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By PGA TOUR Staff

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- Demonstrating the PGA TOUR's steadfast commitment to environmental excellence, 11 TPCs recently were awarded top honors in the annual Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA)/Golf Digest Environmental Leaders In Golf Awards for 2006.

An independent panel of judges representing national environmental groups, turfgrass experts, university researchers and members of the golf community conducted the award selection. Superintendents and their courses were judged on overall course management excellence in the areas of resource conservation, water quality management, integrated pest management, wildlife/habitat management and education/outreach. Additionally, these categories were judged on sustainability, criticality, originality and technology implementation/use.

"We are very proud of Collier Miller [Director of Agronomy at TPC Golf Course Maintenance Operations] and his outstanding team of superintendents, which continues to demonstrate a sincere and unwavering commitment to preserve and protect the environment," said David Pillsbury, president of PGA TOUR Golf Course Properties.

Judges selected winners in three National categories (Public, Private and Resort) and an International winner, and also bestowed honors upon the top entry from each GCSAA affiliated Chapter. Merit honors were awarded to those who did not earn National or Chapter honors, but in the opinion of the judges, deserved special recognition.

Chapter honors/public division were awarded to Jason Kubel at TPC Tampa Bay in Lutz, Fla., and Paul Grogan, CGCS, at TPC Deere Run in East Moline, Ill.. Chapter honors/private division were awarded to Tom DeGrandi at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Conn.; Mike Powers, CGCS, at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minn.; Roger Stewart, CGCS, at TPC Jasna Polana in Princeton, N.J.; and John Kulka at TPC Michigan in Dearborn, Mich..

Merit winners in the private division included Mike Crawford, CGCS, at TPC Sugarloaf in Duluth, Ga.; David Dettmer, CGCS, at TPC Piper Glen in Charlotte, N.C.; Dennis Ingram, CGCS, at TPC Avenel in Potomac, Md.; Mark Johnson, CGCS, at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas; and Todd Lawrence, CGCS, at TPC Wakefield Plantation in Raleigh, N.C.

Golf course superintendents and their courses that have been named National, Chapter or Merit winners will be formally recognized at the GCSAA Education Conference (February 19-24) and Golf Industry Show (February 22-24) in Anaheim, Calif. In addition, program sponsors will make donations to the Environmental Institute for Golf, the philanthropic organization of the GCSAA, in the names of all National and Chapter winners.

"I am extremely proud of the work our talented team of maintenance and agronomy professionals do every day, throughout the year, to not only preserve the natural character of the golf course and the wildlife habitats they support, but also provide PGA TOUR players, members and guests with outstanding playing conditions year-round," said Miller.

Underscoring the TOUR's commitment to environmental leadership and stewardship, 21 of the 23 TPCs are certified by Audubon International as Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Systems. To date, TPCs have earned 51 GCSAA/Golf Digest Environmental Leaders In Golf Awards.