David Fruchte, course superintendent from Pine Needles and Mid Pines Resort in Southern Pines, is among the directors elected to the new Carolinas GCSA board.

Fruchte directed course maintenance during the U.S. Women’s Opens in 1996, 2001 and 2007 at Pine Needles.

David Lee, from Hope Valley Country Club in Durham and Chuck Green, from Sage Valley Golf Club in Aiken, S.C. were also elected.

Times are tough in the golf industry, but it didn’t show in the recent regional and conference trade show for golf course superintendents held in Myrtle Beach last week.

“It certainly doesn’t mean we’re recession proof but it does show a resilience and optimism in Carolinas golf that’s not necessarily present in other parts of the country,” said John Davis, from Secession Golf Club and the Carolinas GCSA's new president.

“The companies and individuals who support this event are committed to the good of the game and that is why they continue to step up. We are very grateful for their support.”

While some final numbers are still to be tallied, the 2010 conference and trade show sold more exhibit booths and more education seats than it had since the recession hit after a record-breaking event in 2007.

“I think a lot of people expected the downturn to take a bite this year but we more than held our own,” said Carolinas GCSA executive director Tim Kreger. “It was a great outcome and the feedback from superintendents and exhibitors alike has been overwhelmingly positive.”

Clay DuBose, certified golf course superintendent and general manager at Tradition Golf Club in Myrtle Beach, won the $5,000 grand prize in the $15,000 27-Hole Challenge. Presenting partners were John Deere Golf with Revels Turf and Tractor, Greenville Turf and Tractor and ShowTurf.

Golf Channel’s Charlie Rymer was keynote speaker in advance of the Carolinas GCSA annual business meeting where John Davis, from Secession Golf Club in Beaufort, S.C., took over the presidency from Jeffrey Connell, from Fort Jackson Golf Club in Columbia, S.C.

Plant pathologist, Dr. Bruce Martin, from Clemson University, received the Carolinas GCSA Distinguished Service Award.

Steve Agazzi, from Kiawah Island Resort’s Turtle Point course, won the Carolinas GCSA superintendent golf championship shooting a two-over par round of 74 on the Heathland course at Legends Resort. Nearly 260 golfers took part in the tournament across three courses.

CGG Expands: The Carolinas Golf Group, a full-service management company, has added the Sapona Country Club in Lexington to its list of clients. The club was opened in 1969 and features a course designed by Carolinas Golf Hall of Fame architect Ellis Maples

“We welcome Sapona to our group,” said Roger Watson, CGG president. “The club has a long and colorful history and ranks with the finest in the state. It is our pleasure to provide management for this distinguished club and its members.”

In addition to Sapona, the Raleigh-based firm also manages five other clubs in North Carolina — the Country Club of Salisbury, High Point Country Club, Lonnie Poole Golf Course at N. C. State University, Wildwood Green in Raleigh, North River Club in Beaufort, and Sanctuary Cove in St. Simons Island, Ga.

During the past year, the Carolinas Golf Group handled the sale of four golf courses.

Key CGG personnel include Watson, Dan Breneman, Willis Denmark, David Brooks, Dan Piscitelli, Dr. Ralph James and Bill F. Hensley.

Lonnie Poole: The Lonnie Poole Golf Course at N. C. State University has been ranked among the nation’s best new courses by Golfweek Magazine in their annual ratings.

The course, designed by Arnold Palmer, was opened in 2009 to rave reviews. It is located on the university’s Centennial Campus and is open to the public.

The magazine listed 40 new courses across the nation that opened during the past year. The best new course award went to Old Macdonald in Bandon, Ore. Two other North Carolina courses were included. They were Cape Fear National near Wilmington and Sequoyah National near Cherokee.

“We are proud to be one of the nation’s best new courses,” offered Chip Watson, general manager and golf director of the acclaimed layout in view of the Raleigh skyline. “Ours is a special creation that will always be mentioned when great courses are discussed. It is a beautiful and challenging addition to our state’s many fine courses.”

Lonnie Poole plays to a slope of 144 and a course rating of 74.9 from the competitive tees. Par is 71. There are five sets of tees ranging from 7,358 yards to 4,976 yards.

Contact Howard Ward at howardward@att.net.