCS photo The association presented its highest honor, the Eberhard Steiniger Award, to John Gosselin, superintendent at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, the site of next year's PGA Championship. 
    Hall of Fame basketball coach Jay Wright, who led Villanova University to the national championship in 2016 and 2018, was the keynote speaker, and talked to attendees about the importance of leadership, preparation and workplace culture in building a championship team on the hardwood and the golf course.
    A tribute video highlighted the association's 100-year history and included reflections from former presidents and retired superintendents who focused on the importance of collaboration, education and professional development.
    Founded in 1925, the association promotes professional growth, education and industry collaboration and advancing the profession in the Philadelphia region through innovation, environmental stewardship, advocacy and leadership.
  • The Georgia GCSA recently honored one of its own and inducted its former executive into the assocaition's hall of fame.
    After a restoration at the home of the PGA Tour's season-ending event, the Georgia GCSA chapter named Charles Aubry (right), director of agronomy at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, as its Superintendent of the Year.
    The award is given to an individual "who has expressed outstanding dedication, care and commitment to the Georgia Golf Course Superintendents Association and to the golf course industry." Aubry was officially recognized as the recipient of the award at the association's annual meeting Dec. 9 at The King & Prince Resort and Club on St. Simons Island.
    Aubry's career at East Lake started in 2015 as a senior assistant superintendent. He was named golf course superintendent in 2018 and took over as director of agronomy in 2023 when he succeeded 2013 Georgia GCSA Superintendent of the Year Ralph Kepple, CGCS.
    Since then, Aubry helped orchestrate a $30-million renovation of the historic Donald Ross design in advance of the 2024 Tour Championship. He conducted a First Green field trip for local students the same week as the 2025 tournament.
    "I can only imagine how stressful it is to showcase your work to the world," wrote Druid Hills Golf Club superintendent Joe Hollis in his nomination of Aubry for the award. "His willingness to [host the First Green outing] during this high stressful time shows his commitment to promoting our profession to the next generation of leaders."
    Also at the annual awards banquet, the association inducted former executive director Tenia Workman to the Georgia GCSA Hall of Fame. Workman (right) ran an association from 2002 to 2024 that saw its membership nearly double to more than 700 members as it also became a model for government relations work and environmental stewardship.
    "Our chapter became known as the Atlanta chapter," Tim Busek, who succeeded Workman as the chapter's executive director, told TurfNet in 2024. "All the board members were from Atlanta, 98 percent of all of our events were held in Atlanta. It really alienated superintendents around the rest of the state.
    "She brought the association together as one." 
    In other news from the association’s three-day end-of year event:
    Chuck Moore, from The King & Prince Golf Club on St. Simons Island, received the Distinguished Service Award. Kyle Worthy, director of golf course maintenance at TPC Sugarloaf in Duluth, received the Environmental Leader in Golf Award, presented in partnership with the Georgia Golf Environmental Foundation. Cooper Thornton, from Savannah Golf Club in Savannah, was named Assistant Superintendent of the Year. Members elected three new directors to the board –  Kent Cantrell of Achasta Golf Club in Dahlonega; Ken Lee, CGCS at Cherokee Town & Country Club in Atlanta; and Brandon Smith, CGCS at Laurel Springs Golf Club in Suwanee were elected to the chapter's board of directors.
  • Tyler Bloom gets a little emotional when he talks about giving back to his profession.
    A former superintendent-turned consultant and recruiter and founder of Bloom Golf Partners, Bloom (right) has helped match many job-seeking superintendents with their dream position and educate would-be greenkeepers through an apprenticeship program.
    His most recent venture is the establishment of a scholarship program to help train tomorrow's golf course superintendents. The scholarship program, which will total $11,000 in three separate gifts next year, is Bloom's way of giving back to a profession that, he says, has given him so much.
    "I just think of one of my mentors who's not in this industry uses a quote all the time, 'you're best positioned to serve the person you once were,' " Bloom said.
    "And I think about that. I think I've reflected on that a lot throughout my career, but definitely where our company's at right now and think about all those different people that helped just move the needle a little bit for me."
    The scholarship is for students and emerging professionals who are committed to advancing their education, sharpening their skills and building long‑term careers in turfgrass management and awards assistance to recipients in three levels:
    Winner: $6,000 scholarship and a $2,000 stipend for the 2027 GCSAA Conference and Trade Show. Runner-up: $2,000 scholarship. 2nd Runner-up: $1,000 scholarship.
    Recipients must be working toward a certificate, two-year or four-year degree and must be employed on a golf course to be eligible. Jan. 31 is the deadline to enter for the inaugural scholarship year.
    It was Mitch Rupert, who works in recruitment and operations for Bloom Golf Partners, who initially voiced the idea of starting a scholarship program.
    "He was like 'I kinda feel bad that I'm volunteering your money or the company's money towards something . . . but I feel really passionate about this. (W)hat are your thoughts on creating a scholarship?' " Bloom said. 
    "I said, you know, it's funny you say that. I said, I've thought about this."
    Indeed, the funding of the scholarship program comes entirely out of the company's coffers. When his wife asked if he thought that was a good idea, Bloom was quick to answer.
    "I don't know. Why wouldn't I?" he said. "I mean, it is exactly what . . . we started our company on, and I think again, it pays respect to those people who really dug for me and went to bat for Tyler Bloom. I just, I don't forget that."
    The scholarship is the latest in Bloom's work to help prepare the next generation of superintendent. Recently, Bloom started an apprenticeship program and is a supporter of the Super-Scratch Foundation that raises funds to provide scholarships for aspiring superintendents.
    "And we're going to continue to support that by the way," Bloom said. "This isn't like, oh, we do this and now we can't do that. I just think that this is something that makes sense. It's the right time.
    "This is giving back to those employers that invested in me."
  • The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently granted label registration to LebanonTurf's Fertilizer with Acelepryn insecticide plus Barricade herbicide. The new combination product is formulated to provide season-long control of grubs and crabgrass with one fertilizer application.
    This unique combination of control products are featured in the Country Club and ProScape brands with the load level combination of .067% Acelepryn plus .67% Barricade, and are labeled for use on both cool-season and warm-season grasses.
    "Combining Acelepryn and Barricade together into one product was the next logical step in the growing market of time and labor-saving products that accomplish multiple tasks with one application," said Christopher S. Gray, Sr., director of marketing in a news release. "These products are a huge time-saver for golf course superintendents and lawn care professionals because they are incredibly effective, highly versatile and easily fit into current, established maintenance programs."

    Both Country Club's Acelepryn plus Barricade mini-sized products and ProScape Aceleperyn plus Barricade standard-sized products will feature LebanonTurf's proprietary nutrient technologies of MESA-XP, a homogeneous granule that contains methylene urea, ammonium sulfate and sulfate of potash, and U-FORM, urea-formaldehyde nitrogen that feeds the turf for up to 26 weeks.
    "We feel that the high caliber of these unique, value-added products demands using the best, most innovative, nutrient components available in the market to deliver the highest quality of fertilizer along with the benefits of season-long insect and weed control," Gray said.
    A division of privately held Lebanon Seaboard, LebanonTurf is a provider of high-performance plant-nutrition products for the golf and landscape industries. The company offers both microbiological components and advanced controlled-release fertilizers.
  • A dozen golf course superintendents and six equipment managers will be able to attend the 2026 GCSAA Conference and Trade Show thanks to funding from the Kendrick B. Melrose Family Foundation.
    The foundation was founded by the late Ken Melrose, former CEO and chairman of Toro Co. The Melrose Leadership Academy was established in 2012 followed in 2019 by the establishment of the Melrose Equipment Management Experience. Both programs provide ongoing education, professional development, networking and educational opportunities for superintendents and equipment managers that includes sending a select few to the show scheduled for Feb. 2-5 in Orlando. 
    The members of the 2026 Melrose Leadership Academy are:
    Daryck Beetham, NorthStone Country Club, Huntersville, South Carolina Michael Benton, Uncle Remus Golf Course, Madison, Georgia Alex Blegen, Brentwood Country Club, South Pasadena, California Grant Carque, Cypress Lakes Golf Course, Lake Worth Beach, Florida Benjamin Clark, Dublin Lake Club, Harrisville, New Hampshire Roy Crow, Woodland Hills Country Club, Woodland Hills, California Andrew Kisner VI, CGCS, The Villages Florida, Ocala, Florida Jeremiah Mincey, Black Diamond Ranch, Spring Hill, Florida Jason Overmyer, Cascades Golf Course, Jackson, Michigan Jason Robert, Thanksgiving Point Golf Course, Salt Lake City, Utah Casey Sheehan, Sugarloaf Golf Course, Shavertown, Pennsylvania Brett Zembower, Kempsville Green Golf Course, Virginia Beach, Virginia The members of the 2026 Melrose Equipment Management Experience are:
    Mario Delgado, The Club at Rolling Hills, Golden, Colorado Adam Lennington, Halbert National, Granbury, Texas Ian Naus, Spring Hill Golf Club, Golden Valley, Minnesota Joshua Schaefer, Wisconsin Country Club, Milwaukee, Wisconsin Colin Smith, Prestwick Golf Club, Ayr, Scotland Andrzej Strzepek, Belmont Country Club, Belmont, Massachusetts Participants in both Melrose programs are chosen through an application process based on financial need, involvement in communities through volunteer efforts and a drive to progress in their careers. Twelve superintendents were chosen for the 2026 Melrose Leadership Academy, and six equipment managers were chosen for the Melrose Equipment Management Experience.

    The GCSAA has recently made changes that make its BMP tool easier to use for golf course superintendents. GCSAA photo In other association news, the GCSAA has improved the process to enable golf course superintendents to efficiently create a facility BMP manual.
    The enhanced BMP tool is easier to use, is mobile-friendly and has fewer steps to completion. The tool's upgrades allow superintendents to better tell their story, manage risk and get personalized support from the experts at GCSAA. More improvements to the tool will roll out in 2026.
    The creation of facility BMPs is part of GCSAA's BMP Initiative, which began in 2017. By the end of 2020, BMP guidelines had been established in all 50 states. These state guidelines provide the blueprint for facility manuals and cover key areas such as water management, integrated pest management and pollinator protection.
    BMPs open doors for discussions and input by the industry and provide proof of science-based practices and responsible course management.
  • 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."

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