Avid golfers can make their dream of playing a world-class course a reality on Monday, Oct. 9 when the Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa. hosts the Joseph Valentine Memorial Golf Tournament. The event on Merion Golf Club’s East Course is a joint venture between the Club, the Pennsylvania Golf Association, and the Pennsylvania Turfgrass Research, Inc. to support turfgrass research and education at Penn State University.
The benefit tournament is open to teams of amateur golfers representing clubs, businesses, groups or individuals. Foursomes will compete in a one best-ball gross and net format beginning at Noon. Designed to offer a premier golf outing, in honoring Joseph Valentine the event will also highlight the advancements made in turfgrass management over the years and support these efforts into the future.
A tournament entry form and details are available at www.paturf.org or by contacting tournament officials at info@paturf,org or 717/580-1946.
Joseph Valentine was golf course superintendent at Merion Golf Club from the early 1900’s until his death in 1962 and in 1929 was an integral force in the establishment of the world- renowned turfgrass program at Penn State. The Joseph Valentine Research Center at the University, which celebrates his memory, has 14 acres of highly maintained turf, including 2.5 acres of research putting green. Research conducted at Valentine Center includes pesticide, fertilizer, turfgrass cultivar, and soil amendment evaluations.
Today, the Joseph Valentine Research Center, at the north end of the Penn State campus, stands as a living memorial to a man whose hard work and communication skills established the foundation for the turfgrass program at Penn State. This tournament continues support of his ideals and golf courses continue to be the biggest beneficiaries of the turfgrass research accomplished at Penn State.
As the standards and the demands for golf turf have increased, Penn State is being called upon to provide more and better solutions. Officials of the Golf Association, which serves the game of golf in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, remind golfers, “Whether it’s tournament golf or a late afternoon round, one thing remains consistent; the game of golf is played on grass.” This tournament will help to ensure that the vision of Joseph Valentine and the benefits to golfers continue.
The Pennsylvania Golf Association has been supporting championship golf in Pennsylvania for 97 years. The Pennsylvania Turfgrass Research, Inc. is affiliated with the Pennsylvania Turfgrass Council and is dedicated to providing financial support for the Center for Turfgrass Science at Penn State. For more information go to www.paturf.org.