July August 2013

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FORE YOUR INFORMATION NAKOMA GOLF RESORT/THE DRAGON HOST SUPERINTENDENT JASON KLEMESRUD

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

President’s Message

2

Meeting Schedule

5

Wilber’s News

6

From the Field

8

The Ins & Outs of Getting Certified

10

Scholarship Tournament Highlights

14

Tri Chapter Meeting Highlights

15

The Dragon and the Nakoma Golf Resort will play host to the 2013 President’s Cup Tournament for the Sierra Nevada GCSA. Superintendent Jason Klemesrud is looking forward to showing our members what he has accomplished since coming to the course in September of 2010.

Jason grew up in Graeagle, only a stone’s throw away from the course. After graduating high school he was off to the big city for college.

He first landed in San

Diego for a few years and then completed his degree at Rutgers University in New Jersey in 2003. After graduating Jason returned to the Mohawk Valley in Plumas County to start his career at Whitehawk Ranch working as assistant for Superintendent Craig Pearson. In September of 2010 he was approached by the new owners that had purchased The Dragon. They made an offer and Jason accepted the challenge.

He started when the course was fresh out of

PHIL BROWN-SPRING

Sierra Nevada GCSA An Affiliate Chapter of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America

Phil Brown has passionately filled the position of Golf Course Superintendent at Spring Creek Country Club since 2002. Having studied at Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, his previous works have included the grow in and opening of Sierra Nevada Golf Ranch (now Genoa Lakes Resort) where he maintained the course for four years and also com-

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CREEK COUNTY CLUB BY

Dates to Remember

September 16, 2013 President’s Cup Tournament Nakoma Golf Resort “The Dragon”

bankruptcy. It had been owned and run by the financial institution that held the deed for the past 5 years. Things were pretty rough to say the least. His first job was to bring the course back to life and then to change it from ―The hardest course west of the Mississippi‖, a saying the original owners coined, to a more player friendly yet challenging environment. This has been Jason’s challenge for the past three years and one he has succeeded at.

pleted renovations at Genoa Lakes before taking the helm at Spring Creek Country Club.

Phil and his lovely wife Suzanne are proud parents of four grown children. Ashley, Brittany, Reid and Koryn have successful careers and families of their own.

"Empty nesters baby!!!"

Phil adds as he talks of world travels and playing

ROB WILLIAMS golf wherever they can pack their clubs.

Spring Creek Country Club began construction of a 22,000 sq.ft. club house in August of 2011, and the opening was held on the weekend of Mother’s Day in 2012. The construction also included the rebuilding of the #1 tee (Continued on page 4)

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Fore Your Information EDITOR Jeremy Payne Winchester C.C.

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

OFFICE SNGCSA 5322 N. Leonard Clovis, CA 93619 559-298-6262 Fax# 559-298-6957 sngcsaa@aol.com PRESIDENT Jeremy Payne Winchester C.C. 530-878-9099

VICE PRESIDENT Jesse Seguin Lincoln Hills Golf Course 916-434-7200

SECRETARY/TREASURER Bob Franco Micke Grove Golf Links 209-598-0564

PAST PRESIDENT Jeff Couwenhoven Resort at Squaw Creek 916-771-7370

DIRECTORS Dave Bermudez Del Rio Golf & Country Club 209-341-2413 Scott McCullough The Ridge Golf Course 530-888-7122 ext 2 Kurtis Wolford Cherry Island Golf Course 916-991-7659 Rob Williams Stockton Golf & C.C. 209-462-6734

Affiliate Representatives Dave Wilber Sierra Pacific Turf Supply 916-630-7600 Pete Bowman Jacobsen West 916-396-9394

FORE YOUR INFORMATION Published by the Sierra Nevada Golf Course Superintendents Association

Jeremy Payne Winchester Country Club

Is anyone else tired? I know summers are notorious for wearing us superintendents down, but this one feels like it’s been a unique one for me, and several others whom I’ve spoken with over the past few months. Not only have we seen a couple pretty intense heat spells, heavy smoke in a lot of areas and that freak late June rain

storm, but our industry seems to be ramping back up again. I’m not fully in tune with all courses and their numbers, but just by word of mouth rounds seem to be moving up and capital budgets for many courses that have been on hold are starting to roll back in now that the economy seems to have stabilized a bit.

The good news? If you’re reading this, you’re likely still standing, still working and still a part of our great industry. You’ve survived. Congratulations.

We all know this isn’t the end of hard times, but as we all seem to move back toward a ―new normal,‖ I think it behooves us to reflect back on what’s changed and the new environment we’re all working

BY

JEREMY PAYNE

in: Communication – this seems to be more important than ever before. With the massive impact of social media and the digital age, managers, bosses, owners and even golfers want and absorb more information than ever before.

And most are more knowledgeable (or at least think they are!) as a result. We all should remember that if we’re not out in front, being proactive with what’s going on on the course (the good AND the bad!), it could catch up with us in a not-so-good way.

Efficiency – we’ve all had to tighten our belts, some by one notch, some by twenty. The bad news: I don’t think we’re ever going to get those notches (Continued on page 3)

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE CONTINUED FROM PAGE back. Once a more efficient way is found, especially when it’s just as effective as the old, less-efficient way, it makes no sense at all to go back. The good news: there’s nothing wrong with a little weight loss. And should good times return for your course, hopefully having found those efficiencies will enable you to embark on something new you’ve never had the resources to do before.

Time – we all feel like we have less of it. Never enough time in the day.

Not for work, not for family, not for you. While we’ve all gotten better at managing our time because we’ve been forced to, I have yet to meet someone who thinks they now have MORE time to do things they haven’t done before, or used to do. However, for the sake of our courses, our jobs, our personal lives and our sanity, we all need to remember to prioritize our time. Time with the family and kids is priceless. Even at association meet-

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2 ings, as it’s become harder and harder for me to ―find the time,‖ I’m thankful that my position on the board makes me feel obligated to attend.

Because every time I go, even though I feel like I shouldn’t because I should be working instead, I leave feeling like I made the right decision. The time away from the course and the interaction with my colleagues is something I hope I never forget the value of.

I hope everyone is still hanging on to a shred of sanity as this summer pulls closer to a close. Don’t forget where we’ve come from, what we’ve all been through, and where we’re heading now. And try to capture the positive amongst the chaos: in the long run, these trials and tribulations only make us stronger.

See you at Nakoma Golf Resort!

Welcome New Members Don Cordle Genoa Lakes G.C. Class A Marciano V. Garcia Silver Oak G.C. Class C Andy Raugust Golf Architect Class Affiliate Tracy Hawkins Profile Products Class Affiliate

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Phil Brown Continued from page 1 complex and of the putting green Phil adds ―Over the 11 years of being Superintendent here I’ve been involved in constructing new golf holes 11 & 18, new tee box complexes throughout the course, bunker renovations, completion of the cart path network throughout the course, installation of a new irrigation system (that’s 10 years old), expansions to the driving range tee, and clubhouse and parking lot landscapes". A crew of 15 including an Assistant Superintendent, Mechanic and Assistant Mechanic have served Phil well, with several twenty year and one forty-plus year men dedicated to maintaining the golf course and landscaping.

When I asked Phil about his association over the years with the GCSAA and the Sierra Nevada Golf Course Superintendent Association, he replied "Over my thirty years in the industry I’ve met a tremendous amount of friends and colleagues that have made getting through the difficult times of our jobs much easier with their support and camaraderie. It helps to have a good support system when doing this type of work".

It was great seeing Phil and Spring Creek Country Club at the Tri Chapter meeting. Hopefully you had

the opportunity to meet Phil, and shake his hand. Thank you, Phil, for the continued support of our chapter as will as all of our members.

Phil Brown is pictured here on one of his world adventures standing on the “Great Wall” in China.

Phil Brown is pictured at the Tri Chapter Meeting with GCSAA President and fellow superintendent Pat Finlen, CGCS

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MEETING SCHEDULE September, 16, 2013 Nakoma Golf Resort President’s Cup Tournament Host Superintendent Jason Klemesrud

October 2013 To Be Announced

November 4, 2013 Stockton Golf & C.C. Annual Election Meeting Host Superintendent Rob Williams

December 13, 2013 Sacramento River Train

January 2014 No Meeting Currently Scheduled

February 3-7, 2014 GCSAA Education Conference and Golf Industry Show Orlando, FL Information to Follow on the California Room

March 2014 Annual GrassRoots Tournament Location to be Confirmed

April 2014 Volunteer Today to Host A Meeting

Annual Holiday Event More Information to Follow “Save The Date”

May 2014 Location to be confirmed

If you are interested in hosting a meeting email Jeremy Payne at jspturf@hotmail.com or Dave Wilber at davewilber@yahoo.com

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W I L B E R ’ S S I E R R A N E VA DA N E W S B Y D AV E W I L BE R

Lots of activity.

Hold on tight!

Ryan Cheers is the new superintendent at Tierra Oaks GC in Redding. Ryan leaves his spot at Brookside Country Dave Wilber Club in the hands of his former Assistant, Mike Goies.

Denis Smith is leaving Mt. Shasta Golf Resort to be the new Super at Santa Clara Golf and Tennis. No word as of this writing about his replacement.

Doc Carmichael has retired from his post in Modesto. ValleyCrest's Mike Scully takes the helm overseeing Creekside, Dryden Park and Modesto Muni. Mike leaves Woodcreek Oaks to new Assistant, Kyle Mead.

Pete Fredeen is the new Assistant at Stockton Golf and Country Club, working with Superintendent Rob Williams. There's a Free Willy joke in there somewhere.

Frank Putnam and Pete Galea are now with Farmload Dis-

tributors under the care of Mike Farmen.

Mike Jones has left his position with Southern Links and joins forces with Sierra Pacific Turf Supply. Mike replaces Gary Hoff, who we wish very well in his retirement.

No one knows how to have fun like Gary and I'm sure there will be lots of it.

Scott Dickson has left Turf and Industrial Equipment and is now working with Graeme Parris of Parris Turf Equipment. Seems like a great match.

A first for this column, a facility name change. Sunset Whitney Country Club in Rocklin, is now known as Rocklin Golf Club. Both the former and the later under the watchful eye of Wes Leith.

Stacy Baker, Superintendent at Haggin Oaks in Sacto was showing me his new Foot Golf layout. It's golf played with a Soccer Ball and it's taking quite a hold and looks to be a heck of a good time.

Scott Bower successfully showed Martis Camp in Truckee to the world by hosting an incredible

US Jr. Amateur Championship. Hats off to Scott and his Assistant Clint Leudtke, their staff and a handful of volunteers that made things happen.

A USGA Championship at any level is never an easy thing.

Fred Frechette has joined the Southern Links group and will represent the company from Sacramento down to Visalia.

Congratulations to our two new Dad’s. Scott McCullough and his wife Jennifer welcomed their baby boy, Hudson Robert on August 14th, then on August 16th, Kurtis Wolford and his wife welcomed their son, Carson Charles. All are doing well and we wish them all the best. ―Balls‖. That's what really needs to be addressed to bring back the fun in Golf. This "While We Are Young" thing the USGA trotted out is nice, but doesn't really address the problem. Balls, USGA, balls!

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JASON KLEMESRUD The rounds are up to 11,000 a year now on this beautiful 18 hole, 6800 yard Robin Nelson Design nestled amongst the splendid backdrop of Mohawk Valley in Plumas County. The spectacular clubhouse, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, is something you will definitely want to see.

Jason has a simple philosophy, ―My job is to make sure the golf course is agronomically sound and in its best playable condition all season long. In return I get thousands of happy golfers enjoying the hard work my crew and I put in everyday,‖ which is what Jason likes most about his job. He is humble when he speaks of his career as a superintendent and what he has accomplished. He has worked hard for his position and the course condition is proof of that.

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Jason’s present maintenance challenge is a tired and worn irrigation system . He is working on bunker renovations and is currently completely renovating 20 bunkers and will have completed 83 total when he is done with the project.

When not working Jason spends time camping, fishing, hunting, and his favorite, snowmobiling in the back country of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. He loves spending these pastimes with his high school sweetheart, Erin, who he married 11 years ago, and their three daughters, Abigail (Abby) 10, Margaret (Maggie) 8, and Clara 6.

As the old saying goes ―Life is Good.‖ We look forward to seeing Jason on September 16th when we all gather to see who will win the

Jason Klemesrud

President’s Trophy. Wes Leith presently holds the title and will be defending the honor, so watch out.

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FROM THE FIELD

JEFF JENSEN, GCSAA FIELD STAFF, SOUTHWEST REGION

It was great to see all of our Sierra Nevada GCSA memJeff Jensen bers at the Scholarship & Research Tournament. The turnout was outstanding and your support of the profession and future superintendents is truly remarkable. A special thanks to Rancho Murieta Country Club superintendent Rich Scholes for playing host. The course is beautiful and a joy to play.

Speaking of supporting the profession, I would like to make our GCSAA Class A Superintendent members aware of the Melrose Leadership Academy which was established in 2012 by retired Toro CEO Ken Melrose. The Melrose Leadership Academy supports the professional development of GCSAA Class A member superintendents by providing individuals the opportunity to attend the GCSAA Education Conference and Golf Industry Show free of charge.

The program is set up to provide up

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to 20 scholarships every year. It is designed to benefit GCSAA Class A members who have not attended the education conference in the past five years and have a desire to advance their leadership skills.

While at conference, Melrose Academy participants will attend sessions hosted by industry leaders that focus on risk management, efficient operations, communication and environmental stewardship. Graduates of the program will provide enhanced value to their golf facility through improved leadership, development of a new network of peers and a broader un(Continued on page 9)

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derstanding of issues facing the golf industry.

Superintendents granted scholarships by the program will receive GCSAA Education Conference and Golf Industry Show full package registration, education seminars, airfare, four nights’ hotel accommodations, $200 spending money and educational tools and resources following the event.

Applications for the Melrose Academy close on Sept. 15. Applicants should be able to demonstrate an increasing level of responsibility in their profession by working to advance in their careers, and the potential for continuing to play

a leadership role with GCSAA and their GCSAA affiliated chapter. The selection criteria takes into account qualifications, interest and financial need, and to the extent possible, will be focused on less experienced superintendents who will benefit most from the educational opportunity.

For more information or to apply for a scholarship, visit http://www.eifg.org/education/ melrose-leadership-academy/.

The 2014 GCSAA Education Conference and Golf Industry Show are scheduled for Feb. 3-7 in Orlando, FL. Thanks again for your support of GCSAA and enjoy

the remainder of summer. If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to contact me at jjensen@gcsaa.org and make sure to follow me on Twitter @GCSAA_SW.

The SNGCSA is now on Facebook and Twitter.

Check it out!

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THE INS AND OUTS OF GETTING CERTIFIED

BY JIM PAVONETTI, CGCS

As just about every turf professional knows, the Certified Golf Course Superintendent (CGCS designation is the highest level of recognition a golf course superintendent can achieve. In the job market, it is a professional designation that sets you apart from others, especially when pursuing a higherlevel position. Once hired, it shows your employer that you are continually striving to enhance your skills and remain on the pulse of the industry as you pursue the continuing education needed to maintain your certification.

Though earning this status has always meant satisfying a series of criteria, in 2001, GCSAA made the requirements for becoming certified considerable more stringent.

About 25 percent of GCSAA Class A members currently hold the CGCS status, but admittedly, the numbers pursuing certification seems to have fallen off. The word on the street is that many superintendents are discouraged by what now appears to be an overbearing and time-consuming amount of work.

Well, having recently gone through the new certification proc-

ess, I can assure you that it’s well worth the effort. I feel that completing the process has made me a better manager and better superintendent, which in affect, has made me more valuable to my club. I learned more effective ways of managing my time and my staff. I discovered things that I could be doing better or that I should be doing but wasn’t. Working through the program gave me the tools I’ve needed to enhance any areas of weakness and also capitalize on my strengths.

What follows is a rundown on what it takes to become a certified golf course superintendent—as well as a roundup of Met member sentiments on what earning CGCS status has meant to them. I hope that after reading this article, you’ll be inspired to carve out the time to pursue your certification and join the ranks of the 79 Met members who are certified golf course superintendents today.

FIRST THINGS FIRST: Becoming Eligible Before you can begin the certification process, you have to be sure you meet the minimum requirements. These include years of ex-

perience as a superintendent and level of education. Your educational level will dictate how many years of experience as a superintendent you will need and how many education points you will have to complete before moving forward with the certification process. The chart on the following page specifies these requirements.

The eligibility requirement don’t stop there. You also must:  Be currently employed a s golf course superintendent.  Possess a pesticide applicators license or pass the GSAA’s IPM exam if your state or country does not have a pesticide license.  Complete the online SelfAssessment Tool, which can be found on the GCSAA’s website.  Complete a certification portfolio.

About the Self-Assessment Tool Working through the online selfassessment helps you identify how you measure up to the competencies needed to perform successfully as a superintendent and on the (Continued on page 11)

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CERTIFICATION exam. Under each competency, you’ll find the education resources, seminars, books, or articles available to help you strengthen any gaps you might uncover in your knowledge and abilities in all areas. Another bonus: You’ll receive .5 CEUs for completing the assessment.

About the Portfolio Here’s where things get a little more challenging. The certification portfolio is a collection of 33 sections that have to be completed before you can submit your application for the program. These sections are divided into three parts: Work Samples, Skill Statements, and Case Studies. The portfolio was created to evaluate your understanding and application of the management and problem solving skills needed to run a successful golf course operation.

I know, right now you’re thinking. ―You have to be kidding me, right?‖ Admittedly, the portfolio is one of the biggest stumbling blocks in superintendents’ motivation to become certified. I’m not going to say it’s not a lot of work, but you can begin building a portfolio at any point in your career, even as an assistant, and if you’re a superintendent, you’re probably already doing what's required in some of the sections anyway. Take the Work Samples section. Here, you have to provide evidence of tools and documents that you use to mange staff. This might include employee reviews, employee training, job descriptions, or a meeting agenda...things you have pretty readily available.

One thing that you should be sure to download from the GCSAA’s website is Portfolio Scoring Rubric. This is a great ve-

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hicle for helping you make sure that you do not leave any part of an answer out. It is what the judges use to grade your portfolio, so reviewing it can prove to be a great timesaver, particularly since any errors or omissions will require that your portfolio be returned to you for revision. Ugh. I have judged six portfolios in the past three years, and the most common reason any section is sent back for a redo—believe it or not—it is because of grammar, punctuation, or spelling errors. I strongly suggest having someone else proofread your work before sending it in. It will save you a lot of time and aggravation.

Right now, you have two options in putting together your portfolio: You can create an electronic portfolio, or you can submit a paper-based version.

Regardless of which method you choose, GCSAA provides helpful templates on its

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website that are designed to guide you in the creation of your portfolio while ensuring that you include all the necessary information.

If you choose the paperbased portfolio, Continued on page 12

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CERTIFICATION

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you have to download the templates onto your computer, type in the answers, and print three copies of everything. Then you have to put them into separate binders and mail two of the copies to GCSAA, where they would then be sent to two different judges to be graded.

The new and improved electronic option allows you to enter your information directly into your e-portfolio by coping and pasting your information from the templates or from something you might have already saved on your computer. Your portfolio will be accessible for five years from the last time you opened it. Another plus with this method is that you will receive your results from the judges more quickly because there is no time wasted waiting for items to be mailed back and forth.

Completing the Certification Eligibility Worksheet You’ll complete this worksheet, which you can find on the GCSAA website, to establish and document your eligibility requirements. Once you’ve met the requirements, GCSAA will send you a certification application form to complete and submit with an application fee and your portfolio.

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The Application When your eligibility is approved and you have your portfolio ready to go, you can submit your application. Once the application is received, you will have one year to complete the remainder of the certification process, which includes the written exam. The attesting of your golf facility, and the evaluation of your portfolio. The exam and attesting can be completed in any order within the one-year period.

This means planning ahead is essential. You have to keep in mind that:  The attesting of your course must be conducted during the growing season.  A 60 day waiting period is required between exam retakes.

So if for some reason you have to retake a section of the exam you’re allowed two retakes, you have to be sure there’s ample time remaining in your one year application period for completion. It really pays to wait until you’re well prepared to take the exam before submitting your application.  If any additional information or materials are needed for your portfolio, it must be returned

for reevaluation during your application period.

I personally, submitted my application in the early fall, which gave me the off-season to pass the exam and the whole summer to get my attesting done.

The Exam The exam is a closed-book, multiple-choice test consisting of three parts with a total of 211 questions.

You must pass each section of the exam with at least 67 percent.

The Self-Assessment Tool mention earlier will identify for you the materials or seminars that will help you pass this exam, so it’s important that you be honest with yourself when you work through this online assessment.

On the test, there are some things that you’re expected to know from memory, such as the volume of a cube, converting cubic feet to cubic yards, calculating the percent slope, USGA specifications for greens, the GCSAA’s Code of Ethics, general knowledge about turf species from all geographical areas, and how to figure depreciation.

You are also expected to have some general knowledge about the (Continued on page 13)

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CERTIFICATION Audubon Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses. Formulas for other, more difficult math problems are provided.

As, I noted earlier you have one year to pass the exam, but there is a 60 day waiting period between retakes, so plan ahead?

The Attesting Fulfilling the attesting requirement may be the easiest part of the program for some and the most nerveracking for others. This is when your local chapter assigns two certified superintendents to come and evaluate your golf course operation.

This evaluation is conducted during your course’s growing season and covers four major areas: course conditions (based on your budget), maintenance facility, recordkeeping methods, and communication skills.

You can prepare for this visit by downloading the grading form that the attesters will use to evaluate your course. This is also the ―Attester Guideline‖ booklet available as a PDF, and an ―Attester Training Video,‖ which also covers everything the attesters will be looking for.

Maintaining CGCS Status Once you become certified, you must maintain your CGCS status by

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obtaining 15 points every five years.

(At least five of the points have to be education points: the remainder can be service points.) If 15 points are too much, you can retake the exam and obtain only 5 points. (At least two have to be education points, in this case.)

Maintaining CGCS Status When Retired What about the people who have been certified but are now on to other things like sales or retirement?

You may be eligible to maintain a ―CGCS Retired‖ status, which means you no longer have to renew with CEUs. You simply have to meet the requirements for retired membership classification in GCSAA, such as Class AA (Life Member), and you have to have maintained your certified status up to the point of retirement.

To be eligible for Class AA (Life Membership) one has to have retired as a golf course superintendent and been an assistant superintendent or golf course superintendent member of the GCSAA for 25 years,

of which a minimum of 20 years has been spent as a golf course superintendent.

For Questions About the Certification Process If you have any questions or concerns about the program a great resource is Penny Mitchell, the program’s Senior Manager of Certification. She can be reached at pmitchell@gcsaa.org or at 800-4727878.

Jim Pavonetti, editor of Tee to Green, is superintendent at Fairview Country Club in Greenwich CT, Jim has served on the GCSAA’s Certification Committee for the past three year and also serves as Portfolio judge. Reprinted from Tee to Green June 2013

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S I E R R A N E VA DA G CS A S C H O L A R S H I P & RESEARCH TOURNAMENT HIGHLIGHTS 2013 Scholarship Winners

Below at right are Andrew Lopez and Greg Kelly, winners of the Turf Student Scholarship. Also pictured below are Legacy scholarship winners, from right, Sarah Ferrin with her Mom and Dad and Harrison Husting with Dad, Jim. Not in attendance were Turf Students Cody Stewart and Jon Rybicke, and Legacy winners Alison Adam and Ryan Fackler.

1st Place Team Champions pictured above, are Jim Ferrin, CGCS, Tim Texeira, Jose Diaz and Chris Herzog. Pictured at right is the 2nd Place team of Bob Franco, Jeff Jensen, Andy Lopez and Matt Rascoe, (not pictured) Below are 3rd place winners Steve Byrne, Joe Goldbronn, John Homquest, and Gary Wllliams.

At left is the 4th Place group of Kurtis Wolford, Steven McVey, CGCS, Jay Colvin with Association VP Jesse Sequin presenting them with their award. Not pictured was Rod Metzler, the fourth member of the winning team. 5th Place went to the team of Frank Putnam, Mike Farmen, and Craig McDonald.

Approximately 120 players enjoyed the day at Rancho Murieta on July 15th. Host Rich Scholes had the course in amazing shape and received many compliments from all the attendees. Pictured on the bottom left is Rich Scholes along with several of his board members, Arnie Billingsly, Jeff Frost, and Bob Wright.

Above Bill During the auction our commercial members generously donated product that helped our association Hamilton reraise over $20,000 for scholarships and research. Thank you to everyone that helped. We greatly appreciate ceives his your continued support. Our Sponsors: Andersons Turf Specialty , Arrow Golf Construction, BASF, closest to the Bayer Environmental Science , Becker Underwood, Best pin award.

by Simplot, Boardtronics, Pete Bowman, Brown Sand, Commercial Pump, Cornerstone Envirnomental, CPS, Davey Tree Experts, Delta Blue Grass, Don Naumann, Eagle One, Ewing Irrigation, Farmload Dist., 1st Tee of Greater Sacramento, Helena Chemical, Insure Organics, Jacobsen West, John Deere Landscape, Kyle Phillips, Mid Cal Tractor, Parris Turf Equipment, Pascuzzo & Pate G.C. Design, Profile Products, Quali Pro, Russ Mitchell & Assoc, Ryerson Irrigation, Sierra Pacific Turf Supply, Simplot Turf & Ornamental, Sport Turf Irrigation, Sustain, Syngenta, Target, Taylor Golf Products, TMT Ent., Turf Star, Turf Tire Express, ValleyCrest, VinylGuard Golf Products, West Coast Sand & Gravel, West Coast Turf, and Wilbur Ellis Co.

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TRI CHAPTER MEETING SPRING CREEK C .C .

TOURNAMENT HIGHLIGHTS

The Tri Chapter Meeting was held on August 5th at the Spring Creek Country Club. The event was hosted by the Central California Chapter and Phil Brown graciously served as host superintendent for the event. The event was attended by members of the Central California, Sierra Nevada, and Northern California Chapters. All chapters were well represented and it provided an excellent opportunity for all the members who only see each other a couple of times a year to catch up. Each year there is a team chapter championship with a progressive

trophy that goes to the winning chapter. This year we are proud to say that the Sierra Nevada Chapter handily took home the trophy. Pictured at left is Phil Brown and Corbett Rankin accepting the trophy for the SNGCSA. Pictured above are SNGCSA President Jeremy Payne, Host Superintendent Phil Brown, along with Central California’s VP Tennessee McBroom.

Pictured at Right are Jeff Weigum, Jim Husting, and Fernando VilligranCostillo.

At left are Phil Brown, Reggie Pomicpic, and Corbett Rankin

At left Corbett Rankin and Rodney Muller. At right Scott Dickson and Pete Fredeen share some stories.