Two superintendents, one each in Texas and Florida, recently were recognized for their work in government relations on behalf of the turf industry.
Chris Ortmeier, director of agronomy at Champions Golf Club in Houston, and Clinton Tingen, CGCS at Sandhill Crane Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, have been named Grassroots Ambassador Leadership Award winners by the GCSAA.
The Grassroots Ambassador Leadership Award recognizes those who have demonstrated growth in advocacy through congressional outreach and relationship development. Each wins a trip to participate in National Golf Day, scheduled for April 30-May 2 in Washington, D.C.
The award recognizes those who have demonstrated growth in advocacy through congressional outreach and is part of the Grassroots Ambassador program that matches superintendents with members of Congress to build relationships based on issues critical to the golf industry. Both superintendents win a trip to participate in National Golf Day, scheduled for April 30-May 2 in Washington, D.C., courtesy of The Toro Co.
More than 500 superintendents are participating in the program.
A graduate of the Texas Tech turfgrass program, Ortmeier has been at Champions Club for 11 years. As an ambassador since 2021, Ortmeier is paired with Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX).
In meetings with McCaul's staff members, Ortmeier (right) has addressed key legislation that affects pesticide products and labor issues, including the H-2B guest worker program.
He said being an ambassador has allowed him to be involved in the golf industry beyond his duties on the golf course, and that participating in the program has given him a greater understanding of the political process and the game's place in it.
"I have always jumped at any opportunity to do my part for GCSAA," Ortmeier said. "Being an ambassador doesn't require much prior political experience and, at its core, is about serving for the greater vitality of golf."
Ortmeier was president of the Lone Star GCSA in 2022 and has been on the chapter's board of directors since 2018.
In his fourth year as superintendent at Sandhill Crane, Tingen (right) has been an ambassador since 2020 and is paired with Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL). Before becoming an ambassador, Tingen believed legislators were well acquainted with issues affecting the golf industry. He has since learned that there is a need for education on issues such as the guest worker program, water use, pesticides and disaster relief.
"They didn't know the golf industry relies on H-2B visas or that golf was included in the 'sin list,' and it hit me that these people are all busy and fielding asks from everybody," he said. "If we don't have a seat at the table, our voice will not be heard. I'm glad I got involved and don't mind giving extra time to educate people about our industry."
Tingen stays in regular contact with several staff members from Mast's office. He has had the opportunity to meet with Mast and members of his office to discuss the H-2B program and the tax code bill that excludes golf from federal economic aid and disaster relief.
"We presented numbers about sustainability and golf's real water use, explaining how irrigation computers limit water use to reduce waste," Tingen said. "My advocacy efforts also include watching out for and responding to calls to action from the GCSAA government affairs department. Advocacy is important because although it may not pay off instantly, the relationships we build will help us out one day. We need to let people know that golf has good intentions and to ask them to keep us in mind when making decisions."