Winter 2009 Green is Beautiful The Official Publication of Ontario Golf Superintendents Association Beacon Hall's Irrigation System Out of Africa Water Water Everywhere? OGSA 2009 Conference Recap 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 Now Registered! Velocity is a resistered trademark of Valent U.S.A. Corporation. ©2008 Valent Corporation. All rights reserved. As a superintendent of creeping bentgrass fairways, you can hear a lot from the greens committee. Especially about Poa. There’s never been a postemergent herbicide to control it. But now there’s Velocity®SP Herbicide. It gradually eliminates Poa annua and Poa trivialis for results sure to be noticed. Even if a clean, Poa-free fairway is all the thanks you need. www.valent.com | 519-822-7043 Read and follow the label instructions before using. 1-866-613-3336 President's message It's been a pleasure to serve on the Board of Directors and a privilege to be elected as president of the OGSA for the coming year. As I reflect on my experiences with the association it’s an honor to be following in the footsteps of every past president of the OGSA from it’s inception in 1924. A very big thank you must go to our immediate past president Jeff Stauffer, a friend and ONTARIO GOLF SUPERINTENDENTS’ by Randy Booker ASSOCIATION colleague. Jeff's dedication to the association over the past 8 years Otter Creek Golf Club Guelph Turfgrass Institute is inspiring in itself and we can be proud ofJeff's term as president. 328 Victoria Road South I’d also like to thank Sean DeSilva for his dedication during his Guelph, ON N1H6H8 tenure on the Board and we all wish Sean the very best in his future endeavors. Ph: 519-767-3341 Once again we were blessed with a successful Ontario Golf Course Management Toll Free: 877-824-6472 Fax: 519-766-1704 Conference and Trade Show. All early indications show that we surpassed past Email: ogsa@gti.uoguelph.ca delegate numbers and exhibitors showing once again that this event is one of the Website: www.golfsupers.on.ca premier trade shows and education events in the industry. I must acknowledge the many hours of planning, organization and commitment by our Conference Chair BOARD OF DIRECTORS President: Randy Booker Jeff Alexander along with his conference committee. Well done Jeff! Certainly I’d Past President: Jeff Stauffer be remiss if I didn’t extend a gracious thank you to our OGSA staff and volunteers Vice-President: Jeff Alexander for their dedication to our business; thank you Dorothy, Pat, Deborah and Kendall. Treasurer: Chris Andrejicka A kind thank you must also go to Ken Cousineau and his staff at the CGSA for all Secretary: Doug Breen their work in managing our conference and trade show. We look forward to the joint Directors: Jarrod Barakett efforts of the CGSA and OGSA for the combined 2010 show in Toronto. Phil Brown I must admit it’s a bit frightening to be at the helm of the OGSA but as I look at the Rob Gatto history of the association and the dedication of every person that has served prior, it Scott Heron certainly gives me the strength and warmth knowing that I’m not alone nor are you Stu Leachman as members. When we look at past issues that have plagued the OGSA and the fight Jennifer Pendrith that has been waged over the years to secure our present voice in the golf industry it Phil Scully pushes our inner strength and brings our passion for the game to the forefront. The Executive Mgr Dorothy Hills OGSA’s commitment to insure the continued growth of the game while increasing Office Staff Pat Thomas our stewardship of the environment is just one of our strengths as an association. Deborah Badger We are going to be tested by many issues over the year, none of which are more important than realizing our future with Bill 64 and the challenges that we’ll face. It’s our duty as members to look at these challenges with optimism and enthusiasm. If our mind and actions tell us to fail we will ultimately do so, I personally challenge all of you to look at these issues and face them head on knowing that we will survive and succeed in holding our spot among the game’s most influential people. We are in a period where the economy is being squeezed, resources are crunched and budgets tightened. We occupy a position that will be looked upon to become GREEN IS BEAUTIFUL EDITORIAL more responsible and accountable for every action. It’s time to show our leadership COMMITTEE in the industry and help each other through these periods and place ourselves along Dorothy Hills with our clubs in a position for success and growth in the future. Greig Barker We clearly have a journey ahead of us but let’s not forget who we are and what we are. Tom Brain Take time to relax and enjoy life to insure that when we’re needed we are at our best Paul Grotier whether that be for work or our families. Enjoy the coming season and remember ‘Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery and today is a gift” Jason Hanna Rafik Lang-Bismillah Brett Murray Direct Line 416-659-1020 Scott Horsburgh Manager Fax Line 519-941-0931 Justin Parsons “Green is Beautiful” Andy Sandilands P.O. 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 brett.murray@syrnpatico.ca in articles contained in this publication, no endorsement is intended or implied by the Ontario Golf Superintendents' Association. Contents Green is BEACON HALL'S IRRIGATION SYSTEM......................................... 2009 OGCM CONFERENCE & TRADE SHOW.................................... 22 13 Beautiful The Official Publication of Ontario Golf Superintendents’ Association Above the hole...................................................................................... 34 Editorial message ................................................................................ 5 From roots to shoots............................................................................ 8 Golf course highlight - Goodwood Golf Club ............................. 21 Health & safety .................................................................................... 9 Looking back ......................................................................................... 41 Member profile - Doug Erwin........................................................... 20 Off the fairway .................................................................................... 39 On the REEL side of things................................................................ 32 Out of Africa.......................................................................................... 28 President's message ............................................................................ 3 Second to one ....................................................................................... 26 Turf or consequences.......................................................................... 42 University of Guelph Update............................................................ 36 What's new............................................................................................. 6 COVER PICTURE Goodwood Golf Club Photo by Doug Erwin Advertisers Agrium Advanced Technology - Pro Turf - Beautiful Truth ... 43 Agrium Advanced Technology - Sales.......................................... 5 Almack Agronomic Services Inc....................................................... 41 Aquatrols............................................................................................... 40 Bartlett Tree Experts - Canada........................................................ 19 Bayer Envrionmental Science - Chipco Triton ........................... 27 Braemar Building Systems............................................................... 8 Burnside Golf Services ...................................................................... 19 DCS Agronomic Services .................................................................. 5 Douglas Wood Large Tree Service ................................................. 40 Engage Agro Corporation - Velocity ............................................ 2 OGSA is committed to Enviro Sol.............................................................................................. 31 serving its members, Fast Forest ............................................................................................. 41 GC Duke Equipment .......................................................................... 18 advancing their profession, Green Horizons Group of Farms .................................................... 34 and H & M Turf Ltd........................................................................................ 3 enriching the quality Manderley Turf Products Inc............................................................. 9 Maple Turf Supply ............................................................................ 5 , 9 of golf Maple Turf Supply - The Andersons - Nutri DG.......................... 19 and its environment. Master's Turf Supply Ltd.................................................................... 5 Nutrite - Deep Roots.......................................................................... 35 Ontario Seed Company ..................................................................... 33 Plant Products - Basf Corporate Ad ............................................. 38 Robert Kains Golf Course Design Ltd............................................ 30 Layout, Design & Printing provided by Turf Care Products Canada - Irrigation Div.................................. 35 G-R-A-P-H-I-C SERVICES PRINTERS & LITHOGRAPHERS Turf Care Products Canada............................................................... 44 Tel: 519.763.5745 • Fax: 519.763.9532 United Agri Products Inc.................................................................... 40 32-34 Essex Street • Guelph, Ontario • N1H 3K8 Vanden Bussche Irrigation ............................................................... 19 e-mail: info @graphicservices. ca Zander Sod Co. Limited..................................................................... 32 www.graphicservices.ca Editorial message As the March winds blow and you OGSA's Green is Beautiful "Above the hole" Writing prepare for the upcoming golf season, I Contest! hope you will take time to sit down, have How would you like to be part of Ontario’s leading Golf Course a cup of something hot and read the Management Magazine? The Ontario Golf Superintendents articles in this, our Winter issue of Green Association’s official publication, Green is Beautiful is pleased is Beautiful. to present an opportunity to all turfgrass student interns. The Our regular contributors are always column “Above the hole”, authored by University of Guelph by Dorothy Hills in top form delivering up-to-date Turfgrass intern Tyler Webb is open to a new intern as of April information and entertaining reading, on topics including; 2009. The magazine’s Editorial Committee will be reviewing bluegrass weevil control, health and safety, equipment submissions from Ontario based turfgrass interns in April. The winter check and the advantages of using Power Point for basic requirements include; staff training. The feature article by Colin Young, describes 1. You are in the first year ofyour education of Turfgrass Management how Beacon Hall has addressed a major irrigation problem. 2. You have a desire to excel in the Golf Course Management Business. Warwick Fynn from Credit Valley Golf & Country Club 3. You have an aptitude for writing. takes us on a trip to visit a golf course in South Africa, while Eric Lyons and Katerina Jordan present an article on the How do I apply? possibility of using effluent water on the golf course. You We ask that each applicant submit an article entry. The may also find yourself amongst the photos presented in our article will be based on your growth and experiences as a re-cap of the Ontario Golf Course Management Conference student/intern. Each entry should be approximately 500 words and Trade Show. in length and electronically submitted to the OGSA office by Thank you to Tyler Webb for his contributions to “Above March 31, 2009 at: ogsa@gti.uoguelph.ca please email in using the hole” , articles about our industry from the perspective the subject line Above the hole, together with your contact of a 2nd year diploma student and intern. Congratulations information. Tyler on a job well done, and best wishes in your future The successful applicant will receive one year paid student endeavours. If you are interested in becoming the next membership to the Association as well as a writing opportunity student writer for Above the hole, please read the information in “Green is Beautiful”, commencing with the Spring Issue. This and make a submission. If you know of anyone who is a great mechanism to express yourself within the industry of qualifies, please pass along the information. your future and differentiate yourself from other interns. Green is Beautiful looks forward to having you on board. Doug Hubble Sales and Marketing Manager 519.770.3157 dhubble@agriumat.com John Bladon David C. Smith, P.Ag., c.g.c.s. 185 Oriole Crescent Soil & Turfgrass Consultant Gravenhurst, Ontario IPM Coordinator / Technical Sales P1P1C6 519.574.2013 jbladon@agriumat.com Office (705) 687-SOIL (7645) Fax (705) 687-3518 Toll Free 1-888-607-TURF (8873) www.turfpro.ca Cell (905) 512-6004 dave@dcsturf.com Mark Schneider 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) 372-5181 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 Email: m___schneider@sympatico.ca Website: mastersturfsupply.com email: mastersturf@huahes.net What's new Mark Your Calendars 2009 OGSA Tournament Schedule Event Date Golf Course Host Supt. OGSA Curling Day March 24th Club at North Halton Dean Baker CAN/AM Challenge April 27th Essex G&CC Chris Andrejicka Pro/Super Challenge May 21st Kawartha G&CC Jennifer Pendrith Presidents’ Day June 23rd Bigwin Island Scott Heron AssistantsTournament TBA TBA TBA Alex McClumpha Oct. 5th The Summit Phil Brown *OTRF Fundraiser Sept. 14th The National Chris Dew Details of the above OGSA events will appear on our website under both “Events” and “Calendar of Events,” as they are confirmed and further details are available. All events will be announced in our e-bulletin Clippings when registration is open. For your convenience, on line registration will be available again this year. *Note The OTRF tournament is not an OGSA event. Details can be accessed on their website at www.otrf.ca Incoming President, Randy Booker presents Past President’s Plaque to Jeff Stauffer OGSA 2009 Board of Directors The Annual General Meeting was held on January 22nd 2009 MEMBERSHIP STICKERS at the 2009 Ontario Golf Course Management Conference 2009 stickers are now available for placement on your and Trade Show. Sean DeSilva has left the board, fulfilling membership certificates. If required call the OGSA office his year as past president, and we would like to take this at (519) 767-3341 or toll free (877) 824-6472 or email Pat opportunity to thank Sean for his many years of service. at ogsa2@gti.uoguelph.ca. Stickers will be mailed upon This year’s board consists of: Past President - Jeff request. Stauffer; President - Randy Booker; Vice President - Jeff New Member Draw Alexander, Treasurer - Chris Andrejicka, Secretary - Doug Congratulations to Warwick Fynn, Technician at Credit Breen, Directors -Jarrod Barakett, Phil Brown, Rob Gatto, Valley Golf & Country Club. Warwick’s name was drawn Scott Heron, Stu Leachman, Jennifer Pendrith and Phil from all our 2008 new member applicants, and he Scully who has been appointed to the 2009 board. received a certificate for a complimentary registration to the 2010 Pre Conference Seminar at our OGSA/CGSA Joint Conference, next March. L-R front row: Stu Leachman, Scott Heron Jeff Stauffer, Randy Booker, Jeff Alexander, Chris Andrejicka L-R back row: Rob Gatto, Doug Breen, Phil Brown, Jarrod Barakett, Jennifer Pendrith, Phil Scully Jeff Stauffer presents certificate to Warwick Fynn Welcome! OGSA Welcomes our newest members John Adach Class F Darryl McIntyre Class C Christopher Thompson Class C Lakeview Golf Course Kawartha Golf & CC Lambton Golf & CC Cheyenne Amos Class C André McNeely Class C Kyle Thomson Class F Highlands Golf Club Riverstone Golf & CC Idylwylde Golf & CC Shawn Burns Class F Loren Melhuish Class S Derek Tooley Class C Garden Rive Golf Resorts University of Guelph Wooden Sticks Jeff Cardwell Class F Trevor Morvay Class F David Trainor Class C Beacon Hall Golf Club Deer Ridge Golf Club Westmount Golf & CC Andrew Clark Class F Mike Ovell Class C Meghan Van Kampen Class F Idylwylde Golf & CC Rocky Crest Golf Club River Edge Golf Club Sean Cline Class S Michael Patrick Class C Bryan Wasyliw Class C Penn State University St Andrew's East Golf Club St Andrew's Valley GC Mike Cote Class A Drew Peddie Class F Justin Westerink Class S Jewel of the North Caves Valley Golf Club University of Guelph Edward S. Doda Class A Joey Policelli Class C Matt Whillier Class C Barrie Country Club Carrying Place Golf & CC Grand Niagara Resort Alan Dolick Class F Curt Porteous Class C Jason Whitwell Class A Royal Ottawa Golf Club Rideau View Golf Club Indian Wells Golf Club Christopher Globus Class Supt Mike Rennie Class C Kory Wilson Class F Red Lake Area Golf & CC Blue Springs Golf Club Idylwylde Golf & CC Dennis Hugill Class S Miles Seegmiller Class F Kevin Wingerden Class A Penn State University Parry Sound Golf & CC CFB Borden Golf Club Eric Kirkpatrick Class F Ryan Sloan Class C Alan Wood Class C Stone Oak Country Club Rideau View Golf Club Highland Country Club Jeffry Lauzon Class C Scott K. Smelser Class F Steve Wood Class A Islington Golf Club Rarity Pointe Country Club Manitouwadge GC Rory MacLennan Class A Paul Snelgrove Class F Fredericks McGuire Ltd Class E Summerheights Golf Links Highland Country Club Tim Fredericks Gord MacMillan Class A David Sonley Class Supt Maple Hill Tree Service Class E Rideau View Golf Club Liftlock Golf Club Chris Morrison Mark McCallum Class F Ken Stein Class F TY Environmental Strategies London Hunt & CC Sleepy Hollow Golf Club Teri Yamada Class E Kevin McIntosh Class F Gary Terris Class A Otter Creek Golf Club Crimson Ridge Golf Club From roots to shoots A New Tool for an Old Pest Annual bluegrass weevil is a serious in insects that regulates the movement of calcium and pest of golf course turf in Ontario. locks the calcium channel in a partially opened state. Our only tool to control this pest has That results in an uncontrolled release of calcium and been chlorpyrifos, which is an old subsequent interruption of normal muscle contractions. organophosphate that has been around But mammals are not as sensitive to the disruption, so since the mid 1960’s. It was applied for Acelepryn™ is much less toxic to mammals and other by Pam Charbonneau the control of adult annual bluegrass vertebrates than the “older” insecticides. It has an LD50 of OMAF Turfgrass Specialist weevil as they migrated from their >5000 mg/kg body weight. overwintering sites in protected areas in trees and leaf litter The timing for control of annual bluegrass weevil with to the edges of golf course fairways. Suggested timing is chlorantraniliprole is the same as for chlorpyrifos, namely when Forsythia are just past full bloom or when they are when overwintering adult annual bluegrass weevils are half green and half gold. The success with this product observed moving from their overwintering sites to mown was not reliable because the wave of adult migration was turf in the spring. Again, this is when Forsythia are in the difficult to predict in the spring, especially if there was a half green and half gold stage. Because chlorantraniliprole fluctuation of temperature during the normal migration is more residual than chlorpyrifos, there is a theory that period. Research conducted by Dr. Dan Peck, Cornell the timing for control of annual bluegrass weevil is not University showed that depending on the year there as critical. In addition, the label states that applications can be one to several peaks of adult migration. Because of chlroantraniliprole to control annual bluegrass weevil chlorpyrifos was short lived and only really worked on the will also provide preventative control of European chafer adults, the timing was critical and was only successful if the and Japanese beetle grubs in the late summer. If you population migrated synchronously or all at once. have areas of a golf course that have traditionally had A new insecticide, chlorantraniliprole (trade name infestations of both annual bluegrass weevils and grubs, Acelepryn™) by DuPont was registered in 2008 to control this could help reduce overall pesticide use by applying cutworms, European chafer grubs, Japanese beetle grubs one well timed application to target both insect pests. and annual bluegrass weevil. Chlorantraniliprole has a Chlorantraniliprole is also registered for curative control novel mode of action. It binds to one of the receptors of cutworms. 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 Health & safety What are Your Values and Ethics? You have a fine golf course that workplace to be seen by your clientele, suppliers and provides quality golfing to your employees. The list does not need to be long. Say it in clientele. You pride yourself on the your own words and communicate this to the workplace leadership, service and quality that you participants. In the world of safety we call the folks deliver. That is why you are in the that you deal with in your workplace (the suppliers and golfing business. clientele and workers) the workplace participants. And by DougJohnson Leaders know what they value. They isn’t this the case? All these folks participate in ensuring SAFETAID - Health and Safety Consulting also recognize the importance of ethical that your business thrives and provides a quality facility to behaviour. The best leaders exhibit both your customers. And without the customers you have no their values and their ethics in their leadership style and business; so each of these partners is a participant in your actions. Your leadership ethics and values should be business. Or as we say in the world of safety, they are the visible because you live them in your actions every single workplace participants. day. As a leader, choose the values and the ethics that Having a clear written set of ethical health and safety are most important to you, which you believe in and that values is a huge step towards having a safe workplace define your character. Then live them visibly every day at that is built on trust, values and ethics. Often a lack of work. Living your values is one of the most powerful tools trust is a problem in many workplaces. If leaders never available to help you lead and influence others. Don’t identified their values the mistrust can be understandable. waste your best opportunity. People don’t know what they can expect. If leaders have As the leader in your workplace have you ever thought identified and shared their values and are living their about your values? What do you believe in? Are your values daily and visibly this will create trust. To say one suppliers, clientele and employees aware of your values? thing and to do another will damage trust and place your Have you written down and communicated your values to values at risk - possibly forever. your clientele, suppliers and employees? Workplace ethics take the same route. Ethics are your What are values? When you talk about values in business principles, morals and beliefs. Leaders that exhibit ethical you should think about principles, standards and ethics. behaviour powerfully influence the actions of others. Values and ethics are what you believe in. Values and As a leader, choose the values and the ethics that are ethics are how you believe your clientele and suppliers most important to you, the values and ethics you believe and workers should be treated every day. Values and in and that define your character. Then live them visibly ethics define the quality and safety of your course and every day at work. values and ethics define the health and safety culture at You have a productive and ethical workplace. Make your golf course. Values and ethics define your working health and safety one of these values! conditions. When you value workplace safety this communicates to your workplace participants how much you value them. SAFETAID Making safety your 1st priority! As the leader in your workplace take a moment and think T. 519-837-0997 • F. 519-837-1996 about your workplace and write down a few words about Consulting, Safety and First Aid Supplies what you believe are your values. doug@safetaid.ca Write down your feelings about how you want your Ask us Professional Products Simon George Technical Sales about our Maple Turf Supply Business: (905) 857-2000 installation 8112 King Rd. W. P.O. Box 370 Fax: (905) 857-8215 Mobile: (519) 841-3378 services. Bolton, Ontario L7E 5T3 1-800-268-4425 sgl42@hotmail.com 1.800.461.5501 www.manderley.com Gordon Witteveen Mentors the New Generation of Golf Superintendents by R. Marie Thorne, Senior Turf Specialist Syngenta Crop Protection Canada, Inc. I had the pleasure of accompanying Gordon Witteveen, superintendent. He told them the things they should Guest Speaker, at the October 23rd meeting of the Turf know, (but wouldn’t be written down anywhere), the seven Club, a club comprised of students enrolled in the Turf deadly sins, and the seven venal sins of greenkeeping, how program at the University of Guelph. Gordon was invited to get a job and how to lose a job. It was really gratifying to speak by Justin Westerink, Turf Club President and to see Gordon impart his wisdom to the new generation fellow Dutchman. Gordon shared his words of wisdom with the same passion as one would expect he had on the in a presentation entitled “Straight from the Heart”. In first day of the job. Despite his years, you can still see his unique and forthright style, he reminded his young that passionate glint in his eye, as he talks turf, the golf audience, that it takes hard work, many hours, and a industry and the golf superintendents’ role in it. passion for the business to succeed as a successful golf Gordon Witteveen surrounded by members of the U of Guelph Turf Club Gordon Witteveen and fustin Westerink, President of the U of G Turf Club Syngenta Super University by Tom Brain, Superintendent Burlington Golf & Country Club On December 8, 2008, nearly forty Canadian golf course superintendents exchanged the golf fairways for school hallways, as they participated in the inaugural Syngenta Super University, a unique educational initiative designed to help golf course superintendents build their business skills and enhance their course management effectiveness. “The program recognizes that golf course superintendents are spending less time caring for turf and more on business management,” says Gregg Allan, Head of Lawn and Garden. Syngenta selected golf course superintendents with proven potential to contribute to the industry, who are active members explained that, “the program is really relevant to today’s golf within their community, and who are life-long learners open course superintendents who need to think beyond the turf to sharing ideas in an interactive learning environment. to develop working solutions for some of today’s golf course Held at the prestigious Richard Ivey School of Business issues, such as increased competition, declining rounds, in London, Ontario, between December 8-11, 2008, the increased costs of operation and the difficulties of keeping a invitation-only program provided leading golf course high-end course in pristine condition day-in-day-out.” superintendents with an opportunity to hone the business Bob Burrows, Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Club said, “The skills that are critical to managing successful golf course operations. The program included interactive workshops and program has taught me as much about myself as it has about case studies to help participants expand their knowledge on how I manage our staff. I will definitely be going home to key topics such as recruiting, selecting and motivating staff, reflect on what I have learned and make some adjustments in projecting financial needs, communicating with stakeholders how we do business.” and making investment decisions. All in all, the program was a tremendous success and the Don Barclay, at the Richard Ivey School of Business and co­ participants left invigorated, with fresh ideas to contribute to creator and director of the Syngenta Super University program improving their golf course operations. The Raven Golf Club at Lora Bay Recognized for Environmental Excellence Chris Lecour, Course Superintendent, has led the effort to obtain sanctuary status on this course, and is being recognized for Environmental Stewardship by Audubon International. The Raven Golf Club at Lora Bay is the 40th course in Ontario and the 674th in the world to receive this honour. “We would like to thank everyone involved in this tremendous achievement. Audubon Certification for the golf course compliments our vision for the entire community at Lora Bay. Our deer yards, wildlife corridors and extensive natural park space are father enhanced by this renowned Environmental Stewardship Program ensuring that Lora Bay will always be a naturally beautiful place to live”, says Jim Wilkinson, President and CEO for the Lora Bay Corporation. Congratulations to The Raven at Lora Bay on achieving the designation “Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary”. For information on Audubon International www.auduboninternational.org Donalda Club Hosts Inaugural Gardening Seminar by Paul Grotier, Assistant Superintendent Donalda Club January 28th, 2009, marked the first date of what is demonstrated a selection of key stretches and exercises to hoped to become an annual event amongst golf course help the gardeners keep their most valuable tool in good gardening circles. Twenty-one gardeners from the GTA working order; Steve Marysiuk, from Rain Bird irrigation, and as far away as London and Port Carling braved a discussed parts of an irrigation system and some tips for dumping of 20 cm of snow in the GTA to attend the water conservation; and Karen Ross, of Valleyview Gardens, inaugural Golf Course Gardeners Seminar at Donalda gave a growers perspective of the best annuals for achieving Club. Host, Brenda Noble, Head Gardener at Donalda the best success. A light lunch was offered and the seminar Club, and Kyra Zeldon, Horticulturist at Cedar Brae Golf 8c concluded on time in the early afternoon, despite the Country Club, welcomed the group of gardeners. morning delays caused by Mother Nature. A variety of speakers were invited to discuss diverse “Based on the feedback that we received, I think that I and innovative practices as it relates to gardening in a speak for many of the other gardeners when I say that as golf course setting. Speakers included: Lesa Stadnek, valuable as the speakers were, the best part of the day was Head Gardener at Westview Golf Club, who shared her being able to meet and share with colleagues that we have enthusiasm for Audubon certification and helpful hints she only met on the odd occasion, know only through e-mail has learned through the certification process; Susan Hill communications or have never met before” says Brenda. discussed her personal experiences of being a gardener in Everyone enjoyed the day and judging by the days’ success, a wide variety of roles; Caroline deVries, from Tradewinds it would seem fitting that it will undoubtedly translate into International, provided some great ideas for designing with another seminar being held next year. bulbs; Jennifer Kennedy, Fitness Manager at Donalda Club, 15th Golf Course Hockey Challenge by John Taylor and Scott Dodson Tournament Committee The 15th Annual Golf Course Hockey challenge took to the ice this past January 13th and 14th in Fort Erie, Ontario with 12 teams representing both Canada and the United States competing for the coveted “Reel Cup.” The teams played two games on the first day in a three team pod and then played two more games the second day matched up by the results of the first day, guaranteeing each team four full games of hockey action. The hockey was competitive but still fun, as was the Tuesday evening “attitude adjustment party” hosted by Club Car which always is one of the highlights of the The Champions Team Toronto #2 event. Post game refreshments were provided by Vanden Bussche Irrigation and were greatly appreciated by all the final, meaning the Reel Cup will reside north of the border, participants. Turf Care Products sponsored the ice time where it belongs, for the summer. Other final day action for all participants, as they have for all 15 years of the saw London hold off Northern Ontario, Kitchener got tournament; no small feat considering that the tournament by Niagara in a shootout, ClubLink squeezed by Turfnet, has grown from a 4 team one day tournament in it’s first Toronto # 1 took care of Plant Science, and Ottawa was year, to its current 12 team, two day format. Special thanks victorious over Southwestern Ontario. to Duke Equipment and Podolinsky Equipment who The tournament committee would like to thank all the provided draw prizes for the Tuesday evening party. sponsors, players, referees and fans who come together to When all was said and done, Team Toronto # 2 squeaked make this event happen. out a slim 1 to 0 victory over Team Michigan in an exciting 15th GOLF COURSE HOCKEY CHALLENGE RESULTS Tuesday January 13th Wednesday January 14th Michigan -7 London -6 Toronto 1 -3 Plant Science - 6 Kitchener -2 Turfnet -2 SW Ont. -1 Ottawa -4 Northern Ont. -6 Toronto 2-5 Niagara -6 Kitchener -5 Plant Science -2 Niagara -1 Turfnet -4 ClubLink -4 Kitchener -6 London -7 Toronto 2 -4 Michigan -3 Ottawa -3 SW Ont. -2 London -0 Northern Ont - 0 ClubLink -7 Niagara -3 Ottawa -2 Toronto 1 -5 Plant Science -3 Toronto 1-2 SW Ont. -0 Plant Science - 1 Michigan -5 SW Ont. -2 ClubLink -3 Kitchener -4 Ottawa -3 Turfnet -2 Turfnet -2 Niagara -3 (SO) Northern Ont. -7 Toronto 2 - 6 London -4 Toronto 2 - 1 ClubLink -1 Toronto 1 - 2 Northern Ont. -1 Michigan -0 2009 ONTARIO GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE AND TRADE SHOW The Ontario Golf Superintendents’ Association, President, Jeff Stauffer acknowledged the importance of continued turf research support in Ontario, commenting that the OGSA looks forward to working with the OTRF in a mutual endeavour to enrich the quality of golf and its environment, through turfgrass research. Jeff presented a cheque for $20,000 to Kevin Falls, President of the OTRF. 50 Year Member This year we were honoured to have 2 fifty year members, Harold Myers and Gordon Witteveen. Jeff Stauffer made the presentation of a 50 year commemorative watch, as a Pre Conference Seminar token of appreciation for long and outstanding service to The pre conference seminar, sponsored by Syngenta the OGSA. Crop Protection Canada Inc, had a record attendance this year, for Dr. Vargas’ full day seminar on Management Harold Myers was unable to attend the ceremonies but Strategies for the Turfgrass System. sent his greetings. Harold’s daughter, Katrina accepted the award on his behalf. Opening Ceremonies Registrants were up bright an early on Thursday morning to listen to our keynote speaker, Brian Burke, President and General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs. The topic, “Most people don’t want to lead; most people want to be led”, was well suited to our current economic situation as it concentrated on tips for “Operating in hard times”. Awards Luncheon We had overwhelming support at our Awards’ Luncheon this year to honour and recognize those who have achieved special awards during the previous year. We would like to thank Agrium Advanced Technologies for their continued “I am humbled and honoured to be receiving this support and sponsorship of this popular event. meritorious award! My 50 year membership with the Ontario Golf Superintendents’ Association coincides with my 50 year graduation from Ryerson Poly Technic Inst., where I majored in Civil Engineering Technology. Of course, I had no idea where this would lead to (probably a lot of you had the same feelings of uncertainty upon graduation). Luckily of the 3 job offers I received, I accepted the tech, rep position with a multi-national building materials company as an asbestos cement pipe specialist. A specialized use for this pipe was for irrigation purposes. Before the advent of PVC pipe, I built on this experience over the years and took advantage of the opportunities to ally myself with the golf course industry. Among the many peers I look up to with esteem are the late Keith Nesbitt, Mac Frost and Renee Muylaert. These people gave me vision and helped me shape my goals. Rene got me started in the golf business. I am eternally grateful for this. 2009 ONTARIO GOLF COURSE MANAGE ... continued from page 13 As the owner/operator of Oakville Executive Golf SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS Courses, I am blessed to have a wonderful family. My two daughters Alexandra & Katrina are taking over the Hugh Kirkpatrick Bursary business. I have always been around great golf course superintendents. Steve Jones, our present superintendent for 10 years has shown he is the best. I will work to the end because I enjoy the industry, the people who work in it, and most of all the customers. I find they give you back what you give them!” Gordon Witteveen was unable to attend the ceremonies, but extended his thanks and best wishes from his winter home in Florida. Rose Kirkpatrick, grandson Tyler Webb with award recipient Kevin Collier “Fifty years seems like a long time but it passed so quickly. I The OGSA, in conjunction with the Kirkpatrick family received my OAC degree in 1958 has developed this bursary program to recognize the and I remember the first OGSA leadership, commitment and accomplishments of assistant meeting I attended in the summer of 1958 at the St. superintendent members of the OGSA. This bursary is Andrews Golf Course near Hogs Hollow in Toronto. With named after Hugh Kirkpatrick, who was very active in our the encouragement of my mentor, George Darou, who was association and held the position of President in 1985. the OGSA President 1965, I persisted and look what it led The 2008 Hugh Kirkpatrick Bursary was awarded to! Everyone should have a mentor!” to Kevin Collier, Assistant Superintendent at King Gordon has received many awards throughout his Valley Golf Club. As part of Kevin’s application for career including the GCSAA Distinguished Service Award, this scholarship, he wrote an essay on “Professional The Canadian Score Award for Superintendent of the Development and Continued Education - a must for our Year, and the John B. Steel Award for his outstanding future superintendent”, which will appears on page 18 of contribution to golf in Canada. this issue. Jennifer Pendrith, who proclaims Gordon as being a mentor throughout her career, accepted the award on Turf Managers Short Course Education Award Gordon’s behalf. An annual award is given to the golf course related student, who upon completion of the program, received 25 Year Member Awards the highest overall mark in the course. This year’s award winner is Brian Ross. At that time Brian was employed This year we have 11 twenty-five year members: with Taboo, but is now furthering his education at Peter Creighton, Chris Dew (not present), Georgian College. Due to his courses, Brian was unable to Robert Dixon (not present), Gary Gravett, Gavin Kellogg, be present, but we will ensure that he receives his plaque Bernie Martin, Douglas Meyer (not present), with our congratulations. Robert Pattinson (not present), Wayne Rath, Robert Robersnson, Rhod Trainor Turfgrass Diploma Scholarship The OGSA has developed this scholarship to recognize scholastic accomplishments and potential leadership in the field of turfgrass management. This scholarship is open to students who have completed their first year in a diploma or degree course and are attending a recognized Ontario university of college in a turfgrass study course. This year’s scholarship is awarded to Cameron Kusiek, with our congratulations. Cameron is enrolled in the Associate Diploma Turfgrass Management course at the University of Guelph however, due to his course schedule, Cameron was unable to be present. Heritage Scholarship Vanden Bussche Irrigation Equipment The OGSA Award Donation developed this In recognition of the article scholarship pro­ and the photo awards, we gram to recognize would like to thank, Vanden the scholastic Bussche Irrigation Equipment accomplishments Limited who have generously of students who donated a total of $500.00 in the names of our two Green are the children is Beautiful award winners to the OGSA Turf Research Blake McMaster Iain McMaster Fund. This money will go towards furthering research in or grandchildren of members of the OGSA and are studying a curriculum the golf industry in Ontario. Jason Becket, Golf Manager unrelated to Turfgrass Management. for Vanden Bussche was present at the luncheon to help This year’s award winner is Iain McMaster. Iain is the us celebrate this event. son of OGSA member Blake McMaster, Superintendent, at Royal Montreal Golf Club, and is currently enrolled I.P.M. ACCREDITATION AWARDS - LEVEL II full time at Concordia University, majoring in English Literature. Iain would like to pursue a career within the academic environment, as a university professor and as a contributor to the tradition of literary criticism. Iain was unable to be at the celebration and asked his father to accept the award on his behalf. GREEN IS BEAUTIFUL AWARDS The criteria for awarding the Barry Endicott Article of the Year Award is based on originality, relevance, clarity, depth, style, illustrations, and readability. The articles are judged by the Editorial Advisory Committee, and voted on In grateful appreciation for the excellent contribution in December. to the environmental success of the game of golf through successfully achieving full I.P.M. Accreditation in 2009, The recipient this year is Tom Brain , Superintendent at plaques were presented to the following golf courses: Burlington Golf & Country Club for his article in the May 2008 issue, entitled “Making the Move to Grey Water”. As Tom was unable to be present, Sean McIvor, Assistant Bathurst Glen Golf Course Andrew Morin Superintendent at Burlington Golf 8c Country Club Caledon Country Club Leo Daigle accepted the award on his behalf. Glen Eagle Golf Club Michael McCarthy Photo Of The Year Granite Golf Club Dan Brousseau Award 2008 The criteria for awarding Orangeville Golf Club Ken Manwell the best photo is divided into Pheasant Run Golf Club Andrew Hardy five categories: golf course, Rideau Valley Golf Club Gord MacMillan projects, landscaping, wildlife, and finally, best Westminster Trails Golf Club Jamie Spencer (not present) overall. The photos are Wooden Sticks Golf Scott Clayworth judged by the Editorial Advisory committee and York Downs Golf & CC Mike Jackson voted on in December. The recipient this year is Thursday and Friday offered numerous education Daryl Jantzen, Assistant opportunities sponsored by NGF Golf, a Division of Northgate Superintendent at Lake Farms. Joseph Golf Club. Daryl’s wildlife shot of a buck feeding behind the maintenance Of course, there was a lot of networking done on the trade show floor, especially on Thursday afternoon when Bayer shop appeared on the cover of the December 2007 issue Environmental Science hosted an hour long trade show social. of Green is Beautiful. 2009 ONTARIO GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE AND TRADE SHOW ...continued from page 15 Best Booth Award This year we presented our first annual Best Booth Award to Everett Nieuwkoop of Master’s Turf Supply. The award was presented for the booth that our judges felt was the most creative and eye catching. Congratulations to Everett and his team! Evert Nieuwkoop presented with plaque by OGSA President, Randy Booker SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR CONFERENCE SPONSORS Pre-Conference Seminar PRESIDENT’S RECEPTION ALMACKAGRONOMIC SERVICES INC. DCS AGRONOMIC SERVICES DOUGLAS WOOD LARGE TREE SERVICE GOLF ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO Educational Program GROWER’S CHOICE PLANT SCIENCE, INC TURF CARE PRODUCTS CANADA COFFEE AND REFRESHMENTS Awards Luncheon BASF CANADA G.C. DUKE EQUIPMENT LTD. LAKESHORE SAND CO., Division of Fairmount Minerals MASTER’S TURF SUPPLY LTD. ONTARIO SEED COMPANY PLANT PRODUCTS CO. LTD. Trade Show Social PLANT SCIENCE, INC PUMPS PLUS TURF PROFESSIONALS CHOICE SAND AND MIXES THANK YOU TO ALL OUR SPEAKERS, SPONSORS, EXHIBITORS, DELEGATES AND ORGANIZERS. THE 2009 CONFERENCE WAS A RESOUNDING SUCCESS. WE COULDN’T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU! MARK YOU CALENDARS FOR THE 2010 OGSA/CGSA JOINT CONFERENCE AT THE SHERATON CENTRE TORONTO From Friday February 26 - Tuesday March 2nd, 2010. Professional Development and Continued Education; a must for our Future Superintendent by Kevin Collier Winner of the 2008 Hugh Kirkpatrick Bursary Many industries evolve and change over time, however business administration (economics and accounting), none more than the industry in which we are employed. environmental relations and most of all continuing The turfgrass profession is dynamic and has many education and professional development are going to dependent and independent variables which make our give us the opportunity to succeed. jobs interesting and unique each day. In order to succeed Upon graduation some feel that they have sufficient as an assistant and make the jump to a superintendent’s tools in the box to succeed however with changing role at a golf club one must possess many skills and legislation, increasing minimum wage and the push for traits to have a successful transition. The role of the decreased pesticide use, our tools are starting to diminish, superintendent has, and always will be drastically changing especially entering tough economic times. It is going to over time, and it is in our best interest as assistant be difficult to continue our practices and deliver the superintendents to always be furthering ourselves in our same product if we rely on what we learned during our apprenticeship as we seek our next challenge. years completing our education. We all collectively need The next step is not always easy to achieve as we are to push the boundaries of our tool boxes because you in an industry that is oversupplied and the economics can always buy a larger one. The larger the resources, of this scenario will create a situation that can become skills, experiences, and networks that we create will tough to overcome. We all need to extend ourselves make us more marketable and successful at our current above and beyond the level of education and experience clubs and will allow for our goals to be accomplished. which we currently obtain. Development of our skill sets, The future will put us in charge of the direction of the and increasing the number of tools in our tool box will industry, and we all need to prepare for what is to come always be beneficial to achieve personal goals and create to ensure that our industry continues to be successful in opportunities to advance. the future. I want to extend a challenge to all assistant The responsibilities of an assistant superintendent are superintendents to exhaust all resources available to increasing with time as the role of the superintendent gain more education through seminars, conferences, becomes more complex. First and foremost, agronomy associations, colleagues, colleges, universities and most and turfgrass management are most important in importantly through our superintendent who is the most our roles, however, many other roles have become valuable resource and sometimes a friend, as we proceed extremely important such as; human resources, to the future. NEW Walking TriWave™ TURFCO Overseeder Maximize Germination & Minimize Disruption with the NEW Walking TriWave™ Overseeder. This exceptionally maneuverable overseeder with simple controls makes it easy to operate. The patented WaveBlade™ technology puts seed directly into the slit, reducing waste and increasing germination. With the seed rate consistent regardless of ground speed, it is the first seeder to effectively turn while seeding increasing productivity. New optional green blades available. G.C. Duke Equipment Ltd. 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Liquid & Organic Fertilizers Call for your free inspection today!! • Bulk Spreader Service Toronto • (416) 631-8111 Bracebridge • (705) 646-8733 • Full Line of Turf Chemicals Gravenhurst • (705) 687-0696 Huntsville • (705) 789-0929 www.bartlett.com PROUDLY INTRODUCING: BACKED BY THE BARTLETT TREE RESEARCH LABORATORIES AND EXPERIMENTAL TheAndersons GROUNDS, CHARLOTTE, NC Nutri DG Lineup Homogenous Dispersible Granules in SGN 75 & 150 sizes Burnside For more information visit: Www.nutridg.com Serving the Needs of the Golf Industry For Further Information Call: We can help with: Simon George • Approvals for Golf Course Development Technical Sales and Operations Central Ontario, GTA & Niagara Region • Irrigation Water Supply • Sewage Treatment and Disposal RETROFIT FROM 1-519-841-3378 • Environmental Management Plans MANUAL, • Building and Clubhouse Design Services Mark Schneider • Irrigation Design and Consulting SATELLITE AND Technical Sales • Environmental Impact Assessment COMPETITION Georgian Bay, Lake Simcoe & Muskoka Region • Drinking Water Assessment • Project and Construction Management 1-519-372-5181 Toll Free: (877) 799-8499 E-mail: vcirone@rjburnside.com Website: www.rjburnside.com Contact Milton 1-800-263-4112 David Mossip (905) 242-5676 Kory Kopko (519) 871-4545 Offices located throughout Ontario Members of OGSA, CGSA and Golfmax Suppliers to the NGCOA Member profile Interview with Doug Erwin, Superintendent Goodwood Golf Club by Andy Sandilands, Superintendent Black Diamond Golf Club After having enough of the indoor work environment as the dairy Stocker at IGA Doug Erwin started his career in the turf business in 1991, as a summer student at Parkview Golf Club, under the direction of Dave Moon. “After a few summers outdoors, I was hooked”, says Doug. In 1995 he decided to take the short course at University of Guelph and moved to the position of assistant superintendent at Parkview in 1996. An opportunity arose in 2001 to move to Angus Glen Golf Club as the assistant superintendent, working for Ernie Amsler. Doug says “Ernie was very good at inspiring confidence in you and your abilities and always provided me with great opportunities”. While at Angus Glen, Doug had the opportunity to help prepare the course for the Canadian Open stating, “A big highlight was being a part of the Canadian Open and having the pro’s walk on the course you spend so much time maintaining”. Through hard work and perseverance Doug moved onto a new grow in project as the superintendent at Goodwood Golf Club, located in Stouffville. Goodwood is a unique Donald Steele design with 100 plus acres of native fescue, meticulously matched to the existing stand. When it comes to keeping his staff motivated, Doug tries to spend as much time interacting with his staff as he can, advocating, “Keep people as interested and involved in day to day operations as possible, always have an ear for everybody”. Doug has been a member of the OGSA for 10 years and feels association membership is vital for the simple reason, it provides you with the opportunity to network and share information and to discuss the relevant issues of the day. Doug lists his proudest moment as being the birth of his daughter Casey, now 4 years old whom he spends as much free time with as possible, along with his wife Kelly who he has been with for 7 years. "In the Hot Seat" • Favourite major: Masters • Best piece of turf equipment ever: Toro 3500D sidewinder • Favourite golf designer: Donald Steele • Ultimate foursome: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Sean Bradbury • Lowest round ever and where: 78 at Parkview Golf Club • Favourite movie: Any Star Wars movie • Favourite meal: Fajitas at Lone Star • What’s in your CD right now: Smashing Pumpkins • Rate your lawn on a scale of 1-10: 2 • What would you be if not a golf course superintendent: Musician Golf course highlight Goodwood Golf Club 5356 Concession #2 Goodwood ON L4A 7X4 Phone: (905) 642-0060 Fax: (905) 642-0080 Golf Course Superintendent: Doug Erwin Email: derwin@angusglen.com Photo by Doug Erwin COURSE PROFILE What region is your club located in? What is the size of your maintenance shop? 1 Turfco 1530 topdresser Township of Uxbridge, Durham Region 11,000 ft2 maintenance shop with 2,550 ft2 1 Woods brush mower aggregate building and 1,500 ft2 sprayer/ 12 Yamaha work carts What is the classification of your club? fertilizer storage. 1 Dual Express 3000 grinding unit Private 1 Angle Master bedknife grinder What is the size of the greens, tees & 1 John Deere 550G bulldozer Size of membership and number of rounds? fairways? 8,000 rounds (estimated) Greens: 3.7 acres Tees: 3 acres COURSE PROJECTS & PLANS Name of Superintendent Fairways: 42 acres Doug Erwin What projects have you recently completed? What is your predominant grass? We have recently completed the How long have you been a superintendent? Greens, tees and fairways were seeded construction of 18 holes and the driving 2 years with Dominant Extreme bentgrass and the range. How long have you been an OGSA member? remainder of the property consists of Shop construction was done in-house 10 years fescues and native grasses. during the winter of 2006/2007 How many staff? How many USGA greens and loam greens? What long range plans for renovation do you 4 year round and 14 seasonal 19 USGA type greens have in the next five years? The next five years will see the How many mechanics and assistants? What is the predominant soil type? construction of the halfway house, Assistant: Kyle Whitham We have very sandy soils on this property. clubhouse and luxury cottages for the Equipment Manager: Kevin Hennigar What equipment do you have in inventory? members and their guests. 1 Buffalo blower We are also in the beginning stages of COURSE STATISTICS 1 Gandy 10 ft dropseeder IPM and Audubon certification. 1 John Deere 244J articulating loader How many holes? with tree spade, forks, 1m bucket & Are there any particular challenges you face 18 with your property? plow Wind is an issue here. It is rare to see a What is the yardage from back & forward tees? 2 Kubota RTV 900 hucksters calm day and spraying can be difficult. 7,136 yards from back tees 1 Kubota L4630D tractor Irrigation accuracy is closely monitored. 5,728 yards from front tees 1 Kubota M7040D tractor On the other hand, air movement is great 1 Kubota L3540 tractor except for a few isolated locations. Also, What is the size of driving range and range tee? 1 Ford Ranger 4x4 elevation changes create unique micro­ Range tee is 0.6 acres and range fairway is 6 1 Ryan sodcutter climates. Wear tolerance issues in our acres. 1 Salsco speedroller fescue primary rough areas will be an 2 Stihl chainsaws How many bunkers? ongoing challenge. Keeping tall fescue 2 Stihl backpack blowers 66 areas thin and playable will be a key 2 Stihl trimmers factor in the playability of this course. How many ponds, and/or how many times 1 Supertilt trailer Tall fescues begin at 6 to 10 feet from does water come into play? 8 Toro Flex21 mowers fairway edges. Large wetland area in play on 3 holes 4 Toro GR 1600 mowers 2 Toro GM 3500D Sidewinders Do you have any success stories? Who was the original architect? 2 Toro RM 5410 fairway units Fourteen holes were completed in 2006. Donald Steele and Associates 1 Toro MultiPro S700 sprayer Seeding began August 27, just in time for 1 Toro Procore 880 all that rain. The sandy soils were the What was the year of original construction? 1 Toro Procore 660 biggest factor in our success. The 2006/2007 1 set Toro verticutting heads for 5410 remaining four holes were completed and What type of irrigation system? 1 set Thatchaway Supasystem with seeded by late May 2007. The course was Toro e-osmac verticutters and scarifiers ready to play by August. Minimal play 1 Turfco CR-10 material handler with continued until October 31. conveyor and spinners Beacon Hall's Irrigation System by Colin Young, Assistant Superintendent Beacon Hall Golf Club Water is to a golf course as blood is to your Tim Fredericks, with Fredericks McGuire Ltd., to help body. This analogy clearly illustrates how important with this process. He has been very good identifying an irrigation system is for a golf course. The current the requirements to design a system to meet our needs. irrigation system and pump station at Beacon Hall is the Leading up to the approval of the irrigation system original. It was installed when the golf course was being there has been many meetings and communications built back in 1986-1988. I first came to Beacon Hall at to the membership. A huge communication tool is the end of May 2006 and since then one of the main the use of pictures. Pictures speak volumes. Paul used deficiencies has been the irrigation system. The system pictures to illustrate the imperfections of our water has lasted over 20 years and has performed relatively well coverage and water pressure. Pictures don’t lie. They for its time. However, it is deteriorating at a high rate are also a good tool in explaining and giving reasoning and soon the turf will suffer from this. Moreover, the to your membership. You are the expert and it is your demands for playing conditions have evolved over twenty job to convince the membership that the golf course years. It is now difficult to keep up these demands with needs to install a new irrigation system. In this case our current system and we cannot do it efficiently. Paul Paul is the expert and acts in the best interest of Beacon Scenna, our superintendent had to present this to our Hall Golf Club. He has used all his resources. He membership and convince them that it is in the best brought Tim on board to be our irrigation expert. Jeff interest of Beacon Hall to install a new irrigation system Cardwell, the other assistant, and myself help with all in order to preserve and protect their biggest asset..... the details involved with this whole process. There the golf course. are many details... too many to explain in this article. These details involve permitting, contract tendering, The reasons that were presented for the irrigation budgeting etc. It is important to be pro active and start system upgrade were as follows: early, even before approval, so when it is approved you • We have limited water storage and supply so we are ready. Our process before getting approval took a needed a solution to meet our water requirements. solid two years. • There is inadequate irrigation infrastructure; such as piping, pump station and valves. • Our water window is too long; we cannot put out enough water fast enough without disrupting play. • We cannot water in products fast and efficiently enough. • There is a lack of control when turning on heads, resulting in over watering. • There is not enough sprinkler heads and inaccurate spacing leading to improper coverage. • The current system is at the end of its life. Current technology has expired and the satellites that contain thirty two stations are at their limit. After identifying the need for an irrigation system you have to come up with a plan to present it to your membership. It is their golf course and they make the final decision as to whether a new system will be installed. We hired a professional irrigation consultant, We needed more water to meet the requirements whole golf course starting at 9 pm it will run up to, of our new irrigation system. Our pond that feeds our until, or past the first tee time. This makes it difficult irrigation is fairly small; approximately only one acre for maintenance and doesn’t leave much time for the and the deepest spot is about 7 ft. Two wells feed that turf to dry before golf begins. Due to this we have to pond both pumping 80 gallons per minute which is not compromise the turf needs when setting up irrigation. adequate enough to keep up with our demands. Our After a spray or granular application to the turf we property sits on the Oak Ridge moraine and our wells cannot pop up enough heads to water in efficiently, pump out of a large aquifer. We received a permit from especially in between golf. With the new infrastructure the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) to increase being installed and added pressure we will be able to our output of our well closest to our fourteenth hole meet these demands and inefficiencies. Our largest pipe to pull 150 gallons per minute. This in turn required size currently is 6 inches which is not near enough to us to upgrade the pump which has already been done. meet our needs especially with the topography of Beacon As well as the transfer line from a 3 inch to a 6 inch to Hall. With increased pipe sizing and the upgrade to harbour the increased water volume. Three phase power our pump station; we will be able to push our turf and was also placed in the same trench as the transfer line deliver prime playing conditions with the confidence we which is required to run the upgraded 25 horse power will be able to keep up to water requirements and not pump and will run off the power at the pump house. compromise our turfs health. Beacon Hall is almost entirely on sand which makes for easy digging. Nonetheless this makes for more frequent trench give ways. Therefore the whole 2100 foot run couldn’t be trenched in. Where it was unstable a back hoe was needed, making the trench larger and not as clean resulting in more restoration required in the spring before the course re-opens. Because of our hilly terrain and for longevity anything over 4 inches for this job high density polyethylene pipe (HDP) was specified. With HDP all joints are fused which requires time. The contractors were on site at the end of October, a couple of weeks before starting on the course, to pre fabricate the HDP that was used for the transfer line and some of the mainline, in phase one of this job. Valves are another important part to an irrigation system. Right now we cannot isolate the system where we want due to the lack of valves. If we wanted to close something we would have to close a large section of the golf course putting the turf at risk with no water. With the valves specified we will be able to isolate where we want and be able to keep the rest of the system live. Also, the valves specified are quality built for longevity and reliability. Currently we are unable to water our practice range due to the limited capacity of our 800 gallon per minute pump station. The new pump station will have the capacity to pump approximately 1800 gallons per minute. This will enable our practice range to be watered, which We have the water requirements, now we have to in turn will make an improvement and add value for our distribute the water efficiently to our turf. This will members. be done through our new infrastructure comprised of The pump station is the heart of the system and the proper piping, upgraded pump station, and proper current one is on its last legs and should be replaced. If valves and valve locations. Currently, if we water the the doctor tells you to replace your heart because there is a chance it may fail and you will die you are going to replace it. If the pump station fails in mid July when there is a drought there is a good chance you will lose turf. Moreover, it is incompetent in supplying our needs. Pumps Plus has installed our new 1800 gallons per minute pump station. The pump station is a silent storm vertical variable speed pump with three pumps, each of which has a 60 horse power motor and a jockey pump with a 3 horse power motor. The variable speed will slowly deliver water and ramp up and down to meet the needs on the golf course. Variable speed is very energy efficient. With the amount of snow we have received and our hilly terrain made it difficult to get out to the pump house location. We had to create a road and once everything was out there everything went fairly well. In order to accommodate the pump station we had to increase the size of our wet well and pump house. Subsequently, we were able to push the old location back to the tree line where it will be out of sight. The install of the new intake and wet well chamber went fairly smoothly because again we are on sand. We had to go 20 feet deep for the intake to work making the hole 40 feet wide, nevertheless it was a big dig. Our irrigation pond is clay lined and we had to be very careful putting in the intake due to this, and restoring the face where disturbed. After the intake was installed the clay was put back and compacted on the disturbed face with added bentonite for insurance. The concrete pad was poured for the pump house and the wet well chamber was keyed in. North Gate Farms was the contractor who completed all of this. We live in a competitive age and the golf world is always evolving making it difficult for turf managers to keep up with the demands. Currently we lack the control to be more efficient and the number of sprinkler heads for proper coverage. In short, too much is turned on to cover a specific spot and water is placed in undesirable areas such as fescue. Consequently, fescue becomes undesirably thick and in some cases unplayable. There will be heads placed along the edge of the fescue only throwing water in. Our “goat paths” which are paths through the fescue for golfers to walk currently do not receive water making them aesthetically unpleasing. The new system will supply water to these areas. Since they are not very wide they require residential heads properly spaced. We will have single head control rather than multiple head control. When we want to water the rough we have to water the fairways as well due to the lack of control. With the new design we will be able to place water where needed. With the increasing demand for water, control of our irrigation system is imperative. We will be able to water efficiently with what water we are given in the future. There are not enough sprinkler heads and improper new design there is colour coated tracer wire with all spacing deprives water to some areas of turf. We deal pipes that goes into the ground making it easy for future | with these areas by setting up manual impact sprinkler locates. heads and in some cases hand watering. There is no even water distribution with manual impact sprinkler heads and a lot of the time we tend to over water leading to bad plant health and inferior playing conditions. Not to mention, disrupting play. Our property is very prone to lightning damage. To help combat this we are installing the new Toro VP series satellites and the new 800S series sprinklers with the spike-guard solenoid. The VP satellites will also help with single head control allowing for 64 stations and enabling us to run up to 32 stations simultaneously. Also in the specifications is efficient grounding for everything in the system. There is so much that goes into designing an irrigation system from pipe sizing, pressure requirements, head spacing, head selection, nozzle selection, flow, water resource, isolation and pressure relief valves. Taking all of this and making everything work in harmony to meet your requirements is difficult and is the reason you hire a professional consultant. Everything that is in the specifications is geared towards longevity. A lot of it involves detailed tedious work but if not done defeats our purpose. Dealing with contractors can be difficult when making sure this type of work is Phase one including the new transfer line, pump done and it is our job to make sure it does get done. station install, some main line and everything tying into Having Tim Fredericks and Jeff McGuire, his associate, the existing system for start up next season is almost on board as our consultants has been great. They are complete. They will have to come back in spring to very meticulous and act in the best interest of Beacon restore everything back to normal before play re-opens. Hall. They created the design and specifications and Phase two with some mainline work, satellite installs in we make sure they are carried out along with their fescue and out of play areas will start in mid summer help. NMP the contractors installing the system have with hole closures starting September 1. been great to deal with and they are excited about the We want an irrigation system that will benefit Beacon project, just as we are. Hall the most with no frills. Proper pipe sizing, Furthermore, you can’t just scrap the old system and upgraded pump station, single head control, and good put in the new. During this whole process we have to quality valves but not having the luxury of a weather keep the course alive or all of this will mean nothing. station meets this requirement. We used the analogy, With all of the trenching going on and that will continue “We don’t want a Cadillac but we want a Volvo that will to go on you need locates to make sure the old system last 40 years”. A lot of effort and hard work has been is not destroyed. Jeff Cardwell has extensive knowledge put forward to make all of this happen and there is a lot of our current system and ensures that the contractors more to be done. It is an exciting time for us and I am know where everything is. In the specification of the certainly looking forward to all of it! Second to one by Jason Hanna, Assistant Superintendent Credit Valley Golf & Country Club A Powerful Tool It seems with each new year, businesses must continue dress appropriately to promptly head out to their assigned to improve organization and efficiency at all levels and jobs after the morning meeting. With staff being properly there is certainly no exception to this rule in the golf dressed for the weather or taking the necessary clothes industry. Wages and salaries often represent the greatest with them, staff were often more comfortable requiring portion of the operating budget and combine this with less trips back to the shop as weather conditions often the increasing demand on improving and implementing change throughout the day. health and safety and training programs for the staff, Daily job assignments can be simplified through Power it’s extremely important that this valuable resource and Point presentation templates designed for different needs expense is managed as efficiently as possible. Considering depending on your facility such as shotguns, special the nature and challenges of employing seasonal staff, events, cutting days, course aerification, etc. When such as high turn over rates and different demographics, working with templates, staff names can simply be input it can be challenging to achieve this. When it comes to into the presentation in a timely manner. This can allow the question, “How can we better communicate, educate, the presentation to be cycled for a short time before motivate and inform our staff to get the most out of them?” addressing the staff. As a result, all staff are already aware it can be challenging to come up with suitable or realistic and educated for their first jobs for the day. Precious time answers. One possible solution to this challenge that we during the meeting can be allocated to highlight special have implemented is the use of a digital projector. points for the days’ jobs or discussing details regarding events or issues with staff. Since implementing this presentation method, staff are better informed and prepared for the day’s events with fewer instances of miscommunication or mistakes, which have a greater tendency to occur through verbal communication or if the daily instructions may not have time to sink in. Through increasing efficiency, staff have responded well, often increasing motivation and morale. As we have only taken advantage of this technology for one year we look forward to the future as we attempt to take further advantage of online training, organizational and motivational tools. If you choose to try this method or something similar at your facility I’m confident you will find the same. After completing our projector setup in early 2008, the projector was first utilized for new staff orientation through Power Point presentations. As it was necessary to train staff on equipment, training videos were used as a Robert Kains Golf Course Design Ltd. portion of a comprehensive equipment training program. Through having the ability to utilize training videos and online training (quizzes) offered by manufacturers, Providing the Canadian and Internationalgolfcommunities the staff was well informed receiving a good portion of with a progressive design philosophy and dedication to quality training before even leaving the shop. To aid in the efficiency of morning meetings, the daily forecast or radar can be displayed to inform staff of 201 - 902 8th Street Canmore, Alberta Phone: 403-678-6980 Fax: 403-678-3841 working conditions for the day ahead allowing them to CANADA T1W2B8 EMAIL: kains@kainsgolfdesign.com Web: www.kainsgolfdesign.com Chipco Triton SC™ with StressGard™ formulation Backed By Bayer - As always, you’re Backed by Bayer. technology offers excellent disease control against And that means our team of professionals is your team of anthracnose, dollar spot, brown patch, pink and grey snow professionals. 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OUT OF AFRICA by Warwick Fynn, Technician Credit Valley Golf & Country Club As I sit here one Saturday morning and watch the snow for two years, and an assistant superintendent for 5 years falling through the window and the temperature sitting at a at Royal Johannesburg and Kensingston Golf Club, it was chilly -12 °C, I realize again how new I am to this beautiful not going to be feasible for me to seek the same position country, Canada. I do miss South Africa tremendously but that I had. My objective then became to find a permanent know that this is my new home and that I am determined position as a technician or as an assistant and join a to make the best of my new life. My name is Warwick Fynn management team that is motivated, passionate, committed and I am a superintendent from Johannesburg, South and integrity based with the desire to constantly perfect and Africa and this is my story of my introduction into the develop . Fortunately, with the networking that I did before Canadian golf course management industry. leaving South Africa, I had been in contact with Jason I was born in Zimbabwe and at the age of 5 my parents Hanna of Credit Valley Golf and Country Club and he had immigrated to South Africa where I grew up and became a agreed to meet with me once I arrived. I met with Jason and citizen. On the 4th ofJuly, 2008 my wife ‘a Canadian’ and I Jeff Stauffer, Superintendent and well known personality landed at Pearson International Airport after applying and in the industry, and while finding out about the Canadian being accepted as a permanent resident. I realize now that golf industry I was blown away by the professionalism and she was very smart in selecting the dates to arrive here, as interest that both Jeff and Jason expressed to me. At the she new that I had never seen proper snow and experienced same meeting I was very fortunate to also be offered a temperatures much less than 0°C. She tells me now that she permanent position as a technician at Credit Valley Golf really did not want to shock my system with snow piled up 8c Country Club. Since then I have learned that I am very 6ft high along the roads and only a high of -14°C! fortunate to have two dynamic individuals that I am able to In South Africa I was the head superintendent at learn from and highly respect. Glendower Golf Club, a private golf course in Johannesburg, In writing this article, I am hoping to show how a where I spent two fantastic years. I have been in the golf superintendent operates in a third world country and to course management industry for 8 years and in that time give you an idea of how different, yet similar, our countries was made chairman of our provincial association called are as we all work towards a common goal of maintaining the GCMGA (Golf Course Managers and Greenkeepers perfectly manicured golf courses fit for world renowned Association) and in February 2008 was made chairman golfers. of our National body called the SAGGA (South African For golfing enthusiasts, South Africa is said to be an Golf Greenkeepers Association). Over the past 9 years I incredible golfing destination, with its fantastic climate created numerous valuable networks within the industry, and top class golf courses. Probably, the most famous golf made some great friends and had worked very hard for my course is the Gary Player Country Club at Sun City just achievements. Honestly, one of the hardest things when 2 hours out of Johannesburg. It also hosts the Annual leaving South Africa, was knowing that I was going to be Nedbank Golf Challenge, which offers the largest first prize starting that process once more. of any golf tournament in the world. Glendower Golf Club Sun City Nedbank Golf Challenge One of my first objectives when arriving here was to find There are many other world-class courses that have a permanent position at a pretty tough time of the year. My featured on both the European PGA Tour as well as the other concern when I was seeking a position was what type of local Sunshine Tour, and a wealth of other excellent position exactly that I would be looking for? Although I had courses. already been a head superintendent South Africa over the years has produced some of the finest golfers, these include Gary Player, Bobby Locke, Ernie Else “The big easy”, Retief Goosen and Trevor Immelman who are all Major winners. Royal JHB & Kensington Golf Club was the first golf course in South Africa to become Audubon Certified Disease problems on the bents were very similar to here. RoyalJHB & Kensington #.11 East Course The biggest problem was on the fairwarys, called Kikuyu patch / Kikuyu yellows which looks very similar to Spring In Johannesburg, where I grew up, we had a variety dead spot on bermudagrass. of different kinds of courses, which provides a great Unique courses in South Africa include Leopard Creek, selection of golf course architecture. The summer climate where they are situated in the bushveld with wild animals in Johannesburg is ideal for growing grass, with the roaming free about the course. Each time you play it was temperatures ranging from a minimum of 17°C to a like you are on safari. Leopard Creek also hosted the 2008 maximum of 30°C, low humidity range, and a summer Talking Turf where Dr. J.M. Vargas was the guest speaker. rainfall of +/- 650mm. Our winters were mild, to put it lightly, compared to here! The temperatures over night could often go as low as 0°C but by mid day it would average 17°C. It might be hard to believe, but in the winter of 2007, we experienced our first snow fall (+/- 1cm) in a very, very long time, which happened to be pretty exciting for us! Frost was a given on most winter mornings, and soon after the first couple of frosts, our warm season kikuyu started to turn brown and go into dormancy. Leopard Creek CC bordering the Kruger National Park Bunker rake with frost On the courses I have worked on, they all use bentgrass (L93 and Penncross) on the greens, tees and fairways were Kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum) and the rough was a blend of kikuyu and indigenous wild grasses. Below is a photo at the Royal JHB & Kensington Golf Club, which was My summer mornings usually started at 5:00AM with the first golf course in South Africa to become Audubon a beautiful sunrise and a walk down a dusty road to my Certified, and I was able to assist with that process when I workshop. worked there. continued from page 29... All the course staff lived on After 10:00 AM, the majority of my staff would get ready the property which made it very for the secondaryjobs on the course. These involve detailed convenient for our early morning work activities such as, planting trees, trimming around starts and also meant there should the trees, bridges, bunker edges, sprinkler head cleaning be no excuses for arriving late to the etc. All these jobs need to be consistendy monitored by job. I had my “usual suspects” who the assistants as correct procedures and standards were would take their chances, usually often forgotten about. What I would often have to remind after pay day at the end of the myself is to have patience and that things would come month, when they could afford a together with more experience. Before I delve into the case of beers for a little party the next paragraph I want to outline the cost of living in South evening prior. At 5:50AM the staff Africa, and the current exchange rate of our local currency, Sunrise on my way to work would clock in on a finger scanning South African Rands to Canadian Dollars. clock system and would then gather together for the tasks to • 1 Canadian Dollar = 8 Rands (All calculations below be issued by our assistant superintendent and then translated were determined using this exchange rate) into Zulu, one common African language, to clarify any • A round of golf at a private golf course = +/- $35.00 confusion. One of the sad realities in South Africa is that • Food generally is about 1/2 the price to Canada a large portion of the population are uneducated and for • Housing is about 1/2 the price the majority of the staff only had schooling till the age of • The average budget of an 18 hole private golf club was about 12, with some never having the option of any type of +/- $ 500,000 per year schooling. Our course staff compliment was 30, including myself and the workshop manager, whom were all permanent, Daily staff motivation and enthusiasm seemed to always as the course stayed open 363 days a year. We were all very be a problem, partly due to extremely low salaries, especially fortunate to have our jobs, especially when you knew that if compared to here. The golf courses hourly rates when the South African unemployment rate was sitting at 40% of a converted to Canadian Dollars was +/- $2 and hour which population of 46 million. equated to +/- $320 a month, and an even more alarming A large portion of the morning was spent monitoring if fact is that the national minimum hourly wage was less the correct instructions were followed and that the tasks were than a $1.00 per hour! As the leader of this team one being done in line with the prescribed standards. For some thing I always found handy to lift spirits and to create team of the staff, remembering a simple instruction or a standard camaraderie was to organize braais (barbeques) together. like to ‘cut a straight line’ can take many hours of persistent This would usually take place outside the workshop during training and constant reminders. Communication, including one of the quieter days of the week. The assistants and I the instructions of standards, rules and regulations were very would braai some boerewors, chicken and steaks, and serve difficult to teach due to language barriers, as South Africa drinks while the staff relaxed and enjoyed themselves. We has 11 official languages, as well as poor literacy skills. My would probably braai about 3-4 times a year, and it definitely best form of training was visual training DVD’s provided created team spirit and lifted morale. by the equipment companies and the GCSAA golf course Glendower management was exceptionally creative in maintenance DVD’s which then led into the practical on site their team building sessions, including one very memorable training. day where we took the whole staff complement to Cape Another sad reality in South Africa is the HIV/AIDS Town, South Africa. The flight to Cape Town was a new pandemic, resulting in an alarmingly high death rate and and scary experience for most of the employees, as only unfortunately has affected the staff I have worked with over 5 out of the 85 staff had flown in a plane. Once in Cape the past few years. A very difficult situation to deal with Town we had a boat ride, also a first time experience for especially when I had worked with these people for a number most and a visit to Robin Island, where Nelson Mandela was of years. imprisoned. As you can imagine, this was an unforgettable experience for all. The second part of my day, would then include myself meeting with the assistants at 10:30 AM to review and combine my scouting/drive-thru list with theirs to prioritize duties into a master list. It would require that we were all on the “same page” to ensure the priorities were successfully completed. At 2:30 PM the staff would clock out and I would then spend an hour or two on duties for the association. Both our local association (GCMGA) and the national association (SAGGA) were quite a challenge to lead, as very few people were willing to give of their time. RoyalJHB & Kensington Golf Club course staff Myself, and a few of my superintendent friends, found this aspect of our career to be extremely rewarding and exciting to see the industry develop and succeed. Initiatives that the GCMGA achieved and are still trying to achieve are the following: Manufacturer of liquid, We put granular and organic fertilizers. personal care Providing over 20 years of agronomic excellence and technical support in everything FEGGA Roadshow to South Africa 2007 Representatives and Distributors • FEGGA (Federation of European Golf Greenkeepers Association) Roadshow to South Africa. ONTARIO • A successful graduation of six offenders on the Golf wise programme at Glencoe prison. This initiative is where the we produce Gord Somerville: 519-778-0781 ALLTURF Ltd.: 800-263-1293 South African PGA and GCMGA worked together to give back to the community. Six Offenders in their final year Nigel Rennie: 416-520-4845 in prison where selected for the programme who were then equipped with knowledge in understanding the game QUEBEC of golf as well as the basic skills needed to maintain golf courses. Claude Nantel: 514-809-1570 • The official formation and signing of the new national Bruno Morissette: 418-998-3388 body SAGGA constitution. Service Charme: 450-432-4653 • My successful trip to the “Home of Golf’ in St. Andrews, Scotland, for the negotiations and planning with Elmwood MARITIMES: College, for the way forward in the greenkeeper education Nova Turf: 902-434-9977 programme for South African. Funding is still being raised to officially launch this initiative. As the day would come to a close, there would be a monthly greens committee meeting at 5:30 PM. After the meeting, I would then return to my office to review the irrigation programmes set and call it a day. By this time the sun was setting and I would head back down the dusty road, sometimes take a few photos Enviro • Sol of the course and sunset, and head for 800-265-8865 Ontario home after a long, yet incredibly rewarding day at my South 800-363-9436 Quebec I Maritimes African office. Glencoe Prison initiative www.envirosol.ca On the REEL side of things by Warren Wybenga, Equipment Manager Donalda Club WWybenga@donaldaclub.ca (416) 447-5575 x263 When you look good, you feel good There really aren’t too many nut and bolt in a hard to reach area can pressure washers are great for cleaning differences between servicing your turn what should be a straight forward exterior body panels and the like but equipment in the winter rather than job into a time consuming, frustrating keep in mind that they are called during the golf season other than you nightmare. Cleaning with water only “pressure” washers for a reason and it can usually plan and execute your can actually accelerate this process by goes without saying that they should work, likely without interruption and keeping these areas perpetually moist never be directed towards any person that the shop floor will be a little and can also help to pack the debris or body part. Make a serious effort to colder. Your machinery should have into cooling fans and radiators that avoid spraying high pressure water at been cleaned before it was put to rely on the passage of clean air to cool or directly on sealed bearing housings, bed at the end of the season and if it internal components and fluids. Using air intake or exhaust apparatus or any wasn’t you’ll have to figure out a way compressed air to clear any remaining electrical components, sealed or not, to get it done before you roll it into dried clippings, leaves, dust and dirt as water and electricity do not mix and the shop for its winter going over. A before you hit it with the water will help once again, if it can find a way in there thorough cleaning will help to keep to ensure that all this doesn’t become it will. debris from entering components a permanent part of your machinery. We are fortunate in most of Ontario and systems when changing fluids and Don’t be afraid to get in there and that Mother Nature generally gives us filters and will make it easier to spot physically remove this stuff, just be a few opportunities during the winter other problems. While engineers have careful, take your time and don’t use months to get this cleaning done while been working hard in recent years to any sharp implements as you may do it’s not too cold out. Maybe I’m design equipment with components more damage by poking around with just getting soft but I like to take that are easier to access, there are still a screw driver or scraper than if you advantage of these warmer days to lots of places underneath that won’t get left it alone. Never do any washing prep several machines at once for touched by normal everyday washing or reach in to any piece of equipment their up coming service. The water and these are the places that really with the engine running and of course, doesn’t turn instantly to ice and your need to be cleaned at least once per always wear your personal protective fingers will function longer. It can also year. Over time, these accumulations equipment, especially the safety be an opportunity to add some air to can accelerate the wear and reduce glasses as I have found that while any tires that have gone soft as leaving the cooling efficiency of hydraulic trying to clean awkward areas, stuff them half inflated or sitting on the rim hoses and tubing. Rotting clippings goes everywhere and if it can get into can damage the sidewalls setting the and fertilizer residue will encourage your eyes, trust me it will. TIP: Using a stage for potential mid-season flats. rust and corrosion to develop in reusable insulated travel mug with a lid Weak batteries are easier to find in these hidden areas and you could not only keeps your coffee hot longer the cold as most turf equipment is potentially find yourself faced with but is better for the environment and not designed to be run in sub zero major frame and component failure perhaps most importantly keeps all this conditions and in an effort to reduce that is completely unnecessary and crap from landing in your mug so your weight and save space are equipped with entirely preventable. Even something last mouthful is grit free! batteries that have lower cold cranking as seemingly insignificant as a rusted Some things to watch out for... amp (CCA) values. This should be indicated on a label on the battery. Basically, the higher the number the (877) 727-2100 colder the temperature the battery’ (416) 364-5700 will perform in. I don’t recommend www.zandersod.com starting these machines when it is below zero (especially anything with a hydraulic system be it a transmission or auxiliary system) but if you have to, let them run as long as you can so the internal oils have time to reach operating temperature before you put Top Quality Turf Products for over 50 Years them under load. Cold oil is thick No. 1 Kentucky Bluegrass * Bentgrass * Extreme Fescue and harder to move through pumps, Custom Grown Sod Available valves and motors and can cause a “lack of lubrication” condition that will dramatically shorten the functional winter to change it. If you don’t plan before you allow anyone to operate lifespan of these components. on keeping a close watch during the that machine. And while we’re Temperature differentials can also lead season, why not do it now? At the very talking safety, make sure that all safety to the formation of condensation in least, spin on a new hydraulic filter interlock switches are functioning as the oil and we all know that oil and and top off the oil because this will, as they should. These safety features are water don’t mix. with the engine, help to remove any all described in the owner’s manual so Now I know that this is the “winter” contaminants that can travel through take a moment while sipping on your issue but lets face it, winter is almost the entire hydraulic system, doing favorite hot beverage to review this info over and if you’re at a facility where costly and otherwise avoidable damage then plant your butt in the seat and most are laid off for the winter months to pumps, motors and rams etc. run through them. The days of simply and you are just now thinking about Changing the fuel filters on an bypassing a faulty switch are over. Sure digging through that snow drift that is annual basis is another good way to you can still do it but you do so at your slowly shrinking from in front of the ensure that your engine has a clean own peril. If you or your operator equipment barn door, best get a move supply of fuel to run on. It doesn’t have an accident and it is discovered on as you have lots to do to make sure take much to clog a port or stick a that you have knowingly allowed this your machines are ready for that first float needle in a carburetor and I’ve machine to go out with a faulty safety cut of the season. been told that something as small as system component then quite frankly, If someone else is doing your reels a grain of talcum powder can damage you deserve what’s coming to you. for you then get them off and send a fuel injector. They come in all There are a lot of things to think them out now or you’ll risk not having different shapes and designs and are about when servicing your equipment them back in time. If you’re doing often hidden from view under fuel but thankfully, it’s all written down for your own sharpening, don’t neglect tanks and along frame components you...somewhere. You just have to use to check the condition of the bearings and several machines have more than the operator’s and parts manuals that and seals in both the reel and rollers. one. Gas powered equipment usually came with your machine to find it. Your Oily seepage is an indication of worn has in-line filters while diesels can have distributor is another great resource seals and if the grease can get out then both in-line and canister or cartridge and they all have service departments water and debris can get in and it is type water separators that all require that are staffed with highly trained likely that the bearing has already been periodic attention. Be cautious though and knowledgeable staff that know damaged to the point where it will when disconnecting filters or the fuel these machines. Chances are that need replacing. lines to and from them as they can they already have the answer to your The bearings in the rollers are every sometimes still be under pressure so question and if they don’t, they’ll make bit as important as the reel bearings as taking a moment to check the manual every effort to find out...it’s what they the rollers are what support the reel, for any depressurizing instructions is do. carry it on the turf and control your a good idea and always wear eye and I hope that you will all have a chance height of cut. It only takes a tiny bit of skin protection when dealing with fuel to take advantage of at least one of the play in a roller bearing to show up as system components. many educational opportunities that a cutting mismatch so use this rule of Another important safety system that are available over the winter months thumb...if your hand can feel it; your often gets overlooked is the brakes, and while you’re at it, try expanding eye will see it. until they stop working that is. Usually your horizons by sitting in on a seminar It is true that oil is the life blood a simple cleaning and adjustment is that might be outside of your realm of of your engine and changing it on a all that is required but if you find any responsibility. It’s a great way to gain regular basis will help to ensure that components that have seized, broken a new perspective and who knows, you the engine will last as long as the rest or are simply worn out then you must might just learn something new...and of the machine. Typically, engine repair or replace them and ensure that’s never a bad thing. manufacturers recommend changing that they are functioning properly the engine oil filter at every second oil change but seeing as the filter is a comparatively inexpensive part Premium Products for all that performs an extremely important function, I prefer to install a new Your Turf Needs one with each oil change. Trying to PO Box 7 save a few bucks here is just a bad Waterloo, ON N2J 3Z6 idea. Also, you should pay attention Tele 519-886-0557 to the hydraulic oil. Make note of Fax 519-886-0605 the change intervals noted in your 1-800-465-5849 operators manual and though you www.oscturf.com may not have reached enough hours during the previous season to warrant a change now, keep in mind that you’ll probably go over if you leave it till next Above the hole by Tyler Webb, Student and Intern As a student at Guelph we see a lot of snippets; Conference was informative, fun and interesting, but most snippets here and there of the golf industry in Ontario, importantly put 6 years of working in the turf industry North America and the world at large. Samplings of into perspective - a tall order for one day. And although people, places, things, ideas, and experiences greet us my second to (hopefully) 25th conference may not feel as everyday inside of class and out. The problem, if it can be new and perspective changing as the first, I look forward called a problem, is a lack of context. Better yet, it’s the to them, to getting to know those real people in our lack of a big picture. From all the people we hear from, profession and becoming the places we go, the ideas we talk about and experiences a part of the history we we share its hard to figure out how it all fits together into a all share. bigger picture, even harder to figure out what that picture looks like. Luckily this problem, as I found out last month, The University of Guelph has a solution; the OGCM Conference and Trade Show. I cannon gets ‘turfed’, a yearly attended my first OGCM Conference this year and was tradition for Turfgrass students struck by three things that helped put all those snippets at Guelph. Included this year - each speaker, lecture, and field trip - into perspective. was a teeing area, bunker and The first thing that stuck out and struck me was that green complete with pin. everyone in attendance were real people. That is to Photo by: Becky Eggett of say, everyone I saw were everyday normal people - not Turfgrass 10A professors or guest speakers - just real people united by some common ground. It’s hard sometimes to consolidate school life with real life. On one hand you have classes, assignments and professors and on the other you have working hours, jobs and bosses. The two don’t seem to mix and the realization that the people who have populated my experiences at Guelph are real everyday people and not an extension of the school or program itself, gave my vision of the big picture a much needed humanity. The next thing was the real professionalism I saw and felt a part of. For the first time I could look around me and see my profession, and the people who populate it. I was no longer restricted in my vision to 18 holes of a home golf course, or six classes a semester at school. There was in front of me the whole industry I’ve become a part of, which put into perspective our connections and diversity within this single professional field. Lastly, I must preface by saying that I was lucky enough to be invited to the awards luncheon during which a slideshow of photos from the old to the new played. Hearing the stories that accompanied each picture, COMPACT SOD HAMILTON SOD ONTARIO SOD Cambridge, ON Hamilton/Burlington, ON Oakville, ON seeing the people around me in those same pictures, their (519) 653-7494 (905)389-1315 (905)849-1764 recognition for each event that the pictures recorded and ONTARIO SOD NIAGARA SOD HALTON SOD the genuine laughter and joy they expressed at reliving Brampton, ON (905)450-5715 St Catherines, ON (905) 984-8448 Milton, ON (905) 878-1011 those memories I was struck by the real history we have in this organization. www.JustSodlt.com At the end of the day my experience at the OGCM TURF CARE The Toro GDC System •Design without complicated calculations. One cable can have up to 800 stations and be up to 2.7miles long. •Lower installation costs. The Toro GDC System minimizes wire usage and reduces overall system costs. •Reduce maintenance and downtime. Reduce troubleshooting time; activate 50 stations simultaneously. •Count on the Toro NSN Support Network. The first dedicated support network in the irrigation industry. For more information, contact The ToroGDC System your local Turf Care sales representative. Imagination has never been so affordable Introducing the Toro GDC System, the easiest, and most powerful decoder system available for golf course irrigation. The Toro GDC System uses proven technology from the aerospace and aviation industries to provide a reliable and affordable irrigation solution for the complex designs of today's golf courses. Turf Care Products Canada www.turfcare.ca 200 PONY DRIVE, NEWMARKET, ONTARIO L3Y 7B6 • PHONE (905) 836-0988 • FAX (905) 836-6442 London Mississauga Scarborough Gloucester Ph: (519) 668-7664 Ph: (905) 890-6290 Ph: (416) 298-2101 Ph: (613) 822-1881 Fax: (519) 668-3722 Fax: (905) 890-5598 Fax: (416) 298-8758 Fax: (613) 822-2099 From experience and know-how come the best results. With Nutrite, turf and landscape professionals can rely on premium products, reliable innovation and personal service that is second to none. Success on the green is simple - just look to the people with the deepest roots. 1-800-265-8865 www.nutriteturf.ca University of Guelph update by Eric Lyons and Katerina Jordan Assistant Professors, Department of Plant, Agriculture, U of G Water water everywhere? espite the amount of snow and rainfall since the D Nicklaus signature design, opened in 1989 and has a very Fall of 2007 water usage will remain an issue, particularly interesting arrangement with the surrounding community within urban centers and to those who work in turfgrass that came about as the development was being planned. management, especially on golf courses. Golf is considered There was a limit to the amount of treated sewage water a luxury consumer of fresh water so now, more than ever, that the local rivers could safely handle so in order to move the golf industry is looking to alternative sources of water. forward with the proposed development a non-traditional In this search many sources have been identified and some way to handle the increase in treated sewage needed to be have even been implemented on a limited scale. Research explored. The solution was to apply the treated sewage to and understanding of the effects of these alternative water the golf course as opposed to disposing of it into the river. sources on turfgrass quality is very limited but there are some The golf course is required to use in excess of 75 million things to be aware of when exploring these sources. gallons of treated sewage wastewater a year. This is more than three times the typical water usage for a golf course in Turning to Alternatives the Chicago-land area. As demand for fresh water intensifies, the need for A large holding pond next to the maintenance facility alternative sources for irrigation is increasing. In 1995, accepts the treated water from the surrounding community. approximately 2.3 billion people world-wide lived in water- This pond is used for irrigating the property and the water stressed river basins and it is believed that this could use is monitored closely to ensure that the course is using the increase to 3.5 billion by 2025. Irrigation with reclaimed water at a sufficient rate. In wet years and during times of water could alleviate the water limitations created in part by excessive rainfall it becomes difficult to manage the golf course increasing demands. Currently, around 20 million hectares because in addition to the rainfall there is the obligation to (~ 50 million acres) of land are irrigated with wastewater dispose of the water from the holding pond. Many areas of world-wide, and this is likely to increase markedly during the golf course have been converted into naturalized areas the next few decades as water stress intensifies (Hamilton, to eliminate traffic and to allow for saturation of the soils for AJ. 2007). However, the long-term effects of wastewater prolonged periods. One of the greatest concerns with the irrigation have not been thoroughly studied. A recent paper use of the treated water is potential environmental risk. To on the subject identified the following areas as requiring monitor this risk testing wells have been placed throughout greater understanding for the long-term sustainability of the property to make sure that the grass is doing its job and wastewater irrigation: (i) accumulation of bioavailable forms properly filtering any undesirable material out of the water. of heavy metals in soils, (ii) environmental fate of organics in In addition, the many water hazards around the course are wastewater-irrigated soils, (iii) influence of reuse schemes on tested regularly to ensure that there is no contamination catchment hydrology, including transport of salt loads, (iv) from the reclaimed water. The freshwater ponds found microbiological contamination risks for aquifers and surface throughout the course are not connected to the reclaimed waters, (v) transfer efficiencies of chemical contaminants water and present a significant challenge by limiting the area from soil to plants, and (vi) health effects of chronic exposure of the course to which the treated sewage can be applied. to chemical contaminants (Hamilton,A.J. 2007). Environmental benefits and concerns Nutrients and other salts present in waste treatment liquid by-products go unused and can lead to environmental pollution if the water is not properly disposed. However, treated waste-water can be used as a supplemental source of nutrients for plant production, with additional nutrients added (Michitsch et al., 2007). Thus growing turfgrass with sewage water potentially paves a way for effective disposal of sewage water and subsequently pollution control (Thanunathan et al., 2000). There are examples of this being put into practice with varying success throughout the world. One golf course using treated sewage water is Wynstone Golf Club outside Chicago in Illinois. The course, a Jack The quality of the treated water is also an issue. One treated municipal wastewater and ensuring that the water of the biggest issues with the use of treated municipal is of much better quality before reaching the groundwater wastewater is the salt and sodium content. Often water system. Besides, one would think that during the seasons captured from parking lots and roadways has significant when natural rainfall is limiting, the stipulation for water salt and sodium contamination, but in the case of Wynstone use is likely a blessing rather than a curse. the salt was coming from a very different source, water Wynstone Golf Club is just one of many golf courses softeners. Water softeners reduce the amount of calcium using treated municipal sewage water as a source of and magnesium in water by replacing it with sodium. This irrigation water. Some of these other courses have agreed process creates a large amount of salt water. In order to to dispose of a certain amount of water per year and have overcome the issues with the sodium in the water the golf specific agreements regarding the quality of water coming course tried to replace the sodium based softener salt from the wastewater treatment plant while others have no with a salt that contained something the grass actually formal agreements at all. Some courses are exclusively needed, potassium. The potassium based softener salt was on reclaimed water while others have a freshwater source delivered to the home owners and helped alleviate some with which to flush the soil. In many cases, it is unclear of the problems associated with the excessive sodium what the long-term effects of wastewater as an irrigation content but the cost of providing the homeowners with source will be on soil and turfgrass health and quality. the more expensive salt was prohibitive. In some cases, obvious problems have been linked to Issues from applying excessive amounts of water to wastewater irrigation, such as the complete defoliation the land that would normally be minor annoyances can and loss of trees that happened to lie in the path of the become much greater problems. One such example is irrigation system. Either way, with growing concerns the handling of rainwater run off from the surrounding regarding the limited water supply in our urban centers houses. Anytime a landscaping project is completed it and the increased concern of how treated municipal can change the amount of water entering the golf course wastewater might be polluting fresh water lakes, the move property through above or below ground run off . What towards using reclaimed water as an irrigation source would have been small amounts of runoff under normal is happening. There are many challenges that must be circumstances now has major effect in an area that is overcome, and as it occurs new challenges will present already handling excessive amounts of water. Despite themselves. It is not a move that should be made lightly, the young age of the course the greens are dominated by and much more research is needed to determine both annual bluegrass. This may very well be due to reduced short-term and long-term effects. In the past year a multi­ rooting because of the poor irrigation water quality and year research project funded by the Ontario Turfgrass the fact that the greens are rarely able to dry out. Annual Research Foundation (OTRF) and the Ontario Ministry of bluegrass has the ability to survive with limited root mass Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) has been so may be selected for in an area of poorer water quality. initiated at the GTI to explore the challenges of moving Finally, wear is an issue at every golf course, but even to reclaimed water sources in turfgrass management. more so at Wynstone because of constant wet conditions Through this research we hope to create a knowledgebase in certain areas. from which to guide turf managers in the changeover to the use of effluent and other sources of reclaimed water. References: Hamilton, A.J. F. Stagnittie, X.Z. Xion, S.L. Kreidl, K.K. Benke and P. Maher. 2007. Wastewater irrigation: The state of play. Vadose Zone J. 6:823-840. Michitsch, R.C., C. Chong, B.E. Holbein, R.P. Voroney and H. Liu. 2007. Use of wastewater and compost extracts as nutrient sources for growing nursery and turfgrass species. J. of Env. Quality 36:1031-1041. Thanunathan, K., D. Kalyanasundaram, V. Imayavaramban and R. Singaravel. 2000. Growing water grass (Brachiaria mutica) with sewage water: An effective way for sewage disposal and pollution-free ecosystem. J. Despite the challenges concerning excessive water and of Ecobiology 12:237-239. poor water quality the Director of Grounds and Greens Operations, Curtis James, is able to maintain wonderful playing conditions on the golf course. In addition, the course provides a needed service by acting as a filter for There’s a NEW game in town! As you know, BASF has been in the chemical business for 140 years. Now they are aiming their considerable experience squarely at turf. With 2 innovative new products for the Turf industry it is no wonder Golf Supers are anxious for this new player to come to town. Imagine, solutions from a company with 140 years of solving problems for their customers. Can you afford NOT to play with these guys? Off the fairway ... For many years now I have struggled and bounty are important. The lion’s share of what I was with what to say when people ask me shown relied heavily on annuals for their colour and in what I do for a living. Call it my ego. quantities that have always boggled my mind. I can also When I worked in the fertilizer business, say that ornamental grasses have become a popular part of I would go on and on about the science golf course gardens. From my experience, plant purchases and chemistry of growing plants, only are a budget item on the golf course. This is a good thing by Daisy Moore to stand accused of being a peddler. and hopefully the plant budget won’t suffer come the Nowadays when asked, depending on next budget meeting. Re-shuffling a few funds towards who is asking I’ll say, “I am a horticulturist” or “I run a plants of a more sustainable nature would be a progressive gardening business” or I am a landscape consultant” or, plan. Flowering shrubs go a long way in contributing to a lately, “I am a gardener”. “Gardener” conjures up fluffy show garden. Roof garden plants (sedum, sedges etc.) are images of floral hats, pink gloves and a hobby you do when readily available now and work well for the exposed but you retire. As Rodney Dangerfield would say, “no respect”. central areas. This would be a drought-tolerant alternative There is little I can do to change that and that’s okay. I just to mulch. have to come up with another name for it. On the golf course, the clubhouse lends itself to gardens. This area includes the beds surrounding the building itself, as is our habit, plus, the areas that separate the milling about from the course itself. Gardens act as an interface and can be virtually anything you want them to be to reflect the style or status of the club. In these beds you can demonstrate the limitless possibilities of form, style, combination and colour available in the plant world. Some courses will hire a gardener to do this, others take it on themselves or someone on the staff has a knack or shows a leaning in the gardening direction and are appointed the task. Over and above that it depends on the budget and the resources and the will to make it so. If you do research at the library, you will find gardening/ horticulture in the technology section (the 600s), wedged between engineering and country living. I was surprised by this. Gardening is an applied science where technology and natural systems meet. The natural sciences section (the Ottawa Hunt Club hosted the Canadian Women’s Championship 500s) including botany, ecology and all the other ologies we had to memorize in school also hold books of interest to the Another observation from my mini-survey was the gardener. This is a growing section where more opinions sharp contrast between the cultivated gardens around the and ideas about sustainable living and the environment clubhouse and the out of play natural areas in the distance. are being sought. Re-learning how nature works. These The natural areas are commonly ridden with unsavory weeds ideas are spilling over into gardening and landscape design. and line the fairways like a choker. It is a good idea to leave The arts & crafts section, (the 700s) also contain gardening things to nature, but when the area is in trouble, you have to books surrounding the idea of architecture and design. move in and help. They look that way because the area has Books about gardening seem to be in every section of the been disturbed. Take an inventory of what is growing and library. remove the thugs. This in itself might solve the problem I recently gave a presentation about clubhouse gardens and improve things drastically. This will give desirable local at the Ottawa Valley Turfgrass Association conference. plants a chance. Physical removal of weeds is a new reality In preparation I sent out notes far and wide to seek for people but if you time it right and know what you are photographs of clubhouse gardens that I could use to after, then it is doable. You just need the resources and the discuss the subject. It was a treat to go to the computer every will to make it so. day to see who had sent me what. Despite the vast difference in all the examples, the commonalities were there in the site Daisy is a professional horticulturist. She operates a garden demands, the limitations, the size of garden beds, the view design and consulting business from her home in Elora. from a distance and so on. Many are faced with stairways She is the host of the radio program “Ask the Gardener” and walkways, circle beds, slopes and flagpoles, with gardens Saturdays 1-2:00 on am570 www.daisymoore.com, has samples attached to them, as well as foundation plantings. Colour of her work. We Sell & Transplant Large Trees with tree spades ranging from 34-90" Members of LS.A and Landscape Ontario. Owner Paul Hanousek certified arborist. premium Water management TOOLS FOR YOUR GOLF COURSE TURF • 2 Formulations Available - Respond 3 Liquid and Respond 3 Granular • Protect your Greens, Tees, and Fairways from Localized Dry Spot, Drought Stress and Excessive Moisture • More Uniform Water Distribution Throughout Moving your trees since 1980. the Root Zone www.douglaswood.ca Distributed by: ALLTURF 1.800.353.3019 Master’s Turf Supply Ltd. T. 519.856.2771 F. 519.856.1447 Mountain View Turf Supply P.O.. Box 339 Rockwood ON www.uap.ca Canada NOB 2KO Respond 3 is a registered trademark of United Agri Products. Always read and follow label directions. Balisance the key Revolution helps you improve turf quality and maintain playability on putting greens and other turf areas under stress conditions while using less water. • Uniform moisture, even across slopes • Less hand watering • Consistency of turf conditions • Easier to re-wet after drydown • Drier, firmer putting surfaces • Quicker recovery from stress Toll Free 800-257-7797 www.aquatrols.com Looking back 20 Years Ago Today by Barry Endicott Board of Directors in 1989 were: Neil Acton The on April 3rd at Essex Golf and Country Club hosted by (president), Deer Creek; Gord Nimmo (vice), Sarnia; Stew Mills with Dr. Joe Vargas as the guest speaker. The Thom Charters (past), Weston; Rhod Trainor (editor), Western Ontario Golf Superintendents Association had St. Thomas; Greg O’Heron, Peterborough; Ted Ellis, meetings at St. Catharine’s, John Piccolo; Brookfield, Greenwood; Bruce Burger, Galt; John Taylor, Twenty Henry Schmitz; Port Colborne, Jay Kulak; Glendale, Valley; Scott Dodson, Summit; Ed Farnsworth, Deerhurst; George Garner, and Bridgewater, Steve Sherwood and Mark Hagen, Wyldewood and David Gourlay, Beacon Hall. Wilf Wallace. The Taylor Barnes tournament was held at Cindi Charters was the office secretary. Bridgewater Country Club, which was won by Ted Bishop Neil Acton left Brooklea and took the position at Deer of Rolling Meadows. Creek, while Marlon Gieseler, Neil’s assistant, took over The Georgian Bay area was seeing an influx of new Brooklea. Richard Ziegel left Burlington Springs and courses. Ron Heesen, at Monterra, was preparing for ajuly went to Deerfield. Ted Ellis left Greenwood and went 1st opening. Tom McBroom was working on the Hockley to Blue Springs, Mark Hagen moved from Wyldewood Valley Golf Club with Superintendent, John Anderson. to West Haven. Mike Creek took Mark’s position at Bob Cupp was building the Deerhurst Highlands Golf Wyldewood. Gary Hastings moved to Rockway and Doon Club adding to Ed Farnsworth’s established 18. Rene and Valley from Merry Hill. Jerry Richard, the assistant at Charlie Muylaert were building a second 18 holes for John Toronto G. C., started at Craigowan. John Anderson Hughes at Horseshoe Valley and a new 18 hole course moved to Hockley Valley and Don Crimble replaced John in Orillia, called Hawkridge, where Bruce Dodson is at IBM. Bruce Dodson left Emerald Hills to become superintendent. Tournaments were held at the following superintendent at Hawkridge and Jack Austin, formerly courses: Bonaire, Randy Fielder; Lake St. George, Greg of Turf Care Irrigation, went out on his own forming Louth; Cranberry Village, Charlie Terry; Barrie, Ed Doda Canadian Irrigation Consultants. Mark Schneider went to and Muskoka Lakes, David Smith. All golf days began at Beachgrove, Ryan Beauchamp, the assistant at St. Thomas, 12 noon and the cost was $20.00 per person. went to Westminster Trails, John Cherry left Cherry Downs The Superintendent/Pro Tournament was held at St. for the National while Ken Wright left the National and Thomas Golf and Country Club, hosted by Rhod Trainor. went to Devil’s Pulpit. David Gourlay, Jr. left Beacon Hall The low team was Herb Holzsheiser and Thom Charters and started at a new course in Ottawa called Eagle Creek. from the Weston Golf Club. Bob Heron took over from Dave at Beacon Hall. New members: Vince Dermott, Markland Woods (B); George Allison, Western Trent (B); David Brooke, Scotch Settlement (B); Nancy Pierce, Toronto Golf (F); Jack Little, Dalewood (F); Ian Bowen, Lakeview (B); Mary Beth Kelly, Ladies (F); Doug Walsh, Westmount (F); Rob Sharp, Glenn Abbey (F); Bill Dickinson, Champion Turf LARGE TREE SALES AND RELOCATION Equipment (E); Stephen Jones, Deer Creek (B); James Hopkins, Fawn Brook (B); Raymond Yule, Glen Cedars Phil Dickie- ISA Certified Arborist (B); Jay Kulak, Port Colborne (B); Peter Dickey, Glenway pdickie@fastforest.ca (B); Robert MacGrandles, Ridge Pine Park (B) Jack Austin, 270 Shoemaker Street, Kitchener, ON N2E 3E1 Canadian Irrigation Consultants (E); Everett Nieuwkoop, Phone (519) 748-6610-Fax (519) 748-6626 Ontario Seed Co. (E); Dan O’Conner, Saugeen (F); Steven Holmes, Donalda (F), Greg Anderson; Victoria Park (F); Alex McLeod, Monterra (F), Terry Fries; Merry Hill (F), Paul Scenna, Jr., Mississaugua (F); David Tascone, Wyldewood (F); Jordon Lucas, Galt (F); Ron Legato, Scenic Woods (A) and Perry Beausoleil (F) Carleton. Annette Anderson was the Turf Extension Specialist from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the OMAF Turf Hotline was established which was a very good success. Golf course architect C. E. (Robbie) Robinson Corrie Almack P.Ag. passed away on December 29 at the age of 82. Mr. Robinson was the uncle of Robbie Robinson of Hidden Almack Agronomic Services Inc. Tel: (905) 689-6174 Lakes Golf Club. Box 256, Carlisle, On Fax: (905) 689-8522 LOR 1H0 Email: c.almack@sympatico.ca The Michigan/Borders Cities Golf Meeting was held Turf or consequences by Doug Breen, Superintendent Golf North Properties Disposable Income ^^ur household income is 100% dependent upon the in it. A job would be at this level. Having a job that you disposable income of other people’s households. Krista actually like is way farther up the pyramid. Recreation is (my wife, social apologist, and scullery maid), teaches even further up again, in the “Self Actualization” section. people to ride horses - a fairly pointless exercise by Maslow saw things like golfing as far less important than a anyone’s standard. When horses were the primary mode good spousal relationship - Oprah would agree, but that’s of transportation around the world, a riding instructor was bad for us. a valuable member of society. When knights were trotting We need to convince people that playing golf so often off to war and fighting on horseback, there was a very that your wife leaves you is not only acceptable, but hard real advantage to having superior balance in the saddle. wired into your psyche. We need to get the message out A “good seat” could save your life. Well-trained horses there that given the choice between having a house and could expand your empire. Today, none of those things having a golf membership, the mentally stable person will are true. She might as well be teaching people to churn always choose the golf membership. And I’ve found a way butter. For the most part, the equine world is pretty much to do it - Wikipedia. over-run by little girls who wish they were princesses, and Anyone who ever saw Maslow’s chart in high school middle aged women who still think they are. will not remember exactly what it looks like, and search My pay cheque is derived from an equally tenuous for it on the Internet. The first thing that pops up will source. If people ever lose interest in counting how many be Wikipedia. It’s true, I just checked. In spite of the whacks it takes to knock a ball across a field and into a fact that anyone can put anything on Wikipedia, most hole, I’m unemployed. If people ever have to choose people still accept whatever’s on the screen as gospel. I between a round of golf and a new transmission for the propose that someone from the RCGA should edit the Chevy, we’re all in a heap of trouble. chart and place golf on level one, right next to the need I overheard a couple guys talking the other day, and for excretion. A couple weeks back Wikipedia announced apparently there’s this unsubstantiated rumour going that they were hiring fact checkers to try to stop this kind around that the economy isn’t going too well at the of thing, but we all know that the fact checkers will just go moment. Something about a worldwide recession? First to Wikipedia for verification, so we’re set. I’ve heard of it! Although I should have known that So that’s the plan. We get people to play more golf by something was up when the bank stopped trying to sell putting it on the Internet that you’ll die if you don’t play me mutual funds. My concern is that if people have on a regular basis. Either that, or I suppose we could just less disposable income, they might stop playing golf and advertise. riding horses. I figure that my options are either to find a new line of work that people actually need for survival (like food production, hospital work, or skate sharpener), or convince the masses that playing golf is a basic necessity of life. Generations ago, a guy named Abraham Maslow published a pyramid shaped diagram called Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Like all academics, he named it after himself in a vain attempt to justify a lifetime of toiling in a stuffy, windowless room filled with mouldy books - only visited by keener students grovelling for extra marks. This diagram, which is now shown to every Sociology student on the planet, lists the basic needs/wants of human beings in the order that we actually need them. Physiological needs, like air, water, and not being eaten by bears, are at the base of the pyramid. The next level is all about the security of having a dependable source of those things, like a house with a door, taps with water in them, and a fridge with food BEAUTIFUL TRUTH The truth is, you make this happen. We understand that beautiful turf doesn't come easily and you don't get any second chances. ProTurf shares in your relentless pursuit of perfection. We promise you our best every time. Proud supplier of quality products including Contec™, Poly-S™, FFII™, and K-O-G™. Dave Dick (905) 846-3319 serving you since 1977 Agrium Advanced Technologies, 10 Craig Street, Brantford, ON N3R 7J1 ProTurf''' is a registered trademark of Nu-Gro Ltd. www.turfpro.ca/proturf Introducing Toro’s new 14-blade reel The lower the cut, the more risk to your turf - right? Not anymore. The Toro team has developed a reel with a higher number of blades. In conjunction with optimal reel speed, it will give you a crisper, more consistent cut especially below .100 of an inch without damaging your turf. 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