Jacobsen announced that it will sponsor Turf Republic's Excellence in Innovation Award, a new industry honor that will recognize men and women in the turf industry who are using innovative new ideas to save time, reduce costs, and create a better experience for players.

Jacobsen sponsoring new industry innovation award

Jacobsen announced that it will sponsor Turf Republic’s Excellence in Innovation Award, a new industry honor that will recognize men and women in the turf industry who are using innovative new ideas to save time, reduce costs, and create a better experience for players.


The award is open to anyone in the turf industry who is using innovation to make a difference: superintendents, assistants, technicians, sports field managers, parks & ground managers and more.


Nominees will be judged by an independent five-person panel that represents a cross-section of the turf industry. One finalist will be selected each month, starting in March of 2014. One yearly winner will be selected from the 2014 finalists for special recognition at the 2015 Golf Industry Show in San Antonio, Texas.


“The recession forced many in the turf industry to think about how to do more with less and the results has been an incredible wave of new thinking, ideas and innovations,” said Bill Brown, CEO and Founder of Turf Republic. “And with the pervasive use of social media being used amongst turf managers, the ability to share these innovations has never been greater. Not only will this award celebrate the most innovative people in our industry, it will allow others to implement the same ideas at their facility.”


Early award candidates include Patrick Sisk, CGCS of Milwaukee Country Club who developed the Green Sweep, a blower attachment that utilizes air redirection to move topdressing material into the turf canopy.  Another award candidate is Jason VanBuskirk, Superintendent of Stow Acres, who created an automated product mix tank that operates from mobile devices. Award nominations are not limited to tangible products, programs or best practices developed at your facility or company are also eligible for the Excellence in Innovation Award. 


“Sponsoring Turf Republic’s new Excellence in Innovation Award is a natural fit for Jacobsen,” said David Withers, President of Jacobsen. “Since 1921, Jacobsen has been at forefront of turf maintenance innovation. From introducing the industry’s first triplex mower with the Greens King in 1968 to today’s hybrid and all-electric ECLIPSE series of greens mowers, Jacobsen will continue to develop products that push the boundaries of what turf maintenance equipment can do.”


Nominations will begin being accepted April 1, 2014 at www.turfrepublic.com.