Chapter Connect March 2016

Spring 2016

Volume 24 Issue 1

President’s Message Dear NTGCSA members and friends, I hope everyone enjoyed our two weeks of winter! After eleven years in North Texas, I’m not sure I will ever get use to the unpredictability of our weather. Two years ago, I was locating dry areas on the course for additional irrigation and last year was spent installing new drainage. Hopefully, this year will be filled with timely rains, adequate temperatures, and a sufficient amount of rounds and revenue for us all.

It is an honor to serve as President of the North Texas Golf Course Superintendents Association. I am grateful to the past Presidents and Board members who have devoted their time, experience and vision, to make the NTGCSA the strong, successful organization it is today.

Moving forward, I would like thank the current board members for their continual interest and commitment to bettering our position within the golf industry. As a board, we are constantly listening and evaluating on how to make the NTGCSA a better experience for our members and our sponsors alike. At the end of the day, the association’s strength comes from its members and valued sponsors. Together, their passion is helping the association prosper. I am looking forward to another productive and exciting year for the association.

Our monthly meetings have become extraordinary, with great venues, education opportunities, and networking that is second to none. The February education meeting, hosted by KD Davis, at Royal Oaks Country Club, was a great example of terrific education that is on tap for the upcoming year. Bud White provided a tremendous presentation covering essential topics that we deal with on a daily basis. His wealth of knowledge, and his delivery style made the time fly and left me wanting more information.

Building on last years’ success, the board has been working extremely hard to provide a number of exciting events, informative speakers and the opportunity of comrade and fellowship. The tournament planning committee is putting the finishing touches on our schedule, but you can mark the following events on your calendar: Rolling Hills, March 28, Bully Cup April 25, Hackberry Creek May 17, Sky Creek Ranch, Stephen Best Memorial Pro/Super Please make every effort to attend these events and I encourage everyone to visit our website often to stay current on our upcoming meetings and industry news. Don’t hesitate to reach out to me, any member of our Board of Directors, or any Committee Chair with any questions, comments, or concerns. I’m looking forward to a great year and seeing you at our next event.

Sincerely,

Kevin Redburn NTGCSA President

About Us

North Texas Golf Course Superintendents Association

Join us on:

Board of Directors

Facebook

President: Kevin Redburn redburnk@aol.com

Ntgcsa.org

Vice President: Mike Epps mepps@miravistacountryclub.com

Twitter - @ntgcsa

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

Special Announcement!!

The North Texas GCSA Board has decided that Emerald and Bronze Memberships will be available again in 2016! This special membership was a great hit in 2015 and members enjoyed pre-paid entry in to all meetings and events (not including Scholarship Tournament and Annual Banquet). It is a great value for vendors and professional members alike.

Think about—1 trip to the accountant vs. 10! 25 members took advantage of this great deal in 2015 and enjoyed free events and hassle free registration.

For 20 years, members of the North Texas GCSA have battled over the rights to claim the most coveted prize in golf. The Green Jacket? The Claret Jug? No, its BULLY! East versus West will commence once again on March 28 at Rolling Hills Country Club in Arlington. If you haven't participated in this event before, come prepared for intense competition, nail-biting tension, and a great time with your friends and colleagues.

Austin Turf & Tractor is the authorized distributor for John Deere Golf & Commercial Products for Most of the State of Texas and all of New Mexico. Our area of responsibility covers South West Texas, North Texas, and New Mexico. We supply over 800 Golf Courses and Sports Turf facilities with the finest golf maintenance equipment, service, supplies, and support available.

Our Philosophy is to provide our customers with exceptional assistance, in the supply, maintenance, service and financing of their specialty turf needs. This philosophy enables the customer to concentrate on the growing of the best turf at the lowest total maintenance cost.

Schedule 9:00 am Registration

Platinum Title Sponsor

Our membership has been enjoying the newly Colligan Golf designed 18 holes. Most compliments are on the new Mini Verde greens and their complex undulations and true roll. The fairways are showing signs of being immaculate with more growing season ahead and the new layout has brought smiles to membership, and challenging golf to Arlington.

10:00 am Education 11:30 am Lunch 12:30 pm Golf Cost: $60

REGISTER TODAY AT NTGCSA.ORG See you at Rolling Hills!

Throwback Article窶認irst Published April 2006 Communicate as much as possible Scott Miller CGCS Communication is the key to success. Most of us have heard this clichﾃｩ, however, if there is one clichﾃｩ that is true, this one is. Communication in any business is key to success, and it is especially true in our industry. The days of the golf course superintendent just growing grass are over. In the complex world of managing a golf course, it is critical we all communicate properly. Keeping all the members of our team informed makes are teams more motivated and productive thus making our jobs easier. This applies to the people above us as well as to our assistants or golf course maintenance workers. Oh wait a minute, don't forget about the golfers, members and guests of our clubs. I remember one of my past general managers saying would it not be nice if we were only judged on what you could do. Every one of us is judged on what we can get accomplished through others. So in order for us to grow and improve our clubs, we must be able to communicate to others.

This is what Scott Miller looked like in 2006

There are many different ways to communicate and many different ways to receive that communication. If you are the leader of that communication or the receiver of that communication, you can help facilitate that communication is understood. As the leader of that communication, it is your role to find out what works for your boss, your staff or your membership or guests. If you are the receiver of that communication, be sure you understand what the person communicating is trying to get you to understand. Either way, ask questions and confirm the each person comprehends.

Communication can be accomplished in many different ways: Newsletters Emails Phone calls Course Website Bulletin Boards Memos or Letters ﾂｷFace to Face

There is more than one way to communicate, we must find and use a combination of the best ways that work at our facilities.

Talk to your boss and communicating upward, as we all know, is extremely important. But we all must understand, our bosses are as busy as we are and their time is limited. Respect their time, be concise, and make sure your message is understood. Confirm that message before interaction ends. This may be a formal meeting, a phone call, email, or passing conversion. Know what your goal is going in and what is to be achieved coming out. Our job as leaders of our areas is to keep our bosses informed and educated on the events of the golf course. He/she wants to know how the staff is doing, the events and effects on the golf course and how much will it cost. Understand your bosses' role and their needs and concerns, and it will only help you in your job too and you will be a better educator and communicator.

Communication to the staff is vital to make them feel part of a team. Making your staff a team is very important just as in the College Basketball National Championship, March Madness, no one player can win the game alone, it is a team effort. This applies to our industry too; no one person can maintain the golf course alone; it is a team effort. Educate and communicate with your staff each and everyday and make them feel important.

Inform the golfers. Whether it is at a public facility or at a private membership course, it is extremely important to let the golfer know what is going on with the course. The golfers are your biggest supporters or your worse nightmare. So why not make them your biggest supporters and let them know what is happening on the course. An informed person will usually support you if that person understands the goal. Whether it is good news or bad. Bulletin boards in the pro shops or locker rooms can work well. Inform them of events, projects and maintenance that are going and upcoming on the courses. Use pictures! As they say, pictures are worth a 1000 words. In this age of computers and technology, if your course has a website, use to display the course maintenance information. Show up at special events or tournament and talk to people face to face. Also another great way to communicate is to play golf with different people and you can have a little fun too.

I hope this article helps everyone be a more effective communicator. But secondly, I hope it spurs you to be involved in your facilities and our entire industry and make a difference. Communication is information and education, but it can also make a meaningful different both professionally and personally. Get involved with your local golf associations and your own communities.

Volunteer and make a difference.

Sincere Condolences We send our sincere condolences to longtime member and former NTGCSA President, Chuck McCaskill CGCS who lost his father in February - Philip Ross McCaskill-- 1950-2016

2016 Annual Banquet

What a Night!

2016 Annual Awards Banquet Fort Worth Club

If you weren't able to join us in January for the 2016 Annual Awards Banquet, you missed a very special night of awards and tributes, great food and company and a very fun casino party hosted by 2016 NTGCSA President, Kevin Redburn.

2015 President Kevin Carpenter provided the highlight of the night with very special tribute videos for Russell Birkhimer and Jim Newkirk.

The Fort Worth Club rolled out the red carpet and attendees enjoyed Las Vegas style gambling and great prizes made possible by our generous sponsors.

Also recognized at this event were the 2015 golf champions listed to the right as well as the 2016 Legacy Scholarship Award winners. Congratulations to the honorees and thank you to all of those who made the night extra special. See you in 2017!

2016 Award Winners A.C. and Garry Bearden Superintendent of the Year Award

Russell Birkhimer

2015 Legacy Scholarship Awards

Jenna Underwood, Stephen Klein, Madison Newkirk, Clair Schick, Halle Clare Tielkemeier 2015 Ace January Superintendent Champion

Shawn Westacott

2015 Assistant Champion

Logan Manning Crew Champions

Dallas National Golf Club Distinguished Service Award

Mr. Jim Newkirk Videos for the Superintendent of the Year Award and Distinguished Service Award can be viewed at ntgcsa.org

Does Your Chemical Storage Facility Make The Grade?

John Daniels, Agronomist South Central Region

The combination of snow cover and cold temperatures throughout much of the Midwest has limited many golf course maintenance activities – with the exception of an occasional plowing and shoveling – to indoor tasks within the confines of the turf care facility. Farther south, many golf courses are trying to wrap up any remaining course-improvement projects like tree maintenance. With the 2016 golf season on the horizon, now Use shelving to keep areas free of is a good time to review your facility's pesticide storage clutter, reduce the potential for building and ensure all products are well-organized and in appropriate condition. contamination and protect

investments.

Proper pesticide storage not only reduces the likelihood of accidental spills but also improves operational efficiency during the mixing and loading process. A pesticide storage area should create a suitable environment for pesticides to retain their performance abilities while also protecting the environment.

Here are some things to keep in mind:           

Always consult with local and state regulatory agencies regarding specific storage requirements. Remember to follow manufacturer directions listed on the label.

Inspect all containers for leaks or other damage Keep products off the floor Place dry formulations above liquid formulations Properly discard empty containers Utilize secondary containment bins for greater security Group similar pesticides together for easier identification Make sure all containers are properly labeled Ensure your spill-containment kit is up-to-date Create a current inventory of all products and respective quantities Confirm Material Safety Data Sheets are easily accessible and current Test ventilation, heating and lighting systems

For more information on proper chemical storage please review the articles below. Links can be found at: http://ow.ly/Z5AIB

Chemical Storage Upgrades What Makes a Good Maintenance Facility?

I Know We Don’t Have the Money, but Can We Afford NOT to Invest in a New Maintenance Facility?

2015 Crew and Assistant Championship Photos—Bridlewood GC

Team Champions—Dallas National

Thank You Ameriturf!

Assistant Champion—Logan Manning (R)

New Member Profile Sarah Glenn Sarah Glenn is a new North Texas GCSA Member and the Assistant Superintendent at Pecan Plantation in Frisco. She is a 2014 graduate of Texas Tech University where she earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Horticulture with an emphasis in Turfgrass Science.

We met her at the February Education meeting at Royal Oaks and asked her to tell us about herself. Welcome to the NTGCSA, Sarah. We look forward to your participation and seeing you at events in 2016.

Where are you from?

I was born and raised in Garland, Texas and number three of four children. I have an older brother who is 30, a 27-year-old sister who is 15 months older than me, and my baby brother who is 20 years old.

And we hear there are wedding bells in your future?

Yes. I will marry my college sweetheart Nicklas Jackson. When I first met him, he was a rookie gas and diesel mechanic and now he's in the medical field working in the OR at Parkland Hospital. Our wedding is during Memorial Day weekend this year! We wed on Saturday, the 28th of May in Port Aransas, Texas. In just two months y'all will know me as Sarah C. Jackson.

What do you do with your spare time when you aren’t working on the course or making wedding plans?

My hobbies have grown and changed since I moved back to Dallas last March. While living in Lubbock, there wasn't much to do except keep yourself busy with school, work or happy hour. I absolutely love being outdoors, especially hiking with my two dogs. The thing I look forward to the most is shooting sporting clays every other weekend with my fiancé at our favorite range. I play golf occasionally, but plan to really get into it once I'm older.

Tell us about your decision to pursue a career in golf course / turfgrass management?

After two major changes at Tech, a friend of mine suggested the turf program in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. After my first plant ID class, I was hooked. Plus, the perk of being outside was the main selling point.

Were there challenges along the way?

Sometimes I get mistaken for a cart girl. Hey, it happens. I've been presented with interior personal challenges. For example, how to suppress certain emotions. I don't want to be viewed as weak or vacuous, so I keep my emotions at bay. Whether it be excitement, happiness, or even anger.

How was your experience working with Rodnie Burmea at the Rawls Course in Lubbock?

I was employed with The Rawls Course which is affiliated with Troon Golf during and after college. Once I graduated in August of 2014, I was switched to full time employment and became their spray tech until I moved to Dallas. Rodnie and the rest of the staff were completely supportive of my goals and soon made me feel like I was "one of the guys". None of them had ever worked with a woman before and at times it was apparent, but as time went on, me being of the opposite sex didn't seem as much of an issue. The crew at The Rawls was the best group of guys I could have the honor to work with. They were patient, respectful, great teachers, and my friends.

Continued on Next Page

I relocated back to the DFW area for a job in Horticulture at the Dallas Arboretum to better familiarize myself with additional plants not typically associated with golf courses. It was a fun job and I gained more experience with irrigation and the designing of large areas with diverse species of plants. But, deep down I missed the smell of fresh cut grass in the morning and the solitary time I gained with doing specific tasks on the golf course And how did you end up working with one of the top Superintendents in the DFW area, Tony Rodriguez?

I applied at a golf course for the Assistant Superintendent position at Pecan Plantation Golf Club, and not even 6 hours later I received a phone call from Tony offering me an interview. The next day I was offered the job and in less than three years I went from raking bunkers to the current position I hold today.

Please talk about the challenges of working in a male dominated field?

I learned from my previous employer that it's professional to look a little feminine on the job. Women are considered a minority in this industry, no doubt. My defense mechanism was to wear loose-fitted clothing and to refrain from wearing perfume. Anyone who knows me well knows I never go anywhere without my perfume on. I used men's deodorant so I could blend in while trying to divert any attention to myself. Now, I make an effort to appear (and smell) less masculine, like having my nails done. Usually, there's no doubt in people's mind when they see red or orange nails.

What advice do you have for other women considering a career in the golf maintenance industry or for that matter, any other male dominated field?

There have been many instances where I have been welcomed and accepted. A few other times, I was met with stiff rejection and cold expressions. All of those experiences have desensitized me and prepared me to meet just about anyone. If a woman wants to pursue a career in this field, she needs to have a thick skin and a rock solid support system.

You will encounter negativity and doubt sometimes, but how you handle yourself in those situations will speak volumes about your character.

Great stuff, thanks very much for your candid comments and for letting us get to know you better. Good luck with your position at Pecan Plantation and your future career. Any final thoughts?

I've worked hard to get where I'm at and I won't stop until I've reached my final goal of becoming a superintendent. I thank the people who have motivated and helped me get to where I'm at, but it goes to prove that a female can make it in this career with hard work and dedication. Thank you very much to the NTGCSA for making me feel welcome and this opportunity to share my story!

The résumé is arguably the most important tool when applying for jobs. Potential employers “meet” you via your résumé, and they may inadvertently form their first impression of who you are based on this one sheet of paper.

RÉSUMÉ COMPONENTS

Name and contact information (phone number and address) It’s most important to set yourself apart form other applicants.

Make sure your contact information is large enough to notice at the top of your You both will most likely have similar backgrounds, so use résumé. Enlarging the size of your name may help your name be remembered. the tips below to make yourself stand out.

Résumé objective

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This should be different for each job you apply to. It’s obvious your objective is to Writing style and appearance play a large role in an employer picking your résumé out of a pool of applicants. For get a job at ABC golf course, so tell the employer what about you will help you succeed in this specific position, at this specific course. “To obtain a head superinjobs you currently hold, use active words like “analyze” tendent position at a golf course” is not a good objective. A better example might and “train” as opposed to “analyzed” and “trained” for be: “To use my three years of experience decreasing maintenance expenses by 12 jobs you have previously held. percent as an assistant superintendent to succeed as a head superintendent at  Tailor the description of your job for each job you apply ABC golf course.”

Work history for. Chances are, the employer is looking for someone with specific experience and quality. Look at the details Your maintenance jobs, yes. Your dishwashing job in high school, no. List applicain the job description, and think of ways your past employ- ble jobs you have held, or ones you have held for longer periods of time after ment applies to those details. List out the important ones. your education. Don’t leave out periods of time by skipping a few years, just take a look at your past jobs and see if any of your duties will directly apply to the job  Format your résumé as you would any other professional you seeking. written document. Keep the paper size as 8 inches wide by Education 11.5 inches tall. Keep the margins at 1 inch on all sides, College or high school, if it applies. Any other certifications or continuing educaand the font size should be no smaller than 11 point. tion can be listed here (or in its own section if there is more than one being  A basic serif or sans font is recommended for legibility and listed.) If you have a college degree, there’s usually no need to list your high school. professional appearance. The most common standard References fonts for résumés are Times New Roman, Garamond, Helvetica and Arial.

List at least three references on a separate page. It is OK to note “references available upon request.”  Color is acceptable if the job will require some creative work. It’s best to avoid color to play it safe.  One page is usually enough for a résumé, although if you’ve been in the industry for 15 or more years and have held jobs at many golf courses, it’s OK to go over one page in length. But, keep in mind that if you are summarizing your job duties that apply well enough, you should have no problem keeping it to one page.  Cover letters should be included along with your résumé. It’s a good idea to present who you are and why you want the job in your own writing.  If you’ve left off a couple jobs due to space or inapplicability, make sure to keep a list of all of your previous jobs for the interview.

Make sure there are no mistakes. I mean none. Take each sentence or phrase, copy it into a text editor and run a spell check on it.

It pays to double (or triple!) check. Send it out to a few friends or colleagues that are willing to look it over to see if you missed any mistakes. Many of you are industry friends. Use your network to ask for help.

If you have any problems creating your resume, or you just want to perfect it, find professional help. There are some online tools that will help you, such as Monster and About.com, but a simple web search will help you find professionals in your area.

2015 Crew and Assistant Championship Photos—Bridlewood GC

“Proud Boss” Kyle Embry “Proud Papa” Pat Manning

Champion Logan Manning

Photos from February Education at Royal Oaks

Thank You, Bud White of Bud White Golf Solutions for a great program!

Bud White, whose experience includes 20+ years as a former USGA Green Section Agronomist in both the Southeast and Midwest regions, and well-known speaker and teacher for many state, GCSAA, and international superintendent associations, is announcing the opening of Bud White Golf Solutions, an independent, specialized golf course and sports field consultant business, geared to meet the needs of today’s turfgrass managers.

Sports field clients have included the Yankees, the Falcons, the University of Georgia, the University of Tennessee and Mercer University.

Bud’s career experience and expertise are known throughout the industry.

Assistance can be provided in areas such as: Detailed golf course/sports field assessment and troubleshooting In-depth, advanced crew education and training Comprehensive soil and water testing programs and evaluation Renovation/grow-in management Green rebuild or resurface assessment Budget/labor/equipment Maintenance standards planning Educational sessions for GCSA, CMAA and other associations Many other services available, geared to your situation

More 2016 Banquet Photos

Don’t ask

CHIP IN TO MAKE AN IMPACT Helping the NTGCSA is as simple as donating a round of golf for the Rounds 4 Research auction.

Visit Rounds4Research .com to donate today.

New Auction Dates: April 1—10, 2016

We hope you were able to join us for ‘everything under the sun’ in San Diego! In addition to the beautiful weather, our 12,751 total attendees enjoyed playing some of the best golf courses San Diego has to offer, attending countless educational sessions, seminars and events, and experiencing a fantastic trade show. Check out some of our notable highlights from the week.

GCSAA EDUCATION CONFERENCE

Grass elected 2016 president of Golf Course Superintendents Association of America Peter J. Grass (left), golf course superintendent at Hilands Golf Club in Billings, Mont., has been elected to a oneyear term as president of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) at the association's annual meeting Feb. 11, held in conjunction with the Golf Industry Show in San Diego.

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Our newest category of membership, equipment managers, enjoyed targeted education and a networking reception on Wednesday evening.

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A total of 5,240 participants attended GCSAA educational seminars and hundreds attended complimentary forums, sessions and panel discussions throughout the week with some participating in interactive polling which targeted conversations and content.

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Over 200 conference attendees stepped out of the convention center into the California sun, experiencing unique field trips at local golf courses and Hunter Irrigation headquarters.

GCSAA GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS Presented in Partnership with the Toro Co. This year, we welcomed over 450 total players for our four-ball, shamble, golf classic and national championship events.

Grass, a certified golf course superintendent (CGCS), served as vice president of the association in 2015 and has been a member of the association’s board of directors since 2009. A native of Mankato, Minn., the 56-year-old Grass earned a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Montana College in Billings.

Other elected officers were Bill H. Maynard, CGCS (right) and director of golf course maintenance operations at Country Club of St. Albans near St. Louis, as vice president, and Darren J. Davis, CGCS and superintendent at Olde Florida Golf Club in Naples, Fla., as secretary/treasurer.

Kevin P. Breen, CGCS and golf course superintendent at La Rinconada Country Club in Los Gatos, Calif., was elected to the board after serving in 2015 as an appointee. He was elected to a two-year position along with Rafael Barajas, CGCS and director of golf course operations at Boca Grove Plantation in Boca Raton, Fla. John Walker (center), director of golf course maintenance at Bentwater Yacht and Country Club in Montgomery, Texas, was appointed to complete the one-year remaining on Davis’ two-year term.

In addition, delegates voted to approve revisions to the Class A member standards and passed 11 changes to the bylaws, which included a new definition of Class A and renaming the Superintendent Member class to Class B.

Westacott wins GCSAA National Championship Shawn Westacott, superintendent at Maridoe GC in Carrollton, Texas, withstood a full field of competitors and the rigors of both Aviara GC and the South Course at Torrey Pines to win the GCSAA title after numerous runner-up finishes in previous events. Westacott's twoday total of 5-over-par 149 was four shots better than another Texan, defending champion Matt Cowan from the Fazio Canyons Course at Barton Creek in Austin.

More than 450 players competed in some aspect of the event, which was sponsored for the 22nd-consecutive year by The Toro Co. TRADE SHOW 

The GIS attendees enjoyed 250,000 square feet of experience on the trade show floor.

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Over 200 individuals had their professional portraits taken in the Career Photo Booth….don’t miss out next year on this incredible benefit!

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The Dr. Is In – a new benefit for attendees was offered this year for attendees to get one-on-one advice from sought-after turf experts.

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Taste of the Town – with its first debut, this event was a major success and one we plan to continue for Orlando 2017. Bayer sponsored the event and offered attendees a relaxing and fun way to end their trade show experience on Thursday afternoon. Cash prizes of $1,000, $1,500 and $2,500 were given out to three lucky winners.

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Electric Avenue –new this year as well, Electric Avenue proved it was a great experience for attendees to test drive turf utility vehicles on live grass. Additionally, several people enjoyed testing out the Golf Skate Caddies and Golf Boards on our test track.

CLOSING CEREMONY

Presented in Partnership with John Deere Golf

At the conclusion of the long week, attendees gathered to hear the results of the 2016 Collegiate Turf Bowl – which was won by reigning champs, Penn State University – were introduced to their 2016 Board of Directors and enjoyed some comic relief from the talented impressionist and comedian, Frank Caliendo. He entertained everyone with his accurate portrayals of Donald Trump, Charles Barkley, John Madden and so many others. It was a great way to end the productive and busy week!

MAKE PLANS NOW TO JOIN US IN ORLANDO We’ll be helping you ‘Make the Turn’ in Orlando when we host the 2017 Golf Industry Show at the Orange County Convention Center, February 4-9.

GOTCHA! What are NTGCSA Members up to in 2016?

From top left, clockwise: *Bill Sturm and his family enjoying Palo Duro Canyon. *Because no newsletter is complete without one more picture of Scott Miller. Lucky Jamie made it in the frame. *Donny Lecroy living it up in Hawaii. *John Rowe and his beautiful family. *Chris Rather and his clan enjoying dinner at a special place. *Randy Blakemore and his wife sharing some great news!