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FORE YOUR INFORMATION Ja nu a r y Feb r u a r y 2 0 1 8

GrassRoots Tournament March 21, 2018 Wm Land Park Golf Course Hosted by Bob Cline

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P R E S I D E N T ’ S M E S S AG E

Bill Hamilton, CGCS

If you had the opportunity to go to San Antonio and attend the Golf Industry Show, you know what a great experience it was. The seminars were awesome and the floor show, as always, was overwhelming. Good to see so many old friends, and a chance to make new ones. Extra special thanks to Irene, Kim, and all of the sponsors for putting together a fantastic California Room reception on Wednesday night. There was a big turnout from members throughout the

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state. The venue was terrific as was the food and drink. I didn't realize I could eat so many avocados in one sitting.

At the Show, we got our fellow Californian, Kevin Breen, reelected to the Board of Directors. There are a lot of things coming down the pipe from GCSAA such as: Best Management Practices Implementation, the Golf Course Environmental Profile Project, affiliation with The First Green, an Assistant Superintendent Certificate Program, and an Equipment Manager Certification Program. Check out the GCSAA website for more information on these topics. As a chapter, we also need to get motivated on the Rounds for Research campaign. The flow of funding for turfgrass research is drying up. If we don't contribute an asset, one tee time at your course to the auction, then we'll all be doing our own research. Check it out at the website www.rounds4research.com to

contribute. It will make a difference.

Locally, our next meeting is at Land Park in Sacramento on March 21. This is our annual Grass Roots event where our forefathers proclaimed that "keep the meeting price as low as possible so that members can bring their favorite crew members". At this meeting we will do just that, cover expenses. At this meeting we also give out our annual achievement awards for the year: Distinguished Member, Outstanding Turf Manager, Affiliate of Merit, and President's Grass Root Member. Help us find these folks. Take a minute and nominate someone for any of those well deserved honors. Send your recommendation to SNGCSA@aol.com.

You do realize that 87.3% of all good chapter meetings are because you are there. Show up and bring a crew member. See you in March!

2018 SNGCSA BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT William Hamilton CGCS Lake Wildwood Association VICE PRESIDENT Kurtis Wolford Cherry Island G.C.

SECRETARY/TREASURER Scott McCullough The Ridge Golf Course

PAST PRESIDENT Scott Dickson Brightview

DIRECTORS Dave Bermudez Del Rio Golf & Country Club

Stacy Baker Haggin Oaks Golf Course

John Farley Teal Bend G.C.

Affiliate Representatives Matt Graves Belkorp Akoni Ganir, Simplot Partners

Keith Hill, CGCS Hidden Valley C.C.

Mark Callahan Plumas Pines G.C.

M E E T I N G DA T E S

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March 21, 2018

August 21, 2018

Annual GrassRoots Tournament William Land Park Hosted by Bob Cline

Cor ‘d Valle Golf Course

April 23, 2018 Education Meeting & Tour of Pacific Coast Seed Co. Woodland Facility Speakers include Maggie Reiter, UC Extension, Research Updates Golf Opportunity Wildwings Golf Course

May 24, 2018 Turkey Creek G.C. Hosted by Mike Kaveney

Tri Chapter Meeting Hosted by Nor Cal Association

October 8, 2018 President’s Cup Tournament Schaffers Mill

November 5, 2018 Annual Association Meeting & Election Haggin Oaks Golf Club Hosted by Stacy Baker

December, 2018 June 18, 2018 Scholarship & Research Tournament Granite Bay G.C. Hosted by Matt Dillon, CGCS

Date to be confirmed Annual Holiday Event Teal Bend Golf Course Hosted by John Farley

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F ROM T HE F IELD BY

JEFF JENSEN GCSAA FIELD STAFF

GCSAA has established a Political Action Committee (PAC) to support members of Congress who support GCSAA‘s Priority Issues Agenda.

The PAC Jeff Jensen will give GCSAA the opportunity to gain greater access to members of Congress, provide a direct means to petition the government for the long-term viability of golf facilities and establish new relationships while fully integrating our direct and grassroots lobbying efforts.. The PAC will be governed by a five-member board comprised of the chair and vice-chair of the GCSAA Government Affairs Committee and three at-large members. By law, contributions to the GCSAA PAC are limited to a restricted class of donors, including: rank and file GCSAA members in the United States, GCSAA executive and administrative personnel and their families, GCSAA nonexecutive and non-administrative per-

sonnel and their families with limitations, GCSAA corporate members and United States citizens who have an interest in supporting GCSAA‘s priority issues agenda providing they are not solicited by GCSAA. Funds or donations from individual GCSAA chapters cannot be accepted.

Funds will be distributed starting with the 2018 midterm elections.

For more information on the PAC, visit the website at https://www.gcsaa.org/ advocacy/get-involved/gcsaapac.

GCSAA has been working with the EPA on the review of propamocarb use on turf. Propamocarb is the active ingredient in Banol and Stellar, two products that provide preventative and curative protection from Pythium Blight and Pythium Root Rot. While we don‘t believe there will be any issues with propamocarb, we are diligently working with the EPA to make sure that these products remain available to golf course superintendents.

These reviews will remain on the forefront of GCSAA advocacy efforts moving forward. I thank the superintendents and researchers that pro-

vided feedback on Banol and Stellar use. Your assistance in these matters is greatly appreciated.

Last, but not least, the California Alliance for Golf (CAG) has scheduled a Legislative Day for April 18 at the State Capital in Sacramento. The day is open to all members of the golf industry who wish to attend and speak to state legislators on issues facing the golf industry throughout the state. More information including a time and agenda will be available in the coming weeks.

Thank you for your support of my position and if I can be of any assistance to you or your facility/company, don‘t hesitate to contact me at jjensen@gcsaa.org and make sure to visit the Southwest Region website at https://www.gcsaa.org/resources/region al-resources/secure/southwest for regional updates including a calendar of chapter events.

The SNGCSA is now on Facebook and Twitter.

Check it out!

Check out the website: Sierranevadagcsa.com

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T E AL B E N D HO ST S D E CE MBER MEETING AND CHRISTMAS PA RT Y

Bob Cline Hosts the 2018 Grass Roots Tournament

Bob Cline stood next to the proposed new ninth green as truckload after truckload of dirt slid into place. A brisk breeze slapped away at him, but his glee could not be dampened. For almost two years, Bob looked at improving the finishing hole at William Land Golf. ―This is going to be great,‖ he said. ―It‘s all starting to come together.‖ Since coming to William Land Golf Course in July of 2000, Bob Cline, 69, envisioned improvements for the course. These weren‘t just for him or his legacy, but for the community. ―There‘s a thrill to seeing it get better,‖ he said. ―When I first showed up here there were regulars who played day after day, giving us their money to play here. It really gave me a kick giving them a better golf course. After they put down so much money, I thought they deserved something better.‖ Cline came to William Land after working almost 20 years at Northridge County Club. He was a commercial landscaper with a C-27 license before a fateful day playing

at Northridge that changed the course of life. ―Just the beauty of that golf course – I had never seen that much grass, 400 yards of it at a time, just so green,‖ Cline said. ―It was so beautiful. I said to myself, ‗I want to work here and be a part of that.‘‖ Cline stepped behind a push mower and joined Northridge‘s crew. His first job was trimming down around tree wells. Soon he was moved to mowing all of the tees. He continued to run his personal business while working for Northridge, but after nearly two decades there a good friend, Ron Miller, mentioned that William Land was looking for a Superintendent. He met with Ken Morton Sr. at Haggin Oaks and discussed what direction William Land could take under his leadership. ―There was an opportunity to move it forward a little bit at a time,‖ Cline said. ―Everyone has treated me well since I have been here. This is an important place.

There is a lot of history here. It‘s the oldest place in town. Just about everybody who plays golf has played here.‖ Since coming to William Land, which was built in 1924, Cline has headed some very important projects. The third and fifth greens have completely been rebuilt, bunkers added to the first green and eighth fairway, and the building of the third and fourth tee boxes. Long days and tireless planning had to go into each of these projects. ―Sometimes you realize it‘s just got to get done,‖ Cline said. ―We don‘t always have the budget or maybe the manpower, but, gee whiz, I just

want a better experience for the players. We just want to do a good job and leave the place better than when you first came in.‖ After his first year at William Land, Bob Cline met with Ron Miller and Morton to discuss what needed to be done for his course.

Morton challenged Cline to think about something that had never been done at William Land Golf Course. ―Ken said, ‗How do we move forward? How can we use what we have?,‖ Cline said. ―Larry Johnson helped us get the Sierra Nevada GCSA involved. It just fell into line after that.‖ Having Larry Johnson of Northridge Country Club reach out to the Sierra Nevada Golf Course Superintendents Association has been a blessing to Cline and his crew for the annual Field Day, in which William Land goes through aeration and other projects in preparation for the golfing season. ―Without Field Day, this course wouldn‘t be nearly what it is,‖ Cline said. ―You have to get certain things done by a certain time. We don‘t have the money or the staff to get a lot of it done. To be successful, we really couldn‘t have done it with the support of the association, vendors, and others that have joined us through word of mouth. We are very fortunate here by getting some advantages that a lot of other courses may not have. We are grateful for everyone who has helped us out. ―The people who help us are really giving back to the game, giving back to the kids who are a part of the programs here.‖ As Bob is preparing for his (Continued on page 6)

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BOB CLINE

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 ting dirt dumped into the proposed two new tee boxes, Cline thought about the upcoming Field Day and the direction of the course. ―It‘s been a lot of fun to be part of this,‖ he said. ―I like it here. It‘s the Jewel of Sacramento. But, again, we really couldn‘t do without the help of the SNGCSA.‖

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anniversary of his 18 year at William Land, He looked back on what 2017 was like. ―That was the toughest year since I‘ve been here,‖ he said. ―It was a serious challenge. It started off so wet that we couldn‘t care for the course, then the heat. I was really glad to put that year in the can.‖ During the second day of get-

2018 Wm Land Park Field Day April 25, 2018

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS Mohammad Ali, Morton Golf/ Bing Maloney G.C. Class B Ken Yuson, Coyote Run Golf Course, Class B Damian Pascuzzi Pascuzzi & Pate Golf Design Class Affiliate

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WM LAND PARK FIELD DAY APRIL 25, 2018 On behalf of myself and The First Tee of Greater Sacramento, I would like to thank the Sierra Nevada Golf Course Superintendents Association, its members, along with the Golf Course Industry and others, for their help and support that we have received at William Land Golf Course over the last seventeen years.

Wednesday, April 25, 2018 will be the seventeenth First Tee of Greater Sacramento, Sierra Nevada Superintendents Association and Greens Industry sponsored and supported Field Day at William Land GC to help us raise our standards and provide a better experience for both customers and kids. Our day will begin at 7:00am and lunch will be provided at Noon, please come join us.

Scope of the work:

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Greens aerification and related activities  Deep tine aerification of fairways  Work on irrigation  Tree work  Work on drainage  Work on bunkers Aerifying, seeding, and top-dressing tees, surrounds Equipment needed:  Spreader for topdressing  Aerifying equipment  Tractors and vertidrains  Pro Core and Pro Sweep equipment

800 MOSSDALE RD, LATHROP, CA. 209 234-1500 www.brownsandinc.com 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

  

Utility vehicles Bobcat Sod cutter Trucking for equip.

Materials needed:  West Coast #3 (75 Ton)  Brown sand (green sand 100 Ton)  Starter fertilizer (5 Acres)  Rye seed 1000 lbs.  Dominant Plus bent grass (50 lbs.)  Revolution (10 gals.)  Earth Works (5-4-5) 15 bags Hunter I-25‘s (2 or 3 boxes) If you are able to volunteer or donate please contact: Bob Cline (916-8022040)

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AFFILIATE PROFILE J O E B A L L M E R , S Y N G E N TA B Y S TA C E Y B A K E R

Joe Ballmer is a gentleman and a class act. Joe was born in Wisconsin, he was raised on his family‘s dairy farm. Twice a year, Joe travels back to the family farm to help his Mom plant and harvest corn, soybeans and manage their cattle. If you know Joe, you know the calluses on his hands came from carrying pails of milk from the barn to the house as a child. Joe understands what it means to wake up at 4:00 am and start working.

One of ten children, five boys and five girls, Joe and all of his siblings attended college. Each of them obtained degrees, most with Masters, including Joe, from the University of Wisconsin, Platteville.

Joe has always been athletic.

He played football, basketball and baseball in high school. After college, Joe began to run. Boy did he run. He

completed 114 marathons in all. He has set foot on every continent, running races in Africa, Antarctica and the original marathon in Athens, Greece.

Running has subsided, but not his love of travel which is noted by the stamps in his passport. He stills travels at least once a year and his next trip is to Vietnam and Cambodia.

Joe has been with Syngenta for 35 years as a territory manager, one of only 30 nationwide. He started in the agriculture side and then transitioned into turf and ornamentals. The chemicals might have been the same, but learning the trade names was an interesting conversion. He enjoys bringing new environmentally sound products to the marketplace. According to Joe, his success with Syngenta has been due in part to the team he is surrounded by. ―They are good people

from top to bottom, including a research group that has developed several new products, which have lowered use rates.‖ says Joe. Joe has been a member of the Sierra Neveda GCSA since 2010 and has been a strong supporter along the way. His sponsorship to the Scholarship and Research Tournament has been greatly appreciated and has helped our association become one of the best in the USA. Make sure to say hello and thank Joe for his support of our association the next time you see him. Just make sure you are ready for the handshake.

Thank you Joe for everything you have done for our members over the years.

2018 S C H O L A R S H I P & R E S E A RC H T O U R N A M E N T B Y D AV E B E R M U D E Z Dear Members, Before we know it will be time for the chapter‘s Research and Scholarship Tournament. This year‘s tournament is scheduled on June 18th at Granite Bay Golf Club. We thank Matt Dillon CGCS, our host superintendent for offering us his fine facility for this special event.

Once again Syngenta and Joe Ballmer will be purchasing the tee prizes. We would like to thank all the golf industry suppliers who in the past had equipment displays, donated items for the live auction,

sponsored meals, and for those who sponsored tee signs and games on the course. Superintendents, we also want to thank you for attending, bringing guests, and bringing some great prizes for the raffle. Soon the SNGCSA Board of Directors will be asking again for donations for this year‘s event.

The money raised from this tournament goes to Scholarships, Turfgrass Research, Personal and Professional Development Program, and our Benevolence Fund. Over the last for six years the money raised from

this event is approaching $200,000.

We could not have done this without everyone‘s participants.

Thank you, David Bermudez and Kurtis Wolford

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I N M E M O RY

MARK DOUGLAS HODKIN S E P T E M B E R 2 3 . 1 9 5 3 — F E B R U A RY 1 , 2 0 1 8 Mark Hodkin passed away on February 1, 2018 after a two year battle with Cancer. He started Commercial Pump in 1998 and worked tirelessly for our members. He has been a member of our association since 2000 and has been extremely supportive of our Scholarship & Research Tournament every year.

Our deepest sympathy go out to his wife JoAnn and his son Markie, and daughters Amy and Kylene. He will be greatly missed by all of us that knew him.

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TURF TECH WORKSHOP T H E R I D G E G .C .

Large group again in 2018. This is becoming a very special event.

FORE YOUR INFORMATION Published by the Sierra Nevada Golf Course Superintendents Association EDITOR Bill Hamilton, CGCS OFFICE SNGCSA 5322 N. Leonard, Clovis, CA 93619 559-298-6262 Fax# 559-298-6957 sngcsaa@aol.com

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HIGHLIGHTS 2018 C A L I F O R N I A R O O M & GIS T R A D E S H O W

Pat Smyth wil Corbett Schnatmeyer

Yolanda Barajas, wife of Rafael Barajas, CGCS and Maria Martinez, wife of Rafael Martinez

Joe Ballmer & Mark Mahady

The Homemade Tapas were a huge success.

Mike & Heather Stieler with good friend Kevin Wiles Pat Smyth came with his guest for the evening past SNGCSA member Jeff Frontz.

Bayer was the Diamond Sponsor for the 2018 California Room

BelKorp’s Matt Graves, with co-workers and friends.

Pictured with Josh Martin and Joel Brinkman.

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