SeptemberOctober 2019 Issue

TeeOff News September/October 2019

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President’s Message Andy Cordova Summer heat has finally made its way to the coast.

As I sit down to write this presidents message it has been over 85 degrees here on the central coast for the Andy Cordova past few days and I am about to melt. We are finally getting our payback for a very mild summer and, for our sake, let's just hope that it doesn't last too long.

hope everyone gets a chance to get away and spend time with your family.

Our chapter's yearly holiday party in Morro Bay on December 7th is a great way to do that. It's good food, good company and a good time of the year to spend a night or two in Morro Bay. The lighted boat parade we get to see is just a bonus feature.

tical about when they first put them in, but they seem to have worked out really well. I would like to thank all of our sponsors for the event who generously donated in support of our chapter and the cause, The “Fresno Poverello House”. We really appreciate it. Irene and Kim again put in a great deal of work to make the event (and all of our events) come together and run so On the national level, one of our own members will be running for a smoothly. We are very grateful and director's position this upcoming year. appreciative of all of the hard work they put in to not only each and every Glenn Matthews, CGCS has thrown event but to our association. his hat into the ring to be on the GCSAA National board. He has been I hope everyone has a good very involved in not only our chapter, holiday season and I look forward to but the state chapter as well and will be seeing everyone at the Holiday Party in Regardless of the warmer and excellent candidate to represent Morro Bay on December 7th. weather, fall is still my favorite time of our chapter on the national level. the year. The fog goes away, the sun Good luck Glenn! comes out, the wind calms down, and We wrapped up this year's it usually is perfect golf weather on the tournaments with the Lowell Stone coast. Even though golf on TV isn't as Charity event at Belmont Country exciting to watch, football is in full Club which was hosted by superintenswing and baseball playoffs are in the dent Derek Stone. The weather couldthick of things. n't have been better and Derek had the Before we know it, things on course in amazing shape. He has those the golf course will start slowing down Bermuda greens in great shape, which and the holidays will be upon us. I I have to admit that I was a little skep-

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 2019 December 7, 2019 Annual Holiday Event Windows on the Water Information to follow

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

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

Turf Pro 2019 San Luis Obispo Seminars Morro Bay Golf Course 201 State Park Rd. Morro Bay, CA 93442 · · 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

Turf Pro 2019 Fresno Seminars Copper River Country Club 2140 E. Clubhouse Dr. Fresno, CA 93730 · November 14, 2019 Seminar Schedule 7:00–7:30 am Registration 7:30–12:30 pm Lecture 1 2:30–1:30 pm Luncheon Served 1:30 pm Adjourn

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Glenn Matthews, CGCS 2020 GCSAA Candidate Glenn in his run for the 2020 GCSAA Board of Directors.

Candidate Statement There is essentially one reason I am seeking the position of Director on the GCSAA board, to serve its membership. My decision for pursuing election to the board does not come lightly, but in fact the decision has been thoroughly weighed by myself, family, and my employer. Together, we came to the conclusion that now is an ideal time It is with great pleasure that for me to run for election to the board we announce that our very own Glenn and serve. My years of service at the Matthews, CGCS, is seeking a position chapter level have developed my leadon the GCSAA National Board of Di- ership skills and prepared me to serve rectors. We are proud to support at the next level.

My love for golf started at the age of 10 when I was introduced to the game by my uncle. My passion for the game grew with me through high school and into my early 20’s. In 1994, I was hired as a greens keeper at Singing Hills Resort in San Diego. It was a turning point in my life and the start of my golf maintenance career. At the time my mother urged me to go to college and find a “real” job as she was adamant I could not spend the rest of my life working at a golf course. I listened to her, in that I went back to school, but realized my passion was to work in the golf industry. As I worked my way through school and the early (Continued on page 5)

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Glenn Matthews, CGCS part of my career I was introduced to the GCSAA and earned several scholarships through local chapters in California. The generosity of local chapters, the lead-ers who helped me along the way, and the network I developed over the past 25 years have left a lasting impression on me.

The support from the local chapters has been an invaluable resource and I feel indebted to them.

My service began as an officer and past president for the GCSAA student chapter at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. I am proud to be a past president of the Northern California GCSA and currently serve as Vice President for the Central California GCSA and Secretary/Treasurer for the California GCSA. My immediate goals include furthering the mission of GCSAA, educating others about the benefits of its programs, contributing to GCSAA growth, and learning from the top level leadership currently serving on the board and at GCSAA headquarters.

It is my desire to serve superintendents, chapters, and the industry which has given so much to me. I seek your support as I continue my leadership journey. If elected to the board I promise to bring a positive and supportive attitude, a passion for learning, a motivation to get work done on behalf of our members, a will to keep superintendents relevant, and a voice to initiate positive change throughout the organization.

Sincerely,

Glenn Matthews, CGCS

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2019 Charity Golf Tournament Belmont Country Club Host Superintendent Derek Stone

By Michael Cline The 2019 Lowell Stone Memorial Golf Tournament was held at Belmont Country Club on October 21, 2019. SuDerek Stone perintendent Derek Stone hosted this annual event. If the name sounds familiar to you, it should, Derek comes from a family with roots that run deep in the history of San Joaquin Valley’s golf industry.

The family tree for Derek starts with his Great Grandfather Cleve Stone, a long-time superintendent in the San Joaquin Valley. His Grandfather was Owen Stone, often called “Stoney” by his friends and associates at any number of courses.

San Joaquin Country Club was his longest lasting association. Derek’s father, Rick Stone who had a long and distinguished tenure as Superintendent at Fort Washington, Rio Bravo, and Sunnyside Country Club’s during his career. It’s no surprise that Derek would end up in the business like his family before him.

It didn’t come easy for Derek, however, as he had to work his way through the industry to earn the position that he has today. As a teenager growing up in Bakersfield, California on the grounds of Rio Bravo Country Club, Derek wanted to be a professional golfer, maybe even spend a little time on tour.

That dream remained in place until Rick took the job at Sunnyside

Country Club and moved the family back to Fresno. It was about this time that Derek decided that maybe being a golf pro was not what he wanted to do. He hadn’t put the time in to progress as a golfer and to be truthful, Derek liked team sports much more that the lone wolf mentality it takes to be a golf professional, so he longed for a career where he would be part of a team.

Derek started working at Sunnyside Country Club in 2000 with jobs that included the pro shop, cart barn, and driving range, doing whatever needed to be done. That lasted until 2001 when Rick asked Derek if he’d like to work on the grounds crew. Derek did about eve(Continued on page 7)

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Derek Stone Continued from Page 6 rything there was to do on the crew until 2003 when he moved up to the position of assistant superintendent.

Derek remained in that position until 2008 when he was asked to move to San Joaquin Country Club by Superintendent Kevin Wiles. He would serve as the assistant there until 2015, even spending about 9 months as the interim Superintendent before leaving to join Craig Johnson as the Belmont Country Club Assistant Superintendent. Then in 2017, Sierra Golf Management signed a contract to run Belmont and Derek was elevated to the Superintendent position.

In August of 2017, Derek and the crew at Sierra Golf Management began the transformation of Belmont’s Bent/Poa greens to Ultra Dwarf Champion Bermuda. This is

the same putting surface that they have at Pinehurst #2, the US open course of legendary fame. For those of you playing in this year’s charity tournament, you will be putting on one of the few all Bermuda courses in the San Joaquin Valley and you will be in for a treat.

Some of the unique management techniques that had to be learned on the job are many. Initially Derek was watering the greens virtually every day which only led to problems from one of the few diseases that Bermuda gets, Bermuda Grass Decline. Now that they have a better handle on the irrigation, every 3 days, and the proper use of fungicides, they have been virtually bullet -proof. They do aerify once a year in July but they groom constantly to remove thatch. We weren’t sure

what height Derek was going to be cutting them at for our October event, but he can go down to 100/1000th of an inch plus put a little roller action to get some great green speeds.

Belmont Country Club has selected the Poverello House as their charity, so we hope you all take the time to attend our Charity event and support the GCSACC and Belmont Country Club.

We hope you had the opportunity to meet Derek during the event but if not be sure to go by the course and get to know this outstanding member of our chapter.

Just like his Uncle Lowell, Derek is a great communicator and I know he will be an outstanding Superintendent for years to come.

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From the Field Jeff Jensen, GCSAA Field Staff, Southwest Region It’s hard to believe that the 2020 Golf Industry Show (GIS) and GCSAA Golf Championships are right around Jeff Jensen the corner. This year’s show and golf has been moved up a week and will take place Jan. 25-30, 2020 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL.

$185 respectively.

Orlando sets the high-water mark for GIS attendance and 2020 will be no different with more than 13,000 attendees and over 550 vendors expected to participate. Education tracks featuring nearly 90 seminars will be offered along with numerous free sessions on the trade show floor. Seminars are available in 1.5-hour, 1.75-hour, half-day and full-day sessions. Seminar costs for members are $75, $85, $140 and

Housing and early registration for GCSAA members opened on Oct. 15. Early registration (thru Jan. 8) price for members is $500 and registration is available at http://www.golfindustryshow.com/.

In addition to the trade show on Jan. 29-30, other show related events to put on your calendar include the Opening Reception on Jan.28, Grassroots Ambassador Academy, Opening Session on Jan. 29, Ladies in Turf Networking Social, Collegiate Turf Bowl, Health in Action 5K, GCSAA Annual Meeting (now at 9:00 a.m. on Jan. 30) and the always popular Closing Celebration with live entertainment on Jan. 30.

The GCSAA Golf Championships will take place Jan. 25-27 at three Orlando area facilities including ChampionsGate, RitzCarlton Grande Lakes and Shingle Creek Golf Club. The event fea-

tures the National Championship, Golf Classic, Four-Ball and Scramble.

The National Championship (open to the first 100 superintendents with a handicap index of 5.0 and below) and the Golf Classic (flighted by handicap, using a point quota scoring system) are $475 per player before Dec. 21 ($575 for affiliates participating in the Golf Classic). Entry fee for the Four-Ball and Scramble are $200 per player before Dec. 21 ($300 for affiliates).

Tournament entry includes green fees, cart, range balls, tee prizes, drink tickets, on course contests, awards, Welcome Reception and 19th Hole receptions following each day of play.

The GCSAA Golf Championships represent one of the world’s largest amateur golf events (450 plus players) and spots fill up quickly, so register now at http://www.golfindustryshow.com/ gcsaa-golfchampionships/registrationinformation We hope to see all of you in Orlando and If you have any questions or need anything to make your GIS experience more beneficial, please contact me at jjensen@gcsaa.org and don’t forget to follow me on Twitter @GCSAA_SW for daily industry updates.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS Dale Simpson Class A Santa Maria C.C.

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2019 Charity Event Belmont Country Club

Pictured above is Richard Tompkins head professional at Belmont with Glenn Matthews, CGCS and Derek Stone Host Superintendent

Above is Andy Cordova, Michael Scott, CGCS, Mike Cline, and Steven Showers.

Turf Star Team, Kevin Eppich, Alex Barbecia, Kevin Wiles, & Brett Miller

Winners again this year was the team of Tom Johnson, Mike Heines, Mark Gardner, & Randy Craven. All proceeds will be sent to the Fresno Poverello House

The players were treated to “Street Tacos� Provided

by Turf Star and which were served by Association Manager Kimberly Milne and Irene Cline. A huge THANK YOU to BelKorp for providing the beverages on the course.