Three dogs from the GCSAA Southwest Region featured in the annual LebanonTurf Dog Days of Golf Calendar

Stop by the LebanonTurf Booth at GIS to vote for Caddy or Mingus and Bosley

Caddy, owned by former PGA West (Weiskopf Course – La Quinta, Calif.) superintendent and current Hi-Tech Irrigation salesperson Cody Stewart graces the cover of the calendar and Mingus and Bosley, owned by former Empire Ranch superintendent and current Rancho Murieta Country Club (Jackson, Calif.) superintendent Rodney Muller are featured as the dogs of the month for February.

Caddy gracing the 2017 Dog Days of Golf Calendar

Caddy is a German Shepherd mix who was adopted by Stewart in 2016 when she was 10 months old.  She was immediately patrolling the grounds of PGA West chasing away geese with Stewart who is a five-year member of GCSAA.  With Cody’s recent change to sales, Caddy is seeing more windshield time but still gets the chance to visit the occasional golf course and help out a superintendent in need. 

Mingus and Bosley are blue heelers who were adopted by Muller to train for goose control at Empire Ranch.  Shortly thereafter, Muller accepted a new position at Rancho Murieta and the brothers now roam the 36-hole facility containing the geese and coots and socializing with members and guests.  Muller is a 17-year member of GCSAA. 

Mingus and Bosley taking a play break

LebanonTurf has been supporting superintendents and GCSAA chapters through the calendar for more than a decade.  The Dog of the Year will be voted on at the 2017 Golf Industry Show in Orlando. Stop by Lebanon’s booth (#832) to cast your vote and pick up an extra 2017 calendar. 

The winning dog’s owner receives $500 cash, a $3,000 donation to the dog’s home chapter and a $2,000 donation to K-9’s for Warriors. 

For more information on LebanonTurf and their product line, visit the LebanonTurf website.

Golf Course Superintendents Association of Southern California hosts 25th annual Duff Shaw Classic

Event raises over $70,000 for benevolent fund to assist association members

The Golf Course Superintendents Association of Southern California (GCSASC) hosted the 25^th annual Duff Shaw Classic at North Ranch Country Club in Westlake Village, Calif. on Dec. 12. 

 

The event honors late North Ranch Country Club superintendent Duff Shaw who passed away from cancer in 1994 at the age of 32.  At the time of his death, Duff left behind his wife Kristi and a 15-month-old daughter Erin.  

Erin spoke to the participants during this year’s event in a tear-jerking speech that highlighted the importance of carrying on her father’s legacy through helping others in times of need.  Erin is a 2015 graduate of Tulane University where her education was funded in part by GCSASC and North Ranch.

190 players participated in the silver anniversary of the event over North Ranch’s 27-hole layout and more than $70,000 was placed directly into a benevolence fund that benefits GCSASC members facing medical or other financial hardships.  

“The Duff Shaw continues to grow yearly and allows us to expand our benevolent outreach,” said GCSASC executive director Cyndy Neal who along with the tournament committee provides much of the heavy lifting required for putting together the event.  “Our sponsors, vendors and volunteers continue to step up and provide us with the financial resources and tools we need to run a first class fundraiser.”  

Funds raised come from a number of sources including entry fees, raffles, sponsorships and a live auction that follows play.  

John Pollok serving as auctioneer

The auction features numerous product and golf packages from vendors and golf facilities in Southern California.  John Pollok, Southwest agronomist at Ewing Irrigation and Landscape serves as the auctioneer.  Pollok was a close friend and classmate of Shaw’s at Penn State University.  “It’s an honor to raise funds in Duff’s memory and ensure that his legacy will live on forever,” said Pollok.  “There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t miss or think about him.”  

The 2016 tournament committee was made up of Dave Geery, Mary Harmon, Speedy Lipari, Scotty McBeath, John Pollok, Michael Sommer, Steve Sinclair, James Ward and Bill Wrinker.  Each member of the committee has participated in all 25 years of the Duff Shaw.  

The Duff Shaw has raised more than $1 million since its inception in 1992 and is one of the largest GCSAA affiliated chapter fundraisers in the country.  “We have already scheduled next year’s event for Dec. 11 and look forward to continued success in the future,” said Neal. 

For more information on the event or to sponsor, contact Cyndy Neal at cyndy@cmnsupt.com.