TUSCON, Ariz. – As co-sponsor of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA)/Golf Digest Environmental Leaders in Golf Awards (ELGA), Rain Bird Golf is proud to recognize the 2005 winners.
The ELGA program recognizes golf course superintendents around the world for their commitment to environmental stewardship. As a presenting partner of the awards, Rain Bird made a donation to the Environmental Institute for Golf, the philanthropic organization of the GCSAA, in the names of the national, international and chapter winners.
“Rain Bird is pleased to recognize those individuals who excel in advancing ecological practices and water conservation solutions in the golf irrigation industry,” said Barbara Booth, Rain Bird Golf Division director. “These environmental stewards have demonstrated their commitment to preserving the earth’s resources and best demonstrate Rain Bird’s commitment to The Intelligent Use of Water™."
National and International winners of the 2005 ELGA awards were:
- National Public and Overall Winner: Alan R. Andreasen, CGCS, Las Lagos Golf Course in San Jose, Calif. Andreasen’s 18-hole course is the largest remaining riparian habitat in the South San Francisco bay area and is critical to the many species of raptors in the area.
- National Private Winner: David J. Faucher, CGCS, TPC at River’s Bend in Maineville, Ohio. Faucher’s course is Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program-certified and lies adjacent to the Little Miami National Wild and Scenic River, which provides habitat for a variety of wildlife.
- National Resort Winners: Troy E. Russell, Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Bandon, Ore., and Anthony L. Williams, CGCS, Renaissance PineIsle Resort and Golf Club in Sugar Hill, Ga. Russell is superintendent at a course built on approximately 3,000 acres bordering the Pacific Ocean. Williams’ course, which achieved Audubon certification in 2005, is located on a group of islands in Lake Sidney Lanier and is under the jurisdiction of the mobile district of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
- International Winner: Ben J. Marshall, Club Pelican Golf Course in Golden Beach, Queensland, Australia. Marshall’s course includes 110 acres of terrestrial plant communities with 76 acres of native rough and wetlands, which contains 146 bird species.
Visit www.gcsaa.org for a complete list of chapter winners.