Tee Off News March/April 2018
Hunter Ranch Golf Course May 15, 2018 Hosted by Jason Pautsch
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President’s Message Andy Cordova To start this president’s message, I would like to offer my deepest condolences to Tom, Liz, and Madison Elliott for the loss of their son and brother, Zach Elliott, who passed away sudAndy Cordova denly in March. We can only imagine what they are going through and will continue to support them in any way possible through this time of great sorrow.
they are doing. We grow with these family members over the years and it is this family bond that makes a tragedy like Zach's even more difficult. I know many of you have shown your support for Tom and his family and I am sure it was greatly appreciated.
round of the Masters. He is definitely not golf's most popular guy but he is pretty darn good and now a Masters champion.
Speaking of golfing, while we may not quite be PGA caliber players, our next chapter event will be May 16th On a lighter note, I hope eve- hosted by Jason Pautsch at Hunter ryone had a chance to watch the Mas- Ranch Golf Course. I know many of ters this year because it was quite a you have played out at Hunter Ranch finish. Although it was great tournabefore, but if you have not it is a great ment, the end was a little anti-climactic track and Jason always keeps that because of the winner, Patrick Reed. course in phenomenal shape. It will be You could tell by the spectators’ reac- nice to see how his sprigged Bermuda tions, not only on the 18th green when from a few years back is progressing. he sunk the last putt, but throughout For the educational part of the event, the final round, that he definitely was Ken Mauser from Aquatrols will be A few years ago I wrote an not the crowd favorite to win. From giving a presentation on ISTRIC. article for the newsletter about how I his college days to his first few years Whether you have heard this presentafelt that our GCSAA chapter was like on the PGA, he has had a checkered tion before or not, it is very informafamily. We know each other, not just past and has teetered along the arrotive and everyone will be able to learn professionally, but also on a more per- gant/confident line. Despite his hissomething new. So come join us out at sonal level. We call each other not just tory, he was dubbed Captain America Hunter Ranch for a little education, to check on the golf course or talk and the hero in the last Ryder Cup. It some quality golf, and a lot of catching about turf problems, but also to ask is funny to me that golf fans can enthu- up with friends and colleagues. Thank how the family is doing. Even though siastically cheer for him as he comyou all and I look forward to seeing these calls might digress into shop talk, peted one-on-one against Rory McIlyou there. we still care about one another beyond roy during the Ryder Cup, but then the golf course. We know each other’s give him such a cool reception and family and whether we have met them openly cheer for McIlroy when they or not, we know their names and what are paired together during the final
2018 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.
SECRETARY/TREASURER PAUL BARR SAN LUIS OBISPO C.C. KEVIN WILES RIVERSIDE GOLF COURSE
MATT NOWLEN LAGUNA LAKES G. C.
ERIK SMITH TARGET CHEMICAL
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 Mike Cline Executive Directors Irene Cline & Kimberly Milne
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Save The Dates 2018
November 5, 2018
May 15, 2018 Hunter Ranch G.C. Hosted by Jason Pautsch
July 16, 2018 Al Glaze Memorial Scholarship & Research Tournament San Luis Obispo Country Club Hosted by Paul Barr
August 21, 2018 Tri Chapter Tournament Cinnabar Golf Club Hosted by the NorCal Chapter
September 17, 2018 Morro Bay Golf Course Hosted by Albert Nunes
Lowell Stone Charity Tournament Fort Washington C.C. Hosted by Jose Alvarez
December 1, 2018 Annual Holiday Event Windows on the Water Morro Bay, CA
2019 January Winter Conference & Annual Election Meeting Location to be determined
February 2-7, 2019 San Diego Convention Center California Room Feb 6th Location to be confirmed
2018 Turf Pro Professional Update Series Seminars San Luis Obispo
Fresno
Morro Bay Golf Course
Copper River Country Club
201 State Park Rd.
2140 E. Clubhouse Dr.
Morro Bay, CA
93442
Fresno, CA
93710
June 13, 2018
June 14, 2018
September 5, 2018
September 6, 2018
November 7, 2018
November 8, 2018
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DONATIONS NEEDED The California GCSA BMP committee has completed the negotiated contract with the third party consultant Mike Blankenship & Associates The committee which is being headed up by Josh Heptig, Golf Superintendent for SLO County., will be holding a meeting on May 4, 2018 to kick off the planning for the news California BMP’s and will be discussing how they will be implemented and when they will be available for our California GCSA members and clubs. The hope still is to have the BMP Template available to all California Chapter Members in late 2018. This process is being funded
by the California GCSA which has been doing fund raising efforts for the last 4 years. All net proceeds of the California Room have been set aside to put toward the BMP Program along with a grant from the GCSAA. These fund raising efforts will continue into 2019 and beyond if necessary to enable the process to be completed. In addition to our efforts we have received two grants from the GCSAA to help with out efforts. If you have questions please feel free to contact any of the California GCSA officers or our chapter representatives to the CGCSA Board Glenn Matthews, CGCS or Tennessee McBroom.
We are looking for donations to our annual auction that will be held at the Scholarship Research Tournament on July 15, 2018 at SLO Country Club You can contact Irene or Kim at the association office to make your donation or Click below on additional opportunities to help support this event. Al Glaze Memorial Scholarship & Research Tournament
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From the Field Jeff Jensen, GCSAA Field Staff, Southwest Region Is your facility looking for a community service project that promotes the turf industry, develops future golfers and future employees while providing Jeff Jensen some positive media coverage? Is so, The First Green might be for you. The First Green is an innovative education outreach program using golf courses as hands-on environmental learning labs. First Green has worked with golf course superintendents for over 20 years and is now under the umbrella of GCSAA through our philanthropic organization the Environmental Institute for Golf (EIFG).
The premise of the program is simple: Superintendents host a class of students on field trips where they have the opportunity to see first-hand what the golf industry is all about. Water conservation, water quality, soil tests, plant identification, wildlife habitat, equipment demonstrations, landscaping and the opportunity to hit balls at the practice range or putt on the putting green are just a few of the hundreds of activities that can be implemented at a First Green Field Day. The program has traditionally been for grade school age children ranging from 3rd to 8th grade. With GCSAA now overseeing the program, we will be instituting additional materials for high school students so we can better promote the turf industry as a potential ca-
reer. Typical class size for a field trip is 25 students and trips are approximately 90 minutes in length. It is the responsibility of the superintendent to find a local school to arrange the field trip with. Most of us know a teacher, maybe are married to one or know somebody who can assist in setting up a trip. Once you get it set-up with the school (through personal experience it is easier to work with a private or charter school), ask a few local superintendents to help you out as well as your golf professional or general manager. The day can serve as a great teambuilding exercise for your staff as well. More information including curriculum examples, videos, and hosting tips are available at (Continued on page 9)
Golf Course Materials Topdressing Sand - Bunker Sand Decomposed Granite - Drain Rock 1/8� Minus Turf & Tee Bulk Humus Brush Removal Call for competitive rates
David Knott, Inc. (559) 449-8935 or (559) 760-5387
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Newsletter Title
Around The Green By Mike Cline It has been a couple of years since I’ve written an “Around the Green” article, so I hope I’ve not forgotten how it’s done. Thank you to all the Affiliate Board members who picked up the slack in my absence and especially to Irene Cline who is most responsible for keeping this article alive and going. A couple of new superintendents moving into the chapter in recent months. Mike Snyder has taken over the reins of Dragon Fly Golf Course after Kevin Wiles moved over to Riverside Golf Course. Mike comes to us from Southern California and I will give you a more through introduction of Mike in the future. San Joaquin Country Club
has hired a new superintendent, Dario Olivares, also a Southern California transplant. Dario has only been on board for only a few weeks and comes to the property which has been in the hands of former San Joaquin CC Superintendent Eric Lewellen who is studying for the Ministry but agreed to come back on a part-time scenario until the club decided on a full-time replacement. Dario replaces Lonnie Stevens who joined the Wilbur-Ellis Company in sales after his departure from San Joaquin CC. For those of you who don’t know the Links at Paso Robles, the owner is Tom Erskine, a property developer, real estate, and businessman from the Paso Robles area. Since Tom has taken over, they have planted multiple acres of wine grapes between the holes, plans are in the works for a large motorhome parks with pickle ball courts, pool, and all the amenities that the motorhome crowd loves. He also brought in long time superintendent, Joe Tompkins to keep the place at a high level of playability. Andy Heinze, former assistantsuperintendent at
Seven Oaks Country Club has moved over to Rio Bravo Country Club as the Superintendent. Andy has multiple years in the Bakersfield area and should not have any trouble coping with the Kern County summers. The City of Lindsay is shutting down their golf course after more than 50 years. The 9-hole, par 3 course was opened in 1963. Finally, when you see Glenn Matthews, Visalia Country Club, ask him about his major “Tee” remodeling program. They have stripped, releveled, and in some cases expanded the surface of over half the “Tees” on the course. Since this was all done in house, the cost to the membership was virtually nothing but the results have been and will be a huge improvement. If you see anything you think the Chapter Membership might like to know about, drop me a line and I
will be sure to get it in the newsletter. You can reach me at mcline@wilburellis.com. Have a great Spring and I will see you around the green.
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Hunter Ranch Golf Course Hosts May Event tions on California's Central Coast. According to some golf writers, the greens putt fast and smooth, and pristine fairways lined with century-old oak trees, Jason Pautsch natural lakes, and native grasses are awesome. The location is one of the Superintendent Jason Pautsch highest point in Paso Robles, and the staff at Hunter Ranch GC have so the view includes some of San Luis Obispo County's once again stepped up to host a finest vineyards, rolling GCSACC meeting. Jason has served as the superintendent at Hunter Ranch wooded hills‌and no Golf Course for over 15 years. He has homes. hosted several of our meetings and it is They pride themstill one of the most popular locations selves on small town charm for our membership thanks to Jason’s and world class golf. Rated hard work. This beautiful 18-hole four and a half stars (out of course boasts some of the best condi- five) by Golf Digest, Hunter
Ranch Golf Course is Paso Robles' hidden gem. Please be sure to join us for some great education featuring Ken Mauser, Aquatrols, who will be speaking on ISTRIC. We have been approved for PDI Educational Points through the GCSAA for his talk. We look forward to seeing everyone there.
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Governmental Updates Water – AB 1668 Revisited – Local Control Assembly Bill 1668, introduced in 2017 along with a companion in the Senate, would require the State Water Resources Control Board, in coordination with the Department of Water Resources, to adopt long-term standards for the efficient use of water, as provided, and performance measures for commercial, industrial, and institutional water use on or before June 30, 2021. The bill would require the department, in coordination with the board, to conduct necessary studies and investigations and make recommendations, no later than October 1, 2020, for purposes of these standards and performance measures. The bill, until January 1, 2025, would establish 55 gallons per capita daily as the standard for indoor residential water use, beginning January 1, 2025, would establish 52.5 gallons per capita daily as the standard for indoor residential water use, and beginning January 1, 2030, would establish 50 gallons per capita daily as the standard for indoor residential water use. The bill would require the department, in coordination with the board, to conduct necessary studies and investigations to jointly recommend to the Legislature a standard for indoor residential water use that more appropriately reflects best practices. The bill would impose civil liability for a violation of an order or regulation issued pursuant to these provisions, as specified.
CRAIG KESSLER l Director, Governmental Affairs, SCGA
I have written about this bill previously; however, I did so in the context of making everyone aware of its implications for outdoor irrigation, something that has come to pass with this year’s amended Senate version (see below). I write about the bill to share another aspect of it. It foundered last year, because ACWA, the advocacy organization for the state’s local/regional water providers, feared it represented another Sacramento grab of authority that ought properly be theirs, given the nuanced nature of local water supply. It reminded them of the one-size-fits all structure of the emergency conservation measures taken by SWRCB at the height of the drought. However, this year Senate companion bill SB 606 (Hertzberg; D-Van Nuys) has inverted the structure – going “bottom up instead of top down” in the words of author Bob Hertzberg. This year’s version would set a single statewide standard target for local districts to meet – 55 gallons a day per person, gradually declining to 50 gallons by 2030. For outdoor use the targets would be set by the state in consultation with the local districts. DWR would set targets for each district based upon data supplied by the district on climate, landscape sizes, available water supplies and miscellaneous factors deemed relevant by the local water agency. Agencies that have broadened their supply portfolio
through recycling, desalination, recharge, capture, etc., would have greater leeway to use their water even in dry conditions. Its prospects for passage have heightened considerably, and that’s why it along with SB 2371 (MWELO) are the two bills the California golf industry are tracking most closely this session. There are others we’re tracking, and SCGA Manager of Governmental Affairs Kevin Fitzgerald will be reporting about them in next week’s SCGA Governmental Affairs Committee Report. Local control is as much if not more a passion for ACWA than it is for the California golf industry. Those rather innocuous common sense prescriptions SWRCB had adopted during the drought emergency and planned to make permanent have also foundered on the issue. No one takes issue with their substance, but ACWA took great issue with predicating them upon vague language in the California Constitution that reposes in the state the authority to regulate waste and unreasonable uses of water. Those familiar with the history of phrases such as “necessary and proper,” “general welfare,” and “regulation of commerce” will understand why. Once so predicated, the grant of authority is almost limitless and thus corrosive of local control. (Continued on page 9)
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from page 8)
Community Golf Caucus (formerly known as the municipal golf caucus) The Caucus formerly known as the Municipal Golf Caucus spent 2017 engaged mostly discussing the issues facing the publicly owned golf sector. After a robust year of talking the Caucus resolved to start acting when it conducted its inaugural meeting of 2018 a few weeks ago. Among the things it resolved to do as a group were the following:
Invite persons from the major companies that manage “community” golf courses to join the Caucus; Act as the repository of the positive stories that characterize community/municipal golf for the purposes of aggregating, cataloging and disseminating them in an effort to change the way in which non-golfers and nongolfing communities view the game, particularly policy-makers, officeholders, and media; Begin to use the term, “community,” to describe what have traditionally been called “municipal” golf courses in an effort to emphasize the parkland nature of them as part of a rebranding campaign that refocuses attention on the values “community” or publicly owned golf courses bring to the communities in which they are located over and above mere commerce; To have a few of the members participate in National Golf Day in Washington D.C. April 25 to give municipal golf in general and Southern California municipal golf in particular presence at this first National Golf Day that plans to include major municipal golf presence in the Capitol and the Congres-
sional Offices that labor therein; and Get all of the above up and running by the time the Caucus convenes again in June. Resolutions are great, but they only get “resolved” if specific persons or organizations are assigned the responsibility of executing them. With respect to inviting persons from major companies to join the Caucus by the June meeting, a committee composed of municipal managers that oversee contracted-out systems will make that determination; they know which among them can bring real value to our common effort. With respect to acting as a repository of the positive stories the sector needs to begin collecting and disseminating, the SCGA will undertake the responsibility – precisely how we have already begun to discuss internally and will share in the coming weeks. As for the rebranding benefits of using the descriptor, “community,” in lieu of the more traditional, “municipal,” that’s just something we all need to begin just doing and keep doing until it catches fire. Re National Golf Day, Michael Lautenbach (Anaheim), new SCGA Manager of Governmental Affairs Kevin Fitzgerald and I are definitely attending, and I am hopeful that we will not be alone. I do know that Steve Mona of We are Golf has been working with the Billy Casper Company and others to corral municipal managers from other parts of the country.
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From The Field Continued from page 4
www.thefirstgreen.org. Curriculum for high school age students will be available later this summer after the transition to GCSAA/EIFG is complete. I am involved in several of these trips each year in Arizona and California and they are a great way to promote the game, the profession and environmental sustainability to our local communities. If you have any questions regarding First Green or if I can assist you with any other GCSAA related matters, please email me at jjensen@gcsaa.org. Last, but not least, please support your local chapter events this summer. Your Board of Directors and Chapter Executive Irene Cline are working hard on your behalf to provide quality education, venues and golf and they deserve your support. .