A Publication on
Turfgrass Management by the 
United States Golf Association®

March/April 1987

USGA 

Green Section

1987 USGA Green Section 
Education Conference Issue

USGA

Vol. 25, No. 2
MARCH/APRIL 1987

EDITOR: 
William H. Bengeyfield 
MANAGING EDITOR:
Robert Sommers
ART EDITOR:
Diane Chrenko

GREEN SECTION COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN:
Marion B. Farmer
10633 Kinnard Avenue, Apt. FI4
Los Angeles, Calif. 90024

NATIONAL DIRECTOR:
William H. Bengeyfield
P.O. Box 3375
Tustin, Calif. 92681
(714) 544-4411

GREEN SECTION AGRONOMISTS AND OFFICES:
Northeastern Region:
United States Golf Association, Golf House
Far Hills, N.J. 07931 • (201) 234-2300
James T. Snow, Director
Tim P. Moraghan, Agronomist
Gary A. Watschke, Agronomist

Mid-Atlantic Region:
P.O. Box 2105
West Chester, Pa. 19380 • (215) 696-4747
Stanley J. Zontek, Director

Southeastern Region:
P.O. Box 4213, Campus Station
Athens, Ga. 30605 • (404) 548-2741
Patrick M. O’Brien, Director

8908 S.E. Colony Street
Hobe Sound, Fla. 33455
John H. Foy, Agronomist

Great Lakes Region:
8727 W. Deerwood Drive
Brown Deer, Wis. 53209 • (414) 354-2203
James M. Latham, Jr., Director

Mid-Continent Region:
300 Sharron Drive, Waco, Texas 76710 • (817) 776-0765
James F. Moore, Director

Western Region:
P.O. Box 3375
Tustin, Calif. 92681 • (714) 544-4411
Larry W. Gilhuly, Director

Cover Photo
Sherwood A. Moore receives the 
1987 USGA Green Section Award 
from Montford T. Johnson,
Treasurer of the USGA.

Green Section
RECORD

1 Sherwood A. Moore, USGA Green Section 

1987 Award Recipient

2 One Business In Which Success Is Not 
Always Found At The Bottom Line 

BEST TURF TIPS OF 1986 - PART I 
Of Sprays and Sparks, by Gary A. Watschke

4 Chips ’N’ Dips, by Larry W. Gilhuly
5 Seeing The Unseen, by John H. Foy

6 BASIC OPINIONS - BUT NOT NECESSARILY 

THOSE OF TODAY’S MANAGEMENT

So You Think You Understand Automatic Irrigation 
by Clifford A. Wagoner

7 The Golf Course Superintendent and The Environmentalist: 

Friends or Foes?, by Monroe S. Miller

9 The Forgotten Magic of Lime, by William H. Bengeyfield

11 Let’s See — My Rules of Golf Must Be Here, Somewhere . . . 

It’s in the Bag, by George Eberl

13 The Honor Roll

17 Biotechnology And Turfgrass Research:

A Glimpse Into The Future, by Cyrus M. Me Kell

21 THE BEST TURF TIPS OF 1986 - PART II
Helping The Blind To See, by James T. Snow

23 Oh Traffic: Oh Clippings: Oh Stumps!, by Charles B. White
24 The C - S - T - M Factor, by Stanley J. Zontek

26 For the Golf Course Superintendent There’s a

Time to Hold — and a Time to Fold, by Riley Stottern

27 The Trials and Tribulations of a Green

Committee Chairman, by Howard Keel

30 A Few Minutes with Frank Hannigan

33 THE BEST TURF TIPS OF 1986 - PART III

Rooting Depth and Soil Sampling, by James F. Moore
34 A Supplemental Irrigation System for Putting Greens 

by Patrick M. O'Brien

35 Topdressing Operations That Vibrate, by James T. Latham

37 Mid-Winter News Notes

Back
Cover

Turf Twisters

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Sherwood A. Moore 
USGA Green Section 
1987 Award Recipient

NO GOLF COURSE superinten­

dent is more qualified or deser­
ving of the Green Section 
Award, presented annually for distin­

guished service to golf through work 
with turfgrass, than Sherwood A. 
Moore. He exemplifies the modern pro­
fessional and his contributions to the 
game. On February 2, 1987, in Phoenix, 
Arizona, Moore became the 27th reci­
pient of the highest recognition the 
USGA bestows in the field of turfgrass 
management.

Before 1,000 guests, the Award was 
presented by Montford T. Johnson, of 
Amarillo, Texas, the USGA Treasurer, 
at the Golf Course Superintendents 
Association of America Annual Turf­
grass Conference. The Annual Green 
Section Educational Program was held 
earlier in the day, the sixth consecutive 
year it has been held in conjunction with 
the GCSAA International Turfgrass 
Conference and Show. Over 1,100 super­
intendents and club and golf association 
officials from throughout the world 
attended.

A native of West Hanover, Connecti­
cut, Moore began his career in golf in 
1939. Holding an associate’s degree, 
from the Stockbridge School of Agricul­
ture of the University of Massachusetts, 
he applied his expertise at Lake 
Mohawk Golf Club and Hollywood 
Golf Club, both in New Jersey; 
Woodway Country Club, in Darien 
Connecticut; and during two tenures at 
Winged Foot Golf Club, in Mamaro­
neck, New York. While he was at 
Winged Foot, he was responsible for 
preparing the course for three USGA 
Championships — the 1959 and 1984 
U.S. Opens and the 1980 U.S. Senior 
Open.

He has been an enthusiastic and artic­
ulate spokesman for the turf manage­
ment industry as both an author and lec-

Sherwood Moore (right) 
with John Schilling, 
Executive Director 
of the Golf Course 
Superintendents 
Association of 
America, during 
preparations for the 
1984 U.S. Open at 
Winged Fool.

turer. He has participated in hundreds 
of educational conferences, and served 
as an instructor at Short Courses for 
turfgrass students at Rutgers University. 
In a career that has spanned four 
decades, including combat service with 
the Eighth Air Force during the Second 
World War, he has provided guidance, 
training, help, and encouragement to 
young people in turfgrass management 
and golf.

AN INNOVATOR, he was one of the 
xV first superintendents to use arseni­
cals for wide-scale control of Poa annua 
on fairways and rough areas. He pio­
neered fairway contour mowing and 
using triplex green mowers on fairways. 
Sherwood worked closely with research­
ers and manufacturers in the use of new 
equipment and chemicals and their 
application techniques to actual golf 
course situations.

In 1939 he became a member of the 
Golf Course Superintendents Associa­
tion of America, rising to President, in 

1962. He has been a member of the 
USGA Green Section Committee for 15 
years and on the Review Board for the 
James B. Beard book Turf Management 
for Golf Courses, a USGA publication.
He has also served as President of the 
New Jersey GCSA, in 1953 and 1954, 
and the New York Metropolitan GCSA, 
in 1965 and 1966. He continues to be 
active in many associations in the North­
east, as well as with the O. J. Noer Turf­
grass Research Foundation.

As he accepted the Award, Moore 
said, “To work with nature, to travel, to 
see the progress we have all made in the 
care of golf courses in these years has 
been an exciting and rewarding experi­
ence to me. To my wife, Marie, to all my 
friends, I share this recognition with 
you.”

Sherwood Moore has led the way to 
greater professionalism within the ranks 
of the golf course superintendent. He 
has led the way in dedication and service 
to golf. He honors the Award, and is emi­
nently deserving of it. 

MARCH/APRIL 1987

1

1987 GREEN SECTION 
EDUCATION CONFERENCE

One Business In Which Success 
Is Not Always Found 
At The Bottom Line

Marion B. Farmer

February 2,1987, Phoenix Civic Plaza, 
Phoenix, Arizona

FOR THE SIXTH consecutive year, the Annual Green Section Education Conference was again 

held in conjunction with the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America International 
Turfgrass Conference and Show. Marion B. Farmer, of Los Angeles, California, Chairman of the 
USGA Green Section Committee, introduced the morning’s speakers before an audience of 1,100 at the 

Phoenix Civic Plaza’s Symphony Hall. The proceedings of the program are presented in this issue of 
the Green Section Record.

BEST TURF TIPS OF 1986 - PART I

Having completed one of their most successful Turf Advisory Service Visiting Service seasons ever, 
consulting with 1,200 USGA Member clubs and courses and their superintendents in 1986, the nine 
Green Section Agronomists offer a new edition of “Best Turf Tips of 1986 — Part I. ” Parts II and III 
will be found later in this issue.

Of Sprays and Sparks

by GARY A. WATSCHKE
Agronomist, Northeastern Region, USGA Green Section

YIPES! STRIPES! How many of 

us in the past have seen the some­
times startling appearance of 
turf caused by errors in applying various 

rates of only a few ounces of product per 
acre. Mechanical problems associated 
with the misapplication of such potent 
products can be significantly reduced.

chemicals? Stripes and other geometric 
patterns are often caused by clogged 
nozzles, skips, overlaps, and undulating 
terrain, and by “boomless” spray 
techniques.

The poor results created by these 
problems can become magnified when 
using some of the newer turfgrass 
chemicals that come in highly con­
centrated formulations. Several plant 
growth regulators, a few herbicides, and 
some fungicides employ recommended

2

USGA GREEN SECTION RECORD

Scott Niven, superintendent at Stan- 
wich Golf Club, in Greenwich, Connecti­
cut, has found a spray system that 
provides near perfect results. The heart 
of the system is a manifold device that 
allows each nozzle to have its own 
delivery hose. This insures that all 
nozzles will receive the same volume of 
spray mix at the same pressure. Termi­
nal hardware consists of individual pet­
cocks, no-drip check valves, and hollow 
cone stainless steel nozzles. The pet­

cocks can provide sectional operation, 
and the no-drip check valves provide in­
stant shut-off.

The metercone nozzles are similar to 
Whirljet and Delevan Rain Drop noz­
zles. Consisting of a whirl chamber, 
sometimes a stator, and always a large 
orifice, these nozzles combine to pro­
duce a large spray droplet in a hollow 
cone pattern. They are spaced 20 to 40 
inches apart on a boom that can be fixed 
anywhere from 20 to 40 inches above the 
ground. The height doesn’t seem to be 
critical, because the nozzles are attached 
at a 45 degree angle to the ground, and 
the spray pattern will actually resemble

a waterfall. Drift has not been a problem 
even in 15-mile-per-hour breezes, be­
cause spray fines are minimized by the 
large droplet size.

Scott located this equipment at Chem 
Farm Inc. of Evansville, Indiana, and 
has produced picture perfect results 
using such sensitive products as Cutless, 
Embark, and Paraquat for Poa annua 
control.

Another turf tip was discovered at the 
Haverhill Golf and Country Club, in 
Massachusetts, where Mark Taylor is 
superintendent. Mark’s mechanic grew 
tired of the perpetual problem part-time 
workers had in jump-starting equip­
ment. Many of them were afraid of 
electric shock, and on occasion the 
polarity was reversed. To simplify 
matters, the alligator clips on the jump 
cables were replaced with the male plug 
commonly found on electric golf cart 
chargers. All equipment has been fitted 
with the matching female receptacle 
found on electric carts. Now the 
employees have only to plug one vehicle 
into another. No more crossed wires. 
No more sparks.

(Top, left) Individual petcocks, no-drip check valves and stainless steel nozzles make up 
the terminal hardware.

(Top, right) Each nozzle has its own hose from the spray distribution manifold. 

(Above) The nozzle with whirl chamber and large orifice.

MARCH/APRIL 1987 

3

Chips ’N’Dips

by LARRY W. GILHULY
Director, Western Region, USGA Green Section

Figure 2.

PERHAPS ONE of the most per­

sistent and insidious problems en­
countered by golf course superin­
tendents is the constant wear caused by 

golf carts, maintenance vehicles, and 
foot traffic. Many methods have been 
used to improve heavily worn areas, 
ranging from natural to artificial means, 
such as turf paving systems. While these 
artificial surfaces work to varying 
degrees, the golfer cannot play a shot 
directly off most of them. As an alterna­
tive to artificial cart paths, many clubs 
have used ropes or signs to restrict carts 
to paths, and various fanning techni­
ques to distribute vehicular■ wear 
throughout a broader area when leaving 
and entering cart paths and green areas 
(Figure 1).

While the following idea may not 
work under every situation and climate, 
it has worked very well at El Caballero 

4

USGA GREEN SECTION RECORD

Country Club, in Tarzana, California. 
Ray Lozano, the superintendent, has 
devised a means to use wood chips 
derived from limbs and trees on the golf 
course site to provide a natural means of 
controlling compaction on these heavily 
worn areas. The chips are comprised 
primarily of eucalyptus, pine, acacia, 
and other trees found throughout the 
golf course (Figure 2). The chips are basi­
cally stored for approximately one year 
before they are used. Approximatey 
three inches of chips are placed on the 
desired area and covered by one-half to 
one inch of soil. The area is then seeded 
with the desired grass (bermuda in the 
summer and perennial ryegrass in the 
winter) and covered with a fine layer of 
steer manure. Depending on the growth 
of the seed, play is kept off the area 
from four to six weeks and then opened 
for regular wear patterns. In the past 
three years, certain areas have per­

formed exceptionally well on the exits 
and entries of cart paths under heavy 
play conditions.

The best response with this technique 
can be seen in the main exit and entry 
area next to the 16th green (Figure 3). No 
soil was used on this area, and the sur­
rounding bermudagrass was allowed to 
encroach without overseeding. As can 
be seen, areas adjacent to this wood 
chip area suffer from severe compaction 
and turf loss. The wood chip area has 
lasted for over six years at this point 
with no turf loss and only a minor 
change in contour resulting from decom­
position of the chips. It is felt that if you 
wish to try this idea on your golf course, 
it would be best to use as little soil as 
possible to reduce the possibility of com­
paction. The idea has also been used 
successfully when chips are covered by 
sod with little soil attached.

Seeing The Unseen

by JOHN H. FOY
Agronomist, Southeastern Region, USGA Green Section

reaction by the chlorophyll, and the 
reflectance changes. Every factor — 
diseases, nematodes, insects, environ­
mental stress — produces very distinct 
identifiable patterns. From the first, 
subsurface lateral water flow patterns 
were very evident. This allowed for 
greatly improved efficiency in drainage 
work. Because of this one factor, almost 
every course that has been photo­
graphed has been able to justify the cost 
of the service.

While a great deal of work still has to 
be done as far as keying-in on the numer­
ous pests that attack golf courses, there 
is a tremendous potential to reduce 
chemical cost by treating only infested 
areas rather than having to make blan­
ket applications. With each additional 
golf course that is photographed, more 
insight is gained into the use of this 
new tool, which has already been ex­
tremely beneficial to superintendents 
throughout Florida.

Shaded areas through the fairways indicate poor drainage.

AT LAST YEAR’S conference, 
/^Northeastern agronomist Gary 
X .M.Watschke presented the use of 
aerial photography to aid in the com­
munication of plans and programs to 
superiors and staff. In Florida, over the 
past year, quite a number of superinten­
dents have taken advantage of a new 
twist with their aerial photographs. 
They changed from regular black and 
white or color film to infra-red. Aerial 
infra-red photography (or remote 
sensing) was used during the Korean 
War, and since then, millions of acres 
have been photographed. Nevertheless, 
this technology has rarely been used on 
golf courses.

Jon Seid, of LaBelle, Florida, has 
been involved with the technology from 
its beginning and has worked with uni­
versities and state and federal agencies 
as a private business, photographing 
agricultural crops to locate and diag­
nose plant disease and insect infes­
tations. Cary Lewis, director of golf 
course operations for the Vintage and 
Fiddlesticks Country Clubs, in Fort 
Myers, Florida, overheard a group of 
citrus growers discussing photographs 
of citrus canker plaguing the area. 
After discussing this work with the 
growers, Cary decided to use this tech­
nique on his courses, and he was im­
pressed with the results. Cary and Seid 
were able to define problem areas and 
then graphically explain them to the 
membership. Not only was it easy to 
justify chemical and fertilizer expendi­
tures, but drainage and irrigation pro­
blems also became very evident.

The reason why this technique makes 
these situations so visible is that infra­
red film picks up the invisible rays re­
flected by the chlorophyll molecules dur­
ing photosynthesis. Therefore, when 
anything affects the turf, there is a

BASIC OPINIONS - BUT NOT NECESSARILY 
THOSE OF TODAY’S MANAGEMENT

This is our editorial page, a new feature added to the 1987 Green Section Education Program. 
Here are three editorials discussing Basics in turfgrass management for golf But how can Basics 
become controversial? Decide for yourself.

So You Think You Understand 
Automatic Irrigation

by CLIFFORD A. WAGONER
Past President, GCSAA, Modesto, California

alternative may be to use terminal boxes 
so adjustments can be made as needed. 
In many installations, sprinkler heads 
are selected without giving any thought 
to water quality. Furthermore, some 
sprinklers are designed to turn one 
revolution in three minutes. This item 
needs to be taken into consideration if 
you plan to use the system for short 
cycles or syringing.

No one industry has done more to 
acquaint the user with its products than 
the irrigation industry. Just look at the 
number of exhibitors at every turf con­
ference. The volume of available 
material is staggering. In spite of the 
tremendous amount of technical data, 
automatic irrigation remains a mystery 
to many people.

Even if a system is poorly designed, a 
fine-tuned management program may 
possibly overcome the shortcomings 
of poor installation or poorly designed 
systems. Heads should periodically be 
checked for worn nozzles and for height 
of head in relation to ground level. 
Revolutions per minute should be 

constantly checked. Controllers should 
be frequently checked for accuracy in 
station timing and starting intervals. 
Pumps must be checked for volume, 
wear, and efficiency. Pumps and con­
trollers must be synchronized.

Many clubs are on their second auto­
matic systems, and some are on the 
third, and yet the golf course superin­
tendent has elected not to become 
involved. Many excuses are given, but to 
me, there is no excuse. If a club begins 
the process of selecting a design engineer 
without the superintendent’s being in­
volved, the superintendent must assert 
himself enough to help make those 
important decisions.

Bart Starr and Art Holtz, keynote 
speakers at the GCSAA 1987 Con­
ference, both said that perfection may 
be out of reach, but everyone must strive 
for excellence. Even though we may not 
fully understand automatic irrigation, if 
we assert ourselves during the planning 
and installation process and strive for 
excellence, golf course irrigation will 
certainly improve.

A field controller.

Clifford A. Wagoner

IS AUTOMATIC irrigation really 

automatic, or should it be called 
controlled or timed irrigation?

Since the name is questionable, how 
can we really understand automatic irri­
gation? Is it possible with all the sensors 
and computers to irrigate golf courses 
automatically? My experience in design­
ing, installing, and managing a system 
for 25 years leads me to believe that 
even though more accuracy may be pos­
sible now, any irrigation system still 
must be very carefully managed. If we 
understand automatic irrigation, why, 
after 25 years, are the same problems 
evident?

Systems are still being installed with 
spacings exceeding the manufacturer’s 
specifications, undersized piping, insuf­
ficient supply of water, and a large 
number of heads on one valve. Also, the 
heads on the same valve are on varying 
slopes that are not compatible. In a 
glaring misuse of technology, wires are 
connected in the field when using valve­
in-head sprinklers. This eliminates the 
flexibility of individual controls. An 

6 USGA GREEN SECTION RECORD

The Golf Course Superintendent 
and The Environmentalist: 
Friends or Foes?

by MONROE S. MILLER
Superintendent, Blackhawk Country Club, Wisconsin

THERE IS an irony in this title. I 

have been a golf course superin­
tendent for 15 years. I grew up on 
a Wisconsin dairy farm and then 
became a student at one of our land­
grant universities.

For all the time that I can recall, I 
have considered myself an environmen­
talist. I submit that you could consider 
almost all Americans environmentalists 
in the sense that we care about and are 
deeply concerned about the health of 
our citizens and the environment in this 
country. No sane person is anti­
environment; all of us want to improve 
the quality of the lives we live.

Furthermore, many sincere 
Americans are especially and under­
standably vigilant about preserving our 
natural resources and our spectacular 
environmental assets. In the last 30 
years or so however, a vocal and militant 
environmental faction has emerged that 
demands bannings, restrictions, and 
other regulations with no obvious or 
apparent regard for the risk/benefit 
equation. I consider this faction 
environmental extremists. I am most 
interested in those extremists who 
preach gloom and doom as a result of 
agricultural chemicals and pesticides. 
These people and their proposals can 
potentially damage, ruin, or even end 
much of what we do as managers of fine 
turf. To answer, early on, the question 
“Environmentalists — Friends or Foes?” 
is to respond that the fanatic and emo­
tional group to which I refer could be 
nothing but an adversary of a profes­
sional golf course manager.

THOSE CHARGED with the respon­

sibility of using agricultural pesti­
cides are aware of the benefits of these 

products. On our golf courses in Wiscon­
sin, in June, untreated bluegrass rough 
areas frequently are severely damaged 
by helminthosporium leaf spot. In 
August, the flowering ornamental 
crabapple that missed a preventive

Monroe S. Miller

dormant spray stands out because of its 
declining foliage. I recall vividly farm 
pastures not sprayed with 2, 4-D and a 
corn field that wasn’t treated with 
atrazine. In both cases, decreased yields 
were obvious.

More than these, and nearly endless 
other and varied examples of the value 
of pesticides, was an experience I had 
almost 20 years ago. I served my Army 
tour of duty in an underdeveloped 
country that was steeped in severe 
poverty. It did not then, nor does it 
today, have the ability to feed and clothe 
itself. Those terrible scenes of poor 
people are repeated around the world, 
in Mexico, Central America, South 
America, Asia, Africa, and the Middle 
East. Populations in those countries 
have not experienced the contributions 
of science, technology, improving 
health, agriculture, food, clothing, 
energy, housing, transportation, indus­
trial development, and, yes, even recre­
ation. These factors all contribute to the 
high standards of living we Americans 
enjoy today and, unfortunately, that 
many of our brethren around the world 
do not. No amount of vituperative dia­

tribes from environmental extremists 
will change the fact that the use of 
agricultural pesticides has contributed 
mightily to our higher standard of living.
It seems to me that most Americans 
are relatively satisfied with the sub­
stantial, even formidable, improvement 
in our standard of living in the past 30 
or 40 years. Yet the promoters of toxic 
terror seem to imply that we must go 
back to the methods of the 1930s — the 
good old days before pesticides, com­
mercial fertilizers, and synthetic prod­
ucts. Believe me, one week of those good 
old days would create more havoc than 
this nation has seen in a lifetime. We 
would not enjoy life as it is today with­
out the use of agricultural chemicals and 
pesticides. It is interesting to note that if 
we were to achieve 1980 agricultural 
production with 1940 technology, we 
would have to cultivate an estimated 430 
million additional acres of land.

These environmentalists are a for­
midable opponent for many reasons. 
Despite their small numbers — which 
include a few scientists, politicians, 
bureaucrats and consumer advocates — 
they have been able to convince millions 
of Americans that there is nothing but 
bad news about the environment in this 
country. How are they able to do this 
even though evidence and logic almost 
never support their position?

FIRST, THEY use emotion and 

horror. Fear is an easy emotion to 
generate and a difficult one to dispel. We 

are all afraid of cancer, birth defects, 
infertility, and radiation burns — many 
of the things environmentalists warn us 
about. Secondly, as a group they are 
good communicators. They are able to 
give impassioned speeches that often 
have nothing to do with reality. Many 
are good writers — the list of anti­
chemical and anti-industrial books and 
articles is endless. One of the best in 
this group is Rachel Carson, whose care­
fully crafted book Silent Spring is full of

MARCH/APRIL 1987 

7

military complex. These are all easy 
targets for almost any criticism.

IT IS FAIRLY easy to define a 

problem and visit about it. Offering 
answers and solutions is a lot more 

complex and challenging. That diffi­
culty is amplified when the problem is 
as pervasive as this one. How can we 
most effectively deal with the environ­
mental extremists of the 1980s whose 
goal is the wide-scale restriction of 
man-made chemicals in all facets of 
society, not just the agricultural 
chemicals critical to the golf course 
industry?

1. The most important thing we can 
do is to recognize that we do have a seri­
ous responsibility — legal and moral — 
to use pesticides in the way and the 
purposes for which they were intended. 
Any action or program that lends itself 
to that end deserves our support and 
participation. Pesticide applicator train­
ing and registration programs, increased 
use of integrated pest management pro­
grams, in-house safety and awareness 
programs, are a few specific examples. 
Negligence of any kind cannot be 
accepted.

2. Education on all fronts is critical. 
Educate employees — as I’ve men­
tioned. Educate players on how essen­
tial pesticides are for good golf turf 
production. Educate friends and neigh­
bors. We need to close the gap between 
the consensus in the scientific and 
medical communities on environmental 
issues and that which is presented in 
the popular media. This can best be 
done through educational oppor­
tunities, whenever and wherever they 
may come and without regard to how 
informal they may be.

3. I believe we need to organize. We 
have done that in Wisconsin and done it 
in a way that deserves to be a model for 
other states. In December 1983, the 
FORESTRY/RIGHTS-OF-WAY/ 
TURF Coalition was formed. Today, 
FROWT — as we are given to call it — 
has 700 members. We have an executive 
director, an office and staff. The Coali­
tion follows pesticide issues in turfgrass 
management, forestry and rights-of- 
way and makes certain that both sides of 
an issue are presented. Legislation is 
monitored, and members are kept 
abreast of proposals that might affect 
them. Public relations and education 
are key elements in all that FROWT 
does. Executive director Russ Weisensel 
is a tremendous resource for golf 
courses in Wisconsin.

undocumented “coukT’s, “seemingly”s, 
“possibly”s, and “apparently”s. In fact, 
she is most responsible for taking the 
environmental movement into the big 
time.

Environmental extremists are very 
effective in capturing the attention of 
the press, again most commonly by in­
stilling fear of unknown disasters. And 
let’s face it — fear makes news because 
fear is interesting. These environmen­
talists seem also to be keenly aware that 
bad news is big news and that good news 
is not only boring — it is seldom news. 
For example, statistics showing that 
American health has never been better 
seldom receive play in the press. In 
fact, statistics such as this are often 
reversed when they are presented as 
news stories — life expectancy is up and 
this creates more stress on an already 
shaky Social Security system. Good 
news is turned around and presented as 
bad news.

The same thing is done with increased 
agricultural efficiency because of agri­
cultural chemicals; that good news of 
low food costs is cast as a problem with 
exports, surpluses, and the overall farm 
problem. The good news is portrayed as 
bad news, demonstrating once again 
that controversy and sensationalism are 
good for ratings on television and sell 
books and magazines.

Those on the extreme end of the 
environmental movement are usually on 
the offensive, making wild claims, 
exaggerating relatively small incidents, 
and quoting data out of context. It is far 

8 USGA GREEN SECTION RECORD

easier, in my judgment, to present your 
case than it is to be on the defensive, 
stating no problem exists or pointing to 
the data that have no relevance in 
science. It is also almost impossible to 
prove a negative, which compounds the 
difficulty of the offensive/defensive 
situations.

A raft of other reasons are responsible 
for successes of environmental zealots. 
They are well funded because of the 
obvious appeal of their cause as it is 
perceived by the general public. They 
enlist the awesome support of govern­
ment bureaucracies, and once the 
bureaucratic juggernaut has been set in 
motion, almost nothing can stop it. 
They have learned not to deal with 
specifics of an issue — they are 
generalists. They overcome, to some 
extent, their lack of scientific data 
by quoting, requoting, and quoting 
again and again the same few scientists 
within their relatively small group.

A good doomsayer never ever under 
any circumstances mentions any bene­
fits of agricultural chemicals, no matter 
how substantial they might be, and he 
always stresses their potential disadvan­
tages. You will never hear extremists 
discuss the cost of an environmental 
regulation; not only will they ignore 
what portion of our economic resources 
will have to be committed, but they 
won’t address impacts on our standard 
of living and health. And finally, in their 
we-against-them approach, them is 
always the chemical industry, nuclear 
industry, agribusiness, or the industrial/ 

4. On occasion we may have to legis­
late. The chance to do this directly 
doesn’t come very often. Most 
frequently we can try to influence 
legislation that affects us through a 
lobbyist (such as FROWT), by attend­
ing committee hearings and giving 
testimony when possible and, finally, by 
voting for those individuals most likely 
to represent our interests.

5. There are times we have to litigate. 
This option makes me nervous, simply 
because Tm like the majority of people 
who’d rather not ever be involved in 
court proceedings, but in Wisconsin we 
faced a situation that offered no other 
options. The FROWT Coalition and a 
Christmas tree grower in the town of 
Casey, in Washburn County, are suing 
the town board of supervisors over an 
ordinance adopted in June 1983 that 

prohibits the use of herbicides on public 
lands and roadways and on private 
lands subject to public use (such as golf 
courses) without town board approval. 
It also prohibited aerial application of 
herbicides on any land without approval. 
The key point of our lawsuit against the 
town of Casey is “whether or not local 
units of government have jurisdiction in 
regulating pesticides.” It is clear that 
pesticide use has been the subject of 
extensive federal and state legislation. 
There are nearly 2,000 municipalities in 
Wisconsin; and if each one is allowed to 
enact its own set of regulations, it would 
essentially be impossible to conduct 
business in our state. We had to sue to 
try to prohibit a patchwork of conflict­
ing regulations. We need to confirm the 
preemptive nature of federal and state 
pesticide laws and regulations.

6. Finally, there is good logic in trying 
to establish a dialogue with environ­
mental extremists. If litigation is 
frightening, then this is frustrating. Too 
often I am guilty of arguing with them 
when a confrontation occurs. However, 
it is a wise person who establishes 
channels of communications; his 
position can only benefit.

Involvement may best express what I 
am trying to say. Logic is on our side. 
Science is on our side. The welfare of 
America and Americans is on our side. 
If we fail to serve these interests by 
not defending our right to use pesticides 
and agricultural chemicals, we will have 
failed our profession. We will deserve 
the consequences.

I am one environmentalist who 
believes golf courses are a vital part of 
our environment.

The Forgotten Magic of Lime

by WILLIAM H. BENGEYFIELD
National Director, USGA Green Section

THIS IS an editorial, and edi­

torials are meant to stimulate 
thought; to introduce opinion 
relating to the facts. “The Forgotten 

Magic of Lime” is both the subject and 
the fact.

The fact is that many experienced 
men, men who have been studying and 
observing fine turf for over 70 years, 
have been convinced and can prove the 
value of lime — either calcium car­
bonate (ground limestone) or calcium 
hydroxide (hydrated lime) in managing 
fine golfing turf. There is no question of 
this.

Lime was one of the first chemicals 
used on turfgrasses in this country. Can 
you believe that lime, under certain soil 
conditions, can actually cause grass to 
grow? Ask any dairy farmer why he 
limes his pastures? He’ll tell you lime 
grows more grass and that means more 
milk in the pail and that means more 
profit in the farmer’s pocket. It is a basic 
fact.

When the U.S. Amateur was played at 
The Country Club, in Brookline, 
Massachusetts, in 1934 (just as the Open 
will be played there in 1988), lime was 
used for lines around every green to con­
trol the gallery of that day. Now we use

O. J. Noer, 1958. One of the earliest and 
best turfgrass consultants.

yellow ropes for the purpose. Twenty 
years later, in 1954, a very dry spring 
occurred in New England. Strikingly 
noticeable narrow, dark green grass 
growth lines appeared around every 
green, caused, naturally enough, by the 
lime application 20 years earlier. 
Pictures prove this phenomenal fact.

Last summer a young golf course 
superintendent asked what he could do 
to substantially reduce the deep accu­
mulation of thatch on his greens. His 
membership was upset. Footprinting 
was very much in evidence on the 
greens, and this young fellow was under 
a lot of pressure.

I recalled a lesson taught many years 
ago by O. J. Noer, one of the pioneers of 
turfgrass management for golf. I was 
making a golf course visit with O. J. in 
Victorville, California, in 1954. The 
greens had a lot of thatch on them, and 
O. J. said, “You’d be smart to apply 
some hydrated lime to these greens two 
or three times a year for the next couple 
of years. Put on about two pounds per 
1,000 square feet in the early spring, 
early summer, and again in the fall. In a 
year or two, you’ll have a lot less 
thatch.”

MARCH/APRIL 1987 

9

It worked. Two years later these greens 

were in great shape, and excess thatch 
no longer was a problem. I later learned 

this simple trick was widely used many 
years ago by the same men who founded 
the GCSAA, in 1927.

Hydrated lime immediately furnishes 
free calcium, slightly raises the pH level 
within the naturally acid thatch layer, 
and causes soil micro-organisms to 
work overtime, feed on the thatch and, 
in nature’s own way, substantially 
reduce excess organic matter.

I told my young friend this story last 
summer. He showed considerable 
doubt, furrowed his brow but nodded in 
agreement and left.

About two weeks later he was back 
with another question. “You know,” he 
said, “I’ve checked your story out about 
using hydrated lime with several other 
superintendents and university people. 
They’ve never heard of it. Who can you 
name in authority to substantiate what 
you have said?” I’d rather not say how I 
answered.

You see, we have forgotten the magic 
of lime. Even under alkaline conditions, 
as was the case at Victorville, California, 
thatch layers are just naturally acidic, 
and hydrated lime will work wonders. 
Oh yes, an 80-pound bag of lime costs 
about $4.00.

Incidentally, back in the 1930s the 
University of Rhode Island proved one 
could control thatch accumulation in 
bentgrass turf just by manipulating lime 
applications. How short our memory.

Let me tell you another story about 
lime. It also works. When I first came to 
the Green Section in 1953, Tate Taylor 
was recognized as one of the outstand­
ing golf course superintendents (green­
keepers) of his day; particularly in the 
Northeast. Tate was about 60 years old 
then, one of the first college graduates 
in our business, and had years of expe­
rience in Maryland, New Jersey, New 
York, and New England. He was the 
superintendent at Westchester Country 
Club for many years before the Second 
World War, and later became a member 
of the Green Section staff. He was not 
only college smart, but field smart as 
well.

During one of our many bull sessions 
Tate said, “You know, whenever you 
visit a golf course and the superin­
tendent is having trouble with a couple

10 USGA GREEN SECTION RECORD

Poa annua will make thatch, even in pots. The magic of lime will help control it.

of his greens, and he has tried every­
thing he knows, and nothing works, tell 
him to make an application of lime 
(either hydrated lime at two or three 
pounds per 1,000 square feet; or ground 
limestone at five or ten pounds per 1,000 
square feet). Then, stand back. Nine 
times out of ten, within a day or two, the 
situation will improve or be totally 
solved.”

I’ve told this story to at least a dozen 
superintendents who were in trouble 
and had tried everything. And in every 
case, the lime worked. When all else 
fails, try a little lime and remember Tate 
Taylor. Lime applications can actually 
control some diseases. And for a lot less 
money. It won’t work with all diseases, 
and when there is an epidemic, fungi­
cides are the answer. But give it a try on 
your nursery someday and see for 
yourself.

There’s another use for lime. Fre­
quently in the fall or even in the summer 
when putting green turf may become a 
little thin and open, algae will often 
form on some areas of the putting sur­
face and even crust over. It may become 
black and start to flake. If this condition 
is allowed to go unchecked, it will 
smother the grass and inhibit recovery. 
Now it’s true you can spend money on 
algicides and wetting agents and what 
have you, and they’ll probably work. 
You can also dust a little hydrated lime, 
again about two pounds per 1,000, over 
the algae and it will disappear, and the 
grass will green up and recover. You can 

repeat the treatment again and again, 
about every week or so, at this light rate 
without fear.

Now there is a word of caution. An 
application of hydrated lime should 
always be separated by a week or so 
from the application of any soluble 
nitrogen fertilizer. If the two materials 
are applied too close together, they 
could cause leaf burn.

We seem to live in an age of 

excesses. We tend to go over­
board in one way or another. We like to 

follow trends. We are into fads. This 
isn’t good turf management, and it isn’t 
good for the turf manager or his future.
Low nitrogen levels have been in for 
several years and moss has become a 
problem. High nitrogen levels were all 
the rage ten years ago, and disease 
problems were rampant.

Very high potassium levels are in 
today, but even in the 1930s, we knew 
potassium was important to cell wall 
thickness, winter hardiness, and wear 
resistance.

Because of the Stimpmeter, golfers 
thought a green speed of 12 feet was the 
ultimate in golf just five years ago. 
Today, most golfers are happy with eight 
and one-half feet, and they enjoy their 
grass greens all summer long.

Slow-release fertilizers were all the 
rage 10 to 15 years ago. Now we know 
they have their place, but light and fre­
quent soluble fertilizer applications cer­

tainly have their advantages too, par­
ticularly when concerned with nitrogen 
availability on summer greens.

USGA Specification greens are built 
with 80 percent or more of sand. They 
were supposed to drain no matter how 
much water applied. Right? Wrong. The 
Specifications as developed by Dr. 
Marvin Ferguson were designed and 
planned to reduce the effects of soil 
compaction, not excess irrigation. 
There seems a modern misunderstand­
ing that water may be applied indis­
criminately to greens, especially sandy 

greens, at any time without concern. It 
simply isn’t true.

And so we have come full circle. 
Moderation is the answer. We should 
use the knowledge we have properly. 
Lime in excess can certainly cause 
problems. But that doesn’t mean we 
should forget the basic uses, tech­
niques, and value of lime.

I plead with all of you not to overlook 
the wisdom and experiences of the past. 
They are rich and valuable. Let us guard 
against a headlong rush to invent some­
thing new when we already have an 

answer, an effective and inexpensive 
answer from the past.

Oliver Wendell Holmes once said:
Science is a first rate piece of furniture 
for a man’s upper story if he has 
common sense on the ground floor. 
But if a man hasn’t got plenty of good 
common sense, the more science he 
has, the worse for his decisions and 
those he serves.
The Noers, the Taylors, and the 
Fergusons have already left us a treasure 
of knowledge. There’s magic in lime. 
Let’s use it.

Let’s See — My Rules of Golf Must Be 
Here, Somewhere... It’s in the Bag

by GEORGE EBERL
Managing Editor, Golf Journal

THE TYPICALgolf bag may take 

on the character of a sophisti­
cated Dempster Dumpster, a 
collecting point for things quaint and 

occasionally vile. Inside the zippered 
compartments you might find dried 
grass blades, wads of lint, and other 
lumps and pieces not so easy to identify, 
like a six-months-old half pack of 
crumpled cigarettes, a spike cleaner, a 
spike wrench, some ancient golf gloves 
that have attained the approximate 
texture of the Dead Sea Scrolls, ball­
markers that were gifts from one busi­
ness convention or another, and a fistful 
of broken or dull golf pencils (have you 
ever noticed that golf pencils rarely have 
an eraser end?). Less intense players 
may carry a medicinal flask, protection 
against inclement weather, bad scores, 
and/or the loneliness of life in the 
rough.

Of course, an assortment of wood and 
plastic tees are sprinkled among the

M. T. Johnson, USGA Executive 
Committee.

debris, including some that are broken 
(useful for par-3s, although one usually 
finds them only when preparing to hit 
off on a par-5, with driver in hand). For 
some mysterious reason, the best tees 
descend into the more remote crevices, 
just out of reach of blindly probing 
fingers.

The same is often true of golf balls; 
range balls, conspicuous by their red 
stripes, invariably rise to the top, leaving 
the player who is to tee off immediately 
fumbling futilely for a white, dimpled, 
sparkling lovely somewhere in the 
depths of his leather bin of unmention­
ables.

Old golf balls have a value, however; 
they are popular for teeing off where 
water hazards menace. It is ironic that 
often these same players, some of whom 
will pick up a sizable bill in the club­
house without blinking an eye, carry a 
ball retriever in their overstuffed bag, 
and they will fish in a pond for a quarter

MARCH/APRIL 1987

11

up and do bodily harm if they’re not 
watched closely.

If they could be measured from one to 
ten on an oddity scale, it is as difficult 
to rank them as it would be to rate 
human organs in a popularity poll. 
Where do you rank the pancreas, for 
example? Or the liver? Neither are 
terribly popular.

y^LL THE CLUBS, incidentally, are 
£1.putters. After all, putts comprise 
a large percentage of total strokes in any 
given round, so this element of the game 
is a natural target for inventive geniuses. 
Our favorite, probably, is an inverted 
“U” whose legs end in points to be 
bedded in the ground. Swinging from a 
crossbar in this inverted “U” is a putter 
shaft and blade that may be drawn back 
and released to strike the ball on a 
straight line.

A close second is an ingenious putter; 
an angled mirror is mounted atop its 
head. A black line is painted on the 
mirror. When the ball and the hole 
beyond are reflected directly on the line 
and the ball is struck on the line, the putt 
theoretically will fall. (We experi­
mented, missing two of three from five 
feet. The ball obscured our view of the 
electric putting cup, which may have 
explained the forgettable effort.)

Yet another putter had a head that 
might have been an ideal eating utensil 
for E. T, or one of those grotesque Star 
Wars creatures. When the Thomas 
Edisons of golf clubs weren’t tinkering 
with putter clubheads, they zeroed in on 
handles. One submission had a two- 
handed grip that resembled a tuning 
fork, and another had a grip that took a 
90-degree turn at its apex, with the 
extension able to swivel freely so that 
one simply gripped the extension firmly 
and set the putter in motion.

Finally, one putter had a barrel head 
containing four small batteries, and, of 
all things, a tiny motor. According to the 
explanation (far too complicated to get 
into here), this apparatus constituted a 
gyroscope. The thing whirred inside the 
barrel head and a hammer at one end of 
the barrel struck the ball. It is unclear to 
us how the impact level was controlled 
according to distance from the hole. 
Details. If one contrives a flawless 
mousetrap, it is up to the trap’s buyer to 
decide the brand of peanut butter to use 
as bait.

As it is, even with the decreed 14-club 
limit, what the world may demand one 
of these days is a bigger golf bag. They 
may already come equipped with drop­
down seats, but after all, where does one 
put his tuna sandwiches and coolchest?

of an hour for a dilapidated ball that 
many would have consigned to their 
shagbags.

All of which brings us to the tools, the 
weapons of the trade. Golf clubs. Most 
of us, assisted by the quiet but firm 
intercession of the United States Golf 
Association and its standards of con­
formance for implements and balls, use 
clubs that differ little from each other. 
The underlying principle is to base per­
formance differences between players 
on their abilities rather than on manu­
facturing.

Yet, among the largely unseen mar­
vels that grace Golf House, USGA 
headquarters, in Far Hills, New Jersey, 
are the novel clubs that show up from 
time to time for possible approval and 
subsequent sale by their inventors. They 
are bizarre testimony to the golfers’ 
tireless urge to find ways to shave

12 USGA GREEN SECTION RECORD

strokes off their scores; indeed, these 
players are a market that defies glutting.
Several of these monuments to man’s 
ingenuity were center-stage in Phoenix, 
Arizona, in early February during the 
annual Turfgrass Conference, where 
M. T. Johnson, of Amarillo, Texas, 
talked about the odd things that show 
up in golf bags. A member of the USGA 
Executive Committee, Johnson served 
for a time as Chairman of the Imple­
ments and Ball Committee.

We were not on hand for his remarks, 
complete with slides picturing some­
what primitive sketches of peculiar, 
non-conforming clubs, but a sampling 
of clubs that failed to pass muster are 
even this moment within arm’s reach, 
leaning against our wall. It is difficult 
to avoid furtive glances toward these 
weird devices; they give you the feeling 
that they are silently conspiring to sneak 

The Honor Roll

{{T^ROM RESEARCH, knowl- 
edge flows unendingly.” 
JL Thus began a USGA Green 
Section brochure in 1951. The same 
truth remains 35 years later. The 
USGA/Golf Course Superintendents 
Association of America Turfgrass 
Research Program for Development of 
Minimal Maintenance Turfgrasses for 
Golf had a significant year of progress in 
1986. The ultimate goal, of course, is a 
50 percent reduction in water use and 50 
percent lower maintenance costs for golf 
courses nationwide — based on 1982 
figures. New knowledge does flow 
unendingly from research, and this has 
been a banner year for our 10-year major 
effort to help Golf Keep America 
Beautiful.

Only the contributors — individuals, 
golf clubs, corporations, foundations 
shown on the Honor Roll that follows — 
make it possible. They have invested in 
the future of golf. The clubs shown with 
an asterisk (*) followed by their golf 
course superintendents’ names have 
specifically requested their gift, or a por­
tion thereof, be restricted to turfgrass 
research. These clubs are contributing 
directly to the quest for better, more 
economically and environmentally supe­
rior turfgrasses for golf and for all who 
enjoy the beauty and recreation of the 
outdoors.

We are now in the fifth year of the 
10-year research program. Investment in 
the project has reached $1.25 million. 
The 1986 Annual Turfgrass Research 
Report detailing the expenditures and 
progress is available from the USGA.

If your name or club is on the follow­

ing list, we sincerely thank you.

If your name or club is not on the list, 
we surely hope you will put it there next 
year. We need you. Research efforts of 
this magnitude are expensive, and they 
must continue. It usually takes from 
eight to 20 years to develop a new turf­
grass variety. We need continuing 
annual support. The USGA and 
GCSAA can not possibly do it alone.

What we need is for you to urge your 
club to support and send the USGA 
Capital Fund Campaign (USGA Golf 
House, Far Hills, N.J. 07931) a check for 
the amount of $2 per golf member at 
your club. Request that it be designated 
for Turfgrass Research. It will not then 
be spent for any other purpose. The 
funding should be generated on a con­
tinuing basis, so that the GCSAA and 
USGA, working together, can finance 
the basic, essential, coordinated, longer 
term research projects so desperately 
needed and so important to golf’s 
future.

Won’t you join with those already on 

the Honor Roll.

Memorial Turfgrass Donors
Mr. Robert L. Baker

In Memory of O. Sproule Baker
& Family

Mr. & Mrs. William H. Bengeyfield

In Memory of Dr. Marvin H. Ferguson

Mrs. Floy Ferguson

In Memory of Dr. Marvin H. Ferguson 
The Ohio Valley Seniors Golf Association

In Memory of J. Earle Nelson

Mr. Alexander M. Radko

In Memory of Dr. Marvin H. Ferguson 

Mr. Charles Rainwater, Jr.
Mr. Brown Rainwater
Mr. Crawford Rainwater

For the Charles V. Rainwater
Memorial Endowment

Mr. Russell Scarpelli

In Memory of James V. Kirwan

The Toro Company

In Memory of Dr. Marvin H. Ferguson 

Dr. James R. Watson

In Memory of Dr. Marvin H. Ferguson

Foundation Turfgrass Donors
Frank E. & Seba B. Payne Foundation

Chicago, IL

The William Penn Foundation

Philadelphia, PA

Corporation Turfgrass Donors
Asahi Broadcasting Corp., Osaka, Japan 
Bentgrass Research, Inc., Fort Worth, TX 
Boulders Carefree Partners, Carefree, AZ 
Draft Company, Mahtomedi, MN 
City of Tucson Parks & Recreation

Department, Tucson, AZ

Forest Preserve District of Cook County, 

River Forest, IL

Garden Services, Inc., Pine Mountain, GA 
Greenwood Development Corp., 

Greenwood, SC

Hilton Head Company, Inc., 
Hilton Head Island, SC

Ico, Inc., Odessa, TX
John Knorr & Associates, Pittsburgh, PA 
Lofts Seed, Inc., Bound Brook, NJ
Mobil Oil Corp., New York, NY
Piney Coking Coal Land Company, 

Princeville Development Corp., Kauhi, Hl 
Royal Lawns of Monmouth, Inc.,

Beckley, WV

Freehold, NJ

Sentry Services, Inc., Stevens Point, WI 
Toro Company, Minneapolis, MN
Xerox Corp., Stamford, CT

Association Turfgrass Donors
Alabama Golf Assn., Birmingham, AL 
California Golf Writers Assn.,

Pebble Beach, CA

Connecticut State Golf Assn., 

New Haven, CT

Golf Course Superintendents Assn.

of America, Lawrence, KS

GCSA of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 
Hoosier Turfgrass Assn., Huntington, IN 
Maine State Golf Assn., Lewiston, ME 
Massachusetts Golf Assn., Weston, MA 
Minnesota Golf Course Supt. Assn.,

Edina, MN

National Golf Fund, Inc., 

Palm Beach Gardens, FL

Oregon Golf Course Supt. Assn., 

Vancouver, WA

Southern Golf Assn., Birmingham, AL 
West Virginia Golf Course Supt. Assn., 

Huntington, WV

Western New York GCSA, 

Williamsville, NY

Wy-Mont Golf Course Supt. Assn., 

Bozeman, MT

MARCH/APRIL 1987 

13

Donor Clubs
Abenaqui Club, NH
Alamance Country Club, NC
Albuquerque Country Club, NM
Alcoma Golf Club, PA

♦Algonquin Golf Club, MO
Don Zanzie, CGCS

Allegheny Country Club, PA
Alpine Country Club, NJ
*Andover Country Club, MA

Antone De Bettencourt, Supt..

*Annandale Golf Club, CA

Dave Allee, Supt.

Apawamis Club, The, NY
Arcola Country Club, NJ
Ardsley Country Club, NY
♦Arizona Country Club, AZ 
Tighue Shields, Supt.
Aronimink Golf Club, PA
Atlanta Athletic Club, GA
Atlanta Country Club, GA
Atlantic City Country Club, NJ
*Augusta National Golf Club, GA 

Paul Latshaw, Supt.
Avon, Golf Club of, CT
Baltimore Country Club, MD
♦Baltusrol Golf Club, NJ

Joseph Flaherty, CGCS

Bangor Municipal Golf Course, ME
Barrington Hills Country Club, IL
Bay Hill Club & Lodge, FL
Bayou Desaird Country Club, LA

*Baywood Country Club, TX

Bill R. Dill, Supt.

*Bedens Brook Club, The, NJ 

James Gilligan, Supt.

*Bedford Golf & J'ennis Club, NY 

Terry Boles, Supt.

♦Bel-Air Country Club, CA
Steve Badger, CGCS

Belle Haven Country Club, VA
Belle Meade Country Club, TN

* Bellerive Country Club, MO
Tom Vande Walle, CGCS
Bellevue Country Club, NY
Belmont Country Club, MA
Belmont Hills Country Club, OH
Bel-Wood Country Club, OH
*Bend Golf & Country Club, OR 

Ken Johnson, Supt.

Big Foot Country Club, WI
*Biltmore Country Club, IL
Robert Wilkins, Supt.

Biltmore Forest Country Club, NC
Birmingham Country Club, MI
Birnam Wood Golf Club, CA
Black Hall Club, CT

*Blackhawk Country Club, WI 

Monroe Miller, Supt.

* Blacksburg Women’s Golf Club, VA 

Roger Brizendine, Supt.

Blind Brook Club, NY
Bloomfield Hills Country Club, MI
Bloomington Country Club, IL
Blue Springs, Country Club of, MO
♦Bob O’Link Golf Club, IL
Bruce Williams, CGCS

Boca West Club, FL
Bodega Harbor Golf Club, CA
Bogey Hills Country Club, MO
Brae Burn Country Club, MA
Braemar Men’s Club, CA

* Brandermill Country Club, VA 

David Marshall, Supt.

Brentwood Country Club, CA
Briarwood Country Club, AZ
Broadmoor Golf Club Women’s Div., WA
Broadmoor Golf Club, WA

14

USGA GREEN SECTION RECORD

Broadmoor Golf Club, CO 
Broadmore Country Club, ID 
Brook Hollow Golf Club, TX 
Brookfield Country Club, NY 
Brookhaven Country Club, TX 
Brookside Country Club, OH 
Brookside Golf & Country Club, OH 
Brookville Country Club, NY 
Brown’s Run Country Club, OH 
Buffalo, Country Club of, NY 
Burlingame Country Club, CA 
Burlington Country Club, VT
♦Burning Tree Club, MD

Virgil Robinson Jr., CGCS
♦Butler National Golf Club, IL

Oscar Miles, CGCS

Butterfield Country Club, IL 
Calabasas Park Country Club, CA 
California Golf Club of S.F., CA 
Calumet Country Club, IL 
Candlewood Country Club, CA 
Canoe Brook Country Club, NJ 
Canterbury Golf Club, OH
♦Canton Public Golf Course, CT 

Walter W. Lowell, Supt.

Capital City Club, GA
Carmel Valley Golf & Country Club, CA 
Carmel Valley Ranch, CA 
Cary Country Club, IL
♦Castle Pines Golf Club, CO 

Armen Suny, Supt.

Cedar Rapids Country Club, IA
♦Cedar Ridge Country Club, OK 

Mike Wooten, Supt.

Cedars Golf Club, The, WA
♦Chagrin Valley Country Club, OH 

Ronald L. French, Supt.
Champaign Country Club, IL 
Champions Golf Club, TX 
Charles River Country Club, MA 
Charlotte Country Club, NC 
Chartiers Country Club, PA 
Cherokee Country Club, TN
♦Cherokee Town & Country Club, GA 

Randy Nichols, Supt.

♦Cherry Hills Country Club, MO 

Ray Morris, Supt.

♦Cherry Hills Country Club, CO 

Dan Pierson, CGCS
Chevy Chase Club, MD
♦Cheyenne Country Club, WY 
Fredrick David, CGCS

Chicago Golf Club, IL
Chikaming Country Club, MI 
Churchill Valley Country Club, PA 
Claremont Country Club, CA 
Cohasset Golf Club, MA 
Cold Spring Country Club, NY 
Coldsteam Country Club, OH
♦Collison Par 3, IA

Mark Collison, Supt.
♦Colonial Country Club, TN 

Jim Thomas, Supt.

Colonial Country Club, TX
Colonial Golf & Country Club, LA 
Colony Creek Country Club, TX 
Columbia Country Club, MD 
Columbia Edgewater Country Club, OR
♦Columbus Country Club, OH 
John E. Laake, CGCS

Colwood National Golf Club, OR 
Concord Country Club, MA 
Congress Lake Club, OH
♦Congressional Country Club, MD 

William Black, CGCS

Contra Costa Country Club, CA 
Coral Ridge Country Club, FL 
Cordova Junior Golf, CA 
Corral De Tierra Country Club, CA

Country Club, The, MA 
Country Club, The, OH
♦Cove Cay Golf & Tennis Club, FL 

Lynn Floper, Supt.

Crag Burn Golf Club, NY 
Creek Club, The, NY 
Cress Creek Country Club, IL 
Crestview Country Club, MA 
Crestwicke Country Club, IL 
♦Crystal Downs Country Club, MI

Mike Morris, Supt.

Crystal Lake Country Club, IL 
♦Cypress Point Club, CA

Manuel Cardoza, Supt.

Cypress Run Golf Club, Inc., FL 
Dallas Athletic Club Country Club, TX 
Dallas Country Club, TX 
Dalles Country Club, OR 
Deal Golf & Country Club, NJ 
Dedham Country & Polo Club, MA 
Deepdale Golf Club, NY 
Del Paso Country Club, CA 
Del Rio Golf & Country Club, CA 
Delray Dunes Golf & Country Club, FL 
Denton Country Club, TX 
Denver Country Club, CO
♦Desert Forest Golf Club, AZ 

Ed Miller, Supt.

Desert Island Country Club, CA 
Detroit Golf Club, MI 
Detroit, Country Club of, MI 
Diablo Country Club, CA 
Doral Hotel & Country Club, FL 
♦Dorset Field Club, VT
Joseph Yoder, Supt.

Druid Hills Golf Club, GA 
♦Dunedin Country Club, The, FL

Peter Metcalf, Supt.

Dunes Golf and Beach Club, SC 
Dupont Country Club, DE 
Echo Lake Country Club, NJ 
Edgewood Country Club, PA 
Ekwanok Country Club, VT 
El Dorado Country Club, TX 
El Niguel Country Club, CA 
Eldorado Country Club, CA 
Elgin Country Club, IL 
Elkins Lake Golf Club, TX 
Elyria Country Club, The, OH 
Engineers Country Club, NY 
Essex Country Club, MA 
Essex Fells Country Club, NJ 
Exmoor Country Club, IL 
Fairbanks Golf & Country Club, AK 
Fairlawn Country Club, OH 
Fairmount Country Club, NJ 
Fairview Country Club, CT 
Fargo Country Club, ND 
Farmington, The Country Club of, CT 
Feather Sound Country Club, FL 
Flossmoor Country Club, FL 
Forest Hills Country Club, MO 
Fox Chapel Golf Club, PA
♦Fox Den Country Club, TN 

Dick Edger, Supt.

Frankfort Country Club, KY 
Franklin Hills Country Club, MI 
Friendly Hills Country Club, CA 
Friends of College Golf, Inc., CA 
Garden City Golf Club, NY
♦Garland Golf Course, MI 
David Longfield, Supt.
Gaston Country Club, NC 
Glen Oak Country Club, IL 
Glen Ridge Country Club, NJ 
Glen View Club, IL 
Glenwood Golf Club, VA 
Grandfather Golf & Country Club, NC

*Green Hill Yacht and Country Club, MD 

James R. Kelley, Supt.

Green Hills Country Club, CA
Green Island Country Club, GA
*Green Oaks Country Club, PA 
Edward Troutman, Supt.

Green Valley, Country Club of, AZ
Greensburg Country Club, PA
Greenwich Country Club, CT

*Gulf Stream Golf Club, FL 

Stanley Carr, Supt.

*Guyan Golf & Country Club, WV

Dean E. Watkins, CGCS

Happy Hollow Country Club, NE 
Harmony Landing Country Club, KY 
Harrisburg, Country Club of, PA
Hartford Golf Club, CT
Hayden Lake Country Club, ID 
Hazeltine National Golf Club, MN 
Hempstead Golf & Country Club,

The, NY

Hermitage Country Club, VA
Hershey Country Club, PA
Hidden Hills Country Club, FL

*Highland Country Club, PA 
Clifford L. Gass, Jr., Supt.

Hills of Lakeway, The, TX
Hillcrest Country Club, CA
Hillcrest Country Club, IL
Hinsdale Golf Club, IL

*Hole-in-the-Wall Golf Club, FL 
Buddy Carmoliche, Supt.

Holland Hills Country Club, NY
Hollywood Golf Club, NJ
Honors Course, The, TN
Hope Valley Country Club, NC
Houston Country Club, TX
Huntingdon Valley Country Club, PA
Hurstbourne Country Club, KY
Hyde Park Golf & Country Club, OH
Idle Hour Golf & Country Club, GA
Idlewild Country Club, IL

imperial Golf Club, FL
Jerry Redden, CGCS

Indian Canyon Men’s Golf Club, WA
Indian Creek Country Club, FL
Indian Creek Yacht & Country Club, VA
Indian Hill Club, IL

*Indian Hills Country Club, GA 

Roger Cagle, Supt.

Inglewood Country Club, WA
Innis Arden Golf Club, CT
Inverness Club, OH
Inverness Country Club, AL
Inverness Golf Club, IL
Inwood Forest Golf Club, TX
*Jackson, Country Club of, MI
William Madigan, CGCS

Jupiter Hills Club, FL
Kayak Point Golf Club, WA
Kent Country Club, MI
Kenwood Country Club, OH
Kings River Golf & Country Club, CA
Kirtland Country Club, OH
*Kissing Camels Golf Club, CA 

Pete Martinez, Supt.

Kitsap Golf and Country Club, WA
Kittansett Club, The, MA
Knickerbocker Country Club, NJ
Knollwood Club, IL
Knollwood Country Club, MI
La Grange Country Club, IL
*La. Jolla Country Club, CA 
Carlos Gaines, Supt.

La Quinta Country Club, CA
*Lafayette Elks Country Club, IN 

Donald Faffnach, Supt.

Lake Merced Golf & Country Club, CA 
Lake Shore Country Club, IL

Lake Sunapee Country Club, NH 
Lakeside Golf Club of Hollywood, CA 
Lakewood Country Club, FL
*Lakewood Country Club, TX 

Howard Fisher, Supt.

Lakewood Country Club, CO 
Lakewood Country Club, OH 
Lancaster Country Club, PA 
Las Colinas Sports Club, TX 

*Laurel Golf Club, MT
Joe Brinkel, Supt.

Leawood South Country Club, KS 
Leewood Golf Club, NY 
Lochinvar Golf Club, TX 
Lochmoor Club, MI
Lockhaven Country Club, IL

*Long Cove Club, SC
Kent Stierer, Supt.

Longmeadow Country Club, MA 
Longue Vue Club, PA
*Los Altos Golf & Country Club, CA 

Bob Ford, CGCS

Los Angeles Country Club, The, CA 
Losantiville Country Club, OH 
Maketewah Country Club, OH 
Manasquan River Golf Club, NJ 
Manor Country Club, MD 
Manufacturer’s Golf & Country Club, PA 
Maple Bluff Country Club, WI 
Mayfield Country Club, OH 
Meadow Club, CA
Meadow Lark Country Club, MT 
Meadowbrook Country Club, VA 
Meadowbrook Country Club, MO 
Meadowbrook Country Club, MI 
Medinah Country Club, IL 
Meridian Hills Country Club, IN 
Merion Golf Club, PA 
Meriwether National Golf Course, OR 
Mid-Pacific Country Club, HI

*Midland Country Club, IL

Dick Ainley, Supt.

Midlothian Country Club, IL 
Midvale Golf & Country Club, NY 
Mill Creek Country Club, WA
* Mill Quarter Plantation CC, VA 

Bob Friend, Supt.

Mill River Club, The, NY

*Milwaukee Country Club, WI
Dan H. Quast, CGCS

Minikahda Country Club, MN 

*Minneapolis Golf Club, MN
Dale Caldwell, Supt.

Minnehaha Country Club, SD 
Missoula Country Club, MT 
Montclair Golf Club, NJ 
Montecito Country Club, CA 
Monterey Peninsula Country Club, CA 
Moon Brook Country Club, NY 
Moon Valley Country Club, AZ 
Moraga Country Club, CA 
Morningside, Club at, CA 
Moselem Springs Golf Club, PA 
Moss Creek Golf Club, SC
Stuart Trenda, Supt.

Moss Creek Plantation, SC
Mount Kisco Country Club, NY 
Mountain Lakes Country Club, NY 
Mountain Ridge Country Club, NJ

* Myer’s Park Country Club, NC 

Dave Powell, Supt.
Myopia Hunt Club, MA
Naples, Country Club of, The, FL 
Navesink Country Club, NJ 
New Haven Country Club, CT 
New Orleans Country Club, LA 
Newport Country Club, TX
North Carolina, Country Club of, NC 
North Hills Country Club, WI

North Shore Country Club, IL 
Northland Country Club, MN 
Northmoor Country Club, IL 
Northwood Club, TX
Norwood Hills Country Club, MO 
Noyac Golf and Country Club, NY
Oahu Country Club, HI
*Oak Hill Country Club, NY 

Joe Hahn, Supt.

Oak Park Country Club, IL
Oak Tree Golf Club, OK
Oakland Hills Country Club, MI
Oakmont Country Club, PA
Oakmont Resident’s Golf Club, CA 
Oakwood Club, OH
*Odessa Country Club, TX 
Robert Pearce, Supt.

Old Oaks Country Club, NY
*Old Town Club, NC

Tony G. Johnson, Supt.

Old Warson Country Club, MO
*Old Westbury Golf & Country Club, NY 

Jack McCarthy, Supt.

Onondaga Golf and Country Club, NY 
Ontario National Golf Club, CA 
Orchard Lake Country Club, MI 
Orchard Ridge Country Club, IN
Orinda Country Club, CA
*Orlando, Country Club of, FL 

Fred Dickson, Supt.
Overbrook Golf Club, PA
Owl Creek Country Club, KY
*Oyster Harbors Club, MA
Charles Gardner, CGCS
Ozaukee Country Club, WI
*Palo Alto Hills Golf & Country Club, CA 

Mike Garvale, CGCS

Panorama Country Club, TX

*Paradise Valley Country Club, AZ

Bill Emerson, CGCS

Park Country Club of Buffalo, The, NY 
Park Ridge Country Club, IL
* Pasatiempo Golf Club, CA 

Dean Gump, Supt.

*Payson Golf Course, Inc., AZ 
Harold Parsons, Jr., Supt.

Payson Men’s Golf Association, AZ
Peach Tree Golf & Country Club, CA 
Peachtree Golf Club, GA
*Pebble Beach Golf Company, CA 

Larry Norman, Supt.
Pelham Country Club, NY
Penfield Country Club, NY
Peninsula Golf & Country Club, CA 
Pepper Pike Club, OH
Petersburg, Country Club of, VA
*Philadelphia Country Club, PA 

David J. Gabriel, Supt.
*Phoenix Country Club, AZ 
Leonard Marlow, Supt.

Pine Brook Country Club, NC
Pine Forest Country Club, TX
Pine Lake Country Club, MI

* Pine Tree Golf Club, FL 
Harold Hicks, Supt.
Pine Valley Golf Club, NJ
*Pinetop Country Club, AZ
Ronald Powell, CGCS
Pinewood Country Club, LA
Piping Rock Club, NY
Pittsburgh Field Club, PA
Plainfield Country Club, NJ
Plum Hollow Country Club, MI

*Plymouth Country Club, MA 
Ronald Sherman, Supt.
Ponte Vedra Club & Inn, FL
Portage Country Club, OH
Portland Country Club, ME
Prairie Dunes Country Club, KS

MARCH/APRIL 1987

15

Preakness Hills Country Club, NJ 
Presidio Army Golf Club, CA 
Preston Trail Golf Club, TX
*Princeville Men’s Golf Club, HI

Yoshi Harada, Supt.

*Quail Creek Country Club, FL 

Dick Blake, CGCS

Quaker Ridge Golf Club, NY 
Raveneaux Country Club, TX 
Red Hill Country Club, CA 
Rehoboth Beach Country Club, DE 
Ridgemont Golf Club, NY

*Ridgemoor Country Club, IL 

Peter Hahn, Supt.

Ridgewood Country Club, NJ
* River Crest Country Club, TX 

Ed Walsh, CGCS

River Forest Golf Club, IL

*River Oaks Country Club, TX 

James Holub, CGCS

*Riverbend Country Club, TX 
George Cincotta, Supt.

Riverside Golf Club, IL
Riverton Country Club, The, NJ 
Riviera C.C. of Coral Gables, FL 
Rochester Golf and Country Club, MN

* Rochester, Country Club, of, NY 

Robert Feindt, Supt.
*Rock Spring Club, NJ 
Paul Kuehner, Supt.
Rockville Links Co., NY
Rolling Green Golf Club, PA
Rolling Hills Golf Club, FL 
Rossmoor Golf Club, CA 
Round Hill Club, CT
Round Hill Golf and Country Club, CA 

* Royal Poinciana Golf Club, FL
Clint Smallridge, CGCS
Ruth Lake Country Club, FL

*Rutland Country Club, VT 

Karl Larsen, Supt.
Saguaro Golf Club, AZ
Sahalee Country Club, WA
Salem Country Club, MA
Salinas Golf and Country Club, CA
*Salisbury Country Club, VA
A. Tildon Hankley, Supt.
San Francisco Golf Club, CA
San Gabriel Country Club, CA
San Joaquin Country Club, CA
*San Jose Country Club, FL
John Hayden, CGCS
San Jose Country Club, CA
San Mateo Golf Club, CA
*Santa Ana Country Club, CA 

Dave Zarhte, CGCS

Santa Rosa Golf & Country Club, CA
*Sapphire Valley, Country Club of, NC 

Bo Alexander, Supt.

Saucon Valley Country Club, PA 
Sawgrass Golf & Country Club, FL 
Scarsdale Golf Club, NY
Sea Island Golf Club, GA
Seattle Golf Club, WA
Selva Marina Country Club, FL 
Seminole Golf Club, FL
Sequoyah Country Club, CA
7 Rivers Golf & Country Club, FL 
Shannopin Country Club, PA
Sharon Heights Golf & Country Club, 

CA

Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, NY
Short Hills Country Club, IL
*Shoal Creek Country Club, AL 

Jim Simmons, Supt.

*Silver Spring Country Club, CT 
Peter Rappoccio, CGCS
Silverado Country Club, CA

16

USGA GREEN SECTION RECORD

*Singletree Golf Club, CO 
Chip Ramsey, CGCS
Siwanoy Country Club, NY
Skokie Country Club, IL
*Sleepy Hollow Country Club, NY 

Joseph Camberato, Supt.
Snee Farm Country Club, SC 
*Somerset Country Club, MN
Gerald M. Murphy, CGCS 
Somerset Hills Country Club, NJ 
Sonoma National Golf Club, CA 
South Hills Country Club, PA 
Southampton Golf Club, NY 
Southern Hills Country Club, OK 
*Southview Country Club, MN

Roger A. Kisch, Supt.
Spokane Country Club, WA 
Spring Brook Country Club, NJ 
Spring Hill Country Club, OR 
Spring Lake Country Club, MI 
Spring Lake Golf Club, NJ 
Spring Valley Country Club, SC 
Springdale Golf Club, NJ
*Springs Club, The, CA
Ross O’Fee, Supt.

Spyglass Hill Golf Club, CA
St. Andrew’s Country Club, IL
St. Andrew’s Golf Club, NY
*St. Charles Golf Course, MO 

Jack Vogt, Supt.

St. Clair Country Club, IL
St. Clair Country Club, PA
*St. Cloud Country Club, MN 

Kerry Glader, CGCS
*St. David’s Golf Club, PA 
Henry C. Wetzel, Supt.
St. Louis Country Club, MO 
Steubenville Country Club, OH 
Stockbridge Golf Club, MA 
Stonehenge Golf & Country Club, VA 
Stono River Golf Club, SC
*Suburban Golf Club, NJ
Dan McGlynn, Supt.

*Sugar Creek Country Club, TX 

Harry Yewens, Supt.

*Summit Hills Country Club, KY 

Pete Cahill, Supt.

Sunningdale Country Club, NY 
Sunnybrook Golf Club, PA 
Sunnyside Country Club, CA
*Sunrise Country Club, FL 

Al Ross, Supt.

Sunset Hills Country Club, IL 
*Tacoma Country and Golf Club, WA

John Ford, Supt.

Tam O’Shanter Golf Club, NY 
*Tatnuck Country Club, MA
Steve Chiavaroli, CGCS
Tedesco Country Club, MA 
Tequesta Country Club, FL 
Thunderbird Country Club, CA 
Town and Country Club, MN 
Towson Golf and Country Club, MD 
Transit Valley Country Club, NY
*Trenton Country Club, NJ

Gerald B. Fountain, Supt.

Tripoli Country Club, WI 
Tucson Country Club, AZ 
Tumble Brook Country Club, CT 
Turtle Creek Club, FL
Tuscarora Golf Club, Inc., NY 
Tuxedo Club, The, NY
Twin Lakes Golf & Country Club, WA 
Union Hills Country Club, AZ 
Uniontown Country Club, PA 
Upper Montclair Country Club, NJ 
Useless Bay Golf & Country Club, WA 
Vintage Club, The, CA 
Virginia Country Club, CA

Virginia, Country Club of, VA
*Waccabuc Country Club, NY
Alton R. Moores, Supt.
*Waialae Country Club, HI
Robert Shouse, Supt.

Wakonda Club, IA
Walnut Hills Country Club, MI
Wampanoag Country Club, CT
Wanakah Country Club, NY
*Warwick Country Club, RI

Don Silven, Supt.

Waterbury, Country Club of, CT
Waverley Country Club, OR
Waynesborough Country Club, PA

*Wayzata Country Club, MN
James Lindblad, CGCS
Wellesley Country Club, MA
Westborough Country Club, MO
Westmoreland Country Club, PA
Westmoreland Country Club, IL
*Weston Golf Club, MA
Don Hearn, CGCS

Westward Ho Country Club, SD
Westwood Country Club, NY
Westwood Country Club, MO
*Westwood Country Club, OH
Bruce N. Wofner, Supt.
*Wheatley Hills Golf Club, NY

Frank Galasso, Supt.

White Bear Yacht Club, MN
Wianno Club, MA
Wigwam Country Club, AZ
Wild Dunes Golf Club, SC
*Wilderness Country Club, FL

Paul Frank, Supt.

Wildwood Country Club, OH
*Wildwood Golf & Country Club, NJ

Steve Malikowski, CGCS

Willamette Valley Country Club, OR
*Willow Oaks Country Club, VA 
Tommy D. Blevins, Supt.
Wilmington Country Club, DE
Wilshire Country Club, The, CA
Winchester Country Club, MA
*Winged Foot Golf Club, NY

Bob Alonzi, CGCS

Wolf Creek Golf Links, KS
*Wolferts Roost Country Club, NY

Bill Stevens, Supt.

Wollaston Golf Club, MA
Woodbury Country Club, NJ
Woodcreek, TX
*Woodcrest Club, The, NY
Lynn O’Neil, Supt.

Woodhill Country Club, MN
*Woodland Country Club, IN

Lee Webb, Supt.

Woodward Golf & Country Club, AL
Woodway Country Club, CT
Worcester Country Club, MA
Wyantenuck Country Club, MA
Wykagyl Country Club, NY
*Wyndemere Golf & Country Club, FL

Mark Hampton, CGCS
Wyoming Golf Club, OH
Yacht & Country Club Inc., The, FL
Yakima Country Club, WA
Yolo Fliers Club, CA
Youngstown Country Club, OH
Zanesville Country Club, OH

*Clubs restricting their donations, or portions 

thereof, to Turfgrass Research.

Biotechnology And
Turfgrass Research:
A Glimpse Into The Future

by CYRUS M. McKELL
Vice President Research, NPI, Salt Lake City, Utah

USED IN GOLF course applica­

tions, biotechnology holds great 
promise for improving plants, 
especially turfgrass. Simply stated, plant 

biotechnology involves the interaction 
of various biological sciences to create 
technologies that can genetically improve 
plants, multiply superior genotypes, 
create new methods for plant pest con­
trol, and enhance plant nutrition.

topography created by the golf course 
design. Yet, turfgrasses must withstand 
the wear of golf carts and demanding 
conditions of play. These problems, 
coupled with high maintenance stan­
dards and the need to control operational 
costs, place a burden on the golf course 
superintendent and maintenance staff, 
as well as on golf course architects and 
green committees.

Some of the more important prob­
lems of golf course turf are related to the 
available sites. The challenge is to 
develop superior turfgrasses that can be 
managed for quality condition even 
with adverse weather conditions, poor 
soil, subsurface problems, and low 
water quality. Turf varieties are needed 
that will perform well with minimal irri­
gation as well as adapt to the unique 

New approaches, made possible by 
scientific advances in plant biotech­
nology, provide opportunities to solve 
some of these problems. By maintaining 
healthy relations with the U.S. Golf 
Association and the Golf Course Super­
intendents Association of America, 
research scientists in biotechnology 
laboratories can better understand how 
to create the new plant materials and 

Cyrus M. Me Kell

products to improve golf course quality 
and management.

Tissue Culture Technology

Plants with superior genetic qualities 
can be multiplied by cloning to produce 
millions of plants of identical genetic 
constitution. Figure I shows an elite red 
rose that has been multiplied in vitro to 
produce a potted plant capable of flow­
ering just a few months after being 
initiated in the tissue culture process. 
Using the same cloning process, it is 
possible to multiply selected grass geno­
types to produce a superior parental 
population for seed production.

Taking the technology one step 
further, it is possible to select somatic 
variants for stress tolerance in a cell-

This new golf course will be seeded to six different grasses. Tough sites need better plants.

Mapping genes.

suspension culture containing the 
appropriate balance of growth hor­
mones, energy, and nutrient minerals. 
Somatic variants can be developed that 
are resistant to salinity, drought, and 
temperature stress. The in vitro selec­
tion process involves placing varying 
intensities of stress-creating materials 
into the growth-promoting culture 
solution to eliminate cells that are less 
tolerant to the stress factor and regen­
erating whole plants from the surviving 
cells.

Molecular Biology Technology
It is now possible to apply DNA restric­
tion fragment length polymorphism 
(RFLP) technology to accelerate plant 
breeding by developing molecular 
markers for desired traits and using the 
markers to follow these traits in 
subsequent segregating generations. 
Selection of superior genetic combi­
nations can be guided by laboratory 
research in combination with a 
computer data base and field observa­
tions. The RFLP patterns can also serve 
as a fingerprint to identify specific plant 
genotypes and thus protect patented 
turf varieties from infringement by 
those who would misrepresent them as 
their own, or substitute a lower quality 

material in place of the patented variety. 
NPI has recently shown that the RFLP 
technology can be used to differentiate 
among Lofts Seed Company’s perennial 
ryegrass proprietary varieties. Thus, the 
RFLP technology is a means of pro­
tecting patented turfgrass varieties as 
well as providing quality control to 
assure buyers that they will receive the 
quality features they expect when they 
buy a named turf variety. The RFLP 
technology also serves to locate the 
genes (DNA) for superior qualities to be 
transferred iijto desired plant varieties.

Chemicals are already on the market, 
and new ones are being developed to 
control plant growth and maturity as 
well as turf growth and color. How­
ever, with new techniques now being 
developed in biotechnology, many 
desired growth characteristics, such as 
dwarf size and stoloniferous habit, may 
be transferred to existing varieties by 
recombinant DNA methods.

Soil Inoculants and Biological 
Fertilizers
The plant biotechnology industry is 
looking forward to new methods of 
manipulating biological nitrogen fixa­
tion and phosphorus nutrition in turf­
grass species as a means of reducing 

(Below) In-vitro cloning of an elite rose. 
(Bottom, left) The final product — a living, 
potted rose in its own package. (Bottom, 
right) Tomato breeding for high solids, insect 
resistance and stress tolerance.

Opposite page: (Top, left) Genetic improve­
ment via somatic variation and selection; 
how it’s done. (Top, right) A chrysanthemum 
variant. (Center, left) A natural, high-salinity 
selection. In-vitro tissue culture does the 
same thing in less time. (Center, right) Mycor­
rhizae mycelium in the soil provides an 
additional system for water and nutrient 
uptake. (Bottom, left) A microscope view 
of root with mycelium growing into it. 
(Bottom, right) A citrus seedling bed show­
ing non-inoculated versus inoculated plants.

SOMOCLONAL VARIATION

(Above, left) Root system with and without 
mycorrhizae.

(Above, right) Natural chemicals in plants 
may give protection from insects.

(Left) A larva that has eaten a natural 
chemical has its ability to molt disrupted.

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) into plants 
that will prompt them to produce their 
own natural systemic insecticide.

Current research and development in 
plant biotechnology may sound like 
something out of the future, but each of 
these ideas is being developed in plant 
biotechnology laboratories here in the 
United States. In fact, many are subjects 
of research projects in NPI laboratories.
The question of applying biotech­
nology techniques to serve the needs of 
golf is a matter or priorities. At present 
the major agricultural crops provide a 
significant incentive for application of 
biotechnology to create improved 
plants and products that can reduce the 
costs of production. Although bio­
technology research costs are high, 
many are being paid by investors in the 
biotechnology companies who believe 
new agricultural products will return a 
profit from their investments. In the 
future it will be possible to apply bio­
technology techniques to the solution of 
turfgrass problems once the process of 
learning how to use them has gone 
through the first cycle. However, a few 
well-placed projects at the present time, 
costing no more than the price of irri­
gating a golf course in the Southwest, 
could immediately encourage research 
applications to develop plants and 
products useful for golf courses.

maintenance costs and improving turf 
quality. An inoculant of endomycor­
rhizae, a beneficial root symbiont that 
enhances phosphorus uptake, improves 
water use, and aids in disease resistance 
is just coming on the market. The exten­
sive hyphae of endomycorrhizae prolif­
erate in the soil in the immediate vicinity 
of most plant roots and grow into the 
cortex cells of the root system. Thus, the 
mycorrhizae serve as an adjunct to root 
hairs in providing an additional conduit 
system for nourishing a plant. Current 
tests with tree seedlings, shrubs, and 
herbaceous plants show that inocu­
lation with the NP1 mycorrhizal 
product, Nutri-LinkTM, produces a 
seedling plant twice the size and vigor of 
non-inoculated plants. Because turf 
grasses are also able to interact with 
endomycorrhizae, the new product 
should find application in selected golf 
course management situations where 
fungicides are not used in excess.

20

USGA GREEN SECTION RECORD

Biological Pesticides

New strategies will be available soon to 
control plant pests biologically with 
naturally-produced plant chemicals that 
are insect specific and pose no human 
safety problems. One example is aza- 
dirachtin, a chemical extracted from the 
neem tree, a native of India. Ingested in 
small quantities, the chemical serves as 
an antifeedant, but when it is eaten in 
larger quantities, the chemical disrupts 
the synthesis of chitin, the material used 
by the insect to produce its exo-skel- 
eton. The chemical functions, therefore, 
as an insecticide by preventing the insect 
from reaching its next stage of growth 
and stopping further consumption of 
plant material. It has no effect on 
human physiology and will be safe in 
human environments.

Research is underway in many 
commercial biotechnology laboratories 
to transfer genes from the bacteria 

THE BEST TURF TIPS OF 1986 — PART II

Helping The Blind To See

by JAMES T. SNOW
Director, Northeastern Region, USGA Green Section

“There is ... a certain kind of fun to 
be got out of hitting a ball over a hill 
and running to the ridge top in order to 
see what chance has befallen the 
venture. ”

John L. Low, 1903

Though decried today as 

being old fashioned, unfair, and 
unsafe, blind golf shots are never­
theless an integral part of golf holes on 

many of the older, well-known golf 
courses in the United States and abroad. 
Before huge earth moving machines and 
multi-million dollar construction 
budgets, golf course architects had to 
make the best of the terrain they were 
given, and in the process a certain 
number of blind golf shots were inevi­
tably created.

Taking nothing away from blind golf 
holes, for some are among the great 
holes of the game, blind shots 
admittedly are logistical problems in 
many instances. Not only can they 
contribute to slow play, more impor­
tantly they can be a source of safety 
concerns. Older golf courses with heavy 
play should be concerned about a group 
of golfers hitting into another group 
they can’t see. The potential for an 
accident is always present under these 
circumstances.

Golf courses have dealt with blind 
golf holes in a variety of ways over the 
years, and yet many courses have never 
taken steps to ensure golfer safety. In 
1986, the Montauk Downs Golf Course, 
in Montauk, New York, resolved a 
long-standing problem in this regard. 
For decades a lightly played private club 

In other days, caddies climbed the hill and indicated line ofplay. The fourth hole at Pine Valley, 
New Jersey.

on the tip of eastern Long Island, 
Montauk Downs, was eventually pur­
chased by the State of New York and has 
seen a tremendous increase in play in 
recent years. As play increased, concern 
about golfer safety on the blind seventh 
hole increased with it. Under the 
guidance of superintendent Hank 
Heddesheimer, the club built and 
installed a periscope and viewing plat­
form on the seventh tee, all for the cost 
of a couple of hundred dollars worth of 
materials. With the periscope, golfers 
can now tee off without worrying about 
hitting into the group in front of them.
Other golf courses use other tech­
niques for dealing with blind holes. The 
Sunken Meadow Golf Course, in Kings 
Park, New York, uses a simple elevated 
platform to provide just enough visi­
bility of golfers already playing the hole. 
The tenth hole at the Taconic Golf Club, 
in Williamstown, Massachusetts, can be 
viewed from the tee by looking up at a 
polished steel mirror mounted in a large 
tree next to the tee. Where trees are not 
available, a mirror attached to a sturdy 
utility pole would certainly work just as 
well.

Providing visual evidence of golfers 
ahead is certainly desirable, but where 
this is not possible, a variety of audio 
signals are available. Bells or chimes are 
sometimes mounted in a convenient 
location just beyond the landing zone of 
the blind shot. As a group of golfers 
passes the installation, they are required 
to ring the bell to indicate to the follow­
ing group that the area is now clear. 
Some courses actually use doorbell type 
buzzers, usually powered by battery, 
that send a signal from the fairway 
landing zone back to the tee.

Concerns about lost balls, slow play, 
and golfer safety on blind holes were 
probably never given much thought in 
the days of caddies, who were able to 
monitor shots and warn of golfers 
within range in blind shot situations. 
Today the golf cart, designated replace-

MARCH/APRIL 1987 

21

ment for the caddie, is sometimes the 
only available means of checking ahead 
on blind holes, requiring the golfer to 
take a quick trip to the top of the ridge 
and back again to play the shot. (Accord­
ing to one golf purist, this may be the 
only good use for carts on the golf 
course.) Perhaps the most drastic step 
that can be taken, and one that has been 
followed at many courses over the years, 
is to eliminate the visibility problem by 
way of a bulldozer.

In summary, a number of methods are 
available for making golfers aware of 
the presence of other golfers on blind 
holes. With the threat of lawsuits and 
rising insurance premiums a common 
occurrence on many courses, adopting 
one of these techniques for ensuring 
golfer safety would be worth consid­
ering.

(Top, left) Some put mirrors in trees.

(Top, right) Superintendent John Piccolo, at St. Catharines, rings bells.

(Above) At Montauk Downs, New York, Superintendent Hank 
Heddesheimer designed and built a periscope and viewing platform 
on the seventh hole.

22 USGA GREEN SECTION RECORD

Oh Traffic: Oh Clippings: 
Oh Stumps!

by CHARLES B. WHITE
Former Director, Southeastern Region, USGA Green Section

DOES WINTER CART traffic 

damage bermudagrass fair­
ways? Figure 1 depicts a fair­
way in the Southeast that was subjected 

to cart traffic throughout one winter. 
Figure 2 shows the same fairway with 
traffic removed from November 
through April. The winter of 1985 
(Figure 2) was actually more severe than 
the winter of 1984, but compare the 
winterkill of bermudagrass.

This fairway has no irrigation, and 
fertility is a level of two pounds nitrogen 
per 1,000 square feet per year with equal 
amounts of potash. Judge for yourself if 
winter traffic removal can improve your 
fairways the year around.

Another tip for 1987 involves han­
dling clippings. A lightweight trailer 
pulled behind a triplex mower is an 
excellent means of getting clippings off 
the course. A large barrel or similar 
device works well if you are using 
walkers and pulling them with a cart.

Clipping collections actually save 
time by not going out of the way to 
dump. It also eliminates the unsightly 
mess as well as the odor they often 
cause. Clipping collection and disposal 
in a compost adds an extra degree of 
grooming and professionalism to golf 
course management. This is especially 
true at courses surrounded by resi­
dential communities (Figure 3).

Finally, I’ve seen: The Vermeer stump 
grinder used very successfully for root 
pruning. This machine can be pulled at a 
very slow speed around a green or tee 
with little damage to the turf. A scar of 
only two inches or less is left, which 
makes the cleanup and healing time 
much less severe. Owners of this equip­
ment say this procedure is not detri­
mental and is up to five or six times 
faster than conventional trenching to 
root prune trees. Remember, this 
procedure must be done along the drip­
line and not too close to the trunk of the 
tree (Figure 4).

Figure 2.

MARCH/APRIL 1987 

23

TheC-S-T-MFactor

by STANLEY J. ZONTEK
Director, Mid-Atlantic Region, USGA Green Section 

WHAT WAS the best turf tip I 

saw this year? It was Common 
Sense Turfgrass Manage­
ment. If there is one positive aspect to a 

poor air circulation, or with tree roots 
sapping water and nutrients. It makes 
one wonder how grass survives at all. As 
the picture shows, sometimes it doesn’t!
Look at your grass. Where has it 
grown and under what conditions? By 
properly diagnosing problems and 
situations, solutions come easier. If the 
soil is layered, aeration and filling the 
holes with a better material is the first 
step. It must be remembered that grass 
roots, as they extend down into the soil, 
must grow in between soil particles. 
Figure 2 shows a typical situation of 
grass roots growing only in the aerator 
holes. This is a common occurrence on 
many golf courses. It should be one of 
the superintendent’s goals to provide the 
grasses’ roots with an opening, a space 
in which to grow. Aeration is a mechani­
cal means of helping to modify the soil 
to grow better grass roots. This helps 
the grass to survive the summer stress 
period.

The second aspect for better healthier 
grass (and roots) is managing water and 
nutrients. Never overwater, especially 
during hot, humid weather. If it rains, 
good surface and sub-surface drainage 
must be achieved. If this does not exist, 
plan programs to solve the drainage

problems. Sometimes good surface 
drainage, the fastest way to remove 
excess water, is overlooked on putting 
greens.

There has been so much soil modifi­
cation with sand topdressing on greens, 
that chemical tests should be run fre­
quently on the upper soil layer to 
compare it with the old soil deeper in the 
profile. You may be surprised at the 
difference. Then manage your fertility 
program for where the grasses’ roots are 
growing, generally in the upper modified 
zone.

Finally, consider how much to fer­
tilize. Obviously a course that receives 
40,000 to 60,000 rounds of golf per year 
must be fertilized differently from a 
course receiving 10,000 to 20,000 
rounds. Also, greens built with high 
sand content require more fertility than 
old topsoil-based greens. Look at the 
turf on your greens. If it looks thin and 
weak with old cup holes and ball marks, 
is slow to heal, and shows excessive spike 
marking, some additional fertilizer may 
need to be applied. In our quest for 
putting green speed, it is sometimes easy 
to forget that differences exist from 
course to course. Balanced fertility and 
enough total fertilizer applied during

difficult growing season, it is that 
whatever weaknesses or strengths exist 
on your course or in your programs, 
they will be brought into clear focus 
during tough times.

Good, strong, healthy, deep-rooted 
turfgrasses survive. Figure 1 illustrates 
the point. The only healthy, thriving 
grass is alive in the aerator holes. This is 
significant. Any number of causes could 
have affected the grass on this green, but 
when you study the picture, the impli­
cation is clear. Strong, healthy, and 
deep-rooted grass tolerates extremes of 
weather, heat and humidity, wet and dry 
wilt, plus the ravages of insects, nema­
todes, disease, traffic, and compaction. 
Grass is weaker when it is grown under 
compacted/layered soil conditions, a 
thatchy environment, or where the 
surface or sub-surface has drainage 
problems, where an inadequate irri­
gation system exists (with poor water 
control), where nutrient and pH levels 
are out of balance, etc. All these factors 
are aggravated further by greens, tees, 
or fairways located in pockets of shade,

24

USGA GREEN SECTION RECORD

the year are important ingredients in 
growing good, strong, healthy, deep- 
rooted grass. Generally, light and 
frequent applications of '/8, !4, or '/2 
pound N/1,000 square feet as needed 
throughout the growing season works 
best. You can always add more fertilizer. 
Managing an excess is difficult.

Therefore, what is my turf tip? It is 
that the best management philosophy is 
one of common sense. Doing what is 
best for you and your course, not what 
someone else is doing down the road. 
Manage your soils, water, and turf to 
grow strong, healthy, deep-rooted grass, 
and you just may find that turf holds up 
better during periods of stress and that 
the grass is naturally more resistant to 
disease, nematodes, wilt, and traffic. 
The turf even looks good and plays well. 
Sometimes it is easy to rely on a chemi­
cal to pull the grass through a difficult 
time. We seem to be relying more and 
more on chemicals to grow healthy 
grass. This is a fallacy.

For good grass you must manage the 
soil in which the grass is growing as your 
first priority; chemical applications are 
a secondary solution. Figure 3 illus­
trates the key. Common sense manage­
ment of the grass growing in the soil 
with a good root system.

Figure 1.

Figure 2.

Figure 3.

MARCH/APRIL 1987 

25

For the Golf Course Superintendent 
There's o Time to Hold — 
and a Time to Fold

by RILEY STOTTERN
President GCSAA and CGCS, Park City, Utah

I’VE BEEN on and around golf 

courses — and around this profes­
sion — literally since childhood. My 
grandfather was a superintendent in 
Florida before moving out west, and I 
remember often being with him on the 
golf course. My father also was a golf 
course superintendent, and I worked 
with him many summers building and 
maintaining the golf course. So, as you 
now know, I am a third generation golf 
course superintendent, and I know that 
they have come a long way in the last 60 
years — from laborers to professional 
managers.

Things have changed since grand­
father’s day, much of it out of necessity. 
We must keep up with the masses who 
now clamor to play the game. That’s 
good, but my grandfather would prob­
ably roll over in his grave if he could 
see the way we do things today. We put 
heavy equipment on our fine turfgrasses 
these days — greensmowers, aerifiers, 
and vehicles loaded with sand for top­
dressing, grandfather wouldn’t even put 
a wheelbarrow on a green without 
laying planks.

I had a delightful time recently read­
ing passages from a “golf course superin­
tendent’s diary.” It had highlights dating 
back to 1916. One of the earliest install­
ments went like this: “May 22, 1916 — 
the machine for mowing greens arrived 
today. Everyone in the work crew 
wanted the job of pushing it over the 
greens. I have selected only those men 
who have an even stride and do not tire 
easily. An even cut is most important.”
Does anybody remember actually 
pushing an old reel type mower to cut 
the backyard grass? 1 do. It was tough 
on a hot summer day!

Somewhere in the GCSAA archives is 
a fascinating 16mm film tracing the 
history of golf course management. 
Everyone should see it. To me, one of the 
most interesting scenes is a row of 
women on their hands and knees in a 
line across a green pulling weeds. Rather 
labor-intensive. Today, we must use 
chemicals. There’s really not much other

26

USGA GREEN SECTION RECORD

and the increase in horseless carriages, it 
appears that oil from the asphalt and 
from the automobile is being absorbed 
in the street sweepings. Mixed into the 
compost, the oil remains, and if it is 
applied to grass, will most likely kill it. 
Beware, and avoid street sweepings.”

YOU CAN SEE, here was the begin­

ning of progress, of professional 
growth and technological advancement.

Just as scientists have long done, golf 
course superintendents began to keep 
records. By keeping records and trying 
different methods, they could begin to 
see what worked and what didn’t work.
Golf course superintendents had 
already seen the need for an organi­
zation or organizations to help them 
develop professionally. It was in 1920 
when our journalist made this notation:
“I shall note in my greenkeeping 
record that today the United States Golf 
Association adopted a resolution to 
form a Green Section for the purpose of 
collecting and distributing information 
of value respecting the proper upkeep of 
golf courses. This is a great step for­
ward, since we have so many problems 
with disease, insects and lack of general 
knowledge most important to growing 
good turf. I am looking forward to 
receiving the first bulletin of the Green 
Section.”

Over the years the golf course super­
intendent, along with other members of 
a team that constitutes the game of golf 
as we know it, has striven to improve, in 
order to meet the needs and demands of 
those who play the game.

By 1925, a man named John Morley 
was making the rounds and talking 
about organizing a National Associa­
tion of Greenkeepers. This organization 
would meet regularly and publish a 
periodical for educational purposes. 
Today, we can see very clearly what has 
come of that. From its humble begin­
nings at Sylvania Country Club, in 1926, 
in Ohio, that tiny band has grown into 
the 7,000 member Golf Course Superin­
tendents Association of America.

Riley Stottern

choice, but we must use them carefully 
and discriminantly. And we do.

Lately, we’ve come under some fire 
about the use of chemicals on golf 
courses. We’re doing a good job of 
application, but we must do a much 
better job of communication with the 
public in this controversy. To help us do 
this, GCSAA has created a new staff 
position of Manager of Governmental 
Relations. The position has been filled 
by Zachary Grant. He will work closely 
with Bob Still, our new Manager of 
Media Relations and with others in our 
communication and education pro­
grams. But back to our golf course 
superintendent’s diary.

Elsewhere the author records part of 

his fertilizing program.

“I am using fresh peat moss, old, well- 
rotted, short-straw stable manure, and 
two ounces per square yard of Carter’s 
Complete Grass Manure.” That’s the 
way it was.

Here’s another installment dealing 
with the same general subject, dated 
March 21, 1921:

“Street sweepings were for many 
years an excellent source of fertilizer. 
With the advent of asphalt-paved streets 

We’ve come a long way since then in 
education. Continual training is required 
of all diligent golf course superintendents 
to keep abreast of rapidly changing 
conditions. The GCSAA certification 
program has been very significantly 
upgraded. Next year, for example, we go 
from an open-book to a closed-book 
examination. The year after that, at 
least one year, or 15 Division 1 continu­
ing education units, will be required for 
certification. By 1994, you will need at 
least an associate’s degree or the equiva­
lent to be a GCSA A-certified golf course 
superintendent. By 1999, three years of 
college or the equivalent will be required, 
and by the year 2004, it will be neces­
sary to have a bachelor’s degree or the 
equivalent.

This is not to say that many golf 
course superintendents today aren’t 
highly educated. Almost half of the golf 
course superintendents attending last 
year’s GCSAA International Turfgrass 
Conference held bachelor’s degrees. 
More than 25 percent held two-year 
degrees. Quite a few held master’s 
degrees — and there was even a Ph. D. or 
two.

TODAY, it is not uncommon for golf 

course superintendents to work 
with annual budgets totaling half a 

million dollars. They are entrusted with 
the operation and maintenance of very 

expensive modern machinery and 
equipment. They are the custodians of 
millions of dollars worth of precious 
land and other assets.

Not too long ago, Tom Watson com­
pared the golf course of today with an 
artist’s painting, “In the end,” he said, 
“it is the golf course superintendent who 
has to finish the painting, and in addi­
tion, maintain it so the paint doesn’t 
chip. Superintendents are the people 
most responsible for the players’ having 
fun. If the golf course is not in good 
shape, it’s not much fun to play. If it is in 
good shape, then it’s very enjoyable, and 
superintendents have to work hard, be 
well educated, and enjoy what they’re 
doing to achieve results.”

And how about the club profes­
sionals, club managers, the architects, 
the builders, the owners? We’re all 
important to golf. We’re all part of the 
team. We are all playing, in more ways 
than one, what many of us believe is the 
best game ever invented.

As golf course superintendents, our 
technical knowledge and professional­
ism have reached new heights. We are 
experts now, and we usually know 
what’s best for the golf course. But we 
must always communicate; especially 
when we are meeting with our green 
committees, our club owners, and so 
forth. After all, they are our employers. 
When you know you’re right, it is your 
responsibility as a professional to hold 

your cards just as long as you can — and 
that’s as long as you think you have a 
chance of convincing them. One of the 
greatest problems we have in our per­
sonal relationships as golf course 
superintendents is that we sometimes 
have a tendency to be too idealistic when 
it comes to the golf courses we manage. 
Jobs are lost because of an inability to 
recognize that sometimes we just have to 
fold.

Sometimes we can wisely fold 

and pass our hands to the next 
person. By that I mean bring in an 
expert. Everyone knows the definition 

of an expert. That’s someone who comes 
in from more than five miles away carry­
ing a briefcase. One of the most helpful 
assistants we have, at times, is the 
outside consultant, whether the occa­
sion calls for an agronomist or an 
architect. After all, who really cares who 
plays the hand — who folds and who 
holds — as long as we get what we want, 
and that is what is best for the golf 
course.

I like to think that in some ways golf 
course superintendents are like the 
turfgrass on which golf is played. With 
proper care, turfgrass is constantly 
regenerating while the older turfgrass 
serves as a base. The game has been 
entrusted for now to our generation. 
May we continue to carry on in the best 
tradition of our predecessors!

The Trials and Tribulations 
of a Green Committee Chairman

by HOWARD KEEL, Former Green Committee Chairman, 
Bel-Air Country Club, Los Angeles, California

AS A PROFESSIONAL actor and 
/Wsinger, I have traveled a lot and 
X A.have had an opportunity to play 
some of the most wonderful golf courses 
in the world. I have been a member at 
Bel-Air Country Club since 1952, and 
my golf course is a very special place to 
me. I’m always glad to get back home 
and play golf on these wonderful acres 
with 18 great holes.

Over the years, I think golf has saved 
my sanity many times because, in my 
profession, you can have a lot of empty 

time on your hands. You can study and 
try to improve your mind. You can drink 
or chase girls. You can exercise and try 
to keep yourself in shape in various 
ways, but I found golf real early, and it 
has been a godsend to me. I use my spare 
time playing and enjoying the golf 
course.

About three or four years ago, some 
friends came to me and asked if I would 
run for the board of directors at Bel-Air. 
I didn’t know if this would be the pru­
dent thing to do, but, nevertheless, I 

agreed to try. As it turned out, I was 
elected, and Angie Pappas, the presi­
dent, asked what I would like to do. 
“Green committee chairman,” I blurted. 
I don’t know exactly why. Lo and behold, 
he appointed me, along with some other 
people just to look after me.

I think they seriously doubted my 
ability as a green committee chairman, 
but I had one very good thing going for 
me. We had — and still have — a very 
fine superintendent — Steve Badger. I 
immediately got together with Steve to

MARCH/APRIL 1987 

27

let him know I knew nothing about 
grass, but that I loved golf. The first 
thing to do under these circumstances is 
to get into a golf cart and go around the 
course. I learned to pick his brains so 
he’d leave mine alone. We have had 
some wonderful tours around the course 
since, along with some real battles.

One of the first things that had to be 
done, I felt, was to develop better control 
of golf carts. I went to the board for 
approval (because you always have to 
go to the board for approval). As a 
matter of fact, you have to be a board 
member to be a green chairman, and I 
think that is ridiculous sometimes, but it 
is true. Now I am not a cart lover. I 
would rather walk, and there is no doubt 
golf carts hurt golf courses, but we have 
to live with them. We have at Bel-Air 
some pretty affluent and very successful 
people. I call them Indian Chiefs. They 
each have their own little wigwam and 
they run it. They built it themselves. 
When they get on the golf course, they 
want to run that too, and they do a 
pretty good job.

I have found one can drive a golf cart 
fairly sanely for a few holes, but as one 
starts to miss the two or three foot putts, 
insanity comes into your being, and it’s a 
Meet your Maker flight going down 
some of those hills in golf carts. People 
start driving across tees and greens, or 
they throw clubs at carts, etc. I decided 
that, in order to try and save some of the 
turf, I’d put down a white line. I went to 
the board and got approval and wrote a 
little note saying that from now on you 
would not cross the white line as it were. 
And if you do, you will get a warning. 
And if you do it again, you’ll walk for a 
while.

AS IT IS in all clubs, there are peo- 
-Zjkple you just don’t get along with. I 
have a few, and I can understand why 
they don’t get along with me. But this 
one person was the first one I saw, and I 
found him at the side of a hill too close 
to the green with his cart. And I thought, 
“I can’t write this guy up. It won’t do any 
good, so I am just going to take him out 
of the cart. He’s red-lettered. He has had 
it.” So I did. I left a little note with the 
caddiemaster and immediately got on 
an airplane and went to England. I no 
sooner got to my hotel room when I got a 
phone call. The other gentleman, who 
had been playing golf with this guy, 
wanted to know what I was doing.

“You can’t take him out of a cart,” he 
said. I asked, “Why not? He disobeyed 
the rules!” He said, “But he can’t play if 
he is not in a cart.” I replied, “That is just 

28 USGA GREEN SECTION RECORD

tough! He can walk for a few holes.” But 
he said, “He can’t go 18.” So I said, “So 
you lose a little money. You have been 
making a pigeon out of this guy for 
years.”

Well, you can imagine, this raised 
quite an uproar for quite a while. I was 
called Hitler and a big overgrown un­
speakable word and a lot of other 
things. I learned fast to use the term, 
“Write me a letter.”

You get 10,000 suggestions from 
everybody, but in my three years as 
green chairman, I received exactly three 
letters. Two of them didn’t make any 
sense at all, and one was sent to me by an 
old friend of mine. Old Smokey we 
called him.

He complained about the cart path on 
the right side of the 16th hole. He said it 
was just not fair. I talked with him and 
told him that there is one thing about 
golf. It is not fair! It is not meant to be 
fair. The only way to enjoy golf is to be a 
masochist. Go out and beat yourself to 
death. Most golfers do. I passed through 
that period in my life about 15 or 20 
years ago. Finally, Old Smokey wrote 
me a letter to say something must be 
done about this golf cart path on the 
right side of No. 16 because a lot of 
errant golf balls hit the path and go out 
of bounds. It is just not fair. So I wrote 
him back a letter and said I understand 
your problem but you must understand 
our problem too. It is very expensive to 
change the route of this cart path, 
because right next to it are some very 
expensive homes, and it would be very 
costly, if not impossible, to change it. I 
suggested one thing however; “Smokey, 
just take your right hand and lay it a 
little more open------- .”

At Bel-Air we have some great char­
acters. Fred Mac Murray is one. Fred has 
a reputation of being a little close with 
the buck. He has a lot of bucks. He has 
more bucks than Bob Hope has. When I 
was a young lad, I came to L. A. in 1936 
and had a job in the parking lot at Para­
mount Studios. I parked cars six days a 
week from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. with no 
time off for lunch and for $9.00 a week. I 
would dust off cars, brush them up, 
anything I could do to pick up a dime 
or 15 cents. I did old Fred’s car for a 
while but could never get a tip out of 
him. Never once. Years later we did a 
picture together called Callaway Went 
Thataway.

I had never met Fred since those early 
parking lot days. Paramount called a lit­
tle meeting to introduce us all to Fred 
and Dorothy McGuire and the rest of 
the cast. They introduced me to Fred. 

“Howard, this is Fred.” I said, “Yes, sir, 
I’ve met Mr. MacMurray before. I used 
to park your car, at the Paramount 
Studios in 1936. I used to wipe it off, 
clean it off and you never tipped me one 
bloody dime.” Then I said, “Thanks a 
lot,” and walked away.

He started to “uh uh uh” and to this 
day, he comes up to me and says, 
“Howard, that story you tell about 
me . . . .” “Fred,” I say, “I’m afraid it 
is true. You don’t recognize me now 
because at that time I was 17 and stood 
6' 3" and weighed 135 pounds and was in 
dire need of food.”

There is also another story about Fred 
MacMurray. He was making a picture 
for Walt Disney once in London, and he 
was on expenses of $1,000 a day. Walt 
came over to London to see how the pic­
ture was going, and on the set one day he 
said, “Fred, want to have dinner to­
gether tonight?” They went to a lovely 
restaurant, very expensive, and the 
check came and they sat there, and they 
sat there, and finally Disney picked up 
the check and paid it. But he was think­
ing, “How cheap can a guy be? At least he 
could pay for dinner on $1,000 a day.” 
Well, they finished the picture and 
Disney got a letter from Fred. In it was 
an itemized statement of all the monies 
he had spent in London and a check for 
the money he did not spend. That’s our 
Fred, a wonderful, wonderful person.

ONE THING I do advise if you ever 

become a green chairman is, when 
you get on and you have a committee, 

fire the committee. It is not only a favor 
to yourself, but it is a favor to the golf 
superintendent. He only needs one boss. 
It’s bad enough to have one dummy to 
put up with so why be surrounded by a 
bunch of dummies. That’s one of the 
first things I did, and I got some real 
arguments.

I am not a very diplomatic person. 
Nothing like old Clayton Farlow on 
Dallas. He is just the nicest old boy I’ve 
ever known. But I am not really like 
that. I think that’s really the only reason 
they made me green chairman. They 
figured anyone who could handle J. R. 
would make a good green chairman.

There are a few different sides to the 
people involved at Bel-Air, but probably 
not all that different from other clubs. I 
did bend a lot of noses with the cart 
issue, I sometimes get emotional. My 
father was a coal miner, and he could 
swear for ten minutes and never repeat a 
word. At times I can be a chip off the old 
block. Sometimes Marion Farmer, my 
good friend, golfing partner, and mem-

ber of the USGA Executive Committee, 
closes his eyes when he walks over to the 
golf cart. He never says anything to me 
but I know what he is thinking. One time 
1 found a former club official parked in 
his cart alongside and right next to a tee 
with some friends. This is against our 
cart rules, and I pointed this out to him 
with a few choice words. They freely 
translated into “as a past-president, you 
are not setting a very good precedent for 
future members or others by breaking 
the rules.” Sometimes you make good 
friends and sometimes you don’t.

Being a good green chairman is help­
ing your superintendent. If you have a 
good superintendent, you can be a good 
green chairman. Steve Badger and I get 
along very well. I love the game and the 
course. I have had a wonderful three 
years as green chairman, and I learned a 
great deal from Steve. We did a few 
things around the course that 1 think 
helped, but you have to be very careful 
with golf courses. You must not deni­
grate the course in any way.

You can have a great track, but only if 
you are willing to take care of it. I think 
part of the problem with our automobile 
industry today is that they keep hanging 
things on their automobiles, hanging 
things on until it doesn’t look anything 
like it was. If they had taken all that 
money and spent it on improving the

Howard Keel

basic product, they would be much 
better off. 1 think it is the same with a 
golf course. You have to be very careful 
how you go about improving a course. 
I’m still on the long range planning 
committee and involved at times with 
the current green chairman. But don’t 
ever have an ex-green chairman on your 
committee, because you are in big 
trouble.

I have tremendous respect for the golf 
course superintendent because of the 
wonderful things he is doing with golf 
courses in the United States and around 
the world. This gives us all the oppor­
tunity to enjoy life and have a wonderful 
time. So use the golf course. Don’t abuse 
it.

MARCH/APRIL 1987 

29

(Top, left) Carts.

(Top, right) Cart paths.

(Above) Every Green Chairman's dream — 
good greens, a cleanly cut hole, a clean cup 
liner, and a clean flagpole.

A Few Minutes with 
Frank Hannigan

Senior Executive Director, USGA

derful message on television. The Open 
has changed as a spectacle.

The one constant in the U.S. Open is 
the courses on which it is played and 
how they are prepared. You have seen 
these conditions: fairways an average of 
about 30 yards wide; two cuts of rough, 
the first five to six feet wide at two 
inches, which we call intermediate 
rough, and the second notorious U.S. 
Open rough, which goes to about four 
or five inches. The greens are dry, firm, 
and fast, and is a nice Stimpmeter speed 
for Open greens. They were about the 
same speed 25 years ago but we didn’t 
know it because the Stimpmeter hadn’t 
been widely used yet.

Providing these conditions is not easy, 
since most Open courses are open to 
members for regular play right up to 

Sunday night of Open week. It is a very 
hard job for the golf course superinten­
dent. The hours are long, but he is used 
to long hours. Agronomically it is a little 
tricky, but he is accustomed to tricky 
agronomics. The real difficulty is in 
terms of emotional pressures.

The reputation of the USGA rides on 
the Open itself, and we watch it very, 
very carefully. Club members, who can 
age a superintendent inordinately in an 
ordinary year, get especially wrapped up 
when it comes to a U.S. Open. Their 
pride and their emotions can complicate 
things enormously. The players, the 
pros, very few of whom have ever done 
anything much at all except play golf, 
are now, all of a sudden, taken seriously 
as ultimate experts in the art of turfgrass 
management. Then the press is all over

FOR BETTER or worse, I find 

that I have been involved in the 
administration and manage­
ment, in one way or the other, of the last 

26 U.S. Opens. These have been the 
great years of Nicklaus, Trevino, of 
Arnold Palmer losing three playoffs in 
five years, and of Watson at the 17th at 
Pebble Beach. It has been a period when 
the game has gone international to the 
extent that no one will be surprised if 
this year’s Open is won by an Australian, 
a German, a Japanese, or a Spaniard.

We spend a great deal of time thinking 
about television and what the Open will 
look like before an audience of 20 
million people around the world. One 
reason the Open went to Shinnecock 
Hills last year was our clear understand­
ing that Shinnecock would send a won­

Preparing for 
an Open. 
“Stop with the stakes!"

(Top) Brookline, Massachusetts, April, 
1963. Nothing grew that spring. Nothing!

(Left) The roughs were the talk of the 1955 
Open at The Olympic Club, California.

(Above) The 18th hole at The Olympic 
Club, 1955 U.S. Open.

MARCH/APRIL 1987 

31

the superintendent’s golf course, and he 
is not a guy who has been trained to deal 
with reporters or television people. So 
out of this odd mix of circumstances you 
get some occasionally unforeseen conse­
quences. I would like to share with you 
some of my memories of incidents in­
volving golf courses and their manage­
ment and superintendents that are quite 
apart from the play of golf shots.

First, at Oakland Hills, in Michigan, 

in 1961. I had just been hired by the 
USGA, and my experiences in golf had 

been primarily those of a player and 
someone who cut greens on the New 
York City public golf courses. I had 
never dreamed there was such a place as 
an Oakland Hills. I was given the job of 
supervising the installation of gallery 
stakes and ropes. We had had a late, late 
start and were in a sort of frenzy to 
finish, with me driving a tractor and Joe 
Dey driving in stakes with a sledge ham­
mer. We were doing very well on a 
Sunday afternoon when a little man 
came running across the fairway yelling 
for us to get off the tractor and stop with 
the stakes! He was the shop steward of 
the crew at Oakland Hills. It never 
occurred to the USGA that there was 
such a thing as a union on a golf course, 
and that the union mattered more than 
the U.S. Open. This was Detroit in the 
early 1960s. I got off the tractor and Joe 
Dey stopped driving stakes.

The year 1963 was the one of the great 
winterkill at Brookline, Massachusetts. 
Nothing grew that spring. Nothing at all. 
Oh, we had some patchy rough, but by 
Memorial Day, three weeks before the 
event, we were commiserating with the 
superintendent at The Country Club. 
We said, “John, what a terrible thing to 
happen this particular year.” He said, 
“Frank, enough of it. These tight 
Yankees are throwing money at you, and 
after you’re gone the golf course will be 
better than it ever was before.” He was 
absolutely right.

In 1965, in St. Louis, we had a golf 
course superintendent talk of resigning 
on Tuesday of the week of the Open. The 
pressure got to be too much. He was pre­
vailed upon to stay through the Open, 
but it was very difficult for him as once 
again it was a late and cool spring, and 
this was a bermudagrass course. He 
was especially concerned because it was 
the first year of color television for the 
Open — and the course was going to be 
brown. We drove onto the course on 

32 USGA GREEN SECTION RECORD

Thursday morning, and he had dyed the 
17th fairway. He did this on his own, and 
it didn’t come out too well — it looked 
like a rancid Easter egg.

y^T MERION in 1971 we had a tough 
xXspring, too. Greens were bumpy and 
not good at all. The central figure at 
Merion then was Richie Valentine. He 
would work with his friend Al Radko, 
National Director of the USGA Green 
Section in New Jersey. They concluded 
that the prescription for better greens 
was an application of sand topdressing. 
Richie and Al concluded that Richie’s 
father, Joe Valentine, would have done 
the same. So an application of sand 
went on early in June. We came in and 
looked at it, and since Richie was not a 
man for moderate applications, we had 
18 bunkers! There was much raking, and 
the end result was a marvelous golf 
course. Richie Valentine gave us a pure 
golf course.

At Atlanta in 1976 was perhaps the 
most celebrated incident concerning the 
golf course superintendent in the history 
of the U.S. Open. In those days I had an 
interestingjob with the U.S. Open. I was 
the person who sat in the little tent near 
the 18th green where the players re­
turned their score cards. You become 
accustomed to people vilifying the 
USGA, but there was something very 
unusual at Atlanta on that Thursday. 
Players were coming in and crying 
about the long fairways and that the 
grass hadn’t been cut. This was inten­
sified and intensified. All they talked 
about was flyers, flyers, flyers. It got so 
bad that I communicated with the 
USGA Championship Committee. I 
said look, we all know the paranoia of 
these guys, but there is so much of it, we 
had better check on it. So there was an 
investigation.

The superintendent, it seems, wanted 
to have everything just right, and so he 
had fixed up a lot of his equipment and 
had everything new for the Open. 
Among other things, he had ordered 
new sets of wheels for his fairway units. 
These were put on Wednesday night. It 
turned out that the new wheels were 
fractionally larger than the ones he 
replaced. So when the fairways were cut 
on Thursday morning, nothing was 
really cut.

And so both sides were right. The 
fairways were cut, but the grass was still 
very long. There was a little printed 
statement prepared apologizing to the 

players, telling them we would get it 
right the next day. Some did not believe 
the statement and felt it was a deliberate 
act on our part to humiliate them.

It was in 1977 at Southern Hills that 
Hubert Green went through the bizarre 
incident of a telephone death threat. He 
was accompanied around the course by 
State Troopers. But backstage at 
Southern Hills, for the golf course 
superintendent, it was the Great Gib­
berellic Acid Year. Again, it was a slow 
growth spring, and there was not 
enough rough, according to the USGA 
Committee. Monty Moncrief, our agron­
omist, told us there was a substance 
called gibberellic acid that could make a 
rain forest out of a desert. There was a 
frenzied search for it, a plane was dis­
patched, and it was brought to Southern 
Hills and applied on a Tuesday. Whether 
it grew any rough or not, I don’t remem­
ber. But to this day, Jim McKay, of ABC 
Sports, asks us how goes our gibberellic 
acid?

In the last six or seven years, we have 

created a new role. We now have a spe­
cially assigned agronomist for USGA 

Championships. He is someone who 
makes not only Turf Advisory Service 
visits, but about half of his time overall 
is devoted to working with the golf 
course superintendents at our champion­
ships. His primary job, I think, is to 
shield the golf course superintendent; to 
keep us away from him and his green 
committee away from him. Let him do 
the job. For us, of course, the Open 
Championship is the most important 
thing in the world. We live off it in two 
critical ways. It is so prominent, it deter­
mines what the USGA reputation is, and 
it is a source of revenue that allows us to 
pay for many of our services, including 
the Green Section.

Whether or not the Open succeeds 
depends ultimately on the quality of the 
golf course. If the golf course isn’t right, 
nothing else matters. So I would say, 
without hesitation, that it is the golf 
course superintendent at a U.S. Open 
who by miles matters more than anyone 
else. If he fails, we all fail. But he doesn’t. 
It is his pride and his professionalism 
that invariably prevails.

This year we take the Open to San 
Francisco and the great Olympic Club. 
We expect that we will have a winner 
because John Fleming, superintendent 
at the Olympic Club won’t let us down. 
So many of you have not let us down 
over the years!

THE BEST TURF TIPS OF 1986 - PART III

Rooting Depth and Soil Sampling

by JAMES F. MOORE
Director, Mid-Continent Region, USGA Green Section

Topdressing is an important practice, but the use of the wrong material can 
create layering problems.

SOIL LAYERS in greens greatly 

affect the turfgrass plant. Layers 
come about from a number of 
different management techniques other 

than simply changing topdressing 
materials. They can occur when the 
original construction materials are 
mixed on the site rather than off the site. 
It is impossible to achieve a homoge­
neous mix with a roto-tiller. Layers 
often occur when new sod is moved onto 
a green and grown on a different soil, 
and then buried by subsequent top­
dressings. On the other hand, a lack of 
topdressing and excessive fertility may 
also cause thatch layers.

On many courses, layer development 
stems from topdressing programs on old, 
poorly constructed greens, and where 
complete reconstruction is impossible 
for a variety of reasons. Superintendents 
are then faced with improving the root­
zone through a long range topdressing 
program. Unless the topdressing pro­
gram is very carefully carried out, soil 
layers could form.

Regardless of the reason, I see many 
courses with very sharply defined layers 

in the greens’ rootzone profile. Roger 
Null, superintendent of Old Warson 
Country Club, in St. Louis, realized that 
such radically different soil layers in a 
rootzone may have radically different 
nutrient levels and other effects on the 
turf as well. The root systems of turf 
vary in depth according to the time of 
year. For example, the roots of a cool 
season turf, such as bentgrass grown on 
a heavily layered green, will tend to 
connect to the lower soil layer during 
moderate weather but may be complete­
ly confined to the upper zone during 
times of stress. Warm season turf 
behaves the same way, but obviously at 
opposite times of the year. After seeing 
Roger’s successful investigations, I 
asked a number of clubs with heavily 
layered greens to collect their soil cores 
for chemical sampling in two ways. One 
sample was composed of cores taken 
from the lower profile, while the other 
was taken from the upper layer.

The tests showed dramatic differ­
ences in the levels of phosphorous, iron, 
manganese, and potassium, as well as 
other nutrients. Cation exchange capa-

Distinctly different layers in a profile 
can inhibit root development and water 
movement.

city was significantly lower in the sandy, 
upper layer compared to the lower soil 
zone. The pH values varied greatly, 
sometimes swinging from mildly basic 
to strongly acidic over a range of just 
two or three inches in the profile!

The point is, if you have heavily 
layered greens, not only can you plan on 
problems, such as anerobic conditions, 
poor infiltration, and limited root­
systems, but you may also have to ad­
just your fertility program based on the 
depth of the roots. This sampling tech­
nique can help you identify this need.

MARCH/APRIL 1987 

33

A Supplemental Irrigation 
System for Putting Greens

by PATRICK M. O’BRIEN
Director, Southeastern Region, USGA Green Section

Historically, the rough 

grasses around putting greens 
generally receive low main­
tenance. In 1986, many clubs spent addi­

tional money to improve this area, not 
only to install a supplemental irrigation 
system, but also to lay new sod.

The importance of the rough sur­
rounding greens is well documented. 
PGA Tour statistics show that John 
Mahaffey, who ranked first in hitting 
greens in regulation last year, hit 13 of 18 
greens in his typical round. Obviously, 
the average golfer is chipping from these 
rough areas much more frequently. A 
good uniform turf here is highly 
desirable.

A supplemental irrigation system for 
the roughs adjacent to greens can be 
worthwhile. The sprinkler heads should 
be controlled individually, just as the 
putting green sprinklers. In the usual 
run of things, the rough grasses are 
generally irrigated along with the 
greens, but the two areas are mowed at 
different heights, and the soils of the two 
areas and their water requirements are 
frequently very different. This supple­
mental irrigation feature allows the 
superintendent to water the greens or 
roughs as necessary, helping to prevent 
overwatering. This means healthier turf 
in a critical area through irrigation flexi­
bility and control.

At the same time, some clubs stripped 
off the old sod around their greens and 
resodded with better turfgrass species 
and varieties. This was especially true at 
older golf courses in the north and the 
transition zone, where Poa annua and 
bentgrasses have taken over the other, 
more desirable rough grasses. Poa and 
bentgrass at rough height present a dif­
ficult recovery shot for all golfers. Most 
clubs are resodding with a mixture of 
Kentucky bluegrass and one of the new 
turf-type tall fescues, which are quite 
good for roughs.

(Top) Different heights of cut and different soils around greens make a supplemental 
irrigation system a worthwhile feature.

(Above) Bentgrass and Poa annua rough around greens can best be dealt with 
by resodding.

(Opposite page) The final product is playable.

34 USGA GREEN SECTION RECORD

Topdressing Operations That Vibrate

by JAMES T. LATHAM
Director, Great Lakes Region, USGA Green Section

THE PROCESS of topdressing 

greens has gone through a slow 
evolution of single components 
and blends of materials since, 1 suppose, 

the practice began. While the composi­
tion of topdressing materials is a subject 
of great controversy, the operation itself 
is not. It is generally disliked by golfer, 
superintendent, and crewman. It re­
quires handling heavy and bulky mate­
rials, to some degree by hand, and can 
be very labor intensive. The change in 
application procedures dates back some 
30 years, to the time when some superin­
tendents moved away from hand spread­
ing and began using hand or motor pro­
pelled drop spreaders.

During his tenure at Old Warson 
Country Club, in St. Louis, Oscar 
Bowman was one of the first golf course 
superintendents to use broadcasting 
machines to spread topdressing. Stored 
inside a building, his mixture was rather 
dry, and because it did not flow freely, it 

needed physical assistance to maintain 
flow to the spinner mechanism.

The widespread use of straight sand 
as topdressing has permitted newer 
broadcasting equipment to be used to 
speed up light, frequent applications 
throughout the growing season. Wet 
sand, however, presents a handling 
problem, since it does not flow uni­
formly and often needs someone to ride 
on the spreader and help feed the 
spinner mechanism, just like Bowman’s 
operation. Today this is not only unsafe, 
it is also a rather unproductive use of 
labor.

Ted Thorn, superintendent at the 
Finkbine Golf Course, University of 
Iowa, has not only solved the safety 
problem, but through project organiza­
tion and the use of a device he and his 
co-workers adapted for golf course use, 
he has also reduced the amount of labor 
needed to handle the materials. His setup 
involves a dump-truck funnel of boards 
to channel the sand onto a conveyor/ 

elevator to fill the spreader’s hopper. It 
eliminates the potential lower back pain 
problems associated with shovelling the 
heavy, wet sand.

Eliminating the rider on the spreader 
took some imagination. Ted and com­
pany came up with an unusual vibrator 
to generate flow of the extremely wet, 
bridging sand. The device consists of a 
12-volt starter motor connected by a 
V-belt to spin a heavy off-center or 
eccentric weight, which taps the side of 
the hopper. This sets up a strong vibra­
tion, which causes the sand to flow 
downward to the open throat of the 
hopper. Vibration is controlled by an 
on-off switch operated by the driver of 
the towing vehicle, and is used whenever 
the material flow to the spinner becomes 
inadequate. The operation is safe and 
fast, and requires no hand lifting. The 
efficiency of the operation was so impres­
sive that I forgot to take an action photo­
graph. Take my word for it, though, it 
does work, and it is very effective.

MARCH/APRIL 1987 

35

(Top) Topdressing materials handling at the 
Finkbine Golf Course of the University of Iowa 
minimizes hand work. Sand flows from dump 
truck to a belt elevator to the broadcaster hopper.

(Above) The vibrating mechanism is a heavy 
cylinder with an off-center shaft, powered by a 
12-volt starter motor. In operation, the rotating 
weight taps the side of the steel plate-reinforced 
hopper to set up the sand-moving vibration.

A vibrator is bolted to the broadcaster’s hopper, which assures the 
flow of very wet sand to the spinner at a rate determined by the 
driver of the towing vehicle.

36 USGA GREEN SECTION RECORD

Mid-Winrer News Notes

James B. Moncrief
There will only be one “Mr. Bermooda 
Grass” among all who have traveled the 
country on behalf of better turfgrasses 
for golf. James Burton (Monty) 
Moncrief was that tireless teacher and 
ambassador of good will for the USGA 
Green Section from 1957 through his 
retirement, in 1982. Monty died sud­
denly on February 25, 1987, at his home, 
in Athens, Georgia.

Monty had criss-crossed our southern 
tier for 25 years, from Georgia to 
Arizona (and South America as well), 
making over 5,000 golf course visits, and 
along the way at least twice as many 
friends. He had much to do with the 
discovery of Tifdwarf bermudagrass. 
He was a member of the Oklahoma 
Turfgrass Hall of Fame, and recipient 
of the Texas Turfgrass Association’s 
Diamond Award. He was a member of 
the American Society of Agronomy and 
the USGA Turfgrass Research Com­
mittee. In February of 1986 he received 
the coveted USGA Green Section 
Award for distinguished service to golf 
through work with turfgrass.

This is in tribute to James B. Mon­
crief. To his countless contributions, to 
his great knowledge, his experience, and 
the ready, wide smile he gave so freely to 
all who passed his way. These are and 
will be our timeless memories.

Timothy P. Moraghan Appointed 
Agronomist for USGA Championships
Timothy P. Moraghan has been ap­
pointed Green Section agronomist for 
USGA Championship Courses, effective 
March 1, 1987. A native of Connecticut 
with degrees in biology from Niagara 
University and in turf management from 
the University of Massachusetts, Tim 
has been in golf course turf work for 10 
years, and was most recently regional 
golf course superintendent for the 
American Golf Corporation, in Miami. 
He has earlier experience at Myrtle 
Beach National Golf Club, in Myrtle 
Beach, South Carolina; Pinehurst 
Country Club, in Pinehurst, North 
Carolina; Tournament Players Club, 
Ponte Vedra, Florida; and Las Colinas 
Sports Club, Dallas, Texas. An expe­
rienced and personable young man, 
Moraghan will also assist in Green 
Section Turf Advisory Service visits 
when he is not on USGA championship 
assignments.

James B. Moncrief

James G. Prusa

Timothy P Moraghan

Green Section Personnel Changes

Charles (Bud) White resigned from the 
Green Section staff, effective January 1, 
1987. Bud was the Regional Director in 
the Southeastern states for the past five 
years, and served earlier as the South­
eastern agronomist, under the late 
James B. Moncrief. He joined the Green 
Section staff in 1979. His many friends 
wish him continued success in his new 
position with the Lesco Corporation.

Patrick M. O’Brien, who has also 
been a staff agronomist since 1979 and 
visited USGA Member Clubs in the 
Mid-Atlantic Region, now becomes the 
Director for the Southeastern Region. 
Pat has broad field experience with both 
warm and cool season grasses, and has 
visited clubs throughout the Southeast 
for many years. The Southeastern 
Regional office remains at Box 4213, 
Campus Station, Athens, Georgia 30605 
(404) 548-2741. John H. Foy, South­
eastern agronomist, continues his Green 
Section work and club consultations out 
of Hobe Sound, Florida (305) 546-2620, 
and will be working with Pat O’Brien.

James G. Prusa resigns 
GCSAA Post

James G. Prusa, GCSAA associate 
executive director and director of edu­
cation for the past five years, announced 
his resignation effective in early 
February. “Jim’s ideas, his spirit, and his 
perserverance will be missed throughout 
our Association. In just a few years, he 
has helped advance the GCSAA signifi­
cantly,” said John M. Schilling, execu­
tive director.

“Jim’s departure represents a great 
loss to us, but his accomplishments 
represent lasting gains for the Golf 
Course Superintendents Association of 
America,” said outgoing president Riley 
L. Stottern.

The Green Section too will miss Jim 
Prusa. He brought dedication, inno­
vation, and integrity to his post. 
Through his efforts, there developed a 
new era of understanding, cooperation, 
and mutual respect between the 
GCSAA, the USGA Green Section, and 
other organizations in golf. Everyone 
gained, the game most of all. Prusa will 
now enter private business. Neverthe­
less, he will continue as a member of the 
USGA Turfgrass Research Advisory 
Committee.

MARCH/APRIL 1987 

37

USGA GREEN SECTION RECORD
MARCH/APRIL 1987

TURF TWISTERS

COARSE TOPDRESSING

Question: I would like to topdress my greens with a slightly coarser material than I am currently 
using. However, the sand 1 wish to use has too many large particles and literally destroys my mowers. 
Any ideas on this rocky problem? (Arizona)

Answer: The chief problem with large particles is that they tend to lie on the surface and 
interfere with mowing. If you drag greens with a steel mat following topdressing, rig a 
piece of canvas (the width of the drag mat and about three or four feet in length) as a 
trailer behind the mat. As you drag the green, the larger particles will tend to bounce up 
through the mat and collect on the canvas. They can then be discarded from the green. 
You may need to use something like a 2 x 4 at the back of the canvas to keep the large par­
ticles from falling off the “trailer” onto the turf.

CAN TIE-UP IRON

Question: I just received my latest soil analysis results. The pH was 7.3 and the Fe level was rated as 
very high. Would supplemental applications of Fe to bermudagrass have any effect? (Florida)

Answer: Yes, the available form of Fe tends to be tied up in the soil very quickly, especially 
when the pH is above 6.7. While the response to Fe is not as dramatic as it is with the cool 
season type grasses, recent research has shown supplemental Fe to be beneficial in 
reducing color loss from temperature stress, and it also promotes a faster green-up after 
stress exposure.

WITH A BITTER LEAF

Question: I continue to hear more and more amazing evidence of a plant’s ability to defend itself 
against insects, parasites, and disease. What do you hear? (California)

Answer: This subject area is developing rapidly; the reason is biotechnology. With new 
techniques and instruments, scientists are now finding the so-called secondary chemicals, 
discovered in plants many years ago but believed to be unimportant, are, instead, of major 
importance. Sugar maples and oak trees, for example, are known to quickly change the 
chemical composition in their leaves within a day of or even a few hours after being 
attacked by pests. Toxins and other chemicals are increased, or important nutrients are 
lowered in varying degrees from leaf to leaf when they are under attack. Sugar maple 
leaves can raise tannic acid levels, which interferes with digestion in pests, by 300 percent. 
A chemical response system, similar to the immune system in animals, seems to be in 
plants, and science is going to find out more about it and, if it is possible, turn it to man’s 
benefit.