Divot Mix

"If you're going to be a player people will remember, you have to win the Open at St. Andrews." -- Jack Nicklaus, who accomplished the feat in both 1970 and 1978

Golf Digest ranks best and worst cities for golf

The August edition of Golf Digest has taken a look at the question that most golfers have, "When it comes to access to good, affordable public and municipal golf, where does my city stand?"

The third "Metro Golf" survey lists 330 metro areas and details the best--and worst--cities for golfers nationwide.

Based on varying criteria outlined below, the twin cities of Auburn and Opelika, Ala. were selected as the top American metropolitan area for a golfer to live. Rounding out the top ten are:

• Johnson City-Kingsport-Bristol, Tenn-Va.
• Punta Gorda, Fla.
• Youngstown-Warren, Ohio
• Bloomington-Normal, Ill.
• Iowa City, Iowa
• Utica-Rome, N.Y.
• Wilmington, N.C.
• Gadsden, Ala.
• Johnstown, Pa.

GCSAA's headquarters are located in Lawrence, Kan., which came in at 40th on the list. The full ranking is online at www.golfdigest.com/cities.

Because more than 80 percent of U.S. golfers play most of their golf on public courses, the ranking focuses exclusively on public golf. The rankings include the 330 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) defined by the U.S. Census Bureau.

With the help of Longitudes Group, Golf Digest ranked the areas on the several criteria, using data from the U.S. Census, National Golf Foundation, Golf Digest's Database of Golf in America and Best Places to Play guide.

This year's "Metro Golf" survey found that the best places to live and golf are increasingly shifting to small towns and suburbs in the South (11 of the top 20-ranked cities are located in the South,) while the Northeast—as well as large urban areas throughout the country—remain a wasteland for public course golfers (15 of the bottom 20-ranked cities lie above the Mason-Dixon line).

USGA, AJGA announce joint initiative

The United States Golf Association and the American Junior Golf Association have joined to launch an initiative aimed at the overall growth and development of junior golfers.

Fred Ridley, USGA president said, “By working more closely and in a more coordinated fashion, we will be able to reach even more youth and provide education to the next generation of golfers regarding the val­ues and life lessons inherent in the game.”

“The USGA deserves tremendous credit for reaching out to organizations like the AJGA and trying to create a win-win relationship,” said Stephen Hamblin executive director of AJGA. “It is the ultimate compliment to us when an organization like the USGA is willing to support our mission and purpose.”

The initiative focuses on community service and education, which the organizations hope will contribute to the overall growth and development of young golfers, while strengthening the game of golf.

The community service initiative will be achieved by the formation of the USGA/AJGA Youth Leadership Club. AJGA members will be encouraged to “give back to the game” by donating their time and talent to programs sup­ported by the USGA Grants Initiative. Each July, at the Rolex Tournament of Champions, the president of the USGA will be on hand to present the President's Youth Leadership Club Award to one boy and one girl who have demon­strated the leadership skills, character and community service through their involvement in the program.

The education initiative will serve as a vehicle for teaching AJGA members about the Rules of Golf, rules of amateur status, and etiquette, while providing USGA-produced resource materials to each junior.

In addition, the USGA staff will provide expertise as rules officials at AJGA Invitational events and instructors at AJGA Junior Player Workshops. Also, all AJGA members will be given a complimentary USGA Junior Membership.

To further develop the future leaders of golf, the USGA will annually provide four P.J. Boatwright Interns to learn all aspects of golf administration at the AJGA National Headquarters each summer.

2006 EGR Awards forms now available

Nomination forms for the 2006 GCSAA Excellence in Government Relations Awards will be available starting July 15th in the Resources section of GCSAA Online at http://www.gcsaa.org/resources/awards/egr/egr.asp. Also, a hard copy of the form can be requested from GCSAA Customer Solutions at (800) 472-7878.

The EGR Awards recognize and honor outstanding individual and chapter efforts in government relations. Recipients are recognized for their efforts and accomplishments in the areas of advocacy and compliance.

Nominees will be judged on how their efforts best serve the interests of the golf course industry. The awards reflect all government relations efforts, and are not limited to the previous year's activities. Additionally, potential nominees are eligible regardless of the success of their efforts.

Any GCSAA member superintendent, assistant superintendent, or chapter is eligible to receive the award. Those who were nominated last year, but did not receive an award, are eligible again this year. The GCSAA Government Advocacy and Compliance Task Group will select EGR Awards recipients later this fall. Recipients will be recognized through various GCSAA publications as well as receiving a complimentary registration to the 2006 Golf Industry Show in New Orleans.

The deadline for nominations is October 15, 2005. For further information, contact Nathan Littlejohn, government relations coordinator, at (800) 472-7878 , ext. 4493 or mailto:nlittlejohn@gcsaa.org.

Fungicide sales up, driven by golf courses

Sales of fungicides are up by nearly 12 percent in the U.S. professional turf and ornamental markets for 2003 and 2004, according to a study about to be released by Kline & Company, a management consulting and market research firm working in life sciences, chemicals and materials, consumer products, and energy.

This growth was driven, according to the study, largely by rising consumption by golf courses, which collectively spent more than $130 million.

Results from Professional Turf And Ornamental Markets For Pesticides And Fertilizers USA 2005 indicate that fungicide use on golf courses alone increased by more than 11 percent last year, with nearly $50 million spent to control dollar spot, the most troublesome fungal disease for golf courses.

Fugate said weather is factor in outbreaks, which is reflected in the regional characteristics of the fungicide market. In 2004, more than a third of fungicide sales were made to the North Central region of the U.S.—Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio—an area with a large concentration of golf courses and a frequently damp climate.

According to Kline's study, tees and greens get the most attention when it comes to fungicide application. While they account for only about seven percent of total golf course acreage in the U.S., 85 percent of fungicide dollars are spent in these areas.

While fungicides sales to golf courses showed the most notable increases, other product categories and end-use segments saw more moderate but steady growth in 2003 and 2004.

Kline's study indicates that the overall market for turf and ornamental pesticides and fertilizers grew by a healthy rate of nearly five percent over each of the two years. Fertilizers remain the largest product category in terms of total sales value, followed by herbicides and fungicides.

Lawn care operators represent the largest end-use segment for the professional market, followed by golf courses, a trend that Kline says will likely continue in line with the aging baby boomer population.

“As baby boomers get older, they are turning to lawn care operators to handle their yard work while devoting more leisure time to gardening,” says Mancer Cyr, senior associate for Kline's Specialty Pesticides consulting practice. “This is creating growth opportunities in the horticultural nurseries market as well,” he adds.

The study also includes data on the usage and sale of fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, plant growth regulators, aquatic herbicides, and nematicides to all segments of the U.S. market including golf courses; schools, parks, and cemeteries; nurseries and greenhouses; lawn care operators; landscape contractors; and turf farms.