Phil Kiester, GM of The Country Club of Virginia, was elected as the new National Club Association Chairman; Ted M. Benn, a Partner at Thompson & Knight LLP, as Vice Chairman; Kevin Vitale, GM/COO of Baltusrol Golf Club, as Secretary; and Kevin R. Reilly, a Partner at PBMares LLP, as Treasurer.

The 2014 honorees through the prestigious awards co-sponsored by Club & Resort Business and the McMahon Group—Christine Pooler of Merion GC; Mark Bado of Kansas City CC, and Gerald Marvel of The Club at UK’s Spindletop Hall, along with “Rising Star Award” winner Nick Markel of The Country Club (Pepper Pike, Ohio)—were recognized at an Awards Dinner held at the San Antonio Country Club.

The 2014 honorees through the prestigious awards co-sponsored by Club & Resort Business and the McMahon Group include Christine Pooler of Merion GC; Mark Bado of Kansas City CC, and Gerald Marvel of The Club at Spindletop Hall (University of Kentucky). They will be recognized, along with “Rising Star Award” winner Nick Markel of The Country Club (Pepper Pike, Ohio), at an Awards Dinner held at the San Antonio Country Club on Tuesday, March 10.

The Springfield, N.J., club, host of the 2016 PGA Championship, is the fourth golf facility to achieve the designation, joining Pinehurst (N.C.) Resort, Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa., and Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club.

The Scarsdale, N.Y. club has had a long-running dispute with the owners of an adjacent $3.7 million home who have sued over errant shots falling into their property and recently secured several rulings in their favor. “If we reach a point where clubs have to redo tees and holes [because of similar complaints], it could become a real financial burden,” says one golf industry executive.

The tournament, to be held at Baltusrol GC, will mark the first time since 1971 that the last major of the year will not be played in August.

The National Club Association announced a new lineup of officers, including Kirk O. Reese, CCM, as NCA Chairman; Philip Kiester as Vice Chairman; Kevin Vitale, CCM, as Treasurer; Ted Benn as Secretary; and Thomas Gaston Jr., CCM, as Immediate Past Chairman.

The 2013 winners of the awards co-sponsored by the McMahon Group and Club & Resort Business include Tony D’Errico of Westwood CC, Mike Stanton of San Luis Obispo CC, Robert Williams of the Westmoreland Club and Maria McGinity of River Oaks CC. In addition to presentations at their individual clubs, all will be honored at the ECM Awards dinner held February 7 at The Country Club of Orlando.

The Springfield Township (N.J.) Committee voted in favor of a limited hunt on the property to control the deer population. Participants are only permitted to hunt on certain days, must possess a New Jersey hunting license, and may not fire a weapon “within 500 yards of any residential structure or property line.”

The Tillinghast-designed Black Course on New York’s Long Island will add the events to a major tournament legacy that also includes two U.S. Opens.

In New Jersey, a pair of thieves were arrested after dressing as golfers, sneaking into locker rooms at high-end clubs and stealing credit cards from members’ lockers. In Connecticut, a lawyer was charged with stealing staff members’ golf bags and clubs after breaking into pro shops.