Today I met with Scott Turtinen, the Executive Director of the Minnesota Golf Course Superintendents’ Association (MGCSA) at his office in Wayzata. The primary reason for my visit was to learn more about their unique fund raiser I saw advertised in the Pioneer Press.
23 private courses are participating in the 20th Annual Turfgrass Research Benefit Week, to be held June 2-6, 2008. A limited number of tee times are available at each course, with a few providing gift certificates. Spots are filled in a first-come, first-serve manner and cost $120 per player (cart included at most courses). Entry forms must arrive by 3:00 p.m. on Friday, May 23, 2008.
Here are the courses still available as of today:
- Brackett’s Crossing
- Dellwood Hills
- Golden Valley
- Hillcrest
- Indian Hills
- Medina
- Midland Hills
- Minnesota Valley
- North Oaks
- Oak Ridge
- Rochester
- Stillwater
- Wayzata
This is a great opportunity to play some elite courses and support turfgrass research. This event has raised $183,500 since 1988 and is on track to top $200,000 this year.
The primary recipient of the research fund is the University of Minnesota’s TROE Center (Turfgrass, Research, Outreach and Education). Watch for a future Golfing in Minnesota story on the TROE Center later this season.
For more information, contact Scott at 952-473-2582 or via email at scott@mgcsa.org.
UPDATE: Remaining rounds are now half-price.
