MIGCSA.org

Detroit Golf Club announces retirement on long time green superintendent, Clem Wolfrom

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:00:01 GMT

Clem Wolfrom, who will mark his 50th year as golf course superintendent of the Detroit Golf Club in March 2012, has announced his plan to retire on March 1, 2013. A national search process has commenced to find a qualified individual to become the 7th green superintendent in the 112 year history of the Detroit Golf Club.

Mr. Wolfrom is a second generation golf course superintendent. His father, Clarence Wolfrom, was the golf course superintendent at the Maple Lane Golf Club in Sterling Heights, Michigan for 54 years. Following his graduation from Michigan State University with a degree in Ornamental Horticulture, Clem served as the golf course superintendent at the Dearborn Country Club for six years before coming to the Detroit Golf Club in 1962. With his passion for the game and detailed record keeping, Mr. Wolfrom has overseen the maintenance, nurturing and continuous improvements that have made the Detroit Golf Club’s North and South courses great tests of golf and a pleasure to play by its members and guests.

During his long and distinguished career in golf course management, Mr. Wolfrom has been active in various professional associations related to the golf course management industry. He served on the Board of Directors of the Michigan Golf Course Superintendent’s Association for 22 years and was president for 4 years. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Michigan Turfgrass Association for 12 years and was president for 2 years. He also served on the Board of Directors for the Midwest Regional Turfgrass Association for 3 years and was instrumental in forming the Founders Society for the Michigan Turfgrass Association that includes golf course superintendents in metropolitan Detroit and Windsor, Canada.

Detroit Golf Club is one of America’s great golf and country clubs. The beautifully wooded 219 acres located within the city limits of Detroit contain two Donald Ross designed 18-hole courses and a rambling Old English style clubhouse designed by Albert Kahn that are a standing tribute to the prominent group of forward thinking Detroiters who formed the Club in 1899. Horton Smith, one of golf’s great legends and winner of the inaugural Masters Tournament served as head golf professional from 1946 to 1963. The tradition and heritage that was established in those years has been preserved through a diversified membership that continues to carry forward those venerable traditions.

For Further Information Contact:
Todd Beals, Chief Operating Officer
Detroit Golf Club
17911 Hamilton Road
Detroit, MI 48203
Tel: 313.345.4400
tbeals@detroitgolfclub.org
www.detroitgolfclub.org

Congratulations MiGCSA Scholarship Winners

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 00:00:01 GMT

The MiGCSA is happy to announce the 2011 Heritage and Student Scholarships.These will be presented to the winners at the GLTE on Wednesday morning January 11th at the Turfgrass Talk Show.

There were 8 applicants for the Heritage Scholarships available and each district was awarded one Heritage Scholarship.These scholarships are available to dependents of MiGCSA current members and are judged and chosen by the MiGCSA Scholarship and Awards Chairman Scott Pulaski, Superintendent at Walloon Lake Country Club in Petoskey.

There are also two Student Scholarships this year. These are awarded based on the students completing an application and going thru an interview process.Thank you to Scott Pulaski, Jay Eccleton, CGCS, Jim Bluck, CGCS and John Seefeldt, CGCS who traveled to East Lansing to interview the 10 students who applied.

Heritage Winners:

Mid District - Tyler Owen, son of Phil Owen, CGCS Class A at Warwick Hills Country Club

West District - Justin Holmes, son of Jeff Holmes, CGCS Class A at Egypt Valley Country Club

Detroit District - Chloe Akers, daughter of Jeff Akers Class C at Oakhurst Golf and Country Club

North District - Dillon Hunt, son of Dan Hunt Class AFF at Turfgrass Inc.

Student Winners:

William Weslay Keister, 4 year turf student

Clinton J. Steketee, 4 year turf student

Changing To Better Serve - USGA North Central Update

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:01 GMT

As they say, if you don’t like the weather wait a few minutes and it will change. We all know that change is a reality of life, and yet the weather pattern so far this winter remains warmer and wetter than normal for most of the North Central Region. Ohio, as an example, has set several rainfall records for January – not snowfall, rainfall. Courses in the more southern reaches of the Region are already thinking about soil temperatures and grassy weed germination. Change is coming, but when and how? Remember the guiding mantra with regards to weather’s impact: hope for the best, but plan for the worst.

Change is coming to the Green Section as well. Ty McClellan, formerly an agronomist in the Mid-Continent Region, is now our Manager of Green Section Education assisting Jim Moore, program director. Jim and Ty, together with the Green Section agronomists, will be providing a significantly wider range of educational content that will be interesting and useful to everyone associated with the game. As always, we remain devoted to sharing scientifically-based, environmentally-sound information via the Turf Advisory Service, supporting the world’s largest turfgrass and environmental research program, and assisting with course preparations for the USGA’s national championships.

With Ty’s changed responsibilities the North Central Region has expanded west. I will provide agronomic support for central and southern Illinois (south of I-80) in addition to Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. Bob Vavrek, senior agronomist, and my partner in the Region, will provide agronomic support for northern Illinois (north of I-80), Iowa and Nebraska in addition to Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Along with Turf Advisory Service visits throughout our nine states, Bob and I will be assisting with four championships this year: the Women’s Open, Senior Open, Women’s Amateur and the Mid-Amateur. When combined with our decades of golf course maintenance experience, the more courses we visit and championships we support, the better prepared we are to share current, relevant and sustainable golf turf management information with your facility.

Invoices for subscribing to our Turf Advisory Service will be delivered over the next few days. If your course does not receive an invoice mailing please call or email. The cost for a Turf Advisory Service visit in 2012 is $2,400 for a half day (no change from 2011) and $3,400 for a full day. Payment before May 15th affords a $600 discount – rates of $1,800 and $2,800 respectively. Regardless of payment timing, visits can be scheduled at anytime.

We look forward to partnering with your maintenance operation and working to achieve the best possible product. Call or email anytime.

Source: Bob Brame, bobbrame@usga.org or 859.356.3272

MiGCSA President Jay Eccleton, CGCS Featured in GCM

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:00:01 GMT

Please click the link below to read the article One Stop Shopping form the January issue of Golf Course Management.

http://digitalgcm.gcsaa.org/DigitalAnywhere/viewer.aspx?id=32&pageId=93&refid=602692&s=share

MiGCSA Elections

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:01 GMT

Jay Eccleton, CGCS
MiGCSA President

The Michigan Golf Course Superintendents Association (MiGCSA) held its annual elections on January 10th 2012 in the Vandenburg B Room at the Amway Grand Hotel in Grand Rapids. Jay Eccleton, CGCS, Director of Golf Course Operations at The Emerald Golf Course, St. Johns was elected to his second consecutive term as President with this vote.

After the elections President Eccleton said " I have been fortunate to serve on a Board of Directors that have put their heart and soul into this association and continue to work tirelessly towards the advancement of the MiGCSA and its membership. I would like to thank Mr. Ron Dahlin, Mr. Scott Pulaski and Mr. Rick Hakken for their many years of dedication to the board as they step off this year due to term limits. All three of these individuals were instrumental in the creation of the MiGCSA and without their efforts; the MiGCSA would not be as successful as it is today. I also would like to welcome new board members Mr. Mark Ostrander, Mr. Phil Owen, CGCS and Mr. Michael Rosen to the board as they start their own journey as future leaders of the MiGCSA."

The two other elected officers voted in to their second consecutive terms include Greg Pattinson, Superintendent at The Captains Club, Grand Blanc as Vice President, and Gregg Matthews Superintendent at Lakelands Golf and Country Club, Brighton as Secretary/Treasurer. Three open seats were also filled by Mike Rosen, Superintendent at The Otsego Club in Gaylord, Mark Ostrander, Superintendent at The Moors Country Club in Portage, and Phil Owen, CGCS from Warwick Hills Country Club in Grand Blanc for three year terms.

The Michigan Golf Course Superintendents Association Mission Statement is to provide leadership for Golf Course Superintendents and other golf industry partners on the economic, environmental and recreational vitality of golf in Michigan.

The MiGCSA is managed by Adam Ikamas, CGCS Executive Director, Adam can be contacted for further information about this or any other matters at adamikamas@migcsa.org or 1-888-3-MiGCSA.

Degradation of Fungicides in a Winter Environment

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 00:00:01 GMT

Author: Jim Kerns
Source: www.turfdiseases.org

The unseasonably warm winter has prompted many inquiries about the persistence of fungicides applied for snow mold suppression. We have an experiment that is evaluating the persistence of two commonly used snow mold fungicides, iprodione and chlorothalonil. Basically we applied the fungicides to plots that we keep free of snow cover and ones that are kept under snow cover for the duration of the experiment. We take two cup cutter samples from each plot. One is used to determine the concentration of the fungicides using commercially available ELISA kits for iprodione and chlorothalonil developed by Horiba LTD. The other core is used in a bioassay where we inoculate the plants with a solution of (Microdochium patch or pink snow mold) and measure disease development. From this research we have learned that as long as soil temperatures remain below 32 F, fungicide concentration does not seem to degrade regardless of snow cover. However, once soil temperatures consistently eclipsed 32 F then we observed a rapid decline in fungicide concentration and consequently a rapid increase in disease severity in our bioassay. The chlorothalonil kits have not performed as well as the iprodione kits, but we still have bioassay results. From the bioassay we observed that snow cover did not seem to affect chlorothalonil concentrations because disease severity was similar in the snow covered and non-snow covered plots treated with chlorothalonil. We do not have the exact concentrations for chlorothalonil, but we can infer that photo degradation does not play a major role in determining chlorothalonil persistence. We also think photo degradation plays a minor role in the persistence of iprodione.

From our research, temperatures govern degradation of these two fungicides. This likely means that these fungicides are degraded by microbes or through hydrolysis. Both of these processes are governed by temperature, but we do not know which process is more important. Knowing is not important right now as the question remains, do I re-treat or not. The answer to this question is complicated. Currently we are running our degradation experiment and we have observed some degradation, but the concentrations are still adequate to protect against Microdochium patch. At least in our climate I do not think it is necessary to re-treat. Moving farther south the temperatures have been warmer, and yet the answer is still complicated. I have heard that some golf course superintendents have had to mow tees, if that is the case then I was suggest a re-application. If mowing has not occurred, my suggestion is to apply if it makes you sleep better. Why do I say this? Well based on our inoculation work and work done by Phil Dwyer when he was a student of Joe Vargas, Microdochium patch takes a long time to develop when temperatures are below 40 F. However, once temperatures exceed 40 F consistently and humidity is high then the disease can develop quickly. The problem with re-applications is you’ll need access to water no matter what formulation of fungicide you choose. Our experience with granular fungicides is they work better when watered in.

Unfortunately we do not have a good answer concerning re-treatment. I am hesitant to suggest a re-application because I am afraid the weight of the sprayer would do more harm than good. This might be an unfounded concern and if it please tell me otherwise. What I am encouraging is to be ready once things warm up in the spring, whenever that maybe. I do think with the weather conditions experience throughout the Northern regions we will likely see outbreaks of Microdochium patch, so be ready to spray when those conditions come. I do know that Typhula blight (gray and speckled snow mold) will likely not be a big factor for many because these fungi need long lasting snow cover to cause severe damage. My participation with the blog has been terrible as of late, but I will be more active in 2012 and I will try to answer any comments about this post as well.

New Michigan Fertilizer Legislation Restricts Phosphorus Applications on Turf

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:00:01 GMT

Beginning January 1, 2012, phosphorus fertilizer applications are restricted on residential and commercial lawns in Michigan, including athletic fields and golf courses statewide. This includes applications by both homeowners and commercial applicators.

The general rule in the Michigan Fertilizer Law is no phosphorus fertilizer may be applied on residential or commercial lawns, unless it meets an exemption. The sale of phosphorus fertilizers in the marketplace is not impacted. Phosphorus applications for agriculture, gardens, trees, and shrubs are exempted.

The brochure and additional phosphorus information is at www.michigan.gov/mda-fertilizer and www.BePhosphorusSmart.msu.edu

MiGCSA Donates $25,000 to MTF

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:00:01 GMT

Thank you 2011 Premiere Sponsors

The "Big" Check

Student Scholarship

Tyler Owen, Heritage winner

Jeff Holmes, Father of Justin Heritage winner

Dillon Hunt, Heritage winner

Cloe Akers, Heritage winner

At the Great Lakes Trade Expo that just finished up on Wednesday the MiGCSA made a donation of $25,000 to the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation. These funds were raised in 2011 from the three golf fundraisers and the bowling fundraiser in Grand Blanc. In June the first golf fundraiser was held at Arcadia Bluffs Golf Club, in September there was an event at The Golf Club at Harbor Shores and the year ended with the Big Event at Warwick Hills Country Club. Since the inception of the MiGCSA in 2008 the MiGCSA has donated $70,000 to the MTF to help fund research at Michigan State University. Many of these funds came from sponsorships from our 8 Premiere Sponsors and other sponsors such as Civitas, Jacobsen, Turfgrass, Absolute Golf Ball Retrieval, and Kno-Marks (Kno-Marks is also still donating $20 for every ball mark repair tool they sell)

The MiGCSA also awarded two student scholarships to MSU Turf Students. William Weslay Keister and Clinton J. Steketee both 4 year turf students. They both received $1,500 to help with their education costs.

There were four recipients of the Heritage Scholarship, these went to dependents of MiGCSA members. The winners were from the Mid District, Tyler Owen, son of Phil Owen, CGCS Class A at Warwick Hills Country Club West District - Justin Holmes, son of Jeff Holmes, CGCS Class A at Egypt Valley Country Club Detroit District - Chloe Akers, daughter of Jeff Akers Class C at Oakhurst Golf and Country Club and the North District - Dillon Hunt, son of Dan Hunt Class AFF at Turfgrass Inc.

With a donation of $1,000 to the MSU Turf Club to help them get to the Golf Industry Show and offset costs of a new booth the MiGCSA donated a total of $33,000.

Please mark your calendars for the 2012 Fundraisers. February 25th at Galaxy Lanes in Grand Blanc, June 4th at Arcadia Bluffs, September 17th at Wuskowhan Players Club in Holland, and The Big Event on October 8th at Birmingham Country Club.

Onward And Upward In 2012

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 00:00:01 GMT

By R.A. (Bob) Brame, director, North Central Region
January 3, 2012

The milder winter weather pattern has allowed projects to be extended longer than expected. For courses in the southern portion of the region, routine maintenance like mowing putting greens also has continued into December. It will be interesting to see if the milder pattern stays in place as predicted. Agronomically, it is always better to plan for harsh conditions as opposed to needing milder weather to make it through the season.

New Year’s resolutions are guiding the day, and no doubt some have already broken or discarded their resolve and moved on. Yet, reflecting on the past to enhance the future can be a worthwhile process. What worked in 2011? What didn’t work and needs to be adjusted? Will we see a more pronounced upswing in rounds being played? Will there be more funds available for course maintenance? The golf turf maintenance industry continues to be impacted by multiple variables, not the least of which is an ongoing tough economy. This serves to underline the importance of prioritization, which is directly tied to formal maintenance standards that have been established and agreed upon by all of the decision makers. Adjustments can then be made, when needed, with much less chance of compromising agronomic sustainability.

On a more personal note, the following are worth reviewing as we move into 2012.

Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift – use your time wisely.
Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good – no whining.
Don’t take yourself so seriously, no one else does – lighten up.
Don’t compare your life to others – you have no idea what their journey is all about.
Your job won’t take care of you when you’re sick – guard time with family and friends.
Over prepare, then go with the flow – do your best every day.
You don’t have to win every argument, agree to disagree – yield.
Spend time outside every day – play more golf.

We are looking forward to working with you and your course in 2012. A mailing that outlines the Turf Advisory Service options for the coming years will be sent out over the next five to six weeks to all courses in our database. Feel free to call us before or after you receive the correspondence. Aside from the mailing, onsite visit scheduling can be initiated anytime.

All the very best in 2012 and beyond.

Source: Bob Brame, bobbrame@usga.org or 859.356.3272

Changes Survey

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 00:00:01 GMT

Here are the results from the December survey on Industry Changes. Sine there are verbatim answers it is tough to put it into statistical data sets. These will be compiled and presented and discussed on Wednesday morning at the Turfgrass Talk Show at the GLTE, please plan to join in the discussion there.

Download the complete survey here

Forest Dunes Golf Club in Michigan Has New Owner

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:00:01 GMT

Forest Dunes Golf Club in Rosscommon, Mich., has new ownership determined to tap its potential as a golfing destination. The 1,300-acre club and its 7,141-yard course designed by Tom Weiskopf were recently acquired by Lew Thompson, a trucking company owner from Huntsville, Ark.

Thompson is no stranger to the golf industry. He is the managing member of a partnership that owns and operates The Bridges Golf & Country Club, a Jack Nicklaus-designed course in Montrose, Colo.

The new owner has already launched various projects to refurbish Forest Dunes. An architect has designed a 22-room hotel with four luxury suites; building plans will be submitted in January to township and county authorities for approval. The building will be attached to the existing 23,000-square-foot clubhouse, which has a spa, exercise area, member's locker rooms and a full-service restaurant and a separate bar and lounge.

"A lot of our members live out of state so when they come in they will have a nicer place to stay than a hotel room," Thompson said. "From the research I've done, a lot of our golfers play there on their way north or on their way south to play somewhere else because we had no place to house them. We decided to build the hotel so they now will have a place to stay."

The hotel's building site has been staked off and covered with straw to mitigate the ground freezing to give construction crews a fast start when winter breaks. Thompson said he is planning to have the facility open by the end of June or early July.

Members of The Bridges club will have reciprocal privileges to stay and play at Forest Dunes. Thompson's purchase includes seven model homes on the property as well as 27-acre Lake AuSable, a place for fishing, canoeing and beach activities.

Thompson noted that superintendent Jim Bluck and head pro Donny Fisher will remain on staff.

Weiskopf, a former British Open champion and prolific golf course designer, has said that Forest Dunes is one of his three best efforts. Complementing the layout is a huge practice facility and a two-and-a-half-acre putting course.

Last summer Forest Dunes earned a spot on Golf Magazine's list of the nation's top 100 courses, making its debut at No. 45. Previously, readers of Golf World magazine selected it as the top public course in the country. It has also been ranked No. 18 on Golf Digest magazine's list of the 100 greatest public courses in America, and is a perennial choice on Golf Week's list of their top-100 modern courses in the U.S.

The course, which is set within the 40,000-acre Huron National Forest, features white inland sand dunes and extensive tracts of sand. It's located in an environmentally sensitive area near the Au Sable River, one of the nation's finest fly fishing venues.

Forest Dunes' effort to protect the river earned it a Gold Signature Certification from the Audubon International organization, the only course in Michigan to achieve that distinction. There are only 21 other golf properties in the world with gold certification.

For more information, visit www.forestdunesgolf.com.

Wee One Foundation Golf Outing

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 00:00:01 GMT

A nice video from GCSAA T.V. on the Wee One Foundation. Remember the 3rd annual Wee One Fundraiser next year, mark your calendars for Monday, May 21 The Wee One Golf Outing at the newly renovated Country Club of Detroit in Grosse Pointe Farms.

Eugene (Gene) Duane Johanningsmeier

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 00:00:01 GMT

Eugene (Gene) Duane Johanningsmeier, of South Lyon, Michigan, died December 23, 2011, in the company of his Minister and family members. He was born on August 1, 1932, in his late parents William and Emma's home in Sandborn, Indiana. He grew up on a farm and was active in 4-H. He graduated from Purdue University, January 1958, BSA (Agriculture, Turfgrass Management Specialist). Gene was founder of Turfgrass, Inc. He was a member of the Michigan Golf Course Superintendents Association, Past President of Michigan Turfgrass Foundation circa 1962 and 1963, Purdue Alumni Association, Midwest Regional Turf Foundation and the Masonic Plymouth Rock Lodge #47. He enjoyed rebuilding Model A cars, having summer pool gatherings and grilling a good steak. He is survived by Barbara Ann Johanningsmeier- Mason (married 1954) and with that union their children: David of Gaylord, Douglas (Julie) of Brighton, Dwight (Dawn) of Howell, Pamela (Richard) Smith of Livonia and Daniel (Amy) of Howell. Barbara Jean (Richards) Johanningsmeier (married 1971) and her children: Duane Richards of Ashville, N.C., Pamela (Craig) Williams of Quarryville PA, Rene (Mark) Culross of Fort Worth TX, and Keith (Nguyet) Richards of Howell; brother Charles Lee of Freelandville, IN and sister Opal Jane Alexander of Duggar, IN and grandchildren: Austin, August, Chase, Chris, Dawson, Deven, Emma, Emerson, Ethan, Jason, Lydia, Mariah, Mitchell, Nathan, and Ross. A memorial service will be held January 14th, at 11:00 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 205 E. Lake Street, South Lyon, Michigan. The family will receive friends from 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. prior to the service. Memorial contributions may be made to the Building and Grounds Committee of the First Presbyterian Church of South Lyon, MI. Arrangements entrusted to Phillips Funeral Home. Online guestbook www.phillipsfuneral.com

USGA North Central Update

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 00:00:01 GMT

By Bob Vavrek, senior agronomist, North Central Region
December 15, 2011

The temperature at ground level beneath a standard woven cover can reach the low 80’s on a sunny day when air temperatures barely climb into the mid 40’s. No doubt this can disrupt the natural hardening process of turfgrass during fall and the de-hardening process during late winter and early spring.

A few more courses try to protect greens with covers every time a region is affected by a severe bout of winterkill. Unfortunately, conditions for winter injury from ice suffocation and crown hydration have been quite favorable these past several seasons, so the number of courses trying covers for the first time has increased dramatically.

The top ‘frequently asked questions’ with respect to green covers for the first time user is the issue of timing. Superintendents that have little or no experience with covers want to know the optimal time to install and remove the protection. Experienced superintendents know this is a crapshoot.

Why worry? First, installing a cover too early may delay or reverse the turf hardening process. Temperatures will increase quickly under a cover during a few consecutive days of mild, sunny December weather, and this may encourage the turf to break dormancy. Similarly, mild weather during late winter can encourage early green-up and turf growth beneath a cover. This could make the turf susceptible to low temperature injury once the covers are removed.

The standard rule of thumb regarding covers is to install the material as late as possible before the first significant snowfall and then remove the covers early in spring. Some courses try to acclimatize greens to increasing spring temperatures by removing the covers during the day and replacing the covers during the evening if the night temperatures are predicted to plummet. Obviously, this requires a lightweight cover and an appropriate amount of labor at a time when staffing will likely be limited.

Several courses in southern Wisconsin installed covers during mid-to-late November in anticipation of cold temperatures and snow. No snow cover and mild weather has made several superintendents second guess this decision; even more so when they see green grass under the cover and little, if any, frost in the soil. Their question is: Do I remove the cover and try to allow the turf to harden off before the really cold weather arrives? The answer would be simple if we could predict the weather with any more probability than a coin toss.

Yes, removing the cover and exposing the turf to several consecutive days of temperatures in the 40’s and nights in the high 20’s to low 30’s would benefit the grass with respect to cold tolerance. Yes, removing the cover may also expose the grass to cold temperature injury and crown hydration (much more likely in mid-December versus mid-November). Yes, you might remove covers for a couple of days and then have no way to quickly replace and anchor covers back into frozen turf just ahead of the next snowstorm. Weather plays a big part in what you can or cannot, should or should not do when the decision is made to use green covers. Is it any wonder that covers tend to provide the most consistent benefits when they are used in the northern reaches of the region where once it gets cold, it stays cold and where consistent snow cover is the rule, not the exception.

No doubt, the recent mild weather presents a December dilemma for those who covered greens early. Hopefully, Santa can provide everyone healthy turf and plenty of happy golfers next spring regardless of whether covers are used or not.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all

Source: Bob Vavrek, rvavrek@usga.org or 262-797-8743

MSU Team receives Award of Merit

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 00:00:01 GMT

The Michigan State University’s “Turf Team” received the Michigan Golf Course Owners Association’s “Award of Merit.” This award recognizes the outstanding work of the “Turf Team” who wrote the book on golf course management, both figuratively and literally. Their collective contribution to the game of golf is vast, having defined virtually everything we do and how we do it. The “Turf Team” has covered every aspect of golf course management from basic agronomic practices and financial management to the most detailed best management practices to improve daily playability, making the game more fun for everyone. Michigan State University has trained more golf turf professionals and educators than any other institution. Following a “time line” presentation by Dr. Kevin Frank, the award was accepted on behalf of the team by Dr. James Kells, Chair of the Department of Crop and Soil Science. Attending with Drs. Kells and Frank was Dr. Trey Rogers and Dr. Paul Rieke.

MiGCSA Annual Meeting Notice

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 00:00:01 GMT

The Michigan Golf Course Superintendents Association Annual Meeting and Elections will take place Tuesday, January 10, 2012 from 5:00 - 5:30 PM at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, Vandenberg B Room.

Please see below for members running for election and re-election. There are two vacancies on the board. Scott Pulaski and Rick Hakken have served two consecutive terms as a director for the MiGCSA, thank you for your service

There is also a change to the MiGCSA Bylaws. This proposal is to change the MiGCSA Foundation Committee into a separate Foundation Board of Directors in accordance with IRS tax exempt requirements.

All members are welcome to attend.

Elections

Officers:

Jay Eccleton, CGCS
Director of Golf, The Emerald
Mid District
President

Greg Pattinson
Superintendent, The Captians Club
Mid District
Vice-President

Gregg Matthews
Superintendent, Lakelands Golf and Country Club
Detroit District
Secretary/Treasurer

Board of Directors:

Re-Election's

Dave Pawluk, CGCS
Re-Election
Superintendent, The Inn at St. Johns
Detroit District

Assistant Liaison:

Troy Evans
Assistant Superintendent, Bloomfield Hills Country Club
Detroit District

New Election's

Mike Rosen
Superintendent, Otsego Club
Northern District

Phil Owen, CGCS
Superintendent, Warwick Hills C.C.
Mid District

Mark Ostrander, CGCS
Superintendent, The Moors
Western District

CLICK HERE TO READ THE PROPOSED BYLAWS CHANGE

Wee One Foundation hits home in Michigan

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 00:00:01 GMT

Christmas came early this year for Jason Tyson and his family. In fact, it came during Thanksgiving week. That’s when Tyson, an Equipment Technician at The Wyndgate in Rochester Hills, received word that possible bone marrow donors had been found for two of his sons who have been battling a rare, life threatening disease.

“I was in a store shopping with my Mom when I got the phone call,” recalled Tyson’s wife, Erin. “I just started jumping up and down. People came up to me and were giving me hugs and congratulating me.”

From left: Steve Cook (Oakland Hills CC), Mike Plague (Great Lakes Turf, LLC), Jason Tyson (The Wyndgate), Jason’s wife, Erin Tyson, and John Cooney (Tam-O-Shanter CC).

More good news came the next day when Tyson and his wife received a donation to help defray their mounting medical bills from the Wee One Foundation, a benevolence organization that helps families of golf industry maintenance professionals who need financial assistance with overwhelming medical expenses.

“The Wee One Foundation is truly a blessing from God,” said Jason. “The donation we received could not have come at a better time.”

Erin echoed Jason’s thoughts. “Words cannot express how grateful I am for the Wee One Foundation and their generosity to my family. Without them, I’m not sure what we would have done,” she said.

The Tyson family’s medical challenges began in early 2011 when their two youngest sons, Thomas (11) and Hunter (7) were diagnosed with XLP, an extremely rare disease that affects males. In the past 30 years, only 91 cases of XLP have been diagnosed worldwide. XLP can manifest itself in many forms -- the three most common being fatal infectious mononucleosis (FIM), dysgammaglobunemia (an immune disorder), and malignant lymphoma. The average age at which the onset of the disease occurs is 2 ½ years of age. Nearly 75% of the children affected by the disease die before they reach the age of 10, primarily because of the difficulty in finding a suitable match for a bone marrow transplant, the only definitive cure for XLP.

The Tysons quest for bone marrow matches seemed to be similarly daunting as no immediate family members, including their oldest sons, Jesse (17) and Jason (14), were deemed to be suitable donors. Bone marrow drives were organized this past fall at their church in Capac and at a golf outing at The Wyndgate as the couple tried to remain optimistic.

“I just felt that if the odds were more than a million to one that they got XLP, why couldn’t they be the ‘one in a million’ with a bone marrow match,” Erin reasoned.

While the family awaits details on the transplant process, they continue to be regular visitors to Children’s Hospital in Detroit. Since any illness or fever could be potentially fatal, the boys are monitored regularly and receive transfusions and injections to boost their antibody levels and help them fight off infections.

The donation from the Wee One – which was somewhat surprising to the Tysons since the Foundation typically has not provided assistance to equipment technicians or mechanics -- will help offset their ongoing and significant medical expenses.

“Jason has been very active in the turf industry and I think the Wee One board just felt that helping him out was the right thing to do,” said Steve Cook, superintendent at Oakland Hills Country Club and a member of the Wee One Board of Directors.

Tyson, whose career in the turf industry started in 1998 and who has been the head Equipment Technician at The Wyndgate since 2008, has been instrumental in helping the Michigan Golf Course Superintendents Association (MiGCSA) form a Technicians group within the association. He has organized and hosted several educational seminars for the MIGCSA’s Equipment Technicians group and has been a presenter at the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation (MTF) Annual Conference and Spring Seminars.

Cook noted that Tyson’s case was also aided by the support that the Wee One Foundation has received from the Michigan turf industry. Nearly $60,000 has been raised from outings that were held at Indianwood G&CC in 2010 and Oakland Hills CC in 2011. Cook, John Cooney (Tam-O-Shanter CC) and Mike Plague (Great Lakes Turf, LLC) have spearheaded the organization of these outings.
“The greatest satisfaction of being involved with a foundation like the Wee One is a moment like this – helping fellow turf industry people in their time of need,” said Cooney. “This is what it's all about!”
“It is nice to know that people in my profession care so much about their peers,“ said Jason. “My family and I could not even begin to express the amount of appreciation we have for the generous donation.”

The 2012 Wee One Foundation fundraiser in Michigan will be held on May 21st at the newly-renovated Country Club of Detroit in Grosse Pointe Farms. For more details, visit the Foundation website, www.weeone.org. The Wee One Foundation has given out more than $450,000 to needy families in the turf industry since its inception in 2004.

Michigan State University's Turfgrass Information Center supported

Sun, 04 Dec 2011 00:00:01 GMT

The Turfgrass Information Center, a unit of the Michigan State University Libraries, has received two generous donations to support digitization work.

The first gift was a challenge grant from the O.J. Noer Research Foundation, promising to match gifts before December 31, 2011, up to a total of $5000. And, when the matching gift was announced to supporters, the Wisconsin Golf Course Superintendents Association immediately pledged $5000 to meet the challenge.

"Both organizations have our sincere thanks," said Pete Cookingham, head of the Turfgrass Information Center. "We're also grateful to other supporters who are still responding. We now hope to exceed the original challenge by several thousand dollars!"

Funds from the challenge and the matching gift will be used to continue digitization of the Noer/Milorganite® Division MMSD Image Collection - 14,000 35mm color slides illustrating the settings, techniques, and results of turf management efforts throughout North America between 1924 and 1980. Digitizing the majority of the slide portion of the collection is estimated at approximately $80,000.

The Turfgrass Information Center is the world's most comprehensive publicly-available collection of turfgrass research and educational materials. The TIC is an irreplaceable resource for students, researchers, and professionals around the world who are responsible for maintaining golf courses, athletic fields, and managed landscapes of every kind.

To support the Noer/Milorganite® image digitization project or other initiatives of the Turfgrass Information Center, contact Seth Martin, Director of Development for Libraries, Computing and Technology, at 517-884-6446 or marti981@mail.lib.msu.edu.

To learn more about the Turfgrass Information Center and its services, contact Pete Cookingham, head of the Turfgrass Information Center, Michigan State University Libraries, at 517-884-1950 or cooking1@mail.lib.msu.edu. Or, visit the TIC website at tic.msu.edu.

Mowing and Leaf Cleanup, Despite the Wet

Sun, 04 Dec 2011 00:00:01 GMT

Blowing leaves into the rough and then mulching them with rough mowers offers cost- effective and environmentally friendly cleanup.

By R.A. (Bob) Brame, director, North Central Region
November 30, 2011

With Thanksgiving in the rearview mirror, course maintenance and projects are coming to an end or slowing significantly as weather conditions deteriorate throughout the North Central Region. Nonetheless, it is important to stay the course with rough mowing and leaf cleanup, as needed, to maximize flexibility next spring.

Research has shown (http://www.agry.purdue.edu/turf/report/1999/page24.htm), and field observation continues to endorse, mulching leaves to be the most efficient cleanup strategy. Blowing leaves into the rough and then mulching/pulverizing while mowing offers very good results, while avoiding having to remove and dispose of fallen leaves. There are occasions when removal is the only option, but it is better avoided if at all possible, and in most cases it is avoidable.

While staying the course with ongoing rough mowing and leaf mulching, maintain the same level of cut. In other words, avoid raising and lowering the rough mowing height. A level of between 2 ½” to 3 ½” is common for golf course rough, and when the same level is maintained all year-round, the turf will be healthier and exhibit better density as compared to raising and lowering the cut to manipulate playability and/or leaf cleanup. Mowing lower in the fall is sometimes thought to aid leaf cleanup, but a higher cut that is maintained consistently will better accommodate the pulverized leaves. Then, in the spring, when whining kicks in about the rough being too penal, mow more frequently rather than lowering the cut on the eve of summer stress.

When rough seeding is needed to tighten density, and it is applied efficiently (late August on into and through mid-September), growth should be adequate to accommodate late fall leaf mulching, as long as proper fertilization was part of the mix and the seedlings were protected for excessive traffic during the first few weeks of growth. Conversely, if spot or complete seeding is initiated later in the fall, mulching in leaves could be a concern, but then the later seeding is in and of itself a concern. Proper timing is a critical issue that can’t be trumped, despite the occasional political and/or economic attempts to do so.

The wet season has added to maintenance and project challenges this fall, which further underlines the importance of continuing the mowing and mulching as long as needed or as weather conditions allow. It’s interesting to note that the Cincinnati area has set records for the wettest year (2011) and wettest month (November, 2011). Yet, it is, after all, Mother Nature’s home court. Clearly, the last couple of years have solidified this truth. This serves to underline the value of planning now for how your course will use our Turf Advisory Service in 2012. As always, we look forward to working with you.

Next up on the conference circuit – the Ohio Turfgrass Conference and Show will be held during the 1st full week of December in Columbus, OH http://www.otfshow.org/Show/Show-Home-4536.html. Our “Morning with the USGA” open forum will be on Thursday, December 8th, beginning at 7:00 am. Hope to see you in Columbus.

Source: Bob Brame, bobbrame@usga.org or 859-356-3272

November Member Survey Results - Snowmold

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 00:00:01 GMT

Close to 100 Superintendents from around the state responded to the November survey on Snowmold. This was by far the most data any of our surveys has collected, we did our best to create some charts with some basic information, but this is certainly a survey that is worth it to download in it's entirety. Click the link below to see all of the answers including verbatim comments. Thank you all for taking the time and stay tuned for the December survey coming soon.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL SURVEY REPORT

JW Turf, Michigans New John Deere Golf and Turf Dealer

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 00:00:01 GMT

J. W. TURF, INC.
14N937 US HIGHWAY 20
HAMPSHIRE, IL 60140
847-683-4653
FAX: 847-683-3978
PARTS DEPT. FAX: 847-683-4610

November 21, 2011

Dear Customers and Friends,

J.W. Turf has been serving golf customers in Illinois and Wisconsin for more than 20 years and is proud to announce that we are your new John Deere Golf and Turf dealer. We have expanded our sales area and will now be supporting golf courses in Northern Indiana, Northwestern Ohio and the state of Michigan. We presently have offices in Hampshire, IL and Allenton, WI and plan to have two locations in Michigan, one being near Detroit and one near Grand Rapids.
While this transition signifies change, our knowledgeable staff is dedicated to providing the highest quality products and services that our industry has come to expect. Should you have any questions or concerns at this time, we encourage you to contact our main office at 888-959-8873.

Department Contacts:

Sales Manager
Troy Tietjens
ttietjens@foxvalley.net

Service Manager
Joe Hutsler
jwtservice@foxvalley.net

Parts Manager
Brandon Fei
jwtparts@foxvalley.net

Kind regards,

Holly Gilmour
John N. Leibold

Got Drainage? USGA Regional Update

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:00:01 GMT

By Bob Vavrek, senior agronomist, North Central Region
November 16, 2011

(L) Visit a green during or right after heavy rainfall to document problem areas along the perimeter of the putting surface where an elevated collar or approach is impeding surface drainage. These sites will be highly susceptible to winterkill when frost is in the soil. (R) A heavy roller can be used to slowly lower the grade of slightly elevated collars and approaches that are impeding the movement of excess water off the putting surface.

Have you ever noticed an accumulation of water along the perimeter of a putting surface during and after a heavy mid-summer thunderstorm, especially where the green transitions into collar or approach? If so, these low, poorly drained sites can be highly susceptible to crown hydration or ice-suffocation winterkill. During summer, these perimeter puddles will disappear quickly as water percolates through the soil. However, these puddles can persist much longer when there is frost in the ground, and the combination of standing water plus cold temperatures is the classic recipe for severe winter injury.

Any combination of factors, such as poor design, poor construction technique, settling or an excessive accumulation of sand topdressing in the collar can hinder the flow of excess water off the putting surface. Regardless of why it occurs, it’s not too late in the season to address at least a few of your green’s worst perimeter drainage problems. Options to consider include:

Use a sod cutter or Miltona sod stripper to create a channel from the lowest point where water pools along the perimeter of the green through the elevated collar or approach. Extend this canal or gutter into an outfall off the green that is lower than the puddle. Wrap the strip of sod in a geotextile fabric and place it in a nearby bunker. It may survive the winter and can be used to repair the trench in spring.

Where is the lowest (deepest) point in the problem puddle? That can be difficult to determine unless standing water is present during the excavation process. Visit the site during or right after heavy rainfall and place an irrigation flag in the deepest water before it percolates into the soil. You can fake rain with an irrigation hose or slowly dump a few 5-gallon buckets of water above the problem areas to produce a puddle. Paint a dot on the putting surface where you placed the flag. Refresh the paint as necessary until you strip the turf. Another option is to mark the deepest part of the puddle by pushing a nail deep into the turf. A metal detector can be used to find the spot later.

Cultivate the area of the collar or approach that is impeding surface drainage with 5/8-inch hollow tines. Remove the cores and water as much as necessary to soften the soil. Use a heavy (up to 1-ton) roller across the cultivated site to slowly lower the grade of the elevated turf to the point where surface drainage is restored. The open holes will provide space for the soil to shift under the weight of the roller. Several coring/rolling operations may be required to attain the desired result.
Obviously, the most permanent one-step remedy is to strip the elevated collar or approach, lower the grade to facilitate surface drainage and then replace the sod. Altering the grade of a collar or putting surface sounds simple, but it can be one of the more tedious and frustrating undertakings you will ever attempt on the golf course.

A considerable amount of sod will need to be removed and replaced if a smooth transition from the disturbed to undisturbed turf is desired. Making subtle and seamless changes in elevation across a highly visible and heavily used area of the course is as much an art as a science. However, the experience you gain during the first excavation will pay dividends during any subsequent attempts to re-grade a collar or approach.

Improving drainage is always hard work, but it’s still much easier a task to address drainage problems around greens during late fall when golfers are away, versus the highly stressful process of seeding or sodding winterkill on greens during spring when golfers are breathing down your neck.

Source: Bob Vavrek, rvavrek@usga.org or 262-797-8743

Davey Golf helps Indianwood Golf & Country Club prepare for 2012 U.S. Senior Open

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:00:01 GMT

KENT, Ohio – Davey Golf Course Maintenance has been contracted to advise the Indianwood Golf & Country Club staff as they prepare this premiere Southeast Michigan course for the 2012 U.S. Senior Open to be held there in July 2012.

Mark Jackson, division manager of Davey Golf Course Maintenance, will work with the U.S. Golf Association and provide guidance to the Indianwood staff as the course is prepared to USGA standards for this prestigious event.

Jackson, a veteran of the golf industry with experience at not only Indianwood, but also Oakland Hills Country Club and the Country Club of Detroit, is no stranger to high-profile golf events. He has prepared courses for the 1989 and 1994 U.S. Women’s Opens, as well as the 1985 U.S. Men’s Open.
“Davey Golf is committed to producing conditions that drive better play,” Jackson says.
“I’m excited to work with Indianwood again in addition to running Davey Golf Course Maintenance.”

Davey Golf Course Maintenance is proud to provide golf course maintenance services for a stable of distinctive and highly-rated courses. Whether private, semi-private, municipal or daily fee, these courses are leaders in their class. Davey Golf Course Maintenance is a division of The Davey Tree Expert Company. For more information, visit www.davey.com/golf.

Indianwood Golf & Country Club, located in Lake Orion, Mich., is an historic treasure dating back to the 1920s. The course is annually ranked by Golf Magazine in the top 100 classic golf courses in America. For more information, visit www.iwgcc.com.

MGCOA Announced 2011 Award Winners

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:00:01 GMT

Michigan Golf Course Owners Association announced today those being honored at the Michigan Golf Business Conference and Vendor Fair at the end of this month. These honorees will be introduced at the conference’s Award Banquet on Wednesday, November 30 at the Somerset Inn in Troy.

The Michigan State University’s “Turf Team” has been selected to receive the Michigan Golf Course Owners Association’s “Award of Merit.” This award recognizes the outstanding work of the “Turf Team” who wrote the book on golf course management, both figuratively and literally. Their collective contribution to the game of golf is vast, having defined virtually everything we do and how we do it. The “Turf Team” has covered every aspect of golf course management from basic agronomic practices and financial management to the most detailed best management practices to improve daily playability, making the game more fun for everyone. Michigan State University has trained more golf turf professionals and educators than any other institution. President Lou Anna Simon has been invited to receive the award along with Dr. Doug Buhler, Interim Dean, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and Dr. James Kells, Chair, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences.

Daryl Kesler, owner of Hawk Hollow Golf Properties in the Lansing area has been selected to receive the “Bruce Matthews Lifetime Achievement Award” in recognition of his outstanding service to the Michigan golf community. Kesler’s contributions to the golfing community include the construction of the PGA headquarters, golf courses including The Falcon, Hawk Hollow, Eagle Eye, and the new Woodside Golf Course plus the provision of the First Tee of Lansing infrastructure. This all confirmed his nomination as a lifelong champion of the industry.

Fifteen years ago the Michigan Golf Course Owners Association decided to work to fulfill the needs of supporting the education and development of the golf course owner and operator. The Scott Family Educational Support Foundation was formed. Since its inception, Carolyn Olson, owner of Elmbrook Golf Course in Traverse City has been a trustee of the Foundation. Combined with her continued commitment to the MGCOA through participation on the Board of Directors, Olson has been selected to receive the Lyle Leeke Distinguish Service Award.

Scott Lake Country Club in Comstock Park has been selected Michigan Golf Course Owners Association’s Golf Course of the Year for 2011. With a long list of accomplishments, along with community contributions and exceptional management, owners Jeff and Paul Hoag’s golf course took the limelight this year. Once you play it, you will find yourself wanting to return again. Scott Lake Country Club is really “Scott Lake – where golf is fun!” Scott Lake Country Club has a long heritage of providing quality golf at affordable pricing with great hospitality for almost 50 years.

To join the celebration, contact the MGCOA at 800-860-8575 to register or visit www.mgcoa.org.
###

For Additional information contact: Kate Moore at the MGCOA 517-482-4312 or kmoore@mgcoa.org

It Is Snow Mold Time Again!

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 00:00:01 GMT

It is that time of year again when soon the snow will be falling. So that means it is snow mold time. The most common snow molds in Michigan are pink snow mold, or Microdochium patch, caused by Microdochium nivale, and gray snow mold, or Typhula blight, caused by Typhula incarnata and Typhula ishikariensis. Microdochium patch can be a problem throughout the fall, especially during wet falls like is occurring this year. The disease appears as small copper-colored patches in the fall and as pink-colored patches in the spring after the snow melts. While many people think of this disease as being active in very cold weather, the ideal temperature range for the development of Microdochium patch is actually between 55 and 65 degrees F.

FALL OUTBREAKS OF MICRODOCHIUM PATCH

Microdochium patch should be treated with one of the following fungicides during the fall: Chipco 26GT, Vorlan, Curalan, Cleary’s 3336, Fungo 50, Bayleton, Banner, Torque, Tourney, Spectro 90, Rubigan, Eagle, Heritage, Compass, Insignia or Fore. If the disease it not treated when it first develops in the fall, it will continue to develop under the cover of snow even if snow mold fungicides are applied late in the season. This often leads golf course superintendents to the wrong conclusion that their late fall snow mold fungicide application was not effective in preventing snow mold development under the snow, when the real cause of the problem was not treating the fall outbreaks of the disease.

WINTER CONTROL OF SNOW MOLD

Preventive fungicide applications need to be made to the turf after the last mowing of the season. Generally, three-way fungicide combinations are recommended for snow mold control on the greens as well as other products as listed below. Some of these treatments that have worked well in our fungicide trials are:

•Heritage + Medallion + Daconil Ultrex
•Bayleton + Signature + Chipco 26GT
•Triton + Signature + Compass
•Insignia + Trinity + Echo
•Insignia + Propiconazole + Echo
•Torque + Spectro90
•Instrata

FAIRWAY TREATMENTS

It appears that PCNB will not be available this fall so without PCNB, it may be a little more expensive to treat fairways. The most damaging snow mold to the turf is Microdochium patch so if there is only enough money to treat for one of the pathogens, it should be this one. Of course ideally, a 2- or 3-way mix would be used on the fairways to ensure that no disease occurs. Any of the above fungicides or fungicide combinations can be used on fairways.

TIMING OF LAST APPLICATION BEFORE SNOWFALL

The final snow mold fungicide application should be applied after the last mowing. That way the fungicide will remain on the foliage throughout the winter. In some years, when a warm fall occurs and the turf continues to grow into December. However, many people have a date in mind, like November 15 or just before I go deer hunting, to apply their late season snow mold fungicide applications. While this works well in years when the weather is cold in the fall, it does not work well during warmer falls. The fungicide will be mowed off if the final snow mold treatment is applied while the grass is continuing to grow. It can also leave new leaf tissue unprotected. It is best to wait for the turf to stop growing before the last snow mold fungicide application is made.

J. M. Vargas Jr.
Professor
Michigan State University

Time to renew your MiGCSA Membership

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 00:00:01 GMT

Along with blowing out the irrigation and applying your winter protection fall is also a great time to renew your MiGCSA membership.

When you go to www.migcsa.org to log in and renew you will be updated to 2012 status and will not receive any email asking you to renew again until next fall. If you have forgotten your password you can click here to have it emailed to you, if you have not logged in before your username is your email address and your password is the last 4 digits of your phone number.

You can also fill out a membership renewal paper form by clicking here and mail it in, please note the new address for 2012. You can also fax the form to 1-888-3-MiGCSA. If you would like a personalized invoice for your membership please email us at info@migcsa.org or call 1-888-3-MiGCSA (364-4272) to request a renewal form.

Thank you from the Board of Directors for your continued support of the MiGCSA, we are looking forward to a great 2012.

Officers:
President: Jay Eccleton, CGCS
Vice President; Greg Pattinson
Secretary/Treasurer: Gregg Matthews
Past President: Ron Dahlin, CGCS

Directors:
Tim Dark, CGCS
Dave Pawluk, CGCS
Scott Pulaski
Jim Bluck, CGCS
Justin Bickel
Rick Hakken
Jeff Holmes, CGCS
Eric Rank

Doak's New Course in Detroit

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 00:00:01 GMT

Renowned architect Tom Doak designed a course in the heart of Detroit pro bono at the request of the SI Golf Group. The five-acre facility has four par 3s, a putting green and a double-ended practice range.

See video below

GCSAA and Applied Turfgrass Science Partner to Offer Discounted Subscriptions

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 00:00:01 GMT

Although we often deal with information overload, here’s a resource to give serious consideration. Applied Turfgrass Science (ATS) has evolved into a popular online journal for turfgrass researchers to publish research which turfgrass practitioners can take directly to the field and put to use. ATS and the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) have recently developed a partnership. The new relationship between GCSAA and the ATS gives GCSAA members a discounted rate ($ 20 annually if you sign up by November 4; $ 38 annually thereafter) to the online journal. Not a superintendent? That’s ok, there are lots of articles about turfgrass science applicable to lawn care operators, sports turf managers, and others (subscription $ 45 annually).

More information on the GCSAA member discount: http://www.plantmanagementnetwork.org/ats/about/subscribe/gcsaa.asp

To subscribe: go to this site http://www.plantmanagementnetwork.org/subscriptions/
GCSAA members click on the green button for $ 38 discounted subscriptions. Fill in the coupon code Turf50 toward the end of the checkout process for the additional $ 18 discount (only $ 20 the first year).

Others – click on the brown “Regular Subscription” button.
Applied Turfgrass Science website: http://www.plantmanagementnetwork.org/ats/

More on the partnership between GCSAA and Applied Turfgrass Science here:
http://www.gcsaa.org/Newsroom/News-Releases/2011/October/GCSAA%2C-Plant-Management-Network-reach-partnership-agreement.aspx

Two New Chapter Programs at GCSAA National Championship & Golf Classic

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 00:00:01 GMT

We are excited to announce 2 new programs at the 2012 GCSAA National Championship & Golf Classic that are specifically designed to generate greater chapter involvement and, more importantly, put some money in your chapter’s pocket!

The Chapter Team Competition has been reformatted and is bigger and better in 2012! Whether competing in the National Championship or the Golf Classic, members can also opt into the Chapter Team Competition to see which GCSAA-affiliated chapter holds the best golfers. A gross and net winner will be crowned with 75% of the entry fees being paid back to the winning chapters. For example, in 2011 there were 55 teams in the competition. That would equate to a total purse of $4,125 – or $2,062.50 each to the winning net and gross team. Of course, as the number of teams increase so does the purse, so form your team strategically and take some money home to your chapter!

The entry fee is $20 per person. You can register your team anytime between now and the close of registration on Friday, Feb. 24 in Palm Springs. Each chapter team may have five competitors with the best four scores counting toward the total. All team members must belong to the chapter they are representing. Only one team member may be a superintendent/golf professional, and only one team member may be a GCSAA affiliate member. A chapter may have more than one team in the competition, but a competitor may not participate on more than one chapter team. Refer to the attached entry form for additional rules and regulations.

In addition, thanks to support from our sponsor, The Toro Company, we are excited to announce the new “Chapter Payback Program”. The rules are simple. You will earn $200 for every registered competitor that is a member of your chapter and has not participated in the last two or more tournaments. That’s all there is to it! There are no limitations on the number of competitors a chapter can recruit or how the chapter can use the funds.

As you can see, there are some significant dollars on the table for chapters who have strong participation in Palm Springs. Form your chapter teams now, recruit those “new” attendees and watch your chapter’s bank account grow! A mailing will be sent to all chapter presidents and executives with this information. Please keep an eye out for it!

Please don’t hesitate to contact me with your questions at helser@gcsaa.org or 800/472-7878 ext. 4400.
We look forward to seeing you in Palm Springs!

CLICK HERE FOR THE CHAPTER TEAM REGISTRATION FORM

Heidi L. Elser, CMP
Manager, Tournament & Meeting Planning
Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA)
1421 Research Park Dr.
Lawrence, KS 66049
Phone: 785.832.4400
Fax: 785.832.4477
E-mail: helser@gcsaa.org
Web: www.gcsaa.org

October Budget Survey Results

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 00:00:01 GMT

97 MiGCSA Superintendents took the time to complete the October survey on Budgeting, thank you to those who helped with their data.

A very good cross section of responses, 33 Public, 32 Private, 12 Resort, 12 Municipal, and 8 Semi-Private. To read the entire detailed report you can CLICK HERE. Below you will find a few of the key data points. Also if you would like a separate results page that is specific to you operation, just Private courses for example please email info@migcsa.org and we will be happy to filter the results and send you a copy.

Overall it looks like most course are staying the same with budgets in 2012. The average budget in Public courses ranges from $100,000 to $300,00 and Private the range is from $400,00 to $750,000. But the last five years for most facilities is down 10 to 25%. On the plus side many courses look to be investing in capitol expenditures in 2012.

2011 GCSAA Delegates Meeting

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 00:00:01 GMT

MiGCSA Vice President Greg Pattinson

The MiGCSA will be represented at the 2011 GCSAA Delegates meeting by MiGCSA Vice President Greg Pattinson. If you have a specific question or issue you would like Greg to take to the GCSAA please send an email to info@migcsa.org and we will make sure Greg receives your comments.

About the annual delegates meeting

Representatives of GCSAA's affiliated chapters, the GCSAA Board of Directors and staff convene annually at the Chapter Delegates Meeting. The meeting, generally held in October, is an important link between GCSAA and the chapters. The meeting's purpose is to:

Update chapter delegates on GCSAA initiatives and activities.
Provide an opportunity for delegates to voice the questions or concerns of their chapter to the national association.
Encourage networking and a sense of community among the affiliated chapters.
Introduce the candidates running for the GCSAA Board of Directors.

Equipment Technician Interns

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 00:00:01 GMT

The TBAISD Career-Tech Center offers a Power Equipment Technology Program. See attached link to learn more about TBAISD CTC and our PET Program.
http://www.tbactc.org/index.asp (See Programs tab, Power Equipment Technology).

Our students are Juniors and Seniors in high school who attend our center for half their regular school day. Through our Placement Department, (See Student Services tab, Placement) students can be placed in “Work-Based Learning” opportunities with all sorts of businesses in our five county area, golf courses being included, after completing safety training. Some of these opportunities are unpaid (work-experience), and some are paid (co-op).

In addition to our business partners, we partner with MI Works Youth Services. http://www.nwm.org/youthservices.asp Depending on eligibility, MI Works can provide funds that allow students to be paid while taking advantage of a Work-Based Learning opportunity. (Some businesses hire students without MI Works involvement.)

This link offers a list of the Career & Technical Education Centers in Michigan. Not all centers will have a Power Equipment Technology Program, but it will give you an idea of where Centers are located. (You might want to look for AgriScience Programs as well). http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/Area_Center_Map_331157_7.pdf

Another link gives you website addresses for all the Intermediate School Districts in Michigan which may be helpful to use in researching the Career Tech Centers. http://wash.k12.mi.us/adminandcommdept/StateISDList.php

Michigan Golf Hall of Fame Nominations Open, MiGCSA Members to be Considered

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 00:00:01 GMT

CLICK HERE FOR A LIST OF CURRENT MEMBERS

The annual nominations for inductees into the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame are now open. The MiGCSA is represented on the MGHOF Board by Retired Superintendent Fritz McMullen. There is a link at the bottom of this email to the nomination form, please fill it out if you would like to nominate someone on behalf of the MiGCSA.

The Michigan Golf Foundation is a cross-section of all the major golf bodies in the state with representatives from the Golf Association of Michigan, the Michigan Section of the Professional Golfers Association, the Michigan Golf Course Owners Association, the Michigan Publinx Golf Association, the Michigan Women’s Golf Association, the Women’s Metropolitan Golf Association, the Michigan Golf Course Superintendents Association and media members who cover golf around the state.
The Foundation conducts the annual election for the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame. Election is a unique honor bestowed upon those individuals who have demonstrated leadership, professionalism, good character and the highest standards of conduct through pursuits associated with this extraordinary game of golf. These individuals have contributed greatly to the tradition, strength and ongoing success of golf in the state of Michigan.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE NOMINATION FORM

The Poor Man’s Winter Cover - USGA Regional Update

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 00:00:01 GMT

By Bob Vavrek, senior agronomist, North Central Region
October 17, 2011

A moderately heavy application of sand just before the snow arrives can help protect turf from wind desiccation. The keys to success are (1) to topdress when the greens are firm enough to accommodate the equipment without rutting, and (2) to apply just the right amount of sand to bury the crowns of the plants without smothering the turf.

Days are getting shorter and morning frost delays are getting longer. Mowing transitions into leaf removal and it’s time to think about how the course will be put to bed for the winter.

Do I cover or not cover the greens? What kind of cover is best, or do I need different covers for different greens? Can I afford covers? Do I have enough labor to install and remove covers efficiently? When do I apply the cover and when do I remove the cover? Do I have adequate space to store the covers? What do I tell the boss if winterkill still occurs under the cover? There are no simple, clear-cut answers to these questions, and a short Regional Update is not the venue to discuss or debate the issue of covering greens.

Of course, the debate ends instantly if your golf course simply cannot afford covers, but there is still an economical option to consider for providing a basic level of winter protection to greens. A moderately heavy application of sand topdressing to the putting surfaces during late fall/early winter after snow mold fungicides are applied will provide a fair amount of protection from wind desiccation during an open winter. Follow a few basic topdressing rules and there is significant reward for little risk at minimal cost.

The two biggest mistakes are burying the greens in way too much sand and attempting to apply sand with heavy equipment when the greens are soft and wet. What is the right amount of sand? It’s difficult to make a specific recommendation because greens at different courses go into winter at different mowing heights and the physical properties of sand vary between suppliers. A rate of sand that may smother a green being mowed at 1/10” of cut may be just right for a green going into winter at 5/32”. Shame on those going into winter at 1/10” but that is a topic to discuss some other time.

In general, most courses apply too little sand to greens during the season, partly due to complaints from golfers who don’t like sand on the ball and equipment managers who don’t like dull mowers. As a result, it will be difficult for some superintendents to apply any more than a dusting to greens before winter, basically wasting their time. A good rule of thumb for standard topdressing during the summer is to apply about 1 cu. ft. of sand per 1000 sq. ft. of putting surface (approximately 100 lbs. of sand for an average 5K sq. ft. green) every 10 to 14 days, depending on how fast the greens are growing. This would be a good place to start when considering a late-season topdressing application. Apply no less than the summertime standard and more if the greens go into winter a bit shaggy.

On the other hand, don’t bury the greens in sand. Courses that make this mistake find they spend a considerable amount of time removing excess sand from the greens before the turf can be mowed during the following spring. The process of removing sand can cause a great deal of abrasion to the semi-dormant turf, already stressed by ice cover or thaw/freeze injury. Moreover, an extra-heavy blanket of sand can be partially displaced by rain or melting ice/snow. Greens with severe contours will be affected the most. Small ridges of sand accumulation will impede surface drainage and smother the turf. Make sure there is enough sand to bury the crowns of the turf and still see the blades of grass poking up through the topdressing.

It’s better not to topdress at all than to topdress when the greens are wet and soft. Shallow ruts made by tires of topdressing equipment are often the areas that hold a little water during a thaw and end up being the sites affected most by crown hydration. Dead Poa annua along the tire tracks of topdressing units is seen on a number of courses every spring, usually the result of applying sand to a soft green. Try loading the topdresser with just enough sand for one green, or a part of one green to reduce the overall weight of the equipment.

Furthermore, late fall topdressing serves another very useful purpose, even when consistent heavy snow cover protects turf from winter stress. The sand will slowly be assimilated into the upper root zone the following spring and help dilute organic matter accumulation during a time when greens are typically too soft to accommodate heavy equipment. The majority of courses seen on TAS visits could use more sand in the upper root zone, and late fall topdressing can help achieve this goal without causing dull mowers or annoyance to play.

Source: Bob Vavrek, rvavrek@usga.org or 262-797-8743

Great Lakes region update: John Miller, CGCS

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:00:01 GMT

John Miller, CGCS, began his work with the Great Lakes region, which consists of 20 chapters in six states, in January 2011. Miller has been able to visit all 20 chapters during his short tenure, most more than once. The Great Lakes region has two statewide chapters, Michigan GCSA and the Wisconsin GCSA; the other 18 are local chapters. Miller realized quickly that one trend most of the chapters share is the decline in monthly meeting attendance. The weather conditions that the region dealt with this summer is one reason superintendents cite for not attending meetings. Another is the reluctance to attend meetings without formal education planned. Miller hopes to be able to work with chapters to increase attendance at these events.

Advocacy support

Miller has worked with members in Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin, paying visits to legislators’ offices regarding several critical issues affecting golf. In Illinois, Luke Cella, executive director of the Midwest Association of GCS; Timothy J. Anderson, CGCS, Naperville Country Club; and Miller met with Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin’s staff. Primarily, they focused their message on gaining the senator’s support for H.R. 872 in the U.S. Senate. This bipartisan legislation would clarify that Clean Water Act National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits are not required for applications of EPA-registered pesticides.

In Wisconsin, Miller, along with WiGCSA members Jeff Millies, CGCS, Colin Seaberg and Jeff Schneider met with the staff of Sen. Herb Kohl in Madison, Wis. This meeting focused on H.R. 872 and the effects additional permitting would put on superintendents and golf courses. The group also touched base on the Southeastern Disaster Relief Act leaving golf excluded from tax relief for areas hit hard by tornadoes and flooding earlier in the summer.

In Michigan, Miller was joined with MiGCSA President Jay Eccleton, CGCS; MiGCSA Executive Director Adam Ikamas, CGCS; and GCSAA Director of Environmental Programs Greg Lyman. They visited with the staff of Sen. Carl Levin. The message was similar to the Wisconsin visit –- and also highlighted the superintendents’ role as stewards of the environment.

These visits help illustrate the support that the field staff program provides to individual members and chapters. Miller was able to arm the members with valuable talking points and information compiled specifically for their visit by the GCSAA public policy staff. This information was well received by the members making the visit to their senator’s office.

Presentations, presentations, presentations

Miller spends the majority of his time attending local chapter meetings and presenting information on GCSAA programs and resources. He strives to ensure the local members understand the resources their GCSAA membership provides them. As part of the larger field staff program, Miller and the other regional representatives have made over 180 visits to chapters and individual facilities since the beginning of 2011. However, an important part of these presentations is not just delivering information, but rather listening to input from those in attendance.

Personal attention

A highlight for Miller during his travels is being able to work with members one-on-one. It can be as simple as finding the answer to a membership category question, or helping a member find the appropriate resource at headquarters to solve a problem. It’s the time invested in building personal relationships with the folks in his region that is the most rewarding.

October 16, 2011 MSU Correspondence

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:00:01 GMT

Oh, what a glorious day in East Lansing! The place is still vibrating from the four-peat yesterday in Spartan Stadium. The field held up fine (I already know Amy is dying to core cultivate it after the Spring game in 2012) as well as the team and fans. Funny thing, I got the feeling yesterday that, while beating UM is always a big deal, it is not an overwhelming accomplishment like it was not so many years ago. Not a lot different than basketball dominance was last decade. The Wisconsin game is going to be something, night game, homecoming, #4 ranked and undefeated Badgers. Good times.
Hoops got started Friday and my various sources who have been at practices and Midnight madness offer the following:

1. Brandon Wood will be a great addition. He is buying into everything.
2. The Freshman Dawson is a sure fire Pro, but has to buy into Izzo’s defensive mode.
3. Derrick Nix has lost serious weight.
4. Payne can jump.
5. We will have to hang on for dear life our first two games, but will be Spartan tough in March.

Hockey is taking their lumps right now, but will make some improvement. The big story there will be building a new rink here in the next year or so. I heard President Simon went with hockey team to first tourney in ND to check out new rink there. Word is that it will be built on Munn field, and that Munn arena will be used for Volleyball and Wrestling. Stay tuned.

The 20th Cutter cup at Shaker Heights Country Club ended in a 2.5-2.5 tie, the 7th one in the 20 year history. Despite the wonderful weather and day, the tie means the Nits keep the Cup for another year. We host in October 2012, our next chance to regain. (For the record, Dr Crum and I did win our perennial match with Drs. Kaminski and Schlossburg.) We did very much enjoy playing Avon Oaks and thanks to Terry Boehm for hosting our practice round.

Finally, I want to thank those of you who responded to my Sept 25 correspondence. It is always great to get an update from you and I was grateful for the encouragement you provided me as I make some transformations. Keep the cards and letters coming!
Keep looking for lost souls,

Trey Rogers
rogersj@msu.edu

Win a $1,500 Grant for your program!

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:00:01 GMT

Each year there are many creative programs that promote the development and sustainability of the golf industry. Player development is the foundation. You may have a program designed for youth, or women, or maybe specialized leagues. There are many ways to develop the new golfer or retain the seasoned golfer. We want to know about it! And, the MGCOA Scott Family Educational Support Foundation will provide a $1500 grant to the best candidate of the year. If you have such a program, and you work at a member facility, complete this form and send it in to the Michigan Golf Course Owners Association.

CLICK HERE FOR ALL OF THE DETAILS

An assistant’s perspective: 2011 Green Start Academy

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 00:00:01 GMT

GCI guest columnist Brian DeVries recaps the three most important things he took away from the recent Bayer/John Deere Golf-sponsored exclusive assistant superintendent retreat.

This year I was lucky enough to attend the 6th Annual Green Start Academy, which took place over a course of three days at multiple locations in and around Raleigh, N.C.

It is an inimitable seminar jam packed with the newest innovations, networking opportunities and leadership counseling. The program is hosted by Bayer and John Deere Golf, and targets top assistant superintendents, 50 to be precise, through an application process which includes an essay on a relevant issue of their choosing. Now I could write a short novel on what I took away from this great experience, but rather than sound like a court stenographer and relay everything that was said, I've narrowed it down to my top three.

I would have to lead with the very first night in Raleigh. All 50 of us, as well as key members of the program headed out to Sparian’s Bowling, Botique, and Bistro for a night of introductions, networking and of course a bowling tournament. This was one of the best opportunities to meet other assistants in a very relaxed environment and learn about where they came from and their career goals. It’s times like these you realize there are a lot of people in this industry, but in the same breath, how small the industry is. I found several assistants with ties to old courses I worked at, or people I know, and it’s that common link that allowed me to grow my network simply in the four hours we were there. Needless to say, Green Start got off to a great start and it really set the tone for the remainder of the seminar.

Secondly, we had the opportunity to listen to, and interact with, three accomplished superintendents from around the country. Featured were, Pat Finlen, director of golf maintenance operations at The Olympic Club in San Francisco, Calif., Bob Farren, director of golf maintenance operations at Pinehurst Resort in Pinehurst, N.C, and Paul Grogan, director of golf maintenanceoperations at TPC Deere Run in East Moline, IL. Pat, Bob, and Paul gave a brief background on their careers and then fielded questions we had. It was very inspiring to hear these three gentlemen talk about their success and the channels they went through to get there. I know on a personal level for me, it showed that with hard work, good career moves, and a little bit of luck, I can one day be at that level in this industry. I want to take the time now to personally thank Pat, Bob, and Paul for dedicating their time to come and speak with us.

Thirdly, I think I have to make mention of the final speech given this year. Chris Carson, superintendent at Echo Lake Country Club in Westfield, N.J., gave one of the most enlightening and energetic presentations I have seen to date. His presentation entitled, “10 things I wish they had taught me in turf school,” really brought to life some the challenges we face and answers to our questions. Chris was able to deliver some of the most pertinent information in a fun, fresh way, and when he was finished, there was not a person in the room who didn’t have a smile on their face. This truly was worth the wait, and a great way to end the 6th Annual Green Start Academy.

To wrap up, I want to take the time to thank Bayer and John Deere Golf for this incredible opportunity. It truly is a token of their dedication to the next generation in golf course maintenance, and their hosting this event should not go unnoticed. I hope through this article, other assistants around the country will take note of what great things come out of this program, and try to participate. I had an absolute blast, and came back with an assurance that with some hard work, some patience, and a bit of luck, I too, can be a successful person within this industry.

Finally, I want to thank all of the speakers and everyone else who made this event such a great success and a unique stepping stone in the direction of accomplishment for all the attendee’s careers. The seminar may be over, but the contacts and memories I made in those three days in Raleigh, NC, will last for the rest of my life.

About the author:
Brian DeVries is assistant superintendent at Cascade Hills Country Club in Grand Rapids, Mich. He can be reached at devrie74@msu.edu.

GCSAA attended Oct. 12 EPA meeting to hear updates on issues affecting superintendents

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 00:00:01 GMT

In a major development for superintendents, the EPA announced Oct. 12 at its Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee meeting in Washington, D.C., that it will not ask for an extension of the Oct. 31, 2011, permit deadline on its controversial Clean Water Act permit for pesticide spraying activities. This means that superintendents cannot apply pesticides in, over or near waters of the U.S. without coverage under a CWA National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit after Nov. 1. GCSAA staff attending the meeting heard this and other updates on issues important to the golf course management profession, including Endangered Species Act consultation process improvements and the agency's upcoming release of new spray drift guidance.

The EPA is developing the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) general permit for pesticide applications in, over or near waters of the U.S. in response to a 2009 ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit in National Cotton Council v. EPA. GCSAA has made available to its members a 15-minute podcast to provide background information on the new CWA NPDES pesticide general permit and its applicability to golf facilities. The members-only podcast includes information on how superintendents can help push for passage of H.R. 872, a bill currently residing in the U.S. Senate that would negate the need for the unnecessary and duplicative permit.

Once finalized, the EPA's NPDES Pesticide General Permit (PGP) will cover pesticide applications in the areas where the EPA is the permitting authority, which include Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Idaho, Oklahoma, Alaska, the District of Columbia, most U.S. territories and Indian country lands, and many federal facilities. In the other 44 states, the state NPDES authorities will issue the permits. All permittees will have to comply with the requirements of the EPA's NPDES PGP on Nov. 1, but permittees in states where the EPA has permit authority will have until Jan. 12, 2012, to submit their notices of intent to obtain coverage.

Superintendents in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Idaho, Oklahoma, Alaska, or D.C. can read a copy of the final draft permit from the EPA. If you're a superintendent in any other state, learn more about compliance obligations.

In addition to the permit, the EPA plans to publish a detailed fact sheet accompanying forms to document compliance activities, an electronic notice of intent database, and an updated decision tree tool to help users determine if they need to apply for the permit. Look for additional news updates and compliance information on this issue in upcoming issues of This Week.

At the PPDC meeting, EPA officials also announced their plans to publish by the end of 2011 new spray drift guidance for new pesticide labels to reduce off-target spray and dust drift. The EPA plans to publish guidance to state and tribal officials about how the agency intends the new drift labeling statements to be interpreted, as well as provide typical examples of how the labeling could be interpreted by enforcement officials in real-world drift cases.

PPDC committee members also discussed the current Endangered Species Act consultation process between federal agencies. Section 7 of the ESA requires the EPA and other federal agencies to consult with federal wildlife agencies to ensure their decisions do not harm protected species. GCSAA is closely monitoring ESA-related activities because a suite of anti-pesticide activist-driven lawsuits in the Northwest since 2000 has resulted in pesticide use restrictions at golf courses.

The PPDC, established in 1995, provides a forum for a diverse group of stakeholders to provide feedback to the EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs on various regulatory, policy and program implementation issues. PPDC members includes grower groups, public interest groups, public health interests, chemical associations, academia and federal agencies.

Karen O'Dell captures big prize

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:00:01 GMT

October 11, 2011|Michael Jones, Staff Writer
petoskeynews.com

GAYLORD — When the smoke cleared following a variety of target shooting, archery contests and other outdoor challenges Gaylord outdoorswoman Karen O’Dell emerged as the winner in the second season of “Ammo & Attitude,” the Versus network reality TV game show.

O’Dell and a couple dozen family and friends gathered around the TV at her Wilkinson Road home Friday morning to watch the final episode of the outdoor competition for women only in which O’Dell was named the top gun.

The hard part for O’Dell was the fact she knew the show’s outcome at the end of May when taping of the second season’s competition was completed at the Lucky Star Ranch in upstate New York.

“Other than a friend I enlisted as an accomplice who let me store the prizes at their house I couldn’t let on to anyone I had won,” O’Dell said. “I had to sit and watch the final episode with them before I could talk about it.”

Detroiter brings golf to kids as they prepare to graduate high school

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:00:01 GMT

Renee Fluker, founder of Midnight Golf, at the group's new practice golf course on the campus of Marygrove College on Detroit's northwest side. / WILLIAM ARCHIE/Detroit Free Press

BY CASSANDRA SPRATLING

DETROIT FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

Renee Fluker had a personal concern and a professional concern.

Her son, Jason Malone, didn't like being the only black kid on his school's golf team. And she didn't like seeing black children languishing in what was then the Sojourner Truth Public Housing Project on Detroit's east side, where she was a social worker.

She combined the two concerns and came up with one solution -- Midnight Golf, a program that teaches life lessons along with golf to minority youngsters. It's called Midnight Golf because initially she joined forces with a program called Midnight Basketball, designed to give inner-city kids something positive to do late at night.

The basketball program fizzled, but Midnight Golf persisted, largely due to the energy and enthusiasm of Fluker, 56, of Detroit. Since the program began in 2001 it has grown from 17 students its first year to 140 this year, selected through applications and interviews. Students must be at least 17 years old -- one goal is to maximize chances for success upon graduating high school.

This year's 30-week program began with another milestone -- its own practice golf course, designed by internationally acclaimed course designer Tom Doak. The course, located on the campus of Marygrove College on Detroit's northwest side, opened officially on Monday.

In its 10 years, 869 metro Detroit high school students -- from public, private, parochial and suburban schools -- have gone through the program; more than 90% of them have gone on to college. Fluker retired last year from social work but she continues in her role as founder and director of Midnight Golf. That's her title, but to the students, she's simply and affectionately Ms. Renee.

QUESTION: Why did you think golf was a good game for your son and other students?

ANSWER: Golf makes you think. It gives you structure and discipline and it helps kids with math. There's a lot in golf that deals with numbers, so the kids are having fun learning. It's also a game that broadens the students' overall knowledge and exposure. So many kids start this program ... all they know is basketball and football and by the time they leave, they love golf. And it's a sport they can play a lifetime. And a sport that's almost essential in the business world. A lot of networking happens on the golf course. One other thing, students can earn golf scholarships. My son did. He's now one of the mentors in the program.

Q: What else do the students learn?

A: They learn golf from PGA of America professional golfers. But less than half their time is spent on the golf course. The other half is spent in the classroom, learning life skills from business professionals, such as résumé writing, dinner table etiquette, financial literacy, negotiation skills, how to write thank-you notes -- those big and little things they need to know to be successful in life.

Q: How often do they meet?

A: They meet for 30 weeks, twice a week, here at Marygrove College. Every year we also do a college tour. But we always make it more than a college tour. We visit cultural and historical sites as well as colleges and universities.

Q: Where does money for the program come from?

A: We have fund-raisers, golf outings, grants and individual donations. Many of our Midnight Golf alumni come back and give, either their time or money.

Q: What is the key to the success of Midnight Golf?

A: Our mentors and business leaders, our board of directors. We have one mentor for every five students. They are men and women, young and old, black and white from all kinds of occupations. ... We have a very diverse group of mentors, but one thing they have in common is that they love and care for these kids. They want them to be successful. I want them to be successful and that message gets through. We set high standards. ... A few weeks into the program, we're like a big family.

For more about Midnight Golf: www.midnightgolf.org , 248-792-9438.

Contact Cassandra Spratling: 313-223-4580 or cspratling@freepress.com

The 2011 Big Event

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 00:00:01 GMT

The 2011 Big Event Winning Team.

Phil Owen, CGCS Superintendent at Warwick Hills C.C.

Tripp Bowden, Author of Freddie and Me

Another great turnout for the Big Event.

The 46th annual Big Event Fundraiser was held on October 3rd at Warwick Hills Country Club in Grand Blanc. The weather and course were spectacular, and the 2011 fundraising effort went over $30,000 for the year. The winning 4 person scramble team was Derek Carroll, Craig Henderson, EJ Martin and Matt Kelley with a score of 59 and winning a scorecard playoff on hole #2 with a birdie 3. Second place went to the team of Kris Early, Jim Higgs, Mike Casey, and Eric Niemur who also shot 59. The third place team was Doug Rusiecki, Greg Hodges, Charlie Gaige, and Jarrod Barley who shot 60.

There were 8 proximity prizes thanks to our Premiere Foundation sponsors Bayer, Syngenta, FIP, Quali-Pro, Weingartz, Tri-Turf, John Deere Golf, and Great Lakes Turf. The 4 closest to the pins were won by Nick Johnson, Jim Higgs, Jim Bluck and Trey Rogers. The 4 long drive prizes went to Adam Neate, John Cooney, Jarred Barley, and James Kurrle.

There was a poker game put on by Residex/Turfgrass and Civitas, thank you Sue Shockey for dealing, the best hand was a full house three 8’s and two 6’s by the team of Dan Dingman, John Cooney, Tim Dark, and Dale Bauer. The team won $330 and the other $330 went to the Foundation, and was increased by $250 by Todd Griebe President of Residex/Turfgrass.

The putting contest sponsored by Absolute Golf Ball Retrieval was won by Derek Carroll on the last putt of the day, Derek left it 9 ¼ inches from the hole.

Tavis Horton won the closest “Ball Mark” to the hole on #14. This was sponsored by Kno-Marks ball mark repair tools. Kno-Marks www.knomarks.com will also be donating $20 to the Foundation for every ball mark tool sold to MiGCSA and MTF members, make sure you mention this when you purchase the tool.

The dinner was wrapped up by Tripp Bowden, author of Freddie and Me, Life Lessons from Augusta National’s Legendary Caddie master Freddie Bennett. Tripp asked everyone in the room to think about someone in their life who influenced them, and if you have not spoken to them to re connect. Many people left he Big Event and did just that. Tripp is available for speaking engagements and can be reached for any reason at www.trippbowden.com

And a very special thanks to Superintendent Phil Owen, CGCS, Lance Leonard, and Damon Murphy Assistant Superintendents for the fantastic conditions. Doug Brody PGA Professional and Rick Slaght PGA Assistant Golf Professional for helping organize the golf event, and Rich Faiman General Manager for taking care of our group.

Veteran administrator brings wide variety of experience

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 00:00:01 GMT

Richard Konzem
GCSAA COO

Richard Konzem, who has more than 30 years of managerial experience, primarily in intercollegiate athletics, has been named chief operating officer for the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA).

Konzem officially will begin Oct. 17.

Konzem comes to GCSAA from Rockhurst University, located in Kansas City, Mo., where he has served as director of athletics since November 2007. During his tenure at Rockhurst, Konzem served on the NCAA Division II Men's Golf Regional Advisory Committee and had student-athletes from eight of 11 teams compete in NCAA postseason competition.

"I am pleased and excited to have Richard join the GCSAA team," GCSAA Chief Executive Officer Rhett Evans said. "He has an impressive track record of success supporting and facilitating a performance-driven culture among a group of diverse and talented individuals. That will serve the association well as he oversees the day-to-day operations of association programs with a focus on serving the GCSAA membership."

Konzem will be responsible for developing, implementing and executing key member programs that support the achievement of the association's mission, vision and operational goals. He will serve on the association's executive team and oversee the professional development; membership; strategic communications; corporate marketing, sales and business development; environmental programs; and events and meeting planning departments. He will also represent GCSAA in a variety of industry and allied association events, programs and activities.

A native of Salina, Kan., Konzem graduated from the University of Kansas in 1980 with a bachelor's degree in business administration and earned a master's in education: athletics administration from the University of Southern California in 1984.

"I am honored to join the GCSAA staff and look forward to working with it, the board of directors and members," Konzem said. "As an avid golfer, I have the utmost respect for the professionals who manage the game's playing field. It is certainly a challenging profession, and one of great value to the industry."

While at USC, Konzem began his career in fundraising and event management in the Trojan athletic department. He returned to his undergraduate alma mater in 1981, serving in a variety of capacities for 23 years. He rose to the position of senior associate athletics director, including a stint as interim athletics director in the summer of 2001. He was a primary sports administrator at KU during six NCAA Final Four appearances in basketball including the 1988 NCAA Championship, three bowl games, and a College World Series in both baseball and softball.

As senior associate athletic director at Kansas, Konzem supervised men's and women's basketball, football, baseball, the Williams Educational Fund (with $5 million in annual scholarship donations), athletic ticket staff, and the events and facilities staff. He executed national search efforts for coaches, served on a variety of NCAA committees, negotiated contracts, oversaw corporate sponsorships, administered rules compliance, and managed ticket operations among other duties. He also supervised the men's and women's golf teams.

Konzem left the department of intercollegiate athletics to become deputy director of the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics, also at the University of Kansas, for two years. He supervised all aspects of operations including: staffing, facility operations, events, budgeting, security, fundraising, donor relations, marketing, promotions, community/legislative outreach and recruitment of speakers and programs.

Active in the community, Konzem recently completed terms on the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame Board of Directors, the Sunflower State Games Board of Directors, the United Way of Douglas County and the City of Lawrence Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. He was a member of the Leadership Kansas Class in 2004. Konzem and his wife, Debbie, chaired the 2006 United Way Campaign in Lawrence, raising $1.65 million. He was also the media coordinator for the Kansas Open Golf Tournament (1991-96).

Konzem has two adult children: a son Scott and a daughter Sally.

GCSAA is a leading golf organization and has as its focus golf course management. Since 1926, GCSAA has been the top professional association for the men and women who manage golf courses in the United States and worldwide. From its headquarters in Lawrence, Kan., the association provides education, information and representation to 19,000 members in more than 72 countries. GCSAA's mission is to serve its members, advance their profession and enhance the enjoyment, growth and vitality of the game of golf. The association's philanthropic organization, The Environmental Institute for Golf, works to strengthen the compatibility of golf with the natural environment through research grants, support for education programs and outreach efforts. Find GCSAA on Facebook, follow GCSAA on Twitter, and visit GCSAA at www.gcsaa.org.

msuturfdiseases.net

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 00:00:01 GMT

MSU has launched msuturfdiseases.net. This site is intended to help you learn the key identification characteristics of common and not-so-common turfgrass diseases found in Michigan and the midwest. Correct identification is the first step to proper management. They have created biography pages for each disease to help you better understand why diseases invade. The biography pages include information on habitat, alternative common names (AKA), look-a-likes, management practices and chemical controls. Please take a moment to peruse this site, you may find it a very useful tool.

-The Tee Times 4 Turf Web site is active and accepting donations. Please donate a round today to support turfgrass research. Thank you for your participation.

2011 Western Golf Day

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 00:00:01 GMT

MiGCSA President Jay Eccleton, CGCS presents Harbor Shores Superintendent Brad Fry with a plaque thanking him for hosting

The winning team of Brett Roberts, Brian J Roberts, Jim Higgs, and Bryan Bloomensatt

Past MiGCSA President Ron Dahlin, CGCS winner of the poker game and a skin on hole #9

Putting contest by Par-Aide

The Jacobsen Hot Dog Stand

Over 100 attended and played The Golf Club at Harbor Shores on September 26th. This event helps raise money for the MiGCSA Foundation, the main goal of the funds raised are to support the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation and the Turf Research at MSU. This event put the Foundation over $30,000 in 2011 with one more Fundraiser to go at Warwick Hills Country Club, site of the 2011 Big Event.

There were four long drive prizes and four closest to the pin prizes thanks to the 8 Premiere Sponsors Bayer, Syngenta, Tri-Turf, Great Lakes Turf, John Deere Golf, Quali-Pro, and FIP Irrigation won by Ron Fox, Kevin Frank, Carey Mitchelson, Shawn Pranger (won three) Craig Kooengia, and Justin Spangler. There was a closest ball mark to the pin on hole #17 thanks to Kno-Marks ball mark repair tool won by Dave Dark, Kno-Marks also donated $100 to the Foundation and is donating $20 for every tool sold to the foundation from now on! A poker game sponsored by Absolute Golf Ball Retrieval, who donated an extra $500 ½ to the Foundation and ½ to the pot won by Ron Dahlin, Jeff Bodziak, Al Owens and Byde Kephart. Civitas sponsored the 7th hole and raffled off a $100 gift card to the Pro Shop was won by Tom Jevert. Par-Aide sponsored the putting contest and sold extra putts for $10, and matched the total, $190 was raised and matched by Par-Aide for a total of $380, the closest putt was Brett Roberts, followed by Craig Kooienga, and Paul Kolbe there was a separate vendor prize won by Al Lynch. The winning team of Brett Roberts, Brian J Roberts, Jim Higgs and Bryan Bloomensatt shot a 57, followed by a 59 from the team of Paul Richter, Steve Schultz, Cory Parmalee, Sean Pranger and a third place finish from the team of Jeff Hopkins, Jon Nysse, Dan Detloff, Dave Greener. There were 4 skins on the day an Eagle 2 on hole #3 by the team of Bill Walters and Jon Scott, an Eagle 3 on hole #5 by Paul Richter, Steve Schultz, Cory Parmalee, and Sean Pranger an Eagle 3 on hole #9 by the Ron Dahlin, Jeff Bodziak, Al Owens and Byde Kephart team, and an Eagle 3 on hole #10 from Matt Van Acker, Mark Fink, Justin Spangler and Craig Whitbeck. Thank you to Jacobsen for again sponsoring the Hot Dogs at the turn as they did at Arcadia and will do again at Warwick Hills.

A special thank you to Brad Fry, Superintendent at The Golf Club at Harbor Shores and all of the staff that helped make this event possible. The course was amazing and the conditions were perfect.

USGA Regional Update - Spike It

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 00:00:01 GMT

By R.A. (Bob) Brame, director, North Central Region
September 29, 2011

It takes solid maintenance that is properly timed to fully benefit from better weather. Hopefully the conditioning of your course is benefiting from the milder weather and proper maintenance so that it achieves the needed strengthening to set the stage for maximum dependability in 2012. Scheduling an on-site Turf Advisory Service visit in early fall will accommodate a comprehensive review of how maintenance and weather are weaving together.

During the milder weather, one technique to speed recovery of weakened or thinned turf, especially on putting surfaces, is spiking. With the loss of density on putting surfaces comes a matting of organic matter and sometimes algae crusting. Gentle spiking breaks up the surface layer, and helps the surrounding plants fill-in quicker. The last two summers have refocused efforts to use spiking to aid recovery without taking the affected green being taken out of play. When there is enough turf loss that seeding becomes the primary means to reestablish good density, a higher mowing height should be part of the mix. However, when existing plants are adequate to fill the damaged areas, spiking will facilitate lateral growth.

Gentle putting surface spiking also is a good aid for improving topdressing efficiency. A couple of perpendicular passes with a spiker opens the surface to help better incorporate sand from a topdressing application into the upper profile. While caution needs to be exercised during harsh weather, spiking is less abrasive than brushing sand into the canopy. Sometimes both spiking and brushing are utilized, but, when spiking is part of the package, brushing is at least reduced, if not eliminated, depending upon other factors like the volume of applied sand. A gentle hand syringing is the best way to push sand into the canopy and out of the reach of mowers, if follow-up is needed during the summer.

Along with spiking, core aeration, and topdressing, fall fertilization is vitally important to both maximizing recovery and bulking up on carbohydrate storage for the 2012 season. The timing and the actual product being used directly impacts what fertilization offers. Similar to the importance of what we eat is for our health, how the turf is fed is foundational and one of the four building blocks of sound agronomics. The following link is an excellent resource for evaluating fall fertilization.

http://turf.unl.edu/pdfctarticles/SeptweakinglatefallN.pdf

While the shorter days and cooler temperatures of fall bring needed relief for the turf and staff, the next few weeks will have a huge impact on next year’s course health and playability. Take a deep breath and stay focused for a bit longer – it will pay dividends down the road. As always, call or email anytime when we can help.

Source: Bob Brame, bobbrame@usga.org or 859-356-3272

MSU Turf Program Update

Sun, 25 Sep 2011 00:00:01 GMT

September 25, 2011

Good September Morning from the land of Green and White,

Hopefully this correspondence finds you well. We are feeling better about ourselves, after beating up on the downtrodden Chips. One thing about playing the in-state neighbors, especially CMU, the number of casualties is very high. The yards north of campus were littered with bodies and the sun had not even set. As you have heard me say many times, the students at the University never get any older, only the professors and the buildings.

We are off to a great semester in our corner of MSU, the turfgrass world. Our counts for the specific parts of the program are as follows; BS – 42, GTM- 26, SACT – 13. I am very happy with the quality of the students and impressed with their work ethic and leadership at this point. The Turf club is very active, stop by their tailgates on MSU game Saturdays (always by the tennis courts south of the Stadium). The Club is sponsoring a Turf Networking golf outing on Friday, October 7, 1 pm, at College Fields GC in Okemos. They would love to have you attend and network if you can, please contact me and I will point you in the right direction to get signed up.

This year’s Cutter Cup will be held at Shaker Heights CC outside of Cleveland, OH, (PSU hosting) on Sunday October 9. We will travel over on October 8 and play Avon Oaks CC, thanks to the graciousness of Superintendent Terry Boehm (’94), as a tune up to wrestle back the cup from the Nits. This is the 20th Annual match and the all time series is 6-7-6.

In June 2011, Ron Calhoun left MSU after 20 years of dedicated and appreciated service to take a upper level management position with Residex/Turfgrass. To no surprise he is taking the industry by storm, and moving and shaking. Aaron Hathaway is currently handling the weed science duties and teaching the turf weeds class. While losing Ron is quite a blow, the good news is we do not have to forge ahead minus a turf team member. We should be forming the committee to begin our search to find a new Turfgrass faculty person this fall. I will keep you updated.

Now, a little update on me. As you may or may not know, my last children graduated high school this past June. (This had left me with quite a bit of free time since I do not have any practices or games to attend.) My plan all along had been to commit to Sports turf related research until they graduated and then decide when and if to make any changes. After some careful searching and considerations, I have decided to devote my full-time research efforts to golf specific research (a return to my roots, so to speak) as well as do a little more travel to speak at conferences and consulting. No lying around during my last 20-25 years! Specific projects in my head right now involve putting green cultivation and bentgrass renovation techniques, two areas that will be extremely high priority in the golf turf world over the next few years. Any thoughts you have or projects for me are welcome. I will keep you posted.

Look forward to hearing from you, and I will keep you posted. Keep looking for lost souls.

Trey Rogers

Aerification Survey

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 00:00:01 GMT

The MiGCSA sent an email to all Class A and SM members with a survey on aerifiaction. We had 128 responses. Thank you to all who took the less than 30 second survey, here are the results. As you can see below the month most Michigan Superintendents aerify in the month of September, followed by October. The first week of October was the most answered week and month followed by September either the second or fourth week. If you would like to read all the verbatim comments please click on the link at the bottom of the page. Please keep an eye out for future surveys relating to Turf Management in Michigan.

Full Survey Results Here

2011 Heritage Scholarship

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 00:00:01 GMT

The Michigan Golf Course Superintendents Association is pleased to offer the Heritage Scholarship. Each district will have the opportunity for an award recipient. The award is available to dependents of active members of the MiGCSA working in their District pursuing a degree not related to the turfgrass industry. Each award recipient will be awarded $1,000.00

Click Here for the 2011 application.

USGA Regional Update - Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 00:00:01 GMT

Recovery from mid-summer losses of turf will be a challenge if you wait until Labor Day to start the process. Poa will have a better chance of establishment versus bentgrass now that days are shorter and nights are cooler.

Time is running out, along with daylight and high soil temperatures, for those still trying to recover from the turf losses caused by this summer’s heat wave. I’m amazed that some courses are just starting to seed into thin and bare areas on greens and expect full recovery before winter arrives. After all, the weather has not cooperated all season, so why should it start now?

Granted, soil temperature are still pushing upper 60’s during mid-day and you might see green bentgrass fuzz on a freshly-seeded site within 10 days or so, if (and a BIG if) the mild weather holds up and nights don’t become too chilly. Small, isolated dime- to quarter-sized areas of thin turf can recover when bentgrass creeps in from the borders, but large bare areas need seed, heat and time. Why the pessimism? Do the math. Let’s say you began the process the day after Labor Day.

Seeding bare area until you see green fuzz------------------------------------ 10 days

Fuzz grows high enough to mow a few times--------------------------------- + 10 days

Several topdressings and mowing height adjustments

to encourage turf to fill in between seed lines or aeration holes------------- + weeks

----------------------

= November

This is assuming that you are taking the problem green out of play and raising the mowers to at least 0.180” and watering the seedlings several times a day and not getting the frost that is in the weather forecast for much of the upper Midwest. The bottom line is – don’t count on a mid to late September seeding with bentgrass to do much good this season, especially when you continue to mow at or below 0.125” and keep the green in play. Think of that huge dead spot as a new green and you will realize that a green seeded during mid September will not be ready to play until June or July of next season. A winter cover might not be a bad idea, although the most benefit, with respect to increasing soil temperatures, will occur next spring.

No doubt, the outlook is pretty bleak for courses that lost grass on predominantly bentgrass greens. A better option may be to start patching the injured areas with sod from the nursery or the practice putting green right now if you don’t want to be patching with sod next spring. Short days, long cool nights, low sun angles and plummeting soil temperatures are limiting your bentgrass options during a year when Mother Nature has a chip on her shoulder.

Some hope remains for thin. bare Po annua greens that typically have plenty of live seed already in the soil. It’s not unreasonable to expect a fair amount of recovery to occur on Poa greens during late September and October if we are lucky enough to experience a few weeks of Indian summer and some timely rainfall to compensate for the times we forget to irrigate weak greens during long periods of cool dry, weather.

In a nutshell, this has been a very difficult season that many superintendents want to forget… but one they will likely remember for a long time.

Source: Bob Vavrek, rvavrek@usga.org or 262-797-8743

MSU Turf Team Update 9-2-11

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 00:00:01 GMT

It's an exciting time on campus as the students have returned and the football season is about to kick-off in literally hours with a Friday night kickoff. The MSU Turfgrass program continues to be active with our research, teaching, and extension missions. Three new graduate students have joined the Turf Team this fall. Thomas Green is working with Dr. Rogers, and Cai Xinghe-Arthur and Xiaojing Zhu-Grace are working with Dr. Frank. An interesting article on bacterial wilt was recently posted on TurfNet that references MSU researchers Dr. Vargas and Nikolai. The article can be found at: www.turfnet.com/view_news.php?obj_id=868. Dr. Frank recently conducted an interview for the radio segment Greening of the Great Lakes which is aired on radio stations throughout Michigan including WJR which reaches far beyond the state's borders. The article and interview can be viewed at: www.mlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2011/09/kevin_frank_msu_turfgrass_gree.html.

Thanks for your continued support of the MSU Turf Program and have a great Labor Day weekend!

MSU Turf Team

AMVAC Can Sell PCNB

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 00:00:01 GMT

Newport Beach, Calif.-based American Vanguard Corp. announced that the Chief Judge for the United States District Court for the District of Columbia has granted the company's motion for summary judgment and vacated the stop sale, use or removal order that had been issued in August 2010 by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) relating to the company's EPA-registered pentachloronitrobenzene (PCNB) product line. The company's wholly-owned subsidiary, Amvac Chemical Corporation, manufactures, distributes and sells PCNB as a fungicide for use primarily on turf.

The company's motion sought relief on various grounds, including denial of due process. In reaching its decision, the court found that the agency official who signed the SSURO lacked the authority to issue such an order. Because SSURO was invalid on this ground, the court did not address AMVAC's other challenges. The court remanded the matter to the EPA for any further proceedings as it may deem appropriate.

"We are, of course, pleased with the court's decision," said Eric Wintemute, chairman and CEO of the company. "This has been a long and trying process which appears to be coming to a conclusion. We are now focused on working with the EPA to get our amended end-use labels for PCNB products issued as quickly as possible, so that we can return to the market.

"We are also grateful to our customers for their continued support and patience throughout this ordeal and hope to be in a position to meet their needs in the very near future."

USGA Regional Update - One Plus One Equals Three

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 00:00:01 GMT

By R.A. (Bob) Brame, director, North Central Region
September 1, 2011

Golf course visits over the last few weeks have confirmed that this season’s harsh weather pattern has resulted in significant and widespread weakening of golf turf. However, it actually goes back one step further. The 2011 season has been intensified by the challenges of the 2010 season. Almost like one plus one equals three.

The 2010 season resulted in significant weakening and loss of golf turf, especially cool-season rough. A prolonged dry fall prevented recovery efforts. The extended 2011 wet spring further compromised turf recovery efforts and weakened rooting into the summer. Summer high temperatures kicked in, which included nighttime temperatures that did not allow plants to recoup from daytime heating, and many sites experienced excessive rain. Add it all together and the result was an intensified turf weakening beyond what a single harsh season alone would generate. Until a fall-spring growth cycle accommodates the needed recovery and strengthening of cool-season turf the multiplying will continue.

The quickest way to take out cool-season golf turf is the combination of hot temperatures and wet conditions. A saturated root zone compromises the plant’s ability to cool itself during daytime heating and, as a result, wilt sets in. Wet wilt is virtually impossible to mitigate. The key to preventing wet wilt is maximizing surface water runoff and the internal movement of water down into the root zone. This emphasizes the importance of drainage, topdressing, and aeration, but they must be done in advance of challenging weather.

There are a number of courses in the region that could not core aerate their greens this spring due to the extended wet weather. This played into some of the more intense turf loss that developed this summer. While there are never any guarantees with golf turf management, the maintenance program should always be structured to maximize quality during challenging weather patterns. When the worst happens there will at least be the assurance that all that could be done was, in fact, done.

Maintenance over the next few weeks will directly impact turf quality next summer. While September and October can be very good months for playing golf, it is vitally important to both achieve recovery where recovery is needed and maximize overall turf quality. Missing the mark in the early to mid-fall means vulnerability is elevated next season.

Call or email anytime if questions arise about your program. If you’d like a candid and comprehensive review of your maintenance program for 2012 let us know; we’re always available.

Source: Bob Brame, bobbrame@usga.org or 859-356-3272

Daconil With a Protein Boost

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 00:00:01 GMT

Daconil, Syngenta's popular fungicide, is getting a new look. On Wednesday, Syngenta announced the release of Daconil Action fungicide, which features the disease control of Daconil with a protein boost from acibenzolar-S-methyl (also known as acibenzolar) for golf course superintendents and professional turfgrass managers.

The properties of acibenzolar, combined with the performance of Daconil, enhances disease control and improves turf quality, Syngenta says. Acibenzolar provides a boost of pathogenesis-related proteins that activate the turf's natural defense mechanisms and help it combat stress resulting from environmental, mechanical and disease pressures.

"Daconil Action achieves complete plant coverage quickly," said Bob Goglia, brand manager for Syngenta. "Acibenzolar's systemic properties result in uniform distribution throughout the plant and ensure that natural defense mechanisms are activated in new plant growth as well. We're excited to bring this revolutionary solution to superintendents for increased efficiency and improved disease control."

Acibenzolar belongs to a product category called Host Plant Defense Induction, established by the Fungicide Resistance Action Committee (FRAC) in Group P. Once absorbed, acibenzolar stimulates the natural defense response or the Systemic Acquired Resistance (SAR) of the turfgrass by activating the production of PR proteins.

"The acibenzolar - combined with Daconil fungicide's direct activity on disease pathogens - is what gives Daconil Action its boosted performance," said Mike Agnew, technical manager for Syngenta. "Acibenzolar bridges the gap between genetic resistance and conventional disease control. Its SAR effect works with Daconil to reduce disease infection."

Research shows that Daconil Action provides longer residual control of anthracnose and dollar spot, two major challenges for superintendents, Syngenta says. It has also performed consistently in all weather conditions throughout the growing season (per trials at Rutgers University 2006 and Pennsylvania State University 2010).

Daconil Action is the only turf health product in the United States recognized by the FRAC as having an active ingredient that produces a SAR effect. It has a multi-site mode of action to attack pathogens at several biochemical sites, preventing disease resistance.

Its protein-boost effect improves ability to handle drought, increases photosynthetic capacity, reduces incidence of dollar spot and other diseases, and enhances root growth and development. Its built-in surfactant system provides residual control of 14-21 days when used at recommended rates.
Daconil Action is labeled for control of turfgrasses on golf courses, sod farms, professional and collegiate athletic fields and lawns around commercial and industrial buildings.

EPA says DuPont knew herbicide Imprelis would hurt trees before release

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 00:00:01 GMT

DuPont knew before the company put its herbicide Imprelis on the market that it hurt trees, the Environmental Protection Agency said today in an order making it illegal to sell or use Imprelis.

Last week, the chemical giant voluntarily pulled the herbicide after acknowledging that Imprelis caused certain species of trees to curl and brown causing injury or death to the trees. There have been thousands of reports from numerous states about tree damage.

The EPA’s stop order makes it illegal to use or sell the pesticide and anyone who continues to sell or use Imprelis could be subject to civil or criminal penalties.

Imprelis was approved for use in August 2010 and the EPA began receiving complaints in June of this year about tree damage.

As part of its investigation, the EPA on July 18 asked DuPont to submit “all studies and data, completed or in progress” pertaining to the toxicity of Imprelis’s active ingredient, aminocyclopyrachlor, on trees and other plants.

According to the EPA the test data was “confirming that certain coniferous trees, including Norway spruce and balsam fir, are susceptible to being damaged or killed by the application of Imprelis.”

However, in the labeling of Imprelis, DuPont “does not warn or caution about potential damage to trees,” the EPA said.

DuPont spokeswoman Kate Childress, said in a statement that “we are conducting ongoing broad scientific and stewardship reviews of our data, label directions, and scientific analyses and sharing that information with the EPA.”

The company has announced a product return and refund program. “We have shared our program with the EPA, and upon their approval, we will communicate the detailed instructions to our customers,” Childress said of the refund program.

Several lawsuits have been filed by individuals and companies involving the use of Imprelis. So many trees have died from the East Coast west to Iowa that the damage is projected to be in the millions of dollars.

The product was available only to licensed landscapers and lawn care services. Many landscapers in Michigan and elsewhere switched to Imprelis this year to control weeds such as dandelions because it was touted as safer for the environment than predecessors such as 2, 4-D.

Contact Cecil Angel: 313-223-4531 or cangel@freepress.com

Tough Season For Growing Turf

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 00:00:01 GMT

This has been a tough season for growing turf whether it was on a home lawn or golf course. First, we had a very wet spring which water-logged the soil, pushing out the oxygen and limiting root growth. This meant the turf went into the summer season with a limited root system. Then we had one of the hottest, wettest July’s on record. We have found abundant summer patch and crown rot anthracnose in samples sent to our laboratory at MSU. We have also had identified samples that had bacterial wilt. Many turf stands were barely hanging on with these disease problems when the heavy rains occurred last week. These rains, once again, saturated the soils pushing out the oxygen. With the added stress of depleted oxygen levels in the root zone, the turf that was surviving the summer patch, crown rot anthracnose, or bacterial wilt began to die.

Fortunately, it appears that the temperatures are going to moderate, especially the nighttime temperatures. Venting the soil with small tines to re-oxidize the soil will help. Also applying light rates of potassium nitrate (1/8 of a pound of N per 1000 sq ft) and rinsing it into the soil will help re-oxidize the soil. Unfortunately, if the heavy rains continue there will be more turf loss. Those greens, tees, and fairways where turf loss occurred should be interseeded with creeping bentgrass. Diseases like brown patch, crown rot anthracnose, and dollar spot are going to continue to occur throughout the month of August so the turf should be treated with fungicides to make sure these diseases do not cause any more turf loss.

J.M. Vargas, Jr., Professor
MSU Turf Team

2012 GCSAA Board of Directors candidates announced

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 00:00:01 GMT

The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America will hold its 2012 election during the annual meeting on the final day of the GCSAA Education Conference, March 2, in Las Vegas. Voting members will elect three officers and two directors from the following individuals on the ballot:

For president:

Sandy G. Queen, CGCS, City of Overland Park, Kan.

For vice president:

Patrick R. Finlen, CGCS, The Olympic Club, San Francisco, Calif.

For secretary/treasurer:

Keith A. Ihms, CGCS, Country Club of Little Rock (Ark.)
John J. O'Keefe, CGCS, Preakness Hills Country Club, Wayne, N.J.

For director (electing two):

Rafael Barajas, CGCS, Hacienda Golf Club, La Habra Heights, Calif.
Darren J. Davis, Olde Florida Golf Club, Naples, Fla.
Mark F. Jordan, CGCS, Westfield Group Country Club, Westfield Center, Ohio
Bill H. Maynard, CGCS, Milburn Golf and Country Club, Shawnee Mission, Kan.

Peter J. Grass, CGCS, Hilands Golf Club in Billings, Mont., will remain on the board with one year remaining in his two-year term. Robert M. Randquist, CGCS, will serve on the board as immediate past president during 2012, and James R. Fitzroy, CGCS, will retire from the board.

Both secretary/treasurer candidates have one year remaining in their director terms, so the board will fill the secretary/treasurer's vacated director seat by appointment following the election.

DuPont Says It Regrets Any Tree Injuries That Herbicide May Have Caused

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 00:00:01 GMT

In a July 27 letter to its customers, including golf course superintendents, Michael McDermott, the global business leader for DuPont Professional Products, said the company sincerely regretted any tree injuries that Imprelis herbicide may have caused them.

Imprelis, a post-emergent broadleaf weed control product, has been blamed for damaging or killing a certain species of spruce and white pines. McDermott said DuPont would work with customers promptly to fairly resolve problems associated with Imprelis.

"Based on our ongoing review, we have observed tree injuries associated with Imprelis primarily on Norway spruce and white pine trees," McDermott wrote in the letter. "The reports of problems are concentrated in a geographic band that includes Minnesota, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Wisconsin. While most properties treated have had successful weed control, we are committed to continuing to work with every customer who has experienced Imprelis-related problems. If you have concerns or issues with our product, we would like to hear from you."

DuPont has launched a website, imprelis-facts.com, to carry the latest information about Imprelis and make it easier for superintendents and others to report problems.

"We urge you to go to the website for more information and to check back frequently for updates," McDermott said.

Top Golf Course Builders Honored for Excellence in Construction, Renovation - MiGCSA Member Eagle Golf Construction

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 00:00:01 GMT

Cleveland, Ohio – Four of the world's leading golf course construction companies have been named as winners in Golf Course Industry magazine's 7th annual Builder Excellence Awards

This year's Excellence Award honorees are:
CREATIVE AWARD – New Construction
Landscapes Unlimited, LLC
The Prairie Club, Valentine, Neb.
AFFINITY AWARD – Environmental Sensitivity
Eagle Golf Construction
The Golf Club Harbor Shores, Benton Harbor, Mich.
HERITAGE AWARD – Reconstruction
Duininck Golf
Joseph M. Bartholomew Sr. Municipal Golf Course, New Orleans, La.
LEGACY AWARD – Remodeling/Renovation (Tie)
MacCurrach Golf Construction, Inc.
Vesper County Club, Tyngsboro, Mass.
Frontier Golf
Army Navy Country Club, Arlington, Va.

This year's awards program is one of the best ever thanks to strong interest in the remodeling and renovation category as well as an increase in entries in both the new construction and environmental categories.
It's clear that, in a tighter market, GCBAA-member builders are going above and beyond the call of duty to provide excellent work and stay within budget. The quality of the entries is evidenced by the fact that we had a tie in the renovation category for the second year in a row. The work these companies are doing is just that good.
The Builders Excellence Awards will be presented in conjunction with the GCBAA's upcoming annual meeting during PGA Championship week in Atlanta on Thursday, August 11. The goal of the program is to recognize outstanding work by GCBAA members and to spotlight the association's mission of advancing and continuously improving the profession of golf course construction. The winning projects will be featured in the September issue of GCI along with coverage of the association's 40th anniversary.

To learn more about the Builders Excellence Awards program, visit www.golfcourseindustry.com or www.gcbaa.org.

Pat Jones
Publisher, Golf Course Industry
pjones@gie.net

MiGCSA Member Karen O'Dell stars in Ammo and Attitude

Sat, 30 Jul 2011 00:00:01 GMT

Sunday's 12:30 P.M. EST
Versus Channel
1st Episode July 31st
11 Week Series

http://www.ammoandattitude.com/

Persistent heat, drought and flooding strain golf courses nationally

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 00:00:01 GMT

Extended periods of excessive heat, widespread moderate to severe drought, and pockets of flooding have beset golf courses for the second consecutive year, putting a strain on revenues, golfers and the professionals who manage the game's playing fields – golf course superintendents.

"We saw widespread turf loss last year, and the feedback from our members is that this year has the potential to be as severe," Golf Course Superintendents Association of America President Bob Randquist, certified golf course superintendent at Boca Rio Golf Course in Boca Raton, Fla., said.

Researchers, university extension agents and golf course superintendents agreed that the conditions last summer were the worst in decades in terms of the geographic scope, Randquist said. The impact of this year's weather – although not as widespread – will not be determined for a few weeks, but he indicated superintendents are pulling out all the stops to counter the wrath of Mother Nature.

Superintendents have implemented a variety of management practices such as reducing green speeds by raising cutting heights and rolling less frequently; less mowing frequency; restricting cart traffic; increased hand watering; reducing/postponing verticutting and topdressing activities; if aerifying, doing so with small tines; and reducing of fertilization programs.

"The simple fact is the cool-season turfgrasses such as bentgrass, fescue, bluegrass, annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and others are stressed with sustained high temperatures and humidity," Randquist said. "Golf courses in many parts of the country experience this every year, however what made the situation so dire last year and now have been the high levels of extended heat and humidity, and the sizeable part of the country affected.

"Certainly homeowners, athletic fields and businesses suffer turfgrass damage brought on by these kinds of conditions. What makes it more difficult for golf facilities are the mowing heights are much lower and traffic is much heavier. That just adds to the stress on the turfgrass."

Also unknown is what the final impact of flooding will be. Some courses were under water for extended periods of time so the turf started the season already in a compromised position.

Randquist also cautioned golfers from thinking that water, whether from rain or irrigation, is the answer to the ills. There is a difference between heat stress and drought stress. Adequate irrigation will alleviate drought stress. Adequate irrigation will not alleviate heat stress. It is not only possible, but likely, for a turfgrass plant to be adequately watered and still suffer from heat stress under extended periods of high temperatures.

Randquist urged golfers and leaders at golf facilities not to panic. Every golf course is unique and thus reacts to the weather extremes differently. Variations in soil conditions, air movement, shade, water quality and availability, and budget make course comparisons a dangerous proposition.

"We know the weather conditions will become more agreeable," Randquist said. "What is important right now is to manage the golf course in a manner so that turf can be kept alive until that point. Pushing turf too hard might result in longer term damage."

GCSAA is a leading golf organization and has as its focus golf course management. Since 1926, GCSAA has been the top professional association for the men and women who manage golf courses in the United States and worldwide. From its headquarters in Lawrence, Kan., the association provides education, information and representation to 19,000 members in more than 72 countries. GCSAA's mission is to serve its members, advance their profession and enhance the enjoyment, growth and vitality of the game of golf. The association's philanthropic organization, The Environmental Institute for Golf, works to strengthen the compatibility of golf with the natural environment through research grants, support for education programs and outreach efforts. Find GCSAA on Facebook, follow GCSAA on Twitter, and visit GCSAA at www.gcsaa.org.

Turfgrass Heat Stress and Rolling

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 00:00:01 GMT

I received an email from longtime MTF supporter and golf course superintendent Jerry Kershasky from Westmoor Country Club in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He mentioned he was going to initiate a program with less mowing and more rolling during the heat stress period. The data is very strong that when superintendents daily alternate rolling and mowing during a heat stress period (on cool season grasses) the turfgrass is better able to withstand the conditions and even shows improved wear tolerance. However, there will be a drop in green speed compared to mowing every day and rolling every other. If you need to maintain your green speed our data shows that rolling every day and mowing every other during the heat stress period should result in very little difference in green speed compared to mowing and rolling daily (unless your thatch/mat layer is too thick). In any event, this type of data ONLY exists because of MTF funds and members like you. The MTF was the only funding group that decided to fund this research so thank you for your continued support and assistance in changing the way golf courses are maintained.

In other news, we've recently noticed cutworm and black turfgrass Ataenius feeding in fairways and greens. The cutworms did warrant an insecticide application however the observed Ataenius levels were not high enough to worry about controlling. Both were adding another stresser to turf already experiencing plenty of stress.

Dr. Thom Nikolai
MSU Turf Team

Hot Temps vs. Disease

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 00:00:01 GMT

The hot weather is here and more importantly so are the warm nights. When the nighttime temperatures stay above 68 F, diseases like anthracnose and crown rot anthracnose, brown patch and Pythium blight become a problem. If the warm nights are accompanied by heavy rain showers, then summer patch will also be a problem. If you have not made preventive fungicide applications for these diseases they should be made now. If any of these diseases are already present, curative fungicide applications should be made before the diseases become worse. Remember, if the disease is present, systemic fungicides need to be applied so they can enter the plant and stop the fungus from destroying more tissue. Also, these hot temperatures will stop root growth and cause any roots already present to suberize. This means the turfgrass root systems will not be functioning very well. This is the time to bypass the root system and foliar feed the turf. Needless to say, these hot temperatures will require a lot of hand watering to keep the turf alive. Good luck to everyone and try to stay cool.

Dr. Joe Vargas
MSU Turf Team

Syngenta Business Institute

Sat, 16 Jul 2011 00:00:01 GMT

Syngenta is excited to announce for the third year, they are inviting golf course superintendents across the United States to apply to attend the Syngenta Business Institute, an innovative professional business development program developed specifically for the industry in conjunction with Wake Forest University.

We would appreciate your help in identifying candidates for this opportunity and for directing them to our online application process at http://www.greencastonline.com/GolfMarketIndex.aspx?market=2. Applications are due by Wednesday, Aug. 17.

The unique, four-day program includes areas like financial management, human resource management, negotiating, impact hiring and other leadership professional development skills. The program will complement their existing knowledge base to help them be more productive and efficient for the golf courses they manage.

Syngenta is eager to provide a learning experience that goes well beyond the agronomic requirements of a superintendent’s job. The Syngenta Business Institute will be held Dec. 5-8, 2011, at Graylyn International Conference Center on the campus of Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Superintendents must fill out an application, which requires them to write a 250-word essay on why they believe they should be selected to attend. The application is due by Wednesday, Aug. 17 and can be found at http://www.greencastonline.com/GolfMarketIndex.aspx?market=2. Only 25 superintendents will be selected to participate.

If you are curious about the success of the 2010 Syngenta Business Institute, below are a few comments from superintendents who attended:

“You delivered a unique and vital educational experience. I feel privileged to have been selected to participate. Many of the concepts explored in the Leadership, Feedback, Negotiations, and Employee Management sections have caused me to reflect on my current management style. Regarding the Financial Management information, I now have a concise reference resource and a greater understanding of managing and analyzing financial statements.” – Tom Breiner

“It was definitely a first-class experience all the way around.” – Brian Nettz

“I walked into the conference room the first morning with the notion that this program would help me achieve my future career goals; it exceeded my expectations. But it also did something I sorely needed and that was to recharge my batteries. I walked into work the next week with my shoulders a bit higher.” – Bill Brown

“This helped me identify some of my weaknesses and gave me solutions, especially when dealing with conflict in the workplace. I can’t wait to get back to my facility and put them into practice.” – John Genovesi

Doak course at Streamsong Completes Shaping and Irrigation Installation

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 00:00:01 GMT

Polk County, Fla.— Construction of the new Tom Doak/Renaissance Golf Design course at Streamsong Resort in Central Florida is moving briskly along. As of June, all 18 holes are completely shaped, and the first six holes have been sprigged, with the remainder to be grassed in July and August..

The completion of shaping means that the creative work by the highly-creative Doak and his team is essentially done.

“So I'm no longer talking about the potential of the course to be excellent -- I am talking about what the finished product is going to be, and I'm more excited about that than ever,” Doak said.

The Doak course and another by the team of Coore & Crenshaw will be two highly distinctive, intertwined, 18-hole courses on a former phosphate mining site. The noted designers were intrigued by the opportunity to utilize mined land and to work side-by-side on their two courses at Streamsong Resort, a 16,000-acre project being developed by The Mosaic Company, the world’s leading producer and marketer of phosphate-based crop nutrients. The resort is located in southern Polk County, Fla., between Tampa and Orlando.

“This is such a good piece of land for golf,” Doak said. “The variety of contours created by the mining process is unique for a project in Florida, or anywhere in the Southeast. I have been friends with Bill and Ben for many years, and it has been fun to be working right alongside them. I think it has brought out the best work in each of us.”

Doak said the “transition" holes – those that architects traditionally aren’t quite sure of what to expect when a project begins – are a stretch at his Streamsong course from the par 3 10th to the short par-4 13th. Those holes are on the flattest part of the property, and the solutions to the problem were different for each hole.

“The 10th was almost a completely featureless green site which just tilted a bit from left to right, and that presented a problem, because the other par-3 holes all have a left-to-right bias,” Doak said. “So our challenge was to build a hole for a right-to-left long iron shot without building anything obviously artificial.”

Doak’s shapers on the job, Eric Iverson and Mike McCartin, pulled it off by digging a very deep bunker at the left front of the green, so the approach feeds back into it like a whirlpool, and by angling the green away to the left so that a faded shot runs the danger of running across the green and off the back right side.

By contrast, the 300-yard par-4 13th hole had the problem of too much sand -- it plays along the side of a large lake to the left. The mining operation had left a very steep sandy bank more than 20 feet high running down to the lake, so that golfers wouldn't see the hazard coming, and would have no chance of recovery. A skinny green was built up at the existing grade, but 20 feet of sand was cut along the left side of the fairway up to the front of the green, so that players who try to drive to the front of the putting surface must now risk a 20-foot deep bunker at the front left.
“Bill and Ben have told us it's now the coolest hole on the course, which is amazing to me, knowing what else we had to work with on the others,” Doak said.

For more information, go to www.streamsongresort.com.

Media Contacts:

Resort & Golf Marketing/ Renaissance Golf Design
Dave Richards
(248) 642-6420
dave@resortandgolf.com

The Mosaic Company/Streamsong Resort
David Townsend
(813) 500-6497
dave.townsend@mosaicco.com

Rock and Rolling New Turf for Spartan Stadium

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 00:00:01 GMT

U2 has rolled through Spartan Stadium and now preparations are underway for removing what is left of the turf and installing the new field in time for the Sept. 2 kickoff game. If you attend the Lawn Care and Athletic Turf Field Day on August 16th and sign up for the afternoon Spartan Stadium tour, you'll have an opportunity to see the new field up close and personal. Registration for both the August 16 (Lawn Care/Athletic Fields) and August 17 (Golf) Field Days will be available soon at www.michiganturfgrass.org. In the meantime, you can read all the details about field renovations at Spartan Stadium here: /members/45568/ftp/New Turf for Spartan Stadium.pdf

MSU Turf Team

Seasonal Tree Care Calendar - fact sheet

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 00:00:01 GMT

Below there is a link to a fact sheet on the Seasonal Care for Trees and Shrubs in Northern U.S. Climates calendar which was published by the USDA Forest Service and the University of Minnesota. The factsheet also contains a url link to the University of Minnesota- My Minnesota Woods website which contains PDF files of the large poster, a small poster and magnet available for printing. The target audience for this publication is professionals outside of the arboriculture industry who are responsible for tree maintenance.

CLICK HERE FOR THE POSTER

Golf Day at the Capitol Video

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 00:00:01 GMT

The voice of Michigan golf business was heard loud and clear on June 22nd “Golf Day at the Capital.” Here are the highlights…

YouTube - Michigan Golf Course Owners, Legislative Day, 201l, glsp
Michigan Golf Course Owners, Legislative Day, 2011, glsp, Michigan Golfer TV.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPzDnsAn4gg

What to do with Imprelis-affected trees

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 00:00:01 GMT

Patience and time are preferred to hasty action that may only compound the problem.

Bert Cregg, Michigan State University Extension, Departments of Horticulture and Forestry

Recent reports that the turf herbicide Imprelis may be responsible for damage to landscape trees, especially conifers, has generated numerous calls to MSU Extension specialists and educators as well as MDA officials (see Kevin Frank’s article Imprelis herbicide may injure evergreens). One of the most common (and most vexing) questions is what to do if you suspect trees have been affected by Imprelis.

Imprelis (active ingredient aminocyclopyrachlor) is classified as a synthetic auxin herbicide. In addition to foliar activity, Imprelis can also be taken up by plant roots. In the current rash of reported tree damage, it appears that trees are taking up Imprelis that has been applied to turf outside the tree’s drip line. Affected trees are showing symptoms commonly associated with herbicide injury: twisting or stunting of new growth and needle browning.

So, what do you do if you suspect Imprelis application has damaged trees? Unfortunately, the best advice we can offer at this juncture is “wait and see.” Imprelis is a new product on the market and there is relatively little information in the literature to guide us. In soils, Imprelis adsorbs most tightly to organic matter. Therefore, it should leach most readily from soils with low organic matter, especially sandier soils. Soil adsorption of Imprelis decreases as soil pH increases, so it should leach faster on alkaline soils. Rainfall and irrigation may help to leach Imprelis through soils. However, the active ingredient is broken down by soil microbes, so it is important to avoid water-logging soil since that would inhibit microbial activity, not to mention increase stress on trees that are already struggling.

Herbicide injury to trees can sometimes appear worse initially that it is in the long term (Photo 1). Landscapers and lawn service operators should try to avoid knee-jerk reactions in response to client calls. Trees can often overcome what appear to be devastating injuries and emerge relatively unscathed. The best plan for an affected tree at this point is to try to keep the patient comfortable and let the tree’s recuperative abilities kick in.

If possible, irrigate trees during warm, dry weather, but avoid water-logging. Light fertilization may also improve tree vigor and its ability to recover. Based on what little we know about Imprelis, avoid ammonium-based fertilizers that may reduce soil pH and therefore increase Imprelis adsorption. Removing sod or contaminated soil over tree roots may trigger additional tree stress and should be viewed as a last-ditch effort to save trees.

Photo 1. Many of these red maple trees were slated for removal after the
surrounding mulch beds were mistakenly treated with the herbicide Sahara in
June 2009 and the trees suffered severe die-back. Most of the trees had essentially recovered when this photo was taken in June 2011.

Rolling for Mowing

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 00:00:01 GMT

Following the deluge of rainfall this spring, many golfers were surprised to see browning turf on putting greens during the recent hot weather. The cause of the browning was likely poor spring root growth due to saturated soils devoid of oxygen. Once temperatures ramped up, the turf quickly became stressed and syringing became a necessity. One management practice that may help stimulate rooting is to replace one or two mowing events a week with lightweight greens rolling. Data indicates that lightweight rolling (3 times per week) in place of mowing on those days results in more roots than mowing every day. Principal can be as simple as more topgrowth/leaf tissue = more energy for root growth. The rolling maintains speed and surface smoothness on days when mowing is skipped. Now that we're about to officially enter summer, consider rolling for mowing when putting greens are under stress.

Dr. Thomas A. Nikolai
MSU Turf Team

Imprelis Herbicide Injury to Evergreens

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 00:00:01 GMT

By: Dr. Kevin Frank

There have been several reports from both outside and within the state of Michigan of herbicide injury on Norway spruce and white pine following application of the turfgrass herbicide Imprelis (a.i. aminocyclopyrachlor). Damaged trees have symptoms consistent with growth regulator type herbicides. Injury includes curling and twisting of new growth. Pictures and comments of damage observed in Indiana can be viewed at: www.ppdl.purdue.edu/PPDL/hot11/6-10.html. DuPont is in the process of investigating the issue and their initial conclusions indicate that in most cases Imprelis was applied in combination with other pre or post emergence herbicides or liquid fertilizer. Most Imprelis applications have not resulted in damage to spruce or pine but obviously cases of damage cause alarm when dealing with a newly released herbicide. DuPont advises to not apply Imprelis “where Norway Spruce or White Pine are present, or in close proximity to, the property to be treated.” Furthermore, DuPont advises, “when applying Imprelis be careful that no spray treatment, drift, or runoff occurs that could make contact with trees, shrubs, and other desirable plants, and stay well away from exposed roots and the rootzone of trees and shrubs.” The reported cases from Indiana indicate that this may not be a simple herbicide drift issue but rather from root uptake. If that is the case it would be critical to keep applications away from the rootzones of non-target trees and ornaments. As with any pesticide application always make sure to read and follow label directions.

Allied golf associations join forces to bring message to legislators

Sat, 11 Jun 2011 00:00:01 GMT

MICHIGAN GOLF DAY AT THE CAPITOL

Michigan Golf Course Owners Association, Michigan Golf Course Superintendents Association, Michigan Section PGA, the Golf Association of Michigan, Michigan Club Managers Associations and the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation will convene at the Capitol and visit every Legislator on June 22nd. The Capitol lawn will be the venue for this unprecedented event.

Each year for the past decade golf course owners, operators and superintendents have gathered in the spring to bring a cooperative message to the legislature. This year, the newly established Michigan Golf Alliance, comprised of the leaders of Michigan golf industry associations, have come together to create a dynamic event to promote the game and the business of golf. Wednesday, June 22 will be Michigan Golf Day at the Capitol. Governor Snyder’s Chief of Staff Dennis Muchmore will be the featured speaker.

The executive directors and members of these organizations will be on hand between 11:30 and 1:30 to meet with press and speak on everything from how the Pure Michigan campaign is affecting business to new sustainability efforts that have a positive effect on the environment.

The Michigan Golf Alliance has put together a great program to facilitate golf industry representatives in introducing themselves and informing the new Legislators and their staff of who we are and what our industry brings to the State of Michigan. “I can't overstate the importance of this day in delivering the message to our government leaders,” said Kate Moore, Executive Director of the MGCOA. The schedule will include Senate and House office visits, a keynote speaker, “lunch on the turn” provided by Eagle Eye Golf Course. All Legislators will be invited to lunch with their constituents.

Your GCSAA is Here to Help

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 00:00:01 GMT

GCSAA Members,

I witnessed firsthand the destruction and havoc caused by the recent storms and severe weather during my latest travels. Driving through Missouri and then flying into Memphis, the dangerous weather and the resulting aftermath were visible at every turn. Across the nation, many of you have been affected this year by tornadoes, drought, floods, ice and heat. The devastation has been sobering and the human suffering has been heart-wrenching.

My message to you today is one of encouragement and support. Those of us in the industry know of the great value the game of golf affords communities. Through your efforts, an activity is provided that allows individuals to get away from the pressures of daily life. Several years ago, members of the Kansas GCSA traveled to Greensburg, Kan., to help bring the golf course back to life after a tornado almost completely wiped out that community. The response from Greensburg citizens was overwhelming, and the golf course was a vital element to the physical and emotional recovery of that community.

When trouble strikes GCSAA members, your association is here to lend a hand. Through the association's benevolence fund, we provide financial assistance for personal loss not covered by insurance. We are currently processing requests to help GCSAA members get back on their feet after losing their homes as a result of tornadoes. If you, or a fellow GCSAA member has been impacted and would like to apply for such relief, please contact me at revans@gcsaa.org or 800-472-7878, ext. 4401. As our mission states, we are here to serve our members, and that means we are here to serve you.

If it is information you need to aid in the recovery of your golf course, we have resources covering such topics as drought, flood, hurricanes and ice damage. The materials provide tactics and case studies on how others have successfully overcome what weather and disease have unleashed. Perhaps you just need some feedback and conversation. The GCSAA network is powerful and I encourage you to reach out to others for their support through your chapter, GCSAA's online forums and Facebook presence, and through the GCSAA staff here at headquarters. I believe no trial that we experience is wasted. All that we suffer and all that we endure and overcome builds up our character, expands our experiences and in due time makes us stronger.

Again, GCSAA is here for you. Please reach out to us and let us know how we can lend a helping hand.

Best regards

Rhett Evans

GCSAA Chief Executive Officer

2011 Green Start Academy

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 00:00:01 GMT

The 2011 Green Start Academy™ will be held October 5 - 7, 2011. Green Start Academy is an educational and networking event sponsored by Bayer and John Deere Golf for 50 top assistant superintendents selected from across the U.S. and Canada. Please distribute this PDF to superintendents and distributors in your area and encourage them to share with their assistant superintendents. Assistant superintendents can go to the link http://www.backedbybayer.com/GreenStartAcademy , complete the enrollment information, and write a short essay based on one of the two topics listed.

Essays need to be submitted by July 8. An advisory panel of 5 distinguished superintendents will evaluate the essays, and the selected assistant superintendents will be notified beginning August 8th.

This is a great opportunity for assistant superintendents to take advantage of an all expense paid event where they will interact with industry leaders and their peers, and get GCSAA educational credits for attending.

Thank you,

Michael Hirvela
Bayer Environmental Science
Fax: 248.349.7368
Mobile:248.514.7027
www.backedbybayer.com

MiGCSA Northern Fundraiser at Arcadia Bluffs Raises $8,000

Tue, 07 Jun 2011 00:00:01 GMT

On another perfect day at Arcadia Bluffs MiGCSA members and friends came out and helped raise over $8,000.

The wining Skins team Jay Eccleton, Josh Devereaux, Cole Cornwell, and John Struble

Dr. Trey Rogers, Brian Schweihofer, Steve Rebhan, and medalist Aaron McMaster

2011 Northern Fundraiser winners Steve Fent, Jeremy LaPratt, Jason Koholemainen, and Matthew Seibel

Second Place team of Tom Seigreen, Jim Stoll, Adam Hansen, and Gary Ashley

The Jacobsen Hot Dog Stand

Joe Verduin, Mike "Stubby" Nielsen, Custer Carland, Trevor Nash

CLICK HERE FOR GROUP PHOTOS

CLICK HERE FOR MORE PHOTOS INCLUDING SKINS GAME

The event got off to an early start on Sunday evening with the Big Money Skins Game. Nine teams came out and played a 9 hole best ball scramble for$900 in skins money. Congratulations to the team of MiGCSA President Jay Eccleton, Josh Devereaux, Cole Cornwell, and John Struble who won the only three skins with an eagle on #1 an eagle on #5 and a birdie on #7. The skins game was a great event and one we will have again next year.

On Monday the weather was again fantastic as was the golf course. A huge thank you to Paul Emling Vice President of Operations at Arcadia Bluffs, Paul sits on the MiGCSA Foundation Fundraiser Committee along with Steve Hammon, Paul Witte, and Mike Hirvela, without the input from this committee the day could not have been such a success.

131 players came out starting at 7:30 and teed off until 2:30. There were 8 proximity markers on the course thanks to our 2011 Premiers Foundation Sponsors. The four closest to the pin winners were, #2 Tim Dark, #9 Jim Dart, #13 Ron Thies, and #17 Bob Blakeman. The Long Drive winners were #3 Jason Farah, #8 Jim Stoll, #15 Jim Stoll, and #18 James Kurrle. Each winner received $50 in Gift cards to Arcadia Bluffs. Congratulations to the winners and great shots.

There were two options for play on Monday, a team best ball scramble, or you could compete for the lowest individual round of the day. Congratulations to Aaron McMaster who shot 75 and won $100 in Arcadia Bluffs Gift Cards in a scorecard playoff against Dr. Kevin Frank. In the team best ball scramble, the first place plaques and $400 in gift cards went to the team of Steve Fent, Jeremy LaPratt, Jason Koholemainen, and Matthew Seibel by shooting a 13 under 59 and beating the second place team of Tom Seigreen, Jim Stoll, Adam Hansen, and Gary Ashley who also shot 59 for $200 in gift cards in a scorecard playoff. The third place team of Bob Weiber, Dan Redman, James (Big Dog) Kurrle, and John Strubie won $100 in gift cards.

There was a 50/50 poker game thanks to Paul Witte of Residex/Turfgrass. The best hand of the day went to the team of Scott Trbovich, Jason Farah, Marc McCoy, and Tyler Waibel with four of a kind 3’s. The pot split was $335 for their team and for the Foundation.

The putting contest was hosted by Bob and Tom Reed of Tri-Turf. MiGCSA President Jay Eccleton made the putt and won the 50/50 pot for $70. Thank you to Civitas for sponsoring the 10th hole which has been sprayed with Civitas. And everyone was raving about the Pretzel Bread Bratwurst on hole #7 and #15 sponsored by Jacobsen.

The golf course staff did a fantastic job all around. The conditions were perfect thanks to MiGCSA Members Superintendent Mike “Stubby” Nielsen, Assistant Superintendent Custer Carland, Second Assistant Superintendent Trevor Nash and Equipment Technician Pat Sullivan. Director of Golf Greg Babinec and his staff were incredible, and thank you to Scott Verstrat Food and Beverage Director and his staff that had a great box lunch and cold drinks for all of the players.

Thank You 2011 Premiere Sponsors

Q & A with Mike Giuffre of Congressional By: Terry Moore

Fri, 03 Jun 2011 00:00:01 GMT

May 29th & June 1st, 2011 by Terry Moore www.teemoore.com

Congressional's well-grounded Mike Giuffre

Born and raised in Traverse City, MI, Congressional Country Club’s Director of Golf Course Maintenance Mike Giuffre (pronounced JOO-free) has always enjoyed working outdoors. Some of his fondest childhood memories include picking and harvesting cherries with his parents and grandparents. “Being outdoors, especially in northern Michigan, was always special to me,” says Giuffre, 50, a longstanding member of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America and whose resume includes stops as the Superintendent at The Bear in Traverse City and later at TPC of Michigan in Dearborn.

In all, Giuffre has overseen the maintenance operations for six different Tour events spanning 13 years for such tournaments as the B.C. Open, the Kemper Open, the Booz Allen Classic, and the A T & T National. At Congressional for the past 12 years, he also prepared the club’s Blue Course (site of this year’s U.S. Open) for the 2009 U.S. Amateur. In May, Giuffre gave me a personal tour of the Blue course (there’s also a Gold Course), sharing insights on its renovation and preparation for its third U.S. Open and its first since 1997 when Ernie Els won. Understated and self-effacing, Giuffre was quick to credit Congressional’s impeccable conditions to its membership (3,000 in all!) and to his staff. He’s the sort of person who recalls golf course architect Rees Jones’ apt line about another hard-working, unpretentious and no-nonsense superintendent: “He’s all solutions and no excuses.” After spending almost two hours with Giuffre on a sunny Friday morning and yes, being outdoors, I didn’t know what or who impressed me more: Congressional or its superintendent. –Terry Moore

Q: Let’s address a major course question first. Tell us about the condition of the 18 new greens on the Blue Course and how that major renovation came about.

A: The greens are in excellent shape and both the club’s membership and the USGA are very pleased with them. When I arrived here in 1999 the greens were already a discussion item. The greens had been rebuilt in 1989 so it had been 20 years since they had been addressed. Over time, the combination of bent and poa annua grass in the greens made the putting surfaces too uneven especially in the hot summer months. Certainly some drawbacks were seen when the club hosted several PGA Tour events here such as the AT & T National in early July 2009. But later that year when the greens renovation began, it wasn’t just for the U.S. Open; it really was for the benefit of our membership.

Q: What’s been the result?

A: The greens now have a more uniformed growing pattern which means smoother putts. The hybrid bent grass used is a deep-rooted grass that does well in this area. But we’re not only excited about the grass but also how the greens were rebuilt with sand according to USGA specifications. The new greens will allow for more firmness in them not only for the Open championship but also for day-to-day member play.

Q: Speaking of this region, it can be problematic in terms of weather, right?

A: Yes, the micro-climate in the D.C. areas can be challenging. We can have 5-6 inches of rainfall in a single front. In 2006 for a British Open qualifier here, the course was deluged with 13 inches of rain in just three days. But now due to the renovation we have sub-air vacuums in all of the greens so we can better deal with the moisture. And last summer with its terrible heat wave we had to close the course for 13 days. In such heat, you have to be careful with young greens that you don’t walk the grass off them.

Q: Is it the topography of the region that plays a part too?

A: Yes, there are mountains to the west and the ocean to the east. It can lead to big pockets of high humidity trapped in this area. It’s a difficult area to grow grass well.

Q: From the players’ standpoint, talk about the other changes made to the course with the 2006 re-design efforts of Rees Jones.

A: The field will see a longer course and one with more offset tees and more shaped fairways than ever before. It will be demanding but these pros are so talented that the cream will still rise to the top. Rees Jones has done a wonderful job of instilling more thought and strategy into a player’s tee shots—especially on the front side. And he’s so great to work with. Also, we had a great contractor—McDonald & Sons–a local construction company that has worked on a number of Open courses. They did a fantastic job for us.

Q: Talk about what your staff has done getting the bunkers ready for the Open.

A: We added new sand to the greenside bunkers last summer while the sand in the fairways bunkers was done this past winter. The USGA has a different perspective with bunkers than the PGA Tour. Bunkers are meant to be bunkers and it’s willing to accept that a player may incur a buried and less than ideal lie in the bunker. The USGA doesn’t want them to be unfair, having the ball always bury. But it allows for the possibility of the ball nestling down in the bunker and not lending a perfect lie.

Q: How is that different than the Tour’s stance on bunkers?

A: It’s a different mindset. The Tour wants the bunkers to be firm, avoiding buried or poor lies at all times. So we would spend an inordinate amount of hours on bunkers for a Tour event—tamping them down, firming them up and with lots of watering. I can’t even estimate the time we used to spend on bunkers at the TPC of Michigan for the Senior Players Championship. But I do see the Tour moving in the direction of the USGA when it comes to bunkers.

Q: And the overall course set-up by USGA’s Mike Davis?

A: It will be tough but fair. As in recent Opens, Mike wants a graduated rough that gets longer the farther one is off the fairway. But on the shorter par-fours there will be slightly longer rough just off the fairway because the players will be using more lofted clubs to recover or get to the green. But Mike doesn’t want the rough so penal that there’s no chance at all to reach the green from it.

Watch this short video of Mike Giuffre talking about the new greens at Congressional’s Blue Course: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efAbTmJo0sc

Q: Officially at 7545 yards, Congressional will be the longest U.S. Open course. Will it play that long?

A: No, Mike Davis has said it will probably be set up to play in the range of 7200-7400 yards. With multiple teeing grounds, he has many options throughout the course on how holes may play differently for certain days. The par-three second hole can be played at a full 233 yards but I imagine Mike will also use the shorter alternate tees on some days.

Q: Talk about the par-five 16th hole where you were asked to make some changes earlier this year.

A: This will be an intriguing hole and one that will pose some options for players. At 579 yards, it will still be reachable in two for many players especially if the tees are moved up for some rounds. Wanting to add some thinking into the second shot, the USGA asked us only a few months ago to remove all of the bluegrass sod–the rough—around this green and replace it with bentgrass and have it all mown down. So now if a player goes for the green in two and misses it left or right or over, his ball may end up in some trouble—underneath some pine trees right or going out of bounds left. It should be an exciting and underrated risk-reward hole to watch come Sunday afternoon.

Q: Changing gears, talk about your first job in the business.

A: My first golf course position, during the summer only, was at Grand Traverse Resort in my hometown of Traverse City in 1979. My first job was staking large trees that were moved with a tree spade on the Bill Newcomb-designed course which is now known as Spruce Run. I was promoted to Assistant Superintendent position of the Newcomb course in 1983 by Jon Scott who took over as the Superintendent. As the Assistant, I supervised the daily maintenance of the Newcomb course. I was at Grand Traverse Resort during the construction and opening of the Jack Nicklaus-designed The Bear in 1985. After graduating from Penn State University in 1985 I was promoted to the Superintendent of The Bear.

Q: How did you end up at Penn State instead of Michigan State?

A: I went to Penn State because M.S.U.’s program was full the summer I applied. Fortunately, Penn State had an opening in their program at that time.

Q: How was it coming here to Congressional and following a legend in the business, superintendent Paul Latshaw?

A: I succeeded Paul, the best in the business, and he had things in excellent shape when I arrived. He did a marvelous job with the greens he had inherited for the ‘97 Open. Following him was easy in the respect of the conditions I inherited. But it wasn’t easy following someone with such stature as Paul. You don’t fill Paul’s shoes—you just do what you do best and hope you grow into them sometime.

Q: The leadership and membership at Congressional must be applauded for not only undertaking such major renovations but also to host so many tournaments.

A: Yes, they’re willing to take their course out of play in order to make it better for the long term and that takes a lot of dedication. The club’s always striving to make both courses better and are willing to share their course for the good of the game. In addition to three Opens, a Senior Open, an Amateur and a PGA, the club has hosted the Kemper Open, the Booz Allen and the AT&T.

Q: What’s your leadership and management style?

A: Hire people that are better than you in many different areas. Let their talents shine while giving them direction at times. But I also learned you’re smarter to get out of the way. I can’t say enough about the staff and team here—they put their hearts and souls into the changes made over the last two years. Simply put, you can’t do it without great people around you.

Q: I imagine you don’t have much time to play golf so what else do you for relaxation?

A: You’re right about golf. I only play a couple times a year–I’m a recreational golfer. I like to fish and we have a cottage an hour or so away that’s a nice spot for us to relax. My wife, Emily, reminds me not to worry so much.

2011 Wee One Michigan Event Raises Over $40,000

Fri, 27 May 2011 00:00:01 GMT

May 27, 2011

THANK YOU to everyone who came out to play in the Wee One Oakland Hills fundraiser on May 16, 2011. Over $40,000 was raised for the Wee One Foundation with your help!

Thanks to Steve Cook of Oakland Hills Country Club for hosting this great event and also to John Cooney of Tam-O-Shanter Country Club and to Mike Plague of Great Lakes Turf LLC for their help!

If you were not able to attend this wonderful event and would like to view some great photos, please click here.

And a BIG THANKS to our Event Sponsors:

PLATINUM LEVEL
• BASF Professional Turf & Ornamental
• Bayer Environmental Science
• Floratine
• Great Lakes Turf, LLC
• Harrell's
• John Deere Golf
• Major Cement Co.
• Midwest Golf and Turf
• MiGCSA
• Northern Great Lakes Golf Superintendents Assoc.
• Osburn Industries
• Residex Turfgrass
• Sand Sales Co.
• Sipcam Advan, LLC
• Spartan Distributors, Inc.
• Syngenta
• The Toro Company
• Valent Professional Products

GOLD LEVEL
• Klingstone…the permanent bunker solution
• Pro/Angle Bunker Sand

SILVER LEVEL
• HILLS & FORREST
• Michael Kuhn & Associates, Inc. - Irrigation Design Consultants
• Agrium Advanced Technologies

BRONZE LEVEL
• UMAXX & UFLEXX
• DHD Tree Products
• Knollwood Club
• EC Grow ProLinks/Tri Turf INC.

Lunch Sponsors:
• Professional Pump & Irrigation Service
• Leibold Irrigation

________________________________________
Thank you for supporting the Wee One Foundation!
Sincerely,

Wee One Foundation

MiGCSA President Jay Eccleton, CGCS featured in NGCOA Golf Business

Thu, 26 May 2011 00:00:01 GMT

Jay Eccleton, CGCS

Seeing Green

By Rob Thomas

From course maintenance to clubhouse management, Jay Eccleton strives to move the needle in every aspect of The Emerald’s operation

Golf has been a major part of Jay Eccleton’s life since he was three years old and his parents bought a nine-hole course in Stockbridge, Michigan. Since that time, he’s held just about every job in the business, right up to his current role as director of operations at The Emerald Golf Course in St. Johns.

With his formative years shaped so strongly by the game and business of golf, it came as little surprise that Eccleton enrolled at Ferris State University with the intention of obtaining a Professional Golf Management degree. Soon, however, he realized that his true passion was outdoors, on the course maintenance side of the business. Eccleton transferred to Michigan State University, where he earned a bachelor of arts in crop and soils science.

After graduation, Eccleton spent the next five years as an assistant superintendent at Travis Pointe Country Club in Ann Arbor before being hired as superintendent of The Emerald in 2000. Six years later, The Emerald’s head professional and general manager decided to move on, prompting Eccleton to approach the ownership about filling the vacant position. They agreed, naming Eccleton director of operations, a position that added responsibilities of not only overseeing the golf course but managing the pro shop, restaurant, outing and non-golf events, and the office.

“With the economy the way it is, it was a perfect time for my experiences from a family operated business to shine while helping the company save money by consolidating responsibilities,” he says.

Eccleton didn’t have to wait to put that experience to use. The Emerald was struggling through some of the worst years in its short existence. In fact, between 2002 and 2006, the course suffered a decrease of nearly 30 percent in total revenue. Eccleton set out to correct those trends by enhancing customer loyalty and keeping a keen eye on cash flow.

“Although we have seen increases in revenue, expenses have also increased, making cash flow an issue,” says Eccleton, who points out that revenues have grown by 35 percent over the past three years. “In times like this, it’s crucial to create customer loyalty and maintain new growth consistently to help offset the increased cost of doing business.”

Of course, the higher cost of maintaining a course has forced Eccleton, like countless other operators, to search for ways to trim expenses without sacrificing quality, whether it’s on the course or in customer service. That’s a challenge because Eccleton refuses to make concessions on the latter.

“My staff is trained to take care of our guests, and anything less is unacceptable,” he says. “I’ve been fortunate to have a great staff and a small amount of turnover. My staff is experienced and has great vision.”

Indeed, the concept of moving toward a common vision has become a cornerstone of operations at The Emerald. Eccleton has labored to break down “us versus them” mentalities among the inside and outside crews. He also strives to “keep the stress level at a bare minimum” throughout the organization to create a relaxed atmosphere for the staff and, in turn, the club’s guests.

“Departments work together for one goal—the success of the company,” Eccleton says. “The majority of my staff is cross-trained to work in all departments of the company to help reduce the amount of staff hired and utilize everyone to their full potential.”

For all the investments he makes in his employees, Eccleton is equally diligent about addressing the needs of his course, despite the fact that he’s been forced to work with limited resources. In fact, with increased expenses and shrinking budgets, the amount of money he has to spend on maintenance has actually decreased since joining The Emerald. That’s where Eccleton’s training and experience on the turf side of the business pays returns.

No doubt, success on and off the golf course is a moving target. Eccleton attacks every day like it’s his first one on the job, and makes it a point to periodically re-evaluate his position in the organization.

“As the world is changing at light speed, you need to continue to keep up with not only technology but your customer’s needs,” he says. “Understand who your customers are and how they’re using technology to keep informed about your product. Educate your customers through newsletters, e-mails, texting, social media and the like.”

Eccleton even goes so far as suggesting that operators demonstrate to customers how their money works at the facility and how important each and every player is to the success of the business.

“Educating the customer on the ‘true cost’ to maintain a facility will help with the understanding of why green fees vary from facility to facility,” he says. “Stay involved in your industry by attending association meetings, conferences and roundtable discussions. Become a player in the industry and strive to lead, not follow.”

Rob Thomas is a freelance writer based in Cleveland, Ohio.

MSU Turf Team Announcement Ron Calhoun to Leave MSU

Tue, 24 May 2011 00:00:01 GMT

Dear Friends and Colleagues in the Michigan Turfgrass Industry:

Greetings from East Lansing. I am writing you this morning to announce that I have taken a new position outside of the university. When I started working for Bruce Branham in 1992 I could have never imagined the rewarding journey that I was starting. The people at MSU and in the Michigan turfgrass industry have been so kind to allow me to grow and develop professionally over the last two decades. I am thankful to the MSU Turf Team for their mentorship, the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation for their support, and to the turfgrass professionals of the state for being patient with my sometimes crazy ideas. I have enjoyed my time at MSU more than I can express.

However, after careful consideration, prayer, and sound counsel from some dear friends, I have decided that it's time to begin something new. Next month, I will start a new position with Residex/Turfgrass in Novi, MI. My family and I are excited about this next chapter and thankful for the opportunity.

Warmest regards,
Ron Calhoun, Ph.D.
Turfgrass Extension Specialist

Harold Peck 1922 - 2011

Sun, 15 May 2011 00:00:01 GMT

Harold Peck

Harold Peck, the golf course superintendent at Battle Creek CC from 1947 until 1988, passed away on May 15, 2011 with his family at his side.

He was born October 23, 1922, the son of Andrew and Rena Peck. Harold was dedicated to the Battle Creek Country Club for 41 years as the Golf Course Superintendent, from 1947 until retiring in 1988.

Harold was a second generation superintendent of the club and a lifelong resident of the club home on Capital Avenue and Country Club Drive. His father Andrew was the superintendent at Battle Creek CC from 1919 until 1946.

During his career, he rebuilt every tee on the course, installed one of Michigan’s first automated watering systems on a golf course, and planted over 2,500 trees at the club.

Along with his brother, Roy, who was the superintendent at Kalamazoo CC for over 4 decades, helped establish the Turfgrass program at Michigan State University and the association now known at the Michigan Golf Course Superintendent Association. At the time of his death, Harold was probably the longest tenured member of the Golf Course Superintendent Association of America. He was a charter member of both organizations and a past president of the Western Michigan Chapter. Harold also helped many other area golf course owners and volunteered his expertise at the local VA Medical Center’s Golf Course.

He was honored by the City of Battle Creek in 1975 with a designation of “Harold Peck Day” and received national recognition from the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA).

The family will receive friends from 5:00 – 7:00 Wednesday evening, May 18th at Shaw Funeral Home in Battle Creek, Michigan. Services will take place at Thursday afternoon at 2:00, May 19, 2011.

Memorials may go to the Alzheimer’s Association or the American Heart Association.

Gordie LaFontaine Interviewed on WJR

Fri, 06 May 2011 00:00:01 GMT

Gordie LaFontaine, Executive Director of the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation was interviewed on May 5th about the Tee Times for Turf auction. Click Below to hear the 5 minute interview.

CLICK HERE FOR THE COMPLETE INTERVIEW

Renew your MiGCSA Membership

Wed, 04 May 2011 00:00:01 GMT

As we come to the beginning of the 2011 golf season please take the time to renew your MiGCSA membership. This year we have fast convenient online renewal at the click of a button. Simply log in to you members only account at www.migcsa.org. If you have not logged in before use your email address this was sent to and the last four digits of your main phone number on file. Then click on the large link Renew your Membership Here. If you have multiple members at your facility you can renew everyone at the same time. When you click to renew your membership the other members at your facility should be listed and can be added by checking the box next to their name. If there are members missing from your facility or some that need to be added please respond to info@migcsa.org and we will resolve this or any issues with online renewal. Of course you can still print a 2011 membership form by clicking HERE and fax it to 1-888-3-MiGCSA or mail it to P.O. Box 64 St. Johns MI, 48879. If you have any questions please leave a message at 1-888-3-MiGCSA or email us at info@migcsa.org. Stay informed at www.migcsa.org for all of the great events, educations and networking opportunities we are planning for the 2011 season.

LochenHeath Golf Club in Williamsburg, Michigan prepares for opening day

Wed, 04 May 2011 00:00:01 GMT

WILLIAMSBURG, Mich. -- The countdown to Opening Day for the revived LochenHeath Golf Club continues as General Manager Mike Husby took delivery of a new fleet of golf carts, received a liquor license for the premises, and welcomed home accomplished Chef Joseph George who will supervise the club's food and beverage operation.

George was the executive chef and food and beverage director at LochenHeath for three years before the club ran into financial difficulties and closed several years ago. He returns to LochenHeath from the nearby Grand Traverse Resort & Spa where he was the executive chef.

"Chef George is a key addition for us as we go after the wedding parties and golf outings we want to attract," Husby said. "We have already booked four substantial parties because of him and he will direct a culinary staff that will do a great job."

Although the club' menu will initially be limited to casual cuisine, George's presence in the kitchen will allow the club to fill special requests that groups of golfers might make in advance of playing the course.

"I've had a number of chefs work for me in the past and Chef George is simply the best," Husby said. George specializes in using fresh local ingredients coupled with a simplistic approach to fine cuisine, Husby said.

During a five-year stint at the Dow Chemical Club/Midland Country Club, from 2000 to 2005, George was promoted to the executive chef position. During that time he had the opportunity to travel and study under four world renowned chefs.

In August 2004 he worked under Chef Richard Sturgeon at the Marine Hotel in Troon, Scotland, during the British Open tournament. The previous year he worked with Chef David Dempsey at Gordon Ramsey's Amaryllis restaurant in Glasgow, Scotland.

In 2002 George spent part of a month working under Chef Grant Achatz at Trio, in Chicago. He did a similar stint in 2001 at the French Laundry in Napa Valley, Ca. training under Chef Thomas Keller.

The liquor license will complement George's operation, making the club a full service facility. With indoor and outdoor facilities that can accommodate parties up to 400 persons, the club is going all out to attract such gatherings.

Husby said the new cart fleet is electric state-of-the-art models, a confirmation of the club's new ownership's commitment to a first-class golf operation. The course will be open for play later this month.

Husby, a 30-year veteran PGA professional, is also an accomplished course designer and contractor, industry consultant, executive, and club owner. Over the years he has earned a reputation in Northern Michigan as a turn-around specialist for troubled golf properties. He will also serve as the director of golf at LochenHeath.

The LochenHeath complex was bought out of foreclosure last December by a group of Traverse City investors. The course opened to great fanfare 10 years ago as a private upscale residential development centered by the award-winning 7,040-yard course designed by Florida architect Steve Smyers. Missteps by successive out-of-state management teams drove the property into foreclosure.

Before that deal was completed Husby recruited former LochenHeath superintendent Joe Ettawagiac to return last fall and oversee restorations to the course and prepare it for the winter. Golfers will notice that landing areas on the course have been widened to accommodate speed of play.

The course occupies a spectacular site of rolling tree-lined land overlooking East Grand Traverse Bay, and offers one of the best practice facilities in the north.

Husby is a former Northern Michigan PGA Player of The Year. Among his design credits are the Loon and Marsh Ridges golf courses in Gaylord and the Wild Bluff Golf Club in Brimley. He also served as general manager of the clubs and was instrumental in landing a LPGA Tour event at Wild Bluff.
http://lochenheath.com/

Media Contacts:
Resort & Golf Marketing
Dave Richards
248-642-6420
Dave@resortandgolf.com

LochenHeath
Mike Husby
1 (231) 938-9800
mikehusby@charter.net

MiGCSA Retains the Cup at the 2011 Can-Am

Wed, 04 May 2011 00:00:01 GMT

Long time Can-Am supporters Clem Wolfrom Jr. and Fritz McMullen help the MiGCSA retain the cup

On May 2nd the annual match between the MiGCSA and the OGCSA took place at Essex Golf and Country Club in Ontario Canada. The MiGCSA was able to secure the cup for a second year with a win. The Can-Am will be returning to Michigan in 2012. Thank you to those members who attended this long standing tradition. Look for a full write up in the Summer issue of MiGCSA Course Conditions.

Michigan State forward Delvon Roe goes to the (golf) hole

Wed, 04 May 2011 00:00:01 GMT

Lansing State Journal

Michigan State basketball forward Delvon Roe got his first taste of competitive golf at last weekend's Greater Lansing Amateur Golf Association spring medal tournament.

Roe finished runner-up in the second flight at the Emerald Golf Club north of St. Johns. He shot 86-84, second to Justin McKenna (86-81).

"It was the first time I played golf where I had to putt everything in," he said with a chuckle. "There was no one saying, 'That's good, pick it up.' "

Delvon Roe / JULIAN H. GONZALEZ / DFP

Roe said he has never had a professional lesson -- all his tips for improving come from friends, mostly MSU student Max Rednar. Roe plays or practices two to three times per week.

"I knew I was getting better on the range, but to put it into play is another thing," Roe said. "Just like in basketball practice, you're not always sure if it will transfer into the game.

"I was really nervous to start (in the tournament), but I got a par on the first hole, so that really settled me down."

GUARD VISITS MSU: Valparaiso guard Brandon Wood, his parents and his sister made the drive Monday from Kokomo, Ind., to visit coach Tom Izzo and his staff. Before the meeting, Wood said he is leaning toward transferring to MSU for his final season.

Because Wood will receive his degree in sports marketing May 15, he can transfer to another Division I school and play right away.

Wood entered the NBA draft this spring to see where he stands, but he intends to withdraw before Sunday's deadline to retain college eligibility.

Wood, a 6-foot-2 shooting guard who also can play the point, averaged 16.7 points and 3.1 assists last season.

Karen O’Dell picked for reality show Ammo and Attitude

Wed, 04 May 2011 00:00:01 GMT

Hello Family & Friends -

You may or may not know that I have applied for – and been chosen to be on a reality TV show.
The show is called Ammo and Attitude. They have a website (ammoandattitude.com) if you want
to check out what the show is all about. I don’t believe it is updated for next season yet, but it
gives you the basic information. This season, the show will be filmed at The Lucky Star Ranch in
Chaumont New York. The ranch also has a website if you want to check it out (luckystarranch.com).

The idea behind the show is to encourage more women to get outside and get involved in the
outdoors and the hunting/shooting sports.

I don’t know what to expect, but I am sure I will have a good time. Last season they did a variety of
challenges to test the contestants’ skills. Rifle target shooting, compound bow, skeet shooting,
orienteering, rock climbing, camp building, mock rescue, gun cleaning & kayaking were all taken
on; and the final episode was an actual hunt. I am very excited and I feel very fortunate to have
been picked for this experience. I leave May 11th to go to New York; the filming is May 14th-28th.
Once I get back from the filming I will NOT be able to discuss anything that happened while I was
out there. So, PLEASE do me a favor and don’t ask. I have signed legal papers that I have agreed to
NOT talk about the show, or its outcome. I hope I am able to do well under the pressure and stick
around until the end of the competition.

If you are interested in watching the series here is the information. Feel free to share this with
anyone that you want to (a big cheering section would ROCK!). I just hope I don’t disappoint all of
you that have been supporting and helping me as I take on this adventure. Thank you all!

Karen O’Dell

Ammo and Attitude
Season 2 Begins:
Sunday - July 31, 2011
12:30 PM Eastern/Standard Time
Versus Channel (VS.)
Direct TV – 603 / Dish Network – 151
Cable TV – Check your local listing.

Important Changes to Season-long Grub Products

Tue, 03 May 2011 00:00:01 GMT

Grub damaged turf is showing up all over. If it seems like those dead spots are getting bigger, you're right. Grub activity in the spring can cause major damage. Those little spots from last fall are not so little anymore. Although proper irrigation, fertilization and mowing height can limit the effect of grub feeding in a healthy lawn, this does little to comfort us when the grubs have taken over and the grass starts dying.

Stopping damage in the spring: There are many products available for sale at garden centers and other retail outlets. Only carbaryl (Sevin) or trichlorfon (Dylox) will work well when applied in the spring (from March to mid-May). These products stop feeding activity so you can start to re-establish the damaged areas. These products will not prevent future feeding (like this fall or next spring).

Preventing future damage: As previously mentioned, a vigorous lawn with deep roots will tolerate a lot of feeding before damage appears. However, once the grubs have made their presence known, the memory of the damage can be a powerful motivator. Season-long products must be applied before the damage appears. The next generation of grubs will get started in July and August, therefore the application of most season-long products should occur in early-to-mid July. Products containing imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, clothianidin, or halofenazide should be applied in mid-July.
New Ingredient in GrubEx needs to be applied in May: There is a new active ingredient called chlorantraniliprole that is also very effective in preventing grub problems, but it is less water soluble than the preventive compounds mentioned above. Since it takes quite a bit longer to move down to where the grubs will be, it is best to apply a product containing chorantraniliprole in late April or early May for it to be most effective when the grubs hatch in July and Aug.

Terry Davis, MSU Entomologist, has put together an excellent article summarizing the products you are likely to encounter at the retail stores. Check out his Homelawn Grub Control Products - 2011 here.

Ronald Calhoun, Ph.D.
Turfgrass Extension Specialist

MICRODOCHIUM PATCH

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 00:00:01 GMT

It is that time of year again! This week we are going to have temperatures in the 60’s with lots of rain. Based on our research, those are ideal conditions for the development of Microdochium patch. I would suggest you consider making a fungicide application to prevent the disease from occurring on your turf. This time of year when the disease occurs, new infections appear as small, copper-colored spots, usually 1 to 3 inches in diameter. You may also see it developing on the outer edges of old Microdochium patches still evident from the winter Infection. This disease is sometimes mistakenly referred to as copper spot, which is a disease of velvet bentgrass that occurs when the temperatures are in the 80’s. Microdochium patch can also be spread by mowers which results in streaking much like what occurs with Pythium blight. The Qo I fungicides, iprodione, and vinclozolin are excellent fungicides for the control of this disease. Chlorothalonil and mancozeb are also excellent choices if applied before the disease is evident.

J. M. Vargas Jr. Dept. of Plant Pathology, MSU

Some Questions and Answers About Proxy/Primo and Poa annua Seedheads

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 00:00:01 GMT

Research at MSU has shown that a single, early spring-timed application of Proxy/Primo will provide a 40 percent reduction in seedhead production. Results from trials at MSU indicate that a second application can yield an additional 10-20 percent suppression and extend the control window another 2-3 weeks.

So, should I apply a second application?
If you made an application of Proxy/Primo at the beginning of the application range (i.e. the first week of April), then you may get more of a benefit from a second application. For those that decide (or decided) to wait, you may not get much of a bump in performance from a second application. Success with Proxy/Primo has everything to do with the level of seedhead pressure we experience in a given year. In years when seedheads are heavy you will more likely see a benefit from a second application. So, keep your eyes open during that first week of May. If the seedheads are coming hot and heavy then you may want to consider making a repeat application. If things are under control, then maybe you could save yourself the effort.

I want to re-apply, when do I make the second application?
The metabolism of Proxy is totally driven by air temperatures. Part of the reason that the application range is so generous is that in cold weather it takes longer to get active in the plant and in warmer weather it gets active faster. Primo provides up to two weeks of seedhead delay; and cold weather it can take 10-14 days for the Proxy to get metabolized, so even in colder weather the tankmix has its benefits. The activity of Proxy/Primo will either be ‘extended’ by cold weather or ‘activated’ by warm weather.

Here’s the deal.
If things stay cold (e.g. winter weather advisory on 18 April) you can easily delay your second application as the product will remain in the plant longer in cold weather. Typically, the second application is made 14-21 days after the initial application. It’s no big deal to delay that another 7-10 days due to a cold snap.

If you have a topic you would like to see discussed on the Turf Team Updates send your idea to turf@msu.edu

Keep it green,
Ron Calhoun

Golf course owners see fog lifting

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 00:00:01 GMT

By Jason Deegan

After several years of pessimism and doubt, golf course owners and operators around the state feel good about their prospects for the coming season.

Positive signs -- auto industry bonus checks, pre-sold golf packages at Michigan golf shows, the continued funding of the state's Pure Michigan tourism promotion campaign, the pent-up enthusiasm of winter-weary golfers and better vibes from the economy -- all add up to hope, something in short supply in recent years.

According to Golf Datatech, an industry research firm in Kissimmee, Fla., rounds of golf in the state were down 1.6 percent last year from 2009. But that number outperformed the national average decline of 2.3 percent.

Gaylord Golf Mecca, a marketing alliance of 21 courses near Gaylord, reported a 4 percent increase in rounds played last year. Paul Beachnau, executive director of the Gaylord Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, which oversees the alliance, expects 3 percent to 5 percent growth in rounds played this season, a number Beachnau said was conservative.

"The turnaround of the auto companies has been huge. People are starting to put some money back in their pockets. With high gas prices, that will be to our benefit, too. People will stick close to home."

Kevin McKinley, director of golf at Treetops Resort in Gaylord, said "the efforts of Travel Michigan and the Pure Michigan golf campaign over the past few years, including the use of local Gaylord footage in national media buys, has helped to increase our out-of-state golf business, which is higher than it ever has been."

Dave Richards, owner of Resort & Golf Marketing in Bloomfield Hills, said an informal poll last year indicated that 10 percent of the business at high-end courses he contacted came from out-of-state golfers. He said one of his clients, Forest Dunes Golf Club in Roscommon, saw its rounds increase 29 percent last year.

"The group business is coming back. ... People are willing to spend more money," Richards said.

Enhancing that economic impact: The state now has fewer courses competing for those additional dollars.

The meltdown of the economy changed the golf industry in Michigan. There is less competition today -- nearly 30 18-hole courses and as many as 25 nine-hole and shorter so-called executive courses closed in the state over the past decade.

The Traverse City area was hit particularly hard, with three top-notch courses closing since 2008: High Pointe and LochenHeath, both in Williamsburg, and King's Challenge in Cedar. LochenHeath and King's Challenge, now called Manitou Passage, have since reopened under new owners.

The surviving public courses should benefit from the declining memberships of private clubs.

"There are very few country clubs that are stable," Richards said. "The middle-of-the-road country club has lost half its members. That just freed up $6,000 to $8,000 to play at Shepherd's Hollow (a 27-hole course in Clarkston) and play up north."

Joe Basso, secretary-treasurer of the Detroit Club Managers Association, said metro Detroit is oversaturated with private clubs. David Graham, executive director of the Golf Association of Michigan, said he can envision a future with fewer private clubs throughout the state.

Basso, general manager and CEO of Birmingham Country Club, said his club has been fortunate, adding members the past 18 months.

"You've got clubs in the area that have lost 50 to 100 members over the past two to three years," he said. "They are surviving, but they are having to reinvent themselves."

Discounted greens fees are the new normal at public courses looking to attract more players, although some think the practice must be scaled back for long-term success.

Jim Dewling, president of Total Golf Inc., which operates seven courses in Michigan, said Mystic Creek, a 27-hole course in Milford, attracted 2,000 more rounds last year than in 2009. But discounting cut into a stagnant bottom line.

"The revenue came from the driving range and pro-shop sales instead of the greens fees," Dewling said. "Rounds are all driven by price point. ... We're all stealing (customers) from each other."

Bernie Friedrich, vice president of golf, marketing and retail at Boyne USA Resorts, takes a different approach. He thinks that creative golf packaging last year helped Boyne have its best year since 2006. The company owns and operates eight courses and three resorts in northern Michigan.

By offering so many choices and prices, Boyne increased the number of rounds of golf nearly 10 percent, Friedrich said. Some packages included breakfast. Packages with unlimited golf were popular.

The key, Friedrich said, is "getting the price of golf where the masses can afford it, so the masses can play and grow the game." Richards calls northern Michigan one of the best value golf trips in the country.

Said Freidrich: "We have a lot more choices for people to play. We have changed some of the price structures, but we also looked at the times and days that we needed people (to fill up empty tee sheets). We adjusted some twilight rates by changing the time of the day. We made specials for local people. We are trying to fill as many tee times with different price structures than we ever used to."

Growing the game and attracting new players, including women and juniors, remain major problems, however.

"We're building some momentum," said Graham of the Golf Association of Michigan. "Is that going to lead to growth year after year? I hope so. I feel more bullish today than I have in quite a while. We're moving in the right direction."

Frankfort superintendent renews professional certification

Wed, 13 Apr 2011 00:00:01 GMT

Michael D. Morris, GCSAA certified golf course superintendent at Crystal Downs Country Club, Frankfort, Mich., has completed the renewal process for maintaining his status as a Certified Golf Course Superintendent (CGCS) with the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA).

Morris has been at Crystal Downs Country Club since 1987. A 25-year GCSAA member, he initially achieved his certification in 1997. Approximately 1,700 golf course superintendents worldwide currently hold “CGCS” status.

According to GCSAA President Robert M. Randquist, CGCS, “Twenty-five percent of GCSAA’s Class A members have elected to earn the highest level of recognition through the professional designation “CGCS” by completion of the GCSAA Certification Program. This program requires their demonstration of a higher set of competencies in golf course management through testing and practical application. Employers can feel confident they employ a career professional who will increase their chances of having consistently superior course conditions.”

GCSAA was among the first associations to institute a professional certification program, establishing its program in 1971 to recognize outstanding and progressive superintendents. In 2005, GCSAA completed a restructuring of its certification program in order to raise the level of documented professionalism through comprehensive continuing education. The restructured program was recognized by the National Certification Commission as “one of the most extensive and comprehensive certification programs for any profession.”

To qualify for GCSAA’s new competency-based certification program, a candidate must have at least three years experience as a golf course superintendent, be employed in that capacity and meet post-secondary educational requirements and/or continuing education points. The candidate’s knowledge, skills and abilities are validated through the development of a portfolio consisting of their responses to skill statements, case-study scenarios and submission of work samples; an on-site inspection of their golf facility; and a rigorous six-hour examination covering: equipment, irrigation systems, materials and technology; golf course and grounds; human resources, rules of golf, financial and administrative systems, regulatory and programmatic systems, crisis management, project management and ethics and values.

Maintaining certified status requires renewal every five years after the initial date of certification. To fulfill certification renewal requirements, a candidate must participate in 150 hours of continuing education and professional development.

GCSAA is a leading golf organization and has as its focus golf course management. Since 1926, GCSAA has been the top professional association for the men and women who manage golf courses in the United States and worldwide. From its headquarters in Lawrence, Kan., the association provides education, information and representation to more than 19,000 members in more than 72 countries. GCSAA’s mission is to serve its members, advance their profession and enhance the enjoyment, growth and vitality of the game of golf. The association's philanthropic organization, The Environmental Institute for Golf, works to strengthen the compatibility of golf with the natural environment through research grants, support for education programs and outreach efforts. Visit GCSAA at www.gcsaa.org. For more information, contact Morris at 231-352-4241 or mmorris@crystaldowns.org.

MSU Turf Team Update 4-8-2011

Fri, 08 Apr 2011 00:00:01 GMT

Winterkill on Golf Courses 4-8-2011
I spent yesterday touring golf courses in the greater Detroit area and unfortunately there was some winterkill injury again this year. In contrast to last year, the injury is not as widespread but if your course was hit, any damage is too much for starting another golf season. There was typical 'bird-bath' crown hydration injury on isolated areas of putting greens and in low-lying areas of fairways. There was also some mechanical or impact injury from removing snow and tracking injury from various animals including dogs and even geese. Some areas appear as dead as dead can be and reseeding or sodding efforts should begin immediately. Other areas, if you brush the topdressing off the surface and take an ant's eye view, there are green plants waiting for spring to start growing. Despite the rain this morning and temperatures below 40 the forecast for Sunday is......high of 79 in the Lansing area. I'm finding it hard to believe but if these temperatures come true and more importantly if the nighttime temperatures start warming up we're finally going to see the turf growing. If you're undertaking reestablishment or even if you're looking for recovery in areas where it may just be superficial injury, remember to keep the surface moist as the weather forecast for this weekend can dry things out in a hurry and an injured plant that is trying to recover may not make it through Sunday if it truly is that warm and the rain showers that are predicted don't materialize. Also consider using some phosphorus in your fertilizers during reestablishment and recovery. Phosphorus aids in establishment, or in the case of winterkill, reestablishment. We also suggest that if you have a winterkill damaged area focus on growing plants and not suppressing them with your PGR applications - for more on PGR timing for seedhead suppression, keep reading for Ron's comments.

Kevin Frank

Proxy/Primo application timing should be based on convenience, not tyranny.
Warm temps in mid-to-late-March have us on the doorstep of triggering several target ranges on GDDTracker. Seems like each year I start to receive emails and phone calls from superintendents ready to spray Proxy/Primo the minute their GDD totals are 'in the green.' Remember, a GDD application range is just that, a range. It does not mean that you have to get your sprayer on your water-logged, mostly dormant golf course just to get an application down right at 250. From almost tens years of research there is no difference between applications at 250, 300, 350, or 400. That's the beauty of the application range; you have some flexibility to make the application when it's convenient for you and fits your schedule.
We use anything over 250 GDD (base 32) as a guide to making the first application. However, there are other factors that you should consider. Both products are foliar absorbed. As such, you need living, green, plant tissue present for uptake. Applying Proxy/Primo to dormant turf will not be effective. Here are some additional things to consider.

Proxy/Primo Application Timing
• GDD total greater than 250 (base 32) and up to 450
• mowed at least twice
• turf is 100 percent green
For more information on GDD or to track them at your location visit gddtracker.net.

Ron Calhoun

Public comment on draft Biological Opinion DUE Tuesday, April 12

Fri, 08 Apr 2011 00:00:01 GMT

On January 30, 2001, the Washington Toxics Coalition, Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides, Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations, and Institute for Fisheries Resources filed a lawsuit against EPA in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, Civ. No. 01-132. This lawsuit alleged that EPA violated section 7(a)(2) of the ESA (Endangered Species Act) by failing to consult on the effects to 26 ESUs (Evolutionarily Significant Units or distinct groups of organisms) of listed Pacific salmonids (salmon and steelhead trout) of its continuing approval of 54 pesticide a.i.s. (active ingredients).

The initial result of the lawsuit mandated that EPA review registered uses of these pesticides and if there is a likely adverse effect on the endangered species or its habitat, that EPA formally consult with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) who forms a Biological Opinion (BiOp) which provides an opinion on the impact of the pesticide on the organism and options to minimize the effect (aka Reasonable and Prudent Measures).

As part of the continuing legal action, NMFS released a draft BiOp on March 1, 2011 regarding the impact of six pesticides (2,4-D, triclopyr BEE, diuron, linuron, captan, and chlorothalonil) on 28 Pacific salmonids ESUs (5 species in 28 distinct groups/locations).

Specifically regarding the fungicides captan and chlorothalonil, the March 1, 2011 BiOp, the NMFS concluded that, “captan [is] not likely to jeopardize the continuing existence of any listed Pacific salmonids or destroy or adversely modify designated critical habitat.” However, the BiOp concluded that chlorothalonil “[is] likely to jeopardize the continued existence of some listed Pacific salmonids,” and, “destroy or adversely modify designated habitat for some listed Pacific salmonids.”

Under the ESA, a BiOp must be based on "the best scientific and commercial data available." A BiOp that is not based on "the best scientific and commercial data..." could result in EPA imposing unnecessary and potentially onerous label restrictions, which could make the six active ingredients above unavailable for use.

The draft BiOp for chlorothalonil and 2,4-D makes incorrect broad "jeopardy" and "habitat modification" opinions based on flawed risk assessments, which impact chlorothalonil and 2,4-D use in four Western states (CA, WA, ID and OR). Although this issue is concentrated in the Northwest via litigation, any mitigation that would come out of this effort could have national implications.

To read the draft NMFS BiOp: http://www.epa.gov/oppfead1/endanger/litstatus/biop4-march2011.pdf

Public comments on the NMFS DRAFT BiOp for chlorothalonil and 2,4-D are due Tuesday, April 12, 2011.

The manufacturers of chlorothalonil and 2,4-D have provided the following template letters and talking points to assist golf course superintendents in weighing in on this important issue.

Chlorothalonil

* Attached here is a draft letter golf course superintendents in other parts of the U.S. can use to submit a letter ot the federal docket.

* Attached here are chlorothalonil talking points golf course superintendents in the U.S. can use to submit a letter to the federal docket.

2,4-D

* Attached here are talking points golf course superintendents in the U.S. can use to submit a letter to the federal docket.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMITTING YOUR LETTER(S)

All comments must be posted to: http://www.regulations.gov/#!submitComment;D=EPA-HQ-OPP-2008-0654-0194.... Type comments into the form, cut and paste or upload prewritten comments.

For help or more information, please contact Chava McKeel, senior manager of information and public policy, at (800) 472-7878, ext. 3619.

Learn more about Endangered Species Act litigation impacting golf course use of pesticides:

* The EPA's Mega-headache over the Endangered Species "Mega-Lawsuit" (Dr. Frank Wong blog)

* Endangered Species Act: Pesticide Consultations and Public Outreach (EPA PowerPoint)

Congratulations Incoming President Jay Eccleton, CGCS, Officers and Board Members

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 00:00:01 GMT

Jay Eccleton, CGCS

The Michigan Golf Course Superintendents Association (MiGCSA) held its elections on March 23, 2011 via online vote. Jay Eccleton, CGCS,Director of Golf Course Operations at The Emerald Golf Course, St. Johns was elected President with this vote.

“I would like to take a moment and thank the membership of the MiGCSA for their support as I assume the President role of this wonderful association. ” stated Eccleton. “I have had the fortune to be associated with the development of the MiGCSA into a strong statewide organization. The growth of this association and the dedication of a strong board of directors have been instrumental in the success of this chapter and with the addition of Adam Ikamas, CGCS as our new Executive Director, I only see positive outcomes for the years ahead. I look forward to working with the membership to discover new ways to strengthen this association and continue to make it one of GCSAA’s strongest affiliate chapters.”

Eccleton succeeds Ron Dahlin, CGCS. Newly elected officers include Greg Pattinson, Superintendent at The Captains Club, Grand Blanc as Vice President, and Gregg Matthews Superintendent at Lakelands Golf and Country Club, Brighton as Secretary/Treasurer. Tim Dark, CGCS and Jeff Holmes, CGCS were also re-elected to the Board of Directors.

The Michigan Golf Course Superintendents Association’s Mission Statement is to provide leadership for Golf Course Superintendents and other golf industry partners on the economic, environmental and recreational vitality of golf in Michigan.

Tee Times 4 Turf Courses Needed!

Sat, 26 Mar 2011 00:00:01 GMT

Time is drawing near for the TeeTimes4Turf on-line auction to support turfgrass research at Michigan State University. The auction will start on May 1st but we need course donations. The Michigan Turfgrass Foundation has been working the Michigan Golf Shows spreading the word to prospective bidders and have personally connected with over 2,000 golfers. To view our current course listings or to quickly and easily donate a round visit: www.teetimes4turf.com.

What you can do:

Spread the word to other facilities.
Let your membership know about the auction.
Donate a round from your facility.

Thanks for your support.

MSU Turf Team

Thank You to the 55 Courses who have Donated Already

1. Arbor Hills CC
2. Avon Oaks CC (OH)
3. Battle Creek CC
4. Buck’s Run GC
5. The Classic Fox GC
6. The Cliffs @ Walnut Grove (NC)
7. College Fields GC
8. Copper Hills G & CC
9. Eagle Eye GC
10. Egypt Valley CC
11. Elk Ridge GC
12. The Emerald GC
13. Forest Dunes GC
14. Forest Glen G & CC (Naples, FL)
15. The Golden Fox @ Fox Hills
16. The Grande Golf Club
17. Grayling CC
18. Gull Lake CC
19. Gull Lake View GC
20. Hankered Hills GC
21. Hawk Hollow GC
22. Hemlock GC
23. Hobbit’s Glen (MD)
24. Huron Clinton Metro Parks
25. Huron Hills GC
26. Indian Lake Hills GC
27. Island Hills GC
28. Kalamazoo CC
29. Leslie park GC
30. Little Traverse Bay GC
31. The Majestic @ Lake Waldon
32. Meadowbrook CC
33. The Meadows @ GVSU
34. Monarch Dunes GC (CA)
35. The Moors GC
36. Mullette lake GC
37. Nothville Hills GC
38. Pilgrims Run GC
39. Pine Lakes GC (OH)
40. Pineview Highlands GC
41. The Pohlcat
42. The Polo Fields, Ann Arbor
43. The Polo Fields, Washtenaw
44. Railside GC
45. Riverview Highlands GC
46. The Royal GC
47. Royal Scot GC
48. Saginaw CC
49. Scott lake GC
50. Timber wolf GC
51. Traverse City G & CC
52. Treetops Resort
53. Warwick Hills CC
54. Whispering Pines GC
55. Yarrow Resort and Conference Center

Greetings from Beijing MSU Turf Team Update

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 00:00:01 GMT

As I'm finishing up teaching the senior class of this year's MSU-China Turf program here in Beijing, Dr. Calhoun is nearing the half-point of his teaching stint for the junior class. The golf industry in China is progressing as evidenced by the recent China Golf Show. This year the GCSAA and PGA were sponsoring organizations with their allied partners here in China. One impression from the China Golf Show was the prolific presence of golf course architects from all around the world. Walking down architects row it was hard to believe you were 1/2 a world away from the states. It was also nice to see many alumni from the MSU-China turf program that are now working in various roles in the turf and golf industry in China walking around the show.

On another note, the winter and early spring climate in Beijing is definitely dry and their concerns with winter kill are not the crown hydration or ice formation that we worry about, it's desiccation. Last week I visited a local golf course and as you can see from the photo below, they would love to have some rain to provide moisture. You may notice some light structures in the distance - those are for playing night golf of course.

There are rare instances in life when you're confident that what you're experiencing might have never happened before. Case in point:
Dr. Calhoun and I (both with mailing addresses in the small rural town of Perry, MI) eating lunch together in Beijing in a Kentucky Fried Chicken - we joked that we doubt two guys from Perry have ever been sitting in KFC in Beijing eating lunch together.

Dr. Kevin Frank

MSU Turf Team Poa Research

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 00:00:01 GMT

Greetings from the Weed Research Team at MSU:

I hope everyone had a great winter and is ready to see some green like us.

The MSU weed research team is looking to do more annual bluegrass research this spring and summer at the Turf Center this year. We want to better understand the phenological differences of annual bluegrass at differing latitudes. To do this we will observe green-up and flowering of annual bluegrass populations from differing latitudes and relate them to growing degree days. However, we need your help.

If you have a golf course with primarily annual bluegrass putting greens, please consider supplying us with some of your annual bluegrass. We will need:

- 5 annual bluegrass plugs from a putting green on your golf course
- we have a 3-inch plugger that would work well, so they would be about an inch less in diameter than a cup cutter, and, perhaps, be a bit less conspicuous
- these plugs would preferably come from the same putting green
- the timing of plug collection is very important as we need them before green-up occurs

If you can help with this, we would love to be able to come out and collect plugs. Or, if you prefer, you could mail them to MSU. Please email me, Aaron Hathaway, at hathaw21@msu.edu, or call 586.292.6938 if you would be willing to participate. Again, we can come to your course and take samples, or give you instructions for sending plugs through the mail.

Aaron

Aaron Hathaway
Research Assistant
Michigan State University
286 PSSB
East Lansing, MI 48824
hathaw21@msu.edu

Greetings from the Hancock Center

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:00:01 GMT

It’s been a long winter. We’re anxious to switch gears and get outside again. At this point we are putting the finishing touches on our annual equipment maintenance at the Hancock Turf Center. As I look around our facility, it’s amazing how we have changed in the 28 years I have been the manager. We started out with 10 acres in 1979 and have grown to 56. As the center has grown, so too have our equipment, fertilizer, and irrigation needs. I am continually astounded by the amazing support we receive from the turf industry. Vendors and individuals in this state never let us down. We always have the equipment and product we need so that we can focus on getting the research done. In 2010, over $473,000 in supplies were loaned or donated to the Turf Center. In 28 years over $7.9 million dollars have been given. The MSU Turf Team could not do their research without great support from the industry.

With thankfulness, appreciation and admiration,
Mark Collins, Farm Manager

Robert W. Hancock Turfgrass Research Center
Michigan State University

Help Ensure All Pesticide Uses Remain Under Legal Primacy of FIFRA

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:00:01 GMT

Tell Your U.S. Representative to co-sponsor H.R. 872, the Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act of 2011

In 2009, the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the U.S. EPA’s 2006 rule exempting aquatic pesticide applications from Clean Water Act (CWA) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting. EPA is now forced to develop an NPDES permitting system for pesticide applications in, over or near "waters of the U.S." This one decision nearly doubles the population of entities required to be permitted under the CWA. Starting April 9, 2011, golf course superintendents may be required to meet numerous new planning, performance, recordkeeping and reporting requirements in CWA NPDES permits in addition to meeting the requirements under specific product labels.

EPA and the states must begin implementing and enforcing the permit program in April 2011. This permit will preempt the science-based review of pesticides and label requirements for uses regulated under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Never in the 62 years of FIFRA or 38 years of the CWA has the federal government required a permit to apply pesticides in, over or near "waters of the U.S." for control of such pests as mosquitoes, forest canopy insects, algae, or invasive aquatic weeds and animals, like Zebra mussel. As a matter of fact, Congress omitted pesticides in 1972 when it enacted the CWA, and despite major rewrites since, has never looked beyond FIFRA for the regulation of pesticides.

On March 2, House Representatives Bob Gibbs (R-OH), Jean Schmidt (R-OH), and Joe Baca (D-CA) introduced H.R. 872, the Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act of 2011, that would eliminate the need for NPDES permits for pesticide applications made in accordance with FIFRA. This legislation would ensure that all pesticide uses would be under the legal primacy of FIFRA and restrict EPA from creating redundant environmental regulations.

Enter your 5-digit Zip Code in the Take Action Now! box below to urge your U.S. Represenative to co-sponsor H.R. 872 and ensure its passage this Congress. A template letter has been provided to help you take quick and easy action on this important issue.

For help, contact Chava McKeel, Senior Manager of Information and Public Policy, at (800) 472-7878, ext. 3619.

For additional background on the issue:

May 2010 GCM Inside Your Water column

GCSAA's offical NPDES comments to EPA on their draft pesticide general permit

GCSAA NPDES pesticide general permit overview

The Dicey, Icy Decision

Fri, 18 Feb 2011 00:00:01 GMT

Document the health of turf from greens affected by ice and snow throughout the winter to determine the potential benefits of ice removal. The foul smell of anaerobic soil conditions noted during the process of removing turf samples will support the decision to remove ice from putting surfaces.

By Bob Vavrek, senior agronomist, North Central Region
February 15, 2011

There has been no shortage of snow cover at most courses across the Upper Midwest. Several early storms followed by a blizzard produced a deep layer of insulation across the region’s golf courses. Generally, a dense blanket of snow is the ideal scenario to ensure turf survival by protecting the turfgrass crowns from frigid temperatures.

However, the current snow cover may be a two-edged sword this winter. Several days of unusually mild weather accompanied by rain, just prior to the first of the year, melted nearly all of the December snow except for playing surfaces located in low-lying, protected sites that tend to accumulate extra deep snow cover. Exposed sites that lost all snow and frost in the ground benefited from the current snow cover, but protected sites found the frost impeded water movement through the turf and were sealed beneath a dense layer of solid ice to start the year. Snow cover over the ice-affected turf increase the potential for ice suffocation.

Several superintendents have sampled turf under the 30 to 40-day old ice cover and the stench of anaerobic conditions (lack of oxygen) beneath the ice was overwhelming. The smell of decaying turf and organic matter is never a good omen, but plugs of turf taken indoors to green up did not appear to be injured.

A week of mild temperatures has many superintendents weighing the pros and cons of removing snow from greens to expose ice to sunlight and warm temperatures. There is always risk and reward involved when attempts are made to remove ice, but the risk of allowing ice to remain any longer on greens that already have an anaerobic smell is probably greater than the potential for causing damage by removing snow.

If the greens are not affected by ice, the best bet is to let nature take its course with respect to snow cover. Perhaps clearing a path or channel along the perimeter of the green to allow the water from melting snow to flow off the putting surface is worth the effort, but keep the plows, snow blowers, and shovels off the greens.

On the other hand, it makes sense to remove snow from greens that already have six-plus weeks of uninterrupted ice cover and then apply some type of darkening agent to the surface to at least honeycomb the ice and vent the anaerobic gas accumulations. Black sand or dark-colored organic fertilizer products, such as Milorganite, are commonly used to speed up the process of ice removal.

As always, the key to making the best decision is to monitor turf conditions beneath the ice and snow as often as possible throughout the winter and pay special attention to sites that have a history of winterkill.

Source: Bob Vavrek, rvavrek@usga.org or 262-797-8743

MiGCSA Hires Adam Ikamas, CGCS as Executive Director

Tue, 15 Feb 2011 00:00:01 GMT

Adam Ikamas, CGCS
adamikamas@migcsa.org

I am very happy to announce to you today that an Executive Director has been chosen to serve the MiGCSA. After some great work by the Search Committee headed by Past President Steve Hammon, a clear choice emerged to move your association forward. Mr. Adam Ikamas, CGCS our current Vice President has accepted an offer to change his role in the Michigan Golf Industry and offer his services and skills to the MiGCSA on a daily basis. With Adam’s knowledge and experience with the web-site, Course Conditions, the board of directors and the daily working of the chapter we can anticipate that the association will continue its move forward immediately upon his start as the Executive Director. Adam will begin his service to the MiGCSA as soon as his role at Crystal Mountain is complete and we anticipate this to be in March.

With Adam’s new role we will see a small shuffle in the board and this new plan will be announced to the membership soon.

Please join me in congratulating Adam and welcoming him to his new role.

Sincerely,

Ron M. Dahlin, CGCS
MiGCSA President

The Big Melt

Mon, 14 Feb 2011 00:00:01 GMT

There was significant snow melt last weekend and it will continue throughout the week with high temperatures expected in the low 40's to near 50. Currently the nighttime lows are forecast to be near or above freezing almost every night (except tonight) which should help the water keep moving and minimize ice formation. As the snow melts do whatever you can to facilitate water movement off greens to prevent overnight freezing and ice formation. Shoveling snow from poorly draining areas or shoveling channels or paths to help water quickly escape from greens could reduce the risk of winterkill injury.

Dr. Kevin Frank

2010 TIC Annual Report

Sat, 05 Feb 2011 00:00:01 GMT

Greetings to all the Turfgrass Information Center supporters!

The 2010 TIC Annual Report will bring you up to date on what's happened with the Center during 2010. Here are some quick highlights:

* 1.3+ million search results presented

* 44% of TGIF records now link to full text

* 15,000+ new TGIF records

* 20+ TIC-hosted websites for full-text content, in partnership with digital cooperators

* 60+ academic institutional subscribers worldwide

See the full report, at: http://tic.msu.edu/TIC_Annual_Report_2010.pdf <http://tic.msu.edu/TIC_Annual_Report_2010.pdf>; please feel to extract and reprint content there as you see fit (with appropriate credit) in any reporting to your membership, boards, committees, or in your publications, etc.

We hope you agree that there are great things continuing to happen with both TIC and the TGIF database. While things are certainly more challenging financially, we continue to push the work forward, and hope you find much value in the outcome of those efforts.

We'd also like to especially point out the summaries of "How You Can Help" and "Future Directions" - both are areas where your support and assistance are needed and appreciated.

With regards to all,

The Turfgrass Information Center Staff

-------------

Turfgrass Information Center
Michigan State University Libraries
100 Library
East Lansing, MI 48824-1048
USA
Voice: 517.353.7209
Fax: 517.353.1975
Email: tgif@msu.edu
Website: http://tic.msu.edu

The Bench Versus The Actual USGA North Central Update

Fri, 04 Feb 2011 00:00:01 GMT

By R.A. (Bob) Brame, director, North Central Region
February 3, 2011

The bench is important to a team, but it’s the players on the floor that are in control at any given moment during a game. In a like manner, the mowing height bench setting on a mower is important, but it’s the actual cut that directly impacts turf health, dependability and playability. Since mowing is a building-block component of golf turf maintenance, it is a common topic in turfgrass maintenance and during on-site Turf Advisory Service visits. Often, the focus is on the bench setting, as opposed to the more important actual cut. Isn’t that a bit like relying on the benched players to score points rather than those on the floor?

Acknowledging the bench setting on putting-surface mowers seldom yields the same actual cut, it is important to consider this aspect of the maintenance operation. The weight of the mowing units, the number of mowing units (i.e. a single-unit walk-behind mower versus a three-unit triplex mower), and the type of front rollers all directly affect any difference between the bench setting and the actual cutting height. Turf density and soil moisture also can add to the variations between the bench and actual. A prism gauge is the only real tool for determining and monitoring the actual cut. This means every maintenance operation should have and use a prism gauge to cross compare the actual cut with the bench setting.

This discussion must be carried one step further. As the cutting height is reduced, there will come a point where eyesight limitations make it impossible to accurately determine the actual cut. The quality of cut can be reviewed at any height, but ultra-low mowing blocks actual cut measurements with a prism gauge. Commonly, this is somewhere around 0.120". In other words, at or around 0.120", it becomes very difficult, if not impossible, to measure the actual cut. The efficiency, flexibility and benefits of topdressing, growth regulation, fungicide applications, water management and lightweight rolling (overall turf dependability/playability) during harsh weather are compromised as the actual cut is reduced below what can be monitored with a prism gauge. This would suggest staying at an actual cut that can, in fact, be determined and monitored with a prism gauge.

The very difficult 2010 season served to reemphasize the importance of guarding or balancing agronomic building blocks (1. fertilization, 2. growing environment – sunlight and air movement, 3. water management = drainage/aeration + irrigation and 4. mowing – type of mower, sharpness and height of cut) with playability. Now is a great time to comprehensively review the agronomic foundation in your maintenance program, and this means carefully considering, and later checking in the field, any difference between the bench and the actual cutting height – having the right players in the game will directly influence the outcome.

Your Green Section agronomist can aid in reviewing your maintenance operation to maximize the product presented in 2011. In fact, we are actively scheduling visits for the coming season. The price is the same as last year (half day - $1,800 and full day - $2,600) if visits are committed to and paid for prior to May 15th. Beyond the early season cutoff, prices will increase by $600. So now is a good time, don’t wait – call or email to schedule visits for your course. In addition to on-site visits, we stand ready to assist in any way possible.

Source: Bob Brame, bobbrame@usga.org or 859.356.3272

Par Aide - Steve Garske Blog

Fri, 28 Jan 2011 00:00:01 GMT

Par Aide Products President Steve Garske has been writing a blog for over 2 years now and commonly writes about topics in the world of golf, but branches off into other sports, cars, etc. One of his most read blogs was one he wrote back in March of 2009 about “backyard hockey rinks”. He has noticed for years that when driving by neighborhoods and ponds here in Minnesota, people commonly clear them off and make hockey rinks or flood their back yard and make one there.

We asked the local MN Golf Course Superintendents Association to submit photos of what some of them do. We had a great response, and some weren’t just in their yards or neighborhoods, some were made at the golf facility where they worked. We continue to get more photos every year.

We thought another hockey loving state like Michigan may be able to help us keep this going. What we are asking for is that you send out an email to members asking them to submit photos to us of their “backyard rink” and we would post them on a new blog in the coming weeks. We would like their name, facility they work at, and any other information they would be interested in passing along. It has been a lot of fun and the people enjoy sharing what they create. Some of these “backyard rinks” are pretty impressive. Below are the links to the blog entries. We really would appreciate your help. Thanks in advance.

http://garske.wordpress.com/2009/03/16/minnesota-winter-backyard-rinks/

http://garske.wordpress.com/2010/01/12/another-backyard-ice-rink/

Winterkill 1/25/2011

Tue, 25 Jan 2011 00:00:01 GMT

Winterkill is a term that describes a wide range of maladies that result in dead turf in the spring time. Research projects often focus on practices to accelerate recovery from injury. The MSU Turf Team initiated several experiments in the fall of 2010 to gain a better understanding of the conditions that lead to winterkill in the first place. Follow this link to watch a short video of Dr. Calhoun interviewing Aaron Hathaway about this research.

Dr. Ronald Calhoun

One Result, Many Causes - USGA Update

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 00:00:01 GMT

By Bob Vavrek, senior agronomist, North Central Region
January 18, 2011

Some forms of ice, or cold-temperature-induced injury to turf, are relatively easy to diagnose, such as cart and foot traffic across heavily frosted playing surfaces. However, the exact cause of other types of more severe winterkill, such as ice suffocation or thaw/freeze injury, are much more difficult to determine.

Winterkill begets winterkill at many older golf courses across the upper Midwest that have playing surfaces dominated by Poa annua. Courses with greens affected by severe winter injury, typically seed creeping bentgrass into the thin and bare areas. However, the end result is usually an even higher percentage of Poa due to minimal bentgrass seedling survival on a green that is kept open to play and aggressively maintained at low heights of cut during recovery. Many of the new Poa plants that germinate from seed already in the greens will likely have less ability to tolerate winter stress versus the older Poa plants they replaced. Consequently, a viscous cycle of winter injury can occur.

Why isn’t there more research about winter injury? This question was raised more than once by superintendents at turf conferences I have recently attended. In fact, there is ongoing research about winterkill available if you know where to look. For example, within the past five years there have been extensive studies undertaken in Canada about impermeable covers and methods for removing ice cover from putting greens. A link to a summary of various winter injury experiments conducted at the Prairie Turfgrass Research Centre at Olds College in Alberta, Canada is:

http://ptrc.oldscollege.ca/summaries_plantstress.html

Could there be more winter injury research? Of course, but winter stress is a regional problem and research funds for problems that only affect a relatively small percentage of golf courses are limited. Furthermore, the environmental conditions that cause winter injury are not completely understood and are difficult to reproduce under field conditions. Many well-designed field experiments regarding ice damage research failed to bear fruit because of an unusually warm winter.

To complicate matters further, there are several forms of winter injury that all produce the same result – dead turf. A single green could experience both wind desiccation across elevated, exposed areas and crown hydration across low, poorly drained pockets of turf during the same winter. Low areas could be affected by ice suffocation or thaw/freeze injury or a one-two punch of both conditions.

Slowly, but surely, research is unraveling the mysteries of winterkill, though we are often still perplexed why one green sustains extensive damage and another nearby putting surface under similar conditions survives the winter unscathed. No doubt, it’s a challenge to determine what killed the turf when it’s just about impossible to determine exactly when it died during the winter.

Still, there are a few “knowns” among the “unknowns.” We know that bentgrass tolerates stress from ice and cold temperatures much better that Poa annua. Classic ice injury research at Michigan State University was conducted by Dr. James B. Beard during 1964-1965. A number of other studies since then support the observations regarding the superior winter hardiness of bentgrass versus Poa.

If you have been affected by winter injury on greens more often than not during the past decade, maybe it’s time to change your grass instead of your fall/winter management practices. Susceptibility of Poa annua to winterkill has been one of the major factors why a number of courses across the upper Midwest have decided to rebuild or re-grass putting greens during the past ten years.

A USGA Turf Advisory Service (TAS) visit can definitely help you determine what options are available for old putting greens if you are losing the battle with Poa annua. The modest cost of a half or full-day consultation pales in comparison to the lost revenues from dues or green fees associated with lengthy spring recoveries from dead or damaged putting greens that occur year after year. A link to 2011 consultation fees and the scope of TAS services is:

http://www.usga.org/course_care/turf_advisory_service/TAS-Services-and-Fees/

Source: Bob Vavrek, rvavrek@usga.org or 262-797-8743

Thom Nikolai: Revitalizing Flint by mowing the grass

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 00:00:01 GMT

Thom Nikolai

Published: Thursday, October 14, 2010, 10:43 AM
Updated: Thursday, October 14, 2010, 10:52 AM
By Russ White

A team of Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station researchers — comprising turf experts, a sociologist and an economist — are working on a three-year project with the Genesee County Land Bank and three Flint communities to investigate the interaction between the biological environment and social change, and how this connection may affect the ability to recreate prosperous, vibrant communities.

MAES turf expert and project leader Thom Nikolai, an academic specialist with the MSU Institute of Agricultural Technology, says the team hopes to combine the attachment value embedded in lawns with growing and maintaining healthy turf to build community capacity and help contribute to Flint’s economic recovery.

“As you look at these blighted areas where they can’t even afford to mow the grass, the thought process is that if we begin to maintain these areas and make the grass look as good as it does in Okemos or Grosse Pointe, what impact might that have on businesses moving in or on people who might decide to buy homes in the area,” Nikolai says.

As Flint tries to survive and thrive as a smaller city, the thousands of abandoned homes and vacant lots scattered throughout its neighborhoods are more than a reminder of its past as a manufacturing boomtown.

They're a costly headache to keep from getting wildly overgrown, with grass that can grow several feet high before being mowed.

Grass experts, sociologists and community leaders have teamed up on the project to cut some of that grass and try to test the idea that maintained lawns and parks help revitalize neighborhoods. Lessons learned in Flint, they hope, could be used around the country.

"At one of the areas we're looking at, there's basically a park but no one is playing in it," says Nikolai. "We want to come back in a year and see people throwing a Frisbee around."

Click here to hear Nikolai’s October 15 Greening of the Great Lakes conversation with Kirk Heinze. Greening of the Great Lakes airs Friday evenings at 7 on News/Talk 760 WJR.

Please “like” Greening of the Great Lakes on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

MiGCSA Annual Meeting Review

Thu, 13 Jan 2011 00:00:01 GMT

Over 30 MiGCSA members gathered at the Annual Meeting held during the Great Lakes Trade Exposition this week in Grand Rapids. A review of the accomplishments of the year was given by President Dahlin and the members who gathered learned of the strong financial condition of the chapter along with an update on the events that are planned in 2011. A discussion was held on the status of the search for an Executive Director for the organization and the current plans are to have this person on board by spring of 2011. Members were also informed of the decision to hold the annual elections after the executive director comes on board. It is felt by the board of directors that this will enable the transition of the day to day operations of the organization to proceed in a timelier manner and lessen the time needed to transfer the knowledge needed to guide the new director and the officers of the board. The board is currently in the planning stages for an election in the spring that will coincide with the spring management meetings.

The new GCSAA field staff representative, Mr. John Miller, CGCS was in the room along with Mr. Steve Randall the Senior Manager of Chapter Outreach at the GCSAA to answer any questions about the recent appointment of Mr. Miller to the Great Lakes Region. MTF Executive Director Gordie LaFontaine and Mr. John Fulling, CGCS the newly elected president of the MTF (past president of the MiGCSA) were also present to share with the membership the strength of the alliance that is shared between the two organizations.

President Dahlin rounded out the meeting with the exciting news of the strength and vitality of the organization, how it is a national leader in communications, how diligent the board of directors were in 2010 in keeping the goals of the membership as a top priority and he expanded on the promise that the future holds for all of the members of the MiGCSA.

To view the Power Point from the meeting click on the following link

http://www.migcsa.org/uploads/Annual-Meeting-Slides.ppt

Turfgrass Phosphorus Use Legislation Passes

Sun, 09 Jan 2011 00:00:01 GMT

Jan 9, 2011 at 12:03pm — Kevin Frank

In December 2020, Michigan lawmakers passed legislation (HB-5368) that wil impact phosphorus use on turfgrass. The new regulations and limitations will go into effect on January 1, 2012.

Full text of the bill can be viewed here. The MSU Turf Team is already working on education and training opportunities to comply with the new regulations.

Define Desired Conditioning As You Engage 2011

Sat, 08 Jan 2011 00:00:01 GMT

By R.A. (Bob) Brame, director, North Central Region
January 4, 2011

Last year is over, and we give thanks and gratitude as we engage a new year.

Maintenance standards offer an excellent means of engaging what lies ahead. Over the last few months there have been several calls from superintendents and course officials about establishing maintenance standards to guide daily course conditioning, as well as budgeting and cash flow. Without question, establishing a detailed maintenance standards document is a worthwhile pursuit to maximize budget efficiency and reduce the politics that commonly engulf golf course maintenance. Remember, a maintenance standards document is dynamic; not static. The committee or individuals charged with course maintenance are responsible for establishing, implementing and adjusting the standards as things change. The superintendent and key staff must provide professional input, but they are ultimately responsible to the policy makers and not the policy. In other words, policy makers must become immersed in the process and take ownership. If it is the superintendent alone who writes the standards, they will not have the same value.

Detailed maintenance standards spell out a targeted putting surface speed range (i.e. not a specific number). There are simply too many variables to make one specific number realistic. Even an appropriate window can be rendered unobtainable when weather conditions are extreme. It is also appropriate to outline a desired surface firmness range. This can be done for the greens alone or include other surfaces like approaches and fairways.

To accurately outline appropriate and sustainable speed and firmness ranges some history is needed. Spend some time measuring, recording and applying applicable variables and available resources. There is both science and art involved in the process and the combination requires the input of a qualified superintendent.

It takes time and commitment to establish standards that serve the golf course’s best interest, but the end results can improve dependability, playability and economics, while offsetting politics. Your local Green Section agronomist is a great resource for facilitating the process of establishing superintendent-recommended, committee-compiled and golfer-agreed upon standards.

The next stop on the conference circuit with an excellent line-up of presentations and trade show is the Indiana Green Expo (http://www.indianagreenexpo.com/) in Indianapolis on January 17 – 19th. Hope to see you there.

We look forward to working with you and your golf course in 2011. A mailing will be sent out over the next six to eight weeks to all courses in our database, outlining the visit options for the coming year. However, the scheduling process can be initiated anytime with a call or email.

All the very best in 2011.

Source: Bob Brame, bobbrame@usga.org or 859.356.3272

MSU Turf Team Update

Tue, 04 Jan 2011 00:00:01 GMT

Good news! The anticipated January thaw occurred in December! Anyway, the snow and ice melted giving the turf a chance to “breathe.” There is no concern at the current time about the annual bluegrass being under ice for 60 days. New ice did form in the low areas on greens and fairways on December 31, so we can start a new countdown for those areas from this date; however, it would be a good time to remove the ice from these small areas, at least on the greens, while the temperatures are still below freezing. I do not think we will have any more concern about new ice that may form on the greens later this month since they will not be under the ice for 60 days. Our next problem will be when the temperatures warm up around March and the annual bluegrass loses its cold temperature proteins and begins to take water into the crowns. If this occurs, severe annual bluegrass loss may occur in areas where standing water refreezes at night.

Dr. Joe Vargas

http://www.michiganturfgrass.org miturfgrass@gmail.com P: 517-392-5003

MiGCSA President Ron Dahlin, CGCS at the Syngenta Business Institute

Thu, 30 Dec 2010 00:00:01 GMT

Golf Course Superintendent Association, Michigan chapter

Contact for more information:
Margaret Bell
Senior Marketing Communications Manager
336-632-2115
Margaret.bell@syngenta.com

Dec. 29, 2010

Congratulations to Ron Dahlin, CGCS who was selected as one of 28 golf course superintendents to participate in the Syngenta Business Institute, a unique, educational program.

The Syngenta Business Institute is sponsored by Syngenta in conjunction with Wake Forest University’s graduate school of business and was held Nov. 29 to Dec. 2 in Winston-Salem, N.C. While agronomic expertise is critical to superintendent success, Syngenta also recognized the need to provide superintendents with business management tools.

Syngenta worked with Wake Forest to develop a program that focused on business and financial management, human resource management, and negotiation skills.

He was selected from a talented pool of superintendents based on an application process that reviewed their educational background, industry achievements and an essay.

Dahlin is the golf course superintendent at The Meadows Golf Club at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Mich.

Miller named Great Lakes field staff representative

Wed, 22 Dec 2010 00:00:01 GMT

GCSAA President Jim Fitzroy, CGCS, announced today that the association’s field staff program has expanded with the appointment of John Miller, CGCS, as the Great Lakes region field staff representative.

Miller, a 28-year GCSAA member, most recently served as the GCSAA-appointed agronomist for the LPGA Tour. A resident of Xenia, Ohio, his territory will include all GCSAA chapters within the states of Wisconsin, Michigan, Ilinois, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky.

“John has been an engaged GCSAA member and valuable association team member for nearly three decades,” Fitzroy said. “He will be a tremendous asset for the chapters and members in the Great Lakes region. He certainly brings a diversity of talents as a golf course manager, host of a PGA Tour event, instructor and agronomist.”

Miller joins Ralph Dain (field staff representative for the Florida region), and Steve Randall, GCSAA senior manager of chapter outreach, as current staff dedicated to the program. Randall, who has managed the field staff program since it was piloted in 2006, will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the program, with all resident field staff representatives reporting to him. Fitzroy said the association expects to have representatives for the South Central (Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, New Mexico and Louisiana) and Southwest (California, Hawaii, Nevada and Arizona) regions in place by the first part of January 2011. Access a map of the new GCSAA regions.

“I cannot remember anything that has brought as swift and positive feedback as the implementation of the field staff program,” Fitzroy said. “Our members have spoken loud and clear in their support. This program is just another step in our efforts to enhance the effectiveness of chapters. Field staff will complement our chapter workshops, leadership academy, branding program, outreach grants, advocacy assistance and other areas.”

Fitzroy noted the desire is to have all nine GCSAA regions with a field staff representative by the end of 2013, subject to available resources.

The objective of the program is to help chapters utilize GCSAA programs to a fuller extent, with tangible outcomes such as higher member satisfaction, increased membership totals and retention, more effective governance and greater participation in chapter and national association events.

MSU Turf Team Update; Ice Formation

Tue, 21 Dec 2010 00:00:01 GMT

Well, here comes the bad news. Many greens throughout Michigan now have ice on them and, to make matters worse, most of the ice formed on unfrozen ground, which means there could be microbial activity. If there is microbial activity, these microbes could use up the limited oxygen under the ice resulting in an anaerobic condition which would allow the anaerobic bacteria to produce toxic gasses like butanol and ethyl butyrate. The good news is it takes about 60 days for these gases to reach toxic levels under ice and kill the Poa annua. The start date for counting is December 12, which means we have plenty of time left. We do not think it is necessary to do anything at this time. Let’s hope we have our normal January thaw and that all the ice melts away. We will keep you posted on the countdown and advise you when, and if, any actions should be taken.

Dr. Joe Vargas

Wee One Foundation Michigan Benefit Golf Outing @ Oakland Hills C.C.

Tue, 21 Dec 2010 00:00:01 GMT

The South Course at Oakland Hills County Club, site of some of the greatest events in golf, will be host for the 2nd Annual Wee One Foundation Michigan Benefit Golf Outing. The event will take place on Monday, May 16, 2011.

Registration is currently available for event sponsors only and will continue through the end of February 2011. Sponsorships are $2,000 and include a foursome of golfers , a $1,000 value! Sponsors will be recognized at the event and will be listed on the Wee One website (www.weeone.org) with a link to their own web page throughout the year. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available at lower contribution levels but do not include golf. CLICK HERE for Sponsorship information.

Open registration will begin in March 2011 for any unfilled golf slots. The event is limited to 128 golfers. Cost is $250 per person and includes lunch, dinner, drinks, and contests, including a shot at a hole-in-one and a 2-year lease of a new Ford vehicle.

Golfers will play their own ball and there will be a best-ball event for team prizes. Pin placements from the 2004 Ryder Cup matches held at Oakland Hills CC will be used. Check-in and use of the driving range starts at 10:30 a.m. followed by a shotgun start at Noon and dinner immediately after golf. Dinner only tickets will be available for $50.

The Wee One Foundation helps families of golf course industry professionals who have suffered a catastrophic illness and need financial assistance. The organization has given out more than $300,000 to needy families in just over five years. Last year’s inaugural Michigan event at Indianwood G&CC raised more than $12,000 for the Foundation.

For more information, visit the Wee One Foundation website (www.weeone.org). Please email any questions to WeeOneMichigan@gmail.com.

Carbon Copy USGA - North-Central Region

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 00:00:01 GMT

By Bob Vavrek, senior agronomist, North Central Region
December 16, 2010


		Winter injury affected putting greens at many courses across the upper Midwest last year. Unfortunately, weather conditions have been even more severe this year as we approach the official start of winter.

Yogi Berra said “it’s déjà vu all over again” and that appears to be what we are experiencing across the upper Midwest this December with respect to weather conditions conducive to winter injury. The coldest day of last winter (single digits) occurred during mid December and several nights this December have already dipped well below zero.

Courses fortunate enough to have deep snow cover prior to the onset of frigid temperatures will have less to worry about versus courses in the Milwaukee area where only a dusting of snow was present to insulate the turf. To make matters worse, nearly an inch of rain preceded a rapid 20 degree drop in temperature that defined the first classic “thaw-freeze” event of the winter.

Superintendents had been hoping for a quiet, uneventful winter of rest to recover from the stress of keeping the playing surfaces alive during a summer that will be remembered most for its widespread losses of turf caused by extended periods of heat and high humidity. As predicted by meteorologists who describe the effects of climate change, extreme weather fluctuations will be more of the rule than the exception.

There isn’t much that can be done right now other than wait and see what occurs during the next weather pattern. It makes little sense to remove ice or snow accumulations from greens when the night temperatures are below zero and spring is a long, long time away.

No doubt, another bout of severe winter injury to Poa annua greens will make more courses in the Region reconsider options for rebuilding or regrassing greens. Competition for members and greens fees is keen during the current sluggish golf economy. Courses that have good greens during April and May will simply out-compete courses that struggle to recover from winterkill.

Regardless of what stress occurs this winter, the USGA Green Section will be available to help your course prepare for a successful season in 2011. A Turf Advisory Service visit can be particularly helpful to assess the extent and severity of the damage when winter injury occurs. In addition, options for facilitating a speedy recovery and preventing winter injury in the future will be included in the written report.

It seems as though the challenging 2010 season will not end quietly. Here’s wishing for more reasonable and manageable weather conditions in 2011.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all.

Source: Bob Vavrek, rvavrek@usga.org or 262-797-8743

Michigan Supreme Court to hear Benton Harbor golf course case

Thu, 16 Dec 2010 00:00:01 GMT

The Michigan Supreme Court is expected to hear arguments in a case seeking to get three holes of an 18-hole Benton Harbor golf course out of Jean Klock Park on the shore of Lake Michigan.

The Herald-Palladium of St. Joseph reports lawyers will argue the case in January. Carol Drake and Clellen Bury sued over the use of the park and lost in lower courts.

The centerpiece of the Golf Club at Harbor Shores project is a Jack Nicklaus-designed course. An event to officially open the course was held in August.

Benton Harbor agreed to lease a portion of Jean Klock Park to the Harbor Shores development team, angering some who fought plans for the course. They claim it's illegal for public park land to be used for private interests.

MiGCSA Student Scholarship Winners

Wed, 15 Dec 2010 00:00:01 GMT

Congratulations to Stuart Naugler, Brian Hilfinger, and Daniel Graft. They each won a $1,000 scholarship from the MiGCSA. Thank you to all of the great candidates that applied for the scholarships this year. The Michigan State Turf program has some great people entering the industry. Please join the MiGCSA and MTF for the awards luncheon at the GLTE on January 11th at 12:00 when we will award these individuals for their accomplishment.

Notice of Annual Meeting

Tue, 07 Dec 2010 00:00:01 GMT

The annual meeting of the MiGCSA will take place on Tuesday the 11th of January 2011 at 5pm. We will meet in Grand Rapids during the GLTE conference in ROL-B. The meeting will include a review of the year’s activities, current news of the Executive Director search, an accounting of the financial health of the organization and a discussion on the notification of elections as well. Members are encouraged to attend and bring any questions or suggestions that you have for your organization.

Ron M. Dahlin, CGCS
MiGCSA President

MiGCSA Executive Director Job Posting

Thu, 02 Dec 2010 00:00:01 GMT

The Michigan Golf Course Superintendents Association (MiGCSA) is currently searching for an Executive Director to manage the association’s business. This job posting will be open until December 24, 2010. Attached to this posting are a responsibilities document and a salary guideline. They can also be viewed at http://www.migcsa.org/migcsa-executive-director-search-259/. All applicants must apply for the position via email to searchcommittee@migcsa.org. Portfolios and any large printed material can be mailed to the address below.

We anticipate that the first round of interviews will be conducted in mid January with final interviews being conducted in mid February. The projected start date for the Executive Director is March 2011. Thank you for your interest in the MiGCSA.

Search Committee Chair,

Traverse City Golf & Country Club
Attn: Steve Hammon
1725 South Union Street
Traverse City, MI 49684

Short Memory

Mon, 22 Nov 2010 00:00:01 GMT

By Bob Vavrek, senior agronomist, North Central Region
November 17, 2010


Before and after pictures are useful for documenting dramatic changes made to a golf course, such as aggressive tree removal. Try to maintain the same perspective in both images to provide the most impact.

Losses of turf that ranged in severity from annoying to devastating have been the topic of numerous updates from every Green Section region this summer. The aftermath of intense disease activity, long periods of severe heat stress, flooding for some and drought for others is still visible and definitely front and center in the minds of many golfers and superintendents…well, at least for now. However, for those of us in the northern states, it won’t be all that long before a serene, snuggly blanket of pure white snow covers all the ugly scars of this summer’s turf carnage.

It would be great to put this difficult season completely behind us and look forward to a less stressful time. However, those who hold the purse strings need to be constantly reminded about turf maintenance issues while you prepare and submit the 2011 operating budget. Granted, money cannot magically transform a cool season grass into a warm season grass and there are times when you can cover the greens with $100 bills and still lose turf due to extreme stress from heat or disease activity. On the other hand, deep budget cuts will definitely limit management options and make it difficult to address small turf issues before they become more serious problems.

Golfers, owners, committees, etc. tend to have short memories when it comes to unpleasant issues such as winter injury, summer stress, and disease activity. The best remedy for short memory syndrome is pictures…lots and lots of pictures. For less than $100 you can find a very high quality digital camera that easily fits in a shirt pocket, so there is no excuse not to have the ability to document turf problems whenever they occur.

Before and after pictures provide the best bang for the buck. The advertising industry knows full well the value of before/after images or they would never be able to pitch hair transplants or weight loss programs as well as they do. A well conceived before and after image provides hope and encouragement that a problem can and will improve if a particular course of action is taken. Take full advantage of this concept throughout the process of having a maintenance budget approved by supporting your proposal with pictures.

Yet a picture is worth a 1000 words only if it is a good picture. There are not many professional photographers managing golf facilities, but you can still take serviceable pictures with a little practice. Here are a few tips regarding before and after images:

What is obvious to you in a picture may not be obvious to a golfer. Use arrows, circles, or whatever to highlight what you want others to see. Include a caption that clearly explains the problem and how it affects the course playability. For example, you may want to show a soil profile of a green that has excessive organic matter (OM) accumulation near the surface. Golfers could care less about how the OM clogs the pore spaces and hinders water movement through the green. But,, tell them that excess OM is the reason why the greens stay mushy and bumpy after irrigation or that OM is the reason why the greens are peppered with deep pitted ball marks by 3 PM each day and you just may get approval for a new aerator or a new topdressing unit as well as the time needed to perform these important operations.
Keep distractions, such as your shadow, out of the pictures and be aware of the background. You want the images to convey one idea, if possible. That said, you still need enough background in the image to identify the location of the problem to a player who is familiar with the course. You want players to relate to the problem in a way that makes it a personal issue. A close up of skunk damage on a fairway could be from any golf course unless there is enough background to identify the hole. You want golfers to see the problem not as an issue to “a” golf course, but as a problem on “my” golf course.
Frame before and after images carefully. A close up of winter injury next to a distant image of the site after recovery is worthless. The images need to be carbon copies of each other with respect to distance, angle and perspective. In fact, the problem you are trying to highlight should be the only difference between the two images. It will help if you keep a tree, bunker, or some other permanent course feature in the frame as a reference point, but don’t make it the focal point of the image. You may be able to crop one image to approximate the size of another image using simple editing software.
Before/after images are often employed to document recovery of turf damage or to document changes made to the course, such as bunker renovation or tree removal. Be creative. For example, take a picture of a low area of the course during dry weather and compare it to the same site after heavy rainfall. This can be used to garner support for future drainage projects.
When in doubt, take many pictures and at least a few will be capable of supporting your point. Twenty digital images don’t cost a cent more than one image. Keep the best and erase the rest.

On a final note, think about taking a short class regarding the basics of digital, point and shoot cameras this winter. Adult education night classes that only require a few hours of your time are inexpensive and can be found at most local high schools, universities, technical colleges and photography shops. No exams or quizzes and an opportunity to fine tune a skill you can use for the rest of your life. Best of all, these classes do not require an expensive camera. Practice your photography skills and they will be a valuable ally in the fight against short memory syndrome.

Source: Bob Vavrek, rvavrek@usga.org or 262-797-8743

Golfweek Magazine Selects Manitou Passage Golf Club Among Best New Courses in 2010

Wed, 17 Nov 2010 00:00:01 GMT

Glen Arbor, MI - Golfweek Magazine has chosen Manitou Passage Golf Club, located near the Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore in the Leelanau Peninsula, as one of its "Best New Courses" in 2010. The recognition of the 40 top new courses in the country appears in the October issue of the magazine.

Golfweek's course evaluators grade courses all over the country on a 10-point scale to identify the country's finest golf courses. Raters take into account factors such as routing of the course, feature shaping, greens, variety and memorable holes, conditioning, maintenance, and landscape management.

This accolade makes Manitou Passage Golf Club one of the top destination courses in northern Michigan. The course joins Harbor Shores Golf Club, designed by Jack Nicklaus, as one of the two Michigan courses to make the Golfweek's best new list.

Manitou Passage Golf Club is a signature Arnold Palmer design that has gone through a major renovation and restoration project to complete and update the design that was originally envisioned by Palmer.

When a group of golf devotees purchased the course over a year ago, they did so with the goal of creating a new destination course featuring exceptional playing conditions and unmatched service. That group, lead by Bob Kuras, president of The Homestead, brought the Arnold Palmer Design Company, Peridian International, and the Wadsworth Golf Construction Company in to assist with the renovation efforts.

The Palmer and Peridian work included scores of minor and major changes. Under the direction of Kuras and his son James, Wadsworth completed the majority of the changes recommended by Palmer. Renovations included the repositioning, adding and squaring off of tee-boxes, widening of fairways in key landing areas, renovating bunkers, lengthening some holes, restoring areas with native grasses and clearing of trees and brush to open vistas to the area's natural beauty.

"We're honored to have been chosen by Golfweek Magazine and pleased to be in the company of other great courses," said Kuras.

One of the most dramatic (and, most talked about) changes was on hole No. 8, now one of the region's prettiest and most challenging par 5's. The tee boxes were re-positioned and trees removed, which opened up one of the signature views in all of northern Michigan, including Lake Michigan, the Manitou Passage, sand dunes and lighthouse.

With its crystal clear inland waters, sparkling Lake Michigan beaches, and miles of rolling sand dunes in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Leelanau was the perfect setting for Manitou Passage Golf Club as it was for The Homestead, America's Freshwater Resort. Guests can now enjoy this world-class Arnold Palmer signature design and golf packages at a resort of comparable quality.

For more information about Manitou Passage Golf Club and to experience the areas premier destination course, visit www.manitoupassagegolfclub.com or for packaging information visit www.thehomesteadresort.com.

MiGCSA asked to meet with the EPA regarding the loss of PCNB

Mon, 15 Nov 2010 00:00:01 GMT

The MiGCSA was asked to meet with the Environmental Protection Agency in Washington DC regarding the impact that the Stop Sale Order of PCNB had on the golf industry. Chava McKeel the Senior Manager of Information and Public Policy at the GCSAA requested the meeting with Steven Bradbury, Director Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention to discuss the ramifications of the loss of this fungicide for the prevention of snow mold in the northern tier of the United States. Somewhat surprisingly a meeting was granted within 7 days of the request and on the 10th of November five superintendents representing five northern tier states convened in Washington DC along with Dr. Clark Throssell of the Environmental Institute of Golf and Chava McKeel for the meeting.

Our hope was to meet with Ms. Lois Rossi the current Director of the Registration Division (RD) her assistant director and several members of the division but instead we were introduced to 20 members of the EPA representing several divisions who were working on the issue. It was indeed an great opportunity presented to sit in the same room and speak directly to the Directors of the Biological and Economic Analysis Division (BEAD), Pesticide Recertification Division (PRD), Environmental Fate and Effects Division (EFED) and of course representatives of the Office of General Council (OGC = Lawyers).

Kevin Clunis MGCSA (Minnesota), Ron Dahlin, CGCS MiGCSA, Bob Nielsen, CGCS METGCSA (Metropolitan New York), Richard Pagett PGCSA (Pennsylvania) and Eric McCormick IGCSA (Idaho) joined with Dr. Throssel and Ms. McKeel to explain to the assembled group at the EPA what snow mold is and the effect that it can have on golf courses if left untreated. The assembled group was also given a short course on the economic impact that golf has in the United States which included the data that it is a $195 billion industry – bigger than the motion picture and recording industries combined or all professional sports combined. It creates 2 million jobs annually and contributes $3.5 billion annually to charities across the country, more than any other sporting activity. Along with the agronomic lesson a passionate discussion on the current economic climate in the golf industry along with the added impact the loss of turf would have on operating budgets and revenue generation was given by all 5 of the superintendents who spoke. The group from the EPA was engaging and asked questions during the meeting which stretched well past the allotted time. While the entire assembled group from the golf industry asked for the immediate lifting of the Stop Sale Order, it was not immediately granted. It was learned that the heart of the issue is not the molecule itself but rather a contaminate found in one of the inert ingredients that lead to the removal of the product from the supply channels. The manufacturer of the base compound, AMVAC, has since changed the way the molecule is produced to severely reduce this contaminate and has recently resubmitted data to the EPA for their review.

It is thought that PCNB products may very well reinter the supply channels but it may be too late for any use in Michigan in 2010. The politics and personalities that are behind the current Stop Sale Order will eventually be worked out but the underlying feeling is that PCNB may very well return to use in a limited or short lived manner. The current process is not done so please stay tuned for more information from the MiGCSA on this.

Chapter Delegates Meeting Outcomes

Mon, 15 Nov 2010 00:00:01 GMT

The GCSAA Board of Directors, 2011 board candidates, and 87 delegates representing 93 of
GCSAA’s 100 affiliated chapters, convened at the Hilton Kansas City Airport October 23-24, for
the 18th annual Chapter Delegates Meeting. Approximately 30 percent of the delegates were
first-time attendees.

Robert M. Randquist, CGCS, GCSAA Vice President, called the Chapter Delegates Meeting to
order at 8 a.m. Mr. Randquist introduced the GCSAA Board of Directors. He welcomed
everyone to Kansas City and thanked them for their time and participation at the meeting.
President’s Update

James R. Fitzroy, CGCS, GCSAA President updated the delegates on the search for a new chief
executive officer for GCSAA. The board of directors has hired an executive search firm, Tryon
& Heidemann, to assist with the search process. The position description has been posted online
at gcsaa.org. The board of directors is clear on what they are looking for in a candidate: golf
industry experience, strong business acumen and a successful track record. The board has
targeted January 7-8, 2011 for initial candidate interviews, and follow-up interviews the week of
January 14.

President Fitzroy assured the delegates that GCSAA is not on “hold” during this transition
period. Advancements in areas such as communication tools, online products and affinity
programs have been made. GCSAA continues to represent its members in industry-wide efforts
with allied associations on such initiatives as We Are Golf, Get Golf Ready, and Image of the
Game. The board of directors is evaluating international opportunities and the potential revenue
stream this might offer the association. Expansion of the Field Staff program remains a priority
and by the end of 2011 there will be six resident field staff.

CEO UpdateInterim Chief Executive Officer Rhett Evans addressed the delegates on the state of the
association. Evans disclosed the current financial picture and projected what 2011 and beyond
might look like for GCSAA and the golf industry. Evans advised that GCSAA remains mission
focused: GCSAA is dedicated to serving its members, advancing their profession and enhancing
the enjoyment, growth and vitality of the game of golf. GCSAA also has foundational principles
called core attributes that support the mission. The core attributes are professional development,
advocacy, community, responsiveness and environmental stewardship. The association needs to
focus its resources on providing the programs and services that best serve its members.

GCSAA financial position
Mr. Evans discussed GCSAA’s financial position with the delegates by stating that overall
GCSAA is in financial good health; however the current economy and a down golf market have
taken its toll. The National Golf Foundation (NGF) reported the following regarding the golf
industry:

• Number of golfers are down 5.1% from 2008-2009
• Rounds played continue to be slightly flat to slightly down
• Course openings are projected to be negative in 2010, marking the fourth straight year
that more courses have closed than opened
• Other revenue in the golf industry is down (U.S. golf club sales have declined 28% in
2009 compared to 2008; golf ball sales have also declined)

Despite the down golf economy GCSAA remains in good health. Due to prudent past and present
leaders GCSAA has a financial reserve of $6.5 million. The association has no long-term debt
and owns the headquarters building. GCSAA has a high membership retention rate. All of these
factors add to a solid financial picture.

Revenue
Evans described the association’s main sources of revenue and how they compare with previous
years. GCSAA’s three main sources of revenue are:

• GCSAA Education Conference & Golf Industry Show
• GCM ads, education, EIFG grants and website.
• Membership dues
The following observations were made regarding revenue.
• Conference and show represents 48%-50% when education seminars are included to the
total revenue of the association. It is down $3.5 million or 34% from 2008.
• GCM advertising has declined by $800,000 since 2008.
• Membership dues have remained stable at $4.3 million due to remarkably high retention
rates.
• Investment income – the association suffered a significant loss in 2008 ($2.3 million) but
saw a 24.8% return in 2009 aided by a diversified portfolio (60% stocks and 40% bonds).
• Revenue from industry is down $3.1 million from 2008.

Expenses
Expenses have been reduced over $5 million from 2008 to 2010. A large portion of the cost
savings have been in reductions in staff positions and benefit costs. These expense reductions
have been made in all areas of the association in order to manage the reduction in revenues in a
sustainable and fiscally responsible manner. The delegates viewed the association’s expense
breakdown.

• Education, government relations, environmental programs, publications and website.
• Conference and show (trade show, events, tournament and registration)
• Administrative and support services
The following observations were made regarding expenses.
• Conference and show expenses are down $1.3 million or 20% from 2008.
• GCSAA has reduced its use of the reserve fund over $600,000 from 2008.
• Over 30 staff positions have been eliminated resulting in a cost savings of $1.2 million.
• Other areas of significant expense reduction include marketing and communications, staff
professional development and travel, research programs, chapter education program and
savings in technology and administrative costs.

GCSAA Focus
As the financial discussion illustrated, these are challenging times for the association and for members.

If GCSAA is spending resources on a program or service it needs to be sure that it is focused on
providing solutions to these challenges.

Challenges such as declining revenue and rounds are being addressed in industry-wide initiatives that
focus on player development, sustainability and marketing/public relations. GCSAA is at the table
with other allied associations working together in an effort to strengthen the golf industry. New tools
such as the GCSAA Job Board, and the Self-Assessment Tool have been created to aid in professional
growth. GCSAA is investing in new technologies such as GCSAA TV, GCSAA Radio and a
redesigned website in an effort to communicate with members and deliver programs, tools and
resources in a more efficient and timely manner. These are just a few of the new services GCSAA is
focusing on for members.

Member Dues Increase Discussion
GCSAA Vice-President Sandy G. Queen, CGCS and Chief Financial Officer Cameron Oury advised
the delegates that the board of directors will bring forward a proposal to raise dues for Class A and SM
members by $20 annually, and $10 annually for Class C members. The proposal will be voted upon
during the 2011 Annual Meeting in Orlando, Fla.

The Process
Proposed GCSAA member dues increases are established through a process created by the delegates that uses the Consumer Price Index (CPI) as a guide. The members then vote upon the proposal at the association’s annual meeting in February. The process calls for the association to consider a dues adjustment every two years as a means of ensuring a sustainable organization. The process is not automatic. The GCSAA Board of Directors may elect not to bring forward dues adjustments according to schedule, as was the case last year when they opted to forgo consideration of an increase and instead focus on reducing expenditures.

Why Now?
Mr. Queen advised that before the board would support a dues increase proposal it wanted to be sure
that GCSAA had its “house in order.” That was why 2010 was focused on decreasing expenditures and
streamlining operations. GCSAA has reduced staff by 25% and has cut $5.4 million from its budget
over the past three years. GCSAA has also been diligently exploring additional revenue opportunities
to help ease the bottom line. The board feels that now is the time to submit the dues proposal.
The proposed dues increase would allow the association to begin covering costs that have already risen in the years since the last increase in 2008. The economy has experienced a 5.8 percent rate of
inflation since that time. Though the increase is not tied to a specific program, project or service,
GCSAA member dues support the entirety of association programs and services that members have
deemed valuable to them and their facilities.

Mr. Queen emphasized that the GCSAA Board of Directors wants to hear from the membership on
this issue and encouraged the delegates to voice their questions and concerns during this meeting and via the delegates listserve following the meeting.

Delegate Discussion
The delegates held a robust discussion on the proposal. Several delegates were concerned with how an increase of dues would affect their chapter membership. The delegates requested materials to help
them educate their members when they returned home. (Materials were provided to the delegates via
the listserve and can be found online at gcsaa.org.)

Field Staff Expansion
Robert M. Randquist, CGCS and Carrie Riordan, Senior Director, Member Programs updated the
delegates on the expansion of the Field Staff program. The program began in 2006 as a pilot program
to help chapters better utilize and benefit from GCSAA programs and services, and for GCSAA to
learn more about chapters and their needs. The program has been a success and chapters have
continually expressed interest and support.

The board of directors announced in August the expansion of the program and shared that
affiliated chapters have been grouped into nine regions. The goal is to eventually have resident
field staff in each region. Four regions will have field staff trained and fully in place by mid-
2011. Those regions are:

• Region 1 (Florida, which is already staffed.)
• Region 5 (Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio)
• Region 7 (Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, New Mexico and Louisiana)
• Region 8 (California, Hawaii, Nevada and Arizona)

The board selected these regions in this first expansion phase using “as-needed” criteria that
included specific requests for regional support, a desire to balance field staff throughout the
nation and available resources. Regions not immediately receiving resident field staff will
continue to have access to GCSAA resources.

The hiring process for positions in regions 7 and 8 began in early August. Resumes were
accepted through September 7. Staff has conducted phone interviews and final candidates will
have face-to-face interviews in November. The desire is to have the new field staff in regions 7
and 8 attend conference and show in February.

The search process for region 5 has not been open externally yet.

Remaining regions
The board voted at their Fall Board Meeting to fill two additional field staff regions sometime in
the last quarter of 2011. They took this action in recognition of the value of this program and the
desire to get the entire program fully functional as soon as possible. This will bring the total to
six field staff by the end of 2011. The board has yet to determine which regions these two
positions will focus on. A timeline for filling the final three regions will be based on available
resources.

Delegate Discussion
The delegates shared their opinions on the merits of the program. They were curious to know
how the program would be evaluated and reviewed. Robert Randquist, CGCS shared that the
program will be evaluated on a series of metrics including: chapter effectiveness, membership
retention and responsiveness.

Strengthening the Game: Industry Collaboration
Robert M. Randquist, CGCS presented information regarding the industry-wide initiatives in
which GCSAA participates. Mr. Randquist also noted ways that chapters could participate as
well. The purpose of GCSAA’s collaboration with allied golf associations in these initiatives is
to strengthen the game of golf and therefore the success of each golf facility through efforts
aimed at:

• Player development and retention
• Economic development
• Government relations
• Sustainability
• Marketing/Public Relations

GCSAA is involved in programs such as Golf 20/20, Get Golf Ready, Image of the Game
Campaign, Golf’s Drive Toward Sustainability and We Are Golf, in an effort to increase the
number of people playing the sport and creating a positive business and regulatory climate for
golf. When the sport of golf is successful, GCSAA members are successful.

The EIFG and Golf’s Drive Toward Sustainability
EIFG raises funds to support the programs and services provided to golf facilities through GCSAA. In
2003, it underwent a name change to focus in on what had become a major component to its purpose the relationship between golf and the environment.

Golf’s Drive Toward Sustainability
Greg Lyman, Director of Environmental Programs, explained that sustainability means ensuring
profitable businesses while making decisions in the long-term interest of the environment and
communities. It is a focus on continual improvement. It means that our members professionally
manage and conserve resources and inputs to provide playing conditions that satisfy golfers of today
and tomorrow. To help members work towards sustainability the EIFG has worked with task groups of
members, regulators and turf scientists to create tools that GCSAA members can use at their own
facilities. To create these tools it was necessary to gather data on what was actually going on at golf
courses nationwide. EIFG did a series of Golf Course Environmental Profile surveys that created a
picture of the golf course industry. The data in these profiles have been helpful in telling golf’s story to
a wide variety of audiences.

Other tools are being created and can be found on eifg.org.
• The business case for sustainability
• EIFG Performance Goals
• Tool Box
• Communication/Outreach

Delegate discussion
The delegates discussed various ways to make it easier for chapters or individuals to donate to
the EIFG. They asked if Golf’s Drive Toward Sustainability is supportive of the Audubon
International Program. Mr. Lyman assured them EIFG is supportive of organizations that are
doing good work in this arena, such as Audubon International.
GCSAA Education Conference and Golf Industry Show

Rhett Evans, interim CEO, addressed the delegates regarding the GCSAA Education Conference
and Golf Industry Show. The financial overview the delegates received earlier in the day
illustrated how important this event is to GCSAA’s revenue line. It accounts for 48% of
association revenues when the conference seminars are added into the total figure. GCSAA
surveys people who attend the conference and show and those who do not. The good news is that
those who attend see the value in attending. Of those who do not attend, time and cost are the
two factors cited as hurdles to overcome.

GCSAA has worked hard to address the concerns of time and cost as barriers to attending
conference and show. Several different packages have been rolled out that include registration
and lodging at reduced rates. They are:

• Option 1 – Two nights (Tues-Wed) $395
• Option 2 – Two nights (Wed-Thu) $395
• Option 3 – Three nights (Mon-Wed) $495
• Option 4 – Three nights (Tues-Thu) $495

New for this year, GCSAA has contracted with Vista Cay by Millennium to be part of the
housing list. Vista Cay has condos and townhomes where multiple attendees can room together
and significantly reduce their accommodation costs.

Evaluation of the post-conference attendee survey showed that attendees value the education,
networking opportunities and new product introductions at the event. To add more value to the
2011 conference and show GCSAA has added:

• 18 new seminars
• 4 new sessions
• More education on Friday
• Expanded computer offerings all week long

Mr. Evans explained that as the number one asset of GCSAA, it is critical to keep the conference
and show a successful event. A great deal of research has gone into determining what entices
people to attend. A significant factor is location. Evans ran through results of site research and
the thought process that goes on in selecting future cities for the GCSAA Education Conference
and Golf Industry Show. The schedule through 2014 is as follows:

• Orlando – 2011
• Las Vegas – 2012
• San Diego – 2013
• Orlando – 2014

Delegate Discussion
The delegates discussed the importance of having qualified buyers on the trade show floor to
ensure that industry keeps exhibiting at the event. A discussion was also held regarding the
number of golf courses represented during conference and show.

Town Hall Meeting
The GCSAA Board of Directors established the practice of conducting “town hall” meetings to
further enhance the communication and information sharing between GCSAA’s elected leaders
and affiliated chapters and members.

The town hall format is an open forum where chapter delegates have the opportunity to have a
dialogue with the GCSAA Board of Directors who will answer questions and share information
on items of interest and importance to chapters and members.

The delegates discussed numerous issues with the board of directors including:
• The state of the certification program and if the board felt it was a worthwhile endeavor.
Board members advised that certified members’ salaries on average are significantly
higher than non-certified superintendents. The board believes the program is worth it.
• What is GCSAA’s current relationship with the CMAA since they pulled out of the Golf
Industry Show? GCSAA has a strong working relationship with CMAA which includes
serving on numerous boards and committees together. CMAA made a business decision
they felt was in the best interest of their members to leave GIS and there is no ill will
with that decision.
• The current CEO search and lessons learned from the past.
• Government relations and advocacy work that is being done on behalf of the members
and how it is important to team up with allied associations when it comes to this
endeavor. GCSAA does not have the resources to go it alone.
• A discussion on having multiple Class A or SM members at an 18-hole golf facility and
the implications that “resume building” may be going on. The board noted that the
Member Relations Committee will discuss this issue at their next meeting. Staff will also
implement a new policy for checking reclassification requests to verify their validity.

Candidate Presentations
Chapter delegates had an opportunity to listen to presentations from candidates running for
elected office. After the presentations, delegates participated in the “Meet the Candidates”
session where they asked questions of the delegates in breakout groups. The 2011 GCSAA

Board candidates are:
• Office of President – Robert M. Randquist, CGCS
• Office of Vice President – Sandy G. Queen, CGCS
• Office of Secretary/Treasurer – Patrick R. Finlen, CGCS and Keith A. Ihms, CGCS
• Director (electing 3) – Rafael Barajas, CGCS, Peter J. Grass, CGCS, John J. O’Keefe,
CGCS, and Mike B. Wooten, CGCS

Chapter Innovative Ideas and Success Stories
Peter J. Grass, CGCS, Member Relations Committee Chair introduced four chapter delegates
whose chapters experienced success this year in the areas of fundraising, sharing resources for
more effective association operations, outreach efforts and government relations.

Michigan GCSA
Gregg Matthews, Michigan GCSA (MiGCSA) Director presented information on how the
MiGCSA shares resources and talents to effectively engage its members on a statewide level.
The MiGCSA is comprised of four districts or regions. These districts are Western, Northern,
Mid-Michigan and the Detroit area and represent the smaller chapters that used to be affiliated
with GCSAA. Past leaders of these four chapters realized that by sharing resources they could
provide programs and support for their members that as individual chapters were beyond their
capabilities. The state chapter structured itself to ensure equal representation of all areas of the
state regardless of population density. The districts hold functions and events in their respective
areas, however all MiGCSA members are welcome to attend.

The chapter feels that by sharing resources and creating a unified voice for superintendents in the
state of Michigan they have a stronger platform in the areas of advocacy, outreach and industry
support.

Nebraska GCSA
Chad Giebelhaus, Vice President of the Nebraska GCSA presented information and a video of
the chapter’s successful Nebraska Golf Day. Giebelhaus shared that while attending the GCSAA
Chapter Leader/Executive Symposium in March he and the chapter’s staff learned of National
Golf Day and the We Are Golf platform. They brainstormed ways to build on this national
success at their local level. Giebelhaus outlined their plan by explaining they focused on a set of
questions:

1. Who is the audience and what story are we trying to tell? Golf’s impact on the state level.
2. Who needs to attend? State legislators, media and golf industry.
3. Who needs to be involved? All allied associations should participate in this event and the
superintendents need to be seen as the host.
4. Finally, put a process in place to get meeting accomplished.

The Nebraska Golf Day was a successful event that delivered its message to the intended
audience. The chapter is already planning their next golf day.

Heart of America GCSA
Todd Bohn, Director Heart of America GCSA presented information on the Heart’s successful
Partnership Recognition Program (PRP). Bohn explained that the Heart chapter faced several
challenges at the time. The chapter wanted to decrease the cost of meeting attendance and it
needed to be more efficient in requesting industry support. After hearing about GCSAA’s PRP,
Bohn put a plan and committee into place to create a program for his chapter. The hope was that
by bringing additional revenue into the association it could reduce meeting costs and at the same
time streamline its industry sponsorship program. Throughout the process it was important to
create buy-in with the vendor members and with his superintendent members. Bohn explained
the process the chapter put in place to create their PRP.

• Created a committee to work on this project.
• Listed all assets their chapter had to offer for sponsorship and placed a dollar amount on
each.
• Asked committee chairs to write descriptions of their events/programs for the PRP
booklet. This helped with buy-in.
• It took the chapter two years to create and implement their program.

The chapter considers this program a success. It generated $8,000 more in revenue in 2009 than
in 2008, and provides appropriate recognition of their sponsors.

California GCSA
Kevin Breen, CGCS, California GCSA Past President, presented information on the chapter’s
Government Relations Committee and why all chapters should consider getting involved in this
arena. The chapter covers the entire state of California and works with the six local affiliated
chapters on a wide range of issues. While the legislation and regulations their government
relations committee deals with is localized to regions within the state, there are lessons to be
learned for all chapters.

• Monitor legislation and regulation within your state – utilize a lobbyist, GCSAA,
newspaper articles, and your state legislative register to do this.
• Inform members of pending legislation/regulation – via email or the chapter’s
newsletter/website.
• Gather contact information – it is important to keep the chapter’s membership
information up-to-date.
• Explain legislation and regulation to ensure compliance credibility – Mr. Breen
encouraged chapter leaders to lean on GCSAA staff for help if needed.
• Utilize GCSAA and the We Are Golf platform

Several chapter delegates took the opportunity to share additional successes with the attendees.
Bob Nichol, CGCS, delegate from the Northeastern GCSA outlined their recent move to an allelectronic
newsletter. The chapter converts its newsletter into a PDF and emails it to its members. The response has been positive from readers and advertisers. This has saved the chapter around 20% on costs.

Eric Spurlock, delegate from the Virginia GCSA described his chapter’s work to ensure that
golf’s voice is heard during the Chesapeake Bay Watershed regulations currently underway.
John Garcia, CGCS delegate from the Connecticut Association of GCS also spoke up regarding
water regulations affecting their state.

GCSAA Programs, Projects, Services Update
Rhett Evans returned to the podium to inform the delegates of different GCSAA programs,
projects and services. Mr. Evans highlighted the importance of member feedback in the decisionmaking process at GCSAA. When GCSAA surveys its membership it takes the feedback gained seriously. Upcoming surveys include:

• Member Needs Survey – launches early November 2010
• Compensation & Benefits Survey – launches mid-December 2010
• Conference & Show Surveys – February 2011

Website Redesign
A major focus of staff attention and resources is the redesign of the GCSAA website. GCSAA
has outgrown its current site and capabilities. A redesign is in progress that will include the
addition of business applications and new architectural framework. These behind-the-scenes
updates mean the new site will be easier to navigate and will lead to enhanced communication
between GCSAA and members. Phase 1 of the redesign will launch in March with Phase 2 in the
fall of 2011.

The GCSAA Job Board
The new job board will execute a vision laid out by the GCSAA Board of Directors. The new job
board will be a high quality, easy-to-use tool that will be a members-only benefit. It will provide
an expanded search option by job category, position title and GCSAA regions. A “job alert”
notification will be a useful new tool of the GCSAA Job Board providing alert email’s if a job
meeting specified criteria is listed.

Self-Assessment Tool
This new tool replaced the Professional Development Resource (PDR). It launched on October
12, 2010 and incorporates the new competencies and identifies certification performance
statements. It is user-friendly and takes less time to complete than the old tool.
EIFG Fundraising

There are several different campaigns underway to help increase funding to the Institute and
therefore to the programs and services provided to members and facilities by GCSAA.

• The Golden Tee Club Challenge – Golden Tee Club is a $100 giving level tracked by
EIFG. The Challenge is raise the number of participants to 700. A campaign is underway
to meet this number and it is sponsored by Jacobsen.
• Virtual Chapter Contest – a contest asking chapters members to purchase virtual “bricks”
to create a wall. The giving level here is $10 per brick. More information will be
announced regarding this campaign.
• Membership Renewal option

Government Relations and Public Policy
The government relations and public policy program is responding to a large number of
significant issues at the national, state and local levels of government. Issues such as:

• NPDES nation-wide permit regulation
• Chemical products- availability
• Chesapeake Bay TMDL (pollution diet)
• Americans with Disabilities Act
• Immigration Reform

It’s crucial that chapters and members stay on top of issues impacting the profession. Share
intelligence with GCSAA staff and be ready to have your voices heard on important issues.
GCSAA can arm you with information and data to help respond to issues, as well as help you
connect with government officials who make decisions impacting your job.

GCSAA Outreach
The delegates heard of the history of GCSAA’s outreach program and the strides it continues to
make. Recent efforts include launching marketing campaigns aimed at raising the profile of
GCSAA and its members. These efforts include:

• Television – Golf Channel, ESPN and Network Relations
• Internet – GCSAA, Consumer Sites, Allied Associations and media
• Magazine Advertising in employer publications
• Sponsorship of the LPGA Agronomist, Women’s Golf Month, Special Olympics
• Cooperative Chapter Outreach Grants
• Employer Events

These efforts continue to pay off in terms of recognition by employer groups and avid golfers of
the role golf course superintendents play in the success of the facility.

MSU Update November 14th

Sun, 14 Nov 2010 00:00:01 GMT

Greetings from the land of a very happy Green and White. Although 2010 will go down as a brutal year, the month of November is always one of relative ease, as it is one in which there is very little grass growing (nationwide). The other great thing about November is that it is the one month of the year that we have MSU football, basketball and hockey. Hockey is young and still finding themselves, but football has been (to quote the youngsters), OMG to say the least. The campus has been a fun place to be, to say the least. (Having been around awhile, I can safely say it is a better place when the football team is winning.)

The hoops team is on a mission, period. I think there is not a person around that does not expect anything but a National Championship. My advice to you out of state…Find the Big Ten Network as fast as you can, it is going to be a real special year. You know from previous writings I think a lot of Green, but these two freshmen, Appling and Payne are going to be real good. I’m thinking shades of Richardson and Randolph from years past. Scary good.

The class size this year is 15, pretty much in line with the last 4-5 years. We have 30 2-year and around 30 BS students at this time. I think they still are pretty good though as we won 8 of the 19 national scholarships given out by the GCSAA. We are very proud of these students.

The 19th Annual GW Hamilton Memorial Cutter Cup, hosted by Superintendent Larry Napora, was held at Firestone CC in Akron, Ohio this past October. The match ended in a tie and thus PSU retained the cup. The all time series is now 6-7-6 (W-L-T), a pretty close rivalry, I would say.

On November 19 we will host our 23rd Mock Interviews for turf students. This continues to be a very special day as it never ceases to open the eyes of the students as to the job ahead of them. The turf faculty is very appreciative of the efforts put forth by the interviewers to help keep your program strong.

One personnel note to make you aware of…Dr. Kurt Steinke will be changing job duties beginning January 1, 2011. He has accepted the Soil Fertility Position within our Department (Crop and Soil Sciences), and his primary focus will be cropping systems in the State of Michigan. Replacement of his position within turf is currently in flux.

Finally, you are probably aware that U2 did not have concert and it has been put off until 2011. So, the game on Nov. 20 against Purdue now stands to be the last one played on what will be deemed the original modular field. Nine pretty nice seasons if you ask me, rarely the topic of conversation (except for positive) over that time. Way to go Amy and Eric (and Andy).

MiGCSA Executive Director Search Update

Mon, 08 Nov 2010 00:00:01 GMT

From the Chair – Steve Hammon, Past President

During the May 2010 MiGCSA Board Meeting at the Lakelands Golf & Country Club it was unanimously decided that a committee would be created to begin the process of hiring an Executive Director for the Michigan Golf Course Superintendents Association.

Committee members include; Steve Hammon, Dan Bissonette, Ron Weingartz, Tim Dark, John Fulling and President Ron Dahlin. The committee will be creating and researching Executive Director
responsibilities, compensation recommendations to the board and expense guidelines. The job will be posted and advertised in early winter through the MiGCSA and our Allied Partners in the state which include, MGCOA, MiPGA, MiCMA and the MTF.

The committee will narrow down the E.D. applicants and begin interviewing in mid-January. The entire board will then interview the top few candidates in late February. Stay tuned to the MiGCSA to review the Executive Director responsibilities and this position will help secure the continued success of this wonderful state chapter.

J. M. Vargas Jr. and the Michigan Turfgrass Team Snowmold Application

Wed, 03 Nov 2010 00:00:01 GMT

To: Michigan Turfgrass Managers

From: J. M. Vargas Jr. and the Michigan Turfgrass Team

Folk lore in turf management never ceases to amaze me, like the idea that annual bluegrass dies in the heat. Or that you can prevent resistance from occurring to systemic fungicides by rotating different modes of action or that by always including a contact fungicide with a systemic fungicide and the contact fungicide will get rid of the resistant strain.

I guess now that the season has slowed down, people have a lot of time on their hands, or they have trouble sleeping at nights and just dream up new folk lore because they feel we do not have enough confusion out there.

Here is the latest piece of folk lore that has come to my attention: “Now that you can no longer use PCNB to control your snow mold, you need to get your fungicide application on earlier so the systemic fungicide can get into the plant while it is still actively growing”. WRONG

1. If the tissue on the plant is green, it will take up the systemic fungicide and translocate it either upward (acropetal) or both upward and downward (basipetal) in the turfgrass plant.

2. Only a small portion of most systemic fungicides actually enter the plant; the rest remains on the surface of the leaves. Systemic fungicides on the surface of the leaves will kill fungi that come in contact with them just like contact fungicides. Surprise!

3. If you put the systemic fungicide in combination with a contact fungicide on early and you continue to mow, you will mow off the contact fungicide.

4. If you continue to mow for a 2 to 3 week period after you have applied the systemic fungicide not only will you have mowed off the contact fungicide, but you will have mowed the systemic fungicide off of the surface of the leaves it was applied to, and the portion that is in the plant will have dissipated.

5. In our field trials, we have always applied both our systemic and contact fungicide treatments late in the season after the turf grass plant has stopped growing, and we’ve had great success in the control of snow mold with effective products.

The time to apply your last fungicide application for the winter control of snow mold is after you make the last mowing.

Grau materials find a home at Michigan State turf library

Wed, 03 Nov 2010 00:00:01 GMT

The Turfgrass Information Center is pleased to announce the arrival at MSU of materials donated by the family of the late Dr. Fred V. Grau. This is a major donation relating to one of the pioneers of the turfgrass industry, and contains important and unique history.

Please read our Blog post about this event, at http://tic.msu.edu/blog.html#2010-10-22, with a link there also to a formal Press Release version of this content. Please feel free to distribute this announcement further, or use the Press Release in any of your publications.

Let us know please if you have any further questions about this new arrival!

--------------------------------------------

Turfgrass Information Center
Michigan State University Libraries
100 Library
East Lansing, MI 48824-1048
USA
Voice: 517.353.7209
Fax: 517.353.1975
Email: tgif@msu.edu
Website: http://tic.msu.edu

Support thos who support us!

Wed, 03 Nov 2010 00:00:01 GMT

In these tough economic times please remember that these companies have supported your association with close to $100,000 in 2010. These funds help to keep your annual dues one of the lowest in the United States, helps us produce the quarterly magazine Course Conditions, and keeps our web-site at the forefront of our industry. In a time when your purchasing dollars are in high demand, please try to consider supporting these Industry Partners that have supported all of us through a challenging year in the golf business.

Bruce H. Matthews, Father of MiGCSA Board Member Gregg Matthews

Wed, 03 Nov 2010 00:00:01 GMT

TICONDEROGA — Bruce H. Matthews, 76, passed on to a more peaceful place on Friday, Oct. 22, 2010, in Ticonderoga, N.Y.

Born on Nov. 20, 1933, in Staten Island, N.Y., he was the son of the late Annette and Herbert Matthews.

Bruce's early education was on Staten Island after which he joined the U.S. Air Force. He was trained and flew as a radio operator, having made many flights during the Korean War.

Following his four-year service to his country, Bruce attended radio broadcasting school in New York City. He began his broadcasting career in St. Albans, Vt. and his last employment lasted more than 30 years as the morning man on WWSC-AM in Glens Falls where he had an extensive following.

He made countless friends over the years. Bruce was a longtime member of the Queensbury Elks Club and the American Legion in South Glens Falls.

Survivors include his four children, Scott Matthews and his wife, Nancy O'Brien, of South Glens Falls, Leigh Anne Dorman and her husband, Glenn, of Glens Falls, Gregg Matthews and his wife, Lindsay, of White Lake, Mich., and Michael McIntire and his wife, Susan, of Newburyport, Mass. He is also survived by 6 grandchildren; Lyndsey and Lily Healy, Reid and Sorell McIntire, Reece Matthews and Gregory Wichser.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Wilcox and Regan Funeral Home in Ticonderoga, N.Y.

There will be no calling hours.

Burial will be private and at the convenience of the family.

Tavis Horton to step down from board service

Wed, 03 Nov 2010 00:00:01 GMT

After a great run as the first Assistant Superintendent elected to the MiGCSA Board of Directors (and possibly the first to serve in this capacity in the nation) Tavis Horton has decided to step down. The decision will enable Tavis to focus more of his time and energy on his new business and still allow time to spend with his wife and two daughters. Tavis has served on the “Big Event” committee for the past 15 years and it is our hope that he continues to help make it such a great event and positive fund-raising effort for the MiGCSA Foundation. Tavis’s dedication to the membership and specifically the assistant superintendents in Michigan was exemplary. We are currently looking for the right candidate to fill the vacant position on the board of directors.

Ron M. Dahlin, CGCS
MiGCSA President

Spartans in World Series

Tue, 02 Nov 2010 00:00:01 GMT

EAST LANSING, Mich.: Michigan State University has made it to the World Series.

OK, obviously MSU’s baseball team didn’t make it, the San Francisco Giants and the Texas Rangers did. But three alumni and one current student in the sports and commercial turfgrass program will be there for the best-of-seven-games series.

Greg Elliott is head groundskeeper for the Giants’ AT&T Park. He graduated in 2002. He’ll be working alongside another MSU graduate, Jared Knoodle, who is a grounds crew member.

For the Texas Rangers, MSU has Stephen Lords, who is a member of the grounds crew at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Texas. He is paired up with an MSU student, Dan Jennings. Jennings, a Grand Rapids native, will travel to Texas Thursday to help prepare for the third game of the series scheduled for Oct. 30.

That’s what happens when there are dozens of graduates from MSU’s sports and commercial turfgrass programs who have worked on professional baseball fields, said David Gilstrap, program coordinator.

“While we've had Spartans working for World Series teams before, it's quite remarkable to have so many having such huge responsibility for this year’s series,” Gilstrap said. “Both of the World Series venues will be groomed by crews laden with Spartans.”

Gilstrap noted that this is the first time that MSU has had graduates on both World Series teams.

“It’s a lifelong goal to be here,” Elliott said, “And it’s really pretty special.”

This is Elliott’s third season as head groundskeeper for the Giants. He was the four-time South Atlantic League Groundskeeper of the Year for his maintenance of Classic Park, home of the Lake County Captains in Eastlake, Ohio.

The award-winning groundkeeper doesn’t let the pressure of the World Series get to him.

“We never let the field get away from Opening Day condition,” Elliott said. “Our goal, as any grounds crew’s goal, is to continually improve people’s athletic experience, regardless of whether it’s the municipal park or the professionals. We’re all keeping the best interest of the teams who play on the field at heart.”

This isn’t the first time there have been connections between big athletic events and MSU. MSU faculty and students have worked on several Olympic facilities including the Bejing and Athens Olympics in 2008 and 2004, respectively. In addition, the MSU sports and commercial turfgrass faculty created the world’s first indoor portable athletic field for the 1994 World Cup in the Pontiac Silverdome.

“Michigan State is certainly the cradle of baseball groundskeepers,” Gilstrap said, “Starting with Heather Nabozny, head groundskeeper for the Detroit Tigers, and the first female head groundskeeper in the major leagues, dozens of MSU grads have worked on professional baseball fields.”

Gilstrap, who grew up in Arlington and worked the 1974 season in concessions, in the since-demolished Arlington Stadium, has waited a long time to see his team return to the World Series.

But, in this instance, he’s betting the safe way: “Either way, Spartans win.”

Proceeds to benefit MTF Founders Society

Mon, 01 Nov 2010 00:00:01 GMT

Donations of goods and services for the 2011 MTF Silent Auction are currently being solicited. Rounds of golf, sports memorabilia, soft & hard goods, and turf services are popular items. Be creative with your donation! Contact Kathy Antaya at kantaya@msn.com or 616-450-1884, or MTF at miturgrass@gmail.com or 517-392-5003, to make a donation today!

Donation forms can also be completed online by clicking HERE

There Is No Time Like The Present

Mon, 25 Oct 2010 00:00:01 GMT

By Bob Vavrek, senior agronomist, North Central Region
October 21, 2010

Topdressing and core cultivation were neglected, and an undesirable layer of thatch developed in the upper root zone of this green. Thatchy greens remain soft and spongy for long periods of time after irrigation or rainfall, and golfers will notice deep, pitted ball marks. To make matters worse, soft, wet greens are highly susceptible to a myriad of agronomic problems, such as scalping, wet wilt and Poa annua encroachment.

Countless courses have put cultivation and topdressing programs for greens on the back burner during the past few years. No time, no labor, no money, inadequate equipment, surface disruption and golfer dissatisfaction are just some of the reasons used to justify the failure to core and sand greens at appropriate intervals. As reasons go, they aren’t all that bad, considering the sluggish golf economy.

What is bad is the dense layer of spongy organic matter accumulation that quickly developed when these basic maintenance practices were neglected. Up until this year, the past several summers have been very mild. Thatchy greens usually perform quite well as long as the weather cooperates. But, as mentioned in a recent North-Central update, the weather this summer was exceptionally stressful, and numerous courses had to “pay the piper” with respect to severe turf losses on thatchy greens caused by heat stress, root decline, disease activity and wet wilt.

Superintendents are making firm resolutions to address their thatch problems on greens, vowing to aggressively topdress and cultivate greens next season; but why wait when there is still a great opportunity to jump-start a thatch management program this fall? Simply employ the tried and true practice of topdressing the greens with a moderately heavy layer of sand after putting surfaces are treated with fungicides for snow mold.

Late fall topdressing is the poor man’s cover that provides turf fairly good protection from wind desiccation. The often-overlooked benefit of sanding greens before winter is thatch management. Root growth on greens will continue through fall and into winter until the ground freezes. The sand that buffers turf from the damaging effects of winter wind also will help dilute the late fall/early spring organic matter that is recycled into the greens. In effect, pre-winter topdressing provides an effective bridge between the last coring or topdressing operation of fall, and the initial coring or topdressing operation of the following spring.

Just how much sand to apply before winter will vary from course to course. Greens maintained at higher heights of cut can accommodate more sand than greens at short heights of cut. When in doubt, it makes more sense to err on the light side of late fall topdressing. A few courses new to this practice made the mistake of burying the greens in sand to the point where the green was white. Rain and melting snow shifted the sand during the winter, which smothered the localized areas of the putting surface. Even when injury does not occur, a green buried in topdressing will need to have a considerable amount of sand removed from the turf prior to the first mowing operation, or those reels that were meticulously ground and sharpened over the winter will be trashed within a few hours of use.

On the other hand, applying a few walk-behind spinner spreader loads of sand to a green in November won’t provide much benefit other than a little exercise for the crew. The right amount of sand is somewhere between standard, light midsummer topdressing, and the heavy load of sand applied to greens to fill holes after core cultivation. You should always be able to see green blades of grass sticking up through the sand.

Once you make the commitment to more coring and topdressing, there is no time like the present to get started; so, give late fall topdressing a try if excess thatch accumulation has become a problem.

Source: Bob Vavrek, rvavrek@usga.org or 262-797-8743.

GCSAA awards Scotts Co. scholarships to MSU students

Tue, 12 Oct 2010 00:00:01 GMT

The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) has awarded its 2010 Scotts Co. Scholars Program grants to Michigan State University students Eloy González and Clinton Steketee.

To be eligible, applicants must be seeking a career in the golf course industry and be a college freshman, sophomore, junior or a graduating high school senior who has been accepted at an accredited university, college, or junior college for the next academic year. The program is funded by The Environmental Institute for Golf (EIFG) and supported by the Scotts Co.

"This scholarship program is intended to increase the diversity of our industry," GCSAA President James R. Fitzroy, CGCS, said. "With the support of the EIFG and the Scotts Co., GCSAA is able to provide financial assistance for the undergraduate education of future golf course superintendents."

González, who is from San Jose del Valle, Cadiz, Spain, and Steketee, who is from Caledonia, Mich., each receive $2,500 stipends. They also will each receive an all-expense-paid trip to the 2011 GCSAA Education Conference (Feb. 7-11) and Golf Industry Show (Feb. 9-10) in Orlando. The primary goal of the program is to seek out promising students entering the golf course industry from diverse ethnic, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, including women and minorities.

With nearly $3 billion in worldwide sales and more than 8,000 associates, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, The Scotts Company LLC, is the world's largest marketer of branded consumer products for lawn and garden care, with products for professional horticulture as well. In the U.S., the Company's Scotts, Miracle-Gro, and Ortho brands are market-leading in their categories, as is the consumer Roundup brand, which is marketed in North America and most of Europe exclusively by Scotts and owned by Monsanto. For additional information, visit www.scotts.com.

The Environmental Institute for Golf, the philanthropic organization of GCSAA, is a collaborative effort of the environmental and golf communities, dedicated to strengthening the compatibility of golf with the natural environment. The EIFG concentrates on delivering programs and services involving research, education and outreach that communicate the best management practices of environmental stewardship on the golf course. Backed by the organizations of Golf 20/20 and the World Golf Foundation, the EIFG is leading the golf course industry's commitment to continual improvement through its initiative "Golf's Drive Toward Sustainability." For more on the EIFG, visit www.eifg.org.

From One Challenge To Another

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 00:00:01 GMT

By R.A. (Bob) Brame, Director, North Central Region
October 1, 2010

The harsh temperatures of the 2010 season have faded into a fairly normal fall pattern --- normal temperatures, that is. But rainfall continues to be deficient for a good portion of the lower North Central Region. Moderate to severe drought conditions exist over a large portion of the region. Although dry conditions makes it easy to complete course projects, it’s difficult to restore good turf density in areas outside of sprinkler coverage. Trying to time seeding in front of a rainfall is the common default, but when the rainfall is lacking, so are the results. Cooling soil temperatures will likely add to the mix and require additional seeding in the spring, at least for some. Review these related articles;

http://www.agry.purdue.edu/turf/tips/2010/09232010_droughtheat.html,
http://www.agry.purdue.edu/turf/tips/2010/09292010_drought.html.

Golf courses that avoided core aeration during the last few years did not come through the 2010 season as well as those that stayed the course. This underlines the importance of aerating, even if the work has to be pushed later into the fall. At that time, it makes it slower for the holes to grow in, but it still allows the upper profile to be modified if plugs are removed and channels are completely backfilled with sand topdressing. The bottom line --- don’t make a mistake and skip fall coring. Do the needed work, even if it is later than ideal. Check the following link;

http://buckeyeturf.osu.edu/component/option,com_turfnotes/Itemid,84/noteid,2490.

There has been a scattering of grub-related damage on courses over the last few weeks. In some cases it occurred outside of treated areas; alternatively, the preventative treatments were applied too early. Either way, investing in rescue applications to knock out the grubs before they begin to move deeper in the soils will enhance control next season. The clock is ticking, so treatment should be done immediately. Be sure the insecticide is watered-in well, which means utilizing the irrigation system rather than relying on rainfall.

Preparing for next year’s battle is well underway and should not be shortchanged. In other words, good practices applied from late summer through the fall will pay dividends next spring. Winter will bring some needed rest, but we’re not quite there. If there are questions or concerns at your course, give us a call. Fall visits offer a great opportunity to evaluate what worked and what may need to be adjusted.

Source: Bob Brame, bobbrame@usga.org or 859-356-3272

2010 GCSAA Delegates Announcement

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 00:00:01 GMT

2010 Delegate Gregg Matthews

The GCSAA Delegates meeting is a few short weeks away and the person who will represent the MiGCSA for 2010 is our board member Mr. Gregg Matthews of Lakelands Golf and Country Club. To paraphrase Mr. Jim Fitzroy, GCSAA President, the meetings are not about only those that are chosen to gather but rather the meetings are about the messages, opinions, desires, direction, etc., they receive from you the member. After all, one of the duties of the delegate is to represent their chapter and serve as a conduit to the association's leadership.

Discussions will center on topics such as a scheduled $20 increase in dues for Class A and SM members and a $10 increase for class C members, how Chapters are working to share resources, an introduction to the men who vying to be the next in line to govern the national organization. The 2 days that Gregg will spend working for us will be totally dedicated to the business of the association and will leave no time for him to think of anything else.

There are many things that will be discussed and decided upon in Kansas and your voice can be a part in the decisions that are made the 23rd and 24th of October. So now is the time to bring forward any concerns, desires, comments or words of encouragement or praise for those that have chosen to lead you and this organization. Please send your thoughts to info@MiGCSA.org and Gregg will make sure that your chapter is a strong voice in all of the discussions.

Michigan may join other Great Lakes states in restricting phosphorus fertilizer

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 00:00:01 GMT

Click Here for HOUSE BILL NO. 5368

Will bags of lawn fertilizer containing phosphorus become a hot commodity on the black market?

It is not an issue on most people's radar, but a bill working its way through the state Legislature could change how Michigan residents care for their lawns.

The state House passed a bill (HB 5368) to prohibit the use of fertilizer containing phosphorus unless its use is shown necessary through use of a soil test. Last week, the measure was referred to the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs.

"We've worked on it for many years,'' said Rachel Hood, executive director of West Michigan Environmental Action Council. "It makes environmentally safe fertilizing a little easier; you don't have to discern between products on the shelves.''

If passed by the Senate, Michigan would join other Great Lakes states including Minnesota, Wisconsin, New York and Illinois in restricting phosphorus fertilizer in some applications. Similar bans are under consideration in three other states.

Unless fertilizer and lawn-care industries mount an offensive, the ban is expected to win approval. Some area counties -- including Ottawa, Allegan, Muskegon and Van Buren -- already have phosphorus restrictions.

"I think it is part of a larger, positive trend with people choosing not to invest time and money into lawns, instead using groundcovers and perennial gardens,'' Hood said. "It ultimately reduces our expenses in many ways.''

Most packaged fertilizers contain three key ingredients - nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, which are listed in a familiar N-P-K ratio. Phosphorus is represented by the middle number, so a bag of fertilizer labeled 11-22-10 contains 22 percent phosphorus.

The bill's primary objective is to reduce phosphorus entering watersheds and settling in streams and lakes. Phosphorus promotes the growth of weeds and algae, leading to oxygen-starved "dead zones" where fish and other aquatic creatures cannot survive.

Some algae blooms have led to large fish kills in West Michigan. One environmental group issued a report saying a single pound of phosphorus can stimulate growth of up to 500 pounds of algae.

John Legge, conservation director of The Nature Conservancy of West Michigan, says the statewide ban will ultimately benefit Michigan residents, especially those who spend time on inland lakes.

"These benefits people will see - benefits in water clarity and water quality,'' Legge said. "Doing it in ways that are simple and not economically harmful; we're talking about low-hanging fruit here.''

Michigan earlier this year became one of 16 states to ban phosphates in dishwashing detergents. Bans on phosphate-heavy laundry detergents have been in place nearly 20 years.

The groundswell has encouraged greater reliance on organic versions of phosphorus, such as bone meal, blood meal, seaweed extract and sulfate of potash. Because the soil's microorganisms must first digest the organic nutrients to make them useful to the lawn, it takes longer to see that dark greening effect homeowners covet.

When properly applied, fertilizer containing phosphorus plays an important role in promoting healthy root growth, said Rick Vuyst, president and CEO of Fruit Basket Flowerland.

"People who apply fertilizers containing phosphorus responsibly, it shouldn't be an issue,'' Vuyst said. "You don't want to broadcast fertilizer on frozen ground or compacted soil, and certainly don't let it get on the pavement.''

Unfortunately, many people do not follow this common-sense approach, proponents of the ban suggest.

East Grand Rapids since 1982 has restricted phosphorus use around Reeds Lake, and Cannon Township enacted similar protection of its lakes seven years ago.

Nationally, phosphorus restrictions gained traction after Minnesota in 2004 became the first state to limit its use.

Restrictions approved that same year in Wisconsin prompted a courtroom showdown, however. Opponents of local bans claimed they violated equal protection and free speech clauses of the U.S. and Wisconsin constitutions. A federal judge tossed out the lawsuit in June, 2005.

E-mail the author of this story: localnews@grpress.com