Former Karl Anderson Legacy Scholarship Winner Graduates

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Congratulations to former Karl Anderson Legacy Scholarship winner, Maycee Fishel who recently graduated from Missouri State University with a bachelor’s degree in marketing.

Recently Maycee completed a yearlong marketing internship at O’Reilly Auto Parts corporate office in Springfield MO. She is now working full time with O’Reilly as an email marketing specialist.

Maycee is the daughter of Christina and Tyler Fishel, Tyler is a long time OTA member with GreensPro, suppliers of turf products. Maycee, is a 2019 graduate of Marshfield High School, Mayce also spent some time working in the golf business taking care of carts at Whispering Oaks Golf Course where OTA Member Kevin Taylor is the Golf Course Superintendent.

The Ozark Turf Association congratulations Maycee on her great accomplishment and we’re proud to have played a small part, supporting her in achieving her goals. We thank all of our members and vendor partners for their support for our scholarship and research fundraising efforts every year that makes these scholarships possible.

FMC Renews their Gold Partner status with the OTA

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FMC has renewed as a Gold Partner for 2023 with the Ozark Turf Association. Along with sponsoring two teams, they are 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 2023 GCSAA Conference and Show. FMC will also be the OTA lunch partner at the 2024 Education/Annual Meeting, they have also partnered with us for the 2023 March meeting and will be sponsoring 4 proximity prizes at upcoming monthly meetings.

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.

Ozark Turf Association Member Achieves GCSAA Class A Status

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Brad Seidt, Golf Course Superintendent at Lake Valley Golf Club in Camdenton, Missouri, achieved Class A status last month with the Golf Course Superintendent Association of America (GCSAA). Brad was recognized in the May 2023 issue of Golf Course Mangement.

The Ozark Turf Association would like to congratulate Brad 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 Randy Robinson, Central Field Representative at GCSAA.

Ozark Turf Association Scholarship Applications Are Now Open

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Applications for the two scholarships offered by the Ozark Turf Association are now open.

We offer the Karl Anderson Legacy Scholarship, open to children and grandchildren of OTA Members.

We also offer the OTA Industry Scholarship, which is open to students working on the golf course for OTA Members, who are preferably working on turf degrees or similar fields.

Both applications can be found on our website and downloaded. Applications are due by July 31st, 2023.

Mother Nature Finally Defeated at April OTA Meeting

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With a light steady rain early that April 27th morning, we still had 31 OTA members and guest attend the April Ozark Turf Association Meeting, presented by Professional Turf Products, hosted by Fremont Hills Country Club. Attendees enjoyed a lunch creating their own versions of goodness from the fajita buffet.

After lunch, as attendees kept an eye on the radar, 17 golfers decided to challenge Mother Nature. The rain lightened up during the front nine and had stopped, as groups started making the turn. The format for golf consisted of individual Stableford scoring, which was flighted.

Winning the first flight with a total of 33 points was Justin Thomas, Golf Course Superintendent at Top of The Rock, Big Cedar Golf Resort. Second place went to guest Jeremy Thomas (no relation), Golf Course Superintendent at Indian Tree Golf Course, he had 28 points. Third place with 27 points was Brad Seidt, Golf Course Superintendent at Lake Valley Golf Club.

Second flight winners were, in first place with 16 points, Dustin (Duck, which was approprite with the weather) Buckner, Assistant Golf Course Superintendent at Hidden Valley Golf Links. Second place also with 16 points went to Chase Shipley, second assistant at Highland Springs Country Club, with third place with 15 points going to David Moore, branch manager of SiteOne, Springfield.

Since we weren’t sure we would be able to get all 18 holes in, we decided to have a drawing for our closest to the pin prizes. The winners were as follows:

  • Hole # 3 sponsored by Brandt - Kolby Armbruster, Golf Course Superintendent at Ledgestone Country Club

  • Hole # 5 sponsored by FMC - Tyler Fishel, GreensPro

  • Hole # 12 sponsored by GreensPro - Dale Harrison, Assistant Superintendent, Lake Valley Golf Club

  • Hole # 15 sponsored by SiteOne - Mark Slaughter of GreensPro

Thanks again go to our hosts Fremont Hills Country Club and Golf Course Superintendent Sam Richart. Brad Gray and new territory sales manager, Josh Thomas of Professional Turf Products. Proximity sponsors, Brandt, FMC, GreensPro, and SiteOne.

Our next event will be Thursday May 25th, our annual Scholarship and Research outing, hosted by Silo Ridge Country Club and Superintendent Ronnie Harman. Our lunch provider is Paul Carlson with Syngenta. Get your teams together now!

Nufarm Renews Ozark Turf Association Membership for 2023

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Nufarm, leaders in turf and ornamental protection products, has renewed their 2023 OTA Membership. They also will be supporting the OTA Scholarship and Research event, sponsoring a team at Silo Ridge Country Club later this month.

Please welcome and thank new Midwest Regional Sales Manager Sam Wineinger to the Ozark Chapter. He is replacing longtime supporter Randy Beussink, who is enjoying his retirement.

Kansas Golf and Turf Renews their Gold Partnership with the OTA

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Kansas Golf and Turf, Distibutors of Jacobsen Turf Equipment and other product lines, has renewed as a Gold Partner of the Ozark Turf Association for the 2023 season.

Their support for the OTA allows the chapter to provide our members networking and educational opportunities. Please thank Russell Cole and the team at Kansas Golf and Turf the next time you see him.

March OTA Meeting Results

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The March 2023 Ozark Turf Association Meeting, presented by FMC was a success. Matt Bradley PNW/Midwest T and O Market Specialist with FMC presented his lecture “Under the Microscope: Things to Consider When Building Effective Fungicide Programs in Turf”. It started with a brief history of FMC and there were just a couple of us old timers whose hands were raised, that remember spraying with the old FMC Bean sprayers, (yet they still didn’t let me hit from the senior tees). Matt presented a lot of good information, and also threw in some nutsedge control information at the end.

Lunch was then served where we dined on hamburgers with all the fixings, potato salad, and everyone’s favorite, baked beans, many were asking for the receipe.

After lunch we played nine holes on the Betty Allison Par 3 course. The results are as follows:

Closest to the pin winners were:

  • Hole # 3 sponsored by FMC - Jeff Tennyson, assistant superintendent Lake of the Woods Golf Course, City of Columbia

  • Hole # 5 sponsored by SiteOne - Jeff Tennyson, Lake of the Woods Golf Course

  • Hole # 9 sponsored by GreensPro - Maron Towse, OTA President and Superintendent at Schiffferdecker Golf Course, City of Joplin.

Flight winners were as followed: Joey Johnson with Clear Creek Golf Car and Utility Vehicle shot a 29 and won in a scorecard playoff with a birdie on # 6 (playoff was # 7 backwards. In order to maintain his amateur status, Joey donated his prize back to the field.

First place in championship flight also with a 29, was Mike Irvine, OTA Past President and Golf Facilities Supervisor with the Springfield Greene County Park Board.

Second place also with a 29, was Mark Slaughter of GreensPro.

Third place with a 30, went to Barry Siems, owner of Precision Turf Products.

First place in 2nd flight with a 31, was Scott Welsh, Golf Course Superintendent at Bill and Payne Stewart Golf Course, Springfield Greene County Park Board.

Second place also with a 31, was Paul Lewis, Golf Course Superintendent at L. A. Nickell Municipal Golf Course, City of Columbia

Third place with a 32, was Maron Towse, Schiffendecker Golf Course

First place in 3rd flight with a 35 was Ty Lewis, General Manager/Superintendent, Mt. View Municipal Golf Course, Mt. View MO

Second place with a 37 was Tyler Fishel, with GreensPro

Third place with a 37 was Melvin Waldron III, CGCS, Golf Course Superintendent at Horton Smith Golf Course, Springfield Greene County Park Board, and OTA Secretary/Treasurer.

We thank Matt and FMC for sponsoring the meeting and giving the presentation, and we thank FMC, GreensPro and SiteOne for sponsoring the proximity markers.

We will see everyone April 27th at Fremont Hills Country Club, Presented by Profesional Turf Products.

The Andersons renews OTA Gold Partnership for 2023

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The Andersons makers of turf fertilizers and plant protectant products has renewed their Gold Partner status for 2023 with the Ozark Turf Association. They have been long time sponsors of our Scholarship and Research event.

The Andersons support of our chapter allows for educational and networking opportunities for our members. Please thank Darrin Johnson, Turf and Ornamental Sales Rep. the next time you see him.

Professional Turf Products Renews their OTA Gold Partnership for 2023

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Professional Turf Products, distributor of Toro Golf Equipment has renewed their Gold Partnership with the Ozark Turf Association for 2023.

Along with their Gold Partnership, they will be sponsoring our April and September monthly education/golf meetings. They will also be sponsoring the OTA Christmas Party.

With their partnership we are able to provide education and networking opportunities to our members. Please thank Brad Gray, Territory and Branch Manager, the next time you see him.

GreensPro Renews OTA Gold Partnership for 2023

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GreensPro distributors of fertilizers and plant protector products has renewed their Gold Partnership with the Ozark Turf Association for the 2023 season. They are also sponsoring proximity prizes at the chapter education/golf meetings and the Scholarship and Research Outing.

Their support allows the OTA to provide educational and networking opportunities to our members. Please thank Mark Slaughter, Tyler Fishel and new team member Dustin Irvine when you see them.

Advanced Turf Solutions renews as an OTA Gold Partner

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Advanced Turf Solutions, suppliers of turf nutrient and plant protection products has renewed their Gold Partnership with the Ozark Turf Association for 2023

The OTA appreciates Advanced Turf Solutions for their support of our chapter members, allowing us to provide educational and networking opportunities.

Please thank one of the ATS team members for their support, Austen Gearheart, Brock Phipps, Jeff Olsen and Brian Winka.

OTA February Bowling Meeting Results

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We had a nice turnout at our bowling meeting, although as some of us get longer in the tooth, we see more of our members sitting back and enjoying each other’s company and telling stories rather than lacing up their bowling shoes. We had 23 attend the meeting with 17 of us taking to the lanes.

We gave out prizes for high score, high series, and high team score using the 9 pin no tap format.

This year our high score of 220 and our high series of 664 both rolled by Scott Hendrickson, former assistant superintendent at Hickory Hills Country Club, he is taking the money and running (If you don’t automatically think of the Steve Miller Band song, you’re too young) to Arkansas and Springdale Country Club as an assistant superintendent there. We wish him the best of luck and also thank him for allowing the rest of us to have a chance next year.

Scott also led his team to a total of 1919 pins, beating the second-place team by just 21 pins. His team consisted of Andrew Mills, assistant superintendent at Ledgestone Country Club, Derrick Edwards, Field Manager for the Springfield Cardinals, and Austen Gearheart, territory manager for Advanced Turf Specialties.

A great time was had by all, and we look forward to next year’s event. Later this month, we do hope everyone has put our next meeting on their calendar. We will be meeting on Wednesday March 29th at the Betty Allison at Oscar Blom par 3 course next to the Bill and Payne Stewart course in Springfield. This meeting is presented by FMC. Our speaker is Matt Bradley with FMC and his topic is title “Under the Microscope: Things to Consider When Building Effective Fungicide Programs in Turf”. More information is on the website. We’ll see you there!

Harrell's Renews Ozark Turf Association Membership as a Silver Partner

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Harrell’s, manufactures and distributors of plant nutrition and protective products has renewed their Ozark Turf Association membership, stepping up to be a Silver Partners for 2023. Their support of the chapter allows the OTA to provide educational and networking opportunities to our members.

We thank Harrell’s for their support of our members.

Turfwerks Joins the OTA as a Vendor Partner

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Turfwerks, the distributor of Rain Bird golf irrigation products in our area, has joined the Ozark Turf Association as a 2023 Vendor Member.

They will also be sponsoring a team at the OTA Scholarship and Research Outing to be held at Silo Ridge Country Club on May 25th, 2023.

We would like to thank Jamie Chambers our area’s irrigation sales and service manager for Turfwerks support of our members and our scholarship and research efforts.