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.

Veteran's Day

On Veteran's Day, our most heartfelt thanks goes out to all those who have served or are serving our country. We also share a great admiration for the families of service men and women. A sincere thanks to you as well.

 

Many have fought and died for the freedoms and opportunities we have as Americans. Honor a veteran; not just today but everyday.

Why Outsource with IGM?

Happy Independence Day

From all of us at IGM, have a safe and happy Independence Day!

IGM and Chicopee Country Club start season strong!

The Chicopee Country Club located in Chicopee, Massachusetts recently hired IGM to help improve course conditions and to help contain escalating maintenance costs. 

 

Now that the golfing season has started, the players have already noticed a change!  Tom DiRico, Director of Golf for Chicopee Country Club, explains:  “the impact of IGM’s turf management programs is evident as we are already seeing the results out on the course.  Also, the communication from Mike Bach, IGM Golf Course Superintendent, and the support from IGM’s Northeast Regional staff (Mike Fontaine and Tyler Minamyer) has been a huge help.”

“We are happy to be working with Tom and the Chicopee Country Club golf committee.  The course has a great reputation, and we look forward to helping them restore course conditions.  With IGM Superintendent, Mike Bach, on board, we are expecting great things,” says Steve Gano, Vice President of Operations for IGM.

 

IGM’s first order of business was to develop and implement agronomically sound cultural practices as well as to clean and organize the maintenance facility.  The Chicopee Country Club has future plans to replace the course irrigation system beginning in the fall of 2013 and IGM will help oversee the project.  The Club projects $250,000 in savings over the next three years by hiring IGM.

AMI Kids Croquet Tournament

Preparations underway for the May 11th event

For the past 22 years, Owners at Brays Island Plantation in Sheldon, SC have invited individuals and businesses throughout the county to support the AMI Kids Beaufort formerly called Beaufort Marine Institute. Teams from all over the county come to compete in the spirit of having fun and raising funds for this terrific cause.

 

Since IGM began maintaining the Brays Island Plantation Golf Course in 2008, our team has been responsible for laying out and preparing the courts for this event. At the conclusion of the club’s Member/Guest, the driving range tee is closed and intensive maintenance practices begin. From a range tee that shows the traffic of a busy golf season to a top quality croquet surface in just two weeks.

 

About AMI Kids

AMI Kids which has "campuses" throughout the country, is the last hope for third strike delinquent boys. AMI saves these kids and makes them productive citizens in today's society. The local chapter has a 78 % success rate, while state and county centers can claim around 15 %. With the decrease in funding over the years, this fundraiser is even more important. In the past 22 years, the money raised has purchased a boat, a van, and an outdoor teaching center, to name just a few items. For more information visit  http://www.amikids.org/.

National Golf Day

On April 16^th the We Are Golf coalition met with Members of Congress during the sixth annual National Golf Day to share stories and data about golf’s diverse businesses, employees, tax revenue creation, tourism and charitable benefits, and environmental leadership. A snapshot of the information they are shared includes:

• Economic Benefits of Golf: Golf is a nearly $70 billion industry, providing nearly 2 million jobs and total wage income of $55.6 billion. That’s larger than spectator sports and performing arts industries combined.
• Golf's Charitable Impact: Golf’s national charitable impact was $3.9 billion in 2011— more than 12 million people participated in 143,000 golf-related charity events at 12,000 different golf facilities.
• Supporting our Troops: The PGA TOUR has raised more than $10 million for US military and their families through Birdies for the Brave. PGA professionals and USGA members have raised more than $16.4 million for the Folds of Honor Foundation, which has provided more than 3,600 scholarships for military families. The Salute Military Golf Association has helped rehabilitate wounded warriors, providing more than 1,700 free, private lessons and custom-fitted clubs to our veterans.
• Health Benefits of Golf: Walking 18 holes of golf is the same as taking a 5 mile walk or running 3.5 miles – well in excess of the 10,000 steps recommended for daily exercise. You burn about 2,000 calories when you walk and 1,300 when you use a cart – and your blood glucose levels fall anywhere from 10 to 30 percent.
• Environmental Stewardship: Golf is now on the leading edge of environmental sustainability and stewardship efforts. Golf courses account for two million acres of green space across the country, which are home to a vast array of wildlife species. New, industry-wide principles on sustainability ensure continual improvement in the design, development, construction, and management of golf courses.

We Are Golf is led by the Club Managers Association of America, the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, the National Golf Course Owners Association, and The PGA of America, We Are Golf is a new coalition formed to tell the true story of golf. Not just the game, but the stories of the hardworking men and women who make it the greatest sport in the world and whose livelihoods depend on it. It is these accounts that affirm the continued health and growth of the golf industry is vital to thousands of communities across the country and instrumental in enhancing the lives of millions of Americans.

 

By showcasing golf’s diverse businesses and their employees, the tax revenues it creates, the tourism it spawns, the charity it generates, and the environmental benefits it provides, We Are Golf is leveling the playing field for the thousands of small businesses that make up the industry and depend on the sport for their success. Visit http://wearegolf.org/ to learn more.

Golf Course Maintenance Tip: Spring Weed Control

Spring means something different to everyone. For Golf Course Superintendents who strive for high quality turf grass, spring can be all about weed control programs. Remember that first and foremost, healthy turf is the best preventer of weeds. Long before you even think about mixing up a tank of herbicide, be sure to know what your soil needs to produce healthy turf. Take regular soil samples and use that data to develop your plan for the entire year. Sustainable turf management is multi-faceted. Responsible and successful managers never go straight to the pesticides. 

When pre-emergent herbicides are part of your plan, be sure to get the most out of them with proper timing. Know what your target is, how your herbicide works and when to apply it to achieve optimum results. Many people still use natural indicators to determine pre-emergent timing such as the application of crabgrass control when the forsythia plants bloom.

Regardless of the indicators you choose, know the facts and make good decisions based on your data. This will help you to reduce your golf course maintenance costs and be a good steward to the environment.

Did You Know?: 10 Facts About Turfgrass

1.     There are over 45 million acres of turfgrass in the US of all types from recreational to utilitarian. Home lawns to soccer fields, golf courses, roadsides, buffer strips and everything in between.

 

2.     There are over 10,000 different types of grass in the world.

 

3.   The US turfgrass industry is worth an estimated 45 billion dollars ($45,000,000,000) and employees 500,000 people.

 

4.      A 2,500 square foot area of turfgrass produces enough oxygen for a family of 4 and a golf course produces enough oxygen for 7,000 people.

 

5.     Just 8 home lawns have the same cooling effect as 70 tons of air conditioning. The temperature of a lawn can be 30 degrees cooler than a paved surface and 15 degrees cooler than bare soil.

 

6.     Turfgrass prevents erosion. It is the most effective erosion prevention method trapping 12 million tons of dirt & dust from our atmosphere annually. It also traps silt and sediment from water run-off protecting water sources.

 

7.     Turfgrass also protects water by filtering water as it passes through the soil. 90% of the weight of a grass plant is in its roots.

 

8.     There are 8.5 million plants on the average lawn and many more on a typical golf putting green.

 

9.     Grass clippings are a good source of nutrients that can be re-used by the plants. If clippings were a fertilizer for sale at your local store it would have a 4-1-2 analysis. (4% Nitrogen, 1% Phosphorus & 2% Potassium)

 

10.  There are about 280,000 seeds in a pound of Perennial Ryegrass and about 6,000,000 seeds in a pound of creeping Bentgrass.

What’s in a Golf Course Maintenance Team?

When it comes to golf course maintenance, there is nothing more important than the people who do it day in and day out!  At IGM, we spend countless hours building the right team for each of our properties.  From the Superintendent and Technicians to the Greensmen, we work hard to make sure the right people are on the team.  Our HR department has a motto…  “Not only do we need the right people on the bus, we need the right people in the right seats on the bus.”  At IGM, this means matching up skill set of the employee to the golf course maintenance position!

We look for team members who are professional, friendly, communicative and helpful.  IGM golf course maintenance employees are trained utilizing a proprietary manual specific to golf course maintenance tasks.  Team members are introduced to the game of golf and understand the terminology used on a golf course.  Personnel wear an approved uniform which is clean and well-kept.  IGM personnel are encouraged to smile, make eye-contact, address members and guests by their sir name, and in general, project a positive attitude.  Team members are required to participate in monthly safety meetings.  And, finally, they will be encouraged to find a win-win outcome in any situation. 

For us, there is nothing more rewarding than seeing a golf course maintenance employee learn and succeed in this business.  A team made up of carefully recruited and highly trained individuals can improve the condition of any golf course!

Don’t Make These Mistakes!

Have you heard about all of the qualified Golf Course Superintendents losing their jobs to less costly (sometimes unqualified) Assistant Superintendents just to save a few bucks?  Or, have you heard about the Superintendent being asked to cut the golf course maintenance budget by 20%?  We hear troubling stories each week about a different club faced with the challenge of losing money.  However, trimming the budget by an arbitrary amount or sacrificing a competent Superintendent can be extremely costly in the long haul. 

 

At IGM, we employ a golf course maintenance strategy which can help a club improve the bottom line.  The answer may not always be to randomly lower the golf course maintenance budget or cut golf course maintenance positions.  IGM representatives listen to club owners, directors, committees and management closely, and we develop affordable golf course maintenance plans to fit into the club’s overall budget.  IGM’s customized golf course maintenance plan will match the goals of the Club.  First and foremost, IGM understands the importance of golf course maintenance conditions and how the quality of the maintenance affects golfer satisfaction.  Across the Country, IGM has been implementing efficient golf course maintenance programs for years – well before the hurdle we now face in the golf maintenance industry. 

 

To see if IGM’s maintenance plans can help you or your course, please call (800) 413-5500 or click here to contact us.

Creative Thinking & Cost Savings

Selecting golf course accessories and especially tee markers can be a challenge. Golf course accessories should be consistent throughout the course and support the theme or style of the course. IGM Golf Course Superintendent Todd Hugill has always done a great job of this at the links style Widows Walk Golf Course in Scituate, Massachusetts. From the color selection to nautical rope, this seaside course has a special look and feel.

 

The newest additions to the course are custom tee markers. Made in-house by the IGM Staff, these markers incorporate a branded logo onto a high quality Douglas Fir four by four. The body of the marker is painted the color of the tee box and the entire piece protected from the New England weather with an acrylic sealer. Not only are these markers attractive and unique, they are also very cost effective.

IGM maintained Black Jack’s Crossing at Lajitas Resort named top 7 new courses in the world

The Lanny Wadkins’ design according to Golfweek’s Brad Klein, was one of the layouts that made a difference in Golf Course Architecture in 2012. Carved out of the desert directly above the historical spot where U.S. Army General ‘Black Jack’ Pershing would repeatedly cross the Rio Grande in pursuit of Pancho Villa during the early 1900s, Lajitas’ stunningly unique Black Jack’s Crossing golf course has picturesque tee shots and magnificent views. With minimal bunkering and multi-level green complexes, the layout is very memorable and truly a work of art.

 

Recently referred to as the "Best Golf Resort in Texas," the course is 100% ‘Platinum’ Paspalum from tee through the green – a turfgrass specifically adaptive to salt affected sites. Greg Plotner of IGM states, "the isolated location of Lajitas alone has tested our management ability. It reminds us of our experience in the Caribbean and on different islands. We are forced to be creative and resourceful. We are very proud of what Michael Hummel, GCS and our team has been able to accomplish on such a magnificent piece of property."

 

 

IGM has helped the resort complete numerous projects such as: completing the grow-in, implementing the use fertigation and adding to the drainage and irrigation systems. The resort and course are a must see!

IGM is pleased to announce long-term agreements with The Ledges Golf Club and North Palm Beach Country Club

At North Palm Beach Country Club (NPBCC), IGM was selected out of five qualified companies to perform the course maintenance. The Jack Nicklaus Signature Design is situated adjacent to Florida’s Intracoastal Waterway and boasts 7,000 yards for a par-71 course. Featuring ‘MiniVerde’ Bermudagrass greens, the links-style course is located in a very competitive golf market and demands superb conditions to maintain its Signature status.
 

Also, after maintaining The Ledges Golf Club for the last eight years, IGM was awarded a ten-year contract to continue as the maintenance provider for the Town of South Hadley, Massachusetts. Located alongside the Connecticut River, the course displays pure Bentgrass greens, tees and fairways. IGM will continue to work closely with the Town’s Golf Commission and Conservation Commission to maintain the environmentally elite standards set for the property. 

IGM Executive Vice President, Greg Plotner says of the two contracts, "These two success stories are a result of our commitment to customer service. This is what we aim for – customers who want the depth of resources of a big company but with a personal touch. It is great cause for celebration."

ABOUT IGM

As a national turf maintenance company, IGM contracts with golf courses and country clubs to handle all aspects of turf and grounds maintenance. From personnel to equipment issues, IGM develops maintenance programs that incorporate all the resources necessary to meet the agronomic needs of the customers’ facilities—many times at a savings compared with historical spending.

For more information on IGM and the professional golf course maintenance services offered, please contact Jennifer George, Public Relations Manager at 800-413-5500. Additional information, including an electronic version of this release may also be obtained via the Internet by visiting IGM’s blog at http://blog.igminc.net.

Did You Know?: IGM Turf & Landscape Maintenance

Did you know IGM was more than a golf course maintenance company?  IGM maintains diverse turf for such sports as soccer, polo, softball, baseball and football.  IGM and its talented personnel care for several fishing spots, beaches, shooting ranges and numerous manicured landscapes.  Contact IGM to see how we might be able to help you with your turf or amenity maintenance!

February 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

Michael Fontaine

 

7 Years

Ernesto Gonzalez

 

5 Years

Terry Lazenby

 

3 Years

Adalberto Carrion

Kevin Margrave

 

2 Years

Marvin Rodriguez

 

1 Year

John Pont

Gregory Velasquez

 

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

February Birthdays

Members of the IGM Team with February birthdays:

 

Lynden Aldrich

Ismael Avalos

Leonardo Aguilar

Eddie Branham

Adalberto Carrion

Tommy Joe Coffey

Joshua Coleman

Carlos Cruz

Jose Carlos Dossantos

Daniel Eason

Glenn Esposito

Kou Lee

Everardo Lopez Magana

Nicholas Masters

Glen Millich

Alberto Rivera

Alberto Trujillo

Gerardo Velazquez

Winfield Yount

Kevin Margrave

Erasmo Velazquez

 

We wish each of you a very Happy Birthday!

January 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.

14 Years

Chris Eckart

Dennis Gates

Michael Heckenstaller

Bobby Jacoby

Ken Parker

Edward Royland

 

10 Years

Joe Carranza

Bobby Reyes

 

7 Years

Brian Aiken

Guy Casimir

Eddy Dieu

Charles Dobson

Larry Lehman

Roges Louisius

Serjoune Simeon

5 Years

Nigel Hoyte

Sriram Laldhar

Richard Taft

Rolando Martinez

4 Years

Charles Calhoun

Brandon Greenaway

Rene Rodriguez

Aurelio Zapata

Ryan Bomgaars

 

3 Years

James Cullen

Daryl Schomber

2 Years

Manuel Cazares

Joshua Coleman

Amos Richardson

Alberto Trujillo

 

1 Year

Victor Perez Ayon

Adali Lopez

Ryan Malloy

Jorge Reyes

Ramon Rodriguez

 

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

January Birthdays

Members of the IGM Team with January birthdays:

 

Ryan Bomgaars

Nickolaus White

David Davila

Jose Sanchez

Armand Brassard Jr.

Cesar Castillo

Gerald Cheslock

Dennis Gates

Daniel Maggi

Julian Marcial

Miguel Pascual

Jorge Reyes

Daniel Scroggs

Serjoune Simeon

O'Dave Tyson

Gregorio Velazquez

Juan Ventura

Gerardo Victor

Jerry Wheelis

 

We wish each of you a very Happy Birthday!

Sandy Benefit Tournament

What has become known as Super Storm Sandy left an indelible mark on the Island of Brigantine, New Jersey on October 28th and 29th, 2012.  Storm surge and high tides combined to create water levels not seen in 50 years, wreaking havoc on many homes on the island as well as the golf course.

 

The golf course was closed for nearly 3 weeks in order to remove the piles of debris left in Sandy’s wake.  The clubhouse parking lot became the temporary transfer station for the debris from all of the damaged homes on the island, a reminder every day of the deep effect the storm had across the island.

In an effort to help those who lost homes or had their homes significantly damaged by the storm, The Links at Brigantine Beach hosted a fund raiser.  Fifteen teams took to the Links in the scramble format with the winning score coming in at 16 under par.  With the golf course fees donated by the City of Brigantine and the lunch donated by Meadowbrook Golf, more than $5000 was raised to help those in the immediate area get back on their feet.

Happy New Year

May 2013 bring for you happiness, success and be filled with peace, hope & togetherness of your family & friends... Wishing you a... HAPPY NEW YEAR!