Golfer “thanks his superintendent,” citing excellent playing conditions at CC of Maryland
Lawrence, Kan. (June 14, 2016) – Frank Locke admits he is far from being a good golfer, but he can still appreciate the excellent course conditions at the Country Club of Maryland.
Furthermore, he has never been introduced to Bill Augustin, 42, the long-time superintendent at the club, who has been a member of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) for 20 years.
“I’m a hack,” said Locke, a 51-year-old residential real estate broker who plays infrequently at the club he joined seven years ago. “My best score is a 95, but I still love the game.”
He might love the game even more now that he is the random winner in the “Thank a Superintendent” promotional sweepstakes offered by GCSAA. Locke was thrilled and pleasantly surprised when he was notified of being the winner of a trip for two to the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship in Lake Tahoe, Nev., from July 21-25.
The contest seized the momentum of the association’s latest Golf Channel commercial in which Justin Timberlake, Charles Barkley, John Elway and other celebrities who regularly compete in the Celebrity Championship voice support for superintendents with the tagline, “If you love golf like I do, thank a golf course superintendent.”
“I told my wife the good news, and then we immediately started planning so that we could get away,” said Locke, who will travel to Lake Tahoe with his wife, Mary Beth. “We have never been there before, so we are really looking forward to it.”
Locke showed his appreciated by writing, “There isn’t a better looking, more closely manicured course in Baltimore. It’s a real pleasure to bring guests and hear from them how lucky we are to have a grounds crew that appreciates perfection as much as the members do.”
“The membership here is great and they appreciate what we do,” said Augustin, who sees 350 golf members at the club. “I think we do a great job on our fairways and we try to keep the bunkers consistent, but for the most part we just try to keep to the basics.”
GCSAA received nearly than 1,500 entries for the sweepstakes, which ran from May 1-31.
“Superintendents do their best to provide great playing conditions within the realm of keen environmental stewardship,” said Rhett Evans, GCSAA CEO. “We wanted to give golfers the chance to recognize and thank a superintendent for contributing so much to the game they love, and we gave them the chance to attend the top celebrity event in beautiful Lake Tahoe.”
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 18,000 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.
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:
Craig Smith, Director, Communications and Media Relations
Phone: 800-472-7878, ext. 4431 or 785-691-9197 (cell)
csmith@gcsaa.org
