Summer 2009 Green is Beautiful The Official Publication of Ontario Golf Superintendents’ Association Considerations for evaluating and managing golf green putting surfaces Also in this issue... New Pesticide Regulations for Golf - What you need to know Alternative Weed Controls on Turf Rating Healthy Growing Conditions CANADA POST PUBLICATIONS MAIL PUBLICATIONS AGREEMENT No. 40027105 Postmaster: Please return undeliverable copies to The OGSA, 328 Victoria Rd. S., R.R. # 2 Guelph, ON N1H 6H8 SENATOR WSB Cut Cost. Not Control. Worried about Dollar Spot and your Budget??? • Rate: 30 g/100 m2 • 1 case (6.4 kg) = SRP $655 • Case coverage = 5.27 acres ($124/ac) What to expect: The most cost effective 14 day dollar spot control Acropetal systemic protection (upward movement) Rotational product (group 1 fungicide) Broad-spectrum protection For more information please call Engage Agro at 1.866.613.3336 or visit www.engageagro.com Always read and follow label directions. Senator WSB price based on suggested retail price of $655 per case. Contact retailer for 2009 pricing. SENATORS is a registered trademark of Engage Agro Corporation. President's message Did I miss summer? Has anyone seen it yet? Is it still on its way or do we just accept the Scottish season we’re experiencing? Told you global warming was just a fad to get our environmental minds working a notch faster. None the less, another season is well on its way to the history books. ONTARIO GOLF SUPERINTENDENTS’ Our association events have once again been a great success by Randy Booker ASSOCIATION this year and we hope you’ve had the chance to get out and Otter Creek Golf Club Guelph Turfgrass Institute enjoy the friendships and networking opportunities available. 328 Victoria Road South Guelph, ON N1H6H8 There are still two events left this year with the Assistants tournament in September Ph: 519-767-3341 and the McClumpha scheduled for October. Keep your eyes open on the website Toll Free: 877-824-6472 Events page and the weekly Clippings for registration information. Fax: 519-766-1704 Our association provides an opportunity to nominate someone in the industry Email: ogsa@gti.uoguelph.ca Website: www.golfsupers.on.ca for the OGSA Distinguished Service “William Sansom” Award. The purpose of this is to present an award of distinguished service, in the name of our first president, BOARD OF DIRECTORS William Sansom, to an individual or individuals, who have been nominated and President: Randy Booker subsequendy accepted by the Board of Directors of the Association. Criteria, Past President: Jeff Stauffer qualifications and nomination form can be located on our web site, or you can get Vice-President: Jeff Alexander additional information from the office. This is your chance to recognize someone Treasurer: Chris Andrejicka Secretary: Doug Breen in our industry, who has made a significant contribution to the advancement of Directors: Jarrod Barakett the golf course superintendent’s profession in Ontario. The individual chosen Phil Brown will be presented with the award at our annual Awards Luncheon, held during the Rob Gatto conference. Scott Heron We are working with the CGSA to put together a phenomenal educational and Stu Leachman trade show experience in Toronto from Feb. 28 - March 2, 2010 at the Sheraton Jennifer Pendrith Centre. Mark your calendars now and watch for registration information, soon to Phil Scully be made available. This is an opportunity to not only attend seminars, the trade Executive Mgr: Dorothy Hills show and network with your colleagues. It will also provide an opportunity to Office Staff: Pat Thomas attain education points to maintain your IPM, CGCS and MS certification. Deborah Badger As you should be aware by now all facilities must become registered and enrolled in the IPM certification process. Please take the time to read Teri Yamada’s article as there still seems to be some misguided information running around the industry. It is our responsibility to educate our management teams, members and the general golfing public on the importance of this process. Remember we have only been given an exception dependant on our IPM certification. There is no guarantee that we will continue to have all the pesticide tools at our fingertips. I think we owe it to ourselves and maybe more importantly both our children and our predecessors, as GREEN IS BEAUTIFUL EDITORIAL we don’t know what the future holds and a lot of us have had the easy route out with COMMITTEE the availability of all these products for many years. The basics of turf brought us Dorothy Hills to the point we’re presently at - maybe it’s time to take a step back and begin to fall Greig Barker back on these basics once again; soil building, turf cultivation and personal pride Tom Brain knowing we can provide Al conditions without the easy use of pesticides. Paul Grotier Jason Hanna Rafik Lang-Bismillah Scott Horsburgh Brett Murray Direct Line 416-659-1020 Manager Fax Line 519-941-0931 Justin Parsons “Green is Beautiful” Andy Sandilands PO. Box 218 is Printed on Recycled Orangeville, ON Paper Green is Beautiful 2009 L9W 2Z6 Although every effort is made to check material for publication, the association is not responsible for material published on behalf of its contributors. All rights are reserved by the publisher and any reproduction in whole or part without the written permission of the publisher is prohibited. Although some trade names may be mentioned brettmurray@primus.ca in articles contained in this publication, no endorsement is intended or implied by the Ontario Golf Superintendents' Association. Contents Green is IN A PERFECT WORLD... Considerations for evaluating and managing golf green putting surfaces........................................ 20 Beautiful 41st Annual Presidents' Day.................................................... 18 The Official Publication of Ontario Golf Superintendents’ Association Above the hole......................................................................... 26 Editorial message .................................................................... 5 From roots to shoots................................................................ 10 Golf course highlight - Bigwin Island Golf Club ..................... 19 Health & safety ........................................................................ 11 Looking back ............................................................................ 37 Member profile - Dean Baker .................................................. 17 New Pesticide Regulations for Golf........................................ 8 Off the fairway ........................................................................ 34 On the REEL side of things....................................................... 33 President's message ................................................................. 3 Pro/Super Challange ................................................................. 12 Rating Healthy Growing Conditions........................................ 14 Second to one .......................................................................... 31 The way we were..................................................................... 36 Turf or consequences................................................................ 38 University of Guelph Update................................................... 28 COVER PICTURE What's new................................................................................ 6 Bigwin Island Golf Club Photo by Scott Heron, Advertisers Golf Course Agronomist Agrium Advanced Technology - ProTurf Beautiful Truth...... 39 Agrium Advanced Technology - Sales.................................... 26 Almack Agronomic Services Inc............................................... 30 Aquatrols................................................................................. 25 Bartlett Tree Experts - Canada................................................ 35 Bayer Envrionmental Science - Innovation is our game ...... 7 Braemar Building Systems...................................................... 27 Burnside Golf Services ............................................................ 35 DCS Agronomic Services ......................................................... 26 Douglas Wood Large Tree Services ...................................... 37 Engage Agro Corporation - Senator WSB............................... 2 OGSA is committed to Enviro Sol ................................................................................ 13 serving its members, Fast Forest ............................................................................... 26 GC Duke Equipment ................................................................ 27 advancing their profession, Green Horizons Group of Farms ............................................. 13 and H & M Turf Ltd........................................................................... 3 enriching the quality Manderley Turf Products Inc.................................................... 11 Maple Turf Supply .............................................................. 26, 34 of golf Maple Turf Supply - The Andersons - Nutri DG...................... 35 and its environment. Master's Turf Supply Ltd.......................................................... 34 Nutrite - Deep Roots................................................................ 24 Ontario Seed Company ........................................................... 6 Plant Products - BASF Corporate Ad ...................................... 32 Robert Kains Golf Course Design Ltd...................................... 11 Layout, Design & Printing provided by Turf Care Products Canada - Irrigation Div............................. 25 G-R-A-P-H’I’C SERVICES PRINTERS & LITHOGRAPHERS Turf Care Products Canada...................................................... 40 Tel: 519.763.5745 • Fax: 519.763.9532 United Agri Products Inc.......................................................... 31 32-34 Essex Street • Guelph, Ontario • N1H 3K8 Vanden Bussche Irrigation ...................................................... 35 e-mail: info@graphicservices.ca Zander Sod Co. Limited........................................................... 6 www.graphicservices.ca Editorial message Yes folks, this is the Summer I would like to thank all our regular contributors, issue although, at time of writing, who time and time again provide us with informative, we haven’t experienced the type of thought provoking and amusing articles. Warren summer we would have all liked and Wybenga, our mechanical guru has a timely message hoped for. That being said, it has and reminds us in his On the REEL side of things certainly not affected our writers. column, that there is no room for complacency on the by Dorothy Hills They are all in top form and have job site, and as the dog days of summer roll on, we all offered up the best of the season, starting with Teri need to keep focused on the job at hand. Yamada, Executive Director of the IPM Council of As our publication is now a 4 seasonal publication, Canada, reporting on what you need to know about I would like to remind our readers to check out the the new pesticide regulations for golf. If you are weekly E-bulletin, Clippings that is dispatched every not sure of the new regulations, please read this Wednesday afternoon. It will update you on current very informative article. Should you require further OGSA news that may not appear in Green is Beautiful, information or have any questions Teri has provided due to the four seasonal release dates. an email address to the IPM Council at the end of As always, we encourage any comments the article. Our member profile for this issue is and suggestions you might have regarding your on Dean Baker, who has also contributed an article association’s publication. We hope that you will about rating healthy growing conditions and how consider submitting an article about something that the criteria was successfully applied at North Halton. has taken place on your course, whether it is a David Smith, of DCS Agronomic Services, provides us renovation, new construction, turf tips, management with a feature article on identifying factors worthy of tips or some maintenance policy or procedure you consideration for evaluating and managing golf green have found beneficial. Personally, I always enjoy putting surfaces. reading the human nature stories. Mushrooms during rainy season. Photo by: Brenda Nailor, Brenda W. Nailor Consulting What's new 2009 OGSA GOLF EVENTS OGSA extends our congratulations and best wishes to the following Assistants Tournament Sept. 22nd courses that are celebrating a special Welcome! Piper’s Heath GC, Hornby anniversary this year! Host Superintendent, Tim Muys OGSA Oxford Golf 8c Country Club Alex McClumpha Oct. 5th 100th Anniversary Welcomes Summit G&CC, Richmond Hill our newest Host Superintendent, Phil Brown Fox Glen Golf Club members Registration and details of the 50th Anniversary Tim Armstrong Class F above events will appear on our Knollwood Golf Club website under both “Events” and Puslinch Lake Golf Club Derek Brown Class Supt “Calendar of Events,” as they 40th Anniversary Talbot Trail Golf Club become available. All events will April Grabell Class S be announced in our e-bulletin Guelph Country Club Clippings when registration is open. Chris Jones Class S For your convenience, on line Deer Creek Golf Granite Golf Club 8c Country Club registration will be available again Ken Manwell Class D this year. 20th Anniversary Orangeville Golf Club Kirk Stewart Class C 43rd annual CGSA Fall Field Day Goderich Sunset GC Victoria Park East September 21, 2009 Eco Solutions Class E St. Charles Country Club, Golf Club Antonio Vaccari Winnipeg, Manitoba 35th Anniversary Phill McVeigh Kerry Watkins, Superintendent (877) 727-2100 CANADIAN GOLF (416) 364-5700 www.zandersod.com SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION Top Quality TurfProducts for over 50 Years No. 1 Kentucky Bluegrass * Bentgrass * Extreme Fescue Custom Grown Sod Available Premium Products for all FALL FIELD DAY 2009 Your Turf Needs PO Box 7 SEPTEMBER 21, 2009 Waterloo, ON N2J 3Z6 Tele 519-886-0557 Fax 519-886-0605 1-800-465-5849 www.oscturf.com ST. CHARLES COUNTRY CLUB WINNIPEG, MB ... Innovation is our game Chipco Triton™ SC Maintaining healthy turf able to withstand the As always, you’re Backed by Bayer. And that Rovral Green® GT daily stress it endures requires an integrated means our team of professionals is your team of Compass™ 50WG management program that includes the use of professionals. All of our research and support is Aliette® Signature plant protection products to prevent against foliar to ensure you have the most effective products Sevin® T&O and root diseases, insects and weeds. available. Superior products and superior support - DeltaGard®SC Take advantage of Bayer Environmental only from Bayer. Merit® Sciences’ comprehensive line up of products in the Acclaim Super® golf industry. BACKED BY BAYER OFFERS: Dedication, Guaranteed Satisfaction, Added Value, Superior Solutions, and Vision for the Future For more information on Bayer products, contact Bayer Environmental Science www.bayeres.ca 1-888-283-6847 ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW LABEL DIRECTION. Chipco Triton SC, Rovral Green GT, Compass 50WP, Aliette Signature, Sevin T&O, DeltaGard, Merit and Acclaim Super are registered trademarks of Bayer. BACKED by BAYER. NEW PESTICIDE REGULATIONS FOR GOLF WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW by Teri Yamada, Executive Director IPM Council of Canada The Ontario Cosmetic Pesticides Ban Act that was known Certified IPM Agent as Bill 64 became law in June 2008. The associated Regulation Each golf course must have at least one certified IPM 63/09 dictates what golf courses must do if they wish to Agent responsible for the reporting required for the annual continue to use pest control products. desk review audit and the triennial on-site audit. Some exceptions for smaller operations may be considered by the Council by formal written request. To become a certified New Pesticide Classifications IPM Agent, applicants must have a valid Ontario landscape All pesticides have been reclassified into 11 classes and the exterminator’s license and pass the IPM Examination with a database is constantly being updated as new products are grade of 75% or better. registered and others are reclassified. You can access the The application to take the IPM Accreditation Exam, list database at www.ontario.ca/pesticideban. The Class 9 list will of study materials and the schedule of examination locations give you all the active ingredients that are banned. Class 11 and dates can be found at: www.ontarioipm.com gives you the list of biopesticides or reduced risk products that are still available to the public. These are the products Applicants are responsible for obtaining their own that golf courses would be left with if they choose not to study material including Ontario Regulation 63/09 comply with the new requirements for golf under Regulation made under the Pesticides Act. It can be downloaded at: 63/09. The most confusing list is Class 7. Class 7 products http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/source/regs/english/2009/ are registered for both cosmetic and non-cosmetic purposes. elaws_src_regs_r09063_e.htm Glyphosate is among these products and is therefore still found at retail outlets. However, it is considered illegal to The cost to take the exam is $250. The examination use glyphosate for any use other than to remove plants that is currently a 90-minute, closed book exam consisting threaten human health, such as poison ivy. of 80 questions. All exams will be marked by IPMAP at University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus (Ridgetown) and a certification number will be issued to all applicants who IPM Accreditation pass the exam with 75% or better, within ten (10) working All golf courses in Ontario wishing to continue to use days. Unsuccessful applicants may re-write the exam within pesticides must become fully IPM accredited by April 22, six months at a reduced charge of $50. 2012. This means that the golf facility must achieve Level 2 Accreditation by that date. Level 2 Accreditation can take If an applicant is in the process of taking the exam for up to three years to achieve; therefore clubs not currently their landscape exterminator’s license, they may take the registered in the program should register as soon as possible IPM Accreditation exam, but the certification number to meet the 2012 deadline. For new golf courses that are will not be issued until proof of a valid Ontario landscape currently under construction or in the planning stages, exterminator’s license is presented to Ridge town. the clock starts ticking from the first day that pesticides are applied to the property. New golf courses must become fully Certified IPM Agent Annual Registration Fee accredited within two years from that date. There is an annual registration fee for IPM Agents of $75. Initial registration in the program will be accepted throughout the calendar year following successful completion of the How to Get Started examination. Registration renewal is required by June 1st The IPM Accreditation Program (IPMAP) has two parts; each subsequent year. Registration must be updated before the IPM Agent and the golf facility. The IPM Agent is the the annual desk review audit, signed by the IPM Agent, is individual that must successfully pass an examination on IPM accepted. Ridgetown manages all aspects of the IPM Agent and maintain 8 continuing education credits (CEC) annually process and IPM Agent registration fees and examination to be “certified”. The golf facility must register with the IPM fees are paid directly to Ridgetown at: Council of Canada and submit documents for an annual desk review audit, including the Annual Report - Pest Control IPM Accreditation Program (IPMAP) Product Usage that is required under the new regulation and c/o University of Guelph, pass an on-site environmental audit every three years to Ridgetown Campus achieve “accredited” status. 120 Main Street East Ridgetown, ON NOP 2C0 Certified IPM Agent Annual Continuing Education Annual Desk Review Audit Credits (CEC) The certified IPM Agent is responsible for submitting the Starting the year following the successful completion of required material for the annual desk review audit. This the exam, all IPM Agents must annually attain 8 Continuing material consists of six reports that can be downloaded at Education Credits (CEC). If 8 CECs are not achieved by Dec. www.ontarioipm.com 31st of each year, the IPM Agent has the option to write the IPM Accreditation exam at the full cost of $250, in lieu of achieving These documents are submitted to Ridge town. Annual the necessary CECs. A list of educational opportunities offering desk review submissions will not be forwarded to the auditors CECs will be posted on the www.ontarioipm.com website until they are deemed complete. The auditors will check starting summer 2009 and the new www.ipmcouncilcanada.org the submissions to verify compliance with IPM protocols and website starting in 2010. There is a formal process for seminar will rate the desk review audit. A satisfactory rating or better and event organizers to apply for CEC status and all applications results in the facility achieving Level 1 Accreditation. must be submitted at least 6 weeks in advance of the event. Please visit www.ontarioipm.com to download information on On-site Audit the process and the application form. The IPM Council of Canada will schedule the on-site audit with the registered facility and the auditor. This will be arranged with the golf course at least six weeks in advance Registered Golf Facilities of the visit. The purpose of the on-site audit is to give the The owner or operator of a golf facility is responsible for auditor the opportunity to verify everything that has been maintaining their annual registration in the IPM Accreditation reported in the annual desk review audits. The club will be Program. The annual registration fee is submitted to the given three months to satisfy any deficiencies noted by the Council with the name and certification number of the IPM auditor during the visit. A satisfactory on-site rating by the Agent responsible for the golf course. Should the IPM Agent auditor results in the facility receiving Accreditation - Level of record leave their employment, the golf course must 2 (full accreditation). replace the IPM Agent within three (3) months or before the beginning of the next golf season if the staff change occurs Use of Contracted Licensed Exterminators in the fall or winter months. If a golf facility has a certified IPM Agent, but wishes to contract spraying to an external contractor, the contractor does not need to be a certified IPM Agent, but may apply Golf Facility Annual Registration Fee Payment pesticides under the written supervision of the facility’s Options certified IPM Agent. The facility’s certified IPM Agent The annual registration fee covers the cost of administering will be responsible for the submission of all documents for the IPM Accreditation program, annual desk review audits audit. However, if a golf facility does not have a certified and an on-site audit every three years. All fees associated IPM Agent and they are using a contractor for pest control with the golf facility are subject to GST and payable to: applications, the contractor must be a certified IPM Agent and must therefore be responsible for submitting all materials IPM Council of Canada required for the annual desk review audit and be present for 25 Brown Street, the on-site audit. There is also an expectation that the IPM Box #7 Agent is completely familiar with the property and should Milton, ON therefore be on-site a minimum of once per week for proper L9T 2Y3 supervision and scouting. Independent contractors may act as the certified IPM Agent for a maximum of three At least two desk review audits must be completed before properties. an on-site audit is scheduled. To be in compliance with the regulation, an on-site audit must be successfully completed The IPM Council of Canada is a not-for-profit, multi-sector by spring 2012. To avoid an on-site audit scheduling logjam, organization consisting of landscape, parks, tree, sports turf, we are encouraging golf courses to register early to ensure structural, golf and other industry associations interested in their on-site audits are completed on time. This is reflected promoting integrated pest management through the IPM in the pricing structure for the program. Clubs registering Accreditation Program (IPMAP). The Council has been before August 1, 2009 will have their registration fee locked working with the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) to in for the four years (2009-2012) at $500/yr. If they choose to formalize recognition of the Council as the accreditation body pre-pay for the four year period, the fee is further reduced to within Ontario Regulation 63/09. This formal recognition is $450/yr. Clubs registering between August 2 and December expected in August 2009. 31, 2009 will have their fees locked in at $600/yr. Those choosing to wait until 2010 to register will pay $800/yr. For further information, please contact the IPM Council at: info@ipmcouncilcanada.org From roots to shoots The Summer That Wasn't While Environment Canada says that treatise on puffy greens on the Ohio State University “Buckeye June 2009was near normal for temperatures Turf’ website at http://buckeyeturf.osu.edu/. Puffiness is a and rainfall in Ontario, I doubt that they combination of soft succulent leaves that come from tillers will be able to say the same about July 2009 that result from internodal elongation instead of tillers that once it is over. My guess from what we originate from the base of the primary tiller. These tillers have seen around southwestern Ontario is are higher in the canopy than the tillers that originate from by Pam Charbonneau OMAF Turfgrass Specialist that it will be wetter and much cooler than the base of the primary tiller. When the mower tries to mow normal. The fourteen day trend from these uneven areas it grabs chunks of the succulent turf that The Weather Network is that temperatures will still be below are sitting high and it ends up scalping them. We all know seasonal normals for the next two weeks. This takes us to the what it looks like, but it is hard to describe what is physically beginning of August so for the entire month the temperatures happening. All of this is worse if you have a thatch problem. have been well below the seasonal normals. Again, all of the cultural practices mentioned above can help Well, the relatively good news is that cool season turf grows alleviate puffy greens. best at the temperatures that we have had for the entire months So what about diseases and insect so far this season. Well, ofJune and July (15-24QC). Relatively speaking, there has been the good news is that there have been relatively few disease very litde stress on turf. A few things that have resulted from all outbreaks of to date. Fusarium patch continued, on and on the cool weather and moist conditions is that the turf has not this spring. Dollar spot started much later than normal. My had a slow down in growth rate. The result is lots of clippings estimates are that symptoms began on June 17, 2009 in the to deal with, especially on fairways and roughs and difficulty Guelph area. The really cold weather around Canada Day keeping up with mowing. This is sometimes exacerbated by the brought dollar spot to a halt and it is only now starting to wet conditions that have delayed the usual mowing schedules. become a problem again. The cool, wet weather will favour So if the grass is growing so vigorously, there is a good chance the development of Take-all patch, but we will most likely not that it is using up its nitrogen supplies more quickly than see symptoms until we get a few more of those days with high normal and may require an extra shot of nitrogen to keep evapotranspiration rates. Conditions so far are not setting up good colour. for summer patch to be much of a problem. For it to become Even though the cool temperatures have been good for a problem we need high soil temperatures and saturated growth of cool season turfgrass, they have not been ideal for soil conditions. The wet conditions have resulted in some germination on areas with winter injury. Now that the soil anthracnose basal rot. Topdressing will help keep the crowns temperatures have finally warmed up, the seed that has been dry and should help prevent the further spread of this disease. added to injured greens will finally germinate. Let’s just hope Anthracnose is a stress disease, so make sure the plant has that it doesn’t get hot and dry now because it will become adequate nitrogen and raise the mowing height. There have virtually impossible to keep new seedlings alive under extreme been reports of Waitea patch occurring on some golf courses. heat and dry conditions. The yellow patch like symptoms persist when temperatures Another positive aspect of the cool, wet conditions is warm up. that there was a much larger window this spring for core Reports of insect damage from the field have mirrored aeration, spiking, light vertical mowing and topdressing. diseases. There have been very few reports of severe insect Often these practices can only be done once in the spring damage so far this season. Annual bluegrass weevils have had a before temperatures climb. This year conditions were ideal very spread out seasonal development but the reported damage throughout the entire month of June and for most of July so has not been too bad. All of the wet weather has somewhat far. masked black turfgrass ataenius damage. European chafer Speaking of dry conditions, your turf may have been set back adult flights are over and they were a bit like the adult annual in midJuly when we went from all the overcast weather to some bluegrass weevil situation. The flights were stretched out over lovely sunny, windy and cool days. These conditions can almost a much longer period than normal. If the wet conditions suck the life out of the turf. This is made worse by the fact that continue, I predict that European chafer grub damage will be the turf roots are compromised by too much water and too minimal this fall. There have been cutworms around, but if little air when soils are saturated. The result has been some clippings are removed and disposed of away from greens, they temporary turf wilting which has resulted in leaf tip scorch on should not be a huge problem. Probably the most persistent some turf areas. It will be important to incorporate wetting insect problem so far this year has been the turfgrass ant. The agents into your management practices at this point in the wet conditions don’t seem to slow them down at all. season. In addition, the cultural practices listed above will help If the current long range forecast is accurate, we will have maximize root health for the rest of the growing season. made it through June and July, 2009 with relatively little stress Another phenomenon over the last few weeks is puffy on turf and that is a thing of beauty. Until next time......... greens. Dr. Karl Danneberger has written an interesting Health & safety Back to Basics The rush of the spring is past and health and safety in the workplace. This is not a complicated summer is soon coming to a close. How document. Most of the information is available in the Act. quickly the time passes. It seems like only Other things that your club can do are also easily yesterday we were experiencing the last accomplished. You can identify workers and managers frost of spring! to be members of the joint Health and Safety Committee This is a great time to start to think (the Committee). The rules vary depending on the size by DougJohnson about preparation for next season. A of your club. Having a Committee or health and safety SAFETAID - Health and me to take a moment and look at what ti representative is a fundamental requirement in the Act. Safety Consulting health and safety rules you have in place Along with the identification of members of the Committee and to reflect on the past golf season and assess the quality the Committee and management can take the opportunity of your safety program. Some of the clubs have excellent to develop some operating rules or “Terms of Reference” as programs in place while others have struggled to implement they are generally known. The Terms of Reference clarify written safety protocols. This article provides you with some the duties, function and responsibilities of the Committee to ideas that you can work on to help your club meet some of ensure that all workplace participants understand what the the requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Act Committee is all about! (the Act). To enhance the safety program a small amount and assist If you need assistance in putting these documents your club in meeting the requirements in the Act, club together there is help in this area through an organization management and the Health & Safety Committee could start called Safe Communities on the Grand (http://www. to complete monthly safety inspections. Done efficiently, safecommunitiesonthegrand.com). Your club could be this process takes a small amount of time but tends to eligible for a 5% rebate on your WSIB annual premium for help promote a safe and healthy work environment. The accessing this assistance. For more information go to the process begins with the development of a basic checklist of website or call me. items. The workplace must be inspected each month. The There are some very simple things that your club can do to check list is used as a guide and over time the checklist and establish some minimum safety standards procedure will develop into a valuable guide to health and Firstly, has your club developed a Health and Safety safety concerns in the workplace. Policy? This is a simple one page document that outlines the These are some basic issues that might be implemented. management health and safety beliefs and standards. The If you need assistance and would like to investigate a 5% document covers some very basic issues such as an overview rebate, take a moment and check out Safe Communities on of responsibilities of senior management, supervisors, the Grand. workers and contractors. This is a basic document that is Hope the summer went well and that we have a really nice a statement of the clubs’ philosophy on health and safety. long autumn. Have a great one! The document is written, dated and signed by the senior manager on site. SAFETAID Another issue that can be defined in a written document Making safety your 1st priority! is the responsibilities of the various workplace participants. T. 519-837-0997 • F. 519-837-1996 This document sets out the basic rules that the owner (general Consulting, Safety and First Aid Supplies manager), supervisors, workers, visitors and contractors must doug@safetaid.ca follow. It defines who is responsible for the various aspects of Robert Kains Golf Course Design Ltd. Ask us Providing the Canadian and International golf communities with a progressive design philosophy and dedication to quality about our installation 201 - 902 8th Street hone: 403-678-6980 services. Canmore, Alberta Canada T1W2B8 P Fax: 403-678-3841 Email: kains@kainsgolfdesign.com Web: www.kainsgolfdesign.com 1.800.461.5501 www.manderley.com PRO/SUPER CHALLANGE This year’s Challenge was held at Kawartha Golf 8c Country Club, where excellence has been “Par for the Course” for 75 proud years. The challenging 18 hole course, designed by renowned architect Stanley Thompson, featured impeccable course conditions, mature trees and natural tranquility. Our thanks go to all the staff at Kawartha for their hospitality and assistance in making this such a successful event. Special thanks go to Host Superintendent, Jennifer Pendrith and her staff for providing such excellent course conditions, and to Host Golf Professional, Mark Ahrens and his staff for their assistance in organizing the day. Jennifer Pendrith, Host Superintendent CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNERS Closest to the Pin: #8 James White, Quarry Golf Club ( Superintendent) #18 Fraser McIntyre, Trafalgar Golf & CC ( Pro ) Longest Drive: # 1 Jerry Richard, Craigowan Golf & CC ( Superintendent ) #9 Craig Mills, Dalewood Golf & CC (Golf Pro ) Jay Honeyball & Tom Jackson 1st place team empty table cell Golf Professional Superintendent 1st Oslerbrook Golf & CC ( 69 ) Tom Jackson Jay Honeyball 2nd Kawartha Golf & CC ( 69 ) Brock Edwards Gavin Carnegie 3rd Cedarbrae Golf & CC ( 70 ) Michael Moniz Darren Little 4th Brampton Golf & CC ( 70 ) Emerson Mahoney Martin Kopp THE FRAZ Again this year, the Ontario Golf Superintendents’ Association was proud to participate in and be a sponsor of the 10th anniversary of the Fraz Media Day. This event was held on Monday, June 29th at Mississaugua Golf & Country Club. Although the golf game had to be Manufacturer of liquid, called half way through, due to the thunder storms, the participants spirits were certainly not dampened. We put granular and organic Canadian golfers lost a great friend and supporter for fertilizers. the game in 2000 when Toronto Start golf writer Rick personal care Providing over 20 years of agronomic Fraser, known to the golfing community as, “The Fraz” passed away. To perpetuate his memory, the annual excellence and technical support GTAGA Media Day, which promotes the Toronto Star in everything Men’s and Women’s Championships, is named in his Representatives and Distributors honour. Rick’s final round of golf was played at Mississaugua ONTARIO Golf 8c Country Club with good friends Glenn Goodwin and Dick Grimm. This event plays host to the sports we produce Gord Somerville: 519-778-0781 ALLTURF Ltd.: 800-263-1293 journalists and golf writers who help make the Greater Toronto Area the number one golf market in North Nigel Rennie: 416-520-4845 America. QUEBEC Claude Nantel: 514-809-1570 Bruno Morissette: 418-998-3388 Service Charme: 450-432-4653 Web Site launch New MARITIMES: Nova Turf: 902-434-9977 Dedicated to the Trade www.JustSodIt.com Visit ‘JustSodit’ and Roll-Out the facts. Enviro • Sol 800-265-8865 Ontario COMPACT SOD (519) 653-7494 NIAGARA SOD (905) 984-8448 CAMBRIDGE HAMILTON SOD (905) 389-1315 ST. CATHARINES HALTON SOD (905) 878-1011 800-363-9436 Quebec / Maritimes HAMILTON / BURLINGTON MILTON ONTARIO SOD (905) 849-1915 ONTARIO (905)450-5715 OAKVILLE BRAMPTON www.envirosol.ca RATING HEALTHY GROWING CONDITIONS by Dean A. Baker, CGCS The Club at North Halton A few years ago this article was dropped on my lap a knowledgeable superintendent holds weight and will with great results. I find it fitting to dig it out this suffice. It is easy to understand our response, if the year considering what Mother Nature has handed person you are talking with has any kind of agronomic us so far this season. There have been tough spring sense. We do however run into those who do persist and conditions, mixed with a cool wet summer start. As require a more tangible answer that is understandable superintendents, we have accustomed ourselves to to the masses. These are people who are non-educated looking at growing conditions. Our courses change in growing grass. Here’s another one... someone is through the years with some areas becoming more inclined to tell you, twenty five years ago we had really difficult to grow grass. This was the spring in Ontario good grass on this green! It would be easy to tell the where these sensitive areas were hit hard and now are individual the trees that surround the green now were up for scrutiny. some time ago twenty five feet shorter. This is when we need to educate... give them something in writing... give them something that is easy to understand! Here is one more interesting tool for the toolbox. This rating system was developed to evaluate an area and its ability to grow healthy turf. It is also a useful tool to help achieve better conditions when considering renovations. Ratings are on a scale of 1 to 5 with 1 being the worst conditions and 5 being the best. The material was developed by Dr. Milt Engleke, a Professor of Turfgrass Science at the Texas A&M Research and Extension Center in Dallas, Texas, (Forgive me for not having the complete research work and dates). Dr. Engleke started with a more simple criteria and it was expanded to cover more growing conditions. Paul Latshaw at Muirfield Village has a great talk on the four basic growing parameters... Sun, Air, Water and Soil. It does not get any easier than this! Many of us have this criteria so ingrained in our brains that we can look at any particular site and know if we can grow grass on it. Here is where the fun starts, with those wonderful walks in the forest, with a club owner or greens chair who thinks this would be a great place to put a tee! In our minds, we already know the reasonable answer. A verbal response from Golf Course Putting Green Rating Healthy Growing Conditions North Halton Golf & Country Club The two greens in question were #14 and #15. Part of the exercise was to take a green with favourable health that the members liked... #4 was this chosen green. Our largest green growing in a wide open area with lots of sun and good soil conditions... does not get any better! As we ran this green through our criteria we found it had an 80% success rate. Not 100% but enough to make it the best green on the course. When evaluating 14 and 15 we found their success rate to be 36%... not good at all. With our renovation plan and budget in hand, we explained to the club that we could increase the success rate of these greens to 73%. Not 100%, but enough to grow better grass in this tough area. The idea, in any case, is to increase the percentage of success. Could we have achieved better numbers, yes, but at a greater cost? We felt that with the budget we had, we could be successful without going too far overboard and breaking the bank. Other considerations were just too extreme, i.e. we could have spent an enormous amount on cutting down more trees for better sunlight and air movement. We reached a happy medium without stripping an entire hillside of trees! CRITERIA 1. Size of Area: • Size of area and its ability to tolerate traffic (rate area 1 to 5) 2. Sunlight: • Minimum 8 hours of full sun to sustain healthy plant life • Heavily shaded compared to wide open (rate area 1 to 5) 3. Air Circulation: • Air circulation generally goes hand in hand with a dense tree population or surrounding topography i.e. cliff walls, valleys etc. • Closed in areas compared to open / good air circulation (rate area 1 to 5) 4. Water: • Irrigation Water quality / sustainable for plant life (rate quality 1 to 5) Irrigation system / sprinklers (rate system 1 to 5) • Drainage Natural surface drainage (rate 1 to 5) Tile sub drainage (rate drainage 1 to 5) 5. Soil: • Nutrient capacity...soil versus sand (rate 1 to 5) • Soil structure...compaction (low rating) (rate 1 to 5) • Infiltration rate...low infiltration versus moderate, 8 to 10 inches/hour • Note: high infiltration over 20 inches/hour...low rating (rate 1 to 5) 6. Plant: • Proper plant selection for area of growth... • Tolerates: cutting height, traffic, weather conditions, shade!! (rate plant 1 to 5) 7. Traffic: • Amount of traffic / golf... i.e. under 20,000 rounds (rating 5) over 50,000 rounds (rating 1) RATING HEALTHY GROWING CONDITIONS continued from page 15... Golf Course Putting Green Rating Healthy Growing Conditions North Halton Golf & Country Club EVALUATION Greens #14, #15 & #4 green before after 4 Gn. 1. Size of Area: (1 to 5) 2 2 5 2. Sunlight: (1 to 5) 2 3 5 (removal of trees!!) 3. Air Circulation: (1 to 5) 2 3 5 (removal of trees!!) 4. Water: Irrigation / water quality (1 to 5) 2 4 4 (acid injection was added) Irrigation 4. Watrer system / sprinklers (1 to 5) 2 4 4 (new heads and spacing) 4. Water / natural surface drainage (1 to 5) Drainage 2 3 4 Drainage / tile sub drainage (1 to 5) 1 5 3 (USGA spec, greens construction) 5. Soil: Nutrient Capacity (1 to 5) 3 4 4 Soil Structure / compaction (1 to 5) 1 5 4 Infiltration rate 8 to 15 inches /hour (1 to 5) 1 5 4 (USGA spec, greens construction) 6. Plant Type: (1 to 5) 2 4 4 (Penncross to L-93) _7. Amount of Traffic: (1 to 5) 2 2 2 (approx. 35,000 annually) Total (60 points) 22 44 48 Total (success rate) 36% 73% 80% CONCLUSION We were given the green light after this presentation to renovate. Our theories held up and the two greens are doing very well. These greens have not been talked about since. I keep this criteria well fixed in my head for times I need to be supported with numbers. Mother Nature is constantly testing us on many occasions and through different growing seasons. We need to always remember the basics... what are we trying to do (grow) and under what conditions. My professional philosophy has always been one of education. Good verbal explanations are a start but something easy to understand and tangible in writing for our non-agronomic grass growers goes a long way. Not to mention me being an over the top optimist at all times does help. I have looked at my position as one of an educator, to the membership and or shareholders of the club. I have never been one for confrontation, only good communication. I have also stuck strongly with four things that make grass grow... Sun Air Water 8c Soil. Member profile Interview with Dean Baker, CGCS The Club at North Halton by Greig Barker, Superintendent Highland Country Club Deano” as his friends and colleagues know him, started his golf career at the tender age of 15. Dean worked through the ranks from greens staff to assistant superintendent at Glen Abbey Golf Club. Along the way he attended the University of Guelph and attained his Diploma in Horticulture. It was in those years at Guelph that Dean formed an incredible network of friendships that would last to this day, some in and some out of the golf business. A few years later, at the age of 27, he was appointed the golf course superintendent at Glen Abbey Golf Club, one of Canada’s premier golf facilities. One of Dean’s feathers in his cap is the fact that he has hosted 10 Canadian Open Championships at Glen Abbey. For years Glen Abbey was the perennial host of Canada’s National Championship. He always enjoyed the pressure of PGA tournament golf, although he remarks, “My favourite part was when the last putt dropped in the hole on Sunday.” After the famous “Tiger Open” of 2000 Dean took on a new challenge when he was hired as the golf course superintendent at what is now known as The Club at North Halton in Georgetown, Ontario. Dean loves his current position at North Halton; he is able to get his hands dirty from time to time and even now lives on the property. Dean can be found in the evenings strolling the golf course with his dog Stella, planning the next day’s tasks. During the winter months Dean is an instructor at his Alma matter teaching Human Resources to the Turf grass Diploma students. Everyone that knows Dean would tell you that he is the epitome of a people person. When it comes to managing people he is one of the best. There is an endless list of superintendents, assistants, consultants and industry folk that have been mentored by Dean. Dean is always up for new challenges and earlier this year he became a Certified Golf Course Superintendent through the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. This achievement is recognized around the world for dedication and commitment to our profession. When I asked Dean what he attributes his success to he says, “I love my job and I work too much.” I think that goes for a lot of us, but Dean definitely wears the Golf Course Superintendent profession on his sleeve. "In the Hot Seat" • Favourite tournament: The Memorial • Favourite advancement in turfgrass management: Verti-drain, greens roller and plant growth regulators • Favourite golf course architect: Jack Nicklaus • Ultimate foursome: Tom Cochrane, Alice Cooper, Kenny G • Best golf experience: The Glen Abbey Turf Staff of 2000 w/ Tiger Woods • What’s in your CD right now: A Marco Scenna compilation (Memorial 2009) • What would you be if not a golf course superintendent: A full time teacher (U of Guelph) 41st ANNUAL PRESIDENTS' DAY by Tom Brain, Superintendent Burlington Golf and Country Club environment away from the every day rigors of your own club. Many groups made an outing of it and stayed either the day before or after and enjoyed some quality time in Ontario’s north. The day was ruled, once again, by Chris Dew and his group from The National who won the event for the second year in a row. Dennis Piccolo’s team from St Catharines Golf & Country Club and Justin Heptinstall’s team from Port Carling Golf & Country Club rounded out second and third place, respectively. For those who made the trek to Muskoka for the OGSA Presidents’ Day, it was well worth the effort. They were treated to a fabulous day. The weather was ideal and Scott Heron and his team had the golf course in perfect conditon. Scott Heron accepts Host Superintendent plaque from Phil Brown After a lovely meal in a wonderful setting overlooking the lake, the groups reluctantly started to gather for the ferry back to the mainland. There was many a wistful look as the participants reflected on a very special day. A special thanks to Scott Heron and the management team at Bigwin Island for allowing us to use their club for a day and for providing such a great atmosphere to enjoy the premiere event of the year. From the boat ride to the island, the incredible vistas from many places on the course, the abundance of wildlife to the hospitality of the staff, Bigwin is an incredible experience of great golf in cottage country. The day was full of camaraderie, fun and friendly competition. The National Team 1st Place Team - The National 2nd Place Team - St. Catharines G&CC 3rd Place Team - Port Carling G&CC Closest to the Pin #2 - Any Player Tom Brain Closest to the Pin #7 - Team Bigwin Island GC President’s Day offers a unique opportunity to spend Longest Drive #8 Ladies Only Dianne Dyer some time with your club officials in a low key, stress free Longest Drive #18 Men Only Brad Bell Golf course highlight Bigwin Island Golf Club 1139 Old Highway 117 Baysville ON P0B 1A0 Phone: 705 635-3553 Website: www.bigwinisland.com Golf Course Superintendent: Scott Heron Email: shbigwin@vianet.ca Photo by Scott Heron COURSE PROFILE What type of irrigation system? 2 Agrimetal Blowers What region is your club located in? Toro LTL Plus Lake of Bays 14 Fly-mos What is the size of your maintenance shop? 1 Grademaker 600 What is the classification of your club? 6,000 ft2 1 Bearcat chipper Semi-private 1 Vicon fertilizer spreader What is the size of the greens, tees & Size of membership and number of rounds? fairways? 1 Walco snow blower 200 members and 14,000 rounds Greens: 2.5 acres 1 Aerway slicer Typical opening and closing dates? Tees: 3.5 acres 4 John Deere weedwackers May long weekend Fairways: 38 acres 2 Redmax reciprocators until Thanksgiving Monday Approaches: 2.5 acres 2 rotary mowers JS60 Roughs: 80 acres 1 rotary mower JS63 Name of Superintendent and miscellaneous small equipment Scott Heron Bunkers: 4 acres How long have you been a superintendent? What is your predominant grass? 10 years 5% Poa, 95% Bent COURSE PROJECTS & PLANS List other accomplishments How many USGA greens and loam greens? What projects have you recently completed? OGSA Director, Certified Audubon California Style New stairs, new washrooms. Cooperative Sanctuary What is the predominant soil type? Native topsoil What long range plans for renovation do you How long have you been an OGSA member? have in the next five years? 15 years What equipment do you have in inventory? Re-do bunkers, narrow-in fairways. How many year round staff? 1 John Deere tractor 5210 4 1 John Deere tractor 4500 Are there any particular challenges you face 1 John Deere tractor 4520 with your property? How many seasonal staff? 1 John Deere Skid Steer Logistics of arranging all supplies, 20 1 John Deere backhoe loader equipment and services by boat. How many mechanics and assistants? 1 John Deere Sandpro 1200A Finding quality maintenance staff. Assistant: Kevin Schultz 1 John Deere Aercore 800 Underground springs causing wet areas. Mechanic: Joe McGrath 6 John Deere trailers 22” 3 John Deere heavy duty trailers Do you have any success stories? COURSE STATISTICS 1 John Deere round bottom trailer Getting an ecologically responsible course 1 tow behind sprayer built on an island with no road access. How many holes? Experienced, loyal turf operations staff 18 1 Dakota topdresser 1 Ty-Crop MH 400 able to develop and constantly improve What is the yardage from back & forward tees? 1 Ty-Crop conveyor course. 7166 yards from back tees 1 Ty-Crop spinner Golf Digest “Best New Course” 2002. 5346 yards from forward tees 1 Pronovost trailer Consistent Canadian top 20 ranking in How many bunkers? 1 Skidoo Rotax 500 SCORE. 75 1 Lely spreader 3 John Deere 7500 fairway mowers What type of innovative cultural practices How many ponds, and/or how many times have you performed? does water come into play? 3 John Deere 8800 rough mowers To combat collar problems, we cut once No ponds, course is surrounded by water 2 John Deere 2500B triplex mower or twice a week at a slightly higher height 2 John Deere Progators than the approaches. Always with a solid Who was the original architect? Doug Carrick 6 John Deere 220C tee mowers roller on walker. Never roll over collar 13 John Deere Gators with roller. What was the year of original construction? 6 John Deere trailers 1998-2001 Shrink-wrap maintenance equipment to 2 John Deere 17P clipping trailers protect over winter. What major tournaments held? 6 Stihl trimmers Use a 6’ brush to sweep all grass in the OGSA Presidents’ Day 2009 3 John Deere rotary push mowers spring prior to first roll and first cuts. Georgian Bay Wrap-Up Event 2007 1 Sweepster PTO brush This helps with any snow mould, sticks Member/Guest 1 Agrimetal Turf Vac and wakes up the grass. In a perfect world... Considerations for evaluating and managing golf green putting surfaces by David Smith, P.Ag., CGCS DCS Agronomic Services Introduction from 200 to 1,800 nanometres. Plants use light energy In a perfect world all greens would have 4,200 square particles called photons, with wavelengths between 400 feet of pinable area, receive eight hours per day of full and 700 nanometres for photosynthesis and growth. sunlight exposure, have ample area provided for entrance This wavelength band is called photosynthetically active and exit points to the green and the membership would radiation. totally understand and support the importance of cultural management practices such as aeration, vertical mowing Growth and survival of turfgrass plants is largely and top-dressing. dependent on the intensity and quality of light that reaches the plant. Turfgrass managed in an environment Utopia - you bet! While we all know that this does not where sunlight is limited will be more susceptible to exist in the real world, it is important to have reference biological stresses like disease and insect invasion as well points to strive for. The intent of the following article is to as abiotic stresses such as ice damage, desiccation, wear identify factors worthy of consideration when managing tolerance and drought. Many of the problems associated putting surfaces. with shade may show up as stress in walk-on areas or as chronic disease problems that are not an issue in Light areas of the green where adequate sunlight is available. Healthy plants cannot grow without the required Unhealthy turf is unable to stand up under the rigors of amount of sunlight. Plants create their own sustenance a cultural management regime required to maintain a by converting sunlight into energy through a process firm, fast putting surface. known as photosynthesis. Turfgrass plants evolved in an environment with full access to sunlight and are When evaluating sunlight availability to golf greens, technically Heliophytes - plants that require direct consider that only 37% of the energy in sunlight is within sunlight for optimum health and vigour. To sustain the wavelength range useful for photosynthesis. Of the vigorous, healthy, turfgrass plants, able to withstand the sunlight that reaches the plant leaf, approximately 1-5% abuse of continuous low mowing, as well as wear from is used for photosynthesis, 10% is reflected and 10% is foot traffic and frequent mowing, it is imperative that transmitted through the leaf. the putting surface of the green have access to required sunlight. As a general recommendation busy golf courses should strive for a minimum of eight hours per day of full Sunlight that reaches the earth’s surface is composed sunlight exposure to the entire putting surface with of a wide spectrum of energy, with wavelengths ranging morning sun given priority. greens maintained at mowing heights between O.10 and 0.125 inches it has been found that a maximum slope within 8 feet of the hole greater than 3% creates a scenario where skill is replaced by luck and enjoyment of the game is compromised for most golfers. Pinable area and pin placement The area most damaged around the hole during normal use occurs within an eight-foot radius of the hole. This equates to an area of approximately 200 square feet. If we estimate the time required for a badly worn hole location to heal as 21 days then there should be a minimum of 21 hole locations on a golf green. Considering 21 hole locations X 200 square feet per location results in a minimum need for 4,200 square feet of area suitable for placing the cup. The USGA recommends that holes be located at least three paces from the edge of the green. Realistically some areas with slope greater than 3% are required to provide interest in the green so a minimum area of 1,800 square feet is a reasonable amount to factor into the minimum size of a Sunlight filtered through a tree canopy has little left to offer the turfgrass busy green. The final benchmark then for size of green plants on a shaded putting green. Slope and size of the putting Numbers in Legend surface represent % slope on A factor we sometimes lose track the putting surface. With little available ofwhen evaluating putting surfaces pinable area this and subsequent management green will he more programs for greens is the size and prone to wear and damage. topography of the putting surface. Unlike most other turf related sports the playing surface for the game of golf is not regulated in terms of area sizes, slope, mowing heights etc. While this makes the game enjoyable to play it creates challenges in terms of evaluating the playing surfaces. When turf is maintained at a normal daily mowing height a steep slope is described as one where golf balls rolling down the slope will not lose speed. On In a perfect world continued from page 21... would be 6,000 square feet. predisposes the turf to stress factors such as drought or Of course not all greens provide 4200 square feet of disease pressure. Management of organic matter on the pinable area but the numbers above provide a mathematical putting surface is vital for general putting green health, formula for assessing the green and determining how best quality, trueness and speed. to manage the putting surface. Greens with less pinable area will probably require additional input in terms of Consider the following to assist with maintaining a firm fertility, aeration and other cultural management practices true putting surface: to maintain optimum playing conditions. Conventional (light) Vertical Mowing: Investigation and management of organic Vertically mow the greens on a frequent basis. Frequent matter vertical mowing provides slits in the turf canopy for sand Oxygen is vital to plant growth and required in higher accumulation that will dilute and help break down thatch. amounts than most other nutrients. Oxygen is involved in Putting surface quality and consistency is also enhanced the process of photosynthesis and is vital to the health and by frequent vertical mowing. A goal of vertically mowing well being of microbial populations within the soil/plant all greens twice per growing month when they are in good root-zone. Oxygen exists in the air and root-zone as a gas. health and not under stress is a reasonable goal. Diffusion of gas is 10,000 times slower through water than through air and therefore essentially zero when pores in A general recommendation is not available for adjusting the soil or thatch are full of water. the depth of the blades. Adjust one unit first and test it at the rear of a green. This may require adjusting the unit several times prior to final set up. Once the unit is adjusted to the desired depth the other units (if part of a triplex setup) can be set the same. Note: thatch holding water that impedes the movement of air and toxic gasses within the root-zone. When thatch and organic matter is allowed to build up on a putting surface the golf ball will have a tendency to sink into the organic layer resulting in a slower green. Double-cutting thatch layered greens is often practiced For best results ensure the blades of a deep-vertical mower are set to reach the bottom of the thatch layer so none is left behind. to increase green speed resulting in scalping. Scalping not only impacts trueness of the putting surface but also Note thatch remaining in slit below depth of blade setting. Deep-Vertical Mowing: Weather conditions can have a significant impact on The benefits of the Graden GSO4, Sisis Rotorake 600 or how much sand can be applied in a season. Weather also Thatchmaster TM-480 Vertical mower equipped with 1 mm plays a role in how much thatch can develop in a season. carbide tipped blades are worthy of investigation. Ideally, The general recommendation is to ensure sand is applied the greens will be vertically mowed with one of these units at a rate sufficient to dilute thatch as it develops on the with a goal of removing 15% of the turf surface per season green. through a combination of core aeration and deep vertical Thatch in mowing. A 1 mm blade will impact approximately 8% of this photo the surface area per vertical mowing event. accumulated over two seasons. Information on these machines can be found at: While this is an extreme case it http://www.graden.com.au/verticutters.htm demonstrates http://www.sisis.com/strl8.html the importance http://www.turfspecialties.net/custom.html of aeration and topdressing to manage organic Deep-tine Aeration of Soil Based Greens Only: matter and The health and vigour of soil based golf greens benefit putting green from aeration with a deep-tine aerator equipped with 10 quality. to 12 inch long solid tines. Ideally the greens would be aerated a minimum of twice per season with this type of Rolling: aerator. Rolling greens is a means of improving ball roll and consistency between greens. There are numerous rollers on If sand based greens are properly constructed there is the market and most do a good job of improving the putting little benefit in deep-tine aeration. The sand was selected surface. Research on greens rolling is on-going but it is generally accepted that you shouldn’t roll greens more than for its ability to resist compaction. 3 times per week. Many clubs now practice a system called “target rolling”. Target rolling is done by rolling the complete Core Aeration: green once or twice per week and rolling the immediate area To ensure adequate soil aeration, water infiltration and around the pin three times per week. This scenario relieves root development consider impacting 15 to 20% of the stress on the green and has provided satisfactory results in surface area during the growing season through core terms of playability at many clubs where this is practiced. aeration and deep vertical mowing. Conclusion: Topdressing: The art and science of managing green speed and putting Consider top-dressing all greens twice per month with quality becomes more complex each year. As more equipment a year end goal of applying 1 cm of applied sand per and resources become available the bar is raised just a little season. The additional wear to the blades and bed-knives more. We must never lose site of the basics of light, water, cannot be avoided and should be factored into the cost of air and organic matter when evaluating and managing golf operation. green putting surfaces. 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Turf Care Products Canada 200 PONY DRIVE, NEWMARKET, ON L3Y 7B6 PHONE (905) 836-0988 • FAX (905) 836-6442 1-800-561-8873 London Ph: (519) 668-7664 • Fax:(519)668-3722 Milton Ph: 905-836-0988 * Fax:(905)636-1513 Gloucester Ph: (613) 822-1881 * Fax:(613)822-2099 One great result. visit www.turfcare.ca Above the hole by April Grabell, Student and Intern Three months down and two more months to go! rewarding if I were to go back to work there. With that in This summer has gone by fast. It seems as though just mind I chose local! In the past 2 years I have been given last week I was finishing up exams, and here I am today the opportunity to “get my hands wet” in several aspects in the prime of ‘Golf Season’, striving to get the most out of the golf course, from everyday cultural practices to of my internship experience. I have already put some of construction and everything in between. my knowledge to the test, and have learnt quite a bit. I Another feature of a 9 hole, local course that I enjoy can’t wait to see what the next 2 months bring. I am also is the friendly environment. Being a member of a small looking forward to getting back to school in the fall to crew, members know your name and are often very finish up my program and to enter the turf industry full grateful for all the hard work that you do. A compliment time. from a member is appreciated and can go a long way! I This summer has been rather exciting. With fellow think that many times members don’t realize how much turf students set up with internships through-out Canada, work is involved in maintaining a golf course. When the U.S. and England it is interesting to catch up with them golf course members take the time out of their day to to see how things are going. With turf students all over acknowledge our efforts it is quite rewarding. I think the world I have been asked several times, why did I interaction with members is key to maintaining a golf choose a 9 hole, local course? My answer to that question course, and have found this out while working at the is taken from the 4-H motto “Learn to do by Doing!” local course. Rather than only learning in a class what to do in I believe being a part of a smaller, local golf course certain circumstances at a golf course, at the Guelph has many benefits. Hands on experience and friendly Country Club I am given the opportunity to put my environment are 2 of many pros to working at a local knowledge to the test. Now don’t get me wrong choosing course. Having started out late in the industry, I think to work at a smaller course was definitely a big decision. this was the best step to take. I am excited to see what With the past experiences that I have obtained over 2 the rest of the season brings and am very grateful for all years working at the Guelph Country Club, I knew that the experiences that I have obtained so far. I would have the chance to make my internship very David C. Smith, P.Ag., c.g.c.s. 185 Oriole Crescent LARGE TREE SALES AND RELOCATION Soil & Turfgross Consultant Gravenhorst, Ontario P1P1C6 Phil Dickie- ISA Certified Arborist pdickie@fastforest.ca Office (705) 687-SOIL (7645) Fax (705) 687-3518 Toll Free 1 -888-607-TURF (8873) 270 Shoemaker Street, Kitchener, ON N2E 3E1 Cell (905) 512-6004 dave@dcsturf.com Phone (519) 748-6610* Fax (519) 748-6626 Doug Hubble Sales and Marketing Manager 519.770.3157 Mark Schneider dhubble@agriumat.com Professional Products 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@agriumat.com L7E 5T3 mark@mapleturfsupply.com www.mapleturfsupply.com www.turfpro.ca GET INDUSTRY'S BEST SPREAD EVERY TIME. IT'S AS EASY AS A-B-C with the WIDESPIN™ 1540EC TOPDRESSER Gain Unlimited Programming Flexibility with Three Lockable Presets Ultra-light application covers up to 40 feet. Patented three-position switch guarantees a clean application. Switches easily from light to heavy spreads and everything in between. Perfect medium application. Burlington Area: 905-637-5216 ISO 9001 REGISTERED Toronto Area: 905-338-2404 1184 Plains Road East All Other Ontario Areas: 800-883-0761 Burlington, ON L7S1W6 www.gcduke.com Heavy application for after aerifying. Braemar Building Systems Custom Design Quality Buildings Competitive Prices • Maintenance Buildings • Storage Facilities • New Buildings • Wood & Steel Structures For your FREE ESTIMATES call us at 1-800-215-1996 www.braemarbuildings.com University of Guelph update Department of Plant Agriculture by Katerina Jordan, Turfgrass Science and IPM Eric Lyons, Turfgrass Science and Plant Physiology François Tardif, Weed Science Alternative weed controls on turf thing that golf course superintendents don’t One worry too much about on their golf courses is weed invasion (Poa annua excepted, of course). Often, pre- emergent herbicides are applied in the spring to take care of annuals that are difficult to control once they have germinated and then multi-action selective herbicides are applied to areas where weeds invade throughout the season. Although weed competition can definitely weaken a turfgrass stand and create unsightly areas when they invade, they are often not as great a concern on golf courses as insects and diseases. This is because weeds are easy to see (they’re always above-ground) and except in the case of allelopathic plants, they do not attack or infect the turfgrass plants as insects or pathogens do. Corn Gluten Meal: All that said, with the passing of Ontario’s Cosmetic Corn gluten meal (CGM) is a by-product ofthe wet milling Pesticide Ban Act, certain areas of the golf course can no process of corn and was discovered to have herbicidal longer be treated for weeds with conventional herbicides. activity by Nick Christians at Iowa State University. It can These include any areas that are not in play - clubhouse come in two forms, as a meal and as a hydrolyzed liquid lawns, areas surrounding landscaping, etc. This may lead product. Currently, only the meal products are available to increased weed pressure on the in-play areas due to in Ontario. Corn gluten meal works due to the activity increased seed production of untreated weeds or just the of four specific compounds in the meal that inhibit root opportunity for encroachment if cosmetic areas border formation in seedlings. Corn gluten meal is non-specific the playing surfaces. Increased weed infestations are so it will also inhibit the rooting of turfgrass seedlings. already evident on city boulevards and athletic fields Therefore, you should avoid its use if you are planning to in regions where pesticide bans have been in effect for overseed within 6 weeks of application. some time (Fig. 1). In addition, since golf courses are Corn gluten meal works on emerging seedlings and now required to become accredited in integrated pest therefore must be used as a pre-emergent herbicide. It has management (IPM) there is increasing interest in the use no effect on established weeds and must be applied in a of effective alternatives to combat weed issues on turf. At preventative manner. Many turfgrass weeds are perennial this point, labeled products for weed control on turfgrass in nature so they must be controlled with other methods include corn gluten meal, acetic acid, fatty acid salts and and then CGM can be used to prevent their return from Sclerotinia minor (sold as Sarritor). The purpose of this seed. In order for CGM to be effective a short drying article is to discuss some of the alternative weed options period is necessary following the weed germination. If that are available in Ontario, as well as to review the the soil remains wet the plant may survive with limited literature on research that has been done to determine roots and then continue to grow after the CGM has lost efficacy of these products. effectiveness. Additionally, frequent irrigation will lessen the effectiveness of CGM as the weeds will be able to survive without roots. Typically the CGM has a residual waxy cuticle, such as milkweed, may require multiple of 5-6 weeks and after that period overseeding treatments applications. The contact-only action means that coverage can be applied or reapplication would be necessary. CGM is critical and that you may expect re-growth from is a registered product and should be applied as per label perennial weeds such as dandelion. You must also be very instructions. careful not to apply this product onto your turf, but rather to use it as a spot spray for weeds either on sidewalks and Acetic Acid : other non-turf areas or in a turf stand where you can avoid Acetic acid is in a number of products and typical contacting the turfgrass. The efficacy of these products forms labeled for weed control contain anywhere from 5% has not been thoroughly tested, or at least results are to 25% active ingredient, although most of the publically not available to the public at this time. However, if you available products for turf are closer to the lower end. have an area that you want to try some non-selective weed Acetic acid is a nonselective weed control product and control on, you might want to give these a try and see how will damage both broadleaf weeds and grass species, both they do. desirable and undesirable. It would be used in place of glyphosate in a weed control program. Acetic acid burns Sderotinia minor (Sarritor) the plants and often causes them to turn black and become Sclerotinia minor is a fungal pathogen of a number of wet in appearance. There are two modes of action: first, broadleaf plant species, including soybean, sunflower, the acetic acid solution can damage the cuticle of the cucumber, lettuce, sweet potato, Irish potato, pepper plant making it more susceptible to desiccation; second, and tomato, just to name a few. It was discovered that the solution acts as a salt pulling water from the plant cells this fungus was also able to successfully infect dandelion causing damage similar to a fertilizer burn. plants on home lawns, while leaving the neighboring Typically, multiple applications (2-3) are necessary turfgrass plants unaffected. Through many years of to achieve greater than 50% control of weeds. These research at multiple institutions, including the University products typically work best on smaller, actively growing of Guelph, a biological control agent was developed for weeds. As the weeds mature they can survive and use on dandelion plants invading a turfgrass stand. The regenerate because they have a thicker cuticle than the pathogen infects plants through sclerotia, much like the younger plants. One drawback of acetic acid products is Typhula species that cause gray snow mold. Once the they often have a strong yet familiar odor associated with fungus initiates infection symptoms on the host plant them. Golfers and other user groups will often complain begin as brown lesions on the leaf blade and quickly lead of a pickle smell near application sites. to wilting and necrosis. As the fungus colonizes, white cottony mycelia soon form over the leaves of the dandelion Fatty acid salts: plant, leading to collapse of the foliage. The final stage of Fatty acid salts (or soap salts as they may be known) infection is a rot of the crown tissue, ultimately leading to are essentially the addition of salts such as potassium the death of the plant and no regeneration of vegetative hydroxide to naturally occurring fatty acids, found in plant structures in infected plants. If the conditions are right and animal oils and fats. They can be used against plants, for infection, this fungus can be extremely effective in insects, fungi and even algae, although for cosmetic use, killing dandelions and possibly other broadleaf weed they are currently only labeled for use as herbicides. They species, although studies on efficacy on other weeds has work by disrupting the cell membrane in the plant (in the not been published to date. case of herbicide use) and are non-selective, contact-only As effective and safe as this biological control agent products. As such, they will affect any plant parts that are is, there are specific conditions that are needed for the green, as long as the product is able to get inside the cells pathogen to successfully infect dandelions. Just as with through the leaf’s waxy cuticle. They tend to be active turfgrass pathogens, the presence of the pathogen and on most plant species although weeds with a very thick, susceptible host are not enough for successful infection Alternative weed controls on turf continued from page 29... to occur - the proper environmental conditions must also are most effective for reducing weed populations in both be present for this control agent to infect its host. Ideal new and established turf stands (Fig. 2). It is our hope conditions are air temperatures between 18 and 24°C, that this research will aid not only the sports turf and pre- and post-treatment irrigation or rainfall, and overcast landscaping industry, but also the golf course industry for conditions to ensure that the leaf blades and the fungus management of non-play areas and in its effort to increase do not dry out prior to infection. That means there is a use of IPM throughout the golf course grounds. rather narrow window during which application should be made and you must be diligent about irrigation, especially once the control has been applied. Conclusions: Whether using conventional herbicides or alternative control methods for weeds, cultural practices for promoting turf growth and health should always be performed. Specifically related to weed control, the most important are mowing height and frequency, proper fertility, adequate irrigation, thatch control, and of course overseeding. Keeping your turf too short will weaken your turf stand, while keeping it too long will create shading and competition between turfgrass plants. Mowing more often also stimulates tillering and lateral growth in turf, helping it to keep weeds out. Proper fertility and irrigation ensure that your turf stand is healthy and that is always the best defense against weed invasion. For those of you who have been battling Poa annua invasion on your creeping References: bentgrass greens over the years (which is more than likely Au-Dieyeh, M. H. and Watson, A. K. 2007. Population most of you), you know how important a healthy stand of dynamics of broadleaf weeds in turfgrass as influenced by the desirable plant species is. Thatch removal and relief chemical and biological control methods. Weed Science of compaction are also very important in weed control as 55:371-380. many turfgrass weeds are shallow rooted and are favoured Christians, N. Corn gluten meal research page. in compacted environments. Finally, each time that you http://www.hort.iastate.edu/gluten remove a weed, you are leaving a void behind. And just Schnick, P. J. et al. 2002. 2,4-D and Sclerotinia minor to like with Poa annua, which you often start to see invading control common dandelion. Weed Science 50:173-178. where ball marks were left behind, weeds are excellent at filling voids. So, overseed following every weed control National Pesticides Telecommunications Network. 2001. that allows for it. You want your turf species to have the Techincal Fact Sheet: Potassium salts of fatty acids. npic. advantage over the weeds whenever possible. orst.edu/factsheets/psfagen.pdf With all the information floating around regarding weed management, there is still a lack of data from research trials to determine the efficacy of alternative products in Ontario. In addition, very little research has been conducted about the interactive effects, if any, that these products and management tools may have when used together. With funding from the Ministry of the Corrie Almack P.Ag. Environment, the authors of this article are currently Almack Agronomic Services Inc. Tel: (905) 689-6174 conducting a large-scale multi-year project to determine Box 256, Carlisle, On Fax: (905) 689-8522 the cultural practices and alternative control methods that LOR 1H0 Email: c.almack@sympatico.ca Second to one by Justin Parsons, Assistant Superintendent Trafalgar Golf & Country Club other day I peered into our staff room during The every facet of life. Everything is far too easy. Now, again, lunch break and I saw that all five kids in the room were this can be said of every generation that trails the one on their cell phones. Not one of them actually had the previous. But for the first time in our history, when staff phone to their ear. All of them were either ’texting’ are eating lunch they can have a sandwich in one hand their friends, playing a game on their mobile device, or and do their banking in the other. The advent of the browsing the internet. Not one of those five people was internet has meant that kids can send their resumes out to engaged with another individual in the room. Now, for dozens of potential employers without ever leaving their some reason this image has stuck with me and I feel it bedroom. They can make plans with their friends during worthwhile to explain. their work break and then change them while en route I should preface this all by saying that I have noticed that after their shift. the expectations of the younger staff have changed in the We are now a culture of instant gratification. If it isn’t last few years. There seems to be this overwhelming sense now, it isn’t good enough. As employers, it has become all of entitlement among many of the student workers. Most the more challenging to motivate a staff that expect way of them no longer feel like they need to earn anything. too much, way too soon. In fact, it is perhaps the hardest They just sort of expect it right away. I can remember part of an assistant’s job. when I first started working on a golf course, we all knew So, when I think back to those five kids sitting in the that the best way to move up the ranks was to bust your lunch room it reminds me of how much things have butt and do a good job of what you were given. changed in the last few years. Just a short while ago I was Nowadays, if you tell a rookie that they are in bunkers one of those kids sitting in that break room. I can assure their body language resembles that of Virgil the monkey you, not one of us was on a cell phone. from that movie Project X. They give you a look that says, “Aww, bunkers again?” In turn, as assistants, we must give them a look that says, ‘Yeah, bunkers again. Shut your piehole and get raking”. I think we all know that there are far worse jobs than raking bunkers on a golf course. Now, I should tell you that I am nearly 30 years old and thus, about 10 years older than most of the students who compromise the younger constituent of our staff. To most of you reading this, that probably doesn’t seem PREMIUMWATER MANAGEMENT like a big age difference. But to me, and I’m sure many other assistants like myself, there seems to be an TOOLS FOR YOUR GOLF COURSE TURF immeasurable disconnect between ourselves and the tail • 2 Formulations Available - Respond 3 Liquid end of Generation Y that is now entering the workforce. and Respond 3 Granular Granted, since the beginning of time, every generation feels that the one that follows it are a bunch of spoiled, lazy • Protect your Greens, Tees, and Fairways punks who don’t realize how good they have it. But I truly from Localized Dry Spot, Drought Stress and Excessive Moisture believe that more has changed with society, in particular our youth, in the last ten years than at any time previous. • More Uniform Water Distribution Throughout The young kids that are now entering the workforce have the Root Zone grown up with two unique technological advancements Distributed by: that have had a profound impact on how they approach ALLTURF their part time work. I am referring specifically to cell Master’s Turf Supply Ltd. phones and the internet. Mountain View Turf Supply www.uap.ca The youngest workers of society really haven’t known Respond 3 is a registered trademark of United Agri Products. a time when these two conveniences didn’t pervade Always read and follow label directions. Thanks to INSIGNIA®, the NEW game in town is ON the leader Board! As you know, BASF has been in the chemical business for 140 years, but for BASF, the work continues (innovation is a hard habit to break). Meanwhile, out on the golf courses, Supers are beginning the season with CADENCE®, followed by PREMIS® (contains the best DMI around), unaware of the power of the BetterTurf™ Bundle program. Until now. The fact is, rotate in BASF’s all new INSIGNIA® EG FUNGICIDE with your PREMIS routine and... well... try it. You’ll like what you see! With solutions like INSIGNIA, it’s no wonder Supers have put this new player on their leader board. Can you afford NOT to play with these guys? For more information go to www.BetterTurf.ca BetterTurf™ is a trademark of BASF. CADENCE®, PREMIS® and INSIGNIA® and the BASF logo are registered trademarks of BASF. ©2009 BASF Corporation. All rights reserved. Always read and follow label directions before product use. On the REEL side of things by: Warren Wybenga, Equipment Manager, Donalda Club, Toronto WWybenga@donaldaclub.ca (416) 447-5575 x263 Doggie Doggie Mentioning the Dog Days ofSummer conjures up several guilty of swallowing a pre Labor Day stupid pill. Mature, images for me, like oppressive heat and humidity, lots reliable and otherwise rock-steady staff are responsible of aeration clean up and complacency. Well we can’t for their fair share of messes. Let’s face it, not every job do anything about the weather and anyone who’s been we send them out to do is the most stimulating task they through it a few times already knows the effects that a have ever been asked to do and the conversation usually week of hole pounding can have on your course, crew and begins the same way... ”I don't know what happened. I was equipment.. .but as I was reminded recently during one of just driving along and... ” our superintendent’s morning addresses to the crew, this I believe that in order to keep my universe in a state of is also the time of year when there is a danger of becoming balance, things will go wrong from time to time. They complacent with our work. have to...it’s inevitable. But that doesn’t mean we should Looking back over the years, August is probably the stop reminding people to pay attention. Most accidents second most probable time for somebody to get hurt are completely preventable and it is better for everyone’s due to a mental lapse while maintaining a golf course, bottom line if we can all remain focused on the job at behind the initial early season training period when crew hand. members are only just learning the nuances of operating Don’t get lazy with making regular mower adjustments turf equipment for the first time. and keep on top of all of your machinery’s lubrication It really should come as no surprise though that requirements. This includes not only all fluid levels but we become more accident prone at this time of year. also those one or two grease fittings that likely require you Contrary to the spring time batch of foul-ups and the to be part contortionist to reach with a grease gun. A bit ensuing months of gradual yet steady improvements of heavier gauge cardboard scavenged from the recycle in performance, by the time August rolls around, most bin behind the clubhouse laid over decks usually provides operators should be very competent in their abilities. my ribs just enough protection from bolts, pins and the You must watch that they aren’t becoming complacent or like to get the job done though always be cautious of even bored with their tasks to the point where they start where you lay and what is underneath you.. .its machinery, taking short cuts or conversely, either in an effort to please not a couch after all. A little discomfort now may just or under pressure to perform, try to do too much, too avoid the need to tear that machine down later due to a quickly. Either way, the result is often the same...with any lack of lubrication. That grease fitting is there for a reason luck at all, nobody gets hurt and it is only the machinery and I have found that the more regularly they are used, that ends up in need of repair. No matter how much the longer they keep accepting grease as they should. If damage is done to a machine, it cannot compare with the you find a fitting that is not taking grease anymore, find costs involved in repairing a human body. out why as soon as you can. Sometimes, if you catch it Summer students are particularly notorious for having early enough you’ll find that a simple cleaning of the film late summer brain farts that for the most part, should have of dirt that can form under the fitting is enough to make been completely avoidable. Their hormone driven quest things right again but if it’s clearly blocked, just replace for fun, coupled with a penchant for chasing each other it. Resist the urge to poke at the fitting with a bit of wire around like bunnies while suffering from an inane ability to as there is a tiny spring that keeps an equally tiny ball be easily distracted by shiny objects can lead to some head seated against the top of the fitting. It is in effect a one scratching discussions during accident reconstructions. way valve, allowing grease to enter while keeping debris Equipment techs are inquisitive by nature and I always and depending on the application, water out. They’re want to know as much as I can about an accident, as much cheap to buy and you should keep an assortment on hand to satisfy my own curiosity as to learn from the event in an because they do fail, get damaged or even break off on effort to prevent or limit the frequency of any further such occasion. occurrences. Wishing you, your staff and your equipment a safe Students, busy dreaming up the “call in sick” excuse that and accident free summer and remember to support will enable them to squeeze in one last bash up at the your industry’s future by registering a Turf Equipment cottage before returning to school, aren’t the only ones Technician apprentice 421C today! Off the fairway ... Summer Gardens 2009 It was a fantastic spring for growing is the balance of the existing plants and how this affects things. Slow to start mind you, with the overall look. Trimming up, pruning back, thinning wind and rain and less than our average out and managing the population of plants is necessary in heat units through June. Corn was not the spring in order to sustain the good looks of a garden “knee high by the first of July”, as the until the fall. You can modify, amend or renovate then, saying goes, and other heat loving if necessary. plants and cottagers held back in want Before the season started we braced ourselves for the by Daisy Moore of warmth. A week is a long time uncertainties ahead and we couldn’t really predict how the in gardening though and things have since caught up. public mood and behaviour would impact our business. It Those of us in the green industry have done our share seems to me that people have put aside the worries and of laughing and crying at the absurdities of the demands woes that brewed over the winter and are getting out placed on us, often by ourselves, the weather, the lists, and enjoying themselves. More people are walking and the frustrations and the triumphs during such a season. using parks than I can ever remember. There are people The rush is finally over and we can kick back a bit and on the golf course whenever I go by one. There seems let nature take its course. That is what I am going to do to be a general participation and enthusiasm for local anyway. recreational activities. African Lion Safari for example. Getting the gardens (and the turf) ready for summer Local food is big in my area and market gardens are so you can kick back and relax is a daunting task at the enjoying a Renaissance of sorts. The economy has forced best of times. There is a lot to do in a short period of us to look closer to home for things and this bodes well for time, but I don’t have to tell any of you that. The window golf and for the green industry. of opportunity closes when crabgrass or black medic start The pesticide ban has been a non-event on the home to flower. At that point the soil is too dry and you will be owner front, at least for now. The fall and next spring doing more harm than good to try to dig or cultivate. The will be another matter. Lawn care companies have been most critical part in your preparation is to have the plants doing a good job promoting “fertilizing the grass to keep married to the soil they live in, before heat and drought out the weeds” because I have never seen so many lush stress are a factor. By this I mean that the roots of newly green lawns, at least for now. It is a great industry we are planted stock should have moved into the soil and the in. You win some you lose some and survivors adapt to soil has the ability to water and nurture the plant. This the changing environment. Part of that survival is to take is accomplished by early planting, preferably the fall for a break when you can because there will be no lack of perennials and shrubs, having the plants well heeled in, demands placed on us again in the fall and we will need providing a rich soil containing lots of organic matter and to be ready. water holding capacity and protecting the soil surface with compost, mulch, or ground cover. If you’ve done it right, Daisy is a professional horticulturist. She operates a garden design a summer garden will show robust, colourful growth with and consulting business from her home in Elora. few gaps showing exposed soil. Another important factor Her website: www.daisymoore.com has samples of her work. Simon George Professional Products Technical Sales Maple Turf Supply Business: (905) 857-2000 8112 King Rd. W. Fax: (905) 857-8215 P.O. Box 370 Mobile: (519) 841-3378 P.O. Box 277, 890 Fairground Road, Langton, On , NOE 1G0 Bolton, Ontario 1-800-268-4425 Phone (519) 875-4094 Fax (519) 875-4095 L7E 5T3 simon @ mapleturfsupply.com Website: mastersturfsupply.com www.mapleturfsupply.com email: mastersturf@hughes.net Burnside Serving the Needs of the Golf Industry We can help with: • Approvals for Golf Course Development and Operations • Irrigation Water Supply PROVEN 20 YEARS PLUS, • Sewage Treatment and Disposal 8112 KING RD. WEST • Environmental Management Plans OVER 4,000 WORLDWIDE BOLTON, ONTARIO L7E 5T3 • Building and Clubhouse Design Services 1-8OO-268-4425 • Irrigation Design and Consulting • Environmental Impact Assessment 1-905-857-2000 • Drinking Water Assessment WWW.MAPLETURFSUPPLY.COM • Project and Construction Management • Cost Effective Custom Toll Free: (877) 799-8499 E-mail: vcirone@rjburnside.com Blends Website: www.rjburnside.com • Water Soluble, Granular, Liquid & Organic Fertilizers • Bulk Spreader Service • Full Line of Turf Chemicals PROUDLY INTRODUCING: The Andersons Offices located throughout Ontario Members of OGSA, CGSA and Golfmax Suppliers to the NGCOA Nutri DG Lineup Homogenous Dispersible Granules in SGN 75 & 150 sizes For more information visit: Www.nutridg.com For Further Information Call: Simon George Technical Sales Central Ontario, GTA & Niagara Region 1-519-841-3378 Can Construction Damage RETROFIT FROM to Trees be Prevented? MANUAL, Mark Schneider Yes, many existing trees can be saved! SATELLITE AND Technical Sales The key is to plan ahead. OUR ARBORIST WILL: COMPETITION Georgian Bay, Lake Simcoe & Muskoka Region • Review construction plans and 1-519-372-5181 make suggestions • Prepare trees for the construction phase • Develop a post-construction maintenance program Don't entrust your tree to anyone but experts - Bartlett Tree Experts- naturally! Toronto • (416) 631-8111 Bracebridge • (705) 646-8733 Contact Gravenhurst • (705) 687-0696 Milton 1-800-263-4112 Huntsville • (705) 789-0929 David Mossip (905) 242-5676 www.bartlett.com Kory Kopko (519) 871-4545 BACKED BY THE BARTLETT TREE RESEARCH LABORATORIES AND EXPERIMENTAL GROUNDS, CHARLOTTE, NC The way we were Below are the pictures that were in the Spring issue of Green is Beautiful on page 27. We printed a group picture and asked if anyone could identify the individuals #’s 1 through 32. Bill Hynd, Jamie Worden, Ron Craig, Bob Heron and Barry Endicott came very close to naming all however, John Piccolo takes the prize. He not only had the names for all but also where they were from. We would like to thank all for their participation. Here is the outcome. # 1 Dave Holmes Derrydale Golf Club Mississauga, ON # 2 Roy French Beverly G&CC Copetown, ON # 3 Jack Murnahan Golf Course Division Cedar Valley, ON # 4 Doug Heron Golf Course Division Brampton, ON # 5 Norm McCullom University of Guelph (Hort Sci) Guelph, ON # 6 Ross Haines Brampton Golf Club Brampton, ON # 7 Bob Heron Markland Wood Golf Club Etobicoke, ON # 8 Geoffrey Cornish Fiddler’s Green Amherst, Massachusetts # 9 Cameron Cairncross Foxwood Golf Course Kitchener, ON # 10 Charlie Behm Cherry Hill Golf Club, Ltd. Ridgeway, ON # 11 Charlie/Rene Muylaert Pine Valley Golf Course Woodbridge, ON # 12 Art Dodson Maple Downs Golf Club Maple, ON # 13 Jim Woodhouse Bluegrass Turf Farms, Ltd. Cedar Valley, ON # 14 Larry Smilsky Smilsky Turf Farms, Ltd. Cooks town, ON # 15 Dennis Pellrene Glen Abbey Golf Club Oakville, ON # 16 Mac Frost Brookwood Country Club Agincourt, ON # 17 Mike Donahue Metro Parks Department Toronto, ON # 18 Gord Evans Gormley Green Golf Club Gormley, ON # 19 Doug Suter Credit Valley G&CC Mississauga, ON # 20 Paul Dermott Islington Golf Club Islington, ON # 21 Kimmo Salonen York Downs Golf Club Unionville, ON # 22 Ron Hambly Metro Parks Department Toronto, ON # 23 Vince Piccolo Brantford Golf Club Brantford, ON # 24 Helmot Kopp Uplands Golf Club Thornhill, ON # 25 Alex Bailion Manderley Turf Farms Ltd. North Gower, ON # 26 John Bennet Cedar Brae Golf Club Miliken, ON # 27 Bob Wilhelm, Manager Professional Turf Institute Marysville, Ohio # 28 Douglas Firth Golf Course Division Louisville, Kentucky # 29 John Piccolo St. Catharines Golf Club St. Catharines, ON # 30 Paul (Pelino) Scenna Galt Country Club Galt, ON # 31 Bill Hynd St. Georges’s Golf Club Islington, ON # 32 Nicol Thopmson Niagara Parks Commission Niagara Falls, ON The photo was taken at a Canadian Professioanl Turf Seminar at Marysville, Ohio, October 25-26, 1972. Looking back 25 Years Ago Today by Barry Endicott 1984 the board of directors of the OGSA were as In McEwen presented the Clayton Switzer trophy to Keith follows: Al Draper (president) Greenhills, Hugh Kirkpatrick Nisbet and Bill Hynd for their best net aggregates. Other (vice) Westmount, Rusty Warkman (past pres.) Oshawa, winners were: 1st low gross Bruce Burger (74), 2nd low Bob Kennedy, Garden City, Barry Endicott (newsletter gross Hugh Kirkpatrick (74). editor) Chinguacousy, Bill Fach, Essex, Gordon Nimmo, Al Draper presented a cheque to Paul Dermott, President Sarnia, Scott Dodson, Chedoke, Thom Charters, Islington, of the OTRF for $1,000. Neil Acton was presented with Shorty Jenkins, Bay of Quinte, and Gordon Witteveen, a plaque for becoming a Certified Golf Superintendent Board of Trade. 1984 was the 60th anniversary of the of the GCSAA and Rick Zeigel was presented with a OGSA and Jackie Dermott was office secretary. scholarship for the Turf Managers Short Course presented New members: John Schaller Jr., CFB Trenton (F), by Jack Webb, president of the OGA. David Plant, St. George’s (F), Daniel Walton, Seaton (F), Ab Reeve passed away on December 3rd 1984. Ab was a Greg O’Heron, Board of Trade (F), Terry Heatherington, charter member of the CGSA and he retired in November Hidden Lakes (F), Dan McNeil, Greenhills (F), George 1982 after 20 years as superintendent at the Whitevale Dzuirka, Orchard View (B), Carol Edwards, Penryn Golf Club. After retiring he worked at the Seaton Golf Park (B), Peter Horrill, Southbrook (B), Rick Serrao, Club until his death. Glen Cedars (B), James Teeter, Wyldewood (F), James The Georgian Bay Superintendents Association was Burlington, Indian Creek (B), Bill Neff, Indian Creek in full swing with tournaments at Brooklea, Neil Acton, (D), Nigel Rennie, Unionville Fairways (A), John Hughes, Midland, Alex LaBelle, Royal Downs, Stew Picken, Barrie, Horseshoe Valley (A), James Hosick, North Bay (B), Ed Doda, Blue Mountain, Kim Hanley and Borden, Ray Chris Galbraith, Bayview Golf Centre (B), Blair Smith, Richards. Ray Richards was the president and Alex Bancroft (A), Peter Kuzmivh, Trenton Heather (A), Joe LaBelle was the secretary. Kenny, Oaklands (A), Daniel Yake, Pine Lake (F), Kelly Barnett, Baldoon (B), Jed Mathews, Royal Downs (B), John Herman, North Frontenac (B) and Richard Butler, Idylwyde (B). Gordon Witteveen was the Score Magazine Award We Sell & Transplant Large Trees Winner as the 1984 Top Canadian Superintendent. Dr. Clayton Switzer, who was the former Dean of OAC, with tree spades ranging from 34-90” became Ontario’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food. David Gourlay moved from Ancaster as assistant Members of I.S.A and O.G.S.A. to Toronto Ladies as superintendent. Ed Doda took Owner Paul Hanousek certified arborist. the position at Barrie Golf Club and Rick Serrao moved to Glen Cedars from Markland Woods where he was the assistant. Minimum wage was increased to $4.00/hr. The CGSA held their conference from March 11-14 at the Constellation Hotel in Toronto. Dr. Clayton Switzer was the keynote speaker. Other turf experts speaking were Dr. James Beard and Dr. Richard Skogley. There was a pre-conference golf tournament held at the Board of Trade Country Club on March 10th. The GCSAA Conference was held in Las Vegas. Keith Nisbet was presented with the Distinguished Service Award for his dedication and service to golf course superintendents and their profession. The Moving your trees since 1980. Leo Feser Award was presented to Gordon Witteveen in www.douglaswood.ca recognition of the best superintendent written article in the Golf Course Management magazine. There was a Michigan and OGSA Border Cities joint 1 800.353.3019 meeting on April 25 at Beachgrove hosted by Ron Heesen. _T.519.856.2771 F.519.856.1447 An OGSA meeting was held at Sawmill Golf Club hosted P.O.339 Rockwood ON, Box by George Julie. The Galt Field Day was once again held Canada NOB 2K at the Galt Country Club hosted by Paul Scenna. Dean Turf or consequences by Doug Breen, Superintendent Golf North Properties Paperchase The world is infested with middle management. Too Think of the Neanderthals. If the tribe got hungry, low on the pecking order to actually cause the production of you’d get together a bunch of burly lads and bring down widgets and other useful things, but to high to actually ever a mammoth with a few clubs and stone spears. Everyone touch those widgets. They live in castles of paper. Annual ate for a month, and somebody would paint the hunt on reports, quarterly reports, spreadsheets, sales summaries the cave wall. Today, you’d need a permit for the weapons, and endless PowerPoint presentations. They can build you which would require an online safety course (renewed bi- a pie chart, but they couldn’t build you a birdhouse if it annually), a mammoth tag from the MNR for each member came pre-cut and pre-drilled. of the party (distributed by lottery), and it would have to be When did the paperwork become more important than slaughtered (humanely of course) in a federally approved the actual act? Properly filling out a washroom cleaning and inspected abattoir, under the direct supervision of chart, has become infinitely more important than actually the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and an Agriculture doing a good job of cleaning it. I have a training binder Canada Vet. The meat would then have to be stored in a for all of our staff, complete with diagrams, flowcharts, and part of the cave where the temperature is always in the “safe quizzes, because the Ministry of Labour demands it. We zone” (thermometers checked hourly) and cooked on a fire used to just show people how to do stuff, and then leave that adheres to all municipal burning by-laws (permit may them alone to do it once we decided that they were ready to be required). If the fire is to be inside the cave, a working go it alone. Now that nugget of common sense is a 500 page smoke detector would need to be on every floor, and you’d binder and filing cabinet full of “sign off’ forms. When my need engineered drawings (and a building permit) to stack wife worked for the City of Toronto Parks Department, she up flat rocks at the cave entrance to keep the snow out. spent five hours in a room with about $160/hour in salaries, Then 54% of the meat would be given to the civil servants writing a twenty page policy on the proper procedure for who would create the paper trail on all of this, with an removing fence posts from a trailer. Here’s my policy - get additional 1% handed over as a Federal Arts Grant to the the posts off the trailer. vegetarian Neanderthal painter who would capture the As a result of the flood in New Orleans, every Ontario moment by randomly splattering blood on the cave walls as municipality now has an Emergency Action Plan. It’s a big a piece of protest art. I realize that the Neanderthals only binder. In fact, the folks at Queens Park produced an even had an average life-span of about thirty years, but I assume bigger binder to show you how to make your own binder. that the average was skewed by the fact that they ate all the Naturally, it’s so unintelligible, that each municipality civil servants if the winters dragged on too long. had to hire an Emergency Action Plan Administrator to So we fill out forms, make applications, submit records, oversee the plan’s implementation and liaise with the swim through endless email (just electronic paperwork), Bureaucrats in Toronto. About ten years ago, there was a generate reports, review reports, get fired or applauded minor passenger train derailment in the little town where based on accounting statements... Endless, endless paper, I live. The Township unlocked the Community Hall, and and not a blade of grass grown, or a cent made, or anyone the Lioness Club came in and made everybody soup and any better off as a result. It’s like the “busy work” that sandwiches. The Mayor was baling hay, so I went over and teachers used to give us in school to keep us occupied while gave everyone a Welcome to Rockwood speech, told them to use they went to the staff room for a smoke, or to distract us our phone to call home, and Via bussed them to the next from the fact that they were having an affair with the French station. That’s now a 500 page binder too - and the Lioness teacher. Perhaps that’s it. Maybe this is all just designed to Club would have to prepare the soup and sandwiches in a distract us from some greater evil - like the HST fully inspected commercial kitchen with thirty-seven sinks. Bureaucrats love policy and procedure manuals - the thicker the better. And the first page needs to be an unreadable overarching flowchart. Wherever possible, use acronyms. Nothing is more exclusionary, or makes you sound more important, than making up your own language. It’s exactly the same technique employed by girls in grade three to torment each other. Teachers are great proponents of paperwork too. My kids each have an agenda that has to be signed by a parent every day. Things got pretty hectic back in May, we missed a couple days, and Walker got a detention over it - so I signed it off for two weeks in advance. That day I learned that folks who love paperwork, don’t like to have their paperwork mocked. BEAUTIFUL TRUTH The truth is, you make this happen. 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