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Eddie Wins Budding

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Category: Industry
Published: Tuesday, 29 December 2009 14:50
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On December 22, 2009 the International Golf Course Equipment Managers Association (IGCEMA) announced its third 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.

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The award will be presented To Eddie during the Golf Industry Show in San Diego, Ca February 10-11. Eddie will travel to San Diego as the guest of Ransomes-Jacobsen.

 

Eddie Konrad graduated in 1957  from the Austrian College of Trade and Economy in Vienna with diplomas in electronics and mechanics. He then flew as helicopter pilot in the Austrian Air Force for six years.  For 23 years he worked as the Head Mechanic of the Ladies Golf Club of Toronto. In 1992 Konrad became director of the Golf Equipment Technicians Association of Canada and held that title until GETAC merged with the CGSA (Canadian Golf Superintendents Association) in 2004. For 12 years he edited the REEL-GRIND a magazine for Equipment Technicians, and now writes the Mechanic’s Corner for the CGSA in the GreenMaster. Presently Konrad is a contract professor at Seneca College in Ontario teaching Reel Technology and holding seminars for Golf Associations from coast to coast in Canada.

 Eddie will be presenting 2 seminars at the Canadian International Turfgrass Conference & Trade Show this coming February. The topics covered are Electrical Troubleshooting and Hydraulic Safety.

 

Finalists for this year’s award were:

Patrick 'Cal' Callaby – Workshop Manager at the Celtic Manor Resort, Newport, South Wales

Mike Kriz – Secretary/Treasurer and President-elect of the IGCEMA, and Equipment Manager at Arrowhead Country Club, Rapid City, SD

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

Bob Quaif – Equipment Manager at the Country Club of Troy, NY

Mike Koopman – Equipment Manager at the Old Collier Golf Club, Naples, FL

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

Eddie Konrad – former Equipment Manager at Ladies' Golf Club, and Instructor at Seneca College, Toronto, ON

 

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