GCSAA/Golf Digest name 2005 Environmental Leaders in Golf
In recognition of their commitment to environmental stewardship, Los Lagos Golf Course in San Jose, Calif., and its certified golf course superintendent, Alan R. Andreasen, have been named the overall winners of the 2005 Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA)/Golf Digest Environmental Leaders in Golf Awards (ELGA).
Andreasen and Los Lagos Golf Course will be featured in an upcoming issue of Golf Digest and the February issue of GCSAA’s Golf Course Management magazine. Syngenta Professional Products and Rain Bird Corp., Golf Division are the presenting partners of the award.
Judges selected winners in three national categories (public, private and resort courses), and an international winner, with an overall winner being selected from the five. Additional recognition was given to the top entry from each GCSAA affiliated chapter, and merit honors were awarded to those who did not earn national or chapter honors, but in the opinion of the judges deserved special recognition. The national winners include (facility and chapter):
National Public & Overall: Alan R. Andreasen, CGCS, Las Lagos Golf Course, San Jose, Calif.; California GCSA
National Private: David J. Faucher, CGCS, TPC at River’s Bend, Maineville, Ohio; Greater Cincinnati GCSA
National Resort (tie): Troy E. Russell, Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, Bandon, Ore; Oregon GCSA; and Anthony L. Williams, CGCS, Renaissance PineIsle Resort & Golf Club, Sugar Hill, Ga.; Georgia GCSA
International: Ben J. Marshall, Club Pelican Golf Course, Golden Beach, Queensland, Australia; Australian GCSA
Golf course superintendents and their courses that have been named national, chapter or merit winners will be formally recognized Feb. 10, during the General Session of the 2006 Golf Industry Show, Feb. 9-11, in Atlanta, Ga. In addition, program sponsors will make donations to The Environmental Institute for Golf, the philanthropic organization of the GCSAA, in the names of all national and chapter winners.
"Through their efforts, these individuals and facilities have been vital in preserving the natural character of the golf course while protecting the delicate ecosystem and native wildlife and habitat to enrich the natural experience of the game of golf," said GCSAA President Tim O’Neill, CGCS.
Vice President and Managing Editor of Golf Digest Roger Schiffman said, "These environmental leaders are prime examples of why golf courses can be valuable assets to a community. Golf course have a positive effect on a community and we are pleased to join GCSAA in communicating how that happens on the course."
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Alan R. Andreasen, CGCS
David J. Faucher, CGCS
Troy E. Russell
Anthony L. Williams, CGCS
Ben J. Marshall
Andreasen, who has been a golf course superintendent for 30 years, has overseen Las Lagos since construction in 2002. Located in the heart of metropolitan San Jose, the 18-hole public facility is the largest remaining riparian habitat in the south San Francisco Bay-area. Occupying 175 acres, the course’s riparian habitat is critical to the many species of raptors found in the area. During construction, more than 75 acres of riparian habitat were set aside, and approximately four acres have been planted since to create additional habitat.
Faucher has been the superintendent at TPC at River’s Bend for six years. Certified in the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program only a year after it opened, TPC at River’s Bend lies adjacent to the Little Miami National Wild and Scenic River and provides habitat for a variety of wildlife.
Russell, who is a previous merit and chapter award winner, has been at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort for eight years. Built on approximately 3,000 acres bordering the Pacific Ocean, Bandon Dunes Resort is the second largest employer in Coos County with over 400 employees.
Williams, who is now the superintendent at Stone Mountain (Ga.) Golf Course, was the superintendent at Renaissance PineIsle Resort and Golf Club for 19 years. Covering 167 acres, PineIsle Resort is located on a group of islands in Lake Sidney Lanier and achieved Audubon certification in 2005. The property lies under the jurisdiction of the mobile district of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Marshall has been the superintendent at Club Pelican Golf Course for four years. An 18-hole facility built in 2000 by Greg Norman, Club Pelican includes 110 acres of terrestrial plant communities with 76 acres of native rough and wetlands and is home to 146 bird species.
An independent panel of judges representing national environmental groups, turfgrass experts, university research and members of the golf community conducted the award selection.
The Environmental Leaders in Golf Award recognizes golf course superintendents and their courses for overall course management excellence in the areas of resource conservation, water quality management, integrated pest management, wildlife/habitat management and education/outreach. In addition, these categories are judged on sustainability, criticality, originality and technology implementation/use.
In addition to the national winners, 12 chapter winners as well as nine merit winners were selected from GCSAA’s 104 affiliated chapters.
2005 ELGA Chapter Winners
Public Facilities (facility and chapter)
Joel S. Blaker, CGCS, Old Greenwood Gold Course, Truckee, Calif.; Sierra Nevada GCSA
Mark Krick, CGCS, The Homestead, Lakewood, Colo.; Rocky Mountain GCSA
Jason M. Kubel, TPC of Tampa Bay, Lutz, Fla.; Florida West Coast GCSA
David C. Phipps, Stone Creek Golf Club, Oregon City, Ore.; Oregon GCSA
Timothy P. Powers, CGCS, Crystal Springs Golf Course, Burlingame, Calif.; GCSA of Northern California
Private Facilities (facility and chapter)
Thomas G. Brodeur, TPC of Boston, Norton, Mass.; GCSA of New England
Paul F. Grogan, CGCS, TPC of the Twin Cities, Blaine, Minn.; Minnesota GCSA
Dale L. Hahn, CGCS, TPC at Summerlin, Las Vegas, Nev.; Southern Nevada GCSA
Mark A. Johnson, CGCS, TPC at Craig Ranch, McKinney, Texas; North Texas GCSA
John M. Kulka, TPC of Michigan, Dearborn, Mich.; Greater Detroit GCSA
Michael J. Perham, CGCS, The Landings Club, Savannah, Ga.; Carolinas GCSA
Roger A. Stewart, CGCS, TPC at Jasna Polana, Princeton, N.J.; GCSA of New Jersey
2005 ELGA Merit Winners
Public Facilities (facility and chapter)
Pamela C. Smith, CGCS, Blackberry Patch Golf Club, Coldwater, Mich.; Michiana GCSA
Kim B. Wood, TPC at The Canyons, Las Vegas, Nev.; Southern Nevada GCSA
Private Facilities (facility and chapter)
Michael D. Crawford, CGCS, TPC at Sugarloaf, Duluth, Ga.; Georgia GCSA
David R. Dettmer, CGCS, TPC at Piper Glen, Charlotte, N.C.; Carolinas GCSA
Harlyn F. Goldman, CGCS, Ocean Pines Golf & Country Club, Berlin, Md.; Eastern Shore Association of GCS
Russell C. Vandehey, CGCS, The Oregon Golf Club, West Linn, Ore.; Oregon GCSA
Resort Facilities (facility and chapter)
Ryan J. Bancroft, Salishan Spa and Golf Resort, Gleneden Beach, Ore.; Oregon GCSA
Guy A. Evans, CGCS, Jackson Hole Golf & Tennis Club, Jackson Hole, Wyo.; Peaks and Prairies GCSA
Robert B. Karnes, Walk Disney World Golf Courses (Eagle Pines & Osprey Ridge), Lake Buena Vista, Fla.; Central Florida GCSA
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 golf with the natural environment. The Institute concentrates on delivering 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 on The Institute, visit www.eifg.org.
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 21,000 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:
Alan R. Andreasen, CGCS
Los Lagos Golf Course
(408) 592-1133
David J. Faucher, CGCS
TPC at River’s Bend
(513) 494-2366
Troy E. Russell
Bandon Dunes Golf Resort
(541) 347-5747
Anthony L. Williams, CGCS
Stone Mountain Golf Course
(770) 413-5241
Ben J. Marshall
Club Pelican Golf Course
61-7-5437-5000
