Michael Happe, managing director of The Toro Co.'s commercial equipment business, has been appointed to represent Toro on the Environmental Institute for Golf’s Advisory Council. The Institute is the philanthropic organization of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.
The Advisory Council provides guidance to The Institute's board of trustees in the areas of outreach, fundraising and strategic planning. The members were selected to enhance The Institute's ability to cultivate relationships with current and potential donors, as well as communicate the importance of the work conducted by The Institute. The Advisory Council is headed by World Golf Hall of Fame member Greg Norman.
Mike Hoffman, Toro chairman and c.e.o., served on The Institute’s (known then as the GCSAA Foundation) Board of Trustees from 1997-2000 and Ken Melrose, retired chairman and c.e.o.of Toro, is a current member of The Institute’s Advisory Council.
Toro was the first organization to be recognized at the Victory Club level through The Institute's cumulative giving program of organizations that have contributed more than $1 million since 1987. It is also a member of the Platinum Tee Club, which is the giving club for organizations that contribute a minimum of $5,000 annually to The Institute. Toro funded the first three phases of the GCSAA Golf Course Environmental Profile project, as well as The Institute's online environmental resource, EDGE. GCSAA's annual Dr. James Watson Fellowships for the future educators and researchers of the turfgrass industry are also funded by Toro through The Institute.
Toro's longtime support of The Institute falls in line with its commitment to the protection of the environment as a company value and sound business strategy. Its passion is helping homeowners and professionals create beautiful outdoor spaces with innovative products and services. Through The Toro Foundation, the company also provides numerous grants and scholarships to environmental organizations and programs. In addition, Toro funds turf management research programs at leading universities and invests in its own agronomic research to help develop new products and technologies that protect and preserve the earth's limited resources.
The Environmental Institute for Golf's Advisory Council:
- Gregg Breningmeyer, John Deere Golf & Turf One Source director of sales and marketing
- Tom Crow, founder of Cobra Golf and a retired trustee for The Institute
- Pete Dye, golf course architect
- John Foster, West Coast Turf president
- Sergio Garcia, PGA Tour professional
- Dana Garmany, Troon Golf chairman and c.e.o.
- Michael Happe, The Toro Co. managing director, commercial equipment business
- Jack R. Harrell Jr., Harrell’s Fertilizer c.e.o.
- Bill Jones III, Sea Island Co. chairman and c.e.o.
- Paul C. Kanavos, Flag Luxury Properties, LLC chairman and c.e.o.
- Bill Kubly, Landscapes Unlimited CEO and immediate past chairman of
The Institute's board of trustees
- Owen G. Larkin, Vineyard Golf Club (Edgartown, Mass.) president
- Rafael Martinez, Republic Capital Corp. president and Institute trustee
- Gary N. McClung, Midway Ford/Sterling Truck Center president and developer of Quintero Golf and Country Club (Peoria, Ariz.)
- Ken Melrose, retired chairman and c.e.o. of The Toro Co.
- Greg Norman, Advisory Council chairman, Institute trustee and Great
- White Shark Enterprises chairman and c.e.o.
- Jaime Ortiz-Patiño, Valderrama Golf Club (Sotogrande, Spain) owner and president
- David Pillsbury, president of PGA Tour Golf Course Properties and chairman of The Institute’s board of trustees
- Vijay Singh, PGA Tour professional
- Joe Steranka, PGA of America c.e.o.
- Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Dubai World chairman
- Weldon Wyatt, Sage Valley Golf Club (Graniteville, S.C.) founder and c.e.o.
