Hall of Fame golfer and NBC broadcaster Johnny Miller will be the keynote speaker at the 2007 Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) Education Conference Opening Session, Feb. 22, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, Calif.
The GCSAA Education Conference (Feb. 19-24) is held in conjunction with the Golf Industry Show (Feb. 22-24). The Opening Session, beginning at 9:00 a.m. (PST) is presented in partnership with Bayer Environmental Science.
In addition to his stellar golf and broadcast careers, Miller is also an author and course designer.
There are three distinct phases in Miller’s career. First as a brilliant young professional golfer in the mid 1970s, he won the 1973 U.S. Open and the 1976 British Open. Then as a maturing player in the 1980s and early 1990s, he closed his PGA Tour career with his 25th victory, taking the 1994 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. Finally, working as a television golf commentator, columnist and author have been his latest endeavors. His insights into the game have consistently earned him rave reviews, including two Emmy nominations.
Born April 29, 1947, in San Francisco, Miller grew up playing at the Olympic Club. Winning the 1964 U.S. Junior Amateur, Miller qualified for the 1966 U.S. Open as a 19-year-old amateur and finished eighth. He attended Brigham Young University and turned professional in 1969, nearly winning the 1971 Masters. In 1974 and 1975, Miller won 12 tournaments. During that streak Miller hit the ball consistently closer to the flag than any player in history. At his best, Miller’s game was marked by incredibly aggressive and equally accurate iron play. Miller won five of the first 11 events of 1974 and added three more later that year. The following year, he won four times. In 1975, Miller shot 260 to win by 14 at Phoenix. The next week at Tucson, he closed with a 61 to win by nine.
Elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1998, Miller has always centered his career around the game of golf. The father of six children, Miller was the recipient of the 1997 Jack Nicklaus Golf Family of the Year Award, presented by the National Golf Foundation. He is the co-founder of the Utah Junior Golf Association and is still its honorary chairman.
Miller is one of several high-profile speakers who will appear during the week. Joining him at the Opening Session will be fellow World Golf Hall of Fame member Charles Sifford. Sifford will receive the 2007 Old Tom Morris Award. The Golf Industry Show General Session, 8:30-10:00 a.m., (PST) Feb. 23, will feature keynote speaker Pat Croce. A dynamic entrepreneur and nationally-renowned motivational speaker, Croce is the former owner and president of the Philadelphia 76ers, former TV commentator and talk show host, best-selling author, owner and operator of a pirate museum and restaurant, golf course owner and is working with Donald Trump to develop a casino in his hometown of Philadelphia.
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 5:00 p.m. CST Jan. 31. Registration is complimentary for accredited media.
Celebrating its 80th anniversary, GCSAA is a leading golf organization, which has as its focus golf course management. Since 1926, GCSAA has been the top 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 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. The association’s philanthropic organization, the Environmental Institute for Golf, works to strengthen the compatibility of golf with the natural environment through research grants, support for education programs and outreach efforts. Visit GCSAA at www.gcsaa.org.
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.
The Golf Industry Show is an innovative trade show designed for the owners/operators of golf facilities, and the professional members of the golf course and club management industries. Featuring its signature interactive solution centers, as well as the largest exhibit floor in the industry, the event combines education, networking and solutions for golf course superintendents, owners/operators, general managers, chief operating officers, architects and builders. The Golf Industry Show is presented by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) and the Club Managers Association of America (CMAA), along with supporting organizations, the Golf Course Builders Association of America (GCBAA), the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA) and the National Golf Foundation (NGF). The 2007 event will be Feb. 22-24 in Anaheim, Calif. Visit www.golfindustryshow.com.
Contact:
Jeff Bollig, GCSAA Director of Communications
(800) 472-7878, ext. 4430
jbollig@gcsaa.org
