NTA Conference Lands Top Speakers

The 72nd edition of the annual conference of the Northwest Turfgrass Association has landed some top-notch national speakers for the gathering Oct. 28-30 in Walla Walla.

Dr. Elizabeth Guertal, a professor of turfgrass management and soil fertility at Auburn University, will give a presentation during each educational session at the conference. Her areas of expertise include soil fertility, turfgrass management and fertilizer nutrients in the turfgrass environment. Some of her students at Auburn University were on the winning team at the Collegiate TurfBowl at the Golf Industry Show in San Antonio.

Also on the docket for Walla Walla will be presentations about the extraordinary revamping of Rolling Hills Country Club in Los Angeles. To talk about the project that included moving 6 million cubic yards of dirt will be Bob Vaughey, the superintendent at Rolling Hills, and Nick Schaan of the David McLay Kidd Design firm who was the hands-on architect for the project.

The complete educational lineup will include numerous Northwest speakers and there will be presentations about the various research studies and education the NTA will support in 2018.

The conference schedule calls for golf at Wine Valley Golf Club on Sunday night, followed by a wine dinner at the nearby Three Rivers Winery. Education sessions will be held Monday and Tuesday mornings with another round of golf Monday afternoon at Walla Walla Country Club.

More information in the coming months will be available at www.nwturfgrass.net. You can also contact Paul Ramsdell, the executive director of the NTA, at mpsparks90@aol.com or 253-219-8360 for more information.