Canberra™s Couch EncroachmentMaking the warm-season switchCanberra™s Couch EncroachmentMaking the warm-season switchIndian Ocean Sea ChangeFour Seasons GC, MauritiusIndian Ocean Sea ChangeFour Seasons GC, MauritiusWater ManagementSandbelt supers shore up suppliesWater ManagementSandbelt supers shore up suppliesThe PulseAssessing the state of turf educationThe PulseAssessing the state 
of turf educationResearchWater repellencyNitrate leachingResearchWater repellencyNitrate leachingWINNER OF 8 AWARDS AT THE ANNUAL TOCA INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATORS CONTESTWINNER OF 8 AWARDS AT THE ANNUAL TOCA INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATORS CONTESTVOLUME 10.3 MAY-JUNE 2008He won™t lie awake at night worrying about his turf, or his reputation.  Nor will you, thanks to HERITAGE MAXX from Syngenta. Designed exclusively for turf, the smaller particles of the new micro-emulsion formulation enable a 25% faster foliar intake and 100% faster root uptake producing earlier protection against disease*.  So, for peace of mind and a playing surface second to none, choose  
liquid HERITAGE MAXX.  Protect your turf and your reputation. For more information on HERITAGE MAXX please call the Syngenta Technical Product Advice line on 1800 067 108 or visit           www.greencast.com.auRest assured this winter with HERITAGE MAXX®.The liquid fungicide designed exclusively for turf.* University studies show an increase in efficacy by up to 15% against anthracnose.    ® Registered trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company      AD07-043Specialist against Microdochium nivale(Winter Fusarium)   Australian Turfgrass ManagementPublished by:Australian Golf Course Superintendents' AssociationABN 96 053 205 888Production:Editor:  Brett Robinson Ph:(03) 9548 8600 brett@agcsa.com.auArt Direction & Design: Jo Corne Ph: (03) 9548 8600
jo@agcsa.com.auAdvertising: Melissa Wallace Ph:(03) 9548 8600 melissa@agcsa.com.auAGCSASuite 1, Monash Corporate Centre752 Blackburn Road, Clayton, VIC 3168P: (03) 9548 8600
F: (03) 9548 8622E: info@agcsa.com.auW: www.agcsa.com.auPresident:  Jeff GambinDirectors:  John Odell Allan Devlin Pat PauliGeneral ManagersScott Petersen (Business Development, Communications and Membership)
scott@agcsa.com.auJohn Neylan (AGCSATech, Education and Environmental Initiative)
john@agcsa.com.auInquiries and MembershipPip Dudleyinfo@agcsa.com.auAccountsPhilip Horsburghphilip@agcsa.com.auEvents ManagerSimone Staples
simone@agcsa.com.auAGCSATechAndrew Peartandrew@agcsa.com.auHR & Best Practice ManagerDaryl Sellardaryl@agcsa.com.auExecutive AssistantMelissa Wallace
melissa@agcsa.com.auPrinted ByImpact Printing69-79 Fallon StreetBrunswick, VIC 3056Proudly supported byCopyright © 2008 The AGCSA believes that material sourced and produced for Australian Turfgrass Management is accurate, but gives no warranty in relation thereto, and disclaims liability for 
all claims against the AGCSA, its subsidiary companies, its employees, agents or any other person which may arise from any person acting on the materials contained within. 
No portion, in whole or part, may be reproduced without the written permission of the AGCSA.AGCSASUBSCRIPTION FORMI wish to apply for:One year™s subscription to Australian Turfgrass Management(Six editions per year) PLEASE TICK BOXONE COPY PER EDITION $55.00  O/S ONE COPY PER EDITION $76.20   TWO COPIES PER EDITION $86.00  THREE COPIES PER EDITION $130.00  ORDERS CAN BE MADE SECURELY ONLINE THROUGH www.agcsa.com.auName: ......................................................................................................................................Company: .................................................................................................................................Postal Address: ........................................................................................................................Town/Suburb: ...........................................................................................................................State:  ......................................................................... Postcode: ............................................I enclose cheque for (amount):................................................................................................ Please charge my credit card: .................................................................................................MasterCard          VisaCard Number:  __ __ __ __   __ __ __ __   __ __ __ __   __ __ __ __
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Address: ................................................................................................................................... Signature:. ............................................................................................................................... Please send me more information about becoming an AGCSA memberForward to: Australian Turfgrass Management Suite 1, Monash Corporate Centre 752 Blackburn Road Clayton, VIC 3168 FAX: (03) 9548 8622   Prices include GST.WINNER OF 8 AWARDS AT THE ANNUAL TOCA INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATORS CONTESTRunning on emptyRiver Murray courses fight for survivalRunning on emptyRiver Murray courses fight for survivalResearchCouch wear toleranceOrganic matter removalResearchCouch wear tolerance
Organic matter removalIndia inspires2007 GCS&MAI seminarIndia inspires2007 GCS&MAI seminarThe PulseBunker battlesThe PulseBunker battlesWINNER OF 8 AWARDS AT THE ANNUAL TOCA INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATORS CONTESTVOLUME 10.1 JAN-FEB 2008WINNER OF 8 AWARDS AT THE ANNUAL TOCA INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATORS CONTESTGreat Dividing RangeNew South WalesVictoriaSouth AustraliaAlburyCorowaYarrawongaEchucaSwan HillMilduraBerriMurray BridgeLake AlexandrinaGoolwaTocumwal23rd Australian Turfgrass ConferenceYour official 20-page guide to CairnsCairns2007Climatic Conditions     of the Modern EraClimatic Conditions     of the Modern Era23rd Australian Turfgrass Conference and Trade Exhibition24Œ26 July, 2007 Cairns23rd Australian Turfgrass Conference and Trade Exhibition24Œ26 July, 2007 CairnsPrincipal SponsorsOFFICIAL GUIDEOFFICIAL GUIDE23rd Australian Turfgrass ConferenceYour official 20-page guide to CairnsResearchKikuyu breedingBuffalograss BMPWetting agents2007 Open ChampionshipUncompromising CarnoustieCaribbean callingA super life on The Rock2007 Open ChampionshipUncompromising CarnoustieResearchKikuyu breedingBuffalograss BMP
Wetting agentsCaribbean callingA super life on The RockWINNER OF 8 AWARDS AT THE ANNUAL TOCA INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATORS CONTESTVOLUME 9.4 JULY-AUGUST 2007WINNER OF 8 AWARDS AT THE ANNUAL TOCA INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATORS CONTESTTournament TimeHuntingdale™s new masterOpen returns to RoseberyTournament TimeHuntingdale™s new masterOpen returns to RoseberyNew technologyTelstra Dome sees the lightNew technologyTelstra Dome sees the lightResearchNitrogen leachingThatch or fiction?ResearchNitrogen leachingThatch or fiction?The good oilTurf techniciansThe good oilTurf techniciansWINNER OF 8 AWARDS AT THE ANNUAL TOCA INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATORS CONTESTVOLUME 9.6 NOV-DEC 2007WINNER OF 8 AWARDS AT THE ANNUAL TOCA INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATORS CONTESTTails from the turfA dog™s life on courseTails from the turfA dog™s life on courseCoastal TrailsFrom Bandon Dunes to Pebble BeachNew Environmental Management SectionDome goes carbon-neutralResearchAustralian sod productionSeashore paspalumThe PulseAssistant supers have their sayCoastal TrailsFrom Bandon Dunes to Pebble BeachResearchAustralian sod production
Seashore paspalumNew Environmental Management SectionDome goes carbon-neutralThe PulseAssistant supers have their sayWINNER OF 8 AWARDS AT THE ANNUAL TOCA INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATORS CONTESTWINNER OF 8 AWARDS AT THE ANNUAL TOCA INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATORS CONTESTVOLUME 10.2 MAR-APR 2008Inside Augusta NationalAn Aussie™s odysseyWater managementGlenelg ASR schemeThe Sands desalinationAGIC water use survey2007 AGCSA Award WinnersReg McLarenDarren WilsonStuart MoorePeter BeachKeeping it greenKooindah Waters ResearchBentgrass propagation and salinity tolerancePoa annua ecotypes and controlWater managementGlenelg ASR schemeThe Sands desalinationAGIC water use survey2007 AGCSA Award WinnersReg McLarenDarren WilsonStuart MoorePeter BeachKeeping it greenKooindah Waters Inside Augusta NationalAn Aussie™s odysseyResearchBentgrass propagation and salinity tolerancePoa annua ecotypes and controlWINNER OF 8 AWARDS AT THE ANNUAL TOCA INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATORS CONTESTVOLUME 9.5 SEPT-OCT 2007WINNER OF 8 AWARDS AT THE ANNUAL TOCA INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATORS CONTEST1AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTCOVER: Parliament House, Canberra:The Kentucky bluegrass/tall 
fescue turf ramps 
are one of the 
standout features 
of Parliament 
House in Canberra. 
However, with water 
management issues 
starting to impact 
heavily on the 
region they could 
soon be converted 
to warm-season 
varieties.Photo: Brett Robinson contentsA change of seasons 18Switching from Royal Sydney Golf Club to 
a brand new golf course development on 
the tropical island of Mauritius has certainly 
provided many interesting scenarios for 
Australian superintendent Greg Puckeridge. 
Here he outlines some of the challenges in 
getting the Ernie Els-designed Four Seasons 
Golf Club up and operational.Southern style 24Georgia and South Carolina are home to 
some of the US™s finest golf courses and 
last September The Grange Golf Club 
superintendent Richard James was fortunate 
to visit a number of them, including Augusta 
National.Graduating with honours 30Winning the 2006 AGCSA Graduate of the Year 
award opened up the turf management world 
to former Yamba Golf Club apprentice Sean 
Kinsley. Here he looks back at the past two years which saw him journey to the US to take 
part in the Ohio State Program.OPINIONDelivery of turf management education 42The Pulse asks five education providers their thoughts on the current state of turf 
management education delivery in Australia 
and some of the emerging trends impacting 
on their role. RESEARCHManaging water repellency 44The University of Western Australia (UWA) is 
about to undertake a three-year study on how 
to maximise water use efficiency for warm-
season turfgrasses grown under Australian 
conditions by decreasing the incidence and 
severity of soil water repellency.Nitrate leaching in bentgrass greens 48US research has examined the combined and 
separate effects of nitrogen rate and greens 
mix on nitrate and ammonium in leachate from 
bentgrass putting greens.ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENTAvondale looks to the future 54For the past decade Avondale Golf Club has 
been at the forefront of proactive environmental 
golf course management. ATM catches up with 
superintendent David Warwick to see what 
the future holds environmentally for one of 
Australia™s most progressive clubs.Canberra™s Couch EncroachmentMaking the warm-season switchCanberra™s Couch EncroachmentMaking the warm-season switchIndian Ocean Sea ChangeFour Seasons GC, MauritiusIndian Ocean Sea ChangeFour Seasons GC, MauritiusWater ManagementSandbelt supers shore up suppliesWater ManagementSandbelt supers shore up suppliesThe PulseAssessing the state of turf educationThe PulseAssessing the state 
of turf educationResearchWater repellencyNitrate leachingResearchWater repellencyNitrate leachingWINNER OF 8 AWARDS AT THE ANNUAL TOCA INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATORS CONTESTWINNER OF 8 AWARDS AT THE ANNUAL TOCA INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATORS CONTESTVOLUME 10.3 MAY-JUNE 2008Canberra™s couch encroachment  6With water prices skyrocketing and resources dwindling, Canberra turf facilities are biting the bullet and converting their cool-season surfaces to warm-season varieties. In this 
edition™s cover story ATM looks at a number of the region™s golf clubs and turf facilities that 
have or are preparing to make the switch.2AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTAGCSAAGCSASERVICEAGCSA advice for   superintendents and clubs 
      to improve golf course 
         maintenance practices     Contributors to Australian Turfgrass Management Volume 10.3 (May-June 2008)Louise Barton (UWA); Andy Blacker (SAGCSA); Tim Colmer (UWA); Rod Cook (GCSAQ); Brian 
Dale (BNIT); Bruce Davies (CIT); Frank Dempsey 
(Ryde College); Pip Dudley (AGCSA); Jason Ferry 
(Queanbeyan GC); Phil Ford (NMIT); John Forrest 
(Challenger TAFE); Richard Forsyth (Metropolitan 
GC); Michael Freeman (VGCSA); E. Guertal (Alburn University); Scott Harris (Gold Creek CC); Justin Haslam (Yowani CC); Andy Hugill (NSWGCSA); 
Richard James (The Grange Golf Club); Sean 
Kinsley (Settlers Run Golf Course); Jeff Lane 
(Paradise Palms CC); Adam Leech (Queanbeyan GC); Stephen Lewis (TGCSA); John Lloyd (Parliament House); Stephen Lording (Federal GC); John Neylan (AGCSATech); Andrew Peart 
(AGCSATech); Jim Porter (Royal Melbourne GC); 
Greg Puckeridge (Four Seasons GC); Simone 
Staples (AGCSA); Ian Todd (Victoria GC); Lindsay 
Tomlinson (VTETA); George Wan (UWA); Michael 
Waring (Royal Canberra GC); David Warwick 
(Avondale GC); Darren Wilson (Wembley Golf 
Complex).Converting from cool-season varieties to warm-season is a massive undertaking for any turf facility. Whether it is the method of conversion, the educating of end users about the 
likely changes to surface characteristics, through to the ultimate change in maintenance practices, it is a process that requires plenty of research, patience and persistence.In Canberra, traditionally a haven for cool-season varieties, the writing has been on the wall for a number of years, especially with the price of potable water rising dramatically and the 
inevitability that it will continue to do so. Again over the past growing season more golf clubs have made the decision to replace their cool-season fairways with either native or hybrid couchgrass varieties, and in another 12 months or so even the landscape department at Parliament House 
will be making the switch. In putting together this edition™s lead feature I was fortunate to visit a number of facilities making the transition and a common theme to emerge was the desire of each superintendent 
and turf manager to not only improve their chances of getting a better night™s sleep, but to usher 
in a more sustainable future for their clubs. For many facilities the conversion is the first step in 
an ongoing process and in many cases securing a viable water source for the future is the next 
huge item on the agenda.  To all the Canberra turfies who showed me around their facilities in early April I thank you sincerely and wish you all the best as you embark on these major projects. It is a big decision for 
many and it will be interesting to look back a few years down the track to see how these projects have panned out.As part of my visit to the nation™s capital, I was fortunate to visit Parliament House, as you can tell by the edition™s front cover. Being a proud Kiwi, I must say I was extremely taken with Parliament House and its surrounds (sorry, but the Beehive ain™t got nothing I™m afraid) which are 
lovingly nurtured by a maintenance crew of 17. As an aside, I created a little bit of history according to outgoing landscape manager John Lloyd after managing to get through the private ministerial entrance to Parliament House and 
halfway through the building without any security clearance! Ironically it was as we headed to 
the staff cafeteria for a spot of lunch that I was finally found out by a no-nonsense moustachioed 
guard. Elsewhere in this edition, former Royal Sydney Golf Club assistant superintendent Greg Puckeridge, who is now superintendent at Four Seasons Golf Club in Mauritius, recounts some 
of the challenges he has faced getting the new Ernie Els-designed course into play, while The 
Grange Golf Club superintendent Richard James recounts his trip to South Carolina and Georgia 
last year where he visited some of the region™s top golf courses, including Augusta National. You 
will also notice a few changes with this edition, mainly the absence of the Offshoot supplement 
which we have decided to bring back within the folds of the magazine.Finally, looking back at our last edition I cannot begin to describe the amount of feedback we had on the ‚Tails from the Turf™ article which highlighted superintendents and their faithful canine 
assistants. The feedback, both good and bad, certainly surprised this scribe and of all the articles 
compiled in my time here it has generated the most amount of comment, even outstripping our 
much-talked about feature on the Warringah Golf Club verdict. I thank all those who took the time 
to phone, write or email their thoughts, especially to the one superintendent who was bold enough 
to put pen to paper and express his opinion in a letter to the editor Œ see page 63. Enjoy the read.Brett RobinsonEditorWATER MANAGEMENTSandbelt supers shore up supplies 56Three of Melbourne™s famed sandbelt courses Œ Royal Melbourne, Victoria and 
Metropolitan Πhave taken considerable 
steps to ensure a more sustainable future 
in regards to water management.IN EVERY EDITIONForeword Thinking 4AGCSA Membership 5AGCSATech Update 36
Tech Talk - Drainage dilemmas 40Turf Technicians 58On the Move 60News 62Around the Trade 64Book Shop 66State Presidents™ Reports 683AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTMore than 30 years in the makingJOHN NEYLAN AND SCOTT PETERSEN, AGCSA JOINT GENERAL MANAGERSforeword thinkingIn the last instalment of Foreword Thinking (Volume 10.2) we highlighted the need for 
the AGCSA to rethink its Strategic Plan and purpose going forward. Since that last edition 
the AGCSA has conducted a couple of great 
planning sessions which will go a long way to 
ensuring the AGCSA continues to be seen as 
a professional, proactive and decisive body 
dedicated to providing exceptional services to 
its members.As a first step in the Strategic Plan review, the AGCSA Board approved a new vision 
statement and goal for the association at its 
quarterly meeting in March. The Board has 
revised the current AGCSA vision statement 
to read:
fiThe Australian Golf Course Superintendents 
Association (AGCSA) is committed to the 
ongoing professional development and 
support of all those involved in the golf 
course maintenance industry.fl Following on from the vision statement, the ultimate goal for the AGCSA is that: 
fiAll golf courses have the best possible 
playing surfaces and adjacent environment 
within the limitations of the available 
resources.fl In the second phase of this review we will be looking at clarifying the fundamental aims 
of the AGCSA. These are: 
1. To increase awareness and understanding 
of a golf course maintenance role and 
challenges they face to ensure they receive 
the respect and recognition they deserve.This will involve the AGCSA developing key communications strategies to target those 
that influence the golf course maintenance team, including general managers, golf club 
boards, players, golf professionals etc.
2. To improve the professionalism, 
consistency and the standard of non-
agronomic skills of members to ensure the 
status of the role is improved.It is widely recognised that the role of the superintendent has changed significantly in 
recent years. The need to understand budgets, 
negotiation and presentation skills, computer 
skills, conflict resolution, and effective 
communication to all levels of a golf club 
community are essential elements required for 
the role in this day and age.
3.  To have the member base represented by 
a high proportion of golf courses and a wide 
range of golf course maintenance roles.While most of the association™s efforts to this point in time have focused on delivery of 
knowledge skills and benefits to support the 
superintendent, we realise that to achieve our 
ultimate goal of providing the best possible 
playing surfaces, we will need to reach beyond 
the superintendent and deliver meaningful 
information and support to all golf course 
maintenance roles. This will also see the AGCSA develop what is likened to a sporting association junior 
development programme, where we will offer 
a number of benefits that nurture incumbent 
ground staff and prepare them to one day lead 
and advance the industry into the future.
4. To influence and lead in environmental 
issues and upcoming agronomic 
challenges.Golf courses operate in a tentative position in Australia and have a seemingly reckless image in the public domain when it comes 
to the environmental management. This, 
however, is far from the truth. The AGCSA is 
a recognised world leader in environmental 
management and we will aim to hold this 
position going forward. Golf courses can and should be presented as a great environmental asset to any 
community and we will assist driving this 
positive message along with proactive actions 
among the wider community.With these aims in mind, we are now in the process of converting this top end vision, goals 
and aims into actions by creating a business 
plan to identify micro goals and objectives to 
achieve this exciting path forward. Before long 
you will notice these changes at the AGCSA 
and what is delivered by the AGCSA to support 
you and the industry going forward.A summary of the AGCSA™s 2008-2012 Strategic Plan will be available for viewing on 
the AGCSA website www.agcsa.com.au and 
we actively encourage your feedback and 
support in achieving this plan.AGCSA4AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTThe greenhouse for grassTrials conducted by the AGCSA show that the Evergreen Turf Cover can significantly improve establishment rates and plant vigour of bentgrass on newly sown greens, as well as promote higher levels of moisture retention in the rootzone. ΠAndrew Peart, AGCSATech.ADVANCED SEED:  (03) 9462 0340www.adseed.com.auWith Evergreen coverWithout Evergreen coverCroydon Golf Club,Melbourne Trial 2007converting canberraThe figures make for stark reading. Just ask any superintendent (or turf manager) 
to show you their water bill in recent years and it™s easy to see why there is an air 
of change blowing through the Canberra turf 
community. With water as much as $3.21 per kilolitre and the prospect that the price could increase to more than $4 per kilolitre in the not too instant future, golf clubs in the region reliant 
on potable water are forking out upwards 
of $350,000 a season all in the name of 
keeping their cool-season surfaces alive. As 
any superintendent, or accountant for that 
matter, will attest the situation is no longer 
sustainable financially and also carries serious 
environmental and social implications.You don™t have to tell Canberra™s turfies that the climate they work in provides a 
considerable challenge in their line of work. 
Of all the major centres in Australia, Canberra 
has the most extreme variation in temperature 
throughout the year. In the height of summer 
the mercury has been known to soar as high 
as 40 while in the depths of winter it can plummet to as low as -9. For six to seven months of the year conditions are perfect for growing couch, while for the remainder of the year the cool-season 
species revel. The present challenge they all 
face is maintaining the cool-season varieties 
over the summer months and the only way to 
do that is with water Πand plenty of it. The solution, therefore, is a switch to warm-season varieties and over the past spring and 
summer more turf facilities in the ACT have 
embarked on fairway conversion programmes. 
Converting to warm-season grasses isn™t by 
any means a new phenomenon in Canberra and in many instances is just the first stage of an ongoing process to secure a more sustainable future for each club. Whether it™s going the seeded or vegetative option, golf clubs are forging ahead and making the transition across to couch. Even 
Parliament House, following a major review of 
its operations, is set to make the switch which means the famous cool-season turf ramps could soon be a thing of the past. BITING THE BULLETOf all the golf clubs in the region to make the warm-season switch this past summer, Federal 
Golf Club has gone ‚all in™. With virtually no water storage capacity on course (except for a 
series of tanks which hold a combined 650,000 litres) and miniscule bore yields, the club simply didn™t have the luxury of transitioning slowly across over a few years.Desperate to arrest its spiralling town water bills Œ last year™s statement read a staggering $340,000 Œ the club, at the persistence of 
superintendent Stephen Lording, bit the bullet 
and line-planted 12 hectares of Santa ana over 
Christmas and New Year. Couch is by no means foreign to the Federal membership as over a decade ago Lording 
saw the writing on the wall and converted 
the 6th and 17th fairways to the hybrid couch 
variety. Over the past decade the membership 
has grown to accept the colour and dormancy 
issues associated with couchgrass in winter 
and that it provides just as good a playing 
surface as the old predominantly Poa annua/ryegrass fairways. Canberra™s couch encroachmentCanberra™s couch encroachmentCanberra™s couch encroachmentWith water bills skyrocketing and resources diminishing, maintaining cool-season turf surfaces in the climatic extremes of Canberra is becoming less and less sustainable. In this edition™s cover story, ATM takes an extensive look at some of the golf clubs and turf facilities biting the bullet and making the transition across to warm-season varieties.6AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTBY BRETT ROBINSONConvincing the club to make the full switch across, however, proved to be a bit more difficult, but eventually with a change in board 
and the hip pocket nerve starting to ache more 
and more, the decision was made to take the 
next step. fiWater has been the biggest killer at Federal for a number of years,fl says Lording. 
fiWe are the only club in Canberra that doesn™t 
have a water supply, apart from our bore 
yields, which in the 20 years I have been here 
have dropped from 900 kilolitres in 24 hours 
to 200KL. fiWe are paying $3.21 per kilolitre and last year our bill for town water was $340,000. All 
the indications are that prices will only keep going up and I™ve heard figures of anywhere from $3.50 to $4.16 per kilolitre. And to top 
things off the ACT Government has this year 
decided to put a 25c per kilolitre charge on 
bore water. Quite simply it got to the stage where it just wasn™t sustainable maintaining 
cool-season grasses any more and if the 
club continued down that line it wouldn™t be 
viable.fl Lording jokes that he was fia visionaryfl when he put in the two Santa ana fairways 
back in 1997. By no means was it a spur of the moment thing, rather Lording was interested to see how couchgrass could handle the 
extremes of Canberra™s climate, particularly 
in winter. He made trips to courses along the River Murray and ended up choosing Santa ana 
as it came out of dormancy well, didn™t go 
into dormancy too quick, and, unlike a lot of 
the native couches in Canberra, it seemed to withstand the cold temperatures, still keep its leaves and didn™t go stalk-like in appearance. 
Having had the two Santa ana fairways for a 
decade, there was no need to investigate any 
of the other hybrid couches and the decision was made to line-plant Santa ana on the 
remaining fairways this past season.After spraying out the cool-season grasses with 10l/ha of Round-up, the conversion process began on 20 December, slightly later than hoped, with the whole course completed by 3 January, 2008. During that time Lording 
and his staff also resurfaced four greens. 
As well as providing the quickest means of 
conversion, the line-planting option also made 
more sense to Lording. fiI just thought it was the best option,fl says Lording. fiI don™t think there has been a huge 
amount of research on seeding, particularly in colder climates. I read an article by David Nickson about the pros and cons of line-
planting and seeding and the key thing he 
mentioned was getting rid of competition. If 
you don™t bite the bullet and get rid of your 
competition, I think the seeded option could 
end up a lot more expensive.  fiCertainly the line-planting option has been very disruptive to the members. The course 
was closed for nearly four weeks, opened with tee-up for another six weeks and it will remain preferred lies until it completely covers 
in. So you can see why the seeding option is 
probably better for some clubs. fiIt was originally recommended that we only do three hectares, but we didn™t have 
that luxury of just slowly changing the fairways 
across because of the price of water. So we 
did the lot and we couldn™t be happier. The first three fairways we did now have 100 per cent coverage and the worst fairways are probably 
about 85 per cent.fiWe also hit them pretty hard with a series of herbicide applications for Poa, 
summergrass, crowsfoot and broadleaf. They 
have been treated hard from the beginning, 
but now we™ll let the Poa come through over the winter months which will fill in any bare Canberra™s couch encroachmentCanberra™s couch encroachmentCanberra™s couch encroachmentThe trend towards warm-season grasses in Canberra is gaining momentum and already this past growing season a number of golf clubs have started conversion 
programmes. Even the famous cool-season turf ramps of Parliament House are likely to be a thing of the past following a 
comprehensive landscape review by the Department of Parliamentary Services which has recommended a switch to 
couchgrass over the next couple of years7AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTconverting canberraareas we have and protect some of those exposed couch runners. We™ll let the Poa run up until the Federal Open Amateur in October and after that we™ll be aiming to have 100 per cent couch cover by Christmas Day 2008.fl By no means, however, will converting to couch be a panacea for Federal. With the price of water only going to go one way, the 
club also needs to quickly address its issues 
of water storage. The club currently has plans 
before the ACT Government to construct a 20 
megalitre storage dam on the front nine which 
will be fed by stormwater. Money permitting, another 20M and smaller 3-4M holding pond are also on the cards. fiIt™s all about water for us and drought-proofing the course,fl says Lording. fiThe ACT 
Government has indicated we have to be self-
sufficient by 2013. We™ve done stage one and 
by doing that we will cut our water usage by 
50M. We still have a lot of cool-season tees 
and surrounds so I™m still trying to convince the club to change them across as well. Hopefully that will come in time, but for now at least we 
are on the path to being more sustainable.fl SOWING THE (COUCH) SEED OF CHANGEWhile Federal has taken the plunge and gone down the line-planting path, a number of the 
region™s other golf clubs have preferred a 
gradual transition via seeding. Gold Creek 
Country Club, Queanbeyan and Capital have 
all started their conversion programmes this past growing season, while the likes of Yowani Country Club and Royal Canberra have been increasing populations of couch over the past 
seven years, Yowani using both seeded and 
vegetative means.Up at Gold Creek, superintendent Scott Harris did some trial work with line-planting before opting to go down the seeded path. Unable to see the benefit of closing the course for 4-8 weeks and losing money over one of their busiest periods, Harris has instead opted 
for a two-year couch conversion programme 
which began in November 2007. Harris oversowed the existing ryegrass/Kentucky bluegrass fairways with a mix of 
Transcontinental and Panama seeded couch, 
followed by a topdress of 500 tonnes of sand. 
After a series of trials in January, Harris applied 5ml of Monument to slow down the resident cool-season varieties and given its impressive result will adopt a similar programme come next growing season. With a lot of common couch already in the fairways, Harris is hopeful that by the end of the next growing season there will be close to full coverage on all fairways.Water, of course, was the main reason for making the switch to warm-season and despite not having to worry about storage capacity (the course has a huge 135M dam on site fed by a 200ha catchment area) the club has had to purchase a considerable amount of town water during its 10 year existence. Using anywhere up to 220M per year to irrigate the course (although this past year that 
figure is more likely to be 180M due to a cooler 
summer and the switch to warm-season), Harris says the water bill topped $500,000 over the past three seasons, with the summer of 2006/07 accounting for half of that figure alone. Harris hopes that by converting across 
to couch there will be a resultant 50 per cent 
saving in the long-term. Plenty of groundwork went into the decision to go with Transcontinental and Panama. Harris 
sourced information from company reps and 
also made a number of enquires with US 
superintendents who used the varieties on their courses which operated in similar climatic CONTINUED ON PAGE 12For superintendent Stephen Lording, converting the predominantly Poa annua/ryegrass cool-season fairways to Santa ana couch is just the first step in a long process 
to drought-proof Federal Golf ClubTwelve hectares of Santa ana couch was line-planted over the Christmas/New Year period at Federal Golf Club with excellent results8AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTIntroducing the John Deere Precision Cut Fairway Mowers For the ˜ rst time in fairway mowers, steering cylinders equalize right and left pressure, and take the pressure off 
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dealer for a demo, today.Never wavers down the line.(Kind of like our support)www.JohnDeere.com.auww.JohnDeere.com.auMG-PrMG-PrMG-PrMG-PrMG-PrMG-PrG-MMMGPecisiecisiecisiecisiecisieciseciscon Cuon Cuon Cuon CunCuon Cuon Cuon Cut-Aust-t-Aust-Aust-t-Aust-Aust-Ausstralitralitralitralitralitralian Tuan Tuan Tuan TuanTan Tuan Turf Marf Marf Marf MaMarf Marf Mafnagemnagemnagemnagemnagemnagenageent-4ent-4ent-4ent-4ent-4ent-ent-44-2008-2008-2008-2008-2008-2008200-4122-4122-4122-4122-4122-4-41224122-4045404-404540-4045-4045-4045-40454045313131313331converting canberraWhile golf clubs and turf facilities all around Canberra are making the 
warm-season switch in response to escalating water management issues, for 
Yowani Country Club superintendent Justin Haslam and his staff a transition of a different kind has taken place this past summer. Sure, like other clubs in the region Yowani is slowly transitioning its predominantly ryegrass/
Kentucky blue cool-season fairways across 
to couch, but it is down in the maintenance 
facility where there has been a significant 
changing of the guard.After five years under a contract maintenance regime, at the start of this year the Yowani Board decided to bring its maintenance operations back in-house following a major review. Wanting more control over the funds 
being spent on the course and a desire to instill 
a greater sense of ownership, the club decided 
to dispense with the contract maintenance 
company, bringing to an end what has been 
an interesting period for the club, in particular for Haslam and his staff.fiIt has been a learning curve for all involved,fl reflects Haslam, who has been superintendent at Yowani for the past four years. fiThe Board 
thought there was a significant saving there to be made Πthey were expecting to save 
about a third on maintenance by going down 
the contract maintenance path Πand they 
believed there was a possibility of improved 
management. fiAt the end of the day the club was very brave to try it and it was something 
they probably had to do because they were 
spending a fair amount of money and things 
were getting fairly tight. The trade is obviously 
very skeptical of contractors but I think the 
club did the right thing on giving it a go. They 
thought it was going to work but unfortunately it just wasn™t quite tailored for the club™s particular requirements. fiThe club really wanted to have more control over where the funds were spent on the course and there was also a general feeling of 
unease among the members that they didn™t 
have much control over what went on out on 
the course, whereas now they are showing a 
lot more pride in their course because it™s back 
in their own hands.flHaslam, then a qualified greenkeeper, was one of 11 on staff when the club™s board 
made the decision to go down the contract 
maintenance path in late 2002. Disappointingly, 
as has been seen at some clubs that have gone down the contracting path, the existing 
in-house maintenance staff were the last to find 
out about the significant change to the way the 
course was going to be maintained. fiIt was purely an internal decision which the board made and there wasn™t any consultation 
with the maintenance staff,fl says Haslam. 
fiObviously there were a few disappointed 
people in the club and down in the shed 
we didn™t know what was going on until a 
couple of the Board members came over 
and informed us that the club had made the 
decision to move to contract maintenance. fiThe club wasn™t aware at the time whether the contractor was going to keep us, but we were informed that all machinery assets were going to be auctioned off. As you can imagine 
there was a fair bit of apprehension among 
the boys, more a fear of the unknown. We 
had about 11 staff at that stage, including two 
apprentices. A lot of guys left while some of 
us stuck around and before Christmas the 
contractor came in and talked to us. They offered five positions which those of us left took up. fiWith all the machinery being sold off, there were a lot of equipment changes which 
meant that we had to alter the way we did a Yowani comes  full circleYowani comes 
 full circleThe issue of contract maintenance can be an emotive one for many in the golf course maintenance profession. For Yowani Country Club superintendent Justin Haslam he is in a better position than most to comment on the subject given that his club recently elected to switch back to in-house operations after five years under contract maintenance. Earlier this year Yowani Country Club in Canberra switched back to in-house maintenance operations after five years under contract maintenance. For superintendent Justin Haslam and his staff the transition has meant a big adjustment10AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTlot of things out on the course. We went from using lightweight fairway units to tractor drawn gang units, and instead of outfronts we were using big, 20-foot winged slashers and so on. fiObviously the expectation of the Board was that the standard of the course was going to remain as was, if not improve, but I guess 
to be realistic there was also an understanding 
that there were going to be a certain things weren™t going to be achieved due to the resources that were given to us.fiAll we were specified to do was the day-to-day maintenance and set up of the 
course. There was no extra work like greens reconstruction, tee work, bunker renovations etc. That was all external to the contract and was an additional expense. If the club decided 
they wanted to do that sort of thing then I 
would sit down with them, discuss options and 
then oversee the work of external contractors 
which they would bring in.fl The contract maintenance issue is an emotive one for many involved within the golf course maintenance profession and for a superintendent caught up in the middle of 
the debate it has been a sometimes awkward 
proposition for Haslam. At the end of the day, Haslam remains philosophical about the whole affair. On the 
one hand he can see why the club made the 
decision to go down the contract maintenance avenue and has no ill-feelings towards them. On the other hand, however, his role as 
superintendent basically reverted to one of just straight maintenance which at times was frustrating given that he could see areas of the course which needed attention but could do little about.fiHaving seen both sides, I think people probably overreact a little bit to the whole contract maintenance issue, but I can see 
why there is some cause for concern,fl says 
Haslam. fiAt the end of the day they are out there to make a profit and make savings for clubs. For some clubs it works, for others it doesn™t and in this case it didn™t suit the needs 
of Yowani. fiThings were always busy, which isn™t such a bad thing. Obviously we had to refine 
our work practices and justify more what we were doing out on the course. By all means 
it wasn™t easy, but the expectations weren™t 
too unrealistic. At times it was a little bit 
frustrating as you could see things that needed 
changing.fiI never felt insecure about my job under the contractor and I don™t think any of the other guys were either, but there is definitely a little more certainty about our jobs now that we are 
no longer employed under a contract basis. 
The club always maintained they wanted to 
retain the existing staff in the transition period 
to contract maintenance, so there was a bit of 
job security there, but you always have to be 
cautious and look after your own interests.flHaslam says that he and the staff always maintained a good relationship with the 
contracting company and to the club™s credit the money that it did manage to save during that period was fed back into course improvement works such as bunkers and tees.Making the transition back to an in-house set up has meant a considerable capital outlay for Yowani. In getting the maintenance facility 
stocked again the club has spent in the vicinity 
of $400,000 on everything from fairway mowers, 
triplex mowers right down to spanners and shifters. While having just the bare essentials at the moment, Haslam is hoping the fleet will be expanded over the next few years. All staff working when the contractor was at the club have been re-hired and Haslam has been fortunate to gain an additional staff member in the switch. The change has also meant that Haslam has had to set up new 
accounts with suppliers as well as establish 
new maintenance and works budgets. Considering the significant cost in setting up the maintenance facility again, major works 
at the club have been put on hold for the 
time being, in particular the switch to warm-season varieties which has been happening intermittently over the past four years. Also 
helping to ease things financially this year, the 
club hasn™t needed to purchase town water 
due to good rainfall and cooler temperatures 
over the summer months.fiIt will be an adjustment for everyone in the hand over, but there is a very positive feeling within the club and among staff,fl says Haslam. fiWe are looking forward to seeing the course 
moving forward in the years to come.fl 11AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTRGF™s line of advanced wash water recycling systems have been designed to meet the demanding needs of turf applications.Ensure safe, clean water with:
3Fully integrated Wash Pads, Chemical Handling & Refuel Stations combine to offer total environmental compliance.Call Ecologic now on (07) 5535 1615www.ecologicintl.com.auBringing the environment up to par!NEW TUF MAG AD.indd   128/3/08   12:04:41 PMzones to Canberra. One superintendent had Transcontinental across his entire course.fiI think we are on to a winner,fl says Harris. fiObviously other courses in Canberra have 
gone for a few different varieties, but we™ll see 
how they all fare in the long-term. One of the 
major reasons for going with Transcontinental 
was that it has a similar leaf size as the common couch already existing on site. If we had have gone for a finer leaf couch, like Santa ana, it 
would have looked patchy in areas. I guess 
with anything money was a factor as well.fiSwitching to couch will obviously mean some changes in our maintenance practices as none of us have been involved too much with warm-season grass management, so it™s going to be a learning experience. With the climate in Canberra we are only going to get growth for at least 4-5 months of the season so we will have to seriously look at how we structure our renovation practices. fiIt™s going to take a while to learn about the different aspects of it and there might 
be a few mistakes on the way. But that™s 
the great thing about the industry. We know that some superintendents down in Sydney and Melbourne have been through a similar process and I™m sure if we need some answers or advice we™ll find it. fiThat™s one of the great benefits of going to association days and the Australian Turfgrass 
Conference because they give you the 
opportunity to sit down with people who have 
been or are going through similar changes 
and you can share ideas and implement those which suit your site.flSAFEGUARDING FOR THE FUTUREAcross the other side of town and just a few clicks over the ACT/NSW border, Queanbeyan 
Golf Club superintendent Jason Ferry and assistant Adam Leech have been evaluating the success of their conversion programme which also began in earnest last November. Thirteen fairways (the public access course has five par 3s) were oversown with La Prima couch in the first stage of a three-year plan. All things going well, Ferry is hoping to have 100 
per cent cover on 10 of those fairways by the 
end of the next growing season and as much cover on the remaining three which have a higher percentage of existing kikuyu. fiAt this stage we are pretty happy considering our process and the fact that we have had a cooler summer which hasn™t 
been as favourable for establishing couch by 
seed,fl says Ferry, who has been Queanbeyan 
superintendent for nearly four years. fiBeing 
a public course which is reliant on social and 
corporate days, the key thing for us was to minimise the amount of disruption to play, so we didn™t even consider line-planting. fiWe lowered the fairway units to 8mm and scalped the cool-season grasses right down, 
turned the water off and just seeded straight into it at 100kg/ha. Obviously we had a poor surface there for a period of time, but we 
haven™t needed to topdress and we haven™t 
had the need for preferred lies. fiSure, we do have a few unsightly areas, but the golfers know we are going through a 
transitional period so they are all pretty happy at this stage. The biggest challenge will be the next growing season and removing all the coolŒseason grasses with the aim of getting to 100 per cent coverage.fiWe chose La Prima for its quick germination and fast establishment over some of the other seeded couches as well as the 
fact that it has been developed in the US in a 
similar climate to Canberra.flWater management issues were again at the heart of the decision to switch to couch, although in Queanbeyan™s case the reasoning differs a little from most other clubs in the 
region. The course has no access to town 
water at all and at present relies totally on 
drawing water from the Queanbeyan River. fiWe are pretty lucky in that we can extract water out of the river, but in saying that every 
time we have renewed the license further restrictions are being imposed and I can only see that continuing,fl says Ferry. fiLast 
growing season, even through we were still converting canberraCONTINUED FROM PAGE 9Gold Creek Country Club superintendent Scott Harris has opted for a mix of Transcontinental and Panama seeded couchBeing proactive about educating members before and during the warm-season conversion has paid dividends for Queanbeyan Golf Club 2IC Adam Leech (left) and superintendent Jason Ferry12AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTcool-season, we saved 35M off our license and now that we are converting across to couch we 
can expect about a 50 per cent saving. fiBy converting the fairways we are safeguarding for the future. At the moment we 
are totally reliant on river water and don™t have any access to town water, so if they do cut us off the couch should be able to survive given the annual rainfall. The greens, well that™s 
another issue.flA key component in the conversion to warm-season has been educating the 
members about the changes they will see out on the course. Ferry was working under Lording at Federal when the club converted two of its fairways to Santa ana in 1997 and can recall the shock that some members had when they saw the fairways in winter. As part 
of educating the members, Ferry and Leech 
have encouraged Queanbeyan™s members to 
go over to Federal to see the fairways for 
themselves.fiI think they were a bit shocked at first with the aesthetics, but once they realised the 
surface was perfect it became easier to change 
their thinking,fl says Ferry. fiAs part of the 
education process we have had information 
nights trying to show them that what we are 
doing will have major long-term benefits for the 
club and will far outweigh any negatives. fiWe tried to inform the members and educate them before they saw it on the course. We put out small patches of couch to give them an idea of how it would look and told 
them straight up that it was going get worse 
before it got better. fiThey were generally very receptive and we have found that those who didn™t come 
to the education evenings were the ones that 
had more issues with what we were doing. But being proactive in this area has made a big difference and made the process easier.fl CHANGING THE PARLIAMENTARY LANDSCAPEWith the race to convert well and truly on, perhaps the most public manifestation of the 
change to warm-season turf varieties could 
come in a few years time. By then the most 
photographed patches of turf in the country Πthe tall fescue/Kentucky bluegrass turf ramps running up each corner of Parliament House Πmay well be couch. That is the recommendation to come out of a comprehensive review of the parliamentary landscape by outgoing manager John Lloyd, 
who retires from his post at the end of May after 20 years. Over the past year the 54-year-old has joined together with original Parliament 
House landscape architects Mervyn Dorrough 
and Peter Britz and Parliament House building 
architect Aldo Giurgola to look back at the past 
20 years and to predict the challenges set to 
face the landscape for the next 20 years.fiThe review looks at the issues we have faced over the last 20 years, but more so those that have presented themselves in the past five years,fl explains Lloyd. fiCertainly water restrictions in recent times have had a huge impact on the parliamentary landscape. 
Having to save 35 per cent of our water has 
meant we have had to sacrifice some areas in 
order to properly maintain the rest. fiWe let 2.2 hectares of turf go and the nine hectares of native areas on the periphery of Parliament House have become irrigation-free zones. Obviously that has had a significant impact and we have probably lost around 800 trees and shrubs along with the turf. The water we saved on those areas, however, is 
what has allowed us to maintain the rest of the 
landscape.flThe review was something that Lloyd had wanted to undertake for sometime and with his departure imminent it was the perfect opportunity to sit down to reflect. Being two decades old, what was important when Parliament House was originally designed 20 years ago was not necessarily important or relevant today and as part of the review Lloyd asked himself what were the key differences and, if given the chance to build Parliament House today, what he would do differently. fiThe most obvious thing to come out of it was that we no longer have the luxury of using the amount of water that we once did,fl says 
Lloyd. fiSeventy per cent of our water goes on 
the 10ha of maintained turf while the remaining 30 per cent is used on the 13ha of garden beds and landscape areas. fiThat™s why the key recommendation to come out of the review is to go to couchgrass. By doing so we will cut our water consumption 
from 160M a year to 70M, which will be a 
fantastic result. We™ve done some hydrozoning 
and water modelling on site and that was one of the things we had to do to ensure that the landscape survives. fiAlthough beyond the review™s scope, it also highlighted that one of the key challenges 
will be for Parliament House to secure an 
alternate water source.flThe warm-season conversion is expected to start as early as next season with the four 
hectares of turf outside of Parliamentary Drive (the road that circles Parliament House) set to be converted to couch. As for the cool-season ramps, Lloyd reckons they will be a further 12 months away.To determine which couch variety will best suit the landscape at Parliament House, 
Lloyd and his staff have been trialling eight 
varieties since spring and constantly evaluating 
their performance. In selected areas along Parliament Drive, varieties such as Santa ana, Legend, Grand Prix and Conquest are being put through their paces. Lloyd is also looking at four New Zealand varieties ΠAgriDark, Patriot, Premier and CD Πwhich have been 
brought across the Tasman by Dr Don Loch.fiVisually the ramps will look quite different in winter when the couch goes into dormancy and at this stage we are resisting going with a twoŒgrass policy,™ says Lloyd. fiWe are looking at cutting the amount of maintenance and inputs required as well so the intention is to go solely couch with no oversowing. converting canberraParliament House is currently trialling eight varieties of couch with the view to convert most of their 10 hectares of maintained turf across to warm-season varieties within 
the next two years.14AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTfiWe also have to be mindful of how well it will fit in with the design intent of the building 
and the surrounding landscape. Parliament House isn™t just a standalone building and forms part of the ‚parliamentary triangle™ which has design themes which we have to consider.flWhile the exterior turf surfaces will switch to warm-season, the 17 grassed courtyards 
inside the walls of Parliament House will more than likely remain cool-season. Lloyd says the landscape department will continue to look at using native grasses and alternate species for use in these areas (the department is currently trialling zoysia matrella in one courtyard with 
mixed results), but they have yet to find a 
better species than ryegrass to handle the 
heavy shade issues which persist.As well as water management, the review focused on other aspects of the department 
such as pesticide use, machinery, maintenance inputs, nutrition management and reducing the department™s carbon footprint. It also looked at the landscape as 
a whole and whether 
its design functionality 
met with the needs of modern day Parliament. In some areas Lloyd says he and the staff have been fighting a losing battle to keep them looking good and as a result of the review three areas will be completely overhauled. Not only will this improve the functionality of these areas but will also make them easier to maintain and more sustainable.fiThe review also looked at aspects such as pesticide use,fl continues Lloyd. fiI believe 
that in the next 10 years or so pesticides will 
be severely restricted and we won™t have the 
luxury of using what we have had over the past 
20 years. We have a very active IPM strategy 
in place here already so if the restrictions do 
come into play I don™t think they will impact on 
operations too much.fiThings like fuel becoming more expensive, the types of machinery we run and the types of grasses we put down were 
all included in the review. We 
examined nutrition management 
as well. Having Lake Burley Griffin just down the hill, we are very mindful and conscious that any runoff ends up in there. That is why we are keen to go further down a biological path.fl Although playing a key role in the review, Lloyd unfortunately won™t be around for the next 20 or so years to see whether his predictions are on the money. After two decades in the top job Lloyd will step down as landscape manager at the end of May, handing the reins to Paul Janssens who is set to have a challenging time implementing some of the 
review™s recommendations.The transition of management will be effectively seamless given that Janssens spent 
the first 16 years of his career working at 
Parliament House under Lloyd before serving 
the past six years at the Australian Botanic Gardens where he rose to be head of living collections.John LloydPaul Janssens15AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTconverting canberrafiIt is a planned transition with Paul coming back into the department,fl says Lloyd. fiHe knows a lot of our established programmes 
and maintenance strategies and techniques which has made the transition a lot easier. It will be an interesting time in the coming years and not only will there be the recommendations from the landscape review to implement but he will also be overseeing the installation of a new irrigation system. From a turf management 
perspective, maintenance practices will 
obviously change with the conversion to couch 
and that is something we will have to learn too. Obviously practices that suit couch in Sydney or Brisbane might not work the same here. We will have to learn what the best time is to renovate them and how hard we can hook into them. fiThat™s the sort of things the guys here will have to sit down and look at and apply 
a bit of commonsense and local knowledge. 
But that™s something we have been good at 
over the years. We like to challenge things and 
we never treat anything as gospel. That has been one of the reasons why we have been able to maintain a very successful landscape over time and why I™m confident that we will continue to do so.flIN THE NEXT EDITION–In Volume 10.4 (July-August), Australian Turfgrass Management will continue its 
look at Canberra turf facilities with visits to Manuka Oval and Thoroughbred Park, as well as a full profile on outgoing Parliament House landscape manager John Lloyd.The Parliament House couch trials include four varieties from New Zealand Œ AgriDark, Patriot, Premier and CD16AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTBayer Environmental Science 391Œ393 Tooronga Road  East Hawthorn, Vic. 3123. Ph. (03) 9248 6888   www.bayercropscience.com.au   ABN 87 000 226 022Chipco Rovral GT controls Dollar Spot and a range of other turf diseases within 24 hours Œ and in most cases keeps 
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maintaining a higher bank  of fiavailable Kfl optimum protection against stress  
enhanced cold, heat, drought  and wear tolerance minimised disease activity accelerated disease recovery proven minimal mower pick-upBUILDING WATER EFFICIENCY INTO YOUR GREENSA world of local knowledgeŽ5400 SierraformGT WateringCan ad1   17/12/07   4:01:34 PMcourse constructionI first became interested in greenkeeping through my brother David, who is still involved in the industry as sports ground coordinator with Willoughby Council in Sydney. At 15 I 
started my greenkeeping apprenticeship with 
a contract bowling greenkeeping company 
owned by David Stacker and after completing 
that I contacted Royal Sydney Golf Club 
superintendent John Odell. After many months of persistence he employed me as part of the team responsible for maintaining the club™s tennis, bowls and croquet facilities. The following year I moved 
to the golf course department and over the 
following five years I worked my way through 
the ranks to assistant superintendent, a position 
I held for six enjoyable years. Some people may wonder how I ended up with the position of course superintendent at Four Seasons Golf Club, Mauritius at Anahita and why I decided to say goodbye to Royal Sydney, one of Australia™s elite golf clubs. The answer is quite simple. I was ready for a new challenge and I was very determined to 
progress to the next stage of my career. At Royal Sydney we had just completed the very successful double of the 2006 Australian 
Open followed by the 2007 Australian Women™s 
Open, only three months apart, and I had just 
successfully completed my Masters in Turf 
Management through the University of Sydney 
when the opportunity arose. The challenge that presented me in Mauritius complemented my previous experiences at Royal Sydney with the course™s reconstruction and several other tournament experiences at the highest level. I felt that growing-in a golf course to a playable state, designing internally 
a state-of-the-art maintenance facility, hiring 
and training inexperienced staff members and 
to be part of creating a new Ernie Els-designed 
championship course, while at the same time 
living in a new country, was definitely a big 
enough challenge. FOUR SEASONS SEA CHANGEIt all began 12 months ago when Phillip Knight, a fellow Australian superintendent who is currently working in Mauritius at Le Touessrok Golf Course, contacted John Odell about a possible superintendent position on the island. 
I was very interested, especially when I found 
out that Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts was 
involved in the project and that Ernie Els was 
the course designer. I was lucky enough to be selected for an interview and I travelled twice across the 
Indian Ocean, once for the initial interview and 
secondly with my wife. The second trip was 
mainly to see if my family and I could and really 
wanted to move away from Australia. Following 
several interviews and after many sleepless 
nights my wife and I finally made the decision 
to leave. Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts is a five star-only hotel and resort management 
company. Isadoor Sharp is the founder, 
chairman and chief executive and last year 
formed a partnership with Prince Alwaleed and 
Bill Gates to form Four Seasons as a private 
company. Four Seasons currently manages 75 
hotels (13 of which contain golf courses) in 31 different countries and has a combined work force of nearly 40,000. Here in Mauritius I have a very supporting director of golf Marc Amelot The small tropical island of Mauritius couldn™t be further removed from the inner Sydney suburb of Rose Bay, yet for former Royal Sydney Golf Club assistant superintendent Greg Puckeridge the idyllic Indian Ocean haven is now his new home. Having taken on the superintendent posting at the new Ernie Els-designed Four Seasons Golf Club, Puckeridge has joined a growing number of young enterprising Australian turf managers to showcase their skills on the international stage. A change  of seasonsA change 
 of seasons18AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTBY GREG PUCKERIDGEand general manager Andrew Harrison which makes life so much easier. Phillip Knight and his family welcomed me to Mauritius as any other Australian would 
with great hospitality and friendship and they 
have since been a great help to my family 
and I during the settling in process. Over the last year my wife Blake and son Oscar have adapted well to the change, with my wife participating in many expatriate social activities 
while my two-year-old has now started to 
speak both French and English.Mauritius is an island situated east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. It covers 
1865 square kilometres with 330km of coastline 
almost entirely surrounded by coral reefs. Population exceeds 1.2 million with a real multicultural mix of Indians, Africans, Chinese and Europeans. Mauritius has a subtropical climate with two seasons Πwinter and summer. In summer, on the east coast, the temperature 
varies from 25-33 degrees with consistently 
high humidity and an average rainfall of 1400 
mm per year.  The Four Seasons Golf Club is part of a new multi-million dollar residential and hotel 
development on the east coast of Mauritius. 
The Mauritian Government has allowed foreign investors to purchase land and luxury villas along the coastline through the Integrated 
Resort Scheme (IRS). The acquisition of a villa 
for residential purposes under the scheme will 
allow foreigners to reside in Mauritius as long 
as they hold the property. The course is an Ernie Els-designed 18-hole, par 72 championship layout measuring 6828 
metres, which includes a putting and chipping 
green and a 320-metre driving range. The club 
also incorporates a high tech golfing academy with 60 fully equipped GPS golf carts and the clubhouse includes a 90-seat restaurant, pro Four Seasons Golf Club is located on the east coast of Mauritius. Part of the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts company, it is now home to former Royal Sydney assistant superintendent Greg PuckeridgeGreg Puckeridge with Four Seasons designer and South 
African great Ernie Els19AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTcourse constructionshop and fitness centre that overlooks the 18th green and Mauritian coastline. The golf course stretches over six kilometres along the coastline, including six 
holes with ocean views. There are 13 parcels of land planned for development throughout the Anahita site all of which are set along the perimeters of the golf course. Two of these have been sold and are under construction 
with a third starting construction shortly. The 213-hectare site was formerly owned by a Mauritian family and used as an intensive 
deer farm. Other previous uses for the site included the selling of fence poles carved out of the Eucalyptus spp. forest which is still found today densely separating holes 11 through 15. Beyond the property and found throughout the island is sugar cane which is still the major commodity for Mauritius. Tourism is definitely 
being targeted as one of the country™s main 
income earners, even more so now with the 
introduction of the IRS and the possibility of future developments. Another four golf courses are in the pipeline which, if developed, may 
turn Mauritius into a major golfing destination 
in the years to come.  The property owners employed a project management company from South Africa 
to oversee all works carried out. Ernie Els 
Design rough shaped the course and also 
had a construction coordinator on site during the construction phase. A South African and Mauritian golf course and construction company then carried out all the final construction works and shaping. My role with Four Seasons is to manage the golf course, including the landscaping 
for ownership, once construction has been complete. When a section of the course was 
constructed, it was my role to assess the workmanship separately from the project managers and Ernie Els Design and then start takeover of operations from the contractors once the work had been passed for practical completion. In the first months after arriving I was busy compiling a complete list of workshop tools 
and golf course machinery. Walking the course 
in full blown construction was quite difficult 
when trying to get a feel for what machinery should be purchased. The solution to this was talking to the Ernie Els Design team and the 
agronomist to find out how the course was 
originally designed to be played and then to 
match the machinery to the desired outcome. Once the machinery list was approved, meeting the many suppliers then followed. 
Trying to find out whom and how things would 
arrive on the island for the best possible price, while trying to orchestrate this in conjunction with how the course was developing knowing that delivery would take up to 12 weeks, it was a very stressful, frustrating yet rewarding time.Our fleet of machinery, delivered on time, consists mainly of Toro machines. All the spare 
parts for the machines were forecasted a year in advance and purchased prior to assist with 
lowering the costs on delivery freight charges.         I have also designed the internal set up of the maintenance facility getting quotations 
for all the office furniture, fittings, equipment, lockers, storage shelving etc as well as organising all safety equipment. During this period Four Seasons sent the director of human resources from Singapore to 
train me on the Four Seasons staff recruitment 
method. This was a great learning curve 
and it gave me the tools to ask the right questions, probe for the answers and hopefully find the correct person to suit the position. 
After interviewing over 300 applicants for 46 
positions, many through translation, I finished 
up with plenty of experience and a lot of 
patience.COURSE CONSTRUCTIONThe entire course has been shaped with the 
native soil excavated on site and spread to a 
variant depth. This native soil has then been 
capped with 0.6mm inert crushed basalt rock 
and spread on the fairways and roughs to a depth of 150mm.  The greens have been built with a 90/10 inert crushed basalt rock and coco peat mix to a sand specification of 0.1mm and spread to a 
depth of 300mm over a 100mm layer of 4-6mm 
gravel with flat pipe drainage installed below. 
The tees have the 0.1mm inert crushed basalt 
rock spread to a depth of about 150mm over 
the native soil sub-base which has a one per cent fall to a centre drainage line. The water used on site is fairly pure Πlow in salts, slightly high in bicarbonate and with a 
near neutral pH. The irrigation system is Rain Bird and we are lucky enough to have three 
2500-litre fertigation units that we have just 
started to experiment with.Turf varieties are Tifdwarf on the greens, Tifway 419 on tees, fairways and roughs, and 
in the landscape areas completely separated The par 3 8th is just one of a number of holes which have spectacular views of the Indian OceanAs well as ocean views, a number of holes have the 
island™s mountainous interior as a stunning backdrop20AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTfrom the course is a mixture of buffalo (Stenotaphrum secundatum) and African stargrass (Cynodon nlemfuensis). My transition from working on bentgrass in Sydney to Tifdwarf greens here in Mauritius has been very enjoyable. I™ve really liked experimenting with this grass to see how it responds to different management techniques and my bowling greenkeeping background has definitely helped in this regard. On the greens we have settled on a programme of weekly grooming, set at even 
heights, lightly foliar feeding and dusting every three weeks, weather permitting. We are currently cutting the greens daily with walkers set at 3.5mm and now that we have full coverage we have started to experiment 
with Primo Maxx (trinexapac-ethyl) at different 
rates. These applications have definitely pulled 
back the growth giving us a reduced amount of 
clippings, tightened up the playing surface and 
has ensured that the greens play consistently 
throughout the day. We roll the greens three times a week and so far they are responding and playing very well with these practices.The greens are perched up and convex to shed excess water and have subtle movement. The greens surrounds are steep and mown 
low, so if you miss the green you have a very 
tricky recovery shot. There are five sets of tees 
on each hole cut square with walk-behind 
mowers every second day which are set at a 
present height of 11mm. These mowers also 
cut a single apron around the greens.The fairways are presently cut at 15mm and everywhere else is mown to a rough height of 51mm which is pleasant for resort play. I am looking forward to our first major renovation where we can further improve the playing 
surfaces and decrease cutting heights.         Disease pressures on the course have been quite minimal in comparison to working 
on bentgrass at Royal Sydney. Insect damage 
has been my biggest problem with sod 
webworm and cutworm being the major pests, while crabgrass and euphorbia are the major weeds we have to contend with. The transition from working on bentgrass greens at Royal Sydney to Tifdwarf greens at 
Four Seasons has been an enjoyable challenge for Puckeridge21AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTThe best safety nets in the worldDesigned, engineered and built right here in AustraliaCountry Club International are Australia™s most experienced  providers of quality high safety screens for golf courses. Using the latest technology and netting from USA combined with over 30 years of safety screen engineering knowledge in Australia we can now provide the best solutions for any situation that will look as good as they work. Pictured:  Ryde  Parramatta  Golf  Club  Œ  Sydney.  At  30m  this  is  the  highest  engineered  fence  in  Australia fiSupplying the best. Nothing lessfl. FREECALL  1300  138804  anywhere  in  Australia  for  no  obligation  advice  on  design  and  costcourse constructionThe purchasing of pesticides here at times can be quite frustrating. You have enough selection to get by, but it is limited compared 
to what is available in Australia. Sadly, some of the latest pesticides have not been passed for use by the local authorities here but hopefully this will change over time. Several things that you get plenty of practice at here include searching for available pesticide products and working out rates 
that are applicable for turf, and forecasting 
your maintenance, watering and fertiliser 
requirements six months in advance because 
of the need to have everything shipped in.UNIQUE CHALLENGESTo play the course is a real experience. The 
fairways are wide and you feel that there is 
plenty of space to land your ball. Adding to 
the challenge are the 73 bunkers strategically 
place around the course, all deep with very 
steep grassed faces. The course takes you 
on a journey Πone minute you are facing breathtaking views of the mountains and the next you are overlooking the Indian Ocean. Along the way there are various plant types such as palms, Bauhinia, Casuarina 
and Eucalypts with a common dry rock wall 
theme found throughout. The three finishing holes, in particular, are spectacular and head back along the coastline to the Mauritian-style thatched roof clubhouse.       Each morning I address the staff on current issues and works to be carried out. About 70 per cent of my staff do not speak or understand English therefore my assistant Kiran Greedarry has become a very good 
translator. My management team and key 
personnel all speak and understand English 
and they relay all my intended messages onto the rest of the staff.  Looking back, I have many funny stories of how things get lost in translation. When you 
are working at a new site and trying to get set up you don™t always have available certain tools to carry out particular jobs and you really have to think outside the square to get the job done. I remember one particular time when we were fertilising the 10th fairway for the first time with our new Vicon spreader. We had no 
marking stakes available to ensure that we 
received an even application so I decided to 
get two staff members and stand them at either 
end of the fairway, up wind of course.I explained to the Vicon operator that I wanted him to drive down the fairway and throw the fertiliser back to where the staff member was standing. I told the staff member that when the operator got close, to run out of 
the way so as not to get hit with any fertiliser.Following these instructions the Vicon operator took off down the fairway towards 
his colleague, then all of a sudden starts 
heading straight for him. To my astonishment 
his colleague ran off down the fairway a good 
80 metres with the Vicon operator hot on his heels! It wasn™t until my uncontrollable shouting and waving caught their attention that 
they both decided to stop. It would have been 
pretty funny to see how long this application 
method would have gone on for, but then 
again I couldn™t afford to waste the fertiliser.As you can imagine, the challenges that face you when working abroad in comparison 
to Australia are completely different. Primarily, I have learnt to have a lot more patience. When I 
was back home I took for granted having every 
available resource at your fingertips and simply 
giving out instructions to staff was much easier 
when everyone could speak your language. Working with completely inexperienced and unskilled staff members at first was very daunting, but over time with constant training and supervision it gets easier and everyone, no matter who they are, has something positive to 
contribute. People may wonder does environmental management or OH&S change when you work abroad. My answer to this would be no and nor should it. All I™ve done is taken the years of training from Australia and Royal Sydney and adopted them here. Basically it™s all about showing duty of care and not putting the environment or your fellow 
worker at risk. As an aside we and several other 
Four Seasons-operated courses are preparing 
to embark on the implementation of the e-par 
system, which should be a great experience for all involved. I think the skills I™ve learnt since taking on this position have been invaluable for my personal growth. To now know that you 
can combine all different aspects needed 
to successfully open and run a golf course 
from the beginning, and knowing that every 
decision you make is riding on your shoulders, 
gives you much more confidence to approach 
the next problem that faces you.   The course continues to progress well and is improving daily. We took over from the 
contractors at different stages, first starting on 
29 October, 2007 and we successfully had our 
soft opening recently on 8 March, 2008. I was 
very pleased with what we had achieved in 
such a short period of time, but by no means is the course complete and we are now focused on getting the course up for its official opening in October 2008.  Spot the Aussie! Puckeridge has a hand-picked staff of 46 at Four SeasonsWish you were here? The 4th green at Four Seasons22AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTInstall Con˜dence.® Install Rain Bird® Pump Stations.Smart PumpŽ reduces water consumption and power costs while ensuring the best possible growing conditions on your golf course. Exclusively from Rain Bird,® Smart Pump continuously compares pump station performance and irrigation demand. It will even shut the system down if a break is sensed.  Consult with your Rain Bird Golf Distributor about all the water  and cost saving advantages of a Rain Bird Pump Station.Rain Bird Australia10 Mareno Rd, Tullamarine, Vic, 3043.   Freecall: 1800 424 044   Freefax: 1800 424 050Contact: Wayne Brown (0419 669 679)  Troy Barbour (Vic, WA, SA, Tas 0409 123 191)  Greg Smith (NSW, QLD 0438 503 070)Dale Sta˜ord (Technical Support 0409 115 000)  Scott Johnstone (Pump Station Sales 0437 078 677)www.rainbird.com.au   Email: info@rainbird.com.au© 2008 Rain Bird CorporationOnly Rain Bird® Smart PumpŽ Provides  Real-Time Communication With Your Pump StationRESERVOIRTO ROTORSus tourEarly in 2007 I was contacted by Chris Simpson, one of our local Toro irrigation 
representatives in Adelaide, who offered a wonderful opportunity to travel to the USA 
and take part in Toro™s Turf Professionals Meeting.  The meeting brings together a group of 13 superintendents from around the 
world, giving them the opportunity to meet 
and talk to Toro senior managers, engineers, 
manufacturing and test staff, as well as visiting 
the company™s plants.  With the support of the committee and management of The Grange, I gratefully accepted the opportunity, and contacted a fellow Australian delegate, well-known and highly 
respected Avondale Golf Club superintendent 
David Warwick. David proceeded to make an 
already unbelievable trip even more so by 
offering me a chance to accompany him for 
a further week visiting courses in Georgia and South Carolina, including of course Augusta National.  After nearly 18 hours in the air, we arrived in Minneapolis a couple of days prior to the meeting. After settling in and meeting up with 
some of the other delegates, we travelled to a 
local public golf course called The Wilds for a 
round of golf. It certainly lived up to its name 
as it turned on one of the windiest days I think 
I have ever played golf in.  The Wilds is rated as one of the top public courses in the area and is designed by Tom 
Weiskoph.  It had bentgrass fairways and 
greens as well as extensive rye roughs and 
surrounds.  The course is covered by 4-6 feet of snow during the winter months, which was quite hard to picture as we played.  The Turf Professionals Meeting kicked off on the evening of 11 September. The meeting 
brought together a group that consisted of 
four Australians (one working in Kuwait), a 
South African (working in Dubai), two English 
superintendents, a New Zealander (working in Vietnam), as well as superintendents from Germany, Japan, Spain, France and Canada.  On the first full day we visited Toro™s Corporate Headquarters in Lyndale, 
Minneapolis. We toured areas such as 
industrial design, the agronomic laboratory 
and the engineering department as well as the extensive test rooms where every imaginable test is carried out on new machines. One of these rooms was lined with cardboard so objects could be introduced to cutting units to measure the direction and velocity of 
discharge.The following day we headed to the Toro manufacturing facility in Shakopee. There was 
some substantial equipment in this plant and 
parts are tested exhaustively for faults with state-of-the-art laser technology. Considering 
the amount of parts manufactured, the minimal 
waste material generated was astonishing.  Returning to Lyndale we took part in a research and development session on fairway mowers and viewed some more of the prototype turf machinery that the company is 
developing.  Irrigation was also on the agenda with a field demonstration of some new sprinkler 
heads and other hardware items, as well as 
presentations on the improvements that have 
been made in design and testing of new sprinklers and nozzles.    On Friday we journeyed to Toro™s main commercial assembly plant in Tomah, Wisconsin. The plant is massive with countless 
fabrication and manufacturing lines throughout 
the building. We saw a great variety of machines 
being assembled including Workman 3300s, walk-behind greens mowers, triplex mowers, Sidewinders, hydraulic trail gangs, lightweight fairway mowers and large dedicated spray units.  The week ended with the Toro ‚Ryder Cup™ which was played at another highly rated Minneapolis public golf course, ‚The 
Legends™.  Once again it was grassed with 
cool-season grasses (bent, ryes and fescues) 
and presented very well.  Designed by a local Southern styleSouthern styleIn September 2007, The Grange Golf Club superintendent Richard James was hand-picked by Toro to attend its Turf Professionals Meeting in the USA. After spending a week touring Toro™s corporate and manufacturing facilities, James hooked up with fellow delegate and Australian superintendent David Warwick to journey to Georgia and South Carolina where they visited some of the region™s finest golf courses.  24AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTBY RICHARD JAMESarchitect it was a very enjoyable course to play despite enduring an early morning frost delay 
due to the near freezing temperatures.Being a public golf course, the majority of play is via golf carts.  The carts here were 
all equipped with GPS technology including a 
menu for the halfway hut which enabled you to 
order your ‚burger and fries™ on the 9th tee and 
pick it up when you walked off the 9th green!After an enjoyable week of networking and touring Toro™s facilities, David and I 
flew to Atlanta, Georgia where we were met 
by Bill Fishburne who was to be our guide 
and chauffeur for the week ahead.  Bill was 
involved in the development of sub-surface 
aeration units as well as the heating and 
cooling systems used by a lot of the golf clubs in the area.  Being heavily involved in the local industry, Bill was able to facilitate a number of visits to clubs in the area and what follows are some of the more memorable visits. RIVERMONT COUNTRY CLUB ΠATLANTA, GEORGIARivermont is a family owned and operated golf club that had not long ago completed a 
rebuild of all the greens and surrounds.  The new greens had some very severe contouring 
on them which seemed to limit pin placements.  
The course was very heavily treed, with some 
greens completely sheltered, necessitating the 
use of large fans to cool the turf during the 
extreme heat of summer. Such a practice is almost universal throughout all the courses we were to see.Course superintendent Mark Hoban was previously employed by the Standard Club and was introducing native plantings to his new 
course with impressive results. An interesting 
thing that I hadn™t seen before was the use of a 
small woven basket on top of the pin instead of a flag, a traditional practice in some areas.CUSCOWILLA GOLF CLUB ΠEATONTON, GEORGIASituated mid-way between Atlanta and Augusta, Cuscowilla Golf Club is a Ben Crenshaw-
designed course that was opened in 1997.  The superintendent had sodded in zoysia 
collars around his Crenshaw bent greens as a 
buffer to control the 419 Bermuda encroaching 
into the green surface.  While we didn™t see much of the course or talk to the superintendent, Cuscowilla was a wonderfully natural looking course with interesting bunkering.  There was a lot of housing surrounding this and other courses that we visited, as there is in Australia.  However, this course was unique from many others in that the colour schemes of the 
houses matched the surrounding environment.  
Houses bordering the course were of an ‚earthy™ colour, matching the colour of the bunker sand which made them less imposing 
on the visual aspect of the course.PEACHTREE GOLF CLUB ΠATLANTA, GEORGIADesigned by Robert Trent Jones and opened The stunning second hole at Peachtree Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia. Peachtree was one of a number of courses in Georgia and South Carolina visited by Australian 
superintendents Richard James and David Warwick following last year™s Toro Turf Professionals meetingRivermont Country Club™s unique greenside bunkering25AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTus tourin 1948, Peachtree lays claim to be the home of Bobby Jones in his twilight years.  It is said 
that Jones and his friends became frustrated 
by the slow play at East Lake and founded Peachtree, decreeing that it never be too busy that you couldn™t just turn up and get a tee 
time. That is why they struggle through about 
30 rounds of golf per week!The fairways had recently been re-sodded with zoysia and even though they were presented in superb condition I didn™t believe they offered the same quality surface as Santa ana mown at the same height.  Peachtree had A1 greens which were a little thin due to the extreme summer weather conditions that had just been endured.  Once again, extensive use of fans to cool greens takes place all summer.Peachtree is built on a wonderful piece of land, perfectly suited for a golf course and was 
presented in sensational condition (see main 
photo pg 24). The dusting regime at Peachtree 
used kiln-dried sand applied to the greens via a walk-behind spreader on a weekly basis. One thing that stood out was the minimal amount of 
course furniture.  What furniture there was is 
constructed from natural timbers, which fitted 
in very well across the course.  The zoysia surrounding the greens is an interesting prospect for the many golf clubs 
that are looking for an answer to controlling 
couch encroachment in bentgrass greens.  
There were areas at Peachtree where very good chemical control of couch in zoysia was being achieved, giving hope that a collar of 
zoysia could provide some control.AUGUSTA NATIONAL GOLF CLUB ΠAUGUSTA, GEORGIAWithout doubt one of the highlights of the trip, our visit to Augusta was a wonderful 
experience where we got to spend two hours 
with superintendent Brad Owen touring the 
facilities and golf course.  After clearing security and receiving our guest passes, we moved into the maintenance facility, complete with reception area and four receptionists.  There was a lot of activity happening throughout the 
property, with construction of a new practice 
facility, new tournament entrance gates and 
general maintenance taking place.Augusta was closed for play at the time of our visit.  They were about to begin overseeding the course with ryegrass, a process that involves scalping the 419 Bermuda surfaces down to dirt and seeding.  All of the couch 
surfaces were maintained at about 25mm over 
the summer, with no fairway shapes evident.  
There is no rough at Augusta, rather it is called ‚second cut™.  All of the bunkers on the course were lined with plastic to prevent contamination of the sand during course closure and to 
prevent any seed from the oversowing of 
fairways germinating in the sand.The A1 greens had one run of sod replaced around the perimeter to control any couch 
encroachment, with Poa control consisting of 
some minor handweeding and replacement 
of the green if deemed necessary.  There are heating and cooling systems under seven of the greens, with more installations to be carried out in the future.  Some ryegrass from the previous year™s oversowing was still 
evident on the collar of the 12th green, which 
Brad said would not have survived the summer 
had it not been for the cooling system under 
the green. All greens have ‚shade tents™ erected over them during the heat of summer, which accounts for a 10-12 degree Fahrenheit temperature drop compared to the outside 
temperature, with the fans surrounding all 
greens accounting for an additional 10-12 
degree drop.  As we stood on the rear of the 
12th green, which is a lot smaller than it looks 
on TV, Brad put in a work order to string up a 
set of hydroponic lights that are used on the 
back half of the green during winter to assist growth.  One extreme to the other!Groundstaff numbers 38 all year round, which swells to 120 for the Masters.  On top of the 38 groundstaff, there is 20 landscape 
staff under the direction of a landscape 
superintendent that work from the same facility 
and is responsible for the lawns and gardens 
throughout the property. Augusta has its own Houses surrounding Cuscowilla Golf Club in Georgia have the same earthy colour as the bunker sand to blend into the golf course surroundsAugusta National™s 12th green in autumn mode. All bunkers are covered by plastic lining to prevent sand being contaminated 
during the oversowing process26AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTlaboratory to carry out disease diagnosis and a variety of other tests, and has extensive 
weather monitoring equipment including 
lightning detection.  All of the major trees have 
lightning protection, consisting of a cable that runs to earth along the height of the tree.  We certainly experienced golf course maintenance at a different level at Augusta 
National. Not many golf clubs would install Subair aeration throughout their spectator 
crosswalks to keep them as pristine as the 
fairway surfaces during tournaments, however, Brad did point out that like every club he had to work to a budget.CHAMPIONS RETREAT ΠAUGUSTA, GEORGIAChampions Retreat is a 27-hole facility just outside of Augusta, with nine holes designed 
by Arnold Palmer (The Island Nine), nine holes by Jack Nicklaus (The Bluff Course) and nine holes by Gary Player (The Creek Course).  Coming from Augusta National to this course was an experience as we drove into what will remain the worst golf course 
maintenance facility I am likely to see. The 
staff have been operating out of a series of 
temporary structures and dilapidated farm buildings while the owner decides where he wants to build a permanent structure.Considering the state of the sheds, the superintendent and his staff were doing a wonderful job to present such well conditioned 
golf courses.  The 419 Bermuda fairways, tees 
and green surrounds were in great condition, 
while the A1 greens were recovering from a hot 
and humid summer.  Making matters worse was the fact that the greens were originally Tifeagle, which 
were simply sprayed out and oversown with bentgrass in an attempt to achieve bent putting greens. Understandably this has created a 
massive headache for staff trying to control 
ever increasing couch populations in the 
greens.SAGE VALLEY GOLF CLUB ΠGRANITEVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINASage Valley is an 18-hole private and exclusive 
golf course with a three-hole practice facility 
designed by Tom Fazio. Opened in 2001, it 
is rumored that the owner became frustrated 
by his unsuccessful attempts to join Augusta National so got together investors and built his own ‚Augusta™.  27AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTExclusive Australian Distributorwww.toro.com.auFor more information speak with your local Toro representative.For Customer Service call 1800 356 372HERO/TOR1944JWE™RE ON YOUR TURF.MAKING LIFE EASIERTHE FORMULA FOR TOP-NOTCH TURF BEGINS WITH THE MH-400 MATERIAL HANDLER AND THE PP-180 TOP DRESSER. TOP DRESS ALL YOUR  GREENS IN UNDER TWO HOURS USING THIS UNBEATABLE COMBINATION.WWW.TYCROPTURF.COMus tourThere are only about 200 members with playing rights at Sage Valley, which is a very impressive golf course consisting of 419 
Bermuda fairways, 328 tees and surrounds and 
A1 greens, which had only just been scarified.  Staff were busy oversowing the entire course at the time of our visit, making the most of the four-week annual course closure.  A massive maintenance facility full of brand new Jacobsen machinery greeted us on our arrival. The club turns over $US1million of turf 
equipment annually under a lease agreement, 
and seemed to have more equipment than the full-time staff of 22 could use.  Fairways were mown with triplex greens mowers, and 
all rough, a la Augusta, was ‚second cut™ kept 
trim with Tri-king cylinder mowers.PALMETTO GOLF CLUB ΠAIKEN, SOUTH CAROLINAPalmetto Golf Club, established in 1892, is one of the oldest operating golf clubs in the 
USA still in its original location.  Starting as a 
course with sand greens, Dr Alistair McKenzie 
is credited with the original layout of the first grass greens on the course in 1932, around the same time that he was finishing at Augusta National.  It is a private club with a wonderful clubhouse that is full of character and exactly what you™d expect to see in the South.The club had just finished rebuilding all of the greens and bunkers on the course, 
resodding greens in Bermuda.  The bunkering 
was fantastic, with the superintendent sourcing 
as many old photos, sketches and plans of the course as he could to use as a base for the reshaping and positioning of the new 
bunkers. There were some quirks in the layout 
of the course that were maintained during the 
rebuild, including playing your tee shot on a 
hole directly over the previous green.  AUGUSTA COUNTRY CLUB ΠAUGUSTA, GEORGIASituated next to Augusta National, Augusta 
Country Club is a Donald Ross design that 
maintains a lot of original Ross features 
including square style bunkering with steep 
grass faces. Many greens were also square with distinct plateaus offering pin spots and one famous ‚punchbowl™ green where all sides feed into the middle of about 5-6 feet.  The course has 419 Bermuda fairways and bentgrass greens and collars, with couch encroachment an issue.  As with all of the 
courses we saw throughout the USA, tees were square. There were also mown straight 
lines from tee to fairway through the carry, 
commonly known as ‚pig trails™, which did not 
add to the look of the course. On the whole 
this was a very nice course, with some very 
attractive holes.THE CREEK CLUB ΠGREENSBORO, GEORGIAOn the final day of our trip, we were looking for a couple of courses to visit to fill in some time before our departure. Bill mentioned a club on the way to Atlanta and proceeded to ring the superintendent to make a time to see him.  
After getting the okay we drove through the 
area to see what we could see from the road. 
It turned out to be one of the most amazing 
courses that I think I will ever see.  Designed by American architect Jim Engh, The Creek Club is a course with some amazing 
undulations that really have to be seen to be 
believed. It is situated on a property known as 
Reynolds Plantation, which houses five golf 
courses designed by such architects as Fazio, 
Nicklaus and Rees Jones.  The Creek Club makes the most of natural undulations, creeks and ravines throughout 
the course to create a visually spectacular 
layout. The zoysia fairways are surrounded by couch roughs to create wonderful definition that blends in with the natural undulations.  It 
is a course that you could play 100 times over 
and not have the same shot twice, even more 
so on the 18th where you could find yourself 
playing to one of three greens constructed for 
the hole.   ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSI would like to thank the committee and 
management of The Grange Golf Club and 
Toro for the chance to participate in such 
an educational and enjoyable trip. Also to 
David Warwick for inviting me to join him in 
visiting some incredible golf courses, and to Bill Fishburne who without his organisation and generosity we would never have seen so many 
fine golf establishments.The Creek Club in Georgia makes full use of the natural undulations to produce a spectacular layoutPalmetto Golf Club is one of the oldest operating clubs in the US28AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTFORTIRC3530 ATM LightningAd .indd   128/3/08   4:22:01 PMinternshipsfiJust wait until you get to summer and start aerifying. You won™t believe 
it. Every Monday you™ll be punching holes in something.fl After witnessing my first renovation at The Breakers Ocean Course in Palm Beach, 
Florida, I knew those words from fellow Aussie 
and former Breakers intern Stuart Smith were 
no exaggeration. In a single day I had seen 
all greens and tees cored (by side ejects), cleaned off by hand, topdressed, dragged off, double rolled, dragged off again, fertilised 
and watered in. Fairways were sliced and 
high traffic areas in the rough had also been 
cored. The manpower involved and the level 
of organisation required were beyond anything 
else I had experienced before. Then the superintendent informed me that the following day they would go back and 
run solid tines over the greens and give them another roll! It was clear that every day would bring new experiences and information. Not for the first time the thought crossed my mind, fiHow did I end up here?flThe answer to that began in Brisbane on the Monday of the 2006 Australian Turfgrass Conference. I had been lucky enough to win 
the Graduate of the Year Award, sponsored 
by Toro Australia, and shortly after collecting the award Cameron Russell informed me that I had won an eight-week all expenses paid trip 
to the USA where I would attend the Winter 
School for Turf Managers at the University of 
Massachusetts. Later that day I visited the trade exhibition floor and met with Mike O™Keeffe, programme 
manager of the Ohio State Program. I figured 
that if I was headed to the US why not extend the trip to include some practical hands-on experience of American turf management 
practices to go along with the theory? The next several months became a blur of emails, forms, visa interviews and travel and 
accommodation arrangements. In December 2006 I completed my apprenticeship at Yamba Golf and Country Club under superintendent 
Andrew Smith, said goodbye to friends and 
family and flew out to America and whatever 
adventures lay ahead.UMASS WINTER SCHOOLI arrived at Amherst, Massachusetts and was 
surprised to find clear sunshine and no snow 
on the ground. Where was the brutal New England winter I had heard so much about? A few days later I found out. Temperatures In 2006, Yamba Golf Club™s Sean Kinsley created a little slice of AGCSA history by becoming the oldest recipient of the Graduate of the Year Award. The award literally opened up the turf management world to the aspiring greenkeeper who went on to spend a year living and working abroad in the United States.Graduating with honoursGraduating with honours30AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTBY SEAN KINSLEYdropped to around -5 degrees C (the daily maximum!) and snow storms moved in. Suddenly the north coast of NSW seemed a long way away.For the next seven weeks I attended classes at the Winter School for Turf Managers. 
The school has been running for over 75 years 
and is quite highly regarded within the US turf 
industry. It is scheduled for that time of the year in the north east when supers, assistants, and other senior personnel can get away from their snow-bound courses and take in some vocational training.The workload was intense, with classes running from 8am to 5pm five days a week. Lectures covered a wide range of topics: 
turfgrass management, soil science, pest 
and disease control, turf nutrition, weed 
management, irrigation, drainage, turfgrass 
calculations, tree management, personnel and 
finance, and golf course design. Regional agronomists with the USGA and several golf course superintendents 
also appeared to give guest seminars and 
workshops. Assignments and exams were a 
continual part of the programme and every 
day you faced a quiz or two, not all of them 
announced in advance.The material was very interesting and while some of it was new to me (I had not come across the need for snow mould control at Yamba for example) I found that my TAFE courses back home stood up quite well. The most rewarding thing was undoubtedly the friendships made and listening to stories 
about golf course management from people with backgrounds so different from mine. Most 
students came from the New England states 
but there were also students from England, 
Slovenia, Canada and the Czech Republic. My best moment came late one afternoon during a seminar on fertiliser trials. The lecturer 
had a slide on show featuring his pocket 
knife stuck in the ground for scale. Drawing 
on my best Hoges accent I drawled, fiThat™s not a knife!fl Mayhem ensued, and I at least ensured that the class remained awake for the 
remainder of the session.THE BREAKERS OF PALM BEACH Once the winter school concluded in late 
February and following completion of my 
orientation at the Ohio State University (OSU) campus in Columbus, Ohio (the university football stadium holds more people than the MCG!), I made my way to Florida to take up my placement with The Breakers Hotel and Resort.The Breakers is a high end resort facility located in Palm Beach, Florida. Established in 
1896, it is one of America™s legendary resort 
destinations. With around 2300 full time staff 
(speaking over 56 different languages) it offers 
around 560 guestrooms, a luxury spa and 
fitness centre, a beach club with four pools 
and a half mile private beach, 10 tennis courts, 
eight restaurants, and on site retail boutiques. It is also home to two 18-hole championship golf courses.The Ocean Course (located on-site at the hotel) is Florida™s oldest 18-hole golf course, 
redesigned by Brian Silva in 2000. The Breakers 
Rees Jones Course was reconstructed in 2004 
to a design by the renowned architect. At 7100 
yards, par 72, it is the more demanding of 
the two layouts and is located 10 miles west of the main hotel in the gated Breakers West residential development in West Palm Beach. It would be the site on which nearly all of The Breakers Resort in Florida would be home for Sean Kinsley during his Ohio State Program placement. Pictured is the 8th green complex on the Rees Jones CourseAs well as attending the University of Massachusetts Winter School for Turf Managers, 
Kinsley also had the opportunity to visit Toro™s American irrigation headquarters31AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTCreeping BentgrassThe Masters TouchEXCELLENT YEAR ROUND PERFORMANCEUNIFORM PUTTING SURFACEEXCELLENT WEAR TOLERANCEREDUCED FUNGICIDE REQUIREMENT
FINE LEAF TEXTUREREDUCED BALL MARKSinternshipsmy internship would occur. Both courses run Tifway 419 fairways and roughs, with Tifeagle greens. The Rees Jones course features seashore paspalum on its tees.Head golf course superintendent Mark Reid oversees both courses (he will be known to some readers as the son of retired Victorian 
superintendent Billy Reid) and passed through 
the OSU programme himself some 12 years ago. Under he and Rees Jones superintendent Brad Nelson, I was about to get my first taste of American turf management practices.Arriving in March meant that my internship began just as the golf season in Florida 
was beginning to wind down. As summer 
approaches most members return north to 
escape the heat and humidity, leaving the golf 
courses in the area relatively empty. My first 
few weeks were spent familiarising myself with 
the course and crew (25 full-time with 10 or so casuals added during the busiest time of the summer) and learning the ropes in terms of both my basic duties as an equipment operator and observing how daily and weekly cultural programmes were organised.Greens were dusted (by walk-behind rotary spreaders) and foliar fed (by spray hawk) on 
a weekly basis, with a granular application 
of slightly slower release nutrients applied every three weeks or so. Total greens nitrogen applied over the year was in the order of 8-8.5 lbs of N per 1000ft.sq. Other superintendents in the area ran as low as six, some as high as 12-13. This might be considered a bit high by 
Australian standards but reflects budgetary 
levels, golfer expectations, rainfall patterns and 
fungicide use in that part of the world.Greens and tees were walk mown with a brush attachment used on the Tifeagle two 
to three times mid-week (any more than this tended to thin out the sward excessively along the larger ridgelines on the greens). Triplex units were used on approaches and only ever ventured onto the tees and greens for verticutting operations. I very quickly noticed 
how much difference all of this effort to keep 
heavy machinery off the finer surfaces made. 
One benefit of having adequate manpower I 
suppose.Greens irrigation was somewhat different to what I had seen before in that they received 
several cycles of 3-4 minutes each on Sunday and Monday nights with one small cycle on Tuesday to follow the spray hawk application 
(longer cycles only tended to run off the 
surface). From this point on no greenside 
rotors would spin for the rest of the week. By Thursday afternoon one or two guys would begin hand watering hotspots and this 
would continue right through the weekend in Following his internship at The Breakers, Kinsley attended the three-day Ohio State University short course held at The Sea Pines Resort in South Carolina32AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTWe have broad experience in Victoria in the design and construction of golf course maintenance facilities and their ancillaries.Contact us to assist with any of your maintenance compound requirements, be it design, project 
management or construction services. 
Some of our projects have included:MOONAH LINKS  METROPOLITAN G.C.SANDHURST G.C.  COMMONWEATLH G.C. CROYDON G.C. KEW G.C.EYNESBURY G.C. TORQUAY SANDSPhone (03) 9836 9322 Fax (03) 9836 3788 YOUR MAINTENANCE FACILITY SPECIALISTS!(VIC)order to stretch root growth as far as possible. Of course as summer approached and soil temperatures rose we would strike the limits of this and have to resort to several irrigation events per week. This was also the first time that I had worked with seashore paspalum and it proved to be an interesting experience. It is an attractive 
surface and one that can survive on relatively low levels of nutrition with good resistance to disease and tolerance of poor quality water. But like all grasses it has its issues. It was certainly an aggressive grass and we had 
significant problems with it escaping into the 419. Many superintendents in the area will tell you that they will only use it on a course if they can go wall-to-wall with it as a surface. Much is 
also made of its drought tolerance, and while 
this is true to an extent I noticed that once the 
grass slips over the edge into either heat or 
drought dormancy it is very slow to recover 
thereafter. Only a rainfall event seems to wake 
it back up with regular irrigation events having only limited effect.By May the golf course began to quieten down and we began an intensive programme of aerification. I was about to discover how true 
my good mate (and former Breakers intern) 
Stuart Smith™s earlier words were going to be. Every Monday during summer the Rees Jones Course would close and extensive renovation and project work would take place. This is really the only time of year when this is possible. With players paying over $US200 for a round of golf in the peak season no serious 
aerification is tolerated by the members at that 
time. Only Hydroject operations are possible 
through the winter. In summer greens would be cored on a Monday (by Toro 648 walk-behinds with 3/8 side eject tines), with tees receiving the same treatment the following week. All clean up work was done by hand with surfaces topdressed, dragged, rolled and fertilised all in the one day. 
The following week would see approaches 
scarified and topdressed. Maybe the next 
week the course would get a rest, but after 
that the whole process would begin again and 
continue on right through to early October. Fairways were sliced by Aerways twice during the summer and cored and topdressed 
once (one extra operation was cancelled due to 
drought conditions). Other minor renovations 
such as a pencil quadtine operation on greens 
were conducted as Mark and Brad saw fit.33AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTIt™s a Sure  Thing!www.surewatersystems.com.auCALL TODAY! +61 3 9335 3577with envy?Are youYour water supply doesn™t have to be!Suitable for domestic and commercial applications including:

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internshipsDuring the summer I was also involved in a variety of other project work ranging from irrigation installations and extensive drainage 
additions to planting over 300 trees and bunker 
restoration. All of this in addition to the basic 
set up of the course for play six days a week. In August I attended the basic operator™s course for the Toro Site Pro system and then toward the end of my time with The Breakers I was asked to write a new irrigation 
programme for the Rees Jones Course which 
was successfully brought into operation during 
my final month.OHIO PROGRAM SHORT COURSEIn early November both fellow Breakers 
intern Ashley Byham (formerly assistant 
superintendent at Cobram Barooga Golf Club) 
and myself attended the three-day OSU short 
course held at The Sea Pines Resort on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.The resort is home to Harbour Town Golf Links, one of the PGA Tour stops each year. Days were spent listening to lectures 
by selected OSU teaching staff and invited 
superintendents. And the nights? Well as 
any programme participant will tell you, what 
happens at the short course stays at the short course! Needless to say great friendships were formed as we caught up with other interns from all over the US and swapped our stories. 
One highlight was the early morning tour of 
Harbour Town Golf Links where we walked 
several holes with course superintendent Gary 
Snyder and his assistant listening to some of 
the challenges that they face on site. It was 
great hearing first hand an insider™s account of what goes on behind the scenes of staging a major PGA Tour event.Yet again Mike O™Keeffe and his OSU crew showed their professionalism in the staging of an informative, entertaining and smoothly run event.RIVERSIDE, PEBBLE BEACH AND CYPRESS POINTIn December, and with my visa fast running out, I sadly said goodbye to my friends 
and colleagues at The Breakers. It was an 
unbelievable experience from the first day to 
the last and once again proves how fantastic an industry this is to have such quality people involved in it. But internships must come 
to an end and I boarded my flight in West 
Palm Beach and headed for a final week in 
California.My first stop on the west coast was a visit to and tour of Toro™s American irrigation 
headquarters in Riverside just west of Los Angeles. Here I met with Alfredo Romero and Kenny James (who is a regular visitor to our national conferences) and was shown around the factory to see what goes on in terms of 
research, design, and testing of new irrigation 
products before we see them released onto 
the market. The creation of the moulds by which all parts are subsequently made was a real eye 
opener. I witnessed the use of a laser injection moulding unit that can cut stainless steel to a tolerance of 1/60th the width of a human 
hair! Seeing the history of irrigation equipment 
over the last 50 or so years made me realise 
how far we have come and listening to what 
developments and improvements Toro have in 
line for the future gave me an indication of how 
far we have to go.Following a day™s sightseeing around LA I grabbed a rental and headed up the stunning US Highway 1 coastal drive 500 miles north 
to the Monterey Peninsula. Here I met with 
another Ohio intern Adam Strachan, from Perth, who is working at Pebble Beach. The Peninsula is famous for its beauty and any who have visited it will not disagree with that verdict. Adam showed me around the 
famous links and had arranged what would be 
for me one of the highlights of my entire trip - 
a tour of the legendary Cypress Point, rated number two in the world. The contrast between the two courses was interesting. Both sit on absolutely stunning 
properties and are world class facilities with the resources to match. But Pebble Beach (a 
public resort) plays host to over 80,000 rounds 
a year whereas Cypress Point (being ultra 
private) would be lucky to do 15,000 per year. The differences in condition were stark. It is fair to say that Pebble Beach is in a 
state of permanent damage control, doing 
an impressive job of managing very high levels of stress, whereas on the perfect early winter afternoon that I visited Cypress I saw 
five club caddies playing the course without 
another soul in sight. Understandably it was in 
immaculate condition.And that was that; the end of an incredible 18 month period full of memories that will last 
a lifetime. So many people contributed to my journey and I am indebted to their help and hospitality. Thanks to Cameron Russell and Jade Gardner at Toro, and to Mike O™Keeffe and all of his office at OSU. The OSU programme is 
truly a life-changing experience and one that I 
would urge all young Australian greenkeepers 
to consider. To Andrew Smith and all the boys at Yamba Golf Club, where it all began, I thank 
them for the opportunity they gave me, and to Mark Reid, Brad Nelson, Stuart, Joe, Ashley, Alan, Barry, and all the rest of the team at The 
Breakers. You should all be proud of what you 
do on a daily basis and I am proud to have 
been associated with such quality teams. Editor™s Note: Since compiling this article for ATM, Sean Kinsley has been appointed by Troon Golf at the recently opened Settlers Run Golf Course in Melbourne™s south east.Before heading home Kinsley was able to visit two of the world™s most famous courses - Pebble Beach (pictured) and Cypress Point34AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTCOUNT ON TORO FOR FLEXIBLEFINANCING OPTIONS.Need to lease a few electric vehicles but still need the cash ˜ow? Or purchase a new rough 
mower without affecting your bottom line?Toro will work out a ˚nancing plan that delivers the best for your business and your 
course. We™ll evaluate your priorities and work 
out the most competitive payment options to 
deliver what you need without compromise. 
Whether you™re buying, leasing or renting 
you can count on Toro to deliver the right 
˚nancial options for your budget.For more information call  1800 356 372 or visit www.toro.com.auHERO/TOR2141J36 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTagcsatech updateBY JOHN NEYLANSummer conditions throughout Australia have been somewhat extreme this 
year with the big wet in the north and continuing dry conditions in the south.  Heavy 
cloud cover, low light, high humidity and 
wet conditions from Sydney northwards have 
given rise to increased turf stresses as has 
the very dry conditions in Victoria and South 
Australia.Turf under stress is always more susceptible to disease outbreaks.  Fungal pathogens are 
always present on the plant and in the soil 
and when conditions are not favourable to 
the turf species, but are conducive to fungal 
pathogens, this can often give rise to disease 
outbreaks which can be difficult to control.Disease samples that have come to AGCSATech over the summer months have 
involved disease complexes rather than a 
single pathogen.  In some situations it is 
difficult to isolate the primary pathogen from 
those pathogens that are present because 
the plant has been damaged or weakened by 
the initial fungal infection.  The challenge then 
becomes how to treat the symptoms and to 
gain effective (and quick) control.We have experienced a significant increase in root diseases as the primary cause with leaf diseases as a secondary infection.  The main 
root diseases detected have been Rhizoctonia sp., Gaeumannomyces sp. and Pythium sp. with leaf-infecting pathogens such as Drechslera sp., Curvularia sp. and Colletortichum sp. (Anthracnose) as secondary infections.The challenge with the control strategy is to firstly figure out the main disease organism 
and treat it, followed by a treatment for the 
secondary pathogens.  Because of either the 
specific activity of fungicides or where they 
need to be placed (e.g. roots or leaves) often 
means that one fungicide will not control all.In addition to fungicide applications it is also important to determine the factors that 
favour the disease organism.  While climatic 
conditions are the obvious, this is often only 
the trigger for the disease to gain a hold.  
Thatch, soil compaction, water quality, shade, 
poor air movement and nutrition all need to be 
assessed to assist in prevention and for long-
term control.The other factor complicating the occurrence and control of diseases has been 
the presence of parasitic nematodes. In many 
of the samples examined, nematodes have 
been a factor with extremely high numbers 
recorded. For example, at two sites Sting (Ipiborta sp.) nematodes were at 700 and 1000/200ml 
soil respectively where the treatable threshold 
is 20/200ml soil. At another site Stunt 
(Tylenchorhynchus sp.) nematodes were at 2800/200ml soil compared to the threshold of 
200/200ml soil. Parasitic nematodes damage The extreme weather conditions of the past summer have provided plenty of challenges for superintendents and turf managers. In this AGCSATech Update John Neylan looks at summer disease issues as well as looks at the progress of the warm-season turf trials at Redlands Research Station in Queensland.Extreme summer conditions in recent months Πwet and cloudy in the north and prolonged drought in the south Πhave given rise to many disease issues for superintendents and turf managers to contend with37 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTthe root system and increase the susceptibility of the plant to fungal pathogens.The combination of fungal pathogens and nematodes can have a synergistic effect. This 
means that the level of turf stress and damage 
is a magnitude greater than the additive effects 
of each factor.  It is relatively common to be 
treating the disease symptoms with fungicides 
and only achieving partial control.  It is not until 
the nematodes are controlled that the disease 
symptoms are eliminated.Given the long-term dry conditions in southern Australia, the effects of salt and sodium 
accumulation should not be underestimated.  
This compounds the plant stresses, increases 
the incidence of disease and reduces the 
recovery potential.  As well as a fungicide programme it is also recommended to consider mini-tyning 
or needle tyning, gypsum applications and 
heavy irrigations to leach salts from the upper 
rootzone as a holistic treatment program.WARM-SEASON GRASS TRIALSThe warm-season grass (hybrid couchgrass 
and seashore paspalum) trials at QDPIF, 
Redlands are progressing well with all the 
subplot treatments having been imposed over the past few months.  Each turf type is 
subjected to two cutting heights (2.7mm and 
3.5mm), three nitrogen treatments (1, 2 and 
4kg N/100m2/yr) and with and without rolling.Most of the hybrid couchgrasses have suffered to some degree with the wet and 
cloudy weather over the summer months.  The 
weather conditions have caused some turf 
thinning across all treatments and recovery 
from early season renovations have been 
impeded.  Our observations of the hybrid couchgrasses were that the highest quality 
turf was at the higher cutting height and the highest nitrogen rate.  This observation is 
consistent with those made on golf courses 
using the new hybrids on putting greens.The weather had a similar effect on the seashore paspalum, though some cultivar/sub-
treatments have scalped worse than others.  It 
would appear that the seashore paspalums 
(and the hybrid couchgrasses) are reacting to 
the low light conditions (due to cloud) which 
is stimulating vertical growth that is scalped 
under mowing.The best of the seashore paspalum treatments are at the lower cutting height 
(2.7mm) and the high rate of nitrogen.  Again 
these observations are consistent with 
field observations of seashore paspalum 
greens in tropical South East Asia. It is also 
interesting to note the different requirements 
of the couchgrass hybrids and the seashore 
paspalums in relation to optimum cutting 
heights.SOIL AND PLANT TISSUE TESTINGThe Australian summer has been again 
somewhat unpredictable with tropical rains 
and a true wet season in the north, wet and 
cool in NSW and continuing dry in the south. 
In fact throughout South Australia and Victoria 
the early autumn was marked by temperatures 
in the high 30™s and extremely dry. Whether it is drought, irrigation with high salinity water or leaching due to high rainfall Summer conditions have seen a significant increase in root diseases as the primary cause with leaf diseases as a secondary infectionThe warm-season trial plots at Redlands (seashore paspalum in the centre and 
hybrid couchgrass to the far right)38 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTagcsatech updateit is time to consider taking soil and plant tissue samples to see where you are at and 
what needs to be done to redress any nutrient 
imbalances. Given the prolonged dry conditions in the southern states it is likely that soil salts 
and sodium will have increased and there 
will be a general imbalance in soil cations. 
On golf course fairways or sportsfields that 
are constructed from fine textured soils, the 
breakdown in soil aggregates due to aggregate 
dispersion caused by sodium will result in 
reduced permeability. On sandy soils where permeability is less of a problem, the cation exchange sites 
become saturated with Na at the expense of 
Ca, K and Mg and sodium is taken up by the 
plant in preference to these other cations. 
Sodium accumulation in the plant can then 
reach toxic concentrations, resulting in a loss 
of turf vigour, low recovery potential, lower 
tolerance to heat stress, reduced tolerance 
to pests and diseases, and potential death of 
sodium-sensitive plant species.Under conditions of very high rainfall, the leaching of nutrients including nitrogen and 
potassium as well as calcium and phosphorus 
will occur. This is most prevalent on sandy 
soils.  Soil and plant tissue tests will give a 
good indication as to the extent of the soil and plant imbalances and what remedial agents 
are required.Soil and plant tissue testing are very good management tools.  They should not be 
used as the absolute method for determining 
fertility programmes but as a monitoring 
tool, particularly during periods of adverse 
conditions (e.g. drought, high rainfall etc.) 
when imbalances in soil chemistry is most 
likely to occur.  Soil and plant tissue testing has 
its greatest value in monitoring and problem 
solving and determining the effects of fertiliser 
and remediation programmes.  To get the best benefits from soil and plant testing, the results must be equated with turf 
health.  If the pH is 5 and the turf is healthy, 
does lime have to be applied?  The answer is 
no!  What the soil test does is to provide you 
with a useful piece of information if the turf 
lacks vigour, doesn™t respond to fertilisers or 
has a persistent disease.AFL PRE-SEASON VENUESAs has been the tradition over the past few 
years, the AFL again played many of its NAB 
Challenge matches at regional venues.  These 
games provide a great opportunity for the local 
community to experience AFL football close at 
hand and the opportunity to produce an AFL 
standard playing surface.With games played in Albany, Alice Springs, Bendigo, Shepparton, Narrandera 
and Noarlunga, the local turfies turned out 
very high quality playing surfaces.  To meet 
the requirements of AFL clubs, the local turf 
managers put in a huge effort with renovations, 
extra cutting, attention to irrigation and 
monitoring surface hardness.At a time of the year when the grounds can be dry and hard, all the venues did an 
exceptional job in providing consistent, high 
quality surfaces. Deakin Reserve in Shepparton, VIC hosted an NAB Challenge match between Hawthorn and CollingwoodThe Swans and Richmond played their NAB Challenge match at Narrandera Sports Ground, NSW39 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTADVERTORIALtech talkWith the drought currently impacting many areas of Australia, much has 
been made in turf management circles about retaining as much water within 
the soil profile. However, with the major rains 
experienced in northern NSW and Queensland 
during the first three months of this year, a 
more pertinent question could be are those turf 
managers in the southern states prepared for a 
possible wet winter?It is often said that good drainage is the most important aspect in maintaining high 
quality turf surfaces, although in recent times it 
is fair to say that a good irrigation system and 
a sustainable water source have been more 
the focus. Poorly drained surfaces are generally prone to disease and other stress injuries and have 
increased susceptibility to compaction and 
the resultant anaerobic soil conditions. These 
situations may have been overshadowed in 
recent years with relatively dry winters in 
southern parts of Australia, however, with 
the ever-increasing use of poor quality water 
sources, drainage, particularly subsurface 
drainage, may now be as important as ever.ISSUES OF POOR DRAINAGEOften, poor water movement through the soil 
profile or even just off the surface is perceived 
as being related to poor drainage. However, 
drainage may not be the issue at all. Firstly, if 
water is ponding or pooling on the surface it 
could be as a result of a hydrophobic surface, 
excessive organic matter accumulation, a 
compacted upper soil profile or, indeed, it may 
be as a result of poorly drained soils that are 
already waterlogged. In many cases it maybe one of the first three outcomes and there are well documented 
alternative treatment techniques to combat 
these effects without having to investigate 
additional drainage options. Unfortunately, the 
alternative treatment options usually fall into 
the maintenance category and for whatever 
reason, whether it be budgetary constraints, 
lack of staff or golfing demand, these 
maintenance operations are not performed 
nearly regularly enough to limit the occurrence 
of such problems. A hydrophobic surface can best be cured through regular wetting agent applications, 
while dusting can dilute thatch accumulation 
which is often the major cause of excessive 
moisture being held in the upper surface 
layer.  A compacted upper soil profile can be 
relieved through aeration techniques such as 
mini-tyning, coring and/or vertidraining which 
create more macro-pores within the soil profile 
to allow for improved water movement.MICRO-CLIMATE IMPLICATIONSThe impact of irrigation uniformity and micro-
climates must also be investigated. What might 
be envisaged as a poorly drained area may 
just be either receiving more water through 
poor distribution or alternatively not drying as 
quickly due to micro-climate implications.The most common micro-climate issue affecting drying is shade and poor air movement 
from trees. Ideally, the best remedy would be 
to remove the offending trees, however, this is more often than not impractical and other 
alternatives must be sought. Without the use 
of fans to dry the surface or systems to 
extract excess water from the profile, altering 
the irrigation regime or timing of the water 
applications may be an alternative, otherwise 
drainage installation could be required.As well as micro-climate and irrigation impacting on the drainage ability of a green, 
fairway or sports surface, the movement of 
traffic can also have a major effect. Traffic 
usually results in a compacted upper layer of 
the profile and a reduction in the percentage 
of macro-pores that facilitate good drainage. 
As mentioned, aeration practices can relieve 
such surfaces by coring and replacing the 
compacted soil with a sandier growing 
medium.Altering the design allowing greater options for the movement of people, or being able to 
manipulate traffic movement through the use 
of barricades or markers, will aid in spreading 
the wear and ultimately improve soil drainage.INFERIOR SOIL TYPESSoils used in construction situations can also 
be at the centre of drainage issues. Some 
are simply not suitable and when rainfall 
exceeds evapotranspiration, irrespective of 
maintenance inputs they remain wet and turf 
surfaces can deteriorate.The usual way to determine the suitability of a soil is through a hydraulic conductivity 
test. This is usually performed under WITH ANDREW PEARTIn light of the recent deluges that drenched the northern NSW and Queensland regions, Andrew Peart looks at issues surrounding subsurface drainage for turf surfaces.Drainage dilemmasDrainage dilemmasPoorly drained surfaces are generally prone to disease and other stress injuries and have increased susceptibility to compaction and the resultant anaerobic soil conditions40AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTlaboratory conditions where the soil sample is re-compacted and then saturated before 
calculating the rate at which water will move 
through the profile. This test can also be performed in a field situation but it may not be a true representation 
of the soil itself but more a representation of 
the actual situation of water moving through 
that environment. An in-situ appraisal is often 
conducted with the grass and thatch layer still 
being present and without any knowledge of 
the underlying soil properties. The presence of the grass and thatch layer will slow the rate of infiltration and if there is 
a compacted zone, such as a pan below the 
surface, this could also have a negative effect 
of the hydraulic conductivity result.If the overall result shows the soil has an insufficient drainage rate and it is either 
remaining wet for long periods of time during 
wet weather, or it is difficult to remove sodium 
or other contaminants from the profile after an 
irrigation season, drainage may be an option.  DRAINAGE Subsurface drainage unfortunately can 
never be regarded as a panacea to instantly 
provide dry firm surfaces after wet weather. 
A subsurface drainage system is a method 
for removing excessive water off the playing 
surface and to a lesser extent within the soil 
profile after wet weather. Subsurface drainage is definitely not the only solution to rectify poorly drained areas. 
Complete reconstruction is another option, 
however this can be very costly and disruptive 
and cause different construction types 
throughout the golf course if only a few areas 
are poorly drained. Different construction types 
will lead to different management requirements 
and may also result in differing playing qualities 
which ultimately make uniformity difficult to 
achieve. Subsurface drainage can be a viable solution, however, it must be carefully 
undertaken to ensure a suitable result. 
Whenever drainage is installed there must be 
a viable outlet for the collected water to go. 
Secondly, the drainage should be installed by 
an experienced contractor or knowledgeable 
staff that can ensure drainage trenches are 
cut at the desired depth and with a constant 
gradient. The use of materials, including pipes, gravel and sand must be suitable and correctly 
installed. It is imperative that the sand and 
gravel comply with USGA specifications for 
uniformity, permeability and bridging and that 
the sand has adequate moisture retention so 
that the drainage lines do not become too 
droughty over the summer or drier months.The backfilling of trenches with sand is arguably the most critical aspect of the whole 
job to ensure that future subsidence does 
not occur once the sod is replaced over the 
drainage lines. It would be appropriate to sod cut the turf from where the trenches are to be dug 
prior to drainage works starting. These sods should preferably contain no soil, however, 
there may need to be some present so they 
can have enough strength to be lifted. The soil 
contained on the sod is likely to be too fine 
compared with the sand used to backfill the 
trenches and may cause incompatibility issues 
when re-laid.CONCLUSION Poor water movement through soil profiles may 
not simply be an issue of soils having a low 
hydraulic conductivity. It may be an interaction 
of a hydrophobic surface, accumulated organic 
matter or inherent micro-climates.If, however, the soil type is unsatisfactory to provide adequate drainage during periods 
of wet weather, subsurface drainage is a 
worthwhile consideration. The depth at which 
this drainage is installed will be dependent 
on a number of factors including the depth 
of the top soil, the natural topography of the 
area as well as the presence of an acceptable 
drainage outlet. The quality of the installation 
and subsequent maintenance of the drainage 
system will be paramount to the overall success 
of the operation.Drainage dilemmasSubsurface drainage can be a viable solution, however, it must be carefully undertaken to ensure a suitable result.41AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTFROM A SINGLE HOLE TO A COMPLETE GOLF COURSE,  WE CAN TURN YOUR VISION  INTO REALITYPhone: (03) 5966 6251  Fax: (03) 5966 6451  Email: chris@densal.com.au 655 Little Yarra Road, Gladysdale 3797   Key Contacts: Chris Young: 0417 380 298,  Paul Reeves: 0419 895 939 or Mick O™Shannessy: 0409 231 385THE PULSEEducation is at the heart of the future development and advancement of any profession. In this edition The Pulse ATM quizzes five turf management education providers on some of the key issues and emerging trends, both positive and negative, to impact on their role and asks whether the quality of students is increasing or declining.FRANK DEMPSEYRyde CollegeOver the past 28 years I have seen the gradual breakdown of 
TAFE infrastructure which has 
coincided with the breakdown 
of funding. This lack of structure 
has left a void which is now left up to individual teaching sections to develop 
uniform teaching strategies, assessment tools 
and teaching resources across NSW, as well 
as carry out their daily duties. The ability of 
each TAFE college to do this is reflected by 
and dependent upon having quality teachers.The squeeze on the education dollar year after year by both federal and state 
governments continues in 2008. By the time 
the NSW education dollar is divided up and 
reaches the individual TAFE colleges and 
then is divided up again for each college 
section, there is not much left. This places a 
great deal of pressure on the turf education 
section to attempt to deliver the same quality of 
education despite increased costs with tighter 
budgets. One common request is to increase 
trade class sizes which would be a disaster 
for the increasing number of students needing 
more and more help from the class teacher.On the positive side, there is a greater number of greenkeepers taking up higher 
education in turf management. It is great to 
see would be managers studying in post 
trade education at NSI Ryde College and the 
University of Sydney. This can only be good for 
the industry. We also have consistent numbers 
enrol in the trade level course each year 
and in 2008 we had 30 students enrol in our 
Certificate IV class. It is rewarding to see this 
course accepted by students and employers 
in the turf industry. The education standard 
of students enrolling in the trade course has 
dropped over the years. However, there are 
still some excellent young men and women 
coming through the college who will make 
great turf managers.BRUCE DAVIESCanberra Institute of TechnologyFrom an educational perspective, one of the 
biggest issues currently facing 
education in turf management 
is the academic ability of 
apprentice students, including the additional support they need to reach 
quality outcomes.  Professional teachers in 
organisations such as TAFEs spend time 
working with students to help them gain both 
industry-relevant knowledge and skills and to 
improve their literacy and numeracy. At the 
Canberra Institute of Technology we screen turf 
apprentices at the beginning of their study to 
determine if they need numeracy and literacy 
assistance.  In recent years we find increasing 
numbers do require help, not only with literacy 
and numeracy but also with feeling comfortable 
in an educational environment.  One of the big 
challenges for teachers is to meet the needs of 
students in all these dimensions. The future in turf education is going to see more computer-based learning.  Although 
this gives the opportunity for more up-to-date 
information to be readily accessed and allows 
for interactive learning in many situations, it 
also means where computer literacy was once 
seen as an advantage, it is now a necessity.There is no doubt the licensed trades are a great attraction to young people starting 
out on a career path.  Pay levels for turf 
apprentices, coupled with early morning starts 
and weekend work, make turf less attractive.  
As well as addressing these pay and work 
conditions on the job, the industry could lift its 
profile and worth by the introduction of more 
licensing/certification.  This currently occurs in 
pesticide training and adds to the worth of the 
turf manager to employers.  Introducing this 
type of licensing/certification into areas like 
irrigation, OH&S, environmental awareness, 
machine operation etc. is one way a turf career 
could be seen as more attractive.opinion42 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTLOVE YOUR FOOTY?Join the AGCSA Footy Tipping Competitions www.agcsa.com.auPHIL FORDNorth Melbourne Institute of TAFETurf education is in pretty good shape at the moment and I feel 
the current system is working 
well to meet the training needs 
of the Victorian turf industry. 
My key issue and concern is that the next review of the training package is 
going to upset that. While the current training 
package is pretty ordinary, at least we can 
work with it. I worry about the outcome of the 
next lot of ‚improvements™ to the package and 
organisations like the AGCSA have a key role 
in ensuring these are sensible and practical. I feel that the relevance and quality of TAFE turf training is slowly and steadily improving. It 
needs to, of course, as the trade is becoming 
more and more complex each year. TAFE 
responds well to advice and pressure from the 
turf industry, so as long as the AGCSA and 
VGCSA stay involved with us I can see that 
trend of steady improvement continuing.Student numbers have been steadily increasing for years, due to the healthy state 
of the Victorian golf industry. Although the 
money and promotion prospects are not good, 
the interesting work and lifestyle still attracts 
quality entrants. I think it takes too long for a 
student to complete an apprenticeship (three 
to four years) and then a Diploma (a further 
three years). It is possible for a student to 
shorten this by working part-time at a club and 
superintendents should look at this as a way to 
attract good staff. The quality of students entering the trade now is generally very good compared to 10 
or 20 years ago. Most apprentices nowadays 
have completed Year 12 and usually have 
reasonable English and maths skills. Similarly, 
the quality of teachers has improved. We have 
been able to recruit experienced Diploma-
trained staff and the standard of teaching has 
risen. In saying that though, our resources 
have deteriorated over the last 10 years.JOHN FORRESTChallenger TAFEAt present the amount of turf management students is good 
due to strong apprenticeship 
numbers. The numbers in the 
early classes drop off slightly 
through the three years as income becomes an issue. High employment 
levels make it difficult to find employees let 
alone encourage them they should further their 
education for a minimal increase in pay. Night 
classes have not run for the past two years 
where 10 years ago there were between 25 
and 40 students keen to complete Certificate 
II in Turf Management. This year the classes 
started again, however, the numbers are only 
just enough to be viable. Apprentice wages need to move with the times as do tradesman wages. Expectations 
of golf club members have risen substantially 
over the past 20 years and in general these 
have been met.  Yet in Western Australia we 
expect to attract and keep apprentices on a 
first year hourly rate of $6.80.   The up side 
of this is that you get young people that 
are passionate about the trade although the 
reading and writing skills are often poor.The quality of the young people we have had over the last few years has increased 
again although competency based training 
has reduced the competition to be top of the 
class as a pass receives a CO (Competent) 
instead of a mark. In WA we are lucky with the 
quality of lecturers we have, with all having 
qualifications in turf management and training.One of the trends appearing is that many students or employers are looking more for 
skills sets where attendance is limited to only 
part of the year with a clear benefit for the 
workplace. These may be on three or four 
units such as soils, irrigation, weed control and 
chemical use improving both theoretical and 
practical skills. Also delivering courses in the 
workplace is becoming more popular.BRIAN DALEBrisbane North Institute of TAFEThere are a number of issues impacting on Brisbane North 
Institute of TAFE in relation 
to the provision of quality turf 
management training. One 
issue relates to the funding of turf management qualifications. The preferred 
pathway for turf training is AQF Level II 
underpinning the AQF Level III qualification. 
However, fees and charges now apply to 
Level II making this pathway less attractive. 
This has increased pressure on the learning 
environment of trainees starting their theory 
education at Level III since they no longer have 
the knowledge and expereince at Level II.New strategies are required to improve the learning environment for students.  One strategy 
is the use of computers and other technologies 
such as USB drives. USB drives are being 
provided in order to deliver learning resources, 
extension material and assignments thus 
providing the students with the opportunity to 
consolidate their classroom learning or extend 
their own learning experience. Availability 
of an internet-based learning management 
system also provides students the opportunity 
to source other technical information and 
electronically submit assignments.    Turf management qualifications, Levels II and III, are achieved by completing two 
areas of learning Πcollege and work based. 
Within the workplace the role of the trainee™s 
supervisor cannot be understated. The trainee 
needs to experience the entire range of 
turf management within their training. The 
college component supports and develops the 
knowledge base of the trainee to enhance their 
skills in the workplace. The State Government 
offers extra incentives for the employment of 
people with special needs, however, there also 
needs to be additional support processes in 
place, both at college and in the workplace, to 
achieve a positive outcome for trainees.43 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTHave you checked our pricing lately?New year round preferred pricing on Filters, Tyres Alternators and Starters.
Call Toro Commercial Equipment Spare Parts on 1800 356 372 for further information.HERO/TOR1944JresearchThroughout Australia, turfgrass producers and managers are under increasing 
pressure to restrict their water use.  Irrigation scheduling based on the replacement 
of a proportion of net evapotranspiration 
(ET) is strongly advocated as a means to 
improving water-use efficiency.  However, whilst ET-replacement irrigation can optimise watering regimes it has also been shown to 
increase the incidence of soil water repellency 
on sandy-textured soils.  Soil water repellency decreases water use efficiency by causing irrigation water to 
unevenly infiltrate the soil surface, bypassing 
a proportion of the turfgrass roots, causing localised areas of turfgrass death.  Decreasing the incidence of water repellency in turfgrass systems requires an understanding of the contributing factors and the development of corrective procedures.  Corrective techniques for water repellency include application of a wetting agent, core cultivation, and thorough watering.  A number 
of factors influence the effectiveness of wetting agents, so choosing a wetting agent is not a particularly straight forward process.  Furthermore, strategies for optimising the use of wetting agents under Australian turfgrass conditions have not been reported in the 
scientific literature.  Turfgrass renovation techniques that prevent thatch and mat accumulation may also be an approach to minimising the severity of water repellency, as soils high in organic matter can exhibit water repellency. Yet, information on the effectiveness of regular renovation to reduce the incidence and severity of water 
repellency in sand-based turfgrass systems is currently lacking and also requires further 
investigation.The overall objective of the University of Western Australia™s (UWA) field-based project is to maximise turfgrass water use efficiency for warm-season turfgrasses grown under Australian conditions by decreasing the incidence and severity of soil water repellency.  Specifically, the project will:  Investigate the development of water repellency under a sand-based turfgrass 
system so as to determine the conditions 
that it occurs (Experiment 1);  Evaluate the suitability of laboratory-based 
tests for predicting the effectiveness of 
wetting agents (Experiment 2);  Determine if the timing and formulation affects wetting agent effectiveness (Experiment 3);  Assess if turfgrass renovation techniques minimise the development of soil water repellency in sand-based turfgrass systems (Experiment 4).  EXPERIMENTAL APPROACHThe three-year study will utilise turfgrass plots planted in 2005 at the UWA Turf Research Facility, and which consisted of ‚old™ turfgrass (i.e. 20-year-old turfgrass that includes 50mm 
mat) and turfgrass established from new 
sod (i.e. 20 week old turfgrass).  Including 
turfgrasses of two ages will enable techniques 
for managing soil repellency to be investigated on soil containing two contrasting soil organic matter contents.  The study includes four main experiments.EXPERIMENT ONEUnder what environmental conditions in a Mediterranean-type climate does soil water 
repellency develop?Understanding the development of water repellency in turfgrass is required for establishing strategies for overcoming water repellency.  The aim is to determine the timing and extent of the development of water repellency in turfgrass of two organic matter contents, and in the absence of corrective 
measures.  Soil water repellency, soil water content and turfgrass quality (colour, surface hardness) of 
each turfgrass age will be measured frequently A three-year study by the University of Western Australia will investigate the development of water repellency under a sand-based turfgrass systemBY LOUISE BARTON, GEORGE WAN, AND TIM COLMERA three-year research project being conducted by the University of Western Australia (UWA) aims to maximise turfgrass water use efficiency for warm-season turfgrasses grown under Australian conditions by decreasing the incidence and severity of soil water repellency.  UWA researchers give an overview of this new HAL-funded research project.Managing water repellency in turfgrass grown in sandy soilsManaging water repellency in turfgrass grown in sandy soils44AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTduring the growing season to determine the rate at which repellency develops.  In addition, soil water content and water repellency will be measured at various soil depths to determine the soil depth to which repellency develops.  Soil water repellency will be measured using both the ‚water droplet penetration time™ 
and the ‚molarity of ethanol droplet™ (MED) 
tests.  Measures of soil water repellency will be related to soil water contents to determine the critical water content at which repellency develops, and to assess if this value varies depending on the organic matter content of 
the soil.EXPERIMENT TWOAre laboratory-based tests suitable for predicting wetting agent effectiveness?Turfgrass managers are faced with a selection of products when choosing a wetting agent.  Selecting a suitable wetting agent can 
be difficult as the action of wetting agents is 
not always fully understood, and it is apparent 
that a single wetting agent may not be suitable 
for all soil types and climates.  The aim of this experiment is to assess the suitability of simple laboratory tests for testing 
wetting agents in terms of their immediate and 
residual effects.  Furthermore, the success of 
the laboratory tests to evaluate the potential benefits of wetting agents will be tested in the field.EXPERIMENT THREEWhat factors affect the longevity and effectiveness of wetting agents?This experiment will determine if the effectiveness of wetting agents can be improved by either choice of formulation or frequency of 
application.  The field investigation will be 
designed in consultation with the turf industry utilising the findings from Experiments 1 and 2, and will monitor the development and extent of water repellency under different wetting agent treatments (e.g. formulations), using the methods outlined in Experiment 1, and in comparison to untreated turfgrass plots.EXPERIMENT FOURHow effective are renovation treatments at reducing the development of soil water 
repellency?Reducing the thatch and mat content of turfgrass has been suggested as an approach 
to decrease the development and severity of 
water repellency.  This experiment will compare 
the relative effectiveness of various renovation techniques to minimise the development of water repellency in younger and older kikuyu 
turfgrass.  Measurements initiated in 2005 to investigate the effectiveness of thatch/mat 
control techniques on soil organic matter Older kikuyu turfgrass, containing a 50mm layer of mat, has been very susceptible to dry patch under ET-replacement irrigation in summer45AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTTERRA COMBI Needle Tining ΠAerating ΠSlittingVerticutting ΠSpring-tining ΠSand brushing ΠOverseeding   The TERRA COMBI enables you to perform all necessary maintenance measures to 
maintain a healthy root growth which 
result in an optimum turf.The TERRA COMBI  has been designed 
as a modular system, so it is easy on the 
budget.A universal frame allows mounting of a 
large variety of working tools and rear 
attachments. So you can use the basic machine during the whole growing season by choosing the appropriate tools 
and rear attachments according to the 
desired maintenance task.
basic machine enables you to purchase 
further tools and rear attachments in 
subsequent years according to your 
The TERRA COMBI can be customized 
and expanded step by step to suit your 
The TERRA COMBI is available in working widths of 1.35mtr, 1.60mtr & 2.1mtr. 
The Heaving Rotor and Slitting Knife 
attachments are available to suit 1.6mtr & 
2.1mtr.QTurf Machinery Pty Ltd Clifford Court, Capalaba Qld 4157  Fax: +61 (0)7 3245 1340  Phone: +61 (0)7 3245 6082 terry@qturf.com.au  www.qturf.com.auresearchcontents, water infiltration rates and turfgrass growth and quality will also continue.  Renovation treatments are:  No renovation (control);  Scarifying and sweeping (one time per year, spring);  Coring and sweeping (one time per year, spring);  Sanding (5mm, two times per year, spring 
and autumn); and   Coring and sweeping (one time per year, 
spring), plus topdressing (5mm, two times 
per year, spring and autumn).  RESEARCH OUTCOMESThe benefits of the research to the turfgrass 
industry will including cost savings, improved 
turfgrass surfaces, better environmental 
management, and an improved public 
perception of turfgrass management.  
Research findings will be published in national 
industry journals and international scientific 
journals, and presented at national and state conferences, for the benefit of the wider Australian turfgrass industry.ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSThis project has been facilitated by Horticulture 
Australia Limited (HAL) in partnership with the 
turf industry. It was funded by contributions 
from WA Local Government, Organic 2000, 
Turf Growers Association of Western Australia, Department of Education and Training, Department of Water, Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority, Turfgrass Association of Australia WA, Lawn Doctor, and the GCSAWA. 
Members of the UWA Turf Industries Research 
Steering Committee and subcommittees are 
thanked for their support and advice. The UWA Turf Research Program will assess the effectiveness of various renovation treatments, including coring (above) and scarifying (below), to minimise the development of water repellency in turfgrass46AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTtentlltvtktekltlDavid Golf & Engineering Pty Ltd    VIC 1300 790 890      NSW 02 9524 5131     QLD 07 3353 6196   www.davidgolf.com.auBUNKER MAINTENANCE AT IT™S BESTBUNKERRAKES  Ideal for Golf Course applications Š dam banks, bunker banks & any steep slopesLargest impeller diameters & fin height in the industry for superior air power. This allows these mowers to mow around bunker faces without scalpingThis deck material has superior stress crack resistance, along with high impact strength & rigidityBoth mowers have extra long 132cm (52fl) handle length Š  extra extension for hard to reach areasDirectly imported by
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only from Smithco.researchUnlike other fertiliser nutrients such as potassium (K), the availability of 
nitrogen for plant use is controlled by the complex and biologically based nitrogen 
(N) cycle. Nitrogen is added to the N cycle via decomposition and addition of plant residues, 
fixation by lightning, and, most importantly in 
turf, fertilisation with N fertilisers.Nitrogen is lost from plant availability via immobilisation (N incorporated into biological organisms), denitrification (loss to the air as NO2 compounds), volatilisation (loss to the air as ammonia), and leaching (loss from the 
rootzone as nitrate).In turfgrass research, the N uptake/loss areas which have received most exploration are N uptake as a result of fertilisation and N losses via nitrate leaching. For example, a 1990 review article on the fate of nitrogenous fertilisers applied to turfgrass cited 12 articles 
that studied N uptake by turf: seven examined 
ammonia volatilisation, four examined soil 
storage of N, two studied denitrification, and 
10 examined N leaching (11). Leaching is the downward loss of nitrogen as the nitrate anion (NO3) is moved by water from the rootzone deeper into the soil with possible 
movement into underlying groundwater. Nitrate 
leaching receives attention because: There are concerns about increased nitrate 
in water and its effects on the populations 
at risk;Nitrate is a mobile anion and this path of 
N loss can be substantial, especially in 
sandy soils; andUnlike other N loss paths such as 
denitrification or immobilisation, leaching 
is a relative easy loss path to study not 
requiring expensive labelling techniques or specialised, expensive equipment.In turf systems, nitrate leaching papers first appeared in the referenced literature in the late 1970s and early 1980s with continued 
publication in this area to the present day. Many 
of these papers examined N leaching under turf 
managed as a lawn or fairway using species such as Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) (5, 6, 10, 12); Kentucky bluegrass/red fescue (Festuca rubra L.) mixtures (8, 9, 16), fairway-height hybrid couchgrass (Cynodon dactylon 
x C. transvaalensis Pers.) (7, 15) and Saint 
Augustinegrass [Stenotaphrun secundatum (Walt.) Kuntze] (4). Studies often had N source and N rate as treatments, and, in general, concluded the 
following:Nitrate leached from high-sand soils during 
establishment (6) or when excessive rates (approximately six-times the recommended rate) were applied (12); Nitrate leaching into the soil profile was far less likely to occur in soils with a lower 
sand content (12, 16);N leaching from soil was reduced when a 
slow-release N source was used (10, 14, 
15); and Irrigation applied at a correct frequency 
and rate resulted in little measurable nitrate 
leaching, even in a sandy soil (15). Based on this work, we have developed our general recommendations to limit nitrate 
leaching in turfed soils Πavoid over-application 
of N fertilisers, consider use of slow-release N sources or split application of soluble N sources, and do not irrigate to excess following 
N applications. Constructed putting greens often fit the worst-case scenarios mentioned in the 
preceding paragraph, as they are built with 90 
per cent or more sand and receive frequent 
inputs of N fertiliser and irrigation. Additionally, constructed greens are shallow and drain directly to an outlet, an additional potential 
environmental hazard. Research which examined N leaching in greens typically used small individual golf 
greens with the greens mix itself sometimes a 
treatment variable (2, 3, 13). The percentage 
of N lost as leached nitrate varied by study, often less than two per cent of total N applied (13, 15). However, when N was over-applied at three-times the recommended rate, leachate nitrate was as high as 23 per cent of N applied, 
with greatest loss from soluble N sources (2). Nitrate leaching in   bentgrass greensNitrate leaching in 
  bentgrass greensResearch at Auburn University in the US has examined the combined and separate effects of nitrogen rate and greens mix on nitrate and ammonium in leachate from bentgrass putting greens.Auburn University researchers found that nitrate leaching in bentgrass greens was greatest in the initial months of the study when N was applied at high rates, but differences in nitrate leaching lessened as the greens aged and N 
fertilisation was reduced to maintenance levels48AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTOver the past 30 years, fairway-based research has shown that when N is applied at the recommended rate, at the correct time of 
year, with appropriate irrigation, the result is 
minimal nitrate leaching. Studies that evaluated putting green mixes are less prevalent and were either a greenhouse trial (1, 14) or conducted on ‚Tifdwarf™ couchgrass (2, 3). Given the widespread use of creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera) on USGA-type putting greens, the number of studies which 
have explored nitrate losses from such a 
system are few (11, 13). Thus, the objective 
of this research project was to examine the 
combined and separate effects of N rate and greensmix on nitrate and ammonium in leachate from bentgrass putting greens.MATERIALS AND METHODSThe experiment was located at the Auburn 
University Turfgrass Research Unit (TGRU). The 
study consisted of 16 individually constructed greens, each 1m x 0.5m in size. Each individual green was deep enough to hold 10cm of gravel and 40cm of overlying greens mix. No choker layer between the gravel and rootzone mix was 
used since prior analyses of the greens mix indicated that the sand would bridge. Each green drained completely into a separate collection unit, allowing all leachate 
from each green to be collected as needed. The greens were constructed in December 1996 using washed ‚Crenshaw™ creeping bentgrass sod installed in each green on 2 January 1997. There were four replications of each Figure 1. Effect of greens mix on nitrate leaching in a newly established ‚Crenshaw™ bentgrass putting green. Red points indicate those sampling dates when USGA-type rootzones leached significantly higher concentrations of nitrateBY E.A GUERTAL49AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTJSB Equipment Pty. Ltd.2137 Frankston - Flinders Rd
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week using 20-5-10 as the fertiliser source 
with additional urea (46-0-0) used to make 
up the higher N rate. The experiment ended 
on 5 May, 2000 representing three years and four months of leachate collection from the bentgrass putting greens.At least twice monthly the following was done:Total leachate volume from each green was collected and determined; and A subsample of leachate was collected 
and returned to the lab for subsequent 
determination of nitrate and ammonium 
concentration. Nitrate and ammonium in water samples were determined via standard colorimetric techniques. If rainfall in a sampling period exceeded 1/2 inch, the leachate containers were emptied as soon as possible, regardless 
of the sampling time. Thus, in periods of 
high rainfall the collection containers were emptied frequently as needed.RESULTSAt most sampling dates there was not a significant N rate x greens mix interaction. 
The main effects of greens mix and N rate 
often resulted in significantly different N 
leaching losses. Figures 1 and 2 illustrate N lost as nitrate in the grow-in phase of the experiment 
when N was applied at high rates (1/4 and 1/2 lb N/1,000 ft2/week) simulating grow-in Right: Figure 2. Effect of nitrogen rate on nitrate in leachate in a newly established ‚Crenshaw™ bentgrass putting green. Red points indicate sampling dates where 1/2 lb treatments resulted in significantly higher nitrate concentrations in leachate compared to 1/4 lb/1000 sq. ft./week treatmentsBelow: Figure 3. Effect of greens mix on nitrate leaching in a ‚Crenshaw™ bentgrass putting green under a maintenance regime. Red dots indicate sampling dates where USGA rootzones had significantly higher concentrations of nitrate in leachate than 100% sand rootzonesAbove: Figure 4. Effect of nitrogen rate on leachate nitrate in a ‚Crenshaw™ creeping bentgrass putting green managed 
under a maintenance regime. Red dots indicate those sampling dates where 1/2 lb treatments resulted in higher nitrate 
concentrations in leachate than 1/4 lb N/1000 sq. ft./week treatments50AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTconditions. In Figure 1, a red dot indicates that nitrate loss from the USGA-type greens 
mix was significantly greater than that from the 
sand greens mix at that sampling date. In Figure 2, a red dot indicates that nitrate loss from plots receiving 1/2 lb N/1,000 ft2/week was significantly greater than nitrate loss 
measured from the 1/4 lb N/1,000 ft2/week treatment at that sampling date. As with previous research (2), highest N leaching was found when N was applied at 
rates above those that would be recommended 
for turf maintenance. High concentrations 
of nitrate in leachate were found during 
the establishment phase of this study.  
Agronomically and environmentally, such N rates were not needed to maintain newly laid bentgrass sod managed as a putting green. In the first three months after construction, plots containing the USGA-type greens mix 
had significantly more nitrate in leachate, 
regardless of the N fertilisation rate (Figure 1). 
Initial degradation of the reed sedge peat in 
the greens mix was likely contributing to this 
N release. This higher concentration of nitrate from the USGA-type greens mix was largely depleted 
by four months after construction, and from 
that point, differences due to greensmix were 
largely nonsignificant (Figure 1). Figures 3 and 4 illustrate leachate nitrate during the maintenance phase of the research. Significant differences between treatments are indicated by a red dot for the USGA-type 
greens mix and 1/5 lb N rate, respectively. The lower rates of N fertilisation applied during this maintenance period resulted in an 
overall reduction in leachate N, a result similar 
to that found in previous research. Over the 
length of this study, there were few times when 
turfgrass color or quality significantly differed due to N rate or greensmix, indicating that the lower rate of weekly N application (1/10 lb 
N/1000 ft2/wk) would be adequate for a quality putting bentgrass green in the southeast of the 
US. When that rate was applied, N in leachate 
was typically well below 3µg/ml (3ppm) 
throughout the sampling period. Over the years of data collection during the maintenance period, there was a cycling effect in nitrate leaching, with increased nitrate 
collected during July and August (northern hemisphere summer) of each year (Figure 4).  It is likely that increases in nitrate during the summer were partly due to reduced rooting 
in the bentgrass as summer stress thinned the turf and reduced root length in the heat-
stressed bentgrass. Others have shown that 
root architecture will affect nitrate leaching with 
deeper-rooted bentgrass absorbing N more 
efficiently than shallow rooted bentgrass (1). Although we did not measure root length or root density in this study, other bentgrass root research at the same location has shown reductions in rooting during July and August with subsequent root mass recovery by October of each year.ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSThe author wishes to thank USGA™s Turfgrass and Environmental Research Program for its 
support of this project. Australian Turfgrass 
Management magazine thanks the author and 
USGA TERO for their assistance in allowing this 
research to be published.51AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTresearchLITERATURE CITED1. Bowman, D.C., D.A. Devitt, M.C. Engelke, and T.W. Rufty, Jr. 1998. Root architecture affects nitrate leaching from bentgrass turf. Crop Sci. 38:1633-1639. (TGIF Record 56309)2. Brown, K. W., J. C. Thomas, and R.L. Duble. 1982. Nitrogen source effect on nitrate 
and ammonium leaching and runoff losses 
from greens. Agron. J. 74:947-950. (TGIF 
Record 502)3. Brown, K. W., R.L. Duble, and J. C. Thomas. 1977. Influence of management and season on fate of N applied to golf greens. Agron. J. 69:667-671. (TGIF Record 858)4. Erickson, J.E., J.L. Cisar, J.C. Volin, and G.H. Snyder. 2001. Comparing nitrogen runoff and leaching between newly established St. Augustinegrass turf and an alternative 
residential landscape. Crop Sci. 41:1889-1895. 
(TGIF Record 77183)
5. Frank, K.W., K.M. O™Reilly, J.R. Crum, 
and R.N. Calhoun. 2006. The fate of nitrogen 
applied to a mature Kentucky bluegrass turf. Crop Sci. 46:209-215. (TGIF Record 109547)6. Geron, C.A., T.K. Danneberger, S.J. Traina, T.J. Logan, and J.R. Street. 1993. The effects 
of establishment methods and fertilisation practices on nitrate leaching from turfgrass. J. Environ. Qual. 22:119-125. (TGIF Record 26851)7. Lee, D.J., D.C. Bowman, D.K. Cassel, C.H. Peacock, and T.W. Rufty, Jr. 2003. 
Soil inorganic nitrogen under fertilised 
bermudagrass turf. Crop Sci. 43:247-257. (TGIF 
Record 84085)8. Mangiafico, S.S., and K. Guillard. 2006. Fall fertilisation timing effects on nitrate leaching and turfgrass color and growth. J. Environ. Qual. 35:163-171. (TGIF Record 109806)
9. Morton, T.G., A.J. Gold, and W.M. Sullivan. 1988. Influence of overwatering and fertilisation on nitrogen losses from home lawns. J. Environ. Qual. 17:124-130. (TGIF Record 12590) 
10. Nelson, K.E., A.J. Turgeon, and J.R. 
Street. 1980. Thatch influence on mobility and 
transformation of nitrogen carriers applied to 
turf. Agron. J. 72:487-492. (TGIF Record 532) 
11. Petrovic, A. M. 1990. The fate of nitrogenous fertilisers applied to turfgrass. J. Environ. Qual. 19:1-14. (TGIF Record 16975)12. Rieke, P.E., and B.G. Ellis. 1974. Effects 
of nitrogen fertilisation on nitrate movements under turfgrass. Pages 120-130. In E.C. Roberts (ed.) Proc. 2nd Int. Turfgrass Res. Conf. ASA, Madison, WI. 19-21 June 1972. Blacksburg, VA. (TGIF Record 1645)13. Sheard, R.W., M.A. Haw, G.B. Johnson, 
and J.A. Ferguson. 1985. Mineral nutrition 
of bentgrass on sand rooting systems. Pages 
469-485. In F.L. Lemaire (ed.) Proc. 5th Int. Turfgrass Research Conf., Avignon, France. 1-5 July. INRA Paris, France. (TGIF Record 9040)14. Shuman, L.M. 2006. Normal and flush irrigation effects on nitrogen leaching from simulated golf greens in the greenhouse. Commun. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 37:605-619. (TGIF Record 110303)15. Snyder, G.H., B.J. Augustin, and J.M. 
Davidson. 1984. Moisture sensor-controlled 
irrigation for reducing N leaching in 
bermudagrass turf. Agron. J. 76:964-969. (TGIF 
Record 1012) 
16. Starr, J.L., and H.C. DeRoo. 1981. The fate of nitrogen fertiliser applied to turfgrass. Crop Sci. 21:531-536. (TGIF Record 2955).52AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTAGCSATechTIME FOR SOIL TESTING! Let us provide you with a truly independent soil reportSend samples toJohn Neylan and Andrew PeartPh. 03 9548 8600 Suite 1Fax. 03 9548 8622 Monash Corporate CentreEmail. john@agcsa.com.au 752 Blackburn RoadEmail. andrew@agcsa.com.au Clayton 3168 Vic24th Australian Turfgrass Conference and Trade Show21-25 July 2008
Melbourne Convention CentreConference opportunities at a glanceConference  Latest information on variety of topics  Expert presenters  Interactive workshops  Professional conference proceedings  Opportunity for accreditation points  Largest turf industry tradeshow in the  Southern Hemisphere  Dedicated environmental and water 
management areas  Networking vehicle  Tour of premier Victorian sportsturf 
facilitiesSocialAGCSA/Toro Golf ChampionshipPrivate pre golf receptionStroke, Stableford and teams winnerBayer Welcome ReceptionRoving EntertainmentLas Vegas style casino tablesScotts Darts Tournament State winner bragging rightsTournament souvenirPresidents DinnerComedy ensembleAwards PresentationSeparate Dance/Lounge AreaPrincipal Sponsorsenvironmental managementBY BRETT ROBINSONOver the past decade, Avondale Golf Club in Sydney has established itself 
as one of the pioneers of golf course environmental management in Australia, if not 
the world. Whether it™s the club™s involvement with Audubon, its aggressive promotion of native flora, through to the continual fine-
tuning of environment management practices, 
the club has won many admirers both in 
Australia and around the globe. For course superintendent David Warwick, such a reputation has been hard earned and 
as the accolades have come they reaffirm an ideal that was founded more than 20 years ago when he was a humble apprentice. Warwick™s affinity for environmental management can be traced back to an article 
on Audubon he read in the GCSAA™s journal 
Golf Course Management.  The article struck 
a chord with the young greenkeeper and 
it wasn™t until he assumed the mantle of 
superintendent at Queensland™s Arundel Hills Golf Club a number of years later that he started instituting some of his ideas. Around that time general environmental awareness was starting to build among the 
public and some of the environmental initiatives 
Warwick had instituted at Arundel Hills made 
headlines in the local media. Seizing on this, 
his general manager at the time saw Warwick™s 
efforts as a major drawcard and the publicity endeared the club to the local community.That trend continued when Warwick was successful in getting the superintendent position at Avondale Golf Club. The club™s 
location and setting were tailor-made for 
Warwick and his ideas and instantly he could 
see the huge potential the course offered. In the late 1990s Warwick attended the GCSAA conference in Orlando, Florida and at the Golf Show visited the Audubon stand. 
Arriving back home he convinced management 
and committee that joining the programme was in the club™s best interests. Having already documented a lot of what the course was 
doing environmentally, certification proved to 
be a relatively straightforward process and the 
club became one of the first in Australia to be 
part of the Audubon scheme.fiI reckon 99 per cent of Australian superintendents would get Audubon 
certification,fl claims Warwick, who has been superintendent at Avondale since 1996. fiEveryone is environmentally conscious and 
doing good work, it™s just the paperwork that 
makes some people apprehensive. I have 
taken and adapted things that I have seen and 
read about over the years, implemented them 
here and then documented it which is the key.fiThere are a lot of guys out there doing some great work and the level of environmental consciousness within the industry has without 
question improved in the last couple of years. 
That has come about through education, the 
AGCSA and the likes of the Claude Crockford 
award recognising environmental excellence and the great work of other superintendents. The industry is right up there now and it™s great 
to see everyone doing their bit.flAt the 2004 conference in Melbourne, Warwick™s efforts were recognised at the 
highest level when he was bestowed the 
AGCSA™s Claude Crockford Environmental 
Award.  It was at that same conference Warwick met a man by the name of Terry Muir.Approaching Muir following his keynote presentation, Warwick introduced himself to which Muir responded, fiI™ve been looking for 
you!fl A few weeks later Warwick was showing 
Muir around Avondale and from that day 
forward a close relationship was born.fiTerry Muir has been a godsend for the industry,fl states Warwick. fiSince that conference we have developed a strong working relationship and have a lot of respect 
for what the other has done. Quite frankly, I 
think the man is a bloody genius. I™ve learnt 
so much from him and I would like to think 
that I™ve helped him in some way enhance the 
e-par system.fiTerry and his business have been a blessing in disguise. He has done so much to help our industry and I think the principles of Audubon and e-par work well together. One 
is about the paperwork and documenting 
things and the other focuses on the practical 
environmental aspects out on the course.fl With Muir™s help Avondale recently conducted an energy audit and also hosted 
the drumMUSTER pilot day in Sydney late last 
year which netted nearly 800 containers. Avondale looks to the futureAvondale looks to the futureAvondale Golf Club has for years set the benchmark when it comes to golf course environmental management. ATM asks superintendent David Warwick where to now for the club.fiImplementing environmental measures slowly is not a huge capital expense and in the long term actually can reduce overall maintenance costs.fl ΠDavid Warwick, Avondale Golf Club54AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTAlso aiding Warwick in his environmental endeavours is Avondale general manager Symon Scott who together with the committee 
has been a strong proponent of such initiatives 
at the club. To further engender support, Warwick is a prolific communicator and in his committee reports environmental management issues always top the agenda. FINE-TUNING FOR THE FUTUREWhile Avondale has firmly established its 
credentials in the area of environmental 
management, Warwick says there are 
still certain aspects he wants to focus on. 
Not surprisingly, topping the list is water 
management.In the summer of 2006/07 water storage levels dropped to such a critical stage that fairway irrigation was halted. Avondale, which has just one 29M storage facility on 
course, is totally reliant on the collection and 
containment of stormwater which comes from 
the surrounding 220ha catchment area. The 
dry conditions that summer hit home just how 
vulnerable the club was.In response to this, in the latter half of 2007 the club commissioned a water management 
report. Although finding an already high degree of irrigation efficiency and management in place, there were still opportunities to increase 
efficiencies through a number of means. Ironically, the report highlighted that if the club extended its irrigation system it would be able to water the course more efficiently. The report found that the greatest area of water waste was overwatering of fairways in order to provide adequate water for rough 
areas. By installing more sprinklers in those 
areas the club would not only have better 
surfaces but would actually save on water 
usage. Other recommendations in the report 
included conducting a feasibility study into 
sewer mining, as well as increasing dam storage capacity. Other work on the cards includes looking at installing rainwater tanks for machinery washdown, while Warwick is also keen on 
introducing more native grasses to rough 
carry areas and integrating the surrounding 
bushland further into the golf course. fiWe haven™t reached a peak, so to speak, but it™s now more about maintaining the level 
we have got to and fine-tuning a few areas,fl says Warwick. fiWe have a fantastic base here at Avondale and the staff have played a huge 
part in that, particularly former horticulturalist 
Alex Palmer and our current horticulturalist 
Mark Massingham.fiThe other advantage we have is that the club has the money to reach these environmental goals. In a way it™s unfair to highlight Avondale because we have the resources available so 
it™s easier for us compared to those courses 
that don™t have the money. But I can guarantee 
you the guys in those clubs have just as much 
drive as I do when it comes to the environment 
and they are doing some great work given the 
constraints they have to operate in.fiImplementing environmental measures slowly is not a huge capital expense and 
in the long-term actually can reduce overall 
maintenance costs. That™s what we have 
found here over the years. Environmental 
management should be seen as an investment 
and one which all clubs should make.fl55AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTFoley sets new standards in grindingwww.toro.com.auFor more information speak with your local Toro representative.For Customer Service call 1800 356 372Exclusive Australian DistributorWith newer grass strains, shorter cutting heights and the challenges of newer reel and traction systems, Foley United is the proven world leader in grinding solutions.
If the answer is yes to these questions you need Foley United.www.foleyunited.comHERO/TOR1944Jwater managementWith the prolonged drought threatening their famed surfaces, 
three of Melbourne™s iconic sandbelt golf clubs are moving fast to ensure their 
future water supply. Royal Melbourne and 
Victoria, two of the hardest hit clubs in recent 
times, have constructed dams during the past growing season, while Metropolitan Golf Club is about to expand its existing storage capacity 
and install a reverse osmosis unit.  For superintendents Jim Porter (Royal Melbourne), Ian Todd (Victoria) and Richard 
Forsyth (Metropolitan), the past two summers 
have been among the most stressful they have 
had to endure, however they will all be able to 
sleep a little easier heading into this winter with the knowledge that they have taken steps to secure a more sustainable future.Of all the sandbelt giants, Royal Melbourne has personified the impact the drought has 
had on golf. Reliant on potable water to 
supplement their low yielding bores, Australia™s 
most famous golf club this year had to resort to carting in one megalitre of Class A recycled water a week to keep the course alive.With the Recycled Water Scheme for councils and industries in the sandbelt region shelved for the time being, golf courses 
have been forced into making their own 
investigations to secure water for the future. In Royal Melbourne™s case, continuing to search for additional bore water was deemed 
to be too hit and miss, while a joint investigation of sewer mining with Victoria Golf Club found that such an option was unlikely to meet the demands of both clubs.  At the same time Royal Melbourne investigated the possibility of harvesting 
stormwater from an area primarily surrounding 
the East Course. Initial studies showed up to 
90M (three quarters of the club™s total needs) could be harvested during an average rainfall year. Historical data also indicated a worse case scenario of 40M in a dry year.Work has progressed with this project to the point where the club has recently finished construction of a 37.5M storage dam next 
to the maintenance facility. A 1.8km transfer 
pipe is currently being installed to link the 
diversion structure and a 1M underground 
storage located alongside the 7th East hole. The project is expected to be fully completed 
by June in time to enable the collection of both 
winter and spring rains in preparation for the 
next irrigation season.fiAlthough not necessarily drought-proofing our facility, we will still have a minimum of just 
under 40M of storage at the start of summer that is likely to be a shandy of both bore and stormwater,fl says Porter. fiWithout rainfall this 
will provide us up to 12-16 weeks irrigation, 
which is a much more comfortable scenario 
than in recent years.fiThis project provides the infrastructure and foundation for securing our long-term 
water needs without a heavy reliance on town 
supply. Other future work being considered includes desalinisation and treatment of our bore supply, drilling for new bores, increasing 
total storage and hopefully the procurement of 
piped Class A recycled water.fl  VICTORIA Across the road at Victoria Golf Club and Ian 
Todd is also looking forward to a wet winter 
and spring to fill his recently constructed 
36.4M storage dam. After what Todd describes 
as one of the most challenging periods in the club™s history, the area to the right of the 17th fairway was chosen as an ideal location for the new dam which is fed by bore water and stormwater.fiThe construction of the facility was always considered as the first stage of a multi-stage ATM looks at three of Melbourne™s renowned sandbelt courses and their efforts to secure their future water resources.Sandbelt supers shore up suppliesSandbelt supers 
shore up suppliesVictoria Golf Club superintendent Ian Todd is looking forward to seeing his new 36.4M storage dam full come the start of next summer56AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTBY BRETT ROBINSONproject to secure the club™s water requirements into the future,fl says Todd. fiAlternative water sources are still being considered rather than relying solely on bore water for the course and clubhouse surrounds.flSince completion of the dam in late September 2007, the club™s bores have 
been operating non-stop and levels reached 
their highest just prior to Christmas when Melbourne copped a major dumping. That event saw around 3-4M flow into the dam which increased levels to about 18M. That allowed the intermittent watering of fairway 
areas only through summer and only enough 
to stop areas from dying. fiThis programme was strictly adhered to throughout those months,fl says Todd. fiThe 
fairways, although always teetering on the 
brink of death, were in far better condition than 
at the corresponding period of the previous summer, so already the project is a success. The bores are currently resting for a period of time prior to winter when the refilling process will start once more and hopefully the dam will 
be at capacity prior to next summer.fl MET-RO-POLITANIncreasing storage capacity is also on the 
agenda at Metropolitan, but is just one of two 
projects that superintendent Richard Forsyth 
will be embarking on. As well as increasing 
the existing 18M storage dam to 40M, the club has decided to install a reverse osmosis unit to treat water from two of its bores. Historically Metropolitan has relied on bore water, stormwater and some mains water for irrigation. Production of ground water from the 
four current bores has deteriorated in recent 
years and in the summer of 2006/07 the lack 
of ground water availability resulted in the club deciding not to irrigate fairways until early March 2007.  Greens management in recent years has relied upon the use of mains water for hand watering, supplied through a separate pipe 
system to each green. Restrictions placed on 
using mains water reduced the ability to use 
this source and as part of the club™s water 
management plan, constructed by Forsyth, the 
first priority was finding a water source of equal quality to replace mains usage on greens. After considerable research, a desalination plant, which will provide 100 kilolitres of treated water per day, has been approved. The treated 
water will be stored in two tanks with a capacity 
of 520 kilolitres. As well as widening and deepening the existing dam, the second stage of the project will also see the existing stormwater harvesting system upgraded to enable a greater capacity to capture water during high rainfall events.The new water storage will also incorporate a complete new pump station with a new pump well and equipment.  Work was due to 
start in April 2008 with completion by 30 June to allow filling prior to next summer.  Cost of both projects is in the vicinity of $900,000.fiIt is hoped the investment in this additional irrigation water infrastructure will improve the security of water supply using sustainable 
and environmentally responsible sources of 
water,fl says Forsyth. fiIf, at some time in 
the future, recycled water becomes available, 
either by sewer mining or direct supply, the 
new infrastructure can be adapted to make best use of this source.fl 57AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTColiseum HerbicideTHE SOLUTION FOR WINTER GRASS CONTROLThe herbicide Turf Culture Coliseum Herbicide is now available for selective post emergent control of Winter Grass (Poa annua) in turf.ACTIVE CONSTITUENT: 250 g/kg RIMSULFURONFor the control of Winter Grass (Poa annua) in CouchTurf Culture Pty LtdABN: 38 117 986 615PO Box 381Brighton, Vic, 3186Ph: 0413 587 682Fax: 03 8621 0095WindsorNow available from:Adam Cauldwell - Greener Pty Ltdturf techniciansBY LINDSAY TOMLINSON AND SIMONE STAPLESTurf techs get into gear for conferenceTurf techs get into gear for conferenceTurf technicians from around the country will converge on Melbourne for the 
24th Australian Turfgrass Conference and Trade Exhibition from 21-25 July. In 
conjunction with the Victorian Turf Equipment 
Technicians Association (VTETA), the AGCSA 
has put together a four-day programme for 
turf technicians which includes a number of 
presentations from leading industry companies, 
as well as a facilities tour. Education sessions kick off on Monday with a presentation from Castrol before heading 
out to PowerTurf/PFG™s facility in Derrimut. 
Tuesday™s sessions will be conducted at Toro™s 
Braeside headquarters, before delegates 
return to the Melbourne Convention Centre on 
Wednesday and Thursday for the remaining 
sessions. John Deere will also be sponsoring 
the technicians dinner which will be held on 
the Wednesday night. In what will be a first for the turf technician stream, the VTETA has launched a 
sponsorship programme to get turf technicians 
who wouldn™t normally attend the conference 
down to Melbourne. The VTETA is offering 
six ‚scholarships™ each worth $500 to cover 
accommodation costs for four nights during 
the conference. The VTETA has asked Toro, 
John Deere and PowerTurf to nominate two turf technicians that would not normally 
have the opportunity to attend and if their 
club/management accepts the nomination 
and agrees to pay the conference fees 
($440) the VTETA will then cover the cost 
of accommodation. The full turf technicians 
programme is as follows.MONDAY 21 JULYCastrol Presentation
Rod Crowe ΠTechnical Services Manager (VIC, 
SA, TAS)
Rod™s presentation will include debunking 
the myths about  biodegradable oils, new  
technology synthetic engine oils, synthetic 
verses mineral Πthe advantages and 
disadvantages. He will also look at the latest 
oils for turbo - diesel and petrol and their 
differences and Castrol-BP™s racing involvement 
and racing oils.
 
PowerTurf Technical Presentation  
Glenn Wright ΠJacobsen Technical Training 
Manager (Pacific Rim) 
Ray Grech ΠSpecialist Product Support
As well as a tour of the PowerTurf/PFG facilities 
at Derrimut, delegates will hear a presentation 
on fluidless mowing, an area Jacobsen 
Technology has been developing for over a 
decade, followed by a talk on the advantages 
of well-designed maintenance facilities.   Facilities Tour ΠMCGDelegates will end the first day touring the 
workshop and inspecting the equipment at 
Melbourne Cricket Ground.TUESDAY 22 JULYAll That™s Real in Reels Greg Turner Œ Foley United Sales Manager
Greg will provide an insight into reel facts and 
information and also helpful hints on how to 
get the best out of reels and grinders, along 
with hands-on grinding using the Foley 652.Stay Safe, Spray Safe  Craig Day ΠSpray Safe
Craig will examine correct sprayer set up 
(e.g. nozzle sizes, spray patterns and sprayer 
calibration) and will also look at how to 
diagnose potential problems and discuss 
controller aspects of sprayers. Hands on Technical Training  Garry Price - Field Engineer, Turf Equipment 
Sale and Service
Garry will provide a hands-on diagnostic 
session on electrical and hydraulic test 
procedures involving fault finding and the use 
of specialist test equipment.WEDNESDAY 23 JULYTeam Work ΠHow a Joint Approach Works
Daryl Sellar - AGCSA HR Manager
Drawing on his experience as superintendent at 
Glenelg Golf Club and his role as the AGCSA™s 
HR and best practice manager, Daryl will 
discuss how communication, understanding 
and team work between all the areas of the turf 
maintenance team leads to a happy and safe 
working environment.Maintaining the Latest MachineryDr Van Cline ΠManager of Turf Agronomics and 
Research, Toro 
Dr Cline will discuss technical aspects and the 
skills needed to maintain the latest machinery 
that have innovations such as mobile sensors.ATM looks ahead to the dedicated turf technicians stream which will be held as part of the 24th Australian Turfgrass Conference and Trade Exhibition in Melbourne this July.Turf technicians will be able to pick up handy hints and new ideas at this year™s conferenceAUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT58Technicians in AsiaPhil Ryan Œ Pacific Coast Design
Phil will present on the role technicians play in 
the expanding Asian golf course industry, the 
unique problems that need to be addressed 
and job opportunities available.Who™s Responsible?You arrive back at the sheds to find your newest 
piece of equipment has been delivered.  Keys 
and user manual are on the seat.  No one 
is sight.  What now? This talk is aimed at 
finding out what you should expect from the 
manufacturer pre and post delivery of any new 
equipment in direct relationship to operator 
and OH&S issues.  Future and New Directions of Turf Equipment and Machinery
Rene Lubbers ΠProduct Manager, John Deere
Brooks Hastings ΠMarketing Manager, John 
DeereThis presentation will discuss the research 
and development involved when engineering 
products from the formation of ideas in the field 
to prototypes and production.THURSDAY 24 JULYBriggs & Stratton Technical Presentation  
Rohan Carroll ΠNational Service Manager
As a specialist in small engines and machinery, 
Rohan will discuss the new advances and 
technology across the Briggs and Stratton 
range.
 
BOC Equipment Presentation
David Smith ΠWelding and Laser specialist  
Rod Bamford ΠIndustrial Products Manager  David and Rod will present products that 
are at the cutting edge of today™s standards. 
Presentations on plasma cutters, welders 
and flame gas equipment will demonstrate 
how these powerful yet portable pieces of 
equipment are an important component of 
modern workshops.Irrigation Development and MaintenanceKen Mangum, Director Golf Courses and Grounds, Atlanta Athletics Club
Ken will discuss the changes that are occurring in the area of irrigation.  He will cover new 
technologies and the importance of updating 
and maintaining irrigation systems.Turf technicians can register for the conference online at www.agcsa.com.au  The 24th Australian Turfgrass Conference in Melbourne will provide four days of education for turf technicians as well as the two-day trade exhibitionTETA STATE CONTACTSNSWTETAMembership enquiries
Sam Olah
M: 0418 296 111
E: s-m-s@bigpond.com
Next event: 17 June, 2008 ΠGWS/Silvan 
Australia Day
VTETA
Membership enquiries
John Phelan
M: 0412 121 111
E: john@vteta.info
Next events: 27 May, 2008 ΠWelding Training Day, BOC (Dandenong); 3 June, 
2008  ΠAG Power (Lilydale)
QTETA
Contact 
Phil Newton - philnewton@people.net.au59AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTTURF TECHNICIANS STREAM24th Australian Turfgrass Conference and Trade Show21-25 July 2008
Melbourne Convention CentreFor more information contact Lindsay Tomlinson on Lindsay@vteta.info Phone: 0439 363 018For conference bookings contact the AGCSA on (03) 9548 8600on the moveAfter more than two decades as superintendent of some of Perth™s foremost golf clubs, Jeff 
Lane pulled stumps and shifted east to take 
up the superintendent posting at Paradise 
Palms Country Club in Cairns. Seeking a new 
challenge in his turf management career, Lane 
certainly got more than he bargained for after 
Far North Queensland copped one of its most intense wet seasons for many years. Nickname: Laney.Age: 42.
Family: Wife Cindy and son Jeremy (13). 
Years as a superintendent: 20. 
Years as an AGCSA member: 20. Previous clubs: Balgowlah GC (apprentice, 4 
yrs); Sun City CC (greenkeeper, 1 yr); Wanneroo GC (Ass 1 yr); Sun City CC (superintendent, 3 yrs), Gosnells Golf Club WA (superintendent, 
13 yrs); Joondalup Resort (superintendent, 4 
yrs).
Current club: Paradise Palms CC (3 months).
Number of staff: 16. 
Course specs: 18 holes, Tifdwarf greens, 
Greenlees Park tees and fairways.Turf qualifications: Greenkeeping certificate, Diploma turf management. 
Congratulations on your recent appointment 
as superintendent at Paradise Palms CC. It 
must have been a big decision to move 
right across the other side of the country 
after a successful tenure at Joondalup. 
What prompted the move and how are you 
settling in?It is hard to say. There were so many factors 
involved. The job gave us the opportunity to 
experience life in a new place. I saw the ad 
on the AGCSA website and it seemed like a 
good opportunity to learn more and challenge 
myself. As Paradise Palms is going through 
some major changes with Graham Marsh also, 
I thought it would be an exciting move. Cindy and I are no strangers to big moves, having moved from Sydney to Western 
Australia the day after we married when we 
were just 20! And our son Jeremy is happy as 
Cairns has the country™s best skate park. There 
are always risks in life and with my 13-year-old 
being part of our decision I wanted him to learn 
that sometimes you have to take risks to see 
what you can do.  Scott Parker (ex-2IC at The Vines) made a similar move to Cairns a couple of years 
ago. Were you in contact with him to get 
some advice before the big move east?No, not beforehand, but I have caught up 
with Scott a few times now. I have also met or 
chatted with some of the other guys up here 
too and they have all been really great.What are some of the main challenges with your new posting? What has been the 
biggest adjustment?
The climate and grasses to start with! The 
disease pressure was enormous just after I 
arrived. What would take about 12 days to 
breed in WA happens in about 12 hours here. 
Understanding how these hybrid couches want 
to live is a big challenge. I arrived right before Getting back on the 
tools has proved too 
much of an allure 
for Brett Morris 
who has taken up 
the superintendent 
role at Sea Temple 
Golf Club and Country Club. Morris, the former 
superintendent at Brisbane Golf Club, spent the past couple of years working at the University of Sydney where he was involved with the Masters of 
Turf Management programme. Morris 
finished up that role in December before 
moving the family north to Port Douglas. ~~~Assistant superintendent Leon 
Hennessy has left Long Reef Golf Club 
in Collaroy, NSW and moved down the road to a similar role at Elanora Country Club under superintendent Daniel Cook. Hennessy replaces Mitchell Montgomery who has left the industry.  Simon Brown, 
ex-groundstaff at Manly Golf Club, has 
been promoted to Hennessy™s vacant 
role at Long Reef.~~~After 19 years 
at Tura Beach 
Country Club, 
superintendent 
Pete George has 
decided on a 
change of scene. 
George has taken a position with a local irrigation company dealing in both the turf and ag sectors. ~~~Troy Nethercott is settling in as the new superintendent at Emerald Golf 
Club in Queensland. Formerly with Turf 
Irrigation Services and superintendent 
at Riverlakes Golf Club, Nethercott 
takes over from Peter Bock who has 
moved to Bundaberg Golf Club.~~~Tom Crawford has been appointed superintendent at Launceston™s Riverside Golf Club.  Crawford arrives after eight years at Red Cliffs Golf Club 
in Mildura. Crawford, who was brought 
up in Launceston, takes over from Peter 
Medwin who is now superintendent at Maryborough Golf Club. Jeff Lane has taken the reins at Paradise Palms Country Cub in Queensland, coming across from Joondalup Resort in Western AustraliaJeff Lane Paradise Palms Country ClubJeff Lane Brett MorrisPete George60AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTthe wet season started and it has been a pretty tough initiation. We™ve had about 2m of rain in the three months since I arrived. The Tifdwarf is really suffering. The root system is nearly non-existent. It™s amazing to see a grass so unhappy with what you™re doing 
to it. It™s going to take a while to understand 
what it wants, but we™ll get there. Nearly every 
course up here has changed their greens to Novatec as they all got tired of losing grass every summer. Trying to build a whole new green complex out of clay during the wet 
season is a fair challenge too! The one thing you miss about Joondalup and the one thing you don™t?Perth has the most fantastic sands and together with the dry climate must make it one of the 
best places in the world to grow turf. I must 
say I miss all the mates that I made over the 
20 years we were in Perth, but I certainly don™t 
miss the winds.
Paradise Palms is about to undergo some 
major works. Can you outline what is planned for the course and what it will mean for you as superintendent?
The new owners here are developing all the 
real estate around the course and also some 
on the course. As a consequence, Graham 
Marsh™s team has put together a redesign 
plan which is expected to be completed over 
the next five to seven years. There will be about three completely new holes (including an island green par 3) and a number of major 
changes to a few other holes. All greens will be 
redesigned and rebuilt, all tees will be renewed 
and all fairway bunkers. For me it probably means I™ll be as busy as a canetoad crossing a highway but we™re 
hoping at the end of it we™ll have one of the best courses in the country. I can™t see why not–it already has a great layout and is in a great location.What are some of your major turf management 
issues there at Paradise Palms?
The buzzword in Queensland seems to be ERI 
(ectotrophic root infection). A lot of research 
is going into it. Coming up with a sustainable 
management plan to combat this is one issue. 
Producing extremely high quality surfaces in this climate with the rain and the soils is another issue we want to excel in.
Water is obviously a critical issue around 
the country. Is water the least of your 
worries given the location of the course? 
Well, we still can have a water shortage too. Our only water supply is reclaimed effluent and from about April through to December we still need it and often it may not be enough. The daily evaporation rate is still around 5-6mm through winter and then only about 7-8mm in 
summer. And then we™ve just finished getting 
about 2m of rain over the first three months of 
the year! So yes, that does cause some other 
issues.What™s the one piece of advice you would give a superintendent moving to a new club interstate?
I suppose just to stick to the basics Πmoisture, drainage, nutrition etc. Look, learn and listen to as many people as you can. Oh, and if they are coming to FNQ, get a good preventative disease programme in place asap!Best advice you have ever received on the job and who gave it to you?Peter Williams (ex Royal Melbourne) gave me some fantastic advice on how to manage bentgrass greens and it completely changed 
the way I did things after that.
If you could change one thing about your 
job what would it be?
Being able to go home on a Friday afternoon and not think about anything work related (or go into work) until I get in Monday morning.Best part about being a superintendent?
By far the best thing has been the opportunity to finish work most of the time in the afternoon and get time to spend with my family. I try and never take that for granted.What™s the best part of being involved in the 
turf industry?
You certainly get to meet a lot of great people 
and form some good friendships and you just 
never stop learning.
Favourite spot on your course? 
Anywhere, as long as it is in good condition.Favourite piece of machinery?At the moment it is the Enviromist. No golf 
course should be without one.
Most embarrassing moment as a 
superintendent?
I was showing someone how to service a 
sprinkler and didn™t realise I had taken the 
nozzle off and the retainer out. For some reason the drive stayed in the can for a brief period, then while I had my head looking down 
into the can it decided to let go. The first thing I 
knew I was lying flat on my back with the words 
fiEagle 700fl embossed on my forehead.
Funniest moment seen on course?
There™s something about watching another 
staff member trying to fix an irrigation problem while there™s a stack of pressure on it. They always end up saturated and the wetter they get the more determined they become.Worst excuse from a staff member?
I™ve got a tummy ache (Monday morning 
obviously).
Career highlight?
Winning the 1997 AGCSA Fellowship Award; 
visiting a variety of great courses around the 
world in 2001, such as Shinnecock Hills, Pine Valley, Cypress Point, St Andrews, Merion and others; and playing 18 holes with Alice Cooper 
last year.
The overseas course you™d most like to 
visit?
Augusta National.focus onOFF THE COURSEFavourite movie?
T2.
Name three CDs you could not live 
without.
U2 Œ Unforgettable Fire; Coldplay Œ Rush of Blood to the Head; The Brady Bunch Œ It™s a Sunshine Day.If you could be any musician, who would you be?
Don™t care–as long as I get to do a duet 
with Christina Aguilera.
Food you could not live without?
Chilli.
Favourite sporting team?
Freo.Sporting team you despise?There will be a lot of disappointed people if 
I don™t say West Coast.
Irritations?
People who say figuesstimatefl and fione 
foul swoopfl. And when the media declares 
a one-day cricket match won by a certain 
number of wickets. How can you win by wickets in a one-dayer?What book are you reading now?
Augusta National and the Masters, a 
photographer™s scrapbook. I get it out every 
year about this time.
Favourite golfer?
Tiger is a freak of nature. It™s a privilege to 
be living in the same era and to be able to 
watch his achievements unfold.
Golf handicap?
Six.What do you do to get away from it all?Yell at Freo for about three hours a week.61AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTnewsPRESIDENT'S SON MAKES HIS MARK FOR MALTATwenty-two-year-old Ryan Gambin, son of Australian Golf Course Superintendents™ 
Association president and Gold Coast Burleigh Golf Club superintendent Jeff Gambin, 
created history in late March after qualifying for 
the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games Πfor Malta! Gambin, who holds dual Australian and Maltese citizenship, became the talk of 
the Australian swimming community after 
qualifying in the 100m butterfly at the European 
Championships held in The Netherlands, 
becoming the first swimmer in Malta™s history 
to qualify for the Olympics. In what was his first official swim for Malta after gaining citizenship at the start of 2008, 
Gambin notched a personal best time of 
54.33s in his pet event to go under the Olympic 
qualifying mark of 54.7s. In doing so Gambin 
is officially the first athlete from Malta to qualify 
for this year™s Games. fiI am thrilled to have made history and become the first swimmer ever to have qualified 
for the Olympics for Malta,fl says Gambin. fiI 
love my new adopted home of Malta and want 
to do everything in my power to make the 
people proud.fiAchieving the time is special as for the last six months I have been doing this on my 
own. I left my family, my friends, my lifestyle in 
Australia and began looking after every aspect 
of my swimming by myself. I sat down and 
wrote out a training programme that suited my 
events and forced myself to stick with it. fiIt is unheard of for a swimmer not to have a team behind them at my level and I 
have to admit, when I saw all the teams at the 
European Championships, like the Italians, 
Polish and Spanish, even I secretly questioned 
myself whether I could really perform at the 
same standard. But the results speak for 
themselves, so something must be working.flGambin™s journey on the road to representing Malta began last year via the 
most unusual of circumstances. Living then on 
the Gold Coast with dad Jeff and mum Karen, 
Gambin was asked to model for a swimwear 
catalogue. Karen sent some of those photos 
to friends and family, some of which ended 
up with Jeff™s extended family back in Malta. 
Jeff is of Maltese descent and his parents, Joe 
and Doris, immigrated to Australia from Malta 
shortly after World War II. Upon discovering that his distant relative was a gun swimmer, Jeff™s second cousin 
Colin Pace contacted Gambin encouraging 
him to get in touch with the Maltese Swimming 
Association. Despite being Australian born, his grandparents™ heritage meant that he 
was eligible to gain citizenship and therefore 
represent the small Mediterranean nation.Narrowly outside the top tier of Australian swimmers for a number of years, the 
opportunity to swim for Malta was too good an 
opportunity to pass up and after completing all 
the necessary documentation Gambin gained 
his Maltese citizenship at the start of the year. Basing himself in Malta, Gambin quickly established himself as the country™s newest 
star and at the national championships set 
four new records. After that meet, the Maltese 
Olympic Committee agreed to send him to 
the European Championships and Gambin 
didn™t disappoint, easily making the Olympic 
B qualifying time to book himself a ticket to 
Beijing. Jeff and Karen watched their son™s qualifying swim over the Easter long weekend 
and in the weeks that followed were inundated 
with calls from those within the turf management 
industry congratulating them on their son™s 
achievement.fiThe Easter weekend didn™t get off to the best of starts after the Rabbitohs lost in the 
NRL,fl laughs Jeff Gambin. fiBut watching Ryan 
do what he did at the European Championships 
more than made up for that. fiWe watched his swim streamed live over the Internet and I can tell you I have never been 
more nervous in my life. Both Karen and I are 
so proud of what he has achieved because 
we know how much hard work he has put 
into this. fiIt has been his dream since he first started swimming at the age of seven and to now have 
the opportunity to go to an Olympic Games is 
so special for us all.flNews of Gambin™s efforts quickly made the headlines around the country and Melbourne-
based sports radio station 1116 SEN ran a 
20-minute interview with Malta™s newest swim 
star on its midday show The Good Oil. The response to that interview was overwhelming with the station inundated by 
calls from members of the Maltese community 
in Melbourne offering to donate money to 
assist Gambin in realising his Olympic dream. The following day Speedo Australia general manager Rob Davies was on the same show 
donating one of his company™s much-talked 
about hi-tech LZR Racer swimsuits. The new 
swimsuits have created a stir in recent months 
with no less than nine new world records being 
set by swimmers wearing the special ‚water-
repellent™ suits. Not surprisingly, Gambin also featured widely in the Maltese media following his 
qualification and more good press could 
follow if Gambin has his way. Despite already 
qualifying for Beijing, he now has his sights set 
on the 200m butterfly and 50m freestyle events 
and is due to compete at two World Cup meets 
in Athens and Rome in the coming months. 
Gambin is also hopeful of being able to train 
with the Italian and Spanish national swim 
teams in the lead up to the Games.The AGCSA has also got behind Gambin and has pledged to help Ryan in 
his preparations for the Games, starting up a 
fund which the turf management industry can 
donate into. For more information about the 
fund, contact Scott Petersen at the AGCSA on 
(03) 9548 8600 or email scott@agcsa.com.au Ryan Gambin, son of AGCSA President Jeff Gambin (below), will contest the 100m butterfly at the 2008 Beijing Olympics62 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTLEAVE SCRUFFY AT HOMEI would like to pass comment on your feature article in the most recent magazine titled 
fiTails from the Turffl (Australian Turfgrass Management Volume 10.2 ΠMarch April).  Let me preface these comments by saying that in no way could I be considered 
a dog hater, having had a number of dogs 
during my life. However, the notion that a 
dog should be encouraged to spend work 
time out on the golf course is bordering on 
unprofessional. I realise these statements will 
not endear me to certain superintendents, 
but please consider the risks you may be 
putting yourself, your staff, your club and 
even your beloved dog.One superintendent regales the story of his dog being run over by a golf cart. Luckily, 
in this case, the dog survived. Imagine if, for 
instance, the golf cart was parked close to a 
steep bunker or a water hazard. The driver 
of the cart panics upon realising he has 
probably injured the dog, loses control and 
drives into the hazard. You can surmise the 
possibilities to the driver.Or another dog spots a duck nearby, takes off chasing it, and a group of junior 
golfers is between the dog and duck. Some 
years earlier, one of the juniors had been the 
victim of a dog attack.  I know where most 
people™s consideration should be.These scenario™s could go on forever– involving a dog™s urine and faeces, time 
and attention given to ensuring a dog™s 
good behaviour and many, many possible disasters waiting to happen. Not so many 
years ago, front end loader operational 
safety was secondary and four-wheel motor 
bikes were numerous, but accidents have 
woken us up to these dangers.  Please be 
proactive in this instance too!There would not be a single OH&S officer that could endorse a dog™s attendance at our 
workplaces. I also wonder how many times 
a prospective superintendent has turned up 
at a job interview with their dog in tow?I realise the article was meant to have a light hearted tone, but I implore any 
‚professional™ to think carefully before putting 
‚Scruffy™ in the ute. Take the dog for a walk in 
the park, where leads are required for a very 
good reason.Colin FosterPatterson River Country Club, VICLETTER TO THE EDITORTGAA FORMS NATIONAL EXECUTIVEThe Turfgrass Association of Australia (TGAA) has formed a national executive 
consisting of representatives from each TGAA region, with administration to be 
managed from both NSW and Victoria.The national executive, which had its first meeting in Brisbane in late February, will work 
to continue the growth and development of the 
association throughout Australia and represent 
its members through continued improvement, 
education and development of the industry. At that meeting it was also announced that a Queensland branch of the TGAA would be 
developed to provide all turf managers and 
trade reps in the state with networking and 
educational opportunities. In other TGAA news, the NSW branch has decided on a new look and has changed its 
name to the Sports Turf Association, NSW, to 
boost its profile and marketing potential.fiWe believe that the new name is a strong reflection of who we are and what we do 
and provides great potential to continue to 
grow and strengthen our association,fl says 
president Graeme Logan. fiThe purpose and mission of the association remains the same, as does our 
commitment to our members and we are 
still proudly associated with the other TGAA 
regions throughout Australia.flThe STA NSW will officially launch its new name and logo at its Sports Turf Seminar on 15 
May at the Sydney Showgrounds.63AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTSPORTS TURF DRAINERS& CONSTRUCTIONSPECIALISTSSLIT DRAINAGESAND GROOVINGLASER LEVELLING/GRADINGLASER CONTROLLED TRENCHINGTURF DRAIN AUSTRALIABob Paddison Phone:  NSW (02) 8117 8100  VIC (03) 6328 1522Fax:    (02) 8117 8101Mobile: 0418 261 089Email: turfdrain@bigpond.comWebsite: www.turfdrain.com.auMENTAY ROLLS INTO DUBAIThe ICC Cricket Academy based Dubai has purchased a stack of Mentay equipment in its 
aim to produce a state-of-the-art training facility 
in the Middle East nation.Academy head curator Tony Hemming, who before heading to Dubai was in charge 
at Aurora Stadium (Launceston) and Optus 
Oval (Melbourne), will take delivery of three 
container loads of Mentay products, including 
two Mentay 2000 mid-range rollers, one with a 
concrete barrel and one water filled. Also making the journey are three concrete Mentay Hydra Glide walk-behind 
rollers along with one water-filled walk-behind. 
This equipment is complemented by two oval 
rollers and a Mentay turf crusher.  Hemming is also bringing in a number of small hand rollers of various sizes for between 
innings as well as two Aqua Wizz pedestrian 
absorption rollers and Kev™s Keepers to hold 
down wicket covers.For more information on the Mentay range of products, freecall 1800 037 075 or 
visit www.mentay.com.auHUNTER REDESIGNS PRO ADJUSTABLE NOZZLESListening to and acting upon customers™ requests, Hunter Industries has redesigned 
and launched its all-new line of Pro Adjustable 
Nozzles. fiThe new Pro Adjustable Nozzles have been redesigned and precision-engineered as 
a direct response to contractors™ feedback,fl 
says Hunter senior product manager Gene 
Smith. fiFrom uniformity to adjustability and 
crisp edges, among others, we™ve addressed 
every area regarding the prior adjustable 
nozzles.fl The result is a new line of Pro Adjustable Nozzles that offers improved performance, with 
a new thicker flange that makes adjustments 
significantly easier. The new nozzles also better 
emit water to offer improved appearance and 
distribution as well as bigger droplets.What used to be less-than-satisfactory edges are now sharp and well-defined. The 
enhanced design also throws water longer 
to eliminate short trailing edges, common 
before, and maintains a matched precipitation 
rate. Further, the five 8™, 10™, 12™, 15™ and 17™ 
nozzles are colour-coded by radius for easy 
identification. In other company news, Steve Abernethy has been promoted as Hunter™ new executive 
vice-president of sales, while Gregory Hunter 
has been promoted to a similar position in 
marketing. Abernethy will have complete 
responsibility for both US domestic and 
international sales operations.For more information about Hunter products, contact you local Hunter distributor 
or visit www.hunterindustries.comRAIN BIRD BOOT CAMP FOR IRRIGATION PROFESSIONALSTo help irrigation professionals keep abreast 
of the latest developments and product 
knowledge, Rain Bird Australia will hold its 
Professional Irrigation Training Camp on the 
Gold Coast from 23-27 June.To be held at the Holiday Inn, Surfers Paradise, the camp will include a series of 
training sessions and classes specifically 
designed to supplement the knowledge of 
those already experienced in professional 
irrigation and to introduce newcomers to the 
industry.The sessions cover areas from basic design principles, wire tracing and general 
troubleshooting to certified training, knowledge 
of decoders and an operator™s course on all 
Rain Bird™s central control systems. Two new 
additions to the course this year will be on 
Maxicom Level 2 and irrigation efficiency.fiThe science and methodology involved in the irrigation of reserves, ovals, golf courses, 
nurseries, farms and other large irrigated areas 
has progressed at a rapid pace during the 
last few years with the introduction of better 
techniques and sophisticated computerised 
irrigation technology,fl says Rain Bird national 
sales manager Wayne Brown.fiThe training camp is designed to teach everyone involved in irrigation management all 
there is to know about state-of-the-art irrigation 
technology in an educational environment with 
practicable application. fiIn Australia, water conservation is at the forefront and you cannot afford not to be 
getting the most out of your system. The 
courses have been developed for golf course 
supervisors, irrigation contractors and dealers, 
council employees, horticulturists, farmers and 
anyone who is responsible for maintaining and 
managing large tracts of irrigated areas.flFor more information about the Rain Bird Academy Professional Irrigation Training 
Camp, call 1300 362 656. A registration form 
can also be downloaded from www.rainbird.
com.auaround the trade Toro has introduced two new additions to 
its aeration line Πthe Toro ProCore 864 
and ProCore 1298. The new models expand on the highly popular ProCore 648 
and provide a solution for large scale aeration 
applications. The 864 has eight coring heads and is 163cms wide, while the 1298 has 12 
coring heads and is 249cms wide. Both 
are tractor-mounted, PTO-driven units 
designed for large-area applications. Core 
aeration reduces compaction, improves gas 
exchange and creates drainage channels for 
better water movement and stronger plant 
root systems. fiAeration is one of the most critical jobs for continued turf health,fl says Kris 
Lindstrom, marketing manager for Toro 
cultivation products. fiThe Toro aeration 
equipment incorporates years of research, 
including valuable feedback from many turf 
management professionals. The Toro aerators 
are durable and productive, providing user-friendly solutions.fl The ProCore 864 and Toro ProCore1298 boast precision-balanced coring heads which 
eliminate hopping, rocking and unnecessary 
vibration and are designed to be compatible 
with Toro™s Titan tines. The new additions 
also slot in with the Toro™s other aeration 
products, including the ProCore Processor.For more information about the complete line of Toro aeration products, 
contact your local Toro distributor. Toro expands aeration lineToro™s new ProCore 864 aeratorRain Bird will conduct its Professional Irrigation Training Camp in JuneAUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT64NEW HOPE FOR BAYERBayer Environmental Science (BES) has appointed Nadine Hope as its new Victorian 
sales manager. Hope will be responsible for 
green sales in Victoria and takes up the position 
having been responsible for administering 
the BES 1800 technical line. Hope can be 
contacted on 0417 300 405 or email nadine.
hope@bayercropscience.comECOLOGIC EXTENDS RGF™S ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMMEEcologic has announced the release in Australia 
and New Zealand of RGF Environmental 
Group™s Washmaster range of wash water 
reclaim systems as part of its growing 
Environmental Golf Programme.Considering current water restrictions and the gradual tightening of EPA discharge 
regulations, closed loop wash water reclaim 
systems are quickly becoming best practice 
at many golf course and turf management 
maintenance facilities.fiFor a long time it™s been hard to track down definitive environmental regulations on 
golf course equipment maintenance. Now 
with the emergence of qualified environmental 
management guides it™s becoming a case 
of combining new technology with common 
sense to achieve best practice,fl says Ecologic 
director Tony Julian. fiRGF has provided the US golf industry with leading environmental programmes for 
the past 20 years. Ecologic is extending RGF™s 
golf programme here in Australia to assist 
clubs large and small in achieving compliance 
and sustainable operations.fl In an effort to promote and support the golf industry™s push for environmental compliance, 
Ecologic will be rolling out ‚ecoGolf™ over 
the coming months to assist courses and 
superintendents in the environmental 
management of their maintenance operations. For more information on the Washmaster range and Ecologic™s Environmental Golf 
Programme, email info@ecologicintl.com.
au or call Tony Julian on (07) 5535 1615.TICK OF APPROVAL FOR RAIN BIRD NOZZLES Rain Bird™s rotary nozzles have been awarded 
the Smart Approved WaterMark, a sign of 
distinction devised to assist in the conservation 
of water.The Rain Bird rotary nozzles have multiple rotating streams that deliver close-in watering 
and even coverage throughout the radius 
range, while the low precipitation rate of 
15.2mm/hr significantly reduces wasteful run-off. Designed to fit on Rain Bird spray heads, 
rotary nozzles provide design flexibility and 
efficient water distribution from 4-7.3 metres.With about 60 per cent less flow than conventional spray nozzles and an expanded 
radius of throw, rotary nozzles allow more 
heads per zone, resulting in lower costs as 
fewer zones are required. Rotary nozzles are 
ideal to solve problems caused by diminished 
pressure or stretched spray.To find out more about Rain Bird rotary nozzles, freecall 1800 424 044.PHILMAC APPOINTS NEW MARKETING MANAGERAustralian pipe fittings manufacturer and 
distributor of water 
management products, 
Philmac, has appointed 
Russell Schrale as national 
marketing manager.Schrale will be responsible for Philmac™s marketing team and will lead the company™s 
marketing activities across Australia. He will 
also manage marketing for Philmac™s sister 
company Aquadux, which distributes products 
for the plumbing industry.NUFARM™S WISE WEBSITENufarm is set to release a new decision 
support tool called Spraywise Decisions which 
will aid pesticide applicators in planning their 
spray programmes based around forecasted 
weather conditions.  The new website will help 
applicators plan to spray in the best conditions 
to maximise performance of chemicals.Superintendents, turf farm managers, spray applicators and distribution customers 
will be able to access the Spraywise Decisions 
website which will provide up to a 14-day 
forecast for weather. The website will also have 
a spray planner that provides a snapshot of the 
next five days.  The planner incorporates all the 
key climate factors that affect spray application 
and performance and presents them in an 
easy to interpret chart.fiOne of the key features of the website will be its site specific accuracy,fl says Nufarm™s 
Harry Pickering. fiThe website uses information 
from the BOMs weather stations and processes 
this data with local topographic data to produce 
a local forecast for your selected point of 
reference.  This effectively provides the user 
with a virtual weather station for every one 
square kilometre grid across Australia.flFor more information or to register you interest in Spraywise Decisions, go to www.
spraywisedecisions.com.au AGCSACLASSIFIEDSToro Hydroject 3000 water and wetting agent injection machine, new wetting agent pump and just 400 hours on the clock. Comes with the necessary 
attachments. Ideal for golf and bowling greens. Enquiries to Jason Foulis 0406 996 940.  Price: $9900 incl GST ~~~   Toro RM6500D with 2500 hours. 
11-blade reels, ROPS and canopy, recently ground and new bedknives. Currently in use on AFL standard 
ryegrass oval. For further information contact Jason Foulis on 0406 996 940  Price: $15,000 inc GST Contact: 
jfoulis1@bigpond.com~~~Jacobsen GK IV Plus Diesel 
Fitted with turf groomers. Only used 200 hours, in excellent condition. More information obtained - contact Larry 
Muir on 0419 967 766 Price: $33,000+ ~~~ Jacobsen coring machine, 11hp Honda 
motor machine has been used six times in excellent condition. Some tynes with purchase. Contact Brendan 0404 996 
315. Price: $7000 Contact: super_mossmangolf@hotmail.com~~~ For more classifieds go to www.agcsa.com.auRussell Schrale65AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTbook shopTURF INDUSTRY BOOKSHOPAGCSA PRODUCED DVD™s ...................................................................Non-Member ....Member(DVD) Environmental Issues for Golf Course Architecture ............................$88.00 ....$66.00(DVD) HR presentation and templates by Daryl Sellar ..................................$88.00 ....$66.00AGCSA PUBLICATIONS .......................................................................Non-Members ....Members2008 Turfgrass Management Diary .................................................................$86.25 ....$73.30Sportsturf Protection Manual -The Complete Guide to all Turf Protection Products .......................................$253.00 ....$215.05Improving the Environmental Management of New South Wales Golf Courses .......................................................................$50.00 ....$ 57.50Improving the Eco-Efficiency of Golf Courses in Queensland ...........................$50.00 ....$ 57.50GOLF ....................................................................................................Non-Member ....Member A Century of Greenkeeping .....................................................................      $142.36 ....$123.80A Natural Course for Golf ..............................................................................$142.36 ....$123.80A Practical Guide to Ecological Management on the Golf Course ...................$  87.04 ....$  73.98Best Golf Course Management Practices .......................................................$316.25 ....$275.00 Bird Conservation on Golf Courses  ...............................................................$  94.88 ....$  82.50Bunkers, Pitts & other hazards ......................................................................$194.11 ....$168.80Cricket Grounds ............................................................................................$208.39 ....$181.30Cricket Wickets: Science & Fiction ..................................................................$62.50 ....$ 50.00Discovering Donald Ross-The Architect & His Golf Courses...........................$300.49 ....$261.30Ecological Golf Course Management .............................................................$197.68 ....$171.90A Guide to Golf Course Irrigation System, Design & Drainage ........................$253.00 ....$220.00Golf Course Architecture -Design, Construction & Restoration .......................$208.49 ....$181.30Golf Architecture Œ A World Perspective Vol 3 Œ Paul Daley ...........................$  63.25 ....$  55.00Golf Course Design .......................................................................................$221.38 ....$192.50Golf Course Irrigation: Environmental Design & Mgmt Practices ....................$221.38 ....$192.50Golf Course Management & Construction ......................................................$445.63 ....$387.50Golf Course Tree Management  .....................................................................$151.00 ....$131.30Golf Course Turf Management: Tools and Techniques ....................................$316.25 ....$275.00Golf Facility Planning .....................................................................................$222.86 ....$193.80Golf Greens and Greenkeeping ......................................................................$155.25 ....$135.00Human Resource Management for Golf Course Superintendents ....................$126.50 ....$110.00IPM Handbook for Golf Courses ....................................................................$197.68 ....$171.90Keepers of the Green: A History of GC Management ......................................$150.29 ....$130.70 Managing Wildlife Habitats on Golf Courses  .................................................$150.29 ....$130.70Masters of the Links-Essays on Art of Golf Course Design ............................$  87.04 ....$  75.70Practical Golf Course Maintenance Œ Magic of Greenkeeping .........................$173.99 ....$151.30Rough Meditations (HB) ................................................................................$  87.04 ....$  75.70Superintendents Handbook of Financial Management ....................................$126.50 ....$110.00Sustainable Golf Course:Guide to Environmental Stewardship ........................$165.36 ....$143.80The Care of the Golf Course Œ 2nd Edition .....................................................$166.06 ....$144.40The Cricket Pitch & its Outfield ......................................................................$142.36 ....$123.80The Golden Age of Golf Design  ....................................................................$221.38 ....$192.50The Golf Rules Dictionary ..............................................................................$158.15 ....$137.50The Golf Course Œ Planning, Design, Const and Mgmt - HB only ........................$366.61 ....$318.80The Good Doctor Returns ..............................................................................$  71.18 ....$  61.90The Life and Work of Dr Alistair Mackenzie ....................................................$215.63 ....$187.50The Links ......................................................................................................$189.75 ....$165.00The Sand Putting Green - Construction & Mgmt (leaflet)................................$  28.51 ....$  24.80The Sandbelt .................................................................................................$156.25 ....$135.90 The Spirit of St. Andrews  .............................................................................$102.81 ....$  89.40The Superintendent™s Guide to Controlling Green Speed .................................$142.36 ....$123.80Turf Management for Golf Courses ................................................................$363.74 ....$316.30SOILS ...................................................................................................Non-Member ....MemberGrowing Media for Ornamental Plants and Turf  .............................................$100.63 ....$  87.50Bioremediation of Contaminated Soils: Agronomy Monograph 37 ..................$347.88 ....$302.88Introduction to Soil Microbiology ...................................................................$173.99 ....$151.30Mineral Nutrition of Higher Plants Œ 2nd Edition .............................................$205.61 ....$178.80Practical Soil Management ............................................................................$  57.50 ....$  50.00Principles of Soil Chemistry Œ 3rd Edition ......................................................$208.49 ....$181.30Soil Analysis: An Interpretation manual ..........................................................$194.11 ....$168.80Soil Fertility Evaluation and Control................................................................$180.25 ....$156.74Soils & Soil Management ..............................................................................$257.36 ....$223.80Soils & Their Environment .............................................................................$215.63 ....$187.50Turfgrass Œ No 32 in the series Agronomy ....................................................$221.38 ....$192.50TURF & PESTS .....................................................................................Non-Member ....MemberAusgrass: Grasses of Australia: CD-Rom & Manual.................................–..$142.36 ....$123.80Australian Weed Control Handbook - 10th Edition ..........................................$110.74 ....$  96.30Beards Turfgrass Encylopedia for Golf Courses, Ground, LawnsAnd Sportsfields ...........................................................................................$395.36 ....$343.80Biological Control of Weeds ..........................................................................$142.36 ....$123.80Bowling Greens Œ A Practical Guide ..............................................................$  35.99 ....$  31.30Color Atlas of Turfgrass Diseases..................................................................$270.25 ....$235.00Color Atlas of Turf  Weeds ............................................................................$308.78 ....$268.50Compendium of Turfgrass Diseases ................................................................$71.88 ....$ 62.50Compendium of Turfgrass Diseases 3rd Edition ............................................$205.62 ....$178.80Complete Guide to Pest Control With & Without Chemicals ............................$208.49 ....$181.30Controlling Turfgrass Pests 2nd Edition .........................................................$337.87 ....$293.80Creeping Bentgrass Management - Summer Stresses ...................................$184.00 ....$160.00Cricket Grounds ............................................................................................$208.49 ....$181.30Cricket Wickets Œ Science vs Fiction .............................................................$115.00 ....$100.00CSIRO Handbook of Australian Weeds ..........................................................$  79.11 ....$  68.80Destructive Turfgrass Insect - Biology, Diagnosis & Control .......................... $258.75 ....$225.00Diseases of Turfgrass ...................................................................................$345.00 ....$300.00Diseases of Turfgrass CD-Rom .....................................................................$316.25 ....$275.00Fertilisers for Turf ..........................................................................................$  79.11 ....$  68.80Field Guide to Weeds in Australia ..................................................................$136.61 ....$116.10Fundamentals of Turfgrass Management .......................................................$181.12 ....$157.50Fundamentals of Weed Science 2nd Edition...................................................$237.24 ....$206.30Gardening with Grasses ..................................................................................$86.25 ....$75.00 Grasses of New South Wales ........................................................................$  51.75 ....$  45.00Grasses of Temperate Australia Œ A Field Guide .............................................$103.50 ....$  90.00Grasses: Systematics & Evolution .................................................................$251.61 ....$218.80Handbook of IPM for Turf & Ornamentals ......................................................$337.86 ....$293.80International Turf Management Handbook ......................................................$337.86 ....$293.80Lawn Care Œ A Handbook for Professionals ...................................................$222.86 ....$193.80Management of Turfgrass Diseases -3rd Edition ............................................$244.37 ....$212.50Managing Bermudagrass Turf Œ Selection & Construction .............................$229.31 ....$199.40Managing Turfgrass Pests .............................................................................$359.38 ....$312.50Manual of Grasses ........................................................................................$142.36 ....$123.80Mathematics of Turfgrass Maintenance Œ 3rd Edition.....................................$126.50 ....$110.00Native Grasses:Handbook for Temperate Australia 3rd Edition ........................$  38.86 ....$  33.80Natural Turf for Sport & Amenity ...................................................................$173.99 ....$151.30Noxious Weeds of Australia Œ Revised Edition ...............................................$280.36 ....$243.80Nursery & Landscape Weed Control Manual ..................................................$142.36 ....$123.80Organic Control of Weeds .............................................................................$  26.67 ....$  23.20Picture Perfect, Mowing Tech for Lawn, Sports & Turf ..................................$122.24 ....$106.30Poa Annua Œ Physiology, Culture & Control of Annual Grasses ......................$174.22 ....$151.20Rootzones, Sands & Top Dressing Materials for Sports Turf ..........................$122.24 ....$106.30Salt Affected Turfgrass Sites .........................................................................$221.38 ....$192.50Sands for Sports Turf Construction & Maintenance .......................................$  79.11 ....$  68.80Seashore Paspalum Œ The Environmental Turfgrass .......................................$213.54 ....$185.70 Sports Fields Œ A Manual for Design, Construction & Maintenance ................$253.00 ....$220.00Sports Turf & Amenity Grasses Œ A  Manual for Use & Identification .............$122.24 ....$106.30Sports Turf & Amenity Œ Grassland Management ..........................................$158.13 ....$137.50Sports Turf - Science, Construction & Maintenance ......................................$316.25 ....$275.00Tree, Turf, Ornamental Pesticide Guide ..........................................................$115.00 ....$100.00Turf Irrigation Manual ....................................................................................$179.74 ....$156.30Turf Managers HBK for Golf Course Construction, Renovation 
& Grow-In .....................................................................................................$213.54 ....$185.70Turf Weeds and Their Control (HB) ................................................................$313.38 ....$272.50Turfgrass: Agronomy Monograph No 32........................................................$192.50 ....$221.38Turfgrass Diseases & Associated Disorders ..................................................$115.00 ....$100.00Turfgrass Installation, Management & Maintenance .......................................$337.86 ....$293.80Turfgrass Maintenance Reduction Handbook ΠSports & Golf ........................$258.75 ....$225.00Turf Management in the Transition Zone ........................................................$156.25 ....$132.80 Turfgrass Management Π7th Edition .............................................................$284.63 ....$247.50Turfgrass Management Information Directory ................................................$126.50 ....$110.00Turfgrass Patch Diseases ..............................................................................$194.11 ....$168.80Turfgrass Pests .............................................................................................$  94.88 ....$  82.50Turgrass Problems: Picture Clues & Management Options .............................$102.81 ....$  89.40 Turfgrass Science & Culture ..........................................................................$323.49 ....$281.30Turfgrass Science & Management 3rd Edition ...............................................$222.86 ....$193.80Turfgrass Soil Fertility & Chemical Problems .................................................$287.50 ....$250.00Weeds an Illustrated Guide to Weeds of Australia ..........................................$197.68 ....$171.90Weed Science: Principles & Practices ...........................................................$284.63 ....$247.50Weed Ecology: Implications for Management 2nd Edition ..............................$401.11 ....$348.80Weed Control Handbook: Principles 8th Edition .............................................$363.74 ....$316.30WATER & IRRIGATION .........................................................................Non-Member ....MemberAgricultural Salinity & Drainage ..................................................................   $  79.11 ....$  68.80Design & Construction of Small Earth Dams ..............................................   $230.00 ....$200.00Drainage for Sportsturf & Horticulture (PB) ...................................................$  58.53 ....$  50.90Drip Irrigation Management leaflet .................................................................$  11.50 ....$  10.00Evaluating Turfgrass Sprinkler Irrigation Systems (leaflet) ..............................$  11.50 ....$  10.00Fertigation .....................................................................................................$253.00 ....$220.00Nitrates in Groundwater ................................................................................$251.61 ....$218.80Simplified Irrigation Design 2nd Edition .........................................................$196.29 ....$170.70The Surface Irrigation Manual .......................................................................$316.25 ....$275.00Turf Irrigation Manual ....................................................................................$162.50 ....$186.88Wastewater Re-use for Golf Course Irrigation ................................................$275.00 ....$316.25Water in Australia: Resources & Management ...............................................$118.75 ....$136.55BEST SELLERS FOR 2007/2008
Turf Managers Handbook for Golf Course Construction and Grow-In ΠB. Charles 
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Discovering Donald Ross-The Architect & His Golf Courses ΠBradley S. KleinGrowing Media for Ornamental Plants and Turf  Π3rd Edition ΠK. Handreck, N. Black
Golf Course Management & Construction ΠEnvironmental Issues ΠJames Balogh and W. Walker
Golf Course Irrigation System ΠDesign and Drainage ΠEdward Pira
Keepers of the Green ΠA History of Golf Course Management ΠBob Labbance
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Turfgrass Soil Fertility & Chemical Problems ΠR. N. Carrow, Waddington & RiekePlease note: All prices include GST -  Prices are subject to change without noticeThe AGCSA has an extensive range of books that can ordered through the AGCSA website, and also through the accompanying order form. 
Postage: $9.90 for first book and $1.10 for every book after. 66 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTGood Gardens With Less Water By Kevin HandreckCSIRO. 2008Water restrictions have become a way of life in Australia in recent times and 
both the professional and amateur horticulturalist have felt their impact in varying 
degrees. Professional turf managers have had to call upon every ounce of their skills to keep 
their facilities alive during these harsh times, 
while home owners around the country have 
had to adjust their watering practices, whether 
it™s siphoning greywater from the Fisher and 
Paykel into buckets or getting up with the 
sparrows to handwater on selected days of 
the week.‚Good Gardens with Less Water™ is written by well-known former CSIRO soil scientist 
Kevin Handreck, who was responsible for 
the highly popular turf industry reference text 
‚Growing Media for Ornamental Plants and 
Turf.™  Written as a practical guide to gardening with limited water, this companion to Handreck™s 
earlier book ‚Gardening Down-Under™ is the 
first in a series of gardening guides to be 
published by the CSIRO. Other books to 
follow in the series include ‚Creating Your Eco-Friendly Garden™ (by Mary Horsfall) and 
‚Sustainable Gardening™ (by Roger Spence 
and Rob Cross)  The key premise of Handreck™s new book, which hit the shelves in mid-April, is that it is 
possible to have a great garden anywhere 
in Australia, even under the toughest water 
restrictions. All it takes is a bit of planning, 
research, dedication and the perfect marriage 
of a few key ‚characters™ as Handreck calls 
them Πwater, the plants themselves, and the 
growing medium.Running to 166 pages, this fully-illustrated book contains a wealth of information on 
topics such as: how to improve soil structure 
to maximise the retention of water for use by 
plants; selecting drought-tolerant native and 
exotic plants; working out how much water 
to apply to different types of plants; choosing 
the best lawn grass for your climate; rainwater 
harvesting and use; and how to avoid problems 
when greywater is used in the garden. With specific chapters devoted to watering systems and equipment, mulches, planting 
techniques and potted plants, Handreck™s 
latest offering provides practical solutions for anyone who wishes to garden sustainably. 
The chapter on lawns, in particular, is the 
first serious published discussion about using 
Australian native grasses in place of more 
traditional imported varieties.Although ‚Good Gardens with Less Water™ is aimed primarily at enthusiastic home 
gardeners and new home owners, it will also 
have value for horticulture students, irrigation 
contractors and other horticulture professionals 
responsible for the maintenance of garden 
areas who are looking at reducing water inputs 
while at the same time improving quality.    ORDER FORM - ORDERS CAN ALSO BE MADE SECURELY ONLINE THROUGH www.agcsa.com.auName:  ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................Postal Address:  ..............................................................................................................................................................................................City/Suburb:   .......................................................................................................................State: .................................................................Postcode:  .............................................................................Daytime Phone Number/Mobile: ..................................................................... Please supply the following books:QTY BOOK TITLE AUTHOR PRICE  .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................  .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................  .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................   Subtotal: ..........................................................   Please add postage ($9.90 for the first book,  Each additional book $1.10 per book)  Total now due: $  ............................................  I enclose my cheque/money order made payable to the AGCSA, or Please charge this purchase to my credit card accountMastercard  VisaCard Number: ................................................................................................................................. Expiry Date: ............................. / ................................................................................................... Cardholder Name: .......................................................................................................................... Address: .......................................................................................................................................... Signature: ........................................................................................................................................ Send completed order form and payments to:
AGCSA
Suite 1, Monash Corporate Centre
752 Blackburn Road, Clayton, VIC 3168
Phone: (03) 9548 8600 
Fax: (03) 9548 8622 
Email: info@agcsa.com.auPrice: $34.95book review67AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENTstate reportsNSWGCSAWho would have believed how mild the weather has been at the start 
of autumn. After all the rain at the start of the year, most would have been 
expecting a hot and humid time but this 
has not eventuated. Let™s hope the weather 
forecasters are right with the prediction of 
above average rainfall over the next couple 
of months as Brisbane™s catchments are still 
under the 40 per cent mark.Recently the Queensland golf industry held its annual awards night at the Raddison 
on the Gold Coast. The GCSAQ handed out 
four awards on the night with Pacific Golf 
Club superintendent Graham Sims presented 
with the Superintendent Achievement Award 
for his 30-year involvement in the industry. Sims began his turf 
management career at 
Dalby Golf Club in 1977 
before moving across 
to Pacific Golf Club in 
1982. The following 
year he was elevated 
to superintendent, a 
position he still holds today. The other GCSAQ awards went to Chris Robinson (St Lucia Golf Links) - Turf Apprentice 
of the Year; Brett Michlewright - Recognition 
Award; and Wayne Marshall (Bargara Golf 
Club) - Environmental Award. Congratulations 
to all the winners and all those who were 
nominated for the awards.Upcoming field days to mark in the diary include the Globe Day at the Titans™ new 
stadium at Robina on 29 May and the Country 
Bus Tour to Gatton and Toowoomba on the 
weekend of 21-23 June.The newly formed Queensland Turf Equipment Technicians Association recently 
held its second field day in the state. Held at 
Toro™s Brisbane headquarters the day was very 
well patronised with around 40 delegates in 
attendance. At the meeting a committee was formed which comprises of: 
President: Phil Newton (Horton Park GC)
Treasurer: Steve Kippin (Brookwater GC)Secretary: Dylon Higgins (Hyatt Coolum) ROD COOKPRESIDENT, GCSAQThe NSWGCSA Board had its first meeting 
of the year at Shortland Waters Golf Club 
in February. At that meeting I informed the Board that after six years on the committee this 
would be my last year with the association. It has been a very busy six years both personally and professionally for me. During 
this time I have changed employers, sold and 
bought a house, got married, had three kids 
and took on the president™s position! We are 
now at the stage where my oldest boy has just 
started school and sport, and as all parents 
know the next level of parenting begins.I have loved every minute serving on the committee and there are many things 
I have enjoyed about being involved with 
the association. The highlights would be 
getting to know the many different people 
within the industry and working with the many 
superintendents who have given their valuable 
time to continually improve our industry. I believe our industry is only in the position it is in because superintendents give up their 
time to give something back. The passion 
which some superintendents possess is quite 
unbelievable and I™m sure would not be found 
in many industries. The NSWGCSA Board is currently reviewing portfolios for the future and I invite anyone 
who would like to be involved to contact the 
association. I strongly recommend that if you 
are interested to act now. The AGCSA continues to improve and provides a great guide for all state associations. 
I believe that with John Neylan and Scott Petersen at the helm, the industry 
is in great hands.   UPCOMING EVENTSAs grass growth slows down, 
work for the committee starts 
to pick up with the winter and 
spring months busy organising 
many association events. 
In April we hosted the Rube 
Walkerden day at Killara Golf 
Club (host superintendent Bill 
Hopkins, who by the way is 
now in his 33rd year), while 
the second annual assistant superintendents 
education day will be held in early May. Then 
we have the annual Ambrose event in June, 
the Australian Turfgrass Conference in July 
and the NSWGCSA AGM in August.Last year, the Board decided to run an assistant superintendent day which proved to 
be a great success. In light of the support the 
initiative received, the day will run again this 
year at Castle Hill Country Club on 5 May.Daryl Sellar heads the list of presenters and will look at HR and best practice challenges 
heading into the future. Host superintendent 
Martyn Black will look at the topic of managing 
management, while Dennis Jeffers (OzEco 
Management) and Brett Goldsworthy 
(Shift2Neutral) will also make presentations. St Michael™s Golf Club assistant superintendent Wes Saunders has organised 
the event, and we will be calling upon help 
from assistants to help ensure this year™s event is even more successful. 
Cost for the day is $35 for 
NSWGCSA members and 
$45 for non-members.The association™s annual Ambrose event 
returns to the Hunter Valley 
and this year will be played 
at The Vintage Golf Club, 
venue for the NSW Open. 
The day is always well 
supported and this year will 
be no exception.I would like to recognise and congratulate Michael Freeman and 
the Victorian Golf Course Superintendents 
Association for the development of their 
Occupational Health and Safety DVD. The 
NSWGCSA has viewed the disk and was very 
impressed. The NSWGCSA is currently looking into how we can distribute the DVD to all members 
of our association as we believe it will help in 
new staff inductions and assist with current 
OH&S programmes in place. Well done to all 
involved.  Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank everybody who has helped me or just 
had time for a chat during my two terms on the 
Board. I would encourage all superintendents 
to get involved and help make the industry 
even stronger than it already is.ANDY HUGILLPRESIDENT, NSWGCSANZGCSAGCSAQGraham SimsDaryl SellarAUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT68New Zealand superintendents are starting to get an idea of what it must be 
like over in Australia after most of the country was severely hit by drought conditions 
over summer. After the longest summer most 
can seem to remember, it begs the question 
whether we will have to start contending with 
water restrictions that you across the Ditch 
seem to deal with almost on a regular basis. Recently the NZGCSA held a special general meeting to adopt some constitutional 
changes. This coincided with a meeting 
of NZGCSA Board and a full meeting of 
representatives from the nine regions that 
make up our national body. From a Board 
perspective it was very encouraging to see 
the commitment and passion that the regional 
representatives brought to the meeting. They 
represent their regions and themselves very 
well and some great discussion was engaged 
in over the day. While only new in the role of NZGCSA president yet having sat on the Board now 
in various capacities over the last six years, 
to see a new generation of interested parties combined with a few of the older heads leads 
me to believe our association is certainly 
heading in the right direction. Recently through the help of Steve Marsden, a field day incorporating most of the 
North Island regions was held at Kinloch where 
Dean Scullion from e-par was able to explain 
this system to an audience of nearly 100. 
Following on from this day and subsequent 
correspondence with Dean and Terry Muir, the 
NZGCSA is now in the process of trying to help 
bring this system into New Zealand. As 2008 is the ‚in-between™ year here in New Zealand for our major turf conference, two 
smaller fine turf seminars will be conducted this 
winter. The first seminar will be held in Nelson 
from 23-25 June (hosted by the Canterbury 
association) and will incorporate the NZGCSA 
AGM. We thank them for making time in their 
programme to accommodate us.The second seminar, which carries the title ‚Back to Basics™, will be in hosted by the 
Taranaki association from 30 June-1 July in 
New Plymouth. These regional seminars have 
certainly become very popular and no doubt both of these events will be well patronised 
again and are a great way to keep up with 
current trends and catch up with like-minded 
people. Talk around the traps indicates a fair few people are planning on making the trip to 24th 
Australian Turfgrass Conference in Melbourne. 
I am personally looking forward to catching up 
with you all again in July. At the time of writing this report, a replacement administration officer of the 
NZGCSA had not been appointed but things 
have been progressing along with the help of 
our previous employee. We hope to be able 
to announce the new person shortly. In the 
meantime, contact with either myself or any 
representative of the NZGCSA can be made 
through our website www.nzgcsa.org.nz or 
email nzgcsa@xtra.co.nz. I hope the weather and footy tips are treating you well.PETER BOYDPRESIDENT, NZGCSANZGCSAAUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT69To join contact Pip Dudley on (03) 9548 8600 or info@agcsa.com.auan invitationsuperintendents and your staff AGCSADiscount packages are being developed for the 2008-09 membership year Πlook out for the next members newsletter or contact AGCSA for more information.AGCSA golf course membership is open not only to superintendents but to all those employed in golf course maintenance roles.  Groundstaff, specialists and superintendents alike need to receive meaningful information and support that will equip them with the skills to one day lead and advance the industry into the future. Golf course management staff will benefit from the following:BenefitsDiscounted conference registration One free AGCSA workshop per year Access to the AGCSA Accreditation Programme Subscription to the Australian Turfgrass Management magazine AGCSA newsletters The Cut email newsletter Free legal advice Discounted AGCSATech services and advice Access to the members-only section of the website. state reportsSAGCSAThe TGAA NSW has recently received a bit of a makeover and will now be known 
as the Sports Turf Association, NSW Incorporated.  The change came about after 
a review of our identity and marketing ability 
and the committee believed that the new name 
was the way to go.  Our aims and objectives 
haven™t changed and we are still proud to 
be associated with the other TGAA regions 
throughout Australia.The first official event under the new Sports Turf Association banner will be the Sports 
Turf Seminar and Tradeshow to be held on 
Thursday 15 May at the Sydney Showgrounds.  
Presentations include Dr Jim Hull on the 
role of carbon in soils, Andre Wyzenbeek 
on monitoring technology available to turf 
managers and Terry Muir who will look at 
carbon emissions and what they mean to the 
turf manager.  We will also have Rebecca Barry from the Sydney Showgrounds providing valuable information on staff management, including 
dealing with managers and getting the best out 
of your staff.  As always there will an extensive 
tradeshow and presentations from sponsors.We recently held our annual golf day at Ashlar Golf Course and everyone attending 
had a great time.  The course was in brilliant 
condition and full credit to superintendent 
David Stone and the staff at Ashlar for all 
their hard work.  Many thanks to all the 
great sponsors who supported the day and 
thanks to the members who came along to 
play.  Congratulations to the boys from North 
Sydney Oval who took out the trophy.The Sports Turf Association, NSW Inc. can be contacted at info@sportsturf.asn.au 
or phone the office on (02) 8883 4688. You 
can also check out the new website at www.
sportsturf.asn.au.GRAEME LOGANPRESIDENT, STA NSWSTA NSWTGCSAIt was great to see 
so many SAGCSA 
members at our February meeting at 
The Grange Golf Club 
in support of new 
superintendent Richard 
James. Richard and 
his team had the two golf courses in great 
shape, impressing all with the quality of works 
taking place. Richard gave an insightful course 
tour and I am sure everyone appreciated the 
openness of his comments.  The Grange™s aquifer storage and recharge project was a particular point of interest for 
most on the day. Project supervisor Oliver 
Bull (Hakea Landscape and Revegetation 
Services), who managed the vegetation of the 
wetlands that form much of the ASR scheme, 
gave a summary on plant selection and the 
challenges of planting out the site.  This took us 
through to lunch and a series of presentations 
from several of our sponsors. Thanks go to 
The Grange for allowing us to host the day and 
to our members for the exceptional turnout. In particular, it was great to see Bob Dellow who recently retired after a long and 
successful career (nearly three decades!) as 
superintendent at Willunga Golf Club. Bob is 
well known to our local contingent serving many 
years as an SAGCSA committee representative 
and on behalf of all of our members I sincerely 
thank him for his contribution to the industry. 
We wish Bob a long and enjoyable retirement.  I would also like to welcome our two newest superintendents ΠMike Bosley, who 
has recently accepted the post at Thaxted Park 
Golf Club, and Paul Cameron who has taken 
over from his famed predecessor at Willunga.I hope everyone has a successful autumn period and I am sure everyone was glad to see 
the back of the March heatwave which smashed 
all capital city records with the longest period 
of consecutive days over 35 degrees.  For the record, Adelaide had 15 consecutive days over 35 degrees, eight days in total over 
39 degrees and three days that saw the 
mercury soar above 40 degrees. All this at 
a time when superintendents were nursing 
dwindling irrigation supplies and turf that had 
been through six months of low rainfall.  Let™s 
hope we never see that record beaten.  ANDREW BLACKERPRESIDENT, SAGCSASince the last TGCSA report, we held a 
very informative day at Quamby Country 
Club near Westbury. The day was sponsored by KBE Machinery with Geoff Koop 
and Neville Bakes giving us a presentation on 
a range of their equipment. Paul Yeates from Serve Ag talked about turf nutrition in relation to disease management, 
before Patrick Madden from Syngenta followed 
up on spray efficiency and nozzle technology. 
Patrick fielded a lot of questions on this interesting topic and he will feature again in one of our upcoming education days. Roger 
Tyshing also spoke about the drum-MUSTER 
programme in Tasmania.The day finished with nine holes of golf, drinks and presentations which were 
sponsored by Simplot. A big thank you to 
superintendent Nelson de Silva to make the 
course and clubhouse available. Nelson had been working on the homestead and reckoned he hadn™t been spending much time on the 
course. Well Nelson, you had it in great shape 
for us, so many thanks. The next TGCSA meeting is in Hobart at North Hobart Oval on 7 May. The day will see 
a tour of the oval and an update on future 
ground developments, while Patrick Madden 
will be back to continue the interesting spray efficiency topic. As things begin to slow down 
a little we hope to see a good turnout for this 
meeting.On the movement front, it has been fairly quiet, although immediate past president Peter 
Medwin has landed back in Victoria. Peter has 
moved on from Riverside and headed back to 
the mainland where he is now at Maryborough. 
There must be something attractive over there 
Pete! Also, good luck to Cameron Hodgkins 
who has moved back to the MCG after a successful stint at Bellerive Oval.Don™t forget the 24th Australian Turfgrass Conference in Melbourne from 21-25 July. Being so close to home it™s a great opportunity 
to hear some great speakers, catch up with 
friends and see the latest in turf equipment.STEPHEN LEWISPRESIDENT, TGCSABob DellowCameron HodgkinsAUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT70What a summer for Melbourne! Hot and dry right through until March with 
rainfall totals of 19mm for (January) and 27mm for February.  March was looking 
just as lean, then came a major dumping in 
the last week of the month, with some sandbelt 
courses revelling in falls of up to 80mm. Even 
with that respite we still need some major falls 
to ensure our surfaces head into winter with 
the best possible coverage. With long dry summers and low rainfall now a common theme each year, Victorian 
golf course superintendents are looking at 
different alternatives to survive in the drought 
conditions that have been impacting on the 
state for the past five years.Some very clever superintendents have been installing stormwater harvesters, 
desalination plants and enlarging dams to 
ensure that water quality and storage can help 
them through these dry periods (see Water 
Management section pg 56). I™m sure everyone has a situation on their course and would only be happy to share the information with their fellow colleagues. So 
when the next VCGSA day is on, make sure 
you attend and talk to different superintendents 
who are doing it just as tough.For those who made the effort to travel to Port Fairy for our country meeting in early 
April, a great day was had by all and many 
thanks go to Globe for sponsoring the event. 
It was fantastic to see some of the country 
superintendents join the day with a relaxed 
atmosphere. The golf course was in great shape and you can see why it is ranked so high in 
Australia. It™s a credit to superintendent John 
Mcllroy to turn out such a good course with a 
limited budget and resources.The VGCSA has finalised its OH&S DVD with a lot of interest shown within the industry. 
Thanks to Toro Australia for their generous 
support so that all A-Class members of the 
association receive a free copy of the DVD 
which will be mailed out in May 2008.The next gathering for the association will be the Annual General Meeting at Royal 
Melbourne Golf Club on Monday 26 May 
(host superintendent Jim Porter), sponsored 
by Toro. To be able to play a round of golf at 
Royal Melbourne is a privilege, so get in early 
to avoid disappointment.MICHAEL FREEMANPRESIDENT, VGCSAVGCSARoyal Melbourne will host the 2008 VGCSA AGM in late May. Pictured is the 13th EastAUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT71Lodge your position yourself through the Jobwatch section or contact the AGCSA HR and Best practice manager Daryl Sellar daryl@agcsa.com.au.Looking for staffor a better job? AGCSAThe most effective means to securing turf maintenance staff in Australia is to advertise through the AGCSA fiJobwatchfl section on the website.The AGCSA would be pleased to host an advertisement for your vacant position.. The cost for your job advertisement is $220 inc GST for current AGCSA members, $250 inc GST for non members. Positions wanted are placed free of charge. The advertisement will be displayed for as long as it takes to fulfill your requirements.TestimonialfiOn behalf of the Board of Directors of Parkes Golf Club I must congratulate the AGCSA for the support you gave us in obtaining a new head greenkeeper. We received some 
18 applications for the position and it was arduous yet very satisfying in doing so many 
interviews as we could have offered the position to any one of six applicants. Once again 
thanks for your cooperation. It has been a pleasure dealing with you.fl - Paul Thomas, 
President, Parkes Golf Club.Jobs posted recently–Assistant Superintendent: Keysborough Golf Club (VIC)
The Lakes Golf Club- Irrigationist (NSW)
Assistant Superintendent: Thaxted Park Golf Club (SA)
Superintendent: Geraldton Golf Club WAstate reportsAlong with the cooler weather, the ACT and surrounding region has also 
received some significant rainfall which has topped up many dams and helped to 
alleviate many problems associated with the 
drought. Although these conditions have 
helped to reduce total water usage, local turf 
managers are still facing the real threat of 
increased restrictions and higher prices for 
water.In light of the current climate, the TGAA ACT and its sponsors will hold a one-day seminar 
on problems associated with water usage and 
the drought on Wednesday 2 July. It will cover 
such things as transition planting of couch, 
both seed and vegetative, management tools 
and techniques, new products and practices 
and maximum utilisation of a minimal resource, 
namely water. The seminar has been tailored to meet the requirements of a wide range of turf situations 
many of which are integral to sports grounds managers. With water being such a finite 
resource these days, no turf manager can 
afford to miss out. For details please contact 
Gary Dawson on (02) 6207 4605.  On 1 May the TGAA ACT held its Grant King Memorial Golf Day at Gold Creek Country 
Club which proved to be an enjoyable day 
for all. This event has no doubt become a 
regular calendar event for the TGAA ACT 
in commemoration of the dedication and 
influence Grant had on the turf industry. The TGAA ACT would like to take this opportunity to thank all the participants 
including sponsors, organisers and Gold 
Creek superintendent Scott Harris and his staff 
for presenting a beautifully prepared course. It 
has been decided that the event will be held 
at Gold Creek annually due to the connection 
Grant had with the club.An excellent way to gain access to the latest up-to-date information on such things as 
turf equipment, products and techniques is the Internet. It is apparent that many greenkeepers 
are not utilising this service to its full potential 
and that increases in services are being given 
online. If you are interested but having difficulty in locating particular information, the TGAA ACT 
has put together a database of turf related 
websites. To receive a copy of this please 
contact the association. You can also check 
our web site at www.tgaa.asn.au. Also, all TGAA members know that part of the benefits of being a member is that 
you receive a quarterly newsletter. We at the 
TGAA ACT wish to invite any submissions 
you may wish to include into our next edition. 
Please contact Bruce Davies on (02) 6207 
4623 for prospective articles. Till next time, 
agrostologists. JUSTIN A. K. HASLAM, COMMITTEE, TGAA ACTTGAA ACTMost of us here in the west were glad 
to see the back of a hot dry summer 
which saw temperatures averaging over 30 degrees with 42mm rain in total for 
the summer months. We then had another 
60-80mm one day in early April, so already for 
the year we have had an eighth of our rainfall in 
what is normally a low rainfall time of the year.Lightening storms hit a few courses in the western suburbs. Here at Wembley Golf 
Complex lightening exploded four decoders 
and damaged another nine along with 500 
metres of two-wire after a direct hit. Cottesloe 
also had to replace a couple of decoders. 
We would like the rain without the lightening 
please!The GCSAWA committee, along with some trade members, has decided to cancel the 
bi-annual conference at Rottenest Island in 
May by majority vote. With only 30 people 
confirming their attendance, we needed 
39 paying attendees to break even. It™s 
disappointing that many decided and voted 
to have the conference at Rottnest at our AGM 
last August, yet many superintendents didn™t 
follow up with the commitment of attending.  A special thank you must go out our treasurer Craig New for organising the 
conference and spending just as much time 
organising the cancellation. It was decided that an education day will be held in June at 
a venue to be decided as there are various 
important speakers we need to present to our 
members.The Golf Masters Cup has started with Wembley, Cottesloe and Gosnells all hosting 
the first three events with some golfing bandits 
showing their true nature. Numbers have been 
below expectations and to ensure this format 
continues I encourage more superintendents 
to come along and have a look at other clubs 
and check out what a fantastic job they are 
doing on their home turf. If you can™t make it, 
send your 2IC as they will greatly benefit from 
the experience. Apathy is alive and well in our industry which is our association™s biggest hurdle. Trying 
to overcome this will test the association™s 
resolve and commitment in the next few years, 
otherwise there will be fewer events available 
due to poor attendances. The committee will 
look at organising some educational or open 
forum days in the latter half of the year to 
provide a networking solution for the non-
golfers in our association.  Many clubs throughout Western Australia have recently received a glossy brochure from 
a contracting company promising cheaper 
maintenance costs through software packages 
and supplies. This may be the first step in trying to take over the maintenance of your 
golf club which has been the case on the east 
coast with disastrous consequences to the 
club in every instance. My only advice is to 
refer this to the GCSAWA and then the AGCSA 
and to seek advice on their track record at 
previous clubs.Congratulations to Corey Bandy following his appointment as superintendent at 
Rockingham Golf Club. Corey started in the 
industry as an apprentice at Burswood and 
became reticulation supervisor there before 
moving to Wembley where he has been for the 
past four years. We wish him all the best in his 
new position.The committee looks forward to catching up with all members throughout the year, 
especially in Melbourne for the 24th Australian 
Turfgrass Conference, and at various functions 
throughout the year. We are hoping to secure 
The Vines Resort for our AGM again this year 
so ensure you come along. We will have a vacancy on the GCSAWA committee, so if you would like to have an 
input and contribute to our state association, 
contact myself or any committee persons and 
let us know you are interested.DARREN WILSONPRESIDENT, GCSAWAGCSAWAAUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT72The evolution of Australia™s most popular topdresser continues with a range of new models, a larger number of options, impressive
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- The 410DAKOTA86184 Dakota FP ad  3/2/06  9:50 AM  Page 1LOWARADelivering Pumping SolutionsRChristchurchPhone (03) 365 0279 Fax (03) 366 6616Auckland
Phone (09) 525 8282 Fax (09) 525 8284Melbourne
Phone (03) 9793 9999 Fax (03) 9793 0022Sydney
Phone (02) 9671 3666 Fax (02) 9671 3644Brisbane
Phone (07) 3200 6488 Fax (07) 3200 3822Email info@brownbros.com.auWeb Site www.brownbros.com.aufiThe growing-in phase of a new golf course is critical and requires detailed planning, particularly when it comes to 
irrigation.
When the new Settlers Run Golf Course at Cranbourne was in the early stages of planning we had no hesitation in recommending a Lowara pumping system because 
of its better control, long term reliability and ease of 
maintenance.
The Settlers Run pump installation incorporates 4 
variable speed Hydrovars which are uniquely linked to Toro Irrigations™ Sitepro software which delivers to the Superintendent precise information on the performance of 
the total pumping system, which is absolutely critical to the 
grow-in phase.
Combine that with Brown Brothers™ exemplary after sales 
service and Settlers Run couldn™t be in better hands.flBrendan Graham, A&M WateringHow the Hydrovar reduces energy consumption.Most applications involve the pump operating either along its full speed performance curve or the pumps performance is throttled or regulated 
by a valve. The Hydrovar eliminates these operating methods by 
regulating pump speed and hence output to match the system demand. 
This saves wasted energy traditionally lost in these conventional pump 
systems. Energy savings of up to 70% can be realized. (figure 1)What is Hydrovar?Hydrovar has gained a reputation as THE pump mounted 
microprocessor pumping system controller. But it does much more 
than just change motor speed.It actually manages the performance of the pump to match a wide range of system conditions and requirements.Hydrovar is fully programmable on site as it incorporates the microprocessor and the variable drive in one compact and unique 
packageHow Hydrovar reduces maintenance cost.Hydrovar software is designed specifically for centrifugal pump operation, control and protection. Hydrovar can thus be setup to protect 
the pump from operating under various unfavourable conditions eg. 
cavitation, operating against closed head, low NPSHa or operation 
past a pumps maximum flow rate. Hydrovar will automatically shut 
down and alarm if adverse conditions occur.Hydrovar provides the Golf Course Superintendent with the flexibility of watering required with substantial savings on installation, 
power usage and maintenance. For details about the experience of 
some of Australia and New Zealands most prestigious Golf Clubs 
who have installed Hydrovar pumping systems, contact the Lowara 
distributors nearest you.What is Flowlink?To assist green-keepers and Superintendents in the 
golf course, turf and irrigation markets,  Lowara and 
TORO Irrigation teamed up together to develop a link between the 
Toro Sitepro software  and Hydrovar.The link operates with up to 4 Hydrovar pump systems and monitor running / fault conditions and measures pressure and flow of 
the pump system.All these parameters are displayed on the central irrigation control computer