Presidential Updates
Dear MiGCSA Members and Friends,
As the golf season winds down for another year, I'm hoping it was a safe and successful one for you! This year was reminiscent of Michigan summers of years past. There was a lot of great golf weather and only a few times when we really had to buckle down. We take these when we can get them because as we know, they are few and far between... in fact, I'll bet if we asked every superintendent out there which years in the last 20 were the good ones, we'd get virtually identical results from everyone.
I'm thrilled to report that the state of your association is excellent. We had a very successful first edition of Course Conditions, good participation in our events around the state and membership numbers that continue to increase each month. I want to thank all of you for taking time out of your busy schedules to participate in all of the fundraisers around the state too. As you know, these fundraisers are a critical part of research funding at Michigan State University through the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation. We still have a number of meetings coming up this fall, including Greater Detroit's “Big Event” at Pine Lake Country Club on October 6, Northern's Tuck Tate Championship at Traverse City Golf and Country Club on October 8, Western / Mid District Championship at Pilgrim’s Run to be held October 14. We also have a new event, the first ever Assistant Golf Day, will be held October 16, look for more details inside.
“One voice” was one of the most important reasons for the formation of the MiGCSA. We believed that we could achieve all of our goals if we were united. We wanted to communicate our message to the world with one voice and most importantly we wanted to have a seat at the “table” to represent you, our professional members, on the issues of the day. We recently were asked to participate in the PGA of America's press conference on “Golf in Michigan” to communicate the great things we have to offer as a state. As environmental leaders in the nation, we were asked to highlight the great things Michigan's golf industry is doing on the environmental front. It was a great honor that the PGA asked us to participate along with our friends from the Michigan PGA, the GAM and the Golf Course Owners Association. We're making an impact as an association, and together with our great allied partners we will achieve great things for the game of golf in Michigan!
Environmental stewardship is a priority for the golf course superintendent in the state of Michigan. Our very own Michigan Turfgrass Environmental Stewardship Program (MTESP) is the nation's model for stewardship in the golf industry. Recently some great changes were made to the program that will make it accessible and affordable to every golf course in the state. Thanks to a lot of hard work by all the partners making up the MTESP, including the MDA, MDEQ, MTF, GAM, MSU, MGCOA and the MiGCSA there is a new sense of excitement for the program. Two of the most important changes are that our MSU Turf Team is once again fully engaged in the program and the program will be given to all members of the partners associations free of charge. The new program will be rolled out a little later this fall!
As we enter the fall season, we need to remember the most important thing in all our lives, our families. We have all just spent the last 5 or 6 months working 60 - 70 hours a week and missing breakfast with the kids on the weekends, etc. Take some time while we've got the beautiful fall weather and get away with family for a long weekend. It doesn't matter whether you head up North to Charlevoix or Petoskey to see the fall colors, to Detroit for a great big city shopping trip or to the western lakeshore for beaches and relaxation... just spend some quality time together!
Have a fantastic fall and I will see you at an MiGCSA event very soon!
JOHN FULLING, CGCS
KALAMAZOO COUNTRY CLUB
August 13, 2008
Dear Fellow MiGCSA Members and Friends:
I hope this finds you well and enjoying what seems to have been a pretty good summer by most accounts. There is a lot happening in golf in the state of Michigan currently from increased tourism (finally) to great golf weather and of course, MiGCSA Member Steve Cook, CGCS, MG and Oakland Hills CC hosting the PGA Championship. I had the pleasure of going over with MiGCSA Vice President Steve Hammon on Tuesday and it is fantastic. The course is as pristine as any course has ever been. I know many of our members from the Greater Detroit district and elsewhere around the state are helping Steve and crew out for the week. Congratulations to all. If you have some time, I urge you to get down to Oakland Hills and take in some of the championship!
As we enter August, it's time to get back on track with chapter events! We have a number of events coming up around the state throughout the rest of August and September. Please remember that all these events are always open to all members of the MiGCSA. Here they are:
August 18 : Greater Detroit is having a meeting at Maple Lane GC in Sterling Heights. Registration attached. Paul Kolbe is our host for the day. Paul has been very active in the chapter for many years and is a Past President of Greater Detroit. Thank you Paul for having us!
August 20: Michigan Turfgrass / MSU Field Day will be held at the Hancock Turfgrass Research Center. As always, this will be a great day. Along with the highly informative tour stops the turf team will be showcasing the brand new research putting green they just completed. This thing is amazing and will allow a great deal of work to be done. Please sign up online at michiganturfgrass.org or call the office at (517) 327-9207.
August 26: Northern Michigan Golf Day and Fundraiser will be held at A-ga-ming GC . Registration attached. Our host for the day is Jim Tollefson, CGCS . I heard today that Jim has been a member of the NMTMA and now the MiGCSA since 1978. Congratulations to Jim for 30 years of membership and service!
September 8: Mid-Michigan is hosting a meeting and fundraiser at the beautiful Buck's Run GC in Mt. Pleasant . Jeff Sweet, CGCS is our host for the day. If you haven't been to Buck's Run (yet) you've not only missed out on a fantastic golf course, you haven't seen the world's coolest real grass putting course . This thing is worth the trip and Jeff and crew have done an amazing job with it. I'll bet he can shed a lot of light on the struggles and challenges of having that much putting surface to maintain every day.
September 15: MiGCSA Statewide Championship held at The Emerald in St. Johns . Jay Eccleton, CGCS hosts the first annual MiGCSA State golf chapter championship. Complete with traveling trophy, this is for all the bragging rights. The event is open to all members. Sign up early because this will be a well attended event.
September 22: Western Golf Day and Annual Fundraiser will be held at Egypt Valley Country Club in Ada. Egypt Valley Grounds Manager Jeff Holmes, CGCS hosts the biggest event of the year on the west side of the state. We'll be using both courses this year! Our host on the Valley Course at Egypt Valley is MiGCSA Superintendent Member Kevin Thielke . Our host on the Ridge Course is Superintendent Member Jason Dionne . Both of these guys are bright young stars and future leaders in the MiGCSA. While at the event, take a minute to introduce yourself to both and tell them what a great job they do.
That's it for August and September! We hope to see you at one or more of these great events. There are also a bunch of great events coming up in the month of October, like the BIG EVENT in Greater Detroit, the Northern Tuck Tate Championship, District annual meetings and a couple of great technicians seminars!
Look for the event forms for all these meetings soon both via e-mail and regular mail (some you already have).
As always, should you have any questions, concerns or comments you are welcome to contact me directly at 269-998-9748, and your MiGCSA Board members are also always available to you as well. Also, I encourage you to pick up the phone anytime and call Donn Eurich MiGCSA Executive Director . Donn loves hearing from members and is always happy to accommodate any need you may have.
Everybody have a fantastic finish to the summer season. I look forward to seeing you very soon!
John
John Fulling, CGCS
Kalamazoo Country Club
MiGCSA President
