Divot Mix

"Golf is not a game of great shots. It's a game of the most accurate misses. The people who win make the smallest mistakes." -- Gene Littler

JuniorLinks.com grows and improves

JuniorLinks.com, the "Ultimate Junior Golf Web site" created by GOLF 20/20 and the USGA Foundation, recently registered its 2000th junior golf program on its searchable database.

All 50 states are now represented in a database meant to facilitate the ease with which youngsters and their parents can find appropriate junior programs in their area. The search link is http://www.juniorlinks.com/search.cfm.

The site is currently being redesigned to improve navigation and accessibility to current articles of interest. The new look will better fit the needs of the program directors, parents and junior golfers who frequent the site. Traffic to the site continues to increase, and received several significant spikes this summer when the JuniorLinks.com public service announcement ran on telecasts of the U.S. Open and the PGA Championship.

Final ELGA deadline has arrived

Friday, Oct. 15 is the last opportunity to apply for the GCSAA/ Golf Digest Environmental Leaders in Golf Awards this year. The awards are presented in partnership with Syngenta Professional Products and Rain Bird Corp., Golf
Division.

To apply online, click here. To guarantee that your application has been received, please make certain to hit the “submit ELGA application

PGA Fall Expo records growth

In what could be a sign of a turnaround in the golf business, PGA Golf Exhibitions has announced that its 2004 Fall Expo gained 32 percent in PGA Professional attendance compared to last year, and was up 13 percent growth in total buyer attendance. Overall attendance increased 7 percent.

A total of 4,202 industry professionals, primarily from the West Coast, but also representing all 50 states and 26 countries, converged at the annual regional industry gathering. 

"PGA Professionals and buyers came with a sense of optimism and a renewed energy that was apparent in overflowing aisles, a packed Demo Night, filled hitting bays, busy exhibits and full education seminars," said Ed Several, vice president and show manager. "The support of major equipment and apparel companies, new and enhanced interactive events and a return to post Labor Day dates in Las Vegas seemed to drive these great results."

"Many of our professionals have given us very positive feedback regarding their experiences at this year's Fall Expo," said M.G. Orender, PGA of America president.

Interactive programs like Demo Night, the Equipment Test Center and fashion parades contributed to an exhibitor satisfaction level that quadrupled since last year according to an independent exhibitor exit survey. In addition, the rate of exhibitors planning to return to the PGA Fall Expo also more than tripled over last year's post event survey.

Several said, "While we are thrilled with the success of new and enhanced event programs and with the improvements in industry participation, the post show exhibitor poll reveals what we are working so hard to achieve.... customer satisfaction and loyalty to an industry gathering that efficiently and effectively helps golf manufacturers reach their business objectives. "

The 2005 PGA Merchandise Show will be Jan. 27-30, in Orlando, Fla. Contact http://www.pgaexpo.com/ or call 1-800-PGA-EXPO.

Scotts Scholars named

GCSAA has selected two national honorees in the 2004 Scotts Co. Scholars Program.

The winners are Jacob Schneider , a soil science major at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, and Benjamin Stover , a horticulture management major at Iowa State University.

The Scotts Co. Scholars Program, administered by The Environmental Institute for Golf, recognizes promising students from culturally diverse backgrounds who have an interest in pursuing a career in the green industry. As part of the program, five finalists are selected for summer internships, a $500 award and the opportunity to compete for the two $2,500 scholarships. In addition, the two scholarship winners will receive an all expense paid trip to the 2005 Golf Industry Show in Orlando, Feb. 7-12.

"The goal of the program is to seek out promising students from diverse ethnic, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds," said Wayne Horman of the Scotts Co. "We are pleased to continue the partnership with The Environmental Institute for Golf to fund this scholarship program to benefit the golf course management profession."

"Students, such as the outstanding individuals who received this year's awards, truly hold the future success of the profession in their hands," said Gary K. Carls, CGCS, chairman of the GCSAA Scholarship Committee. "We are grateful for the support of The Scotts Co. and for contributions that these students make to the industry."