Lawrence, Kan. – After being rescheduled and revamped due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) Golf Championships will take place Oct. 11-12 in Palm Springs, Calif.
The competition, presented in partnership with The Toro Co., will take place at three courses in Palm Springs and offer three different events for members of all abilities. Registration will open Aug. 13 with a more limited number of slots available than in previous years.
The JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort will be the host resort, with play taking place on its Valley Course. Other courses welcoming golfers over the two days of events are the Desert Willow Golf Resort Mountain View Course and Indian Wells Golf Resort Celebrity Course.
The GCSAA National Championship is limited to 72 GCSAA members with a 5.0 handicap index or lower and will be played over two days. The two-day Golf Classic is limited to the 120 players and will use a point-quota scoring system with flights to be determined at a later date. Finally, the 3-person team scramble fun event will be limited to the first 36 teams or 108 players.
The championships are traditionally held in conjunction with the annual Golf Industry Show, but the 2021 GIS was presented virtually in February. Moving the championships to October will allow more time for vaccine distribution and give the opportunity for those who have not been able to attend in the usual February timeframe to take part.
“The GCSAA Golf Championships are a big part of our long history, and we are pleased that we have been able to find a way to continue that rich tradition this year,” GCSAA CEO Rhett Evans said. “Palm Springs is always a favorite site among our players, and with the event taking place in the fall, we know we may have new players who haven’t been able to attend in the winter. Even though the schedule is condensed this year, the championships will still offer the same level of competition, networking and fun that attendees experience every year.”
The Toro Co. will mark its 27th year as the presenting partner of the GCSAA Golf Championships. Toro, a GCSAA Platinum Partner, is a global leader in providing maintenance equipment and irrigation systems to golf courses.
“Toro is proud to be a part of the GCSAA Golf Championships once again,” Randy Harris, director of marketing, North America for Toro Commercial Business, said. “Superintendents do so much to make the game more enjoyable for others, and we are glad to help support this opportunity for them to enjoy it and the camaraderie with others in the industry.”
More than 400 GCSAA members participated in the 2020 championships in Orlando. Deron Zendt, superintendent at Pine Tree Golf Club in Boynton Beach, Fla., won the 36-hole, stroke play National Championship at ChampionsGate’s International Course with a 5-under-par 139.
For more information about the courses and competitions visit www.golfindustryshow.com/gcsaa-golf-championships
About GCSAA and the EIFG
The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) is a leading golf organization in the United States. Its focus is on golf course management, and since 1926 GCSAA has been the top professional association for the men and women who manage golf courses in the U.S. and worldwide. From its headquarters in Lawrence, Kan., the association provides education, information and representation to nearly 19,000 members in more than 78 countries. The association’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, or find us on Facebook or Twitter. Visit our industry-leading magazine at GCMonline.com.
The Environmental Institute for Golf is the philanthropic organization of the GCSAA. Its mission is to foster sustainability through research, awareness, education, programs and scholarships for the benefit of golf course management professionals, golf facilities and the game. Visit EIFG at www.eifg.org, or find us on Facebook or Twitter.
Contact:
Angela Hartmann
Director, Marketing and Communications
Phone: 800-472-7878, ext. 3647 or 785-393-1361 (cell)
ahartmann@gcsaa.org
Mike Strauss
Manager, Media Relations
Phone: 800-472-7878, ext. 5164
mstrauss@gcsaa.org
