Divot Mix

"By the time you get to your ball, if you don't know what to do with it, try another sport." -- Julius Boros, a U.S. Open and PGA champion

NewsWeekly about to go daily for GIS

GCSAA NewsWeekly is going to be on site at the Golf Industry Show with news of what's happening in Orlando. There''ll be three separate editions on Feb. 10, 11 and 12.

The daily version of NewsWeekly will include coverage by Golf Course Management staff on what happened during the first portion of the GCSAA Education Conference, including the GCSAA Golf Championship.

On Friday and Saturday, there will be coverage of Golf Industry happenings, awards, Opening Session and General Session.

Singleton to get Donald Ross Award

Golf course irrigation pioneer John Singleton has been named the Donald Ross Award winner by the American Society of Golf Course Architects. He will receive the award during ASGCA's annual meeting April 18.

ASGCA President Bill Love will present the award during the Donald Ross Award Banquet at The Lodge at Pebble Beach Resorts. The award is given annually to a person who has made significant contributions to the game of golf and golf course architecture.

"John Singleton is a true gentleman, problem solver and friend to everyone in the golf industry," Love said. "During nearly 40 years at The Toro Co., his dedication to golf and golf course architects has helped facilitate golf's global expansion and provide the world's golfers with the best possible playing conditions.

"Golf course architects have certainly benefited from his attention to the goings-on in the industry as Toro's 'architect liaison.' No one knew more about how to get the job done than John."

Singleton's career began after his return from the U.S. Army in 1948 and the completion of his education at Boston University. He started installing automatic irrigation systems in the late 1950s just before the introduction of plastic sprinkler heads. He recognized the potential of the plastic technology and installed prototype systems in several courses.

His work was recognized by Toro, which at that time was concentrating on tractor and large commercial mower sales. Their long-term relationship began with his hiring in 1967. In addition to the sprinkler head technology, his industry impact was compounded with the popularity and utility of "Automatic Control Systems."

In recent years, he has taken his expertise around the world, and spent considerable time working with golf course developers and operators in Europe.

Singleton will be the 30th recipient of the Donald Ross Award.

Leadership Survey to go online Feb. 7

These days, almost every news outlet regularly runs stories on public reactions to the latest news, and for the past several years, GCSAA has taken advantage of that by providing the media with opinions collected from GCSAA superintendents.

The annual Leadership Survey is conducted at the GCSAA Education Conference and Golf Industry Show, and online to collect the opinions of A and SM GCSAA members. Past survey topics have included trends in the golf industry, golf course management practices and environmental impacts.

There'll be a link to the online survey on the GCSAA home page beginning February 7. If you are attending the show, the survey can be completed using the the computers in the Internet Cafe.

After the conference and show, the results of the survey will be issued to national media. Survey results have been published in such newspapers and magazines as Chicago Tribune, Sports Illustrated, Golf World, Golf Digest and USA Today .

"The ultimate goal is to get recognition for the profession and the association," said GCSAA CEO Steve Mona, CAE. "We are attempting to position our members as experts, and the survey is one means to accomplish this goal."

Court enters judgment against AgriBioTech

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Linda B. Riegle of Las Vegas has entered a judgment for $14.87 million that will benefit hundreds of farmers and other creditors in the AgriBioTech Inc. bankruptcy.

The judgment was entered against former ABT Chairman and CEO Richard P. Budd of Winston-Salem, NC, and ABT Group LLC, an entity Budd established in 1999 to loan money to Henderson, Nevada-based ABT.

The court found that Budd received a preferential loan repayment of more than $10 million in June 1999, as ABT slid deeper into financial trouble. Budd was paid in full, but ABT filed for bankruptcy less than a year later, leaving hundreds of farmers in Idaho, Washington and Oregon, as well as other creditors, with more $60 million in unpaid debts.

ABT was a leading turfgrass seed and forage seed supplier before filing for bankruptcy protection in January 2000, in one of the largest agricultural bankruptcies in U.S. history. The Court approved ABT's reorganization plan in 2001, appointing Anthony Schnelling as trustee to pursue claims for the benefit of creditors.

Litigation led by David Bryant of Diamond McCarthy Taylor Finley Bryant & Lee against the company's officers, directors, professionals, and consultants has resulted in aggregate settlements of more than $18 million prior to today's ruling. Litigation continues against ABT's auditors, KPMG, LLP.

Ewing Irrigation sponsors marathoners

Ewing Irrigation says 74 of its employees, who make up Team Ewing in Training, joined 30,000 other runners and walkers in 2nd annual P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon & 1/2 Marathon Jan. 9, 2005.

To encourage and support employee wellness and fitness, the P.F. Chang's Rock ‘n' Roll challenge was presented a year ago, with an announcement that Ewing would sponsor any employee who wanted to participate. Various training opportunities were presented throughout the year, culminating in a carbohydrate-loaded spaghetti dinner held the evening prior to the race.

“We're very fortunate to be able to participate in this tremendous exercise in team building,” stated Douglas York, president and participant. “The camaraderie that develops when working together for a common goal is incredible, and really reinforces the family bond that we all share as a company.”

Participants represented nearly every facet of the organization; executives, accountants, managers, salespersons and delivery drivers joined representatives from accounting, information technology, purchasing, marketing and Web services to complete the race, including Luis Andrade of Houston, Texas, and his daughter, Leslie, who completed the entire 13.1-mile half marathon alongside her father.

"We are already gearing up for next year,” said York, who hopes to achieve an even higher employee participation rate in 2006.

NYSTA Awards scholarships

The New York State Turfgrass Association presented scholarships to a number of students at its 29th Annual Turf & Grounds Exposition.

The $650 John Cornman Scholarship was awarded to Jonathan Bechy.  This scholarship was founded in the name of John Farnsworth Cornman, a founder of NYSTA, and a former professor at Cornell University. 

New York State Turfgrass Scholarships in the amount of $575 were awarded to Brian Certo, Kenneth Lamonte, Jr., Matthew Rogers, Jared La Tour, Seth Markley and Garrett Wasson.

The $1,000 S.V. Moffett III scholarships winners were Christian Munoz, Brett Seiler and Andrew Sliwa.  It is named in honor of Stephen V. Moffett, III, who led the S.V. Moffett Co.'s turf and irrigation equipment business from 1982 until he died in 1996.  He was also a member of the NYSTA Board of Directors and a Trade Show Chairman.

The $1000 Peter P. Hahn Scholarship was awarded to Michael Lo Presti.  This scholarship in the amount of $500 was also awarded to SUNY Delhi students, Zack Moberg and Justin Rueffer.  This scholarship was named in honor of Peter P. Hahn, former vice president of NYSTA.  Each year, a golf tournament is held in his name and the proceeds are awarded to the scholarship winners.