President's Message
Dear CTGCSA Members,

Hopefully this summer finds you with green grass and happy golfers at your facility.  This is the time of year where it seems we are scrambling to try and accomplish a seemingly endless number of tasks.  It is the time of year that you never seem to quite be able to get caught up.  We liken ourselves to a dog chasing its tail in a circle, never quite catching it.  I just want to offer up some words of encouragement.  Enjoy the chase.  There are so many people I talk to about my job who would love to have the opportunity to spend their time outdoors.  People who would love to spend every day on a beautiful golf course, with nature as their office.  We are lucky to have the opportunity to do our job in this setting.  So even when we find ourselves stressed, knowing that we will never get everything done that needs to be done, try and look at the positives of what we get to do in this profession.

Our next event will be the Chapter Championship on Tuesday, June 27th.  It is being hosted by Todd Leist at Vaaler Creek, and I am sure he and his crew will have the course in excellent shape for us.

This year we will be hosting an event in July for the first time in awhile.  We will be having an education meeting on July 24th at River Crossing.  The speakers will include Bruce Martin, PhD from Clemson University and Brad Shaver, PhD, national agronomist for Helena. Corby White and Craig Felton have also come up with a great idea for some fun to go along with this event.  We will be having a BBQ competition beginning Sunday evening/night.  There will be a few honorary judges, but each of the attendees will also be judging the BBQ at the lunch during the education meeting on Monday.  The details are not quite worked out but we will be sharing more information on this very soon.  If you might be interested in cooking, please contact Carol as there will be a limit on the number of spots available due to space constraints. 
I cannot end this without once again thanking Carol Cloud for everything she does as our executive director.  We are very lucky to have her.

Jared Heine
CTGCSA President 2017
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The CTGCSA is proud to announce the winners of the 2017 Legacy Scholarships. We had many qualified candidates submit applications. Thanks to the committee members and independent judges for your hard work in selecting the winners.


Alexis Gomez
Caroline Ogden
Chloe Stringer
Kenneth Mobley
Neal Wendele
Riley Kirk
Shelby Freshwater

Dear Central Texas GCSA Board of Directors,

My name is Alexis Gomez. I would like to thank you for your generous scholarship that you have decided to award me. It will greatly help aid my educational career.

I am from Marble Falls, Texas. I have one sister, Victoria, who recently graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor's Degree in Sports Management. She currently works at The Golf Club at Lansdowne in Virginia. My mother is a speech therapist for the school district in my hometown, and my father is a superintendent at Horseshoe Bay Resort and is over two golf courses, Slick Rock and Summit Rock.

I am recently completed my second year at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, but I am a junior by credit hours and will graduate in May 2018. I am pursuing a degree in mathematics with a minor in English. After I complete my undergraduate coursework, I hope to continue on to graduate school to receive a graduate degree in mathematics. Eventually, I hope to teach mathematics at a junior college or university.

This summer I will be participating in a Teacher-Researcher Program during which I will participate in research
endeavors through the Department of Energy in Richland, Washington. This experience will be my firs
t step in mathematics research and I am very excited for the opportunity. Due to this, I will be absent from the 2017 Chapter Championship, but I wish everyone the best!
I am so grateful for all the opportunities that have been offered to me, and I am also grateful for all the assistance I am given to help me continue my educational and extracurricular career at Texas Tech. Your scholarship will help me to take out less in loans, which will help me greatly in the long run. I would like to extend a special thanks to the Central Texas GCSA for awarding me your scholarship.

Sincerely,  Alexis Gomez

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Dear Board Members,

I am very honored to be chosen as one of the recipients for the Central Texas GCSA scholarships and would like to thank you very much. This scholarship will help my family and I out tremendously.

Thanks again,  Cole Mobley

______________________________________________________________________________________________

Thank you Central Texas GCSA Board of Directors for rewarding me the Legacy Scholarship. This generous scholarship will greatly assist me as I pursue a business degree at the University of Arkansas.

Thank you again,  Shelby Freshwater

______________________________________________________________________________________________

Dear Central Texas GCSA Board of Directors:

I am writing to thank you for the generous Legacy Scholarship. I am very appreciative and honored to receive this award, and grateful for the opportunities it will provide me.

I am a Master of Public Service and Administration student at the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University, concentrating on state and local government. I have a passion for public service, and believe good local governance provides the best forum for community engagement and helps to enhance the quality of like for all citizens. Your scholarship has enabled me to accept an internship with a local municipality that was unable to provide funding this year. This internship will be instrumental in preparing me for my future career in city management.

The leadership and environmental stewardship I have learned from my stepfather and other golf course superintendents in Central Texas have left an indelible impression on my life. I am proud to have the opportunity to carry on this legacy through the values I have learned from Central Texas GCSA members into my life of public service.

Sincerely,  Neal Wendele
JOHN WALKER NAMED SOUTH CENTRAL FIELD STAFF REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR GCSAA

Former GCSAA board member joins national staff

John Walker, who has been a golf course superintendent in Texas for the past 30 years, has been named the field staff representative for the South Central region of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA).

Walker joins the GCSAA staff following four years as director of golf course maintenance at Bentwater Yacht and Country Club in Montgomery, Texas. He also served as the golf course superintendent at Blackhorse Golf Club in Cypress, Texas; Shadow Hawk Country Club and Houstonian Country Club in Richmond, Texas. Walker was chosen from a field of many quality candidates for the job, who went through a rigorous interview process.

"I am thrilled to join the GCSAA staff and be able to share my knowledge and passion for the profession with other superintendents in the South Central region," said Walker. "GCSAA is undertaking some exciting and important initiatives, and I look forward to helping implement those valuable new member services and programs with superintendents from Arkansas to New Mexico."

Casey Reynolds Appointed Executive Director of Turfgrass  Producers International

Turfgrass Producers International (TPI) has announced the  appointment of Casey Reynolds, PhD, as the association's  executive director effective May 1.  Reynolds comes to TPI from the position of assistant  professor and turfgrass extension specialist at Texas A&M, where he coordinated statewide turfgr ass research and  extension programs. He was the creator and editor of the  program's website, AggieTurf.tamu.edu, and developed  much of its educational content. Prior to joining Texas A&M, he served as a turfgrass  research and extension associate for North Carolina State University (NCSU) from  2003-2013.

Reynolds is a passionate advocate of the benefits of turfgrass and intent on delivering
the message of their usefulness in urban environments. His professional career has been  rooted in science, combined with the curiosity of a researcher and the ability to
communicate with people on multiple levels. In the positions he's held, he's proven to
be equally effective as a speaker in formal presentations; a leader and contributor on
boards and committees; and an informative resource for groups, businesses and
individuals. He's at home in an office or in the field. He brings these strong assets to the
TPI team.

Reynolds can be contacted at creynolds@TurfGrassSod.org. Turfgrass Producers International is an independent, not-for-profit association with nearly 800 members in
over 40 countries comprised of turfgrass sod and seed producers, equipment manufacturers and suppliers,  and various individuals involved in education and/or turf-related research. For more information about Turfgrass Producers International visit: http://www.turfgrasssod.org/
Event Wrap Ups

For the second consecutive year, members of the CTGCSA gathered to honor one of the association's most distinguished members, Mr. Ted McClure. If you have not had the opportunity to meet Mr. McClure or hear his story, CLICK HERE FOR A TRIBUTE ARTICLE . Ted attended the event, and was introduced by long time friend and colleague, Gary Moore. His tribute was very touching and explained Mr. McClure's legacy with the chapter.

The event was held at the beautiful Lighthouse Country Club hosted by Jarrett Eledge and the terrific staff at Lighthouse. All participants were very impressed with the very well-manicured golf course and thanks to our event sponsor Ameriturf, we all had a great day in Kingsland. If you didn't get a chance to see the course, you really missed out on a special treat.

The fun competition featured a team event captained by Bruce Burger and Matt Cowan. Burger's Boys took the victory this day from the defending champions "Cowan's Tin Cups", evening up the series at 1 - 1. The final score proved that it was a competitive match with a final tally of 16 ½ to 13 ½ in favor of the BBs.



CLICK HERE for all event pictures
 

Thank you to our Sponsor:


Everyone enjoyed seeing Mr. McClure at the event and he was very touched by the honor given to him from the association he loves.


Corby White was all smiles after winning the 50/50 pot. In a very generous gesture, Corby donated $100.00 to the scholarship fund. Way to go Corby! Good luck next month.

President Jared Heine thanks host Jarrett Eledge for a spectacular golf course on a great day. Have you thought about hosting an event in 2018? Contact a board member or the CTGCSA office and you could be the proud owner of one of these awesome plaques.

Reigning CTGCSA Champion Cash Lane proves he's almost mortal with a shot from the native wildflowers. For the record, he hit a great shot and had a chance for birdie. Good luck next month defending your title at Vaaler Creek.


CTGCSA members enjoyed a great day of camaraderie and fun. 

Bill Hanna, Rey Gomez, Harry Jukes and Jason Chapman are great members and fun golfers but not so much when it comes to posing for pictures.

Golfers enjoyed a great day of terrific conditions. Dale Miller played his usual outstanding game on the greens and everywhere else on the course.


SCOREBOARD! Check out how your favorite player did.


Happy Captain Bruce Burger celebrated with a sip of his favorite beverage. Maybe you will get the call in 2018?

Good try Matt. Next year the Tin Cups will need a little more inspiration and a lot more birdies. 
GCSAA News and Updates
The GCSAA contingency joined the We Are Golf coalition April 26 on Capitol Hill for the 10th anniversary of National Golf Day. GCSAA Grassroots Ambassadors met with their legislators to share the economic value and numerous other benefits of the golf industry.



2018 DOG DAYS OF GOLF CALENDAR  SPONSORED BY LEBANONTURF IN COOPERATION WITH GCSAA

Submissions for the 2018 Dog Days of Golf Calendar will be accepted through Aug. 1, 2017. From the submissions, 14 dogs will be selected. Owners of the selected dogs will be notified in September, and the calendar will be distributed with the November issue of GCM magazine.

Plan now to stop by the LebanonTurf booth at the Golf Industry Show in February to place your vote for the 2018 Dog of the Year. The winner's owner will receive a $500 prize and $3,000 for his or her GCSAA-affiliated chapter. A $2,000 charitable donation will also be made by GCSAA and LebanonTurf in honor of the winner.

LebanonTurf has been supporting golf course superintendents and their chapters through the Dog Days of Golf Calendar for more than a decade.


REGISTRATION OPENS FOR CAN AM CUP GOLF EVENT
Canadian and U.S. golf course superintendents face off in October at two top New Jersey clubs

Registration is now open for golf course superintendents from Canada and the United States who want to compete in the Can Am Cup. The point-quota competition will be held in New Jersey, Oct. 22-24, at two championship golf clubs: Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield and Canoe Brook Country Club in Summit. Bayer Environmental Science is the presenting sponsor of the event.

"We are thrilled to offer this first Can Am Cup competition, where we will bring together golf course superintendents from the national associations of these two countries in the spirit of fun and unity," said Rhett Evans, CEO of GCSAA. "We appreciate the support of many of our loyal business partners, and we also thank everyone at Baltusrol Golf Club and Canoe Brook Country Club for their support."

2017 Annual Sponsors


2017 Event Calendar
JULY 9
Texas Turfgrass Summer Conference @ Horseshoe Bay Resort
texasturf.com

JULY 24
Education Meeting and BBQ Cookoff - July 24 @ River Crossing GC
Sponsored by Helena

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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