Nov/Dec 2019 Fore Your Information

FORE YOUR INFORMATION N ove m b e r / D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 9

2020 Turf Tech Workshop The Ridge Golf Course January 7, 2020 Hosted by Scott McCullough

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P R E S I D E N T ’ S M E S S AG E The holiday season is upon us again and better yet, the wet weather is back. The wet weather is the switch from the summer grind into the holiday season. My favorite time of the year is the winter months because we are able to do projects around the course and continue to make the course even better for next year’s golf season.

Since the last newsletter Scott McCullough we had a great event at Cameron Park for our Annual Election meeting. The meeting had a relaxed feel and Jeremy and his crew had the course in excellent condition. Early in December we had our annual holiday event at Teal Bend. Like always, John Farley did an excellent job with the food and the course was in great shape. I played the course quite well if I do say so myself.

Before the event at Teal Bend we had our Strategic Planning session with the newly elected board. We worked on some concerns we had as board members. Jeff Jenson has provided an article summarizing that meeting for this newsletter. A lot of good ideas came from the event and I especially liked the incentive idea for our members. This is something we will continue to work on and will discuss it more in future meetings. The board members will be reaching out to the members to make sure email addresses and mailing addresses are correct. It also seems like some of our outstanding accounts receivable emails are not always paid in a timely manner. To address this issue we will be sending out an email along with a paper copy of the invoice by mail. I know personally I lose emails as they move further down and I receive other emails. This, we hope, will help with the outstanding AR we always seem to battle.

Lastly the Turf Tech is coming up January 7th. We have some excellent speakers lined up for this year. Best Fertilizers/Simplot will be sponsoring the breakfast and Toro will be our lunch sponsor. There will be equipment displays by both Turfstar and Belkorp Ag. Pat Finlen, CGCS will be the keynote speaker. We will have multiple speakers providing education in different rooms and have Laws & Regs. and DPR hours which have already been approved as has our GCSAA PDI education points. Hopefully you’re able to bring your staff for a day away from the course for some great food, educational speakers, trade show, and lastly some great opportunities for networking.

We are looking forward to 2020 being our best year yet and have many great opportunities that we are working on for our members. Please plan on attending an event, you won’t regret it.

Happy New Year!

BY

SCOTT MCCULLOUGH

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2020 M E E T I N G DA T E S

January 7, 2020 Turf Tech Workshop The Ridge G.C. Hosted by Scott McCullough

January 25-30, 2020 Golf Industry Show ORLANDO 2020 CONNECT. DISCOVER. ELEVATE CALIFORNIA ROOM JANUARY 29,2019

March/April 2020 Possible Irrigation Audit Seminar More Information Coming

May 13, 2020 GrassRoots Tournament William Land Park Hosted by Bob Cline

July 13, 2020 Scholarship & Research Tournament Northridge Country Club Date to be Confirmed Hosted by Larry Johnson, CGCS

August 24, 2020 Tri Chapter Event Hosted by the SNGCSA Del Rio Country Club Hosted by Dave Bermudez Visit our On Line Industry Calendar for all event https://californiagcsa.org/?page_id=3712

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S I E R R A N E VA DA B OA R D O F D I R E C T O R S 2020 STRATEGIC PLAN This is the Plan to assist the chapter in designing a roadmap of activities for the coming months and year The Sierra Nevada GCSA Board of Directors conducted a strategic planning session with GCSAA Southwest Field Representative Jeff Jensen on Dec. 7th, at Teal Bend Golf Club in Sacramento, CA. President Scott McCullough, Vice President Sam Samuelson, Secretary/Treasurer John Farley, Chapter Executive Irene Cline, Dave Bermudez, Tracy Shanahan, Mark Stutsman and Jason Wolf participated in the session that focused on designing a roadmap of activities for the coming months and year.

The session included a SCOR analysis in which the board determined the Strengths, Challenges, Opportunities and Risks associated with the chapter.

Through the process, the board determined key priorities for the chapter which will be implemented both immediately and over the course of the next year.

Based on the identified priorities, the board formed three goals including:

1) Increasing participation at monthly chapter events.

2) Decreasing the current Accounts Receivable ledger/balance.

3) Providing increased value for affiliate members.

Each one of the goals has numerous action items attached to it to assist the board in reaching the overall objectives.

Additionally, the board reviewed the chapter’s current Mission and Vision Statements. The statements had been updated recently and the group felt they still served the chapter’s needs, so no additional changes were made. Those statements are available on the Sierra Nevada website at www. sierranevadagcsa.com.

How can you help the board achieve these goals?  Make sure your member account is up to date. Pay your dues and any outstanding meeting invoices in the allotted 60-day timeframe. The chapter is carrying a large accounts receivable balance which is detrimental to the day-to-day operations.

Chapter Executive Irene Cline is

available to assist you with your balance and payment options.

559-298-6262. Dues can also be paid on line.  Attend multiple chapter events during the year and bring an assistant, fellow superintendent or guest. As part of the strategic plan, the chapter will be offering an incentive program for those attending four or more events in the calendar year.  Support our affiliate members.

Their financial support is the lifeblood of the chapter. Purchase products from members, play golf at chapter events and take time to meet with them.

They are great resources for our industry.

We appreciate your continued support of the Sierra Nevada Chapter.

If you have any questions concerning the planning session, please feel free to contact President Scott McCullough at smccullough@ridgegc.com or Chapter Executives Irene Cline 559-304-3120 or Kimberly Milne 559-304-3566.

Email at sngcsaa@aol.com, Office 559-298-6262

2019 SNGCSA BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT Scott McCullough The Ridge Golf Course VICE PRESIDENT Sam Samuelson, CGCS Wildhawk Golf Course

SECRETARY/TREASURER PAST PRESIDENT John Farley William Hamilton CGCS Teal Bend Golf Course Lake Wildwood Association DIRECTORS Dave Bermudez Jason Wolf Tracy Shanahan Keith Hill, CGCS Michael Cunniff Del Rio Golf & Country Club Lincoln Hills G.C. Peach Tree C.C. Hidden Valley C.C. Clear Creek GC Affiliate Representatives Rodney Muller Sierra Pacific Turf Mark Stutsman Simplot Partners

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2 0 2 0 T U R F T E C H W O R K S H O P A G E N DA The 2020 Turf Tech Workshop will be held on January 7, 2020 at The Ridge Golf Course in Auburn.

The educational line up is one of the best we have had. We will have two classes that will run simultaneous in most cases. You will have the opportunity to choose which class you would like to attend. You will be asked at registration which classes you would like to register for as some have a limited capacity.

The day will begin with at 7:00 am in the main ballroom where you will have breakfast and peruse the trade show before starting a full day of education. The first speakers starts at 8:00 am. In the main ballroom Tod Blankenship from Bernhard Turf Tech will be providing a talk on “Bed Knife Grinding & Reel Grinding".

In the board room Joe Ballmer from Syngenta will be speaking on “Major insect pest for Turf & Family Classes of Insecticides". Maggie Reiter-Area Environmental Horticulture Advisor of UC Cooperative Extension will follow Joe and talk on “Organic herbicides and glyphosate alternatives". We have CEU’s available for both of these presentations.

The second set of speakers will start at 9:10. In the main ballroom TORO-Equipment will have Eli Espino speak on Electric Trouble Shooting and will follow with general questions. In the boardroom Gilbert Del Rosario from Corteva will be speaking on Weed control in native and naturalized areas. He will be sharing the hour with Corbett Schatmeyer from Sierra Pacific Turf Supply, who will be talking on Herbicide techniques and what's new. Again, we have CEU’s that have been approved for these talks.

At 10:15 we start the third set of speakers. In the main ballroom we are referring to this hour as the IRRIGATION HOUR . This hour will feature Rain Bird - Rodney Muller and Toro - Brian Daum and will cover questions & answers on common sprinklers repairs.

In the boardroom we will have Daryll Mitani, Placer County Weights & Measures providing updates to Laws and Regulations with Laws & Reg CEU’s provided to the attendees.

At 11:15 we will break for lunch and an opportunity to listen to Pat Finlen, CGCS as well as have an opportunity to visit the vendors participating in the trade show.

At 12:20 we are back at it with David Rycoft-BCG in the main ballroom speaking on OSHA Regulations. In the Board Room/Outside a live demonstration will be held by Kelly Kerr from Sierra Pacific Turf demonstrating irrigation wire tracking and line breaks.

At 1:30 we will start our final set of speakers with GCSAA- Shelia Fenney in the main ballroom speaking on the Assistant Superintedent /Mechanic Certification Program through GCSAA. While outside the live demonstration from Kelly Kerr, Sierra Pacific Turf Supply continues.

Over all we have .55 points of PDI through GCSAA for the event and 1 hr. of Laws and Regs plus 2.5 hrs of Other through California DPR. All of this could not happen without the support of our vendors. We proudly acknowledge BelKorp, Turf Star, Simplot Turf & Horticulture, Nufarm, Nutrien, Sierra Pacific Turf Supply, Syngenta, Toro, Wilbur Ellis, and Sport Turf Irrigation.

We look forward to seeing you all on January 7, 2020.

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G C S A A O N PA C E T O R E A C H G OA L O F H AV I N G BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTIC ES GUIDES P U B L I S H E D I N A L L 50 S TA T E S B Y 2 0 20 BY

J E F F J E N S E N G C S A A F I E L D S TA F F

In 2015, GCSAA received financial assistance from the USGA to develop a planning guide and template that would allow for the development of Best Management Practices (BMPs) at the state level. Our goal was to develop the template in an online, digital format and have guides published in all 50 states by the end of 2020.

What seemed like an insurmountable task four years ago is now close to becoming a reality. As of December 2019, 32 states have published their guides including California. The remaining 18 states will be completed in the upcoming year providing golf facilities and the industry the opportunity to demonstrate their sustainability efforts and professional land management activities.

Jeff Jensen

These guides will assist in providing the following:

1. A facility BMP manual documents the knowledge, skills, and aptitude that are required for the superintendent and other golf course maintenance staff.

2. A facility BMP manual provides documentation, justification and similar support for operational and project budgets, projects, maintenance practices, staff, etc. It can be used with management, greens committees, the public, etc.

3. The manual should be maintained and if possible, in conjunction with any water quality monitoring, nutrient management and pest management records to document the professional land management practices on your course. This is important for when watershed groups, regulators, media, public, etc. inquire, suggest improper management, or similar circumstances that indicate the golf course is a source of pollution or is improperly managed. It is important to remember that regardless of any regulatory threat, risk management elements, etc. that all superintendents should work to improve the image of golf course management and their profession.

4. Help to support the golf course management industry on the local, state, regional and national levels. GCSAA is investing significant resources on behalf of the industry to support and keep the tools (land, water and inputs) that superintendents rely upon for success.

For more information on the BMPs or to download the California BMP and adopt it for your facility, visit https://www.gcsaa.org/ environment/bmp-planning-guide. To view the California guide in a PDF format, visit https://www.gcsaa.org/docs/default-source/ environment/california-golf-industry-bmp-guide.pdf.

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G C S A A O N PA C E T O R E A C H G OA L CONTINUED

FROM

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GCSAA thanks the California BMP Committee for completing the state guide and we hope that all superintendents reading this will consider adopting it and customizing it to your facility and specific agronomic region.

Jeff Jensen serves as the Southwest field staff representative for the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America covering Arizona, California, Hawaii and Nevada. Follow him on Twitter @GCSAA_SW or visit the Southwest region webpage at http://www.gcsaa.org/community/regions/southwest/.

This space could be yours!

Call today to place your ad in our bi-monthly publication 559-298-6262

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Cameron Park Highlights Tournament Winners for the day were Ryan Nichols and Ron Barts.

Look for new opportunities coming next year that will encourage members to attend events. These are things that the Board of Directors are working on to encouraging everyone to attend meetings.

Above are Scott McCullough, President SNGCSA and Jeremy Payne host superintendent Cameron Park. At right the attendees are presented with the annual review of the association. The report is available by calling the association office at 559-298-6262

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Teal Bend Highlights WELCOME NEW MEMBER Dave Rainey Class Affiliate Brown Sand Inc.

Visit us on line at SierraNevadaGCSA.com The Holiday Tournament and Dinner was hosted by John Farley. John not only provided the venue for dinner and golf but he also cooked all the meat that was enjoyed by all the attendees. Great day and a great start to the holiday season.

The SNGCSA is now on Facebook and Twitter.

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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