1st Qtr 2023 Fore Your Information

F ORE Y OUR I NFORMATION

1st Quarter 2023

Cameron Park Country Club 2022 Scholarship & Research Tournament

Haggin Oaks Golf Course– Sacramento, CA.

So, is anyone tired of the rain/snow yet?!?!

Honestly, after the last few years we’ve had and how much the lack of wet stuff falling from the sky has hindered our abilities to grow good turf, I’m still not complaining. However, the pressure is mounting and the list of things needing to be done that can’t be done until the rain stops is getting longer. The good news is, golfers will be chomping at the bit to get out and play our facilities…the bad news is, we all know their expectations will be high and we’ll all have to put in a little more time and effort this spring to play catch up.

So, since we have so much on all of our plates, I really just want to remind and encourage you about two important things coming up that won’t take much of your time.

First, we have a REAL OPPORTUNITY to help our association, our national association, and ourselves by finding 10 simple minutes to fill out the form to donate to Rounds 4 Research. It really is a simple process, and it will help generate muchneeded funds MOSTLY for our local association so that we can invest in ourselves and the causes we want to see more progress in. So please, just pause in your reading of this RIGHT NOW and go to

BY J EREMY PAYNE

https://www.gcsaa.org/foundation/rounds-4research/r4r-online-donation-form and donate a round. If you want an easier out, just e-mail myself, or Kim at the association office, or ANY board member and we’d be happy to do the leg work for you. Let’s make this happen!

Secondly, we have some great meetings coming up. Even though I know we’ll all be swamped and it’s easy to say “I just have too much on my plate,” I encourage you to fight against your well-trained mindset to remind yourself that you NEED to attend a SNGCSA meeting. Why? Simple. (1) Where else are you going to find a big group of your peers that can commiserate, tell winter war stories and share strategies for how we’re going to get back on track this spring? (2) We all need a mental health break…and if this never-ending winter doesn’t have you stressed out, the upcoming challenges of clawing out of it will…so come take that breather you need, to whack a little white ball and share some quality time with friends. And, (3) we have some amazing facilities in our region, and I doubt the majority of you have seen them, so come support a fellow Super who is proud to show off what they’ve worked so hard on. The worst thing we can do as an association is get an invite from a Super to play their course, then not show up.

This work isn’t always about work. Our community and our camaraderie as an industry is what makes this career great. Come and be a part of that.

Jeremy Payne

EVENT CALENDAR

November 2,2023

Annual Election Meeting

Sun City Roseville

May 2, 2023

Darkhorse Golf Course

July 24,2023

Scholarship and Research Tournament

Spring Creek G.C.

August 4, 2023

Tri Chapter Tournament

Hosted by Central California

Dairy Creek GC

October 2023

Presidents Cup

Date and Location TBD

December 7, 2023

Annual Holiday Event

Teal Bend GC

2024

January Turf Tech

The Ridge

April 8, 2024

Oakdale Golf & CC

2023 SNGCSA BOARD OF DIRECTORS FORE YOUR

Please state your Name, Age, Breed, Facility, Occupation

I’m a five year old Border Collie and I work at Del Rio Golf and Country Club as the bird dog.

Name the members of your family that live in your home

I live with my dad, David, my mom, Cindy, and my sister-dog, Olive.

I was lucky enough to be the “2019 GCSAA Fly Away Geese Giveaway Dog” and found such a great home.

What are your hobbies outside of work?

My hobbies outside of work include going for walks and finding new adventures when we’re out in the motorhome.

After a bad day at work, what makes you feel better?

After a bad day at work all I want to do is come home, relax, and find some quiet time.

What’s your favorite treat or cheat meal?

My favorite treat or cheat meal is beef jerky and whatever people-food my dad gives me when my mom is not watching.

What are some of your nicknames?

My nicknames are Buddy, Timothy and sometimes my dad calls me bad names when I’m misbehaving.

What is your biggest vice

My biggest vice is when both mom and dad leave me alone at home. I get bored and dig holes in the backyard.

What 3 words would someone use to describe you?

Three words that describe me are “member’s love me”.

At what age did you start working?

My first two years I was getting trained in North Carolina to be a bird dog. For the last three years I have been working at Del Rio.

If you had a favorite quote, or one to describe you, what would it be?

If I had a favorite quote it would be “not every member knows my dad’s name at work, but they all know my name”.

What’s your most embarrassing moment?

My most embarrassing moment was in the club’s front office. They just had new carpet installed and I was cleaning my bottom on it. Boy did I get in trouble.

Hank Milne

2023 Scholarship & Research Tournament

Spring Creek Golf & CC July 24, 2023

Dear Members,

Before we know it will be time for the chapter’s Research and Scholarship Tournament. This year’s tournament is scheduled on July 24, 2023 at Spring Creek Golf and Country Club. We thank Mike Stieler CGCSA, our host superintendent for offering us his fine facility for this special event. Last year Mike completed the remodel of all the green complexes.

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. 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 for donations for this year’s event.

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

Over the last ten years the money raised from this event is approaching $300,000. We could not have done this without everyone’s participation.

Thank you,

David Bermudez Tournament Chairman

V ENDOR PROFILE

G RASS R OOTS T URF S UPPLY B ILLY H AUSCH

A New Era in Turf Supply

After many decades serving Northern/Central California and Northern Nevada, Mike Farmen has retired, and Farmload Distributors has been sold. It was purchased by a group in July 2022, including Billy Hausch, Thor Larson and Gavin Dickson. And so it begins a new era of Turf Supply in our region as we introduce ourselves as the new GrassRoots Turf Supply.

We have picked up where Farmload left off, concentrating on bringing our customers the best quality products the industry has to offer, along with unprecedented service provided by the only team in the region comprised of all former Golf Course Superintendents. Bringing a level of practical experience that is unmatched in the industry.

We continue to carry all of the product lines that our customers have learned to love, Floratine, Gropower, JRM, Quali-Pro, UPL, Tee Jet and Supers Choice. In the last several months we have teamed up with some new vendors including Turf Mend and Par West. We have big announcements to make in the coming months, as we partner with some of the biggest names in the industry and bring on new products you may have never seen, so stay tuned! It is our goal to visit each and every customer in our territory, to re-introduce ourselves if we already know each other, or establish new relationships with those we have yet to meet. It may take some time for us to visit all of you, in the meantime you may visit our new website Grassrootsturfsupply.com for info on our products or to request a visit from one of our Sales Representatives.

Hope everyone has a great season and we look forward to serving you, as we all….Get on the Road to Success with GRTS!!

See you soon!

Billy Hausch

“Short Right”

By: Dean Kinney

-Welcome to new Affiliate Members Ryan Thornberry from California Landscape Supply and Heidi Burgess from Corteva. We look forward to your participation!

-Jason DeHerrera has moved on from Old Greenwood after recently having his first child. Congratulations to the DeHerrera’s! Replacing Jason is Joe Valente, who was Jason’s go-to for many years.

-Back in the mountains after a brief stint in Visalia

Donate Today for Rounds for Research

2022 WAS A RECORD YEAR WITH ROUNDS FOR RESEARCH NATIONALLY:

Let’s all do our part in setting chapter records in 2023!! The 2022 Rounds for Research fundraising program to support turfgrass studies, administered by the GCSAA Foundation, sold 1,361 rounds of golf and yielded more than $482,000 in its April 25-May 1 online auction, making it the most successful in the program’s history and an increase of $129,000 over 2021. With that kind of growth and momentum now is not the time to take our foot off the gas, this year could be even better.

From its headquarters in Kansas, the association provides education, information, and representation to nearly 19,000 members in more than 78 countries. SNGCSAA is one of more than 70 GCSAA-affiliated chapters that have joined the initiative to address the critical shortage of funding for ongoing, university based agronomic research, education, advocacy programs and course operations. We are a good sized chapter with some amazing properties, last year we only had a small number of clubs donate rounds, this year we can set our own record representation. Proceeds allow these organizations to assist with specific projects that will have the most significant impact in their local areas. You can help foster sustainability with a donation or by bidding on rounds during the online auction. Feel free to reach out to any board member to assist in donations and please help facilitate a donation should you be contacted.

FROM THE FIELD

Jeff Jensen, GCSAA Field Staff, Southwest Region

I hope this finds all of our Sierra Nevada California members doing well and surviving what has been a difficult and wet winter (albeit needed) for the California golf industry.

The California Legislature in now in session and we are tracking numerous bills that could have an affect on the golf industry. AB 363 would require the California DPR, by July 1, 2024, to publish a reevaluation of the latest science regarding the Impacts of neonicotinoid pesticides, as defined, on pollinating insects, aquatic ecosystems, and human health when used for the nonagricultural protection of outdoor ornamental plants, trees, and turf, and, by July 1, 2026, to adopt regulations governing that use that are necessary to protect the health of honeybees, native bees, and other pollinating insects, aquatic ecosystems, and human health. While the California golf industry doesn’t oppose the reevaluation, we do oppose the change to the assessment protocol (from risk-based assessment to hazard-based) as well as the potential influence, interference, and timeline of the legislature on the outcome of the reevaluation. It is not the place of legislature to circumvent the established regulatory process. Comments have been filed requesting that the bill be based on a risk assessment without undue outside interference from legislature.

While the drought issues have certainly eased for the upcoming summer season, water is always at the forefront of our legislative efforts. AB 460 and accompanying SB 389 would create new administrative enforcement processes that would allow the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) to make binding determinations on water rights. Significantly, AB 460 in particular would grant interested parties the right to file petitions for the SWRCB to impose restrictions on water rights that could significantly limit or eliminate a diverter’s ability to exercise those rights. Collectively, both bills would undermine existing legal protections for pre-1914 and riparian water rights and result in significant changes to how California’s water rights system is administered. Golf doesn’t have many pre-1914 water rights in the state, but we do have numerous courses that have riparian rights, and this is a bill we will be following closely.

More information as well as action alerts (where warranted) will be forthcoming as the bills stall or advance through committee.

For more information and updates visit https://www.gcsaa.org/advocacy/take-action.

Thank you for your continued support of GCSAA and if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at jjensen@gcsaa.org and follow me on Twitter @GCSAA_SW for industry updates.

Best of luck with the Spring golf season!

Jeff Jensen

2023TURF TECH THE RIDGE

Matt Graves from Belkorp did a Q & A session in the morning on how to troubleshoot in todays equipment shortages.

Pictured here with Scott McCullough from The Ridge.

Jeff Jensen from GCSA, pictured with GCSAA President and Sierra Nevada member, Kevin Breen

TurfTechContinued

We had another wonderful event at The Ridge in Auburn. It was a busy and extremely productive day. We had almost 90 members and their crews in attendance at this years event, which puts us back to our Pre-COVID numbers. It was great to see so many smiling faces. Scott McCullough did a great job, yet again, of lining up the speakers. We had Jeff Jensen from GCSAA, Jim Ferrin from CAG, Pat Finlen spoke on marketing yourself, Joe Ballmer did a product label review, Pete Bowman spoke on golf safety, Matt Graves from Belkorp, and Jim Baird from UC Riverside. Lunch Included our Key Note speaker Kevin Breen. Kevin is not only a member of our Sierra Nevada Chapter, but also the current President of the National GCSA. It was incredibly interesting to hear him speak about his life, and what has led him to the position he is currently in. The afternoon was broken up with a hands on grinder set up, with Turf Star, an Irrigation Audit with Sierra Pacific Turf, and/or an opportunity for us to help with a BMP set up. We were able to get 6 BMPs started for our members in that afternoon session. This event would not be possible without all of our wonderful sponsors, and the National GCSAs continued support.

Turf Star conducting a hands on grinder set up.

Jeff Jensen, Irene Cline, and Mike Cline were on hand to help get the BMPs going for those interested.

Sierra Pacific Turf went though an irrigation audit

Kimberly Milne and Alexis Milne were happy to check everyone in and facilitate throughout the day.

Welcome New Members

Ryan Thornberry- Affiliate, California Landscape Supply

Heidi Burgess- Affiliate, Corteva

Andy Lopez– Oakdale Golf & CC

Thomas Karrer- The Dragon

Ryan MacNair– El Macero CC

Daniel Vandecoevering- Envu

In Memory of Mike Basile

We are saddened to inform you that Mike Basile, longtime GCSA member and friend to many, passed away on Friday, February 10, after a long battle with cancer. Mike passed peacefully with family by his side in Grand Rapids, Michigan. We extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to Mike’s many friends, family members and colleagues in the golf community.

Rick White, Haggin Oaks Golf Course

Rick began his career at Gold Hills CC in Redding, CA., working with Mike Smyth. He credits these first years of setting the bar for his work ethic and professionalism as a Golf Course Superintendent. After four years of working with Mike Smyth at Gold Hills, Rick relocated to Forrest Meadows Golf Course. He spent seven years at Forrest Meadows, but the goal was always to get home to Redding. So in 1990, when an opportunity with River Bend Golf Course opened up, Rick didn’t hesitate to accept the job. A couple years later a position with Riverview Country Club became available and Rick spent the next 19 years there,

In 2019 Rick accepted the job at Haggin Oaks Golf Course. The move to the Sacramento area was a bit hard at first. You see Rick loves to fish and the World Class fishing the Redding area lakes and rivers provide were hard to leave behind. The win was, both of Ricks daughters had relocated to the Sacramento area. A Family first guy, Rick and wife of 39 years Glenda, made the move.

Rick has a positive outlook for the future of golf and believes rounds played will continue to be strong. Cost of goods, changing Government regulations, supply chain issues (ouch!) and lack of a workforce are some of the daily issues you can all relate with.

Rick also spoke about water we all kind of forgot about water the last several weeks. When water is back in the headlines Rick has genuine concerns about what will be available, who will get it and what will it cost? Ricks point being: let’s not forget, plan accordingly and get involved locally!

Rick is currently working with The Management Team on a Master Plan for Haggin Oaks. 2023 sees some improvements to the driving range, including new netting. 2024 things really get going with a couple of new greens on the course. An updated practice facility, including practice greens and covered tees on the range. Rick really is family oriented. He spends most of his time away from work with his family. They have completed a few big home improvement projects at their various homes and he’s become quite the wood worker; building cabinets, shelves and the like.

You can still see the effects of Mike Smyth and that work ethic when you visit or speak with Rick. He doesn’t sit still for long. Always working, planning the next project, or an afternoon on the Lake.

Thank you, Rick White, for hosting the 2023 Grass Roots Golf Event!!!

-Tim McCoy

2023 C ALIFORNIA R OOM M AGGIANOS L ITTLE I TAL Y

A Huge “Thank You” to all of our Sponsors that make this a great event each year. We would like to send a special Thanks to to CJ Boone from Brown Sand for being our Premier Sponsor

SNGCSA President Jeremy Payne with GCSAA President Kevin Breen and other members of the GCSA staff.

Right: Jeremy Payne, Matt Moore, and other Ca l GCSA Members.

Below: Brown Sand Sponsor, CJ Boone with GCSACC Past President Glen Matthews

Right: Kevin Breen and Don Naumann

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