The Ozark Turf Association would like to announce that BASF, has renewed their Silver Partner status for 2022.
We thank them for their support of our members and their chapter to provide meeting and network opportunities. We appreciate their partnership. Please thank Cory Bunch, Region 4, Sales Representative, the next time you see him.
Ermisch Golf Architecture has renewed their 2022 OTA Membership. They are also sponsoring a tee sign and proximity prize at the 2022 Scholarship and Research Outing. Ermisch Golf Architecture provides many services associated with golf course design, renovations, and project management.
Please thank Chuck Ermisch for his support of the Association.
The Ozark Turf Association members elected new officers and board members at the Annual Meeting held on January 19th, 2022, after the 2022 Education Day.
Elected to President was Maron Towse, Golf Course Superintendent, Schifferdecker Golf Course. Elected to Vice-President was Chad Hoerschgen, Golf Course Superintendent, Millwood Golf and Racquet Club. Melvin Waldron III, CGCS Golf Course Superintendent, Horton Smith Golf Course was retained as Secretary/Treasurer. Brad Seidt, Golf Course Superintendent at Lake Valley Golf Club is serving as a Director for the second year of his three-year term. Kolby Armbruster, Golf Course Superintendent, Ledgestone Country Club and Jonathan Prange, CGCS, Golf Course Superintendent, Highland Springs Country Club were elected as new Directors. Mike Irvine, Golf Facilities Manager, Springfield-Greene County Park Board becomes Past President. Barry Siems, Owner of Precision Turf Products, and Mark Slaughter of GreensPro were reappointed Vendor Representatives. Past President Sam Richart, Golf Course Superintendent, Fremont Hills Country Club, leaves the board after many years of service on the OTA Board, including three years as President during the years 2017, 2018, and 2019. He can now enjoy more time with his family as his kids hit those active years at school. We also thank Jared Brewster, former Golf Course Superintendent at Highland Springs Country Club who served on the board the past three years. He was named Golf Course Superintendent at Rolling Hills Country Club in Newburgh Indiana this past December. We thank Jared for his contributions, and will miss him, but he is now closer to family. We wish him all the best and we know Rolling Hills will benefit from Jared’s knowledge and enthusiasm.
Congratulations to all those elected and thank you for your service to your fellow OTA members.
The 2022 OTA Education Day presented by FMC was a big success as we had the largest attendance to date. We had 62 members, vendor partners, students and speakers at the event held at Highland Springs Country Club.
The event featured presentations by Mike Williams, VP of Product Development at Custom Agronomics, where he talked about how to develop nutritional strategies for turf grasses for both foliar and granular products. He also gave a presentation on Surfactant Chemistry.
Our next speaker was Dr. Marissa Weaver, who gave a presentation on “Building Relationships and Influencing Others to Meet Your Goals” It touched on a variety of ways we could reach out and network no matter our audience. It is always good to have a presentation dealing with other tips and solutions to make us better overall managers.
New GCSAA - Central Field Representative, Randy Robinson gave an update on changes to existing programs and introduced new programs at GCSAA. It was his first chance to introduce himself as Steve Randall’s replacement as now Steve is concentrating on the overall GCSAA Field Staff program.
Our final speaker was Matt Giese, technical representative for Syngenta who presented “Date Driven Decisions for Controlling Dollar Spot”. Information and resources were shared on how to use data to help make application decisions on the golf course. The discussion also highlighted other uses of data that are available to make smart decisions on other problem issues, such as applying PGR’s and preemergent controls for weeds and diseases.
We would like to thank all that attended, especially our new FMC representative Matt Bradley, who handed out some Kalida swag via a raffle. Winners of Kalida shirts were Scott Hendrickson, assistant superintendent at Hickory Hills Country Club, and Jacob Scott, assistant superintendent at Top of the Rock Golf Course. Winners of Kalida hats were Kevin Taylor, superintendent at Whispering Oaks Golf Course, Eugene Jesse, assistant superintendent at Osage National Golf Resort, and Clayton Oetting, AIT at Ledgestone Country Club
Other companies represented were VanWall, Trimax Mowers, Redexim Turf Products, Brotcke Well and Pump, Specialty Sands and Services, Advanced Turf, PBI Gordon, Corteva, GreensPro, SePro, and Precision Turf Products. We thank all these vendor partners for supporting the OTA and members.
Thanks also go out to this year’s Educations Committe Chairman, Mark Slaughter of GreensPro and the staff of Highland Springs Country Club. Preliminary plans have begun for next year’s event. Watch for the date on the Calendar.
The Ozark Turf Association would like to announce that SiteOne, makers and distributors of various turf products has renewed their Silver Partner status with the OTA.
We thank them for their support of our members, allowing the chapter to provide meeting and networking opportunities. We appreciate their partnership. Please thank Matt Delventhal , Sales Representative the next time you see him.
The Ozark Turf Association would like to announce that Corteva, has renewed as a Gold Partner for 2022.
We thank them for their support of our members, allowing the chapter to provide meeting and networking opportunities. We appreciate their partnership. Please thank Dr. Jared Hoyle, Midwest Territory Manager, the next time you see him.
We would like to announce and thank PBI Gordon, for renewing their 2022 Gold Partnership with the Ozark Turf Association.
We welcome their support for our members, helping us provide meeting and networking opportunities. Please thank Heath Schesser, Sales Representative the next time you see him.
We would like to announce and thank Bayer who has renewed their 2022 Gold Partner Status with the Ozark Turf Association.
They have been long time supporters of our members and their chapter. Please thank Wes Kleffner, our Bayer Representative next time you see him.
Brotcke Well and Pump has renewed their Ozark Turf Association membership for 2022. They have also agreed to be our April 26th meeting partner to be held at The Golf Club at Deer Chase in Linn Creek Missouri.
Let’s thank Derek Nees, R.G. Project Manager and Brotcke Well and Pump for their support of our members and their association.
We would like to announce and thank Midwest Turf the exclusive Distributor of Floratine in in our area, and distributor of other turf care products, has renewed this year as a Gold Partner.
Their support for our members is welcomed and that support allows us to provide member meeting and networking opportunities. We appreciate their Partnership. Please thank David Hunter, Owner, the next time you see him.
We would like to thank and announce that Van Wall Golf, our John Deere equipment distributor has renewed as a Gold Partner for 2022. They have been long time Gold Partner supporters.
Van Wall will also sponsor the lunch partner at this year’s OTA Golf Championships.
Van Wall will also be our 2023 Education/Annual Meeting Partner.
Their support for our members is welcomed and that support allows us to provide member meeting and networking opportunities. We appreciate their Partnership. Please thank Andy Klein, Golf and Turf Territory Manager the next time you see him.
Many Ozark Turf Association members and their better halves celebrated the kickoff to the Christmas Season. Big thanks go to Gold Partners GreensPro for sponsoring our entertainment, “The Fishin Magician” and Twin Oaks Country Club for hosting us.
The evening started out with a hospitality hour with attendees snacking on hors d’oeuvres with our entertainer making his way around to tables performing magic tricks. He did risk some fisticuffs when his magic did make beer bottles disappear, luckily, they appeared back maybe minus a sip or two. After dinner he put on a show with ropes, cards and other tricks, many which we are still trying to figure out. It was nice for our group to get back together as we had missed last year. We are looking forward to next year, probably in the Branson area, so keep an eye on your email and the website. We will announce it as soon as we get it scheduled.
The Ozark Turf Association would like to recognize a few of our members who served on Golf Course Assocation of America (GCSAA) Committees or Task Groups in 2021. These members served fellow GCSAA members, helped advance the profession, and worked toward enhancing the enjoyment, growth, and vitality of the game of golf. For those interested in serving on a GCSAA Committee or Task Group, visit the GCSAA website, or contact Shelia Finny, Senior Director of Member Programs.
Steve Johnson, CGCS, Golf Course Superintendent at Payne’s Valley and Mountain Top at Big Cedar Resort, served on the Melrose Leadership Academy Task Group.
Melvin Waldron III, CGCS, Golf Course Superintendent at Horton Smith Golf Course, Springfield-Greene County Park Board, served on the Rounds4Research Task Group.
Todd Bohn, former Director of Agronomy at Big Cedar Lodge, now Director of Agronomy at Desert Mountain Club in Scottsdale Arizona, served on the GCSAA Conference and Show Education Task Group.
The Ozark Turf Association awarded the OTA Industry Scholarship to Mr. Luke Kerr. of Nixa, MO . Luke is a 2020 graduate of Nixa High School in Nixa MO. He is currently attending Drury University working an his degree in Biology, with a graduation date of 2024. Luke participated in Band, Football, Cross Country and Track at Nixa, and is currently on the Track and Field Team at Drury. Luke has worked the last four seasons on the grounds crew at Fremont Hills Country Club, where OTA member Sam Richart, is the golf course superintendent.
The Ozark Turf Association Industry Scholarship is open to employees who work for OTA member’s facilities, and are pursuing a career in the turf industry. Awards of $3,000 are given to recipients and funded by the OTA members through their annual scholarship and research outing held each year.
The Ozark Turf Association awarded the 2021-22 Karl Anderson Legacy Scholarship to Ms. Maycee Fishel of Marshfield MO. Maycee is the daughter of long time OTA member Tyler Fishel, of GreensPro, suppliers of turf products. Maycee, is a 2019 graduate of Marshfield High School, and currently attends Missouri State University, in Springfield MO. She is scheduled to graduate from MSU in May of 2023. Maycee is working towards a bachelor’s degree in Marketing/Sales Management.
The Karl Anderson Legacy Scholarship is named for long time Ozark Turf Association member Karl Anderson who worked for years as the golf course superintendent at Hickory Hills Country Club. He and his wife Patsy did not have children of their own, but strongly supported the association’s scholarship efforts. Karl lost his battle with brain cancer in May of 2018. The Karl Anderson Legacy Scholarship is open to the children and grandchildren of OTA members. Awards of $3,000 are given to recipients and funded by the OTA members through their annual scholarship and research outing held each year.
After residing for the past 6 years in Missouri, the Border War Cup finds itself back in Kansas, as Kansas Golf Course Superintendent Association members, Josh Troutman, Director of Golf Course Maintenance at the 36 hole facility, Crestview Country Club in Wichita Kansas, and Crestview’s North Course Superintendent, Nate Ratzlaff, defeated the Ozark Turf Association team of City of Springfield Golf Facilities Supervisor, Mike Irvine, and Scott Welsh, Golf Course Superintendent at the Bill and Payne Stewart Golf Course, City of Springfield, on the sixth hole at Winfield Country Club in Winfield Kansas.
The traditional horse race started with 16 players, 4 teams from each chapter, where two teams were eliminated on each hole. With only the two teams left after the short par 4, 4th hole, they played the 5th hole to a tie and moved onto the 6th hole, a difficult par 3, which was won by the Kansas team.
Prior to that, an 18 hole tournament was played with 4 man teams, featuring 3 Kansas members and one OTA member, where they played a two man best ball, with one being a net score and one being a gross score.
Before play began on day one at Winfield Country Club, we were treated to deli sandwiches with all the fixings, a full salad bar and soup. After the horse race, dinner featured huge steaks and big bake potatoes, which offered little room on our plates for the mixed vegetables.
Day two consisted of teams playing scrambles at Quail Ridge Golf Course in Winfield. We will work with the Kansas Chapter on trying to update the results from both days, needless to say, there will probably be some 1099’s having to be sent out to the multiple winners.
We would like to thank our hosts, Steve Hollembeak, Golf Course Superintendent at Winfield C.C. who is retiring at the end of the year, and Jeremy Birdwell, Golf Course Superintendent at Quail Ridge G.C. for their hospitality and great course conditions. These courses were a lot of fun to play, and I wish they had been in the rotation with our normal Kansas site, Crestwood Country Club in Pittsburgh Kansas, which is also a great venue and host.
Thanks goes to Title Sponsors Midwest Turf and Professional Turf Products, both Gold Partners with the Ozark Turf Association. Harrell’s was a lunch sponsor.
We are already looking forward to the return match in 2023.
FMC renews as a Silver Partner with the Ozark Turf Association. They have also agreed to be our Education Partner at the 2022 Education/Annual Meeting in January of 2022. The meeting will be held at Highland Springs Country Club, with a date to be announced soon, with an education agenda to follow.
The OTA thanks FMC for their support of local chapters like ours, especially when it comes to providing educational opportunities to our members. FMC and the OTA Board also thanks the OTA chapter members for visiting the FMC booth at the 2021 GIS Show (now known as GCSAA Conference and Show for 2022), and participating in the Kalida Masterpiece Hunt. We finished in 9th place. Not bad for our little chapter.
Thanks again to FMC for their support!
Tom Russell, Golf Course Superintendent at Triple Creek Golf Course won his third OTA Championship, Presented by Clear Creek Golf Car and Utility Vehicles and Club Car, in the past four years.
Tom lead the field with an even Par 71 at Old Kinderhook Golf Resort. Second place with a 74 went to Jared Brewster, Golf Course Superintendent at Highland Springs Country Club. Third place went to Manny Cervantes of OTA Gold Partner, Kansas Golf and Turf, who shot a 75.
The first flight winners were Justin Fraker of OTA Gold Partner, Clear Creek Golf and Utility Vehicles, Russell Cole of OTA Gold Partner Kansas Golf and Turf came in second, and Scott Welsh, Golf Course Superintendent at Bill and Payne Stewart Golf Course came in third.
The second flight winners were Barry Siems of OTA Gold Partner Precision Turf Products in first, Joe Munnuci, Golf Course Superintendent at Piney Valley Golf Course came in second, and third place went to Adam Camp, Golf Course Superintendent at Hidden Valley Golf Course.
We had a couple of scramble teams for those that didn’t want to punish themselves. Winning the scramble portion of the outing was the team of Darrell Easley, Assistant Superintendent at Windmill Ridge Golf Course, Andy Klein of OTA Gold Partner, VanWall Equipment, Brett Randal, Assistant Superintendent at Osage National Golf Resort, and Randy Webb from our host course, Old Kinderhook.
Closest to the pin winners were:
Hole # 3 - Sponsored by Brandt - Barry Siems - Precision Turf Products
Hole # 7 - Sponsored by Nufarm - Bubby Oliver - retired
Hole # 11 - Sponsored by OTA Gold Partner GreensPro - Randy Webb - Old Kinderhook
Hole # 16 - Sponsored by Precision Labs - Bubby Oliver - retired
Prior to the event we had a great lunch from Ravin Foy and the Old Kinderhook Resort staff. The Lunch was sponsored by OTA Gold Partner VanWall Equipment.
We would like to thank our host Golf Course Superintendent Charlie Boldreghini and his staff for a great time and course, Golf Pro Jason Woods and his staff for handling our scoring.
Big thanks again to presenting partner Clear Creek Golf Car and Utility Vehicles and Club Car, also to our lunch partner VanWall Equipment, and to our prize partners, Brandt, GreensPro, Nufarm, and Precision Labs. Many thanks also goes to our participants.
Don’t forget to sign up for the OTA Championship to be held on Tuesday September 21st at Old Kinderhook.
Cost for members is $30, nonmembers is $75. The tournament is presented by Clear Creek Golf Car and Utility Vehicles. Lunch sponsored by VanWall Equipment. Closest to the Pin prize sponsors are Brandt, GreensPro, Nufarm and Precision Labs.
We will have two formats, one will be play your own ball, with flights for prizes. Overall Gross winner (who is a member of the OTA) will receive the OTA trophy. We will also have scramble teams for those that just want to enjoy the golf course, and the day, networking with fellow OTA members.
Please RSVP by this Thursday, September 16th so we can give Old Kinderhook a count for lunch, and get pairings made. RSVP to either the ozarkturfassn@yahoo.com, or phone or text 417-860-9449.
More information is on the website calendar section.
Horton Smith Golf Course in Springfield Missouri hosted the 2021 U.S. Speedgolf Championships over the Labor Day weekend. Speedgolfers from around the country and even the world (one participate was from Tokyo Japan), competed in the two day event. Horton Smith Golf Pro, and speedgolfer himself, Garrett Holt was able to get the championships to Horton Smith where the event also benefited the Ozark Honor Flight organization.
Speedgolf combines the golfers score with the time it takes for them to navigate their way around the course. Jason Hawkins from Prospect Kentucky, was the National Champ with a total score of 221.23. This consisted of scores of 72 and 73 combined with times of 38 minutes and 6 seconds and 38 minutes and 17 seconds.
Scott Dawley from Houston Texas, shot a new world record on day one, with a score/time of 107.15, which was achieved by shooting a 65 and had a time of 42 minutes and 15 seconds as he covered the Horton Smith Golf Course. Complete results will be shown in the picture gallery.
Ozark Tur Association Gold Partner, Clear Creek Golf Car and Utility Vehicles was one of the sponsors of the event.
Ozark Turf Association member and Horton Smith Superintendent, Melvin Waldron III, CGCS and his staff helped prepare the course for this challenge. He is quoted as saying, “We were honored to host one of the three big golf events of the weekend, along with the Solheim Cup and Tour Championships”.
Website design by Clear Entertainment and Marketing Group
