The 31st Superintendents Educational Institute in Nor Cal Nov. 12-13 at Oakhurst Country Club

(San Francisco, CA) - The Golf Course Superintendents Association of Northern California will host its 31st educational institute on Nov. 12-13 at Oakhurst Country Club in Clayton, CA.  The conference will showcase speakers covering topics which improve efficiency, communication, and compliance for golf course superintendents.

The speaker series will commence with Contra Costa County’s Department of Regulation Inspector Ralph Fonseca discussing worker safety and respiratory safety regulations with focus on compliance.

According to Institute Committee Chair Jon Christenson of Monarch Bay GL, day two will  commence with  co-presenters William Brown, CGCS, of Hartefeld National GC, and Brian Gilges, GCSAA IT Systems Manager, introducing the numerous features of Excel software--how it can streamline the budget process, increase efficiency in recording keeping and improve communication channels within a golf operation.  

Next, Speaker Brown will be joined by GCSANC Board Member Brian Boyer of Cinnabar Hills GC, and together they’ll address ways to take technology beyond Facebook and Twitter with focus on platforms that are well-designed for website development and/or a blog. They will demonstrate how to build a site and will share tech-driven tools (including mobile devices) which allow one to update content not just from the office, but from the course, too. Brown will wrap-up the tech tool session with an insightful presentation on the best iPad apps for today’s turfgrass manager.  As a superintendent who stays on the pulse of technology himself, Brown will share the very latest features in iPad applications spanning from financial management to irrigation control.

Equipment Manager Kevin Rendueles from the Olympic Club (home of the 2012 U.S. Open Championship), will take his session outside when he discusses mower setup, after cut appearance, quality of cut and sand mower management. This segment is slated to be hands-on and beneficial to turfgrass managers.

In addition to the speakers series the institute will include a trade show where industry representatives will showcase products and services.  The conference will culminate with team golf (5-person scramble) on Oakhurst’s Rod Fream-designed course.

“We’ve created a seminar that’s really a test drive of technology for attendees, packed with plenty of tech-based applications which they can easily add to their toolbox,” said Institute Event Chairman Jon Christenson. “These innovative tools will strengthen communication channels and improve efficiency for golf course superintendents both on-and-off the course.”

Conference fee is $175 for all sessions and which also includes the industry trade show reception, buffet lunch and afternoon golf. To learn more about the conference and/or for sponsorship opportunities please visit www.gcsanc.com/events/next/ or call GCSANC Association Manager Barbara Mikel at 877-942-7262. For more information on Institute Sponsor John Deere and their golf maintenance equipment plus soft goods and services, visit www.deere.com/wps/dcom/en_US/industry/golf/golf.page.

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