Eastern North Carolina Turfgrass Association

NEXT MEETING Tuesday May 18th Cutter Creek Golf Club Snow Hill, NC Host: Drew Ramsey 252-747-4653

Please call Southern Seeds by Thursday, May 13th at 1-800-682-1102 so we can make adequate accommodations.

As President of ENCTA I found myself wondering how did the Association first being, what was the main purpose of the association, who was involved with the creation, and what was a meeting like during the beginning.  So I starting asking people that been involved with the Association and I was lead to three people (Joel Johnson, Leon Lucas, John Mills) whom could recall the history of the Associations creation.

Here are some highlighted points of what it was like to be member during its first years of existence.

• The Eastern North Carolina Turfgrass Association was started in 1973
• President- Jake Pennel, Superintendent of Jacksonville Country Club
• Board Members:

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.
• Mission Statement for the ENCTA in 1973 and today;

“To educate the Golf Course Superintendent on golf Course Maintenance, and to improve the level of knowledge and image towards the profession. Dues were $25.00 a year, which covered educational meetings for the year.  If you stayed for the meal (which was usually a steak dinner) a $5.00 additional cost was required. There were six ENCTA meetings per year.  They all concentrated on education.  The meetings would start at 12:00 p.m. with a round of golf, cocktail hour at 5:30 p.m., and dinner at 6:30 p.m., 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 Eastern North Carolina Turfgrass Association was important to a turf grass 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 turf grass 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. Turf grass vendors in the area played a big part in spreading the word about the ENCTA to turf grass professionals across the area.  They were also big at the recruiting new potential members.

I hope this article educates and reminds some of our members of what it was like to be a member of the ENCTA in the beginning, and shows just how far the image and education of a Golf Course Superintendent and Turf Professional has come in 37 years which is the ENCTA mission statement.

Sincerely,

Drew Ramsey
President ENCTA

The Eastern Turfgrass Association is sad to inform the membership that Buddy Baker passed away Sunday morning, April 11, 2010. Buddy Baker was a member of the Association and well known thought out the Eastern part of the Carolinas. Buddy is remembered by his wife Shirley Baker and son Dean Baker CGCS Kinston Country Club. Buddy will be greatly missed in the Eastern Turfgrass Association.

Visitation will be Tuesday April 13th 3:00p.m. to 7:00p.m. at 4513 Frank Prince Church Road, Wilson, NC 27893

The funeral will be Wednesday, April 14^th at Evergreen Cemetery in Wilson NC. 2800 Nash Street N Wilson, NC 27896 at 2:00 pm.

Our prayers go out to the Baker family.

For additional information please call:

Richard Williams -252-560-0704

Anthony Whitehead- 252-290-0400

NEXT MEETING Thursday April 15th Greenville Country Club Greenville, NC Host: Chris Parham 252-378-5532

Please call Southern Seeds by Monday, April 12th at 1-800-682-1102 so we can make adequate accommodations.

Kids on the Green/ Give a Kid a Club

Kinston Country Club

Friday, April 16, 2010
9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.

Host: Dean Baker

Parrott Academy Science Olympiad will attend this event and experience what exactly a Golf Course Superintendent does and how he can protect the environment around the course. The ENCTA is urging all members to please attend and participate in the education and escorting of these students from station to station around the golf course. The afternoon session will consist of a lesson given by the Kinston Golf Professional to the kids explaining the game of golf. The students will then be able to hit different golf shot around the practice area. The Eastern North Carolina Turfgrass Association will also need volunteers to help monitor and instruct at the different stations. We know a full day would be hard to fit into your schedule, but if you could help in the morning or afternoon session it would be greatly appreciated. We need your help to make this field trip meaningful and worthwhile to these students.

For more information and if you can help please contact:
Drew Ramsey
252-717-6927

NEXT MEETING Thursday March 18th Cypress Landing Golf Club Chocowinity, NC Host: Stanley Elliott, CGCS 252-946-7788

Please call Southern Seeds by Monday, March 15th at 1-800-682-1102 so we can make adequate accommodations.

The ENCTA had its Fifth Annual Pesticide meeting on February 18th, 2010. The meeting included four hours of pesticide points and GCSAA credits. Rick Brandenburg, professor from North Carolina State University, started the morning off with educational updates on controlling certain pests in the Eastern part of North Carolina. Then, Lee Butler of the NC State Turf Diagnostics Lab came to talk to us on current diseases and new fungicides for Bentgrass and Ultradraft Bermuda grass. The ENCTA supplied the attendees with a great lunch and dessert to help get everyone through the day. Cindy Lauderdale, extension agent from Wilson County, came to talk about controlling weeds in landscapes and ornamental beds. Cindy was a new speaker for us and did a great job answering questions throughout her presentation. Then, we finished up the afternoon with Dennis Sheppard (representative from Syngenta) to talk about growth regulators and how they can help professionals in the industry grow better turf.

The Eastern North Carolina Turfgrass Association is very excited about the upcoming year with hopes of continuing to bring in speakers that will educate our membership and make them a better professional.

If you’re a Golf Course Superintendent in North or South Carolina, please remember to fill out your form Rounds 4 Research that will help our local research facilities. You can go to the Carolinas web site and download a Donation Form. There’s only a few weeks left.

I would like to say “Thank You” to all the vendors who have supported our association for many years and continue to support us in the difficult times.

Please remember the vendors who support our Association.

NEXT MEETING THURSDAY FEBRUARY 18th WAYNE COMMUNITY COLLEGE GOLDSBORO, NC HOST: ROB WOODS

Please call Southern Seeds by Monday, February 15th at
1-800-682-1102 so we can make adequate accommodations.

On be half of the ENCTA we would like to send our deepest regards to the Carter family. Danny Carter Superintendent of the Links Plantation Harbor passed away Friday, January 15th, 2010. Danny Cater died at the age of 45 years. He will be missed in our industry. If anyone has any questions please call Damon Libby at Star Hill Country Club.

Cutter Creek Golf Club
P.O. Box 7
Hookerton, NC 28538 December 11, 2009

Dear ENCTA Members:

The Eastern Turfgrass Association is wrapping up a great 2009 season and is in the planning period for 2010. We had our year-end meeting at Northgreen Country Club in Rocky Mount, NC on Thursday, December 3, 2008. We discussed year-end business and planned ideas for the 2010 season. We had three Board members to leave their positions. These individuals were very dedicated and provided great ideas and support to the Association. James Duke, who is the Head Fertilizer Salesman in the Turf Division for Halifax Fertilizer, was a Director. Roger Olmstead, Golf Course Superintendent of The Cardinal Golf Club, was also a Director. Finally, Richard Williams, Superintendent at Fallen Creek Golf Club, was a Director. These men served two-year terms and their time and hard work were very much appreciated. There are three new members who will serve two-year terms as Directors. These men are: Josh Stutts, Superintendent of The River in Bunn N.C., Stanley Elliott, Superintendent of Cypress Landing, and Bill Jones, owner of Southern Seed. Cale Cooke, our President for the past two years, is now stepping down and Drew Ramsey is the new President. The ENCTA also has a new Vice President, Richard Williams. We are very excited about the 2010 year and would like to thank these individuals for wanting to give their time to the association.

The ENCTA was also able to hand out its sixth honorary member award at the year-end meeting. Obbie Godette was given this prestigious award for all the years he has been a part of this industry that ranges well over thirty years. Obbie accumulated most of his years working at Cherry Point Golf Club in Havelock, North Carolina where he was the Golf Course Superintendent for over twenty years. Obbie then decided it was time for him to relax and retired in 2007. Obbie is among a long line of honorary members: John Hinton, Joel Johnson, John Mills, Ed Snow, Bill Sutton, and Max Weeks. The ENCTA is happy to put Obbie Godette with this company.

After conducting the business meeting, there was an opportunity to play a golf tournament at Northgreen Country Club. Cale Cooke had the golf course in great shape, and we thank Cale and his crew for their hospitality. The winners in the Net category are: first place- Bill Jones (67), second place- Roger Olmstead (67), and third place- Ben Peters (75). The winners in the Gross category are: first place- Brad Brooks (78), second place- Al Hunter (80), and third place- Chris Pearson (84). The winners in the Closest to the Pin category are: hole #4- Rob Wood, hole #8- Brad Brooks, hole #13- Drew Ramsey, and hole #15- Brad Brooks. We would like to show appreciation to the vendors who sponsored these prizes: Halifax Fertilizer, Best Sand and Gravel, Southern Seed, and Green Resource. The Association appreciates all members who came out to participate in this meeting and tournament. It was a great way to end our 2009 year.

Looking forward to 2010,
Drew Ramsey
President