"Utah Golf Course Superintendents Association"
Mission Statement
The Utah GCSA is dedicated to improving the superintendents' position in the golf industry through education, networking, advocacy and to grow the game of golf.
Vision Statement
The Utah GCSA is a community of golf course management professionals and a go-to information source to enhance and grow the profession.
A perfect case for Best Management Practices (BMPs)
by Dave Phipps | Aug 06, 2019
I have always been taken by surprise by how some states regulations appear to be much stricter than others, even among the states of the Northwest region. However, all states are required to conform to the federal regulations and TMDLs, and it’s only a matter of time before a state will get sued by an environmental watch-dog group for not complying. If states want to continue to receive federal monies, they need to abide by the laws and meet the federal standards. Some states simply have not put it on their priority list but I believe this narrative is changing. Golf continues to be under the scrutiny of the public eye and states that have gone under the radar are starting to become a little more aware of their environmental footprint when it comes to water and pesticide use.
Oregon and Washington have experienced the pressure over the last 20 years. In 2000, they took the initiative to develop the Oregon Stewardship Guidelines, a comprehensive IPM/BMP document which garnered the GCSAA Presidents Award in 2005. Today, GCSAA is working with states and their local chapters to establish state-wide BMPs across the entire country. The goal is to have them in place by the end of 2020.
Members in those states who haven’t experienced the added pressure from the government on water and pesticide use may be asking what all the hype is about and why states are spending thousands on writing a state BMP. The answer to that is simple: just wait. My advice is that it is far better to be ahead of the curve than playing catch-up once the regulators come knocking at your door.
Recently, Utah GCSA President Justin Woodland received an email from Henry Nahalewski, the Pesticide Program Manager of the Utah Department of Agriculture & Food. It is safe to say that Utah is one of those states who have experienced the more hands-off approach to regulation, but this certainly details that the times are changing.
The email read:
Hi Justin,
I am sending this email to you in hopes of you distributing it to as many Utah golf course supers as possible. Over the past few years we've had several complaints either directly involving golf courses, or suspicions on herbicide drift damage caused by golf courses. In an effort to reduce these issues, over the next 2 years or so our pesticide inspectors will be contacting golf courses to set up a time to meet with applicators/supers to inspect pesticide storage facilities, PPE, application practices and labels. Education and compliance assistance will be offered.
Again, we are not out to write citations, we are out to educate in an effort to reduce pesticide issues from golf courses. Even if a non-commercial applicator applies only GUP's, they are still subject to the pesticide label directions, FIFRA and the Utah Pesticide Control Act.
If you have any questions, please contact me. If any super would like to be proactive and contact the pesticide inspector that covers their area, please contact them.
Henry Nahalewski
Pesticide Program Manager
Utah Dept. of Agriculture & Food
I’m sure that Mr. Nahalewski would expect some sort of resistance to a letter such as this, but it gives the Utah superintendents a great opportunity to turn around and welcome him and his staff and open a dialogue and move forward.
This communication will open the channels between Utah state superintendents and the state of Utah and will also provide an avenue to educate the regulators on the newly developed golf course BMP. Since the Utah State Golf Course BMP is currently in development, this may also provide an opportunity to invite Mr. Nahalewski to become part of the process and help review the document. It can be a win-win, all around.
Read more: https://www.gcsaa.org/resources/regional-resources/northwest/northwest-blog/2019/08/06/perfect-case-for-best-management-practices#ixzz5vxBJ0fq32019 Chapter Champion
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July 15, 2019 – The Utah Chapter of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (UGCSA) held their eighth annual Chapter Championship at Salt Lake City’s Glendale Golf Course.
Superintendents, assistants and vendors from around the state competed for the coveted Green Source, L.L.C. traveling trophy and the esteemed title of UGCSA Chapter Champion.
With a score of four under par (68), David Booth, Assistant Superintendent at Lakeside Golf Course in West Bountiful wins the 2019 championship.
Gross winners:
Second place: Matt Isbell, Superintendent – Stonebridge Golf Club (71)
Third place: Dallin Naulu, Superintendent – The Oaks at Spanish Fork (73)
Net winners:
First place: Brian Cloud, Superintendent – Cedar Hills Golf Club (60)
Second place: Craig Goff, Assistant Superintendent – Meadowbrook Golf Course (66)
Third place: Tony Lopez, Assistant Superintendent – Mountain View Golf Course (67)
On behalf of the UGCSA, we would like to thank our title sponsor – Green Source, L.L.C., host Superintendent Bryan Witzel and the entire staff at Glendale Golf Course for their hospitality.
Utah Best Management Practices (BMP) Call For Items
The Utah BMP committee would like to include pictures of practices and success stories from Utah courses to help customize our document. Below is just a brief list of examples that are needed - however, we need it all! If you would like to help, please send your pictures, stories, strategies, etc. to Paige Boyle at: peboyle@aggiemail.usu.edu
Examples:
- Erosion/sediment control
- Stormwater retention
- Rain garden/berms/pervious pavement
- Wildlife/pollinator habitat
- Buffer strips around ponds/lakes
- Collecting soil/water samples
- Alternative water supply source/use/signage
- Monitoring soil moisture levels
- Irrigation audits
- Rain gauge/rain shut-off device use
- Any cultural practices (topdressing, mowing, aeration, rolling, etc.)
- Shade issues/management on turf
- IPM practices (scouting, biocontrol, etc.)
- Efficient washing stations (with rain gardens, wash pads with waste water collection/reuse, blowing cuttings before washing, etc.)
- Efficient landscape plantings
2019 Educational Scholarship
T.A. Barker, CGCS GCSAA Director
On Thursday, February 7th, at the Annual Meeting and Election in San Diego, California, T.A. Barker, CGCS was elected to serve again to a two year term on the GCSAA Board of Directors. Barker is the superintendent at Fore Lakes Golf Course in Taylorsville and has been the superintendent since 2006. He is a 14 year GCSAA member and past president of the Utah Chapter. Congratulations T.A.!
We have a new NAME!
On October 10 & 11 in Wendover, NV, the Intermountain Golf Course Superintendents Association held its annual education conference and trade show. One of the agenda items on the ballot at this years’ conference was the name change from IGCSA (Intermountain) to the UGCSA (Utah). The initiative was brought forth for two main reasons. The first being the membership is almost completely comprised of individuals from Utah. The “Intermountain” region spans well outside of the borders of Utah. Secondly, the UGCSA would be more identifiable on a national level. Most people outside of the region are not familiar with the term “Intermountain” and the area it is entailing. The ballot initiative passed and is in the final stages of officially changing on a national level. Marching forward, the Utah Golf Course Superintendent Association should be more identifiable for the members of other associations, and we are proud to have the name of our great state attached to our professional organization.
2019 Utah GCSA Board of Directors
L-R: Ben Timmons, Jeremy Golf & Country Club (Past President), Troy Johnson, Green Source, LLC (Affiliate Rep), Phill Miller, Stotz Equipment (Affiliate Rep), Eric Jones, Talons Cove Golf Course (Director), Justin Woodland, The Barn Golf Club (President), Eric Gifford, Riverside Country Club (Vice President), Nathan James, Soldier Hollow Golf Course (Director).
Not Pictured: Alan Davis, Willow Creek Country Club (Secretary/Treasurer), Wes York, Oakridge Country Club (Director), Spencer Workman, Oakridge Country Club (Assistant Director)
