Larkin selected to continue on Advisory Council
Owen Larkin, president of the Vineyard Golf Club in Edgartown, Mass., will continue his service on the Advisory Council for The Environmental Institute for Golf through 2009.
Orginally named to the council in 2004, Larkin governs one of the most environmentally sensitive golf courses ever built in the United States. Vineyard Golf Club is a private golf course located on Martha’s Vineyard. The advisory council is headed by World Golf Hall of Fame member Greg Norman.
Vineyard Golf Club’s maintenance program replaced conventional pesticides with biostimulants and composted fertilizers. Vineyard Golf Club and its Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) Class A Golf Course Superintendent, Jeff Carlson, were awarded the 2003 Golf Digest/GCSAA Environmental Leader in Golf Award for private clubs.
"Owen’s commitment to continue his seat on the advisory council speaks volumes of the importance Vineyard Golf Club places on environmental stewardship," said Norman, chairman of the Advisory Council and chairman and CEO of Great White Shark Enterprises. "He shares the same vision as The Institute and we’re fortunate to have his services as an advisor for another term."
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 Larkin, 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; 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; David Pillsbury, president of PGA Tour Golf Course Properties and vice chairman/treasurer of The Institute’s board of trustees; Joe Steranka, CEO of PGA of America; Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, chairman of Nakheel; and Weldon Wyatt, founder and CEO of Sage Valley Golf Club, Graniteville, S.C.
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 and 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:
Jeff Bollig, GCSAA director of communications
(800) 472-7878, ext. 4430 or jbollig@gcsaa.org
