[ search engine powered by magazooms.com ] [ search engine powered by magazooms.com ] Cover: Mike Crawford, CGCS is King of the Contents Turf as Georgia’s Superintendent of the Year. News & Features 7 Williams Secures Award “Winning this award is a very gratifying and humbling experience for me.” 8 Noto Lands Dream Win “I’m not going to downplay how much I wanted to do it all.” 11 Sparkling Wrap Up on 2013 “It was a glittering and glorious two days from start to finish.” 17 Superintendent of the Year “… even more importantly, Mike is a terrific person. He is the best.” O F FFICI C I A L P UUBB L IICC A T IIOO N OF THHEE GE O R G I A GO L F CO U R S E S U P E R I N T EENN D EENN T S A S S O C I A T IIOO N 21 Say it IS so Joe “I was absolutely shocked. I had no idea but I’m extremely appreciative.” 23 Assistant’s Title to Sullins “…my dad taught me to be patient so that adrenalin doesn’t get in the way.” Publisher: Georgia GCSA Tenia Workman Headquarters Editor: PO Box 310 Trent Bouts 25 S. Carolina Street Graphic Designer: Hartwell, GA 30643 Bill Lands OFFICE: (706) 376-3585 OFFICE FAX: (706) 376-7573 Through The Green is www.ggcsa.com published six times a year by the Georgia Golf Course Superintendents Editorial/Advertising Association (Georgia PO Box 310 GCSA). Copyright © 2011 Georgia Golf 25 S. Carolina Street Course Superintendents Association, Inc. Hartwell, GA 30643 All rights reserved. OFFICE: (706) 376-3585

The Georgia GCSA appreciates the support of the following companies through the association’s patrons and sponsors program: Advertiser Index Diamond Patrons .YLLU]PSSL;\YMHUK;YHJ[VY Bulk Aggregate ...... 22 1LYY`7H[L;\YMHUK0YYPNH[PVU Chattahoochee Turf Products ...... 22 Platinum Partners Corbin Turf and Ornamental...... 4 *VYIPU;\YMHUK6YUHTLU[HS:\WWS` Direct Solutions...... 16 +PYLJ[:VS\[PVUZ((; Dow Agrosciences ...... 31 .VSM=LU[\YLZ Columns & Reports Golf Argonomics ...... 29 Gold Partners Golf Ventures...... 12 (TLYP;\YM Greenville Turf and Tractor ...... 32 )H`LY,U]PYVUTLU[HS:JPLUJL Jerry Pate Turf and Irrigation ...... 2 7OVLUP_<70 5 President’s Message NG Turf...... 26 :OV^;\YM River Sand ...... 24 :`UNLU[H 33 News Shorts Rowland Chemical Company...... 29 Silver Partners ShowTurf...... 20 5.;\YM Specialty Car Company ...... 6 :V\UK(NYVUVT` 39 New Members Syngenta...... 19 ;\YMUVSVN` The Andersons ...... 24 Bronze Partners 39 Tee Shots Tifton ...... 31 )\SR(NNYLNH[L.VSM Turf Dynamics ...... 26 )\SSVJO-LY[PSPaLY Turfnology ...... 10 *OH[[HOVVJOLL;\YM7YVK\J[Z +V^(NYV:JPLUJLZ .VSM(NYVUVTPJZ /HYYLSS»Z 1VOU+LLYL3HUKZJHWLZ 7OPSSPWZ;\YMHUK6YUHTLU[HS January-February 2014 Through the green 3 [ search engine powered by magazooms.com ] 4 Through the green January-February 2014 [ search engine powered by magazooms.com ] 2014 BOARD OF DIRECTORS President’s Message PRESIDENT Mike Brown The Standard Club, Johns Creek, GA (770) 497-1736 [email protected] VICE-PRESIDENT Thanks For A Greg Burleson, CGCS Augusta Country Club, Augusta, GA Glittering Event On The (706) 737-5515 [email protected] Stage Of Champions SECRETARY-TREASURER Scott Griffith On behalf of the Georgia GCSA board of directors, I wish everyone a Happy New Year! Hope- University of Georgia Golf Course, Athens, GA (706) 425-3246 fully, each of you had a great Christmas season and spent plenty of quality time with family [email protected] and friends. Before the New Year began, the Georgia GCSA completed 2013 in style with PAST-PRESIDENT our annual banquet and golf championship at historic and esteemed Atlanta Athletic Club Anthony L. Williams, CGCS during the first week of November. What an honor. Thanks again to Ken Mangum, CGCS and Stone Mountain Golf Club, Stone Mountain, GA his staff for hosting this event. (770) 413-5241 [email protected] It was a great moment to see so many of our members warming up on the putting greens Tim Busek where elite PGA Tour players warmed up during The Manor Golf and Country Club, Alpharetta, GA the 2011 PGA Championship. The courses were (404) 787-6165 spectacular and even though the scores were [email protected] high we all had a good time. As always, we had some outstanding education that will help many Nelson Caron of us during the coming year. For the first time The Ford Plantation, Richmond Hill, GA that I’m aware of we had concurrent education (912) 547-4072 sessions, which included a class on setting up [email protected] course condition standards to reflect budget needs and a class on disease management on Tommy Hewitt greens. This seemed to be a hit as it gave par- Windermere Golf Club, Cumming, GA ticipants a choice in education topics. Thanks to (770) 205-5878 the golf and education committees for their hard [email protected] MIKE BROWN work in putting all of these events together. Kyle Macdonald The awards banquet was first class and once again we honored those of us that have vol- St. Ives Country Club, Johns Creek, GA unteered their time for the betterment of others. We congratulate Ken Mangum, CGCS and (770) 623-8213 Mark Esoda, CGCS on becoming our eighth and ninth members of the Georgia GCSA Hall of [email protected] Fame. We appreciate all that these two have done for the good of the game and our industry. Congratulations to our newest award winners: for Distinguished Service, Richard Staughton, Mike Martin CGCS; Superintendent of the Year, Mike Crawford, CGCS; and Assistant Superintendent of Hampton Golf Village, Cumming, GA the Year, Joe Hollis. (770) 640-2170 [email protected] These gentlemen are tremendous representatives for our association and we are proud of them for their achievements. Richard and Mike, we continue to thank you as well as many John McCarthy, CGCS others for your efforts in helping to save water for golf. Though these issues will continue Crystal Falls Golf Club, Dawsonville, GA to arise concerning water usage we now have a seat at the table. Thanks for your help in (770) 894-4099 obtaining that. [email protected] I want to say thanks to outgoing past-president, Anthony Williams, CGCS and immediate Lane Singleton past-president, Craig Ketelsen, CGCS and outgoing director, Mike Crawford, CGCS for their Reynolds Plantation, Greensboro, GA superb leadership. It is easy to see how much they truly care about this industry and those (706) 467-1563 who work in it. Thanks for all you’ve done for all of us. [email protected] I am honored to be your new president and I appreciate you putting your trust in me. I look Chris Steigelman, CGCS forward to the next two years with cautious excitement as we slowly inch away from the The Landings Club, Savannah, GA bottom of the Great Recession. One thing is for certain, we have an outstanding board of (912) 598-3547 directors as well as past-presidents that are always willing to help when the need arises. [email protected] Please feel free to call me or any other director if you need anything.

Sam Welch Horseshoe Bend Country Club, Roswell, GA (770) 992-2310 Ext. 130 [email protected]

January-February 2014 Through the green 5 [ search engine powered by magazooms.com ] [ search engine powered by magazooms.com ] NEWS Williams’ Government Relations Work Honored By GCSAA nthony Williams, a key leader in the creation of strong working The latest award builds on an already impressive environmental resume Arelationships between the golf industry and government officials in for Williams. He received GCSAA’s President’s Award for Environmen- the state of Georgia during a time of severe drought, has been selected tal Stewardship in 2010, was the overall winner of the GCSAA/Golf Di- as the recipient of the 2014 Excellence in Government Relations Award gest Environmental Leaders in Golf Awards in 2006 and authored the from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. book “The Environmental Stewardship Toolkit” - a collection of best practices and ideas for the environmental management of golf courses, Williams, CGCS serves as the director of grounds at Stone Mountain in 2012. Golf Club by Marriott and is a 17-year member of GCSAA. He will receive the award at the Golf Industry Show in Orlando, FL during the “Anthony is a shining example of how golf course superintendents can opening session, presented in partnership with Syngenta, on February 5. make a difference not only in their local communities, but also on a much larger stage,” GCSAA president Patrick Finlen, CGCS, says. “By “Winning this award is a very gratifying and humbling experience for tirelessly and proactively working with legislators in the state of Georgia, me,” Williams says. “The work that we did here in Georgia around the Anthony helped to create common-sense solutions for water users in his issue of water, the efforts to create partnerships with our state’s govern- state, and also highlighted the expertise of superintendents to govern- ment and to become resources for them and not adversaries, is work that ment officials and the valuable role they can play in resolving regulatory we would have done anyway because it was the right thing to do for golf. challenges.” But to have your peers in the industry stand up and recognize those ef- forts makes this award even more special for me.” The Excellence in Government Relations Award recognizes and honors an individual, chapter or coalition or alliance that demonstrates From 2001 to 2013, Williams was a member of the Georgia GCSA board outstanding advocacy or compliance efforts in government relations. of directors, serving as president in 2010-2011. During that stretch, the Recipients are chosen by the GCSAA government relations committee. Q state suffered through a historic period of drought that threatened the health and livelihood of Georgia golf courses through the prospect of prohibitive water restrictions and rationing. But instead of re- acting to the situation, the state’s superintendents took a more pro- active path. With Williams at the lead, the golf industry forged strong working relationships with legislators in Georgia, working together to cre- ate a sensible water plan for the state’s water users. A key to those plans was the creation of Best Man- agement Practices for golf courses; and through Williams’ efforts and those of others in the Georgia GCSA, 97 percent of Georgia golf courses voluntarily adopted these BMPs - far above the 75 percent benchmark that had been agreed upon with the state government. That achievement earned the Georgia GCSA a special proclama- A face above the crowd: Anthony Williams, CGCS makes his way tion from Gov. Sonny Perdue, and through the crowd after receiving a farewell gift for his board service during the annual awards banquet at Atlanta Athletic Club. the BMPs remain a vital tool for superintendents in that state today.

January-February 2014 Through the green 7 [ search engine powered by magazooms.com ] NEWS Noto Honored To Follow In Footsteps of Greats or a long time, the greatest thrill of David Noto’s golfing career was Fshooting the low round of the tournament for Georgia Southern University at Augusta National Golf Club too many years ago. His 74 that day, 34 and 40, earned him a $100 gift certificate for the pro shop where he chose a tie - Augusta National green – that he still owns to this day. But what Noto did in the Georgia GCSA golf championship last fall was “right up there with that.” It wasn’t simply that Noto, 45, from Mossy Creek Golf Course in Cleve- land, won the superintendent golf championship. He’d already checked that box, winning in 2011. But to do so in November at Atlanta Athletic Club was something several magnitudes for someone with such a genu- ine appreciation for the history of the club and the game.

Palmer Maples, Jr., CGCS with host superintendent, Ken Mangum, CGCS and Milliken’s Cordie Morgan.

Golf championship presenting sponsors from Greenville Turf and Tractor, Lon Fleming and Mark Hendricks, along with Georgia GCSA golf committee chair, Lane Singleton, welcome winners to the stage.

“I really wanted to win the championship there. I’m not going to down- play how much I wanted to do it at all,” he says. “To be playing on that course where so many of the greats of the game have played made it really kind of special. When I was chipping and putting I was thinking about some of the names of those who had walked on that same ground. To see all the trophies and plaques in the clubhouse, well, I was very honored just to be there.” Noto’s anticipation and enthusiasm for the event was so great that by the time he stepped onto the first tee he was, quite simply, “really nervous.” It showed. His swing was quicker than it should have been and he strug- David Noto walked down the halls gled to find the fairway over the first four holes, making bogey on each. of history as a champion at Atlanta Athletic Club and paid homage to “And they were good bogies,” he says, referring to some quality scram- Bobby Jones along the way. bling to limit the damage. Even so, things certainly weren’t looking good.

8 Through the green January-February 2014 [ search engine powered by magazooms.com ] NEWS

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Highlands Course

Superintendent Championship (0-8hcp): 1 – David Noto, Mossy Creek Golf Course ...... 79 2 – James Morton, Coweta Club ...... 82

Open Division Championship (0-8hcp): 1 – Brandon Smith, Trophy Club of Atlanta ...... 80 2 – Trey Warnock, Bayer Environmental Science ...... 82

Superintendent Modified Stableford (9-13hcp): 1 – Jud James, Canongate at Whitewater Creek ...... +6 2 – Nathan Caffarelli, Bowden Golf Course ...... +1

Open Modified Stableford (9-13hcp): 1 – Robert Padgett, Champions Retreat Golf Club ...... +5 Chris Hall, of Arborguard Tree Specialists, the reigning Georgia State 2 – Aaron Michaels, The Manor Golf and Country Club ...... +3 Senior Mid-Amateur champion, follows his approach to the hole.

Closest to the pin: No. 4 (9-13hcp) – Lon Buckler, A.M. Buckler and Associates No. 15 (0-8hcp) – Clayton Chandler, ABAC (student)

Longest drive: No. 3 (0-8hcp) – Carey Jackson, Skelton-Morris Associates No. 12 (9-13hcp) – Heath Allen, Kinderlou Forest Golf Club

Riverside Course

Superintendent Modified Stableford (14-18hcp): 1 – Mike Crawford, CGCS TPC Sugarloaf ...... +7 2 – Patrick Patterson – Alpharetta Athletic Club – West Course .....+6

Superintendent Modified Stableford (19-30hcp): 1 – Sam Welch, Horseshoe Bend Country Club ...... +6* 2 – Jason Edwards, The Lion Golf Club ...... +6

Open Modified Stableford (14-18hcp): 1 – Josh Dowling, Capital City Club Brookhaven ...... +4 2 – Greg Hill, John Deere Landscapes ...... +2

Open Modified Stableford (19-30hcp): 1 – Mike Ruizzo, Bayer Environmental Science ...... +4 2 – Merett Alexander, NG Turf...... +3

Closest to the pin: No. 6 (14-18hcp) – Mike Crawford, CGCS TPC Sugarloaf No. 11 (19-30hcp) – Jeff Dekle, Bulloch Fertilizer

Longest drive: No. 1 (14-18hcp) – Blake Austin, Peachtree Golf Club No. 18 (19-30hcp) – Merett Alexander, NG Turf Andrew Saft eyes a long putt on the par three *won on scorecard playoff. 17th hole on the Highlands Course.

January-February 2014 Through the green 9 [ search engine powered by magazooms.com ] At some point Noto recalled how that same quick swing brought him undone in the same championship a year earlier ultimately turning a six-stroke lead into deficit as he carded an 80 in the second round. This time, he slowed down and managed to get his round back on track and played his next dozen holes in three over. If he could par the two closing holes he would break 80 and given the degree of challenge, he wondered if that might be enough. His playing partners hit first on the par three 17th and both finished in the water so Noto pulled an extra club concerned that the growing cold was restricting ball flight. It was a good decision as his eight-iron settled in the middle of the green. As his group moved to the 18th tee, Noto knew he was at least the leader in his group. One of his partners was Rob Roy, from The River Club, and the two had been locked together until Roy’s water ball on 17. That gap grew when Roy, knowing he had to make up ground, went for the green in two on the par five closing hole and found water again. By contrast Noto hit driver, sand wedge, sand wedge to find the green and secure a two-putt par. “For me, I thought 79 was pretty good given how difficult the course was playing,” he says. Later that night as Noto walked the corridors of the clubhouse once more, this time carrying a trophy like so many of the game’s greats had, he let the smile sweep across his face. The nerves were gone but the delight was obvious. It had been his first round on the golf course but he felt he knew it well having devoured television coverage of the 2011 PGA Championship there. “I’d never watched so much golf before,” he says. “And then here I was…” With his win, Noto secured an automatic exemption to the Georgia State Mid-Ama- teur Championship this year. It’s an event he will be sure not to miss, something that did happen when he went to sign up for the 2012 Mid-Am as a result of his 2011 Brandon Smith, Trophy Club of Atlanta, superintendent championship win. “I had gotten really busy at the golf course and won the open division. I was a day late with my registration,” he says. “So I’m really looking forward to the chance to play in it in 2014.” Q

10 Through the green January-February 2014 [ search engine powered by magazooms.com ] NEWS A Glittering Night At A Grand Venue

The Georgia GCSA annual awards banquet was a glittering wrap up to 2013.

here has never been a bigger night in the history of the Georgia The awards banquet began with the official launch of a new video pro- TGCSA than the 2013 awards banquet and annual meeting at his- moting the role of the golf course superintendent in Georgia. The video toric Atlanta Athletic Club in Johns Creek. In the halls, on the grounds was a joint project driven by public relations committee co-chairs, John and on the golf courses, Georgia GCSA members got to follow the paths McCarthy, CGCS from Crystal Falls Golf Club, and Kyle Macdonald, of many of the game’s greats from Bobby Jones on down. It was a glitter- from St. Ives Country Club. The three-and-a-half minute film Welcome ing and glorious two days from start to finish. to My Office is available at www.ggcsa.com and was closing in on 5,000 plays a month after the banquet. It was an extra special venue for Ken Mangum, CGCS to be inducted into the Georgia GCSA Hall of Fame, since he has played superinten- Members elected Mike Brown, from The Standard Club in Johns Creek, dent host for so many significant events at the club for so long. It was as the new president. Brown took over from Craig Ketelsen, CGCS from also special for the other inductee, Mark Esoda, CGCS from Atlanta Orchard Hills Golf Club in Newnan. Even that transition carried special Country Club, who stood on the same stage when he was inducted into weight since Brown had worked for Ketelsen at Orchard Hills in the ‘90s. the Georgia State Golf Hall of Fame two years earlier. “Craig works as hard as anyone in this room,” Brown told about 250 people at the banquet. “He genuinely cares about this industry as much It should also be said that the venue carried special significance for Ja- as he does the people in it.” mie Pate, from Jerry Pate Turf and Irrigation, co-presenters of the Hall of Fame awards. His father, Jerry, won the PGA Championship at At- Members also welcomed Mike Martin, from Hampton Golf Village in lanta Athletic Club in 1976. Cumming, back to the board of directors. Martin served on the board some years ago before stepping down to leave more time for his family. Master of ceremonies, William Shirley, CGCS from Peachtree Golf Sam Welch, from Horseshoe Bend Country Club in Roswell, was also Club, set the tone for a night of laughter along with the celebration. elected to the board after serving several months as a presidential appoint- Shirley was typically irreverent, at one point taking a shot at some of ment following the resignation of Chris Bennett. Chris Steigelman, CGCS the association’s biggest names. In regard to the annual past-presidents’ from The Landings Club in Savannah, was also elected to the board. meeting he attended some weeks earlier, Shirley quipped that it was “the only meeting I’ve ever been to where there was a nap on the agenda.” For a full list of awards and highlights, see the accompanying sidebar. W

January-February 2014 Through the green 11 [ search engine powered by magazooms.com ] [ search engine powered by magazooms.com ] NEWS Highlights from the Georgia GCSA Annual Awards Banquet 2013

New Georgia GCSA president, Mike Brown, from The Standard Club,  gives the okay on another successful awards banquet. SVHMPU+\S\[O^HZUHTLK:\WLYPU[LU KLU[VM[OL@LHYZLLZ[VY`WHNL"

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ILYWPU" W Cliff Lewis, from Georgia Distinguished Service Award winner, Environmental Protection Richard Staughton, CGCS from Towne Division, won the non-golf Lake Hills Golf Club, with wife, Jean, category in the Environmen- and daughter, Ashley. tal Leaders in Golf awards.

January-February 2014 Through the green 13 [ search engine powered by magazooms.com ] NEWS Highlights from the Georgia GCSA Annual Awards Jordan Bell, from Ansley Golf Club at Settindown Creek, and Chris Bennett, formerly from Ansley Golf Club at Settindown Creek in Roswell, and now at Banquet Forst Lake Club in Columbia, SC, won the President’s Award for community service presented by then president, Craig Ketelsen, CGCS. 2013 Continued...

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*V\U[Y` *S\I PU 9VZ^LSS ^VU [OL IPN Ken Mangum, CGCS from Atlanta Georgia Golf Environmental NYLLULNNKVUH[LKI`)\SSVJO-LY[PSPaLY Athletic Club, and Mark Esoda, Foundation chairman Harold Franklin CGCS from Atlanta Country Club, accepted a check for $8,421.60 from after their induction to the then Georgia GCSA president, Georgia GCSA Hall of Fame. Craig Ketelsen, CGCS raised through Rounds4Research.

14 Through the green January-February 2014 [ search engine powered by magazooms.com ] NEWS

How much fun was this? We’ll let the smiles on the faces of those folks in this series of images tell the story. No doubt the humor of master of ceremonies William Shirley, CGCS had a lot to do with it. But the strength of the personal bonds between so many professional colleagues in the room lent a richness to the laughter that resonated long after the noise died down.

January-February 2014 Through the green 15 [ search engine powered by magazooms.com ] [ search engine powered by magazooms.com ] FEATURE King of the Turf:

“He is the Best” Written by TRENT BOUTS

If there’s truth in the old saying that superintendents really don’t know how to grow grass until they’ve lost some, then Mike Craw- ford was pretty naive through his first 20 years in the business. It wasn’t until the summer of 2010 that he came to feel the bitter ache in the pit of the stomach that every other bentgrass guy in the south- east has woken with at some point in their career. “For lack of a better Mike Crawford, CGCS is king of the turf as Georgia’s word, it was a summer from hell,” Superintendent of the Year. Crawford says. “We lost grass on greens for the first time in my ca- reer. I didn’t sleep a whole lot and my guts were churning every day.”

[ search engine powered by magazooms.com ] FEATURE

But even then, at the nadir of his experience with turfgrass, Crawford, the certified golf course super- intendent at TPC Sugarloaf in Duluth, considered himself one of the most fortunate people in his field. The fact is, he really does know how to grow grass and had done so for a long time before that sum- mer of sweltering heat and humidity. The fact is, his employers knew that too and so nobody panicked. They just worked through the minefield as master- fully as Mother Nature would allow. It was a show of trust, respect and understanding that every superintendent in the circumstances would wish for but too few have experienced let alone been able to rely on. Crawford knew that as well as anyone, which is why he “felt so blessed” even then. Working for the PGA Tour, he not only had employers who truly understood what he was up against, he had access to the resources necessary to minimize the damage and speed the recovery. He also had 27 holes and so, with some creative rerout- ing, could provide 18 holes of golf that were in “pret- Mike Crawford with his biggest fans, daughter, ty good shape” even through the worst of it. Elizabeth; wife, Kelley, and mother, Avon. That may make Crawford “fortunate” or “blessed” but it was hardly The “chance,” Crawford said upon receiving his award, was taken by dumb luck. If Crawford is anything in that regard he is a man who Ken Mangum, CGCS who employed him as an assistant straight out makes his own luck. Once he committed to a future as a superintendent, of college at Atlanta Athletic Club, and then by Cal Roth, the PGA switching his major from broadcast communications, and toted his Tour’s senior vice-president of agronomy, who brought him on board toothbrush from Iowa to Florida, he left little to chance. The acumen when TPC Sugarloaf was still under construction. and diligence he demonstrated at Lake City Community College (now Florida Gateway) – where he graduated magna cum laude – have been “I wouldn’t call it taking much of a chance on Mike,” says Roth. “I had his hallmarks ever since. So much so, that while he was named Super- known Ken (Mangum) for many years and trusted that his recommen- intendent of the Year at the Georgia GCSA annual awards banquet last dation was going to be rock solid. Mike had built a great reputation in fall, it could have happened any number of years earlier. the Atlanta area and it was a very easy decision to bring him into the TPC family. Mike has been an outstand- ing golf course superintendent for the club and even more importantly, Mike is a terrific person. He is the best.” Crawford has been one of the “best” on one of the biggest stages for some time. He hosted the PGA Tour’s AT&T Clas- sic from 1997 to 2008 and then the Greater Gwinnett Championship on the Champions Tour last year. He has been honored with numerous merit and chap- ter awards in the national Environmental Leaders in Golf Awards over the years and in 2010 GCSAA recognized him with the Excellence in Government Re- lations Award for his advocacy leading to more sustainable water regulations dur- ing drought in Georgia. In November, he stepped down from the Georgia GCSA board of directors after a 14-year run. He was president in 2008-’09 and remains a trustee of the Georgia Golf Environ- mental Foundation. There is talk that he Mike Crawford with some of his other “biggest fans” that might soon occupy a similar role with help the bentgrass against the heat at TPC Sugarloaf. the Georgia State Golf Foundation.

18 Through the green January-February 2014 [ search engine powered by magazooms.com ] FEATURE

Mike Crawford grew up in Granger, IA. More accurately, he grew up and that’s something you have to earn. But there’s no doubt that I have and up. By eighth grade he was 6’4” and basketball shaped as the likely had a lot of help from a lot of great people. I wouldn’t be where I am path for any athletic interest. But he loved golf, having learned at an without Ken Mangum.” early age with his father, Dale – who worked for John Deere - on a pri- Crawford also reserves special thanks for his staff, including the long vate nine-hole course where the dues were $250 - a year, and lettering string of assistant superintendents who have allowed him the flexibility in high school golf one year. But his golf coach was also the basketball to step away from the golf course on behalf of the Georgia GCSA, the coach and he encouraged Crawford to scrap golf for track because it superintendent profession and indeed, the golf industry. “Their talent, would help his basketball. Crawford finished third in the state in high hard work and dedication to the club and to me personally, have been jump but his growth spurt quit in his first year of high school and he hugely helpful,” he says. “I have had some incredible assistants and maxed out at 6’7” – “Thank goodness!” some who have gone to be successful superintendents. Smart people Eventually, Crawford would play one year of college basketball at Ells- surround themselves by people smarter than they are. I think I’ve been worth Community College but his coach “made Bobby Knight look fortunate to be able to do that.” Q like a nice guy” and his interest waned. Craw- ford left for the University of Northern Iowa and the lure of a broadcast career reporting on professional sporting events, at least that was the vague goal. But something more concrete took shape away from campus. Two summers at home working on a golf course “lit a fire.” Crawford had been “doing okay” with his studies to that point but had never excelled. “But once I’d found my passion the studying and the learning came very easily,” he says. As such it didn’t take long for his mother, Avon, to overcome her initial reticence about her boy heading so far south. An education administra- tor with a masters degree, she not only valued education but appreciated the importance of matching it to a passion. She and Dale could see their son had balanced that equation. Avon was a special guest at the awards banquet, flying from Iowa to surprise her son along with his wife, Kelley, and daughter, Elizabeth. The Crawford’s other daughter, Alexandra, was un- able to get away from college. But she, like Dale, was there in spirit, Crawford says: “I know he would have been extremely proud to know that I was awarded this great honor and I’m sure that he was looking down and beaming with pride during the awards ceremony.” Doubtless Crawford’s award put a smile on a lot of other faces as well. Within days, the news had been posted on the home page at Florida Gateway and distributed throughout the TPC network. People were rightly proud that one of their own had done so well, is doing so well. But as he sat in the banquet room that night, Crawford kept coming back to that feeling of being blessed. “I’d like to think I’ve done a lot of hard work to get here,” he says. “I think we all find op- portunities in life but if you’re not in a position to seize those opportunities they can pass you by. I think it’s about putting yourself in the best position to seize those chances when they come

January-February 2014 Through the green 19 [ search engine powered by magazooms.com ] NEWS Words of Thanks...

LETTER TO THE EDITOR, TENIA, ALLISON AND THE GEORGIA DEAR TENIA, GCSA BOARD OF DIRECTORS, My life in Georgia has been an Thank you so much for everything exciting time and to receive the I want to thank you for the great honor of be- you do. It was such an honor to re- Georgia GCSA Distinguished ing recognized as Georgia GCSA’s Superinten- ceive the award for Assistant Su- Service Award overwhelms my dent of the Year. It was a very special night and perintendent of the Year and the soul and touches my heart. Volun- a big surprise to find that my mother had flown night was that much more special teering has helped me better un- all the way in from Iowa and my daughter Eliza- because my parents were in atten- derstand that the more you praise beth had driven back from Birmingham. It was dance. Thank you for reaching out and celebrate your life, the more very rewarding to receive this honor in front of to them and inviting them. The there is in life to celebrate. I thank so many family, friends and peers. As I said that support you give our association every member of the Georgia night, the support I have received throughout is unparalleled and we are truly GCSA family for being a friend my career from superintendents I have worked fortunate to have you. Thank you and helping me become a better for and the hard work of the team members of for all that you do. I look forward person. It’s easy to serve when one my staff have helped me achieve the success I to learning everything I can while can “feel the love!” have been so fortunate to experience. supporting the board. Thanks again, Thanks, Richard Staughton CGCS Towne Lake Hills Golf Club Mike Crawford, CGCS Joe Hollis TPC Sugarloaf Atlanta Country Club

20 Through the green January-February 2014 [ search engine powered by magazooms.com ] NEWS Small Town Kid Arrives Under The Bright Lights aving grown up in a town with just two traffic Hlights, the glare on stage at the Georgia GCSA an- Joe Hollis speaks after accepting nual awards banquet was a lot more than Joe Hollis is ac- his award at the annual banquet. customed to. Hollis, 28, knew something was up when he arrived at Atlanta Athletic Club and bumped into his parents in a suit and evening dress. “What are y’all do- ing here,” he asked in surprise. His parents laughed and replied simply: “We just got invited.” It was at that point that Hollis began to wonder “if some- thing was going on.” Still he had no idea what until his name was announced as the Georgia GCSA Assistant Su- perintendent of the Year. “I was absolutely shocked,” he says. “I had no idea but I’m extremely appreciative.” Hollis is assistant superintendent at Atlanta Country Club where he works under Mark Esoda, CGCS who was in- ducted into the Georgia GCSA Hall of Fame at the awards banquet. “Joe is simply the top in his field,” Esoda wrote in a letter supporting Hollis’ nomination for the award. “All the members and staff love him…Joe leads by example and coaches his staff to be top notch workers…” Hollis grew up in Trion, in the far north west of the state, where the population didn’t click over the 2,000 mark until 2006. “We got our first set of (traffic) lights when I was in high school and it was a big deal,” Hollis laughs. “Even then they were just caution lights.” But Trion did have a nine-hole golf course long before that where Hollis worked when he could to earn some pocket money and rights to free golf. He also spent time working on the golf course maintenance staff at LaFayette Golf Course 20 minutes south. The seeds of a future career were taking root.

Hollis is a regular participant in Georgia Joe Hollis with proud parents, Dean and Carol. GCSA events as he was at last year’s assistant superintendent golf championship.

January-February 2014 Through the green 21 [ search engine powered by magazooms.com ] While Hollis attended the University of Georgia, he worked for James Drinkard at Athens Country Club. After graduating, he joined the staff at Atlanta Country Club where has been since January of 2009. Like many other assistant superintendents these days, he looks at the job market for su- perintendent positions and shudders a little. “It’s definitely slim pickings out there right now,” he says. “But I think if you really love what you do, and if you stay patient, it will happen for you.” The meantime is all the more palatable, Hol- lis says, because Esoda keeps him learning. Indeed, partly for some of the reasons Esoda is now in the Hall of Fame, Hollis has en- joyed a level of responsibility and challenge that some of his contemporaries might not have experienced. “When your superinten- dent volunteers as much as Mark does, some- body gets to take up the slack,” Hollis said on the night of his award. But the opportunities are not limited to when Esoda is off-site on association business. “Mark is very good about introducing me to new challenges, new things,” Hollis says. “So I think if I am learning then I am still advancing myself even though I might not be moving on to other positions. The members here are fantastic to work for too. They want to see you succeed. They are very supportive of everything we do.” The same is apparently true of those Hol- lis works with. Other letters supporting his candidacy for the award came from fellow assistant superintendent at Atlanta Country Club, Charles Aubry, and the club’s head golf professional, Scott Scrhoeder. “Joe han- dles daily, monthly and annual responsibili- ties far beyond the realm many assistants ever would and does so with poise and integrity,” Aubry wrote. He also cited Hollis’ efforts promoting networking for assistants through regular “lunch bunch” meetings and his leadership and guidance of other assistants he has worked with. Schroeder was similarly glowing in his praise. “I believe there are a lot of important rela- tionships in a club environment, but none more important than the relationship be- tween a golf operation and a turf care opera- tion,” he wrote. “Joe has made this extremely easy on us, and his willingness to work with our department and constantly communicate their needs and ask our wants is one of the many things that make Joe such a wonderful candidate. And as a good a superintendent as Joe is…the thing that truly separates him from everyone else is that he is an even better person.” Q

22 Through the green January-February 2014 [ search engine powered by magazooms.com ] NEWS

Patience Pays Written by TRENT BOUTS Off For Sullins tap in eagle, a birdie and a scrambled par were the difference mak- A ers over the final six holes to earn Josh Sullins the title of Georgia GCSA assistant superintendent golf champion for 2013. Sullins, 24, from Ashton Hills Golf Club, shot a three-over par round of 75 to win the championship by a single stroke over Keith Beaudin, from Flat Creek Golf Club. The championship was contested with a full field in superb conditions at Athens Country Club in the fall. Sullins says he was surprised by the speed of the greens prepared by veteran superintendent James Drinkard given the time of year. “But then I heard that they had their club championship the weekend before and I start making stupid mistakes. But my dad taught me to be patient so that thought, ‘oh, oh, here we go.’” Indeed Sullins did struggle early running adrenalin doesn’t get in the way.” up several bogies but he drew on career-long advice from his dad, Keith, The assistant superintendent championship presented in partnership who always urged patience in his son. with Greenville Turf and Tractor was the first Georgia GCSA event for In the end, that’s what made the difference for Sullins, who carries an Sullins. He is a turfgrass graduate from North Georgia Technical Col- index of .7. “I was excited that I was able to stay with it and not let the lege and who worked at Alpharetta Athletic Club and Chateau Elan early bad holes get to me,” he says. “Sometimes that can happen and you before joining John Fields’ staff at Ashton Hills. “I thought it was great,”

New assistant superintendent golf champion, Josh Sullins, with his trophy and the man he beat by a single stroke, Keith Beaudin.

January-February 2014 Through the green 23 [ search engine powered by magazooms.com ] 24 Through the green January-February 2014 [ search engine powered by magazooms.com ] NEWS

Blake Holland, from Horseshoe Bend Country Club, Andrew Saft, from TPC Sugarloaf, and Lance Oliver, and Joe Hendricks, from The Standard Club. from Capital City Club Brookhaven.

Wes Michielsen, from Laurel Springs Golf Club, with host Lyle Curry and Chase Newman, both from Marietta Country Club. superintendent at Athens Country Club, James Drinkard.

Mac Fite, of Howard Fertilizer and Chemical Company, donated a cooler won by Jason Tharp, from Druid Hills Golf Club.

25 Through the green January-February 2014 [ search engine powered by magazooms.com ] 26 Through the green January-February 2014 [ search engine powered by magazooms.com ] NEWS

he says. “The education was excellent and I learned a lot from it.” Courtney Young, CGCS from Ansley Golf Club presented the seminar on budgeting for golf course maintenance. Sullins may have been new to Georgia GCSA events but he is no stranger to success on the golf course. In 2009 he matched the course record with a round of 63 at Providence Golf Club in Monroe. A year later he won the club championship before finishing runner-up, frustratingly, in 2011, ’12 and ’13. He has attempted to qualify for the U.S. Open in the past and intends to keep trying in 2014. “Just the experience of trying at that whole new level is a great way to learn,” he says. In terms of future Georgia GCSA events Sullins hopes to take part in this year’s Jake Colvin, Brunswick Country Club, Colby Spivey, Capital City Club at Crabapple, Spring Classic at TPC Sugarloaf on March Chris Daniels, Canongate at Heron Bay, Brett Thomas, Druid Hills Golf Club 3. “I’m really looking forward to getting out there and meeting people,” he says. Q

Nick Adams, of Helena Chemical Company, warms up with Travis Cantrell, from Idle Hour Club. *2/)5HVXOWV

Championship: 0-8 handicaps 1 – Josh Sullins, Ashton Hills Golf Club 75 2 – Keith Beaudin, Flat Creek Golf Club 76

First Flight: 9-13 handicaps 1 – Seth Gobbi, Capital City Club Crabapple 2 – Sam Burgess, Ansley Golf Club at Settindown 3 – Ben Anderson, Cherokee Town and Country Club

Second Flight: 14-18 handicaps 1 – Kyle Johnson, East Lake Golf Club 2 – Josh Dowling, Capital City Club Brookhaven 3 – Travis Cantrell, Idle Hour Club

Third Flight: 19-30 handicaps 1 – Danny Moe, Waterfall Club 2 – Ben Ross, Stone Mountain Golf Club

Closest to the pin: 0-8: No. 12 - Keith Beaudin, Flat Creek Golf Club 9-13: No.3 - Mike Simons, Augusta Country Club 14-18: No.8 - Brett Thomas, Druid Hills Golf Club 19-30: No. 17 - Michael Sokolowsky, Hampton Golf Village

Longest drive: 0-8: No.4 - Bobby Gipson, University of Georgia Golf Course 9-13: No.4 - Joe Hollis, Atlanta Country Club 14-18: No.11 - Kyle Johnson, East Lake Golf Club 19-30: No.11 - Blake Holland, Horseshoe Bend Country Club

January-February 2014 Through the green 27 [ search engine powered by magazooms.com ] NEWS SHORTS

Georgia’s Shannon Marion with Craig Ketelsen, Fly Guys CGCS before their flight. When his good friend Craig Ketelsen became president of the Georgia GCSA, Shannon Marion joked about wanting to “pilot the prez in Air Force One.” Marion, who works with Sound Agronomy, has been a licensed pilot for about a decade and been talking about tak- ing Ketelsen, CGCS from Orchard Hills Golf Club, for a joy ride almost as long. “When he became president I told him that at some point in the next two years I would take him up in Air Force One,” Marion says. “It was a big joke but we eventually got to do it.” Last fall, with only a few weeks left in his term – deep into the lame duck phase, you could say - Ketelsen strapped in beside Marion in a Piper Cherokee 235 and took in a bird’s eye view of the state. Q Trio Secures Kicklighter Earns Trip Hampton Kicklighter Jr., certified golf course “Congratulations to the class of 2014,” GCSAA Scholarships superintendent at Dublin Country Club in chief executive officer Rhett Evans says. “This Daughters of three Georgia GCSA members Dublin has been chosen to attend the Melrose is a fantastic opportunity afforded to GCSAA have won scholarships through the Georgia Leadership Academy at the Golf Industry Class A members, and the education that they State Golf Association Foundation for 2013- Show in Orlando, FL from February 1-6. He will receive by participating in the Melrose 14. Haley Burleson, daughter of Georgia is one of 16 GCSAA Class A members who Leadership Academy not only benefits their GCSA vice-president, Greg Burleson, CGCS earned the all-expenses-paid trip through an own careers, but is developing leaders who can from Augusta Country Club, is the 2013-14 application process based on financial need, shape the future of the profession.” recipient of the William Weston IV endowed volunteerism and drive to advance their ca- The Melrose Leadership Academy was estab- scholarship. Morgan Kepple, daughter of reers. The academy will offer education lished in 2012 by Ken Melrose, retired CEO Ralph Kepple, CGCS from East Lake Golf specific to risk management (health, safety, and chairman of the board of The Toro Com- Club, is the 2013-14 Paul Grigsby endowed environmental compliance), operational effi- pany, and is supported by a $1-million gift to scholar. Addison Esoda, daughter of Mark ciency, business and environmental steward- the Environmental Institute for Golf from The Esoda, CGCS from Atlanta Country Club, is ship. Attendees will also participate in various Kendrick B. Melrose Family Foundation. Q the 2013-2014 recipient of the Billi Marcus leadership activities. scholarship. Q

January 20, 2014 February 5, 2014 March 3, 2014 Georgia Equipment Managers Seminar Georgia GCSA Spring Classic TPC Sugarloaf Chapter Dinner TPC Sugarloaf Duluth, GA FishBones Restaurant Duluth, GA GCSA Host superintendent: Orlando, FL Host superintendent: Mike Crawford, CGCS Mike Crawford, CGCS Events February 19, 2014 MARK YOUR February 3-7, 2014 Spray-Irrigation Technicians Seminar Cateechee Golf Club ፜ CALENDAR GCSAA Education Conference and Golf Hartwell, GA Industry Show Host superintendent: Orlando, FL Buck Workman, CGCS

28 Through the green January-February 2014 [ search engine powered by magazooms.com ] NEWS SHORTS Rowland Hall Secures Golfdom Invites Chemical Co. Second Title Georgia Trio Georgia GCSA member Chris Hall, of Arbor- Georgia GCSA members Scott Griffith, Anthony guard Tree Specialists, added a second Georgia Williams, CGCS and Sam Crowe, CGCS were r
$IFNJDBMT State Golf Association title to his mantle in 2013. among about 50 superintendents from across the Hall, who won the state senior matchplay cham- country at the annual Golfdom Summit in Orlando, pionship in the summer, teamed with Jack Hall, FL in December. Griffith, a Georgia GCSA director r
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4QSBZFST of Sea Island, to win senior four-ball champion- from the University of Georgia Golf Course, Wil- ship in the fall at the Country Club of Columbus liams, a past-president from Stone Mountain Golf r
)ZQSP and Green Island Country Club in Columbus. Q Club, and Crowe, from The Reserve at Lake Keow- ee, spent three days at the event that included golf, meetings with industry vendors and guest appear- Chris Hall r
5FF+FU ances by Annika Sorenstam and Steve Mona, from the World Golf Foundation. The trio also got to catch up with former Georgia 706-548-9399 GCSA colleagues Kasey Kauff, formerly from At- lanta Athletic Club and now at the Country Club 800-352-6974 of Orlando, and Sam Leatherberry, formerly from Bear’s Best Atlanta and now at Quail Hollow Coun- try Club in Concord, OH. Attendees were selected 
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4U after lodging applications. Griffith says he was en- couraged to apply by fellow board member Tommy "UIFOT
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 Hewitt, from Windemere Golf Club, who attended the event in 2012. Q

January-February 2014 Through the green 29 [ search engine powered by magazooms.com ] New Members Tee Shots Georgia GCSA Welcomes Movers & Shakers i Chris Billups, Class C. i Andrew Curtin, formerly assistant golf course superintendent at Second assistant golf course superintendent, Country Club of San Antonio Country Club in San Antonio, TX is now assistant golf Columbus, Columbus (706) 323-9151. course superintendent at Peachtree Golf Club in Atlanta. i Nathan Byars, Class C. i Taylor Davis is now second assistant golf course superintendent at Assistant golf course superintendent, Hickory Hill Golf Club/ Atlanta Athletic Club in Johns Creek. The Club at Shoal Creek, Jackson (770) 775-2433. i Elliot Garrison, formerly assistant golf course superintendent at i Patrick Cliett, Class C. Isleworth Country Club in Windermere, FL is now first assistant golf Assistant golf course superintendent, West Lake Country Club, course superintendent at Atlanta Athletic Club in Johns Creek. Augusta (706) 860-1892 i Brandon Hayes, formerly assistant golf course superintendent i Andrew Curtin, Class C. at Reynolds Plantation – Great Waters, has been promoted to golf Assistant golf course superintendent, Peachtree Golf Club, Atlanta (770) 458-7870. course superintendent. i Tad Hopkins, formerly assistant golf course superintendent at Reyn- i Taylor Davis, Class C. Second assistant golf course superintendent, Atlanta Athletic Club, olds Plantation – The Oconee, is now assistant golf course superin- Johns Creek (770) 448-8311. tendent at Reynolds Plantation – The Plantation Course. i Elliot Garrison, Class C. i Marshall Jackson, formerly assistant golf course superintendent at Assistant golf course superintendent, Atlanta Athletic Club, The King and Prince Golf Course on St. Simons is now golf course Johns Creek (770) 448-8311. superintendent at Laurel Island Links in Kingsland, GA. i Devin June, Class C. i Devin June, formerly assistant golf course superintendent at TPC Assistant golf course superintendent, TPC Sugarloaf, Duluth Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra, FL is now assistant golf course superinten- (770) 622-2215. dent at TPC Sugarloaf in Duluth. i Austin Lawton, Class SM. i Scott May is now assistant golf course superintendent at Cherokee Golf course superintendent, Forest Lake Golf Club, Tifton Town and Country Club in Atlanta. (229) 382-7626. i Ronald McWhorter, formerly assistant golf course superintendent i Scott May, Class C. at Reynolds Plantation – The Landings, has been promoted to golf Assistant golf course superintendent, Cherokee Town and Country course superintendent. Club, Atlanta (770) 993-2040. i Justin Miller, formerly assistant golf course superintendent at Reyn- i Jack McTyre, Class SM. olds Plantation – The Plantation Course, is now assistant golf course Golf course superintendent, Georgia Vets Memorial Golf Course, superintendent at Reynolds Plantation – The Oconee. Cordele (229) 276-2585. i Kevin Nason is now second assistant golf course superintendent at i Kevin Nason, Class C. Capital City Club Brookhaven in Atlanta. Assistant golf course superintendent, Peachtree Golf Club, Atlanta (678) 523-8548. i Mack Oliver is now assistant golf course superintendent at Hawk’s Point Golf Club in Vidalia. i Mack Oliver, Class C. Assistant golf course superintendent, Hawk’s Point Golf Club, i Will O’Steen is golf course superintendent at Reynolds Plantation – Vidalia (912) 537-9256. The National. i Greg Knight, Class C. i Jason Quarles, formerly golf course superintendent at Brookfield Second assistant golf course superintendent, Indian Hills Country Country Club in Roswell has been promoted to director of golf course Club, Marietta (770) 971-3171. operations. i Miles Smith, Class C. i Bryan Thompson, formerly assistant golf course superintendent at Assistant golf course superintendent, The Standard Club, Eagles Pointe Golf Course in Bluffton, SC is now golf course superin- Johns Creek (770) 497-1736. tendent at River Pointe Golf Course in Albany. i Brian Thompson, Class SM. i J.B. Workman is now assistant golf course superintendent at The Golf course superintendent, River Pointe Golf Course, Albany King and Prince Golf Course on St. Simons Island. (229) 883-9885. i Marshall Walraven, Class S. Student/assistant golf course superintendent in training, Atlanta Athletic Club (404) 786-8213.

30 Through the green January-February 2014 [ search engine powered by magazooms.com ] Congratulations i Congratulations to John McCarthy, golf course superintendent at Crystal Falls Golf Club in Dawsonville, on recently achieving his certified golf course superintendent status with GCSAA. i Congratulations to Tim Cunningham, CGCS at Coosa Country Club in Rome, on successfully completing the renewal process for maintaining his status as a certified golf course superintendent with GCSAA. i Congratulations to Anthony Williams, CGCS from Stone Mountain Golf Club in Stone Mountain, on receiving the 2014 GCSAA Excellence in Government Relations Award. i Congratulations to Matt Corentin, from Rain Bird, and his new bride, Kimberly, who were married on September 21. i Congratulations to Chuck Underwood, CGCS, from Northwood Country Club, and his bride, Ruth, who were married on October 12. Births i Congratulations to Lane Singleton, from Reynolds Plantation and his wife, Keetah, on the birth of their son, Carter Lane Singleton. Carter was born on October 17 and weighed 8lbs and 4oz. i Congratulations to Adam Godfrey, from The Reserve Club at Woodside Plantation in Aiken, SC, and his wife, Amanda, on the birth of their son, John Tate Godfrey, who was born on November 12, 2013. John weighed 4lbs 13oz and measured 18.5in. Condolences i Our condolences to Jason Waller, from Ansley Golf Club, and his family on the passing of his father. i Our condolences to Brad Boaz, of South- ern States, and his wife, Amy, who lost their daughter, Kinsley, on December 8. She was born at 22 weeks and fought hard for 14 days. The family requests donations to the church instead of flowers: Holly Springs First Baptist Church, 2632 Holly Springs Pkwy, Canton, GA 30115.

January-February 2014 Through the green 31 [ search engine powered by magazooms.com ] [ search engine powered by magazooms.com ]