VOLUME XXVII, PART VI, NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

2011

NEWSLETTER OF THE FLORIDA GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION

FGCSA Golf Champs: Team Winners & Deron Zendt

On Left, The CFGCSA Team won the Team Trophy at the FGCSA Golf Championship at
Southern Dunes G.C. (l-r): Alan Lichter, Rob Torri, Joe Ondo, Jay Buccellato and Bob Boyan.
On Right Deron Zendt from the Banyan G.C. won the Individual Trophy and the final spot on
the 2012 FGCSA Golf Team.
CALENDAR

OF

EVENTS

NOVEMBER 1 0 T H

NOVEMBER 1 6 T H

DECEMBER 1 3 T H

SEVEN RIVERS G C S A CHAPTER MEETING

WEST COAST G C S A MONTHLY MEETING

WEST COAST G C S A VENDOR DAY

JULIETTE FALLS

SEVEN SPRINGS C C

T P C TAMPA BAY

NOVEMBER 1 1 T H

DECEMBER 1 4 T H

DECEMBER 1 2 T H

NORTH FLORIDA G C S A ANNUAL EDUCATION

EVERGLADES G C S A CHRISTMAS GOLF

NORTH FLORIDA G C S A ANNUAL

CONFERENCE

TOURNAMENT AND DINNER

CHRISTMAS TOURNAMENT

THE CHAMPIONS COURSE AT JULINGTON

QUAIL CREEK COUNTRY CLUB

DEERWOOD COUNTRY CLUB

CREEK

DECEMBER 6 T H

DECEMBER 1 4 T H

NOVEMBER 1 4 T H

CALUSA G C S A CHRISTMAS CHARITY

TREASURE COAST G C S A ANNUAL

EVERGLADES G C S A EDUCATION AND GOLF

TOURNAMENT - STONEYBROOK

CHRISTMAS OUTING

OLD COLLIER GOLF CLUB

GRAND HARBOR

/

PRESIDENT'S
BY

MARK

REPORT

KANN

For those of us in the northern portion of Florida, it sure was nice to feel
some cooler weather recently. The changing temperatures always
seems to remind me that it is almost time for Halloween, overseeding
and the "snow birds" to return. This year, it is also a reminder that the
GCSAA Chapter Delegates Meeting is approaching.
The GCSAA Chapter Delegates Meeting is scheduled for the end of
October. Representatives from affiliated chapters will have a chance to
discuss numerous issues concerning the GCSAA and its efforts to
promote the continued success of local chapters. The delegates will
also have the opportunity to meet the candidates running for officer and
director positions on the GCSAA Board of Directors. We have been
extremely fortunate over the last several years to have a Florida
representative on the GCSAA Board of Directors. Bob Randquist,
current President of the GCSAA, has done a fantastic job dealing with a
large number of issues as the GCSAA has gone through a renovation of
sorts in terms of personnel. The change to the Field Staff Model seems
to be well received, especially in Florida. Bob will continue his service
as Immediate Past President over the following year.
Among the candidates running for the GCSAA Board of Directors this
upcoming year is Florida's own Darren Davis. Darren's credentials
speak for themselves. He has been an outstanding member of the golf
course industry for a long time. His contributions to the Everglades
GCSA, Florida GCSA, and Florida Turfgrass Association have been
numerous and I am sure he will continue that work ethic with him at the

Mark Kann

N

r

Editor:
Joel Jackson, CGCS
(407) 248-1971 (fax/phone)
E-mail: FLGrn@aol.com
News Coordinator:
Jennifer Bryan
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 January 15.

v

national level as well. I would
like to wish Darren good luck on
his candidacy and know that his
addition to the GCSAA Board of
Directors would be a great
benefit to the GCSAA and
Florida GCSA.
Last month, all members were
sent a Members' Needs Survey.
I hope most of you took the
opportunity to fill it out and have
a voice in the direction of the
FGCSA. At the October
FGCSA Board of Directors
Meeting, we will be conducting
a Long Range Planning
Meeting. The first step at this
meeting will be to look at the
results of the survey. We will
take the results quite seriously
as we move forward and try to
maintain an association that will
endure a long time. As I have
mentioned previously, we are
facing a lot of tough decisions,
but we do not want to sacrifice
the needs and wants of the
association's membership.

Calendar of Events continued from page 1

L

FGCSA Golf Championship Team

Congratulations to Deron Zendt, Mark Henderson, Bob
Harper and Steve Wright who will be representing the
FGCSA at the GCSAA Golf Championship which will
be conducted on February 25-26 at PGA West's
Nicklaus Tournament Course, the same course that
serves as the biennial host of the PGA Tour's final
round of Q-SchooL The National Championship is
limited to 100 GCSAA members with a 5.0 handicap
index or lower. It is a two-day, 36-hole, stroke-play
event. The winner, along with champions from the last
five years, will receive an invitation to participate in the
renowned Trans-Mississippi Golf Championship,
where the likes of PGA Tour professionals such as
Jack Nicklaus, Ben Crenshaw, Dean Beman and Bob
Tway, among others, have carried home the
championship trophy.

Newly Certified
Golf Course Superintendents
Congratulations to Golf Course Superintendents Bill
Davidson, CGCS and Nicholas Von Hofen, CGCS both members of the Everglades GCSA for recently
achieving their certification. Great job!

FEBRUARY 2 7 - M A R C H 2 N D
G C S A A CONFERENCE AND GOLF INDUSTRY SHOW
LAS VEGAS
M A R C H 1 ST
F G C S A ANNUAL RECEPTION
THE JET NIGHTCLUB, THE MIRAGE

A

FGCSA Member's Needs Survey

If you have not done so already, please take a
moment to fill out our Member's Needs Survey.
Your feedback is important! It is a quick - 29
question - survey to help guide the FGCSA and its
future. You can find the survey on the FGCSA
website; www.floridagcsa.com . Click on the
"Members Only" section and follow the link. If you
have not already set up a password in our
Members Only Section, you may logon using your
first initial as your username and your last name
as your password (all lowercase). If you have
trouble accessing your information, please contact
Jennifer at the FGCSA office either by phone 800-732-6053 or e-mail fgcsa@comcast.net.
Also, please check out The Florida Golf Course
Superintendents page on Facebook and stay
connected!

The Suncoast GCSA took
home the match play trophy
at the first ever West Coast Suncoast Joint Meeting
hosted by West Coast at Isla
del Sol Y&CC.

EXECUTIVE

DIRECTOR'S

REPORT

By Joel Jackson, CGCS

extra redundant regulations on pesticide applications on or
near U.S. Waters since pesticide use is already regulated
under FIFRA.

H2-B Workers: Congress has also had some affect the
1. Government Legislative/Regulatory Update
Dept. of Labor's move to make the Visa Worker program
Legislative Report: Mark Kann, Ralph Dain and I,
so expensive and cumbersome. A joint letter from 42
accompanied by Erin Boyd Wilder of Sod Solutions met
legislators was sent to the Secretary of Labor calling for
with Mr. Pete Mitchell, Chief of Staff for Senator Bill Nelson
canceling the new proposed rules. The deadline appears
for nearly an hour advocating on the issues of NPDES, H2to have been delayed as several groups have also banded
B Visa Workers and Federal Disaster Relief for Golf
together to bring two lawsuits agains the DOL's new rules,
Courses on September 9th. I feel we made a positive
which essentially would shut down the program. The
impression and certainly made Mr. Mitchell aware of how
GCSAA is considering supporting the litigation, but will not
environmentally proactive golf course superintendents are.
sign on as a litigant in the suit.
NNC: EPA has granted Florida some leeway in lowering
impairment values for Class III waters, mainly canal
systems which are not "natural" bodies of water. FDEP is
also applying to EPA to designate tidal waters also a
unique class with variable values due to changing salinity
concentrations.
At the recent FDEP Nutrient Criteria Workshop (October
4th in Naples) Maps and tables of Total N, Total P,
Chlorophyl A and Dissolved Oxygen for estuaries from
Tampa Bay all the way to Biscayne Bay, Florida Bay and
the Keys was presented. Methodology and values were
discussed. Seagrass beds are being used as a signal
species indicator as to the overall health of each system.
They showed annual variations due to events like the
strong El Nino in 1997, and the impacts of the 2004
Hurricane season.

Water Restrictions: Latest bulletin from the SFWMD is that
Phase 1 restrictions may stay in place until the fall "dry"
season begins, which could be tough for some courses.
While aquifer and reservoir levels have improved they are
not in a comfort zone for the lifting of the restrictions.
2. Allied Association News: We are in the beginning
stages of discussions with our Florida Allied Golf
Associations to participate in the 2012 Florida Golf Day in
Tallahassee on February 14th. This group will also help us
in getting in to see particular legislators for any issue we
feel needs discussion with a particular House or Senate
committee chairman. I have information from the Georgia
GCSA about what they did for their part of the Georgia
Golf Day last year to give us some ideas and a starting
point.

The word fertilizer was not mentioned by FDEP or any
stakeholders. Nutrients (leaf litter mentioned often) some
references or questions about septic tanks, treatment
plants, but no direct fertilizer causes were really discussed
in depth, Color, Turbidity. Anthropogenic (man made dredge and fill, seawalls, canals, flood control, etc) factors
were also discussed. In some cases areas cannot be
restored to pre-existing conditions because of physical
alterations.
FDEP and the Estuary Consultant constantly reminded the
activists that they often reduced concerns down to a
"nutrient" cause and effect when actual Total N and Total P
numbers reflected natural uncontrollable events which were
documented. (Treatment plant failures, above normal
rainfall periods, droughts, etc. They kept hammering home
the point that ecosystems are complex and are restorative
by nature when we can identify a specific cause and effect
and eliminate the cause if it is in fact practical, feasible or
realistically possible. Don't blame "fertilizers, i.e. nutrients"
automatically and enact expensive corrective programs,
when the extent of any numerical impairment might just be
a cycle that passes naturally.
NPDES: Congress continues to pressure EPA to back off

GCSAA Field Representative Ralph Dain, Erin Boyd Wilder of
Sod Solutions and FGCSA President Mark Kann along with
FGCSA Executive Director held an hour-long meeting with
U.S. Senator Bill Nelson's Chief of Staff, Peter Mitchell in
Tallahassee in late September on Golf, Turf and Labor issues.

Minutes Fall 2011 Board
Meeting
The Fall 2011 Board Meeting of the
FGCSA Board of Directors was called to
order by President Mark Kann
at 1:51 pm, October 14, 2011 at the
University of Florida Plant research and
Education Unit.

F.G.C.S.A. INDUSTRY PARTNERS
Platinum Plus
Golf Ventures
The Torn Company, Wesco Turf, Hector Turf
Platinum
Bayer Environmental Science
John Deere Golf; Beard Equipment, ShowTurf
Harrell's LLC
Howard Fertilizer & Chemical Co. Inc.
Gold
BRANDT
Celebration® Bermudagrass
Tampa Bay Turf Management, Inc.
Silver
Winfield Solutions Professional Products Group
Bronze
FIS Outdoor
Independent Turf Partners
Southeastern Turfgrass Supply
Thank you very much for your Support!
Partnership Opportunities are available all year.
Contact the FGCSA office: 800-732-6053 or fgcsa@comcast.net
for details on the program.
*Remember to send in your Industry Partnership renewal Forms
before the next Green Sheet to ensure that your company is listed!

All officers except Gary Myers, CGCS,
past President were present. All
Chapters were represented, with the
exception of the Ridge chapter. The
Chapter Representatives were:
Calusa, James Foster, CGCS; Central
Florida, Rickey Craig; South Florida
Ricky Reeves; Everglades, Bill
Davidson, CGCS; Treasure Coast,
Carlos Arraya; Seven Rivers, Jim
Shaffer; West Coast, Trent Inman; North
Florida, Brad Smith; Suncoast, Darden
Nicks; Palm Beach, Brian Main.
Others attending the meeting were:
Jennifer Bryan - Association Manager;
Joel Jackson - FGCSA Executive
Director; Ralph Dain - GCSAA, and Todd
Lowe - USGA.
Minutes of the FGCSA Summer 2011
Board Meeting were approved.
USGA Update - Todd Lowe reported
the USGA continues to enjoy its
relationship with the FGCSA; providing
education for both the Poa Annua and
Crowfoot. The USGA would like to do
more and wants to remind the local
chapters that both John Foy and Todd
are available for chapter education. The
USGA is bringing back the Course
Official Meeting; comprised of the
superintendent, GM, golf pro and Greens
Committee. These discussions have
proven to be very successful. Todd also
reports that the TAS fees will be going
up $100 in each category.
GCSAA - Ralph Dain reported that the
GCSAA has announced the hiring of
Richard Konzem as COO. The GCSAA
is also in the initial phases of hiring
Regional Staff positions for the
Southwest, Northeast and Northwest.
Financial Reports - The
Secretary/Treasurer submitted his
financial report to the Board.
Continued on page 7...

For his service to the
FTGA, Darren Davis, CGCS
(right) was presented the
FTGA's highest honor, the
2011 Wreath of Grass
Award, by FTGA President
Mac Carraway at the 2011
FTGA Conference and
Show.

Distinguished Professor
Emeritus Dr. George Snyder
was also presented a Wreath of
Grass award by the FTGA for
his years and volumes of
research benefitting the
Turfgrass Industry in Florida

The FGCSA Board of
Directors showing their
support of the University of
Florida Plant Research and
Education Unit during a tour
at the Fall 2011 Board
Meeting. Back row (l-r); Ricky
Reeves, Jennifer Bryan, Jim
Shaffer, Todd Lowe, Jim
Foster, Ralph Dain. Front
row (l-r); Mark Kann, Joel
Jackson, Brian Main, Nancy
Miller, Bill Davidson, Kevin
Sunderman, Trent Inman,
Rickey Craig, Brad Smith and
Carlos Arraya

... Continued from page 5
The Industry partners will be broken down
into the appropriate line items for the next
financial report. Kevin Sunderman also
reported to the Board that the Executive
Committee approved a change to the Morgan
Stanley account which creates more
allocation possibilities. This change went into
effect last month. The financials were
approved.

N and Total P numbers reflected natural
uncontrollable events which were
documented. (Treatment plant failures,
above normal rainfall periods, droughts,
etc. They kept hammering home the point
that ecosystems are complex and are
restorative by nature when we can identify
a specific cause and effect and eliminate
the cause if it is in fact practical, feasible or
realistically possible. Don't blame
"fertilizers, i.e. nutrients" and enact
expensive corrective programs, when the
extent of any numerical impairment might
just be a cycle that passes naturally.

Executive Director's Report 1. Government Legislative/Regulatory
Update
Legislative Report: Mark Kann, Ralph Dain
and Joel Jackson accompanied by Erin Boyd
NPDES: Congress continues to pressure
Wilder of Sod Solutions met with Mr. Pete
Mitchell, Chief of Staff for Senator Bill Nelson EPA to back off extra redundant
for nearly an hour advocating on the issues of regulations on pesticide applications on or
near U.S. Waters since pesticide use is
NPDES, H2-B Visa Workers and Federal
already regulated under FIFRA.
Disaster Relief for Golf Courses on
September 9th. A positive impression was
H2-B Workers: Congress has also had
certainly made and Mr. Mitchell is aware of
some affect the Dept. of Labor's move to
how environmentally proactive golf course
make the Visa Worker program so
superintendents are.
expensive and cumbersome. A joint letter
from 42 legislators was sent to the
NNC: EPA has granted Florida some leeway
Secretary of Labor calling for canceling the
in lowering impairment values for Class III
new proposed rules. The deadline appears
waters, mainly canal systems which are not
to have been delayed as several groups
"natural" bodies of water. FDEP is also
have also banded together to bring two
applying to EPA to designate tidal waters
lawsuits agains the DOL's new rules,
also a unique class with variable values due
which essentially would shut down the
to changing salinity concentrations.
program. The GCSAA is considering
supporting the litigation, but will not sign on
At the recent FDEP Nutrient Criteria
Workshop (October 4th in Naples) Maps and as a litigant in the suit.
tables of Total N, Total P, Chlorophyl A and
Water Restrictions: Latest bulletin from the
Dissolved Oxygen for estuaries from Tampa
Bay all the way to Biscayne Bay, Florida Bay SFWMD is that Phase 1 restrictions may
stay in place until the fall "dry" season
and the Keys was presented. Methodology
begins, which could be tough for some
and values were discussed. Seagrass beds
were used as a signal species indicator as to courses. While aquifer and reservoir levels
have improved they are not in a comfort
the overall health of each system. They
zone for the lifting of the restrictions.
showed annual variations due to events like
the strong El Nino in 1997, and the impacts of
2. Allied Association News: We are in the
the 2004 Hurricane season.
beginning stages of discussions with our
Florida Allied Golf Associations to
The word fertilizer was not mentioned by
participate in the 2012 Florida Golf Day in
FDEP or any stakeholders. Nutrients (leaf
Tallahassee on February 14th. This group
litter mentioned often) some references or
will also help us in getting in to see
questions about septic tanks, treatment
particular legislators for any issue we feel
plants, but no direct fertilizer causes were
needs discussion with a particular House
really discussed in depth, Color, Turbidity.
or Senate committee chairman. Joel has
Anthropogenic (manmade - dredge and fill,
contacted Tenia Workman of the Georgia
seawalls, canals, flood control, etc) factors
GCSA which had a successful Georgia
were also discussed. In some cases areas
Golf Day experience and she will be
cannot be restored to pre-1950 conditions
sending information about their display.
because of physical alterations.
FDEP and the Tampa Bay Estuary man
(Tony ?) constantly reminded the activists
that they often reduced concerns down to a
"nutrient" cause and effect when actual Total

Awards - Jim Foster presented to the
Board a new award nomination form.
Jennifer will post it on the website along
with instructions. Award nominations must

must be turned in by January 6 th in order
to be considered.
Education - Jim Shaffer presented to
the Board an education chart. Jennifer
will add those items to the website.
Golf - The FGCSA Golf Championship
was successful. The Central Florida
Chapter one the Chapter event and
Deron Zendt on the Individual
Championship and will represent the
FGCSA at the GCSAA Golf
Championship along with Mark
Henderson, Steve Wright and Bob
Harper. The future of the FGCSA Golf
Championship will be discussed at the
next Board Meeting; specifically changing
the field to include vendors, location, etc..
Membership - Trent Inman reported to
the Board the current membership
numbers. We have nearly reached our
budget projection. Please continue to
remind chapters to submit late renewals
to the FGCSA office so we can keep
accurate records.
Publications - The Fall issue of the
Florida Green is in production and will go
to printer next week. We continue to look
for more advertisers and Industry
Partners. The FGCSA Membership
Directory will go out in January. The ad
deadline has been extended to October
28th.
New Business - A motion stating that
beginning July 1, 2012 all chapters begin
using QuickBooks as their accounting
software was moved and approved.
Jennifer will investigate bundled licensing
and report what is available for the
chapters at the next board meeting. The
SOP will also address these changes
and those changes will also be
addressed at the next board meeting.
Farmlinks - Jennifer will contact
Farmlinks to find out available times for
our Board to attend and will report back
to the board.
The Winter Board meeting will be held on
January 20, 2012 at 9am at Hawk's Nest.
The meeting was adjourned at 3:15 pm.

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

Golf
CH
Ventures
"Celebrating 25 Years in the Turf Industry"

It's hard to believe it is November already and we are getting
ready for the holidays. Golf Ventures would like to take this
opportunity to Thank You for your support and business in
2011! As we all continue to work together with the challenges
the golf industry and our economy are facing, please know we
will continue to bring you quality products and competitive
pricing for all your golf course needs.
Thank You again for the opportunity to provide superior
service and solutions to your course. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

(JJE^NA)

MMM-^^

RAIN^BIRD

Golf Ventures and Jacobsen are again hosting 3 technician
training events by bringing the Jacobsen Factory to Florida.
Dates are December 6th, 7th and 8th. Check our website for
more information, www.golfventuresonline.com.

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