Santa Rosa, CA- The Golf Course Superintendents Association of Northern California (GCSANC) recognized five of its members for their contributions within the turfcare industry. Chapter President and Master of Ceremonies Gill Stiles presented the awards at the GCSANC Annual Meeting held January 22, 2007, at Santa Rosa Golf & Country Club. Nearly 100 association members and turfcare industry representatives were in attendance at the meeting and awards ceremony.
The Superintendent of the Year Award was presented to Golf Course Superintendent Brian Nettz, CGCS, from The Presidio Golf Course (San Francisco, CA) for his contributions to the association. Nettz serves as vice president for the GCSANC and is a member of its Education Committee and Strategic Planning Committee. He’s been a supporter of the nationally recognized GCSANC Ball Mark Repair Tool Program, promoted in conjunction with Play Golf America and its player development initiatives.
"I enjoy being involved with our association, especially with programs and initiatives that help our members," said top honoree Brian Nettz. "I never imagined I’d receive an award for my service to the association. I’m humbled by the honor, and amazed by it allâ?¦I really am."
Prior to The Presidio, Nettz was a golf course superintendent at the 36-hole Bayonet/Blackhorse Golf Course (Seaside, CA). His turfcare experience also includes assistant superintendent positions at Richmond Country (Richmond, CA), Somerset Country Club (St. Paul, MN) and Wakonda Club (Des Moines, IA). Through the assistance of a Trans-Mississippi Golf Association Scholarship, Nettz earned a degree in Turfgrass Management from the University of Minnesota. He also holds the distinction as a Certified Golf Course Superintendent (CGCS) from the GCSAA.
"Brian Nettz, CGCS is a tremendous individual who cares about the association and its members," states GCSANC Awards Chairman Vince Keats, "and is quite deserving of this highest honor, the Superintendent of the Year Award."
In support of this honor, Nettz will be recognized by the California Golf Writers Association at an awards banquet on February 6, 2007 at The Inn at Spanish Bay (Pebble Beach, CA), held in conjunction with the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.
The GCSANC Turfgrass Excellence Award is presented to two individuals for their high level of achievement in upholding standards in the area of turfgrass maintenance. Criteria for this award takes into consideration: overall course condition, environmental factors, rounds of play and maintenance budget.
The recipient for the GCSANC Turfgrass Excellence Award in the Public Category is Kevin Pryseski, CGCS, who received the award for his superior level of professional maintenance and conditioning at StoneTree Golf Club (Novato, CA.), a bay area course where he served as golf course superintendent from 2000 through October 2006.
Now serving in a similar position at Marin Country Club, Pryseski came to the GCSANC from the state of Maryland where he was employed as a golf course superintendent since 1980. It was there, he garnered talent and credentials in the construction, renovation and administration of intensively maintained and highly regarded courses. His previous experience includes assignments at Cattail Creek Country Club (Glenwood, MD), Sparrow Point Country Club (Baltimore, MD), and Pine Ridge Golf Course (Lutherville, MD). A GCSAA Certified Golf Course Superintendent, Pryseski has a B.S. in Biology from Towson University.
In the Private Category, the Turfgrass Excellence Award was presented to Thomas Bastis, CGCS, of the California Golf Club of San Francisco (South San Francisco, CA) where he currently serves as golf course superintendent.
Prior to the California Golf Club, Bastis served as golf course superintendent at Moraga Country Club and assistant superintendent at Sharon Heights Golf & Country Club (Menlo Park, CA). An alumnus of California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, Bastis continues to attend educational seminars that expand his knowledge on subjects relating to course maintenance. He also holds the distinction as Certified Golf Course Superintendent (CGCS) from the GCSAA. Later this spring, Bastis will oversee a historically-minded restoration project at the California GC, working closely with design experts from Kyle Phillips Golf Course Design.
Bastis just completed his second year on the GCSANC Board of Directors and was reelected at the annual meeting to serve a second term. He’s been involved with the Scholarship and Strategic Planning Committees, and the GCSANC Research Committee (chaired by Bastis), has made significant donations to aid research efforts addressing turfgrass disease prevention and treatment programs under the auspices of the NCGA and the U.C. Riverside Turfgrass Research Programs.
Jim Husting, CGCS, is the recipient of the George Santana Distinguished Service Award presented for his long-standing commitment to the GCSANC and the turfcare industry. A Certified Golf Course Superintendent at Woodbridge Golf & Country Club (Woodbridge, CA) where he’s worked since 1987, Husting has been instrumental in tracking legislation that impacts the golf industry. He is past president of the CGCSA and a former recipient of the GCSAA Excellence in Government Relations Award. Husting is a founding member of the California Alliance for Golf (CAG), an organization that serves as a liaison to governmental agencies, promoting the economic and positive environmental contributions demonstrated by the California golf industry. Husting holds a degree in Ornamental Horticulture from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo and a B.A. in Latin America Studies from Kent State University (Kent, OH).
John Holmquist, Horizon Turf California Golf Project Coordinator, is recipient of the GCSANC Affiliate Merit Award, an honor he also received in 1997, for his contributions to the association. A resident of Vacaville, CA, Holmquist served on the GCSANC board of directors in 1996-97 and 2005-06. He has been a loyal supporter of the GCSANC Ball Mark Repair Tool Program promoted in conjunction with Play Golf America and its player development initiatives. Holmquist has chaired the GCSANC Scholarship Research Tournament which each year raises funds for turfgrass scholastic awards as well as industry research programs.
For 12 years collectively, Holmquist has worked with Horizon as a professional supplier to the green industry. He continues to provide exceptional service to his clients in the areas of irrigation, chemical, seed, erosion control and drainage. "Horizon recognizes the importance of supporting golf course superintendents at the local level, which in turn, allows me to be involved with programs that benefit GCSANC members and our affiliates," said award recipient Holmquist. "To receive this coveted award for a second time during my career, is an honor I will cherish for years to come."
Keynote speaker at the GCSANC Annual Meeting was Frank "Sandy" Tatum, past president of the United States Golf Association (USGA). Other noted speakers for the day were Patrick Finlen, CGCS, GCSAA Director and Olympic Club Director of Golf Course Maintenance, and, Bruce Williams, CGCS, CGCSA President and Director of Golf Course Maintenance at Los Angeles Country Club, Outgoing Chapter President Gill Stiles of Santa Rosa G&CC, Incoming Chapter President Jason Green of San Jose Country Club and GCSANC Association Manager Barbara Mikel.
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