The Official Publication of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association, the Tennessee Valley Sports Turf Managers Association and the Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association
The Official Publication of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association, Tennessee Valley Sports Turf Managers Association and the Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association
TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S DECEMBER/JANUARY 2009
11 Upcoming Event
F E AT U R E D A RT I C L E S
11
Upcoming Event — 2009 Tennessee Turfgrass Association 43rd Annual Conference and Trade Show, Program and Registration Forms
20
Preparing for a Championship: Life Lessons Learned during a Turfgrass Internship
26
Turf Talk — Synthetic Turf in the News
20
Cover Story
26
Turf Talk
D E PA RT M E N T S
4
From the TTA President, Bob Hogan
6
Message from the TVSTMA, Stephen Callis
8
Calendar of Events
30
Index of Advertisers
30
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS
DECEMBER/JANUARY 2009
Email TTA at: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com
FROM THE PRESIDENT Bob Hogan
What a
SHOW! hope everyone is doing well, and I’m glad that I can say the same. I just got out of the hospital after two days of testing. It is true, I do have a heart, and they did find a brain. It is good to be on this side of the green grass. Speaking of green grass, I hope your grass is making it just fine through these winter days. If it is not, I hope you are making plans to attend our 2009 TTA Annual Conference & Trade Show, or you are at the show, or you have just returned from the Conference after receiving great information to make your grass greener and better. This year’s education program focuses on how our energy sources can work for us, and the financial side of the industry is as important as cutting the grass. This year’s conference is full of great ideas, and I know that you will receive just the right information to help you make your grass greener. While at the conference, take time to visit the Trade Show. Every vendor has something new and better to offer to our industry. Also, please make plans to attend the 2010 Annual Conference and Trade Show. You will need to book early your hotel reservations at Franklin Marriott Cool Springs by calling 1-888-403-6772. Just a reminder, we do have scholarships to give away. Will you help us spend these funds? If you have any questions about the TTA or the Conference & Trade Show, you may call Jim Uden at the TTA office (615-591-8286) or me at The Hogan Company (888-224-6426). We hope to see each of you, January 11–13, 2009, in Franklin, Tennessee.
I
Bob Hogan TTA President
6
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS
DECEMBER/JANUARY 2009
Email TTA at: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com
The Official Publication of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association, the Tennessee Valley Sports Turf Managers Association and the Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association
Tennessee Turfgrass is the official publication of The Tennessee Turfgrass Association 400 Franklin Road Franklin, Tennessee 37069 (615) 591-8286 tnturfgrassassn@aol.com www.ttaonline.org Published by Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street Franklin, Tennessee 37064 (615) 790-3718 Fax (615) 794-4524 Email:info@leadingedgecommunications.com Editor Mr. Bill Marbet TTA OFFICERS President Bob Hogan The Hogan Company (888) 224-6426 Vice President Bobby Stringer Germantown Country Club (901) 754-7755 Secretary/Treasurer Cory Blair Rarity Bay Golf & CC (423) 884-3007 Past President Bill Francis The Ridges Golf & CC (423) 913-2276 Executive Secretary Mr. Jim Uden (615) 591-8286 TTA 2008 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Mr. Paul Carter Ms. Shelia Finney Mr. Bill Marbet Mr. Bob McCurdy Mr. Scott McNeer Mr. Tommy Mittlesteadt Mr. Scott Morgan Mr. Mitch Parker Mr. Scott Severance Mr. Robert Stroud Mr. Jay Willis TTA ADVISORY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD Mr. Bill Blackburn Mr. Lynn Ray Dr. Tom Samples Dr. Dennis Shepard Dr. John Sorochan
FROM THE TVSTMA Stephen Callis
A New Year and New Leadership
Ahead Man,
time sure does fly by! It doesn’t seem that long ago that I was writing my first letter for the magazine. Things certainly have changed a lot in the last year, and no doubt things will be different this time next year. One thing that will not change is the direction that the TVSTMA is headed and the determination of our board to keep it going. In the last year, we have seen our membership increase. Attendance has increased at our meetings. We have purchased a computer and accounting software to make bookkeeping more efficient. This does not mean that we have time to sit back and relax. To keep things headed in the right direction, we need to continue to keep working to improve. There is always room for improvement. As we continue to improve and build upon the great foundation that was laid for the TVSTMA, I want to thank everyone who helped with the growth of the TVSTMA this year. Bob Elliot has done a wonderful job as treasurer this year, especially when you consider all the work it took to enter so much information in the new accounting program. As commercial vice president, Theo Lankford did a great job keeping vendors involved with the organization by sponsoring our meetings. I also want to thank everyone involved in the organization of each of our meetings. It was your hard work that made each of them successful. I also want to thank Chris Crockett for agreeing to serve as president-elect this past year. By being recognized as a Certified Sports Field Manager, he has shown that he takes his profession seriously. The dedication that he will bring to the office of president in 2009 will be a tremendous asset to the TVSTMA. In closing, I want to thank each and every one of you for allowing me to serve you this past year as president of the TVSTMA. I look forward to continuing to serve the TVSTMA and seeing each of you at our 2009 meetings. As always, if you have any ideas for meetings or topics to address at meetings, please let me know. I can be reached at 1-888-224-6426 or stephen@thehogancompany.us.
Stephen Callis TVSTMA President
8
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS
DECEMBER/JANUARY 2009
Email TTA at: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com
The Tennessee Turfgrass Association serves its members in the industry through education, promotion and representation. The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the association, its staff, or its board of directors, Tennessee Turfgrass Magazine, or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or Turfgrass Association members, does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services featured in this, past or subsequent issues of this quarterly publication. Copyright Š2009 by the Tennessee Turfgrass Association. Tennessee Turfgrass is published bi-monthly. Subscriptions are complimentary to members of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association. POSTMASTER: Send change of address notification to Tennessee Turfgrass Association, 400 Franklin Road, Franklin, TN 37069. Postage guaranteed. Third-class postage is paid at Franklin, TN. Printed in the U.S.A. Reprints and Submissions: Tennessee Turfgrass allows reprinting of material. Permission requests should be directed to the Tennessee Turfgrass Association. We are not responsible for unsolicited freelance manuscripts and photographs. Contact the managing editor for contribution information. Advertising: For display and classified advertising rates and insertions, please contact Leading Edge Communications, LLC, 206 Bridge Street, Franklin, TN 37064, (615) 7903718, Fax (615) 794-4524.
43RD ANNUAL
2009 TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND TRADE SHOW PROGRAM
JANUARY 11,TH 12TH AND 13,TH 2009 FRANKLIN MARRIOTT COOL SPRINGS 700 COOL SPRINGS BLVD. • FRANKLIN, TENNESSEE 37067
PROGRAM & MEMBER REGISTRATION
CONFERENCE PROGRAM SPEAKERS AND TOPICS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
SUNDAY AFTERNOON, JANUARY 11
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:45 p.m. BREAK
1:00 p.m. Update from The UT Turf Management and Turfgrass Weed Science Research, Teaching and Extension Team (Moderator: Dr. John C. Sorochan) Mr. Gregory K. Breeden Dr. James T. Brosnan Mr. T. Jonathan (Jon) Dorris Dr. Frank A. Hale Mr. William Donald (Will) Haselbauer Mr. John M. Kauffman Mr. Dustin F. Lewis Dr. Tom Samples Mr. Adam Thoms Dr. Alan S. Windham
3:00 p.m. Practical Tips for Inter-Seeding Bentgrass into Existing Greens Dr. A. Douglas Brede, Jacklin Seed
3:45 p.m. The Media: Can’t Live With ’Em, Can’t Live Without ’Em Mr. John Reitman, TurfNet the Magazine
4:30 p.m. BREAK 5:00 p.m. Managing Turfgrass Insects on a Budget Dr. Patricia J. Vittum, University of Massachusetts
Golf Course Symposium (Moderators: Dr. Tom Samples and Mr. Tommy Mittlesteadt)
5:45 p.m.
2:15 p.m.
Tools to Make Change Work for You Mr. Mark Esoda, Atlanta Country Club, Inc.
The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America Environmental Stewardship Program Mr. Greg Lyman, GCSAA
MONDAY MORNING, JANUARY 12
6:30 p.m. ADJOURN
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Golf Course Session
Sports Turf Session
(Moderators: Mr. Jay Willis and Ms. Shelia Finney)
(Moderators: Mr. Bob McCurdy and Mr. Bill Marbet)
8:00 a.m. Mowing and Rolling Practices for Putting Green Management Dr. John Sorochan, The University of Tennessee 8:45 a.m. Bunker Building and Management Mr. Robert Oppold, New Mix Lab 9:30 a.m. True or False: The Fertilizers We Apply to Turfgrass Pollute the Environment Dr. Brian Horgan, University of Minnesota Twin Cities 10:15 a.m. BREAK 10:15 a.m. Irrigation, Water Conservation and the 21st Century 10:30 a.m. Everything You Know about Drought Is Wrong! Dr. A. Douglas Brede, Jacklin Seed 11:15 a.m. Equipment and Fleet Management in Today’s Economy Mr. Todd Gray, Wells Fargo Financial Leasing
12
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS
DECEMBER/JANUARY 2009
8:00 a.m. A Sports Turf Research Update from North Carolina State University Dr. Grady Miller, North Carolina State University 9:15 a.m. Managing Oriole Park at Camden Yards Ms. Nicole Sherry, Oriole Park at Camden Yards 10:15 a.m. BREAK 10:30 a.m. Sports Turf Questions and Answers Dr. Grady Miller, North Carolina State University 11:15 a.m. Stories from the Southeastern Conference Mr. Roy Kramer 12:00 noon AWARDS LUNCHEON AND TTA BUSINESS MEETING
Email TTA at: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com
MONDAY AFTERNOON, JANUARY 12 Golf Course Session
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sports Turf Session (Moderator: Mr. Stephen Callis)
1:45 p.m. TGCSAA Business Meeting
TRADE SHOW
1:45 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. Controlling Annual Bluegrass Before and After Overseeding Bermudagrass Sports Turfs Dr. James T. Brosnan, The University of Tennessee Mr. Gregory K. Breeden, The University of Tennessee
Please support our vendors!
2:15 p.m. TVSTMA Business Meeting
2:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
TUESDAY MORNING, JANUARY 13 7:00 a.m. Prayer Breakfast (Continental Style)
1:15 p.m. SPECIAL TOPIC SESSIONS A. Environomics 101 / Course Management on a Budget Mr. Anthony Williams, Stone Mountain Golf Club Mr. Chris Hartwiger, USGA Green Section
TRADE SHOW 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
B. Creeping Bentgrass Greens: Summer Disease-Control Programs Dr. S. Bruce Martin, Clemson University Dr. Alan S. Windham, The University of Tennessee
Please support our vendors! 11:00 a.m. SPECIAL TOPIC SESSIONS A. How to Sell Course Improvements to Your Board Mr. Lee McLemore, The Country Club of Birmingham B. Effective Fungicide Programs for Ultradwarf Bermudagrass Greens Dr. S. Bruce Martin, Clemson University Dr. Alan S. Windham, The University of Tennessee C. Taking a Proactive Approach to Water Restrictions Dr. Thomas W. Rufty Jr., North Carolina State University
12:00 noon LUNCH
1:15 p.m. PESTICIDE CERTIFICATION TESTING Tennessee Department of Agriculture
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
C. How to Conserve Energy and Save Dollars while Lighting, Heating and Cooling the Maintenance Center and Clubhouse Mr. Keith A. Hoffman, Tennessee Valley Authority
2:30 p.m. SPECIAL TOPIC SESSIONS A. Traditional and Nontraditional Grasses for the Golf Course Mr. Thomas Voigt, University of Illinois B. New Turf Herbicides: A Research Update Dr. L. B. (Bert) McCarty, Clemson University Dr. Wesley Totten, The University of Tennessee at Martin C. Operation Always Ready: A CPR, First Aid and Disaster-Preparedness Program Mr. Jerry Lemons, Golf Links Inc. Mr. Michael Richardson, American Red Cross
3:45 p.m. ADJOURN Please have a safe trip home.
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION
13
MAKE E TO E R U S AT T H BE S N VAT I O RESER IN
KL FRAN IOTT R R A M S RING
FEATURED SPEAKERS Dr. A. Douglas Brede Research Director Jacklin Seed, a J. R. Simplot Company Post Falls, ID 800-688-7333
Mr. Keith A. Hoffman Customer Service Coordinator Tennessee Valley Authority Johnson City, TN 423-467-3853 kahoffman@tva.gov
Mr. Gregory K. Breeden Extension Assistant II The University of Tennessee Knoxville, TN 865-974-7208 gbreeden@utk.edu
Dr. Brian Horgan Assistant Professor University of Minnesota Twin Cities St. Paul, MN 55108 612-624-0782 bphorgan@umn.edu
Dr. James T. Brosnan Assistant Professor The University of Tennessee Knoxville, TN 865-974-7324 www.turfweeds.utk.edu/index.asp
Mr. John M. Kauffman Graduate Student The University of Tennessee Knoxville, TN 865-974-7324 jkauffm1@utk.edu
Mr. T. Jonathan (Jon) Dorris Graduate Student The University of Tennessee Knoxville, TN 865-974-7324 tdorris@utk.edu
Mr. Roy Kramer Former Commissioner of the Southeastern Conference
Mr. Mark Esoda, CGCS Atlanta Country Club, Inc. Marietta, GA 770-953-2229
Mr. Todd Gray Senior Vice Pres., Golf & Turf Division Wells Fargo Financial Leasing 866-336-8382 toddgray@wellsfargo.com
Mr. Chris Hartwiger Senior Agronomist, Southeast Region USGA Green Section Birmingham, AL 205-444-5079 chartwiger@usga.org
Mr. William David (Will) Haselbauer Graduate Student The University of Tennessee Knoxville, TN 865-974-7324 whaselba@utk.edu
14
SP 2 COOL 3-677 0 4 8 1-88
Mr. Jerry Lemons Golf Links Inc. Old Hickory, TN 615-847-8877 jlemons@comcast.net
Mr. Dustin F. Lewis Graduate Student The University of Tennessee Knoxville, TN 865-974-7324 dlewis7@utk.edu
Mr. Greg Lyman Director of Environmental Programs Golf Course Superintendents Assn. of America Lawrence, KS 800-472-7878 glyman@gcsaa.org
Dr. S. Bruce Martin Interim Director and Professor Clemson University Florence, SC 843-662-3526, ext. 234 sbmrtn@clemson.edu
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS
DECEMBER/JANUARY 2009
Dr. L. B. (Bert) McCarty Professor Clemson University Clemson, SC 864-656-0120 bmccrty@clemson.edu Mr. Lee McLemore, CGCS Director of Golf Course Operations The Country Club of Birmingham Birmingham, AL 205-803-4268 lmclemore@ccbham.com Dr. Grady Miller Professor & Extension Specialist North Carolina State University Raleigh, NC 27695 919-515-5656 grady_miller@ncsu.edu Mr. Robert Oppold Manager New Mix Lab Lenexa, KS 66215 800-362-8873 roppold@istrc.com Mr. John Reitman Editor TurfNet the Magazine 800-314-7929 jreitman@turfnet.com Mr. Michael Richardson Health and Safety Director American Red Cross Franklin, TN 37064 615-790-5785 Dr. Thomas W. Rufty Jr. Professor North Carolina State University Raleigh, NC 919-515-3660 tom_rufty@ncsu.edu Dr. Tom Samples, Professor, Extension Turfgrass Specialist The University of Tennessee Knoxville, TN 865-974-7324 tjsamples@utk.edu http://www.tennesseeturf.utk.edu
Dr. John C. Sorochan Associate Professor The University of Tennessee Knoxville, TN 865-974-7324 sorochan@utk.edu http://www.turf.tennessee.edu
Mr. Adam Thoms Graduate Student The University of Tennessee Knoxville, TN 865-974-7324 athoms@utk.edu
Dr. Wesley Totten Assistant Professor The University of TN at Martin Martin, TN 731-881-7936 wtotten@utm.edu
Dr. Patricia J. Vittum Professor University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA 413-545-0268 pvittum@ent.umass.edu
Mr. Anthony Williams Head Golf Superintendent Stone Mountain Golf Club Stone Mountain, GA 770-413-5241 anthony.williams@marriott.com
Mr. Thomas Voigt Extension Specialist University of Illinois Urbana, IL 217-333-7847 tvoigt@illinois.edu
Ms. Nicole Sherry Head Groundskeeper Oriole Park at Camden Yards Baltimore, MD 888-848-2473
Email TTA at: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com
4 3 R D A N N U A L TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE
AND
TRADE
SHOW
PLEASE COMPLETE, SIGN AND RETURN THIS FORM WITH YOUR PAYMENT. Please list all information as you would like it to appear in the 2009 TTA Annual Directory.
ADDRESS: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ CITY/STATE/ZIP: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ TELEPHONE: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ FAX: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ EMAIL: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PRIMARY FUNCTION COMMERCIAL VENDOR TURF MANAGER ❑ Commercial Lawn Care ❑ Equipment Dealer ❑ Golf Course ❑ Retail Center ❑ Distributor ❑ Parks & Recreation ❑ Landscaping ❑ Manufacturer ❑ Sports Field ❑ Irrigation Contractor ❑ Other_______________ ❑ Hotel/Resort ❑ Hospital/Health Care ❑ DOT ❑ Other_______________ ❑ School/University ❑ Cemetery ❑ Other_______________ PLEASE CHECK THE BOX FOR ADDITIONAL ASSOCIATION AFFILIATIONS:
❑ PGMS
❑ TNLA
❑ TVSTMA
❑ TGCSA
❑ Other _____________
Please list the first and last names of the persons attending the 2009 Conference & Trade Show. Attach separate list if needed.
❶ ❷ ❸ ❹ ❺ ➏ ❼ ❽
REGISTRATION OPTIONS ❶
❷
❸
❹
❺
➏
❼
❽
Primary Member Registration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 175.00
TOTAL
$
Price includes 2009 Membership Dues
Associate Member Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 120.00 $
Registrants from the same facility are eligible for Associate Membership if the facility has two primary members.
Student Member Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $
60.00
One Day Pass (Limit 1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $
75.00
One Day Student Pass (Limit 1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $
10.00
Awards Luncheon Ticket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $
25.00
Endowment Fund Contribution ❑ Research ❑ Scholarship
❑
$ $ $ $
Extension
$
Please make checks payable to:
Tennessee Turfgrass Association • 400 Franklin Road • Franklin, TN 37069
GRAND TOTAL
$
(No Credit Cards)
TTA OFFICE USE ONLY
Date______________
Check No. ______________
Cash ______________
REGISTRATION FORM
COMPANY NAME: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CONTRACT FOR EXHIBIT SPACE
43RD ANNUAL TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE AND TRADE SHOW PLEASE COMPLETE, SIGN AND RETURN THIS FORM WITH YOUR PAYMENT.
BOOTHS
SIZE
UNIT PRICE
BOOTHS 100 – 823
80 SQ FT
$495
QUANTITY
TOTAL
(Max limit of 4)
ADDITIONAL MEMBERSHIP TO TTA: (1 included with 10' x 8' booth rental.
$50
Attend the TTA Awards Luncheon & Business Meeting!
$25/person
Mon., Jan. 12, 2009, 12:00 p.m.
TOTAL
Please make checks payable to : Tennessee Turfgrass Association 400 Franklin Road Franklin, TN 37069 (No Credit Cards)
FIRST CHOICE
SECOND CHOICE
THIRD CHOICE
BOOTH PREFERENCE All reservations are made on a first-paid, first-reserved basis only. Please note the cancellation policy as outlined in the section of the brochure entitled “Rules & Regulations.” If electricity is required, please contact Jim Uden at (615) 591-8286 for Marriott form and further information. Purchased luncheon tickets will be included in vendor packet upon registration and setup. PLEASE PRINT OR TYPE THE FOLLOWING: NAME:
MEMBER NAME:
(Person responsible for the booth)
(To be included in Directory)
SIGNATURE: FIRM: (As your ID sign should read)
MAILING ADDRESS: CITY: TELEPHONE:
STATE:
ZIP: FAX:
EMAIL: **ADDITIONAL NAMES FOR BADGES: (**If more space is needed, please attach a complete list)
**ADDITIONAL MEMBERSHIPS: (**If more space is needed, please attach a complete list)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRODUCTS/SERVICES YOU SELL OR PROVIDE:
RULES & REGULATIONS OPENING AND CLOSING: The exhibit officially opens at 2:30 p.m., Monday, January 12, 2009, and will close at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, January13, 2009. EXHIBIT SET-UP AND BREAKDOWN: General booth set-up will be from 10:00 a.m., Monday, January 12, 2009, until 2:30 p.m. All exhibits must breakdown 11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 13, 2009.
INSURANCE AND FIRE PROTECTION: The Tennessee Turfgrass Association will exercise all reasonable care for the protection of exhibitor’s material and displays. An official of the trade show committee will be on duty in the exhibit area during set-up and breakdown periods. The exhibit area will be secured during non-exhibit hours.
CONTRACT FOR SPACE: The application for space and the formal notice of assignment constitutes a contract for the right to use the space so allotted. In the event of fire, strikes, or other uncontrollable circumstances, the contract will not be binding. The Tennessee Turfgrass Association reserves the right to cancel any contract with any exhibitor any time prior to or during the conference.
LIABILITY: The exhibitor agrees to make no claim against the Tennessee Turfgrass Association nor its members or employees for loss, theft, damage or destruction of goods, nor any injury to himself/herself, or employees prior, during or subsequent to the period covered by the exhibit contract, nor for any damage whatsoever, including the damage to his business by reason of failure to provide space for the exhibit, nor for failure to hold the Conference as scheduled. The exhibitor, upon signing the contract for exhibit space, expressly releases the foregoing named conference and individuals from any and all claims for such loss, damage or injury.
USE OF SPACE: All demonstrations, interviews, distributions of advertising material or other activities must be confined to the limits of the exhibit booths. No exhibitor shall assign, sublet or share the whole or part of the space allotted without the knowledge and approval of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association.
CANCELLATION: In the event an exhibitor must cancel, and cannot exhibit, the following will apply. A. If the reserved booth or island can be contracted, a 100% refund will be granted. B. If the reserved booth or island can not be contracted, a 50% refund will be granted.
BOOTHS: There will be fifty-nine (59) 10' x 8' booths available. Each will be piped and draped. Each will have a 6' skirted table, 2 chairs, wastebasket and one I.D. sign.
FLOOR PLAN
Please indicate preferences on Exhibit Space contract
COVER STORY
20
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS
DECEMBER/JANUARY 2009
Email TTA at: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com
CONTINUED
By Dustin F. Lewis, Graduate Student, Turfgrass Weed Science, The University of Tennessee
A
“life lesson” can be defined as knowledge acquired through a direct personal experience that becomes an unparalleled example to follow from that moment forth. Ingrained into the psyche, life lessons help mold us personally and professionally far into the future. For many of us in the turfgrass industry, there was no better opportunity to learn life lessons than through the journeys of our first turfgrass internship.
Even though an internship is an essential right of passage, interns may not be mentally or physically prepared for the necessary demands of an internship. The long hours of labor and the pressure to meet course obligations can either build self-character or break one’s spirit. After seeing first-hand how different individuals react to the pressures of an internship, it is my pleasure to share a few of my experiences through three life lessons I gained while interning.
Life Lesson #1:
Embrace the unexpected. When I told my advisor that I had been selected to be one of the few interns for the upcoming PGA Championship, he was more
excited than I was, saying, “Just wait! You won’t believe all of the amazing things at this club. It’s a 54-hole state-of-the-art complex. The clubhouse is world renowned for its architectural design. The course budget is well into the millions. Even the facilities and intern apartments are immaculate. For the next five months, you’ll have a great opportunity to learn from the best.” After leaving his office, I was floating on air with visions of my own personal triplex mower and company Blackberry. During the 13-hour drive from rural East Tennessee, I began to daydream about my upcoming living situation. I wondered if my apartment would come furnished with either digital or wireless internet and if I would have access to the premium cable package. Arriving at the course, I saw the greenest grass I had ever laid eyes on. Being most familiar with bermudagrass fairways in the transition zone, I had never seen anything like these coolseason bentgrass fairways and bluegrass roughs. Soon the clubhouse came into view. Never before had I seen a structure of such size, elegance and remarkable beauty. I thought to myself that I would have my own room in its highest tower, being able to see all three courses from my bedroom window. My heart was leaping out of my chest with excitement as I followed the signs toward the maintenance facility. After knocking on the door labeled “Grounds Manager’s Office,” I was greeted by my new employer, named Boss. “How was your trip across the Mason-Dixon Line?” he asked. I told him it was quite a pleasant trip and that I had whistled “Dixie” the whole way. He laughed and then escorted me to my living quarters.
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION
21
COVER STORY
Pulling out of the maintenance facility, I expected Boss to turn back toward the penthouse suite that awaited me in the clubhouse. To my surprise, he led me to a ramshackle cinderblock building behind an old storage barn. We parked in a mixture of mud, sand and gravel near the unhinged screen door on the front of the building. Boss got out and said, “I’m sorry I can’t show you around, but I need to head home. Ask for Alfonso inside, and he’ll give you the room key. Get some rest, and I will see you at 7 a.m.” Inside, it sounded as if I had stumbled into a south-of-theborder cantina. Several Hispanic workers were playing cards and passing around a tequila bottle. The room fell silent until the oldest of the group stood up and said, “Hola, Gringo! Welcome to the ‘Hacienda.’ Me nombre es Alfonso.” Alfonso helped carry my bags to room #8. Inside the small prison-cell-sized room were two twin beds, a rusty locker set, a wall-mounted A/C unit and cardboard boxes as makeshift window curtains. Alfonso quickly pointed to the A/C unit and gave a “thumbs up” along with saying, “Muy bueno.” Apparently I was lucky, since no other room in the Hacienda had the luxury of air conditioning. In broken English, Alfonso told me that my roommate would arrive shortly. He wished me “buenos noches” as he shut the door behind him, leaving me alone in my new home for the next five months. The dreams of my plush, country-club pad had fallen into an unreal reality. My first life lesson of my internship was the hardest one to swallow. I spent the first few hours feeling as if my advisor had deceived me. Hitting my breaking point, I called his cell phone and voiced my anger at his lies concerning my housing situation. After patiently listening to me vent my frustrations, he said a few of the wisest words that I will never forget. He said, “The most 22
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS
DECEMBER/JANUARY 2009
rewarding things in life are often the ones that push us to our limits. Even though you are unhappy now, think of all the opportunities at your fingertips. Other people can only dream of what you will experience. Do not be discouraged. Keep your head up, and remember most of all, always embrace the unexpected.” Dr. A.J. Turgeon, a professor of turfgrass management at Penn State, defined the resilience of a turfgrass species as its ability to absorb shock without altering its characteristics. Just as turfgrass should be able to withstand impacts, a turfgrass intern must be ready to handle similar blows without compromising selfcharacter. Even today, when life throws me a curve ball, I think back to my first impressions of the Hacienda with a quick laugh and remember to embrace the unexpected.
Life Lesson #2:
Presentation determines classification. Since our existence, mankind has attempted to create order and structure in a seemingly chaotic world. This is often accomplished by organizing things or objects into logical categories with similar features. One of the most influential and recognized organizers in history was the Swedish botanist Carolus Linnaeus. In the 18th century, Linnaeus published Species Plantarum (“The Kinds of Plants”), which used Latin to describe distinctive species in twelve words. His standardized binomial nomenclature has since been adopted as the universal system for the classification of plants, animals and minerals.
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CONTINUED In the turf industry, the Linnaean system is used daily to describe the plant material found on golf courses. For example, it is very arduous to keep Poa annua (annual bluegrass) from contaminating an Agrostis stolonifera L. (creeping bentgrass) putting green. Also, due to poor shade tolerance, Cynodon dactylon (common bermudagrass) does not grow well under the foliage of Acer saccarum (sugar maple). Superintendents often categorize three species of turfgrass interns using the Linnaean system. The easiest intern species to identify is Workus maximus, which is quickly identified by a hardworking eagerness to do any assigned task. Workus maximus is the most trusted and revered intern species, often entrusted with the most important responsibilities. The second intern species is classified as Workus typicus, an average-performing intern who completes assigned duties with a lackluster effort. Alone, Workus typicus is not considered a prized species but can develop improved performance when given supplements of support and encouragement by superintendents. The third intern species — Workus minimus — is a weedy variety that can infest even the best-managed golf courses. Recognized by poor work ethic, bad attitude and overall laziness, this invasive species can rapidly overtake an entire population of other susceptible Workus species.
Top superintendents know to take precise control strategies for preventing Workus minimus from invading their course. The best preemergence (PRE) applications are one-on-one times between the superintendent and interns to teach the importance and responsibility of each assigned job. After PRE applications, superintendents can apply postemergence (POST) applications of appreciation and gratitude to further encourage optimal Workus growth. Together, PRE and POST applications can prevent Workus minimus establishment and support the development of many Workus maximus interns. My second life lesson is that your presentation will determine your classification. I can still remember “The Week” that claimed 80+ hours during my internship. With the PGA Championship less than three weeks away, abnormally high temperatures reached the upper 90s and low 100s, and the bentgrass began to show severe signs of wilt everywhere on the course. Needless to say, “The Week” entailed endless hours of dragging hose to handwater tees, greens and even entire fairways. Several interns fell sick to the “Handwater Blues,” with some of them withering faster than the turf they were attempting to save. Moral reached an all-time low, and even the hardest-working interns began to lose hope.
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COVER STORY
After a few days of the high heat, one of the interns began complaining to several of the assistants, saying, “Boss doesn’t know how to manage this course! Why are we out here all day long handwatering when he could just turn on the irrigation system? I could run this course better than he could ever dream of doing!” When word got back to Boss, the intern was summoned to his office. Boss explained that during the week of the PGA Championship, the entire irrigation system would have to be turned off. Boss wanted to see how the course would hold up if the weather remained like this during the tournament so that the interns would already know which locations were prone to wilt. After a few scolding words about the intern’s comments, Boss went on to tell him that he appreciated all the hard work that the entire staff was putting forth and that he was proud of everyone’s efforts. A person’s classification is directly associated with his or her performance and presentation on a daily basis. Those who come to work with a positive outlook and willingness to work are destined to succeed, while those who have consistently poor attitudes are set for failure. Throughout your entire career in the turfgrass industry, there will always be grueling tasks that must be completed. Never feel that you are above any appointed project that involves sweat and mud. Continually put the best effort forth no matter the job, and remember — presentation determines classification.
Life Lesson #3:
Life is a ladder. The first day of my internship, Boss called me and two other interns into his office. Of the eight interns, we had been the first three to arrive, and the others would not be coming until later in the season. To our dismay, Boss informed the three of us that we would not be working on the Champions’ Course at 24
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first. He explained to us that we would first start on the Ladies’ Course, and then we could work our way onto the Men’s Course. If we proved ourselves worthy on these two courses, we would be promoted to the Champions’ Course. Work on the Ladies’ Course was very basic and straightforward. Our tools were the bunker rake, leaf blower, line trimmer and walk mower. Despite our mundane tasks, the three of us worked diligently. One late April morning, a heavy frost delayed everyone from going out onto the course. Instead of sitting around the shop and sipping coffee, the three of us decided to take the initiative to repair an unsightly old birdhouse at the first tee box. As we carried the old birdhouse into the maintenance shop, we were met with lots of laughs. Several employees told us to throw it away because it was beyond repair. Ignoring their pessimism, we took it apart and began our restoration project. The next few afternoons, we spent our free time cleaning and renovating the old birdhouse. A final coat of green and white paint transformed it. When finished, we placed the revamped birdhouse back onto its high perch and went back to work on the Ladies’ Course. A week later, Boss called us into his office, where we timidly sat down. Boss said that numerous women had approached him to compliment the Ladies’ Course. None of them mentioned anything about the course’s playability, but all had expressed their delight in seeing the new birdhouse that Boss had purchased to replace the old one. Boss said the women could not believe it when he told them that it was the same birdhouse. Shaking our hands, Boss congratulated us and said to report to the Men’s Course the following morning. There, the work was more demanding. We added a few new tools, such as triplex fairway mowers, fertilizer hoppers and cup cutters. After two weeks, Boss told us that we had to take the staterequired pesticide-applicator test. He gave us our study booklets and said we would move onto the Champions’ Course after passing the exam. Before bed, we studied the material meticulously and took turns quizzing each other on entomology, weed physiology, pathology, pesticide formulations and sprayer calibration. Our studying paid off, and each of us became licensed pesticide applicators for the Champions’ Course. The third life lesson I learned is that life is a ladder. While preparing the Champions’ Course for a major tournament, I realized that experiences gained from the Ladies’ and Men’s Courses were like rungs on a ladder. With every new rung added, it allowed the gradual step up to the next highest level. Turfgrass interns can scale life’s ladder more quickly and easily when they are instructed by a well-prepared superintendent. As the other interns arrived, they too were placed on the proving grounds of the Ladies’ and Men’s Course before being permitted to step up to the Champions’ Course. The tools and skills of the Ladies’, Men’s and Champions’ Course will never be replaced, as it takes mastering the everyday jobs to mold us and a golf course into champions. Remember that life is a ladder that requires climbing several steps before rising to the top.
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T U R F TA L K
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CONTINUED
By Tom Samples, Ph.D., John Sorochan, Ph.D., and James Brosnan, Ph.D., The University of Tennessee
R
ecently, synthetic turf has been in the news. On June 18, 2008, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention-Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (CDC, coca@cdc.gov) issued an official health advisory concerning the potential exposure to lead in artificial turf. This nationwide alert was sent, by way of the Health Alert Network, after the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (NJDHSS) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) reported that dust samples from a synthetic athletic field near a scrap-metal facility in Newark, NJ, tested positive for lead and that the lead did not come from the scrap-metal facility. Lead is known to harm children’s health and neurologic development, and the CDC has recommended the elimination of all non-essential uses of lead for some time. After confirming that the artificial turf was the source of the lead, 12 artificial fields in NJ and several commercially available materials were tested. Results of these NJDHSS tests raised concerns about potentially high levels of lead in artificial turf used in fields and playgrounds. Synthetic surfaces on ten of the 12 fields tested were made of polyethylene and had very low or undetectable levels of lead in the fibers. However, tests of samples from artificial turf made of nylon or nylon/polyethylene blend fibers
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION
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T U R F TA L K revealed lead levels that the NJDHSS believes pose a potential public-health concern. According to information provided by the NJDHSS to the ATSDR and the CDC, some of the fields with elevated levels of lead in samples of dust or turf fibers were weathered and dusty. It was concluded that the risk for harmful lead exposure is low from new fields with elevated lead levels since the turf fibers are intact. However, as artificial turf weathers and ages, dust containing lead could be inhaled or ingested, increasing the risk of exposure. Although the NJDHSS believes that lead from the artificial turf fields alone would not result in lead poisoning among children who play on high-lead fields, the agency asked the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to investigate this potential problem. As a precaution, the CDC and the ATSDR recommended: • Testing artificial turf that is dusty, has fibers that are abraded, broken or faded, and is made from nylon or nylonblend fibers. • Not testing nylon-based artificial turf that is not worn and contains no visible dust. Instead, these fields should be routinely monitored for wear and visible dust. • Replacing worn and dusty fields as soon as practical, as a precautionary measure. • Ensuring that artificial fields accessible to children under the age of 6 years contain a level of lead below 400 ppm. • Based on currently available data, there is no need to test artificial turfs made from polyethylene-only fibers. Facility managers interested in testing an artificial field for lead should contact their local or state Department of Health for guidelines on sample collection and appropriate analytical methods. When using a field with artificial turf, general recommendations from the CDC and the ATSDR included: • Field managers should consider dust-suppression measures (available at the NJDHSS website: http://www.state.nj.us/ health/artificialturf/index.shtml). • To inform and protect the public, particularly young children, post signs indicating: • Wash with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after playing on the field. • To avoid tracking dust to other places, clothes worn on the field should be taken off and turned inside out as soon as possible after using the field. Seats in vehicles can be covered with a towel or blanket to capture dust. Clothes, towels and blankets should be laundered separately, and shoes worn on the field should be stored outside of the home. • Eating while on the artificial turf is discouraged. • Avoid contaminating drinking containers with dust and fibers from the field.
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On April 15, 2008, the Synthetic Turf Council clarified several issues in a news release. According to this release: • The pigment used to color the nylon fiber contains lead chromate, a component used to extend the yarn-color lifespan. • Lead chromate is highly insoluble and has extremely low bioavailability. • The lead chromate is diluted, extruded with resins and microencapsulated within the nylon fiber. • OSHA requires no protective measures when handling the artificial-turf fibers. • There is no known evidence that, if this compound were ingested, it would be absorbed by the body or poses any health risk. • Two elemental-analysis tests conducted under Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-approved test conditions on artificial-turf fibers from Ironbound Stadium in NJ revealed that no leaching of heavy metals occurs. • Tests conducted during removal of the nylon surface at Ironbound Stadium revealed no detectable levels of airborne lead or lead chromate. Two recognized industry experts were contacted by the Synthetic Turf Council to assess the issues. In a joint statement, Dr. David Black (Ph.D., Forensic Toxicology) and Dr. Davis Lee (Ph.D., Synthetic Organic Chemistry) expressed that: “There is no scientific evidence of a health risk for children or adults based on recent test results and current knowledge of the chemical structure of aged synthetic turf products.” A summary of results of the CPSC staff evaluation requested by the NJDHSS was released on July 31, 2008. Newer fields had no lead or generally had the lowest lead levels, and although small amounts of lead were detected on the surface of some older fields, none of these tested fields released amounts of lead that would be harmful to children. The CPSC staff recognized that conditions such as age, exposure to sunlight, wear and weathering may change the amount of lead that could be released from the synthetic turf. They noted that, as turf is used during athletics or play and exposed over time to sunlight, heat and other weather conditions, the surface of the synthetic turf may start to become worn, and small particles of lead-containing synthetic grass fibers might be released. The staff also considered that particles on a child’s hand transferred to his/her mouth would be the most likely route of exposure and determined that young children would not be at risk. Although no harmful lead levels were detected in this evaluation, the CPSC staff asked that proactive action be taken and that voluntary standards be developed to preclude the use of lead in future synthetic-turf products.
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I N D E X O F A DV E RT I S E R S
CA L E N DA R O F E V E N T S
BWI Companies www.bwicompanies.com ................................7, 25
January 11–13
43rd Annual TTA Conference & Trade Show
Location: Marriott Cool Springs, Franklin, TN
Covermaster, Inc. www.covermaster.com ......................................28 Dickens Turf and Landscape Supply www.dickenssupply.com ..........5 January 13–14
E & S Soil and Peat www.eandssoil.com ......................................25
Mid-States Horticultural Expo
Location: Kentucky Exposition Center, Louisville, KY
Ewing www.ewing1.com ......................................Inside Front Cover Greenville Turf & Tractor, Inc. www.JohnDeere.com ........................3
January 13–17
20th Annual STMA Conference & Exposition
(Sports Turf Managers Assn.) Location: San José, CA
Jackson Sand ..............................................................................28 JRM, Inc. www.jrmonline.com ......................................................19 Keeling Company www.keelingcompany.com ................................23
January 13–17
Green & Growin’ Show
(NC Nursery & Landscape Assn.) Location: Greensboro, NC
Kesmac www.kesmac.com ..........................................................10 Mid Tenn Turf, Inc. www.midtennturf.com ....................................25 RCH Distributors www.seriousred.com ..................Inside Back Cover
January 14
Location: Marriott Cool Springs, Franklin, TN
Sigma Organics Inc. www.sigmavalidation.com ............................29 Smith Turf & Irrigation www.smithturf.com ......................Back Cover
February 2–3
TNLA Winter Education & Exhibits (TN Nursery & Landscape Assn.)
Southeastern Turf, LLC www.southeasternturf.com ..........................9
Location: Holiday Inn, Pigeon Forge, TN
Syngenta Turf & Ornamental ..........................................................7 www.syngentaprofessionalproducts.com The Turfgrass Group www.theturfgrassgroup.com ..........................9
GCSAA Seminar
www.tnla.com
February 2–7
Turf Mountain Sod, Inc. www.turfmountain.com ............................28
GCSAA Education Conference and Golf Industry Show
Location: New Orleans, LA
Winstead Turf Farms, Inc. www.winsteadturf.com ..........................18 WMI, Inc. www.wmitsh.com ........................................................19
February 6–9
ANLA Management Clinic (Amer. Nursery & Landscape Assn.)
Location: Louisville, KY February 9–14
TPI Midwinter Conference (Turfgrass Producers Intl.) Location: Point Clear, AL
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