OTA Holds Education Day and Annual Meeting

On January 21, 2025, Ozark Turf Association members gather at Highland Springs Country Club to listen to quality education, meet with vendor partners and network at their annual education day sponsored by VanWall Equipment.

Registration started early after which attendees could grab coffee and pastries and meet with our many vendor partners. 

OTA President Maron Towse welcomed everyone and introduced our first speaker, Chuck Ermisch of Ermisch Golf Course Architecture, who’s topic, “Golf Architect, Artist or Advocate”.  Chuck spoke on how the golf architect could be a great advocate to the superintendent, by communicating reasons when designing to avoid creating maintenance issues. 

Our second presentation was on “Managing Winterkill and Spring Dead Spot”, which seemed appropriate with the outside temperature in the single digits.  Dr. Mingying Xiang, Assistant Professor from Oklahoma State, and Dr. Wendall Hutchens, Assistant Professor from the University of Arkansas, presented their portion of the GCSAA Conference class to the OTA members.  They provided information and research to help combat these issues. 

After their presentation, the attendees enjoyed a hot buffet lunch sponsored by Precision Turf Products. 

After lunch, members had some more time to visit with our vendor partners.  We thank our vendor partners who took the time to travel and meet with members, they included, VanWall Equipment, Precision Turf Products, SiteOne, Redexim Turf Products, Kansas Golf and Turf, The Andersons, Envu, Harrell’s, Syngenta, Professional Turf Products, GreensPro, Reinders, BWI, and Clear Creek Golf Cars and Utility Vehicles. 

After the lunch break, we had some GCSAA updates from Randy Robinson, GCSAA Central Plains Representative.  He gave us updates on GCSAA programs that are coming, such as training and retention programs to help keep skilled crew members.  He also talked about how GCSAA programs that chapters can take advantage of like First Green and FFA to reach out to students that might spark an interest in becoming part of the industry.  He also congratulated Chris Berry, an assistant superintendent at Highland Springs for completing his Assistant Superintendent Certificate Series, administered by GCSAA.

After Randy spoke the Ozark Turf Association held their annual meeting. After the meeting was called to order, the 2024 minutes and the Secretary/Treasurer report were read and approved by the members. 

Elections followed with Jonathan Prange, CGCS, golf course superintendent at Highland Springs Country Club was elected to serve as President of the OTA, Kolby Armbruster, golf course superintendent at Ledgestone Country Club was elected to serve as Vice President, Melvin Waldron III, CGCS, golf course superintendent at Horton Smith Golf Course was retained as the OTA Secretary/Treasurer.  Bryan Simmons, golf course superintendent at Springfield Golf and Country Club was elected to a 3-year term of director and joins Brad Seidt, golf course superintendent at Lake Valley Golf and Country Club and Chad Hoerschgen, golf course superintendent at Millwood Golf and Racquet Club on the board.  Barry Siems of Precision Turf Products and Mark Slaughter of GreensPro remain on the board as industry liaisons.  Maron Towes of Schifferdecker Golf Course moves to the position of Past President and Mike Irvine of Springfield-Greene County Park Board retires from the OTA board.