FORE YOUR INFORMATION March April 2020
P age 2
F o r e Y o u r I n f o r m a ti o n
P R E S I D E N T ’ S M E S S AG E What a crazy spring we have had with the Covid-19. I’ll try to talk about it as little as possible but the GCSAA has been great about holding a weekly town hall meeting and providing updates on the matter. The GCSAA has also set up a Disaster Relief Fund for those affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. The GCSAA will provide up to $500.00 to members who have experienced the loss of their jobs, Scott McCullough layoffs or have been unable to work due to the effects of the COVID-19. Members must contact the GCSAA at 800-472 -7878 or email mbrhelp@gcsaa.org Our Board of Directors have been working together on the changes the pandemic has caused to our meeting schedule. We have had to cancel or postpone many of our monthly meetings. Currently our first scheduled meeting will be July 13th at North Ridge C.C. hosted by Larry Johnson. If the Covid restrictions continue to be in affect then we will update everyone on the changes. The health and safety of our members is the most important thing during this time. As a board we will continue to update our members with any information we may receive so be sure that you keep up on the emails that are coming your way. I want to remind you that our Association has a benevolent fund. If you’re having a tough time during this pandemic don’t be afraid to reach out to me or Irene at the office and take advantage of these emergency funds we have in place for you as a member of the SNGCSA. Over the last few weeks, I’ve had a lot of time to reflect while I’ve been out mowing. Like so many of you
BY
SCOTT MCCULLOUGH
my course was told to send staff home due to the COVID19. I had the opportunity to reflect on the fact that as an association we have had excellent support from our Superintendent Members and our Affiliate Members. Every year we have been able to provide scholarships to Turf Students and to our members children through the Legacy Award program. We have also been able to provide funds for turf research and the BMPs. While our association is able to help in many ways, let’s not forget to support our chapter’s affiliate members who provide us, as superintendents, so much. They are a large part of what makes our association so strong. I hope to see you all in July and I hope that you and your families remain safe during this time.
2020 SNGCSA BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT
Scott McCullough The Ridge Golf Course VICE PRESIDENT Sam Samuelson, CGCS Wildhawk Golf Course
SECRETARY/TREASURER John Farley Teal Bend Golf Course DIRECTORS Dave Bermudez Jason Wolf Tracy Shanahan Del Rio Golf & Country Club Lincoln Hills G.C. Peach Tree C.C. Affiliate Representatives Rodney Muller Sierra Pacific Turf
PAST PRESIDENT William Hamilton CGCS Lake Wildwood Association Keith Hill, CGCS Hidden Valley C.C. Mark Stutsman
Association Managers Irene Cline and Kimberly Milne 3273 Richert Ave. Clovis, CA 559-298-6262
Michael Cunniff Clear Creek GC
Simplot Partners
F o r e Y o ur I nf o r m a ti o n
P age 3
2020
M E E T I N G DA T E S
July 13, 2020 Scholarship & Research Tournament Northridge Country Club Hosted by Larry Johnson, CGCS
December 2020 Annual Holiday Tournament & Dinner Teal Bend Golf Course Hosted by John Farley
2021
August 24, 2020 Tri Chapter Event Hosted by the SNGCSA Del Rio Country Club Hosted by Dave Bermudez
September 21, 2020 President’s Cup Tournament Grizzly Ranch Golf Course Hosted by Mike Baty
November 2020 Annual Meeting Location to be confirmed
January 5, 2021 Turf Tech Workshop The Ridge G.C.
Visit our On Line Industry Calendar for all event
https://californiagcsa.org/?page_id=3712
Visit us on line at SierraNevadaGCSA.com The SNGCSA is now on Facebook and Twitter.
F o r e Y o u r I n f o r m a ti o n
2020 SCHOLARSHIP & RESEARCH TOURNAMENT In a conversation with Larry Johnson this past week we are confirmed that as of now the chapter’s Research and Scholarship Tournament. remains scheduled for July 13, 2020 at North Ridge Country Club. We thank Larry Johnson CGCS, our host superintendent for offering us his fine facility for this special event. We were last at North Ridge in 2012 so it will great to get back a see everything Larry has been doing. If changes in our normal way of holding our tournament are necessary we will adhere to whatever recommendation are made to assure the safety and well being of our members and guests. Once again Syngenta and Joe Ballmer will sponsor the tee prizes. We would like to thank all of our golf industry partners who have helped us in the past by providing equipment displays, items donated for the auction, sponsoring meals, and for those who sponsored tee signs and games on the course during the tournament. Superintendents, we also want to thank you for attending, bringing guests and bringing some great prizes for the raffle. Soon the SNGCSA Board of Directors will be asking you once again for donations for this year’s event. The money raised from this tournament goes to Scholarship and Legacy Awards, Turfgrass Research, Personal and Professional Development Program, and our Benevolence Fund which is even more important this year, We can’t do this without everyone’s participation. The Scholarship Applications and the Legacy Award Applications have been sent to you and can also be sent to you by contacting the association office. Be sure that these get into the hands of anyone that will qualify. This will be year like no other but we are sure we can make it a successful event.
Thank you, David Bermudez and Kurtis Wolford Co Chairmen
P age 4
F o r e Y o u r I n f o r m a ti o n
P age 5
MEMBER HIGHLIGHT M A T T G R AV E S B E L K O R P AG This issue’s Member Highlight is on Matt Graves, Golf Account Manager for BelKorp AG.. Matt started with MidCal Tractor as a mechanic some 15 years ago. In 2011 BelKorp Ag was formed to acquire the Deere dealerships located in Modesto and Patterson. BelKorp’s group of companies is a second generation family owned business whose origins date back to the 1940’s. Since 2011, they have expanded to 7 locations in the North Coast and Central Valley. Matt continued on as a mechanic during this transitional move and then in 2016 he was promoted to golf sales. He now covers the San Joaquin Valley as the golf account manager. Matt likes getting to deal with different people
800 MOSSDALE RD, LATHROP, CA. 209 234-1500 www.brownsandinc.com PRODUCTSSERVICES AVAILABLEUSGA Top Dressing Sand Deliveries by Magnum Transportation Inc. Greens Top Dressing Sand Blend Materials to Customers Specifications Bunker Sand Profile / Sand Blends 0-0-50 / Kiln Dried Sand blends Kiln Dried USGA Sand - 3000lbs Super Sacks Dakota Peat Sand Blends Peat Inc Sand Blends Pea Gravel Top Soil
FOR ALL YOUR MATERIAL NEEDS PLEASE CALL OUR OFFICE OR
DAVE RAINEY – Director of Sales and Marketing Cell# 209 993-5211 E-mail: DAVE@brownsandinc.com
in his job and helping them with their equipment needs. His expertise as a mechanic provides complete knowledge with issues when they arise. Matt is an active member of several chapters and not only has served as board member for our chapter but also presently serves on the Central California Board. Matt grew up in Lodi and attended school there and then moved to Susanville to attend College. He now lives in Stockton where the BelKorp office is located. Matt and his wife Brenda have two boys, Zachery and Darren. In his limited spare time, Matt loves paintball. I’ve heard that this is known to be one of the most stress relieving shooting games around. Well in Matt’s case I hope so because with his growing business and crazy schedule he will need some stress relieve. Thank you Matt for your service to our industry and to the association.
F o r e Y o ur I nf o r m a ti o n
P age 6
F RO M
THE
FIELD
Jeff Jensen, GCSAA Field Staff, Southwest Region I hope this finds you and your families safe and healthy. This column was originally committed to my favorite time of year as a sports fan with March Madness, The Masters and Opening Day in Major League Baseball. Well, how things change in a hurry. COVID-19 has thrown all of our best laid plans into the waste basket (including my previous column). What started as precautionary cancellations of major events has turned into something much larger with potentially much greater implications for our personal lives as well as our golf facilities. Jeff Jensen At the time of this article, GCSAA affiliated chapters across the Southwest Region had cancelled all of the remaining March events as well as many of the upcoming April functions. Undoubtedly the correct call by the various board of director members and chapter executives in Arizona, California, Hawaii and Nevada. GCSAA also responded to the situation by modifying operations and mandating employees to work remotely. While not ideal, the move still gives our employees the ability to continue their duties with little or no interruption in service to members. Our organization as well as our chapters and members showed leadership, values and flexibility in making these decisions. I applaud them and that’s why you elected them to lead. As we move forward, our industry is going to face quite possibly its greatest challenge. The economic fallout with be immense with courses closing doors for unspecified periods of time throughout the region to deal with the effects and fallout of the virus. Jobs and livelihoods will be at stake. But just like the Great Depression, World War II, the Great Recession and the endless other challenges that have been presented to the game over the last century, golf will survive and continue to offer a solace to who choose to play this great game. As historian Thomas Fuller said, “the darkest hour is just before the dawn.” Whatever the outcome, I know we have the leaders and resources in place to continue forward and I look forward to working with you all to make it happen. Best of luck to all of you as we navigate through these difficult times and if I can be of any assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact me at jjensen@gcsaa.org. Stay safe, take the proper precautions and I hope to run into all of you at some rescheduled event later this Spring and Summer.
ASSOCIATION NEWS By Rodney Muller, Sierra Pacific Turf Supply
Some of the most recent positions being filled around Northern California and The Sierra Nevada are as follows. Gary Skolnik has left Rancho Murieta CC and is now Superintendent at Auburn Trails and Black Oak Golf Club. The new superintendent at The Bridges is Robbie Henderson. Clint Luedtke from Martis Camp is now at Superintendent at Del Paso Country Club. Dustin McIntosh has left Fountaingrove and is now the Superintendent at The Club at Valley of The Moon and The Club at Sugar Loaf (Old Oakmont). The new Superintendent at Fountaingrove is Andy Lindloff. Chris Dalhamer, CGCS at Pebble Beach Golf Links is now at Monterey Peninsula Country Club.
F o r e Y o u r I n f o r m a ti o n
P age 7
D U C K A N D C OV E R D U C K A N D T U R T L E ANTIBIOTIC IMMUNITY TO ALGAE PATRICK SIMMSGEIGER PRESIDENT, DIVERSIFIED WATERSCAPES
BY
,
I remember my mother refusing to get a turtle for me as a pet. She understood that turtles transmit Salmonella, but she probably had no idea a baby turtle could transmit Hepatitis B. She also told me not to touch the ducks in the neighborhood lake. She probably heard about the Alpha-Herpes virus, that caused high mortaliPat Simmsgeiger ty rates in ducks, geese and swans. This disease first appeared in Long Island in 1967, transmitted from European flocks. In the last 50 years, these health threats have spread worldwide and normalized in the public mind. There is now an emerging concern that turtles, ducks and geese, adapted to the diseases they carry, spread antibiotic-resistant bacteria. As an aquatic expert, what keeps me awake some nights is the possibility these bacterial strains could transfer their resistance to algae in our water features. Ducks and turtles are as ubiquitous to water environments as shells on a beach. These water species excrete waste loaded with bacterium, which settle into soil laced with antibiotic run-off from human activity. Over time, the soil becomes a habitat for new generations of bacteria. In a scientific study of a Meat Duck Farm conducted in 2017, the data strongly indicated that the deeper the excrement layers, and the longer these layers went without removal, the more numerous the antibiotic-resistant bacterial species, plus the greater number of antibiotics to which these species showed resistance. These bacteria also evolved resistance to Zinc, Copper and Cadmium. Copper is the primary element used to control algae and cyanobacteria in water. Toxic blooms, or Harmful Algal Blooms
(HABs), are the result of runaway growth of algae and cyanobacteria, when certain conditions like heat and nutrient loads are abundant. Could algae learn antibiotic and copper resistance from bacteria? Algae are in every environment on the Earth, having emerged as a simpler species about 1.7 billion years ago. Bacteria existed a couple billion years before that. Cyanobacteria preceded these by about 1 billion years, being the first life on this planet. Clearly these species learned or stole abilities from each other, then continued to diversify to the present day. It would be very unlikely that this behavior to adapt and then evolve has suddenly come to a stop. More likely, these microorganisms are reacting to human activity, feeding on modern waste, adapting to our chemicals, while they continue to compete and learn from one another. To put this in a proper perspective, keep in mind that the majority of bio-mass on the earth is micro-organic. Many aquatic companies that treat algae claim to eradicate the problem. The fact is, algae colonies cannot be completely killed off, only limited in size and reproductive rates by using proper tools and procedures. Not only are there immense varieties of algae and bacteria, adapted to every environment, but each of these has the capability to adapt and create daughter cells with new characteristics. According to a recent estimate, there are about one trillion species of microbes on Earth, and 99.99 % of them have yet to be classified. Clearly, microorganisms have no problem evolving offspring through adaption that can reproduce into a new species, well-suited to consume the most abundant form of nutrients, while resisting a threat that limited their mother cell. Once we accept the possibility of an inter-species exchange of resistance to Copper and antibiotics, what is the possibility this new algae strain would move out of its home pond? The same bird groups that excrete large amounts of waste also tend to move from lake to lake. Birds visit all the water features in their territory, and turtles have a capacity to travel as well. The wind also plays a role in transporting bacteria and other microorganisms over long distances. Anecdotally, the entire Earth is covered by microorganisms well-suited to each set of conditions. ‘Survival of the Fittest’ is the rule, so there is every reason to believe that, once a species can resist our defenses, it will find a way to spread to every nutrient source available. Aquatic experts rely on a limited number of products to control algae, ultimately using Copper as the active metal when more natural treatments fall short. Although antibiotic resistance is a problem all its own, it is algae’s re-
P age 8
F o r e Y o ur I nf o r m a ti o n
Antibiotic Immunity to Algae Contnd from page 7 sistance to Copper that should concern water managers. But what can be done; is this an inevitable response of Nature to human activity? The most obvious step is to reduce human runoff into streams and lakes, which is a solution beyond the scope of aquatic experts. Next is the cleaning of muck layers from lakes and ponds, which is commonly delayed for years and even decades, despite repeated warnings from water management. The last solution is the control of bird and turtle populations, which is an easy action to consider but politically difficult to carry out. Reducing bird and turtle populations first runs into permit and regulatory issues. These restrictions have nothing to do with The Endangered Species Act of 1973, but rather stem from public opinion. When permits are secured, often a third-party removes the turtles and imply they will be relocated/rescued/ adopted by some body of nearby water. Asking too closely where this property is may not be wise. Restrictions on turtle or bird removal can be the ‘final straw’ that defeats an entire Lake-Cleaning Plan. A complicated Permit process, additional costs and Public Relation issues are the bane of a Property Manager, especially if they are a municipality. Most man-made water features in the US are decades beyond their life-span for muck removal. This delay in lake preservation and cleaning exacerbates the biologic risks. Being alarmist in no way benefits a professional discussion. Water management experts think in terms of years at a property, drawing on decades of experience. But recent events have demonstrated how quickly the status-quo can be changed, and how our assumptions about safety can be proven inaccurate. In 1967 Avian Infectious Bronchitis Virus was studied as a crossover vector for human Bronchitis, which interestingly was the same year flocks were found dead in Long Island from a European infection. Today, we may be ignoring signs of a larger problem, where algae could learn Copper resistance from bacteria vectored from birds and turtles, which densely populate neighborhood water features. Even if we heed the signs, our hands are effectively tied by sentiment for these ubiquitous creatures, many of which we encourage to live nearby in already unhealthy lakes.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27744296 Accumulation of antibiotics and heavy metals in meat duck deep litter and their role in persistence of antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli in different flocks on one duck farm. - 2017 https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ ijmicro/2017/5798161/ Antibiotic Resistant Bacterial Isolates from Captive Green Turtles and In Vitro Sensitivity to Bacteriophages – 2017 https://www.worldwildlife.org/pages/the-usendangered-species-act The US Endangered Species Act https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC375 381/pdf/jvirol00329-0177.pdf Morphogenesis of Avian Infectious Bronchitis Virus and a Related Human Virus (Strain 229E)
P age 9
F o r e Y o ur I nf o r m a ti o n
Superintendent Muhammad Ali Hosts New Joseph Bonhiem Elementry 4th graders at Bing Maloney
F o r e Y o ur I nf o r m a ti o n
P age 1 0
FORE YOUR INFORMATION Published by the Sierra Nevada Golf Course Superintendents Association EDITOR Bill Hamilton, CGCS OFFICE SNGCSA 3273 Richert Ave., Clovis, CA 93619 559-298-6262 Fax# 559-298-6957 sngcsaa@aol.com