4 minute read
Member Spotlight
Making Positive Change: Spotlight on Incoming ATA President David White
David White is looking forward to his upcoming time as President of the Alabama Turfgrass Association. A member for many years, he has long recognized the great wealth of turf knowledge and resources available in our state. “Our association is blessed to have a lot of ‘great turfgrass minds’, and I think that is why our industry is so successful in Alabama!”
David’s father, a career employee at IBM, always held down a desk job as David was growing up. He instinctively knew that he would not enjoy a future career behind a desk. One day, David saw a news clip about turfgrass management, and it intrigued him. Upon learning that Auburn University had a turfgrass program, there was no looking back!
Working at then Green Valley Country Club, (Now Hoover Country Club) allowed David to learn on-the-job. “My first day of employment, I was dropped off in the creek that runs the length of the course and supplied with water, mixed gas, weedeater string and a weedeater, and was told to work until lunch. I loved it from day one, and turfgrass management has become a very rewarding career.”
Earning a Bachelor of Agronomy and Soils from Auburn University, he was privileged to learn from some of the great turfgrass professors at that institution: Drs. Beth Guertal, Jeff Higgins and Harold Ponder. Among others who made a great impression throughout the years, providing encouragement and advice, include Lee McLemore, CGCS, Philip Hindman, Todd Rogers and Mark Langner.
There will always be challenges in the world of growing grass, and in the current market, it is economics. According to David, “Labor is higher, and workers are fewer. There are so many in the workforce that are not willing to do what we do. Cost of goods is higher for supplies and materials. It makes our jobs challenging, but you must forge ahead and try to make the best of your budget.”
At his first superintendent’s position at Terry Walker Country Club, David was surprised at how quickly he and his staff could turn around the greens which were in bad shape. “The members were excited and appreciative to see the transformation take place.” Whether it is on the golf course, or in the landscape industry, David says, “I enjoy the interaction with golfers and customers. There is a great sense of satisfaction when a big project is completed, or your course just looks great after putting in a lot of hard work.”
The key to making positive change is in large part due to education and networking with the “great grass minds.” David shares one trick he learned when employed at Tannehill National Golf Course. “On Dwarf Bermuda greens, give them a little bit of iron in the growing season when spraying. It always gave them better green color for a couple of weeks.”
David is married to Joy, who works at The Westminster School at Oak Mountain. They have two daughters, Morgan, who is a junior at UAB, and plays on the Women’s Soccer team, and Emily, an incoming freshman at Auburn University. David and his family love spending time on the lake. He has a great love of all sports played by his teams. “Everyone knows that I am a huge proponent and fan of The University of Alabama in Birmingham. I love Auburn too, but any Auburn or UAB sporting event is greatly enjoyable.”
Looking towards the future, David says, “I hope to continue to use my agronomic skills to benefit others. I would like to see the younger generation in our industry continue to grow. What we do can be a very fun and exciting career. I am honored to serve as the President of the Alabama Turfgrass Association in 2024. Thank you for the opportunity to serve this great Association!”
