Sunny weather is

on the horizon! Well, we

do live in California after

all. What I am referencing

here is the indicators are

trending upward for the golf

industry as a whole after a

favorable 2012 golf season.

The amount of paid rounds

increased 6.1% nationally

and the State of California

showed an increase of 3.1%

during 2012 as reported by

the National Golf Founda-

tion. Let’s hope that this

trend continues into 2013

and well beyond.

If you are looking

for more rays of sun, San

Diego was the place to be

this February. Not only

was the sun shining, but

there was many opportuni-

ties to expand your knowl-

edge and brilliant ideas that

may help your facility navi-

gate toward success. The

trade show included all of

the latest and greatest toys

we all had on our wish list

this past holiday season as

well as great promotional

offers available only to at-

tendees . The education at

the show is always fantastic

and this years’ lineup of

topics and presenters was

no disappointment. On top

of all of that, there were

numerous networking op-

portunities available includ-

ing our very own California

Room aboatd the U.S.S.

Midway. This was a must

attend event, that included

over 600 of our California

members.

Our 2013 Chapter

event schedule started with a

bright and sunny beginning

on the coast as Tennessee

McBroom and Sandpiper

Golf Club hosted the first

event of the year. What a

gorgeous day! We were

welcomed by a beautiful

sunrise and those that stayed

for golf were bid adieu as the

sun began to set over the

Pacific as we headed home.

The meeting was equally as

great as we kicked off 2013

with our new GCSAA presi-

(Continued on page 3)

Presidents Message By Josh Heptig

TEE-OFF News January/February 2013

Investing or Not 2

Mallard Duck Nesting Tubes Meeting Schedules

4 5

Be Different in 2013 6

From the Field 8

Irrigation Efficiency 9

Highlights from Winter Symposium

10

Inside this issue:

Official Publication of the Golf Course Superinten-

dents Association of Central California. The purpose of this publication is informa-tion and education for the membership. Published

bi-monthly by

GCSACC

5322 N. Leonard

Clovis, CA 93619

Phone (559) 298-4853

Fax (559) 298-6957

Email gcsacc@aol.com

Bob Schneiderhan,

Newsletter Chairman

Mike Scott, CGCS, Editor

By Laws Changes by Steven Showers The Golf Course

Superintendents Associa-

tion of Central California

(GCSACC) last amended

the chapter’s by-laws in

2006. At that time the

changes made were in or-

der for our chapter to re-

main in line with the Golf

Course Superintendents

Association of America

(GCSAA) regarding the

dual membership require-

ments. The board of direc-

tors has decided to again

amend our by-laws in a

few minor areas.

The proposed

changes we are consider-

ing include:

Inserting language in the

by-laws relating to the

ability of the board of

directors to assess a

$50.00 reinstatement fee

to members who let their

membership lapse and

then reapply for mem-

bership with the chapter.

(Continued on page 3)

Page 2

Investing or Not Michael Swing, CGCS President California GCSAA

TEE-OFF News

So how’s your 401K, stocks,

savings account or money tucked

neatly in the mattress doing these

days? Hopefully, we all will do

well. We all invest in one way or

another to protect our future when

the great day of retirement arrives.

But until then, how do you invest in

your career? For many successful

superintendents it’s active involve-

ment in GCSAA, California GCSA

or your Local Chapter. It’s one of

those things, the more you invest the

greater the return. So what am I

leading to? Each level of the asso-

ciations has its own unique offer-

ings, or as I call it “Tools”. These

tools are necessary in solving issues

of today and with hundreds of tools

available, you are now prepared to

tackle almost anything. Doubt me?

Just open these websites and see for

yourself. You will get lost in the

maze of resources, benefits, links,

and more. One of the biggest bene-

fits among the 3 associations is the

behind the scenes support you

(member or not) receive as a profes-

sional in the eyes of golfers and the

public. It comes in many ways such

as TV commercials, Radio an-

nouncements, Golf Commentary, or

local superintendent interview to

name only a few. The increased

awareness of what we do results in

greater salaries, benefits, and recog-

nition now and in the future.

Networking is the path to

enhance these tools. Meeting new

professionals and talking shop is a

great way of learning. It is also a

great way to establish a connection

or consultant for a particular issue at

some point in time. In many cases

your colleague may bring forth new

ideas or better options to the table.

Establishing these relationships be-

comes synergistic with continued

education. Have you ever noticed

that the most successful superinten-

dents are present at almost every

event, seminar or function in golf?

They understand the value and the

future of this profession.

The alternative, and there is

always one, is to not invest in your

knowledge of Golf Course Manage-

ment, float along and eventually be-

come obsolete. Remember, we are

replaceable and in today’s market,

many college graduates and assistant

superintendents are looking at you

for a spot. More importantly, your

club needs you to be at the forefront

of course management.

Page 3 TEE-OFF News

dent to be Pat Finlen, CGCS from The

Olympic Club. Pat provided some great

information about where GCSAA has

been, where we are, and where we are

striving to be in the future. Pat was fol-

lowed by Pat Gross from the USGA. Pat

was our featured speaker last year at Alisal

and he did not disappoint us this year as he

provided cost saving tips and regional up-

dates for the attendees. The final leg of our

educational relay was Bruce Williams with the California Turf and

Landscape Foundation. Bruce brought home the baton as he spoke

about the importance of turf research and how University funding is

lacking here in our State. The Foundation has been established to in-

crease the awareness of research as well as provide a mechanism so

that funds can be allocated to benefit our industry.

As a golf course superintendent, your position has been shown

to be the most important to your customers’ satisfaction. That means

that each of us must continue to inspire our staffs toward making our

golf facilities as enjoyable as possible. The golf course superintendent

has been rated above the Golf Professional, the Marshall, the outside

attendant, and even the General Manager. However, no facility can be

successful without the continued effort and support from the entire

team. Our chapter is an example of just that…TEAMWORK and

TEAM EFFORT! We need your support, participation, and feedback.

One of the officers, Board of Directors, or myself may call on you this

year to encourage your attendance at an event or outing. We see the

importance of TEAM and we would enjoy having each of our team-

mates get involved in 2013. So consider setting time aside this year to

attend at least one event with YOUR chapter and peers. The informa-

tion, ideas, and relationships that you take away will make it worth-

while I guarantee. Your Board’s goal this year is to ensure that our

Chapter is the membership in which you cannot afford to pass up!

President’s Message-Continued from page 1

Josh Heptig

Creating a position on the GCSACC

board of directors for one Class C

member (Assistant Golf Course Super-

intendent). In order for this change to

take place we need to change the cur-

rent language regarding restrictions

that relate to Class C members’ inabil-

ity to hold office. The right of Class C

members’ ability to vote is also a topic

of conversation and the board is ex-

ploring the option of awarding this

right to our Assistant members.

Remove the language regarding the

association issuing membership cards.

Adding the proper name to our charity

tournament, the Lowell Stone Charity

Tournament.

Removal of gender specific language

from the by-laws.

In order to amend the by-laws the

board must first present proposed changes

in writing to the membership at a regular

meeting, potentially the August meeting.

Then the amended by-laws would be voted

on by secret ballot by all voting members

present at the following meeting in Sep-

tember. The amended by-laws would be

adopted if a minimum of two-thirds votes

were in favor of the changes.

If you have any input regarding

these proposed amendments or would like

to address other areas of our by-laws please

contact any board member or email the

association office.

By Laws Changes Continued from page 1

Page 4

TEE-OFF News

The Audubon Society Mission

Statement: To work with others to

deliver high-quality environmental

education and to facilitate the sus-

tainable management of land, wa-

ter, wildlife, and other natural re-

sources in all places people live,

work, and play.

While interviewing for the

superintendent position at The Vil-

lage Country Club near Lompoc,

California, I learned that the course

is a certified member of the Audu-

bon Cooperative Sanctuary Pro-

gram (For Golf), and has been since

2001. Having worked as an assis-

tant at The Ridge Golf Course near

Roseville for a couple of years, I

had some experience with various

projects pertaining to the sanctuary

program. Upon being hired, I was

eager to see what the course had

done in the past and had planned to

do in the future. I started looking

around over the next few months

and talking to members about the

course and its wildlife.

As spring rolled around I

was excited to see all the Mallard

ducks in our ponds and couldn’t

wait for all the little yellow duck-

lings that would soon be following

their mothers, especially for my 2

daughters. And so, nature did it’s

thing and there were ducklings, but

not as many as I was expecting.

Later, I would find piles of down

and feathers which I’m sure our

resident Red-tailed hawks had

something to do with. In the weeks

that followed, there were fewer and

fewer ducklings behind their moth-

ers and it became apparent that be-

tween the eggs and ducklings get-

ting snatched by predators on the

ground and the hawks, falcons, bass

and egrets, mallards were not long

for VCC.

I started doing research on

line to see what other courses were

doing to assist in the Mallard popu-

lations and found an article from

The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay GC

and they were building nesting

tubes for their Mallards. I dove

into the article and discovered that

these tubes work, are easy to build

and inexpensive. Although there

was no information on methods of

protecting these little dudes from

birds of prey, etc., we will try a

chicken wire “blind” at one end and

see if they will scurry under for

(Continued on page 7)

Mallard Duck Nesting Tubes By Scott Walwyn

Page 5

TEE-OFF News

April 3, 2013

Spring Educational Symposium

Ridge Creek

Dinuba Golf Club Host Superintendent

Rob Lomeli

Educational Topics

Experience at Ridge Creek

Continued Education—DPR—PDI

PCA/PCO

July 15, 2013

Al Glaze Memorial Scholarship &

Research Tournament

San Luis Obispo Country Club Host Superintendent

Joe Tompkins

August 5, 2013

Tri Chapter Meeting

Hosted by Central California

Spring Creek Country Club

Host Superintendent

Phil Brown

Meeting Schedule

Be Different in 2013 by Tennessee McBroom

Page 6 TEE-OFF News

Over the past few years the

reins have been pulled in to reduce

spending and now as many are

looking to hire additional staff and

catch up on deferred maintenance

within their properties, it is ever as

important to review current opera-

tions and have a great plan in place.

Our roles as Superinten-

dent’s have changed significantly in

recent times, perhaps some wear

more hats, sit in on more commit-

tees, or manage additional proper-

ties, but it is my belief that we’ve

found the bottom in the economy.

With the current uptick in business

levels, we’re reviewing the opera-

tion and every item to see what can

be done differently with not always

the outcome just to save money, but

to improve the product on the golf

course. As we continue through

this process we strive on being dif-

ferent; asking the hard questions to

ourselves; Are we different? What

sets our properties uniquely apart in

the market place? What efficien-

cies need to be improved? What

new or different approach can be

taken to improve our guest/member

satisfaction?

Throughout this review and

planning process working as a team

is not only important throughout

every department, but the only way

to operate to know where we are as

a business in today’s world. Our

properties have always kept the

focus on the guest/member and

never losing sight of that! Operat-

ing differently and providing the

best information to our ownership,

management, and membership alike

has improved our overall business

plan. Without that re-

lationship, when reve-

nues were tight, it was

easy for management

to react and just cut

budgets with little dis-

cussion and little

knowledge of the effects. Now,

having open and honest communi-

cation is ever so critical in manage-

ment of expenses, generating new

revenue streams, and creating new

ideas to differentiate ourselves in

the marketplace. Not just thinking

outside of the box, but as I would

say sometimes by throwing the box

away entirely and just being differ-

ent has helped us succeed.

As we gather for chapter meetings

in the future share your success sto-

ries, share your hardships and con-

cerns with your neighbors, and take

time to utilize these formats to

make a difference in your proper-

ties. Ask yourself the hard ques-

tions every day, Are we different?

At the end of it all we’re not only

judged by our surfaces, not just the

guest/member daily comments, but

the bottom line as well, and some-

times you have to be different in

your approach to find the solution.

Cheers to a prosperous and

successful 2013!

For over 80 years the

specialty seed source for:

-Native Grasses and

Wildflowers

-Kikuyu, Paspalum,

Hybrid Bermuda

-Bentgrasses, Fine

Fescues, Ryegrasses

Golf Course Representatives:

Jim Culley 213-268-3193

Don Lewis 213-247-3266

Home Office: 800-621-0315

www.stoverseed.com

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

Mitch Peterson Valley Club of Montecito

Class A

Guy Beltchenko John Deere Landscapes

Class E

Simon Herrera Ocean Meadows G.C.

Class A

J. Ryan Bentley North Ranch C.C.

Class A

Page 7 TEE-OFF News

Mallard Duck Nesting Tubes Continued from page 4

protection. The premise behind the tubes is that they sit

above the water not on the ground like normal Mallard

nests. In this way, the eggs are at least able to hatch

before they are destroyed by predators such as raccoons,

foxes, rats, opossums, etc. The experiences at The Bear

Trace suggest the ducks will find the tubes and have

used them.

The Mallard nesting tubes are made of chicken

wire, burlap, pvc and zip ties. We will build 3 this

spring and emplace them into the pond as they free-

stand in the pond and I will report back on progress and

success!? Google this course and see full color step-by-

step pictures on the construction of these nests.

www.Bthbgcm.blogspot.com.

Wish us Luck!

Page 8 TEE-OFF News

Golf Course Materials

Topdressing Sand - Bunker Sand

Decomposed Granite - Drain Rock

1/8” Minus Turf & Tee Bulk Humus

Brush Removal Call for competitive rates

David Knott, Inc. (559) 449-8935 or (559) 760-5387

I wanted

to update you on

the progress of

the Environ-

mental Institute

for Golf (EIFG).

EIFG enjoyed

tremendous suc-

cess in 2012 and

is continuing its

mission of foster-

ing sustainability through research,

awareness, education, programs and

scholarships for the benefit of golf

course management professionals,

golf facilities and the game.

Nine affiliated chapters have

made EIFG donations with the most

recent being a $5,000 donation from

the Southern Nevada Golf Course

Superintendents Association. Other

contributing chapters include the

Alabama GCSA, Everglades GCSA,

Florida GCSA, Heart of America

GCSA, GCSA of New Jersey, Mid-

west Association of GCS, Palm

Beach GCSA and Wisconsin GCSA.

These donations are being used to

fund projects in a variety of areas

ranging from water use and energy

conservation to pollution prevention

including the soon to be published

GCSAA Golf Course Environmental

Profile.

While the support from our

affiliated chapters and industry part-

ners has been outstanding, we still

need individual support from our

loyal superintendent members mov-

ing forward. To that end, EIFG es-

tablished the “Give 5” campaign in

the fall of 2012 to provide an easy

and affordable way to support EIFG.

Take 5 seconds to donate $5 at

eifg.org. It’s that easy to show your

support for the industry and to en-

sure the game’s long-term success.

Additionally, the Rounds 4 Research

program has shown some early suc-

cess and auction dates for 2013 will

be announced shortly. Currently

over 40 affiliate chapters nationwide

participate in the program including

all of the chapters in California. If

you have not donated a foursome

from your facility, I urge you to do

so as 80 percent of the funds from

the auctioned rounds of golf go back

to the chapter in which they were

secured to be used for research, edu-

cation, advocacy, scholarships and

environmental programs. You can

donate online at

From the Field Jeff Jensen GCSAA Field Staff

Jeff Jensen

Page 9 TEE-OFF News

Irrigation Efficiency Lowers Stress Levels By Kevin Eppich Turf Star Golf Irrigation Sales and Service

Winter has set in and the

irrigation system needs have greatly

diminished. This is the time of year

to review what changes need to be

made to the irrigation system and

plan improvements for next year.

Earlier this year I worked with Mike

Swing, CGCS at Visalia Country

Club to assist him in an effort to

raise the irrigation efficiency at his

golf course. Mike was kind enough

to document the benefits he saw this

irrigation season in a letter to me

recently. I wanted to take this oppor-

tunity to share with you the many

benefits he achieved this year most

importantly cost reduction and better

playing conditions.

The major change in Mike’s estima-

tion was the reprogramming of the

central computer to better fit the spe-

cific challenges the irrigation system

presents. The system is 23 years old

with 75 to 80 foot spacing and an

undersized mainline and a central

with a program he inherited from his

predecessor. We redefined the hy-

draulic tree and created more pro-

grams to control specific areas, in

doing so, the water window was re-

duced by three and a half hours.

This lead to increased soak times for

their tight soils. Some areas, rather

than running 21 minutes at one time,

he ran 3 cycles of 7 minutes each

eliminating the wet and dry spot is-

sue. Something he couldn’t do be-

fore and finish within his targeted

watering window. Another benefit

was the irrigation was now able to

start at 9:00 pm versus 8:00 pm

which increased member satisfaction

in the evening hours.

The result of maintaining the proper

pressure at the sprinkler head leads

to lower runtimes. More water goes

through the sprinkler at 80psi than at

65 psi. The dynamics of the irriga-

tion system design can now be maxi-

mized. Other improvements Visalia

CC has been making over the last

five years is to replace the twenty-

three year old sprinklers with newer

sprinklers that provide a better DU

as well.

The irrigation needs were much

greater in 2012 than in 2011 due to

the weather differences. There was

an additional 40 acre feet of ET re-

quired at Visalia CC this year com-

pared to 2011. Mike said in years

past they would run at 80%to 100%

of ET now they can’t go over 75%

or they are wet. The

power costs were re-

duced by an estimated

$4,000 as a direct re-

sult of reprogramming

the central computer.

Visalia CC doesn’t

pay for water only to

pump it. Those golf

courses that pay for

water have the ability

to recapture excess

expenditures that are

significant. Hand wa-

tering was greatly re-

duced allowing his

staff to focus on other

areas like bunker

capes and tree shadow

affected areas. Spot

watering from the con-

troller was also re-

duced.

The end result for

Mike this year was

cost reduction, improved playing

conditions through less wet and dry

spots and a happy membership that

has seen the difference. Best of all

he said his turf was under less stress

which greatly reduced his stress at

the time of year it is traditionally at

its highest.

Three locations to serve you

Lancaster Bakersfield Fresno

The GCSA of Central California

is now on Facebook and Twitter.

Check it out!

Page 10

TEE-OFF News

Winter Symposium Event Highlights Sandpiper Golf Club

Pictured above are Chapter President Josh

Heptig, Guest Speaker and GCSAA President

Pat Finlen, CGCS, with Host superintendent

Tennessee McBroom. At right is Pat Gross,

USGA

Pictured above on the right

is Bill Galli with Gordon

Vosti . At left and right is

Tennessee going over some

of the course changes that

have taken place with the

group.

A special guest

came to visit

us, Tennessee’s

wife Dodie

with their son

Bronco.

Page 11

TEE-OFF News

Thank You to our Sponsors

Control Pump

Turf Time

Tulare

Golf Course

PRESIDENT

JOSH HEPTIG

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY

SECRETARY/TREASURER VICE PRESIDENT

BRIAN DAUM TROY THOMPSON

VALLEY CREST/PALO ALTO G.C. VALLEY OAKS GOLF COURSE

2012/2013 GCSACC BOARD OF DIRECTORS

STEVEN SHOWERS

AIRWAYS G. C.

TENNESSEE MCBROOM

SANDPIPER GOLF COURSE

BOB SCHNEIDERHAN

CAL POLY SLO

KEVIN EPPICH

TURF STAR

MICHAEL CLINE

WILBUR ELLIS COMPANY

BOARD MEMBERS

EXECUTIVE STAFF

IRENE CLINE/KIMBERLY MILNE

PHONE (559) 298-4853 FAX (559) 298-6957

EMAIL gcsacc@aol.com

5322. N. Leonard Ave.

Clovis, CA 93619

SCOTT WALWYN

THE VILLAGE C.C.