Nancy Lopez to speak at 2006 GCSAA Education Conference
Golf legend Nancy Lopez will be the keynote speaker at the 2006 Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) Education Conference Opening Session, 9-10:45 a.m., Feb. 9, at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Ga.
The GCSAA Education Conference (Feb. 6-11) is held in conjunction with the Golf Industry Show (Feb. 9-11). The Opening Session is sponsored by Bayer Environmental Science.
One of the most celebrated players in women’s golf, Lopez has been a star since her youth. She began playing golf at the age of eight under the guidance of her father, Domingo, and turned professional after her sophomore year of college. She was named Player of the Year by the Ladies Professional Golf Association four times (1978-79, 1985 and 1988) and was inducted into the LPGA Tour Hall of Fame in 1987 when she was only 30 years old.
The 2000 recipient of GCSAA’s highest honor, the Old Tom Morris Award, Lopez was the captain of the victorious 2005 U.S. Solheim Cup Team and has 48 LPGA Tour victories to her name. Lopez’s appearance at the GCSAA Education Conference Opening Session will be in a question-and-answer format where attendees will have the opportunity to query her.
Among her many honors, Lopez was named "Golfer of the Decade" by GOLF Magazine (1978-87) and was inducted into the PGA World Golf Hall of Fame in 1989. She was awarded the 1992 Flo Hyman Award by the Women’s Sports Foundation and was the recipient of the USGA’s 1998 Bob Jones Award to recognize distinguished sportsmanship in the game of golf. She received the 2000 William D. Richardson Award from the Golf Writers Association of America, was named to Hispanic Business magazine’s list of 80 Elite Hispanic Women in 2003 and was presented with the 2003 Billie Jean King Contribution Award from the Women’s Sports Foundation. Her most recent endeavors in the golf industry have been in the areas of course design and in broadcasting with The Golf Channel.
For more information on Lopez, click here to read an article that appeared in the December 1999 Golf Course Management magazine in advance of her receiving the Old Tom Morris Award.
Lopez is part of a high-profile list of speakers who will appear during the week. Joining her at the Opening Session will be Dr. Joe Duich, professor emeritus at Pennsylvania State University. He will receive the 2006 Old Tom Morris Award. The Golf Industry Show General Session, 8:30-9:45 a.m., Feb. 10, will feature a presentation by Marcus Buckingham. Recognized as a prominent author, speaker and business consultant, Buckingham specializes in inspiring people to find their strengths and long-lasting personal success.
The President’s Celebration, 6 p.m., Feb. 11, will mark the passing of the gavel by GCSAA President Tim O’Neill, CGCS. Music and entertainment will be provided by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.
Prospective GCSAA Education Conference and Golf Industry Show attendees may register online at www.golfindustryshow.com or through faxback services at (888) 838-4419. Advance registration is open until Jan. 17. Registration is complimentary for the media.
About the GCSAA Education Conference
The GCSAA Education Conference, held in conjunction with the Golf Industry Show, is the largest educational conference in the turfgrass management industry. More than 100 seminars and 50 additional hours of educational sessions are offered, covering all ranges of golf course management, including agronomics, communication and business management.
About the Golf Industry Show
Presented by GCSAA and the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA), the Golf Industry Show is an innovative trade show that features unparalleled networking opportunities and hands-on access to golf course and facility management solutions for professional members of the golf industry. The Club Managers Association of America (CMAA) will join as a presenting partner in 2007. Also participating as supporting organizations are the Golf Course Builders Association of America (GCBAA), the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA) and the National Golf Foundation (NGF). For more, visit www.golfindustryshow.com.
The 2006 Golf Industry Show was scheduled for New Orleans; however Hurricane Katrina forced a change of venue. For a brief period, show officials were in discussions with Houston representatives for that city to host the event, however as talks progressed that option was dismissed.
The inaugural Golf Industry Show was conducted last February in Orlando. The show attracted 22,723 golf industry professionals and featured 826 exhibitors covering more than 270,760 square feet of exhibit space.
About GCSAA
Since 1926, GCSAA has been the leading professional association for the men and women who manage golf courses in the United States and worldwide. From its headquarters in Lawrence, Kan., the association provides education, information and representation to more than 20,000 individual members in more than 72 countries. GCSAA’s mission is to serve its members, advance their profession and enhance the enjoyment, growth and vitality of the game of golf. Visit GCSAA at www.gcsaa.org.
Contact:
Jeff Bollig
GCSAA Director of Communications
(800) 472-7878, ext. 4430
jbollig@gcsaa.org
