NTGCSA Chapter Connect Fall 2019

Fall 2019

Volume 27 Issue 3

Greg Neill wins 2019 Most Valuable Technician Award

The NorthTexas equipment manager is safety-focused, environmentallyminded and passionate about his work.

President’s Message As the calendar turns from August to September, a lot starts to change in our industry. Average afternoon high temperatures begin to dip. Overnight lows will soon be in the 60s. Leaves on trees will start to change colors and drop. Long days of watching greens in the afternoons will soon be over.

Kids go back to school. But, most importantly, it’s football season! All of this makes it my favorite time of the year.

It has been a busy few months for the Chapter. In June, Longhorn Inc. sponsored our meeting at Wild Horse Golf Club at Robson Ranch hosted

by Superintendent Christian Boyd. Jacob Boelsche from TPC Four Season Resort and Club gave a very interesting presentation on the use of drones and how they can benefit Golf Course Maintenance departments. After lunch, everyone enjoyed a round of golf. In July, we hosted the Family Social at Top Golf in The Colony. This is one of the most fun events of the year.

It is always nice to see everyone away from the golf course and to meet the families of our members. I would like to give a special thank you to our Chapter Executive, Carol Cloud, for organizing this event and making sure all the kids left with goody bags.

Target Specialty Products upgraded their sponsorship to Platinum level and hosted an education meeting at Globe Life Park before the Texas Rangers hosted the Seattle Mariners. Wes Eppele from BASF gave a presentation. Steve Loveday spoke of the importance of understanding plant physiology. Anthony Williams, CGCS, spoke of the importance of being good stewards of the environment as Superintendents and Johnny Walker updated the group with what is going on at the national level with GCSAA. In September, Winfield United once again sponsored our Fall Education meeting at the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children.

All members in attendance earned TDA CEUs and GCSAA education points. Also, I had the good fortune of presenting a check for $9,000.00 to the hospital. That brings our total contribution to the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children to over $100,000.00. Let that sink in. We should all take pride in the difference we have made and are making in to the lives of the children treated at Scottish Rite.

Over the next few months, we have a lot planned. In October, Grant Meredith at Shady Valley will host the Annual Meeting sponsored by Turf Materials Inc. At this meeting, we will elect our Board of Directors for 2020. In November, Joe Livingston, CGCS, of River Crest Country Club will host our annual Scholarship Tournament. Money raised from this event goes to the Legacy Scholarship fund benefitting children of our members. Again this year, we will be conducting a silent auction. Curt Franklin has taken the lead and is organizing this portion of the event. If you have items to donate, reach out to Curt. If you have college age children, a link to the scholarship application is now available online at our website NTGCSA.org. Our final event of 2019 will be the Crew Championship and Assistant Championship at Canyon Creek Country Club on December 3. This is a great event and a way to show appreciation to the guys that work so hard all year!

If you haven’t attended an event yet this year, it is not too late. I urge you all to get INVOLVED with the association. . The question we all need to ask ourselves is, “What do I expect from my Association membership?”

I want to again share a Tweet from Adam Ikamas, the Executive Director of the Michigan Golf Course Superintendents Association. He wrote, “Association dues are not paying for a service, it is funding opportunity to promote and enhance our profession. Getting involved will help you personally and the industry as a whole.”

I firmly believe that you only get out of our association what you are willing to put in. Get involved. Come to the meetings. Write an article for the newsletter. Reach out to a Board member and ask to be part of a committee. Run for the Board. Put your fingerprint on the Chapter any way you feel comfortable.

Thank you and I hope to see ALL of you at one of upcoming events.

Bryan Brown NTGCSA President

About Us North Texas Golf Course Superintendents Association Board of Directors President: Bryan Brown bryan.brown@lkpoa.org Vice President: KD Davis kdavis@roccdallas.com Secretary / Treasurer: Anthony Williams CGCS Anthony.williams@fourseasons.com Past President: Kirt Phillips kirt@dallascountryclub.org Superintendent Directors Blake Cain blake@benttreecc.org Jay Tinsley bgc.tinsley@gmail.com Jason Wiedeman-jwiedeman @crosstimersgc.com Mike Epps mepps@miravistacountryclub.com Affiliate Directors Aaron Fox afox@textron.com Todd Gilmour toddgolf1@yahoo.com Chapter Executive Carol Cloud ntgcsa@gmail.com 817-368-3002 PO Box 122766, Fort Worth, TX 76121

Network with your peers!

Join us at: Ntgcsa.org and:

SOY - Club Official Letter SOY - Head Golf Professional Letter SOY - General Manager Letter

We are approaching a very special time of the year when the association honors the many deserving members who have demonstrated an above and beyond effort and commitment to their golf facility, their association and their profession. Since 1972, the North Texas GCSA has honored a Superintendent each year with first the Superintendent of the Year Award, and beginning in 1987 the A.C. Bearden Superintendent of the Year Award and eventually as it has been known since 2014, the A.C. and Garry Bearden Superintendent of the Year Award. Each year, the winner is honored at the Annual Awards Banquet held in January.

At this time, we are seeking deserving nominations for the 2019 award. Nominations will be reviewed by the SOY Committee and the winner will be selected by a vote of the Class A and SM (B) Membership in December. Nominations can be made by any Class A or SM (B) member or by golf course officials. Nominations should be made in writing and must be submitted to the North Texas GCSA office no later than 5:00 pm, October 15, 2019.

As noted, North Texas GCSA Class A and SM (B) members are encouraged to nominate their deserving peers for this award. These types of nominations are very meaningful ways for members to honor their professional colleagues. All nominees will be specially recognized by the association through a congratulatory letter, and recognition in the North Texas GCSA Newsletter and Website.

Also an annual North Texas GCSA tradition is to ask course officials for nominations. We strongly encourBeginning in 2017, the NTGCSA Board of Directors age all members to share this message to the approhas awarded a top Assistant for their hard work and priate personnel at their course for their consideration.

Superintendents by nature are modest in nature but dedication to the industry. we hope all members will share the information. Nominations will be accepted from General Managers, If you are a Superintendent and have an Assistant that you feel is deserving of this award, please pass Golf Professionals, Club Officials, Golfers, Club Members or any other individual related to a golf facility on a copy of the application listed below. who would like to make a nomination. Letters will also be sent to your General Manager, Club Official and Each applicant is also asked to submit a Letter of Golf Professional.

Recommendation from their Superintendent. The submissions will be put before a committee and a winner The deadline for nominations is 5:00 pm on October chosen.

15, 2019. Nominations may be emailed to ntgcsa@ The recipient of the award will be invited to the Annu- gmail.com or mailed to the NTGCSA office at P.O. al Banquet in January 2020 to accept a plaque and Box 121766, Fort Worth, TX 76121-2766. If you have questions regarding the process, contact a North Tex$250.00 gift card. as GCSA board member or the Chapter Executive at ntgcsa@gmail.com.

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 2020 program are open through Oct. 1.

EXCEL E — Educating golf industry leaders of tomorrow.

X — Cross-training opportunities so they can share what they have learned.

C — Creating community leaders who serve more than take.

E — Encouraging future leaders through advisory boards and councils.

L — Developing leaders who will mentor others.

The program

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.

Eligibility

You depend on Aquatrols soil surfactants help your turf perform throughout the summer stress period, and the benefits don’t have to end there. A late season application just before you blow out your irrigation system can provide many important turf benefits before the ground freezes in winter and after the ground thaws in early spring.

BENEFITS INCLUDE: • Late Autumn: Ensure maximum penetration of any rainfall or snowmelts that occur and improve soil moisture levels before the ground freezes. Apply Aqueduct® Flex to collars and other high-stress areas during winter preparation aerification.

• Winter: Prevent crown hydration injury by ensuring free water drains off of the surface during snowmelts.

• Spring: When the rootzone thaws in early spring, Aquatrols soil surfactants will still be present in the soil, improving soil moisture levels and maximizing photosynthesis and root growth.

Robert Wilson Territory Manager rwilson@aquatrols.com

TRY A LATE SEASON APPLICATION THIS FALL!

(513) 319 -1827

To be considered, a GCSAA Class C member must complete the application and respond to two pre-selected essay questions. Up to eight assistant superintendents will be selected for this opportunity to develop their leadership skills over a three-year period.

Applicants must be: Currently employed as an assistant golf course superintendent within the United States (including Alaska and Hawaii) or Canada.

A Class C member of GCSAA Able to participate for three full years Not be working for current members of the GCSAA Board of Directors or EIFG Board of Trustees, children of GCSAA or Nufarm staff, or current employees of those organizations.

APPLY NOW

Funding NTGCSA Legacy Scholarships November 4th

Supplemental Sand Topdressing

By John Daniels Agronomist, Central Region How strong is the turfgrass along the edges of your putting greens? Is it thick and uniform or thin and uneven?

It is quite common to see cool-season turf struggling along the perimeter of the putting surface at this time of year. Much of this damage can be attributed to mechanical injury from routine mowing. The cumulative effect of repeatedly dropping the cutting unit on the same area where a turning mower makes the cleanup cut adds significant stress to turfgrass. Saturated conditions along the edges of some greens, caused by elevated collars that trap water on the putting surface, exacerbate the problem and increase the likelihood of mower scalping.

Sand topdressing is an important practice for maintaining a healthy, smooth and uniform putting surface that resists scalping. Most highly regarded golf facilities routinely topdress their putting greens every 7 to 14 days during the growing season. Despite following this best management practice, some scalping along the edges can still occur. If this problem develops on your greens, supplemental sand applications that specifically target the outer edge can prove useful.

The additional sand mixed in the turf canopy helps to support the weight of the cutting unit and creates a more uniform surface.

Making targeted applications of sand topdressing to putting green edges is not difficult. All you need is a drop spreader or seeder and some dry sand that will easily flow through the openings. A single lap around a green can be completed by one employee in a couple of minutes or less, making this task very easy to accomplish even during play. For best results, the process should be completed weekly using a light enough rate of sand so that brushing is not required. Lightly irrigate the sand to knock it off the leaves if necessary.

Save the 2019 Dates!

Winter 2019 Conference December 10th-12th Corpus Christi, TX Omni Hotel and American Bank Center

June Chapter Meeting at Robson Ranch Our June meeting was held at Wildhorse Golf Club of Robson Ranch and hosted by Superintendent Christian Boyd and Director of Golf Ryan Coffman. This is a busy time of year for everyone but our attendance was good. The entire staff at Robson Ranch were very welcoming.

Our Title Sponsor was Longhorn Irrigation who did an great job of delivering an excellent speaker and providing a very good review of the products and services available to their loyal customers.

Our speaker was Jacob Boelsche from Four Seasons Golf and Sports Club provided some very interesting and useful information on their use of drones to monitor conditions, document flood and weather-related damage, and even to provide video and photography for the resort's marketing. The team at Four Seasons has developed a very good system for delivering the information to their management, accounting, and golf members. Jacob also informed the group on the ever-changing rules and regulations regarding drone usage. Great job Jacob and thank you for putting together a terrific presentation!

Following the education, Chad Fisher, Golf Sales Manager, introduced Stephen McGee and Drew Thompson of the Longhorn support and sales team in the DFW region. Rainbird Representative Gene Dahlin was also on hand to provide good information about RainBird's newest products and technology. Thank you Longhorn for being a great title sponsor and making the day special.

Following a tasty lunch, we headed out to the golf course and played in a modified stableford tournament.

The course played excellent because of the great conditions and challenging layout. In the end, Loren Moulder captured first place honors and a nice prize. All who played in the tournament were very complimentary of the golf course and thanked Ryan and Christian for their efforts to make it special. Thanks to all who participated during a very busy time of year in North Texas!

Jacob Boelsche

Chad Fischer

NTGCSA Family Social We had another great family event at Top Golf in the Colony. Top Golf is always a great venue for our family event filled with fun golf games and good food! The kids in attendance each received a goody bag filled with fun items and we were able to have a great raffle with prizes for the participants. Thank you to all of the families that came out for the event and thank you to all of our affiliate members who provided door prizes!

The chapter was able to add a special event to our annual schedule in August due to the great support and enthusiasm of Target Specialties. We met on a warm August afternoon and enjoyed outstanding education prior to a fun and relaxing evening watching the Texas Rangers take on the Seattle Mariners.

We had a great lineup of speakers including NTGCSA Board Member Anthony Williams and our GCSAA Field Staff Representative Johnny Walker. Thank you to Target specialties for coordinating the speakers for this event and thank you to all who took time out of a very busy time of year to attend.

Greg Neill, the equipment manager at Four Seasons Golf and Sports Club has been selected as the recipient of the 2019

Most Valuable Technician Award

presented by GCSAA and Golf Course Management magazine in partnership with Foley Co.

Greg Neill family Greg Neill with his wife, Amanda, daughter, Natalie, and sons, Kayden (left) and Kolton.

Now in its 10th year, the annual MVT Award recognizes excellence among golf course equipment managers as well as the vital role they play in the golf course management industry. Equipment managers are nominated by their golf course superintendent, and a panel of industry judges narrows those nominations down to three finalists. The winner is then selected by GCSAA members through an online voting process.

“Golf course superintendents have long been aware of the enormous impact their equipment managers have on the success of the golf course maintenance operations,” says Rhett Evans, GCSAA CEO. “GCSAA wishes to recognize the efforts of equipment managers through the MVT Award and their own membership classification, of which there are over 800 members. Greg Neill’s passion and dedication as an equipment manager are unmatched. He’s a key member of the team at Four Seasons Golf and Sports Club who contributes strong knowledge and leadership, and we’re proud to recognize him for all his achievements.”

Neill has been in the golf course management business for nearly two decades, and he currently applies his skills at Four Seasons Golf and Sports Club, where GCSAA member Anthony Williams, CGCS, is the director of golf course and landscape operations. Neill, who has worked at the facility since early 2017, serves as the lead trainer for safety efforts in the club’s grounds department. He is certified in CPR and first aid, and thanks to his leadership and commitment to improving safety, the club is entering its third year without a lost-time accident.

Environmental stewardship is a point of emphasis at Four Seasons Golf and Sports Club, and Neill played a big role in Williams and the resort winning top honors in GCSAA and Golf Digest’s 2017 Environmental Leaders in Golf Awards. The five-year GCSAA member is also dedicated to professional development, and he completed Level 1 of GCSAA’s Equipment Management Certificate Program during the 2019 Golf Industry Show in San Diego.

Continued on page 20

COVER PHOTO: Greg Neill (center), the equipment manager at Four Seasons Golf and Sports Club near Dallas and the winner of the 2019 Most Valuable Technician Award, examines a rough mower with Anthony Williams, CGCS (right), the club’s director of golf course and landscape operations, and Jacob Boelsche, assistant superintendent.

Photos by Scott Hollister

Aquatrols serves as sponsor of Audubon International

By Golfdom Staff

Aquatrols has become a sponsor of Audubon International.

“Aquatrols has a reputation for conservation and stewardship within the turf industry that we are proud to be associated with,” said Christine Kane, Audubon International CEO. “The company and newly founded nonprofit’s mission align beautifully with our goals and should make for a great partnership.”

The partnership signifies Aquatrols’ dedication to conservancy within the industry and will help fuel the growth of the company’s recently launched nonprofit, The FairWays Foundation, according to the company. As a sponsor of Audubon International, Aquatrols will contribute to the funding of various stewardship-focused projects led by the organization.

“Promoting conservation within the turf industry and like spaces has always been something that is of importance to our company’s mission,” said Matt Foster, Aquatrols’ president and CEO. “Audubon International’s influence on stewardship within our industry is something that we are happy to support, and we’re eager to partner with them in bringing The FairWays Foundation to its full potential.”

Continued from page 18 “I am honored, humbled and excited to win the MVT Award,” says Neill. “I am glad equipment managers have an award like this to recognize the hard work and dedication we put into our golf courses. Most of the time I am called, it is because something is broken and needs to be repaired. It feels good to get calls of congratulations and hear ‘good job’ every once in a while.”

“Greg Neill is the driving force that keeps our operation moving. He is a master of his craft, and you see it across our property, from the lawns at the hotel entrance to the greens on both courses,” says Williams. “He takes ownership of every piece of equipment and its role in our operation. ... He is a huge asset to our team and an innovator and leader within the equipment manager side of the golf industry.”

Paul Rauker, president of Foley Co., which has been the presenting partner of the Most Valuable Technician Award since its inception, says, “Foley Co. remains a proud sponsor of this award. We are pleased to give back to the outstanding equipment managers since they are our largest customer base. We congratulate Greg for winning this year’s award and for all he has accomplished at Four Seasons, and thank you to everyone who submitted nominations.”

Also selected as finalists for this year’s Most Valuable Technician Award were Brian Bressler, equipment manager at Medinah (Ill.) Country Club, and Jody Farber, equipment manager (at the time of nomination) at Anthem Country Club in Henderson, Nev.

2019 Texas A&M Turfgrass Field Day at College Station Wednesday, October 9th Scotts-MiracleGro Lawn and Garden Research Facility $55 (early registration) - Lunch is included.

Registration: Click Here The Texas A&M Turfgrass Field Day offers an opportunity for members of industry and the general public to see and hear about current research activities in the Texas A&M turfgrass program and select related programs in entomology, pathology, and soil science. Attendees will have the opportunity to earn CEUs for professional development, visit the trade show floor to see some new products from industry, and enjoy a delicious lunch alongside fellow turf professionals and enthusiasts!

GCSAA adds three membership opportunities The new membership categories extend the association’s reach both within and beyond the golf course superintendent profession.

GCSAA has introduced three new membership opportunities to engage golf facilities that have leaner budgets, facilities with multiple GCSAA members, and individuals or groups outside the profession who want to show their support for golf course superintendents.

During the 2019 Annual Meeting, held Feb. 7 at the Golf Industry Show in San Diego, the membership approved bylaws changes to implement Facility Membership, Multi-Member Promotion, and Friend of the Golf Course Superintendent. The efforts aim to support GCSAA’s mission of serving its members, advancing the golf course superintendent profession, and enhancing the enjoyment, growth and vitality of the game of golf.

“GCSAA has something to offer golf facilities of every size,” says GCSAA CEO Rhett Evans. “With the new Facility Membership, smaller operations will have access to GCSAA resources for their whole team at a price point in line with their operation. With the Multi-Member Promotion, larger facilities will save when they add a GCSAA member.”

Facility Membership provides access to GCSAA’s resources and services, particularly those that can help with training team members, expanding team members’ knowledge, and creating efficiencies that will result in savings for the golf facility. To be eligible for Facility Membership, a facility must not have had a GCSAA member in the past three years, and the facility’s green fee must be below the 50% median in its region (regions will be based on GCSAA’s field staff regions). Dues are $200 per year for the facility and its employees.

Through the Multi-Member Promotion, everyone on a maintenance staff can benefit from the information and professional development opportunities that come with GCSAA membership, allowing them to improve the efficiency and profitability of the facility. Facilities can receive a 10% discount on membership dues (up to $100 in savings per nine- or 18-hole equivalent).

Those who join GCSAA as a Friend of the Golf Course Superintendent will receive a newsletter and other items to identify them as a Friend, and will get information about GCSAA programs such as First Green, GCSAAPAC and more.

“We have seen an increased interest in GCSAA outside of golf course management professionals as we’ve raised our profile through golf advocacy efforts and our STEM education program, First Green,” says Evans.

“The Friend of the Golf Course Superintendent membership gives those who love golf and appreciate the key role superintendents play in enjoyment of the game the opportunity to show their support.”

Friend of the Golf Course Superintendent memberships for individuals are at $50, $100 and $200 levels of support. In addition, there is a $400 membership for groups of up to 10 people, such as green committees and private club boards. Dues from this membership class will support advocacy, turfgrass research, environmental efforts and scholarships.

Balancing Innova�on and Sound Agronomics Sales, Contrac t Service, and Rental options available Call Today to See The Equipment Turf Professionals Trust

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

2019 NTGCSA Annual Meeting October 14th

Improving The Cold Tolerance, Pest Resistance And Overall Quality Of Zoysiagrass

By Cole Thompson, assistant director, Green Section Research

Genetics ultimately determine how well grasses tolerate the stresses of golf as well as the most suitable playing surfaces and geographic regions for use. At times, management strategies may compensate for genetic shortcomings. For example, many cool-season grasses have excellent quality at very low cutting heights but require frequent irrigation and pesticide applications to mitigate damage from heat, drought or pests. Alternatively, some warm-season grasses tolerate drought and potential pests better than cool-season grasses, but may not provide the desired aesthetics or have the cold tolerance necessary to excel in colder regions. These compromises can make turfgrass selection challenging, especially in regions with diverse environmental conditions.

Because reliable turfgrass performance and resource efficiency are becoming more important to golf facilities, many are opting to use warm-season grasses and risking potential injury during harsh winters. In the case of ultradwarf bermudagrass putting greens, covering during low temperatures accounts for insufficient cold tolerance in the transition-zone region of the U.S.A. This is effective, but another strategy is to improve the genetics of warm-season grasses to diminish tradeoffs and reduce the resources required to deliver high-quality turf in a challenging environment.

Zoysiagrass is a warm-season grass that has already helped golf courses in the transition zone to use resources more efficiently. There are several species of zoysiagrass with different morphologies and cold tolerances. In general, zoysiagrass cultivars provide a high-quality playing surface with lower water, fertilizer and pesticide requirements than cool-season – and even some warm-season – grasses. The cold tolerance of Zoysia japonica cultivars – e.g., ‘Meyer’ – has made them ideal for fairways in the transition zone. To improve quality and further improve cold, shade and pest tolerances, the USGA has supported zoysiagrass development at Texas A&M University since 1983. The cultivars ‘Diamond’, ‘Cavalier’, ‘Crowne’ and ‘Palisades’ were developed and released from this support.

Since 2004, scientists at Texas A&M have partnered with colleagues at Kansas State University and Purdue University (since 2012). Initial success has come from crossing Zoysia japonica types with Zoysia matrella types, which have finer and denser leaves but less cold tolerance. ‘Innovation’ is a new cultivar released from these efforts, which has better quality and similar cold tolerance than ‘Meyer’ – the current standard-bearer for zoysiagrass in the transition zone. Since 2012, this group of scientists has worked to incorporate large patch disease resistance into their higher-quality, cold-tolerant zoysiagrass hybrids. They developed more than 2,800 new zoysiagrass hybrids and evaluated them in Dallas, Texas; Manhattan, Kansas; and West Lafayette, Indiana, from 2012 through 2014.

The hunting billbug emerged as a problematic pest Cell: 469-993-3647 during this cycle of evaluation and hunting billbug resistance has since been a trait of interest. Researchers then selected the best 60 hybrid lines Office: 800-345-9387 and evaluated them in 10 transition-zone locations from 2015 to 2018.

Fax: 972-745-4315 The 10 best hybrid lines have been advanced jim.travis@target-specialty.com from the most recent evaluations for further testing. Large patch and hunting billbug resistance are improved in these lines when compared to ‘Meyer’, and some have better cold tolerance than ‘Meyer’. In 2018, the researchers began crossing these hybrid lines with lesser used zoysiagrass species such as Zoysia pacifica, Zoysia minima and Zoysia pauciflora, which have an even finer texture than Zoysia matrella types. Their ultimate goal is to produce zoysiagrass cultivars with all the aforementioned traits for fairways, tees and even putting greens.

JIM TRAVIS

The Underdogs of Turf make a comeback

By Golfdom Staff Man’s best friend is back — for the 2020 Underdogs of Turf calendar, that is.

Presented by Rain Bird, John Deere and Golfdom, the Underdogs of Turf calendar is back for the third year in a row. The brainchild of Kasey Kauff, director of grounds at Trinity Forest Golf Club in Dallas, the calendar pictures dozens of dogs on each page rather than one dog per month.

“It’s rewarding to see the Underdogs calendar back in Golfdom, and we couldn’t do it without the support of our friends at John Deere, Rain Bird, Kasey Kauff at Trinity Forest and, of course, the many superintendents who submit their dog photos,” said Golfdom Publisher Craig MacGregor. “Last year’s calendar was a big hit with readers, and we think the 2020 calendar will be even better.”

The calendar will be distributed with the December issue of Golfdom. It’ll be mailed to 22,000 subscribers across all 50 states.

What’s more, the 2020 calendar will be larger in size than the 2019 calendar.

“Rain Bird is so excited to be partnering with John Deere and Golfdom to make the Underdogs of Turf Calendar even bigger in 2020,” said Matt Corentin, global technological sales manager at Rain Bird Golf. “As most people know, we didn’t come with the idea of the dog calendar, just how to make it the best dog calendar in the turf industry by leaving no dog behind.”

Golf industry professionals have until Oct. 1 to submit pictures of their hounds, retrievers, terriers and mutts. To submit a photo, visit golfdom.com/underdogs.

One lucky dog will be randomly selected by Kauff and Golfdom Editor-in-Chief Seth Jones on Facebook Live to be the 2020 cover model. The chosen dog will be professionally photographed for the calendar.

The Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children in Dallas once again provided a terrific venue for our annual education meeting in September.

This time-honored tradition always creates very high attendance numbers because of the terrific hospitality from the hospital, and the headline speakers that we are able to bring in for this event.

The title sponsor, Winfield United coordinated the speaking lineup and did not disappoint.

Each year the hospital host a very special luncheon to thank the association for their continued support. This year the association was able to make a $9,000 contribution to the hospital.

We look forward to continuing this relationship for many years to come.

2019 Crew and Assistant Championship

Crew Championship

December 3rd