MIGCSA.org

Western Spring Management Meeting Recap

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:01 GMT

Wow, What a day!

Events Czar/MiGCSA Bouncer, John Fulling works the door

The Spring Management Meeting at Egypt Valley Country Club was too good of a deal to pass up. For those of you unable to attend, I am sorry that you had to miss this one. The education, the chance to talk with your peers, the sharing of ideas at the discussion in the afternoon, the Lasagna and those Macadamia Nut & White Chocolate cookies.....all made for a great MiGCSA day. Jeff Holmes and the entire staff at EVCC did their usual above and beyond job of taking care of all of the participants, thank you. All of this and for only $50, it doesn’t get any better than this!

We started the day with an update from John Fulling on the renewed focus that has swept the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation. The return of Gordy Lafontaine and his emphasis on fund raising is no joke as the focus is all about the “Jack”. It is nice to have Mr. Lafontaine’s smiling face and calm confidence back. Yes, he will get you to donate to your profession and you will do it willingly and with a smile on your face. Welcome back Gordie!

Chris Wilczynski of Arthur Hills/Steve Forrest & Associates

Chris Wilczynski of Arthur Hills/Steve Forrest & Associates gave a very timely talk on “The Evolution of Course Design & Master Planning into the Future”. He offered up some great information on where course design came from and, more importantly, where it is today. He tied it all in to the new equipment designs, the new inclusion of family in golf, which set of tees the normal golfer is playing despite the expanded distances we are seeing, what it means for maintenance and how this all tied into the ever present Sustainability of Golf. Chris is a wealth of information well beyond his years, if time allows you should spend some time with him and tap into that resource. His non-assuming style and grace will put you at ease as you talk and he makes you feel ok even if you are asking those tough questions.

MiGCSA President Ron Dahlin introduces Dr. Steinke

Dr. Kurt Steinke had the opportunity to share with the group some of the research that he has tackled in the past and how this has lead to his wealth of knowledge. It is nice to have him on the staff at MSU and on our team now. I know that we will continue to see more great, industry leading, research come out of our team in East Lansing with him as part of the group. I hope that every member gets the chance to learn from the research that he has already completed on buffer strips, drought tolerance, aerification, nutrients in run off water from a strong stand of turf vs. an open stand of grass and all the new projects that he already has planned for us to share in. What a strong addition for us.

Dr. Thom Nikoli and Turfgrass Potpourri

Now those of us that had a hand in setting up the day got a little concerned when Dr. Thom Nikoli wanted to talk about “Turfgrass Potpourri”. Not presenting an outlined plan on his talk made a little bead of sweat form on our foreheads as he boldly approached the podium. Well, we were summarily lead down the garden path has he presented some ideas on a research project designed to start this spring titled “Turfgrass’s Role in Changing the Urban Landscape”. In his usual Paul McCartney rock star style he continued on to tell us about his ideas on how having a maintained swath of grass in blighted areas may lead to safer, better adjusted neighbor hoods filled with saner better adjusted neighbors. It will be interesting to see how this unfolds and what we learn from it over the next 3 years. Thom held little back as he passionately talked about the fact that he is paid to teach but finds time to do some research as well. After attentively listening to him for an hour, I still don’t know what an Urban Landscape has to do with ball roll?

Mr. Joe Hancock of Hancock Golf LLC/ Devries Design

We had the pleasure to have Mr. Joe Hancock of Hancock Golf LLC/ Devries Design step up to the microphone on a very short notice. He gave a nice first time talk about the decision on “Doing a project in house or with an outside company”. Joe has had a hand in projects large and small and his shaping ability is becoming well known throughout the nation. I found it amazing that he was able to do his entire talk with out the aid of his ever present souped up and amplified iPod plugged in to his ears. Great job Joe, thanks for helping us by saying Yes to your first foray into speaking.

Mr. Tom Mead

Next, Mr. Tom Mead carried the Sustainability theme to a new level. With a lifetime of working on this and just now starting to see this become a new mantra, Tom was able to offer ideas both large and small on how to move toward a more “Sustainable Golf Course Business Model”. It is the steps that we take everyday that help us to continue our national leadership in this and Tom reminded us that not every step needs to be a giant leap. Even things as simple as turning off the light when it is not needed can start your journey toward sustainability. It was good information to get exposed to as we can expect to hear a lot more about this in the very near future from all levels in our industry.

We finished the day by gathering into smaller groups and shared ways that we are cutting costs and even some on generating revenue. It continues to amaze me how resourceful golf course superintendents are and how level headed they approach what they have been entrusted to do. I will compile all of the comments from the Spring Management Meetings and post them on the MiGCSA web-site after we finish at Tree Tops.

One year from now may seem like a lifetime to you right now, but if you missed the meeting, you missed a lot for a very economical cost. So, mark your calendars in March of 2011 to reserve yourself a spot at the table where you can learn great new ideas on how to be a better turf manager and maybe even take to opportunity to pass some of your wisdom on to others.

Greg Lyman explains the benefits of the sport of golf to personal health and the community.

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:01 GMT

Detroit Spring Management Meeting

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:01 GMT

Education Shined Bright at Oakhurst

The morning of the first 2010 MiGCSA Spring Management Meeting dawned bright. The sun shining off of the snow was an indication of how successful the day was to be. Thanks to our host Mr. Jerry McVety and the great staff at Oakhurst, Libby & Lynn (who went above and beyond) and chefs Joe and Casey, we were able to use the Great Room and also the Board Room to hear some great education and have a chance to socialize.

MiGCSA President Ron Dahlin, MTF Past President Terry Poley, and MTF Vice President John Fulling

The day kicked off with an MTF update from Terry Poley who graciously came back early from a vacation down in the land of Blue Ridges and thoughts of the moonshine era long gone (well maybe not so long gone according to Terry). We are happy to have the renewed energy and focus back at MTF with the return of Mr. Lafontaine. His guidance over the great people who do the daily operation of that association for us will lead to a new emphasis and great success. Terry also let us in on a great program to help The Hancock center with some of the every day things that we have sitting around. Take a look on the www.MiGCSA.org web-site for how you can help.

Scott Trbovich of Syngenta

Scott Trbovich of Syngenta got us all thinking about how well our sprayers can work for us if we give them a little spring tune up and think about what type of nozzles we need for the type of products we are using. The title of his talk “Spray Nozzle Tips & Tricks” fit his presentation perfectly. He brought a lot of information forward for us to think about and it was nice to see him in front of a crowd teaching at the club that he started his assistant superintendent career at.

The newest team member at Michigan State University, Dr. Kurt Steinke spent some time talking with us about some of the research that he has already completed on buffer strips, nutrient run off from solid stands of grass vs. open turf and drought tolerances of turf. He showed us that he has some great work already done that we can use today along with some great work planned for the future. It will be great to see what a new outlook can add to an Turf Team that already is industry leading.

Dr. Joe Vargas

We were able to listen to Dr. Joe Vargas share some of the wealth of information that he stores inside of him. It is truly amazing that he can continue to build on his knowledge of turf grass and how they are affected by diseases, the control of pathogens and still be able to give us a fresh perspective each time he talks.

Ms. Julie Oakes, biologist from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment

Ms. Julie Oakes the biologist from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment gave what had to be the most entertaining talk of the day and it was about geese. Just ask anyone that attended if this woman knows her stuff and you will get a resounding, Yes! This is woman who knows geese and how to handle them, even the ones that are deemed as the “Bad As_ed Geese” and she was not afraid to tell a room filled with predominately men just how it is done. She is the person who has helped to build the nest control program for South East Michigan and I wish she could spread her knowledge with everyone who has a problem with these birds.

George Zimmermann, Vice President of Travel Michigan, a business unit of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation gave a great presentation on the award winning 2009 Pure Michigan tourism campaign. The Pure Michigan tourism campaign invested $10 million to go national for the first time in 2009 and ran through June on 15 cable channels: Golf Channel, Travel Channel, A&E, Bravo, Style, Fine Living, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, E!, DIY Network, CNN, MSNBC, CNBC and Fox News. Tracking of those who were influenced by the campaign to travel and vacation in Michigan showed a return on investment of $2.25 to greater than $5.00 for some targeted regions outside of Michigan. The www.PureMichigan.org web site was the most visited state tourism web site in 2009 and has helped to solidify the campaign as a true winner. Funding was awarded by the state senate to continue the campaign in 2010 to the tune of $13 million.

The Annual Assistant Superintendent Roundtable

The superintendents were split into 3 smaller groups to facilitate discussion on ideas that they have used (or plan to use) in Cost Conservation and Revenue Generation. Discussions continued for over an hour until the groups were allowed to reconvene and share their ideas and continue the discussion. A volume of ideas were generated from the spirited discussions and a compilation of these ideas will be done when the other 2 management meetings are completed. These results will be posted on the MiGCSA web site.

Gregory Seago September 20th, 1965 - March 07th, 2010

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:01 GMT

Gregory George Seago, age 44, passed away March 7, 2010 peacefully at home in Armada after courageously battling a long illness. Born in Mt. Clemens, Greg was owner of Advanced Pest Management and a leader within Michigan’s mosquito control industry.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Tami and children Lauren, Benjamin, Joshua and Sarah, and by his beloved mother, Frances (the late David A.) Seago. Dear brother to Christopher (Cathy) Seago, Christine (Mark) Burrows and David E. Seago. Mother-in-law, Eunice Leinaar-Crawford, sister-in-law, Pam (Chuck) Mullins and brother-in-law Rick (Joann) Leinaar. Uncle and great uncle to numerous nieces and nephews. A graduate of New Haven High School and Michigan State University, Greg was an Armada enthusiast and president of the Armada Athletic Boosters Club and an avid outdoorsman and sportsman who enjoyed bicycling, hunting, fishing, boating and camping with his family. He and his family attended Harvest Fellowship Church of Romeo.

Visitation at Tiffany-Young and Hauss Funeral Home, 73919 South Fulton Street (North Ave. at 34 ½ Mile Rd.), Armada on Thursday 3:30-8p.m. and Friday 2:30-8p.m., A celebration of Greg’s life will be held Saturday 11a.m.-12p.m. at the Armada High School Auditorium, 23655 Armada Center Rd., Armada, MI 48005.

John H. Dodge 1950-2010

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:01 GMT

Government Affairs Coordinator of the Michigan Golf Course Owners Association, passed away Friday, March 5.

A “Celebration of Life” will take place at 4 p.m. March 14 at Eagle Eye Golf Club, Bath.

Arrangements by Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, East Chapel, East Lansing

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting you make a donation in John’s name to
Greater Lansing Food Bank.
P.O. Box 16224
Lansing MI 48901

Watch the beautiful video tribute to John - produced by GLSP, Art & Jennie McCafferty.

Become a Fan of the MiGCSA on Facebook!

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 00:00:01 GMT

Did you know the MiGCSA can be found on both Facebook and Twitter and we have close to 100 fans. Search for the MiGCSA on either platform and keep up to date with events, education, and all the MiGCSA has to offer. Or click HERE to become a fan on Facebook.

Feeding Their Sorrow

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:01 GMT

A special takeout menu will satisfy the appetites of hungry football fans at the Captain's Club at Woodfield's first-ever 'Souper Bowl' catering event.

by C&RB Staff (editor@clubandresortbusiness.com)
February 2010

It was another dismal season for the Detroit Lions, but that didn’t stop the F&B staff at the Captain’s Club at Woodfield, in Grand Blanc, Mich., from doing all it could to help fans in its marketing area get full enjoyment from the final football game of the season.

The club’s restaurant, Floyd’s at Woodfield (named for the property’s Ray Floyd-designed signature golf course), is normally closed on Sundays in February. But this year, for Super Bowl Sunday on February 7, Floyd’s announced its “first-ever ‘Souper Bowl’ catering event,” featuring a special takeout menu that could be accessed online (www.captainsclubatwoodfield.com) to order food for Super Bowl parties.

The menu went far beyond pretzels and goldfish, too. It included breaded chicken wings (with choice of preparation—hot and spicy, Teriyaki, or BBQ); mini-crab cakes served with a lobster cream sauce; Woodfield House Chili by the Gallon; warm spinach artichoke spread served with warm pita points; Woodfield Signature Salad with house-made balsamic vinaigrette; chilled large shrimp cocktail; assorted fresh fruit and fresh vegetable trays; assorted domestic cheese and cracker assortments; and assorted mini-croissant finger sandwiches with premium meats, cheese and garnish.

And Woodfield wasn’t just aiming to appeal to golfing foursomes or families of five who would be gathering to watch the game, either. The pull-down menu on its Website for chicken wings, for example, allowed customers to order up quantities up to 20 (it was noted at the bottom of the menu that a quantity for any item shown would feed 10-12 people). Prices were shown for each multiple quantity (20 quantities of wings X $19.50/quantity would be $409.50, for example). And if a customer still couldn’t find the quantity desired at the end of each pull-down menu, another option could be selected: “Please Call Me.”

Orders had to be placed by Tuesday, February 2nd, so they could be picked up on Sunday the 7th. Customers could also pick up menu and order forms in Floyd’s lobby and fax back or call in their orders. A 25% deposit was required at the time of order (the online form included a place to provide credit card information).

Small Wonders - Dunes Club and Signal Point Top 25 Nine Hole Courses in America

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:01 GMT

Nine-hole courses offer as much charm and challenge as 'regulation' 18s, and are usually more ecological and economical. So why do so few golfers play them?

Little package, big punch: The par-3 sixth typifies the challenge at The Dunes Club in Michigan, which has a Pine Valley feel and is viewed as America's best nine-holer.

By Ron Whitten
Photo by L.C. Lambrecht
February 8, 2010

Dr. Gary Wiren is a Ph.D., a highly regarded instructor, a champion golfer, a master professional and member of the PGA Hall of Fame. I am none of those. In fact, the only thing I have in common with Gary is that we both learned golf as youngsters on a hardscrabble nine-hole course in Omaha, par-33 Spring Lake Park, where the last hole, a 100-yard par 3, played over a busy city street, and the meanest hazard was a snarling German shepherd just beyond a flimsy chicken-wire fence behind the second green.

Amazingly, Spring Lake Park still exists. Both Gary and I have made separate pilgrimages to it in recent years, and we're both delighted that little has changed. Oh, there's a new clubhouse and cart paths. The tee boxes are now grass, not dirt. The dog is long gone, but the ninth is still a pitch shot over 16th Street.

Spring Lake Park is why I have such an affection for nine-holers. They are the bedrock upon which golf was built in this country. The first courses were nine holes. The first U.S. Opens were played on them. Legends such as Arnold Palmer and Pete Dye grew up on them.

Nine-hole courses represent fundamentals, with few frills and almost no pretenses. They're usually extremely affordable, frugal in their chemical use and can be played in less than two hours.

Architecturally, nine-hole courses are our great-granddaddies, but most golfers treat them like red-headed step-granddaddies because most don't consider nine holes to be real golf. If statistics mean anything, they're probably justified in that assumption. For more than two generations now, nine-hole courses have comprised just 29 percent of all layouts in America, not enough clout to be considered even a special interest. They're merely a fringe element, a cult.

So be it. But it's a cult worth exploring. Allow me to provide some reasons why.

Some Nine-Hole Courses Are Genuine Tests
The good news is, there are no 4,000-yard nine-hole courses. Because they're invariably built on compact parcels of land, nine-hole courses tend to be more about accuracy and finesse than brute strength. But, as with Chihuahuas and Yorkshire terriers, some of those little things have bite.

None more than The Dunes Club in New Buffalo, Mich. A half-dozen years before he established Bandon Dunes in Oregon, recycled-products impresario Mike Keiser created this delightful and devious nine on 68 acres of densely wooded sand dunes off Lake Michigan, just north of the Indiana border. Utilizing the services of architects Dick and Tim Nugent of Chicago as well as mixing in his own armchair-architect ideas, Keiser produced the Pine Valley of nine-hole courses, with vast expanses of exposed sand edging fairways that pitch and roll as if in a storm off the lake, and smallish greens tucked atop sand spits and behind leafy trees. What isn't sand or tightly mown turf is knee-high native grass.

Back in a 2000 Golf Digest feature, Dan Jenkins chose the 513-yard eighth hole as one of his Best 18 Holes in America -- The New Generation, and nearly every commentator on course design ranks the 3,478-yard par-36 Dunes as the country's best nine-hole course. It's private and perfect, with a clubhouse about the size of a detached garage. That's all a nine-hole course needs.

Due east of The Dunes is Signal Point Club in Niles, Mich., just north of South Bend, Ind., a 1964 private club that is perhaps the most imaginative ever from architect Robert Bruce Harris. Strung along a skinny corridor on the west side of the St. Joseph River, Signal Point is tight and tree-lined, with big oval bunkers well removed from enormous putting surfaces, deliberately oversized to accommodate two separate flags, white and red, corresponding to tee markers of the same color. Golfers play white-to-white the first time around, 3,044 yards par 36, then red-to-red at 3,181 yards par 36, for the second nine. So each hole has two personalities. The opener may be only 324 yards, but the second time it's 408, maybe longer if the red flag is tucked back behind a bunker. Conversely, the par-5 second measures 540 yards, but when it's the 11th, it's 475. The craziest hole is the seventh, a zigzag double dogleg through hardwoods and pines, the only par 5 around that measures just 435 yards (489 when played as the 16th) and yet is still a true three-shot hole.

They call Signal Point "Little Point O'Woods," a nod to former Western Amateur venue and Golf Digest 100 Greatest member Point O' Woods just up the road in Benton Harbor, and it certainly resembles it in look and challenge. Back in 1967, when Golf Digest ranked America's 200 Toughest Courses, Signal Point was one of six Michigan courses listed, along with The Point, Oakland Hills, CC of Detroit, University of Michigan and Warwick Hills. Alas, the editors apparently decided there was a mutt amongst those big dogs, and Signal Point was dropped in 1969. No nine-hole course has been ranked by Golf Digest since.

As versatile as Signal Point is, it has nothing on Double Eagle GC in Eagle Bend, Minn., where in 1983 former tour pro-turned-architect Joel Goldstrand created his first of several nine-hole reversible layouts. With nine fairways and 10 greens on 80 acres, Goldstrand provided 18 holes for an owner who couldn't afford the upkeep of 18 and did it with bunkers that play both ways and no awkward doglegs or blind shots. It's not a particularly original idea. The Old Course at St. Andrews is the template for all reversible layouts, and William S. Flynn built one on the Rockefeller estate, Pocantico Hills, in Tarrytown, N.Y., in the 1930s. But unlike St. Andrews, which plays its clockwise routing but once a year, Double Eagle switches every day. On odd days it's the 3,337-yard par-36 Green Course, while on even days it's the 3,536-yard par-37 Gold Course.

Other stern nine-hole tests include Doral Arrowwood GC in Purchase, N.Y., a Robert von Hagge resort design that has been dubbed the "Little Blue Monster." It has humps and bumps everywhere, along with splashy bunkers and ponds on seven holes. It was built in the early 1990s on the site of the old 18-hole par-3 Green Valley Golf Center, and pity the poor hacker who strolled up at the grand reopening expecting his pitch-and-putt.

There's also the private Links at Fisher Island in the center of a 216-acre island of condominiums in Miami's Biscayne Bay. A 1990 P.B. Dye design of 3,347 yards and par 35, it's a tropical terror, with big lakes, 56 bunkers, one island green, one hidden green, imitation sand dunes dotted with coconut palms and gumbo limbos, constant wind and live flamingoes.

Include Falcon Valley GC in Lenexa, Kan., in this category. Designed by Craig Schreiner, it was originally to be 18 holes, but potential land across railroad tracks proved too inaccessible. A par 36 of 3,366 yards, it is hilly and treed on the first four holes, then open and exposed to south winds for four holes and finishes with a straightaway par 4 hugging a lake on the right. Like Doral Arrowwood and Fisher Island, Falcon Valley is that rarest of creatures, a nine-hole residential development course. Other successful nine-hole housing courses that come to mind are Bigwood in Ketcham, Idaho (just west of Sun Valley resort), and Spanish Wells on Hilton Head Island.

Some Nine-Holers Are Untouched Masterpieces
If you're interested in studying classic old architecture, the best place may be on nine-hole courses, because most of those clubs have never had enough money to screw things up with a fancy remodeling. The original designs are still there, maybe with shrunken greens and grassed-over bunkers, but they are still as originally conceived.

So if you want authentic Alister Mac-Kenzie, don't go to Augusta National, go to Northwood GC in Monte Rio, Calif., north of San Francisco. Built in 1927, it is positioned inside a bend of the Russian River, just north of the famed Bohemian Club's campground. Indeed, the course was apparently constructed specifically for members of the Bohemian Club, but it has been a public course for decades.

Northwood is only 2,893 yards par 36, but if you think you can overpower it, think twice. Most holes are lined by gigantic redwoods, providing some of the narrowest corridors in the game. You'll be playing in spots of deep shade except at high noon. (That certainly isn't a MacKenzie trademark, as he preferred wide holes with lots of options, but it's what he had to provide on that tight, forested site.)

Adding to its challenge are skinny, tumbling MacKenzie greens and re-established MacKenzie bunkering. (Cavities of other fingery bunkers are still clearly visible and will be reclaimed in years ahead.) Every hole is special, but the sunken punchbowl green on the 382-yard second shines, as do the deception bunkers well short of the green on the single-file 381-yard seventh. The best holes may be the short par 4s: the 293-yard dogleg-left first, where a long straight drive will leave you blocked by trees, and the relatively wide 280-yard sixth, with bunkers scattered willy-nilly.

Tiny touches: (Top) A nine-hole links is the center of attention at Florida's Fisher Island. (Photo by Stephen Szurlej). The par-3 eighth hole at Signal Point in Michigan is the Slim Shady of golf. (Photo courtesy of Signal Point).

An early inkling of Robert Trent Jones' imagination can be found at Pottawatomie GC, a nine-hole muny in St. Charles, Ill. This was a WPA project completed in 1939 and features Trent's first island green, on a real island in the Fox River. It is at No. 3, a 345-yard, sharp dogleg-left par 4 that requires a drive of only 200 yards to reach the turn. From there it's a short iron over a river channel to the big well-bunkered green. It looks simple, but it is not. A row of trees prevents gamblers from firing at the green from the tee, overhanging trees can complicate the aerial approach, and there is a little pond within the island just right of the green that is hardly noticeable until you have drifted into it.

The island looks natural, but I am told that Trent actually built much of it using soil excavated just north of the course. The 154-yard fourth hole is also self-contained on the island, and if anything, the shot into that green is far more intimidating, with the long expanse of river just beyond the back fringe. A recent Greg Martin renovation has returned the flair of Trent's bunkering and re-established the corner lobes of his sweeping greens, making Pottawatomie a little vest-pocket delight.

Another early Trent Jones design is Quaker Hill CC in Pawling, N.Y., near Poughkeepsie. Built for a group headed by legendary radio (and later television) broadcast journalist Lowell Thomas, the 3,046-yard par-35 private club opened in 1942. Inside the clubhouse, a converted barn, is a history wall, 30 feet high and 20 feet long, embedded with artifacts Thomas collected from his travels, including an ancient rock unearthed in Mesopotamia and a chunk removed during the construction of the Empire State Building. Also on display are all nine Trent Jones sketches of his proposed greens, and every green still exists almost exactly as he first envisioned them.

Plymouth (N.C.) CC sports an untouched William S. Flynn design that opened in 1937. It was constructed for Flynn by a young Dick Wilson, who later became Trent Jones' chief rival in the golf design business, producing such dramatic courses as Doral, Bay Hill and La Costa. (Wilson's nine-hole masterpiece is Sunnylands, on the Walter Annenberg estate in Rancho Mirage, Calif.) What's more, the first pro at Plymouth was Ellis Maples, who also later became a golf architect, one of the most prolific in the Carolinas.

Near Boston, where the great Donald Ross started his design career after arriving from Scotland, is a little private Ross gem called Whitinsville CC. Started as a company course for Whitin Machine Works in 1925, it quickly gained national fame when its ninth hole was featured in George C. Thomas Jr.'s 1927 seminal treatise Golf Architecture in America. The 446-yard ninth, with its tee shot across the corner of a river basin to a roller-coaster fairway and approach over another valley to a hilltop green, is still considered one of the greatest par 4s in the land.

Golf architect Brian Silva, who lived next to the course for years before marriage and success transplanted him to a summer home in New Hampshire and a winter one on Florida's Amelia Island, has long proclaimed Whitinsville to be the most genuine Ross design in existence. He points out the prototypical Ross pedestal greens and grass-faced bunkers, including old-fashioned carry bunkers on the 438-yard fifth. At 3,282 yards and par 35, even the length remains unchanged.

I recently examined the plans for Whitinsville at the Tufts Archives in Given Memorial Library in Pinehurst, N.C., the largest repository of Ross memorabilia. Indeed, the holes today exist just as they were on the plans, which were drawn up by Walter B. Hatch, a chief Ross design associate. There's a notation on the cover sheet to the plans: "Hope Mr. Ross will be able to look these over before you start them," followed by Hatch's initials. Several hole diagrams bear the notation, "OK. DJR." So Ross did review Hatch's drawings. But it raises some questions: Did Ross ever see the site? Did Hatch draft what Ross had designed, or did Hatch design the holes and Ross simply edit them?

It doesn't really matter. Whitinsville is clearly classic Donald Ross architecture. The man mass-produced terrific courses, juggling 20 or more projects at once, and in an era when cross-country travel was strictly by train, he relied upon legions of lieutenants to carry out his intent. The glory of it is that his standard product, even at nine holes, was so superior. Other well-preserved nine-hole Ross layouts in Massachusetts include North Andover, Tatnuck in Worcester and Cohasse in Southbridge. In most other states, his nine-hole jobs have since been expanded to 18.

Nine-Hole Courses Are Glimpses Into The Past
A lot of nine-hole courses are steps back in time. Whether it's the metal coil starting system at City Park GC in Baton Rouge, La. (drop your ball atop the spiral of others and when it reaches the bottom, retrieve it and head to the tee) or the low-tech sand greens of the Midwest ("Down 'n' Dirty," Golf World, Oct. 8, 2004), there are aspects of nine-hole courses that remind us that the game is about more than just money.

An article in the October 13, 1948, issue of Golf World talked about long-abandoned Oakhurst GC in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va., claimed by many to be the first organized golf club in America, dating from 1884. The club had disbanded by 1904, and its nine-hole course, with crisscrossing fairways, went to seed. Illustrating the article was a photo of soon-to-be Masters champion Sam Snead, swinging in a pasture that had been an Oakhurst fairway half a century earlier.

A dozen years after the article, Snead convinced a golf buddy, Lewis Keller, to buy the land for breeding thoroughbred horses, Thirty-four years after that, the ageless Snead was hitting the ceremonial first shots at the grand reopening of Oakhurst Links.

Encouraged by golf writer Dick Taylor and golf architect Bob Cupp, Keller revived the ancient course in the early 1990s after quitting the horse business. Cupp says the project was as much archeology as architecture, taking just eight days of probing and mowing to rediscover the somewhat mountainous routing after 80 years of hibernation. Old newspaper reports and photos helped determine the fairways and greens. Gentle depressions proved to be old sand bunkers.

"It goes back to a peaceful time when the size of the game was comprehensible and nature had a lot to say about conditions," Cupp said when Oakhurst was unveiled to the public in 1994. Snead may not have agreed. On the opening day, he started on the par-3 third, using a hickory-shafted club and gutta percha ball specially built by club designer Karsten Solheim. Snead swung and both the gutty and clubhead went flying.

"Did either of them get on the green?" Snead asked dryly. He found the ball and got it up and down for his 3.

Oakhurst is certainly an acquired taste. Its postage-stamp greens are slow and grainy and stymies (where you leave your ball blocking your opponent's path to the hole instead of courteously marking it) are still allowed. Its fairways are fescue and clover clipped by a dozen sheep, and golfers are allowed free drops from sheep droppings. The course, just 2,235 yards par 37 (with the longest hole just 318 yards), is played with reproduction hickory-shafted clubs and gutta percha balls available from the pro shop. A booming drive goes 150 yards.

Where Oakhurst is a relatively accurate reproduction, Wawashkamo GC on Michigan's Mackinac Island is the real deal. It dates from 1898 and is the oldest continuously played course in the state. It's flat and dry with cross hazards, tall fescue roughs and tiny greens edged by "chocolate drops" and other sorts of mounds. (The circus ring around the par-4 third green has to be seen to be believed.) At just 2,999 yards par 36, it's also meant to be played with hickory-shafted clubs and gutta percha balls available on site. Irrigated only by rain, it is maintained almost organically, and a lot of the mowing is done by horse-drawn equipment.
Another turn-of-the-past-century delight is Marion GC on the southern coast of Massachusetts, west of Cape Cod. It was the first design of George C. Thomas Jr., who would later move to California and give us Los Angeles CC, Riviera and Bel-Air. Compared to those, Marion is primitive, reflective of the steeplechase style of golf prevalent in 1906. Holes intersect with old boundary-marker stone walls, walls so numerous that the land must have been shared by several landholders. Some walls have been covered with earth, up to five feet high on the 175-yard third, where a narrow slot provides both a view of the green and a walkway to it. A rock wall on the 115-yard ninth is the leading edge of a high, flashed-sand bunker, with the green hiding behind it. Try designing that in this age of litigation. (Marion's scorecard, by the way, reads, "Play at Own Risk!") A half dozen years ago I wrote, "Marion is not Merion. The grass is a mish-mash of turf and weeds. Some fairways are spongy. The greens putt slow. And I highly recommend it." I still do, just for the sheer novelty of it.

Would you prefer a taste of the Roaring Twenties? According to its scorecard, Granada GC in Coral Gables (built in 1925 by Bill Langford) is the oldest operating nine-hole course in Florida. Its dead-flat fairways are common Bermuda grass and not much wider than the boulevards edging every hole. There are a few angular mounds (remnants of huge cop bunkers), a few big umbrella-like banyans, and an obligatory pink stucco clubhouse. Play it, and you expect to see flappers cruising by in big Packards with bubble-shaped fenders, their horns going "aoogha-aoogha."

Over in San Francisco, its classic 1920s layouts -- Olympic, Harding Park and California GC of S.F. -- have all drastically thinned out the dense cypress trees that once turned fairways into hallways. So to gain any sense of the claustrophobia that honed the talents of greats such as Ken Venturi and Johnny Miller, the only option these days is to play Gleneagles GC at McLaren Park. OK, this nine-holer of 3,006 yards par 36, wasn't built until 1962, but it was designed in an old-fashioned style by Jack Fleming, who back in the '20s built courses for Alister MacKenzie and later oversaw Frisco's public golf operation. With wall-to-wall tree limbs, side-slope fairways, soggy greens and the damndest sharp dogleg left at the 320 mark on the 577-yard sixth, Gleneagles is, yes, a San Francisco treat. If this were in just a little better part of town, it would be a tourist attraction, even at nine holes.

Sad to say, the Great Depression still exists at Chicago's Sydney R. Marovitz GC, hard against Lake Michigan in Lincoln Park just north of the Loop. A 1932 Ed Dearie design (originally called Waveland), it's a solid nine of 3,240 yards par 36 with elevated greens guarded by deep, flat-bottomed bunkers whose true dimensions aren't clear until you walk up to them. Every hole runs more or less north or south and is harassed by constant lakefront winds. There's even a pond in play. It's the grand old clubhouse behind the ninth green that's the relic of Hard Times. After a recent round there, I asked in the pro shop for directions to the men's room and was sent around the corner into the mammoth old locker room. On each door of at least 15 toilet stalls hung clothing, and standing before a wash basin was an older man, buck naked, washing clothes in the sink. Turns out he's one of several homeless men who frequent the clubhouse. "We can't stop them," the pro told me. "All we ask is that they don't bother the customers."

Not every bone-dry throwback nine-hole course is charming. Highland GL atop a bluff overlooking the Atlantic on the hook of Cape Cod, may sport Scotch broom, a ninth hole painted by artist Donald Moss back in the 1970s and a lighthouse that dates from the 18th century, but frankly it's a pretty ordinary design, spiced up considerably by its ocean views.

Even worse is Great Dunes GC in Jekyll Island, Ga., a disappointment for anyone who's seen old photos of the original course, an 18-hole millionaires' hideaway called Jekyll Island GC. In the early 1900s, it was perhaps the first true links in America, with rollicking fairways and saddle greens amidst raw, breathtaking sand dunes, separated from the Atlantic and its breezes by only a ridgeline. Most of that is gone now, the oceanfront holes replaced by a highway, the remainder abandoned for years before being reclaimed from weeds by the state government in the 1950s. Most of the duneslike topography seems pushed away by road graders, leaving only hints of linksland. It has ridiculously small oval greens where winds (and existing green pads) dictate large ones, a few tiny oval bunkers and a curious lagoon short of the second green. It is overhyped, from its misleading new name to the insistence that it represents the architecture of Walter Travis when no evidence of such architecture exists. Great Dunes is what gives nine-hole courses a bad reputation.

Most Nine-Hole Courses Need The Business
In lauding the virtues of little Phoenixville (Pa.) CC (a nine-holer by Hugh Wilson, who also authored Merion), golf writer Michael Bamberger recently posed, "Maybe the future of golf, in these crowded times, is its past."

We can hope so. Most nine-hole clubs are older, have little debt service and thus are less likely to be foreclosed. But they also have far few members. (Part of the reason why you hardly ever need a tee time to play a nine-hole course, and can zip around it in record time, is that few golfers play nine-hole courses anymore.)

So even a low-budget nine-hole club can fail. Midway GC, a nine-hole sand- greens layout near Inman, Kan., gained national exposure as the subject of a chapter in Anthony Pioppi's fine 2006 book To The Nines, just about the only book devoted to nine-hole courses. But the club lost so many members (who doubled as volunteer maintenance workers) that it had to close at the end of 2007.

Happily, there are some new projects involving nine hole-courses. Last year, designer Garrett Gill finished the nine-hole Pheasant Links, on the site of old substandard Arrowhead GC just north of the Iowa-Minnesota border, rearranging holes and perching them above the flood zone of adjacent State Line Lake. With a lodge on site, game bird hunting is the primary theme at Pheasant Links. Even the golf carts are of camouflage color, with gun racks.

In northern New Jersey, Roger Rulewich finished the nine-hole Cascades GC for the owners of Ballyowen and Wild Turkey. In North Dakota, East Coast architects Stephen Kay and Doug Smith converted the sand greens of Kulm CC to grass ones, which they patterned (in smaller dimensions) after famous putting surfaces such as the Redan, Punchbowl and Biarritz.

And in Northern California wine country, Tom Doak (of Pacific Dunes/Cape Kidnappers fame) and his lead associate, Jim Urbina, recently completed the total refashioning of the old nondescript Aetna Springs GC (once owned by Rev. Sun Myung Moon's Unification Church), transforming it into an inspired nine that requires a full repertoire of shots, its charm vividly displayed on the 134-yard par-3 fourth, tucked above a stream bed in a seam between two oak-dotted hills. Alas, the club is on life support at the present time, a bank foreclosure and auction of the course a distinct possibility.

The future of golf may well involve talented architects producing modest, inexpensive nine-hole courses that are fun to play. But for them to survive, golfers need to accept nine holes as a legitimate round of golf.

MTF - Tee Times 4 Turf - MiGCSA Members Donate Today!

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:01 GMT

March 5, 2010

Dear Friends of MTF and MSU Turf,

The Michigan Turfgrass Foundation in cooperation with the Michigan State University Turfgrass Science Team is undertaking an effort to raise funds to support turfgrass research at MSU. We are launching a fundraising effort called TeeTimes4Turf (www.teetimes4turf.com). TeeTimes4Turf will be an online auction for golf packages at golf courses throughout Michigan and the country with all of the proceeds going to support turfgrass research at MSU. TeeTimes4Turf allows all golf facilities, public, private, and resort, to donate towards turfgrass research efforts at MSU by donating a golf package. All donations are tax deductible and eligible for recognition as a contribution to Michigan State University. We will accept round donations until April 5th. The auction will begin on April 16th and run through May 6th.

Donate a golf package by visiting www.teetimes4turf.com, click on the ‘Donate’ icon and fill in the form. All of the information is in the form and there are fields to complete if you have restrictions on time or day of play. Your efforts will help ensure the continued success of the MSU Turfgrass Science Team. On behalf of the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation and the MSU Turfgrass Science Team, thank you for your support. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us.

Sincerely,

Dan Boak	Gordon LaFontaine
MTF President	MTF Executive Director

The Turfgrass Faculty at MSU
Joe Vargas│Trey Rogers│Kevin Frank│Jim Crum│Ron Calhoun
Thom Nikolai│David Gilstrap│David Smitley│Paul Rieke
Suzanne Lang│Kurt Steinke│Yusong Mu

Deadlines approaching:GCSAA Scholarships for members’ children, turfgrass students

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:00:01 GMT

March 15: Par Aide's Joseph S. Garske Collegiate Grant Program
This program assists GCSAA members' children who are graduating high school seniors to fund education at either an accredited college or trade school.
March 31: GCSAA Student Essay Contest
Scholarships are awarded to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in turfgrass science, agronomy or other field related to golf course management.
April 15: GCSAA Legacy Awards
This program provides scholarship assistance to the children and grandchildren of GCSAA members.

MSU Correspondence, TeeTimes4Turf

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:01 GMT

Greetings from Spartan Country,

Our purpose for correspondence today is to solicit your help in our latest fund raising effort for turfgrass research, TeeTimes4Turf, (www.TeeTimes4Turf.com). This endeavor, sponsored by the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation, is an on-line auction for donated golf rounds with the majority of the donated golf stemming from either Michigan golf courses or you, our alumni. This is an idea originating and supported by the MSU turf faculty. We feel as though this is an excellent way to raise monies through the golfing sector and at the same time recognize our alumni for their efforts in soliciting contributions.

What do we want from you? Basically, golf rounds donated to be auctioned. The auction will run the last two weeks in April, so for the next 6 weeks we will be soliciting donations and then marketing this effort to drive the golfers to the auction site to bid. We need you to consider donating foursomes (or threesomes if they must be accompanied) to raise money for turfgrass research at MSU. Your efforts will go a long way toward ensuring the continued success of the MSU turf program, and upholding the value of an MSU education in turfgrass science.

We urge you now to go to the website, www.TeeTimes4Turf.com, and browse. Click on the donate icon and fill in the form. Everything is electronic and streamlined to ensure minimal fuss and maximum success. All donations are tax deductible and eligible for recognition as a contribution to Michigan State University.

On behalf of the MSU turf faculty, thank you for your considerations and efforts in this matter. If you have any questions at all, do not hesitate to contact us.

Trey Rogers Jim Crum

Recap of Legislative Day in Lansing by MiGCSA President Ron Dahlin

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:01 GMT

The day started early for all involved as the contingent from the North District left early enough to make it to Lansing by 9 am. Vice President Adam Ikamas and Past President Steve Hammon were concerned enough to drive down the night before to strategize and be ready for that first meeting. I had the privilege of getting ready early so I could do a radio interview about the Legislative Day in Lansing on the “The Big Show" hosted by Michael Patrick Shields that's heard all across the state on the Michigan Talk Network before I hit the highway headed east. Click HERE to listen to the audio interview.

Dan Bissonette and Steve Randall

John Dodge (R.I.P.) Chairman of The MGCOA Government Affairs Committee

The collaboration between the MGCOA and the MiGCSA resulted in over 60 representatives from the two organizations that assembled in the Mackinac Room on the 5th floor of the Anderson House Office building across the street from the capital building. This is quite a difference from the 7 owners who assembled the first time that this day was organized 8 years ago. The MiGCSA was well represented with 6 of the board of directors present along with superintendent, assistant superintendents and affiliate members. Steve Randall, the Sr. Manager, of the GCSAA Chapter Outreach Program was able to join us from Kansas, his wisdom and insight was great to have on this important day. Spartan Distributors had a very strong showing and it was nice to see that segment of the industry so well represented.

Bill Ballinger Inside Michigan Politics editor/publisher

The group listened to Mr. John Dodge who laid out the real reason for us putting forth all of this effort is to be “present at the negotiating table in Lansing”. After listening to the political insights of Mr. Bill Ballinger the group split up and headed out to shake the hands and talk with our state legislators. Lunch was set and our legislators and their staff were invited to join us. Many of the participants from the golf industry were able to enjoy a meal and a great conversation with those that craft the laws and govern the finances of the state. After lunch we listened to the comments from the president of both the MiGCSA (see Ron’s comments below) and the MGCOA, along with a great explanation of the current budget process by Mr. Howard Ryan the Senate Majority Fiscal and Budget Advisor. Many then went out to meet with the state senators after they came out of their extended morning session.

“It is once again a pleasure to be able to join with the Michigan Golf Course Owners Association and be here today. Our relatively young partnership has already born some great fruit for our collective membership. I don’t know if any of us realized the power of our collaboration and the scope of the synergy that would ensue. Thank you to Ms. Moore and Mr. Dodge for sharing your expertise with the board and the membership of the MiGCSA.

I am excited to stand here today representing the men and women who care for the golf courses in Michigan & I can tell you that we are proud to be part of the solution for the economic worry that has gripped us all.

Ron Dahlin, MiGCSA President

MiGCSA Vice President Adam Ikamas

In this time when we seem to be a little battle weary from the daily barrage of less than good news, the golf course industry in Michigan has seen an increase in rounds played across the board, an increase that means that more families are taking the time and spending the resources to use golf as a means of recreating, to use the public and private courses as a means to spend time with their spouses, their children their friends or even using this as a way to have their clients ears for an extended period of time.

We take pride in knowing that we are part of the fantastic experience that Michigan has to offer to those that consciously choose to spend their tourist dollars here. The highly successful Pure Michigan campaign chose golf as one if it’s first bright spots to show the rest of the nation the wonders that Michigan has to offer. With golf’s ability to use resources like the Environmental Stewardship Program, research provided by Michigan State University and our allied industries like the Owners, the industry of golf has positioned itself as one of the guiding lights to show the way out of our economic tunnel.

Michigan ranks in the top 5 states in the nation for number of golf courses and first in the number of public courses with research showing that we directly employ nearly 30,000 people and are responsible for a positive fiscal impact of 4.2 billion dollars annually. And nationally we know that golf is responsible for nearly 2 million jobs paying $61 Billion in wages.

A new initiative called We Are Golf is a national partnership of the Superintendents, owners, PGA and managers which will make it easier for you as our legislators to find answers and build alliances. It will make it easier to bring you information on the financial, environmental, philanthropic & recreational impact of golf nationally, regionally and in the state of Michigan. Please contact the MiGCSA or the MGCOA to find out ways that we can help you tap into this new resource.

Thank you for coming today and it is my hope that you leave knowing that there are things that are going right in Michigan.

I invite you to enjoy a bright sunrise with any one of the superintendents in your district this summer; they would love to show you firsthand why they are so proud of Michigan golf.”

Kate Moore and David Gilstrap

Undecided "Senator" Craig Hoffman and Jim Bluck

The largest A-Ha moment was the realization that nearly 50% of our state legislators will be new in 2011! We have 35 members of the house that have reached the end of their tenure due to term limits and another 12 who have announced, so far, that they will not seek a second term. That is 47 of the 110 representatives. When you combine that with the fact that 28 of the 38 seats in the state senate will be vacated due to term limits means 75 of the 148 people in the capital building will be newly elected this fall. Do you think that this is all that we need to worry about this fall? No, we also will elect a new person to all 4 of the constitutional offices such as Governor, Attorney General and new Supreme Court Members as well.

As important as this day was, we will need more support next year to get our message out to those who will be new to our state government. So get ready to join us in 2011.

Sincerely,

Ron M. Dahlin, CGCS
MiGCSA President

MiGCSA Scholarship Bowling Fundraiser Raises Over $1,000

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:01 GMT

Andy Miller, Dan Johanningsmeier, Tim Tuohy

Jim Moore, Steve Rose

Mike Urquhart, Jeremy McAbee, Damon Murphy, Jeff Kingsley

Phil Owen, Squirrel, Jim Moore, Steve Rose, Doug Spiller

The MiGCSA held its annual scholarship bowling fundraiser on Friday, February 26th at Galaxy Bowling Lanes in Grand Blanc. We would like to thank all of the individuals who attended despite the poor road conditions. A special thank you to Dan Bissonette, Steve Hammon, Ron Dahlin, Adam Ikamas, Dr. Ron Calhoun, Kirk Carls, Mark Frever of DryJect Michigan, Dave Johanningsmeier of Turfgrass Inc., and Jeff Holmes who could not attend but chose to donate towards scholarships. Thank you to Ron Dahlin, our President, for his 10%matching efforts with donations. We raised $685 at the event, $300 in donations, and an additional $30 from the 10% by Ron Dahlin for a total of $1,015 towards our $7,000 that we give in scholarships annually. Steve Rose of the Flint Elks Club was by far the class of the field, his games of 203, 206, and 211 were the best 3 game series of the day. Daniel Johanningsmeier of Turfgrass Inc. won the 50/50, he had to leave before we held the drawing and when contacted to notify him of his winnings he happily donated his take in the form of a round of drinks for all participants. Sadly, there was no change. Greg Pattinson won the Pistons tickets that were donated by Dave Pawluk of The Inn at St. Johns, thanks for the donation Dave. Finally, Shaun Maher won a $100 gift certificate to Sports Turf Irrigation which was donated by Derek Carroll of Fuse It Piping. The event was a great time, if you have not attended before please plan on attending in 2011. It is nice to get away from the day to day operations and have fun and network with our peers. And finally a huge thank you to Greg Pattinson who makes sure this event runs smoothly every year.

2010 Hancock Turfgrass Research Center Wish List

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:00:01 GMT

February 19, 2010

Dear MiGCSA Members and Friends,

We all know the importance of the Hancock Turfgrass Research Center to our businesses and our careers. The 56 acre facility is the center from which all of our Michigan State University research emanates. Recent state budget cuts have affected all of us but University funding has been especially hard hit.

We asked Mark Collins, Director of the HTRC and his fine staff to get us a list of supplies and equipment that they need to maintain the Center for the year. None of this includes any products that the professors use in their research. This is just the maintenance and upkeep of the center, the grounds and the plots.

Please find that list attached and look through it to see if there is anything on it that you might have extra from last year’s inventory or something that you can donate to the HTRC for the coming year. Together, we should have no problem getting everything on the list. Our goal is to share the load. If you have a case or two of something, it all adds up.

MTF President Dan Boak and MTF Vice President John Fulling will serve as “Filters” for Landscape and golf respectively so we don’t burden Mark and HTRC with calls and to keep an accurate and up to date list. MiGCSA Members please call or e-mail John Fulling to donate something or for any questions. He can be reached at 269-998-9748 or john@kalamazoocc.com.

Every club / business will get full face value credit as a donation to the MTF for items donated.

Thank you so much for your continued support of the MiGCSA, the MTF and Michigan State University.

Sincerely,

Ron Dahlin, CGCS
MiGCSA President

Download the 2009 HTRC Annual Report for 2009 Here

Download the Wish List Here

Flawed Turfgrass Research Report Gets Mass Media Attention . . . Now What?

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:01 GMT

EAST DUNDEE, IL—(February 2010)

Turfgrass provides numerous environmental benefits and its ability to store carbon is one of them; but when a recently published and peer reviewed research study regarding the ability of turfgrass to store carbon reached the opposite conclusion of previous studies, more than a few turfgrass researchers and green industry experts were scratching their heads.

The study in question (containing miscalculations which we’ll address in a moment) got extensive media coverage because of the negative conclusions it presented. According to Amy Townsend-Small, Earth system science post-doctoral researcher at University of California, Irvine and the lead author of a study that was accepted for publication in Geophysical Research Letters, a journal of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) it was suggested that the carbon-storing benefits of lawns were counteracted by fuel consumption.

Focusing on four parks and lawns in Southern California, the Townsend-Small and colleague Claudia Czimczik study found that greenhouse gas emissions from fertilizer production, mowing, leaf blowing and other lawn management practices were four times greater than the amount of carbon stored by grass in parks and lawns. The UCI study was supported by the Kearney Foundation of Soil Science and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The reported conclusion reached by the Townsend-Small and Czimczik study was fundamentally the opposite of previous research findings regarding carbon sequestration in turfgrass and the amount of carbon resulting from the care and maintenance of turfgrass.
The study generated plenty of press coverage by way of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) and a press release distributed by the University of California (Irvine). Publications and websites such as USA Today, National Geographic's Green Guide, Science Daily, China Meteorological Administration (CMA), First Science, Discovery News, Yahoo News India, and just about every science publication, newspaper, news outlet, green industry website and various blogs carried assorted headlines that read:

• "Urban Green Space May Aid Global Warming"
• "Green Spaces (Lawns) Are Not So Green"
• "Urban Lawns Contribute to Climate Change"
• "The Grass Isn't Always Greener"
• “Lawn Care = Bad for the Environment?”
• “City Parks May Be Bad For The Environment”
• “Study Fumes Over City Park Grass”
• “New CO2 Threat to the Planet”

There was only one problem: The authors of the Amy Townsend-Small research report acknowledge their study contained errors and miscalculations.

So how did the errors in the study come to the surface? Dr. Thomas Rufty, Bayer Distinguished Professor, Environmental Plant Biology, North Carolina State University questioned the findings based on previous research models and proceeded to point out several discrepancies in the Townsend-Small research report:

Rufty commented, "Regarding carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions in urban turf' by Townsend-Small and Czimczik, we suspected an error in calculations because their numbers were so different from the models we are developing.” Rufty was challenged to find out why there was a discrepancy. He reported that two of his Ph.D. students took apart all of the assumptions and calculations in the Townsend-Small paper and found mistakes. When asked to provide a complete analysis of the situation … they immediately presented their findings. Rufty reviewed their findings and confirmed they were right and that errors had been made.

Rufty then emailed the authors and they confirmed there was a mistake in their spreadsheet that no one had caught during the writing or peer review. The authors said 'someone' had informed them of the mistake and a correction was sent to the journal. Their corrected calculations showed that CO2 generation was 122 g m-2 yr-1 rather than 1238 g m-2 yr-1 in the paper.

"This is important, because it makes the situation with 'ornamental lawns' carbon neutral to positive, depending on some of their other assumptions about fertilization. The students also are arguing that the authors made another mistake that will result in decreasing the estimated CO2 further – they did not take into account C speciation during combustion. Depending on the kind of mowers used, this will lower levels by another 15 to 50%,” according to Rufty.

Rufty added, "The Townsend-Small and Czimczik paper is being viewed as an important publication for the carbon sequestration debate. I'm hoping our efforts will help correct this misperception."

It should be noted that Dr. Rufty isn’t alone in questioning the study. More than two dozen leading turfgrass extension specialists and turfgrass researchers from across the nation are currently reviewing the study and they have already indicated there are numerous concerns above and beyond miscalculations. They have indicated (under independent and non-collaborated review) that they are not only questioning the methodology that was used, but the absence of critically important information. It is likely the authors can expect to receive numerous questions and valid concerns following these reviews, and they can also anticipate a request to offer some valid explanations.

Now that it's apparent that flawed research (miscalculations alone) has received broad media coverage worldwide, and as of this writing the misinformation is still posted on the websites of the University of California (Irvine), the UCIrvine Today NEWS, the University of California UC Newsroom and on the American Geophysical Union (AGU) website (despite concerns expressed to UCI) the real question is, how do you get the same media coverage for the corrected version of the research report which will likely show that turfgrass has a positive impact on the environment when it comes to carbon sequestration? The challenge is much like getting the genie back in the lamp . . . or trying to get spilled coffee back in a cup.

Media Contact:
Jim Novak
Public Relations Manager
Turfgrass Producers International
2 East Main Street
Phone: 847-649-5555 or 800-405-8873
Fax: 847-649-5678
East Dundee, IL, USA 60118
E-mail: jnovak@TurfGrassSod.org
Website: www.TurfGrassSod.org

Michigan State resource getting bigger and better

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:01 GMT

By all indications it is onward and upward for Michigan State University’s Turfgrass Information Center , a comprehensive information service for professional turfgrass managers.

Started in 1983 through an association between the Michigan State University Libraries system and the U.S. Golf Association, TIC boasts what the university says is the world’s most comprehensive, public collection of turfgrass educational materials. Supported financially by an endowment known as The Campaign to Endow the Center, TIC is still growing, according to the annual report.

The center includes published and unpublished materials that focus on turfgrass science, culture and management as they relate to golf, athletic turf, sod, roadsides, institutional grounds and other managed landscapes. This includes periodical articles, books, fact sheets, pamphlets, images and Web documents.

A growing part of the center – both in volume and users – is its Turfgrass Information File database.

The TGIF database ballooned in 2009 to more than 157,000 records, almost half of which link to the full text of the work. That is an increase of 10.5 percent compared with the number of records located on the database in 2008. In fact, TGIF has grown in size (number of records or volumes) by at least 8.9 percent each of the past five years. And the number of those utilizing the service is growing even faster.

The number of searches for TIC and TGIF content has grown from 35,000 10 years ago to 1.39 million in 2009, according to the report.

The purpose of TIC, which is overseen by Pete Cookingham, is four-fold: to collect published and unpublished information for the various entities in the turfgrass industry; provide online access to turfgrass collections via the TGIF database; assist those using the system; and provide user workspace and electronic infrastructure to support collaborative turfgrass scholarship.

“The TIC has become an invaluable resource to the turfgrass industry,” said Trey Rogers,” Ph.D., professor of turfgrass management in Michigan State’s crop and soil sciences department. “The real tribute of this system goes to believers like director Peter Cookingham, his boss, (director of MSU libraries) Cliff Haka, and the United States Golf Association, who supported the efforts in the early years. Without these diligent efforts and support, this unique service would only be a pipe dream.”

Some of the new additions to the Turfgrass Information Center in 2009 include online availability of Practical Golf Greenkeeping, written by W.K. Gault and published in 1913. Only a handful of copies are known to be in existence worldwide.

James Beard, Ph.D., donated his turf library collection to the effort in 2003. Last year continued transferring monographic and periodical content, totaling more than 720 items, to Michigan State.

Likewise, the center’s O.J. Noer Memorial Turfgrass Collection also continued to grow in 2009.

Other additions of historic significance last year were the fifth edition of The Practical Greenkeeper by James Carter. Originally published around 1900, the fifth edition was released in 1913. Several other donations last year came from the likes of the USGA Green Section, and as well as Peter Dernoeden, Ph.D., Frank S. Rossi, Ph.D., Monroe Miller and many others.

Strong turnout for 22nd West Michigan Golf Show

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:01 GMT

(Grand Rapids, Mich.) Pent up cabin fever and dry, clear highways help drive a typically strong turnout of golfers to the many attractions of the 22nd West Michigan Golf Show held last weekend in downtown Grand Rapids. Matching last year’s overall traffic in spite of Valentine’s Day falling on Sunday, the Golf Show again proved to be an upbeat and very busy start to the much anticipated golf season.

“We felt the show hit the mark again and was a total success,” said Show Manager Carolyn Alt. “The patrons really appreciated the headliners and special features while also showing enthusiasm for and confidence in the business side of the game.”

Headliners this year included Mike Bender, the reigning National PGA Teacher of the Year and Frank Thomas, Technical Advisor to the Golf Channel whose opinions on the recent groove controversy proved both timely and newsworthy. A fully landscaped par-three, inspired by the sixth hole at Threetops, continued to be a show favorite and helped to raise funds for its designated charity, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of West Michigan. Other charities benefiting from the Show were ALS Association Michigan Chapter & The CaddyAm, and the Folds of Honor Foundation.

Exhibitors’ feedback on the Show was very positive and included the following:

“By far, the busiest show I have seen this year, compared to Indy, Columbus, and Chicago.”

--Jason Guss, Treetops Resort

“Bottom line, it was a great show. It’s always important to see our current customers and to introduce our course to new ones. We also appreciate the special promotion of women’s golf on Friday night.”

--Jeff O’Malley, Pilgrim's Run

“Overall, the attendance looked very good. Long lines waiting for the opening bell could be seen both Friday and Saturday. Sunday was a bit slower, but those visiting the show on Valentine's Day gave me the feeling they were on a serious mission to discover the latest news about golf in Michigan.”

--Doug Hendershot, Golf Association of Michigan

“We think the 2010 West Michigan golf show was one of the best in years. This was a great kickoff to the golf season.”

--Scott Hebert, Grand Traverse Resort & Spa

Produced by ShowSpan Inc., the West Michigan Golf Show’s dates for next year are Feb. 11-13, 2011. (Valentine’s Day falls on Monday!) For more information, call 1-800-328-6550 or visit the website at www.westmichigangolfshow.com

Superintendents Lose Long-time Advocate: Rebecca “Becky” Tate

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:00:01 GMT

Rebecca Tate passed away Sunday, January 31st in Sarasota, Florida. She was the wife of C.E. “Tuck” Tate, and was known to all her friends as Becky. She worked side by side with “Tuck” at the Frankfort Golf Club, running the grill and golf shop, and faithfully attending the national Superintendent conferences with “Tuck”.

Mr. C.E. Tuck Tate, founding member of the NMTMA second person from the left

Becky was an accomplished golfer and business woman. She managed the golf shop at the Frankfort Golf Club, seven days a week from sun up to sun down. Becky had an uncanny ability to remember every customer by name, as well as the names of their family members and all the important events in their lives. She was sincere and made everyone feel welcome.

Becky impacted the lives of many young people who worked at the Frankfort Golf Club. She instilled a positive work ethic and upheld the highest standards for customer service. Having no children of their own, Becky and “Tuck” imparted their love for golf and business, as well as their strong personal values, to their “kiddos” who worked with them. A number of these young people have gone on to careers in the golf business, and many have found success in other fields, which pleased Becky very much.

Becky continued to support the annual Tuck Tate Scholarship until her death. She always looked forward to hearing from the recipients of the scholarship, as she was interested in their experiences and their future plans. She was thankful to have a part in their success, and also to give back to the business of golf. The Tuck Tate Scholarship is endowed, and will continue to support students in the future.

Memorials can be given to the Paul Oliver Memorial Hospital Foundation in Frankfort, MI or the Tidewell Hospice in Sarasota, FL.

MiGCSA President's Address to the Membership for February

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:01 GMT

Don’t look now, here it comes! Are you ready? Winter is over and the time has come to prepare for the 2010 golf season. Your fellow members of the MiGCSA have been busy getting plans in place to help you make the transition from white to green. In a few weeks the Spring Management Meetings, approved for .65 GCSAA CEU's each, will be taking place in three sites around the state, have you signed up to attend one yet?

The first week of March will find us at Oakhurst Golf &Country Club (East) where we will have the chance to learn about Canada Geese Control Strategies, Spray Nozzle Tips & Tricks and updates from MSU. The second week finds us at Egypt Valley Country Club (West) where we will hear about changes in Golf Course Design & Renovation relative to these sustainable times, Research Ideas from MSU and How to Develop a Sustainable Golf Business Model. The third week of March we will be at Tree Tops Resort (North) where we will have the chance to learn how to Best Manage Your Electricity Costs along with an update on the wildly successful Pure Michigan Advertising Campaign and tips on How to Transition from Superintendent to General Manager. At all three sites we hold open discussions on how we, as facility managers, have found ways to operate on reduced resources. It won’t stop there as we will brainstorm on ways that we can continue to better position ourselves to provide great golf in the new decade on anticipated tight budgets. Click on any of the links or visit www.MiGCSA.org and sign up online or print and mail/fax in your registration to start getting yourself and your facility ready for spring.

MiGCSA members have a golden opportunity to keep ourselves and our industry in the front of the minds of those that are responsible for crafting the laws and budget for the state of Michigan by participating in Legislative Day at the Capitol on March 3rd. We will co-sponsor a lunch in the Mackinaw Room and participate in visits with some of our state legislators. The goal is to educate our representatives of the importance the golf industry holds in Michigan, to remind them that it provides over 35,000 direct and indirect jobs and that it is a $4.2 billion industry. It is imperative that we keep this information in the minds of those that will continue our representation in 2010 and beyond. With half the state house (55 seats) and 29 (all new senators due to term limits) of 38 senate seats up for election, now is a perfect time to get to know those that will be responsible for mentoring those newly elected members who will be coming to Lansing in 2011. There is no cost to join in on the day and the benefits of participation will pay off personally, professionally and industry wide. Please pre register for this event by quickly signing up for free online HERE.

The month of February holds one of most important philanthropic events of the year for the MiGCSA. What is that you ask? It is the scholarship fund-raiser bowling event scheduled for the 26th of February at Galaxy Lanes in Grand Blanc. While it can be construed as a chance to network and join fellow colleges over a couple of frames, in reality it is a way to give back to those that make our profession vibrant and alive. The MiGCSA annually funds Legacy Scholarships for the children of members and Student Scholarships for those enrolled in the MSU Turf Programs. I personally challenge every MiGCSA members that can not attend the event in Grand Blanc to donate to this great cause. Reach into your wallet and donate a minimum of $20 to the MiGCSA Scholarship Fund and I will match 10% of the minimum for the first 25 people that do. Go ahead, I dare you to come after my $$. You can log on HERE and donate today.

Have a great late winter and early spring and be sure to enjoy the time when your schedule is not packed from sunup to sundown. Please make sure to take the time to get yourself ready personally and professionally by joining in some (or all) of the offerings set up for you by your fellow MiGCSA members.

Sincerely,

Ron M. Dahlin, CGCS
MiGCSA President
'The Meadows Golf Club' at
Grand Valley State University
616-331-1005
dahlinr@gvsu.edu

The city of Detroit's only private golf club is in a tough spot, literally

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:01 GMT

By Alan Bastable, Senior Editor, GOLF Magazine
Published: January 28, 2010

DETROIT — There is at least one job more challenging than keeping a private golf club solvent in this dismal economy: keeping a private golf club solvent in Detroit.

That task falls to Todd Beals, chief operating officer of the Detroit Golf Club, the only private golf club within the city limits. The place has a lot going for it: a storied, 111-year history; two classic Donald Ross courses; a stately red brick clubhouse designed by the iconic Detroit architect Albert Kahn; and a diverse, golf-mad membership.

Detroit Golf Club features two Donald Ross golf courses.

But it is battling the disintegration of the city that surrounds it. Thanks to Detroit's 15-percent unemployment rate and, more specifically, the implosion of the automotive industry, more than 100 club members have resigned in the last three years, prompting DGC to drop its initiation fee from $39,000 in 2006 to $6,500 today. It is a dilemma faced by many southeast Michigan clubs that have for decades relied on Big Auto to keep their tee sheets full.

"We're the kind of club that [Henry] Ford built," Beals says. "It used to be nothing to have our upstairs bar full every day of the week with salesmen wooing the GM guys or whatever. They'd take them to play golf to close the deal, but that has all dried up."

Even members who have held onto their jobs are reluctant to schmooze at the club during the week. "We don't get hooky days anymore," Beals says. "In years past we could get an awesome early spring day where by noon we'd have 200 guys out there having fun. Today they don't want to risk becoming a blip on [their employers'] radar screens by not being in the office from at least 9 to 5.

"They're not willing to take more than a couple days of vacation at a time in case their management looks at how well their organization did that week without them," he adds. "Guys that were working 40-hour weeks are working 50 or 55."

There's also the matter of the club's location, about 10 minutes north of downtown. Rows of abandoned homes and boarded-up storefronts line roadways leading to the club's leafy confines, a harsh dichotomy for some prospective — and even active — members to accept. "No question we sometimes struggle being in Detroit," Beals says.

Still, DGC is surviving. The club's revenue is off only 10 percent, a source of pride for Beals given that the club has not had to eliminate amenities, reduce its course maintenance budget or raise dues. "We've cut costs without the members feeling it," he says. Indeed, just yesterday morning workers were busy renovating the ground-floor grillroom.

The club is also a popular venue for corporate outings, a boon to any club's bottom line. In 2009, DGC hosted 13 of them, which Beals attributes to local companies and organizations making a concerted effort to support the club. "There's a 'Think DGC First' mentality," he says.

When asked what the future might hold for his club should Detroit continue its downward spiral and DGC hemorrhage more members, Beals responded with a story about Clem Wolfrom, the club's superintendent of 48 years. After a few years on the job, Wolfrom was considering buying a home in the city, though he feared that the race riots of 1967 and the ensuing urban flight might lead to DGC's demise. He took his quandary to the club president, and as Beals tells it, "the president looked him straight in the eye and said, 'Son, there will always be a Detroit Golf Club.'"

"He was right," Beals says now. "We've been through world wars, depressions, race riots — all of it. There will always be a Detroit Golf Club. We will persevere."

The SI Golf Group is reporting on the Detroit golf scene as part of Time Inc.'s yearlong coverage of the city. For more information, visit the "Assignment Detroit" homepage at time.com/detroit.

16th Annual Golf Course Hockey Challenge

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:00:01 GMT

Team Michigan participated in the 16th Annual Golf Course Hockey Challenge this past January. The Annual hockey tournament took place in Fort Erie Ontario. All 12 visiting teams that participated are comprised of hockey players in the golf industry. Team Michigan defeated Plant Science, and Toronto #1 to advance out of pool play. Beating Clublink 2-1 advanced Team Michigan to the finals where they lost 4-3 against Northern Ontario for the Championship.

Team Michigan would like to thank the sponsors who supported the Team: Turfgrass, Inc, Syngenta, Spartan Distributors, Emerald Isle, Deep Roots, Ultimate Reel Grinding LLC, and Harrell's. If you are a hockey player and would like to join the team, please contact John Nowakowski at Port Huron Golf Club at johnnowakowski@comcast.net Thank You!

MSU Update January 27th

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:00:01 GMT

Greetings from a land of Green and a lot of white. I hope the New Year has started out well for you. It has certainly started well for MSU Basketball. Great things were expected, sure, and this team certainly has all the ingredients. As I told you back in November, Draymond Green is the key. I like Lucas of course, but Green has the incredible knack of being in the right place. I saw coach Izzo back on October 22 and asked him if he thought Green was as big a factor as I did…no words from Izzo, just a smile.

The hockey team is still exceeding original expectations, and looks as though they will finish second in the league. I predict you can find them in the Frozen Four in Detroit in April. Big place, could be fun.

Some of you are going to be heading out to San Diego for the GCSAA show in February, and have been asking me about the Michigan room. They have decided not to have a formal room this year, but have made arrangements at a local establishment for an informal get together. I just received word today that the gathering will take place at Joe’s in the heart of San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter from 5:00 to 8:00 pm on Wednesday the 10th. Please feel free to join them for this open invitation event. You are responsible for your own expenses. Because they will be getting bartenders to cater specifically for them, the MiGCSA is trying to get a headcount for the event. Therefore, if you think you may be showing, and register at https://www.migcsa.org/event-registration-13/event=28. This will help them towards an accurate count. Sounds like fun, and not an event to be missed. I knew these guys would come up with something, hey, they’re Spartans!

Another thing brewing in our corner of the world is pretty exciting. Although we will not officially kick this off until after the conference, I wanted to get this out to you prior to San Diego to get the buzz and juices flowing. In mid-February we will kick off the fundraising campaign, Tee Times 4 Turf, to raise money for turfgrass research. Several of you have heard me talk or pass this by you before, as this is a good way to raise money from people and golf courses all over the world that benefit from the Michigan State University Turfgrass program. So, after very careful planning and placement of key people, we are finally ready to take the show on the road. We are going to be asking you and/or your golf course to donate golf rounds to be auctioned off though an on-line auction. The donation will be made through the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation, and will therefore be tax deductible. The MTF will, in turn, use the proceeds from the auction to fund turfgrass research at MSU. We have a web site, www.teetimes4turf.com that is currently under construction, but will be up very soon.

Of course, I am right here to answer any and all questions as they arise, but I wanted to get this first blurb out so that you could talk about this with MSU faculty (and others) at the GCSAA show in San Diego. We are all quite confident this can work, as it has shown to already by a couple of other states on a regional level. Our idea, with our broad outreach given our graduates, is to be more encompassing and go nation and even worldwide.

The broad brush stroke of timing for this event is soliciting golf courses from mid February through April. At the same time, we will market the event through several outlets and associations as well as Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking sites, to drive traffic to the auction web site, scheduled for late April/early May. We plan to do everything electronically and have worked out a system that will allow all stipulations you might have for donating the golf rounds.

So that is it in a nut shell – much more to come soon. (Some of you may think you have heard this idea from me for some time now, and you are right. But, like many ideas, by waiting until technology caught up with the idea, the ease of pulling off the project and chance for success go way up.) Not many new ideas any more, just technology to make the old ones work.

Keep looking for lost souls,
Trey

WE ARE GOLF Announced as Industry Initiative for Changing Perceptions; Overcoming Biases

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 00:00:01 GMT

WE ARE GOLF Announced as Industry Initiative for
Changing Perceptions; Overcoming Biases

WE ARE GOLF to be formally introduced to the industry Jan. 28, at the 57th PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Fla., and Feb. 10-11, at the Golf Industry Show in San Diego, Calf.

ORLANDO, Fla. – WE ARE GOLF, a coalition of four of the game’s leading associations, was announced today as an initiative to change the face of golf and to represent the economic, human and environmental benefits of the industry at federal, state and local levels of government.
Founded by the Club Managers Association of America, Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, National Golf Course Owners Association, and The PGA of America, WE ARE GOLF was created as a broad-based coalition to maximize the industry’s synergy and reduce redundancy. The membership will include participation from association members, multi-course owners, manufacturers and golf facilities.

“The solidarity the industry has shown by creating WE ARE GOLF is not only encouraging, but critically important,” said Mike Hughes, CEO of the National Golf Course Owners Association.
“Together, golf represents billions of dollars in economic impact; and, together, we will benefit from an even stronger industry that has the recognition and respect it deserves in Washington and throughout the country.”

WE ARE GOLF builds on the momentum of the past two National Golf Day events conducted in Washington, D.C., and collaborative efforts in executing numerous state economic impact studies. The 2 million jobs generated by the multi-billion-dollar industry, and the industry’s vast economic impact, are at the core of the coalition’s message.

“Golf is a stable, healthy industry with substantive impact on our local , state and national economies, but there are lingering, sometimes damaging misperceptions of our sport,” said PGA of America CEO Joe Steranka. “Golf must have a voice in aligning its perception with its real values. WE ARE GOLF engages our industry in an unprecedented collaboration to achieve legislative goals on small business, as well as labor, tax and environmental matters. “

The coalition has engaged The Podesta Group, a Washington, D.C.-based government and public affairs firm, which brings an experienced team to address the golf industry’s legislative challenges and help with advocacy efforts.

“We have learned that even though we have made some progress, the audiences that we are targeting do not know enough about our industry and how it has been affected by past legislation,” said Mark Woodward, CEO of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. “Take the environment, for example. Golf courses provide the infrastructure to help communities manage runoff and the green space provides a variety of benefits. WE ARE GOLF will intensify our efforts to inform and educate on issues such as this.”

WE ARE GOLF will work to share information, case studies and articles with media, elected officials, regulators and other key constituents to inform them on issues of concern. The coalition will also coordinate messaging to the industry’s vast infrastructure.
“For decades, golf facilities have remained one of the most sustainable small businesses in each local community,” said Jim Singerling, CEO of the Club Managers Association of America. “Golf facilities are good neighbors, providing resources that impact both individuals and other small businesses. WE ARE GOLF looks forward to working with The Podesta Group and engaging their expertise to share golf’s great stories.”

About the Club Managers Association of America
The Club Managers Association of America is the professional Association for managers of membership clubs. CMAA has close to 7,000 members across all classifications. Manager members run more than 3,000 country, golf, city, athletic, faculty, yacht, town and military clubs. The objectives of the Association are to promote and advance friendly relations among persons connected with the management of clubs and other associations of similar character; to encourage the education and advancement of members; and to assist club officers and members, through their managers, to secure the utmost in efficient and successful operations.
About the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America
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 20,000 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.

About the National Golf Course Owners Association
The National Golf Course Owners Association is the leading authority on the business of golf course ownership and management. The Association represents the key decision makers with ultimate responsibility for golf courses throughout the world. Through advocacy, information resources, purchasing programs and networking opportunities, the NGCOA helps golf course owners and operators run more successful businesses. For more information, visit www.ngcoa.org.

About The PGA of America
Since 1916, The PGA of America's mission has been twofold; to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf.
By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, the Association enables PGA Professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the multi-billion dollar golf industry.
By creating and delivering dramatic world-class championships and exciting and enjoyable golf promotions that are viewed as the best of their class in the golf industry, The PGA of America elevates the public's interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. The PGA of America brand represents the very best in golf.

Contacts:
Ron Rosenbaum, CMAA, (703) 739-9500 or ron.rosenbaum@cmaa.org
Jeff Bollig, GCSAA, (800) 472-7878, ext. 4430 or jbollig@gcsaa.org
Joe Rice, NGCOA, (843) 881-9956 or jrice@ngcoa.org
Jamie Carbone, PGA, (561) 624-8446 or jcarbone@pgahq.com
David Marin, Podesta Group, (202) 212-9566 or dmarin@podesta.com

Say 'thank you' to your tech

Sat, 16 Jan 2010 00:00:01 GMT

Ever wonder how you could repay your equipment manager for their years of dedicated service and ability to make your job easier? The answer is simple, nominate him or her for TurfNet's Technician of the Year, Presented by The Toro Co. There might be other awards that recognize the achievements of equipment managers, but none date as far back (2003) as the original Golden Wrench Award.

The winner of the seventh annual contest will receive the Golden Wrench Award, a keepsake plaque and the opportunity to attend an all-expense-paid weeklong training event at Toro's headquarters in Bloomington, Minn. Finalists and the winner also will be profiled on TurfNet.com.

Maintaining a top-flight equipment fleet is a major priority at every golf course equipment technician. If something is not maintained properly, does not cut the way it was intended or at the proper height, the fallout can be calamitous. In fact, it’s a mistake that, particularly today, can cost a tech and his superintendent their jobs.

But keeping equipment in tip-top shape is just one of the tasks with which an equipment manager is charged. He must be a personnel manager, marriage counselor, budget analyst, inventor, innovator and fabricator as well. And he must excel at all to a level so that his superintendent does not have to be a babysitter.

That’s certainly how it is at TPC Four Seasons in Dallas, where reigning Technician of the Year winner Doug Johnson works. In fact, keeping equipment in top shape at TPC Four Seasons in Dallas was the last skill John Cunningham, CGCS, mentioned in his nomination letter last year.
Criteria on which candidates are judged include crisis management, effective budgeting, environmental awareness, helping to promote the careers of colleagues and employees, interpersonal communications, inventory management and cost control, overall condition of rolling stock, shop safety and work ethic.Cunningham singled out Johnson for his abilities as an accountant, teacher and mentor, as well as his communications and organizational skills, and finally for his mechanical aptitude.

“Plain and simple, Doug is an outstanding mechanic,” Cunningham wrote in his nomination letter.

He should know. Cunningham has a long history of promoting his mechanics for just such recognition, both at TPC Four Seasons and also while he was superintendent at Black Diamond Ranch in Florida.

Anyone who has had an equipment manager like Johnson knows the value of a good technician.

Take Anthony Williams, CGCS, for example. In nominating 2007 Technician of the Year Award winner Jim Stuart, Williams called his equipment manager “the cornerstone of a maintenance operation that is charged with protection of an amazing green space” that includes 3,200 acres of state park land at Stone Mountain Golf Club outside Atlanta.

Stuart’s nickname around the club is Mr. Fix It, and Williams has joked that his mechanical skills are so vast he might have been able to prevent the "Titanic" from sinking had he been aboard the ill-fated liner.

Curtis Nickerson, then superintendent of Bonaventure Country Club in Weston, Fla., noted several years ago that quality equipment managers were in such high demand in South Florida that superintendents often cherry picked the good ones from competing clubs.

These are just a few examples of how superintendents hold equipment managers in such high regard.

If you are fortunate enough to have an equipment manager who fits this description, or know of a colleague who has one, please consider nominating him or her for TurfNet’s Technician of the Year. When placing a nomination, please give specific examples of what makes your tech special.

Criteria on which candidates are judged include crisis management, effective budgeting, environmental awareness, helping to promote the careers of colleagues and employees, interpersonal communications, inventory management and cost control, overall condition of rolling stock, shop safety and work ethic.

When nominating a candidate, please give specific examples of what makes your tech special. E-mail nominations to jreitman@turfnet.com, mail it to 1500 Park Center Drive, Orlando, FL 32835, or fax it to 407-563-7077. Please include the name and phone number of your nominee, golf course at which he or she works and why they should be considered for the award, as well as your name, number and e-mail address.

On The Road With The USGA - January 2010

Sat, 16 Jan 2010 00:00:01 GMT

By R.A. (Bob) Brame, Director
January 4, 2010

It’s sunny and cold as I look out the window on this the first day of the New Year, and decade. Amazing! Not the sunny and cold, as it is winter, but the passing of another year and decade. How fast they come and go, and how precious is the time we’ve been given. Lest you think I’m waxing nostalgic – ‘grateful’ is the more accurate word. There were many challenges in 2009. There were difficulties and sad moments, which brings to mind the memory of a young superintendent who died in a terrible tree removal accident. It was a sad and difficult loss for our industry, and life changing for his family. To live life as though it will last forever is foolish – we’re all working with a finite number of days. If you’re reading this you’ve been blessed with another day – be thankful, nothing happens by chance. So how will you use the time you have? Let me suggest a few factors to consider and apply as we move into 2010:

Identification – know who you are.
Dedication – know whom you’re trying to please.
Organization – know what you’re trying to accomplish.
Concentration – focus on one thing at a time.
Delegation – don’t try to do it all yourself.
Meditation – make a habit of personal quiet retreat.
Recreation – take time off to enjoy life, family and friends.

With the above considered, answered and applied, listed below are my top ten golf course maintenance New Year’s resolutions.

Communication: Resolve to not rely on what you did in 2009, be creative and proactive.
Watering: Resolve, to the extent that applicable variables allow, to keep it dry.
Green Speed: Resolve to guard turf health first, then playability with full consideration given to available resources.
Pesticides: Resolve to follow product labels explicitly with the environment, budget and playability merged.
Course Officials/Green Chair: Resolve to establish and maintain good continuity and representation.
Maintenance Complex: Resolve to provide a safe and efficient facility for staff to work from.
Tree Management: Resolve to do what is right for the grass upon which the game is played.
Politics: Resolve to apply sound agronomics as opposed to short term appeasement.
Labor: Resolve to staff the maintenance operation appropriately for desired conditioning.
Equipment: Resolve to ensure that the staff has the tools they need to achieve the desired results.
The OTF Conference and Show, in early December, was well attended and overall a success – great information and camaraderie. The next stop on the conference circuit is the Indiana Green Expo (http://www.indianagreenexpo.com/) in Indianapolis on January 6th, 7th and 8th. There is an excellent lineup of presentations, along with the trade show. I’ll be offering a 2009 review and a presentation on routine verses championship conditioning. Hope to see you there.

As always, we look forward to working with you and your course in 2010. Budget now for at least one TAS visit, pricing will be the same as 2009. A mailing will be sent out over the next six to eight weeks, to all courses in our database, which outlines visit options for the coming year. However, the scheduling process can be initiated anytime with a call or email.

All the very best in 2010.

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

A New Way of Doing Business

Sat, 16 Jan 2010 00:00:01 GMT

Welcome to a new year, a new decade and a new way of doing business. I am honored to be your president in 2010 as it allows me to be the one to introduce some of the great changes in the MiGCSA. The men that comprise your board of directors are a talented group of leaders who have worked very hard to make your organization run as smooth and effective as possible. After learning that running the organization in house and by committee was the most effective way to manage the affairs of your organization, they rolled up their sleeves and started the business of doing the bulk of the work themselves. While this was not the way that we all envisioned doing it a few years back the business climate that we find ourselves in today dictated a call to action and a change in the traditional thoughts of how to best manage an association with nearly 700 members. These changes are much like the way many of us have had to change our way of thinking about the management of the properties that we are responsible for. While few have changed who manages the day-to-day operations, many have changed the way that we reach out to our clients, how we treat them, what we offer them along with the realization of who our clients really are. The MiGCSA has changed from a management company back to the volunteer board to manage day-to-day operations, implemented the use of a full functioning web-site and efficient electronic communications, instituted a policy that puts members requests directly to board members, offered nearly a dozen educational opportunities along with over 2 dozen networking opportunities and realized that our clients are not only superintendents but also assistants, technicians and affiliates. We have forged new alliances (MGCOA) and strengthened old ones (MTF), learned to pull from the strengths of those we are associated with (MSU & GCSAA) and started looking at better ways to do business in the new decade.

What gives me the desire to contribute to this organization is the collective strength of its board and membership. We have those whose dedication to the strength and structure of your organization is astounding (Sec/Tres Jay Eccleton), those whose abilities to sort out and effectively use new technologies (VP Adam Ikamas) are unmatched, those who have the drive and network to provide a dynamic learning experience for the membership they serve (Director Jeff Holmes) and those whose leadership has delivered us from some trying and unfamiliar territory and placed us on a solid foundation (Past President Steve Hammon). There are examples of this type of caring and dedication in all of the men who serve on your board and so many more instances from you and your fellow members. I have no extraordinary ability to lead this organization but I do find that I have the time to dedicate to it and the desire to give back to the group of people who have helped pave the path that I walk to achieve the successes that I enjoy in the golf industry. I also find that there is no better example to show my children than the importance of giving back to the organizations that help you to succeed. Should you find yourself in a position to give back, either helping a little or maybe even taking that step out to serve on the board, please feel free to contact me or one of your board members and offer to spend a little time working with great people who care about you and your organization. I am looking forward to meeting you and sharing a great new year and the start of a new decade filled with strong potential for the golf industry in Michigan.

Sincerely,

Ron M. Dahlin, CGCS

‘The Meadows Golf Club’ at GVSU

National Design Honors to Michigan based Raymond Hearn Golf Course Designs, Inc.

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 00:00:01 GMT

Flossmoor Country Club
Flossmoor, Ill.
7,136 yards, par 72
flossmoorcc.org

Eighty years ago, Flossmoor Country Club in Chicago's south suburbs was one of golf's "it" courses. Jock Hutchinson won the 1920 PGA Championship here. Max Marston captured the 1923 U.S. Amateur here, beating Bobby Jones and Francis Ouimet along the way.

Five years later, Jones posted seven consecutive 3s, setting a Flossmoor course-record 67 that stood for 56 years. By the 1990s, however, Flossmoor had lost its mojo.

Enter Holland, Michigan-based architect Raymond Hearn, whose inspired renovation has put the storied club back on the map. Over a three-year period, Hearn, superintendent Bob Lively and a spirited membership hacked away at overgrown trees, gutted the boring oval bunkers in favor of Riviera-style sand sprawls, expanded green collars and created a new par-3 13th.

The result is a layout that retains the old signature elements but is laced with enhancements that make it relevant, rugged fun from start to finish.

MiGCSA President's Message

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:00:01 GMT

Sincerely,

Ron M. Dahlin, CGCS
‘The Meadows Golf Club’ at GVSU

Michigan Golf Course Superintendents Association Elects Dahlin President

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 00:00:01 GMT

The Michigan Golf Course Superintendents Association (MiGCSA) held its annual meeting and elections on January 5, 2010 at the Devos Place in Grand Rapids as part of the Great Lakes Trade Expo. Ron Dahlin, CGCS, Superintendent at The Meadows Golf Club at Grand Valley State University was elected President at that meeting.

“It is an honor to have the opportunity to lead the Michigan Golf Course Superintendents Association into the new decade” stated Dahlin. “The chance to guide this talented and dedicated board of directors as we continue to shape and build such a great organization is rarely granted and I feel very privileged to be chosen for this mission. Heightening awareness of the important part golf course superintendents’ play in the golf industry of Michigan to the policy makers and residents will continue to be a focus as we work with our allied associations and industry partners on ways to strengthen golf’s role in Michigan’s economic recovery.”

Dahlin succeeds Steve Hammon, Superintendent at Traverse City Country Club. Newly elected officers include Adam Ikamas, Superintendent at Crystal Mountain Resort and Spa as Vice President, and Jay Eccleton, CGCS, Superintendent at the Emerald in St. Johns as Secretary/Treasurer.

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.

2010 MiGCSA Events Calender

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 00:00:01 GMT

2010 Event Calender
Downlad Printable Calender Here

Dates and venue subject to change. Please stay informed at www.MiGCSA.org and with email from info@migcsa.org.

Friday, February 26	Bowling Scholarship Fundraiser (Galaxy Lanes, Grand Blanc)
Monday, March 1	Spring Mgt Meeting (Oakhurst GC)
Wednesday, March 3	Golf Day at The Capitol with MGCOA (Lansing, MI)
Monday, March 8	2010 USGA/PGA Rules of Golf Seminar (Mystic Creek Golf Club, Milford)
Tuesday, March 9	USGA/PGA Rules of Golf Seminar (Watermark Country Club, Grand Rapids)
Tuesday, March 9	Spring Mgt Meeting/ Equipment Tech (Egypt Valley CC, Ada)
Tuesday, March 16	Spring Mgt Meeting/Equipment Tech (Tree Tops, Gaylord)
Tuesday, April 13	IPP Appreciation/Superintendent revenge (Kalamazoo Country Club)
Monday, April 26	Spring Opener (Point O ‘Woods, Benton Harbor)
Wednesday, April 28	Equipment Tech Education (The Wyndgate GC)
Monday, May 3	Wee One Golf Outing (Indianwood G & CC)
Tuesday, May 11	Can-Am Tournament (Gross Ile Golf and Country Club)
Monday, June 7	MTF Fundraiser (Arcadia Bluffs, Arcadia)
Monday, July 12	MiGCSA Golf Event (Saginaw CC, Saginaw)
Tuesday, August 3	State Championship (Buck’s Run, Mt Pleasant)
Wednesday, August 18	MTF Field Day (MSU Hancock Center)
Monday, September 13	MTF Fundraiser (Blythefield Country Club, Belmont)
Tuesday, September 21	Tuck Tate Championship (Tree Tops Jones Course, Gaylord)
Monday, October 4	The Big Event (The Wyndgate, Rochester Hills)
Monday, October 18	Assistant’s Golf Outing (The Emerald, St. Johns)
Tuesday, October 19	Equipment Tech. Meeting (Crystal Mountain)
Nov 30- Dec 2	MiGCSA/GCSAA Education with MGCOA (Amway Grand, GR)
Monday, December 6	MiGCSA Roundtable meeting (Birmingham CC, Birmingham)
Tuesday, December 7	North Christmas Party (Ruby Tuesday’s)
Friday, December 10	West Christmas Party (Cascade Sports Bar, Grand Rapids)
Friday, December 10	East Christmas Party (Gus O Gordon’s Irish Pub, Novi)
Thursday, December 16	Mid Christmas Party (Bottoms Up Food and Spirits)

Greater Detroit Holiday Gathering

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 00:00:01 GMT

Scott Trobvich, Fritz McMullen, Bob Unger and Brian Schweihofer

Tim Dark, CGCS holding his own at the tables

Clem Wolfrom, Doug Johanningsmeier, Mark McKinley and Tavis Horton

The holiday season is a magical time of the year. It is easy to encounter happy strangers and fellow colleagues, as well as friends and loved ones, who greet one another with the joy and goodwill. All of these feelings of fun, festivity and fellowship create the perfect backdrop for the Greater Detroit holiday gathering.

The party venue this year was Bailey’s Pub & Grille in Troy. Almost 40 guests attended the holiday gathering and had a terrific time, many attendees stayed for the entire 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. gathering. There was a great varity of vendors, superintendents, assistants, crew members, and Greater Detroit board membersthat enjoyed the great food and impeccable service. Of course, there were also some who enjoyed trying their luck at the pool tables. Tim Dark, CGCS held court and allowed many to try and best him but, he was able to defend his table.

Thanks to everyone who attended, we missed all of you that could not make it and hope you will come next year. We will keep the holiday gathering a tradition for years to come and have decided to move it around so members, friends and colleagues from other areas of the Greater Detroit district can take part and enjoy this great event. Spread the word about next year’s holiday gathering, it is scheduled for Friday, December 10, 2010 in the private room at Gus O’Connor’s Irish Pub in Novi.

Thanks to our gracious event sponsor:
Automatic Supply Michigan

MGCOA 2009 Awards

Thu, 24 Dec 2009 00:00:01 GMT

FRANKENMUTH, MI - A new award of appreciation was given to George Zimmermann, Vice-President of Travel Michigan for his agency’s efforts to promote golf in the state of Michigan. The Merit Award was presented to Zimmermann from Michigan Golf Course Association, Executive Director, Kate Moore during their annual meeting on December 2, 2009.

Moore cited the award winning “Pure Michigan” national advertising campaign Travel Michigan placed earlier this year as an extraordinary achievement. “There are very few state funded programs that return money to the state” Moore said. Studies show for every one-dollar invested in the ad campaign the state realized $2.86 in tax revenue.

Zimmermann said funding for another nationwide ad campaign has not been appropriated at this time although there are ongoing efforts to do so. He told the golf course owners how much he appreciated their investment in making Michigan America’s Summer Golf Capitol and encouraged them to keep up their efforts to provide top notch golf courses and golf experiences.

The Pure Michigan tourism campaign went national for the first time in 2009 and ran through June on 15 cable channels: Golf Channel, Travel Channel, A&E, Bravo, Style, Fine Living, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, E!, DIY Network, CNN, MSNBC, CNBC and Fox News.
McCann Erickson's Birmingham, Michigan office created the familiar commercials and Moore advocated another campaign for 2010 by asking, “How often have you heard, “Your Trip Begins at Michigan-Dot-Org?” Her reply, “not often enough.”

Travel Michigan is a division of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. The Michigan Golf Course Owners is a Lansing based trade organization providing support to the Michigan golf industry.

The Buick Open was presented with the Matthews Lifetime Achievement award. Presented on behalf of the MGCOA by Jack Berry, The Buick was recognized for its long history of as Michigan’s premiere golf event and the Multimillion dollar donations made to statewide charities over 5 decades. Accepting on behalf of the Buick were tournament director Robb Grainger, Warwick Country Club general manager Rich Fairman and longtime tournament co-chairs Dr. Howard Foote and Ted Addington.

Treetops Resort walked away with another award for their mantle, the Dul Family Player Development Leadership Award. This award, named for the owners of Fox Hills Golf and Country Club, includes a $1500 grant for continuation of a superior and ongoing player development program. Director of golf, Kevin McKinley and Jason Guss (Rick Smith Golf Academy Instructor) were on hand to accept.

Taking the honors as MGCOA Golf Course of the Year, Crystal Mountain Resort and Spa. The Course of the Year Award honors a member in good standing with the MGCOA demonstrating four criteria:
1. exceptional quality of the course
2. exceptional quality of ownership and management
3. outstanding contribution to its community
4. significant contribution to the game
Crystal Mountain Resort is an icon for the state of Michigan’s proud golf industry and the Michigan Golf Course Owners Association proudly presented Brad Dean, director of golf and Rich Schmitt, Vice President at Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa the award.

Since its inception in 1996, the MGCOA Educational Support Foundation has been chaired by Charlie Scott of Gull Lake View Golf Resort in Augusta. Scott was presented with the Lyle Leeke Distinguished Service Award for his contribution to the association and golf industry through forward thinking and innovative leadership of the Foundation and its mission to provide education and advancement of individuals in all areas of the golf industry in Michigan.

The Michigan Golf Business Conference is held annually. Industry education partners, Michigan Golf Course Superintendents Association, Michigan Section PGA and the Michigan Golf Course Owners Association collaborate to create an educational and networking experience for the golf industry in Michigan.

MiGCSA Members take part in Syngenta Business Institute

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:00:01 GMT

Margaret Bell
Syngenta Senior Marketing Communications Manager
Margaret.bell@syngenta.com

Dec. 22, 2009

Congratulations to Adam Ikamas and Gregg Matthews, who were selected as two of 25 golf course superintendents across the country 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 took place Nov. 30 to Dec. 3 in Winston-Salem, N.C. The role of the golf course superintendent involves not only agronomic but also business manager responsibilities. Syngenta worked with Wake Forest to develop a program that focused on business management in the areas of financial management, leadership and effective communications, and negotiation skills.

Superintendents from across the country were nominated by either their state GCS associations or the Syngenta Golf Advisory Team. They were selected from a talented pool of superintendents based on an application process that reviewed their educational background, industry achievements and an essay.

Ikamas is the golf course superintendent at Crystal Mountain Resort in Thompsonville, and Matthews is superintendent at Lakelands Golf & Country Club in Brighton.

Au Contraire, Mon Frere USGA Regional Update North Central Region

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 00:00:01 GMT

By Bob Vavrek, Senior Agronomist
December 16, 2009

It’s only natural to hope for an early Christmas present this season. After all, courses across the north central tier of states barely experienced summer weather until September and then an exceptionally cool, wet October pretty much put the kibosh on any hopes of recovering long lost golf revenues before winter.

To make matters worse, early arrival of frigid December temperatures and heavy snow provided little time to initiate, let alone complete, late season renovation projects. It’s hard to imagine a silver lining associated with this season’s weather when you are plowing snow in a blizzard all night prior to the official start of winter. Hoping for some good to be gained from a cold start to the winter, several superintendents have raised the following question. Will the single digit temperatures of mid December cause extra stress and mortality to overwintering insect pests, such as grubs, sod webworms, ants and billbugs?

The answer…not likely. Contrary to popular belief, most insect pests of cool season turf have difficulty surviving a mild winter when temperatures fluctuate widely and are quite well adapted to surviving in a state of suspended animation throughout a long, cold winter. For example, grubs may expend so much energy moving up and down the soil profile in response to changing soil temperatures during a mild winter that they enter spring in a weakened condition. A weak grub may not survive an early spring cold snap. In contrast, cold early winter temperatures followed by sustained snow cover may be just what the doctor ordered for grubs to experience a comfy winter diapause and then enter spring happy and hungry for some tasty turf roots.

Sorry, but no early holiday presents with respect to free insect pest control this season, but here’s wishing all of you and yours happy holidays and a safe and happy New Year.

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

Western Christmas Party Re-Cap

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 00:00:01 GMT

Once again over 50 participants in the golf industry congregated at the

Steve Tedhams, Bob Borgman, Ron Dahlin, Jason Schwieters & Rick Scheidel

Cascade Sports Grill in Grand Rapids to discuss the ‘09 season and renew old friendships while wishing each other a wonderful Christmas Holiday. Many thanks to the anchor of the event, Mr. Steve Tedhams, who endured the many pre gathering meetings with staff of the grill that were needed to ensure that the event went as well, or better, than planned. Over 65 people pre-registered for the gathering that is soon to see its 5th year at the same venue and it was not limited to any one category of membership. Industry partners, superintendents, assistants, crew members and other vendors were present and all spend a leisurely time talking and discussing the 2009 season and plans for 2010 over a great lunch. Past president Fulling was in the house to

John Andres, Clint Ovren, John Fulling, Roger Barton, Vern Slager & A.J. Rings

meet and greet those that were able to find some time during this super busy holiday season. While the rumors flew that Mr. Fulling was really pushing “The Bronk Brothers” current album Here for the Good Times to all that would offer a friendly ear, many on hand could not resist the temptation to stop and at least chat with him about his dedication to the MiGCSA. Mr. Holmes held court over the pool tables and allowed many to try and best him but allowed none to win the table. Thank you to all that attended and wished each other a great Christmas and a wonderful 2010.

Mid District Holiday Party Recap

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 00:00:01 GMT

Thanks to the 30 plus members from the Mid District who joined the MiGCSA at the Mid Holiday Party. This event is held annually at Bottoms Up in Holly.


Dave Makulski, Bill Carrie, Damon Murphy, Chris Sobek, Randy Enicks	Jim Moore, Barry Beard, Doug Spiller, Johanningsmeier

John Schrieves, Chris Sobek, Phil Owen	Phil Owen, Steve Rose, Jim Naugler, and Squirrel

MiGCSA Annual Meeting Notice

Sun, 13 Dec 2009 00:00:01 GMT

The MiGCSA annual membership meeting and elections will take place on Tuesday, January 5 from 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. at the DeVos Place in the Grand Gallery Overlook Room E during the GLTE Conference. Please join the MiGCSA Board of Directors as we review committee summaries from 2009. Don’t forget...if you plan on voting in the election of directors, you must be a 2010 member in good standing by renewing your membership by December 15, 2009!

All 2009 MiGCSA members should have received their membership renewal notice and dues invoice by now. If you have not renewed your membership for 2010, you can do so by logging in to www.migcsa.org with your username and password. If you have not logged in before your username will be your email address and your password will be the last 4 digits of your phone number on record. You can also print a membership form by clicking HERE and fax it to 1-888-3-MiGCSA or you can mail it to PO box 64 in St. Johns , MI 48879 .

Thank you,

Steve Hammon, Superintendent
MiGCSA President
Traverse City Golf & Country Club
1725 South Union Street
Traverse City, Mi. 49684

MiGCSA 2010 Membership Renewal

Sun, 13 Dec 2009 00:00:01 GMT

Please take the time to renew your MiGCSA membership for the 2010 season. We have an incredible lineup of events and education being planned right now for next season. In 2010 we will have fast easy online registration for all of the events and education. The MiGCSA connects you to a massive network of fellow industry professionals for support. Four issues of Course Conditions Magazine highlighting the Superintendents, Assistants and Equipment Technicians from around the state. To renew online simply log in to your account at www.migcsa.org and click on “Renew your 2010 membership”. If you have not logged in before use your email address for your username and the last 4 digits of the phone number on file as your password. If you need further help please contact us at info@migcsa.org or call us at 1-888-3-MiGCSA. Thank you for taking time to renew your membership and for your support of the MiGCSA.

You can also print your renewal form HERE

Mail form to P.O. Box 64 in St. John's, MI 48879
or
Fax the completed form to 1-888-3-MiGCSA

MiGCSA Presidents Message

Sun, 13 Dec 2009 00:00:01 GMT

Hello and welcome to the Holiday Season! I hope you were able to spend some time away from your golf course over the Thanksgiving break relaxing at home with family and friends. With three young children in the Hammon house the entire holiday season from Thanksgiving through the New Year is a wonderful time of year for us.

As this is my last official MiGCSA president’s message I have a festival of thank you comments. To my wife Sue, for all of her support while I spent many days and nights away from home attending board meetings and traveling to numerous allied partner events representing the MiGCSA, thank you. Next on the thank you list would be my assistant Kevin Breuker, Dave Ertl my equipment technician and my entire staff for managing the operations at work while I was on the road so much the past few years. My involvement with the chapter would never have been possible without the support of my general manager Jeff Anderson CCM, my green committee and the board members at Traverse City Golf & Country Club.

The MiGCSA board of directors may have appointed me the president in 2009 but these guys are all presidents of their respective board positions and committees. What an amazing group of people, all with their own special talents, skills and desire to serve the membership. It’s been an honor getting to know all of you and to have worked with you. Thank you for all of your hard work and hours away from your own families and golf courses. Thank you to the MiGCSA membership and Industry Partners for their support over the past few years. It took an army of people to volunteer their time to serve and merge four separate chapters into one very successful and flourishing statewide association. You all have built one of the best superintendent chapters in the country, membership numbers continue to climb. Thank you to all of the staff at the main office in Lansing for your work managing the details of the association behind the scenes.
It’s been a great honor serving the membership of the MiGCSA as president this past year. Thank you for the opportunity.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,

Steve Hammon
MiGCSA President
Traverse City Golf & Country Club
231-947-0487
steveh@tcgcc.com

MSU Update November 26, 2009

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:00:01 GMT

Greetings from Spartan Country,

First of all, Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families. I hope your travels are safe. I will be home until Sunday, when I travel up to Red Deer, Alberta, Canada to give a presentation to the AGSA on that Monday.

The Spartans, you say? It depends. For hoops, all systems go. Draymond Green is a huge key in the success for this team. I know Izzo says Morgan, but…. Lots of big tests in the next 4 weeks. Womens hoops is currently trying to find themselves. Hockey is surprising lots of people. They have Wisconsin and Minnesota this week at home. Football team laid an egg on the last game against PSU. (This is always painful for me.) I sat there wondering about the field, of course. With the U2 concert next summer, and the likelihood of re-sodding after said concert, I could not help but be a little sad watching what is without a doubt the finest playing surface around. (I hear even the PSU coaches were telling their staff the same thing.) Oh well, it’s just grass.

For those of you involved with Facebook, Ron Calhoun has started an MSU Turfgrass Alumni page. There are already 65 friends. Go check it out. Hey I might find a few lost souls, who knows?

Also, Steve Southard, class of 91, contacted me the other day with an initiative that he is starting regarding pace of play for the golf course. It may be of interest, so check out the web page, www.paceandproduction.com. I looked it over, and it makes some sense to me, so to you in the business it may help.

Our mock interview session was a big success. We had some of our regular contributors, along with some newcomers, Matt Burrows, Mark Frever, and Kyle Hegland. It was great to see these guys and I think they had a good time. We have already set the day for 2010 at November 19. It is always a blast.

USGA Mid-Central Regional Updates

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:01 GMT

By Bob Vavrek, Senior Agronomist
November 15, 2009

Most courses across the north central tier of states have already applied fungicides to prevent snow mold and put the irrigation systems to bed for the winter. The next and, perhaps, last major decision to make before the snow flies is whether or not to cover the greens.

To say the performance of green covers has been inconsistent in the past would be an understatement for courses throughout the North-Central Region. Sometimes they provide excellent protection from winter injury and sometimes considerable turf injury occurs beneath the cover. They tend to provide the least consistent protection from damage associated with rapid thaw/freeze cycles that occur during the winter. Granted, cover technology has improved in past years and, under many circumstances, a properly installed cover can increase the odds of winter turf survival, but they are still far from being a panacea for preventing all forms of winterkill.

On the other hand, covers can be a good investment for greens located in exposed sites on the course that have a history of winter injury from wind desiccation. In fact, just about any type of geotextile fabric cover can break the wind and provide a similar level of protection as a snow fence.

Severe damage from desiccation can devastate old and new greens because the injury occurs to both bentgrass and Poa annua. To make matters worse, a pure bentgrass green damaged by desiccation will be very slow to recover in spring because bentgrass requires several consecutive days of warm temperatures, accompanied by mild nights, before the turf begins to grow vigorously. These weather conditions didn’t occur across some areas of the Region until August last summer, so winter damage to bentgrass greens was a season-long ordeal for several unfortunate courses. New golf courses and courses that re-grass old Poa greens to bentgrass are advised to take this form of winter injury seriously.

Of course, covering a green located in an elevated, exposed site is never an easy task. By definition, an exposed site will have little, if any, consistent snow cover and be subjected to strong winds. Wind + Cover = Sail, and no one wants to see that $1000 or more investment sailing across the golf course just when you need it most.

Securing a cover to the perimeter of an exposed green can be a challenge and standard turf staples are not always up to the task. A strong, sustained wind has the uncanny ability to find and exploit any gap or pucker of fabric between staples.

Some courses have had success using a ring of sand bags along the entire perimeter of the cover to keep the fabric in place, but this can really be a labor intensive operation if more than a few greens require protection. Perhaps a combination of both sand bags and staples are the best option where winter protection from wind is an absolute necessity.

The bottom line is that a few days of work spent during November to protect a green from desiccation are far less stressful than the weeks or months of time spent during the spring trying to accelerate the rate of turf recovery on a damaged green.

Until next month, here’s wishing everyone a safe and Happy Thanksgiving.

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

MiGCSA Contact Information

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:01 GMT

Please note the change of contact information for the MiGCSA. Our new phone number is 1-888-3-MiGCSA. This number can receive faxes and will convert voicemail into email and forward them to the board of directors. Please be confident that all messages will be responded to in one business day. You can also contact us at info@migcsa.org this will be the only email address for the MiGCSA. Any postage mailing can be sent to P.O. Box 64 in St. Johns, MI 48879. Please use these communication avenues anytime you have questions, remember answers to most questions and access to member services can be found at www.migcsa.org.

12/1 - LESS THAN TWO WEEKS LEFT TO REGISTER! (GCSAA CEU's Available) MGCOA - Michigan Golf Business Conference and Vendor Fair @ Bavarian Inn Lodge, Frankenmuth

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:01 GMT

LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER!

Reserve your room here for the special MiGCSA rate

1.5 Total CEU Credits available for the following education

Day one, Tuesday December 1st (.45 CEU)

Day Two Wednesday December 2nd (.15 CEU)

Day Three Thursday December 3rd (.15 CEU)

Tuesday - December 1st 9:00 am to 4:00 pm (.50 CEU)

Cool-Season Turfgrass Nutrition, Fertilizers and Programming
Dr. Kevin Frank and Dr. Brian Horgan

New fertilizers, new cultivars, new research, new turfgrass management philosophies and new regulations on what you can and cannot do. There are numerous factors that are critical to understanding turfgrass nutritional needs. A broad range of topics related to turfgrass fertility will be covered and include: plant, soil, and fertilizer factors that influence turfgrass nutrition, turf response to nutrients, environmental fate of nutrients, fertilizer characteristics, and planning a fertilization program.

Tuesday - December 1st 9:00 am to 4:00 pm (.25 CEU)

Total Technology… Mobile Marketing and the New Era of Golf Course Operations
Mark Sarojak and Bay Paul

Learn the applications of mobile marketing for golf course owners and operators and
how you can take advantage of cost-effective techniques to reach your customers with time-sensitive information. Text messaging can be applied to help you build better relationships with your customers, as well as help you build your overall customer base. Grow your database faster and use it for Quality Assurance. Learn how to insure your database is protected. Fill open tee times, alert golfers about frost delays and unexpected changes in the weather, increase the urgency of your golf and restaurant promotions and build customer trust and loyalty

Register Online Here

Full Conference Registration Packet

View Larger Map

Audio slideshow: Grass-Roots Advice

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:01 GMT

Audio slideshow: Grass-Roots Advice
Superintendents of America's finest golf courses discuss the greening -- and browning -- of the game

Interviews By Ron Whitten | November 2009

Photos by Dom Furore

It made headlines recently when state officials in Georgia, Nevada and other drought-plagued states turned to golf-course superintendents for advice on how to conserve water. That news astonished some golfers, too, but it shouldn't have.

Superintendents long have been some of the best conservationists in the nation. They handle the toughest job in golf, providing members and customers with the same playing conditions in August that they get in April, and in recent years they've done it with fewer chemicals, less fuel, less water and even less manpower.

Superintendents know their turf, and all of us -- not just state officials -- ought to listen to their advice. When they tell us we need a new watering system, it's not because it would make their job easier; it's because the more irrigation heads they have, the more water they can save, by directing it only where it's needed.

When they tell us they need to aerify more often, it's not because they enjoy punching holes in front of our putting strokes; it's because loosening compacted soil helps get roots deeper, and that means healthier grass.

When they tell us we should expect uniform greens but not uniform rough or uniform bunkers, it's not because they want weekends off; it's because they recognize the difference between a playing surface and a hazard, and trying to make hazards flawless gobbles up considerable cash for no good reason.

On the following pages we speak with superintendents from a dozen of the nation's leading courses. We need to listen to these guys. There's a reason each is called a super. -- Ron Whitten

*Ranking on Golf Digest's list of America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses

TOM BAILEY: AGE: 34
Director of Golf-Course Operations
Wade Hampton G.C., Cashiers, N.C. | No. 17*
"We put in almost 15 miles of drainage: and new irrigation that allows us to direct water where we need it. We saw a 40-percent decrease in water, irrigating more areas more efficiently. And our power bill went down."
AUDIO: PLAY

*Ranking on Golf Digest's list of America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses

GARRET BODINGTON: AGE: 37
Golf-Course Superintendent and Construction Manager
Sebonack G.C., Southampton, N.Y. | No. 39*
"Getting fast greens you see on TV at your club every day is a tall task. Shotmaking and creativity are being lost. The experience should be about what the architect wanted, not about what the superintendent is told to do."
AUDIO: PLAY

*Ranking on Golf Digest's list of America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses

BOB FARREN: AGE: 52
Director of Golf Course and Grounds Management
Pinehurst (N.C.) Resort & C.C. | No. 32*
"Too often we're were trying to respond to the customers' desires for more lush and green. I think that pendulum is changing now. We need to embrace the perception of course conditioning being more brown, less green. The smoothness of ball roll won't be compromised by using less water. This next generation of golfers will become accustomed to it."
AUDIO: PLAY

*Ranking on Golf Digest's list of America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses

PAT FINLEN: AGE: 51
Director of Golf-Maintenance Operations
The Olympic Club, San Francisco | No. 26*
"Clubs are going to have to make reductions in maintenance budgets to survive. I think golfers will come to appreciate that brown is firm and, typically, fast. It can be exciting to play."
AUDIO: PLAY

TIM HIERS: AGE: 55
Senior Agronomist
Old Collier Golf Club, Naples, Fla.
"Good business sense says you should always look for ways to improve efficiency. Whether that means reducing water, fertilizers, pesticides, electricity, fuel, even your labor, that's just good stewardship. But golfers have to understand, this is different than agriculture. Farmers let the plants grow to maturity; we're basically trying to kill the plant everyday while golfers play on it."
AUDIO: PLAY

**President, Golf Course Superintendents Association Of America

MARK D. KUHNS**: AGE: 54
Director Of Grounds
Baltusrol G.C., Springfield, N.J. | No. 30*
"My members like to play a course where the ball sits up nicely on the fairway yet isn't so tight that they can't hit the ball with their amateur skills. Even better players don't want to play U.S. Open conditions day in and day out."
AUDIO: PLAY

***Ranking on Golf Digest's list of America's 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses

KEN LAPP: AGE: 73
Director Of Course Operations
Cog Hill G. & C.C., Lemont, Ill. | No. 45***
"Back when I started, we didn't irrigate fairways, didn't change pins every day. All of a sudden, we're doing this, spraying that, and it cost more and more money. So they had to raise the green fee. Well, that's got to stop."
AUDIO: PLAY

PAUL B. LATSHAW: AGE: 44
Golf Course Superintendent
Muirfield Village G.C., Dublin, Ohio | No. 19*
"At times we all get caught up in the idea that everything has to be green, pristine and perfect, with checkerboard mowing patterns or busy stripes on the fairways. A visual aspect is important, but what you really want is playability, making sure everything is firm and fast, which is the original design intent of every golf course I've been at."
AUDIO: PLAY

*Ranking on Golf Digest's list of America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses

RYAN MCFARLIN: AGE: 33
Golf-Course Superintendent
The Estancia Club, Scottsdale | No. 82*
"If we didn't overseed Bermuda grass with ryegrass in winter, our cart traffic would create unplayable lies. IN May or June, we back off the water, and back comes the Bermuda grass. It's a natural process."
AUDIO: PLAY

*Ranking on Golf Digest's list of America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses

RUSSEL MYERS: AGE: 37
Golf-Course Superintendent
Southern Hills C.C., Tulsa, Okla. | No. 34*
"As clubs are forced to look at their financial situations, we might see a return to less-manicured bunkers with firmer, less-mobile sand. Or the old style, where they were never raked."
AUDIO: PLAY

	Ranking on Golf Digest's list of America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses PATRICK SISK AGE: 44 Certified Golf Course Superintendent Milwaukee Country Club, River Hills, Wis. \| No. 52 "Two points. First, brown is good, to a point. We as superintendents should be the jury on that. Second, bunkers are a hazard and should be treated as such. Believe me, the day I'm asked to reduce my costs, the daily raking of bunkers will be first on my hit list. AUDIO: PLAY
	Ranking on Golf Digest's list of America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses DAVID STONE AGE: 60 Golf-Course Superintendent The Honors Course, Ooltewah, Tenn. \| No. 38 "I'm constantly doing things to the golf course to make the habitat better for birds. Lots of people want tall roughs that are clean, with no weeds. But weeds have seeds, and that's what the birds eat. And a lot of those weeds bloom and add color." AUDIO: PLAY
	Ranking on Golf Digest's list of America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses PETE WENDT AGE: 39 Golf-Course Manager Kinloch G.C., Manakin-Sabot, Va. \| No. 48 "People need to learn to live without green conditions from tree line to tree line. Average golfers look at a course from an aesthetic point of view, when they should really look at it from a playability standpoint." AUDIO: PLAY
	Ranking on Golf Digest's list of America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses JIM WHALEN AGE: 44 Golf-Course Superintendent Calusa Pines G.C., Naples, Fla. \| No. 92 "The water issue is never going to go away. Golf courses won't be as green and lush as they were years ago. The great thing we did was modify our irrigation system so we can do a ton of hand-watering out there." AUDIO: PLAY
	Ranking on Golf Digest's list of America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses MARK WILSON AGE: 53 Golf-Course Superintendent Valhalla G.C., Louisville \| No. 95 "I'm at a Jack Nicklaus golf course -- the bunkers have to be just perfect, in case Nicklaus drops in. But if you get so strapped you can't maintain them, you should probably fill them in -- grass over them." AUDIO: PLAY
	Ranking on Golf Digest's list of America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses JOHN ZIMMERS AGE: 38 Golf-Course Superintendent Oakmont (Pa.) C.C. \| No. 5 "If you ask any good superintendent, drier is always better -- better for the golfer and the turf. You can manage: firm, fast, championship conditions and still have quality turf and wonderful playability." AUDIO: PLAY

Michigan GCSA awarded a 2010 Chapter Outreach Grant

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:01 GMT

November 17, 2009

The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) has awarded a 2010 Chapter Outreach Grant to the Michigan Golf Course Superintendents Association.

The Michigan GCSA will receive a $2,000 grant through the program, which was designed to assist GCSAA-affiliated chapters in communicating with key constituents, primarily golfers and employers. In the last two years, GCSAA has distributed more than $50,000 to chapters across the country to help with outreach efforts on a local and regional level.

With its Outreach Grant, the Michigan GCSA plans to expand on its long-term strategic plan by launching a campaign promoting the golf course superintendent as a key-decision maker to members of allied associations. The plan will include print advertising through association with the Michigan Golf Course Owners Association, the Golf Association of Michigan and Michigan Golf Magazine. Web advertising will also be included.

In addition, the MiGCSA plans to establish a business certification program to assist chapter members, through education and training, to promote the superintendent profession at the facility level.
For more information about the GCSAA Chapter Outreach Grant program, visit www.gcsaa.org/chapters.

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 20,000 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. Visit GCSAA at www.gcsaa.org.

For more information contact:
Angela Nitz, GCSAA’s manager, corporate communications, at 800-472-7878, ext. 3647 or anitz@gcsaa.org.

MSU Update 11/15

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:00:01 GMT

Greetings,

I hope you all are well. Most of you are already aware that the football team became bowl eligible with a come from behind nail biting win over Purdue. (As we are now in mid-November, I must admit being a little ambitious with my prediction about total MSU wins vs. combined total of UM and Detroit Lions wins. Oh wait, at this moment it is 6 vs. 5 +1, and I still like my odds.) What you may not be aware of is that the MSU hockey team swept UM in a home and home series. This is indeed, great news. The hoops team won in a romp and got some big games next week. Watch for a coming out week from Draymond Green. Good weekend to be a Spartan.

We returned back from our annual meetings, the Crop Science Society of America, in Pittsburgh last week. It is the one time of year where all the Turf professors around the country get together and show their research. It is normally a good week for me as I get to see all of my former graduate students. I am so proud of them. I am also very proud to tell you that my latest and current PhD student, Alec Kowalewski, won the graduate student contest for best oral presentation. Way to go Alec.

I have been visiting with Chris Kelly and Victor Espinar in the Domincan Republic. They both graduated in 2006 and are superintendents at resort golf courses in Punta Cana. They are doing well.

At the end of this next week will be our 22nd annual Mock Interviews. The students always look forward to this day, as hope springs eternal. Where have the years gone?

Until next time. Keep looking for lost souls.

Trey Rogers

DAC, Forest Lake Country Club to Vote on Merger

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:01 GMT

by C&RB Staff (editor@clubandresortbusiness.com)
October 2009

Members of the Detroit Athletic Club and Forest Lake County Club in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., will vote later this year on what's being billed as a proposed merger that would make the golf course a club-within-a-club for the DAC.

According to Crain’s Detroit Business, the downtown athletic club and the suburban country club on Oct. 21 signed a nonbinding letter of intent that would have the DAC buy out the equity memberships of Forest Lake's golf members.

The deal would give the DAC's 2,410 resident members access to the country club's dining and social options, but there would be premiums, still to be determined, for pool and tennis access and for golf. Forest Lake members would get access to the DAC.

Both Forest Lake and the DAC, which say they are profitable despite recession-fueled membership declines, are expected to retain their own brand identities, but the country club may operate with the DAC name somehow involved.

Forest Lake’s current equity golf memberships require a $15,000 initiation fee (up from a recent discount in the $5,000 to $10,000 range, but down from $45,000 a few years ago) and $550 monthly dues.Meanwhile, DAC memberships start with a $2,500 entrance fee (discounted earlier this year from $5,000) and cost $300 monthly for its largest membership category but do not provide equity.

A single board operating under one charter would oversee both clubs and a single general manager would oversee both clubs.

Talks between the clubs have been under way for eight months.

Chapter involvement more important than ever

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:01 GMT

By Scott Wogomon

Heart of America GCSA President Scott Johnson will tell you just how important getting involved in your local chapter can be. And it’s not just because he’s served on the boards of three of them and is currently the president for the one that covers much of Kansas City and the surrounding area.

“You never know where the next job or the next opportunity will come from,” says Johnson, a superintendent at Shadow Glen Golf Club in Olathe, Kan., since 2002. His previous employers include longtime PGA Tour stop Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, and former Champions Tour stop The Country Club of the South near Atlanta. “My first job as a superintendent came from a recommendation from another superintendent that I really didn’t even know. But I played golf with him at a superintendents’ monthly meeting. Whatever I did to impress him, I’m not sure…had I not gone and participated in a chapter meeting I feel almost 100 percent I would not have had that opportunity given to me. You never know where those paths are going to lead…”

Part of the education

Johnson, 50 and a certified golf course superintendent through GCSAA, says the educational opportunities are another reason turf managers should spend time getting involved in local chapter activities. Those can include guest speakers at events, seminars and even Webcasts.

“I’m a believer in being involved and for me it’s a learning experience,” Johnson says. “Probably in any profession, but definitely in ours, you’re always striving to learn or keep current on what’s going on -- be proactive.”

Johnson has served on the boards of North Texas and Georgia chapters, before moving to Kansas and working his way up through the board positions at the Heart.

“When I got here, my main reason (to get involved) was just to know the guys,” says Johnson, who’d left Kansas in 1981 and really didn’t have many superintendent contacts in the area on his return. “I wanted to get involved and it was a networking and educational opportunity for me…and giving something back.”

Community involvement

One of the ways superintendents give back on the local chapter level is by the numerous community involvement/enrichment projects they undertake each year. From helping local organizations with their athletic fields to delivering food to the less fortunate to working with junior golf programs as part of helping to grow the game, members of local GCSA chapters give their members ample venues to be involved.

“It’s huge for us to take advantage of any opportunity to get in front of the community whether it’s our booth at the golf show or doing some of the charity things or cleaning up the cemetery…things like that,” Johnson says. “Those are just goodwill things that are important, not just as an association in giving back to the community, but they’re enriching and building (for) each other as far as being a better person.”

Scott Wogomon is a free-lance writer in Tonganoxie, Kansas, and has worked on the maintenance staffs of three Midwest golf courses. The former sports editor was associate editor for GCSAA’s Golf Course Management magazine and is senior writer for the Kansas Golf Association.

Assistant Golf Day Recap

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:01 GMT

Many thanks to everyone who made it out for the 2nd Annual Assistant Golf Day at The Emerald Golf Course in St. John’s. Our host Superintendent, Troy Looney, and the Director of Golf Course Operations Jay Eccleton, CGCS had the course in great shape. The greens were fast and everybody had a great time!

The 2nd Annual Assistant Golf Day held October 19, 2009 attracted 30 assistants and several vendors for an afternoon of golf and education. It was a day to network with fellow assistants from across the state and to learn about the industry. All four districts within the state were well represented.

Matt Suzio and Tavis Horton

The following assistants finished the afternoon with bragging rights:

• Low Gross Champion: Matt Suzio with a 6-over par-78 on the par-72 course
• Low Net: Jason Zaleski, Assistant Superintendent, Country Club of Detroit, 78
• Longest Drive: Jeff Smith, Assistant Superintendent, Cascade Hills Country Club
• Closest to the Pin: Jim Higgs, Spartan
Distributors on hole #8 and Tavis Horton,

Jason Zaleski and Tavis Horton

Assistant Superintendent, Birmingham Country Club on hole #12

The golf day started with an educational seminar lead by Oakland Hills Country Club’s Golf Course Manager Steve Cook, CGCS, MG on Selecting for Success - Building a Championship Team through the Interview Process. Steve gave assistants some insight into the hiring process at Oakland Hills Country Club. He explained how he identifies key attributes of candidates and that he believes that team involvement in the recruiting process ensures team investment.

Guest Speaker - Steve Cook, CGCS, MG
Oakland Hills Country Club

After the presentation Steve Cook along with John Fulling CGCS at Kalamazoo Country Club and MiGCSA Past President, took additional time to answer questions from the group of assistants on the current challenges within the golf industry and the impact for current and future Superintendents. Steve and John outlined the importance of developing leadership qualities and encouraged assistants to become engaged in networking, developing quality resumes, web sites, portfolio’s and references. Steve and John explained that hearing about the job and getting the interview is the most difficult aspect of the hiring process and to start building your network now. Steve explained that “you can succeed if you do all the things we’re talking about and to work 1 hour a week on your career development.” If you do all this Steve explained, “you will be in the top 5%.”

Many thanks again to our guest speakers Steve Cook and John Fulling for dedicating their morning to the education portion of the golf day event. Also, many thanks to this events IPP sponsors, Weingartz, Midwest Golf & Turf, Quali-Pro and Automatic Irrigation as well as our many prize donors.

USGA Turf Management Regional Updates

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:00:01 GMT

By Bob Vavrek, Senior Agronomist
October 16, 2009

Our short two weeks of summer weather across the upper Midwest came to an abrupt, chilly end this week. The snow flurries predicted for this weekend have many superintendents scratching their heads wondering…why did I wait so long to aerate the greens or is it too early to winterize the irrigation system?

Some frost in the air also gets us thinking about our Christmas wish list, after all, the local Walgreens already has the Christmas decorations out right next to the Halloween masks. If you don’t already have one, a weather station would be a good investment for any golf course. Just like personal computers, cell phones and other high tech electronics, you can get a much better weather station for much less money now compared to what was available just 10 years ago. In fact, you can purchase a unit complete with all the bells and whistles capable of measuring ET, leaf wetness, relative humidity, soil temperature, etc. for around $2500 or so.

The availability of accurate, on-site weather data will improve your ability to manage turf more efficiently. For example, soil temperature data can help fine tune the timing of growth regulator applications for Poa annua seedhead suppression. On-site ET measurements can be used to adjust and, often, reduce the amount of irrigation applied to the playing surfaces. ET measurement for your site will always be more accurate than the measurements obtained from the nearest airport or public weather data base.

In addition, weather data will provide an opportunity to use models that predict disease activity. A model is currently being developed and validated at the University of Wisconsin-Madison to predict dollar spot activity based on relative humidity. Dollar spot is a concern at every golf course in the Region every season. If a predictive model can eliminate just one fairway fungicide application; the savings will practically pay for a weather station.

Another temperature-based model is being developed to determine the optimal intervals for Primo applications throughout the summer. Using the model can help prevent the undesirable surge of turf growth that commonly occurs during hot weather when Primo is rapidly metabolized in the plant and loses its effect between treatments. It never hurts to avoid those complaints that occur when a surge of growth causes green speed to plummet just before or during a special course event.

So when the time comes to sit on Santa’s lap, be sure to ask for a weather station instead of a Red Ryder BB gun, besides, you’ll just shoot your eye out.

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

GCSAA gives scholarship awards to 12 students, 4 from MSU

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:00:01 GMT

The GCSAA recently awarded scholarships to 12 college students pursuing degrees in turfgrass studies.

The GCSAA’s Scholars Program is administered by the association’s Environmental Institute for Golf.

Sean Elverd, a student at the University of Tennessee, was named the winner of the GCSAA’s Mendenhall Award and receives a $6,000 scholarship award. Thomas Ham of Michigan State received $5,000 as the winner of the Allan MacCurrach Award, which is funded by the PGA Tour. Each also receives an expense-paid trip to next year’s Golf Industry Show in San Diego.

Other’s receiving scholarship awards were Niels Dokkuma of Penn State ($2,500), Joshua Lewis of Oregon State ($2,500), Steven Hutzell of Maryland ($2,500), Scott Wasser of Arkansas ($2,000), Glen Obear of Wisconsin ($2,000), Diego Penapareja of Michigan State ($1,500), Brian Ervin of Colorado State ($1,500), Robert Pray of Michigan State ($1,500), Manuel Gonzalez of Michigan State ($500) and Matt Carstens of Washington State ($500).

The program is funded by the Robert Trent Jones Endowment. Applicants must be enrolled in an undergraduate turfgrass program. Winners are chosen by a panel of judges based on factors such as academic achievement, potential to become a leading professional, employment history, extracurricular activities and recommendations from a current academic advisor and superintendent with whom the student has worked.

For more information, visit www.gcsaa.org .

Granholm budget reduction letter

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:00:01 GMT

On October 14, 2009, Governor Granholm signed MDA's budget. The budget included a number of additional reductions from the legislature's conference committee report. These 16 line item vetoes included the elimination of the Conservation District funding ($236,900.00) for 2010.

In total the MDA has suffered a dramatic 13% total budget reduction between 2009 and 2010. Between 2001 and 2010 the total general fund budget reduction for MDA has been 54%. Hard to imagine for the one industry that is the bright spot for the State. Even less heartening is that the ESD general fund budget during this same time has been reduced by 71%. As a result, ESD will make further changes and lay-off four staff. The Field Staff who work with conservation districts will be reduced by two and the Departmental Analyst who helps to coordinate CD deliverables, audits and grant payments will be eliminated. We will also terminate the Turfgrass Program Coordinator position.

These staff reductions will require some adjustment in the way we serve the public and how we interact with conservation districts. The specifics and changes are being worked at this time and we will share those with you as information becomes available.

One of the big issues is 2010 grants. The new budget will not allow for General Operations Grants. We will still have Groundwater Program grants and hope to be able to release them in the next couple of weeks. At this point we are not sure of the CTAI grants, but the clock is ticking and we should have word on those grants very soon. It is our intention to communicate directly with the conservation districts effected by the CTAI programs budget reduction.

We encourage you to communicate the effect of the budget reductions to your constituents.

Tough times are in front of us, we will need to pull together.

Best regards,
James Johnson

Equipment Technician Event Recap

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:00:01 GMT

The second annual MiGCSA FREE

John Garlitz of Spartan Distributors

Equipment Technician Education Seminar was held on Tuesday the 20th at Crystal Mountain Resort and Spa in Thompsonville. There were 32 in attendance for the 4 hour meeting, including Equipment Technicians, Company Representatives, Educators, and Students from the Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District Career-Tech Center. We also welcomed 9 new MiGCSA Equipment Technician members.

Gene Klinkman from Midwest Golf and Turf

The day started with Tom Tarr from the Career Tech Center on the value of OPEESA & the EETC certification. He was followed by John Garlitz of Spartan Distributors (Toro) who went over in detail the techniques of hydraulic schematic readings. Gene Klinkman from Midwest Golf and Turf (Jacobson) discussed the techniques of hydraulic schematic reading. And Jeremy Warner from Weingartz (John Deere) finished the education with a hands on demonstration of 2 and 4 stroke leak down testing.

Jeremy Warner from Weingartz

Every speaker provoked lively discussions among the attendees and opinions on what has worked for them at their facilities, and the information exchanged among the Technicians was very valuable. Lunch was provided thanks to Midwest Golf and Turf, and some attendees enjoyed a round of golf for only $15 after the meeting. Thank you to all who attended coming from all corners of the state, a special thank you to Dave Ertl of Traverse City Golf and Country Club for putting this great program together and supporting the MiGCSA and continuing the education of Equipment Technicians.

Thank you Lunch Sponsor

Q&A: Marvin still on the course after 67 years

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:00:01 GMT

By Dan Cherry
Daily Telegram
Wed Oct 14, 2009, 05:30 PM EDT

ADRIAN, Mich. -
Harold Marvin said he loves his job, and has the track record to prove it.

Marvin, 82, has worked on the golf course grounds at the Lenawee Country Club for the past 67 years.

Though Marvin officially retired 20 years ago as the golf course superintendent, the Adrian resident has continued working part-time as the superintendent emeritus, helping to tend the grounds he knows well.

About Harold Marvin

A few words about Lenawee Country Club superintendent emeritus Harold Marvin from the club’s current superintendent, John Francoeur:

“When Harold approached retirement age 20 years ago, we offered him a lifetime job if he so desired,” Francoeur said. He said Marvin accepted the title of superintendent emeritus and has continued helping out at the course.

Francoeur said he appreciates Marvin’s 67 years of knowledge of the grounds.

“I look around this place at all the trees that are here,” Francoeur said. “Harold physically planted 75 percent of the trees here, and overseen the planting of the other 25 percent.”

Francoeur said the department recently purchased a new lawn tractor. The last new tractor Marvin used was nearly 25 years ago.

“We thought he deserved a new one to use,” Francoeur said. “He probably never ever thought he was going to see a new tractor. He mows the roughs out here.”

He added Marvin helped put in the club’s irrigation system around 1960, a network that is still in use.

“He is an invaluable person and a real hard worker,” Francoeur said.

Marvin took a few minutes Tuesday from mowing the golf course grounds to reflect on his years at the country club.

What is the biggest change you’ve seen at the country club?
The course looks so much greener than it did in the 1940s. There’s a lot more trees, too. The irrigation system helps.

How did you get your start at the country club?
I caddied when I was 12 or 13, then started helping out on the grounds when I was 15, and I’ve been here since.

What do you like the most about what you do?
It’s nice to be outside. I like to get out in the air and sunshine.

Have you seen anyone famous stop by the country club?
In the 1950s, we had the Michigan Pro-Am (golf tournament) here, but nobody today would (recognize) their names.

Any plans to retire?
As long as I feel good, I’ll keep going. All the memories of being here have been great.

Have a suggestion for a Q&A or a Lenawee Spotlight? Contact news editor David Panian at 265-5111 ext. 265 or panian@lenconnect.com.

2009 Big Event Recap

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:00:01 GMT

Jeff Hnatow, Tim Dark, CGCS and Mike Butler of Barton Hills C.C.

The 44th Annual Big Event was held on October 5, 2009 at Barton Hills Country Club. Approximately 119 golfers joined our host Superintendent Tim Dark, CGCS at this Greater Detroit district golf fundraiser to benefit the Michigan Turf Foundation (“MTF”). The fundraiser goals were successfully met through our attendees and the IPP sponsors. Special thanks to Sue Shockey, Erin Greibe and Turfgrass Inc. for sponsoring the Vegas Hole and raising $1,100.00 for the MTF.

Low Gross Champions
L-R Bob Matese, Carey Mitchelson, Russ Cunningham and Kathy Shagena

The low net scramble winners included the team of Tavis Horton, Andy Keilen, Tim Johnson and Brad Anderson, CGCS with a handicapped score of 46. The low gross scramble winners were the team of Carey Mitchelson, Russ Cunningham, Kathy Shagena and Bob Matese with a score of 60 (-12 under par). The longest drive contest on hole #12 went to Dave Norris with a 306 yard drive and the closest to the pin contest on hole #8 went to assistant superintendent Jason Zaleski from Country Club of Detroit.

Low Net Champions
L-R Brad Anderson, CGCS, Tavis Horton and Tim Johnson
Andy Keilen (missing)

Our traditional skins competition was won between three groups, on holes #4, #9 and #11. The team of Rob Pylar, Dave Pollen, Andy Thoresen and Perry Stevens won the skins on the par-4 hole #4, the team of Jay Eccleton, CGCS, Jeff Harry, Troy Looney and Kevin Luchetti won the skins on hole #9 with a great second shot for a 2 on a par-5 and the third skins on the par-3, 216 yard hole #11 went to the team of Steve Rebhan, Lee Collins, Jim Dart and Joe Jehnsen who returned their winnings back to turf research.

Jay Eccleton, CGCS and Scott Ford

The highlight of the evening was presenting the $750 Heritage scholarship award to Katie Ford. Katie was unable to attend due to being at school. Her father Scott Ford was proud to accept it on her behalf.

This event would not have been as huge of a success if it were not for the members, management team and staff at Barton Hills Country Club. The MiGCSA’s Board of Directors commitment to making this event unforgettable was the reason it was such a huge success and talked about for days and weeks after the event. Special thanks go out to our event volunteers Ron Murdock and Tim Johnson who gave their time and effort to assisting us in

The Big Event Committee, Volunteers and MiGCSA Board Members
L-R Jay Eccleton, CGCS, Ron Murdock, Tavis Horton, John Fulling, CGCS, Gregg Matthews
Tim Johnson and Ron Dahlin, CGCS

making this event a tremendous success.

And finally we would also like to thank all of our IPP sponsors, prize donors, and Eurich Management for helping make this event possible. Our IPP sponsors included:

Thanks again for your support and we look forward to seeing you next year!

Sincerely,
Tavis Horton, Gregg Matthews and Tim Dark, CGCS
The Big Event Committee Co-Chairs

Side Effects USGA Regional Update North Central Region

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:00:01 GMT

By Bob Vavrek, Senior Agronomist
October 16, 2009

Our short two weeks of summer weather across the upper Midwest came to an abrupt, chilly end this week. The snow flurries predicted for this weekend have many superintendents scratching their heads wondering…why did I wait so long to aerate the greens or is it too early to winterize the irrigation system?
Some frost in the air also gets us thinking about our Christmas wish list, after all, the local Walgreens already has the Christmas decorations out right next to the Halloween masks. If you don’t already have one, a weather station would be a good investment for any golf course. Just like personal computers, cell phones and other high tech electronics, you can get a much better weather station for much less money now compared to what was available just 10 years ago. In fact, you can purchase a unit complete with all the bells and whistles capable of measuring ET, leaf wetness, relative humidity, soil temperature, etc. for around $2500 or so.

The availability of accurate, on-site weather data will improve your ability to manage turf more efficiently. For example, soil temperature data can help fine tune the timing of growth regulator applications for Poa annua seedhead suppression. On-site ET measurements can be used to adjust and, often, reduce the amount of irrigation applied to the playing surfaces. ET measurement for your site will always be more accurate than the measurements obtained from the nearest airport or public weather data base.

In addition, weather data will provide an opportunity to use models that predict disease activity. A model is currently being developed and validated at the University of Wisconsin-Madison to predict dollar spot activity based on relative humidity. Dollar spot is a concern at every golf course in the Region every season. If a predictive model can eliminate just one fairway fungicide application; the savings will practically pay for a weather station.

Another temperature-based model is being developed to determine the optimal intervals for Primo applications throughout the summer. Using the model can help prevent the undesirable surge of turf growth that commonly occurs during hot weather when Primo is rapidly metabolized in the plant and loses its effect between treatments. It never hurts to avoid those complaints that occur when a surge of growth causes green speed to plummet just before or during a special course event.

So when the time comes to sit on Santa’s lap, be sure to ask for a weather station instead of a Red Ryder BB gun, besides, you’ll just shoot your eye out.

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

Chapter Delegates Meeting offers insight and a look ahead

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:00:01 GMT

Ninety GCSAA chapter delegates, representing 95 chapters, convened in Lawrence, Kan., and Kansas City, Mo., Oct. 9-11 to participate in a wide range of discussions, including the state of the golf economy, association governance, golf’s relationship with the environment, and membership growth and retention.

“I was extremely impressed by the preparation and engagement of the delegates,” said Jim Fitzroy, CGCS, meeting chairman and GCSAA vice president. “The questions asked were appropriate, and the discussions were thoughtful. That makes for a healthy meeting and gives me great confidence that the delegates will go back and communicate to their members so that they have a deeper understanding of what GCSAA is doing on their behalf and on behalf of the game.”

Candidate presentations
In addition, candidates for president, vice president, secretary/treasurer and two open director positions met with the delegates. A shortened version of the candidate presentations will be available on GCSAA TV in the near future. Fitzroy, Wollaston Recreational Facility/Presidents Golf Club in North Quincy, Mass., is running unopposed for president; as is Bob Randquist, CGCS at Boca Rio Golf Club in Boca Raton, Fla., for vice president. Current directors Sandy Queen, CGCS at City of Overland Park, Kan.., and Pat Finlen, CGCS at The Olympic Club in San Francisco, Calif., oppose each other for secretary/treasurer. Both of their two year director terms expire this year. Four candidates are vying for two open director positions: Bob Farren, CGCS at Pinehurst (N.C.) Resort; Todd Lupkes, CGCS at Palouse Ridge Golf Course in Pullman, Wash; Bill Maynard, CGCS at Milburn Golf and Country Club in Shawnee, Kan.; and Mike Wooten, CGCS at Cedar Ridge Country Club in Broken Arrow, Okla.

“The nominating committee did an excellent job in providing the membership a solid slate of candidates for the election in February,” Fitzroy said. The feedback from the delegates is there will be some difficult choices, but all are extremely worthy of service.”

Association operations and financial update
Thirty-one of the 39 new chapter delegates participated in an orientation session to learn more about their role and in greater detail how GCSAA functions as an association. The full contingent of delegates heard a state of the association presentation from GCSAA Chief Executive Officer Mark Woodard, CGCS. He noted GCSAA has been challenged financially by declines in industry advertising, trade show space, and conference and show attendance. However, he said GCSAA is in a better position than many associations because of a healthy financial reserve, a supportive industry, a loyal membership and no long-term debt.

Woodward also said the association’s solid footing is buoyed by its participation in numerous allied association initiatives and by the importance owners and influential golfers place on the golf course superintendent.

“In my first 15 months on the job I have had the opportunity to travel all over the nation and meet with a broad spectrum of the industry,” Woodward said. “Two things stand out: First, golf has never been more unified and committed to strengthening the game; and second, the recognized value of the GCSAA member is at an all time high. GCSAA has its challenges, but the leadership really looks at the situation as one of opportunity. We are in a strong position and much of the credit for that goes to the membership.”

Sustainability
Delegates were also updated on the work of GCSAA and The Environmental Institute for Golf in sustaining the game. Chief among the efforts is the Golf Course Environmental Profile. GCSAA Director of Environmental Programs Greg Lyman explained that the nutrient survey results would be released in early December, building on the land use and water use/conservation reports issued over the past two years. Lyman noted that the data from the surveys has been crucial in working with lawmakers, media and allied golf associations in detailing golf’s environmental footprint. Lyman also discussed the importance of the development of the new superintendent competencies, which will include an element of environmental management.

Perhaps the highlight of the meeting was a presentation on sustainability by University of Kansas Professor of Journalism and Mass Communications Simran Sethi. An internationally respected authority on sustainability and contributor to NBC Nightly News, Oprah Winfrey Show and Planet Green Channel, Sethi spoke about the sustainability with a focus on the triple bottom line: people, planet and profit. She applauded GCSAA, its members and The Institute for their commitment to transparency and continuous improvement in managing facilities.

“It’s a challenge for you, and I realize that,” Sethi said. “You have to serve your employers and you are pressured by golfers for perfection. You must have patience in this effort. Communications will be important. You will have to demonstrate why a change of behavior is important. Use the tools out there that are available to help. I think what the association and you are doing is wonderful. As long as the association and you are committed to transparency and continuous improvement, then you can be successful against detractors.”

First timers impressed
A format change that focused on creating opportunities for small group discussions, expanded time with the candidates and more opportunities for networking was well received, especially by first-time attendees.

“I was blown away,” said Daniel Salois, GCSAA Class A member at Highland Meadows Golf Club in Toledo, Ohio, and delegate for the Northwestern Ohio GCSA. “This was a great way for me to learn more about GCSAA and all of the resources it provides for the members. We have a very sharp staff that is committed to serving the members. I am going to go back and share with my chapter just how much GCSAA can help them and their facilities.”

Jay Eccleton, CGCS at The Emerald at Maple Creek in St. John’s, Mich., and Michigan GCSA delegate, challenged his peers: “GCSAA puts it right there in front of us. You cannot blame them. Shame on us the member if we do not take advantage of the resources. I learned a lot about the election process and the association overall. I am impressed.”

Other discussions included:

GCSAA governance issues, including voting procedures, dual membership and the chapter affiliation agreement, which will be renewed Dec. 31, 2009.
Efforts by GCSAA to manage its expenses and generate new revenues. While the board will approve the association budget in December, the sentiment is not to raise member dues for 2010.
The health of the GCSAA Education Conference and the Golf Industry Show, as well as the future rotation of the event.
GCSAA advocacy efforts with lawmakers, media and other audiences.
Best practices by chapters to increase effectiveness and engagement.
GCSAA membership recruitment and retention activities.

NOTE: Presentations from the Chapter Delegates Meeting are available at www.gcsaa.org. Detailed outcomes from the weekend will be distributed to delegates in the upcoming weeks for their use at chapter meetings.

MI Department of Agriculture Has Closed All Its Regional Offices

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 00:00:01 GMT

LANSING – In a move to shave off approximately $600,000 from its budget, Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) Director Don Koivisto today announced the permanent closure of the department’s regional offices located in Detroit, Escanaba, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Saginaw, St. Joseph, and Traverse City and its district office in Marquette. MDA will still continue to have field staff working around the state using their homes as an office base. The main difference is customers no longer have a brick and mortar location to go to for service.

“MDA’s regional offices are an important part of the department’s ability to deliver its programs to our customers; however, budget realities are causing us to look at different ways of doing business,” said Koivisto. “While we anticipate there will be some bumps in the road as we transition to this new business model, MDA will work hard to maintain the high level of customer service we have always provided.”

Effective October 1, customers calling MDA’s regional and district offices have been redirected to a toll-free number in Lansing: 800-292-3939. Additionally, staff are no longer available at those locations.

MDA’s regional offices provided a variety of services to consumers and industry representatives such as:
· Serving as a base of operations for investigations, product sampling, plant pest and disease eradication, emergency incident management and response, foodborne illness outbreak response, staff training, field equipment, and evidence storage, etc.
· Accepting consumer complaints about food products, conditions of food establishments, nursery plants, insect pests, etc.
· Administering 16,000 pesticide applicator exams annually.
· Handling licensing and regulatory questions, including accepting fee and fine payments.

MDA’s new regional contact information is as follows:
Ph: 800-292-3939
General mail: Michigan Dept. of Agriculture, PO Box 30017, Lansing, MI 48909
General email: mda-info@michigan.gov
Food and nursery licensing fees: Michigan Dept. of Agriculture, PO Box 30746,
Lansing, MI 48909
Other money: Michigan Dept. of Agriculture, PO Box 30776, Lansing, MI 48909
Online complaint form: www.michigan.gov/mdacomplaints
For information on licensing or starting a business in Michigan, you can visit http://www.michigan.gov/business.

MSU 4 October 2009 Correspondence

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 00:00:01 GMT

Greetings from a very happy (and relieved!) land of Green and White. I cannot remember a time where we lived through such satisfaction, horror and euphoria in as short a time as yesterday. Clearly, the football team got a monkey off its back, and the Spartan faithful can crow for another full year.

My prediction from August is slightly off as some of you have pointed out. My expectations at this point were to be 4-1 at this point and not 2-3, although we are only two plays from being there, I might add, but those are the breaks. Now it is on to Illinois. My only news on hoops is other than the obvious that we will be strong, is that Korie Lucious had to undergo another foot surgery recently. He is a vital component to this team.

The 18th G.W. Hamilton Cutter Cup Matches will be held Sunday, October 11, at the Sharon Golf Club just outside Cleveland. Penn State is the host team this year and the host superintendent is Frank Dobie. I think our team is quite solid this year (read:very) and I expect them to be very competitive. As you know, you can see all of the results on the alumni web page; turfgrass.msu.edu.

The GCSAA scholarship committee gave out 12 scholarships for the 2009-10 year, and I am proud to announce that 4 MSU students are recipients of these awards. Tom Ham, Robert Pray, Diego Penapara, and Manuel Gonzalez were all chosen. Congratulations on the awards and for upholding a strong tradition.

The incoming class ended up with 14 students, and I expect one student from a previous class to return in January 2010. In this class there are 3 Spaniards and 1 Italian. It is a good class that is shaping up nicely.

The Farm Lane project is now complete and you can make it up and down the road without being stopped by a train. The bad news? One of the best excuses for being late just went by the boards.

Keep looking for lost souls. I will be back soon.

Trey Rogers

MiGCSA Members in GolfWorld Readers Choice Awards

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:00:01 GMT

The successful debut of the Readers' Choice Awards a year ago brought with it some anxiety for the editors at Golf World. It wasn't whether this unique critique of golf facilities would resonate with subscribers. After all, it was your list, a ranking derived solely from the opinions of this magazine's most valuable resource: our readers. What made us nervous was whether we could keep leaning on you to get an honest assessment of the thousands of places to play across America.

Ranking Criteria

The answer, we thankfully found, was a resounding yes. As we unveil the 2010 Golf World Readers' Choice Awards honorees, we can boast more than double the participation in the program's second year. When all the votes were counted, more than 46,000 individual facility ratings and more than 600,000 criteria evaluations were collected.

With twice the number of people voting, facilities meeting the threshold for eligibility substantially increased. So it is that the 2010 list includes several new names -- 30 public establishments, 18 private clubs and 16 resorts to be precise. Moreover, there was a shake-up at the top of the rankings with new facilities claiming the No. 1 spots in the public and private categories (we won't give away the surprise; you'll have to read on to see for yourself).

We remain proud of the fact that, besides being a "populist" list, the Readers' Choice Awards are more than just another ranking of courses, but an assessment of the overall golf experience. It explores all the variables -- from the quality and condition of the course, to the amenities being offered, to the overall value provided to the golfer -- that make a golf facility an enjoyable place to play our favorite game.

So, spend some time with the rankings and start thinking about how you might vote the next time you're asked for your viewpoint. Rest assured, we'll be calling on you again soon.

Methodology

The Golf World Readers' Choice Awards are based solely on reader input gathered by Golf Digest Publications' Research Resource Center via an online poll conducted in 2008 and 2009. For a facility to be ranked, it had to receive a minimum number of reader evaluations. (Some notable facilities--Southern Hills CC and The Country Club, for example--don't appear because they did not reach that minimum.) Readers graded facilities based on various criteria (see key above) using a 10-point scale. To arrive at an overall aggregate score for each facility, we first calculated the average ratings received in all applicable criteria. The raw scores were weighted to reflect different levels of significance for each of the criteria, with the formula varying based on the category. The overall total then was recalculated to a 100-point scale so a perfect score on every ballot yielded an aggregate of 100. (It's why when reading the accompanying charts a facility's scores in each criteria don't equal its total.) Oak Hill CC, the top-ranked private course in the Readers' Choice Awards, came closest of all facilities to achieving the perfect 100 score, earning a 98.40.

Michigan Courses in the top 50

Public Private Resort

#1. Forest Dunes G.C., Jim Bluck, CGCS #24. Crystal Downs C.C., Mike Morris, CGCS #27. St. Ives/Tullymore, Alex Greenacre, CGCS, James Granfield

#16. Arcadia Bluffs G.C., Paul Emling, Mike Neilson, Custer Carland, Pat Sullivan #27. Oakland Hills C.C., Steve Cook,CGCS, MG, Mike Mausolf,John Rinehart #32. Treetops Resort, Douglas Hoeh, Mark Lauet, Jason Roznowski, Scott Pulaski, Mark Wildeman,CGCS, Gary Ray, Thomas Brown, Rond Kellog

#23. Cedar Chase G.C.
#38. Bay Harbor G.C., Todd Kauffman

#27. Eagle Eye, Steve Fiorillo, CGCS #45 Grand Traverse Resort, Paul Galligan, Gene Davis, Seth Britton

#30. Bucks Run G.C., Jeff Sweet, CGCS

#31. Pilgrims Run G.C., Ken Hunt, CGCS

#49. Shepards Hollow G.C., Tim Asselin, CGCS

GCSAA TV MythBusters: What Do Northern Superintendents Do in the Winter?

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:00:01 GMT

MSU database includes GCM search feature

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:00:01 GMT

Michigan State University’s Turfgrass Information File, a searchable database presented in partnership with the Turfgrass Information Center, has a “dig deeper” search option for its archive of Golf Course Management magazine. According to MSU, in some cases it will be possible to identify material previously “invisible'” to the search engine, and in almost all cases, it will substantially increase the volume of material retrieved.

The option is available as a check box within the search interface of the archive, which includes all GCM issues from 1933 to the present. It allows users to search the full text of all GCM articles indexed within TGIF (approaching 11,000) at the word level, using the OCR text (uncorrected) from the scanned pdfs.

In addition, the entire Turfgrass Information File is now open to GCSAA assistant superintendents (Class C), who join GCSAA Class A and SM members with full, free access to more than 320 journals and magazines, along with research reports, conference proceedings, extension bulletins, books and book chapters, theses and dissertations, scanned golf course plans, photos and much more.

And The 2009 Diamond Award Recipients Are?

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:00:01 GMT

L-R: Rebecca Holloway, Donn Eurich, Vanessa Crocetto, Marci Jacobs

The Michigan Golf Course Superintendents Association executive staff members were the proud recipients of two Diamond Awards. The Michigan Society of Association Executives (MSAE) held its 8th Annual Diamond Awards Banquet on Sept. 23, 2009, at The Townsend Hotel in Birmingham. Nearly 300 members and guests attended the event, designed to recognize excellence and innovation in associations.

The Diamond Award is the highest honor of each category presented by the MSAE. Vanessa Crocetto, Director of Fundraising, won a Diamond Award for her submission of the Industry Partnership Program under the Non-Dues Revenue category with a budget of under a million dollars. Rebecca Holloway, Director of Communication, was presented with the Diamond Award for her work on Course Conditions under the category Magazine Publishing with a budget under a million dollars. Marci Jacobs was also present to except both awards. Jacobs was the graphic designer for both projects.

The Michigan Society of Association Executives is a not-for-profit membership organization that serves similar organizations in a variety of managerial and staff specialist roles. MSAE focuses its resources on the professional development needs of its members. Eurich Management (MiGCSA Staff) has been a member of MSAE for almost 30 years. This is the first year which Eurich has submitted a piece to The Diamond Awards. “Eurich is very proud of their accomplishments. It’s an honor to have our peers in the association management industry recognized our countless hours of hard work.”

A full list of the Diamond Award Winners and photos will be available on the Michigan Society of Association Executives website soon. The web address is www.msae.org.

The 'real deal'

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 00:00:01 GMT

by John Reitman

Some people, it seems, are destined to become a golf course superintendent, and then there is Clarence Wolfrom Jr.

Wolfrom, 75, has spent his life around the game – literally. He was born in the family apartment above the clubhouse at Maple Lane Golf Course, where his father, Clarence Sr., was superintendent for 54 years. By the time he could walk, the younger Wolfrom was following his father around the golf course in Sterling Heights, Mich. When he and each of his three brothers reached age 5 their father taught them how to remove dandelions from the family’s side business – a Detroit-area sod farm. Once he was physically able, Wolfrom was running water to crew workers on golf courses around the Detroit area.

Today, Wolfrom, otherwise known as Clem, is preparing to embark on his 48th year as superintendent at Detroit Golf Club in Highland Park. And he doesn’t plan on calling it quits anytime soon.

“I enjoy what I do,” Wolfrom said. “It’s 16 miles down Woodward Avenue from my house in Bloomfield Hills to the Detroit Golf Club. I’ve told my wife (Cheryl) that if there ever is a morning that I don’t look forward to going to work, that’s the day I hang it up. That hasn’t happened yet.”

Wolfrom’s longevity at Detroit has made a lasting impression on Todd Beals, the club’s chief operating officer.

“I think he was born to do this job. It’s in his blood,” Beals said. “This is my sixth club I’ve been associated with, and I’m in awe of this man.

“There are past superintendents from other clubs who I am friends with and who I hunt and fish with. But I’ve never met anyone who I respect more than I do Clem Wolfrom.”

It is easy to understand why Beals might feel this way.

Wolfrom excels in many of the typical duties associated with being a superintendent. He maintains detailed maintenance logs of every piece of equipment in the shop and provides detailed job instructions for each of the nearly 30 members of his crew on a daily basis.

But it is in other areas of his job where Wolfrom excels – namely the relationships he maintains with members and his knack for proactively heading off challenges before they become major problems – that have impressed Beals and others. Consider this: Wolfrom has been superintendent for nearly half of the club’s 110-year history. A 1956 graduate of Michigan State University’s ornamental horticulture program, his career predates the school’s turfgrass program, which originated in 1969.

An article penned by Cecil Kerr entitled “The future of golf course superintendents” noted how Wolfrom proactively reduced labor expenses at Detroit Golf Club by 10 percent over a three-year period in response to a flailing local economy – and that was way back in 1970.

Wolfrom’s cost-cutting measures at the inner-city course were in response to five days of riots in Detroit in 1967 sent many members fleeing to suburban clubs in the ensuing years.

“We lost a big percentage of our membership,” Wolfrom said. “We were really down and out then.”

Things were so bad then at Detroit Golf Club that Wolfrom approached then green committee chairman Gordon Andrew to tell him he was considering putting a halt to construction on a home he was building in Bloomfield Hills.

“I told him that I didn’t know how secure my job was,” Wolfrom said. “He told me to go ahead and build my house, that there would always be a Detroit Golf Club. We weathered that storm and other recessions since then, but we were bare bones then. We reduced our staff considerably.

“I went on with building the house, and it’s the house I still live in now.”

Today, those concerns seem almost laughable, but they speak to the relationships that Wolfrom has maintained with his chairman, committee members and golfing members through the past 57 years.

He eats lunch with members daily in the club’s dining room. While much of the talk in the room might revolve around the Detroit Tigers and Lions, the opportunity for members to ask about conditions on the golf course is there.

“I’ve always thought that you have to tell the truth. You have to always be present to answer questions – good or bad – about your golf course,” he said. “I make it a point to have lunch every day with the men’s club. I never miss that. Sometimes the golf course is not always in the best condition for whatever reason, but I still face those people. If they have a question, I want to be the one to answer it. I don’t want the pro or the manager answering for me.”

Michigan State professor Trey Rogers, Ph.D., recalls one of those lunches.

“I think the one thing that sticks out for me is when I asked him on a visit what was the secret to his longevity. He smiled and said, ‘come with me,’ ” Rogers said. “We went up to the men’s grill room in Detroit Golf Club where some 30 to 40 guys were eating lunch. We ate lunch, but as we were eating, (Wolfrom) spoke to the members, really about everything from golf to grass to football. Afterward, I remarked that the communication in that room was impressive. He smiled and said that his philosophy was to always be available and visible, especially in difficult times. It has worked for him, and many other superintendents who sought his counsel and heeded his advice.

“He is, after all, the true dean of golf course superintendents in Michigan.”

Wolfrom not only talks a good game over lunch, he also maintains personal relationships with many of his members. He plays golf with them (he is an 11 handicap) and takes a group on an annual outing to White Pine National Golf Resort, a course in Spruce, Mich.., that Wolfrom built and owns with younger brother, Bruce.

Much of Wolfrom’s professional philosophy is directly attributable to his personal experiences.

He learned the value of hard work from his father, who sent four children to college on earnings from the sod farm.

Personal tragedies, including losing his first wife, Janet, to cancer in 1989 and their son, Larry, in a car crash in 1994, have taught him to take nothing for granted.

“That was a tough stretch for me,” Wolfrom said.

“You just have to continue on. There’s nothing else you can do.”

Wolfrom and brother Bruce completed construction of White Pine in 1993. The course, built with money they had inherited from their father, was intended as a memorial to their parents. The street on which both men own homes on the property is named Viola Lane, in honor of their mother. Wolfrom’s son, Larry, had served as construction foreman throughout the duration of the project and was going to be the course superintendent – after a well-deserved vacation. However, he died on a Montana highway while returning to Michigan.

Wolfrom remarried in 1993. He and Cheryl have a 15-year-old son, Cody, who is a sophomore in college. Stepson Zach is a senior at Michigan State University.

“She is a great wife and a great mother to my kids. Life is good – for now,” Wolfrom said, noting the uncertainty tomorrow brings.

His mother, Viola, died on the operating table at age 72 while doctors worked to repair a heart valve, and his father died in his easy chair, listening to Ernie Harwell call a Tigers game in their World Series-winning season of 1984.

“Life is always a mystery, and you have to keep going. I’ve had a great life. The good Lord has tossed me a couple of curves, but I’ve handled those, and life moves on.”

Life’s lessons have reminded Wolfrom that he must occasionally stop to smell the roses, or in this case the freshly mown turf. During the club’s member-member tournament this summer, he would park his utility vehicle on a hill behind the third green after the morning’s activities were complete and watch golfers coming through, marveling at the work he and his crew had accomplished.

“You have to take time to do that,” he said. “I do that off and on. I just look the place over. It’s relaxing and gives you a lot of self satisfaction.”

Even at 75, Wolfrom remains a tireless devotee to maintaining a near-perfect golf course. He is proud of the work he does, and defies anyone to find even one small plot of managed acreage that is not covered in turf.

He also admits that turf management has changed dramatically throughout his career.

“We cut tees closer today than we did greens in 1962,” he said. “Putting surfaces today are so far superior to those in the ’50s, ’60s and even the ’70s.”

He stays abreast of the latest turf management trends by reading volumes of books and scientific articles, and regularly attends the Golf Industry Show and its predecessors. When he missed this year’s show in New Orleans because of son Cody’s swim meet, it marked only the second time since graduating from Michigan State in 1956 that he missed the GCSAA’s annual conference.

He has served on the Michigan chapter’s board for 24 years and was president for four. He also is a past president of the Michigan Turf Foundation and was a five-time member of its board beginning in 1963.

All the while, he never has forgotten the needs of his employees, advocating for their rights and wages to the club’s board members.
“He is a leader with the members and within his profession. . . . He keeps me and the pro abreast of what is happening with the golf course. He is the real deal. He is full of humility, but he stands up for himself and his employees.”
- Todd Beals, COO of Detroit Golf Club
Something must be working because one member of his crew, Charles Ingraham, has worked at Detroit Golf Club for 51 years, that’s four years more than Wolfrom has been there.

“A good crew, there is nothing better than a good crew,” Wolfrom said. “I have tried to keep wages up and benefits up for my people. I figure they have to buy bread from the same place I have to buy it, and they pay the same price I do. They help provide entertainment for the members, and they should be rewarded for that.”

Something must be working because one member of his crew, Charles Ingraham, has worked at Detroit Golf Club for 51 years, that’s four years more than Wolfrom has been there.

“He is a leader with the members and within his profession,” said Beals, the club’s COO.

“He keeps me and the pro abreast of what is happening with the golf course. He is the real deal. He is full of humility, but he stands up for himself and his employees.”

Wolfrom said the secret to his longevity and success is nothing unique. Or is his approach, once the norm, now truly the exception?

“I just try to lead a good life and be honest and do the right thing – most of the time. I’m no saint by any stretch of the imagination,” he said. “You have to keep everything in balance.

“Right now, I still have my health, and I still provide a pretty good golf course. I’m looking forward to next year, but maybe next summer I’ll say ‘that’s enough.’ But we’ll see.”

Environmental Stewardship at Birmingham Country Club

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 00:00:01 GMT

Read the Case Study

Monthly Feature Hosted By:

Anthony L. Williams, CGCS at Marriott’s Stone Mountain Golf Club in Georgia

One of the first building blocks for any environmental plan is to conduct an assessment of your current status. This assessment will lead to a list of prioritized actions or steps that will become the cornerstone of your environmental programs. Tavis Horton the assistant golf course superintendent at the Birmingham Country Club gives us a great look at how the Michigan Turfgrass Environmental Stewardship Program was utilized with success at the Birmingham Country Club. Their story is a 360 degree look at environmental stewardship beginning with their assessment and then on into their work toward sustainability. Also, their story reminds us that there are great programs that exist to help us keep golf “green”.

This case study is full of useful information with detailed lists of expenses and projects. Be sure to review the three year Priority Action Plan that highlights 21 items that range from implementing a drift management plan to researching well logs with the Oakland Health Department. Tavis also shares some excellent photos from their project that add considerable take home value to this case study.

In addition, Tavis talks candidly through several sensitive environmental aspects of the golf maintenance operation giving clear and orderly examples of properly closing out used fuel tanks and providing comparative details involving areas like biological treatment wash stations versus the more economical “dog leash” wash system. There are many impressive items in this case study that will make you think about your current level of environmental stewardship.

Personally, I think the take home message for me is twofold. First, that the Michigan Turgrass Environmental Stewardship Program is a voluntary program that is user friendly and results oriented. Second, that Tavis Horton and the entire staff of the Birmingham Country Club executed this program to a very high level.

September's Guest:

Debbie Swartz, Michigan Turfgrass Environmental Stewardship Program Coordinator

Tavis Horton, assistant superintendent at Birmingham Country Club, is without a doubt an environmental leader in the golf industry. His passion and commitment to be in compliance with environmental laws, protect our natural resources and implement environmentally sound practices are clearly manifested in the quality of work he conducts on a daily basis. Tavis was one of the first superintendents to participate in the Michigan Turfgrass Environmental Stewardship Program (MTESP) and he wasted no time taking the necessary steps to get his course certified in the program.

Becoming certified in the MTESP is a straight forward process which includes a review of educational modules and a self assessment process designed to help the superintendent determine where the property needs to gain compliance. Modules contain information on regulated areas such as fuel storage, emergency response, wellhead protection, and pesticide and fertilizer handling, storage and application. Additional modules go beyond what is required by law to provide guidance on equipment washing practices such as buffer strips, irrigation practices and a selection of environmentally preferred products. Combined, these modules set the framework for the development of a comprehensive environmental action plan to be implemented by management at a pace that is feasible given their level of financial and human resources.

To help golf courses achieve certification in the most cost effective fashion, on-site visits are conducted by a MTESP specialist along with the golf course superintendent. This provides an exceptional opportunity to exchange ideas on how to make improvements efficiently and it also connects the superintendent with the appropriate person or business to address course specific action items. It comes as a surprise to many, that the majority of improvements at a property often cost far less than what was originally imagined. As part of the field staff’s responsibility, they continually seek reasonable solutions for environmental projects that meet state requirements and further protect, enhance and conserve natural resources.

Michigan Turfgrass Environmental Stewardship Program certification is celebrated by awarding the superintendent with a certificate signed by representatives from the Michigan Departments of Agriculture and Environmental Quality, Michigan State University, Golf Association of Michigan, Michigan Turfgrass Foundation, and the Michigan Golf Course Owners Association. In addition to receiving significant recognition from these organizations, this accomplishment provides financial rewards and a platform to let clients and the community know that you’re doing the right thing and the environment truly matters.

Leadership Academy shapes future of the industry

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:00:01 GMT

GCSAA hosted 25 superintendents from around the nation in the second annual Leadership Academy presented in partnership with The Toro Co. and Syngenta last week at GCSAA headquarters in Lawrence, Kan.

Those who attended the two-day session were nominated by their GCSAA-affiliated chapter based on their potential to serve as volunteer leaders in the near future. The program addressed current issues and future trends impacting the golf course superintendent profession and association management, and helped the attendees begin building a professional network of peers who share best practices and innovative ideas.

The sessions included Steve Keating, selling skills manager for The Toro Co., and his presentation “The 360 Degree Leader.” Bryan Stromme, Midwest regional director of agronomy for Billy Casper Golf, presented “Taking the Lead in Environmental Issues in Golf.” GCSAA CEO Mark Woodward, CGCS, spoke about association management.

Both sponsor companies continue to stress the importance of getting more people actively involved in their associations at the local and national levels, as well as in the industry.

Participants included:

Todd Bohn – Creekmoor Golf Club, Raymore, Mo.; Heart of America GCSA

Steven Chernosky – Deerwood Country Club, Kingwood, Texas; South Texas GCSA

Robert Coffey – Cimarrone Golf & Country Club, St. Johns, Fla.; North Florida GCSA

Jeff D. Couwenhoven – Woodcreek Golf Club, Roseville, Calif., Sierra Nevada GCSA

Douglas Dykstra, CGCS – White Mountain Country Club, Pinetop, Ariz.; Cactus and Pine GCSA

Sean Flynn – Great River Golf Club, Milford, Conn.; Connecticut Assoc. of GCS

Eric Frazier – Willow Oaks Country Club, Richmond, Va.; Old Dominion GCSA

Jim Gernander – Kwiniaska Golf Club, Shelburne, Vt., Vermont GCSA

Jonathan Heywood – Cape Cod National Golf Club, Harwich, Mass.; GCSA of Cape Cod

Adam Ikamas – Crystal Mountain Resort, Thompsonville, Mich.; Michigan GCSA

Stephen Karsh – River Crossing Golf Club, Spring Branch, Texas; Central Texas GCSA

Matthew O. Krukiel – Chester River Yacht & Country Club, Chestertown, Md., Eastern Shore Assoc. of GCS

Steven Link – Broadmoor Golf Club, Seattle, Wash.; Western Washington GCSA

Robert Martin – The Wilshire Country Club, Los Angeles, Calif.; GCSA of Southern California

Neil Mayberry – New Orleans Country Club; Louisiana-Mississippi GCSA

David A. Miloshoff – Briar Ridge Country Club, Schererville, Ind., Michiana GCSA

Craig Moore – Marquette (Mich.) Golf Club; Northern Great Lakes GCSA

Ron Padilla – East Lake Woodlands Country Club, Oldsmar, Fla.; Florida West Coast GCSA

D. Wayne Phillips – Rocky Bayou Country Club, Niceville, Fla.; Gulf Coast GCSA

Jacob A. Ryan – Northland Country Club, Duluth, Minn., Minnesota GCSA

Casey Schlepp – Butte (Mont.) Country Club; Peaks & Prairies GCSA

Joshua Tolman – Salmon (Idaho) Municipal Golf Assoc.; Idaho GCSA

Phillip Vaughan - Pine Valley Country Club, Fort Wayne, Ind.; Hoosier Turfgrass Association

Jason Wingate – Country Club of Little Rock, Little Rock, Ark., GCSA of Arkansas

Toby Young – Val Halla Golf & Recreation, Cumberland, Maine; Maine GCSA

A little message from John Fulling... Yes, like the old days!

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 00:00:01 GMT

IT IS FUNDRAISER SEASON and you aren't signing up fast enough so the powers that be called little ol' me back up to the BIGS!!

Here's the deal. These events give all of us the opportunity to support the greatest Turf Research Program by the greatest Turf Team at the greatest University on the planet through the MTF which is the greatest turf foundation in the country! Everyone of us owes a very big part of our success to the work that has been done and will continue to be done at Michigan State University. Yes, the economy is down right now but that's even more reason to take the money you have available and support these events. It is a fact that without the great research programs and personal support through extension that we receive everyday from all of our professors at MSU, WE FAIL. That's a bold statement but it is absolutely true. Participation in these events is an investment in yourself and your club.

The three events are:

Egypt Valley CC on September 14 for Western Golf Day (NOW A SCRAMBLE). Our hosts for that event are Golf Course manager Jeff Holmes and superintendents Jason Dionne and Kevin Thielke. I've talked to all three and they are excited about having everyone out. This event was a 2 best ball or 4 but at the request of just about EVERYBODY, it has been changed to a SCRAMBLE!! No one wanted to play their own ball anyway. Its much more fun to spend the day laughing, MAKING FUN OF PEOPLE and enjoying each others company. Sadly, there is still plenty of room available. WE NEED YOU! Call the office at (517) 327-9207 and sign up today.

Tree Tops (Robert Trent Jones Masterpiece) on September 28 for the annual "Tuck Tate" Tournament. Our hosts for the day are Scott Pulaski, Mark Wildeman, Doug Hoeh, Jason Roznowski, Tom Brown, Mark Lauret and Ron Kellogg. This is the first golf event for us at Tree Tops in about 15 years so it's a special one. This will be a medal play tournament so get your game on. Personally, I'm not going to win the tournament but I am going because it's going to be fun. Scott and Mark got us some great room rates for the night before and I'm hearing the words "Euchre Tournament" being thrown around. Check out the website for all the room details and sign up info.

Register for the Tuck Tate Online Here

Barton Hills CC on October 5 for THE BIG EVENT!!! Our host for this greatly anticipated event is the legendary Kalamazoo native Tim Dark. What a treat to be able to spend the day at Barton Hills. We'll be playing a scramble for the Big Event so blatantly stack your team... I know I will. In fact, I have a call into Jay Eccleton, Kevin Frank and Jim Bluck right now to be on my team... Oddly enough I haven't gotten a call back yet. There's time and space available. Get signed up today!!

Register fot the Big Event Online Here

Everybody have a fantastic fall! I think this is the last time they'll ever let me do this, so please don't let me down. Let's get out to these great events and see everybody, have a great time and support the finest research program and turf team in the country.

I hope to see you there!

John Fulling

MiGCSA Past President, Rock Star (just seeing if you're still with me)

www.migcsa.org

(517) 327-9207

11,000-Year-Old Mammoth Tooth Found on Course at Morrison Lake CC

Sat, 05 Sep 2009 00:00:01 GMT

by C&RB Staff (editor@clubandresortbusiness.com)
August 2009

A groundskeeper at a Morrison Lake Country Club in Saranac, Mich., found an 11,000-year-old-tooth from a mammoth while cutting weeds on the golf course, The Detroit News reports.

Scott Beld, a research specialist at the University of Michigan's Museum of Paleontology, tells the paper the tooth appears to be from a Columbian mammoth, which could grow as tall as 13 feet. The 10-pound tooth appears to be from a female adolescent, Beld added.

The owners of Morrison Lake said they were pleased by the rare find, but were keeping the exact location secret to keep people from tromping on the fairways.

On The Road With The USGA - September 2009

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 00:00:01 GMT

By R.A. (Bob) Brame, Director
September 1, 2009

This update is written from the Women’s State Team Championship in Fort Wayne, Indiana at the Sycamore Hills Golf Club (http://www.stateteam.org). Women from all over the country have gathered to represent their state and fight for top honors. Weather conditions have been ideal and the course superintendent, Jeff Geller, and his staff have done a wonderful job of preparing the course.

Dollar spot disease activity has increased at golf courses in the region over the last few weeks. For most it has been manageable, but for a few that battle the problem every year, the outbreak has been severe. It seems there are more cases or sites developing strains with resistance to certain classes of fungicides. If the disease is pulling your operation down be sure to send in samples for testing. Red leaf spot also has shown its face recently due to the cool, wet weather in certain areas of the region. Remember, as a result of segregation, disease activity can take on a patch-like appearance when it actually is not. Some cultivars are simply more vulnerable to certain stresses/diseases, and when they hit, leaving surrounding cultivars unaffected, it can look like a patch. Take a close look at all the variables and send in a sample for testing.

Hopefully your course will be core aerating putting surfaces in the very near future. I know the economy has been tough and no one wants to chase way golfers. However, doing the work when quick recovery will occur, using a quality straight punch machine, and then completely filling the holes following plug removal, creates minimal disruption and insures dependable turf when things get tough down the road. More challenging conditions will eventually come, and there are much better ways of pulling back to aid economy concerns.

September and October offer an excellent time for a Turf Advisory Service visit. Whether there are economic, agronomic, or political concerns we can assist your course in moving forward on the best possible footing. If there are no concerns on the table, a comprehensive and candid review can help keep the momentum moving in the right direction. Call or email to discuss scheduling.

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

Course Conditions Online Magazine

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 00:00:01 GMT

Course Conditions Summer 2009

Michigan Golf Hall of Fame - Ted Woehrle Interview

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 00:00:01 GMT

Troy resident Ted Woehrle has seen the role of golf course superintendent go from turf farmer to the highly specialized field it is today. He began learning the craft in Illinois from his father, Herman, and graduated from Purdue University in 1954.

Woehrle was superintendent at Beverly Country Club, a Donald Ross-designed course on Chicago¹s South Side when the club hosted two Western Opens and two Women¹s Westerns. He was hired during the construction phase of Point O¹Woods Country Club in Benton Harbor and that began a long association with Robert Trent Jones who designed the course and did some tweaking of Oakland Hills during Woehrle¹s 24 years at the club.

More than 50 of Woehrle¹s former assistants have become head superintendents and he has been deeply involved in the growth of the profession. He served as president of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America in 1971.

Rob Pylar Named New Valent Turf Territory Manager in Midwest

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 00:00:01 GMT

WALNUT CREEK, Calif.—Valent U.S.A. Corporation announced Rob Pylar has joined the company as a turf territory manager in the Midwest region.
As a Valent territory manager, Pylar will work closely with turf and landscape professionals throughout Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio. Valent’s extensive product portfolio continues to grow, including Tourney® Fungicide, Arena® Insecticide, Safari® Insecticide, Stellar® Fungicide and Velocity® Herbicide.

“I am very excited to be joining the Valent team. Having worked with Valent as a distributor representative, I know that the company has an excellent reputation in the industry,” Pylar said. “This business always has and always will be driven by work done in the field. With my knowledge of the region and the relationships I’ve developed over the past two decades, I believe I’m well-positioned to help both Valent and the turf and landscape professionals in my area meet their goals.”

Pylar, 39, graduated with a certificate of studies in turfgrass management from Michigan State University and has spent 19 years working in various positions within the golf course, fertilizer and chemical distribution, and chemical manufacturing/marketing industries. Originally from Detroit, Pylar has spent his entire professional career in the area for which he will be responsible at Valent.

Most recently, he served as a technical field representative in Indiana and Michigan for the W.A. Cleary Corporation. Prior to that, he was the Michigan facility manager and a territory manager in Northern Ohio and Southeast Michigan for Agrium Advanced Technologies (then U.A.P. Professional Products).

“It’s a customer-driven business and people want to do business with people they’re comfortable with, people they have experience with,” Pylar said. “I understand the culture, the economy and the agronomic issues people here deal with on a daily basis.”

Frank Fornari, national sales manager for Valent Professional Products, said Pylar’s experience makes him a natural fit on the Valent team.

“In a region facing special challenges in the landscape and turf markets, including the continued infestation of its ash trees by the devastating emerald ash borer, Rob’s knowledge and relationships will help him hit the ground running,” Fornari said. “He has strong ties to this area and understands how to help turf and landscape professionals achieve their goals and solve problems unique to their geography.”

Valent Professional Products serves the areas of tree, turf, greenhouse/nursery and landscape ornamentals as well as industrial vegetation management. Valent professional products include Arena® Insecticide, BroadStar™ Herbicide, DiPel® PRO DF Biological Insecticide, Distance® Fire Ant Bait, Distance® Insect Growth Regulator, Envoy Plus® Herbicide, Fascination® Plant Growth Regulator, Gnatrol® Biological Larvicide, Overture® Insecticide, Payload™ Herbicide, ProGibb® T&O Plant Growth Regulator, Safari® Insecticide, Stellar® Fungicide, Sumagic® Plant Growth Regulator, SureGuard® Herbicide, Tame® Insecticide, TetraSan® Miticide, Tourney® Fungicide and Velocity® Herbicide.

For more information about Valent’s Professional Products, Valent U.S.A. Corporation or our full product line, call 800-89-VALENT (898-2536), or visit the Valent Professional Products Web site at www.valentpro.com.

8/25 MSU Update

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 00:00:01 GMT

Greetings,

Well it is that time again! Classes start September 2nd and a whole new set of excited faces will show up on campus, eager to learn. I think the faculty is ready, or at least getting very close.

The other big item just around the corner is the start of Spartan football. I am extremely optimistic this season as I think this team is poised to make a run at the Big Ten Championship. In fact, I will predict 11 wins this year, and I think we will play Penn State for at least a share of the crown. The big story I heard around Detroit last week was that the combined win total for UM and Lions would not equal total wins of the Spartans. I like that bet, except that I think the Lions will go 8-8. The QB situation is still in the air a little. I think they will both play early, and I also think we may see them in the backfield together on occasion. Expect some further report from me after the first game, September 5.

Kurt Steinke has started on the faculty and settled into an office next to Dr. Kevin Frank on the 5th floor. If you get a chance to welcome him, it would be good. His email address is ksteinke@msu.edu.

I am looking at a class of 15-18 students for this fall in Golf Turf Program (6-9 in the Sports Turf Program), and 15 or so per year in the four year program. It is interesting in that it does not do much for satisfying everyone’s needs for interns, but from a standpoint of full-time employment it seems to work well.

Time to close. Keep looking for lost souls.

Trey Rogers
rogersj@msu.edu

Important MiGCSA Management Update

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 00:00:01 GMT

As we all know difficult economic times in Michigan have changed the way we have operated our facilities in 2009. This also holds true for your state association. The board of directors manages your chapter in the same way you manage your golf course operations; as a business. It is from this vantage point that the board of directors has made a unanimous decision to end the Contract Agreement with Eurich Management Services, LLC.

The reason for this change is largely financial. Even with the wonderful year we have had so far in 2009; seeing an increase in membership, Industry Partnership support, and solid event attendance the board feels that this proactive decision will put the MiGCSA in a stronger financial position now and in the future. The MiGCSA will continue to be a client of Eurich Management for the next 90 days until November 19, 2009. Please continue to conduct any of your chapter business with Eurich. All remaining 2009 chapter events will still be conducted as planned and a preliminary schedule for 2010 has already been created with great venues. Alternative plans for member communication are being put into place now and will not affect the level of service you have come to expect from the MiGCSA.

The MiGCSA chapter wouldn’t be where we are today without the work from our Executive Director Donn Eurich and his staff. They helped us merge four separate chapters into one extremely successful chapter in a short amount of time.

During the fall season, the board of directors will begin to discuss MiGCSA leadership plans for the future. Please feel free to contact me or any MiGCSA board member with questions or comments; we would like to hear from you.

Thank you for your continued support,

Steve Hammon, Superintendent
Traverse City Golf & Country Club
MiGCSA President
231-947-0487
steveh@tcgcc.com

USGA Green Section Update - Side Effects

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 00:00:01 GMT

By Bob Vavrek, Senior Agronomist
August 18, 2009

It’s difficult to find many negative side effects associated with the unusually mild weather we have experienced throughout the upper Midwest this season. Turf disease pressure has been light; with little more than an occasional outbreak of Microdochium patch during the cool weather or dollar spot when it warms up a bit.

However, low soil temperature equates to slow turf growth, and slowly growing turf will have difficulty competing with weeds, especially sites that were killed or thinned by winterkill. As a result, there has been no shortage of weeds such as crabgrass and clover in the short grass and milkweed, thistle, and Queen Anne’s lace in the naturalized, unmowed roughs.

Many courses are converting more acres of mowed rough into natural turf areas to help reduce maintenance costs. Golfers are usually willing to accept and sometimes embrace the presence of well placed natural roughs, but they quickly lose patience with these sites when they become overrun with unsightly weeds.

It’s nearly impossible to do little more than remove weeds by hand or make spot applications of herbicides to weeds in tall grass roughs during August. Many weeds can be taller than the spray boom by mid-summer and sprayer tracks through the natural roughs will be an eyesore for the rest of the season.

One option for consideration is to map the heaviest and/or most visible infestations of weeds and target these areas for an application of pre-emergence herbicide later this fall. Several courses visited recently had achieved excellent control of weeds in natural areas where the tall roughs were scalped down during late October or November and then treated with Gallery herbicide just before winter. Excess plant debris needs to be removed before spraying to ensure as much soil contact as possible. The difference between treated and untreated roughs with respect to weed encroachment was dramatic and the effects persist well into the season. An ounce of prevention can definitely be worth a pound of cure for high priority roughs that have developed a consistent history or weed encroachment.

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

MiGCSA State Championship Event Recap

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 00:00:01 GMT

Click Here for More MiGCSA State Championship Pictures

The second, annual MiGCSA State Championship was a great day hosted by Eagle Eye Golf Club and host superintendent Steve Fiorillo, CGCS. The weather was perfect for the sixty-five MiGCSA members who showed up to compete. The award winning course proved to be a challengefor many of those competing in the Campionship, yet many exceptional scores were posted. At the end of the day, the low-gross winner for the day was Jay Eccleton from The Emerald Golf Course with a score of 73, and the low-net score winner was Tim Topolinski of Quail Ridge Golf Club who shot a 69. The MiGCSA would like to extend a very special thank you to the day’s sponsors. A great lunch was provided by Automatic Supply Michigan. We also had two tee sponsors for the day in BASF and Turfgrass Inc. and our contest holes were sponsored by Midwest Golf and Turf and Weingartz Golf and Turf. We can’t say it enough: Thank You! Without our sponsors, none of this would be possible. Also, thank you to the tremendous staff at Eagle Eye for helping the day go off
without a hitch!

Please join us September 14 at Egypt Valley CC for our fall MTF fundraiser.

For more information on future MiGCSA Events, please visit www.migcsa.org

MiGCSA President Steve Hammon and 2009 State Champion Jay Eccleton, CGCS

Mike Hirvela, Marc McCoy, Tim Topolinski, and Trent Bartman

Scot Gardiner, Steve Rebhan,
Jim Johnson, and Jeff Hopkins, CGCS

On the Fairway, New Lessons in Saving Water

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 00:00:01 GMT

On the Fairway, New Lessons in Saving Water

Kendrick Brinson for The New York Times

Published: August 5, 2009

ATLANTA — Six years ago, when Georgia’s state government rewrote its rules for water use duringdroughts, it cut no slack for an obvious culprit: golf courses.

Cory Blair, left, Matt Corentin and Joe Hollis put out water catch cans for an irrigation audit at the Atlanta Country Club in Marietta, Ga., which uses several methods in its water strategy.

Yet golf course managers were indignant. They argued that they were reining in water use in dozens of ways, like planting native grasses and auditing sprinkler spray patterns. Instead of being penalized, they said, they should be emulated.

It took a while, but from the South to the arid West, their wish is coming true. Mindful that global warming could provoke more and longer dry spells, state governments are increasingly consulting golf courses on water strategies.

In Georgia, golf course managers have emerged as go-to gurus on water conservation for both industries and nonprofit groups.

Marriott International is applying lessons learned at its golf course here to its resort properties in other states. Habitat for Humanity is landscaping front yards with drought-tolerant plants recommended by golf superintendents.

“Look, if you want to learn how to irrigate, these are the guys to ask,” said Garith Grinnell, who recently retired from the Southern Nevada Water Authority.

Such accolades are a turnabout for a business that is often faulted for harming the environment through excess use of water and pesticides.

In Georgia, the shift in perspective came about largely because of a crippling drought that peaked in 2007. By that year, 97 percent of the clubs that belonged to the Georgia Golf Course Superintendents Association had voluntarily adopted what are viewed as best-management practices for water use, reducing consumption, they estimated, by 25 percent in just three years.

Lake Lanier, Atlanta’s main source of water, had meanwhile dropped to record low levels, exposing muddy bottom not seen in half a century. It dawned on state and local water managers that golf courses might have some useful know-how.

Golfing grounds managers “are great technical assistance to me,” said Kathy Nguyen, president of the Georgia Water Wise Council, a state association of water professionals that encourages conservation. “I can call them up and talk to them about different technologies.” (Georgia’s drought eased significantly this year.)

Ms. Nguyen has relied on golf superintendents in drafting guidelines for homeowners like letting grass grow longer, fixing leaks in hoses as promptly as possible and keeping lawn mower blades razor sharp. (Grass cut by duller blades is more frayed and requires more water to stay healthy.)

The golf industry still draws strong criticism from environmentalists. Turf is, after all, the thirstiest of plants. The average American golf course drinks up some 50 million gallons of water a year — comparable to the yearly usage of 1,400 people. In the West, the figures are higher.

Yet that reality, coupled with rising water prices, is what led to strides like irrigating golf courses with “gray water,” or nonindustrial wastewater that is recycled for other purposes.

Tom Bancroft, chief scientist with the National Audubon Society, says that for all the progress golf has made, it remains a deeply problematic industry. Many courses “use fertilizers that can run off into fresh water, and many use pesticides in lawn and grass,” Mr. Bancroft said. (Audubon International, a separate group, works with golf courses to encourage wildlife preservation.)

Mark Esoda, superintendent of the Atlanta Country Club in suburban Marietta, where initiation fees are $85,000, acknowledges that practices among the nation’s courses range from indifferent to conscientious. But Mr. Esoda maintains that he and other superintendents have a lot to teach municipalities about watering their ball fields and homeowners about tending to their yards.

Zipping around the course on pine-shaded paths, Mr. Esoda stopped abruptly near the seventh hole. He gestured toward a patch of newly laid turf of zoysia, a warm-weather shade grass native to Southeast Asia and Australia. On shady parts of the course it is replacing fescue, a genus of cold-weather shade grass that can live through the winter and thus requires five months’ more watering and mowing.

Mr. Esoda said he had also installed affordable monitors that prevent automatic sprinklers from activating during or right after a rain.

And when isolated dry spots appear on the greens, he said, he sends staff members out with watering cans rather than turning on the sprinkler system.

Finally, Mr. Esoda has made an aesthetic adjustment after years of savoring the green glow of a perfect lawn. “Crispy around the edges is O.K.,” he confided.

Water is just one area where golf courses and environmentalists may find a rapprochement, said Anthony L. Williams, director of grounds at Marriott’s Stone Mountain public courses just outside Atlanta.

As metropolitan areas sprawl outward, golf courses may be the only large-scale green space for miles around, offering crucial potential habitat for migrating birds and other wildlife.

Mr. Williams, who has a degree in local horticulture, has been letting native grasses take over his lawns. Off the fairways he does not even bother to mow, and on the greens he is maintaining grass at one-sixteenth of an inch higher than typical courses. It makes playing slow, he allows, but “consistent.” He has also replaced all the flowering annuals with perennials, which generally require less water, choosing those that are attractive to native wildlife.

Since he took charge of the two courses in 2005, Mr. Williams has cut water consumption by 45 percent, he said, and witnessed the return of some wildlife species like the red-tailed hawk.

The changes have come with a price, like the occasional large brown spot on the fairway. But Mr. Williams says the golfers do not mind.

“I just stand out there on the greens and explain, ‘We are doing this so your grandchildren can come out here and play,’ ” he said. “People understand that.”

MSU Update 8/6

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 00:00:01 GMT

Greetings,

This week I am in Southern California, making the last of the internship visits for the 2009 season. School starts in four weeks! Our 2 year class size will be relatively the same as it has been the past few years, 16-20 for Golf, 5-8 for SCAT, 65 or so for BS program (spread over 4-5 years). I think this is a good size for the industry in general, but we always have room for good students.

Southern California has been great this week. You can’t even feel the weather. Students are fine (although I managed to get hit by a golf ball – this makes the fifth time in 21 years, you all know who you were.), and I have seen several recent graduates doing very well for themselves, Justin Carroll and Sean Rathje (2008) and Tyler Casey (2004), at Bel-Air CC, Riviera CC, and LACC, respectively. They even invited me to watch their Adult league kickball game in a park down on Venice beach. I have to admit, I felt like I was in a foreign country compared to Michigan, what a great place!

Some of you may have heard this by now, but I will report anyway. This month Dr. Kurt Stanke will join our turf faculty. Previously, he was on the turf faculty at Texas A&M University (he earned his PhD at Univ. Wisconsin- Madison). His research interests lie in Turf Ecology – along the lines of the position we were seeking, but had various stages of freeze over the last 2 years. (Funny how things work out.) Kurt’s wife also took a faculty position in Veterinary Medicine here at MSU. We are very excited about his joining of our team.

More to come, keep looking for lost souls.

Trey Rogers

2010 Education Conference Web site launches

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 00:00:01 GMT

Visit the new GCSAA Education Conference Web site dedicated to all the events taking place Feb. 8-12 in San Diego. Learn more about the new schedule – with education to be held Monday, Tuesday and Friday, while Wednesday and Thursday are reserved for the Golf Industry Show. You’ll also find information about registration, seminar topics, the new two-hour seminar options, education tracks and much more. Check back often for the latest news and announcements, and get ready to make your reservations: Housing opens Monday, Aug. 3.

MTESP Making Greens "Greener"

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 00:00:01 GMT

With all of the maintenance that goes into them, golf courses are not normally thought of as the most eco-friendly places.

Crystal Mountain is trying to change that image.

They've even been recognized by the state for their efforts to make their greens "greener."

9&10's Erika Waddell and Photojournalist Josh Strand shows you what they're doing different in this week's Project Green.

More information and video here

USGA Regional Update - In Recovery

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:00:01 GMT

By Bob Vavrek, Senior Agronomist
July 15, 2008

There is still plenty of residual winter injury affecting playing conditions at numerous courses across the upper Midwest. The exceptionally slow recovery of winter damage last year and again this year due to unusually cool spring weather sure makes you wonder just what proponents of global warming are referring to.

The creeping bentgrass in old bent/Poa greens usually requires several consecutive days of temperatures in the mid 80’s accompanied by mild nights before a consistent rate of vigorous growth occurs. Much of the Region experienced nighttime temperatures cold enough to produce frost delays well into late May and early June. Only recently has the growth rate of bentgrass begun to approach the growth rate of Poa annua. Golfers have suffered through several months of thin, bumpy greens and their patience is wearing thin.

Plugging out the largest of the bare areas on greens is about the only good option available now that warmer, more humid weather has finally arrived. Some courses continue to seed into large areas of damage thinking that the warm weather will finally provide the right conditions for rapid germination and establishment. However, the frequent irrigation employed to keep the seedbed moist during July and August can create ideal conditions for algae.

Once algae gains a firm foothold on a thin green, the warm weather and frequent watering makes it difficult to control. Dry out the greens and the new bentgrass seedlings disappear. It’s a Catch 22 that has many superintendents wondering why they didn’t just plug or sod the damage earlier. Mancozeb and chlorothalonil can be used to slow down the growth of algae. A light dusting of sand to cover and shade the algae can be helpful as well.

Two consecutive years of extensive winterkill has more than a few old courses considering the options of rebuilding or regrassing greens despite the considerable expense and down time associated with either project. A good discussion regarding why some greens need to be rebuilt can be found on the USGA Web site.

http://www.usga.org/course_care/articles/construction/greens/Determining-the-Need-for-Reconstruction

An excellent article that discusses why some greens can be resurfaced and why others need to be completely rebuilt can be downloaded from this link.

http://turf.lib.msu.edu/2000s/2006/060101.pdf

Schedule a Turf Advisory Service visit to document the need for putting green renovation and to help determine the best option, resurfacing greens or rebuilding greens, for your golf course. There is still time to arrange a visit this season, call the North Central Region Wisconsin office for the next available date.

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

Clubhouse Burns At Manistee National Golf Resort

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:00:01 GMT

Posted by: Alan Neushwander on Thu. Jun. 25 2009

A fire has caused extensive damage to the clubhouse at Manistee National Golf and Resort on US-31 near the Mason and Manistee County line. General Manager Doug Bell says the fire started around 7:30pm Wednesday. He says the Osprey Grille and the pro-shop were heavily damaged. Bell says the building may be a total loss. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Firefighters from several departments in Mason and Manistee Counties battled the blaze. Four firemen were injured and treated at the scene after the building's roof collapsed. Bell says despite the fire, the course is still open for business and tee times are being honored for today.

Kalamazoo country band The Bronk Bros w/drummer John Fulling CGCS to release summer party album, "Here for the Good Times"

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 00:00:01 GMT

by John Liberty | Kalamazoo Gazette
Thursday April 23, 2009, 11:07 AM

KALAMAZOO -- People don't have to search very hard to find evidence of the lousy economy and abysmal job market.

One counter to all the grim news -- at least for Kalamazoo country music fans -- is the new feel-good, summer party album from country band The Bronk Bros. called "Here for the Good Times," to be released May 9. Brothers Brian and Heath Bronk, the group's main songwriters and frontmen, write about skipping work to go fishing, forgetting about a rough breakup and a bad day on the job by hitting the local honky tonk, groaning about how little a dollar gets you and perfectly tanned women.

"I think it's more who we are," Heath Bronk said. "Most of the songs we write, we try to make them down-home, fun kind of deals."

"I think we need some good things to happen around here and we hope we can bring some positive fun into people's lives," Brian Bronk said.

This is the first full-length album from The Bronk Bros. It includes three singles that have received solid play on area country radio stations, starting with "In the Eye of the Beerholder" in 2007, last year's "Tan Lines" and the most recently, "Here for the Good Times," which is in regular rotation at the Kalamazoo country station, 96.5-FM.

Despite not having an album out, The Bronk Bros. have picked up a strong regional following through radio play, large festival gigs and energy-fueled live shows in area clubs. The band has opened for LeAnn Rimes, Josh Gracin, Bucky Covington and many others. They've performed at the B-93 Birthday Bash and will play Detroit's 27th annual Downtown Hoedown, which will be headlined by Willie Nelson, later this month.

P.J. Lacey, program director at 96.5-FM, said the station's phone lines light up when The Bronk Bros. are involved, especially on host Chad Daniels' "Homegrown" show, which airs at 8 p.m. Wednesday.

"They're awesome," she said. "It's just fun, summer music."

Peaks and valleys

The Bronk Bros. regional rise hasn't come easily.

Behind the radio success of "In the Eye of the Beerholder," the band earned a spot at B-93's Birthday Bash in the summer of 2007. Shortly after the band celebrated jamming in front of around 60,000 people, bassist C. Buggs Coombs died in September.

Brian and Heath Bronk are the primary songwriters of Kalamazoo's The Bronk Bros.

"It was a total shock," Brian Bronk said.

Other members of the band left and the brothers, who've played together for the last 13 years, had to look to finding a new lineup. Longtime friends and bandmates of Coombs stepped up and solidified the current lineup of Heath and Brian Bronk, bassist Woody T. Bridges, drummer John "Dutch" Fulling, guitarist T-Rex Bell and keyboardist Tom Northrup. They've been together for about two years.

"We've been blessed enough to put a band back together without missing a beat," Brian Bronk said. "These guys know what it's all about. They're by far the best musicians we've taken the stage with."

The Bronk Bros. were more than halfway through completing their full-length album last spring when local producer Kevin Brown died April 14 after sustaining injuries in a fall a week earlier. The band, which had split recording the album between Nashville, Tenn., and Kalamazoo, lost one of their friends and mentors in Brown and then had to decide how to complete their debut project without Brown's talent and advice.

The band turned to Brian McDonald and his McDonald Productions in Allegan to complete "Here for the Good Times."

"It really has been a team effort all the way along," Brian Bronk said. "We've learned a lot and sometimes we learned it the hard way."

Hearts in the project

With the full-length album set for release, The Bronk Brothers are looking to the future.

The band has made networking strides in Nashville, working with a number of writers there, such as Kirk Roth, Jeffrey Steele and Jeff Bates, some of whom contributed songs to "Here for the Good Times."

The Bronk Bros. will continue to head to Music City to write more with the hopes of putting another album out in 2010. Heath and Brian will call each other from their respective jobs -- equipment manager at a Kalamazoo golf course and a salesman -- to discuss new songs. They'll put each other on speaker phone and present portions of a new tune. They're "brutally honest" with each other on what works and what flops.

"Over the years, we've been getting a lot better at it, perfecting the craft and presenting a story for our listeners," Heath Bronk said. "That's what it's all about. And we're starting to figure it out."

As guys who work full-time jobs, making music and performing for others is their way to "get away from the pressures" of every day life, Brian Bronk said. Their fans seem to identify with it.

"This is my escape, too. It's my opportunity to put all my cares away for one show," Brian Bronk said. "The crowd knows what it's all about, they're going through it, too."
Brian Bronk said he thinks that energy will translate to people when they hear the new album. The brothers have a "goal of making it," which has become more real in the past two years, they said.

"We put our hearts into this process," Brian Bronk said of the album. "We just hope somebody on a national level cares about what we've done. We're ready to make that next step."

Dr. Smitley Update

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 00:00:01 GMT

I never thought I would be writing about eastern tent caterpillars and forest tent caterpillars in the turf section. Thousands of eastern tent and forest tent caterpillars have defoliated trees surrounding fairways and have started to wander… right across fairways, tees and greens. Golf course superintendents have tried spraying Scimitar, Talstar and Sevin with limited success. The caterpillars are dying, but they are dying on the greens, which doesn’t really help. The best strategy for the next week or so before the caterpillars pupate seems to be to spray the tees, greens, surrounding collars, and surrounding rough between the trees and the fairways with one of the above insecticides every other day, so the caterpillars will die before reaching the greens and tees.

MSU Update

Sat, 06 Jun 2009 00:00:01 GMT

Greetings from a very green Spartan country. I can hear the grass growing.

It was a great week for visiting Spartans running golf courses. Started the week with the Ravines in Saugatuck area. John Tuckerman (98) had the place in great condition. The layout whips my tail every time. Found a lost soul in Al Lynch (97) as he is returning to the industry.

Then I left for three days in the Westchester County, NY/Conn area, visiting students on their internships. It was a real treat. One of our students was at Winged Foot Golf Club with Matt Burrows (97) and the other was with Tom Ashfield (95) at Quaker Ridge. Squeezed in there I visited with Sean Flynn (01) and Rob Capecelatro (09) at Great River GC in Milford, CT. They are all doing very well and I was so very proud of them. The Green and White are everywhere! I accused Ashfield of being MSU East as he has Jon Knol (06), Steve Wickstrom (08), and Kurt Slade (08) on his staff.

The week ended at Red Run in Royal Oak, MI and Gary Thommes (81). Very few are as good as Gary, the greens are scary good!

I will be returning to Long Island and NYC area the week of June 21. On Monday, June 22 we will be having the second reunion (dubbed Sparty Party 2 by the incomparable Jerry Kunkel) of MSU graduates at Jerry’s home. I believe Dr. Crum will be able to make the trip and he is looking forward to seeing everyone.

Found a couple of lost souls this past week, thanks to Dan Dingman (98) at Grosse Ile G&CC, Tim Redman (99) and Dean Heavrin (98). What a great feeling for me to get them in the fold.

Hang in there until next time, and keep looking for lost souls.

Trey Rogers

Successful control and treatment of Emerald Ash Borers in Gross Pointe Farms

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 00:00:01 GMT

A video called “The City Saves Trees from Emerald Ash Borer” made its way to the Internet recently by way of YouTube. The video, which demonstrates the successful control and treatment of emerald ash borers in Gross Pointe Farms, Mich., tells how the city identified and treated about 560 trees along boulevards and in parks and municipal areas. The pest was originally treated in 2002, and, five years later, the results showed that more than 95 percent of the trees survived. The 24-minute video was created by www.treeresearch.org.

GCSAA representatives work with chapters

Wed, 27 May 2009 00:00:01 GMT

While your association offers chapters numerous programs and services – at the annual conference, online in the Chapters section of the Web site, and through the quarterly newsletter, Chapter Connections – we also recognize that there is no substitute for personal communication. The field staff, or chapter liaison, program brings that personal communication and outreach to chapters and members around the country.

The following is a brief outline of staff visits and the work being conducted with chapters. You’ll also find more information and links to online resources that you can take back to your own chapter.

Chapter liaisons:

• Dave Fearis, CGCS retired, GCSAA’s director of membership

• Steve Randall, GCSAA’s senior manager of chapter outreach

• Ralph Dain, GCSAA’s Florida field staff representative

• Jim Cummins, GCSAA’s business development manager (formerly field staff, senior manager of organizational development)

March 4: Michigan Golf Day at the Capitol

Steve Randall joined 30 members of the Michigan GCSA, Michigan Golf Course Owners and Michigan Turfgrass Foundation in Lansing, Mich., to participate in Golf Day at the Capitol. The first activity was to attend a session with the committee on commerce and tourism. Four individuals spoke on behalf of the golf industry, including Michigan GCSA President Steve Hammon. The focus was on the importance of tourism advertising and dollars spent to promote golf and other recreation activities in the state. Golf course owners and superintendents met with their respective legislators.

March 24-25: Michigan GCSA board meeting and strategic planning session

Steve Randall met with board members of the Michigan chapter to facilitate a strategic planning session. The group identified areas of success and areas for improvement, as well as potential opportunities and threats. Members also discussed “branding” for Michigan superintendents and focusing future education programs on business, communication and leadership.

MiGCSA Presidential Update

Mon, 25 May 2009 00:00:01 GMT

Welcome to the 2009 golf season! I hope your season is off to a fantastic start and that everybody is happy to be back outside after a very long, cold winter and spring! Your MiGCSA is beginning the 2009 golf season in great shape thanks to the hard work of a very committed Board and staff. They all worked
very hard throughout the winter season planning for 2009 and hosting numerous events around the state this spring. Our membership numbers have never been better! As of the end of April, we surpassed 100% retained and returning members. Our spring education sessions were all well attended and our MiGCSA spring golf opener at the Country Club of Lansing was a big success, despite the inclement weather. Thanks to our host Mark Magee, and his fine staff, for making the golf course playable in such wet conditions. We had 54 players who braved the rainy, cool weather.

Thirty MiGCSA members traveled to Canada on April 27 for the annual Can-AM Tournament held this year at the Essex Golf & Country Club. The weather was fabulous and this year, our United States team prevailed and brought the trophy back home! Congratulations to Team MiGCSA USA. Next year's event will be held in our country. All MiGCSA members are invited to compete in the CAN-AM Tournament.

Upcoming MiGCSA June and July events include: The Ravines Golf Course in Saugatuck, hosted by John Tuckerman, where Steve Allen of Geum Services will be speaking on native grasses and plants in the golf landscape, the Northern MTF fundraiser at The Bear at the Grand Traverse Resort, hosted by
Paul Galligan, and a great day at Forest Lake Country Club with our host Fritz McMullen. For more information and registration to these events, visit the MiGCSA website at www.migcsa.org. There are two other MTF Fundraisers scheduled this year, one at Egypt Valley in September and the Big Event at
Barton Hills in October. These fundraisers are great opportunities to spend a day with your owner, green committee, board member, GM, or golf pro. Understandably, it's not always possible to attend your local MTF fundraiser so we have included a spot on each registration where you can still make a donation and support the world class turf research at Michigan State University.

Your Board held its first strategic planning session since the formation of the state chapter at its spring meeting at Crystal Mountain Resort in March. GCSAA Chapter Liaison, Steve Randall, facilitated this very important and positive planning session for the board and staff. Please take a minute to read Steve Randall's article on page 22; he has provided a very valuable review of our strategic planning outcomes. One of the highlights from the strategic planning session was the development of a new education partnership between the MiGCSA and the Michigan Golf Course Owners Association. Through this great partnership, the MiGCSA will be able to offer more business and management classes so that MiGCSA members can remain competitive and offer more resources to help support their entire golf facility. Each class will have GCSAA approved education points, stay tuned for more details.

That's it for now. Have a fantastic summer season and thanks for your continued support of the MiGCSA.

Steve Hammon
MiGCSA President
Traverse City Golf & Country Club
231-947-0487
steveh@tcgcc.com

USGA Regional Update

Mon, 18 May 2009 00:00:01 GMT

By Bob Vavrek, Senior Agronomist
May 18, 2009

News Flash: golf course superintendents cannot control the weather. Therefore, they have relatively little ability to prevent winter injury when turf dominated by Poa annua is subjected to numerous, severe freeze/thaw cycles. Under certain circumstances, a properly installed cover system can provide a fair degree of protection from winterkill, but, in today’s economy, fewer and fewer golf courses have neither the materials or early winter labor available to cover greens. For most courses, the only remaining option is to topdress greens after applying snow mold protection and then hope for the best.

On the other hand, we have much more control regarding how we tackle the task of encouraging turf recovery following an episode of winter injury. Wear and compaction across damaged turf can be addressed by taking severely affected sites out of play. Plastic sheeting or standard turf covers can be employed to artificially elevate soil temperatures during the cool weather of early spring. Seed can be primed or pre-germinated to jump start the recovery process. However, all is for naught if we cannot maintain consistent soil moisture levels.

Applying frequent irrigation to turf during early spring tends to contradict fundamental turf management principals, but the unwillingness or inability to apply ample irrigation to struggling turf and newly emerged seedlings can greatly prolong the recovery process. How many times have you made an extra effort to aggressively seed thin areas only to find that the fresh crop of immature plants seems to melt away and disappear within a week or so? Just a single afternoon of low humidity, sunlight, and windy conditions without supplemental irrigation could be the problem. It’s easy to forget that that mature, well rooted turf can tolerate much more moisture stress compared to fragile seedlings.

Covers raise soil temperatures, but they serve as a mulch to keep moisture in the upper root zone. Similarly, taking the damaged turf out of play provides an opportunity to irrigate the site as often as needed without causing an inconvenience to golfers. It’s no surprise that a damaged area that is not covered, taken out of play, or watered frequently will take a very long time to recover.

Still struggling with winterkill this spring? Re-evaluate your watering practices. It could mean the difference between being in recovery or business as usual.

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

MSU Correspondence

Thu, 14 May 2009 00:00:01 GMT

May 14, 2009

Greetings from a relatively quiet land of Green and White. Graduation was this past weekend, so things are quieter now. (Most of you may not have experienced the campus 80% empty, it’s like every day is Sunday.)

I made a trip to south Florida the first week of May on visits to my interns in Naples. My first golf experience on Seashore paspalum. It was very impressive. The Florida guys really got it going, very good bunch. We had a nice bar-b-q at Alberto Quevedo’s home (I like these more and more, easier to talk to everyone.)

My next visit will be to the NY-CT area in early June (2-4). If we can get something organized for a get together, that would be fine by me. (For those on Long Island, I know we will try for something similar to last year on my visit the week after the US Open.) The more people I can reconnect with, the better my day/week/month/year.

On the faculty front, we have had several in China this past winter and early spring and by all counts things are progressing nicely. The Turfgrass Ecology position is still frozen, but the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation has made a recent trip to the front offices of the department and college to show their support of the position. I remain optimistic (is there really a choice?)

Just as a heads up, by other two scheduled trips are July 19 -26 to Philadelphia/Baltimore area and August 2-9 to the Los Angeles/San Francisco areas. I want to see as many people as possible, so stay in touch.

Keep looking for lost souls, I just heard from Al Heath, class of 1992, first time in 15 years, and the search continues.

Trey

Golf operators see promise

Wed, 13 May 2009 00:00:01 GMT

Even as Michigan’s economic slowdown persists, operators of several area golf courses expect their business results could be on par or better this year.

To keep their footing, some believe special pricing and packages could prove useful in enticing golfers who might be wavering because of the economy.

“People are trying to save money, and we need to help them as much as we can. We need to work with them so that they stay golfing,” said John Paul Westbrook, PGA Head Golf Professional at Little Traverse Bay Golf Club near Harbor Springs.

So far, “our bookings this year have been pretty consistent with years in the past,” he noted, adding that the course has been able to maintain its schedule of league play.

Amid the state’s economic crunch, Westbrook believes “weak players” in the golf industry — courses that have priced themselves out of many players’ consideration or have tricky layouts or underwhelming conditions — could face trouble this year.
- Advertisement -

*
“Destination points, which I think we are, will survive,” he added.

Westbrook expects that deals such as a peak-season, midweek price of $59 for 18 holes should help maintain golfers’ interest in the Little Traverse Bay course.

To date, Boyne Resorts spokeswoman Erin Ernst said that company’s 2009 golf-package bookings are up compared to the same period last year.

While Boyne — operator of eight courses around Bay Harbor, Boyne Highlands and Boyne Mountain — has seen some sluggishness in terms of businesses scheduling golf outings, Ernst expects competitive pricing strategies should help in maintaining golfers’ interest overall.

For example, a new Boyne Golf Advantage card available for $100 allows golfers to book any tee time at the twilight rate up to 24 hours beforehand.

Ernst also believes Boyne’s expanded outreach at golf shows could pay off, and that a visit by Golf Channel program “Big Break Michigan” to Boyne Highlands could draw new attention to the area’s offerings.

“We could see some benefit from that as well,” she said.

At the Dunmaglas Golf Course near Charlevoix, general manager Darin Philport is seeing encouraging signs — like an increase in advance bookings and the addition of numerous golf outings — this year.

“We’re actually probably going to have one of the best years we’ve ever had,” he said.

Philport believes creative marketing — relying more on social networking Web sites, for example — could help Dunmaglas maintain its footing in the challenging economic climate. Offerings meant to boost local appeal — such as money-saving twilight memberships — could play a part as well, he added.

Some in the local industry believe the demographics of Northwest Michigan visitors could keep local courses better insulated from the recession than other golf destinations around the state. Around Michigan, golf course closings have outpaced openings as of late.

While other parts of Northern Michigan tend to draw tourists predominantly from the Detroit area — hit especially hard by auto-industry cutbacks — Westbrook said the northwest area attracts visitors from a wider area. And Philport noted that many of these visitors come from higher income brackets.

“Even though they feel the pinch, they still have enough extra to spend to do their summer activities,” he said.

Ryan Bentley

439-9342 - rbentley@petoskeynews.com

Golf courses hit a rough patch

Wed, 13 May 2009 00:00:01 GMT

Around the nation, courses are struggling and say they're in need of aid too. One parks official touts golf's benefit as a stress-reliever, but a critic says the game is not an essential function.

By Richard Simon
May 13, 2009

Reporting from Washington -- In today's economy, golf is in the rough. And with a bad lie. Once-haughty country clubs are offering specials. Courses have closed or cut back on maintenance. The world's top golf ball manufacturer has seen demand for souvenir balls stamped with company logos drop off.

And so officials in the golf industry have joined the nation's bankers, auto makers and insurance companies in marching to Washington in search of understanding. They're not asking for a bailout, but they do want greater appreciation of their industry's importance.

"There are a number of congressmen who do not understand the economic impact of golf on their local community," said James B. Singerling, chief executive of the Club Managers Assn. of America. "Our message to Congress is that when you pass legislation that makes it difficult for the golf industry to stay in business, you don't hurt the wealthy. Who you hurt are the employees."

Singerling and others will be in Washington today to make sure Congress does not lump the golf industry in with massage parlors, suntan facilities and liquor stores as businesses undeserving of federal help.

"We're in an unprecedented era of government involvement in business, so we have to be in D.C. to be able to make sure that people, when they're writing law or making comments about our industry, realize all of the positive impact that golf has," said Joe Steranka, chief executive of the PGA of America.

Federal aid to golf has been a touchy subject since the 1990s, when the Federal Emergency Management Agency came under scrutiny for spending that included $872,000 to repair an Indian Wells, Calif., course damaged in 1993 flooding. According to FEMA's inspector general, the city-owned course was clearing about $1 million a year.

This year, golf courses, along with casinos and zoos, were excluded from receiving economic stimulus funds passed by Congress.

But Steve Ellis of Taxpayers for Common Sense was unsympathetic. "If you're a private country club, people are paying you a lot of money to be a member. And maybe those are the people who should be picking up the tab for cleaning up the golf course after a disaster. . . . At the end of the day, this is not an essential function that has to be returned immediately to get the country working again."

The lobbying effort gained some urgency after lawmakers reacted angrily this year to the news that Northern Trust Co., a recipient of financial bailout money, hosted parties in connection with its sponsorship of a golf tournament at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles.

Already, executives say, there has been a cutback in the corporate golf outings that could help the industry get through tough economic times and raise money for charity.

"When things are bad, they're bad for everybody," said Robert L. Bouchier, executive director of the California Alliance for Golf, which has fought a proposed tax on golfers to help bail the state out of its financial crisis.

Signs of strain are everywhere.

"Due to difficult economic times in the country, especially Michigan, we have decided not to open High Pointe Golf Club for this 2009 golf season," the course's website says. Nationwide, club membership waiting lists have been reduced or eliminated. The Detroit Golf Club has cut its $18,000 initiation fee by more than half. Pebble Beach Co., announcing job cuts last week, said that group cancellations at its prestigious Northern California course have exceeded new bookings in four of the last six months.

"Even in a recession, people are pursuing their passion, but they're moving down the value chain, sort of the Wal-Martization of golf," explained Mike Hughes, chief executive of the National Golf Course Owners Assn. "Where they were paying a $60 green fee, they might go to the lower end and pay $20 to $30 for a round."

Even so, golf's troubles have affected city coffers. In Los Angeles, for example, a 6% drop in play at the municipal courses is expected to translate into about a $1-million drop in revenue to support recreation programs this year.

Amid the downturn, some courses are doing the once unthinkable: cutting back on maintenance. "That's messing around with the Holy Grail," said Todd Beals, chief operating officer at the Detroit Golf Club.

But others in the industry think that equation may be changing.

Less mowing only means that "it's just going to be a little bit slower on the fairways," said John Dodge, government affairs coordinator of the Michigan Golf Course Owners Assn.

Despite the belt tightening, most industry executives believe golf will weather the storm.

"I think we're similar to the movie industry," said Jorge Badel, senior golf director for the Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation Department. "People need stress relief. They need to get their minds off of the economy."

richard.simon@latimes.com

Klauk family steals Players spotlight

Fri, 08 May 2009 00:00:01 GMT

Fred Klauk, a 33-year GCSAA Class A member who served as the superintendent at TPC Sawgrass for 23 years before retiring last year, will have a completely different view of this week’s Players Championship, now known only as The Players.

Klauk’s youngest son Jeff, a PGA Tour rookie, will be in the tournament field for the first time ever. Jeff has enjoyed a strong season through 13 events, with 11 made cuts, three top 25 finishes and more than $600,000 in earnings, but had to wait out several withdrawals from The Players field last week before moving up the alternate list and into the tournament.

"This week is going to be fun. It's going to be all positives," Jeff said during a Wednesday morning news conference at Sawgrass. "I've always dreamed of playing this tournament, having grown up out here, mowed the fairways and greens. It's going to be awesome."

Asked whether his time behind a mower working for his father gave him a greater understanding of the plight of the superintendent, Jeff said, “Oh yeah, for sure. Growing up in a household where he's (Fred) at the golf course at 4 in the morning and doesn't leave until it's well after dark tournament week makes you definitely appreciate things, what goes into making a golf tournament what it is, both from the golf course maintenance but also from the other stuff that goes on. Yeah, I appreciate things a lot more. I have a different view on things than a lot of other guys."

The story is already receiving considerable media attention, including a story on ESPN.com. For a complete transcript of Jeff’s news conference, visit http://www.asapsports.com/show_interview.php?id=56127. Other articles about the Klauks are in the Florida Times-Union, St. Augustine Record, Ponte Vedra Recorder, PGATour.com and Golf.com.

Industry leaders take golf’s message to Capitol Hill

Fri, 08 May 2009 00:00:01 GMT

On May 13, representatives from GCSAA and allied golf organizations will once again travel to Washington, D.C., for the second annual National Golf Day.

The GCSAA delegation will include members of the board of directors, Government Relations Committee and staff. Activities and meetings with members of Congress and the media are planned to communicate golf’s positive impact on the economy, the environment and charitable causes.

The day will begin with the annual The First Tee Congressional Breakfast. Presenters include two First Tee scholars, as well as Fred Couples and Greg Norman, captains of The Presidents Cup's U.S. and international teams, respectively. Norman is also chairman of The Environmental Institute for Golf's Advisory Council and a member of The Institute's board of trustees. The remainder of the day's activities will focus on strategic outreach by the allied organizations to congressional leadership and key congressional committee chairs.

According to a study by The World Golf Foundation Golf 20/20, the golf industry generated $76 billion in direct economic impact in 2005, and when combined with indirect economic impact, the total rises to $195 billion. The report also states that the industry generates more than $3.5 billion annually for charities across the country.

National Golf Day was developed after the industry was excluded in the tax relief measure passed by Congress in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Golf was again omitted from last year’s relief measures to help citizens and business owners impacted by floods and storms in the Midwest. Golf was excluded from this year's economic stimulus bill too.

Representatives from the world of golf will use this opportunity May 13 to share quantifiable data that shows golf isn’t just a game, but an industry that contributes billions each year to local, state and national economies and employs more than two million people nationwide.

Mt. Pleasant superintendent renews professional certification

Thu, 07 May 2009 00:00:01 GMT

D. Jeff Sweet, GCSAA certified golf course superintendent and general manager at Bucks Run Golf Club, Mt. Pleasant, 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). Sweet has been at Bucks Run Golf Club since 1999. A 13-year GCSAA member, he initially achieved his certification in 2004. Approximately 1,900 golf course superintendents worldwide currently hold “CGCS” status.
According to GCSAA CEO, Mark Woodward, 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 21,000 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 Sweet at 989-779-0754 or jeff@bucksrun.com.

On The Road With The USGA

Fri, 01 May 2009 00:00:01 GMT

By R.A. (Bob) Brame, Director
May 1, 2009

Dandelions are in full bloom and so is Poa annua, unless growth regulation has been applied to block seed head growth. This does not mean that every golf course should be using a growth regulator to stop Poa annua seeding. While it can be a good strategy for some, in other situations the most efficient approach may be to allow seed head growth and go with another type of regulator to help knock back the overall growth of this foe.

Recognizing that a weed is defined as a plant out of place, dandelions qualify with no argument, but Poa annua continues to straddle the line – sometimes friend and sometimes foe. If a friend, suppressing seed head growth is more likely to be a sound strategy. If more of a foe, there will likely be more bang for your buck by allowing seed heads and regulating to pull back all growth, not just seed heads. In other words, are you maintaining Poa annua or are you trying to reduce the amount of its encroachment?

Straddling the line is normally an indicator of politics trumping agronomics. Yet, this is not an easy issue to sort through without a comprehensive evaluation of the maintenance program and objectives being pursued. For such causes we offer on-site consultation through our Turf Advisory Service (TAS). Has your course signed up for a visit this season? Don’t let the challenging economy block investing in what will pay dividends now and ongoing, guaranteed.

All areas of the lower North Central Region have gotten reasonably good rainfall so far this season. There are no current drought concerns and, in fact, most of the rainfall to date has occurred early in the week, leaving the weekends with reasonably good weather for golfers to enjoy. Several courses visited in April report better play volume so far this year as compared to the last couple of years. Good news that hopefully will continue.

Disease (http://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/ppa/ppa1/ppa1.pdf) and insect concerns have been minimal, although mole cricket damage was observed on a course in southern Indiana. The activity was isolated to a single green and somewhat of a novelty in this part of the country. It does underline the importance of careful scouting and being aware of possible problems, which could develop even when it has not been an issue in the past.

Putting surface topdressing has been underway at all golf courses visited. Hopefully, this is true at your course as well. Matching topdressing sand input to growth is the guiding principle. There are a number of factors that directly impact topdressing efficiency, and one of those is the cutting height or the amount of leaf tissue into which the sand is being incorporated. Spreading the sand and then picking it up with subsequent mowing accomplishes little to no positive value. Is your topdressing program in good order relative to the specific needs at your course? How about a comprehensive review? Give us a call.

If your course hasn’t signed up for a TAS visit this season, now is a great time to get it done. Payment prior to May 15^th secures a $500 discount. Even with early payment to lock in on the discount, visits can be scheduled any time during the season that best fits your course’s needs. Give us a call, drop an email or signup online. We look forward to hearing from you and working with you.

http://www.usga.org/turf/turf_advisory_service/how_to_subscribe.html

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

Green Swing - Pure Michigan Travel

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:00:01 GMT

Do your part for promoting a green and healthy ecosystem. Take your next swing on one of Michigan's premier environmentally-friendly golf courses.

Designed by the Donald Ross award-winning architect Dr. Michael Hurdzan, The Meadows is rated 4-1/2 stars (out of 5) by Golf Digest. Located 15 minutes from downtown Grand Rapids, it's a 6-time host of NCAA National Championships and the annual host of the Michigan High School Golf Finals and the Grand Valley Amateur. A certified member of the Turfgrass Environmental Program, the course is a well-maintained, links style layout on the scenic Grand Valley State University campus. A popular choice for golf outings and special events, The Meadows also hosts the Kendall Golf Academy for lessons and clinics for novice and experienced golfers alike.

The 18-hole Sandy Ridge Golf Course in Midland, designed by Bruce Matthews in 1966, features 6,409 yards with exacting 'push up' bent grass greens, water on 15 holes and bluegrass fairways cut through a sandy ridge of pine and hardwood trees makes Sandy Ridge a challenge whatever your handicap. A variety of birds habitat the course in strategically located wildlife areas. One may even sight a white tail deer, some turkeys, a red fox, or even a peacock while golfing. Open seven days a week, from April 1 to October 31. The course has a driving range, putting green, and pro-shop, as well as a Bar/Grill for refreshments. Sandy Ridge is a certified member of the Turfgrass Environmental Stewardship Program.

Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa in Thompsonville, operated by Chris and Jim MacInnes for 23 years, began going green before much of the world caught on to the movement. This top-notch resort uses wind power and minimizes pollution on its golf courses through safe handling, application and storage of fertilizers and pesticides. To prevent fertilizer run-off, grass at the edge of water areas is left uncut. And, by not mowing out-of-play areas, the resort reduced its fuel use by 4%. A computerized irrigation program uses the most efficient flow of water. The long-term goal is to power the resort with as close to 100% renewable energy as possible as more alternative sources become available.

For other green golf courses, visit our Turfgrass Environmental listings.

Michigan course welcomes unemployed with free golf

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:00:01 GMT

Unemployed workers in Michigan got a bit of good news this week when Heather Highlands Golf Club in Holly, Mich., announced it would give a free round of golf to the jobless Michiganders and their children this week.

From April 27 to May 1, offered no cost tee times to those who could offer proof they were out of work, such as by providing their Michigan Unemployment Insurance Card.

“A lot of our business is with automotive employees and that’s the industry that’s been hit hardest,” said Ben Feliciano, manager. “It’s just a way to try and get people’s minds off it. Everybody feels the pain of what’s going on in the state.” Heather Highlands is no stranger to offering free golf. For more 20 years, Heather Highlands has held Golfer Appreciation Days at the end of the season where everyone plays for free.

March 17, 2009

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 00:00:01 GMT

By Bob Vavrek, Senior Agronomist
March 17, 2009

cabin fever
Function: noun
Date: 1918
: extreme irritability and restlessness from living in isolation or a confined indoor area for a prolonged time

Perhaps Merriam-Webster’s definition of cabin fever provides some insight regarding why those of us across the upper Midwest tend to be impatient and susceptible to making snap decisions about potential turf problems during that lull between final snow melt and spring green up. During this lull we look at brown, dormant golf courses each day and cannot help but wonder whether or not turf has sustained injury during the many thaw/freeze cycles that have occurred this winter.

Removing a few turf samples from greens and taking them indoors to green up is helpful, but it can be difficult to obtain a representative sample from putting surfaces that are a mottled mixture of bentgrass and Poa annua. Knowing where past winter damage has occurred on greens can increase the odds of success when sampling turf for damage. However, every spring I hear a story or two about a course where serious winterkill occurred on a green that had no history of injury in the past…so don’t depend on a few healthy plugs of turf on a windowsill to proclaim damage-free greens this spring. On the other hand, if the plugs are stone dead, then you better formulate a recovery plan, and do it faster than our elected representatives.

The importance of patience was demonstrated at a nearby course the other day. A call to the office regarding totally unfamiliar disease activity on several greens made me grab a camera and take a look. The symptoms appeared a few days prior to my visit along the low-lying drainage swales as the snow melted off the putting surfaces. They were described as dark purple spots of turf about the size of a quarter. The color alone piqued my interest.

By the time I had arrived, the wet areas on the affected greens had just begun to dry off and the unusual purple spots were still clearly evident and the symptoms were unlike anything I had seen before. However, the dark spots were only present on turf that was still submerged under a shallow layer of water. Where nearby turf had dried off a bit, these spots transformed into the straw brown lesions of classic Microdochium patch, none of which was evident a few days earlier. Anyway, there went our chances of discovering "purple blight" of cool season turf.

We make so many rapid-fire, day-to-day decisions about turf management throughout the growing season that it’s hard to wait even a few days to address a perceived disease problem during spring. This incident made me more aware of the power of patience when turf is dormant. Remember, there isn’t any play yet and the grass isn’t growing. Jumping to conclusions may result in an unnecessary, costly fungicide application or, worse yet, incite some unneeded stress and panic to you and the golfers before the season even starts.

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

Congratulations to the Dalton Family

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 00:00:01 GMT

Andrew and Rachel Dalton welcomed the addition of a set of twins into their family on April 14, 2009. The twin boys, Matthew and Michael are doing well. Andrew is a MiGCSA member and superintendent at Copper Hills Golf and Country Club in Oxford, Michigan.

	Ranking on Golf Digest's list of America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses PATRICK SISK AGE: 44 Certified Golf Course Superintendent Milwaukee Country Club, River Hills, Wis. \| No. 52 "Two points. First, brown is good, to a point. We as superintendents should be the jury on that. Second, bunkers are a hazard and should be treated as such. Believe me, the day I'm asked to reduce my costs, the daily raking of bunkers will be first on my hit list. AUDIO: PLAY
	Ranking on Golf Digest's list of America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses DAVID STONE AGE: 60 Golf-Course Superintendent The Honors Course, Ooltewah, Tenn. \| No. 38 "I'm constantly doing things to the golf course to make the habitat better for birds. Lots of people want tall roughs that are clean, with no weeds. But weeds have seeds, and that's what the birds eat. And a lot of those weeds bloom and add color." AUDIO: PLAY
	Ranking on Golf Digest's list of America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses PETE WENDT AGE: 39 Golf-Course Manager Kinloch G.C., Manakin-Sabot, Va. \| No. 48 "People need to learn to live without green conditions from tree line to tree line. Average golfers look at a course from an aesthetic point of view, when they should really look at it from a playability standpoint." AUDIO: PLAY
	Ranking on Golf Digest's list of America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses JIM WHALEN AGE: 44 Golf-Course Superintendent Calusa Pines G.C., Naples, Fla. \| No. 92 "The water issue is never going to go away. Golf courses won't be as green and lush as they were years ago. The great thing we did was modify our irrigation system so we can do a ton of hand-watering out there." AUDIO: PLAY
	Ranking on Golf Digest's list of America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses MARK WILSON AGE: 53 Golf-Course Superintendent Valhalla G.C., Louisville \| No. 95 "I'm at a Jack Nicklaus golf course -- the bunkers have to be just perfect, in case Nicklaus drops in. But if you get so strapped you can't maintain them, you should probably fill them in -- grass over them." AUDIO: PLAY
	Ranking on Golf Digest's list of America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses JOHN ZIMMERS AGE: 38 Golf-Course Superintendent Oakmont (Pa.) C.C. \| No. 5 "If you ask any good superintendent, drier is always better -- better for the golfer and the turf. You can manage: firm, fast, championship conditions and still have quality turf and wonderful playability." AUDIO: PLAY

Public	Private	Resort
#1. Forest Dunes G.C., Jim Bluck, CGCS	#24. Crystal Downs C.C., Mike Morris, CGCS	#27. St. Ives/Tullymore, Alex Greenacre, CGCS, James Granfield
#16. Arcadia Bluffs G.C., Paul Emling, Mike Neilson, Custer Carland, Pat Sullivan	#27. Oakland Hills C.C., Steve Cook,CGCS, MG, Mike Mausolf,John Rinehart	#32. Treetops Resort, Douglas Hoeh, Mark Lauet, Jason Roznowski, Scott Pulaski, Mark Wildeman,CGCS, Gary Ray, Thomas Brown, Rond Kellog
#23. Cedar Chase G.C.		#38. Bay Harbor G.C., Todd Kauffman
#27. Eagle Eye, Steve Fiorillo, CGCS		#45 Grand Traverse Resort, Paul Galligan, Gene Davis, Seth Britton
#30. Bucks Run G.C., Jeff Sweet, CGCS
#31. Pilgrims Run G.C., Ken Hunt, CGCS
#49. Shepards Hollow G.C., Tim Asselin, CGCS