The Show in Pictures

Paul Azinger, who captained the winning U.S. Ryder Cup team last year, studies his notes before giving the keynote speech at the Golf Industry Show. The modest Azinger scribbled the notes on ruffled paper during dinner. (Photo by Larry Aylward)

Syngenta Professional Products hosted baseball hall-of-famer Mike Schmidt at a private party in a room tucked away in the convention center last Friday during the show. The Philadelphia Phillies great later appeared at Syngenta’s booth. Syngenta invited GCSAA Past President David Downing (left) and GCSAA CEO Mark Woodward (right) to meet Schmidt (left photo). But it was Dave Ravel, golf market manager for Syngenta, who was most excited about meeting the heralded third baseman who had 548 career home runs (right photo). Ravel (pictured right to the right of Schmidt) is an avid Phillies fan, and Schmidt is one of his favorite players. (Photos by Larry Aylward)

Carl Wittenauer, certified golf course superintendent of Brookside Golf & Country Club in Columbus, Ohio, cuddles up to UgMO the bulldog, the guest of honor (along with famed golfer Gary Player) at a reception held by Advanced Sensor Technology for golf course superintendents and others at the House of Blues. UgMO, besides being a great dog name, is actually short for UnderGround MOnitoring), an in-ground sensor system that operates via a wireless mesh network, which Advanced Sensor Technology introduced during the show. (Photo by Larry Aylward)

OK, this is getting to be like the Pittsburgh Steelers winning Super Bowl titles in the 1970s. Seth Strickland (right), the golf course superintendent at Miami Shores (Fla.) Country Club, won his second consecutive GCSAA National Championship, and third overall, at Kiva Dunes Golf Club in Gulf Shores, Ala. Strickland, who won both the 2005 and 2008 tournaments when they were played in Orlando, Fla., entered the final round five shots behind second-round leaders Richard Pavlasek of Gainey Ranch Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz., and Chester Guzek of Lake of the Woods in Spotsylvania, Va. But he quickly took charge and made the turn at 3-under-par, which pushed him into the lead. In this photo, Strickland receives his trophy from David Downing, past president of the GCSAA. Hey Seth, maybe you should be the pro at your club. Just kidding! Congrats! (Scott McCrossen/Courtesy of GCSAA)

Terry Bonar, certified golf course superintendent of Canterbury Country Club in Cleveland, was awarded the distinguished 2009 USGA Green Section Award at the show. Bonar, a Penn State graduate in turf management and a member of Golfdom’s editorial advisory team, has spent his entire 48 years as a superintendent at Canterbury. In presenting the award to Bonar (left), Stanley J. Zontek, the Mid-Atlantic Region Director for the United States Golf Association, said nobody does the job of superintendent better than Bonar. “This award is for more than survival,” Zontek said. “The superintendent’s job is preparing and presenting turfgrass to play golf. Nobody does it better.” Bonar thanked Dr. Joe Duich and Dr. Joe Vargas as his early influencers. “I am very fortunate to have worked with some great people,” Bonar said. “I am privileged to work at a great course for a great club. From the bottom of my heart, thank you very much.” (Photo by: Curt Harler)

Larry Aylward (far right), editor in chief of Golfdom, took on John Walsh (center), editor of Golf Course Industry and Seth Jones (left of Walsh), senior associate editor of Golf Course Management, in a Turf Jeopardy game at the BASF booth. Aylward squandered a huge lead in the latter part of the game to Jones, who was lucky enough to win. (By the way, Aylward is from Cleveland, where sports teams often choke away huge leads and lose.) The great thing about the game, however, is that BASF donated $1,000 in each player’s name to their charities of choice. Very cool! (Photo by: Dan Jacobs)

The band Bonerama almost blew the ceiling off the House of Blues with its brass funk rock. The New Orleans band, which features a four-trombone frontline, captured the eyes and ears of attendees of the private party hosted by BASF Turf & Ornamental.

Bigfoot was back at Valent’s booth this year. He may look mean, but he’s pretty cool. Bigfoot, who poses here in front of giant balloon of himself, has made a big imprint (sorry for the bad pun) in Valent’s advertising campaign. (Photo by: Larry Aylward)

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