Articles

2026 Joint Meeting Recap

2026 Joint Meeting Recap
NHGCSA vs Maine GCSA
Cocheco CC
Host: Tony Perra

What a difference a year makes!  Last year’s event was cancelled due to relentless spring rain and well below average temperatures.  This year we were treated to a dry and sunny 80 degree day.  Thank you to Cocheco and all their staff for an incredible day.

After a light breakfast, registration, and raffle tickets players headed to the range and practice green to warm up.  10 am shotgun start and we were off.  Top 8 scores from each chapter would determine the winner. 

Not only were the players treated with good weather, but they also had an outstanding golf course to play.  The design of Cocheco is a classic New England layout.  Various slopes and contours, elevation changes, and strategy test all aspects of the game.  Hats off to Tony and his staff.  Conditions were fantastic.  Several new features have been built, drainage, and tree removal have elevated the course to a higher level than ever before.  Another great example of a successful operation. Well done Tony and company. 

After the round scores were tallied while players enjoyed some post round refreshments.  Congratulations to Jeff Brooks winning a brand-new Callaway wedge in our raffle.  After both teams scores were added up, NH edged out Maine in a super close match to retain the Cup Cutter Cup. 

NHGCSA               -14
Maine GCSASA     -11

Special thanks to our Sponsors for this event.  Their contributions make events like this possible.

Harrells - Breakfast
Target - Lunch
TGS Ryan Green - Contest Prizes
Heritage - Raffle prizes

See you all in Maine next year!

EJ Chea  

NHGCSA Golf Chair

Jeff Brooks Receives 2025 Master Sales Award

Jeff Brooks Receives 2025 Master Sales Award

Jeff Brooks began his career with Turf Products in 1987, and for nearly four decades has played a vital role in the company’s growth and success. Over the years, Jeff has consistently demonstrated exceptional dedication to both Turf Products and, more importantly, to the customers he serves.

Jeff’s commitment to excellence has been recognized multiple times throughout his career. He has previously earned the prestigious Blue Blazer for sales excellence in irrigation and the Green Blazer for excellence in commercial equipment sales — honors that reflect his deep product knowledge, work ethic, and unwavering customer focus.

This year, at the Annual Toro Awards Ceremony held during the GCSAA Conference and Trade Show, Jeff was awarded the 2025 Master Sales Award — the highest level of recognition bestowed by The Toro Company.

This distinguished honor recognizes sustained sales excellence, leadership, and long-term impact within the industry.

Jeff’s career stands as a testament to professionalism, integrity, and a relentless commitment to helping customers succeed. Please join us in congratulating Jeff on this remarkable and well-deserved achievement.

August 2025 Presidents Message

Hello all,

As time always seems to be flying by uncontrollably, we are halfway through the summer already and I hope everyone is having a fantastic season with healthy turf and happy golfers! I’m sure a lot of you, just like me, are looking forward to the start of the transition out of the peak of summer in a couple more weeks. Not that I don’t mind it, but a nice crisp fall day would certainly hit the spot.

I would first like to thank everyone for being a part of the NHGCSA and continuing to be valued members. With July 1^st having been the start of the membership renewal period for the coming year I hope for those who have completed renewal that you had an easy and smooth experience, if you by chance have not renewed yet, please visit www.nhgcsa.com to complete your membership renewal. You have 90 days after membership expires on June 30^th to log in and renew. After 90 days, access to login to the NHGCSA website will be lost. Don’t delay!   

This year’s Goldball Scholarship Tournament is being held at Baker Hill Golf Club on Monday September 22^nd. is sure to be another great event. Thank you to the host superintendent, Andrew Updegrove for enthusiastically working with the board to give the association another great venue for this event. Looking forward to another great fundraising event!

We are also looking forward to continuing to the NHGCSA Mini-Meeting Series this coming fall after having had two Mini-Meetings this past June. Thanks are due to host superintendents Gary Summerton of Newport Golf Club and Randy Weeks of Laconia Country Club. Tentatively we have three more mini meetings in the works. These meetings are intended to be about comradery, conversation, and networking. I encourage everyone to try and make one of these events, we have strived to have the meeting locations be a healthy mix throughout the state to give everyone opportunity to attend a meeting in your “neighborhood.” More details to come soon on this fall’s NHGCSA Mini-Meeting Series dates and locations.  

Looking forward to this fall and seeing all of you at the Goldball Scholarship Tournament and hopefully a mini meeting or two. Enjoy the rest of your summer season but keep those syringe hoses handy!

Regards,

Matthew Fiorentino

President NHGCSA

Profile Club

He Got It Done!

1981- I was the Golf Superintendent at Keene Country Club when I met
Jim- the Superintendent at Pine Grove Springs. Jim accomplished so so
much in the golf industry! I don’t know where to start, but I will do my
best. Jim had a real love for his 9-hole Golf Course. He would speak
with a passion of how valuable short golf courses were. He did an
amazing job with Pine Grove Golf Course. Jim taught me so much being
my course neighbor. We would visit each other often. He showed me
the art of conserving when it came to budgets. Shortly after we met he
joined the NHGCSA Board and within a few years he served as
President. While he was President one of his goals was to encourage
Golf Course Superintendents to join the NHGCSA. He also wanted more
Superintendents from other 9-hole courses to join. Jim was always
capable of exciting the members when he spoke. He was truly a great
educator. Jim served the association past his terms as President. In the
late nineties we were about to do our last Turf and Trade show
conference. The committee included Jim, Bob Hobbs and myself. It was
a difficult time but Jim kept us focused and together. We were able to
‘get it done’ with flying colors. Jim once again showed his grit while
taking a second term as president. This was not an easy job. He proved
himself to be an incredible leader and he got it done.
After selling his golf course he came back as a volunteer on the NHGCSA
Board. He took on the job of contacting members around the State and
encouraging them to join the NHGCSA.
Though I could go on and on, I know I must conclude this article. I have
not even mentioned all the awards Jim accomplished. But Jim was
never about the awards, he as about getting it done. Jim was one of the

most down to earth people, with a sense of humor that would make
anyone who met him laugh.

My sincere condolences to Nancy Hillier and their family along with the
NHGCSA.

You will always be missed Jim.

J. Barrie Robertson