April Ozark Turf Association Meeting
/OTA April Meeting Recap
We would like to thank everyone who attended our April 26th meeting at The Golf Club at Deer Chase. Golf Course Superintendent Bret Dulworth and staff had a great setup for us. We also were treated with wonderful hospitality from all in the clubhouse who served us lunch and took care of us at the turn. Luna the clubhouse dog met everyone in the parking lot as we arrived.
We would like to thank meeting sponsor, Brotcke Well and Pump and Derek Nees for supporting our meeting.
Scott Hovis from the Missouri Golf Association spoke about what is happening with the MGA and what they are doing for the industry in Missouri. Scott spoke about some of the factors, data and tools that is used in setting up courses for tournament play.
He discussed the changes to the World Handicap System, from the old GHIN system, during that, Scott explained how easy it is to hold a handicap and easily enter scores on the GHIN app on your smartphone. He even mentioned that clubs or groups with over 10 members using the handicap system can receive free tournament software to help track scores and set up parings for play. Something we probably could have used when we set up our teams for play after lunch.
Most importantly, Scott mentioned the alliance of golf associations in Missouri that are now working together with lobbying efforts at the State Capital in Jefferson City. It was started to keep golf open during the early days of the Covid Pandemic but will now tackle other issues as they arise. The Missouri Golf Association leads this coalition of groups, which include: The St. Louis and Kansas City Golf Associations, the Midwest and Gateway PGA Sections, and the Ozark Turf Association, Mississippi Valley Golf Course Superintendent and Heart of America Golf Course Superintendent Associations.
After Lunch we played a 4-person scramble. While thrown a curve ball as I thought we had two teams tied at nine under, the winning team was 12 under, they just had nine circles on their card like the other team, but three of them were eagles. Results of the golf were:
1st place team at -12 under was – Joey Johnson, Clear Creek Golf Cars and Utility Vehicles, Jonathan Prange, CGCS, golf course superintendent at Highland Springs Country Club, Levi Mathews, assistant golf course superintendent at Lake Valley Golf Club, and Cory Bunch, from BASF.
2nd place team at -9 under – using some home course knowledge included Bret Dulworth, golf course superintendent at The Golf Club at Deer Chase, Justin Fraker, Clear Creek Golf Cars and Utility Vehicles, Joe Mannuci, Golf Course Superintendent at Piney Valley Golf Course, and Tyler Fishel, GreensPro.
Closest to the pin winners:
# 3 sponsored by the Ozark Turf Association – Brad Seidt golf course superintendent at Lake Valley Golf Club
# 8 sponsored by GreensPro – Travis Thompson, assistant golf course superintendent at Margaritaville Resort
# 14 sponsored by BASF – Joey Johnson, Clear Creek Golf Cars, and Utility Vehicles
# 16 sponsored by Brandt – Bubbie Oliver, retired.
We look forward to seeing everyone at our next meeting, the annual OTA Scholarship and Research Outing on Thursday May 19th hosted by the Silo Ridge Country Club in Bolivar. Our lunch sponsor is GreensPro
Our next meeting with Education will be Tuesday June 14th at Carthage Golf Course, and is sponsored by Professional Turf Products, and Brad Gray. Our speaker will be Dr. Richardson from the University of Arkansas.
You can RSVP anytime.
