Election results will be announced at the OGCSA Annual Members Meeting, Tuesday, May 25, 2021 at McMenamins Edgefield, Troutdale, OR. Ballots have been mailed to all eligible voting members in good standing. Ballots must be received by mail by May 24, 2021 or hand delivered at Annual Meeting to be counted. If Covid gathering guidelines do not allow us to gather we will move this meeting to a virtual webinar format.

OFFICER CANDIDATES:

PRESIDENT: Brian Koffler, Waverley Country Club

As a native Oregonian who had the fortune of attending Oregon State University, nothing would give me greater satisfaction than continuing to serve on our state association’s Board of Directors as President.  The last two years of service have flown by and I would be honored to further represent and advocate for our organization at local, state, and national level.

I was fortunate to grow up in the farming and ranching community of Heppner, Oregon.  My parents purchased my first set of golf clubs at Caplan’s in downtown Portland and I grew up playing at Willow Creek Country Club in Heppner (it is the furthest thing from a “country club”).  I attended Oregon State and after changing my major, graduated with a degree in Horticulture in 2002.  I was fortunate to work for several graduates of OSU in Oregon, Washington, and Northern California prior to returning to Oregon in 2010.

The game of golf and this industry have provided me with everything over the years and I would be humbled to be allowed the opportunity to give back and help with moving the golf course management industry forward over the coming years.

VICE-PRESIDENT: Scott Moffenbeier, Bend Country Club

Starting my 17^th season as a Golf Course Superintendent, I look forward to serving another year on the Board of Directors. As a graduate of Oregon State University’s Turf Management Program (1998) and working at 6 different golf courses throughout Oregon, I have had the opportunity to associate and work with many outstanding professionals in the industry, helping me grow as a superintendent. I am currently in my fifth year as Superintendent at Bend Golf Club.

My wife Cathi, daughters Macy (14) and Harper (12) keep me motivated and support the commitment that the golf course requires. Bend has been a special place to work and raise our family and we are grateful for that. Spending most of my career in Central Oregon has provided many friendships that have led to a tight knit group of superintendents that support each other beyond our profession.

The last year has been an interesting one and fortunately golf has been an escape for many, allowing many of our facilities to thrive. Our association is in a good place as we enter a new season that will include the return of in person events.

Thank you for your consideration to serve as Vice President for the Oregon Chapter of the GCSAA and work with a very talented group. I look forward to the opportunity to work with this great organization that supports us all.

SECRETARY/TREASURER: Stephen Purdy, Langdon Farms Golf Club

For the past 12 years I have had the privilege of working at Langdon Farms Golf Club, first as an assistant, and the last two years as Superintendent.  Prior to working at Langdon and immediately out of college, I was an assistant for Mark Shepherd at Aspen Lakes.  Over the past decade my wife Emily and I have welcomed three children- Ella, Charlotte, and William. We live on the family farm outside of Sublimity, OR.  When I have free time, I enjoy getting the kids outside to play sports, spending time in the outdoors, and teaching them how to work. 

Having three children under the age of eight has helped me gain patience and learn to approach every situation differently, which has helped in serving on the Board of Directors.  Over the past two years I have gained experience and knowledge to hopefully better the association moving forward over my next term. 

SUPERINTENDENT DIRECTOR CANDIDATES:

Corey Beelke, Broken Top Club

I was born and raised in West Lafayette, IN, where I began playing golf around the age of 5 and haven’t been able to put a club down since.  My first job was working at a golf course as outside golf service at the Purdue Golf Complex where I learned I could make golf a career.  After high school, I went to Methodist College in North Carolina.  I graduated with a business degree and with a concentration in Professional Golf Management and left with a class A PGA membership.  During my college tenure, I soon realized that the turf side of the business might be better suited for me.  As a result, I turned right around and attended the Rutgers University Turf Program.

After graduating from Rutgers in 2008, I moved to Eugene, Oregon, where I worked for Chris Gaughan at Eugene Country Club for two years.  In 2010 I accepted my first assistant job at Juniper Golf Club in Redmond, Oregon.  After experiencing Oregon for a few years I felt the need to head to California and gain some different perspectives.  I was fortunate to be get hired as an assistant superintendent at Bayonet & Black Horse, which is located on the Monterey Peninsula.  Working at a 36 hole, bentgrass facility, was truly a different challenge with an amazing backdrop.  Being around so many famous golf courses as well as meeting some great superintendents really reinforced my love for the game and business.  I spent my last two years in California at Claremont Country Club in Oakland.  It’s by far the oldest club that I’ve worked at, dating back to 1897.  Re-designed by the famous Dr. Alistair McKenzie, Claremont CC packs a brute of a challenge despite only playing 5,400 yards and to a par of 68. 

In 2014, I was given the opportunity to come back to Bend, Oregon.  I worked under Scott Moffenbeir for three years before being promoted to Head Superintendent.  I feel extremely grateful to be given the opportunity to work at such a great golf club in such a beautiful part of the country.  I met my wife here in Bend and we have been married now for over two years.  We adopted a dog, Bandon, who is part bordie collie/ lab and comes to work with me every day.  He enjoys chasing geese and squirrels and definitely helps me keep things in perspective. 

If elected, I look forward to helping the OGCSA grow and support its members.  As this industry changes, I think it’s vital to help young assistants and superintendents have all the resources they need to be successful.  I also have interest in helping develop some form of internship program that can help develop new turf students within our great state. 

Josh Loy, Stewart Meadows Golf Course

My name is Josh Loy, Superintendent at Stewart Meadows Golf Course in Medford. My interest in golf goes back to my childhood. I have been golfing since I was a youngster. My work in the golf business goes back 29 years to when I started cleaning golf clubs in the bag room at Rogue Valley Country Club as a young teenager. Four years later I went to work at Stewart Meadows Golf course in various positions until 2016 when I took over the Superintendent position. About a year later, I obtained my landscape contractor’s license. While managing the day-to-day activities of the maintenance on the golf course, I then started installing irrigation and landscaping commercially for our parent company, KOGAP Enterprises, Inc. Combining both the golf course Superintendent and commercial landscape duties over the past few years has helped me to a deeper understanding of business. 

If elected will give all I can towards building on what previous boards have accomplished. It would be an honor and a privilege to serve on the OGSAA board of directors. 

Thank you, Josh Loy

Ty Patton, Tokatee Golf Club
I am the Golf Course Superintendent at Tokatee Golf Club in Blue River, Oregon. I was introduced to the game of golf in college and since then it has helped shape my life in a myriad of ways. After my introduction to the game I began working at Corvallis Country Club and Trysting Tree Golf Courses and interned at the Stock Farm Club in Hamilton, Montana. I received my master’s degree in horticulture from Oregon State University in 2012 and started at Tokatee immediately after graduation. I currently live in Blue River with my wife, Rachel, and our two young boys Jackson and Landon. When I’m not at the golf course I enjoy spending time with my family and exploring trails in the Cascades.

The OGCSA has helped me network with other professionals, given me access to scholarships while in school, and has played an integral part of my professional development. I want the opportunity to give back to the OGCSA by serving a term as a director. Thank you for your consideration.

AFFILIATE DIRECTOR CANDIDATES:

Tod Blankenship, CGCS, MS, ISA Certified Arborist, CPSI, Remote SUA Pilot, and President TBlankenship, LLC

I am excited for and appreciate the opportunity to potentially serve another term as an OGCSA Affiliate Director. With a unique appreciation for golf and fine turfgrass management since single digits old, I am an avid aimer of over 35 years. As such I believe it is part of our roles as fine turfgrass stewards to spread our passion for the game and the judicious management of its playing surfaces.

Fortunately, golf led to golf course maintenance when I was 18 years old when I began working on golf courses. I soon realized a desire to be an integral part of the industry and went on to receive a B.S. in Horticulture from the University of Wisconsin with a Turf and Grounds specialization.

I have been a member of 11 golf course maintenance teams in Colorado, New York, and Wisconsin and the golf course superintendent at three of these facilities. I am a certified golf course superintendent (CGCS) of nearly 20 years and have also spent nearly five years in municipal parks and recreation operations. I relish working with and for the public and take a vast deal of pride in the relationships I have nurtured over the years including those developed while currently serving on the OGCSA Board of Directors the previous two years.

In addition, I spent two years working with and behind the scenes of the Oregon State University Turfgrass Program producing relevant industry data and outreach while earning an M.S. in Horticulture and completing a thesis; “Water Use Characteristics of Ten Newly Established Cool-season Turfgrass Species”.

As the owner of TBlankenship, LLC an advisory service covering fine turfgrass management, I enjoy sharing knowledge and experiences to assist colleagues throughout the industry by promoting sound environmental and precision resource management through industry driven independent research and remote sensing for golf courses, sports fields, parks, and other greenscapes.

For the past nearly two years as the Western North America Territory Manager for Bernhard and Company I have immensely appreciated the opportunity to work with fine turfgrass managers throughout Oregon and the country while promoting the single most important decision of a cultural control program.

I would embrace the opportunity to be an OGCSA Affiliate Director for another term to continue to learn from other colleagues while assisting in facilitating comprehensive management of the association for the highest benefit of the membership.

Thank you for the consideration.

Tod Blankenship CGCS, MS

Cameron Callaway, Pacific Golf & Turf

My name is Cameron Callaway and I am a candidate to serve on the OGCSA board as an affiliate director. I currently work as an irrigation specialist in the state of Oregon for Pacific Golf and Turf who just recently took over distribution of Rainbird golf products. Before taking this position in March I spent 6 years at Club Green Meadows in Vancouver, WA. Serving as the assistant as well as the superintendent for several years. I had worked at a number of different courses in SW Washington and Oregon prior to enrolling at Walla Walla, where I then decided to turn my passion for turfgrass from a summer job to a career. One thing that has always stuck with me since becoming a member of the OGCSA is the overwhelming amount of support between the members. I have always wanted to give back to the OGCSA and the industry as a whole and serving on the board seems like the right place to start. Continuing to help fund the incredible research that OSU does as well as continuing to provide education opportunities for students is vital to keep producing great superintendents across Oregon.  I would be honored to serve on the board and help the industry as much as possible. Thanks for your consideration.