USGA Green Section Record, January 24, 2014 The content in this preview is based on the last saved version of your email - any changes made to your email that have not been saved will not be shown in this preview. DR. PETER DERNOEDEN TO RECEIVE 2014 GREEN SECTION AWARD The United States Golf Association has selected Dr. Peter Dernoeden, of Milton, Del., a nationally recognized turfgrass researcher and educator, as the recipient of the 2014 USGA Green Section Award. Presented annually since 1961, the USGA Green Section Award recognizes an individual's distinguished service to the game of golf through his or her work with turfgrass. Read More THE NEW USGA COURSE CONSULTING SERVICE Since 1953, the USGA has offered on-site consultations to golf courses throughout North America through its Turf Advisory Service. Today, the USGA continues that advisory role under a new name, Course Consulting Service, which more accurately describes the services that the USGA Green Section will provide. To learn more about the Course Consulting Service, please visit the course care section of usga.org. Don't allow yourself to be surprised. USGA Senior Agronomist Bob Vavrek explains a process of sampling greens for winterkill. SUPERINTENDENTS AND COURSE OFFICIALS ARE SOMETIMES DISCOURAGED BY THE LACK OF COURSE CARE BY GOLFERS IS GOLFER ETIQUETTE A THING OF THE PAST? Many of the questions posed during Course Consulting Service visits are similar from one golf facility to the next. Why must we aerate so much? How can we make our bunkers better? When will the rough stop growing so fast, and why can't we just mow it lower? These common questions come up year after year; however, a new trend is evident on recent visits. There is a perception that the golfer's responsibility in caring for the golf course is being ignored. To be fair, this is not new (see Are You Kind to Your Course? and An Appeal for the Return of Golf Course Etiquette), but many believe the problem is getting worse. This has led many to question how members/golfers can be encouraged to obey cart rules, repair ball marks, replace divots, etc. Tour almost any golf course, and you will find unraked bunkers, unrepaired ball marks, and cart damage in areas where signs clearly prohibit cart traffic. Positive signs that remind golfers to repair damage to the golf course often are more effective than curt demands. Why has this issue become more common? Several theories exist. One belief is that golfers see the care of the golf course as someone else's responsibility. In other words, golfers have already paid to play, so it's not up to them to help care for the course. Another thought is that many golfers now take up the game later in life and have not been taught some of the traditions of the game. These traditions include the courtesy of cleaning up after one's self on the golf course, e.g., divots, ball marks, and bunkers, and preserving playing conditions for others by following cart restrictions in sensitive areas. For whatever reason, care of the golf course no longer seems to be a focus of many players. Read More The Green Section staff will be busy at this year's Golf Course Superintendents Association of America's Golf Industry Show. General Session Thursday, February 6, 8-10 a.m. Billed as one of the GCSAA's marquee events, the General Session will feature USGA staff members speaking on golf and golf course maintenance issues including the following presentations: Using Science and Technology to Preserve and Enhance the Game Attracting Players to Your Course By Focusing On What is Important to Them It's About More than Conserving Water - It's About Staying in Business There will also be a panel discussion focusing on how superintendents can contribute to or hinder efforts to make the game better for everyone. Also highlighted will be the Green Section's most prestigious honor - the 2014 Green Section Award. Agronomist Presentations in the Green Section Booth (#2571) at the Trade Show Wednesday and Thursday, February 5-6 The Green Section's booth is a popular stop for show attendees and as always, this is your chance to visit one-on-one with staff agronomists. This year there is additional incentive to stop by to hear presentations by our agronomists on a wide variety of topics as outlined in the schedule below: CMAA 87TH WORLD CONFERENCE AND CLUB BUSINESS EXPO The Green Section is pleased to once again be a part of the Club Managers Association of America's World Conference and Club Business Expo.The agronomists of the USGA Green Section see almost every problem in golf course management and offer solutions to help the management team overcome the most difficult agronomic, environmental and economic challenges. These sessions highlight a collection of some of the most important issues and delivers "real- world" solutions that can be utilized by courses across the country. This year's presentations include: Meeting the Challenge of Maintaining Enjoyable Pace of Play at Your Course Innovative Technology to Help Your Course Conserve Resources Developing Maintenance Standards for Your Facility Bunkers - What Works and What Doesn't There will also be plenty of time for questions and answers regarding any aspect of golf course management. For more information on the Green Section sessions as well as the conference visit www.cmaa.org/conf. The Club Managers Association of America will hold its 87th World Conference and Club Business Expo at the Orlando World Center Marriott, February 4-8, 2014. www.cmaa.org/conf Ever wonder why golf facilities delay play until turf is no longer covered in frost? Read on to better understand (and appreciate) how frost delays serve to protect the condition and playability of the course. Warm-season grasses, better adapted to the South, will have a tough time surviving the arctic cold that has crept across the United States. USGA-funded research at Oklahoma State University has specifically developed bermudagrass varieties with better cold tolerance to survive sub-freezing temperatures. It is that time of the year when many courses are installing their new leadership. From our view, the position of Green Committee Chair is the most important volunteer position in any golf course operation. While some might question your sanity for accepting such responsibility (you may question your own before the end of your term) we welcome you to our world. To help you with your new responsibility, the USGA has placed a great deal of information on our website. And, if you are really serious about the job, arrange to take our online course entitled, "Welcome to the Green Committee." But first, take a few minutes to read an article written by Mr. Eugene L. Johnson, then Green Chair of Flossmoor CC in Flossmoor, Ill. With few exceptions, his insight is as accurate today as it was in 1973. REGIONAL UPDATES REGIONAL UPDATES The USGA Green Section is broken into eight regions with each staffed by Green Section agronomists who work with golf facilities on care of the golf course. Every two weeks USGA agronomists provide updates outlining current issues of what they are observing in the field. Be sure to view updates from other regions and not just your own because featured ideas, techniques and solutions to problems often apply to other parts of the country. NORTHEAST REGION Is ice coverage on greens for an extended period of time making you nervous? Should you remove it? The decision depends largely on turf species and weather forecasts. Regardless, sampling greens now can help with nerves, communication and decision making. Read More MID-ATLANTIC REGION Cart restrictions and frost delays seem to be points of contention for golf facilities and golfers wherever freezing temperatures are experienced. Not always easy to understand and similarly difficult to explain, read on for a discussion on why course closure is sometimes necessary when turf isn't actively growing. Read More SOUTHEAST REGION The USGA will be busy at the 2014 Golf Industry Show. Read on for a preview of topics to be presented by Southeast regional agronomists and where to find them. Read More FLORIDA REGION While many flock to Florida to escape cold northern temperatures, occasional frosts and cold conditions can still cause southern golf courses to go off-color. Spraying pigments or applying black sand can warm the turf to promote growth and improve turf quality during cold weather. Read More NORTH-CENTRAL REGION Severe temperature fluctuations have triggered concern for turf managers throughout the region. Don't overreact because it is still too early to determine if turf damage has occurred, but now is the time to communicate. Read More MID-CONTINENT REGION If cold weather has caused your bermudagrass or zoysiagrass fairways to go dormant, don't miss your opportunity to easily control winter weeds with nonselective herbicide applications. Read More NORTHWEST REGION Nobody likes dreaded "fried-egg" lies. You may be surprised that simply changing the raking technique at your golf facility could nearly eliminate fried-egg lies in your bunkers. Read More SOUTHWEST REGION It probably seems odd to golfers to be talking about weed control in January but in fact, it is one of the most important months of the year for superintendents when it comes to managing weed problems. Read More IMPORTANT LINKS USGA Privacy Policy USGA Green Section Home Page USGA Staff Contact Information Course Consulting Service Information USGA Turfgrass and Environmental Research Online (TERO) Policies for the Reuse of USGA Green Section Publications ©2014 by United States Golf Association® Policies for the Reuse of USGA Green Section Publications USGA Green Section publications are made available through the courtesy of the United States Golf Association (USGA®). The reuse of these materials is authorized only if the following conditions are met in their entirety. This policy applies to all Green Section publications, including articles, videos, presentations, and webcasts. 1) Adherence to all components of our Conditions for Reuse policy. 2) Inclusion of the appropriate Reprint Permission Language. 3) Notification of your Intent To Reprint Content. The USGA Green Section Record (ISSN 2156-5813) is published biweekly via electronic mail by the United States Golf Association®. Golf House, Far Hills, NJ 07931 USGA Green Section 908.234.2300 Forward this email This email was sent to jmoore@usga.org by usgagreensectionrecord@usga.org | Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy. USGA Green Section | P.O. Box 708 | Far Hills | NJ | 07931 http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/...1Zn_Wnga2NbvMUNuv9Shfp-zzgvsa9KxZ6XJM7pQomXkx0lTY843aA_de07Lx&id=preview[1/24/2014 12:03:29 PM]