NovDec2019 TeeOff News

TeeOff News November/December 2019

2020 Annual Meeting Visalia Country Club Hosted by Glenn Matthews, CGCS

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President’s Message Andy Cordova I can't believe that this year is almost over. I feel like it was just yesterday that we were at Alisal having our election meeting, but that was January and now we are less Andy Cordova than a month away from our 2020 election meeting at Visalia Country Club. I guess that's why they say that time flies when you're having fun.

I trust that everyone has had a good holiday season so far and have plans to take some time to spend with family or at least away from work for Christmas.

Our association Christmas party was the first weekend of December and was one of the best attended in the past few year's. It was a good time to catch up with colleagues and their family and watch the boat parade that fortunately was not canceled this year. It

is always an enjoyable event at an excellent location.

you are what makes being a member of this Central California chapter fun.

And last but not least, my newsletter editor, my wife who takes the time to In the professional golf world, it is organize my jumbled and confusing usually a little slower time of the year writing to make sense to you, the but this year happened to be the year of reader. Thank you to all. the President's cup. Team USA looked like they were going to get throttled after half way through the first day but As mentioned before, our next meeting got some late help to at least keep will be at Visalia Country Club on things close. After day three, things January 13th and host Superintendent weren't looking good either but after a Glen Matthews, CGCS. The course very exciting day four the team will be in great shape and lets hope the brought the cup back the US. The weather holds out enough for us to at President's cup and the Ryder cup are least get in a round of golf. As always, two of my favorite events to watch I hope to see everyone there. especially when things are close, its just exciting golf.

As my presidential term comes to an end and this being my last president's message I would like to take the time to thank a few people. First of all, thank you to the board for making this process as easy as possible. Second, to Irene and Kim without you this association would not function. Third, to you the members of this association

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 2020 January 13, 2020 Annual Election Meeting Visalia Country Club Hosted by Glenn Matthews, CGCS

January 25-30, 2020 Golf Industry Show ORLANDO 2020 CONNECT. DISCOVER. ELEVATE California Room Blue Martini Lounge JANUARY 29,2019

March 2020 We are looking for a location for a spring educational event

June 21, 2020 Al Glaze Memorial Scholarship & Research Tournament Eagle Spring Golf & C.C. Hosted by Bob Brueggemann

August 24, 2020 Tri Chapter Event Hosted by the Sierra Nevada Chapter Del Rio Country Club Hosted Superintendent Dave Bermudez

September 2020 Step up and host an event Contact Irene Cline 559-298-6262

October 2020 Lowell Stone Charity Event Volunteer today.

December 5, 2020 Annual Holiday Event Windows on the Water Morro Bay

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2020 Annual Meeting Visalia Country Club It’s that time of year again when we have the opportunity to elect our new Board of Directors and review the associations progress and goals for the new year. This year we have Glenn Matthews, CGCS that will be taking the helm and helping us navigate the ever changing environment the golf industry is challenged with.

Glenn keeps his eye on the details through his involvement in the California GCSA Chapter and the BMP project they have been working on for several years. We look forward to his leadership in the coming year.

Paul Barr will be taking on the responsibility of Vice President and we

will be seeking to fill the Secretary Treasurer position at the election meeting.

We still need volunteers or nominations for board members and are asking the membership to please consider stepping up. This is an important job and you won’t be sorry you have taken over the responsibility.

For details on how to volunteer please call Irene or Kim at the association office and we will be happy to help.

We look forward to seeing everyone in Visalia on January 13, 2020. You will be treated to a great day on a beautiful course.

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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Dale Simpson, Santa Maria Country Club

By Glenn Matthews, CGCS

Careers in the golf industry can and do take us to places we never dreamed we would go. Meet Dale Simpson, current golf course superintendent at Santa Maria Country Club in Santa Maria.

Dale is a perfect example of someone who has heeded the call of a higher power and followed his dream of living near the coast. He grew up in Lubbock, Texas where he attended and graduated from Texas Tech University and studied Restaurant, Hotel, and Institutional Management. That educational background doesn’t exactly scream golf, but a few years after getting his BS at Texas Tech he earned an associate’s degree in Applied Sciences in Golf Course Operations form Western Texas College.

While studying golf operations he got his first golf job at Pine

Valley Golf Course in Lubbock where he worked as an assistant superintendent for three years before going to work for Club Corp at Canyon Gate Country Club in Las Vegas, NV as an assistant superintendent. A year after moving to Las Vegas Dale was offered his first superintendent position at Crow Canyon Country Club, another Club Corp property, in Danville, CA. He spent the next 17 years at Crow maintaining the grounds of that busy 18-hole club, which prepared him well for his current position at Santa Maria Country Club.

While working in the East Bay, Dale met his wife of four years, Suzanne. Together they have built a life with a blended family of 3 adult children and two family dogs. Suzanne has two children, Haley, 29, and Scott, 26. Dale has Austin, 23.

The family dogs, which also work chasing geese at the club, are Pulis named Izabelle and Coconut.

The decision for Dale and Suzanne to come to the Central Coast came after years of fighting traffic and congestion in the East Bay. They both essentially quit their jobs to build a more balanced life. For Dale that meant taking an assistant superintendent position at Blacklake Golf Course in Nipomo where he worked closely with Mike Scott, CGCS for almost a year.

When the position at Santa Maria CC came open Dale was right where he needed to be. He has been in his current position for a short period of time, just over 7 months, and has already developed solid working relationships with neighbors like Mark Weitz, Andy Cordova, and Herminio Plata. Key vendor relationships with the likes of Mike Cline, Lonnie Stevens, Scott Furtak, and Mike Farmen have helped make Dale’s transition to the coast a smooth one.

Look for Dale at an upcoming event and introduce yourself.

He’s an avid golfer, great superintendent, and an all-around awesome guy!

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GCSAA on pace to reach goal of having Best Management Practices Guides published in all 50 states by 2020 California one of 32 states to currently have published a guide by Jeff Jensen In 2015, GCSAA received financial assistance from the USGA to develop a planning guide and template that would allow for the development of Best Management Practices (BMPs) at the state level.

Our goal was to develop the template in an online, digital format and have guides published in all 50 states by the end of 2020. What seemed like an insurmountable task four years ago is close to becoming a reality. As of December 2019, 32 states have published their guides including California.

(Continued on page 7)

Jeff Jensen

Jeff Jensen serves as the Southwest field staff representative for the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America covering Arizona, California, Hawaii and Nevada. Follow him on Twitter @GCSAA_SW or visit the Southwest region webpage at http://www.gcsaa.org/communi ty/regions/southwest/.

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GCSAA on pace to reach goal of having Best Management Practices Continued from Page 6

The remaining 18 states will be completed in the upcoming year providing golf facilities and the industry the opportunity to demonstrate their sustainability efforts and professional land management activities.

These guides will assist in providing the following: A facility BMP manual documents the knowledge, skills, and aptitude that are required for the superintendent and other golf course maintenance staff.

A facility BMP manual provides documentation, justification and similar support for operational and project budgets, projects, maintenance practices, staff, etc. It can be used with management, greens committees, the public, etc.

The manual should be maintained and if possible, in conjunction

with any water quality monitoring, nutrient management and pest management records to document the professional land management practices on your course. This is important for when watershed groups, regulators, media, public, etc. inquire, suggest improper management, or similar circumstances that indicate the golf course is a source of pollution or is improperly managed. It is important to remember that regardless of any regulatory threat, risk management elements, etc. that all superintendents should work to improve the image of golf course management and their profession.

Help to support the golf course management industry on the local, state, regional and national levels. GCSAA is investing significant resources on behalf of the

industry to support and keep the tools (land, water and inputs) that superintendents rely upon for success.

For more information on the BMPs or to download the California BMP and adopt it for your facility, visit https:// www.gcsaa.org/environment/bmpplanning-guide. To view the California guide in a PDF format, visit https:// www.gcsaa.org/docs/default-source/ environment/california-golf-industrybmp-guide.pdf.

GCSAA thanks the California BMP Committee for completing the state guide and we hope that all superintendents reading this will consider adopting it and customizing it to your facility and specific agronomic region.

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2019 Holiday Event Highlights Pictured below is Glenn Matthews, CGCS and his wife MacKenzie.

Pictured at above is Associaiton President Andy Cordova and his wife Sarah.

Pictured below is Bill Galli with his wife Adele.

Pictured above is Dale Simpson with his wife Suzanne

The boat parade was great and is always a special addition to a very fun and relaxing evening.

Pictured below is Association Manager Kim Milne with her husband Taylor

Pictured above is Matt Pearse with his wife Roxie. Pictured at left is Steve Showers and his wife Carol.

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2019 Holiday Event Highlights So much went on at the event it was hard to get it all. We snapped a few shots of some of the fun. At right Bill Galli shows off his fancy Tommy Bahama Xmas shirt. Below the group has their annual toast and below on the right the Cordovas and the Milnes were caught taking a selfy. Thank you to our sponsors for helping make this a memorable event for everyone attending

Wilbur Ellis Co.

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