Bayer announces Plant Health Academy class of 2014

To provide golf course superintendents with innovative plant health research and knowledge they can use to benefit their facilities, careers and the golf industry, Environmental Science, a division of Bayer CropScience LP, yesterday announced the class of golf course superintendents selected to participate in the second annual Plant Health Academy.  The Academy is one of four educational opportunities available to superintendents as part of Healthy Turf, Healthy Tomorrow – an initiative Bayer developed in collaboration with the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America’s (GCSAA’s) Environmental Institute for Golf (EIFG) to advance plant health research and education for superintendents. 

 

Twelve members of GCSAA were chosen to attend the 2014 Plant Health Academy: 

•         Kelly Barker, superintendent member, Santa Rosa Golf & Beach Club, Santa Rosa, Fla. 

•         Todd Bohn, Class A member, Wolf Creek Golf Club, Olathe, Kan.  

•         Brett A. Chapin, Class A member, The Redding Country Club, Redding, Conn. 

•         Michael J. Dunk, CGCS, Class A member, The Trophy Club, Lebanon, Ind.  

•         Brian C. Green, Class A member, Lonnie Poole Golf Course at NC State, Raleigh, N.C.  

•         Timothy J. Hahn, Class A member, Greystone and Shadows Golf Courses, Walworth, N.Y. 

•         Andrew Jorgensen, CGCS, Class A member, On Top of the World Communities, Inc., Ocala, Fla.  

•         Vincent A. Pavonetti, CGCS, Class A member, Fairview Country Club, Greenwich, Conn. 

•         Heath Puckett, CGCS, Class A member, Cypress Lakes Golf & Country Club, Muscle Shoals, Ala.  

•         Chris Steigelman, CGCS, Class A member, The Landings Club, Savannah, Ga. 

•         Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Class A member, Horton Smith Golf Course, Springfield, Mo.  

•         Robert J. Williams, superintendent member, Stockton Golf & Country Club, Stockton, Calif.  

 

“We are proud to support these superintendents who are dedicated to expanding their knowledge of our ever-evolving industry,” said David Wells, golf business manager for Bayer’s turf and ornamentals (T&O) business. “The Academy provides an excellent forum to discuss future plant health trends, work together to solve current issues, and support the next generation of innovative solutions.”

 

The Plant Health Academy’s two-part immersive plant health curriculum will involve classroom training at GCSAA headquarters in Lawrence, Kan., March 3-5, and in-the-field training at the Bayer Development and Training Center in Clayton, N.C., Sept. 24-26. The Academy is part of Healthy Turf, Healthy Tomorrow, a multi-faceted program that also includes plant health-related webinars, demonstration courses and scholarships.

 

To fund Healthy Turf, Healthy Tomorrow, Bayer invests a percentage of StressGard™ Formulation Technology (FT) product sales each year from 2013-2015 – a minimum commitment of $300,000 over three years. These funds are also directed towards GCSAA-executed initiatives that support the mission of the EIFG.