Eagle Falls Golf Course in Indio (pictured) has been recognized for giving golfers the best bang for their buck.
Greenskeeper.org handed out the Most Worth the Green Fee award after a 12-month online survey of its website’s users.
Eagle Falls Director of Golf Willie Maples credits the course’s perfect combination of amenities and course conditions for the honor.
“When you have a great golf course design by Clive Clark, superb conditions, GPS, coolers and bottled water on all carts, coupled with the lowest green fees in the valley, it makes a lasting impression,” Maples said.
OB Sports’ Phil Green inducted into Southwest Section PGA Hall Of Fame
Phil Green, OB Sports Golf Management chief operating officer and principal, has been inducted into the Southwest Section PGA Hall of Fame.
Green was recognized for his significant impact on the game of golf. As chief operating officer, Green has overseen the management implementation of more than 75 OB Sports golf facilities in 22 states.
OB Sports management says the award is well deserved.
“We’re so pleased to see Phil recognized for his many contributions to the growth of the game of golf in Arizona and Nevada, and to the countless PGA professionals he has mentored over the years,” said C.A. Roberts, president/principal of OB Sports.
Ben Sharpe named new executive VP of adidas Golf, Ashworth
Ben Sharpe has been named executive vice president of adidas Golf and Ashworth.
Sharpe has spent the past six years as TaylorMade-adidas Golf Company’s managing director for Europe, where he helped double the company’s business in that region. In his new role, Sharpe will oversee global product creation and innovation of footwear and apparel, brand strategy and sales.
He says he is ready to further the brands’ double-digit growth in 2012.
“I am passionate about bringing relevant and ‘hot’ products to today’s golfer,” said Sharpe. “We have a lot of talented people here and I’m confident that together we’ll be able to bring better and better apparel and footwear to that market place that keep both brands growing worldwide.”
Sorenstam named honorary host of Kraft Nabisco Championship
Annika Sorenstam will return to Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage to serve as honorary host for the Kraft Nabisco Championship Pro-Am.
Sorenstam, a 10-time major champion, will also play in the April 1-7 tournament and says she’s excited to return.
“The Kraft Nabisco Championship has such a rich history and I’m honored to be able to play a role in its equally exciting future,” said Sorenstam.
Tournament officials also are looking forward to Sorenstam’s return.
“As a three-time champion of this tournament, Annika will go down as one of the greatest champions in Kraft Nabisco Championship history and we are thrilled to have her back,” said Gabe Codding, tournament director.
For more information on the event, call (760) 324-4546 or visit kncgolf.com.
Perfect Fit’s Al Murdock honored as Club Fitter of the Year
Al Murdock, director of club fitting for Perfect Fit at Raven Golf Club – Phoenix, was recently named the 2012 PING Regional Club Fitter of the Year in Arizona.
The honor is awarded based on outstanding performance and exemplary service.
Perfect Fit opened early last year. The state-of-the-art outdoor facility allows Murdock to assess a golfer’s ball flight while also considering data collected by Flightscope technology to fit them with the best equipment for their individual swing.
“It is truly an honor to be recognized by Mr. Solheim and the PING family with this tremendous honor,” said Murdock. “We have had a busy year rolling out Perfect Fit at Raven Golf Club – Phoenix and have helped many golfers play better, add yards to their tee shots, and beyond. We look forward to continuing this into 2013.”
TaylorMade-adidas Golf snags ING industry honors
TaylorMade-adidas Golf took home three awards, and retired PGA of America CEO Joe Steranka was honored recently at the ING Industry Honors at the PGA Merchandise Show.
The TaylorMade RocketBallz Tour Fairway Woods won in the Product Ingenuity-Market Leading Companies category. The matte-white woods with a larger head were noted for their ease to align and launch.
TaylorMade-adidas Golf also won in the PR category for a promotion in London prior to the Olympics, and for its print ad, “Love Comes With A Money-Back Guarantee.”
Steranka, who retired last year after 25 years of service with the PGA of America, garnered the Business Achievement award for steering the We Are Golf program, designed to achieve legislative and public affairs goals for the multi-billion-dollar golf industry.
McDowell Mountain unveils new clubhouse and restaurant
McDowell Mountain Golf Club in Scottsdale has opened the doors to its new clubhouse and restaurant, the Mesquite Grille.
The facility features a large covered outdoor dining terrace, indoor/outdoor bar, upgraded restroom facilities and new locker rooms. The existing event space also has been enclosed.
The clubhouse boasts spectacular vistas and blends contemporary elegance with comforts of Scottsdale living such as native woods and sleek design accents.
“We are truly pleased with the way this clubhouse facility has come together and been received thus far from both our golfing guests and also our area residents looking to make this the social center of the community,” said Roger Nelson, president of the M Club group and project manager for the clubhouse project.
GCSANC announces board of directors, award honorees
The Golf Course Superintendents Association of Northern California has announced its 2013 board members and officers.
Jon Christenson of Oakhurst Country Club will oversee the association as president; Gary Ingram of Metropolitan Golf Links will serve as vice president; and Brian Boyer of Cinnabar Hills Golf Club has been named secretary-treasurer.
Returning board members include Jim Abate, superintendent at TPC Harding Park Golf Club, and Jim Sherman, vice president with Turf & Industrial Equipment Company.
Chapter directors include Jay Neunsinger, superintendent at Tilden Park Golf Course, and Stacy Wallace, superintendent at Stonetree Golf Club. Matt Kuchin, superintendent at San Jose Country Club, will serve as the board’s representative for assistants and Dan Rogers, general manager with Jacobsen West, has been named affiliate director. Kyle Marshall, superintendent at Summitpointe Golf Club, is also a recent appointee.
In addition to its new leadership team, the GCSANC has announced its award recipients.
The Turfgrass Excellence Award in the Public Category went to George Young, a superintendent at San Jose Municipal Golf Course. In the Private Category, the same award was presented to superintendent Ken Williams at Stanford University Golf Course.
Terry Grasso of Sequoyah Country Club received the George Santana Distinguished Service Award and David Wilber of Sierra Pacific Turf Supply was given the Bert Graves Affiliate Merit Award.
The Golf Course Superintendent of the Year Award went to Rodney Muller at Empire Ranch Golf Club.
