NEWS

7.18.2008 Montgomery County Golf to Hold Year End Event and Shoot Out on Saturday, October 25, 2008 Montgomery County Golf is holding the annual Year End Event and Shoot Out at Little Bennett Golf Course in Clarksburg on Saturday, October 25. The day’s events include the year-end golf sale, prize drawings, and the MCG Tour Shoot Out golf tournament. MCG Tour cards must be completed and free round must be played no later than October 17, 2008 to be eligible for the Shoot Out and any prizes. Individuals must be present to win any prize drawings. Proper ID required at check-in. MCG Tour cards are not transferrable. Event date and time subject to change. Please refer back to this website, to any MCG golf course, or to MCG E-Club messages for updates. 7.18.2008 Northwest Golf Course Junior Wins Maryland State Golf Association Womens’ Division 2008 Junior Girls Championship It is with great pleasure that we announce Karishma Thiagaraj, age 14, whose home course is Northwest Golf Course, won the Maryland State Golf Association (MSGA) Womens’ Division 2008 Junior Girls Championship on June 24, 2008. Karishma’s sister, Khushboo, 12 years old, won the 13-under division. Karishma and Khushboo and their father have been in the U.S. for a handful of months, and this was their first tournament in the States. Their mother has been in the U.S. for about 2 years, working in the information technology field. Their father, Charles Thiagaraj, said, “It all started at Northwest GC. We have received tremendous encouragement and support from everyone there, especially TR Snoots and Sang Moon.” Further, Thiagaraj shared, “The girls love playing there (Northwest GC), they like the friendly environment and guidance, which has been conducive to their success here in the U.S.” TR Snoots, PGA Head Golf Professional, Northwest Golf Course, says, “I am so proud of these two girls. It is a pleasure to work with two such talented, all-around good kids. I look forward to seeing them continue enjoying and excelling at the sport of golf.” The Thiagaraj girls are on Snoots’ junior golf team at Northwest Golf Course. Montgomery County Revenue Authority, in conjunction with the Montgomery County Recreation Department, created four junior golf teams comprised of Middle School students – Northwest, Needwood, Falls Road, and Laytonsville Golf Course each had a team in the spring and plans are to expand them to the fall season. For a link to the article on the MSGA website, click here. For a link to the recent article in the Baltimore Examiner, click here. 5.01.2008 Montgomery County Revenue Authority Using Environmentally Friendly Fertilizer at its Golf Courses Montgomery County Revenue Authority (MCRA) is pleased to announce the recent addition of more environmentally friendly, organic fertilizer at its golf courses. “It is a goal of our organization to use more environmentally friendly practices at our facilities,” stated MCRA Executive Director Keith Miller. When Jon Lobenstine, MCRA Director of Agronomy, approached Miller with the idea of using organic fertilizer – pasteurized poultry manure (PPM) to be exact – Miller was intrigued. The PPM fertilizer, MicroSTART 60, distributed by Davisson Golf, Inc. of Hanover, Maryland, comes from Perdue AgriRecycle in Delaware. Jim Perdue, Chairman of Perdue Incorporated, said, “The product we are providing for use on golf courses is a viable and environmentally friendly alternative to chemical fertilizers, and we applaud Montgomery County for taking this step.” According to Cathy Klein, Vice President of Co-Products Sales for Perdue AgriBusiness, “By converting chicken litter to pasteurized organic fertilizer, Perdue AgriRecycle helps relocate excess nutrients to areas where they are needed and have not been traditionally used in the past.” Lobenstine has had a bulk fertilizer storage bin placed at eight of the nine Montgomery County Revenue Authority golf courses. Lobenstine adds, “The initial cost is slightly higher than that of traditional chemical fertilizer, but we believe that the organic product is superior because the turf can more efficiently process the PPM and we get the added bonus of knowing we’re being more environmentally responsible.” According to Lobenstine, “Not only does the PPM offer the nitrogen necessary for improved turf vigor, but it also offers a full complement of ten essential nutrients that are important for plant development and sustainability.” Perdue AgriRecycle, LLC, is a joint venture between Perdue Incorporated, a leading food and agricultural products company and one of the country’s largest poultry producers, and AgriRecycle, the company that helped to develop the litter pelletizing technology. Its manufacturing facility, the first-ever, large-scale litter-pelletizing operation, is located in Sussex County, Delaware. Perdue AgriRecycle MicroSTART60 meets the requirements of the National Organic Program for organic crop production. For more information, visit perdueagrirecycle.com. 9.01.2007 Montgomery County Revenue Authority Launches New Web Site Keith Miller, Executive Director, announces the launch of a new web site representing the Montgomery County Revenue Authority and its many different facets. The site features information about the Revenue Authority's structure and projects, provides a Board member and staff listing, as well as links to the Montgomery County Golf and the Montgomery County Airpark sites. Miller adds, "I think the site will help answer questions about what the Revenue Authority is, some of our contributions to the community, and give members of the community another venue in which to learn about us. I'm pleased to be able to provide information about the Revenue Authority to the public in this format." 9.01.2007 Montgomery County Golf's Support of the Community Montgomery County Golf, a division of the Montgomery County Revenue Authority, has supported the fundraising efforts of many community-based organizations including public and private schools, churches, law enforcement support organizations, and other non-profit organizations by donating rounds of golf to be used at benefit auctions. Executive Director Keith Miller says, "Over the past year, we estimate that over $15,000 worth of rounds certificates were provided to our local organizations. The funds raised go to directly support our youngest to our eldest community members. It is gratifying to know that we are able to have such an impact." In addition to donated rounds, Miller states, "Montgomery County Golf has been a key sponsor and supporter of The First Tee of Montgomery County by providing its facilities and over 250 structured lessons to youth each week." Montgomery County's High School programs use the facilities for free to conduct there golf practices and matches. In 2006 there were over 3,000 rounds of golf used by the 29 schools. In July 2007, Montgomery County Golf sponsored "Take Your Daughters to the Course Week" by providing a free round of golf, various clinics, and beginner lessons to junior girls participating in the event with a parent or other responsible adult. Montgomery County Golf has sponsored an American Red Cross blood drive, "Bleed Fore Golf," for two years. Blood drive participants are rewarded with a certificate to come back and play golf at one of its facilities for donating blood. This year's event was held on Sunday, August 19 in a Bloodmobile at Poolesville Golf Course. Montgomery County Golf remains committed to growing the game by offering a series of free new golfer clinics at several courses to kick off the golf season and to encourage people to try the sport. Clinics on etiquette, basic instruction, and introduction to golf sessions were attended by hundreds of potential new golfers.