VOLUME XXVII, PART III, JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2011 NEWSLETTER OF THE FLORIDA GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION Palm Beach Chapter donated $10,000 to the FGCSA Research Fund at their October Joint Meeting with the Treasure Coast at The Loxahatchee Club in Jupiter. (1-r): FGCSA Executive Director Joel Jackson, CGCS, FGCSA Association Manager Jennifer Innes, FGCSA Research Chairman Steve Pearson, CGCS and PBGCSA President Larry Balko. January 7 - FGCSA Board Meeting, Osprey Ridge 8:30am January 19 - Seven Rivers GCSA Monthly Meeting, Continental CC February 7 - l l - G I S and Conference, Orlando February 10 - Florida GCSA Reception, Walt Disney World Resort ® Them Park Epcot® th th th th th Upcoming Events March 8 - EGCSA Education and Dinner, The Club at Pelican Bay March 14 - NFGCSA Pablo Research Tournament, TBA March 17 - Calusa GCSA Monthly Meeting, Shell Point March 24 - SFGCSA Turf Expo, University of Florida, Davie th th th th April 11 - NFGCSA Memorial Tournament, Marsh Creek CC April 21 -EGCSA Spring Symposium, Naples Golf & Beach Hotel May 13 -14 - Poa Annua and GC Horn, Naples Golf & Beach Hotel th st th th President's Message 1 Message President's By Gar^lMyers, CGCS Safety First 2011 is here and I hope all of you had a wonderful Holiday Season and as I said in the Winter Florida Green, let's hope that 2011 is a prosperous year for all of us. As I reflected back on 2010,1 also reflected back on my career as a Golf Course Superintendent. Safety is a key component for all of us today and I was thinking of all of the unsafe things I and perhaps you did back in the "Old Days". I'm sure some of you can remember things we would not dream of doing today and can't imagine why we did them in the first place. When I first started in the business, I worked on a course that was getting ready to open. Since I was low seniority when the course opened I was sent to the cart barn. This is s 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 v The Green Sheet is a bimonthly FGCSA Newsletter printed as follows: Jan/Feb, March/April, May/June, July/August, Sept./October, November/December. where I performed my first unsafe practice in the industry. Our range picker was a Ford Tractor with no cage and the picker out front. I had to pick up range balls while wearing a large ball basket over my head. My head was protected but, the rest of my body was completely exposed. I can tell you that I was hit several times: luckily not seriously, just a little painful. Next up were the old 3-wheel Cushman's. They were innovative in their time but dangerous as well. After my brief stint picking up range balls and washing carts, I went back to where I belonged and loved, Golf Course Maintenance. This was a public course and the group I worked with was a rowdy bunch and we did not receive a lot of training. I remember one hot summer day we were aerifying greens. I was on the topdressing team and several of us had to drive Financial Support: This issue of the Green Sheet is being sponsored by: Gary Myers, CGCS back and forth from the maintenance facility to get sand and take it to the top dresser. I was sitting in the back with my feet dangling out. It was close to the end of the project. We were in a hurry to get done and the driver was going as fast as he could. N Later I worked at a course that had those 3 wheel ATVs and one of my workers rolled one. He was lucky he also was not injured. There is a reason why you don't see those 3wheelers on golf courses anymore and those were some examples as to why. 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. There is a reason why 3-wheel vehicles are unsafe; they can tip over easily at high speeds. The driver turned into the maintenance compound and the Cushman rolled over. The driver was able to step off before it rolled but I was thrown out and rolled over and over across the gravel. I had scrapes and bruises but, it could have been worse. J Continued on page 5... Executive Director Report By Joel Jackson, GCCS 1. Legislative update: Mike Goldie reports some of the legislative committee chairmanships are beginning to be made. We don't have the score card in on most of them yet to know how open minded or supportive they will be to the Ag and Green Industries just yet. We will know more by the end of January after the holidays. One concern I had with one of the early releases was Senator Gary Siplin being named chair of Senate Ag Sub-Committee. I didn't know his background in Ag support since he was a Democrat from an urban background. Mike said he has trended to vote with the Republican support of Ag/Green initatives. Time will tell. as it develops. 2. Association Business: The 2011 FGCSA Membership Directory is deep into the production process and first drafts for beginning the approval process should be out soon. Jennifer reports that by having several chapters renew memberships through her office this year it has really sped up the data gathering part of the process. instructions also, so don't overlook or delete emails from the FGCSA as they contain key information on using the website. 3. Education: January will begin the annual round of FTGA Regional Seminars. FTGA members should have been receiving email reminders of dates and schedules. This year instead of cramming everything into January the seminars will begin in January and end by Mid-March. Check the FTGA website by FGCSA Website: The new website is up and running. Jennifer going to the FGCSA website at www.floridagcsa.com click on the is fine tuning it with Cyber Golf, but she recently sent you an email Links button on the Home Page and then the FTGA link when the blast regarding the Fall Florida Green delay using their site instead page opens. of having to tie up her computer as it processes the large volume of And don't forget your own local member addresses. Meanwhile, you chapter meetings as a constant and can log in and create your own convenient source of education password for the Members Only points for your Class A and section. She is sending those access Certified requirements. Once we have all the names of the key players, we will discuss a possible Capitol Hill trip this March to introduce the FGCSA and our goals for BMP certification and Environmental Stewardship in general. Definitely a good time to educate and inform the new "rookie" legislators on the issues. EPA's Numeric Nutrient Criteria: The State of Florida with the support of the Commissioner of Oct 14/10 Agriculture and Attorney General's offices have filed suit agains EPA's Numeric Nutrient Criteria Plan. Citing questionable scientific diligence of the numbers and the process as a court case settlement rather than a collective decision making process and the singleing out of Florida alone among the The Palm Beach Chapter also presented the First Tee of the Palm Beaches with a reasons for the suit along with the donation of $5,000 to help grow the game and introduce youngsters to the game. (1-r): costs to achieve the questionable Steve Pearson, CGCS and Craig Watson, Executive Director of the First Tee Program. criteria numbers. More on this story INTRODUCING THE FIRST MEMBERS OF THE F.G.C.S.A. INDUSTRY PARTNERS PROGRAM Platinum Plus Hector Tuf Wesco Turf The Toro Company Platinum Beard Equipment, John Deere Golf, ShowTurf Golf Ventures Howard Fertilizer & Chemical Co. Inc. Syngenta Tampa Bay TurfManagement, Inc. BRANDT Gold Agrium Advanced Technologies Celebration® Bermudagrass Pasteuria Bioscience, Inc. Bronze Ragan Technical Solutions, Inc Southeastern Turfgrass Supply Thank you very much for your Support! Contact the FGCSA office: 800-732-6053 orfgcsa@comcast.net for details on the program President's Message page 1 continued from I eventually became the Irrigation Specialist on that public course. I'm sure voltage meters and testers had been invented by then but, we did not have them at the course. When I had a group of wires and was trying to determine which wire went to which station, I would simply touch them until I was shocked. They were only 24 volts but, that was pretty stupid on my part. Speaking of irrigation, my first Assistant's position was at a course that had AC pipe. For those of you that do not know what AC stands for; it is Asbestos Cement. AC pipe was commonly used in irrigation back in the early days. When we had a break, I was down in the hole cutting away with a hack saw. No face mask or anything else was protecting my lungs from the asbestos dust. I could go on and on with more unsafe practices that I was exposed to but, it would fill up the entire Green Sheet. All of us should have a Mission Statement for our operations that contains a sentence that says "Provide a safe working environment for our Employees". Hopefully, none of your workers today are doing those same dumb things I was doing back then. Also at the recent Palm Beach meeting, on behalf of Audubon International ,Tim Hiers, CGCS (left) recognized Shelly Foy of the USGA for her 13 years service on the Board of Directors, especially with the Cooperative Sanctuary Program. Also, Greg Pheneger, CGCS, Past President of the FGCSA (right) publicly presented Shelly with the FGCSA's Marie Roberts Award for her lifetime service to Florida Golf and the FGCSA. The South Florida Chapter donated $22,500 to the Southern Branch of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Childern at the October 2010 M&E Tournament held at The Carolina Club FGCSA Reception Sponsorship Opportunities Still Available Thursday, February 11 , 2011 th Walt Disney World Resort® Theme Park Epcot® Orlando, F1 LEVEL ONE - PLATINUM SPONSOR Beard Equipment, John Deere Golf, ShowTurf Golf Ventures Howard Fertilizer & Chemical Co., Inc. Syngenta Tampa Bay Turf Management, Inc. The Toro Company, Wesco Turf, Hector Turf LEVEL TWO - GOLD SPONSOR Agrium Advanced Technologies BRANDT Celebration® Bermudagrass Dow AgroSciences Florida Turf Support Grigg Brothers Pasteuria Bioscience, Inc. LEVEL THREE - SILVER SPONSOR Aerification Plus Country Club Services, Inc. Golf Agronomics Green Technologies, LLC Hendrix and Dail, Inc. MacCurrach Golf MJS Golf Services, LLC Numerator Technologies LEVEL FOUR- BRONZE SPONSOR Arysta LifeScience Dupont Professional Products Go-For Supply, Inc. GREENZKEEPER Wholesale Supply Ragan Technical Solutions, Inc Southeastern Turfgrass Supply Upstart Products, Inc. Don't miss out on this great opportunity to have all of the Florida Golf Course Superintendents in one spot at the same time! 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.floridagcsa.com, go to the information Tab, click on Reception. From Jennifer's Desk... Happy New Year from the FGCSA "office"! I hope your holidays were full of happiness and you got that new set of golf clubs you were pining for. As many of you may already know, the FGCSA website is up and running. We are working out a few of the glitches, but all and all we are very pleased with its new look and capabilities. I would like to highlight a few of its exciting new features. Members Only Section. Each member of the FGCSA will be able to access his or her data, make changes, and provide up to the minute contact information that I will be able to forward to your local chapters. In addition you may use this tool as your very own Association Directory, easily finding other FGCSA members with a simple click of the mouse! Please take a moment to check it out and make sure the information we have is current and accurate. Vendor Directory. Our new Vendor Directory is a listing of our valued FGCSA Industry Partners or vendors who have purchased the listing independently. It is a handy reference tool providing the company name, sales representatives, phone numbers and e-mails. Please remember to thank these partners and vendors who make many of these services possible. They mean a lot to the Association and deserve the recognition. Web Newsletters/Announcements. The website enables us to communicate with our members using the online Newsletter tool. This is a quick and easy way for us to get information out to our members. Most of you have received my Reception announcement detailing the RSVP process for the Orlando Reception to be held at Walt Disney World Resort® theme park Epcot® on February 10, 2011. If you did not receive this e-mail, please make sure the FGCSA office has your current e-mail address. You may look this up in the Members Only section. Use your first initial as your login and your last name as your password. Passwords may be changed after your initial login. If you have trouble logging in, be sure to contact me at 800-732-6053 or fgcsa@comcast.net. Wristbands and invitations will be mailed to only those members that RSVP. You may also access this form directly via http://www.floridagcsa.com/reception. PLEASE NOTE: the wristbands will only be used to provide you transportation from the Convention Center to the Reception - they will NOT provide you access to Epcot®. Please do not show up at the main gates of the park expecting to gain access with your wristband. You MUST ride a bus from the Convention Center to the Reception. Please take the time to check out the new website and offer your feedback. Your opinion matters and we want to provide a tool that is easy and informative. The internet is an extremely efficient and easy way for us to communicate with you and we would like to take advantage of what it has to offer. Be sure we have your email address so we may keep you adequately informed. I look forward to seeing you all in Orlando. Thank you! Jupiter: 888-222-7072 Lakeland: 800-330-8874 Gol£ %W Ventures "Celebrating 25 Years in the Turf Industry" Happy New Year! Our Team at Golf Ventures wants to wish all of you a Prosperous New Year for 2011 and want you to know we appreciate your business over the past 25 years. We know 2011 will continue to be a challenging year for the golf industry but we are here to partner with you and provide sales, support and service in every aspect of our business. Come visit us in Orlando at the GIS Show at the Helena Booth and Jacobsen Booth. Golf Ventures is happy to sponsor the Florida Reception for the Florida Golf Course Superintendents Association. Hope to see you there! HAPPY NEW YEAR! r!lMiriiil,iiiiMfMITir,,Mliiur,,lHllHllrirf stoh J q j 'WBms L£\#}}UUdd aivd aSmsOcTS'n ssviD isma bbbessvoss \A 6*099 SX '0OU0JMB-1 0 VB qaieasey J d UO^LUJOM 2 l 7 WSOO 8S6K ' q s e s g U3SU9£ £9 od VS30J S3UUJ J3JIUU3f