Syngenta announced its theme of Bringing the Best Together at the 2022 GCSAA Conference and Trade Show. From Feb. 7-10 in San Diego, Syngenta is celebrating bringing the turf industry together with an opportunity to participate in a photo mosaic, as well as recognition ceremonies, industry networking, the annual 5K fun run and opportunities to learn about innovative turf solutions.

From Jan. 24-Feb. 10, turf industry professionals can upload a photo to the Bringing the Best Together Photo Mosaic at GreenCastOnline.com/GCSAAShow or at the show in booth #3222. Participants are encouraged to share a photo that represents why they are excited to be back at the show. These photos could showcase whom they are excited to see, what they want to learn about or just why they are glad to be back together in person. And if someone is not able to join in person, they can still participate online by sharing a photo of how they are connecting with colleagues and participating in the conference from home.

By uploading a photo, participants will be entered for a chance to win one of five Solo Stove Yukon fire pits. Syngenta will award:

• One the week of Jan. 24
• One the week of Jan. 31
• Three the week of the show (Feb. 8, 9 and 10)

“Our name Syngenta means ‘Bringing People Together’. In fact, our mission goes beyond bringing people together. We are committed to bringing together the best products, programs and technology to support our customers,” said Stephanie Schwenke, turf market manager at Syngenta. “Our team has missed their friendships and the great people in this industry, so this year, we wanted to celebrate our name and the opportunity to be back together. We look forward to reconnecting with everyone in our booth and at our events throughout the week.”

During the show, Syngenta will support numerous events, including the conference welcome reception, the Ladies Leading Turf panel discussion and networking reception, a happy hour and the Environmental Leaders in Golf Awards in the Syngenta booth, and the Certification Luncheon.

Additionally, Syngenta will host the sixth annual Health in Action 5K to promote the importance of superintendents’ personal health. There are opportunities to participate in-person, virtually or both, and participants will get a $5 discount on the registration fee if they sign up for both at the same time. This year, there will be nearly $2,000 of prizes available with all proceeds benefitting the GCSAA Foundation. Online registration is now open. Register by Jan. 7 for the best price.

Below is an overview of all the Syngenta highlights at the 2022 GCSAA Conference and Trade Show:

Bringing The Best Together Photo Mosaic

Syngenta Booth #3222 and GreenCastOnline.com/GCSAAShow

Jan. 24-Feb. 10

Share your photo that represents why you are excited to be back at the show or how you are participating from home. Everyone who uploads a photo online or at an in-booth kiosk will be entered for a chance to win one of five Solo Stove Yukon fire pits. See Official Rules at GreenCastOnline.com/GCSAAShow.

Welcome Reception

USS Midway Aircraft Carrier

Feb. 7, 6:30-9:30 p.m.

Join us for this memorable celebration as Syngenta and the GCSAA host the 2022 welcome reception onboard the USS Midway aircraft carrier. We’re excited to bring people together for networking with industry professionals from across the country while enjoying complimentary appetizers and cocktails.

Opening Session

Ballroom 20

Feb. 8, 8:30-10 a.m.

Help us kick off the show and reconnect with fellow attendees at the opening session. Lauren Thompson, from GolfNow and Clubhouse Solutions, will host, as achievements of members and award winners are recognized, including the new Col. John Morley Award and Outstanding Contribution Awards. Mike Parkin, global head of Professional Solutions at Syngenta, will provide a special welcome to attendees.

Syngenta Bringing People Together Happy Hour

Syngenta Booth #3222

Feb. 8, 5-7 p.m.

Join us during the Tradeshow Tee Off in booth #3222 for complimentary drinks and to toast being back together for the 2022 GCSAA Conference and Trade Show. Attendees who participate in the Bringing The Best Together photo mosaic during this inaugural event will receive a special gift.

Environmental Leaders in Golf Awards Presentation

Syngenta Booth #3222

Feb. 8, 6 p.m.

Join us in booth #3222 as we honor the winners of the 2021 Environmental Leaders in Golf Awards.

Health in Action 5K

Starting at the Marriott Marquis on the Embarcadero side

In-person: Feb. 9, 7:30 a.m.

Virtual: Feb. 12-28

Syngenta and the GCSAA are hosting the sixth annual Health in Action 5K. Register now to participate in-person, virtually or both. Follow and join the conversation on social media using #GCSAA5K.

Certification Luncheon

Ballroom 20

Feb. 9, 12:30-2 p.m.

At this luncheon, Syngenta and the GCSAA will celebrate the 2021 class of newly Certified Golf Course Superintendents and provide special acknowledgements of 25- and 40-year CGCSs in attendance. 

Ladies Leading Turf Discussion Panel and Networking Reception

Room 28

Feb. 9

3-4 p.m. – Mentoring Women panel discussion

4-5 p.m. – Reception

Syngenta, Ladies Leading Turf and the GCSAA have partnered to host this annual diversity and inclusion discussion for the fifth year in a row to celebrate women in the turf industry. In this inspiring session, you'll hear from leading women in turf on their mentorship and mentee experiences. Then don’t miss an opportunity to network with your peers.

Schwenke will provide welcoming remarks, and the session will be moderated by Jan Bel Jan, ASGCA, golf course architect at Jan Bel Jan Golf Course Design, Inc.

From 4-5 p.m., attendees are invited to the outdoor terrace adjacent to room 28 to network and socialize. Complimentary drinks and hors d’oeuvres will be served.

Get ready for a double dose of #GCITweetUp22.

A year after going virtual, Golf Course Industry (@GCIMagazine) and Aquatrols (@Aquatrols) will hold the 11th annual Tweetup and Super Social Media Awards ceremony online later this month … and at the GCSAA Conference and Trade Show next month.

We will honor 2022 award winners with short videos, shared daily on our Twitter and Facebook accounts in advance of the show, then bring together ’21 and ’22 winners for an hourlong event on the show floor in San Diego. The videos provide an opportunity to recognize the social media work of some of the industry’s brightest voices, while the #GCITweetUp22 itself is a music-filled party in America’s Finest City. (Did you know that’s one of San Diego’s nicknames? We didn’t, either. Among some of the others: City in Motion and Birthplace of California.)

Nominations are open now through Tuesday, January 18.

Introduced a decade ago(?!), the Super Social Media Awards honor industry professionals who use social media to demonstrate leadership, inspire co-workers and colleagues, share operational enhancement ideas, provide updates on course conditions, creatively communicate messages to intended audiences and positively tell the golf industry’s story.

Winners will be honored in the following categories: John Kaminski Award for Social Media Leadership, Best Overall Use of Social Media, Best Twitter Feed, Best Use of Video, Best Idea Shared on Social Media and Conservation Award. Want to nominate somebody for some other category? Go right ahead! We’re never locked in to just six awards. Industry professionals who benefit from using social media for work purposes will determine the direction of some awards.

Multiple nominations in the same or different categories are acceptable. The Golf Course Industry editorial staff and a panel of industry experts and educators will make the final selections. Please include the category and appropriate links to editor-in-chief Guy Cipriano at gcipriano@gie.net or @GCIMagazineGuy, or managing editor Matt LaWell at mlawell@gie.net or @MattLaWell. Email, tweet or call Cipriano at 216-393-0230 with questions.

 

Past winners

2021

 

Kaminski Award: Drew Miller and the Brentsville District High School Turfgrass Management Program, Nokesville, Virginia

Best Overall Use of Social Media: James Bledge, Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club, Deal, Kent, England; Ryan Cummings, Elcona Country Club, Bristol, Indiana

Best Twitter Feed: Dan Grogan, The Sagamore Club, Noblesville, Indiana; Jeff Sexton, Evansville Country Club, Evansville, Indiana; Thad Thompson, Terry Hills Golf Course, Batavia, New York

Best New Program: Morgan Creighton, Women in Turfgrass Management, Alberta, Canada

Best Idea Shared: Trey Kemp, Kimley-Horn and Associates, Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, #GolfCourseAerialoftheDay

Rookie of the Year: Matt Shaffer, happily retired

Conservation Award: W. Craig Weyandt, The Moorings at Hawks Nest Golf Course, Vero Beach, Florida

 

2020

Kaminski Award: Tyler Bloom, Sparrows Point Country Club, Baltimore, Maryland 

Best Overall Use of Social Media: Carolinas GCSA Assistants, Liberty, South Carolina; Bill Bergin, Bergin Golf Designs, Atlanta Georgia

Best Twitter Feed: Maggie Reiter, University of California Cooperative Extension, Fresno, California; Michael Vessley, Culver Academies Golf Course, Culver, Indiana

Best Video: Rush Creek Turf, Maple Grove, Minnesota, “Maintenance Monday”

Best Idea Shared on Social Media: Trent Manning, Ansley Golf Club, Ansley, Georgia, “Dew Roller”

Conservation Award: Lesley Thomas, Scarboro Golf & Country Club, Toronto, Ontario

 

2019

Kaminski Award: Jason Haines, Pender Harbour Golf Club, Pender Harbour, British Columbia

Best Overall Use of Social Media: Craig Boath, Carnoustie Golf Links, Carnoustie, Scotland; Jessica Lenihan, Hayden Lake Country Club, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

Best Twitter Feed: Paul Van Buren, Kanawha Club, Manakin-Sabot, Virginia; Scott Ramsay, The Course at Yale, New Haven, Connecticut

Best Blog: Tyler Bloom, Sparrows Point Country Club, Baltimore, Maryland; Kevin Komer, Stowe Mountain Resort, Stowe, Vermont

Best Use of Video: Ontario GCSA, “Today in Ontario”

Conservation Award: Matthew Gourlay, Colbert Hills, Manhattan, Kansas

 

2018

Kaminski Award: Matthew Wharton, Carolina Golf Club, Charlotte, North Carolina

Best Overall Use of Social Media: Ian Andrew, Ian Andrew Golf Design, Brantford, Ontario; St Andrews Turf Team, St Andrews, Scotland

Best Twitter Feed: Steve Hammon, Traverse City Golf & Country Club, Traverse City, Michigan; Steve Wright, Pine Tree Golf Club, Boynton Beach, Florida

Best Blog: Chris Harriman, Cattail Creek Country Club, Glenwood, Maryland; Richard Johnstone, Nairn Dunbar Golf Links, Nairn, Scotland

Best Use of Video: Atlantic Golf Course Superintendents Association, “Deep Roots”

Megaphone Award for Hurricane Recovery: South Texas Superintendents

Conservation Award: Paul Carter, The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay, Tennessee

 

2017

Kaminski Award: Chris Tritabaugh, Hazeltine National Golf Club, Chaska, Minnesota

Best Overall Use of Social Media: Kyle Callahan, Victoria National, Newburgh, Indiana; Steffie Safrit, TPC Piper Glen, Charlotte, North Carolina

Best Twitter Feed: Matthew Marsh, Santa Ana Country Club, Santa Ana, California; Sean McCue, The Country Club at Castle Pines, Castle Rock, Colorado; Mike Richardson, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas; Jesse Shaver, Gull Lake Country Club, Richland, Michigan

Best Blog: Brian Stiehler, Highlands Country Club, Highlands, North Carolina; East Lake Golf Club Agronomy Team, East Lake Golf Club, Atlanta, Georgia

Best Video: Phil Scully, Granite Golf Club, Stouffville, Ontario, “It’s Your Course!”; Georgia GCSA, “Golf is Greenspace”

 

2016

Kaminski Award: Paul Carter, The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay, Harrison, Tennessee

Best Overall Use of Social Media: Rick Tegtmeier, Des Moines Golf and Country Club, West Des Moines, Iowa; Joe Wachter, Glen Echo Country Club, St. Louis, Missouri

Best Twitter Feed: Eric Bauer, Bluejack National, Montgomery, Texas; Paul Koch, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin; Patrick Reinhardt, Georgia Southern University Golf Course, Statesboro, Georgia

Best Blog: Joel Kachmarek, Tacoma Country & Golf Club, Lakewood, Washington.; Brad Novotny, Hillendale Country Club, Phoenix, Maryland

Best Video: Graeme Roberts, Camberley Heath Golf Club, Surrey, United Kingdom

Megaphone Award for Outstanding Advocacy: Mike Huck, Irrigation and Turfgrass Services, Orange County, California

 

2015

Kaminski Award: Steve Cook, Oakland Hills Country Club, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

Best Overall Use of Social Media: Matthew Wharton, Carolina Golf Club, Charlotte, North Carolina; Pat O’Brien, Hyde Park Golf and Country Club, Cincinnati, Ohio

Best Twitter Feed: Scot Dey, Mission Viejo Country Club, Mission Viejo, California; Kevin Hicks, Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Club, Coeur D’Alene, Idaho; Jason Hooper, Quilchena, Golf & Country Club, Richmond, British Columbia

Best Blog: Joey Franco, Brookstone Golf & Country Club, Acworth, Georgia; Adam Garr, Plum Hollow Country Club, Southfield, Michigan

Best Video: Georgia GCSA, “Stewards of the Land”

 

2014

Kaminski Award: Micah Woods, Asian Turfgrass Center

Overall Social Media Program: Nick Christians, Iowa State University; Adam Ikamas, MiGCSA

Best Use of Facebook: Gary Grigg, Idaho/Florida; Jason Chennault, Turfgrass World

Best Blog: Jason Haines, Pender Harbour Golf Club, Madeira Park, BC; Jason VanBuskirk, Stow Acres Country Club, Stow, Massachusetts; Tom Vlach, TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida

Best Use of Twitter:  Randy Samoff, Champions Golf Club, Houston Texas; Ellie Parry, TurfJobs, Loughborough, U.K.; Justin VanLanduit, Briarwood Country Club, Deerfield, Illinois; Cale Bigelow, Purdue University

Best Multimedia: Adam Garr, Plum Hollow Country Club, Southfield, Michigan; Rick Brandenburg, North Carolina State

 

2013

Kaminski Award: Bill Brown, Hartefeld National Golf Club, Avondale, Pennsylvania

Outstanding Blogger: Andrew Hardy, Pheasant Run Golf Course, Sharon, Ontario; Dan Meersman, Philadelphia Cricket Club; Brian Boyer, Cinnabar Hills Golf Club, San Jose, California

Outstanding Use of Twitter: Chris Tritabaugh, Hazeltine National Golf Club, Chaska, Minnesota; Matthew Gourlay, Colbert Hills, Manhattan, Kansas

Special Achievement in Video/Other: PACE Turf LLC, San Diego, California, PACE Turf YouTube Videos; Steve Biehl, Naperville Country Club, Naperville, Illinois; GCM Blogging World

 

2012

Kaminski Award: Darren Davis, Olde Florida Golf Club, Naples, Florida

Best of Blogs: Chris Tritabaugh, Northland Country Club, Duluth, Minnesota; Steve Cook, Oakland Hills Country Club, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan; Bill Brown, Hartefeld National Golf Club, Avondale, Pennsylvania

Innovative Use of Twitter: Greg Shaffer, Elcona Country Club, Bristol, Indiana; David Phipps, Stone Creek Country Club, Oregon City, Oregon

Excellence in Video: Justin Ruiz, Indian Summer Golf & Country Club, Olympia, Washington

 

SePRO and Dr. Bill Kreuser will hold a free webinar, Unlocking Your Course’s Potential with PGRs, at 12:30 p.m. EST on January 25. Registration is required.

Kreuser will focus on turf plant growth regulators and the strategies that can transform your course. He will concentrate on four key areas, including how combining active ingredients influences growth suppression, the differences in PGR programs for warm- and cool-season turf, using Class B PGRs to manage Poa annua, and application timing.

Turf PGRs are a critical tool in keeping every course in top-notch condition. They help to reduce clippings on warm- and cool-season grasses throughout the year and also help manage and suppress Poa annua to enhance the overall turf quality and conditions of the course.

Kreuser received his Ph.D. from Cornell University and was an assistant professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for seven years. He is the founder and president of GreenKeeper App, where he strives to bring university research and best management practices to the turfgrass management industry. He is also an independent turfgrass researcher and a junior golf course superintendent in Lincoln, Nebraska.

SePRO Corporation is dedicated to deliver industry-leading turf plant growth regulation and aquatic solutions to the golf industry, along with disease and weed management options. Founded in 1994, its mission is to provide plant protection and plant management products and services that satisfy the unique needs of their customers while solving persistent challenges.

Andrew Jorgensen, CGCS, has been named the recipient of the GCSAA’s 2022 President’s Award for Environmental Stewardship.

Jorgensen, the director of golf course maintenance operations at On Top of the World Communities in Ocala, Florida, will officially receive the honor at the GCSAA Conference and Trade Show in San Diego in February.

The President’s Award for Environmental Stewardship was established in 1991 to recognize an exceptional environmental contribution to the game of golf; a contribution that further exemplifies the golf course superintendent’s image as a steward of the land.

The 22-year GCSAA member oversees course maintenance at three golf courses – Candler Hills Golf Club, The Tortoise & Hare and The Links, which are all part of On Top of The World Communities. Jorgensen has held this position since December 2005.

“It is a great honor to be recognized for our environmental efforts,” Jorgensen said. “Environmental stewardship is an active part of how we operate as a company. We strive to leave it better for generations to come.”

Jorgensen prioritizes water conservation and almost half of his irrigation comes from reclaimed water. In addition, no areas outside of the line of play are treated with pesticides or fertilizers and out-of-play areas have been turned into wildflower pollinator areas, further reducing inputs and increasing habitat for wildlife.

Jorgensen is one of the pioneers of solar power use on golf courses and has also taken many steps to reduce waste, both in packaging coming into the golf course and by composting on site.

“Our entire team is focused on preserving the land around us,” Jorgensen said. “Our programs ensure that native wildlife, water quality and quantity continue to be available for generations to come.”

Jorgensen has served as a GCSAA Grassroots Ambassador since 2015, been a part of the GCSAA’s Best Management Practices Resource Task Group and has been a presenter at the GCSAA Conference and Trade Show several times.

Jorgensen, who has earned degrees and turfgrass certificates from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and the University of Georgia, has previously been superintendent at Southern Woods Golf Club, World Woods Golf Club and Sugarmill Woods Golf and Country Club.