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December 11, 2008 |
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People News Bonar wins 2009 USGA Green Section Award The USGA announced that Terry Bonar, 67, CGCS at Canterbury Golf Club in Shaker Heights, Ohio, is the recipient of the 2009 USGA Green Section Award. He has been a GCSAA member for 27 years. The Green Section Award is presented annually by the USGA to recognize individuals who exemplify outstanding contributions and dedication to the game of golf through their work with turfgrass. The award will be presented to Bonar on Feb. 6, 2009 at the USGA Green Section Education Program in New Orleans in conjunction with the Golf Industry Show. "When you consider the past recipients of this award, those people are the ones I've learned everything from and looked up to all these years," said Bonar, who has more than 45 years of experience in golf course maintenance. "To be considered in their company, I'm very humbled by this gesture. It never occurred to me that I'd ever win something like this, and it's by far the most prestigious honor I've ever been given." Bonar graduated from Penn State University in 1961 and became the assistant superintendent at Canterbury in 1963. After serving for four years in the U.S. Air Force, he returned to Canterbury in 1967 and was appointed the superintendent in 1984. He has helped Canterbury host numerous championships, including the 1979 U.S. Amateur Championship and the 1996 U.S. Senior Open. He is currently directing the club's preparations to host the 2009 Senior PGA Championship. Bonar has mentored many employees in the golf course maintenance industry, and has seen more than 50 assistants or former interns move on to other positions in golf, including 18 current superintendents at other courses around the country. In addition, Bonar has long been viewed as an innovator, from his
efficient use of water in order to provide firm and fast playing
surfaces, to being one of the first superintendents to utilize lightweight
mowers to maximize turf health and playability. Bonar's work away from the course in educating his staff and others throughout the industry has been just as noteworthy. He was influential in showing ways to take agronomic theory and use it for practical purposes. Bonar is a past recipient of the Mal McLaren Award – the highest honor bestowed by the Northern Ohio GCSA – and the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation's Professional Excellence Award. Bonar has also served on the USGA's Green Section Committee for the last 12 years. "Terry has been the essence of what a golf course superintendent
should be," said Jim Snow, national director of the USGA Green
Section. "He has excelled in every phase of the profession,
and has left his mark on the industry in a number of significant
ways."  Shaun Barry recognized for dedication to the industry Shaun Barry, golf sales representative for Bayer Environmental Science, was recently recognized by the Rutgers University Turfgrass Alumni Association for his "outstanding dedication, service and contribution to the turfgrass industry." The award was presented at the annual alumni banquet held at Rutgers University. During the ceremony, Barry presented the Bayer Turf Scholarship Award, continuing a 34-year tradition. Among the companies and associations attending the banquet, some $85,000 worth of scholarship money was awarded to deserving turf students. "Shaun is a true turf champion who works tirelessly for the advancement of the turfgrass industry in New Jersey," said Mike Ruizzo, eastern regional sales manager for Bayer. "We congratulate him on his achievement." Barry has been an active member of the Golf Course Superintendents
Association of New Jersey for 30 years. He is president of the GCSANJ
Foundation, whose mission is to support research, scholarships and
charities throughout the state. He also takes an active part in
the New Jersey Turfgrass Association. Dupont’s Orrben passes away Curtis Orrben, whose career with Dupont spanned 25 years, passed away on Nov. 28, following a battle with cancer. Orrben's diversified career included positions in the distribution side of our business as well as leading industry chemical manufacturers. As one of the first employees of the DuPont Professional Products business, Orrben is credited with having a major role in building the business from the ground up. He spent the last five years at DuPont leading a team of sales representatives, meeting the needs of professional and consumer customers and exceeding corporate goals. Orrben was highly regarded by his colleagues, his customers and his peers and was the recipient of numerous awards. "Curtis will be remembered for his many professional contributions, but in particular, for his strong values and ethics, his vast friendships throughout the industry and his warmth and upbeat personality," said Mike McDermott, global business leader for DuPont Professional Products. "For the many years I have known Curtis, including time prior to DuPont, he always provided unwavering support to his colleagues, always went the extra mile to get a job done and always knew just what to say to make people laugh. He will be greatly missed by us and many, many other personal and professional friends." Orrben touched the lives of many throughout the industry. He was active on the membership committee of RISE (Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment), and a member of The Environmental Institute for Golf, the National Pest Management Association and the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. Orrben is survived by his wife, Brenda; his sons, Nick and Oliver; and his daughter, Gina. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to one of the following
three organizations:
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