MayJune2018

FORE YOUR INFORMATION M a y / Ju n e 2 0 1 8

June 18, 2018 Scholarship & Research Tournament Granite Bay Golf Club Hosted by Matt Dillon, CGCS

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P R E S I D E N T ’ S M E S S AG E

Bill Hamilton, CGCS

It's soon to be time in the Sierra Nevada region where we superintendents really earn our stripes. After prepping and conditioning turf for another blazing heat wave, everyone now has their staff and programs dialed in for success. If we expect the expected, then we won't be surprised. Every year lately brings the newest "hottest summer on record". So be sure to practice the NorCal six "P's". Proper preparation prevents poor Poa performance.

BY

B I L L H A M I LT O N , C G C S

So, since the real heat hasn't hit yet, make an effort to be seen at the Scholarship and Research Tournament on Monday, June 18. This year we'll be at Granite Bay Golf Club hosted by Matt Dillon. The S&R is always a well attended event and a lot of fun. It's a great tournament with lots of money raised for our members' children's tuitions, local collegiate turf students, and relevant turf research. Don't miss out. Call Irene right now (559-298-6262) and get in on the action. Your crew could use a day off without you, and you can also pick up some tasty bargains for your golf course at the auctions. Trust me, you can take one day away from the ranch. The grass will continue to grow in your absence and you might even have some yuks with a few of your old, and new, friends. I'll see you there. .

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS Vijendra Singh , Superintendent Cordova Golf Course Jonathan Moulton Superintendent Squaw Creek Douglas Blesse Superintendent Whitehawk Ranch G.C. Juan Gonzales Superintendent Swallows Nest G.C. Steve Beck - Assistant Supt.

Cameron Park C.C. Spencer Nelson – Assistant Supt Monteux C.C. Trent Whiting – Commercial Member Redox

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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June 18, 2018

December 6, 2018

Scholarship & Research Tournament Granite Bay G.C. Hosted by Matt Dillon, CGCS

Annual Holiday Event Teal Bend Golf Course Hosted by John Farley

August 20, 2018

2019

Tri Chapter Meeting CordeValle Golf Club Hosted by Nor Cal Association

January 8, 2019 Turf Tech Workshop The Ridge Golf Course

October 8, 2018 President’s Cup Tournament Schaffer's Mill

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

February 2-7, 2019 GCSAA Golf Industry Show San Diego Convention Center

2019 California Room February 6, 2019 Landry’s at the Omni Hotel

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F ROM T HE F IELD BY

JEFF JENSEN GCSAA FIELD STAFF

GCSAA’s new Chief Operating Officer Bob Randquist, CGCS, has officially started his duties with the association at GCSAA headquarters in Lawrence, Kans.

Jeff Jensen Bob is a 41year member of GCSAA and served as the association’s president in 2011. He comes to GCSAA after 20 years serving as director of golf course and grounds at Boca Rio Golf Club in Boca Raton, Fla. Prior to Prior to Boca Rio, he spent two decades as superintendent at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Okla., where he hosted the 1982 and 1994 PGA Championships.

In addition to his years on the GCSAA Board of Directors, he was active on the local level, having served on the board of the Palm Beach Golf Course Superintendents Association and as president of the Oklahoma Golf Course Superintendents Association and Oklahoma Turfgrass Research Foundation.

In his senior leadership role, Randquist will be responsible for managing a broad and complex array of functions and facilitate multiple projects to meet the objectives of the association.

While he will represent GCSAA and maintain relationships with industry and allied partners, his main focus will be on internal stakeholders and being an integral part of the headquarters’ culture.

I started my current position with GCSAA when Bob was president and he is the consummate professional and a great representative of the golf industry.

We are excited to have him on board and I hope to have him out to the Southwest Region for a visit in the near future.

In other news, Jim Ferrin, CGCS, Timber Creek Golf Course at Sun City Roseville was appointed president of the California GCSA. Jim takes over for Gary Ingram, CGCS at Metropolitan Golf Links who served two very successful years as president. Jim is a 33-year member of GCSAA, a Grassroots Ambassador, serves on numerous GCSAA committees and is also the current secretary of the California Alliance for Golf. He is well respected for his

government relations activities both statewide and nationally.

We thank Gary for his service and commitment to the state association. Under his leadership, the California GCSA is financially solvent and is in the process of completing a state BMP document.

Gary will continue his role as the California BMP committee chairman.

I hope you are all having a great summer and look forward to seeing you at various chapter events. If you need anything, please contact me at jjensen@gcsaa.org and don’t forget to visit my regional webpage at https://www.gcsaa.org/resources/region al-resources/secure/southwest for updates and a regional calendar of events.

The SNGCSA is now on Facebook and Twitter. Check it out!

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2018 SCHOLARSHIP & R ESEARCH

Granite Bay Golf Club

Hosted by Matt Dillon, CGCS

Matt Dillon, CGCS

Matt Dillon, CGCS, superintendent at Granite Bay Golf Club has been a golf course superintendent for more than 35 years in the

Sacramento foothills. He has been a superintendent for Club Corp in Northern CA for 17 years including regional responsibilities and has been fortunate to have been at Granite Bay since November of 2007.

Matt got his first superintendent position in 1981. He was working in landscape maintenance in the bay area, and used to drive past the vast expanses of golf course turf and said to himself “I sure would like to be a part of maintaining that”. Then an opportunity came up in Auburn, CA at a small par 3 golf course called Angus Hills Golf Course to be the “greenkeeper” and he jumped at it and learned from there. Matt continued his climb and earned his Certified Golf Course Superintendent status in 1988. He continues to enjoy being a part of an opera-

tion that facilitates the property moving forward every week, every season. He feels there is a tremendous amount of satisfaction to see something become better than it was when your our team started. Summers are hard but he gets through it with the support of his great team.

Matt feels honored to have had the opportunity to work with the many talented golf course maintenance workers over the decades. He feels those individuals are really the unsung heroes in golf course maintenance. He states that “None of us would be anywhere without them”.

Matt’s, regional responsibilities have created opportunities for him to learn from and work with some really talented golf course maintenance professionals and superintendents, not just in the Sacramento area but in the San Francisco Bay area, Southern California, Arizona, and beyond.

The best part of life for Matt is his family. His wife Rosie and he have been married for 39 years.

They have 4 children, Katie, (Continued on page 6)

FORE YOUR INFORMATION Published by the Sierra Nevada Golf Course Superintendents Association EDITOR Bill Hamilton, CGCS OFFICE SNGCSA 3273 Richert Ave., Clovis, CA 93619 559-298-6262 Fax# 559-298-6957 sngcsaa@aol.com

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Granite Bay Golf Club Hosted by Matt Dillon, CGCS Robert Trent Jones Jr. and Kyle Phillips. The Club gained widespread recAndrea, Jamie & Mark as well as 3+ ognition and numerous awards for its grandchildren, Kaydence. Jaxon, course design, greens and clubhouse.

Elijah & yet to be named. He enjoys It is said it resembles the essence of SF Giants baseball, camping, and vis- classic design. Granite Bay follows in iting the coast. the rich tradition of Pine Valley, CyGranite Bay Golf Course press Point, Riviera and San Francisco opened in 2004. This beautifully golf clubs, Matt’s particular challenge situated golf course is considered a is with holding multiple varieties of modern classic. It was designed by cool season turf growing in decom(Continued from page 5)

posed granite during Granite Bay summers. He is working on a project now converting all the fairways to Hybrid Bermuda. His anticipated completion date is in 2020.

We know you will enjoy the opportunity to play this beautiful property and hope to see you there on June 18th.

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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

BY IRENE CLINE The SNGCSA Research and Scholarship Tournament is here.

This year’s tournament is held at Granite Bay Golf Club. We thank Matt Dillon CGCS, our host superintendent for offering us his fine facility for this special event.

We also want to thank Syngenta and Joe Ballmer for sponsoring the tee prizes. We think you will enjoy them. We would like to thank all the golf industry suppliers who have already stepped up with equipment displays, donated items for the live auction, sponsored meals, and for those who sponsored tee signs and games on the course. Superintendents, we look forward to seeing you and thank you for bringing guests, also thanks for generously donating rounds to our raffle. The

raffle is extra special this year and we are sure you will want to get the favorite of everyone “Your height” in tickets for just $50.

As always the money raised from this tournament goes to Scholarships, Turfgrass Research, Personal and Professional Development Program, and our Benevolence Fund.

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We have some great applicants for this years scholarships and awards and you will have the opportunity to meet them at the event.

Be sure to show up on time and not miss any of the very special events that we have planned for everyone.

See you all at Granite Bay Golf Club!

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S I E R R A N E VA DA C H A P T E R It was just announced that effective July 9th, Rodney Muller will join Sierra Pacific Turf Supply.

Rodney’s primary responsibility will be Rain Bird Golf Sales in the territory previously held by Tom Jackson who retired late 2017. Given his knowledge, desire and expertise, Rodney will also have some agronomic sales responsibilities as well.

Rob Williams joins the team at Arrow Creek Club in Reno this month as Superintendent. The present superintendent stepped up to the Director of Golf and Rob stepped in to fill the position as superintendent.

Congratulations Rob! Craig Pearson announced his retirement at the Turkey Creek meeting in May. He retired from Whitehawk Ranch Golf Course after 25 years as the superintendent. Craig

was the original grow in superintendent and became part owner in the property until the sale two years ago.

Craig's plans are to relocate to his home state of North Dakota. His daughter is getting married after her graduation from college this month in North Dakota. Congratulations to Craig on his new endeavors and THANK YOU for all you have done for our association.

The opening at Whitehawk is being filled by Douglas Blesse. Doug was Craig’s assistant for 14 years.

Congratulations to Doug on this promotion.

In the association office we are busy preparing for the Scholarship Tournament. We have over 100 attendees this year and our auction will be amazing once again as our affiliate members have donated some

great items for you to have the opportunity to bid on. Bring your Credit Cards so you can bid and take the product with you. For the larger items we will make arrangements for you with the vendors to deliver the product directly to you. So be ready to BID! Updates on the BMP program are the Blakenship & Associates is almost ready to make their first presentation of the areas completed. The committee will be meeting soon to go over this and review the details. We are still on track for our publication date.

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T URKEY C REEK H IGHLIGHTS Great education, great weather, and great golf course. Thank you to Mike Kavaney and his team for allowing us to be there.

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