LAKE MARY, FL (January 12, 2011) – Designers of two courses outside of the U.S., and another who did a historic renovation, are the finalists in the golf course design category of the final ballot of the 18th Annual ING Industry Honors.
Ron Garl, Garrett Gill and Gil Hanse are the three finalists in the Achievement In Golf Course Design category of what some call “the Academy Awards of the golf industry.” The ING Industry Honors program is conducted by the non-profit International Network Of Golf to recognize outstanding achievement in the golf industry.
Hundreds of nominations from across the golf industry have been trimmed by sub-committees to three nominees in each category in the ING Industry Honors awards program. Winners in a dozen categories are currently being decided by an electronic vote of the ING membership. Nominees will be acknowledged and winners announced at the Industry Honors Presentation Press Conference January 28 at 12:30 p.m. at the PGA Merchandise Show in ClubING, Room 309. The ING Industry Honors committee chair is Holly Geoghegan of Golf Marketing Services.
Here are summaries of the three finalists in course design:
Ron Garl, Bijao Golf Club, Panama
Garl incorporated the environmentally friendly SeaDwarf Paspalum grass on the entire golf course that minimizes fertilizers, chemicals and water use and is a salt tolerant variety of grass. Garl utilized the local flora and fauna to give the golf course a natural aesthetic look and minimize irrigation. The golf course has dramatic views of the Pacific Ocean and elevation changes of 100 feet. Garl utilized several of his signature design elements: Beach bunker, challenging green complexes and a world class short game practice area.
Garrett Gill, Bartholomew Golf Course, Louisiana
Hurricane Katrina essentially destroyed historic Bartholomew Golf Course in Louisiana. Now, with a $9.8 million restoration budget and the talented work of Minnesota-based designer Garrett Gill, Bartholomew is on track to re-open this year. Gill DesignÌ_å_s talents were stretched by this project due to a number of factors, including the very location adjacent to Lake Pontchartrain at the base of the Mississippi River. The average elevation of Bartholomew is minus 8 feet below sea level, with the highest point being right at sea level.
Gil Hanse/Mark Parsinen, Castle Stuart Golf Links, Scotland
Castle Stuart provides new meaning to the word dramatic. The first three holes on each nine hug the coastline of the Moray Firth. The rest of the course is mostly atop a plateau, and the stair-step nature of the routing and shaping create the impression that every green is hanging right over the edge of the water. Parsinen and Hanse provided wide corridors to reduce the possibility of lost balls and to increase the excitement of recovery shots.
ABOUT THE ING
The International Network Of Golf is a 21-year-old, non-profit organization whose membership is open to anyone in the golf industry, related industries and media. ING’s mission is to enhance and promote communication and education in golf.
ING is kicking off its Third Decade Celebration at the PGA Merchandise Show with many activities. ClubING (Room 309) will be open all day for members and their guests, with morning coffee, Happy Hour cocktail parties, education speakers, product displays, celebrity guests and entertainment, and prizes and giveaways.
Highlight of the year 2011 for ING is the 21st Annual ING Spring Conference set for May 22-26 at beautiful Innisbrook Resort, a PGA Tour site in Florida.
ING exists to bring golf media together with representatives from all walks of the golf industry to discuss issues, exchange information and improve communication.
For more information regarding ING, call 407-328-0500 or visit www.inggof.com.
Contact:
Michael W. Jamison
mike@jamisongolf.com
407-328-0500, ext. 1
