Envirotron Golf Classic

The 27th Annual Jeff Hayden Memorial Envirotron Golf Classic was played at World Woods Golf Club April 19th. 300+ Golfers came together for the day on both of the World Woods course with roughly $40,000 being raised, adding to the over $1,300,000 raised since the events inception. The money raised each year is to “advance the turfgrass industry through turfgrass research, turfgrass development and industry advocacy,” stated Andy Jorgensen, Chairman of the fund-raising event. The majority of funds raised going towards projects at University of Florida. Seven Rivers Golf Course Superintendent Association puts on the event. Golf Ventures has been the Champion sponsor for the past 17 years. “We are very grateful to have Golf Ventures as our Champion Sponsor for this event. Without their support, and the support of so many others, the Jeff Hayden Memorial Envirotron Golf Classic would not be able to have such a large impact on the turfgrass industry in Florida,” Jorgensen stated. Jeff Hayden was a longtime superintendent in the area that helped with the creation of the event and the University of Florida Envirotron Turfgrass Research Laboratory located on the campus in Gainesville. Jeff had worked in sales for Golf Ventures prior to his passing. The tournament was named after him soon thereafter. The facility in Gainesville was renamed the Jeff Hayden Envirotron Turfgrass Research Laboratory in 2005 to honor his legacy. The Florida Golf Course Superintendent Association has eleven local chapters in the state, with Seven Rivers being one of them. Most of the local chapters have some sort of research fundraising mechanism. But, the Envirotron Golf Classic, sponsored by Golf Ventures is by far the largest fundraiser for turfgrass research in the state.