The Environmental Institute for Golf elected officers and welcomed four new members from the golf industry to its board of trustees during its winter meeting at the 2006 Golf Course Superintendents Association of America Education Conference and Golf Industry Show.
Bill Kubly, owner and c.e.o. of Landscapes Unlimited, was elected chairman. David Pillsbury, PGA Tour golf course properties c.o.o., was elected vice chairman/treasurer.
Mark Kizziar, president of Superstition Mountain Properties, Rafael N. Martinez, publisher/c.e.o. of The Green Magazine, Ken Melrose, executive chairman of The Toro Co., and GCSAA secretary/treasurer David S. Downing II, CGCS at Rivers Edge Golf Club in Shallotte, N.C., were each added to the board of trustees and will serve three-year terms.
"Mark, Rafael, Ken and Dave bring a wealth of expertise to the board of trustees," Kubly says. "I am delighted that these three gentlemen have joined us in making a commitment to advance environmental practices on the golf course, and I look forward to working closely with them."
Harry Cavanagh, Cavanagh Law Firm; Tom Chisholm, retired vice president of Eaton Corp. and past chairman of the USGA Green Section; and GCSAA immediate past president Timothy T. O’Neill, CGCS at the Country Club of Darien, retired from the board of trustees after serving six, five and three years, respectively. Michael J. Hurdzan, Ph.D., of Hurdzan/Fry Golf Course Design, will remain on the board for one year as immediate past chairman.
Those continuing their service on the board of trustees are: GCSAA vice president Ricky D. Heine, CGCS; GCSAA president Sean A. Hoolehan, CGCS; Meadowbrook Golf president and c.e.o. Ron E. Jackson; GCSAA c.e.o. Steve Mona; Great White Shark Enterprises c.e.o. Greg Norman; USGA Green Section national director James T. Snow, ESPN/ABC broadcaster Roger Twibell and Nike Golf president Bob Wood.
The Environmental Institute for Golf, the philanthropic organization of the GCSAA, is a collaborative effort of the environmental and golf communities, dedicated to strengthening the compatibility of the game of golf with the natural environment. The institute concentrates on delivering environmental programs and services involving information collection, research, education and outreach that communicate the best management practices of environmental stewardship on the golf course. For more about the institute, visit www.eifg.org.
Silent auction successful
The Golf Industry Show Silent Auction, conducted by The Environmental Institute for Golf, the National Golf Course Owners Association Foundation and the American Society of Golf Course Architects, generated $158,000 for environmental stewardship programs, including research and education to strengthen the compatibility of the game of golf with our natural environment and player development programs.
In addition, a portion of the auction proceeds will be donated to hurricane relief efforts. A total of 80 companies donated 133 items (a complete listing of donating companies can be found at www.eifg.org). In addition, David Grodzicki with Grand Sakwa Management in Farmington Hills, Mich., won an all-expense-paid trip to the 2007 GCSAA Education Conference and Golf Industry Show in Anaheim, Calif. His name was chosen from a list of those who participated in the silent auction.
