About OTF

History

The turf program at Oregon State essentially began when Tom Cook joined the faculty at OSU in 1977. During his tenure at OSU Tom taught turf grass management to hundreds of students, many of whom have gone on to become very successful Golf Course Superintendents and industry leaders. Tom also conducted many turf trials which gave us incredibly valuable information and programs which guided us in the use of fertilizers, fungicides, herbicides and insecticides in the Pacific Northwest. Part of Tom’s responsibilities at OSU was extension. He solved turf grass problems which ran the gamut from inane homeowner questions, to visiting golf courses and sports turf fields in the Pacific Northwest and for that matter all around the globe. Tom Cook’s career at Oregon State University spanned over 30 years culminating in his retirement in September 2008. 

In 2001 a group of Golf Course Superintendents formed the Oregon Golf Course Superintendents Association Foundation with the intent on raising one million dollars to endow Tom Cook’s position following his retirement. The OGCSA Foundation was the precursor to what is now the Oregon Turfgrass Foundation. To date, the OTF has raised over $1,000,000 through individual and corporate donations as well as proceeds from the annual OTF Golf Tournament and contributions from the OGA and OGCSA.

In 2009 the Foundation was able to donate $50,000 to Oregon State University which lead to the hiring of Dr Rob Golembiewski. Combined with a generous donation of $1 million dollars from the late OSU alumnus, Nat Giustina, the professorship at Oregon State is now fully endowed. In 2012, Dr. Golembiewski left the budding OSU Turfgass program.

In January of 2013, Oregon State University, with assistance from the OTF and other industry representatives, aided in the hiring of the new Turfgrass Professor, Dr. Alec Kowalewski.  Dr. Kowalewski received his Master’s and Ph.D. from Michigan State University.  Prior to joining Oregon State University as the Turfgrass Specialist, Kowalewski taught at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and worked as a Research Scientist at the University of Georgia Turf Breeding Program in Tifton, GA.  Kowalewski has also served as a resident consultant at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China and a Briggs & Stratton Yard Smarts expert.  Dr. Kowalewski has been a guest lecturer on a state, national and international level and has released several publications related to golf, sports and municipal turf management.  His research background includes organic weed control, sports turf management, sod production, pre- and post- emergent herbicide use, golf green management and the development of sustainable turfgrass cultivars. 

Board of Directors

otf@oregonturfgrassfoundation.org

Gordon Kiyokawa

President

Gordon Kiyokawa

Royal Oaks Country Club

Rod Nelson

President Elect

Rod Nelson

Royal Throne

Russell Vandehey

Secretary

Russell Vandehey, CGCS

The Oregon Golf Club

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Treasurer

Robert Senseman, CGCS

GCSAA

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Director

Ryan Bancroft

Ground FX Landscape Management

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Director

Shane Hadwick

Orchard Hills Golf & Country Club

Gabe Hughes

Director

Gabe Hughes

Turf Star/Western Equipment

Brian Koffler

Director

Brian Koffler

Waverly Country Club

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Director

Bo Lacy, CGCS

Barenbrug USA

David Phipps

Director

David Phipps

GCSAA

Randy Rider

Director

Randy Rider

Syngenta Professional Products

Director

Patrick Siver

gEvents, LLC

Barbara Trammell

Director

Barbara Trammell

Retired, Oregon Golf Association

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Director

Charles Wolsborn

Gresham Golf Course

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Director

Kurt Wright

Simplot

Sally Cheyne

Executive Director

Sally Cheyne
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Board Liaison

Alec Kowalewski, Ph.D.

Oregon State University

Advisors/Counsel

Gavin Amato Financial Advisor
Steve Brenner Ethics Advisor
Greg Crawford Marketing Advisor
Barney Hyde Founding Member
Jon Spoelstra Marketing Advisor
Mike Trimboli Legal Counsel
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