Field Day and Fundraisers

As expected the Field Day at the Hancock Turfgrass Research center at Michigan State was a great event. It is amazing to see the direct focus they have there on Turf research. So many other facilities are doing many types of agricultural studies and they have a section of the area dedicated to turf. At MSU the entire property is dedicated to cutting edge turf research. We are very lucky to have this resource here in Michigan. As a former Superintendent I know how easy it is to take this for granted, but it is an incredible advantage to have the resources of the Turf program at Michigan State at our disposal. One of the major reasons we have this amazing facility and are leading the way on so much research is because of the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation www.michiganturfgrass.org. The MTF helps to fund and support the faculty and facilities dedicated to turfgrass management at MSU. It is because of this that the MiGCSA has four separate fundraisers every year. This year we had a bowling fundraiser in February, the June event at Arcadia Bluffs and we now have opened the registration for the event at Harbor Shores and will be opening registration for Warwick Hills on Friday. So far this year we have raised over $20,000 in sponsorship alone thanks to our Premiere Sponsors, along with $8,000 from Arcadia and $1,000 from the bowling event we are on our way to the biggest fundraising season the MiGCSA has ever had, the last two years we raised $15,000 a year, we are hoping to more than double that this year. The money raised at these fundraisers is mainly used for a donation to the MTF and Student Scholarships. Supporting the MiGCSA and MTF at these events is a great way to give back and get away to some fantastic venues. So hopefully you will sign up soon before we are sold out.

Sign up for Harbor Shores by CLICKING HERE

Gearing up for fall

Last week I attended the MGCOA Summer Outing at Gull Lake View in Augusta. Charlie Scott and his family own the course and they really do a great job there and with the MGCOA and the Scott Family Educational Support Foundation. In 1996 the Michigan Golf Course Owners Association created a separate tax exempt foundation with a mission of "providing training, education and professional development for Michigan golf course owners and operators." Because of the generous initial financial support from the Scott family of Gull Lake View Golf Course in Augusta, the Foundation was named in their honor.

That evening I had a visit with John Fulling at his house to meet his two Chinese interns. It was very interesting to speak to them about their culture and ours and there interest in Turfgrass Management. There are 72 Chinese interns in the United States for the next three months. Not many in Michigan, hopefully we can help promote this program that is helping the MSU Turfgrass program.

Tomorrow is the MTF Field day. I am heading to Lansing tonight to meet up with John Fulling and Lee Collins from John Deere Golf to discuss the MiGCSA Industry Partner Program.

We are also starting into a stretch of fall events for the MiGCSA. August 25th the 1/2 day education and golf at the Emerald, September 19th the 26th annual Tuck Tate at Black Lake, September 26th Western Golf Day at Harbor Shores, and the Big Event on October 3rd at Warwick Hills. On a personal note I need to carve out some time to get married on October 1st in the middle of these important events. 

State Championship and a Southwest swing

I am back in Northern Michigan today after spending the last three days in Grand Rapids. I went down to Railside Golf Club on Monday for the 4th annual MiGCSA State Championship. We had 44 members come out and played a two best of four net team game and competed for the 2011 State Championship. Dr. Kevin Frank defended his 2010 title with a 66 to win the championship. We had hoped for more attendance but it is a hot and high stress bit of weather we are in right now. I did speak to Dan Lucas about having the 2012 championship at The Kingsley Club in Kingsley, MI. A great venue for a State Championship. On Tuesday I rode with Marc McCoy from Harrell's on sales calls. We started at 6:30 in Ionia and visited the Jackson area in the morning and early afternoon. Then a run to the warehouse in Brighton, then a drop off in Battle Creek. We finished up 14 hours later, his phone was ringing off the hook all day with people struggling with turf, mainly poa. On Wednesday I picked up MiGCSA Board Member Jeff Holmes, CGCS at Egypt Valley and went down too Harbor Shores Golf Club in Benton Harbor to meet with Brad Fry to discuss the 2011 Western Golf Day Fundraiser. Brad took us on a tour of the course and it is an amazing place. It will be a great fundraiser. It is nice to be home. I think I have found that this blog will not be as updated as I originally hoped, it looks like I will get an update on here every week or two as I find the time.