Green is Spring 2011 Beautiful The Official Publication of Ontario Golf Superintendents’ Association The "Greenest" Greens Former landfill becomes a golfing treasure ALSO INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Lobby Day at Queen's Park Summer Patch - The latest from UofG Living Through a Workwell Audit 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 N1L 0H2 The Thinking Super's Solution -BASF Supers face real turf issues, and they demand real solutions. Not just statistics. They expect real reasons, dramatic differences they can see. Here’s the truth; BASF registered CADENCE® WDG fungicide in 2005, a totally unique product for the treatment of dollar spot. In 2007, BASF followed with PREMIS® 200F fungicide - the newest DMI fungicide for brown patch, dollar spot, and anthracnose. And in 2010, INSIGNIA® EG fungicide’s newly expanded label brings control of major turf diseases, including snow mould and suppression of dollar spot. Together with advanced solutions, BASF has brought valuable business innovations through their BetterTurf™ Bundles. Can you afford NOT to play with these guys? For more information go to www.BetterTurf.ca BetterTurf ™ is a trademark of BASF. PREMIS® is a registered trade-mark of BASF Trademarks GMBH, used with permission by BASF Canada Inc. CADENCE"’ and INSIGNIA” are registered trade-marks of BASF Corporation, used with permission by BASF Canada Inc. © 2010 BASF Corporation. All rights reserved. Always read and follow label directions before product use. PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE Green is fter speaking to many fellow superintendents across the Beautiful A province, most have emerged from the winter with very little damage this spring. This is in stark contrast to the vast The Official Publication of Ontario Golf Superintendents’ Association Editor amount of damaged turf experienced last spring. Everyone Justin Parsons seems to be very excited to get into action for the 2011 season. justinparsons@engageagro.com Mother Nature, of course, has had other plans, as I write Publisher & Advertising Manager this message the spring of 2011 is turning out to be one Terry Davey by Chris Andrejicka, of the coldest and wettest in recent memory. According to terry@blenheim.ca Essex Golf & Environment Canada, records for the most rainfall and total Country Club Tel: 877-618-8696 ext. 102 precipitation were broken this month in several Ontario locations, with some receiving between twice and close to four times the amount Administration Manager Diane Davey of rain normally expected in April. Of course for most seasoned superintendents diane@blenheim.ca we always know better weather will eventually arrive and we will have to deal as best Tel: 877-618-8696 ext. 103 we can through what we are dealt with. I would like to take this opportunity to announce Stu Leachman has resigned Production & Design Jeanette Thompson from the Board of Directors and has headed west with his family to Lake Louise, jeanettethompson@mac.com Alberta. On behalf of the OGSAI extend my thanks for his dedicated service on Tel: 877-618-8696 ext. 101 the board since 2008. We wish his family all the best in their future journeys. As the golf season starts I would encourage all of our members to participate in Green is Beautiful is published four times this year’s OGSA golf events. The OGSA Presidents’ Day is on July 25th at Toronto a year (November / March / June / August) Golf Club, the popular Summer Scramble is on August 30th at Springfield Golf by Blenheim INK for: and Country Club and wrapping up the season is the Alex McClumpha Memorial Tournament on October 3rd at Osierbrook Golf and Country Club. There has been a measured decline in participation at our golf outings over the past few years. If I have learned anything over the past 20 years it would be the value of getting away from your club to play golf, network and enjoy the fellowship of your colleagues. Getting away is great for recharging your batteries and even Ontario Golf Superintendents' learning from what we see at other facilities. We tend to get wrapped up in all the Association mundane tasks at our clubs and everyone needs a fun break or game of golf away. Guelph Turfgrass Institute Over the past few months a number of members have inquired about the OGSA 328 Victoria Road South setting up meetings with party leaders heading into this years’ provincial election. Guelph, ON N1L0H2 I can report director Mark Prieur met with Ted Arnott, Deputy Opposition House Tel: 519-767-3341 Leader in regards to concerns over the current IPM framework. The meeting was Toll Free: 877-824-6472 very fruitful. In the coming months we will be requesting to meet with the current Fax:519-766-1704 Environment minister and if a new government is elected we will be meeting in Email: ogsa@gti.uoguelph.ca November with the new minister. We will update the membership on our efforts. www.golfsupers.on.ca Let’s look forward to drier and warmer weather and a successful maintenance season. ■ Brett Murray Direct Line 416-659-1020 Published by: Manager Fax Line 519-941-0931 Blenheim INK Adminstration Office: P.O. Box 218 Orangeville, ON 4305 Fairview Street, Suite 232 L9W 2Z6 Burlington, ON L7L 6E8 Production Office: 1727 King Street East, FSC Cambridge, ON N3H 3R6 www.fsc.org MIX Toll Free: 1-877-618-8696 brettmurray@primus.ca Paper from responsible sources Fax:519-340-0293 FSC® C008820 www.blenheim.ca INSIDE THIS ISSUE ONTARIO'S "GREENEST" GREENS................................................. 13 Green is Above the hole................................................................................ 25 Editorial message ............................................................................. 5 Beautiful The Official Publication of Ontario Golf Superintendents’ Association Golf course highlight - Lakeview Golf Course.............................17 Health & safety ............................................................................... 10 Living through a Workwell audit.................................................. 22 Lobby day at Queen's Park .............................................................. 9 Looking back ................................................................................... 33 Member profile - Bob Pattinson................................................... 15 Off the fairway ................................................................................30 On the REEL side of things............................................................. 32 On the road again........................................................................... 27 President's message ......................................................................... 3 Second to one ................................................................................. 24 Technically speaking....................................................................... 26 The wild view .................................................................................. 28 Turf or consequences...................................................................... 34 University of Guelph update......................................................... 12 What's new......................................................................................... 6 COVER PICTURE BraeBen Golf Club, Hole #5 INDEX OF ADVERTISERS Photo courtesy City ofMississauga Agrium Advanced Technologies ........................................... 22, 35 GREEN IS BEAUTIFUL Alliance Agri-Turf........................................................................... 13 EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Almack Agronomic Services Inc.................................................... 31 Justin Parsons Aquatrols................................................................................. 14, 26 Alan Dolick ArborTurf Solutions....................................................................... 31 Paul Grotier Bayer Environmental Science - Rovral Green GT....................... 21 Jason Hanna Braemar Building Systems............................................................ 23 Scott Horsburgh Burnside Golf ..................................................................................29 DCS Agronomic Services ............................................................... 31 Douglas Wood Large Tree Service................................................ 23 Green is Beautiful 2011 Fast Forest ....................................................................................... 31 Although every effort is made to check material Green Horizons Group of Farms .................................................... 8 for publication, the association is not responsible for material published on behalf of its contributors. H & M Turf Ltd.................................................................................... 3 All rights are reserved by the publisher and any reproduction in whole or part without the written Innovative Agronomics Inc............................................................ 32 permission of the publisher is prohibited. Although some trade names may be mentioned IPM golf pro ..................................................................................... 16 in articles contained in this publication, no Nutrite ............................................................................................... 5 endorsement is intended or implied by the Ontario Golf Superintendents' Association. Master's Turf Supply Ltd.................................................................32 Ontario Seed Company ................................................................. 29 Plant Products - Thinking Super .................................................... 2 OGSA is committed to Quali-Pro .......................................................................................... 11 serving its members, SW Stoneworks .............................................................................. 25 advancing their Turf Care Products Canada - Irrigation ....................................... 28 profession, and enriching the quality Turf Care Products Canada............................................................ 36 of golf and United Agri Products Inc............................................................ 8, 23 its environment. Vanden Bussche Irrigation ............................................................ 24 Zander Sod Co. Limited................................................................. 29 EDITORIAL MESSAGE ather than tell you what you will successful in his role, looking for new challenges. It’s easier R find in this issue, which, presumably anyone can deduce from the Table for us to move around now and try new things. In years past, the thought of moving into another position when you are of Contents, I would rather discuss successful in your current one probably wasn’t too common. something a little different. Let’s face But there are still some superintendents out there who have it, if you’re actually reading the Editors been with their golf clubs for multiple decades. Regardless Message, it’s not to find out what is in the of the type of club or the ownership structure, I think this rest of the magazine. deserves some acknowledgement. Although some may argue by Justin Parsons, So, I’d like to begin by mentioning that doing your job every day for a long period of time is no Engage Agro Corp. John Gray. The last hole my group big deal, I disagree. Sometimes when the ordinary is done for played at the 2011 CanAm Challenge long enough, it becomes extraordinary. at Essex Golf and Country Club was the tenth. Next to the Given the time of year, I’d like to use the game of baseball tenth tee is a sign honouring former Superintendent John to illustrate my point. Getting a hit in a baseball game is no Gray who held the position from 1915 until his death in 1958. big deal. Do it 56 games in a row, like Joe DiMaggio and it This got me thinking about the many superintendents who becomes legendary. On any given night, a dozen pitchers get used to devote the better part of their lives to one golf club. a win in baseball. But if you are one of those pitchers on 511 Although this was certainly more common back then, it’s still different nights, like Cy Young, one can’t help but be in awe. very impressive and admirable. Perhaps the most relevant example from the baseball world to It’s something we just don’t see nowadays. I suppose it’s our topic of enduring superintendents is the number 2,632. because loyalty, patience and trust is too often overpowered by That’s how many games the ‘Iron Man’ Cal Ripken played the all mighty buck. Or sometimes public perception, whether consecutively. right or wrong, can dictate the outcome over situations that I would like to offer a tip of the cap to all those longstanding it is not qualified to govern. To be fair, I suppose the lack of superintendents out there. Here’s hoping this is the start of longstanding tenures is also a result of an individual, though another great season of golf in your storied careers. ■ A leading supplier of turf and specialty fertilizers since 1954 • Granular fertilizers • Water soluble fertilizers • Environmentally friendly fertilizers • Custom blends Ontario and Western Canada • Premium quality 1.800.265.8865 • Technical support Quebec and Maritimes • Service driven 1.800.363.1330 www.nutriteturf.ca WHAT'S NEW Past President Jeff Alexander presented Dorothy with a gift certificate for an all expense paid weekend in Toronto, which included show tickets and dinner, overnight accommodation and transportation for two. Dorothy was given a watch as a keepsake of her time spent at OGSA and a book of messages and memories, sent in by members and friends from across Ontario. Dorothy was very appropriately given honorary membership in the OGSA. Jeff praised Dorothy’s efforts in building the association and increasing the profile of the golf superintendent, outlining her exceptional managerial style and outstanding abilities. Dorothy spoke of how her position has allowed her to form lasting friendships and has enriched her life. And of course, a great time was had by all! Dorothy Hills with OGSA Past President, JeffAlexander. CAN/AM CHALLENGE 2011 DOROTHY HILLS RETIREMENT CELEBRATION On Monday, May 2, 2011 the annual Can/Am Challenge On March 26, 2011 Dorothy Hills was almost surprised was held at the Essex Golf and Country Club in LaSalle, upon arrival at Victoria Park East Golf Club for her Ontario. Despite the many weeks of cold, damp weather retirement party. which preceded the event, the course was in wonderful Dorothy was accompanied by her husband Larry, and condition. Host Superintendent Chris Andrejicka, his joined by her children and many of the friends she has Assistant Greg Brown, and the rest of the maintenance crew made while performing her duties as executive manager at Essex put in a lot of long hours to ensure participants of the OGSA. were treated to a course that was in mid-season form. These friends included current board members, past After enjoying a nice breakfast in the clubhouse, the presidents, and association staff and while Dorothy did shotgun started at 11:30 a.m. and it was during tee off that find out about the surprise a few days before, that is the sun came out and players were able to shed theirjackets. indeed all she knew. Despite the sun’s disappearance at times, it still turned out to MARK YOUR CALENDARS 2011 OGSA Tournament & Event Schedule Event Date Golf Course Host Supt. Presidents' Day July 25,2011 Toronto Golf Club Al Schwemler OTRF Fundraiser* Aug. 9,2011 Greystone Golf Club Adam Trenton Summer Scramble Aug. 30,2011 Springfield Golf & CC Ray Dlugokecki Assistants Tournament Sept. 26,2011 Pheasant Run Golf Club Andrew Hardy Alex McClumpha Oct. 3,2011 Oslerbrook Golf & CC Jason Honeyball *Note The OTRF tournament is not an OGSA event. Details can be accessed on their website at www.otrf.ca 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. Our Regional Associations are welcome to list their events in the OGSA “Calendar of Events”. CAN/AM Winners: First Place Teams American 1 st Low Gross Team Score Greg Brown and Jason D'Andrea 160 Canadian 1st Low Gross Team Score Mark Durand and Doug Wilson 169 American 1st Low Net Team Score Tim Dark and Ken DeBusscher 61 Canadian 1 st Low Net Team Score Wade Beaudoin and Mike Johnson 68 Second Place Teams American 2nd Low Gross Team Score Essex Golf and Country Club Eric Davey and John Kulka 164 Canadian 2nd Low Gross Team Score be a better day than we have been used to in the last month. Thom Charters and Wayne Rath 170 After catching up with guys from all over the province and American 2nd Low Net Team Score the Michigan area, it was clear the slow start to the spring season has been Jeff Burgess and Tavis Horton 65 felt everywhere. Canadian 2nd Low Net Team Score Hopefully this event Rob Ackermann and Paul Scenna 69 was the start of a great golf season in Closest to the Pin #7......................... Dan Dingman Ontario, Michigan Closest to the Pin #12....................... John Kulka and all over. Closest to the Pin #17....................... Bill Each Congratulations Longest Drive #6.............................. Greg Brown go out to the Skins Winners: Jason D'Andrea #1, Paul Brown #9, Dan Dingman #10, Americans who Doug Wilson #14 managed to retain L-R: Paul Scenna and Chris Andrejicka the Cup. 2012 ONTARIO GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE AND TRADE SHOW Niagara Falls, ON I January 18-20, 2012 OTRF Annual Fundraising Golf Tournament Greystone Golf Club Speaker line-up to date includes Keynote Speaker: August 9 2011 * Jimmy Westrick Interaction and involvement are key ingredients in all ofJimmy's seminars and workshops. Jimmy believes that people learn best by doing, discussing and participating. His enthusiasm, high energy and persuasive communication skills combine to give audiences a powerful learning experience they don't soon forget. Join the OTRF in our annual fundraising event & reserve your golf day at ClubLink's Greystone, Milton Also presenting: Dr. Joe Vargas and Dr. Thomas Nikolai, Michigan State Registration information at www.OTRF.ca University. Dr. Frank Rossi, Cornell University. presented by Dr. Katerina Jordan, University of Guelph. OTRF Platinum Partners: Special session on holding your IPM Public Meeting. WHAT'S NEW PRO SUPER CHALLENGE Welcome! Despite cold temperatures and OGSA Welcomes our a biting wind, a great day was had newest members by all at Wyndance Golf Club in Jessica Aytoun Class F Uxbridge, May 17, 2011 where 118 Ambassador GC golfers braved the elements to play Ryan Brogan Class C the spectacular course. Deer Creek GC The format of play was two man, Kevin Harders Class Supt best ball and the top team was Golf Northern Dunes GC Professional Rob Mininni and Dan Hartford Class A Superintendent Chris Emerton from L-R: Chris Emerton and Rob Mininni Sunnybrae GC Tangle Creek Golf and Country Club Roger Kelley Class A the Pin prizes for the superintendents. Southbrook GC with a score of 67. Brian Urbach, Golf Professional at Other teams taking prizes were Mike MacGillivray Class Supt Midland Golf and Country Club Bayview G&CC Diamond Back Golf Course a close claimed the Closest to the Pin for the Chris Millard Class C second with 68 and Cobble Beach pros and Chester Morin from Mill Hockley Valley Resort Golf Links also with a 68, placing Run had the Longest Drive. Leasha Schwab Class Supt third. Fourth place went to the team Teams from Wyndance Golf Course, Foxbridge GC from the Granite Club. Caedarbrae Golf and Country Club, Cam Shaw Class S Steve Scott from Lakeridge Links Lakeridge Links Golf Club and University of Guelph Golf Club had a great day winning Wooden Sticks Golf were the skins Ben Smirnov Class D both the Longest Drive and Closest to game winners. Uplands Golf & Ski Club Some things just work. FINISH IT RIGHT. SOD SPECS ONLINE AT Solving the problem of disease control. JUSTSODIT.COM Protect your turf from dollar spot, brown patch and anthracnose with Rhapsody fungicide. With three modes of action, Rhapsody harnesses the power of biochemistry in a way that sets it apart from other fungicides, protecting your turf from diseases, and increasing turf quality, while reducing the need for synthetic chemicals. For more information see your turf input supplier or log on to www.uap.ca for full label information. GREENHORIZONS SOD FARMS West: 1 -800-561 -5444 Ontario & Maritimes: 1 -800-265-5444 HAMILTON: (905) 389-1315 Quebec: 1-800-361-9369 BC: 1-604-534-8815 CAMBRIDGE: (519) 653-7494 ® Rhapsody is a registered trademark of AgraQuest, Inc. 10009 01.10 LobbyDay at Queen's Park by Scott White, Superintendent breakfast discussion with two additional MPPs, the message Donalda Club was clear: Golf is a substantial industry that needs greater representation at the table with the policy makers when n April 20th, 2011, the Ontario Allied GolfAssociations O (OAGA) descended on Queen’s Park to kick off the golf season and increase awareness of the role of golf as bills are put forward. For the most part, MPPs gave the impression they were engaged and interested with very few meetings being cut short. However, I would be remiss an important driver of Ontario’s economy. The goal was if I told you that all of the meetings went exceptionally to make inroads with the provincial government in an well. Fellow lobbyists noted a disconnect between a few effort to ensure the golf industry becomes more engaged of the MPPs and one or two individuals who were more in determining policies that impact the sector, both concerned with how golf related to their specific portfolio. environmentally and financially. OAGA is represented I am also aware that MPPs have the difficult task of smiling by The Canadian Society of Club Managers (CSCM), the and nodding to people all day long, but for the most part, Golf Association of Ontario (GAO), Ontario PGA, The the officials were interested in hearing our concerns. My National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA), club personal example of environmental stewardship and golf owners and the Ontario Golf Superintendents’ Association course success was the increasing evidence of improved (OGSA). water quality in the East Don River as it leaves the club’s A little over a year ago, an environmental impact study property when compared to the data taken when it arrives was performed to answer an unknown question: How big upstream. MPPs, like most citizens, need to hear these is the golf industry? For those of you like me who did not stories of success to dispel the myths and raise the level of know the answer to this question, the information gained awareness. was a bit surprising. Golf is the most popular sport in During the meetings, topics ranged from Bill 64 Ontario with 2.3 million players enjoying the game (over (pesticides/IPMAccreditation) and source water protection, 6 million nationally), far outpacing all other sports, to the methodology in property tax assessments, to liquor including hockey. These golfers fuel an industry that laws. On Bill 64, the focus was addressing concerns with contributes 4.3 billion dollars annually to the economy, the legislation moving forward, with particular emphasis which represents a full 1% of the GDP. Of the 123,000 on the public meeting requirements in 2012. golf related jobs in Ontario 43,000 of them involve working I believe there was a measured level of success directly on the golf courses, which is larger than the forestry, accomplished with the lobby day and that this process needs fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas industries combined to continue moving forward. Although we as a group did (40,000jobs). The message: We are a large industry made not go to the meetings with a specific request on our first up of small and medium sized businesses that is vulnerable visit, connections have been made which hopefully, going to a lot of excessive red tape. forward, will garner meetings with key representatives of The lobby day team was made up of 12 delegates the government such as the minister of finance. At the end representing the various groups and associations of the of the day, the politicians at Queen’s Park know as little as OAGA who had private and group meetings with ministers, the public about the good things being done by the golf members of provincial parliament (MPP), and policy courses in Ontario. This fact further strengthens the notion advisors. Some 30 meetings took place, representing that we, as members of the OGSA, must continue to spread approximately one-third of the sitting members of the word to our golfers and surrounding community. parliament, including a press conference outlining golfs A word of thanks should be passed along to my OGSA positive impact. The MPPs who accepted meetings teammate for the day, Phil Scully, whose lobby team included Julia Munro, MPP, Critic for Small Business, included some of the most influential members of Consumer Services and Red Tape, Paul Miller, MPP, Critic, Parliament, including Cathy Worden, Senior Advisor to the Tourism, Recreation and Sport and the policy advisor to Premier (Economy and Infrastructure Policy). Sandra Pupatello, MPP, Minister Economic Development You can find more information about the Lobby and Trade. Days being held across the country on the NAGA website: Having sat in on seven meetings personally and the www.canadagolfs.ca HEALTH & SAFETY Business Continuity Planning ith the number of recent world disasters such as the events tend to recover more quickly and tend to experience W earthquakes in Haiti, Chile, New Zealand and Japan less trauma. Those who are unprepared tend to lose. and of course the tsunami in Japan. We should all think So which camp do you subscribe to in disaster planning about our own Business Continuity Plans (BCP). and business continuity planning? Are you the person who If your business was struck by fire, windstorm, loss of will wait and see or are you the progressive person who electricity, illness or some other tragedy how would you has a BCP in place that will make your business and life cope with the effects of the loss? Have you taken the time to recovery a reasonable step back to productivity? update your BCP and have you taken time to consider how A BCP describes how to resume business after a you would get back into business after a catastrophic loss? disruption. A Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP) deals with If we look at the effects of the earthquake and tsunami recovering Information Technology (IT) assets after a in Japan and compare it to the earthquake in Haiti it is disastrous interruption. very easy to see that planning for an eventuality is the key Recognizing some services or products must be to recovery. We all know the effects of both situations continuously delivered without interruption is important are far from over. However, if we look at the recovery in developing a BCP. Critical services or products are process, it is enlightening to see how the Japanese have those that must be delivered to ensure survival, avoid already commenced their recovery while Haiti is still mired causing injury, and meet legal or other obligations of an beneath the rubble. Japan was hit by two major natural organization. Business continuity planning is a proactive disasters yet their businesses are in the process of restarting planning process that ensures critical services or products and producing. What a difference planning makes! are delivered during a disruption. Since the earthquake and tsunami, Japan and the world have learned a great deal about disaster preparedness, A BCP includes: business continuity planning and facility design. The • Plans, measures and arrangements to ensure the effects of future similar natural disasters are expected to continuous delivery of critical services and products, be much different in Japan. The Japanese are already which permits the organization to recover its facility, planning for the next earthquake and tsunami. Building data and assets. design, infrastructure design and emergency response • Identification of necessary resources to support systems are all being re-evaluated to ensure they meet the business continuity, including personnel, information, needs of the future. The Japanese are not sitting back. equipment, financial allocations, legal counsel, They are looking forward and preparing for a future event infrastructure protection and accommodations. even as they rebuild from these last two major events. Having a BCP enhances an organization’s image with Think about your life and business. Have you taken the employees, shareholders and customers by demonstrating a time to define what would happen in your life or business proactive attitude. Additional benefits include improvement if a situation occurred that would impact on the operation in overall organizational efficiency and identifying the of your business? relationship of assets and human and financial resources I personally have been thinking about this quite a lot to critical services and deliverables. these past few weeks. I have started having discussions To get more assistance, check out the government of with my friends and family about “disaster planning”. Canada site which deals with Emergency Preparedness at Sometimes these discussions are difficult as no one wants http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/prg/em/prprdnss-eng.aspx to think about what might happen. And no one wants to or give SAFETAID a call. think they personally may not be capable of looking after Have a great summer! ■ their family and business. People tend to believe, “it will never happen to us”! Look DougJohnson, Consulting, Safety and around you and watch the news and you will discover there First Aid Supplies, WHMIS Training are people just like us who have been involved in a tragedy. SAFETAID How well they were prepared for this eventuality reflects Tel: 519-837-0997 their BCP. Fax: 519-837-1996 People and companies that have plans to address unlikely Email: doug@safetaid.ca Some hazards are obvious Others are not Protect your turf against a full range of insect and disease pests with Quali-Pro®. Keep your course looking its best with time tested premium Quali-Pro turf protection products. Support choice and fair pricing: ask for Quali-Pro products by name. A superior formulation Same a.i. as Same a.i. as Same a.i. as A unique with the same a.i. as Banner® MAXX Merit® 75 WSP Merit® 0.5G pigment spray Rovral® Green GT pattern indicator Know the Sign. For further information please contact Philip Somerville, Quali-Pro Business Manager at (905) 304-1168 email psomerville@manainc.com or visit www.quali-pro.com/QPCanada.aspx ™ Know the Sign is a trademark and ®Quali-Pro is a registered trademark of FarmSaver.com, LLC. All others are registered trademarks of their respective companies. 02.11 10015 U of G UPDATE Summer Patch What to look for and how to beat it By Melissa Bassoriello and Dr. Katerina Jordan disease appears during the heat of the Photos courtesy M. Bassoriello summer but the pathogen actually colonizes root tissue and begins ver the past five to six years, infection when soil temperatures O summer patch has become more and more prevalent throughout are between 18 and 20°C. The ideal conditions for disease to develop are the province and when weather temperatures between 30 and 35°C forecasters predict a hot and dry combined with wet soils. However, summer, golf course superintendents disease has been found to develop at start fearing the worst. People often lower temperatures following rainfall ask why diseases like summer patch or when other factors, such as high Fig. 2. Magnaporthe poae structures: (left) soil pH, exist. In addition, symptom have become worse over the years and root with dark runner hyphae and hyphopodia development is dependent on the our best speculation is a combination and (right) growth cessation structures health of the plant, not just presence of factors, including the loss of non- of the pathogen. selective fungicides (e.g. mercury) The pathogen: and greater stress placed on turfgrass Summer patch is caused by the How to deal with the disease: plants leading to more symptom fungal pathogen Magnaporthe poae. It With any root disease, the first line of development. is within a group of fungi called the defense is a healthy plant. The deeper ectotrophic root infecting fungi or and stronger the root system, the ERL This group includes the take- more damage the plant can withstand all patch pathogen, Gaeumannomyces before symptoms develop. This means graminis, and the necrotic ring spot training your roots to grow deeply early pathogen ( Ophiospaerella korrae), both in the season, before there is too much common pathogens on turfgrasses. stress. One way to encourage deeper These fungi propagate primarily root growth is deep and infrequent through runner hyphae that run along watering. This ensures water is the surface of the root. Some species available deeper in the soil profile produce infection structures, called and does allow for constant moisture hyphopodia, that aid in penetration at the soil surface. Compacted soils of the root tissue and allow the will also lead to shallow and stressed Fig. 1 Symptoms of summer patch on an pathogen to enter the vascular system annual bluegrass green. root systems. Conduct an infiltration of the plant root. These hyphophodia test to determine how well your soils With the extreme weather Ontario are helpful in diagnosis as are other drain and perhaps consider having a experienced last summer, diseases specialized structures called growth bulk density test done as the greater such as summer patch were observed cessation structures (Fig. 2). Once the the pore spaces in the soil, the more throughout the GTA (where pathogen invades the root tissue, it room for the roots to grow. Core affects the flow of water and nutrients aerification has been shown to temperatures were highest) and a to the leaves and over time leads to significantly increase infiltration rates number ofgolf courses lost a significant death of the plant. Summer patch and subsequently improve soil health amount of turf through the summer is quite destructive on a number of over time. Also make sure you keep (Fig. 1). The purpose of this article is species including annual bluegrass up on thatch management. Excess to discuss a little bit about the biology (Poa annua), Kentucky bluegrass thatch will encourage shallow rooting of the pathogen and the disease, go (Poa pratensis), fine fescues (Festuca and reduce infiltration of water and over some recommendations and let spp.) and perennial ryegrass (Folium nutrients, all of which will increase you know about some of the research perenne), although on golf course stress on the plant and increase we are conducting on the disease at greens we see the most damage on symptom development from summer the Guelph Turfgrass Institute (GTI). Poa annua. As the name implies, the patch. Although a healthy root system creeping bentgrass you can get into will certainly reduce symptoms, the your turfgrass stand, the healthier pathogen needs to be managed as your green will be overall. well. Soil pH is a major factor in disease development, so reducing Current research 8112 KING RD. WEST the pH near the roots should help on summer patch: BOLTON, ONTARIO L7E5T3 decrease disease. Research conducted The main issues which arise with at Rutgers University has indicated summer patch include difficulty 1-800-268-4425 • 1-905-857-2000 the use of ammonium sulphate alone with diagnosis (especially on site), www.allianceagri-turf.com can reduce disease development on understanding the effectiveness fairway height turf. However, if your of various cultural practices and Cost Effective Custom Blends irrigation water has a high pH, any controversy over proper treatment. Water Soluble, Granular, reduction in the rootzone pH will be We have initiated a three-year project Liquid & Organic Fertilizers temporary. With respect to application at the GTI to answer these questions. Bulk Spreader Service of fungicides, treating summer patch The primary objectives of the study Full Line of Turf Chemicals curatively is very difficult to do. are to develop management practices Therefore, preventative application for the disease, determine host For further information call: is recommended assuming you have specificity and pathogenicity to gain Simon George a chronic history of the disease and a better understanding of disease Technical Sales conditions are likely to be conducive development, and to develop a rapid Central Ontario, GTA & Niagara Region for development of summer and user-friendly diagnostic tool for 1-519-841-3378 patch during the season. The detecting the presence of Magnaporthe recommendation is to take daily soil poae. It is our hope the information Mark Schneider temperature readings at a 5 cm depth. we gain will ultimately help to Technical Sales Once the temperatures exceeds decrease fungicide use by increasing Georgian Bay, Lake Simcoe 18°C for five consecutive days, it is the efficacy of preventive applications. & Muskoka Region time apply your fungicide. There is At this point, 30 samples have been 1-519-372-5181 some debate as to the best time of collected from golf courses that were day to take your soil temperatures, either showing symptoms of summer Technical Rae MurraySales with one school of thought being patch or had the disease in the past. North East GTA & Eastern Ontario 11 a.m. the other being 3 p.m. (the Runner hyphae characteristic of M. 1-416-819-3404 warmest part of the day). There are poae that were observed on roots of good arguments for either and our the samples were isolated and plated Dave Magee recommendation is to pick a time on culture media. These isolates Technical Sales somewhere in between those two and are being stored and will be used Ottawa Valley make sure you are consistent with the to challenge the various ecotypes of 1-613-286-5199 time each day you take measurements. annual bluegrass collected from golf With respect to application of your courses throughout the province. In fungicide, there is also debate as addition, a preliminary field study to your application volume when was conducted in 2010 to determine putting down your product. The the best application method for goal is to apply in enough water to fungicide efficacy and at this point, ensure that your material reaches the results indicate a slight decrease in roots, as that is where the pathogen disease development with watered- will primarily be, but to not surpass in treatments (Fig. 3). However, the the root zone as this would lead to study will be repeated in 2011 and wasted product. The actual amount results will be disseminated when will depend on your infiltration rate, the project is complete. Once M. your irrigation system and your root poae has been morphologically and depth. Finally, the best way to reduce genetically identified (through DNA your incidence of summer patch is analysis) from the samples, work will to reduce the amount of Poa annua begin to develop an on-site, user- on your green. You don’t have to go friendly diagnostic assay. with full conversion, but the more continued on page 14... ...continued from page 13 Fig. 3. Results of 2010 field trial, a) no pesticide applied, b) azoxystrobin application, not watered in and c) azoxystrobin application, watered in. At this point, we are looking for golf courses from which forfine turf areas. Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Rutgers Turfgrass to collect samples so that we can increase our collection of Symposium, pp. 18-19. both isolates of M. poae and ecotypes of Poa annua. If you Smiley R.W., Demoeden, P.H., and Clarke, B.B. 2005. have had a history of the disease, or if you note symptoms Compendium of turfgrass diseases, 3rd Ed. that you believe to be due to summer patch this season, Vincelli, P. and Williams, D. W. 2011. Chemical control of turfgrass diseases. University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service. please contact Melissa Bassoriello at 519-824-4120 x53016 or Katerina Jordan at 519-824-4120 x56615 to have us come and sample from your golf course. Dr. Katerina Jordan, PhD. Beyond that, let’s hope for a mild summer and healthy Assistant Professor of Turfgrass Science turfgrass all season long. ■ Dept, of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph References: Clarke, B.B., Thompson, D., Murphy, J., andMajumdar, kjordan@uoguelph.ca P. 1995. Development of an integrated summer patch control program Superintendents worldwide put their trust in Revolution to maintain the highest levels ofturf quality and playability on their greens, even under stress. Contact your local distributor today to see what Revolution can do for you. • Uniform moisture, even across slopes • Consistency ofturf conditions • Drier, firmer putting surfaces The superintendent's choice • Less hand watering for superior turf performance • Easier to re-wet after drydown • Quicker recovery from stress 800-257-7797 www.aquatrols.com MEMBER PROFILE Bob Pattinson IN THE HOT SEAT Q - Favourite major A-The British Open Q - Favourite piece of turf equipment A - Utility vehicles Q - Favourite golf designer A-Tom Weiskopf Q - Ultimate foursome Bob Pattinson recently retired as the golf course superintendent at the London Hunt and Country Club. A - Tom Watson and my two brothers, John and Jim by Tim Webb, Superintendent the University of Waterloo. After Sunningdale Golf & Country Club his second year in the program, Q - Lowest round and where Pattinson’s wife, Darryl, supported A - 67, age 16, Tillsonburg n 1959, at the age of 13, Bob his decision to change his career path Golf Club I Pattinson began working in the pro shop at the Tillsonburg Golf Club. by entering into the Horticultural Program at the University of Guelph. Q - How long were you By the time he was 16, Pattinson In 1972, at the age of 24, Pattinson superintendent at recognized his passion for grounds graduated with an associate degree London Hunt? keeping and decided to make a in horticulture from the University A - 19 years switch to golf course maintenance. of Guelph. Representatives from the London Hunt and Country Club Q - Favourite movie He worked for Harold Anderson who was the golf course superintendent arrived at the university and recruited A - Kelly's Heroes and professional at the time. Since Pattinson as their first assistant Q - Favourite meal then, Pattinson has continued to and he held this position for the A - Pickerel fish dinner work outside on golf courses for the following 20 years. In 1991, Pattinson past 50 years or so. was promoted to superintendent Q - Favorite course played After seven years at the Tillsonburg following the sudden passing of outside of Canada? Golf Club, Bob accepted a position Superintendent John Bennett. He A - The Quarry Course, at Jasper Park Lodge Golf Course continued to hold this position for the Bay Harbour, Michigan in Alberta, which lasted three years. final 19 years of his career. Perhaps There Bob worked for Jack Miligan, the hallmark of Pattinson’s lengthy Q - What was the best and an innovative superintendent who service as superintendent was his worst product invented could fabricate almost everything unwavering commitment to the job. during your career other because of a lack of equipment. In his own words: “most would find this than equipment? After returning to Ontario, very disturbing, but I was available 24/7 A - Best: replacement for Pattinson attended university and from April to November”. Mercury based fungicides. continued to work in the golf course Over the past 39 years, Pattinson Worst: Merfusen granular business at The Cutten Club for a has seen the course mature and the fungicide. period of two years. It is interesting design change. to note, he initially began his studies by enrolling in the Arts program at continued on page 16... ...continued from page 15 other members of the maintenance was surprised to find out how well a team, such as assistants, mechanics John Deere sand trap machine could He has been there for three bunker and even club members to be float upside down in a pond or that a renovations, range renovations, involved in professional associations. Cushman vehicle could get stuck up irrigation upgrades and numerous He believes this can be of real benefit in a tree. tee additions. to them. With Pattinson’s official retirement In the early stages of his career, Pattinson’s words of wisdom for date of May 31, 2011 now passed, he Pattinson realized there was a lot people in the golf course industry plans to relax by fishing, playing golf, more to learn. He knew he had to are, “listen, listen and listen" to your reading, travelling and not watching attend more seminars, ask more committee’s and members. the weather channel. Pattinson has questions and network with other A typical morning for Pattinson lived on the property for several years superintendents who could provide would start with him watching the with his wife of 41 years. Together insight into the challenges of the weather channel. He also enjoyed they have two children, Clancy, who job. Pattinson also recognized the heading out to tour the course even is a teacher overseas and Fred, who importance of being a member of before the staff arrived. works in the golf course industry. industry associations, and, as a result, After 50 years in the business, one Bob attributes a great deal of his has been a member of the CGSA and can only imagine the stories Pattinson success to his wife Darryl, who was the OGSA since 1968. He also encourages could tell. One early morning he driving force behind his career. ■ Spray records piling up? Let IPMgolfpro™ be your spray management software solution! to learn more visit us at: www.ipmgolfpro.com GOLF COURSE HIGHLIGHT Lakeview Golf Course 1190 Dixie Road, Mississauga, Ontario L9H 6Y6 Tel: 905-615-4653 brad.bell@mississauga.ca www.lakeviewgolf.ca Golf Course Superintendent: Brad Bell Assistant Superintendent: Craig Senior Equipement Manager: Mike Carr Photo credit: Brad Bell, Superintendent Hole #18 COURSE PROFILE A CLOSER LOOK About the Course What You Need to Know Lakeview is over 100 years old. It held the 1923 and 1934 Predominant Grass Type: Poa / Bent Canadian Open. The original construction cost was estimated at $99. The course was redesigned in 1922 by Herbert Strong to its Predominant Soil Type: Sandy Loam current layout. Type of Greens: Soil push up Established: 1907 Recent or upcoming construction: Original Architect: WJ. Lock Irrigation renovations, addition of some forward tee decks Type of Club: Municipal Course Length: 6340-5193 yards Number of Holes: 18 Size of Property: 118 acres Number of Rounds Annually: 40,000 Size of Greens: 118,000 sq. ft. Practice Facility: Putting green and hitting nets Size of Tees: 77,000 sq. ft. Size of Fairways: 900,000 sq. ft. Biggest Maintenance Challenges High traffic and tight tee time constraints make it difficult to implement all of the cultural practices that are desired. Due to the age of the golf club, many generations of irrigation and drainage can lead to chasing ghosts. The "Greenest" Greens in Ontario by L.G. Conrad, P. Eng, Manager, Waste Operations Waste Management Division, Region of Peel s you step up to the tee at BraeBen Golf Course in the site; a double-ended driving range in the central A Mississauga, it’s hard to imagine that just 10 years section; and an 18-hole par-72 championship course on ago, the Scottish Highlands inspired course, was a landfillthe remaining land. serving more than one million Peel residents. In June 2005, the 200-acre ecological masterpiece The Region of Peel’s Britannia Landfill Site operated located at Terry Fox Way and Matheson Boulevard in from 1980 to 2002 during which time, more than 13 the centre of Mississauga’s Heartland community was million cubic metres of waste was deposited. completed. When construction for the landfill began in the BraeBen’s public 18-hole championship course 1970s, the Region of Peel wanted to find a creative way features remarkable terrain, swaying fescue grasses, to manage the landfill following its closure. The unique gnarled trees and shrubs, pristine fairways, punctuated solution was to create a golf course on top of the closed with challenging bunkers - all reminiscent of golfs early landfill and to safely extract the landfill gas and convert beginnings. As in the Highlands of Scotland, wind is a it into energy. factor on most days and golfers of every skill level can The Region recognized it is not in the business of running challenge themselves from the red, white, blue or black a golf course, but knew where to go for this expertise. The tees. The course is also a sanctuary to a diverse wildlife City of Mississauga, one of the municipalities that make population. Hawks, falcons, coyotes and foxes all enjoy up the Region of Peel, was brought onboard to manage the dramatic terrain. the grounds and run the clubhouse. Golf course architect, Ted Baker and Associates, Gas Recovery System designed the layout and contouring of BraeBen to be When Britannia Landfill was redeveloped into BraeBen a dramatic and challenging course without signs of the Golf Course, Integrated Gas Recovery Services (IGRS) previous landfill. As part of the site redevelopment, a was selected to install a gas recovery system, which uses 9-hole par-3 academy was created on the south side of the captured landfill gas to generate electricity. a total generation capacity of approximately 5.5 megawatts of power. This represents enough green electricity to power 5,000 homes on a daily basis for the next 20 years. The green electricity enters the power grid under Ontario’s feed-in tariff or FIT Program. The FIT Program was enabled by the Green Energy and Green Economy Act, 2009. The Ontario Power Authority is responsible for implementing the program that aims to: • help Ontario phase out coal-fired electricity generation by 2014 • boost economic activity and the development of renewable energy technologies • create new green industries and jobs Through the life and closure of the landfill, various environmental control systems were installed and monitoring programs established to manage the landfill and ensure the local environment is protected. Over eight kilometers of pipes have been installed in the The landfill gas is captured in a series of on-site wells waste to capture leachate (liquids) and landfill gas, which and piped to the nearby gas-to-electricity facility where it are by-products of decomposing waste. The site is located is converted to green electricity. The facility contains gas in a natural clay deposit that encapsulates the leachate and processing equipment and three reciprocating engines with landfill gas until they are collected. continued on page 20... ...continued from page 19 Golf course architect, Ted Baker and Associates designed the layout and contouring of BraeBen to be a dramatic and challenging course without signs of the previous landfill. An average of 20,000 cubic metres of leachate is captured these regulations and the site’s Certificate of Approval and treated annually on-site and at the Region’s Lakeview verifies that the former Britannia Landfill Site is properly Sewage Treatment Plant. managed. Fifty-five groundwater wells around the site are tested Compared to conventional landfill gas management semi-annually, for a total of 110 tests per year. These tests where landfill gas is vented or burned, this gas-to-electricity ensure the leachate does not escape the barrier and impact system is a smart solution because it uses available resources off-site groundwater. and improves the local and global environment by: Over 60 vertical gas extraction wells collect landfill gas • generating electricity that does not require burning for the IGRS facility. A flare is available to burn off excess fossil fuels landfill gas if it exceeds the capacity of the facility. • displacing the need for fossil fuel electricity in the Forty-five landfill gas probes are tested monthly, for a total hydro grid of 540 tests per year, and the golf course grounds are tested • destroying 250,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases (carbon monthly when the golf course is operational. This ensures dioxide equivalent) annually, thereby reducing impacts local air quality meets regulations set by the Ministry of the on climate change Environment. • generating greenhouse gas emission reduction credits The Region of Peel diverts approximately 640,000 cubic metres of surface water runoff per year to an on­ • improving local air quality site retention pond, which provides wetland habitat and • turning a waste by-product into a valuable resource additional flow for the Carolyn Creek Watershed. The Those who golf at BraeBen can take pride in being creek is tested every month to ensure the water is clean. among the greenest golfers on any greens. All test results are reported to the Ministry of the BraeBen Golf Course is located at 5700 Terry Fox Way in Environment to ensure the former landfill meets Mississauga. For more information visit www.braeben.com environmental and health regulations. Compliance with or call 905-615-GOLF (4653). ■ With winter over, the hard work of another season is now Backed By Bayer - As always, you’re Backed by Bayer. upon you. Make sure you get a clean start from diseases And that means our team of professionals is your team of with Rovral Green GT, Aliette Signature and Compass professionals. All of our research and support is to ensure 50WR The tried and tested choice for winter clean up you have the most effective products available. Superior and prevent various diseases from destroying your greens products and superior support - only from Bayer. before the season starts. Take advantage of the most complete line of turf fungicides in the golf industry. Rovral Green GT, Compass 50WP, Aliette Signature, Chipco Triton SC and Trilogy SC. Rovral Green GT Compass 50WP Aliette Signature Chipco Triton SC Trilogy SC A great start to a long green season. ■ For more information on Triton SC and the complete line of Bayer products, contact Bayer Environmental Science www.bayeres.ca 1-888-283-6847 ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW LABEL DIRECTION. Rovral Green GT, Aliette Signature, Chipco Triton SC, Trilogy SC and Compass 50WG are registered trademarks of Bayer. BACKED by BAYER Living Through a Workwell Audit by John Ingham proportion of young, inexperienced, conducting pre-use inspections before Assistant Golf Course Superintendent seasonal labourers and therefore taking out their machines. What we Ladies ’ Golf Club of Toronto have become increasingly targeted were lacking in all these areas was by Ministry of Labour inspections adequate documentation. As part of ow more than ever, N superintendents and assistants are being required to dedicate a in recent years. Consequently, our industry has been identified as being at higher risk of workplace injuries. our audit, the auditor gave us a disk that included examples of proper documentation, we felt it best to closely significant portion of their time and Our experience with the Workwell follow the examples we were given. resources to “health and safety” in program began in September 2009, The process for compliance therefore all its forms: from developing policy, when we had our initial on-site visit and became a case of re-formatting our to implementing proper training audit. The auditor works with a very existing documentation and policies programs, to recording incidents and specific checklist of items. They assess to coincide with the structure used conducting accident investigations. everything from whether the proper during the audit itself. Additional Most managers are aware of the material is posted on the Health material was created to fill the gaps Workplace Safety and Insurance Board and Safety boards, to determining where policies and procedures had (WSIB) - a workers compensation if various policies are in place, to not previously existed. Standardized insurer for the province of Ontario. conducting random interviews with training records were created for all Fewer are aware however, of the staff aimed at confirming whether departments. Standard Operating “Workwell” program created and adequate training and safe work Procedures and Hazard Analyses were implemented by the WSIB. Workwell practices exist. All told, the checklist revised or created for every piece of “performs on-site health and safety included a dozen categories with equipment on the property. Pre-use evaluations of firms when their more than 120 items. Each item is safety checklists were created and injury experience indicates there assigned a point value based on its attached to clipboards posted in the is a higher risk of injury at their relative importance. A passing grade equipment storage building. Policies workplace (compared to other firms requires a score of at least 75 per cent. and procedures were updated and doing similar work)”. As an industry, Assuming your company does not expanded considerably. When all was golf courses tend to employ a high receive a passing grade on the initial said and done, we ended up with a audit (very few do!) a follow-up audit “Workwell Binder” with over 300 pages. is scheduled to confirm compliance in Our follow-up audit occurred the all deficient areas. Our follow-up audit following May, and there was certainly was scheduled for May 2010. Failure a sense of relief when we passed. to achieve a passing grade during There is no disputing the initial the follow-up visit results in a WSIB investment of time and effort to satisfy DIRECT SOLUTIONS” “premium surcharge” - the lower your the requirements of the Workwell grade, the greater the penalty. program is significant. The hope is Needless to say, we spent a lot of the system becomes easier to deal with Ontario Turf SalesProfessional Team time working on health and safety over once everything has been put in place. Niagara/Central- Craig McCutcheon that winter. As the superintendent The Workwell process provides a (905) 536-0357 and I looked at the various “areas benefit to the Club’s bottom line by of deficiency”, it became apparent, avoiding increased WSIB premiums Southwestern Ontario- Chris Lecour (519) 421-6593 in almost every case, the problem and minimizing lost productivity simply boiled down to a lack of due to workplace injuries. More Eastern Ontario- Perry Brazeau documentation. We, like most, already importantly however, is that the (289)338-1834 put considerable time and effort policies, procedures and systems Northern Ontario- Kevin Jensen into training staff and supervising created during the process build (705) 627-3590 workers closely to minimize the risk a culture focused on health and Toll Free: 1-855-228-2828www.turfpro.caof injury. We already had preventative safety, thereby helping to ensure that maintenance practices in place for all everyone gets home safely at the end equipment, and operators were already of the day. ■ We Sell & Transplant Large Trees with tree spades ranging from 34-90" Members of I.S.A and O.G.S.A. 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 Master’s Turf Supply Ltd. 1 800.353. 3019 T. 519.856. 2771 F. 519.856.1447 P.O. Box 339 Rockwood Mountain View Turf Supply www.uap.ca Respond 3 is a registered trademark of United Agri Products. ON Canada NOB 2KO Always read and follow label directions. 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 SECOND TO ONE Sacrifice for the Job We Love natural beauty every single day? Or truly get to experience by Alan Dolick, Assistant Superintendent the fruits of their labour? I can say with confidence not Dundas Valley Golf & Curling Club many people get to experience any of these things with am not completely positive, but I’m pretty sure it was on regularity. I my first day of turf school that I was told the harsh truth We work in a highly competitive industry which often that if you are looking to get rich, being a superintendent results in direct competition for jobs and yet we all are wasn’t the right place to be. At that point I didn’t care; I had very supportive of each other. When you stop and think just finished four years of university studying something about it, someone benefits from another losing their job, it that no longer peaked my interest, and all that mattered creates space at the top and then the dominos start to fall. was that I was starting a program that was interesting and Yet, we go to one another for advice, direction, and always fulfilling. have a great time in social settings together. There are not What they didn’t tell you was infinite riches weren’t the many professions which have this type of close relationship only thing you would be giving up. Summer vacation with with their colleagues and competitors. friends and family, going to concerts, or even watching the When people close to me say things about how I have third period of the playoffs would no longer be an option no life during the best part of the year, I agree with them. during the golf season. We as assistants and superintendents But I quickly counter by asking them how much they love give up a lot during the summer months to do the job we their job, with the answer generally being a big NO! When love. And I can say with certainty that at some point or it comes right down to it, I would gladly sacrifice my two another you have been given a hard time about it from a weeks of summer vacation, late nights, or watching overtime loved one or friends as they head off to do something more in the conference finals. fun than going to bed at 9 p.m. I sacrifice because I understand life is better when you But what they also didn’t tell you in turf school was that it wake up every morning and get excited about what you get would all be worth it. The sacrifice is worth it because this to do with the day. So the next time you are hot, exhausted, job is what I love to do and I know this industry is filled with and sick of looking at that dead spot in the collar on the 8th people who feel the same way. green, remind yourself why you got into this job in the first Face it, there are draw backs, but how many people get place. And for me anyway, it’s because I couldn’t imagine to see the sunrise every morning? Or are surrounded by doing anything else. ■ Rain Bird Integrated Control System Simple and Reliable Below-ground Irrigation Control Milton 1 800-263-4112, King City 1 866-703-5464, Scarborough 1 416-289-3635 www.vandenbussche.com email: info@vandenbussche.com ABOVE THE HOLE hoosing to come to the University of Guelph for the C Associate Diploma in Turfgrass Management Program (ADTM) has been one of the most significant and impactful decisions I have made in my recent life. Not more than two years ago today I was pulling tarps off my former course in Jasper, Alberta when I thought to myself, “you know, I think I could do this as a career for the rest of my life.” And so the journey began. Cut to present day - my fellow classmates and I are just beginning to wrap up our first year at the University of THE SOLUTION TO YOUR Guelph and what a crazy season it has been. I could not LANDSCAPING NEEDS! WHY PAY have asked to be placed with a better group of guys. Coming from extreme ranges in age, experience and backgrounds, we have all meshed into a very tight-knit group of friends; we hang out together, study together, and support each other in all of our undertakings. Since our introductions in September, we have shared many experiences such as attending industry conferences, travelling to Alabama for MORE! the “experience at FarmLinks” and even putting on an ace of a symposium last November, which we raised funds, organized and executed on our own (much credit goes to Tim O’Connor, our communications guru). At turf club we have seen and heard from some of Ontario’s most influential superintendents including Keith Bartlett, Jeff Stauffer and Rob Ackermann, just to name a few. There • Armour stone isn’t enough room in this magazine to touch on all the tremendous opportunities we have been afforded as turf • Flagstone students here at the University of Guelph. • Interlocking Stone Now, as our first year wraps up and we all prepare to head off to our internships, I sometimes lie awake at night thinking • Natural Steps about what we have accomplished this year and what’s in • Retaining Walls store for us this summer. Some of the A-list destinations • Pond Supplies include Taboo, The Ridge at Manitou, Deer Ridge, Quail Hollow, Medina, the TPC network, and Baltusrol. All of our • Pond Aerators & host properties will give us the chance to practice the newly Fountains learned skills from irrigation, and cultural management to As a Member of OGSA, you have IPM practices and administrative responsibilities. For many Preferred Contractor Pricing of us, it will be our first chance at building a professional (Employees & Family Included) network and establishing our identities and rapport amongst other Turfies in the biz. Most importantly, I think our CALL ONE OF OUR chance to observe some the industry’s best supers in action 2 LOCATIONS TODAY will provide valuable insight into what all of our careers have 13970 Humber Station Road in store for us. I cannot wait to see all the pictures and hear Bolton, Ontario 905.951.0942 about all the experiences everyone had once we all return swstoneworks@sympatico.ca in the fall. ■ 309 David Winkler Pkwy Neustadt, Ontario 519.799.5009 Cam Shaw, student and intern swstoneworks@wightman.ca Turfgrass Management Program WE DELIVER University of Guelph EVERYWHERE AND WILL Guelph, Ontario Email: cshaw04@uoguelph.ca NOT BE UNDERSOLD www.swstoneworks.com TECHNICALLY SPEAKING Using Soil Moisture Meters any superintendents are taking advantage of the your computer and generate maps. This map can be given M technology of precision instruments that are available on the market today to take the guess work out of to everyone with a hose to identify areas requiring different levels of hand watering. This helps “even out” the greens to determining moisture levels on their turf playing surfaces. help deliver consistent firmness throughout the day. They are a little bit pricey but well worth the money. It’s important that turf managers know their water One of the meters has two probes that, when inserted in requirements, application rates and problem spots in their the ground, measures the percent water volume content in irrigation systems. It’s a time where there are economic the soil. Some models allow you to stand upright and take and environmental reasons to use less water. There also 15-20 readings quickly around each green at any given time. seems to be far fewer summertime problems if you can With a real percent moisture number reading to use to keep your greens dry and firm. Let’s hope this summer is regulate water, you don’t need to count on how they look not too wet to allow for it. ■ and feel. With readings taken at frequent and consistent intervals, it will become apparent which areas are the driest Jim Flett, B.Sc. (Agronomy), AGS® and wettest. The instrument will help determine when to Golf Course Superintendent water greens at night and how much. Most superintendents Muskoka Lakes Golf & Country Club claim they water less and their greens are firmer and faster. Phone: (705) 765-3165 Some models will hook up to a GPS unit and allow you Email: jflett@mlgcc.com to capture moisture data, download your measurements to • Reduce runoff on It's more than penetrant."just" a sloped turf areas by 20% or more • Enhance penetration and distribution of water and nutrients • Reduce water use on cool-season grasses by 25% or more • Maintain turf quality at reduced ET replacements rates 800-257-7797 • www.aquatrols.com ON THE ROAD AGAIN Flamborough Hills: The curious case of the shop cat and the spooked steed ocated in the hamlet of Copetown, just west of L Hamilton, Flamborough Hills beginnings dates back to 1961 when the existing dairy farm land was converted to 18 holes of championship golf. The golf course was originally named Windsor Park, but when ownership changed hands in 1985, it was renamed Flamborough Hills. In 1994, a third nine was built, thus completing the 27 hole layout found today. “There’s always something going on here” say’s Flamborough Hills course Superintendent Joe Adams, referring to the constant construction including the layout redesign of two holes in 2009 and 2010. Joe, who has been the superintendent at the club for an astonishing 22 years, he began at Flamborough Hills as the course mechanic. Three months into his job, the superintendent’s position became available and Joe was approached by the owner and asked to fill the vacancy. overseeing the construction of the new shop but also of a After consulting with his wife, he accepted the offer. “I new green. “We had just moved into our new shop and were sometimes miss the mechanics side of the business and still about to put the first cut on the green that morning when like to get my hands dirty from time to time,” says Joe. One the most unexpected thing happened.” Meanwhile, the might wonder how his current mechanic feels about Joe staff had been making bets on who was going to make the encroaching into his shop and toolbox. Well, seeing as the first dent in the shop. The bet should have been on what current mechanic is his son, Don, it seems a moot point. and not on who. Joe’s assistant, Steve Curry, affectionately known as “Red” A stone’s throw up the road, a horse rider was in the rounds out the management team. process of removing a harness off of a horse when suddenly, “Weird things happen around here,” Joe admitted to me “the horse ran down the road and then got spooked when upon my first visit to Flamborough. Sitting at his desk, I a dump truck honked its horn,” said Joe. The noise caught had to peer around the shop cat, who had decided to sit Don’s attention who looked out the open bay door to see on Joe’s desk placing himself directly between the both of what the commotion was about. Before realizing what was us. “He’ll leave as soon as he thinks you’re OK” True to happening, the horse galloped into the shop and crashed his word, about five minutes into our conversation, the cat into the wall four feet away from Don. Startled, Don leapt off the desk and proceeded to get comfortable on his watched the horse get up and dash across his shop making blanket on the couch. As the story goes, the previous shop his way onto the golf course. “We had just finished cutting cat was found dead on the road by the maintenance shop. “I the new green when I saw a horse galloping towards the came to work one morning and our cat was gone. I’m a big green. Luckily, my staff and I were able to redirect the horse animal lover and it was upsetting to have our cat disappear.” towards our irrigation pond were it finally came to a stop.” Well, as the saying goes, “all things happen for a reason”. The worried owner later came to retrieve his missing steed. Turns out, the following day, another cat showed up at the Obviously, the shop wall has been fixed and done so in true maintenance facility and would not leave. “He showed up at Flamborough Hills style: A horse shoe now adorns the our shop door,” said Joe as he pointed to the now sleeping spot on the wall commemorating the now famous day in cat. “He has been with us ever since.” Flamborough Hills history. ■ As our conversation continued, I happened to comment on their new maintenance shop. As we all know, it’s not Paul Grotier, Technical Sales Consultant always easy to convince an owner or membership to invest TURF Canada Inc. money in a building they will rarely use. With all of the Phone: (416) 648-4524 construction projects on the go, Joe was able to convince the www.turfcanada.com ownership to invest in a much needed maintenance shop. Times were indeed busy as Joe was not only responsible for THE WILD VIEW Bird Control Permits - Simplified uring the past couple of months, many of us have • Permit application process is free D been busy getting things ready for the spring season, including attaining our Migratory Bird Damage permits for • Migratory Bird Damage Permits are issued by goose control. We try to do this ahead of time so they are in Environment Canada (federal) through their place by the time the goose pressure needs to be addressed. provincial branches of the Canadian Wildlife Service We’ve been noticing some changes to the process of permit to scare/kill migratory birds (waterfowl including applications in Ontario this year. Firstly, it’s taking up to ducks, geese and gulls). three weeks to get a permit (three hours in previous years) • Damage permits are issued if migratory birds are and many are not being processed without the required causing or are likely to cause damage to agricultural summary report as mandated, as often forgiven during the crops, private property (golf courses, parks, or pose a process in previous years. threat to human safety). Just why exactly do we need a Migratory Bird Damage permit? During my recent discussion with Ms. Liz Sauer • Permits are only required when migratory birds, in our at Environment Canada, she explained that permits for case Canada geese and gulls, are intended to be killed, migratory bird control are required for certain conditions translocated, or if the removal of eggs from a nest is required, only. So to simplify, here is a summary of facts for dealing or if controls are being conducted using a firearm or airplane. with migratory bird permits: The most advanced, most durable and most flexible irrigation products. Built for today’s golf courses. The right choice. Turf Care Products Canada 200 Pony Drive, Newmarket, ON L3Y 7B6 • PH: 905-836-0988 • FAX: 905-836-6442 LONDON Ph: 519-668-7664 • Fax:519-668-3722 MILTON Ph: 905-836-0988 x 7048 • Fax:905-636-1513 GLOUCESTER Ph: 905-836-0988 x 5501 • Fax:613-822-2099 www.turfcare.ca TURFCARE Helping your business grow. required to help alleviate some of the bird pressure on your properties. My recommendations are this: if the ecology of the land on your site promotes nesting by migratory birds (geese, gulls, swallows etc.) and you have or have had a presence of birds in the past, get a permit to remove eggs. Continue to implement the controls early in the season and continuously to prevent nesting. Be prepared is my motto. Additional references are available through the Canadian Wildlife Services on Canada geese and applicable laws Photo by Michael von Kaitz that protect them. On-line documents include: Handbook, Canada and Crackling Geese: Management & Population Control • We do not need permits to scare or harass, migratory in Southern Canada, The Migratory Bird Convention Act, 1994 birds with dogs, scare pistols, lasers, habitat modification www.laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/m-7.01 or other non-lethal forms of control. Although no birds can be harmed during any of the processes listed. Michael von Kaitz, C.Q.C.S. / C.G.M.P. • If a permit is required, it is the responsibility of the Owner / National Consultant property owner or manager to maintain the conditions The Wildlife Management Group Inc., of the permit. Burlington, ON Phone: 1-888-557-5855 Hopefully this will help in our understanding of what is www.wildlifeteam.ca Premium Products forall Burnside Your Turf Needs Serving the Needs of the Golf Industry PO Box 7 Waterloo, ON N2J 3Z6 We can help with: Tele 519-886-0557 Fax 519-886-0605 • Approvals for Golf Course Development and Operations 1-800-465-5849 • Irrigation Water Supply www.oscturf.com • Sewage Treatment and Disposal • Environmental Management Plans • Building and Clubhouse Design Services • Irrigation Design and Consulting • Environmental Impact Assessment • Drinking Water Assessment • Project and Construction Management Toll Free: (877) 799-8499 E-mail: vcirone@rjburnside.com Website: www.rjburnside.com The secret to the perfect game is under your feet 877-727-2100 416-364-5700 Offices located throughout Ontario Members of OGSA, CGSA and Golfmax Suppliers to the NGCOA www.zandersod.com OFF THE FAIRWAY A+ Annuals t can be a daunting task to walk into a garden centre with Variegated Swedish Ivy (Plectranthus coleoides) I endless aisles of annuals. A former colleague always used to try to help me simplify my decisions by suggesting I plant This is a vigorous trailing plant and less used than Ivy or Ipomea if you’re looking for something different. Even all my beds in red geraniums or pink petunias, but this though it generally doesn’t flower, the green/white wasn’t really the answer I was looking for! However, when variegation adds extra interest. I discovered I could make a planter that was colourful, interesting, looked good well into the fall and didn’t Sweet Allysum (Lobularia maritima) need to be watered twice a day even if it was growing in This is a fantastic ground cover border plant that is baking sun all day, I started to think I was making progress. covered in masses of white flowers well into the fall. My With always more to do in the gardens than there is time records show I still had some plants blooming on November in the day, I finally began to appreciate the value of low 24 last year! It is drought tolerant but not as much as maintenance annuals. geraniums or begonias. Although traditionally used in Whether you’re a superintendent without a gardener or garden beds, I’ve also tried it in planters with success. It is a gardener strapped for time, here are a few solutions for available in shades from lavender to pink to white, but the getting the most out of your time and your annuals budget. white cultivars tend to be more vigorous. An added bonus I’ve listed a set of criteria and included with each plant is the wafts of sweet scent it gives off. If you’re happy to let which criteria it meets. All of these plants should be readily it be, it will usually self seed. available and inexpensive. Dusty Miller (Senecio cineraria) Criteria: Another one of those overused-been-there-done-that- annuals, but I tried it, and I’ve had a change of heart. Once planted they can pretty much be left alone and the grey­ white foliage provides great contrast for almost anything. They are very drought tolerant, but how much they grow Asparagus Fern (Asparagus sprengerii) will definitely be affected by how much water they receive. This is one of my favourite filler plants and also one of Licorice Plant (Helichrysum petiolare) my staples in areas that are too shady even for Impatiens. This is another great trailing plant that can also be used It doesn’t flower so doesn’t need deadheading and the in the garden if you don’t mind things creeping around. fabulous airy texture makes up for the lack of flowers. It’s generally available in three varieties: the Large Silver Begonia (Fibrous and Dragon Wing series) Leaf is the most common and the most vigorous, so plant it I used to turn my nose up a bit at begonias because sparingly, the Small Silver Leaf is great for smaller planters they’re generally overused, but now I understand why. or where you don’t want it taking over and the Lime Leaf They’re tough and they’re easy. They’re drought tolerant is harder to find, but if you can get it you can make some and won’t show signs of stress as early as other annuals, great colour combos! but, like most annuals, will only really thrive with adequate Ornamental Grasses moisture. Tuberous begonias come in a more diverse Ornamental Grasses are popular for their texture, seed colour palette. Although, I find they are more sensitive heads, and ease of care. The most common and readily to rotting and require deadheading, however, the ones I available annual is the Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum planted and couldn't deadhead seemed to do just fine. setaceum Rubrum’) and there’s also a green variety with Geranium Mini Cascade pink flowers. Although these won’t survive the winter, they This is a favourite of Jacky Miller, the Head Gardener can be used in fall displays too. If you want to stretch your at Glen Abbey: ‘These geraniums are the most drought budget use perennial ornamental grasses in your annual tolerant, and look great whether in full sun to almost full displays and then replant them into your perennial gardens shade -1 can always count on these to last up to the end of in the fall. Be sure to do a little research as some perennial October, and they still look great! ’ grasses will give a better first year display than others. Spider Plant Cleaning up the gardens this spring I’ve even noticed some This is another one of my favourite filler plants. It’s plants have overwintered! strong texture and striped leaf will give any garden bed or Now if you’re willing to look a little harder or spend a bit planter a bit more pizzazz. My preference is to cut off the more money, here’s a list of some other favourite annuals baby shoots, but this is optional and doesn’t require a lot that can help make a strong statement in your gardens: of work. Purple Heart is a purple foliaged trailing plant that loves the heat and hardly needs water; Stipa tenuissima is an wispy Salvia "Victoria Blue" textured ornamental grass; Papyrus ‘King Tut’ grows about One of the most popular annuals, salvia looks great with 5-6 feet tall and makes a great statement; and Melampodium almost anything. They actually perform better if they don’t ‘Million Gold’ is a rock solid yellow flowering border plant. get too much water, otherwise they can become too large In the tropicals department Crotons are one of the biggest and the stems start breaking and mildews start moving in. show stoppers with their bright colours and always receives You may want to deadhead it a little in the fall to prolong lots of compliments. Bird of Paradise are great for large flowering, but otherwise it takes care of itself. spaces and Echeveria are good fillers for pots and thrive on small amounts of water. Cordyline and Phormium are SweetPotato Vine (Ipomea) alternatives for the typical ‘spike’ plant and can be used in Although the sweet potato vine does show heat stress planters or right in the garden. relatively easily, it’s still a staple in my annual collection. It’s Since you’re likely in the midst of annual planting as we most often used in planters but can just as easily be used in speak, I hope this gives a few ideas to make your load a little a garden. Like the Licorice plant, plant sparingly as it will lighter this year. Happy Planting! ■ no doubt take over! Snapdragons Brenda Forder, Head Gardener Although Snapdragons require deadheading and won’t Donalda Club, Toronto, ON grow in the shade, they make up for it in that, like Allysum, Phone: (416) 447-5575 x 273 they can be planted in early spring, last long into the fall, Email: bnoble@donaldaclub.ca and look great in the heat of the summer too. They will www.donaldaclub.ca often self seed which can be handy in less formal areas. LARGE TREE SALESAND RELOCATION Corrie Almack P.Ag. Phil Dickie - ISA Certified Arborist Almack Agronomic Services Inc. Tel: (905) 689-6174 pdickie@fastforest.ca Box 256, Carlisle, On Fax: (905) 689-8522 LOR 1H0 Email: c.almack@sympatico.ca 270 Shoemaker Street, Kitchener, ON N2E 3E1 P: (519) 748-6610 • F: (519) 748-6626 • www.fastforest.ca Darryl James Certified Golf Irrigation Designer Certified Golf Irrigation Auditor ISA Certified Arborist ON-1152A OIA Technical Agrologist T. Ag David C. Smith, P.Ag., C.G.C.S. 185 Oriole Crescent phone: (416) 873-9648 Soil & Turfgross Consultant Gravenhurst, Ontario 23 Hocken Ave. Toronto, Ontario, M6G 2K1 PIP 1C6 Office (705) 687-SOIL (7645) arborturf@gmail.com www.arborturfsolutions.com Fax (705) 687-3518 Toll Free 1 -888-607-TURF (8873) Cell (905) 512-6004 dave@dcsturf.com ON THE REEL SIDE OF THINGS Of Lumberjacks and Arithmetic lthough this is the “Spring” issue of Green is Beautiful, it is a procedure that should be done, and done regularly, by A feels to me as though we’ve been at it already for some the person who’ll be doing the spraying. Superintendents time now. I hope you all took the time over the winter months have always been environmental stewards (though some may to service your equipment, keeping the necessary records of not have realized it) and as such you have a responsibility to your efforts and, with any luck, had a chance to unwind and your profession to ensure that the equipment you use to apply recharge from last season’s efforts. product is putting out what you think it is - no more, no less. This past winter, I was reminded of the importance of From a financial stand point, who can afford to waste money properly training and involving operators in what I’ll call by unknowingly over treating or possibly worse, under treating “specialized” pieces of equipment, such as chainsaws and your turf? That’s money for your budget that can be used to sprayers. This includes, not only the operation of these buy more product you might not otherwise be able to afford pieces but the maintenance as well. Having operators take or could be reallocated to make another project happen. But ownership of such machinery will not only reduce downtime mostly it just makes good sense. and help prevent costly repairs from neglect or abuse but will Don’t fret about learning how to calibrate your sprayer, its also aid in reducing the risk of injury or accidents. And that just math and a little common sense. The more times you is never a bad thing. do it the easier it will get. There are several tools out there All chainsaw operators should be responsible for cleaning to aid you with calibration from private consultants and and sharpening their own saws. No woodsman worth his salt product reps to your local sprayer dealer. Additionally, one would let another man touch his saw - his livelihood and sprayer manufacturer offers a free downloadable calibration his life depends on it. I have spent many hours sharpening tool which is really easy to use. I happen to know the fellow countless saw chains over the years and I have to tell you that who designed this calibration tool and had the opportunity one of the things in this business that irritates me to no end is to speak with him. He told me it was created in response to to see somebody take a saw you just set up and promptly dip feedback from end users who, quite simply, were asking for it. the tip into the ground at full RPM. One touch of that saw into The point is, don’t underestimate the value of properly the turf and the chain is dull. At the speed these components trained operators or these certification programs. While these are running, even the smallest amount of aggregate will courses may seem painful at times, a well trained operator immediately cause a world of hurt to sprocket and bar and is more productive, provides more value for the dollar and everyone knows a dull saw is a dangerous saw. If everyone who will help to keep you in the good graces of the government used a chainsaw took a certified operators course, they would regulators. ■ not only know how to fell a tree properly and safely, but they would also be taught how to look after that saw and maintain it so it will perform as required, when required, every time. Warren Wybenga, Equipment Manager As with chainsaws, sprayers are another example of a Donalda Club, Toronto piece of equipment we all have at our courses that now must Tel: 416-447-5575 x 263 rely heavily on having well-educated operators. Thank you Email: wwybenga@donaldaclub.ca IPM accreditation process! While every Turf Equipment www.donaldaclub.ca Technician should know how to calibrate their sprayer, this Tom Margetts, t. Ag 27 Waterloo St. Soil and Turfgrass Consultant New Hamburg, ON P.O. Box 277, 890 Fairground Road, Langton, On , NOE 1GO N3A I S3 Email: tom@innovativeagronomics.com Phone (519) 875-4094 Fax (519) 875-4095 P: 519-662-2479 www.innovativeagronomics.com Website: mastersturfsupply.com C: 519-496-2143 F: 519-662-2479 email: mastersturf@hughes.net LOOKING BACK Five Years Ago Today by Barry Endicott serving central and northern regions. Hutcheson Sand and Gravel announced two new sales representatives with n 2006, the board of directors of the OGSA were Bob Ian Bowen and Alex MacDonald. Colin White was now the I Burrows (pres), Rosedale, Paul Scenna (past), Beacon Hall, Sean DeSilva (vice), Coppinwood, Jeff Stauffer territory manager for Ontario and Atlantic provinces at Bayer Environmental Science and Brad Chisholm was the (treas), Credit Valley, Randy Booker (sec), Dundas Valley, new sales representative at Master’s Turf Supply. Vanden Jeff Alexander, Parry Sound, Chris Andrejicka, Essex, Bussche Irrigation was pleased to announce that Jason Jarrod Barakett, Deer Ridge, Doug Breen, GolfNorth, Becket was promoted to golf manager, Kory Kopko would Trevor Clapperton, Dalewood, Rob Gatto, King’s Forest, be the new golf territory manager for western Ontario. Chris Nelson (editor), Markland Wood. The GCSAA Golf Industry Conference scheduled for February in New Orleans was canceled because of In memoriam hurricane Katrina and was moved to Atlanta. We regret to inform members of the passing of Life Cindi Charters, who has been the Ontario Turfgrass Member Bruce Summers of the Winchester Golf Club, Research Foundation’s executive administrator for the Jeremy Thompson, Superintendent of the Dominion Golf past 15 years, retired on March 31st. and Country Club and Tom Yates, former Superintendent Mississaugua, Galt and Oshawa Golf Clubs celebrated at Castlemore Golf and Country Club. their centennial years and Westmount had its 75th anniversary. On the move Congratulations went to Dave Gourlay, who was this Bob Heron retired from Beacon Hall; Paul Scenna from year’s recipient of the William Sansom Distinguished Donalda to Beacon Hall; Scott White took over from Paul Service Award. at Donalda; Frank Guthro to the Forest Golf and Country CGSA History of Greenkeepingwritten by Gordon Witteveen Hotel; Greig Barker to Copetown Woods; Jeff Allen to Lake was well underway and was planned to be available for our Joseph Club; Graeme Hughes to The Maples of Ballantrae; 40th anniversary celebrations. Scott Jamieson to Saugeen; Jamie Camalucci to Timber The Pro/Super Tournament was held at Weston Golf Wolf; Garry McBeath to Royal Ontario; Mark Pickering and Country Club hosted by Rob Ackermann. The to Bushwood; Steve Phillips to Ingersoll; Wray Barrett winning team was from Parry Sound, Jeff Alexander, 2nd to Willow Valley; Chelsea Stroud to Muskoka Highlands; Cedar Brae, Darren Little, 3rd Trafalgar, Mark Prieur and Dan Lavis to Tanandowah; Allen Couroux to Bear Creek; 4th Deer Creek, Neil Acton. Jeffrey Coward to Gentlemen Creek and Jordan Stanev is The Spring Field Day was held at St. Thomas Golf and the new owner/superintendent of Barry’s Bay. Country Club hosted by Wade Beaudoin. Scott Gardner, There were many 25 year members recognized at Echo Valley, was low gross with 73. the Ontario Golf Management Conference and Trade The 38th Annual President’s Day Tournament was held Show: Tim Clarridge, Spring Lakes, John Cunningham, at Rosedale hosted by Bob Burrows. Winners were as Mandarin, Ed Farnsworth, Deerhurst, Ted and Carmen follows: 1st Peter Kinch, Lampton, 2nd Jarrod Barakett, DeCorso, Victoria Park, Greg Aljoe, Oviinbyrd, Sid Deer Ridge and 3rd Steve Muys, Twenty Valley. Witteveen, Loch March and Randy Hooper, Beach Grove. The McClumpha tournament was held at Bond Head Plant Products was pleased to announce the addition Golf Club hosted by Ian McQueen. Ron Craig of Turf of Gary Tate as their new representative and Jason Care presented Bill Fach, Black Bear Ridge, with the Ireton was now the Turf Manager. Jason Harris left George Darou Trophy for superintendents over 50 with Plant Products to be the owner/superintendent at Orr low gross 82. Low gross scores were David May and Kevin Lake Golf Club, north of Barrie. Maple Turf Supply was Holmes and low net scores were David Caldwell and pleased to announce the addition of Mark Schneider Bruce Stanley. ■ TURF OR CONSEQUENCES Let the Purge Begin! by Doug Breen, Superintendent GolfNorth Properties few weeks back, my wife threw out my daughter’s hockey A equipment. Pretty much all of it. Yep, the skates too. In her defence, it was an accident, and mostly my daughter’s own fault. She took all of her hockey equipment out of her bag at the end of the season, and filled it with lacrosse equipment. Then, to avoid having Yoshi the Wonderdog chew it to bits (and also because her equipment smelled like an open sewer), she put it all into a garbage bag under the basement stairs. A couple days later, Krista went on one of her bimonthly cleaning rages, and threw the garbage bag out. I’m actually quietly concerned the bag may rip open, and I’ll be fined by the MOE for disposing of a toxic substance in the municipal waste stream - it really smelled awful! So I was faced with the dilemma of having to buy an entire set of equipment for spring tryouts, knowing full well it likely wouldn’t fit her by fall. So instead, I made her do the tryout in her older brother’s equipment. Yep, the skates too. It’s not the first time Krista has thrown out something this way. Every few weeks, she’ll just snap and trash whatever’s it would be gone. Mind you, she’d likely throw out the desk in her way. I came home one day to find our couch on the drawer with it and my laptop if I didn’t keep an eye on her. front lawn, because she just decided that she didn’t like it I also have a cycle to my cleaning rampages, but it’s much, anymore. It can be pretty random too — once I had a pair of much slower. Where she will purge everything that isn’t insanely loud car speakers from my 1976 Renault 17 in the nailed down about once every two weeks, I tend to only do basement, and she wasn’t sure whether I still wanted them it when I change the company I work for. Since I’ve been or not - so she threw one out. One! I have several single with GolfNorth for 14 seasons, I have accumulated a lot shoes because of her. Last winter she threw out my copy of of “clutter”. I would wager that I now have more clutter the Township Zoning By-Law and maps, because I left it on than useful stuff. Sometimes it works to my advantage. If the kitchen table - didn’t throw out the empty pizza box somebody needs a hardcopy of a fertilizer quote from 2001, that was beside it though. Some psych student could do a I likely still have it. The problem is I’m highly unlikely to Master’s thesis on her. be able to find it amongst the clutter and it’s even more But I’m not complaining, it’s actually good. You see, unlikely anyone will ever ask to see it in the first place. she’s the only thing standing between me and an episode of But there are times that saving the apparently banal and hoarders -1 keep everything. I have employee reviews from irrelevant have paid off for people. In the 70s when the 1997 for summer students who are now in their thirties. rest of us were mangling our Bobby Orr rookie cards in the I have resumes on file for people who have since died of spokes of our bikes and then having our mothers throw old age. There’s a dangerously high stack of unread golf them out in the 80s, a few people kept theirs around and magazines in the corner of my office, and I have the charging made a bunch of money. The trick, is knowing which items cords from every cell phone, laptop, or Blackberry I’ve ever of clutter will ultimately be valuable. I say keep them all, and owned. I have no idea why I keep these things, but it just let the free market sort them out. Krista just keeps chucking never seems right to me to throw them into a dumpster. I them in the garbage - just like her mother threw out her have a calendar from 2009 in my desk drawer. No reason, autographed Wayne Gretzky Soo Greyhound picture. I it’s just there. I’ve tried to throw it out, but couldn’t bring bet we could buy a lot of hockey equipment for what that myself to do it. If Krista came to work with me for one day, picture would be worth today. ■ When perfection is the only standard you know... Agrium Advanced Technologies® brings you the most advanced fertilizer technologies from the brands you trust. The standard in premium controlled-release fertilizers. The Nu-Gro Golf™ brand provides the golf course superintendent Nu-Gro Landscape™ fertilizers offer lawn care and sports turf The ProTurf® brand offers POLYON®, CONTEC® and POLY-S™ a full spectrum of granular fertilizer options in all SGN sizes professionals uniformly sized regular grade blends that provide nitrogen technologies, giving you the most reliable and containing advanced technologies such as XCU®, Nitroform®, adequate nutrition to ensure healthy turf cover throughout the predictable performance, and unparalleled results. and Nutralene®, as well as organic options. year. Both XCU® and organic based blends are available. Made in Canada by Agrium Advanced Technologies For more information on these premium fertilizer brands, foliar fertilizers, pest control products, seed, sand, and more, contact your Agrium Advanced Technologies representative or our customer service line at 1-855-228-2828 Agrium Advanced Technologies, 10 Craig Street, Brantford, ON N3R 7J1 www.turfpro.ca © 2011 Agrium Advanced Technologies Inc. AGRIUM ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES DESIGN is a trademark owned by Agrium Inc POLYON, XCU, NITROFORM, and NUTRALENE are registered trademarks owned by Agrium Advanced Technologies. PROTURF and CONTEC are registered trademarks, and NU-GRO GOLF and NU-GRO LANDSCAPE are trademarks owned by Nu-Gro Ltd. POLY-S is a trademark owned by OMS Investments Inc. TURFCARE Helping your business grow. Advancing the standard by which all other greensmowers will be measured. Introducing the Greensmaster® TriFlex™ Hybrid & Greensmaster eFlex™ electric greensmowers. All new greensmower models including electric walk behind and hybrid-electric riding greensmowers have earned the right to carry the Greensmaster name. Talk to your Turf Care Sales Representative today about the new Greensmaster Triflex Hybrid Mowers. Turf Care Products Canada 200 PONY DRIVE, NEWMARKET, ONTARIO L3Y 7B6 PHONE 905-836-0988 • FAX 905-836-6442 London Ph: 519-668-7664 • Milton Ph: 905-836-0988 x 7048 Scarborough Ph: 416-298-2101 • Gloucester Ph: 905-836-0988 x 5501