About
About
The Eastern North Carolina Turfgrass Association is an association made up of individuals in the golf and landscape industry.
Mission Statement
“To educate the Golf Course Superintendent on golf course maintenance and to improve the level of knowledge and image towards the profession”
Vision Statement
By 2016, the Eastern North Carolina Turfgrass Association will be an organization:
- Remaining on the cutting edge of issues affecting golf course management
- Educating its membership
- Enhancing environmental stewardship
- Engaging all members in chapter activities
- Providing networking for all superintendents in Eastern North Carolina
- Embracing technology
Resulting in a better-educated golf course management professional and enhanced economic position for golf in Eastern North Carolina.
Our History
The Eastern North Carolina Turfgrass Association (ENCTA) was formed in 1973, to help further the profession of the Golf Course Superintendent in Eastern North Carolina. The first President of the Association was Jake Pennel, Superintendent of Jacksonville Country Club. The Board Members were:
- Joel Johnson, Porter Brothers (Jacobsen Dealer)
- Ed O’Donnell, Superintendent, Brook Valley Country Club
- John Hilton, Superintendent, Cape Fear Country Club
- Bill Sutton, Superintendent, Walnut Creek Country Club
- Dr. Gilbert, Professor, North Carolina State University
- Dr. Blake, Professor, North Carolina State University
This group of individuals are responsible for the creation and incorporation of the By-Laws and the over all foundation of the ENCTA today.
The Mission Statement for the ENCTA in 1973; and today still remains the same. “To educate the Golf Course Superintendent on golf course maintenance and to improve the level of knowledge and image towards the profession.”
Dues were $25 a year, which covered educational meetings for the year. If you stayed for the meal (which was usually a steak dinner) a $5 additional cost was required. There were six ENCTA meetings per year. They all concentrated on education. The meetings would start at 12:00 pm with a round of golf, cocktail hour at 5:30 pm, and dinner at 6:30 pm, and concluded with an educational speaker for the last hour. It’s important to note that Golf Course Superintendents at the time where not allowed in the clubhouse, so having a ENCTA meeting inside a Country Club was considered a big accomplishment. Each member attending the meeting was expected to wear a coat and tie, and if not, that person was not allowed to attend the function. The ENCTA was important to a turfgrass professional because many Golf Course Superintendents did not receive any turf growing education before being a Golf Course Superintendent. So the most convenient, affordable way to receive education, ideas, and relationships in the turfgrass field was through the ENCTA. The average attendance for an ENCTA meeting was around twenty members. Members had to pay their own way to the meeting, where the club did not see fit to offer the expense. Turfgrass vendors in the area played a big part in spreading the word about the ENCTA to turfgrass professionals across the area. They are also big at the recruiting new potential members.
Activities offered to Members:
- Regular membership meetings offering education, golf and the opportunity to network with colleagues from all parts of Eastern North Carolina.
- Able to obtain GCSAA and/or NC pesticide credits during regular membership meetings are available.
- Annual Pesticide meeting every February at Wayne Community College
- ENCTA fund raiser golf tournament
- Family night baseball in July
- Annual Chapter golf tournament
- Coastal Cup Challenge with the Cape Fear Association