News

2024 26th Annual Ray Spardy Memorial Tournament

Dec. 2, 2024

26th Annual Ray Spardy Memorial Scholarship & Research Tournament

Thank you to everyone who came out to support the Chapter and enjoy a spectacular day at the Crosby Club.

We were thrilled to host 136 players who indulged in a delicious BBQ lunch, a hosted bar, countless home-baked cookies, and an incredible Italian dinner. The weather was picture-perfect, the course was immaculate, and the atmosphere was brimming with camaraderie and enjoyment.

A special and heartfelt thank-you goes out to Fernando Sheffer and his dedicated team for their exceptional effort in making this event a phenomenal success.

Together, we raised nearly $30,000 to support Scholarship and Turf Grass Research. Your generosity and participation make all the difference.


Scholarships were awarded to 8 promising individuals:


Marshall Jolliffe (Ray Spardy Memorial Scholarship Award)

     
Ryan Wood                                                   Christian Segura


       
Kennet Brevig                                                        Jossue Pacheco

       
Eduardo Chavoya                                                     Daniel Cartwright



Maximillian Gonzini

CLICK HERE FOR THE PHOTO GALLERY

Congratulations to all of The Winners:

🏆1st Place (4 person scramble) with a score of 54:

John Harkness • Jacob Harkness • Mitch Otani • Ethan Fait

🏆 2nd Place (4 person scramble) with a score of 55 (in a cardoff):

George Peterson • Stephen Sheffield • Dave Buckles • Chris Hayman

🏆 Team Putting Contest Winners (total combined distance from the hole with a total of 10'11":
Dallas Porter • Jeff Cooper • Paul Brown • Randy Newhard

Skins
Eagles on #4 and #12 secured the entire skins pot of $1,320.
The winning team was
George Peterson • Stephen Sheffield • Dave Buckles • Chris Hayman

Closest to Pin Hole #6 - Fernando Ramos (2')

Closest to Pin Hole #17 - Carl Grovom (9'9")
Closest to Pin Hole #8 - Luis Pichardo (2'2")

Long Drive Men Hole #16 - Stephen Sheffield
Long Drive Women Hole #4 - Jordan Wulff


A big Thank You to all the individuals and companies that made this day such a success!

Thank You To Our Major Sponsors

       

       


       
Thank You To Our Beverage Sponsors:

           
 
 

 

      Thank You To Our Putting Contest Sponsor:


  

Thank You To Our Tee Sponsors:

     

    
  

Thank You To Our Long Drive Sponsors:

       


     

Thank You To Our Closest To The Pin Sponsors:
             

   


2024 Fall Education & Affiliate Demo Showcase

Oct. 18, 2024

Thank you to everyone who came out to support the Chapter and our invaluable Affiliates.

The event was a huge success, with a sold-out crowd in attendance.
Participants enjoyed a delicious breakfast buffet, educational sessions, and a fantastic Prime Rib lunch.
The Affiliate Demo Showcase was a highlight, featuring 23 SDGCSA Affiliates with product demos, equipment ride-ons, and some fun games.

After the round, everyone came together in Bonita's newly remodeled patio and bar for hosted hors d'oeuvres and cocktails.

Special thanks were extended to Brendon Reaksecker and the entire Bonita Golf Course team for hosting the event and closing their facility to make it possible.

   

CLICK HERE FOR THE PHOTO GALLERY

The Winners - Team Scramble

1st 🏆 Place with a score of 14 Under:

Chris Bien
Derek White
Paul Bucy
Molly Duvall

2nd🥈Place with a score 12 under (won in a card-off):
Steve Anderson
Robert Brasher
Doug Duncanson
Imad Kawar 

Team Skins - 
One team won the entire pot of $720 with an Eagle on #3:
Brad Baker
Travis Reischke
Devin Cullen
Tim Phelan
The team generously donated the entire amount back to the SDGCSA Benevolent Fund!

Closest to Pin - Kelly Halsey

Long Drive Men - Scott Murray
Long Drive Women - Caroline Hollosy

GCSAA Disaster Relief Chipping Contest Winner:
Mitch Otani who chipped it within 1'2" of the hole!

Thank you to our Affiliate Partners


Alliance Turf / Baronness
AmeriTurf
AmSod
Desert Controls
Greenbrier Lawn & Tree Expert
Harrell's
High Tech Irrigation
Hunter Industries
Jim Davis, LLC
Mark Grund Enterprises
P.W. Gillibrand
Pape Material Handling
Prestigious Turf
Ruck Drones
Seed King Enterprises
Simplot
Stotz Equipment
Summit Gold
Southwest Turf Support
Syngenta
Turf Assist
TurfStar
Wilbur-Ellis

Thank you to our Generous Sponsors:

Lunch Sponsors

   

Closest to the Pin Sponsors

     

Long Drive Sponsors

   


2024 Benevolent Tournament

Sep. 24, 2024

Thank you to everyone who joined us in supporting the Chapter and enjoying a beautiful day at The Links at Lakehouse! The event kicked off with a delicious taco buffet, followed by plenty of networking and reconnecting with friends. The weather couldn’t have been better for a fantastic round of golf, which was followed by an incredible dinner and a lively Dueling Pianos show on the driving range. It was the perfect evening for an outdoor event. We sang, we danced, and of course, plenty of shenanigans were had.

A special thanks goes to Brandon Williams and his team for their invaluable efforts in making this event such a great success!


 

CLICK HERE FOR THE PHOTO GALLERY

A big Thank You to all the individuals and companies that made this day such a success!

v I P Sponsors
                        


Jr. Sponsors
       

Lunch Sponsors
       TURF ASSIST


Closest to the Pin Sponsors


Long Drive Sponsor



The Winners - Team Scramble

1st 🏆 Place with a score of 56 (card-off):

Ryan VerNess
Austin Daniells
Stephen Magnani
Mike Magnani

2nd🥈Place with a score of 56:
Robby Davis
Paul Brown
Brendon Reaksecker
Brian Sandland 

Closest to Pin Men - Austin Daniells
Closest to Pin Ladies - Aubrey Paris

Long Drive Men - Stephen Magnani
Long Drive Ladies - Aubrey Paris

Benevolent Raffle Contest Winner: Sandy Clark won a whopping $750 with the winning ticket. Thank you all who purchased raffle tickets for a total of $1500 raised!

About the Benevolent Fund: The SDGCSA Board of Directors is committed to serving our membership in many ways. Successful fundraising for our chapter Benevolent Fund has proven to help members in need year after year. For a non-profit like the SDGCSA, the Benevolent Fund can be used to financially support a member facing family hardships or experiencing unexpected hard times. The SDGCSA BOD reviews each situation. If the member's needs fall into this charitable category, an amount is voted on, approved and disbursed.


2024 Annual Invitational

Jul. 24, 2024

Thank you to everyone who came out to support the Chapter and enjoy a beautiful day at the Country Club of Rancho Bernardo. We had 112 players who savored a delicious pulled pork BBQ lunch, appetizers after the round, and an amazing BBQ dinner. The weather was ideal, the course was in pristine condition, and everyone had an incredible time. In fact, some people had so much fun that clubs were misplaced, cell phones were left behind, and credit cards were forgotten at the bar. San Diego truly knows how to enjoy good times with great friends!

A heartfelt appreciation goes out to Matt Partridge and his team for their invaluable contribution to making the Invitational a tremendous success. 


CLICK HERE FOR THE PHOTO GALLERY

Congratulations to all of The Winners:

🏆 Two Better Balls Gross with a score of 128:

Bryon Penfield
Scott Butler
Travis Gerrish
Stephen Sheffield

🏆 Two Best Balls Net with a score of 125:
Tim Faucett
Sam France
Paul Zaremba
Javier Vargas

🏆 Two Better Ball Super/Pro Net with a score of 64:
Stephen Sheffield
Travis Gerrish

🏆 Low Net Affiliate with a score of 67:
Robert Davis

🏆 Low Professional with a score of 67:
Travis Gerrish

🏆 Low Gross Super with a score of 71:
Michael Sullivan

Skins - 
Three players split the pot with birdies and a hole in one:
HOLE #15: Bryon Penfield - Birdie
HOLE #12: Jason Hartman - Hole in One
HOLE #4: Ryan Verness - Birdie

Closest to Pin Affiliate - Robert Davis (2'6")
Closest to Pin Superintendent - Matt Partridge (7'0")

Long Drive Women - Kelsey Cast
Long Drive Men - Steve Saunders


A big Thank You to all the individuals and companies that made this day such a success!

Thank You To Our Diamond Title & Tee Sponsors

Thank You To Our Lunch Sponsors:

       

Thank You To Our Beverage Sponsors:
     

  

Thank You To Our Tee Sponsors:
   
  

Thank You To Our Long Drive Sponsors:
     

     

Thank You To Our Closest To The Pin Sponsors:

     

   


2024 Spring Education at Singing Hills

May. 23, 2024

Thank you to everyone who came out to support the Chapter and enjoy a beautiful day at Singing Hills. We had a full house for the meeting where the food was delicious and the staff was impeccable. The weather was perfect for a round of golf, the players had a great time, and new friendships were formed.

A heartfelt appreciation goes out to Craig Kimmel and his team for their invaluable contribution in ensuring the Spring Education Meeting was a resounding success.

Our gratitude also extends to Dr. Billy Crow and Dr. James Baird, for their invaluable presentations that help ensure critical DPR CE credits.

CLICK HERE FOR THE PHOTO GALLERY

The Winners - Team Scramble

1st 🏆 Place with a score of 59:

Scott Murray
Dallas Porter
Justin Jones
Evan Beechinor

2nd🥈Place with a score of 60:
Matt Partridge
Chris Graham
Cody Stewart
Fernando Sheffer 

Team Skins - 
Three teams split the pot with each clinching an Eagle:
HOLE #5: Don Ebarb, Michael Sullivan, Dan Cruse and Jason Decker
HOLE #10: Scott Murray, Dallas Porter, Justin Jones and Evan Beechinor
HOLE #17: Matt Partridge, Chris Graham, Cody Stewart and Fernando Sheffer

Closest to Pin - Deon Bernardez (1'9")

Long Drive Men - Buck Buckles "all around cowboy"

Benevolent Raffle Contest Winner:

Joe Neri, who generously donated his winnings back to the Benevolent Fund!
Thank you, Joe!

A big Thank You to all the individuals and companies that made this day such a success!

Speaker Sponsor

Lunch Sponsor

Long Drive Sponsors

 

Closest to the Pin Sponsors

 


President's Message

May. 7, 2024

Dear SDGCSA members,

I hope this message finds you and your family in good health and having a productive 2024. Shockingly, we’re almost halfway through it! Spring is the season we’re hyper focused on the health of our turf or serving those who are maintaining it. I genuinely hope you're taking time out to focus on your wellbeing. We put so much time and energy balancing the health of our greens and preparing for the dog days of summer we tend to forget about ourselves. Please take time out for yourself and those around you, it will pay you back tenfold.

This year I’ve gracefully hit my 20 year mark as an SDGCSA member and I couldn’t be more honored to serve as your President for a second term. I came back to assist a few years ago during a time of unprecedented movement with the executive board. My decision to return wasn’t very difficult as there were so many positive takeaways from my first run on the board, both personal and professional. Serving has allowed me to stay in touch with industry happenings and keep me engaged with my peers. I’m very excited with our current lineup of board members and look forward to a successful term carrying on the rich traditions of this chapter. 

We have our Spring Education coming up at Singing Hills Golf Resort at Sycuan on Wednesday May 22nd. We’re all very excited to see the extensive work Superintendent Craig Kimmel and his staff have put in while the property has undergone extensive reconstruction over the last year or so. Spring Education will offer 3 hours of DPR approved CEU’s and .3 GCSAA points while hearing from Dr William Crow, Professor of Nematology at The University of Florida. We will also have updates from Dr Jim Baird, Turf Grass Specialist UC Riverside. Lunch and golf will follow the morning meeting. Registration is filling up fast, so please kindly get yourself registered at your earliest convenience to ensure your attendance. 

As we continue to build our calendar of events for 2025 we look forward to hearing from anyone interested in hosting an event. The calendar is currently pretty wide open so please reach out to Sandy or myself if there is a particular event that you’re interested in. We are open to any interesting ideas, including non-golf events. 

Together, let’s make 2024 a year to remember and 2025 a year to look forward to, filled with engaging events and memorable moments that foster growth, learning and camaraderie among us all.

Sincerely,


Todd Kochanowski
President, San Diego GCSA


2024 Election Meeting

Apr. 26, 2024

Thank you to everyone that came out to support the Chapter and enjoy a beautiful day at Coronado Golf Course.

A heartfelt appreciation goes out to Mike Ashworth and his team for their invaluable contribution in ensuring the Election Meeting was a resounding success.
Our gratitude also extends to Jeff Jenson, Southwest Field Staff Representative of GCSAA, for his insightful update during his visit.
A big shoutout to Troy Mullane, whose exceptional emceeing always hits the mark during the election segment of the meeting.


(Click Here to go to the Photo Gallery)

Presenting your New 2024 SDGCSA Board Of Directors

Past President: Matt Partridge
President:
Todd Kochanowski
Vice President: Austin Daniells
Secretary/Treasurer: Jon Christienson
Directors: Mike Ashworth, Jesus Gomez, Mike Rickelmann, Justin Jones, Michael Sullivan
Affiliate Advisors: Austin Daniells, Robert Davis
Chapter Manager: Sandy Cooper

Special thanks to the outgoing Board Members:
Brandon Williams, Jon Kelly, Mark Warren and Ben McBride
for their time and dedication

The Winners - Team Scramble

1st 🏆 Place with a score of 58:

Jon Kelly
Ben McBride
Chris Davidson
Luis Navarro

2nd🥈Place with a score of 62:
Cody Stewart
Stephen Sheffield
David Nava
Jon Christianson 

Team Skins - 
They clinched victory with a birdie on the 17th hole, securing an impressive prize of $720.
Zach Kuenzi
Tim Isle
Austin Daniells
Stephen Magnani
 

Closest to pin - Scott Murray

Long Drive Women - Caroline Hollosy 

Long Drive Men - David Buckles

Benevolent Raffle Contest Winner:

Doug Clark, who generously donated his winnings back to the Benevolent Fund! Thank you, Doug!

A big Thank You to all the individuals and companies that made this day such a success!

Lunch Sponsor

Long Drive Sponsors

 

Closest to the Pin Sponsors

 


President's Message

Feb. 13, 2024

Dear San Diego GCSA members,

I hope this message finds you in good health and high spirits following the recent rainstorms. I trust that both your courses and homes weathered the storms with minimal damage. Although winter seems to be lingering this month, we can take solace in the fact that spring and aeration season are just around the corner. Although I do not think any of us are in a hurry to get there.

Spring is traditionally a busy time for golf courses, although it seems that every season keeps us busy nowadays. As we approach spring, we also draw near to the end of our Associations fiscal year and the highly anticipated election meeting. The election meeting stands as the most noteworthy event on our calendar. It affords us the opportunity to present a comprehensive year in review to our members, address any questions they may have, and elect a new board of directors for the upcoming year.

I kindly request that you keep an eye on your email for the forthcoming call for nominations. If you have an interest in pursuing a board of directors’ position, I wholeheartedly encourage you to do so. Should you have any uncertainties or require further information, please do not hesitate to reach out to any of our board members. The election meeting will be hosted by Mike Ashworth at the Coronado Golf Course on April 24th.

Following the election meeting, we have an exciting event to look forward to - spring education at Singing Hills Golf Resort at Sycuan. I wish to express my utmost gratitude to our events committee for their exceptional efforts in securing top-notch venues for our events this year. However, we are always on the lookout for new venues that would be interested in hosting our events. If you are interested in hosting an event, please contact any of the board members. We can then explore which event would be the best fit for your course. I want to emphasize that we are open to hosting events at a variety of locations, not limited to golf courses, so feel free to offer any ideas you may have.

Thank you for your continued support and active involvement in the San Diego GCSA. Together, we can ensure that this year is both successful and memorable.

Sincerely,

Matt Partridge
President, San Diego GCSA


President's Message

Feb. 5, 2024

Dear San Diego, GCSA members:

I wanted to take a moment to recap the recent Golf Industry Show (GIS) in Phoenix. Phoenix truly proved to be a remarkable city, with its beautiful weather and an amazing downtown area. We were fortunate to experience the warmth and hospitality of the people of Phoenix, making it a great host city for our gathering.

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you for the camaraderie and fun we had during our time in Phoenix. It was truly a memorable experience, and I appreciate each one of you for contributing to the success of the event. I would also like to extend a big thank you to all the vendors who played a vital role in making this event possible. A huge thank you to all the GCSAA staff and board members who made this event happen. Your support and dedication are deeply appreciated.

Now, let us move on to the highlights of the GCSAA managers meeting and round table discussions. One of the key takeaways from this meeting was the importance of completing, fully adopting and customizing our course Best Management Practices (BMPs). These documents serve as a crucial defense against local level restrictions and national governmental affairs. They not only provide a professional framework for environmental safety but also address other crucial aspects of our facilities. Our BMPs are the GCSAA’ s strongest defense when it comes to lobbying against political action that seeks to restrict our industry's practices and resources. Our recent gas equipment ban in the state of CA is a prefect example.

By embracing and implementing comprehensive BMPs, we strengthen our position in the face of challenges, ensuring that we can continue to provide the best possible golf course management practices. These documents not only benefit our facilities but also contribute to the overall sustainability and success of the golf industry.

Once again, I want to express my gratitude to all of you for your participation in the GIS event in Phoenix. For those of you who were unable to attend, it is in San Diego next year! It was an incredible success, and I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of such a dedicated and passionate community.

Sincerely,


Matt Partridge
President
San Diego GCSA


President's Message

May. 2, 2023

Dear Members,

I am thrilled to address you today as the newly elected President of the San Diego Golf Course Superintendents Association. It is an honor and a privilege to serve this community and I am excited to continue the legacy of those who have served before me.

Our association was founded on the idea of bringing together individuals who share a passion for golf course management and maintenance. Over the years, we have built a strong sense of camaraderie within our community, and I believe this is one of the things that sets us apart from other organizations. Through our events and meetings, we have created a welcoming environment where members can connect and share ideas. Our goal year after year is to schedule quality educational and networking opportunities for our members to connect. It is at these events that our members truly recognize the value our association brings to its members. Our dedicated events committee, with the assistance of the board of directors, has a great line-up of events for this year. I hope all our members have the opportunity to make it to multiple events this year.

Beyond great networking and educational events, our association prides itself on promoting professional development of the younger generation. For over two decades, our association has been able to provide scholarships to aspiring Superintendents through the Ray Spardy Memorial, Scholarship and Research Tournament. Our association also provides an annual scholarship to the Cuyamaca College Horticulture Department, and The Cal Poly Pomona Center for Turf, Irrigation and Landscape Technology (CTILT). In recent years Brendon Reaksecker, a former past president, has hosted multiple First Green events at his course in Bonita. We were also fortunate as an association to assist the national GCSAA and the Century Club in hosting a First Green event at Torrey Pines during the Farmers in January of this year. These events are truly inspiring and are what makes serving on the board of directors such an enriching and rewarding experience.

Our association is committed to promoting professional responsibility in golf course management. We take our role as stewards of the environment very seriously, and we are always looking for ways to improve sustainability and reduce our impact on the planet. One of the best ways that each of our members can help promote environmental sustainability is to complete and utilize their facilities Environmental, Best Management Practice, (BMP). This can be done through the GCSAA’s website.

As your President, I am committed to upholding these values and working to ensure that our association continues to be a source of pride and support for our members. I am excited to step up to this new challenge, and I look forward to working with all of you in the coming months and year.

Thank you for your continued support of the San Diego Golf Course Superintendents Association.

Sincerely,


Matt Partridge
President, SDGCSA


Past President's Message

Apr. 21, 2023

Greetings,
I just wanted to say thank you to all our San Diego GCSA members for your support and generosity over the past 20 months I served as President. It was a very fulfilling and rewarding experience. I've always said it is so important to get involved in these associations as a way to network, grow and aide in career development. This was the case for myself, and I achieved personal victories and got to know many of you on a deeper level. Lots of time goes into running these organizations, and I couldn't have done it without the help of the Board of Directors, my staff at Lakehouse, and my family. And of course, the dedicated help and support of our Chapter Manager, Sandy Cooper. We spoke on the phone almost daily, and she has been such a great addition to this Association over the past few years. Thank you, Sandy!
  
With that said, congratulations to newly elected officers, Matt Partridge (President), Todd Kochanowski (Vice President) and Austin Daniells (Secretary/Treasurer). This is a very strong team of dedicated leaders.  And congratulations to Mike Rickelmann (Director) and Dallas Porter (Jr Affiliate) as newly elected Board members.  Welcome to the Board! 
Thank you all for your support !! 

Brandon Williams, SDGCSA Past President

Director of Agronomy, Lakehouse Resort


President's Message

Dec. 21, 2022


Seasons Greetings,
The San Diego GCSA Board of Directors, Sandy and myself would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy and Prosperous New Year!!
It has been a very strong year for our association and we are grateful for all our members, and to those who have made it possible.  We hope you get to take some time to spend the holidays with family and friends, as that is the most important part of the season. I get to test my legs in 2 feet of snow so I'm looking forward to it. And no, not at the North Pole, as some may think following our Holiday Party several weeks ago.
You may have noticed we have already secured some events for the 2023 calendar. On January 18th, at Temecula Creek Inn, we have our Member Appreciation event with a scramble shotgun followed by pizza and beer.  It will be lots of fun and a chance to get together to thank and appreciate each other, both Superintendents and Affiliates. 

On January 23rd, kicking off the week of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, SDGCSA has partnered with GCSAA, The Century Club, and FedEx Cup to host a First Green event at Torrey. This is a great opportunity to showcase our industry as good stewards of the environment to students and future leaders. We are looking forward to it as it was also one of our association goals during our Strategic Planning Session with Jeff Jensen, GCSAA, back in February 2022. 
We hope to see you at the GCSAA Golf Conference and Trade Show in Orlando, FL the first week in February. If you're going, make sure you show your support at The California Room!
The GCSAA Rounds 4 Research auction is coming April 24-30. We hope if you're able, you'll donate and/or bid on a round to help fund research and help ensure golf's future. 80% of the proceeds come directly back to our Chapter. Contact Sandy if you have any questions or would like help donating a round.
Save the date for our Spring Education event at Admiral Baker Golf Course on May 17th. We are already locking in some excellent speakers.
Thank you all again and have a very Merry Christmas 
Brandon Williams, AKA Buddy
Lakehouse Resort / St. Mark Golf
San Diego GCSA President


2022 Benevolent Fund Tournament

Sep. 16, 2022

CLICK HERE OR ON THE IMAGE ABOVE TO VIEW THE VIDEO

 

Greetings All,

On behalf of the San Diego GCSA Board of Directors, I wanted to extend a sincere and heartfelt THANK YOU to all of our Sponsors, Members and those who donated auction items, for a fantastic and very successful Benevolent Fundraising Tournament! With everyone's involvement in this event, we were able to raise just over $25,000 for the Benevolent Savings account where it will remain until such a time when it is called upon to assist a member in need. We are greatly appreciative of your support and generosity for this event. 

Thank you,
Brandon Williams
San Diego GCSA President

1st 🏆 Place Team Scramble:

Bill Culbertson
Marc Lilleberg 
Matt Rutledge

Runner Up🥈Team Scramble:
Jordan Holcomb
Franco DeJesus 
Gary Bley
Corey Talbott  

 

Closest to pin - Michael Sullivan

Closest to pin - Jeff Jensen

Closest to pin - Matt Partridge

Long Drive Women - Caroline Hollosy 

Long Drive Men - Cody Stewart

Putting Contest Winner:

Nick Jr. Spardy… drained the putt and then won in a manly tie breaker battle of Rock-Paper-Scissors to Mark Louder who also drained the putt!

The Real Winners

were the ones that had a couple of tacos before the round and the members that stuck around to witness the dueling pianos and the onstage “performance” from the “N-Sync SDGCSA” back up dancers… you know who you are, job well done!  

• • •
A big Thank You to all the individuals  and companies that made this day such a success!

Beverage Sponsors: Wilbur-Ellis and P.W. Gillibrand

Lunch Sponsor: Hunter Industries

Long Drive Sponsor: Wilbur-Ellis

Closest to the Pin Sponsors: Goodbycattails.com, Tree Pros, Inc, Mark Grund

Putting Contest Sponsor: Stotz Equipment

Online Auction Donations:
Randy Newhard, New Way Landscape • Cody Stewart, Stotz Equipment • Dallas Porter, SummitGold • Doug Clark, Bayer • Don Mancini, goodbycattails.com •
Will Reardon, DryJect Southwest • Kimberly Gard, Syngenta • Erin Novotny, TurfStar • John Brengle, Flyers Energy • Ken Mauser, Aquatrols •
Jordan Holcomb, BASF • Brad Baker, Wilbur-Ellis • Bob Ferre, High Tech Irrigation and Rain Bird • Krystal Jenkins, NuFarm • Jeff Jensen, GCSAA •
JR Wirthlin, AmSod • Jim Davis, Jim Davis, LLC • Kevin Little, Hunter • Bill Culbertson, Golf Safety • Pat Reilly, Simplot • Danielle Scardino, West Coast Turf •
Matt Weaver, Intelligro • Caroline Hollosy, P.W. Gillibrand • Jon Kelly, Prestigious Turf • Corteva

Silent Auction Donations:
David Waymire, Los Supers • Brandon Williams, Lakehouse Hotel • Cody Stewart, Stotz Equipment • Brandon Williams, Belmont Park •
Todd Kochanowski, Encinitas Ranch • Bradley Herzog, Milwaukee Tool • Brad Baker • Krystal Jenkins • TaylorMade

Lastly, thank you to everyone that came out for the day/night for a great fundraising cause and as always, the networking and relationship building within our awesome San Diego territory.

 

 


President's Message

Aug. 30, 2022

Greetings,
We hope this finds you and your family well as we get through the last few months of summer.  I just wanted to update everyone on a couple of things. 
  • First, our hearts go out to the family at West Coast Turf and the family of John Marman.  He was a tremendous friend and colleague to so many in Southern California, and here at home in San Diego.  In Johns honor, the association has made two donations from the Benevolent Fund to Mt. San Antonio College, and Sticks for Kids. He will be greatly missed.
  • Our Benevolent Tournament on September 16th, held at St. Mark Golf / Lakehouse is live and accepting sponsorships or individual registrations.   We are hoping to fill this event at roughly 132 players, with the sole purpose of maximizing the amount of money we can transfer to our Benevolent account.  In addition to the sponsorships, we have two auctions. The Online Auction in now live, with many donations from our gracious sponsors, and bids are currently being accepted.  Contact Sandy for any questions on how to view the online auction or make bids.  At the event on the 16th, there will also be a silent auction, with donations by members and affiliates.   The day will start with cold drinks, socializing and tacos for lunch followed by the 12pm shotgun, Scramble format. After the round we will end on a high note with a tasty Italian dinner followed by the Dueling Pianos on the Lakehouse Lawn.  A great excuse for a date night, and we are looking forward to it.   Contact Sandy for any questions on how to sign up for a sponsorship or registration individuals.  
  • The Event and Education committee, led by Todd Kochanowski, has been working hard to produce a Fall Education event that will be different than recent years and very enjoyable. Thank you to Brendon Reaksecker at Bonita for hosting.  More information coming soon on this even. And thank you to the  Event and Education committee for all their ideas and suggestions. 
  • With fall approaching, we look forward to the Ray Spardy Memorial Scholarship and Research Tournament held at The Crosby on November 14th.  With that said, we will soon be sending out information for those to apply for scholarships for the association.   If you know any eligible candidates, please encourage them to apply so we can continue to grow and support the scholarship program.   
  • As always, we encourage members to complete their BMPs for their facility.  Hopefully, as we get into fall, perhaps staff will have time to complete.  It can be done at your leisure and you can make it specific to your facility, or adopt the more general version. With an increase in pressure at a state level on golf courses, this document will become increasingly important.   We are stewards of the environment and supporters of the game of golf.  Contact Jeff Jensen at GCSAA for more details or visit the GCSAA website. 
  • Finally, regarding the website, it has been working great and we are happy with the changes.  We will keep it updated so check it out as often as you can to follow events, new, photos, etc.  Sandy has done a spectacular job in keeping this active and a place to go for information.  Contact Sandy if you need any assistance with login, etc. Don't forget to save the date for the Holiday Party on December 2nd at Island Palms

 

Brandon Williams
San Diego GCSA President


2022 Invitational

Jul. 17, 2022

CLICK ABOVE TO VIEW THE VIDEO

Thank you to all that came out to enjoy the SDGCSA Invitational at Fairbanks Ranch CC and a BIG thank you to Cody Layton and the entire staff at Fairbanks Ranch CC for being such awesome host.  
In Addition, thank you to our tee sponsors and beverage sponsors for the event:
TURFSTAR - Valley Hole #1 Tee Sponsor
TLC MATERIALS - Valley Hole #2 Tee Sponsor
MARK GRUND ENTERPRISES - Valley Hole #3 Tee Sponsor 
WILBUR ELLIS - Valley Hole #5 Beverage Sponsor
STOTZ EQUIPMENT - Lakes Hole #1 - Tee Sponsor
HUNTER - Lakes Hole #2 - Tee Sponsor
TURFSTAR - Lakes Hole #6 ~ Beverage Sponsor

 

And a special thank you Mitch Kohl from Bonita Golf Course for the drone shots of the day.

Alright - enough with the Thank You's, let's get to the fun stuff... THE RESULTS!
TEAM TWO BEST BALL GROSS: Stephen Sheffield + Scott Butler + Brian Penfield + Kevin Hwang
TEAM TWO BEST BALL NET: Chris Davidson + Todd Nelson + Zach Dobek + Chris Mash
BETTER BALL SUPER NET/PRO GROSS: Todd Kochanowski and Jason Beatty
LOW PRO: John Lee
LOW NET AFFILIATE: Javier Vargas
MEN'S Long Drive: 'Super' Paul Zaremba *to be tested for performance enhancement drugs at next event*
MEN'S Closest to Pin: Toby Mayfield
WOMEN'S Long Drive: Heather King
WOMEN'S Closest to Pin: Caroline Hollosy
CASH SKINS: Stephen Sheffield // Jordan Holcomb // John Lee // Paul Zaremba
...............AND....................
LOW GROSS SUPER: Stephen Sheffield
One Last thank you to the San Diego Golf Course Superintendents Association Sponsors and Affiliates that help support and make it all happen. 


President's Message on DSB / Benevolent Fund Event

Jun. 10, 2022

Greetings All,  

Hope this finds you well as we head into summer.  I just wanted to update you on an event change on our upcoming schedule.   The Don't Stop Believin' Invitational, which has historically been held in September, has been re-scheduled for September 2023.   As you know, the past several years this event has been held at Del Mar Country Club. Our core DSB Team and the SDGCSA Board of Directors determined that due to increased costs, the location of the event will need to be changed and discussed further. Due to the time involved to commit to an event, we made the decision to postpone until 2023. The plan moving forward is to hold the DSB Event in 2023 and begin a location search now to determine costs and sponsorships needed to make the most impact to the Prostate Cancer Research Foundation and our Benevolent Fund.                      

In replacement, the Board has decided to host an event in September, that will have the sole purpose of raising money for the SDGCSA Benevolent Fund.  On September 16th,  St. Mark Golf Club / Lakehouse Hotel and Resort, will host a fundraising golf tournament followed by a dinner buffet and 2 hours of Dueling Pianos entertainment in an outdoor setting on the Event Lawn overlooking Lake San Marcos.   The Board has been looking for ways to increase the Benevolent Fund, and decided this is an excellent opportunity to do so.   Sandy will begin sending a Save the Date with all of the details in the very near future.  We just wanted to inform you of this change, highlighting our future commitment to DSB and to the Benevolent Fund. Please let us know if you have any questions, or any suggestions to make this a great fundraising opportunity. 

Thank you,

Brandon Williams
San Diego GCSA President


2022 Spring Education

May. 16, 2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you all for coming out and enjoying an awesome day at Coronado Golf Course.  A special thank you to Phil Fitzgerald and his team for helping make the Spring Education a major success and hosting the SDGCSA.

Winning Teams for the Four-Man Scramble:
FIRST PLACE – Jon Kelly, Ben McBride, Rob Browns, Antonio Osuna
**Special shout out to Rob Browns for dunking an Albatross from 215++yds out! 
SECOND PLACE – Cary Lee, Brian Smock, Jimmy Davis, Steve Lewis
3 TEAM SKINS:
1. Jon Kelly, Ben McBride, Rob Browns, Antonio Osuna
2. David Nava, Joe Neri, Brendon Reaksecker, Paul Zaremba
3. Cary Lee, Brian Smock, Jimmy Davis, Steve Lewis 
MEN’S LONG DRIVE – Ben McBride
WOMEN’S LONG DRIVE – Erin Novotny
CLOSEST TO THE PIN - Ron Krause
BENEVOLENT FUND PUTTING CONTEST – Steve Wightman


2022 Election Meeting

May. 6, 2022

Special thank you to Jeff Jensen for presenting on BMP and GCSAA Updates as well as Matt Partridge and the entire Miramar Memorial Golf Team for hosting the Election Meeting!

Presenting your New 2022 SDGCSA BOARD:

President: Brandon Williams
Vice President: Matt Partridge
Secretary/Treasurer: *Todd Kochanowski
Directors: Mike Ashworth, Mark Warren, *Ben McBride, *Austin Danielles, *Jesus Gomez
Affiliate Advisors: Cody Stewart, *Jon Kelly
Chapter Manager: Sandy Cooper
Foursome 2-Best Ball Results (NET):
1st Place: Todd Kochanowski,  Steve Anderson, Enrique Matiz, Cody Stewart
2nd Place: Rob Browns, Scott Hardy, Steve Wightman, Pat Reilly
SKINS: 
Ben McBride, Cody Stewart, Mark Warren, Steve Anderson, Andrew Cain, Pat Reily, Chris Davidson
Benevolent Fund Fundraiser Putting Contest: Rob Browns at 1’5″
Circle of Cash: N/A
Long Drive – Big Bomber Paul Zaremba
Closest to the Pin:  Andrew Cain

CLICK HERE TO VIEW GALLERY