Detroit District History

Greater Detroit Golf Course Superintendents Association (GDGCSA)

Written By William Smith and Clarence Wolfrom

Organized in the spring of 1925 with 15 members, the Michigan and Border Cities Greenkeepers Association, as it was then known, was actually planned in the fall of 1924 at a meeting held at the Hotel Normandy on lower Woodward Avenue. The association covered all of Michigan and the border cities of Ontario.

The Association was organized, chartered and operating the following spring with Herbert Shave as its first President. The charter members were as follows: Herbert Shave, Oakland Hills Golf Club, President; Alex McPherson, Detroit Golf Club, Vice-President; Hiram Godwin, Redford Golf Club, Secretary/Treasurer; John Gray, Essex Golf Club; Harry Cartwright, Country Club of Detroit; Ruben Scott, Detroit Municipal Courses; and Willy Smith, Red Run Golf Club. On average 12 meetings were held per year.

That same year about twenty more members joined the Association from the Detroit District, and the Association received the recognition and support of the Detroit District Golf Association, and the Michigan State Agriculture Department. By 1931 the membership, which consisted of greenkeepers and greenkeepers’ assistants increased to over 40.

This was the period when the National Greenkeepers’ Association (now knows as the GCSAA) was organizing, with John Morley as it’s first President.

The Association was host to the National Golf Course Association Turf Conference and Equipment Show three times in 1928, 1941 and 1948. Our Association also helped inaugurate the Turf Conference at Michigan State University in 1930 and the Michigan Turf Foundation in 1957.

A lot of credit for what we enjoyed for 83 years – our beloved Greater Detroit Golf Course Superintendents Association, should go to our Past Presidents: Herb Shave, William Smith, John Gray, Ruben Scott, Clarence Wolfrom, Ward Cornwell, George Prieskorn, Stanley Hill, Bill Mine and Lee Johnson. Also, the secretary/treasurers who have served the Association during this same era included: Hiram Godwin, Bill Smith, Ruben Scott, Dave Kennedy, Ward Cornwell, Dick Sincerbeau, Andy Bertoni, William Milne, Bob Fauteck and Connie Scharde.

More pages from the Border Cities with thanks to Mr. Marvin Dominick.

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GDGCSA Articles of Incorporation

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Western District History

Western Michigan GCSA History

By: John Fulling, CGCS and MiGCSA President 2008

 The “Western Michigan Turf Association” was founded in 1938 to serve its members needs through communication, fellowship and continuing education. The WMTA’s geographic region stretched from Jackson west to the Lakeshore and from Cadillac south all the way to the state line.

The association was incorporated on August 23, 1963. The original founders were L.L. Anderson, George W. Field, William C. Miller, Arthur M. Young, L.E. Dustin, George Graber, Robert G. Spoelma, Alexander Wilson, Joel C. Case, Joseph Feringa, Harold Peck, Roy Peck, Donald A. Ross, Leslie L. Peck, Robert E.L. Ellis, Carl Andre, W. Bruce Matthews and Kyran Mitchelson.

The Association officially changed its name to the Western Michigan Golf Course Superintendent’s Association on May 10, 1966 at the urging of Norm Kramer, then superintendent at The Point O’ Woods Country Club, who had just been elected director of the Golf Course Superintendent’s Association of America. Norm Kramer went on to be west Michigan’s first and only GCSAA President in 1970.

 Our earliest records begin at a regular meeting on October 1, 1963. At the time the Board Consisted of :

President:                George Graber

Vice President          Bob Spoelma

Sec / Treas                Clare Ferguson

Directors                    Joel Case

                                     Darl Scott

                                     David Heiss

                                     Harold Peck

                                    Don Rose

Past President          Roy Peck

The meeting was held at the Anchor Inn on Gull Lake and hosted by Darl Scott who, after the meeting gave the 47 members in attendance a tour of his new Gull Lake View Golf Course.

We would love to have any records that date before 1963. If anyone has an idea where some may be, please let us know.

Since the renaming of the Association in 1966 the WMGCSA grew to many times it’s size and at it’s peak had more than 300 members. The mission had never changed and remains the same today!

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Mid District History

The Mid-Michigan Turf Association (MMTA) was established in 1980 with the objective of advancing the art and science of turf management along with collecting and disseminating practical and scientific knowledge of problems associated with turf and landscape management. The MMTA was a chapter of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) for 27 years and supported the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation (MTF) by hosting an annual fundraiser in which all proceeds were donated to the MTF. The MMTA held a geographical area that covered Flint, Saginaw, Bay City, Midland, Port Huron and the entire thumb of Michigan. The first president of the MMTA, Gerald Faubel CGCS, was elected president of the GCSAA in 1990.

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C.H. Wolfrom Classic Champion

Clarence Wolfrom was a pioneer in our industry. Starting in 1936, he served on the Board of Directors for 25 consecutive years, with four of those as President and 53 years as Superintendent at Maple Lane Golf Club.

1980……………………………………………………. Gene Johanningsmeier

1981……………………………………………………………… Jim Timmerman

1982……………………………………. Craig Roggeman and Roy Szyndlar

1983…………………………………………………… Gene Johanningsmeier

1984……………………………………………………………………. Tom Mason

1985………………………………………………………………………. Kurt Kraly

1986…………………………………… Jeff Blackett and Gene Johanningsmeier

1987………………………………………………………………………. Jim Vlassis

1988……………………………………………………………………. Jay Delcamp

1989……………………………………………………………………. Jim Koziatek

1990……………………………………………………………. George Prieskorn

1991……………………………………………………………………. Roy Szyndlar

1992………………………………………………………………. Marc McMullen

1993………………………………………………………………………. Dale Bauer

1994………………………………………………………………………….. Jim Hyde

1995………………………………………………………………. John Shannahan

1996……………………………………………………………………….. Don Fields

1997……………………………………………………………………. Scott Buzzell

1998…………………………………………………………………….. Jay Eccleton

1999………………………………………………………. Dan Johanningsmeier

2000………………………………………………………………………… Don Fields

2001………………………………………………………………………… Don Fields

2002……………………………………………………………………… Doug Mozal

2003…………………………………………………………….. Jerry Prieskorn, Jr.

2004…………………………………………………………………………………. ?

2005…………………………………………………………………………………. ?

2006…………………………………………………………………………………. ?

2007…………………………………………………………………………………. ?

2008…………………………………………………………………………………. ?

Annual Superintendent’s Champion

1984……………………………………………………………………………….. ?

1985……………………………………………………………………. Charlie Gaige

1986……………………………………………………………………………….. ?

1987……………………………………………………………………. Earl Prieskorn

1988…………………………………………………………………. Douglas Melton

1989………………………………………………………………….. Gary Thommes

1990………………………………………………………………. Carey Mitchelson

1991……………………………………………………………… Carey Mitchelson

1992……………………………………………………………… Carey Mitchelson

1993……………………………………………………………………… Mark Policht

1994……………………………………………………………………… Mark Policht

1995…………………………………………………………………….. Mark Policht

1996………………………………………………………………………… Mike Fouty

1997………………………………………………………………………… Mike Fouty

1998………………………………………………………………………… Colby Pace

1999………………………………………………………………………… Mike Fouty

2000…………………………………………………………………. James W. Higgs

2001……………………………………………………………….. Aaron McMaster

2002………………………………………………………………………… Mike Fouty

2003………………………………………………………………………… Mike Fouty

John Walter Award

Given to the best written article by a superintendent in A Patch of Green. The purpose of the award is to encourage superintendents to write and perhaps win $100 and a plaque for their efforts. John Walter was a Detroit News sportswriter for 45 years before retiring in 1975. He died in 1977. He was the golf writer for nearly four decades with hard work and thoroughness as his trademark.

1985………………………………………………………………… Ken De Busscher

1986…………………………………………………………………… Clem Wolfrom

1991…………………………………………………………………… Kevin Dushane

1993…………………………………………………………………….. Steve Rebhan

1996……………………………………………………………………….. Mike Jones

1997…………………………………………………………………. Bob McMurray

1998……………………………………………………………………….. Tom Mason

1999………………………………………………………………………. Tavis Horton

2002…………………………………………………………………………… Jim Keller

G.D.G.C.S.A. Scholarship Winners

Given to a 2-year turfgrass student

1996……………………………………………………………………… Perry Mundy

1997………………………………………………………….. Matthew Haberkorn

1998………………………………………………………………………… Denis Cook

1999…………………………………………………………………………… Troy Rice

2000………………………………………………………………………. Felix Melgar

2001…………………………………………………………………………. Greg Matz

2002………………………………………………………………………… Adam Ikamas

2003…………………………………………………………………….. Scott Hillyard

2004…………………………………………………………………. Corey Risedorph

2004………………………………………………………………………. Kevin Wilson

2005…………………………………………………………………….. Trever Thorpe

Given to a 4-year turfgrass student

1990………………………………………………………………….. Darin Lickfeldt

1991…………………………………………………………………. Michael Fisher

1992………………………………………………………………… Thomas Nikolai

1993………………………………………………………………….. Robert Travers

1994……………………………………………………………………… Dean Mowry

1995……………………………………………………………….. Michael Mulkey

1996………………………………………………………………………. Jay Eccleton

1997…………………………………………………………………….. Eric Sowatsky

1998…………………………………………………………………… Andrew Keilen

1999…………………………………………………………………….. Not Awarded

2000……………………………………………………………………… Marc McCoy

2001…………………………………………………………………….. Not Awarded

2002…………………………………………………………… Daniel L. Meersman

2003……………………………………………………………………… Not Awarded

2004……………………………………………………………………… Not Awarded

2005………………………………………………………………… Timothy Schmidt

G.D.G.C.S.A Distinguished Service Award

Given to a person or persons who made notable contributions for the advancement of the GDGCSA and the Turfgrass industry.

1987………………………………………………………………… Clem Wolfrom

1988…………………………………………………………………… Andy Bertoni

1989…………………………………………………………………….Ted Woehrle

1990………………………………………………………………….. Bob Prieskorn

1991………………………………………………………………. Jim Timmerman

1992…………………………………………………………………… Not Awarded

1993……………………………………………………………………… Fritz Adams

1994…………………………………………………………….. George Prieskorn

1995…………………………………………………………………. Dr. Paul Rieke

1996……………………………………………………………. Dr. Joseph Vargas

1997…………………………………………………………………… Not Awarded

1998…………………………………………………………………. Ward Swanson

2002…………………………………………………………… James McGuire, Sr.

2003……………………………………………………………. Donald R. Benham

2008……………………………………………………………………… Tom Mason

Northern District History

At Michigan State University in the late 1960's, Dr. James Beard decided to compare turfgrass management being studied on the heavier soils in downstate Michigan with turfgrass management on the sandier soils of Northern Michigan. Dr. Beard's research in the north began by establishing test plots at the Traverse City Country Club. As Dr. Beard began to accumulate results from those- test plots, he organized a field day at the Traverse City Country Club in addition to the annual field day at Michigan State University in order to share his research in Northern Michigan. News of the Northern Michigan Field day spread rapidly and generated a great deal of interest among Northern Michigan Superintendents and golf course owners. To view the letter from Dr. Beard on some of the history of the Northern Field Day you can click here.

Instrumental in initiating this pioneer educational event in Northern Michigan was Mike Thomas, the cooperative extension agent for Leelanau County. Thomas had received a degree in turfgrass management while studying under Dr. Beard, worked as a chemical distributor, and regularly attended meetings of the Michigan Border Cities and Western Michigan Superintendent groups. As part of his extension work, he was asked to promote turfgrass education, and realizing that Superintendent's groups focus their efforts on education, Thomas worked to organize such a group in Northern Michigan. Thomas contacted other Northern Michigan Cooperative Extension Agents, he met two Northern Michigan Superintendents – Frank Heminger and Ed Karcheski – and he contacted his friend Tuck Tate to help organize the group. The idea of the Northern Michigan Turf Managers Association circulated throughout Northern Michigan with these individual's efforts. Ken Ferguson, a turfgrass equipment dealer in Traverse City, supplied them with his business mailing list, and everyone on that list was informed about the first organizational meeting of the NMTMA.

The first meeting of the organization was held in August of 1971 at Interlochen Golf Club in Interlochen, Michigan. At this meeting the first officers of the NMTMA were elected by the thirty-two charter members present. Ed Karcheski was elected president, Tuck Tate vice-president, and Frank Heminger secretary-treasurer. The membership present decided that the association. would establish by-laws, set up meeting locations, and recruit more members. And thus the NMTMA was born. There were two more meetings in 1971, and in 1972 the Association became more prominent and seriously began its tradition of education for its members. The O.M. Scott company of Marysville, Ohio sponsored and helped coordinate one of their own professional seminars for the Northern Michigan Turf Managers Association. Dr. Beard spoke at another meeting jointly attended with the Western Michigan Association. The field day at the Traverse City Country Club also continued. to draw turfgrass managers from all around the state. And at the September 19th, 1972 meeting at the. Redwood Golf Club near Houghton lake, the Association voted to become affiliated with the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. 

Mr. C.E. Tuck Tate, founding member of the NMTMA second person from the left

During the first two years of the association, Tuck Tate coordinated communication to the members with a monthly newsletter. Tate continued editing, publishing, and mailing the monthly newsletter of the Northern Michigan Turf Managers Association for eighteen years, until the format was changed in 1990. Tate continued to support the newsletter as an assistant editor from that time. The Association's annual membership directory was initiated in 1973 containing the Associations' constitution and by-laws, and the names, addresses, and phone numbers of all members. In 1979, the NMTMA held its first Michigan Turfgrass Foundation Benefit Day at the Cadillac Country Club. The annual MTF fundraiser continues to be one of the most popular events of the season, drawing golfers statewide. Through its fundraising efforts the NMTMA supports research, extension work, and scholarships which benefit the turfgrass management industry throughout the region. And in 1985 the Association ini- tiated its first annual NMTMA scholarship for students in the MSU two-year turfgrass management program. As the Association continued to grow, the membership exceeded two hundred in number. and revenues from dues, publication advertising, and fundraising exceeded fifty thousand dollars per year.

In 1990, under the direction of President Jeffery Holmes, the board of directors with the vote of the membership decided to make the Association a non-profit corporation. In 1991 they, with the aid of an attorney and an accountant, filed the necessary forms with the State of Michigan and the Internal Revenue Service to incorporate the Association and make its finances tax exempt. The Northern Michigan Turf Managers Association continues to this day to serve its membership with educational meetings, golfing events, and the support of research and scholarship. The NMTMA continues to work closely with businesses in the industry who, in turn, support the Association with educational programs and funding. The NMTMA continues also to work with extension agents who bring their services and link to Michigan State University to Northern Michigan. With an established tradition of education, and an undying spirit of cooperation, the NMTMA continues to promote the best in turfgrass management practices and the utmost in professionalism.



Dr. Beard Field Day History

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Northern District “Tuck Tate” Chapter Championship

1985 Frankfort Golf Course -Tom Brogger

1986 Gaylord Country Club – Paul Holmes

1987 Schuss Mountain Golf Club – Gary Pulsipher

1988 Indian River Golf Club – Tom Brogger

1989 Hidden Valley Golf Course – Paul Holmes

1990 Gaylord Country Club – Tom Brogger

1991 Huron Breeze – Tom Brogger

1992 Cadillac Country Club – Tom Brogger

1993 Huron Breeze – Tom Brogger

1994 Mistwood Golf Course – Brian Conklin

1995 Shanty Creek Resort, The Legend – Roger Jabara

1996 Boyne Highlands, Heather – Jim Bluck & Paul Holmes*

1997 Mistwood Golf Course – Jim Bluck

1998 The Heathlands – Jim Bluck

1999 Red Hawk Golf Course– Jim Bluck

2000 Traverse City Golf & Country Club – Paul Holmes & Joe Breighner*

2001 Michaywe – Joe Breighner

2002 The Kingsley Club – Kevin Van Horn & Joe Breighner*

2003 Red Hawk Golf Course – Jim Bluck

2004 Walloon Lake Country Club -John Holberton Jr.

2005 Mistwood G.C. – Shaun Ryan

2006 Crystal Mountain Resort – Jim Bluck

2007 Crystal Downs C.C. – Unknown

2008 Traverse City Golf & Country Club – Jim Baggett

2009 Treetops Resort, The Signature Course – Canceled due to weather

2010 Treetops Resort, The Signature Course – Jay Eccleton, CGCS

2011 Black Lake G.C. – Jim Higgs

2012 Cedar River Golf Club at Shanty Creek – Jim Higgs

2013 The Nightmare – Jim Higgs

2014 The Bear at Grand Traverse – Jeff Hopkins

2015 Hidden River Golf & Casting Club – Dr. Kevin Frank

2016 Treetops Resort Jim Higgs

2017 The Moor at Boyne Highlands  Joe Baluis

* Indicates championship tie

Northern District Scholarship Fundraiser

1990 Walloon Lake Country Club

1992 Treetops Resort, Fazio

1993 Little Traverse Bay Golf Course

1994 Marsh Ridge Golf Course

1995 The Natural at Beaver Creek

1996 Treetops Resort, Rick Smith Signature

1997 Belvedere Golf Course

1998 Charlevoix Country Club

1999 Indian River Golf Course

2000 Emerald Vale Golf Course

2001 Black Lake Golf Course

2002 Wild Bluff Golf Course

2003 Boyne Highlands, The Hills Course

2004 The Nightmare

2005 True North

2006 Treetops Resort

2007 Gaylord Country Club

Northern District MTF Fundraiser

The members of the NMTMA have hosted a fund-raiser benefitting the scholarship funds since 1976.  

1976 Cadillac CC, 1st Annual

1990 Boyne Highlands, Ross Memorial

1991 Garland Resort, Monarch

1992 Boyne Mountain, The Monument

1993 Elk Ridge Golf Course

1994 Matheson Greens

1995 Lakewood Shores, The Gailes

1996 The Loon

2000 Shanty Creek Resort, Cedar River

2001 Treetops Resort, The Tradition – 25th Anniversary of the Event

2002 Arcadia Bluffs

2003 Grand Traverse Resort, The Wolverine

2004 Kings Challenge

2005 Black Lake Golf Course

2006 Forest Dunes Golf Club

2007 Hawks Eye Golf Course

2008 A-Ga-Ming Golf Resort