The West Coast GCSA Kicks Off 2010 FGCSA Research Donations! (1-r) WGCSA External VP Kevin
Sunderman presented FGCSA President Bill Kistler with a $1,500 check at the Winter Board Meeting at
Disney World.
March 8 - North Florida GCSA
Annual Research Golf Tournament,
Pablo Creek Golf Club
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March 10 , Seven Rivers GCSA
Monthly Meeting, Rainbow Springs
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March 15 - Ridge GCSA , Jack
Harrell Ridge Invitational
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Upcoming Events
Turf Expo, IF AS Fort Lauderdale

Roundtable Discussion and Golf,
Hawk's Nest

March 31 - West Coast GCSA
Monthly Meeting, Largo Municipal

April 19 - Seven Rivers GCSA, Jeff
Hayden Envirotron Classic

April 8 - Everglades GCSA, Spring
Symposium

April 21 - Calusa GCSA and
Suncoast GCSA Joint Meeting,
Plantation Golf Club

st

lh

March 25 - Suncoast GCSA,
Suncoast Scramble

April 12 - North Florida GCSA
Memorial Tournament, Marsh Creek
Golf Club

March 25 - South Florida GCSA,

April 16 - Treasure Coast GCSA

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May 17 - Treasure Coast GCSA,
Blue Pearl Tournament, The Medalist
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May 19 - IFAS Field Day
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1

President's Message

President's Message
By Bill Kistler
Is it that time already? Spring
training has started and we can
finally put this crazy winter
behind us. Let's hope El Nino is
gone for another seven years.
Here we go again. Now it's the
EPA numeric nutrient criteria for
the state of Florida.
All GCSAA members in Florida
will be receiving an Action Alert
email from GCSAA to make
comments to the EPA on this
matter. Please read through this and
respond to EPA concerning their
one size fits all criteria for nutrient
levels in our waterways. If this is
passed, the economic impact could
be significant. Pass this information
on to your members, GM's because
this will affect us all. Costs will be
passed on to all residents in
Florida. This is just one more item
to add to our watch list.

After returning from the GIS in San
Diego, I thought the change in
format this year went well. The
show floor was packed on
Wednesday as well as Thursday.
Speaking with some of the
exhibitors, they were pleased with
the two days of dedicated time for
them.
Our Florida reception was also very
successful. We had around 180
people who attended. The venue
was great and a good time was had
by all. Thank you Jennifer Innes for
selecting such a great location.
Once again I would like to remind
us all to keep a watchful eye on our
local governments for any public
hearings concerning water quality /
fertilizer issues. Let's be proactive,
talk with your members about what
is happening and how it could
affect their golf course and club.
Sustainability, stewardship and best
management practices were
mentioned at the GIS and are all
topics we are addressing due not

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@eomcast.net

The Green Sheet is a bimonthly FGCSA
Newsletter printed as follows: Jan/Feb,
March/April, May/June, July/August,
Sept ./October, November/December.

2

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 April 15.

Bill Kistler

only to economic pressure but from
environmental pressure like the
numeric nutrient criteria. Make it a
habit to document all the reduction}
you have made in fertilizer,
chemical and water use so we can
produce hard data on your
responsible turf management.

As always, good luck and success I
with your spring season.

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

.com

Executive Director Report

Executive Director Report
Bv Joel Jackson, GCCS
1. Sustainability was a key message in
San Diego: There's no getting around it.
Sustainable, environmentally friendly
practices are becoming even more
prominent in the vocabulary of all green
industries including golf. We are no
strangers to embracing best management
practices and participating in the
Audubon International programs, but as
the activists continue to wage war on
turfgrass via fertilizer and water use
issues, the turf industries are fighting
back. Fortunately, we tend to have
science on our side when it comes to
measuring actual fate and effects of our
sound management programs.
One key element in all this is that there
needs to be an education component to
golfers and club members so they get the
message up front about potential
consequences of "going green" and
"being sustainable" so there are no
surprises when course conditions might
get a little "lean and mean" around the
edges. Golfers should be willing to
compromise on the wall to wall perfect
manicured"lush green" expectations of
days gone by so that the game and
industry may continue to thrive and
survive in a changing world. But this
needs to be communicated at the outset
from those organizations promoting a
sustainable golf agenda.
Also rolling out at almost the same time
is the Golf 20/20 Florida Golf Economic
Impact Study results (see our website for
a copy of the 36 page report) and a
national effort by the major golf
associations (GCSAA, PGA, CMAA and
GCOAA). It's called "We Are Golf' and
the initiative will focus on educating
legislators, regulators, the media and the
public about the positive attributes of golf
and to alter those common
misconceptions harbored by media and
public alike. They just aren't getting both
sides and now this effort will attempt to
change that information gap.
Thanks to FGCSA Vice President Gary
Myers, CGCS who represented us at the
Golf Impact Study preview at the PGA
Merchandise Show in Orlando in late

January, while I was at another Allied
Industry meeting in Clearwater. We both
felt the actual presentation of the data was
a bit awkward, but the original program
was altered in order to have Governor
Crist in attendance and to speak on behalf
of golf in Florida. While the delivery could
have been better none the less the facts tell
the story of the positive golf industry
contributions to the state's economy.
Armed also with the results of the five
GCSAA Baseline Golf Maintenance
Surveys that many of you have
participated in, we are entering a new era
of golf course management. It is an era
where you as individuals by doing a little
more documentation of your practices,
especially in areas like nutrient
management and water use can show
reductions in use while not sacrificing
quality of the product for your customers
and members. By tweaking your fertilizer
application amounts and frequency and by
altering your irrigation schedules and
perhaps doing an irrigation audit, you can
not only gain cost savings but also
showcase your stewardship with some
hard data.
The take home message is that
sustainability not only means
environmental responsibility but also
business survivability. All best
management practices are based on
practical and economically feasible,
attainable solutions. Please document all
those positive things you are doing so we
can tell the story of Florida Golf.

What a great piece of timing in that
next year in Orlando, our own Bob
Randquist, CGCS will be elected
President of the GCSAA.
3. Fertilizer Ordinances: The City of
Dunedin in north Pinellas County is the
next local government to consider their
own fertilizer ordinance. The
commission meeting will be on March
4th. Green industry representatives will
be promoting the use of the state model
fertilizer ordinance to the
commissioners which is based on
science and practicality.
4. Water Conservation: The South
Florida Water Management District
will soon be sending a survey to all
permit holders regarding water
conservation practices especially in the
areas of equipment and system
upgrades, using technology and
scheduling. The survey will only be 78 questions. The District staff knows
from working with the chapters in the
SFWMD that superintendents are
pretty good water managers, but this
survey will help document that fact
with hard numbers. They feel as we
know, we have a good story to tell.
Help tell that story by taking and
submitting the survey when it comes to
your course.

General Comments: Understandably
total attendance numbers at the GIS
were down. One preliminary report
said 7% less than last year. The same
was true of course for our FGCSA
2. GCSAA Members elect 2010 Board Reception and we missed you and hope
of Directors: At the 2010 Annual
next year we can all celebrate Bob's
Meeting and Election, Feb. 12 in San
election as GCSAA president together
Diego, James R. Fitzroy, CGCS, was
in Orlando. It was a smaller but still
elected president; Robert M. Randquist, enthusiastic group that gathered on the
CGCS, was elected vice president; and Solamar Hotel rooftop in the San
Sanford G. Queen, CGCS, was elected
Diego Gas Lamp Quarter. Jennifer
secretary/treasurer. Patrick R. Finlen,
definitely scored another home run for
CGCS, and Bill H. Maynard, CGCS,
site selection and meeting planning as
were elected directors. Peter J. Grass,
noted from the numerous compliments
CGCS; Keith A. Ihms, CGCS; and John on the venue.
J. O'Keefe, CGCS, remain on the board
for the last year of their two-year terms.
Mark D. Kuhns, CGCS, will serve an
additional year as immediate past
president, and David S. Downing II,
CGCS, will retire from the board.
3

A special Thank You to our
FGCSA Reception Sponsors.
Without YOU our Reception wouldn't be possible!
PLATINUM

SPONSORS

Golf Ventures
HarreH's, LLC
The Kilpatrick Company
The Toro Company, Wesco Turf, Hector Turf
GOLD

SPONSORS

Grigg Brothers
Numerator Technologies
Quali-Pro/Southeast Partners, Inc.
SILVER

SPONSORS

Aerification Plus, Inc.
Agrium Advanced Technologies/Arysta LifeScience
Bayer Environmental Sciences
Beard Equipment Company
CA-RY Golf
Cycle Works Golf Supply/GSR Calcium
DuPont Professional Products
BRONZE
Brandt
Dow AgroSciences
Florida Turf Support
Go-For Supply
Hydropro, Inc.
Lepanto Golf Construction Inc.

Eagle One Golf Products
Florida Superior Sand, Inc.
Hendrix and Dail, Inc.
Howard Fertilizer & Chemical Co., Inc.
ProSource One
Seven Rivers GCSA
Syngenta

SPONSORS
Precision Small Engine Co.
Ragan Technical Solutions
Sullivan Electric & Pump, Inc.
The Andersons, Inc.
Tom & Mark Burrows International
Turfgrass Services
Upstart Products, Inc.

FGCSA Board Meeting Minutes

MINUTES OF Winter 2010 FGCSA
BOARD MEETING

are in full swing. Attendance is up in all
locations with the exception of Orlando,
which had a new meeting location. The
The Winter 2010 Board Meeting of the
FTGA is keeping a watchful eye on
FGCSA Board of Directors was called to Fertilizer
around the state;
order by President Bill Kistler at 10:05 am. particular Regulations
the
just
passed
ordinance in
Friday January 22nd at Disney's Grand
Pinellas
County
and
possible
regulations in
Floridian in the Whitehall Room.
Jacksonville. We need to join together and
with our councilmen now. Pete
All officers were present with the exception speak
Snyder
will meet in Tallahassee
of Immediate Past President, Shane Bass. concerning
a possible check-off program
All Chapters, with the exception of Ridge that will benefit
Sod, FGCSA, Lawn
were represented. The Chapter
Maintenance,
Parks
and Rec., Sports Turf
Representatives were:
and
the
FTGA.
This
has the potential of
Calusa, Nancy Miller; Everglades, Bill
helping
to
generate
more
positive public
Davidson; Central Florida, Bill Beasley;
relations
for
our
industries.
Palm Beach, Steve Pearson; Suncoast,
Mark Todd; Treasure Coast, Roy
GCSAA - Ralph Dain reported that the
MacDonald; Seven Rivers, Mark Kann;
GCSAA
gearing up and is prepared for
South Florida, Ricky Reeves; West Coast, the GIS inis two
weeks. Registration costs
Kevin Sunderman; North Florida,Chris
were
reduced
with
the hope of encouraging
McCranie
more attendees. Ralph and Jennifer have
out to all those members of the
Others attending the meeting were: Jennifer reached
GCSAA
that have not assigned their vote
Innes, Association Manager; Joel Jackson, to their Chapter
or the State who will not
FGCSA Executive Director; John Foy,
be
attending
the
GIS or voting in person
USGA; Greg Pheneger, President FTGA; and have encouraged
them to re-assign
Ralph Dain, GCSAA; Dale Kuehner,
their
vote.
Ralph
continues
to participate
FGCSA Chapter Delegate
in Strategic Planning session with the local
Chapters. Those sessions have been very
Minutes of the FGCSA Fall 2009 Board
successful and helpful as each chapter
Meeting were approved as written.
prepares their plan for the future. These
sessions are at no cost to the Chapter.
USGA Report - John Foy reported to the Please contact Ralph if your chapter is
Board that the USGA is continuing to focus interested.
on education, in particular the readily
available webcasts. A listing of all webcasts
Report - Mark Kann
is available via the homepage of the USGA. Treasurer's
presented
to
the
the Publications and
The USGA is also able to set-up webcasts Operations budgetBoard
reports
the second
for local Chapter meetings. Please contact quarter. The current budgetforfigures
Shelly Foy, at the USGA office, if you are approved. Mark also presented to thewere
interested. The USGA is also looking
a revised 2008/2009 Year end
forward to the continued partnership with Board
Statement
that was approved by the Board.
the FGCSA for the Poa Annua Seminar.
Information for that seminar will be mailed Government Update - Mike Goldie was
out after the GIS. Currently the USGA is unable
to attend the meeting, however, he
mailing out invoices for TAS Services.
did
provide
handout for the
These fees will remain the same. John also members of athesummary
board;
Of the some 1200
announced to the Board that the USGA
bills
filed
for
the
2010
Session,
Green Section Record will no longer be
approximately 35 bills deal with issues
produced in a hard copy. The last printed such
as water, fertilizer, or other related
issue will be the July/August issue.
topics
which would affect either the turf or
Upcoming USGA events in Florida: The
golf
industries.
Our primary concern will
Senior Amateur Tournament at Lake Nona be bills either proposed
or heard by the
in October and the Women's Senior
Senate
select
committee
on Florida's
Amateur Tournament at Fiddlesticks.
inland waters. Sen. Constantine is the
chairman of this committee and has not
FTGA - Greg Pheneger reported to the
filed "shell bills" on water related pollution
board that the FTGA Education seminars control issues. These bills do not yet have

any substance as they are place holder
bills to meet the filing deadlines
established by the legislature. As of
today there are no house companions
filed to support Sen. Constantine's
bills and no House Committee dealing
with these specific issues. Budget
shortfalls are another issue that could
directly affect IFAS and its programs
as the House Committee on state
Universities and appropriations has
asked its members to establish
priorities for state spending and rank
those priorities with a 15% reduction
from last year's appropriations. Mike
urges the Board to contact any House
member to try and reduce the impact
of these shortfalls on the IFAS budget.
Executive Director Report - Joel
Jackson EPA Water Sense and
Numeric Nutrient Criteria - The
USEPA continues to move forward to
regulate the use of turfgrass in home
lawns and how much irrigation people
can apply nationwide. Additionally,
EPA will draft a set of limits on
nitrogen and phosphorus in Florida's
waters. FLDEP says they are working
with EPA to provide them with data
showing the variable content that
exists in different types of water
bodies like rivers, lakes and bays and
how they also differ widely in the
same region and from region to region.
At the Ag BMP meeting on January
6 , DEP indicated that while EPA will
issue some numbers there may be
some ranges of values and not single
numbers. However, DEP also expects
that many BMP manuals may have to
be revised to reflect compliance with
the new criteria. Implementation may
be a can of worms for DEP.
th

Another point brought up in
discussions of EPA vs Ag Industries is
that as more restrictions are placed on
others like residents and commercial
operations, a political rather than
environmental pressure will be put on
legislators to crack down more on Ag
& Green Industries who's BMPs have
been protecting them from severe
water and fertilizer regulations.
Fipronil - Top Choice/Chipco
Choice: EPA will allow the continued
use of fipronil over the top
5

applications to control fire ants and
mole crickets in turf. The product will
become a Registered Use Pesticide and
can only be applied by pesticide license
holders.
MSMA: The phase out of MSMA
continues with some confusion over
some deadline dates as Florida is on a
shorter timeline than the rest of the
nation. To summarize: Manufacturing
of turf labeled product to cease
December 31, 2009 except of golf, sod,
etc. Distribution and use to phase out by
December 31, 2010 in Florida except
for cotton. If you have legal, turf labeled
product it can be used until supplies
exhausted. To summarize: 12/31/2010
will be last date to distribute or sell
product bearing old labels to
applicators. After 1/1/2010 applicators
may use existing stocks with old label
until stocks are exhausted.

they come in so she can update the state
database. The Treasure Coast Chapter
continues to be the only chapter showing an
increase in membership.
Chapter Delegates - Dale Kuehner
provided to the Board his and Darren Davis'
recommendations for the GCSAA Board of
Directors. There was no opposition to
Dale's recommendation. All chapters, with
the exception of the Calusa chapter which
will have its own representation, agreed to
have representation by Dale and Darren in
the GCSAA election.

Publications - The Winter issue of the
Florida Green will be a 40 page magazine
and is currently complete and will be printed
and mailed in the next week. The fact that
our page count has stabilized at 40 pages
and does not continue to decline is a positive
sign. Our photographer, Daniel Zelazek, has
shifted entirely to 4x5 film sheet instead of
5x7 which will lower production costs. Joel
Methyl Bromide: EPA has said they
suggested a meeting of the Publications
will not take turf use off the MeBr label Committee in the near future to discuss the
at the end of 2009. They will work with direction of the Florida Green and to
registrants to draft a multi-year phase
consider some content changes. We also
out plan.
need to explore moving forward with a new
website, electronic publishing, and new
Fertilizer Ordinances: There are 22 revenue opportunities. Jennifer will look
local (city and county enacted
into possible website creation and
ordinances to date): Hillsborough
development opportunities that are close to
County is on the verge of likely passing her location. Larry Keiffer will be retiring
a "No Buy or Apply" ordinance with a at the end of the year. His last issue will be
blackout period from June 1 to
the Fall 2010 issue of the Florida Green.
September 30 . It will mirror Pinellas The publications Committee will also need
County since they share Tampa Bay.
to meet to discuss Larry's replacement and
Manatee County may be next. Golf is
possible candidates. The Membership
not blacked out but must follow the
Directory was mailed the last week of
language in the Golf BMP manual.
December. All members and advertisers
Time for our industry to seriously get
should have received a copy. Revenue and
behind the BMPs and perhaps conduct expenses for the Directory were as
our own training and certification
projected.
program to show our serious intention
to stewardship.
Awards - Nancy Miller reminded the
External's to submit nominations for award
Farm Links - the Farm Links trip has recipients.
Descriptions and past winners of
been confirmed for March 29 -31 .
all
the
awards
are listed in the FGCSA
Please RSVP to Jennifer.
Membership Directory. So far, only one
submission for the Marie Roberts Award has
Membership Report - Kevin
been
received.
Sunderman presented to the Board the
updated membership chart.
- Mark Kann presented to the
Membership was down 15% in October Education
board
a
spreadsheet
of upcoming education
from last year and is currently down
opportunities
provided
throughout the state.
12.5% from last year. Please continue Please be sure to have your
local chapters
to forward along any new memberships forward along any information
that can be
or membership renewals to Jennifer as added to the schedule to Mark. The
FGCSA
th

th

6

st

will begin working with the USGA to
come up with an Education Seminar
for the Poa Annua. Information for
the Poa Annua will be mailed out
sometime in March.
Logo - At the previous Board
Meeting all of the Externals were
asked to present to their local
Chapters the proposal for the FGCSA
to adopt the new GCSAA logo.
Acceptance of the GCSAA logo was
voted on and not approved. A motion
was made for the FGCSA to adopt the
GCSAA logo on all letterhead and
publications that would also include
the current FGCSA logo; similar to
what is currently done on the Florida
Green. The motion was seconded and
voted on; all members were in favor.
This change will ensue when the
current letterhead and envelopes are
exhausted.
Reception - The FGCSA Reception
will take place on February 11 at the
Hotel Solamar. All invitations have
been mailed and we have had great
success securing sponsors for the
event. Florida enrollment for the GIS
is up and we are anticipating 175
attendees. Wristbands must be worn
for the event.
th

Research - Steve Pearson - currently
there are no new research projects up
for consideration. Dr. Ken worthy is
seeking support for a turfgrass study
that is currently underway and a
nematode breeding study. Steve will
discuss the scope and need of the
study further and report back to the
board with more concrete information
as it becomes available.
Survey - The FGCSA will be
working alongside the Survey
Committee to prepare and conduct an
FGCSA Maintenance Survey.
Jennifer will investigate some
potential on-line providers to conduct
the survey as an alternative to a
traditional mailed survey.
The meeting was adjourned at 1:05
pm. The Spring Board Meeting will
be held at the Naples Beach Hotel and
Golf Club on May 6 at 10am.
th

Host and speakers at
the 22nd Central
Florida/FTGA
Research
Tournament were:
Stuart Leventhal,
CGCS Interlachen
CC, Bill Beasley,
External VP
CFGCSA, Armando
Campos, FTGA
Sec/Treas and Dr.
Kevin Kenworthy,
UF/IFAS.

Jim Montgomery
(center) with
GREENSMITHS,
INC. won the
Benevolent Fund
Raffle at the
FGCSA Reception
in San Diego. Jim
donated his $500
prize back to the
fund. Pictured
with Jim are (1-r)
Mark Henderson,
Gulfstream
GC and Mike
Bonetti,
Fertigation
Specialists.

7

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

HELENA

GoI{
Ventures

J a c o b s o n
When Performance Matters. ™

Golf Ventures to be Champion Sponsor for
2010 Jeff Hayden Memorial Envirotron Golf Classic
Golf Ventures is proud to again be the Champion Sponsor of the Jeff
Hayden Memorial Envirotron Golf Classic held at World Woods Golf Club
on April 19, 2010. Together with Helena and Jacobsen our vendor
partners and many other vendors, this sponsorship allows us the
opportunity to support the Seven Rivers Chapter and their fundraising
efforts for
and the Florida Turf grass Association.

research

Golf Ventures remains focused on providing turfgrass professionals with
sound agronomic solutions, quality products and superior customer
service.
Please join Golf
peers at the Envirotron as we
promote future success for the industry through continued turfgrass
research.

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