PGA Tour Continues Support Of The Environmental Institute For Golf
David Pillsbury, president of PGA Tour Golf Course Properties, has been selected to serve on The Environmental Institute for Golf Advisory Council.
Pillsbury will serve on the Institute’s Advisory Council through 2009 as the Tour’s representative. He joins 13 others on the council, which is headed by World Golf Hall of Fame member Greg Norman. Currently the Institute’s vice president/treasurer on its board of trustees, Pillsbury will take over as chairman after The Institute’s annual meeting in February.
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.
"We are tremendously pleased that the PGA Tour will continue its seat on the advisory council and that David will be its representative," said Norman, chairman of the advisory council and chairman and CEO of Great White Shark Enterprises. "He will provide great leadership to The Institute’s board of trustees this year and will be a vital asset on the advisory council as well."
In addition to Norman and Pillsbury, the other members of the advisory council are: ClubCorp USA Inc.; Tom Crow, founder of Cobra Golf and a retired trustee for The Institute; 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; 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.; Ken Melrose, retired chairman and CEO of The Toro Co.; Jaime Ortiz-Patiño, owner of Valderrama Golf Club in Sotogrande, Spain; Joe Steranka, CEO of PGA America; Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, chairman of Nakheel; and Weldon Wyatt, founder and CEO of Sage Valley Golf Club, Graniteville, S.C.
Including the Champions Tour and the Nationwide Tour, the PGA Tour visits every major market area in the United States, plus dozens of other mid-major market areas. The mission of the PGA Tour is to expand domestically and internationally to substantially increase player financial benefits while maintaining its commitment to the integrity of the game. In addition to providing competitive opportunities for its membership, PGA Tour events also generate revenue for charitable causes in their communities. PGA Tour affiliates include The First Tee program and the World Golf Village.
In 2007, the PGA Tour enters a new era with the introduction of the FedExCup, a season-long points competition culminating with the first-ever PGA Tour Playoffs for the FedExCup. This week-to-week points race will dramatically change the PGA Tour, offering fans a new way to follow every tournament and every player, while giving the game its first true "season."
During the 33-week PGA Tour Regular Season, Tour members making the cut will earn points based on their finish, with a strong emphasis placed on winning and high finishes. Once the Regular Season concludes in mid-August, players’ total points will determine their seeding for the PGA Tour Playoffs for the FedExCup. Once the Playoff seeding is established, the points will be "reset" for the four-week Playoff run.
The Playoffs will feature a progressive cut beginning with The Barclays in New York (144 players), continue with the Deutsche Bank Championship in Boston (120 players) and BMW Championship in Chicago (70 players), and conclude with The Tour Championship presented by Coca-Cola in Atlanta (30 players), where the inaugural FedExCup Champion will be crowned.
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 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.
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. Visit GCSAA at www.gcsaa.org.
Contact:
Teri Harris
GCSAA managing director, development
(785) 832-4465
tharris@gcsaa.org
Greg Lyman
GCSAA director of environmental programs
(785) 832-3625
glyman@gcsaa.org
