Ma rc h / A p ri l 2 0 1 0
FORE YOUR INFORMATION STEPHEN MCVEY,CGCS MORGAN CREEK C .C .
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
President’s Message
2
Meeting Schedule
3
Wilber’s News
4
California GCSA News
5
Government Relations
7
Dr. Wong Goes to Washington
8
Telegraphic Dynamics
12
Highlights from National
14
GrassRoots Highlights
15
Dates to Remember June 15, 2010 Sevillano Links July 12, 2010 Annual Scholarship and Research Tournament Woodbridge Golf & C.C.
Sierra Nevada GCSA An Affiliate Chapter of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America
BY SEAN O’BRIEN
Established in 2003, Morgan Creek Country Club was one of the later arrivals to the golf and housing boom in the Greater Sacramento area. Although a relatively young venue, Morgan Creek C.C. has earned a good reputation as a quality facility in our area and one that should be on everyone’s list to check out and experience for themselves. Stephen McVey, CGCS is a big reason for that reputation, having been there from the beginning to nurse the Club through those tentative break-in years and now into an established mem-
ber of the golfing community. This is no surprise though, given Steve’s prior experiences as the Assistant Superintendent for 6 years at the well-known Sherwood Country Club and moving up to Superintendent at the Virginia Country Club before settling here in our neck of the woods at Morgan Creek. Working isn’t the only thing Stephen does well on the golf course either, as he sports a very capable index of 6.1. Like many in this field Steve rose out of the ranks of the landscaping business. Describing his early ventures in land-
scape architecture as a “political clusterbomb,” he relished the opportunity to get out of the office and work outside where he really wanted to be. For the dedicated hard worker golf affords that chance. Having graduated with a BS in Ornamental Horticulture from Cal Poly Pomona in 1989, Steve had the necessary credentials to move into the golf side and pursue his new career path. Topping the long list of enjoyable aspects of his profession, Stephen cites the variety that comes with each new day and the great group of people (Continued on page 6)
A DEAR FRIEND HAS LEFT US. IN MEMORY
OF
JIM BIRCH
BY ADRIAN BERTENS Jim Birch, a member of the SNGCSA since 2008, had just checked in at his hotel in Haiti on January 12, 2010 when the quake hit. Jim had texted his wife Lisa and daughter “Miss Megan” as he used to call
her to let them know that he had arrived safely. It was the last communication they would ever have with their husband/father. Jim was born in Tacoma, Washington in 1959, earned a degree in Landscape Architecture
from the University of Arizona and was hired by Jack Nicklaus just 6 weeks after graduation. This was Jim’s start in the golf course construction business. Soon thereafter Jim found himself building golf courses for Jack in (Continued on page 10)