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Dear CTGCSA Members,
I would like to start out with a huge thank you to Carol Cloud, the Board of Directors, superintendent members and most importantly annual sponsors for the huge success of the Legacy Scholarship fundraiser event at Brackenridge Park.
Brian Woolard and his team had the course in excellent shape for us to kick off the 2017 year. We were able to raise $18,125 for the Legacy Scholarship fund, a truly amazing number.
As an association, we offer a profuse thank you to our annual sponsors who are very generous in their support of this event. We also thank everyone for participating in the silent auction to purchase all of the generously donated items. If you have anyone eligible for a scholarship this year, please do not miss the opportunity to apply. The deadline is on April 21, and you will receive another reminder from us as this date approaches.
Up next will be our McClure Match Play event, to be held at Lighthouse Country Club on April 25th. The format will be the same as last year, with team captains selecting their players and no longer using the North/South division. Following this, on June 27th we will host the Superintendent/ Affiliate Championship at Vaaler Creek.
You may have noticed that we did not host the usual January education meeting at Cabela's. We thought we had a speaker lined up that fell through. In lieu of patching something together hastily, we decided to wait, book a top notch speaker and host the event during the summer. We hope you will be able to join us for a day of education and much needed break from the summer heat.
Speaking of the summer heat, you may feel it approaching already. It has been unseasonably warm and has many of us scrambling to get staffed early with seasonal labor. Though the early warmth is presenting challenges, on the positive side I am sure many of our courses look as good as they ever have in March. Best of luck to all of you as we enter our growing season, and I hope to see you at the upcoming events.
CTGCSA President 2017
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Honoring CTGCSA Pioneer Ted McClure
April 25, 2017
Lighthouse Country Club - Kingsland
Please join us for the second annual McClure Matches honoring CTGCSA
Pioneer Ted McClure.
Teams will be selected by captains and matches will be held at the scenic
Lighthouse Country Club in Kingsland, Texas.
Our hosts are Jarrett Eledge and his staff.
Please enjoy this very heartfelt introduction and tribute to Ted McClure
by CTGCSA Board Member Cameron McDermid:
Click Here
Thank you to our Sponsor:
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EQUIPMENT MANAGER PROVES HIS WORTH
TO TEXAS' CORDILLERA RANCH
Patrick Drinkard became first in U.S. to complete professional certificate
program from Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.
Patrick Drinkard was just two years shy of obtaining a mechanical engineering
degree when he decided he would rather have a career where he could
keep machinery humming.
"My parents weren't too happy with me," said Drinkard, who left Georgia
Southern University and fell in love with his summer job working on a golf
course in the Atlanta suburb of Marietta. "I worked outside raking bunkers and taking
care of the grounds in the mornings and spent the afternoons in the shop.
But one summer in the hot Georgia sun was enough, and I asked if I could take
care of the equipment full time. I loved taking things apart and putting them back
together as a kid, and managing an equipment fleet at a golf co
urse
seemed like a perfect fit."
From the start, Drinkard could not be distracted. He poured himself into
the job - so much so that in 2016 he was the first U.S. equipment manager to
complete the Turf Equipment Technician Certificate Program
offered by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA).
Drinkard was only eight when he took his bicycle apart just to see how it worked
and if he could put it back together. Now he is in his first year as equipment
manager at The Clubs at Cordillera Ranch outside of San Antonio, taking care
of a fleet of mowers, golf carts and the machinery at the club's equestrian center.
"I took it as a challenge," said the 32-year-old Drinkard, who has been a
GCSAA member for three years. "I gave myself a year to earn the six certificates;
but once I started I just keep going, and I completed the whole program in three
months. I can see the value in it. The certificates give us baseline competences
for the golf industry.
"No one knows about this golf equipment industry and what we do.
There is an exact science to the agronomic side of this business, and it takes
close tolerances to get the maintenance where we want it. I take pride in my work,
and I always want to get better."
Drinkard applauds a GCSAA members' 2015 decision to include a member
classification for golf course equipment managers. Today, GCSAA has more than
800 equipment manager members, and Drinkard hopes he can help others to
consider becoming an equipment manager and GCSAA member.
He moved to Cordillera Ranch from Marietta Country Club in October 2016 and
temporarily rented space with a family who lived next door to the club's most famous member, PGA Tour professional Jimmy Walker, the 2016 PGA major champion.
"He has taken us to the next level," said Mark Semm, director of agronomy at
Cordillera Ranch and a 21-year member of GCSAA. "I can't say enough good things
about Patrick. In fact, I think he has the most important position out here."
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Congratulations to Bobby Stringer and the entire staff at Austin Country Club
for an outstanding job of preparing the course for the best players in the world to enjoy.
The course received rave reviews from the PGA tour and all of the players.
Bobby did a great job of documenting the great work done by his staff on
twitter @accturfmgt and on tumbler accturfmgt.tumblr.com
Below are some of the photos but please visit these accounts to
see all of the photos from the great week.
This group did a spectacular job prepping the course for the WGC Dell
Technologies Match Play. Special thanks to the following golf courses
around the country who sent staff to volunteer.
We couldn't have made it without them.
Barton Creek Resort (Austin, Texas), Conway Farms GC (Lake Forest, IL),
Aronomink GC (Newtown Square, PA), Trenton CC (Trenton, NJ),
Hurstbourne CC (Louisville, KY), Falconhead GC (Austin, TX),
Spanish Oaks GC (Austin, TX), TPC Craig Ranch (McKinney, TX),
TPC San Antonio, TPC Sawgrass (Ponte Vedra, FL),
Stonetree GC (Marble Falls, TX), University of Texas GC (Austin, TX)
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We couldn't of pulled off the WGC Dell Technologies Match Play without these guys and more. ACC Staff did awesome along with all the volunteers. |
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Thanks to the TPC Sawgrass, TPC San Antonio, and Conway Farms GC for sending volunteers to help during the WGC Dell Technologies Match Play . The guys did an awesome job... looking forward to returning the favor when their tournaments arrive.
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Watching a little golf on T3
Downtime during WGC DTMP... you're either eating or sleeping....
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Thank you, thank you, thank you to our awesome sponsor Professional Turf Products
and to all of our terrific affiliate members who made generous auction donations
to help us raise money to fund our 2017 Legacy Scholarships.
Your generosity will help us fund scholarships that will help fund the
higher education efforts of our member's children.
We couldn't do it without you!
Our action raised an amazing...............
drum roll please...............
$18,125
And thank you to all who participated in the event and purchased auction
items for a great cause. Brian Wollard and his staff had the course in
tip-top shape for the events and received an extra well deserved round
of applause from his very appreciative peers.
Great job Brian, we can't wait to come back and enjoy Old Brack!
Shouldn't you be fixing your ball mark, Matt Cowan??
Instead of hamming it up for the camera?
Our golfers were all smiles before, during and after.
Left to right: TJ Arispe, John Colligan, Angel Skelton, Thomas Speakman
Even the great Harvey Penick was fired up for the great day.
Pat Brown and Ken Gorzycki talking strategy before the round.
Dan the Man McCann captured a closest to the pin contest. Good shootin Dan!
Our championship team! Way to go! A smooth 56!
Left to right: Kenneth Boyce, Reagan Olsen, Josh Lockhart, and Corby White
THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS AUCTION DONORS:
GLK Turf Solutions, BWI, C&M Golf and Grounds, New Earth Compost,
Hunter, BASF, Bayer, Syngenta, Crews Service Co., Barenbrug Grass Seeds,
Helena, Turf Care of Texas, Harrell's, Mid-Tex, Gail's Flags, Osburn Materials,
All Seasons Turfgrass, Les Hill - Irrigation Consultant, Winfield Solutions,
Ameriturf, SiteOne Golf, Colligan Golf Design, Turf and Soil Management,
King Ranch Turfgrass, Professional Turf Products, PMT Service,
The Andersons, Aquatrol, Plant Technologies, Ewing Irrigation,
Thomas Turf, Austin Turf and Tractor, Intelligro, Texas Sports Sands,
Quali-Pro,
Redox,
Performance Nutrition,
Select Source,
Protene USA,
Green Industries
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| Check out the rest of the pictures from our great day at Old Brack. |
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OLD TOM MORRIS ASKS GOLFERS TO
"THANK A SUPERINTENDENT"
Click the photo of Old Tom to watch video
Legendary greenkeeper and four-time Open champion Tom Morris will join top players and celebrities in a 2017 advertising campaign to promote the work of golf course superintendents. David Joy of Scotland plays the role of Morris, who is considered the father of modern greenkeeping and cared for the historic St Andrews course for more than 40 years, until his death in 1908.
The tagline, "If you love golf like I do, then thank a golf course superintendent," will continue to be used in these television and radio commercials, as well as 2017 print and online advertising by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.
"It is rewarding to know that superintendents are held in high esteem," said Rhett Evans, GCSAA chief executive officer. "When influential people say, 'If you love golf like I do, thank a golf course superintendent,' it makes our members around the world feel appreciated and proud of the role they play in providing excellent playing conditions for this great game."
Thirty-second commercials will again air on the Golf Channel from March through September. In addition, radio, print and online advertising will run in numerous markets across the country, including at the local and regional levels where national advertising will be co-branded to support nearly 100 chapter associations.
The new commercial shows Morris at his home course of St Andrews, encouraging golfers to "doff your cap and thank a golf course superintendent." The spot will run in tandem with an additional commercial featuring some of the best professional golfers, like Jason Day, Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, Michelle Wie and Jack Nicklaus, also urging golfers to thank a superintendent.
"Golf course superintendents are widely recognized for skillfully managing the biggest asset of any golf facility - the golf course. But when the top players in the game support the work we do, and we can playfully pay homage to Morris' contributions, it makes me boastfully proud to be a golf course superintendent for the past 30 years," said Bill H. Maynard, GCSAA president and a certified golf course superintendent at The Country Club of St. Albans in St. Albans, Mo.
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MAYNARD TAKES HELM AS GCSAA PRESIDENT
Members elect nine-member board of directors and approve dues increase at annual meeting.
Lawrence, Kan. (Feb. 9, 2017) - Bill H. Maynard, the director of golf course maintenance operations at the Country Club of St. Albans in St. Albans, Mo., has been elected to a one-year term as president of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) at the association's annual meeting Feb. 9, held in conjunction with the Golf Industry Show in Orlando.
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National Golf Day 2017 Set for April 26 in Washington, D.C.
Industry Leaders to Celebrate 10th Anniversary with National Mall Service Project
(ST. AUGUSTINE, FL) - WE ARE GOLF - a coalition of the game's leading associations and industry partners - today announces the 10th annual National Golf Day will be held Wednesday, April 26 on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.
National Golf Day celebrates the game's nearly $70 billion economy, $4 billion annual charitable impact (updated data available January 25) and many environmental and fitness benefits. Industry leaders will meet with Members of Congress, the Executive Branch and federal agencies to discuss golf's 15,200-plus diverse businesses, two million jobs impacted, tax revenue creation and tourism value.
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APRIL 25
McClure Match Play Event @ Lighthouse CC, Kingsland
Sponsored by Ameriturf
MAY 22
LSGCSA Texas Cup @ Ridgewood CC, Waco
lsgcsa.org
JUNE 27
Chapter Championship @ Vaaler Creek Golf Club, Canyon Lake Sponsored by Helena
JULY
Education Meeting - Date TBD @ Cabela's, Buda
Sponsored by Helena
JULY 9
Texas Turfgrass Summer Conference @ Horseshoe Bay Resort
texasturf.com
OCTOBER 16
Crew Appreciation Championship @ Olympia Hills GC, Universal City Sponsored by PMTS and SiteOne
NOVEMBER 15
Toy Drive Tournament @ Flintrock Falls GC, Lakeway
Sponsored by Harrell's
DECEMBER 5
Texas Turfgrass Association Conf.@ Arlington Convention Center, texasturf.com
DECEMBER 18
Annual Meeting @ Plum Creek Golf Course, Kyle
Sponsored by Winfield
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