I VOLUMEXXVI, PART I, JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010
NEWSLETTER OF THE FLORIDA GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION

The South Florida GCSA celebrated the 25th Anniversary of the M & E Tournament by raising $25,000 for
the Florida Chapter of the Center for Missing & Exploited Children. (1-r): Ted Hile, Nancy McBride, Nancy
Sullivan and Kelly Cragin.
Jan. 8 - Calusa GCSA Monthly
Meeting, Coral Oaks Golf Course

Upcoming Events

Hotel Solamar, San Diego 7-10pm

March TBA - Suncoast Scramble
March 8 - North Florida GCSA
Feb. 18 - Chemical Spill Response
Annual Research Golf Tournament,
Jan. 13 - Seven Rivers GCSA
Training, Ocala
Pablo
Creek Golf Club
Monthly Meeting, Continental CC
Feb. 19 - Establishing Warm Season
March 15 - Ridge Invitational,
Grass From Seed, GCSAA Webcast
Jan. 26 - Lake City Community
Eaglebrooke
Golf Club, Lakeland
College Annual GLO Job Fair,
Feb. 23rd - Florida West Coast GCSA
l:00pm-3:00pm
April 8 - Everglades GCSA,
Benevolent Fund Tournament, East
Spring Symposium
Lake Woodlands CC
Feb. 8 -12 - GCSAA Conference
April 12 - North Florida GCSA
and Show, San Giego
Memorial Tournament, Marsh Creek
Feb. 25 - Environmental
Feb. 11 - FGCSA Annual Reception, Management Systems, GCSAA Webcast Golf Club
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President's Message

President's Message
By Bill Kistler

Orlando. If you are not attending this
year what will you do for your
continuing education? In January, the
I know most of us are either finished
or we are finishing budgets for 2010. FTGA will be holding their regional
We are being visited by our vendors to seminars around the state. These are
put together Early Order Programs for great, inexpensive opportunities for
next year, or just to have that last visit education for you or your technicians.
of 2009. In the past few weeks, I have Local chapters also offer some type of
education during the year. Even
had the opportunity to speak with
though many chapters are
several vendors as well as many
experiencing
lower attendance at
Superintendents. The conversation
meetings,
they
are still very
almost always leads to "does 2010
worthwhile.
look like a better year for you?"
My point is that many superintendents
Without being able to predict the
are not attending meetings because
future, 1 still think we can answer
they
feel that being away from their
optimistically. We might not get all the
property
might be the wrong thing to
way back to pre-2007 levels, but
do
during
these economic times. My
courses following good sound business
response
to
this is during these tough
practices and staying proactive will
economic
times
it becomes even more
succeed. There are also conversations
important
to
attend
meetings more
about what others are experiencing at
often.
their courses, (turf diseases, and
reductions in budgets, staff levels, and
Networking with your fellow supers in
job openings). Some of the questions
are inquiring on who is able to attend your region may very well provide a
cosrsaving answer to the same
the GIS in San Diego.
problems you are having. What did
they do? How are others scheduling
This will be a difficult year for many
workloads with staff reductions? I
to travel to the west coast, especially
think
you'll find you are not alone
knowing next year's GIS will be in

GREEN SHEE

Editor:
Joel Jackson, CGCS
(407) 248-1971 (fax/phone)
E -mail: FLGrn@aol .com
News Coordinator:
Jennifer Innes
PO Box 65
Jensen Beach, FL 34958
(772) 334-7515
(772) 334-6015
e-mail: fgcsa@comcast.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 February 15.

Bill Kistler
with whatever you're going through.
Don't reinvent the wheel. Support
your local chapters. Go to your
meetings. Take these opportunities to
get education and network with your
peers.
Good luck and success with your 2010
season.

Please check out
our website for
upcoming events
and member
information.
w ww. fiondale

sa.com

Executive Director Report

Executive Director Report
By Joel Jackson, GCCS
1. URGENT! GCSAA Member Voting
Status: If you are not going to San

Diego and attending the Association's
Annual Meeting your vote on the
candidates and any pending issues will
not be counted. To make sure your vote
is counted you can assign your vote to
your local chapter or to the FGCSA.
Your specific vote will be cast as you
wish, but you must assign your vote to a
proxy - either the local or the state.
Please do this ASAP as February will be
here before you know it and you will be
busy with the winter golf season.
Call 1-800-472-7878 (GCSAA) and ask
to speak to Scott Woodhead to assign
your voting proxy.

2. Grassroots Efforts Save Two out of
Three products up for Cancellation on

Turf: Stakeholders managed to save the
use of fipronil for over the top
applications of TopChoice on turf to
control fire ants and molecrickets. The
product will become a Restricted Use
Pesticide, but that poses no hardship for
licensed applicators. EPA also
announced that it will not take turfgrass
off the Methyl Bromide label at the end
of 2009 as had been proposed. Industry
and EPA are negotiating a longer multiyear phase out period. MSMA however
did not fare well at least for the
immediate future in Florida. End users
can apply MSMA product with a turf
label, but eventually as industry stops
production in 2009 and distribution in
2010 the use will phase out. These cases
have been a vital lesson in how we can
effect change by speaking up. Keep it
up. The issues won't go away especially
like EPA's Water Sense and Nutrient
Numbers in Water Bodies.

annual FGCSA GIS Reception on
Thursday, February 11 , then please
contact Jennifer Innes at 800-732-6053
or fgcsa@comcast.net and RSVP so we
can have an accurate headcount for food
and price guarantees. Also we are setting
up a Room Block at the Solamar Hotel
where the reception will be held. Room
Rate of $206 normal rate $269. Please
let us know if you're coming. Thanks.
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4. Fertilizer Ordinances: Hillsborough

County held an Environmental
Protection Council workshop on
December 9 . While they said they
respected science and wanted to work
with all stakeholders and didn't want to
penalize industry, the closing comments
by commissioners seemed to indicate
that since they shared the bay with
Pineallas and Manatee counties they
were likely going to also pass a fertilizer
application and sale ban from June 1 to
September 30 . Not scientific, but a
very political thing to do. Manatee has
not written their ordinance yet, but the
dominoes are falling. There are currently
22 city or county ordinances regulating
fertilizer use and only one or two stick
by the science and consensus of the
unanimous Fertilizer Task Force
statewide fertilizer ordinance and none
are abiding by Senate Bill 494.
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5. IF AS: Dr Nell and Dr. Hocmuth are
ramping up efforts to create and make
effective a multi-stakeholder coalition to
address all these environmental issues.
First step is to do a thorough literature
search to compile all the peer reviewed
studies on the fate of fertilizers and
chemicals so the bes science will be
available in one place. While they have
reached out to environmental groups to
sit at the table so we can work together,
the Sierra Club, one of the biggest
3. FGCSA Reception in San Diego: If instigators of these ordinances as
you are planning on attending the GIS in declined.
February and will be also coming to the

6. Golf BMPs: It's not hard to see

that while golf courses, sports turf
and agriculture have been given
exemptions on fertilizer use the lawn
care industry and do-it-yourself
homeowners have been the focus in
this round of regulation, we cannot
sit back and ignore the gathering
storm. Once the unscientific
approach of blackout periods doesn't
improve water quality, the activists
will demand the politicians come
after other fertilizer users and I
assume Ag will be last on the list, but
we all know the opinion the public
has about "the game of golf!" Who
needs games while the fate of the bay
hangs in the balance and red tide
washes up on our beaches?
We have a tool in our arsenal that we
need to embrace and learn how to use
to our advantage, the Golf BMP
Manual. The FGCSA in conjuction
with DEP, IFAS, USGA and
GCSAA will be working on a
voluntary
BMP
certification
program. Right now these local
ordinances are requiring lawn care
employees to become BMP certified
to apply fertilizer. This probably isn't
too bar behind for golf. We might as
well get ahead of the issue and craft
something feasible and doable for
our profession. So take a look at the
Check Off sheet in the back of your
manual and see how you stack up
right now with your current
practices.

FGCSA Winter Board
Meeting
February 22,2010
Disney's Grand Floridian
Resort and Spa
10:00am

FGCSA Reception
Sponsorship Opportunities Still Available
Thursday, February 11 , 2010
Hotel Solamar
Solamar Terrace, 4 Floor Rooftop Terrace
San Diego, CA
7'10pm
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(A Special Welcome (sponsors only) Thank You Hour from 6-7pm)

LEVEL ONE - PLATINUM SPONSOR
Golf Ventures
Harrell's, LLC
The Kilpatrick Company
The Toro Company, Wesco Turf, Hector Turf
LEVEL TWO - GOLD SPONSOR

Grigg Brothers

LEVEL THREE - SILVER SPONSOR
Aerification Plus, Inc.
Agrium Advanced Technologies/Arysta LifeScience
CA-RY Golf
Cycle Works Golf Supply/GSR Calcium
DuPont Professional Products
Eagle One Golf Products
Hendrix and Dail, Inc.
Howard Fertilizer & Chemical Co., Inc.
ProSource One
Syngenta
LEVEL FOUR- BRONZE SPONSOR
Dow AgroSciences
Florida Turf Support
Hydropro, Inc.
Precision Small Engine Co.
Ragan's Technical Solutions
Sullivan Electric & Pump, Inc.
The Andersons, Inc.
Tom & Mark Burrows International Turfgrass Services
Upstart Products, Inc.
Call the FGCSA office at 772-334-7515 or e-mail Jennifer at fgcsa@comcast«net for more information.
Forms are also available on our website: www .fior idagcsa .com, go to the information Tab, click on Reception 2010 San Diego

Interpreting EPA's Decision on the use of MSMA in Florida
Davis Daiker

DACS: Below is language from the cancellation agreement (labeled EPA)
posted September 30, between the EPA and the registrant. The sentences in
quotes come from the FRN. Please forgive me if any of my comments
below (labeled DACS) appear condescending but I find this as confusing as
you and those you represent do.
EPA: "Existing stocks are those stocks of registered pesticide products
which are currently in the United States and which were packaged, labeled,
and released for shipment prior to the effective date of the cancellation
action. The cancellation order issued in this notice includes the following
existing stocks provisions."
"After December 31, 2009, registrants are prohibited from selling or
distributing existing stocks of products containing MSMA labeled for all
uses, except cotton, sod farms, golf courses, and highway rights-of-way.
Also, after December 31, 2009 registrants are prohibited from selling or
distributing existing stocks of products containing DSMA, CAM A,
cacodylic acid and its sodium salt."
DACS: All uses of DSMA, DMA, and CAM A and use of MSMA on
anything but cotton will be cancelled in Florida by the end of the year. I
believe registrants were to propose new labels for MSMA in March 2009,
for 2010 registration. This means that labels coming to Florida distributors
from the registrant after 2009 wi&only allow cotton use in Florida. The
second and fourth lines of the label show how this is to be
accomplished. After this point, only product in the hands of distributors or
users that contains labeled instructions for use on turf may be used on turf.

THE

POWER PAK

2009

AUCTION

ALL PROCEEDS TO BENEFIT MISSIt
EXPLOITED CHILDRENWM

Joe Pantaleo (left) from the Indian Creek Club made the
highest bid in the Bayer Power Pak auction led by Brian
MacCurrach. Proceeds from the auction of the donated
products also go to the monies raised by the event.
MacCurrach holds these auctions at several statewide
events.

EPA: "After December 31,2010, persons other than registrants (i.e.,
distributors) are prohibited from selling or distributing existing stocks of
products containing MSMA labeled for all uses, except cotton, sod farms,
golf courses, and highway rights-of-way, and products containing DSMA,
CAM A, and/or cacodylic acid and its sodium salt."
DACS: Essentially, after 2010, distributors will be not be able to sell
product with DMA, CAM A, or DSMA, or product with MSMA and a label
providing for use on turf in Florida. They will only be able to distribute
labels bearing the following language "Do not apply in Florida except in
cotton grown in the following counties...."
EPA: "After December 31, 2010, existing stocks of products containing
MSMA labeled for all uses, except cotton, sod farms, golf courses, and
highway rights-of-way, and products containing DSMA, CAM A, cacodylic
acid and its sodium salt, already in the hands of users can be used legally
until they are exhausted, provided that such use complies with the EPAapproved label and labeling of the affected product."
This suggests use of product with the labels including use on turf, that are
in the hands of users, may be used until exhausted.

Happy New Year! Seven Rivers officers Mark Kann,
Rick Watts and Jim Shaffer with six large boxes of
"Toys for Tots" collected at their December meeting at
Juliette Falls G. C.

From Jennifer's Desk...

Happy New Year! With the New
Year comes change, and, here in the
FGCSA office, I am hoping small
changes will have a big impact. To
begin, in each Green Sheet I will
share a few tidbits that I hope will be
helpful to you, and, in return, please
let me know what I can do for you
that I am not doing! Your suggestions
are always welcome and encouraged.
I am here to help you.
As you may have noticed, I have been
sending out database blasts to collect
information and also to solicit
information from you in the form of
small surveys. I know many of you
have had some trouble responding to
these inquiries, but I have several
hints and reminders: First, please
remember to hit "Reply" prior to
filling out the fields. Your data will
not enter until you have done this.
Also, if you alter the e-mail in
anyway, by sending a message, etc.,

the data will not transmit. These surveys
are created to enter a special database
folder from which all information gets
automatically updated into my database. I
do not open the individual responses.
This is also true when I send out
membership information updates. If your
address is incorrect and you make
changes, those changes will automatically
be updated in my database upon receipt.
We are hoping to use this same technique
over the next few months as we collect
data for our bi-annual survey. This will
not only save the Association money in
postage, but it will also be tremendously
helpful as we calculate results. Our goal
is to provide as current and accurate
information as possible. I will send out an
e-mail announcement letting you know
when the survey will be sent. If you
would like to receive a hard copy instead,
please let me know.
I am also getting ready to mail our
Reception invitations and wristbands for
the FGCSA Reception in San Diego. I

want first to thank those of you who
have already called and notified the
FGCSA office that you are planning
to attend and whether or not you
will be bringing a guest. In addition
to those folks who have already let
me know their attendance plans, I
will be mailing out wristbands and
invitations only to those members
who have registered via the GCSAA
for the conference and show. Each
registrant will receive the invitation
along with one wristband unless a
specific request for an additional
wristband is made. I will also have
a "will-call" list upon check-in at
the reception for your guests that did
not receive a wristband beforehand.
Please remember, participation in
the FGCSA Reception is only
available to our members and
sponsors.
It is my honor to be a part of your
Association. I will continue to do
whai4-eap to make my position of
value to you and our industry
partners.

It takes people. Twenty-five years ago these folks started the M&E Tournament and have helped so many at risk children in the process, (-r): Bob
Klitz, Nancy Sullivan, Bill McKee, David Lottes, Bill Entwhistle, Jr., Nancy McBride and Bill Entwhistle, Sr.

.^FLORIDAK
TURFGRASS
ASSOCIATION

The Florida Turfgrass Association hosts nine Regional Turf
Seminars throughout the state of Florida. These seminars
provide local educational programs on topics such as pest and
diseases, weeds, BMPs, regulartory issues, safety and pesticide
usage. Attendees will receive CEUs in both CORE and turf
and ornamental categories as well as CCA and GCSAA PDI
Points.
TAMPA-JAN. 5
ORLANDO-JAN. 6
FORT MYERS-JAN. 7
VERO BEACH-JAN. 12
LAKE WORTH-JAN. 13
PLANTATION-JAN. 14
OCALA-JAN. 19
JACKSONVILLE-JAN. 20
MILTON-JAN. 21

Dear Friend,
The Florida West Coasts Golf Course Association
will be hosting the Annual Benevolent Fund
Tournament at East Lake Woodlands on
Monday, February 23, 2009.
Your support of this event through a monetary
donation, a donation of a raffle prize, or a
donation of beverages would be greatly
appreciated
and would ensure that more funds are available
to the FWCGCSA families in need..
If you are able to donate or would like to assist
with this event, please contact us as soon as
possible (fwcgcsa@earthlink.net). To participate,
please fill out the form available on the Florida
West Coast GCSA website; www fwcgcsa.com.
Tee signs are also available for $100.00.
Registration forms will not be accepted without
payment.
Thank you for your support of this event and your
community! The FWCGCSA Benevolent Fund
The NFGCSA had a
good turnout in
November for their
annual Education
Seminar at the San
Jose CC. Speakers
included tech reps
from several
chemical
companies, John
Foy from the USGA
Green Section and
Dr. Fred Yelverton
from NC State.

Jupiter: 888-222-7072
Lakeland: 800-330-8874

Happy New Year! W e wish all of you a Prosperous New Year f o r 2010 and
want you to know we appreciate your business. W e know 2010 will continue
to be a challenging year f o r the golf industry but we are here to service you.
Our t e r r i t o r y managers are ready to help you get more bang f r o m your $ $ .
Come visit us in San Diego at the G I S Show at the Helena Booth and
Jacobsen Booth.

Golf Ventures is happy to sponsor the Florida Reception

f o r the Florida Golf Course Superintendents Association at Hotel Solamar on
the Rooftop T e r r a c e in the Gas Lamp Q u a r t e r .

Hope to see you there!

HAPPY N E W YEAR!

^ONBIN,^

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