Happy Thanksgiving

We would like to wish everyone a safe and Happy Thanksgiving.

During this time as we look to those things that we all most thankful for, it is important not to forget the men and women of the US Armed Forces both past and present. On this day of thanks be sure to let those who have served or are serving our country know how thankful we are for them.

November Anniversaries

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

8 Years
Dustin Plemons – Superintendent – IGM at Ridgewood Lakes

5 years
William Dabney – Superintendent – IGM at Cler Brook

3 years
David Souder – Equipment Tech – IGM at Sandridge

2 years
Robert Johnson – Equipment Tech – IGM at Pine Lakes
David Bair – Irrigation Tech – IGM at Heritage Greens

1 year
Roger Heckel – Assistant Superintendent – IGM at Tarpon Springs
Emiliano Del Rosal – Crew Foreman – IGM at Brays Island

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

November Birthdays

Members of the IGM Team with November birthdays:

Andy Fowler - Assistant Superintendent - IGM at Waynesville
Lonnie Smith - Assistant Superintendent - IGM at Ridgewood Lakes
Martin Bojorquez - Irrigation Tech - IGM at Date Palm
Wayne Deese - Irrigation Tech - IGM at Sandridge
Martin Contreras - Crew Foreman - IGM at SilverStone
Jeff Miller - Superintendent - IGM at Waynesville
Scott Merritt - Superintendent - IGM at ViewPoint
Chester Guzek - Superintendent - IGM at Lake of the Woods
Dustin Plemons - Superintendent - IGM at Ridgewood Lakes
Jim Moller - Superintendent - IGM at Habitat
Aaron Warstler - Superintendent - IGM at Terraverde
Steve Gano - Vice President - IGM Corporate

We wish each of you a very Happy Birthday!

Historical Timeline of Golf - 2 of 4 - 1800 to 1900

1810 - Earliest recorded reference to a women’s competition at Musselburgh.

1826 - Hickory imported from America is used in making golf shafts.

1848 - The invention of the “guttie”, the gutta-percha ball. It flies farther than previous balls and is much less expensive. It contributes greatly to the expansion of the game.

1859 - The first Amateur Championship is won by George Condie of Perth.

1861 - The Open Championship is born. Commonly referred to as The British Open. It is won by Old Tom Morris.

1867 - The Ladies’ Golf Club at St. Andrews is founded. The first golf club for women.

1884 - The Oakhurst Golf Club is founded at White Sulphur Springs, W.V. The first hole at The Homestead survives from this course and is the oldest golf hole in America.

1894 - The United States Golf Association is formed (USGA). The governing body of golf in the United States.

1895 - The U.S. Amateur Championship is instituted. The first U.S. Open is held the following day. Horace Rawlins is the champion.

1898 - The term “birdie” is coined at Atlantic C.C. from “ a bird of a hole”

1899 - The Western Open is first played at Glenview C.C., the first tournament that would evolve into the PGA Tour.

IGM's Robert Diebold Represents SNGCSA at GCSAA Chapter Delegates Meeting

On October 10th & 11th, the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America held its 17th Annual Chapter Delegates meeting in Lawrence, Kansas. In attendance was Robert Diebold, IGM's West Coast Regional Manager. Robert was selected to represent the Southern Nevada GCSA by the other members of the Association's Board of Directors in which he currently serves. The meeting covered a wide range of topics, including the state of the golf economy, association governance, golf’s relationship with the environment and membership growth and retention.

"Being a part of the SNGCSA board and attending the delegates meeting are terrific experiences. Each of us in the turf industry should take time to participate with our local and national professional associations. Our contributions will help to advance the image of our profession and to grow our industry." commented Robert.

Steve Gano, IGM Vice President went on to add "IGM supports and encourages all of our team members to be active with their local associations, civic groups and charities. We are not only a part of the golf industry but also a part of each of the communities in which we operate."

Some interesting facts about the US golf industry shared from the meeting:

• Golf is played by more that 28 million people


• The industry provides more than 2 million jobs with a total wage of over 61 billion dollars


• The total direct economic impact of golf is 76 billion dollars with an indirect impact of 195 billion dollars


• The golf industry is larger than the motion picture industry, performing arts and spectator sports as well as the newspaper industry

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 www.igminc.net.

Historical Timeline of Golf - 1 of 4 - 1354 to 1800

1354 - The first recorded reference to “chole”, the probable antecedent to golf.

1452 - King James II of Scotland bans the playing of the game, along with soccer, because it is keeping his subjects from archery practice.

1502 - With the signing of the Treaty of Glasgow between England and Scotland, the ban on golf is lifted.

1552 - First recorded evidence of golf at St. Andrews. Considered by most the “Cradle of Golf.”

1567 - Mary, Queen of Scots is the first known female golfer.

1659 - Golf is banned from the streets of Albany, N.Y. the first reference to golf in America.

1744 - The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers is formed, playing at Leith Links. It is the first golf club.

1754 - The first codified Rules of Golf published by St. Andrews Golfers.

1759 - Earliest reference to stroke play at St. Andrews. Previously all play was match.

1768 - The Golf House at Leith is erected. It is the first golf clubhouse.

1786 - The South Carolina Golf Club is formed in Charleston, the first golf club outside of the United Kingdom.

Chester Guzek & Matt Sobotka Take 2nd Straight Joe Saylor Title

Chester Guzek and Matt Sobotka of IGM at Lake of the Woods successfully defended their title of Overall Gross Champions at the 5th Annual Joe Saylor Memorial Golf Tournament. Against a full field of 124 players at The Foundry Golf Club in Powhatan, Virginia they shot an impressive 7 under, 65.

Sponsored in part by IGM, the event benefited the US Marine Corp Toys for Tots program. In addition to the entry fee, each participant brought a toy to donate to the drive. For more information about Toys for Tots please visit http://www.toysfortots.org/.

The tournament is put on in honor of Joe Saylor. Joe was a great servant to golf and his profession as a Superintendent in the Hampton Roads/Tidewater Virgina area for nearly 40 years.