Lone Star Links Fall 2019 The Official Publication of the Lone Star Golf Course Superintendents Association
In This Issue... President’s Message
Cody Spivey
Registration Deadline! Thursday September 12!
Travel with John Walker
Making Yardage Accessible For All
John Daniels, USGA
Event Details and RSVP INFO Pages 5 -10
Including Recognition for our awesome Sponsors!
Chapter Pages from the local chapters in Texas Save the Dates... Texas A&M Field Day October 9 Texas Turfgrass Association Winter Conference Dec. 10 - 12 2010 GIS Orlando Lone Star GCSA Reception January 29
President’s Message Cody Spivey High Meadow Ranch Golf Club General Manager / Superintendent I hope everyone has made it successfully through the stresses of summer. Hopefully the dog days of summer are coming to an end and we can all look forward to more favorable fall weather. I’ve learned my lesson about praying for rain every day after 27 weeks straight of rain last fall. Here’s praying for just the right amount in the months to come! We have an exciting event with the Texas Trophy approaching on September 15-17. Thanks to The Clubs of Kingwood for hosting and our Title Sponsor Helena for their continued support. You still have time to sign up for three days of fun and camaraderie, not to mention the opportunity to play three different golf tracks, Forest Course, Deerwood Course and Island Course. We are looking forward to seeing everyone there! Mark your calendars for the Texas Turfgrass Winter Conference to be held in Corpus Christi, December 10-12. This is a great opportunity to acquire quality CEUs and network with other turfgrass professionals. We hope you will make plans to join us. While we are looking ahead, the Golf Industry Show is in Orlando on January 25-30, 2020. We can’t wait to see who will be the winners at the Texas Trophy this month and represent Lone Star at the GCSAA National Championship in Orlando. Registration will be available for the GIS in October. I always look forward to Fall because it’s my favorite season on the golf course, not to mention Fightin’ Texas Aggie Football and hunting season. I hope with the demands of our industry, you take time to enjoy the things that recharge you.
See you on the links, Cody Spivey
Travel with John Walker
Lone Star Board Of Directors 2019 North Texas
South Texas
Central Texas
West Texas
Texas Gulf Coast
Mike Epps Vice President
Cody Spivey President
Ken Gorzycki
James Stow
Tem Miller
Jeff Hansen
Jason Barrington
Joe Todaro
Terry Gill
Craig Felton Secretary / Treasurer
Pete Ledezma
Jacob Snyman Past President
Email lsgcsa18@gmail.com to request contact information for any Board Member
Save the 2019 Dates! Winter 2019 Conference December 10th-12th Corpus Christi, TX Omni Hotel and American Bank Center
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austinturf.com
Sunday Mixer Forest Course
Monday - Round 1 Deerwood Course
Tuesday - Round 2 Island Course
2019 Education Session This year we will once again hold a 1-hour education session on Monday, September 16th. It will be presented by Dr. Becky Grubbs, Assistant Professor and Extension Turfgrass Specialist at Texas A&M University. CEU’s will be awarded.
Topic: The Trouble with Poa This talk provides a broad overview of annual bluegrass (Poa annua) management programs and the risk of herbicide resistance in high input turfgrass settings like golf courses. Emphasis will be put on understanding modes and mechanisms of herbicide action, the principles of herbicide resistance and the importance of timing and chemistry rotation in golf course weed management programs. Attendees will also be introduced to the USDA-SCRI Poa research project, a multi-state research initiative being led by Texas A&M with 15 participating research institutions. Cost: $25.00 Time: Check-In - 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. Education - 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. Lunch (for everyone) - 11:00 - 12:00 p.m. Golf - 12:30
Tournament Information Sunday - 1700 Lake Kingwood Trail Monday - 1717 Forest Garden Drive Tuesday - 1700 Lake Kingwood Trail 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
You must be a member of Lone Star GCSA to play in the Texas Trophy
Schedule Sunday Mixer, September 15 1700 Lake Kingwood Trail Welcome and Check-In 9:30 a.m.- 11:00 a.m. LUNCH PROVIDED - Sponsored by Capillary Concrete 11:00 a.m. - Italian Buffet The Forest Course Lone Star Texas Trophy Mixer 12:30 p.m. - Shot Gun Start Two-Man Best Ball Pick Your Partner Event (Both partners must register) Cash Payouts – Gross and Net Following Mixer: Long-Drive Championship - Sponsored by Ameriturf $500 Contribution to Winning Chapter Drinks available during Long Drive Hors D' oeuvres following golf - Sponsored by Ameriturf Monday, September 16 1717 Forest Garden Drive 9:00 a.m. Check-In for Education 10:00 a.m. Education 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Check-In for Golf 11:00 Lunch - Deli Buffet 12:30 p.m. – Shot Gun Start The Deerwood Course Day 1 - Lone Star Texas Trophy (2-Day Stroke Play Event) Flighted - Gross and Net Divisions Heavy Hors D' oeuvres and Awards: 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Sponsored by: Simplot Tuesday, September 17 1700 Lake Kingwood Trail 7:00 a.m. Check-In 8:00 a.m. – Shot Gun Start The Island Course Day 2 – Lone Star Texas Trophy Lunch and Awards Following Play
Entry fee per person: $235 for 3-day event $190 for 2-day event $145 for 1 day Entry Deadline: Thursday, September 12
REGISTER HERE AFFILIATE MEMBERS Sponsorship Opportunities Texas Trophy Sponsor $1,500.00 > One complimentary membership to Lone Star GCSA > Additional memberships for $50.00 > Two pre-paid entries into the Texas Trophy > Company Logo on rule sheets in every players' golf cart > Sponsorship recognition at Monday night banquet > Sponsorship recognition in Lone Star Links Winter edition >Sponsorship/company recognition on website on the Texas Trophy Registration page all year and on the results sheet of the golf tournament
Hole Sponsor $500.00 > One Complimentary membership to Lone Star GCSA. > Company name and logo on website registration page. > Banner on back of beverage carts and/or near beverage stations. Courtyard by Marriott 130 Northpark Plaza Drive Kingwood, TX 77339 281-973-1790 King Rooms are $99.00 plus tax (does not include breakfast) Code: Lone Star GCSA
La Quinta Inns & Suites
HOST HOTELS
22790 Highway 59 N Kingwood, TX 77339 281-359-6611 Rate: $99 plus tax (includes breakfast) Code: Lone Star GCSA
Thank you to our current President, Jerry Huntsman, for hosting our 2019 Scholarship Banquet at Elkins Lake! Congratulations to all 25 of our recipients! Click here for photos from the event.
We had a great day in Aggieland at our 7th Annual Member/Guest/Guest/Guest! Thank you to Jason Barrington & Staff for hosting the event! Congratulations to all of our winners! Click here for results Click here for pictures
Making Yardage Accessible For All John Daniels, Agronomist Central Region A great way to speed up play and increase golfer satisfaction is listing the distance to the green on the top of irrigation sprinklers. While this is certainly not a new idea and many golf courses provide this information on their sprinklers, not all courses provide distances on heads that are less than 100 yards from the green. This omission can be frustrating for players with slower swing speeds – such as some females, juniors and seniors – who could benefit from knowing whether they are 75 or 65 yards out in the same way that players with faster swing speeds benefit from knowing whether they are 175 or 165 yards out. Based on data from the 2018 Distance Report published by the USGA and R&A, we know the average driving distance of an amateur female golfer is 148 yards. Therefore, yardages on sprinkler heads over that distance would only be used if a player is trying to lay up to a preferred length. For golfers who drive the ball 148 or less, understanding the distance between 100 and 50 yards from the green is arguably more valuable for scoring as this is the range where the majority of their irons come into play. There is no reason that a player with a faster swing speed should be able to quickly determine their distance by glancing at a nearby sprinkler when considering which club to use while other players are left guessing how far out they are or worse, having to pace off the distance all the way from the 100-yard marker. Even though distance measuring devices have become quite common these days, a large percentage of players and caddies still rely upon yardages marked upon sprinklers for help with club selection. This information is particularly useful for distances where a player will make a full swing and the club selected will determine the length of carry, but such information can also be useful for shorter “feel shots” too. Marking the distance to a green from a sprinkler doesn’t require much time or expense and could be as simple as writing on top of the sprinkler head with a paint pen or purchasing a custom cap that easily affixes on the top of the sprinkler. There are numerous companies that specialize in such yardage marker caps and tags that can fit any model of sprinkler. Regardless of how the sprinklers are labeled, golfers will benefit from more easily accessible yardage information.
ASSISTANTS: Get ahead of the competition. Applications are open for the 2020 @NufarmUSTurf EXCEL Leadership Program. The program offers leadership training for personal, career, & community/industry stewardship. Included is a trip to the #GolfIndustryShow. 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. APPLY HERE
2019 Gold Sponsors
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Our 2019 Superintendent Champion was crowned in June at The Bandit Golf Club. Congratulations to Reagan Olson who fired a super low 71 on a great day at the Bandit. And congrats to happy Scott Poynot who won the affiliate drawing and a round of golf at Corpus Christi CC!
Reagan Olson, Ryan Olson, Scott Robertson and Ramiro Esquivel all received entry in to the Texas Trophy at Kingwood Country Club in September. Congratulations guys! Hope you are all able to attend.
Service. Solutions. Insights.
Maury Miller was the lucky 50/50 winner. (r) Congrats Maury!
ASGCA, GCBAA and GCSAA presidents provide update on what attendees can expect in January 2020 in Orlando BROOKFIELD, Wis. – Presidents of the American Society of Golf Course Architects, Golf Course Builders Association and Golf Course Superintendents Association of America responded to questions via Twitter Aug. 28. Jan Bel Jan, Pat Karnick and Rafael Barajas discussed improvements to the Golf Industry Show, starting with the 2020 event to be held in January at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. Following is a transcript of the chat: Q for GCSAA President Barajas: What do the additions of GCBAA and ASGCA as Golf Industry Show presenting partners mean for GCSAA members? A: Enhanced involvement by GCBAA and ASGCA adds expanded education opportunities and solutions for superintendents. The Golf Industry Show is strengthened by their contributions and provides members and other attendees with a premiere event to experience golf course and facility management solutions under one roof. GCSAA’s GIS relationship with GCBAA and ASGCA mirrors the real-world working relationship between architects, builders, & supers; all key components in development and sustainability of a golf facility. Q for ASGCA President Jan Bel Jan: Why has ASGCA become a Golf Industry Show Presenting Partner? A: ASGCA has been a proud GIS supporter since its formation and is committed to helping golf courses of all types be more successful. As GCSAA looks for exciting ways to grow GIS, an increased presence is the perfect way to display ASGCA’s commitment. Q for GCBAA President Pat Karnick: Why has GCBAA become a Presenting Partner in the Golf Industry Show? A: Being a presenting partner alongside GCSAA & ASGCA unites three of the largest and most comprehensive enterprises in the golf industry. It justifiably made sense to join forces with these two entities and provide GIS attendees the opportunity to learn about all aspects of developing or enhancing a golf course. We look forward to being a major aspect of the Golf Industry Show for a long time. Q for Barajas (GCSAA): What collaborative Golf Industry Show events can members expect to see between GCSAA, GCBAA, and ASGCA? A: While GCBAA and GCSAA will continue their partnership for 2020’s Inside the Shop, and ASGCA will join Design and Construction on the show floor. The combined area will offer support for members of all three associations and showcase member exhibitors. Q for Bel Jan (ASGCA): What additional opportunities will the Golf Industry Show presenting partnership provide for ASGCA members? A: This increased role provides greater opportunity for ASGCA members to both give and receive education, including greater interaction with course superintendents, builders, suppliers and others. And ASGCA’s presence at the show will be larger. Q for Karnick (GCBAA): What additional opportunities will the Golf Industry Show presenting partnership provide for GCBAA members? A: Our hope is that our members realize the great educational opportunities that this partnering will offer. Individually as associations, there has always been internal education opportunities for members to enhance themselves. Now with the three Presenting Partners, more significant cross-education will be presented to our members, such as the day-long ASGCA Winter Meeting seminars that are open to everyone. Q for Barajas (GCSAA): How have you seen the Golf Industry Show evolve in your time with GCSAA? Where do you see it heading? A: With Golf Industry Show exhibitors, sponsors and allied association support, GIS has fostered a more collaborative spirit and will continue embracing all golf course management aspects while recognizing contributions each stakeholder makes to golf. Q for Bel Jan (ASGCA): What does ASGCA’s increased role mean for Golf Industry Show attendees? A: The golf industry is growing in new ways, so more education for golf course decision makers is a must. GIS attendees will have the chance to learn more from golf course architects in both formal and informal settings.
Q for Karnick (GCBAA): What does GCBAA’s increased role mean for Golf Industry Show attendees? A: GCBAA brings strength in not only numbers but experience. Our members average 20+ years of experience in the global golf business, while our staff ’s dedication to education is unparalleled in the industry. The GCBAA works tirelessly to improve the golf industry as a whole and those efforts will carry through to the Golf Industry Show and its attendees. Q for Bel Jan (ASGCA): What is the ASGCA Winter Meeting? A: As a GIS Presenting Partner, we will host the first ASGCA Winter Meeting, Jan. 28, at the Convention Center in Orlando. Golf course architects, superintendents, builders and others who plan and execute golf course development & renovation will want to attend. The ASGCA Education Committee is developing presentations that will appeal to all audiences. More information will be available at www.ASGCA.org. Q for Barajas (GCSAA): Where can people find more information and registration info in the coming weeks? A: Golf Industry Show registration opens October 15 at bit.ly/golf-industry-show. Check in now as we continually add the multitude of events, education, trade show offerings, networking opportunities and beyond that our associations have lined up for members.
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!