Ridgewood Lakes to Host Duramed Futures Tour Qualifying School

Meadowbrook Golf managed, Ridgewood Lakes Golf & Country Club has been selected to be one of four Polk County, Florida courses to host this year's Duramed Futures Tour Qualifying School. The event will be held from November 2nd to 6th.

The Duramed Future Tour is the developmental tour of the LPGA and features some world's best golfers and had more than 500 players who have gone on to the LPGA. Alumnae of the tour include Christie Kerr, Karrie Webb, Grace Park, Christina Kim and Lorena Ochoa to name just a few.

"It's exciting to have been selected to be a host for event like this. This will be a great opportunity to showcase the great condition and terrific layout of the course" commented Golf Course Superintendent Dustin Plemons.

IGM Superintendent Tray Maltby Connects Golf Maintenance with Nature

Golf and the environment go hand in hand. Each of the IGM Golf Course Superintendents takes their role as stewards of the environment very seriously.

Recently, IGM Superintendent Tray Maltby had an opportunity to share how our team works to provide great course conditions while still maintaining our commitment to the conservation of our natural resources.

During a tour of the golf course with the Nature Group at Brays Island Plantation, Tray was able to share how utilizing techniques such as Integrated Pest Management (IPM) are important. He also outlined with the group the process involved with having the course certified in the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program (ACSP). The course was recently enrolled in the program by IGM as part of our commitment to have all of our maintained properties participate in and complete the program.

Bruce Lampright the Naturalist for Brays Island organized the tour and has been a huge supporter of the golf course initiatives and the ACSP program. Bruce explained one the goals of this process, “With participation in the ACSP we hope to change the perception of our owners and guests that a golf course can coexist with and support nature. Educated property owners will soon come to realize what a rich sanctuary for plants and animals a golf course can become.”
Tray went on to add, "With the help of Bruce and others at the plantation, we are currently working to complete the Audubon Site Assessment. It is helping us to identify what areas we are achieving our goals and also where our efforts should be focused in the future. Brays Island is a preserve by design and helping to ensure that it continues to be one is a very rewarding feeling for all of us".

About Brays Island Plantation
Brays Island Plantation is a private 5,500 acre plantation with only 325 home sites and 3,500 acres set aside as a nature and hunting preserve, Brays Island is committed to protecting the surrounding environment while maintaining the sporting lifestyle of a traditional Lowcountry plantation. Amenities include world class horseback riding, hunting, shooting sports, fishing and a Ron Garl designed links style golf course.

Golf Ventures & Golf Ventures West - Keeping IGM Current with Products & Technology

Staying on top of the turf industry's latest products and newest technology is no small task. It is however necesary in order to provide the best possible golf course conditions at the most competative cost. IGM has a distinct advantage in this area with the support of our industry leading supply partners Golf Ventures and Golf Ventures West.

Since its inception in 1986, GV has been Florida’s one-stop maintenance supply company for the golf course industry. Golf Ventures joined the Meadowbrook family in 1998 and has the industry advantage and leadership to be the premier provider and partner for the Meadowbrook Golf/IGM properties. Golf Ventures expanded West into California, Arizona, Nevada and Baha in 2004 and quickly became the leader in the turf grass maintenance industry again with premier partners Helena and Jacobsen.

Golf Ventures product lines include, Helena Plant Protectants and Fertilizers, Jacobsen Equipment and Allied Products (A Textron Company), Turfseed, Inc., Par Aide, Standard and Landmark Accessories, Grigg Brothers, PSA+, Nutramax, Emerald Isle. Fox Valley Paints, Contract Services and several other high quality agronomic Specialty Product lines.

To see what sets our maintenance, management and supply team apart from the others, contact the IGM Business Development Office at 800-413-5500 or on the web at http://www.igminc.net/, http://www.golfventuresonline.com/ or http://www.gvwest.com/.

IGM & Blackthorn Golf Club - Teamwork Leads to Golfweek Honor

Golfweek has published their 2009 Top 50 Municipal Golf Courses Listing, naming IGM maintained golf course, Blackthorn Golf Club.

Golfweek's Best Municipal Courses list features the nation's top 50 government owned golf courses that truly possess the highest standard for public golf. “It is very rewarding to have Blackthorn named in Golfweek Magazine’s 2009 top municipal courses listing,” said IGM’s Executive Vice President, Greg Plotner. “I congratulate all of those who performed at the exceptionally high level required to receive such an accolade. It’s an honor to be recognized in the same category with the top rate golf clubs that also made this year’s list.”

To produce the Golfweek's Best Municipal Courses list, a nationwide team of more than 475 evaluators rated the layouts on the basis of 10 criteria - including routing, conditioning, variety and memorability of holes.

About Blackthorn:
Designed by Dr. Michael Hurdzan, ASGCA, the Blackthorn Golf Club opened in August of 1994. The 18-hole course in South Bend, IN has a 7136-yard layout with four sets of tees which offer a strategic test for golfers of all abilities.

“IGM’s extensive experience contributed to the successful execution of our bunker project, and we are extremely pleased with the top-quality agronomic support that IGM continually provides to our club” -Rick Reid, General Manager, Blackthorn Golf Club.

For more information on IGM and the professional golf course services offered, please contact the IGM Business Development Office at 800-413-5500 or on the web at http://www.igminc.net/.

IGM Maintains Golf Week's Top Municipal Golf Course - North Palm Beach Country Club

Golfweek's Best Municipal Courses list features the nation's top 50 government owned golf courses that truly boast a higher standard for public golf. “We are very proud to have North Palm Beach named in Golfweek Magazine’s 2009 top municipal courses listing,” said IGM’s Executive Vice President, Greg Plotner. “My praise and recognition goes to all of those who worked hard to receive such a prestigious honor. It’s truly special to be included in the same category as the other great golf clubs that also made the list.”

To produce the Golfweek's Best Municipal Courses list, a nationwide team of more than 475 evaluators rated the layouts on the basis of 10 criteria - including routing, conditioning, variety and memorability of holes.

About North Palm Beach Country Club:
The North Palm Beach Country Club consists of an 18-hole, Jack Nicklaus “Signature” Course. NPBCC is only the third “Signature” municipal golf course designed by Nicklaus – a renovation which was completed in 2006. Aside from the improved playability, the Nicklaus redesign included a new irrigation system, total re-grassing of all the playing surfaces, new greens and improved fairway surface drainage. The facility also has a lighted driving range, putting green, golf shop, and a well-appointed locker room facility.

“To help maintain the “Nicklaus Standard,” we turned to IGM. Since assuming the maintenance responsibilities in the fall of 2007, the condition of the golf course has helped achieve a level of conditioning never seen before at North Palm Beach Country Club. We live in the land of high-end private clubs, and we now have a municipal course that is maintained at an equivalent level. With IGM and our superintendent Shane McGuire at the helm, we know we are in good hands.” - Mike Gray, General Manager, North Palm Beach Country Club

For more information on IGM and the professional golf course services offered, please contact the IGM Business Development Office at 800-413-5500 or on the web at http://www.igminc.net/.

July Milestones

We would like to recognize the following team members who have demonstrated their continued commitment to excellence and have reached important milestones with IGM.

12 Years
Melanie Mark – Regional Manager – Southeast Florida

7 Years
Linda Piney – Administrative Assistant – IGM at ChampionsGate

6 Years
Richard Jacobs – Superintendent – IGM at Mirror Lakes

5 Years
Robert Lendak – Equipment Technician – IGM at Silver Lakes
Alexis Padilla – Crew Foreman – IGM at ChampionsGate

4 Years
Greg Hunter – Irrigation Technician – IGM at Tarpon Springs
Duane Simpson – Landscape Foreman – IGM at ViewPoint
Kenton Kiley – Assistant Superintendent – IGM at Sandridge
Eric Santana – Irrigation Technician – IGM at SilverStone

3 Years
Scott Merritt – Superintendent – IGM at ViewPoint
Guadalupe Duran – Equipment Technician – IGM at ViewPoint
Fred Lewis – Assistant Superintendent – IGM at Heritage Greens
Francisco Olivares – Equipment Technician – IGM at SilverStone
Tanner Couch – Equipment Technician – IGM at ChampionsGate

2 Years
Jerry Wheelis – Equipment Technician – IGM at Lake Henry
Terry Peacock – Crew Foreman – IGM at Lake Henry
Joseph Elacqua – Equipment Technician – IGM at Silver Dollar
Jason Farr – Superintendent – IGM at Lake Henry

1 Year
Baremd Greyling – Irrigation Technician – IGM at ChampionsGate

Thanks to each of you for your efforts in making IGM the leader in the golf maintenance industry. Your efforts are greatly appreciated.

July Birthdays

Members of the IGM Team with July birthdays:

Homer Ramsier – Equipment Technician – IGM at North Palm Beach
Richard McQuillen – Equipment Technician – IGM at Ridgewood Lakes
Larry Haley – Equipment Technician – IGM at Brays Island
Dayton Simpson – Superintendent – IGM at Pine Lakes
Martin Suarez – Assistant Superintendent – IGM at Silver Lakes
Robert Johnston – Equipment Technician – IGM at Pine Lakes
Richard Jacobs – Superintendent – IGM at Mirror Lakes
Oscar Lopez – Irrigation Technician – IGM at ViewPoint
Brad Batchelor – Superintendent – IGM at Bear Valley Springs

We wish each of you a very Happy Birthday!

IGM Superintendent Chester Guzek Wins Tollie Quinn Title

Chester Guzek, Golf Course Superintendent for IGM at Lake of the Woods earned the VGCSA Tollie Quinn title in convincing fashion. Chester shot a 3-under, 69 to win by 5 shots.

In addition to gift certificates and the trophy, Chester earned a spot on the VGCSA team which will participate at the GCSAA National Championship to be held this year in Palm Spring, California.

This event, held at Spring Creek in Gordonsville, VA is in honor of Mr. Tollie Quinn whose contributions to the turf industry in Virginia were many and included the establishment of the turf curriculum at Virginia Tech..