May 2006 Green is Beautiful The Official Publication of Ontario Golf Superintendents’ Association Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining The Use of Parasitic Nematodes Against White Grubs in Turf Sunny Days & Warm Nights - Summer Patch 2005 Management Challenges at Links Style Golf Clubs CANADA POST PUBLICATION MAIL PUBLICATIONS AGREEMENT No. 40027105 Postmaster: Please return undeliverable copies to The OGSA, 328 Victoria Rd. S., Guelph, ON N1H 6H8 Contents Green is Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining............................................... 18 Above the hole ........................................................................... 28 Beautiful The Official Publication of Ontario Golf Superintendents ’ Association Canadian Golf Superintendents Association news.................. 10 Editorial message....................................................................... 4 From roots to shoots................................................................. 8 Golf course highlight - Glencairn Golf Club............................. 17 Health & safety........................................................................... 7 Looking back................................................................................ 34 Management Challenges at Links Style Golf Clubs.................... 14 Member profile: Scott Bowman................................................. 16 Off the fairway........................................................................... 32 On the REEL side of things........................ 26 President's message................................................................... 3 Same Bat Time, Same Bat Channel............................................ 22 Sunny Days & Warm Nights - Summer Patch 2005.................... 11 The Use of Parasitic Nematodes Against White Grubs in Turf.... 31 The way we were....................................................................... 29 Turf or consequences.................................................................. 35 University of Guelph Update..................................................... 25 Advertisers COVER PICTURE photo by Steve Lawrence Photography Donalda Club Agrotain International............................................................... 34 Almack Agronomic Services Inc..................................................20 Aquatrols .................................................................................... 29 Bartlett Tree Experts - Canada.................................................. 5 Bayer Environmental Science - Aliette..................................... 27 Bayer Environmental Science - Compass................................. 13 Bayer Environmental Science - Rovral Green GT......................24 Braemar Building Systems ........................................................28 Burnside Golf Services ............................................................. 5 DCS Agronomic Services .......................................................... 20 Fast Forest ...................................................................................20 G.C. Duke Equipment Ltd............................................................ 25 Guelph Turfgrass Institute ....................................................... 9 Green Horizons Group of Farms ............................................... 32 H & M Turf Ltd............................................................................. 3 Maple Turf Supply .............................................................. 10,32 Master's Turf Supply Ltd............................................................. 6 Nu-Gro ......................................................................................... 10 Nu-Gro - Eagle.............................................................................23 Nu-Gro - ProTurf...........................................................................30 Nutrite ........................................................................................ 22 Ontario Seed Company ............................................................. 29 P.E.S.T. Institute, The .................................................................. 5 OGSA is committed to Skyway Lawn Equipment Limited .......................................... 6 serving its members, Syngenta - BannerMAXX ........................................................... 33 Syngenta - PrimoMAXX............................................................. 21 advancing their profession, Turf Care Products Canada - Irrigation Division ...................... 26 and Turf Care Products Canada ........................................................ 36 enriching the quality United Agri Products Inc.............................................................. 20 Vanden Bussche Irrigation ...................................................... 7 of golf Wendover Construction Ltd......................................................... 12 and its environment. Zander Sod Co. Limited.............................................................. 5 President's message LOOKING BACK, PLANNING AHEAD I'm still relatively young enough to remember my first day working on a golf course, twenty-six plus seasons ago, promptly being sent out on a front-end rotary, as I recall. I eagerly watched my mentors back then practice the ‘art’ of the craft, then I decided ONTARIO GOLF SUPERINTENDENTS’ to learn the ‘science’ behind the wisdom. Years later I am fortunate ASSOCIATION enough to be able to fine-tune my concept of the ‘art’ component Guelph Turfgrass Institute 328 Victoria Road South while trying to keep most practices as simple and uncomplicated Guelph, ON N1H6H8 and unscientific as possible. That progression of a typical career Ph: 519-767-3341 probably holds true for most of us, I suspect. Remembering where we came from as a Toll Free: 877-824-6472 professional and an individual, and recognizing our future potential remain valuable lessons Fax: 519-766-1704 for today. Email: ogsa@gti.uoguelph.ca Periodically reminding ourselves of those life-lessons is one of my goals as President. As Website: www.golfsupers.on.ca your Board of Directors plans for a busy and fun-filled year ahead, one of their self-imposed BOARD OF DIRECTORS mandates is to re-visit our strategic planning document produced two years ago, with an President : Bob Burrows emphasis on continually ensuring that our vision and goals remain fresh and appropriate for Past President: Paul Scenna the times. We want to focus on a number of diverse membership areas, which only serve to Vice-President: Sean DeSilva meet the challenges we are facing as an association and profession. Looking at the ‘big-picture’ takes some extra time, but is usually well worth the exercise. Treasurer: Jeff Stauffer The board will also consider allocating our accumulated investment resources from a global Secretary: Randy Booker ‘rainy-day-fund’ into a series of separately dedicated funds earmarked for specific purposes DIRECTORS Jeff Alexander such as operating budget protection, capital/opportunities projects, research/scholarships, Chris Andrejicka education and environmental advocacy funds. We have retained the proven expertise of Jarrod Barakett investment advisors, and we expect our funds to grow substantially, utilizing fairly liquid Randy Booker investments of moderately low risk. As part of good governance, we also want to finalize the Doug Breen development of operating procedures for many activities/events, board portfolios and Trevor Clapperton internal office procedures. We will also initiate a study of our office space, storage and Rob Gatto staffing requirements as we look towards the OGSA’s future and our continual desire to Chris Nelson remain proactive. One organization merits special mention here, the OTRF. I want to specifically reiterate Executive Mgr Dorothy Hills our collective and complete support for this foundation which should be the legitimate Office Staff Pat Thomas Deborah Badger coordinator of turf research for golf facilities in Ontario. The OGSA continues to support their efforts both in terms of morale and money. We look forward to reviewing their project results, which can be of practical use in the application of our jobs to benefit golfers. I understand that the Ministry of Labour continues to conduct random workplace inspections, which include many turf workshops. I would encourage you to ensure that you are in compliance with current regulations and that your training procedures and documentation are all in order for any potential inspection. We should all strive to comply with all regulations as part of our everyday activities, not to mention the real need for IPM protocols and ongoing accreditation. It is in our interest to ensure that all applicable laws are met and exceeded. GREEN IS BEAUTIFUL EDITORIAL Our golf event tournament venues look terrific this season, and Trevor Clapperton and COMMITTEE Chris Andrejicka are to be commended as joint tournament conveners. The conference planning committee, chaired by Jeff Stauffer, is nearing completion of the education line-up John Bladon, Co-Editor for the Sheraton Centre Toronto event in January. Clearly, we have a lot to plan ahead for, Chris Nelson, Co-Editor and a lot to be thankful for. Building upon the success of our past is always gratifying, and I Dorothy Hills, Coordinating Manager know your board intends on having fun as we plan ahead on your behalf. Greig Barker Tom Brain Angelo Capannelli Brett Murray Direct Line 446-659-1020 Doug Davidson Manager Fax Line 519-941-0931 Jason Hanna “Green is Beautiful” Scott Horsburgh P.O. Box 218 Justin Parsons is Printed on Orangeville, ON Recycled Paper L9W 2Z6 Green is Beautiful 2006 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 brett. murray@sympatico.ca without the written permission of the publisher is prohibited. Editorial message Iwould like to how IPM recording could be the key to Up”. Along with this submission article, introduce myself to controlling this nasty disease. Our Ian will be the regular contributor to the you as the new feature article for this issue is from column “Above the Hole”, dedicated to “rookie” director to the Donalda Club depicting how the flood and intern student. We would like to board of the Ontario impacted them last August and steps thank the past contributor to this Golf Superintendents’ taken to return the property to a golf column, Justin Parsons, who has just Association. I was course, following the devastation. Also recently accepted the assistant’s position given the privilege as we have a technical report provided by at Trafalgar Golf and Country Club. by Chris Nelson part of my portfolio Ann-Marie Cooper from Plant Products Please take the time to enjoy this Co-Editor to work alongside the on an alternative approach for white month’s issue and we wish you the very very skilled Mr. John grub with the use of parasitic nematodes. best for the 2006 golfing season. Bladon as your co­ Finally, Jim Moore, from Puslinch Lakes editor for the 2006 publication year. I Golf Club, educates us on how to will do my very best to support the cultivate an environment for bats and fantastic magazine that is already in how they help with insect control. place. In January of this year, an As part of this issue, you will find an announcement was put out requesting update from Pam Charbonneau on water article submissions from turfgrass and pesticides legislation, which is a high priority for many of us. The support staff students. Ian Boyd, who is a first year student at the University of Guelph and Welcome! O.G.S.A. Welcomes at Engage Agro have provided us with a is also employed at Carruther’s Creek summary of Summer Patch in 2005 and Golf Club, responded to our request with our newest members referred to two case studies explaining an article entitled “From the Ground Sandra Bennett Class D Oakville Golf Club What's new Ian Boyd University of Guelph Class S Chris Bruining Class Supt. Horseshoe Resort ROSTER 2006/2007 John Chang ClassC Emerald Hills Golf Club David Gabric ClassS The new and improved Roster is now 2006 HUGH KIRKPATRICK BURSARY University of Guelph printed and all members should have -$2,500.00 Deadline - Oct. 15th James Gammage Class C Ridgetown Golf & CC received a copy with their May 2006 issue Kenneth Green Class D of Green is Beautiful. Please advise the 2006 TURFGRASS SHORT COURSE Amberwood Village Golf & CC office if you did not receive your copy. - $1,000.00 award based on marks Katerina Jordan Class D University of Guelph Brad Malton Class C OGSA has also committed to a yearly Links of Niagara $1,000.00 contribution to the Norman E. Joseph Pesek Class D OGSA SCHOLARSHIPS 2006 Lakeview House Golf Course McCollum Turfgrass Diploma Entrance David Schmitz Class A Conestoga Golf Club Scholarship, sponsored by the University Full information will be outlined in the Ken Tilt Class F of Guelph OAC Alumni Foundation. This is Deer Ridge Golf Club 2006/2007 Roster. Check in the Roster a $2500.00 scholarship. If you would like Jason Winter Class Supt. and on our web site www.golfsupers.on.ca, The Rock Golf Club information about this scholarship go to C.F. Crozier & Associates Inc. under the heading “Benefits” for full www.oac.uoguelph.ca/leaming/learn_turfg Christoper Crozier Class E details. rass.asp Cherry Golf Construction Doug Cherry Class E Future Green Inc. Class E 2006 TURFGRASS ECUCATION AWARD Ken Wray Please spread this scholarship information - $2,500.00 Deadline - Nov. 15th to anyone you know who might be Kuyan Distributors Ltd. Class E Brian J. Kuypers eligible. If you have any questions feel Pumps Plus Class E 2006 HERITAGE AWARD free to contact the office at (519) 767-3341 Steve Wilkinson - $2,500.00 Deadline - Aug. 31st or toll free (877) 824-6472 or email: Rothsay Class E Chris Broad ogsa@gti.uoguelph.ca OGSA SPRING CURLING CLASSIC 2006 The OGSA Spring Curling Classic took place March 23rd , at Dundas Valley Golf & Curling Club, hosted by Randy Booker. We were able to squeeze the finale of the winter season in just as Mother Nature had begun her push for another golf season. The talk of opening dates, removal of covers and “poa” survival were among the topics of the day. When it was finally time to get serious about the day many new curlers were introduced to the game for the first time, as 6 teams battled for supremacy. The winning Trainor rink, with skip Rhod Trainor, David Kuypers and rookie Mark Scenna, came away with an unblemished 2-0 record on its way to the 2006 title. Well done! A great time was had by all as the veterans showed the newcomers just how SUPPLIERS OF TOP QUALITY TURF PRODUCTS FOR OVER FORTY YEARS social this game is with good food and plenty of drink. A heartfelt thanks goes No. 1 Kentucky Bluegrass Ontario Distributor of Pre-grown out to all the participants and suppliers Dense turf with great colour for their contributions and support of the Five varieties of Bentgrass (877) 727-2100 Grown on USGA spec, sand or native sand 2006 OGSA Curling Classic. Fun was had Erosion Control System (905) 727-2100 by all as we enjoyed the last relaxing Extreme Fescue Drive on it—Park on it Drought resistant—ideal for naturalization Without damaging turf www.zandersod.com moment before the onslaught of another golf season, just around the corner. 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There is no charge or obligation. • Environmental Impact Assessment March........................ 12- 16, 2007 • Drinking Water Assessment If control measures are necessary, OTTAWA Bartlett will use the safest materials March........................ 26- 30, 2007 - applied properly to protect our Toll Free: (877) 799-8499 E-mail: vcirone@rjburnside.com environment. Website: www.rjburnside.com Government exam held on Monday When it comes to pest management, following each course. or general tree and shrub care, rely on the For more information and a brochure experts - Bartlett Tree Experts! contact: Call for your free inspection today!! Paul G. Pilley, B.Sc., M.P.M. P.O. Box 1021, Lindsay, ON K9V 5N4 Toronto • (416) 657-2059 Tel: (705) 324-PEST (7378) Bracebridge • (705) 646-8733 Fax: (705) 324-9729 Gravenhurst • (705) 687-0696 E-mail: ppilley@cogeco.ca Huntsville • (705) 789-0929 PESTICIDE TECHNICIAN COURSES ALSO AVAILABLE www.bartlett.com 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 Do You Do In The Winter? by John Taylor Superintendent, Hunters Pointe GC How many times has that question been asked to someone is laid out, the event really runs itself. Individual team reps in the turf industry? For many guys the answer is simple, we put together each team and Duncan Brewer from Turf Care play a little hockey. For many guys in the turf business, the handles the scheduling of the officials. The people at the answer has been the same for the past 12 years. January of arena help us with catering for our party and make sure the 1995 was the date of the inaugural Golf Course Hockey onsite restaurants are available for our use. I’m sure the Challenge. It’s hard to believe that 12 years have passed and local economy doesn’t mind the approx. 170 hockey players how the tournament has grown since that first year. that descend on its local businesses on a Monday and Four teams representing Toronto, Kitchener, Niagara and Tuesday in January. New York took to the ice that first year in a one day shoot-out As for this year’s tournament, 12 teams got together on that tested not only hockey skill, but endurance. The January 24th and 25th in Fort Erie, Ontario to compete in a 3 concept was dreamed up after a round of golf one hot division round-robin format tournament over 2 days. The summer day in July by Scott Dodson, Superintendent at the top 2 teams from each division then played in a final while Park Country Club in Buffalo N.Y. and yours truly, John the bottom 2 teams in each division were sent home to think Taylor, superintendent at Hunters Pointe Golf Course in about next year. At the end of the day the “A” championship Welland, Ont. The day of the tournament back in 1995 was went to Northern Ontario who defeated last year’s one of the worst winter storms we had all year with snow champion team, Toronto # 2, by a score of 3 to 1, in a hard mixed with freezing rain, but to our amazement everyone fought game. showed up. When team New York rolled in that morning The “B” championship was captured by a surprising with about 40 players and spectators on a highway bus, we London team which beat up on the entry from Ottawa 11 to knew we were on to something. 5 in the final. The downside to London’s victory is they will Since that first year things have changed but some things now have to compete in the “A” division in next year’s have stayed the same. We have moved sites from a single tournament. rink in Jordan, Ontario to a twin pad at Niagara University Finally, the “C” championship was captured by one of the in Niagara Falls, N.Y, to a twin pad with a hotel complex at originals as team Niagara taught team Kitchener # 1 a lesson Fort Erie, Ontario. The number of teams has changed from and romped a 7 to 2 victory. It should be noted that it was 4 to 6 to 8 to its present format of 12. Many of the original team Niagara’s first championship of any kind in the 12 year players have hung up the skates but every team still has some history of this tournament, which earned them a place in the original players. The competition has improved but we have “B” division next year. added divisions to try and keep things competitive. Most of Thanks, as always, go to all the players, coaches, spectators, all the tournament has remained, as many players have told referee’s, timekeepers and especially the sponsors who all me, the one event that everyone looks forward to each year come together to make this a very enjoyable event for all in the turf industry. who participate. If you would like more information on this One thing that has remained constant through the years event please email johntaylor@hunterpointe.ca. has been our industry sponsorship of the tournament. Right from day 1, Turf Care Products covered the cost of the ice time and have done every year since. Club Car came on board early and continues to sponsor an “attitude adjustment” party every year. Companies like Duke Equipment and Podolinsky Equipment continue as sponsors every year and Vanden Bussche Irrigation hands out refreshments after games. As well, many other companies have stepped forward to sponsor things such as sweaters, practice ice time, lunches, and travel and lodging costs for individual teams. One would think that a lot of time and effort goes into the organization of an event like this, but once the ground work 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 Express Dual 890 Fairground Rd. R.R. #4 Langton Ont. N0E 1G0 & AngleMaster Phone (519) 875-4094 Fax (519) 875-4095 Reel Mower Sharpeners Website: mastersturfsupply.com email: mastersturf@uniserve.com Health & safety Spill Response Welcome to summer!! The weather is closed sealed containers that have a list of the contents warming nicely and the anticipation of and a description on how to use the various components. summer is growing!! These kits must be inspected regularly to ensure that they Along with these thoughts it is are in good order. important to think about the ecology of Don’t make the assumption that every worker will your lands. Active spill response is a know how to respond to a spill emergency. Most workers by DougJohnson very important aspect of operating an have never had the exposure to a spill that needed to be SAFETAID and Health and Safety Consulting ecologically sound golf club. cleaned up, so it is imperative that there be very carefully First Aid and Safety Supplies If you experience a chemical spill on established procedures in the sealed kit identifying who is and WHMIS Training your golf property there are very responsible for each aspect of the clean-up. specific protocols that you must follow. Some of the things that you might consider putting into a Last September I wrote about ensuring that you had a spill clean-up kit are, absorbent pads, absorbent socks, functioning emergency plan. The emergency plan should neoprene drain covers, chemical gloves, chemical goggles, also include the emergency response for chemical spills disposable coveralls, granular sorbent such as “kitty litter”, on your club lands. heavy plastic recovery bags, a sturdy shovel and a pail to It is important that you have a spill response kit that is put all the collected material in after the spill clean-up. complete for the type of spills that you can foresee. Your If a spill does occur it is also necessary to inform the spill kit contents should be designed to ensure that all Ministry of Environment. A large spill will mean that the types of chemical spills are dealt with in an efficient and Ministry will get involved. It is better to have them timely manner. There are different products for involved, with their expertise, at the beginning of the spill absorbing different chemicals and the containers come in remediation than after, as they are able to advise you on many sizes so it is important to ensure that you have your clean-up process and doing it right will mitigate some completed a reasonable hazard assessment long before a of the potential loss and damage. spill occurs to determine the types and sizes of spills you might expect. It is also important to ensure that your staff is trained to respond quickly and efficiently to any spill that occurs. You should have a clearly designed set of Have a safe Summer! procedures in the event that a spill should occur. Your procedures should include information on those to SAFETAID contact, what must be done in the event that a spill occurs and how you should dispose of any material or product Your 1st stop in safety! that has been cleaned up. Most organizations have their spill response kits in T. 519-837-0997 • E 519-837-1996 The Intelligent Use of Water Upgrades, Renovations & New Installations From evaluation and design to implementation. Vanden Bussche Irrigation and Rain Bird will partner with you to succeed in achieving your irrigation goals. Milton 1.800.263.4112 www.vandenbussche.com King City 1.866.703.KING From roots to shoots In this edition of “Roots to shoots”, I practices that have been or will be implemented such as have attempted to give you an update on making sure there are no irrigation leaks and that all some new legislation, new pesticide uses irrigation equipment is performing well. or registrations and to make you aware of • A description of water conservation best management some other information that might be of practices and how and when they were or will be applied use to you this spring. such as water budgets and irrigation audits. • A list of certification for water conservation such as by Pam Charbonneau Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program. OMAF Turfgrass Specialist Permit fees and application form Legislation Update There is a $750 fee for Category 1 and 2 permits to take water. The fee for a Category 3 taking is $3000. The application to Changes to the Permit To Take Water take water form is on-line at the web site listed below. Ontario’s water taking is governed by the Ontario Water Resources Act (OWRA) and the Water Taking and Transfer Additional information Regulation 387/04. The water taking rules have been Information on the changes to the PTTW is available on-line overhauled to protect the provinces water supplies. The at www.ene.gov.on.ca. General information is also available purpose of these changes is to ensure a standard review through the MOE Public information Centre at 1-800-565- process from region to region, to insure that conservation 4923. measures are implemented and that high use watersheds are protected. There is now a requirement of annual monitoring Pesticide Update and reporting of water taking. For golf courses this will begin in January, 2007. The review of permits to take water (PTTW) URMULE for Demand Successful applications now have greater emphasis on environmental Landscape Ontario was successful in obtaining a Canadian considerations. In addition, any permits for increased takings registration for control of ants on turf for the Syngenta from high use water sheds will be refused. Maps of high use product cyhalothrin lambda (Demand). This submission watersheds are available on line at www.ene.gov.on.ca went through the user requested minor use label expansion program (URMULE). There were also some new uses for For new permits and renewals, applicants are required to some existing turf pesticide labels introduced in 2005/2006. classify their proposed water taking according to one of three They can be found in Table 1 (see product labels for details permit categories. on rates and timing). It is worth noting that we now have three products registered for use on summer patch which was Category 1. so devastating to many turf areas last year namely; A Category 1 is usually designated for a permit that is likely to propiconazole, myclobutanil and azoxystrobin. Refer to the have a low risk of causing adverse environmental impact. labels for instructions on use. Permit renewals of existing takings are a Category 1. Also, Table 1. New uses for currently registered pesticides new takings from ponds of less than 1 million litres/day from one of the Great Lakes or its connecting channels will be a Trade Name/Chemical Name Submitter Crop Pest Category 1. Category 2 and 3. Terraclor Flowable Engage Agro Turf brown patch/ Category 2 and 3 apply to water takings with a greater Fungicide/quintozene gray and pink potential for adverse environmental impacts. Category 2 snow mould applies to new and increased water takings that do not meet Senator 70 WP Engage Agro Turf brown patch/ the Category 1 criteria. A permit that is a category 2 requires dollar spot/ Fungicide/thiophanate a scientific evaluation completed by a qualified person. If the powdery mildew/ permit does not meet Category 1 or 2 it is classified as a methyl pink and gray category 3. A Category 3 permit has the additional snow mould requirement of a hydrogeological or hydroecological study by Heritage Engage Agro Turf summer patch a qualified person. Fungicide/Azoxystrobin Chipco Aliette T&O Bayer Turfgrass in foliar and Water conservation requirements All permit applications must document the conservation Fungicide/fosetyl-al golf courses, basal practices that they have undertaken throughout the life of the sod farms and anthracnose permit. This is done through a water conservation schedule. turf areas rot This includes: Entrust/spinosad (organic Dow Turf sod webworm formulation) Agrosciences • A checklist of water conservation best management National Minor Use Meetings A three day meeting was held in Ottawa on March 27, 28 and to thank Cindi for all her efforts and wish her well in her new 29th to prioritize the pesticide (herbicide, insecticide and ventures. OTRF has hired a new Executive Administrator who fungicide) needs for all of the crops grown in Canada. All of began work on April 1, 2006 named Debbie Conrad. Debbie the registrants who are interested in obtaining pesticide is keen to get to know the turf industry in Ontario and can be registrations in Canada were in attendance. Each of the reached at (519) 824-4120 x 56149 and by email at company representatives had a chance to share information otrf@gti.uoguelph.ca. on new actives that they are interested in bringing to market OTRF would also like to announce funding for Dr. Katerina in Canada. What was quite overwhelming was the number of Jordan for her project titled “Thatch management and different products that will become available for the turf management of velvet bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera) turf for market in Canada in the near future. There were use in reduced input golf course putting greens”. This project approximately 6-7 new actives that have been targeted toward will be funded for a total of $11,000 over the next two years. the Canadian turf market. In addition, British Columbia and Ontario have agreed to coordinate their efforts to pursue Turf Agriphone started up April 7, 2006 minor use label expansions for cyhalothrin lambda for This is a reminder that the weekly updates on turf sponsored leatherjacket control and also either azoxystrobin or by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs began propiconazole for control of take-all patch under the on Friday, April 7, 2006. These weekly updates which contain URMULE program. timely information on current pest activity can be accessed by telephone at 1-888-290-4441 or they can be found on the CTRF Turfgrass and OMAFRA web site at http://apps.omafra.gov.on.ca/ Environment Research Report scripts/english/crops/agriphone/index.asp#Turfgrass CTRF has a report available that summarizes the thirteen turf research projects that they have funded in Canada between 1993 and 2004. This report is available on-line at the GTI Turf Diagnostics following location www.rcga.org/english/GreenSection/ The early spring has meant an early flood of samples to the turfgrass_research_summary.asp Hard copies of the report GTI Turf Diagnostics. This service delivers an expert can be obtained from the Ontario Turfgrass Research diagnosis for turf diseases with a quick turn around time. Foundation by emailing otrf@gti.uoguelph.ca. Information on the service and pricing can be found at www.uoguelph.ca/GTI/turf_diag. Also at that address, you OTRF News can find forms that need to accompany the turf samples, as Cindi Charters, who has been the Ontario Turfgrass Research well as information on how to take a sample to insure a proper Foundation’s Executive Administrator for the past 15 years, diagnosis and payment options. has retired as of March 31, 2006. Cindi has been instrumental in coordinating the research and fundraising activities of the association. Most of you will know Cindi for untiring dedication to organizing the highly successful annual OTRF Fundraising Golf Tournament. The turf industry would like 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 TurfDiagnostics Dr. Katerina S. Jordan, Assistant Professor and Erica Gunn, Research Technician Guelph Turfgrass Institute • University of Guelph - 328 Victoria Rd. South, R.R. #2, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1H 6H8 Phone: 519-824-4120 • Dr. Jordan, ext. 56615 / Erica Gunn, ext. 52055 • Fax: 519-766-1704 Email: Dr. Jordan - kjordan@uoguelph.ca • Erica Gunn - egunn@uoguelph.ca Canadian Golf Superintendents Association news Many of you attended the recent conference in accumulate the needed “continuing education credits” Vancouver, and by all reports, the conference is regarded (CEC’s). You will have the option of moving from a as a great success! The educational lineup was “Superintendent Member” to accredited, then to “Master outstanding, the venue was terrific, and the local support Superintendent” upon completion of an exam and was evident accompanied by record attendance. The accumulation of CEC’s. I would encourage you to invest in Ontario contingent was very visible Vancouver is truly an your career and plan ahead for compliance and awesome city with lots to do and see! I would like to thank professional development. the various event sponsors and especially the conference The registration brochure for the September 18th Fall chairman, Tim Kubash and his committee for contributing Field Day at Le Diable Golf Course, Mont Tremblant to the success of this event. Congratulations also to Neil Quebec (1.5 hours drive north of Montreal), is now Blayney of Alberta, upon his election to the position of available. This venue will continue with the theme of our president of the CGSA! Thanks also to immediate past recent sites such as Whistler and Jasper. We are planning president, Ian Martinusen and to Jim Nix, outgoing past to offer a free half-day seminar prior to the Fall Field Day president for all of their years of dedicated service to the on the morning of Sunday, September 17, 2006. This CGSA. We all look forward to the Montreal conference seminar will be open even to those who do not plan to next March. attend the Fall Field Day. The provincial association will Syngenta is to be commended for taking an active and also be hosting a welcome reception on the Saturday substantial long-term sponsorship position with CGSA and evening, with details to follow. Plan to register soon, as this our educational initiatives by agreeing to renew a three- event will fill up quickly and you may be left out. year funding arrangement. They announced their The “Score” awards dinner in May will see our friend renewed commitment in Vancouver, and we thank them Rhod Trainor, of Hamilton Golf 8c Country Club, being for their visible support of our industry. recognized for his achievements and commitment to At our pre-conference board meetings in Vancouver, excellence as “Superintendent of the Year”. approval was given to the development and I also need to announce that the OGSA will be required implementation of seminars aligned with our NOS, with to nominate one CGSA member for Ontario Director in the finalization of two exams for accredited and master the fall., as I have moved up to the position of secretary­ candidates. The ongoing cost of holding a trade show with treasurer of CGSA, at the Vancouver AGM. A replacement education and social components has risen over the years, CGSA Ontario director will be selected at the Montreal with the CGSA attempting to hold registration dollar AGM, March 2007. The OGSA board will receive numbers at 1998 levels. The Board has decided to candidates’ submitted and forward only one name to the incrementally increase the conference registration over CGSA nominating Committee for the AGM appointment. the next few years in order to recover rising costs of Consider getting involved; I know that there are a lot of holding this national event. Don’t forget about the newly outstanding members to choose from in Ontario for this instituted educational requirements to retain current position. membership beginning July 7th. There is a grandfathering All the best for a successful season for both you and provision, but after five years you will be required to your club! Doug Hubble Sales and Marketing Manager 519.770.3157 Mark Schneider dhubble@nu-gro.ca Technical Sales John Bladon Maple Turf Supply Business: (905) 857-2000 IPM Coordinator / Technical Sales 8112 King Rd. W. Fax: (905) 857-8215 P.O. Box 370 Mobile: (519) 372-5181 519.574.2013 Bolton, Ontario 1-800-268-4425 jbladon@nu-gro.ca L7E 5T3 Email: m___schneider@sympatico.ca www.nu-groturf.com Sunny Days & Warm Nights - Summer Patch in 2005 by Dr. Brenda Nailor Tim Steen R&D, Registration Manager, Engage Agro Sales Representative, Engage Agro brendanailor@engageagro.com timsteen@engageagro.com (519) 826-7878 x249 (519) 827-8256 In 2005, southern Ontario experienced a heat wave Case 2 most of the summer. The sunny days and warm nights On another course in southern Ontario, during the were perfect for cold drinks on a patio, but reeked havoc same time, a superintendent with a lot of experience with on our local golf courses. As a new sales representative for Pythium foliar blight noticed what he thought was Engage Agro, Tim Steen had the grim yet rewarding task Pythium on the collars of the greens. The turf managers of visiting golf courses with unusual disease pressure thought the greens were “burning out” when they saw the under the extreme weather conditions. Two cases in symptoms. He sent samples to the New York laboratory. particular were worth writing about. The course had undergone a very late-fall aeration and the holes did not have ample time to heal before the Case 1 pathogen became active in the early spring. As well, this Monday, July 18, saw us experiencing prolonged heat course normally is treated in early-spring with a (mean temperature 26 - 30°C) and humidity. On a preventative application for basal rot anthracnose, but the southern Ontario golf course, the superintendent had application was not made in 2005. The spring was dry planned to spray in the morning, but the forecasted rain with above normal temperatures followed by two heavy delayed the application of 2 oz propiconazole plus 12 g rainfalls. Subsequent management practices were azoxystrobin until the following day. The application was standard, which included simple cultural controls, to protect against a number of diseases, particularly for monitoring moisture levels, and syringing when needed. summer patch, which was diagnosed the previous month. The diagnosis from the laboratory was again summer By Wednesday, the assistant and superintendent patch. noticed severe wilting but no patch symptoms were visible, so they began to syringe in the morning. After all, they believed they were protected from turf diseases with the application made the previous day. The disease progressed until the next Monday. On July 26 they sent samples to diagnostic laboratory in New York. The samples were evaluated on a scale of 1 to 5 for summer patch disease pressure and the course’s samples were “positive, 4” for all the greens sampled. The recommendation from the laboratory was to spray (off label) with thiophanate methyl. The following Monday, August 1st, subsequent samples were rated a “1”; therefore, the turf was improving. The superintendent managed to get the disease under control with post-infection, efficacious applications of thiophanate methyl and a break in the weather. Preventative applications of thiophanate methyl were continued on August 8th and 31st. Back to Basics On Saturday, August 6th, a group of superintendents, mainly from the London area, met with invited guest Dr. Joe Vargas. Vargas advised the superintendents on the summer patch problems they were experiencing, and suggested they go back to the basics of growing grass by keeping the turf (new and old) as cool as possible with frequent, light irrigation (with absolutely no heavy watering), using a high nitrogen program to promote growth of the plants and reducing plant growth regulator applications until the plants were healthy again. Continued on page 12. Sunny Days & Warm Nights - Summer Patch in 2005 continued... Hind sight is 20/20 After doing the post-mortem on the series of events, one can likely point out the management strategies that would have made a difference in the outcome. If fungicides are being used, they must be used preventatively to manage summer patch, because the pathogen is active long before symptoms are apparent. There are two variables, however, that make preventative applications of fungicides difficult: 1) we cannot predict long term weather patterns with a high success rate, and 2) we cannot predict the presence of the pathogen if we do not have a history of the disease. Depending on the superintendent’s turf disease tolerance threshold, they will have to make the personal choice to spray preventatively or to hope that the weather will not be conducive to anthracnose again this summer. IPM Records Are Key To know where to spray the pesticide, and when to spray, consulting last year’s IPM records is the key. The superintendent should have a record of the weather conditions and cultural practices that may have exacerbated the disease, the day the symptoms first appeared, and a map of where the disease appeared. The record should be a stand alone document that requires no interpretation or consultation because the information may be required years from now by other personnel at the golf course. By looking at the records, the superintendent can estimate when and where the pathogen will cause damage. By monitoring the local temperatures, the superintendent can know the general time when the pathogen will start to grow in the spring and won’t need to wait for symptoms to appear. Recommendations are that applications of a registered fungicide be applied in April or May when the soil temperature is greater than 16°C at a 5cm depth for 4 consecutive days. Through good records, the spray program can be evaluated at the end of the season and altered according to manage this season from year to year. - New Course Construction - Course Renovations - Water Feature Development Authorized Distributor/lnstaller: Shaping fine golf courses since 1972 905-876-4096 www.wendover.on.ca Zero in on fairway disease control. Strong enough for your greens - economic enough for your fairways. COMPASS 50WG has everything you need in a strobilurin fungicide: excellent disease control, broad spectrum activity and low use rates. With its revolutionary mesostemic mode of action, COMPASS binds tightly to turf and redistributes itself. This prevents infection and maintains continuous protection of the treated and nearby turf plants for up to 21 days. COMPASS is strong enough for your greens and economical enough for your fairways. Learn more about the proven performance of COMPASS today - the best direction in turf protection. www.bayeres.ca 1 -888-283-6847 Compass 50WG FUNGICIDE ALWAYS READ PRODUCT LABEL PRIOR TO USE. Compass™ is a trademark of Bayer. Always read and follow label directions. Management Challenges at Links Style Golf Clubs by Doug Davidson, Superintendent Glencairn Golf Club Recently, the golf industry has witnessed resurgence in the number of links style golf courses brought to the marketplace. Large Fairways; small primary fescue rough areas: Internationally, there has been the development of such high profile When we think of links golf courses most of us would think of St courses as Brandon Dunes, Whistling Straits, the site of the 2004 PGA Andrews. The Old Course is actually quite wide open with plenty of Championship, and perhaps most fittingly, Doonbeg Golf Club, short grass that allows golfers to play any given hole a variety of ways. Ireland. In lieu of a trip to Ireland, a visit to Doonbeg’s website is However, once you are off the maintained playing surfaces the long highly recommended at www.doonbeggolfclub.com. grass, gorse and heather are extremely penal. There are many Closer to home, and to name a few, we have seen the successful exceptions including Carnoustie, which has rather small fairways in introduction of Eagles Nest Golf Club, The Club at Bond Head and comparison. In actual fact, the links courses that are exceptions to Glencairn Golf Club, where I am currently the golf course this rule may number as many as those that adhere to the rule. superintendent. In this article, I will elaborate on the design Regardless, most links golf courses share the idea that you are either elements of links style golf courses and examine how these elements ‘in play’ or ‘out of play’. In play, the golfer has fair opportunity to affect the management of the golf course. advance his/her ball. Out of play, good luck! Links courses rarely I use the term “links style” to distinguish Glencairn and other have penal primary roughs like we are accustomed to seeing at PGA inland golf courses from the true links courses found in Scotland or events like the U.S. Open. Additionally, the fairways will yield uneven Ireland. Many golf courses make the claim to be links golf courses lies as a result of being shaped by the forces of nature rather than a and although many golf courses do have links elements, they are not bulldozer. true “links”. Links is a term that refers to a very specific geographic land form found in Scotland. Such tracts of low-lying seaside land Absence of Trees: are characteristically sandy, treeless and undulating and often with True links golf courses have few, if any trees. Trees play neither a lines of dunes or dune ridges. Considered poor land for farming, strategic or aesthetic role on links golf courses. They are not from the Middle Ages these tracts of links land were common employed to force golfers to shape shots or frame landing areas or ground for sports, including archery, bowls and golf. The “golf green sites. In fact, seeing St Andrews for the first time is rather courses” were found there by those playing golf, which consisted of anticlimactic as it is very difficult to discern individual holes. hitting a ball from one area to a target, and were routed through the However, you can see large portions of the golf course from various dunes. The golf courses that evolved in these locations are the type locations and these wide vistas are part of the links experience. most of us would recognize as links courses. These courses contain During the Open Championship, the crowds and grandstands the following design elements: perform a similar role to that of trees by framing holes. Without the presence of crowds and grandstands, links courses are wide open. Bunkering: Each of these design characteristics presents unique management Free flowing, jagged edged dunes style bunkering. This style challenges and these tests are not strictly confined to maintenance. evolved naturally as a result of golfer traffic, the activity of foraging It is apparent that links style courses challenge other items such as; animals, and the prevailing winds. Areas of turf removed through the management of the tee sheet, the health and safety of both the iron play would evolve and change with the prevailing winds. Historic golfer and staff member and to the operating and capital budget of golf articles document golfers remarking that the bunkers changed the club. on a daily basis. Stacked sod wall bunkers. Initially railroad timbers were employed in an effort to stop the progress of erosion, shore up the sides of bunkers and retain the shape of the bunker. Railroad timbers were eventually replaced by sod, an inexpensive and available construction material that was cut in bricks and stacked. Of note, this evolution is little different from the sod walled houses of the prairie settlers. These bunkers have evolved into the pristine sod walls we now see at St. Andrews and other courses that host the British Open. This style of bunker is often hidden and has perimeters that roll into the bunker and are extremely penal. Fescue/Gorse: In the absence of trees, links golf courses have an abundance of long grasses and clumps of low growing shrubs. Expanses of “unmaintained” areas frame playing surfaces and contain mounds, rolls, concave berms and dunes. In some cases they are completely unshaped by human hands although generally speaking there has been some modification to the natural terrain of the golf course. Bunkering: Perhaps the single biggest management challenge has been Firm and Fast Playing Conditions: bunker maintenance. Glencairn Golf Club has 181 sod walled As links golf courses are located on coarser, sandier soils, they are bunkers with faces as deep as 8 feet. Unlike the stacked sod walled generally well drained and, as a result, typically firm and fast. Golf bunkers in Europe we have made a conscious effort here to keep the balls tend to run further once on the ground allowing for a variety of bunker faces alive and actively growing. When they are actively shots to be played into greens. This is a must when ocean winds growing they require weekly mowing, at a minimum. All mowing is make ball flight difficult to predict. I have heard British done with string trimmers as the severity of the slope prohibits use of commentators remark that the golf course should be “biscuit brown” any other technique. for the Open. Alas, even the Open has succumbed to the demands Unfortunately, with the heat and drought we have experienced in of television and looks increasingly green every year. the last two years, it has been a real struggle to keep the faces actively growing. It is difficult to water a wall! Irrigation water does not move established, the irrigation became obsolete. In spite of this, these horizontally into the wall even with judicious hand watering. locations need to be marked and maintained as they require a visit Additionally, grass is geotropic. This means the roots naturally grow during the irrigation blowout. down and so forcing growth on a wall defies the plant’s natural instincts. Droughty or dormant faces are not particularly stable and are, as such, subject to erosion. Not uncommon, are faces that accumulate large amounts of sand because of concentrated play on one small area. These are more likely to “check out” in droughty conditions. Collapsed or deteriorated faces are also becoming more prevalent as the course ages. We will discover the true cost to repair these degraded faces as we tackle the more severe cases this year. Faces can also degrade due to foot traffic. The average golfer can find it difficult to enter and exit some of the bunkers with deep faces the entire way around and less fit or older golfers have greater accessibility problems. As a result, we have noticed degradation of the entry and exit points. Another concern is golf cart traffic. The bunkers are very difficult to see if traveling backward through the course and so for safety reasons, golfers unfamiliar with the property, like corporate event participants, are encouraged to follow cart paths in returning to the clubhouse following their round. The positioning of the bunkers also makes it difficult to spray pest Firm and Fast Playing Conditions: protection products. Spray patterns must be well thought out to In my experience, most golfers do not enjoy firm fast playing avoid either burying a sprayer in a bunker or from missing or conditions. Most enjoy the extra carry when they drive the ball to a overlapping with an application. Lastly, the sod walls have been a firm fairway but do not enjoy hitting into firm greens. This holds haven for the field mice, voles and wasps on the property. All of these particularly true for older golfers who have a difficult time hitting the pests exploit any fissures in the faces to nest. ball in the air. “Holding” shots to firm greens is clearly more difficult. Not everyone has embraced the bump and run aspect of the design at Glencairn. Trying to maintain firm & fast conditions has resulted in some less than positive customer comments. Large Fairways, Uneven Lies & Small Fescue Primary Rough Areas: Again, traffic management is very challenging on this style of golf course. It should be noted that golf carts are rarely used on the true links courses in the old country. Having said that, carts are an integral part of the revenue stream at North American clubs and begrudgingly, we accept them on the golf course. Additionally, fescue does not handle traffic as well as bluegrass. Spray costs rise with the increased size of the fairways. This is most evident with weed control and snow mold protection. Absence of trees: Prior to commenting on the challenges of managing a golf course with few trees, I should acknowledge that it makes for great growing conditions. Glencairn has two greens that have shade problems, #3 Fescue - “Not Maintained”: on the Leithfield 9 and #8 on the Speyside 9. I know most people It would be terribly inaccurate to call fescue unmaintained. would envy us for that reason. We take it for granted that trees Fescue is, in my experience, very slow to establish. It should be noted perform a safety role by screening on the golf course. Imagine your that fescue does not particularly like clay-based soils and it is golf course without any trees. There are bound to be some tighter commonly found on those sandy links courses for a reason. areas that would warrant safety considerations. Additionally, in the Combine slow establishment with a clumping habit and you have a absence of trees golfers use their ingenuity to find the quickest route stand of turf that is riddled with weeds. During our first year we from tee to green. On some doglegs this can present a problem. It worked hard to alternatively mow with a rotary at 6” and spray the is not uncommon to find a creative golfer making his way cross­ long grass. For the most part, we have the weeds under control. country from tee to green. These cross-country navigations can be Apart from aesthetics it is very important to keep the fescue weed hazardous to players and staff members alike. Trees also serve to free and ‘thinned’ to improve the pace of play. We believe the golfer provide privacy, shade, relief from the sun and wind, and reductions must be able to find his/her ball and have the reasonable of noise. Glencairn can be a hot, relentlessly windy location to golf opportunity to advance it. The large stands of fescue also tend to and we often find golfers undertaking dubious activities to find relief concentrate traffic. Where parkland style courses have large from the sun and wind. In terms of noise, celebratory cheers seem expanses of short clipped bluegrass, Glencairn is a 280-acre site with that much louder in the middle of an open expanse of ground very little primary rough. We try to discourage golfers from driving In closing, no golf course is without its management challenges. in the fescue (another challenge) but this necessitates increased The lessons at Glencairn have reinforced that each course, links style traffic on the short grass. Also, the islands of fescue that frame most or parkland, presents its own set of challenges. The links style course holes force golfers to exit and enter play areas through tiny little offers an alternative to the parkland courses that saturate the market. corridors of short cut fescue. These areas require a concerted effort Success, in a competitive marketplace, depends on with roping to control traffic flow. Final challenges are employee owners/operators finding their niche. It has been said that we are in movement and irrigation obsolescence and locates. We have paths the “experience” business. Links style courses like Glencairn Golf throughout the fescue for employee traffic flow. These paths need Club offer the golfer a unique experience and serve a niche in the to be periodically changed or the grass is lost forever. Also lost are marketplace. For those reasons, the management challenges are quick coupling valves or other valves that are not marked with stakes. well worth it. Irrigation was specifically installed to grow in the fescue and once Member profile Interview with Scott Bowman by Doug Davidson, Superintendent Glencairn Golf Club and raised on a dairy farm in Listowel, Ontario, Scott Bowman has risen to the position Born of superintendent at one of the province’s finest golf courses. Anyone who played in the Western Ontario Golf Superintendents Association Taylor Barnes Tournament, last October, will know the treachery of the greens at Greystone. Don’t make the mistake of thinking the greens were “tricked” up for the event. Sure, a little extra preparation went into the presentation of the golf course but the greens are typically that fast for member events. I sat down recently with Scott to discuss how he arrived at Greystone. Scott started his relationship with golf early, as a member of Listowel Golf Course, at the age of 10. He played golf on the high school team and it was at this point that he first considered a career in golf. In 1992 he joined the Listowel greens crew, through a high school co-op position. He managed to convince then, Listowel’s superintendent, Bob Greer to hire him for the summer. Scott continued to work at Listowel for the next two summers while attending high school. A high school guidance counselor alerted Scott to the Golf Course Technician’s Program, at Seneca College and in 1994 he enrolled at Seneca. His summer co-op term for 1995 was spent at Maitland Golf Club working for Paul Lynch, Superintendent. The following summer and after graduation he worked at Elmira Golf Club as the irrigation technician with Paul Romahn, Superintendent. Scott returned to school in 1996 to pursue his Associate Diploma in Agriculture from the University of Guelph. He continued playing golf at Guelph and was successful in making the varsity team, the Gryphons. Upon graduation Scott accepted a position with Greystone Golf Club. He was hired at Greystone by Jeff Allen, who is now the superintendent at The Lake Joseph Club. Scott was convinced that joining a growing company like ClubLink would provide excellent career opportunities. ClubLink could also provide the instant association of peers and the camaraderie that could facilitate the networking that would serve to nurture and develop his own skills. His convictions proved correct and Scott was promoted to assistant superintendent in 2000 and, ultimately, superintendent in 2004. Scott has been a member of the OGSA since 1998 and is also a member of the WOGSA, the CGSA and the GCSAA, and comments, “It’s important to be a member of the OGSA.... there is no better way to network. The Association affords you the opportunity to call guys up regarding current issues, and provides the camaraderie that helps ease the stress on days when you love it to hate it.” Having grown up the son of dairy farmer Scott is no stranger to hard work. He cites his parents as having the biggest influence on his career. Scott’s parents never discouraged him from leaving the farm and are quite proud of what he has accomplished in his career. Incidentally, his parents extricated themselves from dairy farming in 1997. Scott remarks, “Hard work, patience and a little luck, by being in the right place at the right time, are what lead me to my career standing now.” Scott still plays golf regularly and competitively though the glory days of a single digit handicap have come and gone. Most recently he was part of the WOGSA team that was bettered in the cross border challenge by the Western New York Golf Superintendents Association. Scott was partnered with Bob Egerton, Superintendent, Fox Run Golf Club. Together they managed to win 3 of a possible 4 points in their match. “Bowsy” is also an avid hockey player having won an International Silver Stick, an All Ontario Championship and most recently, a Senior AA Championship, representing the Palmerston 81’s in the Western Ontario Hockey League. It should be noted he is currently considering retirement from hockey to spend more time with his wife, Kristen, of two years and his dog, appropriately named, Cooper. He may even find some time to fish, hunt and visit his in-laws at Pike Lake, a favourite summer retreat. "In the Hot Seat" • Favorite Major? U.S. Open • Favorite Architect? Pete Dye • Ultimate Foursome...you and what three? John Daly, Wayne Gretzky, Jack Nicklaus • Lowest round ever and where? 71 at Maitland Golf Course • Favorite course outside Canada? Carnoustie • Best piece of turf equipment? Salsco roller • What is in the CD player? Mixed Country • Favorite meal? Anything Thai • Favorite movie? Slapshot • Stanley Cup pick? Ottawa • Rate your home lawn (1 worst, 10 best) 10 - New Home, New Sod • What would you be doing if you weren’t working in the turf business? Farming, specifically milking cows Golf course highlight Glencairn Golf Club 9923 Regional Road 25, Halton Hills ON L9T 2X7 Website: www.clublink.ca Golf Course Superintendent: Doug Davidson Email: ddavidson@clublink.ca Photo by Doug Davidson COURSE PROFILE What type of irrigation system? Rebuild gold and blue tee complex 7 Toro, OSMAC scotch block to address safety concerns What county is your club located in? Remediation of construction ‘dump site’ Halton What is the size of greens, tees & fairways? Driving range net installation 4.5 acres of greens Is your club private, semi private, public, resort or 4.5 acres of tees Rockwall construction municipal? 45 acres of fairways Private with 680 members LONG RANGE PLANS What is your predominant grass? Typical number of rounds Bent, Greens SR 1119 What long range plans for renovation do you 45,000 rounds per year have in the next five years? Tees and Fairways Dominant Extreme Typical opening and closing date -Re-vegetation as mandated by How many USGA and loam greens? Conservation Authority Mid April - Late November 29 modified USGA -Viewing platform 4 SS How long have you been a superintendent? What is the predominant soil type? -Tree planting and fairway expansion and 6 years realignment 4 Leithfield Clay -Additional tree planting for screening How long have you been an O.G.S.A. member? What equipment do you have in inventory? and safety 6 years 9 - GM 1000 -Sod wall bunker renovations How many staff? 4 - GM 1600 -Clubhouse surrounds improvements Up to 5 year round and 45 seasonal staff 6 - GM 3000 Series -Rockwall construction Triplex Mount Verticut, Spiker Heads -Irrigation upgrades Who are your assistants and mechanics? 1 - Jacobsen Tri King Assistant: David Boehmer 3-Toro 5100 D CHALLENGES Mechanic: John Leether 1 - John Deere 3235 Asst Mechanic: Jordan Cockerill Are there any particular challenges you face 1 - Toro Groundsmaster 3500 D with your property? How many gardening staff? 1 - Ransomes AR 250 -Size of site - 280 acres 2 1 - Sand Pro 2000 -Exposed site — drought, irrigation 6 - Club Car Golf Carts effectiveness and water supply COURSE STATISTICS 5 - EZ GO Golf Carts -Screening and Safety - absence of trees 2 - Yamaha Golf Carts and close proximity of holes due to How many holes? 27 14 - Toro Workman 2100 ‘pinching’ caused by railway crossing and 1 - Workman 3300 environmentally protected areas What is the yardage from back and forward tees? 1 - Workman 3200 -Railway Crossing - noise, mowing 6,922 yards from the back tees (max) and 1 - Kubota 4310 Tractor routes 5,285 yards from the front tees (max) 1 - Kubota 6800 Tractor -Sod walled bunkers - maintenance and • 1 - Kubota 3830 Tractor construction What is the size of driving range and tee range? 2 - Super Tilt 1.5 acres bent teeing surface -Growing fescue primary and secondary 1 - John Deere 8875 Loader roughs 42 individual artificial turf teeing stations 1 - Toro MP 110 Sprayer Fairway is 300 yd by 270 yd. SUCCESS STORIES 1 - Toro 5200 Sprayer How many bunkers? 1 - Bergal B40 Blower Do you have any success stories? 181 1 - Toro Rake O Vac Bringing to completion the construction 1 - Propass 180 How many times does water come into play? of the course (completed by 1 - Procore 880 40 million gallon reservoir (not in play), man­ Superintendent David Wyllie). Was 1 - Procore 660 made rock walled ‘burn’ (dedicated pump for considered a very successful launch in 1 - Salsco Greens Roller circulation) comes into play 3 times. Six forced terms of membership sales and public 1 - Express Dual 2000 relations. carries over Conservation Authority mandated 1 - Anglemaster 2000 buffer zones that protect tributary. Working with a tremendous management 1 - Ryan Sodcutter team to meet the expectations of our Who was the original architect? 4 - Stihl Handheld Blower members and their guests and to create a Thomas McBroom 4 - Stihl BR 420 Backpack Blower unique golf experience. 5 - Lawnboy 6.5 Hp What was the year of original construction? 2 - Little Wonder 13 Hp Blower Please list any innovative cultural practices Opened June 2004 9 - Stihl 85 R Trimmers you may perform. What major tournaments have been held? Various Spreaders, Tractor Implements and Close cooperation with the golf Ultimate Nassau 2005 Hand Tools department to rotate the starting nines on a weekly basis to provide an opportunity COURSE PROJECTS to perform extensive work (aerifying tees, What is the size of your maintenance shop? Admin/Lunch room - 1,800 ft2 What projects have you recently completed? spraying fairways, cutting fescue, etc.) on Cold Storage - 7,200 ft2 1st of 3 year curbing any given nine every three weeks. We Mechanic Bay, Grinding room - 2,500 ft2 have a new ‘back nine’ every week. Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining by Paul Grotier, Assistant Superintendent Donalda Club thin layer of silt but damage was not as considerable seeing as they On Friday, August 19th, a series of severe thunderstorms tracked are perched above the eventual high water mark of the storm. The eastward across southern Ontario ranging from Kitchener to bunkers within the river valley were completely washed away Oshawa, effecting the northern half of Toronto. At its worst, the including the sand, drainage and in some cases, shape. Additional system spawned two F2 tornadoes with winds gusting between 180 to the storm, so heavy were the previous day’s rains that they and 250 km/h. The severity of the storm was such that according severely washed-out and contaminated bunkers clear of the Don to the Insurance Board of Canada, the resulting damage River’s flood waters. Also, the north end of the course had represented the highest insured loss in the provinces history, sustained significant river erosion as most of the river lined flood exceeding $500 million, more than Ontario’s losses during the and erosion control systems had failed. infamous ice storm of 1998. The Donalda Club, located at Don Mills Road and York Mills, lies just south of where the eye of the storm struck, which passed through Don Mills Road and Finch Avenue spilling approximately 150mm of rain. The East Don River Valley which runs through the Donalda Club is a collection point for urban runoff. The river rose more than three meters in over one hour resulting in many holes being under three feet of water. The only unaffected holes were #10 through #14. At its highest point, water levels reached the door handle of the pump house and completely submersed the maintenance building’s basement. Thankfully, Scott White, Course Superintendent and Warren Wybenga, Equipment Manager, who both live on the property, shut of the power to our maintenance building, equipment bams and the pump house before they The damage was not just limited to the turf and bunkers since became completely inaccessible. with the exception of one bridge next to the maintenance building, every bridge on the property sustained damage. In most cases, access ramps, including structural trusses, had been either washed away or heaved out of place. While most bridge frames suffered no damage, the walking bridge on the sixth hole had been completely washed away leaving only the footings. The majority of bridge damage was to conduit carrying satellite wires, irrigation lines and potable water lines had also been damaged. Cartpaths were no exception and in some instances, entire sections measuring about 10 feet long were washed up and deposited in various locations on the course. As the extent of the damage became apparent, the most important part of the renovation initiative was set in motion: a plan which would prioritize areas of immediate concern. The focus of By the following morning, most of the river water had receded the grounds staff that day was saving the areas of our greens under making the course accessible for damage evaluation. Silt, sand and silt. First, power needed to be restored to our pump house. With nd gravel had been deposited all over the course being most visible damage to power supply lines, we were able to fire up the significant on the rough and fairways. A few greens and tees had a pumphouse in order to pressurize our irrigation lines to start hosing off the greens. We used high pressure irrigation water and corroded after being submerged in water had to be refurbished plastic snow shovels to clear off the silt as soon as possible. This and the lower putting green satellite was relocated to higher method worked well and by the end of the day, all the silt had been ground. The satellite was upgraded to a ToroVp from a Toro removed. While crews were hard at work, Paul Scenna, former Network 8000, which would allow us to obtain single head control superintendent, was busy securing contractors to help assist in the for the lower putting green, the first fairway and its tees. course renovation, preparing a summary presentation for the membership and finalizing a detailed restoration and improvement plan. On Sunday, focus then turned to saving our tees. The previous day’s method was used and by the end of the day most tees were clear of silt Recommendations were needed to address the restoration and improvement of erosion sites inflicted during the flood along the Don River. It was decided that a long range master plan detailing various ways to stabilize the river would be drawn-up in order to provide a blueprint prioritizing areas needing immediate attention. One such technique is bio-engineering. This method The restoration project was too big for our crew to handle alone incorporates rounded armour stone and plantings of native; necessitating outside help. Bill Searle of North Gate Farms was vegetation which will be implemented on the most susceptible called in to be the major contractor to renovate the course. Due to areas of the river. This will help stabilize the banks and help reduce the immense scale of the job, Chris Baynham of North Gate Farms, damage from increasing water speed as it flows downstream. who had previously worked on the construction of the Georgian Bay Club, was brought in as the project manager to help coordinate the restoration. Furthermore, we were still responsible for the day- to-day maintenance of the unaffected parts of the golf course. With a work crew now totaling over 70, including Donalda’s grounds crew of 25, crews could be divided to tackle different tasks. From this point, focus turned to fairways, rough and bunkers. We hosed off as many fairways as possible, and in some cases, once the silt dried, we were able to use a power-sweeper to sweep off silt and debris. However, some large areas including rough and fairways, approximately 18 acres worth, were covered in very thick silt that ranged from 6 inches to 3 feet deep. So for these areas, skid-steers and large excavators picked up the debris and put them into wagons to be hauled to a dump site. Concurrently, bunkers had to be cleaned, re-drained and reshaped. Seizing this as an opportunity Despite the size of the project, the course was re-opened for play to improve the bunkers, the Club decided to switch from Ohio Best on October 8th, a mere 50 days after the devastating flood. Once all 535 sand to Sidley Pro/Angle. A total of 1500 tons of new sand had was said and done, an astounding 18 acres worth of sod was used, to be trucked in. Also, a bunker liner was installed on all steep including Creeping Bentgrass, Fescue and Kentucky Bluegrass. It slopes to minimize future washouts. must be noted that there was a silver lining to the adversity faced by our club. With the damage the golf course sustained, we seized the opportunity to improve our course during the renovation project. Tee size was increased on some holes, bunkers were rebuilt and improved including new fescue sod around the backside of some bunkers and the course closure provided seven weeks of rest for our greens. The result of the storm - a golf course better than ever. The summer of 2005 was indeed a unique season. While it was a grueling one, I can honestly say it was a positive experience. Our grounds crew rallied together and worked closely as a team. Despite the long hours and the heat of the summer, crew morale was at a high. Many thanks to A.K Electric, Fredericks Mcguire Ltd, Lakeside Contracting, Mark Schollen and the people at North Gate Farms for the incredible job accomplished. Last but not least, a Bridges were promptly repaired to acquire complete vehicular sincere thanks to the clubhouse management for their support and access of the course, and the missing walking bridge on the sixth to the club membership for their patience and understanding. hole was replaced. Damaged satellite components which were Phil Dickie pdickie@gatemanmilloy.com 270 Shoemaker Street, Kitchener, ON N2E 3E1 Phone (519) 748-6610 • Fax (519) 748-6626 • Flexible Application Timing • 3 Types of Surfactants • Easy to Use - Soil Penetrant Corrie Almack P.Ag. - Wetting/Spreading Agent • Safe on Turfgrass Almack Agronomic Services Inc. Tel: (905) 689-6174 and Soil Microbes - Re-wetting Agent Box 256, Carlisle, On Fax: (905) 689-8522 LOR 1H0 Email: c.almack@sympatico.ca 3 in 1 Combination = RESPOND2 SUCCESS Available from your local UAP distributor or call UAP Canada 1-800-265-5444 www.uap.ca David C. Smith, A.Ag., c.g.c.s. 185 Oriole Crescent Soil & Turfgrass Consultant Gravenhurst, Ontario P1P 1C6 Office (705) 687-SOIL (7645) Fax (705) 687-3518 Toll Free 1-888-607-TURF (8873) Cell (905) 512-6004 Email dave@dscturf.com OGSA Calendar of Events 2006 EVENT VENUE DATE Pro/Super Challenge Weston Golf &CC Monday, May 29th Spring Field Day St. Thomas Golf & CC Thursday, June 15th President’s Day Rosedale Golf Club Monday, July 24th Assistants Tournament The Briars Thursday, September 21st Alex McClumpha Club At Bond Head Monday, October 2nd OGSA Conference Sheraton Centre Toronto January 17, 18, 19th, 2007 And Trade Show Note: All events will be posted to our Calendar of Events on our website as details are confirmed. They will also be advertised in our “Clippings” email bulletin, at least 4 weeks prior to the event. Registration for golf tournaments will be available on line, using either Visa or Master Card. RESEARCH PRODUCTS PEOPLE STEWARDSHIP Primo MAXX® creates course conditions that can bring golfers out Never underestimate in droves and enhance game performance. Primo MAXX® helps a golfer's appreciation manage clipping yields while elevating turf to a new level for superior turf. of playability. For more information on Primo MAXX®, call your Syngenta representative at 1-888-368-4211 x525. www.syngentaprofessionalproducts.com Important: Always read and follow label instructions before using this product. ©2001 Syngenta. Syngenta Crop Protection Canada, Inc., Guelph, ON N1G 4Z3 Primo MAXX is a registered trademark of a Syngenta Group Company. Same Bat Time, Same Bat Channel... by Jim Moore, Superintendent Puslinch Lake Golf Course Let me start by saying that I am not an expert on bats. Now began. After reading up on bats, I understood that they prefer however, I believe I have enough experience to farm them when very warm nights and mornings. On one particular morning, it I retire, should I decide to. My familiarity with bats began about was 28°C and they were flying over the ponds by our ten years ago, ironically, when I started cleaning up after them. maintenance building. There was just enough light to see them One day, while washing the lounge area windows, our clubhouse and so I sprinted to the clubhouse.. .there they were! One or two manager engaged me in a discussion. She asked if we had a at time, they were entering below the eaves trough and in problem with mice because of all the droppings she had seen between the soffit and the stone building. In spite of the outside on the window ledges and her concern was that they remarkably small hole, I was able to count 10 bats entering in the would enter the building. I decided to call Abell Pest Control same spot! and have them set bait stations for voles. A month passed, and again, the clubhouse manager was washing the windows with noticeably larger amounts of droppings present. I called Abell again and had them do a closer inspection of the problem area. The resulting diagnosis was bats. Upon hearing this, immediately, the general manager wanted the bats eliminated. At the time, IPM awareness was growing and I was aware that bats could be beneficial from an insect control standpoint. Although the club was concerned with rabies and the odor that comes from the “guano”, I agreed to clean the droppings regularly and monitor the situation. I decided to climb into the attic above the clubhouse in order to study things a little bit more closely. Surprisingly, there was little or no odor and I concluded that the bats must be defecating before entering the building. The next step was determining their entry and exit point in case we made the decision to exterminate them. After two nights of observation, this entry and exit point remained elusive. In the summer months, I usually arrive at the club before light so I was certain I might see a few stragglers returning to the building just Myotis lucifugus — little brown myotis, roosting in house. Photo provided by before sunrise but, no such luck. This was when my research Merlin D. Tuttle, Bal Conservation International 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 Last winter I took a trip to Jamaica and had a tour of the local Back to Puslinch. At one point this past summer, the general caves. An ideal home for bats, I was reminded of my entry to our manager was leaving at night and ended up stopping to count clubhouse attic and again, fully expected the strong odor of the bats falling out of the house. That’s right, falling. He was guano to greet me at the mouth of the cave. Once again, the amazed to see them dropping out of the tiny hole prior to flying odor was minimal and it did not smell any worse then a compost away and stopped counting after 30 bats. I wanted to find out if pile that has just been turned over. The enthusiastic tour guide pest companies live-trap bats and if it was even a good idea. told us that if he had more money he would start a bat farm. He After all, they could have free room and board at our clubhouse! claimed bat guano is the best fertilizer in the world and told us I contacted Leslie Sturges, Director of Bat World, to inquire if about a substance called Draculin. Although not yet bats ought to be trapped and transferred. synthetically produced, Draculin comes from the saliva of the vampire bat and is used as an anti-coagulant for heart patients. “Trapping is inhumane and shouldn’t be done. Bats can be He also told us that having bats present is also a strong excluded from a dwelling without losing the colony so they can indication of an environmentally safe area as bats tend to avoid take up residence in a more suitable habitat nearby. Bats have spaces that contain chemicals like cleaning solutions. I was a very strong homing instinct, and trapping and relocating reminded that our clubhouse staff uses vinegar and water to them will only result in exhausted and starving bats. The best clean the windows as opposed to ammonia based products. course of action to take is to install a bat house near the entry point on the building during the winter months. When the bats return for the spring and find the entrance blocked, their alterative is right there. Let the bats live there one full season and then move the boxes to a close but different area, don’t forget they love the heat!” So, if you are thinking of cultivating an environment for bats to help with insect control, or need to move a small colony, consider building bat houses. The blueprints can be downloaded off the web or you can purchase pre-fabricated houses at your local farm supply store. Be advised, they do require some monthly maintenance to ensure they do not become infested by unwanted creatures such as hornets. Check our clubs web page http://www.puslinchlakegolf.ca/ for a photo of our clubhouse and follow the chimney to where our bats call home. For more information on bats, check out the following websites: http://www.batcon.org/joinBCI/index.asp www.batworld.org One Rate. Powerful broad spectrum control. 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Eagle is a trademark of Dow AgroSciences LLC nu-groturf.com Performance New Rovral Green GT provides the performance you need and more, to protect high quality turf Rovral Green GT features very fast knockdown of diseases like Dollar spot and Brown patch along with proven control of Fusarium, Pink and Grey snow mould and Leaf spot/Melting out NEW Combine performance with a unique mode of action for resistance manage­ ment programs and you have the most Rovral Green GT FUNGICIDE complete disease control package available. Start and finish your fungicide program with new Rovral Green GT www.bayeres.ca 1-888-283-6847 ALWAYS READ PRODUCT LABEL PRIOR TO USE. Rovral® is a registered trademark of Bayer. Always read and follow label directions. University of Guelph update by Eric Lyons, Assistant Professor Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph Here we go again!!! As I write this I am watching the annual April reports are very concise and information rich and we are snowfall that brings us back to reality with regards to the currently pursuing ways to make the reports more start of the season. Just as you are preparing your courses accessible. Currently the reports can be found online at for the upcoming season, we are preparing the GTI the GTI website under the research tab: research plots for another season of research. I am very http://www.uoguelph.ca/GTI/research index.html. In encouraged by the ongoing support we receive, for future Green is Beautiful columns, our goal is to summarize turfgrass research, from the OGSA and the turfgrass many of projects that are on going in a more easily industry. readable format. As this season is beginning we are also preparing our As many of you may have heard, Darragh McGowan, a annual report from last year’s research season. The graduate student working on moss invasion on golf annual report is an information filled overview of the greens, passed away last December. Darragh was a very projects that have taken place at the GTI and by University bright young man who was doing very inventive research of Guelph researchers involved in turfgrass research over on addressing a prevalent problem facing golf course the corresponding year. For example, we are currently superintendents. It is one of our major goals for the working on Volume 19 of the annual report which coming year to continue with his research and allow his corresponds to the 2005 field season. hard work to produce new knowledge about the biology I encourage you to look at these research reports when and ecology of moss. We are currently conducting some you get the chance. It will give you an idea of the scope of research in the greenhouse that Darragh had designed as the research going on at the GTI each season. In the 2004 part of his project. In addition, we will be continuing Annual Report (Volume 18) there are eleven research with on-site evaluations throughout this growing reports regarding turfgrass management; twelve focusing season. Meanwhile, the on-line survey at http:// on disease management, two cultivar evaluations and two www.uoguelph.ca/GTI/moss survey front.html is still up extension reports. In addition, the annual report of the and running and we need many more responses to make best performers from the Guelph trial gardens may help this research as helpful to you as possible. you with selections of annuals for coming seasons. The THE JACOBSEN AR3 TRIM MOWER for maintaining around tees, sand traps and intermediate roughs The powerful 33 hp turbo Kubota diesel engine coupled with a hydrostatic transmission and 3 WD makes the AR3 a real performer! Operator comfort is not compromised as the AR3 is equipped with a deluxe weight compensating seat, tilt wheel, easy access from the left or right and excellent operator visibility. The three 27" mulching/rear discharge decks with full width heavy duty rear rollers provide excellent striping characteristics. 1184 PLAINS ROAD EAST BURLINGTON, ONTARIO L7S 1W6 VISIT OUR WEBSITE Burlington Area: 905-637-5216 www.gcduke.com Toronto Area: 905-338-2404 All Other Ontario Areas: 800-883-0761 Fax: 905-637-2009 On the REEL side of things by Mike Slack Slack Reel Service First Contact I’m sure by the time that you read this, the golf course will be ii) If you are a relief grinding advocate, which is strongly open and your equipment maintenance will have been completed. recommended, we understand through experience that the reel and Now, all you have to do is sit back, relax and listen to the hum of bedknife should maintain contact with each other at all times. Now, machines roll out the door and into the abyss known as the golf and let me be clear here, we are not talking the type of contact where course. If only this were a perfect world! you can hear a maintenance team member cutting on the 6th hole Our attention now turns to keeping cutting units working and from the shop! We ought to look to achieve the slightest contact mowing at peak performance for the balance of the season. A topic possible and still be able to cut paper while working off the bench. that seems to be debated is: When do we adjust our cutting units and By having minimal contact, our bedknife face and reel edge will not should there be contact between the reel and bedknife? I’m glad round off so quickly. Should we end up with a gap, the grass blade you asked.. .great questions! I'll set aside some of my own opinions is collected by the reel but is dragged over the lip of the knife causing for the moment. a wear issue at the top of the knife face. Yes, I know a grass blade is Firstly, let’s discuss the difference between the two, your current not that coarse but what about leaves or sand particulate from traps practices and whether you are happy with the results you are or topdressing? Again, we are not talking about a grass blade but achieving. actually millions of grass blades...how many are there in 18 plus i) If you are a spin-grinding advocate, “the book” calls for a .002" gap greens? between your reel and bedknife. When our cutting units are in ‘just There are a number of theories on reel to bedknife set-up. Open sharpened” condition this is an acceptable way to achieve set-up but, as a new thread on “Turf Talk” and maybe we can all receive some other your reel or knife begins to lose its edge, what do we generally tend to ideas on the subject. Until next time, I hope your reels quietly keep do? Yes, tighten! As the components get closer, we lose the optimum spinning! gap called for by the manufacturer. By over tightening, we also create excessive wear as the full "flat" portion of the reel now drags on our bedknife. At this stage, our options are; A, re-grind or B, “face” the bedknife. This will square up the bedknife but has no effect on the reel. TURF CARE Introducing the 835S and 855S Series Sprinkler with Trujectory™. 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 Trujectory, exclusively from Toro. Simply adjust the trajectory of the spray from 7 to 30 degrees and get better head-to-head coverage. Plus there’s part- and full-circle operation in one sprinkler. Add these new features to the great ones already standard on the 800S Series sprinklers and you’ll gain the flexibility you need for better results. And you’ll get it all for the same value as your current part-circle fixed trajectory sprinklers. For more information, contact one of our sales representatives at Turf Care or go online to www.turfcare.ca. Out of the bunker and under the trees, to water the turf we go. 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 Now registered for Anthracnose Keep it clean. Proven Performance - that just got better. AlietteT&O is NOW registered for preventative control of Anthracnose. With its true systemic power, Aliette provides the protection you have come to rely on. Its unique up and down plant mobility ensures your turf is protected even under the most stressful conditions. Whether it is Pythium or Anthracnose, you can count on Aliette, the cornerstone for healthy turf programs everywhere. Protection from root to shoot. www.bayeres.ca 1 -888-283-6847 Aliette T&O FUNGICIDE ALWAYS READ PRODUCT LABEL PRIOR TO USE. Aliette® T&O is a registered trademark of Bayer. Always read and follow label directions. Above the hole by Ian Boyd, Student & Intern Carruther’s Creek Golf & Country Club From the Ground Up What did you do to become a successful, talented, and dedicated Carruther’s Creek. Little did I know that this would be the perfect turf manager? How did you get to where you are today? How can place to learn my newly decided profession. It’s a nice track with two I get there too? These are all questions from an aspiring completely different golf courses, one a par 3 nine and the other a greenkeeper to an experienced superintendent. My first job at a championship nine. My first summer there, I learned a great deal golf course was at a small 9 hole, par 3 course working in the and went from cutting greens at the beginning of the year to proshop. After a season of being stuck behind a counter and holding a land class pesticide license and involvement in most of the dealing with irate golfers, I decided to make a change to operation by year end. Through determination and a good work maintenance department. It goes without saying that at this point, ethic I had begun the climb to my goal! Still, I craved more. In the I was in no way thinking of golf as a career. The next summer off-season, I took another small step and applied to the University of turned out to be a great experience. Even though I was only raking Guelph’s diploma course in Turfgrass Management with an bunkers, mowing and syringing greens, I loved every minute of it! I acceptance for the fall of 2005. I stepped onto the University didn’t properly realize it at the time, but I was indeed hooked. The of Guelph campus for the first time that September, ready to prove following fall, I went to school for a completely unrelated subject that I belonged. and after two years, threw in the towel. I had come to the To date, it has been a great learning experience from both realization that it wasn’t the right choice and so I began the process academic and personal perspectives. I found that a majority of the of thinking long and hard about what path I might take. I was still people in the program were as dedicated and motivated as I was. only 20 years old, but it felt like “decision time”. That’s when it hit We were a diverse group and because no two were alike, it was me. Golf! Now wait, I can’t play well enough to be a touring enlightening to be able to share, hear and learn from one another’s pro.. .I’m still up the creek. So what does many a golfer wanting to experiences. stay involved in the industry do? The choices were golf professional For now, this is where I leave you. I am coming up to the or golf superintendent. From my initial experiences the latter was completion of my first year of schooling and will be continuing with clearly a better option. my employment at Carruther’s. What the future may hold for my So it came to pass and from that day forward, my goal was to be career in golf course management is still unclear but one thing is a golf course superintendent. I started applying to local golf certain. I will continue to relay the passion and respect I hold for courses, looking for a position and ended up finding it at the game and pursue my new chosen profession with zest. 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Dave Schmelefske - Central Region 519-897-4423 turf@bell.blackberry.net Trevor Hunter - Niagara Region 519-897-8873 thunter@bell.blackberry.net Kent McDonald - Southwestern Region 519-870-6724 kent@bell.blackberry.net Kenny Graham - Greater Toronto 416-570-7333 kennyg@bell.blackberry.net Victor Freiberg - Eastern Ontario 416-200-3029 victorf@bell.blackberry.net Turf Seed, Fungicides, Insecticides, Herbicides, Bayco Golf, Umaxx Fertilizer, Wetting Agents. - 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 - 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 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. The Use of Parasitic Nematodes Against White Grubs in Turf by Ann-Marie Cooper, Biocontrol Specialist Plant Products Co. Ltd. Parasitic nematodes are microscopic creatures that invade insects and release destructive bacteria that kill their host. There are a variety of species and strains of parasitic nematodes found in nature that attack many species of insects. Heterorhabditis bacteriophora has been found to be the most effective of the nematode species that attack white grubs such as European Chafer (Rhizotrogus majalis) and Japanese Beetle (Popillia japonica). This naturally occurring, soil-dwelling parasitic nematode is widely distributed in North and South America, Europe and Australia. Figure 2: Photo of Healthy European Chafer Larvae (courtesy of Becker Underwood) Figure 1. Heterorhabditis bacteriophora nematodes (courtesy of Becker Underwood) European Chafer larvae feed on roots of many plants, but prefer the fibrous roots of turf grasses. The lifecycle is completed in one year with eggs hatching in mid July. There are three larval stages with the youngest stages being most susceptible to nematode attack. This information is key as Figure 3: Photo of European Chafer Larvae after infestation by H. nematodes are effective against only two stages of white grubs, bacteriophora (courtesy of Becker Underwood) namely the first two larval stages. It is important to target the nematode application to the Soil temperature is the most important factor limiting the suitable stage of host. The younger the grub larvae, the more success of the nematode. Temperature affects development, effective the nematode. The first larval stage (L1) of European survival, dispersal, host-finding capabilities and level of infection. Chafer tends to occur from late July through August and the Optimum soil temperature is 12.5C-30C (55-86F). Insects will second larval stage (L2) develops in mid August to September. not be killed by H. bacteriophora if soil temperature is below 10C Of course, the warmer the summer, the more quickly the larvae (50F). Soil texture and moisture affects dispersal and rate of develop. Studies have shown that H. bacteriophora kills more L1 infection. The rate of movement decreases as percent silt and grubs than L2 and studies have also shown that effectiveness on clay increase. L3 grubs has been limited. Nematode application is therefore not recommended in spring when L3 and pupae are most The recommended method of application is as follows: prevalent. 1. Moisten soil before application There are 5 developmental stages of nematodes namely Egg, 2. Do not apply in bright sunlight (early morning or evening Juvenile 1, 2, 3 and 4. Juvenile stage 1, 2 and 4 occur inside the applications are the best) host. The Juvenile 3 (J3) nematodes are the only stage that is 3. The application rate is 1 Billion nematodes/acre. Use 100- “free living”. This is the only stage which attacks and infects the 250 gallons of water/acre host. This type of nematode is a referred to as a “cruiser”: it 4. Empty the entire package contents into water aggressively searches for white grubs in the soil. 5. Mix thoroughly Parasitic nematodes kill their hosts through the cooperation of 6. Keep the nematodes in suspension by mixing regularly symbiotic bacteria. This bacteria cannot survive in soil or water 7. Soil temperature should not drop below 12C, 4 weeks and so the nematode provides protection while outside the host. following application The nematode transports these bacteria into the host. The 8. Use conventional spray equipment. The spray pressure must nematode on the other hand is not capable of killing the grub not exceed 300psi on its own and can not reproduce without the nutrients from the 9. Remove screens smaller than 50 mesh bacteria. The nematode enters the host through natural 10. Do not allow the temperature in the spray tank to exceed 30C openings. Once inside, it releases the bacteria. The bacteria 11. Irrigate following treatment with 1/2” water to rinse the multiply and kill the host within 24-48 hours. The bacteria digest nematodes from foliage to soil. the inner contents of the grub and essential liquefy it. The nematodes then consume the liquefied contents of the dying Nematodes are sensitive to certain insecticides, wetting agents, host, in this case white grubs. Once fed, the nematodes multiply surfactants and of course, nematicides. Check with the and exit from their host. White grubs killed by H. bacteriophora nematode supplier prior to insecticide treatment. turn reddish brown. Off the fairway ... we can use to enrich the garden. One of my recent garden is not just a collection A discoveries for the shade garden is Brunnera macrophylla of plants but a community of living or Siberian Bugloss. It is a perennial from Siberia that and non-living things that work grows to a medium height, 12-18 inches. It has heart- together and appeal to you. Plants in shaped leaves with a frosty silver hue about them and it such a garden are fascinating subjects presents forget-me-knot-like flowers in the spring. The both collectively and individually. The growth habit is a lot like a hosta except that it is showy trick is to put the right ones together both earlier and later than the hosta. Japanese Painted to suit the conditions of the site (as Fern is another silver-foliaged shade plant that adds a lot they are or as you change them) and at to the garden over the entire season. It stays low to the the same time, satisfy the aesthetic ground and will form a matt. Woodland sedges, Tiarella by Daisy Moore and wild Ginger are some native examples that will give requirements. There is a knack to putting things together in an attractive and sustainable the look of a woodland ground cover. way and nature has perfected it. Somehow the way nature For gardens in general, deciduous flowering shrubs are puts plants together looks and feels right. How do we often underutilized as specimens in the early garden. mimic that feeling in the cultivated garden? Manchu cherry, Pussy willows, Hazelnut or Dogwoods will A lot has happened in the garden already and what we give you something to look at, at eye level. These can also are seeing now was born in the fall. Bienniels such as be the building blocks to a larger garden. Hollyhock, Foxglove, Mullein and Rose Campion set their In the sunny garden, shrub roses are one of my favourite seed last season and are ready to grow early. You can plants to add. Whether the space is large or confined decide to relocate these if they happen to have landed there is a shrub rose to suit and for the most part they are where you don’t want them, like a weed. Dandelions are carefree. Bonica, Theresa Bugnot, Morden pink and rosa biennial weeds that can pose an early problem in garden rugosa ‘alba’ are some of my favourites. I like to grow beds because they tend to congregate in the nutrient rich shrub roses with other plants rather than isolate them into centre of perennial plants and compete for space. Cool a rose bed as you would with hybrid tea roses. Flax, sweet season grasses such as KBG and Poa can be a weed William, blue fescue, chamomile and clematis are all easy problem in garden beds too because they tolerate cool to grow plants that combine well with roses. There will be soils and get a jump start on the season. Spot weeding now something in flower for most of the season. will prevent a larger problem in future. The new trend in gardening is to plant vegetables and For the garden to be colourful in the early spring we herbs in the show garden, like a potager idea. Swiss chard, turn our attention to bulbs. These are planted in the fall ornamental peppers, parsley, cherry tomatoes and even with their flower buds already packed inside and ready to eggplant have a lot of aesthetic appeal. As long as you show off as soon as spring arrives. Groups of crocus go a have sun, you can do this. The important thing is that you long way to livening up the garden early. Even when they enrich your gardening experience and the garden by have finished flowering they offer a nice leafy fringe to the using a diversity of plants. There are plants for every lawn or garden. Snowdrops, anemone, species tulips and occasion and it is just a question of defining the occasion. bluebells are other early flowering bulbs that will be showy and give perennial plants time to grow. Daisy Moore P.Ag. works as a horticulturist. She operates a In the work that I do, I often come across situations garden design and consulting business and builds gardens where there is an established garden bed but there is throughout Southern Ontario. She specializes in plant selection nothing particularly exciting going on. But the existing and has a particular zest for the re-introduction of native plants plants tell a story of the site conditions and knowing and into gardens. seeing that, I can build on it. The existing plants have If you have any questions or would like more tips on gardening shown resilience so I try to preserve them, within reason, you can visit her website www.daisymoore.com and listen to The and build a garden around them. There are some Gardening Show on 570news (www.570news.com) Saturday excellent plant choices in the horticultural industry that mornings 7-8 w w.JustSodit.com HAMILTONSOD MOUNT HOPE 905-389-1315 Simon George ONTARIO SOD OAKVILLE Technical Sales 905-849-1764 NIAGARA SOD Maple Turf Supply Business: (905) 857-2000 ST CATHARINES 905-984-8448 8112 King Rd. W. Fax: (905) 857-8215 COMPACT SOD P.O. Box 370 Mobile: (519) 841-3378 CAMBRIDGE 519-653-7494 Bolton, Ontario 1-800-268-4425 L7E 5T3 sg142@hotmail.com HALTON SOD MILTON 905-878-1011 RESEARCH PRODUCTS PEOPLE STEWARDSHIP Keep your course in top condition with the premier fungicide, Banner MAXX®. It's proven to provide superior No matter how beautiful protection against dollar spot and many other turf the fairway is, some people diseases, including snow moulds, anthracnose and 7 more. Besides, Banner MAXX is specifically designed still won't use it. for the turf market, so you know what to expect. For more information on Banner MAXX, call Syngenta at 1-888-368-4211 x525. www.syngentaprofessionalproducts.com Important: Always read and follow label instructions before using this product. ©2003 Syngenta. Syngenta Crop Protection Canada, Inc., Guelph, ON N1G 4Z3 Banner MAXX® is a registered trademark of a Syngenta Group Company. Looking back 40 YEARS AGO TO-DAY by Barry Endicott, Project Manager Gordon Wendover Construction In 1966, the OGSA board of directors were: Keith C.C., won the Willie Park Trophy at the Weston GC, with Nisbet (pres.), Bob Moote (vice.), Dave Gourlay (sec.), a 71. Whitey Jones (treas.), George Darou (past pres.), Dave A meeting and golf day was held on September 13th at Moote, Larry Smithson, Carl Sellers, Ian Williamson and theUpper Canada GC hosted by Tom Unsworth. At that Gordon Witteveen. The Greensmaster was the official meeting, it was decided that Keith Nisbet would run for publication of the OGSA and the editors were Gordon director of the GCSAA in the coming national elections, Witteveen, Bill Hynd and Norm McKenna. in Washington. Gord Witteveen was appointed voting A monthly meeting was held at the 3 year old Brampton delegate. Golf Club. The host superintendent was Roy Cornfield. On May 12, John Arends hosted a meeting at Hawthorn Roy had been the assistant for seven years to Harry Valley. John received his early training as assistant to McBride, at the old Brampton Country Club. Mr. Leo Ralph Tucker when Ralph was building the Beverly Cleary, from the W.A. Cleary chemical firm, was the guest G&CC. Whitey Jones was low net and Keith Nisbet was speaker. low gross. At this meeting, a change in the by-laws to have Larry Smithson, who was the superintendent at the a separate membership class for assistants was turned Municipal courses in Metro Toronto, was recently down. A motion to accept pro superintendents and promoted to parks superintendent. manager superintendents, who were not members of the The Credit Valley Club, near Toronto, had just PGA and the Managers Association, was carried. completed one of the most modern, expensive and fool The Dominion GC was the site for an April meeting proof elevators in the area. Now there was talk that the hosted by Danny Uzelac and his wife Dorothy. course will be sold for subdividing. On March 8th, Joe Roberts, of the Oshawa GC, hosted Tom Styles died in mid-October in St. Catharines where over 50 members. The guest speakers were Mr. James he was superintendent at the St. Catharines CC for more Lent and Mr. Art Drysdale. Some of the members at this than 40 years. meeting were: George Darou, Richmond Hill, Joe Peters, The Alex McClumpha Memorial Tournament was held Strathroy (both Darou and Peters were one time at Glen Eagles GC, hosted by Bill Calhoun. Dale Butler, superintendents at Oshawa), Tom Unsworth, Upper from Malton GC, won it with a 74 and Whitey Jones was Canada, Ted Charman, Toronto Ladies, Ernie Allen, low net. Toronto Hunt Club and Norm McKenna, Summit GC. Superintendent Bill Bowen, from the Peterborough www.stabilizednitrogen.com • 888-425-8732 UMAXX is a registered trademark of AGROTAIN International, LLC. The way we where... answers from page 29. Dave Gourlay and Whitey Jones Turf or consequences by Doug Breen, Superintendent Golf North Properties The Tree me begin by saying that this story never actually happened. Let cutting the parking lot. There was an ever-growing pile of teddy It is what folks in the literary world call an amalgam. A bunch of bears, notes, and a class set of poems about the tree by the grade bits of stories all mashed together as if they all happened at the fours from the school down the street. A group of local same time. Parts of it are also what the literary world calls fiction. birdwatchers were presenting a petition signed by everyone in the My son calls this lying. He’s too young to realize that if you tell a neighbourhood, demanding that the diseased trees be story verbally where you make up half the details that you’re a immediately removed to protect the remaining trees, which are filthy liar; whereas if you write the same story down, you’re an artist apparently an integral habitat for some kind of Finch or another. and eligible for a Federal Arts Grant and a segment on Bravo. Ten minutes later, an activist group called Stop Whatever it is Wait until you see what I write in my memoirs. This is a mostly You’re Trying to Do, set up a protest in the parking lot, complete fictional amalgam about a tree. with a performance by Sharon, Lois, and Bram singing the Tree In the early hours before dawn one Monday morning, a 100 year Song, demanding that the trees be saved. They also had a petition old tree in the parking lot of the East Beetle Spit Golf and Country signed by all of the people in the neighbourhood. The bird Club split in half, and several decades of exterior growth, watchers countered by bringing in Raffi to perform Baby Beluga, combined with interior rot, lost the battle with gravity. By way of which really wasn’t relevant, but everyone present agreed that it collateral damage, there were several feet of fence, a memorial was a far better song. Just as Raffi was finishing his second encore, bench, and a marshall’s car, all crushed beyond recognition. Like the widow who had donated the flattened memorial bench many places, the Regional Municipality of East Beetle Spit has a arrived. Ironically, she was the mother-in-law who the member’s tree saving by-law, that among other things, states that there is a wife was supposedly visiting for the weekend. Sharon (or possibly $50,000 fine for cutting down any healthy tree with a caliper over Lois, I could never keep those two straight) was beating a bird twenty-eight inches. So naturally, several members of the local watcher with a picket sign while the others waved their Tilley hats Righteous Indignation Society who saw the remnants of the tree and binoculars at her with rage. The by-law officer and the tree being set upon with chainsaws while driving their children to consultant were wrestling in a flowerbed, and there would have daycare in their minivans, were quick to inform the township been plenty of questions for the marshall, but he had abandoned office that an epoch travesty was occurring over at the golf course. his post and was off looking for golf balls in the naturalized areas. The by-law enforcement officer arrived to investigate the alleged A crushed car and getting caught in the act of adultery was no arborcide, at right about the same moment that the General reason to interrupt his used golf ball business. Manager was deducing that the only reason the marshall’s car was The Township is holding a public meeting tonight where 86 parked there at 3 a.m. was that he’d been living in the clubhouse people will give their opinion on whether the trees should stay or since his wife had thrown him out. More troubling, was the go, while a candlelight vigil is held outside. Then nine councillors presence of another unnamed member’s wife’s car, which who have never been on site, or know anything about although not crushed, was trapped behind the fallen tree and had arboriculture will make the decision. While they’re at it they apparently been there all night as well. She was clearly eager to see might ban the use of pesticides. the tree removed. Think of the children. The enforcement officer, whose entire arboriculture experience was a two-hour seminar on tree saving by-laws at the last Municipal Governance Convention, concluded that the superintendent had indeed killed the tree, and dropped it on the marshall’s car to make it look like an accident. Many by-law officers desperately want to be cops, and are prone to such hyperbole from watching too much CSI. The superintendent, knowing that a $50,000 fine would not look good on his resume, called his usual tree consultant to have him verify that the tree was rotten to the core, and had fallen of its own volition. The tree service had very bad news. Not only was the tree rotten, but the other dozen or so that lined the parking lot were all suffering from the same disease, so his advice was to remove them all for sanitary and liability purposes. The insurance agent, who was already there taking pictures of the marshall’s flattened car and wondering why his neighbour’s wife’s car was parked beside it, whole heartedly agreed that the trees must all go. Just as the enforcement officer and the tree doctor began to have words, the member whose wife’s car was trapped behind the tree, arrived for his normal 10 am tee time. By noon, word had gotten around that the golf course was clear TURF CARE The New Sand Pro This Changes Everything Introducing the revolutionary Toro® Sand Pro. 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