Vollie Carr Wins IGCEMA's Budding Award
On December 24, 2010 the International Golf Course Equipment Managers Association (IGCEMA) announced its fourth annual winner of the Edwin Budding award, sponsored by Ransomes-Jacobsen. The winner was chosen by a committee of industry professionals selected by the IGCEMA.
IGCEMA President Mike Kriz announced Mr. Vollie Carr (Retired), former Product and Tournament Support Manager for Jacobsen, as this year's winner.
The award will be presented to Vollie during the Golf Industry Show in Orlando, FL at the IGCEMA reception on Thursday February 10th. Vollie will travel to Orlando as the guest of Ransomes-Jacobsen.
The Edwin Budding Award Committee met via conference call on December 17th and via email for deliberation and the decision. Mr.Carr had strong nomination support from clubs such as Augusta National and Congressional to name a few.
The Edwin Budding Award Committee Members are:
Chair: David Withers - Managing Director - Ransomes/Jacobsen Carl Osterhaus - The Toro Company Garry Carpenter - John Deere Golf and Turf Stephen Bernhard - Bernhard and Company Jim Letourneau - Foley United Steve Spuhler - IGCEMA
The Edwin Budding Award was created to award those in the turf equipment industry whose actions have gone above and beyond the norm to help develop our industry into what it is today. Edwin Budding was one of those individuals who helped define golf; not as a player, but as an engineer. He designed the first reel mower, which has shaped golf as we know it today. Imagine golf today without the invention of the reel mower. Where would golf be? The IGCEMA wanted to recognize individuals that demonstrate the same qualities Mr. Budding did; influence significant change in our industry above and beyond normal day to day.
Nominees for this year's award were:
Vollie Carr - Product and Tournament Support Director (retired)
Jim Lones - Instructor at Lake City Community College (retired) - Lake City, Florida
Paul Schiavone - Equipment Manager - Australia
Mike Koopman - Equipment Manager at the Old Collier Golf Club, Naples, FL
Gina Putnam - Marketing and Communications Manager, Bernhard and Company - Rugby, England
The IGCEMA would like to congratulate 2010 Edwin Budding Award winner Vollie Carr, and thank all of our finalists for their contributions to our industry. The 2010 award will be presented at the 2011 Golf Industry Show in Orlando.
The IGCEMA would also like to thank all of those responsible for making this award such a success and we look forward to next year, when we will award a new winner for 2011.