Ultradwarf Summit 2016

Willy Plowman, golf course superintendent at Willow Fork Country Club in Katy, Texas, has a passion. A passion for learning more about Ultradwarf Bermudagrass and sharing knowledge with his peers. The former South Texas GCSA president will host the Ultradwarf Summit 2016 at his course on June 7, 2016. He has spearheaded this project that has been conducted in some form or fashion since 2000. With the support of the South Texas GCSA and several affiliate companies, he has assembled a great agenda of topics, demonstrations and opportunities to share knowledge and information.

Bud White of Bud White Golf Solutions has also been instrumental in putting the project together and will kick off the day with a talk titled "The Evolution of Ultradwarfs and Management Practices." Also slated to speak during the day are Dr. Bruce Martin of Clemson University, Dr. Brad Shaver of Helena Chemical, and Gary Brooks of Bayer. Bud White will also do a demonstration on the putting green showing ultradwarf management strategies, including aerification, verticut, top dress, brush, groom, and roll. Plowman also recognizes Scott Dunham of BASF who has helped organize and plan the event.
He notes, "It's been a team effort and I appreciate all of the help I have had to put together a special day. Our hope is that superintendents, affiliates, growers, turf managers and even golfers will consider joining us at Willow Fork for this important summit. This isn't just for folks in South Texas, we are hoping people from all across the South with an interest in ultradwarfs will join us".
The agenda has been submitted to the GCSAA and TDA and CEUs will be awarded pending approval. Registration is only $25 per person to cover lunch and meeting room costs.
You can register for the event at the South Texas GCSA website.
I look forward to participating in the event and hope to see a great crowd in Katy. These types of grassroots (pun intended) education events are the best way to share information among members and we are proud to be a part of it.

More about our host, Willy Plowman

Willy Plowman began his golf course management career in 1975 at The Chaparral Club, a 9 hole private club located in Dickinson, Texas. In 1982 he entered into Pipefitters Local Union 211 Trade School out of Houston, Texas to attend a four year trade school and graduated in 1986, Willy’s dad was a pipefitter for Monsanto in Texas City, Texas for 35 years. Well, after graduation it didn’t take long to realize the profession Willy really enjoyed and missed. In 1987 he moved to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and worked at Rolling Hills Golf Resort. In fact, he was there while Caddy Shack II was being filmed. Willy returned to the Great State of Texas in 1990 to Willow Fork Country Club as the Assistant Golf Course Superintendent. The facility was currently under construction and opened in June 1990; Willy remained there for eight years. In early 1999, he went to Cypress Lakes Golf Club in Cypress, Texas. The facility was currently under construction and was completed in October 1999. 419 Bermuda was planted on tees, fairways, and roughs; Ultradwarf variety “Champion” Bermuda grass was planted on the greens. In 2001, Cypress Lakes Golf Club was rated number one for the best greens in Southeast, Texas. In fact, Willy has managed to remain at number one for six straight years. In 2005, the Houston Chronicle stated “Cypress Lakes’ Plowman has the right touch with turf”. In 2006 and 2007 Avid Golfer stated “they were blown away by the bentgrass quality of the club’s putting surface”. Willy’s involvement as a Superintendent goes well beyond the golf course maintenance level. He is continuously hosting seminars for other Superintendents and college students, sharing his knowledge and cultural practices. In 2000, The Champion Summit was formed, an annual seminar for Superintendents managing Ultradwarf Bermuda grass variety “Champion” in south and southeast Texas. In 2003, the Champion Summit expanded to the South Texas Ultradwarf Management Summit, open to all Ultradwarf growers including Champion, TifEagle, and Miniverde. A 2016, Ultradwarf Summit is currently put together. Willy has over 30 years of golf course maintenance experience including the construction and grow-in of two separate courses. He also has experience in management of Ultradwarf grasses including Champion and Mini Verde along with experience in bunker renovations and course beautification projects. Willy currently serves on the Board of Directors for the South Texas Golf Course Superintendents Association for a 2^nd run; he is a Former Board of Directors for Texas Turfgrass Association, Former Advisory Board for Harris County Extension Agency and Houston Community College, Former 2010 South Texas GCSA President and 8 year Board member. Willy enjoys the outdoors especially rock hounding for fossils, petrified wood, and artifacts of our past. He keeps all of his finding on display at his home whether it is on the shelf in his office, rock garden, or displayed in form of art work. Willy is always on the hunt for a new location to go hunt for rocks, fossils, artifacts, and explore. One person particular Willy recognizing and is thankful for his beginning to Turfgrass Management at The Chaparral Club. Willy started in 1976 (13 years old) through 1982;  looking 40 years back, "I now realize one of my greatest life time heroes, Jerry Rohacek".