Bonos, Gray, Greytok, Straka recognized by SI Golf Group

Four GCSAA members make Golf’s 40 under 40 list

Four members of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA), were named to “Golf’s 40 under 40: most influentual people in golf under 40-years-old,” by the Sports Illustrated Golf Group.

GCSAA Class A member Christopher S. Gray Sr. (38), is the general manager of Marvel Golf Club in Benton, Ky. He is a multiple environmental award-winner, including a two-time overall winner of the GCSAA/Golf Digest Environmental Leaders in Golf Awards. Gray has also produced a number of innovative environmental stewardship initiatives, including modifying mowers to run off of grease collected from nearby restaurants.

Eric Greytok (37), GCSAA Class A superintendent at Belfair Golf Club in Bluffton, S.C., is the youngest superintendent to host two U.S. Open Championships, after hosting the 2000 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach and the 2006 U.S. Open at Winged Foot.

GCSAA educator member Stacy Bonos, Ph.D. (39), turfgrass researcher at Rutgers University, is focused on developing new turfgrass varieties that are more disease resistant and stress tolerant, specifically dollar spot resistance in bentgrasses and increasing salinity tolerance of cool-season grasses.

Golf course architect Jason Straka (38) is a GCSAA affiliate member and a senior designer with Hurdzan/Fry Environmental Golf Design. He was one of the youngest members of the American Society of Golf Course Architects ever elected to its board of governors. Straka is currently working on a project in Brazil (�guas Belas), and his Dandarave Golf Course in Prince Edward Island, Canada, has garnered acclaim despite its relatively low cost to build.

“This is great recognition of our members and the importance they play not only in the golf industry, but in the overall satisfaction of golfers,” said GCSAA President James R. Fitzroy, CGCS. “Congratulations to Eric, Chris, Stacy and Jason. They represent our hard-working, ingenious membership very well, while beginning very successful careers.”

They join professional golfers, Rickie Fowler, Natalie Gulbis, Alexis Thompson, Ryo Ishikawa, Lorena Ochoa, Anthony Kim, Michelle Wie, and Tiger Woods; real estate developer Donald Trump Jr.; and for the good of the game, Justin Timberlake and Amy Mickelson, in a list that includes “The game’s up-and-coming generation of influencers, trendsetters and newsmakers, an eclectic mix of talent worth watching today and for many years to come.”

Nominees for the ranking were solicited from a variety of sources, including but not limited to the PGA Tour, the LPGA, the USGA, The First Tee, GCSAA, ASGCA, leading equipment manufacturers, and the editorial staff of the Sports Illustrated Group. The finalists were determined by a panel of Golf Magazine editors.

GCSAA is a leading golf organization and has as its focus golf course management. Since 1926, GCSAA has been the top professional association for the men and women who manage golf courses in the United States and worldwide. From its headquarters in Lawrence, Kan., the association provides education, information and representation to more than 20,000 members in more than 72 countries. GCSAA’s mission is to serve its members, advance their profession and enhance the enjoyment, growth and vitality of the game of golf. The association’s philanthropic organization, The Environmental Institute for Golf, works to strengthen the compatibility of golf with the natural environment through research grants, support for education programs and outreach efforts. Visit GCSAA at www.gcsaa.org.