January/February Issue Tee Off News

Tee Off News January/February 2019

Tulare Golf Course Demonstration Day April 15, 2019 Hosted by Brett Miller

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President’s Message Andy Cordova The start of the year brought with it our annual elections.

I would like to welcome our new board members and thank our departing board Andy Cordova member, Eric Smith. Eric was a valuable asset to us throughout his two years on the board.

We appreciate his involvement and thank him for his time and commitment. Besides electing one new board member this year to fill Eric’s spot, we also elected three more seats that we were short to begin with. I would like to welcome Rob Lomeli from Ridge Creek Golf Club, Jose Alvarez from Fort Washington Country Club, Mark Weitz from The Alisal, and our Affiliate Representative Matt Graves from Belkorp. We know it is a big commitment and we appreciate each of them

wanting to be involved with the chapter. These new members are extremely valuable to our association and will be a great addition to our already strong board of directors.

greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family during this time.

Our next meeting will be at Tulare Golf Course on April 15th with On the national level, one of host Superintendent Brett Miller. This our own has made it to the top of the will be a golf demonstration day and GCSAA. During the Golf Industry our vendors will be there with equipShow in San Diego, Rafael Barajas ment that we can inspect, see in action, was elected as the 83rd president of the and even drive. This demonstration GCSAA. Rafael is a long-time mem- day has been a huge success in the past ber of our chapter and even though he and very helpful for attendees. Plan to moved to Florida a few years ago, he bring your mechanic, assistant, or both, has continued his membership and in- as this meeting will be very beneficial volvement with our association. It is for all. I look forward to seeing everyexciting to see him in that position and one there. support us at the national level. Congratulations Rafael!

New Members

On a sadder note, I want to mention the passing of Lowell Stone.

Lowell was one of the founding members of our Central chapter of the GSCAA and a huge supporter throughout. He was a past president and the founder of our annual charities tournament. He was a good man and will be

Derek Stone Class B Belmont Country Club

2019 GCSACC BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT ANDY CORDOVA CYPRESS RIDGE GOLD COURSE

VICE PRESIDENT GLENN MATTHEWS, CGCS VISALIA COUNTRY CLUB ALBERT NUNES MORRO BAY GOLF COURSE MIKE CLINE WILBUR ELLIS CO.

PAST PRESIDENT STEVEN SHOWERS BROOKSIDE GOLF & C.C.

MARK WEITZ ALISAL GUEST RANCH

SECRETARY/TREASURER PAUL BARR SAN LUIS OBISPO C.C.

ROB LOMELI RIDGECREEK G.C.

JOSE ALVAREZ FORT WASHINGTON CC

MATT GRAVES BELKORP

Official Publication of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of Central California. The purpose of this publication is information and education for the membership.

Published bi-monthly by GCSACC, 3273 Richert, Clovis, CA 93619 Phone (559) 298-6262 Fax (559) 298-6957 Email gcsacc@aol.com Newsletter Chairman & Newsletter Editor Michael Scott, CGCS Executive Directors Irene Cline & Kimberly Milne

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Save The Dates April 15, 2019

October 21, 2019

Demonstration Day Tulare Golf Course Hosted by Brett Miller

Annual Lowell Stone Charity Event Belmont Country Club Hosted by Derek Stone

June 10, 2019 Al Glaze Memorial Scholarship & Research Tournament Bakersfield Country Club

August 5, 2019 Tri Chapter Meeting Hosted by the Central California Chapter Brookside Country Club Steve Showers Host Superintendent

December 7, 2019 Annual Holiday Event Windows on the Water

2020 January 2020 Annual Election Meeting Location to be confirmed

Turf Pro 2019 San Luis Obispo Seminars Morro Bay Golf Course 201 State Park Rd. Morro Bay, CA 93442 · April 10, 2019 · June 12, 2019 September 11, 2019 · November 13, 2019 Seminar Schedule 7:00–7:30 am Registration 7:30–12:30 pm Lecture 12:30– 1:30 pm Luncheon Served 1:30 pm Adjourn

Fresno Seminars Lonnie Stevens lstevens@wilburellis.com

559-210-4380

Copper River Country Club 2140 E. Clubhouse Dr. Fresno, CA 93730 · April 11, 2019 · June 13, 2019 · September 12, 2019 · November 14, 2019 Seminar Schedule 7:00–7:30 am Registration 7:30–12:30 pm Lecture 12:30– 1:30 pm Luncheon Served 1:30 pm Adjourn

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From the Field Jeff Jensen, GCSAA Field Staff, Southwest Region The 2019 Rounds 4 Research auction has been set for April 29 – May 5.

The auction raises funds for turfgrass research, education and advocacy.

Rounds of golf are solicited from local Jeff Jensen golf facilities for the auction with 80 percent of the funds raised in the auction going back to the participating chapter. The remaining 20 percent goes to the Environmental Institute for Golf (EIFG) to assist with the costs associated with running a national auction of this size.

Rounds can be donated at https:// www.eifg.org/research/rounds-4research/donate-a-round/online-form and facilities can set restrictions on days and times as well as the option of setting the opening bid. You can send in your own certificate for the donation or the

EIFG will create a certificate for you.

Rounds will be accepted through the end of the auction period on May 5. All donations can be viewed and bid on at https://www.biddingforgood.com/ auction/auctionhome.action? vhost=rounds4research. It’s also a great chance to bid on rounds from some golf courses throughout the country that you might otherwise not have the opportunity to play.

All facilities including municipal, daily fee, resort and private clubs are welcome to participate and raise funds for the chapter. GCSAA greatly appreciates your consideration in donating rounds to the program.

tices, Cutting Units, Drivetrains, Electrical Systems, Engine Technology, Hydraulic Systems, Metalworking, Spray Systems and Turfgrass Operations. The Level 2 exam consists of 73 questions and the cost is $80 for a GCSAA member.

In other news, GCSAA recently introduced the Turf Equipment Technician Certificate Program (TETPC) Level 2 for equipment managers. This certificate is earned by successfully passing one proctored exam which addresses the competency areas of: Administrative Management, Best Management Prac-

Thank you for your continued support and if I can be of any assistance please don’t hesitate to contact me at jjensen@gcsaa.org and visit my website at https://www.gcsaa.org/resources/regio nal-resources/secure/southwest for updates from around the region as well as a calendar of events.

Prerequisites for taking the Level 2 exam are passing all 8 exams of Level 1. Level 1 exams cost $40 per member. Study guides for the exams are available at an additional cost. For more information on the TETPC Program, visit https://www.gcsaa.org/education/certif ications-exams/turf-equipmenttechnician-certificate-program.

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Lowell Stone By Irene Cline

It is with great sadness that I report the sudden passing of Lowell Stone at his home in Madera California on Feb 8th, 2019. Lowell was such an integral part of the GCSA of Central California for some 56 year, and I find great difficulty in trying to capture everything that he meant to me and the chapter. Lowell was on the original board that hired me in 1995. I have so many memories of

this gentleman that I’m not even sure where to begin. He has influenced so many superintendents in the industry as both a mentor and friend.

The list would go on forever.

Lowell has been a Superintendent since 1963 when he began at Sunnyside Country Club. It should also be noted that Lowell was a part of the original group that started the Central Chapter of the GCSAA which incorporated in 1965. Lowell was always active in chapter politics.

Even after his retirement, Lowell still had an opinion and wasn’t afraid to let you know what he thought when it came to the chapter’s health and well-being.

Lowell’s first management job in golf was right after he got out of the Navy, he went to work for his brother Owen at Belmont Country Club as the assistant golf course superintendent. At Belmont, while it was the first job Lowell had held as

part of the maintenance crew, was not his first hire into the working world of golf, that was reserved for his time as a caddie at Stockdale Country Club when he was 8 or 9 years old.

Lowell remained at Sunnyside until 1979 when he had the opportunity to move to Bakersfield and take the superintendent position at Stockdale Country Club . He remained at Stockdale until 1992 when he moved to Madera Golf Course and became a city of Madera employee until the city decided to turn the course over to a management company and Lowell retired the first time. Then in 2000, Lowell joined Madera Country Club. He had three tours of duty at Madera Country Club between 2000 and today. Each time he left, he would get called back to help out. In addition, after his retirement he did a stint as a salesman for Ewing Irrigation until his 2nd retirement, and then he went back to consulting at Madera C.C. Lowell served as president of the GCSA Central Chapter for from 1972 – 1975 and then again some 20 years later in 1994 – 1997. Even when he wasn’t on the board he remained an active member. In 2004 Lowell presented an idea to the board of directors to hold a Charity Event every year. The funds raised in this charity would go to a charity the host club would select.

Lowell believed in giving (Continued on page 7)

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Lowell Stone Continued from page 5 back to the community. The board approved this idea and the GCSACC has been holding a charity event every year since. This tournament became known as the Lowell Stone Charity Event and has donated over $40,000 to various charities. This is pretty amazing considering our little chapter has never had more than 125 members.

Lowell seldom missed a meeting no matter where it was and he always, attended the holiday party along with his beautiful wife Jan. I had the opportunity to learn through previous interviews and articles a lot of interesting side notes to this man. When he was asked “What do you like to do when you’re not at work?” He replied, “When I’m not at work I love to read. He said he had a Kindle and must have had 50 or more books on it. Sure is easy, just order

up a book and give them your credit card and away you go.” He loved sports and his favorite team was the Giants. He could never say the San Francisco Giants because he told us that he fell in love with the Giatnts when they where the New York Giants and they had Willie Mays playing for them. “They won the World Series, then they moved to San Francisco” Lowell reflected on some of his favorite things. He loved sharing time with his crews and especially the crew at Madera CC when they were making his favorite, Carne Asada Tacos. I remember him telling me that one of his favorite parts of being a golf course superintendent was being outside, but even more, being at Madera Country Club and watching the back nine greens that were built by his dad in 1962. He remembered

helping with the construction and seeing them brought back great memories.

Lowell loved music. One of his favorite bands was Bob Wills; he would smile and say “Do you know who that is? How about Merle Haggard and the Strangers? Come to find out Lowell had played with Buck Owens in the days of the Cousin Herb Show in Bakersfield on channel 10. I understand he was quite talented.

Now that is some history. His favorite song is “Welcome to My World”

by Jim Reeves.

Lowell will be missed, not only by his family but so many people who had the honor and pleasure to know and work with him through the years. A celebration of life will be held at the Madera Elks Club on March 9th, at 12:00.

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2019 Election Meeting Alisal Guest Ranch

The new board of directors was elected in January at the Alisal meeting. Thank you to all that attended and supported the event. It was a beautiful day, a little windy but an excellent opportunity to have a lot of great conversations.

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2019 Golf Industry Show

2019 California Room

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