Ben McGargill, CGCS host
Cost for the Day: Regular and Class E Members - $90 All other Member Registrations - $45
Agenda: 7:30 AM Arrival, Registration, Continental Breakfast 8:00 AM – Welcome, Invocation, Tribute: MAGCS Annual Meeting and Year in Review 8:30 AM – 1001 Things That Can Kill Bentgrass. Dr. Lee Miller, Purdue University 9:30 AM – Planning for Your Future Financial Health. Brian Dexl, Heritage Planning Partners
10:30 AM – Morning Break
10:45 AM – Maximizing Fungicide Applications on Putting Greens to Push Through a Challenging Environment. Dr. Lee Miller, Purdue University 11:45 AM – Midwest Election/Lunch
12:45 PM – Election Outcome/MAGCS Awards: Editorial / Golf Championship 1:00 PM – Developing a Tree Management Plan for Your Golf Course. Tom Gould, USGA 2:00 PM – Managing Course #3 After the Renovation. Nick Bell, Medinah CC, Course #3 Superintendent 2:30 PM – CDGA Research Initiatives and Results. "Monitoring Annual Bluegrass Weevil (ABW) Activity at two Chicago Golf Courses: Phenology vs. GDD Models". Shebaz Singh, CDGA 3:00 PM – Gavel Pass and Presidential Address
3:30 PM - Conclusion
Brian Dexl – Brian started his career in 2004 with Mosaic Financial Group, where he focused on asset management for HNW clients and eventually worked his way up to a management position. In 2019, his neighbor told him about Heritage Planning Partners and its mission to provide purpose-driven financial planning. Brian loved the culture, values, and growth mindset at Heritage, and in 2020, he joined the team as an associate financial representative. Brian has a degree in finance from Western Illinois University and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional. He also has his Series 65 and 7 registrations and has completed the Dale Carnegie Course®.
Dr. Lee Miller is the associate professor and state extension specialist in turfgrass pathology at Purdue University. Subjects of past and current research include detection of dollar spot fungicide resistance, fairy ring identification and prevention utilizing spring fungicide applications, the effects of fertility and fungicide application methods on large patch and spring dead spot control, detection of Pythium spp. in golf course irrigation water, and characterization of nematode distribution in putting green soil profiles in the Midwest.
Tom Gould is based in Geneva, Illinois, and is a consulting agronomist for the USGA Green Section. Tom received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Horticulture with an emphasis in Turfgrass Management from Iowa State University. While completing his master’s degree, Tom worked full-time as a Research Scientist, managing turfgrass areas and research trials. He was additionally an integral part of the field renovation of Jack Trice Stadium- Iowa State’s football field. Before joining the USGA staff, Tom was the assistant golf course superintendent at Chicago Golf Club in Wheaton, Illinois.
Midwest Equipment Manager Training Thursday, December 11, 2025
Westmoreland Country Club 2601 Old Glenview Rd Wilmette, IL
Agenda: 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Lunch Included Cost: $25 Member Technician $45 per Non-Member Technician
Topic: Fundamentals of Turfgrass Operations EMCP Level 1 Speaker: Austin Wright, CTEM, Hazeltine National Golf Club
The Midwest is launching a series of educational seminars for Equipment Managers to support their progress in GCSAA’s Equipment Manager Certification Program (EMCP). This seminar will provide the essential information needed to complete the first level of the program. Austin Wright is the CTEM at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota, and will lead the training.
Several other CTEMs will be present to assist and guide attendees with the information. They include: Jason Goebel, Blue Mound CC, John Niemic, Westmoor CC, Matt Radatz, Hawks Landing, Jason Fonatana, Medinah CC, Justin Prescott, Kenosha CC, and MAGCS Advisor Ryan Deering, Westmoreland CC.
All Equipment Managers are invited to attend, even if they are not working toward certification at this time; they will undoubtedly learn from this topic and subsequent discussion. Thank you to Rain Bird for providing the lunch for the group.
2026 Hospitality Contribution Excludes Core Sponsors
The Midwest has reserved the facility from 7:00 - 11:00 P.M. Midwest members and guests will be present. Don't miss this opportunity to place your company at the forefront of the Midwest membership. Sponsor Level Rate Looping Video Double Eagle $1,800 Full Page Hole-in-One $1,300 Half Page Eagle $1,000 One Third Page Birdie $800 One Fourth Page Par $600 One Fifth Page
The Midwest has reserved the facility from 7:00 - 11:00 P.M. Midwest members and guests will be present. Don't miss this opportunity to place your company at the forefront of the Midwest membership.
In addition to your company being included in our looping video, you'll be listed on event signage, on our website, in On Course and our membership directory. You'll also have the opportunity to help at the registration table to greet guests and customers as they attend the most popular event the Midwest hosts all year long. Consider being a part of our "Golden Tee Club" at our 2026 Hospitality Reception. Individual Sponsorship - If you’d like to personally sponsor ($150) the hospitality reception, please contact Luke Cella to make arrangements.
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