Eastern North Carolina Turfgrass Association

Dear Members,

I’m sure there are many members wondering what the reason was for the
postponed date for the ENCTA meeting this past Monday and why the
decision was made at the last minute. These are certainly good questions
to ask and answers you should know.

The year-end meeting is an important meeting where the ENCTA Board of
Directors can inform members on how the Association has faired over the
course of the year.  It is also a time to honor past board members and
introduce new board members.  Also, the year-end meeting historically
held the ENCTA Golf Championship, where members enjoy a tournament style
format, and opportunities to win prize money in the host’s Pro Shop.
The winners of the Gross and Net scoring formats are also awarded
plaques for their winning scores.

With all this being said, and this past weekend’s weather forecast
began to become more predicable for Monday, December 5, 2010 (Sunday
Temp low 23- Monday High 37 – strong winds), it was apparent that there
was going to be little, to no participation in the golf tournament.
Also, there would have been no guarantees that the golf course could
have been open for play, due to the potential of frozen greens.  The
board felt it was in the best interest of the entire association to
reschedule the meeting to where we may have a better opportunity to
conduct the 2010 Business Meeting and have the Championship Golf
Tournament all in the same day.

I have no idea what the future for December 20, 2010 holds in regards
to weather. That being said we will have the meeting on this date.
Hopefully, this will also be a better weather day than December 6, 2010.

I’m sincerely sorry for any inconvenience anyone may have incurred
with the sudden change in date. I hope to see you all on Monday,
December 20, 2010.

Drew Ramsey
ENCTA President

NEXT MEETING Monday, December 20th The Carolina Colours New Bern, NC Host: Brad Brooks

Please call Southern Seeds by Wednesday, December 1st at 1-800-682-1102, so we can make adequate accommodations.

The Eastern NCTA decided the past fall to incorporate a scholarship for children or grandchildren of members of the association. This scholarship is named for the leadership and dedication that the late Bill Sutton gave the Eastern NCTA for many years. We had four people apply and their applications were reviewed by a professional familiar with scholarships before a decision was made. The Eastern NCTA is pleased to announce the $1,500 scholarship winner for 2010 year is Tony Whitehead. Tony is the son of long-time Eastern NCTA member Anthony Whitehead.

Tony graduated from Greenfield School in Wilson, NC in 2007. While at Greenfield School, he was a member of the National Honor Society, SAVE club and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He received a citizenship award for outstanding conduct and leadership. He was on the headmaster’s list. He played baseball and was the team captain. He was all-conference for four years and all-state for three years. He was also named basketball MVP while attending Greenfield.

Tony has attended North Carolina Wesleyan College in Rocky Mount, NC since August, 2007 and is transferring to East Carolina University. He is majoring in political science and English. He was in the National Honor Society and the secretary-treasurer in the Political Science Club. He played on the baseball team and was academic all-conference, while his baseball team won the regular season championship his freshman year and the conference tournament his sophomore year.

Tony has worked several jobs while attending high school and college. He has worked for the City of Wilson in the Parks and Recreation Department, the maintenance department at Greenfield School and as a bagger at Food Lion.

Tony wrote an essay about his work ethic as part of the scholarship application process. In this essay, he thanked his grandfather, Randolph Whitehead, for providing him so many examples of hard work. Tony provided many examples of hard work his grandfather has shown. He summarized his essay by stating, “Having a strong work ethic is essential to being successful in life, because nothing in life comes easy.”

The Eastern NCTA would again like to congratulate Tony. We send him best wishes and good luck as he continues his education at East Carolina University in August 2010.

NEXT MEETING Thursday September 16th WEDGEWOOD GOLF COURSE Wilson, NC Host: CHARLIE BOYKIN

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

NEXT MEETING Thursday June 24th Morehead City Country Club Morehead City, NC Host: Brian Green (252) 726-4917

Please call Southern Seeds by Monday, June 21st at 1-800-682-1102 so we can make adequate accommodations.

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