August 2004 Green is Beautiful The Official Publication ofAssociation Superintendents' Ontario Golf Presidents' Day 2004 at Westmount Golf & Country Club Spring Field Day at The Cutten Club Flooding at Kawartha Golf & Country Club OGSA Research Project on Nematodes 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 THE 36th ANNUAL PRESIDENTS' DAY............................ 16 Cyber super................................................................................................ 7 Beautiful The Official Publication of Ontario Golf Superintendents’ Association Editor's message........................................................................................4 From roots to shoots ............................................................................ 5 Golf course highlight - Westmount Golf & Country Club ....................15 Health & safety ....................................................................................... 6 Looking back............................................................................................. 30 Mechanic's corner..................................................................................... 10 Member profile: Onorino John Piccolo ( OJ )...................................... 14 Off the fairway........................................................................................28 OGSA Research Project............................................................................ 8 On the road again.................................................................................... 25 President's message................................................................................ 3 Turf or consequences...............................................................................29 What's new................................................................................................ 27 COVER PICTURE Westmount Golf & Country Club Advertisers Photo by Cory Janzen Almack Agronomic Services Inc...........................................................6 Bartlett Tree Experts............................................................................. 19 Braemar Building Systems.................................................................... 9 Burnside Golf Services............................................................................ 4 DCS Agronomic Services..................................................................... 20 ESD Waste 2 Water................................................................................. 20 Fertilec Ltee/Ltd....................................................................................... 26 Forsythe Lubrication....................................................................... 22-23 G.C. Duke Equipment Ltd..................................................................... 18 Maple Turf Supply............................................................................. 8, 26 Master's Turf Supply Ltd..................................................................... 6 Nu Gro Corporation ............................................................................. 8 Nu Gro - ProTurf ..................................................................................... 11 Nutrite........................................................................................................ 20 Ontario Seed Company.......................................................................... 4 The P.E.S.T. Institute............................................................................... 19 Pumptronics Inc....................................................................................... 26 OGSA is committed to ProTurf....................................................................................................... 26 serving its members, Radeff Architect Ltd................................................................................19 advancing their profession, Skyway Lawn Equipment Limited..................................................... 25 and Turf Care Products Canada - Irrigation ........................................ 10 enriching the quality Turf Care Products Canada...................................................................32 of golf Vanden Bussche Irrigation and Equipment Ltd.............................. 7 and its environment. Zander Sod Co. Limited........................................................................ 25 President's message Ihope at this year’s OTRF tournament, at the beautiful Burlington Golf Club, that you all took advantage of the opportunity to meet Dr. Eric Lyons. For any that missed the chance, let me assure you that you are going to enjoy what this guy brings to the table. Eric is the newly hired turfgrass educator and ONTARIO GOLF SUPERINTENDENTS' by Rob Ackermann researcher at the University of Guelph. It goes without saying that ASSOCIATION Weston Golf & Guelph Turfgrass Institute Eric is passionate about turf, but what really impresses me is his 328 Victoria Road South Country Club passion for golf. How can you not like a guy that can talk turf while Guelph, ON N1H6H8 Ph: 519-767-3341 teaching you how to improve your swing? Toll Free: 877-824-6472 As Dr. Lyons adjusts to his new surroundings and responsibilities, OGSA will do Fax: 519-766-1704 Email: ogsa@gti.uoguelph.ca everything it can to support him in his new role. We also want Dr. Lyons to become a Website: www.golfsupers.on.ca familiar face, so when his schedule allows, we have offered a standing invitation for him BOARD OF DIRECTORS to attend as many OGSA events as possible. Dr. Lyons, we welcome you to Ontario. PRESIDENT Rob Ackermann Good luck! PAST PRESIDENT Mark Piccolo VICE-PRESIDENT Paul Scenna, ms Two years ago, OGSA board member, Chris Andrejicka of Essex Golf and Country TREASURER Bob Burrows, cgcs Club, gave life to a Superintendent Recognition Program. Chris felt strongly that SECRETARY Sean DeSilva DIRECTORS Jeff Alexander superintendents should be formally recognized for their efforts in preparing their Chris Andrejicka courses for major Golf Association of Ontario (GAO) events. The program is simple. An Jarrod Barakett OGSA board member, arrives at the host club in his director’s uniform (jacket and tie) Randy Booker Doug Breen and at the closing ceremonies of the event is provided the opportunity to take the Rob Gatto microphone and publicly acknowledge the efforts of the host golf course Jeff Stauffer superintendent. Surprisingly, some superintendents are not that comfortable stepping OFFICE out into the limelight to receive this recognition. If you fall into this category, don’t be ADMINISTRATION Dorothy Hills Pat Thomas shy. I promise that you will feel great pride in personal accomplishment when you walk Deborah Badger up to accept the award. Your participation will also reinforce to those watching, the great significance of your chosen profession to the game of golf. Let the spotlight shine, you and your profession deserve it! See you at the McClumpha and good luck in your fall projects. GREEN IS BEAUTIFUL EDITORIAL “Green is Beautiful” COMMITTEE is Printed on John Bladon, Editor Recycled Paper Dorothy Hills, Coordinating Manager Greig Barker Angelo Capannelli Jason Hanna Brian Haum Scott Horsburgh Mark Prieur Kevin Falls Layout, Design & Printing provided by... Bill Green Mark Schneider Scott Sleep Green is Beautiful 2004 Although every effort is made to check material for publication, the association is not responsible for material published on behalf of its contributors. All rights are reserved by the publisher Tel: 519.763.5745 • Fax: 519.763.9532 and any reproduction in whole or part 32-34 Essex Street • Guelph, Ontario • N1H 3K8 without the written permission of the e-mail: info@graphicservices.ca • www.graphicservices.ca publisher is prohibited. Editor's message I continue to see super­ intendents use innovative ways of communicating with members Welcome! by John Bladon and golfers. On a O.G.S.A. Welcomes Nu-Gro Corporation recent trip to our newest members Craigowan in Greg Fach Class F Woodstock, OGSA member Jerry Bay of Quinte Golf Club Richard showed me his ever improving website he uses to Chris Harvey Class F communicate with membership. St. George's Golf & CC Members are actually invited to see progress of projects on the golf Jeremy Krueger Class C Westmount Golf & CC course as well as scheduling of maintenance activities. It gave me Todd Miller Class F pause for thought...are we each Belleville Golf Club doing the best we can to communicate with others about the Peter Stormes Class C work we do? White Witch Golf Clubs, In this edition of Green is Beautiful Jamaica we have Pam Charbonneau’s regular submission “From roots Dan Tonkin Class B to shoots”, encompassing some Greenhills Golf Club background information on Silvery Burnside Golf Services A DIVISION OF R.J. BURNSIDE & ASSOCIATES LIMITED Thread Moss Control. Also, an Engineers • Hydrogeologists • Environmental Consultants Robert Wood Class A update from Julie Dionne, now with Oaks of Cobden Golf Club the RCGA, on the OGSA research Serving the Needs of the Golf Industry project, Entomopathogenic We can help with: nematodes as a pest management • Approvals for Golf Course Development and Operations tool. Angelo Capannelli has • Hydrogeology and Stormwater Management • Sewage Treatment and Disposal penned this issue’s “Member • Environmental Management Plans Profile” of long time OGSA member • Building and Clubhouse Design • Irrigation Design and Consulting OJ Piccolo of St. Catharines Golf • Environmental Impact Assessment Club. Finally, we recognize the Contact Vito Cirone Tel: (905) 953-8967 passing of researcher, Dr. George Toll Free: (877) 799-8499 Hamilton. Dr. Hamilton, his unique E-mail: vcirone@rjburnside.com perspective and his love of turfgrass Website:www.burnsidegolf.com For All Your will be missed. Golf Course Needs! Remember, Green is Beautiful, Photo and Article of the Year Turf seed, Pesticides, Nutrite Fertilizers candidates are always welcomed. and Bayco Golf Accessories Find something to write about and P.O. Box 7, Waterloo, Ont. N2J 3Z6 send it to us! Tel: (519) 886-0557 Fax: (519) 886-0605 A final reminder...Dr. Eric Lyons 1-800-465-5849 Email: seeds@oscseeds.com has arrived in Canada and taken up Victor Freiberg Ken Graham his post at the University of Guelph. Trevor Hunter A. Kent McDonald If you get the opportunity, welcome Offices located throughout Ontario David Schmelefske Golf - Max Suppliers to the NGCOA Eric to Canada. From roots to shoots Silvery Thread Moss Control ilvery thread moss has been a S submitted the application for Kocide 2000 for moss control problem on putting greens in British on turf in the spring of 2004. It has not yet received approval Columbia for the past 10-12 years. It has for use from the PMRA. now also become a major problem on The data from British Columbia suggests that Kocide 2000 putting greens in Ontario. Current golf be applied at a rate of 210g/100m2 from December through green cultural practices such as low April at two week intervals for a total of 5 applications. This mowing heights, low nitrogen fertility timing of course would not work for putting greens in rates, sand topdressing and loss of Ontario that are covered with snow for most of December by Pam Charbonneau OMAF Turfgrass mercury based fungicides can be through April. Last fall a moss trial was started on a Specialist attributed to the increase in moss cooperating local golf course and the Guelph Turfgrass problems. Moss often starts on high areas Institute. Based on data from Cornell, that indicated that of a golf green that are more susceptible to scalping and they had the most success when copper hydroxide was drying out. From these areas it can spread aggressively applied in the fall, we decided to conduct our Kocide 2000 through mowing and core aeration to other weakened areas moss trials in the fall. Applications began late (October 23) of a golf green. It is a highly adapted plant that grows equally because we did not receive the product until then. Because well in wet, shady environments as well as hot dry areas in full of poor weather conditions in the fall (an early snow fall) only sun. two applications of Kocide 2000 and Kocide 101 were applied Research conducted in British Columbia has shown success at two week intervals. Moss ratings were done in the spring with a copper hydroxide product called Kocide. The newest because the early snow fall meant that the plots couldn’t be formulation of Kocide is Kocide 2000 which is a water rated in the fall. The results are very preliminary and are dispersible granule. Kocide 2000 is registered for use in reported below in Table 1. Moss control at the golf course Canada on peppers and tomatoes. Because it is registered for site ranged from 88-95% with Kocide 101 and Kocide 2000 use on other crops in Canada it qualified for a User respectively. At the Guelph Turfgrass Institute the product Requested Minor Use Label Expansion Program (URMULE) was less effective with moss control ranging from 55-61% with under the Pest Management Regulatory Agency. This Kocide 101 and Kocide 2000 respectively. Over the winter program allows for user groups or provincial government however, the control plots also had as much as 80% less moss personnel to apply to have the label expanded for new crops in the spring as they did the following fall at the golf course such as turf providing that there is efficacy data available to site. At the GTI site the control plots did not have any show that the product works and providing the pesticide reduction in moss over the winter months. These results, as company is willing to add the new crop and new use to the mentioned above, are very preliminary. It is only one years label. The Western Canada Turfgrass Association along with worth of data and the product was only applied 2 times the British Columbia Ministry of Food and Fisheries have instead of the suggested five applications. Preliminary Moss Control Results Using Kocide Product Location % moss control Kocide 101 Golf Course 95% Kocide 101 Guelph Turfgrass Institute 55% Kocide 2000 Golf Course 88% Kocide 2000 Guelph Turfgrass Institute 61% This fall, starting in mid-September, Kocide 2000 trials will begin again with an attempt to apply Kocide at two week intervals for a total of five treatments. This research will be conducted at The Guelph Turfgrass Institute and hopefully will give us some indication of what the correct timing will be for Kocide for moss control on putting greens in Ontario. Health & safety Confined Spaces by DougJohnson, SAFETAID and Health and Safety Consulting First Aid and Safety Supplies and WHMIS Training Have you got a confined s pace at your club? Do you identified at your facility. know how to identify a confined space? Are you aware of This means that each time that you enter the confined the requirements for entering a confined space? These are space you will be required to follow very specific rules. questions that you should be able to answer. These rules will include an amount of paperwork that must In this short article I cannot get into all the requirements be available and retained for specific periods of time. You of confined space identification or entry but here are a few must ensure that those involved with the entry are properly issues that you should consider. trained to complete the entry in a safe manner. This means Generally speaking, a confined space is an enclosed or ensuring that the person entering (the entrant) and the partially enclosed space that: person attending at the entry point (the attendant) are • Is not primarily designed or intended for human occupancy trained in the air testing procedure, the entrant and site • Has a restricted entrance or exit by way of location, condition monitoring procedure, and in the rescue or size or means recovery procedures. • Can represent a risk for the health and safety of anyone When monitoring the air the entrant and the attendant who enters, due to one or more of the following factors: must ensure that the oxygen content is within safe limits - - Its design, construction, location or atmosphere not too little and not too much, that a hazardous - The materials or substances in it atmosphere (toxic gases, flammable atmosphere) is not - Work activities being carried out in it, or the present and that all ventilation equipment is operating - Mechanical, process and safety hazards present properly. A confined space is defined in Regulation 851 as “a space Air quality may have to be maintained through the use of in which, because of its construction, location, contents or ventilation equipment such as fans. work activity therein, the accumulation of a hazardous gas, You must ensure that energy sources are controlled vapour, dust, fume or the creation of an oxygen-deficient through the use of proper lockout procedures and you atmosphere may occur”. must ensure that they are communicated, understood and This means that your workers may be exposed to hazards followed. such as poor air quality, chemical exposure, fire hazards, An incident in a confined space is often fatal. DO NOT biological hazards, electric shock and noise to name a few. TAKE THIS CHANCE. To assist you in identifying potential confined spaces at your facility here are some examples: manholes, tunnels *Excerpts from the Canadian Centre for Occupational and wells, pump houses, pits, sub cellars or open trenches. Health and Safety publication on Confined Spaces. If you identify a confined space at your facility then it is www.ccohs.ca imperative, and it is the law, that you ensure that there is a defined written and communicated Confined Space Entry SAFETAID procedure for the specific types of confined spaces Your 1 st stop in safety! Corrie Almack P.Ag. Everett Nieuwkoop Phone: (519) 875-4094 890 Fairground Rd. Fax: (519) 875-4095 Almack Agronomic Services Inc. Tel: (905) 689-6174 R.R. #4, Langton, Ontario Cell: (519) 688-4397 Box 256, Carlisle, On Fax: (905) 689-8522 Canada NOE 1G0 e-mail: nieuwkoop@lon.imag.net L0R1H0 Email: c.almack@sympatico.ca Cyber super Every fall, the Editorial Committee turf industry. Almost all of the sites provided were for Green is Beautiful meets at the homepages only, rather than specific links, and only Guelph Turfgrass Institute to recently have there been specific companies discuss the year in review, new recommended. Over the years of doing Cyber Super, I have articles for the next season, had the opportunity to visit some great websites, and some welcome new committee members poor websites. At association tournaments, I always get and thank old ones. In this annual people asking, “What are your favourite sites to visit?” So event, there is also the here are a couple of websites I’ve enjoyed visiting. by Mark Prieur, brainstorming session, one in which Probably the website I visit most often is www.pgatour.com, Assistant Supt. Markland Wood CC the brain trust of the OGSA puts its the real time scoring and statistics section collective heads together and is second to none. If you are running a golf pool, dreams up ways in which our official publication can be there is not a better way to get the score. The next improved. (Note: Green is Beautiful has won GCSAA’s site I visit is Environment Canada at most-improved publication). January 2001 was to be a http://weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/forecast/city e.html?yyz. It different year for me however. During this brainstorming provides not only forecast information, which are pretty session, someone (or some people) decided that it was accurate for Markland Wood, as we are located close to time to provide our readers with a “website-of-the-month” Pearson airport. It also offers great information packets column. As I appeared to be the most “tech-savvy” person which educate the user in weather. After visiting the in the meeting that day, the burden fell on me. My fate entire website, thus earning one’s black-belt in weather was sealed, I would, from then on, be known as the Cyber forecasting, one can then begin to extrapolate the Super. Forget about Mark, “the guy with fast greens,” or plethora of data and form one’s own forecast. Mark, “the assistant at Markland Wood.” THANK YOU One last site (this is just actually a ANGELO CAPANNELLI! short read but noteworthy) is The challenge in writing Cyber Super has never been http://pested.unl.edu/thelabel/tlmay94.htm. This is just finding appropriate sites to write about. The challenge a discussion on pesticides that is worth a read. More was to keep the recommendations simple enough for all favourites next issue! computer literacy levels and keep them relevant to the Hose Reels make watering with hoses faster, safer and more efficient, saving your crews valuable time and money. Available in both mounted and trailer models. Call Vanden Bussche Irrigation today for pricing. Milton 1.800.263.4112 • www.vandenbussche.com • King City 1.866.703.5464 OGSA Research Project: Entomopathogenic nematodes as a pest management tool against insect pests on golf courses Louis Simard, M.Sc., biologist, agr., Ph.D. Candidate Dr. Julie Dionne, Ph.D., agr. Guy Belair, M.Sc., nematologist Universite Laval Director Green Section, Royal Canadian Golf Association, Agriculture and Agri- Food Canada in St-Jean-sur- Research assistant, Agriculture and Agri- Food Canada in Oakville, Ontario Richelieu, Quebec. St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. Adjunct professor, University of Guelph, Ontario and belairg@agr.gc.ca simardl@hotmail.com Universite Laval, Quebec. jdionne@rcga.org A two-year (2003-2004) research project on the use of objectives remain to be achieved: i-) evaluate the entomopathogenic nematodes to control turfgrass insect susceptibility index of the cutworm (Agrotis ipsilon) and pests on golf courses is now in progress. The study is the European cranefly (Tipula paludosa) to conducted with the collaboration of the Ontario Golf entomopathogenic nematodes under experimental Superintendents’ Association (OGSA) at the Centre de conditions, ii-) determine the efficiency of recherche et de developpement en horticulture of entomopathogenic nematodes to control these insect Agriculture and Agri- Food Canada in St-Jean-sur- pests on golf courses, iii-) and make an inventory of Richelieu. Several golf courses across Ontario and entomopathogenic nematodes naturally present on golf Quebec are participating in this project. Three major courses across Ontario and Quebec (Table 1). Table 1. Golf courses surveyed for entomopathogenic nematodes naturally present in 2003. Golf courses in Ontario Golf courses in Quebec Galt Country Club Cambridge Club de golf du Bic Bic Blue Mountain Golf & CC Collingwood Golf Royal Charbourg Charlesbourg Taboo Golf Club Gravenhurst Club de golf de Chicoutimi Chicoutimi Big Bay Pointe Golf & CC Innisfil Whitlock Golf & CC Hudson The Briars Golf Club Jackson’s Point Club de golf St-Raphael Ile Bizard Westmount Golf & CC Kitchener Club de golf Islemere Laval Erie Shores Golf&CC Leamington Club de golf de Levis Levis Lakeview Golf Course Mississauga Club de golf Parcours du cerf Longueuil Niagara-on-the-lake Golf Course Niagara-on-the-lake Club de golf Louiseville Louiseville Peterborough Golf & CC Peterborough Hillsdale Golf & CC Mirabel Picton Golf&CC Picton Golf le Chateau Montebello Montebello Muskoka Lakes Golf & CC Port Carling Club de golf Piedmont Piedmont Jewel of the North Golf Resort Redbridge Club de golf Sherbrooke Sherbrooke Renfrew Golf Club Renfrew Club de golf de St-Hyacinthe St-Hyacinthe Diamondback Golf Club Richmond Hill Club de golf La Providence St-Hyacinthe St. Thomas Golf&CC St-Thomas Golf St-Janvier St-Janvier Rosedale Golf Club Toronto CC de Montreal St-Lambert Hunters Pointe Golf Course Welland Club de golf Montcalm St-Liguori Weston Golf & CC Weston Golf St-Michel St-Michel Nu-Gro Corporation Brett Murray John Bladon Technical Sales IPM Coordinator / Technical Sales Maple Turf Supply 8112 King Rd. W. Business: (905) 857-2000 Tel: 519.757.0077 P.O. Box 370 Fax: (905) 857-8215 Cell: 519.574.2013 Bolton, Ontario Mobile: (416) 580-8112 jbladon@nu-gro.ca L7E 5T3 1-800-268-4425 Already some results! Laboratory and field tests were first performed on In addition, the inventory made across golf courses cranefly larvae. This emerging turfgrass insect pest is across Ontario and Quebec in summer 2003 has allowed widely spread on golf courses across Ontario and Quebec. us to identify native entomopathogenic nematode species. The virulence of four entomopathogenic nematode We thus discovered nematode species and strains with species (Heterorhabditis marelatus, H. megidis, greater virulence than the one actually available on the Steinernema carpocapsae and S. feltiae) was tested against market and better suited to environmental conditions cranefly larvae (Table 2). Results show an interesting prevailing on our golf courses. potential with the S. feltiae nematode, which has proven efficient against diptera larvae, an insect belonging to the What’s next? same order as the cranefly. This summer, nematodes will be applied on golf courses as part of a management program against two turfgrass Table 2. Virulence of nematodes against the European insect pests: the cutworm and the cranefly. In addition, cranefly (Tipula paludosa) laboratory tests will continue, namely to evaluate the potential of the new nematode strains identified on your golf courses in summer 2003. Results from this research Nematodes European Cranefly European ranefly a C project on the development of new integrated pest LC50b IJs/hac management tools will be released, as the project will be completed. Heterorhabditis megidis 562 b 4,47 Heterorhabditis marelatus 763 b 6,07 Steinernema carpocapsae 3584 c 28,51 Acknowledgements Steinernema feltiae 153 a 1,22 The authors are very grateful to Yvon Fournier and Nathalie Dauphinais M.Sc., and all participating golf a: fourth instar larvae; b: lethal concentration to kill 50% course superintendents, for their technical support in the of population, CL50 with the same letter are not realization of this research project. This study was made significantly different based upon their confidence possible through the financial support from the Ontario intervals 95%; c: Amount (billion) of entomopathogenic Golf Superintendents’ Association and Agriculture and nematodes (IJs) to apply per hectare based on the CL50 Agri-Food Canada. value. 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 Mechanic's corner by Larry A. Murray, President G.E.T.A.O. Equipment Manager, Pheasant Run Golf Course he mechanic’s tournament is being held at Silver assistant as an apprentice. When you contact the office, Lakes Golf and Country Club on September 9, 2004. At tell them you are interested in Trade Code 421C and after the time of writing this article, the registration was filling an interview and a few forms you will be ready to go. If you up fast and the support from the courses and suppliers is would like to know more, contact one of the association very commendable. On behalf of the association, I would board of directors and we will lead you in the right like to thank the O.G.S.A. for advertising the tournament direction. and supporting the prize table. I will inform everyone of the winners in the next issue. For information on the association and membership, The Board of Directors is pleased to report that the please contact me. Government of Ontario has given our application for Apprenticeship for the trade of Turf Equipment Larry A. Murray President G.E.T.A.O. Technician final approval. By simply contacting your local Equipment Manager Pheasant Run Golf Club Apprenticeship Office, you will be able to register your email l.a.murray@sympatico.ca www.getao.org 800S Series. Reliability. Durability. Performance. TURF CARE The 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 800S Series Golf Sprinklers Irrigation Sales Representative or Customer Service at 1-800-561-1432 Reliability. Durability. TURF CARE PRODUCTS CANADA Performance. Count on it. www.toro.com BEAUTIFUL TRUTH The truth is, you make this happen. We understand that beautiful turf doesn't come easily and you don't get any second chances. ProTurf shares in your relentless pursuit of perfection. We promise you our best every time. Proud supplier of quality products including Contec™, Poly-S™, FFII™, and K-O-G™. ProTurf Dave Dick (905) 846-3319 serving you since 1977 Jeff McMaster 1 800 839-6526 serving you since 1980 Nu-Gro Corporation, 10 Craig Street, Brantford, ON N3R 7J1 ProTurf® is a registered trademark used under license from The Scotts Company. Spring Field Day Article & Photos by Dorothy Hills Sunny skies and warm hospitality greeted the 100 Rob Witherspoon, Director of the Guelph Turfgrass participants at the Cutten Club, in Guelph, Monday, June Institute, reminded and encouraged us to attend the 21st., for the Spring Field Day. Our host, Richard Creed, Annual GTI Research Field Day, held in August. Also, Dr. and his staff had the course in fine form for this annual Eric Lyons plans to begin his work at the University of event. After fresh coffee and muffins, golf course pro, Sean Guelph and the GTI early July, and is eager to meet and talk Murphy, signaled the start of our day with a blast from the with as many OGSA members as possible. first tee, and the competition for the coveted Clayton Switzer Dr. Clayton Switzer presented the “Clayton Switzer Trophy was underway. Trophy” to Scott Gardner, Superintendent at Echo Valley After a friendly competition on the course, members Golf Club, who was 1st low gross winner with a 70. The gathered to exchange golf stories over cocktails on the patio, remainder of the prizes were awarded and the day was followed by a buffet dinner in the Trophy Room. deemed a success. Once again, our Associate members While coffee and dessert were being served, Cathy Wright, donated to the prize table. Our thanks to Vanden Bussche of the Central Region Office, of the Ministry of Irrigation, Master’s Turf Supply, Universal Sand and Gravel, Environment addressed the group and answered questions Plant Products , Bayer Environmental Science and Cliffs about Pesticide Posting Regulations. Cathy’s full Tree Care Ltd., for your support. presentation will be printed in a future issue of Green is Our thanks to Superintendent, Richard Creed and his Beautiful. greens staff; Sean Murphy, Head Golf Professional; all the We look forward to this event each year to take a moment Pro Shop Staff; Breanne Bayne, Clubhouse Manager, and all to recognize our regular contributors to our magazine. the catering staff; at the Cutten Club, for a superb day. John Bladon, Editor, introduced our attending contributors, encouraging them to take a well deserved bow. Although everyone left a winner, the prizes went to: Superintendents 1st Low Gross Scott Gardner 70 2nd Low Gross Dave Svab 77 3rd Low Gross Chris Andrejicka 78 1st Low Net Rhod Trainor 66 2nd Low Net James White 68 3rd Low Net Rob Ackermann 70 empty table cell Closest to the Hole #17 Scott Gardner Longest Drive #4 Mark Pickering empty table cell empty table cell Straightest Drive #10 Sean Lavin (any player) Assistants, Associates and Guest 1st Low Gross Dave Schmelefske 72 2nd Low Gross Kevin Holmes 73 3rd Low Gross Jason Ireton 74 1st. Low Net Ken Graham 65 2nd Low Net Ken Cousineau 66 3rd Low Net Tom Brain 67 empty table cell Closest to the Hole #3 Tim Steen Longest Drive #15 Brian Rosenberg empty table cell Clayton Switzer presenting the trophy to Sott Gardner, Superintendent at Echo Valley Member profile Interview with Onorino John Piccolo ( OJ ) Superintendent of St. Catharines Golf Course by Angelo Cabannelli, Hutcheson Sand and Mixes OJ came to Canada on April 2nd, 1956 from earning $2.00 / hour but it felt like a lot less since 1963, a WOGSA member since 1957, a Italy on the request of his older brother with all of the time he had to put in to look CGSA member since 1967 and a GCSAA Vince, who was living in Hamilton, Ontario at after all of these things. In comparison his member since 1970. the time. He landed in Halifax as a landed staff members were earning $1.35/ hour. As a manager, to maintain a relationship immigrant and very soon after that he found Lorraine, his wife declared herself a grass with his staff and maximize productivity, OJ himself living with his brother in Hamilton. widow but with four kids and a mortgage he feels the following are key: hands on OJ was a qualified and apprenticed carpenter had no inclination to complain. experience, lead by example, good and was hoping to find work in this field, as The first thing he would do every morning communication and make sure your staff is his brother did. He had no formal education is arrive at work before everyone else to shout aware of what is going on. in the golf industry, but as luck had it, he out duties for the day. This was back then. Fondest memory on the course? Almost found work on the greens of Burlington Golf Now there is scheduling and computers to do drove over an old greens chairman and a & Country Club, in April of 1956. John’s all of these things for us. significant other having a little fun in the brother Vince was the assistant at Burlington OJ feels his greatest accomplishment is 41 middle of a fairway, while night watering. Let when he was working there and John really years at the same club. In that time span us say they were not standing up. Another followed in his footsteps, and never looked there have been 4 golf pros, 16 general fond memory along the same line.. ..Turning back. managers, 25 different board of directors and a sprinkler on a young couple who were By January 15,1957, after being in Canada 22 greens chairmen. As well as the complete curled up in a sleeping bag on the 13th tee. for less than 1 year, OJ was the Assistant renovation of the golf course. It’s the same With the 1 minute delays of systems of old Superintendent at Glendale Golf & Country piece of land, totally different golf course. there was time for John to turn on the Club, under the careful eye and scrutiny of Over the years his biggest influence has sprinkler come out of the pumphouse and Ray Cole. Ray went on to be the been Lou Cole at Glendale Golf & Country take his position to watch the couple run bare superintendent of Glendale for 15 years but Club, Nicol Thompson at St. Catharines Golf butt down the fairway leaving the safety of OJ managed to move on. Course and Bill Glashan of Whirlpool Golf their sleeping bag behind. In November 1962 (the interviewer was 1 Club. With Billy it was the regular lunches To get his mind off of the course and work, month old) ‘John” was hired, by Jack that they would have to discuss their issues. he goes home to have a couple of beers and Windsor to help build a golf course in Billy would rely on OJ for his practical comes back to work a little calmer. Flamborough. Now it is Flamborough Hills approach to things and OJ would lean toward John has been married to Lorraine since Golf Club. They opened the first 9 holes in the technical expertise that Bill had April 20, 1963. They have 4 children and 7 June of 1963 and the second nine was developed from attending Penn State grandchildren. Their son, Dennis, is the opened one month later. John recalls that University. It’s been a partnership/ assistant superintendent at St. Catharines, at they sodded the greens to Penncross and they friendship that has lasted 30 years. present. Lorraine helped OJ in the earlier had Merion Bluegrass on the tees. Fairways When asked for some words to live by, he days writing reports, keeping records and were untouched and basicallyjust mowed hay was quick to reply, “Troubles you leave are the making sure that the house remained stable fields. troubles you will find”, and “The grass is not and calm so that he could go to work and On November 19,1963John started at the always greener on the other side of the focus on work. It was tough on his wife with St. Catharines Golf 8c Curling Club, as the fence”. 4 children in 5 years. superintendent and ice maker. For the first John feels that it is extremely important to When asked where he liked to travel on 10 years he had these responsibilities as well belong to an association. It is important to vacation, he responded, “Canada and the US as the swimming pool and overall socialize with your peers and colleagues are preferred”. “A vacation is what you make; maintenance of the clubhouse. “You had to because problems are solved outside of the it’s not where you go.” do it all”, recalls John. In those days he was classroom. He has been an OGSA member "In the Hot Seat" • Favourite Major? Masters • Best piece of turf equipment: Light weight mowers on fairways • Favourite designer: Stanley Thompson • Ultimate foursome: Lee Trevino, Tiger Woods, John Daly ( he likes to have fun ) • Lowest round ever: 76 at Beechwood Golf Club, Niagara Falls, Ontario • Stanley Cup winner: Buffalo Sabres ????? • Favourite movie: The Godfather • Favourite meal: ALL of them. • Favourite course played outside Canada: Pebble Beach • What’s in your CD player right now: Country western music. • Rate your lawn on a scale of 1 - 10: 1 ( worst) no water, big size lawn • What would you envision yourself doing if you weren’t in the industry: Self employed carpenter Golf course highlight Westmount Golf & Country Club 50 Inverness Drive, Kitchener ON N2M 4Z9 Website: www.westmountgolf.com Golf Course Superintendent: Cory Janzen COURSE PROFILE What county is your club located in? What major tournaments have been held 1 set of vibratory rollers for triplex Region of Waterloo there? 1 Smithco Sidewinder Tournament roller 1957 Canadian Open, 1969 Canadian 1956 John Deere bulldozer Is your club private, semi private, public, resort or Amateur, 1978 CPGA Championship, 1 Foley spin/relief grinder municipal? 1990 LPGA DuMaurier Classic Private, with 800 members 1 Foley bedknife grinder What is the size of your maintenance shop? 2 three-point hitch leaf blowers Typical number of rounds 10,000 square feet 1 Vicon 3 point hitch fertilizer spreader with ~30,000 rounds per year computer What type of irrigation system? 1 Spyker Cushman mount electric fertilizer Typical opening and closing date Rainbird Cirrus 2 years old spreader Mid April, close first Monday in November 4 Stihl line trimmers What is the size of greens, tees & fairways? 2 Flymo hover mowers How long have you been a superintendent? 2.5 acres of greens 2 MTD pushmowers 5 years 2 acres of tees 1 Red Max reciprocating edger 25 acres of fairways 1 Viking land leveler List other accomplishments BSc. (Agr.), OTRF Board of Directors 2000 What is your predominant grass? COURSE PROJECTS to present Poa/Bent What projects have you recently completed? How long have you been an O.G.S.A. member? How many USGA and loam greens? New irrigation system, pond and 10 years 2 UGSA and 17 Pushup pumphouse, several new cart paths and How many staff? tee decks, new aggregate storage area. What is the predominant soil type? 6 year round and 17 seasonal staff Variable - peat, loam and clay LONG RANGE PLANS How many assistants and mechanics? What equipment do you have in inventory? What long range plans for renovation do you 1st Assistant: Jeremy Krueger 12 Jacobsen PGM 22” walkers have in the next five years? Mechanics: Clint Smith and Dale Romahn 2 Toro 1600 26” Walkers Master plan with Doug Carrick which 6 Jacobsen GK IV Triplex Mowers will include several rebuilt greens and How many gardening staff? 2 Jacobsen LF100 fairway units 1 full time: Brent Tremain plus part-time help. tees, new bunkers, new practice facility, 2 Jacobsen 3400 fairway units the addition of a 19th hole and several new 2 Ransomes AR250 Rough Mowers cart paths. COURSE STATISTICS 1 Ransomes AR2500 Rough Mower Drainage master plan with Kelly-Ami to How many holes? 1 Ransomes 728 Outfront Rotary address issues on 11 holes. 18 1 Aerway slit tine aerator 1 Verti-Drain CHALLENGES What is the yardage from back and forward tees? 1 Hydroject 6,943 yards from the back tees and 4 Ryan Greensaire walker aerators Are there any particular challenges you face 5,472 yards from the front tees 1 MC15 3-point hitch aerator with your property? 1 Charterhouse Rapidcore 3-point hitch Heavily shaded and poorly drained. What is the size of driving range and range tee? aerator 1 acre of tee area and 20 acres of range 1 Cushman core harvester SUCCESS STORIES 7 Cushman trucksters How many bunkers? Do you have any success stories? 2 Jac Hauler electric work carts 53 New irrigation system has dramatically 1 Cushman truckster with Turfco Widespin improved the conditioning of the golf 1530 topdresser How many times does water come into play? course. Foliar applied nutrient to greens 2 ponds come into play once 1 Ty-Crop MH-400 topdresser and fairways have allowed for more 1 Kubota M4900 Tractor with cab & loader consistency and controlled growth. Who was the original architect? 1 Kubota L4200 Tractor with cab Stanley Thompson 1 Yanmar YFL 1575 Tractor and loader Please list any innovative cultural practices 2 hydraulic dump wagons with enclosures you may perform. What was the year of original construction? 1 Case 75XT skid steer with attachments Started the monitoring of canopy 1930 1 Vermeer wood chipper temperatures under solid plastic covers all 1 Smithco Trap Rake winter long to help determine By whom and when was the course remodeled? 1 Cushman Spraytek DS 300 sprayer with mechanisms of winter kill and to aid in Robbie Robinson in late 1950’s, Tom Raven Controls timing of cover removal. McBroom in the ‘80s and now Doug Carrick. 1 Toro 150 gl sprayer with Raven Controls The 36th Annual Presidents' Day Submitted by Jeff Alexander Director of Golf & Events Photos taken by Jennifer Pendrith his year’s Presidents’ Day was hosted by Westmount Golf and Country Club, a 160-acre private course located in a prestigious area of Kitchener-Waterloo. This Stanley Thompson gem was started in 1929 and open for play in 1931. Westmount boasts a beautifully maintained championship level 18-hole golf course, which over the years has hosted numerous golf tournaments including: a Canadian Open, LPGA du Maurier and several Amateur events. Showcase they did! The Westmount staff should be congratulated for creating such a lovely day for all competitors. Cory Janzen, Golf Course Superintendent and his staff worked diligently to prepare for this event, despite uncertain weather leading up to the day. The golf course property was in magnificent condition and I can see why it is voted in the top 25 best courses in Canada. Well done! After golf all teams enjoyed a wonderful 5-course meal in the This day is the OGSA’s most popular and prestigious event of main dining room. Thank you to Clubhouse Manager, Glenn the year. It is to promote camaraderie, meet new golf clubs and Williams, Jennifer McDermott, Catering Coordinator and their enjoy friendly competition between the respective golf club food and beverage staff. teams. It is also a day for the host golf club to showcase their After dinner, the President of Westmont, Audrey Cook gave the club to all fellow Presidents, Greens Directors, Directors and official welcoming followed by a few words from OGSA Superintendents. President, Rob Ackermann. All scoring/pari-mutuels were tabulated and scores posted at Special thank you to Dorothy Hills and her staff at OGSA office the clubhouse. Thank you to Rob Strahan, Golf Professional for again making our events run so smoothly! and his staff for being so organized and a pleasure to work Also thank you to fellow OGSA Director Chris Andrejicka for with. his help in organizing the day and Paul Scenna for organizing Team Donalda Club successfully defended the William the pari-mutuel table. Sansom Trophy to win the 2004 Presidents’ Day, firing a 131 using a four person team progressive net best ball. Congratulations Donalda. Hope everyone had a great day! The winning Donalda Team with Cory Janzen and assistant Cory Janzen accepting Host Plaque from Jeff Alexander Jeremy Krueger Rob Ackerman, OGSA President Audrey Cook, Westmount G&CC President Congratulations to all our winners! First Place Winning Team 2nd year in a row Fourth Place Winning Team Longest Drive #73 (Men) Donalda Golf Club - score 131 Muskoka Lakes Golf 8c Country Club - Mike Garvey Superintendent: Paul Scenna score 138R Owen Sound Directors: Hart Sernick, Mike Superintendent: Jim Flett O’Connell and Bryan Sparks Directors: Geoff Browne, Peter Hand Closest to the Hole #3 (Team) and Bill Wight Mississaugua Golf 8c Country Club Second Place Winning Team Chris Osbourne Credit Valley Golf Club - score 135 Fifth Place Winning Team Closest to the Hole #6 (Team) Superintendent: Jeff Stauffer Dalewood Golf 8c Curling Club - Thornhill Golf 8c Country Club Directors: Bryan Coleman, John Score 139 David Bell McCann and Terry Garbutt Superintendent: Trevor Clapperton Directors: Bob Keller, Jim Pybus and Closest to the Hole #12 Third Place Winning Team Richard Moore Norma Straub Westmount Golf & Country Club - Thornhill Golf 8c Country Club score 138R Longest Drive #2 (Ladies) Superintendent: Cory Janzen Anita Hancock Closest to the Hole #17 (Men) Directors: Audrey Cook, Dave Lowville Golf Club Warren Bamber Sandrock and Bob Fleischauer Beverly Golf 8c Country Club Reflections of Summer Photo taken by David DeCorso Superintendent, Victoria Park Golf Club East • A possible candidate for the Green is Beautiful Photo of the Year competition. empty table cellSMITHCO The New Sweep-star V62 Sweep-star V62 Competition Engine Liquid cooled - smoother, quieter, longer Air cooled, noisier, engine life, easier to service shorter life Hopper 4 plus cubic yards 3 plus cubic yards Clutch Electric-quiet operation when vacuum disengaged-easy cold starting No vacuum disengagement Tires 13" wide Fairway type tires - softer footprint 10” wide turf tires Controls User friendly controls within driver's reach Driver must dismount to start/set speed Hitch 5th wheel or standard tractor hitch Tractor hitch only Heavier, more-rugged construction Quieter operation. Easier dumping and clean-up 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 IN MEMORIUM Dr. George W. Hamilton, Jr. passed away on Friday evening, July 9, 2004, after a year-long battle with cancer. A memorial service was held , July 17, 2004, 3:00 pm, at the St. Paul’s Can Construction Damage United Methodist Church in State College, PA. to Trees be Prevented? Yes, many existing trees can be saved! The key is to plan ahead. OUR ARBORIST WILL: George had been involved in Penn State’s turfgrass program since • Review construction plans and 1982, serving successively as Research Technologist, Instructor, make suggestions • Prepare trees for the construction phase Senior Lecturer, and Assistant Professor. He received his B.S. • Develop a post-construction degree in 1983, and completed his M.S. requirements and received maintenance program Don’t entrust your tree to anyone but experts - his M.S. degree in 1990. In December of 2001, he completed his Bartlett Tree Experts- naturally! Ph.D. working in Turfgrass Stress Physiology. George was the Toronto • (416) 657-2059 Bracebridge • (705) 646-8733 technical advisor for the Two-Year Golf Course Turfgrass Gravenhurst • (705) 687-0696 Huntsville • (705) 789-0929 Management Technical Program and taught courses in cultural www.bartlett.com BACKED BY THE BARTLETT TREE RESEARCH turfgrass management and golf course specifications, construction, LABORATORIES AND EXPERIMENTAL GROUNDS, CHARLOTTE, NC and renovation. George’s other responsibilities included coordinating the turfgrass research facilities, and serving as the advisor to the Penn State Turfgrass Club. He also conducted SPECIALIZING IN PESTICIDE EDUCATION & SERVICE TECHNOLOGY research in turfgrass management and developed new technologies for the turfgrass industry, including products such as PennMulch. LAND EXTERMINATOR (LANDSCAPE CATEGORY) PESTICIDE CERTIFICATION COURSES George’s positive outlook, innovation, and commitment to students December................... 6 -10, 2004 and the turfgrass industry will be greatly missed. He was a great man February.......................... 7 - 11, 2005 that did great things in a short period of time. March (London).............. 7 - 11, 2005 March.......................... 14 -18, 2005 March (Ottawa)............. 21 -25, 2005 April................................. 4 - 8, 2005 WATER EXTERMINATOR (MOSQUITO/BITING FLY) December................... 13 -17, 2004 February...................... 21 -25, 2005 All courses held in North York except where noted Gov't exam held on Monday following each course. Instructor: Paul G. Pilley, B.Sc., M. P. M. RADEFF ARCHITECT LTD. For more information and a brochure contact: CLUBHOUSE, MAINTENANCE AND CART FACI.ITEIES ARCHITECTURE, INTERIORS AND SITE PLANNING 244 Glenforest Road, Toronto, Ontario, M4N 2A4, Tel: 416.481.4087; Fax: 416.481.6719, E-Mail: radeff@idirect.com P.O. Box 1021 Lindsay, Ontario K9V 5N4 E-mail: ppilley@cogeco.ca Tel: (705) 324-PEST (7378) Fax: (705) 324-9729 Don't Forget to Register for the Alex McClumpha Memorial Tournament To be Held Tuesday, October 5th, 2004 It promises to be a great day at Muskoka Lakes Golf & Country Club For full details go to www.golfsupers.on.ca > Calendar of Events > McClumpha David C. Smith, A.Ag., C.G.C.S. 185 Oriole Crescent Soil & Turfgrass Consultant Gravenhurst, Ontario P1P1C6 Office (705) 687-SOIL (7645) Fax (705) 687-3518 Toll Free 1-888-607-TURF Cell (905) 512-6004 Email dcs.agronomic.services@sympatico.ca www.stabilizednitrogen.com Totally Contained Equipment You'll really love what it can do for your course Simple Maximum Performance, Optimum Results • Long-lasting colour without excessive growth Reliable Maximum Nitrogen Efficiency Dependable • Reduce nitrogen losses from volatilization, leaching and denitrification We can help you Maximum Versatility • Works as a granular nitrogen for use in Reduces Water Consumption become compliant blends or as a soluble nitrogen Eliminates Water Pollution with the Fisheries Act R.S. 1985 c.F-14 water quality regulations Closed Loop EnvironmentalCenters Closed Loop Equipment Washing Rinsate Spill Management Systems Chemical Storage Buildings Corporate Offices For More Information Call: 2140 NE 36th Avenue Ontario and Western Canada: 1-800-265-8865 Ocala, Florida 33470 USA Eastern Canada: 1-800-561-7449 800-277-3279 www.waste2water.com Ask about other Nutrite products Kawartha Golf Club... after the flood Peterborough, Ontario Photos by Jennifer Pendrith, Superintendent Article to come in future issue. Still Spilling hydraulic oil on your greens? Switch to: No Burn EnBio Turf Care hydraulic fluid Benefits include * Will not kill gross * Lasts 2-3 times longer than vegetable hydraulic fluid * Terra Choice Ecologo Environmental approval (Better than "friendly") * Lower operating temperature * Outstanding Anti-Wear performance * High V.l. = used over a wide temperature range Still skeptical? Read this rave review from a superintendent from a prominent Canadian golf course! Manufactured by: Forsythe Lubrication (est. 1911) Hamilton, ON (P) 905-525-7192 WWW.FORYTHE.ON.CA Contact: Ron Arbour rarbour@forsythe.on.ca Ontario Distributer: Advantage Specialties 613-475-4572 June 11, 2004 Dear Ron, We have been using your product for two years and have had no problems with the hydraulic system on any machine. This spring on our first cut on the approach to number one green, a hydraulic line broke and fluid leaked all the way across the front of the green. We did not have the irrigation on at that time and so we filled the sprayer and used the hand hose to flush the area thoroughly. We were amazed that there was no hint a leak had occurred. It was amazing. We highly recommend your hydraulic “oil” as a way to avoid hydraulic oil damage. Sincerely, Robbie Robinson Hidden Lake Golf Club Superintendent 1137 No. 1 Sideroad, Burlington, Ontario Canada. L7R 3X4 Phone: 905-336-3660 or Toronto 905-338-4875 Fax 905-336-7044 www.hiddenlakegolf.com ANNOUNCES THE INAUGURAL OGSA /CGSA JOINT CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL TURFGRASS CONFERENCE AND TRADE SHOW January 7th — 11th, 2005 Metro Toronto Convention Centre MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND REGISTER NOW Updates will be posted to our web site www.qolfsupers.on.ca as information becomes available. On the road again by Kevin Falls Engage Agro Corporation he daily checklist for a travelling reservoir for all of the ‘stuff’ that vehicle that can be used to collect turfgrass sales rep must only include comes with our job. In our 7x5 foot garbage. the essentials because our cars mobile workspace we must cram this I find that the areas where become the all in one workplace on year’s technical literature and passengers are supposed to place wheels. It’s our personal and promotional items in half broken their feet are particularly good space portable office, lunchroom, cardboard boxes in and around our for collecting old water bottles and boardroom, supply cupboard, and golf clubs. If we were smart we would fast food bags. In fact, I use this as a teleconferencing centre all in one. combine our 3 half empty boxes of meter stick as to when I should clean We of course need our cellular extra small golf shirts into one highly my car out. We all know when the phones, palm pilots, business card efficient system. We would catalogue area behind the front seat becomes holders, water bottles and snacks for and systematize these items better by level with the back seat then that’s a 9 and 2 (balancing carbs and simply installing a chest of drawers to good indicator that it’s time to pull protein) and last but not least our aid us in our proficiency. Just think over and clean out the car. We don’t mileage logs with the pen attached. about it, our whole back seat could want anything to drag on our Without these essentials we are be converted into a walk in closet efficiency. So, sales reps, it’s time to bound to be less efficient for the daily with room for all of our ‘stuff’. bring order to our workspace and chores. Again, to be honest, just like our install an airtight trash compactor in Now lets get real, all of these closets at home, there is always a place of that sad mini plastic bag that essentials actually aid us in breakdown in the system... when the overflows while swinging from the scheduling appointments around our doors are shut everything looks dashboard. golf games. We use our cell phones organized, but we all know that when Let’s get real travelling sales to line up our next game; the palm you open the door it looks like a people, no one comes in at night to pilot’s role is to record the date of tornado hit. Promotional items clean our office....we must take our next tee time and the water and and technical literature may take up matters into our own hands and be snacks we bring are to keep us strong a lot of room but they are far from proactive and creative in managing on the back nine. And let’s not being the most unorganized part of our office space. Let’s think outside forget that mileage log with the pen the back seat. At this point I offer the the box...as more and more attached - used of course to track the concept that for a sales rep any space professionals are upgrading their distance between our rounds - I mean other than where he or she steers the offices, so should we. We must appointments. ship is fair game for temporary continue and improve our office After finding homes for all the storage. How does a sales rep define efficiency, so that we too can leave technical essentials of the job, golf temporary storage? May I suggest the early for the day to play a round of clubs included, the back seat or following: Temporary Storage adj. golf. extended cab must also act as a n: 1. is any free space in a sales rep’s 154 Upper Centennial Parkway (HWY 20) Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada L8J 217 Telephone 905-662-2663 • Fax 905-662-2253 SUPPLIERS OF TOP QUALITY CAN-LISA1-800-263-8606 BENT, BLUE AND FESCUE GRASSES WITHOUT NETTING Express Dual & AngleMaster (416) 364-5700 Reel Mower TOLL FREE: 1-877-727-2100 Sharpeners www.zandersod.com Plant Products 5th Annual Baseball Tournament by Scott Horsburgh The 5fh annual Plant Products Baseball Tournament fatigue and the long day, both teams played their hearts was held Saturday July 10th at Turner Park in Hamilton. out in the championship game, but it was Rosedale that Thirty-nine teams, spread out over twelve diamonds, hoisted the trophy after a 16 - 4 win. provided several rounds of competitive and entertaining slow-pitch action. Plant Products would like to thank its employees and volunteers who ensured the day ran smoothly. A big thank you goes to all of the tournament sponsors, without whom this day would not have been possible: Bayer Environmental, BASF, Engage Agro, Emerald Isle, Aquatrols, Lebanon, and Plant Science. Skyway Equipment provided golf carts, and Burlington Golf 8c Country Club contributed radios. Finally, a heartfelt thank you is extended to all the participants for their competitive play, camaraderie, and sportsmanship. Congratulations to Rosedale, the 2004 champions! Let’s have as much fun next year! The Champs with Kerry Whale Round robin play began at 9 a.m., under promising sunny skies, and continued well into a humid evening. At the end of round robin play, sixteen teams advanced to single-game elimination matches. Qualifying for the semi­ finals were St. George’s Golf 8c Country Club, Willow Valley Golf Course, Toronto Golf Club, and Rosedale Golf Club. St George’s prevailed over Willow Valley in a well- played contest. Rosedale emerged victorious over Toronto, the five-time defending champion. Despite Dave Dick Jeff McMaster Turfgrass Specialist Turfgrass Specialist 39 Monte Vista Trail 1864 Bowler Drive Brampton, Ont. L6Z 2J7 Pickering, Ont. L1V 3E4 18-1290 Speers Road, Oakville, Ontario, L6L 2X4 Fax & Phone 905-846-3319 Fax & Phone 905-839-6526 email: ddick.proturf@sympatico.ca email: proturf@sympatico.ca Toll Free 1-888-222-6676 Fax (905) 825-8139 email; paulp@pumptronics.ca www.pumptronics.ca - Natural solution for insects,fungus and weeds problems Simon George - HARMONY homogenous organic fertilizer - Synthetic fertilizer ( homogenous or blend ) Technical Sales - Liquid and water soluble fertilizer - Turf and wildflowers seeds Maple Turf Supply Business: (905) 857-2000 - Golf accessories 8112 King Rd. W. Fax: (905) 857-8215 - Top quality tires,tines,blades,reels and bedknifes P.O. Box 370 Mobile: (519) 841-5578 - Sprayers,sprinklers and spreaders Bolton, Ontario 1-800-268-4425 - Safety supplies L7E 5T3 sg142@hotmail.com Do your best shot, call for a submission. Phone: 1-888-831-1085 • Fax: 1-888-836-1915 • e-mail: gosselin@fertilec.com What's new Ontario Golf Superintendents’ Association Call for Nominations for 2004 2nd Annual “William Sansom” THE STORK HAS LANDED Distinguished Service Award” This summer has been a busy time for some of our members, not only Deadline Friday, October 1, 2004 in the turf business but also in the The nomination form can also be printed from our diaper business. OGSA congratulations on the arrival of web site: www.golfsupers.on.ca > Members Only > their new bundle ofjoy go out to: Scholarships > William Sansom Award Mark Prieur at Markland Wood Country Club Phil Scully at Granite Golf Club Important Notice Doug Hubble at Nu-Gro Corporation It looks like we’ll have some new candidates for our OGSA Membership Invoices will be mailed out the first Heritage award in a few years. week in September, although they will be dated October 1st and the due date will by October 31, 2004. This will give you plenty of notice and time to get them into your club offices to ensure payment before the deadline date. Reminder Our business is membership service. Our mandate is “To All active AA, A, B and C class members must Provide Service Beyond Your Expectations”. Help us to do provide the OGSA office with an actual this by paying your membership dues on time. photo copy of their valid Ontario Pesticide Licence. If you have not already sent yours in, please do Please notify the office immediately if you have any so asap or phone the office to eplain why this cannot be changes at all to your membership profile (ie. club done. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our change, home address change, email, class change etc). records up-to-date. TIRED OF OPENING MAIL? Did you know that the OGSA can send out all OGSA joins Syngenta’s GreenPartnersProgram information and notices to you be EMAIL? About half of our members receive info and Syngenta is delighted to welcome OGSA as its newest updates sent straight to their ‘inbox’. It’s fast and includes some info that can only be sent out be association member in GreenPartners, a loyalty program that email, such as some employment advertisements rewards golf superintendents with points for purchases of (due to time restrictions). Syngenta Professional Golf Products. Golf Superintendents who are members of the GreenPartners program can now So don’t miss out - call the office at toll donate their points to the OGSA, for the good of the free 1-877-824-6472 or email us at Association in helping to meet it’s critical needs. As an added ogsa@gti.uoguelph.ca and let us know that you benefit, donations from superintendents to the OGSA will be want your information Sooner than Later. matched by Syngenta. If you are not currently a GreenPartners member, please log on to www.greenpartnersonline.ca to If you require hard copies of some things, we can register. We hope that everyone will participate and find out fax items to you on request. how rewarding GreenPartners can be for all of us. Off the fairway ... To Mulch or Not to Mulch Mulching is what we do to mimic mulch to further prevent weed invasion. The fabric is what happens on the forest floor made up of woven material that allows moisture, but not where, over time, plant litter light, to pass through it. In areas where the mulch is stone accumulates and gradually decays. and no growth is wanted, landscape fabric is a good idea. This mixture of dead and dying In every other case, however, fabric will prevent the spread organic material forms a soft cushion of many perennials and defeat the purpose of the garden. by Daisy Moore around plants and protects the roots Perennials that spread by underground rhizomes or tillers from weather extremes. The benefits of this natural are not able to colonize until they can grow on soil that process are enormous, including; the conservation of soil has collected above the fabric. Plants that rely on re­ moisture; the reduction of weeding; the moderation of seeding themselves into soil will be short lived when soil temperatures; and, when organic mulch is used, the growing under these conditions. Examples of colonizing addition of organic matter. In woodland gardens, this perennials are Bee Balm, Daylilies, Artemesia, Primrose process helps to make an ideal habitat for native woodland and Bell flower. Examples of desirable self seeding plants plants. are Black eyed Susan, Foxglove, Calendula, Hollyhock A natural soil profile, in our region, consists of a layer of and Lupins. All of these plants are useful work horses in mulch over a layer of topsoil over a layer of subsoil. As the garden. plants grow, the topsoil is used up but is then replenished There has been a recent surge in the amount of mulch by the decaying mulch. Mulch is continuously added used in our landscapes. In many cases mulch is used as an through leaf litter. alternative to a living ground cover: it’s cheaper than In cultivated gardens, at home or in public spaces, we plants and it keeps out weeds. It is now no longer a mulch tend to eliminate the natural mulch layer in preference but a static blanket of product. Make sure you like what for a cultivated and tidy appearance: weeding and you are looking at because it can become frightfully dull. cultivating both remove green matter and disrupt the soil In other cases mulch is used as a replacement for layer. We may then apply a “uniform” mulch to clarify the maintenance. New mulch is simply piled on each year, and differences in our plants or to show them off. Sometimes then you wonder why the plants don’t look so good, or this expands into an over use of mulch, where it looms wish you’d planted a few bulbs in there. larger than the living garden. There was a mulch element in many of the projects I Mulch can come in many different forms. Popular worked on this spring and early summer. Often, we products for mulching are shredded bark, evergreen removed heaps of the stuff by piling it elsewhere and needles, cocoa hulls, rotted manure, compost and stones. digging it in to the soil. Gardens were being choked to These are chosen mostly for their appearance. Bark mulch death with the stuff. Too much mulch can be detrimental now comes in several colours and please tell me you don’t to plant growth. Mulch acidifies the soil and not all plants like the red stuff! Baled Georgian Pine Straw is an enjoy acidic conditions. excellent mulch for beneath evergreen trees. It looks I like to use living mulch when I garden. This means natural and blends in well with the natural leaf and cone that the soil surface is protected and shaded by plant life. drop from the evergreens. Spring ephemerals, such as Plants overlap and form a community rather than the “bad Trilliums, Daffodils and Trout lily, can poke through. On party” appearance of tidy individuals separated by a safe the golf course, pine straw gives you a decent lie. distance of mulch. I mulch my plants with compost in the Other effective, but not so pretty, materials for mulching spring, in preparation of the summer, and in the fall to are straw, sawdust, wood chips, and lawn clippings. These protect plants through the winter. Mulch should rarely be products are not fully decomposed; as they decompose seen, but work as support staff to produce a beautiful they use up soil nitrogen. So, unless you add nitrogen garden. when you use these products, they will rob the soil of nitrogen and plants will turn yellow. Visit my website www.daisymoore.com for more tips on A landscape fabric is sometimes placed beneath the gardening. Turf or consequences by Doug Breen, Superintendent Golf North long with the rest of the Canadian golf world, I was glued be twice the area to my TV set last weekend to see the most recent version of the before the cheap / Canadian golf course rankings. It was quite enjoyable to see greedy members how the panel ranked some of the truly great courses from all sold off half the across this wide land of ours. Some of my favourites were on property for housing the list, some were not. Some were higher than I would have to keep their dues ranked them, some were lower. Some I have seen and played; low”? some have put rules in place to keep me out. But overall, it’s Now that I think about it, we should probably start a new quite pleasant to spend a couple of hours pouring over the category for the “Superintendent of the Year” award too. rankings, because my employment is not affected by the Instead of giving the award to a guy with twelve assistants, a results. For many people, this ranking costs them bonuses, spray tech, an irrigation tech, a horticulturist, a mechanic and pay raises, or even their jobs. This is unbelievably stupid. a budget the size of the Gross National Product of a couple There is always a disclaimer at the beginning of the TV third world countries, let’s give it to the poor superintendent show, and an even longer one at the beginning of the article who does all those jobs himself and still gets laid off every when they are published in the magazine - but like the health winter in order to keep the turf budget smaller than the Golf warnings on cigarettes, nobody pays attention. The Pro’s salary. disclaimer explains that it is a purely subjective list, that all So people, take the rankings as they were intended to be. It these courses are truly magnificent, that half the judges were was a couple of sports writers, over a couple of wobbly pops completely snapped by the sixth tee and so on. But I arguing about whose course was better. It just expanded into guarantee you, that at this exact second, there are a couple of this massive industry where people are now having their board members standing on a tee somewhere, discussing the career paths decided by a bunch ofjudges on a panel. If the need to fire their Superintendent because they fell a few spots ownership or membership of your course is taking the in the rankings. rankings any more seriously than the Stanley Cup predictions I have stated many times that I object generally to judged that are written by many of the same ink stained wretches, events. Period. And this is just another fine example. There then send them to me and I’ll give them a smack for not are lots of really cool things in this world that are fine knowing how good they have it. entertainment if left alone; but no, some massively insecure wanker in desperate search of validation, always has to bring in a judge to tell them that they are the best. I would like to blame women. The need forjudges in events that ought to just be spectacles, springs from the same insecurity that leads to the question, “Do I look fat in this dress?” But men are just as guilty. Take mogul skiing. Around the end of the last ice age, some Neanderthal noticed that he WELCOME TO EAST BEETLE SPIT could impress the softer, rounder Neanderthals by falling G&CC down a hill with style. A few flips, a couple of somersaults, land on your feet, and everybody hoots and claps. Along LOCAL RULES comes a few buddies, and everybody’s having a ball until some 1) BALLS HITTING HYDRO LINES, TOWERS, GUY WIRES OR POLES idiot says, “Hey, who’s flips are better, mine or his?” Ten ARE REPLAYED WITH NO PENALTY. 2) DO NOT ATTEMPT TO PLAY ACROSS THE PARKING LOT TO CUT thousand years later, it’s a world wide sport with endorsement THE CORNER ON THE #4 DOGLEG. deals - and judges. 3) TRAIN TRACKS ON #2,4,5,10,12 AND 16 ARE OUT OF BOUNDS. 4) WATCH FOR CARS BEFORE TEEING OFF ACROSS THE PROVIN­ Think of all the things that are really cool as long as you CIAL HIGHWAY ON #17. 5) PLEASE REFRAIN FROM CLIMBING DOWN INTO THE GORGE ON don’t get judges involved. Gymnastics is great as long as you #16 TO LOOK FOR BALLS. call it tumbling. Bring in a judge, and the corruption and 6) PLEASE DO NOT BOUNCE BALLS OFF OF THE JOHNSTON'S ROOF AND ONTO THE TWELFTH GREEN. back biting begins. Why do we judge parallel bars, but not 7) DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT GOING INTO THE JOHNSTON’S trapeze? Because there’s no insecure losers on a trapeze, BACK YARD. THEIR DOGS ATE A GUY. 8) ALL BOGS, SWAMPS, SINKHOLES, AND THE QUICKSAND ON #6 that’s why! ARE "ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREAS'. DO NOT AT­ TEMPT TO RECOVER YOUR BALL. (ESPECIALLY FROM THE QUICK­ If we do have to rank courses though, I think we need to SAND) open up a few more categories. Right now, there are only a 9) FREE LIFT FOR BALLS COMING TO REST AGAINST THE PULP AND PAPER MILL few courses with the history, budget, and exposure to have a serious shot at making the list. So I say, let’s start some new ENJOY YOUR DAY, ANO WATCH FOR SNAKES lists. How about, “Best course in a swamp”, “Best course with hydro lines running through it” or, “Best course that used to Looking back 20 YEARS AGO TO-DAY by Barry Endicott 1984 the board of directors of the OGSA were as follows: Al In was held at Sawmill Golf Club hosted by George Julie. The Galt Field Draper (president), Greenhills; Hugh Kirkpatrick (vice), Westmount; Day was once again held at the Galt Country Club, hosted by Paul Rusty Warkman (past pres.), Oshawa; Bob Kennedy, Garden City; Scenna. Al Draper presented a cheque to Paul Dermott, president of Barry Endicott (newsletter editor), Chinguacousy; Bill Fach, Essex; the OTRF for $1,000. Neil Acton was presented with a plaque for Gordon Nimmo, Sarnia; Scott Dodson, Chedoke; Thom Charters, becoming a Certified Golf Superintendent of the GCSAA and Rick Islington; Shorty Jenkins, Bay of Quinte and Gordon Witteveen, Board Zeigel was presented with a scholarship for the Turf Managers Short of Trade. 1984 was the 60th anniversary of the OGSA and Jackie Course, presented by Jack Webb, president of the OGA. Dean Dermott was office secretary. McEwen presented the Clayton Switzer trophy to Keith Nisbet and Bill New members: John Schaller Jr., CFB Trenton (F); David Plant, St. Hynd for their best net aggregates. Other winners were, 1st low gross George’s (F); Daniel Walton, Seaton (F); Greg O’Heron, Board of Bruce Burger (74), and 2nd low gross Hugh Kirkpatrick (74). Trade (F); Terry Heatherington, Hidden Lakes (F); Dan McNeil, Ab Reeve passed away on December 3rd 1984. Ab was a charter Greenhills (F); George Dzvirka, Orchard View (B); Carol Edwards, member of the CGSA and he retired in November 1982 after 20 years Penryn Park (B); Peter Horrill, Southbrook (B); Rick Serrao, Glen as superintendent at the Whitevale Golf Club. After retiring he worked Cedars (B); James Teeter, Wyldewood (F); James Burlington, Indian at the Seaton Golf Club until his death. Creek (B); Bill Neff, Indian Creek (DD); Nigel Rennie, Unionville The Georgian Bay Superintendents Association was in full swing Fairways (A); John Hughes, Horseshoe Valley (A); James Hosick, with tournaments at Brooklea, Neil Acton, Midland, Alex LaBelle, North Bay (B); Chris Galbraith, Bayview Golf Centre (B); Blair Smith, Royal Downs, Stew Picken, Barrie, Ed Doda, Blue Mountain, Kim Bancroft (A); Peter Kuzmivh, Trenton Heather (A); Joe Kenny, Hanley and Borden, Ray Richards. Ray Richards was the president Oaklands (A); Daniel Yake, Pine Lake (F); Kelly Barnett, Baldoon (B); and Alex LaBelle was the secretary. Jed Mathews, Royal Downs (B); John Herman, North Frontenac (B) The Superintendent/Pro Tournament was held at the Aurora and Richard Butler, Idylwyde (B). Highlands hosted by Paul Dodson on July 3rd. Low gross team was Gordon Witteveen was the Score Magazine Award Winner as the John Davis (pro) and Steve Miller (super) with 151. 1984 Top Canadian Superintendent. Dr. Clayton Switzer, who was the The OTRF fundraising tournament was held at the National with former Dean of OAC, became Ontario’s Deputy Minister of the $75.00 entrance fee raising over $8,000.00. The 11th Annual Agriculture and Food. David Gourlay moved from Ancaster as President, Greenchairman, Superintendent Tournament was held at assistant to Toronto Ladies as superintendent. Ed Doda took the the Sunningdale Country Club hosted by Ken Nelson. The winning position at Barrie Golf Club and Rick Serrao moved to Glen Cedars team was from Tillsonburg, Ross Thurston with a score of 109 pts. Bob from Markland Woods, where he was the assistant. Minimum wage Moote, John Arends and Whitey Jones fashioned the golfing attire was increased to $4.00/hr. which would have been worn at the first President, Greenchairman, The CGSA held their conference from March 11-14 at the Superintendent Tournament in 1924. Aldo Bortolon was presented Constellation Hotel in Toronto. Dr. Clayton Switzer was the keynote with the ODH scholarship from Al Draper at the Spring Convocation. speaker. Other turf experts speaking were Dr. James Beard and Dr. Joe Reed was the McClumpha Tournament winner at the Glen Eagle Richard Skogley. There was a pre-conference golf tournament held Golf Club on October 1st, hosted by Bill Calhoun. at the Board of Trade Country Club on March 10th. The GCSAA The stimpmeter, friend or foe, was just introduced to Convention was held in Las Vegas. Keith Nisbet was presented with superintendents after being tested by the USGA Green Section. the Distinguished Service Award for his dedication and service to golf General ranges for putting green speed were determined and course superintendents and the profession. The Leo Feser Award published as part of the instruction manual. was presented to Gordon Witteveen in recognition of the best Author’s Note. At a recent symposium (OTS/94) it was determined that superintendent written article in Golf Course Management magazine. by welding an extra foot onto the stimpmeter you could get the same There was a Michigan and Borders Cities and OGSA joint meeting stimp readings without lowering your height of cut and thus not on April 25 at Beachgrove hosted by Ron Heesen. An OGSA meeting putting your grass under any more stress. Our Greens Are Putting Greens - Not Landing Areas by Neil Acton Article Reprinted from November 1984 Issue of Green is Beautiful One of my ‘better members’ came into my office the other day 6. Golf balls make a difference in the amount of spin a play and handed me a copy of the July/August issue of the USGA can impart on the ball. Two-piece balls spin slower than Green Section Record. The first article, written by William G. surlyn covered balls. Buchanan, is entitled “Why Don’t The Greens Hold?” If anything had ever been godsent, it had to be this article. I had 7. Close, frequent mowings on fairways and tees will help the just received a lecture on not watering my greens sufficiently by putting greens hold. one of my ‘better players’. You know the type. A 5 handicap who plays to a 15, fluffs the ball up at every opportunity and hits fliers 8. Hardness testers for greens will not solve the problem. to a green running 10’6”. This fellow expects every green to They only give us more numbers to use (has the accept his poorly hit shots as if they were hit by the likes of a Tom Stimpmeter made putts for anyone?) Watson. No matter to him problems arising from overwatering. Dam the compaction, disease and what ever else we In conclusion, all aspects of golf must be considered with any superintendents invented to make our jobs seem complicated. problem relating to the golf course. Large numbers of golfers Just stop his blasted Pinnacles 20” from his ball mark (preferably have been raised on soft putting greens. They have not played in front). on firm putting surfaces. Golf courses of the future will be Well, I now have some ammunition thanks to Mr. Buchanan forced into conserving water, and the game will be better for it. and the USGA, and for this, I am truly thankful. Had this article Players who have not played under firm conditions are in for appeared in Green is Beautiful, the Greenmaster or Golf Course a treat, once they learn to allow for the roll. In golf, the player Management, my ‘better golfer’ and his like would most surely should adjust his game to course conditions. The dismiss it as superintendent propaganda. He will now treat the superintendent is employed to maintain the grass so it will best information as gospel and expound its virtues from tee to tee, as suit the play of the game. It is both unfair and unreasonable for its source is not a superintendent’s trade magazine but the the golfer to expect the superintendent to adjust the golf course prestigious USGA. I am not above accepting charity. to each individual’s game. The handicap system should be used to equalize skill, and the golf course should provide the test. The article is too lengthy to repeat in its entirety but I will Richard S. Tufts, a former USGA President, said “Play the ball as directly quote the summation offered at the end of his paper. it lies and play the course as you find it.” We need more of this philosophy. 1. Putting greens can be constructed to grow grass that is Golf courses hire superintendents to maintain a putting green best for putting. or a landing area. Since the Rules of Golf do not define a landing area, but they do define a putting green, my vote goes 2. Not all putting greens are created equal; some may be for the putting green. Therefore, when asked, “why don’t the firmer than others. greens hold?” we might tell them they are “putting greens”, not “landing areas”. 3. Depending on maintenance practices, some greens will I know that this is an issue that is forever being debated putt faster than others. amongst golfers and superintendents alike. I personally agree with the statements made in the article and I have been 4. The coefficient of restitution is a measure of how much a reasonably successful in swaying my members and guests to this ball will bounce on a green, but not a good factor in way of thinking. This article has made the task somewhat easier determining if the green will hold. and I suggest anyone wanting to read the entire article should contact the USGA at the following address. USGA Green 5. Backspin on a ball will make it stop quickly, generally on Section, Golf House, Far Hills, New Jersey 07931. Subscriptions the third bounce. are $6/year US funds for six issues. TURF CARE From the front nine to the backyard, you can count on us. 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 With over 88 years of experience, Toro is the most trusted supplier of turf equipment and irrigation systems to golf courses, parks and individual lawns around the world. Our commitment to providing innovative, high quality products and systems to help grow and maintain turf is legendary. We care about preserving the tradition of golf. We also care about providing the right solution to you. Make Toro the preferred name at your golf course today. Call us at turf care today to find out how you can acquire the products that can set new standards at your course. www.turfcare.ca