Monday, December 30, 2013

Planning early for Rounds 4 Research is a key to success



Now is the time for GCSAA affiliated chapters to start planning for the 2014 Rounds 4 Research (R4R) auctions. 
 
In 2013, nine of 10 chapters in the southwest region participated in the inaugural R4R auctions and three of the chapters (Hi-Lo Desert, San Diego and Southern California) finished in the top 10 nationally in funds raised for research, education, advocacy and the environment. The 2014 auctions are scheduled for June 9-22 and Aug. 1-10, 2014, which coincide with the playing of the U.S. Open at Pinehurst and the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club.  Donated rounds for the first auction are due Apr. 15, 2014, and rounds for the second auction are due June 16, 2014. Eighty percent of the funds raised from the donated rounds goes back to the chapter in which they were solicited and designated.  

In my experience with planning for R4R, the key to a successful program is establishing a committee (with participation from the chapter executive) and in particular, finding one individual who will champion the cause. This champion will ultimately be responsible for putting together a target donor list for the committee, marketing the program to the general membership and making personal asks for donations throughout the chapter area. In 2013, the Hi-Lo Desert, San Diego and Southern California chapters were able to identify individuals to be champions for the program and I credit much of the chapters' success to their efforts.  

As the rounds are being gathered, marketing efforts can take place to promote the auctions on a local, regional and national level.  Please access all of the R4R marketing materials at http://www.gcsaa.org/_common/templates/GcsaaTwoColumnLayout.aspx?id=7760&LangType=1033. Additionally, I have obtained marketing and advertising assistance from the various state and regional golf associations in the Southwest to help promote the program to their player databases.  This gives us access to over 300,000 golfers in the region. 

As a member, you can assist your chapter by volunteering for the R4R committee, donating a foursome from your facility (http://www.rounds4research.com/courses/) or reaching out to other superintendents in the area to make them aware of the program and the benefits that R4R brings to turfgrass research at the local/state level.  If you have any questions concerning R4R, please don’t hesitate to contact Mark Johnson, associate director of environmental programs with GCSAA or myself and we will be glad to assist you. 

Happy New Year and thank you for your support of GCSAA in 2013. I wish you nothing but prosperity and success in 2014. 

Sunday, December 15, 2013

GCSAA recognizes members who give back through Giving Tuesday



On December 3, GCSAA celebrated the second annual Giving Tuesday with stories of chapters and members who are giving back to their communities. 

The social media campaign featured tweets, Facebook postings and blogs that highlighted members' efforts throughout the country.  I personally conducted a Twitter campaign that focused solely on members in the Southwest Region who volunteered time during the past year to make their communities a better place to live.  

In the spirit of the holiday season, I wanted to take time to recognize a few of those individuals in greater detail:  


Steve Plummer, CGCS, general manager at Tustin Ranch Golf Club and Javier Avalos, Class A superintendent at Tustin Ranch.

  • In Orange County, Calif., Steve Plummer, CGCS, general manager at Tustin Ranch Golf Club and Javier Avalos, Class A superintendent at Tustin Ranch raised funds and constructed a First Tee facility which includes a practice range and four hole short course.  The First Tee of Orange County now gives southern California youth another learning facility to not only improve their golf games, but learn life skills that will benefit them in the future.


  • In northern California, Gary Carls, CGCS, golf course maintenance director for the city of Sunnyvale and Gary Ingram, CGCS, superintendent at Metropolitan Golf Links in Oakland have introduced inner-city youth to careers in golf course management, environmental sciences and the green industry through the Oakland Turf Education Initiative (OTEI).  OTEI board members and volunteers engage students through on-course study tours, remote site field trips, career-to-school fairs, after school programs, guest speaking engagements and an internship program.


  • In Arizona, the Cactus & Pine GCSA donated $1,000 and volunteered their time at a golf fundraiser to assist families of the 19 firefighters that perished in the Yarnell Hill wildfire this past June.  Damien Smith, GCSAA Class A member and director of golf course maintenance at Gainey Ranch Golf Club in Scottsdale donated the course for the event.  


  • In Las Vegas and Henderson, Nev., the Southern Nevada GCSA donated $2,000 to Special Olympics Nevada to assist in the sponsorship of the organization's golf program that hosts over 50 athletes each year. Additionally, numerous superintendents with the SNGCSA donate their time to work with the athletes who are able to participate in the program free of charge.  

While it would be impossible to mention all of the charitable activities that GCSAA members in the Southwest are involved with, the above are shining examples of the superintendent profession going above and beyond to serve their communities and those in need. 

I thank you all for your contributions to the game and charitable activities in 2013 and I wish you the happiest of holidays.  See you in the New Year!