Syngenta manufacturer of plant protective products has renewed their Gold Partnership for 2022 with the Ozark Turf Association. Syngenta has been long time supporters of the OTA and Superintendents everywhere.
Please thank Paul Carlson, Syngenta Territory Manager the next time you see him.
Kansas Golf and Turf Renews as a Gold Partner of the Ozark Turf Association. They also sponsored our previous March educational meeting.
Their support for the OTA allows our members to attend networking and educational opportunities. Please thank Russell Cole and the team at Kansas Golf and Turf the next time you see him.
The Andersons makers of turf fertilizers and plant protectant products has joined the Ozark Turf Association as a Gold Partner. They have been long time sponsors of our Scholarship and Research event.
With the new partnership, their logo joins other partners logos on our website, which links to their websites. Their logo is also on our meeting banner. The partnership also includes a team and tee sign at our Scholarship and Research event.
The Andersons support of our chapter allows for educational and networking opportunities for our members. The OTA appreciates The Andersons for their support. Please thank Darrin Johnson, Turf and Ornamental Sales Rep. the next time you see him.
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.
Brandt a supplier of turf nutrition products, has renewed their 2022 OTA Vendor Partnership this year. They are also sponsoring some of the closest to the pin prizes at our monthly meetings.
Please thank Midwest Territory Sales Manager, Ryan Jerome the next time you see him.
Advanced Turf Solutions, supplier of various turf fertilizers and plant protective products, renews their Gold Partnership with the Ozark Turf Association.
Their support of the chapter allows many educational and networking opportunities for our members. Please thank Austen Gearhart, and Jeff Olsen when you see them and for you members over at Hammons Field, thank Brian Winka as well.
OTA March Meeting Recap
We would like to thank everyone who were able to attend our March 29th meeting at the Betty Allison at Oscar Blom par 3 course located next to the Bill and Payne Stewart Golf Course. Golf Course Superintendent Scott Welsh and staff had a great setup for us.
We would like to thank meeting sponsor, Gold Partner, Kansas Golf and Turf and Russell Cole for supporting our meeting.
Dr. Jared Hoyle from Gold Partner Corteva had a presentation on “Low Maintenance Roughs and Natural Areas for Golf Courses.” 37 members attended the talk. Lunch was served afterwards and then 30 golfers hit the links, where we played nine holes on the par 3 course.
Results of the outing were:
A-Flight
1st place – Justin Thomas, Golf Course Superintendent at Top of The Rock with a 27
2nd place – Gavin Arnold, Assistant Golf Course Superintendent at Highland Springs C.C. with a 30
3rd place – Brian Cheever, President and Owner of Gold Partner, Clear Creek Golf Cars and Utility Vehicles with a 30
B-Flight
1st place – Darrell Easley, Assistant Golf Course Superintendent at Windmill Ridge, City of Monett with a 33
2nd place – Jeff Sommerer, Golf Course Superintendent at Osage National Golf Resort with a 33
3rd place – David Trent, Assistant Golf Course Superintendent at Holiday Island Country Club with a 33
C-Flight
1st place – Nathan Strait, Field Operations Coordinator, Springfield Cardinals with a 37
2nd place – Tyler Scroggins, Golf Course Superintendent, Holiday Island Country Club with a 37
3rd place – Matt Bradley – Market Specialist with Gold Partner FMC with a 38
Winners of the $10 skin prizes for birdies were
Justin Fraker – Clear Creek Golf Cars and Utility Vehicles with a birdie on hole # 4
Justin Thomas – Superintendent at Top of The Rock with Birdies on # 5 and # 7
Closest to the pin winners:
# 5 sponsored by Gold Partner GreensPro – Justin Thomas of Top of the Rock It looks like will have to send Justin a 1099 at the end of the year for all his winnings.
# 9 sponsored by the Ozark Turf Association – Melvin Waldron III, CGCS, Golf Course Superintendent at Horton Smith Golf Course. There was some pressure as Mel was in the last group of the day and the field was watching from the practice green when Mel hit a half 5-iron punch (because that is only how far he could take the club back) from 140 yards into a stiff wind, to about 6 feet. After his attempted birdie putt went 3 feet past the hole, there was added pressure that he would have to cross his name off if he didn’t make the par putt coming back.
After the prizes were handed out, current President Maron Towse, Golf Course Superintendent at Schifferdecker Golf Course presented Past President Mike Irvine, Golf Facilities Manager for the Springfield-Greene County Park Board, a plaque recognizing Mike’s two years, 2020 and 2021, serving as the Ozark Turf Association president.
Thanks go to Bill and Payne Stewart pro, Shawn Freeman for handling our scoring and his staff for cooking and providing our lunch.
Knox Fertilizer, manufacture of various fertilizer products, renews their Gold Partnership with the Ozark Turf Association.
Their support of the chapter allows many educational and networking opportunities for our members. Please thank Bob Brinton, Central Sales Representative, when you see him.
The Ozark Turf Association would like to announce we have moved to a new website address. Please start using www.ozarkgcsa.org in the future.
Now that we have access to our website again, be on the lookout for meeting and news updates.
Thank you for your patience as we worked to solve the problem.
GreensPro, distributor of many fertilizer, chemical, and seed products, renews as a long time Gold Partner of the Ozark Turf Association. Along with their Partnership, they will also be sponsoring the lunch at this year’s Scholarship and Research outing to be held at Silo Ridge on May 19th. They are also sponsoring closest to the pin prizes at each of our golf meetings including the S and R outing.
Their huge support of the chapter allows many educational and networking opportunities for our members. Please thank Mark Slaughter, Tyler Fishel, and Wyatt Cantrell, as you will probably see all three, this spring, as they deliver products and take your orders.
We had a good turnout at the 2022 Ozark Turf Association bowling meeting yesterday despite the weather forecast. We had 21 bowlers, along with 7 members who were fighting injuries (and/or old age) who watched and networked with each other at Enterprise Park Lanes in Springfield.
The winning team fired a 3-game total using 9 pin no tap scoring, of 1,821 pins beating the second-place team by 23 pins. Team members were Sam Richart, Golf Course Superintendent at Fremont Hills Country Club, Kolby Armbruster, Golf Course Superintendent at Ledgestone Country Club, Joey Johnston of Clear Creek Golf Cars and Utility Vehicles, and Wyatt Cantrell from GreensPro.. Each bowler won $25.
A prize was awarded to the person with the highest game, and that bowler was Scott Welsh, Golf Course Superintendent at Bill and Payne Stewart Golf Course, with a high game of 222. He won a $20 prize.
We also awarded prizes for the top three 3-game series. Scott Welsh ran away with that with a 577 series. He won $25 for that effort. Maron Towse, Golf Course Superintendent at Schifferdecker Golf Course and OTA President finished with a 518 series, taking home a prize of $20, and Joey Johnson finished in third one pin behind with a 517 series.
Our next meeting will be on March 29th, to be held at Betty Allison at Oscar Blom par 3 course. Our speaker will be Dr. Jared Hoyle with Corteva. His topic will be “Low Maintenance Roughs and Natural Areas for Golf Courses.” This meeting is presented in partnership by GreensPro. Check the website for more details. Please RSVP by March 23rd.
Mel
The Ozark Turf Association would like to announce that Professional Turf Products, the local supplier of Toro turf equipment and parts, along with many other equipment lines, has renewed their 2022 Gold Partner status with the OTA.
Along with their Gold Partnership, they will be sponsoring our June and October monthly education/golf meetings, including proximity prizes at those two meetings. They will also be sponsoring the OTA Christmas Party.
We thank them for their support of our members, allowing the chapter to provide meeting and networking opportunities. We appreciate their partnership. Please thank Brad Gray, Territory and Branch Manager, the next time you see him.
The Ozark Turf Association would like to announce that Precision Turf Products, suppliers of turf equipment has renewed their Gold Partner status with the OTA.
They will also be sponsoring our August Family Baseball Night with the Springfield Cardinals.
We thank them for their support of our members, allowing the chapter to provide meeting and networking opportunities. We appreciate their partnership. Please thank Barry Siems, President/Owner the next time you see him.
The Ozark Turf Association (OTA) would like to announce that OTA member and Past President, Steve Johnson, CGCS, was recognized by Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA), for completing 25 years of being a Certified Golf Course Superintendent, at the 2022 GCSAA Conference and Tradeshow, held in San Diego last week.
Steve is the Golf Course Superintendent at Payne’s Valley and Mountain Top, at Big Cedar Golf, in Hollister Missouri.
The Certified Golf Course Superintendent (CGCS) designation is bestowed upon those who have demonstrated a high degree of knowledge in their profession. The CGCS designation is the most widely recognized in the golf industry and the highest recognition that can be achieved by golf course superintendents. Renewal cycles are every five years and must meet the following continuing education requirements.
They must either attain at least 15 points, of which a minimum of 9.0 must be education points. OR
Successfully complete the written examination, plus attain 5.0 points, with a minimum of 3.0 education points.
To renew their CGCS status, they must fulfill the IPM requirement (either by submitting their pesticide license information or taking the IPM exam).
Capital Sand Company, with corporate offices in Jefferson City and Locations in Missouri and other parts of the country, has joined the Ozark Turf Association as a 2022 Silver Partner.
Please thank Sales Manager Joe Mosley, and Capital Sand for their support of our members and their chapter.
The Ozark Turf Association would like to announce that Redexim Turf Products has renewed their 2022 OTA vendor membership.
Please thank Territory Manager Brad Lackey and Redexim for their support of our members and their chapter.
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.
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