Golf Course Management - October 2014 by Golf Course Management

INSIDE: Trees and the power of persuasion PAGE 54

GCM Offcial Publication of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America

TOP GEAR

Tips to keep small engines running like a charm PAGE 44

Grass Roots grand opening 32 Taking stock of your future 80 The buzz about neonicotinoids 86

Golf Course Management Magazine www.gcsaa.org â&#x20AC;˘ October 2014

When failure is

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Chapter 3

TOUGH TIMES NEVER LAST. GREAT PRODUCTS ALWAYS DO. Highly productive equipment that performs well under challenging course conditions is only half the battle. Delivering on the bottom line during challenging economic conditions is the other half. Look to Toro® for the whole story.

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8 8 8 - 8 9 3 - 2 4 3 2

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CONTENTS10.14

Ready to roll, push or pull

A small-engine expert offers tips for year-round maintenance. Dale Gabrielse

Compelling force Removing hazardous trees at the golf course is often a hard sell. Harness the power of persuasion to convince stakeholders to take action. John C. Fech

Saving a giant

Biological predators of the hemlock woolly adelgid are saving hemlocks at Grandfather Golf & Country Club in Linville, N.C. Kate Cahow

Remodeling road map Considering a golf course renovation? Master planning is a key step that marries the wants and needs of the facility with the architectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ability to deliver on those expectations. Raymond Hearn

80 Mirror, mirror: Facing your future in the golf industry Industry veterans offer advice for steering a career course in changing times. Anthony L. Williams, CGCS â&#x20AC;˘ On the Cover: Photo by Alex Mit/Shutterstock.com

GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT 10.14

INSIGHTS Turf

Back to our roots Geoffrey Rinehart

Shop

Avoiding damage when chain grinding Scott R. Nesbitt

Advocacy

36 Water

Act now, vote later Kaelyn Seymour

The natural Bunny Smith

RESEARCH

Technology

Neonicotinoid insecticides and pollinators: What’s all the buzz about? Pesticide applicators should take precautions to protect pollinators from potential danger. Doug Richmond, Ph.D. Aaron Patton, Ph.D.

Cutting Edge Teresa Carson

ETCETERA10.14 16 President’s message 18 Inside GCM 20 Front nine 30 Photo quiz

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

GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT 10.14

Taking the technology plunge Bob Vaughey, CGCS

106 Climbing the ladder 106 On course 107 Coming up 109 On the move

108 In the field 113 New members 114 In memoriam 120 Final shot

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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

Chief Executive Offcer Chief Operating Offcer Chief Business Development Offcer

GCM STAFF Editor-in-Chief Sr. Managing Editor

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KEITH A. IHMS, CGCS JOHN J. O’KEEFE, CGCS PETER J. GRASS, CGCS PATRICK R. FINLEN, CGCS RAFAEL BARAJAS, CGCS DARREN J. DAVIS, CGCS JOHN R. FULLING JR., CGCS MARK F. JORDAN, CGCS BILL H. MAYNARD, CGCS J. RHETT EVANS MATT SHATTO J.D. DOCKSTADER

Sr. Science Editor Associate Editor Sr. Manager, Creative Services Manager, Creative Services Traffc Coordinator Trafﬁc

SCOTT HOLLISTER shollister@gcsaa.org BUNNY SMITH bsmith@gcsaa.org TERESA CARSON tcarson@gcsaa.org HOWARD RICHMAN hrichman@gcsaa.org ROGER BILLINGS rbillings@gcsaa.org KELLY NEIS kneis@gcsaa.org BRETT LEONARD bleonard@gcsaa.org

GCSAA This Week/Turf Weekly Editor

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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. ©2014 by GCSAA Communications Inc., all rights reserved.

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You spoke. We listened. In answer to feedback from superintendents worldwide, our four new Country Club MD greens grade fertilizers contain phosphorus for those golf course managers who need to include P in their greens nutrition program. Ask your sales representative for more information about Country Club MD.

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(president’s message)

A meeting of the minds Family reunions elicit different responses from different people. Keith A. Ihms, CGCS For some, they’re events to be looked upon keithai79@gmail.com with dread, to simply be endured. Spending a few days with Uncle Bill isn’t everybody’s cup of tea, so many folks simply grit their teeth and try to make it through family reunions with as little trouble as possible. For others, though, family reunions are the highlight of the year, cherished opportunities that don’t come around often enough. I know I count myself in this category; when my extended family comes together to reconnect As much as we try and reminisce about old times, it’s an occasion to keep our fngers to remember and one that I won’t miss. I’ve been reminded of all the best parts of on the pulse of the these family reunions as I’ve prepared myself for this month’s chapter delegates meeting local and regional at GCSAA headquarters in Lawrence, Kan. The chapter delegates meeting is one of our issues facing our association’s most important gatherings of members, there the year, but it also is one of our most misunderstood. When members ask me to tell is no substitute them more about these crucial meetings, I’ve often referred to them as a family reunion for for hearing about GCSAA, only with a heavy dose of serious those issues from business tossed in for good measure. This meeting is an annual opportunity for superintendents your national board of directors and members of the GCSAA staff to touch base with reprewho are living them sentatives from all 98 of the association’s affliated chapters. Some of those representatives each and every day. are familiar faces who have served their chapters for many years, while others are new volunteers getting their frst taste of involvement at this level. Regardless of which camp they fall into, the chance to interact and share with these representatives in an environment like the chapter delegates meeting is invaluable. But this meeting is not a one-way street. In fact, its most valuable aspect is that the chapter representatives share ideas and concerns from their respective regions. As much as we try to keep our fngers on the pulse of the local and regional issues facing our members, there is no substitute for hearing about those issues from superintendents who are living them each and every day. These messages give your national association a clearer idea of where to place its priorities and exactly what efforts it should

GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT 10.14

undertake on behalf of its members. It’s a critical part of chapter delegates meetings, and one I take extremely seriously. This month, attendees will learn about and be asked to provide feedback and guidance on a host of matters important to the future of GCSAA. For example, they’ll tackle the Rounds 4 Research initiative, getting in-depth information on the outcomes from this year’s Rounds 4 Research auctions, which raised nearly $150,000 overall, and helping to chart the future of that important program. Chapter delegates also will be asked for their views on a number of issues related to membership in GCSAA: hearing from candidates for next year’s elections for the national board of directors, discussing a wide range of matters related to membership standards and classifcations and sharing opinions on the ideal structure and organization for the association’s national leadership. And they’ll also discuss the future growth and mission of GCSAA, how it will look 10 years from now and how we can position it for the future and ensure it continues to be an important representative for the entire golf course management industry. These are weighty issues, to be sure. But recent history has shown that our chapter delegates are more than up to the task of tackling these issues and charting a course for GCSAA. And the fact that these meetings also allow us the opportunity to catch up with members that we might see only a few times over several years is just another happy beneft from a meeting that is increasingly crucial to the ongoing success of your association.

Keith A. Ihms, CGCS, is the golf course maintenance manager at Bella Vista (Ark.) Village and a 33-year member of GCSAA.

(inside gcm)

A matter of life and death Howard Richman hrichman@gcsaa.org twitter: @GCM_Magazine

Aylor Rogers (left) and Ernie Hayes

GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT 10.14

June 17, 2014. You may or may not remember what you were doing that day. I do. You could fnd me on the grounds of Pinehurst No. 2 for the Women’s U.S. Open. In time, though, it proved to be a signifcant day for me for other reasons. I was not alone. It certainly had an affect on two families and who knows how many others. Part of my job includes compiling information for our “In Memoriam” section of GCM. Here is how that works: Becky Downing, our senior data integrity specialist at GCSAA, sends me obituary notices of deceased members in an interoffce envelope that is delivered to our department on the fourth foor of the GCSAA headquarters building in Lawrence, Kan. It is my duty to compose what will appear. Sometimes the deceased may have passed away as long ago as 18 months. Or it could be six weeks. There is no question this is sensitive stuff, to be handled with care. Proud families who want to remember their loved ones often will request multiple copies of GCM as keepsakes. For the families and friends of Ernie Hayes and Aylor Rogers, June 17 always will be circled on their calendars. A few weeks ago, I received their obituaries. Usually the frst things I look at are years of membership and date of death. What initially caught my eye was that both Hayes and Rogers died on the same day. June 17. Soon I learned they had more in common than passing away that day. In Downing’s notes to me, she let me know that Hayes and Rogers were best friends. “They were different personalities,” Michael Hayes, Ernie’s son, told me. “Dad was a little bit quieter. Aylor was outgoing and boisterous. But they were big buddies. Aylor had heard about Dad’s golfng prowess. That’s when they fnally met up to check out each other’s golfng skills.” Their paths frst crossed in the Carolinas. Hayes, a 40-year member of GCSAA, had everything to do with Land Harbor Golf Club in Linville, N.C. He was there for the frst day in 1969 and later designed and constructed the back nine. Rogers, a 47-year member of GCSAA, spearheaded the construction of

Grandfather Golf & Country Club in Linville. Only about 10 minutes separated these two men whose friendship seemed inseparable. Their families would gather at one of their homes on occasion, which was another sign of how much they meant to one another. “They kind of seemed like brothers,” says Brenda, Aylor’s wife. “They were very close. They would go on golf trips together. They were just very, very close.” Hayes and Rogers were instrumental in shaping their profession in North Carolina. Hayes was a founding member of the Western North Carolina Turfgrass Association. Six years ago, it named its scholarship endowment in his honor. Rogers was a lifetime member of the North Carolina Turfgrass Council. In their later years, Hayes and Rogers were unable to meet and greet each other as often as they would have liked. Michael Hayes, 25-year GCSAA Class A member and operations manager at Land Harbor, thinks the last time they saw each other in person was at Ernie Hayes’ 85th birthday party. Still, they would talk on the phone. Even that, however, became more diffcult in their twilight. Ernie Hayes suffered from dementia in recent years. On the morning of June 17, Aylor Rogers passed away. He was 90. Later that evening, Ernie Hayes passed away. He was 91. The Rogers family phoned the Hayes family. That is when each of them learned that these two men, signifcant in the golf course industry and the fber of their families, had died. “At frst, it was kind of a shock,” Michael Hayes says, “but then I just fgured that it was divine intervention that they had to make a tee time together.” Brenda Rogers thought something similar. “I know they’re up there having a good time, talking about golf,” she says. The families requested that their “In Memoriam” notices appear in the same issue. So, on Page 114, GCM has honored their request. Actually, it is our honor. I never met either man. Somehow, though, I expect whenever June 17 rolls around, I will think of them. Howard Richman is GCM’s associate editor.

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Transition (end) zone His football teams possess a record that would make even Nick Saban smile. What truly makes him happy, though, is what plays out on the golf course. John McCarthy, CGCS, is not necessarily facing a mid-life crisis. In this era of economic and job-related uncertainty, though, it is life. At what now is considered a temporary position as interim superintendent at Painted Dunes Desert Golf Club in El Paso, Texas, McCarthy is hundreds of miles from the gridiron that his team in Georgia has, arguably, dominated. McCarthy, 44, fnds himself in West Texas by design. And a need to support his family, which includes an Olympic-caliber swimmer and a quarterback in the making, still based in Georgia. He landed at Painted Dunes when they needed a superintendent and he needed a job. After nine years at Crystal Falls Golf Club in Dawsonville, Ga., McCarthy says they told him they wanted to go a new direction and let him walk. It is a familiar scenario in the industry. Any industry, really. “You never know what can happen. It (job issues) hits everybody. It doesn’t discriminate,” McCarthy says. “This (superintendent job) is what pays the bills.” He also works in a profession where networking is in the fabric. Among those who put the wheels in motion to restart McCarthy’s career is Tenia Workman, executive director of the Georgia GCSA. She contacted past GCSAA President Dave Downing II, vice president at Golf Maintenance Solutions. There he serves as agronomist for the Southeast region. He helped place McCarthy at Painted Dunes. Photo by Ruben R. Ramirez

By the NUMBERS Shop math 101: converting to metric Type the numerator (top number) of the fraction from the standard tool into your calculator and divide it by the denominator (bottom number). For example, with a ¼-inch standard size

÷ ×

¼ =0.25

round up

Jeff Churchill (middle) and Steven Johnson (right) of Smithco take apart the solenoid from a spray nozzle component and point out the wear indicator to Merit Club superintendent John Nelson (left). Photo by Luke Cella, CGCS

0.25 X 25.4=6.35

= 6.5 mm socket, divide the 1 by the 4 and get a result of 0.25 inch. Type the resulting decimal fgure into your calculator and multiply it by 25.4, which is the number of millimeters in 1 inch. The standard size of 0.25 inch multiplied by 25.4 equals a metric size of 6.35 millimeters, for example. Round up the resulting metric fgure to the nearest metric size. From the example, 6.35 millimeters rounds up to a metric size 6.5 millimeter socket. Source: ehow.com

GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT 10.14

“John has desert and warmand cool-season grass experience,” says Downing, GCSAA president in 2008. “It’s been a win-win situation so far.” Winning is a common denominator in McCarthy’s family. His Midway Wolverines youth football team in Forsythe County, Ga., won 36 games in a row in one stretch and recorded two championships. His defense was like the 1985 Chicago Bears, à la William “Refrigerator” Perry, allowing zero points in the frst 17 games in that winning streak. Now, McCarthy, who attended the University of Massachusetts’ Stockbridge School of Agriculture, coaches the middle school team at Pinecrest Academy, a private Catholic school in Georgia. In his frst three seasons entering this year, McCarthy’s teams posted winning records each season. An opportunity to shape youngsters drives McCarthy. “The game is about having heart, soul and pushing yourself to the next level and fnding what that level is,” he says. His son, Ryan, seeks that next level. He appears to be on a good path. Ryan, only a sophomore, is the starting quarterback for the Pinecrest Academy Paladins’ varsity team. At 6-feet-3, 190 pounds, the younger McCarthy has the size that should make recruiters drool if he shows promise. Schools such as Boston College and the University of Pennsylvania already have shown interest. He wasn’t the frst standout athlete in this family. John’s wife, Karen produced some pretty special credentials in her day. In her youth when she was known as Karen Brewer, she qualifed for the Olympic Trials in the backstroke at the age of 15. She thinks her husband is talented on multiple fronts.

“John loves the outdoors and takes great pride in his work on the golf course,” says Karen, who was an All American swimmer at Florida Atlantic University. “He also has a great love for children. He not only coaches them in football but in life. He wants each boy to be a well-rounded individual. He always puts the person frst but takes great pride in his wins.” Ultimately, Karen says, her husband places family frst. “His greatest achievement is that he has been able to balance his work, his coaching and his family,” she says. Since McCarthy is in El Paso, his assistants help him during the week until Fridays when McCarthy returns to coach that middle school team at Pinecrest Academy. Asked if he would be willing to leave behind the job of a superintendent position to be a football coach, McCarthy wouldn’t completely rule it out. Yet the passion for the profession that he developed as a 15-year-old working on the course in summer hasn’t faded. “The scenery out on the golf course changes every day. Therefore your life does,” McCarthy says. “I love to impact lives of our football players and I feel the same way about making an impact in my profession. It’s what I do.” — Howard Richman, GCM associate editor

Turf Science Live pops up in the Midwest Editor’s note: This report was fled by Luke Cella, CGCS, Midwest Association of Golf Course Superintendents. Accompanying photo above. Four cornerstone companies of the turf industry came together recently and put on Turf Science Live in Libertyville, Ill. The second edition of the event in the United States was held at the Merit Club and hosted by superintendent John Nelson. Last year, the U.S. event was held at Greenville Country Club in South Carolina. On both occasions, the organizers followed a format that has garnered considerable support in the United Kingdom since 2010. Turf Science Live is similar to many demonstration and research feld days except each exhibit involves an in-depth and interactive discussion on the science, technology and application that brought the particular product

411

The

to market. Superintendents from the Midwest were invited to participate in the daylong event with their local sales representatives. It was a learning opportunity, where both groups got to hear and see new technologies in action. “Turf Science Live was developed as an opportunity for superintendents to network and to build relationships throughout the day,” says David Withers, president of Jacobsen. The event is advertised to superintendents as a hands-on opportunity to interact with leading specialists in many aspects of turf management demonstrating techniques that can be used to improve conditions at the

golf course. Technology applied to the trade of greenkeeping sets out to improve conditions, often by reducing inputs and allowing superintendents greater control of the environment under their care. As products advance, superintendents require more-specifc knowledge to use them to the fullest. Turf Science Live sets out to provide that knowledge. Attendees have the opportunity to learn to use new technologies from product developers and specialists in a hands-on setting. Long gone are the days of “factory settings,” when a new product was set up and rarely adjusted by the consumer. Now, products are designed, and manufactured, to be adjusted, sometimes on the fy, as shown by Chris Fox and the team from Jacobsen. Fox explained the relationship between frequency of clip and mowing height and their combined impact on ball roll. During his demonstration, he showed how superintendents are able to increase ball roll while raising the height of cut by increasing the frequency of clip. Turf managers know that raising the height of cut leads to greater photosynthetic surface area and ultimately a healthier stand of turf. In the turf industry, it has long been thought that superintendents on the purchasing side have little to learn from sales people. Turf Science Live is changing the way superintendents see manufacturers and their sales staff. Technology may set out to make things better, but applying that technology is not always simpler. Our industry is at a tipping point where end users must learn about products and processes from those who have the most knowledge about them.

GCSAA Legacy Award recipients announced Nineteen $1,500 scholarships have been awarded as part of GCSAA’s Legacy Awards administered through its philanthropic organization, the Environmental Institute for Golf and funded by Syngenta. The recipients are, including GCSAA member relative: Taylor Archibald, Michigan Technological University (Steve Archibald); AnnMarie Backstrom, College of Saint Benedict (Jeffery C. Backstrom); Courtney Doxtader, State University of New York-Canton (the late Gene Taylor); Lily Ellis, University of Buffalo (Howard C. Ellis, CGCS); Ryan Fackler, Azusa Pacifc University (Steve N. Fackler, CGCS); Kelsey Gabel, University of Illinois-Chicago (Charles C. Dipman); Caitlin Greninger, University of Wyoming (Michael A. Greninger, CGCS); Amanda Gross, Northeastern University (Douglas C. George). Maggie Henderson, University of Tennessee (William J. Henderson III); O’Chun Jones, Clemson University (Shaun Donahue); Molly Brown Langner, University of Alabama-Birmingham (Mark Langner); Alyssa Merkel (University of Nebraska-Lincoln (Steven A. Merkel, CGCS); Grant Wood Nair, Ohio State University (Scott W. Nair); Benjamin Naudet, University of Kansas (Paul Naudet);

GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT 10.14

Tyler Powell, University of North Carolina (Brian Powell, CGCS); Jake Schaller, University of Wisconsin (Scott H. Schaller); Colby Tarsitano, New York University (Gerald A. Tarsitano II, CGCS); Kurt Van Auken, Western Technical College (David Van Van Auken); and Kara C. Wojick, University of Connecticut (Gregory J. Wojick).

Letter to the editor Dear Editor: I, and no doubt many other GCM readers, was surprised and disappointed to see that GCM has evidently begun publishing blatantly advertorial pieces. Specifcally, the fve-page article in the August GCM (“Save the sand,” Page 72) was obviously written by the manufacturer of the featured product with absolutely no mention of any competing/alternative product solutions. The tone of this article is incredibly biased, in my opinion, and a disservice to your readers, as well as competitors in the same market niche — competitors who have been providing quality, long-lasting bunker-liner solutions for nearly two decades. Did this specifc piece meet GCM’s own editorial standards and guidelines regarding preferential endorsements of commercial products? A sincere attempt to “balance the ledger” here might include GCM publishing a comprehensive follow-up article on bunker lining systems. This new article can include detailed info, pros and cons, and testimonials on all other interested liner companies. This follow-up effort would allow your readers to know the full story on bunker-liner options before making their own fully informed decisions. That would truly be more consistent with the overall purpose of GCSAA and GCM, would it not? Bob McCormick President Klingstone Inc. by Sunburst Management Group Inc., its Agent Editor’s note: GCM regularly publishes stories provided by or sourced from companies who do business in the golf course management industry, but these stories must meet very strict editorial standards and guidelines prior to publication. Regrettably, the story in question did not meet those standards and guidelines. Because of this error in judgment, GCM staff are re-examining policies regarding industry-supplied editorial content and will publish a product spotlight story on bunker-liner options for superintendents in the November issue of the magazine.

GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT 10.14

Gleneagles, which hosted last month’s Ryder Cup, was assisted in its preparations by equipment from The Toro Co. Photo courtesy of Toro

Toro’s Ryder Cup role When Gleneagles played host to last month’s Ryder Cup in Scotland, The Toro Co. had a key presence. Gleneagles extended their partnership with Toro as the exclusive provider of turf maintenance equipment. That includes Toro’s Greensmaster Flex 21s for the greens, Greensmaster 1600s for the tees, Reelmaster 5410s for the fairways and Reelmaster 3100s for the intermediate and surrounds. Jack Nicklaus was a consultant for Gleneagles as it embarked on renovations pre-Ryder Cup. No. 18 was completely rebuilt, a large lake was installed along No. 9, and bunkers were rebuilt. The renovations featured about 50,000 tons of earth being shifted. The course’s irrigation system added the Toro DT Series sprinklers. And, to ensure the fairways were frm and dry for the Ryder Cup, Gleneagles superintendent Steve Chappell and his team applied more than 10,000 tons of sand to the fairways. That gave the course a 50-millimeter sand profle on top of what already was there.

Garske grants awarded GCSAA awarded its 2014 Joseph S. Garske Collegiate Grants to fve students: Grant Wood Nair, Parker Esoda, Jacob Schaller, Abigail Gullicks and Colby Tarsitano. The Garske Grant was established in honor of Par Aide company founder Joseph S. Garske. It is funded by Par Aide, a golf course accessory company, and administered by the Environmental Institute for Golf. The program assists children and stepchildren of GCSAA members to fund their educations at an accredited college or trade school with one-time, one-year grants awarded to fve recipients without renewal. Grants are based on community service, leadership, academic performance and a written essay. Nair, who will attend Ohio State University, earned $2,500. His father is Scott W. Nair, superintendent at Kukio Golf Club in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. Esoda will attend the University of South Carolina. She earned $2,000. Her father, Mark Esoda, CGCS, is at Atlanta Country Club in Marietta, Ga. Schaller earned $1,500 and will attend

the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His father, Scott H. Schaller, CGCS, is at North Shore Golf Club in Chilton, Wis. Gullicks earned $1,000 and will attend the University of St. Thomas. Her father is Class A superintendent William Gullicks of Bellwood Oaks Golf Course in Hastings, Minn. Tarsitano, who will attend New York University, earned $500. His father, Gerald A. Tarsitano II, CGCS, is at The Hideaway Golf Club in Indio, Calif.

Student essay contest winners announced Three college students were winners in the 2014 GCSAA Student Essay Contest. Jesse J. Benelli, James W. Hempfing and Derek Pruyne were honored. Hempfing, a frst-year Ph.D. student at Rutgers University, received the top award of $2,000 for his essay “Lines drawn in the sand: The evolution of topdressing practices.” The second-place award went to Benelli, a frst-year Ph.D. student at the University of Tennessee. Benelli, awarded $1,500, wrote a paper titled “Strobilurin fungicides: Historical perspectives and implications on plant health.” Pruyne, in his second year of pursuing a master’s degree at Penn State University, claimed third place and $1,000 for his essay, “Assessing and optimizing soil pH of creeping bentgrass putting greens.” Judges from GCSAA’s essay task group selected the winners. The student essay contest scholarships are funded by the Environmental Institute for Golf through the Robert Trent Jones Endowment.

Deadline looms for Bayer program October 10 is the deadline for superintendents to apply for Bayer’s second annual Healthy Turf, Healthy Tomorrow Plant Health Scholarship. Two superintendents will each receive a $2,500 scholarship to continue their education in the area of plant health as part of the Healthy Turf, Healthy Tomorrow program developed by Bayer in collaboration with the Environ-

mental Institute for Golf (EIFG). Scholarship recipients may use the award to attend local, regional or national education conferences or to enroll in continuing education programs at an institution of higher learning. To apply, go to www.backedbybayer.com/ healthy-turf.

Navarre earns top scholar award

Tweets

RETWEETS John Galbraith @VAsoilguy The Science of Soil Health: Rhizodeposition - what plants put into the soil through their roots...http://youtu.be/ xgy9ArBpNiI

East lake Agronomy @eastlake1904_ Very busy morning! Early tee times to avoid storms. We came we saw we conquered! Very lucky to have great volunteers. pic.twitter.com/5T0s83Ws6Q

Jon Hungerford @TCI_Turfgrass We go from having pythium in our rough on Monday to possible frost tomorrow morning. Gotta love Iowa weather. #frostdelayssuck #gameday

Andy O’Haver @andyohaver Happy Friday! #hydraulic pic.twitter. com/G1iaHEiP8W

Mitch Davidson @MitchDavy Heavy morning frost means taking our full turf care team of 7 members out for breakfast at whifs #team pic.twitter. com/u1bucWVw28

Adam Breitenfeldt @AdamBfelt Nice day to put down some nitrogen and ferrous sulfate! #offcewithawindow

Jim Brosnan, Ph.D. @UTTurfWeeds @utgroundscrew talking to #UTTurfFD14 attendees about feld maintenance at Neyland Stadium, home of the #Vols #vf

Didn’t somebody once say you’re never too old? Meet Gerry Navarre. This 54-year-old Michigan State University student, pursuing a second career in turf management, earned the top prize of $6,000 among 14 awards in the 2014 Scholars Competition offered through GCSAA. The award is called the Mendenhall Award, named in honor of the late Chet Mendenhall, who was a charter member of GCSAA. Navarre spent 25 years in fnancial consulting and mortgage services before reconsidering his career choice. “It (award) is a big deal to me. It’s going to take a load of fnancial stress off since I have a 20-year-old in college as well. I worked on a golf course for seven years during high school and college and I loved it. It would have been a tremendous career path the frst time around, but it’s not too late to start.” The second-place award went to Christopher Marra, 21, of Penn State University. He received $5,000. Marra received the MacCurrach Award, named in honor of the late Allan MacCurrach, who was the PGA Tour’s frst staff agronomist in 1974 and was GCSAA’s Distinguished Service Award recipient in 1997. The PGA Tour funds the award. Navarre and Marra receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the 2015 Golf Industry Show in San Antonio. Other award winners are: Teddy Norman, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, $2,500; John Petrovsky, Penn State University, $2,500; Morgan Robins, Penn State University, $2,000; Richard Plemel, Rutgers University, $2,000; Sean Kelly, Penn State University, $2,000; Travis Russell, University

GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT 10.14

Rounds 4 Research totals six fgures The fnal numbers are in: $145,339 was raised in the Rounds 4 Research fundraising program this summer. A second phase of Rounds 4 Research took place in August. The program, to raise funds for turfgrass research, totaled more than 200 rounds sold for $30,891 in a seven-day online auction. In the frst round in June, nearly $115,000 was raised for the program that is run by the Environmental Institute for Golf. The Metropolitan GCSA led the way in August with more than $4,000 raised among the 40 fundraising partners that donated rounds for turfgrass research at the local level. The top bid for a tee time for four golfers was $1,480 for the chance to play Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky., site of this year’s PGA Championship. A stay-and-play package at French Lick (Ind.) Resort sold for $1,650. The Toro Co. supports the program with a $50,000 donation. Since being launched in 2012, Rounds 4 Research has raised more than $320,000. Eighty percent of the money raised is returned to the local chapters for turf studies.

In the

NEWS

On the job

Restoration project

A sports editor in Wisconsin was superintendent for a day at GCSAA Class A member Tim Wegner’s course. See how it turned out at OnMilwaukee.com. http://onmilwaukee.com/sports/articles/shiftswitchgolfcoursesuperintendent.html?38592

Andrew Hall, a gardener in the United Kingdom, spent four years restoring a more than 100-year-old lawnmower. Read all about it in the Daily Mail. www. dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2718878/Worlds-motorised-lawnmower-restored-former-glory-century-invented-ultimate-rich-mans-toy-costing-equivalent-15-000.html

Illinois country club to play on Itasca (Ill.) Country Club has been around for nearly 90 years. The Daily Herald tells us why it will be around for a while longer. www.dailyherald.com/ article/20140908/news/140908624/

of Arkansas, $2,000; Michael Wright, Michigan State University, $1,500; Andres Johansson, Michigan State University, $1,500; Justin Hickman, Mississippi State University, $1,000; Matthew Herrmann, Penn State University, $1,000; Benjamin Cibotti III, Penn State University, $500; and Robert Bond, Penn State University, $500. Recipients were selected by the GCSAA Scholars Competition Task Group. Criteria include academic achievement, potential to become a leading industry professional and employment history. Applicants must be enrolled in a recognized undergraduate program in a major feld related to golf/turf management and be a GCSAA member. The $30,000 program is funded by the Robert Trent Jones Endowment and administered by GCSAA’s philanthropic organization, the Environmental Institute for Golf. It was developed to recognize outstanding students planning careers in golf course management.

Sit back and wait. No, that’s not your style. Your turf is your livelihood so you anticipate problems and take the initiative to solve them before they appear. But the environment has become less predictable, and the pressure to do more with less means your resources are not what they once were. Now you need a different plan of attack to make things happen. What are you waiting for?

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By John Mascaro President of Turf-Tec International

(photo quiz)

Turfgrass area: Putting green

Location: Rock Valley, Iowa

Grass variety: Penncross creeping bentgrass

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Turfgrass area: Putting green

Location: Oxford, Miss.

Grass variety: MiniVerde bermudagrass

(b) PROBLEM Straight line void of turf

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GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT 10.14

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Geoffrey Rinehart Geoffrey.Rinehart@ars.usda.gov

(turf)

Back to our roots Grass Roots, an exhibit highlighting modern uses of turfgrass, is scheduled to open Oct. 16 at the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, D.C. A collaboration of the arboretum and the National Turfgrass Federation, the exhibit is the centerpiece of the four-year Grass Roots Initiative focusing on the environmental, economic and recreational benefts of turfgrass in golf courses, athletic felds and landscapes. Kevin Morris, executive director of the National Turfgrass Federation, acknowledges the support of the National Arboretum in providing space for the turfgrass exhibit. “It’s a little unusual for an arboretum to have a turfgrass display. We don’t know of any, anywhere. In fact, they were stepping outside of their comfort zone frankly, but I applaud them for their vision — the (former) director, Dr. Colien Hefferan, and Scott Aker, the head horticulturist.” The 1.3-acre Grass Roots exhibit space is located near the front entrance of the National Arboretum, which hosts about 500,000 visitors annually. On opening day, the exhibit will contain 12 interactive displays, with two more to be constructed by next spring. Each section provides information about the uses of turfgrass, its importance to modern society, its history and best management practices for maintenance. Among the displays are a compact golf hole, sports felds, lawn areas with swards of six warm-season and four cool-season turfgrass species, more than 30 different ornamental grass species, and a rain garden showing the ability of grass to absorb water

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GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT 10.14

The compact golf hole as seen from a small pond at the Grass Roots exhibit in the U.S. National Arboretum. Photo by Geoffrey Rinehart

and nutrients. The golf area includes a 007 creeping bentgrass tee, apron and 900-squarefoot putting green; a Zeon zoysiagrass fairway; tall fescue/Kentucky bluegrass rough; and a pond with aquatic plants. Interpretive signage will assist visitors, who will be able to access additional information and intriguing “Find the Facts” questions on the Grass Roots website in real-time via QR (Quick Response) codes. “Because many of the concepts displayed in the exhibit need more explanation than there is space on the signage, we are hoping that the QR code links will allow visitors easy access to more information as they visit,” says Morris. The aim of the Grass Roots Initiative is to showcase the value of properly managed turf as an environmental asset and the importance of research to continue to leverage that value. As part of the initiative, professional and scientifc symposia and homeowner-focused workshops and demonstrations will be held. In addition, the initiative is coordinating efforts to develop a “National Greenscape Corridor” linking the National Arboretum, the National Mall and Arlington National Cemetery, and coordinating public messaging and outreach to raise awareness about the importance of sustainable

turfgrass and landscape maintenance practices at these culturally historic landscapes. The Grass Roots Initiative is funded by private donations from groups, including GCSAA, that represent the golf, sports turf, turfgrass seed production, and lawn and landscape industries. To date, the National Turfgrass Federation has raised $265,000, but estimates that $400,000 will be needed over the four-year life of the exhibit to cover construction costs and ongoing maintenance. The exhibit gives golf and other turfgrass-related industries an opportunity to communicate to the general public and public policy decision-makers the benefts of turfgrass in modern society. For more information on the Grass Roots Initiative and the exhibit, see the feature on GCSAA TV (www.gcsaa.tv/view. php?id=2443) or visit the initiative’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/NTFGrassRoots Initiative).

Geoffrey Rinehart is the coordinator for the Grass Roots Initiative.

Exclusively From

Scott R. Nesbitt ORPguy@windstream.net

(shop)

Avoiding damage when chain grinding Purists say that grinding ruins a chain; that only a fle should be used to restore sharpness. But most of us need to put a new edge on chainsaw teeth and get back to work pronto — and that means grinding. A few simple steps will maximize the benefts of your mid-priced electric grinder (see “Chain grinder: an essential tool” on Page 34 of the August issue of GCM). A few good habits will reduce the chance of damaging the chain during sharpening. When you open the box, put your new grinder’s pieces on a terry cloth towel or piece of carpet. Remove the big knob under the chain vise, and lift it off the base. Split off the tilt table, being careful not to lose the little steel balls and springs. You’ll likely see rough castings and blobby paint. Use emery paper or a Dremeltype tool to remove casting fash and smooth the surfaces that will make contact when rotating and tilting. It took under 10 minutes to get all our pieces moving smoothly without the balls and springs in place. Lightly grease all contact surfaces and the detents. Use grease to hold the balls and springs in place for reassembly. Unbolt the chain-stop lever system at the back of the vise. This will let the wheel drop down to touch the vise. Assemble the motor head, and mount a wheel. Most chains need the 3 ⁄16 - or 1 ⁄8inch wheel. Set the wheel to 90 degrees and the vise to 0 degrees. Use a protractor to verify that the pre-set snap-in vise angles actually are 0, 15, 30 and 35 degrees, to the left and right. If needed, re-mark the grinder’s scale to refect actual angles. Cut a 3 × 5-inch index card at 30 degrees and verify that the built-in

GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT 10.14

head angle indicator is accurate. You may need to grind the detents a bit to achieve equality of the snap-in pre-sets. The grinders we’ve checked are very close to dead-on, but it’s worth verifying. A proper sharpening demands exactly equal angles on the chain’s right and left teeth. When reassembling the chain-stop system, bend some metal or add washers if needed to snug up that system. A chain is smoothest when each sharpened tooth is exactly the same length. We replaced our grinder’s sloppy adjusting screws and knobs with the higher-quality screws and knobs that came with our otherwise-almost-useless “universal” plastic chain grinder. Look for 6-millimeter and 8-millimeter screws and wing nuts from the hardware store. Metric nylon wing nuts can also be found holding the tail light assemblies in junkyard cars. These rustproof, vibration-resistant fasteners are also great for holding down small-engine air cleaners. Sloppy screw threads can be enlarged and tightened with a few drops of cyanoacrylate (Super Glue) allowed to harden in the air. Mount your grinder to a bench or wall, or onto sturdy ¾-inch stock. We store ours on a shelf. Clamp it to a tailgate, get 110 volts AC from the vehicle with an inverter, and you’re ready to restore a chain that’s hit a rock. Bring along your fles for light tooth dressing. Now prepare the sharpener — that’s a human. It takes practice for the ear to hear a smooth grind and the touch to kiss — not clobber — the chain teeth. It’s sharpeners, not grinders, that ruin chains. The trick is to keep each tooth as cool as possible, to avoid de-tempering the steel. Take several small bites out of the tooth. Pause for a second between bites. Let the heat escape from the thin cutting edge. Don’t try to sharpen the chain with only one pass at each tooth. Mark a starting tooth with a permanent marker, and set the chainstop lever so the stone just grazes each tooth. After one round, screw in the chain-stop adjuster a nudge, and do another round until all are shiny, sharp and ready to have the depth guides set. Next month I’ll look at some of the fner details of cooler sharpening and custom grinding for special purposes.

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

Top: While the chain at the top can be dressed up with a fle, the teeth on the lower chain demand sharpening with a good grinder. Photos by Scott Nesbitt Middle: Rough surfaces need to be smoothed and lubricated to improve operation of the pre-set detents and general operation of a mid-priced chain grinder. Bottom: Checking the accuracy of the grinder’s angle settings is easily done with a protractor and contributes to safer, smoother, faster cutting with chain saws.

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Kaelyn Seymour kseymour@gcsaa.org twitter: @GCSAA

(advocacy)

Act now, vote later

Photo by Igor Stevanovic/Shutterstock.com

Election results will decide the political landscape in which you operate your golf course for the next two years.

GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT 10.14

On Tuesday, Nov. 4, Americans will go to the voting booth. Governors will be elected in 36 states; all seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and a third of the U.S. Senate will be voted upon. With this much of Congress running for election or re-election, turnout is going to be important. Election results will decide the political landscape in which you operate your golf course for the next two years. According to the United States Election Project at George Mason University, during the 2010 midterm election, only 41 percent of the eligible voting population actually turned out to vote, meaning only four out of 10 people helped elect the governors in 36 states. Turnout in the 2012 national election was 58 percent, but this is not uncommon in years with a presidential race. The 2010 redistricting process created Congressional districts that are more gerrymandered and partisan than ever. When you couple redistricting with low voter turnout in midterm elections, many members of Congress know they don’t have to work hard to be re-elected, which contributes to the current gridlock we are experiencing in Washington, D.C. Despite these challenges, it is important for GCSAA members representing the golf course management profession to get out and vote this November. Elected offcials make important decisions about how the golf course management profession is going to be treated, and it’s a key way to have a say in our democracy. As an association with members in all 50 states, GCSAA offers several recommendations for participating in this important political activity. Register to vote. This is the most important action to take before going to the polls. Every state has different regulations on the deadlines for registering in order to vote in the Novem-

ber elections. Check with your local secretary of state’s offce to fnd out what your deadline is and how you can get registered in time to vote in November. In addition to getting yourself registered, check with others at your course and in your chapters to make sure they are registered as well. The No. 1 reason why people aren’t correctly registered to vote is that they have moved, and the correct address is essential. Research the candidates. Knowing who you are voting for is as important as registering to vote. GCSAA has several resources available to help you learn about candidates. Check the resources section of Government Relations Online to learn about who is running in your area and their positions on issues. In the future, primary elections will also be equally important for our members. Identify the initiatives. A characteristic of an informed voter is that he or she knows about initiatives that are on the ballot. Large states like California have a very simple process for citizens to put referendums or initiatives on the ballot. In other states, the process for adding items to the ballot is a little more diffcult. However, what is important is that you are aware of the initiatives that are on the ballot and how they will affect you and your course. Get out and vote. The preparation to vote takes a little bit of time, but the process is relatively easy, thanks to the 2002 Help America Vote Act. All states offer early voting, which allows voters the opportunity to vote if they can’t get to the polls on Election Day. Some states also open their polls the weekend before Election Day in order to make voting as easy as possible. This month, the GCSAA Grassroots Ambassadors will be registering others to vote at chapter meetings and at their facilities. In November, they will be encouraging other GCSAA members to become informed on issues and candidates and to go to the polls and vote. We want you to join GCSAA on social media and use the hashtag #golfvotes. As we continue our grassroots efforts, we will use this social media campaign to show members of Congress that not only does golf have an economic impact in their districts, but its workers vote as well.

Kaelyn Seymour is GCSAA’s government relations specialist.

Bunny Smith bsmith@gcsaa.org twitter: @GCM_Magazine

(water)

The natural

“The aesthetics of the golf course have changed quite a bit. Either they (members) loved it or they hated it. Now most have grown to accept it.” — Steve Sinclair, CGCS

GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT 10.14

Nestled in the west San Fernando Valley, among the rolling foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains, Woodland Hills Country Club has been feeling the pain of a three-year drought along with the rest of Southern California. For the club’s superintendent, maintaining the golf course around water restrictions isn’t exactly breaking news. “Unfortunately, weather has always dictated our water use as much as anything else,” says Steve Sinclair, CGCS, who’s been heading up golf course operations at Woodland Hills for the past 22 years. So Sinclair began pinching off the spigots fve years ago with the frst phase in a planned reduction of maintained turf. At this 89-yearold layout, built at the height of the “golden age” of golf course architecture and designed by renowned architect William “Billy” Bell Sr., that’s a tricky business. “We had to start small,” says Sinclair, who is a 23-year member of GCSAA. “This is a tight old course, built in 1925 on 70 acres.” By the numbers, that means the maintenance team’s accomplishment of replacing 7 acres of turf with several types of naturalized areas has reduced inputs to one-tenth of the golf course. On the hillsides, beds of mulch planted with species such as lantana, acacia and rock rose that are native to Southern California resemble a desert landscape. An effcient drip-irrigation system keeps these “known low-water-users” alive through the worst of the drought, Sinclair says. Level areas have been seeded with warm-season native grasses — dotted here and there with desert marigold “for color and contrast.” These areas, where the grasses can grow as tall as 2 feet in the summer, require little to no irrigation. “The aesthetics of the golf course have changed quite a bit. Either they (members) loved it or they hated it,” Sinclair recalls. “Now most have grown to accept it.” What might be easier to accept is the 10 percent savings in water costs, which Sinclair says have doubled over the last seven years. The club also took advantage of a $1-per-square-foot rebate from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power to move sprinkler heads, install the drip irrigation and plant native species. Sinclair points out that superintendents

Water savings at Southern California’s Woodland Hills CC have been achieved by installing native ornamentals in mulch beds on hillsides (top) and planting warm-season native grasses in fat spots (bottom). Photos courtesy of Steve Sinclair

pondering similar projects should know that “natural” is not the same as “easy.” “I think it’s more work to maintain a native area than to maintain turf,” he says. “Don’t look at it as labor-saving, especially in the frst couple of years.” Seeding of the newest naturalized areas was completed as recently as last month, and Sinclair says he will be taking up the matter of designating additional areas for naturalization at the club’s next board meeting. The timing couldn’t be more critical, given the ongoing drought and the recent news that the club will have to wait until 2019 to receive reclaimed water — not next year, as the city had previously promised. “Rainfall would solve a lot of problems here,” Sinclair says. Bunny Smith is GCM’s senior managing editor.

Bob Vaughey, CGCS bobbyslo@me.com Twitter: @rollinghillsgcm

(technology)

Taking the technology plunge

Photo illustration by Igor Stevanovic/Shutterstock.com

Helpful links Basic advice: http://home.mcafee.com/ advicecenter/?id=ad_ost_tohtpyo&ctst=1 Computer backups: http://www.pcworld.com/article/2065126/ the-absurdly-simple-guide-to-backing-upyour-pc.html Online shopping tips: http://www.staysafeonline.org/stay-safeonline/protect-your-personal-information/ online-shopping Safe Social networking: http://www.networkworld.com/ article/2346606/microsoft-subnet/12-tipsfor-safe-social-networking.html

GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT 10.14

Since I began writing this column for GCM, I have felded a number of technologyrelated questions from fellow superintendents. One of the most common questions from superintendents looking to dive into some of the technologies discussed here and modernize their maintenance operations is a simple, “Where do I start?” While I have written about Twitter, the use of drones and new irrigation technologies, among other things, these tools and apps tend to intimidate some who don’t have a base of knowledge to start with. First, let me reassure you that while you can break a computer, tablet or phone by experimenting with it, those problems are typically software related, and in most cases, those can be easily resolved. Regardless of what you do, the device is not likely to catch fre or break into a million pieces. That being said, I have a few words of advice that I hope will take the intimidation factor out of trying new technologies and will protect both you and your information. First, always have a backup of the information on your devices. And don’t simply back up your computer once or twice a year; use an active backup that automatically backs up on a regular schedule. At our facility, our offce computers and other devices back up to a hard drive built into our router. If any of our computers completely crashes, these backups give us the ability to have a new one set up and running, with every fle and setting exactly the same as it was before, in two hours. Everything backs up on an hourly basis so, at worst, we would lose one hour of work. Both Apple and Windows offer similar options for backup, and some services are available online that do the same,

such as Mozy (http://mozy.com/#slide-5) and Carbonite (www.carbonite.com). Editor’s note: To see videos further demonstrating these backup options and more, visit the GCM blog at http://gcm.typepad.com Second, use antivirus software and other protection tools, especially if you are using Windows-based computers. While Apple products are not immune to attacks, they are far less vulnerable than Windows products. One key reason for that is that the number of Windows users far outpaces Mac users, so they are simply targeted more frequently. Do not open unknown emails, attachments or links to unknown websites. There are many ways hackers can access your computer and most will go unnoticed beyond some general slowing of your computer. Antivirus software can be a bit annoying at times, but it’s well worth the investment if only for creating some peace of mind. Now that your computer is protected and backed up, the real fun can begin. While the more adventurous might be inclined to explore the inner workings of the hardware you’re using, I’d suggest staying away from that and focusing your time on specifc apps, programs and online resources. Explore cloud-based or online programs and apps. Check out online options for offce documents, scheduling tools and other regular tasks. Sign up for Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Use these new avenues to connect with other superintendents. As you get more comfortable with both the hardware and software you’re using, you can move on to more advanced concepts. Everyone starts somewhere, and only through trial and error do they become profcient with computers. Remember, you have everything backed up, you have virus protection and, hopefully, most of your work is actually being performed on the cloud and not on your physical machine, so you can feel comfortable exploring all these technologies have to offer without fear.

Bob Vaughey, CGCS, is the director of agronomy at Rolling Hills Country Club in Palos Verdes, Calif., and a 10-year GCSAA member.

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READY READY push to roll

rpull

A small-engine expert offers tips for year-round maintenance Dale Gabrielse

Photo illustration courtesy of Subaru Industrial Power Products

Replace a dirty, shrunken or torn air flter to ensure the engine gets enough air to run effciently. Photos courtesy of Subaru Industrial Power

Power equipment like snow blowers, power washers, generators and lawnmowers are built to do a specifc job and, in most cases, they do it well. But when a piece of equipment doesn’t perform as it should — or not at all — it not only impacts how safely, effciently and quickly you can do your job, but it can also impact your bottom line. That’s why proper engine maintenance and on- and off-season preparation are crucial. Without this attention, the engine’s performance could be diminished and its lifespan drastically reduced, which means you’ll be spending more time and money on repairs or replacements. And when your equipment is out of commission, it also means projects on the golf course start running behind schedule. But make regular engine maintenance a habit and the reverse is true; machines run at peak performance, engines last longer, and the potential for injuries and costly damage to components is reduced. Get fired up Before you fre up the engine at the start of a season, make sure it’s ready. Inspect the engine on a stable, fat surface in a well-ventilated area away from ignition sources. Check all components to make sure they are clean, in good condition and frmly in place, including the spark plugs, muffer and fuel cap. Also be sure wires and fuel hoses are intact and in good condition. Damaged fuel hoses can allow fuel to escape, which increases the risk of fre when they are near a hot engine. Tighten or replace bolts that might have become

GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT 10.14

loose or damaged due to vibrations or fuctuations in temperature. Operating equipment with loose or broken fasteners could result in serious damage to the engine and operator. Clean air is crucial to the engine’s effciency. To make sure it’s getting enough, check the air flter and replace it if it’s dirty. Also replace a foam flter that has torn or shrunk so contaminants don’t get into the engine. Even more vital to engine effciency is fuel. If it hasn’t been treated with a stabilizer, it degrades and becomes stale. Stale fuel causes residue buildup that can plug the carburetor and prevent the engine from

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starting. To avoid this entirely, always replace old fuel. Oil that hasn’t been changed regularly can become thick and gummy and increase the risk of corrosion that can keep the engine from running effciently. Replace it with oil that has the proper weight as specifed in the owner’s manual. If the engine has accumulated dirt and dust while in storage, a thorough cleaning will get rid of buildup and keep it running effciently. Make sure the engine — and the recoil starter, if the engine is equipped with one — is free from dirt, grass or other debris. Also make sure the cooling fns under the shroud are clean and free of obstructions that could cause the head area to overheat. You can use an air hose to blow off the engine or wipe it down with a dry rag. Avoid washing it with a hose or pressure washer, which could force water into the engine and cause corrosion. Now you’re ready to roll, push or pull into the season. What to do when… It’s not uncommon to occasionally experience problems with starting or lost power. When this happens, always begin by inspecting the four things an engine needs to operate: fuel, oil, spark and compression. Always make sure there is enough fuel in the tank and the fuel valve, if the engine is equipped with one,

Change oil regularly to prevent it from becoming thick and gummy.

GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT 10.14

is open and in the “on” position. Also ensure the engine has enough oil and the ignition is turned on. While these are obvious concerns, checking them frst can save you a lot of time and hassle. In addition, make sure enough fuel is making its way to the engine. Choke and pull the starter fve or six times, then remove the spark plug and see if the electrode is wet. A dry electrode indicates that not enough fuel is being supplied to the engine, which can be a result of several issues and should be inspected by a repair shop. An improperly gapped or loose spark plug also could be the culprit of an engine that doesn’t start. Inspect it to make sure the porcelain and electrodes are not damaged and that it’s properly gapped so it can fre effciently. Refer to the manufacturer’s manual for the recommended gap distance. Tighten the spark plug frmly, but don’t make it too snug as this can damage the threads in the cylinder head. You also should check to ensure the spark plug is producing a spark. To test it, take the cap off and remove the spark plug from the engine. Insert it back into the cap and place the metal base against the engine, which will ground the current as you test. Ensure the ignition is in the “on” position and slowly turn the engine over. If the plug does not produce a spark, then it should be replaced. Also test the engine’s compression by slowly turn-

2014 EARLY ORDER PROGRAM FMC is offering turf and ornamental professionals significant savings, portfolio bonuses and extended terms on many of our most popular products. The more you buy, the more you earn! Dates: The FMC Early Order Program runs from September 15, 2014 to December 12, 2014. Rebate Savings: Earn up to 13%. Refer to the participating FMC products on page 2 for rebate savings per unit.

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Achieve the top rebate level ($ 2,500+) and you will qualify to earn the November to December Base Rebate per unit listed on page 2 on all future purchases through June 30, 2015. Extended Terms: The Early Order Program enables you to purchase products at current pricing and receive extended terms. Payment for agency products will be due on June 10, 2015. Prices and terms for qualifying FMC Distributor Products (non-agency) are determined by the FMC Authorized Distributor. Redemption: To be eligible to receive your rebate, complete the following easy steps: 1. Visit our website at www.fmceop.com 2. Complete the form online by entering the required information. The form will automatically calculate your estimated Base Rebate and your B.Y.O.B. Incentive. 3. The rebate form must be submitted online at www.fmceop.com no later than January 16, 2015. Please keep a copy of your e-mail confirmation for your records.

2014 FMC Early Order Program Information (Go to website for a complete list of terms and conditions)

• To qualify, the participating end-user must earn a rebate minimum of $200.00 on FMC qualifying products. • Product must be purchased through authorized FMC agent(s) or distributor(s) between September 15 and December 12, 2014. • This program applies only to qualified end-user professionals in golf, lawn care, sports turf, greenhouse, nursery and sod farms. • Echelon® herbicide on-fertilizer commitments must be made from September 15, 2014 to December 12, 2014. Actual purchases of committed volume may be made from September 15, 2014 through May 31, 2015. Invoices will be required to verify Echelon® onfertilizer purchases. • Rebates will be based upon reported sales from the FMC authorized agent(s) or distributor(s). Copies of invoices may be requested to verify actual product purchases if FMC cannot verify the purchase through electronic data received directly from the FMC Authorized Distributor or Agent. • Invoiced prices and terms for qualifying FMC Distributor Products are determined by the FMC Authorized Distributor. Prices and terms for qualifying FMC Agency Products are determined by FMC. Agency products are noted with a listed price per unit on page 2 of this form. • Rebates will be calculated based on the "Base Rebate Per Unit" earnings structure listed on page 2 based on when the product was purchased during the respective time periods. The B.Y.O.B. Incentive will be based on a percent of the corresponding base rebate earned through purchases. FMC program administration will be responsible for completing final calculations. All decisions are final. Program cannot be combined with any other FMC marketing programs being offered. • All rebates—unless otherwise specified in writing by the end-user—will be issued to the qualifying agent(s) or distributor(s) who processed the order. The rebate will appear as a credit on the end-user’s account. Rebate will be issued to the participating agent(s) or distributor(s) on or before July 31, 2015. A letter will be sent to the end-user detailing the credit and identifying the authorized agent(s) or distributor(s). If end-user prefers a check, please note that request on your respective rebate form. • FMC Corporation reserves the right to cancel or modify this program at any time. • Taxes on earnings are the responsibility of the program participant.

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GH/N

Nov to Dec Base Rebate per Unit

# of Units

Total Rebate

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Dismiss® South

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Echelon 4SC

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4 Units

$24.75 x

$16.50 x

Echelon® on Fertilizer

0.30%

1 Unit

$1.00

$0.65

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$1.20

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= =

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QuickSilver®

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1 Unit

$7.50

$5.00

Onyx® Pro (RUP)

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Talstar® Professional

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4 Units

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FMC PRODUCT PURCHASE TOTAL

Sept to Oct Base Rebate per Unit

Disarm C

Dismiss®

FMC HERBICIDES

Minimum Price Order* per Unit

CALCULATE YOUR REBATE

Disarm® M

FMC INSECTICIDES

Golf

Pack Size

Lawn

2014 EARLY ORDER PROGRAM

NUMBER OF PRODUCT LINES PURCHASED

1 2 3

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$3.25

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$11.50 x

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Golf Use

Lawn Use

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Greenhouse/Nursery Use

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Zip:

FMC reserves the right to change any or all features associated with this announcement at any time. This form is not a contract. Only sales from FMC Authorized Distributors or Sales Agents may participate in this program. Always read and follow label directions. FMC, Blindside, Dismiss, Echelon, Onyx, QuickSilver, Solitare, SquareOne, Triple Crown and Talstar are trademarks of FMC Corporation. Aria is a trademark of Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha, LTD. Verge is a trademark of Oil-Dri Corporation of America. DISARM, the DISARM logo, XONERATE and the XONERATE logo are registered trademarks of Arysta LifeScience North America, LLC. Onyx Pro, Triple Crown Golf, Talstar Select and Talstar XTRA GC are restricted use pesticides. ©2014 FMC Corporation. All rights reserved.

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Ensure all wires are intact and in good condition.

ing it over, but not starting it. If you can do this with little to no resistance, it’s an indication of a compression problem, and the engine should be taken to a repair shop. If the unit has a battery, the terminals need to be clean and free of corrosion so there are good connections. If they need to be cleaned, wear gloves to disconnect the cables and remove the battery. Use a stiff wire bristle brush to remove any residue. If the unit has a fuse, also check to make sure it hasn’t burned out. If your engine still doesn’t start, it’s time to visit the repair shop. On the other hand, if your engine starts but operates with less power than normal, there’s still more you can do yourself. Make sure the air flter is clean and unobstructed. If the fuel has a distinct odor, similar to varnish, it’s likely stale and could have caused residue buildup that plugged the carburetor. If so, you’ll need to replace the fuel and clean the carburetor. Typically, you can use carburetor cleaner found at most automotive stores. Any time issues arise, it’s a good idea to go to the manufacturer’s website; many of them offer how-to videos on troubleshooting common issues. But what’s even more critical than troubleshooting is heading off those unexpected problems with regular maintenance.

GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT 10.14

Keep it going Before every startup, inspect the unit for damage, make sure fuids are clean and that they are at the appropriate levels. Keep your eyes, ears and nose open when operating power equipment. Excessive vibration or noise could indicate loose fasteners or other serious problems with the engine, and strong smells could be a sign of a potentially hazardous leak. If you sense something is out of the ordinary, stop the machine immediately and allow it to cool. Place it on a fat, level surface in a well-ventilated area and inspect it thoroughly. It’s also important to regularly change the oil to prevent corrosion. Periodically inspect the air flter and fasteners that could have loosened during use. Engines that remain stationary during operation, like those found in generators, must be placed in a well-ventilated area far from doors and vents with the exhaust facing away from walls. This prevents the engine from overheating and reduces the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. It’s also a good idea to close the windows and doors of nearby structures when the engine is running to keep out fumes. That’s a wrap Most equipment is not operated year-round, so it’s vital to prepare the engine for long-term storage.

Making sure the spark plug is properly gapped and producing a spark is one way to troubleshoot an engine that won’t start.

These simple steps will ensure it doesn’t become damaged by rust or corrosion and make it easier to get the machine up and running next season. As mentioned before, stale fuel has the potential to plug the carburetor. To eliminate the risk of issues next season, clear the lines by draining the fuel tank and running the engine dry. Another option is to add fuel stabilizer, which keeps the fuel from going stale and prevents corrosion and rust within the tank. First, fll the tank with fresh fuel, which leaves no room for condensation that can lead to rust and fuel contamination. Next, add the fuel stabilizer. Refer to the instructions on the bottle for the recommended amount. Start the engine and allow it to run briefy until the stabilizer is cycled through the system. Keep in mind that stabilizer is only good for about one year. If you will be storing the engine for longer than that, you should drain the fuel. It’s also a good idea to lubricate the system to inhibit rust formation. Remove the spark plug and spray fogging oil or use a dropper to place one tablespoon of oil in the spark plug hole. Distribute the oil throughout the combustion chamber by pulling the recoil rope until you’ve reached top dead center, which means the piston is at its highest point. This ensures the intake and the exhaust valves are closed, and the potential for air, water or pests to enter is

GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT 10.14

eliminated. Clean or change the air flter if necessary; doing it now means a quicker startup next season. Also replace the engine’s oil. In addition to acid buildup that can corrode the engine’s internal components like the crankshaft and connecting rods, water and particles collect in the oil during normal use. Leaving those contaminates in the oil during storage also leads to corrosion. Cover your equipment with plastic to keep dust and debris out. Store it on a level surface in a well-ventilated area away from furnaces, stoves, water heaters, motors or anything else that has an ignition source or could produce a spark. Moisture promotes rust and corrosion, so keep the equipment in a dry area with low humidity. With the right preparation, your equipment will withstand the effects of long-term storage. Whether it’s a walk-behind mower, snow blower, generator, power washer or some other piece of power equipment, following these guidelines and the manufacturer’s manual for engine maintenance and troubleshooting will keep it in top shape so it’s ready when you need it.

Dale Gabrielse is in sales and marketing support for Subaru’s Industrial Power Products division.

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COMPELLING

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Removing hazardous trees on the golf course is often a hard sell. Harness the power of persuasion to convince stakeholders to take action. John C. Fech, Ph.D.

Photo by J.P. Chretien/Shutterstock.com

The failure of a tree puts golfers, workers, golf cars and other property at risk. Tree injuries and defects are much easier to prevent than fx. Photos courtesy of John Fech

On the golf course, hazardous trees are problems waiting to happen. Regardless of how they got that way — basal decay and other root plate defects, root entanglement, co-dominant leaders, cracks in the trunk, root separation from soil and subsequent leaning, heartwood decay or borer-infested cambium — the trees have reached the stage where failure will likely require action. The word “action” conjures up all sorts of perceptions and questions: Why take action? What kind of action? What if I don’t want to take action? What if the course can’t afford it? What if it causes a disruption in our maintenance schedule? What if I do nothing and just hope for the best? Are there several acceptable actions or just one? As you read along, keep these questions in mind. Methods of persuasion There are many ways to persuade people to take a certain action or make a certain choice. Television advertising is perhaps the best everyday example of persuasion. Ad agencies are well known for creating a need, seizing an existing need and using positively perceived trends such as recycling, eating organic food and other socially conscious activities. With tree hazards, there is no need to create a need; one has been created for you. The best approach is to deal with the existing need in a responsible manner through facts, feelings and fnances. Facts Joe Friday, a police detective in the television series “Dragnet,” often exhorted his witnesses to stick to the facts — “Just the facts, ma’am.” As with most issues on the golf course, focusing on the facts is a

GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT 10.14

good place to start and help address the “what” and “why” questions. Tree injuries and defects are much easier to prevent than fx. Mechanical injury to the trunk, sometimes referred to as “mower blight,” is a good case in point; rabbit and mouse damage is another. Once the bark and cambium (conductive vessels located just under the bark) are damaged, a tree’s capacity to move water and nutrients throughout becomes compromised. As much as is feasible, strive to separate trees from turf by placing mulch at the root fare, starting 4 to 6 inches away from the base of the trunk and extending it into the turf as far as golf play will allow. Mulching has other benefts as well, such as reducing turf and tree competition, suppressing weed growth and allowing each tree to be watered and fertilized separately according to its own needs. As simple as it may sound, using proper tree plant-

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When small branches become affected by extreme weather or pests, corrective pruning may be required. This preventive step will go a long way toward retaining a valuable tree on the course.

Defective or hazardous trees subtract signifcantly from their positive effects, such as adding structure and shade to the landscape. ing procedures is crucial. Digging an adequately sized planting area instead of a hole that just fts the root mass will loosen surrounding soil and support stronger root establishment during drought periods. Try to avoid disturbing the soil in the bottom of the hole or settling may cause the tree to end up deeper than intended. Compost should not be added to the backfll when planting, but can be used to topdress a large area around the tree where roots will grow in the future. Wood chip mulch can also be used for this purpose. To properly plant a tree, place the root mass in the planting hole at the appropriate depth. Begin flling the planting hole with soil, and when the hole is approximately one-third full, gently replace and settle the soil around the root mass. After this, continue to fll the planting hole, stopping every few inches to settle the soil with water. Ensuring good soil/root contact will help the tree maximize water uptake during dry conditions. During the planting process, look for

Minimizing tree liability GCSAA offers an on-demand webcast, “Waiting for the other limb to fall: Minimizing tree liability,” presented by John C. Fech, Ph.D. In this 90-minute program, Fech will focus on the topics covered in this feature article, including how to identify hazardous trees, document inspection and assess observations for stakeholders. Also covered are management practices that can extend a tree’s life, procedures that keep trees thriving and help with making the retain/remove decision. The webcast is free for GCSAA members; the nonmember fee is $60. Members will receive 0.20 education points.

GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT 10.14

roots at the edge of the root mass that are beginning to grow in a circular fashion and separate them from the mass, reorienting them laterally in the planting hole, in an arrangement similar to spokes on a bicycle wheel. When small branches become affected by extreme weather or pests, corrective pruning may be required. This preventive step will go a long way toward retaining a valuable tree on the course. Branch removal is an injury itself, but when properly performed, it allows the tree to begin the compartmentalization/ recovery process. Some defects are worse than others. Co-dominant leaders that appear healthy, minor to moderate heartwood decay and girdling roots should be noted and closely monitored. Trees that are leaning, have cracks in the trunk or scaffold limbs and decay in the root fare are much more problematic. To obtain assistance with evaluating the threat that each defect poses to the course, it’s wise to seek out an arborist who has earned certifcation with the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) or the equivalent state arborists association. ISA also offers special certifcation in tree risk assessment. Feelings As humans, we all have feelings and emotions that guide our actions. Some of us are more stoic and others are more effusive and sensitive. Using what you know about the stakeholders’ feelings, you may choose an approach that emphasizes the aesthetic and functional benefts of trees on the golf course or one that stresses the consequences of tree-related injuries and fatalities. People are rarely completely affected by one or the other; in almost all cases, it’s a mixture of the two,

Some tree defects, such as this co-dominant leader, need to be noted and closely monitored, while others require immediate attention to avoid an accident and possible injury from tree failure.

with most identifying with one to a lessor or greater degree. Without a doubt, trees add a great deal of positive value in the form of beauty, structure and shade. Defective or hazardous trees can degrade the positive to a large extent. The second approach can tug on the stakeholders’ heartstrings a bit. When using the feelings strategy, it usually adds clarity to point out where a hazardous tree exists on the course and then explain the concept of “target.” Targets are objects of importance on your property that trees (or tree parts) could fall on. The most common targets are people, houses, sheds, power lines, cars and fences. The farther a defective tree is from these targets, the less signifcant its level of hazard is.

GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT 10.14

Finances Right or wrong, many decisions are based strictly on the costs involved. Cost should certainly be a factor, but when it comes to spending money on trees, there are three classes of costs: (1) ongoing maintenance, (2) inspection protocols/tools and risk assessment and (3) engagement — hazards, targets, negligence, accidents and lawsuits. The good news is that if dollars are spent on the frst two, the third is rarely necessary. Keep these things in mind while you are putting together your strategy of persuasion. • Unless it’s a sapling, every tree carries some level of risk. • Managing tree risk is similar to risk management in other golf course operations — for example, the swimming pool, clubhouse, golf car rental and refreshment stands. • “Hazard” simply means that some level of injury threshold has been surpassed and should be dealt with. • The reasons for concern are safety and accident prevention for golfers and golf course workers. • A quick Internet search of “golf course tree accidents” or a similar phrase will turn up a few unpleasant news stories. • Property owners have a duty to exercise reasonable care or they are negligent. If a tree catastrophe occurs, that means they have failed in that duty (a breach), that the failure caused injury and that the injury caused real harm to people and property. The failure in duty exists when it can be documented by expert testimony that customary practices

Basal decay and other root plate defects are strong indicators that action needs to be taken.

were not followed. Documents and photos are methods of proving negligence. A stakeholder might try to argue that the business is not responsible for an accident involving a tree because it was “an act of God.” Such a notion is not a good defense for negligence because the only real way for this defense to be plausible is for the tree to be planted by nature and never have been signifcantly infuenced by humans, which pretty much excludes all trees on a golf course. The trees in the rough might qualify — maybe — but why would you want to take the risk? Thus, “It was an act of God” doesn’t really apply here. Two basic questions will be asked after a catastrophic tree failure: Were the managers (superintendents) negligent, and would the hazard have been recognized upon inspection before the failure? Conducting inspections and stabilization actions and removals proactively adds fexibility to the superintendents’ schedule, rather than Mother Nature’s. When this occurs, appropriate staff scheduling is possible, which tends to lower costs. The worst-case scenario is when a tree fails just before a tournament or at the peak of seasonal golf play, leading to a shutdown on parts of the course and a loss of revenue overall. Persuasive protocol Once the stakeholders’ attention has been attracted, a good approach is to switch gears to “Now

GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT 10.14

what?” or a plan of prevention and action. Based on the platform of the three F’s — facts, feelings and fnances — a superintendent can develop a responsible and logical protocol. • Identify and locate hazardous trees. • Persuade stakeholders to approve removals and stabilization efforts. • Prioritize and target trees based on the probability of failure with assistance from a certifed arborist. • Develop an action plan based on categorization of high, medium and low hazards/targets with phase 1, 2 and 3 removals and re-plants in low-target/ high-beneft locations. Because it can be diffcult to predict how stakeholders will respond to a discussion and suggested future protocol on this topic, it may be helpful to role play with another superintendent or property owner. The idea here is to practice the presentation and to bring to light possible objections to tree inspection, risk assessment, stabilization and removal. The goal for such an exercise is to convince the stakeholders that action is necessary.

John C. Fech, Ph.D., is a horticulturalist with the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, and an ISA-certifed arborist who is a frequent contributor to GCM.

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AT THE TURN Kate Cahow

Grandfather G&CC has succeeded in protecting its 1,100 forested acres from the dreaded hemlock woolly adelgid. Success is evident in the abundance of hemlocks thriving on the property, such as these giants lining the fairway. Photos by Kate Cahow

(tree management)

Saving a giant If we were to lose this tree species, what else might we lose? What kind of trickle-down effect would such a loss have on the biology of the creeks and wildlife? What would such a loss do to the forest? — Peter Gerdon

GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT 10.14

Biological predators of the hemlock woolly adelgid are saving hemlocks at Grandfather Golf & Country Club in Linville, N.C. It’s a slightly overcast day on the greens of Grandfather Golf & Country Club in the highlands of North Carolina. Dramatic silver-tinged clouds frame iconic Grandfather Mountain as a backdrop to the scene. In the lush forest surrounding the club property, there’s no sign of the devastation left in the wake of a notorious insect pest that’s wreaking havoc on hemlock stands up and down the East Coast—and for good reason. From the vantage point of the seventh hole on the club’s Championship Course, Grandfather G&CC superintendent Peter Gerdon spins his tale of “saving a giant.” “We have a tremendous number of hemlocks on this property, and literally thousands of them are comparable in size to these on either side of the seventh hole,” Gerdon says, gesturing toward two magnifcent specimens of one of the region’s keystone tree species, each towering nearly 70 feet high. “Hemlocks contribute so much to our environment at Grandfather Golf & Country Club. If we were to lose this tree species, what else might we lose? What kind of trickle-down effect would such a loss have on the biology of the creeks and wildlife? What would such a loss do to the forest? These are important questions to consider when dealing with the problem.” The problem the 32-year GCSAA Class A member is referring to is the threat posed to hemlocks in the eastern United States by an aphid-like insect called the hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae or HWA). Its common name refers to the insect’s resemblance to tiny tufts of cotton clinging to hemlock needles. The adelgid weakens and, unless interrupted and controlled,

“We’re excited to be on the cutting edge of a very successful approach to the HWA problem,” says Gerdon. “We’ve allocated a lot of funding and resources to save our hemlocks, and as a golf course superintendent, I feel fortunate that our membership has chosen to be proactive in the saving of this giant.”

The efforts of Peter Gerdon and Richard McDonald, Ph.D., at Grandfather G&CC show that a biologically based pest management program for hemlocks is practical and effective for large-scale acreage.

GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT 10.14

kills hemlocks by feeding on the sap of tender hemlock shoots. It has been decimating eastern and Carolina hemlock populations up and down the eastern seaboard for nearly three decades. Gerdon, with the support of his staff, the Grandfather G&CC general management, club members and local entomologist Richard McDonald, Ph.D., has led the charge against the adelgid for the past 12 years, employing chemicals for the short term, but focusing on the long-term benefts of biological predators. The sweet success of their efforts is evident in an abundance of hemlocks thriving on the club’s 1,100 acres and even miles beyond its borders.

On the trail of a killer In the fall of 2002, Gerdon and his employees noticed a white, waxy substance on hemlock trees on the course and surrounding property. The Avery County Cooperative Extension Service identifed samples as hemlock woolly adelgid. This was the frst verifed outbreak of the pest in the county. A native of China, Japan, Taiwan and the U.S. Pacifc Northwest, hemlock woolly adelgid was accidentally introduced into the eastern U.S. in the early 1950s in shipments of weeping hemlocks from Japan. It was not considered a pest insect until the late 1980s, when foresters began to observe hemlock death in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. Today, more than 80 percent of the hemlocks in the Shenandoah region are dead, and hemlock woolly adelgid is in outbreak mode from Georgia to Maine, continuing its attack on hemlock trees and devastating natural ecosystems. “By the time HWA was recognized as an aggressive pest, it was already in outbreak stage up and down the East Coast,” says McDonald, owner of Symbiont Biological Control and Pest Management. He’s been involved with adelgid control efforts since 1999. “In the late 1990s I began hearing that HWA was going to be a terrible pest and a threat to the entire hemlock ecosystem,” says McDonald. “Hemlocks are a critical keystone species, particularly in the Southern Appalachians where some of the region’s oldest and largest stands are located. There’s no other tree that can replace the hemlock in this environment.” Hemlocks play an integral role in the health and stability of mountain ecosystems like those at Grandfather G&CC by providing habitat for wildlife and botanical diversity. Their willowy, shade-producing branches help maintain cool mountain streams that are home to trout, other native fsh and a wide variety of aquatic life forms. The logical answer to Gerdon’s question, “What kind of trickle-down effect would such a loss have on the biology of the creeks and wildlife?” is that it would be devastating. The U.S. Forest Service has warned of an ecological disaster comparable to the chestnut blight,

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Peter Gerdon, superintendent at Grandfather G&CC, has placed his employer on the cutting edge of controlling the hemlock woolly adelgid, an insect pest that’s wreaking havoc on hemlock stands up and down the East Coast. Top left: Laricobius nigrinus, a winter-active beetle, is the primary weapon in the battle to control the hemlock woolly adelgid. The L. nigrinus larvae hatch and feed on adelgid eggs and crawlers, causing 90 percent or greater mortality of the pest. Photos courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service Top right: Scymnus coniferarum, the summer equivalent of L. nigrinus, completes the perfect tag team for aggressive hemlock woolly adelgid control. Bottom: Hemlock woolly adelgid infestations are clearly visible and resemble tiny tufts of cotton that cling to hemlock needles.

GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT 10.14

which eliminated chestnut trees from the Southern Appalachians and radically changed the forests of the Southeast in the mid-1900s. Formulating a battle plan Once Gerdon and Grandfather G&CC former general manager Norris Clifton became aware of the dangers of hemlock woolly adelgid infestation, they took aggressive action. And, wisely, they never gave up hope. They attended an informational meeting on the pest and potential control methods at Appalachian State University in August 2002. Entomologists from Virginia Tech were present to discuss a predatory beetle, Laricobius nigrinus, they were lab rearing for adelgid control. At that point, nobody in the industry knew L. nigrinus and hemlock woolly adelgid were both native to the U.S. Pacifc Northwest. This discovery soon became the big game changer in fghting the pest. As the lab-reared L. nigrinus beetles (biological control agents) would not be available to the private sector in adequate numbers for several years, Gerdon and Clifton settled on using chemicals to stem the tide of Grandfather G&CC’s infestation. “We knew we’d experience a high mortality rate on our trees if we didn’t act quickly,” Gerdon says. “We just had to fgure out how

to control chemically without adverse effects on the environment.” Starting in the spring of 2003, they began treatment on the 18-hole championship and executive golf courses, then incorporated other areas of the 1,100-acre property, including member residences. On both courses they applied soil injections of Merit in two concentric rings around the hemlocks. Near the lake and waterways they secured a 100-foot buffer around trees to be treated, then inserted capsules with Merit and a micronutrient package earmarked for hemlocks into holes drilled in the trees (see sidebar for details). From 2003 to 2007, a four-man crew applied the treatments from early spring into the fall. “The process was extremely labor-intensive and expensive, and involved thousands and thousands of trees. Our guys frequently had to crawl through rhododendrons to reach the trees. But it was well worth the effort,” says Gerdon. “Treating chemically made our trees less susceptible to HWA stress and death for the short term, and likely gave us three to fve years of control before we began working with the biological control predators.” Bring on the biologicals In 2006, the U.S. Forest Service discov-

Hemlocks play a critical role in conserving mountain ecosystems; their branches supply much-needed shade to cool streams that are home to trout, other native fsh and a variety of aquatic life forms.

“We’re attempting to recreate that balance here by introducing HWA’s natural predators, and we’ve identifed L. nigrinus as one of the best,” — Richard McDonald

GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT 10.14

ered through DNA analysis that the hemlock woolly adelgid was native to the Pacifc Northwest. According to McDonald, whose entomological focus is biological control of insects, “This changed everything.” “It meant both the adelgid and L. nigrinus are native to our country, and we could begin collecting L. nigrinus and bringing it back to the East Coast to use as a predator in HWAinfested regions,” he says. He explained that in the Pacifc Northwest, hemlock woolly adelgid is not a problem for hemlocks because it is kept in check by a natural system of insects. It has become a pest on the East Coast because no natural predators are present in the environment. Once the adelgid infestation spreads to 45 percent of a tree’s needles, the tree begins to decline, making this the ecological threshold for taking action. “We’re attempting to recreate that balance here by introducing HWA’s natural predators, and we’ve identifed L. nigrinus as one of the best,” says McDonald. “When present, this beetle lowers the infestation rate of HWA on hemlocks well below the threshold, enabling them to regrow normally.” Laricobius nigrinus is a tiny black beetle that McDonald describes as an “oddball” be-

cause it’s active in the winter, the inverse of most insects, which complete their life cycle in the spring and summer then go dormant in the fall. “Both L. nigrinus and HWA are unusual in this regard,” he says. “The adelgid is in a resting stage in the summer, and around midOctober, when temperatures begin to cool, it comes out of its dormancy.” That’s when L. nigrinus arrives on the scene. It feeds on all life stages of the adelgid throughout the late fall and winter and into early May. It dramatically lowers the infestation rate of the adelgid, allowing trees to regrow and thrive even in the continued presence of the pest. This makes L. nigrinus a perfect match for controlling the adelgid. In 2008, McDonald and Gerdon received support from the Grandfather G&CC board of directors to collect L. nigrinus beetles in the Pacifc Northwest for introduction to their property. Over the past six years, they have collected about 14,000 L. nigrinus beetles for release at more than 40 sites on Grandfather G&CC grounds, making the club the largest L. nigrinus release site on the East Coast. A second hemlock woolly adelgid predator, Scymnus coniferarum, a small black and gold ladybeetle, was discovered in the Pacifc

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Northwest by McDonald and a U.S. Forest Service researcher in 2006. This summeractive beetle is a natural complement to the winter-active L. nigrinus, creating an aggressive tag team for attacking the adelgid. Both L. nigrinus and S. coniferarum have been approved for release on the East Coast by the state of North Carolina and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. A shining future for hemlocks The work done at Grandfather G&CC shows how a biologically based pest manage-

ment program for hemlocks is practical and effective for large-scale acreage. McDonald calls the program a “shining success for the High Country.” “Because Pete, Norris, club members and their board of directors were willing to take a chance on this until-now-unproven pest management approach, Grandfather Golf & Country Club’s 1,100 acres are lush with healthy hemlocks,” McDonald says. “And they’ve saved not only their own hemlocks, they’re helping to save and protect the entire region’s hemlock ecosystem.”

Chemical and biological control of hemlock woolly adelgid Chemical control, 2003-2007

• Kiortz soil injections were used on large- to medium-sized trees at Grandfather G&CC: applied in two concentric rings around trees at 3-foot and 6- to 8-foot intervals from trees. • Mauget injections were used on hemlocks within 100 feet of waterways and injected into 12-15 holes drilled 4 feet up from the ground. • Visibly stressed trees were treated with Stemix, a micronutrient package earmarked for hemlocks; capsules were inserted into existing holes from Mauget injections.

Biological control, 2008-present Laricobius nigrinus, the winter predator

• Laricobius nigrinus females lay their eggs in adelgid egg sacs during the spring; L. nigrinus larvae hatch and feed on adelgid eggs and crawlers, causing 90 percent or greater mortality of the adelgid. • As of 2014, approximately 14,000 wild-caught L. nigrinus adults have been released at more than 40 sites on Grandfather G&CC grounds. • Within three years, L. nigrinus was established at Grandfather G&CC and contributing signifcantly to the mortality of the adelgid, both on the club property and in the surrounding region. • Today L. nigrinus continues to be recovered throughout the Grandfather G&CC grounds and is spreading rapidly beyond the club’s borders. • Grandfather G&CC holds the largest release record of L. nigrinus on the East Coast.

Scymnus coniferarum, the summer predator • Scymnus coniferarum is a small black and gold ladybeetle that feeds specifcally on hemlock woolly adelgid. It is the summer equivalent of Laricobius nigrinus. Having multiple predators that feed on successive generations of a pest is called “bracketing.” Both predators attack all life stages of the adelgid and hold it in balance. • A release of 1,000 S. coniferarum adults was made in spring 2013; subsequent recoveries were made in April, May and June.

GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT 10.14

Bright green needles on the hemlock in the foreground indicate new growth, a sign of Grandfather G&CC’s success in controlling the hemlock woolly adelgid.

Today L. nigrinus can be found in a 35mile ring around Grandfather Mountain. Its presence is a primary factor in the health and regrowth of hemlocks in the watershed of three river systems that have their headwaters on the mountain: the New, the Watauga and the Catawba rivers. As for Gerdon and his list of what-ifs, “The answers are all around us,” he says with a sweeping gesture encompassing the grounds of Grandfather G&CC. “Wild beetle insectaries on this property continue to expand, and we are saving hemlocks.” To the skeptics, those for whom only seeing is believing, Gerdon has these words: “I invite anyone who’s interested to come visit us at Grandfather Golf & Country Club. I’ll show you what we’ve done here, and then I’ll take you to places where the gray ghosts of hemlocks blight the view, a sad reminder of what might have been. For my part, I’ve got proof that this program works, and I’m just tickled pink.” Smile. Wink.

Kate Cahow is a freelance writer and photographer based in Boone, N.C. Her husband, Richard McDonald, Ph.D., is the entomologist working on the hemlock woolly adelgid biological control project at Grandfather Golf & Country Club. A version of this story previously appeared in the Jan.-Feb. 2014 edition of Carolinas Green, the publication of the Carolinas GCSA.

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AT THE TURN Raymond Hearn

Remodeling to make the golf course more playable can also result in signifcant reductions in maintenance costs. Photo courtesy of Raymond Hearn

(Renovation)

Remodeling road map Considering a golf course renovation? Master planning is a key step that marries the wants and needs of the facility with the architect’s ability to deliver on those expectations.

My answer is simple: If you plan on making any changes or improvements to the golf course… then you need a master plan.

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It should come as no surprise to anyone in the golf course industry that the past several years have been trying times for golf course architects. In my career, I don’t remember a more pressure-packed time, but I also don’t recall a more exciting period for architects who embrace innovation and change. Among those changes has been an increased emphasis on remodeling or renovation projects on golf courses. That process has defnitely advanced to a higher level in terms of the fnancial results demanded by facilities in today’s market. A lot is at stake, and the pressure to produce is greater than ever when preparing a master plan for that work, which I believe to be a crucial step for any golf facility. I’m often asked if a golf course master plan is a really necessary for facilities considering such projects. My answer is simple: If you plan on making any changes or improvements to the golf course, or if you think this could be a possibility down the road (and it virtually always is), then you need a master plan. A master plan document is a signifcant tool for anyone within the hierarchy of a golf course — the facility’s owner, president, greens committee chairman, general manager, superintendent or golf professional. The plan ensures that everyone at the club is on the same page in terms of future improvements to the golf course. It’s money in the bank from both a fscal and a diplomatic point of view.

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Each master plan will be called upon to solve unique problems in unique demographic markets.

Each master plan will be called upon to solve unique problems in unique demographic markets. But a common theme that will repeat itself is the need for today’s master plans to address these commonly sought goals and objectives from projects our clients are discussing with us: • Improve strategy and shot value on each hole • Decrease high-maintenance areas where possible throughout the course • Increase each hole’s aesthetic appeal for existing and new members at private clubs • Increase each hole’s aesthetic appeal for existing and new patrons at public and resort courses Put simply, clubs want to touch, feel and smell the fruits of the master planning, so as to increase annual revenue while lowering annual maintenance costs. I don’t think any golf course architect will tell you that these are easy goals to achieve. But by no means are these demands deal-breakers, and architects who excel in meeting them will continue to remain busy through both good and bad times in the golf industry. Cases in point To help illustrate my point, I have put together a few examples from recent master planning contracts my company has managed wherein goals were mandated by the client. The priorities on each project were identical to the bulleted items cited above. Lincolnshire Fields CC The frst example comes from work we did with Lincolnshire Fields Country Club in Champaign, Ill., where J. Scott Werner,

GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT 10.14

The master plan (top) and before-and-after views (bottom) for hole No. 11 at Lincolnshire Fields CC in Champaign, Ill. New bunker locations and more low-maintenance fescue created a more strategic golf hole and reduced costs.

CGCS, a 28-year member of GCSAA oversees maintenance. As a part of this project, the three greenside bunkers on the 11th hole were reduced in size by 50 percent, but the hole’s strategy and shot value actually increased signifcantly due to the bunkers’ new locations. A signifcant area of low-maintenance fescue was planned for the front right of the tees, replacing the higher-maintenance Kentucky bluegrass rough. The amount of bentgrass approach was also reduced by 50 percent. The result was a more strategic golf hole that the members will enjoy, with a reduction in the costs to maintain this hole serving as an added beneft for Werner and his team.

Island Hills GC We also recently completed work on the Championship Course at Island Hills Golf Club in Centreville, Mich., located in the center of the state, just south of Kalamazoo. This is a unique facility that features no less than six different golfng options for its patrons, from the traditional Championship and Mini courses to two different seven-hole loops. At Island Hills, where Joe Jehnsen, CGCS, a 19-year GCSAA member, serves as director of grounds, our work focused on playability and maintenance improvements. On the sixth hole, the strategy and shot value have increased, while the surface areas of the

bentgrass fairways and sand bunkers have decreased signifcantly. Golfers have complimented the remodeled hole, while the owner and Jehnsen appreciate the reduced cost to maintain the hole — a win-win-win for all three interested parties.

Before-and-after views (left) and the master plan (above) for hole No. 6 at Island Hills GC in Centreville, Mich. Note the new low-maintenance secondary rough on the left side of the hole.

Flossmoor CC The fnal example comes from Flossmoor (Ill.) Country Club, where our focus centered on the course’s rough. We were charged to increase the amount of low-maintenance secondary rough (fescue and little bluestem) in order to help decrease the area of the highermaintenance primary rough (Kentucky bluegrass). The vivid impact of the work performed can be seen at a glance. The members enjoy the dramatic new look of the hole, while GCSAA Class A superintendent Bob Lively, a 24-year member of the association, appreciates the lower maintenance the secondary rough areas afford. Conclusion In today’s environment, master planning for golf course projects is no longer a luxury. Facilities want the process of master planning to increase annual revenue, while at the same time lowering their annual maintenance costs. Today’s innovative golf course architects need to accept and embrace these demands as challenging yet exciting goals that, when executed properly, satisfy the club’s goals and objectives. The result will be more fnancially sustainable golf facilities with happy golfers, happy owners and, ultimately, happy superintendents.

Raymond Hearn (ray@rhgd.com) is a practicing golf course architect and the president and founder of Raymond Hearn Golf Course Designs Inc. (www.rhgd.com), based in Holland, Mich.

GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT 10.14

Master plan (above) and before-and-after plans (below) for hole No. 3 at historic Flossmoor (Ill.) CC, founded in 1899. A “wispy” low-rate seed mix was used for fescue and little bluestem in the secondary rough area so golfers can easily fnd errant shots.

AT THE TURN Anthony L. Williams, CGCS

Photo illustration by Kelly Neis/photos by Montana Pritchard/Shutterstock.com

(career)

Mirror, mirror: Facing your future in the golf industry Industry veterans offer advice for steering a career course in changing times.

Is the situation we see in golf’s mirror scary? Yes. Apocalyptic? No.

How many times have you thought about your future in the golf industry? How often when you look in the mirror at 4 a.m. preparing to meet the day’s challenges has your refection been steadfast rather than fearful? Have you noticed that there are more doubts than ever staring back at you or have you found a deep resolve and an outward confdence that holds true even in a funhouse mirror? Golf course superintendents stare into golf’s magic mirror each day and try to balance the decisions between resources and responsibility. Do you have the courage to face your future in the golf industry? Let’s take a look into golf’s magic mirror and see what is staring back at us. Facing the statistics: The dark side of the mirror Experts in the golf industry use many statistics to forecast the future or quantify the past. Collectively, the business outlook in the golf industry is that the number of golfers in the United States has dropped from 30 million to 25 million since the recession began in 2007, or a decline of roughly 17 percent. Rounds played during that time frame dropped from 550 million to 465 million — a 15.5 percent decline. Studies show that these numbers can support the proftability of about 12,000 golf facilities. We currently have 16,000 golf facilities, so a little quick math reveals a 4,000-facility surplus. In the last few years we have lost an average of 150 courses per year; at this rate it will take over 26 years for the supply and demand to balance. It also points to

GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT 10.14

our profession shrinking a robust 25 percent in this scenario. This is not good news for any superintendent, whether you are just starting your career or are trying to fnish a long tenure on a high note. However, it is not necessarily bad news for every superintendent or the many organizations that have protected golf since its infancy. The golf industry took a hit, and adjustments must and will be made in every aspect of the way we manage the game, our facilities and our careers. Is the situation we see in golf’s magic mirror scary? Yes. Apocalyptic? No. Facing the statistics: The rest of the story There are still a lot of really good jobs in our industry. They are not as plentiful as they once were but they are not as rare as unicorns, either. It simply requires more investigation to quantify if a job is really good or not. Seasoned superintendents advise that you should always know your business — the whole business — if you are going to fnd long-term success, whether you are interviewing for a potential job or celebrating your golden anniversary in a position. This means not only knowing the meticulous fnancial details for your operation

but also having an accurate knowledge of the fnancial strength of the entire business, even your property’s position (rising or falling) in the local marketplace. There have been too many superintendents that looked into golf’s magic mirror and only saw a part of the whole refection, their personal/operational part. They performed well by most measures but were surprised to learn that the facility was going into foreclosure or that their position was being eliminated for reasons they never acknowledged or suspected. Darren Davis, CGCS, superintendent at Olde Florida Golf Club in Naples and a member of GCSAA’s board of directors, sums up golf’s fnancial realities this way: “In today’s challenging economic times, a successful superintendent must have a frm grip on the fnancial situation of the entire facility, not just their department. “Golf is a business, and the days of staying employed for only providing good course conditioning are long gone,” continues Davis, who has been a member of GCSAA for 25 years. “The product is still mandatory, but more than ever it must be provided within the fnancial constraints of the facility.”

Therefore, knowing the whole fnancial picture for a golf operation can give you valuable insight into whether to grow “wings” (skills and programs to land your next job) or “roots” (skills and programs to sustain your current job) as a golf course superintendent. Understanding the numbers and trends within golf can provide a clear image that will guide your career path through diffcult times. Facing change: The constant in the mirror It has been said that the only constant in the golf course superintendent profession is change. When we look into the mirror each day, we see subtle changes — sometimes we notice them and sometimes we don’t. I know how constant change can be and how critical having a clear strategy is to fnding success. In my 28-plus years in the industry I have served 14 general managers, nine directors of golf and one director of fnance, four ownership groups, three brands (Nestlé/Stouffer, Renaissance, Marriott) and three properties. Just like the weather moves in cycles impacting everything we do as superintendents, the people and programs that we must connect to are constantly changing. Staff members come

Starting at your own property, demonstrate your value by becoming a masterful communicator. Photo courtesy of Anthony Williams and go; owners change; regulations, expectations and budgets change (sometimes daily). Change is a natural part of any human endeavor, but what is not natural is the negative impact that we experience when we fail to navigate change properly. Like the distorted image from a broken mirror, these added stresses often result in physical illness and mental fatigue. Left unchecked, stress ends many careers, which are then discarded like broken glass. The key is to navigate these changes with a positive attitude and sincere commitment. Gandhi said, “We must be the change we expect in the world.” Successful superintendents embrace the winds of change, adjust their sails and set their course accordingly. They realize that this one skill may shape their future more than any other. Embrace the changes that you see in the mirror; they are likely the road maps to your future success. Facing your future: It’s personal and professional It is 3:20 a.m. on a Tuesday in June, and I am looking in the mirror and thinking about the 90-plus degree temperatures and our bentgrass greens, which are becoming increasingly rare in Atlanta, Ga. I am think-

GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT 10.14

ing about water, staffng, budgets, fungi, cutworms, nematodes and the reality that our property just went through a reorganization that saw many tenured managers eliminated or replaced. I hope to make 12 more years, but how can I make this happen? I asked some of the most successful people in the golf/turf industry and this is what they said. Become a masterful communicator. Develop positive public relations and relationships both in your operation as well as outside your operation. Work diligently to demonstrate your value starting at your property and then expand your ring of infuence throughout the industry. Host events, volunteer, innovate, be seen and be heard, but get involved and network like your future depends on it. Bruce R. Williams, CGCS, a 38-year member of GCSAA who served as the association’s president in 1996, always says, “It’s not just who you know but who knows you that creates opportunity.” Embrace te nology. Become competent in the latest forms of technology and keep up to date. This includes everything from equipment advances, computerized irrigation, staffing and payroll software — even social media. I asked sports turf legend George Toma about how technology had advanced during his ca-

reer and he said, “In 1948 I sent a bill to the Cleveland Indians for $25 for the rental of a mule and harrow to prepare the infeld for spring training.” That is a lot of change in one generation for the man who made turf part of Super Bowl history. Another GCSAA director, Rafael Barajas, CGCS at Hacienda Golf Club in La Habra Heights, Calif., sums up technology — specifcally social media — this way: “Social media have improved my options to effciently communicate with peers and stakeholders across many geographic regions, both domestically and internationally. Given the unrelenting legislative obstacles, drought, and political and economic uncertainty since the recession, technology must be embraced by everyone in our industry.” Work to grow t e game. Consider alternative uses for your course such as introducing FootGolf, using 8-inch cups for a beginners’ day, establishing a setup for an easier course, marketing to women and minority players — whatever you can do to grow the game, do it. World Golf Foundation CEO Steve Mona reminds us, “The main issues that cause people to leave the game and not try the game are the same. They boil down to time, cost and diffculty.” Maintain professional et ics. Someone who

is “ethical” does the right thing or makes the right decisions. Professional ethics is something more; it is being all that you can be for your employer, your business, community and mankind. Many aspects of professional ethics are written into the policies of formal organizations but there are many unwritten rules or protocol that will impact your career. Always take the high road, treat others well, be loyal and trustworthy and never let a bad situation lead you to bad behavior. It is like the University of Georgia’s legendary turfgrass breeder Wayne Hanna, Ph.D., says: “W you do something is just as important as w t you do.” Keep growing, personally and professionally. Be committed to lifelong learning; it is the cornerstone of success. Pursue things you are passionate about, such as certifcations, industry accolades, environmental stewardship, advocacy, formal or informal education, new job skills and hobbies (live beyond your job). And remember to support worthy causes and people along the way. When was the last time that you accomplished a signifcant milestone? Now is the time for action; do something to

raise your value, your self-worth. The fact is there are no absolutes in this area, but there is an undeniable synergy in active participation in life and career. It is like I always say, “If you were on trial for being the best of the best (superintendent, father, fsherman, etc.), would there be enough evidence to convict you?” Tomorrow morning we will all look in the mirror. We will face our future in the golf industry with a variety of tools and aspirations. We are not alone. We are part of a unique organization that for years has faced the joys and trials of our chosen profession with character and class. I hope this article will be as helpful to others as it has been for me as we answer the question, what future do you see when you look into golf’s magic mirror?

Anthony L. Williams, CGCS, is the superintendent at Stone Mountain Golf Course near Atlanta. An 18-year member of GCSAA, he is the recipient of numerous golf course industry awards, including GCSAA’s President’s Award for Environmental Stewardship (2010) and Excellence in Government Relations Award (2014). He is the author of several feature articles for GCM.

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.

“OUR CUSHMAN HAULERS WORK EVERY DAY AND THEY NEVER LET US DOWN.” JOHN KATTERHEINRICH Superintendent, The Bear’s Club The Bear’s Club was designed by Jack Nicklaus to offer the finest possible golf experience. To maintain such a lofty standard, they use a fleet of Cushman Haulers. Available with 13.5-hp gas, 48V DC or 72V AC electric powertrains, the Hauler delivers proven reliability and up to 1,200 pounds of load capacity. So as you’re chasing perfection, your vehicles will be working as hard as you do. See the Bear’s Club’s story at Cushman.com/BearsClub. ©2014 Textron Inc. All rights reserved.

10.14 GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT

(through the green)

Brown isn’t the new green Jack Fry, Ph.D. jfry@ksu.edu

I plead guilty to avoiding whatever psychological gymnastics are needed to convince homeowners that brown grass is OK. In fact, I’ve gone to the other side.

GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT 10.14

Everyone talks about going green, and for most of us, I believe we all went green a long time ago. Most Americans like green in their landscape. Brown? Not so much. I blame ancestors at the top of the family tree for our deeply embedded passion for the color green because it’s been a part of our collective obsession for many generations. The USGA should be commended for supporting the lower-maintenance approach taken at Pinehurst No. 2 at this year’s U.S. Open. It was a perfect national stage to show us all that some brown isn’t all bad. That said, gaining widespread acceptance of brown is going to be a long, diffcult road. Outside of United Parcel Service, I’m not sure what brown has done for any of us, and at least at this point, we’re not too anxious to fnd out. Make a list of all the things you like that are brown. Begin now. OK, what’s on your list? Mine includes our hardwood foor, dark chocolate and the cat. Did you have your lawn on the list? How about your golf course? As a turf specialist in the transition zone who has promoted the reduced-maintenance and lower-water-use virtues of warm-season grasses for over 20 years, I’m not sure my propaganda has had much impact. The fve-plus months of dormant, brown turf that go hand-in-hand with the use of warm-season turf doesn’t settle well. In fact, some homeowners are willing to pay whatever it takes to keep their lawn green. The typical homeowner’s thought is, “If my neighbor’s lawn is green, I want green too.” Golf course superintendents in the South are experts at battling brown. Snowbirds visiting during winter months want to play golf on green grass. I guess that’s because they think golf courses are supposed to be green, and after several months of winter dreariness, they long to see green, living things. That desirable green color has been achieved, at great expense, by overseeding with cool-season grasses, and more recently, by using colorants to paint the turf. I’m still waiting for that frst southern golf course to take the lead for all of us, skip overseeding or colorant applications, and attract northern golfers with the new advertising slogan — “Brown is Us: Play Golf Here and Help Move the Golf Industry

Forward.” I don’t think that’s likely to work. Californians in the midst of a historic drought are longing for green. Forced not to water, homeowners are installing artifcial (green) turf or — you guessed it — painting their drought-dormant turf green. Some have resorted to the non-turf, mainly brown, xeriscape approach. Their ancestors must have been from Arizona. I plead guilty to avoiding whatever psychological gymnastics are needed to convince homeowners that brown grass is OK. In fact, I’ve gone to the other side. Our research team has just completed a series of experiments to investigate which turf colorants and application rates are best for use in the transition zone to keep warm-season grasses green all winter. Our hope is that homeowners and golfers will be more accepting of zoysiagrass, bermudagrass or buffalograss if they can avoid the depression that accompanies dormancy and the color brown. We all need to work on accepting a little more brown, and more importantly, convincing others that a little brown is not the end of the world. Ultimately, the availability and price of water will infuence how much brown we can accept. Water is not just a California issue. More brown turf, whether the result of dormant, water-conserving warm-season grasses, or the lack of irrigation water in general, is coming to lawns and golf courses near you. Ready or not.

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.

We understand that your professional reputation and livelihood are dependent on the quality of the turfgrass you manage. We also know that you have many choices when it comes to foliar nutrition, and Floratine is not always the least expensive option. But with so much at stake, we refuse to take short cuts in the design, formulation and technical support of our products. Yes, there are lower-grade raw materials and ‘all-in-one jug’ solutions on the market, but that’s not what we’re about. As a family-owned company, we proudly manufacture our products in our own facility in Tennessee, using only the highest-grade raw ingredients to ensure you get nothing but the best in every jug. With so much on the line, staying Rooted in Science™ is our commitment to you. Sincerely,

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Doug Richmond, Ph.D. Aaron Patton, Ph.D.

Neonicotinoid insecticides and pollinators: What’s all the buzz about? Pesticide applicators should take precautions to protect pollinators from potential danger. Recent events and mounting scientifc evidence have increased concerns that the widespread use of neonicotinoid insecticides may be at least partially responsible for the declining health of honey bees (Apis mellifera), wild pollinators and other wildlife across North America. Similar concerns across the Atlantic have prompted the European Commission to implement a two-year moratorium on the use of neonicotinoid insecticides, but the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (12) has taken a more measured approach toward the issue. Although the EPA is not currently banning or restricting the use of neonicotinoid insecticides, these products are being subjected to registration review to ensure they meet current health and safety standards. The EPA has also mandated that labels for many, but not all, insecticide products containing neonicotinoids incorporate a new “bee advisory icon” drawing attention to the specifc hazards associated with their use (Figure 1). To ensure that these products remain available for its use, the green industry must demonstrate that its members are using these products responsibly. We need to be proactive in addressing the concerns of regulators and take concrete steps to minimize the potential for negative environmental side effects associated with insecticides used to manage insect pests of turfgrass and ornamental plants.

GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT 10.14

Figure 1. The U.S. EPA requires this bee advisory icon to be placed on the label of most insecticide products containing a neonicotinoid as one of the active ingredients. Illustration courtesy of U.S. EPA

The danger to honey bees A look at the broader picture will show what is at stake. About one-third of our food supply depends on the services of pollinators. Without these services, our food supply would be at risk. Bees are important, and the declining health of bees across North America has made a lot of people very nervous. At present, it cannot be said with confdence that neonicotinoids are the sole — or even the main — force driving honey bee declines; there are simply too many other factors at play. What

is known is that neonicotinoids are extremely toxic to bees (Table 1) and, given current usage patterns, there is almost no place in time or space where they can avoid exposure to these compounds. This is especially the case in agriculturally productive areas of the U.S. where the total amount of neonicotinoid insecticide applied per square mile can approach 2 pounds (0.91 kilogram) of active ingredient (Figure 2). One would be hard pressed to name a single crop where neonicotinoids are not routinely used. Media attention began to focus on the potential link between neonicotinoids and the decline of honey bees after a study by some of our Purdue colleagues working in feld crops was published in 2012 (6). Almost every single kernel of seed corn planted in the Midwest is coated with enough of the neonicotinoid insecticide clothianidin (Poncho, Bayer; others) to kill approximately 80,000 honey bees. Most annual crop seeds are planted using pneumatic (“air”) planters that use vacuum to place individual seeds onto planting discs for precise placement. The dust (planter exhaust) generated during the planting process liberates a surprising amount of the insecticide, which then settles out in adjacent fence rows, old felds, prairies, forests and water sources where honey bees and other pollinators are likely to forage. The authors also reported

that honey bees readily foraged on contaminated corn pollen, taking it back to the hive for storage. Similar troubling situations can be observed with canola production in the northern U.S. and Canada, and an increasing majority of soybean seeds are now coated with a mixture of neonicotinoids and fungicides. The rationale for these seed treatments is that they “protect against a suite of yield-limiting pests,” but little evidence supports this assertion, and many of the key annual crop pests across the Corn Belt are relatively unaffected by these treatments.

Ecotoxicology of several neonicotinoid insecticides Insecticide (trade name/ company)

Toxicity† Mammal LD50 (mg/kg)‡

Bird LD50 (mg/kg)‡

Fish LC50 (mg/liter)§

>500

430

104

0.004

Dinotefuran (Zylam/PBI-Gordon)

>2,000

>100

>0.023

Imidacloprid (Merit/Bayer; others)

424

152

211

0.0037

>1,563

576

>125

0.005

Clothianidin (Aloft/ArystaLifeScience; Arena/Nufarm)

Thiamethoxam (Meridian/Syngenta)

Honey bee LD50 (µg/bee)//

†

Toxicity only refers to active ingredient and does not take into account formulation. Data from IUPAC (5). LD50 for mammals and birds represents acute oral toxicity. § LC50 for fsh represents acute 96-hour toxicity. // LD50 for honey bees may represent either acute contact or oral toxicity. ‡

Green industry use Based on these fndings, it would be easy to place the blame for increased public scrutiny of neonicotinoid use squarely on the shoulders of large-scale production agriculture, but this would be a mistake. Neonicotinoids are by far the most widely used insecticides in the green industry, and the usage data presented in Figure 2 do not include neonicotinoids used on turf and ornamental crops. For our purposes, this group includes several excellent white grub insecticides, which, depending on the particular active ingredient, can provide very effective control of many surface-feeding turfgrass insects. They are also commonly used to protect perennials, woody plants and landscape trees against a variety of sucking and wood-boring insects, including the emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis). To say the least, neonicotinoids represent a valuable set of insect management tools that are much safer (for people and other mammals) than the older generation of insecticides they replaced. However, their breadth of use in the green industry does carry with it the risk of pollinator exposure. Honey bees are complex social animals, and it is important to remember that acute poisoning is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to understanding how neonicotinoids could impact their well-being. We should be wary of studies that make conclusions about the hazard of neonicotinoid exposure based on acute toxicity (that is, brief exposures followed by death in short order). Such studies only lend insight into the amount of material required to kill honey bees over an exposure period that is relatively brief. These studies provide an important starting point, but they do not come close to capturing the complexities of exposure in nature, where bees may be exposed to low, but variable levels of these ner-

Table 1. Ecotoxicology of several neonicotinoid insecticides in several different animal species. LD50 represents the amount of material (per unit body mass or individual) required to kill 50% of a test population. LC50 represents the concentration of material in water required to kill 50% of the test population.

Figure 2. Usage of three common neonicotinoid insecticides on agricultural crops in 2011 (most recent data available) expressed in pounds of active ingredient per square mile. A, imidacloprid (http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/pnsp/usage/ maps/graphics/H_IMIDACLOPRID_2011.png); B, clothianidin (http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/pnsp/usage/maps/ graphics/H_CLOTHIANIDIN_2011.png); C, thiamethoxam (http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/pnsp/usage/maps/graphics/H_ THIAMETHOXAM_2011.png). Usage data for nonagricultural crops (turf and ornamentals) not included. Source: United States Geological Survey, Water Quality Assessment Program

10.14 GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT

Ecotoxicology of several common insecticides Insecticide (trade name/company)

Insecticide class

Toxicity† ‡

Mammal LD50 (mg/kg)

‡

Bird LD50 (mg/kg)

Fish LC50 (mg/liter)§

Honey bee LD50 (µg/bee)//

Azadirachtin (Azatrol/PBI-Gordon; others)

biorational

>5,000

>225

440

>5.9

Beta-cyfluthrin (Tempo/Bayer)

pyrethroid

>77

>2,000

0.000068

0.001

Bifenthrin (Talstar/FMC)

pyrethroid

1,800

0.00026

0.1

Carbaryl (Sevin/Bayer)

>2,000

2.6

0.14

0.0013

0.059

54.5

carbamate

614

Chlopyrifos (Dursban/Dow AgroSciences)

organophos-phate

Chlorantraniliprole (Acelepryn/Syngenta)

anthranilic diamide

>5,000

>2,250

>12

Emamectin benzoate (TREE-äge/Arborjet)#

avermectin

0.174

0.0035

Lambda-cyhalothrin (Scimitar/Syngenta)

pyrethroid

>3,950

0.00021

0.038

Spinosad (Conserve/Dow AgroSciences)

biorational

>5,000

>2,250

2.69

0.024

0.7

>0.4

Trichlorfon (Dylox/Bayer)

organophosphate

212

13.3

>36.8

†

Toxicity only refers to active ingredient and does not take into account formulation. Data from IUPAC, material safety data sheets (MSDS), or U.S. EPA. LD50 for mammals and birds represents acute oral toxicity. § LC50 For fsh represents acute 96-hour toxicity. // LD50 for honey bees may represent either acute contact or oral toxicity. # Ornamental insecticide not labeled for use in turf at the time of this writing. ‡

Table 2. Ecotoxicology of several common insecticides in several different animal species. LD50 represents the amount of material (per unit body mass or individual) required to kill 50% of a test population. LC50 represents the concentration of material in water required to kill 50% of the test population.

vous system toxins over an extended period of time. Environmental monitoring data suggest that these compounds are present in soil, water and pollen and nectar of various plants throughout the season and across many environments. There are relatively few “neonicotinoid-free” areas for pollinators to forage in human-dominated environments. The intricate communication system on which a bee hive relies for optimizing its collective foraging efforts involves subtle physical and chemical cues. Bees returning from a successful foraging journey can communicate very precise navigational information to their hive mates, allowing them to fy to the exact location of a newly discovered source of nectar. Research conducted in France has demonstrated that sublethal exposure to neonicotinoids interferes with this crucial information network, putting the entire hive at risk because foragers given low doses of neonicotinoid cannot fnd their way back to the hive

GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT 10.14

(1). Imagine stopping at a gas station for directions only to fnd the attendant stone drunk behind the counter. How reliable would his directions be? Understanding acute toxicity is important, but the hazard of chronic exposure could be equally devastating. Unfortunately, we know very little about this aspect of the neonicotinoid story. Products in the green industry Use of neonicotinoids in the green industry is mainly represented by four active ingredients: imidaclorpid (Merit, Bayer; others), clothianidin (Aloft, Arysta LifeScience; Arena, Nufarm), thiamethoxam (Meridian, Syngenta) and dinotefuran (Zylam, PBI-Gordon) (Table 1). Because these four compounds belong to the same class of insecticides, they have many shared properties. Aside from their direct mode of action as synaptic poisons at the molecular level, they are highly water-soluble, they are systemic via the xylem of plants,

and they have exceptional residual activity. These shared properties are part and parcel of what makes them excellent insecticides, but these properties also contribute substantially to their potential as environmental contaminants. The high water solubility of neonicotinoids means they are easy to mix and apply as liquids and this undoubtedly lends to their systemicity, or their ability to be taken up by and moved throughout the plant via vascular tissue. High water solubility also means that irrigation or rainfall will allow the compounds to move with relative ease into the soil profle, where they can protect against damage from soil-inhabiting insects such as white grubs. Because most of the compounds in this class have a relatively long residual half-life, the application window tends to be much larger, allowing turfgrass managers, in particular, the opportunity to take advantage of a more fexible application-timing window and the ability to target multiple pests with a single applica-

(Top) Bees will forage on birdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s-foot trefoil, which is considered both an invasive weed and an excellent forage plant for livestock. Photos by A. Patton (Right) Dandelion fowering in closely mowed turf. Dandelions are a popular forage species for bees in early spring.

tion. These useful qualities can provide tangible logistical and monetary benefts to pest managers and are a big reason why these compounds have become the dominant class of insecticides worldwide in a relatively short time. On the downside, however, high water solubility also means these compounds are likely to be very mobile. Although the mobility of neonicotinoids in turf and ornamental situations is complex and not well studied, their presence in surface waters (3,13) and ground water (4) has been documented in the relatively few systems examined. Their mobility in turf situations needs to be investigated.

10.14 GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT

Bees like to forage on white clover in turf as it is usually abundant, it is a good source of nectar and it fowers for a long period in summer.

Nonetheless, the extended residual activity of most neonicotinoids means they have the potential to act as persistent environmental contaminants, sometimes taking years to completely degrade in the soil. Adding systemic activity to this short list of chemical properties means that neonicotinoids can and will end up in places other than where they were applied. Soil applications will inevitably end up in both the vegetative and reproductive structures of any plants rooted in treated soil. This includes the blooms (including pollen/nectar) of fowering plants that are particularly attractive to honey bees and other pollinators. Off-target exposure With any insecticide, the risk of off-target exposure is always a concern, and neonicotinoids are no exception in this regard. Although these insecticides are generally less toxic to mammals and fsh (Tables 1, 2), their record against benefcial insects is somewhat of a mixed bag (10), and they are generally

GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT 10.14

very toxic to bees. Aside from the previously mentioned risks, direct contact with and ingestion of treated or downwind material (that is, drift) represents another potential source of environmental contamination that may be problematic for pollinators. Current labels for most neonicotinoid products clearly warn against treating areas where bees are present or likely to be foraging. In a widely publicized episode last year, a commercial landscape company in Oregon made an off-label application of dinotefuran to fowering linden trees, resulting in the death of more than 25,000 bumblebees (Bombus species) and a temporary statewide moratorium on the use of dinotefuran. This serves as a stark reminder of the hazards associated with the careless use of these products and the likely response of state and local authorities under pressure from enraged constituents. It is hoped that the new bee advisory icon strategically located on many neonicotinoid insecticide labels will eliminate these kinds of events, but this assumes that applicators actually read

the label. We know from personal experience and from their own testimony that not all licensed pesticide applicators take the time to read the entire product label before applying an insecticide. For many reasons, such as the incident described above, reading the entire label is a necessity. An industry that is anxious to preserve its ability to use its most valuable chemical tools should do everything it can to encourage safe practices among its members. Pesticide labels do include useful information, and they refect a signifcant investment in time, effort and expense by registrants and regulators. Granted, more science is necessary before we have a clear picture of the relationship between neonicotinoids and pollinator decline, but the industry might consider a few commonsense steps in order to minimize the potential hazard to bees associated with our use of these insecticides. We are admittedly working ahead of the science here, and some of the following suggestions may seem overly cau-

tious. In this instance, it seems prudent to be proactive and implement simple practices that may serve us — and the bees — well in the long term since how and where we are able to use these products is sure to change. Minimizing the potential hazard to bees from neonicotinoids Weed control. Pollinators in general and honey bees in particular forage for nectar and pollen on a wide range of fowering plants, including some of the most common weeds. Bird’s-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), dandelion (Taraxacum offcinale), ground ivy (Gleom ederacea), heal-all (Prunella vulgaris), speedwells (Veronica species), white clover (Trifolium repens) and other weeds provide forage for a variety of pollinators in mowed turf. In unmowed native areas of the golf course, an even wider variety of fowering weeds provide such forage. If any of these weeds are present and fowering at noticeable levels, it may be wise to do one of the following: • Avoid treating weedy areas (fowering weeds) with neonicotinoids. This is consistent with many insecticide labels that advise not to treat blooming nectar-producing plants with neonicotinoid insecticides if bees may visit the treatment area. • Mow the turf immediately before spraying an insecticide. Mowing should remove 90% or more of the fowers and reduce bee foraging. Research at the University of Kentucky has shown this strategy to be effective in protecting bees (7). • Remove weeds with an herbicide in areas you plan on treating with an insecticide. Turf that is relatively weed free should not pose a substantial risk to pollinators should

Mowing white clover and other weeds before applying insecticide will remove 90% of the fowers, which reduces bee foraging in these areas and thus reduces the impact of an insecticide application on bees. Before mowing (left); after mowing (right).

Controlling patches of weeds adjacent to areas treated with insecticide, like this patch of clover next to a fairway, will reduce the risk of bees being affected by the insecticide application.

a neonicotinoid be applied. Effective weed control should be a prerequisite for using neonicotinoid insecticides. Treat areas where you plan on using a neonicotinoid insecticide as well as areas adjacent to these sites. It is not known how much of the neonicotinoid insecticide ends up in the pollen and nectar of our most common weeds, but if no weeds are available to take up the insecticide, the risk to pollinators can be signifcantly reduced. Although there are some reports of the herbicide 2,4-D causing injury to bees (8), these reports are specifc to formulations of

2,4-D no longer used in the U.S., such as isopropyl ester (11). The dimethylamine salt formulation and the isocytyl ester formulation of 2,4-D are currently the most commonly used 2,4-D formulations in turf. Their safety has not been tested on all bee species, but both are nontoxic to honey bees at labeled rates (9). Other commonly used broadleaf herbicides are also relatively safe on honey bees as the LD50 for these products is as follows: 94 µg/bee for 2,4-D and >100 µg/bee for dicamba, mecoprop (MCPP), furoxypyr and triclopyr (5). Time of day. Bees are most actively foraging during the middle of the day, so making

10.14 GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT

liquid applications during early morning or late evening can help minimize the risk of hitting bees directly as they move about in the feld. That precaution will also minimize the chances that drift will directly contact foraging bees. This approach should not be used in place of, but rather in conjunction with, the other recommendations listed. Buffer strips. Most managed landscapes, including lawns, golf courses, parks and gardens are composed of large areas of turfgrass with landscape beds placed in various arrangements throughout. These landscape beds usually contain fowering plants that are attractive to a variety of pollinators. Furthermore, many golf courses contain native areas with various forbs (fowering broadleaves) where bees forage. Although the boundaries between landscape beds, native areas and turf are often welldefned above ground, these boundaries are not so clear below ground. The intermingling of plant roots creates a much softer boundary in the soil with the roots of ornamental plants creeping unseen beneath the cover of turf and vice versa. As a result, applications of neonicotinoid insecticides aimed at protecting the turf could potentially be taken up by fowering plants within adjacent landscape beds that otherwise appear to be spatially discrete from the application area. In these circumstances, it may be advantageous to leave a buffer strip of 2-3 feet (0.6-0.9 meter) between the treated turf and the margin of the landscape bed to minimize the potential for fowering plants to take up the insecticide through their roots. We admit that there is no scientifc evidence supporting the idea that making treatments right up to the margin of a landscape bed provides a serious threat to pollinators through systemic uptake by untargeted plant material. Nonetheless, common sense indicates it is a possibility, and we can think of no serious downside to leaving a buffer strip until we learn otherwise through research. The farther nontarget plants are from neonicotinoid application sites, the less likely it is they will take up the pesticide. Petal fall. Sometimes neonicotinoids may be required to address an insect problem associated with landscape trees. When no good alternatives are available, we suggest waiting until fower petals fall before applying these insecticides. After petal fall, honey bees and other pollinators will not be attracted to these trees and the risk of the beesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; acquiring the

GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT 10.14

insecticide from the nectar or pollen of such plants is minimized. It is worth mentioning that neonicotinoids are often used to protect high-value ash trees from the emerald ash borer, which is devastating ash trees throughout the Midwest. These products perform admirably in this capacity and are simpler to use than products requiring direct injection into the trunk. Although ash trees are wind-pollinated and do not require the services of pollinating insects, honey bees and other opportunistic pollinators may occasionally visit their fowers. This likely occurs at a very low rate, and there is probably little risk of pollinators being exposed to signifcant levels of neonicotinoids in the fowers of ash trees. Still, in keeping with our cautious approach, the relatively minor pollinator hazard associated with neonicotinoid-treated ash trees can be further reduced by waiting until the trees have fully bloomed before making an application. This should allow time for the fowers to senesce before the neonicotinoid can be taken up and translocated throughout the tree, a process that typically takes two or more weeks. Adopting this strategy will not reduce the effectiveness of these products against emerald ash borer. Alternatives. No matter what the green industry does, the EPA review of registration of all neonicotinoid insecticides indicates an outside possibility that these products may be restricted or even lost in the relatively near future. We are not trying to start a panic because an extreme regulatory response seems unlikely, especially if we can prove we are good stewards of the technology. But there are likely to be changes, given the pace of the science on this issue and public awareness about pollinator declines. Our responsibilities as university Extension specialists require us to look ahead at the possibilities, hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. In other words, we need to be thinking about what our industry would look like without these tools. What alternatives are available and what would we do without neonicotinoids? Even though the neonicotinoids represent some of the best tools available for a number of applications, many time-tested alternatives are available for use against turf and ornamental insects (Table 2). The anthranilic diamide chlorantraniliprole (Acelepryn, Syngenta) is a very effective white grub chemistry, especially

when used in a preventive or early curative program. This same chemistry also performs well against many surface insects. We also still have trichlorfon (Dylox, Bayer) for use as a late curative white grub control. Trichlorfon and carbaryl (Sevin, Bayer) also can be used to treat white grubs in an early curative program, before damage occurs. The pyrethroids (Talstar, FMC; Tempo, Bayer; Scimitar, Syngenta; and others) and chlorpyrifos (Dursban) have good activity against surface feeding insects, and spinosad (Conserve, Dow AgroSciences) is a solid caterpillar insecticide and miticide. For protecting landscape trees against wood-boring insects such as the emerald ash borer, azadirachtin (Azatrol, PBI-Gordon; Aza-Direct, Gowan; and others) should provide excellent control when trunk-injected. In laboratory studies, the other alternative for controlling emerald ash borer, emamectin benzoate (TREE-Ă¤ge, Arborjet), is just as toxic or more toxic to bees when compared to the neonicotinoids, and its residual activity is much longer (up to two years) (2). However, the capacity of this material to get into the nectar and pollen of trees is not known. Many more products could be mentioned, and the above list is just a starting point. We encourage turf professionals to work with their local Extension specialists to determine the best chemistry and application timing for the problematic pests in their region. The bottom line is that we could, if pressed, fnd a way to manage our key insect pests without the neonicotinoids, but we hope will not be forced to do so in the near future. Conclusion Neonicotinoids are powerful and versatile pest management tools and they have changed the way we manage insect pests. These compounds are defnitely safer to handle and use than most of the insecticides they replaced, and they have made our lives easier by taking a lot of the guesswork out of application timing. We are sure that, as an industry, we recognize the benefts of having these tools at our disposal, and we have never shirked our responsibilities for using such tools responsibly. It is important that we in the industry step up to do the simple things within our power to continue to maintain the smallest environmental impact possible. Concern about the use of neonicotinoids and the health of bees represents just such an opportunity.

Disclaimer Reference in this publication to any specifc commercial product, process or service, or the use of any trade, frm or corporation name is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement, recommendation or certifcation of any kind by Purdue University or GCSAA. Individuals using such products assume responsibility for their use in accordance with current directions of the manufacturer. Acknowledgments We acknowledge Dr. Christian Krupke and Dr. Cliff Sadof for helpful comments and constructive criticism of early drafts of this manuscript. We also thank Dr. Dan Herms for providing helpful information concerning the safety of emerald ash borer insecticides with respect to honey bees. Literature cited 1. Henry, M., M. Béguin, F. Requier et al. 2012. A common pesticide decreases foraging success and survival in honey bees. Science 336:348-350. DOI:10.1126/science.1215039. 2. Herms, D.A., D.G. McCullough, D.R. Smitley et al. 2014. Insecticide options for protecting ash trees from emerald ash borer. North Central IMP Center Bulletin. 2nd edition. (www.emeraldashborer.info/ fles/multistate_eab_insecticide_fact_sheet.pdf). Accessed Sept. 2, 2014. 3. Hladik, M.L., D.W. Kolpin and K.M. Kuivila. 2014. Widespread occurrence of neonicotinoid insecticides in streams in a high corn and soybean producing region, USA. Environmental Pollution 193:189-196. 4. Huseth, A.S., and R.L. Groves. 2014. Environmental fate of soil applied neonicotinoid insecticides in an irrigated potato agroecosystem. PLoS ONE 9(5):e97081. 5. IUPAC. 2014. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (http://sitem.herts.ac.uk/aeru/iupac/). Accessed Aug. 23, 2014. 6. Krupke, C.H., G.J. Hunt, B.D. Eitzer et al. 2012. Multiple routes of pesticide exposure for honey bees living near agricultural felds. PLoS ONE 7(1):e29268. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0029268 7. Larson, J.L., C.T. Redmond and D.A. Potter. 2013. Assessing insecticide hazard to bumble bees foraging on fowering weeds in treated lawns. PLoS ONE 8(6):e66375. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0066375 8. Mayer, D.F., C.A. Johansen and C.R. Baird. 1999. How to reduce bee poisoning from pesticides. PNW518, A Pacifc Northwest Extension Publication, (http://cemerced.ucanr.edu/fles/40411.pdf).

Accessed Aug. 23, 2014. 9. Morton, H.L., J.O. Moffett and H.R. MacDonald. 1972. Toxicity of herbicides to newly emerged honey bees. Environmental Entomology 1(1):102-104. 10. Peck, D.C. 2009. Comparative impacts of white grub (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) control products on the abundance of non-target soil-active arthropods in turfgrass. Pedobiologia 52(5):287-299. 11. Tu, M., C. Hurd and J.M. Randall. 2001. Weed Control Methods Handbook. Version: April 2001. The Nature Conservancy (www.invasive.org/gist/ handbook.html). Accessed Aug. 23, 2014. 12. United States Environmental Protection Agency. EPA’s review of the European Food Safety Authority’s conclusions regarding studies involving the neonicotinoid pesticides (www.epa.gov/oppfead1/cb/csb_page/ updates/2013/efsa-conclus.html). Accessed Sept. 2, 2014. 13. Van Dijk, T.C., M.A. Van Staalduinen and J.P. Van der Sluijs. 2013. Macro-invertebrate decline in surface water polluted with imidacloprid. PLoS ONE 8(5):e62374.

Doug Richmond (drichmond@purdue.edu, twitter: @ doctorDRich) is an associate professor of entomology and Aaron Patton is an associate professor and turfgrass and weed scientist. Both are faculty members at Purdue University.

The RESEARCH SAYS • Recent declines in populations of honey bees and other pollinators have been tentatively linked to neonicotinoid insecticides, which are used widely in agriculture and turf and ornamentals. • Honey bees may be exposed to these chemicals over long periods of time and in many situations. • The four most common neonicotinoids in the turf industry are: imidacloprid, clothianidin, thiamethoxam and dinotefuran. • Because these products remain in the soil for a long period and they are easily taken up and moved throughout a plant’s vascular system, they have the potential to harm non-target beneficial insects. • The potential hazard to bees can be reduced by avoiding treatment of flowering weeds with neonicotinoids; mowing turf before an insecticide application; removing weeds with a herbicide before applying an insecticide; applying insecticides when bees are not active; creating buffer strips between treated turf and landscape beds; delaying treatment of flowering trees until after petal fall; and considering alternative chemistries.

10.14 GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT

CUTTING EDGE Teresa Carson

Photo by Rod Lingle, CGCS

Off-type grasses of ultradwarf greens Many superintendents have noticed offtype grasses in their ultradwarf bermudagrass greens. Anecdotal observations suggest that these off-types vary in texture, color, growth rate and susceptibility to plant growth regulators compared to commercial ultradwarf cultivars such as TifEagle, MiniVerde and Champion. In 2013 we began research to morphologically and cytogenetically characterize off-type grasses of ultradwarf putting greens. Fifty-two different bermudagrass samples were selected from putting greens in the southeastern U.S. and cultured from single-stolon transplants in a greenhouse environment at the University of Tennessee– Knoxville. Morphology was characterized by measuring internode length, stolon diameter, leaf length, leaf width, leaf length:width ratio, and leaf angle. Because internode length was signifcantly correlated with every morphological parameter except leaf angle, grasses were placed in statistical groupings based on internode length. Across the 52 selections, internode length ranged from 11 to 56 millimeters. The seven grasses in the highest and lowest statistical groups during both experimental runs were selected for further evaluation. Ploidy levels of all 52 samples were determined using fow cytometry. The majority of the samples were triploid (3x), suggesting that each belonged to the Tifgreen family. This response suggests that the off-type grasses collected in this study were not tetraploid

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(4x) contaminants from collars, fairways or roughs. Future research will evaluate how the seven grasses identifed in this initial research respond to various management strategies compared to authentic cultivars such as Tifgreen, Tifdwarf, TifEagle, MiniVerde and Champion. — Eric Reasor, James T. Brosnan, Ph.D. (jbrosnan@utk.edu), Robert Trigiano, and John C. Sorochan, Ph.D., University of Tennessee – Knoxville; Brian M. Schwartz, Ph.D., University of Georgia–Tifton; Gerald M. Henry, Ph.D., University of Georgia–Athens.

Creeping bentgrass responses to a byproduct containing tryptophan Tryptophan, an essential amino acid that acts as a building block in protein synthesis,

is a biochemical precursor for serotonin, niacin and auxin in most organisms. When soil moisture is limited, applying biosolids boosted with auxin from tryptophan may increase root production and endogenous hormone levels that can result in plant growth regulation. A byproduct of industrial tryptophan production, TRP-B, is considered a waste product, but its amino acid and nutrient content make it a possible growth promoter for turfgrasses. The objective of this research was to determine whether applications of TRP-B improve Penn A-4 creeping bentgrass performance more than applications of pure tryptophan and/or urea. Creeping bentgrass plugs taken from sand-based greens at both Virginia Tech and Iowa State were transplanted into pots and allowed to re-establish in growth chambers before being treated. Treatments included TRPB, urea and pure tryptophan + urea applied every 14 days at three different rates. Application rates were based on the amount of nitrogen applied (2.18, 10.89 and 21.78 pounds nitrogen/acre). At trial’s end (42 days), plant parts were harvested and used for analysis. At 21.78 pounds nitrogen/acre, TRP-B increased root mass by 18.2% and pure tryptophan + urea produced a 16.3% increase compared to urea only. Creeping bentgrass treated with TRP-B can result in increased root production, but the response is rate-dependent. — Isaac Mertz and Nick E. Christians, Ph.D. (nchris@ iastate.edu), Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa; Erik Ervin, Ph.D., and Xunzhong Zhang, Ph.D., Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

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

Photo by Isaac Mertz

And The Most Valuable Technician Is . . . Mr. Joe Stefanick Equipment Manager Seven Lakes Golf and Tennis Community

“Work should be fun. It should challenge you. If it doesn’t, it’s just a job and I don’t want just a job. I want to truly live it, and I do every day.”

That’s the attitude that Joe Stefanick brings to his job as the equipment manager at Seven Lakes Golf and Tennis Community in Fort Myers, Fla., and it’s also one of the key reasons that Stefanick was voted the winner of GCM’s 2014 Most Valuable Technician Award, presented in partnership with Foley United. Sure, he’s a skilled and experienced technician, with major championship experience and stints at some of the fnest golf courses in the country under his belt. But it’s his dedication to his craft, to his fellow employees and to the residents of Seven Lakes that sets him apart. We congratulate Joe and Seven Lakes on this notable achievement. Foley United and GCM also wish to thank the GCSAA members who entered nominations and participated in the voting process. We’re excited to do it again in 2015. Sponsored by:

Presented by:

(verdure)

Foliar factors do not fummox these facile faculty Beth Guertal, Ph.D. guertea@auburn.edu twitter: @AUTurfFert

In general, many of the factors that superintendents think about when applying foliar nitrogen had no impact on nitrogen uptake in this study.

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Foliar fertilization is widely used in the green industry to apply a small amount of nutrients directly to the leaf surface. One of the problems, however, in studying foliar fertilization is the methods by which we can measure nutrient uptake into the leaf. A long-used method (specifcally for nitrogen) uses labeled nitrogen (15N), which provides a tracer that enables the scientist to follow the path of the nitrogen through the plant. The problem with 15 N is that it is very expensive, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s often hard to fnd labeled product, and it requires specialized equipment. Regardless, it is a pretty accurate and standard method for measuring nitrogen uptake by plants, and it is also an excellent way to keep a Ph.D. student occupied for a great part of his or her academic student experience. For this research, that student was a member of a group headed by Bruce Branham, Ph.D., at the University of Illinois. The objective was to answer some of the questions often posed by superintendents about foliar nitrogen fertilization: How quickly is the applied nitrogen taken up (absorbed) by the leaf? How does spray volume affect this uptake? And what happens when I add other things to my spray tank? These questions were answered via a series of studies conducted on a stand of Pennlinks creeping bentgrass that was maintained at a cutting height of 0.5 inch (1.3 centimeters). For most of the studies, 15N-labeled urea was the nitrogen source, but in two cases, labeled ammonium sulfate and calcium nitrate were also added to the studies. The frst two studies looked at the impact of spray volume, with spray volumes of 20, 40, 60, 80 or 100 gallons/acre (190, 375, 560, 750 or 935 liters/hectare). The second two studies examined the nitrogen sources: urea, ammonium sulfate and calcium nitrate. The third set of studies examined the inclusion of other things in the tank mix, including chlorothalonil (4.5 kilograms a.i./hectare), trinexapac-ethyl (0.1 kilogram a.i./hectare), a biostimulant, an indicator dye and, fnally, all of those together (the kitchen sink treatment). The last set of experiments evaluated four adjuvants: a nonionic surfactant, an organosilicate adjuvant, methylated seed oil and a crop oil concentrate.

In general, many of the factors that superintendents think about when applying foliar nitrogen had no impact on nitrogen uptake in this study. Across all the experiments, 6-34 percent of foliar-applied nitrogen was taken up by the bentgrass leaf. This nitrogen uptake often occurred within the frst two hours after application, and it was always achieved within six hours after application. The type of adjuvant, nitrogen source or materials added to the tank mix had no effect on nitrogen uptake, even when the fungicide, growth regulator, dye and biostimulant were all added with the fertilizer. The authors recognized that their measured nitrogen uptake numbers were lower than those found by other researchers (who often measured nitrogen uptake in the 50 percent range). Such differences could be attributed to many factors, including location (a lot of the earlier work was not done outside, but in a greenhouse), relative humidity, air and soil temperatures, and nozzle droplet size. The only treatment that affected nitrogen uptake was the spray volume. Once the spray volume increased above 40 gallons/acre (375 liters/hectare), nitrogen uptake decreased, from an average of 14.9 percent at 40 gallons/acre to 11.3 percent nitrogen uptake (when the spray volume was 60 or 80 gallons/acre) to 6.2 percent nitrogen uptake when the spray volume was 100 gallons/acre. The authors concluded that if foliar nitrogen uptake is the objective, spray volumes should be kept as low as practical to maximize foliar nitrogen uptake. The authors also concluded that by bypassing the soil and introducing some nitrogen directly into the plant, foliar nitrogen applications are more effcient than traditional soil application. Source: Henning, S.W., R.L. Mulvaney and B.E. Branham. 2013. Factors affecting foliar nitrogen uptake by creeping bentgrass. Crop Science 53:1778-1783.

Beth Guertal, Ph.D., is a professor in the department of agronomy and soils at Auburn University in Auburn, Ala., and the incoming editor-in-chief for the Agronomy Society of America. She is a 17-year member of GCSAA.

(Product news)

Off-road

POWER Kohler Engines announced that its 1,028-cc, 3-cylinder diesel engine is now powering two Polaris off-road vehicles. The Kohler KDW1003 will be standard on 2015 model year Ranger Diesel and Ranger Crew diesel vehicles. The liquid-cooled KDW1003 engine meets all EPA Tier 4 fnal, CARB and EURO emissions standards due to its indirect fuel-injection system and high-effciency combustion. Contact Kohler Engines, 800-544-2444 (www.kohlerengines.com).

Hyundai

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Hyundai Construction Equipment Americas Inc. launched three new mid-size excavator models: R140LC-9A, R160LC-9A and R180LC9A. They are designed to provide operators with enhanced features and benefts compared to previous models. They have been powered with Tier 4 interim, turbo-charged Perkins 1204E engines, which have fully automatic regeneration control strategies. Contact Hyundai, 678-823-7777 (www.hceamericas.com).

information. “Micro-Sprinkler IPM system application rates are very low, ranging from 0.03 to 0.29 inch per hour on a 20-foot grid, compared to 0.20 to 0.35 inch per hour with conventional sprinkler systems,” says Inge Bisconer, technical marketing and sales manager for Toro Micro-Irrigation. “The lower application rate helps ensure maximum crop-washing time with minimal runoff.” To access or download Toro’s IPM guide, or to learn more about drip irrigation, visit www.driptips.toro.com.

Toro released its latest guide, Micro-Sprinklers for Integrated Pest Management (IPM). The guide describes the micro-sprinkler system, its benefts, and provides basic design and installation

Hannay Reels 1500 Series has lightweight, compact hose reels that are ideal for long hose lengths in lawn care, pest control, steam cleaning and pressure washing applications. Manual reels include cam-lock drag

Pure Dynasty brake with a spring-actuated pin lock, while power reels include a chain and sprocket drive. Direct-crank rewind is permanently attached. Contact Hannay, 877-467-3357 (www.hannay.com). Pure Seed developed Pure Dynasty, a new seeded seashore paspalum on the worldwide market. Distributed by Atlas Turf International, Pure Dynasty has attributes that include faster establishment, tighter density, better disease resistance and improved spring green-up, the company says. With Platinum TE as one of the genetic parents, Pure Dynasty shares the benefts of vegetative paspalum, including salt tolerance when mature, quick recovery, dark green color and an upright growth habit for excellent playability. Contact Atlas Turf International, 706881-2430 (www.atlasturf.com). Optimizer Insert MKS liquid nutrient from United Turf Alliance is designed to provide a better source of magnesium, potassium and sulfur when plant demand is highest. Optimizer Insert MKS promotes more rapid recovery from aerifcation and verticutting while avoiding heavy labor associated with applying dry Sul-Po-Mag products. Optimizer Insert MKS is labeled for application at a rate of 5-10 gallons per acre depending on plant demand. It is available in 2 x 2.5-gallon cases or in a 265-gallon one-way shuttle. Contact United Turf Alliance, 770-335-3015 (www. utaarmortech.com).

All-hydraulic

DECK Jacobsen unveiled its TurfCat Out-Front rotary Earth & Turf Products LLC announces its Ballast Box for compact tractors that ft both quick-hitch systems and Category I three-point hitches. It has box dimensions of 24 inches wide, 20 inches high and 16.5 inches deep. Its overall height to the top link connection is 29 inches. Capacity is 4.75 cubic feet and its empty weight is 125 pounds. Convenience features include four pre-drilled holes for the installation of a toolbox, tool carrier loops to support shovels, rakes and other long-handled tools, a weld-on hitch for towing and light lifting and drainage holes in all four corners. Contact Earth & Turf Products, 888-293-2638 (www. earthandturfattachments.com).

mower. It features all-hydraulic deck and traction drives and costs less to maintain because it has no gearbox, belts, pulleys, drive shaft or clutch to service. TurfCat has 15 fewer grease points and 212 fewer service parts compared to competitive products, the company says. The rotary mower is versatile, offering nine different deck confgurations and fve attachments for year-round use. The 60inch fail deckâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fne-cut blades discharge grass and debris down into the turf, reducing the danger of throwing projectiles. The unitâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s double-edged blades stay sharper longer than rotary blades, further reducing cost of ownership and maintenance, Jacobsen says. Contact Jacobsen, 704-504-6600 (www.jacobsen.com).

NK Technologies introduced the AT/ATRLS Current Transducer, which combines a current transformer and signal conditioner for monitoring large loads. Its split-core design can be installed over existing conductors without disconnecting the load. The company says it is ideal for monitoring large machines as it measures the current use to detect over or under current conditions. For water delivery and treatment, it

10.14 GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT

detects open discharge lines and can see clogged flters or blocked pump intakes. In generators, it keeps the power system running by monitoring output and can be used to signal overloaded conditions. Contact NK Technologies, 800-959-4014 (www.nktechnologies.com).

Seeton Turf Warehouse. Macro-Sorb also rolled out a new logo. Macro-Sorb and SMS Additive Solutions products are available through established independent distribution channels. Contact Macro-Sorb Technologies, 856-266-9440 (www.macro-sorb.com).

Eaton announced that synthetic biodegradable hydraulic fuids with International Organization for Standardization classifcation have been rated safe for use in the company’s Geroler motors. Geroler products are frequently used in environmentally sensitive applications such as agriculture, construction, forestry, material handling, off-shore, turf care and mining. Contact Eaton, 800-386-1911 (www.eaton.com/ hydraulics).

Prolong Heavy Duty Oil Stabilizer is available to help solve lubrication-related problems such as engine noise, oil leaks and oil burning. I t creates a seal around the piston to restore compression, slowing down exhaust blow-by and reducing exhaust smoke emissions. It also reduces heat and friction to provide cooler-running engines and will maintain viscosity in hot and cold weather. Contact Prolong, 800-540-5823 (www.prolong.com).

Koch Agronomic Services LLC added two nitrogen stabilizers to the Agrotain product family: Agrotain Advanced and Agrotain DriMaxx. Agrotain Advanced is a patentpending, concentrated liquid formulation that has improved performance at a reduced rate, which minimizes the potential for buildup during blending and applications. Dri-Maxx is a highly concentrated dry formulation that offers improved handling characteristics as well as better fowability of the treated fertilizer. The product adheres to urea granules without adding additional moisture to the blend, minimizing the potential for buildup. Contact Koch Agronomic Services, 866-863-5550 (www.agrotain.com).

EFI engines are powering the 2015 edition of Club Car Precedent Golf Cars. Subaru designed a 14-hprated, 404-cc single-cylinder overhead cam engine with EFI. The new engine increases horsepower and fuel effciency by 35 percent and cuts carbon monoxide emissions by more than 30 percent over previous Precedent engines. It also reduces the annual cost of ownership by $160, based on fuel usage and maintenance schedules in the owner’s manual. Contact Club Car, 800-258-2227 (www.clubcar.com).

Global Turf Equipment (GTE) established a new company called Turf Equipment Rental of Florida that offers two-day, weekly and monthly maintenance equipment rentals to golf courses, sports turf facilities and municipalities. Items available include aerators, fairway and greens mowers and sprayers. GTE’s 30,000-square-foot Florida headquarters stocks more than 650 pieces of equipment. Contact GTE, 866-588-3092 (www.globalturfequipment.com).

The Vacon 100 X decentralized AC drive is optimized for outdoor installations. It supports both induction and permanent magnet motors up to 50 hp and is suited for a wide range of applications. Its UL Type 4x enclosure extends the range of possibilities for this drive for all outdoor installations as well as for locations involving heat, dirt and vibration. Contact Vacon, 877-822-6606 (www.vacon.com).

Macro-Sorb Technologies LLC introduces its sister company, SMS Additive Solutions LLC, which offers a variety of soil surfactants, spray adjuvants and tank-mix additives. Macro-Sorb and SMS Additive Solutions are owned by Lance Seeton who owned and operated

100

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PRP

PLATINUM PARTNERS

GOLD PARTNERS

SILVER PARTNERS

SILVER PARTNER

Partner Recognition Program The CIVITAS team at Petro-Canada Lubricants Inc., Suncor Energy business believes in transforming plant protection for more resourceful growth. Their commitment to the future of America’s golf course industry is realized through years of research, educational programs and the development of products that deliver on the promise of superior turf performance. Since CIVITAS was launched into the market fve years ago, it has been well known for its effcacy in controlling disease and suppressing insects while cultivating noticeably healthier turf that enhances visual aesthetic and playability. Healthier turf is stronger turf By focusing frst and foremost on the health of the plant, superintendents can help to create a stronger foundation for their turf management program each season. CIVITAS products provide protection against disease, insects and the elements that can threaten the health of turf. A key beneft of CIVITAS is its ability to enhance plant effciencies, which can lead to a reduction in inputs such as other pesticides. Studies have shown that CIVITAS products can help extend disease control of tank mix partners. With no known pathogen or insect resistance issues, CIVITAS products can be used consistently throughout the growing season without worrying about maximum yearly application restrictions. To learn more about how CIVITAS products can help, visit www.civitasturf.com.

FMC Professional Solutions, a business unit within FMC Agricultural Solutions, serves the golf, lawn care, greenhouse/ nursery, and pest control markets in North America. FMC entered the turf and ornamental industry back in 1987 with the launch of Talstar® brand insecticide. Over the past decade, the company has broadened its turf portfolio signifcantly, adding seven herbicides and fve insecticide products, in addition to formulations specifcally tailored for industry segments such as golf and tree care. FMC offers a full range of granular and liquid insecticides, including its Talstar line of insecticides and new Triple Crown®. Herbicides available through FMC include Dismiss®, QuickSilver®, Blindside®, Echelon®, Solitare® and SquareOne®. Recently, FMC Professional Solutions and Arysta LifeScience North America, LLC announced the signing of an exclusive licensing agreement in which FMC will develop and market two key turf and ornamental product groups, Disarm® fungicides (fuoxastrobin) and Xonerate® herbicide (amicarbazone), in the U.S. This agreement united two complementary product lines and opened exciting new development opportunities for FMC in both the short- and long-term. By working closely with golf course superintendents like you, FMC Professional Solutions is able to offer products and services tailored to your particular needs that help you successfully protect the health and beauty of your turf. Always read and follow the label. FMC, Talstar, Triple Crown, Dismiss, Blindside, QuickSilver, Echelon, Solitare and SquareOne are registered trademarks of FMC Corporation. © 2014 FMC Corporation. All rights reserved. Disarm and Xonerate are registered trademarks of Arysta LifeScience North America, LLC. Copyright © 2014 Arysta LifeScience North America, LLC. All rights reserved.

(Industry news)

15TH ANNIVERSARY Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA) volunteers celebrated their 15th anniversary serving on the grounds crew for the Little League World Series (LLWS). STMA member Seth Whitehill, LLWS baseball groundskeeper and STMA member since 2011, led 40 STMA volunteers in preparing and managing the felds for more than 30 televised games on ESPN and its family of networks over a 10-day period in August. The Williamsport, Pa., 88-acre complex features six felds, one full-size baseball feld, two premier stadiums, two practice felds and one practice infeld. The volunteers traveled from as far as California to assist. Three STMA members have assisted 20 years for LLWS. The two premier stadiums — Lamade and Volunteer — feature Kentucky bluegrass. In addition to daily mowing and painting lines, the volunteer grounds team watered each feld, broomed the edges and made necessary repairs to the clay in the home plate circle and pitcher’s mound.

STMA The National Art Contest presented by The Toro Co. and the Wyland Foundation is accepting entries until Nov. 25. The “Water is Life” Classroom Mural and Art Contest engages students in kindergarten through 12th grade to bring together art and research to explore the many ways water is used in the U.S. This year’s theme, “Our Ocean,” encourages students to use research to better understand the impact of smart water management on our coasts and oceans hundreds of miles downstream. Students then interpret their fndings through art. The contest calls for students to create collaborative murals, 4 feet by 8 feet or larger, as well as individual artworks in support of the theme. Students are encouraged to publicly display their artwork at schools, malls and city centers to broaden public awareness about

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water effciency issues. Grade categories are K through 4, 5 through 8, and 9 through 12. For information, go to www.wylandfoundation.org/artchallenge. Matthew Bywater is the new international accounts manager in the Pacifc Rim for Aquatrols. Previously, Bywater served in sales and marketing positions with the Australian Turfgrass Institute. Most recently, he founded and operated his own promotional products company, 4promote. Chad Fagervik joined the sales team at Spring Valley. Fagervik spent the last four years at Agrium Advanced Technologies managing municipal and strategic account business. Fagervik, who has a bachelor’s degree

from the University of Northern Iowa, also has been territory manager with Van Diest Supply Co.

Leo Pellant, a GCSAA Class A superintendent and a 35-year member of the association, was honored for his 35 years of service at Topeka Country Club in Topeka, Kan. In celebration of the milestone, the country club presented Leo and his wife, Keven, with an all-expenses-paid trip to Italy. After graduating from Kansas State University with a bachelor’s degree in landscape horticulture with an emphasis in turfgrass science, Pellant’s career began Aug. 12, 1979, as an assistant superintendent at Topeka CC. In 1997, he was promoted to superintendent. “One of my favorite things in the job has been working with the different kids who’ve come through,” Pellant says. “I have worked with two generations of families and have seen many go on to become doctors, lawyers and very successful in their endeavors.”

baseball feld for boys and young men in the state’s foster care system. A year ago, industry members transformed a potholed pasture into a manicured sports feld. The Georgia GCSA spearheaded the baseball project at Goshen Valley Boys Ranch in Waleska. The association coordinated donations of labor, equipment and supplies necessary to complete the project in 72 hours. “The people who came together to make this baseball feld a reality have angel wings on their backs,” says Goshen Valley founder John Blend. The baseball feld was sodded with bermudagrass and is equipped with automated irrigation. Among those who assisted in making it happen were (pictured) Jason Tharp, assistant superintendent at East Lake Golf Club and a two-year GCSAA member, and Scott Griffth, the GCSAA Class A superintendent at University of Georgia Golf Course and an 11-year member of the association. Grassing of the Olympic Golf Course in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, began in August. The course, which will host play for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games, planted Zeon zoysiagrass. Marcelo Matte, owner of Green Grass Brazil, grew the grass on his Brazilian sod farms for planting directly onto the Olympic course. Matte says he began growing the grass in January 2013 in order to have enough grass inventory available to quickly plant the golf course when construction progress allowed. Green Grass Brazil has produced 35-40 hectares (85-100 acres) of grass for the 18-hole course. Matte employed 20 staffers to install the grass on the golf course, along with expert help from David Doguet, an American turf breeder from Bladerunner Farms in Poteet, Texas, which developed Zeon zoysiagrass for use on golf courses.

MOVING UP Tyler Patton and Elyssa Trejo joined the turf and ornamentals sales team at Dow AgroSciences. Patton, who started at Dow as a sales trainee, is assisting customers in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Penn State. He replaces Lucinda Smetana, who accepted a role in Indianapolis supporting the company’s North America regional commercial and global business units. Trejo, who started with Dow as a sales trainee, graduated from Oregon State. She is assisting customers in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington and western Wyoming. Trejo replaces Greg Webster, who relocated to Indianapolis as a training manager.

manufacturer of the USGA-approved hollow-metal-core golf ball (M.A.-1.0). White has more than 30 years of experience in the golf industry. Previously, he served as president of the Gary Player Group, senior executive director of Dunlop Tire and Rubber Corp. Sports Co., Yamaha International Corp. and the Portman Companies.

The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) announced the launch of a new logo and brand identity for propane: “Propane Clean American Energy.” The logo, anchored

Rich Kalik joined the market research frm Specialty Products Consultants LLC. Kalik comes with more than 20 years of experience in the specialty (non-crop) market segments. Kevin Rome is the newest addition to the staff at Redexim Turf Products. Rome, who is based in Piper, Kan., previously was territory manager for Textron Turf & Specialty Products.

SNAG (Starting New At Golf) introduced youths to the game in Florida at Call it their version of “Field of Dreams.” Georgia golf industry members built a

Joseph J. White is the new president and COO of OnCore Golf,

the Mayor’s SNAG Youth Golf Challenge in Miami. SNAG and the Miami-Dade Parks & Recreation Department joined forces to run the event.

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by the iconic image of an American bald eagle, highlights propane as an increasingly American-made alternative fuel at a time when U.S. propane production from natural gas liquids is at record levels. According to PERC President and CEO Roy Willis, the change also emphasizes recent investments by the propane industry in new technologies, including propanepowered vehicles, school buses, mowers, irrigation engines and other equipment. The 45th annual Oregon Seed Association (OSA) Summer Convention in June at Salishan Spa & Golf Resort raised more than $11,000 for its scholarship program. Nearly 200 people attended the convention, a 12 percent increase from the previous year. Featured guest speakers were Dr. Rick Brinkman (author of “Dealing with People You Can’t Stand”); Jake French (author of “Life Happens. Live it!”); and Chris Holdgreve, executive director of Excellence Through Stewardship. New members approved during the convention include Integrated Seed Growers, Lebanon Seaboard, ERC Machinery USA, Independent Dispatch Inc. and Sea Tac Packaging. Large organization Seminis Monsanto and international company John Zuelzer & Son Canada also were welcomed into the association. Recipients of the OSA Memorial Scholarship were Oregon State University’s Chris Cochran and University of Idaho’s Riley Merrigan. Each received $1,500. An additional $1,500 OSA scholarship was awarded to Oregon State’s Morgan Aerni. Rodger Howe has been promoted to vice president in the engine division of Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. Karen Howard and Tom Moskwa (senior managers in national sales-dealer and select distributor channels, and engineering and technical services, respectively) also got promotions. Lorraine Lauer was promoted to senior administrative sales supervisor. Reinders Inc. received two awards from The Toro Co. at the company’s recent 100th anniversary celebration in Bloomington, Minn. Mark Robel received the 2013 Green Blazer Award and Reinders was named the 2013 Partner in Excellence for Best in Parts. Robel’s award recognizes his accomplishments at Reinders in customer-focused sales and service programs in the turf equipment market.

The Kansas State University Turfgrass Team unveiled its new blog at https://blogs.k-state.edu/turf/. Team members are in the process of transferring posts from their previous blog site to the new one. EverBank Commercial Finance Inc. has been named a preferred fnancing source for high-quality turf equipment provider Jacobsen. Under the arrangement, the EverBank Commercial Finance golf platform will provide sales and fnancing for Jacobsen’s distributors and direct sales force in the U.S. “Our relationship with Jacobsen will go a long way in easing the typical operational challenges golf course superintendents face when it comes to cash fow,” says Bill Loots, gold platform general manager, EverBank Commercial Finance. Arysta LifeScience North America and FMC Corp. signed an exclusive licensing agreement. FMC is developing, marketing and selling turf and ornamentals products Disarm fungicide and Xonerate herbicide. The Disarm line includes four formulations, each specifcally tailored to regional climate, disease history and turfgrass variety. Xonerate is a post-emergence herbicide for the control of Poa annua. The Club Foundation announced its 2014 Joe Perdue Scholarship recipients. They are Zoe LaClair, Cornell University; Matthew Rodgers, Johnson & Wales; Patrick Reilly, Niagara University; Armanda Tidwell, Niagara University; and Rachel Zilka, Niagara University. The scholarship provides tuition support to students who are pursuing careers in club management. Since its inception, the Club Foundation has awarded 177 scholarships totaling more than $320,000. The American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA) created a “Golf Course Turfgrass Reduction” fyer, which is available for free download from the publication selection on the ASGCA website (www.asgca.org/ publications). The fyer, endorsed by GCSAA, is a frst step for any course considering a turfgrass project. Honda Power Equipment Manufacturing marked the 30th anniversary of operations at its Swepsonville,

N.C., facility by announcing an $8.5 million investment in plant operations to innovate production processes and add new products. Among other changes, the plant is adding a new line for the production of two-stage snow blowers and prepare for the addition of Honda generators. Turf Pride LLC announced that it has completed its purchase of Trion Lifts Inc., a manufacturer of lift equipment designed for the maintenance of turf equipment. Trion was moved to Turf Pride’s location in Andalusia, Ala. Primera Turf announced AgriTurf Distributing LLC as an owner-distributor of Primera. Agri-Turf Distributing is a California-based distributor of turf and ornamental, golf, nursery, vegetation management and pest control products. Jacobsen awarded 27 turfgrass scholarships to college students throughout North America. To qualify, students had to submit an application, an essay and a letter of recommendation from a turfgrass

professional. This year’s recipients were awarded $500 scholarships representing 20 different colleges and universities including Michigan State, Texas A&M and Olds College. Kingsbarns Golf Links in St. Andrews, Scotland, will host its frst major championship — the Ricoh Women’s British Open in 2017. Kingsbarns has been host to the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship since 2001. Duininck Golf completed renovations at Edinburgh USA, a Robert Trent Jones IIdesigned golf course in Brooklyn Park, Minn. Players can now putt, chip or bumpand-run the ball onto the putting surface from the closely mowed areas around the greens. The course also was made more environmentally sustainable. Columbus Country Club in Columbus, Ohio, celebrated the 50th anniversary of hosting the 1964 PGA Championship. The major event was good timing for the club, which two years earlier lost its clubhouse because of a fre.

Representatives of PBI-Gordon Corp. traveled to Washington, D.C., to participate in two annual events in late July that were coordinated by the Professional Landcare Network, the national trade association for landscape industry professionals. The outreach included the Renewal & Remembrance volunteer cleanup and maintenance event at Arlington National Cemetery and a Legislative Day on Capitol Hill. PBI-Gordon product manager Jim Goodrich and sales representatives Scott Wanzor and Ray Funkhouser were among those participating. FireRock Country Club in Scottsdale, Ariz., was awarded “Favorite Golf Course” by the Fountain Hills Award program that annually honors local businesses. FireRock is a private, upscale community. Henke Manufacturing announced the signing of a sales agreement with FE26 Manufacturers Representatives as their offcial sales arm in Canada.

ClubCorp signed an agreement to acquire Atlanta-based Sequoia Golf. The acquisition expanded ClubCorp’s portfolio of private clubs from 159 to 209. Sequoia announced that the sale of its stock and assets was for $265 million. Troon has been selected to manage Tennessee National Golf Club in Loudon, Tenn. The golf course is an 18-hole Greg Norman Signature Golf Course that includes 13 water features. Club Car welcomed The Villages Golf Cars to its dealer network. The Villages operates four locations with more than 30,000 square feet of retail showroom space within The Villages, a sprawling retirement community in central Florida that is home to 95,000 residents. Billy Casper Golf (BCG) has been selected to manage Cypress Creek Country Club in Boynton Beach, Fla. The semiprivate club celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.

MEMBERS ONLY

(Climbing the ladder)

ON COURSE Oct. 2-5 — LPGA, Reignwood LPGA Classic, Reignwood Pine Valley GC, Nankou, Beijing, China.

Oct. 2-5 — European Tour, Alfred

Kyle Rausch Was: Is:

Assistant superintendent, Sutton Bay Golf Course, Agar, S.D. Superintendent, Sutton Bay

Getting to know you While his friends still slept, teenaged Kyle Rausch awakened as early as golf course superintendents. Growing up in Dell Rapids, S.D., Rausch helped his father, John, raise pigs on the family farm. Kyle would be up and about as early as 5 a.m., learning life lessons that serve him well now. On occasion, Kyle even was in charge; John doubled as a computer software programmer and would be gone an entire week, leaving Kyle to oversee operations. “He taught me you will have responsibilities in life and you have to take care of them,” Kyle says.

Q: Describe your golf course. A: No trees. Wide open. We get about 4,000 to 5,000 rounds a year.

Oct. 9-12 — European Tour, Portugal Masters, Oceanico Victoria GC, Vilamoura, Portugal. Oct. 10-12 — Champions Tour, SAS Championship, Prestonwood CC, Cary, N.C., David Dalton, director of golf course maintenance; Brad Griffn, superintendent.

Oct. 10-13 — PGA Tour, Frys.com Open, CordeValle GC, San Martin, Calif., Thomas Gray, CGCS.

Grand Slam of Golf, Port Royal GC, Southampton Parish, Bermuda.

Q: What equipment couldn’t you live without? A: Aerators. We use them a lot. Our soil here is not something to be desired. It is heavy clay. It’s like gumbo. Q: You replaced Mick Reifert when he retired as superintendent. What did you learn from him? A: He always said to stick with what you think and to try to keep things simple. The grass needs fertilizer, water and sun. Don’t overthink things. Q: Any hobbies? A: I like to hunt deer and pheasant. I really like to archery deer hunt. Last year I shot a big mule deer. After measuring, it scored 189 inches. I also like to do a lot of fshing. There’s plenty of chances to fsh and hunt around here. — Howard Richman, GCM associate editor

GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT 10.14

Oct. 9-12 — LPGA, Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Oct. 14-16 — PGA Tour, PGA

Q: What do you most enjoy about your work? A: I’m happy with our management and ownership. They put a lot of trust and faith in whatever I tell them. They always seem to have my back. They’re willing to put up with a mistake if it happens and not be quick to judge.

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Dunhill Links Championship, Old Course, St. Andrews, Carnoustie, Kingsbarns, Scotland.

Oct. 15-19 — European Tour, Volvo World Match-Play Championship, The London GC, Ash, Kent, England.

Oct. 16-19 — LPGA, LPGA-KEB HanaBank Championship, Sky 72 GC Ocean Course, Incheon, South Korea. Oct. 16-19 — European Tour, Hong Kong Open, Hong Kong GC, Fanling, Hong Kong. Oct. 17-19 — Champions Tour, Greater Hickory Kia Classic at Rock Barn, Rock Barn Golf & Country Club, Conover, N.C., Tony Denton, superintendent. Oct. 17-20 — PGA Tour, Shriners Hospital for Children Open, TPC Summerlin, Las Vegas, Nev., Dale Hahn, CGCS, director of golf course maintenance.

Oct. 23-26 — LPGA, Blue Bay LPGA, Jian Lake Blue Bay GC, Hainan Island, China. Oct. 23-26 — European Tour, Perth Invitational, Lake Karrinyup CC, Australia. Oct. 24-26 — Champions Tour, AT&T Championship, TPC San Antonio (AT&T Canyons), San Antonio, Texas, Thomas Lively, CGCS, director of golf course operations. Oct. 24-27 — PGA Tour, CIMB Classic, Kuala Lumpur Golf & CC, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Oct. 30-Nov. 2 — Champions Tour, Charles Schwab Cup Championship, Desert Mountain Club (Cochise), Scottsdale, Ariz., Jose Castillo, superintendent.

Oct. 30-Nov. 2 — LPGA, Fubon 2014 LPGA Taiwan Championship, Yang Mei, Taiwan.

Oct. 31-Nov. 3 — PGA Tour, World Golf Championship-HSBC Champions, Sheshan International GC, Shanghai, China.

CORRECTION The On Course listing in the August issue of GCM contained an error. The superintendent at Stonebridge Country Club in Goffstown, N.H., is Rob Horn, a nine-year member of GCSAA. The Symetra Tour’s New England Charity Classic was held Aug. 8-10 at Stonebridge CC.

COMING UP Oct. 5-7 — Northwest Turfgrass Association Annual Conference, Chambers Bay, University Place, Wash. Phone: 253-219-8360 Website: www.wwgcsa.org Oct. 8 — Intermountain GCSA Annual Education Conference & Trade Show sponsored by Turf Equipment & Irrigation, Wendover, Nev. Phone: 801-282-5274 Website: www.igcsa.org

Oct. 8 — North Central Florida Turfgrass Field Day, Plant Science Research & Education Unit, Citra Phone: 800-732-6053 Website: www.foridagcsa.com Oct. 8 — GCSAA Webcast: Today’s turf is creeping bentgrass, Doug Karcher, Ph.D. Contact: GCSAA Education Phone: 800-472-7878 Website: www.gcsaa.org/education/ webcasts.aspx Oct. 20-21 — Inland Empire GCSA Trade Show, Coeur d’Alene (Idaho) Resort. Phone: 406-273-7779 Website: www.ppgcsa.org Oct. 23 — GCSAA Webcast: Establishing a golf course vegetable garden, Kathy Antaya, CGCS Contact: GCSAA Education Phone: 800-472-7878 Website: www.gcsaa.org/education/ webcasts.aspx

Oct. 28 — Peaks & Prairies GCSA Trade Show, Holiday Inn, Billings, Mont. Contact: Lori Russell Phone: 406-273-0791 Website: www.ppgcsa.org Oct. 29-30 — Oregon State University Turf Field Day, Lewis-Brown Farm, Corvallis. Phone: 541-737-5449 Website: http://horticulture.oregonstate. edu Oct. 30 — GCSAA Webcast: Reducing Poa annua on your golf course, Fred Yelverton, Ph.D. Contact: GCSAA Education Phone: 800-472-7878 Website: www.gcsaa.org/education/ webcasts.aspx

Nov. 4 — Environmental Seminar, The Oregon Golf Club, West Linn, Ore. Phone: 877-375-1330 Website: www.ogcsa.org

Nov. 5 — GCSAA Webcast: Developing engaging presentations in half the time, Rick Capozzi Contact: GCSAA Education Phone: 800-472-7878

(In the field)

Southwest Jeff Jensen The California Golf Course Superintendents Association (CAGCSA) has contributed $6,000 to the California Alliance for Golf (CAG) to assist the organization in promoting the game of golf in California. A non-profit organization, CAG’s mission is to enhance business opportunities by serving as an advocate for the golf industry before the state’s legislative bodies and government agencies while promoting the economic, environmental, and numerous community-based benefits of golf to the citizens of California. The CAG unifies all aspects and entities within the golf industry including: amateur golf associations (men, women, juniors and seniors), golf professionals, course superintendents, golf course owners and club managers, course architects and builders, management companies, hard and soft goods vendors, and major equipment manufacturers. “The CAGCSA is a proud member of CAG, and our financial contribution will assist the organization in sharing its message with all who participate in the game throughout California,” said Jim Alwine, president of the CAGCSA and Class A superintendent at Bernardo Heights Country Club in San Diego. “Our members benefit from the advocacy and lobbying efforts of CAG, effectively improving our government relations network. CAG’s commitment to the industry and growth of the game is outstanding.” “We are thrilled with this contribution from the CAGCSA, and it comes at a critical time, as we are in the process of expanding our outreach efforts,” said Tom Addis, president of CAG and executive director of the Southern California PGA. “In addition to providing us with excellent playing conditions, golf course superintendents are integral to the overall enjoyment of the game and we are happy to collaborate with their association.” For more information on CAG or how to become a member, please visit the website at www.cagolf.org.

Southeast Ron Wright I had the opportunity to work on the crew at the U.S. Amateur tournament at the Atlanta Athletic Club recently. The tournament itself has always been one of my favorites. It’s not about money or exemptions, it’s just about playing golf at a high level. The ability of the participants was through the roof and it was fun to watch them play the course and practice on the range. Everyone was friendly and happy to be a part of the competition. Being a part of the team at AAC was part golf tournament, part complex work synchronization and part family reunion. The biggest thing I took away from my time at the tournament was the feeling of family that was present among the staff. Many of the people I worked with every day had worked at AAC at some point and returned to volunteer for the tournament. There were superintendents, assistants, sales associates, interns, family members and even staff members from other departments helping out the grounds crew. Many of the volunteers had traveled a good distance to get there. Everyone I spoke to, whether currently on the staff or someone who had moved on, spoke about the sense of family that you get when working at AAC. The family atmosphere at AAC seems to have remained intact through the many years and changing faces thanks to the leadership of Ken Mangum, CGCS, and his ability to assemble a great team and chart a successful path for the facility. It was a pleasure to be a part of the family for that week. Several other staff members need to be recognized as well because Ken himself will tell you he doesn’t do it alone. Thanks and congratulations go out to Tyler, Matt, David, Elliot, Stephen and the entire AAC staff. It was a fun week and I look forward to volunteering again at the next big tournament.

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

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Website: www.gcsaa.org/education/ webcasts.aspx

Nov. 6 — Seven Rivers GCSA Annual Toys for Tots Fundraiser, Juliette Falls Golf Club, Dunnellon, Fla. Phone: 800-732-6053 Website: www.foridagcsa.com Nov. 6 — GCSAA Webcast: Pace of Play: What you can and can’t control, Steve Southard, CGCS Contact: GCSAA Education Phone: 800-472-7878 Website: www.gcsaa.org/education/ webcasts.aspx

Nov. 11 — Midwest Turf Clinic, Medinah Country Club, Medinah, Ill. Phone: 630-243-7900 Website: www.magcs.org

Nov. 13 — GCSAA Webcast: Niche applications of warm-season grasses in the northern tier of the transition zone, Steve McDonald Contact: GCSAA Education Phone: 800-472-7878 Website: www.gcsaa.org/education/ webcasts.aspx Nov. 18-19 — Carolinas GCSA Annual Trade Show, Myrtle Beach Convention Center, Myrtle Beach, S.C. Phone: 800-476-4272 Website: www.carolinasgcsa.org Nov. 19 — GCSAA Webcast: Increase the precision of your nitrogen application, Bill Kresuer, Ph.D. Contact: GCSAA Education Phone: 800-472-7878 Website: www.gcsaa.org/education/ webcasts.aspx Dec. 1 — Central Texas GCSA Toy Drive Phone: 210-413-3045 Website: www.ctgcsa.org Dec. 2-4 — Kansas Turfgrass Conference, Topeka, Kan. Phone: 785-532-6173 Website: www.kgcsa.org Dec. 3-4 — Pest Management Seminar, Oregon Convention Center, Portland. Phone: 877-375-1330 Website: www.ogcsa.org

Dec. 3-4 — Wisconsin Golf Symposium Phone: 920-643-4888 Website: www.wgcsa.com Dec. 4 — Iowa GCSA Seminar, Otter Creek GC, Ankeny. Phone: 515-635-0306 Website: www.iowagcsa.org

Dec. 4 — GCSAA Webcast: Science and perception: Communicating environmental issues with a scientifcally semi-literate society, John Stier, Ph.D. Contact: GCSAA Education Phone: 800-472-7878 Website: www.gcsaa.org/education/ webcasts.aspx

Dec. 8 — Duff Shaw Classic, North Ranch CC, Thousand Oaks, Calif. Phone: 310-528-0723 Email: cyndy@cmnsupt.com Website: www.gcsasc.org

Dec. 9-11 — Ohio Turfgrass Conference and Show, Khalahari, Sandusky, Ohio. Website: www.cogcsa.org Dec. 10 — GCSAA Webcast: Legume inclusion: A path toward greener golf course management, Jay McCurdy, Ph.D. Contact: GCSAA Education Phone: 800-472-7878 Website: www.gcsaa.org/education/ webcasts.aspx

Dec. 15-17 — Washington Turf and Landscape Show, Meydenbauer Center, Bellevue. Phone: 253-219-8360 Website: www.wwgcsa.org

Dec. 18 — GCSAA Webcast: From the trenches to the trencher: Leadership transition, Roch Gaussoin, Ph.D. Contact: GCSAA Education Phone: 800-472-7878 Website: www.gcsaa.org/education/ webcasts.aspx ——— To learn if 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.

——— 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; 785-832-3638; fax: 785832-3665; email: hrichman@gcsaa.org.

ON THE MOVE ALABAMA Patrick W. Pierce, formerly (C) at Grand National Golf Course, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Grand National Golf Course in Opelika. CALIFORNIA Jim C. Adsit, formerly (I), is now (AS) at Anderson Tucker Oaks in Redding. Peter A. Fleming, formerly (Supt. Mbr.) at Canyon Lakes Country Club, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Skywest Golf Course in Hayward. Scott K. Frame, formerly (A) at Saint Mark Golf and Resort, is now (AF) at City of Irvine in Irvine. Thomas Frey, formerly (Supt. Mbr.) at Harding and Wilson Municipal Golf Course, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Hansen Dam Golf Course in Pacoima. Roger K. Friesen, CGCS, formerly (I), is now (A) at Dragonfy Golf Club in Madera. Jeff Hache, formerly (A) at Simi Hills Golf Course, is now (A) at Sinaloa Golf Course in Simi Valley. Eric T. Lewellen, formerly (S) at California Polytechnic State University, is now (C) at Course at Wente Vineyards in Livermore. Albert Nunes, formerly (Supt. Mbr.) at San Luis Obispo Country Club, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Morro Bay Golf Course in Morro Bay. Adric Ryan, formerly (C) at Castle Pines Golf Club, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Bayonet Course at Bayonet/Black Horse Golf Course in Seaside. Todd A. Shank, formerly (A) at Anaheim Hills Golf Course, is now (A) at Alhambra Golf Course in Alhambra. Kevin S. Shipley, formerly (C) at Maderas Golf Club, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Carmel Highland Golf Resort and Spa in San Diego.

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The Doctor is IN!

COLORADO Brent Barnum, formerly (C) at Eagle Vail Golf Course, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Eagle Vail Golf Course in Avon. Lawrence R. Burks, formerly (Supt. Mbr.) at Pole Creek Golf Club, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Grand Lake Golf Course in Grand Lake. Jason A. Cieslinski, formerly (C) at Hampden Country Club, is now (C) at Colorado Golf Club in Parker. Alan B. Davis, formerly (C) at Diamond Creek Golf Club, is now (C) at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock.

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CONNECTICUT Christopher T. Guilmette, formerly (Supt. Mbr.) at Willow Brook Golf Course, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Goodwin Golf Course in Hartford. Wayne Lagasse, formerly (C) at Fox Hopyard Golf Club, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Fox Hopyard Golf Club in East Haddam.

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FLORIDA Brian S. Anderson, formerly (C) at Colony West Golf Club, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Colony West Golf Club in Tamarac.

Paul E. Hamilton, formerly (C) at Golden Ocala Golf and Country Club, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at University of Florida, Plant Science Unit in Citra. Cory B. Hillman, formerly (S) at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, is now (AS) at The Plantation at Ponte Vedra in Ponte Vedra Beach. Joseph S. Nuzback, formerly (A) at Pinebrook/Ironwood Golf Course, is now (AS) at Pinebrook/Ironwood Golf Course in Bradenton. Jamie Pavlas, formerly (C) at Golf Club of Cape Cod, is now (C) at Banyan Golf Club in West Palm Beach. George A. Ralish, formerly (C) at Hammock Beach Resort, is now (C) at Longboat Key Club-Harborside Courses in Longboat Key. Brett M. Sanderson, formerly (C) at Medalist Golf Club, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Sunrise Course at Country Club at Mirasol in Palm Beach Gardens. Jeffrey C. Taylor, formerly (C) at Country Club of Miami, is now (A) at Delray Beach Golf Club in Delray Beach. Ryan R. Willis, CGCS, formerly (A) at Venice Golf & Country Club, is now (A) at

Golf Preservations Inc. Heritage Palms Golf & CC in Fort Myers. GEORGIA Matthew Fitzpatrick, formerly (A) at Dolphin Head Golf Course, is now (A) at University of Georgia in Athens. Jim A. Osborne, formerly (Supt. Mbr.) at Cordillera Ranch, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Bear’s Best Atlanta in Suwanee. HAWAII Christopher A. Mamuad, formerly (C) at King Kamehameha Golf Club, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at King Kamehameha Golf Club in Wailuku. ILLINOIS Dane R. Wilson, formerly (C) at Medinah Country Club, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Medinah Country Club in Medinah. MARYLAND Tyler G. Bloom, formerly (C) at Sunnybrook Golf Club, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Sparrows Point Country Club in Baltimore. MASSACHUSETTS Ryan H. Green, formerly (Supt. Mbr) at Brookstone Park Golf Complex, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Crystal Lake Golf Club in Haverhill. Stephen P. McPartlin, formerly (S) at Stockbridge School of Agriculture, is now (S) at University of Massachusetts in Amherst. Jonathan Sady, formerly (C) at Springfeld Country Club, is now (C) at Franconia Golf Course in Springfeld. Joseph H. Zopatti, formerly (C) at Foxborough Country Club, is now (C) at Blissful Meadows Golf Club in Uxbridge. MICHIGAN Peter J. Breighner, formerly (C) at Heather Course at Boyne Highlands Golf Courses, is now (C) at Donald Ross Memorial Course at Boyne Highlands Golf Courses in Harbor Springs. Matt Novenske, formerly (Supt. Mbr.) at Boyne Highlands Golf Courses, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Crooked Tree Golf Club in Petoskey. MINNESOTA Christopher R. Richter, formerly (AF) at Matrix Turf Solutions LLC, is now (AF) at Winfeld Solutions LLC in Shoreview.

MISSISSIPPI Casey W. Nerren, formerly (Supt. Mbr.) at Stonebridge Golf Course, is now (A) at The Plantation Golf Club in Olive Branch. Tracy K. Perez, formerly (Supt. Mbr.) at Owl’s Creek Golf Center, is now (AS) at Diamondhead Country Club in Diamondhead.

Nationwide Golf Course Drainage Company

NEVADA Donald S. Sutton, formerly (A) at Wildhorse Golf Club, is now (A) at Royal Links Golf Club in Las Vegas. NEW JERSEY Lawrence P. Cunningham, formerly (C) at Hominy Hill Golf Course, is now (C) at Charleston Springs Golf Course in Lincroft. Christopher M. Doyle, formerly (C) at Shore Gate Golf Course, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Shore Gate Golf Course in Ocean View. Diane Elwood, formerly (A) at Bel Aire Golf Course, is now (A) at Shark River Park Golf Course in Neptune. Glenn A. Miller, CGCS, formerly (A) at Charleston Springs Golf Course, is now (A) at Shark River Park Golf Course in Neptune. William E. Murray, formerly (A) at Shark River Park Golf Course, is now (A) at Pinebrook Golf Course in Englishtown. Scott Rose, formerly (C) at Ballamor Golf Club, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Ballamor Golf Club in Egg Harbor Township. Jeremy J. Schaefer, formerly (A) at Pinebrook Golf Course, is now (A) at Hominy Hill Golf Course in Colts Neck.

Specializing in Drainage Installation on Existing Greens, Approach and Fairway Drainage

NEW YORK Justin M. Buhler, formerly (C) at The Meadow Brook Club, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at The Golf Club at Middle Bay in Oceanside. Peter R. Cash, formerly (A) at Harbor Links Golf Course, is now (A) at Engineers Country Club in Roslyn. Donald C. Haggerty, formerly (A) at Wellsville Country Club, is now (A) at Turkey Run Golf Course in Arcade. NORTH CAROLINA David R. Dettmer, CGCS, formerly (AF) at John Deere Landscapes, is now (AF) at Green Resource in Colfax. George L. Fawcett, formerly (C) at Maplechase Golf & Country Club, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Maplechase Golf & Country Club in Winston-Salem.

Golf Preservations Inc. 504 Gloucester Ave Middlesboro, KY 40965 606-499-2732 www.golfpreservations.com Email: golfpreservations@yahoo.com

Steven W. Martin, CGCS, formerly (A) at Ryder Course at PGA Golf Club, is now (A) at Riverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Edge in Shallotte. Robert S. Stowe, formerly (C) at Twelve Oaks Golf Course, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Crooked Creek Golf Club in Fuquay-Varina. OHIO Richard A. Bellers, CGCS, formerly (A) at Hickory Hills Golf Club, is now (AA) at Davey Tree Expert Company in Kent. Mike Nowakowski, formerly (C) at Shadow Wood Country Club, is now (AS) at Double Eagle Club in Galena. PENNSYLVANIA Eric M. Materkowski, formerly (A) at Wildwood Golf Club, is now (A) at St. Clair Country Club in Pittsburgh. Morgan D. Robins, formerly (S) at University of Guelph, is now (S) at Penn State University in University Park. SOUTH CAROLINA Henry O. Taylor Jr., formerly (Supt. Mbr.) at Spring Valley Country Club, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at White Plains Country Club in Pageland.

TENNESSEE Ryan Swilling, formerly (C) at Tennessee National Golf Club, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Westhaven Golf Club in Franklin. TEXAS Scott Carrier, formerly (A) at CourseCo Inc., is now (A) at Eagle Golf in Dallas. Peter G. Hammerlun, formerly (Supt. Mbr.) at The Vaquero Club, is now (A) at Timarron Golf Club in Southlake. Todd A. Leist, formerly (C) at River Crossing Golf Club, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Vaaler Creek Golf Club in Canyon Lake. Greg Marsh, formerly (Supt. Mbr.) at Golf Club at Stonebridge, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Shady Valley Golf Club in Arlington. Lance S. Smith, formerly (C) at Squaw Valley Golf Club, is now (E) at Western Texas College in Snyder. Thomas W. Solis, formerly (C) at Firewheel Golf Park, is now (C) at Royal Oaks Country Club in Dallas. Charlie L. Trammell, formerly (A) at Timarron Golf Club, is now (A) at The Hills of Lakeway-Hills Course in Austin. Seth C. Watts, formerly (C) at Mainland Golf Course, is now (C) at Hyatt Hill Country Golf Club in San Antonio.

Shawn Westacott, formerly (A) at Jackson Country Club, is now (A) at The Honors Golf Club in Carrollton. VERMONT Jeffrey B. Webster, formerly (A) at Loudoun Golf & Country Club, is now (A) at Burlington Country Club in Burlington. VIRGINIA John M. Karas, formerly (C) at River Bend Club, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Bull Run Country Club in Haymarket. Michael B. McCurry, formerly (C) at Cape Fear National Golf Club, is now (Supt. Mbr.) at Independence Golf Club in Midlothian. Joseph B. Morris, formerly (C) at Coldstream Country Club, is now (C) at Waynesboro Country Club in Waynesboro. WASHINGTON Gwen K. Stahnke, Ph.D., formerly (E) at Washington State University, is now (E) at Walla Walla Community College in Walla Walla.

at The Golf Club at Lansdowne, is now (AF) at Clear Vision LLC in Charles Town. CANADA Jason W. Dowling, formerly (A) at Big Bay Point Golf & Country Club, is now (A) at The King of Clubs/RA Properties Inc. in Schomberg, Ontario. INDIA Roger S. Goettsch, CGCS, formerly (A) at Barton Creek Resort & Club, is now (A) at Edgewater Golf Course in Sriperumbudur. SPAIN Francisco J. Aguera, formerly (ISM) at BuenaVista Golf, is now (ISM) at Club de Golf Castilla La Mancha-Las Pinaillas in Albacete. VIETNAM Alan F. Healey, formerly (ISM) at Tanto International Golf, is now (ISM) at FLC Group.

WEST VIRGINIA Eric B. Greenfeld, formerly (Supt. Mbr.)

Statement of Ownership, Management and Circulation 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I.

Publication Title: Golf Course Management Publication Number: 0192-3048 Filing Date: October 1, 2014 Issue Frequency: Monthly No. of Issues Published Annually: 12 Annual Subscription Price: $60.00 Location of Known Offce of Publication: 1421 Research Park Drive, Lawrence, KS 66049-3859 Location of Headquarters or General Business Offces of the Publisher: 1421 Research Park Drive, Lawrence, KS 66049-3859 Names and Complete Mailing Addresses of Publisher, Editor and Managing Editor: Publisher/Editor: Scott Hollister, GCSAA, 1421 Research Park Drive, Lawrence, KS 66049-3859; Managing Editor: Bunny Smith, GCSAA, 1421 Research Park Drive, Lawrence, KS 66049-3859 Owner: Golf Course Superintendents Association of America Known Bondholders, Mortgages and Other Security Holders Owning One Percent (1%) or More of Total Amount of Bonds, Mortgages, or Other Securities: None Tax Status: The purpose, function and nonproft status of this organization and the exempt status for federal income tax purposes has not changed during the preceding 12 months. Publication Title: Golf Course Management Issue Date for Circulation Data Below: September 2014 Extent and Nature of Circulation: Average No. Copies Each Issue Actual No. Copies of Single Issue During Preceding 12 Months Published Nearest to Filing Date Total no. of Copies (Net Press Run) 23,992 22,634 Paid and/or Requested Distrbution 1. Requested distribution outside USPS 1,263 1,244 2. Paid or Requested Mail Subscriptions 15,103 14,977 Total Paid and/or Requested Circulation 16,366 16,221 Free Distribution by Mail (Samples, Complimentary and Other Free) 7,350 6,161 Total Nonrequested Distribution 7,350 6,161 Total Distribution 23,716 22,382 Copies Not Distributed 1. Offce Use, Leftovers, Spoiled 276 252 2. Return from News Agents 0 0 Total 23,992 23,634 Percentage Paid and/or Requested Circulation 69.0% 72.5%

16. This Statement of Ownership will be printed in the October 2013 issue of this publication. 17. I certify that the statements made by me above are correct and complete. Scott Hollister, Publisher/Editor

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NEW MEMBERS ARIZONA Paul J. Trocki, Class C, Fort McDowell CALIFORNIA Jose E. Huerta, Supt. Mbr., Los Angeles Art Rios, Supt. Mbr., Los Angeles Sean R. Sherbert, Associate, Pebble Beach Michael Shull, Supt. Mbr., Los Angeles FLORIDA Tom Davis, Affliate Co. Rep., Pompano Beach David M. Ferrin, Class C, Naples Matthew N. Hight, Class C, Estero Art McCoy, Affliate Co. Rep., Lakeland Richard S. McCracken, Supt. Mbr., Palm Coast Cody Smith, Class C, Port Saint Lucie Chris Spence, Class C, Fort Myers GEORGIA William M. Lewis, Student, Tifton

Ryan C. Hartmann, Student, New Brunswick Willie Hoppe, Student, New Brunswick Jake Taley, Associate, Pine Valley Ryan D. Tretter, Class C, Deal Jon S. Tversland, Class C, Hamburg NEW YORK Jim A. Bowers, Supt. Mbr., Monticello Brenton P. Lewis, Class C, Cooperstown Ryan J. Whitaker, Student, Cobleskill NORTH CAROLINA Patrick R. Conner, Class C, Washington Justin M. Dove, Class C, Bald Head Island Jonathan Sweat, Affliate Co. Rep., Research Triangle Park Brennen C. Watson, Class C, Banner Elk OHIO Christopher Cameron, Student, Columbus Kyle S. Frost, Student, Toledo John M. Voet, Student, Columbus

INDIANA Philip E. McQueen, Class C, Lawrenceburg

OKLAHOMA James C. Bishop, Student, Stillwater

KANSAS Jacob T. Newsom, Class C, Leawood

PENNSYLVANIA Taylor Gray, Student, University Park Pat Moon, Student, University Park

KENTUCKY Stephen Cain, Supt. Mbr., Madisonville Phil Murray, Student, Morehead MARYLAND Allen K. Turner Jr., Class C, Rockville MASSACHUSETTS Chase C. Puffer, Associate, Wilbraham MICHIGAN Eric Carroll, Class C, Ann Arbor Kimberly J. Davidson, Associate, Byron Center MINNESOTA Kyle K. Bohks, Supt. Mbr., Mankato MISSOURI Tristan A. Donald, Class C, Arnold

SOUTH CAROLINA Paul E. Dowaschinski, Student, Beaufort Michael K. Waren, Class C, Okatie Nathan A. Welch, Affliate Co. Rep., Greenville William B. Welch, Affliate Co. Rep., Greenville Benjamin C. Wood, Student, Clemson TEXAS Derick Hashimoto, Class C, Magnolia UTAH Chanse B. Godderidge, Class C, Smithfeld VERMONT Jim B. Taft, Supt. Mbr., Windsor

NEBRASKA Jeff Moran, Class C, Scottsbluff Caleb Svoboda, Student, Beatrice

VIRGINIA Blake Hubbard, Supt. Mbr., Wintergreen William T. Kaempf Jr., Class C, Midlothian

NEW JERSEY Ian M. Armstrong, Supt. Mbr., Mahwah

WASHINGTON Justin Foss, Class C, Medina

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WEST VIRGINIA Steven Boggs, Class C, Walkersville WISCONSIN James Boer, Class C, Fort Atkinson GERMANY David G. Burgess, Associate, St. Leon-Rot IRELAND Niall Buckley, Student, Dublin UNITED KINGDOM Hayden Mead, ISM, Beaumaris

IN MEMORIAM James E. Hayes, 91, died June 17, 2014. Mr. Hayes was a 40-year member of GCSAA. He was the superintendent at Linville Land Harbor Golf Club in Linville, N.C., and also at Hound Ears Club in Boone, N.C. He was responsible for design and construction of the back nine at Land Harbor. Following his retirement in 1987, Mr. Hayes continued to work part time on the golf course for 20 years. He was a founding member of the Western North Carolina Turfgrass Association (WNCTA) and, in 2008, the WNCTA named its scholarship endowment in his honor. A 40-year member of the Carolinas GCSA, Mr. Hayes received its Distinguished Service Award in 2002. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II. Following his military service, Mr. Hayes served in the U.S. Postal Service and as a district park ranger for the Blue Ridge Parkway. He is survived by his wife, Faye; sons Jim, Michael and Wally; daughter Gail; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Memorials can be made to the Ernie Hayes Scholarship Fund, WNCTA, 7 Bevlyn Drive, Asheville, N.C., 28803. Aylor G. Rogers, 90, died June 17, 2014. Mr. Rogers, a 47-year member of GCSAA, was the superintendent and golf club professional for many years at Cedars Country Club. He also served as superintendent at Wake Forest and later oversaw the construction of Grandfather Golf and Country Club, where he became the superintendent until his retirement. Rogers was a lifetime member of the North Carolina Turfgrass Council and the Carolinas GCSA. He loved to golf; shortly before his 71st birthday, Rogers scored

a hole-in-one. He is survived by his wife, Brenda Owen Rogers; sister Glenn Yates; daughter Kimberly (Steve) Minnich; granddaughters Brianna, Shannon and Kari Minnich; and many nieces and nephews. Mark Printsky, CGCS Retired, 56, died June 9, 2014. Mr. Printsky, a 30-year member of GCSAA, graduated from SUNY-Cobleskill with a degree in recreational land management. He spent 25 years as the superintendent at McGregor Links Country Club in Wilton, N.Y., where he later served as facilities manager. He worked at other courses, including The Edison Club and Tijeras Arroyo Golf Course at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, N.M. Mr. Printsky was a go-to guy for other superintendents who faced challenging situations on their own courses. He was willing to help them whenever needed. He is survived by his wife, Mary Beth LaBelle Printsky; mother, Joan Connolly Printsky; motherin-law, Angie LaBelle; sisters Mary Ellen Staccone and Shelly Valek; sister-inlaw Theresa LaBelle (Dave) Tomlinson; bothers-in-law Francis J. LaBelle Jr. and Doug Ryan; nephews Anthony Staccone, Joseph Valek, Mark Tomlinson and Shane Tomlinson; and niece Caroline Staccone. Memorials in his honor may be made to Saratoga Warhorse Foundation, PO Box 461, Saratoga Springs, N.Y., 12866 or The Franklin Community Center, 10 Franklin Street, Saratoga Springs, N.Y., 12866.

ADVERTISING INDEX & MARKETPLACE PLATINUM PARTNERS

Golf Preservations ............................................. 111 (606) 499-2732 .............www.golfpreservations.com

John Deere Co. ..............................................4 - 5 (800) 257-7797 .............www.johndeere.com/Golf

Golf-Lift Div. Derek Weaver Co., Inc. ............... 117 (800) 788-9789 .........................www.golf-lift.com

The Toro Co. ................................................IFC - 1 (888) 664-7489 ..........www.toro.com/leaderboard

Greenjacket..................................................... 116 (888) 786-2683 ................. www.greenjacket.com Grigg Bros. ........................................................ 65 (888) 623-7285 .....................www.griggbros.com

GOLD PARTNERS Jacobsen ..........................................................31, (800) 232-5907 ......................www.jacobsen.com Syngenta Crop Protection, LLC ................. Cover 4 (909) 308-1633 ..................................................... www.syngentaprofessionalproducts.com

Growth Products Ltd. ........................................ 25 (800) 648-7626 ...........www.growthproducts.com Koch Agronomic Services, LLC ....................23, 73 (888) 547-4140 ......................... www.kasturf.com Lastec ............................................................. 105 (866) 902-6454 ..........................www.lastec.com Linear Rubber Products ..................................... 117 (800) 558-4040 .....................www.rubbermats.com

SILVER PARTNERS

Milorganite ...................................................... 113 (800) 287-9645 ..................... www.milorganite.com

The Andersons, Inc. .....................................11, 61 (800) 253-5296 .............. www.AndersonsPro.com

MultiGuard ......................................................... 57 (908) 272-7070 ............www.multiguardprotect.com

Barenbrug USA ................................................33* (800) 547-4101 ......................... www.barusa.com

Neary Technologies........................................... 53 (800) 233-4973 ...................... www.nearytec.com

Baroness ............................................................ 19 (707)283-0610 ............................ www.baroness.us

Ostara Nutrient Recovery Technologies, Inc. ........ 104 (604) 408-6697 .............................www.ostara.com

Civitas Fungicide (a.k.a.Petro Canada) .................. 29 .................................................www.civitasturf.com

Phoenix UPI ........................................................ 51 (888) 250-8856 ...............www.phoenixenvcare.com

Cushman (a.k.a. E-Z-GO)..................................... 83 (800) 774-3946 ........................ www.cushman.com

PlanetAir Turf Products ..................................... 27 (877) 800-8845 .........................www.planetair.biz

Floratine Products Group .............................67, 85 (901) 853-2898 ....................... www.foratine.com

Plant Food Co. Inc. .......................................... 110 (800) 562-1291 ................. www.plantfoodco.com

FMC Professional Solutions ............. 13, 49(Insert) (800) 235-7368 .......... www.fmcprosolutions.com

Precision Laboratories, Inc. .................................. 39 (800) 323-6280 .................... www.precisionlab.com

Lebanon Turf ................................................14, 15 (800) 350-6650 ............... www.lebanonturf.com/

Richway Industries ............................................ 117 (800) 553-2404 ...........................www.richway.com

Par Aide Products Co. ....................................2 - 3 (888) 893-2433 ........................ www.paraide.com

Salsco, Inc. ......................................................... 71 (806) 272-5506 .............................www.salsco.com

PBI Gordon Corp..................... 21, 69, 81, 107, 114 (800) 971-7233 .................... www.pbigordon.com

Seago International, Inc. ................................. 116 (800) 780-9889 .....................www.seagousa.com

Quali-Pro........................................................... 37 (888) 584-6598 ......................www.quali-pro.com

Smithco, Inc................................................. Cover 3 (877) 833-7648 .......................... www.smithco.com

Tee-2-Green Corp. ......................................... 42-43 (800) 547-0255 .................... www.tee-2-green.com

SubAir Inc. ...................................................... 115 (800) 441-1880 ............. www.subairsystems.com TRIMS Software International Inc. .................. 116 (800) 608-7467 ............................www.trims.com

ADVERTISERS AMVAC .............................................................. 47 (888) GO-AMVAC ........www.amvac-chemical.com BoardTronics.................................................... 6 - 7 (800) 782-9938 ............................boardtronics.com Bobcat ............................................................... 35 877-745-7813 .................http://bobcat.com/allnew6

Turf Max ............................................................. 59 (267) 246-8654 ....................... www.turfmaxllc.com Turfco................................................................. 41 (800) 679-8201 ............................. www.turfco.com * Denotes regional advertisement Bold denotes affliate member

Buffalo Turbine ............................................... 109 (716) 592-2700 ..............www.buffaloturbine.com Champion Turf Farms ....................................... 8 - 9 (888) 290-7377 ..........www.championturffarms.com East Coast Sod & Seed ...................................... 117 (856) 769-9555 ...................www.eastcoastsod.com Foley United ...................................................... 63 (800) 225-9810 .................. www.foleyunited.com GCSAA Services...................................................... 49, 75, 77, 95, 97, 100, 101, 110, 112, 117 (800) 447-1840 ...............................www.gcsaa.org GCSAA TV .......................................................... 79 ..........................................................www.gcsaa.tv GE Capital, Equipment Finance ............................ 17 (469) 586-2010 .................. www.gecapital.com/golf

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GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT 10.14

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10.14 GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT

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(photo quiz answers) By John Mascaro President of Turf-Tec International

(a) PROBLEM This raised turf is the result of an irrigation break that occurred right in the middle of a ladies’ league golf outing. The golf course has some 45-year-old irrigation pipe around the greens and tees tied into a “newer” 25-year-old fairway system. This leak was on a 1½-inch pipe that was dead-ended with a cap. In the 15 to 20 minutes between groups of players, the cap blew out and a solid stream of water fowed back under the green, producing this enormous turf bubble. The photo was taken a few minutes after the water was shut off. The grounds crew took fat spades to cut holes in the bubble to let the water slowly drain out. The bubble stretched the sod far enough that there was a fap of sod roughly 6 inches long on the leading edge of the bubble that they had to cut out in order for it to lie fat again. Next, they rolled the area multiple times over the course of a few days until the area frmed up and the major dips and dents were smoothed out (this is shown in the second photo). Following this, they topdressed and rolled the area to work out any remaining dips and dents. After about four or fve days you could hardly tell anything had happened to the area. This photo also ended up being a great visual aid to convince the club members that it was time to upgrade the irrigation system. A new irrigation system was installed last fall and is working great. Photo submitted by Brent Vermeer, the GCSAA Class A superintendent at Rock Valley (Iowa) Golf Course and a 12-year member of the association.

(b) PROBLEM This straight line void of turf is the result of employee error. This golf course is tucked among some rolling hills in northern Mississippi, so as a result, this particular greens complex is very contoured. When spraying this green with a fertilizer and fungicide mix, the employee is supposed to go slow, raising and lowering the boom with the electric lift arms to ensure adequate space between the greens surface and the nozzles. On this particular day, the employee did not follow the proper procedure, and the nozzles on this pass almost touched the greens surface, browning out the turf. The superintendent does regular verticutting of the turf and tried to give the turf some time to heal. After a few days passed, however, it was apparent that the turf was not going to recover, so the damaged area was plugged. The superintendent provided the employee with additional training, but this mishap was just the tip of the iceberg, and ultimately, the employee left the club to pursue other career opportunities. Photo submitted by Jeremy Castle, superintendent at The Country Club of Oxford (Miss.) and a three-year GCSAA member.

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 e-mail 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 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.

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GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT 10.14

TURFCAT

Thanks to all-hydraulic deck and traction drives, 212 less service parts and 17 less grease points than the competition, the all-new Jacobsen TurfCat out-front rotary mower provides the lowest cost of ownership in its class. The TurfCat also offer superior versatility, with nine different deck conﬁgurations and ﬁve attachments to keep it working year-round. If you want to get more done for less, take a look at the Jacobsen TurfCat at Jacobsen.com.

Photographer: Rich Gagnon • Title: GCSAA Class A Superintendent • Course: Segregansett Country Club, Taunton, Mass. • GCSAA membership: 20-year member • The shot: The site of Segregansett CC’s 7th hole was in the woods for more than 100 years. In 2004, the hole was extended 60 yards to make it a tougher par-5, and Gagnon was in charge of growing in the new green. • Camera: Canon 5D Mark II with a Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 ISII lens

Do you have a photograph that you’d like the GCM staff to consider for The Final Shot? You can submit photos for consideration by e-mail to thefnalshot@gcsaa.org or to GCM editor-in-chief Scott Hollister at shollister@gcsaa.org.

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