IGCEMA Announces 2008 Edwin Budding Award Winner

[JohnPatterson]

Press Release
11/21/2008
IGCEMA – Edwin Budding Award

On November 21, 2008 the International Golf Course Equipment Managers Association (IGCEMA) announced its second 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.

Mr. David Withers, Managing Director of Ransomes-Jacobsen, located in Ipswich, UK, announced Mr. Eric Kulaas, Equipment Manager at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort and Golf Club in St. Petersburg, Florida, as this year’s winner.

The award will be presented To Eric during Harrogate Week at the BTME Conference in the UK, the week of January 18-22. Eric will travel to Harrogate as the guest of Ransomes-Jacobsen.

The Edwin Budding Award Committee met via conference call on November 20th for deliberation and the decision. Committee Members in attendance voted unanimously in favor of Mr. Kulaas, noting his pioneering work in web-based information exchange by founding the original TURFTech website; enabling Turf Equipment Technicians worldwide the ability to share tips and network for the first time, and Eric’s talent for innovation and improvisation on the job as well.

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.

Finalists for this year’s award were:

Stephen Tucker – Founder and past President of IGCEMA, and Equipment Manager at the Ritz-Carlton Members Club in Bradenton, Florida

Bill Berdnik – Service Coordinator at Wesco Turf in Sarasota, Florida

Mark Luffy – Service Manager for Turf Equipment & Supply Company, serving the Northeast U.S.

Peter Hampton – currently at Bernhard & Co. in the UK

Jacobsen – Developing the first Greens Triplex

Eric Kulaas – Founder of TURFtech, and Equipment Manager at Renaissance Vinoy Resort and Golf Club in St. Petersburg, Florida

The IGCEMA would like to congratulate Edwin Budding Award winner Eric Kulaas, and thank all of our finalists for their contributions to our industry. The 2009 award will be given away at the Golf Industry Show in San Diego.

The IGCEMA would 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 innovator for 2009.

[HectorVelazquez]

Congrats Eric.

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[Bill Hughes]

Congratulations Eric.

[BLAS HUEZO]

Congratulations Mr. Kulaas from Sunny San Diego, you deserve it!

[JohnTutchen]

Congratulations to all the worthy Finalists. Alas there can be only one winner and Eric is a truly outstanding recipient in my opinion.

Congratulations also to the Award Committee members for their deliberations and decision.

I'm sure Eric will have a fantastic time in Harrogate. The Ransomes-Jacobsen people are very 'hospitable'.

[SteveSpuhler]

Even though Stephen took his name out of consideration, I thought it was still important to recognize his nomination When you get to this point, you're in rarified air...an exclusive group...

[ScottSanderson]

Congratulations Eric... I hope you have a wonderful time over there.
Regards, Scott

[EricKulaas]

I'd like to thank everyone for this honor. Ii is wonderful to be nominated for an award of this nature by one's peers.

[PatrickCallaby]

Many congratulations.
Hope I can buy you a beer while your here Eric.
Cal