NTGCSA Chapter Connect June 2016

Summer 2016

EAST WINS BULLY CUP XX All time series TIED 10—10 A great day at Rolling Hills

A busy spring in North Texas!

Volume 24 Issue 2 Kyle Moore Crowned Champ!

President’s Message It’s such a great time to be in North Texas. We have the unique opportunity of having two prestigious PGA events in consecutive weeks, right in our own back yard. What an amazing display of skill and precision we witnessed the past couple of weeks with the Byron Nelson and the Dean and Deluca Invitational. Sergio Garcia and Jordan Spieth played well too! Of course I am speaking of the great conditions that Scott Abernathy at TPC Four Seasons and Scott Ebers at Colonial and their staffs provided for the entire world to see and enjoy. It’s an amazing feat to see the planning and execution needed to provide the most challenging conditions for the world’s best golfers. Both Mr. Abernathy and Mr. Ebers represented North Texas extremely well.

After another extremely wet May, it looks like summer is finally on its way. It’s crazy that we had over 10 inches of rain a week ago and chasing hot spots less than five days later. Such is life in North Texas. Aside from the rain, it has been a great year for the association. We’ve had tremendous education opportunities and several memorable golf events. In the Bully Cup at Rolling Hills Country Club, Kyle Moore and his staff

set the stage for an overwhelmingly, triumphant victory by the East over the down trodden West. We had an absolutely amazing day of golf at Hackberry Creek Country Club provided by Michael Shelton and his crew.

The Stephen Best Memorial Pro/Superintendent Tournament at Sky Creek Ranch was a success, thanks to Bryan Tupa and his staff. The first round of the Turf Care of Texas Match play event is coming to a close. It looks like there have been several great matches so far, setting up tremendous closing months and finale.

I enjoyed seeing everyone at the Harrell’s sponsored, Chapter Championship at the always impressive, Texas Star Golf Club. Scott Boven and his staff had the course in tip top condition. Congratulations to new Ace January Superintendent Champion, Kyle Moore and Affiliate Champion Chuck McCaskill. Great playing guys.

On behalf of the board, I would like to thank our sponsors and member for their commitment to our association and their dedication to making our industry better.

Sincerely, Kevin Redburn North Texas GCSA President

About Us

North Texas Golf Course Superintendents Association Board of Directors

Network with your peers!

Join us at: Ntgcsa.org and

President: Kevin Redburn redburnk@aol.com Vice President: Mike Epps mepps@miravistacountryclub.com Secretary / Treasurer: Kirt Phillips kirt@dallascountryclub.org

Past President: Kevin Carpenter kcarpenter@northwoodclub.org Superintendent Directors Kyle Embry

embry.kyle@gmail.com

Willie Wallace Sterling Naron

wwallace@dentoncc.org sterling@hawkscreek.com

Joe Todaro

joe.todaro@tstc.edu

Bryan Brown bryan.brown@lkpoa.org

Vendor Directors Aaron Fox Jim Newkirk

afox@textron.com

jim.newkirk@austinturf.com

Chapter Executive Carol Cloud ntgcsa@gmail.com 817-377-4552 800-277-6449 5552 Plata Ln., Benbrook, TX 76126

Stay Cool Members!

Click logo above for details and to RSVP

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Chapter Leadership Symposium, March 29-30 - Mike Epps Carol Cloud and I attended the leadership symposium at GCSAA headquarters in Lawrence Kansas. I found it to be very informative and motivating.

The main focus was on helping upcoming leaders of local chapters, to become familiar with how to help engage your members, how GCSAA can help, and the latest programs from GCSAA. During the event the majority of the GCSAA Staff was introduced to us.

Steve Randall, Director of Chapter Outreach was the main moderator of the event. They want to make sure the chapters know that they are here to help and field staff like Brain Cloud are a great resource for us. Chapters representing a large portion of the USA and even Canada were in attendance.

Several topics were discussed at this event. The Grass Roots Ambassador Program is something we need to be a part of, it is important for industry and can be very educational for the superintendent. The best way to understand it is to go to GCSAA web site and read about it. The EIFG is and has been a very big part of golf/turf grass research. We need to try to do more with rounds for research to help this effort. During one of the breakouts we had a series of round table discussions and exchanged ideas that were working for different chapters. I have attached some of my notes below for you to look at. One of the last items discussed was social media. The bottom line is we as an association have to embrace this as superintendents. Social media lets us be more visible to the members of our chapters and our golf clubs.

Pictures and SHORT videos with short descriptions work the best and get more views.

I have included a very condensed portion of my notes from the symposium.

Please feel free to call me or e-mail me if you would like more details. I think as a board member the symposium was excellent and should be an annual part of our board member development for the vice president or treasury / secretary position. I appreciate the opportunity to represent the North Texas GCSAA, thank you for allowing me to attend.

Michael L. Epps Golf Course Superintendent - Mira Vista Country Club Vice President, NTGCSA

Notes 1.Know thy customer to better deliver and meet their needs.

The first step to exceeding your customers’ expectations is to know those expectations.

2. Preferred education topics water, pesticides, regulations, budgets, technology.

3. Understand the mission, the purpose of the event. follow the four P’s and C’s of marketing 4 P’s: Product, price, promotion, place 4C’s: Consumer wants and need, cost, communication, convenience

4. Create a unifying moment. needs to be worth the time and money to customer, can be challenging. key good customer service, feels welcome, engaged “Do what you do so well that they will want to see it again and bring friends”, Walt Disney A sense of engagement, connection, meaning and importance.

5. You can achieve more as a result of working with others: usga, gcba, pga, gcoa, cmaa National golf Day, May 18, 2016 “Always do more than is required of you”, George S. Patton

Know your chapter and its members.

Become a better listener to become a better communicator.

Start conversation focused on the “why”

Ask them how they would like to receive communications, mail, or email

Leadership development

Have a chapter strategic planning meeting with GCSAA field rep Brian.

Leadership is about going after what you want or need, not preventing others from “doing”

Meeting updates give attendance count members/vendors Use blogs and pod casts Learn to use twitter, and Facebook to communicate GCSAA chapter outreach grants for $1000 Grassroots Ambassador Program A must for our industry Rounds for research.

Books on CD Equipment manager’s association source for new memberships

Recap of roundtable

Forty-seven leaders from 27 affiliated chapters strengthened their leadership skills at the 2016 Chapter Leader/ Executive Symposium, March 29-30 at GCSAA headquarters in Lawrence, Kan. The symposium is funded, in part, by the Williams Leadership Endowment Fund

Note: This annual event is through the Environmental Institute for open to all chapters every Golf (EIFG). year. If you have an interest in attending and repre- This annual event allows chapters to A one-page description director of board senting the chapter in send a volunteer leader and association job description and time needed /S.O.P. 2017, please let your staff. The program is intended to director description NTGCSA board know strengthen each chapter’s leadership Welcome members to meetings by board ASAP. It is a great and re- team, build on successes and learn new warding experience. members map golf facilities and memberconcepts and ideas to support chapter ship, identify facilities that don't have effectiveness. membership, introduce new members in newsletter board The attendees participate in sessions focused on a broad members should call each new members President’s cup club president, greens chair, and superintendent (4-man team from one club)

Have a meeting at university with PhD doing the research.

Have a Nine holes and dine event Round table with vendor sponsors to better adjust sponsorship value

segment of volunteer and association management topics with plenty of time to network with their peers from around the country. GCSAA staff also highlighted the various ways the association can assist in chapter operations. In addition, the attendees broke off into separate groups focused on issues related to region and role.

Bully Cup XX

Thank You to our

Bully Cup XX Title Sponsor THANK YOU to Kyle Moore and Rolling Hills for a great Bully Cup XX. CONGRATULATIONS to Captain Andy Morrissette and the victorious EAST team.

Check out more WOW, the all-time series is now TIED at 10-10. event photos on ENJOY some of the photos from the special day.

All photos can be found at http://tiny.cc/Bully2016

Host Kyle Moore (left) receives host plaque from NTGCSA President Kevin Redburn

page 10

East Captain Andy Morrissette (left) and West Captain Joe Livingston wrestle to hold Bully

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More photos at: http://tiny.cc/aprilphotos

Thank you Helena for being our great title sponsor and to Mike Shelton of Hackberry Creek for a great day! The educational topic provided by Rick Blasi of Helena was informative and timely and the golf course was in great shape and lots of fun to play.

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Submit your entry today Submit a photo by Aug. 1, 2016 to share your best friend with the world!.

From the submissions, 14 dogs will be selected. The winner's owner will receive a $500 prize and $3,000 for his or her GCSAAaffiliated chapter. A $1,000 charitable donation will also be made by GCSAA and LebanonTurf in honor of the winner.

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Be stop by LebanonTurf's booth at the Golf Industry Show next February in Orlando to place your vote for 2017 Dog of the Year. LebanonTurf has been supporting golf course superintenchapters through the Dog Days of Golf Calendar for more than a decade.

dents and their

GCSAA Member Relief Fund

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The recent flooding in Texas and West Virginia may remind members that they can donate to an emergency relief fund for fellow members. Contact GCSAA at (800) 472 -7878 to make a donation. These funds are available to help GCSAA members with personal loss, and donations are tax deductible. Members can request GCSAA emergency help by contacting member services.

Member Profile - Kasey Kauff, Trinity Forest Golf Club Kasey Kauff is the new Director of Grounds at the highly anticipated Trinity Forest project in Dallas. Kasey has worked at some of the most prestigious courses in the US including Eagle Point Golf Club (Wilmington, NC) and Atlanta Athletic Club He grew up in north central West Virginia and Winston-Salem NC and went to school at NC State.

HOW DID YOU BECOME INVOLVED IN THE GOLF BUSINESS? I’ve never done anything else. I started working on a golf course when I was 16 as my first job.

WHAT IS THE MOST DIFFICULT PART OF YOUR JOB? Dealing with all the personalities from members to employees. It’s important to maintain positive relationships regardless of their background.

WHAT IS THE EASIEST PART OF YOUR JOB? Turfgrass management, don’t overthink it

WHAT DO YOU FIND TO BE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FACING YOUR PROFESSION TODAY? Growing the game. How do we get more people to play and enjoy a hard game?

WHAT IS THE MOST VALUABLE THING YOU HAVE LEARNED IN THE GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT PROFESSION? How to keep a work life balance. I enjoy spending time away from work, so I don’t work a million hours. My assistants work 1 weekend a month. There’s a lot going on outside of work.

WHAT DO YOU DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME? I like to fish, travel (especially traveling to fish), go to concerts, spend time with my wife.

WHAT IS THE STRANGEST THING YOU HAVE EVER SEEN ON A GOLF COURSE? I’m pretty strange, so nothing surprises me.

WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS OF THE NORTH TEXAS GCSA? I honestly have been so busy since I moved here, I haven’t really been involved. It would be nice to meet other guys around town.

HOW HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO GIVE BACK TO YOUR PROFESSION? I like to share what we do on Twitter. Maybe people get

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something from that. I think it’s a good way to see different ways of doing things.

WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ON THE ROLE OF AN ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT? My assistants run the show. I have a lot going on, so they do everything from, daily scheduling to ordering. I want my guys to be ready if they ever leave!!

TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAMILY. I have a wife (Amanda), and a dog (Dixie). Amanda owns and operates her own marketing/consulting practice. She has clients in a multiple states. I’m proud of her. Dixie runs around and barks at people.

WHO IS THE GREATEST INFLUENCE IN YOUR PERSONAL LIFE? My dad, he taught me to work hard, but also have fun.

WHO WOULD BE IN YOUR DREAM FOURSOME, AND WHERE WOULD YOU PLAY? Dad, Tiger, Ben Crenshaw at Shinnicock Hills.

WHAT ONE PIECE OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A FIRST TIME ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT? Listen, but don’t be afraid to give ideas.

WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN TEN YEARS? I live more in the now. You never know .

IF YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO CHANGE CAREERS AND DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

Thanks for letting us get to know you, Kasey. Good luck at Trinity Forest and we look forward to seeing you at future NTGCSA events!

Professional Golden Tee player.

Trinity Forest Golf Club was created explicitly to attract prestigious golf championships back to Dallas; thereby, driving community impact and charitable activity. Further, the club endeavors to create a special place where our members and guests may foster camaraderie, enjoying the undefeatable game of golf.

Designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, the championship course at Trinity Forest Golf Club adheres to their design philosophy that traditional, strategic golf is the most rewarding. Built in the Great Trinity Forest and surrounded on its edges by thousands of majestic hardwood trees, the classic links-style course artistically meanders through an open meadow of rolling, rumpled sand recalling the wind swept land of Great Britain or the Northeastern US. The Club is located less than 10 minutes from downtown Dallas on Great Trinity Forest Boulevard, and the facilities will include an 18-hole championship golf course, a world-class practice academy, and a short course, all designed by Coore and Crenshaw. Once complete, Trinity Forest will become the new home of the PGA TOUR’s AT&T Byron Nelson Championship as well as an NCAA invitational tournament and additional high-profile professional and amateur events.

The Club will also become the new home course for SMU’s golf teams.

It was sizzling, but it was GREAT! Thank you to Scott Boven our Texas Star host, to Harrell’s our Platinum Title Sponsor, and to all of our brave attendees who survived 100+ heat index.

For all photos from the great day: http://tiny.cc/cchamp2016

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Thanks to all who joined us at the 2nd Annual Stephen Best Memorial Pro / Superintendent Championship. The event was held at the course that Stephen loved, Sky Creek Ranch in Keller.

Our host, Bryan Tupa and his staff honored Stephen by having the course in outstanding Phocondition.

Our title Platinum Sponsor, PTP helped make it a great day. Our Pro / Superintendent Champions were from Maridoe Golf Club. Congratulations Ronnie O’Brien and Kyle Bunney. Our Member / Member Champions were Jeff Garza and Loren Moulder. We were very honored to have the Best family join us for the event. Thank you to Cheryl Best, Stephen’s father, John Best and his children Addyson and Harrison.

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More photos at: http://tiny.cc/sbestphotos

Thank you Wade Huff for sharing your story of battling cancer. You are an inspiration!

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WE ARE GOLF, a coalition of golf’s leading organizations, hosted its ninth annual National Golf Day on Wednesday, May 18, 2016 on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. “Each year, National Golf Day grows momentum on Capitol Hill and reminds our country's decisionmakers of the benefits golf provides our society and how it supports countless charitable causes, including many related to our nation’s military,” says Steve Mona, CEO of World Golf Foundation and administrator of WE ARE GOLF. “With the game making its return to the Olympics in less than 100 days, our industry is positioned to reach new global audiences and it’s important we communicate in America the positive role golf plays in local communities." This year’s event also included PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem, 2016 U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Davis Love III, Vice Captain Steve Stricker and LPGA legend Nancy Lopez (below). - See more at: http://wearegolf.org National Golf Day 2016 was the most successful to date with over 150 scheduled Congressional meetings in one day. A day-long exhibit in the Rayburn Foyer featured live lessons for Congressional Members and staff with 2012 PGA Teacher of the Year Michael Breed, host of “The Golf Fix” on Golf Channel and LPGA Teaching Professional Karen Palacios-Jansen. Special exhibits and activities included a “Closest to the Pin” contest on an aboutGolf simulator; state-of-the-art swing analysis from GolfTEC; National Arboretum’s “Grassroots Initiative” overview; a Republican vs. Democrat “Putting Challenge;” a turfgrass exhibit from the GCSAA; and interviews with attendees on SiriusXM PGA TOUR Radio. Throughout the event, golf’s leaders and other special guests discussed the game’s tax benefits to local communities and asked for equal treatment as a legitimate industry with close to 15,200 small businesses. “Capitol Hill’s annual Golf Day spells out that golf is much more than a game," says Congressman Ander Crenshaw (R-FL). "Along with the sportsmanship and opportunity to forge new and lasting relationships, and mentor youth through such organizations as The First Tee, come billions of dollars worth of economic growth, job creation, and charitable giving. That’s something we all can get behind, today and for decades to come.” Organizations participating were the Club Managers Association of America, Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA), Ladies Professional Golf Association, National Golf Course Owners Association, PGA of America (PGA), PGA TOUR, United States Golf Association, United States Golf Manufacturers Council, World Golf Foundation and others.

Southern Oaks Superintendent Jorge Croda CGCS attends National Golf Day in Washington D.C. Thanks for representing the NTGCSA and providing this update and photos: As a Grassroots Ambassador for GCSAA I was invited to attend National Golf Day in Washington D.C. this May. During the visit I toured the National Arboretum to see all of the different types of grasses they are growing. They have many different types of grasses and irrigation systems for all different types of locations and climates. I was honored to be invited and able to attend The First Tee Congressional Breakfast. I also was involved in several meetings with our government representatives to discuss the important issues facing the golf industry. For the meetings I was included in a team of golf industry individuals from Texas; Ken Gorzycki, Director of Agronomy for Horseshoe Bay Resort, Johnny Walker, Golf Course Superintendent and member of GCSAA Board of Directors, Deb Vangellow, LPGA President. We were able to meet with representatives for Senator John Cornyn, Senator Ted Cruz, Representative Joe Barton and Congresswoman Kay Granger and discuss issues such as labor, water conservation and promoting the game health through the game of golf.

I have to extend many thanks to the GCSAA Government Affairs team and Board of Members for their guidance and leadership before and during these meetings. Their efforts and hard work was integral in ensuring the success of National Golf Day. They worked tirelessly to make sure that all of the important issues facing the golf industry were brought to the attention of lawmakers. Jorge Croda CGCS

Jorge with GCSAA President Pete Grass (left) and Vice President Bill Maynard (right) National Arboretum with Geoff Reinhart who is in charge of the grounds.

Joe Louis Barrow, Jr. CEO of The First Tee

US Ryder Cup Captain Davis Love III (left) and Vice Captain Steve Stricker (right) Congratulations to Jorge Croda CGCS who achieved his certification status in May, 2016.

GCSAA’s professional certification program enables golf course superintendents to be recognized for their high level of achievement in golf course management. The professional designation, Certified Golf Course Superintendent (CGCS), is bestowed upon those who voluntarily meet the stringent requirements. The CGCS designation is the most widely recognized in the golf industry and the highest level of recognition that can be achieved. Approximately 25% of GCSAA Class A members are certified golf course superintendents.

"The certification journey was rigorous but at the same time, it gave me the opportunity to look at every operational area and find new ways to implement continuous improvement. Leadership opportunities that have arisen from this process have been of benefit to both myself and the entire maintenance team.”

– Jorge J. Croda, CGCS, Southern Oaks Golf Club

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Back by Popular Demand!

GOTCHA!

What are NTGCSA Members up to in 2016?

Chuck Daddy McCaskill relaxing on Fathers Day.

Colby Johnson and fam hammin’ it up for the cam.

The Hammerlun Family grew by 2! Welcome Molly and Blair.

Big sisters Rory and Rylee look happy, happy, happy.

Mom and Dad look…….happy too.

Gene Dahlen and his beautiful Grandmother enjoying time together in Wild Rose Wisconsin.

The Blakemores are still GROWING! July can’t get here soon enough Chad Branum and his wife Megan having a wonderful getaway in Puerto Vallarta.

Proud Grandpas Jeff Smith and Rick Parker

Steve Wolfard and his beautiful Mother celebrating Mother’s Day Kurt Sewell and his golf buddies enjoying a great day in Arizona Justin Allen and Tori all smiles after recent home purchase.

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