Cameron Park Country Club 2022 Scholarship & Research Tournament
Stockton Golf & C.C.
Well, here we go again, summer is here and although the beginning of July doesn't look as exciting as last year, I think it's going to be very interesting seeing what the rest of summer has in store for us. This is what we prepare ourselves for every year, this is where us and our crews show what we're made of!
I hope you are all ready to join us for our Big Scholarship and Research tournament at Stockton Country Club on July 7th. Harj, on behalf of the SNGCSA chapter, we would like to thank you in advance, for hosting us at your wonderful Country Club. I'm sure the course is going to be dialed in!
With the Scholarship and research tournament being our biggest tournament of the year, I really hope you can all attend or at least send your crew to make it another successful event. Also, don't forget to get your bids in for the silent auction items and get ready to enjoy this year's auctioneer Mr. Dan Dotson, otherwise known as Mr. Jim Ferrin lol. One more thing we're really excited about, is the fact that this year we are fortunate enough to be able to award over $12k towards our turf and legacy scholarship recipients. To all of our sponsors, vendors, and members we are deeply grateful for your constant generosity and support, none of our success would be possible without generous donors like you. These scholarships will have a profound and enduring effect on our members and their children. Thank you!
Last but not least I would also like to point out that our Tri Chapter meeting will be held at Berkeley Country Club on August 11th and if you haven't signed up yet, I highly recommend you do. Besides being a great golf club, the education on "golf course renovation from planning through construction" is something I'm looking forward to learning about, not to mention catching up with old friends that we rarely have the pleasure of seeing from other chapters.
Looking forward to seeing you all in the next couple weeks.
-Juan J. Gonzalez
July 7, 2025
EVENT CALENDAR
S&R Tournament
Stockton CC
August 11, 2025
Tri Chapter
Hosted by NorCal Berkley CC
Sept 2025
Presidents Cup
Grizzly Ranch
November 18, 2025
Annual Meeting
Whitney Oaks
SECRETARY/TREASURER
Lonnie Dunn
Wildhorse G.C.
December 4, 2025
Holiday Golf Outing The Ridge
January 2026 Turf Tech The Ridge
February 2026 GIS
Orlando, Fl.
March 2026
Grass Roots Meeting
TBD
2025 SNGCSA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PRESIDENT
Juan Gonzalez
Empire Ranch G.C.
VICE PRESIDENT
PAST PRESIDENT
Billy Witt Muhammad Ali
Hidden Valley Lake Assoc.
DIRECTORS
Dave Bermudez Logan Bloom
Del Rio G. & C.C.
Mather G.C.
Dean Kinney, Sierra Pacific Turf
Scott McCullough Guillermo Reyes Brian Kerr– Assistant
The Ridge Rio Vista GC Turkey Creek GC
Affiliate Representatives
Ryan Thornberry, California Landscape Supply
FORE YOUR INFORMATION
Short Right–
By Dean Kinney
Happy Summer!! I hope this finds you well as your days continue to get shorter, along with my drives. (Or at least I hope so!) Here is a little bit of what is happening around the association!
-Muhamamad Ali has pursued a career with Southgate Rec and Park, creating some opportunities within Morton Golf.
-Lonnie Dunn is the new superintendent at William Land Golf Course, Alex Dietrich at Bartley Cavanaugh Golf Corse and Leo Moreno at Bing Maloney Golf Course.
-Replacing Lonnie at Wildhorse Golf Club is Kirk Little.
-Also in Davis, Ryan MacNair is about half-way through a bunker renovation at El Macero Country Club.
-Stan Adam has moved from Wilbur Ellis to Gro West.
-Freddie Carlyle moved from Spring Creek CC, down to the Central Cal area and joined Fort Washington CC.
-While several golf course superintendents have embraced the smaller autonomous mowers (Husqvarna, Kress), Brandon Wagner at Serrano Country Club is very happy with his Fire Fly fairway unit.
-Brad Wunderlich and Edgewood Tahoe will once again be hosting the American Century Championship July 9 thru July 13.
-Joe Valente and Old Greenwood will be hosting, one week later , the Barracuda Championship July 14 thru July 20.
If I missed anything worth sharing, please reach out to me or Kim and we will be sure to include it in next quarters Short Right!
Best Regards,
Dean Kinney
Senior Agronomic Sales Representative
Sierra Pacific Turf Supply
916/439-4513 cell
@SierraTurf
M AY E VENT –T URKEY C REEK G OLF C OURSE
Our May event at Turkey Creek Golf Course was an awesome day, with beautiful weather and a very lively and competitive group of guys. We played a 2 man Scramble format and everyone had fun. Winners for the day were our friends Ty and Rudy from Teal Bend.
It was a Father-Son Day on the course when Above: Kyle Jones, and Ram Sena brought their boys along to be their partners. We loved seeing them start up the next generation of superintendents.
Above: Jeremy Payne and Billy Hausch.
Right: Retired members Jim Ferrin and Sam Samuelson
Left: Mike Kaveney and Brian Kerr from Turkey Creek had the course in great shape for the event.
CAG NEWSLETTERS
PLEASE CHECK OUT THE ATTACHED LINKS TO THE MONTHLY CAG NEWSLETTERS.
CAG NEWSLETTER – APRIL
CAG NEWSLETTER – MAY
CAG NEWSLETTER– JUNE
CAG NEWSLETTER – JUNE PART 2
Speak Michelle, Speak
By John Farley
Greetings to all my canine comrades and the superintendents who own them. Michelle the Teal Bend Golf course dog here. Well, summer is upon us and with it comes long days on the course. The Canada geese need to be harassed, sprinklers need to be played in, and lakes need to be swam in. Not to mention all the golfers that need to be greeted and checked for handouts such as pieces of bacon and bits of hotdog. It’s a tough job but somebody has to do it. Now usually I will travel to a golf course and interview another working dog, but today in this article I’m going to talk about myself.
Life here at the Bend is full of activities. In fact, just the other day I was out with my owner John Farley and he was using the hose to flush gophers out of their runs. It’s my job to grab them as soon as they emerge. I give them a couple chomps and a hard shake and they give up the ghost pretty quickly. I also got a ground squirrel on the sixth hole a week ago. My master was very very happy and rewarded me with a couple pieces of bacon. Ground squirrels can do vast amounts of damage if left unchecked. I have also been busy with a gaggle of Canada geese that have not flown north yet. I’ll have them winging to Ontario in no time. They can be so messy, and my owner has enough to do without having to clean up after a bunch of free loading geese.
But I’m not as active as I used to be. Heck, I’m 70 years old but I still get the job done. I like to run out in front of my owner as he checks the course early in the morning. It’s cooler then and frankly there are more critters out to chase. After set-up is done I usually take a long nap under the desk where I have a nice comfy bed. Then in the afternoon when it’s time to hand water I will tag along in case there are any gophers to dispatch. If it gets too hot, I just jump in the lake and cool off. If I’m not out on the course I enjoy hunting lizards in the clubhouse landscaping. I can spend hours doing it. Sometimes all you see of me is my wagging tail sticking out above the landscape plants.
Life is good as the golf course dog. I’m up before the sun and get to spend the whole day with my best friend. I eat well and get plenty of snacks. All the exercise keeps me healthy and happy. Plus, I perform a valuable service. I’m a little grey in the chops but I see many more years of golf course work here at Teal Bend.
Michelle is seen above hunting lizards in the landscaping, swimming in the pond, and searching for critters out on the course
FROM THE FIELD Jeff
GCSAA Field Staff, Southwest Region
Jensen,
I hope this finds all of our Sierra Nevada members doing well and getting ready for what is sure to be a busy summer golf season.
There have been some exciting things going on at GCSAA as we continue to increase our focus on workforce development. The GCSAA Training Video Series was released on May 27. Free to GCSAA members, the crew-based videos cover topics from cup cutting and greens mowing to bunker raking, hand watering and more. This 11-video series aims to help superintendents attract, train and retain employees. The videos can be accessed at https://learn.gcsaa.org/pages/videotraining-series?_zs=AHEEN1&_zl=dfmm7. This is a great member benefit for you, your crew and facility!
Additionally, GCSAA just released its biennial Compensation and Benefits Report. The average salary for golf course superintendents has climbed to $121, 238 annually which marks a 10.6% increase over the 2023 study. Superintendents’ salaries have nearly tripled in the three decades since that first report (1993), when the average salary was $44,500. Assistant superintendents and golf course equipment managers also saw increases in their incomes. Assistant salaries rose 10.5% to $62,184, and equipment managers saw a 12.5% increase from the average salary two years ago to climb to $68,154. The rise in salaries in golf course management professions is outpacing the national average, which, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, rose by 8.1% over the last two years (4.3% increase in 2023 and 3.8% increase in 2024). The average age of a superintendent is 47.1 years, and the average number of years they have spent in the profession is 15.9 years. The average number of years a superintendent has spent in his or her current position is 9.5 years. Survey participants can access the report for free, and others can learn more and purchase the report by visiting csaa.org/career/compensation-report. We appreciate the support of those who took the time to fill out this important survey.
As always, please reach out to me with any questions or assistance you may need at jjensen@gcsaa.org. You can also follow me on X for industry updates at GCSAA_SW and my regional blog and calendar of events is available at https://www.gcsaa.org/resources/regional- resources/southwest. I hope you all have a great summer season and look forward to seeing you at some upcoming events including the Scholarship and Research Tournament in Stockton.
- Jeff Jensen
1. Understand the Risks
Heat illnesses include:
Safety Message
Heat-Related Illness Prevention Plan
• Heat Exhaustion: Heavy sweating, weakness, nausea, dizziness.
• Heat Stroke (medical emergency): Confusion, high body temp (>103°F), no sweating, unconsciousness. High-risk groups:
• Older adults
• Young children
• Outdoor workers
• People with chronic illnesses or limited mobility
• Use fans, AC, and cooling centers (California offers many public cooling centers check local listings)
• Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing
• Take cool showers or baths
3. Stay Hydrated
• Drink water regularly (even if not thirsty)
• Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and sugary drinks
• Eat hydrating foods (fruits, vegetables)
4. Plan Ahead
• Check weather forecasts and heat advisories
• Identify nearby cooling centers (city websites or 2-1-1 hotline in California)
• Develop an emergency contact list
• Keep a thermometer to monitor indoor temperatures
5. Educate and Communicate
• Train staff/family on recognizing and responding to heat illness
• Check in regularly on vulnerable individuals
• Post heat safety tips at workplaces or community centers
6. Modify Activities
• Schedule outdoor work/exercise for early morning or evening
• Take frequent breaks in the shade or cool areas
• Use cooling towels, hats, and umbrellas
7. Emergency Response
If someone shows signs of heat stroke:
• Call 911 immediately
• Move the person to a cool area
• Apply cool, wet cloths or ice packs to the neck, armpits, and groin
• Do NOT give fluids if unconscious
8. Resources for Californians
• Cooling Centers: Call 2-1-1 or visit your county or city emergency website
• Cal OES (Office of Emergency Services): Offers heat wave alerts and preparedness tips
OSHA: Has guidelines for employers to prevent heat illness among worker
Leo Moreno
BingMaloneyGC
ClassB
Kannon Campbell
ToiyabeGolfClub
ClassC
Emma Gollmyer
Nutrien ClassAffiliate
Justin Tracy Brandt ClassAffiliate
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
V ENDOR P ROFILE
E MMA G OLLMYER – N UTRIEN
Chapter President Juan Gonzalez had the opportunity to sit down with our newest affiliate member, Emma Gollmyer with Nutrien. Here is some of the scoop he got, letting us all get to know Emma a little better.
Q: Where did you grow up? Small town in the Central Valley called Atwater, Ca
Q: How did your interest grow for the golf course industry? When I started college, I went out to the course with my dad for the first time. He taught me how to play and I have been playing ever since.
Q: Where did you go to school and what was your major? First, I went to Modesto Junior College and my major was crop science. I received four Associates Degrees in Crop Science, Fruit Science, Soil Science, and Agricultural Science. After, I transferred to Fresno State and my major was Plant Science-Plant Health where I received my Bachelor’s Degree.
Q:What was your first paying job in the industry?
My first paying job in the golf industry was/is being a sales rep for Nutrien.
Q: What part of your job excites you everyday?
The part of my job that is exciting is that every single day is different. You never know what you’re going to get.
Q: What tool/s do you need to have everyday to make your job easier? The only tools I need to have everyday to make my job easier is my laptop and phone.
Q: What hobbies or hidden talents do you have? Besides golf, pickleball and hiking.
Q: What is one dream vacation destination? My dream vacation destination is Ireland.
Q: What is your favorite food or meal? Sushi
Q: What music do you enjoy listening to? I listen to pretty much every genre of music. My playlist is very random.
Q: What sports do you enjoy watching? Favorite teams? Baseball- SF Giants, Football- NY Giants, Basketball- Kings
Q: If you could give your younger self some advice, what would that be? I would tell my younger self to get into golf earlier. Don’t wait until you’re in college . Q: What advice would you give to someone wanting to get into the golf industry? Advice I would give is to just go for it!
SUPERINTENDENT P ROFILE
H ARJINDAR TOOR – S TOCKTON GOLF & CC
This quarters newsletter is featuring the Superintendent Harjindar Toor (Harj, as he is known by most). He has been the Superintendent at Stockton Golf and CC since 2021, and is the host of our 2025 Scholarship and Research Tournament. Harj took some time to fill us in with a short bio about his life, so that we can get to know him prior to attending the event.
Harjindar is an experienced Golf Course Superintendent and GCSAA Class A member with over a decade of leadership in the golf industry. Known for his strong work ethic, steady leadership, and commitment to quality, he has successfully guided private clubs in maintaining and enhancing exceptional playing conditions.
His passion for the profession began early, growing up around the game and learning from his father, a longtime golf course superintendent. That foundation continues to inspire his approach—hands-on, team-focused, and driven by a deep respect for the craft.
Prior to his career in golf, Harjindar served with distinction in the United States Air Force, where he developed skills in leadership, operations, and organizational management. He brings a thoughtful, solutions-oriented mindset to every role and is continually focused on growth, both for himself and the teams he leads. He holds a degree in Management and is currently pursuing an MBA in Human Resources.
We Thank Harj for his service and for hosting us at Stockton Golf & CC, and we look forward to seeing him in person.
