GCSANC Annual Membership Meeting will we held at San Jose Country Club
San Jose, CA- The Golf Course Superintendents Association of Northern California (GCSANC) will recognize six of its members for their contributions within the turfcare industry at the GCSANC Annual Meeting slated for January 7, 2008 at San Jose Country Club. More than 100 association members and industry representatives are expected to attend the ceremonial event.
The GCSANC Superintendent of the Year Award will be presented to Gill Stiles golf course superintendent at Santa Rosa Golf & Country Club. Stiles, who currently does double-duty on the board of directors for the GCSANC and CGCSA has been a long-time advocate for the association. He’s helped expand education opportunities for his peers locally and has served on the Standard/Bylaws and Membership committees at the national level. In addition, Stiles has lent time and energy to worthy outreach programs such as the chapter’s golf club donation drive (supplying golf equipment to U.S. military overseas) and the ball mark repair education program in conjunction with Play Golf America.
“Gill Stiles truly cares about our association and its members,” said GCSANC president Jason Green, “and we look forward to formally recognizing him for his years of volunteer service.” Prior to his tenure at Santa Rosa G&CC he was superintendent at Hiddenbrooke Golf Club (Vallejo, CA) and at Summitpointe Golf Club (Milpitas, CA). His turfcare experience also includes serving as an assistant superintendent at TPC Scottsdale (PGA TOUR site) where he worked in course preparation for the Phoenix Open.
In support of the GCSANC honor, Stiles will also be recognized by the California Golf Writers Association at an awards banquet on Tuesday, February 5, 2008 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 levels of achievement in upholding standards in turfgrass maintenance. Award consideration includes: overall course condition, environmental factors, course activity and maintenance budget. The recipient for the Turfgrass Excellence Award in the Public Category is Michael Vickers, who receives this honor for a superior level of course maintenance and conditioning at Dublin Ranch Golf Club (Dublin, CA). Vickers, a Class “A” Superintendent, was recruited to Dublin Ranch in the earlier planning stages and did a stellar job as construction manager, bringing the facility to fruition in 2004. Prior, Vickers served as a manager in project construction at Los Lagos Golf Course (San Jose, CA) a public facility in Silicon Valley. He garnered talent and credentials during his ten-year stint in course construction with the world-renown design firm of Robert Trent Jones II. Vickers is an alumnus of the Michigan State Turfgrass Program.
In the Private Category, the Turfgrass Excellence Award is being presented to course superintendent David Davies, CGCS, of the recently-opened Stonebrae Country Club (Hayward, CA) where he successfully managed the grow-in and now oversees the day-to-day maintenance of this jeweled course designed by David McLay Kidd (DMK Golf Design). Prior to Stonebrae, Davies served as head superintendent through the design and construction phases (and beyond) at Callippe Preserve Golf Club (Pleasanton, CA). He also worked tirelessly (for more than a decade) as the superintendent at Palo Alto Municipal Golf Course, which preceded his first superintendent assignment at Dry Creek Ranch Golf Course (Galt, CA). Davies, who holds the distinction as a certified golf course superintendent (CGCS), is an alumnus of De Anza Community College where he obtained an A.A. Degree in Business Administration. An advocate for education, Davies has frequently served as a presenter at GCSAA education seminars and conferences, sharing his industry experience with peers and protégés.
Throughout his career he’s supported the association in areas of education, employment and membership, and is past president of the Northern California and Sierra Nevada chapters. Davies a former recipient of the GCSANC Superintendent of the Year Award, Seed Research Superintendent Award and the BASF Innovation Excellence Award.
Kenneth Williams, CGCS, is the recipient of the prestigious George Santana Distinguished Service Award, given for his long-standing commitment to the GCSANC. He is a Certified Golf Course Superintendent at Stanford University Golf Course where he’s held the top position since 1995. In the early 90s Williams oversaw course maintenance efforts at the Country Club at Rancho Bernardo (San Diego, CA) and La Quinta Hotel Resort & Spa (La Quinta, CA). He is an alumnus of California Polytechnic State University-Pomona where he obtained a B.S. Degree with honors in Horticulture.
Williams has been instrumental in elevating the image of the association and its members through his volunteer position as editor of Thru the Green, a GCSANC bi-monthly publication. His contributions were duly noted in 2002 when named GCSANC Superintendent of the Year, the greatest honor bestowed upon a chapter member. He’s served on the board of directors for the Northern California, Hi-Lo and San Diego Chapters of the GCSA and also on the GCSAA National Scholarship Committee. His community outreach efforts include coordinator for the YMCA’s Sports Division, and supporter of Special Olympics in conjunction with The Golf: For Business & Life Program at Stanford University.
Pete Bowman, CGCS, sales representative with UAP Professional Products, is the recipient of the GCSANC Affiliate Merit Award. This well-deserved honor is Bowman’s because of his genuine support to GCSANC Education, the Scholarship & Research Program and the Pro-Superintendent Seminar & Tournament. A resident of Stockton, California, Bowman currently serves as an affiliate director for the GCSANC and is past president of the Sierra Nevada and California State chapters.
For more than a decade Bowman has worked as a supplier to the green industry providing seed, fertilizer, pest control products and wetting agents. He provides exceptional service to his clients on a daily basis and understands the importance of supporting the association at the local level. Prior to his tenure with UAP Professional Products, he worked for Sierra Pacific Turf Supply. Part of Bowman’s success as a supplier is derived from earlier experience as course superintendent at Diablo Grande Resort (Patterson, CA) and Merced Hills Golf Club in (Merced. CA). He is a graduate of California Polytechnic University-San Luis Obispo with a degree in Ornamental Horticulture.
This year the GCSANC will bestow the first-ever President’s Award to an individual who has gone above-and-beyond in assisting superintendents while also enhancing the association. The 2008 recipient for the inaugural award is Michael McCullough, director of environment and water resources for the Northern California Golf Association (NCGA).
McCullough’s contributions span a multitude of areas: host of educational seminars specifically designed for assistant superintendents, supporter of GCSANC and CGCSA education and research efforts, and an active member of the California Alliance of Golf. He’s been a volunteer for the Water Quality Monitoring Program in conjunction with the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, a graduate of the Water Leaders Program sponsored by the Water Education Foundation, and has served as co-coordinator for the WateReuse Association, an organization committed to advancing the beneficial and efficient use of water resources.
Earlier in his NCGA career, McCullough served as director of turfgrass services where he provided leadership and ongoing mentoring to candidates in the golf course superintendent intern program. Prior, he was a horticulture specialist with the University of Missouri Extension. He holds a Masters of Science in Horticulture from Oklahoma State University and a B.S. in Ornamental Horticulture, minor in Plant Pathology from California State Polytechnic University -Pomona.
The keynote presenter at the GCSANC Annual Meeting will be Mr. Ed Brodow, author of Negotiation Boot Camp: How to Resolve Conflict, Satisfy Customers, and make Better Deals, published by Doubleday.
Contact:
EmmyPGA@aol.com
Phone: (530) 666-6508
