VOLUME XXIII, PART III, MAY/JUNE 2007 NEWSLETTER OF THE FLORIDA GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION Congratulations to the Suncoast Chapter on the 25th Anniversary of the Suncoast Scramble. Suncoast President Chip Copeman (center) presented Casey Pace (Florida Turfgrass Association) and Joel Jackson (FGCSA) with $2,500 checks for turf research following the 2007 Scramble held at the Laurel Oak GC in Sarasota. Upcoming Events May 7 61st Annual Southeast Turfgrass May 17 Calusa GCSA Chapter Meeting, -8 Conference, Tifton, GA Maple Leaf G&CC May 8 Treasure Coast GCSA Blue South Florida Chapter Meeting, Pearl Tournament, Mc Arthur GC May 21 The Diplomat CC May 8 North Florida Chapter Meeting, May 23 West Coast Chapter Meeting, LPGA Crescent Oak CC May 10 FGCSA Board Meeting, Naples May 24 Seven Rivers GCSA Chapter Beach Hotel - 1:00 p.m. Meeting, Chandler Hills GC May 11 FGCSA Seminar, "Mastering June 2 PBGCS A Fishing Tournament Your Communication Skills," See page 6 for details. June 9 PBGCS A 27th Annual Future of Golf Tournament, B alien Isles CC May 11 Everglades GCSA Poa Classic -13 Weekend, Naples Beach Hotel June 11 Central Florida GCSA Chapter Championship, Eagle Creek CC May 14 Central Florida Chapter Meeting, Orange County National June 14 North Florida Chapter Meeting, Royal Amelia GC June 19 Calusa GCSA Annual Meeting, Kingsway CC June 20 13th Annual Gulf Coast Turfgrass Expo & Field Day, West Florida REC,Jay June 25 West Coast Annual Meeting and Election, Old Memorial GC June 26 Treasure Coast Annual Meeting, Miles Grant July 17 Coastal Plains Chapter Meeting, Seminole GC, Tallahassee Aug 4-5 CFGCSA Crowfoot Open, Grand Cypress President's Message President's Message Craig Weyandt Ahh, the warm temperatures have returned, humidity levels are high and the members are returning north. I can also hear the hum of aerifiers doing their job and summer projects have begun. But wait... what's this? All is not well. The lack of rainfall has put most of Florida under water restrictions and fire bans. I hear about new fires on the news each night, praying that it's not near my home. And the water restrictions have changed many superintendents definition of what they used to call dry. And if that's not bad enough, I receive news each day of someone else trying to ban fertilizers or pesticides without using real science to make their decision. How about irrigation? Have you upgraded your system? Are you using computer controls now and managing the water better? Have you installed part circle heads and revised or reduced coverage due to installing native areas? How many, if any, acres have you taken out of regular maintenance? Even a few acres here and there make a statement that you are doing something to use less water. Just write this all down in a bullet point list. If you can or have calculated how much less water you are saving versus before then, note that too. How about your irrigation water source? Are you on a well or are you using surface water or reclaimed water? Did you use a well before? Perfect example of how you are not using up the fresh water sources. You might also note that if you have a Consumptive Use Permit that you have been making regular water usage reports to the district as a matter of course in accordance with your permit requirements - annual or monthly or whatever is called for in your district. So what do we do with all this bad news? Everything and anything you can! You know what they say, "If they only give you lemons, make lemonade!" I know there's not much you can do about the weather except pray, so work on the things you can have an input on. Band together, share information, be prepared, have the You don't have to call a press conference to announce these facts. Post them on your information before it's asked. club's bulletin board to let them know where What does that entail? Well, how have your you stand. They see these alarming maintenance practices changed over the headlines in the paper; give them some years? Are you using less granular and more answers and information that they can use spoon feeding foliar? Then write that down. to write their own letters to the editor about GREEN SHEE Editor: Joel Jackson, CGCS (407) 248-1971 (fax/phone) e-mail: FLGrn@aol.com News Coordinator: Mrs. Marie Roberts 1760 NW Pine Lake Drive Stuart, FL 34994 (772)692-9349 (772) 692-9654 (fax) (800) 732-6053 (Florida Wats) e-mail: fgcsal23@bellsouth.net The Green Sheet is a bimonthly FGCSA newsletter printed as follows: Jan/Feb, March/April, May/June, July/August, Sept/October, November/December. Financial Support: This issue of the Green Sheet is being sponsored by: Golf Ventures 5101 Gateway Blvd., Suite 18 Lakeland, FL 33811-2704 800-330-8874 800-481-8911 888-222-7072 All material submitted for printing will be edited at the discretion of the editor. Material must be typed or clearly printed. Photos are encouraged. Items must be for the good of the association. Deadline next issue: June 15. Craig Weyandt their golf course. In fact put a note on the posting to that effect. We need the golfing public and influential golfers to use their clout as voters and movers and shakers to make some noise. They won't know the facts unless we tell them and the same goes for the county and city commissioners and water management district working groups. We have to show up and speak up. Mike Goldie and other Ag Industry lobbyists are trying to push through an amendment that would put at least a one year moratorium on these local fertilizer laws, and require a scientific technical task force to apply sound science to the regulation of fertilizers. That means using Best Management Practices. These guidelines are not well received by the local governments. They say they are too lax or general and don't apply to their special situations. We could argue forever on that point, except that the guidelines don't care whether you are applying fertilizer in Lake Wales or Sarasota, they are based on the best science available to protect the environment from harm. There is absolutely nothing keeping each local chapter from calling up the Chairman of the local County Commission and scheduling an appointment to talk about how your chapter wants to support the ....Continued on page 4 Director of Communications Report What's Up D.O.C.? by Joel Jackson 1. Government Relations: Fertilizer Issues Update - The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is on the verge of having the Florida Fertilizer Rule and Green Industry BMPs adopted by rule by the Florida Legislature. While this is not binding on local governments to abide by BMPs or prohibit them from continuing to pass their own local laws, it certainly sets up guidelines and should give some local governments pause to strike off on their own. The Sanibel Ordinance is gaining quite a bit of traction and attraction in SW Florida. Even Sarasota recently called for their ordinance to be written similar to the Sanibel ordinance. The only good news in all that is that Sanibel law does state that Golf shall be exempt from the list of restrictions and must follow the recently issued Golf BMP Manual. There have been some comments made that the golf rules may need to be tightened up, but nothing in writing has been brought forward yet. I urge you in the strongest ways to advise your general managers, club leaders and influential golfers that these ordinances can have unintended consequences that relate to course conditioning and the maintenance of their own home lawns. Get these folks energized and write your own local councilmen attesting to the need to use sound peer-reviewed science when contemplating any fertilizer or pesticide use restrictions. sod production, cattle, sugar cane, row hopefully your hard copies of the manual will crops and citrus. be in the mail soon. Check out the checklist in the back of the manual. If you fill it out and Urban Fertilizer Rule: The Department of then file a letter of intent to abide by the BMPs Agriculture held it's final Public Hearing on you can avoid any legal action resulting from the Urban Fertilizer Rule at the UF/IFAS future pollution incidents if you have been Plant Science Center in Citra, FL on March following the BMPs faithfully. 29 . Besides the session on the actual changes to the language of the proposed 3. Allied Associations: FTGA - The FTGA rule, the attendees ~ which included water Conference Committee is fine tuning the list management districts, extension agents, of topics and speakers for the annual fertilizer manufacturers and distributors, Conference and Show to be held September lawn care companies and golf courses—were 11 - 14 at the Hyatt Coconut Point. Keep taken on a tour of the turf plots and given your schedule clear and make plans to attend updates on the progress of the 5-6 year this year. The FTGA is growing stronger and studies being funded by DEP. The we need your support as members and distinction was made that the research was conference attendees. We enjoy a special not being "bought and paid for" by turf break on overhead costs on our donated interests. Also, it was noted that early research dollars when given through the results reinforced the current body of work FTGA. Help this organization grow to be a already done that properly applied fertilizers powerful representative of all turf related do not harm the environment. industries in Florida. th th Capitol Hill Visit - We didn't have any office visits on this trip but we did interact with allied associations comparing notes and learning common ground issues. Commissioner Bronson did speak to the Fla. Pest Managers Assn. where we had lunch with the group on the 22 floor of the Capitol Building. Earlier in the day we spent time with Dale Dubberly and he brought us up to speed on the Florida Fertilizer Rule. He mentioned in passing that the city attorney from Crystal River called with fertilizer questions and got quite an hour long lesson in what the Dept. of Agriculture already does to regulate fertilizer products. Having passed a local law banning quick release fertilizers in January, the attorney said, "I wish I had called you six months ago." Well, so do we. There's a big information gap out there and the green industry challenge is to bridge that gap. We did meet the lobbyist for the Florida PGA of America, and we have enlisted him to work with Mike Goldie to work on amendments of bills to either have the state pre-empt local fertilizer law making (not too popular) or at least have some sort of technical review board review the proposed and/or existing local ordinance to make sure they are even feasible, since some laws call for using products that aren't even in the marketplace. Duh! nd Spring Regulatory Tour: It was a slightly smaller group of EPA and Florida Regualtors that toured the Old Collier G.C. on March 26 , but what they lacked in numbers they made up for in enthusiasm. They asked lots of questions and we had some nice one-onone conversations on methyl bromide and MSMA. Tim Hier's staff did some aerifying, hydroject and spray application demonstrations. We were able to show them a wandering gopher tortoise and a couple of alligators plus the usual ospreys and other small song and water birds. After the Monday afternoon tour and barbeque 2. Golf BMP Manual: Mike Thomas from dinner, the group began a week-long tour of DEP emailed me the first week in April and Florida agriculture including nursery and told me the BMP manual is at the printer so th th New Certified Superintendents Congratulations to Jeffrey Burgoyne, Superintendent at Bonita Bay East, for fulfilling his ten-year goal to become a Certified Superintendent. Afer a stint in the U.S. Army, Jeff worked at The Vines in Estero until he began his LCCC courses, graduating in 1996. He spent his next few years working as a Grow-In Superintendent in Ocala and then on to Dunnellon as a Construction Superintendent. After serving as Superintendent at Spruce Creek in Summerfield, he began his 5 1/2 years at Bonita Bay Club. He is currently a member of the Everglades GCSA. Jeff would like to acknowledge his early mentors, Hal Hicks and the late Jeff Hay den for their support. They contributed greatly to his love for golf course maintenance which has helped him as he works on his career. Shane Wright, Superintendent at Vero Beach CC and a member of the Treasure Coast GCSA also achieved Certified GCS status this year. Shane grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio and received his turf degree from the University of Kentucky in 1998. After graduation he worked at Moss Creek in Hilton Head, South Carolina. He moved to Florida in 2002 to work at Ballen Isles in Palm Beach. In 2004, Shane accepted the head superintendent position at Vero Beach CC. Golf courses made the news in the Palm Beach Post recently and here's an excerpt from the article Golf Courses Hit With $500 Fines Over Water Reports" By Robert P. King Palm Beach Post Staff Writer Saturday, April 21,2007 The era of mandatory drought restrictions took another step forward Friday, when South Florida water managers slapped $500 fines on 81 golf courses that failed to report how many gallons they're using. Water managers' hit list: • Of the 176 golf courses that have irrigation permits from Palm Beach County to the Keys, 81 were fined. ...Continuation of Presidents Message from page 2 protection of the local water quality and explain how and what you do and how we have been working with the Dept. of Environmental Protection, Dept. of Agriculture, the Water Management Districts, the Dept. of Community Affairs and others to draft the BMPs for Golf. 2007 Envirotron Golf Classic Is Another Winner! Once again, the Jeff Hayden Memorial Envirotron Golf Classic was a great event due to the support of our industry. We had outstanding sponsor support and a couple of wonderful courses to play golf on for the day. Thank you to Scott Wycoff, Jimbo Rawlings, and the rest of the World Woods And you can tell them that the Dept. of Staff for hosting the the tournament. Agriculture already has numerous regulations and testing on fertilizers sold A special thank you goes to Golf Ventures, and used in the state and has drafted a state who was the Champion Sponsor for the fifth fertilizer law which limits how much nitrogen straight year. Vice-Presidents Brad Reano and phosphorus can be applied in the state and Walt McMahon presented the Seven per year and per application. At least get Rivers' Chapter with a check in the amount together and show up in significant numbers of $25,000. Proceeds from the Tournament when a county commission meeting is called go to support the Research Facilities at the on these issues. When a dozen activists get University of Florida in Gainesville. Thank their five minutes on the microphone and you to all the sponsors and all the vent about the environment, it sure would volunteers that helped make this year's be nice if a dozen superintendents got up tournament another great success. and talked about their programs to manage water and fertilizers and participation in the Winning teams in the Gross and Net Audubon program. Then we might have a Divisions were from the Rolling Oaks and Pine Barrens courses. fair hearing on the issues at hand. • Palm Beach County had 47 violators. • Municipal courses owned by West Palm Beach, Lake Worth, Boca Raton and North Palm Beach were among those assessed. • The list includes at least two courses that no longer operate: Boca Raton Executive and Binks Forest in Wellington. There appeared to be varying degrees of accuracy in the list of alleged violators with quotes from courses who were reporting, couldn't negotiate the web site or weren't listed but didn't comply because the superintendent was on vacation. Friday's barrage was perhaps the biggest batch of monetary penalties to date since the district imposed the restrictions March 22. The rules require golf courses to submit weekly reports on the district's Web site to show they're reducing their water use by 15 percent - an amount that tightened to 30 percent on April 13. The moral of the story is, make sure you know what the current restrictions in your area are. Tell your club and make sure you are in compliance. 2007 Envirotron Tournament Champion Sponsor Golf Ventures' Vice Presidents, Brad Reano and Walt McMahon present Mark Kann, Seven Rivers President and Glenn Oberlander, Tournament Chairman with a check for $25,000 The Green Sheet 2007 Spring Regulator Tour West Coast GCSA Benevolent Tournament Federal and State Regulators viewed Hydroject Operation during the 2007 tour Earlier this month the FWCGCSA hosted the of Old Colliers GC on March 26th annual benevolent tournament at The Eagles GC.. The Benevolent was created as a way As part of our annual regulator tour in for our Association to have funds to help partnership with the FFVA (Fla Fruit and members, golf staff, and any and all of the Vegetable Assoc.), we toured 25 regulators people that we work within the golf from US EPA in Washington and Region 4 industries' west coast chapter. Over the in Atlanta, as well as state DEP, DACS and years this program has helped many of our Water Management Districts around Tim Association's families in their times of need. Hiers Old Collier Course. This year, the board was very proud to be We didn't have any spectacular aerial dedicating this year's tournament to helping fireworks like the Bald Eagle and Osprey the Bryant family. Ron Bryant and his family dogfight last year, but they did see a gopher have been providing professional, prompt tortoise scuttling along in his native wildlife and friendly spreading service to all of corridor and several posing ospreys and central Florida courses for over 20 years. It other bird life, one or two alligators and a is a great honor for us to be able to lend large snake. some help to the Bryant family in this time of need and it was incredible to see the It was a younger group than usual and they amazing show of support that our members seemed more inquisitive and open in many provided through their participation. regards. Craig Weyandt, Kyle Sweet, myself and, of course, Tim Hiers had some very With 120 golfers participating and 22 sponsors, interesting one on one conversations with the event raised almost $7,500 for Ronnie folks on MSMA, Methyl Bromide and Bryant. The Board donated additional funds nutrients in Florida waterways. Once again, from the Benevolent Account to give the the educational benefits of such Bryant's $10,000. We truly appreciate each of our sponsors for their generous support. interactions was manifested. May/June 2007 55th Annual FTGA Conference & Show Hyatt Coconut Point Mark the dates on your calendar now for September 11th - 14th at the beautiful Hyatt Coconut Point in Bonita Springs. If you did not attend this event last year, or the year before, you are in for a tremendous treat! Hotel reservations must be made by August 29th by calling the hotel directly. For information on this great venue, visit the hotel website at www.coconutpoint.hyatt.com. Show registration is available online at www.ftga.org or by calling the FTGA at 800882-6721 for more information. Tim Hiers, CGCS explains golf course maintenance practices to EPA and Florida DEP regulators. 5 Palm Beach Chapter Shows Its Philanthropic Side 2007 North Florida GCSA Spring Tournaments The NFGCSA holds two fundraising tournaments in the spring. This year, the Research Tournament was held on March 12 at Pablo Creek. 70 players enjoyed the terrific golf course that was in pristine condition. A special thanks to Glen Klauk and his staff for being wonderful host of this event that has grown to be a great tradition. Also a special thanks to Brent Holmes from Innovative Turf Supply for sponsoring the tasty lunch that everyone filled up on before playing golf. th Within days of hearing that PBGCS A member, Michael Ballard, had lost his house and belongings in a catastrophic fire, the Palm Beach chapter led by the impetus of Chad Kroger, Superintendent at Tequesta CC, went to work. They rose to the occasion by immediately arranging for a fund raiser to be held at Tequesta CC for Mike and his wife, Katie. Many generous donations were received by PBGCS A members as well as from golfing members of the Tequesta CC on the day of the event. When added to the large donations from Bayer Environmental Science as well as the GCS AA and the PBGCS A, the event went over the top with the final proceeds reaching a whopping $21,500. Then on April 9th, the chapter held their second tournament, "The Memorial" at Jacksonville Golf and CC. This yearly scholarship fundraiser tournament is in honor of Mike Richards and Allan MacCurrach Sr. with the goal of raising funds for turf and mechanics scholarships. The 2007event had 112 contestants who came from all over the state. Thanks to Greg Tharp and his staff for the fantastic golf course conditions. After a great day on the golf course two teams remained standing as the Selva Marina CC team posted the Low Gross score and the Low Net score went to the team from Coastal Equipment Systems. The "Keeper of The Green" award that is given every year to recognize a member's service to the industry and to NFGCSA was given after acknowledging the golf winners. This year's recipients were brothers Fred Klauk, Jr. and Glen Klauk. Both of these gentlemen have given years of hard work not only at their golf courses but also have donated their time to local and state associations. Fred began his career at Johns Island Club, moved to Pine Tree GC and then to TPC at Eagle Trace and is now at TPC at Sawgrass. He served on the board of the South Florida GCSA as Secretary/ Treasurer. Fred has received the Golf Week "Father of the Year" Award and was presented with the FGCS A Distinguished Service Award in 1993. Younger brother Glen has followed in the same footsteps beginning at Delray Dunes GC and moving on to Pablo Creek GC. Glen served on the Palm Beach Board, culminating in the Presidency in 1985. Then, after moving to North Florida, he served as President of that chapter in 2003. Glen received the FGCS A Presidents Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2004. Palm Beach GCSA President, Steve Pearson, presented a check for $21,500 to Michael Ballard, superintendent at Wycliffe GC, during the SFGCSA Exposition.. Lon Chaney, North Florida GCSA President, presents a check for $2,000 to John Piersol for scholarships through the Foundation at Lake City Community College. The Green Sheet 20th Annual SFGCSA Exposition Scores A Hit The 2007 South Florida Expo enjoyed another great turnout from the statewide turf industry, with nearly 500 people attending. A large number of vendors helped to sustain fundraising to support turf research at the Fort Lauderdale Research and Educational Center. Many thanks go to our three Presenting Sponsors — Environmental Turf, Hector Turf Equipment and Kilpatrick Equipment who have been the main supporters of this fund raiser for many years. Other Equipment Sponsors included Disbrow Enterprises; Show Turf, Inc.; Air Drag Inc.; Hendrix & Dail, Inc;. Dow AgroSciences; Precision Small Engine and SISIS Inc/Eckert Golf Sales. And under the big top were 34 turf related companies who manned their booths and showed off their wares to the crowd. Many, many of these sponsors have also been exhibitng at this Expo for many years. Dr. George Snyder and Dr. Phil Busey provided this year's keynote addresses. Dr. Phil Harmon also provided an update on the new Rapid Turf Disease Clinic which is being partially funded by the FGCSA. Attendees earned numerous CEU's including GCS AA credits and pesticide recertification points from many different activities during the morning and afternoon events. Practical industry workshops were available for mechanics as well as golf course technicians. Dr. Many Lamberts, from the MiamiDade Cooperative Extension, provided a new workshop for spray technicians. The morning field tours featured explanations of the many turf projects that are being conducted at the REC. 2007 POA Weekend Set for May 10th - 13th This year the Poa Committee has decided to again offer two golf formats. Players may choose to play either a four-man scramble at the Naples Beach Hotel and GC or an individual stroke play format at Naples Grande GC on Saturday. The Poa Champion, the Team Chapter Championship, and those tryAs always, Wiley and Nancy McCall, along ing to qualify for the State Chapter Champiwith Stacy Zinn of Environmental Turf, gen- onship will come from the stroke play tourerously provided and prepared a fantastic nament played at Naples Grande GC. barbecue lunch. Every year, the McCalls donate their time and effort to come down Both tournaments will be filled on a firstsouth with their family, members of their En- come, first-serve basis. Be aware that if you vironmental Turf group and their submarine- have not already registered for these popusized barbecue cooker to put together an out- lar events, you may not get in. of-this-world meal for everyone. A special thanks to Wiley and Nancy and the Envi- The FGCSA opens the weekend activities ronmental Turf team for their legendary sup- on Thursday, May 10th with the Spring port over the years. Board Meeting at 1:00 p.m. and Past Presidents Dinner later that night. The South Florida Golf Course Superintendents led by President Jason Bagwell and Friday begins with the Bruce Williams, fellow officers Curtis Nickerson and Ted Hile CGCS, seminar entitled "Mastering Your spent many days and hours preparing for Communication Skills"at 8:00 a.m. The semithis great event. And, of course, we can not nar is scheduled to be finished in time for forget the efforts of Dr. John Cisar, Expo Co- participants to play golf in the G. C. Horn ordinator and his hard-working assisant, Memorial Tournament at the Naples Grande Karen Williams, who worked constantly mak- GC (box lunch provided). ing sure that everything was going well. The seminar will cover many areas that will This 20 year-old-fundraiser has now raised allow you to develop and enhance your comjust short of $400,000, all of which has been munication skills. When you think of indidonated to the research programs at the Fort viduals that are tops in their field, they usuLauderdale REC. ally have excellent communication skills. Now is the time to enhance your skills that will certainly help you on your career path. The seminar offers GCSAA Education Points. Registration fee is $50.00 and may be paid with your golf registration or sent to the FGCSA directly if you are not playing in the golf tournaments. Brochures are available from the FGCSA office at 800-732-6053. The ever popular Luau will be held on the Watkins Lawn on Saturday night from 5:30 10:00 with heavy hors d'oeuvres and cocktails. Equipment demonstrations on the well manicured Fort Lauderdale REC grounds are always a big hit with the superintendent attendees. Registration forms for the Poa are available from the Everglades chapter and the FGCSA office. Room reservations can be made directly through the Naples Beach Hotel at 239-261 -2222. Don't delay.. .these rooms will up quickly! Jupiter: 888-222-7072 Lakeland: 800-330-8874 Golf Ventures GOLF VENTURES INTRODUCES NEW partners And PRODUCT LINES /WauaeV Call your territory manager today for more information or a demonstration on our new products!!! FGCSA Chapters Continue their Strong Tradition of Presenting Successful Fund Raisers! FGCSA Marie Roberts 1760 NW Pine Lake Drive Stuart, FL 34994 Ä^sr Cookingham, Peter °»£rin teno^' S FIRST CLASS U.S.Postage PAID Permit #137 Stuart, FL enter East Lansing, Michigan 48824