Around The Commonwealth
VIRGINIA GOLF HALL OF FAME
REVEALS 2020 CLASS
The Virginia Golf Hall of Fame will grow by
five members next May, with Kandi Kessler
Comer, Wayne Jackson, David Partridge,
Richard Smith and Wynsol Spencer joining
as members of the Class of 2020. The induc-
tion ceremony will be held on May 5 at
Hermitage Country Club in Manakin-Sab-
ot. For more information on the class, visit
virginiagolfhalloffame.com. Virginia
Golfer will take a deeper look at this class
in the January-February 2020 issue of
the magazine.
GOVERNOR COMMENDS VIRGINIA
GCSA CHAPTER
For years now, the Virginia chapter of
the Golf Course Superintendents Asso-
ciation of America has been intimate-
ly involved with cleanup efforts in the
Chesapeake Bay watershed. Through
the chapter’s publication of Environ-
mental Management Best Practices for
Virginia’s Golf Courses and the state’s golf
course superintendents’ commitment to
nutrient planning, the VGCSA has been a
model of environmental stewardship for
the Commonwealth.
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam recently
recognized the state’s golf industry for its
years of work in protecting the watershed.
In the governor’s most recent report on the
Chesapeake Bay watershed, he notes that
“the DCR (Department of Conservation
and Recreation) would like to acknowledge
the initiative taken by the members of the
golf turf industry to meet the highest envi-
ronmental protection standards.”
He continued, praising Virginia Tech,
the Virginia Cooperative Extension, the
Virginia GCSA, the Virginia Turfgrass
Council, the Virginia Agribusiness Coun-
cil and the national GCSAA.
“Success was made possible by all par-
ties involved demonstrating their com-
vsga.org
mitment to protect the environment
through sound nutrient management
practices,” Northam wrote.
In 2011, the VGCSA began working
with Virginia’s DCR to ensure that at least
99 percent of the 326 golf courses in the
Commonwealth obtained a nutrient man-
agement plan or were contracted with a
certified planner by 2017. In total, that
accounts for more than 28,000 acres of
land under nutrient management, and it
helps Virginia meet its water quality goals.
The VGCSA has also worked with state
lawmakers and the DCR to secure general
funds in the state budget to help cours-
es offset the costs of certified nutrient
management plans, an annual allocation
of $100,000.
“In Virginia, we have clearly laid out
here what we are doing and why,” Kes-
wick Golf Club superintendent Peter
McDonough said. “I believe we are the
best natural resource user around.”
AJGA ALL-AMERICANS
Abingdon’s Connor Creasy, a member
at Glenrochie Country Club, earned
first-team All-America honors from the
American Junior Golf Association as the
organization handed out it season-ending
awards. Two other VSGA members—
Great Falls’ Kelly Chinn (Army Navy
CC) and Fairfax’s George Duangmanee
(International CC)—were honorable
mention All-Americans. Creasy has begun
his career at the University of Georgia and
Duangmanee will begin his University of
Virginia career next fall. Chinn, a high-
school junior, has committed to Duke.
In addition, VSGA Junior Golf Circuit
member David Luo earned one of 24
spots on the AJGA’s Scholastic Junior
All-America team.
MID-ATLANTIC HONORS
The National Golf Course Owners Asso-
ciation Mid-Atlantic Chapter honored
Cedar Point Country Club in Suffolk as its
Private Golf Leader for 2019. In addition,
Mike Cumberpatch—executive director
for both the Middle Atlantic Golf Associ-
ation and the Washington Metropolitan
Golf Association—earned the Mid-Atlantic
Golf Leader Award for 2019.
The Virginia chapter of the Golf
Course Superintendents Association
of America has helped to keep the
Chesapeake Bay watershed clean.
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