Golf Course Management - June 2015

INSIDE: Irrigation effciency vs. uniformity

GCM PAGE 68

Offcial Publication of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America

Shop odds and ends 36 A cut above 60 California drought 88

Open for

business

P if Northwest Pacifc N th t lands l d its frst U.S. Open PAGE 46

Golf Course Management Magazine www.gcsaa.org • June 2015

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CONTENTS06.15

46

Home turf advantage If the Jordan Spieths of golf need advice for the first U.S. Open to be played almost entirely on fescue, go see Eric Johnson and Josh Lewis. They certainly are masters of this domain.

Howard Richman

Hidden asset A Minnesota superintendent’s system provides a seamless solution to daily cup-cutting and repair.

John M. McCarthy

60

68

The great debate

Irrigation efficiency or distribution uniformity? Determining which is more important is a dilemma facing many golf course superintendents.

Stacie Zinn Roberts

A better solution State-of-the-art turf injection systems can help save water, labor, as one classic Palm Springs course has learned.

Nancy Hardwick

78

82 Conservation goes high-tech Technological advances in irrigation and pump stations have elevated superintendents’ ability to save water. Dan Gregg • On the Cover: Chambers Bay Golf Course, host to this month’s U.S. Open, has but one tree on the entire property, the Douglas fir that sits behind the 15th hole and is featured in this month’s cover photo, taken by golf course photographer and frequent GCM contributor Aidan Bradley (http://golfcoursephotography.com/home.asp).

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GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT 06.15

INSIGHTS

Turf

34 Shop

Bee survey: Summer losses are ‘very troubling’ Kim Kaplan

36

Advocacy

Odds and ends in the shop Scott R. Nesbitt

Maps help detail impact of WOTUS Chava McKeel

38 Water

40

A drought-survival al game plan Chris Lewis

Technology

42

Getting the most from your photos Bob Vaughey, CGCS

RESEARCH The drought in California: recent history, legislation and regulation, and the effects on golf courses Drought is a recurring problem in California, but numerous factors have combined to make the current situation especially worrisome.

Mike McCullough, M.S.

88

Cutting Edge Teresa Carson

97

ETCETERA06.15 16 President’s message 18 From the CEO 20 Front nine 32 Photo quiz

12

86 Through the green 96 Verdure 98 Product news 102 Industry news

GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT 06.15

108 Climbing the ladder 108 On course 109 Coming up 110 On the move

110 In the field 114 New members 117 In memoriam 120 Final shot

Golf Course Management Magazine Offcial Publication of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America

GCM MISSION

Golf Course Management magazine is dedicated to advancing the golf course superintendent profession and helping GCSAA members achieve career success. To that end, GCM provides authoritative “how-to” career-oriented, technical and trend information by industry experts, researchers and golf course superintendents. By advancing the profession and members’ careers, the magazine contributes to the enhancement, growth and vitality of the game of golf.

GCSAA BOARD OF DIRECTORS President Vice President Secretary/Treasurer Immediate Past President Directors

• Magnesium (Mg) is a component of chlorophyll production and critical in metabolic functions, including cell respiration.

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JOHN JOH J. O’KEEFE, CGCS PETER PET J. GRASS, CGCS BILL H. MAYNARD, CGCS KEITH KEIT A. IHMS, CGCS RAFAEL BARAJAS, CGCS RAF KEVIN KEV P. BREEN, CGCS DARREN DAR J. DAVIS, CGCS JOHN JOH R. FULLING JR., CGCS MARK MAR F. JORDAN, CGCS J. RHETT R EVANS J.D. DOCKSTADER

GCM STAFF Editor-in-Chief Sr. Managing Editor Managing Editor Sr. Science Editor Associate Editor Sr. Manager, Creative Services Manager, Creative Services Traffc Coordinator

SCOTT SCO HOLLISTER sho shollister@gcsaa.org BUNNY BUN SMITH bsmith@gcsaa.org bsm MEG MEGAN HIRT mhirt@gcsaa.org mhi TERESA TER CARSON tcar tcarson@gcsaa.org HOWARD HOW RICHMAN hric hrichman@gcsaa.org ROGER ROG BILLINGS rbillings@gcsaa.org rbill KELLY KEL NEIS kneis@gcsaa.org kne BRETT BRE LEONARD bleo bleonard@gcsaa.org

GCSAA This Week/Turf Weekly l Editor

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ADVERTISING 800-472-7878 Managing Director Marketing and Business Development Sr. Manager, Business Development Lead International Developer Account Development Managers

ANGELA ANG HARTMANN aha ahartmann@gcsaa.org

MATT MAT BROWN mbrown@gcsaa.org mbr JIM CUMMINS jcummins@gcsaa.org jcum ERIC BOEDEKER eboedeker@gcsaa.org ebo BRE BRETT ILIFF biliff@gcsaa.org bilif KARIN KAR CANDRL kca kcandrl@gcsaa.org SHE SHELLY URISH suri surish@gcsaa.org

The articles, discussions, research and other information in this publication are advisory only and are not intended as a substitute for specifc manufacturer instructions or training for the processes discussed, or in the use, application, storage and handling of the products mentioned. Use of this information is voluntary and within the control and discretion of the reader. ©2015 by GCSAA Communications Inc., all rights reserved.

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(president’s message)

Advocating for the game: a team effort John J. O’Keefe, CGCS turfjok@aol.com

This year’s activities were aided by the presence of two well-known fgures in our game who will captain the two teams competing in this October’s President’s Cup competition, Jay Haas and 2010 Old Tom Morris Award recipient Nick Price.

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GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT 06.15

Golf might be the ultimate individual sport, but to ignore the vital role that teamwork plays in the game is to miss much of what makes the game so great.

Professional touring players ultimately swing the club and strike the ball, but they rely on a team of caddies, personal trainers and business managers to support them in their efforts. At the facility level, we’ve all seen the importance and value of teamwork, the successes that can be achieved when superintendents, golf professionals, general managers and owners work together toward a common goal.

And in April in our nation’s capital, we saw what I believe to be one of the most outward examples of how teamwork is benefting the game of golf during the 2015 edition of National Golf Day, an event that featured GCSAA and the profession of the golf course superintendent in a starring role.

If you’re reading this column, it’s likely that you already know about the mission of National Golf Day. In the eight years since it began, educating legislators and regulators in Washington, D.C., about the economic, environmental, charitable and health benefts that the game of golf contributes to our society has driven the initiative and the work done by those who participate in the day’s events.

This year’s activities were aided by the presence of two well-known fgures in our game who will captain the two teams competing in this October’s President’s Cup competition, Jay Haas and 2010 Old Tom Morris Award recipient Nick Price. They both spoke at a First Tee breakfast that began the day, and also spent time at a National Golf Day exhibition that took root in the foyer of the Rayburn House Offce Building.

From that event — which featured swing analyzers, PGA of America and LPGA teaching professionals, golf simulators, an exhibit on the Grassroots Initiative at the National Arboretum, and a display of the latest tools in golf course maintenance — the meetings I took part in and visits that took place throughout both houses of Congress, it was clear just how far that teamwork within golf has taken

us. Doors that might have been closed to us eight years ago now swing open. Senators and representatives now take meetings that might previously have been reserved for junior staffers. Our message, even among those who might not agree with us, is taking hold.

And in my view, we have teamwork to thank for that. Whether you’re a club professional, a general manager, a golf course owner or a working superintendent, there were no individual agendas at National Golf Day, no promoting of pet projects or initiatives that would beneft one corner of the game at the expense of another. Just a true sense of camaraderie and a clarity of purpose that centered on doing what was best to secure a bright future for the entire game of golf.

GCSAA’s role in this effort was a vital one, especially considering looming matters such as the proposed Waters of the United States provision of the Clean Water Act and H-2B labor issues, which could dramatically impact golf course operations. The 28-person contingent that went to Capitol Hill consisted of members of the national board of directors, the association’s Government Relations Committee and select staff, all of whom took part in 65 meetings over the course of the day to ensure our government understood these issues, why they mattered to us, and how they might eventually affect golf on a national scale.

I’ve been fortunate to take part in several of these events during my time on the board, and I’m consistently amazed and gratifed at how much of a difference National Golf Day can make. And none of it would be possible without that sense of teamwork that has begun to characterize our industry on a stage larger than we’ve ever seen before.

John J. O’Keefe, CGCS, is the director of golf course management at Preakness Hills Country Club in Wayne, N.J., and a 35-year member of GCSAA.

“IT WORKS NONSTOP.” TOM HUESGEN, CGCS | Sahalee Country Club | Sammamish, WA

“EXTREMELY EFFICIENT.” MARK KUHNS, CGCS | Baltusrol Golf Club | Springfield, NJ

“VERY POWERFUL.” RALPH KEPPLE, CGCS | East Lake Golf Club | Atlanta, GA

“BIG-TIME PRODUCTIVITY.” LEE MCLEMORE, CGCS | The Country Club of Birmingham | Mountain Brook, AL

“IT’S EXCELLENT.” NEIL PACKARD, Superintendent | Dallas National Golf Club | Dallas, TX

THE SKEPTICS HAVE SPOKEN. Superintendents everywhere have put it to the test with steep hills, heavy loads and long days — and the results are in. The 72-volt AC Hauler® PRO is changing the way the industry thinks about electric power.

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(from the CEO)

Advocacy for a day and all year-round J. Rhett Evans revans@gcsaa.org Twitter: @GCSAACEO

We are a voice for the golf industry, and during National Golf Day, we shared with audience after audience that golf accounts for 2 million jobs and $68.9 billion in economic impact.

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GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT 06.15

This April was our eighth National Golf Day, and it was as important as any we’ve ever had. The annual event in Washington, D.C., gives GCSAA and other golf organizations the opportunity to promote the industry to legislators and discuss specifc opportunities and concerns.

The busy day began with several media interviews on Capitol Hill before I joined my colleagues from the PGA of America, USGA, Club Managers Association of America, the World Golf Foundation and the National Golf Course Owners Association at the Eisenhower Executive Offce Building for a meeting with Steve Riccetti, chief of staff for Vice President Joe Biden.

As I was checked through security, the offcer noticed my GCSAA briefcase. “I see you work for the Golf Course Superintendents Association,” he said. “I love that commercial you have on the Golf Channel. It is great seeing Jack Nicklaus telling me to ‘thank a superintendent.’”

I smiled and said “Thank you.” It took a moment for me to realize that we, as an organization, had just made an important connection. The offcer’s comment says a lot about what we are accomplishing at GCSAA. Our mission statement is being fulflled. On this day, I knew we were serving members and elevating the profession.

We are a voice for the golf industry, and during National Golf Day, we shared with audience after audience that golf accounts for 2 million jobs and $68.9 billion in economic impact. It also contributes $3.9 billion to charity each year, more than professional football, basketball, baseball and hockey combined. We talked about these economic and social benefts, and made sure that we correctly represented golf facilities as thousands of small businesses.

We asked for specifc help halting “Waters of the U.S.” (WOTUS), a proposal set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency.

This rule would extend federal control to include water tributaries, making it needlessly diffcult for golf facilities and other industries like agriculture and homebuilders to do good work without extra time, cost and permitting.

(Editor’s note: In May, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that signaled a vic-

tory for the golf industry in the debate over WOTUS. For more, see this month’s Advocacy column on Page 38.)

We communicated our support of the Clean Water Act and our desire to use as little water as possible while keeping golf proftable for the future. We know these discussions with lawmakers, along with our work with media, community leaders and avid golfers, will help us change the perception that golf is excessive and expendable — from the halls of Congress to each golf facility.

Before splitting up for individual meetings, we all had an interesting visit with veteran Sen. Pat Roberts of Kansas, who is chair of the Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee. He was extremely forthright and supportive of the golf industry, and he shared insights into what might lie ahead for WOTUS. As a fourth-term senator, Roberts knows there is more than one way to halt a proposed rule, and he pledged his support.

GCSAA representatives had more than 60 meetings throughout the day, discussing industry issues with their state representatives and tying our messages and requests to local interests. We heard time and time again that each superintendent and voter must get involved to effect change. Advocacy is everyone’s business, and it’s one of the most important things we can do for the golf industry. Take a look at the National Golf Day recap video posted online at gcsaa.org and GCSAA TV (www.gcsaa.tv/view.php?id=2597). Legislators can be good listeners, and some, like Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), told us on camera that they were glad we visited to share our views.

While I can report that the 2015 National Golf Day was a success, it was really just the beginning of a journey for all of us to educate and infuence our legislators about the many benefts of the industry and the game.

I encourage each of you to get involved today. Learn more about our Grassroots Ambassadors program and start sharing the benefts, opportunities and concerns that are important to the future of golf. GCSAA will be there with you.

J. Rhett Evans is GCSAA’s chief executive offcer.

Photo by Pamela C. Smith

Keep off the grass!

Up-and-coming Denver junior golfer Roger Nakagawa had no problem identifying one of a golf course superintendent’s most nagging maintenance issues. He was literally stepping in it.

“Throughout the year, especially in fall and winter, there is almost no way to avoid stepping in the goose feces littering quite a lot of the golf course. Cleaning excrement off of your shoes is really disgusting,” says Nakagawa.

But Nakagawa, who describes himself as an avid golfer, didn’t let his disgust stop him from playing the game. In fact, he turned the Canada geese problem he encountered on the golf course into a multiple prize ribbon-winning science fair project last year when he was an eighth-grader at Denver’s Hill Campus of the Arts and Sciences Middle School.

By the NUMBERS

How w valuable llee is your you ouuur water? wate errr?

Calculations per acre-foot, based on a presentation prepared by Roger Nakagawa shows off the frst-place blue ribbon he won for his project at his school’s science He went on to win second-place honors in his age group in district-level competition. Photo courtesy of Roger Mike Huck of Irrigation & fair.

Nakagawa Turfgrass Services in San haven’t seen the last of Roger Nakagawa and his faux First, he read up on Canada geese and learned that Juan Capistrano, Calif.

$ 150 - $ 5,000 Potable water paid by golf courses throughout California

$ 325,851 “Arrowhead Spring Water” (on sale, 10 gallons for $10)

$ 724,114 Aquafna, 24-ounce six-pack (two for $5)

$ 7,820,424 Bottled water at sports event, airport, etc. ($3/16-ounce bottle)

“The value of water is directly proportional to its intended use. We are willing to pay a very high price for water we will drink — much more than we would ever pay to irrigate a golf course.” — Huck

golf courses, with their lakes and ponds, freshly mowed grass, and general lack of natural predators, form the ideal goose habitat. Superintendents across the country have tried a variety of control methods, but many of the studies Nakagawa read convinced him that the geese can be moved by an aggressive predator. Further study of animal behavior (including studies of human psychology, and habitual and instinctual behavior) sharpened his focus and helped develop his hypothesis that a motorized coyote decoy could act as a predator to frighten geese, tricking them into leaving the golf course and fnding another resting place to eat, sleep and raise their young.

Next, he fashioned his predator out of a realistic-looking full-size coyote decoy attached by a heater vent air-fow director to a 1:10-scale remote-control Monster Truck.

Denver’s Overland Park Golf Course agreed to become Nakagawa’s laboratory. Located alongside the South Platte River, the course attracts several thousand (an average of 2,830, according to Nakagawa’s observations) migratory geese in addition to the resident gaggle of approximately 100 that call the course home yearround. Nakagawa was welcomed by the GCSAA Class A superintendent at Overland Park GC, Colin Murphy, who says that it was a pleasure working with Roger and that he is looking forward to hearing about the wonderful things he will accomplish in the future.

The results of Nakagawa’s experiment were mixed, partly because his planned 14-day test period was cut in half by an arctic front that descended on Denver from the Rocky Mountains and forced him to stay home.

“The RC coyote decoy was very effective in chasing the geese off of the course and was beginning to alter their behavior,” he explains, “but as I was not able to get out and apply the method every day, a long-term behavioral effect was not established.” io The Canada geese at Overland Park GC probably

coyote. Now age 15 and a freshman at Thomas Jefferson High School, Nakagawa hopes to take advantage of a long stretch of favorable weather during his summer vacation to return to the course and haze the birds into leaving for good.

“There are a few other variables I’d like to try,” he says, which include adding lights to the eyes of his decoy to scare the geese away at night.

Meanwhile, Nakagawa’s enthusiasm for the game that brought him out to the golf course to begin with remains strong. He was selected in 2012 to join the inaugural class of the Hale Irwin Elite Player Program, which was developed by the Colorado Golf Association and the Colorado Women’s Golf Association to nurture the budding careers of exceptional young golfers in the state, and has been invited to return each subsequent year. Nakagawa credits the program, which gives him free playing privileges at CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora, with honing his skill. He currently carries a 4.3 handicap index and plays in the No. 2 spot on his school’s varsity golf team.

— Bunny Smith, GCM, managing editor

The full report Golf industry leaders say they are bullish about the state of the industry in 2015, but for golf course superintendents, the numbers in GCSAA’s 2015 Compensation and Benefts Report tell the real story: Salaries are still trending higher, but staff size is down.

The results of the biennial report, which was released this month, show the average base salary for GCSAA member superintendents rose 3.2 percent from 2013 to $85,204. At the same time, the average crew decreased from 21 to 20.

Superintendents also report feeling slightly more secure in their jobs: 66 percent compared to 62.7 percent in 2013 agreed with the statement, “I think I will be in this position as long as I perform well and choose

Superintendents who completed the survey were employed in a variety of situations — from working at nine-hole municipal courses with annual maintenance budgets of $100,000 to managing 45-hole private resorts with annual budgets of more than $1.5 million. More than 72% of all superintendents responding to the 2015 survey worked at 18-hole facilities. The breakdown by facility type is shown in the graph.

Municipal 14% Private 45%

Semi-private 17% Daily-fee 24%

Superintendent salaries $90,000 $73,766

$80,000 $63,065

$70,000 $60,000 $50,000

$78,898 $81,044

$82,573

$85,204

$68,914

$53,205 $57,057 $49,269

$40,000

1995

1998

2000

2003

2005

2007

2009

2011

2013

2015

In 2015, the average base salary for golf course superintendents rose to $85,204, a 3.2% increase over the base salary reported in 2013. This represents a 72.9% gain since 1995, or an increase of $35,935 in 20 years. In 2015, half of all superintendents earned $75,000 or more annually, 25% of all superintendents earned more than $100,000, and the top 10% earned $135,000 or more annually.

CGCS salaries In 2015, the average base salary for certifed golf course superintendents (CGCS) rose to $103,993, a 5.9% increase over the base salary reported in 2013. This represents a 34.8% gain since 2003, or an increase of $26,870 in 12 years. $110,000 $103,993 $95,264

$100,000 $87,225

$90,000 $80,489

$80,000

$98,187

$93,414

$76,170

$77,123

$77,305

$79,745

$73,809 $68,464

$70,000

$60,000

$64,212

CGCS

$58,170

Non-CGCS

$50,000 2003

2005

2007

2009

GCSAA Membership Chapter Dues

2011

2013

2015

Employer fringe benefts

Medical Insurance

Travel to GIS

GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT 06.15

87%

82.6%

69.4%

63.9%

24

95.3%

Registration GIS/Education

96.4%

Seminar/Tuition Reimbursement

4 411

The

Facility types

to remain at it.” The average number of years superintendents have spent in their current position rose from 9.7 to 10.4.

But along with job security apparently comes a commitment to working longer hours: 61 hours per week in the summer compared to 57.4 in 1995.

Between December 2014 and January 2015, association research frm Industry Insights sent the 2015 survey to all GCSAA Class A and Superintendent Members, and the response rate was 41.8 percent, with a margin of error of ±1.3 percent and a 95 percent level of confdence. Greg Stacey, GCSAA’s senior manager, market research and data, explains that the low margin of error indicates a stronger than typical level of statistical integrity.

Industry Insights maintains the confdentiality of the data responses, he adds.

GCSAA has been compiling a compensation and benefts report every other year since 1993, when it determined that members should have a reliable way to benchmark salaries and other aspects of their profession. That year, the average salary was $44,500.

“It’s more important than ever for GCSAA to arm its members with the specifc information this report provides,” says GCSAA President John O’Keefe. “A competitive and tightening job market makes the 2015 Compensation and Benefts Report an exceptionally valuable negotiating tool for superintendents.”

Most results are broken down by state (two additional lines present data for Canadian provinces and other countries), metro area, chapter, facility demographics and type, and annual maintenance budget. In addition to information for superintendents and assistant superintendents, the 2015 report has been expanded to include a section covering equipment managers.

Rodney Crow, CGCS, a 17-year GCSAA member who has been the superintendent at The Battleground at Deer Park in Kingwood, Texas, for the past two years, says the report has been “immeasurably useful” to him over the years.

“I’ve used it often in making determinations about whether a new job position was benefcial for me in terms of overall compensation. In one case in particular, it was the very deciding factor that led me to decline the position,” he says.

Shari Koehler, GCSAA’s director, professional development, points out that superintendents aren’t the only ones who use the report.

“Employers often call on us as well to ensure they’re offering competitive salaries and benefts to their superintendents,” she says.

GCSAA members who participated in the survey receive free online access to the report. They may also purchase a hard copy for $25 by calling GCSAA at 800-4727878. Nonparticipating GCSAA members may purchase online access for $125, or both online access and a hard copy for $150. Nonmembers may purchase a hard copy for $525.

— Bunny Smith, GCM, managing editor

GCM receives 15 awards in TOCA contest GCM, was recently honored with a total of 15 awards in the annual Turf and Ornamental Communicators Association (TOCA) Communications Contest. The awards, presented for work completed in 2014, were announced during TOCA’s annual meeting May 6-8 in Milwaukee, Wis. In addition to the awards in the communications contest, GCM associate editor Howard Richman was awarded the organization’s Plant Health Writer of the Year Award, presented in partnership with Bayer, to recognize excellence in writing about plant health issues to appropriate green industry audiences.

GCM’s awards in the communications contest in-

cluded four frst-place honors and 10 merit awards. Additionally, a Gardner Award — a best-of-show recognition— in the writing categories went to Richman for his story “Aftermath,” which received a frst-place honor in the Product Information category.

First-Place Awards • Richman — “Aftermath,” (http://gcmdigital.gcsaa. org/i/302556-may-2014/50), May 2014, Writing for Commercial Publications, Product Information Article • Richman — “Hole New Ballgame,” (http://gcmdigital. gcsaa.org/i/335642-jul-2014/48), July 2014, Writing for Commercial Publications, Headline Writing • GCM contributor John Fech, Ph.D. — “From the Roots Up: Preventing Tree Injuries,” (http://gcmdigital.gcsaa. org/i/234582-jan-2014/60), January 2014, Writing for Commercial Publications, Ornamental Feature Article • GCM contributor Rhonda Hunter — “Holiday Spirit 24/7,” (http://gcmdigital.gcsaa.org/i/421338dec-2014/22), December 2014, Photography, Video and Multimedia, Best Single Photo Merit Awards • Richman — “Two for 2,” (http://gcmdigital.gcsaa. org/i/319440-jun-2014/50), June 2014, Writing for Commercial Publications, Operations Profle • GCM contributor Beth Guertal, Ph.D. — “Verdure,” (http://gcmdigital.gcsaa.org/i/421338-dec-2014/96),

Going major from one coast to another This month’s U.S. Open (see story on Page 46) isn’t the only major championship on the schedule.

In fact, these events stretch from one side of the country to the other — the Women’s PGA Championship is slated for June 11-14 at Westchester Country Club in Rye, N.Y. Later this month, it is the U.S. Senior Open, set for June 25-28 at Del Paso Country Club in Sacramento, Calif.

The LPGA and PGA teamed up to form the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, which replaces the Wegmans LPGA Championship. Hosting key events, however, is not new for Westchester CC’s South Course (legendary late-night TV host Johnny Carson was a member). It was a site of a PGA Tour event from 19632007, most recently under the name of Barclays Classic. The course may look different than it did eight years ago, according to GCSAA Class A superintendent David Dudones, director of grounds. That includes 10 acres of native areas.

“We have removed a lot of trees, and that is still in process,” says Dudones, 16-year association member.

“We’ve gone from Poa to bentgrass greens. We just renovated all the tees last year.”

A women’s championship has special signifcance for Dudones. “It is neat for my three daughters (Kylie,

26

GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT 06.15

Taylor and Avery) to see. I want them to get involved,” he says.

At nearly-100-year-old Del Paso CC, site of the U.S. Senior Open, a $10 million renovation happened in 2006. This is the course’s frst major event since the 1982 Women’s U.S. Open. The upcoming championship carries special signifcance for Mark McKinney, CGCS, a 23-year member of GCSAA. “Obviously, this is one of the high points of my life.

It is a tremendous honor that I don’t take lightly,” McKinney says.

Del Paso CC, founded in 1916, features perennial ryegrass on all of the primary playing areas. In 2004, those areas were sand-capped.

“Because of the sand cap, frm and fast conditions are easily attained, even after rain events,” McKinney says.

McKinney says his grandparents, who had a farm, greatly infuenced his life and work ethic. So did a pretty famous legend.

“My frst job after college was working for Byron Nelson’s golf tournament as an assistant superintendent,” McKinney says. “Meeting with and being able to talk with Mr. Nelson was one of the most inspirational moments of my career.”

— Howard Richman, GCM, associate editor

monthly, Writing for Commercial Publications, Series of Columns by Regular Department Columnist • GCM contributor Stacie Zinn Roberts — “It Never Rains in California,” (http://gcmdigital.gcsaa. org/i/319440-jun-2014/62), June 2014, Writing for Commercial Publications, Environmental Stewardship Article • Roberts — “Muddied Waters,” (http://gcmdigital. gcsaa.org/i/234582-jan-2014/48), January 2014, Writing for Commercial Publications, Product Information Article • GCM contributor Mark Leslie — “It’s Super Zoysia,” (http://gcmdigital.gcsaa.org/i/265582mar-2014/76), March 2014, Writing for Commercial Publications, Turf Article • GCM staff — May 2014 GCM, (http://gcmdigital. gcsaa.org/i/302556-may-2014), Special Projects/ Programs, Best Single Issue • GCM staff — Golf Industry Show Wrap-Up, (http://gcmdigital.gcsaa.org/i/284784-apr-2014/58), Special Projects/Programs, Best Coverage of an Onsite Event • GCM staff — “From the Desk of GCM,” (http://gcm. typepad.com), New Media, Blogs • GCM contributor John Gessner — “Mod Sod,” (http:// gcmdigital.gcsaa.org/i/319440-jun-2014/52), June 2014, Photography, Video and Multimedia, Portrait/ Personality (Photo of Individual or Group) • GCM staff — January GCM, (http://gcmdigital.gcsaa. org/i/234582-jan-2014), Photography, Video and Multimedia, Print Magazine Cover “It is always special when your work is honored by your peers, so the recognition that our team received in this year’s TOCA competition is certainly rewarding,” Scott Hollister, GCM’s editor-in-chief, says.

Also at the annual meeting, Hollister was elected to a two-year term as TOCA’s president.

Brian Horgan, Ph.D., from the University of Minnesota, was named TOCA’s Environmental Communicator of the Year. Jenna Hay, a student at Texas Tech University, received TOCA’s Student Scholarship Award.

Golf course equipment managers vote to dissolve Approximately 429 equipment managers were welcomed by the GCSAA with memberships for 2015 after it was announced in late April that the International Golf Course Equipment Managers Association (IGCEMA) voted to dissolve the association.

GCSAA voted in February at its annual meeting to introduce an equipment manager classifcation for membership. It was a vote to strengthen ties with equipment managers and recognize their vital role at a golf facility.

“Our association has continued to grow, and we have reached a point where our growth has outpaced our resources as a volunteer group,” said Stephen Tucker, former IGCEMA chief executive offcer and the equipment manager at Tranquilo Golf Club at Four Seasons in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. “This is a good day, and we are excited at the possibilities for equipment technicians around the world now to be part of the Golf Course Superintendents

Fastest male skier went to Vermont GCSA’s Jay Savage (25:60). Fastest female skier was New England GCSA’s Barb Fahey (31:30). Fastest male snowboarder was Vermont GCSA’s Mark Finch (34:03).

Conroy graduated in 2007 from Western Michigan University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and in 2009 earned an associate’s degree in turfgrass management from North Carolina State University.

Conroy is a member of the board of directors of the Illinois Turfgrass Foundation.

Golf participation steady, interest remains high

Association of America.”

GCSAA President John J. O’Keefe, CGCS, said: “We recognize that equipment managers are an integral part of our membership and a vital part of the successful golf course management team. We hope all facilities will encourage their equipment managers to become a valuable part of the association.”

All equipment managers are welcomed with a complimentary introductory membership through 2015 and can register online at www.gcsaa.org. GCSAA will continue to expand upon its educational programs and services to assist the profession, and continue the IGCEMA certifcate program.

IGCEMA was formed in 2006 and the following year created the Edwin Budding Award to recognize technical professionals who have helped to shape the turf industry.

The award, which will be adopted by GCSAA, is named for the designer of the frst cylinder mower.

PGA Championship returning to The Ocean Course The Ocean Course in Kiawah Island, S.C., was named as the site for the 2021 PGA Championship.

The Pete Dye-designed oceanfront layout was host to the championship in 2012. Jeff Stone is superintendent. The Ocean Course is one of four venues to host each of the PGA of America’s major championships: Ryder Cup (1991); Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid (2007); and PGA Championship.

Vermont team captures Nor’Easter Ski Day event Make it back-to-back titles for the Vermont team in the annual Vermont GCSA Nor’Easter Ski Day event at Killington Ski Resort.

Nine superintendent associations from New York, New Jersey and throughout New England participated in the event March 5. More than 100 golf course superintendents and industry representatives and their families joined the festivities.

In the team standings for the 2-run giant slalom race, Vermont GCSA took frst with a time of 1 minute, 46.50 seconds (fastest four individual times totaled). The Met GCSA placed second at 1:54.31, and the Northeastern GCSA fnished third at 1:54.73.

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Conroy joins GCSAA feld staff Shane Conroy was hired as GCSAA’s Great Lakes regional representative.

Conroy previously was a turfgrass accounts manager for Illinois-based Spectrum Technologies Inc., a frm that manufactures and distributes leading-edge measurement equipment to the agricultural market.

Before working for Spectrum Technologies, Conroy served as assistant superintendent at Park Ridge (Ill.) Country Club; a professional intern at the Carolinas Country Club in Raleigh, N.C.; and a grounds crew associate at Kalamazoo (Mich.) Country Club.

Golf participation in 2014 remained equal to the previous 12 months. That’s the third year in a row that roughly 25 million people played at least one round of golf last year, according to the National Golf Foundation.

On the fip side, approximately 4 million players that entered the game last year were beginners, which is above the historic average of newcomers to the game.

Another indicator of interest in the game is latent demand (number of non-golfers who are very or somewhat interested in playing now). More than 32 million non-golfers are interested in playing now — more than one prospective golfer for every existing one. Latent demand has grown steadily since 2011, when there were fewer than 27 million interested-inactive prospects.

In the

NEWS Facebook campaign hopes to save Kentucky course Ready for the challenge in California

More than 3,000 likes on Facebook have everything to do with saving Hillcrest Golf Course in Owensboro, Ky., which, if closed, would become part of a construction project to ease traffc, according to WEHT-TV. www.tristatehomepage.com/story/d/ story/hillcrest-supporters-protest-plans-to-closegolf-c/40806/i8YlQx-i2UeMdRI-KPwdLg

The golf industry just may be well positioned to take on the major drought issue facing a large portion of California, according to The Wall Street Journal. www.wsj.com/articles/californias-golf-courses-are-getting-greener-1429914595

Proposed changes to Bobby Jones course stir emotions

Fire destroys golf cars, equipment at facility in Michigan

The more-than-80-year-old Bobby Jones Golf Course in the Atlanta suburb of Buckhead could be in store for changes, Reporter Newspapers says. It could include making it a shorter 18-hole course or a reversible 9-hole layout, all of which has sparked plenty of debate. www.reporternewspapers. net/2015/04/30/proposed-changes-to-landmarkgolf-course-swing-emotions/

Approximately $1 million in damage was done to golf cars and lawn equipment at Myth Golf and Banquet Center in Oakland Charter Township, Mich., according to The Oakland Press. The late-April incident remained under investigation at press time. www. theoaklandpress.com/general-news/20150428/ no-suspects-in-oakland-township-golf-course-freswhich-may-have-caused-1-million-damage

The drawing board Adam Lawrence adam.lawrence@golfcourse architecture.net twitter: @adamlawrence

Editor’s note: The Drawing Board is a quarterly feature that spotlights new golf course development and construction projects in both the United States and around the world worthy of note to superintendents.

The feature is authored by Adam Lawrence, the editor of Golf Course Architecture magazine as well as By Design, the quarterly publication of the American Society of Golf Course Architects.

Tweets

RETWEETS ONTurf@ONTurf Due to the demand for early spring access, sometimes some turf must die http://bit.ly/1Gm4LIR

EpicTurf@EpicTurf Finally! Out of the offce, on to the course! #rollinrollinrollin

Jay Wade@jaywadeIII So...do you get relief from the excavator, dozer and drill?@SuperProblems #vaturf@ Cgreg009 Steve Gruhl@leftyg15 Shop construction complete. Finally put up the washroom signs. Open for business.

Eric Radkowsky@bvgcturf Mr. Coyote, please eat geese instead of our new tee markers. Thank you in advance.

Mary Beth Printsky@Caesarbasenji9 #golfafterMark It seems to me that Golf SUPERintendents (notice the CAPS) are fnally getting recognized for their efforts. About DANG time! tgustaitis@tonygus14 After being a member of the GCSAA 35 years, it’s great to see the HQ in Lawrence KS. Thank you@GCSAA and @BayerGolf

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Turnberry (Scotland) The golf industry has become used now to Donald Trump acquiring a famous property and announcing he is going to spend innumerable millions turning it into the best of its type in the world. He has largely followed through, though, with the huge investment in Miami’s Doral Resort already showing its value. Now, it’s the turn of Turnberry in Scotland, which Trump purchased last year.

Trump’s desire to host an Open Championship has been obvious since the start of development at his course at Menie, outside Aberdeen. Calmer voices have counseled on the likely reluctance of the R&A, traditionally a conservative body, to take its greatest event to a new venue, but Turnberry, whose Ailsa Course is established on the Open rotation, is a different matter.

Different too are some of the issues at the Ayrshire resort. Though Trump has acquired and renovated several golf properties in the past, none has had the status of Turnberry, which has been named by a number of surveys over the years as Britain’s top course, though architectural snobs criticize some of the inland holes and suggest its high ranking comes more from the views than the golf holes themselves.

The scale of the proposed works, announced last month in a press conference at the resort, have come as a surprise to many observers. A total of nine new greens will be constructed, under the supervision of architect Martin Ebert, who has been advising Turnberry for some years.

Making better use of the spectacular coastline is at the heart of the proposal. Five holes — the sixth, ninth, 10th, 11th and 14th — will be entirely new, while other holes will see tees and/or greens replaced.

The frst hole — often slated as the weakest opening hole among the Open Championship rotation — will be lengthened by building new tees and an allnew green. Another new green will be created at the par-3 fourth, but the major changes kick in at the ffth, which will get new tees and green, and will be converted into a par 5 for daily play, though it will remain a par 4 in championship mode.

The long par-3 sixth is being shortened quite dramatically, with a new green set hard against a steep dropoff in the dunes. The tees will be high in the dunes, looking down on the beach. Highest profle among all the changes, though, is the elimination of Turnberry’s most famous shot, the drive over the cliffs on the ninth hole. The hole’s hogs-back fairway has long been criticized for throwing most shots into the rough, and it is to be replaced by a 230-plus-yard par 3 over the water, with the green close to the Turnberry lighthouse, which will serve as the new halfway house.

The 10th — which Ebert altered before the 2009 Open — will change again, becoming a par 5 with a new green further back, right against the water, where the current 11th tee is situated. Ebert frst conceived this change before 2009, when he found a location for a new green at the par-3 11th, further back and, again, requiring the tee shot to clear the coastline.

Most dramatic among the back nine changes is the 14th hole, where a new green will be built in the middle of what is now the ninth fairway, again close to the cliff edge. Seventeen’s new green will make it a par 4, and the home hole’s tees will be moved up onto the coastal dune, giving golfers one last view of the sea. This change, according to Ebert, was the central part of the whole plan — making room to put the fnal tees up on the dune forced the scale of all the other alterations.

“The existing hole is disappointing as a championship fnisher, with no view of players for the spectators until they get to the corner of the dogleg,” he says.

The tee shot, he believes, will be much more strategic, with players debating whether to hit driver to have a short iron approach, or to lay back and have a much longer shot into the green. He added that he intended to take the fairway cut close back to the tee, so that more than just the championship markers could be set on the high dune. “I hope lots of golfers, not just those playing from the championship tees, will experience that shot,” he says.

Turf for the new fairways will be taken from the Arran Course. Work will commence after this summer’s Women’s Open, while the course will close down in September for the large-scale works, with a planned reopening next June.

By John Mascaro President of Turf-Tec International

(photo quiz)

Turfgrass area: Rough

Location: Waukegan, Ill.

Tree variety: Linden

(a) PROBLEM

Object in center of tree

Turfgrass area: Putting green

Location: Kingdom of Bahrain

Grass variety: SeaIsle Supreme seashore paspalum

(b) PROBLEM Red material on top of turf

Presented in partnership with Jacobsen

Answers on page 106

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GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT 06.15

The All-New Jacobsen Truckster XD

TM

What new heavy-duty utility vehicle offers class-leading payload capacity, power and comfort?

Turn to page 107 for the answer.

Kim Kaplan Kim.Kaplan@ars.usda.gov

A bee visits a watermelon blossom.

In the United States, losses in managed bee colonies were greater in the summer of 2014 than in the winter of 2014-2015. Photo

by Stephen Ausmus USDA/ARS (image 2368-2)

(turf)

Bee survey: Summer losses are ‘very troubling’ For the frst time, losses of managed honey bee colonies in summer exceeded winter losses in the United States.

Losses were 23.1 percent for the 2014-2015 winter (October 2014 through April 2015), but summer losses made the yearly total 42.1 percent, according to preliminary results of the annual survey conducted by the Bee Informed Partnership (http://beeinformed.org), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Apiary Inspectors of America.

Colony losses in the winter of 20142015 were about 0.6 of a percentage point lower than the losses reported for the 20132014 winter. This is the second year in a row that winter losses have been noticeably lower than the nine-year average winter loss of 28.7 percent.

However, beekeepers are also losing colonies throughout the summer, sometimes at signifcant levels. Losses for summer 2014 were 27.4 percent, whereas those for summer 2013 were 19.8 percent compared to 23.7 percent for winter 2013-

Presented in partnership with Barenbrug

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2014. Summer 2012 losses were reported as 25.3 percent, whereas 2012-2013 winter losses were 30.5 percent.

Total annual losses were 42.1 percent for April 2014 through April 2015, up from 34.2 percent for 2013-2014.

“The winter loss numbers are more hopeful, especially combined with the fact that we have not seen much sign of Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) for several years, but such high colony losses in the summer and yearround remain very troubling,” says Jeff Pettis, a survey co-author and a senior entomologist at USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Bee Research Laboratory in Beltsville, Md. “If beekeepers are going to meet the growing demand for pollination services, researchers need to fnd better answers to the host of stresses that lead to both winter and summer colony losses.”

About two-thirds of the beekeepers responding to the survey reported losses greater than the 18.7 percent level that beekeepers reported as economically acceptable. This underlines the seriousness of the health problems stressing honey bees in this country, Pettis pointed out.

“We traditionally thought of winter losses as a more important indicator of health, because surviving the cold winter months is a crucial test for any bee colony,” says Dennis vanEngelsdorp, an assistant professor of entomology at the University of Maryland and project director for the Bee Informed Partnership. “But we now know that summer loss rates are signifcant too. This is especially so for commercial beekeepers, who are now losing more colonies in the summertime compared to the winter. Years ago, this was unheard of.

“Backyard beekeepers were more prone to

heavy mite infestations, but we believe that is because a majority of them are not taking appropriate steps to control mites,” vanEngelsdorp says. “Commercial keepers were particularly prone to summer losses. But they typically take more aggressive action against Varroa mites, so there must be other factors at play.”

For these preliminary survey results, responses were received from more than 6,100 beekeepers across the country, who managed almost 400,000 colonies in October 2014, representing nearly 15.5 percent of the country’s 2.74 million colonies.

A loss of 23.7 percent of managed honey bee colonies was reported for the 2013-2014 winter and a 30.5 percent loss for the winter of 2012-2013. Previous surveys found winter losses ranging from a low of 21.9 percent in 2011-2012 to a high of 36 percent in 20072008. Annual colony losses from 2010 to 2014 reached a high of 45 percent for 20122013 and a low of 28.9 percent for 2011-2012.

This survey was largely supported by a grant from USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, which also provides the majority of funding for the Bee Informed Partnership. A complete analysis of the survey data will be published later this year. The abstract for the analysis is at http://beeinformed. org/results-categories/winter-loss-2014-2015.

More information about ARS honeybee health research and CCD can be found at www.ars.usda.gov/ccd.

Kim Kaplan is the public affairs specialist for the USDA/ARS in Beltsville, Md.

SensiPro™ Granules are a revolutionary delivery method for pond colorants and spray pattern indicators that break surface tension immediately and disperse color rapidly eliminating surface clumps. SensiPro is 90% pure dye with no dispersing aids, fillers or unnecessary surfactants making it two to three times stronger than competitive powders. And, it’s lightweight, easier to pour and measure compared to liquids. This allows increased convenience, accuracy, efficiency and savings. SensiPro Granules are non-toxic and made in the USA with food quality dyes. With SensiPro Granules, your sales team has more tools, more excitement and real innovation.

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©2015 Sensient Colors LLC, all rights rexerved. The SENSIENT trademark and the Sensient Technologies Corporation logo are owned and registerd by Sensient Technologies Corporation. All rights in the trademarks are reserved.

Scott R. Nesbitt ORPguy@windstream.net

(shop)

Odds and ends in the shop Credit for these ideas goes to people whose names I’ve forgotten or never knew. Here’s hoping these tips make things a little easier in the shop.

Strips of thin plastic bags are kept in a portable supply of ¼-inch hex bits, and help keep the bits from dropping out of the magnetic holder. The plastic handles easily if you start with unused fat bags. Fold to get multiple layers, staple, then cut with scissors. Photos by Scott Nesbitt

Insect repellent and elbow grease cleans murky plastic headlight lenses, and keeps them clear. It may be the DEET chemical that does the trick.

LED light bulbs work well in shop lights. The plastic housing handles rough use, the bulbs don’t scald skin like incandescent bulbs, and they last a long time.

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GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT 06.15

Bags grab bits I lost dozens, maybe hundreds, of ¼-inch hex bits until I ran into a cable guy (he was not named Larry).

Just before tearing into the cable box, he asked me for a grocery bag. Plastic, not paper.

He held a #15 Torx bit upright, point down, laid the bag on the hex end and shoved his magnetized bit holder down.

While ripping away the untrapped portion of the bag, he told me the plastic makes a bit stick tight enough that you often need to grab it with pliers to remove it.

How right he was! Now I make up stacks of bag strips, staple them together, and keep them with the driver bits in my portable supply and in the drawer with the bits and holders.

I hardly ever drop a bit now. Sometimes it takes several layers of plastic to get a tight bond.

The bit remains magnetic, holding screws just as usual.

This has solved the problem of bits staying with the screw when using Torx-head deck screws and Phillips-head drywall screws, both of which seem to be extra-good at pulling the bit out of the holder.

Purging lens murk Insect repellent cleans the scum off plastic headlight lenses.

This sounds nuts. I blame YouTube for exposing me to this magic. It has really worked for me, removing the haze that builds up on plastic headlights. It won’t clean a plastic lens that’s been roughened by sand.

Start by using a good glass cleaner to get rid of dirt and dead bugs. Let the lens dry.

Grab a can of insect repellent spray, and spray for a few seconds onto a hunk of newspaper, or that coarse paper towel from the gas station window-cleaning rig. I use a rusty old can of Off! Deep Woods repellent. It doesn’t spray, it dribbles. I haven’t tried other brands. The legend is that the DEET in bug repellent does the trick.

Because you’re skeptical, start with just a tiny corner of the cloudiest lens in your feet.

Rub with the moistened paper in a circular motion. Rotate the paper to keep a clean paper face on the lens.

Let it dry for 15 minutes, then rub it again — but this time use a soft cloth. It may take three or four treatments to get the lens nice and clear.

After that, I treat the lenses on our cars, trucks and mowers about once a month, when checking tires and fuids.

LED work light bulbs I’ve converted to LED light bulbs for all the “trouble lights” that get rough usage in the shop.

The LEDs are plastic. I don’t worry about a broken incandescent flament igniting fammables or blistering my tender self on a hot lamp.

No worry over gagging on mercury powder from a broken CFL (compact fuorescent light.)

Look for “daylight” bulbs rated at or near 5,000 K (Kelvin) color temperature — much whiter than “cooler” bulbs with ratings below 4,000 K. I’m happy with LED bright-white 60watt equivalent (9-11 watts actual usage).

The non-dimmable bulbs run under $5 at big-box stores, even less in bulk. The LED bulbs last forever (well, kind of), so they’re ideal for ceiling-mounted fxtures. And unlike CFLs, the LEDs work in cold weather — at least the 20 F winters we suffer in the northeast Georgia hills.

Scott R. Nesbitt is a freelance writer and former GCSAA staff member. He lives in Cleveland, Ga.

Chava McKeel cmckeel@gcsaa.org twitter: @GCSAA

(advocacy)

Maps help detail impact of WOTUS Golf scored a victory on Capitol Hill in May when the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1732, the Regulatory Integrity Act of 2015, which put a temporary halt to a proposal by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers to redefne “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) under the Clean Water Act (CWA).

This decision, in concert with a similar bill (S. 1140, the Federal Water Quality Protection Act) that was still being considered by the Senate at press time for this issue of GCM, could send the proposal back to EPA and the Corps for a rewrite. The proposed WOTUS rule went to the Offce of Management and Budget in April for fnal review and sign-off. It is possible the rule went fnal at the end of May or will go fnal this month. If that occurs, golf course superintendents will need to re-examine the bodies of water at their facilities to determine which waters now come under federal jurisdiction, and what permits will be necessary to perform activities in, over or near these waters.

What has traditionally been considered a WOTUS? Anything that is navigable, an interstate water or a territorial sea and some “tributaries” of these waters. Tributaries have not been defned in rulemaking, so the scope has been in dispute. The same is true for the impoundments of these waters and wetlands “adjacent” to these waters.

The proposed WOTUS rule includes the traditional navigable waters, interstate waters and territorial seas. But a WOTUS might now include all tributaries of these waters, including ditches with perennial fow. All impoundments could be considered WOTUS. Plus all “waters,” not just wetlands, adjacent to the above waters could also be considered a WOTUS.

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Legislation attempting to redefne “Waters of the United States” could have a negative effect on many aspects of the golf course industry, including golf course management, design and construction. Photo © karamysh

After that, other isolated waters and wetlands might have to be reviewed by EPA and the Corps on a case-by-case basis to determine whether there is a signifcant nexus either alone or in combination with other such isolated waters that are similarly situated. There will be some exclusions, but the federal footprint over water and land could be signifcant.

Currently, two sets of maps are available to use to see which waters on a golf course property might be considered WOTUS in the future. These are not true WOTUS maps, but approximate WOTUS. 1. The Agricultural Nutrients Policy Council developed “Agriculture’s WOTUS Mapping Initiative” and used data from the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Hydrology Dataset, foodplain information from the Federal Emergency Management agency, estimated buffers and GIS analytics to approximate WOTUS. These maps allow you to plug in your facility address and see which waters approximate WOTUS. These maps can be found at http:// ditchtherule.fb.org/ 2. The U.S. House Science Committee also has a map tool on its website at http://science. house.gov/epa-maps-state-2013#overlay-context that allows you to see on a statewide basis what is currently jurisdictional and what is not.

GCSAA has been working tirelessly for the past year to make sure that EPA and the Corps know golf’s concerns with the proposed rule and has continued to ask the agencies to withdraw the rule and work with impacted stakeholders and the states to come up with a better rule. GCSAA has taken specifc actions in the past year, including:

• Forming a golf industry stakeholder team to develop comments to submit to the federal docket • Joining the Waters Advocacy Coalition with industries across the country concerned about the rule • Using the 2014 and 2015 National Golf Day events to share concerns with members of Congress • Meeting directly with key House and Senate staff on committees of jurisdiction • Meeting directly with the EPA Offce of Water • Using GCSAA’s grassroots efforts to push for stand-alone WOTUS legislation to restart the process • Performing direct outreach to state governors, environmental commissioners and attorney generals • Getting on the record at EPA’s Small Entities meeting.

Moving forward, GCSAA will continue to work with the Waters Advocacy Coalition to ensure passage of S. 1140 in the Senate. Please visit Government Relations Online at gcsaa. org (under the Community tab) to learn how you can help push for passage of the Senate bill.

Thank you for your engagement as we work on this important issue that has the potential to negatively affect the golf industry, and golf course design, construction and management.

Chava McKeel is GCSAA’s director, government relations.

Chris Lewis info@innovativewrittensolutions.com

(water)

A drought-survival game plan On April 1, 2015, California governor Jerry Brown implemented the state’s frst-ever mandatory water restrictions as one of the most devastating droughts on record continued into the fourth consecutive year, with no immediate signs of relief in sight. As a result, all statewide businesses, including golf courses, will be required to reduce their water consumption by at least 25 percent until January 2016.

For golf course superintendents in the state of Georgia, that news probably elicited a feeling of déjà vu. In September 2007, similar restrictions were enacted in northern Georgia, when a drought emergency was declared and golf courses were prohibited from watering any turfgrass on their courses, aside from greens.

In response, the Georgia GCSA mobilized its membership to help educate the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GEPD) on ways in which golf courses are proactive in their water usage and the need for common-sense regulation in times of drought.

Mike Crawford, CGCS, director of golf course operations at TPC Sugarloaf, says the lessons learned in 2007 can provide a roadmap for California superintendents, as well as any other superintendent encountering the challenges of droughts, that can help them navigate the current crisis. He says the keys to success in Georgia centered on developing constructive relationships with government offcials.

“The biggest challenge we faced was to educate regulators on the ways in which golf courses use water — and why,” says Crawford.

Presented in partnership with Aquatrols

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GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT 06.15

Mike Crawford, CGCS, (left) is helping educate about water usage and regulations in the state of Georgia. Photo courtesy of Mike Crawford, CGCS

“They had a misconception that golf courses waste water, so we had to prove to them that the opposite was true.”

To do that, the Georgia GCSA received assistance from University of Georgia faculty, who created a Best Management Practices (BMPs) template for water usage, which featured new rules for golf courses affected by the drought.

“This template was set up to basically inventory what was at each course — acreage, type of soil and grass, cultural and management practices, irrigation pumps and sprinklers, and the staffng hours that are involved with irrigation-related activities,” says Richard Staughton, CGCS, at Towne Lake Hills Golf Course in Woodstock, Ga. “A water conservation plan was also created for courses, including the elimination of turf acreage and overseeding, and the application of wetting agents.”

When the Georgia GCSA originally approached the GEPD, the association predicted that 75 percent of its member clubs would agree to the terms of the BMPs. In reality, more than 97 percent completed the template and submitted it to the chapter, proving that a majority agreed with the potential new rules.

In addition to generating the BMPs, the Georgia GCSA provided evidence that Georgia’s golf courses were not only environmentally friendly, but economically viable as well.

In particular, the association found that Georgia courses used less than seven-tenths of 1 percent of the water consumed annually in the state while amounting to a $3.5 billion industry within the state.

“Through this evidence, as well as the high

participation rate of the Best Management Practices template, the Georgia GCSA received instant credibility that it could deliver what it promised,” Crawford says. “As a result, we were able to work with the GEPD to develop new water rules for golf courses under drought conditions, protect them from restrictions and ensure they can survive under severe conditions.”

Although Georgia’s water restrictions were lifted in June 2009, Anthony Williams, CGCS, director of grounds at Stone Mountain (Ga.) Golf Club by Marriott, remains in touch with GEPD regulators. He also continues to follow the guidelines of the Best Management Practices template.

“Superintendents should ensure their irrigation systems are working properly and that they are realizing the utmost potential of the water they use. Also, if they have not yet done so, they should shift toward xeriscaping to lower their water needs,” Williams says.

He believes that perseverance is critical as well, especially when a drought is becoming progressively worse.

“The worst days of the drought were some of the hardest times in my career, but I became a better superintendent as a result of the adversity,” Williams says. “Grass will be lost, of course, but it will eventually recover.

Just remember that, like everything else, this too shall pass.”

Chris Lewis is the owner of Innovative Written Solutions, a freelance writing- and editing-services company based in Troy, Mich.

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(technology)

Getting the most from your photos By some estimates, there will be more than 1 trillion photos taken in 2015. That’s right — trillion! But when you consider that there are currently 2.6 billion camera phones on earth, not to mention all of the other traditional cameras out there, that huge number isn’t as shocking.

I currently have more than 12,000 photos on my computer, and I am sure most of you have a few thousand as well. Most superintendents I know take pictures every day, whether it’s for social media purposes, documentation of a particular project taking place on your golf course, or just a pretty sunrise. The inevitable fate of most of these pictures, though, is to be used for their initial purpose then downloaded to your computer, and be lost in the abyss of all those other photos you have taken with every intention of organizing at some point.

I have set out several times to label each image, store them in folders and organize them in some way or the other, but have found that task to be unrealistic. So, as I often do, I turned to technology for help and have found countless apps and other ways to organize these photos. But for the purposes of this column, I will focus on the one method that I have found most useful — the use of GPS location, especially for photos that are taken with a smartphone.

To make sure that your photos are encoded with GPS information, you’ll need to enable GPS services on your phone. This is the default setting on most phones, but this feature can be turned on and off. To activate this on an

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iPhone, for example, go to Settings/Privacy/ Location Services, then fnd the camera and make sure this feature is turned on. Android and Windows phones offer this feature, too, but for the purposes of this column, I will focus on Apple Photos.

With every picture you take on your phone, the GPS coordinates are taken and stored with it and then transferred to your computer when you download that photo. When scrolling through images in Photos, click on the headline where the location is listed. This will bring up a map showing exactly where the photo was taken (you can do the same thing on the iPhone; just tap the city heading where the photo was taken, and the map will pop up).

This feature can be especially benefcial with photos from your golf course, because most photos of things such as dry areas, disease or other turf problems are usually shot straight down, looking at the turf. Weeks or months later, when you are trying to decipher where that photo was taken, this information can be invaluable. But the true beneft comes when you zoom in on a particular spot on your course, which then reveals all the photos that were taken from that spot over the years. This is a great way to see a historical timeline of that area, allowing you to track recurring problems there or simply illustrate before-and-after images from a particular location.

Unfortunately, the newest version of Photos from Apple has downgraded this function more than I was comfortable with, so I have

been converting most of my library to Picasa online (http://picasa.google.com), a website operated by Google. It offers a very similar feature so you can still enjoy similar functionality to what you do in Photos.

Organizing your photos manually can take countless hours, and ultimately your system of labeling and tagging may not result in the kind of functionality that you’re looking for in the long term. And because most photos taken in our line of work are related to a specifc area of the golf course, I have found that utilizing the GPS information embedded in each photo is a huge time saver and a great tool to monitor progress on work on your course. I think if you give this method a try, you’ll fnd that the valuable photos you take every day will continue to have value in the future, instead of getting lost deep in your computer’s hard drive.

Bob Vaughey, CGCS, is the director of agronomy at Rolling Hills Country Club in Palos Verdes, Calif., and an 11-year GCSAA member.

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If the Jordan Spieths of golf need advice for the frst U.S. Open to be played almost entirely on fne fescue, go see Eric Johnson and Josh Lewis. They certainly are masters of this domain.

Howard Richman

When he looks at Eric Johnson and Josh Lewis, Tom Cook sees what could be considered golf’s version of “The Odd Couple”.

“In a lot of ways, you could not fnd two people more different,” says Cook, who was instrumental in launching the turfgrass program at Oregon State in 1977.

“Eric is self-contained. Quiet. Focused. Josh is bouncing off the walls, tons of energy, social.”

Perhaps most important — on the verge of the biggest moment of their professional careers — Johnson, director of agronomy, and Lewis, superintendent, truly are alike, seeing eye to eye on their main objective.

It’s a real doozy, too.

The title of the task: the 115th U.S. Open at 8-yearold Chambers Bay that begins June 18 in University Place, Wash., at a golf course that is unlike any other in this championship’s history.

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GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT 06.15

advantage

Josh Lewis

Eric Johnson

“This is the most important moment in my career.”

“From a TV standpoint, the color will probably be a lot different than what you see in most U.S. Opens.”

The par-3 third hole at Chambers Bay GC in University Place, Wash. Photo © USGA/John Mummert

06.15 GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT

47

Above: The leaders of the golf course maintenance department at Chambers Bay (from left to right): Assistant superintendent Mark Trenter, superintendent Josh Lewis, equipment manager Jerry Holcomb, assistant superintendent Mike Krouse and director of agronomy Eric Johnson. Photo by Daniel Berman Top right: Chambers Bay’s 15th hole, a par-3 that features the lone tree on the property, a Douglas fr. Photo © USGA/John Mummert Bottom right: Lewis (left) and Johnson both spent time at Bandon Dunes Resort, another mecca of fescue golf, prior to coming to Chambers Bay in 2011 and 2012, respectively. Photos by Daniel Berman

How so? It will be the frst time that the U.S. Open is staged almost entirely on an allfne fescue links layout.

Lewis senses the magnitude of it.

“This is the most important moment in my career,” he says.

If there is a fescue learning curve, Johnson and Lewis clearly are in valedictorian range, having managed it for years, before Chambers Bay existed. No wonder, then, that Cook is confdent in this pairing.

“They may be different, but both of them are good at getting things done,” says Cook.

No kidding, says USGA director of championship agronomy Darin Bevard.

“One way where they are very similar is they’ve made me believe, from the frst time I met them until where we are today, there’d be no problems, we’d get to where we needed to be, and here we are, and we feel really good about where the golf course is, that’s for sure,”

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Bevard says.

Lewis, a nine-year GCSAA member, is convinced that he and Johnson, a 22-year association member, agree on what is, so far, the biggest chapter in their lives as the U.S. Open comes to the state of Washington for the frst time.

“Personality wise, you could say there’s some differences between myself and Eric, but from a turf perspective, we absolutely agree.

There’s not a whole lot of debate or banter back and forth about what should be done to the grass,” Lewis says.

Oregon products prosper Johnson and Lewis have more in common than it may appear. Example: you can trace their beginnings to practically the same places.

Johnson, 52, grew up in North Bend, Ore. Lewis, 20 years younger at 32, comes from Coos Bay, Ore. Those towns are so close that

they essentially melt into each other, near Highway 101 along the Oregon coast, a hotbed for mammoth sand dunes and fresh oysters.

Johnson spent summers at his uncle’s home in Leal, N.D., where vacation included hopping aboard an Allis-Chalmers tractor.

“It got me in football shape,” Johnson says.

“It was 2 acres.”

As a student at Oregon State, he established himself as a force, winning individual honors in the frst Turf Bowl in 1995 (team competition began in 1999).

“At times Eric may have seemed a bit aloof, but there was a lot going on upstairs,” says Troy Russell, who went to school with Johnson before becoming course consultant at Bandon Dunes. “Crossword puzzles consumed him when the rest of us would be studying. He was very intellectual.”

Lewis, meanwhile, was home-schooled.

A tree, hummocks and haircuts

“(Johnson and Lewis) may be different, but both of them are good at getting things done.”

— Tom Cook

The fxture at Chambers Bay defnitely is one of a kind.

One tree exists on the golf course at Chambers Bay, site of the U.S. Open. A Douglas fr, which is a backdrop at the 15th hole, has been in place longer than the rough (we’ll get to that, Stimpmeters, etc., in a moment).

“It’s been in a lot of pictures, kind of one of those trees people recognize about this place,” Chambers Bay superintendent Josh Lewis says. “It’s iconic.”

That special tree survived vandalism fve years ago, when an unknown assailant took an axe to it. Crime Stoppers offered a $1,000 reward, but the case remains unsolved.

The Douglas fr doesn’t come into play. The rough, however, could be a player in the outcome.

It wasn’t always this way. Chambers Bay, designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., previously was wide open — really wide.

“Almost to the point where you couldn’t get yourself off a closely mown area unless you hit an errant shot up into one of the dunes,” says Mike Davis, USGA executive director.

Chambers Bay will play anywhere daily from 7,200 to 7,600 yards on a par-70. Although the rough will receive a “haircut” before the championship, as Davis says, he also noted, “The roughs are aptly named. They’re rough.”

If that doesn’t test golfers, perhaps rolling fairways, hummocks (small mounds) and elevation changes will (“We don’t play a golf course for a U.S. Open that even comes close to the elevation changes you have here at Chambers Bay,” Davis says).

Holes 1 and 18 may alternate daily as par-4s and par-5s.

The undulating greens will be rolling “somewhere in the 12, maybe 12.5 range” says Davis, adding that fairways will be cut at half an inch.

This U.S. Open on links may have a British Open feel — not solely because of that noticeable pot bunker in the 18th fairway that they call Chambers Basement. Lewis, in fact, even sounds like a greenkeeper on occasion.

“If we get some nice, dry weather, we’re hoping we can get the ball to bounce around the way we want it to and provide a real good links surface,” Lewis says.

— H.R.

06.15 GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT

49

Owned by Pierce County, Wash., and managed by KemperSports, Chambers Bay sits in the middle of a 930-acre park. It opened for play in 2007, was awarded the U.S. Open in 2008 and in 2010, played host to the U.S. Amateur.

GCM at Chambers Bay If it is happening in golf course maintenance at this month’s U.S. Open at Chambers Bay, GCM and GCSAA will have it covered. Beginning Sunday, June 14, real-time, behind-the-scenes reports will be available in multiple forms, including GCM’s blog, From the Desk of GCM (http://gcm.typepad.com), the Twitter accounts of both GCM (@GCM_Magazine) and GCSAA (@GCSAA) and GCSAA TV (www.gcsaa.tv).

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In time, he became the Turf Club president at Oregon State. Lewis may not have received a more precious endorsement than the one he got from classmate Jason Oliver, who, according to almost anybody you ask, was on a fast track to becoming an industry star. Sadly, Oliver died in 2010 at age 25 when he was assistant superintendent at Stanford University.

“Jason told me that Josh had the full package, had the skills to be really good in the industry,” says Akoni Ganir, superintendent at Winchester Country Club in Meadow Vista, Calif. “He just spoke really highly of Josh.

Coming from Jason, that said a lot.”

Bandon disciples Chambers Bay will showcase all its fescue glory for the world to see this month. Johnson and Lewis learned how to manage it not too far down the road.

Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, off the coast in southern Oregon, opened for business in 1999 and quickly became a favorite destination with its fescue grasses and Scottish look.

Its four links courses (Bandon Dunes, Pacifc Dunes, Old Macdonald and Bandon Trails) are rated in the top 14 of Golf Digest’s America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses rankings.

“It (fescue) was the redheaded stepchild of turfgrasses,” says Russell, the frst Bandon Dunes superintendent. “It’s not a plant that travels all that well. It’s just a different animal.

It’s old-fashioned greenkeeping.”

Johnson knew about fescue years ago, but

it had nothing to do with golf courses.

“When I went to school, fescue was used and planted in shady parts of your lawn,” Johnson says.

Fescue was a new challenge for Johnson when he left Spyglass Hill in 2000 and joined the Bandon Dunes team in 2001. In 2003, Johnson was named superintendent at Bandon Dunes.

“Coming from a Poa/ryegrass situation, I quickly learned you have to be more patient with fescue,” Johnson says. “With ryegrass, you throw down seed and it’s growing in three, four or fve days and you’re all happy.

With fescue, the stakes are magnifed because you have something that’s not going to instantly plug in and be repaired.”

Lewis surfaced at Bandon Dunes in 2002 as a second assistant/irrigation technician.

“I personally think I got ridiculously lucky, working into a job at Bandon Dunes, having a chance to work with some really good fescue guys,” Lewis says. “We built a lot of golf courses there. I think every single one of them got sequentially better based on the knowledge we gained in the previous grow-ins and construction.”

Still, few golf courses grow as much fescue as Bandon Dunes and Chambers Bay. Others do exist, such as Bayonne (N.J.) Golf Club (tees and fairways are fne fescue) and Ballyneal in Holyoke, Colo. (fescue greens).

“I know Josh and Eric. You couldn’t have two better guys getting it ready,” says Dave

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Lewis, shown here raking the deep pot bunker on the 18th hole known as “Chambers Basement,” and Johnson have both leaned on advice from superintendents all over the world who manage fescue playing surfaces in their preparations for the U.S. Open.

“They are the perfect two people to head this up. They are very balanced people. They have a structured plan.”

— Leah Brilman, Ph.D.

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GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT 06.15

Hensley, 14-year GCSAA member, who was superintendent at Ballyneal until becoming its general manager.

Hensley says he has talked to numerous greenkeepers in Ireland to get a grasp on growing fescue, partly because his neighboring courses didn’t have it.

“A lot of the world plays on fescue, but it is untapped here,” says Leah Brilman, Ph.D., director of product management and technical services for DLF-Pickseed and a Fred V. Grau Turfgrass Science Award recipient.

If anybody is built for Chambers Bay, Brilman thinks Johnson and Lewis ft the profle.

“They are the perfect two people to head this up. They are very balanced people. They have a structured plan,” Brilman says. “Bandon Dunes was a great training spot for them.

Perfect, really.”

Fescue takes center stage A mere nine months separated the arrival of Johnson and Lewis at Chambers Bay. Lewis showed up frst. He served as frst assistant at Pasatiempo Golf Club in Santa Cruz, Calif., until being hired in November 2011 as frst assistant at Chambers Bay. Six months later, Lewis replaced David Wienecke as superintendent. Johnson joined the staff as

director of agronomy in July 2012, leaving his job as superintendent at Old Macdonald.

Both knew what was in store for them.

In 2008, the USGA awarded the upcoming U.S. Open to Chambers Bay, a public links course in the middle of a 930-acre park on lower Puget Sound. In 2010, it was the site for the U.S. Amateur. Today, Chambers Bay looks as if it belongs across the pond.

Windswept. Vistas. Dunes. Chambers Bay sits atop nearly 100 feet of pure sand. It is almost Pinehurst-like in some spots, that natural, rustic feel you get at historic No. 2, no sign of wall-to-wall green.

“From a TV standpoint, the color will probably be a lot different than what you see in most U.S. Opens,” Johnson says. “Hopefully, you will see green with some brown in it.”

And, without question, you will see fescue. That is what truly separates Chambers Bay from any U.S. Open of the past. Types of fescue include chewings, creeping and red.

There is some colonial bentgrass, too, but fescue is dominant. Fine fescue represents the USGA’s stance.

“It doesn’t need a lot of water, doesn’t need a lot of nutrients, which makes it a wonderful grass from a sustainability standpoint,” says

Top: The par-4 11th hole at Chambers Bay illustrates the type of vistas and the kind of challenges players will face during this month’s U.S. Open. Photo © USGA/John Mummert Bottom: Chambers Bay’s senior leadership team includes (from left to right) Johnson, assistant general manager Jamie Fay, general manager Matt Allen, director of golf Nicholas Pike and Lewis. Photos by Daniel Berman

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USGA executive director Mike Davis.

For all of their differences in personality, Johnson and Lewis serve as reliable allies for the USGA. “I did not know a ton about it (fescue) before I went to Chambers Bay,” says Bevard.

“It’s been a great education for me. I’ve leaned heavily on Eric and Josh for their expertise.

And their expertise is extremely strong, I might add.”

Their mastery of fescue didn’t just happen overnight.

Johnson and Lewis transformed into sponges, absorbing all they could about fescue from people such as Ken Nice, director of agronomy at Bandon Dunes. He says they showed their potential years ago.

“I picked Eric’s brain a lot. He’s just one of those smart guys who has the technical background, intuitive sense,” Nice says. “He’s got a calm presence about him, a guy who’s going to keep his cool under pressure. I’d imagine by hosting a U.S. Open that calm is serving him well.

“I met Josh when he was 18 or 19. I could see he was really into the industry. He had the motivation to be good. Inquisitive, bright, throws himself into the game — you know the type. They complement each other well.”

Johnson and Lewis scoured the world to study fescue. You almost had to, Johnson says.

“If you just go online and try to fnd what is a good maintenance regime, good luck,” he says.

Both of them befriended Chris Haspell, a greenkeeper at Castle Stuart Golf Links in Inverness, Scotland, a fescue-heavy links course that has been the host to multiple Scottish Opens. Haspell and Lewis often converse.

“Josh is keen and enthusiastic. You have to be to manage a grass hardly anyone thinks can work,” Haspell says. “I have tried to help Josh avoid making the same mistakes I have made.”

It is no secret, Johnson and Lewis say, how you tackle fescue. They agree that less is more.

“Sometimes it’s just best to leave it alone,” Johnson says. “Minimal inputs. Nothing is on the clock.”

Lewis says Haspell emphasized the winter management program.

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Lewis, 32, has learned that patience is a virtue when maintaining fescue. “A lot of times, grass is fne with or without us,” he says.

ON THE AIR For more about Josh Lewis, Eric Johnson and Chambers Bay’s preparations for this month’s U.S. Open, check out GCSAA TV’s Inside the Ropes feature at http://www.gcsaa.tv/view. php?id=2404 and stay tuned during U.S. Open Week, June 15-21, for more video updates from the Pacifc Northwest.

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“It doesn’t matter who you talk to over there,” Lewis says. “They’ll hammer home the importance of maintaining a grass by limiting winter traffc, whether utilizing temporary greens, have people hitting off mats or closing greens or courses altogether.”

It is a strategy that Lewis didn’t learn in school.

“You grow up learning to constantly watch, constantly fertilize, constantly water. Sometimes, though, fescue just wants to be left alone. The more you do, the more you can end up causing problems. I think that transcends to turf in general,” he says. “A lot of times we overthink it. We put too much into it. A lot of times, grass is fne with or without us.”

As the U.S. Open approached, Kemper Sports (the management company that oversees Chambers Bay) reduced its tee sheet and closed six greens in the fall and winter (plus used covers on all of them) to manage winter traffc on the putting surfaces in an effort to protect the golf course (including any Poa issues on greens) heading into this month.

“Thankfully (Chambers Bay) didn’t have the winter we had back in the Northeast,” Davis says of the USGA, based in Far Hills, N.J. “It was one of the best winters, in terms of growing grass, that (Chambers Bay) ever had.

They literally were mowing grass in January and February. That just doesn’t happen.”

Davis credits Johnson, Lewis, USGA’s

agronomists, Pierce County (which owns Chambers Bay) and KemperSports for devising a winning strategy.

“We actually went into this fall (2014) a little bit weak in terms of some of the grass coverage on the putting greens, to the point where we were a little concerned about it,” he says. “They came up with a wonderful plan, and we came out of the winter better than we went into the fall. That’s unheard of. So we really got fortunate.”

The USGA, making its U.S. Open debut in the Pacifc Northwest, feels lucky to have Johnson and Lewis on the scene.

“These guys are all stars. They’re the ones that make it happen on the golf course, other than the drama the players bring us,” Davis says.

Two decades apart in age. Different personalities. Johnson and Lewis, though, ultimately are on the same page. As Chambers Bay prepares to write the biggest chapter in its history, their shared goal is well timed.

Nothing odd about that.

“When it comes right down to it, we both see the same things,” Lewis says. “We both want this to be a success. So we’re really not that different at all.”

Howard Richman (hrichman@gcsaa.org) is GCM’s associate editor.

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AT THE TURN John M. McCarthy

It took seven years to solve the problems associated with the daily chore of cutting cups. Photos courtesy of John M. McCarthy

(profile)

Hidden asset A Minnesota superintendent’s system provides a seamless solution to daily cup-cutting and repair.

As golf course superintendents, we have many demands placed upon us. At the top of the list is maintaining a golf course in excellent condition, day in and day out, with smooth, true and fast-rolling greens. And, don’t forget, we’re supposed to accomplish this with an ever-shrinking budget.

But I can’t use my budget reductions as an excuse for subpar playing conditions — at least not if I expect to stay in business. My goal has always been to implement practices that not only save money, but also improve the quality of my golf course. It sounds impossible, but as superintendents, we all do it every day.

For me, these measures have included naturalizing out-of-play areas as well as cutting my fertilizer budget in half by “melting down” all of my nutrients and spraying them along with my growth regulators. But the one practice that is most unique and has produced multiple direct and indirect advantages is my three-cup system.

A work in progress For the frst 20 years of my golf course maintenance career, I cut cups just like everyone else: one cup every day, seven days a week. Maybe if it rained or play was light, I would skip a day.

Even then, I hated to do that. A regular player would always come up to me and say, “I see you didn’t change cups today,” or, by the evening of the second day, the cup wear was excessive.

Cutting a new cup every day led to multiple problems. I had to have several people cutting cups, which led to inconsistent and sometimes downright terrible pin placements. I was also con-

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The evolution of McCarthy’s time-saving system for cutting cups.

Left to right: The frst two cups are the initial design, plastic disks glued into regulation golf cups; the turf plugs are pulled from the course and left in place over the winter (note the root growth on the plug on the far left). The two middle cups have a rubber plug instead of an actual turf plug. The cup second from left is topped with a laser-cut metal cap, which supports the turf plug; and the last cup has a molded plastic insert with indentations for easy removal.

I knew there had to be a better way, and there was. I thought to myself: Why not cut multiple cups in the green at once and rotate the position among them?

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stantly facing the problem of low or scalped plugs, dried-out plugs, as well as too many unhealed plugs scattered across the green, which made it hard to fnd a “new” place to put a cup. I was spending a lot of labor dollars and getting less-than-perfect results.

I knew there had to be a better way, and there was. I thought to myself: Why not cut multiple cups in the green at once and rotate the position among them? This way I could have one person cutting all the cups once a week so I would have excellent consistency. I never had to worry about having a fresh cup each day because it was simple for the person mowing the greens to rotate cups. I was able to better spread the wear on the green and had far fewer plugs healing at any given time. This process almost eliminated the problem of low, scalped or dried-out plugs. I got almost no complaints about pin placement, and if I did, I could easily move the cup on the fy in a matter of seconds. I was getting numerous advantages plus I was saving a ton of labor, which I was able to allocate to other tasks.

There were a number of problems to solve, though, not the least of which was to hide the existence of the extra cups on the green. It wasn’t enough just to hide them; it had to be seamless. Luckily, I was able to come up with a system to do this where not even the most demanding members had a clue what I was doing. People have come up to me all season long, telling me that my greens are the best they have putted all year long. That’s all I need

to hear to know my little secret is working perfectly. But it was defnitely a work in progress, a process that took seven years to perfect.

On the level I tried many ideas and with each idea I would solve one problem, but create another.

My frst idea was to place three cups on the green and insert a foam plug inside each unused cup. Then a turf plug was placed on the top of the foam plug. But the foam fexed, causing the turf plug to sink. Also, the foam broke apart over time, so I went back to the drawing board.

My second idea was to cut three holes in the green, but instead of putting three cups in the holes, I inserted plugs in two holes and put the cup in the third. I fashioned these plugs by cutting down a plastic cup slightly and gluing a cap to the top and bottom, effectively making a solid cylinder. I could then insert this in the hole and put my turf plug over the top of this.

The idea worked initially, but it involved carrying a cup-puller and was also messy when the greens cutter switched the cup and the plug. Other problems that I noticed were that the turf plugs were actually too thick and would crumble after a time. Also, the caps were coming off because of the force needed to pull the plug out of the ground.

The concept was doing everything I wanted and was saving so much labor. This allowed me time to more frequently fx ball

point, but I was frustrated because they did not see the upside of what I was doing. But then, why should they? All they wanted was perfect greens. They didn’t care how I accomplished this. And besides, I was trying to create a system where the golfer would not even be aware of what was happening.

I contemplated throwing in the towel, and I truly think no one would have said anything if I had. But as with many things in life, the breakthrough moment came right when things seemed to be the most hopeless.

Cutting three cup holes at once and covering two of them with turf plugs until pin placements needed changing saved time and reduced labor costs.

But as with many things in life, the breakthrough moment came right when things seemed to be the most hopeless.

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marks, topdress and verticut the greens — cultural practices that really had a positive impact on green speed, smoothness and overall quality. The members were happy, but the person cutting cups and the person mowing greens were not as happy. The plugs were continuing to look worse and worse. It was getting harder to get the turf plug to sit level and stay level over a matter of days. Also, I really thought I should be able to put three actual cups on the green and somehow cover two of them. This would be cleaner and easier to change from one cup to another and would solve all the problems the cup cutter and greens mowers were complaining about.

This led to what proved to be my least popular idea. I took a rubber plug and placed it on the top of the unused cup. The rubber plugs did sit perfectly on top of the cups and they were perfectly fush with the green. However, the color was not the same as the color of the green, so the golfers noticed them. Even though the ball rolled perfectly over the rubber plugs, the golfers still had a problem with them. I tried to point out that rolling over the rubber plug was no different from rolling over an old turf plug and better than rolling over an old turf plug that was sunken or scalped, but my argument didn’t go very far.

The job of switching cups was quick and easy, but it did not ft into my criteria for making a better product. The golfers had a good

Problems solved I was sitting in the shop venting to my mechanic, Brandon, about all the injustices I believed were being thrown at me. I thought I had a great idea, but I couldn’t fgure out how to make it work. Thinking out loud, I said to Brandon, “Why can’t I fgure this out?”

“What exactly are you trying to do?” he asked.

“I am trying to come up with something that I can cut to ft perfectly on top of a cup, but it has to be thin and strong enough to support a turf plug. Something made out of metal would work, but I can’t cut anything that perfect,” I said.

He responded, “You can’t cut anything that perfect, but a laser could do the job. In fact, I can probably have 36 cut for you by next week.”

“How close to spec can they get them?”

I asked.

Brandon answered, “Is within 1/1,000th of an inch close enough?”

So, $300 and a week later, I had 36 discs, which I placed on top of the unused cups. I topped each one off with a turf plug, and I had my solution. No one could tell there was a cup sitting under the turf plug. The turf plug was easy to remove with a fork and, after drilling a hole in the center of the disc, it was easy for me to put my fnger in the disc and lift it off the cup. I could then place the disc over the old cup, put the turf plug back on, give it a quick splash of water, step it level, and it looked exactly like I had just simply changed a cup. The process only took 30 seconds.

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Tweaks to the original design, including a wider tool for removing the plug and and a plastic cup cover with indentations in the top, have resulted in “a complete system” for cup cutting and pin placement.

Leo Feser Award

CANDIDATE This article is eligible for the 2015 Leo Feser Award, presented annually since 1977 to the author of the best superintendent-written article published in GCM during the previous year. Superintendents receive a $300 stipend for articles. Feser Award winners receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the Golf Industry Show, where they are recognized. They also have their names engraved on a plaque permanently displayed at GCSAA headquarters.

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After working with this system for a couple of weeks, the only problem that arose was that sometimes the disc shifted on top of the cup.

Brandon suggested that we cut 36 more discs the size of the inside of the cup and weld the two discs together. This way one disc would nest inside the cup and the other would sit on top. The problem was solved. We used the system the remainder of the summer with no further concerns.

There were a number of things I was initially concerned about that did not end up being problems. I was concerned that the turf plugs would not hold up, but just the opposite happened. With a little water each time they were moved, they actually became stronger and the root density in the plug increased, especially at the interface with the metal disc.

This helped keep them from drying out and from falling apart. A couple of times the plugs did get hydrophobic, and the solution to this was to have the cup cutter take a pail of water and soak the plugs while he was changing the cup.

Tweaks for year two We are now in our second year using the system, and over the winter we made a couple upgrades. We replaced the metal caps with molded plastic caps. They do not require painting, are lighter and less expensive. Because of the cheaper price, I was able to get

multiple sets, which I use to cover the cup on the green when I am topdressing or spraying.

I also started putting a cap on the bottom of the cups to keep them from sinking into our sand greens.

Toward the end of last season, I also experimented with creating a tool that would remove the turf plug and also double as a ball mark repair tool. In the past I was using a kitchen fork to remove the turf plug and to fx ball marks. But after fxing hundreds of ball marks a day, I had a permanent dent in my fnger as well as a blister. So again, our equipment manager crafted a tool for me that had a wider handle, which made it easier to grip. He made it with three prongs along with a larger fat pan area above the prongs, which allowed me to more easily move turf into larger, older ball marks.

The fnal modifcation we made was to eliminate the hole in the disc and replace it with two indentations that allow you to grab and lift the disc up. This way, sand and chemical from the sprayer can’t get through the cover.

So I now have a complete system, which I truly believe has allowed me to provide my membership with a better product — a system that not even my most fnicky member is aware I am using. Like they told me, “I don’t care how you make the greens better, just do it.”

Innovation has always been the bread and butter of our industry. I hope by sharing this idea with my fellow superintendents that everyone can beneft the way I have.

John M. McCarthy (johnmccarthy@live.com) is the superintendent at Logger’s Trail Golf Club in Stillwater, Minn., and a one-year member of GCSAA.

Working together to increase participation of people with disabilities in the game of golf

We’ve seen them first-hand.

The benefits of golf are endless. This lifelong game provides golfers with the abilit to socialize, while working out their mental and ph sical muscles. These benefits are exponential for individuals with disabilities.

That is wh the National Alliance for Accessible Golf seeks to bring more people with disabilities into the game through inclusive learning and pla ing opportunities.

AWARENESS – • Toolkit for Golf Course Owners – Provide guidance to operators seeking wa s to make their golf courses and facilities more accessible to golfers with disabilities.

• Toolkit for Golfers – Provide general guidance for individuals with disabilities who are interested in the game of golf.

TRAINING – Technical assistance and programs designed for golf professionals, allied health professionals, ph sical educators, facilit owners and others interested in learning more about accessible golf and inclusive learning.

FUNDING – Grants funds to organizations providing golf programs for individuals with disabilities, particularl those which promote inclusion, in partnership with the USGA.

Programs across the country benefit from funding provided by the Alliance including (left) The Children’s Course in Gladstone, OR, and the Golf Academy of Columbia in Columbia, SC (right).

Visit www.accessgolf.org to download the Toolkit for Golf Course Owners and learn more about the individuals and organizations who support this initiative.

National Alliance for Accessible Golf 1733 King Street • Alexandria, VA • 22314 info@accessgolf.org

AT THE TURN Stacie Zinn Roberts

Part-circle rotors can result in greater distribution uniformity and effciency than traditional full-circle sprinkler heads. Photo courtesy of Rain Bird Corp.

(profile)

The great debate Irrigation effciency vs. distribution uniformity? Determining which is more important is a dilemma facing many golf course superintendents.

There’s a great debate raging in the world of irrigation. These days the big question is: “What’s more important: irrigation distribution uniformity or irrigation effciency?”

To illustrate the question, let’s play a little game.

If you were to place coffee cans spaced out evenly, one for every square foot of your golf course, and ran the sprinkler system, would every can have the same amount of water in it? If it did, you would have just achieved 100 percent irrigation distribution uniformity (DU). Congratulations!

Now, let’s say you also placed coffee cans, one per square foot, in your waste areas as well. If you had the same amount of water in the coffee cans on the drought-tolerant native grass as you did on the manicured turf, you wouldn’t be as pleased. You would have discovered your system has very poor irrigation effciency.

See the difference?

“Knowing the distinction is important. You can have a golf course irrigation system with good distribution uniformity and very poor effciency, and vice versa,” says Bob Dobson, president of Middletown Sprinkler Co., based in Port Monmouth, N.J. Along with installing irrigation systems, Dobson teaches classes on irrigation as an adjunct instructor at Rutgers University.

He is also a past president of the Irrigation Association (IA), the organization that, along with industry advocacy and promotion of smart water use, trains and certifes irrigation auditors.

“Distribution uniformity is a measurement of how evenly water is applied over an area,” Dobson says. “Irrigation effciency is directly related to the quantity of water necessary to irrigate

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RORY 2015 Dog of the Year

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Above Left:

Bob Dobson, president of Middletown Sprinkler Co., Monmouth N.J., is also an adjunct instructor at Rutgers University and past president of the Irrigation Association. Photos courtesy of Bob Dobson Above right:

After catchment devices or “catch cans” are placed at regular intervals in the area being audited, the sprinklers are run as they would be during a regular irrigation cycle.

Without distribution uniformity, it’s almost impossible to have irrigation effciency.

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a course. The lower the effciency, the more water required.”

Michael Dukes, Ph.D., is a professor and irrigation specialist at the University of Florida in Gainesville. In November, Dukes was honored with the Excellence in Education award from the IA. “DU is basically a measurement of the variability of the irrigation applied,” Dukes says. “If your target is 1 inch of water everywhere applied, for sprinkler irrigation, there’s some variability in that. Over here it might be 0.9 inch, and over there it might be 0.8 inch, and in another location, it might be 1.1 inches.

So if you measured many, many locations, you would get a sense of that variability. You’d like to have that variability very low, so if your target value is 1 inch, then you apply 1 inch exactly everywhere.

“In the real world it just doesn’t work that way. A pretty good DU for sprinkler systems would be 0.75, where zero is the worst and 1 is the best, or maybe even 0.8 would be very good. There are lots of factors that fgure into that: spacing of sprinklers, pressure they’re run at, environmental conditions during irrigation like wind, to some extent, the topography.”

The standard practice for measuring DU is to conduct a water distribution audit, says Paul Roche, Rain Bird Corp.’s national sales manager for the United States and Canada for golf.

“An audit consists of placing catchment devices across the area to be irrigated and run-

ning the sprinklers in a fashion that best represents how they would be operated during an irrigation cycle. After the irrigation event or test period, the amount that is received in each catchment device is measured and the uniformity is calculated by taking the average amount of water in the low quarter (25 percent) of the catchment devices divided by the average of all the catchment devices,” Roche says. “In a few hours, DU can be calculated for several areas of the golf course. It can be used as a ‘report card’ for how well the sprinklers are delivering water to the turfgrass. Uniformities over 70 percent are generally thought to be good; however, it is often very possible to achieve water distribution uniformities in the 80s with a well-maintained irrigation system using newer nozzle technologies.”

Without distribution uniformity, it’s almost impossible to have irrigation effciency.

And effciency itself is a challenge to measure.

“Irrigation system effciency is a totally different measurement that includes how well the entire system is performing. This includes optimizing the operation of the pumping station so it is operating at its best effciency point. It also includes ensuring that the hydraulics of the system and system programming are optimized. This will reduce the water window, the time it takes to complete the irrigation cycle.

All this should be done while observing the plant water requirements, soils types and topography of the site,” Roche says.

Top:

To prevent irrigation in the native areas of the golf course, Garden City GC replaced full-circle sprinklers with shorter-radius, part-circle rotors.

Photo courtesy of Garden City GC Bottom:

Michael Dukes, Ph.D., professor and irrigation specialist at the University of Florida in Gainesville, recently received the Excellence in Education Award from the Irrigation Association.

Photo courtesy of Michael Dukes

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A consistent benefit So what does this mean for you and your golf course? Turns out, quite a lot.

“Golf course superintendents are frequently evaluated on the consistency of playing conditions. Higher irrigation uniformity improves turf consistency and allows for more precise irrigation. This, in turn, reduces irrigation run times and produces harder, faster playing conditions. Systems with higher distribution uniformity also typically use less water,” Dobson says.

A few years ago, Dobson and his staff worked with David Pughe, the GCSAA Class A superintendent at Garden City Golf Club on Long Island, to install a new irrigation system. The old irrigation system employed large-radius, full-circle sprinklers that overthrew into the native grass areas. The system had poor distribution uniformity and, because so much water was wasted, low effciency. To correct the issue, the new system used partcircle, shorter-radius sprinkler heads along the perimeter of the native areas.

“Garden City Golf Club is a true links-style golf course,” says Pughe, a 23-year GCSAA member. “Since the installation of our new irrigation system, the turf consistency on our greens, tees and fairways has improved. I attribute this to better uniformity in the sprinkler coverage. We have fewer dry and wet spots, and have also been able to reduce hand water-

ing. The elimination of overthrow into the native grass areas has improved the appearance.

We used to have thick green clumps of native grass where the overthrow hit. These are gone, and the members notice the improvement.

“The improvement in the greens, tees and fairways at Garden City is a result of improved distribution uniformity. The improvement in the native areas is a result of improved irrigation effciency,” Dobson says.

Paying dividends Another example of the benefts of improved distribution uniformity can be found in an ongoing upgrade of the irrigation system at Lakewood (N.J.) Country Club.

“We have a very limited water allocation,” says Fran Owsik, the superintendent at Lakewood and a 31-year member of GCSAA. “We are gradually replacing our 25-year-old sprinkler heads with new Rain Bird heads. I have worked with Middletown Sprinkler Co. doing irrigation audits to document the change in distribution uniformity between the old and new heads. We lay out collection cups and then run the system and measure the uniformity. We then change the sprinkler heads and do another audit.”

The results at Lakewood have been dramatic.

“The improvement averages 13 percent on the greens and 10 percent on the fairways,”

Paul Roche is Rain Bird Corp.’s national sales manager for golf in the United States and Canada.

Photos courtesy of Rain Bird Corp.

Owsik says. “The numbers are impressive and helped me sell the upgrade to our owners. Now I don’t need the numbers. I can see the difference in the turf quality on the holes where we have completed the changeout.”

For the most effective results, uniformity and effciency must work together.

“You can have a perfectly designed system that’s very uniform and the system is capable of being effcient, but you can still be ineffcient based on how it’s managed,” Dukes says. “If it’s not managed properly — meaning irrigation is not at the right time or in the right amount — that well-designed irrigation system can still be very ineffcient.

“If you apply X amount and that’s just enough to supply what the plant needs, then you’re 100 percent effcient if the plant uses all the water you apply … but if, for whatever reason, the irrigation system runs right after a rain, and none of it was needed, then all of that was wasted. So, that would be on the management side of ineffciency.”

Dobson adds, “Practices that impact irrigation effciency include irrigating during the day when a percentage of water is lost to evaporation; irrigating at a rate above the soil’s infltration rate, which causes puddling and/or runoff; irrigating in windy conditions where the sprinkler discharge is blown off the intended target; and irrigating with heads that overthrow the intended target.”

System improvement tips For a new system, Dobson says there can be a difference in distribution uniformity within the same sprinkler series depending on spacing, operating pressure and nozzle selection. “Within a sprinkler model series, there is usually a sweet spot — a spot where one nozzle at a certain pressure and spacing outperforms the others. If you don’t ask, you may never know,” he says.

“The best thing that anyone can do, even anyone with a brand new irrigation system, is maintain the system. Create a routine to go and observe the system operate; make sure nozzles are clear, screens are clean; make sure heads are level. A rotor tilted fve degrees can affect distribution uniformity by 12 percent or more,” Roche says. “It can be dramatic.”

Dobson agrees. “If your club doesn’t have the funds to install a new system, this doesn’t mean you can’t improve distribution uniformity.

Raising low sprinkler heads and straightening tilted heads will improve distribution uniformity. A couple of tilted sprinkler heads in a pattern can lower uniformity by 10 or more percent. Upgrading the sprinkler heads typically improves distribution uniformity. If the funds aren’t available to replace sprinkler heads, replacing old nozzles with new higher-effciency nozzles can improve uniformity.”

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As part of an irrigation audit, Rain Bird staff check the amount of water captured in a catchment device.

The power of technology Rain Bird’s Roche says irrigation system manufacturers are continually conducting research to improve their products’ uniformity and effciency. New developments include high-effciency nozzles and central control systems that integrate and communicate directly with the irrigation pumping station, weather station, in-ground soil sensors and rain cans. Hand-held devices that measure soil moisture levels can also be a “big help,” he says.

Once the irrigation system is adjusted to the course’s optimal settings, superintendents can apply other products to more effciently use the water where it falls. Products such as wetting agents and surfactants can help water stay in the root zone longer. Other soil amendments are available that can assist in improving the turf’s ability to retain and hold moisture, making it available to the root zone when it’s needed most.

So what’s the answer to the original question? What’s more important, DU or effciency? Roche says, “Until you can get distribution uniformity, it becomes harder to manage the rest.”

And why should this matter to you? “Golf is a highly visible industry and a discretionary user of water,” Dukes says. “If superintendents can be proactive and show they’re being effcient, they don’t have to be on the defense when there’s a drought. If they can say, ‘Yes, we do use water, but here’s how we’re doing it effciently,’ that’s a pretty powerful position to be in.”

Stacie Zinn Roberts is the president of What’s Your Avocado?, a writing and marketing frm based in Mount Vernon, Wash.

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At Floratine, everything we do is centered around the following phrase which is posted in our international headquarters in Memphis, TN: “Customer reputations and livelihoods are at stake: Don’t Cut Corners”.

This reminds all of us what is important, and that our innovative foliar and soil products and services have to stand up to that unforgiving standard.

To that end, we partner with GCSAA and the EIFG funding educational programs and university research, helping our customers stay Rooted In Science™ . We are also proud teammates with the “Wee One Foundation” that helps members of the turfgrass profession experiencing traumatic health and family crises.

AT THE TURN Nancy Hardwick

(profile)

A better solution State-of-the-art turf injection systems can help save water, labor, as one classic Palm Springs course has learned.

Nick Hanson, superintendent at O’Donnell GC in Palm Springs, Calif., says his facility’s turf injection system has increased his ability to apply wetting agents and fertilizers in a precise, effcient manner.

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Using resources more effciently is top of mind for most golf course superintendents these days. Water, labor, fuel, fertilizers — everything’s under scrutiny as superintendents seek new ways to do more with less.

At the O’Donnell Golf Club in Palm Springs, Calif., GCSAA Class A superintendent Nick Hanson has found that a state-of-the-art turf injection system can help conserve water, reduce runoff and cut back on labor, all while applying turf care products more effciently and consistently.

The injection system of choice at O’Donnell, known as Flo-Pro and available from Underhill International, is designed specifcally for golf courses and uses irrigation lines to apply fertilizer, wetting agents, soil amendments, acid and other liquid or water-soluble products. The system consists of a horizontal or vertical tank (sized according to the course’s requirements), intake and outlet tubing, and two injectors (sized depending on the pipe and piping material).

New technology sets newer products apart from older systems where higher concentrations of product were distributed initially, with lower concentrations as the solution in the tank was drawn down. New systems keep the chemical concentrations consistent throughout distribution.

Golf industry irrigation consultant Mike Huck, the president of Irrigation & Turfgrass Services in San Juan Capistrano, Calif., has found such systems a workable solution for many courses.

“Conventional injection systems are typically quite expensive,” says Huck. “Systems . . . that meter product uniformly could be a big plus when applying solutions such as wetting agents. Beyond reducing the amount of labor necessary for spray applications, some products’ effcacy has

JUST HIRED

Find a job or fill one – it’s never been easier.

The GCSAA Job Board is bigger and better than ever! We’ve made it even easier for members to find new jobs and for golf courses to find skilled employees.

Job seekers, look no further:

Employers, make your listing work:

• Create your own user account to save postings, searches and applications

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Visit the new and improved Job Board at GCSAA.org/jobs.

• Perform a multi-state search

O’Donnell GC is a private nine-hole course built in the 1920s with a rich history in Palm Springs.

also been reported to improve when applied in larger volumes of water through irrigation injection.”

A Palm Springs legend Located in the heart of Palm Springs, O’Donnell GC is a private nine-hole course with a colorful history. It was built by oilman Thomas O’Donnell in the mid-1920s and immediately attracted Hollywood stars, including Clark Gable, Cary Grant and celebrity golfer Bob Hope, who played the course regularly.

O’Donnell is SCGA-rated and has a Rain Bird Stratus II system with ICM Controller.

Prior to installing his injection system, Hanson says he would apply wetting agents and liquid fertilizer from atop his spray rig.

It required a couple of days’ work, and was a rigorous job during the summer, when desert temps can reach as high as 124 degrees.

Last year, Hanson and his assistant set up a 45-gallon tank in less than two hours and now use it regularly. Wetting agents go in twice a month during summer, once a month during winter, and fertilizer goes in every week.

“We no longer broadcast product in a ran-

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dom way,” the 12-year GCSAA member says.

“We can now apply wetting agents and fertilizers in a precise, consistent manner through the irrigation system at night.

“The course has very sandy soil, and wetting agents help retain water,” he continues.

“With California’s new drought restrictions, it’s even more critical that the soil hold water.

With the injector system, we can apply turf care products with less labor, vehicle use and fuel, and we’ve found that the turf is even healthier and greener with precise applications of product.”

Increased flexibility Among the biggest benefts that Hanson and his team at O’Donnell GC have realized following the installation of their turf injection system are the increased fexibility and precision that it offers them when applying turf products.

For example, Hanson and crew typically inject 45 gallons of wetting agent or fertilizer, then set the feed rate at 15 gallons per hour.

Rather than applying it all at once over three hours, he spreads out the application program

over two nights, running the system for 1½ hours each time. This lays down 22.5 gallons per night over two nights.

“It’s very fexible and easy to adjust. . . . I can work it around my schedule,” he says. “We found the injector system offers better nutrient uptake with visible results. Turf health is improved by increasing the systemic (root) absorption of fertilizers and nutrients. This can also make the grass more drought-tolerant.”

“Our new injection system saves time, labor and resources. Without it, we would be using more manpower to distribute topically applied products from a spray rig or spreader.

It’s been a real resource- and time-saver for us.”

Nancy Hardwick is the owner of Hardwick Creative Services, based in Encinitas, Calif.

AT THE TURN Dan Gregg

Improved irrigation and pump station technologies are giving golf course superintendents the tools to better and more effciently manage water use at their facilities. Photo by Montana Pritchard

(profile)

Conservation goes high-tech Technological advances in irrigation and pump stations have elevated superintendents’ ability to save water.

Eighty percent of the country’s total 2 million acres of maintained golf course turf relies on irrigation, according to GCSAA, using an estimated 2 billion gallons of water per day. Water use has become a sensitive issue in the industry because of droughts and stressed watersheds across the United States. There is a need for golf course superintendents and operators to become better stewards of nature’s most valuable resource in the face of rising costs and increased regulations.

The conversation about water preservation generally focuses on the need for a clean water supply for human consumption and use. But the economic factors behind water conservation are also pushing cities to engage landscape architects and turf industry professionals to design spaces that are more resource-effcient than ever, to save natural and fnancial resources.

With today’s advanced technologies, heightened attention to design detail, new research on horticulture and focus on education, golf course professionals are poised for success to help save water.

Driving forces for conservation Dwindling water supplies and growing populations are two of the biggest challenges facing municipalities, and golf courses are not isolated from the impact of these factors. This puts further pressure on superintendents to reduce water use through golf course management and landscape architecture.

In response, water conservation is on the rise. However, local governments are discovering conservation methods present challenges of their own. So what does a city do if its treated waste-

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We recognize that it takes a team to perform at the highest level.

That’s why we’ve expanded ours.

GCSAA is now offering a membership classifcation for Equipment Managers, and from now through December 31, 2015 your Equipment Manager can enjoy a complimentary membership.

For more information and to request a member application, call (800) 472-7878.

Modern pump stations offer features to manage power and effciency though the use of variablefrequency drives, which helps systems match performance with demand. Photo courtesy of Dan Gregg

water exceeds the daily limit of how much can be discharged?

Many water treatment facilities are approaching peak capacity, and investments in new wastewater treatment are expensive, so many municipalities are looking for costeffective alternatives. One method that has gained attention is contracting with golf courses to install an effuent water supply pipe so the treated water can be used to irrigate the turf and landscape. The treated water is nearly potable, so environmental risks are minimal.

A key part of the process is for both sides to agree on how many gallons to use each day.

If a course takes in too much water, the grass may be overwatered, resulting in undesirable playing conditions.

Tools to manage water Partnerships with municipalities can go a long way toward conservation. Considering water-saving measures in the design phase and employing technology to increase effciencies are among the additional strategies empowering architects and superintendents to create spaces that reduce water usage yet are still appealing to the eye.

Design

Golf course architects are designing to conserve water by working with the course layout to create specifc areas where water will drain and can then be reused. Additionally, archi-

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tects are sensitive to the types of plants that are used, ensuring those that require more water are kept on specifc parts of the course so that others are not overwatered during irrigation.

For hilly courses, architects can strategically use low areas to capture water, which can then be routed for irrigation. In the past, these areas were often situated at the tops of hills and would collect only rainwater and not the runoff that is captured at the bottom of the hill. The bottoms of hills provide more runoff volume and larger areas and, therefore, larger retention ponds to hold the runoff water.

Understanding the course topography and the purposes for the space (e.g., landscaping, putting greens, fairways, roughs, bunkers) is vital to creating an effcient irrigation plan.

The more activity in particular zones on the course, such as tee boxes, the greater the likelihood of higher water use. In the past, an architect would design landscapes for specifc activities, but it is now no longer just the function itself, but also the water incorporated in the activity. The focus on these areas has led to a better use of water in landscape design.

Using surface area runoff, such as excess water from rain or melting snow, is a way for golf courses to save energy and money. However, the runoff must be collected somewhere onsite, so it’s becoming more common to install underground tanks to collect water and pump it out through the irrigation system.

One common landscape design uses permeable surfaces such as parking lots where grass grows both around and throughout the concrete surface in a grid pattern. This grid pattern allows water to seep in, collect and be reused instead of being diverted into storm drains, which can overburden the golf course drainage system.

Technology

Over the past 30 years, technology has improved considerably, with the biggest advancements in controls. Superintendents and operators can now hold the power of the pump station in their hands via smartphones. Older electro-mechanical controls had no program fexibility, but newer digital units are highly customizable to meet a variety of water needs or to ft the water conservation guidelines of each golf course. Today’s controllers enable the user to separate certain areas of the landscape and deploy different watering levels for each.

This fexibility ensures that individual parts of the course are watered to optimal levels, while conserving where possible. Larger, more advanced systems even use satellite weather data to provide the user with daily evapotranspira-

tion values to better manage water use.

Additionally, real-time updates are now available through desktop and smartphone applications. Human-machine interface displays and advanced controls can make an operator’s day easier by providing updates and authorizing supervision when they are away from the golf course.

Pump stations have also evolved. New software programs comprehensively manage power and effciency with the use of variablefrequency drives (VFD). Advanced software improves system effciency with simple touchscreen controls and highly accurate fow meter technology. VFD technology enables the control of the AC motor speed and torque by varying the input frequency and voltage to match the system demands. As demand increases, the VFD speeds up to match the needs of the irrigation system, controlling effciency.

Education

Water conservation is important on and off the golf course. Throughout the United States, there is an increased push to educate the public about water conservation. Certain cities have started programs to encourage residents to take part in water conservation efforts by using techniques like rainwater harvesting.

For example, Fort Worth, Texas, will pro-

vide homeowners with a rain barrel for a reduced price that they can use to collect water for applications such as watering the lawn or garden. The city has also enacted a marketing campaign to encourage residents to conserve water.

Knowledge is power. Water conservation is already being implemented on golf courses, but it’s helpful to share the understanding of irrigation water reuse with the larger community.

Embrace the possibilities There’s no doubt that water conservation will continue to be a hot topic among landscape industry professionals in 2015 and beyond. The market is ready for new measurement tools, such as fow sensors and moisture sensors, to better manage how much water is used. There will also be an increase in reverse osmosis systems for irrigation use. RO systems to remove salt are no longer used only on the coasts. They are found inland as salt appears in lakes and streams in places such as western Texas, New York and Minnesota.

Architects will continue to design spaces that are not only functional, but also help conserve water. By encouraging the use of water management systems and informing customers of these methods, the United States

Flow meters, moisture sensors and reverse osmosis systems are all tools that will increasingly fnd their way into golf course management. Photo by Montana Pritchard

can continue to curb its water usage — saving valuable resources and money, too.

Dan Gregg is the central regional sales manager for Flowtronex Prepackaged Pump Stations, a Xylem Applied Water Systems brand. He has more than 35 years of experience in landscape irrigation design, consultation and sales.

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(through the green)

The perils of an ‘outside agency’ Jack Fry, Ph.D. jfry@ksu.edu

If you see an “assistant golf coach” with a large bird on his arm hiding in tall vegetation during a college tournament, take immediate action.

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As golfers, many of us have had the excitement of scoring an eagle on the golf course. But how about a hawk?

In March 2009, my son was playing for Rockhurst University, an NCAA Division II program in Kansas City, Mo., in the CrawfordWade Invitational at Tanglewood Resort in Pottsboro, Texas, just north of Dallas. In December, when I saw the date on the golf schedule, I thought it would be a nice, warm place to visit in late winter. Wrong. Instead, I was welcomed by a 40-degree high with a gusty north wind whose speed matched the temperature.

As a foolish spectator trying to stay warm, I scurried from one cedar bush to the next, the south side always the preferred location.

On the 16th hole, my son teed the ball and took out the driver. A well-struck shot reached its vertex and was then abruptly knocked off course — by a hawk. My background in ornithology is limited, but after conversations with those more knowledgeable in avian life, I determined it was probably a red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis). I’m as appreciative of wildlife on the golf course as anyone, but in this case, my affection for that bird was not what it would have been had I seen it gliding peacefully in the distance, not affecting my son’s game.

What were the odds? As far as I was concerned, they were far too great for such an event to happen by chance. I started to convince myself that the bird had been trained by some clandestine representative of a rival college to intercept golf balls struck by players on opposing teams. This person’s professional title was likely disguised on the school’s website using terms such as “assistant golf coach” or “graduate assistant.” I had no doubt what his true job title was — bird trainer.

We’ve all been to events where falcons or hawks leave a trainer’s outstretched arm and travel high in the sky only to return shortly thereafter. I suspect it would be diffcult to train the bird to take a body blow from a fying golf ball, but who knows? I began to visualize the “assistant coach” throwing golf balls at a hawk during the training session (if only PETA knew!). I was convinced this “assistant coach” was somewhere nearby, hiding in the brush

with a leather glove covering his hand. He was probably praising that bird for a job well done and feeding it pieces of red meat, or whatever hawks are fed to reward their behavior.

The hawk was only briefy sent off course.

The golf ball, on the other hand, was abruptly defected down and to the right, into a small forest. Ruling, please! According to the Rules of Golf, the hawk would be considered an “outside agency,” which sounds like it should have more to do with advertising than golf.

In short, an outside agency in this particular case is defned in the Rules as any agency, living or not, other than the golfer himself, his caddie (there were no caddies in this tournament) or his equipment. So, the hawk was an outside agency that had defected a ball in motion, and Rule 19-1 indicates that the ball should be played as it lies. However, after the defection by the well-trained hawk, the ball was now resting deep in the forest; my son would have needed a chain saw and machete to get close to it. His only option was to play the shot again (Rule 27-1, Stroke and Distance).

In other words, he was playing shot No. 3 off the tee. The hawk’s sortie had been successful.

(It should be noted that if the hawk’s actions were deliberate, he would have estimated the spot where the ball would have come to rest had it not been intercepted, and taken a drop at that spot.)

As a golf course superintendent, you can take measures to prevent such events from occurring. If you see an “assistant golf coach” with a large bird on his arm hiding in tall vegetation during a college tournament, take immediate action. Lure the individual back to the turf care center with the promise of a larger piece of red meat than what he’s planning on feeding the bird — preferably cooked. Maybe that will keep him off the golf course and allow all golfers to post legitimate scores.

Jack Fry, Ph.D., is a professor of turfgrass science and the director of the Rocky Ford Turfgrass Research Center at Kansas State University in Manhattan. He is an 18-year educator member of GCSAA.

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The drought in California: recent history, legislation and regulation, and the effects on golf courses Drought is a recurring problem in California, but numerous factors have combined to make the current situation especially worrisome.

The drought in California has been well chronicled over the past four months. Gov. Jerry Brown declared a mandatory 25% reduction in urban water use, and when he had a press conference on April 1 to announce the water reductions, he stood on bare ground that generally is under 5 feet of snow at that time of year (2,4). To underscore the gravity of the situation, researchers have found that the 2012-2014 drought has been “the worst in 1,200 years” (13).

California is no stranger to drought. Over the past 40 years, the state has suffered some very pronounced droughts: 1976-1977, 19871992, 2000-2002, 2007-2009 and, now, 2012-2015 (3,13). The latest drought could be perceived as the perfect storm, so to speak.

Declining reservoir capacity, historically dry winters = less snowpack = less water to be used later, and overreliance on groundwater supplies are just a few of the factors that led to Gov. Brown’s declaration. So why hasn’t California implemented contingency plans to deal with the reccurring natural disasters?

California has learned from some of the previous droughts and implemented water conservation strategies on local or regional scales.

However, given a statewide reduction that requires all Californians to modify their behaviors and implement new rules to deal with a new water reality, the drought has suddenly become a very big deal.

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Above: Gov. Jerry Brown (left) announced California’s frst mandatory statewide water restrictions on April 1. The announcement was made at the Phillips Station snow course, located at 6,800 feet in the Sierra Nevada. Although snowpack is generally at its peak on April 1, there was no snow in 2015.

Left: A photo of the Phillips Station when the snow survey was taken on April 1, 2010.

Photos courtesy of the California Department of Water Resources

Background California has unique climate and topography. The lowest point in the United States is in California’s Death Valley, which is only a two-hour drive from the highest point in the contiguous U.S., Mount Whitney in the Sierra Nevada. Some areas of the state receive less than 5 inches of rain during the rainy season (November–March), while others can receive more than 50 inches during the same time frame. Most, if not all, of California has a Mediterranean climate, meaning it has warmto-hot, dry summers and mild-to-cool, wet winters. Factor in the lack of humidity and mosquitoes, and it is no wonder 38 million

California drought map D0 Abnormally Dry D1 Moderate Drought D2 Severe Drought D3 Extreme Drought D4 Exceptional Drought

Figure 1. A map of California showing the intensity of the drought as of May 5, 2015. Much of the state is under exceptional drought conditions. The U.S. Drought Monitor focuses on broad-scale conditions, and local conditions may vary (http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu). Image by Mark Svoboda, National Drought Mitigation Center

people live in the state.

California has undertaken massive projects in the past to move water throughout the state, including the Los Angeles Aqueduct, the State Water Project, the Central Valley Project and the Colorado River Aqueduct. Moving water from Northern California, where most of the water is located, to Southern California, where most of the state’s population resides, required incredible foresight and engineering ingenuity from state leaders.

State policies and environmental protection mandates surrounding the use of the water in California are very complex. Almost half of all the water in California is protected for environmental reasons. According to the 2013 California Water Plan (8), the state has about 80 million acre-feet of water. About half of the water is allocated for environmental uses (including maintaining adequate water in rivers and streams and supporting wildlife in wetland areas), and agriculture uses approximately 33 million acre-feet of the remaining approximately 41 million acre-feet, or 40% of the total. About 10% (8 million acre-feet) goes to urban users.

Water legislation and regulation: The recent past S warzenegger: 20% by 2020 In 2009, Gov. Schwarzenegger signed a series of seven bills that created a comprehensive plan to reduce water use in California by 20% by the year 2020. The water-use data from 2005 was the baseline for reducing the gallons per capita per day (GPCD). In 2005, the average GPCD was 192; per the legislation, the new GPCD in 2020 will be 154. This package of legislation paved the road for how urban water agencies began the process of reducing their water use by 20%. Another byproduct of the 2009 bills was a task force whose purpose was to develop a set of best management practices for commercial, industrial and institutional businesses.

Once the 2009 drought was over and the state had received a couple of average years of precipitation, the legislation passed in 2009 was the foundation for developing a better understanding of water-use reporting for urban water agencies. Legislators had attempted to implement more rigorous laws regarding groundwater management in the past, but the timing and votes were never perfectly aligned. Starting with the 2012 drought, the

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Despite the drought, wild poppies bloom in the San Antonio Valley in southern Monterey County. Photo by T. Carson

overreliance on water in underground aquifers approached a tipping point. Without any statewide regulation, overpumping from groundwater basins would continue. As a result, state legislators and regulatory bodies began contemplating more robust steps to maintain the basins in a more sustainable manner.

Brown: Sustainable Groundwater Management Act In September 2014, Gov. Brown signed

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the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) into law. The act was a three-bill package to develop the framework for local, sustainable groundwater management in California (5). Until this point, California had been the only western state other than Texas that did not have any state regulations regarding groundwater use. This act was a foundational pillar for developing viable long-term water resources for a state that routinely suffers from multiple-year droughts and has failed to invest in additional water-supply projects even as its population continues to grow.

This new law requires groundwater basins to be managed in a sustainable manner by local or regional agencies. The ultimate goal under SGMA is to have the groundwater basins in balance with the amount of water being used each year with the same amount added back to the basin by natural recharge (safe yield). Adding surplus water back to basins during wet periods would also help return basins to a sustainable and managed condition.

Some groundwater basins have been regulated by local agencies for many years, while others have had no oversight, which raises concerns about the medium- or high-priority basins that suffer from overdrafting (more water is being taken out than is being put back in).

If a local basin plan is not implemented in a fairly lenient time frame (by 2020) for these medium- or high-priority basins, then the State Water Resources Control Board, in cooperation with the California Department of Water Resources, will step in to implement interim measures.

The biggest fear for overdrafted basins is that the amount of water that is being pumped out will be reduced. Groundwater serves as the water supply for more than a third of California’s population, and it is also used heavily for agricultural irrigation.

SGMA has both proponents and opponents. More regulation, reporting and oversight of groundwater resources is now the law. The state is encouraging local and/ or regional solutions to be developed frst.

The formation of Groundwater Sustainability Agencies is the frst step in getting all of the appropriate parties at the table in order to work together to develop and implement a groundwater management plan and a groundwater sustainability plan. If adequate progress is not being made, then the state will step in and adjudicate the basin (manage the

monthly customer allocations by up to 26% while still abiding by the governor’s executive order to reduce water use by 32% compared to 2013 usage.

As the demand for recycled water increases, it may not be readily available to golf courses where pipelines for recycled water do not already exist. Photo by W. Dowe

basin without local considerations).

Brown: 25% in 2015 Despite extensive water projects and new regulations, the drought in California worsened, and in early April 2015, Gov. Brown issued the state’s frst executive order “mandating substantial water reductions across our state” (2). The cuts are primarily directed at urban water users: cities and towns and the water agencies that supply water to customers in these areas.

On the state’s website, Gov. Brown called out golf courses and other large outdoor water users to make signifcant cuts in water usage.

The governor also laid out lofty goals for saving water immediately: • Remove 50 million square feet of turf (1,147 acres).

• Create a statewide rebate program to aid consumers in replacing old appliances with more water- and energy-effcient models.

• Prohibit new homes and developments from using potable water for irrigation purposes unless drip irrigations systems are used.

• Ban watering of grasses in public street medians.

A list of water agencies was released that

designated how much water the respective agencies will be required to save during 2015.

The savings were based on water usage in the year 2013. The range of water savings for the water providers fuctuates between 10% and 35%. Entities that have demonstrated large conservation savings have to conserve only 10%. Other water providers that have not embraced harsh conservation measures will have to save as much as 35%.

One of the unintended consequences for agencies that saved a lot of water during the past few years has been a reduction in revenue. Montecito Water District, just south of Santa Barbara, saved so much water during 2014 by implementing monthly allocations for customers and stiff penalties for overuse that the district is projecting a $5 million loss in revenue. Water conservation was the main source of revenue loss. The district had to establish new and higher water rates in order to make up for customers not using as much water. In another interesting twist of fate, the district also had to go out on the private market to buy water in the short term in order to have enough water for its customers this year.

According to news sources, the district spent $1.3 million on “new” water in late 2014, and, beginning in May 2015, the district increased

Water reduction for golf: A running head start In 2009 (the third year of the 2007-2009 drought), a group of golf representatives requested a meeting with representatives from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) to discuss some of the impending drought regulations. The mayor had declared new guidelines, which would have led to two-day-a-week watering for customers of LADWP. Golf courses were not excluded from the ordinance. The golf industry representatives, along with the LADWP staff, developed the Golf Task Force. The primary goal of the group was to develop some type of mechanism to allow golf courses the fexibility of applying water as needed, rather than being forced to follow a rigid, mandatory dayof-the-week watering schedule. The city was calling for a 15% reduction in outdoor water use under the original drought guidelines.

The group began developing the framework for implementing an “alternative means of compliance” for how the golf industry was going to deal with mandatory water reductions. Alternative means of compliance meant meeting or exceeding the water-savings goals set forth by the department. The fexibility of the alternative means of compliance allowed golf course superintendents to determine which areas would get water and which areas would not. In order to be permitted to follow the alternative means of compliance and get buy-in from the department staff, the golf industry had to add another 5% of water savings for a total of 20% water savings. Since the success of that agreement, the alternative means of compliance has been a model for golf courses in other urban areas in the state.

Areas that are working toward or implementing regulations allowing an alternative means of compliance include San Diego, Coachella Valley, and Sacramento and Ventura counties. Courses east of San Francisco are also considering this type of strategy for reducing the amount of water applied to golf courses. These task forces will be shaping water use on golf courses for the foreseeable future.

Take- ome message for golf industry delegates

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Cutting back on irrigation of the rough and eliminating irrigation on the frst 20 yards of the fairways helped Cinnabar Hills GC reduce its water use by more than the required 20%.

Photos by Brian Boyer

in ot er states. Interacting with water agencies, public utility departments or any other water or wastewater agency staff before and during diffcult situations is extremely valuable. Getting to know the agency personnel and having a solid understanding of what the parameters are for reducing water use are strongly encouraged. Knowing how the entity conducts routine business or uses special meetings for important topics is also extremely important.

Reviewing publicly posted meeting agendas and minutes and conducting online research is an effcient way to get up to speed on items that are important to that entity. Having industry representatives that are comfortable speaking in front of boards of directors, and at public meetings and other high-profle events, while getting the point across in a clear and

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concise manner, is another worthwhile goal.

Engaging the services of professional advocates for regional and statewide industry concerns is also proactive and absolutely mandatory in today’s climate. Having access to policy- and decision-makers is insurance the golf industry cannot do without.

Recycled water: Savior/solution Large outdoor water users located in close proximity to a wastewater treatment plant have been considered anchor tenants for using recycled water. Using recycled water on golf courses, cemeteries or parks has long been considered low-hanging fruit for treatment plants.

As water supplies have become scarcer, agencies have looked to expand the infrastructure needed to provide recycled water to more large

water users. Frequently, large water users are not just golf courses and parks. Recycled water is used for several industrial purposes, such as high- and low-pressure boiler feeds, cooling tower blowdown, fre sprinklers, fushing public restrooms in airports and sports venues, and, most recently, making the ice for a semipro hockey team in Southern California.

However, using recycled water for water supply projects is rapidly gaining momentum in areas that do not have reliable supplies of water. Many agencies are implementing indirect potable water projects (treating wastewater with several treatment processes in order to make the water quality equal to, if not better than, current potable water standards). Indirect potable projects usually have an environmental buffer between the treated

water and traditional drinking water supplies.

Examples of these buffers include: residence time in an underground aquifer or time mixing with water in a surface water reservoir.

The gold standard for using recycled water as a water supply is the Orange County Water District in Southern California. In 2008, the district started the Groundwater Replenishment System. The district treats 70 million gallons of secondary wastewater a day through advanced treatment processes.

Half of the 70 million gallons are used to create a barrier to prevent seawater from intruding into the groundwater basin. The other 35 million gallons are sent to percolation basins and injection wells into the underground aquifers. After a designated amount of time in the aquifer (traditionally a minimum of six months), the water is then pumped back up from the aquifer and treated and delivered as potable water.

Today, the district is expanding the capacity of the advanced water treatment facility in order to treat 100 million gallons of water daily. The expansion will be completed later in 2015 and will provide enough drinking water for 850,000 people.

Other groundwater replenishment projects near Long Beach in Southern California help serve as seawater barriers in order to protect groundwater in aquifers. Cambria, located on the coast in Central California, recently completed a $10 million emergency groundwater replenishment project in order to help increase its shrinking water supply. (The small town boasts banners that read “Keep Calm and Save Water.”) Even the pristine Monterey Peninsula is pursuing groundwater recharge to replace water supplies that are being diminished by state-mandated reductions of the Carmel River and scaled-back pumping of a local aquifer.

Take- ome message. Golf courses in urban areas that are not currently using recycled water and are not on a long-range plan to receive recycled water may fnd that it is no longer an option. High costs associated with installing pipelines plus the actual fee for treating the wastewater are generally passed down to the customers. In many cases, recycled water is not fnancially feasible. Several courses are starting to look at mining local sewer pipes for future water supplies.

The mining of the wastewater uses treatment processes to pull the liquids from the sanitary

Cinnabar Hills Golf Club, south of San Jose, has removed more than 77,000 square feet of irrigated turf in order to meet stringent regulations for reducing water use.

sewer system and return the solids back into pipelines to be handled at a larger municipal treatment plant. This process is frequently known as “scalping.” Scalping plants can have a small physical footprint and are considerably cheaper alternatives for using recycled water in areas that will never get a pipeline for recycled water.

Conservation: Permanent savings Getting the public to change its behavior about using water both indoors and outdoors

is something that Californians have become accustomed to over the years. Drought cycles are not new to this region, and when they occur in consecutive years, most, if not all, water suppliers try to encourage customers to save water by encouraging behavior modifcation.

In 2009, a new California law (Senate Bill 407) was passed requiring plumbing retrofts to more water-conserving fxtures in older homes and businesses (6). The law also required multifamily and commercial buildings to convert to new water-saving plumbing

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devices when the property is renovated and building permits are pulled. The city of San Diego wrote a similar type of regulation into its municipal code (SDMC 147.04) requiring the installation of water-conserving plumbing fxtures when there is a change in ownership or when bathrooms are remodeled (12).

Converting old water-hogging indoor appliances to less water-intensive appliances is considered an easy fx by many water utilities.

Cash rebates for purchasing newer, more water-effcient appliances have been very popular for the urban water suppliers. Depending on which water purveyor is administering the rebates, the amount a person can receive in a rebate for purchasing and installing various appliances is defnitely worth the trouble of flling out the appropriate forms. Toilet rebates can range from $75 to $150 a unit; clothes washers can range from $100 to $300 a unit; replacing pool pumps also can net a rebate ranging from $200 to $500.

A frequent statistic used by many urban water suppliers is that 40% to 60% of the water consumption by rate-payers is for outdoor irrigation. If suppliers could reduce this percentage by 10% or 15% or more, it would equate to signifcant volumetric savings. Decreasing outdoor residential water use is another area that is getting more attention because of the drought. Urban water suppliers are increasing the amount of rebates they offer to reduce the amount of potable water used in a landscape — whether commercial or residential. The Los Angeles County Waterworks Districts are currently offering $1-$2 for every square foot (up to 5,000 square feet) of grass replaced with water-effcient landscaping through the Cash for Grass Rebate Program (9). Removing turf from a landscape and replacing it with native plants or other options is becoming more common.

The dollar amount offered per square foot differs among water purveyors, and some limitations are imposed. Some rates range from $1.50 to $3.75 per square foot (the higher value is currently being offered by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power in conjunction with the Metropolitan Water District) (10). Customers must follow some guidelines in order to qualify for the rebate, but recent accounts from several of the large urban water suppliers show that the demand for the rebates often exceeds the money set aside. Since 2009, LADWP has eliminated 8.9 million square feet of turf, resulting in 390

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million gallons of water saved.

Once a homeowner, business or institutional customer installs water-saving appliances or removes turf from their landscape, the amount of water that is saved from that point on is a permanent reduction. Last October, the mayor of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti, was quoted as saying that the city is using the same amount of water today as it did 40 years ago, even though the population has grown by 1 million (11). Conservation of water resources has made it possible for more people to use the same amount of water for daily living.

For the water suppliers, the cost of conserving water is frequently cheaper than developing more expensive water supplies such as building new reservoirs, buying water on the open market, constructing new pipelines, etc.

Take- ome message. The golf industry in the West will need to become very comfortable with less water for irrigating their facilities in the future. Conservation is here to stay, and being held accountable for how the existing water resources are being used will become a more public process, regardless of the water source.

Golf’s future in California: A realistic view Golf courses around the state are dealing with severe water restrictions. The number and extent of the water restrictions depends on the water source that serves as the irrigation supply. Courses that are using recycled water may have little, if any, reductions in consumption, whereas golf courses using potable water and served by an urban supplier are subject to the governor’s new mandatory reductions. An example of a golf course that has felt the pain of dramatic cuts for two years in a row is Cinnabar Hills Golf Club, a 27-hole public facility nestled in the rolling foothills of the Almaden Valley south of San Jose.

In 2014, the water provider for the golf course, Santa Clara Valley Water District, requested that Cinnabar Hills reduce its consumption by 20%, based on the usage totals from the previous year. Led by Class A superintendent Brian Boyer and General Manager Ron Zraick, club offcials embraced the challenge. Boyer undertook signifcant changes in irrigation in order to meet the sizable decrease.

Eliminating irrigation on the frst 20 yards of the fairways was one of the frst measures implemented by Boyer and his staff. Another dramatic tactic was to turn off all irrigation to

the 5-acre driving range. Irrigation on out-ofplay areas on both the left and right sides of golf holes was also cut in order to help meet the desired goal.

Conservation measures were employed inside and outside the clubhouse. Not planting seasonal fowers in the decorative fower beds around the facility was a small yet noticeable way to conserve water. Serving restaurant guests water only when requested and using a broom instead of a hose to clean common areas are other ways the club’s ownership group elected to save water. (Both of these practices were among those encouraged by Gov. Brown in April 2014 and mandated in 2015 [7].)

Boyer, who has been at the club for 10 years, maintains a blog on the club’s website (http://cinnabarhills.blogspot.com) and frequently highlights the water conservation practices the club employs. He also serves on the Northern California Golf Course Superintendents Association’s newly formed Water Conservation Coalition. Boyer and Zraick regularly attend the Santa Clara Valley Water District’s meetings in order to stay up-to-date on any changes that might affect the facility.

The club and staff embraced a “commitment to the community” philosophy as it pertains to water use at the facility. The course also removed more than 77,000 square feet of irrigated turf, replacing it with native plants.

By the end of 2014, the club had used almost 25% less water than in 2013 and had exceeded the district’s water-reduction goal. The club’s conservation efforts were recognized by the district, which awarded the facility a WaterSaving Hero Certifcate presented to Boyer at a March 2015 district board meeting.

In 2015, the district has requested that Cinnabar Hills reduce its consumption by another 10% in addition to the 20% from the previous year. A 30% reduction from the baseline year of 2013 will require more watersaving techniques. These drastic cutbacks have intensifed the discussion between the golf course and the water district about efforts to get recycled water to the course within the next fve years.

In the meantime, Cinnabar Hills and Boyer, a 15-year GCSAA member, are working on plans for meeting the latest challenge.

Cutting back irrigation of the rough by another 10% and implementing deep and infrequent irrigation cycles on tees and fairways are two of the immediate changes that will take place.

Starting the irrigation system at 1 a.m. instead

of 9 p.m. is a practice that helps the turf maintain adequate soil moisture throughout the day.

Upgrading to single-head controls and changing out more than 150 full-circle heads to partcircles will provide more site-specifc water management. Boyer also plans to increase the labor budget slightly by adding two more employees who will be hand-watering hot spots throughout the course.

Conclusion Golf courses can be expected to embrace turf-reduction incentives and possibly convert to warm-season turf, which typically saves on water usage. The industry will push more innovative irrigation techniques and use more water-saving products than ever before.

If the drought continues, courses may be required to use water-based budgeting when determining how much water they can apply.

Limiting the amount of irrigated turf could be a precursor to courses being restricted to an allotment of water for irrigation, just as they have in Las Vegas and Arizona (1).

Even if California were to get above-average winter precipitation this fall and winter, many of the restrictions on outdoor irrigation would remain. This drought has taught Californians that water is a fragile resource that requires skilled management, accurate usage measurement and effcient and responsible use.

References 1. Arizona Department of Water Resources. 2015.

Summary of Conservation Requirements for Industrial Water Users. (www.azwater.gov/AzDWR/StatewidePlanning/Conservation2/CommercialIndustrial/IndustrialRequirements.htm) Accessed May 12, 2015.

2. CA. gov. Offce of Governor Edmond. G. Brown, Jr. Governor Brown Directs First Ever Statewide Mandatory Water Reductions, April 1, 2015. (http://gov. ca.gov/news.php?id=1891) Accessed May 12, 2015.

3. California Department of Water Resources. 2015.

California’s Most Signifcant Droughts: Comparing historical and recent conditions. State of California (www.water.ca.gov/waterconditions/docs/California_ Signfcant_Droughts_2015_small.pdf) Accessed May 12, 2015.

4. California Department of Water Resources. 2015.

Drought information. How low can snow go? (www. water.ca.gov/waterconditions/) Accessed May 12, 2015.

5. California Groundwater/Legislation. Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. (http://www.water. ca.gov/cagroundwater/legislation.cfm) Accessed May 12, 2015.

6. California Legislative Information. 2009.

SB-407 Property transfers: plumbing fxtures replacement (2009-2010). (http://leginfo. legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_ id=200920100SB407) Accessed May 12, 2015.

7. California Water Boards. 2015. State Water Board Adopts 25 Percent Mandatory Water Conservation Regulation. (www.waterboards.ca.gov/press_room/ press_releases/2015/pr050515_water_conservation.pdf) Accessed May 12, 2015.

8. California Water Today. 2013. Chapter 3, pages 34-35. In: California Water Plan Update 2013: Investing in Innovation and Infrastructure, Vol. 1, The Strategic Plan. California Department of Water Resources, Sacramento. (www.waterplan.water. ca.gov/cwpu2013/fnal/index.cfm#Volume1) Accessed May 15, 2015.

9. Los Angeles County Waterworks Districts. 2014.

Cash for Grass Rebate Program. (http://dpw. lacounty.gov/wwd/web/Conservation/CashForGrass. aspx) 10. Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.

2015. Turf Replacement. (https://www.ladwp. com/ladwp/faces/wcnav_externalId/a-w-lndscap?_afrLoop=52291083486639#%40%3F_ afrLoop%3D52291083486639%26_adf.ctrlstate%3D12al9cmenz_17) Accessed May 12, 2015.

11. Stevens, Matt. Amid drought, Mayor Garcetti directs L.A. to cut water use 20% by 2017. Los Angeles Times, Oct. 14, 2014. (www.latimes.com/local/ cityhall/la-me-city-water-20141015-story.html) Accessed May 12, 2015.

12. The City of San Diego. Plumbing Retroft Upon ReSale Ordinance. (www.sandiego.gov/water/conservation/selling.shtml) Accessed May 12, 2015.

13. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. 2014. Study: California’s Drought “Worst in 1,200 Years.” (www. whoi.edu/news-release/California-drought) Accessed May 15, 2015.

Mike McCullough (mike.d.mccullough@gmail.com) is currently the Recycled Water Program Assistant with the Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency. He is actively involved in the planning and development of a water supply project that uses a variety of wastewaters for benefcial use. He previously served as the Director of Environmental and Water Resources and Director of Turfgrass Services for the Northern California Golf Association.

The RESEARCH SAYS • The most recent California drought is in its fourth year, and will not be remedied even if next winter brings heavy rains to the state.

• Since 2008, executive orders from the governor and legislation from the state assembly and senate have developed a framework for water conservation and management to ease the effects of future droughts.

• More-immediate measures to encourage conservation include programs that encourage turfgrass removal, restrictions on using water for landscape irrigation, higher water rates and rebates for buying water-saving appliances to replace older models.

• Water use on golf courses receives extra attention during droughts. Golf facilities have reduced water usage by removing turf, reducing irrigation in roughs and fairways, changing irrigation schedules and working with utilities to develop “alternative means of compliance.”

• Many water conservation modifications result in permanent savings for water suppliers.

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Beth Guertal, Ph.D. guertea@auburn.edu twitter: @AUTurfFert

(verdure)

Over the past few years a petroleum-derived spray oil (PDSO) has been the subject of much chitchat in the turfgrass market. When new technology arrives to marketplace, exploring the mechanism of action and limits to use are key roles for land-grant scientists.

It is a role of land-grant researchers to explore the utility of new technologies. Spray oils have been used in horticulture since the 1800s. Sold under the trade name Civitas, the PDSO has been shown to improve plant stress tolerance by activating the plant defense system. “Induced systemic resistance” (ISR), occurs when something (in this case, application of Civitas) primes genes that are involved in plant protection and stress tolerance. A range of things can trigger ISR, including various strains of Bacillus and Pseudomonas, and rhizobacteria.

Civitas, when used as a part of a disease management program, has been shown to reduce pesticide, nutrient and water use.

Civitas causes phytotoxic effects when applied to foliage. To help mask this injury, a green pigment was added to the product. But the problem is that the source of the phytoxicity might be twofold. First, there is the injury to the leaf itself (the phytoxicity, which the green pigment can mask), and then additional injury could be caused by inhibition of stomatal conduction, essentially clogging the plant’s pores, which are used for air and water movement. That’s what then-Ph.D. student Bill Kreuser and Professor Frank Rossi set out to evaluate. The goal of the research project was to elucidate the mechanism of action at a feld level and a physiological level, as other

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Sometimes a little stress is a good thing? researchers (Cortes-Barco et al. 2010) had already shown the molecular basis of defense activation caused by Civitas. Kreuser and Rossi wanted to examine how much phytotoxicity was caused by Civitas applied alone, and whether the phytotoxicity was due to persistence of the oil on the leaf, or whether injury occurred because stomates appeared clogged.

Over the two years of the feld study, Kreuser and Rossi used a mixed Poa annua/ creeping bentgrass (L-93) putting green located in Ithaca, N.Y. Treatments were simple: 1) Civitas (PDSO) alone at 16 ounces/1,000 square feet (5 milliliters/square meter) — a high rate for this oil for putting surfaces; 2) the green pigment alone at 0.94 fuid ounce/1,000 square feet (0.3 milliliter/square meter); 3) Civitas + pigment; and 4) no Civitas or pigment (the untreated control). Spray volume was 2 gallons/1,000 square feet (810 liters/ hectare), and all treatments were applied every two weeks in August and September in year 1 and from May through August in year 2. Collected data included turfgrass quality and canopy temperature. Similar treatments were also used in growth chamber studies on a stand of pure annual bluegrass, and these experiments were used to measure detailed things, including gas exchange, cuticle composition and membrane integrity. For the growth chamber studies, treatments were applied and data were collected 48 hours after application.

Field trials clearly showed an interaction between Civitas and the pigment, but it differed in each year of the study. In 2012, when the pigment and Civitas were applied together, turfgrass quality in the Civitas + pigment plots equaled that in the control and pigment-only plots. In 2013, a similar effect was observed from May through July 24, but after that date, quality in the plots that received both Civitas at the high rate and the pigment dropped below acceptable limits, and a decline in tiller density led to severe thinning. In the growth chamber studies, application of Civitas af-

fected stomatal conductance. While neither the leaf membrane nor the cuticle composition of the turfgrass plants was affected by the treatment, the oil persisted on the leaves — appearing to clog the stomates — and reduced gas exchange. Why in the world would people consider applying this material? In this study, Civitas was applied at a high label rate (5% w/v) for a single application to a putting green in season.

That rate is far above the more typical rates (~ 2% w/v) that have been studied for horticultural oils. Additional work conducted to pinpoint correct rates suggests a variable rate and application frequency range depending on targeted stress (disease, moisture, traffc, etc.) and turf type (warm- vs. cool-season). A variety of other feld studies from California to Florida to Ontario, Canada, indicates that Civitas has potential, but requires some thought and tweaking by superintendents and additional research.

The concepts of induced systemic resistance introduce a different way of thinking about turfgrass management, and they may challenge some of our conventional turfgrass management practices.

Source: Kreuser, William C., and Frank S. Rossi. 2014. The horticultural spray oil, Civitas, causes chronic phytotoxicity on cool-season golf turf. HortScience 49:1217-1224.

Reference: Cortes-Barco, A.M., P.H. Goodwin and T. Hsiang. 2010. Induced systemic resistance against three foliar diseases of Agrostis stolonifera by (2R, 3R)-butanediol or an isoparrafn mixture. Annals of Applied Biology 157:179–189.

Beth Guertal, Ph.D., is a professor in the department of crop, soil and environmental sciences at Auburn University in Auburn, Ala., and the editor-in-chief for the American Society of Agronomy. She is a 19-year member of GCSAA.

CUTTING EDGE Teresa Carson

Photo by Brett Loman

This research project was funded by a grant to GCSAA from the Environmental Institute for Golf.

Billbug species composition and life cycle In recent years, billbugs (S eno orus species) have become an emerging problem in Missouri that, left untreated, seriously damage zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica Steud.) fairways. At least nine species of billbugs attack turfgrass in the United States. In Missouri, both hunting (S. venatus vestitus Chittenden) and bluegrass billbugs (S. parvulus Gyllenhal) have been found to damage zoysiagrass.

It is speculated that the complex nature of billbug species composition and biology are infuenced by geographic location and environmental conditions, which result in signifcant variations in temperature, moisture and plant species adapted/grown in different areas. Knowledge of billbug composition and biology is essential because successful controls rely on proper selection of insecticides and appropriate application timing. The objective of this study is to evaluate billbug composition and biology on zoysiagrass turf in Missouri.

Two feld plots will be established on zoysiagrass with historical billbug damage. In each location, 10 pitfall traps will be installed below the soil surface to sample billbug adults every

week during the growing season over a twoyear period. After collection, specimens will be identifed to species, and the species composition will be recorded. Soil cores will be collected monthly and submerged into a salt solution. Adult specimens yielded from the soil cores will be identifed and recorded. — Xi Xiong, Ph.D. (xiongx@missouri.edu), and Bruce A. Barrett, Ph.D., University of Missouri, Columbia, Mo.

ited attention is how a product like TE might infuence the drought tolerance of warm-season grasses like bermudagrass. Not only is it important to understand the full effects of TE alone but also its effects in combination with other products. Acibenzolar-s-methyl (ASM), currently being used in Daconil Action and Heritage Action for enhanced biotic and abiotic stress management, is a plant defense activator that induces systemic acquired resistance (also known as SAR). Preliminary research also suggests that it is capable of enhancing drought tolerance. The objective of this study is to compare the effects of TE applied alone or in combination with ASM on bermudagrass fairway performance under drought conditions. Four applications of treatments will be made on 21-day intervals through the season, with four replications of each treatment. Plots will be exposed to a dry-down cycle by withholding irrigation three days after the second PGR treatment. Irrigation will be withheld for 10 to 21 days depending on conditions and will be resumed when necessary to avoid turf loss. Treatments will be evaluated using digital image analysis, visual ratings, volumetric water content and clipping collection. — Nic Brouwer (nbrouwer@uark.edu); Mike Richardson, Ph.D.; Doug Karcher, Ph.D.; and John McCalla, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Ark.

Teresa Carson (tcarson@gcsaa.org) is GCM’s science editor.

Photo by Mike Richardson

PGR’s effects on drought tolerance in hybrid bermudagrass fairways Trinexapac-ethyl (TE) has been the most widely used plant growth regulator because of its broad safety across a range of species and the positive effects it can have on turfgrass performance. However, the positive effects of applying TE go beyond regulating the growth of the plant. One area that has received lim-

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Lumigreen

(product news)

Serious

Turf Grass Light Systems’ Lumigreen Rotulus was made to evaluate turf response to LED light under different wavelengths, intensities and blue/ red ratio in order to optimize lighting requirements for commercial applications of LED turf remediation. The biological research and feld testing supporting Lumigreen was completed in cooperation with Andy McNitt, Ph.D., of Penn State University and Mike Dixon, Ph.D., of the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada. Contact Intravision, 289-400-7084 (www.intravision.ca).

AIRFLOW Black Jack by Big Ass Fans is a portable fan big enough to provide serious airfow but small enough to go wherever you need a breeze — indoors or out, the company says. Black Jack has a 6.5-foot frame that fts through standard interior doorways and plugs into a 110-volt power supply, drawing less power than a toaster — only 7 amps at top speed. Black Jack moves air up to 120 feet (36.5 meters) — one-third the length of a football feld — yet it’s quiet and won’t drown out nearby conversations. It features a matte-black fnish, 25-foot power cord, gearless direct-drive motor, variablespeed controller and steel frame and cage.

Contact Big Ass Fans, 877-244-3267 (www. bigassfans.com).

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Pentair launched Hypro 500 and 700 Poly Diaphragm Pump Series. The pumps have max fow rates of 15.6 gpm/59.1 lpm and 20.2 gpm/76.4 lpm with pressures to 290 psi/20 bar. The pumps are built with external inlet and outlet manifolds that allow for easy valve replacement and lower-cost repairs. The oil sight glass is located in a protected spot, positioned at the top of the pump body, reducing the chance for breakage. Contact Pentair, 800-424-9776 (www.hypropumps.com).

Shindaiwa unveiled its EB600RT backpack blower that features a 58.2 cc professional-grade two-stroke engine that helps deliver the air volume of 510 cfm and air speed of 215 mph. The new backpack blower was designed with operator comfort in mind, the company says. It weighs 22.6 pounds in tube throttle confguration.

It features a fully padded backrest for upper and lower back support. The shoulder straps are user-adjustable for all day comfort. It also features a vented back pad, a Shindaiwa innovation that allows air to circulate around the user for increased comfort in hot weather. A fourpoint vibration-reduction system also increases operator comfort. Contact Shindaiwa, 847-540-8400 (www. echo-usa.com).

Underhill International introduced the Turf Gun Kit, a manual alternative to an automated irrigation system for cleaning and cooling synthetic sports felds. The kit consists of two parts: the portable MTG-180 Turf Gun with specifable nozzle and a stainless steel below-grade enclosure with internal mounting assembly.

The enclosure includes all necessary quick-connect components and a padlock to prevent unauthorized use.

Weighing less than 12 pounds, the Turf Gun delivers up to 180 feet of coverage and uses the same pistondrive technology found in Underhill’s Mirage M-160 long-throw sprinklers, which can cool or clean an entire feld in minutes, the company says. Contact Underhill International, 866-863-3744 (www.underhill.us).

Durabunker Durabunker is what the company calls a revolutionary synthetic bunker solution enabling golf clubs to build maintenance-free, highly durable and costeffective revetted or sod wall bunker faces and edges. The product is built from 100 percent recycled material and available in many different bunker styles, from shallow edge solutions to deep pot bunkers. The Durabunker construction method has been adopted in the U.S., UK and Europe by a variety of golf courses, including Open Championship venues such as Turnberry and St. Andrews, the company says. Key benefts include prevention of sand contamination caused by crumbling faces and edges; no fy mowing; and resistance to burrowing animals and extreme heat and deep thaw cycles. Contact Durabunker, (www.durabunker.com).

Bayer CropScience announced EPA registration for Signature Xtra Stressgard, a new addition to the Stressgard Formulation Technology family with an optimized formulation that the company says provides application fexibility and consistent plant health benefts. It will be launched this fall. The formulation of Signature Xtra Stressgard is optimized to better match intervals at which superintendents typically treat their greens, as well as the natural growth of the turfgrass plant itself. It is designed to provide protection from biotic and abiotic stresses, improve aerifcation recovery, winter recovery and early spring green-up. Contact Bayer CropScience (www. backedbybayer.com).

Briggs & Stratton redesigned its Electric Pressure Washer with POWERfow+ Technology for improved customer convenience.

Pressure washers with POWERfow+ give users the ability to clean with both high pressure and high fow, a technological innovation exclusive to Briggs & Stratton,

while the redesigned unit sports an enhanced hose storage system, enlarged detergent tank and improved wheels for easier maneuverability. Generating up to 100 maximum psi and 4 gallons per minute of water fow, the Electric POWERfow+ model delivers three times more water fow than standard electric pressure washers, the company says. Improvements include a hose storage system that wraps by hand to increase ease of use and coiling and a single larger detergent tank that allows users to complete intensive cleaning tasks without reflling the soap midtask. Contact Briggs & Stratton, 800-444-7774 (www. briggsandstratton.com).

Plant

FORTIFICATION Optimizer PSi delivers plant-derived silicon in

Efco introduced the MT 6500, a professional saw for the more demanding user. It is designed for uses such as felling medium to large trees and frequent frewood cutting.

The lateral chain tensioner simplifes adjustments, avoiding contact with the chain. An adjustable oil pump activates automatically when the chain starts moving. Starting is made easy with an equipped decompression valve. The air flter is easily accessible for maintenance, with a no-toolsrequired air flter cover. Efco’s self-cleaning air flter design allows for maximum fltration with minimal maintenance required. It includes a separate one-piece handle section to reduce vibrations and increase operator comfort. In-board clutch allows for easy bar and chain replacement. The

opaline form with a plant-derived protein nitrogen carrier. Marketed exclusively by United Turf Alliance members and dealer partners, Optimizer PSi contains 25 percent of the novel silicon in a concentrated dry powder formulation. This formulation delivers silicon in an immediately bio-available form when applied to turfgrass. It also provides quicker plant fortifcation because the silicon is bio-available, the company says.

Specifc plant health benefts include increased turgidity as well as improved tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses, stronger cell walls, thicker leaf blades, better root systems and less transevaporation. Contact United Turf Alliance, 770-335-3015 (www.utaarmortech.com).

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63.4 cc engine delivers 4.7 hp, giving the user a high power-to-weight ratio on a professional saw that weighs only 14.8 pounds. Contact Efco, 800-800-4420 (www. efcopower.com).

lasting durability. GT-225L uses the same 21.2 cc power head with vibration-reduction engine mount for increased user comfort and all-day operation. Contact Echo, 847540-8400 (www.echo-usa.com).

Echo introduced the CS-490, which, it says, is the lightest-weight saw in its class. It is available in 16-, 18- and 20-inch bar lengths. CS-490 has a 50.2 cc two-stroke engine, dual-post chain brake handle that increases durability, G-Force Engine Air Pre-cleaner and automatic, adjustable clutch-driven oiler that reduces oil consumption. The heavy-duty air flter with tool-less access provides superior air fltration for long engine life.

CS-490 weighs only 10.6 pounds. A vibration-reduction system reduces operator fatigue. Contact Echo, 847-5408400 (www.echo-usa.com).

The Cat M Series Compact Wheel Loaders — 906M, 907M and 908M — feature Caterpillar’s exclusive Optimized Z-bar loader linkage, which combines aggressive digging power with parallel lift. These models use a 75-gross hp engine with an electrically controlled hydrostatic drive system that meets U.S. EPA Tier 4 Final/EU Stage IIIB emission standards. Electrohydraulic controls allow for engineering enhancements for the drive system, implement controls, auxiliary hydraulic system and loader linkage. A range of work tools and couplers are available, ensuring optimal versatility and productivity. Contact Caterpillar, 888-6144328 (www.caterpillar.com).

Echo launched the GT-225L Extended Reach Trimmer that takes the popular features of the straight-shaft SRM-225 and the curved-shaft GT-225 to offer a curved-shaft trimmer. It has a 55-inch shaft and has the same GT left-hand grip, which can easily adjust and rotate for operator comfort and edging. It uses the same shield with 16-inch cutting swath, and the same ball bearing-supported trimmer head for heavy-duty, long-

Koch Agronomic Services announced the development of a brand name dedicated specifcally to the turf and ornamental market. The company says the new brand, Koch Turf & Ornamental, better represents Koch Agronomic Services’ focused efforts on developing solutions for the golf, lawn care, ornamental

and turf markets. Contact Koch Agronomic Services, 866863-5550 (www.kochagronomicservices.com).

Syngenta added several updates to WeevilTrak, the interactive online monitoring tool for annual bluegrass weevil (ABW) tracking and control recommendations.

The enhancements include a research blog updated in real time, new ABW research sites (including two sites in North Carolina) and the addition of Ference insecticide to the Syngenta Optimum Control Strategy. By registering for WeevilTrak, superintendents have access to blog posts and receive emails from researchers they select throughout the spring and summer. New this year, WeevilTrak blog provides live updates from the feld to improve ABW tracking and recommended solutions all season long. Two researchers, Rick Brandenburg, Ph.D., from North Carolina State and Albert Koppenhofer, Ph.D., from Rutgers, have joined the research sites program.

Contact Syngenta, 866-796-4368 (www.WeevilTrak.com).

Prime Source announced the registration of its three-way herbicide formulation Triad Select. A combination of three selective herbicides, Triad Select controls clover, dandelion, plantain and other hard-to-kill broadleaf weeds. It is labeled for use on golf courses,

sports turf, residential turf and other application areas. Contact Prime Source, 877235-0043 (www.prime-sourcellc.com).

PBI-Gordon Corp. and Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha Ltd. of Osaka, Japan, announced an agreement to distribute Kabuto Fungicide SC in the U.S. professional turfgrass industry upon approval of its pending registration with the U.S. EPA. A liquid formulation of the active ingredient isofetamid, Kabuto has proved in research trials to provide preventive and curative dollar spot control, the company says. Contact PBI-Gordon, 800-884-3179 (www.pbigordon.com).

The Foundation for Safer Athletic Fields for Everyone (SAFE), with the support of the Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA) and The Toro Co., introduced a series of short, instructional flms titled “Sports and Recreation Fields, Safety First.” The video outreach program aims to increase awareness and educate parents, players, coaches and volunteers about safe and playable athletic felds. The complimentary videos are Natural Grass Field Safety, Synthetic Turf Field Safety and Sports Facility and Equipment Safety. For information, contact SAFE, 800-323-3875 (www.stma.org).

Growth Products Ltd. announced that pH Reducer has been certifed as a Registered Material for Use in Organic Agriculture by the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA). It is now included on the Brand Name Material List of products that the WSDA has determined comply with the National Organic Standards. The product pH Reducer is a 100 percent organic citric acid solution designed for use on all vegetable, herb, feld and permanent crops. A safe alternative to corrosive acids, it lowers the pH of soilless media and water and can act as a buffer in the mixing tank. It also contains a natural wetting agent, which allows citric acid to penetrate the soil quickly. Contact Growth Products Ltd., 800-648-7626 (www.growthproducts.com).

J.R. Simplot is enabling production of its Gal-Xe One controlledrelease polymer coated technology at its Lathrop, Calif., facility.

Production is expected to begin in spring 2016. Contact Simplot, 208-336-2110 (www.simplot.com).

Armstrong Fluid Technology introduced its E.2 Pump-Less Volute (PLV) kit, which is designed to upgrade, renew or replace all working parts of all models in the E Series family of circulators. The kits are suitable for both hydronic fuid and potable water applications and include all the new features that were introduced with the second generation of the E Series. Key design elements include a new water slinger to protect the motor against water intrusion; larger, stainless steel shaft; sealed, permanently lubricated bearings; and bellows-style mechanical seal with silicon carbide wear surfaces. Contact Armstrong Fluid Technology, 416-755-2298 (www.armstrongfuidtechnology.com).

LESS WATER. BETTER RESULTS. WATER STAR® QUALIFIED GRASS SEED REQUIRES UP TO 40% LESS WATER* Water Star® Qualified grass seed combines excellent turfgrass quality with industry leading drought tolerance.

• High quality cultivars with outstanding turfgrass characteristics • Stays green for weeks without water while other lawns go brown • Over 25 qualified varieties across turfgrass species

Willow Creek Paving Stones introduced CapStone Coping Units called Coping Caps and End Caps. Manufactured from durable cast concrete, CapStone brings a natural elegance to freestanding walls at a fraction of the cost and weight of real stone, the company says. The cap unit features naturallooking chiseled edges and comes in canyon gray and desert brown colors that are integral throughout the product. Coping Caps weigh 35 pounds each and are 16-14 × 12 × 2 inches. CapStone End Caps are 18 × 12 × 2 inches and weigh 40 pounds.

CapStone Column Caps are 24 × 24 × 2 inches and weigh 75 pounds each. Contact Willow Creek Paving Stones, 651-773-7480 (www.willowcreekpavingstones.com).

To learn more about our selection of Water Star® Qualified products: CALL 1.800.588.0512 | EMAIL proturfsolutions@penningtonseed.com

Pennington is a trusted manufacturer and distributor of grass seed since 1945

waterstarqualified.com *Select Varieties. Data on file.

Pennington with design and Water Star are registered trademarks of Pennington Seed, Inc. ©2014 Pennington Seed, Inc. PT32_v4

(Industry news)

RISE

Pollinator

PETITION

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RISE (Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment) delivered its pollinator petition April 20 to the White House Council on Environmental Quality. The petition urges President Obama to protect pollinators by creating more habitat and forage areas and by considering all sources of information on and contributors to the pollinator health issue. Nearly 600 concerned citizens from across the U.S. signed the petition. “Our industry takes its role as environmental stewards very seriously,” says Aaron Hobbs, RISE president. “Our petition highlights some of the steps our industry is and has been taking to support pollinators. This includes creating pollinator-friendly habitats and forage areas through integrated vegetation management in utility rights-of-way and large tracts of land.”

The 2016 STRI Golf Environment Awards (GEA) are open for entry. The awards have been in existence for 18 years and attract entrants from golf clubs across the UK. Each entry is independently judged — not on the size of the project or fnancial investment, but on what a golf course has achieved and how it has benefted the environment. The awards are sponsored by BIGGA, Ransomes Jacobsen, Syngenta, Tullers Turf, Farmura, Greenkeeping, Golf Monthly and Operation Pollinator

Excellence in Innovation Award among others. Entry is free and details are located at www.golfenvironmentawards.com.

Honda Power Equipment has shipped 40 million power products to domestic dealers and distributors since it began sales of outdoor power equipment in the U.S. in 1973. Honda Power Equipment executives helped celebrate the actual 40 millionth power product sold to a customer at Weingartz in Utica, Mich. Weingartz, a family owned and operated business, has been a North American leader in sales and service of outdoor power equipment since 1945 and a Honda Power Equipment dealer since 1978.

Gerald Flaherty, CGCS and a 21-year member of GCSAA (pictured at top on left), was recognized by Jacobsen for winning the frst annual Excellence in Innovation Award presented by Turf Republic. The award aims to recognize men and women in the turf industry who are using innovative ideas to save time, reduce costs and create a better experience for players. Flaherty joined golf professional Jamie Sharp, both from The Valley Club in Hailey, Idaho, in the creation of the TaskTracker, a Web-based application for tracking labor costs. “After working at numerous courses around the country, I came to the realization that more often than not, we focus on

tracking equipment costs but don’t have any consistent way of tracking labor costs,” Flaherty said. “I noticed that when labor was tracked, it was usually done on a whiteboard that would get erased at the end of each day. This struck me as very ineffcient, wasteful and frustrating.”

Flaherty eventually traded his whiteboard for a TV monitor and electronic charts, where he recorded all course jobs and the associated costs. He reached out to Sharp, who had extensive knowledge of data management tools. After a month of programming, TaskTracker was born. The Webbased application restores and retrieves labor data from all areas of turf maintenance and also provides fnancial analysis and reports.

Jud Hudnut was promoted to program manager at Residex, a North Americanbased distributor of professional pest control and turfgrass management supplies. Hudnut is responsible for building relationships with Residex’s vendors and national accounts, driving clear product strategies and program management. He also is working closely with the purchasing and sales team to manage initiatives focusing on the growth of leading products from key vendors. Hudnut was a golf course superintendent for more than 16 years.

Master

TECHNICIAN Larry Dudley joined Redexim North America Inc. as national technical manager and is felding technical inquiries and managing the machine service department. Prior to joining Redexim North America, Dudley was a semi-retired professional Sprint car driver. Before his racing career, Dudley spent many years in the automotive industry as an ASE-certifed master automotive technician.

John Kaminski, Ph.D., was appointed chief agronomy offcer for GreenSight Inc., a provider of dronebased turfgrass management technology. Kaminski also serves as director of the two-year golf course turfgrass management program at Penn State University. “By com-

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bining Dr. Kaminski’s expertise in identifying and solving agronomic challenges with our drone and imaging technology, we can greatly reduce a golf course’s water and chemical usage while improving the quality of their turf,” says Joel Pedlikin, chief operating offcer for GreenSight.

The sixth annual Symposium on Affordable Golf is set for Oct. 12-13 at Tam O’Shanter Golf Course in Canton, Ohio. It is free to attend. Members of GCSAA earn continuing education credits for attending. Speakers include Debbie Waitkus, president and founder of Golf for Cause; Roberto Balestrini, founder of the American FootGolf League; and Kevin Kane, publisher and editor of Virginia Golf Report. To register and fnd information, go to www.symposiumonaffordablegolf.com.

Elevance Renewable Sciences Inc. was named a 2015 New Energy Pioneer award winner by Bloomberg New Energy Finance.

The award, presented in April, recognizes 10 global companies whose innovation is revolutionizing the energy sector. A panel of industry experts selected the winners using three criteria: potential scale, innovation and momentum. Elevance was recognized for commercially supplying better-performing, cost-competitive renewable alternatives to petrochemicals across multiple industries. Elevance’s recent introductions include the Inherent line of renewable building blocks and personal care product lines. Elevance Smooth and Elevance Soft. Elevance’s specialty chemicals enable detergents to be more concentrated and clean better in cold water.

Nufarm is making a donation to Project EverGreen’s GreenCare for Troops program. With every purchase of Nufarm’s Spectro 90 WDG Camo Pack, Nufarm will donate $15. Spectro 90 WDG combines two broad-spectrum fungicides to prevent and control disease in turf, annual and perennial fowers, as well as bedding plants, groundcovers and trees and shrubs. Project EverGreen’s GreenCare for Troops is a nationwide program that connects local lawn and landscape professionals with wounded or disabled veterans and active-duty military families to help reduce the burden of maintaining their lawns.

Doug Macdonald, vice president of Aqua Engineering in Fort Collins, Colo., was named an ASIC Fellow in April at the American Society of Irrigation Consultants’ 2015 Awards Banquet in Minneapolis. Macdonald has provided irrigation expertise and professionalism for his clients and the irrigation industry for more than 30 years. He specializes in developing creative design and resource solutions for large municipal and regional parks, sports and athletic felds, etc.

Steve Smyers was elected president of the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA). Smyers was a member of the University of Florida golf team that won the NCAA Championship in 1973. He has more than three decades’ experience as an architect, serving as owner of Steve Smyers Golf Course Architects.

“There are 25 million golfers and nearly 16,000 golf courses in America, plus another 16,000 around the world,” Smyers said. “Those players and courses need ASGCA members to continue being the forward-thinking guys who bring innovation to the game, as we have ably done since the days of Donald Ross.”

The Engines Division of Kawasaki Motors Corp. USA is consolidating all aspects of its management and product development processes in a single facility in Grand Rapids, Mich. The company is launching a signifcant renovation of its existing facilities to accommodate the move of the Research and Development Engineering group, along with related functions, from Maryville, Mo., to Grand Rapids. Maryville, the site of the Kawasaki engine production facility, has been home to the R&D division since 1995. The move to Grand Rapids “will create a more cohesive and dynamic unit that will allow daily face-to-face interaction between the company’s R&D group, sales, marketing, product management, operational functions and most importantly our customers,” said Rodger Howe, vice president of the Engines Division. The building is expected to be ready for total occupancy sometime in early to mid-2016.

Stein Eriksen Lodge Management Corp. and Park Meadows Country Club of Park City, Utah, entered into an agreement for Stein Eriksen to manage Park Meadows, Park City’s only in-town, private golf and social club. Park Meadows is a Jack Nicklaus design.

The Lawn Institute took National Lawn Care Month in April to heart by providing fun facts about natural grass lawns, such as that there is an estimated more than 31 million acres of managed grass in the U.S. (more than 50,000 square miles of it), and that more than 60 percent of it is found in lawns. Also, a healthy, 10,000-squarefoot lawn can absorb more than 6,000 gallons of rainwater without noticeable runoff.

Another piece of information was that if people recycled grass clippings, leaving them to decompose on the lawn, the U.S. lawn area could store up to 16.7 teragrams of carbon each year. That is the equivalent of about 37 billion pounds — the weight of about 147,000 blue whales.

Ron Jaworski Golf, along with partners Ken Kochenour, Ira Lubert and Joe Williamson, acquired Downingtown (Pa.) Country Club. The course was designed by George Fazio and built nearly 50 years ago.

Boyne Golf, home to 11 premier golf courses spanning three resorts in the scenic northwest corner of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, selected Buffalo Brand Invigoration Group (Buffalo) to create and execute a golf-focused publicity and media-relations program. Buffalo is promoting the Boyne Golf destination to American and Canadian audiences by consistently securing editorial coverage in national, regional and local outlets.

Billy Casper Golf (BCG) introduced the BCG Select Program. It allows golf course owners the fexibility to remain hands-on with their operations and select specifc services from a full array of solutions. They include proven sales programs, cutting-edge digital platform, innovative marketing solutions, operational insights and access to reduced pricing to drive revenue, reduce expenses and increase overall profts.

California-based golf course architecture frm Todd Eckenrode-Origins Golf Design completed the back nine renovations of Quail Lodge & Golf Club in Carmel, Calif. Work is underway on the front nine renovations. A new bunker collection is being unveiled, featuring classic forms and a natural styling, with many in strategic new locations.

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(photo quiz answers)

By John Mascaro President of Turf-Tec International

(a)

PROBLEM This dead linden tree was being cut down by the golf course maintenance crew because it had been struck by lightning the previous season. The superintendent was using a chain saw to cut down the tree when he noticed a strange object sticking out of the freshly cut stump. Upon closer inspection, the superintendent realized that there was a dedication plaque in the middle of the tree trunk that had just been cut in half. Apparently, this tree was planted on the course in 1984 as a dedication to a Mr. and Mrs. Dreka, who were longtime members of the club. Because the plaque was screwed into the trunk of the tree, the linden apparently grew around the plaque over the years, concealing it. This superintendent has tried to achieve a rustic, authentic look to the golf course; therefore, this was something he wanted to display for people to see. Because he had cut through the plaque, he ended up with two halves of the plaque in two separate logs. He sanded the logs, carefully cut into them to reveal the name on the plaque, and then clear-coated them. He put the newly made tables on the patio at the clubhouse, and they are being used as side tables for a bench. A lot of people at the club knew the couple, and some members have been taking pictures with the logs.

Photo submitted by Ross Page, the GCSAA Class A superintendent at Glen Flora Country Club in Waukegan, Ill., and a seven-year member of the association.

(b)

PROBLEM

The red material on the top of this green was the result of a sandstorm, or “shamal,” that carried sand from Saudi Arabia to this golf course in Bahrain, an island country in the Persian Gulf between Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Storms such as this one, which can feature winds up to 50 mph, are common, occurring as often as once a week and leading to visibilities of less than 35 yards.The sand that blows in is quite fne and contains high levels of salt that can damage even the course’s salt-tolerant seashore paspalum. The deposited sand is frst removed from the course with blowers, then all turfgrass areas are mowed and irrigated. Machines get knocked out of adjustment very quickly because the sand is so fne; it even builds up like a paste on the reels and units. This particular cleanup project took 25 staff members and more than 13 hours to complete over all 27 holes. In winter when the course is overseeded with ryegrass, storms blow in native desert sand — also high in salts — which can burn out the ryegrass if not washed off within a few hours. After washing off all the turf, staff sometimes take the added step of fushing the soil profle with calcium chloride and a wetting agent.

Photo submitted by Jordan Fairweather, the director of agronomy for Troon Golf at The Royal Golf Club in Riffa, Bahrain, and a 12-year member of GCSAA.

If you would like to submit a photograph for John Mascaro’s Photo Quiz, please send it to: John Mascaro, 1471 Capital Circle NW, Suite #13, Tallahassee, FL 32303, or email to john@turf-tec.com.

If your photograph is selected, you will receive full credit. All photos submitted will become property of GCM and GCSAA.

Presented in partnership with Jacobsen

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MEMBERS ONLY

ON COURSE June 4-7— PGA Tour, The Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide, Muirfeld GC, Dublin, Ohio, Paul B. Latshaw, CGCS, director of grounds operations.

(climbing the ladder)

June 4-7 — Web.com Tour, Greater Dallas Open, The Lakes at Castle Hills, Lewisville, Texas, Brian Honea, superintendent.

Taylor Olson Was: Is:

Student, Northwest Missouri State, Maryville, Mo. Assistant superintendent at Creekmoor Golf Club, Raymore, Mo.

June 4-7 — LPGA, Manulife LPGA Classic, Whistle Bear Golf Club, Cambridge, Ontario.

June 4-7 — European Tour, Nordea Masters, PGA Sweden National, Malmo, Sweden.

June 5-7 — Champions Tour,

Getting to know you At 6-feet-5 inches tall, 23-year-old Taylor Olson has the look of a basketball player. He proved his game is worthy; Olson played at Horton (Kan.) High School and earned a scholarship to Highland (Kan.) Community College. All he did there was help the Scotties advance to their frst-ever national tournament berth in 2011. That was enough for Olson, who decided to focus on his future following that freshman season when he transferred to Northwest Missouri State. He excelled there, too. Olson, a three-year GCSAA member, earned a major in horticulture and a minor in business.

Q: When did your interest in this business truly escalate?

A: During college I worked at Mozingo Lake Golf Course in Maryville. I learned to do everything there. I started from the bottom, changing cups, raking bunkers. The superintendent (GCSAA Class A superintendent Tim Wolters, a 25-year association member) took me under his wing, was accommodating. He wanted to educate me to the best of his ability.

Q:

You got to intern on a construction crew that re-sodded TPC Sawgrass. What was a highlight of that experience?

A: My dad (Dave) and brother (Jeremy) got to come and play the course with me (in the summer of 2013). On No. 17 (the famed par-3 island hole), all three of us actually made it on the green, which is pretty impressive. I used a 9-iron from 135 yards.

Q: So you told me that your wife, Hannah, starts medical school in the fall. Is she into golf as much as

you?

A: It took three or four years, but I fnally got her hooked on it.

Q: What are the most enjoyable aspects of your job?

A: Working with a group, doing a project, even if it is putting in a new drain. I like to talk to people, get to know them. I like being part of a team and being successful at anything we do.

— Howard Richman, GCM associate editor

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Principal Charity Classic, Wakonda Club, Des Moines, Iowa, John Temme, GCSAA Class A superintendent.

June 5-7 — Symetra Tour, Firekeepers Casino Hotel Championship, Battle Creek Country Club, Battle Creek, Mich., Steve Rebhan, CGCS.

June 11-14 — PGA Tour, FedEx St. Jude Classic, TPC Southwind, Memphis, Tenn., Jim Thomas, CGCS, director of golf course maintenance.

June 11-14 — Champions Tour, Constellation Senior Players Championship, Belmont Country Club, Belmont, Mass., John Rose, GCSAA Class A superintendent.

June 11-14 — LPGA, KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, Westchester Country Club, Westchester, N.Y., David Dudones, GCSAA Class A director of golf and grounds.

June 11-14 — Web.com Tour, Rust-Oleum Championship, Lakewood Country Club, Westlake, Ohio, Dan Cherrstrom, CGCS.

June 11-14 — European Tour, Lyoness Open powered by Greenfnity, Diamond Country Club, Atzenbrugg, Austria.

June 12-14 — Symetra Tour, Decatur-Forsyth Classic presented by Tate & Lyle and Decatur Park District, Hickory Point Golf Course, Decatur, Ill., Greg Foley, superintendent.

June 25-28 — European Tour, BMW International Open, Golfclub München Eichenried, Munich, Germany.

June 30 — Summer Field Day, Eagle Creek Golf Course, Dunrobin, Ontario, Canada.

Phone: 519-767-3341 Website: www.ogsa.ca

June 18-21 — PGA Tour, U.S. Open,

June 26-28 — LPGA, Walmart NW

July 14 — Purdue Turf & Landscape

Chambers Bay, University Place, Wash., Josh Lewis, superintendent; Eric Johnson, director of agronomy.

Arkansas Championship presented by P&G, Pinnacle Country Club, Rogers, Ark., Winston Turpin, superintendent.

Field Day, Daniel Turf Center, West Lafayette, Ind. Phone: 765-494-8039 Website: www.agry.purdue.edu

June 19-21 — Symetra Tour, Four

June 26-28 — Symetra Tour, Island

Winds Invitational, Blackthorn Golf Club, South Bend, Ind., John Quickstad, GCSAA Class A superintendent.

Resort Championship, Sweetgrass Golf Club, Harris, Mich., John Holberton, GCSAA Class A superintendent.

June 25-28 — PGA Tour, Travelers Championship, TPC River Highlands, Cromwell, Conn., Thomas DeGrandi, GCSAA Class A director of golf course maintenance operations.

GCSAA Class A superintendent.

COMING UP June 6 — The Future of Golf,

Jun 25-28 — Champions Tour, U.S. Senior Open Championship, Del Paso Country Club, Sacramento, Calif., Mark McKinney, CGCS.

The Falls Country Club, Lake Worth, Fla. Phone: 800-732-6053 Website: www.pbgcsa.org

June 17 — Gulf Coast Turfgrass June 25-28 — Web.com Tour, Air Capital Classic presented by Aetna, Crestview Country Club, Chad Stearns,

Research Field Day & Expo, West Florida Research & Education Center, Jay, Fla. Phone: 334-821-3000

Golf Club, Scottsdale, Ariz.

Phone: 480-609-6778 Website: www.cactusandpine.org

July 23 — Iowa Turfgrass Field Day, Horticulture Research Station, Ames, Iowa.

Phone: 515-635-0306 Website: www.iowagcsa.org July 28-29— Rutgers Turfgrass Field Day Website: www.golfturf.rutgers.edu

July 15 — UMass Field Day, Joseph Troll Turf Research Center, S. Deerfeld, Mass. https://extension.umass.edu/turf/research/ umass-turf-research-feld-day

July 30 — Purdue Lawncare Diagnostic Training, Daniel Turf Center, West Lafayette, Ind. Phone: 765-494-8039 Website: www.agry.purdue.edu

July 15 — Field Day Classic, Ballard Aug. 11 — OTF Field Day,

Country Club, Huxley, Iowa.

Phone: 515-635-0306 Website: www.iowagcsa.org

July 16 — University of Kentucky Turf Research Field Day, Lexington, Ky. Phone: 859-257-5606 Website: www.uky.edu

July 21 — Lakes, Ponds, Pump

OTF Research & Education Facility, Columbus, Ohio.

Phone: 614-285-4683 Website: www.ohioturfgrass.org

Aug. 25 — Mississippi State Turfgrass Field Day, Starkville, Miss.

Email: jmccurdy@pss.msstate.edu Phone: 662-325-2331

Stations, Oh No! Seminar, Gainey Ranch

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——— To learn whether you can receive education points for any of these upcoming programs, visit the External Education Listings in the education section at www.gcsaa.org/ education/externaled/current.aspx.

(In the field)

Central Plains Steve Randall d lll Thirty representatives from 25 affiliated chapters sharpenedd their h i leadership skills at the 2015 Chapter Leader/Executive Symposium, March 24-25 at GCSAA headquarters in Lawrence, Kan. This year, GCSAA President John J. O’Keefe, CGCS; Vice President Peter J. Grass, CGCS; and GCSAA’s newest board member, Kevin P. Breen, CGCS, participated in the first day of the program. The symposium is funded in part by the Williams Leadership Endowment Fund through the Environmental Institute for Golf. This annual event is limited to 25 chapters that send a volunteer leader and association staff member. The program is intended to strengthen each chapter’s leadership team, build on successes and learn new concepts and ideas to support chapter effectiveness. The attendees do this by participating in sessions focused on a broad segment of volunteer and association management topics with plenty of time to network with their peers from around the country. GCSAA staff also highlighted the various ways the national association can assist in chapter operations. In addition, the attendees broke off into separate groups focused on issues related to region and role. O’Keefe welcomed the attendees to the event by highlighting GCSAA’s dedication to its mission and vision. He emphasized that the relationships GCSAA has with its chapters are critical to the overall success of the association. He went on to brief the attendees on the next steps with the member standards initiative. J.D. Dockstader, chief business development officer, stressed the importance GCSAA staff place on the mission and vision of the association. They aren’t just words on paper; GCSAA uses them as a filter before moving forward with any initiative or program. Dockstader’s final words to the attendees were to say that GCSAA would be just a small part of the program – the participants should be prepared to learn from one another. “8 Laws of Leadership,” a two-hour presentation by Jack Litzelfelner, president of Jack Litz Consulting, was the keynote address.

Litzelfelner engaged the group in an interactive session focusing not only on his laws of leadership, but also on what skills and attitudes go into being an effective leader.

Southwest Jeff Jensen

The California golf industry understands the magnitude of the state’s current water crisis, and our facilities fully intend to cooperate with Gov. Jerry Brown’s executive order issued April 1, 2015.

However, time-day-of-the-week restrictions on irrigation are an ineffective way to meet conservation goals and obtain the most out of the limited water that is available. Golf industry water conservation task forces have been formed throughout California in response to time and dayof-the-week restrictions that were unworkable for the golf industry. These task forces developed protocols to sell the value of allowing “large landscapes” to meet water conservation mandates in a manner consistent with sound business practices. These practices would allow golf courses, parks and cemeteries to reduce consumption while retaining 100 percent control over irrigation practices – an “alternative means of compliance” (AMC) – without being restricted to watering only on certain days of the week and only during certain hours of those days. In return for the easing of restrictions, participating large landscapes would be required to achieve greater water use reduction (typically 5 percent) than other water users (for a list of examples of why time-and day-of-the-week restrictions are inefficient, see the full blog post at http://gcsaa-southwest.blogspot.com/2015/04/california-addresses-irrigation-timing.html). Gov. Brown’s most recent mandate does not prohibit the use of alternative strategies to achieve requisite conservation requirements, and the golf industry urges water providers to explore various alternative means of compliance documents that have achieved desired or greater than desired results across the state on golf courses and other large landscapes. If your facility is interested in viewing an AMC document, please contact me at jjensen@gcsaa.org.

For the latest blog posts from all of GCSAA’s feld staff representatives, visit www.gcsaa.org/ community/regions.aspx.

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——— We want to know about your event in advance. To submit an entry for “Coming Up,” please send your information fve to six months before you’d like to see it in the magazine. We run event information for three months. Send a contact name if all details are not fnal. Contact Golf Course Management, Attention: Coming Up, 1421 Research Park Drive, Lawrence, KS 66049-3859; 785832-3638; fax: 785-832-3665; email: hrichman@gcsaa.org.

ON THE MOVE ALABAMA Jason Childres, formerly (C) at Peninsula Golf and Racquet Club, is now (C) at Lakewood Golf Course in Phenix City.

Heath Puckett, CGCS, formerly (A) at Cypress Lakes Golf & Tennis Facility, is now (A) at City of Decatur in Decatur.

ARIZONA Christopher W. Bourn, formerly (C) at Southern Dunes Golf Club, is now (C) at Whirlwind Golf Club in Chandler.

Paul C. Hallock, formerly (A) at El Conquistador Country Club, is now (A) at Pusch Ridge Golf Course in Tucson.

Brad S. Seiler, formerly (A) at Geronimo Course at The Desert Mountain Club, is now (A) at Desert Mountain Club Inc. in Scottsdale.

Derek S. Stanley, formerly (A) at Cypress Creek Country Club, is now (A) at Pueblo del Sol Country Club in Sierra Vista.

Nicholas J. von Wiegen, formerly (S) at Rutgers University/Cook College, is now (C) at TPC of Scottsdale in Scottsdale.

CALIFORNIA Daniel A. Giammona, CGCS, formerly (A) at Skywest Golf Course, is now (A) at Hayward Area Rec Park District in Hayward.

Tyson Holm, formerly (Supt. Mbr.) at Greg Norman Course at PGA West Stadium Clubhouse, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Avondale Golf Club in Palm Desert.

Delmar L. Israel III, formerly (C) at Fenway Golf Club, is now (C) at Rancho La Quinta Country Club in La Quinta.

Daniel A. James, formerly (C) at Peninsula Golf & Country Club, is now (C) at Stanford University Golf Course in Stanford.

Peder E. Rauen, formerly (Supt. Mbr.) at Arrowhead Country Club, is now (Supt.

Mbr.) at The Bridges Golf Club in San Ramon.

Patrick J. Ringenberger, formerly (A) at BallenIsles Country Club, is now (A) at Silverado Country Club & Resort in Napa.

Michael S. Williams, formerly (A) at Whittier Narrows Golf Course, is now (A) at Hidden Valley Golf Course in Norco.

COLORADO Colton L. Donahue, formerly (C) at Cherry Creek Country Club, is now (C) at Highlands Ranch Golf Club in Littleton.

Justin R. Janke, formerly (A) at Pueblo Del Sol Country Club, is now (A) at The Black Bear Golf Club in Parker.

Alex J. Kosel, formerly (C) at Broadmoor Golf Club, is now (C) at Coal Creek Golf Course in Louisville.

Justin M. Lee, formerly (SW) at Kansas State University, is now (C) at Beaver Creek Golf Club in Avon.

John R. Waddle, formerly (C) at The Black Bear Golf Club, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Blackstone Country Club in Aurora.

CONNECTICUT Gregory E. Rotter, formerly (C) at Redding Country Club, is now (C) at The Stanwich Club in Greenwich.

Ryan P. Segrue, formerly (Supt. Mbr.) at Longshore Club Park, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Shorehaven Golf Club in Trumbull.

DISTRICT of COLUMBIA Drew A. Matera, formerly (Supt. Mbr.) at East Potomac Park Golf Course, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Golf Course Specialists Inc. in Washington, D.C. FLORIDA Raymond V. Adams, formerly (C) at Lost Tree Club, is now (C) at Indianwood Golf & Country Club in Indiantown.

Anthony J. Baur, formerly (A) at Atlantic Beach Country Club, is now (A) at St. Johns Golf and Country Club in St. Augustine.

Peter L. Bowman, CGCS, formerly (AFCR) at Jacobsen West, is now (AA) at Helena in Tampa.

Rob Crisp, formerly (C) at Boca Country Club, is now (C) at Calusa Pines Golf Club in Naples.

Justin R. Henderson, formerly (C) at Augusta National Golf Club, is now (C) at Timuquana Country Club in Jacksonville.

Matthew B. Hill, CGCS, formerly (A) at OneSource Landscape & Golf Services Inc., is now (A) at ABM Golf Services in Tampa.

Paul D. Illgen, formerly (A) at Water Oak Country Club Estates, is now (A) at Silverthorn Country Club in Spring Hill.

Charles M. Lewison, CGCS, formerly (A) at Westfeld Golf Club, is now (A) at Saddlebrook Resort in Wesley Chapel.

Ryan W. Murphy, formerly (C) at Boca West Country Club, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Boca West Country Club in Boca Raton.

Chris O’Hare, formerly (I), is now (C) at Legacy Golf Club in Bradenton.

Justin Pawlicki, formerly (C) at Rogers Park Golf Course, is now (C) at Crescent Oaks Country Club in Orlando.

David W. Pitkins Jr., formerly (Supt.

Mbr.) at Majors Golf Club at Bayside Lakes, is now (A) at Ocala Golf Club in Ocala.

Sean P. Plummer, formerly (C) at Juliette Falls Golf Club, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Summerglen Country Club in Ocala.

Jacob A. Reagan, formerly (C) at Forest Glen Country Club, is now (C) at Hideout Golf Club in Naples.

Shawn D. Sheridan, CGCS, formerly (A) at IMG Golf and Country Club, is now (A) at NAS Jacksonville Golf Club in Jacksonville.

GEORGIA Kyle M. McFarland, formerly (Supt. Mbr.) at Hooch Golf Club, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Peachtree Family Golf Center in Duluth.

Ken Sanvidge, formerly (Supt. Mbr.) at Turtle Cove Golf Course, is now (Supt.

Mbr.) at Little Fishing Creek Golf Course in Milledgeville.

IDAHO Brandon Bubar, formerly (A) at Boise Ranch Golf Course, is now (A) at Coeur d’Alene Golf Club in Coeur d’Alene.

ILLINOIS Bill E. Ahlstedt, formerly (A) at White Deer Run Golf Course, is now (A) at Deer Path Golf Course in Lake Forest.

Sandra L. Bemis, formerly (A) at Renwood Country Club, is now (A) at Renwood Country Club in Round Lake.

Dan Crumrine, formerly (A) at Lincoln Greens Golf Course, is now (A) at Springfeld Park District in Springfeld.

John Ekstrom, formerly (Supt. Mbr.) at Mill Creek Country Club, is now (Supt.

Mbr.) at Indian Boundary Golf Course in Chicago.

Ed Esgar, formerly (A) at Woodbine Golf Course, is now (A) at Ruffed Feathers Golf Club in Lemont.

Brett E. Gutekunst, formerly (A) at Sydney R. Marovitz Golf Course, is now (A) at Chicago Park District in Chicago.

Andrew Paxton, formerly (C) at Olympia Fields Country Club, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Olympia Fields Country Club in Olympia Fields.

Michael J. Rayman, CGCS, formerly (A) at Weibring Golf Club at Illinois State Uni-

versity, is now (A) at University of Illinois Golf Course in Savoy.

David C. Schmeisser, formerly (C) at Woodhill Country Club, is now (C) at North Shore Country Club in Glenview.

Daniel E. Stahl, formerly (A) at Highland Woods Golf Course, is now (A) at Orchard Valley Golf Course in Aurora.

Brian D. Stout, formerly (Supt. Mbr.) at Edgewood Valley Country Club, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Arboretum Golf Course in Buffalo Grove.

Reynaldo Tijerina, formerly (Supt. Mbr.) at Cardinal Creek Golf Course, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Manteno Golf Club in Manteno.

Tyler D. Wesseldyk, formerly (C) at Nassau Country Club, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Cog Hill Golf and Country Club in Lemont.

IOWA Matt Hall, formerly (A) at Indian Hills Country Club, is now (A) at Burlington Golf Club in Burlington.

Luke T. Maddox, formerly (SW) at University of Nebraska-Lincoln, is now (C) at

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LOUISIANA Brian Mull, formerly (A) at Southern Pines Golf Club-Pines Course, is now (A) at The Farm d’Allie Golf Club in Lafayette.

MARYLAND Paul E. Masimore, CGCS, formerly (A) at Pine Rock Golf Club, is now (A) at Night Hawk Golf Center in Gambrills.

MASSACHUSETTS John J. Allen Jr., formerly (A) at Pine Meadows Golf Club, is now (A) at New England Golf Corp. in Westwood.

MINNESOTA Michael J. Radermacher, formerly (SW) at University of Nebraska-Lincoln, is now (AS) at Wayzata Country Club in Wayzata.

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KANSAS Christopher Benisch, formerly (Supt.

Mbr.) at Meadowbrook Golf & Country Club, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Deer Creek Golf Course in Leawood.

Kerry Golden, formerly (Supt. Mbr.) at Lake Shawnee Golf Course, is now (Supt.

Mbr.) at Forbes Public Golf Course in Topeka.

MICHIGAN Marc Chappell, formerly (C) at Battle Creek Country Club, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Island Hills Golf Club in Sturgis.

Adam T. Hahn, formerly (C) at Hawk Hollow Golf Course, is now (C) at Eagle Eye Golf Club in Bath.

Kenneth A. Kallberg, formerly (C) at Lake Michigan Hills Golf Course, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Blossom Trails Golf Club in Benton Harbor.

Cory C. Seedorf, formerly (A) at Oakhurst Golf and Country Club, is now (A) at Huntmore Golf Club in Brighton.

Shayne S. Skolnik, CGCS, formerly (A) at Mystic Creek Golf Club, is now (A) at Lyon Oaks Golf Course in Wixom.

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MISSOURI Kyle N. Bettlach, formerly (C) at Forest Park Golf Club, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Union Hills Golf Course in Pevely.

Ryan J. Hanlen, formerly (S) at Rutgers University/Cook College, is now (C) at The Country Club of St. Albans in St. Albans.

MONTANA Tyler M. Cross, formerly (Supt. Mbr.) at Mission Mountain Country Club, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Trestle Creek Golf Course in St. Regis.

NEBRASKA John D. Borcher, formerly (C) at Himark Golf Course, is now (C) at Arbor Links in Nebraska City.

Kyle Kreklow, formerly (C) at Maidstone Club, is now (C) at Sand Hills Golf Club in Mullen.

Stephen R. Prasch, formerly (C) at Players Club at Deer Creek, is now (C) at Platteview Country Club in Bellevue.

Jay Tussing, formerly (A) at Holmes Park Golf Course, is now (A) at Mahoney Golf Course in Lincoln.

NEVADA Mitchell R. Jonas, formerly (Supt. Mbr.) at Hidden Valley Country Club, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Lake Ridge Golf Course in Reno.

Donald S. Sutton, formerly (A) at Royal Links Golf Club, is now (A) at Desert Rose Golf Course in Las Vegas.

NEW JERSEY Jerry L. Elliott Jr., formerly (S) at Rutgers University/Cook College, is now (C) at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfeld.

Alex D. Kierstead, formerly (C) at Panther Valley Golf & Country Club, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Panther Valley Golf & Country Club in Allamuchy.

John Marshall, formerly (C) at Neshanic Valley Golf Course, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Quail Brook Golf Course in Neshanic Station.

Jeff J. Truskowski, formerly (A) at Canoe Brook Country Club, is now (A) at Seton Hall University in South Orange.

NEW MEXICO Aaron J. Taylor, formerly (C) at Teton Springs Resort and Club, is now (C) at Santa Ana Golf Club in Bernalillo.

NEW YORK Donald W. Bloom, formerly (Supt. Mbr.) at Penfeld Country Club, is now (Supt.

Mbr.) at Durand-Eastman Park Golf Course in Rochester.

Christopher Cartini, formerly (Supt.

Mbr.) at Beaver Meadows Golf Club, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Yahnundasis Golf Club in New Hartford.

Keith Eilertsen, formerly (C) at Hamilton

Farm Golf Club, is now (C) at Bellevue Country Club in Syracuse.

Joseph Lash, formerly (C) at Hopewell Valley Golf Course, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Saratoga Lake Golf Club in Saratoga Springs.

Chris O’Malley, formerly (C) at Wykagyl Country Club, is now (C) at Fenway Golf Club in Scarsdale.

Nicholas J. Pentz, formerly (C) at Oakwood Country Club, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Deerfeld Country Club in Brockport.

NORTH CAROLINA Scott A. Clawson, formerly (Supt. Mbr.) at Seven Lakes Golf Club, is now (Supt.

Mbr.) at Prestonwood Country Club in Cary.

Matthew Haynes, formerly (C) at Cliffs Valley Golf Course, is now (C) at Biltmore Forest Country Club in Asheville.

Chris D. Hussey, formerly (C) at The Virginian Golf Club, is now (C) at TPC Piper Glen in Charlotte.

OHIO Andrew Grau, formerly (C) at Miami Whitewater Forest Golf Course, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Miami Whitewater Forest Golf Club in Harrison.

Scott M. Kayla, formerly (Supt. Mbr.) at Mill Creek Park Golf Course, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Pine Ridge Country Club in Wickliffe.

OREGON Ryder Underwood, formerly (C) at Whisper Creek Golf Club, is now (C) at Forest Hills Country Club in Cornelius.

PENNSYLVANIA Joshua J. Fuhrman, formerly (C) at Caves Valley Golf Club, is now (Supt.

Mbr.) at Patriots Glen National Golf Club in Glenmoore.

Jeffrey A. Green, formerly (A) at Valley Green Golf Course, is now (A) at Carlisle Barracks Golf Course in Carlisle.

Greg Iversen, formerly (C) at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, is now (Supt.

Mbr.) at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Farmington.

Tom L. Kintzer, formerly (A) at Iron Valley Golf Club, is now (A) at Pine Meadows Golf Club in Lebanon.

Ryan Short, formerly (Supt. Mbr.) at Cardinal Hills Golf Course, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Jackson Valley Golf Club in Warren.

Matthew Weaver, CGCS, formerly (AF) at Petro-Canada Lubricants Inc., is now (AF)

at Intelligro in Pittsburgh.

Matthew K. Wolf, formerly (A) at Yahnundasis Golf Club, is now (A) at Penn State University Department of Landscapes in University Park.

SOUTH CAROLINA Steve M. Currie, formerly (C) at Willow Creek Golf Course, is now (C) at The Carolina Country Club in Spartanburg.

Matthew S. Graves, formerly (C) at Farmstead Golf Links, is now (C) at Country Club of Hilton Head in Hilton Head Island.

Bryson Stinson, formerly (A) at Little River Golf Course, is now (A) at White Plains Country Club in Pageland.

TENNESSEE Shaune Achurch, formerly (C) at East Lake Golf Club, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at The Governors Club in Brentwood.

Kizer S. Clemmer, formerly (Supt.

Mbr.) at Ridgeway Country Club, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at The Links at Audubon in Memphis.

TEXAS Thomas D. Brown, formerly (C) at Lochinvar Golf Club, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Miramont Country Club in Bryan.

Brian Daniel, CGCS, formerly (AA) at Target Specialty Products, is now (AA) at Aqua-Aid Inc. in Lubbock.

Matthew T. Light, formerly (Supt. Mbr.) at Texas A&M Golf Course, is now (Supt.

Mbr.) at Miramont Country Club in Bryan.

Corbin D. Miller, formerly (C) at Fazio Foothills Course at Barton Creek, is now (C) at Austin Golf Club in Spicewood.

Loren Moulder, formerly (AF) at Direct Solutions, is now (AF) at Agricen in Prosper.

VERMONT Brendan Flynn, formerly (C) at Breakfast Hill Golf Course, is now (C) at Jay Peak Golf Course in North Troy.

VIRGINIA Jeremy Bailey, formerly (C) at Cypress Point Country Club, is now (C) at Elizabeth Manor Golf & Country Club in Portsmouth.

Chris L. Dieter, formerly (C) at Fauquier Springs Country Club, is now (A) at Blue Ridge Shadows Golf Course in Front Royal.

Timothy M. Doran, formerly (C) at Ballyneal Golf and Hunt Club, is now (C) at The Princess Anne Country Club in Virginia Beach.

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Chadwick W. Karr, formerly (C) at The Westham Golf Club at Magnolia Green, is now (C) at Manakin Course at Hermitage Country Club in Manakin Sabot.

James L. Leach, formerly (A) at The Lambert’s Point Golf Course, is now (A) at Hell’s Point Golf Club in Virginia Beach.

Kevin D. Moore, formerly (A) at Stoney Creek Golf Course at Wintergreen Resort, is now (A) at Cascades Course at The Homestead Resort in Hot Springs.

Timothy R. Wolfe, formerly (C) at Hermitage Country Club, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Hermitage Country Club in Manakin Sabot.

WASHINGTON Nick Magnuson, formerly (AS) at Sand Point Country Club, is now (AS) at Glendale Country Club in Bellevue.

Justin K. Ren, formerly (C) at The Golf Club at Newcastle, is now (C) at White Horse Golf Club in Kingston.

WEST VIRGINIA Phillip Fetzner, formerly (A) at Parkersburg Country Club, is now (A) at Lakeview Golf Resort and Spa in Morgantown.

WISCONSIN Kyle J. Anderson, formerly (C) at Sterling Country Club at Houston National, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Edgerton Towne Country Club in Edgerton.

Brian Johnson, formerly (S) at Penn State University-World Campus, is now (C) at Geneva National Golf Club in Lake Geneva.

Samuel Linkert, formerly (C) at Deacons Lodge Golf Course, is now (C) at Bristol Ridge Golf Course in Somerset.

Derek J. Loda, formerly (C) at St. Georges Golf & Country Club, is now (C) at Straits Course at Whistling Straits in Sheboygan.

Kendall L. Marquardt, CGCS Retired, formerly (AA), is now (AA) at Wisconsin GCSA in Waupaca.

Todd J. Mott, formerly (C) at Hillcrest Golf Club of St. Paul, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Bristol Ridge Golf Course in Somerset.

University/Cook College, is now (C) at TPC at Baha Mar in Nassau.

CANADA Rick Buttenham, formerly (ISM) at Marlwood Golf and Country Club, is now (ISM) at The Links at Dover Coast in Port Dover, Ontario.

Andrew G. Krek, formerly (C) at Dundas Valley Golf & Curling Club, is now (C) at Rosedale Golf Club in Toronto, Ontario.

Gregory P. Quinn, formerly (C) at Rivermead Golf Club, is now (C) at Rideau View Golf Club in Manotick, Ontario.

COLOMBIA Alberto M. Valenzuela, formerly (ISM) at ECOGOLF, is now (ISM) at TPC Cartagena at Karibana in Bolivar.

THAILAND Brad Revill, formerly (ISM) at The Empire Hotel & Country Club, is now (ISM) at Nikanti Golf Club in Nakhon Pathom.

UNITED KINGDOM Eric Olson, formerly (ISM) at Royal Automobile Club, is now (ISM) at Beaverbrook Golf Club in Leatherhead, Surrey, England.

Editor’s note: The information in this report was pulled from GCSAA’s member database on April 28, 2015.

NEW MEMBERS ALABAMA Eric Bridges, EM, Birmingham Gregory S. Fischer, Class C, Birmingham Richard Goranson, EM, Loxley Dennis M. Griffn, EM, Alexander City Mike Griffn, EM, Alexander City Mark Lemoine, EM, Sylacauga Patrick S. Odell, EM, Loxley ARIZONA John Boughton, EM, Scottsdale Jim Pratt, EM, Scottsdale Jonathon Totherow, EM, Sedona

AUSTRALIA Rodney Tatt, formerly (ISM) at Woodlands Golf Course, is now (ISM) at Yarra Yarra Golf Club in Victoria.

ARKANSAS Mike Hales, EM, Rogers Richard L. Woodall, Class C, El Dorado

BAHAMAS Renaldo Rolle, formerly (S) at Rutgers

CALIFORNIA Ryan Belliston, Class C, Diamond Bar

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GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT 06.15

George Contreras, EM, Tarzana Robbie Crawford, EM, Sacramento Osmel Garcia, EM, Calabasas David Herrick, EM, Stanford Matt Kruells, EM, Seal Beach Jefferson Lumaquin, EM, South San Francisco Adrian Maldonado, EM, Bakersfeld Jared K. Omaha, Class C, Arcata Alfredo Pacheco, EM, Oceanside Steve R. Priest, EM, Murrieta Richard O. Sparrow, EM, Milpitas COLORADO Brian Adamson, EM, Denver Chase D. Brown, Class C, Larkspur David Case, EM, Greeley Terry D. Cochran, EM, Breckenridge Travis Delgman, EM, Basalt Blake G. Elwood, EM, Morrison William J. Huber, EM, Littleton John Hyde, EM, Grand Junction Jim McElroy, EM, Edwards Billy Miller, EM, Littleton James Moore, EM, Aurora Allan C. Peters, EM, Edwards Chad A. Rogers, EM, Firestone Donald Steel, EM, Colorado Springs Jason M. Tompkins, EM, Aurora Jim Tyler, EM, Denver Carol A. Winegarden, Affliate, Castle Rock CONNECTICUT Wesley J. D’Angelo, Class C, Darien Mike Mchugh, EM, Darien David S. Snyder, EM, Fairfeld Thomas M. Zabel, EM, North Stonington DELAWARE Alan Hill, EM, Newark John A. Lermond, Class C, Wilmington Charles T. Lonergan, Class C, Wilmington FLORIDA Jeremy C. Allen, EM, Ponte Vedra Beach Andrew Stephen Boyce, EM, Jupiter Kyle D. Brooks, Supt. Mbr., Brooksville Michael E. Chickrell, Class C, Fort Myers Luke Clay, Class C, West Palm Beach Dino C. Cornello, EM, Delray Beach Scott Crisp, EM, Jupiter Gary Crowe, EM, Sarasota Levi Cunningham, EM, Tallahassee Joseph P. Dillard, Supt. Mbr., Miami Dallas Dupont, EM, Sebastian, Mike J. Garrison, EM, Boca Raton Max Johnson, EM, Bonita Springs

Cecil Kalebaugh, EM, Orlando Chris P. Kramer, EM, Bonita Springs William T. Leonard, EM, Port Charlotte Paul Ludwig, Supt. Mbr., Miami Beach Joe A. Metzger, EM, Miramar Beach David C. Milam, EM, Saint Johns Scott Minick, EM, Spring Hill Joshua M. Newman, Class C, Davenport Joseph K. Osentowski, EM, Boca Raton Danny Parnell, EM, Sarasota Eric Pietro, EM, Jupiter Josh Reiter, EM, Bradenton Branden L. Rheinschmidt, Class C, Naples Mark Sampson, EM, The Villages Douglas Erik Smith, EM, Naples Terry L. Weber, EM, Naples Gary Wolff, EM, Palm City Jason R. Ziegler, EM, Osprey GEORGIA Patrick Drinkard, EM, Suwanee Jordan T. DuPont, Student, Athens Fred O. Hartenstein, EM, Augusta Wesley Holsenbeck, EM, Marietta Glenn Johnson, EM, Greensboro Sean Maher, EM, Toccoa Kenneth B. Miles, Supt. Mbr., Augusta Mark Nicodemus, EM, Braselton Cory Phillips, EM, Roswell James B. Pledger, EM, Rome Scott A. Redstrom, EM, Hoschton Brandon Wiggins, EM, Forsyth HAWAII Kyle Takushi, Class C, Wailuku IDAHO Steven Foster, EM, Boise ILLINOIS Ron Bradley, EM, Quincy Jeff Cholewa, EM, Northbrook Adam C. Goedde, Student, Mattoon Sean M. Lundin, Student, Champaign John Pokarney, EM, Normal Michael Schapals, EM, Cary Jory Schmitt, EM, Mundelein Matt R. Schopp, Supt. Mbr., Le Roy Chris J. Snyder, EM, Peoria Scott Tussey, Supt. Mbr., Lawrenceville INDIANA Michael E. Berning, Supt. Mbr., Goshen Jeff Lechner, EM, Evansville Mitchell K. Orsburn, EM, Valparaiso IOWA Erich Berry, EM, Polk City

Dan Herberg, EM, Davenport Chris Horton, EM, West Des Moines KANSAS Michael L. Benedict, EM, Paola Matt Edmonds, EM, Olathe John Overby, EM, Overland Park Mark A. Price, EM, Lenexa Joseph J. Rufenacht, Student, Manhattan Todd A. Young, EM, Mission Hills

MINNESOTA Ralph M. Arnt, EM, Chaska Brian L. Buerman, EM, Minneapolis Chris Carpenter, EM, Minneapolis Jon Domning, EM, St. Paul Thomas J. Fish, Class C, Owatonna Jeff Hall, EM, Medina Rick A. LaPorte, EM, Lake Elmo Jeff J. Lyons, EM, Eden Prairie Joseph R. Walker, Class C, McGregor Robert Wohlhuter, Class C, Byron

KENTUCKY Vincent K. Elliott, EM, Simpsonville Gabe Townsend, EM, Paducah

MISSISSIPPI Charles Moenning, EM, Madison Verne D. Smith, EM, Olive Branch

LOUISIANA Douglas W. Martin, Class C, New Orleans

MISSOURI Kevin Byfeld, EM, Springfeld Dave Depp, EM, St. Louis Kyle Duvall, EM, Augusta Jim McCool, EM, Town and Country Steven Priest, EM, St. Albans Ryan M. Wilmes, EM, St. Louis Steve C. Wright, EM, St. Louis

MAINE Dennis Blackwell Jr., EM, Auburn MARYLAND Jerry Ashby, EM, Potomac Ron Gilbert, EM, Poolesville Daniel R. Haxton, EM, Edgewater John R. Jones Jr., EM, Edgewater Joseph S. Jordan, EM, Essex Tom J. King, Supt. Mbr., Quantico Dave Loughrey, EM, Beltsville Ken Marshall, EM, Bishopville Christopher B. Meals, EM, Berlin Bill Shorts, EM, St. Michaels Brett A. Snyder, Class C, Baltimore MASSACHUSETTS Peter Bedini, EM, Weston Albert Blythe, EM, Ludlow Rob Campbell, EM, Brewster Brandon Cooper, EM, Chestnut Hill Sam Lourenco, EM, Weston Stephen G. Lucas, EM, South Hamilton Mike Marotta, EM, Yarmouth Port Mark J. McSeveney, EM, Milton Brian McSweeney, EM, South Easton Alan Roberts, EM, Newton Center Richard C. Ross, EM, Siasconset Brian M. Smith, EM, North Falmouth MICHIGAN Chris Adler, EM, Bloomfeld Hills Christopher l. Crawford, EM, Grosse Pointe Farms Dan Darling, EM, Roscommon Steve Gapske, EM, Alpena Aaron Gidcomb, Class C, South Lyon Paul Grayson, EM, Traverse City Scott M. Sievers, EM, Bloomfeld Hills

MONTANA Robert Aisenbrey, EM, Billings NEBRASKA Dan Daly, EM, Mullen Chris J. Fujan, EM, Lincoln NEVADA Shane D. Allen, EM, Henderson Dave Spease, EM, Las Vegas Oscar Tejeda, EM, Las Vegas

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06.15 GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT

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NEW YORK Lawrence Arena Sr., EM, East Hampton Matthew G. Bennett, EM, Campbell Hall Erick Brissing, EM, Stony Point Sean W. Brownson, EM, Farmingdale Daniel Cocuzzi, EM, Fishers Kurt Conyer, Class C, Southampton Anthony J. Falzone Sr., EM, Rye Maxwell W. Ginty, Class C, Chenango Forks Bret Hart, EM, Verona Thomas Lewis, EM, East Meadow Ron J. McNaughton, Class C, Rye Travis M. Meagher, Class C, Verona James Moro, EM, Garden City Michael Stevens, EM, Clinton JR M. Wilson, EM, Sag Harbor NORTH CAROLINA Preston Burl, EM, Cary Brian J. Coleman, EM, Raleigh Christopher S. Cowan, Student, Raleigh Eric Duncanson, EM, Southern Pines Donald Gunther, EM, Wilmington Jonathan F. Hammer, Student, Hickory Frankie Kimberlin, EM, Raleigh William B. Laine, Student, Pinehurst Nathan M. Martin, Class C, Cashiers Joshua I. Paris, EM, Bald Head Island Travis Scott, Supt. Mbr., Huntersville Keith M. Welter, Student, Pinehurst NORTH DAKOTA Daniel Franz, EM, Medora Troy Schoenwald, EM, Fargo Chad D. Wiegman, EM, Fargo OHIO Todd S. Finical, Class C, Maumee Joseph G. Frampton, Student, Columbus Lance C. Gorby, Associate, Dublin Christopher E. Iles, EM, Columbus Bob J. Lanstrum, EM, Highland Heights Brad Swartz, EM, Columbus

OKLAHOMA Mitchell Pierce, EM, Owasso Yanqi Wu, Ph.D., Educator, Stillwater

SOUTH DAKOTA Thomas McGovern, EM, Sioux Falls Michael D. Zacher Sr., EM, Rapid City

OREGON Jordan C. Allen, Class C, Springfeld Jim Doyle, EM, Bend Jason S. Groshong, EM, Salem Erik E. Howard, EM, Bend Jarett W. Lower, Class C, Bandon Joseph N. Seevers, Class C, Sunriver

TENNESSEE Andy Gasparini, EM, Nashville Mike Russell, EM, Springfeld William T. Watson, EM, Knoxville

PENNSYLVANIA Larry Bechdel, Class C, State College Craig Cassaday, EM, Flourtown Rick Dantonio, EM, Malvern Michael D. Dillonaire, EM, Bethlehem Mathew V. Figley, Student, University Park Eric M. Junkins, Class C, Bethlehem Deron L. Koontz, EM, Ligonier Andy Madison, EM, Bradford Jeff Moore, EM, Blakeslee Matthew J. Mount, Class C, Chadds Ford Cory N. Weigel, Class C, Chadds Ford

TEXAS William J. Atkinson, EM, Rockwall Melchor Avalos, EM, Odessa Logan G. Behrens, Class C, Huntsville Dustin M. Costello, EM, Boerne Jeff A. Jamnik, EM, Grand Prairie Jerry Kara, EM, Grand Prairie Gregory Neill, EM, Irving Dale Smith, EM, Fort Worth UTAH Spencer Jorgensen, EM, Sandy VERMONT Shawn D. Anderson, EM, Stowe Doug Spofford, EM, Shelburne

RHODE ISLAND George Borges, EM, East Greenwich Dave Strate, EM, North Kingstown

VIRGINIA John Foster, EM, Williamsburg Jay A. Keith, Supt. Mbr., Disputanta Meghan L. McLain, Class C, Newport News

SOUTH CAROLINA Michael C. Allmon, EM, Bluffton Dan Barnes, EM, Bluffton Anthony J. Bevolo, EM, Bluffton Tom Brown, EM, Columbia William L. Davis, EM, Easley Bobby Garrett, EM, Clemson Aaron J. Hoyle, EM, Greenville David Prekop, EM, Beaufort Bobby Simpson, EM, Fort Jackson Dave Tapp, EM, Eastover

WASHINGTON Adam J. Benishek, Student, Pullman Louis W. Boudreau, EM, Snoqualmie Ridge Linc Cannon, Supt. Mbr., Snohomish Ian C. Jansen, Class C, Bellingham Dean A. Owen, EM, Sammamish Rick Smith, EM, Medina Shawn Vetterick, Supt. Mbr., Royal City WISCONSIN Terry Benson, EM, Hudson

Richard P. Hamann, Class C, Prairie du Sac Timothy D. Johnson, EM, Wisconsin Rapids AUSTRALIA Harley S. Copeland, EM, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales Philip Newton, EM, Bli Bli, Queensland Rick Raison, EM, Karrinyup, Western Australia Mark Stephens, EM, Cranbourne South, Victoria Adam Thompson, EM, Oakleigh, Victoria CANADA Jason Bachhofer, EM, Richmond Hill, Ontario Adam J. Bedell, EM, Burlington, Ontario Terry Bond, EM, Canmore, Alberta Rod Clark, EM, Red Deer, Alberta Owen R. Clayton, EM, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan Marvin D. Doerksen, EM, Headingly, Manitoba Bruce Elliott, EM, Starbuck, Manitoba Dan Ens, Class EM, Gravenhurst, Ontario Jason Fleming, EM, Calabogie, Ontario John Hammond, EM, Utterson, Ontario Fred Hannington, EM, Guelph, Ontario Quinton Harasemchuk, EM, Kamloops, British Columbia Kevin A. Hennigar, EM, Markham, Ontario Brian R. Hughes, EM, Fort McMurray, Alberta Jon W. Jackman, EM, Warman, Saskatchewan Jayson E. Jackson, Student, Guelph, Ontario Bill R. Januszweski, EM, West Vancouver, British Columbia Raymond R. Joyce, EM, Toronto, Ontario Mark A. Kay, ISM, Elliot Lake, Ontario

John Kretz, EM, Calgary, Alberta Merv Lovie, EM, Priddis, Alberta Steve Lowe, Class EM, Canmore, Alberta Brian Matthews, EM, Edmonton, Alberta Malcolm McDougall, EM, Maple Ridge, British Columbia Greg McGuigan, EM, West Vancouver, British Columbia Chris North, EM, Saltspring Island, British Columbia Scott Paterson, EM, Woodbridge, Ontario Louis Patton, Class C, Kahnawake, Quebec Daymon Pilkington, EM, Mississauga, Ontario Mike Powell, EM, Kitchener, Ontario Bob Pruneau, EM, Timberlea, Nova Scotia Rick J. Riehl, EM, Calgary, Alberta Clay Ronaghan, EM, North Vancouver, British Columbia Edmond Ross, EM, Winnipeg, Manitoba Andy Russell, EM, Vancouver, British Columbia Cliff Russell, EM, Calgary, Alberta Clint D. Smith, EM, Kitchener, Ontario Arron J. Tough, EM, London, Ontario Joshua M. Vlasic, Class C, Thornhill, Ontario Andrew Wiebe, EM, Invermere, British Columbia Alan Woods, EM, London, Ontario Warren Wybenga, EM, Don Mills, Ontario INDIA Virbhadra G. Doddamani Sr., EM, Satara Pradeep Subbaiyan, EM, Coimbatore District NEW ZEALAND Iain Findlater, EM, Christchurch QATAR Stephen Shaw, EM, Doha SWEDEN Niklas Fahlkvist, EM, Grodinge UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Marinus Koekemoer CSE, EM, Dubai Sunil Melethodi, EM, Dubai UNITED KINGDOM Colin Barkby, EM, North Warwickshire, England Steven J. Dehne, EM, Gailes, Irvine, Scotland

Lee J. Eager, EM, Belfast, Northern Ireland Martin James, EM, Edenbridge, Kent, England Nikki Maclennan, EM, Virginia Water, Surrey, England Chris Minton, EM, North Warwickshire, England Kevin Neilson, EM, Edinburgh, Scotland Gavin Sinclair, EM, Virginia Water, England David J. Smith, EM, West Malling, England Mike Taylor, EM, Shrewsbury, England Adam White, EM, Sandwich, Kent, England

Country Club in Wichita, Kan. Mr. Van Arendonk’s passions included the New York Yankees, Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs and Iowa State Cyclones. Mr. Van Arendonk is survived by his wife, Su Van Arendonk; daughter Angie (Chad) Huttinga; son Greg (Frankie Farquharson) Van Arendonk; grandchildren Abbie, Lucas, Will, Rachel and Ella; mother Leona (Harold) Veldhuizen; brother Dan (Vicki Phillips); two nieces and their families.

Editor’s note: A new classifcation, equipment manager, is designated by EM. The information in this report was pulled from GCSAA’s member database on April 30, 2015.

IN MEMORIAM Robert B. Sanderson, 87, died March 19, 2015. Mr. Sanderson, a 40year member of GCSAA, grew up in Connecticut. He graduated from Hobart College in Geneva, N.Y., and served two years in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. In 1962, Mr. Sanderson moved to Port Charlotte, Fla., to work for General Development Corp. He served as supervisor in the building of Port Charlotte Golf Course. He remained there, serving 24 years as superintendent. He went on to become superintendent at Del Tura and Del Vera, golf courses in North Fort Myers, Fla. When he retired, Mr. Sanderson was superintendent at Heron’s Glen Golf Course in North Fort Myers.

He was co-founder and past president of the Everglades GCSA; co-founder of the Calusa GCSA; and director of the Florida Turf Grass Association. Mr. Sanderson is survived by his daughter, Pamela S. (Chet) Kolber; sister Shirlee S. Mitchell; nieces and nephews Whitney Mitchell, Lynn Mitchell, Tim Mitchell, Brooks Mitchell, Tracy Wallace, Tammy Lane and Natalie Lane.

GCM (ISSN 0192-3048 [print]; ISSN 2157-3085 [online]) is published monthly by GCSAA Communications Inc., 1421 Research Park Drive, Lawrence, KS 66049-3859, 785-841-2240. Subscriptions (all amounts U.S. funds only): $60 a year. Outside the United States and Canada, write for rates. Single copy: $5 for members, $7.50 for nonmembers. Offce of publication and editorial offce is at GCSAA, 1421 Research Park Drive, Lawrence, KS 66049-3859. Periodicals postage paid at Lawrence, Kan., and at additional mailing offces. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to: Golf Course Management, 1421 Research Park Drive, Lawrence, KS 66049. CANADA POST: Publications mail agreement No. 40030949. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to P.O. Box 122, Niagara Falls, ONT L2E 6S8.

Wayne A. Van Arendonk, CGCS Retired, 62, died Feb. 17, 2015. Mr. Van Arendonk, a 36-year member of GCSAA, retired in 2006 from Rolling Hills

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BASF ................................................................ 43 (888) 566-5506 .................www.betterturf.basf.us Cushman (a.k.a. E-Z-GO) .................................. 17 (800) 774-3946 ......................www.cushman.com Floratine Products Group .................................. 87 (901) 853-2898 ....................... www.foratine.com Lebanon Turf ................................................14, 15 (800) 350-6650 ................www.lebanonturf.com/ Nufarm Americas Inc. ....................................... 51 (800) 345-3330 .................. www.nufarm.com/US Par Aide Products Co. ......................................2-3 (888) 893-2433 ........................ www.paraide.com PBI Gordon Corp...............................................21* (800) 971-7233 .................... www.pbigordon.com Precision Laboratories, Inc. .............................. 23 800-323-6280...................www.precisionlab.com Quali-Pro........................................................... 37 (888) 584-6598 ......................www.quali-pro.com

www.PremierAerials.com

R & R Products Inc. ......................................... 109 (800) 528-3446 ....................www.rrproducts.com Rain Bird Corp., Golf Div. ................................... 61 (210) 826-6391 ........................www.rainbird.com Tee-2-Green Corp. ......................................... 44-45 (800) 547-0255 .................... www.tee-2-green.com

Growth Products Ltd. ........................................ 25 (800) 648-7626 ...........www.growthproducts.com Hole in White .................................................... 104 (949) 737-1783 ..................... www.holeinwhite.com Hunter Industries................................................. 55 760-744-5240 .........................www.huntergolf.com Kochek ............................................................ 119 (800) 420-4673 .........................www.kochek.com Linear Rubber Products ..................................... 119 (800) 558-4040 .....................www.rubbermats.com Maruyama ........................................................ 100 (940) 383-7400 ............... http://maruyama-us.com/ Milorganite ..................................................... 113 (800) 287-9645 .................. www.milorganite.com MultiGuard ....................................................... 111 (908) 272-7070 ............www.multiguardprotect.com Otterbine Barebo Inc. .......................................... 63 (800) 237-8837 ........................www.otterbine.com/ aerating_fountains.com Penn State University ....................................... 39 (800) 233-4973 .........www.worldcampus.psu.edu Pennington Seed ............................................ 101 (866) 428-4727 ...........www.penningtonseed.com PlanetAir Turf Products ..................................... 27 (877) 800-8845 .........................www.planetair.biz Sensient Industrial Colors .................................... 35 (800) 325-8110 ............ www.sensientindustrial.com Smithco, Inc. ............................................. Cover 3 (877) 833-7648 ........................www.smithco.com Steven’s Water Monitoring .............................. 58-59 215-908-0044 .....................www.stevenswater.com

ADVERTISERS

TRIMS Software International Inc. .................. 119 (800) 608-7467 ............................www.trims.com Trojan Battery Company ...................................... 29 (800) 423-6569 . www.trojanbattery.com/competition

AgSource Harris Laboratories ......................... 116 402-476-0300...... http://harrislabs.agsource.com Aquatrols Corporation ....................................... 41 (800) 257-7797 ..................... www.aquatrols.com BoardTronics...................................................... 6-7 (800) 782-9938 ............................boardtronics.com

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Buffalo Turbine ............................................... 105 (716) 592-2700 ..............www.buffaloturbine.com Champion Turf Farms ......................................... 8-9 (888) 290-7377 ..........www.championturffarms.com

High Resolution Stills & HD Video

Durabunker ...................................................... 115 +44 (0)1656 336576 ............ www.durabunker.com

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East Coast Sod & Seed ................................... 119 (856) 769-9555 ............... www.eastcoastsod.com GCSAA Services...................21*, 65, 67, 69, 71, 76, ................................................. 77, 79, 81, 83, 117 (800) 447-1840 ...............................www.gcsaa.org

118

GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT 06.15

Turf Screen ......................................................... 53 (267) 246-8654 ....................... www.turfmaxllc.com Underhill International Corp. ............................65* (800) 328-3986 ......................... www.underhill.us * Denotes regional advertisement Bold denotes affliate member

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119

Photographer: Patrick Reinhardt • Title: GCSAA Class A golf course superintendent • Course: Georgia Southern University Golf Course, Statesboro, Ga. • GCSAA membership: 15 years The shot: Reinhardt has received a lesson in meteorology in recent months as these cloud formations (proposed name: undulatus asperatus) have formed over his course at Georgia Southern University on a couple of occasions. Although they appear threatening, the formations typically dissipate before ever turning into storms. The Cloud Appreciation Society, led by founder Gavin Pretor-Pinney, with assistance from meteorologist Graeme Anderson, has asked the United Nations World Meteorological Organization (WMO) to offcially designate undulatus asperatus a new cloud classifcation. If the proposal is accepted, undulatus asperatus would be the frst new cloud formation added by the WMO since 1951. • Camera: iPhone 5s

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