Bayer Environmental Science announced at the Golf Course Association of America’s Annual Conference and Show, held Feb. 9-14, in San Diego, Calif., that the company will donate a year’s worth of Merit insecticide to The First Tee of San Diego at Colina Park Golf Course.
The First Tee program, a national organization with 148 facilities on golf courses throughout the country, is aimed at impacting the lives of young people by creating affordable and accessible golf.
Bayer made the donation in celebration of the 10-year anniversary of Merit, a product widely used to control all major species of grubs in turf and a broad spectrum of ornamental pests.
First discovered in 1988, Merit was granted accelerated registration because its active ingredient, imidaclorpid, provides a reduced-risk alternative to organophosphates and carbamates.
Since its registration on March 18, 1994, said Dr. Mike Ruizzo, “Merit revolutionized grub control in the U.S.” Ruizzo is business manager, CNIs, Bayer Environmental Science.
In addition to a donation to The First Tee, Bayer announced a sweepstakes promotion for golf course superintendents. The sweepstakes allows Merit customers to enter to win prizes including equipment, gift certificates, electronics and more. The three grand prizes are a $10,000 Lowe’s gift card, a four-year lease on a Ford F-150 and a trip for four to the Richard Petty Driving Experience in Las Vegas.
“This sweepstakes is one way we are celebrating this important milestone, and saying thank you to our customers for their continued support,” Ruizzo said.
Industry professionals are automatically entered in the sweepstakes drawing via Merit purchases or mail-in entries. Entries will be accepted through June 2004, with winners announced in the fall.
