Povec to lead Golf Course News

Golf Course News, May 2003 by Povec, Jim

New publisher announces renovation of the year award

Before I introduce myself as the new publisher of Golf Course News, I have a special announcement to make.

With course openings on the decline in the United States, renovation work is becoming a major source of business for architects and builders. In fact, several companies who entered the 2002 Golf Course News Builder of the Year Awards will be busier this year than last because of increased renovation work.

Another hot-button issue in the industry is golf and the environment. Many organizations and courses are setting ambitious goals for meeting environmental standards, including Audubon International's 50 in Five campaign to sign up half the courses in the United States within five years' time (GCN, Jan.2002).

Recognizing the emerging importance of these two issues, we here at Golf Course News are announcing this month our Renovation of the Year Award (see ad on page 25), the first of which will be given in February 2004. GCN will solicit proposals from recently remodeled golf courses and have them judged by a panel of industry experts. The award will be given to the golf course and its superintendent. Special recognition will also be given to the course architect, builder and participating vendors, with an emphasis on environmental enhancements.

As for your new publisher, my name is Jim Povec and my first job in life was caddying and cutting greens at Sleepy Hollow Country Club in Brecksville, Ohio. Since those early days, I've spent most of my career managing magazines, trade shows or Web sites with companies such as Forbes magazine, IDG, Softbank and Ziff/Davis.

My passion and my vocation finally meet here at Golf Course News. I am committed to a healthier golf course industry, giving way to more ideas like the Renovation of the Year Award. I am committed to faster play, which is an editorial focus of this issue. I am also committed to introducing more new players to the game, especially young players.

And finally, I am committed to prove that more investment in our golf courses means more revenues and more growth for the game. Please contact me at 207-846-0600, ext. 272, or e-mail me at jpovec@golfcoursenews.com.