fgcsa_logo_s3.gif

“

"Growing Green" Before "Going Green" Was Cool!

FGCSA members are dedicated to professionalism and environmental stewardship for golf turf management. Members advocate the use of science-based Best Management Practices for the protection of water quality in Florida's waterways.

Upcoming Events - Click News or Links buttons to Chapter sites for details

September 15th-17th: FTGA Conference & Show, Caribe Royale Hotel, Lake Buena Vista/Orlando

October 2nd: Florida GCSA Golf Championship, Southern Dunes GC, Haines City

 

”

Print E-mail
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE FLORIDA GCSA
The earliest record of organized association activity began in 1939 when a group of South Florida superintendents got together and formed the South Florida GCSA. Jimmy Blackledge was the first president. In 1940 the group discussed the idea of expanding across the state but got a very meager response for their efforts. In 1949 the Tampa-St, Petersburg area did form a West Coast Association. In the 1960's the Florida-Georgia Turf Association formed in North Florida and the Everglades Association formed in Southwest Florida. During the 70's and 80's the rest of the local chapters began forming around the state.

The precursor of the modern day FGCSA began with the reestablishment of the South Florida GCSA in 1971 with Stan Clarke as the first president. Paul Turcotte followed in 1972, and C. R. Pearson from Bradenton in 1973, After a stretch of inactivity, the FGCSA was reactivated in 1978 by several leading superintendents who finally got the various regions organized into one association in 1978 by several leading golf course superintendents. Tim Hiers was the first president of the unified modern day FGCSA in 1978-80.

Marie Roberts served as the first Association Manager from 1984 until 2008. She was succeeded by Jennifer Innes effective February 1, 2008.

Joel Jackson, CGCS Retired was appointed FGCSA Executive Director in October 2007 after serving 10 years as the Director of Communications since January 1998.
OVERVIEW OF THE FLORIDA GCSA
As stated in the by-laws, the purpose of this Association shall be to promote turf management as it pertains to the Golf Course Supetintendent and to unify the Golf Course Superintendents ot the State ft Florida.

To achieve these goals, the FGCSA committees, with cooperative efforts from other industry related associations, promote turfgrass management through education of our members as well as the public, research projects such as our Otto Schmeisser Research Rreen in Ft. Lauderdale, and in government relations with the assistance of our lobbyist, Mike Goldie. It is also our stated intent to amass the voting power of the Superintendents of the State of Florida into one block vote for the annual election of GCSAA officers and directors. All of our efforts are guided by a desire to achieve the highest standards ot professionalism.

The FGCSA consists of eleven local chapters, each of which elects a Director to represent them at FGCSA Board Meetings. Membership in FGCSA is automatically extended to all Class A and B Superintendents and Assistant Superintendents who have been accepted as a member of one of the twelve local chapters. There are no commercial members in the FGCSA.
SOME FACTS ABOUT THE FGCSA:
STAFF:
1. Association Manager Jennifer Innes assists all officers, directors, past presidents and committee chairmen in performing committee affairs more effectively. Additional responsibilities are the Membership Directory, Membership Services, the Employment Referral Service, Florida Green advertiser services, Green Sheet coordinator and can provide various administrative support services to local chapters as needed.
2. Executive Director: A new full-time position orginally created as Director of Communications in 1998 and revised in 2007. Joel Jackson, CGCS, serves as editor of the Florida Green magazine and the Green Sheet newsletter, His executive role also includes representing the interests of FGCSA members at meetings and performing duties related to chapter relations, allied associations, government relations and publio relations. He is available to assist any FGCSA Committee Chairman with their peojects.

PUBLICATIONS:
1. Florida Green: A national award-winning golf course management publication established in 1973 has a circulation of over 3,000 copies. It is published quarterly and is sent free of charge to all Florida superintendents, club presidents and managers, golf course builders and architects as well as to VlP's in the golf industry throughout the United States Subscriptions are available to interested parties on a yearly basis by calling the FGCSA office. In addition to providing educational material, the Florida Green is outstanding in promoting public relations.

2. Green Sheet Newsletter: This bimonthly publication goes to all Class A, SM and C members and focuses primarily on the business of the association and current events.

3. Membership Directory: This annual publication provides a listing of contact information for all current members. Companies who advertise in the directory also get a copy.

Events:
FGCSA Past Presidents Dinner: Held annually in conjunction with the Spring Board Meeting in Naples at the Everglades Poa Annua Classic weekend. At this gathering of Past Presidents and current board members the annual Distinguished Service Award is presented.

FGCSA/GCSAA Seminar: The FGCSA hosts a GCSAA approved education session in conjunction with the Everglades Poa Annua Classic weekend. Attendees receive education points credited toward retaining their Class A or Certified Superintendent status.

FGCSA Golf Championship: Usually held around the 3rd Saturday in September. The Southern Dunes G.C. has been the sole host so far for this event for almost ten years now thanks to its central location in Haines City.
THE FLORIDA GREEN HISTORY:
The Florida Green has a predecessor, The South Florida Green, which was published for the first time in South Florida in October,1973. Dan Jones took over as Editor of the South Florida Green in 1974 and assisted by his late wife Irene they produced the magazine until 1989.

In July of 1980, after the formation of the Florida GCSA, the magazine became a state wide publication, thanks to the generosity of the South Florida GCSA, and was renamed The Florida Green.

In 1989, Dan Jones announced his retirement. Larry Kieffer, Janlark Communications, became publisher of the magazine in 1990 and Joel Jackson served as Editor until 1992 when he was succeeded by Tom Benefield. Joel returned to the Editorship in 1994 and has served in that capacity ever since.

Association Manager Jennifer Innes joined the FGCSA in October 2007 and serves as Advertising and Circulation Coordinator for the publication as part of her association responsibilities.
PUBLIC RELATIONS:
The FGCSA Public Relations Booth was introduced at the 1986 FTGA Conference and continues to be displayed during thc FTGA Show. It has also been used at past GCSAA Conferences. Its purpose is to educate the golfing industry about the functions of the FGCSA. In the area of media relations, the Executive Director will be sending timely press releases on FGCSA activities throughout the year to a network of golf media contacts.

MEMBERSHIP SERVICES:
Items available through the FGCSA office are Membership Certificates, window decals, and the official FGCSA crest. All items contain the FGCSA logo. The 1997 public relations video is also available.

CODE OF ETHICS: The Association abides by and adheres to the GCSAA Code of Ethics.

EMPLOYMENT REFERRAL SERVICE:
This service is available to all FGCSA members looking for positions as superintendents or assistants.

GOLF:
The Golf Committee continues to encourage all FGCSA members to establish a USGA handicap. All of our tournaments are now played using the USGA handicap. The Golf Committee is responsible for our Florida team at the GCSAA Championship. Team members are chosen from the winners of the Poa Annua Golf Classic, the Crowfoot Open, the FTGA Golf Tournament and the FGCSA Team Championship. In case of a duplicate winner of those events, additional FGCSA Team competitors will be selected on the basis of lowest scoring average in those events.
ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS:
The FGCSA has established an active Government Relations Committee. FGCSA members are also active members of the IFAS Advisory Committees; FTGA Board of Directors and its various committees; Pesticide Review Council Florida FQPA Working Group, Agriculture Institute of Florida; and Florida Water Management District Committees. As an FGCSA member, you are well represented and are kept constantly informed of "What's Happening."

FTGA:
Many of our FGCSA members also belong to the Florida Turfgrass Association, and have served as officers and directors of that Association. The FTGA Research Foundation is the vehicle through which most of the University of Florida turf research supported by Florida Golf Course Superintendents is funded.

MEMBERSHIP:
The 2007-08 FGCSA roster totaled 1,048 Class A, SM and C members as we ended the fiscal year. The Association created an At Large membership category to serve those Florida superintendents who live outside the areas of our current eleven local chapters. This category is primarily intended for those in remote areas of the state. SURVEY: The FGCSA conducts an important bi-yearly golf course maintenance survey. Results are distributed to all FGCSA members who participate.

CSAA CERTIFICATION:
The FGGSA Certification Committee is available to assist any member to gain GCSAA certification. To date, Florida has 115 active Certified Golf Course Superintendents.

GCSAA AFFILIATION:
The FGCSA is an affiliated chapter of the GCSAA. Affiliation with the GCSAA entitles FGCSA members access to a wide variety of services and programs including Chapter Relations, Planning, Communications, Education, Speakers Bureau, Information Services (including website), Cooperative Research Funding and Chapter Representation on GCSAA issues. In accordance with the affiliation agreement, all FGCSA Class A and SM members must be members of the GCSAA.

EDUCATION:
The FGCSA Education Committee's function is to present educational seminars for the FGCSA members continuing Education Units (CEUs) for GCSAA Certification can be earned by attending FGCSA Seminars held at the Poa Annua Classic and FTGA Conference and Show. In addition, the FGCSA chapters co-sponsor several yearly GCSAA Regional Seminar within the State of Florida. Pesticide safety seminars are offered throughout the state for Continuing Education Units toward the Florida Restricted Pesticide License.

LONG RANGE PLANNING COMMITTEE:
Purpose of the committee is to identify and develop possible ideas and strategies that the FGCSA should consider in the future

LEGAL AND FINANCIAL AFFAIRS:
The FGCSA is recognized by the IRS as a non-profit tax exempt organization. It has been a Florida corporation since 1970 whose official logoltrademark has been registered with the state of Florida since 1987.

The FGCSA supports the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, the Florida Turfgrass Association, the United States Golf Association and various other state golfing associations in their efforts to continuously promote improvements in golf and turfgrass, Open lines of communication are established with the Florida Turfgrass Association, the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America and the state regulatory agencies of Florida
HISTORY OF KEY EVENTS:
POA ANNUA
In 1969 the Everglades GCSA established the first statewide FGCSA Golf Tournament with the Poa Annua Golf Classic. The event was originally held as a joint meeting of the Everglades and South Florida chapters. This yearly tournament is now open to members from all FGCSA chapters. The Poa Annua Trophy goes to the chapter with the four lowest net scores. The tournament is traditionally played in May on a golf course in or near the Naples area, usually the Naples Beach Club. The toumament is open to supplier representatives on a handicap system and is supported by many of our national, state and local suppliers. Funds generated during the weekend support turfgrass research and education in Florida.

CROWFOOT OPEN
The Crowfoot Open was established in 1976 as the second statewide FGCSA Golf Tournament. The tournament has been held at various prestigious courses in the Orlando area, most recently Bay Hill and Grand Cypress. Starting in 1998, the Crowfoot Open officially became the Larry Kamphaus Crowfoot Open named in the memory of the man who served as the event chairman for 13 years. This event is the site for the FGCSA Summer Board Meeting; Annual Meeting and election of officers.Monies raised at this event also have been presented to the FTGA or FGCSA for research.

FGCSA
Golf Championship and Golf Team The FGCSA holds a FGCSA Chapter Golf Championship each year. Southern Dunes GC in Haines City has been the host for the first four events. The tournament was founded to provide a venue for qualifying for the Florida Golf Team to the GCSAA Golf Championships. It replaced a medalist event held by the FTGA when it became a scramble format. The FGCSA pays the registration fees for the #1 Florida Team participating in the annual GCSAA Golf Championship held each winter in association with the GCSAA Conference and Show.

Members of the team qualify The low medalist winners of the Crowfoot Open and the Poa Annua Classic receive an invitation to represent the FGCSA at the annual GCSAA Championship.
 

CALENDAR

September 2010 October 2010
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
Week 35 1 2 3 4
Week 36 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Week 37 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Week 38 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Week 39 26 27 28 29 30

UPCOMING EVENTS

September
May
  • View Full Calendar

    • Random Quote

    Admin Login

    Banner