Divot Mix

"The chief object of every golf architect or greenkeeper worth his salt is to imitate the beauties of nature so closely as to make his work indistinguishable from nature itself." -- Alister MacKenzie

USGA previews 2006 Championships

David Shefter of the USGA has written a preview of this year's championships for the association's Web site.

It covers them in order from the United States Open in June at Winged Foot Golf Club. Mamaroneck, N.Y. to the Women's Mid-Amateur in October at Old Waverly Golf Club, West Point, Miss.

Among the courses that will host USGA events are Walking Stick in Pueblo, Colo., and Newport (R.I.) Country Club. Walking Stick, built in 1991, will be hosting its first USGA championship, the Women's Amateur Public Links.

Newport will host the Women's Open, but also was the site of the inaugural U.S. Open and Amateur in 1895 and hosted the U.S, Amateur again a 100 years later in 1995.

The newest course on the schedule, Pacific Dunes in Bandon, Ore., was opened in 2001 and will host the 2006 Curtis Cup matches between the teams from the United States and Great Britain and Ireland.

For the complete preview, visit the USGA Web site.

GCSAA, NGCOA earn ING industry award

GCSAA and the National Golf Course Owners Association have been recognized by the International Network of Golf for their communications surrounding the Golf Industry Show.

The announcement was part of the ING Industry Honors program, which was created to recognize outstanding achievement in various business categories. ING is a non-profit, media-based networking organization whose mission is to bring golf media together with representatives from all walks of the golf industry to discuss issues, exchange information and improve communication.

The associations earned top honors in the Public Relations Campaign/Event category for outreach with a multitude of constituents (members, media, exhibitors, vendors, golf associations, etc.). ING executive director Mike Jamison noted the award was based on the comprehensive, timely and widespread distribution of communications that was necessitated by moving the Golf Industry Show from New Orleans to Houston to Atlanta as a result of the devastating hurricanes last fall.

“There were numerous logistical issues to address as we condensed a two-year planning horizon into essentially four months,” GCSAA Chief Executive Officer Steve Mona, CAE, said. “Communicating in a timely manner was crucial to our successfully hosting the event. It was also imperative that our communications engage members throughout the process.”

“The award is a testament to the skills and dedication of the GCSAA and NGCOA staffs,” NGCOA CEO Mike Hughes said. “The success of our show and the feedback from the attendees, exhibitors, media and other groups tells us we were solid in our execution, notably in the area of communications.”

Women's Golf Week set for June 3-10

The second annual Women's Golf Week benefiting the American Heart Association's Go Red For Women movement is scheduled June 3-10 at more than 1,000 golf facilities across the country. The inaugural event was held last June with nearly 10,000 women participating at 225 host facilities.

“Women represent a critical demographic for the growth of golf,” said The PGA of America President Roger Warren. “Women's Golf Week is designed to provide a fun way for women to connect with the game in a stress-free atmosphere among their peers. Our goal is to more than double participation in 2006.”

The American Heart Association's Go Red For Women movement is a nationwide campaign dedicated to raising awareness of heart disease, the No. 1 killer of women, and inspiring women to take charge of their heart health.

“The American Heart Association is very pleased to have the support of Women's Golf Week,” said Karen Murray of Liz Claiborne Inc. and chair of the Women and Heart Disease Advisory Group. “These valuable relationships with Go Red For Women advance the reach of the movement and enhance the strength of our collective voice to fight heart disease in women. Together we can fight women's No. 1 killer and help women love their hearts.”

During the week, all host golf facilities will offer complimentary golf instruction to women 14 years of age and older. Facilities are also encouraged to offer a variety of activities from networking receptions to golf rules seminars. A portion of the proceeds from fundraising activities along with individual contributions collected will be donated to the Go Red For Women movement.

The Women's Golf Week official logo was redesigned to incorporate the Go Red For Women “red dress” symbol. The logo now displays the figure of a woman golfer wearing a red dress. Go Red For Women provides women with tips and information on healthy eating, exercise and risk factor reduction including smoking cessation, weight maintenance, blood pressure control and blood cholesterol management.

The week is a joint effort of The PGA of America, Golf 20/20, PGA Tour, LPGA, the NGCOA, the USGA, The First Tee and the Executive Women's Golf Association.

Beginning in April, consumers can find a complete list of participating facilities, along with details on specific events and online registration, by zip code on www.playgolfamerica.com.