As we wind down another year, I have a feeling this season is one we will remember for a long time as we seemingly went from winter to summer and back to winter with respect to temperature and precipitation.  Thankfully that one is in the rearview mirror, and everyone can get some time away from the golf course to recharge.

Thank you to the members and partners for supporting the four significant golf events this year:  the OGCSA Open, the Summer 2 Ball and both Crew Tournaments.  The Golf Committee did a wonderful job of mixing in some properties that we hadn’t been to for quite some time for the Open and the Summer 2 Ball, as well as returning to our traditional venues for the crew tournaments.  The teams from Emerald Valley, Willamette Valley and Running Y Resort will represent Oregon in the PNW Crew Tournament Championship to be held at American Lake Veterans Course on November 9 against Western Washington GCSA and Inland Empire GCSA.

Following a three-year hiatus, we are welcoming back a slightly different version of the Fall Meeting next Wednesday, November 9 at Topgolf in Hillsboro. The educational meeting will feature Delphine Tseng (Landseer Communications and Consulting) and Andrew Wilson (Director of Agronomy at Bethpage State Park in NY) along with a First Green Presentation from Dave Phipps.  Delphine brings together a unique combination of environmental education and artistry that is a welcome perspective to our industry.  The education session will be followed by lunch and golf.

The annual Pesticide Seminar will once again be in a live webinar format this year.  To allow everyone to receive their full complement of necessary hours, the series will be conducted over the course of four days on Tuesday and Wednesday of back-to-back weeks (December 6, 7, 13, and 14).  As always, the Education Committee has assembled a fantastic selection of speakers covering a variety of turfgrass and landscape pest related topics.

The OGCSA Board of Directors continues to prioritize investing in scholarship opportunities for members, their staff, and their families.  The Scholarship Committee received another great pool of candidates this year for the PACE Courses through Oregon State.  The worthy recipients are Owen Johnson-Loving, Pronghorn Resort and Scott Holt, Laurelwood Golf Course.  The great thing about the PACE Courses for an individual working in our industry is the ability to complete the courses at their own pace.  If they want to buckle down and get it all done in short order, that option is available.  If work and life are too hectic, they can spread the courses out over a longer period of time.

Past President Shane Hadwick is once again our chapter delegate and was in Lawrence last week to represent the OGCSA.  The Chapter Delegate meetings are an important aspect of the overall communication between GCSAA staff, Board of Directors, and the membership.  This session, along with the Chapter Leaders symposium in March, are the two best opportunities for GCSAA staff and Board of Directors to personally communicate with a small group of members as well as solicit input from that same group.

While the Committees and Board of Directors spend the winter diligently planning events for next year, we hope that you enjoy the “off-season” and the holidays!

Brian Koffler, OGCSA President