December 2006 Green is Beautiful The Official Publication of Ontario Golf Superintendents' Association Piper's Heath Golf Club - New Course on the Blocks Conference Update This Year in Diagnostics Integrated Pest Management CANADA POST PUBLICATIONS, MAIL PUBLICATIONS AGREEMENT No. 40027105, Postmaster: Please return undeliverable copies to The OGSA, 328 Victoria Rd. S., Guelph, ON N1H 6H8 ONTARIO GOLF COURSE MANAGEM Sheraton Ce EDUCATION POINTS Golf Course Superintendents Association of America Points Testing for the Top Management of Golf Courses in Canada 65 Ontario Golf Course Management Conference & Trade Show - day 1 40 Ontario Golf Course Management Conference & Trade Show - day 2 45 PRECONFERENCE SEMINAR Canadian Golf Superintendents Association Points SPONSORED BY SYNGENTA CROP PROTECTION WednesdayJanuary 17th, 2007 CANADA INC. Testing for the Top Management of Testing for the Top Management of Golf Courses in Canada Golf Courses in Canada 7 Wednesday, January 17th 8:30 am - 4:30 pm ThursdayJanuary 18th, 2007 EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM Creative Leadership - The Competitive Edge 1 SPONSORED BY NGF GOLF, A DIVISION OF Thursday 2007 Proving theJanuary Technology to a Superintendent. Value of18th, 1 NORTHGATE FARMS Team Building/Team Thursday 2007 January 18th, Management/Human Resources 1 Thursday, January 18th & FridayJanuary 19th Thursday 2007 Water January 18th, Regulations 1 Hole In One. Thursday 2007 January Time! Issues and Ethics For The . .Every18th, OGSA AWARDS LUNCHEON Golf Course Superintendent 1 SPONSORED BY NU-GRO LTD. Thursday, January 18th at 11:30 am FridayJanuary 19th, 2007 Come out and congratulate those who have earned special Health & Safety 1 awards this year Getting Friday January 2007 Out of a USGA Visit the Most19th, 1 2007 Pest Management Friday January 19th,- Pathology Root Diseases TRADE SHOW SOCIAL HOUR Prevention, Diagnosis, Management 1 SPONSORED BY BAYER ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE FridayQuality 2007 Water January and19th, Management At Thursday, January 18th 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm The Toronto Golf Club 1 On The Trade Show Floor FridayBentgrass Velvet 2007 Capping, Materials and Methods January 19th, 1 2007 Winning the Odds Against19th, Friday January 1 OGSA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Thursday, January 18th, 2007 5:30 PM Integrated Pest Management - Points Grand Ballroom West Preconference seminar: Testing for the Top ManagementofGolf Courses in Canada.. 8:30-4:30..with an hour for lunch 9 PRESIDENTS RECEPTION Attend morning or afternoon only 4.5 Thursday, January 18th, 2007 7:00 PM-9:00 PM The following would be worth 1.3 each Top Floor - Sheraton Club Lounge * Value of Technology Join us to meet your new Board of Directors and for a social * Water Regulations * Issues and Ethics * USGA Visit JOB BOARD * Pest management-root diseases Don’t forget to bring your jobs to post on the board * Water quality * Velvet Bentgrass 45 minutes of seminar time = 1 cec. EQUIPMENT TECHNICIAN and HORTICULTURE Equipment Manager, Eagle’s Nest Golf Club. programs The panel will discuss their recent experience in designing or The education component of the Ontario Golf Course redesigning the repair and maintenance “shop” facility at their Management Conference and Trade Show for golf course respective golf courses and provide tips on what considerations equipment technicians and horticulturists has now been should come into play from both a productivity and health and finalized. Scheduled for Friday, January 19th beginning at 8:00 safety standpoint. Participants are encouraged to bring their am, these programs will provide four hours of class time ideas and their questions to this “listen and learn” session. specifically designed for these two disciplines. In addition to these topics, each program registrant will have access to the Lubrication Basics trade show on both Thursday (after 1:00 pm) and Friday, lunch in the trade show on Friday and the opportunity to hear the Mario Tammaro is a Senior Technical Advisor with Petro keynote address by Michael “Pinball” Clemons on Friday Canada. Mario began his career with BP Canada in Montreal afternoon at 2:30 pm. and has worked in the lab, tech services and sales components of the business. His primary role currently with Petro Canada The details related to each of the programs are noted below. is to help customers choose the best product for their Please go to page 16 for the registration form or go to application and to help them problem solve. Mr. Tammaro is www.golfsupers.on.ca for further details and a downloadable familiar with both fuels and lubricants. registration form. This session will look at why we lubricate and how lubricants are Equipment Technician Program formulated. Participants will then examine the functions and types of greases, hydraulic oils and fluids available and how to Agronomy for Equipment Technicians choose the right one for the conditions and application. The session will also deal with proper storage and disposal. Sean Jordan has worked in the turfgrass industry for over ten years. After working on the construction of an Arnold Palmer signature golf course, Mr. Jordan attended Penn State’s Golf Horticulture Program Course Turfgrass Management Program. Sean has worked as an assistant superintendent and a superintendent/general Golf Course Gardens manager. He is currently the Assistant Production Manager for Compact Sod Farm and teaches a course in turfgrass This session will examine a number of aspects of the equipment management each fall at the University of Guelph. horticulturist’s responsibilities on a golf course, including: This presentation will give individuals a fundamental - Soil preparation for flower beds; understanding of turfgrass growth cycles, habits and - Bed composition; morphology. There will also be a discussion of how - Plant selection; maintenance equipment affects turf growth, water usage, and - Using colour; pest incidence. - Matching the beds with the course style, and; - Flower bed renovation to reduce maintenance. Organizing Your Shop The session facilitator will be Claire Belisle. Ms. Belisle is the Participants in this panel include Warren Wybenga, Equipment editor of Quebec-based "Vert” Magazine. Claire also writes Manager, Donalda Club; Mark Atkins, Equipment Manager, articles for the Quebec Golf Superintendents Association Thornhill Golf and Country Club and Brad Ciemins, magazine, “Herbomaine”. SEE CONFERENCE HE YOU AT T President's message Sense of Renewed Excitement Superintendents are eternal optimists. We look at the weather radar forecast, and plan our staffs day for the best scenario possible, despite the high probability of another outcome. During planning we expect the best, yet are always ONTARIO GOLF SUPERINTENDENTS' ASSOCIATION prepared for the worst. I suspect the same sentiment goes Guelph Turfgrass Institute for our career and our industry. I get excited whenever we 328 Victoria Road South triumph over adversity or successfully cope with whatever Guelph, ON N1H6H8 Mother Nature dishes out. In my frequent travels as President this year, I also got Ph: 519-767-3341 the sense that we are all excited about the future. Whatever that future might look Toll Free: 877-824-6472 like, it probably means a healthy industry and a fulfilling career and a happy Fax: 519-766-1704 Email: ogsa@gti.uoguelph.ca home. Website: www.golfsupers.on.ca I also get excited at the approach of conference season. To me that means gearing-up for travels to familiar places to see familiar and not-so-familiar faces, BOARD OF DIRECTORS and learn about the unfamiliar. It’s a time to ask yourself what worked and didn’t President: Bob Burrows work well at your home club this season; determine if you have any great degree Past President: Paul Scenna of control over that problem; and identify where to seek information about a Vice-President: Sean DeSilva potential solution. This will clearly help both you and your club. I want to Treasurer: Jeff Stauffer congratulate Jeff Stauffer and his conference organizing committee for bringing Secretary: Randy Booker together outstanding conference education and course management solutions at DIRECTORS Jeff Alexander our January conference and show. It promises to be another great event, which Chris Andrejicka just keeps on getting bigger and better! Jarrod Barakett Success breeds success, and in my slightly biased opinion, I believe the OGSA Randy Booker is the most responsive and sophisticated and member driven regional association Doug Breen in Canada. I say that knowing our competition well, and many of our colleagues Trevor Clapperton from coast-to-coast. From an award-winning magazine; a large conference/show; Rob Gatto growing membership roster; to Board strategic planning sessions; relevant Chris Nelson advocacy of our IPM and environmental positions; to prudent office procedures/management/staffmg and sound fiscal investments; to first-class Executive Mgr Dorothy Hills Office Staff Pat Thomas camaraderie/golf events - the OGSA is well positioned for the times! Credit must Deborah Badger go to all those involved - from current and past directors and staff to the supportive and visionary membership. We have guided our association through some exciting times and witnessed our credibility improve remarkably to where superintendents are regarded as key members of their facility’s management team. The future indeed looks bright! Let’s always pledge to renew our collective excitement each winter conference season. What better way to kick-off the next growing season. This is my last message to the membership as OGSA President. That’s a bittersweet feeling for me. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed representing you at various GREEN IS BEAUTIFUL EDITORIAL functions this year, and I’m in no particular hurry for the January AGM to arrive. I would like to sincerely thank the membership, staff, and directors for their COMMITTEE support and encouragement as OGSA President. I would also like to thank John Bladon, Co-Editor Rosedale Golf Club and my assistants for allowing me the opportunity to serve and Chris Nelson, Co-Editor volunteer these many years. Dorothy Hills, Coordinating Manager From my family to you and yours, best wishes for a safe and happy and Greig Barker prosperous Holiday and New Year! Tom Brain Doug Davidson Brett Murray Direct Line 416-659-1020 Jason Hanna Manager Fax Line 519-941-0931 Scott Horsburgh “Green is Beautiful” Justin Parsons P.O. Box 218 is Printed on Orangeville, ON Recycled Paper Green is Beautiful 2006 L9W 2Z6 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 and any reproduction in whole or part without the written permission of the publisher is prohibited. Although some trade names may be mentioned in articles contained in this publication, no endorsement is intended or brett. murray@sympatico.ca implied by the Ontario Golf Superintendents' Association. Contents Green is Piper's Heath Golf Club New Course on the Block................ 14 Above the hole...................................................................................... 21 Canadian Golf Superintendents Association news...................... 11 Beautiful The Official Publication of Ontario Golf Superintendents’ Association Conference Update................................................................................ 2 Editorial message.................................................................................. 6 From roots to shoots............................................................................ 8 GCSAA Delegates Meeting Summary............................................. 18 Golf course highlight - Whitevale Golf Club ................................ 13 Health & safety....................................................................................... 9 Looking back........................................................... 25 Off the fairway............ .......................................................................... 24 On the REEL side of things.................................................................. 23 Otario Turf Research Foundation Update........................................ 10 President's message.............................................................................. 4 The way we were.................................................................................. 12 Turf or consequences.............................................. 26 University of Guelph Update.............................................................. 22 COVER PICTURE What's New..................................................................... 7 Whitevale Golf Club Photo by Blair Rennie Advertisers Almack Agronomic Services Inc....................................................... 11 Aquatrols.................................................................................................. 20 Bartlett Tree Experts - Canada.......................................................... 6 Braemar Building Systems................................................................. 20 Burnside Golf Services........................................................................ 6 DCS Agronomic Services.................................................................... 9 Douglas Wood Large Tree Services................................................. 23 Fast Forest............................................................................................... 12 OGSA is committed to Green Horizons Group of Farms....................................................... 12 serving its members, Growers Choice...................................................................................... 12 advancing their profession, H & M Turf Ltd........................................................................................ 4 and Maple Turf Supply............................................................................. 9, 23 enriching the quality Master's Turf Supply Ltd..................................................................... 10 of golf Nu Gro ..................................................................................................... 11 and its environment. Nutrite...................................................................................................... 21 P.E.S.T. Institute, The............................................................................. 6 Skyway Lawn Equipment Limited.................................................. 10 Layout, Design & Printing provided by Turf Care Products Canada - Irrigation Div................................... 19 G-R-A-P-H-I-C SERVICES PRINTERS & LITHOGRAPHERS Turf Care Products Canada................................................................. 28 Tel: 519.763.5745 • Fax: 519.763.9532 32-34 Essex Street • Guelph, Ontario • N1H 3K8 Vanden Bussche Irrigation................................................................. 25 e-mail: info@graphicservices.ca • Zander Sod Co. Limited...................................................................... 7 www.graphicservices.ca Editorial message Let it snow.. .let it snow. No, wait a associations. The president of OGSA has provided an minute! Is there time to apply winter update on his visit to the GCSAA delegate’s meeting. Our snow mold protection? This fall has golf course highlight comes from Blair Rennie, been interesting. The middle of October Superintendent at Whitevale Golf Club, which you see on felt like it was time to pull the pins and the cover of this month’s magazine. Doug Davidson close shop for the year. I feel for anyone introduces us to a new golf club in Hornby, Ontario by the by Chris Nelson who was trying to complete any course name of Piper’s Heath Golf Club, that is nearing Co-Editor renovation this fall; the wet weather was completion. Finally, Katrina Jordan summarizes this year’s less then ideal. Now that the fall is past, we look forward interesting findings in diagnostics. to the holiday season. We also think about the OGSA I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all conference scheduled January 17th-19th. A fabulous members who contributed to the magazine this year. The conference agenda is set up and ready for members to quality of the content is due in part to the efforts put forth enjoy. by you, the contributors. A group of people also to This month’s issue has a summary from Pam mention is the editorial committee who work hard behind Charbonneau on all the environmental challenges we the scenes to co-ordinate with office staff at the OGSA to faced this past season. The OTRF has provided us an ensure you are provided a quality publication. Thank you update about an important potential change for the so much and on that note, we hope to see everyone at the foundation and their relationship with supporting conference. SPECIALIZING IN PESTICIDE EDUCATION & SERVICE TECHNOLOGY Burnside PESTICIDE CERTIFICATION COURSES Serving the Needs of the Golf Industry LAND exterminator LANDSCAPE CATEGORY February..................... 19 - 23, 2007 We can help with: March (London)......... 12- 16, 2007 • Approvals for Golf Course Development March........................... 19- 23, 2007 and Operations March (Ottawa)......... 26 - 30, 2007 Your Trees Deserve April.............................. 16- 20, 2007 • Irrigation Water Supply • Sewage Treatment and Disposal The Best Of Care December..................... 3 - 7, 2007 • Environmental Management Plans All above courses in North York except • Building and Clubhouse Design Services Trees are valuable assests. Don't where noted. Government exam held • Irrigation Design and Consulting entrust their future to less than on Monday following each course. • Environmental Impact Assessment caring professionals. Bartlett • Drinking Water Assessment leads the way in tree care with trained arborists, research facili­ TURF WEED ID ONE DAY WORKSHOPS Toll Free: (877) 799-8499 ties, nationwide experience and June........................ 19 or 26, 2007 E-mail: vcirone@rjburnside.com specialized equipment. For a August..................... 21 or 28, 2007 Website: www.rjburnside.com professional evaluation of your *One day workshops held in Scarborough tree care needs, call today. For more information and a brochure There is no obligation. contact: Paul G. Pilley, B.Sc., M.P.M. Toronto • (416) 657-2059 P.O. Box 1021, Lindsay, ON K9V 5N4 Bracebridge • (705) 646-8733 Tel: (705) 324-PEST (7378) Gravenhurst • (705) 687-0696 Fax: (705) 324-9729 Huntsville • (705) 789-0929 E-mail: ppilley@cogeco.ca www.bartlett.com PESTICIDE TECHNICIAN COURSES ALSO AVAILABLE BACKED BY THE BARTLETT TREE RESEARCH LABORATORIES AND EXPERIMENTAL Offices located throughout Ontario GROUNDS, CHARLOTTE, NC Members of OGSA, CGSA and Golfmax Suppliers to the NGCOA What's new Complimentary Conference Registration for Special Circumstances Class A and Superintendent members of the Association, who are normally employed but not currently working, or have come upon unexpected difficult financial circumstances, have the opportunity to attend the OGSA Conference. Communicate, in writing, to the OGSA office your circumstances and interest to attend the conference. Any member indicating interest to attend the conference will be kept confidential. This is available for members as a benefit of the association. Complimentary registration to the conference will be Welcome! O.G.S.A. Welcomes provided at the discretion of the OGSA board of directors. Take advantage of our newest members this opportunity and you will be keeping yourself connected to your profession. Perry Beausoleil Class F Hyland Golf Club Nicholas Bell Class C The Club at Bond Head ONTARIO GOLF SUPERINTENDENTS' ASSOCIATION Greg Brown University of Guelph Class S 2005-2006 REPORTS Kevin Eugene Hynes Class F Coppinwood Golf Club The following is a list of the OGSA reports, required for the Annual General Meeting on January 18th, 2007. Matthew Legg Class S University of Guelph Meeting to be held at January 18, 2007 in the Grand Ballroom West Kendall Lindsay Class F Raven Golf Club at Lora Bay at 5:30 p.m. Scott MacKay Class F • Director Election Notice Springfield Golf & CC • Election Nomination Form • End of Year Audited Financial Statements David Meyer Class C • End of Year Director Portfolio Reports Brantford Golf & CC • Minutes from AGM January 5, 2006 Jessie Nichols Class S Seneca College According to our by-law these reports can be accessed, as soon as they are available, on our web site www.golfsupers.on.ca. Rick Pero Class D Log into the Members Only section and go to Tillsonburg Golf & CC “Member News”. Michael Sturrock Class C The package can also be viewed at our offices: King Valley Golf Club 328 Victoria Road South, R.R. 2, Guelph, Ontario Mark Trudell Class A If you require a hard copy of these reports please notify the Maple Ridge Golf Club office and a package will be mailed to you. Sittler Environmental Inc. Class E Toll Free (877) 824-6472 or (519) 767-3341 Steven Sittler From roots to shoots A Recap of the 2006 Season leatherjacket populations again this spring. Weather Ants have been a continual problem over the past few years. This year was no exception. The mounds usually all began with warm, dry It occur within a metre of the edge of sand based greens. conditions in early spring. Many Mound building activity usually begins at the end of May superintendents had to rush to get to the beginning of June. Insecticides offer short term irrigation up and running. As a result control - (2-6) weeks. Because the mounds are usually by Pam Charbonneau of the dry conditions in most areas, limited to the perimeter of greens, an IPM approach is to OMAF Turfgrass Specialist there was slow growth in the spring. treat only the perimeters. There are three products Once summer arrived, it arrived with a vengeance and labeled for ant control, chlorpyrifos (DursbanT), cabaryl there was oppressive heat in mid-July, which lasted into (Sevin T&O) and a new pyrethroid product called early August. That hot spell was accompanied by Demand. On the subject to of Demand, I have just been torrential rains in many areas. The rains have just not notified that the turf ant control is being moved to the abated and this fall in Ontario was one of the wettest on Scimitar label, which is the same active ingredient record so far and there are still a few weeks of fall left. At cyhalothrin-lambda as (Demand). the moment soils are saturated and we could really use some dry weather to help drain soils before winter sets in. Crabgrass One interesting phenomenon this fall is the lack of Crabgrass germination was very late this summer. In Fusarium patch. We certainly appear to be having weather most cases, soil temperatures were high enough in late conducive to Fusarium patch infection and development, May but moisture was limiting. When the monsoon like but so far I have only seen a tiny bit of it. It could make conditions came on in late June/early July, there was thin for a good discussion over a beer at one of the turf turf because of the dry weather and the tropical heat and conferences over the winter. moisture combined to cause an absolute explosion of crabgrass. Many turf areas appeared to be almost entirely Insects composed of crabgrass. It is possible too that some of the In mid-spring we had a week of warm weather that pre-emergence crabgrass products did not go the distance brought out the black turfgrass ataenius. Then it cooled this year. down for a couple of weeks, virtually halting the BTA flights. This resulted in two peaks of black turfgrass Turf Roots ataenius about a month later. As a result you could find all It was generally not a good year for turf root growth. stages of grubs and adults at one time in the late spring. The very hot, wet spell in mid-July to early August caused Luckily, with imidacloprid (Merit) being registered for very high soil temperatures that were well above the BTA the timing relative to the BTA lifecycle is less critical optimum for turf roots survival. There was a double than it was with the older curative products. European whammy when poor root survival was combined with chafer grubs were a big problem in the spring of 2006. pressure from the root disease summer patch. The same was true for annual bluegrass weevil where All the rain this fall will be hard on root growth on multiple stages of this pest could be found during a one poorly drained soils. Turf roots need air to grow and month period this summer. function and some waterlogged rootzones probably don’t Leatherjackets were quite a big problem in the late have any air pores left that aren’t filled with water. The spring. They are also more wide spread than we saturated soils also do not bode well for good annual previously thought. It turns out that they have already bluegrass turf winter survival. What we need in December arrived on many Muskoka golf courses. Often is some dry weather before going into winter. All that superintendents would see a few when mowing early in the being said, if you have good drainage, it is possible that morning. They would then treat with insecticide only to your turf has never looked so good. find that they had drastically underestimated the Best of luck over the winter. Let’s hope it is a good one populations when thousands of dead leatherjackets were for turf survival. Take advantage of the conference season found on the surface of the greens after treating. Our fall to get up to speed on the latest turf research results and I conditions have been conducive to European crane fly egg wish all of you time to have some rest and relaxation after hatch, so it is conceivable that there will be high a very gruelling season. Health & safety Take the Time to Reflect and Prepare eWlcome to winter. I trust that your supervisor was put in jail for 30 days. In the last month, summer season was great! October 2006 there were fifteen (15) major fines levied Now is a time to sit back and reflect against companies and supervisors in Ontario. The fines on the past season. What went right ranged from $15,000 to 200,000. And remember that what went wrong? every fine in Ontario now has another 25% tacked on to by DougJohnson I know that I have written quite a bit go towards the victim impact fund. Take a moment and go SAFETAID - Health and Safety Consulting about various aspects of safety and the to http://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/news/index.html. things that you should be doing to ensure that your By looking at the court news you will understand some of workplace is safe. I started writing these articles for Green the thinking that happens in the courts these days. is Beautiful in 1999. A lot of water under the bridge, so to As superintendents, as I have stated many times, you speak. Many of you have worked hard to comply with the have an obligation to ensure that your workplace is safe. requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Act Over the winter months take the time to look at your (the Act) and Regulations. safety program and get the program up to date so that you Many workplaces in Ontario are doing a much better are ready with a set of clear rules that will control or job in creating safe work environments; however, it is eliminate potential accidents in your workplace. Talk to interesting to note that since 1999 the number of deaths some of the other superintendents and find out what the in Ontario has stayed about the same. And it may be hard Ontario Ministry of Labour has asked them to do at their to believe but approximately one (1) person dies every day golf courses. Some of the inspectors are being very strict; in Ontario from a work related accident or illness. In 2005 others are not quite so stringent. I have no way of there were 350 workers killed in Ontario. And there were knowing how the inspectors in your area will enforce the 277,000 lost time accidents. These stats are courtesy of the rules, but if you take the time to review your rules this Workplace Safety and Insurance Board. winter you will be in a much better position when next The accidents and deaths are as varied as the jobs that season starts to get all your staff properly oriented and are done. Workers are killed while climbing, in machine trained before they get out onto the greens and fairways. operation accidents, electrocutions, getting hit in the head and getting caught in machinery, just to name a few. SAFETAID Oh yes, and just so you realize what has been happening with charges under the Act, I have gone to the Making safety your 1st priority! Ontario Ministry of Labour web site and looked at a 519.837.0997 or doug@safetaid.ca number of convictions that have occurred. One Simon George Technical Sales David C. Smith, A.Ag., C.G.C.S. 185 Oriole Crescent Gravenhurst, Ontario Maple Turf Supply Business: (905) 857-2000 Soil & Turfgrass Consultant 8112 King Rd. W. Fax: (905) 857-8215 P1P1C6 P.O. Box 370 Mobile: (519) 841-3378 Office (705) 687-SOIL (7645) Bolton, Ontario 1-800-268-4425 Fax (705) 687-3518 Toll Free 1 -888-607-TURF (8873) L7E 5T3 sg142@hotmail.com Cell (905) 512-6004 Email dave@dcsturf.com ONTARIO TURF RESEARCH FOUNDATION UPDATE Despite a rainy day in October for an outside and Dr. Katerina Jordan were on hand to showcase tour, the OTRF hosted an information session and their research. These expert turf specialists visit of the turf plots at the Guelph Turfgrass provided a united voice that spoke volumes of Institute. Invited guests to the roundtable forum, enthusiasm to the future of not only turf research included representatives from turf related but research at Canada’s top turf research facility, associations such as Landscape Ontario, National the Guelph Turfgrass Institute. Golf Course Owners, Sports Turf, Ontario Golf Following the presentations, association leaders Superintendents’ and the Golf Association of and the OTRF Board during a roundtable dialogue, Ontario. Dr. Rene Van Acker, recently appointed exchanged ideas on how to take the OTRF to the Chair of Plant Agriculture at the University of next level. With a long term goal in place, the Guelph, joined the discussions to learn of the OTRF can be instrumental in making the GTI a history of OTRF and its mandate. world class turf research facility in the next five Ron Schiedel, President of OTRF explained the years. Subsequently, with both industry and end OTRF mission statement which is to direct and user financial support, the OTRF would continue to promote turf research for the benefit of the turfgrass fund cutting edge research at one of North industry and the general public. University of Guelph America’s largest turf research institutes. turf researchers, Dr. Tom Hsiang, Dr. Eric Lyons 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 890 Fairground Rd. R.R. #4 Langton Ont. N0E 1G0 Express Dual Phone (519) 875-4094 Fax (519) 875-4095 & AngleMaster Reel Mower Website: mastersturfsupply.com Sharpeners email: mastersturf@uniserve.com Canadian Golf Superintendents Association news by Robert Burrows, CGCS, MS Rosedale Golf Club This is old news by now, but the Fall Field Day the past few years when adopted, the program would tournament at Mont Tremblant Le Giant GC, Quebec, on certainly have some degree of impact on our profession and September 18th, was an absolutely outstanding event. Our is a grass-roots member-driven approach. You are thanks go to the co-sponsors, especially the Toro Company, encouraged to become familiar with the proposal and plan for their support. The strong support from Ontario was your career and education accordingly. evidence of the much-anticipated venue, with great scenery The CGSA will be hosting various regional seminars in and camaraderie. To continue with the success of this Ontario in the near future. Specifically, November 28th at tournament, we are in the process of negotiating some final the Toronto Congress Centre in Mississauga was well details with an outstanding venue in Pemberton, BC - Big attended with Dr. Brandenburg and Dr. Yelverton Sky Golf, with exact details to follow for this September, 2007 from North Carolina State University on “IPM: Putting event. Together an Effective Plan”. Another spring seminar is in the The Score “Superintendent of the Year” award will be planning stages for Western Ontario. Details will be given to Mr. Mike De Young of the Glen Arbour GC, NS, and announced soon. Plan now to attend a seminar in your the John B. Steele Award will be given to Mr. Gerry Lettner region. of Olds College, of Alberta. The Toro Future The upcoming joint CGSA/QGSA conference is being Superintendent of the Year Award will be given to Mr. John held in Montreal from March 2-6, 2007 with keynote Kachmarski of Glencoe G 8c CC and a recent graduate of the speakers Pat Jones of Flagstick LLC and Dick Irvin, sports University of Guelph. The Toro Environmental broadcaster. There will also be ten excellent pre-conference Achievement award is as yet undeclared. Congratulations to seminars, a series of concurrent sessions, a closing keynote all the recipients! The ninth annual salary and benefits speaker, awards luncheon and great local hospitality. This survey was sent out in November, and the fifth IPM/BMP conference promises to be a great success. The CGSA Board survey will be conducted in the spring of 2008. The newly is equally excited about forging closer ties with the OGSA as updated “Environmental Management Resources Manual” they both continue with their joint management venture of is available for purchase on CD. This document is also the Ontario show at the Sheraton Centre Hotel, January available in French. We are encouraged by the continued 2007. agreement with the GETAC technician members joining This will be my last address to the membership as CGSA with CGSA and we welcome their participation with a bright Ontario Director, as I will presumably be moving-up to the future. position of Vice President at the Montreal AGM. After a All Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent month’s-long “call for nominations”, the OGSA Board members are now required to submit a copy of their considered any/all candidates for Ontario Director, and I pesticide licenses in order to remain a member or risk being am pleased to announce that Mr. Keith Bartlett of Thornhill reclassified. The Board has directed the headquarters staff CC is the nominee put forth to CGSA to complete my term. to strictly enforce this requirement. A targeted marketing I know Keith will receive your full support, as I have over the campaign is ongoing, which will elevate the professional years. He will be a great ambassador for Ontario members. recognition of our members and non-members alike. The What better time than now, in the history of our mandatory education component was unveiled in July 2006. profession, to belong to both your regional and national This process is a continuation of the approach begun by the associations. Thank you for your support and National Occupation Standards principles. As reported over encouragement over the past season! Doug Hubble Sales and Marketing Manager 519.770.3157 dhubble@nu-gro.ca John Bladon Corrie Almack P.Ag. IPM Coordinator / Technical Sales 519.574.2013 Almack Agronomic Services Inc. Tel: (905) 689-6174 jbladon@nu-gro.ca Box 256, Carlisle, On Fax: (905) 689-8522 L0R 1H0 E mail: c.almack@sympatico.ca www.nu-groturf.com The wav we were Obsessed with Customer Service? Can you Identify the person in this picture? For the answer go to page 24. Oh ya... Unique 3-D Sod Blend, Superior Harvesting Technology, Customer First policy. HAMILTON SOD COMPACT SOD MOUNT HOPE CAMBRIDGE 905-389-1315 519-653-7494 ONTARIO SOD NIAGARA SOD HALTON SOD OAKVILLE ST. CATHARINES MILTON 905-849-1764 905-984-8448 905-878-1011 FAST Grower’s FOREST LARGE TREE SALES AND RELOCATION Choice PREMIUM Divot Mix “Grower’s Choice™ Divot Mix is a four component blend that contains natural organics and sand to promote good root Providing professional large tree planting growth, nutrient balance and porosity.” and transplanting service to golf courses for 20 years Grower’s Choice™ Divot Mix and decorative landscape mulches are available in one cubic yard totes or bulk loads. All Grower’s Choice™ Products are made to professional specifications and are employed by top Canadian Landscape Contractors. Soil also distributed by 270 Shoemaker Street, Kitchener, ON N2E 3E1 1720 Huron Road, Kitchener, Ontario Phone (519) 748-6610 I Fax (519) 748-6626 phone: 519-896-9459 or toll-free: 866-580-4769 fax: 519-696-3779 Golf course highlight Whitevale Golf Club 2985 Golf Club Road, Whitevale ON Ph: 905 294-2512 Fax: 905 294-5115 Website: www.whitevalegolfclub.com Email: greens@whitevalegolfclub.com Golf Course Superintendent: Blair Rennie COURSE PROFILE What county is your club located in? By whom and when was the course Durham Region remodeled? 1-Cushman GA-60 Thomas McBroom in 2004/2005 Is your club private, semi private, public, resort or 1-Cushman Core Destroyer municipal? What major tournaments have been held? 1-Cushman TD1500 belt topdresser Private (Equity share) Canadian PGA Assistants Championship 1-Turfco SP-1530 topdresser 1999 and Ontario Ladies Amateur 2003 1-Greens Groomer drag brush Size of membership and typical number of rounds 1-6 foot PTO drive sweepster 531 members with 33,000 rounds What is the size of your maintenance shop? 1-Supertilt Three separate buildings totaling 4,250ft2 1-Ryan Sod Cutter Typical opening and closing date Mid-April to Mid-November 2-Stihl Chainsaws What type of irrigation system? 1-Stihl Quick Cut Saw How long have you been a superintendent? Toro Osmac with site pro 1- Stihl Pole Pruner 16 years 2- Stihl Back Pack Blowers What is the size of greens, tees & fairways? How long have you been an O.G.S.A. member? 2.2 acres ofgreens, 2 acres of 4-Stihl Line Trimmers 18 years tees and 23 acres ofFairways 2-Fly-mows 1-Foley Reel Grinder Accomplishments? What is your predominant grass? 1-Foley Bedknife Grinder Audubon certification in 2004, Host Poa/Bent Superintendent to the 2001, 2002 and How many USGA and loam greens? 2003 Canadian PGA Championships 6 modified USGA, 13 push up How many staff? What is the predominant soil type? COURSE PROJECTS AND PLANS 3 year round and 20 seasonal staff Sandy Loam What projects have you recently completed? Who are your assistants and mechanics? Three million dollar redesign including 6 Assistant: Glenn Major What equipment do you have in inventory? new greens, 4 enlarged greens, all Equipment Manager: Scott Mackenzie 3-Toro GM-1000 bunkers and most tees completely rebuilt, 1- Toro Flex 21 How many gardening staff? major drain lines, cart paths, two ponds, 2- Toro GM-1600 1 - Judy Duncan complete irrigation system including 1-Toro GM-3000 pump station and an 11 million gallon 1- Toro GM-3050 COURSE STATISTICS reservoir. 2- Toro 5400-D ’s 1-Toro Sidewinder How many holes? What long range plans for renovation do you 18 1-Jacobsen 5111 have in the next five years? 1-Jacobsen Tri-king New clubhouse, major tree planting What is the yardage from back and forward tees? 1-Toro Sand Pro program and cart path edge treatment. 6,742 yards from the back tees and 9-EZ Go Workhorses 5,216 yards from the front tees 1-John Deere Gator Are there any particular challenges you face 1- 4 wheel Cushman Truckster with your property? What is the size of driving range and tee range? 2- 3 wheel Cushman Trucksters Keeping consistency between old and new Driving Range - 320 yards long, 9.5 acres Practice Tee: 28,000ft2 1-John Deere 40HP 4x4 tractor with loader greens. Small tees suffer badly from high 1-New Holland 40HP tractor traffic. How many bunkers? 2-Massy Ferguson 25HP tractors 49 bunkers 1-GMC 1/2 ton pick up Do you have any success stories? 1-175 gallon Spraytech sprayer on Cushman Keeping the $3 million renovation project How many times does water come into play? within 2% of budget. 1-Jacobsen slit seeder 2 ponds in play on 3 holes, West Dufferins’ 1-Lely fertilizer spreader Creek in play on 3 other holes What type of innovative cultural practices 1-Salsco roller have you performed? Who was the original architect? 1-300 gallon water tanker Applications ofFerrous Sulfate to moss Jack Boyce 1-Bergal 800 vacuum negatively impact the moss’s ability to 1-Bergal PTO drive blower What was the year of original construction? flourish allowing surrounding turf to be 1-Toro PTO drive blower 1957 opened in 1958 more competitive. 1-Toro Greens aerator Piper's Health Golf Club New Course on the Block by Doug Davidson, Superintendent Glencairn Golf Club A new golf course is in the latter stages of Copetown property he moved to his current position at construction at the corner of Britannia and Trafalgar Piper’s Heath. Tim indicated that he has gained more Roads in Hornby, Ontario. Piper’s Heath Golf Club is the confidence with this second construction effort (asked if new neighbour of Wyldewood Golf 8c Country Club and he would tackle another construction project Tim jokingly Royal Ontario Golf Club. Piper’s Heath is located just a replied that it would be at the expense of his short distance from the 401, 407 and 403 and is at the marriage...he was married September of 2005). This edge of the western development of Mississauga, the confidence was evident as we toured the property. There eastern development of Milton and the northern is not a facet of the operation that escapes Tim’s scrutiny. development of Oakville. These combined communities The work schedule is sun-up until sundown and once the have a population of close to 1 million residents. Milton seed is in the ground there is no time for days off. alone has seen its population almost double in the last 5 years and will see it double again by 2021. Presumably, this Site History gives Piper’s Heath access to a large number of potential The project comprises a total 300 acres of what was golfers. The golf course should be well positioned to take previously farmland. Two neighbours, York Trafalgar advantage of the growing population of all three Corp., a land developer and Moses Comarin, a garden communities and the easy access by major highways. supply store owner, came together with the idea of Piper’s Heath will open as a daily fee public golf course building a championship golf club. The idea of with green fees in the $80.00 range and will offer constructing a golf course at the site had been in the works tremendous value to the local “golf nuts” who have been for close to a decade as the bulk of the property (200 eagerly discussing the opening dates on a number of web acres) was purchased over 20 years ago. A relatively flat sites. site has been transformed by importing topsoil and local I recently visited the construction site where Tim Muys, cut / fill scraper operation by Hamilton Construction. Golf Course Superintendent, showed off the project like a The golf course will open as an 18 hole facility but there is proud father. With the golf course 80% complete and a long term plan to add an additional 9 hole facility. with the footprint for the clubhouse, halfway house and parking lot currently being graded and drained Tim is extremely busy. However, he was able to provide me with a tour of the course and we spoke at length about the challenges and successes that have come with the project. The following talking points are what we discussed: Arriving at Piper's Heath Tim graduated from the University of Guelph in 1997. Upon graduation he worked with Mike Burton, Superintendent, Heron Point Golf Links as his assistant. He subsequently left Heron Point in 2002 to tackle the construction and grow-in of Copetown Woods Golf Club. On April 1, 2006, having satisfied his ambitions with the The Course The golf course was designed by Graham Cooke. It is a links style golf club with wide fairways and great vistas. The course will have large expanses of fescue. The rough and fescue mounding is quite severe in places and has some unique concave depressions that Cooke refers to as “bear caves”. The bunkers are meant to resemble sod walled bunkers and are “steep and deep”. They are, however, longer and more sprawling than traditional links pot bunkers and will contain white sand. There are several ponds on the property and water will come into play on 6 holes. The course also features a number of extremely large oak trees that are remnants of the old farm fence rows. These stately trees reveal the prevailing winds in their twisted branches. Trees do not appear to There are several creek channels that are protected from play a large strategic roll in the routing of the golf course. the earth moving. These corridors provide challenge as The length will range from 5200 to 7000 + yards. Greens forced carries, offer variety to the landscape and are a habitat are on average 6000 ft2 and have a great variety of shapes for wildlife. Tim and his crew are currently constructing the and elevations. The course will also feature a sprawling bridges that will cross these protected areas. A total double green that will serve both the 10th and 17th holes. of 8 bridges will be constructed through these The greens have been constructed to USGA environmentally sensitive areas. specifications. The challenge at Copetown with “home The trucking in of fill has also been challenging. made” non perched style greens, constant probing for Coordinating and directing truck traffic on the 200 acres site moisture and more frequent irrigation scheduling has been a full time job. On occasion shapers have been convinced Tim of the value of constructing to USGA forced to wait for fill. On the other hand, the resulting specifications. mounds are spectacular. Tees have been constructed with sandy topsoil found on In spite of the large population close to the course, Tim site. The tee decks are square to suit the links themed golf expressed that he has had difficulty hiring and retaining staff. course. Golf course construction is not easy work. Convincing The course also features an extensive practice facility suburban kids to spend the summer in the summer dust and comprised of a 12 acre driving range and a one acre fall mud is never easy. The staff he has retained have been practice tee. involved in grubbing and clearing, shaping and filling The golf course will open with a sizeable halfway house bunkers, building the pump house, mowing and that will accommodate the pro shop, washroom facilities constructing bridges. and a small food and beverage operation. Construction of Tim has had great success with hydro seeding. There is a the main clubhouse will follow at some point in the future. dramatic difference in the maturity of the stands of turf that The tentative open date of the golf course is June 2007. have been hydro seeded and those that have been seeded conventionally. “If it were my money I would hydro seed State of the Project, Challenges, everything.” Having seen the results it is hard to argue. Successes Additionally, several greens that were seeded recently (within At the time of my visit, 16 holes had been seeded. the last 3 weeks) have been fibre mulched. Establishment Seeding commenced August 1, 2006 and most of the holes under the mulch has been very good. The fibre mulch will that were seeded early look ready for play. The wet substitute for greens covers over the winter. weather that has affected southern Ontario since the Oats have been used extensively as nurse grass for the Labour Day weekend has definitely presented challenges bluegrass and fescue. The oats have helped stabilize the soil, to shaping and topsoil spreading. Additionally, southern control erosion and I suspect shielded the fescues and Ontario has been considerably colder than normal with bluegrasses from the howling winds on the site. Tim temperatures 4-6 degrees below seasonal. Tim anticipates indicated he was responsible for much of the grassing lines that they will start to sod (roughs and surrounds) the and personally seeded most of the oats. The oats will expire remaining unseeded portions of the golf course because over the winter as the plant is an annual. establishing seed at this time of the year is difficult. Tim and his crew have their work cut out for them between Construction of the maintenance facility is set to now and the opening date. I wish them good luck as they commence in November. It will also house the electric bring to completion what I’m sure will be a tremendous golf cart storage and offer 11000 square feet for cold storage, course and a great addition to the now burgeoning number offices and staff rooms. of golf courses within Ontario’s latest golf destination, the Region of Halton. Welcome to the neighbourhood. Web site coming soon. www.pipersheath.com The Ontario Golf Course Management Conference And Trade Show Registration Form TOP TEN REASONS TO ATTEND THE CONFERENCE & SHOW 10. Attend the pre-conference seminar, Testing for the Top Management of Golf Courses in Canada, presented by John McGuire & Mark Flock of Brookside Laboratories. The price is unbeatable. 9. Gear up for the conference by attending the opening ceremonies and listening to keynote speakerjimmy Westrick talk about Creative Leadership — The Competitive Edge. We can all take home the message, Winning Against the Odds, from Michael "Pinball" Clemons, who will be our closing keynote speaker 8. Attend the conference educational sessions to learn more about current issues and topics of interest to golf course superintendents, and earn CGSA, GCSAA and IPM educational points. 7. Gain better insight into the golf course superintendent’s profession by visiting with conference and show attendees. Acquire innovative ideas and identify best practices. 6. Gather information and visit with OGSA Directors and Staff at the OGSA booth, about association programs, services and resources. 5. Visit the trade show, see the latest equipment and make contacts with industry representatives. 4. Attend the Awards Luncheon and support those in your industry who will be recognized for their contributions. It’s included in your Thursday program package, for all registered delegates. 3. Attend the President’s Reception. It’s an opportunity to socialize and network with your colleagues. 2. Establish and strengthen professional relationships with other golf professionals, through networking and the sharing of ideas, problems and innovative solutions. 1. Return to your golf course with renewed energy and perspective on how to best serve your golf facility. 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Delegates shared a variety of opinions, Noting the association and its members have made but ultimately agreed that for membership standards to significant gains on several fronts, the GCSAA Chapter have value in the marketplace, they must be promoted Delegates meeting in October took a strategic approach in externally. There was unanimous support that greater discussing how GCSAA could sustain that momentum in resources be dedicated to marketing the association, with a achieving its mission, vision and goals. focus on Class A as being the preferred membership class. It was noted, however, that promoting Class A does not “I commend and appreciate the Delegates for the energy mean that marketing other membership classes should not they displayed during the meeting,” said Ricky Heine, be part of the program. CGCS meeting chairman and GCSAA vice-president. Noting that chapters will be integral to the success of revenue generation, membership growth and retention, “They were focused and well-prepared in giving the board and marketing efforts, discussion also included an of directors and staff their perspectives on how we achieve examination of chapter effectiveness. Specifically, the our long-term vision. They took ownership of their delegates were charged with providing the board and staff association and in their responsibility as delegates. It is direction as to how the association could best invest obvious they engaged their members in talks before the resources to enhance chapter operations. The top three meeting.” items were: a. ) membership recruitment and retention; The exchange of ideas and comments focused primarily b. ) chapter executive development and support; on three items: c. ) chapter meeting effectiveness a. ) the development of long-term revenue streams to (attendance, timing, satisfaction, value, etc.). fund programs and services; b. ) growing the GCSAA membership; It was the consensus that many of the issues were c. ) and positioning GCSAA and its membership classes interrelated and thus could be addressed if programs and in the marketplace (primarily to employers and services are developed and coordinated appropriately. influential golfers). Once again, support for expanding the field staff pilot program was communicated, and suggested as a means to The financial conversations centered on the implement effectiveness programs. establishment of a long-term dues pricing strategy. At the Delegates also expressed interest in providing support to request of the Delegates, the board and staff presented a GCSAA’s advocacy efforts. They were briefed on the proposal that would tie the establishment of membership process the association follows for commenting to the EPA dues to an index (such as the Consumer Price Index). on product re-registration. The process includes an Historically, the association has enacted a dues increase in element for member input to GCSAA actions, plus the larger increments on average every five to seven years. The opportunity for chapters and members to become directly result has been a loss of members. There was widespread engaged as well. agreement at the meeting that smaller dues increases All candidates were met who are running for the 2007 would be more easily absorbed at the facility level and less GCSAA Board of Directors. They are as follows: likely to result in membership declines. Directors further • Ricky Heine - President discussed the issue at their fall meeting, October 20 - 21, • David Downing - Vice President in New Orleans. • James Fitzroy - Secretary/Treasurer Tied to the discussion of revenues was an examination of • Mark Kuhns - Secretary/Treasurer GCSAA membership numbers. From a high of more than • Robert Randquist - Director 22,000 in 2001, the association’s membership has declined • Keith Ihms - Director approximately 10 percent to just over 20,000 today. There • John Miller - Director was agreement that the situation has been created in large • Roger Ruff - Director part by a struggling golf economy and the implementation More information will be obtained during the next few of member standards. Staff presented a seven-phased months regarding the direction of the OGSA vote. I look membership growth and recruitment campaign enacted forward to your comments and feedback on the suitability late last year. Delegates supported the efforts, realizing of these gentlemen. I was honoured to represent the such an initiative will take time to yield results and must be OGSA membership in Kansas. Let’s never forget that we long-term in nature. They were especially supportive of are a founding chapter of this national group. INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT by Jarrod Barakett, Superintendent Deer Ridge Golf Club Three years in, the IPM Accreditation Program having third party Certified Environmental Auditors continues to grow strong. Each year the number of Level 2 accrediting your work. These simple steps eliminate the Accredited golf courses has doubled. Now, at the end of ability of anyone being able to discredit you as a professional 2006, there are 31 fully IPM accredited golf courses in pesticide applicator. As the number of accredited golf Ontario. Each of the 31 golf courses deserves both a courses grow throughout Ontario, we as an industry will be congratulations and a thank you from all OGSA members. able to stand as a united front and definitively prove to our It is their hard work and dedication to the industry that skeptics that we are not an environmental concern, we are a helps to reinforce that we stand behind the responsible use benefit. of pesticides. Once again congratulations to those golf courses who As professional turf managers I don’t need to explain the have received Level II Accreditation during the 2006 season. fundamentals of Integrated Pest Management however, I They are as follows: believe it is important to understand the difference between practicing IPM and being involved in an organization that Lakeview GC Cutten Club monitors your IPM practices. As an outsider looking in or a Islington GC Victoria Park GC West golf industry skeptic, the simple notion that you practice Bayview CC Pointe West GC IPM likely would not prove your level of competency. As a Markham Green GC Devil’s Paint Brush GC certified IPM Agent by the IPM Council of Canada, you Kawartha G&CC Devil’s Pulpit GC possess the credentials to prove that you are capable of using Stonebridge Kleinberg GC pesticides responsibly. You also have an organization that is Ottawa Hunt G&CC North Halton G&CC working very hard to educate the public on your behalf. Greensmere G&CC The Raven at Lora Bay As you work through the accreditation process you are Madawaska GC TURF CARE Introducing the 835S and 855S Series Sprinkler with Trajectory™. You know that bunker that’s always getting wet? Or that tree branch that’s always in the way? Now you can address trouble spots with Trajectory, exclusively from Toro. 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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 Ph: (905) 890-6290 Ph: (416) 298-2101 Ph: (613) 822-1881 Fax: (519) 668-3722 Fax: (905) 890-5598 Fax: (416) 298-8758 Fax: (613) 822-2099 Braemar Building Systems Custom Design Quality Buildings Competitive Prices • Maintenance Buildings • Storage Facilities • New Buildings • Wood & Steel Structures For your FREE ESTIMATES call us at 1-800-215-1996 www.braemarbuildings.com - Optimizes uniform soil moisture - soil is not too wet or dry - Better turf survival during drought conditions and summer stress periods - Controls soil water repellency, the cause of localized dry spots - Also available in a convenient spreadable formulation When You Expect Nothing But The Best Canada’s Leading Surfactant 1273 Imperial Way • Paulsboro, NJ 08066 U.S.A. • 1-800-257-7797 • www.aquatrols.com Above the hole by Ian Boyd, Student & Intern Carruther’s Creek Golf & Country Club The Value of Having a Mentor Vince Lombardi once said “The dictionary is the only place that informed me of the programs available, the advantages of the success comes before work." Hard work is the price we must pay different programs and his opinion of all of them. So OK for success. In any aspect of life there are people who push we’ve got the education underway, now what? In my situation you to strive for more whether they are teachers, coaches, it was to let the leash out, give some space to see what can parents, or coworkers. Almost everyone has had an impact happen with some independent thought, all the while keeping made on their lives by this type of person. However, quite an eye and throwing out those little quizzes to make me think. often it goes unnoticed or unsaid the value of having a mentor. However this is a two way street. There is mutuality in this It is astounding how much more you can learn with someone situation where the student takes what the mentor says to pushing, challenging and testing you in every situation. The heart, and the mentor is willing to teach because they see some turf industry is especially rich in this sort of individual, willing sort of potential that if nurtured could grow. to pass on the knowledge and experience it takes to be It has been said that the goal of a mentor is to see their successful. Some, like myself, would not be on our current student surpass them. It is because of this sharing of ideas and paths without that relationship while others have never had encouraging experience that our industry is so strong. There the benefit of such a relationship. are an incredible number of you who have acted as I have been fortunate enough to work for someone who has proponents for the industry and helped a budding career start helped advance my knowledge in a very short period of time. and seen many excellent superintendents move on. It is When I walked onto the golf course still wet behind the ears important that those who have had the privilege of a mentor we sat down and planned out a path of goals and and even those who have not continue this trend of passing on accomplishments I would have to achieve to be successful. It to the new generation and growing the industry. To those of started out by getting the necessary licenses and certificates, I you who have played this part in someone’s career I for one was told that if I am serious about this whole thing that is the would like to say thank you and that the effort you show is very first step. Next it was a year of advancing my practical much appreciated! I can only hope that one day I will be this knowledge by giving me every opportunity to do so and kind of mentor, the kind that I have had and continue this introducing me to the finer points of managing a golf course. invaluable tradition within the industry. The next logical step was getting an education. My mentor From experience and know-how come the best results. With Nutrite, turf and landscape professionals can rely on premium products, reliable innovation and personal service that is second to none. Success on the green is simple - just look to the people with the deepest roots. 1-800-265-8865 www.nutriteturf.ca University of Guelph update This Year in Diagnostics Ihave finished my first growing getting some anthracnose samples, but it was mainly the season here at the GTI Turfgrass foliar stage until later in the summer. We also got some Diagnositc Laboratory, and I have to brown patch and a couple of cases of pythium blight. Toward say that it has been a wonderful the end of the summer, the rain brought on more summer by Katerina Jordan, experience. I got to know a number of patch, a number of samples covered in algae, a bit of black Assistant Professor local and not so local superintendents, layer, and a pretty high number of basal rot anthracnose Department ofPlant sod farmers, lawn care specialists and samples. Finally, throughout the summer and especially in Agriculture even some sports turf managers. It is early fall, we also saw a few courses with plant-parasitic 1237E. C. Bovey Building unfortunate that I end up meeting nematodes on their greens. We are expecting to see a bit most of you when there is a problem, but at the same time, I more Microdochium patch as we head into winter, but then have really enjoyed being able to work out those problems hopefully your snow mold preventives will hold and we won’t together. Just to keep you all informed, here is a quick re-cap see too much of that come spring. of the diseases that came through our laboratory this year: So, there in a nutshell was our season in diagnostics. Not As I wrote in an article earlier this year, we started out with too bad of a year for diseases, but enough to keep Erica Gunn the usual snow molds, winter injury, and yellow patch, and and myself busy for the summer. Thank you to all of you for were then amazed at the number of take-all patch samples we your support and your trust in our lab. We both enjoyed received. Be on the lookout this spring for an article about meeting so many of you and I am most certainly looking the disease and how to try to prevent it with cultural practices. forward to another season of getting to know many of you. We then had a few pythium root dysfunction samples, some You won’t get to see Erica’s smiling face in the lab next year Microdochium patch (aka Fusarium patch), and more yellow as she is expecting her own little bundle of joy and will be patch. On some of the taller grass, especially on lawns and quite busy diagnosing a slew of other problems. We will miss roughs, we also saw a good bit of necrotic ring spot. As we got her terribly in the lab, but please join me in wishing her the into summer, the early drought led to a number of abiotic best in the next year with her new baby. stresses, especially localized dry spot. We saw only a few On that note, I leave you with my contact information, samples of dollar spot, but that was likely because you are all and at the risk of sounding like a broken record, stressing pretty good at recognizing that one on your own. As the that you can call me, e-mail me, or drop in anytime if you temperatures heated up, we started seeing a fair amount of have any questions or concerns. 519-824-4120 ext. 56615 (Bovey summer patch, and as many of you who battled that disease Building) • kjordan@uoguelph.ca Have a great winter and rest this season know, it was a pretty bad year for it. We did start up! Unhealthy turf? Why not send a sample to GTI Turf Diagnostics for analysis? The Diagnosticians will respond to your concern within one business day. For submission form, sampling tips & payment options visit www.uoguelph.ca/GTI/turf_diag GTI Turf Diagnostics Dr. Katerina S. Jordan, Assistant Professor Guelph Turfgrass Institute • University of Guelph - 328 Victoria Rd. South, R.R. #2, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1H 6H8 Phone: 519-824-4120 • ext. 56615 • Fax: 519-766-1704 Email: Dr. Jordan - kjordan@uoguelph.ca On the REEL side of things by Mike Slack Slack Reel Service Tighten Your Belts! It sounds like something that might come out of a 4. Check for correct sheave alignment: Misaligned sheaves green chairman or an owners’ mouth. Ironically, I’m not will accelerate wear of belt sidewalls, which will shorten talking about the budget, were talking about those pieces belt and sheave life. Misalignment can also cause belt of shaped rubber that drive components of your mowing rollover or throw the load to one side of the belt... equipment and other implements. Here are a few breaking or stretching the tensile cord. thoughts on what to look for to maximize performance with regards to belt driven components. 5. Don’t mix old and new belts on a drive: Used belts ride lower in the sheave groove due to sidewall wear and 1. Removing old belts: Remove your drive guard, loosen normal stretch. New belts ride higher, travel faster, and the take-up, and shorten the distance between the sheaves operate at higher tension and running them together will or pulleys. By doing this, old belts can be removed easily damage the new belts. Mixing and matching and the new belts can be installed without damage. manufacturers is also a big pitfall as belt length and codes may vary. 2. Inspect service drive elements: Bearings and shafts are heavily worked components and should be inspected. 6. Belt tension: The key to long, efficient, trouble free belt Worn bearings and bent shafts are most common. life is proper tension. If belts are too loose, the result is slippage, rapid belt and sheave wear, and loss of 3. Inspect and clean sheaves: Worn or dirty sheave productivity. If the belt is too tight, excess strain on the grooves are the most common causes of premature belt belts, bearings and pulleys will result. A balance is failure. In order to get your money’s worth from your new required here and I recommend following tensioning set of belts, thoroughly clean dirty, dusty, or rusty sheaves. guidelines. The proper tension of any V-belt is the lowest Next, feel the sheave grooves for nicks or burrs and file tension at which the belt won’t slip or squeal at peak load. them smooth. Missing these steps will impair the drive’s As another check and balance, measure the span length efficiency and wear out the belt covering. Finally, belts (centre to centre on pulleys). For every 1” of span length should ride in the sheave grooves so that the top of the there should be 1/64” inch of deflection on your belt. belt is just above the highest point of the sheave. If the grooves are worn to a point where the belt bottoms out, Hopefully this gives you a little help when checking or and belts are periodically slipping or burning, check the replacing your belts. And remember your comments are sheave groove for lack of paint or “shinyness”. This is a always welcome on TURF TALK. clear sign that belts have been slipping. "We Sell & Transport Large Trees" • Dedicated exclusively to Large Tree Transplanting Mark Schneider www.douglaswood.ca Technical Sales • 25 Years of Experience • Nursery Grown, Common & Rare Trees Maple Turf Supply Business: (905) 857-2000 8112 King Rd. W. Fax: (905) 857-8215 • Projects from 1 -1000 Trees P.O. Box 370 Mobile: (519) 372-5181 Bolton, Ontario 1-800-268-4425 1 800.353.3019 • T. 519.856.2771 • F. 519.856.1447 L7E 5T3 Email: m___schneider@sympatico.ca P.O. Box 339 Rockwood ON Canada NOB 2K0 Off the fairway ... Giving Back to the Garden matter to the beds every fall, as nature does when the leaves fall. The added humus is highly nutritious to Wen we look back over the h all sorts of beneficial soil creatures that play a vital 2006 gardening season most role in aerating the soil and making the soil nutrients people would agree that it has available for the plants to use. If your garden is been a good year. Bountiful struggling with weed invasion, insects and disease, it growth, floriferous bloom and a is time to take the steps towards improving your soil. demonstration of what plants can Testing your soil is an excellent way to find out by Daisy Moore look like when conditions are about its nutritional status. The test will tell you the right. The garden has given us a lot this year and pH, the percentage of organic matter and the when it looks good there is a tendency to leave it content of many of the essential elements. Usually a alone. But we need now to give back to the garden fertilizer recommendation will accompany the soil and re-energize the soil and thus the plants in order test report. The soil may be deficient in to keep the momentum going. phosphorous, potassium, magnesium or calcium. Soil is the foundation for plant growth. Minerals, Each deficiency can be easily remedied by adding air and water are provided to plants as a gift from the these fertilizer products in early spring or the fall. In soil. Good quality soil will promote strong plant addition, an all-purpose fertilizer can be used growth, substantial vegetables, robust blooms and through the growing season to supply a well healthy turf. Ensuring that your soil is nutritious and balanced diet of nutrients which will replace those has a good texture will make your goal of a beautiful which are taken up by the plant. garden that much easier. As we tuck our gardens in for the winter we In most cases, the ideal soil for the plants we’d should remember that this was a good season for not like to grow is a rich loamy soil that drains well. only our plants, but for many species as well. Pest Loam is a soil classification or textural type meaning populations are high so we need to be vigilant with that the soil has a moderate amount of sand, silt and monitoring for over-wintering bugs (i.e. gypsy clay. Of these three components, sand has the moth). We should protect our trees and shrubs from largest particle size and will therefore provide rodents by wrapping the trees at the base and drainage and air spaces to the soil. Clay is the painting the bark of deciduous shrubs with Skoot. smallest particle size and will consequently hold In the meantime gardeners can take a well more water and tend to pack and form clumps. Silt deserved rest from the physical aspects of gardening is midway between these two sizes. and spend the winter re-energizing with new ideas, Humus is another term that is often used to new information and fresh inspiration for another describe soil components. Humus is the term for the great gardening year. Remember that gardens make stable fraction of the soil organic matter that remains an enormous difference in the pleasure we glean after the added plant and animal residues have from outdoor activities. decomposed. A high percentage of humus would classify the soil as “rich”. Daisy Moore P.Ag., is a horticulturist. She operates a garden Enriching the garden with compost and/or design and consulting business from her home in Elora. She is the manure on a yearly basis is a critical part of host of the radio program, “The Gardening Show” Saturdays 1- maintaining a healthy soil. I like to add organic 2:00 pm on am570. The way we were... answer from page 12, Dr. Robert W. Sheard, Professor of Agriculture, U of G (retired) Looking back 20 YEARS AGO TO-DAY by Barry Endicott he Board of Directors of the OGSA in 1986 were as T Canada, David Cherry (f), Cherry Downs, John Cherry follows: Barry Endicott (pres.), Caledon, Robert Kennedy (b), Cherry Downs. (vice.), Garden City, Hugh Kirkpatrick (past pres.) The OTRF Fundraising Tournament was held again at Westmount, Rhod Trainor, St. Thomas, Neil Acton The National, raising about $17,000. The low net winner (editor), Brooklea, Ron Heesen, Beachgrove, Gordon was Dick Gordon. Nimmo, Sarnia, Scott Dodson, Chedoke, Thom Charters, Alex LaBelle, superintendent at the Midland G&CC Islington, Ed Farnsworth, Deerhurst, Mark Hagen, hosted the Ontario Amateur Championship. Wyldewood and Dave Gourlay Jr., Toronto Ladies. The The Spring Field Day was held at the Victoria Park Golf office secretary was Cindi Charters. Club hosted by Carman, Ted and Angelo DeCorso. The The following members received their 25 year OGSA winners for the day were: Low Gross - Ted Ellis (74), member plaques: Jim Wyllie, Bernie MacDonald, Doug Warren Vout (75), Hugh Kirkpatrick; Low Net - Kelly Suter and John Grightmire. Bill Bluett, OGSA President Barnett (65) and the Clay Switzer Trophy Winners - Ted in 1961 & 1962 and longtime superintendent of Ellis and Kelly Barnett - 133 combined score (region 1). Mississaugua G&CC, passed away in April. The Georgian Bay Superintendents Association had The GCSAA Conference and Show was held in San another busy and successful season with meetings at Francisco from January 27th to February 4th and once Brooklea, Neil Acton, Midland, Alex LaBelle, Circle Pine, again “Green Is Beautiful” was selected as one of the top Ray Richards and Horseshoe Valley, John Hughes. ten newsletters out of 49 others. The newsletter won the The McClumpha Tournament was held at Maple Downs category for Best Format and Readability. hosted by Paul Brown. Jack Austin, Turf Care, presented The CGSA Conference and Show was held in Ottawa the trophy to winner Bill Hynd, St. Georges. from March 1st to 5th. Gord Witteveen, Board of Trade, Hugh Kirkpatrick, Westmount, was presented with the Cecil Hoekstra, Cherry Hill, and Bill Hynd, St. Georges, OGSA Low Gross Trophy for accumulating the lowest presented talks at the conference. gross average in the 1986 OGSA golf events. About 200 attendees were pleased with the new 2 day The OGSA Bestball Tournament was held at Uplands format and content of the Ontario Turfgrass Symposium GC. Ted Tom, with the team of Gordon Witteveen, Board held at the University of Guelph. Al Draper was the of Trade, and Ken Wright, National, winning. chairman and the speakers list consisted of Dr. Switzer, The Western Ontario Golf Superintendents Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Lee Burpee, Dr. Jack Association held the Taylor Barnes Tournament at the Eggens, Dr. Joe Vargas, Ted Woehrle, Barry Britton, Alex Brantford G&CC hosted by Vince and Rick Piccolo. The LaBelle, Thom Charters, Don McFaul and Bruce Clark. winners were: low gross - Don Blatchely (75), Sawmill and New members were Graham Wilkinson (e), Acrow low net David Wray (70), Nanticoke. Reservoir to Rotor Milton 1.800.263.4112 King City 1.866.703.KING www.vandenbussche.com Rain Bird Decoders Simple, Reliable, Intelligent Head Control Turf or consequences by Doug Breen, Superintendent Golf North Properties Vote for Doug I’m running for Council again. That’s right, I’m giving that if a candidate comes and knocks on her door, that it an entire community the opportunity to reject me all at means they care (there’s that slogan again). The truth is, it once. Running for a small town council is sort of like merely means that they have time, and are probably taking that long walk across the gym floor to ask the unemployed. You could be planning to put a toxic waste prettiest girl in grade seven to dance. Of course there are dump beside the well in their back yard, but they’d still more people watching you at a grade seven dance, but the vote for you because you knocked on their door. Folks will turndown feels about the same. You put your best foot also generally support a candidate who promises the forward, present yourself as best you can, wear a tie, and in impossible combination of lower taxes and expanded the end, she’s just as likely to opt for the guy who beats you services. When confronted with the challenge that this is a up for your lunch money everyday. I’m asking thousands mathematical impossibility, the candidate will mumble of people to dance all at the same time, knowing full well something about stamping out the “many inefficiencies” that seventy percent of them will ignore me and not even that they assume are there, and thank you for your vote. bother to answer the question, and that just over half of the Otherwise intelligent people will fall for this one nine remaining thirty percent told me to get lost just three years times out of ten. Bill Clinton got elected by playing the ago. saxophone. There are lots of pundits out there who It’s not for the faint of heart. Your neighbours will call believe that G. Dubya Bush actually pretends to be stupid into question your integrity, honesty, appearance, how your because it gets him votes. He went to prep schools in New wife dresses, how your kids behave, what church you England, has a degree from Yale, but drawls like a cowboy attend, how quickly you rake your leaves; essentially and butchers the English language once a week because anything is openly discussed in the local coffee shop except people from Indiana love that about him. your actual ability to do the job. Everyone in town will So this time around, I threw out the well-penned know about the time your kid went to school with two left speeches, slept in my suit before the candidates’ night, boots on, and what year you last replaced your shingles, but brushed my hair with a toque, and told a lot of stories if you happen to have an MBA or twenty years experience, about baling hay with my dad. I also knocked on a whack it’s not likely to come up in conversation. of doors and pretended that I was talking to my mom. By Last time around, the electorate decided to dance with the time this goes to print, either I’ll be back in my seat someone other than me. I’ve been calling it my sabbatical. again, or the pink I CARE signs will have prevailed again. I’ve missed being on council, especially the part where I’ll let you know how it went. people would call me five times a week to tell me who was illegally parked in front of their houses, or to complain about their neighbour’s wind chimes. Three years ago, I lost by twenty votes to a local malcontent who put pink signs up all over the township with the slogan “I CARE” on them. The insinuation was clear. I was a heartless, uncaring, Snidely Whiplash character, who would tie Miss Belle to the railroad tracks at my earliest convenience. At the time, my wife suggested that I should counter with my own signs that said, “I CARE MORE” or “I CARE & I’M NOT CRAZY’. I didn’t. Signs are actually pretty expensive, and I didn’t think that people would take someone with pink “I CARE” signs too seriously. I was wrong. People would vote for that guy ‘YARD SALE” who has signs up all over the place if his name was on the ballot. Most local elections are won by banging on doors. This is amazing to me. One would think that in this world of mass media and instant communication, that some schlep banging on your door and handing you the same flyer that you already got in the mail wouldn’t be likely to swing their vote. But it does. Mv mom is one of these people. She says May the quiet joys of this Holiday Season Surround you and yours with the promise of Peace. From the directors and staff at OGSA "Season Greetings and best wishes for the New Year" TURFCARE from the Staff at Turf Care How do you improve on a masterpiece? TURF CARE PRODUCTS CANADA 200 Pony Drive, Newmarket, Ontario L3Y 7B6 Tel: (905) 836-0988 Fax: (905) 836-6442 London Ph: (519) 668-7664 • Fax: (519) 668-3722 • Mississauga Ph: (905) 890-6290 • Fax: (905) 890-5598 Scarborough Ph: (416) 298-2101 • Fax: (416) 298-8758 • Gloucester Ph: (613) 822-1881 • Fax: (613) 822-2099 Introducing the Toro® Greensmaster® 3150. Its our 3100 model. Only better. But how could we make something better that many thought was as good as it gets? For starters, we made it easier to operate and more comfortable. Then we made it safer. On top of that, we added an option making it whisper quiet. We think you’ll agree the Greensmaster 3150 is a worthy addition to any work of art. Golf course or otherwise. To find out more come and visit our booths at the Ontario Golf Course Management Show in January at the Sheraton Centre or call your Turf Care Representative. www.turfcare.ca