Torquatos
FEATURING:
Omnium
Volume 71 Issue 1
The GREEN Breeze
An official publication of Greater Cincinnati GCSA
Quas Platonem
Pro Aeque
President's Message 3 Upcoming Events 5 Message from the Editor 6 Fanning Cup 8 April Host Course Willows Golf Course 9 OSU / ATI Update 11 National Golf Day 16 GCSAA Update 17 Useful links from the USGA 19 Board of Trustees 20
Inside this Edition
President's Message
Welcome 2021! 2020 was not so bad, golf was back on the map. Numbers we have not seen in many years, tee times were almost impossible to get. Here at Great Parks our 6 courses were closed down for 7 weeks and we far exceeded 2020 revenue projections. It looks like 2021 could be another good year for golf as “normalcy” still does not exist. Hopefully we can retain some of the golfers who have not played in 10 or so years as customer again. 2021 is here and the Board has already gotten off to a great start. Registration for the 3rd year of the Fanning Cup has been announced and, all GCGCSA members are eligible to participate. Get your team together, you won't be disappointed you did it! Obviously with Covid in existence anything can change, but we are still going to continue lining up events. We hope to get a socially distance walk through with Kent Turner of the renovation at Kenwood Country Club of the Kendale course. Kenton County has stepped up with a golf event at the Willows Golf Course, many other events are in the works to get dates assigned to them, including The Scholarship Tournament. It should be a great year! For those of you who do not know me, I am Dean Brown, Golf Course Superintendent of Little Miami Golf Center with Great Parks of Hamilton County and your 2021 GCGCSA President! I have been married to Sarah for 21 years and we have 2 children, Erika who attends University of Cincinnati and Joel who attends Moeller High School. Going backwards in my career, I have been with Great Parks for the past 19 years, 9 years at Little Miami, 2 years at The Vineyard and 8 years at Sharon Woods. Before Great Parks, I was an Assistant Superintendent at Heritage Club under Tony Dierkers for about 3 years. I graduated The Ohio State University while I was an intern for 2 years at Brookside Golf and Country Club as Pesticide and Irrigation Technician. I also interned at Scioto Country Club for 1 year. Before going to OSU I worked at Kenwood Country Club for about 4 years while attending Cincinnati State for Landscape Horticulture. In addition, I served 9 years in the Ohio Army National Guard building the Bailey Bridge as a Bridge Sergeant ending my enlistment 2 days before 9/11. Furthermore, I caddied at Crest Hills Country Club where one day I discovered I wanted to work on a golf course. A maintenance worker was hand watering with no shoes or shirt on and I said “that looks like fun.” 28 years later here I am, never once waking up and saying I hate my job or hate what I do. What an exciting profession we are in! I wish you all the best and success in 2021, Dean Brown GCGCSA President
Upcoming Events
April 26th Golf Meeting Willows at the Golf Courses of Kenton County Research and Scholarship Tournament Four Bridges Golf and Country Club - June Mid -Season Meeting Stillmeadow - July Superintendents Championship Kenwood Country Club - September Annual Meeting TBD - End of October Fanning Cup (throughout the season)
Message From the Editor Last year seems surreal. All of us experienced how much of a factor golf was in filling that void when choices were limited. Hopefully a couple things happened as a result. The sport, which had been showing a steady decline for years, picked up some lifetime players that never would have thought to give the game a try. This combined with an increase in the number of rounds played at most courses should help the bottom lines of both public and private courses to survive and possibly thrive moving forward. I think we will see this trend continue this year but I worry that as things open up, golf might get tossed aside for other options that we all miss enjoying. Through great care with the Associations resources the Board managed to navigate last year with only a minor dip into our financial savings. The Greater Cincinnati GCSA remains financially strong through the support of our vendors and membership. There has been talk recently among some of the other Ohio associations about merging into one state chapter, similarly to what was done in Michigan. While we are participating in the discussions along with the other 4 GCSAA affiliated local chapters in Ohio, there has yet to be made a case where we see a benefit to Greater Cincinnati. The Greater Cincinnati GCSA is financially strong and receives great support from all its members, both superintendents and affiliates. If you have any further questions about this topic feel free to reach out to myself or Dean Brown (your president) who is also participating in the discussions. Lastly as we move to revive the Green Breeze, if you would like to contribute with an article or an idea that we should pursue more information about for you, let me know at gcgcsa@gmail.com. The past year has sent us all down some strange paths (see below) but it is time to get back to the new improved normal!
John Fanning Cup John Fanning has dedicated his life to the golf course industry for over 45 years. His career as a superintendent, sales representative, and mentor has had an impact on many of us. His hard work and love for the industry has helped shape our profession to where it is today. The highlights of John’s career are numerous. Some of which include serving as President of the GCGCSA, OTF, and KTC. John was editor of the Green Breeze, official photographer, and historian of our association. There are still slots open for teams and individuals to participate this year, you are guaranteed at least 3 matches. 2019 Finals John Fanning/Harry Helsel vs. Chris Shane/Tony Dierkers 2019 Champions: Chris Shane and Tony Dierkers 2 up 2020 Finals Eric Estridge/Bob Weaver vs. Chris Shane/Tony Dierkers 2020 Champions: Chris Shane and Tony Dierkers 1 up
Best Vehicle owned
427 Corvette Convertible
Past President GCGCSA
2013 and 2014
Prized Possession
My Fishing Rod
Favorite Movie
Caddy Shack
Beverage of Choice
Miller Lite
Dream foursome
Casper Nicklaus Tiger
Our Host Course - Willows, The Golf courses of Kenton County David Peru and Ion Freking moved to The Courses of Kenton County from Devou Park on Jan. 1, 2020 when Billy Casper golf management (now Indigo Golf Partners) started a new management contract with the Kenton County fiscal court. Ron had worked at Devou for 31 years, in that time the course expanded from 9 to 18 holes, an irrigation system was installed, continuous cart paths were installed, fairways and many tees were converted to zoysia grass and most recently a new clubhouse was built. So far at Kenton county they have renovated 10 bunkers on the Pioneer course, made numerous repairs and upgrades to the irrigation system, sodded and repaired or expanded several putting greens and currently are in the finishing stages of an in house course wide tree/stump removal project. Indigo Golf Partners also brought in a new fleet of turf equipment and golf carts when they took over the property. We are very proud of the team they have assembled and what they have accomplished in a short time but they are here for the long game and there is still much to do. The assistant golf course superintendent is William (Buddy) Krebs who was formerly the assistant at Reeves under Nate Goebel. David Peru is the general manager, their regional agronomist is Matt Fauerbach and our regional vice president of operations is Nick Bednar.
Whenever possible support the vendors that support you through the Association partnership, you'll see their ads/logo's sprinkled throughout every issue of the Green Breeze, on our emails and on the website. With their help lets keep our association strong.
Changes at the OSU ATI In a recent move the turfgrass program at the OSU Wooster campus lost one of the three faculty members. Dr. Zane Raudenbush recently took up an opportunity with Davey Tree. We are extremely grateful for all of his efforts both from a teaching and research standpoint, and he is going to be sorely missed. Students really found his hands-on teaching style and personality a benefit, and those who interacted with him during their time at OSU Wooster campus will see those benefits for the rest of their career. His work on moss is groundbreaking and has helped many turfgrass managers understand far more about the organism than we have previously known in the industry. The position is going to be replaced, and expect to see more information about that in the near future. As always we are committed to providing the best education experience to our students possible and aim to continue this with no disruption in classes. If you have any questions or queries, please contact Dr. Ed Nangle at nangle.1@osu.edu Thanks, and Go Bucks!
One-half of Ohio State's 'Joe and Todd Show' retiring after 29 years It is doubtful that anyone has seen more of Ohio during the past three decades than Joe Rimelspach. An extension agent and program specialist in Ohio State's turf pathology department, Rimelspach has criss-crossed the state hundreds of times during his 39-year career in Columbus, helping golf course superintendents, sports field managers, lawn care operators, homeowners and arborists diagnose countless plant diseases and help them on the road to recovery. That all comes to an end this month when Rimelspach, 70, will officially retire. "I've never not gone to work before," Rimelspach said as he was cleaning out the only office he has occupied at Ohio State. "It's going to be different. I'm having a hard time getting my head around this." For much of his tenure at Ohio State, Rimelspach has been one-half of Ohio State's 1-2-punch turf pathology team that also includes Todd Hicks. The traveling roadshow of "Joe and Todd" has been almost inseparable both professionally and personally for the past 20 years. Together, they have taught at Ohio Turfgrass Foundation events and annual field days and they have criss-crossed the state giving talks to professional associations, making site visits and building immeasurable good will from Akron to Zanesville and everywhere in between. They have produced a series of educational videos that prove chemistry in the turf business is not only about spray products, but also about how well two people can work together. "Our personalities are so different, but they complement each other," Rimelspach said of his two-decade history of working alongside Hicks. "Most people don't have jobs like ours. We play off each other's strengths. He makes me laugh, I make him laugh. That improves the quality of life in the workplace." Often, their workplace was in a car driving to one corner of the state or another, in a lab diagnosing a pathogen or teaching at a field day at the OTF research facility in Columbus. "Joe is the go-to guy at The Ohio State University for disease," said Tim Glorioso, superintendent at Toledo Country Club and a past president of the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation. "He is always available for help and loves to educate everyone on disease identification and management. Whenever we needed a speaker for a Northwest Ohio GCSA event, Joe always made time for us superintendents. "The Joe and Todd pathology show at OTF just won't be the same without both of them doing presentations and their online turf tips. Joe will be missed." A native of Fremont in north-central Ohio, Rimelspach grew up eyeing a career in farming. After a few years of working his uncle's farm, he left for a job on the crew at Fremont Country Club. That was in 1967. "That job was a blast," Rimelspach said. "I enjoyed the people and being outside." After a year of night school through Bowling Green State University, he went on to Ohio State for a career in turf, but eventually changed majors to landscape horticulture because he enjoyed working with shrubs and trees. His career included 19 years at Chemlawn, where he trained technicians and established a pathology lab before finally joining the turf pathology program at Ohio State under pathologist Phil Larsen, beginning a career that lasted 29 years, including the past 20 alongside Hicks. Together their work has included instruction, extension work, field research and operating a pathology lab. "Everybody likes Joe. He has a lot of information," Hicks said. "And you can't find a person who has a bad thing to say about him. "The key to his success has been his attitude. People rely on you to make things right, and maybe even save their job. A great lesson I learned from Joe is it's not always what you tell, but how you tell them. It goes beach to him being that nice guy. He never met a stranger." That became evident about a decade ago when Hicks and Rimelspach attended a friend's funeral. When they arrived, the viewing room was so crowded, Rimelspach wandered about the funeral home and ducked into another person's viewing. There he talked to and consoled the family of the deceased. "He was talking to those people trying to make them feel better," Hicks said. "That's Joe." His position at Ohio State originally was partially funded by OTF. "I am guessing, but he must have done 40 talks a year, and they all were current and useful," said Todd Voss, superintendent at Double Eagle Club in Galena, Ohio, and a past president of OTF. "He would do as many talks as we wanted and would take whatever time slot we gave him and it was amazing, the room was always full. "In today's university world, Joe will be impossible to replace." Retirement is something Rimelspach has been pondering for some time. Covid got in the way last year and led him to delay his announcement several times. It was not until about a month ago that he finally decided the time was right, with a little urging from wife, July. "She asked me 'how long are you going to work, anyway?' " he said. "I have to admit, working at home during Covid has been a transition. Judy has made it known that she hates me taking over the dining room table as an office." Although Rimelspach will no longer be on the OSU payroll, he will remain on Hicks' speed dial. "There will be times I will have to reach out to my old friend and see if he can help me out," Hicks said. "You normally don't have this kind of relationship with someone you work with. He's family. He's my mentor and father figure." EditedMarch 18by John Reitman
NATIONAL GOLF DAY We Are Golf, a coalition of the game’s leading associations and industry partners including GCSAA, hosts the annual National Golf Day event in Washington, D.C. Industry leaders meet with Members of Congress, the Executive Branch and federal agencies to discuss golf’s 15,000-plus diverse businesses, 2 million jobs impacted, tax revenue creation and tourism value. Virtual 2021 National Golf Day set for May 10-12 The 2021 National Golf Day Event will be May 10-12, 2021. This is a virtual event in 2021. National Golf Day celebrates the game's $84.1 billion economy, nearly $4 billion annual charitable impact and many environmental and fitness benefits. Registration for National Golf Day is open March 17 – April 14, 2021. COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the Community Service Project will not be held in 2021. LOBBY DAY On May 12, GCSAA and other golf allied organizations will spend the day meeting with Member of Congress in virtual meetings to discuss golf's 15,000 diverse businesses, 2 million jobs, tax revenue creation and tourism value. Congressional meeting prep will be provided in advance of NGD and on May 11. REGISTRATION There are two ways to participate in the virtual NGD this year – meetings or no meetings. Learn more and register on theWe Are Golf websiteby April 14. For questions or more information, contactDiana DeWald, government affairs administrative coordinator at 800-472-7878, ext. 3675
Golf Industry Show Wrap UP by Shane Conroy, GCSAA Field Staff As the Golf Industry Show concluded this year in its virtual format, the first-class education, special events and association business were still very much a part of the show. The education component of the event featured 88 sessions, and more than 200 exhibitors were part of the trade show. “Like so many organizations this year, a virtual show was unchartered territory for us, and frankly it was difficult to project how our traditional attendance would translate to the virtual world, so we are extremely pleased with the very enthusiastic response,” GCSAA CEO Rhett Evans said. “I was particularly excited to see that many facilities that took advantage of our All-Access package for everyone on the team. It really shows the desire for education for every member of the facility, and we hope our curriculum helps enhance their careers and facilities.” Jim Nantz, three-time Emmy winner and lead anchor of CBS Sports’ golf team, received GCSAA’s 2021 Old Tom Morris award. He joined the GIS live from his home in California during the Opening Session on Feb. 2, which was presented in partnership with Syngenta. The General Session: Managing the Challenges of Disruptive Change on Feb. 3, which was sponsored in partnership with Bayer, featured Evans, PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan, LPGA Commissioner Michael Whan, USGA CEO Mike Davis and PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh in a live discussion of golf’s reaction to the pandemic and how the golf industry is moving forward. On Feb. 4, the key players of the PGA Frisco gathered virtually for a live discussion on the project during the General Session: Behind the Scenes at PGA Frisco, which was presented in partnership with the Toro Company. Ohio’s own Mark F. Jordan, CGCS, a 34-year GCSAA member and superintendent at Westfield Country Club in Westfield Center, Ohio, was elected to a one-year term as president. Mark is the 85th president in the association’s history. “As Col. John Morley was establishing GCSAA in 1926, he used the altruistic principles of justice, faithful brotherhood and generous benevolence as foundational elements. These timeless principles continue to guide the association today,” Jordan said. “I am humbled and honored to lead this same organization that Col. Morley and every single president before me has led.” Other elected officers were Kevin P. Breen, CGCS and golf course superintendent at La Rinconada Country Club in Los Gatos, Calif., as vice president, and Kevin P. Sunderman, CGCS, director of grounds at Isla Del Sol Yacht and Country Club in St. Petersburg, Fla., as secretary/treasurer. Board members Jeff L. White, CGCS and superintendent at Indian Hills Country Club in Mission Hills, Kan.; T.A. Barker, CGCS and superintendent at Fore Lakes Golf Course in Taylorsville, Utah; and Paul L. Carter, CGCS and superintendent at Bear Trace at Harrison Bay in Harrison, Tenn., were elected to serve again, while Marc E. Weston, CGCS and superintendent at Indian Hill Country Club in Newington, Conn., was newly elected to the board. Douglas D. Dykstra, CGCS, golf course superintendent at White Mountain Country Club in Pinetop, Ariz., will continue his board service, while John R. Fulling Jr., CGCS, will serve as immediate past president. Past president Rafael Barajas, CGCS and the director of golf course operations at Boca Grove Golf and Tennis Club in Boca Raton, Fla., retired from board service. And please mark your calendars as the 2022 Golf Industry Show is currently scheduled to be an in-person event in San Diego, Calif. Feb. 5-10, 2022, at the San Diego Convention Center.
Putting Green Profile PDF
How to Fix Ballmark Video
Practice tee Divot Pattern, USGA
Helpful video on how to repair ballmarks
USGA
Putting Green Speed
Divot Pattern PDF
Putting Green Speed video
Commercial Representative Harry Helsel Advanced Turf Solutions hhelsel@advancedturf.com
Vice President Scott LesChander Terrace Park Country Club 5341 South Milford Road Milford, Ohio 45150 www.terraceparkcc.com
Board of Trustees
President Dean Brown Litlle Miami Golf Center 3811 Newtown Roac Newtown, Ohio 45244 dbrown@greatparks.org
Administrator Tony Dierkers Heritage Club 6690 Heritage Club Drive Mason, Ohio 45040 gcgcsa@gmail.com
Secretary Treasurer Derek Baxter Fairfield Greens 2605 Augusta Blvd. Fairfield, Ohio 45014 DBaxter@fairfield-city.org
Contact: 513.368.9623 gcgcsa@gmail.com P.O. Box 144 Maineville Ohio 45039
Trustee Scott Caparso Reeves Golf Course 4757 Playfield Lane Cincinnati, Ohio 45226 caparsosm@gmail.com
Immediate Past President Kent Turner Kenwood Country Club 6501 Kenwood Road Cincinnati, Ohio 45243 www.kenwoodcc.com
Trustee Sean Walters Heritage Club 6690 Heritage Club Drive Mason, Ohio 45040 www.Heritageclub.com