Three OTA Members Achieve GCSAA Class A Status

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Three Ozark Turf Association (OTA) members achieved Class A status with the Golf Course Superintendent Association of America (GCSAA).

Brian Bauer, Golf Course Superintendent at Windmill Ridge, City of Monett in Monett, MO, Aaron Lorenz, Golf Course Superintendent at Buffalo Ridge Springs Golf Course, Big Cedar Golf Resort, in Hollister, MO and Scott Welsh, Golf Course Superintendent at Bill and Payne Golf Course, City of Springfield-Greene County Park Board, Springfield MO. All were recognized in the June issue of Golf Course Management.

We would like to congratulate our fellow members for reaching this milestone.

The definition of a Class A member is a golf industry professional; who possesses knowledge, skills and abilities through a combination of education, experience, professional development and environmental stewardship; and has met and continues to fulfill on-going Class A renewal requirements.

For members looking to earn Class A status it consists of a combination of formal education, experience as a golf course superintendent, continuing education and providing proof of a valid pesticide license or passing the GCSAA IPM Exam. Class A membership demonstrates a personal commitment to lifelong learning, environmental stewardship and elevating the golf course management profession. It also shows employers that your achievements and competencies are documented and validated. For those looking to pursue Class A status, reach out to Shelia Finney, Senior Director of Member Programs at GCSAA, or our Central Field Representative Randy Robinson.

FMC Renews as a 2022 Ozark Turf Association Gold Partner

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FMC renewed as Gold Partner for 2022 with the OTA. They were also sponsors of our long drive contest at our Scholarship and Research Outing, which coincides with the OTA’s strong showing in the golf simulator in the FMC booth at the 2022 GCSAA Conference and Show.

FMC’s support of our chapter helps us provide educational and networking opportunities for our members. Thank you, FMC and Matt Bradley Market Specialist, for supporting the Ozark Turf Assocation.

Harrell's Joins the Ozark Turf Association

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Harrell’s manufactures and distributors of plant protective products has joined the Ozark Turf Association as Vendor Partners. Their support of the chapter allows the OTA to provide educational and networking opportunities to our members.

We would like to welcome the Harrell’s team of Jason Frank, Matt Greg, Mark Stovall, Tim Schaefer, Kendall Wiley, and JJ Jansen to the OTA.

OTA defeats Mother Nature, Scholarship and Research Fundraiser a Success

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Mother Nature was finally defeated, and the Ozark Turf Association Scholarship and Research Outing was a success. 

We would like to thank everyone who waited out the rain and played in the 2022 OTA Scholarship and Research Outing. We had I believe a record 21 teams tee it up and play in the 4-man scramble. 

A big thank you goes out to Silo Ridge Country Club for accommodating us for the day despite the weather, and Golf Course Superintendent, Ronnie Harman and his staff who had the course so well prepared and in great condition, that is took all the rain and still provided a fun day.

Lunch was sponsored by GreensPro where we had the traditional Silo Ridge C.C. Taco Bar. While we waited out the rain, some of us made multiple trips to get more taco’s (can never have enough tacos) and/or cookies.

The Ozark Turf Association sponsored some toasted raviolis and chips and queso after play while waiting for the results.

We had three flights and three places in each flight.  The results of the team competition were as follows:

Championship Flight:

Team Clear Creek Golf Cars and Utility Vehicles consisting of Cheever, Fraker, Johnson and Young with a score of 52, 20 under par.

·Team Millwood Golf and Racquet Club consisting of Hoerschgen, Schumacher, Derrick, and Brandel with a score of 54.

·Team Silo Ridge #1 consisting of Harman, Keller, Butler, and Ryan, with a score of 57

First Flight:

·Team Silo Ridge # 2 consisting of Routh, Routh, Kelly, and Cloyd, with a score of 62.

Team BASF consisting of Bunch, Prange, Scroggins, and Wellerson, with a score of 63.

Team Professional Turf Products (Toro) consisting of Gray, Seidt, Harrison, and Mathews, (Team Lake Valley G, C.) with a score of 63.

Second Flight:

Team FMC consisting of Bradley, Finley, Panter and Perez with a score of 67.

·Team Bayer consisting of Kleffner, Overton, Pyle, and Waldron with a score of 68.

Team Knox Fertilizer consisting of Brinton, Baldwin, Ballad, and Fishel with a score of 68.

Winner of the Closest to the Pin on # 2 sponsored by GreensPro was Brock Derrick of the Millwood Golf and Racquet Club team. 

Winner of the Closest to the Pin on # 5 sponsored by Ermisch Golf Design was Ronnie Jr, which we have to guess was someone on a Silo Ridge Team. 

Winner of the Closest to the Pin on # 11 sponsored by Advanced Turf Solutions was Austen Gearheart of Advanced Turf Solutions, we will need to make sure that is on his W-2 form at the end of the year.

Winner of the Closest to the Pin on # 17 sponsored by VanWall Equipment was Kolby Armbruster, Golf Course Superintendent at Ledgestone Country Club.  Ironically, he was playing on the VanWall Team.

Winning the Long Drive on # 7 sponsored by FMC, was Randy Robinson, Central Field Staff Representative with GCSAA. 

After golf prizes were handed out, we had a raffle of gift cards provided by all the tee sign sponsors.  Thank you to all the following team and tee sponsors:

VanWall Equipment            

Bayer  

Midwest Turf

PBI Gordon

Corteva

Precision Turf Products

Advanced Turf Solutions

Professional Turf Products

Knox Fertilizer

GreensPro

Syngenta

Kansas Golf and Turf Equipment

The Andersons

FMC

BASF

Clear Creek Golf Cars and Utility Vehicles

And the following Tee sponsors:

Ermisch Golf Design

Nufarm

Without the support of all these partners, this event would not be the success it is.  We would also like to thank everyone at Silo Ridge Country Club for providing their course, and Cindy Waldron for donating her time to make sponsorship signs and gift card holders.

Once we get all invoices paid and monies counted, we will report the outcome of the event.

Additional photo credit to Randy Robinson.             

The Andersons Joins the Ozark Turf Association as a Gold Partner

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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.

April Ozark Turf Association Meeting

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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. 

Advanced Turf Solutions Renews as a 2022 Gold Partner with the Ozark Turf Association

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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.

March Ozark Turf Association Meeting Well Attended

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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. 

GreensPro renews as a 2022 Gold Partner plus other sponsorships

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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.

OTA 2022 Bowling Meeting Results

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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

Professional Turf Products Renews 2022 Gold Partnership

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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.

Precision Turf Products renews as a 2022 Gold Partner

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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.

OTA Member Recognized for 25 years of Certification

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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).

Congratulations to Steve on achieving this career milestone.