Simplot expands into Fort Myers area
The J.R. Simplot Co. is expanding into southwest Florida with a new location scheduled to open soon in the Fort Myers area.
Upon opening, the new location will offer a full range of products and solutions to help golf course superintendents and other turf managers grow healthy turf and ornamental plants.
With the new location, Simplot Turf and Horticulture will have 26 locations in 17 states.
Former golf course superintendent Andy Engelbrecht will be the regional sales representative servicing the golf market in the Fort Myers region. A graduate of the Penn State turfgrass program, Engelbrecht formerly was superintendent at Verandah Golf Club and Rotonda Golf and spent the past five years as a sales specialist with BASF.
As with the other locations, the Fort Myers team will support customers through building relationships and providing agronomic solutions.
11 Garske scholarship winners named
The GCSAA has named 11 college students as recipients of the 2024 Par Aide Garske Grants.
Established in honor of Par Aide founder Joseph S. Garske, the Par Aide Garske Grant competition is funded by the golf course accessory company and administered by the GCSAA Foundation. For more than 20 years, the program has helped children and stepchildren of GCSAA members fund their education at an accredited college or trade school with one-time, one-year grants. There are eleven grants awarded for a total of $14,000. Grants are based on community service, leadership, academic performance and a written essay.
The 2024 winners are:
- Kiersten Bolon, Penn State, biochemistry, $2,500 — daughter of Thomas Bolon, Lake Forest Country Club Thistle Golf Club, Hudson, Ohio
- Jacob Shanahan, University of Arizona, finance, $2,500 — son of Tracy Shanahan, Peach Tree Golf & Country Club, Marysville, California.
- Hayden Fabulich, University of Florida, biochemistry, $1,000 — son of Scott Fabulich, Oceanside Country Club, Ormond Beach, Florida.
- Claire Marcinek, Temple University, nursing, $1,000 — daughter of Darrell Marcinek, Somerset County Park Commission, Somerset, New Jersey.
- Mia Waddle, Iowa State University, kinesiology/pre-physical therapy, $1,000 — daughter of Brandon Waddle, Lake Panorama National Golf Course, Panora, Iowa.
- Sarah Bagwell, University of Central Florida, $1,000 — daughter of Jason Bagwell, Gleneagles Country Club West, Chambers Bay Golf Course, Delray Beach, Florida.
- Trevor Keilen, Oakland Community Collego, computational data science, $1,000 — son of Andrew Keilen, Knollwood Country Club in West Bloomfield, Michigan.
- Riley Maronge, Auburn University, agricultural science, $1,000 — father of the late Andrew Maronge.
- Andrew Stewart, University of Central Florida, finance, $1,000 — son of Bryce Gibson, Interlachen Country Club in Winter Park, Florida.
- Jaclyn Kelly Skirhanich, Bentley University, accounting, $1,000 — daughter of Michael Skirkanich, Granite Links Golf Club, Quarry Hills in Quincy, Massachusetts.
- Mia Safrit, NASCAR Technical Institute, $1,000 — daughter of Steffie Safrit, TPC Piper Glen in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Central Turf to open Florida location
Central Turf and Irrigation Supply, a distributor of irrigation, lighting, drainage and landscape supplies, will open its newest location in Freeport, Florida.
Established in 1990, Central Turf and Irrigation Supply is a family owned and operated wholesale distributor for irrigation, landscape, drainage, agronomic, sustainable products, lighting and grounds care equipment—with 60 locations in the U.S. and Canada.
The Freeport location will offer one-stop shopping with inventory from several manufacturers, same-day delivery services, category experts, large-scale design services and hands-on training.
Cabot Collection reaches deal with Audubon
Audubon International recently entered into agreement making it the environmental stewardship partner for golf and resort developer The Cabot Collection. Cabot's portfolio includes Cabot Cape Breton in Nova Scotia, Cabot Saint Lucia, Cabot Revelstoke in British Columbia, Cabot Citrus Farms in Florida and Cabot Highlands in Scotland.
Audubon International is an environmentally focused non-profit organization that offers members numerous certifications and conservation initiatives to protect their properties.
In this partnership, Toronto-based Cabot is the first multi-property brand to enroll every golf course and surrounding built environment into Audubon International’s comprehensive, Platinum Signature Sanctuary certification program that was introduced in 2023.
Platinum Certification brings an entire resort or community development under one certification umbrella, including golf courses, clubhouse facilities, lodging, real estate, restaurants and retail.
Across its portfolio, Cabot currently has eight golf courses open for play, with three courses in development and future growth plans. Both of the acclaimed Cape Breton courses, Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs, are individually certified in the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program and will move under the Platinum Signature Sanctuary umbrella along with its lodging, real estate, retail and restaurant facilities.