LEBANON, PA. (Feb.11, 2009) – Willie, the “beloved soul mate” of Steve McCormick, golf course superintendent at Columbia CC in Chevy Chase, Md., was selected “Dog of the Year” at the 2009 Golf Industry Show. The 7-year-old German shorthaired pointer mix will receive the award posthumously following his death on Jan. 29 due to a malignant tumor.
The sixth annual “Dog of the Year” contest was sponsored by LebanonTurf and presented by Golfdom magazine. Voting was conducted among superintendents and other GIS attendees last week in New Orleans. Willie, who was chosen for the honor from among the 14 candidates that appear in LebanonTurf’s 2009 Dog Days of Golf Calendar, will be featured in Golfdom’s March issue.
McCormick called Willie, who he and his wife, Jen, rescued from a shelter in St. Louis, their “beloved soul mate.”
“Willie was an absolute blessing to our family, our neighbors, and our friends and to the green staff and many members at Columbia,” McCormick said. “As many of us grieve our loss of Willie, what is undeniable is the incredibly blessed life that Willie had for almost eight years. He lived his life to the absolute fullest even up to his final hours.”
In addition to the $3,000 it annually awards the superintendent’s local chapter (Mid-Atlantic Association of Golf Course Superintendents) and $500 to the winning dog’s owner, LebanonTurf will add $500 to defray medical expenses incurred while the McCormick’s fought the extremely aggressive form of cancer that attacked Willie’s spleen.
“Willie would have been very honored,” McCormick said. “Next to cuddling with my wife, the golf course was his absolute favorite place in the world. Knowing he was giving back to the place he loved so much would make him very happy.”
About Lebanon Seaboard and LebanonTurf
Lebanon Seaboard Corp. manufactures and distributes a broad range of professional turf and ornamental products, as well as a wide variety of consumer lawn and garden items. With more than 60 years experience, LebanonTurf, a division of privately held Lebanon Seaboard, is a leader in developing practical and innovative solutions for the turf and landscape maintenance industry. For more information, visit www.lebsea.com, www.lebanonturf.com or call 800-233-0628.
Contact:
Bill Bryant, Bryant Marketing Communications
678-366-3232, bbryant@bryantmarcomm.com
