CHIPS & PUTTS OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE POCONO TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION www.ptga.org Founded in 1936 VOL. 16 NO. 1 Jan/Feb 2010 Ice Cover and The Role in Freezing Injury By Dr. Karl Danneberger, Ohio State University It's been a somewhat crazy winter so far. Prior to Christmas to the first of the year we have had cold, snow and ice. Now we have warm wet weather with projected highs in the 60's for January 11, 2005 fol- lowed by temperature back in the 10's and 20's by the end of the week. Some of you may wonder what this is doing to the turf. I guess we will have to wait and see. I thought I would make a few com- ments regarding one part of winter injury, that being ice injury. Intermittent ice formation on golf greens and fairways is a common event in Ohio and most of the northern United States. However, over the last few years ice formation has increas- ingly been singled out as the cause or strongly associated with winter injury. Ice injury can occur either directly from continuous ice cover or as part of freeze injury (low temperature kill). Continuous Ice Cover Injury The first type of ice injury is the direct result of a continuous ice cover. In the early to mid 1960's Jim Beard con- ducted controlled laboratory study where he looked at the survival rate of three cool season turfgrasses under a continuous ice cover and two turgrasses under field conditions (1,2). He found that creeping bentgrass could sur- vive 120 days of continuous ice cover, however annual bluegrass (Poa annua) loss occurred after 60 days with substantial loss around 75 days. In a Canadian field study annual bluegrass and creeping bentgrass turf was sub- jected to 45 days of continuous ice cover and then the ice was removed. Seventy-five days after initiating the study and 30 days after removing the ice cover creeping bentgrass still maintained its cold hardiness, while an- nual bluegrass was dead (3). It would appear from this study that annual bluegrass under a continuous ice cover needs to be removed prior to 45 days. The reasons commonly proposed for ice injury are the buildup of toxic gases and/or the development of anoxic conditions, and the loss of cold hardiness. It appears that carbon dioxide (CO2) accumulation under ice cover is a major contributor to the death of herbaceous plants (4). Intermittent thawing helped eliminate the CO2 buildup and injury to the plants in this study did not occur (4). The loss of cold hardiness under ice cover occurs and varies among turfgrass species. Under continuous ice cover annual bluegrass loses its cold hardiness, while creeping bentgrass is not affected (3). The loss of cold hardiness in annual bluegrass is likely due to the anoxia (lack of oxygen) conditions that develop under an ice cover (3). Although, ice injury to creeping bentgrass is remote, and certainly not an issue here in Ohio, I do wonder about its role in winter injury to creeping bentgrass on golf courses in the Rocky Mountains or Scandinavia where ice cover may exceed 120 days. It is not uncommon to observe creeping bentgrass greens that have suffered winter injury (photo to the left) believed to be caused by a combination of ice and freeze injury. It might be likely that pro- longed anoxia conditions may reduce the cold hardiness of creeping bentgrass making it more susceptible to (Continued on page 4) Page 2 President's Message..... Officers & Directors 2010 It’s February already. Spring is just around the corner, I don’t care what Punxsutawney Phil has to say. I want to really believe that because it’s only about 17 degrees outside my office right now. This is the time of year I like to contact key members of my crew and check in PRESIDENT with them to see how their winter is going and solidify their commitment Rick Anglemyer, Water Gap CC 570-424-6391 to coming back in the spring. They seem to enjoy the call from me, just so they know that someone is thinking about them. If you have a few VICE PRESIDENT John Downer, Elkview C.C. minutes, give them a ring. It goes a long way toward easing the growing 570-840-0078 stress of our country, so they know they still have a job and you know TREASURER that help is on its way come warmer weather. Ray Wadell, Elmhurst CC Also, check out the PTGA website. Patrick Knelly has put a lot of 570-842-4705 time into it. He has made some changes that our members should find SECRETARY very useful. Look it over and let Pat know what you think. Your feedback Patrick Knelly, Sugarloaf Golf Club is very important to the Board. 570-384-4724 By now, hopefully, everyone has gotten the notice about the DIRECTORS PTGA party at Water Gap on February 20, 2010. It will be a fun night for Steven Chirip, Grass Roots, Inc. 973-418-3468 old friends and new friends to visit, laugh and enjoy some great food. Matthew Brown, Philadelphia Turf Remember this date is only one week after Valentine’s Day (wink, wink) 215-340-5401 two birds with one stone I always say. Hope to see you there. Greg Boring, Country Club of Scranton 570-587-4046 Thomas Height Rick Anglemyer 570-237-0878 Gino Marchetti, Glen Oak CC. 570-586-5791 Patrick Healy, Scranton Canoe Club 570-378-2249 __________________________ CHIPS & PUTTS STAFF Editor’s Notes….. EDITOR Jim Gurzler, George Schofield Co. 732-433-5474 jim@gurzler.com Well another cold winter has set its teeth into Northeastern PA. Snowfall doesn’t seem too bad thus far as I can see the ground as of this Managing Editor Melinda Wisnosky writing, although more is in the forecast. It is actually 50 degrees as I 570-388-2167 write this, and the NETS is just around the corner. Hopefully, Elk Mountain Editorial Committee will have good conditions for our SNOW meeting. Darrin Larkin The new Board is in place, the golf meeting schedule is about Matt Brown finalized, and the GIS show is rapidly approaching. Hopefully San Diego Past President will have better attendance than they anticipate, as they have been Darrin Larkin, Panorama Golf Course 570-222-9260 offering some great discounts to increase attendance. The venue is awesome if you haven’t been to San Diego. The PTGA is hosting a holiday party for the membership and guests. The site will be Water Gap Country Club; the host is president Rick Anglemyer. There will be an email about the event. Anyway, the first newsletter of the year is ready to go. Thanks to all those sponsors who supported us last year. Thanks also to those who PTGA Office will help with Association production costs this year as well. R.R. 1, Box 219 Enjoy the wind down before everything gets cranked up. Spring Harding, PA 18643 will be here before you can say pitchers and catchers! Phone/Fax: 570-388-2167 Any opinions expressed in this publication are those of Jim Gurzler the author and/or person quoted, and may not represent the position of PTGA. Information contained in this publication may be used freely, in whole or in part, without special permission, as long as the true context is maintained. We would appreciate a credit line. Page Page 3 3 Mental Golf Practice to Improve Your Swing and Your Golf Performance By: Andrew Fogg, The Golf Hypnotist Imagining yourself playing mental golf can be just as confinement inside a prison cell that measured four and effective for your swing and golf performance as ac- a half feet high and 5 ft long. To keep from losing all tually hitting shots on the range or playing a round of hope, he realized that he needed to do something to golf on the course. occupy his mind. Golfers and other athletes have used mental imagery Every day he played 18 holes of golf in his mind. He to complement their physical practice. Sometimes imagined everything in vivid detail from the country practicing golf in the mind actually produces better club he was playing at to the smell of freshly cut grass in results than physical practice. In a study of medical the summertime. He would imagine the grip of the clubs students in Texas, students were given 30 minutes of and practice his swing mentally many times until he per- guided practice for a complex medical procedure fected it. In reality, he had no place to go, so he spent followed by either four hours a day on the course in his mind never leaving any detail out. When he was released from prison and 1. no further training returned home, he played his first real game of golf for 7 2. a further 30 minutes of physical practice years, he scored 74! 3. 30 minutes of guided mental imagery. So when you find yourself with nothing important to do, In follow up tests, the students who did the guided maybe when you're travelling on public transport, when mental imagery performed at the same level as those there's nothing worth watching on television or you're who had the additional physical practice and both just daydreaming, just go inside your golf mind and these groups were significantly better than the group imagine playing a round of golf. You may be surprised who received no further training. by the positive results. Article Source: http://www.bettergolfarticles.com So why is mental golf practice at least as good as physical practice? Well other research shows that the Andrew Fogg, the Golf Hypnotist, is an enthusiastic act of "Imagining” fires up the identical parts of the golfer, hypnotherapist, NLP Master Practitioner and au- brain that would be activated if you were actually thor of a soon to be published book "The Secrets of Hyp- playing a stroke. The neurons used in the brain are the notic Golf" and a series of golf hypnosis MP3 programs. very same ones that would be used if you were actu- To receive his fascinating newsletter, packed with the ally playing. Indeed, some of the actual muscles in- latest on golf psychology, golf hypnosis and NLP, visit volved in the imagined shot experience tiny move- www.golf-hypnotist.com. You’ll also receive your free ments. You effectively practice just by the act of visu- “Your Own Virtual Caddy” Golf Hypnosis audio MP3 pro- alization. gram. Article from the website Better Golf Articles.com One of my favorite stories about the power of imagi- nation in golf comes from an American Major, James Nesmeth. He was an average golfer consistently scor- ing in the mid 90's, until he developed a unique way of improving his golf game. It came when he spent seven years in North Vietnam as a prisoner of war. During those tortuous years, Nesmeth lived in solitary Congratulations to Seth Fleetwood on his appointment as the Superintendent of Frosty Val- ley Country Club. Seth is a graduate of Penn State and Horry Georgetown Technical colleges. Seth had been the assistant at Frosty Valley CC since January of 2009. Page 4 (Continued from page 1) weak annual bluegrass plant with low carbohydrate freeze injury. storage is not going to tolerate ice cover or be resistant to freeze injury as a healthy plant. Shaded areas are Beard (5) reported differences among creeping bent- more prone to freeze injury than sunny areas, probably grass cultivars to ice cover. He found that seeded due to the carbohydrate status of annual bluegrass (8). creeping bentgrasses, especially 'Seaside', are less toler- 2) Eliminate poorly drained areas. Annual bluegrass ant of ice coverage than the vegetative cultivars like growing in areas where water accumulates is at high 'Toronto'. In addition, the colonial bentgrasses were risk to rapid freezing during freeze/thaw cycles. considerably less tolerant than the creeping bent- In conclusion, winter injury is normally a combination of grasses. Although published over 39 years ago - and the several factors one of which is ice cover. A continuous creeping bentgrass cultivars used may not be relevant ice cover alone here in the Midwest is not a likely event. at this time - the idea that variability among cultivars to However, freeze/thaw cycles in late winter can create ice coverage exists may make it difficult in extreme a situation where excessive water in and around annual situations of ice cover to say "creeping bentgrass is not bluegrass crowns can create freeze injury from the ice affected by ice covers". formed from the freezing of water. Ice in Association with Freeze Injury References: In Ohio and most of the Midwest and Northeast, a con- 1. Beard, J.B. 1964. Effects of ice, snow and water cov- tinuous ice cover exceeding 45 days is unlikely. The win- ers on Kentucky bluegrass, annual bluegrass and creep- ter weather pattern is generally broken with intermittent ing bentgrass. Crop Science 4: 638-640 periods of thawing that melts the ice. Where "ice injury" 2. Beard, J.B. 1965. Effects of ice covers in the field on plays a more likely role is as a component of freeze in- two perennial grasses. Crop Science 5: 139-140. jury. In this role the freezing of water that would occur with a rapid drop of temperature in or around the grow- 3. Tompkins, D.K., J.B. Ross, and D. L. Moroz. 2004. Effect ing point during or after dehardening of annual blue- of ice cover on annual bluegrass and creeping bent- grass. grass putting greens. Crop Science 44:2175-2179. The critical precursor to freeze injury is the loss of cold 4. Freyman, S. and V.C. Brink. 1967. Nature of ice-sheet hardiness through dehardening and subsequent rehy- injury to alfalfa. Agronomy Journal 59:557-560. dration of the annual bluegrass crown region. Continu- 5. Beard, J.B. 1966. Winter injury. Golf Superintendent 34 ous ice covers as previously mentioned contribute to (1): 24-30. the decline in cold hardiness. However, the most impor- tant factor regulating dehardening is temperature (6). 6. Tompkins, D.K., J.B. Ross, and D.L. Moroz. 2002. In annual bluegrass the dehardening process can oc- Dehardening of annual bluegrass and creeping bent- cur quickly when soil temperatures exceed 46 F (8C) for grass during late winter and early spring. Agronomy 48 hours (7). Journal 92:925-929. What cultural practices can be instituted to minimize 7. Tompkins, D.K, C.J. Bubar, and J.B. Ross. 1996. Physiol- ice injury and/or freeze injury? A thorough discussion is ogy of low temperature injury with an emphasis on found in the 2004 November/December issue of the crown hydration in Poa annua L. and Agrostis palustris. USGA Green Section Record in an article entitled PTRC Report. web site: http://ptrc.oldscollege.ab.ca/ "Winter Damage" by Keith Happ, which is worth read- researchreports.html ing. A management program for reducing ice or freeze injury should center on: 8. Rossi, F.S. 2003. New light on freeze stress. CUTT 14(3): 1) Produce a healthy plant going into the winter. A 1,4 Page 5 . GCSAA Education Credits have been applied for details to follow Northeastern Turfgrass Show 2010 Penn State University hosted another popular turfgrass conference in Wilkes Barre, PA this January. We had our normal snowfall which was light where we were, but did cause some issues for those in the Lehigh Valley coming north to the show. Attendance was good again and vendor support was strong for the event yet again. It was nice to see so many PTGA members in attendance. I know PSU looks to have speakers that will be both good topics and pertinent to the crowd. The golf session had a great staffing of speakers. The speakers included Dr. John Kaminski, Dr. Andy McNitt, Dr. Peter Landschoot, for the golf session in the AM, along with Darrin Bevard of the USGA. In the afternoon, more PSU alumni helped to fill the day with more perti- nent information to provide more information to help make the growing season a little easier. These speak- ers included: Dr. Gary Moorman, Dr. Mike Fidanza, Mr. Tom Serentis of PSU, Ms. Nancy Bosold of the Extension service, and Mr. Ron Edwards and Mr. Chris Santore of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. I think a big thanks should go out to Dr. McNitt and his staff who put this event together each year for the turfgrass industry in Northeastern PA. Thanks for all the hard work. Page 6 Height and Reed attend Syngenta Business Seminar Tom Height and Eric Reed CGCS, were selected as kept any commercial intent out of the picture. Their two of 25 golf course superintendents to participate in feeling with an event like this is that they want to do the Syngenta Business Institute, a unique, educational want they can to promote the success of the superin- program. tendent knowing that that is necessary for their survival. The Syngenta Business Institute is sponsored by Syn- Height said of the event: genta in conjunction with Wake Forest University’s My overall feeling of the SBI trip was definitely a suc- graduate school of business and will take place Nov. cessful one, the best seminar I have attended to date! 30 to Dec. 3 in Winston-Salem, N.C. The role of the golf Despite this being the first year, Syngenta, the Graylyn course superintendent involves not only agronomic Conference Center, and experienced staff of MBA but also business manager responsibilities. Syngenta teaching professionals at Wake Forest University pro- has worked with Wake Forest to develop a program vided an incredible experience and learning environ- that will focus on business management in the areas ment. It was a unique opportunity to build and im- of financial management, leadership and effective prove upon important skills that we all don’t salivate at communications, and negotiation skills. the chance to study, but because of the ability of those teaching and interactive focus of the classes Superintendents from across the country were nomi- made it both beneficial and enjoyable. nated by either their state GCS associations or the Syngenta Golf Advisory Team. Height and Reed were The MBA faculty at Wake Forest did a tremendous job selected from a talented pool of superintendents throughout the week. They kept the classes interactive based on an application process that reviewed their and adjusted their content for subsequent sessions educational background, industry achievements, and based on superintendent feedback if something more an essay. beneficial was desired. Also, the trip was not commer- cial (which is nice), but the support group from Syn- Reed said of the experience: genta got just as much out of the experience by listen- The entire program was run by the Wake Forest MBA ing to our thoughts and interaction as we did from the Faculty; I thought they played a major role in who classes. During certain exercises we all realized that no was selected for the program. We all stayed at the matter where in the country you’re from or what type Graylyn Resort and Conference Center, Graylyn is an of club you come from, we all constantly negotiate old mansion from the RJ Reynolds era. I believe the similar issues. The opportunity to meet and interact with house was built for the CEO of RJ Reynolds in the superintendents from all over the country at educa- 1920's. Classes were taught by three faculty members tional events is always valuable; but this experience from Wake Forest, and the entire program was moder- within the same small group over four days enabled us ated by the Associate Dean of the MBA Program at to share ideas and good stories while enjoying a soda Wake. They were hoping to have a lot of group par- or two . ticipation and they could not have been happier with the response from the participants. USGA Green Section I thought it was one of the most rewarding experi- Regional Meeting ences I have ever had in this profession, and what made that possible was spending three days with the Tuesday, March 16, 2010 same guys. The more we were together, the more we DuPont Country Club realized we were all virtually identical personalities 1001 Rockland Road, facing the same issues at each of our jobs. By the sec- Wilmington, DE 19803 ond night, the needling was relentless. All these years Speakers from 9-noon including breakfast and lunch going to the GCSAA Conference, you spend one day GCSAA CEU’s available with people, and after being cordial all day, you Topics include: leave not knowing anything about each other. I Audubon Sanctuary information by Ron Dodson and would love to see formats like this at the Na- talks by USGA speakers Jeff Hall, Keith Happ, tional...spending multiple days with one group in mod- Stanley Zontek, and Darin Bevard erated discussions about different subjects. Syngenta www.ptga.org or www.usga.org for more information really stayed in the background this whole week, and Jacket Required at event Chips & Putts PATRON SPONSORS AERIFICATION AND OVERSEEDING IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE Andre & Son, Inc. John Vojick 570.278.1131 Turf Equip. & Supply George Skawski 610.554.9366 Rich Gdovin 570.278.1131 Matt Brown 484-357-6312 Lawn & Golf Chris Butler 710.933.5801 PLANT PROTECTANTS EQUIPMENT Andre & Son, Inc. John Vojick 570.278.1131 Andre & Son, Inc. John Vojick 570.278.1131 Rich Gdovin 570-278-1131 Rich Gdovin 570.278.1131 Lawn & Golf Chris Butler 610.933.5801 Genesis Turfgrass Brian Bachman 484.661.6105 Reel Sharp Brian Grebeldinger 845-597-7738 Jim MacLaren 570-443-7154 Turf Equip. & Supply Matt Brown 484.357.6312 Grass Roots, Inc. Steve Chirip 973.418.3468 George Skawski 610.554.9366 Growth Products Craig Lambert 973-601-3303 Lawn & Golf Chris Butler 610.933.5801 Syngenta Lee A. Kozsey 610.861.8174 FERTILIZER Andre & Son, Inc. John Vojick 570.278.1131 Rich Gdovin 570.278.1131 SEED & SOD Genesis Turfgrass Jim MacLaren 570-443-7154 Andre & Son, Inc. John Vojick 570.278.1131 Brian Bachman 484.661.6105 Rich Gdovin 570.278.1131 Grass Roots, Inc. Steve Chirip 973.418.3468 East Coast Sod & Seed Kevin Driscoll 609.760.4099 Growth Products Craig Lambert 973-601-3303 Genesis Turfgrass Brian Bachman 484.661.6105 Lawn & Golf Chris Butler 610.933.5801 Jim MacLaren 570-443-7154 Grass Roots, Inc. Steve Chirip 973.418.3468 Lawn & Golf Chris Butler 610.933.5801 GREEN AND TEE SUPPLIES TOPDRESSING / SOIL AMENDMENTS Andre & Son, Inc. John Vojick 570.278.1131 Andre & Son, Inc. John Vojick 570.278.1131 Rich Gdovin 570-278-1131 Rich Gdovin 570.278.1131 Genesis Turfgrass Brian Bachman 484.661.6105 Blue Ridge Peat Farms Gene Evans 570.443.9596 Jim MacLaren 570-443-7154 Genesis Turfgrass Brian Bachman 484.661.6105 Grass Roots, Inc. Steve Chirip 973.418.3468 Jim MacLaren 570-443-7154 Lawn & Golf Chris Butler 610.933.5801 Geo. Schofield Jim Gurzler 732-433-5474 Grass Roots, Inc. Steve Chirip 973.418.3468 Lawn & Golf Chris Butler 610.933.5801 Support our Sponsors - They support us! PTGA SCHEDULE POCONO ROUNDUP Our condolences go out to two families. In January Feb 8-12 GIS Show we lost both Ed Zimmerman of John Deere Golf and San Diego, CA Dr. Paul Heller of Penn State. Feb 20 Pocono Turfgrass Outing Ed Zimmerman, passed away in early January leaving Dinner and Dancing his wife Wendy, and two children Aimee and Anson. Water Gap CC (see details inside) The family asked that in lieu of flowers donation be made to American Cancer Society to benefit the Re- Feb 23-24 NYSTA Southeast Regional Conference lay For Life of Pottstown. Memorials and donations Holiday Inn Suffern, NY can be sent to National Penn Bank, c/o Relay For Life of Pottstown, 1503 Sunset Drive, Pottstown, PA 19464. March 1-4 New England Regional Turfgrass Show Rhode Island Convention Center Dr. Heller passed away from cancer,as well. His de- Providence, RI partment head, Gary Felton, said throughout his long struggle Paul reminded Dr. Felton “Reduce Your Stress and Keep Healthy!!" His advice is good advice for all of us. Congratulations go out to Shane Miller, who has taken the position of Golf Course Dr. Heller asked that no memorial be service be held in State College. His interment will be in Minnesota. E- Superintendent at Iron Lakes Country Club mail condolences may be sent to the family at in Allentown, PA. www.sturmfh.com POCONO TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION R.R. 1, BOX 219 POSTAGE HARDING, PA 18643 NAME & ADDRESS ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED.