NEWSLETTER OF THE FLORIDA GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION

GCSAA President Joseph Baidy, CGCS, with the help of the Board of Directors, cuts the ribbon to open the GCSAA trade show

May 1-3 49th Annual Southeastern
Turfgrass Conference,
Tifton, Georgia

UPCOMING EVENTS

May 12

South Florida GCSA
chapter meeting, Oak Tree

May 13

Treasure Coast GCS A 2nd
Annual Blue Pearl
Tournament, See page 3.

May 15

West Coast GCSA chapter
meeting, River Hills GC

May 19

Emergency Response
Seminar sponsored by
FGCSA, Naples Beach
Hotel, 12:30 p.m.

May 20

Poa Annua Classic,
Naples Beach Hotel

June 13

Everglades GCSA chapter
meeting, Audubon CC

May 21

G. C. Horn Tournament

June 14

May 23

Suncoast chapter meeting,
Sara Bay CC

West Coast GCSA chapter
meeting, Seven Springs GC

June 17

May 24

GCSAA sponsored
Equipment Manager
Seminar at Lake City CC.
Contact GCSAA for info.

PBGCSA 14th Annual
Future of Golf
Tournament, Emerald Dunes

June 21

Palm Beach chapter meeting,
Banyan GC

May 24

PBGCSA chapter meeting,
Boca Del Mar CC

July 11

June 12

Central Florida Turf Field
Day and Chapter
Championship, Heathrow

GCSAA Regional Seminar
co-sponsored by West Coast
GCSA, Turfgrass Stress
Management

Aug. 6-7 Crowfoot Open, Bay Hill Club

President's Message

President's Message
by Scott Bell

Busiest month of the year, Gentlemen's
Invitational (my Member-Guest Tournament), Club Championship, The
Masters, Tax Day... It must be spring in
Florida. The cold days of February are
behind us, the grass is growing again,
and most of our courses look the best
that they have looked. The ryegrass
overseeders are looking for rain to perk
it up or they are looking for a means to
get rid of grass that treated them so
kindly this past winter. April and May,
what grand months. The Envirotron
tournament, the Poa Annua, The Blue
Pearl (Hometown Favorite), all help to
make these months enjoyable. So enjoy
these months, play some golf, enter the
tournaments. The summers can have
some long hot days of renovation, rebuilding and building.
The past season has been interesting to
say the least. The weather was arguably
the worst that I can recall in the past ten
years. February was cold all month and
October through January was very wet.
Cold and wet are a deadly combination.
I had thin turf in areas that I had never
had before and some areas did not re-

Scott Bell

cover until recently. From what I have
heard, the winter took a worse toll on
others. It seems that we have had more
job changes in the past six months than
we had in many years. Many of us were
extremely shocked to hear that one very
good superintendent's contract was not
renewed because "the grass was not
green enough after the cold weather".
Sometimes it can be hard to keep a
positive outlook on our profession when
some clubs behave in this manner. I was
equally surprised when someone close
to me was laid off when his club decided

GREEN SHEE

Editor:
Greg Plotner, CGCS
Tampa Palms GC
5811 Tampa Palms Blvd.
Tampa, FL 33647
(813) 972-3375
News Coordinator:
Mrs. Marie Roberts
1760 N.W. Pine Lake Drive
Stuart, FL 34994
(407) 692-9349
(407) 692-9654 (Fax)
(800) 732-6053 (Florida Wats)

The Green Sheet is a bimonthly FGCSA
newsletter printed as follows: Jan ./Feb.,
March/April, May/June, July/Aug.,
SeptVOct., Nov./Dec.
2

Financial Support:
This issue of the Green Sheet is
being sponsored by:
Golf Ventures
2101 East Edge wood Dr.
Lakeland, FL 33803
(800) 330-8874
Now in Tampa and Fort Myers.
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. Items must be for the good of
the association.
Deadline next issue, June 15.

to clean house of all management staff.
Some superintendents have had enough
and they have changed careers. In spite
of all of this, we must continue to think
positively about our profession and stay
united as an organization. No one else
will do it for us. I have talked with other
superintendents from around the country and things appear to be similar in
other places. I know one superintendent
who recently "jumped the fence" from
superintendent to sales and now he
complains about margins, competition
and the joys of owning his own business
when before he complained about
members, grass and weather. I have had
this discussion with other business people
and everyone has bumps in their roads to
success. The point is, we have a great
profession, so enjoy it!
The FTGA recently made some tough
business decisions. The elimination of
one of the staff rattled the industry. It is
not my place to comment on that particular action, however as president of a
large organization I can definitely tell
you that it must have been one long and
hard decision. What I can say is that for
those of us who are FTGA members —
and we should all be — we need to
support the current Board and officers
since they are all trying to do the best for
the industry. The FTGA has made some
changes that will allow for more research
to be funded and hopefully findings that
will benefit us all.
Finally, many chapters have fundraising
tournaments this time of year. Please
support your local chapters in these
events and support those who support
these tournaments. Many of our suppliers support all of the various tournaments
and events. Remember them in your
future purchasing. I thought that the
South Florida Turf Expo and IFAS Field
Day was a great success. Attendance
appeared to be high; the equipmentExpo
was great, and the education was plentiful. A special thanks goes to Marcus
Prevatte for an outstanding job on the
research green. The green is mowed at
l/8th inch and it looks fantastic. For
those of you who have not seen it, you
need to!
^
The Green Sheet

Upcoming Events

2nd Annual TCGCSA
Blue Pearl
Charity Tournament
The Treasure Coast GCSA will host
their second annual charity golf tournament at the exclusive Loblolly Pines
Golf Club. The tournament will be held
on Saturday, May 13,1995. All players
will go off at9:00 a.m. in a shotgun start.
This event is a charitable function with
proceeds going to benefit the Audubon
Cooperative Sanctuary Program for
Schools. The program comprehensively
integrates conservation practices, habitat enhancement and environmental
education into elementary and secondary schools by involving teachers, students and members of the local community in projects that create a sanctuary
for wildlife and environmental conservation on the school property. Our goal
is to adopt ten schools, one in each
community from Vero Beach to Hobe
Sound.
The tournament will be a four person
scramble event. You can bring your
own team or sign up individually. The
cost is $125.00 per player. During golf
we will have a box lunch and an awards
ceremony will follow. Trophies will be
awarded in gross and net divisions.
The Hobe Sound Womens Club will be
sponsoring the 1st Annual Helicopter
Hole-in-One raffle where 1,000 numbered golf balls will be dropped onto a
temporary green at Loblolly. The ball
that goes in the hole or is closest to the
pin wins $1,000 cash. Other prizes will
also be awarded. Tickets are $10.00
each and may be obtained by calling
Shelly Foy at 407-546-2620. Proceeds
go to the Audubon Sanctuary Program
for Schools as well as Scholarship and
Education Fund.
Contact Bonnie at Loblolly Pines GC at
407-546-8700 for more information on
the golf tournament and registration
forms.
May/June 1995

Palm Beach Chapter
Update
The Palm Beach chapter's 14th Annual
Future of Golf Tourament will be held
on Saturday, June 17,1995, at Emerald
Dunes GC. Format will be a 4-man
scramble and is limited to the first 30
teams. Entry fee of $75.00 per person
includes cart and greens fee, buffet
lunch, contests and door prizes. Call
Robin Goodell at 407-498-5103 for
registration package.
The Palm Beach chapter recently raised
$2,600 by serving as spotters for the
PGA Seniors Championship Tournament held at the PGA Resort April 1316. For the fourth year in a row, more
than twenty Palm Beach members donated their time for the entire four day
tournament in this successful fund
raising event that has now become a
tradition for the chapter.

"A
North Florida GCSA
Mike Richards Memorial
Tournament

The Third Annual Mike Richards Memorial Scholarship Tournament held
April 10th at the Hidden Hills Country
Club in Jacksonville was another huge
success. The capacity field enjoyed a
wonderful afternoon of great golf and
great scores! This year's winners were
Low Net Don Branske and Rob Uselmse
with Low Gross going to Bill Fowler
and Norman Pilote. Second Low Net to
Jeff Haley and Dennis Ledger and Second Low Gross to Richard Martin and
Don Delaney. Congratulations to all our
winners and special thanks to our commercial sponsors.

FGCSA CHAPTER
SECRETARIES:
Have your chapter's fundraisers listed
in the Green Sheet. Send results and
pictures to the FGCSA office.

1995 Poa Annua Weekend
Activities

The Everglades chapter presents the 21 st
Annual Poa Annua Golf Classic weekend at the Naples Beach Hotel and Golf
Club on Friday, May 19th through Sunday, May 21st. Room reservations may
be made directly with the Naples Beach
Hotel at 1-800-237-7600.
The first scheduled activity is an FGCSA
sponsored seminar entitled Emergency
Response which will be held on Friday
afternoon beginning at 12:30 p.m. The
seminar is being conducted by Terry
Henderson, educational instructor at
DowElanco, who will demonstrate to
attendees how to prepare for and respond to emergency situations on golf
courses. The seminar has been approved by the GCSAA for .5 CEU's
toward recertification and has a registration fee of $35.00 before May 5th and
$40.00 after May 5th. You do not have
to be playing in the Poa Classic or the G.
C. Horn in order to attend the seminar.

Poa Classic to be played on
Saturday this year
This year the Poa Classic will be played
on Saturday! Play begins with an 8:30
a.m. shotgun start at the Naples Beach
Hotel Golf Club. Entry fee is $90.00
which includes your dinner ticket. After
the Tournament, cocktails begin at 6:30
p.m. with the "Southwestern Fiesta"
dinner to follow at 7:30 p.m. Award
presentations and entertainment will
follow dinner. Extra dinner tickets are
available for $40.00. Send checks and
entry forms to EGCSA, P O Box 990422,
Golden Gate, FL 33999.
Sunday is reserved for the G. C. Horn
Memorial Tournament which will have
an 8:00 a.m. shotgun start. Entry fee is
$125.00 per 2-man team. Gold and
Silver Sponsorships are available. Last
minute sponsorships and registrations
may be made by calling Dick Naccarato
directly at 813-261-7815 or by contacting David Barnes at 813-324-2380.
3

FGCSA Reception in San Francisco

Friendly Faces in Faraway Places
An Oberservation of the FGCSA Reception by Carol Thomas, CGCS
My week in San Francisco to
attend the annual GCSAA
meeting had gotten off to a hectic
start with a two-day workshop
beginning Monday morning followed by single day workshops
on Wednesday and Thursday. I
was ready to go home on Thursday night even though my plans
called for me to return to Florida
on Saturday. However, I wanted
to attend the concurrent sessions,
Certification luncheon and
FGCSA reception on Friday.
Despite being somewhat homesick and tired, all these events
seemed like good reasons to
spend another day in San Francisco.

same direction. Upon arrival at
the reception site, Marie Roberts
and Paul Crawford extended
warm, personal welcomes. They
were just the beginning of a first
class presentation.

My hunch proved correct as I
saw many familiar faces and
made new friends at the concurrent sessions and certification
luncheon. The usual business
and personal topics were exchanged amongst friendly hellos,
handshakes and a few special
hugs. After a busy Friday, it was
time to hurry and get ready for
the FGCSA reception. Second
thoughts arose about attending
after another long day, but in the
spirit of camaraderie, professionalism, and showing support
for the organization, I made my
way over to the Marriott.

The ambience of the whole setting was just perfect to encourage
everyone to extend friendly
greetings, exchange information,
ask questions and even make plans
for meeting again back in Florida.

My spirits began to pick up on
the way as I saw many familiar
smiling faces all headed in the
4

The room was set up so nicely
with the bars and food stations
spread around the room to prevent crowding and promote interaction. The food variety and presentation was outstanding, the
band played a variety of music
that appealed to all age levels.
See Sponsor List on Next Page

phones, radios, or pagers.
Our club managers and greens
committee members were not
pulling us away to investigate
another concern, there were opportunities to get to know colleagues better on a personal level
to where you could feel comfortable asking for advice or assistance at a future date. The competing technical and sales representatives were cordial with each
other and easily available to access information.
Overall, the FGCSA reception
was the highlight of the week for
all of us to network together in a
faraway place and gather information that would help make us
better professionals upon return
home. Plan on attending the next
one!
^

Many thanks should be extended
to all the sponsors who contributed to the event and the FGCSA
members, especially Marie, who
worked so hard to make everything come together.
Importantly, while it was a nice
social event, we cannot overlook
the hidden values and benefits
derived from bringing as many
different professionals together
under one roof at the same time.
We did not have to worry about

Paul Crawford greets Tom Benefield at
the entrance to the FGCSA Reception at
the San Francisco Marriott.
The Green Sheet

NEMACUR Restrictions
NEMACUR 3 TURF NEMATICIDE
(EPA REG. NO. 3125-283)

NEMACUR 10% TURF AND ORNAMENTAL NEMATICIDE
(EPA REG. NO. 3125-237)

For use on golf course turf in Florida.
The information and instructions herein are to be followed when applying
NEMACUR to golf course turf. These measures are designed to reduce the risk
of exposure to birds and aquatic organisms, including fish, following
NEMACUR applications.
APPLICATION:
1) No more than 10 acres per golf course per day may be treated with
NEMACUR, with a waiting period of three (3) days before an additional
10 acres may be treated.
2) NEMACUR may not be applied closer than 10 feet from bodies of
water and surface fairway drains.
3) NEMACUR may not be applied to golf course turf between noon and
sunset from June 1 through September 30.
4) Do not use NEMACUR to control Mole Crickets.
This information is in addition to that contained within the federal label and, in
addition to the label, must be in the possession of the user at time of pesticide
application.
IMPORTANT: Before using the product, read and carefully observe directions,
cautionary statements and other information appearing on the EPA registered
product label. This product is sold subject to the Conditions of Sale set forth on
the container label.
^&

GCSAA Convention Happenings

Gary Grigg, CGCS, superintendent at Royal Poinciana GC in Naples, was elected
President of the GCSAA during the Conference and Show in San Francisco. Bruce
Williams, CGCS, Bob OUink GC in Illinois was vice president. Secretary/
Treasurer is Paul McGinnis CGCS, from Arizona.
Directors are Dave Fearis, CGCS; George Renault, CGCS; Tommy Witt, CGCS;
R. Scott Woodhead, CGCS; and newly appointed Michael Wallace, CGCS, Hop
Meadow CC in Connecticut.
The Florida Green was selected Best Overall in Category 2 of the GCSAA Chapter
Publications Contest. Congratulations to editor Joel Jackson, CGCS, and also to
past editor, Tom Benefield, CGCS.
Scott Bell, FGCSA president, made presentations of $5,000 to the GCSAA
Foundation to continue our participation in the Platinum Tee Club and $1,000 to
the Musser Foundation as the FGCSA continues to support these programs.
May/June 1995

1995 FGCSA Reception
Sponsors
Diamond Sponsors:

AgrEvo
Ciba Geigy
Club Car
Florida Superior Sand
Golf Agronomics
Helena!Ag Resources
Kilpatrick/Jacobsen
Nucrane Machinery
Nutri Turf
Pursell Industries
Quality Grassing
Sandoz Agro. Inc.
Southern Golf
Terra Asgrow
Tresca Industries
Valent, USA
y

Gold Sponsors:
American Cyanamid
Central Florida Turf
DowElanco
E. R. Jahna Industries
Golf Ventures
Lake City Alumni
Lesco
Liquid Ag
Miles Specialty Products
North Florida GCSA
Palm Beach GCSA
PermaLock Industries
Pifer, Inc.
Precision Laboratories
Rhone Poulenc
Rohm and Haas
Sunniland
TMI Turf Merchants
United Horticulture
Van Waters & Rogers
West Coast GCSA
Zaun

Special Thanks to Double
Diamond Sponsor — Vigoro
5

SFGCSA Expo

Eighth Annual South Florida GCSA Exposition Sets New Attendance Record
by Dr. Monica Elliott, U of F Fort Lauderdale

Part of the record
breaking crowd of
over 400 attendees
at the 8th Annual
SFGCSA Expo are
shown enjoying the
equipment
demonstration.

Special Thanks to Our Major
Equipment Demonstrators:
Florida Coast Equipment
Hector Turf
NuCrane
Kilpatrick Turf
Pifer, Inc.

All the suppliers and equipment dealers who participated in the
SFGCSA Turfgrass Exposition this year deserve a big 'Thank
You". Their donated funds provide for the salary of Marcus
Prevatte who maintains the research greens at the University of
Florida's Fori Lauderdale Research and Education Center. None of
the research and demonstration work conducted on these greens
could be accomplished without his help.
In the same way superintendents worry about their course before a
big event, I can assure you that we worried about the research greens
before the UF Field Day and SFGCSA Expo. Marcus is dedicated
to their maintenance and observes everything. The research greens
have the same problems that club greens have — blown irrigation
heads, etc. Fortunately, the molecrickets were well-behaved for the
Field Day!
It is also important to recognize those companies or clubs who have
donated equipment, supplies or time this past year for maintenance
of the research greens. These include the following:
Golf Agronomics and Googe Trucking - topdressing
Harrell's Inc. - fertilizer
Kilpatrick Turf - utility cart and greens mower
NuCrane Machinery - triplex mower
Pifer, Inc. - aerification
LaGorce Country Club - used triplex mower

Bob Klitz, CGCS, SFGCSA President, served as MC for
the equipment demonstration portion of the Expo.

In addition, Deer Creek Country Club/Carolina Club, Haverland
Turf Farms and Broken Sound Club have recently donated used
green mowers. This will allow us to more easily maintain all the
different grasses on the greens and to complete a mowing height
study.
Thanks to everyone for making the past year a great success!!
6 The Green Sheet

Membership News

Newly Certified FGCSA Members

Allen Brissenden was born, raised
and educated in South Africa. It was
there that he became interested in the
golf turf business while working in golf
course construction. He moved to the
United States in 1981 and continued his
career in golf course construction. After helping build the Golden Ocala CC,
Allen accepted hisfirstAssistant Superintendent position at Temple Terrace
G&CC. From there he moved toCountry
Way GC in Tampa for 2 1/2 years and
has now been the Superintendent at
Kissimmee GC for the past three years.
Allen believes the grasses are similar in
South Africa and in Florida. He is glad
to be in Florida and enjoyed the challenge of the GCSAA certification test.
He is a member of the Central Florida
chapter and received his certification
status in October.

Danny Miller has been playing golf

since the age of 12. He started working
on the Rogala Public Links for Charlie
Meaker in Matton, Illinois while still in
high school. He credits Mr. Meaker for
getting him accepted into Penn State
where he earned his turfgrass degree.
After graduation he accepted a position
at Lincolnshire Fields CC in Champagne
and three years later became superintendent at a small nine hole private course
in Illinois. He moved to south Florida in
1981 and served as Assistant Superintendent at Inverrary, Eastpointe CC and
Quail Ridge. For the past seven years he
has served as Superintendent at the
Boynton Beach Municipal GC.

in the winter!). Danny and his wife
Robin have a two year old daughter,
Marisa Marie.

Bill Lanthier began his turfgrass
career working at Peach Valley CC in
Spartanburg, SC while attending high
school. He was involved in every
phase of the industry and was eager to
find a job at a good golf club when he
moved to Florida in 1984. He found
just the club he was looking for at
Mariner Sands GC in Stuart where he
worked for Kevin Downing and then
for Dave Oliver. In 1989, he moved to
North Palm Beach GC to accept the
challenge of being involved in a massive reconstruction project at the municipal course. He stayed on as superintendent at North Palm Beach GC
until this past year when he was pleased
to be able to return to Mariner Sands,
this time as head superintendent.
Bill serves on the board of directors of
the Treasure Coast chapter and is also a
member of the board of directors of the
FGCSA. He has been traveling to
Boca Raton at nights to earn his B.A.
degree at FAU. It took 11 years, but
he's done it! Bill met his fiancee,
Nicole, at Mariner Sands and they plan
to be married this year.

May/June 1995

Chuck Gast, formerly with the USGA,
has accepted the superintendents position at Jupiter Hills Club.
Rick Cernera, formerly Assistant at
Broken Sound is now Superintendent at
Fisher Island Club.
Chip Fowkes has moved from Emerald
Dunes GC to Frenchmens Creek GC.
Alex Kagnus has left the Presidents GC
to join the supply side of the industry.
Gary Bennett, CGCS, has moved from
Indian Creek CC to the President CC.
Bob Wagner has moved from World
Woods of Golf to become superintendent at Golden Lakes G&CC in Ocala.
Tad Altman, formerly at the Marriott at
Marco Island is now at Stonebridge CC.
Kevin Selsor, Assistant at Quail West is
now superintendent at Worthington CC.
Wayne Kappauf, CGCS, has moved from
Quail Run CC to Island Club on Marco.
Wayne Stewart is the new superintendent at the Marriott on Marco Island.
Jim Miller, formerly at Waterford GC is
now superintendent on the Bobcat course
at Plantation G&CC.
Mike Perham, CGCS, formerly at the
Moorings in Vero Beach has accepted
the position as superintendent at The
Fountains GC in Lake Worth.

Becoming certified was a personal goal
for Danny. He considered it a good
refresher course on basics. It was also
the fastest six hours he has ever seen!
He suggests that all those preparing for
the test pay special attending to reading
the material and organizing your notes.
Danny is an active member of the Palm
Beach GCS A and looks forward to playing lots of golf in the summer (too busy

Job Changes

Ron Ford, formerly at Clewiston GC is
now Assistant Superintendent at Laurel
Oak GC in Sarasota.

Chuck Cast (left) enjoys his last official
duties with John Foy and the USGA.

Vigoro Industries is looking for a territory manager for the Martin, Palm Beach,
Broward and Dade County area. Call
Scott Martiniere at 1-800-282-9588.
7

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813-665-5800
1-800-330-8874

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Gary Grigg, CGCS, elected President of the GCSAA
FGCSA Secretary
Mrs. Marie Roberts
1 7 6 0 N . W . Pine Lake Drive
Stuart, FL 34994

FIRST CLASS
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit #137
Stuart, FL

ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED

V *s

-V

s

Jackson, Joel CGCS
WDW - Magnolia
6780 Tamarind Circle
Orlando FL 32819