NTGCSA Chapter Connect Fall 2018

Fall 2018

2018 Membership Directory - Now available at ntgcsa.org

Volume 26 Issue 3

President’s Message Now that autumn is upon us and the North Texas summer has officially ended (as of September 21st), I hope everyone is able to enjoy the outdoors and their golf courses a little bit more!

I know I’m always glad to check off another summer and I get some pep back in my step with cooler mornings and of course football season! We’ve also been blessed with good moisture throughout August and September this year, which we never can take for granted.

A lot of exciting and fun events are on the remaining calendar for the NTGCSA, so I hope to see many of you at them. Our annual visit to the Scottish Rite Hospital is a highlight event every year; it takes place on September 27th. Please join us as we not only get some CEU’s but also support our chosen charity with a donation to the hospital. Winfield Solutions is once again our Platinum Sponsor and has taken care of lining up the education and CEU’s; a big thanks to them for their support and efforts to make this happen.

The Annual Meeting is set for October 11th at Shady Valley Country Club. We have a few important bylaws to vote on and some board positions to fill at this meeting. We will also be able to reveal the three nominees for Superintendent of the Year and hopefully everyone can get a chance to meet them if you have not had that opportunity.

I always like getting the opportunity to thank the board and Carol Cloud for all that they do for the association. It’s very much appreciated for all the hard work and time they put into it.

We’ve experienced a great year so for and I look forward to what’s in store for the rest of 2018. See you out on the links!

Thank You, Kirt Phillips

About Us North Texas Golf Course Superintendents Association

Network with your peers!

Join us at: Ntgcsa.org and:

Board of Directors President: Kirt Phillips kirt@dallascountryclub.org Vice President: Bryan Brown bryan.brown@lkpoa.org Secretary / Treasurer: Jorge Croda jorgec@southernoaksgolf.com Past President: Mike Epps mepps@miravistacountryclub.com

Superintendent Directors Willie Wallace CGCS-wwallace@dentoncc.org Michael Underwood CGCS-michaelu@ppoaweb.com Jason Wiedeman-jwiedeman@crosstimersgc.com KD Davis CGCS-kdavid@roccdallas.com Anthony Williams CGCS anthony.williams@fourseasons.com

JIM TRAVIS Cell: 469-993-3647 Office: 800-345-9387 Fax: 972-745-4315

Affiliate Directors

Aaron Fox afox@textron.com Curt Franklin curt@gitexas.com Chapter Executive Carol Cloud ntgcsa@gmail.com 817-368-3002 5552 Plata Ln., Benbrook, TX 76126

jim.travis@target-specialty.com

2018 Bylaw Amendment Proposals In compliance with our affiliation agreement with GCSAA, the following amendment to the North Texas GCSA bylaws will need to be voted on and approved at the 2018 Annual Meeting.

Proposed Amendment 1 1. The current bylaw: Section 2. Class A - Golf Course Superintendent: To qualify for Class A membership, an applicant shall have, at the time of application for membership, at least three (3) years' experience as a golf course superintendent, be employed in such capacity and comply with all additional qualifications adopted by the membership. Class A Members shall have all the privileges of the Association.

2. Proposed amendment 1: To change the description of the current NTGCSA bylaw to mirror that of GCSAA for Class A members.

3. The bylaw after proposed amendment 1 is adopted: Section 2.

Class A - Class A Member is a golf industry professional who possesses knowledge, skills and abilities through a combination of education, experience, professional development and environmental stewardship; and has met and continues to fulfill on-going Class A renewal requirements.

Renewal Date Prior to 7-1-17 * 5 total points (2 Education Point minimum) remaining 3 can be education or service points * Possess a valid pesticide license or pass the GCSAA IPM Exam Renewal Date 7-1-17 and After * 5 total points (3 Education Point minimum) remaining 2 can be education or golf-centric service points * Possess a valid pesticide license or pass the GCSAA IPM Exam Proposed Amendment 2 1. The current bylaw: Nothing in place at this time.

2. Proposed amendment 2: This proposed amendment is an addition to our bylaws.

3. The bylaw after proposed amendment 2 is adopted: Article XI, Section 4. Financial Review Committee. The Financial Review Committee shall consist of not less than three (3) Directors and the President of the Association. The Financial Review Committee shallrecommend to the Board of Directors the designation of an independent CPA firm to perform an annual financial review and summary report of the financial statements and records of the Association annually. Financial Review Committee members will be appointed by the President and approved by the Board of Directors.

Class A Renewal Requirements Effective 7-1-17.

For questions or more information contact Carol Cloud At the 2016 Golf Industry Show Annual Meeting, the GCSAA member(817) 368-3002 or ntgcsa@gmail.com ship adopted enhanced education point renewal requirements for Class A.

Save the Dates!

Annual Conference and Trade Show

December 11 - 13 San Antonio Details Coming Soon

Texas Turfgrass Association Fall Magazine Issue Now Available texasturf.com

LEGACY SCHOLARSHIP

2018 TOURNAMENT

November 13th, 2018 Registration Opens Early October

Howdy from Dallas!

Lindsey Hoffman, PhD Assistant Professor & Turfgrass Extension Specialist Howdy! My name is Lindsey Hoffman and I am the new Extension Turfgrass Specialist with Texas A&M at the Dallas Research and Extension Center. I started in my position on July 9 and had the opportunity to meet many of you at the summer TTA conference in Bastrop.

I am excited to be a part of AgriLife Extension Services and look forward to working with industry professionals across the state of Texas.

About me: My passion for all things turfgrass grew after working on several golf courses in Massachusetts and Colorado. I decided to pursue a career in the turfgrass industry, which motivated me to obtain my undergraduate degree from the Stockbridge School of Agriculture at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

I continued on to obtain both my M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts concentrating in general turfgrass ecology and physiology. For both degrees, I conducted applied, field-based research that focused on topics such as optimization of fertility programs and cultural/chemical practices for minimizing damage caused by abiotic stresses such as cold and drought. Following graduate school, I had the opportunity to work with breeders at the University of Minnesota and Rutgers University to assist in the development of improved cultivars for commercial production.

Throughout my graduate and post-graduate school positions, I maintained a strong connection to the turfgrass industry and developed relationships with golf course superintendents, sports field managers, sod growers, and seed producers. Ultimately, these relationships have brought me to the position I am in today as an Extension Specialist.

My program: Going forward, my Extension program will be centered around two overarching themes: ecosystem services of turfgrass and resource conservation. Briefly, ecosystem services refers to the measurable benefits of turfgrasses that can be classified into categories such as environmental, aesthetic, recreational, economic, sociologic, and psychological/physiological. Resource conservation, in my opinion, refers to reducing inputs (such as water and fertility) while still maintaining a healthy, aesthetically pleasing turfgrass surface. My program will focus on the needs of the turfgrass industry and will incorporate educational tools and resources that will support the themes of my Extension program.

With that being said, I welcome the opportunity to communicate with all of you to discuss the major issues facing you as turfgrass managers and to evaluate methods for addressing and solving these issues.

In closing, I am very excited to be a apart of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Services and look forward to meeting with all of you in the future.

Please do not hesitate to contact me at any time with questions, concerns, or ideas.

Lindsey Hoffman lindsey.hoffman@ag.tamu.edu 972-952-9212

GCSAA Grassroots Ambassadors: Building a Network Mitch O’Brey, AGCS and Anthony L. Williams, CGCS In 2014 the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) took its government relations efforts to another level. They created the GCSAA Grassroots Ambassadors program. The program goal is to match a member of GCSAA with each member of Congress, and to build strong relationships between them. The program’s vision is to establish a network of committed volunteers to serve as the “go-to” people for lawmakers and their staff on golf course management issues. The Grassroots Ambassador is committed to sharing their unique story, our story as an industry made up of real people and issues. To build and sustain this army of grassroots advocates the GCSAA needs volunteers. Do you have what it takes? Check out the following advertisement.

Anthony Williams, Congressman Kenny Marchant (Texas District 24) and Mitch O'Brey meet as part of the GCSAA Grassroots Ambassador Program.

GCSAA is seeking enthusiastic, motivated members (Class A, B or C) to serve as a GCSAA Grassroots Ambassadors.

The link between the Member of Congress and the GCSAA Grassroots Ambassador is based on golf facility location.

Also, GCSAA Grassroots Ambassadors need to belong to an affiliated chapter.

How many of you hard working superintendents/assistants have interest in this program but are a little nervous to volunteer. It is natural to be a little nervous, I know that I was but let Mitch and I tell you our story and it may help you decide to join in the fun.

Let me tell you how Anthony Williams Grassroots Ambassador came to be. I had won the GCSAA 2014 GCSAA Excellence in Government Relations Award and had heard about the new Grassroots Ambassador program. I really wanted to move my advocacy forward so I accepted the challenge and suddenly I was back in the trenches, as a new recruit in the inaugural 2014 Grassroots Ambassador Class. We had boot camps and webinars and ultimately we all felt ready to make things happen. If you join the Grassroots Ambassador Program I promise the training will give you all the tools you need. So no worries but truthfully, when I started I did not know just how many tools I already had! I was assigned to Georgia District 4 Congressman Hank Johnson.

I wanted to find a way to be successful as a Grassroots Ambassador but we were on the surface total opposites. For instance, buddist-christian, vegetarian-hunter meat eater, inner city childhood-rural farm kid, lawyer-turf manager and the list went on. However when we met in his district office we found that our sense of community was shared and more powerful than our differences. We became friends and the congressman agreed to come and see our property, Continued on next page

community service and environmental work first hand.

Unfortunately, I suffered an aortic aneurism on the course and had emergency open heart surgery before we could host the congressman. He called me several times during my recovery reminding me I owed him a golf tour and wishing me the all best. I recovered fully and in record time and we did the tour and the pictures are now part of Grassroots Ambassador History. Pictures of the two most unlikely people, meeting in the most unlikely place to show that anything is possible if you stop and find common ground. My meeting with Congressman Johnson at the Stone Mountain Golf Club is one of my most emotional moments as a superintendent/ambassador.

Superintendent volunteers lay sod as part of the 2018 National Golf Day events in Washington D.C.

The next chapter of my Grassroots Ambassador story followed my retirement after a 30 year stand out career with Marriott Golf. I took some time to travel speaking at regional/national events and encouraging others to become Grassroots Ambassadors sharing our story and teaching BMP’s. I covered everywhere from Idaho, Utah , Nevada, California, Missouri, Kansas, North and South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Rhode Island, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Texas, Washington DC and the list goes on. I eventually realized I could be more effective as a superintendent again so I started to look for an opportunity. It came in the form of a Director of Golf and Landscape Operations position at TPC Four Seasons Dallas at Las Colinas Host of the 2017 Byron Nelson PGA event. A quick GIS meeting with Chava McKeel and Mike Lee and I was back as a Grass Roots Ambassador (assigned to Texas- District 24 Representative Kenny Marchant) attending more GIS “boot camps” and webinars/updates. I renewed my role as a Grassroots recruiter working with Mike Lee in placing one of my brilliant Texas assistants, Mitch O’Brey as ambassador for Texas – District 26 (Representative Michael Burgess) while I serve as his Grassroots mentor. Let’s look at Mitch’s journey into the program.

Let me tell you how Mitch O’Brey Grassroots Ambassador came to be. I have always loved politics and the golf business. When Anthony arrived in Texas and he and I talked about goals, and I heard his story about advocacy I knew at that moment that this was a huge opportunity. The first ideas of serious advocacy and blending politics and golf turf happened to me while I was in College studying Turfgrass Science at Texas State Technical College. I had

sent a letter to former President George Bush introducing myself, thanking him for his service and expressing my hope to one day meet the Texas political legend and shake his hand. I do not know if he ever got the letter but a week later I actually met former President George Bush! Fate stepped in when we were on a class trip to Ridgewood Country Club in Waco, Texas to meet course superintendent Travis Moore and tour his facility. We arrived and the tour was great but there was an added VIP experience as former President Bush happened to be playing golf that day and I got to meet one of my political heroes. The Meeting was an inspiration to me planting a seed to become more involved in politics and to one day make a difference by combining my love of politics and golf course management. I was looking for an advocacy opportunity when suddenly Anthony and I both realized it would be with GCSAA and the Grassroots Ambassador Program. I have high aspirations to do well as an advocate. Recently I received a signed letter from President Donald Trump and knowing that he is also a figure in the golf industry I hope to meet him one day to thank him for his service and tell him about our issues. It may seem impossible but I believe in the possibility now more than ever, remember I did meet former President George Bush.

The Grassroots Ambassador Program has been a good fit both Anthony and me. When Mike Lee sent me the official email that I had been selected I was thrilled. I said to Anthony, “I just got the news that I had been chosen, I was already excited about the GIS in San Antonio and the Grassroots Ambassador boot camp!” Anthony and I did great in our first year and after much learning and a bit of diligence we secured a meeting with Congressman Kenny Marchant, Texas District 24 (see photo, he also gave us Texas Lapel Pins!). The meeting went great and the momentum continues to build as we move on to Congressman Burgess and Texas District 26.

The GCSAA continues to grow and refine the Grassroots Ambassador program. In 2018 they introduced the Grassroots Ambassador Leadership Award. Anthony won the Inaugural award, in April and then he went to Washington DC representing Texas and the North Texas GCSA at the WE Are Golf, National Golf Day events! I had to miss this year but Anthony and I are already making plans to attend National Golf Day in 2019! We hope to see you there and do not forget the great Grassroots Ambassador training at GIS every year. Which gets to the real point of our story. The GCSAA needs You! You do not have to be an expert just be willing to serve and have a little passion for the task. How about it? Will you answer the call to be part of the Grassroots Ambassador movement? You can find the details online at www.gcsaa.org or just ask one of the many current Grassroots Ambassadors. We are growing the people who help shape the policies and politics that impact our industry and communities. Imagine what you could do by working with us. A huge thank you to everyone at GCSAA that makes these programs possible, you have touched an industry and a nation one member at a time and we as grateful Grassroots Ambassadors stand ready to lead, follow and serve.

About the Authors Mitch O’Brey is the Assistant Golf Course Superintendent and Anthony L. Williams, CGCS is the Director of Golf and Landscape Operations at the TPC Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas. They are proud GCSAA Grassroots Ambassadors and members of the North Texas GCSA.

ANTHONY WILLIAMS, NICK JANOVICH WIN GCSAA GAL AWARDS Golf course superintendents honored for advocacy efforts, advancement of association priority issues and congressional outreach Anthony Williams, certified golf course superintendent and director of Golf and Landscape Operations at TPC Four Seasons Dallas at Las Colinas in Irving, Texas, and Nick Janovich, superintendent at Oglebay Resort and Conference Center in Wheeling, W.Va., have been named Grassroots Ambassador Leadership Award winners from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA).

The Grassroots Ambassador Leadership Award, presented quarterly in partnership with The Toro Co., recognizes and honors individuals who have demonstrated growth in advocacy and advancement of the GCSAA Priority Issues Agenda through congressional outreach and relationship development with a member of Congress. Through Toro, the winners will receive a trip to take part in the 2019 National Golf Day in Washington, D.C. “Advocacy is one of the key ways we can serve members and advance their profession and the game.” GCSAA CEO Rhett Evans said. “We are fortunate to have highly engaged members, like Anthony and Nick, who are working with members of Congress to bring the issues that affect golf to their attention. We congratulate them on this recognition of their efforts.”

The GAL Award is part of the GCSAA Grassroots Ambassadors, a program that matches superintendents with members of Congress to build strong relationships with them. More than 300 GCSAA members currently serve as ambassadors.

The first quarter winner was Williams, who has a long history of advocacy on behalf of GCSAA and was the winner of the GCSAA Excellence in Government Affairs Award in 2014. That same year he became part inaugural group of ambassadors and was first paired with Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA).

“On the surface we were total opposites,” Williams said.

“However, when we met in his district office we found that our sense of community was shared and more powerful than our differences. We became friends. Anything is possible if you stop and find common ground.”

After taking a break from the program due to health issues and moving to Texas, Williams is now matched with Rep. Kenny Marchant (R-TX).

Second quarter winner Janovich also became an ambassador in 2014 and is matched with Rep. David McKinley (R-WV). He has worked to develop “regular and meaningful communication” with McKinley’s staff. With his close proximity to Washington, D.C., Janovich has also opened a line of communications with other members of the West Virginia delegation, Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV). Add in trips to National Golf Day over the last several years in, and Janovich has made 27 trips to Capital Hill on behalf of GCSAA and the industry in his role as an ambassador.

With his regular trips to Washington, he’s become a familiar face to those in the offices of the West Virginia lawmakers.

“We are at the point where they know me, why I’m there, what I want, and they are prepared with information,” Janovich said.

“I’ve also been affectionately referred to as the ‘golf guy.’”

How do you know the truth about Roundup?

North Carolina State’s Turffiles’ Dr. Rick Brandenburg: There has been a lot in the news lately about the herbicide glyphosate (most know it as Roundup) and its potential health hazards. In our world of social media, this topic has circled the globe many times and there is a lot of information on the subject; some of it factual and educational, much of it propaganda. I fully recognize that by posting this information, it will generate some discussion. This conversation is further complicated by certain advocacy groups who are on a mission and may not have all the pertinent information on the topic. I have no mission other than education and open science communication, nor am I am advocate for anything other than knowledge and using facts to get to the truth. As a scientist, I have spent more than 35 years teaching the importance of integrated pest management, including the value of reduced pesticide input and organic approaches as well as conducting research on those same topics.

Glyphosate has been studied as much as any pesticide in use today. It has been used extensively worldwide and has provided incredible value to agriculture since it has come on the market.

Over the past few decades, the public has become increasingly disengaged with agriculture. Advances in technology and improvements in management approach and available products have resulted in increasing efficiency in agriculture production.

As a result, a smaller percentage of the population is involved in that sector. Your average person on the street has no idea what it takes to produce the food on our table, protect public health, and maintain excellent green spaces, just like most farmers (and agricultural scientists) can’t program a computer, design a bridge, or perform heart surgery.

Any discussion on pesticides and their use in agricultural systems should be based on facts and research, not personal opinions. The recent MotherJones.com article “The Roundup Chemical Found Responsible for Cancer Might Also be in Your Cereal” is a perfect example of information offered by an advocacy group that is simply NOT accurate, but it grabs headlines and promotes fear. Advocacy groups use the anonymity and lack of fact-checking on social media to circulate misinformation that is accepted by the general public as “the truth”. To add further to the confusion, we all suffer from “confirmation bias”, searching out supporting documentation that confirms our opinion on a subject. We all have topics or issues with which we are familiar and often fear, or treat with suspicion, those with which we are less comfortable. I recently was made aware of the concern over a few bottles of wine in California that were found to contain 1 part per billion of a possible carcinogen, glyphosate. There was a lot of wringing of hands, general alarm, and demand for banning

glyphosate. No one seemed the least bit concerned that each bottle contained approximately 120 million parts per billion of a known carcinogen…alcohol.

My intent with this post is to address concerns regarding pesticides in general, provide links to information regarding glyphosate specifically, and, hopefully, some ideas on how to move forward. My hope is that for those of you who have fears, these may serve as educational materials. I also hope that for those who deal with the public on a daily basis, you can use some of this information for educational purposes and perhaps help you communicate the facts.

In closing, it is important to acknowledge that for those who truly fear glyphosate, their fears are real, not imaginary, so keep that in mind. These people are not uneducated nor ignorant, they are just operating with a different set of information and from a different perspective. All we can do is provide the facts as best we know them and let them decide what they want to believe. Mocking them, making fun of them, or criticizing their intelligence is never appropriate and reflects poorly on all of us in our respective industries. It certainly doesn’t make them feel any more comfortable about us applying pesticides.

July in North Texas means family fun for the members of the NTGCSA who get together to take a much deserved break from the scorching Texas summer. We all know our families keep us sane during these stressful times and TopGolf is the perfect venue to share a fun evening with friends and peers. Our turnout was great and thank you to all who participated to make it a great event. This year, kids of all ages enjoyed great food, terrific prizes, and…… “inspired” golf.

And a special thank you to our great sponsors who help make all of our events terrific!!

Legacy Scholarship Awards - Impacting Families and Lives!

by Brian Cloud

For more than 20 years, the North Texas GCSA has awarded Legacy Scholarships to deserving children of chapter members. These scholarships have helped recipients with education related expenses that have in many cases, been instrumental to their academic and professional success. Many families have expressed sincere appreciation for the significant financial assistance as well as the inspiration that these scholarships have provided.

Recently, the chapter caught up with two past recipients of the Legacy Scholarships and we wanted to share what is going on with their lives and how the awards have benefited themselves and their families.

Cody Wisdorf McGregor and Jackson Wisdorf won these scholarships while their late father Joe Wisdorf was an active member of the NTGCSA. Joe was an icon in North Texas and provided great course conditions at several outstanding properties until his untimely death in July of 2012. He was also a mentor to many – we have included some information about Joe in this article to introduce him to some of the newer chapter members.

Jackson Wisdorf - 2009 and 2010 Jackson was awarded Legacy Scholarships in both 2009 and 2010 while he was a student at Texas Tech University where he graduated in 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts in Electronic Media & Communication.

Shortly after graduating, he accepted a four-month internship at Marfa Public Radio, which turned into a year-long internship, which turned in to being hired on full-time and he has been in the high desert of far-west Texas ever since.

Jackson’s role at Marfa Public Radio (Big Bend and far-west Texas) and West Texas Public Radio (serving Midland/Odessa/Permian Basin) includes hosting the show - All Things Considered. He is the host, producer of on-air and web content, and a DJ. In his spare time he enjoys orchestrating caterings and food pop-ups around the area, working at a local taco/burger stand on the weekends, and being a DJ at weddings and other events. He has helped in the production of multiple award-winning stories at the station.

Jasckson reports that he is still happily single and in no rush for relationship or kids while enjoying living the life in Marfa, Texas.

When asked how the scholarships affected him and his family, he said, “The scholarship helped tremendously the two years I was lucky enough to receive it with everything from buying books to being able to live comfortably while in school. It was very meaningful; the chapter was a big part of my dad’s life and career and it was an honor to feel included in a great community of people.”

Jackson also mentioned, “The Scholarship was extremely helpful, it gave us the chance to save a little bit on something where every bit counts!”

Cody Wisdorf McGregor – 2005 Cody graduated from Plano Senior High School a year after she was awarded the scholarship and attended Texas Tech University. She graduated in 2010 with a Double major in Elementary Education and Special Education through the College of Education. She also earned an additional certification in ESL and Gifted/Talented Education.

After graduation, she was hired by Plano ISD to be a 5th grade teacher at Schell Elementary. She feels very fortunate to stay at that same school now for 9 years. She taught 5th grade for 7 years and now in her second year as a Campus ESL Specialist. She serves over 200 students who speak over 50 languages. She is also a district trainer for teachers and schools in the area of Guided Reading, as well as a Curriculum Writer for the Elementary Academic Services department.

Last year, Cody was named, Plano ISD Elementary District Teacher of the Year. The featured video from the district about her background can be found: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=nI7D04YfUpE. She has also received the following awards during her time at Schell Elementary: Beginning Teacher of the Year 2010, Experienced Teacher of the Year 2017, and Plano ISD Elementary Teacher of the Year 2017.

Cody met her husband, Patrick, at Texas Tech and they live in Richardson. They were married in June of 2011. He is a CPA and Senior Financial Analyst for Gaedeke Group in Dallas.

They have been blessed with a 3-year-old son, Keegan, and a daughter named Cameron who was born in early September. Congratulations McGregors!

How did the scholarship help you with your studies / college career?

The scholarship was an amazing opportunity to be able to get a head start on my college career. My father committed his life to his family, and worked so hard for us. He tried to give all he could to my brother and I, but sometimes we were still in need. The scholarship was for sure a glimmer of hope to get over hurdles of how we were going to overcome certain needs such as technology, books, and living expenses. With the scholarship, I was able to purchase my laptop that got me through countless papers, assignments, and correspondence necessary for success.

Was receiving the scholarship meaningful to you because your father was very active in the chapter during his career?

I have never been more proud of a human being than my father.

Not only was he the most honest, compassionate, and loving man, but he gave 110% every day. I saw this not just in all the efforts he created for us, but for everything he did. Being able to witness how respected he was at work, was awe worthy. He was respected on a level by everyone from his crew, to the club employees, to the members. He always tried to make sure everyone was taken care of and satisfied with his work. Being able to represent the family and him by being a recipient of this award was a great blessing to be given.

Was the scholarship helpful to your family?

Without a doubt. The scholarship was a huge weight off our shoulders. I think especially after my father lost his job, and my brother was trying to begin his college career, it was such a gift to be given.

Jackson and Cody’s mother Sandy also expressed sincere gratitude for the assistance the scholarships provided by the chapter.

Sandy is the Non-Affiliated Student Assistant for the Dallas Turfgrass Breeding Program at Texas A&M AgriLife Research in Dallas.

I am very proud of both of those kids not only for their achievements, but for the wonderful people they have grown to be. I know Joe was very excited and proud of them becoming recipients of such an important award and would feel the same way.

His family meant the world to him.

The scholarships were so helpful to us. It's funny, but we are just blue-collar people who worked in a country club setting. We had the privilege to participate in some of the activities but financially, it's sometimes hard to tell your kids you're really not a member of that club. The scholarship helped with expenses for college that really were put to good use. I think Cody bought her own laptop and that was a blessing. Jackson put his toward tuition and that knocked out a chunk of the total he's probably chipping away at now. Money aside, I think it gave them real confidence and they realized how much things like that are important and I know they are both paying it forward in their respective communities today.

I just want to say again, thank you and the organization for all the help and prayers you've given our family throughout the years- with and without Joe. Remembering Joe One of the many “partners” that Joe touched during his career was Scott Fuller, Superintendent at Trophy Club Country Club. Scott was Joe’s First Assistant at Las Colinas Country Club from 1996 through 2000.

Scott fondly says that “Joe was a friend and a role model. He taught me to treat people fairly and that family come first. He as a mentor and teacher who trusted me and allowed me to develop. The day I started as 1st time Super, I was prepared..”

“Joe was extremely proud and touched that both of his children won Legacy Scholarships from the association he loved. His kids meant the world to him. I have never known anyone more proud of his kids or wife than Joe Wisdorf. The most caring, loyal and faithful father and husband there was.”

Joe’s Career Highlights

GlenEagles Country Club 1985-1988 Assistant Superintendent 1988-1996 Golf Course Superintendent Las Colinas Country Club 1996-2011 Golf Course Superintendent Twin Creeks Country Club 2012 Golf Course Superintendent

Turfgrass expert clips his last blades of grass for research purposes Writers: Kay Ledbetter and Beth Ann Luedeker Dr. Richard White retired from his position as a professor in the Texas A&M University Department of Soil and Crop Sciences and Texas A&M AgriLife Research turfgrass management scientist in College Station on Aug. 31.

White came to Texas A&M after working as an assistant professor at Rutgers University-Cook College in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Auburn University and his doctorate from Virginia Tech.

He started as an assistant research scientist in 1989 at Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Dallas and then moved to College Station in 1993 as an associate professor.

“Dr. White was instrumental in developing the turfgrass science major for the department and has served as a leader in advanced teaching techniques and assessment,” said Dr. David Baltensperger, head of the Texas A&M soil and crop sciences department.

Some highlights of his career included: •

Contributing to the development of best-use practices for cycling bio-resource nutrients through turfgrass sod.

•

Establishing a strong relationship between osmotic adjustment in zoysia grass cultivars and their water requirement.

•

Demonstrating the impact of irrigation frequency on creeping bent grass performance in hot, humid climates.

•

Contributing to a better understanding of nitrogen requirements of ultra-dwarf Bermuda grasses.

•

Co-discovering thermo-morphogenic response in dwarf and ultra-dwarf Bermuda grasses.

•

Definitively establishing the benefit of blending bent grass cultivars for improved disease resistance and performance.

“My favorite memories will be the people I have worked with in the department and in the industry,” he said. “I have enjoyed helping our students and watching them become successful professionals and leaders in the industry. Also, mentoring junior faculty and watching their successes.”

“Dr. White has been a national leader for the turf industry, working across a broad range of industry, academic and agency partners to advance the role turfgrass can play in enhancing our environment,” Baltensperger said.

Maybe his most enduring legacy will be his shepherding of the ScottsMiracle-Gro Facility for Lawn and Garden Research, located at 3100 F&B Road in College Station, through its 15-year journey to reality. White coordinated the design and development of the facility to provide the needed infrastructure and facilities for the turfgrass program. He had already developed and constructed a state-of-the-art surface water runoff facility at the same location in collaboration with other soil and crop sciences personnel and the Scotts Company.

He has been recognized with two Texas A&M University Vice-Chancellor’s Award in Excellence, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Research Team Awards; the Texas Environmental Excellence Award for the Rio Grande Basin Initiative in the Agriculture category; and the Texas A&M University Soil and Crop Sciences Department Award for Teaching.

RESCHEDULED! OCTOBER 28 - 30

New Entries Welcomed!

Register at LSGCSA.org Tournament includes three days of golf and food.

Daily Proximities: Long Drive & Closest to Hole Cash Awards National GCSAA Entry Fee Paid for the Top 3 Gross and Top 2 Net Eligible Individual Finishers in the 2-day Texas Trophy Event Individual Tournament Gifts Individual and Team Championships are On the Line Chapter Teams Take part in the Long Drive Contest 9 Hole Putting Contest

EXCEL Leadership Program Funded by Nufarm The Excel Leadership Program offers leadership training for personal, career, and community/industry stewardship for assistant superintendents; the future leaders in the golf course management industry. Applications for the 2019 program are open through Oct, 1, 2018.

The EXCEL Leadership Program features two, two-day education and training sessions and a trip to the annual Golf Industry Show for assistant golf course superintendents. The education and travel includes: Golf Industry Show, Feb. 3-8 in San Diego,Calif.

Spring Meeting, TBD, at GCSAA headquarters Fall Meeting, TBD, at Nufarm, Chicago

For more information and to apply, visit www.EIFG.org

GCSAA'S 2019 ANNUAL MEETING GCSAA ASSUMES LEADERSHIP ROLE FOR FIRST GREEN OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT GCSAA has officially assumed leadership for First Green with a new logo and website (www.thefirstgreen.org) that promotes a program centered on golf courses as environmental “learning labs” for students in middle school to 12thgrade. First Green provides hands-on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education at golf courses. Studies fall within the focus of schools’ environmental science and horticulture curriculums.

www.thefirstgreen.org

Balancing Innovation and Sound Agronomics Sales, Contract Service, and Rental options available Call Today to See The Equipment Turf Professionals Trust

The 2019 Annual Meeting of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America will be held on Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019, in San Diego, Calif., as part of the 2019 Golf Industry Show.

After careful evaluation by the Nominating Committee, the following members have been nominated for the GCSAA Board of Directors and will appear on the ballot: OFFICIER POSITIONS FOR PRESIDENT: Rafael Barajas, CGCS FOR VICE PRESIDENT: John R. Fulling Jr., CGCS FOR SECRETARY/TREASURER: Kevin P. Breen, CGCS Mark F. Jordan, CGCS DIRECTOR POSITIONS Five members are on the slate to fill three open director positions: Carlos Arraya, CGCS T. A. Barker, CGCS Paul L. Carter, CGCS Douglas D. Dykstra, CGCS Jeff L. White, CGCS There are three open positions for director. T.A. Barker, CGCS; Jeff L. White, CGCS; and Mark F. Jordan, CGCS, all have terms that are expiring. All three director seats will be for two-year terms.

Darren J. Davis, CGCS, will serve on the board for one year as immediate past president. Bill H. Maynard, CGCS, retires from the board after service the last year as immediate past president.

Jeff Kadlec (210) 413-3045 Rick Kadlec (314) 744-0379

For more information including Candidate Profiles, click: http://bit.ly/GCSAAAMPreview

GOLFINDUSTRYSHOW.COM

Researchers from the AgriLife Research and Extension Programs will be presenting on topics such as breeding for improved turfgrasses, weed identification and herbicide selection, water conservation tools and techniques, disease diagnosis and fungicide use, and management of insect pests. Field day attendees have the opportunity to earn up to four (4) CEUs from TDA and four (4) CEUs from TNLA.

2018 Texas A&M Turfgrasss and Landscape Field Day Wednesday, October 10, 2018 | 7:00 am - 2:00 pm Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center 17360 Coit Road, Dallas, TX 75252 http://bit.ly/TAMUFDDallas

Featured Speakers: Muthu Bagavathiannan, Ben Wherley, Justin Eads and S.T. Kong, Janet Hurley, Kevin Ong, Dennis Genovesi, Meghyn Meeks, Lindsey Hoffman, Ambika Chandra, Tony Provin, Patrick Dickinson, Charles Swanson, Becky Grubbs, Young-Ki Jo, Scott Nolte, Robert Puckett.

Turfgrass and Landscape Field Day Agenda

7:00 am – 8:00 am: Registration 8:00 am – 8:15 am: Opening remarks 8:30 am – 12:30 pm: Field talks 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm: Lunch, poster session, trade-show Registration: http://bit.ly/TAMUFDDallas

$55.00 before October 5, 2018, Late/Onsite Registration: $75.00 after October 5, 2018. Registration includes morning refreshments and BBQ lunch.

No refunds after Friday, October 5, 2018.

A $15 processing fee will incur for all refunds.

Contact Dr. Lindsey Hoffman at lindsey.hoffman@ag.tamu.edu for more information.