The RMRTA Conference Course Descriptions

Our annual conference brings together professionals from golf courses, sports fields, and more for an exceptional educational and networking experience. Also, our conference provides valuable insights and industry updates to help you stay ahead of the curve. Join us for a dynamic event that brings together the best and brightest in the turfgrass industry.

Workshops - Tuesday, December 2, 2025

7AM - 8AM - Registration & Breakfast

Pesticide Applicator Prep Workshop - 8AM-3PM

  • Pesticide Applicator Prep Course - Lisa Blecker - CSU - Prelicense PREP course will explain basic principles for the safe and effective use of pesticides and will follow the general commercial applicator study guide.

The Tactical Technician Hands-on Workshop @ RainDance National Golf Course - 8AM-3PM - Sponsored by Colorado Golf & Turf

  • Tactical Technician Workshop - Hector Velazquez - In this session we cover Wrench techniques that will set you aside from the “average” Wrench. These hands-on techniques will equip you to be The Tactical Technician. -Proper Solder Skills • How not to just “Strip” a wire’s insulation • Using Crimp on style terminals • How to properly Tin a wire • Properly make wire connections • How to insulate your repair -Aluminum “Welding” using low temp aluminum rods • How to prep aluminum • How to prep Aluminum Low Temp Rods • The learning curve -Plastic Welding using an Airless Plastic Welder • Identifying type of plastic for repair • Prepping plastic surface for repair • Rebar for support using an old air filter • Welding techniques -Plastic Gouge Repair with tools around the shop • Using Tools, we already have to repair gouges in plastic

AM Workshops - 8AM-11AM

  • Sports Field Irrigation A To Z-Including The Things You Were Afraid To Ask - Brad Jakubowski - Penn State University - This workshop will take you through all of the major concepts of irrigation: Why we water. Why it's important for the field, society, and beyond. Irrigation equipment, components, traditional systems vs. 2-wire, scheduling, and troubleshooting. Understand the importance of irrigation audits. There will be a forum and Q&A period to help attendees address problems present and past. Attendees may also get wet (hey, it's irrigation!).
  • Turf and Weedy Grass Identification (Category 206) - Pamela Sherratt - THE Ohio State University - This talk provides a practical guide to identifying common turfgrass species and distinguishing them from grassy weeds. Attendees will learn how to spot key differences between desirable turf species and weeds, so that informed decisions can be made about weed control and other turfgrass maintenance practices.

11AM- 12PM - Lunch Provided

PM Workshops -12PM-3PM

  • Woody Plant CSI: An In-Depth Dive Into Diagnostics (Category 207) - Dr. Alison O'Connor, Eric Hammond - Colorado State University - Join Eric and Alison for an in-depth presentation into woody plant diagnostics. They will present case studies and examples from their Extension interactions. An introduction to diagnostics and woody plant identification will be included during this workshop.
  • Hands On Spreader and Sprayer Calibrations - Weston Floyd - Texas A&M University - I will discuss how to calibrate spreaders and sprayers.

Wednesday, December 3, 2025

7:00AM-8:00AM

  • Registration and Breakfast

8:00AM-9:00AM

  • General Session & Keynote Speaker - Darren Davis, CGCS - Olde Florida Golf Club - Tips For Success From A Tenured Superintendent - Davis a 33-year member, and 82nd President of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America was hired as the golf course superintendent at the Olde Florida Golf Club in 1992 and remains in the same position today. Davis feels fortunate to have stumbled upon the career and will provide his view point on what has lead to his tenure and success in the industry.

9:00AM-4:00PM

  • Turf Industry Trade Show Open

9:00AM-10:00AM

  • Jim Urbina - Jim Urbina Golf Design - The Evolution Of A Golf Course - A Power Point presentation describing both a true restoration and modified restoration / sympathetic restoration and how they are formulated.
  • Brad Jakubowski - Penn State University - Irrigation Scheduling: Dialing It In, Getting It Right - Scheduling irrigation, making the right decisions at the right time and for the right amount of time can be a daunting task. We will look at the factors that influence irrigation and the tools used to make the best decisions possible about applying the right amount of water at the best time.
  • Dr. Bryan Hopkins - Brigham Young University - Soil Science Simplified: Nutrient, pH, Salt, Sodium, & OM Management - This presentation simplifies soil science by teaching practical strategies for managing nutrients, pH, salt, sodium, and organic matter to improve plant and soil health.
  • Don Frantz - Wilbur Ellis - Plant Growth Regulators 101 (Category PF) - The presentation will cover the basics of plant growth regulators and how different families of PGR’s affect turfgrass, woody plants, and ornamentals and understanding what features to consider.
  • Hector Velazquez - Hector's Shop - Technician Beyond The Wrench - In this session we go over basic Wrench behavior: • Communicating effectively with Superintendent • Communicating effectively with Crew Members • Professional Wrench • The Wrench and Social Media • Shop Organization Ideas (It’s Not in The Budget)
  • Will LaPoint - SavATree - I will be discussing the current bills going through the legislative process that affect our industry. I will also discuss any new laws or bills that went into effect this year and what the members need to know to stay in compliance with them.

10:00AM-11:00AM

  • Darren Davis, CGCS - Olde Florida Golf Club - How To Set Yourself Apart & Remain Relevant In The Golf Course Management Profession - Darren J. Davis, CGCS, a 36-year member, and 82nd President of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, uses stories and real-life examples to demonstrate the importance of communication, professionalism and self-promotion as a way to set yourself apart and remain relevant in the golf course management profession.
  • Eric Pollock - G&S Solutions - Laser Grading Sports Fields: Method & Application For The Perfect Playing Surface - Visual presentation with some open demonstration and audience participation.
  • Scott Hosie - Pro Green & Turf - Sprayer Maintenance & Repair, Ensuring Efficiency & Longevity - This presentation will cover major components of a sprayer, best practices for maintenance and repair, and tips for diagnosis.
  • Taylor Turner-Weaver - Numerator Technologies - Improving Product Efficacy (Category 206) - Water: the smallest factor that makes the greatest difference. Discussion on water quality parameters and how they influence tank mixes such as reduced solubility, decreased absorption, decreases half-life, pesticide Degradation, and how the way water moves affects how effective spray tank applications are.
  • Pamela Sherratt - THE Ohio State University - Predicting & Diagnosing Turf Problems + Quiz (Category 206) - Sharpen your turf troubleshooting skills by learning how to spot early warning signs and diagnose common issues. Gain confidence in identifying turf problems quickly, reducing downtime and treatment costs—plus test your knowledge in a fun, interactive quiz.
  • Francisco Recendez - lawnCare Solutions - (Spanish) Upgrading Existing Irrigation Systems with New Technologies/Sistemas de Riego Existentes con Nuevas Tecnologías - Introduction of implementing new technologies into existing systems, where we are not able to replace the whole system. How do we begin making older systems operate more efficiently and to save water using new technologies./Introduction de la implementación de nuevas tecnologías en sistemas existentes, donde no podemos reemplazar todo el sistema. ¿Cómo comenzamos a hacer que los sistemas más antiguos funcionen de manera más eficiente y ahorren agua utilizando nuevas tecnologías?

11:00AM-12:00PM

  • Turf Industry Trade Show Open - Pedersen Toyota Center Building - No Classes At This Time

12:00PM-1:00PM

  • Lunch Served on Trade Show Floor - Pedersen Toyota Center Building - No Classes At This Time

1:00PM-2:00PM

  • Josh Truan - Gamble Sands GC, Idaho - My Story - The growth and development from 16years old to building and Growing in 3 golf courses.
  • Ryan Bartlett - Sanctuary Tree - Pollinator Safety (Category EP) - Reducing environmental impacts of pesticides through proper timing and application techniques.
  • Dr. Bryan Hopkins - Brigham Young University - Optimizing Turfgrass Nutrition With Tissue & Soil Analysis - This presentation explores advanced strategies for turfgrass nutrition using integrated plant tissue and soil analysis.
  • Travis Matoush - Underwater Recovery - Aquatic Weed and Algae Treatment and Identification (Category 108) - Look at different weeds and algae common to Colorado ponds and lakes. Talk about treatment methods to control them.
  • Josh Koss (Harrells), Daniel Peer (Pioneer Athletics), Kevin Hicks (Earthworks), Shawn Fopma (PBI Gordon) - Diving Into The Sales Representative- Grounds Manager Relationship - Wish your sales representative was more in tune to what you’re trying to accomplish daily? Do you wish you would increase sales with your customers? This presentation is a panel discussion between grounds managers and sales representatives (both distributor and manufacturer) that will touch on how to provide value to each other in the turf manager-sales working relationship.
  • Hector Velazquez - Hector's Shop - The Tactical Technician - In this session we cover basic Wrench techniques that will set you aside from the “average” Wrench.

2:00PM-3:00PM

  • Lew Sharpe - Tee-2-Green - Harvesting & Cleaning Bentgrass - We are the oldest / first seeded bentgrass company in the world, we actually had to invent how to harvest bentgrass seed and clean it.
  • Spencer Bernard - Northern Water - Optimizing Landscape Management For Water Efficiency - This presentation will share observations from Northern Water’s Water Efficiency department’s efforts to implement various landscape maintenance adjustments in the Conservation Garden. These observations were aimed at reducing maintenance costs and water use in cool-season turf grasses, identifying water use benchmarks for alternative turf types, and distinguishing cost effective strategies to reduce outdoor water use.
  • Dr. Marta Pudzianowski - Mississippi State University - Warm-Season Turfgrasses – Breeding & Selecting For Sustainability (Category 207) - Warm-season turfgrass breeding programs across southern United States have been working for years to anticipate needs and create sustainable turfgrasses that provide good quality and playability, while using less resources. New cultivars of bermudagrass and other warm-season species with improved tolerance to various stresses, including drought, shade, diseases and pests, has been released in last few years, and some more are coming soon. This talk will present current selection of warm-season turfgrasses, with focus on bermudagrass, their performance under reduced inputs, especially irrigation, and discuss what to look for when choosing your perfect grass.
  • Spencer Jordan - DBC Irrigation - Smart Irrigation Retrofits - I think it's time to retrofit my landscape irrigation portfolio. What should I prioritize?
  • Pamela Sherratt - THE Ohio State University - Top 10 Athletic Field Tips - Learn 10 practical, high-impact tips to boost field quality, safety, and playability. Walk away with simple strategies that reduce costs, extend field life, and improve athlete experience.
  • Ryan Newman - Denver Broncos - Growing The Industry With Social Media - Follow a year journey with the Denver Broncos Turf Department at Empower Field at Mile High and Broncos Park Powered by CommonSpirit. See how decisions are made and how plans are executed to support football operations and revenue generating events.

3:00PM-4:00PM

  • Josh Truan - Gamble Sands GC, Idaho - Building A Team For The Future - Building a team from nothing and cultivating growth from within while constantly expanding the property.
  • Brad Jakubowski - Penn State University - Severe Weather Safety: What You Don't Know May Shock You! - Each year people are killed or seriously injured by thunderstorms and associated severe despite advanced warning. This seminar is intended to assist turf managers become more aware of the potential hazards associated with severe weather, learn to spot the signs of impending severe weather and provide guidelines for making storm-related safety decisions.
  • Don Frantz - Wilbur Ellis - Improving Efficacy In Pesticide Applications (Category 206) - The presentation will cover the basics of adjuvant use in a spray program, and how the use of adjuvants improves pesticide spraying efficacy and efficiency.
  • Dr. Tamla Blunt - Colorado State University - How To Read A Pesticide Label (Category AS) - This presentation will walk through how to read a pesticide label, as well as what information is contained on the label for user safety.
  • Weston Floyd - Texas A&M University - Everyday Cultural Practices and Why They Matter - I will discuss several options for cultural practices, the importance of each and why they are needed.
  • Francisco Santiago - BASF - (Spanish) The Principles of Weed Control/ Los Principios de Control de Malezas (Category 207) - We will discuss the principles of weed control in ornamental & landscape beds using the practices of Integrated Pest Management, identifying Plant Life Cycles, Weed Identification and how pre & post herbicides work. Discutiremos los principios del control de malezass en camas ornamentales utilizando las prácticas de Manejo Integrado de Plagas, identificando los Ciclos de Vida de las Plantas, la Identificación de malezas y cómo funcionan los herbicidas pre y post emergentes.

Thursday, December 4, 2025

7:00AM-8:00AM

  • Registration and Breakfast

8:00AM-12:00PM

  • Turf Industry Trade Show Open - Pedersen Toyota Center Building - No Classes At This Time

8:00AM-12:00PM

  • Pesticide Applicators Core Credits - Lisa Blecker - Colorado State University - Core Credit CEU will provide the following 5 core commercial applicator credits in this order. A speaker from CDA will provide 2 credits for laws and regulations.
  • 8:00-9:00 - Laws & Regulations - CDA Speaker
  • 9:00-9:15 - Break
  • 9:15-9:45 - P/F: Label Reading. Applicators will learn and practice how to read the pesticide label. They will know where to look to find the information they need to know to make safe and effective pesticide applications. Applicators will know where to look to find the brand name, identify what active ingredient(s) are in their formulation, the mode of action of the product, the formulation, where to look for application methods, rates, and crops/sites approved for use in the directions for use section, where to look for safety and hazard information in the precautionary statements section, and where to look for storage and disposal information.
  • 9:45-10:15 - E/P: ESA Update Applicators will learn about the EPA requirements regarding the Endangered Species Act and pesticide applications. Applicators will learn how they can use the label and other resources to comply with these new requirements. Up-to-date information regarding EPA's progress on implementing ESA changes will be provided.
  • 10:15-10:45 - U/P: Weather-Proofing Your Application This presentation will cover best practices for planning and making effective pesticide applications while managing the following weather conditions; wind, heat, and precipitation. Pesticide efficacy as well as human and environmental safety will be discussed. Label requirements regarding drift management, runoff reduction, and environmental hazards will be discussed.
  • 10:45-11:00 - Break
  • 11:00-11:30 - A/S: Common PPE Mistakes. This presentation will provide an overview of personal protective equipment (PPE), and how to know what to wear when handling pesticides. We will review common PPE-related violations reported by the Colorado Department of Agriculture, and outline how to avoid these common mistakes.
  • 11:30-12:00 - P/S: Maintaining Public Safety During Pesticide Applications. This presentation will address ways to avoid harming the public and bystanders when making pesticide applications in urban and non-urban settings. The focus will be on notification requirements and employee training requirements. The presentation will also outline resources for addressing these issues.

8:00AM-9:00AM

  • Adam Thoms - Iowa State University - Developing A Topdressing Program For Your Turfgrass - Topdressing: Topdressing is one of the most important practices for quality turfgrass, however it is also one of the most misunderstood. Mistakes in topdressing can cause a field to fail.
  • Daniel McCann - The Aquatrols Company - Wetting Agents In Lawn Care: Tools For Healthier, More Resilient Turf - Participants will walk away with a basic understanding of wetting agents and how they can enhance their turf management program.
  • Bryce Bahe - Nutrien Solutions - Soil Sample Collection & Testing - Guidelines for soil sample collection, testing, and interpretation.
  • Weston Floyd - Texas A&M University - Technology For Sports Field Management - I will discuss different types of technologies, from GPS equipment, drones, and sensors.
  • Zachary New - Joseph & Hall P.C. Immigration Law Specialists - Introduction To H-2B Visa Usage & Updates To Program Discussion of the H-2B “Temporary Nonagricultral Worker” visa, its requirements, and how it can be used by companies to supplement their U.S. workforce in a tight labor market where U.S. workers are not available. Additionally, we will discuss updates to the program from the Department of Labor and Department of Homeland Security, and planned or anticipated changes out of Congress.

9:00AM-10:00AM

  • Darren Davis, CGCS - Olde Florida Golf Club - Enhancing Your Brand & Ultimately Your Marketability In The Golf Course Management Profession - Darren J. Davis, CGCS, a 36-year member, and 82nd President of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, covers a variety of topics designed to help you present yourself at the highest level and become the “author of your own destiny.” The presentation is for anyone looking for tips and techniques to enhance their marketability in the golf course management industry.
  • Dr. Marta Pudzianowski - Mississippi State University - Water Management For Warm-Season Turfgrasses - Water can be a considerable expense in turfgrass management. Adopting warm-season turfgrass species can save you some water and money already, but what about pushing it further? Here are some tips and research updates on water management. This talk will discuss practices and techniques improving irrigation, with emphasis on warm-season turfgrasses, however most of them are applicable to cool-season too.
  • Mark Pickrel - Wilbur Ellis - Backpack Calibration: Tools, Tips & Tricks For Your Most Accurate Calibration - This hands on class will cover all aspects of backpack calibration from selecting the right nozzle to tips for minimizing drift.
  • Ryan Newman - Denver Broncos - A Year With The Denver Broncos Turf Department - Follow a year journey with the Denver Broncos Turf Department at Empower Field at Mile High and Broncos Park Powered by CommonSpirit. See how decisions are made and how plans are executed to support football operations and revenue generating events.
  • Robert Gonzales - Nutrien Solutions - (Spanish) Understanding NPK Numbers, Labels & Rates - 1. All products have NPK numbers and a label. I will explain what each label means – and how to interpret the NPK analysis – and properly use it, based on the label.

10:00AM-11:00AM

  • Adam Thoms - Iowa State University - Plant and Soil Interactions - Plant and soil: Soil and tissue tests are necessary to understand what is needed for plant growth, however they are often hard to understand. This talk covers what a good soil and tissue test would look like for healthy turfgrass.
  • Dr. Derek Sebastian - ENVU & Alan Hopkins - ENVU - Strategies For Developing A Successful Right-Of-Way Vegetation Management Program (Category 109) - The presentation will cover key considerations for vegetation management on Rights-of-Way including total vegetation management (bare ground) and the effective use of residual herbicides with selective and non-selective attributes. Recognition of herbicide resistance management and the importance of mixing multiple effective herbicide sites of action for sustainable weed control is critical. Other considerations include management goals such as worker safety, labor and equipment costs, environmental concerns, public safety, lines of sight, equipment hazards, aesthetics, and more.
  • Todd Land - Buffalo Brand Seed - Native Grass Installation Or Conversion - How to install or convert current turf areas into useful native areas. We will address installation techniques, species for different uses and expexctations for the establishment.
  • Matt Anderson - The Toro Company - Trends In Turfgrass Maintenance - I will discuss trends that I see in my travels for The Toro Company. The focus will be on equipment and technology trends in the sports field and grounds management markets I focus on.
  • Siivi Melorango & Leah Martland - CDPHE - Regulation 29: 2025 Feedback & Plans For Next Year - A discussion of Regulation 29 and the first year of implementation, answering questions on reporting, and addressing any additional concerns.

11:00AM-12:00PM

  • Joe Langton - Automated Outdoor Solutions - The Numbers Will Help You Decide If Automation Is Your Friend - We all know Automation will help the golf operations, but until you identify your current costs per acre how can you make informed decisions.
  • Whitney Cranshaw - Colorado State University - Aphids (Category 207) - Many hundreds of species of aphids are present in the Rocky Mountain region and few plants avoid hosting one or more type of these ubiquitous insects. Aphids have many unusual habits regarding how they develop and their association with plant, and a better understanding of these can help improve how they can be best managed. This will be an in-depth discussion of these important insects, including ways they can be controlled, if necessary.
  • Wes Eppele - BASF - CO Turf Disease Prevention & Control (Category 206) - This course will cover an IPM approach to disease management for turfgrasses in Colorado. Colorado has long been thought of as an area with diminished plant disease pressure, but recent years have shown an increase in fungicide applications for common turfgrass diseases. This presentation will provide an overview to disease control strategies in the Rocky Mountain region.
  • Lew Sharpe - Tee 2 Green - Future Proofing By Inter-seeding With Creeping Bentgrass At Any Budget - This seminar will explore the practical and agronomic benefits of interseeding putting greens, with a focus on maintaining elite turf quality while managing costs. Whether you’re working with a high-end renovation budget or limited resources, this session will provide strategies to introduce improved bentgrass cultivars, enhance turf density, increase disease and stress tolerance, and extend the lifespan of existing greens.
  • John Hahn - CDPS - DOT Safety - What is expected of a DOT regulated driver, pre trip Inspection and load securement.
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