Thursday, December 31, 2009

Happy New Year

May the year 2010 bring for you happiness, success and be filled with peace, hope & togetherness of your family & friends... Wishing you a... HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Historical Timeline of Golf - 4 of 4 - 1956 to 2004

1956 - The current yardage guides for par are adopted by the USGA.

1961 - Gary Player becomes the first foreign player to win The Masters.

1961 - Charlie Sifford becomes the first black golfer to play in a PGA co-sponsored tournament in the south.

1962 - Jack Nicklaus wins his first professional tournament, the U.S. Open.

1963 - Arnold Palmer becomes the first professional to earn over $100,000 in official prize money one year.

1972 - Spalding introduces the first two-piece ball, the Top-Flite.

1973 - The graphite shaft is invented.

1974 - The Tournament Players Championship is inaugurated.

1976 - The USGA institutes the Overall Distance Standard- golf balls that fly more than 280 yards during a standard test are banned.

1979 - The Ryder Cup is reformatted to add European continent players.

1980 - Tom Watson is the first golfer to earn $500,000 in prize money in a single season.


1980- The Senior PGA Tour is born with four official events.

1985 - The USGA introduces the Slope System to allow golfers to adjust their handicaps to allow for the relative difficulty of a golf course compared to players own ability.

1986 - Jack Nicklaus wins his 18th and final professional major, The Masters. This is his 20th overall.

1988 - Curtis Strange becomes the first player to win over $1,000,000 in a single season.

1990 - The Ben Hogan Tour is launched as a minor league PGA Tour. Now called The Nationwide Tour.

1991 -Oversized metal woods are introduced, with Callaway Golf’s Big Bertha quickly establishing itself as the dominant brand.

1993 - An ownership group led by Joe Gibbs and Arnold Palmer announce plans for The Golf Channel, a 24- hour, 365 –day cable service

1994 - Tiger Woods becomes the youngest man to ever win the U.S. Amateur, at age 18.

1996 - In September Tiger Woods turns professional and plays in his first PGA Tour event as a pro in Milwaukee, WI.

1997 - In his first major championship as a professional, Tiger Woods becomes the youngest-ever Masters Champion at 21 years 3 months, while setting the 72 hole scoring record of 270 (18 under par)

2000 - Tiger Woods records lowest 72 hole score in relation to par at minus 12 and his margin of victory of 15 strokes is the largest ever in any major. He also has $9,188,321 in official earning during the year

2004 - Michelle Wie at age 14 becomes the youngest female to play in a PGA Tour event. She misses the cut by only one stroke.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Tom Dale Retains CGCS Certification

Congratulations to Tom Dale, Golf Course Superintendent at The Links at Brigantine for having completed his recertification and retaining the designation as of Certified Golf Course Superintendent.

Certification is achieved through the GCSAA which offers golf course superintendents a professional certification program enabling them to be recognized for their superior levels of achievement in golf course management. The professional designation (CGCS) Certified Golf Course Superintendent is bestowed upon those who voluntarily meet the stringent requirements. This designation is the most widely recognized in the golf industry and the highest level of recognition to be achieved. Only 25% of GCSAA Class A members are certified golf course superintendents.

"Achieving certification is a great accomplishment but having maintained certification since 1990 is a true testament to Tom's dedication to our industry" commented Tyler Minamyer, IGM Regional Manager.

From the entire IGM team, congratulations Tom!

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

December 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
Alan Jackson - Superintendent - IGM at Polo Grounds
5 Years
Chuck Carnite - Equipment Tech - IGM at ViewPoint
3 Years
Stanley Doughman - Equipment Tech - IGM at Ridgewood Lakes
1 Year
Douglas Kirkland - Irrigation Tech - IGM at Savannahs

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

Thursday, December 10, 2009

December Birthdays

Members of the IGM Team with November birthdays:

Robert Tramel - Assistant Superintendent - IGM at Savannahs
Sean Gillen - Assistant Superintedent - IGM at Sandridge
Francis Gilbert - Assistant Superintedent - IGM Country Creek
Douglas Kirkland - Irrigation Tech - IGM at Savannahs
David Kepperling - Irrigation Tech - IGM at Cler Brook
Emiliano Del Rosal - Crew Foreman - IGM at Brays Island
Gary Glisson - Equipment Tech - IGM at Four Lakes
Francisco Larios-Hernandez - Crew Leader - IGM at Bray Island
Nicholas MacArthur - Assisant Superintendent - IGM at SilverStone
William Dabney - Superintendent - IGM at Cler Brook
David Kiesow - Superintendent - IGM at Tarpon Springs
Paul Illgen - Superintendent - IGM at Highland Lakes
Greg Plotner - Vice President - IGM Corporate

We wish each of you a very Happy Birthday!

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Congratulations to Nick & Carly MacArthur

Congratulations to Nick & Carly MacArthur on the birth of their daughter. Chloe Grace was born on November 30, 2009 at 11:26am weighing 7 pounds, 2 ounces and 19" long.

Nick is Assistant Superintendent for IGM at SilverStone in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Historical Timeline of Golf - 3 of 4 - 1900 to 1956

1905 - The first dimple-pattern for golf balls is patented by William Taylor in England

1906 - Goodrich introduces a golf ball with a rubber core filled with compressed air. The “Pneu-matic” proves quite lively, but also prone to explode in warm weather, often in a golfer’s pocket. The ball is eventually discontinued; at this time the Haskell ball achieves a dominance of the golf ball market.

1916 - The PGA Of America is founded by 82 charter members and the PGA Championship is inaugurated. Jim Barnes is first champion.

1922 - The Walker Cup Match is instituted. Two direct descendants of the cup Founder George Herbert Walker would become President of the United States- his grandson George H. W. Bush, 41st President, and his great grandson George W. Bush, 43rd President.

1924 - The USGA legalizes steel shafted clubs.

1927 - The inaugural Ryder Cup Matches are played between Britain and the U.S.

1931 - The USGA increases the minimum size of the ball from 1.62” to 1.68” and decreases the maximum weight from 1.62 ounces to 1.55 ounces. This ball, labeled the “balloon ball” is universally despised and eventually the USGA raises the weight back to 1.62 ounces.

1934 - The first Masters is played. Horton Smith is first champion.

1934 - The official U.S. PGA Tour is created.

1938 - The Palm Beach Invitational becomes the first tournament to make a contribution to charity.

1938 - The 14-club rule is instituted.

1945 - Byron Nelson wins 18 tournaments in calendar year to set the all time PGA record. Nelson wins 11 straight events during the year.

1946 - U.S. Women’s Open is instituted. Patty Berg is first winner.

1947 - Golf is televised for the first time, in a local St. Louis telecast of U.S. Open.

1948 - The U.S. Junior Amateur is instituted. Ken Venturi loses to Dean Lind in the first final.

1950 - The Ladies Professional Golfers Association is founded. (LPGA)

1954 - The U.S. Open is nationally televised for the first time.

1956 - The current yardage guides for par are adopted by the USGA.