riOVERT.

VOLUME VIIJART^rNOVEMBER/DECEMBER 1991

Vcj

N E W S L E T T E R O F THE F L O R I D A G O L F C O U R S E S U P E R I N T E N D E N T S

ASSOCIATION

FGCSA President Tom Benefield presents a check for $31,700 to the Florida Turfgrass Association for scholarships and research programs at the FTGA
Annual Conference and Show in Jacksonville, Oct. 14. Receiving the check is Florida Turfgrass Association Executive Director Bob Yount. Applauding is
FTGA President Bob Rehberg. See Page 3 for details. Photo By Philip Pettus.

UPCOMING
EVENTS
Nov. 4
Nov. 5

West Coast chapter meeting, Seven
Springs CC
South Florida chapter meeting, Keys
Gate GC

Nov. 8

GCSAA Regional Seminar, Negotiating,
Bay Hill Club, Orlando

Nov. 14

Treasure Coast chapter meeting, Cutter
Sound CC

Nov. 14

U of F Coop Ext. seminar, "Impact of
Environmental Issues on the Horticulture
Industry", Sanford

Nov. 17-19 Southern Turfgrass Conference,
Memphis, Tennessee

Dec. 7

Treasure Coast Holiday Cruise, Stuart

Dec. 8

South Florida chapter picnic, C. B.
Smith Park

Dec. 13

Everglades chapter Christmas
Tournament, Vines CC

Dec. 14

Everglades chapter Christmas party,
Vines CC

Nov. 18

Big Bend chapter meeting, Killearn GC,
Tallahassee

Nov. 19

Everglades chapter meeting, Gateway
CC

Nov. 19

Central Florida chapter meeting, Harbor
Hills, Leesburg

Nov. 20

Palm Beach chapter meeting, Bailen
Isles of JDM

Dec. 14

Palm Beach chapter Christmas Party,
Palm Beach National GC

Dec. 5

U of F Coop Ext. seminar, "Marketing,
Advertising and Business Management
Short Course," Sanford

Feb. 10-17

GCSAA 63rd Conference & Show, New
Orleans

President's Message

GREEN

Editor
Mike Bailey
1 6 3 7 9 Country Lake Circle
Delray Beach, FL 3 3 4 3 4
(407) 4 9 9 - 8 4 8 0 (Recorder)

N e w s Coordinator
Mrs. Marie Roberts
1 7 6 0 N . W . Pine Lake Drive
Stuart, FL 3 4 9 9 4
(407) 6 9 2 - 9 3 4 9
(407) 6 9 2 - 9 6 5 4 (Fax)
Publisher
Janlark Communications, Inc.
Philip Pettus, Managing Editor
P.O. Box 3 3 6
Auburndale, FL 3 3 8 2 3
(813) 9 6 7 - 1 3 8 5
(813) 9 6 7 - 4 5 5 3 (Fax)
The Green Sheet is a bimonthly
FGCSA newsletter printed as follows:
Jan./Feb., March/April, May/June,
July/Aug., Sept./Oct., Nov./Dec.
The Green Sheet is a current, timely
newsletter for FGCSA members as

compared to The Florida Green, an
educational communication magazine.
Financial Support
The 1990-91 FGCSA Green Sheet
operating budget is financially supported entirely by:
Vigoro Industries
3 6 3 0 Selvitz Road
P.O. Box 1 2 6 0 9
Fort Pierce, FL 3 4 9 7 9
(800) 3 2 9 - 4 2 3 8
All material submitted for printing
will be edited at the discretion of
the editor. Material must be typed
or clearly printed. All photos must
be black and white (color photos
do not reproduce well when
converted to black and white).
Items must be for the good of the
association.

Deadline next issue, Dec. 2

FGCSA Officers and Committee Chairmen
President
Tom Benefield, CGCS
(407) 6 2 5 - 5 7 3 6
Vice President
Mark Jarrell, CGCS
(407) 9 6 5 - 0 0 4 6
Secretary/Treasurer
Paul Crawford
(407) 8 4 5 - 2 3 9 5
Immediate Past President
Ray Hansen
(407) 4 9 5 - 0 5 3 6
Executive Secretary
Marie Roberts
(407) 6 9 2 - 9 3 4 9
(407) 6 9 2 - 9 6 5 4 (Fax)
Florida Green Editor
Joel Jackson
(407) 3 6 3 - 4 5 1 4 (Voice, Fax)
Green Sheet Editor/Survey
Mike Bailey
(407) 4 9 9 - 8 4 8 0
Education
Rick Walker
(407) 2 3 9 - 1 0 5 7
Publications/FTGA
Mark Jarrell, CGCS
(407) 9 6 5 - 0 0 4 6

Membership
Buddy Carmouche, CGCS
(813) 2 6 1 - 0 5 9 8
Research
Ray Hansen
(407) 4 9 5 - 0 5 3 6
Long Range Planning
Paul Crawford
(407) 8 4 5 - 2 3 9 5
By-laws
John Gallagher
(407) 4 8 3 - 4 8 5 5
Certification
Dick Blake (407) 7 3 6 - 7 0 5 1
Joe Ondo (407) 6 5 7 - 7 5 6 5
Golf/Crowfoot
Joe Ondo, CGCS
(407) 6 5 7 - 7 5 6 5
Poa Annua
Buddy Carmouche, CGCS
(813) 2 6 1 - 0 5 9 8
Advisory Committee
John Foy, USGA
(407) 5 4 6 - 2 6 2 0
Government Relations
Tim Hiers
(407) 5 8 9 - 6 9 9 2
Voting Delegate
Tom Benefield, CGCS

TOUGH JOB #1 —
Developing a safe,
useful, productive
workforce
Ask any superintendent what his
number one problem is in doing his job
correctly and he will tell you it is not
those pesky mole crickets, government
agencies hounding him or even his ill—
tempered
members. His
biggest problem is the same
problem all industries are
faced with —
finding good
employees.
Through the
years I have
tried various
techniques in
M®
•Hi •
an attempt to
Tom Benefield
keep a safe, useful, productive workforce. I have hired
both experienced and non-experienced
people and to tell you the truth, I have
had better luck with the people walking
in off the street who don't know the
difference between a greensmower and
a shovel but are willing and able to learn.
Case in point is the position of chemical technician. Now no one needs me to
tell them how critical this job is or how
the wrong person can cost you your job.
Do you go with the RUP-licensed applicant who has worked at four golf courses
in the last three years or do you go with
the "greenhorn" from the east side of
Brooklyn, just retired, recently relocated
to Florida, and eager to work. I have
done it both ways and the results still
amaze me.
The novice I hired to be the chemical
tech didn't know the difference between
a green and a tee, had never heard of the
chemicals we use, and had never sprayed
anything other than Raid for roaches!
There was no special reason to hire this
person except that he had a sincere desire to work and was willing to learn.

Leadership in Action

I have never regretted hiring a "greenBesides lack of experience, there were
horn."
some other things this fellow didn't
What about the other side of the coin,
bring to the job. He didn't bring any
the experienced licensed spray tech. On
bad work habits, he didn't know it all,
this one, past history is not as kind. I
and as a matter of fact, we had to start
hired a young go-getter, with RUP liat ground zero and educate him.
censes and more than four years of expeI recall after he had been there for
rience working on golf
more than a
courses. He knew the
month, I sent
*...we had to start at
names of all the chemicals
him out alone
ground zero and educate we use, knew how to say
for the first time
Cushman and could talk
to spot spray
at length about most any
Orthene for
subject you could think of. He knew the
mole crickets on the tee tops. I told him
rules and safety procedures. You name
to start at the 18th tee and work in
it, he could do it, or so he said.
reverse until he got to the first tee. I
So I gave this guy a chance and he
gave him a 5-minute head start and
started off just like gang busters. I gave
then went to check how he was doing.
him simple assignments at first, trying
When I arrived at number 18, he
to learn what he was like and after a
was nowhere to be found. No problem,
couple of weeks I felt that I had a good
I said to myself. He might have been
employee — a real cracker jack.
held up by play. I wait ten minutes
The third week he missed a couple of
chatting with members as they came
days of work. Then I noticed he wasn't
through until finally he arrives. I ask
wearing all the safety equipment he
where he had been. He said he had just
needed. He told me he didn't think he
finished the 18th tee.
needed it and besides, he had done this
This really interested me in that I
job for years. He knew what he was
had been standing at the 18th tee for
doing and he had a license to spray.
ten minutes and I knew that of all the
Fifteen minutes later he was made to
places he might have been, Tee 18 was
understand that he would always wear
not one of them. Finally during our
and use every item of protective equipdiscussion he told me that number 18
ment that the label required or he
tee was the big flat grassy area with all
wouldn't have a job.
the sand around it and, oh yeah, it has
Despite that warning he was later
the flag in it. He really couldn't underdiscovered spraying Surflan along the
stand why I sent him to the tees beedges of the cart paths with a two-nozzle
cause he didn't find any mole crickets
flood jet sprayer. As golfers came toward
on that one.
him on the paths, he neglected to turn
Well, I did say he was a novice from
off the sprayer and completely covered
the east side of Brooklyn. We went
one of the golfers with the Surflan. He
back to square one with the orientawas terminated within the hour and he
tion process. After reviewing our procouldn't understand how I could fire
cedure for new hires, we developed
someone with a license.
one that had less room for error. I am
The moral of the story is things are
proud to say that this man over time
not always what they appear to be. I
became an excellent spray tech doing
strongly believe it is better to hire people
the job the way it should be done.
who have no experience nor bad habits
Never did I see him without all the
than to hire some know-it-all who has
protective gear he needed and never
experience circumventing the system and
did we have a chemical application
bending the rules to his personal lack of
"burn" or mishap. He was always at
standards. Then sometimes hiring is, at
work on time, never drunk, always in
best, like the lottery— the numbers you
good spirits, always eager to work and
don't bet will always come in.
to learn and never did he complain
about the task at hand.

FGCSA

Research Donations

v

FGCSA
10,000
Central Florida GCSA 3,000
Everglades GCSA
5,000
North Florida GCSA
1,000
Palm Beach
National GC
1,000
Palm Beach GCSA
1,000
Ridge GCSA
200
South Florida GCSA
1,000
Suncoast GCSA
3,000
Treasure Coast GCSA
500
West Coast GCSA
6,000
$31,700

/

FGCSA shines at Jax meet
FGCSA President Tom Benefield presented checks amounting to $31,700 from
the combined chapters of the FGCSA for
turfgrass research at the Florida Turfgrass
Association awards luncheon that took
place at the Prime F. Osborne III Convention Center in Jacksonville on Monday,
Oct. 14, during the FTGA Annual Conference Show. FTGA President Bob Rehberg
and Executive Director Bob Yount gratefully accepted the checks.
FGCSA superintendents should be very
proud of this amount considering these
same chapters contributed a total of
$34,500 to the FGCSA Research Green
during the Crowfoot Open in August. This
represents a grand total of $66,200 donated to turfgrass research in the state by
the Florida superintendents.
During the same awards program Dr.
Max Brown presented the FTGA Wreath
of Grass Award to Ruth Shepherd who has
been the Executive Secretary to the Florida
Turfgrass Association for the past 14 years.
She has coordinated the past 13 FTGA
Conventions. Ruth has been the "woman
behind the man" since the office was located in rental property in Orlando. Ruth
is the first woman to receive this prestigious award in its 30-year history.
New FTGA officers for the 1991-1992
year are President Bob Rehberg, Vice President Jerry Redden, Secretary/Treasurer:
Nicholas Dennis and Past President Ed
Davis.

Official Business

Proposal made to
separate Secretary/
Treasurer job into
two board positions

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS:
Tom Benefield gave the Government
Relations Committee report.
The Florida Golf Summit that gathered in Tampa this month included representatives from the DER, state regulatory agencies, legislators, and the advisor to the Gov. Lawton Chiles on Envi-

Fall 1991 FGCSA Board of Directors Meeting

The Fall 1991 meeting of the FGCSA
Board of Directors was called to order
by President Tom Benefield at 1 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 15, at the Prime F. Osborne
III Convention Center in Jacksonville.
Past President Ray Hansen was unable to attend. Chapters not represented
were Big Bend, Central Florida and South
Florida. In addition to the remaining
External VP's, the meeting was also attended by Eddie Snipes - North Florida
chapter, and John Foy - USGA.
SECRETARY/TREASURER: Paul
Crawford submitted the minutes to the
summer 1991 Board Meeting and the
current FGCSA financial statements.
Both reports were approved.
FGCSA JACKET: President Tom
Benefield appointed Scott Bell to investigate the possibility of changing to a
new color for the state jacket or finding
another company that carries the current color.
PUBLICATIONS: Mark Jarrell reported that Larry Kieffer of Janlark Communications Inc. would like to vigorously pursue soliciting subscriptions to
The Florida Green. Since the board agreed
that it was to our advantage to have The
Florida Green in the hands of whomever
desired it, there was no objection to
Larry's request. Mark said that Joel
Jackson, editor of The Florida Green, will
be requesting that all chapters create a
position to serve as liaison to the magazine for new ideas from chapter members. Mark commended Joel for his work
in setting up the calendar and cover
schedule and urged all chapters to cooperate.
MEMBERSHIP
DIRECTORY:
Marie Roberts reported that the 199192 Membership Directory is in the final
stages and should be mailed to all members by the end of the month.

John Foy of
the USGA,
said that golf
courses have
no legal
recourse if
there is no
state-run sodcertification
program.

ronmental Affairs. John Foy suggested
that the council should add a category
for associate memberships at a reduced
rate for individuals to show their support and also give the Council more
political clout. Tom continues to urge
external vice presidents to get their local
clubs to join the Council. It was suggested that the date for the Summit
should be changed to later in the season,
perhaps January or February. Tom explained that this year's Golf Summit was
held in conjunction with the state Water
Management Conference.
Representatives from the Public Relations firm of Mitchell-Lambert then
explained a program to help people deal
with water conservation plans. During
a discussion it was observed that the St.
John's Water Management District is
imposing strict regulations on permit
holders. Golf courses in that area must
provide the WMD with a written plan
on how they will comply with the water
conservation rules.
The DER/USGS Monitoring Study
being performed by Ron Miller is having
trouble getting volunteers. Miller wants
to study leaching and is looking for six
sites in Hillsborough, Manatee and Orange counties to compare golf courses
using effluent to those using fresh water
sources. Even though the FGCSA as-

sisted the USGS in mailing out more
than 400 surveys, only a handful were
returned. After a discussion, it was decided the surveys required more than
three hours to complete and that many
superintendents were reluctant to supply the information.
Mark Jarrell said the DER had returned to Palm Beach National for a
third sample and again found no contamination. This information would be
Mark Jarrell
said the DER
had returned
to Palm Beach
National for a
third sample
and again
found no
contamination.

a positive tool for us to use. For the DER/
USGS study, samples are supposed to be
taken quarterly and would involve a 5year study.
Tom Benefield suggested that we take
a "proactive stance" and include a separate section on this year's survey to include these same questions. The External VPs could explain the merits of getting some positive information together
on these environmental questions.
Mixed Load Wash Sites: Tom
Benefield suggested that we might consider building a prototype unit somewhere in the middle of the state. It was
obvious there would be no problem getting a golf course to volunteer its site.
AWARDS: Scott Bell said he will be
working on redefining the criterion
needed for the Presidents Award and
Distinguished Service Award. He will
have suggestions ready for the next board
meeting.
BY-LAWS: Tom Benefield proposed
that we consider separating the Secretary/Treasurer position into two separate positions to add another officer to
the Executive Committee. John
Gallagher will present this at the next
Board Meeting for discussion.
EDUCATION: The Board was re-

T u r f g r a s s Conference

minded of the GCSAA Regional Seminar on negotiating to take place Nov. 8 at
the Bay Hill Golf Club in Orlando.
ETHICS: Brigid Braun said she has
enlisted the aid of David Portz, CGCS
and Kim Shine, CGCS to help define our
values and goals to fit into the GCSAA
Code of Ethics.
FTGA: The Envirotron will be built
just north of Fifield Hall. The site has
room for expansion and may eventually
include some outside plots. Plans have
gone out to architects and the
groundbreaking should be sometime in
1992 with the opening planned for late
1993.
Paul Crawford
voiced his
concern that the
Florida Golf
Council may
lose Bobby
Brantley if club
apathy cannot
be turned
around.

The acting chairman of the University of Florida Department of Environmental Horticulture is now Dr. Terry
Nell. Even though he is not a "turf
person," it was felt that he would be
sympathetic to our concerns.
FUND RAISING: Chairman Greg
Plotner discussed the annual West Coast
Research Tournament which has been
financially successful for the past 28 years.
It is supported entirely by West Coast
members and suppliers and raised more
than $6,000 this year. He will put together a list of guidelines for other chapters that may wish to run an effective
fund raising tournament.
GCSAA: Tom Benefield encouraged
all external vice presidents to take a personal interest in signing up those GCSAA
members who need to fill out an affidavit to vote with the state. Tom will
continue to be the voting delegate to the
GCSAA. He said the FGCSA will not
have a Hospitality Suite in New Orleans
for the GCSAA Conference but rather
will hold a reception honoring Cecil
Johnston as recipient of the Distinguished Service Award. All FGCSA mem-

bers planning to go to New Orleans are
invited to attend this reception.
GOLF: Members of the GCSAA Golf
Team will be Buck Buckner, Dave Oliver,
Jim Osburn, and Fred Klauk.
MEMBERSHIP: Buddy Carmouche
said the FGCSA has sent postcards to all
those who did not renew their membership this year. It was suggested that
Marie Roberts obtain a copy of the list of
golf courses used by Larry Kieffer for the
Florida Green mailings to cross reference those who do not hold membership in the FGCSA.
RESEARCH: Paul Crawford reported
on the nitrogen source project and the
current bermudagrass decline that is
occuring on the research green. He also
mentioned a proposed study on Bio
stimulants.
John Foy spoke on sod certification,
especially in light of recent Tifdwarf
problems. He discourages the FGCSA
from trying to run this type of program
and suggests we go back to the Florida
Department of Agriculture because of
liability. John said that golf courses have
no legal recourse if there is no state-run
certification program. Technology cannot tell if a sample is Tifdwarf but it can
tell if it is not. Cost for one sample is
about $350. Again, the state has no
money budgeted for this and we must
prove the economic impact of the turfgrass industry to get any results. Golf is
not considered part of agribusiness in
Florda.
SURVEY: Tom Benefield will contact Mike Bailey to discuss adding questions from the DER/USGS to our survey
this year.
NEW BUSINESS: Paul Crawford
voiced his concern that the Florida Golf
Council may lose Bobby Brantley if club
apathy cannot be turned around. Paul
considers Brantley to be a real asset to
the industry and said we need to continue to urge support of the Council. It
was suggested the Florida Golf Council
needs to change its marketing strategy to
make it more economically feasible for
clubs to join.
Since there was no further business,
the meeting was adjourned at 3:15 p.m.
i t

Dr. James Beard

Beard's keynote advises
environmental concern
Dr. James Beard of Texas A & M
presented the keynote speech to 500
golf course superintendents and other
turfrgrass managers attending the
Florida Turfgrass Association Annual
Conference, Tuesday, Oct. 15, at the
Prime Osborne III Convention Center
in Jacksonville. The major points of Dr.
Beard's talk centered on:
• Computer integration in turfgrass
management
• Reduced pesticide usage and the
escalating costs of pesticides
• Groundwater contamination
• IPM
• Water: the greatest problem facing
the golf turf industry
• Solutions through conservation
• Fertilizers: restrictions/usage
• Improved slow release carriers/
lower nitrogen levels
• New turfgrass cultivars for improved stress tolerance
• Equipment: government controls
• Current trends in mowing, topdressing and turf cultivation
• Employee safety and personnel
trends
Dr. Beard stressed that superintendents must tell the public and the politicians about the benefits of turgrass to
the environment. He said the key for the
effective turfgrass professional is in better management and use of energy, water, pesticides, fertilizers, equipment and
labor to achieve effective cost control in
a safe environment.
^/¡k

Golf tourneys raise
funds for research,
scholarships
The LCCC Alumni Golf Tournament
held in conjunction with the FTGA Convention was a huge success according to
Scott Zakany, who co-chaired the event
with David Cheesman. The tournament
was held at Orange Park CC with Bill
Plante as host superintendent. Despite
17 inches of rain within the past two
weeks, Bill had the course in fine shape
for the 45 players.
Scott Zakany took the low net honors
while the low gross award went to Dick
Bessire. The class championship was
won by the Class of 1981. Proceeds from
the tournament exceeded $3,000 and
were presented to the Lake City endowment fund. The chairmen would like to
thank the third-year LCCC students who
served as volunteers for the event. The
committee would also like to thank all
the sponsors for the tournament, especially the Gold Sponsors who were so
important to the success of the tournament.
The Florida Turfgrass Association
held its annual Research Golf Tournament at Hidden Hills CC and Mill Cove
Golf Club in Jacksonville on Sunday,
Oct. 13.
Successfully defending his championship was Jim Osburn from the Hideaway CC in Fort Myers. As a result of his
win last year, Jim will be joining with
Fred Klauk, Dave Oliver and Buck
Buckner to represent the FGCSA in the
GCSAA Golf Tournament in February.
Jim's partner at Mill Cove was Terry
Wood, superintendent at Royal Woods
GC in Naples.
^^

Loxahatchee GC to work
with two universities in
bentgrass research
The Loxahatchee Golf Club will soon
be working with Dr. Joseph Duich, Pennsylvania State University, and Dr. Milton

THE JOB SCENE
Superintendent Positions Open

Hills CC to the new country club in Mount
Dora.

O Superintendent. Burnt Store CC.
Send resume to Francis E. Somers, 301
Madrid Blvd, Punta Gorda, FL 33950.

O Bob Snapp is leaving Bella Vista GC to
become superintendent at Royal Oak GC
in Titusville.

O Assistant Superintendent. Cape
Coral G&TC. Contact Todd Strane 813542-3191.

O Randy Saul has moved from
Saddlebrook Resort to the superintendent
position at tfie Eagles GC

O Assistant Superintendent. Woodfield
CC. Contact Andy Lemmel, 407-9971631.

O Dennis Batz, formerly of the Eagles GC,
has now taken over as superintendent at
Sugarmill CC in New Smyrna.

O Assistant Superintendent. Bonita
Bay Club. Contact Mark Black, 813495-0073.

O Joe Clay, after 12 years as superintendent at Clearwater CC, has joined
Harrells, Inc. in the St. Pete to Gainesville
area.

Job Changes
O James Moulton has moved from Rolling

O Jerry Betyea has gone from Hibiscus GC
to Foxfire CC in Naples.

Engleke, Texas A 8c M University, in a
research project that involves the testing
of bentgrasses is South Florida.
Phil Shoemaker, superintendent at
Loxahatchee, and Darren J. Davis, assistant superintendent, said they have been
successfully maintaining Penncross bent
since the club's inception in 1984. To the
best of their knowledge, the club is the
most southerly golf course to grow bentgrass on a year-round basis.
They will set up a 3,500-square-foot
test site to be divided equally in half for
plots of the new varieties of bentgrass.
One half is for Dr. Duich's seed and the
other half is for Dr. Engelke's seed. The
test site will be built in USGA style and is
in an area that will provide full sunlight
and good air circulation. An irrigation
system will be set up.
Any questions? Feel free to phone
Phil Shoemaker at 407-747-8893.
^

that contain less than 80% fertilizer materials and which are applied onsite" are
exempt. This exemption offers a relief,
but efforts made toward registering your
tanks (any type) would show we are
concerned about our environment.
Ifyour underground or aboveground
storage tanks contain diesel or petroleum, they now have a chance to become
registered for remediation funding.
Chapter 17-769 F.A.C. states that any
tank owner having their storage tanks in
compliance are eligible for the Florida
Petroleum Liability Insurance Restoration Program (FPLIRP). The FPLIRP
provides the tank owner reimbursement
for the cleanup process if a discharge or
"release" of product occurs and contamination results. The FPLIRP was to
close Oct. 26, but the deadline has been
extended until December 31. Sign up
now. It can save money!

Are your tanks registered?

63rd Annual

By PenttiMarie
O'Brien
Missimer & Associates

As of Sept. 12, all aboveground pesticide tanks over 550 gallons had to be
registered with the Florida Department
of Environmental Regulation. Are your
tanks registered? Does this include
fertigation tanks?
According to Chapter 17-762.300
Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.)
item(s) "Storage tank systems which are
not in contact with the soil, that are
constructed of non-corrosive materials

GCSAA Conference & Show
Feb. 10-17 J 992
New Orleans Convention Center

FGCSA has a room block at

The Hyatt-Regency
New Orleans
Single $130 Double $150
Rates Available from 2/10 thru 2/18
Phone Hotel Direct 504-561-1234
State that you're with the FGCSA
or Phone Marie Roberts at
407-692-9349

Sod certification
under discussion
Meeting of the FGCSA Research Committee, Thursday, Oct.
10 at Palm Beach National GC.
I. MISCELLANEOUS
The first phase ofthe Nitrogen Source
Program has been completed. Results
will be available soon and will be published in The Florida Green. The second
phase will increase the fertility rate to 2
pounds.
Soil testing has been done on the
green. Shows low potassium and phosphate but nothing out of the ordinary.
The pH has gone from 6.5 to 7. Due to
the bermudagrass decline, the fertilization rate will be increased: ammonium
sulphate for one week, then 8-0-8 the
next, and continue alternating. Top
dressing will be done every 2 weeks.
II. BERMUDAGRASS DECLINE
Bermudagrass decline seems to have
come in on sprigs. First signs of the
disease began in the early part of August.
Disease-free material is difficult to obtain as the disease spreads easily in soil.
10% contaminated before planting. Con tamination increased to 15-20% in February.
A discussion took place regarding the
advantages and disadvantages of having
this disease occur on our research green.
Pros and cons were discussed including
current cultural practices of raising the
cut and increasing the fertilization rate.
III. SOD CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
A discussion took place to try to get
this program reinstated in Florida. The
committee felt that since the Florida
Department of Agriculture discontinued the testing several years ago, the
FGCSA might consider beginning a program ourselves. We would contact the
various growers and ask if they would
like to participate in the certification on
a voluntary basis. It was suggested that
we might be able to have a meeting of
interested sod growers in January. It
would be important that the technique
used would be accurate. We would have
to hire someone to perform the studies.
Monica Elliott suggested client liability
might present a problem. Chuck Gast
will call the University of Tennessee to
discuss their method of certification.
Cost was estimated to be about $350/
sample. The committee felt that Tifdwarf

would be our main concern.
IV. FUTURE PROJECT
Dr. Elliott suggested the committee
consider growth regulating response of
the new systemic fungicides as a future
project.
V. BIOSTIMULANTS
Dr. Elliott explained that this program would have to be done with two
separate groups: organic fertilizers and
biostimulants. A root washer would be
needed for the program at a cost of
approximately $5,500. The root washer
could be used for other studies in the
future. It was also suggested that since
this machine's usefulness is limited, we
might be able to purchase a used machine from another research facility. In
any case, the Committee decided that we
should go ahead with the program and
purchase the machine. Dr. Elliott expected the cost to exceed $20,000 for a
two-year study. Since we have been
contacted by at least eight companies
and would expect 100% participation, it
was decided to set a fee of $3,500 each.
Dr. Elliott will draft a letter to be sent
to these companies inviting their participation and an article would be placed
in the January issue of the Green Sheet.
We would have to hire a part time
person to help with the study. It was
stressed that this type of study can only
be done on a long-time basis in order to
show any noticeable results.
Meeting was adjourned at 4:45 p.m.

Cisar. This project will examine the fate
and movement of fertilizers and pesticides that are currently used on golf
course putting greens.
A beautiful, uniform case ofbermudagrass decline is now occurring on the
research green. For the plant pathologist at the center, it is the equivalent of
winning the lottery. For a first-hand
look at the very beginning stages of this
disease and the stages that eventually
lead to bare sand, please stop by any
time.
The effect of the interaction of cutting height and cultivar on this disease is
illustrated very well. Both cultivars have
been maintained exactly the same, including a 3/16 inch cutting height. Symptoms of bermudagrass decline began
appearing on both the Tifdwarf and the
Tifgreen 328 in mid-August. These
symptoms were small patches (about 6
inches in diameter) with a yellow appearance due to the death of the lower
leaves. The patches eventually darkened
and appeared wilted and a little thin.
One month later the Tifdwarf symptoms had not progressed beyond the
dark, wilted appearance. However, the
entire Tifgreen 328 area had become
chlorotic (yellow) with many areas beginning to die and severely thin out. It is
quite likely the Tifdwarf would exhibit
the same symptoms as the Tifgreen 328
if it were mowed at a lower height of cut,
especially the popular Vs inch.

'Beautiful' case of
bermudagrass decline
now on research green

Control studies have begun on the
Tifgreen 328 area to examine both cultural and chemical control of this disease. If you did not receive the University of Florida Extension Fact Sheet pp31 entitled "Bermudagrass Decline,"
kindly published in color by Janlark
Communications, Inc., contact Publications, IFAS Building 664, Gainesville,
FL 32611-0001 for a free copy.

Report By Dr. Monica Elliott, plant pathologist
Fort Lauderdale Research & Education Center
Six months of evaluation have been
completed for the nitrogen source study
on the research green at the Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center.
Results obtained thus far will be published shortly, once the statistical analysis has been completed. Quality scores
have been obtained every two weeks and
clipping weights have been obtained once
each month since May.
Stainless steel collection "pots" have
been buried in the USGA spec portion
of the green for use in the USGA funded
project by Drs. George Snyder and John

Sympathy
The FGCSA Board of Directors
extends sincere sympathy and
warmest regards to Immediate Past
President Ray Hansen
whose wife Sandy
died Tuesday,
Oct. 15. Ray is the
superintendent
at Delair CC in
Delray Beach.

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Texas A&M's James Beard keynotes industry priorities
Story, Page 5

'Beautiful' bermudagrass decline at research green
Details on Page 7

FGCSA Secretary
Mrs. Marie Roberts
1 7 6 0 N . W . Pine Lake Drive
Stuart, FL 3 4 9 9 4

First Ciass Mail
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit #137
Stuart, FL

ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED

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Cookingham, Peter
Turfgrass Information Center
MSU: W-212 Library
East Lansing, Michigan 48828