OTA April Meeting Recap

The Ozark Turf Association April Meeting presented by Professional Turf Products had a strong turnout despite the weather forecast.  32 attended the Bluemuda presentation given by Schifferdecker superintendent and OTA President Maron Towse.  Brad Seidt, superintendent at Lake Valley Golf and Country Club, also gave his observations on the state of their Bluemuda fairways that they have had for a few years. 

After the presentation those in attendance put a dent on plenty of pizza from Woody’s Wood-Fire Pizza in Joplin, but we couldn’t eat all of it.  There were many different varieties of pizza, from traditional to nontraditional offerings. 

After we ate, we decided to raffle off some prizes, since we were not sure if we could get any golf in. 

First, we raffled off our golf prizes sponsored by Professional Turf Products.

First prize of $75 pro shop gift card went to new OTA member Jeremy Zinter, golf course superintendent at Crestwood Country Club, Pittsburgh Kansas.

Second prize of $50 was won by the bridesmaid again, Mark Slaughter of GreensPro. (He came in second place last month also.)

Third prize of $25 went to another new member, Jeff Adams, golf course superintendent at Frank E. Peters Golf Course, City of Nevada.

Closest to the pin on Hole # 4 sponsored by Advanced Turf Solutions, was Kolby Armbruster, golf course superintendent at Ledgestone Country Club. 

Closest to the pin on Hole # 9 sponsored by GreensPro was Dan Kersting, golf course superintendent at Rivercut Golf Course.

Closest to the pin on Hole # 12 sponsored by Harrell’s was Russ Cole, Kansas Golf and Turf.

Closest to the pin on # 15 sponsored by SiteOne was Toby Burkhart, vice president of agronomy, Maxim Golf. 

We should have asked them what actual club they would have used if we had played and described their shot.

After handing out the prizes, someone had checked the radar, that showed a break in the rain, and 12 brave, (I don’t know if that was the right word) souls decided to challenge Mother Nature.  We were able to get about 11 to 12 holes in before rain started falling again.  After a brief shower, the rain had stopped but us older golfers had stiffened up and we called it a day. 

Thanks again to our meeting host, Maron Towse and Schifferdecker Golf Course, our meeting sponsor, Professional Turf Products, our proximity sponsors, Advanced Turf Solutions, GreensPro, Harrell’s and SiteOne.  And a big thank you to our OTA members who showed up for the education and networking despite the weather forecast. 

I did include in the gallery of pictures one of Horton Smith, first Master’s Champion, I should have had my picture taken with it. Both Springfield and Joplin like to claim Horton Smith as he has history in both places, but I do have the honor of working at the golf course named after him (in Springfield).

We will see everyone next at our Scholarship and Research Outing on May 23rd at Silo Ridge Country Club.  Always a great turnout and event.   Make sure to get your teams signed up!

Ozark Turf Association Participates in Rounds 4 Research

The Ozark Turf Association is participating in the Rounds 4 Research golf auction this week.  The proceeds for this year’s auction are earmarked for the chapter’s participation in the Chapter Cooperative Research Program with GCSAA and other affiliated chapters.  The project we are funding is being conducted at the University of Arkansas,  “Comparing wetting agent application strategies for efficacy and longevity in sand-based putting greens.”

The auction runs from Monday April 22nd until Sunday April 28th.  Visit the auction site www.rounds4research.com  to bid on our chapter’s courses or courses throughout the country.

Ozark Turf Association member facilities participating in the auction this year include:

Highland Springs Country Club – Jonathan Prange CGCS, Superintendent:

• Play where the pros play at Highland Springs Country Club, the only home of the Price Cutter Charity Championship, one of the original events on the Korn Ferry Tour, when the tour started at the Ben Hogan tour. 

Ledgestone Country Club – Kolby Armbuster, Superintendent:

• Visit the number 7 rated course you can play in Missouri, located in Branson, with lodging available on site. 

Shadow Valley Country Club – Ethan Charles, Superintendent:

• Shadow Valley Country Club is a premier golf course and country club in Northwest Arkansas.  (their rounds should be on the auction site Tuesday)

Whispering Oaks Golf Course – Kevin Taylor, Superintendent:

• Located along old Route 66 in Marshfield, you will find two distinct nines, the original nine is more tree lined with the newer nine more open.  Fun to play.

The Ozark Turf Association board thanks these superintendents and their facilities for donating rounds to help fund research. 

OTA Member host MGA Girls Jr. Spring Kickoff

The inaugural Missouri Golf Association Girls’ Spring Kickoff concluded at Twin Hills Golf and Country Club Sunday afternoon.  Golfers battled cold, windy conditions on a challenging course.  Marlee Edgeman (Marshfield) held on to her lead to be crowned the champion.  Edgeman shot 82 in the final round and a two-day score of 161.  Edgeman is set to compete for Missouri State University in the Fall. 

 Kristopher Moore, golf course superintendent and Ozark Turf Association member, and his crew prepared the golf course for the two-day event. 

Credit for the news article detailing the winner goes to the Missouri Golf Association.

Midwest Turf renews their Gold Partnership with the OTA for 2024

Midwest Turf, exclusive distributor of the Floratine product line and other turf care products, has renewed their Gold Partnership with the Ozark Turf Association for 2024. 

We thank Midwest Turf for their long-term support of our members by helping provide education and networking opportunities.   

Please thank Midwest Turf’s David Hunter the next time you see him.

Gold Partnerships include the company logo on our meeting banner for the year, along with the company logo w/link to their website on our website.  It also includes a team and tee sign at our scholarship and research outing.

GreensPro renews their Gold Partnership with the OTA for 2024

GreensPro, distributors of fertilizers and plant protective products, has renewed as a Gold Partner with the Ozark Turf Association for 2024. 

They are also sponsoring the lunch at the OTA Championships this year and are sponsoring proximity prizes at each of the monthly meetings and the scholarship and research outing.

We thank GreensPro for supporting our members by helping provide education and networking opportunities. 

Please thank GreensPro and our SW Missouri team representatives, Mark Slaughter, Tyler Fishel, and Dustin Irvine the next time you see any of them.

Gold Partnerships include the company logo on our meeting banner for the year, along with the company logo w/link to their website on our website.  It also includes a team and tee sign at our scholarship and research outing.

March Ozark Turf Association March Meeting Recap

Despite a turn in the weather, we had good attendance at our March OTA meeting presented by Harrell’s.

We met in the Betty Allison Clubhouse at the Ocar Blom par 3 course, located next to the Bill and Payne Stewart Golf Course, a hidden Perry Maxwell design.  

Speaker Kris Inman who has spent his career working in 911 starting as a dispatcher and working his way up to director with the City of Springfield before retiring, many of those years as a trainer, presented a program geared to supervisors.  His program titled “Be Who They Need”, discussed common issues employees have with where and who they work for.  There was no surprise, it was lack of communicating, and Kris gave great examples of ways to communicate on the level employees are looking for.  We have had great feedback from attendees about Kris’s program. 

Lunch followed with cheeseburgers with all the fixings and Stewart head pro, Shawn’s famous baked beans.  We keep bringing meetings back, hoping that one day Shawn shares his secret recipe.

After lunch, 15 brave souls (although fools might be more accurate), headed out in the cool weather to test the Stewart golf course, Mother Nature, and us.  While there was some good play, as always, Mother Nature is always the winner. 

We paid out two flights of gross scores and one flight of net, for those that had establish USGA handicaps.  If a player “placed” in both gross and net scoring, they were awarded the higher amount, and the next place down received that prize.  There is still time to sign on to get a USGA handicap with the chapter.

Thanks to our host Scott Welsh and Bill and Payne Stewart Golf Course, our speaker Kris Inman, Jed Spencer, CGCS and Harrell’s for sponsoring our meeting.

Also, thanks to our proximity sponsors, Brandt, FMC, GreensPro, Harrell’s and SiteOne.  

We hope to see everyone at our next meeting on April 25th, at Schifferdecker Golf Course, in Joplin.

Results

Gross:                                                                 

Matt Strong – 72 – 1st                                        

Dustin Buckner – 79 – 2nd                                 

Mark Slaughter – 80                                           

Scott Welsh – 80 – 3rd                                        

 Second Flight                                                      

Jonathan Prange – 87 – 1st

Melvin Waldron – 89

Jared Whitlinger – 91 – 2nd

Dan Kersting – 91 – 3rd

  Net:

Mark Slaughter – 73 – 1st

Matt Strong – 74

Jonathan Prange – 75

Melvin Waldron – 76 – 2nd

Andrew Jones – 78 – 3rd

Closest to the Pin

Hole # 4 Sponsored by Brandt – Clayton Oetting (through blind draw)

Hole # 7 Sponsored by FMC – Mark Slaughter

Hole # 9 Sponsored by GreensPro – Melvin Waldron

Hole # 10 Sponsored by Harrell’s – Matt Strong

Hole # 17 Sponsored by SiteOne – Dan Kersting

Harrell’s renews as a Gold Partner with the OTA for 2024

Harrell’s, provider of turf health products, has renewed as a Gold Partner with the Ozark Turf Association for 2024.  Increasing their support this year from last year’s Silver Partnership.

They have also sponsored our March education/golf meeting, and proximity prizes at the March, April, and Championship meetings.

We thank Harrell’s for supporting our members by helping provide education and networking opportunities. 

Please thank Jed Spencer, Matt Greg, and Tim Schaefer the next time you see any of them.

Gold Partnerships include the company logo on our meeting banner for the year, along with the company logo w/link to their website on our website.  It also includes a team and tee sign at our scholarship and research outing.

Precision Turf Products renews as a Gold Partner with the OTA for 2024

Precision Turf Products, provider of golf course equipment, has renewed their Gold Partnership with the Ozark Turf Association for 2024.

They will also be sponsoring our education/annual meeting lunch, and proximity prizes at the Border War meeting between the Ozark Turf Association and the Kansas Golf Course Superintendent Chapter.

We thank Precision Turf Products for supporting our members by helping provide education and networking opportunities. 

Please thank owner Barry Siems the next time you see him.

Gold Partnerships include the company logo on our meeting banner for the year, along with the company logo w/link to their website on our website.  It also includes a team and tee sign at our scholarship and research outing.

Envu renews as a Gold Partner with the OTA for 2024

Envu, which provides solutions to keep turf healthy and playable, has renewed their Gold Partnership with the Ozark Turf Association for 2024.

We thank Envu for supporting our members, helping provide education and networking opportunities. 

Please thank Wes Kleffner the next time you see him.

Gold Partnerships include the company logo on our meeting banner for the year, along with the company logo w/link to their website on our website.  It also includes a team and tee sign at our scholarship and research outing.

Professional Turf Products renews as a Gold Partner with the OTA for 2024

Professional Turf Products, our Toro Equipment and Irrigation provider has renewed their Gold Partnership with the Ozark Turf Association for 2024.

PTP will also be partnering with us for our April education and golf meeting, they will be the lunch partner for our “Border War” meeting with the Kansas Chapter and will finish the year being our partner for the Christmas party, a fun event for our members and their spouses.     

We thank Professional Turf Products for supporting our members, helping provide education and networking opportunities.  Also, for providing an evening for our spouses to get together after a busy year to celebrate our friendships.

Please thank Brad Gray and Josh Thomas the next time you see them.

Gold Partnerships include the company logo on our meeting banner for the year, along with the company logo w/link to their website on our website.  It also includes a team and tee sign at our scholarship and research outing.

Congrats to these Ozark Turf Association Members

Congratulations to two of our OTA Members, Derek Edwards and Nathan Strait on their promotions with the Springfield Cardinals! And don’t forget to mark off Friday August 9th on your calendar when we can visit them at their workplace. Thanks to Syngenta for sponsoring OTA Family Fun Night with Fireworks, and maybe the Rally Skunk returns?

Derek Edwards, Director of Field and Stadium Operations

The leader of one of the most decorated grounds crews in Minor League Baseball, Derek has had a hand in curating the award-winning playing surface at Hammons Field since the Inaugural Season in 2005. Promoted to Director of Field Operations in 2022, Derek's role is now expanding once again to include stadium operation oversight as well as assisting in future stadium and field capital improvements.  His nearly two decades of experience at Hammons Field and the continued standard of excellence he has brought to field operations will help ensure that our ballpark continues to provide an unmatched experience for fans and continues to be a beacon of pride for our community.

Nathan Strait, Manager of Field Operations

After eight seasons with the club, Nathan will now manage daily field operations at Hammons Field. He has been a member of the front office in multiple capacities since 2016, originally as a seasonal member of the award-winning grounds crew at Hammons Field before shifting to be an Inside Sales Associate and Community Marketing Coordinator inside the office. The outdoors called Nathan back to the crew in a full-time capacity as the Field Operations Coordinator in 2022. Nathan brings his expertise to this new leadership role as the grounds crew continues to create a top-notch playing field experience for baseball's best prospects and fans alike.

Knox Fertilizer renews as a Gold Partner with the OTA for 2024

Knox Fertilizer, a producer of fertilizer and combination products has renewed their Gold Partnership with the Ozark Turf Association for 2024. 

We thank Knox for supporting our members and helping provide for their education and networking opportunities.

Please thank Bob Brinton the next time you see him.

Gold Partnerships include the company logo on our meeting banner for the year, along with the company logo w/link to their website on our website.  It also includes a team and tee sign at our scholarship and research outing.

The Andersons renews as a Gold Partner with the OTA for 2024

The Andersons producers of plant nutrient and protection products have renewed their Gold Partnership with the Ozark Turf Association for 2024. 

We thank The Andersons for supporting our members and helping provide for their education and networking opportunities.

Please thank Darrin Johnson the next time you see him.

Gold Partnerships include the company logo on our meeting banner for the year, along with the company logo w/link to their website on our website.  It also includes a team and tee sign at our scholarship and research outing.

Advanced Turf Solutions renews as a Gold Partner with the OTA for 2024

Advanced Turf Solutions has renewed their Gold Partnership with the Ozark Turf Association for 2024. 

We thank Advanced Turf Solutions for supporting our members and helping provide for their education and networking opportunities.

Please thank Austen Gearhart, Jeff Olsen, Brock Phipps, Brian Winka and the whole Advanced Turf Solutions team the next time you see them.

Gold Partnerships include the company logo on our meeting banner for the year, along with the company logo w/link to their website on our website.  It also includes a team and tee sign at our scholarship and research outing.

Brandt Renews 2024 OTA Vendor Partnership

Brandt renews their OTA membership for 2024. They will also be sponsoring four proximity prizes, one at the March meeting, one at the OTA Championship and two at the Border War meeting with Kansas Chapter, one on day one and one on day two.

We thank Brandt and Ryan Jerome for their support of our members.

Ozark Turf Association Bowling Meeting Results

Despite it being a beautiful day when many members stayed at their courses to work, we did have 21 members attend our bowling meeting, although many of them declined to bowl as they were saving themselves for golf events, they had the next day. They still networked with their fellow members.

We did have 3 teams of four participate in our bowling match.  Winning the high game was Joey Roberts, Superintendent at Holiday Hills Golf Club and Resort in Branson who found his groove in the third game, rolling a 227.  The winner of the high series was Barry Siems, owner of Precision Turf Products, with a series of 555, which was a mark of consistency with games of 180, 190, and 185.

Barry also led his team in the 4-person team match, along with Kolby Armbruster, superintendent at Ledgestone Country Club in Branson, Austen Gearhart territory manager for Advanced Turf Solutions, and Nathan Strait Field Operations Coordinator for the Springfield Cardinals.  They will be our team captains next year.

Thanks go out to Enterprise Park Lanes who hosted us again this year, and for showing us some of the equipment they use to prep the lanes.  Some of us board members had arrived early from our board meeting, and we got to see the different patterns of oil that can be applied with their high-tech machine.  It was interesting during the discussion that we found a few similarities to golf.  The average or very good bowler cannot really distinguish between the different patterns, just like most golfers can’t tell the difference with greens speeds.  For the pros, they let them know the patterns they are using, just like we provide the pros with pin placement sheets.  Was very interesting to hear, yet we picked up on our similarities.  We also got a quick tour behind the scenes, checking out the pits where the pins reset.  Here, technology hasn’t changed much, as the machines looked just like they did back when I was moonlighting at bowling alleys in the late 80’s early 90’s. 

We look forward to seeing everyone at our next meeting on March 26 at Bill and Payne Stewart Golf Course in Springfield.  Our speaker will be Kris Inman.  Visit the website for more information. 

Mel

BASF renews as a Gold Partner with the OTA for 2024

BASF has renewed their Gold Partnership with the Ozark Turf Association for 2024. 

We thank BASF for supporting our members with their education and networking opportunities.

Please thank Cory Bunch our BASF sales representative the next time you see him.

Gold Partnerships include the company logo on our meeting banner for the year, along with the company logo w/link to their website on our website.  It also includes a team and tee sign at our scholarship and research outing.

SiteOne renews as a Gold Partner with the OTA for 2024

SiteOne has renewed their Gold Partnership with the Ozark Turf Association for 2024.  SiteOne will also be presenting our June monthly meeting at Branson Hills, and our joint meeting with support from Hunter Golf Irrigation, in October with the Kansas Golf Course Superintendent Chapter.  They have also sponsored some proximity prizes at a few of our golf meetings. 

We thank SiteOne for their support for our members, giving members education and networking opportunities.

Please thank Eddie Roach Jr. CGCS, David Moore, Andrew Jones, and the many other SiteOne team members who provide service to our chapter.

Gold Partnerships include the company logo on our meeting banner for the year, along with the company logo w/link to their website on our website.  It also includes a team and tee sign at our scholarship and research outing.

Syngenta renews as a Gold Partner with the OTA for 2024

Syngenta has renewed their Gold Partnership with the Ozark Turf Association for 2024.  Syngenta will also be sponsoring our Family Fun Night at the Springfield Cardinals game in August.

We thank Syngenta for their support not only for our members with their education and networking opportunities, but also supporting a fun evening with our families.

Please welcome new territory manager Conrad Pannkuk who is taking over for Paul Carlson who is now enjoying retirement.  We will miss Paul who has always been a big supporter of the OTA and we will welcome him to come visit anytime he likes, but we know Conrad and Syngenta will show the same support. 

Gold Partnerships include the company logo on our meeting banner for the year, along with the company logo w/link to their website on our website.  It also includes a team and tee sign at our scholarship and research outing.

Seven out of Ten Missouri Golf Courses You Can Play have an OTA Member Superintendent

A fall article in Golfweek magazine mentioned the top course open to the public to play in each state. For the state of Missouri, seven of the top ten courses are managed by Ozark Turf Association superintendent members. Our chapter would like to recognize the hard work by our members.

1. Ozark National at Big Cedar Lodge, Hollister - Ben McCurry

2. Buffalo Ridge at Big Cedar Lodge - Caleb Crawford

3. Payne’s Valley at Big Cedar Lodge - Steve Johnson, CGCS and Christopher Notestine

4. Branson Hills, Branson - Lukas Phillps

5. T5 Old Kinderhook, Camdenton - Charlie Boldreghini

6. #7. Ledgestone, Branson - Kolby Armbruster

7. #10. Rivercut, Springfield - Dan Kersting

The OTA is proud to recognize and support our members who are excelling at providing great playing conditions. Please visit their courses.

Photo credits to each of the golf courses websites and/or social media pages