New Years Tidings

Hi Guys.

Belated happy holidays. Hope this post finds you all in good health and good spirits.

Sorry I did not "post" in December, but was a hectic holidays here at the Funny Farm (still haven't sent out the Xmas cards).

Did get a card from Kenny and Gaye "on the other side of the pond".  They celebrated their silver wedding anniversary on November 24, in their new home (The Manor, Banbury Road, Moreton Pinkney, Northants  NN11 3SJ - phone - 01295 768423). Looked it up in Google Earth - great country setting. Gaye was heavily involved with the Special Olympics this year. They are going to the Maldives (Indian Ocean if Google Earth is correct) for a anniversary treat this month.

Brian and Darren just sent an email wanting to know who would be at the conference (San Diego) next month. I haven't been in a few years, but am thinking about Orlando in 2011, our 20th year out.

Send us some news from the conference. Make it a good day.

Thanksgiving

Hi Guys.

Trust all is well. Good Turkey day here to cap a long, but productive "season".

Did not here from anybody new since last post. That is not unexpected, because guys up north are winding down, guys down south are cranking up.

Kenny sent a notice that he had gotten a new email (not sure of that means he has changed jobs or technologies). Corresponded a bit with Darren about trying to orchestrate a tech presentation/workshop at "the show" some year. I haven't been in a few years and am thinking about going down for year (2011) of our 20th "anniversary" of our graduation. Might see some of you guys, also a way to judge tech status of the industry.

Been busy on a number of fronts recently. Have continued my work with a variety of not-for-profits, helping them use Google Earth for awareness and education about their various messages. Getting a lot of regional notice for work I am doing with the Center for Justice on our local Spokane River - check out the video they just posted on me. Also working with our regional tech support group for public school districts in eastern Washington. Will be doing webinars, trying to set up some pilot teaching programs for kids using SketchUp - Googles free 3D modeling software. In addition to learning more about the use of technology in education, I hope to expand my repertoire of web related skills.

Still doing 3D models that can be viewed in Google Earth. Also producing custom pieces of content that can be viewed in Google Earth - would love to do one on the some aspect of the golf industry (if any of you have any ideas - let me know).

Hope to get a bit more active tracking down some of the guys in our class that are not in the loop yet. Make it a good day.

Fall Back

Hi Guys.

Sorry I missed the post last month - guessing you were all just as busy.

Heard from Sam:

August 27, 2009

I am out of the turf industry and really enjoying what I am doing now, I am however somewhat bitter and angry at my former employers, I got the shaft from them and treated poorly, long story short... the private club I was working at for 8 years was sold, as it was doing poorly financially, I was led on for a few months as to the situation about my job security by both the seller and the buyer, after all said and done it just made me say WTF just happened to me...bad people...un-professional.,  I really did love the golf course and miss it, I do not miss some aspects of it though (the ignorance of what it takes to present a course in the condition the golfers desire). I am now working for http://www.rampart-hydro.com/ I absolutely love it, I go to work, do what I am responsible for myself and get paid well. I am a field tech for them. My current boss worked on a golf course for a number of years and told me that any of my golf course superintendent friends that know "how to work" are welcome to come work at Rampart.

 

I am going to be out your way next week, I will be flying into Medford, OR and working somewhere for a week or so. If by any chance I may be close to you or have time or you do, maybe we could cross paths, I will shoot you another email when I have more details.

 

Very cool your work with google, I do log onto Google Earth prior to all my deployments with Rampart and check out the lay of the land, it is a neat tool.

 

Again I hope this email finds you well, feel free to edit/share any of this email on your blog.

 

Sam D.

Since Medford is on the coast (about 7 hours by car) did not hook up, but I greatly appreciated Sam's suggestion.

Also had an email exchange with Darren on a couple items - one was trying to track down Dennis.

On August 27, 2009 - Darren made history by putting up the first new post (other than by me ) on the Google Group account. he wrote

"I have been conversing with Dennis Coplen a bit via email. He is
working in Corpus Christi, TX at Texas A&M University. His wife keeps
me up to date with them through Facebook.



I hope that everyone is doing well"


I then asked Darren if Dennis was married to Lisa (another Penn Stater) he said


"Not sure if he married Lisa or not. They did stay together for a while. His current wife is Merrideth. You have s good memory! "


Tried to plant a seed with Darren about doing a seminar/forum at national down the road on "technology in turf" with regards to things like networking, correspondence, etc. Old fashion reasons why GCSAA and PSU Alumni association were founded, and how we can use new internet tools to help.


More on that in future posts (be forewarned). Still trying to track down everybody. 


Trust all is well. 

Dog Days

Hi everybody.

Sorry I did not post in July. Was hoping to run down Jack, or hear from somebody else, but no luck. Still slow this month, so I thought I would share a bit of news/brag.

In July I got an email from Google. They invited me and 19 other people from around the world to their Denver office for a 2 day conference in early August. This because of all the work I have been doing with SketchUp and Google Earth software (both free).

Just got back. It was a blast.



That's me in the second row. No comments on hairline. There were people from Great Britain, Germany, Belgium, Poland, Spain, Argentina , Brazil, Canada. The purpose was to give Google's SketchUp/Google Earth software people feedback on their product and test drive some new things. Note: I have several "collections" of buildings , but they chose to show case Cheney.

FYI - Have done a number of other things with Google Earth - sample/article of something I am doing on the Spokane River . Google Earth and other Google products) is being used by quite a number of communities/municipal entities/not-for-profits/schools in their internal operations, communications, and educational missions.

One of the reasons for this blog/virtual reunion is that I think a number of Google offerings could be useful in the golf/turf sector.

Doug - sorry I did not drop in at Denver Country Club - just not enough time.

Make it a good day.

Boys of Summer...

Getting close to the end of the month so I thought I better get going on an entry.

Classmate News - Made contact with Rodney Noel this month. Never guess where I found him - West Virginia. Had nice chat with Rodney. His email is " rod67@citynet.net ". They do have internet in West VA, he is waiting for hi speed at his place.

Rodney writes:

June 6,

Ron ,

Sorry for not getting back to you sooner. Great to hear from you too. Tell Lisa I said Hi and glad to hear you guys are still together , ... so many are not after a few years of marriage. I'll try to get you up to date on me.

After PSU I went back to being the super at Glade Springs Resort in Daniels , WV. Later in the year ( 1991) I took the GCSAA Certication test and passed it. Was a Certified GC Supt. for 10 yrs. After a total of 26 yrs. at Glade , the company decided i didn't know how to do my job and in 2001 I was replaced by a GC Mgt. company out of Houston. I was divorced in 1997 after 25 yrs. of marriage. The good thing that came out of 2001 was that I found my current ( and last) wife Paula. We really enjoy each other and have a lot of things in common.

In 2003 I started work as branch mgr. and sales rep. for Lesco . Store was located in Charleston, WV and I was there until 2007 when Lesco was sold to John Deere Landscapes. I worked as a sales rep. for them until Nov. 2008. Brings me to my current job status which is still unemployed and looking. My wife has a part-time job and with unemployment benefits we are getting by.

I did mention to you I has a bout with adrenal cancer in 2006 and have been in remission since. It is a really rare cancer ,.... 1 in a million on average get it. I was lucky and blessed to have a good surgeon and a merciful God who took care of me. I say my thanks everyday and no matter what happens to me otherwise , as long as I'm healthy it's a great day!

Don't have a lot to say , ... not as interesting as life as some of our classmates I'm sure. But you know , I have to say I'm enjoying my life now as much as at any other time in my life. I want to say I have always been grateful that I met you and Jack at PSU. Don't know if I could have made it through without you guys. The time I spent there was very enjoyable because of you and Jack. Thanks for being such a good friend!

I wish you and yours the best in life ,.... and it's great to hear you are a daddy! Sounds like a great kid. Both of my boys are grown and gone. One is in California and the other in DC. Since the divorce I don't see them anymore. So please make the best of the time you have with your daughter when she is young. Things go by so fast and they don't always stay the same as we would like.

Take care ,

your hillbilly buddy, Rod.


Rodney also said Jack Holmes is still in Washingtonville, PA by Pittsburg - will see if I can track him down next.

Rodney will be our first classmate to turn 60 - this year.

Tech Update:

In my effort to learn new tricks - have added a Google "Social Bar" at very bottom of Blog window (do not have to scroll down, just make sure entire window is visible. Try it out - more on this concept later.

Stay cool.

Memorial Day

Hope you all had a good Memorial Day weekend, holiday weekends always seem too short.

Can't let Memorial Day go by without a recollection of our classmate Steve Collins.

Almost exactly 15 years ago, Lisa and I went to Europe - she wanted to visit a grad school classmate from France - I tagged along and we visited Stevie.

Picture is from that trip - he was taking care of a new Gary Player course in Belgium. Built on grand old estate, and he was living in the penthouse of the castle. Life was good.

We spent several memorable days touring the area. Then all 3 of us borrowed the course car and took the ferry to Great Britain - to visit Ken and Gaye. Checked out East Sussex and Ken's 300 year old cottage. Picture below was taken as we toured the course (note that Ken and I still had some top hair blowing in the wind.

The second was snapped while we inspected Ken's lawn. Quite a trip. Even went to Ken's pub for darts. When we left Ken's, we recrossed the English Channel on the exact 50th anniversary of "D Day" - a thought provoking event.

Stevie has been gone since May 26, 2003. He was 46.

Update

Seems fitting on Memorial Day that one of our classmates is hosting the Memorial Tournament. Tracked down Paul B. Latshaw, Jr - handling things at Muirfield Village.

May 2, 2009

Ron,

Great to hear from you. Never thought I would end up in Ohio, but Columbus is a pretty cool place. We are in full swing getting ready for the Memorial. I have two boys and my oldest just left work to go and take his temps for driving. Where has life gone. The link looks cool. Keep me posted and take care.

Paul B. Latshaw, MSM, CGCS

Director of Grounds Operations

Muirfield Village Golf Club


Hope this latest post finds you (and your turf) well.

Ron Hall

Tidbits

Hi guys.

Little self-promotion first. Just posted this model of Old Main at PSU to Google Earth's 3D Warehouse. Have been doing this type of thing for a few years now.

There s a detail page with info about the building, a download file, and links to more info about Old Main at this link . The model can be downloaded and viewed in Google Earth, or Google's free 3D software - SketchUp. If I get lucky, it will be included in Google Earth's default database "layer" 3D Buildings. Dedicated this one to our class.

This post is late this month because I just got back from my annual golf trip to Bandon Dunes on the Oregon coast. Called ahead and did a "meet and greet" with the head super, Ken Nice (Oregon State), who gave me a tour of the growin going on at their new course "Old MacDonald" - 100 % fescue. Turns out one of the assistants (Pacific Dunes course) is a Penn Stater. The growin assitant is considering Penn State's online program. Place is run by Kemper Sports - Vinnie's outfit. We play Ryder Cup type format - good time (translates to our team won this year).

Update on a couple fronts. Google Group/mailing list totals 14 at this point. Brian Rosenberg, Darren Davis, Jim Roland, John Hoyle, Ken Barber, Mike Miller, Ron Hall, Ron Mahaffey, Sam Dickson, Todd Voss, Tony Czarnecki, Vince Dodge, Doug Brooks, Bob Distel.

On March 21,

Ron,

Got the g-mail, now I need to download the google earth. When I recieved Vinces e-mail in January was about the time that our members bought us from Eagle Golf. Eventually we will have new e-mail addressess with the new owners, but they are allowing us to continue to use the eagle golf address until all our systems are in place.

Everything is good here, I talk to Hutch some and my wife and I went out to visit him a few years ago. I also see Todd some, due to we are both in the Columbus area.

Talk to you later!

John (Hoyle)

Have heard from a few more that have not set up gmail yet. Jake Lehman, Brian Culver, John Kulka, Fred Dinger.

Need to run down/contact: Doug Adams, Dennis Coplen, Jack Holmes, John "Hutch" Hutchison, Chuck Irvin, Pat Knouse, Lenny Marino, Mat Miller, Rob Mlynarski, Rodney Noel, Jeff Sutrick, Dave Weger, Jeff Wolfe, Matt Yount, and Paul Latshaw.

Darren sent me a link to a group called "Coursevision" that uses Google Earth to help with course management. Chatted them up, interesting group. Would be curious to know if anyone is using them. They are interested in this project.

Been in contact with the new head of the short course program, Dr. John E. Kaminski. He asked me to post the link to the new info/blog on the program http://psuturfgrass.blogspot.com/
He posted an entry on our effort a bit back.

Got to run.

Hope to run down a few more guys by my next post. Pass the word.