By Phil Lagao
Dear Members of the OGCSA,
Spring is just around the corner. I hope this letter finds you all rested and ready for the upcoming golf season. I would like to thank everyone for their wonderful support during my first year as your President. I would also like to thank the members of the OGCSA Board of Directors and our Executive Director Linda Whitworth for all of their hard work this past year. I know this past year was challenging for many of us. The challenges of shrinking budgets, adverse weather conditions and declining rounds and memberships have made 2009 a year that some of us would like to forget. I would like to give an update on a few upcoming events and issues that the Board of Directors are working on.
Upcoming Events
On March 15th Waverley Country Club will be hosting the USGA Pacific Northwest Regional Club Officials Conference. There is an outstanding lineup of speakers featuring Rob Golembiewski, Larry Gilhuly, Forrest Goodling and Paul Backman. Not only do we have a great program but this would be a great way to welcome Brian Koffler, the new Superintendent of Waverley Country Club, to the area. Check the OGCSA website for registration and information.
On April 5th, Royal Oaks Country Club will be hosting the Superintendent’s Invitational Tournament sponsored by Northwest Outdoor Equipment. This event is organized by the OGCSA and the Oregon Chapter of the PGA. This event is a great opportunity for Superintendents, PGA Professionals and other club officials to get together and enjoy a great event. Check the OGCSA website for registration and information.
The OGCSA annual meeting will be held at Salishan Spa and Golf Resort on April 30th– May 2nd Registration and further details will soon be posted on the OGCSA website.
Spring Regional Chapter meeting information will b posted to the OGCSA website as soon as it is available. Vice President Ryan Wyckoff is working on meetings in Southern and Central Oregon. Please contact Linda or Ryan with speaker topics or to volunteer your facility.
Environmental Stewardship Guidelines
The second edition of the OGCSA Environmental Stewardship Guidelines is completed and ready for use. The Guidelines have been revised to be a more comprehensive tool that can be used by superintendents to operate an environmentally sustainable facility. The OGCSA Environmental committee chaired by Dave Phipps of Stone Creek Golf Club has put an immeasurable amount of time into the revision and release of the new Guidelines. The Environmental Committee has worked alongside EnviroLogic Resources and Tom Calabrese to technically update the Guidelines. An upgrade that was made to the Guidelines was the creation of GreenGolfUSA by EnviroLogic Resources. GreenGolfUSA is an on-line IPM generator. This website is a quick and complete tool to allow you to create and customize an IPM plan for your facility. The OGCSA Board of Directors is currently in the process of copyrighting both editions of the Guidelines. I encourage all of our members to fill out the Guidelines for their facility. At up coming meetings and through our website you will start to see us promote the use of this outstanding environmental tool. The second edition of the Guidelines is available for download at the OGCSA website under the Environmental tab.
Public Relations Committee
I would like to thank the members of the Public Relations committee chaired by Russ Vandehey of the Oregon Golf Club. The committee has worked well with Greg Crawford our Public Relations Director. Through this committee and the help of Rob Golembiewski, the OGCSA was able to reach out and get the proper information to the public concerning the winter damage to many of our putting surfaces. I appreciate all of the time everyone involved with the Public Relations Committee has put forth. Public perception is a powerful thing and I know everyone involved is working hard to get our positive message out to the golfing public.
I look forward to seeing many of you at our upcoming events. Please contact me with any comments or concerns. Have a great season.
Phil Lagao CGCS
OGCSA President
