Lawrence, Kansas, United States:. The GCSAA Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA), has again received a US$50,000 grant from The Toro Company Foundation for continued support of the Rounds 4 Research programme in 2022.

With this contribution, Toro has donated US$500,000 to the programme over the past 10 years.

Rounds 4 Research is designed to address a critical shortage in turfgrass research funding by auctioning donated rounds of golf online. The programme allows GCSAA chapters and turfgrass foundations to participate as fund-raising partners and direct the proceeds from auctioned rounds to specific projects that will have the most significant impact in their local areas.

Since its launch in 2012, Rounds 4 Research has raised more than US$2 million. The 2022 auction will be held from April 25-May 1 and is available to preview at www.biddingforgood.com/rounds4research. The programme is administered by the GCSAA Foundation and presented in partnership with Toro.

“We’ve now surpassed the milestone of raising US$2 million, and Toro’s support was critical in making that happen,” said Rhett Evans, GCSAA Chief Executive Officer. “We are grateful to our friends at Toro who understand how R4R provides long-term benefit to the golf industry and the game, and we thank them for partnering with us.

“Golf courses are an asset, a green space within a watershed and community,” said Judson McNeil, President, The Toro Company Foundation. “We are proud to partner with GCSAA Foundation in this effort to raise funds and awareness in support of research, education and environmental programmes positively impacting the industry.”

An Executive Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation, Toro is a long-time partner of the GCSAA Foundation, donating nearly US$2.4 million since 1987 to help support scientific research, education and scholarships for future turfgrass professionals.

As the exclusive presenting partner of Rounds 4 Research, Toro is a Victory Club member of the GCSAA Foundation’s cumulative giving programme and a GCSAA Platinum Partner.