GCSAA UPDATE Courses outlawing Management is streamlined in new leadership lineup metal golf spikes LAWRENCE, Kan. — A new operations Don Bretthauer and former TRADE SHOW management structure and staffing — Director of Education David Bishop Robert Shively has moved from his Continued from page 13 "more efficient, more effective and more have filled two of three leadership roles post as director of marketing and sales clubhouse," Malloy said. reflective of the needs of today's for the new departments. to director of marketing/conference and • "Metal spikes ruin mower blades," Yoder superintendent" — have been Bretthauer is manager of chapter/ show. Bonnie Stephenson, former said. "We've saved several thousand dollars announced by the Golf Course international relations, while Bishop is conference coordinator, has moved to this year already." Superintendents Association of America manager of technical information manager of conference events. Pam Malloy, who was superintendent at (GCSAA). services. Owens, who has been manager of exhibit Wynstone when the Green Committee bought The changes are needed to allow A manager of career development sales, has been appointed manager of the first two pair of Softspikes for each of its GCSAA to reach its objective of will be named in coming months. expositions and tournament. nearly300 members, said, "Probably six times becoming one of the finest service Meanwhile, former Director of a year a [mower operator] will run over a spike organizations in the country by the turn COMMUNICATIONS Administration Patricia McCarthy has or cleat with a reel, and you trash a $250 reel." of the century, said GCSAA Chief Pat Jones, former director of been named director of central sevices. • Quality turf can be maintained better with Executive Officer Stephen F. Mona. development, has been appointed Marc Lim has changed jobs from the urethane spikes, too. Key changes involve: director of communications. He computer operations coordinator to The metal spike creates a perfect seed bed • Creation of three departments in succeeds Clay Loyd, who has retired. manager of management information for poa annua, transporting the poa from one the areas of chapter relations, career Christ Caldwell, former managing services. Past Administrative Assistant course to another, while Softspikes do not. development and technical information editor of GCSAA's Golf Course Gwen Denton is now manager of human Metal spikes pull up the turfgrass runners. services. Management (GCM), has been named resources. Former production clerk Softspikes do not • Consolidation of public relations, editor-in-chief. Terry Ostmeyer, former Beverly Schuster is supervisor of the And, some suggest that a new golf course government relations and publications special projects editor for GCM, has mail and production center. can be grown in faster if players wear the and advertising sales functions into a been appointed managing editor. Jennifer McCaughey, past membership urethane spikes. They say that since the grass single communications department. Sharmion Linseisen, former assistant coordinator, has been appointed manager is tender and has little thatch buildup, • Merging marketing functions with editor, is associate editor. of membership. Betsy Evans, former Softspikes will do less damage and allow the management of the annual GCSAA trade Dr. Jeff Nus, technical editor for regional seminar coordinator, is manager turf to mature faster. show and golf championship. GCM, has assumed added duties of of regional seminars. Golf course operators might equate a manager of research. Carol Hayes, Nationwide searches are underway to quicker course opening — with urethane NEW DEPARTMENTS former manager of communications, is fill five management positions and spikes — to more money in the bank as well. Former manager of Pacific Rim manager of executive communications. vacancies created by the realignment. "Is it agronomically saving me thousands a year?" Yoder asked. "I don't think so. But it's sure easier on the greens. We no longer have Clay Loyd retires spiked-up greens, which is tremendous." Watson to be presented "I saw a lot of guys get beat up last year with after 10 years the wet conditions," Malloy said. "But I wore Softspikes in deplorable, wet conditions and Clay Loyd, director of commu- Old Tom Morris Award couldn't damage the turf even if I tried. I went nications and publications for the Golf Citing his career Watson was the recipient of the United back to my mother ship and told my green Course Superintendents Association as exemplying how States Golf Association (USGA) Green committee, 1 think I've got the trick for your of Americ, retired June 30 and is at "one person can Section fellowship and studied under spike-marked greens.'" work on his first book. Dr. James Watson make atremendous the famed Dr. Burton Musser. He Checking his greens one day after they had Loyd's career with GCSAA began impact on an entire returned to A&M to serve as an assistant absorbed about 240 rounds, Malloy found in October 1983 as director of profession," the Golf Course agronomy professor and conduct they "looked like the they did when they were communications. Under his Superintendents Association of America turfgrass research. mowed. The putting conditions were identical leadership, GCSAA's flagship (GCSAA) has selected Dr. James Watson In 1952, Watson left A&M to begin his at 3 in the afternoon as at 7 in the morning, as magazine, Golf Course Management, to receive the Old Tom Morris Award. career with The Toro Co. as director of far as spike marks are concerned." grew steadily over the past 10 years. "Dr. Jim has been a great friend to agronomy. For over four decades with 'We've had three major golf tournaments Loyd is a 1956 graduate of the GCSAA and its members for half a Toro, his research touched on nearly held exclusively on Softspikes {including the University of Missouri School of century," said GCSAA President Joseph every aspect of turfgrass management. Ohio Amateur at Scioto and two tournaments Journalism. G. Baidy. "We are delighted to be able to Later as the company's agronomist and at Muirfield Village]," said Softspikes, Inc. Prior to joining GCSAA, he was pay tribute to the contributions he has vice president of customer relations, he Vice President of Sales and Marketing Brian director of public relations for the made." led Toro's efforts in equipment GoldenfromhisAlexandria,Va,headquarters. Kansas National Education GCSAA established the Old Tom development and evaluation, and served "The players who, late in the day, had the Association, and had been editorial Morris Award in 1982 to recognize as the liaison to professional groups such same greens to putt on as the first off really page editor for the Topeka (Kan.) individuals who have made outstanding as GCSAA. appreciated it." Capital-Journal. lifetime contributions to the game. The Watson has received many awards, So whatare the disadvantages to Softspikes? Loyd plans to continue his long-time award is named in memory of Old Tom including the USGA Green Section They don't last as long, Malloy said, adding, career in journalism, and is already at Morris (1821-1908), greenkeeper and Award (1976), the American Society of "You probably have to change every 20 to 30 work on his first book. golf professional at the Royal and Ancient Agronomy's Agronomic Service Award rounds, depending on how much concrete Golf Club of St. Andrews, Scotland. (1977), GCSAA's Distinguished Service you walk on." Following military service in World Award (1983) and the American Society They tend to be slippery on wet wood Rose leaves post War II, Watson earned a bachelor's of Golf Course Architects Donald Ross surfaces and very steep wet slopes, Yoder degree in agronomy from Texas A&M Award (1994). adcfed. Janet Rose, director of member- University in 1947. He obtained his He will be honored during the closing Nothing else, unless the $7.95 per pair of ship for the Golf Course Superinten- doctorate in agronomy from the banquet of GCSAA's 66th International shoes (less when boughtin bulk) scares people dents Association of America Pennsylvania State University in 1950. Golf Course Conference and Show, next off. (GCSAA) since 1987, has accepted As a graduate student at Penn State, Feb. 27, in San Francisco. Golden reported that 10 facilities now ban the position of executive director for metal spikes — a figure he expects to grow, the Los Alamos (N.M.) County Cham- and even skyrocket if the golf shoe ber of Commerce. Association donates $25,000 to USGA manufacturers climb onto the bandwagon. Rose joined the GCSAA member- "Manufacturers make their profits on the shoe, ship department in 1984. As member- The Golf Course Superintendents existing courses and the development of not the spikes. They should have no qualms ship director since 1987, Rose's re- Association of America (GCSAA) made new ones. about changing over," Golden said. "Several sponsibilities were membership a $25,000 contribution to the United 'The issue of golf and the environment manufacturers are interested and we should promotion and retention, as well as States Golf Association's (USGA) is extremely vital to the future of the know more in the fall" benefits and services to the Environmental Research Program. game. The results from the USGA's Golden's group began operating Softspikes association's nearly 13,700 members. During the donation presentation, Environmental research program should last October and has been aggressively These services included insurance GCSAA President Joseph G. Baidy said, provide a better understanding of how marketing the spikes since the end ofJanuary , and health benefits, merchandise and "As we all know, golf is facing heightened golf courses can minimize their effects he said. It began seeing success in April. reference material programs, job re- environmental awareness from the on the environment, as well as give golf Softspikes, Inc. is located at5800 Farrington ferral opportunities, chapter relations media and the public. a solid foundation for future research. Ave., Alexandria, Va. 22304; telephone 800- and coordination of the GCSAA Golf "This awareness is creating concerns Through this donation, GCSAA is proud 638-0075. Championship and annual meeting. that influence the management of our to be a part of these efforts."