Ju l y / A u gu s t 2 0 1 0
FORE YOUR INFORMATION INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
President’s Message
2
Meeting Schedule
3
Wilber’s News
4
New Web Site
5
Government Relations
8
Turf Tips
9
Sponsor Thank You
10
Woodbridge Highlights
11
Del Rio Highlights
15
Dates to Remember September 23, 2010 Annual President’s Cup Gray’s Crossing Host Superintendent Mike Cornette
Sierra Nevada GCSA An Affiliate Chapter of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America
D E L R I O CO U N T RY C L U B D AV E B E R M U D E Z H O S T T H E 1 5 T H A N N UA L J O I N T M E E T I N G O F
SIERRA NEVADA GCSA AND CENTRAL CALIFORNIA GCSA BY KEVIN FRIESEN, CGCS Del Rio Country Club and Superintendent David Bermudez hosted the 15th annual Central California/Sierra Nevada Joint meeting. Del Rio C.C. was the meeting site of the first joint meeting and it was great to be returning to this beautiful course. Dave has been Superintendent at Del Rio C.C. for over two years. Before the move up north, Dave was superintendent at Mountain Gate C.C. for 22 years, Mountain Gate was the first course to receive Audu-
bon Cooperative Sanctuary Certification in Los Angeles County and did so while Dave was there. Dave loves working outdoors, he and his best friend Lance (the course bird dog) love to cruise the course, working with and visiting the great staff and membership that make up Del Rio. One of Dave’s occasional visitors is the original course superintendent, Cliff Wagoner, retired CGCS, Cliff stops by just to make sure Dave’s doing his job. Some of Dave’s
current course challenges are converting the Bermuda/Rye/Poa fairways to pure Bermuda. This is a challenge not only to convince the membership of the fine playability of dormant Bermuda in the winter, but to get the Bermuda to break out of dormancy when we have a cool, wet spring season like this years . To try and meet this challenge, Del Rio has decided to convert the first fairway on the “Oaks” course to the hybrid bermuda variety Tifway II. The hybrid (Continued on page 7)
2010 SCHOLARSHIP AND RESEARCH TOURNAMENT BY JIM ALWINE For the second year in a row, the Sierra Nevada GCSA was privileged to play Woodbridge Golf and Country Club at the annual Scholarship and Research Tournament. As always, Jim Husting, CGCS and his staff had the course in remarkable condition.
The customer service was top notch both on and off the course. Big thanks go out to all the employees of Woodbridge for being so accommodating to all our needs and requests. Thanks to Jim Husting especially, for putting up with a bunch of hacks two years back-to-
back. I hope we left the course with less ball marks than when we arrived, that’s the way it should work. Attendance this year was down slightly from years past. The economy, conflicting (Continued on page 5)
F o r e Y o ur I nf o r m a ti o n
P age 2
Fore Your Information EDITOR Jim Alwine Stockton Golf & Country Club 209-462-6734
OFFICE SNGCSA 5322 N. Leonard Clovis, CA 93619 559-298-6262 Fax# 559-298-6957 sngcsaa@aol.com PRESIDENT Scott Dickson Saddle Creek Resort 209-785-3701
VICE PRESIDENT Jim Alwine Stockton Golf & Country Club 209-462-6734
SECRETARY/TREASURER Jeff Couwenhoven Woodcreek Golf Course 916-771-7370
PAST PRESIDENT Frank Putnam Mace Meadows Golf & C.C. 209-295-7773
DIRECTORS Scott Koski Incline Village Championship Course 775-832-1309 Jeremy Payne Empire Ranch Golf Course 916-817-8106 Colby Gunsch Tahoe Paradise Golf Course 530-577-0547 Phil Brown Spring Creek C.C. 209-599-3747
Affiliate Representatives Justin Fowler CPS 916-606-5553 Dave Wilber Sierra Pacific Turf Supply 916-630-7600
FORE YOUR INFORMATION Published by the Sierra Nevada Golf Course Superintendents Association
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
SCOTT DICKSON
It’s August. We’re close on October so look for something Dog days of summer. out of the ordinary for that month. I’ll give What ever did dogs do you a hint: no golf. to us to warrant being Don’t forget about the California linked with this time of GCSA State Conference on November 7, 8, year. Long hot days, and 9 at the Pacific Palms Hotel in Industry warm nights, endless Scott Dickson Hills, CA. Every State meeting that I have atwatering, disease prestended has definitely been worth the trip. sure, insect pressure, golfer pressure, boss On August 4th, Steve Pajak of the Sac pressure, family pressure, newsletter deadBee published a cool article about the day he lines, blah, blah, blah. I seriously think we spent shadowing John Farley of Teal Bend owe our canine friends an apology and peraround the golf course. You can probably find haps a new name for this wonderful time of it archived on sacbee.com if you haven’t seen year. Please feel free to write me with any sugit yet. gestions that do not include any four letter Question: what would you rather do; words. stare at a computer for 4 straight hours or Enough with trying to be witty and stand in the noontime sun without any water or cute. I am actually just trying to find enough sunscreen? I chose the sun. Outta here. words to fill this space and make our editor See you at a meeting. happy. On to Association business. Scholarship tournament went great! Attendance was down 25% from last year but I think all Congratulations to our those who did attend had a good time. Congratulations to our scholarship winners: Dan scholarship winners: Dan LindLindholm, Matt Bain, and holm, Matt Bain, and Nick Adam. Nick Adam And a big thank you to all our sponsors for making it possible. The joint meeting with Central at Del Rio is gone by the time you read this. Our next event is the President’s Cup at Grey’s Crossing. The entry fee will be a little expensive, but well worth the price and the drive since I’m sure most of us have yet to play this wonderful golf course. At press time: October, November, and December were still being worked on.
Scott
F o r e Y o u r I n f o r m a ti o n
P age 3
MEETING SCHEDULE September 16, 2010
November 7, 8, & 9, 2010
University of California, Riverside Turfgrass & Landscape Research Field Day Riverside, CA For more information please contact Jim Baird (jbaird@ucr.edu)
California GCSA Annual Conference Industry Hills, CA Save These Dates
September 23, 2010
SNGCSA Annual Election Meeting Date and Location to be Confirmed
Annual President’s Cup Gray’s Crossing Host Superintendent Mike Cornette
September 27-28, 2010 2010 NCGA Assistant Superintendent Boot Camp
October 2010 Come to the Ball Park Day at the Sacramento River Cats Field More Information to Follow
November 2010
December 2010 Annual Holiday Event Date and Location to be Confirmed
January 2011 A New Year Volunteer To Host A Meeting
February 2011 Annual GCSAA Conference and Show Orlando, FL
F o r e Y o ur I nf o r m a ti o n
P age 4
W I L B E R ' S S I E R R A N E VA DA N E W S By Dave Wilber Summer is always great in our region with our mix of cool season and warm season and everything in between. Interesting weather is the talk with most people. Dave Wilber Tracy Shanahan at Dark Horse is participating in research trials in conjunction with UC Riverside’s Dr. Baird. The Sierra Nevada Chapter is supporting this work. A potential field day is in the works. Hats off to Jim Husting and the Entire Staff at Woodbridge Golf and CC for the outstanding conditions and treatment
we received at our Scholarship and Research Tournament. Always wonderful to be on Jim’s place. The look on Nick Adam’s face was priceless as he won a scholarship, got to play with his father, Stan Adam of Wilbur-Ellis and had a chance to win $100K for an ace. The letter of thanks Nick wrote to the SNGCSA Board was priceless. Andy Wallace has left Coyote Moon GC to pursue other interests outside California. Ram Senna, continues to be responsible for both Coyote Moon and Cattaverdera. Pete Freeden is now with Mid-Cal Equipment repping John Deere iron. Bob Neal moves to represent Golf Ventures West with his new shade being mostly Jacobsen orange.
Mike Azevedo reports putting in a large effort at Yolo Fli-
ers CC to aerify his Bermuda fairways with tight spacing and do some minor renovations to bunkers. Tim Texeria returns to our area to represent Rainbird for Sierra Pacific. He will handle sales and Kelly Kerr will handle service.
The Membership Rate for Assistant Superintendent’s is only $50.00 Have your assistant join the SNGCSA TODAY!
F o r e Y o u r I n f o r m a ti o n
P age 5
SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS CONTINUED
FROM
PAGE 1
travel plans, and a PGA event over the hill did not help to build our numbers. Plan ahead for next year and try to bring a team from your home course. Including a couple of members, proshop staff, your GM, or other department heads goes a long way in making the expense worthwhile as a team-building exercise. Also, there is no finer event to showcase our association than our annual fundraiser. Raising money for worthy causes is what this tournament is all about and even with the lower attendance, everyone stepped up to get the numbers where they need to be. The raffle drawing was a big attraction as usual, unfortunately Tim McCoy won every other prize (and generously gave most away) so better luck next year. Just a quick tip, you’re better off buying your height, but it does not have to be your height. Just
look above the crowd to find Jim Ferrin and you’ll get your money’s worth. Also at the check-in table, I hope everyone received their teeprize, a nice shirt with the Sierra Nevada logo on the chest and a very deserving Syngenta stamp on the sleeve. Thank you, Diana Nisbet and the folks at Syngenta, for pulling out this very comfortable sponsorship for the second year. Other contributors included Sierra Pacific Turf Supply who sponsored multiple holes and contests throughout the course with the help of Anderson Golf Products. Turf Star and Golf Ventures West had some very attractive equipment displays which all of us would love to load on a trailer and take back to our maintenance yards. Commercial Pump brought out their gorgeous truck, took pictures of every four-
some, and provided an IPod for a raffle. Many other sponsors contributed to the event in various ways to make this tournament a great success. Thank you to everyone involved. Hopefully, all of us had the opportunity to meet the scholarship recipients that joined us at Woodbridge Golf and Country Club. This year, two academic scholarships were given to students in our region pursuing a degree in Turf Management or a related field. Additionally, the Sierra Nevada GCSA awarded a Legacy Scholarship to a child of a current member.
Pictured at right is 2010 SNGCSA Scholarship Winner, Mathew Bain and SNGCSA President Scott Dickson. Mathew is a resident of Reno, NV presently attending school at Rutgers University. He is majoring in Golf Turf Management and plans on graduating in December 2010. He is presently employed at D’Andrea Golf Club Pictured above is Nick Adam, 2010 Legacy Scholarship Winner. Son of Member Stan Adam. Nick is a resident of Granite Bay, CA he is attending school at the University of Oregon, majoring in Business Administration and Sports Marketing. He plans on a graduating in 2013. Local work included Catta Verdera Country Club and the Sacramento River Cats.
Pictured at right is 2010 SNGCSA Scholarship winner Dan Lindholm with his fiancée. Dan is a resident of Sparks, NV also attending school at Rutgers University and majoring in Golf Turf Management. Dan plan on graduating in March 2011. He is presently working at The Resort at Red Hawk.
F o r e Y o ur I nf o r m a ti o n
P age 6
N E W C A L I F O R N I A GC S A A N D S I E R R A N E VA DA WEBSITE: BigTuna Interactive is excited to announce that they are developing a new website for the California Golf Course Superintendents Association. In addition to the state site, the Sierra Nevada section is getting a complete overhaul . The new site will feature an easy to use membership directory, job board, and event payment system. The redesign of the website will give its members a new platform to communicate with each other, and for affiliates, more opportunities for online exposure. A new monthly “eNews” email news-
We need your GHIN #
letter will follow the launch of the website. BigTuna Interactive, based in San Diego, California, has been working with the San Diego and Northern California chapters since 2008. They specialize in web design, development and online marketing programs for the Sports Industry.
This September, Grey’s Crossing will host the annual Sierra Nevada President’s Cup on September 23rd in Truckee, CA. All participants will need to provide their GHIN number to verify a handicap. Players without a USGA sanctioned handicap will be forced to play as a “0” or scratch golfer. Make sure to include your handicap index on your return invitation or call in your rating to the association office
Phoenix
Floratine AquaVive Bio-Amp JRM
AnaLync Gro-Power Aqua-Pucks (800) 322-8417
Farmload Distributors
YOUR EXCLUSIVE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DEALERS Bob Francischine 209-747-2206 Bob Slater 530-219-4135
Thor Larson 831-277-4356 Mike Farmen 559-709-6295
F o r e Y o u r I n f o r m a ti o n
P age 7
D E L R I O C . C . A N D D AV E B E R M U D E Z CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 bermuda does not go into dormancy as quick as common and comes out of dormancy and greens up quicker. The conversion of the first fairway was done at the end of June. If the membership is satisfied with the results, they will start a program to convert all 27 fairways over to the hybrid bermuda. This was one of the projects we were able to look at during the joint meeting. One of the other challenges Dave faces is one we all can relate to, “trees”. In late 2008, the club hired Dr. Jim Clark of HortScience to develop a master tree management plan. Following Dr. Clark’s recommendations, the club has made significant strides in the amount of tree work needed. Work like tree removal, pruning, cabling, planting, and developing a tree nursery. Our speaker for the Joint meeting was Pat Finlen, CGCS, current member of the GCSAA Board of Directors and course superintendent at the Olympic Club . Pat spoke on some of the updates on the GCSAA, the search for a new CEO, and something of a little lighter
nature, the preparations The Olympic Club is under going to host the 2012 U.S. Open. Pat shared pictures of what he has accomplished to date and what challenges he still has. Along with hosting the Sierra Nevada chapter this year we also extended the invitation to the Nor-Cal chapter to join us in this event. We hope to make a Tri-Chapter August meeting an annual event in the future. Thanks Dave!! Del Rio was in phenomenal condition and we can’t wait to visit again in the near future. Pictured below is the Del Rio C.C. Club House.
Dave Bermudez Superintendent Del Rio C.C.
F o r e Y o ur I nf o r m a ti o n
P age 8
California Government Relations Committee By Jim Ferrin, CGCS The GCSAA and its legal team supported by the Governmental Relations Committee recently submitted their comments on behalf of the golf industry to the EPA’s draft Pesticide General Permit under the Clean Water Act. This is a proposal to be very wary of and could greatly impact our industry and the manner in which we can apply pesticides at our golf courses in the future. The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) is a court ordered draft that may require golf courses and others who routinely apply pesticides to obtain a federal CWA permit for pesticide applications on, over or near all water located in the United States. This includes ponds, seasonal streams, creeks, rivers, lakes and oceans (man made or natural).
The GCSAA in their comments believes that the Pesticide General Permit (PGP) associated with the NPDES is unreasonable in its focus and schedule. GCSAA believes that many states will adopt the EPA’s PGP as their own and in doing so it is likely that many states including California will go beyond the already limiting proposal in the draft PGP becoming even more stringent in its legal application. The GCSAA will be contacting state chapters to assist with the permit development activities at the state level and they are already assisting us on our behalf in California. In other developments California legislators continue to look at water as an invaluable, scarce and
highly impacted commodity. Proposed legislation throughout the state is currently dealing with proposals on water recycling, recycled water and the need for water use management plans. Our lobbyist Capital Partners is keeping us informed on the viability of these bills. If you need to know more on the EPA’s draft PGP under the Clean Water Act you can read the May 2010 GCM “Inside Your Water” article or visit the EPA website
F o r e Y o u r I n f o r m a ti o n
TURF TIPS
STOCKTON GOLF
P age 9
ROB WILLIAMS, ASST. SUPERINTENDENT & C.C. BY
While doing a little research recently I came across a forum post on Turfnet.com. The post talked about a technique for utilizing a wetting agent tablet inside a sprinkler head.
the drive and snap inside the shell. The top of the drive will sit high equal to the thickness of the wetting agent tablet you have just installed under the drive. As the wetting agent tablet dissolves and ejects through
The valve in head sprinklers are to be left in the “Auto� position, the drive removed, and a cut section of the wetting agent tablet is then placed into the empty shell on top of the bottom valve. Then reinstall
the nozzles, the nozzle housing re seats itself back to its original position. We are also utilizing wetting agent tablet applicators attached to impact rotor sprinklers. In addition gypsum is being tried in this procedure.
F o r e Y o ur I nf o r m a ti o n
P age 1 0
T H A N K YO U 2 01 0 S P O N S O R S
Syngenta S I E R R A P A C I F I C T U R F S U P P LY ANDERSONS GOLF PRODUCTS T U R F S TA R C R O P P R O D U C T I O N S E RV I C E S COMMERCIAL PUMP GOLF VENTURES WEST W ILB U R E LL IS
T UR F E Q U IP ME N T E QU IP ME NT S ERV ICES I N C . B EN S HOWA RD P ET E B OWM A N C HR IS TE NS EN T U RF P R OD U CTS A RR OW G O LF C O NST R UC T IO N H YD R O E N G IN EE R IN G Q UA L I - P RO B RO W N S A ND 1 S T T EE R USS M IT C HE LL & A SSO C IAT ES EZ GO J OH N D EE RE G O LF D OW A G R O S C IE N CE E W IN G A QUATR O LS F ARM LO A D G RAS S R O OTS A GR O N OM IC S S TO VE R S EED F R A N K P UT N AM T AH O E P AR A D IS E G.C . N ORTH R ID GE G O LF & C .C . S TO CK TO N G O LF & C .C . M ACE M EA D OWS G R IZZ LY R A NC H S AD D LE C R EE K R ESO RT N A K OM A G O LF R ES O RT
F o r e Y o u r I n f o r m a ti o n
P age 1 1
HIGHLIGHTS
OF
W O O D B R I D G E G O L F & C. C.
Jim Husting, CGCS (pictured at left) did a fantastic job hosting his 7th Scholarship & Research Tournament at Woodbridge Golf & C.C. in July. The day actually turned out beautiful considering the mid July heat that can hit our valley. The players were treated to a taxing 27 hole tournament that left even the most fit exhausted. Thanks to the tremendous support of our vendors and membership we had a successful event. Included in the festivities was a special “Hole In One� event hosted by Sierra Pacific Turf Supply and Andersons Golf Products. Dave Wilber and Bob Miller worked the tee and greeted members all afternoon. In addition to some of the extra events we all had time to share with good friends and see some new equipment being displayed by our vendors. Pictured at left was the group from Commercial Pump along with Jim and John Duhig. At right Golf Ventures West displayed some new equipment they have to offer.
F o r e Y o ur I nf o r m a ti o n
P age 1 2
W O O D B R I D G E G O L F & C. C. 2 0 10 Scholarship Tournament Winners 1st Place
2nd Place
Teresa Atlan Dominic Atlan Mike Blume Mike Lahman
Bart Greene Mike Orren Loree Lagomarsino Marty Munn
Hole In One drawing shot winners: Nick Adam and Don Sturton Commercial Pump SerMike Blume received his 1st Place Prize vices drawing gift winners: Craig Heitman won a knife and flashlight and Carl Sheffield won an IPod Nano. Longest Drive—Bart Greene Longest Drive Rick Morgan Most Accurate Drive Dave Barlow
The E-Z-GO MPT 1000 Electric Utility Vehicle 1000 Pound Payload . Excellent Torque . Quiet Durable . Competitively Priced . Long Lasting Get around quickly and quietly without having to stop for every golfer about to swing the club. Call for a demo today!
Dave Barlow received his Most Accurate Drive Award
F o r e Y o u r I n f o r m a ti o n
P age 1 3
SAVE THE DATE!!!!!!!
California State Meeting Water, Turf & Management November 7,8,9, 2010 Pacific Palms Hotel www.pacificpalmsresort.com Industry Hills, CA
P age 1 4
F o r e Y o ur I nf o r m a ti o n
H I G H L I G H T S F RO M W O O D B R I D G E C. C. These are the opportunities to fulfill our mission statement.
Pictured above are Manny Pina, Jim Barbuto, Colby Gunsch, and SNGCSA President Scott Dickson. At right are Danny Fielder, CGCS, Jim Ferrin, CGCS, Tim McCoy, and Chuck Talley.
Pictured above are Stan Adam, Scholarship Winner Nick Adam, Mike Sorenson, and guest.
Paul K. Smith Sales Representative Pest Control Advisor Western Specialty Division 800 MOSSDALE RD, LATHROP, CA. 209 234-1500 www.brownsandinc.com
E-mail: smithp@helenachemical.com V.M.: (800) 543-0630
PRODUCTSSERVICES AVAILABLEUSGA Top Dressing Sand Deliveries by MAGNUM TRUCKING INC. Greens Top Dressing Sand Blend Materials to Customers Specifications Bunker Sand Profile / Sand Blends 0-0-50 / Kiln Dried Sand blends Kiln Dried USGA Sand - 3000lbs Super Sacks Dakota Peat Sand Blends Peat Inc Sand Blends Pea Gravel Top Soil
FOR ALL YOUR MATERIAL NEEDS PLEASE CALL OUR OFFICE OR REGGIE POMICPIC – Director of Sales and Market Cell# 209 993-5211 E-mail: reggie@brownsandinc.com
HELENA CHEMICAL COMPANY 3155 Southgate Lane Chico, Ca 95928 Bus: (530) 342-4786
F o r e Y o u r I n f o r m a ti o n
P age 1 5
H I G H L I G H T S F RO M D E L R I O C. C.
Pictured above are host superintendent Dave Bermudez, and Kevin Friesen, CGCS.
Pat Finlen, CGCS, pictured above with Central California VP Kevin Friesen, CGCS. At right are Danny Fielder, CGCS with his father retired Superintendent, Bill Fielder, CGCS. Below are Manny Pina, John Duhig, Frank Putnam, and Scott Whitson.
It’s always a pleasure to welcome our retired members. Pictured below is retired member Jim Bantrup, Retired Class A . The Central California Golfers edged out Sierra Nevada by one stroke with Jon Christensen leading the way with the low net score. One the Sierra Nevada side Debi Franzen had the low new score on this beautiful and challenging golf course.
Christensen Turf Products
2010 Membership Directories
Tel: (775) 4502761
Bruce Christensen
available in electronic file or hard copy.
Fax (775-267-9382 Email: becgolf@earthlink.net
Call the Association Office to place
2754 Kayne Ave. Minden NV 89423
Verti Drain Service
your order Chr istens en T ur f Pr oducts
559-298-6262