Ja nu a r y / Feb r u a r y 2 0 14
FORE YOUR INFORMATION
2014 Grass Roots Tournament
Get Ready, Get Set, Introducing FootGolf at the 2014 Grass Roots Tournament Sierra Nevada GCSA An Affiliate Chapter of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America
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Fore Your Information EDITOR Jeremy Payne Winchester C.C. OFFICE SNGCSA 5322 N. Leonard Clovis, CA 93619 559-298-6262 Fax# 559-298-6957 sngcsaa@aol.com PRESIDENT Jesse Seguin
Paul K. Smith
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
What is FootGolf?
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Mechanics Seminar
4
Meeting Schedule
5
The Reserve Revisited
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From the Field
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GIS Highlights
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GIS Highlights
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VICE PRESIDENT Bob Franco Micke Grove Golf Links 209-598-0564
SECRETARY/TREASURER Rob Williams Stockton Golf & C.C. 209-462-6734
PAST PRESIDENT Jeremy Payne Winchester C.C. 530-878-9099
DIRECTORS Dave Bermudez Del Rio Golf & Country Club 209-341-2413 Mike Scully Valley Crest/Modesto 209-578-9678 Kurtis Wolford Cherry Island Golf Course 916-991-7659 William Hamilton Lake Wildwood Association 530-432-2187
Affiliate Representatives Jim Barbuto Ewing Irrigation 916-502-3287 Pete Bowman Jacobsen West 916-396-9394
FORE YOUR INFORMATION Published by the Sierra Nevada Golf Course Superintendents Association
Sales Representative Pest Control Advisor Western Specialty Division
E-mail: smithp@helenachemical.com V.M.: (800) 543-0630 Box#2417 Mob: (530) 864-6443
HELENA CHEMICAL COMPANY 3155 Southgate Lane Chico, Ca 95928 Bus: (530) 342-4786 (800) 554-5703 Fax: (530) 343-9047
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WHAT
IS
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F O OT G O L F ?
The American FootGolf League (AFGL) is the exclusive member of the FIFG and governing body for the sport of FootGolf in the United States. The AFGL is FootGolf is a combination of the organizing tournaments throughout popular sports of soccer and golf. The the U.S. Cherry Island has incorporated FootGolf to their clubs as angame is played with a regulation #5 soccer ball at a golf course facility on other avenue for revenue and to deshortened holes with 21-inch diameter velop the game further. Check out their video. http:// cups. The rules largely correspond to footgolfcherryisland.com/ the rules of golf. FootGolf as a game is played throughout the world in You will have the opportunity to exmany different forms, but as a sport it perience this fast rising popular variais regulated by the Federation for In- tion of the game we love. ternational FootGolf (FIFG).
Welcome New Members Juan Gonzalez Class C Teal Bend Golf Course Joseph Valente Class C Tahoe Mountain Club Rennie Kubik Class Affiliate Amvac Chemical Co. Sean McPhedran Class SM Valley Hi C.C.
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THE RIDGE GOLF COURSE HOSTS THE 2014 M E C H A N I C S S E M I N A R C O U R S E On February 11th 2014 the Sierra Nevada GCSA held their first ever Mechanics Seminar. Scott McCullough, Superintendent at the Ridge Golf Course in Auburn, hosted the event. This was a long time dream of Scott’s, and it exceeded even his expectations. The event started at 7:30 with check in and breakfast for more than 40 mechanics, superintendents, and guests. Presentations began at 8:00 and included Turf Star, JacobsenWest, Parris Turf Equipment, and John Deere. The presentations ran through 12:00 then the group was
treated to lunch hosted by JacobsenWest’s, Pete Bowman. A survey of the attendees revealed high marks for the event with several great ideas for next year. You can certainly count on this being an annual event for our association. Thank You to Scott McCullough for making his dream a reality for our members and their crews.
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MEETING SCHEDULE March 3, 2014
August 11, 2014
Annual Grass Roots Tournament Cherry Island Golf Course
Tri Chapter Meeting Del Rio C.C.
Hosted by Kurtis Wolford
Hosted by Dave Bermudez
April 21, 2014 Spanos Park G.C.
September 22, 2014 President’s Cup
Hosted by John Jorgenson
White Hawk Ranch G.C. Hosted by Craig Pearson
May 21, 2014 Sequoia Woods C.C.
October
Hosted by Paul Watts
Location to be confirmed
June 2014
November Annual Election Meeting
Bradshaw Ranch G.C. Date to be confirmed
July 21, 2014 Annual Scholarship & Research Tournament Peach Tree Golf & C.C.
December Annual Holiday Event
Hosted by Tracy Shanahan
If you are interested in hosting a meeting email Irene at sngcsaa@aol.com
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T H E R E S E RV E R E V I S I T E D
WITH
JOHN JORGENSEN
BY ROB WILLIAMS
Last September, John Jorgensen returned to a very familiar place, The Reserve at Spanos Park. On April 21st, he is looking forward to the opportunity of hosting his professional colleagues for a day of education and golf. In June of 1990, John started in the golf business as a greenskeeper; making $6.00 per hour at Brighton Crest Country Club in Friant, CA. He possesses a Bachelor's Degree in Agricultural Sciences from California State University Fresno, and is a 19 year member of GCSAA. John joined SNGCSA in 1998, while working at The Reserve. John climbed the ladder over the course of 4 1/2 years at Brighton Crest to become Golf
Course Superintendent. After Brighton Crest, his career path led to some amazing opportunities in the roll as grow-in superintendent at Ruby Hill Golf Club, Coyote Creek Golf Club, Tournament Course, and The Reserve at Spanos Park. John left The Reserve to take on the Superintendent position at Deer Ridge Golf Club where he took on the task of renovating a golf course that was subject to financial hardship during the construction phase. Trinitas Golf Club, Valley Springs, and Lone Tree Golf Course in Antioch then followed. The Reserve at Spanos Park opened in June, 1999. He worked directly with Dr. Barry Ruhl, AG
John Jorgensen
Spanos' son-in-law, Andy Raugust, Architect, and Dan Arnold, Construction manager, to build and grow in The Reserve. John went in while the "Roughing In" stage was starting. “I got a lot of experience working with staff from the Nicklaus group at Ruby Hill and Coyote
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Creek. I would consider John Scott, Nicklaus’s chief agronomist. as my mentor in this business”. “I think this really helped me going forward at The Reserve as Andy Raugust worked for Nicklaus also; and we shared a lot of the same goals and philosophies”. “I can’t speak for all superintendents, but I think for most of us-- rising costs of water, water availability, increased cost of material inputs, and labor reduction drive us to pull our hair out, what's left of it anyway. Add to that, an ever-decreasing number of golfers-- all demanding discounted golf. All golf course operations have their challenges; and here
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at The Reserve we are no different. Going forward, my hope is to work towards making this golf course perform as it did back in 2002. All things take time but I am confident we will get the job done”. “I have been a member of SNGCSA since 1998. In that time, I have been fortunate to be affiliated with some of the most helpful, insightful, caring people in my life. There has never been a time when a superintendent has not been there with advice when I’ve asked for it. The same goes for our affiliates. There is always a "story" to
tell when it comes to this business. I would have to say that I am extremely blessed to be able to continue on in my chosen career as a golf course superintendent. There have been bumps in the road for sure....but I have been able to reside in the same home, raise 2 beautiful children, stay married to my best friend Bridget for 29 years, and go to work at a golf course every day!!!! Not many people can say that.”
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FROM THE FIELD
JEFF JENSEN, GCSAA FIELD STAFF, SOUTHWEST REGION
This column will find many of you just returning from Jeff Jensen the annual Golf Industry Show, Education Conference and GCSAA Golf Championships in Orlando. I sincerely hope you enjoyed all of the events, hospitality and education that were provided at this very successful show. We appreciate your continued support of the event and look forward to San Antonio in 2015.
As we move into spring, GCSAA wants to hear from our members concerning our strategic vision for GCSAA moving forward and ask for your assistance with key projects when they arise. There are numerous volunteer opportunities throughout the year in which you can engage with GCSAA staff, the GCSAA Board of Directors and your fellow members that have a positive impact on the golf industry. Whatever your interest may be – water management, the environment, government regulations or
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member relations, GCSAA has a project or a committee that you can assist with. Take a moment to complete a survey at https:// www.surveymonkey.com/s/ VPFKSLH to indicate that we can call upon you in the future when engagement opportunities arise. The feedback you share on this survey will also give you the avenue to identify topics that interest you. You will receive 0.25 service points for taking the time to complete this survey. Additionally, I will be reaching out to Sierra Nevada members this summer to identify (Continued on page 9)
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those who have interest in serving as a GCSAA government relations liaison. More information on this program will be available shortly and we are hoping to have commitments from members by July. We look forward to working with you and making sure we have our member’s best interests in mind. If you have any questions concerning the survey, please contact Scott Woodhead, associate director of member relations at 800472-7878 ext. 4418 or swoodhead@gcsaa.org. Thank you for your support of my position and if I can do anything to make your member experience more beneficial, don’t
hesitate to contact me at jjensen@gcsaa.org . For current updates and regional news, follow me on Twitter @GCSAA_SW or check out the Southwest Region blog at http://gcsaasouthwest.blogspot.com.
WANTED : Toro 660 sprinklers/parts. Please contact Jim at jsweegs122@yahoo.com or (916) 716-3140.
The SNGCSA is now on Facebook and Twitter. Check it out!
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HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE GIS IN ORLANDO Trade Show Floor
Pictured above Bob Franco and Rob Williams take in the trade show.
Pictured above are Jessie Creencia, CGCS, Rick Danielson, and Jim Alwine. Pictured below is Jessie Creencia, CGCS
Below Bob Miller, works at the The Anderson’s booth
Pictured above are Nick Angelucci and Joe Ballmer of Syngenta.
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H I G H L I G H T S F R O M GI S I N O R L A N D O California Room
Pictured above Corbet Rankin hangs out with Ryan Bentley and Larry Layne. At right Russ Mitchell.
Pictured above are Scott Bower, Tim Texeira, and Bob Brueggeman.
Pictured above Jim Alwine and Rob Williams prepare to cast ballots at the Annual Election Meeting. At left, Jessie Creencia, CGCS cass his ballot as well.
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Rounds 4 Research Welcome to Rounds 4 Research, an innovative program aimed at generating resources to fund research and help ensure golf’s future. The premise is simple: Golf facilities can support the effort by donating rounds of golf for two or four or “stay and play” packages and other items that will be auctioned off online on www.biddingforgood.com to generate funds for turfgrass research. Rounds 4 Research is administered by the Environmental Institute for Golf and presented in parternship with the Toro Co. The EIFG is the philanthropic organization of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.
Whether you are an organization looking to solicit rounds or a golfer looking for the opportunity to support research while enjoying the sport you love, Rounds 4 Research provides a way for all aspects of the game to come together to ensure its future. Since launching in July 2012, Rounds 4 Research has raised nearly $150,000 for turfgrass research. Keep checking with Rounds 4 Research for news and dates for our 2014 auctions. Be a part of of 2014 auctions, set for June 9-22 and Aug. 1-10, by donating a round or becoming a fundraising partner.
THANK YOU TO OUR ANNUAL SPONSORS