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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 20, 2005

“Growing the Game" Campaign Announces Volunteer Leadership

The co-chairs of the “Growing the Game” Campaign, designed to raise funds for the Center for Turfgrass Science at Penn State, today announced an extensive committee of volunteers from around the nation who will provide leadership to the fundraising effort. Jerred D. Golden, CGCS, Director of Grounds, Hershey’s Mill Golf Club and Landscape Company in West Chester, PA and Wilson (Bill) Greenwood, Jr., Green Chair of the Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, PA and President of Globe Dye Works Company, Philadelphia, have recruited a Campaign Leadership Committee that will interact with Penn State alumni and golfers throughout the country to raise funds to continue the outstanding research being carried out at Penn State. Golden is also Chair of the Board of Trustees for Pennsylvania Turfgrass Research, Inc., which is conducting the campaign.

Golden said, “We appreciate the generosity of the volunteers who are demonstrating their commitment to excellence in turfgrass by working with golfers and others whose lives are positively impacted by the ongoing research at Penn State. Their dedication will help us create new support.”

The campaign outreach will be carried out at several levels: a Pennsylvania campaign, a national campaign reaching out to Penn State alumni, and a “Friends of the Game” campaign.

The following volunteers will provide leadership for the Pennsylvania Campaign:

John A. Chassard, President, Pennsylvania Turfgrass Council, Lehigh Country Club, Allentown; Jeffrey L. Fry, CGCS, Vice President, PTC, Lebanon Country Club, Lebanon; Joseph Owsik, Eastern Pennsylvania Chair, Philmont Country Club, Huntingdon Valley; Scott A. Schukraft, Northeastern Pennsylvania Chair, Huntsville Golf Club, Shavertown; James H. Loke, CGCS, Central Pennsylvania Chair, Bent Creek Country Club, Lititz; Darrin Batisky, Western Pennsylvania Chair, Chartiers Country Club, Pittsburgh; Peter J. Landschoot, Ph. D., Liaison, Penn State’s Center for Turfgrass Science, University Park; Kenneth A. Flisek, The Club at Nevillewood, Presto; Ronald Moehler, Vance Wright Adams and Associates, Inc., Pittsburgh; Jeffrey L. Rivard, Western PA Golf Association, Pittsburgh; Michael R. Smith, CGCS, Gulph Mills Golf Club, King of Prussia; John Yakubisin, CGCS, Rolling Rock Club, Ligonier; Michael Zedreck, CGCS, Pittsburgh Field Club, Pittsburgh; and, Stanley J. Zontek, USGA Green Section, Glen Mills.

National Alumni Co-Chairs are Paul Latshaw, Turfgrass Consultant, Souderton, PA and Matthew Shaffer, Merion Golf Club, Ardmore, PA. They will work with the following State Alumni Chairs: Michael Burke, Colorado State Chair, Cherry Hills Country Club, Cherry Hills Village, CO; Jeff Corcoran, New York State Chair, Oak Hill Country Club, Rochester, NY; Robert Distel, Minnesota State Chair, Wayzata Country Club, Wayzata, MN; David Downing, CGCS, Carolinas State Chair, The Pearl Golf Links, Sunset Beach, SC; Mark D. Kuhns, CGCS, New Jersey State Chair, Baltusrol Golf Club, Springfield, NJ; Terry J. Laurent, CGCS, Indiana State Chair, Cross Creek Golf Club, Decatur, IN; Jeff Markow, CGCS, California State Chair, Cypress Point Golf Club, Pebble Beach, CA; Oscar Miles, CGCS, Illinois State Chair, The Merit Club, Libertyville, IL; John O’Donnell, Texas State Chair, Heritage Links, Houston, TX; and, Eric Snelsire, Maryland State Chair, the Links at Lighthouse Sound, Bishopville, MD. The Campaign is seeking volunteers to serve as chairs in other states.

Chair of the Friends of the Game Campaign is Frank T. Shuman, Philadelphia Turf Company, Doylestown. Serving with Shuman are Barry L. Grote, Allegheny Lawn & Golf Products, Cranberry Township, PA and David J. Guerin, E.H. Griffith, Inc., Pittsburgh.

James K. Wellen, Pennsylvania Turfgrass Research, Inc., is Executive Director of the fundraising campaign.

The “Growing the Game” campaign’s goal is to raise $500,000 in new support for turfgrass research, scholarship support and an eventual endowment. The campaign will take place over the next three years, and will solicit both gifts and pledges. To accomplish this, volunteers will seek annual support from country clubs and their members, businesses and individuals associated with the turfgrass industry, Penn State alumni, and from golfers and people who enjoy lawns, athletic fields and environmentally friendly landscapes.

Funds will go to Pennsylvania Turfgrass Research, Inc., associated with the Pennsylvania Turfgrass Council (PTC), in support of the Penn State Center for Turfgrass Science, a national leader in the field and a vital resource. Since 1955, PTC has contributed more than $2,000,000 to support Penn State’s research, which is available to all turfgrass managers. PTC also supports scholarships for students to study in the turfgrass program.

Media Contact: Georgene Thompson, 717-243-1349/ georgenethompson@comcast.net