MANAGEMENT POISON An Accident Waiting to Happen 7 )!l'rm ill!¡Ull'ril[tl VTHÍÍHIÍHH^ IC KM volume December - January 2004 SMOOTH FAIRWAYS. TIQI-IT LÌES. MANÌCURECJ BUNKERS. I MMACUIATE TEES. By Precision Cut. Legendary Performance. Bay Hill Club & Lodge, Orlando, Florida A Textron Company Website: www.jacobsen.com Head Office: 29 Gatwick Roadf Bayswater, Vic. 3153 Phone (03) 9720 7622 Fax: (03) 9720 6801 A/If C A membership V* J application form Secure your career in the Turf Industry..... Ł enhance your job security Ł promote your professionalism Ł receive peer support and free legal advice Ł gain access to a range of educational opportunities and AGCSA publications AGCSA Membership Classes Çjglf Memt?çr$hip Golf Course Superintendent $310 International Golf Course Superintendent $360 Assistant Golf Course Superintendent $277 Foreman/Ground Staff $130 Golf Course Maintenance Company $310 Consultant $310 AgSQçigte Mçmfrçr$hip Sports Turf Manager $277 Company $277 Retired Member. $130 Ground Staff - Non Golf $130 Student Membership Golf and Non Golf $77 Discount Sliding Scale 5% discount = 2-3 staff for joining of two or 10% discount = 4-6 staff more staff 15% discount = 7+ staff Ł AUSTRALIAN i^P Turfgrass MANAGEMENT Australian Turfgrass Management Published by: Australian Golf Course Superintendents Association ABN 96 053 205 888 Suite 1, Monash Corporate Centre 752 Blackburn Road Clayton North, 3168 Vic Ph: (03) 9548 8600 Fax: (03) 9548 8622 Email: info@agcsa.com.au Website: www.agcsa.com.au President: Directors: Mr. Mark Couchman 
Mr. Jeff Gambin Mr. Martyn Black 
Mr. Martin Greenwood CEO: Mr. Steven Potts Editor: Brett Robinson Ph:(03) 9548 8600 brett@agcsa.com.au Advertising: Scott Petersen Ph:(03) 9548 8600 scott@agcsa.com.au Administration Manager: Fiona McPadden fiona@agcsa.com.au Design & Production: Publicity Press Art Direction & Design: Andy Cumming Luke Foley Design Studio: 
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Fax: (03) 9548 8622 ^ Proudly supported by Horticulture Australia Copyright © 2003 AGCSA believes that material sourced and produced for Australian Turfgrass Management is accurate, but give no warranty in relation thereto, and disclaim liability for all claims against the AGCSA, Publicity Press, their subsidiary companies, their 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 publishers. Membership Application Form Surname: Preferred Mailing Address: City/Suburb: Position: First Name: Postcode: Club/Organisation: Club Postal Address: City/Suburb: Phone: Work: Mobile: Email: Member Class: Postcode: Home: Fax: Membership Payment Membership payments for any of the above classes are to be sent to the AGCSA. Ł Please charge this purchase to my credit card account Ł Bankcard Card Number: Ł MasterCard Ł Visa Expiry Date: Cardholder Name: Address: Signature: Send completed application form and payment t AGCSA: Suite 1, Monash Corporate Centre, 752 Blackburn Rd, Clayton North, 3168, Vic Phone: 03 9548 8600 Fax: 03 9548 8622 Email: info@agcsa.com.au A T M contents cover j> WARNING! The industry has been put on environmental alert following the Warringah Golf Club verdict Q special features ) 6-15 The Warringah Verdict An Accident Waiting to Happen 6 ATM Editor Brett Robinson delves into the biggest legal decision ever against an Australian golf course and asks just what will the Warringah Golf Club verdict mean for golf courses and superintendents. What the Courts had to Say 8 ATM wades through the two Warringah case verdicts and highlights some of the major points to come from 
the landmark rulings handed down in the NSW Land 
and Environment Court. Countdown to Catastrophe 11 ATM reviews the timeline of events that led up to the Warringah Golf Club pesticide spill and its 
devastating consequences. Around the Traps - What Supers are Saying 13 ATM polled five NSW superintendents to gauge their reactions to the verdicts and what lessons can be learned from the Warringah saga. An Expert's Perspective 14 Terry Muir, an EPA investigating officer at the time of the Warringah Golf Club pesticide spill, recounts his involvement in the case and surveys the fallout and what the industry can and must do to prevent a recurrence. Centre Court - The Wimbledon Experience 16 According to Matthew Dowlan the only serious pests to invade the hallowed turf at Wimbledon are the itinerant Australian groundsmen! Here Dowlan looks back at his three years spent preparing lawn tennis surfaces at one of the world's most unique sporting venues. The Evolution of Turfgrass Management 29 Eminent turfgrass agronomist Dr James Beard looks back at some of the key breakthroughs that helped revolutionise the art of turfgrass management, while Andrew Peart looks at how these innovations have been adapted in today's professional turfgrass environment. Pine Valley - Beyond the Guarded Gates 34 Following on from the feature on international internship programs in ATM Volume 5.5, Brisbane's Adam Mortimer gives us a sneak peak behind the gates at the exclusive Pine Valley Golf Club, consistently rated 
the best golf course in the world: TRADE EXHIBITION FILLING FAST! FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR TO OBTAIN A BROCHURE PLEASE CONTACT SCOTT PETERSEN AT THE AGCSA Ph: (03) 9548 8600 or Email: scottOagcsa.com.au A T M .J The Big W ( research ) Ball Marks on Bentgrass Blame the Golfer, Not the Cultivar 38 Contrary to popular belief, ball marks are not necessarily the cultivar's fault. Researchers at Rutgers University tested ball mark injury and the recuperative ability of 15 bentgrass cultivars and came away with some surprising results. ( in every edition ) No, I'm not talking about the department store or that little war-mongering Texan George 'Dubya' Bush and his recent 
visit Down Under to see his "good friend" in the "war against trrrrsm" Little Johnny. Nor do I mean 'water', despite it being a very hot topic at the moment considering the extent of enforced water restrictions right across Australia. The 'W' I'm referring to in this instance is 'Warringah', or rather the verdict handed down against the Warringah Golf Club in the NSW Land and Environment Court back in September in respects to the 2001 pesticide spill which purged Manly Lagoon of four tonnes of marine and bird life. Over the past month and a half I have been trawling through this case and the earlier ruling against the club's 
former superintendent Craig Coggins. Both judgements make for fascinating, if extremely sobering reading, and I am sure all will agree there is no doubt this case will have lasting ramifications. The golf industry as a whole must sit up and take notice of this case. If it doesn't then it risks horrific consequences. The facts are there for all to read in black and white; a $600,000 fine for the club, while the superintendent 
copped 250 hours of community service as well as financial and emotional scars that will last a lifetime. In this edition of ATM we examine the fallout from the Warringah saga and gauge the reaction of an industry that is still reeling. Every superintendent and golf club manager should take time out to read the extensive Warringah feature 
which includes an article from expert Terry Muir, an EPA investigative officer during the case and now an environmental risk consultant. This truly is a landmark case for Australian golf and it has even taken on global proportions. Talking with current Warringah superintendent Brett Maurice, he told me he has fielded calls from American superintendent magazines 
questioning him about the case and the precedent it is likely 
to set. According to Maurice, the size of the fine is what has shocked our cousins from across the Pacific and has even prompted warnings from various golf associations. Finally, as this is the last edition for 2003 I would like to say a big thank you to all those who have given me plenty of encouragement and feedback in my first few months as 
editor. I trust the summer will be frenetic one for all, but be sure to take some time out and reflect on what has been a 
difficult, yet character-building year for the industry. All that's left for me to say is have an extremely merry Christmas and a memorable New Year, and we'll do it all over 
again come 2004. Cheers, Brett Robinson Editor Presidents Pen 4 AG CS ATech Update 26 The Innovative Way 42 Super Spotlight 43 News 44 New Products 46 AGCSA Bookshop & Book Review 48 State Presidents' Reports 50 IAN CHIVERS RACING SOLUTIONS JOHN NEYLAN AGCSA LES BURDETT S.A.C.A ÄSI WARREN WILLIAMS DOOMBEN RACING CLUB BRETT ROBINSON EDITOR LOWI/ANDS LAWN; TURF Ł Ł Pt,. Ltd. www.lowlandsturf.com.au I All varieties of high quality nursery grown turf Ł 25 Years Experience Ł Complete Laying Service Ł Max-Roll Specialist Ł Unequalled in Turf Production Ł Largest Specialised Delivery Fleet with Transportable Forklifts Ł "Legend" and "Bosker" Couch Ł Patented ST85 + ST91 Soft Leafed Buffalo Ł Patented CT2 Couch Ł Santa Ana Couch Ł "BAyr Root" Turf LOWI/ANDS 
LAWN; TURF Ł Ł Pt,. Ltd. www.lowlandsturf.com.au (02)4578 1013 Ł FAX (02) 4578 2364 Ł 532 CORNWALLS ROAD, WINDSOR A T M 3| i President J With summer now upon us, many turfgrass managers are looking to the heavens for good rains as the water crisis deepens in many parts of Australia. The recent workshop series, I am sure, would have been extremely beneficial for those who attended to develop and communicate the need to implement water management budgets through data collection on site, auditing irrigation systems and many other aspects in order to utilise such a precious resource to gain maximum efficiencies. Hopefully all the respective golf courses hosting tournaments over the coming months are able to utilise their resources to present the playing surfaces that we all come to know and 
respect during the long Australian summer. I am sure that all AGCSA members wish those superintendents hosting tournaments, not to mention all other turfgrass managers 
hosting sporting events, the very best of luck in these difficult times. With the 2003 Rugby World Cup behind us, stadium managers throughout Australia who hosted games must be congratulated 
for all their efforts in presenting world class playing conditions to the millions of spectators worldwide. Recently, the AGCSA Board held a meeting with the State presidents as part of our objective 
to maintain open lines of communication. The productive meeting gave each State an opportunity to discuss any issues of concern and where the AGCSA could offer assistance 
or guidance. The meeting also gave everyone a chance to get to know what is going on at State level and to relate some of the issues back to their 
own members. Craig Easton, from NSW, also 
took the opportunity to entertain all in attendance with many "life" experiences that 
will no doubt make great reading when his autobiography makes it to print. At the time of writing this, the National Turf Education Working Group was due to hold its second meeting in the last week of November. For those unfamiliar, the committee was established to monitor the educational pathway 
within the turf industry and make recommendations to the Australian National Training Authority by means of AGCSA representation on the national amenity/ 
horticulture advisory committee on all issues affecting the pathway. It is hoped the committee will increase communication between all parties and work 
towards creating a degree of national consistency. 
The committee consists of Robert Macdonald (Joondalup Golf Resort), Chris Grumelart 
(Shearwater Resort), Anthony Uhr-Henry (Marcellin College), John Lloyd (Parliament House), Phil Ford (NMIT), Frank Dempsey (NSI 
Ryde TAFE), Steve Dargie (Challenger TAFE), Peter Le Riche (TAFE SA), Bruce Davies (Canberra Institute of Technology), Geoff Bird 
(QLD TAFE), Neil Jones (TAFE NSW), Tony Audley (RTCA), Tony Dodson (Hortus Australia), Glenn Cross (Mt Lawley Golf Club) and Daryl Sellar (Glenelg Golf Club). Excellent progress continues to be made regarding the 2004 conference in Melbourne, with the tradeshow set to be a major highlight. Mark Couchman, AGCSA President Three major international speakers have already been confirmed including Jim Moore 
who is the director of construction education 
for the USGA's Green Section. Jim's area of expertise includes the current changes being made to USGA greens specifications, the 
management of new bentgrasses, and the 
problems, successes and management of 
ultradwarf hybrid bermudagrass. Also confirmed for the 2004 conference are Bob Carrow and Ron Duncan from the University of Georgia. Three very worthy speakers, I am sure you will agree. Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all readers and their respective families and colleagues a very merry Christmas - may Santa bring you all that you need (rain would be nice) - and a happy and prosperous New Year. Good reading, m. Mark K Couchman President, AGCSA Golf Course Manager, Cromer Golf Club i M REËISIHAT1HN FOUI OUT TOPICS: Changes to the USGA Specifications Science-Based irrigation scheduling strategies-soil-based and climatic-based Reclaimed water and Environmental Management Plans Thinking Superintendents Sessions - Can the world afford Golf? The latest Strategies for Managing Salt-Affected Sites KEYNOTE SPEAKERS: James Beard - Texas A&M University Ron Duncan - University of Georgia Jim Moore - United States Golf Association Keith McAullife - NZSTI David Howard - NZSTI Terry Muir - Environmental Business Solutions Ray Young - Young Consulting Engineers POST CONFERENCE TURF TOURS: Welcoming Coctail Reception - Telstra Dome Conference Dinner - Melbourne Park hb = pump with constant speed = pump (variable speed) (Energy savings up to 70% at partial load) "A new pumping station is a significant investment and is one that we had to get right. These pumps are world class and following our philosophy of conserving energy and reducing inputs wherever possible, the Hydrovar pump mounted system controller was the obvious choice. After sales service was another high priority and so far, I have been nothing but impressed." Peter Frewin, Golf Course Superintendent Barwon Heads Golf Club. How 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) Brown Brothers Engineers Australia Pty Ltd Christchurch Phone (03) 365 0279 Auckland Phone (09) 525 8282 Melbourne Phone (03) 9793 9999 Sydney Phone (02) 9624 2577 Fax (02) 9624 2561 Email info@brownbros.com.au Web Site www.brownbros.com.au Fax (03) 366 6616 Fax (09) 525 8284 Fax (03) 9793 0022 Figure 1 What is a 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 speed drive in one compact and unique package. How the 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. The Warringah Verdict An Accident Waiting To Happen ATM Editor Brett Robinson surveys the fallout from the landmark Warringah Golf Club verdict and examines what one of the biggest legal decisions ever against an Australian golf course means for superintendents. Photos courtesy of Martin Lange, Manly Daily News and Warringah City Council HHM Over 10,000 fish were killed as a result of the February 2001 pesticide spill at the Warringah Golf Club, an accident which cost the club $600,000 and its former superintendent 250 hours of community service September 30, 2003 will go down as a landmark day for all Australian golf clubs and course superintendents. It was on this day that Justice Talbot of the New South Wales Land and Environment Court (LEC) imposed fines and costs approaching $600,000 against the Warringah Golf Club after finding it negligent for its role in a pesticide spill which lead to a major ecological disaster in the Manly Lagoon in 2001. The sentence came three months after Justice Cowdroy, also of the LEC, sentenced former Warringah superintendent Craig Coggins to 250 hours of community service and ordered him to pay costs of up to $50,000 for his part in the incident which killed 4.16 tonnes of marine and bird life. Slowly but surely the news of the verdicts has sent shockwaves through the industry considering the extent of the fines and the ramifications the judgements have for not only superintendents but golf clubs as well. While the ruling against Coggins has alarmed superintendents and raised issues of professionalism, it is the judgment against the golf club itself that makes for more interesting reading. In handing down his decision, Justice Talbot launched a scathing attack on the club, stressing that the condition of the superintendent's compound was "an accident 
waiting to happen" and added "if appropriate and effective physical barriers, systems and procedures had been in place, the discharge of the poison would not have occurred". He added: "...the description of the defendant's (Warringah Golf Club) failure to appreciate its obligations cannot be confined to gross incompetence. The actions were more heinous than that. "It was emphatically and utterly foreseeable that the conditions were totally inadequate to deal with even sporadic handling of dangerous 
toxic compounds in close proximity to a sensitive waterway." In fining the club $250,000 and ordering it to pay costs and undertake further works, 
Justice Talbot said the court should send "a powerful message to sporting club operators, and in particular, golf clubs, that mismanagement or, particularly as in this case, abandonment of environmental responsibility 
will lead to condign punishment". "There was a blatant disregard of a responsibility to conduct the club's affairs in a manner that paid due regard to the protection of the environment. "The general deterrent aspect of this sentence is important because the elements of 
this offence are not exclusive to golf clubs. A T M Numerous entities utilise herbicides and 
pesticides in the course of their business." The outcome is unfortunately a black mark against an industry that has been striving for a number of years to raise its level of environmental awareness and stewardship. It 
also detracts from the achievements of courses 
that have won environmental awards and 
Audubon certification. The publicity surrounding the accident was high due to the visible manifestation of pollution the spill caused, not to mention the fact that the course is located in the middle of 
Australia's largest city. On top of that, the waterway affected was and still is the subject of a major environmental 
clean-up program that involves local community groups and authorities. For those that are unfamiliar with the two cases, it breaks down like this. On 12 February 2001, then Warringah superintendent Craig Coggins instructed one of his staff to spray greens with an insecticide called Gusathion, a Schedule 7 poison, in an 
attempt to contain an outbreak of Argentine Stem Weevil. The tractor spray unit - which ironically is still in use at the club today - broke down and 
after failed attempts to get it working, Coggins instructed a member of his staff to empty the contents of the sprayer directly onto a concrete slab in the compound to ascertain the fault. The slab had no bunding. This was despite several failed attempts by Coggins to get the club to install such a precaution. Coggins then hosed the chemical solution off the slab which then entered a nearby stormwater grate that 
fed directly into nearby Brookvale Creek, a tributary of the Manly Lagoon. The outcome was disastrous. Some 10,000 fish were killed and 4.16 tonnes of dead marine and animal life were colleted in the aftermath. The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) became involved and both Coggins and the club were charged for negligently causing harm 
to the environment, a 'tier one' offence which carries severe penalties. This is a very simple explanation of the case and the full judgements can be read by visiting 
the LEC website (see details on page 8). Also on page 11, 'Countdown to a Catastrophe' details the timeline of events leading up to 
the accident. Predictably, industry reaction to the verdicts has been wide and varied with some supporting Coggins' assertion that he was made a 
scapegoat by the club, while others have labelled it a long-overdue wake up call the 
industry needed. Council clean-up crews begin the grizzly task of retrieving dead marine and bird life from Manly Lagoon the day after the spill "Certainly in NSW it has put the wind up everybody and guys that may not have been weary of the potential of something like this happening have been put on notice," says AGCSA Board member Martyn Black. Adds AGCSA president Mark Couchman: "I'd hate to think it has given the industry a bad image but it is certainly a wake-up call. We need more accountability. "I don't think the EPA will come down harder on golf courses, but they will be more aware of what we do and the potentials of 
what could happen. Everyone is waiting for a knock on the door." Whatever reactions have been, the saga has become case law. It is now up to clubs and 
individual superintendents whether they make themselves aware of the findings, their ramifications and the lessons that can be applied. A common thread throughout the industry so far has been to use the incident as a learning experience. A HUGE WAKE-UP CALL So what can be learnt from this whole saga? Let's break it down into two distinct points of view - that of the superintendent and that of the club. Superintendents For superintendents the verdicts have raised the issue of professionalism in respects of the day-to-day running of the shed and what happens out on the course through to ensuring that environmental management plans are in place, making sure that staff are trained and familiar with policies, and being aware of legislation and guidelines. "The response has been for superintendents to change their practices about where they fill up their pesticide tanks from, where they dump their residues, training staff and trying to improve all their maintenance practices in and around chemical safety," says NSWGCSA president Craig Easton. More importantly, however, the saga highlights professionalism in terms of the way superintendents conduct business at board and 
committee level and adapting to the changing nature of the job. "Superintendents must pass these findings on to their boards, because it specifically states 
that the board was more negligent due it its inaction," says Easton, superintendent at 
Carnarvon Golf Club. Warringah Golf Club "Superintendents now have to become more proactive and not wait for their committee to ask them to put procedures in place. "Now I know that this is against the principals of some superintendents to sit down 
in an office and start doing paper work. But they need to look at washdown bays, runoff areas, waterways, and any areas of 
environmental concern. "They need to identify them, prioritise them, go to their committee and inform them that these issues need addressing and put a figure against them. "That's going to have to happen. If they don't start putting this sort of the thing in place and have documentation that shows they are 
trying their best, or perceived to be doing their best, they are going to fall over in a big way." Adds AGCSA Board member and Kingston Heath Golf Club superintendent Martin Greenwood: "It should be a wake-up call for superintendents in all aspects of their job, not just in the way they handle pesticides but in respects to the paper trail. "Documentation is such a crucial thing nowadays. Superintendents should get into a regime of documenting and getting reports minuted at official meetings to cover themselves." Couchman says the verdicts provide perfect ammunition for superintendents to put in front of committees to support their calls for improved facilities and practices, particularly for those superintendents that are encountering board-level resistance. "It is a big wake-up call for the committees," says Couchman. "They have got to realise that 
a 'she'll be right' attitude is not acceptable. "That's where it comes back to the superintendent. They have to make sure they 
stand up and request that reports be minuted 
at meetings and know their rights in the committee room. "If they put a proposal forward, which is clearly a workplace safety or environmental issue, or any issue that has ramifications on the superintendent personally, and the board says 'no' they need to be able to say 'Please minute that'." If superintendents need any motivation to take heed of this saga they only need to look at 
the personal impact the whole thing has had on Coggins. While the club will absorb the financial burden in time, the emotional scars inflicted on Coggins will take a long time to heal. According to court documents, Coggins incurred $220,000 in legal fees relating to the proceedings, investigations of the fish kill and unfair dismissal proceedings (Coggins was initially sacked after the incident but was reinstated on grounds of unfair dismissal. However, he 
subsequently resigned from the club.) Coggins was forced to sell his Sydney house and relocate his family to Coffs Harbour, while his retired parents loaned $100,000 to help fund the legal battle. A T M 7| The Warringah Verdict -An Accident Waiting To Happen Not surprisingly Coggins suffered severe emotional stress as a consequence of the offence and resulting legal battle, which has been exacerbated by his sentiment that he has 
been made a scapegoat for the actions of other persons. Despite this, however, the LEC said that such changes to the lives of Coggins and his 
family did not constitute extreme and 
exceptional hardship to warrant a more lenient penalty. ATM attempted to contact Coggins and left a number of messages but received no reply before deadline. ATM understands that Coggins has since completed his community 
service requirements and is working in the landscaping industry. Golf Clubs For golf clubs, the verdicts reinforce the need to operate according to best practices right across the facility, whether it is in the clubhouse or out in the shed. Boards need to be proactive, be involved and have expert knowledge of operations and polices at all levels. Communication channels need to be efficient and effective, while there needs to be consistency and accountability. One of the positive things that may result from the case is the shattering of the commonplace attitude held by many boards that there is a shed on the course which house blokes who just 'cut the grass'. The verdicts also highlight that boards are just as liable as superintendents if something does go wrong on the course, and that the financial ramifications can be crippling. As Greenwood sums it up best, in this case "there are a lot of zeros for boards to ignore". The Warringah Verdict What the Courts had to Say JUSTICE COWDROY (EPA V Craig Coggins) 30: the defendant. does not regard himself solely to blame for the environmental damage resulting from the offence. The defendant refers particularly to the failure on the part of the club to install the appropriate bunding around the 
workshop area. The defendant maintains that the club rejected the requests to provide bunding. In response, the management of the club declined such claiming that there were insufficient funds ..." 42: "The defendant, but for this offence, has proven to be a responsible citizen, and a person who has been held in the highest regard by his peers. The defendant's antecedents, good character and employment record mitigate heavily in his favour." 45: The prosecutor initially submitted that the defendant had not co-operated with the investigators. When the environmental damage 
resulting from the offence was discovered the defendant... gave a false account of the 
circumstances leading to the offence. The Court is satisfied that the defendant provided the false 
account because of his fear of the consequences of his actions ... To his credit, he confessed within a matter of days. To view the full judgements of both cases log on to the Land and Environment Court website through www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au. 
Co to NSW Courts and Tribunals, then Judgements, then Land and Environment Court Click on 2003 which brings up all judgements. Warringah Coif Club is Case No.222 and Coggins is Case No.111. a JUSTICE TALBOT (EPA V Warringah Golf Club) 4: " It is appropriate to repeat my primary findings on guilt of the judgment delivered on 19 June 2003: 71: "The primary offence was caused by either the wilful or negligent act of Mr Coggins in hosing the poisonous substance off the concrete slat under conditions 
where there were no adequate measures in place to prevent a discharge to the creek." 72: " The conditions that gave rise to the 
commission of the offence by Mr Coggins ... are the state of the greenkeepers compound and associated buildings, including, in particular, a workshop, chemical store and concrete slab..." 7: "The prosecutor's submission, that the condition of the greenkeepers compound made it 
"the site of an accident waiting to happen" s 
adopted by the Court." 11: "The Court found tha WGC was negligent in material respects by omitting to take reasonable steps to prevent pe of a dangerous substance from its premi and thereby contributed to the conditions that gave rise to the 
commission of the offence ... The contribution by 
WGC is the essential ingredient of the offence. 12: "The contribution to the conditions at the greenkeepers compound had direct consequence 
for the environment. If appropriate and effective physical barriers, systems and procedures had been in place the discharge of the poison would not have occurred. It was the sole responsibility of WGC to provide the conditions that prevent escape of dangerous substances from its premises. In that sense the club's negligent omission was the prime cause of harm to the environment." 13: The evidence shows that a draft environmental policy and a master plan for the golf course were essentially not acted upon. Furthermore, the president has given evidence that the board had in recent years focussed on other matters in the belief that they had no responsibility in respect of environmental matters and that it was entitled to delegate such responsibilities to management employees." 14: "...the description of the defendant's failure to appreciate its obligations cannot be confined to gross incompetence. The actions were more heinous than that. It was emphatically and utterly foreseeable that the conditions were totally inadequate to deal with even sporadic handling of dangerous toxic compounds in close proximity to a sensitive waterway." 17: The Court is convinced that a clear message must be sent to non-profit entities operating public facilities that they are equally liable to punishment... The general deterrent aspect of this sentence is important because the elements of this offence are not exclusive to golf 
clubs. Numerous entities utilise herbicides and pesticides in the course of their business." 18:"... the Court should send a powerful message to sporting club operators, and in particular, golf clubs, that mismanagement or, 
particularly as in this case, abandonment of 
environmental responsibility will lead to condign punishment." 19: "There is justification for specific deterrence in this case. The club, through its board and management, never seriously addressed the issue of environmental responsibility. Some preliminary positive steps have now been taken in that regard 
but future, as well as present, board members must be made aware that the consequences of a 
re-occurrence could be catastrophic to the financial viability of the club." |8 A T M Simplot I ÎQUIMAX^ Simplot M Available from your local Simplot Partners distributor The management and staff of Simplot would like to thank all of our customers for their support during 2003. We hope you all have a great 2004 and look forward to working with you throughout the year. Simplot SIMPLOT PARTNERS. 20 DeHav.lland Rd, Braes,de,Vic 3195 (03) 9587 4993 NRRBS. 26 Demand Ave, Arundel, Old 4214 (07) 557 16111 TURFCARE NSW. Unit 8 24 Clyde St, Rydalmere, NSW 2116 (02) 9684 6611 
TOTAL TURF. 2 Jesse! Place, Duncraig, WA 6023 (08) 9448 5263 The Warringah Verdict -An Accident Waiting To Happen Clean-up crews collected over four tonnes of dead fish and bird life from the Manly Lagoon. Traces of the pesticide azinphos-ethyl found in the dead fish were 10 to 500 times the concentration that would cause their deaths Warringah Golf Club's defence was that it was the superintendent's act that directly led to the spill. However, the club was found to not have the correct procedures or the proper facilities in place to help prevent such a disaster. Even more damning was club president Ron Newell's admission that the board believed it 
had no responsibility in respect of environmental matters and that it delegated such authority to the likes of Coggins. As such, the fine imposed by the LEC should be enough for any golf course to sit up and take 
notice of their environmental responsibilities. "The deterrent that comes from this is of course the financial one - $250,000 is quite a significant penalty - but also in terms 
of credibility," says environmental protection 
officer John Dengate, from the recently 
formed Department of Environment and Conservation. "Golf courses have an image of being green and healthy and a nice place to spend 
some time pursuing the sport of golf, and in 
that sense golf clubs who have these sorts of impact on the local environment are risking more than just a financial side. They are risking their credibility and the very environment on 
which their industry depends. "Our primary concern in this case was that the club did not have appropriate environment 
controls in place. For something like $7000 they could have had some simple precautions 
that could have gone a long way to preventing 
the incident. " It's vital to send a message to anyone using agricultural chemicals that they do pose significant threats to the environment and 
community and to make sure that their 
environmental controls are absolutely up 
to scratch. "As of now, simply pointing to this case would be strong motivation for all golf course managers that they do have their environmental controls in place given the severe penalties that can occur if you don't." Easton adds that the case would have opened a lot of eyes up at board level and 
that it is important they act upon the findings. "I've emailed the findings to my president and automatically he mailed that to the board. There's no doubt that it has started a process in NSW to ensure that clubs put policies in place," says Easton "It was sad for Warringah Golf Club but it was probably the kick in the seat the industry needed because a lot of clubs have acted too slowly on what the EPA and others have stated for a long time - if you don't get into line you will be fined. " I would say about one per cent of golf courses have the correct procedures in place at the moment, but I guarantee that now it will 
go up one per cent every week." Concerns While there are many positives for the industry to take out of this case, confusion still exists around the exact guidelines superintendents 
should follow in order to make sure they are 
environmentally compliant. By imposing a massive fine on Warringah, the courts have sent a powerful message to every golf course that it is imperative they 
comply. However, there are no specific EPA guidelines relating to golf courses and ultimately golf courses must comply with council guidelines. In this particular case the EPA was not the regulatory authority but became involved due to the nature of the offence and the huge 
environmental consequences. This somewhat confusing situation is a major concern according to Easton and one which he says needs to be rectified. "There needs to be improved communication," says Easton. "There are no specific guidelines, no standardised formats for the construction of 
chemical washdown bays and chemical 
containment facilities. Golf courses are expected to comply with EPA guidelines yet 
the EPA does not afford the industry standardised plans. "It's up to the golf course, bowling club, turf management facility to go out there from 
scratch and try and work out what the EPA requires. That makes it very difficult and extremely expensive. " It has the potential to destabilise the financial situation of some clubs and that's a major concern with some clubs, especially in the country, already teetering on the edge after being affected by poker machine tax and water 
licence issues. "I just don't think the EPA gives us enough ammunition to cover ourselves." Easton says it is imperative that the EPA, councils and superintendents associations 
communicate more effectively to keep the industry abreast of any legislative requirements or changes. He says that during his term as NSWGCSA president he will attempt to work with the EPA a lot more and "come up with a standardised format that is inexpensive, that can be utilised 
for the benefit of not only the environment but the golf course as well". "We need to be proactive. We need to work with the EPA rather than have them 
come to us. We need to contact them and not be scared of the EPA. There's a lot of great work that superintendents and the associations have done and they are aware of that. They can see that as an industry we have changed a lot and put in a big effort as far 
as environmental issues are concerned." The other concern is that the likes of country clubs in NSW lack the manpower and 
financial resources to not only conduct 
environmental risk assessments but to implement the outcomes. "It's not going to be easy," says Easton. 
"A lot of clubs will be putting together documentation that will outline their fiscal constraints and how much they can then direct 
towards OH&S, environmental matters and then prioritise them and tick them off as they go along. " But there are a lot of clubs out there that don't have the financial means to implement a lot of these requirements. "The other thing too is that no matter how many policies and procedures are put in place, they will never cover every possible eventuality." Continued on page 12 ho A T M The Warringah Verdict Countdown to a Catastrophe Friday, 9 February 2001 Monday, 12 February 2001 Ł A member of the groundstaff notices pest damage, Ł Coggins instructs employee Ben Hansen to spray the believed to be Argentine Stem Weevil, to the 5th green. greens with the spray unit. The chemical solution was Superintendent Craig Coggins instructs one of his left in the spray unit over the weekend, employees to fill the club's spray unit with Ł Despite some mechanical problems Hansen is able to 
approximately 20 litres of water to which he adds spray 10 greens. approximately two five-litre tins of Gusathion, Ł At 9am the spray unit fails completely. Hansen drives 
containing 400g per litre of azinphos ethyl. it to the workshop and parks it on a concrete slab in the Ł Manufactured by Bayer, Gusathion - a Schedule 7 workshop area for repairs. poison - was withdrawn from the market in 1998, and Ł Hansen and another employee, John Edwards, attempt 
replaced by a safer and more effective active ingredient, to rectify the defect with Coggins joining them, imidacloprid. At the time of the offence, it was still Ł After unsuccessful calls to the manufacturer lawful to use the product. Azinphos ethyl is a concerning the fault, Coggins decides that it is necessary 
phosphorodithioate organophosphorous pesticide and to disconnect one of the hose lines and drain the tanks to seven grams (or 1 teaspoon) of it in an Olympic-sized determine the location of the blockage, swimming pool would destroy aquatic life within a Ł Coggins instructs Hansen to remove the hose line, matter of hours. (Azinphos methyl, also a Schedule 7 Hansen does so causing the chemical solution to flow poison, is still sold by Bayer for use on fruit crops.) across the concrete slab. Ł Employee Toni Nolan attempts to use the spray unit Ł Coggins hoses the liquid from the concrete slab so as on the golf course but it fails to spray. The spray unit is to prevent his workers from coming into contact with it. returned to the workshop area. The chemical solution moves along a depression in the ground adjacent to the concrete slab until it meets a grated stormwater drain that leads into Brookvale Creek 
that feeds into Manly Lagoon. Ł Later that afternoon, local residents report hearing splashing noises. Tuesday, 13 Februaiy 2001 - Sunday, 18 February 2001 Ł Full extent of the spill becomes evident as dead fish begin to wash up around the shores of the lagoon. Warringah and Manly councils call in special clean up teams to remove the dead marine and bird life. The EPA is called and begins what will eventually be a 10-month investigation with 80 potential witnesses. Environmental Consequences Ł The spill resulted in the death of more than 10,000 fish including bream, snapper, mullet, Australian bass, herring, trevally, and eels. The Manly and Warringah councils collected more than 4.16 tonnes of dead fish and eels. It was estimated that at least 12 species of fish within the lagoon perished. Local residents also 
observed dead and dying ducks, cormorants, and herons. Ł Azinphos ethyl was found in the waters of the creek and of the lagoon and in fish samples and in several 
ducks that died in the days and weeks following the fish kill. Tissue concentrations of azinphos ethyl in the dead fish collected on 13 February 2001 were 10 to 500 times the concentrations that would cause their deaths. A 1 Enviromist Industries Pty Ltd - PO Box 1246, Berri, SA 5343 I Please send me further information on the Spraydome 5000 Name I I Club I Address . I P/C . Email. Telephone Fax.. ENVIROMIST SIMPLY BETTER SPRAYERS For a CD on this product, FREECALL 1800 624 044 For assistance in your area contact: NSW 0408 611 580 (Rob) VIC 0417317194 (Greg) Ł QLD 0417 611580 (Ken) SA 0417 979 339 (John) Ł WA 0418 950 869 (Mike) for effective, efficient, controlled and safe spraying - even on windy days! 7he new Spraydome 5000 with its ground-hugging, all-round protective skirt means that wind drift is virtually eliminated. This allows you to continue spraying, even on windy days, with greater safety and comfort for both your members and ground staff. Designed for the turf-grass industry the rugged and lightweight Spraydome 5000 incorporates two spray systems that eliminate the need, and the cost, for two different machines. Under the fully skirted shroud are seven controlled droplet applicators (CDA) and 18 TeeJet pressure nozzles. The operator can quickly select the system to do the job whether it be high volume spraying for fungicides and insecticides, or low volume CDA for broadleaf and other weeds. Other features include: full 5.25 metre spraying width; independent CDA head monitoring; and contour-following, articulated sections with external wheel design. Options include: foam marker kit; spray rate controller; hydraulic lifting ram kit. A T M 111 The Warringah Verdict -An Accident Waiting To Happen Continued from page 10 Residents reported strange splashing noises the afternoon of the spill. It wasn't until the following day that the full extent of the disaster was evident Warringah Today So where is the Warringah Golf Club at almost three years after the incident? As far as general manager David Airey is concerned the club has accepted the LEC decision and is moving on. "There is a sense of relief that it is over," says Airey, who only started in the job two months before the original incident took place. "I wouldn't want to see this happen to any other golf club. It has been a tough two-and-a-half years. You wouldn't wish it on anyone. "For us there's got to be a whole different way of doing business. We weren't operating in a best practices manner. It's a wake up call for golf clubs and it is very important that other clubs learn from this. "The main lesson the club has learned is that the whole organisation has to be involved and have a knowledge of the operations and polices, especially written policies, and that staff are fully trained in those policies. "Everything has to be consistent and there needs to be good communication at all levels. The whole organisation from the top down needs to be aware, and not just rely on staff to 
make sure that everything is in place. "We have adopted an environmental management plan, but obviously we still have a lot of work to do. We don't see it as just a one-off thing. We've got to continually improve it over time and improve ourselves." In handing down his verdict, Justice Talbot commented that the club faced "a financial 
dilemma". Airey, however, is adamant that the 
club, which has 890 members and clocks up between 72,000 and 75,000 rounds annually, will not close despite the huge financial burden it now faces. While admitting the financial ramifications will impact the club for at least the next decade, Airey says the fine imposed was fair, 
and while strong enough to send a message, was not too high to put the club out of business. The fine couldn't have come at a worse possible juncture for the club. For the past three years it has traded at a loss and a further loss of $190,000 is expected for the 2003 financial year. The financial difficulties hark back to 1999 and 2000 when the club carried out reconstruction of several holes and renovations to the clubhouse at a cost of $400,000. Airey says the club is currently assessing its options in regards to financing the fine 
and is likely to increase green fees and 
competition fees. For current superintendent Brett Maurice, who has worked at the club for the past 13 
years, the verdict is also liberating and means he and his crew can close what has been an unfortunate chapter in the club's history and get on with business. Maurice says that since the original incident a lot of work has been carried out at the compound and a number of new policies 
established to help improve working conditions. "Everything that has been asked of by the courts has been carried out or is in motion," says Maurice. "With all the strategies now in place there is absolutely no chance anything will happen 
again. It's all for the better. "I think the board has finally realised that there were issues that need to be addressed 
over at the shed and they are now much more aware of their environmental responsibilities." Since the incident the club has paid out $6,614.59 for bunding around the concrete slab, raising retaining walls around soil storage bays and constructing a new diesel 
storage area. The club has also brought in an engineering company to build a dedicated washdown bay, 
a pumped connection to the sewer and 
construction of a dedicated roofed and bunded chemical filling and emergency storage facility. The estimated cost of these works is upwards of $300,000. Manly Lagoon Draft plans for the washdown bay have been drawn up and a development application 
is currently before Warringah Council. In addition, the club has adopted a site-specific environmental management strategy using the recently released AGCSA/EPA environmental manual as a guideline, while a separate OHS and environmental issues 
committee has been formed. Specific polices on machine washdown, chemical use and machine repair have also been adopted, while a chemical spill kit has been purchased and staff trained in its use. "It has been a difficult time," sums up Maurice on the past two years. "All the guys on staff now were there when the incident happened. The mood was very down for about three months but it was a matter of turning all the negatives into a positive. "We just have to accept it. We just have to do our best and the committee understands 
that. It's now time for the club with all the awareness this incident has created to move forward. "It's just unfortunate that we were the ones made an example of." A See Page 45 of this edition of ATM - ACGSA, DEC Launch Environmental Management 
Manual for Coif Courses. Have your say! What are your thoughts on the Warringah Colf Club saga? Put pen to paper or finger to keyboard and send a letter to the editor. Correspondence can be sent to the 
ACCSA at Suite 1, Monash Corporate Centre, 752 Blackburn Rd, Clayton North, VIC 3168 or email brettQagcsa.com.au I12 A T M The Warringah Verdict Around the Traps - What Supers are Saying ATM caught up with five NSW-based superintendents to get their thoughts on the Warringah verdicts and the ramifications they have for the industry. Each superintendent was asked three questions; 7. What are your impressions of the verdict? 2. What was the most crucial point to come out of the cases that superintendents need to be aware of? 
3. Have the verdicts made you look at your club's environmental management plan and has it increased your awareness of your club's environmental responsibility? Here's what they had to say. Bruce Carruthers Woodlands Country Club 
1. "They [the verdicts] were handed down as an example of severity and to teach a big lesson to the industry by sending a warning that this is what could happen if you are not up to shape." 2 "The most crucial point is that superintendents need to be totally aware of the products they are handling, what they are doing with them, how they use them and how 
they dispose of them." 3. "Yes. This is a wake-up call for the industry not to be blasé or apathetic towards the statutory rules that are in place." Norm Foord New Brighton Golf Club 1. "I think it was probably expected. They [the courts] were always going to make an example of this case to everyone by invoking pretty heavy penalties. Unfortunately it had to be a golf course. I guess it has been coming for a long time." 2. "That our stewardship and environmental awareness now has to be even more stringent with current legislation. We're probably more aware than most other horticulturalists of these issues, but it emphasises we need to be up to speed with the latest legislation in all areas regarding the environment. It emphasises the need for more professionalism. The other big point is that the board of directors now have to take an active role, know what is going on and be aware 
that they are liable." 3. "I was already aware of the ramifications and potentials at my club. More so, it has raised the awareness of my 
staff, our golfing membership and the board of directors." Mark Parker Concord Golf Club 1. "I think the poor guy [Craig Coggins] went through more than he should have. It appeared to be an accident with no intent. We all make mistakes, with people having made far worse without ramifications. He was unlucky and made a scapegoat. I think it also highlights society's growing intolerance of environmental mismanagement at 
certain levels, yet the hypocrisy surrounding far greater 
environmental disasters that occur daily and are allowed because it affects our wallets." 2. "I think vigilance and written documentation, particularly in regards to any OSH or environmental issues. You need to have everything documented at club committee meetings and carry out regular official meetings with your entire staff and document the minutes." 3. "My immediate reaction is to say no because I feel we are already proactive in that respect. We carried out an 
environmental audit some seven years ago, looking at what 
our systems are and what we do. But realistically yes it has. At the end of the day even though we carried out an audit, it makes you question, "Did we do it well enough, what else do I need to cover?" There wouldn't be any club in Sydney that didn't stop and think about it." Anthony Rowland Charlestown Golf Club 1. "Things went wrong and they weren't turned around and rectified once they went wrong. Ignorance doesn't count anymore, basically. It's going to have a strong impact on the way people look at environmental issues across the board and committees will need to strongly enhance their awareness of such issues." 2 "That if you make a mistake, you have to rectify it as quick as possible by alerting the authorities, instead of putting your head in the sand. It seems that if things had been done a bit differently there might have been less consequences for the club and the superintendent." 
3. "I took my president along to the ACCSA workshop in October at Pennant Hills. He had a few interesting looks on his face. I'm pushing for some additions here and he's now one of my very strong supporters. The verdict has definitely raised the club's awareness." Scott Lane Oatlands Golf Club 1. "I think it has opened a lot of guy's eyes to what they can and can't do. We've got a lot of stuff in place here at Oatlands so that sort of thing doesn't happen to us. But I probably think it was warranted. We need to be seen as a 
leader in the industry." 2. "The fines. Also, everyone needs to be made aware of 
what can happen. Even though you might not be on site, it's still your responsibility. You've got to make sure you train your staff correctly in all these types of things. The EPA and WorkCover laws are changing all the time and in 
places conflict, and I think as an industry we need to do something to keep us up to date. "Greenkeeping is not the same as it once was. I've been in the game for more than 20 years but I'm not really a greenkeeper any more. I'm more an office manager. I'm constantly in meetings, updating risk assessments and 
WorkCover stuff, and training staff. I only get to look at my course maybe once a week. That's when I rely on my 2IC 
and 3IC to keep me up to date. "Everyone needs to made aware, especially the smaller country courses, because they could get themselves into a lot of trouble. Some of them simply don't have the resources and the manpower to commit to risk assessments. 3. "We are currently re-doing ours at the moment to keep it up to date as a result of the verdict. A BY JOHN DEERE When we decided to make our own reels over a decade ago, we started with a clean slate. The results were so revolutionary, they're patented. Features like moving the mounting point behind centre and including hydraulic down pressure improved the quality of cut by keeping the units in more solid contact with the ground. Choose from the broad range of John Deere reel mowing equipment, including B Series Walk Behind Greens Mowers; 2500A Tri-plex Greens Mower; 2653A Surrounds Mower; B Series Lightweight Fairway Mowers and 365 Gang Mowers. For more information on the John Deere range of Reel Mowers, contact your local John Deere Golf & Turf dealer on 1800 800 981 or visit us on www.deere.com.au. JOHN DEERE CF NOTHING RUNS LIKE A DEERE - JOHN DEERE A T M 13| The Warringah Verdict An Expert's Perspective The Warringah case should send a huge warning to clubs to raise their level of environmental awareness At the time of the Warringah incident I was working for the EPA as a specialist environmental investigator attached to their legal branch and following the incident I was part of a large investigative team. The EPA charged the club, being the occupier of the golf course, with negligently contributing, in a material respect, to the conditions that gave rise to Craig Coggins' offence. This did not mean that the club "caused" Coggins' offence; rather it meant that the club, through its own acts and omissions, created conditions that contributed to his offence. The court found that the club had been criminally negligent in that, among other things; 1. Poisonous chemicals, including pesticides, were frequently handled and mixed on a concrete slab in the greenkeepers' compound; 2. The slab was near Brookvale Creek and adjacent to stormwater pits that lead to the creek; 3. The slab was not surrounded by a bund or other protective devices; 4. Little or no precautions had been taken by the club to prevent the escape of dangerous substances from the greenkeepers' 
compound; and 5. The escape of the pesticide and the potential harm were foreseeable and it was an accident waiting to happen. The conditions that contributed to the offence included: Ł Permitting the handling of chemicals upon a concrete slab which had no bunding; Ł Permitting the handling of chemicals near a stormwater grate, one which was not protected by bunding; Ł Failing to provide the superintendent or any other employee with any or any sufficient instructions that chemicals were not to be handled in the vicinity of the concrete slab or the stormwater grate; Ł Failing to provide the superintendent or any other employee with any or any sufficient instructions in relation to the handling of dangerous chemicals or chemical spill management procedures; Ł Permitting the carrying out of repairs to equipment on an unbunded concrete slab and near a stormwater grate; Ł Failing to erect bunding around the concrete slab and stormwater grate; Ł Failing to install washdown bays; and Ł Failing to provide the superintendent and other employees with spill prevention and containment plans and/or equipment. There is no doubt this incident was preventable. During the hearing the EPA submitted that on the basis of the facts proved in the case it is clear beyond argument that had the spill been contained on-site no environmental harm would have occurred or would have been likely to occur. It must, however, be stressed that many of the major environmental incidents that I have investigated result not from malice but from ignorance of the environmental impacts of individual actions or of ignorance of our obligations under the law. Had the club an appropriate environmental management program in place the likelihood of this incident could have been significantly reduced. This case exposes a number of weaknesses in the environmental management programs at many golf clubs; Ł The absence of a systematic process of environmental management; Ł There are no formal mechanisms to identify potential and actual problem areas; Ł Failure to plan short and long term environmental goals and actions; Ł Failure to identify appropriate operational controls and procedures; Ł Some clubs fail to see the environment as a business issue; Ł Failure to view environmental management as a public relations asset; Ł Unable to realise that environmental programs can save money; Ł Failure to integrate environmental management into daily operations. The case showed that the club did not have appropriate programs of environmental management in place at the time of the incident. As a result, the club was not in a position to; Ł Reduce and manage environmental risk; Ł Claim due diligence as a defence; Ł Claim they exercised due diligence as a factor in mitigation; Ł Reduce the likelihood of the club, its directors, managers and staff from being prosecuted. Unfortunately the absence of an environmental management program exposed the club and its employees to environmental legislation with heavy penalties and few defences. This case clearly demonstrates that environmental legislation throughout Australia can render golf clubs to criminal and civil liability. Golf clubs can also be liable for the acts of their employees and contractors. Had the club been duly diligent they would have identified, assessed and managed the specific environmental risks likely to be faced as a result of their activities. Environmental due diligence is an important corporate and individual environmental responsibility tool that the golfing industry is yet to fully embrace. Significantly, due diligence can be a defence to environmental criminal liability throughout 
the Australian jurisdiction. Importantly, it must 
also be regarded as an effective method for golf clubs to control and minimise environmental risks. Interestingly, although due diligence is a statutory provision in all but one Australian 
state, it is not defined in any of the legislation. The Courts will determine if due diligence has been exercised, but simply put, it is a master plan to demonstrate the golf club identified and assessed the specific environmental risks and 
designed and implemented a system to specifically manage those risks. There is no all-purpose list of magic steps to environmental due diligence but there are 
activities that golf clubs should be doing by 
taking every precaution reasonable. A due diligence program is process and systems based and will specify standards and procedures to be followed in managing environmental performance. |14 A T M It will identify, assess and control environmental risks and be complemented by a system of on-going management and review. The ultimate goal is to ensure individuals throughout golf clubs recognise their environmental responsibilities, are accountable 
for their actions, and demonstrate a sense of environmental ownership. Golf clubs who adopt this approach may not only demonstrate they have acted duly diligently but may also enhance the image of 
the industry by demonstrating that robust internal environmental performance criteria apply to all environmental decisions. One of the main aims of the Parliaments in criminalising environmental breaches in Australia is deterrence. As reported during the Warringah case, Justice Talbot commented, "The court should send a powerful message to sporting club operators, and in particular, golf clubs, that mismanagement or, particularly as in this case, abandonment of environmental responsibility will lead to condign punishment." The environmental performance of golf clubs must move with, and in some respects be in advance of, community and government expectations. Environmental responsibilities of golf clubs must be managed in the same manner as its fiduciary, economic, legal and human resource responsibilities. Golf club board members and senior managers must; Ł Become familiar with environmental effects of all sections of their club; Ł Identify staff who have responsibility for environmental management; Ł Prepare an integrated environmental program; Ł Keep a register of policy and legal requirements; Ł Demonstrate environmental responsibility to employees and contractors; Ł Exercise control over the actions of contractors; Ł Maintain adequate records to demonstrate compliance with environmental requirements. For the golfing industry to work together and foster a culture of continuous improvement in environmental management, senior management at golf clubs must provide a self-
imposed set of environmental rules for the carrying out of specific activities. They must take a leading role in setting minimum environmental standards and provide 
resources and support in developing practical 
measures to prevent and minimise the risk of environmental harm. The starting point is top management commitment because they define organisational goals and provide leadership and direction. They also make decisions and must view environmental management commitment as an opportunity to improve. The Warringah case also highlights that many activities at Australian golf courses involve 
inherent environmental risks that require ongoing management. These include natural resource consumption, chemical and waste storage, air, noise, soil and water pollution. While there is no fool-proof plan to guarantee the prevention of environmental incidents, the golfing industry must commit to an holistic 
approach of environmental risk management using simple risk management tools that enhance environmental decision-making, accountability, responsibility and defensibility. The environmental programs at golf clubs are constantly in need of evaluation or improvement. The Court found beyond reasonable doubt that the club itself breached its duty to take reasonable steps to avoid or minimise harm to the environment. It negligently, and in a material respect, contributed to the conditions that gave rise to the commission of the offence by its employee. This is because it failed to implement fundamental safeguards and procedures to protect the environment from harm in the event of an accident or the careless or negligent performance by an employee. Sadly, the golfing industry stands atop the list of offenders in NSW, along with the Karuah Caravan Park case (the defendant was 
sentenced to 12 months jail), as the equal highest fine imposed in any single environmental investigation in NSW. Already, the EPA and local councils in NSW have commenced audits and site inspections of golf clubs and there is no doubt the industry will be closely scrutinised by 
environmental regulators. Club's now need to review their environmental status taking into consideration 
environmental records, reports, materials, work procedures and staff, and making it a priority to 
inspect the site to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the current way of managing 
the environment. Terry Muir was an investigating officer for the EPA during the Warringah Coif Club and Craig Coggins 
cases. He now runs his own environmental 
management consultancy called Environmental Business Solutions. A Commercial Mowing For more information on the John Deere range of Commercial Mowing Equipment, contact your local John Deere Golf & Turf dealer on 1800 800 981 or visit us on www.deere.com.au. When it comes to Commercial Mowing....John Deere has it covered. Choose from the wide range of models including the Z-TrakŽ Zero Turn Mowers, the 1400 Series Commercial Front Mowers or the 1600 Turbo Wide Area Mower: Z-TrakŽ Zero Turn Mowers range from 19-29hp and come in cutting widths of 48 inch, 54 inch, 60 inch and introducing the new 797 Z-TrakŽ with a 72 inch cutting swath. 1400 Series Commercial Front Mower range include models from 24-31 hp with the choice of 60 inch or 72 inch 7-IronŽ mower decks. 1600 Turbo Wide Area Mower features a 64hp turbo-charge diesel engine and provides almost 11 feet of finishing mower width through a three-deck setup (one front and two wing mower decks). A T M 15| Centre Court - The Wimbledon Experience ebbs 5TT5 ŁJHUJ.IlJ.l.llMlffl Over the past three years aspiring turf manager Matthew Dowlan had the unique experience of working at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, or Wimbledon as it is more commonly known. Here the 25-year-old Melbournian recounts his time there and gives an insight into preparing surfaces at undoubtedly the world's premier tennis facility. ii I f you can dream and not make dreams I your master, if you can think and not make thoughts your aim, if you can meet with triumph and disaster and treat those two impostors just the same" - Rudyard Kipling 1865 - 1936. I never realised that some day this quote would mean as much as it did when I read it upon entering Centre Court at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC) -Wimbledon. The quote is set in gold lettering in the foyer of the players' entrance and was quite apt considering I too was about to realise my dream 
of working at the oldest and most prestigious lawn tennis facility in the world. The Championships, as it is called, at Wimbledon have developed from the garden party atmosphere of the first meeting in 1877, witnessed by a few hundred spectators, to a highly professional tournament attracting an attendance of almost half a million people and a TV audience of millions worldwide. The AELTC has the status of being at the forefront of lawn tennis turf management due 
to its ready-available resources and continual research through annual seminars hosted at the club. The opportunity to work at the AELTC came about while I was working as a groundsman at 
the Royal South Yarra Tennis Club in Melbourne under the auspices of Bill Turner. Through contacts an opportunity arose to work at the AELTC and in July 2000 I is was offered a position starting 
in April 2001. My role would be to assist maintaining all grass, red shale, clay and hard courts as well as 
assist in the day-to-day running of the facility. Upon arriving for my first day I was formally introduced to everyone at the AELTC and given a full day's orientation of the facilities and staffing arrangements. Wimbledon is more than its famed Centre Court. It is a complex of 42 tennis lawns, three clay courts, one Hard True court, one Soft B court (French Clay) and five shale courts, as well as the members and competitors lawns, surrounding garden lawns and croquet greens. Head groundsman is Eddie Seaward who has presided there for the past 13 years. He is assisted by Mark Sheather who has worked there for over 30 years and possesses unrivalled practical experience in lawn tennis turf management. Both Eddie and Mark control a team of 12 full-time groundsmen as well as two full-time mechanics who maintain a large fleet of machinery. There are also three full-time employees who are based at Aorangi Park, the Wimbledon practice courts. The remaining contingent of groundsmen, such as myself, are on contracts which last anywhere from a month to eight months, and 
come The Championships in the last week of June, staff numbers swell to around 25. Since the mid-1980s some 20 Australians have had the opportunity to work at the AELTC and with the addition of myself there were five in 2001, four in 2002, and five in 2003. lie A T NI Renovation of all courts begins immediately after The Championships. Here the Koro field topmaker is used on Centre Court MATTHEW DOWLAN (Lolium perenne) across the courts compared with the 70 per cent ryegrass and 30 per cent fescue mix of years gone by. Other new methods included the introduction of the Koro field topmaker during the autumn renovation period where the machine is adjusted to remove unwanted weeds (mainly Poa annua) in readiness for the overseeding process, while during the spring renovation period a HydroJect was used to aerate the soil. The spring maintenance process is dependent upon a number of factors including 
the weather and when the courts are due to 
open for play. Following the winter season, after any outbreaks of fungal disease have been 
contained, an assessment of the playing surface is made. The following is a timetable of what occurs during the spring renovation period in the lead-up to The Championships. Scarification The scarification process starts in late March, the intensity of which depends upon how much scarifying was carried out the autumn before.Centre Court is scarified first followed by the outer courts. The process is carried out using two walk-behind scarifiers and a tractor-mounted scarifier. Aeration Again the degree of intensity depends upon the autumn renovation period. If the aeration program has been sufficient, very little, if any, is required. But through good cultural practices and 
management - which includes the removal of dew every morning and regular applications 
of carbendazim fungicide - fusarium is well contained. During my time at Wimbledon it was apparent that tradition played an integral part in preparing the surfaces, especially Centre Court. For years the courts have been prepared 
exactly the same way, although in recent times the advent of new technologies and further research into new grass strains, which possess 
better wear qualities, has meant some practices have been altered slightly. By the time I arrived, the AELTC had introduced 100 per cent perennial ryegrass SPRING RENOVATION I joined the club during the spring renovation season, which in England starts in March. With 
the grass courts coming out of the winter period only a small amount of work was being done including regular cutting and checks for damage and fungal disease attack. According to the full-time groundsmen the only real pests they experienced were the Australian groundsmen! Just joking. In actual fact, fusarium patch was the biggest issue for groundstaff to contend with as it seems to thrive in England's cool, moist climate. As the grass courts are 100 per cent ryegrass and heavily fertilised, they are an ideal breeding ground for the disease. GatorŽ Utility Vehicles No matter what you have in store for a GatorŽ Utility Vehicle, we've got one in store for you. Choose from the 4x2 petrol or 6x4 petrol or diesel models, or one of the utility vehicles created especially for the golf course - the Turf Gator or electric E-Gator. John Deere Gators also feature a load capacity of 408kg* and a footprint that lays down just 5.6 to 7.5 psi. Whatever model you choose, you'll love this rugged animal for all the places it can go, things it can do, and stuff it can haul. For more information on the John Deere range of GatorŽ Utility Vehicles, contact your local John Deere Golf & Turf dealer on 1800 800 981 or visit us on www.deere.com.au. * Including 90kg operator and passenger Centre Court - The Wimbledon Experience Overseeding Once the courts were scarified and mown to a suitable standard, they were then overseeded 
with a specific ryegrass seed mix with a pedestrian pro-seeder. Topdressing Topdressing took place only if there was sufficient time before the opening of courts for play, so as to weather in and be totally ameliorated with the playing surface. Mowing During March the height of cut (HOC) is 12 millimetres throughout, with frequency dependent on growth. The grass is not allowed to grow so long that more than 2mm is removed at any one time. A fleet of Toro 20" cylinder walk-behind mowers with groomer attachments is used each 
producing 110 cuts per metre. In April, frequency is increased to at least three times a week. Verti-groomers are introduced, set at 1mm below the HOC which 
is reduced over the month to 9mm. In May, as The Championships draw closer, the HOC is reduced to the playing height of 8mm and groomers are used as required. This process continues through into June with frequency increasing through to the tournament. The same operator always mows the same courts, to ensure sharp lines. One half of the court is mowed first right out to the sides. When using the 20" cylinder mowers, 
there should be exactly three cuts between the tramlines. Rolling Rolling starts as early as the weather allows, and if possible most is undertaken pre-season. However, rolling is normally a daily occurrence during The Championships. The heaviest rolling does not exceed three tonnes. With play scheduled to start in mid-May, rolling becomes a regular operation with the frequency increased up until the tournament. Fertilising Fertiliser is applied using a cyclone spreader at the very end of April or at the beginning of May. To ensure an even distribution, two passes are made - one along the length of play and 
the other across the line of play. Marking Out Courts are marked out about 10 days before play is due to start. This allows time to achieve the correct shading on the courts when mowing. BUILD-UP TO THE CHAMPIONSHIPS With the spring maintenance period passed, the grass courts are ready for the opening of play 
for members before The Championships begin. Centre Court, however, is not used. Remarkably, Centre Court at Wimbledon is mainly used for just the two weeks of The Championships. For the remainder of the year it is a tourist attraction. By the Monday following the tournament, autumn renovation begins, the surface is re-seeded, and within five weeks new growth has sprouted. Centre Court receives no preferential treatment, although it and the Number One court are surrounded by a small electric fence to ward off vixens (foxes), as their urine consists of high traces of ammonia that can ruin even the 
highest maintained surface. With The Championships fast approaching, attention starts turning towards preparing the 
facility as a whole. Fences and barriers surrounding the outside courts are erected, marquees set up and public seating set out. All lawns and edges surrounding the courts are manicured, scoreboards erected and net posts installed. Aerating Centre Court |18 A T M Doesn't your turf deserve it? A single application of Chipco Merit will give you superior African black beetle and billbug control that lasts all season, with minimal environmental impact. As a Chipco Merit user, you can also call on the outstanding after-sales support of the very experienced Chipco team. By no means all quality turf awards are won on Merit, but it certainly helps! making the world green Bayer Environmental Science 391-393 Tooronga Road East Hawthorn, Vic. 3123. Ph. (03) 9248 6888 www.bayercropscience.com.au abn »7 00022® 022 ŁRegistered Trademark of Bayer Bayer Environmental Science s a business foup of Bayer Cropaoence Ply Ltd BES1038/0703/The Hopkins Part. Bayer Environmental Science [BAVERI R. Centre Court - The Wimbledon Experience Topdressing Centre Court Another major issue during the build-up is the weather and the covering of the courts pre-tournament. The covers are installed in the final week of May and two weeks before the 
tournament starts the covers on every court have to be pulled and inflated every night 
before closing. With the warmer weather and increase in humidity, staff work later at night. It is 
important not to cover the courts too early. Doing so can increase the risk of sweating causing a damp slippery surface which is more susceptible to fungal disease. The month of June is hectic to say the least. It kicks off with Overseas Week where all the 
players come in for accreditation and are allocated practice times. With the AELTC being a private club, the public is not allowed entrance at this stage so it gives the staff a fantastic opportunity to watch 
the players train up close, have a chat with 
them and in the case of fellow Australian groundsman Dave McCrimmon have a hit 
with them. Dave was watching Richard Krajicek on Court 11 when his hitting partner failed to turn up. Dave ended up having a 10 minute session with the 1996 Wimbledon champion! THE CHAMPIONSHIPS By the time The Championships roll around, there is a full complement of 25 groundstaff. During the tournament a timetable exits with all courts mown and marked out by 
9am before the gates open at 10.30am. During my three years I had the opportunity to cut courts 2, 3 and 4. It was a thrill as they 
were show courts and the stands were full of people seeing my work. We would also dress the courts. This is the general routine for the two weeks unless there was a forecast for rain 
which meant we went on standby to pull the covers. During the tournament there is over 200 staff (mainly students) that help pull the covers in case of rain. They are all trained two weeks prior to the tournament, though the groundstaff are given 
the important jobs of covering Centre Court and Number One. During the tournament there is considerable wearing of the turf surface around the baselines and at the net, especially in the second week. Nothing can be done about the 
thinning of turf but it wears evenly and the players get used to the change. The only maintenance practice is to tidy up the baselines by using a Billy Goat vacuum to suck up any unwanted material. Another great experience during The Championships is Finals Day where as part of 
tradition the groundstaff get to be a part of the net presentation ceremony. We are split into two groups and on all three occasions I was lucky to get men's final every time. Watching the trophy presentation from an arm's length away is incredible, and I was 
fortunate enough to see Goran Ivanisevic (2001), Lleyton Hewitt (2002) and Roger Federer (2003) lift the trophy. AUTUMN RENOVATION With The Championships over, the autumn renovation period (August to October) starts immediately. This is the most vital time in lawn tennis court maintenance. The standard of the court the following season will, to a large extent, depend on how thoroughly the autumn work is carried out. A programme of work must be planned in advance, so that all the required materials are 
on site and available when needed. The autumn renovation program goes as follows; Irrigation Irrigation is used during this period to soften the soil profile so that aeration and scarification can be made easier. As an aside, during The Championships 3000 gallons of water is used to irrigate the courts. Scarification At this time of year the machine is adjusted to cut into the surface 6mm, thus removing any unwanted growth that may have formed. The procedure starts by working lengthways across the court with debris being removed with 
the aid of a sweeper. On average this is done four times in opposite directions. The HOC is then slightly raised and the same procedure carried out across the line of the court. Aeration It is important to aerate as much as possible to relieve compaction and encourage root growth. In the past, the program has been to vertidrain the entire area to a depth of 100mm. This will be reintroduced at some time in the future. Seeding For reasons of cost and tradition all courts are re-seeded rather than re-turfed. With a complex of 42 tennis lawns - 20 for competition 
and 22 for practice - that's 3.5 hectares and is more cost effective. The seed is a perennial ryegrass mix - 50 per cent Aberlmp, 50 per cent AberElf. The seed is spread at a rate of 85 grams per square metre imbedded in a soil profile 21 to 22 per cent clay and the rest sands and silt deposited to a depth of 250 millimetres. Below that is a 150mm layer of crushed rock for drainage. The soil is naturally from Britain, but not native to the Wimbledon area. A Surrey-based company provides the soil which has absorb about 290 kilograms per square centimetre for breakage point. It must be compatible with the existing soil. If not, a layered effect may be produced within the soil profile which can cause the grass roots to fracture and movement of the top layer. A T M Centre Court - The Wimbledon Experience Over the years it has been found that the Scis Seeder is a very effective method of sowing. Initially seeding is carried out by going 
over the entire court at least twice. Once this is completed, further attention is given to the baselines and other high-wear 
areas. A tilth is created by the use of a 'weasel' and further seed is sown by hand. Following 
seeding a light dressing of topsoil is applied to 
assist with germination. Germination Period and Test Cut When seeding is completed, regular light irrigation takes place so that the seed does not dry out. Germination normally takes four days. Once the new grass has reached a height of 18mm it is mowed. The HOC is adjusted so that the grass leaf is lightly tipped. Over the next three weeks the turf is regularly mown with the HOC slowly reduced to 8mm in preparation for topdressing. Top dressing The main purpose of topdressing is to provide a level surface for the following season. The application of topdressing is done by hand. Each court is covered with approximately one tonne of soil using lightweight shovels. A 3m-levellawn straight edge is then pulled diagonally across the area, which has the effect of brushing the soil into the turf. Any low spots will show up and these areas can be luted in then given further treatments of 
soil to bring it level. Once the operation is 
completed the entire area can be drag-matted 
to give the final brushing in. DIFFERENCES While many of the practises are identical, there are a number of differences in lawn tennis turf management between Australia and England. The main difference, obviously, is the turf. At AELTC, all courts are cool-season ryegrass, while at Royal South Yarra warm-season Legend couch is preferred. As a result, preparation of the playing surface is different. A couchgrass surface has a higher drought and heat tolerance compared to ryegrass and can withstand long hot dry spells and lower cutting heights (any where from 4mm down to 2mm) which present a faster court and higher bounce. This is compared to an 8mm cut on ryegrass. Furthermore the soil profiles are different. Royal South Yarra is based on Merrie Creek soil, a highly-concentrated clay loam that when dry 
and rolled creates of hard true surface. During my time at Wimbledon I could not have asked for a better way in which to further 
my career in turf management. It opened my eyes up to new methods of how to prepare lawn tennis surfaces. The major highlight for me was experiencing all facets of preparing surfaces at one of the most unique sporting venues in the world and being entrusted to do so. Not to mention the incredible opportunity to socialise and network with people on the professional tennis circuit as well as travelling the world in the off-season. Truly a case of game, set, match! a A T M The Cypress Lakes Golf and Country Club is nestled in Australia's famous Hunter Valley wine region. Not a bad place to work TORO www.toro.com.au Located just a couple of John Daly drives up the F3 from Sydney and a lobbed wedge from Cessnock, lies the 160-acre Cypress Lakes Golf and Country Club. Built smack bang in the middle of Australia's renowned Hunter Valley wine region, the 18-hole championship golf course was designed by Steve Smyers of Florida and unveiled in 1992. Weighing in at 6,359m and a par 72, the front nine is tree lined with sloping fairways, while the back nine boasts a distinct links-style layout. Sixty voracious bunkers guard some dramatically shaped and elevated greens, while 
each tee and green have stunning panoramic 
views of the valley's famous vineyards and surrounding mountain ranges. Sounds like the ideal place to have a whack doesn't it? Sounds like the ideal place to work too! Mention the name Cypress Lakes to any superintendent around Australia and the answer 
will generally be the same - "That's Merv's joint!" Yes, steward of this palatial course is none other than Mervyn Hayward. "Swervin"', as he is more commonly called, is known around the industry as a bit of a larrikin and is a whirlwind of wit and comedic talent. Hayward has been ensconced at Cypress Lakes since construction began on the course in 1990, and together with his crew has established it as one of the leading resort courses in Australia. Hayward is the sort of guy you can't keep down. He's guaranteed to steal the show at 
any function and, of course, who can forget 
the ever-present famous pink wig which gets 
a regular airing. Yet there is a serious side to this former rugby league bullock-cum-mirthful superintendent. Despite having a penchant for the finer things in life, when it comes to the job he is a very shrewd operator and places huge demand 
on his equipment to keep the course in pristine 
condition year-round. Not surprising then that Hayward's preferred choice of machinery equipment is Toro. Hayward switched his fleet across to Toro two years ago and says he made the decision based not only on Toro's exemplary reputation, but also because of one other very important factor. "Toro's service has improved out of sight and that is one of the reasons why we shifted 
our fleet across," explains Hayward. "Once upon a time it was a bit difficult to get parts for Toro machinery, but that has changed so much these days. Service is an important factor for us here at Cypress Lakes because we are so far away from everything. "It's really nice to know that if you need a part or something fixed under warranty they will be here the next day for you to sort it out - no hassles. They're really good hands-on. "Also I think their machinery and the range Toro has is far superior. I wouldn't swap back." 122 Advertisement A T M The other attraction for Hayward is Toro's ability to now put together machinery packages which include spreaders, trailers and rollers. Hayward and his crew run a machinery arsenal that includes: Ł One Reelmaster 5500-D fairway mower Ł One Groundsmaster 328-D rough mower Ł Two Sand Pro bunker rakes Ł Six Greensmaster 1000 walk-behind greens mowers Ł One Reelmaster 3100 surrounds mower (Sidewinder) Ł One Pro Core aerator Ł One Greensmaster 3150 greens/tees mower The irrigation system too is all Toro and the Cypress Lakes site boasts over 700 heads. Hayward is currently in the process of changing the heads over from the old 600 Series to the new 730 Series at a cost of about $30,000 a year. This has been an ongoing process with around 300 still left to be converted. For those that have had the experience of playing Cypress Lakes, a lasting impression is the number of huge fairway and green-side bunkers which pock-mark the landscape. It therefore comes as no surprise that Hayward's two favourite pieces of Toro machinery are the new Reelmaster 5500-D fairway mower and the Reelmaster 3100 surrounds mower (Sidewinder). "They're just fantastic," says Hayward. "They're so adaptable with the adjustable front The Reelmaster 3100 surrounds mower (Sidewinder) is put through its paces on the undulating Cypress Lakes course heads and with the really steep bunker faces we 
have at Cypress Lakes it makes our work so much easier. And they are easy to maintain as well. "The fairway mower cuts sensational." Most recently, Hayward purchased the Reelmaster 3100-D surrounds mower (Sidewinder), and is so impressed with its performance that he is looking at purchasing another in August 2004. The unique Reelmaster 3100-D triplex mower is on the cutting edge of technology. Its exclusive 
Sidewinder cutting unit system and three-wheel drive allows it to perform in places other trim mowers cannot touch, and its rear-engine design offers greater operator safety and comfort. The optional Sidewinder cutting units can be shifted right and left, on the fly, for increased 
reel overhang and to vary the tyre tracks. It is 
powered by a 21 hp Kubota engine and the exclusive Series/Parallel 3WD traction drive system is quick and efficient. Also on Hayward's shopping list next year is another fairway mower from Toro's extensive range. Hayward is already the proud owner of a Reelmaster 5500-D which has already clocked 
up some serious hours at Cypress Lakes. One of the innovative features of the Reelmaster 5500-D is the optional rear roller 
brushes which are designed to optimise after-Continued next page A T M 231 Advertisement Toro Turf Tour Location: Cypress Lakes Golf and Country Club, Hunter Valley, NSW The Reelmaster 5500-D fairway mower which Hayward describes as "just sensational' Cypress Lakes' shrewd superintendent Mervyn Hayward cut performance and eliminate the clumping of grass clippings during wet cutting conditions. Features include; Ł Even dispersal of grass clippings, even in heavy dew morning conditions. Ł Power brushes which sweep the rear rollers while mowing. Ł Easy operation and installation. Ł Belt driven, powered off the reel. Ł Eliminates the need to drag or blow the fairways after mowing. Ł Keeps fairways looking great without the labour intensive clean up. And what shopping list wouldn't be complete without another triplex tees mower, a rough mower and two more of Toro's legendary Greensmaster 1000 21' walk-behind mowers. Aside from keeping the course up to exacting standards, Hayward and his team are currently embarking on a bunker upgrade program, reshaping many of the course's well-known pits at a cost of around $70,000, while there is also an ongoing native revegetation program. Also in the pipeline is a new $120,000 superintendent's shed in which to house Cypress Lakes' ever expanding fleet of Toro machinery. GO Toro machinery working in perfect harmony Who better te understand a perfectionist than a perfectionist At Toro we know when it conies to your course, no detail is too small. That's why pros like you are the best source for new ideas on ways to make it look great. And keep it looking great year after year. To us, it's the perfect relationship. For further information contact your Toro Area Manager or visit us at www.toro.com.au. MGH<x*TC1910 TORO Count on it. c AGCSATech : Update In this AGCSATech Update, John Neylan debunks a few myths about soils, reviews the recent AGCSA water management workshop series held around the country and examines sportsfield safety. UNDERSTANDING SOILS There continues to be a misunderstanding about the characteristics of soils and in particular sands used for greens construction. In part it is due to a lack of knowledge of soil physics and also due to personal opinions expressed by experts in the industry. As one notary expressed at a seminar some years ago, an opinion is worth very little unless it is based on fact. One of the recent misconceptions being discussed about sands is the relationship of water holding capacity (i.e. volumetric water content) with hydraulic conductivity (drainage rate) and a general paranoia about high drainage rates. There still seems to exist a belief that if a sand has a high hydraulic conductivity it will have a low volumetric water content. Volumetric water content and hydraulic conductivity are determined by the porosity characteristics of the sand and not necessarily related. That is, the macropores 
(pores greater than 0.5-0.05mm) affect water 
movement and the micropores (pores between 0.05-0.0002mm) affect moisture storage. With many of the sands that we test it is often possible to have a relatively high drainage rate as well as a moderate to high volumetric water 
content. There are several possible reasons for this, with particle shape (in particular rounded particles) having a significant influence. To explore this relationship we analysed the results for 230 soil samples that have been tested by State Chemistry Labs for hydraulic conductivity (compacted) and volumetric water 
content (at 30cm tension). A regression analysis was undertaken and a chart of the results is shown in Figure 1. The linear regression analysis is a statistical method to fit a line through a set of observations. Using this method it is possible to analyse how a single dependent variable is affected by the values of one or more independent variables. In this example it provides a means of determining how strong the relationship is between hydraulic conductivity and volumetric water content. The results of the analysis on this 
data set demonstrate a very poor relationship, as indicated by the low R-square value (an R-square of 1 is a perfect relationship). The predicted values are also plotted and are based on an 
equation derived from the relationship of the real data. By examining the data points it is obvious why there is a poor relationship (i.e. a low R-square). 
The data points are well scattered around the predicted relationship which therefore increases the variability and weakens the relationship between the data sets. For example, the point that represents a hydraulic conductivity of 1560mm/hr and volumetric water content of 21.9 per cent (on chart marked with an arrow) is well outside the predicted relationship. There are well established testing protocols for determining the characteristics of soils and in particular sands for greens construction. There is no reason or place for generalisations based on "feel" or part results. If you are selecting a soil for a particular purpose it is important that you test for the key characteristics of particle size distribution, water retention, aeration porosity, compaction and 
hydraulic conductivity. Test for all the parameters WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN WORKSHOPS The AGCSA workshop series on water management plans (WMP) has been completed and the most Figure 1: Relationship between hydraulic conductivity and volumetric water content (Regression analysis) Hydraulic Conductivity versus Volumetric Water Content £ £ 1 u t 1000 1500 2000 2500 Hydraulic Conductivity (mm/hr) Ł Predicted Y 126 A T M interesting aspect was that not only does each State have its own particular water issues, but also each golf course has site-specific issues that need to be addressed. The workshops highlight the need for every golf course to undertake a site analysis in terms of soils, water, turf and vegetation and to have a WMP. A WMP and, more broadly, an environmental management plan (EMP), details how we manage our resources in a sustainable 
manner and meets the increasing demands of environmental and water authorities to demonstrate industry best practice. There are many issues affecting turf irrigators and the following are some of the key factors identified; Ł Lack of a constant water supply; Ł Potable water no longer available for irrigating turf; Ł Water quality (salinity, bicarbonates and sodium); Ł Use of treated effluent as an alternative supply; Ł Securing alternative water supplies; Ł Improving control systems; Ł Upgrading irrigation systems; With the increasing pressure on our water supplies, those outside of the turf industry 
consider the use of water on turf to be wasteful. Even some landscaping and gardening 'gurus' are discouraging the use of 
grass by replacing it with hard materials and 
drought-tolerant plants. Turf in the urban environment still has an important place by moderating the temperatures generated by concrete, bitumen and rocks, however, species selection is a most important consideration. Recreational turf areas such as sportsfields are of considerable community benefit and 
there are increasing concerns about the quality of these surfaces with water as a key input that 
affects surface quality. With the current water restrictions in some States banning the irrigation of sportsfields, at what point will they be considered unsafe due 
to surface hardness, inconsistent turf cover and soil cracks? In the long term, for all turf areas to be ecologically and economically sustainable they will have to; Ł Demonstrate industry best practice; Ł Make do with lower quality water sources; Ł Alter management practices; Ł Treat the water and soils to offset the detrimental affects of salts, bicarbonates 
and nutrients; Ł Introduce more water efficient and salt-tolerant turfgrass species; Ł Require a greater knowledge of water quality and its impact on soils and plants with increased soil, water and plant monitoring; Ł Require improved irrigation practices. As the pressures on water supplies increase, turf managers are increasingly being required 
to demonstrate industry best practice, increased water use efficiency and improved environmental management. In relation to water this can only be achieved by having a good working knowledge 
of all aspects of where the water comes from, how it is applied and how much and what are the off-site effects. The process of forming a WMP will provide the necessary information for demonstrating best practice and identifying where improvements can be made. A WMP identifies the works and practices that will improve irrigation and drainage management and water use efficiency for the golf course. The development of a WMP has several important objectives; Ł Secure future water availability through sustainable practices; Ł Environmental responsibility; Ł Assess current water management practices; Ł Comply with regulations; Ł Integral part of business strategy; Ł Communicate to members and community. A key component of the WMP is the issue of communication, not just with other turf managers but also with golfers, neighbours, regulatory authorities and environmental groups. SPORTSFIELD SAFETY Sportsfield safety is becoming an increasing issue, whether it is a major venue such as the Telstra Dome or a small municipal ground. In my experience there has been an increase in litigation related to the condition of playing surfaces where a player has been injured. The recent drought conditions have added another dimension in terms of increased surface hardness due to a lack or insufficient water. What makes an unsafe surface? This is undoubtedly the million dollar question. In my experience the main factor that has resulted in player injury is inconsistency in the surface. This can be due to many factors including; Poor construction; Inconsistent surface levels (in particular holes); Cricket pitches in the middle of football grounds; Variable turf cover; Inconsistent surface stability; Inconsistent surface firmness; 
Inconsistent drainage; 
Poor irrigation uniformity; Sprinklers that are not flush with the surface; Foreign objects (e.g. glass, metal etc.). Some councils have developed risk management programs as a means of minimising risk and ensuring safer surfaces. The problem that I have seen is that many risk management protocols 
are too complicated to be practically useful and 
are therefore not implemented. Even where problems have been identified they are not rectified quickly enough or they are only 
partially repaired. In simplest terms, fields would be safer if good construction and adequate maintenance techniques were employed, and on a day-to-day basis, surfaces would be much safer if they were level (i.e. free of localised depressions) and had a complete grass cover, a Geoff Connellan (left) with Richard Kirkby and John Neylan at the NSW water management plan workshop held at the 
Pennant Hills Golf Club The Evolution of Turfgrass Management m^mxm 5r The first manually pushed Budding reel mower invented in 1830 In today s modern world, turfgrass managers have a plethora of products and technology at their disposal. But how did these come about? Here ATM looks back at the early evolution of turf management and pinpoints some of the major innovations which have revolutionised the art of the turfgrass practitioner. The evolution of turfs as we know them today occurred in association with animal agriculture in climates favourable for grass growth, especially rainfall and temperature. The earliest significant uses of turfs for lawns was in the United Kingdom where the rainfall distribution throughout the year is reasonably good and where the moderate temperatures favour the growth of cool-season turfgrasses, such as Agrostis, Festuca, Lolium and Poa. In addition, the grazing of sheep was a significant agricultural activity throughout the countryside even from 1800 to 1950. The key advances that furthered the use of turfgrasses involved inventions and developments achieved through trial-and-error activities. Twelve developments that highlighted the turfgrass discovery and invention era are discussed in the following sections. DEVELOPMENT 1 - REEL MOWER Then For years, turfed areas were cut to a relatively 
uniform height either by the hand scythe or by a 
hand cycle in the case of closely maintained turf areas that were cut more frequently. The leaves of grasses were best cut by the scythe or cycle when the grass was wet, such as 
during early morning dews or after rains. This was 
a very laborious, time-consuming activity meaning lawns of even a reasonable quality were limited primarily to wealthy estate owners. This started to change in 1830 with the invention of the reel mower by Edward Beard Budding in Gloucester, England. This first manually pushed reel mower was more cost effective, which allowed the 
opportunity for middle-class residents to maintain residential and village green turfs which enhanced their quality of life. The original 1830 leaf cutting design of the Budding reel mowers continues to be used to this day, more than 170 years later. Now In recent times major advancements in mower technology, and in particular triplex mowers, have been based around both operator ease and safety. Machines are better designed for ease of use and comfort as well as safety 
features to minimise accidents. They have become more lightweight to reduce impact on surface compaction and reels are hydraulically driven to provide a more 
consistent high quality cut. Walk-behind mowers offer a higher standard of cut without the chance of hydraulic leaks. 
They also do not create the same level of compaction as a triplex mower but require a greater number of staff to be able to cut all 
greens with walk-behinds. Floating heads are the newest technology in walk-behinds to give an even more superior cut by following all surface contours. Electric mowers are now on the market and provide a very good alternative if greens have to be cut early during the day adjacent to neighbours. Battery life is the most limiting factor with electric technology but as this is refined their popularity is likely to increase. These days a top quality walk-behind mower will set the turf manager back somewhere near $10,000, a triplex greens mower costs upwards of $40,000 while a five-gang fairway mower tips the scales at anywhere from $70,000. DEVELOPMENT 2 - CLAY DRAIN TILE Then Cylindrical clay tile sub-surface drains were 
developed in the United Kingdom during the 1840s. This was the standard worldwide technique for sub-surface drainage of soils for over 100 years. During most of that period the clay tiles were installed by manual digging 
of the trenches. Therefore these sub-surface drains did not come into widespread use until the development of the powered mechanical trenching machine in the early 1900s. Now Drainage principles have remained similar over time, however, manual trench digging has almost been entirely replaced with mechanised systems. Clay pipes have been replaced with perforated PVC and corrugated plastic pipes. A T M DR. JAMES BEARD & ANDREW PEART The corrugated plastic pipes are easy to install but their flow rate can be restricted to 75 per cent of that of smooth sided PVC pipes. The use of flat pipes is becoming more wide spread in golf greens construction due to the greater surface area exposed and the need not to dig trenches, therefore providing both labour and cost saving benefits. DEVELOPMENT 3 - WEED-FREE GRASS SEED Then The next major advance occurred in the 1880s involving the marketing of weed-free grass seed based on proper seed cleaning, processing and testing techniques as pioneered by Orlando M. Scott of Ohio, USA. Initially he used a manually-cranked, wooden seed cleaning machine that he had modified. Prior to that time grass seed was harvested from pastures 
that were typically contaminated with weeds and the resultant seed sold directly to turf users. There were no effective selective controls for the weeds in seed harvest fields or in the home lawns and turf areas planted with the weed seed contaminated grass seed. The solution was the development of procedures to clean the weed seeds out of the grass seed. In addition, O.M Scott pioneered 
seed testing procedures long before governmental 
agencies enacted laws requiring seed testing and labelling. Now In the last couple of years there has been independent research conducted of bentgrass, ryegrass, tall fescue and couchgrass varities in Australian conditions. This gives Australian superintendents an objective understanding of their performance in Australian conditions and not just from research conducted in other countries, primarily the United States. Seed in recent years has been sold as certified seed that requires per cent purity and germination to be clearly marked on each bag being sold. This provides superintendents with the assurance that the seed they are buying is of the highest quality and is not contaminated with weeds or other unwanted grass species and has 
an acceptable germination rate. Seed coatings have been around for sometime which may enhance germination, minimise establishment diseases such as damping off or simply provide the germinating cotyledon 
with a more favourable growing environment. Endophyte has become common particularly in ryegrasses to protect the plant from chewing insects. Cultivars are continually being bred to adapt to ever-changing environmental conditions, with major focus on providing superior playing surface with less inputs. These inputs are often irrigation, nutrition and pesticide applications. New species are being introduced that have greater tolerances to adverse environmental 
growing conditions such as salinity. Warm-
season grasses are also being adapted to colder 
winter climates to reduce their dormancy periods 
to provide a better year round performance. DEVELOPMENT 4 - EARTHWORM 
MANAGEMENT Then The next major advance in the 1890s was the development of an earthworm management 
control by Peter W. Lees of England. 18th Island green at Hidden Valley G&CC. "Building Golf Dreams5 Client focussed: We build to plans, budgets, desires and dreams! Specialists: All construction methods and styles. Experienced: Large and small projects and budgets. Total construction packages through to individual plant hire rates. Experienced in Golf Course landscape constructions. Previous construction experience includes: Heritage G&CC Ł Hidden Valley G&CC Eastwood GC Medway GC Ł Drouin G&CC Patawalonga GC If your dub is thinking of undertaking any course improvements please contact Densal to arrange an obligation FREE appraisal of your requirements. DENSAL ui yuui i crunch ignis. ^ ^ Ltd Phone: (03) 5966 6251 Fax: (03) 5966 6451 36 Hazeldene Rd, Gladysdale, Victoria 3797 Email: chrisy@tpg.com.au Key Contacts: Chris Voung: 0417 380 298 Paul Reeves: 0419 895 939 or Mick O'Shannessy: 0409 231 385 tfv Ł LANDSCAPE Ł Ł AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS Ł IRRIGATION & DRAINAGE SUPPLIES Ł TURF SUPPLIES & ACCESSORIES Ł mmPACIFIC New Products Available for Export Kee Classic Series KC mowers offer rugged, reliable 12-gauge steel deck high-wheel mowers at an affordable price. Ł Dual front fixed wheels Ł Adjustable height high-clearance decks Ł Heavy-duty steel rear wheels Ł Options: 22", 24", 26" cut; semi-pneumatic geared, smooth or ribbed tires; swivel front wheels; and a selection of 6, 8, & 9.5 HP Briggs & Stratton or 5 & 5.5 HP Honda engines Residential Edgers A commercial edger modified for homeowners. Ł Three cutting depths Ł Steel frame Ł Heavy-duty wheels Ł 3.75 Briggs & Stratton engine Ł Kee quality at an economical price Agri Pacific, Inc. Phone 001 (909) 343-2100 Fax 001 (909) 343-2110 e-mail: agri@agripacific.com Visit us at www.agripacific.com A T M 291 The Evolution of Turfgrass Management Watering in the earthworm irritant The Worthington side-wheel drive mower on a multiple gang frame developed in 1914 Prior to this event the two main practices discussed in gardening books were rolling and mowing of the turf, with rolling listed first. This can be attributed to the disruption of the surface by extensive earthworm populations, particularly in England where early turf culture evolved. Thus, with the development of earthworm management, rolling became substantially less 
important as a cultural practice. In fact, rolling was eventually recognised in the 1920s as having negative effects in terms of soil compaction, especially on clay soils. The procedure involved applying the irritant to the soil surface and watering it in with excess quantities of water. As a result the earthworms came to the surface, were raked into piles, shovelled onto wheelbarrows, and physically hauled off the turf area. It also should be noted that prior to this event the game of golf and golf courses had been limited principally to the coastal areas of 
Scotland and northern England, called links land or seaside courses. Attempts to develop upland golf courses were relatively unsuccessful, principally because 
of the unplayable putting green surfaces caused by earthworms. The emergence and major expansion of golf courses on upland soils occurred at the same time, 
and could be attributed to the earthworm management procedure developed by Peter Lees. Now With the advent of sand-based opposed to native soil-based greens the need for earthworm 
management has become somewhat obsolete. DEVELOPMENT 5 - SIDE-WHEEL 
DRIVE, MULTIPLE GANG MOWER Then The side-wheel drive mower on a multiple gang frame was developed in 1914 by the Worthington Company in Pennsylvania, USA. It was a major advancement and opened the way to economical mowing of extensive turf areas in parks, golf course fairways, sports fields, recreational areas, and other large turfed areas. Now See Development 1. DEVELOPMENT 6 - SLOW-RELEASE TURF FERTILISER Then The first commercially produced slow-release turf fertiliser was marketed in 1928 by the O.M. Scott and Sons Co. in Ohio, USA. It was a natural organic product developed at Ohio State University through research funded by the O.M. Scott and Son Co. of nearby 
Marysville, Ohio. It was marketed in a large cloth bag under the name of Scott's Turf Builder. This branded slow-release fertiliser continues to be sold today 
74 years later. Now Fertiliser technology has been based around the development of controlled release fertilisers. Controlled release fertilisers are coated with a membrane of resin, plastic or wax. The method of release is usually dictated by water, temperature, microbial activity or a combination of all three. Controlled release fertilisers have the ability to release nutrition at a rate equivalent to the plant's needs and therefore have a longer period of activity, which means less application requirements 
and reduced loss in leaching and volatilization. Prills are generally manufactured now that are homogenous meaning each prill or granule contains each element that eliminates blotchiness 
that can occur with prills containing different 
elements. Micro prills are manufactured so fine 
turf areas can be fertilised and the fertiliser is simply not then picked up by mower catchers. Liquid and soluble fertilisers are becoming commonplace for fertilising areas of fine turf. The advantage is that they do not require to be watered in especially if rainfall is unpredictable or irrigation supply is limited. Many of these types of fertilisers are compatible with other products and therefore can be applied with one application. DEVELOPMENT 7 - TURFGRASS 
FUNGICIDE Then During the late 1920s and early 1930s two fungicides for the control of a number of turfgrass diseases were developed by Drs John L. Montieth 
and Arnold S. Dahl of the USDA-USGA Arlington Turf Research Centre in Washington, DC. The first truly effective fungicide controls for the control of Microdochium patch, Rhizoctonia brown patch, Sclerotinia dollar spot, and Typhula 
blights involved the use of inorganic mercury and cadmium compounds, which continued in use for 40 years. Now In recent years many pesticides have been withdrawn from the market due to safety issues related to users. These have included both mercury and cadmium based products such as PMA and Thimer. Many herbicide products now are manufactured with more than one active ingredient. This can increase the broad spectrum activity of the product but also reduce the likelihood of resistance which can render a particular product worthless. The big advancement is the use of pesticides that are less hazardous to users but also use less active ingredient per hectare making them far more environmentally friendly. Making pesticides less hazardous for the users has also seen advancements in application technology. Powders are now available in water soluble bags that can simply be placed into a spray tank without breaking the seal, granules have replaced some powders to eliminate dust, while containers are being manufactured that 
are easier to pour from. 130 A T M The Evolution of Turfgrass Management SG0T1S » TURF JT öünoeB IDEAL niffi® GRASS ».MSCOTiSSOHSfl WWSVIILK The first commercially produced slow-release turf fertiliser Application equipment have included hooded booms to reduce drift, control droplet applicators to reduce the amount of active ingredient required and multiple nozzle holders to reduce the contact with changing nozzles for different spraying requirements. Formulations have changed to water-based formulations to reduce the affects of volatilization from ester-based formulations. Even with these advancements it is likely in the future that more pesticides will be withdrawn from the market. DEVELOPMENT 8 - ROTARY MOWER Then In the 1930s the first powered rotary mower was developed by W. Waters in the United States. This resulted in the capability to mow minimal maintenance turfs at a higher height and at less frequent intervals, which are conditions in which reel-type mowers are not effective. Now See Development 1. DEVELOPMENT 9 - POP-UP SPRINKLER HEAD Then In the early 1930s the first underground pop-up sprinkler head was developed by the Thompson Company in California, USA. This was a major advance compared to the numerous types of individual, fixed, hose-end sprinklers of the oscillating or rotating type previously available, as they had to be manually moved frequently for effective irrigation. Now Automatic irrigation systems have been the saviour of many golf superintendents and golfers. 
They have permitted the watering of courses at night and cause no disruption to play due to hoses on fairways during summer months. The advancements in irrigation controllers mean complete courses can be watered either by the touch of a button or even a phone call. 
Sprinklers are now designed to throw more evenly in windy conditions and are gear driven rather than impact driven. In the future it is likely that moisture sensors will play a far bigger part in irrigation cycling and water conservation. DEVELOPMENT 10 - 2,4-D: SELECTIVE 
BROAD-LEAVED WEED CONTROL Then In the mid-1940s the first truly effective 
herbicide for the selective removal of broad-leaved weeds from perennial grasses was developed by Gretchen Fannie-Fern Davis in Washington, DC. Some of the earliest turf grass tests were conducted on the turfed mall area between 
the U.S. Capital and Washington Monument. Tyflo irrigation cable - the original - is proudly manufactured by Tycab. Tyflo ensures accurate, efficient and economical control of sporting and agricultural irrigation systems. 3 c a T? Ł i ill Ł "» j mm lUcva^ All around Australia, you'll find Tyflo at work on fairways and putting greens, racecourses, cricket and football fields, bowling greens and at most of our leading orchards. Tyflo irrigation cable features: Multi-strand copper conductors PVC sheaths for moisture resistance,flexibility and easy installation HDPE core insulation to resist abrasion in direct burial applications 
Exclusive sealing system So, when you want championship results, specify the championship irrigation cable. Tyflo from Tycab. History Shows our Quality. TYCAB AUSTRALIA Sales Offices - Victoria (03) 9706 9770 NSW (02) 9772 2599 QLD (07) 3848 2200 SA (08) 8244 5777 WA (08) 9353 1788 Factory (03) 9791 7988 Fax: (03) 9794 0031 Int. Fax (613)9794 0031 New Zealand (09) 636 9891 Tyflo cable is proudly made in Australia www.tycab.com.au A T M 311 SCOTTS-CH IPCO BAYER-NUTRIGRO CHEM AG-RAI NBI RD FERTILISERS CHEMICAL The Evolution of Turfgrass Management from the trusted name in turf, irrigation and water garden products... Turf &Irrigation Professional Products SOIL ANALYSIS, TURF CARE PROGRAMMES, EXPERT IRRIGATION ADVICE Ask us about our New Season Turf & Irrigation Product Catalogue We have over 40 locations Australia wide and a dedicated team of representatives 132 009 ALL BRANCHES www. t-i.com.au Email: info@t-i.com.au The development-use strategy for 2,4-D on turfgrasses was a major event. It remains a key herbicide in the management of quality turfgrass areas more than 50 years later. Now See Development 7. DEVELOPMENTS 11 & 12 -POWERED CORING MACHINE AND VERTICAL CUTTING MACHINE Then In 1946 the first powered coring machine was invented by Thomas C. Mascaro in Pennsylvania, USA. A manual three to four-tined coring unit was developed in England in the 1920s. However, it was not a widely used practice because of the 
very intense manual labour involved. It was not until the development of the mechanically-powered, hollow-tined coring unit by Mascaro that extensive coring of intensively trafficked turf areas came into widespread usage, and continues to be used. In 1952 Mascaro also developed the first powered vertical cutting machine, the basic design of which continues to be the standard in use to this day. Thatch had been a continuing problem on turf areas for a long time, and there was no 
truly effective way of selectively removing an excessive accumulation of thatch other than 
the total physical removal of the turf-thatch profile with a sod cutter and re-establishment. For the first time in 1952 there was an efficient, effective method for vertical cutting into the turf canopy and removing the excess, dead organic material without totally destroying 
the living turf canopy. Now Advancements in cultivation equipment have made the renovation tasks far more mechanical. Mechanical core harvesters have replaced shovels and precision machines have replaced hand forks. Aeration equipment such as the HydroJect and Vertidrain have become commonplace in machinery sheds to relieve compaction and 
increase aeration. Aeration equipment has been designed to create the maximum compact relief while causing 
as little disruption as possible to the playing 
surface so as not to inconvenience golfers. Dusting and topdressing machines have been developed to deliver precise amounts of sand onto putting surfaces to replace the art 
of hand spreading with shovels. Summary In our modern times some of these developments seem of minimal significance. However, at the time they were developed or invented, these contributions were major advances in improving the quality and lowering the cost of turfgrass maintenance. Modern turfgrass science evolved gradually based on these early inventions and trial-and-error developments between 1800 and 1952. 
These pioneering individuals and companies need our utmost respect for their very important contributions. Acknowledgements This article has been adapted, with permission, from a paper by eminent turfgrass agronomist James Beard that was first formally presented as a keynote address at the 9th International Turfgrass Research Conference in Toronto, Canada, in July 2001. It is derived from a draft of a book on the history of turf being prepared by Dr Beard who is the president and chief scientist of the International Sports Turf Institute Inc in College 
Station, Texas, USA. Copyright 2002 by James B. Beard, 1812 Shadowood Drive, College Station, Texas, USA 77840. it Table 1. Twelve key events in the turfgrass discovery and invention era Year (circa) Contribution/Invention Contributor 1830 Reel mower, mechanical hand pushed Edwin Beard Bussing, England 1843 Cylindrical clay tile drains England 1880 Weed-free grass seed processing, OM Scott, Ohio, USA testing and marketing 1890 Irritant for earthworm management PW Leeds, England and control 1914 Side-wheel driven mowers on Worthington Co., multiple-gang frame Pennsylvania, USA 1928 Slow-release organic turf fertiliser OM Scott and Sons Company, Ohio, USA 1930-1932 Turfgrass fungicide development JL Monteith and AS Dahl, Washington DC 1930 Powered rotary mower W Waters, USA 1930-1935 Pop-up sprinkler heads Thompson Co., California 1945 2.4.D selective broadleaf weed control GFF Davis, Washington DC, USA 1946 Powered coring machine TC Mascaro, Pennsylvania 1952 Powered vertical cutting machine TC Mascaro, Pennsylvania A T M From LESÇO TM PATENTED SLOW RELEASE MICRONUTRITION Use the top performing Novex 19-1-16 maintenance fertiliser this summer on your greens and discover why more than 3000 courses in the U.S. and over 200 courses in Australia are getting great results. One of the main reasons for its' Worldwide success, is that Novex provides more controlled release nitrogen than other fertiliser technologies, which means it is longer lasting and provides more even growth during the summer months. The unique homogeneous Novex granule also supplies a more even release of the phosphorus, potassium and minor nutrients making it ideal for high leaching sand soils. Nitrogen Fractions LESCO NOVEX" WSCRN - Water Soluble Controlled Release Nitrogen TYPICAL METHYLENE UREA HWSN- Hot Water Soluble Nitrogen HWIN- Hot Water Insoluble Nitrogen THE WORLDS TOP PERFORMING GREEN MAINTENANCE FERTILISER 19-1-16 Greens Fertiliser Lesco Professional Turf Fertiliser Features Ł Contains 74% total controlled release nitrogen. Ł Provides ideal N,P,K for maintenance of healthy turf over the growing season. Ł High TCRN percentage will maintain consistent nutrient levels avoiding unwanted surge growth. Ł Truly homogeneous particle. Each granule contains complete analysis, virtually eliminating speckling. Ł Patented technology engineered for consistent, season long release. Ł Attrition resistant granules insure less damage during processing, handling and shipping, resulting in dust free application. Ł Small dense granules spread evenly and penetrate the canopy, reducing mower pickup. Ł Release characteristics are not affected by mechanical damage to the granule. Ł Ix>w salt index insures low burn potential. Application Rates - 1.35kg-2.7Kg per lOOnv (0.2M).5kgN). Actual rates and timing of applications will vary with weather, soil and turf conditions Guaranteed Minimum Analysis Total Nitrogen (N) 19.0% 1.8% Nitrogen (N) as Ammonium 3.2% Nitrogen (N) as Urea 8.6% Nitrogen (N) as Aminoureaformaldehyde 5.4% Nitrogen (N) as Methylenediurea and Dimethylenetriurea Total Phosphorus (P) as Ammonium Phosphate 1.0% Total Potassium (K) as Sulphate 16.0% Sulfur (S) as Sulphate 13.0% Iron (Fe) Total as Sulphate 2.5% * 14.0 % Sitxtify Aitulablr Nitrogrn fmm Anurummifumvildrhydr. Mtihyirtwriiumi and Dimrthylriiftnurm. Distributed by: NUTURF 800 631 008 1800 809 456 www.nuturf.com.au FREE CALL FREE FAX BEYOND THE GUARDED GATES I The Pine Valley Experience I In Vol 5.5 of Australian Turfgrass Management we reported on the range of internship programs open to up and coming turf managers to further their careers. In this edition, Adam Mortimer from the Brisbane Golf Club recounts his time spent on internship at the prestigious Pine Valley course in New Jersey, USA, perennially rated as the best in the world by many of golf's leading publications. After spending two full days travelling from Brisbane to Columbus and a further three days at Ohio State University, I got a chance to meet the people behind the Ohio State University International Agricultural and Horticulture Intern Program. I went on a tour of the university - the second biggest in the country - and saw the incredible football stadium which seats an amazing 105,000. With around 110 international interns currently studying through the Ohio program, Michael O'Keeffe and his staff had every last 
detail organised for my arrival and gave me a 
warm welcome the American way. Upon entering through the carefully guarded entrance gates at Pine Valley Golf Club, I 
certainly had high expectations of the course. However, anything that I had imagined previously would not even come close to the 
reality of this amazing golf facility. After a two-hour tour around the course and surrounding property, I quickly came to realise 
why Pine Valley is ranked the No.1 golf course in America and the world by the likes of Golf Digest and Golf Magazine. Pine Valley is situated just south of Philadelphia in a town called Clementon and sits upon 180 acres of slightly hilly, pine tree covered land that boasts predominantly sandy soils. George Crump designed the course with construction starting in 1913. Unfortunately he 
died in 1918 with four holes still in construction and so was unable to witness the completion of 
the masterpiece he had designed. H.S Colt took over the project that was finally completed in 1919. Pine Valley is a very private men-only club. Not many people know it exists and because the course does not host a major PGA tournament it receives very little media attention, just the way the members like it. The club is steeped in history and follows very ancient club policies and traditions. Every hole is unique with the golfer being put to the ultimate test on every hole. Although not on the PGA tournament calendar, course preparation is no different with members and the very select few guests lucky enough to pass through the gates expecting tournament conditions every time they head on 
to the course. This is the way the members want it and as a result Pine Valley remains a mystery to the general golfing public. At Pine Valley, staffing levels fluctuate depending on the season. When I first started we had 51, which was obviously a big surprise, 
and as the season progressed we reached as high as 65 at one stage. This included five assistants, two assistants in training, and between five and 10 interns who all came from various backgrounds across the US. Adam Mortimer hydrojects one of the practice greens at the Pine Valley Golf Club There was a mix of full-time workers who had been there for over 20 years through to local high school kids who started at 12pm each day and worked through until their assigned 
tasks were completed. The interns and assistants do all the specialised cultural practices and are expected to work long hours to keep Pine Valley in perfect condition. During the peak summer periods total staff numbers increased to 65 with a separate crew of 10 Spanish-speaking Americans helping prepare the course for daily play. The Pine Valley old course is maintained links-style, with fairways and greens kept hard and fast and not overly green through 
controlled watering and fertiliser programs. The latest cultural practices are also used, keeping the design and playing conditions the same as Crump had originally intended. The facility also boasts a 10-hole short course designed by Tom Fazio. It is a replica of 
the old course, but is par-three only and simulates the second shot of some of the 
course's famous holes. There is also a massive 
driving range and short game area. Within the Pine Valley property there are also 25 residences, 11 of which have bentgrass putting greens in the back yards that are 
maintained by the staff at tournament speed. The old course greens are all Poa annua and the short course and practice facilities are a bentgrass mix, with each assistant designated a specific area to oversee. As an intern I worked closely with the assistants and was given a wide variety of projects to complete, with a very enthusiastic A T M superintendent always on hand to answer any questions or problems that cropped up. Interns are relied upon to complete the majority of the specialised cultural practices and are under constant pressure to learn and adapt 
to the methods used and to put them into practice on all of the fine turf. Weather conditions played a significant part in our daily routine and were constantly monitored by weather stations set in the 
irrigation computer and via the Internet with radars on display in the office. During the summer, temperatures reached as high as 40 degrees Celsius and combined with 
high humidity the cool-season grasses became stressed within hours meaning constant hand 
watering was required to keep wilt and hot 
spots under control. Pine Valley has a state-of-the-art Rainbird Cirrus central irrigation computer with six-inch main lines along each fairway and misting heads around all the green banks, and Rainbird 
heads covering all the greens, tees and fairways as well as the residential gardens. Pine Valley has a total of five separate pump houses that feed the irrigation lines and one dedicated primarily to pump fresh water to the 
drinking fountains and residences. They only use this in extreme conditions and the superintendent prefers to hand water greens and fairways to keep the course playing hard and fast. With so much stress on the cool-season grasses during the summer months, disease prevention is the highest of priorities with 
pythium and anthracnose constantly monitored through soil and tissue tests. Assistants and interns are constantly on the lookout while mowing and walking the greens daily for irregular dew patterns or any weak plants in high-traffic areas. Pine Valley also has several leading USGA agronomists and consultants on hand to inspect 
and inform on any problem areas. All interns are trained in chemical applications, which was one of our main duties 
along with disease identification and record keeping. It was vital an application wasn't missed because the consequences could have been devastating. Needless to say, a lot of responsibility rides on the assistants training the interns and handing off some of the pressure that comes along with such a famous course where any minor imperfection is noticed and nothing but 
perfection is required. Interns are the first to arrive each day to set the mowers up and the last to leave, making sure all equipment used during the day is back 
where it belongs and the workshop is secured. The workload is huge and the staff average 75 hours each week and are expected to be there every day during the summer to keep the 
course in pristine condition. Interns also help with hand mowing the green and tee banks along with bunker preparation when the weather conditions are favourable. The bunkers at Pine Valley are more like waste areas with no rakes in them for the 
golfers to tidy up footmarks and we only raked them twice a week, except during tournaments when they were raked daily. Bunkers were also kept firm to minimise footmarks but fluffy enough for the golfer to 
execute a bunker shot. Bunker preparation at Pine Valley is very unique and is another challenge staff members have to deal with. Can you see where the Antonio Carraro tractor has been on this golf course? anqorac Nobody else will either Due to the even distribution of weight over 4 equal sized wheels, ANTONIO CARRARO tractors exert less pressure (around 7psi/50kpa) than most utility vehicles, let alone other tractors. Combine this with features such as reversibility, compact dimensions, great manouevreability, amazing stability on slopes, and you have an incredibly versatile turf maintenance tool, capable of carrying out many tasks in the most difficult conditions when the others simply wont. But dont take our word for it. Contact us and arrange for a demonstration to make up your own mind. ANTONIO CARRARO OCEANIA P.O. BOX 2018 TAREN POINT NSW 2229 PH: (02)9540 3155 Email: carraro@bigpond.com VMrtrl St A T M 351 BEYOND THE GUARDED GATES The Pine Valley Experience Towards the end of my stay, staff numbers fell dramatically to 15 regulars, and with two major tournaments hosted in early October it was a madhouse. Pine Valley superintendent Richard Christian has been at the helm for the past 16 years and secured the job when he was just 22-year-old. He expects nothing short of the best from his staff and has a wealth of knowledge on managing cool-season grasses in extreme conditions - hot and humid in the summer to 
three feet of snow covering the whole course during the winter. I enjoyed working under him immensely and gleaned as much knowledge from him as I could. While at Pine Valley I interned with guys from Muirfield Village, Oakland Hills, Castle Pines and Merion who all had experience and ideas to impart from the big tournament courses and colleges across America. Richard expects all interns to gain a memorable yet educational experience while at Pine Valley and to proudly carry the prestigious name with them wherever they go. I would encourage anybody in Australia to make the big step and take up an overseas 
internship, whether it is through the Ohio program or another scheme. It certainly opened up my eyes to the world of turf management and the experience I gained was priceless. There are many people I have to thank for encouraging me to take this opportunity and for organising my placement. They include Michael O'Keeffe (program coordinator), David 
Goldie (the Australian advisor for the program) 
and Brett Morris of the Brisbane Golf Club. Editors Note Since writing this article, Adam has migrated south for the winter and together with fellow Brisbane Golf Club intern Angus Mahoney, will be based in Key Largo at the private members course Cardsound. After his time there, Adam plans to return to Pine Valley for a further five months before returning to Australia. For further details on the Ohio State University intern program, contact David Goldie (Thirteenth Beach Golf Club dngoldie@hotmail.com or Michael O'Keeffe at okeeffe.1@osu.edu). a îMMwmmwM AMERICA S TOP-15 GOLF COURSES, 2003 As Ranked by Golf Magazine 1. Pine Valley, New Jersey (1) 2. Cypress Point, California (2) 3. Shinnecock Hills, New York (4) 4. Augusta National, Georgia (5) 5. Pebble Beach, California (7) 6. Pinehurst No.2, North Carolina (9) 
7. Sand Hills, New England (11) 8. Merion (East), Pennsylvania (14) 9. Oakmont, Pennsylvania (15) 10. Winged Foot (West), New York (18) 
11. Pacific Dunes. Oregon (19) 12. National Golf Links of America, New York (20) 13. Seminole, Florida (22) 
14. Prairie Dunes, Kansas (23) 
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Environmental Housekeeping Visit our website at www.ebsnet.com.au for more information on the Golf Course Environmental Analysis or call Terry on 02 49 278443 or 0412 294514. A T M 1 Fine finishing or tough in the rough Daedong's 21 - 51 HP utility tractors are well proven throughout Australasia on parklands, sports arenas and golf courses. Daedong tractors' traits; combining performance, stamina and strength (essential for any sporting achievement) ensure tireless performance whatever the season. Your Daedong comes fully warranted and very competitively priced. Call for a no obligation demo at your local dealer 1 300 131125 www.agricultr.com.au f oJ^lCb Distributed in Australia by Agriculture Holding Pty Ltd Maurie 0-408-548547 QLD & Nth NSW Ł David 0-438-090449 Sth NSW, Vic, SA, Tas Ball Marks on Bentgrass Blame the Golfer, Not the Cultivar Ball marks were simulated by pneumatically ejecting golf balls from a PVC cylinder at a static pressure of 6, 8 and 10psi. Two to three marks were made in each plot Dr Jim Murphy demonstrates the ball mark simulator during the Rutgers University trial Researchers at Rutgers University in New Jersey used a pneumatic device to fire golf balls on putting greens-height plots of creeping bentgrass. Data collected included initial ball mark injury and recuperative ability of 15 cultivars. In general, less damage and more rapid recovery occurred on the newer bentgrass cultivars. Growth of the game of golf and advancements in turfgrass breeding have led to the construction of new putting greens or resurfacing of existing greens with new and improved bentgrass cultivars. In general, the newer bentgrass cultivars possess finer leaf texture, greater shoot and 
root density, and improved tolerance to pests and environmental stress relative to earlier-released cultivars, many of which are still commercially available. Nonetheless, it is common to hear superintendents who now manage the newer cultivars say that they would prefer growing older, longstanding cultivars like Penncross. Why is this so? One of the most common reasons given is that the newer cultivars are perceived to be less 
aggressive with regard to growth habit and recovery from divots or ball marks. Poorly 
repaired or not repaired at all, ball marks are a major factor that limits turf quality and playing conditions on putting greens. Field experience and research are scarce when it comes to the durability and recuperative ability among the newer cultivars of bentgrass, especially as it relates to ball marks. Although observations about growth 
rate and recuperative ability on the golf course 
may be accurate, interpretations and conclusions based upon these observations can be confounded by a number of other factors 
beyond the scope of the cultivar itself. Important factors that can contribute to the severity of ball mark damage and rate of recovery include the age of the turf (maturity of the thatch and mat layers), rootzone mix and its physical properties, topdressing material, cultural management, growing environment, 
and turfgrass cultivar. A sound assessment of each factor, indep-endent of the other factors, is needed to properly 
conclude which contributes to damage and recuperation from ball marks on putting greens. The objective of this project was to evaluate the rate of ball mark recovery among 13 creeping bentgrass and two velvet bentgrass 
cultivars without the confounding effects of age, construction, topdressing medium, cultural management, and growing environment. Study conditions This study was conducted during 2001 and 2002 on a sand-based putting green located at 
the Rutgers Horticultural Research Farm II in North Brunswick, New Jersey. The putting green was constructed in 1998 according to USGA recommendations using a mix consisting of 85 per cent sand and 15 per cent peat (by volume). Creeping bentgrass 
cultivars were seeded in May 1999 at a rate of 340 grams per 93 square metres. The velvet bentgrass entries, SR 7200 and MVB, were seeded at 200g and 400g per 93m2, respectively. During the study, turf was mowed six to nine times per week at 2.9 millimetres and fertilised with 1.8 kilograms, 1.29kg and 1.31kg of N, P2O5, and IGO per 93m2, respectively, in 
2001 and 0.8kg, 0.27kg, and 0.27kg of N, P2O5, and K20 per 93 m2 in 2002. The plots were cultivated with solid tines once or twice and topdressed three to five times per season with a medium sand. Some layering of topdressing and thatch was evident but this did not produce management or performance problems related to excessive puffiness, scalping of the turf, poor water infiltration, or rooting of the green. The combined thickness of the thatch and mat layers was less than 2.54 centimetres during the evaluations reported here. Irrigation 
and fungicides were applied as needed to avoid 
drought and disease stresses. Traffic treatments were initiated in October 1999. Wear and compaction treatments were applied four times a week using a modified 138 A T M JAMES MURPHY, T.J. LAWSON AND JOSEPH CLARK walk-behind Sweepster and a Brouwer water-filled turf roller, respectively, from May through to September. Compaction treatments also were applied using a one ton pavement roller that occasionally was operated with vibration applied to the rollers. The experimental design consisted of a split-plot factorial arrangement of treatment combinations; four levels of traffic (no traffic, wear, compaction, and wear plus compaction) represented the main plots and 15 bentgrass cultivars represented the sub-plots, with three replications of each combination. Ball marks were simulated by pneumatically ejecting golf balls from a PVC cylinder at a 
static pressure of 6, 8, or 10psi. Two or three marks were made in each plot. Visual assessments were made for initial severity as well as recovery 
of ball marks. Results Significant differences in ball mark damage and recovery were found among the bentgrass cultivars grown on sand on most rating dates in 2001 (Table 1). In general, less damage and more rapid turf recovery occurred on the newer bentgrass cultivars, notably A-4 and G-2, which are being increasingly used on golf courses throughout North America. Contrary to common perceptions, the velvet bentgrass cultivars SR 7200 and MVB 
also ranked among the best in regard to injury and recovery. On the other hand, older 
cultivars like Penncross incurred the most 
damage from ball marks and also took the longest time to heal. Not surprisingly, ball mark injury was more severe and recovery time was slower on turf that received a combination of wear and compaction. Table 1. Ball mark damage ratings on a sand putting green marked on August 14 and October 20, 2001. Entries are ranked according to recovery rating 74 days after initial marking. Cultivar Initial Damage Damage Rating Initial Damage Damage Rating 14/8/2001 (Days After Marking) 20/10/2001 (Days After Marking) 7 32 74 7 Rating (9 = least, 1 = greatest) G-2 6.4 4.2 6.6 8.1 5.1 3.1 A-4 5.9 3.7 6.9 8.1 4.2 2.2 Century 5.6 3.7 6.8 7.9 4.7 2.9 SR 7200 6.1 4.8 6.8 7.8 5.3 2.5 L-93 4.7 3.5 5.8 7.7 5 2.5 Cato 5.5 3.7 6.6 7.7 5.3 2.8 Southshore 5.6 4.0 6.6 7.7 5.4 2.5 MVB 6.2 4.0 6.2 7.4 4.7 2.8 SR 1020 4.6 3.6 6.0 7.4 5.9 2.6 Putter 4.5 3.6 6.1 7.3 4.6 1.8 SR 1119 5.1 3.7 5.8 7.2 6.1 2.7 Pennlinks 5.1 3.8 5.9 7.1 6.4 2.3 Penneagle 4.7 4.0 5.9 6.8 6.3 2.8 Providence 4.6 3.4 6.0 6.7 5.5 2.3 Penncross 3.9 3.4 5.6 6.4 6.3 2.3 LSD 0.9 0.8 0.8 0.9 1.3 NS TRAFFIC None 5.9 3.8 6.4 7.7 « -Compaction 6.0 4.1 6.8 7.9 5.5 2.6 Wear & Compaction 3.8 3.4 5.6 6.7 5.3 2.5 LSD om 1.3 NS NS 0.7 NS NS CV% 18.4 21.0 13.4 13 20.3 34.8 Cultivars in boldface print are velvet bentgrass species. All other cultivars are creeping bentgrass species. LSDoo» = Least Significant Difference. There is a *95% probability that the difference between two means is due to cultivar effects if it is * the LSD value. NS = Not Significant. There is a t5% probability that the difference between two means is due to cultivar effects. CV% = Coefficient of Variation (expressed as a percentage). Provides an indication of the degree of variability in measurements among cultivars at each rating date. Suite 1 Monash Corporate Centre 752 Blackburn Road Clayton North 3168 Vic Ph: 03 9548 8600 Fax: 03 9548 8622 Email: agcsatech@agcsa.com.au A T M mVResearch Soil Nutrient Analysis eÉñ Soil Physical Analysis xM Plant Tissue Analysis jJj^T^^ Disease Diagnosis Nematode Diagnosis SM I Water Analysis m £ I Advisory Services 391 Ball Marks on Bentgrass Blame the Golfer, Not the Cultivar nr Table 2. Ball mark damage ratings on a sand putting green marked on July 13 and 26, 2002. Entries are ranked according to recovery rating 27 days after final marking. Cultivar Initial Damage Damage Rating Initial Damage Damage Rating 13/7/20012 (Days After Marking) 26/7/2002 (Days After Marking) 7 25 41 7 19 27 Rating (9 = least, 1 = greatest) Century 3.9 5.8 8.3 8.7 4.7 6.1 6.8 7.5 MVB 5.6 6.4 8.2 8.1 5.8 6.8 7.1 7.3 A-4 5.0 6.1 8.3 8.3 4.7 5.9 6.5 7.0 SR 7200 5.2 6.7 8.0 8.2 5.0 5.7 6.3 6.8 L-93 3.9 5.0 8.5 7.8 4.6 5.4 5.9 6.8 Cato 2.7 3.8 7.9 7.3 4.7 5.3 5.3 6.3 G-2 4.9 6.1 8.7 8.6 5.0 5.3 5.5 6.1 Penncross 3.2 5.0 7.6 7.3 3.8 4.5 4.9 5.9 SR 1119 3.5 4.8 8.1 8.3 4.6 5.3 5.7 5.8 Putter 2.9 4.6 8.0 7.9 3.4 4.8 5.0 5.8 SR 1020 3.8 5.5 8.5 7.8 3.6 4.8 4.9 5.7 Southshore 4.8 5.6 8.2 7.8 4.3 4.6 4.9 5.7 Pennlinks 3.0 3.8 7.5 7.3 4.0 4.1 5.2 5.5 Penneagle 3.8 4.7 7.6 6.3 4.0 4.7 4.6 5.5 Providence 3.3 4.7 8.1 7.4 4.3 4.9 5.1 5.4 LSDoo* 1.6 1.5 NS NS 0.7 0.8 0.7 0.7 TRAFFIC None --« ---4.5 6.5 7.1 7.7 Wear ----4.8 5.4 5.6 6.4 Compaction ------3.7 5.2 5.8 6.8 Wear & Compaction ------4.7 3.9 3.9 4.1 LSDom ------NS NS NS NS CV% 28.1 19.1 7.1 12.9 15.2 15.0 11.4 11.2 Cultivars in boldface print are velvet bentgrass species. All other cultivars are creeping bentgrass species. LSDo« = Least Significant Difference. There is a »95% probability that the difference between two means is due to cultivar effects if it is * the LSD value. NS = Not Significant. There is a t5% probability that the difference between two means is due to cultivar effects. CV% = Coefficient of Variation (expressed as a percentage). Provides an indication of the degree of variability in measurements among cultivars at each rating date. Injury and recovery ratings were taken in time following ball marking Interestingly, cultivars that received only compaction treatment did not respond differently to ball marking compared to non-
trafficked cultivars, indicating that wear damage, more than compaction, exacerbates the problem of ball mark damage. This suggests that the management practice of rolling for increased ball roll would only 
exacerbate ball mark damage when the turf was experiencing aggressive damage from wear. 
Cultivars receiving wear treatment only were not assessed in 2001. The ball mark experiment on sand was repeated two additional times in 2002 (Table 2). Relative injury and recovery among cultivars was similar to 2001, however, results from 
2002 suggest that an additional year of turf maturation narrowed differences among cultivars and helped to expedite recovery 
from ball marks. Although fewer significant differences were found with respect to the effects of traffic on ball mark injury and recovery, general trends once again indicated that ball injury and recovery time are exacerbated by the presence of both wear and compaction stress. Thus, management efforts to substantially reduce either wear or compaction should improve turf tolerance to ball marking as well as recuperation. Conclusions Currently, some golf course superintendents and 
architects are reluctant to use improved and better adapted cultivars of bentgrass because of unsubstantiated field observations and conclusions that these newer cultivars are less aggressive and slower to recuperate when compared to 
earlier released cultivars like Penncross. Thus, they continue to choose older cultivars largely because of the comfort with knowing their growth habit and performance characteristics. While turf vigour and recuperative 
ability are no doubt related to the cultivar genetics, it appears that other factors including 
turf maturity are more responsible for field observations of severe ball marking problems. Today, newer cultivars are established on rooting media that contain a high percentage of sand. In most cases, these greens have not had 
time to mature (develop a mat layer) to the point where performance and play are similar to older sand or soil based greens that 
superintendents are accustomed to managing. Furthermore, superintendents should consider the possible role that annual bluegrass plays in their perception that older cultivars (e.g., Penncross) were more aggressive than the newer monostands of cultivars they now 
manage, especially during the spring when annual bluegrass growth is considerably more 
aggressive than bentgrass. Furthermore, observations of rapid healing of ball marks on older Penncross putting greens may be due to the rapid invasion of annual bluegrass seedlings into the damaged ball 
marks rather than healing from the bentgrass cultivar itself. Age of a putting green turf is probably the most important confounding factor affecting people's perception of newer bentgrass cultivars. The highly attractive cover of a newer bentgrass cultivar on a recently established green may provide a false sense of maturity A T M Ball Marks on Bentgrass Blame the Golfer, Not the Cultivar occurring under that turf cover. In reality, it likely will require two or more complete growing seasons before the subsurface mat layer and rootzone stabilize and become resistant to the forceful impact and spin of a golf ball. This stability and impact resistance is largely a function of the soil structure that develops 
from the growth of crowns, stolons, and roots in the upper surface layers of the putting green. Over time, these parts of the grass plants become integrated with the rootzone and topdressing material applied to the surface. Subsequently, as this interwoven mixture of grass and soil develops, a structure analogous to a fibre mat is formed, adding strength and stability to the putting surface. Much lecturing and discussion is focused on how to manage excessive layering of this mat 
relative to the health of the turf, when in fact the contribution of the mat layer to the 
durability of a putting green is often overlooked. In summary, whether you're contemplating or currently managing newer bentgrass cultivars, recognise that time and patience are needed for maturation of new putting greens, and realise the cultural management that 
worked for older cultivars like Penncross may not be what's best for cultivars that are finer-textured and considerably more dense. One only has to look at the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program on-site putting green trials (http://ntep.org/onsite/ost.htm) 
to see how advancements in breeding have produced bentgrass cultivars with improved turf quality characteristics and tolerance to stress. Last, but certainly not least, did we fail to mention that it would be extremely helpful if golfers repaired their own ball marks? a Acknowledgements Dr. Jim Murphy is associate professor and extension turfgrass specialist at Rutgers University. New Jersey; T.J. Lawson (research technician) and Joe Clark (assistant farm manager) also hail from Rutgers. The ACCSA is grateful to the authors and USCA Turfgrass and Environmental Research Online for allowing publication of this research in Australian Turfgrass Management magazine. USCATERO 2(12): 1-6. When it comes to topdressing the Dakota range of Turf Tenders have no equal. We call it the I 'Dakota Advantage' and it enables clients to purchase a unit that can do everything, in any weather, with any material, all with the flick of a switch. Ł Ranked 1 by indépendant ACCSA test Ł Hydraulically powered Ł Fine greens dusting Ł Ideal for greens dusting Ł Heavy topdressing Ł Fairway topdressing Ł Fertiliser application Ł Fully electric controller Ł 6 models available Ł Walking beam suspension Ł Will not bridge or clog Ł Fantastic for golf courses and contractors Ł 1 cubic metre capacity (app) Ł 2 cubic meter capacity (app) 420 Heavy Ł Hydraulically powered Ł Side arm conveyor (opt) Ł Box scraper (opt) Ł Reversible floor Ł Walking beam suspension Ł Ideal for sportsgrounds and contractors Ł 2 cubic meter capacity (app) Ł Most versatile broad acre topdresser Ł Options permanently mounted 
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Ł 4 cubic meter capacity (app) 410 Dusting 410 & 412 Controller I/42 Melverton Drive Hallam Vic 3803 Ph: 03 9796 4254 Fax: 03 9708 6702 Web: www.aspacgolfandturf.com.au FREECALL: 1800 640 305 A T M 41 The Innovative Way \ ] w 1 F T r 1 ' T'fPp 2 It The Lobz Machine pitch mark repairer LOBZ MACHINE PITCH MARK REPAIRER All superintendents know the feeling. It's a lot like smashing your head against a brick wall and then sticking your hand in a fairway mower just for good measure. We're talking repairing pitch marks. It seems no matter how many times golfers are told to repair them they either don't or do it in such a way that they leave a bigger mark than what already existed. It's a never-ending battle. Now, however, a group of NSW boffins have devised a rather crafty device called the Lobz Machine that will no doubt find gainful 
employment at a number of golf courses. Over the past six years the syndicate, headed by NSW superintendent Robert Ashes, 
has designed and constructed the device. "We wanted to look for better ways to repair pitch marks and create a device that was the turf manager's preferred method of repairing them," says Ashes. "Existing repairers lift the turf and provide a good level putting surface, but they don't do much for actual turf repair." The Lobz Machine works by aerating a neglected or fresh pitch mark in one swift downward thrust. The resulting core is closed by blades slicing the surrounding turf while filling the void with living grass and viable root material. The action is completed in seconds. "It took a bit of money and we had a few prototypes, but now it is ready to hit the 
market," says Ashes. "It's not the cheapest gadget in town but it's cost effective, quick and easy to use and helps keeps greens in pristine condition." The Lobz Machine, patented in Australia, has been extensively trailed in a controlled test 
lasting 28 days on a putting surface of Penncross bentgrass contaminated with 30 per cent Poa annua. After 28 days, 97 per cent of the original pitch marks repaired by the Lobz Machine were no longer visible, compared with 90 per cent of those repaired by course staff, a 42 per cent recovery rate for the untouched control sections and a 31 per cent recovery rate for repairs made with the Greenskeeper tool, * Syngenta recognises our innovative superintendents and is proud to present Robert 
Ashes with a $150 AGCSA book voucher. If you have through necessity, devised/created 
/built a tool/piece of machinery/gadget or made additions/alterations to an existing piece of workplace machinery/tool to make 
the job easier, then we want to know about it! Send you stories and pictures through to: Brett at the AGCSA, Suite 1, Monash Corporate Centre, 752 Blackburn Rd, Clayton North, VIC 3168 or email brett@agcsa.com.au 
Ph: (03) 9548 8600 THE BROADEST SPECTRUM Count the days until your pre-Christmas application. AnthracnoseJ Brown. Patch | Pythium | Rusanum Heleninthospocium | Grey,Leaf-Spot | Red Thread 142 I A T M Supefjpotlight Wynnum superintendent Jason Adams JASON ADAMS (Wynnum Golf Club, Brisbane, QLD) Full Name: Jason Adams Age: 33 Family: Married, two boxer dogs. Years as a superintendent: 5 Years as an AGCSA member: 10 Number of staff: 7 
Course Specs: Greens 328; Fairways 
predominantly Blue couch, Tees Green-Lees park. 
Most embarrassing moment as a 
superintendent? Having to tell my mechanic he was right. Funniest moment you have seen as a superintendent? A 35-year-old churchgoer decided to strip and cleanse his body in our creek and then walk 
through the course naked on Associates Day. 
The ladies loved it! Plans for the course over the next year? An upgrade of our irrigation system, bunker re-design and tee reconstruction. Best advice ever received about the job? To concentrate on the things that I control and worry only about them. If you could change one thing about your job, what would it be and why? Being able to educate committees what is involved in the job when they are newly elected to the board. It's not like looking after your home lawn. Best part about being a golf course superintendent? Seeing the rewards of your work first hand and golfers enjoying their round. 
Worst excuse you have ever heard from one of 
your staff? 1. It wasn't me. 2. It was working when I put it back. Career highlight? Representing Wynnum Golf Club and Australia in the final of the John Deere World Teams Championship held in Scottsdale, Arizona last 
year. It was a real eye-opener. The overseas course you'd most like to visit? 
Any in America. They are awesome. Favourite movie? Shawshank Redemption. Name 3 CDs you could not live without. Ministry of Sound, Best of INXS, Nick Skitz. If you could be any musician, who would you be? Ricky Martin. The chicks love him. Food you could not live without? Steak and chicken. Favourite sporting team? Any team that goes in as underdogs and ends up coming out on top eg: the Penrith Panthers. Dream car? SS Commodore ute. Ford or Holden? 
Holden. Beer or Bundy? 
Beer, then a Bundy. a Growforce Australia recognises the job our 
superintendents do and is proud to present Jason Adams with a 20 litre container of NUTRI-GRO Plus. Nutri-Gro is a non-toxic, Environmental Turf Management System that works 3 ways. 1. An organic insecticide controls African Black Beetle and Lawn Army Worm* without the use of a scheduled poison. 2. A natural fertiliser promotes stronger, healthier and greener growth and unlocks key soil nutrients. 3. A superior wetting agent saves water and turns dew into an additional water source for your course. So, why play a round with nasty chemicals? For a safer course, peace of mind and more money to spend, call 1KTT JHTT^J D/^í I Environmental Turf 1800 118 881 or ask your distributor for Nutri-Gro. 1 V C/ 1 JLxJL "" kJTXx. L/ I Management System 'Nutri-Gro Rus APVMA Approval Na 49074/0799 A T M 43| MOONAH ON COURSE FOR OPEN DEBUT In the last edition of ATM we profiled superintendent Leigh Yanner and the Moonah Links Open course which was due to host the Australian Open at the end of November. Rather conveniently, right as the edition was going to press, the Australian Golf Union made the call to switch the tournament date to 18-21 December because of a clash with the Davis Cup final and the Seven Network's preference to provide coverage of the tennis over the golf. The decision raised a few eyebrows around the golfing fraternity, none more so than 
Yanner himself. "I was very surprised, but I guess it made sense because of the clash with media coverage," 
says Yanner. "It will be better for us down here. The population will be starting to grow on the peninsula with the summer approaching. All we need now is a couple of days between 28-30 degrees, a light northerly breeze and conditions 
will be perfect to play and watch golf." After a difficult spring the extra three weeks grace to prepare the course for its first 
Australian Open couldn't have been timed better according to Yanner. It has also meant the glut of peripheral work on the new clubhouse, hotel complex and Legends course has been completed, leaving Yanner and his crew ample time to concentrate on tournament preparations. "I'm glad to get that out of the way," says Yanner. "All the clubhouse and hotel areas have been turfed and now we can get on with tournament preparations. "The Legends course is open but only for limited play as the harsh spring weather has 
affected the course. "Spring was quite harsh down here. We didn't have any frosts but it was overcast, wet and extremely windy. I think during September and October we only had one day over 20 degrees. "The wind and the cold haven't allowed the couchgrass to jump out of its dormancy, but now 
with the extra three weeks up our sleeves and 
the start of the warmer weather, the couch has responded well and will grow more aggressively. "We'll also be able to get that contrast between the rough and the fairways. With the 
rainfall we've had over spring the roughs are green and lush but they will brown off by the 
time the tournament comes. "The real positive, however, has been the good average rainfall over spring. Our only 
concern now is the warmer weather and keeping an eye on watering because this course drains like a sieve." Problems Yanner was experiencing with Spring Dead Spot have abated, while winter applications of iron and magnesium have proved beneficial, as has a preventive fungicide program 
instituted in February. As this edition goes to print, Yanner and his crew were beginning tournament preparations, 
stepping up around the clock hand-watering of 
greens, as well as fertiliser and fungicide applications and general grooming. Yanner is also building up his complement of staff and recently had AGCSA Graduate of the Year award winner James Dalton move across from Thirteenth Beach to help out during the tournament. A second mechanic has also been brought on board for the Open. On top of that, construction has started on a brand new maintenance compound and is due for completion around March, a YOUR NEW WEAPON IN THE WAR ON NUTGRASS. Up until recently, your choice of chemicals to effectively control Nutgrass in turf has been limited. They either weren't effective or were withdrawn from sale in Australia. This is why Countrywide Wholesalers Pty Ltd(100% Australian Owned) decided to do something about it! AVAILABLE NOW in Australia is NUTCRACKER Herbicide(750g/kg Halosulfbron Methyl), the most effective herbicide for Nutgrass control in Turf. NUTCRACKER Herbicide is of the highest quality and meets all Australian Government Regulatory requirements. Available in both 500 gm and lOOgm pack sizes. FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT COUNTRYWIDE WHOLESALERS; NSW - Patrick Hurley 0428 276014 or FAX (07) 55267197 QLD - Cameron Bragg 0427 388680 or FAX (07) 46388680 WA - John Hurley 0427 311318 or FAX (08) 92585766 CMIlM*" «*«TY omccnoNS nfom o NUTCRACKER ''Crblcldc C°NTENTS: 100G BECAUSE IT'S ALL ABOUT CHOICE ! 144 A IM AGSCA, NSW DEC LAUNCH GOLF COURSE ENVIRONMENT MANUAL The handing down of the Warringah Golf Club verdict in the NSW Land and Environment Court coincided with the recent launch of the Improving the Environmental Management of 
NSW Coif Courses manual. Unveiled at the AGCSA's water management workshop held at the Pennant Hills Golf Club in October, the education reference manual has been produced by the AGCSA in conjunction with the newly formed NSW Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) - formerly the Environment Protection Authority (EPA). The manual has been partly funded by the NSW Urban Stormwater Education Program (USEP) that aims to educate the community, industry, local councils and other stakeholders about ways to reduce urban stormwater pollution. It is a key component of the Urban Stormwater Program and the NSW Government's Waterways Package, which address the issues of water quality management and water pollution. The turf industry was identified by the USEP as one with the potential to impact negatively on urban stormwater. Golf courses are a key sector of the turf industry with approximately 450 golf courses in NSW. If managed well, golf courses can provide many environmental benefits such as stripping urban stormwater of contaminants and 
nutrients, and providing native wildlife corridors 
in congested urban environments. If managed badly, however, golf courses can be sources of nutrient and chemical run-off causing pollution of waterways and can lead 
to the degradation of indigenous flora and 
fauna habitats. It is hoped the manual will facilitate better environmental management practices on golf 
courses and comes at a time when industry 
awareness of environmental issues has been heightened following the huge fine imposed against the Warringah Golf Club for a pesticide 
spill in 2001 which resulted in a major 
environmental disaster in Manly Lagoon. John Dengate, environmental protection officer with the newly formed DEC, says the manual is an ideal reference tool for superintendents and golf clubs looking at raising their level of environmental awareness and implementing an environmental management strategy. "We've been working with golf courses in a parallel process and we would certainly 
recommend the manual to anyone who is wondering whether their environmental 
controls are up to speed," says Dengate. "We're very pleased to be working with the industry and our approach is that you are far better off, as is the environment, to prevent any environmental mishaps before they happen, rather than the DEC coming in afterwards and prosecuting people and imposing huge fines. "That may send a strong message, but we would think it a much better result if prosecution was not needed in the first place. "The Warringah Golf Club case shows very simply that you have to have environmental controls in place. " It's important to talk to the DEC or the local council. Get hold of the manual. The DEC'S contact details are in there - 131 555. That's a good start. We're happy to have superintendents ring us and we can help them with any issues they have and put them in 
touch with experts if need be." The manual covers chapters on establishing environmental principles for golf courses; water management; integrated pest management; 
pesticide storage, handling and application; fertiliser practices; grass selection; soil management; native vegetation and wetlands; clubhouse and facility management; machinery 
operations; and education and training. The Improving the Environmental Management of NSW Coif Courses manual can be ordered from the AGCSA for $119.90 (includes GST and postage). Call (03) 9548 8600 or email info@agcsa.com.au a APPOINTMENTS With OCSAQ president Jon Penberthy now ensconced at Tewantin Noosa, his former assistant Justin Kelly has been promoted to superintendent at Gainsborough Greens. Brad Butler, formerly 3IC has been made assistant superintendent. Stuart Pollock, one time former assistant at the Mt Martha public golf course is now superintendent at the Altone Park Golf Club in Beechborough, WA. Know of any new appointments? Contact Brett at the AGCSA on (03) 9548 8600 or brett@agcsa.com.au Improving the nvironmental Manage tlWifH ui U5B ¿¿oiu Ł new products The VC60 broad acre scarifier VC60 SCARIFIER BENDS THE RULES The new VC60 broad acre scarifier runs rings around any other scarifier on the market -quite literally! Featuring the patented swivel hitch, the VC60 will turn with the tractor while fully operational, 
without damaging either the machine or the turf. According to ASPAC Golf and Turf's Steve Lewis this feature enables turf managers to scarify to the contours of fairways or ovals, and 
significantly increases productivity as the machine rarely has to be turned off or raised during a job. "A great deal of time is wasted during large scarifying jobs as you are forced to cut in 
straight lines" says Lewis. "But with the VC60 you can continue verticutting, even with the tractor on full lock, 
without damaging the turf or the machine. "This enables you to scarify to the contours of fairways or sportsgrounds, significantly increasing productivity and eliminating equipment failure due to the constant raising and lowering of the unit." No rollers on the VC60 is a real positive, eliminating traditional blockage points and untrue scarifying depths through build up of 
material on the rollers. The VC60 features a patented swivel hitch The self-adjusting nylon skids combine with a very simple height adjustment system, giving the unit accurate depth control and an effective 
anti-scalping system. If you are considering the purchase of a broad acre scarifier you really need to try the VC60 on your turf. a To give it a test run, contact ASPAC Golf and Turf on 03 9796 4254, fax 03 9708 6702 or via email at info@aspacgolfandturf.com.au Poly PIUS Fertiliser Products As a pioneer in the development of sulphur-coated urea technology, LESCO owns and operates the largest sulphur-coated urea production facility in the world. Since its development, sulphur-coated urea has become the most widely used controlled-release nitrogen source in the 
professional turf care market. With technological improvements like the 
patented Poly Plus coating process, sulphur-coated urea delivers the most 
cost effective performance under the widest variety of conditions of any 
controlled-release nitrogen source currently available. Product Choices like fertilisers formulated in Mini and Standard size particles allow far greater fertiliser efficiency over differing turf growing regimes. Available as both Standard and Mini Particle Size Available in a full range of analysis for every turf situation. For more information contact your Nuturf territory manager or contact Nuturf on the number below. FREE CALL FREE FAX www.nutur-F.com.au 1800 631 008 
1800 809 456 Distributed by: M NUTURF® 146 A T M The Intelligent Use of Water # kJ H Water. Its what keeps the world alive. As the worlds largest manu facturer of irrigation products, we believe it is our responsibility to develop technologies that use water efficiently. Over the past seven decades, our pioneering 
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S 49.50 S 115.50 $110.00 ATM Turfgrass Maintenance Reduction Handbook - Sports, Lawns & Golf By Doug Brede (Ann Arbor Press) k A Turf managers are forever looking at ways of maximising resources and minimising time, labour and costs. Reduction of turf maintenance translates directly into money savings, not to mention less reliance on valuable natural resources. This book, by US turf researcher Doug Brede, claims to provide "encyclopaedic coverage of sure-fire strategies for maintaining turf in perfect condition while using less water, fertiliser, mowing, pesticides and labour". The book contains a vast amount of information on management strategies, complete with instructions on soil preparation, seed rates and planting, turf establishment and renovation. Brede presents labour-saving and cost-saving techniques for effective mowing, 
thatch control, pest management, water conservation, water management, fertiliser use, and stress management that is presented in an easy-reading manner complete with checklists. According to Brede, maintenance reduction involves an amalgamation of tools and practices. It may require changes in grass 
species or variety, soil, fertiliser, mowing, or pest control practices. It involves preparation and design. It takes a concerted effort with all of the changes 
working together to produce a tough, healthy turf capable of withstanding less care. Brede professes that the single biggest ingredient in cutting maintenance is not bioinsecticides, natural fertilisers or high-tech 
irrigation systems. The most important ingredient is the turf manager. Lower maintenance calls for a new way of thinking. It involves questioning present practices and developing new ones. Brede's rather laid back yet informative approach will win over a lot of readers and although it is from an American perspective 
and is also aimed for a general audience, is a useful reference tool for the turf manager 
looking to trim maintenance costs, m. Turfgrass Maintenance Reduction Handbook Sports, Lawns, and Golf Doug Brede Name: Postal Address: City/Suburb: I Postcode: Daytime Phone number: Please supply tl QTY he following books: BOOK TITLE AUTHOR PRICE Please add postage ($9.90 for the first book, Each additional book $1.10 per book) TOTAL NOW DUE: S I enclose my cheque/money order made payable to the AGCSA, or 
Please charge this purchase to my credit card account 
Bankcard/MasterCard/Visa Card Number: Expiry Date: 
Cardholder Name: Address: Signature: ATM Send completed order form and payments to: AGCSA Suite 1, Monash Corporate Centre 752 Blackburn Road, Clayton North, 3168 Vic Phone: (03) 9548 8600 Fax: (03) 9548 8622 Email: info@agcsa.com.au 491 0 GCSAQ Once again the weather is just beautiful in Queensland at the moment. We have been having clear days with some overnight rain and at the time of writing no extreme weather yet. Our November turf research fundraiser was held at Brookwater Golf Club, the newest Greg Norman-designed course to open in Brisbane. 
Fortunately the format for the day was Ambrose otherwise some of us would still be out there as it is a punishing golf course if you stray. The aim of the day was to generate funds to investigate the potential of some of the newer greens grade turf varieties available and to determine their suitability in different climatic regions in northern NSW and Queensland. Dr. Don Loch is working with AGCSATech's John Neylan and hopefully some valuable information on how the varieties perform under different conditions and maintenance practices 
will be forthcoming to give superintendents a better idea of their options in the future. Thirty-three teams lined up for the day with the team from Tewantin-Noosa narrow winners over a fresh-looking Gainsborough Greens club with a net score of 52. (Smacks of match-fixing - Ed) Planning for a 'Future of Queensland Golf' conference is continuing, the concept being for 
each different sector of the golf industry to provide input into identifying where the future 
lies for golf in this State and what roles the different bodies will play. Some of the issues to come from the preliminary meetings include the impact of future legislation on golf courses, noise, insurance, viability of clubs, the environment and junior golf. Queensland's golf industry awards night was held recently at the Hilton Hotel in Brisbane. Steven Kelly from Pacific Golf Club was named 
Golf Turf Apprentice of the Year, while the Tewantin-Noosa Golf Club collected the Environmental Award. The Industry Recognition Award was presented to David Burrup for his many years as head of Gravely TAFE and his role as a turf consultant. Long-time Oxley Golf Club superintendent Ian 
Earp won the Superintendents Achievement Award, while brother Charlie Earp and Paul King both received the Services to Golf Award. The upcoming blue ribbon event is the Wet and Wild Christmas party sponsored by Scotts 
Australia, where the hotly contested speed slide 
challenge will again see tactics rule the day. Is it better to eat that extra barbequed steak sandwich to provide greater downhill mass, or will John Nelson's "less is faster" theory win on the day? Jon Penberthy President, GCSAQ GCSAWA Greetings to all our state members and sponsors, as well as to everyone around the country. Thank you to those who have 
forwarded some information to me. I have been receiving it but unfortunately, or possibly fortunately, not a lot has been happening in 
Western Australia that I could send in reply. To start with, congratulations to the AGCSA, John Neylan and Geoff Connellan for the water management roving seminar held in early October. Unfortunately I had to make the hard choice between a honeymoon or the seminar, so I couldn't attend. All reports back, however, 
suggest that it was an extremely interesting and professionally run event. Thank you to Mt.Lawley Golf Club for hosting the event. Again this year WA has been subject to water restrictions but fortunately not to the same extent as some other states. It is important, however, that while our neighbours can only water on set days, all turf managers should be managing their asset as professionally 
as possible to minimise any animosity felt by 
those around us looking ever so critically in. As we are into our busier period, GCSAWA events have been scaled down somewhat. In November we had our annual Melbourne Cup Golf and Luncheon at Joondalup Country Club 
which was a great success. Thank you to Rob Macdonald and his hardworking team for the magnificent presentation of the course and to the resort staff for their excellent hospitality. The last remaining event for this year is the GCSAWA annual family tenpin bowling night held at the Rosemount Bowl on 12 December, so register straight away. Lanes are limited so 
get in quick. Before signing off, I would like to thank people for their help and support throughout what has been a very busy year for me personally. To my wife for her endless support and understanding when the pressures of golf maintenance, members and life in general get 
up your nose and make you a little grumpy. Those who know me well would be surprised that, I too, get grumpy! No way. Additionally, a big thank you must go to the WA executive committee - Glenn, Jeff, Craig, Darren and Kirky - for taking a huge chunk of 
responsibility off my shoulders and contributing to another fun successful year. A special thank you must go to John and my course staff at Melville for their support over 
the last year while I have been fulfilling my commitments as State President. To all those I have visited or called chasing information, thank you also for your support. I hope one day I can return all the favours. On behalf of the GCSAWA I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year. Brad Sofield 
President, GCSAWA NSWGCSA Enforcement of Category 1 water restrictions by Sydney Water is a matter of grave concern for superintendents in the Sydney Basin that rely solely or partially on potable water to maintain their golf courses. Most of these affected golf clubs have applied for exemptions with the realisation that their entire golf club operation and financial future rest with this single, but extremely important decision to be handed 
down from Goulburn Street. The feedback I have received from these clubs to date, has all been grim, with Sydney 
Water informing these clubs that their application for exemption does not meet the minimum requirements outlined by Sydney Water guidelines. Since then, the New South Wales Golf Association in partnership with the NSWGCSA and the secretary manager from Pennant Hills Golf Club, Robert Boyd, have lodged an 
application for an across-the-board exemption based on water efficiency and financial 
hardship to allow potable water dependant golf clubs to utilise their automatic irrigation systems at night to maintain crucial areas such 
as greens and tees. We await the outcome. On a brighter note, the weather was much kinder in the month of October, with temperatures down considerably and rainfall being abundant across the State. Most golf course superintendents that are fortunate to have dams, are near full, which all looks positive for the immediate future. We can only hope that some of this moisture finds its way to the Warragamba Dam catchments to relieve the heartache being experienced by not only our peers, but also all industries as a whole. The launching of the AGCSA/EPA Improving the Environmental Management of 
New South Wales Golf Courses manual and water management workshop at Pennant Hills 
Golf Club was an extremely fruitful seminar with over 60 delegates attending the day. The manual is an absolute must to have and I implore all superintendents to purchase 
a copy of the manual through the AGCSA to utilise as reference material and as a building 
block to form part of your club's own environmental management plan. The new NSWGCSA Board will be busy over the next 18 months. Richard Kirkby has been assigned the onerous task to engender a new range of NSWGCSA apparel to streamline the currently outdated clothing range available. Most would agree that Richard is the industry's debonair fashion trendsetter and the right man for the job. Darren Jones is currently devising a long-term and sustainable membership package for the Board to work with over the next three 
years. Darren has a big job ahead of him and 
will require all the assistance necessary to aTM complete this task. In light of the judgment handed down by the Land and Environment Court in relation to the Warringah Golf Club pesticide spill, superintendents should use this unfortunate situation to educate their committees in regards to the real dangers and ramifications of failing to conform to 
environmental legislation. This landmark decision portrayed and exposed the vulnerability not only to management and staff but to the board of directors elected to administer and operate 
these facilities. Seize the opportunity! For those clubs that can't afford consultancy, take the time out to 
self-audit your workplace, prioritise, document and submit your findings to the board as soon 
as possible. Craig Easton President, NSWGCSA m W VGCSA Thankfully Victoria experienced above average rainfall for October, but unfortunately it came too late for any chance of irrigation restrictions being lifted for the summer. On a positive note, the formulation of a peak body group encompassing golf, bowls, sporting ovals and turf providers has been formed. The aim of this group, under the banner of VicSWU, is to appeal to the State Government as a united front on how future 
water restrictions should be implemented for 
the turf industry. Some concessions have already been achieved but the real advantages will be gained with this 
body now having an opportunity to participate 
in the formulation of government policy. The State Government is currently creating permanent guidelines that will place Victoria 
under some form of water restriction for some time to come. With this in mind the turf industry may now finally have a climate and a vehicle that will open previously closed doors. The VGCSA October meeting, hosted by Eastern Golf Club and Clayton Howell, provided a perfect venue for the morning field trails conducted by Bill Stephens and the Textron 
team, followed by an afternoon workshop run by the AGCSA. This format added to the education element of the day with John Neylan and Geoff Connellan 
doing a terrific job covering the hot issue of water management plans. I believe joint participation in field days for the State associations with the AGCSA is the way forward for us all. This was the second joint venture day Victoria has held and going by the feedback it won't be the last. It was also nice to see superintendents and trade members turn out in numbers considering the busy time of year. The next VGCSA meeting is the twilight event at Kew Golf Club on 15 December. The aim of this function is to end the year on a lighthearted note with afternoon golf followed by dinner and an entertaining guest speaker to conclude proceedings. It is always a fun evening 
so to all our locals try and get along. Finally, as this will be my last report for the year I would like to thank our hard working committee - Michael Riordan, Brett Balloch, Chris Grumelart, Glen Davie, Mark Prosser, Adam Robinson and, last but not least, our tireless administrator Lesley Mitchell - for their much appreciated support. Michael Picken, President, VGCSA KSc/ SAGCSA Despite an uninspiring spring weather-wise, the below-average temperatures and welcome spring rainfall have set up turf managers for 
the best start to summer for many years in South Australia. These conditions will help offset the impacts that current water restrictions are having. Restrictions are still in place but were recently dropped from to category one. On 28 October the SAGCSA held its country trip, stopping for morning smoko at the Balaklava Golf Club (host superintendent Steve Guy) before moving onto the renowned wine growing region Clare Valley for a fantastic lunch 
at the Clare Golf Club (host superintendent Kevin Clarke). The country clubs certainly know 
how to put on a spread. The day was a great success for all involved, with both Steve and Kevin deserving congratulations on presenting their respective courses in terrific condition. As with most country clubs in South Australia, budgets are seemingly getting tighter and tighter every year, and this only highlights 
the efforts of these superintendents who are producing quality courses on limited budgets. Our most recent meeting was a twilight affair with the Turf grass Association of South SPORTS TURF DRAINERS & CONSTRUCTION SPECIALISTS SLIT DRAINAGE SAND GROOVING LASER LEVELLING/GRADING 
LASER CONTROLLED TRENCHING TURF DRAIN AUSTRALIA Bob Paddison Phone: 
Fax: Mobile: 
Email: Website: (02) 9652 2208 (02) 9652 2209 0418 261 089 turfdrain@bigpond.com 
www.turfdrain.com.au Ł TURF . DRAIN AUSTRALIA Australia at the Royal Adelaide Golf Club on 25 November. The twilight format is a new concept and proved very popular. Our Christmas show this year will be a little bit different from previous years, with a joint SAGCSA and Turfgrass Association Christmas picnic being held at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday, 7 December. This will be the weekend preceding the Australia vs India Test at the Oval, so I am sure Les Burdett will have the grounds in an impressive condition as usual. This will be a fun family day with the added bonus of getting a glimpse of a top class Test venue just before a major international. In closing, as 2003 nears an end we look back at the issues which have affected our 
industry this year. Water, water and water tops the list as do OHS and industry education standards. I believe that these issues have or are being addressed with positive outcomes firmly in sight. 2003 will go down as a year of immense challenges for our industry but because of them 
we have come out well placed to move forward 
during 2004. I would like to wish everyone a safe and merry Christmas and a prosperous 2004. Peter Harfield, President, SAGCSA W VGA The new VGA committee has been elected with Doug Agnew continuing his term as president. The remainder of the committee is made up of Vice Presidents: Andrew Kent (Traralgon Bowling Club) Shane Harling (Kangaroo Flat Bowling Club) Secretary: Duncan Knox (Maribyrnong Bowling Club) Treasurer: David Sharp (Oasis Turf) Committee: Warren Braybon (Sunbury Bowling Club) Darren Martin (Yallourn Bowling Club) Matt Perkins (Essendon Bowling Club) Garry Van Kessel (Webconna Bowling Club) Greg West (Creg West Creenkeeping) 
Gary Thurgood (G.T Turf) Thanks to Bill Hamshere and Ian Latham for their involvement on the VGA committee in the past years. Congratulations also go to Brendon Brown from the Bendigo Bowling Club who won the Green keeper of the Year award for 2003. Ron McCartney from Sportsturf Consultants will have the results of the Rhizoctonia research in the near future. Bendigo District will host the 2005 Australian Greenkeepers Federation Conference which will be held in May. This is the first time that the conference will be held outside of metropolitan Melbourne, when Victoria has 
hosted the event. Matt Perkins, Committee, VGA What a pleasure it is to be in this spring season with good rainfall. No doubt the lack of heat 
coupled with excessive rainfall up to the end of October was a nuisance to some, but good 
spring rains have provided great relief to many. As we prepare for another busy summer season of sport, from cricket to tennis and all 
sports in between, your industry body is continually busy with other issues. On the issue of water restrictions, we hope that these inequitable stage two restrictions 
currently in place will be lifted in the immediate future. There is no valid reason why our 
sportsfield industry is the only one that is restricted in such a way. Hopefully by the time this article goes to print, sanity will prevail and our industry will be given an equal access to water in the same way 
as the construction industry is, the mining industry is, the forestry industry is, and the manufacturing industry and food processing 
industries are. I think you get the picture. At the end of the day, the issue of water use/restriction is a community issue, and water savings need to made by the whole community, not just our industry. Discussions continue on a national level in relation to the development of a standardised education stream for turf management. What a great thing this will be. More news at this evolves. I was fortunate to catch up with Adrian Black recently. As many of you will know, Adrian has taken on the challenging role of grounds manager at Melbourne and Olympic Park. As well as the numerous fine turf lawns and landscape surrounding the environs of Melbourne Park, there is the Old Scotch Oval, Vodaphone Arena, lawns, landscape and playing field at Olympic Park, and the new AFL Collingwood training venue, which has just been established. For those interested, the new Collingwood training field features a 300mm deep, naturally mined sand profile, irrigation system with 
independent head control, and a stolonised couch surface planted in autumn this year, 
which is starting to develop the intensity of 
cover required for a site such as this. A tour of a site of this size and profile reinforces the complex nature of the role of today's turf professional. As well as everyday staff and site management issues, this site requires a keen understanding and commitment to a host of various sporting disciplines. Many levels of our sporting community are represented at this site, from local through to international level. This means the work of Adrian and his team is given not only local, but also world exposure at times. The work that Adrian and his staff complete is a credit to them all, and a guide to the rest of us as to of what can be achieved in our chosen field at a high profile site. Jim Marchbank. Vice-president TGAA (Vic) TGAA (ACT & Surrounding Region) A recently discussed issue at the ACT TGAA has been the possible merger of the Victorian TGAA and the ACT TGAA to form a national body, representative of the Australian turfgrass industry. The ACT TGAA feels that a national body would benefit the industry as a whole, but must be approached with careful planning. Advantages of a national body could include improved liaisons between State and Territory associations, increased power and support when lobbying government, and the possible establish-
ment of delegates to represent the turf industry 
in larger bodies such as Horticulture Australia. The possibilities are endless but much thought and deliberation will have to take place before any proposals are considered. A meeting held in Melbourne in late November, comprising representatives from ACT and Victoria, highlighted many of the issues that need to be taken into consideration. In local news, a recently held water forum attended by government representatives and 
a broad spectrum of groundsmen, super-intendents, turfies, curators, and landscapers, 
proved to be an excellent opportunity to make the water authority aware of our water needs and requirements. This should also help improve 
the public perception and reinforce the fact that 
we are not water wasters. The ACT TGAA is currently updating its somewhat neglected website and hopes that it will serve as a valuable tool to anyone who wishes to keep up to date with what's on, view 
the latest technologies, access relevant information 
and keep in touch with educational issues. This is by no means a full list of services that will be provided on the website. Look in your December issue of the newsletter for the 
relevant web address. Till next time, agrostologists, have a happy and safe Christmas and New Year and best wishes for 2004. a Justin A K Haslam Committee, TGAA (ACT & Surrounding Regions) ^ AGCSA Summer decline. It's an inescapable threat to fine turf. So make Chipco Signature your essential partner for hot weather turf management. Only Signature provides immediate protection against turf disease to strengthen turf's natural defences. The result being stronger turf that builds up carbohydrates which lowers respiration during periods of stress. With Signature in your fungicide tank mix, your fine turf won't just survive - it will thrive. Systemic Turf Fungicide Bayer Environmental Science 391-393 Tooronga Road East Hawthorn, Vic. 3123. Ph. (03) 9248 6888 www.bayercropscience.com.au ABN 87 ooo 226 022 Chipco and Signature are Registered Trademarks of Bayer. Bayer Environmental Science is a business group of Bayer Cropscience Pty Ltd. Bayer Environmental Science BES1042/ 1003/The Hopkins Part. ' V*, Everything you've heard about Club Car vehicles is true. We give you the best engineering, the most durable construction, the most comfortable ride, and the most stylish design you'll find on any course. And our dependability is legendary. Plus, the kind of service and support that only we can deliver. So which vehicle is best for you? Club Car. By a long shot. play to win # Ingersollfland www.clubcar.com Club Car Pty Ltd For a demonstration, pricing or further information contact your nearest Authorised Club Car Utility Vehicle Dealer FREECALL 1 800 680 088 www.clubcar.com.au