Christmas arrived early for members of the Carolinas Golf Course Superintendents Association with a successful Conference and Trade Show defying persistent economic gloom. While several key statistics declined marginally, net revenues of $295,000 were the second highest in the 12 years since the event moved to Myrtle Beach, SC.
“The success of our event represents an enormous vote of confidence,” the Carolinas GCSA’s new executive director, Tim Kreger, said. “Confidence not only in our association but confidence in the future of the Carolinas golf industry. Every dollar counts for companies at the moment. We truly appreciate the fact that they continue to invest in our members and our region.”
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Kreger, a graduate of Clemson University, joined the Carolinas GCSA as director of programs in November, 2007. Previously he was director of development for the South Carolina Junior Golf Foundation where he increased the foundation’s net assets by more than $500,000. At the Carolinas GCSA, he will manage the interests of about 1,800 members and an annual budget of $1-million.
Kreger, who devised the Rounds4Research.com golf auction that raised more than $55,000 for turfgrass research in its first attempt this year, assumes the administrative reins from Chuck Borman, CAE who became the Carolinas GCSA’s first full-time executive director in 1998. Borman oversaw a period of dramatic growth in membership, services and revenues at the Carolinas GCSA. He will serve as a consultant to the association before formally retiring mid-year.
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More than 2,000 golf course superintendents and other industry professionals attended this year’s Conference and Trade Show mid-November. They filled 1,175 seats in education seminars, just 47 less than in 2008. With 201 exhibiting companies, this year’s show compared favorably even with 2007’s record of 221 companies when the economy was still performing well.
Jeffrey Connell, golf course superintendent at Fort Jackson Golf Club in Columbia, SC takes over as Carolinas GCSA president from Paul Jett, CGCS at Pinehurst No. 2. Connell joined the Carolinas GCSA in 1995 and has been a driving force in superintendents engaging in industry-wide issues from taxation to player development. He also serves as a director of the South Carolina Golf Association. “We now have a seat at the table and a huge voice on these and other issues,” Connell said. “And with a voice comes opportunities for superintendents to help lead golf into the future.”
Other highlights from the Carolinas GCSA 2009 Conference and Trade Show include:
Bill Kennedy, CGCS from Chechessee Creek Club in Okatie, SC was elected to the board of directors replacing Mitchell Wilkerson, CGCS from Moss Creek Plantation in Bluffton, SC who completed his term as past-president.
Long-serving USGA Green Section agronomist Patrick O’Brien received the Distinguished Service Award.
Chris Seymour from Wild Wing Plantation in Myrtle Beach won a week-long golf trip for two to Scotland in the $15,000 27-hole challenge presented in partnership with John Deere Golf.
Rob Roy from The River Club in Suwanee, GA won his fourth Carolinas GCSA superintendents golf championship in the event presented in partnership with Smith Turf and Irrigation and Toro.
More than 700 people attended the annual Carolinas Night celebration presented in partnership with Tri-State Pump and Controls.
Special guest speaker D. J. Gregory told of his inspirational experience walking every hole on the PGA Tour in 2008 despite doctors saying he would never walk because of cerebral palsy.
Horry-Georgetown Technical College won the annual Turf Bowl where students pit their agronomic knowledge against each other.