Tee Off News July/August 2017
NEXT EVENT 2017 GCSACC LOWELL STONE Charity Tournament Sunnyside Country Club Hosted by Jon Christensen
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President’s Message by Steve Showers I hope everyone is having a great summer and those in the valley have been surviving the heat. We have two more events this year and I hope you can take the time to attend at least one or both of them. On October 23, 2017 we will be holding our Lowell Stone Charity Golf Tournament at Sunnyside Country Club in Fresno. This is always a fun event with proceeds going to a great cause, lets see if we can fill up the golf course this year! In December on Saturday the 2nd we will hold our Christmas Party at Windows on the Water in Morro Bay. The party will again coincide with the cities boat parade, this is a great party with good food, great company and of course the always exciting white elephant gift exchange. On January 15, 2018 we will have our annual election meeting at Sandpiper Golf Club in Santa Barbara. Tennessee has lined up a great field of speakers including Rhett Evens from the GCSAA and the course is always in great shape. I look forward to seeing you at one of these fine events. With the election comes the annual request for volunteers to serve on the Board of Directors, if you have never served please consider it and if you served in the past please come back on board. I would like to take this time to review our membership numbers with you. Currently we have 128 total members that break down into the following categories: 47 Class A 8 Class C 2 Honorary
13 Class A Retired 4 Complimentary 3 Mechanic
2 Associate 32 Affiliate 3 Student
10 Class B 4 Affiliate Retired
Just to address a few of the membership classes, you can see that we have a total of 57 Superintendents (Class A and B) in our chapter but only 8 Assistants (Class C). I know that not all clubs will pay dues for assistants but please be sure and ask if it would be possible for them to make this small investment. I would also like to address the Affiliate numbers, in years past we have had roughly an equal amount of Affiliates and Superintendents. Superintendents, could you please ask anyone you do business with related to your golf operation if they could please join our association? The Mechanic membership category is relatively new but I would like to see this number increase each year. If you have any thoughts as to how we can raise membership in any category please feel free to contact any Board member or Irene, we are always looking for input! Thank you for being a member of the GCSACC and I look forward to seeing you soon.
2017 GCSACC BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT STEVEN SHOWERS RIO VISTA GOLF COURSE
VICE PRESIDENT ANDY CORDOVA CYPRESS RIDGE G.C. ALBERT NUNES MORRO BAY GOLF COURSE ZACK MORAN WATER QUALITY CONSULTANTS
PAST PRESIDENT TENNESSEE MCBROOM SANDPIPER GOLF CLUB /RANCHO SAN MARCOS GOLF CLUB
SECRETARY/TREASURER GLENN MATTHEWS, CGCS VISALIA COUNTRY CLUB PAUL BARR SAN LUIS OBISPO C.C.
MATT NOWLEN LAGUNA LAKES G. C.
ERIK SMITH TARGET CHEMICAL
Official Publication of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of Central California. The purpose of this publication is information and education for the membership. Published bi-monthly by GCSACC, 5322 N. Leonard Clovis, CA 93619 Phone (559) 298-4853 Fax (559) 298-6957 Email gcsacc@aol.com Newsletter Chairman & Newsletter Editor Zachary Moran Executive Directors Irene Cline & Kimberly Milne
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Save The Dates October 23, 2017 Annual Lowell Stone Charity Tournament Sunnyside Country Club Hosted by Jon Christensen
January 15, 2018 Annual Election Meeting Sandpiper Golf Course Host Superintendent Tennessee McBroom
December 2, 2017 Annual Holiday Event Windows on the Water Morro Bay, CA
February 3—8, 2018
San Antonio, Texas California Room February 7, 2018 The Buckhorn Texas Ranger Museum & Bar
2017 Turf Pro
Professional Update Series San Luis Obispo
Fresno
Morro Bay G. C. 201 State Park Morro Bay, CA
Copper River C.C. 2140 E. Clubhouse Fresno, CA
September 6, 2017 November 8, 2017
September 7, 2017 November 9, 2017
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Mark McKinney CGCS 2017 Tri Chapter Meeting Host Superintendent Mark McKinney, CGCS hosted the 2017 Tri Chapter Meeting and Tournament which included members from our Central Chapter, the Sierra Nevada GCSA and the NorCal GCSA. The turnout was great and everyone was looking forward to not only playing the course but hearing the details of how Mark and his guest speaker Brain Whitlark USGA worked together to pull off the hosting the 2015 US Senior Open and what happens after such a huge event is held
at your course. Mark McKinney, CGCS has been the superintendent at Del Paso for over 10 years. He is a high energy individual that first became interested in being a superintendent because he loved the outdoors and was interested in biology and agriculture. His first job after getting his BS in Agronomy from the University of Missouri and a BA in Biology from Drury College was at the Byron Nelson Tournament in Dallas. Since then he has been involved in renovations and grow-in projects throughout the country. His most recent career highlight was of course the 2015 US Senior Open at Del Paso.
Del Paso underwent a course renovation when Mark first started and he worked with designer Kyle Phillips overseeing everything being done. The course has native clay soils that were sand capped and Mark has had his challenges growing the cool season turf in the valley heat. The course has over 100 year history in Sacramento and has hosted some of the great golfers such as Tommy Armour, Sam Snead, Billy Casper, Johnny Miller and Tom Watson to name a few. We want to THANK Mark and his staff for the opportunity for our greatest and not so great golfers to enjoy his wonderful course.
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From the Field Jeff Jensen, GCSAA Field Staff, Southwest Region
Jeff Jensen
It’s hard to believe that summer is coming to an end. School’s back in session and before we know it the holidays will be here. Time flies when
you are having fun. The application period for the GCSAA/Environmental Leaders in Golf Awards (ELGA) is open thru September 30. Presented by Syngenta, the Environmental Leaders in Golf Awards recognize golf course superintendents and golf courses around the world for their commitment to environmental stewardship. Applicants must be members in good standing of GCSAA and of an affiliated GCSAA chapter. Members may apply directly for the award or they may be nominated by another GCSAA member or non-member. Applications will be evaluated based on water conservation, water quality management, integrated pest management, energy conservation, pollution prevention, waste management, wildlife and habitat conservation,
communication and outreach/ leadership. Online applications are available at https://www.gcsaa.org/about-gcsaa/ awards/environmental-leaders-ingolf-awards. The Southwest Region has had three National Public and Overall Winners since 2011 (Tim Powers, Gary Ingram, Mark Condos) and has won numerous awards in other categories. It’s my hope that we will see several new ELGA applicants from the Central California GCSA. It’s a terrific opportunity to communicate your environmental efforts to the industry, community, lawmakers and media.
attend a variety of seminars and education hosted by industry leaders and leading golf associations. Areas of education include risk management, efficient operations, business, communication and environmental stewardship. Those selected to participate in the program will receive GIS fullpack registration, GIS Education and leadership seminars, round trip airfare to San Antonio, TX., five night’s hotel, $200 spending money and communication, education, tools and resources following GIS. More information including the online application is available at http://www.eifg.org/education/melro se-leadership-academy.
In addition to the ELGA’s, applications for the Melrose Academy are open thru Sept. 15. The Academy supports the professional development of GCSAA member superintendents by providing individuals the opportunity to attend the Golf Industry Show.
Thanks to everyone for their continued support of GCSAA and please remember to follow me on Twitter @GCSAA_SW for daily industry updates. I hope you all have a great fall season and make sure to take a little time off to rest and enjoy yourself. The work will be there when you get back.
The Melrose Academy is open to those who have been Class A and B GCSAA members for more than five years and haven’t attended GIS in the last five years. While at the show, participants will
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Newsletter Title
2017 Tri Chapter Meeting Highlights All three association Presidents were in attendance for the event at Del Paso C.C. Pictured at right are Scott Dickson, Sierra Nevada GCSA President, (Center) Sean Tulley, NorCal GCSA President, and our own Steven Showers GCSA Central California PresiPictured above is Steven Showers with Brian dent. Whitlark, USGA Agronomist. At left are Executive Director Irene Cline and Executive Director for NorCal Mark Connerly
Below Board member Paul Barr and Cal Poly Student & Central Cal Member Steven Spatafore
Above Mark McKinney, CGCS talks to the group
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Volume 1, TEE-OFF N ews
Issue 1
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2017 Tri Chapter Tournament Gross Winners
Net Winners
1st Place 1st Place Jan Neunisnger Mike Stieler 2nd Place 2nd Place Brian Whitlark Steven Spatafore 3rd Place 3rd Place Mark McKinney Steve Byrne 4th Place 4th Place Scott Dickson Ryan Smith
Above Mark McKinney, CGCS accepts the chapter competition trophy which was won by the Sierra Nevada Chapter this year. Central made a good showing though. At right is the team from Belkorp who hosted the beverages on the course. Sal Sorbello and Craig Watters played host to the golfers
Pictured above Mike Stieler, Rob Williams, Steve Byrne, and Glenn Matthews At right are some of our tournament winners. Mike Stieler, Brian Whitlark, Steven Spatafore, and Ryan Smith.