Ken Melrose, retired chairman and CEO of The Toro Co., has been named to the advisory council for The Environmental Institute for Golf. He is the 15th member to join the council headed by World Golf Hall of Fame member Greg Norman.
Melrose retired as chairman of the board at The Toro Co. in March 2006, after 36 years with the company. Having been named president in 1981, he took over as chief executive officer in 1983 and as chairman of the board in 1987.
Prior to joining Toro, Melrose was director of corporate planning at Bayfield Technologies, Inc. of Minneapolis , and a marketing manager in The Pillsbury Company’s new products division.
He graduated cum laude from Princeton University, where he majored in mathematics and electrical engineering. He received a master of science degree from the Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He later received a masters degree in business administration from the University of Chicago .
Melrose is the author of Making the Grass Greener on Your Side: A CEO’s Journey to Leading by Serving .
In addition, he serves on the boards of directors of SurModics, Inc.; Center for Ethical Business Cultures (Chairman); National Association of Manufacturers; Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, Inc. (Chairman); Park Nicollet Health Services; and the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis.
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.
In addition to Norman and Melrose, the other members of the advisory council are: Tom Crow, founder of Cobra Golf and a retired trustee for The Institute; Robert H. Dedman Jr., chairman of ClubCorp USA Inc; Dana Garmany, chairman and CEO of Troon Golf; R.D. Hubbard, owner of Bighorn Golf Club in Palm Desert, Calif.; Paul C. Kanavos, chairman and CEO of Flag Luxury Properties, LLC; Vernon A. Kelly Jr., president of PGA Tour Golf Course Properties; Owen G. Larkin, president of the Vineyard Golf Club in Edgartown, Mass.; Gary N. McClung, president of Midway Ford/Sterling Truck Center and developer of Quintero Golf and Country Club, Peoria, Ariz.; Jaime Ortiz-Patiño, owner of Valderrama Golf Club in Sotogrande, Spain; Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, chairman of Nakheel; H. Thomas Webb III, senior vice president of residential development for Crescent Resources; Frank Weed, COO of Medallist Developments; and Weldon Wyatt, founder and CEO of Sage Valley Golf Club, Graniteville, S.C.
Ken’s experience in the golf business will make him an exceptional asset to the advisory council, said Norman, chairman and CEO of Great White Shark Enterprises and an Institute trustee. In his tenure at Toro he has been involved many issues affecting both the game and the business of golf, and he has demonstrated a commitment to the environment every step of the way."
The Environmental Institute for Golf, the philanthropic organization of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (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:
Jeff Bollig
GCSAA Director of Communications
(800) 472-7878, ext. 4430
jbollig@gcsaa.org
