The coveted 2016 HSBC Golf Business Forum Innovation Award, which recognizes the industry’s most creative and dynamic individuals, was presented to Glen Black from Air2G2 at the conclusion of day one at the world’s premier golf business event at the Marriott Sawgrass Resort and Spa. The HSBC Golf Business Forum brings together international golf industry executives and decision makers for the largest and most significant gathering in the world and is being held in the United States for the first time.
A resident of nearby Jacksonville, Fla., Glen Black was presented with the award at the HSBC Golf Business Forum Gala Dinner, having been selected by a panel of 10 industry experts including Giles Morgan (Global Head of Sponsorship & Events, HSBC), Dr. Paul Hawkins (Founder/Creator, Hawk-Eye Innovations), Andrea Sartori (Global Head of Sport, KPMG), Jim Nugent (Founder and Publisher, Global Golf Post) and Joe Beditz (President and Chief Executive Officer, National Golf Foundation). The competition list included more than 50 entries and five finalists.
“We’re absolutely thrilled to be here at the HSBC Golf Business Forum and humbled to be included in the short list for the award, let alone take away the prize,” Black said. “We’re really proud of our innovative approach to agronomy and truly believe our product has changed the landscape of the business and being recognized like this means a lot to us. One of our aims is to bring our product in to the forefront of every groundskeeper, agronomist and owner’s mind and hopefully this recognition will help us achieve that.”
The Air2G2 aerification machine, manufactured by Jacksonville’s GT AirInject, Inc., revolutionizes how turf managers on golf courses, sports fields and at landscape companies think about aerification practices. The Air2G2 injects air into the soil profile and is the only machine on the market today that utilizes air injection technology, allowing for healthier turf and immediate access instead of a delay for recovery with the usual plugging process. Air2G2 is distributed internationally and is used at more than 80 world-class golf facilities such as Medinah, Muirfield Village, Oakland Hills, Ridgewood and Royal Dornoch and at top sports facilities for the U.S. Military Academy, Chicago Cubs, Manchester United Football Club, Boston Red Sox and Green Bay Packers.
