Golfdom, April 2015

news notes and quotes news tes ITS A MAJOR AWARD BLUE COLLAR CREW EARNS COURSE OF THE YEAR Superintendent Eric Whitmore says his team at Atkinson N H Resort Country Club enjoys hard work and that hard work has paid off The National Golf Course Owners Association named Atkinson R CC a public resort with an 18 hole course and a 9 hole par 3 course its 2015 Course of the Year The annual award presented since 2003 recognizes a course that exemplifies four qualities the NGCOA looks for exceptional quality of the course exceptional quality of ownership and management outstanding contribution to its community and significant contribution to the game We had a lot of very strong entries again for course of the year said Mike Hughes NGCOAs CEO But when you step back and consider all factors none were stronger than Atkinson R CC Atkinson which originally opened as a 9 hole course in 1996 won for its involvement in the local community its expansion of services its practice facilities and its conditions We were just shocked and humbled when we were announced said Whitmore course superintendent since January 2014 Actually seeing the courses we were up against and the past winners I didnt think it was going to happen Past winners include Pebble Beach and Reynolds Plantation We are a blue collar crew from the CEO to the grounds crew said Whitmore You would never know what kind of facility we have when you meet us and we like it that way 8 Golfdom April 2015 Golfdom com photos courtesy atkinson r cc Griffin Gate istock com wellGlad Golf ball COME TOGETHER GCSAA AND IGCEMA BOARDS AGREE TO MERGE The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America GCSAA could see a sudden influx of new members this spring A merger of the GCSAA and the International Golf Course Equipment Managers Association IGCEMA was approved and awaits the approval of the Class A members of the IGCEMA If approved the IGCEMA will be dissolved and the members will become a part of the GCSAA The vote takes place on April 27 at the GCSAA headquarters in Lawrence Kan One of GCSAAs primary missions is to serve its members and we cannot think of a better way of doing that than by strengthening our ties to golf course equipment managers said Rhett Evans CEO of GCSAA Atkinson N H Resort Country Club features an 18 hole course a 9 hole par 3 course and a 10000 square foot practice facility BACK TO THE BUNKERS REES JONES LEADS RENOVATION ON KENTUCKY COURSE Griffin Gate Golf Club located at the Griffin Gate Marriott Resort Spa in Lexington Ky has hired Rees Jones to direct its 1 million bunker renovation project along with a complete greens complex refinement Jones the original designer of Griffin Gate GC will use the Better Billy Bunker Method throughout the course The bunker system has been installed at Valhalla GC Bethpage Black and multiple Marriott Golf facilities I am happy to be returning to work on Griffin Gate one of my first designs Its like seeing an old friend after 34 years Jones said 1981 was quite a while back so a bunker renovation to bring the course back to the future will serve the course well The project is to be completed in mid May To allow play to continue the operation will be completed in two 9 hole phases