SUPERSTITION MOUNTAIN, Ariz., March 21, 2007 – The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) has partnered with the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) to add a full-time agronomist to its tournament operations team.
The agronomist will assist LPGA tournament operations staff in developing consistent course conditions and serve as a liaison between the LPGA and the host facility golf course management team. The GCSAA will conduct a national search for the position beginning next month and have targeted early July as the start date for the candidate.
"We announced this to the Tour members at last night’s player meeting and the response could not have been more enthusiastic," said LPGA Commissioner Carolyn F. Bivens. "We are fortunate to play at terrific venues, and having a full-time agronomist will only enhance our competitions and the stages on which we play."
The position will be a GCSAA employee, however, he or she will work closely with the LPGA staff and golf course superintendents at LPGA tournament sites. The desired outcome is to achieve consistent course set up conditions (fairway width, height of cut for roughs and fairways, green speed, etc.) for the LPGA events.
"We are pleased to offer this service to the LPGA," said GCSAA Chief Executive Officer Steve Mona, a member of the LPGA Commissioner’s Advisory Council. "A need was identified and we have the means to fulfill it. Having a full-time agronomist will be a significant benefit to the staff and players."
About the Golf Course Superintendents Association
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. 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.
About the Ladies Professional Golf Association
Featuring the world’s best women golfers, the LPGA’s membership includes touring, teaching and club professionals. The LPGA Tour in 2007 features 35 events, with total prize money of nearly $55 million. Since 1981, the LPGA and its tournaments have raised approximately $180 million for charity. From the dreams of its 13 founders in 1950, the LPGA has evolved into the world’s pre-eminent women’s professional sports organization. The LPGA has grown from its roots as a playing tour into a non-profit organization involved in every facet of golf. In addition to the LPGA Tour members, the LPGA membership includes nearly 1,200 certified Teaching and Club Professionals (T&CP) who serve the golf industry in teaching, coaching and management positions. The LPGA T&CP member programs focus on increasing the involvement of women, girls and youth in golf, as well as contribute to the growth of the sport overall. The LPGA is headquartered in Daytona Beach, Fla. For more information on the LPGA, log on to www.LPGA.com.
Contact:
Connie Wilson, LPGA, 386-274-6200, connie.wilson@lpga.com
Jeff Bollig, GCSAA, 800-472-7878, ext. 4430 or jbollig@gcsaa.org
