FORE YOUR INFORMATION Ja nu a r y / Feb r u a r y 2 0 2 1
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F o r e Y o u r I n f o r m a ti o n
P R E S I D E N T ’ S M E S S AG E A new year is here again and with this it brings optimism that 2021 will be a good year. The association started the year off with the virtual Golf Industry Show. I really enjoyed attending many of the seminars. I missed seeing friends and colleagues but that will make next year that much better. I felt the education was done well and I was able to take a great deal of information from it. It was great to see my Scott McCullough fellow Sierra Nevada GCSA members involved in the education such as Bill at Lake Wildwood and Ewing Irrigation talking about renovations. Coming in March we will be hosting a virtual Best Management Practices workshop on March 1st followed by many planned events. Golf continues to remain strong despite many restrictions that are COVID-19 related, however the positive in that is that golf rounds continue to remain strong in the winter months. The pandemic has brought lots of new golfers to our courses which in turn supports our communities. At this point in time my optimism for a strong golf market remains strong heading into the spring with more events scheduled at our course here in Auburn. The possibilities of a good year are there, and I just hope we will continue the positive reopening schedule of our banquet facilities.
BY
SCOTT MCCULLOUGH
Since the big golfing boom of new courses we had some 20+ years ago, I believe and hope many courses will invest in their product to make it that much better. The association plans to create meaningful education at future events this year that may support what you may be working on at your courses. We will continue to offer Continuing Education Units at future events. I also have lots of ideas for our Turf Tech seminar next year from the GCSAA trade show as well as a planned event for our mechanics in the spring. I will begin to start to book education for the Turf Tech Workshop in July, so if you have any ideas of topics you would like to see please let Irene or any member of the board know. I look forward to seeing you all at our future events starting with the Grass Roots Tournament on April 26, 2021. Mohammed Ali has agreed to host the event at Bing Maloney G.C.. This will be our 16th year for this event started by Sam Samuelson, CGCS in 2005.
Visit us on line at SierraNevadaGCSA.com The SNGCSA is now on Facebook and Twitter.
2021 SNGCSA BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT Scott McCullough The Ridge Golf Course VICE PRESIDENT John Farley Teal Bend Golf Course
Dave Bermudez Del Rio G. & C.C.
SECRETARY/TREASURER Tracy Shanahan Peach Tree Country Club
PAST PRESIDENT Bill Hamilton, CGCS Lake Wildwood Association
DIRECTORS Jeremy Payne Muhammad Ali Keith Hill, CGCS Michael Cunniff Cameron Park C.C. Bing Maloney G.C. Hidden Valley C.C. Clear Creek GC Affiliate Representatives Ryan Nichols, Nufarm Mark Stutsman Simplot Partners
Sam Samuelson, CGCS Wildhawk G.C.
Association Managers Irene Cline and Kimberly Milne 3273 Richert Ave. Clovis, CA 559-298-6262
FORE YOUR INFORMATION Published by the Sierra Nevada Golf Course Superintendents Association EDITOR Jeremy Payne OFFICE SNGCSA 3273 Richert Ave., Clovis, CA 93619 559-298-6262 Fax# 559-298-6957 sngcsaa@aol.com
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2021
M E E T I N G DA T E S
April 26, 2021
September 2021 President’s Cup Tournament Need Location
Grass Roots Tournament Bing Maloney G.C. Hosted by Mohammed Ali
Annual Election Meeting & Tournament Volunteer to Host
May 17, 2021
December 2, 2021
Vendor Demo Day Woodbridge Golf & C.C. Hosted by Kurtis Wolford
July 26, 2021 Scholarship & Research Tournament North Ridge Country Club Hosted by Larry Johnson, CGCS
August 9, 2021 Tri Chapter Meeting Del Rio Golf & Country Club Hosted by David Bermudez
November 2021
Annual Holiday Event Teal Bend Golf Course Hosted by John Farley
2022 January 4, 2022 Turf Tech Workshop The Ridge G.C. Hosted by Scott McCullough
Feb. 5-10 , 2022 GIS Conference San Diego
Fore Your Information
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FEATURED MEMBER R Y A N N I C H O L S , N U FA R M R E G I O N A L S A L E S M G R . 2021 AFFILIATE REPRESENTATIVE
I’m not sure how often we have a member spotlight write the article about themselves. However, nothing seems normal these days, so why should this be? First off, I would like to state how grateful I am to be serving as an affiliate member on the SNGCSA Board of Directors. It is truly an honor to work with members that have Ryan Nichols been such an integral part of the chapter over the years, and I’m looking forward to what this year has in store. My name is Ryan Nichols and I am Nufarm’s Regional Sales Manager in the West. My current territory includes California, Nevada, Arizona, and Hawaii. I have been with Nufarm for just over 3 years, however many of our members might remember me in my former position as agronomic sales representative for Sierra Pacific Turf Supply. My introduction to the turf & landscape industry started back when I was a student at Cal Poly Pomona. I was majoring in Landscape Architecture, while taking a course in landscape horticulture. I’ll never forget the day my professor asked to see me in his office to discuss my midterm grade. I had felt like I
TO THE
SNGCSA BOARD
had done well on the exam but was horrified that my actual grade was far from good. The first thing my professor said was, “Are you sure you want to be a landscape architect?”. I quickly replied, “Did I fail my midterm?”. He then said, “No! The opposite. You got an A-. I have never had a landscape architecture student get anything higher than a B!” Later that year after a discussion with my girlfriend (now wife), I changed my major to Plant Science and never looked back. My senior year in college I joined the Turf Bowl team and attended the Golf Industry Show (GIS) in Orlando. GIS left such a large impression on me that I decided I needed take a deeper dive into turf and later applied to UC Riverside for a master’s degree in plant biology/turf ecology. While at UC Riverside, I conducted multiple fungicide and herbicide trials for Bayer, Syngenta, Valent (Nufarm), BASF, and Dow (Corteva). My experience at UC Riverside gave me the confidence to return to Cal Poly Pomona and take a teaching position in the Plant Science department. Two years later I moved to Northern California to work for Sierra Pacific Turf Supply. At Nufarm I spend 80% of my time working with our distribution partners, like Nutrien Ag Solutions, Sierra Pacific Turf Supply, Simplot Partners, Target Specialty Products, Wilbur Ellis, and many more. The other 20% of my time I get to work with our customers, many of you! I would have to say that this is one of the many enjoyable aspects to of my job. Working with superintendents to help provide solutions, both agronomically and economically is very rewarding. I currently reside in San Francisco with my wonderful wife Heddie and beautiful baby girl, Juniper. I love to chase the ball around on the golf course and cast a fly line whenever time permits. I’m looking forward to serving on the board this year and am excited for the world to open back up again!
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M ONOCOT M ADNESS A B I M ONTH LY T U R F C H ALLE NG E
FOR OUR
M EMBERS
Photos are provided by Ryan Nichols, and this bi monthly challenge is sponsored by Nufarm. Details What are we seeing?
Turfgrass variety: Fine Fecuse Turgrass Area: Tee box (ornamental turf adjacent) Time of year: February Please See Page 9 for answers and recommendations Every publication will feature a challenge and responses by the submitter. If you are interested in making a submission please contact Irene Cline 559-298-6262 for details
F o r e Y o ur I nf o r m a ti o n
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F RO M
THE
Southwest Region
FIELD
I hope you all had a chance to experience the 2021 virtual Golf Industry Show. While nothing can replace meeting all of our members and industry professionJeff Jensen als in person, the show proved to be a successful alternative as we continue to slowly work our way out of the pandemic. Over 9,400 attendees and more than 200 vendors participated in the three-day education and trade show that was held on the virtual platform Ugo with the All-Access facility and individual proving to be by far the most popular package choice.
Jeff Jensen,
GCSAA Field Staff,
The show featured 88 education sessions, numerous special events including the traditional Opening and Closing Sessions, the virtual trade show, awards ceremonies and the GCSAA Annual Meeting where Mark Jordan, CGCS at Westfield Country Club in Westfield Center, OH was elected as the President of the association. California’s own Kevin Breen, CGCS at La Rinconada Country Club in Los Gatos will serve as Vice President and Kevin Sunderman, CGCS at Isla Del Sol Yacht & Country Club in St. Petersburg, FL will serve as Secretary/Treasurer. Some of the highly attended sessions included an industry roundtable moderated by GCSAA CEO Rhett Evans that featured the USGA’s Mike Davis, PGA Tour’s Jay Monahan, PGA of America’s Seth Waugh and the LPGA Tour’s Mike Whan. The Behind the Scenes at PGA Frisco also proved to be popular as many attendees were interested in learning more about the PGA of America’s new headquarters and 36hole facility located in Frisco, TX. Other highlights included legendary CBS
Sportscaster Jim Nantz receiving the Old Tom Morris Award, retired USGA Director of Green Section Research Dr. Mike Kenna receiving the GCSAA Distinguished Service Award, Purdue University winning the GCSAA Collegiate Turf Bowl (Cal Poly Pomona placed 5th) and the California Alliance for Golf being recognized as the winner of the 2020 Government Affairs Award for their work on the advocacy front. CAG does a terrific job representing golf’s best interests in the state. We appreciate all of your support as well as the support of industry in making this show successful. We hope to see everyone in person next February in San Diego, virus permitting. If I can be of any assistance to you, please do not hesitate to contact me at jjensen@gcsaa.org or text/ call at 785-840-7879 and make sure to follow me on Twitter @GCSAA_SW for industry updates. Take care and be safe!
F o r e Y o u r I n f o r m a ti o n
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MEMBER HIGHLIGHT
LONNIE DUNN, SUPERINTENDENT WILD HORSE G.C. BY JOHN FARLEY
I first met Lonnie Dunn in March of 2016 when I hired him as assistant superintendent here at Teal Bend Golf Club. He of course has since moved on and is thriving as the superintendent at Wild Horse, an 18 hole track in Davis built in 1999. His true calling was to be a superintendent and run his own 18-hole course and after three years with me he did just that. In 2019 he was hired by the new owner of Wild Horse Golf Course, Chuck Klein, and has been happily working there ever since. Lonnie started his turf career in Fairfax County Virginia at the Oakmar Country Club. From there he moved onto the Jefferson District Golf Course where he did just about everything. He mowed, sprayed, aerified, re-built bunkers, and anything else that the superintendent needed. He then moved over to the county turf and sports field division where he became the “turf guy”. He was the “go to” employee when it came to turf related issues. Then in 2016 he felt the pull of the golden state and came back home to California. Since becoming superintendent at Wild Horse Golf Course in Davis, Lonnie has taken the course by storm. He immediately started a massive shop cleanup. He got rid of the old broken machines and piles of junk that had accumulated over the years. He cleaned and organized the mechanics bay while assessing the equipment and determining which machines could be saved and repaired. Once the maintenance shop was in order, he turned his attention to the course and more specifically the greens. They had not been aerified regularly and the effects were evident. Lonnie hit the greens with 5/8”s coring tines and some quality sand. He then started a foliar feeding program that really improved the turf health. Then during his first summer he dialed in the greens irrigation system and started a comprehensive hand watering program. The greens quickly turned around and responded to Lonnie’s work in a very positive way. The conditions have greatly improved at Wild Horse since Lonnie has been there. I asked him what his greatest challenge was and without hesitation he said “equipment”. He’s had to make due with some pretty beat-up machines which makes a tough job even tougher. The owners are sympathetic to his plight and are slowing getting him some better equipment. He then told me the on -course challenges are simple; 1. Ground squirrels 2. Bunkers. The ground squirrel population was left unchecked for many years and they were happy to
move onto the course where they dug huge holes and tunnel networks. Lonnie’s plan is to push them back to the native areas where they won’t damage the course. The bunkers are a mess. The drainage has become compromised over the years and they just don’t drain properly. He’s going to rebuild some and fill in some others with the blessing of the owners and many golfers for that matter. Lonnie is pretty typical when it comes to what he dislikes about the job; paperwork! As a group we don’t like to be stuck in the office staring at a computer screen. We’d much rather be out there solving problems and making the course a better place. When it comes to what he loves about his job, “that’s easy” Lonnie told me. “It’s the daily challenge. It’s getting to be the guy who fixes things “. Lonnie was drawn to the golf industry because he loves turf maintenance and golf. Becoming a golf course superintendent perfectly combined both elements. He’s an 18 handicapper who plays regularly. He said he would love to host a superintendent’s meeting in the future as well. And judging by his drive and devotion to his course, we will all definitely be meeting and playing his course someday in the future. Great job Lonnie Dunn. You’re a fine addition to the course and will make it a better place to play for sure.
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F o r e Y o ur I nf o r m a ti o n
2021 GRASS ROOTS TOURNAMENT The 2021 Grass Roots Tournament will be the 16th Annual Joe Goldbronn President’s Grass Roots Award Event for our Association. We will be holding the event at 2012 Jim Alwine Distinguished Member of the Year Bing Maloney Golf Course in Sacramento on April 26th . Mathew Hoyt Turf Grass Manager of the Year This event, as always, is dedicated to our members and Kelly Kerr Affiliate Merit Award their crews. We strive to keep the grassroots feeling for the Bob Cline Presidents Grass Roots Award days events and in the pricing of it as well. This is also the 2013 Jeremy Payne Distinguished Member of the Year day that we celebrate and acknowledge our outstanding Gary Williams Turf Grass Manager of the Year members. We will be sending out nominations for the folPete Bowman Affiliate Merit Award Winner, Colby Gunsch Presidents Grass Roots Award lowing Awards: 2014 Matt Dillon, CGCS & Kurtis Wolford • DISTINGUISHED MEMBER OF THE Distinguished Members of the Year Award YEAR Doug Heinrichs Turf Grass Manager of the Year • TURF GRASS MANAGER OF THE YEAR Reggie Pomicpic Affiliate Merit Award Winner, • AFFILIATE MERIT AWARD Rich Scholes Presidents Grass Roots Award • PRESIDENTS GRASS ROOTS AWARD 2015 Dave Bermudez Distinguised Members of the Year Mark McKinney, CGCS Turf Grass Manager We want to share the history of our Membership Awards Joe BallmerAffiliate Merit Award Winner, Scott McCullough Presidents Grass Roots 2016 Jim Ferrin, CGCS Distinguished Members of SNGCSA TURFGRASS HALL OF FAME Year Award 1990 Lou Pohlson (Deceased) Mike Olson Turf Grass Manager of the Year 1990 Jim Bambino Chuck Talley Affiliate Merit Award Winner, Jay Colvin Presidents Grass Roots Award 1990 Dick Viergiver, CGCS (Deceased) 2017 Kurtis Wolford Distinguished Members of the Year 1990 Joe Sheffield (Deceased) Award 1995 Ellis Antunez Sam Samuelson, CGCS Turf Grass Manager of the MEMBERS OF THE YEAR Year 1998 Jim Husting, CGCS Sal Sorbello Affiliate Merit Award Winner 1999 Neil Hladik, CGCS Brad Wunderlich Presidents Grass Roots Award 2000 Sean O’Brien 2018 Bill Hamilton, CGCS Distinguished Members of 2001 Jessie Creencia, CGCS the Year Award 2002 Steve Fackler, CGCS Jim Ferrin, CGCS Turf Grass Manager of the Year 2003 Larry Johnson, CGCS Ryan Nichols Affiliate Merit Award Winner *2004 Grass Roots Tournament Started Steve Fackler, CGCS Presidents Grass Roots 2004 Sam Samuelson, CGCS Member of the Year Award Grass Roots Honorees: Dick Howe and Paragon Singh 2019 Scott McCullough Distinguished Members of the 2005 Sean O'Brien Member of the Year Year Award Grass Roots Honorees: Dale Achondo, Rich Scholes, and Michael Baty Turf Grass Manager of the Year Tom Unruh Commercial Pump Affiliate Merit Award Winner 2006 Grass Roots Honoree: Rich Sizelove & Larry FeliciMohummad Ali Presidents Grass Roots Award ano 2007 Kevin Breen, CGCS Member of the Year and Grass We look forward to honoring four of our members again this year. Roots Honoree 2008 Joel Blaker, CGCS Member of theYear 2009 Jim Husting, CGCS Member of the Year *2010 Change in Levels 2010 Kyle Jones Turfgrass Manager of the Year Bob Cline Distinguished Member of the Year *2011 Added President’s Grass Roots Award 2011 Jim Ferrin, CGCS Distinguished Member of the Year Scott Bower Turfgrass Manager of the Year Dave Wilber Affiliate Merit Award
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F o r e Y o ur I nf o r m a ti o n
Monocot madness Answers
Welcome New Members Answer: What we are seeing here is a classic case of Red Thread (Laetisaria fuciformis). Red Thread is a common disease during the winter months on fine fescue and other cool season grasses. Although cool season turf growth can be slowed during cold winter months, adequate nitrogen fertility is the key control method for this disease. Curative treatments for Red Thread this time of year should be 0.2-0.5 lbs of Nitrogen per 1000 sq.ft. (rates vary depending on nitrogen type) with a fungicide labeled for Red Thread control. There are many fungicides that provide effective control of Red Thread. However, Affirm™ WDG at 2.4lbs/acre has shown excellent curative control of Red Thread. Additional fungicides we recommend at Nufarm are 3336®F at 4oz/1000 sqft, Traction ™ at 1.3oz/1000sqft, and 26/36® Fungicide at 2-4oz/1000sqft. For more Nufarm agronomic solutions please contact Ryan Nichols at ryan.nichols@nufarm.com.
Jason Duebler Class C Teal Bend G.C. Rick Chavez Class Affiliate County of Sacramento Chris Strutz Class Affiliate Helena ZChemical Wolcik Cote Class C Martis Camp Andrew Juchniewicz Class C Winchester C.C. Christopher Silva Class C Sun Ridge G.C.
For future Monocot Madness submissions please contact Irene Cline or Kimberly Milne 559-298-6262
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REMEMBER WHEN
“The Three Amigos” Jim Alwine, Frank Putnam, and Scott Dickson. All Past President’s Circa 2007
Pete Fredeen, Mike Jones, and Pete Bowman Circa 2008
Above Jasmine Schell, Scott Canfiled, and Bob Miller Circa 2005
If you have old photos I would like to share with the membership please forward to Irene Cline sngcsaa@aol.com Larry Johnson, CGCS Circa 2002
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N O R T H R I D G E C O U N T RY C L U B 2021 SCHOLARSHIP & RESEARCH TOURNAMENT We are excited to report that we have been able to schedule the S & R Tournament for 2021 at the beautiful North Ridge Country Club North Ridge Country Club, is one of Sacramento’s Premier Championship Golf Courses. The Club is well maintained by our long time member and past President, Larry Johnson, CGCS. The last time we were at North Ridge C.C. was 2012. We plan to proceed with the event with all the amenities that our attendees have come to expect. We will, of course, adhere to all safety precautions that the County and State mandate for events of this nature. We will be soliciting items for our annual auction and hope to be able to once again hold a live auction as well as a silent auction. We are also happy to report that Joe Ballmer of Syngenta has already stepped up to host the wonderful Tee Prizes
again this year. Be sure to put this event on your calenders. A “Safe The Date” will be going out shortly . If you have questions or are interested in a sponsorship opportunity please contact Irene Cline or Kimberly Milne at 559-298-6262.
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FOR ALL YOUR MATERIAL NEEDS PLEASE CALL OUR OFFICE OR CONTACT
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