The Alabama Turfgrass Association (ATA) is a non-profit organization established in 1961 to:

Unite the supervising turfgrass management personnel of Alabama and Northwest Florida into a cooperative group for the collection, preservation, and dissemination of factual information concerning all aspects of their profession.

To improve and enhance the individual and collective efficiency and public prestige of the membership through education of the general public as to the values of Turfgrass to society.

To promote and support research, teaching, and extension efforts related to Turfgrass management at Auburn University.

Each year the Alabama Turfgrass Association holds educational events for all segments of the turfgrass industry. Five RoadShow Seminars are held throughout the state in January and February of each year, which offer a full day of educational topics specific to turfgrass management. Two fund-raising golf tournaments are held in March and April with educational sessions geared toward golf course superintendents. Every year ATA holds a Field Day which alternates between a Sod Producers Field Day and Sports Turf Field Day. The Field Days offer education for these industries as well as offering a chance to see and demonstration equipment on a sod farm or sports field respectively. ATA also hosts a three-day Annual Turfgrass Conference & Tradeshow which features over 20 educational sessions, a tradeshow with latest products and equipment offered to the turfgrass industry and social events such as the Membership Appreciation Dinner and Auction and Golf and Sporting Clay tournaments.

ATA has been active in lobbying for fair water rights and a legal workforce – two topics that are crucial to our industry. ATA has worked with the Green Industry Council and the Alabama Employers for Immigration Reform on these issues. These topics are and will continue to be an important issue for our industry and ATA is committed to push for fairness in regards to our industry. The Green Industry Economic Impact Study that ATA helps funds has proven a major benefit in getting our voice heard on these issues.

ATA is also committed to supporting turfgrass research. ATA holds two fund-raising golf tournaments each spring, The Mole Cricket Classic and the Poa annua Classic. 100% of the proceeds from these tournaments go directly to the Alabama Turfgrass Research Foundation, a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization which directly funds research projects. ATA also hosts a live auction at the Annual Turfgrass Conference where the proceeds go to the operating budget of the Auburn University Turfgrass Research Center, the state’s only turfgrass research facility.

For more information on the Alabama Turfgrass Association please contact us at Post Office Box 70, Auburn, Alabama 36831, telephone: 334.821.3000 or 1.866.246.4203 (toll free), fax: 334.821.3800, email: mailbox@alaturfgrass.org.

>> ATA Membership Information
>> ATA Membership Application

2010 ATA Board of Directors ...

Executive Committee:

• President: Jeff Oelmann, CGCS
  Grand National Golf Course - Opelika, AL
   
• Vice President: Tom Wolf
  Coosa Valley Turf Farms - Centre, AL
   
• Treasurer: James Bartley
  Southern Lawns - Montgomery, AL
   
• Past President: Pat White
  Southern Turfcare - Daphne, AL

Board of Directors:

• Kim Byram, Blackjack Horticulture - Birmingham, AL
• John Carter, Carter Sod Farm - Elmore, AL
• Jason Cooper, Birmingham Southern College - Birmingham, AL
• Bobby Farley, Phillip's Turf & Ornamentals - Pelham, AL
• Dr. Dave Han, PhD, Auburn University - Auburn, AL
• Glenn Hedden, Town of Loxley - Loxley, AL
• Scott Herron, Jerry Pate Turf & Irrigation - Alabaster, AL
• David Hubbard, Alabama Cooperative Extension System - Birmingham, AL
• Jeff Lee, CGCS, Valley Hill Country Club - Huntsville, AL
• Richard Murphy, Murphy Turf & Ornamental - Dothan, AL
• Paul Patterson, University of Alabama-Huntsville - Huntsville, AL

Executive Secretary:

• Tricia Roberts, Alabama Turfgrass Association - Auburn, AL

Alabama Turfgrass Research Foundation ...

The Foundation has funded research projects totaling over $75,000 during its first ten years of existence. Research commitments in the amount of $21,500 have been committed for 2008.

The Alabama Turfgrass Research Foundation relies strictly on donations. If you wish to help ATRF provide beneficial research to the turfgrass industry, please forward your tax-deductible contribution to the address below. We are very grateful for the support we have received from our industry and look forward to continuing our efforts for years to come.

>> Read More About The Alabama Turfgrass Research Foundation

President's Award of Excellence ...

The Alabama Turfgrass Association recognizes its members for their expertise, hard-work and dedication to the turfgrass industry with the President’s Award of Excellence each year. This award is presented at the Annual Conference and Tradeshow and it given to the member who manages exceptional turf, shows professionalism in their job performance and ability, promotes the turfgrass industry and is dedicated to their profession and ATA.

The President’s Award of Excellence awards four categories within the turfgrass industry: Sports Field/Complex of the Year, Landscape/Lawn of the Year, Sod Farm of the Year, Golf Course of the Year.

We encourage every member to submit an application for this year’s award before the September 1st deadline.

>> President’s Award of Excellence Application