TeeOff News Third Quarter 2026
San Luis Obispo C.C.
San Luis Obispo, Ca.
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President’s Message By Elliot Weber I hope everyone is getting through fall aerification season and that the cooler nights are finally giving us all a little relief! It’s always nice this time of year when the temperatures start to drop, the days get a little shorter, and we can all take a breath after another busy summer season. As we get closer to the end of the year, I want to take a moment to say thank you to everyone who continues to support the Central California GCSA. It has been a great year, and it’s been especially rewarding to see so many of you coming out to our events, supporting each other, and enjoying some time together away from the daily grind. Our recent Tri-Chapter event at San Luis Obispo Country Club was a great example of what our association is all about. We had a fantastic educational portion with plenty of good information and discussion, followed by an absolutely beautiful day of golf. I also want to give a big thank-you to the team at San Luis Obispo Country Club. The golf course was in incredible condition, and it really showed the pride and hard work that goes into maintaining a course at that level. It made for a great day from start to finish. One of the things I enjoy most about these events is seeing everyone catch up, share stories, talk shop, and just have a good time. Our industry can be demanding, and it’s nice to have opportunities like these to step away for a few hours and enjoy the company of people who understand what we do. We still have some great events ahead of us this year. Our Charity Event at Stockdale Country Club on November 16th is coming up, and I’m looking forward to seeing a great turnout. It’s always rewarding when we can get together, have some fun, and at the same time support a good cause. Then in December, we’ll have our Windows on the Water event, which is always a great way to wrap up the year. I hope everyone will make an effort to join us. These events are made special by the people who attend, and the continued support from our members and industry partners is what keeps our chapter moving forward. I truly appreciate seeing the continued support for the events we host. Every time you show up, bring a fellow superintendent, invite a colleague, sponsor an event, or simply take the time to participate, you are helping make the Central California GCSA stronger. That support does not go unnoticed. Looking ahead to 2027, we will also be holding our board elections. If you have ever thought about getting more involved with the chapter, I encourage you to consider running for a board seat. We are always looking for members who want to contribute their ideas, help plan events, and give back to the association. If you are interested in running for a board position, please reach out to us as soon as possible. Thank you again for making this such a great group to be a part of. I’m proud of what we continue to accomplish together, and I’m looking forward to finishing the year strong. I hope to see all of you at Stockdale on November 16th and at Windows on the Water in December. Take care, and I’ll see you on the course!
-Elliot Weber VICE PRESIDENT HERMINIO PLATA MONARCH DUNES GC DAVID AVILA HARRELLS BRIAN RIOS BAKERSFIELD CC
2026 GCSACC BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT ELLIOTT WEBER THE ALISAL PAST PRESIDENT JOSE ALVAREZ EAGLE SPRINGS GC
Executive Director Kimberly Milne
SECRETARY/TREASURER DOMINIC PELUSO VISALIA CC JOSH HEPTIG SLO COUNTY
JOHN ALLAN SQM
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California Alliance for Golf Monthly Newsletter
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Gavin Dickson
gavin@grassrootsturfsupply.com
Mobile: (831) 333-6839
Please check out the attached links to the monthly CAG Correspondence California's Aquifers -- Further Evidence of a Collapsing Water Supply Situation
Colorado Basin Colorado River Future Operations -- Bureau of Reclamation Releases Long Anticipated Plan July CAG Newsletter August Newsletter
David Avila 805-665-0899 davila@harrells.com
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From the Field
Jeff Jensen, GCSAA Field Staff, Southwest Region It was great to see many of you at the recent Tri-Chapter event hosted by Central. Congrats to the board for putting on a terrific event and kudos to San Luis Obispo Country Club Superintendent, Paul Barr for having the course in amazing condition. The renovation is incredible and it is a joy to play a facility of that quality. Registration for the 2027 Conference and Show and Golf Championships opened on September 22. The event will be held in New Orleans, LA. January 18-21 with the Golf Championships taking place January 16-18 down the road in Biloxi, MS. Host courses include Fallen Oak, Grand Bear, The Preserve and Windance Country Club. Early Bird registration for the show is available through October 16 with advance registration running through December 11. More information is available on the website at www.gcsaaconference.com. We look forward to seeing everyone in the Big
Easy next January. Additionally, registration for the Western Golf & Sports Field Summit is open at https://westerngolfandsportsfieldsummit.com. The Summit, held in Ontario, CA., is a premier gathering of golf course and sports field professionals from across the western United States. It features over one hundred educational sessions including specialized education tracks for golf course superintendents. Other events include a golf tournament and a trade show featuring nearly 100 exhibitors. GCSAA CEU’s are available and it will be a great opportunity to network with other superintendents and industry professionals from around the Western United States. As a reminder, please do not forget about GCSAA’s Greenkeeper Certificate. It is a great tool for newcomers to your maintenance team or those employees just looking to expand their horizons. This entry-level course introduces the essential skills and knowledge needed for success in golf course maintenance. Through hands-on training, completion of a skills evaluation guide and online exam, and education webinars, learners will gain a solid understanding of the daily responsibilities involved in maintaining healthy, highperforming playing surfaces. The course builds a strong foundation for future certificates and career growth. It also emphasizes the importance of teamwork, communication, and professionalism as key components of a successful golf course maintenance team. More information is available at https://learn.gcsaa.org/learning-paths/greenkeepercertificate. Thank you again for your support of GCSAA and if I can be of any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me at jjensen@gcsaa.org and follow me on X for industry updates at GCSAA_SW. Look forward to catching up with you soon!
Jeff Jensen
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Newsletter Title
New Members LoraBeth Catterson Syngenta Class AF
Nick Thornberry California Landscape Equipment Class AF
Danny Vandecoevering danny.vandecoevering@envu.com 425-606-0491
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N e w s l e t t eT r T l e- O F F Ei tE
News
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Around The Green Pollinator Partnership Names Seed King Enterprises 2025 Monarch Sustainer of the Year Pollinator Partnership (P2) is pleased to present Seed King Enterprises with the 2025 Monarch Sustainer of the Year Award. This award recognizes a company that has demonstrated extraordinary leadership and action in providing habitat and awareness for the imperiled monarch butterfly. "We are incredibly grateful to welcome James Culley and Seed King Enterprises as our newest Monarch Sustainer. Their commitment to pollinator conservation reflects the kind of long-term leadership that creates a lasting impact. Partnerships like this help Pollinator Partnership continue to advance science-based conservation, restore habitat, and protect the pollinators that sustain our ecosystems and food supply. We look forward to all we can accomplish together," says Kelly Bills, Executive Director of Pollinator Partnership and presenter of this award. Habitat loss remains the leading driver of monarch declines, and as a seed company, Seed King Enterprises has played a key role in increasing habitat connectivity throughout the Western monarch migration corridor. The company's primary customer base, golf courses, represents a largely single-use landscape with significant potential to support pollinators through habitat enhancements. In 2025 alone, golf course clients planted more than 1,200 pounds of wildflower seed, including regionally native milkweed species. Beyond providing habitat consultation services, Seed King Enterprises serves as a trusted community resource for pollinator and plant information while supplying plant materials for both large-scale restoration efforts and home garden projects. P2 recognizes Seed King Enterprises for its monarch habitat enhancement efforts and its longstanding retail partnership supporting Pollinator Partnership's Monarch Wings Across the West program. Through this partnership, 5% of proceeds from three seed MEDIA RELEASE July 15, 2026
like you. But that will never
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Save The Dates 2026 October 26-28 CGCOA West Coast Education Event Ontario, CA.
November 16 Charity Tournament Stockdale CC December 5 Holiday Event Windows on the Water
2027 January 20, 2027 GIS California Room New Orleans, LA February Annual Meeting and Awards Location– TBD March Mechanics Seminar Copper River CC June Al Glaze S&R Tournament Monarch Dunes
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VENDOR PROFILE LoraBeth Catterson– Syngenta Our newest Affiliate member is none other than LoraBeth Catterson. She is becoming a familiar face to many, working for Syngenta. She gave us some time this quarter and answered a few questions: Q: Where did you grow up? Long Beach Island, New Jersey Q: How did your interest grow for the golf course industry? I switched majors in college after taking a horticulture therapy class and finding that I enjoyed plant science and realized there were a lot of jobs to apply that knowledge. After attending the GCSSA trade show in college and taking part in the Turf Bowl, I knew it was an industry that would always be changing and evolving.
Q: Where did you go to school and what was you major? Rutgers University! I have a bachelor's in plant science: horticultural and turfgrass management. I also have a master's degree in data science from the University of Colorado Boulder. Q: What was your first paying job in the industry? I graduated college and moved to Los Angeles the next day to start my role as an assistant in training at The Los Angeles Country Club. Q: What part of your job excites you every day? That there is always something to learn! This might be new tools or products, different ways of achieving the same task, or solving new problems that you haven’t come across before. Q: What tool/s do you need to have every day to make your job easier? I always need to know who or what my resources are and the best way to access them. We can find advice or answers from our peers, our mentors, the internet, books, and field experience. I think the most important tool for my role is knowing how to utilize these resources and how to continue building relationships with others and my own personal knowledge. Q: What hobbies or hidden talents do you have? I love to read and cook. Historical fiction is my favorite genre and I'll try cooking anything! Hidden talents... I used to bowl and my high score is a 277! Q: What is one dream vacation destination? Japan! I want to see the whole country while eating all the noodles and sushi along the way. Q: What is your favorite food or meal? Korean BBQ or anything Italian. Q: What music do you enjoy listening to? A Day to Remember is my favorite band, Rise Against, Alkaline Trio, Bad Religion, Slightly Stoopid, Rebelution, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Wiz Khalifa, Big Sean, Fleetwood Mac, a little of everything! Q What sports do you enjoy watching? Favorite teams? Football, basketball, and hockey. I was raised on Philly sports. Go Birds! Q: If you could give your younger self some advice, what would that be? Never let anyone tell you that you can't do something. Always use that motivation to prove them wrong. Q: What advice would you give to someone wanting to get into the golf industry? The golf industry is incredible because it is multi faceted and has something to offer everyone. You will get out of it what you put into it, but don't stay anywhere that isn't the best for you. There are a lot of opportunities, and take every single one, but land where you want to be. We need more people in the industry; no one needs to leave. We can all sit at the table!
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SUPERINTENDENT PROFILE Paul Barr– SLOCC This Quarter we had an opportunity to catch up with Superintendent Paul Barr from San Luis Obispo Country Club. Paul graciously hosted our Tri– Chapter event this month, and it was great to catch up with him. Q: Where did you grow up? Davis, CA Q: How did your interest grow for the golf course industry? As many may already know, I’m not a golfer. I grew up participating in many sports and wanted to work outdoors. While in high school, I volunteered one summer to work with the UC Davis grounds crew and loved the work atmosphere. I applied and was accepted to Cal Poly SLO to enter their turf program with the goal of managing sports fields. My first summer internship was with PacBell and it fell through. I scrambled to find a summer job that would be relevant to horticulture. I applied for landscape architect positions, nursery production, and two golf courses. The only job offer I received was from Jeff Gorham at El Macero CC. Jeff being a Cal Poly alum took me in and showed me as much as he could in my first summer and was kind enough to have me back the following summer. Q: Where did you go to school and what was you major? Cal Poly SLO, Environmental Horticulture Q: What was you first paying job in the industry? My first internship at El Macero CC Q: What part of your job excites you everyday? The teamwork and camaraderie within my crew. Early mornings, the forever evolving puzzle that Mother Nature throws our way and having our dogs alongside me. Q: What tool/s do you need to have everyday to make your job easier? I’m sure it sounds corny, but a support system is what is most helpful and all encompassing. An amazing, dedicated crew! A great network of colleagues and friends, and certainly not least my family that encourages me. Q: What hobbies or hidden talents do you have? I grew up playing soccer and still enjoy playing pickup with the guys. My wife and I both enjoy distance/endurance events. We got to know each other through triathlon training. So, when we get free time, we like to sneak in a run or a swim. I hope to pick up fly fishing and backpacking to enjoy and share outdoor time with my family and friends. Q: What is one dream vacation destination? Hmm, I have many in my dreams. Picking just one…Switzerland. Q: What is your favorite food or meal? Anything Mexican Q: What music do you enjoy listening to? Classic rock Q What sports do you enjoy watching? Favorite teams? I’m a Bay Area fan so SF Giants get my full attention year-round (even as they are struggling now I enjoy following how they build and develop their farm system) and SF 49ers. Q: If you could give your younger self some advice, what would that be? My mind immediately goes to my 20’s. Take the party hat off, don’t be so selfish with your time and be more intentional in time with your family and lifelong friends. Q: What advice would you give to someone wanting to get into the golf industry? I think that would depend upon the individual. In general, or as I would recommend to my younger self: Participate in as many internships at a wide variety of golf courses. Try public, resort, country club, single owner, equity own, corporate ownership, across multiple growing environments with multiple turf types. What turf type and growing environment suits you? What business structure appeals to you? Where do you like living the most? Learn the job and what you witness from multiple lead professionals the tools and skillset that are necessary for the profession, but don’t overlook and neglect the practice that is your life away from work. Q: Biggest industry achievement? The preparation and experience of a renovation, and its recovery process. Although its an achievement, there are so many things I would have done differently. Q: Most influential person? Bob Zoller, I think because of the vast amount of experience he had, the network of people he had the opportunity to work with, the climate and golf community he grew turf in, and the development from what the Club was when he began in his 44 year tenure and how he left it, just continues to place me in such a state of awe. I don’t have goals of a 44-year tenure as sup, and realize SLO CC won’t be MPCC but I believe with those knowns it shows even more the power and influence his story holds. Q: Biggest industry challenges? SLO CC’s location is its biggest strength and weakness. It is isolated from other equity owned clubs that doesn’t challenge the membership in its growth, it’s also on the edge of almost every service territory. Misc: I began working at SLO CC in 2002 as an intern and never left. I was fortunate to learn the property under CGCS Joe Tompkins and was awarded the Golf Course Superintendent opportunity upon Joe’s retirement in 2013. I have three children (William 6, Brooke 4, Audrey 1.5) and my amazing wife Whitney.
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Tri– Chapter Event San Luis Obispo C.C. On August 31, 2026, the Golf Course Superintendents Association of Central California, (GCSACC), brought together golf course professionals from across the state for a day of education, competition, and camaraderie at the San Lui Obispo CC. Over 90 participants from multiple chapters engaged in friendly rivalry out on the course, while learning how to work with their teams to better facilitate course management in the education portion. Speakers from Syngenta, Earthworks, and Greenskeepers were in attendance and teaching our members vital skills. We thank them for their expertise, and we thank our members for being an engaged, and respectful audience. The winners of the event was a 3 way tie with an amazing score of 57, which eventually led to a card off. Leaving the team of Stewart, Magnani, Lenz, and Clark in 1st Place, and Lagoria, Watkins, Bognuda, and Pubas in 2nd. Out on the course players were able to take in the remodel that Host Superintendent Paul Barr has been working on. Play a multitude of Closest to the Pins, Long Drives, and visit with Hole Sponsors from John Deere/ Stotz Equipment, Seed King, and Par West. Inside the club house we had our meals graciously sponsored by DHR Construction, and drinks provided by PW Gillibrand. All of these things contributed to a very successful day for anyone in attendance. This annual gathering continues to strengthen the community of golf course superintendents in Central Californi a, promoting excellence, education, and collaboration . Thank you again to our Sponsors and to all of the members who attended.
Brandon of Par West at his Sponsored booth on Hole 10
Jim Culley of Seed King, awarding the winner of his on Course, Closest to Pin Game– Billy Witt
1st Place Team from Stotz- Stewart, Magnani, Lenz, and Clark
Part of our 2nd Place Team of Lagoria, Watkins, Boguda, and Pubas
John Deere/ Stotz Equipment at Sponsored Hole #1
Above– Full House for education
Heptig, Prouty, Furtak, and Pautsch
Above- Drink Sponsor– PW Gillibrand. Fry, Lind, and Russian Left– Tulare GC Team
Host Superintendent Paul Barr with GM Janelle, and GCSACC VP Herminio Plata
Above– Lunch Sponsor DHR Construction Richt- SNGCSA Board members
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