Bill Jones III, chairman and CEO of Sea Island Co., has been named to the Advisory Council for The Environmental Institute for Golf.
Sea Island Resorts was ranked No. 1 in Golf Digest’s "75 Best Golf Resorts in North America." Located on two of the Georgia Coast’s tranquil barrier islands, Sea Island Resorts is home to famous hotels, The Cloister and The Lodge, a private five-mile beach, as well as three championship golf courses, the Plantation, Seaside and Retreat. Sea Island Co. also owns and operates The Lodge at Cabin Bluff and the private Ocean Forest and Frederica Golf Clubs.
Sea Island Resorts maintains a high level of responsibility and commitment to future and present generations as wise stewards of its coastal habitat and the diverse natural wonder that thrives there. Resident naturalist Stacia Hendricks and her team take guests on excursions through the tidal salt marsh, ocean beach and inland dune habitat. Educational and interactive reptile encounters and raptor flight demonstrations are offered each spring and demonstrate the life history of indigenous reptiles, invertebrates and birds of prey. Summer at Sea Island brings the unique opportunity for the nightly sea turtle walks on the beach as well as the Wildlife Encounters certificate program, produced in conjunction with the Georgia Southern University’s Center for Wildlife Education and The Lamar Q. Ball, Jr. Raptor Center.
The Cloister at Sea Island has been the beloved playground and favorite destination for world leaders, royalty, celebrities and discerning families since 1928. The planting of live oaks has become a meaningful and special way to commemorate those very special guests and visitors to The Cloister. A tradition that began with President and Mrs. Calvin Coolidge has continued over the years with live oaks, the state tree of Georgia, planted at Sea Island in honor of five more visiting U.S. Presidents, two British Prime Ministers and the Queen of Netherlands. President George W. Bush chose Sea Island to be the host location for the 2004 G8 Summit of world leaders.
Jones represents the fourth generation of family management and ownership of Sea Island Co. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources presented him with the Rock Howard Award for outstanding environmental achievement in 2006. He is the 16th member to join the Advisory Council, which is headed by World Golf Hall of Fame member Greg Norman.
"Bill is a welcomed addition to the Advisory Council," said Norman, chairman and CEO of Great White Shark Enterprises. His strides to support the environmental stewardship at Sea Island have been commendable and The Institute stands to gain plenty from his advice over the next few years."
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.
The Environmental Institute for Golf’s Advisory Council:
Tom Crow, founder of Cobra Golf and a retired trustee for The Institute
Dana Garmany, chairman and CEO of Troon Golf
Jack R. Harrell, Jr., CEO of Harrell’s Fertilizer
Bill Jones III, chairman and CEO of Sea Island Co.
Paul C. Kanavos, chairman and CEO of Flag Luxury Properties, LLC
Bill Kubly, CEO of Landscapes Unlimited and chairman of The Institute’s board of trustees
Owen G. Larkin, president of the Vineyard Golf Club in Edgartown, Mass.
Rafael Martinez, president of Republic Capital Corp. and Institute trustee
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.
Greg Norman, chairman of Advisory Council, Institute trustee, and chairman and CEO of Great White Shark Enterprises
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 Dubai World
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
jbollig@gcsaa.org
