WHAT’S NEW

By Courtney White, Executive Manager, OGSA and ONCourse Editor. manager@ogsa.ca

BOARD OF DIRECTOR’S MEETING: BMP’S, MEMBERSHIP, AND FIRST GREEN

The Board met May 24 to discuss the upcoming season. A key focus for this year is to increase our membership to reach our goal of 1000 members by 2024 in celebration of our upcoming centennial. We’re also actively working on the best management practices document for golf courses, and expect it to publish by October 2023. Once it’s published, facilities are encouraged to adapt this provincial document to their club. More information on how you can do that, will follow. We are also looking into a hosting the First Green program this year. If anyone is interested in participating in this program, please reach out to the office.

Ogsa Staff Change

We would like to welcome Somer Swan, the new Member Services and Marketing Coordinator. Somer is a recent University of Guelph graduate with a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing Management. Somer is passionate about marketing and has extensive experience in client services. We look forward to leveraging Somer’s experience, knowledge, and positive attitude to ensure the OGSA continues to meet member needs.

OGSA PAST PRESIDENT’S LUNCHEON

On June 5, 2023, the OGSA hosted a past presidents’ luncheon at St. Georges Golf and Country Club to commemorate our near 100 years of serving the golf industry. It was a terrific day reminiscing with past presidents from as early as 1973. The event allowed us to capture critical historical information which will help in the preparation of the upcoming OGSA centennial.

Ontario Golf Course Management Conference And 100th Celebration

Our conference committee is actively planning the next OGSA Conference for January 16-18, 2023, at the Fallsview Casino Conference Centre. This is a special conference for our membership as we celebrate our 100th year. January 16 we will host a centennial party for all our members, and industry partners at the Niagara Falls Power Station, which has recently opened its doors to the public. This historic building is a perfect place to celebrate. Please save the date and plan to attend.

Mark Your Calendars

UPCOMING OGSA EVENTS

August 10, 2023

Assistants Tournament St. Thomas G&CC, Union, ON

Sept 25 & 26, 2023

OGSA Championship Deerhurst Resort & Muskoka Bay Muskoka, ON

January 16 – 18, 2024

Ontario Golf Course Management Conference Niagara Falls, ON

WELCOME to Our New Members

Steve Kavanagh Class A Fergus GC

Stephen Holmes Class A Bowmanville G&CC

Cory Hofferd Class A Hollinger GC

Ryan Arthur Class A Cobble Hills GC

James Woods Class B Homestead Golf and Resort

Ryan Edwards Class B Bay of Quinte G&CC

Jordan Brown Class B Golf North/Brookfield GC

Rob Wilson Class C Mad River GC

Nathan Nicholls Class C Twenty Valley GC

Ashlee Lawrence Class C Cobble Beach Golf Resort

Derek Guest Class C Rattlesnake Point GC

Cari Gillan Class C Bigwin Island GC

Sarah Prozak Class D Blairhampton GC

Andrew Julie Class D Brock GC

Mark Mastantuono Class E Maple Hill Tree Service

Tim Koen Class E Aquafor Golf Services

Eric Kanis Class E Grower’s Choice Landscape Products Inc.

Mark Hyland Class E

Maynooth Natural Granite Inc.

Peter Moir Class E The Sign Depot Inc.

Sean Lavin Class E IrriTech Solutions Inc.

Ryan Starr Class H

White Squirrell GC

Adam Ikamas Class E Michigan Golf Course Superintendents Association

Max Spolsky Class S

Lambton Golf & Country Club

Registration For Tournaments

On May 16, the first CAN/AM since the pandemic took place at Forest Lake Country Club in Michigan. We’ve got two tournaments on the horizon! See Save the Date! Registration will open shortly! Keep an eye on Clippings for the announcements and plan to attend!

Turfgrass Short Course Award

A big congratulations to Mark Peters from Islington Golf Club for winning the OGSA award for the Turfgrass Short Course this year! This bursary is automatically given to a golf course turfgrass employee who earns the top marks in their class. Mark will receive $1,000 to help support further professional development and a 1-year membership to the OGSA. Well done!

#TODAYINONTARIO

The Today in Ontario Contest is up and running! The contest runs between March 1 and November 30, 2022. Be sure to snap, tweet, and tag @OntarioGSA with #TodayInOntario to enter to win one of three cash prizes! Hint: Clever captions get you bonus points!

Turfgrass Education Award

In April, the OGSA scholarship committee had the pleasure of awarding two very deserving students with the Turfgrass Education Award. Congratulations to Mike Banton, Assistant Superintendent at Rebel Creek Golf Club, and Luka Turkovich, Turf Maintenance at Grand Niagara Golf Club for submitting excellent essays highlighting their dedication to the turfgrass industry. Both students will work at Ontario golf courses this season and will receive $1,500.

G.C. DUKE PAUL BROWN INTERNSHIP AWARD

The OGSA and G.C. Duke would like to congratulate Matty Rodrigue for being the successful candidate for the Paul Brown Internship bursary. Matty will receive a $1,500 award to help cover expenses during his internship! Congrats!

We wish all the turfgrass students the very best this season! We also encourage students to make note of these excellent funding programs and apply next year! ■