Leaders m PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

Dan Dinelli, superintendent at the GC, vice president; Michael la- North Shore CC in Glenview, III, cono, Pine Brook CC, secretary; Equipment Financing was awarded the 2000 Scotts Daniel Higgins, Winchester CC, Tradition of Excellence award treasurer; Arthur Silva, Belmont Your fairway mower is tearing up your fairways. Your tractors from Marysville, Ohio-based The CC, finance chairman; and are falling apart Clearly, you need new equipment But how Scotts Co. Michael J. Hermanson, Gardner can you convince skeptical members or owners to get you the Municipal GC, chairman. equipment the course needs? Here are the strategies that Phoenix-based Todd Gray, director of golf and turf leasing for John Deere Intrawest Golf Jones Mills, Pa-based Frontier Credit, and Dan Gilmore, director of leasing and financing for hired Kathy Construction Co. named Jerry Textron Turf Care And Specialty Products, suggest you use to Bryant as its vice Pierman as vice president of the sell your club on an equipment program: president of sales firm's new southeastern division, and marketing. based in North Palm Beach, Fla. « Leasing instead of buying the equipment allows the club to spread the cost over a longer period. Michael Murphy, superintendent Fifteen years ago, most golf courses wouldn't have consid- Mike Archer was named market- at Waterville Golf ered leasing equipment, Gray says. Today, paying cash and ing development and research co- Links in Ring of owning the equipment is the exception rather than the rule. ordinator for Milwaukee-based Kerry, Ireland, 'You're often able to get more equipment for less money Milorganite Division - MMSD. won the 1999 over the term of a lease," Gray says. "You'll be able to keep Toro Award for your equipment fresh without breaking the bank." Elwood, Ill-based Tyler Enterprises Professional Golf named Sam Huff as its sales and Course Manage- marketing manager for northern ment in Ireland. • Getting an entire fleet under lease or through financing will Kentucky. bring the course a volume discount Seed Research of , This doesn't mean you have to acquire all your equipment Gregory J. Hof- based in Corvallis, Ore., pre- through Sam's Club, BJ's Wholesale Club or Costco Whole- stetter was pro- sented its Superintendent of the sale. It does mean that you should group your needs together moted to vice Year award to Dave Davis, su- when you talk to a finance specialist, Gilmore says. president of east perintendent at Palo Alto GC in "The more equipment you can place under one lease coast operations Palo Alto, Calif. agreement, the better deal you're going to get on each individ- for Lakeland, ual piece of equipment," Gilmore says. "It also establishes a Fla-based Inter- Palm Harbor, Fla-based Highland long-term relationship with the company with more interaction. national Golf Maintenance. Lakes GC named Van Mitchell as It's good for both sides." its superintendent. Merlin Affleck was elected presi- m Owners can plan more easily when equipment is a fixed cost dent of the Canadian Golf Super- during the lease. intendents Association. Deaths Leasing allows the course to know how much they are Karsten Solheim, longtime going to spend on a piece of equipment each year without Chardon, Ohio-based Best Sand president and CEO of Karsten worrying about the added costs of parts and labor if the equip- awarded Chad Alan Mark the Manufacturing Corp, died on ment begins to break down, Gilmore says. Best Sand Annual Turf Scholar- Feb. 16 at his home in Phoenix. "As golf becomes more of a business, superintendents ship, a one-year scholarship se- He was 88. In addition to revo- who think of their equipment in terms of how to make it easier lected by superintendents from lutionizing the industry with his and other on the owners' pocketbook will be more valuable," Gilmore Ohio. Mark is pursuing a four-year clubs, Solheim's company also says. "A fixed cost is always more attractive than a variable degree in turf science from The Ohio State University. managed a turf division. He is survived by his wife Louise, Meadowbrook Golf Group pro- three sons and one daughter. | Newer equipment will create better conditions. moted Cindy Geiger to compliance Take the argument to the place it most affects the mem- manager. bers: the course itself. Let us know about your people "Members at courses around the country now expect an Kurt Krause was named the direc- on the move. Send informa- unparalleled golf experience every time they get on the tor of golf operations at the tion/color photos to course," Gray says. "That puts pressure on superintendents to Prescott Lakes GC in Prescott, Ariz Golfdom1's Frank Andorka at produce perfect conditions. It's hard to do that with old equip- 7500 Old Oak Blvd., Cleveland, ment Most owners understand that" GCSA of New England elected its 44130. Fax information to new officers for 2000: Robert 440-891-2675 or e-mail to - Frank H. Andorka Jr. Ruszala, Hickory Ridge CC, presi- fandorka @advanstar. com. dent; James R. Fitzroy, Presidents