All right, I'm Gonna start the Intro. Thank you. Welcome to against the grain. The official Everglades, golf, course, superintendent's, podcast. Your ultimate source for the latest chapter. News, exciting events and in-depth industry interviews right here in the heart of the Everglades.
Welcome back to against the Grand, the official Podcast of the Everglades Golf Course Superintendent Association. I'm Gabe, Yalla, your host along with Dave messy co-host. Dave, how are you.
I'm doing fantastic. Gabe, how are you.
Good. We have special guest here.
We do?
Wayne from the Gcsaa. Ralph, how are you.
I'm doing fantastic Gabe. Thanks for you and Dave for having me on the podcast. Tonight, I'm looking forward to it.
Thank you for coming on. You are a.
And out.
Tough guy to get a hold of busy.
Little bit. Things have gotten a little busier here lately.
Around. So why don't you tell a couple folks a little bit about yourself?
Well, former superintendent. For about 16 years. I was a superintendent, mostly in Southeast Florida, in the Palm Beach area, spent a little bit of time over in South Africa, working with Gary player at Sun City.
That was my 1st superintendent's position. Back in the early nineties we grew in the Lost City golf course over there, and then also redid the greens at the Gary Player Country Club and hosted the 1 million Dollar Golf Challenge, which at the time was a pretty big deal. It was a million dollar purse for the person that won a 14 man field, and at that time it was a big deal. Now. It's kind of eclipsed by the purses that they win now. But that was my 1st superintendent's job, and then I was spent
a lot of time at Myku Lakes Country Club, in West Palm Beach, and about 5 years at Sailfish Point Golf Club and Stewart, and then now I've been with the Gcsaa. I'm going. October will be 17 years with the Golf Course Superintendents Association.
Wow!
Wow! Wow! Congrats on that.
I know you're in South Africa.
Yeah, it's crazy that that's your second kind of gig out the gate. Your 1st superintendent gig.
Well, it was. It was pretty unique. I mean, obviously, it's unique, being in South Africa. But it was it was weird, because I started out at Pj. National. I worked for Greg Fennegar at Pj. National when I 1st came to Florida from Ohio State, and it was
I had a network at Pj. National because we had the 5 golf courses, and there was a lot of assistant superintendents and superintendents to to work with, and then to go to South Africa and really cut yourself off from everything it was it was you were gonna make it or not, and fortunately I made it, and still had contact with Greg quite a bit. And you know he helped guide me through a lot of the early decisions I had to make over there, and it was but it was a great opportunity. It really proved myself that I could do it on my own.
How old were you? Family? And everyone there? Yeah.
I wasn't. I had just gotten married. I was my 1st marriage. I had just gotten married, and I.
How's that conversation? Go? We're like, Hey.
Well, it was we.
We're gonna.
We just literally just got married. And and the idea was this, if I liked it, I would go over there for 2 years if I didn't like it then I was. I just come back. So it was kind of a an opportunity to go over there and visit the the facility and and see what it was like, and then
I did like it. So I spent most of 2 years over there, and just my wife came over for a while, but then her grandmother got ill, and so she came back to the United States, and so it was mostly on my own, which was a good thing, because I think in the time I was there I only took maybe a week off between construction and then renovation of the Greens, and it was just we had bent grass, greens and cuckoo grass fairways, so there was a lot of time you had to stay. It was like an Arizona climate
pretty much. And so we spent a lot of time hand syring and and trying to keep the bent grass alive in those conditions wasn't a lot of humidity, so there wasn't a lot of disease pressure, but it got hot, and probably the hottest I ever felt was like 1 19°F. And don't ask me to convert it to Celsius, because I don't remember how to do that anymore.
Yeah, right? Yeah. I'm glad you did. Yeah.
Gary, along.
I'm sorry.
Did you get to meet Gary player a lot.
Yes, I I did. I got to work with him, and it was make you do a bunch of push ups and everything, or what he'd be sad.
In shape.
Really upset to see me in the condition I'm in now. I was a lot more fit when I worked for him, so he didn't have to pick on me too much. If he saw me now he would be like, Oh, Ralphie, you've let yourself go.
Workout, ethic.
Oh, he's.
It's unbelievable.
He's crazy, I mean, what is? He's like? 83, 84 now, or maybe a little older, and still does all the stuff he does. I can't. I can't even.
Yeah, I looked that up.
Like? Is this guy like a Jack Lalanne.
Yes.
Okay.
But a great, great individual just really enjoyed working with him. And it was just a a phenomenal experience for myself.
That sounds so. How old were you when you went out there.
I was 24.
24. That's a crazy decision to make.
89 years old.
9. Now, wow, yeah.
9. Young wow.
Yes.
Is is, what do you? What do you consider when when that opportunity is presented of being like? All right, I'm 24. I just got married. I'm going to move halfway around the world potentially like, What do you are you like? Are you thinking anything? Is it just like, Hey, I'm just gonna take it, cause it's sounds awesome or.
It was just such a unique opportunity. And and and to and at that at that time, you know, there weren't a lot of Americans over in South Africa with the apartheid and everything. So it was. It was unusual to to be over there as an American. I met a few that worked on the design team. And so that was that was interesting. But you don't think of having an accent
until you're out of the country, and then we were staying. I was with the golf pro and his girlfriend, Paul Burley. Was this golf pro there? And we were out to dinner, waiting in line to go to dinner at a in a town just outside of the resort, and we were talking just like we are right now.
Yeah.
From about 4 or 5 people back comes up and says, Hey, you're an American, and I can't do a South African accent, but but.
Here.
An American, I'm like, well, how did you know that? And he goes from your accent? And so at that time it wasn't necessarily be the coolest thing to be an American in South Africa. So it kind of.
Yeah.
A little bit so. But but it was still just just a unique opportunity. And you know, just wouldn't trade it for the world.
Yeah, no, that's awesome to get an opportunity like that. So young because you don't have anything really holding you down.
Yeah.
To be able to jump and do that where I've realized as you get older, you're like, Yeah, I can't. I wish I could still do that. I can't do that anymore.
No, it wouldn't. It wouldn't have worked out. So it was the perfect opportunity. The timing was right, and.
Okay.
You know, like I said. Greg introduced me to a manager, a headhunter, and so I interviewed for the position here in the United States, and then, like I said it was if I liked it, I was going to stay there for 2 years. So that was kind of unique to just, you know, if I liked it. So how do you pack? For you know the opportunity that you might be there for 2 years, or you might just be there for a couple of days and come home.
Right, yeah.
So it was. It was. Everything was in flux, and it and.
Okay.
Couple up that with being just getting married. And yeah it was it was, and my family stayed a little bit after the wedding, and so I didn't have a whole lot of time with my 1st wife during that. Maybe that's maybe that was a sign.
Yeah.
So.
I didn't want to say it. But yeah, I mean it kind of yeah. The.
It'll work out.
Yeah, right? Yeah. So you came back. You worked some more superintendent gigs, and then.
Back. I worked at Myku Lakes from 93 to 2,000, or 93 to 90. No, it's 93 to 2,000. Then I spent a little bit of time up in Chicago. I worked for a management company up in Chicago. I was a superintendent over about 12 golf courses from Jackson, Michigan, up to Gurney Mills.
Oh, yeah. Yeah.
So so did that for a year. My my wife, now my forever wife, she the native floor.
Yeah, good. Good catch there. Not not saying like my current wife.
And then forever. So but she she's a native Floridian, and it was the worst winter in 90 years. And so it was like, Okay, we gotta get back done with that. Yeah.
The sailfish point job opened up and so we came back and she had the house packed up. I don't think I got the job offer, and I think I gave 2 weeks notice or 3 weeks notice, and it was wintertime. So it wasn't that big of a deal, and she had the house packed up, I think, in 2 days, ready to come back to Florida. So by herself, while I was working. So she's like, let's go home. So that's good.
And that's where you were, and then you transition through the Gcs. Double A or.
I know I actually went back to my queue lakes for a little bit. My my general manager, that I worked for the 1st time Jim Overly's he came back to to my queue. It seems like everybody goes back to my queue at least once, and at least while I was there
because the food and beverage director came back. The general manager came back. I came back, and so he just he felt comfortable with the team that he had, so we all kind of came back once he returned, and so I worked a couple more years there before I came to Gcsa. Then I had a brief brief period of time that I worked for John Deere Lesko. and up in the I work we had a we lived up on some property outside of Gainesville and
Archer Florida. So 20 acres up there lived up there and was working for John Dee or Lesko, and drove the truck through the villages and that area which was a unique experience. I it's a hard work. It's hard. It's much more hard work than what I thought it would be. And wasn't. I'm not necessarily a salesperson. So it was fortunate that I had the product there, and just kind of delivered it, and didn't have to really sell it. So.
Okay.
It was. It was good because I got to meet a lot of the people in North Florida that I didn't necessarily know from my time down in South Florida, which then opened up the opportunity to go to work for the Golf Course Superintendents Association. just having a broader, broader expanse of knowledge of the people in the State, and so I think that helped me out to get the position.
Okay, yeah. So kind of explain. For to me, because I don't know a whole lot about it is like, what does you as a rep. What do you do for the Gcsaa. And for Florida and and the rest of the region that you kind of cover now.
Yeah. Well, there's 9 of us across the country now. When I started I was the 1st in the field field staff we had Steve Randall, who oversees the program now he was working out of headquarters with Jim Cummins, and Jim is now in our sales team. But it was Jim and and Steve, you know, really servicing the whole country from from headquarters in Lawrence, Kansas. and from from there
They wanted to it was, it was kind of a long term, long time coming to to get to the point where we would have representatives in the field, and so the Board driven decision to have us out in the field. And so I was, Florida being as a biggest state in golf that we are, with over 1,200 golf courses that felt like the the appropriate place to start.
and so went through the interviewing process, which was pretty pretty intense, and I think I applied for the position in February or March, and didn't get it until October, and so it was lengthy.
Wow!
And so but went through the process and and then started in October of 2,008. And really, the the role is, you know, anybody that goes out to headquarters? It can instantly see
what Gcsa does for our members. You know. I mean, it's just there's 85 to 90 of us that are working diligently on behalf of our members, you know, to promote their careers and advance them, and and really serve our membership, and and that's what they do. You know, behind the scenes there's a lot of people that don't have facetime with the membership. But if you go to headquarters? Have either of you ever had an opportunity to get to headquarters.
I have no, no.
It's it's it's very impressive. And the people there I mean I I'm I'm honored to be a part of that team just because of the people that are there are just top notch individuals. And but but the idea is is by having us in the field. We we can bring the services and programs and an awareness to those programs to our memberships in our regions. And that's really what I do. I communicate what we've got going on at headquarters and what we're doing for our members programs like rounds for research
workforce development, our government affairs, what we work very closely with our Government affairs team, so that we keep everybody apprised of what's going on that might be impactful to our membership. And and really then communicating what's going on with the chapters in our region and our members back to headquarters so that we can. you know, get together and and solve any issues or come up with programs that might be even more beneficial.
Okay. Awesome.
Not true.
Right? Yeah. And like the workforce, like training and stuff like that, your development. What do you guys do with that? I know one thing that I've tried to do with Southern soils is there's a lot of grants that people don't know about, especially in the State of Florida.
That they will provide for free money for you to send people to get training to. If you hire somebody that doesn't have all the skills they'll pay for half their salary or up to half their salary while you get them trained to where they need to be. They'll also give you money to do training programs that to promote within your team or to help you find people and cover their salary while they're coming on is that kind of some of the stuff you guys do or.
Sort of. But but what really, what we're doing with our workforce development. Leanne, Cooper and Yasmin Etienne back at headquarters Cooper oversees the program. It's workforce development in the 1st screen. And I know you've heard of the 1st screen. I've talked about it. But as far as workforce development is concerned. We're working with groups like Ffa just recently Gcsaa and the Florida Golf Course Superintendent Association. We partnered up Ffa's 60 or 97th Annual Convention was in Orlando back in June.
and so we we had Booth space and had representatives like Jennifer, Bryan and Ryan, Swilley, Dustin Pletmans. Jason Ellis was there with us.
Okay.
And Nate Watkin, who's the outreach Shoot outreach manager? It's not manager. I'm not saying it right. But Nate Watkin, you know who he is, and so he's in charge. He's he's the outreach development for Fgcsa. But we were all there. Shalia Finney came in from headquarters. She spoke with Dustin Plemons to to a group of educated to educate them, and really just highlight that there are opportunities for
the Ffa students to to gain employment in the field of of golf course. Maintenance you know, might be as a irrigation technician or a chemical tech, or, you know, even assistant or foreman, or ultimately a superintendent. So. but so we create that awareness.
Yeah.
Yes.
I mean, it's a it's a challenge with with finding assistance and things. I mean, it's.
Oh, yeah.
Harder and harder every year. It seems like.
Exactly. And so the idea is. And there's in in the State of Florida there's over 65,000 students in Ffa.
They're really.
We've been working at the National level, Shalia and Shane Conroy, my counterpoint up in the Great Lakes. They've been the national Ffa conventions held in Indianapolis, and they've been going for several years there, and it's kind of you can see as it's picked up momentum. You know, the 1st couple of years. It was like, Oh, we don't know anything about the Gcsaa. And the golf industry to where now people are like. Oh, we're glad you're going to be here this year because
we wanted to talk to you about an opportunity. And the kids in the ffa are so polite and just so delightful to work with, and we had at the convention in Orlando in June. I want to say there was like 6,500 students there. Wow! So and that's a little more immediate.
Do you think that the next generation we're going to see a pickup on assistance and things? From what you're seeing at a younger age of people being more involved in the 1st T picking up and.
That's our hope. And it seemed, and there was there was interest. I mean, there were kids from up in the Panhandle I mean we had a lot of traffic through our booth in June, and there was. We weren't even on the marquee for the presentation that Shalia and Dustin gave, and there were still close to 50 to 55 kids that came in to listen to them talk. And it wasn't in the program anywhere it was. There was like a
a sign outside the room, and and and they still drew in. You know, 55 students for not really being advertised. It was a good turnout. Yeah.
I remember seeing that picture of the booth and everything.
Yes. so. But just just a great 3 days with the with the students. And like I said, they're so polite and just well mannered and and just a delight to to work with.
No, I mean, it makes sense, because I mean, you're you're growing a crop still, and it's just almost an alternative way to go, and not just the normal. Hey? I'm growing tomatoes. I'm growing strawberries, or whatever it is, down here, and it's kind of a unique way to stay in farming and pick up a couple other skills that you can. You can do. So yeah, we got to get more involved. Try to find, like the local chapters down here at the high schools and stuff.
Yeah. And then that's something that the Fgcsa has made a an effort to to be more involved. We went last year, was me Jennifer myself. We just went to observe it and realize, hey, this is just a wealth of a possibility for.
Yeah.
Please. So so we decided to do the booth this year and and up it up some. And we've got some other things in the works that we're hoping that just continue to to grow it every year and and get even more exposure for the industry.
That's awesome.
Oh!
That's important. There's so many people that have no idea it's even a career.
And then we.
Neighbors and their kids, and they're like, I have no clue that that's even like a job.
Yeah. Well, when I first, st when I 1st got in the industry, I'm a little older than you guys, but not as old as others. But I'm a little older than you all, and but when I say I was a superintendent, a golf Course superintendent, everybody automatically thought school systems, you know.
Yep.
What does that do? What do you? What do you do? And so you know, it seems like it's you don't have to explain it is, is, it's. It's not as difficult to explain what I do now than what it was 1st entered into. The industry.
Well, especially, I feel like in Florida, where you've like you said you've got 1,200 courses around. So I mean, it's kind of just a national pastime down here, and and everybody's kind of learned it, and just kind of grown up with it. And I feel like it's gone. It's changed because before people would think it's. It's not as complicated as it is now. not to diminish what it was before, but you're almost running your own company
as a superintendent. There's so much more involved than just keeping the grass green that people don't even understand. Sometimes of just balancing budgets, employees, your Hr. Your payroll, your you know all of that.
Exactly. And and you know it's the it's the the biggest asset at any facilities, the golf course. And so a lot of money in, and you got to be responding. You've got to wear so many hats as a superintendent, you know. It's, you know, accounting. And you know, understanding plants.
Science, yeah.
Clients. And just, you know. And psychologist half the time I mean, that's biggest thing is is the the people interaction that you have both with your employees and and the the membership. So it's yeah, it's definitely a business. So.
Oh, yeah, so what? What else do you kind of have going on like your kind of day to day doing for you? Because you're based out of where Daytona.
Yes, sir.
Okay. okay, so how how does that go now like, how do you are you gonna have to go to the Carolinas often.
And hit the other areas. And yeah, I remember when I 1st took over or started the position in 2,008, it was a pilot program. So there wasn't a real roadmap. You know it was. I mean, I had direction. This is what we want to do. This is what we want to see the position, you know, accomplish. But it wasn't. It wasn't like, Hey, you've got to do this, this, this and this.
Yeah.
So really what I did, and it was a little easier because I was a superintendent in Florida. I served on the Treasure coast board. I served on the State Board, and so I did have some connections, and, you know, got involved, you know, came over every year to the Poa, so I knew a lot of the guys in the Everglades chapter. And you know. Then, like, I said, working for John Deere Lesko, I expanded that that reference point a little bit more, and got to know some more people in North Florida. And so
but there wasn't a real roadmap. And so really, what I did is I looked at Joel Jackson was particularly helpful because he, at the time he was the executive director of the Fgcsa. And he and I met, and he really took me under his wing and and showed me, hey, these are these are the people you really need to get to know. And so then there was just a lot of outreach. Initially, it's like,
you know, all the I've reached out to all the chapter boards and and looked at the State calendar to try to find out what meetings and just really asked for. Hey, can I just have like 10 min to explain? What I'm doing with with Gcsaa. And you know what the role is. And I think people probably regret giving those 1st 10 min, because now those 10 min sometimes expand out to 1520 min. But
Right.
With my updates. But but no, it so really, it was just getting around and and explaining the program, and then really becoming the the
the face for Gcsa. In the State of Florida, so that if you had a question, I know there was as a superintendent, there are probably a lot of times that I might have a question, but had no idea who to reach out to at Gcsa. To answer that question. And so maybe it goes in the asked. And so so now, you know, on the daily, I'll get emails or phone calls and say, maybe it's just a renewing a membership.
or Hey, I want to. I want to pursue the Assistant Superintendent Certificate series, or the Emcp or the the certified Turf Grass equipment manager, program whatever it might be, and.
Bnps.
Yeah. Bmps, because I'm I'm very closely related with the Bmp program here in Florida. And so I get a lot of questions about that as well and and just, you know, or maybe it's something that government affairs question, and maybe I don't know the answer. But I can surely hook up with Hava Mckeel and Mike Lee, and you know the rest of the the government affairs team and and get that answer for them. So so that's really
it began to build some trust with the membership. And and I'll tell you. When I 1st started with Gcsa. I I would hear on occasion. What do I get from my membership? And it would be, oh, I just get a magazine, and that was like nails on the chocolate, Jimmy. There's so much more that you don't know. And I can say that in in the 16 plus years that I've been with Gcsa. I don't hear that question anymore. You know, people are there. All that we have to offer.
Yeah.
I've seen the improvement year after year, I mean, with the addition of the webinars and things that you offer, and just and and, Ralph, you're always there answering the phone. I mean, anytime. I got a question. I mean, you're you're right there on it.
Well, I well, thank you. I try. I try to be, and and you know you. You kind of balance out being on the road and being available. But with with phones. And and we I don't know if you guys noticed. But on Monday we would launch the the new Gcsa website. I don't know if you've been on it yet, but.
No.
It's it's it's more mobile, friendly now, and.
Okay.
I think it's you don't have to drop as many breadcrumbs to find where you want to go and get back to it as we did with the old. Like.
In my language here. Now, yeah.
So I thought you'd be interested in that, Dave.
Yeah.
So, but it's pretty slick. I I like it. They put a lot of effort into that at headquarters, and I I think you'll see that it's an improved interface and and mobile on the Mobile.
Scaling and everything. Yeah.
Yes, so much improved.
Alright. We can spend 45 min just talking about this, and well, that was my go to in case.
Thing to talk about, we would just jump into the website. So.
It was gonna be like, can you chastise Gabe about not having a facility? Bmp.
Here we go!
Oh!
We need to do that.
I know.
So.
Guy.
And I will say, Josh Tapp is the new director of the environmental programs at Gcsa. And he works with and I'm struggling with names all of a sudden. I hope you can edit this.
We'll insert here. I'll make a timestamp.
But Josh Tapp is the the new director of environmental programs. Emily Fuger is a senior manager, and they're they've worked tirelessly and and again with the it team to to make the interface, to to adopt the facility manuals is gonna be much easier coming up in the future. We're, we're, we're trying to make that a lot easier to.
They already exist. That Gabe your manuals online on on the website. And it's just a matter of going in there and and making some edits. And we're gonna make that a little more seamless so that you can.
Okay.
So.
And you don't even really have to make edits right like you could like, just get the manual.
Yes, and it's based off the floor to Bmps, right? It was everybody's state. Bmp, so if you were in the Carolinas or Georgia, it would be specific to those States. Then you can go in there, maybe change the cover photo. So that's maybe your signature hole at your golf course and and then just go through. And maybe some of the things that aren't pertinent to your facility, and maybe some, maybe you have some additional ones. And so you can easily go in there and and edit out what doesn't apply, and add in what? What does apply? So
so yeah, so we're excited about the changes that are coming with that, and I think it'll it'll be a much improved opportunity for for individuals to to adopt that facility. Bmp.
Good good. Just send me your login. If if if it's really a problem, anybody listening, just send me your login, I'll go in. I'll call you.
Percentage.
Together.
Of Bmp facilities. Do you know.
I would be making up a number if I tried to guess. It's not where we want it to be, but it's it's improving, and some of my counterparts out West have done a really good job. Jeff Jensen and Dave Phipps. Jeff's in the southwest region, and Dave Phipps is in the Northwest, and they've conducted classes, and we've tried to do that here in Florida where we invite people to bring their laptops. We've actually done it. I want to say we did it.
not during the Poa, but during the State meetings at Longboat Key a couple years ago we invited people to come in with their laptops, and Dr. Unruh and myself kind of walked them through the processes of adopting the facility Bmps and guys show up, and they don't have their laptops, so it makes it a little difficult. But so we're working on that. But my counterparts have done a really good job out West to get people to adopt the facility manuals. And
so we're we're we're working on it. And it's it's improving. And like, I said, with the with the advancements in the in the program. It'll it'll be well received.
Okay, awesome. I look forward to seeing those and anything we can do to help. Well, I mean me. Gabe's not really much of a help here. Anything I can do to help get, you know, more people to get their facility Bmps or anything. Let us know.
Absolutely.
On board for that.
Yeah, and even getting Bnp certified in Florida. We we need to drop that as well, I mean, when we go up to Tallahassee, and we tout that. We've got this Bmp certification program, which I think is the only one in the country. I think we're the only state that has a certification program. It's just, you know, we we have to say, well, we've we've increased from year over year by 6%, because the numbers are low, and we really need to get those up and.
Yeah.
Now with House Bill 967 being passed in 2022, and being signed by Governor Desantis. You know it's important. And there's a reason now to have that Bnp certification, because, you know, places like Miami-dade in Orange County, up in the Orlando area. You have to be Bnp. Certified to avoid those blackout periods.
Right? So which you and I talked about this before is I don't understand how those 2 counties don't have a hundred percent. Certification, because no, because they're blacked out at certain times. If they don't.
Yeah, it's it's a. It's a headset.
Yeah.
They're like, Oh.
County should be a hundred percent.
Although I will say the Central Florida chapter is doing a really good job. The last 3 years they've offered free Bmp. Certification had great attendance at the event. And so they've they've really increased the number of certified superintendents as far as the Bmps are concerned. So and yeah, Miami-dade, I'm I'm we. We still have some work to do. There.
We should just start sending postcards to general managers that just say they're out of compliance. And be like, hey? Your superintendent's out of compliance. You need to get this fixed now.
Yeah, we won't do that. Get anybody in any trouble. Oh, no.
No, come on, let's call. Let's start calling out names.
Let's get the.
Sponsored by.
Southern soils. Yeah.
Put that on the bottom of the letter. That's right.
No, that's good. Yeah, we definitely need to try to get more people certified as much as possible.
And having the online offering. Now that that was something that was asked for for several years.
Right.
University of Florida. Dru's got that going, and that's that's a good way to do it. And then we're trying to do more in person training as well. I think the in-person training is a little more well received because it just
I like it better. Personally, yeah.
Yeah.
But it's great education, I mean, if you haven't sat through it. It's great education, and you know it's ceus and pesticide ceus and right. You can't beat that.
Yeah. Yeah. And if you don't remember, if you're certified or not, you can email like Dr. Unruh or Ralph, you know, I'm sure. And they can find out if you know if and when your certification expired, or what your status is, and send it to you.
Or don't worry, they will send a letter to your GM.
There will be stuff in the mail.
Good for 4 years, too. So once you've taken it, it's a 4 year certification and.
Right, and that's where it's it's easy to forget, because, after you know, 4 years go by, there's there's a lot that happens. Sure the the key, I would say, is, when you go to take the test, use your personal email, not your course email in case you switch courses or switch positions. And you don't have that email anymore. You're not going to get reminders. You're not going to know if it's if it's expired or not. So always just use your personal one.
That's good. That's a good tip there, for sure.
Yeah.
I thought that.
Wow!
Double a had information on their your, my.
Are you? Gonna are you gonna do your facility? Bmp, while we're on the podcast I'm already halfway done. Man, I knew shaming. You eventually would make it happen.
Know the it's something on here I'm looking at now where it showed like your at least your pesticide license. I thought. I don't see it anymore.
On our site.
Yeah, on your site.
I don't know if it would if we'd had the Bmp certification. Because that's a state specific. I I maybe that's a Fgcsa website.
Maybe that's what I'm getting mistaken with. But. Thought used to be there. I know our web.
And I know Dr. Andrew's got the ability to track it, and so.
Yeah, yeah.
And that's 1 of the things people might call me, because they know I'm involved with it. And then I can get that information from Dru and relay it back. That's a frequent question. I get okay. So.
So what are some of the other government initiatives that are kind of in the works for Florida? I remember hearing one about like Hsa. Accounts, and being able to use some of that money for.
Oh, the fact that yeah.
And what kind of other stuff is? Are you guys working on right now?
Well, we're still working on the getting golf out of the the sin industry conditions for.
All right.
Disaster relief. And that's really our national golf day. I think we've 2,007 was the 1st national golf day, and it was based on being lumped in with massage parlors and tanning salons and other other industries. It doesn't make sense that we're in with. But after Katrina, New Orleans.
And so when we found out that that's what we were lumped in is under the tax code with those. And so really was the big impetus behind that that started up national golf day. And so so that's that's 1 for sure. H. 2 B visa program is still one.
Yep.
That we push for she's constantly battling for, you know. Pesticides to keep those in the tool chest for our superintendent members and you know we had chlorth was one that was under review, and and we had a good letter writing campaign that helped helped keep that in our arsenal.
And acifate, too. Right?
Acifate was one Ron Star, and was another one. So now we can, at least because we weren't gonna have Ron Star at all, and now we can at least use it on on fairways. And and we've got some some allowances for for the use of Ron Star, so
so that those are the big things that you know we we constantly deal with. And you know, labor, you know, that's, you know, just, you know, trying to make sure that we have the sufficient number of employees that you could do to that you need to run the facilities so.
Think that goes back to what you were saying before, how people used to tell you like, well, what? Why do I need to be a member just for the free magazine and all that right, that they're not realizing like you're doing this stuff behind the scenes a lot of times, right?
There's so.
Why, that Ron star. It's like you can kind of thank the Gcs to play for that. Right? Yeah.
Helping you guys out. So I mean, and it's I mean, we've got a team of 3 individuals and 3 individuals right now and then usually there's an intern in the government affairs team, and that's all they do is is work. You have to to make sure that that you know, whatever it might be. You know neonicotinoids and and issues with that. You know, we we battled
for like I said, chlorothalanil you know. Just you name it. I mean, we're because things are getting reviewed on a regular basis. And you know, just having a an understanding of what goes into the endangered species act. And and how that impacts. So it's just it's we stay busy. There's no downtime. So.
Yeah, yeah, for as much as people think you, don't you? You definitely do. Are vendors able to go to like national golf day.
Yes.
I was because I would love to to go to one of those. I've had fun doing some of that stuff in the past.
Yeah, I yeah, for sure, you could participate in that. And we have a really good contention that goes from Florida every year. I think we had. I was up. We rotate in and out as as field staff representatives. Yeah, just every it works out to be. About every 3rd year we attend national golf day, just to give everybody an opportunity to to participate in it. And this year I think we had
28 individuals from Florida that went up there for for national golf day. And then we had. We had over 200 and over 250 individuals from around the country.
Nice.
To going up there and then we do the obviously we do the the community service projects up there with the usually on the National Mall this year. We helped out on 2 golf courses that needed some assistance, and had ties with with the with the Superintendent Association. So
yeah, just just a lot of neat work. And it, those are those are great interactions with our legislative or elected officials, because a lot of them don't necessarily understand everything that goes and gets involved in maintaining a golf course, and how important it is that we we have the tools in our, in our, in our toolbox to to maintain it, and and all the benefits of the golf course, you know, from a you know, environmental standpoint, you know.
Right.
The stewardship that's involved to create these natural areas for wildlife.
Absolutely.
You know it. Just it. I can. I'm rambling on. I apologize. No, no, no, it's good cause. If it weren't for the golf course, what would be there would be a development that you wouldn't have any of that natural environment for any of the wildlife. That's there. Yeah.
So I mean, just think, just think of the heat that that the air conditioning that it provides for I mean, you look at Naples, and there's no, there's no real parks in there. But you've got all those golf courses down there, and think of all the wildlife habitat and the the heat, repression that that creates, and the.
Oh, yeah.
The the flushing of of rainwater and any pollutants through the root zone. I mean, it's it's crazy.
How they use actually golf courses for stormwater, you know.
Exactly. Yep. I was.
Versus running off and down in your ocean.
I was coming back from Lawrence one time on a flight, and there was a magazine, and it was about golf courses in Palm Beach County, and just how how expansive it was. And if you, if you think about Collier County and Palm Beach County, you know all the golf that's in those areas. But but the the magazine said that if you took, if you the article, read that if you took all the Fairways in Palm Beach County. It would extend from Palm Beach to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, so.
Wow!
So think about all the all the benefits of those those fairways.
Yeah.
The turf. So yeah. if you took Collier County and Palm Beach County probably go all the way up to Maine.
Yeah, cause there's over a hundred courses just in Collier County.
Yes, so.
So that's crazy. I'd be remiss if I didn't talk to you about the the Centennial event that's coming up. Yes. Can you? Can you tell us a little bit about that, and and what's kind of planned. And with the show being in Orlando this year is kind of kickoff. Yeah.
Yeah, yeah. Kick off in Orlando. We're excited about some some of the things that are going on that little kick off in in Orlando at the the Conference and Trade show in 2026 you know you're right there in your own backyard. Darren Davis is the chair of the Centennial Committee. He he's
working diligently on that for the last couple of years. And so we've got some really neat things planned throughout 2026, and you know, just for a little bit of history. Colonel John Morley was the greenskeeper at Youngstown Country Club, which is where I'm from in Ohio was actually offered that job coming out of school as an assistant. The anticipation was that I would take the job and then become the superintendent the next year, and I was like, Oh, I'm not ready for that. And so I ended up coming to Florida.
You were ready to go to South Africa.
Which is crazy. A year later I was in South Africa. So but but anyways, John Morley, Colonel John Morley founded the Golf Course Superintendent Association at Sylvania Country Club in
Toledo, Ohio area, and that was in September 13, th 1926. So September 13th will actually be the 100th year for Gcsaa. But we're gonna have some really unique things at the Conference and trade show at the opening ceremony on that Monday, and then throughout the year, just some, some unique events that are planned. And and to be honest with you, Darren, would be more informative on all that.
Yeah, we need, yeah, we're planning him. Yeah.
We should call him up and get him on, and he can talk about the Centennial. But but no, it's it's it's gonna be a great year we're doing some things at headquarters. It'll be conjunction with. I think our delegates meeting. We're gonna do some things, and I think there's gonna be a I'm not sure what all I can say. So.
And he.
But but there's there's there's some really cool things, and and we're gonna look for some support from the chapters to, you know, to help help with some of those things. And and but it's gonna be it's gonna be a great year. And and rightfully so, 100 years is a big milestone I know. I want to say the 75th anniversary being September 13, th and that was 2,001. So that kind of got put a little damper on that.
Yeah.
Some other things were going on, so that didn't have the pizzazz that we were hoping for and understandably so. But but so, yeah. So we're we're, we're putting a lot of effort into making this a really special year.
I'm just happy. It's back in Orlando.
Yes.
I know right. Yep.
No, Orlando is always a high watermark for us, too, because a lot of people like to travel from around the country and bring their families and and.
Oh, certainly!
Taking, the.
Yeah.
Amusement parks and attractions in Orlando. And so we usually do really well. And I think I think with it being the Centennial, I think we're gonna have a really just a fantastic showing at at this conference and trade show.
I know I was kind of hoping that they would have rented out like the new epic Universe Park, or something like that.
What about?
Apparently I found out that they don't. For the 1st year they're not doing any buyouts, and I was like, Oh, man. my dreams are squashed.
Well, the dues might be up if that happened.
Yeah.
Maybe I'll just take you there individually, and you can, Daniel.
So yeah. I'm all for that, I guess, as we're wrapping up here, what else anything else you want to talk about and plug or.
Yeah, just I I know we talked a little bit before we went on air here. But you know, my region has recently. Well, we we've we've we've modified the regions for the field staff recently, and my region has been impacted by that. And I'm excited to to be working now with not just Florida, but also the Caribbean and Georgia and the Carolinas Associations, and we just recently hired a new Southeast regional representative.
Ron Prescott from the Pensacola area, and he's gonna oversee the Florida, Panhandle and Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Kentucky.
So, yeah, that. And you get the Caribbean.
Yeah.
Right? Yeah, yeah. Did I hear you correctly?
Did.
Right. I was like, how long, how often are you planning trips right now, like I've got to get down there. I've got to.
Well, I've actually kind of been unofficially doing that for the last couple of years. I was down the Agro open last year. That's a great event, too. By the way, the Agro up have you been to that, Dave?
No.
Yeah, it was in Puerto Rico last year, and I think it's every year it's in Puerto Rico. But it's it's just they bring everybody from around the islands, and and they they gather there at that event, and it's really well attended. And they had a great speaking group, and I don't. I was. I just reached out to find out what the date is for it this year, and it was in October last year, so we'll see it. I'll pass that information on to you, because I know.
Yeah.
Spent some time. I did listen to one of your Podcasts, and I think you were in the Dominican Republic.
I was, I was at teeth of the dog. Yeah.
Okay. So see, I do listen. So.
Yeah, yeah, you do. Homework. I.
But yes, but I am excited about the opportunity. You know. There's a lot of similarities between Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas. They're all really highly effective chapters, and, you know, met with Tim Krieger and the staff up there in the Carolinas a couple of weeks ago, and I'm excited about that opportunity. And then, Tim, I've already done a couple of things with him, Bnp. Related at Tim hires. Place up there
they. They had a meeting where they brought in superintendents from Florida and Georgia. And so I was invited by Tim to participate in that. And so yeah, just
really excited. And looking forward to the opportunity to again increase my ability to to communicate with even more members and and get the good word about Gcsa. Out to everybody. I mean, those those chapters know they've already got relationships with Gcsa, so it's not gonna be Earth shattering. But but just gonna be a good time to work with those people.
Oh, very good! And congratulations again on the the new position or on the expanded position, I guess. Yeah.
Yes. Yeah.
Yeah.
Yes.
Ron's Ron's, also a former superintendent, right like he.
Yeah, he was. He's recently he was. He was a superintendent at A/C. Reed. The.
Yep.
The military golf course right there in Pensacola. He was, I want to say, 11 or 13 years there as a superintendent, past president of the Gulf Coast chapter. So I've I've known Ron through my involvement because the Gulf Coast chapter was part of my region Prior and Ron's Ron's gonna be a great fit and a good at an asset for the for the team. I'm looking forward to him. He starts at the end of this month, so.
Okay. Awesome.
Exciting for him.
Very good, very good, Gabe. Anything we need to plug any events we want to talk about, or anything.
Nothing really other than the joint meeting.
When when's that coming up here? September.
That is, September 26.th
Okay, it's accommodity 26, Crown Colony.
You gonna be there dan real? Yeah. Sorry.
My wife calls me James. So that's yeah. That's.
Edit that out now. Ralph, it's been a pleasure. I appreciate it.
Well, I really appreciate the opportunity to get together with you guys tonight. Speak about things that I'm passionate about. So thank you.
Thank you for everything you do appreciate it. Thank you for listening to against the grain. Stay connected by following us on Facebook and Twitter, and don't forget to download the official Egcsa app for an enhanced member. Experience.