2024 1st Qtr Fore Your Information

F ORE Y OUR I NFORMATION

1st Quarter 2024

Cameron Park Country Club 2022 Scholarship & Research Tournament

Yocha Dehe Golf Club

Hello Everyone! As we transition from a solid winter, marked by above-average snowfall in the Sierras, we head into the busy spring season. Spring is always a bustling time as we wrap up winter projects and prepare for the upcoming summer. I trust that each of you had a chance to recharge both mentally and physically during the winter, gearing up for another successful season ahead.

As we dive into the activities of the new season, I want to remind everyone of a few important matters.

Firstly, it is once again time to contribute to Rounds for Research. Your donations through this program directly benefit our chapter and support causes that are important to us as members. You can easily donate by using the following link https:// www.gcsaa.org/foundation/rounds-4-research/r4r-online-donation-form

If you need any assistance with the donation process, please do not hesitate to reach out to Kim at the association office, myself, or another board member. Your contributions make a significant impact, and your support is greatly appreciated.

Secondly, I encourage you to look at our upcoming events and consider signing up. While it may sometimes feel challenging to step away from our facilities, I can assure you that these events offer valuable opportunities to connect with peers, learn from industry experts, and support our fellow superintendents who graciously host these events. Taking a mental break from our daily routines can be rejuvenating and ultimately enhance our performance back at work.

As we embark on this golf season, I extend my best wishes to each of you for a highly successful and fulfilling time. I look forward to seeing many of you at our upcoming meetings, where we can continue to grow, learn, and strengthen our community of dedicated professionals.

Sincerely,

Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali

April 8, 2024

Oakdale Golf & CC

May 15, 2024

X-Golf El Dorado Hills

June 4, 2024

Yocha Dehe Golf Club Brooks, CA.

July 15, 2024

Del Rio CC

Scholarship & Research Tournament

August 12, 2024

Tri-Chapter Tournament Woodbridge CC

SECRETARY/TREASURER

DIRECTORS

Mather

September 24, 2024

Presidents Cup Edgewood Golf & CC

October 28, 2024

Annual Meeting

Morgan Creek GC

December Holiday Event

Teal Bend 2025

January 14, 2025

Turf Tech

The Ridge

February 5, 2025

California Room

San Diego

Hi folks it’s me Michelle, the Teal Bend Golf Club dog. As you know, I like to go visit other golf courses and interview the working dogs at those facilities. I recently visited Ancil Hoffman Golf Course, where I met up with the resident course dog, Dixie. She is a two year old Chocolate lab and quite the character. Dixie and I toured the grounds and had a great “chin wag”. She talked about her boss, owner and best friend Kurtis. He got Dixie when she was just a puppy two years ago and they have been inseparable ever since. He’s a hard worker too so they make a good pair.

Their mornings always start at “O” dark thirty as they must get to the course before first light. Once on site the fun and games are over, well actually they’ve just begun. Because now Dixie gets to do what she was born to do and that’s chase anything that runs, flies, walks or slithers. You see, Dixie is the official goose chasing dog at the course. We all know how annoying and messy Canada geese can be so her job is very important. But, she is very specific about how she chases. You see, Dixie is a pure bred and instinctually goes “on point” when she’s faced with a bird yet to be chased. I watched with great fascination as she spotted some geese. She froze and straightened out her tail and lifted her front paw slightly to let Kurtis know there were birds in sight. Upon him saying “Go!” she took off like a rocket and chased those birds right off property. Dixie is a born hunter and loves her job!

One of the many perks that go along with working at a golf course is the attention she gets from the members. Several members bring her special treats and Dixie loves them. She tells me that she’s more popular than her boss! This is evident by the fact that she never sees the members giving him any treats.

I asked Dixie if she ever had a scary or bad experience while on the course. She told about the time when she got hit by one of the maintenance carts. She was younger then and wasn’t paying close attention to her surroundings. She was shaken up but no injuries were incurred thankfully. An accident report was filled out but OSHA was not called in.

Dixie Delight Wolford was just that, a delight. She is fun loving, hard working and was a joy to interview and meet. I will go see her again in the future, I’m certain of that.

Turf Tech The Ridge Golf Course January 9, 2023

We had another very successful Turf Tech Seminar at The Ridge Golf Course in January. Scott McCullough planned and executed a great lineup of speakers including Dr. Bard, Belkorp, ENVU, Turf Star, David Ginkel, Sierra Pacific, Syngenta, Ewing, and many others. Over 90 people attended this event including vendors, speakers, Superintendents, and Mechanics.As always, we “Thank” Scott and The Ridge for making it possible. This is a labor of love and it shows.

Above, Vendors were given the opportunity to set up a table around the room and visit with participants in between speakers.

Above, we were able to give each attendee the ability to participate in 1 of 2 options for each class time. The Ballroom, and The Boardroom were each occupied for the majority of the day.

SHORT RIGHT

BY DEAN KINNEY

Congratulations to Sam Samuelson, CGCS on his recent retirement announcement from Wildhawk Golf Club! Sam was recently inducted into the SNGCSA Hall of Fame at our Grassroots Tournament at Wildhorse Golf Club. Congratulations Sam and thank you for everything you have done for the superintendent profession and the SNGCSA!

After 6 ½ years at Cameron Park Country Club, Jeremy Payne will be the new superintendent at Wildhawk so congratulations to Jeremy.

Sean McPhedran has made a career move and has left Valley Hi Country Club to pursue a career in sales with Nutrien.

After a stint helping Craig Strong at Lincoln Hills Golf Club, Thomas Slevin is now the Assistant Superintendent working with Steve Kimbrough, CGCS at Sun City Roseville.

Jason Conrad is leaving Winchester Country Club for a soon to be announced position so stay tuned on that.

Kevin Rourke is leaving Sierra Pacific Turf Supply at the end of March to pursue a career in equipment sales in Southern California with TurfStar.

Best Regards,

Dean Kinney

Senior Agronomic Sales Representative

Sierra Pacific Turf Supply 916/439-4513 cell

@SierraTurf

2024

Scholarship and Research Tournament

Before we know it, it will be time for the chapter’s Research and Scholarship Tournament. This year’s tournament is scheduled on July 15, 2024 at Del Rio Golf and Country Club.

Once again Syngenta and Joe Ballmer purchased the tee prizes. We would like to thank all the golf industry suppliers who in the past had equipment displays, donated items for the auction, sponsored meals and for those who sponsored tee signs and games on the course.

First Green

Superintendent Muhammad Ali hosted another successful First Green event at Bing Maloney GC on Monday, March 20th. There were 41 third grade students in attendance from the New Joseph Boeheim Elementary School. A big “Thank you” to all who attended to help out with the event.

Superintendents, we also want to thank you for attending, bringing guests, and bringing some great prizes for the raffle. Soon the SNGCSA Board of Directors will be asking again for donations for this year’s event.

The money raised from this tournament goes to Scholarships, TurfgrassResearch,andourBenevolenceFund.

Over the last eleven years the money raised from this event has approached $330,000. We could not have done this without everyone’s participants.

Thank you,

David Bermudez Tournament Chairman

FROM THE FIELD Jeff Jensen, GCSAA Field Staff, Southwest Region

Thank you to all the Sierra Nevada and Central California GCSA members that attended the GCSAA Conference and Show in Phoenix. Your support created an extraordinarily successful show that will assist in moving the association and industry forward. The show drew 11,000 attendees spanning 352,000 square-feet of exhibit space and 470 vendors (which marked a complete sell-out of show space). Over 6,600 education seats were sold for the event, the highest since 2008. While there was too much going on to cover in this column, a few highlights stood out that I wanted to share:

Jeff White, CGCS at Indian Hills Country Club in Mission Hills, KS., was elected President of GCSAA.

T.A. Barker, CGCS was elected Vice President Paul Carter, CGCS, was elected Secretary/Treasurer. Incumbents Doug Dykstra, CGCS, and Marc Weston, CGCS, were re-elected to the board and Greg Jones, CGCS, MG, was elected a new board member.

Mike Hoffman, retired Chairmen and CEO of the Toro Company donated $1 million to GCSAA’s First Green Program. The Mike and Tami Hoffman “STEAM Ahead” Initiative will fund the addition of arts to First Green, which will elevate it from a STEM curriculum to a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) curriculum.

The Cal Poly Pomona Turf Team finished ninth in the annual Turf Bowl. 63 teams participated in the event. Congrats to the Cal Poly students and advisor Brian Fuertes for the top-10 finish.

Seth Strickland, Superintendent at Miami Beach Golf Club won the GCSAA National Golf Championship posting a two-day total of 6-under par 138. It marked the sixth time that Strickland has captured the championship. The GCSAA Golf Championships had 638 competitors split up over three 36-hole facilities in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area.

CBS Sports golf reporter Dottie Pepper received the annual Old Tom Morris Award. The award is presented to an individual who, through an enduring lifetime commitment to the game of golf, has helped shape the welfare of the game. See a great clip from Jim Nantz discussing the award with Dottie at https://x.com/GolfonCBS/status/1753929933074641391?s=20

We appreciate your continued support of the GCSAA Conference and Show and Golf Championships. We look forward to heading back to San Diego in 2025 and we have some wonderful things in store including golf at Torrey Pines!

As always, if I can be of any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me at jjensen@gcsaa.org and follow me on Twitter at GCSAA_SW for industry updates.

Jeff Jensen

California Room

Phoenix, AZ

The 2024 California Room in Phoenix AZ. Was a huge success. The show was the largest that we have seen Post Covid, and the California Room was a great example of those larger numbers. With over 400 California members in Attendance, the Blanco Cantina put out a wonderful spread for those who made it. Dinner, drinks, and conversation were in no short supply. The California Board of Directors ”Thanks” all of the event sponsors, and we are looking forward to seeing all of you next year in San Diego.

Round For Research

April 22-28, 2024

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 are auctioned online. 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.

Why R4R matters

Rounds 4 Research allows GCSAA chapters and turfgrass foundations to participate as fundraising partners with the vast majority of proceeds going back to those organizations. In this way, these organizations can direct the proceeds to specific projects that will have the most significant impact in their local areas.

The Rounds 4 Research program is addressing a critical shortage of funding for ongoing, university-based agronomic research, education, advocacy programs and course operations. You can help foster sustainability with a donation or by bidding on rounds during the online auction.

SNGCSA Board members enjoying the event, Billy Witt, Juan Gonzalez, Muhhamad Ali

Above, Premier Sponsor for the night– Brown Sand and our very own CJ Boone

GCSA CEO Rhett Evans, and Past President Kevin Breen

Above, Some of the wonderful GCSA Staff members who graciously attended the event.

Left, Kelly Kerr, Dean Kinney, and Muhammad Ali wrapping up the end of another successful event.

Grass Roots Tournament March 13, 2024

WildHorse Golf Club

Our 2024 Grass Roots Tournament and Annual Awards Ceremony took place this month at Lonnie Dunns Course, WildHorse Golf Club. It was a beautiful (and slightly windy) day of golf. We want to Thank Lonnie, and the club for hosting us. It was also our Annual Awards meeting, where we award the members who we feel are doing an exemplary job in their field of work. This years award winners are:

We also had the Honor of Inducting Sam Samuelson, CGCS into the Sierra Nevada Turf Grass Hall of Fame. Sam is retiring after more than 40 years of service in the Turf Grass Industry. He has been a mentor, and leader to many in our Chapter and we hope that he enjoys retirement. Sam, it has been an Honor!

Congratulations.

Turf Grass Manager of the Year– Public Sam Samuelson, CGCS

Sam, with 2 of the Superintendents he provided with their first jobs in the golf industry, current SNGCSA President and Vice President, Muhammad Ali and Juan Gonzalez.

Winners of the Grass Roots Tournament with President Muhammad Ali, Billy Witt, Juan Gonzalez, and Kevin Rourke

Turf Grass Manager of the Year– Private Matt Dillon, CGCS

Presidents Grass Root Award: Lonnie Dunn

Distinguished Member of the Year– 2024 Juan Gonzalez

Affiliate Member of the Year– 2024 Kelly Kerr

Sam Samuelson, CGCS holding his Hall of Fame plaque, as well as his Turf Grass Manager of the Year.

Welcome

New Members

Kenneth Thornberry

RiverOaks GC Class B

Donald Thornburgh

Sigma Agriscience Class Affiliate

Guillermo Reyes

Golf Club @ Rio Vista Class B

Beau Artist Brandt Class Affiliate

SuperintendentProfile

OakdALEGolfCourse

My passion for turfgrass was first rooted back in 2006. I was working odd jobs and didn’t have much direction. My older sister was working at Oakdale Golf and Country Club as a bartender and suggested I apply to the maintenance department. The Superintendent at the time, Mike Olsen, decided to give me a chance to be part of the crew. Now, he did call me by a different name for the first month or two, but little did he know that he would end up being a mentor of

I started, like everyone else, raking bunkers and running a string trimmer and working my way up the ladder. It took me a couple of years to realize that greenskeeper culture was more than just landscaping. It’s the ability to provide a service of detail, playability, and stewardship. As my passion grew stronger for the property, I was able to excel in small tasks and be trusted for bigger ones. fed agronomics and obtaining my pesticide license, I had no problem going to work every day and working hard. In 2013 I decided to enroll in Riverside University's two-year turf program. Being as onery as I am, I thought the work experience I had would be enough for me, but I was wrong. The education received, helped me progress at a professional level and obtain an understanding of turfgrass and all that it entails. After graduating I was looking to be Oakdale Golf and Country Clubs Assistant Superintendent, but the job was already taken. In 2015 I decided to leave and take a job at Lone Tree Golf Course in Antioch. I was very nervous to be at a new property, working for a new Superintendent, but it was a step in my career that was essential. I gained different perspectives and learned different styles of management. During my time at Lone Tree, I attended the Green Start Academy and the Toro Assistant Superintendent program. These courses prepared me to bridge the gap from assistant to becoming a superintendent within a year.

Fast forward a couple of years, and I decided to leave Lone Tree. I needed to work on my priorities, my work/life balance was off. I had the opportunity to work for the City of Oakdale, and in doing so, for the next five years I was able to expand my skills as a heavy equipment operator and spend more time with my family. Coming full circle, I heard that Oakdale Golf and Country Club needed a Superintendent and after convincing the GM and the board that I was still passionate about the club, I was hired.

For the past year and a half, we have been building the culture within the crew, growing as a club, adding new construction, and sharing the role as one of the premier clubs in the area. I have loving support from my better half Amanda, and our two daughters Aleigh and Henley, plus our golden doodle dog “Putter”. Family, faith, and turfgrass are my life, but sometimes I get to sneak away in my boat and fish for big bass out of the California Delta.

Im looking forward to showing everyone the work we have been doing at the course when I host you all in April.

V ENDOR P ROFILE

L YLE G IBBS – N UTRIEN

I was born and raised in Lebanon, Oregon, located in the Willamette Valley known as the Grass Seed Capital of the World. When I turned 16, I drove to the local golf course and applied for an outside services job. I got the job and began washing carts and picking range balls. After the first year of working there, I caught myself watching the maintenance staff every day and I knew I had to try it for myself. After some talks with the current superintendent, I was able to transfer that next summer into a maintenance job. At the same time, I applied to Oregon State for the turf management program.

While at Oregon State, I did an internship at The Powder Horn, a 27-hole facility in beautiful Sheridan, WY. After completing school and returning home, I took over as the Assistant Superintendent job back at my home course where it all began. After a couple years doing that job, I was looking for a little change, and had the desire for more knowledge, so I took a job with Nutrien in 2014 as an agronomist.

I spent the next 8 years on a four-wheeler covering 1,000's of acres of grass seed, specialty seed, and hazelnut acres, all while building some of the best relationships with my customers and learning everything I could agronomically. During this time, I got married, bought a house, had 2 kids. Life was crazy! Turfgrass was my passion though and I couldn’t shake the urge to get back into the industry.

In March of 2023 I accepted a position (still within Nutrien), moved my family to Reno, and am currently working as the Turf & Ornamental Rep. for Nutrien in the greater Reno/ Tahoe area.

I am excited to continue meeting everyone, being a part of the industry here, and learning from everyone involved. If I’m not at work you’ll find me meticulously caring for my lawn at home, fly fishing, exploring new areas and most importantly spending quality time with my family!

Peter Reece Jr.

(209) 602-8475

preecejr@gmail.com

BILLY HAUSCH GRASS VALLEY, CA

831-333-6412

Billy@grassrootsturfsupply.com

SERVING: SACRAMENTO, RENO, LAKE TAHOE, CARSON CITY, MONO COUNTY AND GOLD COUNTRY

THOR LARSON SALINAS, CA

831-277-4356

Thor@grassrootsturfsupply.com

SERVING: MONTEREY PENINSULA, SANTA CRUZ, SAN JOSE AND SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO

GAVIN DICKSON MARINA, CA 831-333-6839

Gavin@grassrootsturfsupply.com

SERVING: SAN FRANCISCO, STOCKTON, CENTRAL VALLEY, BAKERSFIELD, SANTA BARBARA AND SLO

PETER J GALEA CGCS FAIRFIELD, CA 831-234-3218

Peterjg@pacbell.net

SERVING: EAST BAY, WINE

COUNTRY, NORTH COAST AND NORTHERN SIERRA

2045 Franciscan Way, Salinas CA 93908

Grassrootsturfsupply.com