August 2003 Green is Beautiful The Official Publication of Ontario Golf Superintendents Association Presidents' Day How a golf course achieves a top-100 rating the fraz "Media Day" CANADA POST PUBLICATIONS MAIL PUBLICATIONS AGREEMENT No. 40027105 Postmaster: Please return undeliverable copies to The OGSA, 328 Victoria Rd. S., Guelph, ON N1H 6H8 Contents Green is Presidents' Day .................................................................... 16 Accreditation avenue .......................................................................... 8 Beautiful The Official Publication of Ontario Golf Superintendents ’ Association Canadian Golf Superintendents Association news .................. 5 Cyber super ........................................................................................... 7 Editor's message ................................................................................. 4 Golf course highlight - Credit Valley Golf Club......................................15 GTAGA annual Media Day 'The Fraz'................................................ 12 Health & safety .................................................................................. 6 How a Golf Course Achieves a Top-100 Ranking.......................... 18 Looking back 20 years ago today ........................................................... 30 Mechanics corner ................................................................................. 8 Off the fairway Meadows............... 25 On the road again why Cleveland................................................................ 2 President's message ........................................................................... 3 Turf or consequences ...................................................................... 29 What's new.................................................................................................. 9 COVER PICTURE Advertisers Credit Valley Golf Club #16 Green Photo by Jeff Stauffer Albion Golf Cars.....................................................................................25 Almack Agronomic Services Inc........................................................24 Bartlett Tree Experts........................................................................... 26 Braemar Building Systems............................................................... 24 Burnside Golf.......................................................................................... 26 Chipco - Rovral Green GT......................................................................11 DSC Agronomic Services.................................................................... 7 Engage Agro - Syngenta .................................................................... 26 Fertilec Ltee/LTD...................................................................................... 24 Floratine Products Group................................................................... 10 G.C. Duke Equipment Ltd................................................................... 6 Maple Turf Supply................................................................................ 3,8 Master Turf Supply................................................................................ 24 Nu Gro - Select........................................................................................ 14 Nutrite Turf............................................................................................ 5 Ontario Seed Company...................................................................... 4 The P.E.S.T. Institute............................................................................ 26 OGSA is committed to Pumptronics Inc.................................................................................... 24 serving its members, Skyway Lawn Equipment Limited................................................. 7 advancing their profession, T.D.I. International.............................................................................. 28 and Turf Care Products Canada - Irrigation........................................... 28 enriching the quality Turf Care Products Canada.................................................................. 32 of golf Vanden Bussche Irrigation and Equipment Ltd.......................... 7 and its environment. Zander Sod Co. Limited..................................................................... 8 President's message Since our last issue of Green is communicate Beautiful, the OGSA has been host to our needs and the Spring Field Day, at the Springfield place the same Golf 8c Country Club and the demands on Presidents’ Day, at Credit Valley Golf researchers and Club. Thanks to Ray Dlugokecki and the University, as ONTARIO GOLF SUPERINTENDENTS’ Jeff Stauffer for the superbly is placed on us. by Mark Piccolo ASSOCIATION conditioned golf courses and their The issues of Guelph Turfgrass Institute Galt Country time spent helping the OGSA organize today must be at 328 Victoria Road South the events. the forefront of Club Guelph, ON N1H6H8 IPM Accreditation is now available. research. Ph: 519-767-3341 Several of the OGSA Board of Findings must be communicated to Toll Free: 877-824-6472 Directors were used as a pilot group for help support the superintendent to do Fax: 519-766-1704 Email: ogsa@gti.uoguelph.ca the exam and are among the first to be their job and we must be willing to Website: www.golfsupers.on.ca accredited. See the update inside the listen to what is being said. Turf magazine for all the details. schools in the North Eastern United BOARD OF DIRECTORS Progress continues to be made States have huge resources to produce PRESIDENT Mark Piccolo towards Ontario’s first Golf Course incredible findings and it might be PAST PRESIDENT Jim Flett Management Conference and Trade unfair to make comparisons, however VICE-PRESIDENT Rob Ackermann Show. Booth space is filling up and the Ontario is beginning to draw more and TREASURER Paul Scenna SECRETARY Bob Burrows educational program is nearing more from the south to fill the void. A DIRECTORS Jeff Alexander completion. big part of this is the influence the Chris Andrejicka The University of Guelph and the USGA has, not only in the United John Bladon Guelph Turfgrass Institute has suffered States but also throughout the world. Randy Booker what I feel is a major set back, with the The new Two Year Turf Program, at Sean DeSilva loss of Dr. Julie Dionne. Julie has Guelph has been modeled after these Jeff Stauffer moved on to the national level, schools and we are very excited about OFFICE working on behalf of the RCGA. Even it. This is a very positive change for the ADMINISTRATION Dorothy Hills though research continues, the void turf industry. Many of us would like to Pat Thomas that is left sets back aspirations of see similar strides made with research. Deborah Badger raising the level of research and The challenge is being made. We education in our field. We need to need to work together to fill the void! offer support, guidance and criticism. In addition to donating funds, we must “Green is Beautiful” is Printed on Brett Murray Professional Products Technical Sales Recycled Paper GREEN IS BEAUTIFUL EDITORIAL Maple Turf Supply COMMITTEE 8112 King Rd. W. Business: (905) 857-2000 P.O. Box 370 Fax: (905) 857-8215 John Bladon, Editor Bolton, Ontario Mobile: (416)580-8112 Dorothy Hills, Coordinating Manager L7E 5T3 1-800-268-4425 Randy Booker Angelo Capannelli Scott Horsburgh Layout, Design & Printing provided by... Kevin Falls Mark Prieur Mark Schneider GRAPHIC Green is Beautiful 2003 services Although every effort is made to check material for publication, the association is PRINTERS & LITHOGRAPHERS not responsible for material published on behalf of its contributors. All rights are reserved by the publisher "Quality you can See!" and any reproduction in whole or part Tel: 519.763.5745 • Fax: 519.763.9532 without the written permission of the 32-34 Essex Street • Guelph, Ontario • N1H 3K8 e-mail: info@graphicservices.ca • www.graphicservices.ca publisher is prohibited. Editor's message by John Bladon Editor, Director of Research & Education I trust the season is progressing and being kind to all. Golf course ranking systems have always been a subject of great discussion and Welcome! debate amongst all involved in the O.G.S.A. Welcomes industry. Green is Beautiful is pleased our newest members to present an interesting submission PRECIPITATION IN Trevor Clark Class C from KPMG’s Ryan Spring, on the ONTARIO REGION Cardinal Golf Club Measured at Pearson International Airport processes of ranking golf courses in Provided by Ministry of the Environment Roger Faubert Class F both the US and Canada. The IPM Katrine Golf & Country Club Accreditation program is now fully YEAR 2003 underway. Ken Pavely has provided Steve Gendron Class B empty table cell Average Actual Baldoon Golf Club us with an update in his article “Accreditation avenue”. January Ross Moore Class F Also, as per some input from Galt Country Club (rain) 24.9 mm 0.0 mm members, we are working to make (snow) 31.1 cm January 41.4 cm Dave Paterson Class F the magazine available online. By Magna Golf Club (total) 52.2 mm January 35.4 mm entering the OGSA website and Dennis Porteous Class C tabbing on “Green is Beautiful” you Galt Country Club can view issues online. As time February progresses, more issues will be (rain) 22.3 mm 22.6 mm Ken Sarjeant Class A Couchiching G&CC downloaded and become available. (snow) 22.1 cm February 23.6 cm A search engine has been built into (total) 42.6 mm February 46.8 mm Blair Smith Class A the site whereby you can search for Bancroft Golf Course articles pertaining to a certain March Jonathan Smith Class S subject. Grey Silo Golf Course As we wind towards the shorter (rain) 36.7 mm 27.8 mm days, education and conferences (snow) March 19.2 cm 24.0 cm Chad Ziegler Class C Elmira Golf Club begin to creep into all of our minds. March (total) 57.1 mm 50.0 mm The educational season this year is filled with promise. The OGSA is set April to host its first annual conference in (rain) 62.4 mm 34.8 mm Toronto and the program looks (snow) April 5.7 cm 15.2 cm phenomenal. Also, enclosed with this edition of Green is Beautiful is a April (total) 68.4 mm 60.8 mm mailer on the University of Guelph’s Turf Managers Short Course. May Independent Study at the University (rain) 72.4 mm 152.8 mm For All Your of Guelph also offers a wide array of horticultural, turfgrass management (snow) May TR cm 0.0 cm Golf Course Needs! May (total) 72.5 mm 152.8 mm and golf business courses. These all Turf seed, Pesticides, Nutrite Fertilizers can be done online from the comfort and Bayco Golf Accessories of your own home or office. Check June P.O. Box 7, Waterloo, Ont. N2J 3Z6 the website for more information (rain) 74.2 mm 63.8 mm Tel: (519) 886-0557 Fax: (519) 886-0605 (www.horticultureonline.net ) or call 1 -800-465-5849 Email: seeds@oscseeds.com the Independent Study office at July (519) 767- 5050. They are all worthy Victor Freiberg Ken Graham (rain) 74.4 mm 66.2 mm Trevor Hunter A. Kent McDonald of consideration as the educational portion of the year approaches. David Schmelefske Canadian Golf Superintendents Association news am that the Fall Field Day at Itold The Bell Canadian Open moves to Hamilton Golf & Legends on the Niagara is now Country Club in early September where Rhod Trainer is the completely SOLD OUT. That’s the superintendent. Admission is complimentary for CGSA good and the bad news I suppose, but gold cardholders, so plan to attend. it’s still a nice problem to have. Plans for the Annual March Conference in Halifax are I will be hosting two pre-Fall Field well under way, and the local group will certainly provide an day seminars on Sunday, September excellent supply of education and hospitality. Preliminary by Bob Burrows CGCS Rosedale Golf Club 14^ at the Niagara Falls Hilton. These plans are also being formulated for the 2005 CGSA half-day seminars, in the morning, are conference in Ontario. This will be a joint event with the free for those registered in the event and still allow you OGSA. enough time to play a round of golf in the afternoon, or just Regional Focus groups are being planned for November see the sights. If you have not registered as yet, you will in order to obtain input on mandatory educational probably be left out. This event has proven to be a very requirements and re-aligned membership classifications as popular venue. Both Paul Gurr and Bill Glashan, host they relate to our National Occupational Standards. I will Superintendents at Legends on the Niagara, are eagerly keep you posted on the relevant facts as they unfold. Our anticipating the arrival of their friends and colleagues from targeted marketing campaign is now released, and will across Canada, on Monday September 15th. The Toro elevate the exposure of our profession. You are encouraged Company will again be hosting the Fall Classic reception on to review our policy statement with respect to drinking Sunday evening. The OGSA is also planning a welcome water on golf courses, and specifically the use of portable reception on Saturday 13th at Pillitteri Estates Winery. coolers. You are also strongly encouraged to provide the Please confirm with the OGSA office by fax if you will be CGSA office a copy of your pesticide license for your attending this event in order that adequate food and membership renewal, if you have not already done so. transportation can be arranged. An agenda for the Let’s hope that reason will prevail in the City of Toronto weekend is contained in the registration confirmation. If Pesticide debate, as it turns to a “Pesticide Advisory your spouse is planning to attend, there will be ample Committee” which will report to council in the fall. Rest opportunities to mingle informally and tour the sights with assured there is a flurry of activity on our collective behalf. others of significance from across Canada. “Not in my back yard!!” Guaranteed Minimum Analysis Soluble Total Nitrogen (N) 28% 28-4-16 UMAXX 0.8% ammonical nitrogen 2.0% nitrate nitrogen 5.6% urea nitrogen IT'S ALL ABOUT 19.6% stabilized nitrogen from UMAXX® Available Phosphoric Acid (P205) 4% CONTROL UMAXX stabilized urea, delivers slowly Water Soluble Potash Iron* Manganese* Zinc* (K20) (Fe) (Mn) (Zn) 16% 0.4% 0.05% 0.05% Copper* (Cu) 0.05% available nitrogen in a water soluble form. Boron* (B) 0.02% • Full nitrogen utilization with minimal losses Molybdenum {Mo) 0.005% • Environmentally sensible *Chelating Agent: EDTA • Easy to apply • Available in 15kg. bags For Information Call: 1-800-265-8865 Health & safety PREPARING YOUR CLUB FOR SAFETY by DougJohnson, SAFETAID and Health and Safety Consulting First Aid and Safety Supplies and WHMIS Training does your health and safety program stack up? Has How reasonable. Ask yourself if all your workers are following safe your club put together a health and safety program that covers work practices all of the time. Yes, the ownership may be taken the entire club? Has your club ensured that all the workplace to task if something goes wrong. But if that error is found to be participants understand and follow the health and safety rules as in an area under your jurisdiction then you may be held identified in the Occupational Health and Safety Act or by your responsible for the actions of your workers. club? Has your club established written work procedures that Attempting a defense that says I told them again and again is include health and safety? Do you have a clearly identified not going to be adequate. The judge is looking for your written system of communication and enforcement for the rules that are documentation, your discipline procedure and the equitable established at your facility? Do you have very specific rules that enforcement of your written rules. your contractors must follow? There are never any consequences when things are going well. This is one load of questions. The issue is, can you or the club There are however consequences if something goes wrong. ownership answer yes to all of them? And this is just the start of Are you prepared to stand up in a court of law if one of your health and safety on the job. The club must ensure that there workers is critically injured and tell the judge that you did are written rules for health and safety in the same way that there absolutely everything to ensure the safety of the worker, or will are written rules for any other aspect of the job. you be left hanging out to dry if someone at your facility is You may say, “Well, we don’t have written rules at our club, so critically injured or killed? why should we have written health and safety rules”? A good Think about these questions and honestly review the situation question, and the answer lies in the Act. at your club. Take the time now to plan for the coming year. The management of the club, including you as the Don’t get caught out. Remember, “Due Diligence” is never superintendent, is required to ensure that you are doing having to say you are sorry! everything reasonable to ensure that the workers are working safely. This is stated in the Act in Sections 25 and 27. This is Have a safe autumn! called “Due Diligence” and do not, for one moment, think that you are off the hook just because the club management has not SAFETAID done their job. Ask yourself if you have done everything Your 1st stop in safety! Now it packs a vac and more features than the competition empty table cell SMITHCO Big Vac vs Competition Fan Housing Lined for longer life, quieter operation No liner Construction Rectangular tube frame for added strength Channel steel frame Hopper ABS plastic, smooth inner surface, no rust Light-gauge tin Tires Fairway type tires - Smaller tires- heavier on better floatation/easier on turf turf Clean Up Port on side of fan No easy access to fan housing for complete cleanout housing 1184 PLAINS ROAD EAST BURLINGTON, ONTARIO L7S 1W6 Burlington area: 905-637-5216 • Toronto Area: 905-338-2404 All other Ontario Areas: 800-883-0761 • Fax: 905-637-2009 Visit our website at: www.gcduke.com Cyber super This month’s license, I sometimes find myself between with them. These articles carry a lot of site is The Respon­ a rock and a hard place with respect to weight due to the fact that they are Ph.D. sible Industry for a the overall impact of chemicals on written, complete with references. Sound Environment children. However, this sight is aimed at There is also a link to a site on “school (RISE). The URL changing even the worst skeptics. It is a IPM” that is endorsed by the EPA and is to the main website slight variation of RISE’S parent site, trying to be enacted as a bill. Again, as by Mark Prieur, Assistant Supt. i s http:// http://www.schoolpestfacts.com targets with RISE’s main site, there are no ads or Markland Wood CC www.pestfacts.org the responsible use of pesticides in pop-ups. where one can view schools and parks. There really are Last, but not least, for those of you many benefits for the responsible use of plenty of good articles by credible who cannot get enough from CNN. An pesticides. This is a pro-pesticide website authors that explain, in layman’s terms, extension from the last column I wrote, that includes plenty of articles on the how pesticides benefit everybody. Some additional resources on the West Nile benefits of them. There are articles and articles go further in explaining the Virus can be viewed at the U.S. based site links that are all worth looking at. The positive impact of IPM and how htpp://www.westnilevirusfacts.org. This site is great to visit due to its speed and government imposed bans on pesticides site is a watchdog that tracks potential no pop-ups. It is nice to see that some of are doing more harm than good. It is cases of the virus. Again, as with the the links are GCSAA and NGCOA. apparent that the overall reduction in Provincial and Federal sites, there is The next site is the one I really want to pesticide use has caused overall pest information on the risks and what you highlight. Being a first time parent, who populations to increase, and with that can do to prevent the disease ad happens to possess an applicators comes the health problems associated nauseum. Upgrades, Renovations, & New Installations From evaluation to implementation, will Partner with you to succeed in Milton 1.800.263.4112 King City 1.866.703.KING Achieving your Goals. www.vandenbussche.com 154 Upper Centennial Parkway (HWY 20) Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada L8J 2T7 Telephone 905-662-2663 • Fax 905-662-2253 CAN-USA1-800-263-8606 David C. Smith, C.G.C.S. 185 Oriole Crescent Soil & Turfgross Consultant Gravenhurst, Ontario P1P1C6 Express Dual & AngleMaster Office (705) 687-SOIL (7645) Reel Mower Fax (705) 687-3518 Toll Free 1 -888-607-TURF (8873) Sharpeners Cell (905) 512-6004 Email dcsag@muskoka.com Mechanic's corner by Larry A. Murray, President G.E.T.A.O. Equipment Manager, Pheasant Run Golf Course 911...911 alert! What is the nature of the emergency? l.a.murray@sympatico.ca. The cost is $95.00 which includes It is the annual golf tournament at Banty’s Roost Golf Club. golf, cart, steak dinner and prizes galore. It will be a memorable day for participating mechanics, Something new this year, we have received several superintendents, assistant superintendents and anyone sponsorships from Turfcare, G.C. Duke Equipment, Utica related to the golf industry. The tournament date is and Podolinsky dealerships. The sponsorships will allow an September 11th, 2003. John Flooryp, from St. Andrews East equipment manager to attend the tournament without has informed me that the team of the East and Valley are worrying about the tournament fee. If the cost of registration prepared to defend their trophy. That sounds like a is holding you back from attending, please contact me challenge! immediately. You will definitely reap the benefits! Pre-registration is a must, so don’t delay. Call Eddie Until I see you at Banty’s Roost, keep those wrenches clean, immediately at (905) 889-7620 Ext. 520, or email me at swing those clubs and practice yelling FORE! Accreditation avenue By Ken Pavely Pavely Horticultural Services Much has been accomplished with the IPM Accreditation program is second to none, and will help restore some faith program, and it is now fully underway. Vito Cirone and with our municipal regulators that the golf industry is taking Mark Scenna have been selected as the auditors for the proactive steps to deal with a highly emotional issue. desk review portion. Both gentlemen have excellent Last but not least, the Association of Municipalities of qualifications to conduct professional reviews. Ontario (AMO) has formally requested the province to take The desk review criteria are now set with documentation leadership on this issue by requiring IPM Accreditation. required for monitoring, staff training, equipment With bylaws now in existence in Ontario, all different in calibration, and hot spot management. Feedback from their requirements, it certainly will be an interesting time in those working with the industry on environmental issues is the coming months. Now that Toronto has passed a bylaw pleased with the scope and direction of the desk review. which includes requirements for golf, many municipalities The exam portion of Accreditation has been vetted by the feel “safe” that they can go ahead and do the same. The legal OGSA Board of Directors and is ready for testing. challenge by CropLife has not stopped some from forging Ridgetown College, the administrator of the IPM program ahead, while others are adopting a “wait and see” attitude. can now schedule exams in six different regions across the With some 440 municipalities across the province, it is province. This enables the superintendent to not have to anybody’s guess where the next bylaw will emerge. travel long distances to get started in the program. You can enroll in the IPM Accreditation program by The municipality of Caledon now requires Accreditation calling Ridgetown College at 1-866-385-4762. The first step for courses in its township, and we expect Port Perry to do is to schedule and take the exam, followed by the desk the same in the next month or two. The quality of the review. Information can be obtained from Ridgetown. Simon George Professional Products Technical Sales Maple Turf Supply Business: (905) 857-2000 17525 Jane St., R.R. #1 Kettleby, Ontario L0G 1J0 8112 King Rd. W. Fax: (905) 857-8215 Tel.: (416) 364-5700 (905) 727-2100 P.O. Box 370 Mobile: (519) 841-3378 Bolton, Ontario 1-800-268-4425 Fax: (905) 727-8546 L7E 5T3 sg142@hotmail.com E-mail: info@zandersod.com Website: www.zandersod.com What's new The Toronto Society of Golf Penn State Certifies Syngenta's Superintendents Marie Thorne as Turfgrass Specialist The society conducted its annual golf championship at Guelph, Ontario (July the Mono Hills Golf Club, hosted by Superintendent Doug 22, 2003) - R. Marie Suter. The unique, private layout presented lots of Thorne, Senior Turf challenge for the superintendents, and after stiff Specialist with Syngenta competition Chris Dew from the National Golf Club of Crop Protection Canada, Canada and Tom Murphy, from Lambton Golf & Country recently completed the Club came out as low gross and low net winners, respectively. prestigious World campus All participants enjoyed refreshments and a barbeque after Turfgrass Management the event. Program at Penn State The traditional round table discussion concerning water University. Penn State is restrictions concluded the day. recognized as one of the preeminent turfgrass authorities in the world. Penn State’s Program, R. Marie Thorne affiliated with the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, provides comprehensive instruction in turfgrass cultural systems, pest management and turfgrass edaphology. It also offers an internationally recognized case study course in advanced turfgrass management and problem solving. Marie’s achievement places her amongst only a “handful of people” in Canada accredited to offer this professional level of expertise. Syngenta congratulates Marie on her accomplishment and is pleased to be able to offer Canadian Golf Course Superintendents an even higher level of L-R Tom Murphy & Chris Dew customer commitment and technical support. Originally, a Science graduate of the University of Guelph, Future Toronto Society meetings are open to members only. Marie has over 20 years experience in the professional and consumer turfcare industries. She is an active member of August 11 The National Woodbridge several regional, as well as the Canadian and U.S. Golf Course Superintendents Associations. September 15 Lakeridge Links GC Brooklin Marie may be contacted at (519) 837-5327 or by email at (near Whitby) marie.thorne@syngenta.com. October 2 Maple Downs Golf 8c CC Richmond Hill December 17 Thornhill Country Club Xmas Luncheon O.G.S.A.'s 2nd Annual Assistants Golf Tournament 11th Annual When: Tuesday, September 23rd, 2003 Mechanic'S Golf Tourney Where: Osprey’s Heathland Golf Course, Alton Price: Members $100.00/person Non Members 110.00/person When: September 11th, 2003 9:00 am Who: Assistants, 2nd Assistants, Foremen, Where: Banty’s Roost Golf Club and Industry Reps are welcome Price: $95.00 (includes everything) Who: All members and their guests Registration forms have been mailed out. Full details can be seen on our website under Reserve your space and your foursome by calling menu heading Calendar of Events Eddie at 905-889-7620 Ext: 503 before Aug.23, 2003 mailto:eddie.konrad@ladiesgolfclub.com Continued on Page 10... Alex McClumpha Memorial NOW AVAILABLE ON LINE Tournament www.golfsupers.on.ca When: Wednesday, October 8th, 2003 • Green is Beautiful Where: Taboo Golf Club, Gravenhurst View the publications from Feb/03 onward Price: TBA Who: All OGSA Members • Green is Beautiful Search Engine Try it out. Type in a key word and view what Registration forms will be mailed by end of Aug. issues that particular word appears in. with Membership Renewal Invoices Full details can be seen on our website under • Classifieds menu heading Calendar of Events Members can advertise used equipment for sale or used equipment wanted. Click on “Advertise with us” on home page Bayer Environmental Science Can be viewed by the public Announces • IPM Turf Managers Reap Professional Rewards updates and links to Ridgetown with Expanded Accolades Program College in Members Only Section - New selection features business-oriented needs, including Government Relations association dues and travel to conferences. • OGSA Merchandise in What’s New For full details on the Accolades Program, call 1-888-456- 6464 or visit us online at www.Accoladesrewards.com. 2003 2nd Annual Hugh Kirkpatrick Bursary ANNOUNCES Developed to recognize the leadership, commitment and THE INAUGURAL accomplishment of Assistant Superintendent members of the O.G.S.A. Ontario Golf Course DEADLINE DATE Management Conference and Trade Show FOR APPLICATIONS January 6th — 8th, 2004 AUGUST 30, 2003 Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel • Book your space early Mark Goodwin • Two day trade show Technical Sales Representative • January 7 & 8, 2003 Cell: (905) 928 - 9200 • Early Bird 10% Fax: (905)578 - 7575 If payment made by August 31,2003 Invested In The Wonder more information available Floratine Canada Inc. go to www.golfsupers.on.ca Performance New Rovral Green GT provides the performance you need and more, to protect high quality turf. Rovral Green GT features very fast knockdown of diseases like Dollar spot and Brown patch along with proven control of Fusarium, Pink and Grey snow mould and Leaf spot/Melting out. NEW Combine performance with a unique mode of action for resistance manage­ ment programs and you have the most Rovral Green GT FUNGICIDE complete disease control package available. Start and finish your fungicide program with new Rovral Green GT www.chipcocanada.com 1-888-283-6847 ALWAYS READ PRODUCT LABEL PRIOR TO USE. Rovral® is a registered trademark of Bayer. Always read and follow label directions. Media Day Saluting the sports journalists who helped make the Greater Toronto Area, the number one Golf Market in North America. Canadian golf and golfers lost a great friend and supporter in 2000 when Toronto Star golf writer Rick Fraser, known to the golfing community as, The Fraz’passed away. To perpetuate his memory, the annual GTAGA Media Day, which promotes the City Championships for Men and Women in the Form of the Toronto Star Amateurs, is named in his honour. Rick also wrote for the Barrie Examiner, The Globe & Mail, and the Toronto Sun during his career. O.G.S.A. a Welcome Addition to the GTAGA annual Media Day 'The Fraz' by Paul White OGSA Past President 1980 A record number, 45 media (25 print/20 broadcast) with the right people in the media and the long term participated in the 4th annual “Fraz” media day, on June benefits should prove to be invaluable. 3, 2003, at the historic Scarboro Golf and Country Club. Dorothy Hills, our tireless and dedicated cheerleader Also in attendance were Canadian Legends and Amateurs took part at the registration table by greeting and of the Century, Marlene Streit and Gary Cowan, along with distributing hats to the 72 maximum participants (Note: members of the OGSA executive, which included: Jim the GTAGA has a waiting list of media wanting to play in Flett, Immediate Past President; Paul Scenna, Treasurer; “The Fraz”) and, as always, represented us wonderfully. Rob Ackermann, Vice President; Jeff Stauffer, Director of She is truly a class act! Government Relations; Sean DeSilva, Director of Public One of the real surprises to the day was during Relations, Jeff Alexander, Director of Golf 8c Events; announcements being made to all the competitors, before Randy Booker, Director of Membership and Paul White, the start of play (scramble format). Glenn Goodwin Past President 1980. surprised all of us by stating, “To all our sponsors, we Glenn Goodwin, president and founder of the GTAGA, thank you for making today’s ‘Fraz Day” our largest yet, who we all know is a huge supporter and proponent of the and to our newest supporter, the Ontario Golf OGSA, found a way to invite our organization into this Superintendents’ Association, an organization that Rick high profile and fast growing media day, and we could not Fraser and I have always been big fans of -I think you will be more pleased with our involvement. all enjoy reading the insert in the media kit from them.” In addition to a well scripted inserts, by Paul Scenna on Well, not only was that a surprise but so was the terrific “The evolution of the golf course superintendent” and story written by the Star’s Golf Columnist, Dave Perkins, “Golf courses and the environment”, which were included published just a few days earlier (Saturday, May 31 in the in the very professional media kit, the OGSA supplied hats Star) titled “Pesticide by law a plague for our golf courses”. to all the competitors displaying the OGSA emblem on It seems to me that the timing of the story and our the front and ‘The Fraz’ embroidered on the back. involvement with ‘The Fraz’ was not just a coincidence, The hats were a big hit, with most of the media wearing but was a sign that we have a few really good friends out them during the tournament. In terms of exposure, being there and one of them happens to be a caddie from a sponsor of this special day, along with; Buick Dealers of Union, Ontario, by the name of Glenn Goodwin, also Ontario, Rogers SportsNet, Scarboro Golf 8c Country known as ‘Goodie’. Club, TaylorMade/Adidas/Maxfli, Toronto Sun, Toronto On behalf of the 300+ OGSA golf superintendents, we Star and Globe 8c Mail, was too good to be true. It look forward to being part of next year’s ‘Fraz Day’, at provided our organization a subtle way of being involved Devil’s Pulpit, a day too good not to be part of. Glenn "Goodie" Goodwin 'The Fraz' 2003 GTAGA Media Day Attendees Name Affiliation Name Affiliation Brian Bourke CFGA-FM / CKKW-AM Skip Johns Kitchener Waterloo Record Lisa Bowes CBC Brian Kendall Freelance Golf Writer Robin Brown CBC Radio One Brent Long Freelance Golf Writer Bryan Carey CITY-TV Don Martin Global TV Wayne Chamberlain Niagara Falls Review Ted McIntyre Ontario Golf Magazine Ian Cruickshank Freelance Golf Writer Garry McKay Hamilton Spectator Gary Dalliday CHEX-TV Jim McKenny CITY-TV Pete Dalliday On the Links Radio/TV Joe Mercer Barrie Examiner Mike Day TSN Mark Milliere TSN James Deacon Maclean’s Scott Morrison Sportsnet Hans Deryk Toronto Star Barry Milavsky Cangolf.com Gerry Dobson Sportsnet Peter Mumford Fairways Golf Magazine Darren Dreger Sportsnet Bridget O’Toole CBL-AM Bob Feaver Peterborough Examiner Graham Parley Toronto Star Ken Fidlin Torotno Sun Dave Perkins Toronto Star Grant Fraser Golf Access Bob Pronyk CKCO-TV John Gordon Freelance Golf Writer Dave Rutherford The Score Pat Grier Toronto Sun Gary Salewicz Toronto Life Wilf Hughes KRUZ Radio Steve Simmons Toronto Sun Jim Hunt Toronto Sun - The Fan John Tenpenny Golf Canada Jeff Hutcheson CTV Tim Wharnsby Globe & Mail Ian Hutchinson Toronto Sun Time to relax. After the Tournament Keith Rasmus, Host Superintendent DON’T BE DISAPPOINTED! BOOK YOUR BOOTH SPACE NOW FOR THE 1st ANNUAL ONTARIO GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE & TRADE SHOW TRADE SHOW WEDNESDAY, JAN. 7th AND THURSDAY JAN. 8™, 2004 Gets where it has to GO FERTILIZER THAT GETS DOWN TO BUSINESS And that's good business. If your green's fertilizer won't go where it should, chances are neither will your golfers' putts. Nu-Gro Select 21-3-16 Micro Grade Fertilizer was designed specifically for greens. Its microgranular particle size (100 SGN) works down into the green's canopy, to nurture Canada's quickest greens. Its balanced formulation delivers 97% nitrogen from Nutralene. Through hydrolysis and microbial action, Nu-Gro Select's dual release activity is ready to go to work when you need it. Choose Nu-Gro Select Micro Grade fertilizer. Because it's all about the game. GET DOWN TO BUSINESS. CHOOSE NU-9RO SELECT. 1-800-461-6471 TM-trade mark of Nu-Gro Corporation Golf course highlight Credit Valley Golf Club 2500 Old Carriage Road Mississauga ON L5C 1Y7 Website: www.creditvalleygolf.com Golf Course Superintendent: Jeff Stauffer Email: jstauffer@creditvalleygolf.com COURSEPROFILE Who was the original architect? COURSE PROJECTS Robbie Robinson What county is your club located in? What projects have you recently completed? Peel Region What was the year of original construction? 16,000 linear feet of fairway drainage 1997 1971 Valley road construction 1998 Is your club private, semi private, public, resort .municipal? Tee construction hole # 12, 2000 Private By whom and when was the course remodeled? Tee Construction hole #’s 5, 7,8,9,10,17, 2001 Doug Carrick - ongoing Path construction 2001 Number of rounds? 35,000 annually What major tournaments held? CPGA in 1993 (winner Steve Stricker) LONG RANGE PLANS Typical opening and closing date? Canadian Amateur in 2001 (winner Gareth Paddison) Early April to early December What long range plans for renovation do you have in the What is the size of your maintenance shop? next five years? Name of Superintendent? 10,600 square feet Planning to upgrade pump house and wet well Jeff Stauffer configuration to variable speed capabilities. What type of irrigation system? Landscape clubhouse grounds following clubhouse How many years have you been a superintendent? Toro Network 8000 - 12 years old expansion/renovation. 4 years Re-configure main driveway entrance and re-locate What is the size of the greens, tees and fairways? putting green. Are you CGCS or Master Superintendent.? 3 acres of greens Maintenance facility. No 3 acres of tees Fairway drainage 22 acres of fairways Driving Range renovation List other accomplishments (Audubon, board service etc.) Tree replacement program Current Board Member of the OGSA What is your predominant grass? and past editor of Green is Beautiful Bent / Poa CHALLENGES How many years have you been an O.G.S.A. member? How many USGA greens and how many loam greens? Are there any particular challenges you face with your 10 19 loam greens property? Credit River poses threat of flooding each spring How many year round staff? What is the predominant soil type? and during heavy rains. 6 Top bench: silty loam and valley: loam/rock Lack of topsoil underneath fairways and roughs in valley. How many seasonal staff? What equipment do you have in inventory? Maintaining adequate turf conditions on driving 13 2 - Toro GM 3150 range tee decks due to amount of abuse they receive. 1 - Toro GM 3100 How many mechanics and assistants? 4 - Toro GM 1600 SUCCESS STORIES 1 Mechanic: Mike Janssen 3 - Toro GM 1000 1 assistant: Scott Sleep 3 - Toro RM 5400 Do you have any Success stories? 2 - Jacobsen HR 4600 Enlarging the teeing areas on hole #’s 7, 8, 10 and How many gardening staff? 1 - Toro 3100 - D enjoying grass all season long! 1 Gardener: Megan Phillips 3 - Toro Workman Regular verti-draining of the greens has broken up 1 - Toro 325-D Groundsmaster the layers within the soil profile and with sand 1 - JD Aercore 800 filling the holes, has improved the movement of COURSE STATISTICS 1 - Toro Aerifier nutrients, water and roots downward. 1 - Multicore Fwy Aerifier How many holes? 1 - Aerway INNOVATIVE CULTURAL PRACTICES 18 1 -Verti-drain 10 - Clubcar XRT What type of innovative cultural practices have you What is the yardage from back tees and forward tees? 1 - Toro 5500 Sprayer performed? 6737 yards from the back tees and 1 - Toro 1250 Sprayer Initiated a fairway topdressing program along with 5412 yards from the front tees 1 - JD 5300 Tractor aerway slicing for aerification. This allowed us to break up the rock layer found beneath the fairways 1 - JD 4700 Tractor and incorporate the sand material down into the What is the size and length of driving range and range tee? 1 - Ford Loader/Backhoe profile. To date, we have been successful building 5 acres - 250 yards 1 - Bergal Turf Vac upon the subsurface layer with an average of one inch 1 - Agri-metal Blower of sand on all fairways. This has drastically improved How many bunkers? 1 - Salsco Roller the playability, drainage, and overall consistency of the 56 1 - Bannerman topdresser fairways. An aggressive overseeding program is also completed twice each season on the fairways as part of 1 - Tycrop MH 4400 the topdressing program. How many ponds, and/or how many times does water 1 - Bannerman Dimple seeder The success of die aerway on the fairways has lead to come into play? 1 - Promark stump grinder its use on tees each fall season and the greens late fall 1 pond in play Assorted Misc. Power tools before dormancy sets in. Presidents' Day Despite the threatening weather, the 2003 Presidents’ Day, honours. hosted by Credit Valley Golf Club, is one that will be long After golf there was time to socialize, with friends and colleagues remembered by the 36 participating teams. before being seated for a five-course meal that was fitting to the Our host, Golf Course Superintendent Jeff Stauffer, helped day. create an absolutely perfect day with the rest of the Credit Valley Team! All staff members of this fine facility should be commended for their attention and warm hospitality extended to all the participants from the time they entered the front entrance, to the time they left. Registration started at 11:00 a.m. with a table set up for a pari­ mutuel game, run by Paul Scenna and Keith Bartlett. Thanks men! After a lovely deli buffet lunch, it was off to the practice range and then to the assigned starting holes for a 1:00 p.m. shot gun. After the meal, OGSA President, Mark Piccolo welcomed everyone and enlighten us with the history of the Presidents’ Day and talked about William Sansom, our first OGSA President, from 1924 through 1932. We where also welcomed by Jerry Boyko, a Member and Director of Credit Valley Golf Club, expressing how it was an honour to host this special event for the OGSA. Jeff Stauffer also addressed the crowd and updated us on the IPM Accreditation Program that he has been very involved with over the past year. Thanks again to all the staff members of the Credit Valley Golf Club for a great day! Special thanks go to Jeff Stauffer, Golf Course Superintendent, who helped co-organize the event and provided us with outstanding golf course conditions for us to The Credit Valley course is an extremely challenging one. The play. Thank you to Dorothy Hills for all the preparation she first five holes have variety to say the least. Tree lined, sloping occurs before any OGSA Event. fairways and well guarded, huge slippery green sites makes club Hope everyone had a great day! selection crucial to get your round started in the right direction!!!!! After the first five, it is down into the Credit Valley where the Credit River crosses eight of the thirteen holes that lay waiting for you. Again large fast greens makes you utilize the pocket pro booklet quite often. The Clubhouse that overlooks the valley blends in with the canopy of mature trees stabilizing the valley walls, which gives that real Country Club feeling. The stonework throughout the property blended nicely with the flowing Credit River stone banks that have been eroded through time. The golf course was in fantastic condition and just a real treat to play, especially for the William Sansom Trophy, for top L-R Jeff Stauffer receiving plaque form Jeff Alexander Jerry Boyko, Director of Credit Valley Golf Club Mark Piccolo, OGSA President L-R Jeff Stauffer, Host Superintendent with the Winning Team from The Donald Club - Andy Krausz, Bryan Sparks, Mike O'Connell and Superintendent Paul Scenna Congratulations to all our winners! First Place Winning Team Tied Fifth Place Winning Team Closest to the Pin #15 Donalda Club Saugeen Golf and Country Club Credit Valley Golf Club Superintendent: Paul Scenna Superintendent: Mark Schneider Player: Terry Garbutt Directors: Andy Krausz, Mike O’Connell Directors: Paul Zorzi, Mark Rosner and Bryan Sparks And Brian Crabbe Long Drive #9 Dalewood Golf & Country Club Second Place Winning Team Tied Fifth Place Winning Team Player: Jean Beaith Brampton Golf & Country Club St. George’s Golf & Country Club Superintendent: Martin Kopp Superintendent: John Gall Long Drive #16 (0-10) Directors: Ian Edward Cairns, Directors: Jim Jolly, Mart Raigla Summit Golf & Country Club Warren Dudley and Bryan McMahon And Brian Lucas Player: Ron Bogart Third Place Winning Team Closest to the Pin #4 Lang Drive #16 (11-18) Twenty Valley Golf & Country Club Maple Downs Golf & Country Club Thornhill Country Club Superintendent: Steven Muys Player: Steve Holmes Player: Keith Bartlett Directors: Gary Hunter, Rick Dupuis And Ivan Foster Closest to the Pin #7 Longest Drive #16 (19+) Hamilton Golf & Country Club Mississaugua Golf & Country Club Fourth Place Winning Team Player: Cathy Carter Player: Bill Coyle Granite Golf Club Superintendent: John Gravett Closest to the Pin #11 Directors: Randy Weisz, Mono Hills Golf Club Peter Empey and Shawn McReynolds Player: Jim Torrance "Reprinted with permission from KPMG's publication Golf Practice 'FORE' 2002/2003. For more information call 1-888-432-9494 or visit website at www.kpmg.ca/golf". Making The Grade—How a Golf Course Achieves a Top-100 Ranking (A comparative look into the ranking process in the United States and Canada) by Ryan Spring Have you ever looked at a ranking of the top golf courses influence can be placed on golf magazines vis-à-vis golf in your country and wondered, “Why is golf course X course rankings. For instance, it is not uncommon to hear included on this list?”, “why is golf course X ranked so suggestive commentary that owners who advertise in the highly, relative to golf course Y?” or “why is golf course Z not publication conducting the rankings tend to receive an on this list?”. The answers to these questions can be found upward boost come publication time. Any truths to such by bringing to light the processes that are involved in perceptions are certainly unknown to the writer of this compiling the list of the top golf courses in a country. article, and are, in my opinion, not valid. Golf course rankings have been a topic of discussion for Quite possibly, the method to combat such perceptions avid golfers and industry experts for many years. Due to the lies in the full disclosure of the results to the readership. If individual and subjective nature of ranking one’s favorite publications do not show readers how they ranked the courses, any published rankings will undoubtedly be open courses on their list, particularly when many have moved to scrutiny, criticism, and controversy amongst the readers. dramatically within that list, the door is left wide open for Despite the various bodies that perform golf course such perceptions to be perpetuated. This analysis will rankings, this analysis will focus solely on Golf Digest's attempt to demonstrate that the volatility observed in the ranking of “America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses,” and Score Score Golf ranking system can be explained by developing an Golfs ranking of “Canada’s Top 100 Courses.” Arguably, understanding of the ranking methodology relative to its these publications are the most recognizable in their Golf Digest counterpart. respective countries. Additionally, they also employ vastly different methodologies and are, in my opinion, the best Understanding the process candidates for a comparative analysis. Although there are several bodies in both the United In discussions with the editors of these publications, both States and Canada that produce listings of the top golf have expressed that the purpose of the rankings is to courses in their respective countries (e.g., Golf Magazine, provide interesting reading material and to incite spirited Golf Week, etc.) arguably the most notable rankings are discussion amongst the readership surrounding the golf performed by Golf Digest in the United States and by Score course rankings presented. The fact of the matter is that Golf in Canada. Golf Digest has been publishing its listing of every reader will have a different view of which courses are “America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses” since 1966 and in its the best. As such, achieving consensus amongst the readers fifth decade boasts the game’s oldest ranking system. North of these publications would be next to impossible. As of the border, Score Golf has been publishing a listing of golfers, we will have our own thoughts about what golf Canada’s Top Courses since 1988. A process that began as courses should be included and which ones should not be the top 15 in 1988, the top 25 in 1990 and 1992, the top 50 on any list. That being said, although it is not possible to from 1994 to 1998, is now finally the top 100 for 2000 and quantify, golf course rankings have an effect on those that 2002. view the lists. These rankings may affect where they play The ranking processes employed by Golf Digest and Score golf, where they vacation, and, to a lesser extent, which Golf in evaluating the top 100 golf courses in the United country club they may choose to join. Thus, golf course States and Canada are dramatically different. As will be rankings may indirecdy have an effect on the business of demonstrated, the Golf Digest ranking system considers individual golf course operators. In my opinion, tradition, history and ambiance when courses are evaluated. publications that produce golf course rankings have a On the other hand, the Score Golf system is designed such responsibility to produce the most representative and that historical factors are not contemplated in the ranking consistent result possible, and these results should also be process. fully disclosed to the public. In fact, each time Score Golf conducts a ranking of the top Much of the controversy and criticism regarding golf 100 courses in Canada, all previous results are discarded, course rankings stems from the fact that certain golf courses and the process starts anew with a fairly high rate of panelist in the top 100 can move as much as 50 places between turnover. It should also be noted that the Canadian rankings (with rankings occurring every two years). panelists have fewer golf courses to select from. Currently, Particularly in the Score Golf ranking system, where the there are an estimated 17,000 golf courses in the United movements are more dramatic and results of the ranking States and 2,000 in Canada. In any valid ranking system the processes are not fully disclosed, the unfortunate truth is cream will always rise to the top; however, it is evident that that there is a perception in the golf industry that undue with one out of 20 golf courses in Canada making the list (as opposed to one out of 170 in the U.S.), with all other factors Conditioning—How would you rate the playing quality of being equal, the Score Golflist will be more open to volatility tees, fairways, and greens when you last played. and continuous change each time a new ranking is Ambiance—How well does the overall feel and atmosphere released. reflect or uphold the traditional values of the game? In comparing the golf course ranking systems, there are Walkability—How walkable is the course (terrain and three key areas that are worthy of consideration: distance between holes)? • the panel; • the evaluation criteria; and, Each category is scored out of 10, with 10 being absolutely • the scoring system. perfect and 1 being unacceptable. Once all the evaluations are in, the scores are averaged in each category. The shot Golf Digest Methodology value score is doubled as Golf Digest believes that this is the most important criterion in establishing a great golf course. The Panel Additionally, courses can earn “bonus points” for tradition The first step in developing the listing of “America’s 100 and walking. Greatest Golf Courses” is the selection of the panelists. In its Bonus Tradition Points consist of three parts: 20 per cent most recent ranking in 2001, Golf Digest started with Tournament History, 40 per cent Architectural History and approximately 720 low-handicap male and female golfers 40 per cent Ambiance. Tournament History Points are from across the country. The editor has indicated that this earned for hosting national events, major championships, has increased to approximately 800 panelists for the next or smaller tour events (e.g., Pebble Beach and Augusta ranking (to be published 2003). The panelists volunteer National). Architectural History points are earned for each their services and, at their own expense, play golf courses appearance on “America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses” or across the country, scoring the golf courses on several other Golf Digest rankings. The Ambiance portion is the specified criteria. Panelists are not permitted to accept average of all panelists’ scores in that category. A course anything other than a complimentary green fee when must be at least 10 years old to earn any part of the evaluating a golf course. The group of panelists consists of, ambiance score. The maximum bonus for Tradition Points among others, top amateur players, PGA Club is 10. Professionals, celebrities in the golf and sporting industry, Bonus Walking Points are determined multiplying 10% of doctors, and schoolteachers. According to the editor, the average walkability score by the maximum possible panelist turnover does occur through natural attrition; bonus points (two points if unrestricted walking is allowed, however, the percentage of panelist turnover is minimal. one point if a club restricts walking during certain times of Generally, the panelists are geographically dispersed the day, 0 points if the course is carts-mandatory). The goal throughout the United States. If GolfDigest realizes that any is to reward courses that encourage walking, but courses particular area has a deficient number of panelists, they will that are truly walkable earn a bigger bonus. try to get more volunteers from that area. Voting restrictions are as follows: panelists may not vote for any Scoring System course of which they are a member, a staff member, or an To be eligible for America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses’a golf owner. Golf course architects are not allowed to be panelists course must receive a minimum of 30 evaluations. These in the Golf Digest system, although there are other ranking evaluations are retained in the system for a period of 10 bodies that do permit this practice. years, adding more scores as they come in (i.e., the score for any given golf course is the total marks received divided by Evaluation Criteria the total number of evaluations received). A golf course is The panelists are asked to evaluate the golf courses they evaluated by a panelist after having played the facility. play based on the following criteria1: Shortly after the round, the panelist completes a scorecard rating the course on the evaluation criteria, and submits the Shot Value—How well does the course pose risks and scorecard to Golf Digest (i.e., must play the facility before rewards, and equally test length, accuracy and finesse? submitting the evaluation). In fairness to the fact that Resistance to Scoring—How difficult, while still being fair, historical evaluations are maintained for a 10 year period, is the course for a scratch player from the back tees? conditioning scores are purged after each survey, so that Design Variety—How varied are the holes in differing Golf Digest doesn’t penalize forever a course that suffered lengths, configurations, hazard placements, and green through a single bad season. shapes and contours? Memorability—How well do the design features (tees, Score Golf Methodology fairways, greens, hazards, vegetation and terrain) provide individuality to each hole, yet a collective continuity to the The Panel entire 18? Aesthetics—How well do the scenic values (including The ranking process for “Canada’s Top 100 Courses” as landscaping, vegetation, water features and backdrops) add conducted by Score Golfmagazine is quite different from the to the pleasure of a round? process employed by Golf Digest. A panel of approximately 1The criterion listed and the associated descriptions have been taken from Golf Digests May 2001 edition. Making The Grade—How a Golf Course Achieves a Top-100 Ranking continued... 100 individuals is selected by the editorial staff of Score Golf, voters are required to select their top 20 courses, and for with voters’ kits being mailed out to these individuals. each course, provide a mark in the sub-categories discussed Panelists are selected by Score Golf, as opposed to the Golf above. Digest system where the panelists volunteer their services. The votes are then tallied with the overall mark being The result is that many panelists do not return completed balanced against the number of people who have played a ballots. For instance, Score Golf reports that for the 2002 certain course. This is done to prevent more popular listing, only 48 eligible ballots were returned out of a courses from receiving a lion’s share of the votes. In more possible 110. The panelists selected consist mainly of simplistic terms, if 50 panelists have played Course X and individuals that are viewed as being “knowledgeable and only five consider it to be in their top 20, the overall score representative of Canadian golf’. This includes, touring will tend down. Conversely, if only 15 panelists play Course professionals, club professionals, top amateurs, journalists, Y, yet all 15 place course Y in their top 20, the overall score club managers, superintendents and even a few weekend will tend up. golfers. The panel is also selected such that the number of Generating the overall score for golf courses in Score Golf voters from each area, generally reflects the golfing is very different from Golf Digest. This is perhaps the most population from that region. From year to year, the list of compelling difference between the two systems and why the panelists can change significantly. Canadian system produces more diverse results from year to The editor of Score Golfs Top 100 ranking has indicated year. As opposed to retaining the results from previous that there is usually as much as a 35 per cent to 50 per cent panelist evaluations, the slate is wiped clean every time a turnover in panelists in each survey year. Such a high rate of ranking is conducted in Canada. This methodology, when panelist turnover is done intentionally in an effort to coupled with panelist turnover in the 35 per cent to 50 per prevent the same panelists from voting for the same courses cent range, goes a long way in explaining the why the Score every year. Similar to the Golf Digest system, Score Golf states Golf rankings can appear very different over a two-year publicly that panelists are not allowed to vote for golf period. The results of the 2000 survey do not have any effect courses at which they are members, have an ownership on the 2002 rankings! position, or are employed. Golf course architects are also not permitted to be panelists. How Do the Systems Compare? The following is a snapshot of the key differences Evaluation Criteria between the two systems. The panelists evaluate golf courses on the following criteria2: Disclosure of Results • Golf Digest publishes a listing of how all the individual • Conditions—Panelists were asked to evaluate the golf courses in the Top 100 scored in each category. This list also course in each of the following sub-categories: overall shows the total points accumulated by every course in the Top 100. Full disclosure of the results is a strength of this conditions, fairways, greens and hazards. system as it alleviates much of the scrutiny that could • Design—Panelists were asked to evaluate the golf course in potentially surround the legitimacy of the results if they each of the following sub-categories: overall design, holes, were not published. greens and flow. • Enjoyability—Panelists were asked to evaluate the golf • Score Golf does not publish or disclose how the courses course in each of the following sub-categories: fairness, scored in any category, nor how the courses scored overall. difficulty, beauty, playability and memorability. With the Score Golf system being designed to promote continuous change within the rankings, I believe the Each of the sub-categories is scored from 1 to 5 (with 5 absence of publishing the actual results for the courses being high) to determine the overall mark. The overall leaves Score Golf open to scrutiny and controversy. In my score for the course is then divided into the number of opinion, the current policy perpetuates some of the perceptions that exist in the industry (i.e., that undue panelists who had voted for that course to determine the influence can be placed on golf publications in relation to final mark. golf course rankings). Full disclosure of the results could The categories are weighted in the following manner to perhaps diffuse this. determine the overall score for the course; Condition—30 per cent, Design—30 per cent, Enjoyability—40 per cent. Scoring System • Golf Digest retains evaluations for a 10 year period, thus Scoring System allowing the results of the survey to be consistent from one The method in which panelists vote under the Score Golf period to the next. For instance, if in any given year a course rankings system is two-fold. The voter must complete both does not receive 30 evaluations, that course will not parts of the ballot to be eligible. The first section is a disappear from the list simply because not enough panelists comprehensive listing of Canadian golf courses, and each made it to that facility during the two-year period. Rather, voter is asked to check off the courses that he or she has adding new evaluations to the existing database from played. The second section is a numerical ballot where 2 The criterion listed and the associated description have been taken from the Score Golf website, www.scoregolf.com/ratings. previous rankings promotes a stable and consistent list of • Golf Digest Although not a significant factor, the listing of golf courses, particularly in the top 20. As noted in Figure 1, America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses makes it slightly more very few golf courses in the top 20 have changed rank by difficult for resort-style golf courses and, to a lesser extent, more than three positions over the past six years. In fact, the public facilities to become ranked in the Top 100. This average movement over the six-year period is two positions. occurs for two reasons. First, a criteria for evaluating America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses is “resistance to • The Score Golf system does not retain any evaluations from scoring,” as opposed to “playability”. Resort-style golf courses previous rankings. Every time rankings are conducted the are generally designed to be more “player-friendly” and as process starts from scratch. In addition to starting from such may not score as well in the resistance-to-scoring scratch, there is also a high rate of panelist turnover (35 per category. Second, in general, higher-end public facilities and cent to 50 per cent). The result of this policy is that erratic resort courses are less “walker-friendly” than their more results are created. This is best demonstrated in Figure 2, traditional private counterparts. A course that has a policy where many golf courses in the top 20 have moved by 20 to of mandatory carts automatically loses points on the scoring 30 positions in the last six years. Average movement in the system. Score Golf system is 11 positions over the past six years (450 per cent more erratic than GolfDigest). Method of Evaluation • Golf Digest Panelists play a course, complete the scorecard Evaluation Criteria for the course and submit the evaluation. The evaluation is • GolfDigest Allowing a category for Tradition (10 per cent of added to the existing databank of results for that course. the overall score), rewards courses that are steeped in history and are sites of major championships. In essence, if • Score Golf Every two years a new group of panelists (35 per two golf courses were comparable across all other GolfDigest cent to 50 per cent turnover) select their top 20 courses and evaluation criteria, the course that has history and tradition evaluate these properties based on the previously described criteria, associated with it will rank slightly higher. This is a strength regardless of when they played the facility. of the system as tradition and history are definitely factors in making a golf course truly great and worthy of being one of The Panel “America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses.” • GolfDigest The panel consists of 800 volunteers throughout the United States. As mentioned, panelist turnover is limited • Score Golf The evaluation criteria does not allocate any in the Golf Digest system. Although consistency in the marks to the history and tradition of a facility. Therefore, rankings has been listed as a strength above, if the panelist many of Canada’s great new courses can be propelled up the turnover is very small, the potential exists that only the same rankings at a fairly rapid rate. Courses are not rewarded for golf courses are receiving consideration year after year. In what has been accomplished in the past, but rather what is my opinion, the limited amount of panelist turnover is a currently being accomplished. When the evaluation process weakness of the Golf Digest system, as a higher rate of begins, all Canadian courses are on an equal playing field. turnover could add valuable new insight to the rankings. • GolfDigest The system is designed such that “newer” courses • Score Golf Panelists are selected by the editorial staff of Score are able to improve their ranking over time. For example, a Golf For various reasons, many invited panelists decline to course can’t be considered for the list until it receives a participate. As such, in the most recent survey only 48 out of minimum of 30 panelist evaluations. Additionally, the 110 potential panelists submitted valid ballots. This course is not allowed to earn Ambiance points for a methodology of selecting panelists is a weakness of the minimum of 10 years. This policy protects the integrity of system as 48 panelists are evaluating approximately 2,000 the list, such that “newer” golf courses are not propelled to properties. This equates to one panelist for every 41.67 the front of the list ahead of courses such as Augusta courses versus one for every 23.62 in the Golf Digest survey National, Pebble Beach, and Pine Valley, but rather (and there are nine times more golf courses in the United gradually climb the rankings over time as the course States!) improves and establishes a reputation (if it is architecturally worthy of doing so). • Score Golf. Panelist turnover rates in the 35 per cent to 50 per cent range ensure that the same panelists are not simply • Score Golf New courses can move up and down the rankings voting for the same courses year after year. In my opinion, as easily as the oldest golf course in Canada. This is a result this is strength of the system as adding new panelists of having many new panelists voting in each survey as well as provides a continuous stream of new insight. The system, the system not retaining any historical results. The policy is which does not consider historical factors and results, intentionally designed this way to keep the list from getting provides all golf courses in Canada with an equal “stale”. Without question, new insight is a positive. The opportunity to gain acceptance as one of Canada’s Top 100 downside to this is that certain courses can slip in certain years based on who the panelists are and whether they have courses. played a particular course. Making The Grade—How a Golf Course Achieves a Top-100 Ranking continued... In my opinion, a collaboration of the panelist turnover Top 100 fared in every category of evaluation. rates experienced in the Score Golf system along with the Golf At the end of the day, the Golf Digest ranking system will Digest methodology of retaining scores in the system for a provide consistent results from year to year, spark discussion 10-year period would add value to any ranking system. The amongst the readership, but not generate a great deal of retaining of previous results would limit the amount of controversy. erratic changes in the Canadian system, and increasing On the other hand, the methodology employed for panelist turnover would allow the Golf Digest system to evaluating “Canada’s Top 100 Courses” provides more receive more variety and new insight from the panelist erratic results from publication to publication as a result of evaluations. the following factors: the smaller size of the panel (48 in 2002), the higher rate of panelist turnover (35 per cent to Summary 50 per cent), the discarding of historical data when calculating the results of the current survey, and the criteria The Golf Digest methodology employed for evaluating utilized for scoring the courses, which does not contain any America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses provides more stable and provisions for Tradition or Golf Club History. Most consistent results from publication to publication as a result importantly, Score Golf does not publish the results of how of the following factors: the size of the panel (800 panelists the individual courses fared in the various categories of in 2003), a limited amount of panelist turnover, the use of evaluation. The end result is that the Score Golf ranking historical data when calculating the results of a current system does create erratic results from year to year in my survey, and the criteria used for evaluating courses (i.e., opinion, and does very little in attempting to explain the tradition, ambiance, and history). Additionally, Golf Digest results to the readership, (as is evidenced in Figures 1 and publishes the results of how each individual course in the 2). Figure 1 Evaluation of Trends in Golf Digest top 20 rankings since 1995 1995 1997 1999 2001 1995 - 2001 Course City State rank rank rank rank + /- Pebble Beach Golf Links Pebble Beach CA 3 4 4 1 2 Pine Valley G.C. Pine Valley NJ 1 1 1 2 (1) Augusta National Augusta GA 2 2 2 3 (1) Cypress Point Club Pebble Beach CA 4 3 3 4 - Oakmont C.C. Oakmont PA 7 7 7 5 2 Shinnecock Hills G.C. Southhampton NY 6 5 5 6 - Merion G.C. (east) Ardmore PA 5 8 6 7 (2) Winged Foot G.C. (west) Mamaroneck NY 8 6 8 8 - Pinehurst Resort & C.C. (no 2) Pinehurst NC 9 9 9 9 - Oakland Hills C.C. (south) Bloomfield Hills Ml 12 10 10 10 2 The Olympic Club (lake) San Francisco CA 11 11 11 11 - Seminole G.C North Palm Beach FL 15 12 14 12 3 The Country Club (Clyde/Squirrel) Brookline MA 10 13 12 13 (3) Medinah C.C. (no 3) Medinah IL 14 16 19 14 - Southern Hills C.C. Tulsa OK 25 24 25 15 10 National Golf Links Southhampton NY 19 14 17 16 3 Muirfield Village G.C Dublin OH 16 21 15 17 (1) San Francisco G.C. San Francisco CA 23 19 18 18 5 Crystal Downs C.C. Frankfort Ml 13 18 16 19 (6) Quaker Ridge G.C. Scarsdale NY 22 23 21 20 2 Average number of position moved over four ranking periods: 2 Conclusion The Golf Digest and Score Golf ranking systems are incite discussion among the readers. This is all well and designed differently and structured to accomplish good, and I do agree that discussion and even some different goals. The GolfDigest system produces very stable controversy over the best golf courses in a country is great and consistent results, whereas the system employed by for the game of golf. However, when a system is designed Score Golf is designed to promote continuous change such that it produces erratic results from survey to survey, within the rankings. Arguably, both systems have their and the results of how the individual courses are ranked merits and shortcomings based on the comparative are not fully disclosed to the public, the wrong type of analysis that has been presented within this article. discussion could potentially be taking place, which is Readers can make their own judgments on the validity of unfortunate and contrary to the intended purpose of the above ranking systems. Effectively, both editors have performing the rankings. indicated that the purpose of conducting rankings is to Figure 2 Evaluation of Trends in Score Golf top 20 Rankings Since 1996 1996 1998 2000 2002 1996 - 2002 Course City Province rank rank rank rank + /- St. George's Golf & CC Islington Ontario 2 2 3 1 1 Highland Links Cape Breton NS 24 35 1 2 22 Capilano G & CC West Vancouver BC 3 3 7 3 - The National Golf Club of Can. Woodbridge Ontario 1 1 2 4 (3) Redtail GC London Ontario 31 11 20 5 26 The Links at Crowbush Cove Morell PEI 25 10 10 6 19 Royal Montreal (Blue Course) Ile Bizard Quebec 6 5 4 7 (1) Lake Joseph Club Port Carling Ontario n/r n/r 29 8 21 Hamilton Golf & CC Ancaster Ontario 5 4 5 9 (4) Beacon Hall Golf Club Aurora Ontario 8 7 6 10 (2) Jasper Park Golf Course Jasper Alberta 15 18 21 11 4 Le Geant Mt. Tremblant Quebec n/r 37 31 12 25 Glen Abbey Golf Club Oakville Ontario 4 6 8 13 (9) Westmount G & CC Kitchener Ontario 9 13 11 14 (5) Banff Springs Golf Club Banff Alberta 22 33 45 15 7 Predator Ridge Golf Resort Kelowna BC 41 16 17 16 25 Wolf Creek Golf Resort Ponoka Alberta 20 28 23 17 3 Angus Glen Golf Club Markham Ontario n/r 17 14 18 (1) Toronto Golf Club Mississauga Ontario 7 15 28 19 (12) The Springs at Radium Radium BC 50 n/r 37 20 30 Average number of position moved over four ranking periods: 11 As previously stated, although not quantifiable, their own judgments on whether they agree or disagree individuals will potentially make decisions on where to with the results—and why. In my opinion, this will also play, where to vacation, or even where to join based partly help diffuse the perception that exists in the industry that on golf course rankings. As a result, the rankings can patronage and ulterior motives can influence rankings. indirectly help or harm a business. It is my belief that any As an influential source of information to the golf golf magazine wishing to conduct rankings has a industry, all publications performing golf course rankings responsibility to the industry to develop a consistent need to “stand up and be counted” when it comes to the ranking system and to provide a highly open forum full disclosure of the final results for each course on their inclusive of the full disclosure of the results. This way, the list, if they are not doing so already. It’s only fair to all readers viewing the rankings can develop a complete parties involved—and just as importantly, to our game! understanding of how the systems work and can make Ryan Spring is an associate of KPMG’s Golf Practice. The Solution That Gains Ground Fertilec serves Ontario in 24-48 hours. Visit our website with links to the industry: www.fertilec.com Corrie Almack P.Ag. Colleen Mitchell Fertilec office: Almack Agronomic Services Inc. Tel: (905) 689-6174 Ontario sales representative Phone.: l-(888) 831-1085 Box 256, Carlisle, On Fax: (905) 689-8522 Cell Phone.: 1-(613) 850-3732 Fax.: 1-(888) 836-1915 L0R 1H0 Email: c.almack@sympatico.ca E-mail: colleenm@sprint.ca E-mail: gosselin@fertilec.com PUMPING SYSTEMS Everett Nieuwkoop Phone: (519) 875-4094 18-1290 Speers Road, Oakville, Ontario, L6L 2X4 890 Fairground Rd. Fax: (519) 875-4095 Toll Free 1-888-222-6676 Fax (905) 825-8139 R.R. #4, Langton, Ontario Cell: (519) 688-4397 Canada N0E 1G0 e-mail: nieuwkoop@lon.imag.net email; paulp@pumptronics.ca www.pumptronics.ca gimmeshelter We Build • Maintenance Buildings • Storage Facilities • New Buildings •Wood & Steel Structures •Additions • and do Renovations For your FREE ESTIMATES call us at 1-800-215-1996 www.braemarbuildings.com Off the fairway Meadows Ihave not- dependent upon full sun and the square foot area that received the pro­ iced recently that absence of woody vegetation. Other active treatment over five years ago. It many of my books say a meadow may contain was seeded with a sheep’s fescue and gardening clients herbaceous plants from any ecosystem creeping red fescue mix with added are requesting that will adapt to it, as well as wild flowers. The wildflowers or alternatives to a horticultural plants and alien weeds. “forbes” were black-eyed Susan, manicured lawn. This seems to imply that anything goes poppies, flax, mallow and various seeds They are tired of and that a meadow is a collection of that I had collected. In future I will use by Daisy Moore the mowing, fed local plants. more native seeds. We mow the up with watering A meadow is not a “climax meadow twice in the spring and a restrictions and somewhat perplexed community”. This means that it is pathway through it every 6 weeks or so. about using pesticides. I generally always changing and evolving, and that, Other than selective weeding, it looks spend a bit of time discussing with in the absence of intervention by after itself and has something in flower them the benefits of infrequently- humans, it would proceed gradually most of the time. It looks like it should mown, open spaces and then talk through natural plant succession, be there. I have started to add some about low maintenance alternatives eventually turning into a woodland. taller native prairie plants, as seedlings which will suit their lifestyle and However, mowing - which prevents or plugs. These are becoming budget. succession - can change everything! I spectacular individuals within the An attractive alternative to have tried many methods to cope with meadow. frequently-mown turf in out-of-play or the excessive exuberence of growth in Meadows can be utilized low use areas is what I call a “short the back portion of my property. Most architecturally in the garden as open meadow”. It consists of shin-high, thin- of it wants to be goldenrod and I’m not space, providing and maintaining vistas bladed grasses dotted with attractive willing to let it. By mowing twice in the or blending with more formal lawns. wildflowers. You can mow paths spring and then allowing it to re-grow, An important ecological aspect of both through the short meadow and it takes the goldenrod and clump-forming meadow and prairie is that they are only minimal care and weeding. You’ll grasses give way to more interesting habitats for ground-nesting birds and want to take your shoes off when you plants, such as fall asters. small mammals. With these in the area, walk through it! I have been cultivating Mowing practices can only go so far, you get the return of hawks, owls, foxes such a meadow in the out-of-play areas though, in creating a successful and other predator species. This of my garden. I’ve had some recent meadow. You need to introduce the increase in diversity of animal and bird success and I’ve got lots of advice on plants. populations is aesthetically as what you should do in order to succeed The pro-active approach to creating important as the visual aspect of such in creating a meadow — the transition a meadow is to kill all existing landscapes. from frequently-mown to mostly-left- vegetation twice and then start with a For further information and sources alone. clean slate. I’d like to say that I have of native plants, please go to my website A meadow is defined in the done this, but I don’t think there is www.daisymoore.com dictionary as a piece of grassland, such a thing as a clean slate. There will especially one used for hay; a rich always be interference from the local pasture-ground, especially beside a weed and wildflower population. Some stream. Other reference books of that interference can turn out to be expand the definition to describe a quite useful! meadow as a specialized habitat My short meadow is an 800 29 ADVANCE ROAD TORONTO, ONTARIO M8Z2S6 PHONE: (416) 236-1001 TOLL FREE: 1-888-311-5431 FAX: (416) 236-4654 MOBILE: (416) 464-4346 www.albiongolfcars.com BRUCE MCDONALD The Ultimate Snow Mould Weapons • Outstanding systemic control of pink and grey moulds • Proven contact control of pink and grey moulds • Convenient - wide application window to fit your schedule • Economical when used alone or in tank mixes • One application provides season-long control • Dependable - the industry standard for decades For more information contact your retailer or call Engage Agro at: 1-866-613-3336 ® Daconil, Banner and MAXX are registered trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company. THE P.E.S.T INSTITUTE Burnside Golf Services SPECIALIZING IN PESTICIDE EDUCATION & SERVICE TECHNOLOGY Engineers • Hydrogeologists • Environmental Consultants LAND Serving the Needs of the Golf Industry EXTERMINATOR (LANDSCAPE CATEGORY) We can help with: PESTICIDE CERTIFICATION COURSES • Approvals for Golf Course Development NORTH YORK and Operations • Hydrogeology and Stormwater Management December....................... 1 - 5, 2003 • Sewage Treatment and Disposal January....................... 26 - 30, 2004 • Environmental Management Plans February........................ 16- 20, 2004 Can Construction Damage • Building and Clubhouse Design • Irrigation Design and Consulting March.............................. 8- 12, 2004 to Trees be Prevented? • Environmental Impact Assessment March............................22- 26, 2004 Yes, many existing trees can be saved! Contact Vito Cirone April................................. 5- 9, 2004 The key is to plan ahead. Tel: (905) 953-8967 OUR ARBORIST WILL: Toll Free: (877) 799-8499 LONDON E-mail: vcirone@rjburnside.com March............................. 1 - 5, 2004 • Review construction plans and Website:www.burnsidegolf.com make suggestions OTTAWA March........................... 15- 19, 2004 • Prepare trees for the construction phase • Develop a post-construction WATER EXTERMINATOR (MOSQUITO/BITING FLY) maintenance program NORTH YORK Don't entrust your tree to anyone but experts - February......................... 9- 13, 2004 Bartlett Tree Experts- naturally! Gov't exam held on Monday following each course. Toronto • (416) 657-2059 Instructor: Paul G. Pilley, B.Sc., M. P. M. Bracebridge • (705) 646-8733 Gravenhurst • (705) 687-0696 Huntsville • (705) 789-0929 For more information and a brochure contact: www.bartlett.com P.O. Box 1021 Lindsay, Ontario K9V 5N4 E-mail: pgp_pest@lindsaynet.com BACKED BY THE BARTLETT TREE RESEARCH Offices located throughout Ontario Golf ■ Max Suppliers to the NGCOA LABORATORIES AND EXPERIMENTAL Tel: (705)-324-PEST (7278) Fax: (705) 324-9729 GROUNDS, CHARLOTTE, NC On the road again by Angelo Capannelli Hutcheson Sand and Mixes Why does anybody go to Cleveland? That is the question that was being introduced into the market place provide the opposition. Both teams asked of me when I suggested that we because of the demand for better are struggling in the standings as they do this road trip. Cleveland has bunker sand. Natural sands are good are both very young teams that are many things to offer, I told my for firmness and playability but rebuilding for the future. Jacobs colleagues. It is home to the according to players and Field is a natural grass stadium that Cavaliers, the Browns and the superintendents alike, the angular provides the spectator with great Indians, all professional sports teams. sands seem to be better for firmness views of the action. It is considered It is also where the Rock and Roll and are much better to play out of. one of the better “new” stadiums that Hall of Fame is. Now, if you are not Just ask Bob Brewster of Mississauga have been built for watching into sports or rock and roll I would Golf 8c Country Club and John Gall baseball. Camden Yard, in imagine that there are plenty of of St. George’s Golf & Country Club. Baltimore, is still one of my favourite other things to do should you want to Both of these superintendents have but Jacobs Field is quite good also. visit Cleveland. We decided to go to recently restored their respective The home team won on this Cleveland for professional bunkers with the Pro Angle sand. particular evening, providing a development reasons. Besides the These angular sands have very low festive mood for the spectators that sports teams and the rock and roll tendencies to bury the ball or what is gathered at outdoor cafe’s and hall of fame the Cleveland area is referred to as “fried egg”. Therefore drinking establishments in the blessed with some of the nicest silica the ball is easier to hit out of a downtown core. The weather was sand deposits in the United States. bunker. The process of making this perfect and my colleagues were Thus the trip to Painesville, Ohio to sand, as we observed on our tour, is enlightened with developments in the head office of the R.W. Sidley quite detailed. The manufacturer the sand business. A successful road company the manufacturers of the starts with a pebble and through a trip to Cleveland on all accounts. I Pro Angle bunker sand. series of stages it is cracked or personally am looking forward to There are 2 prominent companies fractured, washed and sized and then seeing the photo’s. Keep up the that have been marketing silica sands placed in inventory. The process of good work Cleveland!!!! We will be for bunker use into the Ontario fracturing sands is quite new for this back next year. market for years. Fairmont Minerals application. It is something that will (Best Sand) who is located in continue if our standards for bunker Chardon, Ohio and R.W. Sidley sands become higher and higher. company who is located in The tour was grand and learning Painesville, Ohio,both approximately about this new development in 45 minutes outside downtown bunker sands was informative. Cleveland. This particular tour took As mentioned earlier Cleveland is us to R.W. Sidley who is the home to many professional sports manufacturer of a new bunker sand teams. On this particular evening we called Pro Angle. The Best Sand were guests of the R.W. Sidley company also has an angular sand company at Jacobs Field where the called Signature. These angular Cleveland Indians make their home. products have been developed and The Tigers of Detroit were in town to 800S Series. Reliability. Durability. Performance. TURF CARE Che 800S Series works every time, with smooth rotation for extended drive life and more than double the lightning protection to keep your system working. Built to last even the toughest conditions, with debris-resistant nozzles to eliminate clogging, a riser seal to protect against debris contamination and debris traps to prevent contamination and damage. Precise pressure regulation ensures the right amount of water where you need it. Exact flow and spray uniformity give superior coverage, reliable rotation speeds provide more control and save water. For more information, contact your Turf Care Irrigation 800S Series Golf Sprinklers Sales Representative or Customer Service at 1-800-561-1432 Reliability. Durability. TURF CARE PRODUCTS CANADA www.turfcare.ca Performance. www.toro.com We turn your plans into reality. TDI International Inc. • (519) 763-3130 • www.tdigolf.com Turf or consequences by Doug Breen, Superintendent Golf North A guy in Las Vegas successfully sued his have to estimate the cost of your entire doctor for $250 for making him wait three weekend in advance. Then, you had to line hours past the time of his appointment up for as much as an hour to get cash out of before he got beyond the waiting room. He your account. It was the stinking dark ages. originally asked for $100/hr. for his time I haven’t spoken to a teller since before I and $5000 ‘danger pay’, for sitting in the stopped talking to my doctor. germ infested waiting room. The Nevada I think I have line rage. It’s like road rage, court system took a couple days off from but I get it when I’m waiting. It makes me dozen lottery tickets? I feel like that, waiting hearing appeals regarding the insane to stand in a line where no one is for seeds to germinate. Waiting for sod to reinstatement of Mike Tyson’s boxing moving forward, and by all appearances, knit makes my intestines chum like they do license, and the doctor and patient met in nothing is happening at the front of the line when I’m behind a guy who’s leveraging a court. Both were on time, but ironically, the to move it forward. I’m talking about you hostile corporate takeover at a bank court was backed up and the case went off McDonald’s! How many times have I stood machine. several hours late. In spite of this obvious at the back of a line with my order ready and But I can’t go see my doctor about the hypocrisy, the judge ruled in favour of the running through my head while the effect it’s having on my health, I’m on a patient, and awarded part of the hourly customer at the front of the line tries to waiting list to get a doctor. The mechanical charge. Both the doctor and Don King decide what they want? ‘You’ve been in line voice at the anger management hotline intend to appeal. for fifteen minutes with nothing to do but assures me that my call is important and will My wife’s doctor charges you $50 for stare at a huge glowing menu board. How be answered in sequence if I hold. I went to missing an appointment. ‘Missing’, can you not know what you want!” I scream buy Pepto Bismol to calm my nerves and incidentally, means anything over ten in my head. Meanwhile, I can actually see had to wait for the fifteen year old checkout minutes late. You can actually be charged the food I want in the warming rack, and girl to spend a half hour doing a price check the $50 ‘missed’ fee even though the doctor only massive amounts of self control keep on a thirty-five cent tube of lip gloss. won’t be ready to see you for another half me from leaping over the counter and The fact that the Tiger-Cats are 0 and 6 hour. This, from the same doctor who once taking it. This is particularly true when I’ve with no sign of not ending up 0 and 18 sent my wife into an examination room and paid already, and the workers are behind doesn’t help. It’s no easier waiting for grass forgot about her. Krista, who’s a lot more the counter talking about their weekend, to grow when my only summer diversion has patient than I am ( no pun intended ), and no one seems to know my food is ready me still waiting for the first win. Don’t even waited for about an hour before the but me! OK, I admit I have some issues. get me started on waiting for the Leafs to cleaning lady came in and found her sitting Grass can grow very slowly. I may have win the Stanley Cup. there in one of those baby blue backless grass rage. You know that feeling in the pit Oh well, waiting is part of life, and there’s numbers. She called the doctor who had of your stomach when you’re waiting to pay little I can do about it. But I’ve got to stop already gone home and was enjoying dinner for $20 of gas with cash and the guy in front typing and email this off to the OGSA office. and a bottle of wine with friends and advised is trying to pay with a three party cheque My deadline’s today and they’re waiting for her to go to a walk in clinic. I assume she from the Bank of Arkansas and pick out a it. billed OHIP for the consultation. At least she has a doctor. I haven’t had one for nearly ten years since my last one dumped me for poor attendance. They said that at my next appointment I’d have my first prostate exam, so I never went back. I hate to wait. I often say that on my deathbed, I want back the time that I have wasted waiting for photocopiers to warm up. I could have written a novel in the amount of time I have spent holding the truck door open waiting for one of my children to either climb in, or to climb out. I could have written the complete works of Shakespeare in the amassed time I spent lined up to get into bars when I was in university. Remember the weekly Friday ritual of going to the bank to get money from the teller for the weekend? For those of you under 30, there was a time just after the dinosaurs ruled the earth, that there were no bank machines, and every Friday you’d Looking back 20 years ago today by Barry Endicott The Board of Directors for 1983 of Lee Burpee, University of Guelph. on March 13, hosted by Dave Gourlay. the OGSAwas Rusty Warkman (pres.), On November 25th, Gord After the speakers, curlers took to the Oshawa; Al Draper (vice.), Greenhills; Witteveen hosted many ice with the winning team of Bob Bob Brewster (past), Weston; Robert superintendents to a day of fellowship, Cherry, Tom Murphy and Jack Austin Kennedy, Garden City; Barry Endicott called the William Sansom Day. defeating Paul (Pelino) Scenna, Paul (newsletter editor) Chinguacousy; Bill William Sansom, was the founding Dermott and Paul White. Fach, Essex; Gordon Nimmo, Sarnia; father and first president of the There were meetings held at John Hutchinson, Warkworth; Thom OGSA. Together with his fellow Kawartha, John Smith; St. Charters, Islington; Hugh Kirkpatrick, greenkeepers, Bert Hawkins of Catharines, John Piccolo; Roseland, Westmount; Paul Scenna, Galt and Lakeview and “Smiling Dad” Howard Randy Hooper; St. Claire Parkway, Tom Simpson, Newcastle. Lloyd of Rosedale, they laid the John O’Rae. The Galt Field Day was On the move: Rhod Trainer moved cornerstones for our present held at the Galt Country Club and a to St. Thomas from Chippewa, Ron organization at a meeting in October set of golf clubs was presented to Clay Heesen (assistant) from the Board of 1924 at the Weston Golf Club. Others Switzer by the OGSA. Stew Picken Trade to Beach Grove, Mark Hagen, present were: Joe Stanfield, and Blake McMaster won the Clayton (assistant) Greenhills to Wyldewood Mississaugua; Chris Freeman, Toronto Switzer Trophy and low individual and John Smith from Wyldewood to Hunt; Jack Abbot, Islington; Frank scores were Bruce Burger (73), Kawartha. Kim Hanley moved from Hamm, Royal York; Bill Austin, Dalewood; Bruce Vollett (75), Brooklea (assistant) to Blue Humber Valley; Jim McCullough, Conestoga; Warren Vout (77), Mountain, and Dave Chapman Scarboro; Fred Haines, Summit and Whitevale and Bill Bowen (78) moved from Victoria Park to Bill Chinery, York Downs. Peterborough. The Superintendent Glendale. The CGSA Turfgrass Conference Pro Tournament was held at Islington New members: Donald Gefucia, and Show was held in Edmonton on Golf Club hosted by Thom Charters. Barrie; Rhod Trainer, St. Thomas; March 13th-16th. Before the The winning team was Ken Wright Doug Meyer, Cedarbrook; Gord conference some superintendents, and Ben Kern, National, and low Walkinshaw, Toronto Ladies; Paul Ron Heesen, Bob Heron, Gord superintendent was Robbie Robinson Weidmark, IBM; Tom Kenyon, Witteveen, Ken Olsvik, Dave Keith and (78), Hidden Lake. The 10th Annual Southern Pines; Robbie Robinson, Barry Endicott met on the ski hills in President Superintendent Greens Hidden Lake; Manny Figueredo, Banff before attending the seminars. Chairman Tournament was held at Richview; Arthur Trumble, The hospitality was super with the Essex, host Bill Fach, and the winning Katchiwano; John Lockie, Lockwood; Edmonton Eskimo Cheerleaders teams were Blake McMaster (105) David Gurd, Maple Ridge; Howard leading the way at the Monday night Brampton, Rhod Trainor (104), St. Anyan, Bowmanville; Peter Creighton, hospitality party. The east hockey Thomas and Bob Heron (103) Castlemore; Joseph Hahn, Delhi; team beat the west team 7 to 5 at the Mississaugua. The OTRF held its 4th Lloyd Thatcher, Victoria Park; Gary Edmonton Coliseum, which was annual golf tournament at the Gravett, Saugeen; Robert Dioxin, Pine donated by the city of Edmonton and National, Ken Wright, with a barbecue Crest; Bruce Jones, Belleville; John Wayne Gretzky and a few other Oilers at The Board of Trade, Gordon McCallum, Strathroy; William Kivi, paid a visit to the dressing room after Witteveen. Bruce Calhoun was low Glenview; Dave Suter, Richview and the game to learn a few tips. Dave gross with a 75. Ken Green, North Bay. Gourlay won the Score Magazine A tornado hit Doon Valley Golf The 13th Annual Management Award as the 1983 Top Canadian Golf Club on May 2 where 183 trees were Symposium was held on January 11th Course Superintendent. torn out of the ground. Gord at the University of Guelph. This The GCSAA Conference was held Witteveen had a hole in one in symposium has really grown with 260 from February 19-25 in Atlanta August, Ron Heesen and Bob golf course personnel registering. Georgia. Jim Wyllie, Bayview, and Brewster got married and Ken Nelson Speakers programme: Jim Wyllie, Gord Witteveen were on the speaker’s was recovering from a serious cancer Bayview; Rusty Warkman, Oshawa; programme. operation. Prof. Sheard, University of Guelph; There was an OGSA/OTRF David Gourlay, Thornhill; and Prof. meeting at Thornhill Country Club Continued on page 31 "O.D.H. and O.D.A. Students Graduate from Guelph" by Penny Clelland Article Reprinted from February 1988 Issue of Green is Beautiful Everyone enjoys a little pomp and established when the ’83 grads wore golf course superintendent, won the circumstance. Spring Convocation collars over their gowns; green and Nursery Sod Growers Association 1983 easily fulfilled the expectations gold for the O.D.H., tangerine and Award. The Landscape Ontario of University of Guelph maize for the O.D.A. Award went to Frances Morris, a food correspondence students who The O.D.H. and O.D.A. programs technician in Redbridge, Ontario. travelled from across Canada to are sponsored by the Ontario During the banquet, the O.D.H. receive their Ontario Diplomas in Ministry of Agriculture and Food and Graduates Association awarded Horticulture and Agriculture. offered through Independent Study, Honorary Life Memberships. For the first time in the University’s a division of the University School of Through the efforts of Neil history, the various diploma Part-time Studies and Continuing Campbell, the training program of candidates had their own convocation Education. At the evening banquet, the Kitchener Parks and Recreation ceremony. For many it was a first time School Director Mark Waldron Department hinges on the Ontario meeting with classmates and faculty. congratulated O.D.H. Co­ Diploma in Horticulture. Professor It was also the end of an era. The coordinator, Harold Crawford on 25 John Weall was honoured for his graduating class was presented by years of valuable service to the influence on generations of outgoing President Donald Forster, University of Guelph. He also horticulturists, including now president of the University of announced the selections of Independent Study faculty, Professors Toronto, to retiring Chancellor Independent Study Chairman Ted McNinch and Crawford. Pauline McGibbon, former McNinch as the first recipient of the The Graduates Association Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario. Norman High Award for presented 2 cheques to Allen This graduation was also the last for contributions to the field of Paterson, Director of the Royal Clayton Switzer as Dean of continuing education. Botanical Gardens in Hamilton, $500 Agriculture. Outstanding students were of which is to be used as seed money Forty-eight students graduated in honoured during the evening. Sunny in the development of a medicinal the combined O.D.H. and O.D.A. Thomassen of Ottawa won the plant collection. class, the largest group in the 20 year O.D.H. Graduates Association Award Expressing the sentiments of history of the program. As in most for highest standing over the three graduates, guests and faculty, Dr. university programs, female year program. Ms. Thomassen is the Waldron called the day, “a celebration enrolment was up with 16 women in assistant manager of a florist business. of scholarity, education and life.” the class. A new tradition was Frank Merran, Toronto, an assistant TURF CARE Remember all the times YOU SAID THERE HAS TO BE A BETTER WAY? YOU WERE RIGHT Introducing the toro multi pro 1200 & 1250. Finally, dedicated sprayers with simpler calibration, greater precision and improved ease-of-use. With their unique Spray Pro control system, these sprayers directly link flow rate to ground speed. When you change speeds, the flow rate changes proportionally so the application rate stays constant. You also get an enhanced plumbing system, with o-ring fittings and a reliable diaphragm pump, for continuous leak-free performance. To say nothing of the more conveniently located controls and soft-ride front suspension. When you think about it, what www.roro.com could be better? To learn more, call your Turf Care Sales Representative, or to receive your free video visit www.toro.com/golf. www.turfcare.ca Turf Care Products Canada 200 PONY DRIVE, NEWMARKET, ONTARIO L3Y 7B6 • PHONE (905) 836-0988 FAX (905) 836-6442 London Mississauga Scarborough Gloucester Ph: (519) 668-7664 Fax: (519) 668-3722 Ph: (905) 890-6290 Fax: (905) 890-5598 Ph: (416) 298-2101 Fax: (416) 298-8758 Ph: (613) 822-1881 Fax: (613) 822-2099