Tennessee Turfgrass - October/November 2019

Continued

October/November 2019

The Official Publication of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association, the Tennessee Valley Sports Turf Managers Association and the Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association

Poa is on the Way: Are you Ready?

Plus, Program for the

54th Annual TTA Conference and Tradeshow, January 6-8, 2020

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8 The Official Publication of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association, Tennessee Valley Sports Turf Managers Association and the Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association

TABLE OF CONTENTS October/November 2019

8 12 16 24 28 32

Cover Story — Poa is on the Way: Are you Ready?

Feature Story — Market Research Explores Considerations Among Decision-Makers in Choosing Playing Surfaces Feature Story — All for one: Fostering Cooperation Across the Turf Industry

Member Spotlight — Jeff Huber

Save the Date — 54th Annual TTA Conference and Tradeshow

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Recent Event — UT Turf and Ornamental Field Day 2019

DEPARTMENTS

4

12

From the TTA President

6

The Turfgrass Team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville

7

Index of Advertisers

23

Calendar of Events

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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS October/November 2019

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From t h e TTA P r e s i d e n t

Jason Pooler

Life is Short I

am writing this commentary on a plane to Seattle with my brother, sister and 79-year-old mom. Once we arrive in Seattle, we will be boarding a ship to take an Alaskan cruise. They have never been on a cruise before and I am totally excited to share this experience with them. I am equally excited to see a new area of the United States and meet new people. The Tennessee Turfgrass Association is also about meeting new people and learning new ways to improve our products. That’s why you need to take advantage of going to events like UT Field Day. If you did not attend this event in August, then you missed out not only on a great educational opportunity but a wonderful networking opportunity as well. Plus, the weather could not have been better.

Our annual conference is January 6–8, 2020 and it will be here before we know it.

Your board of directors and committees have been working hard to make sure that this is the best conference yet. Check out the schedule a few pages over. It is packed full and there is something for everyone. We have a great showing of vendors who will be there to show you the latest and greatest products as well as the most up-to-date equipment on the market. Please bring your co-workers, friends and even your competition. This is a conference that you will not want to miss.

Life is too short to miss out on opportunities. Be sure to take the time to take advantage of the opportunities that come your way.

Live life and have a great fall.

Jason Pooler TTA President

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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS October/November 2019 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

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) 928-7001 info@ttaonline.org www.ttaonline.org Published by Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street Franklin, Tennessee 37064 (615) 790-3718 Fax (615) 794-4524 Email: info@leadingedge communications.com Editor Dr. James Brosnan TTA OFFICERS President Jason Pooler Tri-Turf Sod Farms, Inc. (731) 642-3092 Vice President Doug Ward Belle Meade C.C. (615) 292-6752 Secretary/Treasurer Chris Sykes Tellico Village (865) 458-5408 Past President Theo Lankford Kormac, LLC (615) 519-2701 Executive Director Melissa Martin Tennessee Turfgrass Assn.

(615) 928-7001 TTA 2019 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Ryan Blair, CGCS Bart Cash Cal Hill Joe Hill Jeff Kuhns Timothy Long Bill Marbet Jason Sanderson Darren Seybold Ryan Storey Paul Webb Scott Wicker TTA ADVISORY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD Bill Blackburn Dr. Jim Brosnan Dr. Brandon Horvath Lynn Ray Jeff Rumph, CGCS Dr. Tom Samples Dr. John Sorochan Dr. Wes Totten

T h e Tu r f g r a s s Te a m a t the U niversity of T ennessee, Knoxville José Javier Vargas Almodóvar Research Associate II Turf & Ornamental Weed Science The University of Tennessee 2431 Joe Johnson Drive 252 Ellington Plant Sci. Bldg.

Knoxville, TN 37996 (865) 974-7379 jvargas@utk.edu tnturfgrassweeds.org Twitter: @UTweedwhisperer

Jim Brosnan, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Turfgrass Weed Science The University of Tennessee 2431 Joe Johnson Drive 252 Ellington Plant Sci. Bldg.

Knoxville, TN 37996-4561 (865) 974-8603 jbrosnan@utk.edu tnturfgrassweeds.org Twitter: @UTturfweeds

Frank Hale, Ph.D. Professor, Entomology and Plant Pathology The University of Tennessee 5201 Marchant Drive Nashville, TN 37211-5201 (615) 832-6802 fahale@utk.edu ag.tennessee.edu/spp

Tom Samples, Ph.D. Professor, Turfgrass Extension The University of Tennessee 2431 Joe Johnson Drive 252 Ellington Plant Sci. Bldg.

Knoxville, TN 37996-4561 (865) 974-2595 tsamples@utk.edu turf.utk.edu Twitter: @tnturfman

John Stier, Ph.D. Associate Dean The University of Tennessee 2621 Morgan Circle 126 Morgan Hall Knoxville, TN 37996-4561 (865) 974-7493 jstier1@utk.edu turf.utk.edu Twitter: @Drjohnstier

Greg Breeden Extension Specialist, The University of Tennessee 2431 Center Drive 252 Ellington Plant Sci. Bldg.

Knoxville, TN 37996-4561 (865) 974-7208 gbreeden@utk.edu tnturfgrassweeds.org Twitter: @gbreeden1

Kyley Dickson, Ph.D. Associate Director, Center for Athletic Field Safety Turfgrass Management & Physiology (865) 974-6730 kdickso1@utk.edu Twitter: @DicksonTurf

Brandon Horvath, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Turfgrass Science The University of Tennessee 252 Ellington Plant Sci. Bldg.

2431 Joe Johnson Drive Knoxville, TN 37996 (865) 974-2975 bhorvath@utk.edu turf.utk.edu Twitter: @UTturfpath

John Sorochan, Ph.D. Professor, Turfgrass Science The University of Tennessee 2431 Joe Johnson Drive 363 Ellington Plant Sci. Bldg.

Knoxville, TN 37996-4561 (865) 974-7324 sorochan@utk.edu turf.utk.edu Twitter: @sorochan

Alan Windham, Ph.D. Professor, Entomology and Plant Pathology The University of Tennessee 5201 Marchant Drive Nashville, TN 37211-5201 (615) 832-6802 https://ag.tennessee.edu/spp/ Twitter: @UTPlantDoc

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION • Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association

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Cover St o r y

Poa

Is On The Way: Are You Ready?

By Jim Brosnan, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Turfgrass Weed Science, The University of Tennessee

“This is the worst Poa year I can remember.”

“I’ve never seen it like this before.”

“We’ve never had this much Poa.”

T

hese were common refrains across Tennessee this spring as many turfgrass managers struggled with annual bluegrass control. One of the things our research team has learned over the years is that it’s critically important to have a well thought out plan to effectively control annual bluegrass. It may be hard to believe, but those plans will need to be put into place soon to effectively manage annual bluegrass this winter. The article below outlines some of the key lessons learned in our 2018–2019 research that will hopefully aid turfgrass managers in controlling annual bluegrass this season.

Lesson #1: The Days of a “One-Shot” Poa Control Program are Over One major take-away from our statewide trial work last year was that the days of one herbicide application (i.e., a “one-shot” program) providing season long annual bluegrass control are over.

In trial work conducted in Knoxville, Nashville, and Jackson last year we evaluated 17 “one-shot” Poa control programs and only 3 provided >90% control at all locations.

Photo 1: Annual bluegrass (Poa annua) on an ultradwarf bermudagrass (C. dactylon x C. transvaalenis, cv “MiniVerde”) putting green

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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS October/November 2019 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

Photo 2: Annual bluegrass (Poa annua) emerging from seed

There are several reasons why the days of a “one-shot” Poa control program are over. First, there is widespread resistance to some of the most common herbicides used for annual bluegrass control in our state (i.e., Barricade, Roundup, Revolver, etc).

Second, erratic weather patterns make annual bluegrass emergence difficult to time and also compromise the residual activity of many products.

To that end, we are recommending that turfgrass managers move toward use of a “1–2 Punch” program for annual bluegrass control or consider the use of a “Zone Defense” initiated in October.

What is a “1–2 Punch” Program?

Our team has defined a “1–2 Punch” program as an approach to controlling annual bluegrass that involves making a minimum of two herbicide applications, ideally of products varying in mode of action. Last season, these “1–2 Punch” programs performed well in trials conducted across Tennessee, especially when compared to “one-shot” of a preemergence product (Figure 1).

to achieve a goal. Last year we evaluated six “Zone Defenses” against annual bluegrass and four of these provided 85 to 100% control at all locations. These included:

FreeHand (pendimethalin + dimethenamid-P) Katana + Kerb Monument + Barricade Monument + Barricade + Princep Appropriately designed “Zone Defenses” against annual bluegrass are an optimal resistance management strategy in that they break the cycle of sole reliance on a single herbicide. Moreover, when applied in late October in our trials, these applications have facilitated effective, season-long, annual bluegrass control in a single application. We will be studying several new “Zone Defenses” against annual bluegrass this season and will report our findings in 2020.

What is a “Zone Defense” Against Annual Bluegrass?

Lesson #2: Ultradwarf Greens Require Special Attention

For several years our research trials have highlighted that the best approach for controlling annual bluegrass in warm-season turfgrass is to apply a mixture of different herbicides in mid-to-late October. We’ve termed this approach a “Zone Defense” because when implemented correctly, herbicides in these mixtures are from different mode of action groups (https://hracglobal.com/ tools/classification-lookup?sort=hrac), much like zone defenses in football require players in different positions to work together

Annual bluegrass control on ultradwarf putting surfaces continues to be challenging throughout Tennessee and beyond. Widespread resistance to acetolactate synthase inhibiting herbicides (e.g., Revolver, Katana, etc) has left golf course superintendents with few options for selective control on greens. One of these remaining options is Kerb SC, an herbicide labeled for annual bluegrass control on ultradwarf greens in addition to bermudagrass at maintained at higher heights of cut (e.g., fairways, roughs, etc).

Figure 1: Annual bluegrass control during April 2019 following “1–2 Punch” programs applied in East, Middle, and West Tennessee compared to a single application of a preemergence herbicide. All treatments applied at label rates using appropriate surfactants.

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION • Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association

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Cover St o r y A key lesson learned last year was that there is no need to get aggressive with application rate when using Kerb SC for annual bluegrass control on the ultradwarfs. In our research on TifEagle, we saw no benefit to increasing Kerb SC rates beyond 1.8 pt/A with applications made in autumn. This year we will be studying varying approaches to deliver this 1.8 pt/A to an array of ultradwarf cultivars.

Although Kerb SC continues to be an effective option for annual bluegrass control on ultradwarf putting greens, sole reliance on Kerb SC will simply select for populations with resistance to that chemistry (**There is already a confirmed case of Kerb resistance in Georgia** https://www.cambridge.org/ core/journals/weed-science/article/first-report-of-pronamide resistant-annual-bluegrass-poa-annua/C140B6197EAAC8B 8824833131AF6408E). Additionally, it is well documented throughout Australia that continued use of Kerb selects for microbes in the soil that rapidly degrade the herbicide (https:// ahri.uwa.edu.au/microbial-degradation-of-propyzamide-willwe-have-a-problem), thereby reducing its efficacy. We will be exploring alternatives to Kerb for annual bluegrass control on ultradwarf putting surfaces this season and will report our findings in 2020.

Lesson #3: Much Ado About Glyphosate Questions about glyphosate have been abundant in 2019, in large part due to it being the focus of several high-profile lawsuits that have attracted media attention. Weed scientists with University of Tennessee Extension developed a fact sheet to assist turfgrass managers in answering questions about glyphosate and its use

in weed management programs. This factsheet can be accessed on our website (https://extension.tennessee.edu/publications/ Documents/W827.pdf).

Our research has consistently shown that glyphosate (e.g., Roundup Pro) is an effective option to control annual bluegrass in dormant bermudagrass turf at rates of 16 to 32 fl oz/A. However, sole reliance on this treatment has resulted in glyphosate-resistant annual bluegrass becoming common across Tennessee, particularly on golf courses. We anticipate that many turfgrass managers will explore alternatives to glyphosate for annual bluegrass control this season- be it for resistance management reasons or other external factors.

Alternative options for non-selective annual bluegrass control in dormant bermudagrass include glufosinate (e.g., Finale, Cheetah Pro, others) and diquat (e.g., Reward). In trial work conducted across Tennessee for the past several years, we have observed that 6 qt/A of Finale is required for consistent annual bluegrass control during bermudagrass dormancy. For example, in 2019 annual bluegrass control with Finale at 6 qt/A ranged from 97 to 100% in East, Middle, and West Tennessee compared to only 37 to 93% for the 3 qt/A rate. This season we will be studying Finale rates within the middle of this 3 to 6 qt/A range. Regarding Reward, applications of this herbicide alone have proven to be ineffective in our trials. However, we have observed positive results with a mixture of Reward (2 pt/A)+ Princep (2 qt/A), particularly on annual bluegrass populations susceptible to photosystem II inhibiting herbicides.

It is important to keep in mind that these alternatives (Reward and Finale) are applied at much higher application rates than glyphosate. Glyphosate is commonly applied to dormant bermudagrass at rates of 16 to 32 fl oz/A compared to rates of 2 pt and 6 qt for Reward and Finale, respectively. Additionally, when comparing the acute toxicity of herbicides (i.e. oral LD50 values), Reward and Finale are substantially more hazardous than glyphosate.

Lesson #4: Working Toward an Emergence Model Annual bluegrass is known to germinate across a wide range of environmental conditions which makes timing herbicide applications, particularly those targeting preemergence control, very difficult. Our team has been working in collaboration with data scientists at mesur.io to develop a model that predicts when annual bluegrass will emerge in warm-season turfgrass each year. While this project is still on-going, we have seen that over the past three seasons, annual bluegrass emerged between the 42nd and 46th week of the year in Tennessee; this roughly equates to the time period from mid-October through mid-November. While our team has a lot more work to complete on this topic, keep in mind that this article was written during the 32nd week of 2019. That leaves only 10 weeks before we start see annual bluegrass across Tennessee. Are you ready? T Photo 3: Are you Ready for Poa?

10

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS October/November 2019 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

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Featu r e S t o r y

Market Research Explores Considerations Among Decision-Makers

in Choosing Playing Surfaces

By Casey Reynolds, Ph.D., Executive Director, Turfgrass Producers International

C

ollege and professional football season are upon us, and sports fans can feel the excitement in the air. As always, preseason polls, national championship predictions, and other team chatter is in the news, but also making headlines this year are several recent retirements of prominent football players citing in part, concerns over their long-term safety and health. The safety and health of athletes is and should be a top priority for leagues, coaches, parents, and others. However, what other factors are considered when installing new athletic fields? Is it maintenance, costs, environment, or other factors? Is it all of the above?

If so, which factors play most heavily in these decisions? This was the topic of research targeted in recent market research conducted in 2018 in the United States and Canada.

Six companies submitted proposals for this market research and FleishmanHillard, a global PR firm and digital marketing agency based in St. Louis, MO was selected as the winning proposal. FleishmanHillard is an internationally recognized PR firm that was founded in 1946 that represents businesses including Barnes & Noble, Proctor & Gamble, General Motors, Energizer, EA Sports, and more. They have over 80 offices in 30 countries and as such are able to reach audiences domestically and internationally.

First, FleishmanHillard analyzed the current state of affairs in print and social media with regard to natural grass and synthetic turf. Natural grass proponents and synthetic turf companies tout many of the same benefits including cost, environmental impact, durability and safety — many of consumers’ major concerns. They also analyzed the share of each group’s voice in digital media as well as the positive, neutral, and negative perceptions by subject for natural grass and artificial turf. One of the key items that jumped out was that it appears natural grass fields are taken for granted. There are fewer arguments for natural grass, rather than against artificial turf, because natural grass is in the default position. Artificial turf often gets more coverage and has non-neutral articles, in part simply because it is new and debated.

In addition to an analysis of print and digital media, FleishmanHillard surveyed 141 decision-makers (coaches, athletic

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directors, city employees, etc.) in the United States and Canada (Figure 1) to get an idea of what they determined as motivating factors when selecting new playing surfaces for their communities.

These respondents were presented with a series of statements revolving around considerations of various playing surfaces and asked for their feedback. Their knowledge and responses to these statements were then compiled for analysis to determine the many factors that go into deciding between natural grass or synthetic turf athletic fields, mulch or rubber playground surfaces, and more.

As you can imagine, the safety and health of users was a top response. There are many factors that contribute to the safety of various types of playing surfaces, including but not limited to, construction and management practices, heat, surface hardness, consistency, others, and even footwear. There are many types of playing surfaces that each have a role in communities everywhere.

For example, a playground at a child’s daycare center in the southern U.S. may be more concerned about heat loading than a multi-use event complex in the pacific northwest. Inversely, a collegiate or professional soccer or football complex may be more concerned about traction/footing than an outdoor concert venue.

As you can imagine, each of these types of venues lend themselves to different playing surfaces and management techniques but a common theme throughout each of them is user safety.

Field safety has long been a research topic among the scientific and medical professions and there have been many research papers published in academic journals citing varying differences in surface types. Many of these studies use some type of injury surveillance reporting system to seek out and analyze trends in injuries in different playing surfaces. For example the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has collected injury data through their Injury Surveillance System (ISS) since 1982 (Kerr et al 2014). The National Football league (NFL) has recorded and reported injuries using a similar system since 1980 (Hershman et al 2012). These types of injury recording systems are capable of capturing data on injury type, weather conditions, playing surface, athlete exposures (AE), and more. These reporting systems allow

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS October/November 2019 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

Decision-Makers’ Positions (n=141)

An athletic director or assistant athletic director

18%

A committee and/or board member for my city, county or state

17%

An elected official in my city, county or state

17%

A parks and recreation manager and/or superintendent from the local community/county

15%

A city manager, assistant city manager, city administrator or assistant city administrator

13%

A groundskeeper / grounds manager / athletic field manager

13%

A member of my community’s athletic association

A community leader (serves on local boards, etc.)

When examining non-contact knee, ankle and foot injuries, play on synthetic turf had a 56% higher rate of injuries resulting in any time loss and a 67% higher rate of injuries resulting in more than eight days of time loss.

The greatest difference in non-contact injury rates between synthetic turf and natural grass were to the ankle/ foot: synthetic turf resulted in a 68% higher rate of injuries resulting in any time loss and a 103% higher rate of injuries resulting in more than eight days of time loss.

6%

1%

Figure 1

Athletes in Division I competitions experienced 199% higher PCL injury rates on artificial turf than on natural grass.

Athletes in Division II and III competitions experienced 213% higher PCL injury rates on artificial turf than on natural grass.

If all NFL games played on synthetic turf were played on natural grass during the study period,

319 fewer

lower body injuries would be expected.

Athletes in Division II and III competitions experienced 63% higher ACL injury rates on artificial turf than on natural grass.

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION • Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association

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Featu r e S t o r y medical trainers and researchers to access and analyze vast sets of comprehensive data over extended periods of time.

Two papers that have been recently published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine focus on injury data analysis from the National Football League (NFL) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Previous research has revealed that football cleats interact differently on synthetic and natural turf, which may lead to a different risk of injury. Divots — when a cleat creates a hole in the field — signal that the grass has absorbed force from the cleat and released the cleat back again, rather than capturing the cleat and releasing the force through a players’ foot, ankle or knee, which could cause injury. Since cleats can easily create divots on natural grass less force is placed on the lower body, which may help prevent injury.

Data for the NFL study came from the analysis of all 1,280 NFL regular season games and 213,935 distinct plays from 2012 through 2016, 555 of which were on synthetic turf and 725 on natural grass. All 32 NFL teams reported injuries through an electronic health record system, and each injury report gives full details of the injury and circumstance, such as the contact, impact, activity, time lost, game-day weather, and surface type and conditions. The researchers then examined all cases of

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lower body injuries along two outcomes: any time loss, and greater than eight days of time loss. They also examined the rates of contact-related injuries and noncontact-related injuries, since noncontact injuries are more likely to be related to the playing surface.

A total of 4,801 lower body injuries occurred from 2012 to 2016 affecting 2,032 players. Play on synthetic turf had a 16 percent higher rate of lower body injuries than on natural grass. This included contact and noncontact that resulted in any time loss. For noncontact injuries, synthetic turf injury rates were 27 percent higher than injury rates on natural grass. However, when examining noncontact knee, ankle and foot injuries, play on synthetic turf had a 56 percent higher rate of injuries resulting in any time loss and a 67 percent higher rate of injuries resulting in more than eight days of time loss. The greatest difference in noncontact injury rates between synthetic and natural turf were to the ankle: synthetic turf resulted in a 68 percent higher rate of injuries resulting in any time loss and a 103 percent higher rate of injuries resulting in more than eight days of time loss.

In the NCAA research, there were a total of 3,009,205 athlete exposures and 2,460 knee ligament and meniscal tears reported by the NCAA Injury Surveillance System throughout the 2004–

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS October/November 2019 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

2005 to 2013–2014 NCAA playing seasons. Injury rates for all knee ligament and meniscal tears examined during this period were higher during competitions than in practices. Analysis of this data indicate a significantly increased rate of posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) on artificial turf compared to natural grass during competitive events. Although, there were no differences in the rate of medial collateral ligament (MCL), medial meniscal, or lateral meniscal injuries.

Specifically, athletes in Division I competitions experienced PCL tears at 2.99 times the rate on artificial turf (199% increase) as they did on natural grass. Division II and III athletes experience ACL tears at 1.63 times the rate of those playing on natural grass and 3.13 times the number of PCL tears as those playing on natural grass. This equates to a 63% increase in ACL tears and a 213% increase in PCL tears to Division II and III football players on artificial turf. Furthermore, the rate of PCL tears during competition in all divisions on artificial turf was 2.94 times higher (194% increase) than on natural grass.

The research and scientific communities will undoubtedly continue to investigate injuries among athletes, causal mechanisms, relationships between cleats and playing surfaces, and more. More information on each of these two studies can be found in the

original research manuscripts at the citations below. You can also visit www.TurfgrassSod.org/Resources.

Citations Hershman E, Anderson R, Bergfeld J, et al. An analysis of specific lower extremity injury rates on grass and FieldTurf playing surfaces in National Football League games. The American Journal of Sports Medicine. 2012; 40(10):2200-2205.

Kerr Z, Dompier T, Snook E, et al. National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance System: review of methods for 2004-2005 through 2013-2014 data collection. J Athl Train.

2014;49(4):552-560.

Loughran, Galvin J., Vulpis, Christian T., Murphy, Jordan P., Weiner, David A., Svoboda, Steven J. Hinton, Richard Y., and Dave P. Milzman. The American Journal of Sports Medicine 2019;47(6):1294–1301 Mack C, Hershman E, Anderson R, et al. Higher rates of lower extremity injury on synthetic turf compared with natural turf among National Football League athletes: epidemiologic confirmation of a biomechanical hypothesis. The American Journal of Sports Medicine. 2019;47(6):1294–1301 T

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION • Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association

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Featu r e S t o r y

All for one:

Fostering cooperation across the turf industry A superintendent discusses collaborating with professionals in other sectors of turf management and offers steps fellow supers can take to promote a united front.

Photo 1: Sales representatives are among those who bridge the gap between the different sectors of turfgrass management. Here, author Logan Freeman, superintendent at Mountain Branch Golf Club in Joppa, Md., (right) and his assistant superintendent, Erik Dittmar (left), visit with Scott Orndorff, a sales representative from Landscape Supply Inc. Photos courtesy of Logan Freeman

The following story was originally published in the June 2019 issue of GCM and is reprinted with permission.

By Logan Freeman, Mountain Branch Golf Club

W

hile there is no debating that the turf industry has come under increased attacks from activist groups and one-sided legislation in the past few years, I believe there is a potentially dangerous gap in our defense.

Though not often talked about, a lack of cohesion among the different professions within turfgrass management has left us isolated and separated.

In the specific world of golf course management, we often discuss the importance of communication between the superintendent and golf shop staff, golfers, boards and committees. We also recognize the benefit of camaraderie and shared knowledge among golf course superintendents. Although the collaboration and community in golf is critical to the success of our work, the lack of communication and support across the various sectors of turfgrass management — golf, sports turf, home lawn care, university professionals, distributors, sales representatives — is rarely addressed. (Photo 1) The origin of this divide is difficult to pinpoint. Perhaps we superintendents felt that cultivating this long-term supportive relationship would have taken too much time and effort away from our immediate day-to-day operations. Or maybe we just saw no value in immersing ourselves in its complexities. Whatever the history, this disconnect now seriously undermines the future of our industry as a whole.

Continued on page 18 16

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS October/November 2019 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

Featu r e S t o r y An eye-opening gathering Like so many in our profession, I used to think that sports turf and lawn care just did their thing, and we as golf course turfgrass managers did ours. That’s the way it had always been and likely would remain. Then I went to a meeting for the formation of a local chapter of the Sports Turf Managers Association. This organic creation of the Mid-Atlantic STMA (https://mastma.org) opened my eyes to an entirely different approach to my profession.

Of the hundred or so in attendance, I was the only golf course superintendent in the room. Yet instead of feeling alone and territorial, I felt a sense of connection and an appreciation for my presence. I also felt the support of what the people attending the meeting were trying to achieve.

I discovered a side of turfgrass management I had never before experienced, and I formed bonds with local sports turf managers I likely never would have met had I not attended as a sign of support for the new organization. (Photo 2) Immediately following that meeting, I couldn’t stop wondering why the golf and sports sides of the industry were not more jointly associated. After all, we have far more commonalities than differences. We all manage turfgrass for its playability, in addition to juggling the management of people, budgets and the environment.

I also began to question why lawn care and other sectors were not a part of this supportive mix. If we are looking to move the turfgrass industry forward and address all the adversity facing us, we must come together in support and appreciation.

No matter our titles — golf course superintendent, head groundskeeper, lawn care provider, researcher, distributor — we all have a passion for this industry as well as a part to play in the narrative of its future.

The future of the turf industry

Photo 2: Forging relationships with fellow professionals in the various fields of turfgrass management — as Freeman (left) has with Nicole Sherry, head groundskeeper for the Baltimore Orioles — is a powerful piece of any effort to advance turfgrass managers’ collective interests.

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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS October/November 2019 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

Our industry is increasingly challenged.

Part of this growing tension is positive, as ever-restrictive pesticide- and nutrientmanagement laws lead to innovation, ingenuity and leadership.

The downside, however, is equally present, as lawmakers who view the turfgrass industry as an easy target issue uninformed, blanket statements with little regard for repercussions. Their caustic words and changing tactics frequently appear as attacks aimed at our methods and the products we use rather than as honest attempts at finding common ground and viable solutions.

All too often, legislative bills are introduced at the last second to catch the turfgrass industry off guard. New legislation rarely comes directly on the national level; instead, legislation is brought forth at the county or township level. And while these restrictions are directed primarily toward a specific local aspect of turfgrass management — lawn care, sports turf, golf — the law is often expanded to other issues and geographical areas in subsequent years.

This is where a united industry front becomes critical, because legislation that comes uninformed and with destructive intent stands a greater chance of gaining a foothold and becoming commonplace if we remain an isolated and separated body.

Now is the time for us to become unified and vigilant.

Proactively share with golfers, patrons, homeowners, legislators, educators and the general public the environmental benefits of golf course green space. Utilize programs such as Operation Pollinator

(http://www.greencastonline.com/ operationpollinator) and Monarchs in the Rough (https://monarchsintherough.org) to help you get started in providing habitat to benefit even the smallest of creatures.

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How golf course superintendents can be part of the solution Each one of us must make the effort to reach out locally, regionally and statewide.

Here are some next steps.

Locally Find out who manages the sports fields in your area. Communicate with them and form a bond by helping each other. This also goes for lawn care providers, sod farmers and others who work with turfgrass in your community, as we are all potential partners.

Consider becoming involved in local outreach efforts such as the First Green (https://www.thefirstgreen.org) program, which effectively shows our commitment to area youth and extends past golf into sports turf and lawn care. Engaging young people about the turfgrass industry can help educate away fears or misconceptions they and/or their families might have.

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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION • Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association

19

Featu r e S t o r y Simply reducing or eliminating inputs between fairways and in out-of-play areas provides habitat for a whole range of ecology. (Photo 3) Sports field managers and lawn care providers can recommend pollinatorfriendly flowers and reduced-input options.

Planters outside a stadium and single landscape beds at a home are small actions, but they often lead to educational opportunities and serve as conversation starters.

Often, it seems people see our industries as a “silent spring,” adversely affecting the environment by constantly applying dangerous chemicals. The responsibility now falls on us to showcase our benefits and diversity of wildlife, and to educate those concerned.

Photo 3: A field of milkweed — which is monarch butterfly-friendly — at Mountain Branch Golf Club in Maryland.

Daily Regional DeliveRy

Regionally At the formation meeting of the MidAtlantic STMA, I noticed the one common

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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS October/November 2019 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

Blue Tag Certified grasses ••• over 2,500 acres in Production

thread among all turfgrass groups: sales representatives/distributors. To me, therefore, it seems obvious that regional sales reps and distributors serve as the primary conduit through which industry information is initiated and exchanged throughout all sectors. University and private researchers are additional common threads that can help the profession coalesce.

Chapter leaders should actively encourage joint functions among all the branches, whether the events are social or educational. Communication between different sectors and the leaders within them is crucial in the process. And if open lines of communication do not currently exist between the industry professionals in one’s area, an emphasis must be placed on improving and streamlining the exchange of information and mutual support.

Statewide When legislation impacting our industry is misinformed or unnecessarily restricting, it is important that we take the time to educate our legislators regarding our products and their usage.

An established method of any proactive body is the development of best management practices (BMPs). The creation/ implementation of BMP documents is already proving to be a powerful tool in the defense of our industry. When our practices are called into question, a BMP manual can provide evidence that we take our profession and its effects on the environment seriously. (Photo 4, page 22) We are proud that Maryland was the first state to complete its BMP turfgrass manual (http://www.marylandgolfbmp. org), and we’re beginning to discover its benefit during legislative sessions. The BMP document is a positive first step in unifying the turfgrass industry here in Maryland, and we applaud GCSAA for its effort to encourage all states to follow our lead.

Current and future challenges facing the turfgrass industry will require a multifaceted effort. Documentation like the BMPs, community outreach programs like First Green, and proactive communication with legislative officials, the public and all facets of the industry will serve vital

Featu r e S t o r y roles in shaping the community’s understanding of our industry.

A unified front Rather than standing silent, segmented and unengaged, we must work as a fully functioning alliance of turfgrass professionals in order to address today’s challenges effectively. We must personally reach out to the different sectors within our own turfgrass communities, for we will engage more willingly if we have a friend or close colleague being affected by new legislation. Chapters, associations and councils from around the industry must reach out to each other and work as a unified group.

For those of us in Maryland, the Maryland Turfgrass Council will serve as a catalyst for solidifying relationships among different turfgrass groups within

the state, especially via events like joint turfgrass profession trade shows. National organizations such as GCSAA and STMA can help consolidate industry support through timely messaging via social and print media.

Proactive and courageous leadership will be paramount. The true strength of an industry comes down to the passion, engagement and vision of the individuals who underwrite it. It has been my experience that turfgrass management is full of hardworking, dedicated and driven people.

I believe that, with the right balance of camaraderie and shared knowledge, our industry will adapt and thrive despite the challenges that lie ahead.

Logan Freeman is the GCSAA Class A superintendent at Mountain Branch Golf Club in Joppa, Md., and a 10-year association member. T

Photo 4: Simply reducing inputs in out-of-play areas helps provide habitat for creatures big and small. By working together, diverse branches of the turfgrass industry can facilitate the adoption of such environmentally conscious initiatives throughout the profession as a whole.

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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS October/November 2019 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

Spring: Covers have been removed.

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BWI Companies, Inc.............................................. 33 www.bwicompanies.com

Carolina Green Corp.............................................. 23 www.cgcfields.com

Coosa Valley Turf Farms....................................... 19 www.coosavalleyturffarms.com

Covermaster, Inc................................................... 14 www.covermaster.com

CoverSports USA.................................................. 22 www.coversports.com

Greenville Turf & Tractor, Inc................................. 3 www.greenvilleturf.com

Leading Edge Communications............................. 27 www.LeadingEdgeCommunications.com

McCurdy Sod Farms, LLC...................................... 31 www.mccurdysodfarms.com

Mid Tenn Turf....................................................... 20 www.midtennturf.com

Mid-Atlantic STIHL............................................... 11 www.stihldealers.com

Modern Turf, Inc..................................................... 7 www.modernturf.com

North Georgia Turf Company, Inc......................... 25 www.ngturf.com

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Progressive Turf Equipment Inc............................ 15 www.progressiveturfequip.com

RD Murphy, LLC.................................................... 23 www.rdmurphy.com

Regal Chemical Company..................................... 17 www.regalchem.com

Sigma Organics, Inc.............................................. 27 www.SigmaTurf.com

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Smith Seed Services............................................... 7 www.smithseed.com

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Sur-Line Turf, Inc................................................... 21 www.surlineturf.com

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Syngenta Turf........................................................ 31 www.syngentaprofessionalproducts.com

The Turfgrass Group............................... Back Cover www.theturfgrassgroup.com

Tri-Turf Sod Farms................................................ 27 www.triturfsod.com

Turf Mountain Sod, Inc......................................... 21 www.turfmountain.com

Turfgrass of Tennessee........................................ 23 Winstead Turf..............................Inside Front Cover www.winsteadturffarms.com

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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION • Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association

23

TTA M ember Sp otlight on

Jeff Huber Golf Course Superintendent at The Golf Club of Tennessee Kingston Springs, Tennessee

What is your title/where do you work?

For the last 16 years, I have been the Golf Course Superintendent at The Golf Club of Tennessee in Kingston Springs.

How many years have you been in the industry?

At 16 years old, my first summer job was at a golf course in my hometown in Illinois, and I have been working at golf courses since then. That adds up to just over 35 years in the industry.

What is your background?

I received a degree in ornamental horticulture from the University of Illinois. After graduation, I went to work as an assistant superintendent for David Stone at the Honors Course. There — and especially under David’s guidance — is where my education really started. I worked for David for almost seven years learning how to prepare and present a golf course.

How did you decide to pursue a career in turf?

Growing up in a small farm town in central Illinois, there was not exposure to a lot of career options. I knew I did not want to be an agricultural farmer and really enjoyed working on the golf course while in high school. I decided that being a golf course superintendent would be a good fit for me.

Continued on page 26

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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS October/November 2019 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

M emb e r Spo t l i g h t What is the best part of your job?

There are many great things about my job. The best part is having the opportunity to work for and alongside so many great people.

And this course is very special. Sometimes it is hard to step back and see just how beautiful the course is because you are caught up in the daily tasks and constantly seeing things to improve upon, but when you are able to look out and see so many members and guests enjoying what we were able to produce, it makes all the hard work worth it.

What are some unique challenges of your job?

Our biggest challenge is that several of the holes are located in a flood plain. We are prone to flooding a few times each year, so depending on the severity of the flood we often have debris to remove and sometimes need to rebuild bunkers and tees.

How many employees are part of your team?

We have a great group of team members in our maintenance department. Many of them have been with the club for over 20 years. In the summer, we expand to 40 staff members including full-time, part-time and seasonal employees. Our first assistant, Matt Carson, does an outstanding job keeping that many people going in the right direction and on task.

Do you have a mentor in the industry?

There is no doubt the person I have learned the most from is David Stone. When David offered me a job to come work for him right out of college, I questioned his decision to hire me telling him I did not know anything about growing grass in the South.

David replied, “That’s alright, I’ll teach you everything you need to know.” And he did. Getting to spend almost seven years working and learning from him is the only reason I am where I am today.

Scenic views at the Golf Club of Tennessee

The day’s work begins early

Why is it important to be part of industry organizations like TTA? There is so much to learn from others in the turf industry.

Organizations like the TTA bring people together to share knowledge and experiences with one another. People in our industry are always willing to lend a hand and expertise.

Favorite place you’ve ever played golf?

I have been very fortunate to play some exceptional courses. I have to say Augusta National and Pine Valley would be at the top of my list, although playing on any course with family or friends is always a great time.

What do you do in your free time?

In this line of work there is very little free time in the summer months, but during the slower times of the year I enjoy taking trips with my wife Sharon and my daughter Anna to visit other cities, especially if the trip includes a theme park.

What would your advice be for people entering the turfgrass industry now?

The turfgrass industry is much different now than when I chose this career more than 30 years ago. Back then, jobs were easy to come by and you didn’t have to be an assistant for very long before you could move on up through the ranks. It takes more patience now and you have to have a passion for golf if you want to go far in this business. I’m not saying you need to play golf all the time, but you need to be able to relate to what both the best players and the novice players are experiencing. But most of all, you need common sense and a willingness to do whatever it takes to get the job done.

TTA would like to thank Jeff for his contribution to the association and to the industry. T

26

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS October/November 2019 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

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Save t h e D a t e Monday, January 6th Turfgrass Science Time 8:00 a.m. – 8:05 a.m.

Front Row Tickets Thoughts on why we choose front row seats for some things and not others Chris Sykes, Toqua Golf Club

54th Annual Conference & Tradeshow January 6 – 8, 2020 • Embassy Suites Murfreesboro, TN

8:05 a.m. – 8:50 a.m.

Everyone is a Sports Turf Manager: What You Need to Know About Safety and Performance Everyone is eventually asked for input on managing a playing surface used for sports. Learn about the latest techniques to manage sports turf that minimize pest invasion to maximize both safety and performance.

8:50 a.m.– 9:35 a.m.

Growing Turf in Low Light, Shaded Environments Compromised lighting can negatively affect turfgrass on golf courses, sports fields, and lawns. Learn the latest strategies for managing turf in low light and shaded environments to maximize quality and reduce disease, weed, and insect pests.

Dr. John Sorochan, University of Tennessee

Dr. Aaron Patton, Purdue University

Keynote Speaker, Jeff McManus The Tennessee Turfgrass Association Annual Conference and Trade Show is designed exclusively for the turf professional including golf course superintendents, sports field managers, lawn care operators, landscapers, sod producers, grounds managers and anyone involved in the turf industry.

Break 9:45 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

What is Dead May Never Die? Resistance issues coupled with erratic weather has made weed management in Tennessee more challenging than ever before. Get the latest information on managing problematic weeds of turfgrass.

10:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

From Goats to Triplexes: The History of Mowing Mowing is an integral cultural practice for managing pest-free turf. Learn about the evolution of mowing practices over time that affect the industry today.

Dr. Jim Brosnan, University of Tennessee

Message from the President Since 1965, the Tennessee Turfgrass Association has held strong to its core mission: To promote the turfgrass industry through education, scholarship and research. As we celebrate our 54th anniversary, we eagerly invite you to join us at this year’s Conference and Tradeshow at the beautiful Embassy Suites Murfreesboro.

This year’s conference features an excellent education program, a full tradeshow floor, plus our annual awards, recognitions and a keynote address by Jeff McManus, author of “Growing Weeders into Leaders – Leadership Lessons from the Ground Level.”

Dr. Brandon Horvath, University of Tennessee 11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Conlan Burbrink & Rob Grindering, University of Tennessee Professional Development 1:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Come Grow with Us,

Turning Weeders into Leaders This engaging and interactive session will discuss novel approaches for motivating turf and landscape maintenance crews to conduct their work with enhanced morale, professionalism, and ownership Jeff McManus, University of Mississippi Annual Meetings

Jason Pooler

5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

2019 TTA President

28

University of Tennessee Student Internship Feature Undergraduate students in the University of Tennessee Turfgrass Program speak about lessons learned managing turfs on internships across the globe.

TGCSA and TVSTMA Annual Meetings

Location

More Information

The Embassy Suites Hotel in Murfreesboro is located at 1200 Conference Center Boulevard, Murfreesboro, TN 37129. You can reach the hotel by calling 615-890-4464.

For more information, call the association office at 615-928-7001, email info@ttaonline.org or visit ttaonline.org.

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS October/November 2019 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

Tuesday, January 7th Breakout Sessions Time 8:00 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.

Golf Turf

Time

USGA Year In Review 8:00 a.m. – Learn about the latest issues 9:30 a.m. affecting golf course superintendents in the southeastern United States this past season.

Addison Barden, United States Golf Association

8:45 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Time

Dr. Aaron Patton, Purdue University Ryan Cummings, Elcona Country Club

Workshop Equipment Managers Workshop This is a hands-on workshop designed to provide an overview of common issues faced by professionals managing equipment used for turfgrass management.

Danny Ford Mountain Top Golf and Light Club

John Wagnon, City of Franklin Moderators: Bill Marbet and Ryan Storey Break 9:45 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Renovation of Smokies Park Learn about the recent renovation of Smokies Park, home of the Tennessee Smokies Eric Taylor, Tennessee Smokies

Behind the Scenes Sports Turf Rehab 10:30 a.m. – at Troubador 11:00 a.m. Wear areas are a continual Get a behind-the-scenes challenge on sports fields at look at the construction of all levels. Learn the effective Troubador Golf and Field Club, strategies for rehabilitating a new Discovery Land worn areas on your fields. property in Arrington Dan Bergstrom, Thurston Farrar Houston Dynamo Troubador Golf & Field Club Knowledge is Power An overview of recent changes to the rules of golf that affect golf course superintendents Chad Anderson Allison Brown Tennessee Golf Association

12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Assistants Forum

Assistant Superintendent 8:00 a.m. – Leadership Workshop 12:00 p.m.

This is an in-depth session tailored for assistant superintendents looking to advance their careers through leadership and professional development

Dan Bergstrom, Houston Dynamo

Ralph Kepple, CGCS East Lake Golf Club 10:45 a.m. – 11: 15 a.m.

8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

TJ Derrick, University of Memphis

Break The Good and The Bad of Hosting the Tour Championship Learn about the agronomic and pest management practices used in preparation for one of the PGA Tour’s most marquee events.

Time

Baseball Field Management Panel An interactive discussion on the latest cultural and chemical trends used to manage playing surfaces used for baseball at all levels Tom Nielsen, Louisville River Bats

The Role of Performance Data in Golf Course Management Analytics of golf performance are readily available.

Learn how these data can help optimize golf course management practices.

Dr. Brandon Horvath University of Tennessee

9:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

Sports Turf

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Next Level Field Testing at UT Tennessee is home to the leaders in testing the performance and safety of sports surfaces. Learn about the latest tests available and how they can benefit you!

Kyley Dickson, Ph.D. University of Tennessee Tradeshow with Lunch on the Tradeshow Floor – Golf Simulator Awards Banquet

4:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Cocktail Function

5:00 p.m.* – 7:00 p.m.

Award Ceremony with Keynote Speaker

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION • Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association

29

Save t h e D a t e Wednesday, January 8th Time 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Golf Turf Titans of Industry Panel “Longevity in the Industry” This panel discussion will feature legendary golf course superintendents in Tennessee discussing how they achieved longevity in the industry.

Time 8:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.

David Stone, The Honors Course (retired)

Ryan Storey, Vanderbilt University

Joe Kennedy, The Grove

Eric Taylor, Tennessee Smokies

Jim Thomas, Grassroots

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Break Uncovering the 9:30 a.m. – Architectural History 10:45 a.m. of Your Golf Course An entertaining and informative presentation on how to trace the history of your golf course. Resurrecting the forgotten past can foster pride in the club among members and staff. It can also aid in sympathetic restoration of the layout and assist superintendents in such agronomic practices as tree removal as well as recapturing lost green surface, fairway areas and abandoned bunkers.

Anthony Pioppi, Seth Raynor Society Renovation Report Podcast The Superintendent’s Role in Planning and Executing at Successful Renovation There are no mulligans in golf course renovation.

Learn about the important role golf course superintendents play in modern golf course renovation Kris Spence, Spence Golf Inc.

Time 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Pesticide Licensing Training for the Tennessee Department of Agriculture Pesticide Certification Exam Learn All You Need for the Category 3 and Category 7 Exams Required to be a Certified Applicator in TN Dr. Darrell Hensley, University of Tennessee

Ashley Wilkinson, Horry-Georgetown Technical College

Daniel Ruggiero, Gameday Athletics

Moderator: Chris Sykes

9:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Breakout Sessions Sports Turf Time Workshop Irrigation Workshop Growing More Than Grass – 8:00 a.m. – This is a hands-on session How to Grow Your Team 12:00 p.m.

Having labor issues? Trouble covering design, install, and with your team? Leading sports maintenance of irrigation field managers in Tennestechnology used for golf courses, sports fields, and see will discuss strategies landscape to reduce chemical they have used to develop their maintenance teams inputs for pest management.

10:45 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Moderators: Bill Marbet and Darren Seybold Break Bridging the Gap Between Owners and Contractors Interested in constructing or renovating fields? Learn the latest information for experts in athletic field design and construction.

Ron Bargatze, Hewlett Spencer, LLC Ryan Moriarity, Sports Turf Specialties Moderators: Bill Marbet and Ryan Storey

Transitioning Nissan Stadium from a Football Field to Concert Venue Stadiums have become multi-purpose venues. See how Nissan Stadium is transformed from a football field to a concert venue Ryan Moriarity Sports Turf Specialties One Field, One Season Practice and play on the same surface? Learn how staff at the University of North Carolina dealt with this situation and excelled Casey Carrick 1:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m.

Take the Exam to Become a Certified Pesticide Applicator in TN Dr. Darrell Hensley University of Tennessee

30

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS October/November 2019 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

Upco m i n g E v e n t s November 4

MAGCSA Scott McNeer Golf Tournament Spring Creek Ranch Collierville, TN

November 5

MTGCSA Meeting Bluegrass Yacht & Country Club Hendersonville, TN

November 14

MAGCSA Annual Skeet Shoot & Shrimp Boil Bubba’s Farm Hernando, MS

Because they grow up so fast.

January 6-8, 2020

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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 © 2019 by the Tennessee Turfgrass Association.

Tennessee Turfgrass is published bi-monthly. Subscriptions are complimentary to members of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association. Third-class postage is paid at Jefferson City, MO. 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.

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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS October/November 2019 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS October/November 2019 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

Give water a break tiftuf bermudagrass is the new drought-tolerance superstar.

The newest edition in the “Tif” (Tifton) series of bermudagrasses to originate from the renowned University of Georgia turfgrass breeding program, TifTuf promises to be a true game-changer in stellar yet environmentally friendly performance. Providing unbeatable drought tolerance, it uses 38% less water than Tifway 419, and it is significantly more drought resistant than all other bermudagrasses.

In addition to its incredible drought tolerance, TifTuf provides excellent cold tolerance (equal to Latitude 36 at Kansas State University), fast spring green-up, excellent fall color retention and superior wear and traffic tolerance. In the 2015 NTEP trials, TifTuf was the highest-ranked cultivar in North Carolina, Alabama and Mississippi, and across all 17 locations overall, it was the highestranked, commercially available cultivar.

TifTuf will not only pay for itself in water savings, but more importantly, it will create eco-gentle lawns for the future. An astounding breakthrough in sustainability, it will soon become the ultimate musthave grass for home and property owners who want to take a break from water use.

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Golf Putting Greens: Prizm Zoysia, Bentgrass and Champion Dwarf bermudagrass Bermudagrass: TifTuf, TifGrand, Patriot, TifSport and Tifway • St. Augustine: Raleigh Zoysiagrass: Zeon and El Toro • Centipedegrass: TifBlair and Common • Fescue/Bluegrass Mixtures

SEC TournamEnT Tough.

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