b Quarterly I Uu4yr-I992 XeRs.^°° rfejZ I _sX5^5> Vol. 21, NerS* The newsletter from the Northern Michigan Turf Managers Association GCSAA AFFILIATE President's Message NMTMA Well, believe it or not, we are closing in on the end of another growing season. Once EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE again it's been nothing short of an interesting year regarding the weather and growing con­ ditions. President The end of October brings about final days for some of our dedicated Board members Jeffrey Holmes serving the association. It is election time at our October annual Vice-President membership meeting. Please plan to play golf in the "Tuck Tate Michael Morris Championship", and then vote for our new boardmembers, who Executive Secretary B|o^B will serve the association for the next few years. Thomas J. Reed The big news, this quarter and this year, is that we finally com­ 3733 Apollo Dr. pleted our Chemical Disposal Day. The pick-up day was Sep­ Traverse City, Ml 49684 Phone 616-943-8343 tember 12, 1992, with 14 participants taking part by ridding themselves of old unwanted chemicals. Some of the chemicals B T Bbbfc». that we disposed of were: chlordane, calcium arsenate, lead ar- Directors President Jeffrey Holmes senate/ various forms of 2, 4-D, and other unusable products. Kathy Antaya This day has been a long time coming, but was well worth the Tom Brogger Tom Heid wait. Once we were able to join forces with the Michigan Department of Agriculture, we Brian Holmes were able to streamline some of the process. Paul Holmes The disposal Day was supported by several groups and it certainly couldn't have hap­ Jim Inman pened without these folks. The various groups are: Michigan Department of Agriculture, David Little, CGCS Jon Maddern Environmental Protection Agency, Michigan State University Cooperative Extension Michael Meindertsma Agents, Tri-Turf, Scotts Pro Turf, United Horticultural Supplies, and certainly the Northern Michigan Turf Managers Association. My hat is off to all of the groups of people who made this day possible for the partici­ Past Presidents pants. We, as responsible people in the green industry, certainly need to be leaders and Ed Karcheski supporters in these types of programs. Putting old and unusable chemicals in their proper C.E. MTuck” Tate, CGCS David Longfield, CGCS resting place is definitely showing good environmental stewardship and responsibility. Jonathon Scott, CGCS z-------------------------------------------------------- x Our next move toward environmental ste­ Tom Brogger wardship will be to organize a collection Inside This Issue: day for recycling plastic chemical contain­ ers. MTF Liaison Page Jon Maddern Thanks, once again, to all of our support Hard Greens, Hard Customers.................. 2 groups who made the Chemical Disposal Getting Involved.........................................2 Day a reality. Thank you to all participants GCSAA Liaison Jon Maddern for bringing in your products to be disposed GCSAA News............................................. 3 of. Newsletter Editor 1993 Turfgrass Conference........................4 See you at the October 12th meeting. Michael Morris Training Makes the Difference.................. 5 P.O. Box 1575 Frankfort, Ml 49635 Computer Use in Golf Courses................. 6 An Environmental Approach to Golf.........9 1992 NMTMA Dinah Shore Selected.............................10 Meeting Dates © RECYCLED PAPER Johnny Bench to Keynote Anaheim....... 10 Supreme Court Rules State Took Land ... 11 Dry Spots on Sand Greens.......................12 Oct. 12.... Cadillac Country Club Handling Pesticides Responsibly............. 14 Dec 5..... NMTMA/MMTA Christmas What Causes Fall Colors?........................ 16 Party at Grand Traverse Resort "Hard Greens, Hard Customers" By Kathy Antaya „ r Typically, golfers are enthusias­ ops over time. Pushing turf growth with frequent, heavy fer­ tic about playing a newly opened tilization will speed up thatch accumulation but with nega­ course. Unfortunately, all too of­ tive side effects: stemmy plants, excessive succulence, in­ ten they complain the greens are creased water requirements, excess fertilizer in the "hard" or "won't hold a shot." My environment, etc. first reaction is "Learn how to hit Another influence could be the minimum irrigation ap­ a ball with backspin." But I bite plied to new bentgrass greens. Older Poa annua greens re­ my tongue and instead attempt to quire greater amounts of moisture to survive. Even low shots educate our customers as to the hit by high handicappers will stop on saturated greens. limitations of new greens. After These factors help explain "hard" greens to our custom­ dealing with this common prob­ ers, but they don't solve the problem. So what can we do? lem, I have had some success My best answer is spiking thin solid tines which punch holes Kathy Antaya with a few practices that may also through the surface 2-3“ deep. Experimentation favored two work for you. applications in different directions over one, three or four Personal experience and shop talk indicates three major passes. Late evening worked out because of lack of golfers factors contributing to the legitimate gripe of "hard greens" and environmental stress. Spiking was done two or three on new golf courses: 1) high sand content greensmix, 2) times a week and before special events. Our golf profession­ lack of thatch/mat development, and 3) minimum irrigation. al said complaints were reduced substantially. Most courses built today use at least 70% sand in the green­ Regular use of wetting agents, especially through irriga­ smix. For whatever reasons, these sandy based greens are tion injection, is another tool to help "soften" greens. Cau­ less receptive to shots than soil based greens. Low trajectory tiously pushing turf growth to enhance thatch accumulation balls glance off the surface; inertia does not dissipate and can also be tried. Be careful to balance N and K to avoid the ball "jumps" after hitting the green. The overall advan­ overly succulent plants. tages of a sandy mix outweigh this drawback so changing Most importantly, educate the pro shop staff so they can greensmix composition is not a viable solution. answer golfers questions and sooth the complaints. These Lack of significant thatch/mat development is another front-liners can be your allies if they know what the problem common feature of new greens. Thatch acts as a cushion, is and how you are working to alleviate it. absorbing the energy of ball impact. A natural layer devel- Kathy Antaya Getting Involved by Jon D. Maddern I have been asked occasionally, "Why are you so in­ am late with this article and I feel very bad for it, because volved with this organization and the M.T.F.?" The answer is it's no ones fault but mine for not prioritizing it properly. not a simple one, however I feel it is worth explaining. Volunteerism is part of what has made this country so great There are several different reasons: and it feels good to be a part of it. 1. Giving back something for knowledge gained. I have 3. Friendship - The friends that my family and I have made never attended a meeting that I have not picked up some­ because of this industry are second to none. These are thing worthwhile, and not always from the guest speaker. friends with the same goals and problem and it's nice to Just talking with fellow superintendents and finding out that know you can always count on them. I was fortunate to be I'm not the only one with disease or equipment problems, involved with another group of people downstate similar to helps me. Plus, in visiting someone else's course, I always this association: firefighters. They too were close, caring, find something that is done differently or something that I and always willing to help in any way. Each person has an am not doing that would be an asset to our operation. Just added expertise and it is great when you can call them for talking with other superintendents and discussing ideas is al­ help. ways worthwhile. Sooner or later we all run into the same old problem or situation and listening to what someone else 4. Being involved -1 do not like to sit back and have things has tried or done saves re-inventing the wheel and wasting rammed down my throat, or finding out about things when money. it is too late. Plus, it is very difficult to stay current on what is happening in the industry without being involved. Be­ 2. Volunteerism - an association is only as good as its' cause of the previously mentioned items, I have been able^ members. And if someone does not do something then the to stay current on new regulations, products, practices, association is worthless. The reward of having helped make methods, equipment, irrigation, etc., which has helped me something a success is very gratifying. I know right now I (Continued on page four) 2 - GCSAA NEWS - Florida GCSA Sets up Hurricane Relief Fund: A relief fund for South Florida-area golf course mainte­ he Ex nance employees, whose homes were destroyed or dam­ Stands for aged by Hurricane Andrew, has been established by the Exce lence... statewide Florida GCSA. irï professional turf care. The fund was started with a $1,000.00 donation from the Palm Beach GCSA, and offers of help have also been re­ □ Contains environmentally-oriented, non-leaching IBDU®slow-release nitrogen. ceived from the Carolinas GCSA and the Georgia GCSA. The South Florida GCSA is responsible for locating those J Regionally formulated blends employees hardest git by the storm. to meet your agronomic needs. Checks earmarked for the relief fund may be made pay­ J Not dependent on soil temperature able to the FGCSA and mailed to their association office at or microbial activity. 1760 Northwest Pine Lake Drive, Stuart, FL 34994. For more information, please call Marie Roberts, Executive Sec­ J 100% available nitrogen retary, FGCSA, (407) 692-9349. in a single growing season. J Non-hygroscopic; flowable product. J Non-burning; low salt index. Letters to the Editor You can communicate directly with the NMTMA and your J. Moderna and son, Inc. fellow members by writing to: 5400 36th Street, SE Giand Rapids, Ml 49512 Turf Times 616/940-1441 c/o Mike Morris • PO Box 1575 • Frankfort, Ml 49635 Gary Neyman Share your thoughts and feelings about our Specialty Products Territory Manager 3roducts Territon to organization or the industry in general. 412/285-6162 r ¡Century Rain Aid/ GOLF’S IRRIGATION ROADBUILDINGPLUS PROFESSIONALS CONSTRUCTION SERVICES: CLEARING, GRADING, SHAPING, BUNKERS, CART Rain&Bird PREFERRED BY PROFESSIONALS WORLDWIDE PATHS CREATING SPECIALTY SANDS: How CRA Helps Superintendents: TOP DRESSING & BUNKER SAND • Complete stock of Irrigation supplies • Water conservation analysis & troubleshooting Golf Course Construction Since 1977 • Assistance In pumping improvement & pumping cost efficiency Request for References Encouraged • Drainage solutions • Fountains • Aerators • Pump Management • Improvements of energy-usage cost • Technical assistance ROADBUILDINGPLUS Asphalt Paving • Concrete Paving • Excavation • Airports • Golf Courses • Site Devel­ opment • Tennis Courts • Sand & Gravels • Underground FREE Catalog! Utilities • Plus, Plus, 1 -800-347-4272 Ann Aifcor, Ml • 2461 S. Industrial Hwy. • (313) 668-1020 • Fax (313) 668-7143 H&D INC., 2081 W. CHARLEVOIX AVE., PETOSKEY, Ml 49770 Grand Rapids, Ml • 3400 Jefferson S.E. • (616)452-3373 • Fax (616) 452-5720 (616) 347-2547 Madison Heights, Ml • 31691 Dequindre • (313) 588-2990 • Fax (313) 588-3528 Southfield, Ml • 22159 Telegraph • (313) 358-2994 • Fax (313) 358-1022 J 3 Getting Involved 1993 Conference (Continued from page two) The program for the 1993 Michigan Turfgrass Conference in dealing with my owner, golfers, crew, and fellow mem­ is being finalized. A reminder that due to the GCSAA confer­ bers. I'm no expert but I know what affects our industry and ence being earlier, this year's M.T.F. Conference has been you and me. You have to look at the whole picture, not just moved to Tuesday, January 5th through Thursday, January 7th, 1993. The location is the same Holiday Inn South. one side. The old saying "For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction" is not always true if you just sit back This year we have another great line-up of out-state speakers and let things happen around you. as well as our MSU staff. Our out-state speakers include: Dr. Bruce Clark, Rutgers University, Turf Pathology 5. Understanding Employer - One who understands that Dr. Georgia Brian, Iowa State University, Entomology by your involvement you are making yourself better, thus Dr. Mark Carroll, Univ. of Maryland, Turfgrass Research can do a better job for them. This does not mean neglecting Dr. Nick Christian, Iowa St University, Turfgrass Research Dr. Mike Raupp, Univ. of Maryland, Entomology, IPM your duties by any means, but to allow you the time it takes Dr. Vic Gibbeault, Univ. of Cal., Riverside, Turf Research to do these things. And a good crew is also very important. Dr. Frank Rossi, Univ. of Wisconsin, Turfgrass Research 6. Family - It takes a good family who understands the im­ Other key speakers are: portance of this involvement and are willing to help. I owe Ron Dodson, New York Audobon Society my wife and kids a lot, not only time and understanding but Jim Snow, National Director USGA Greens Section also financially. Bruce Hepner, Architect, Forse Design Dr. Glenn Duaderar, MSU Fish & Wildlife Tom King, World Cup Soccer at Pontiac Silverdome After all this I hope you can see the benefits of becoming Ed Fredericks, Michigan Department of Labor, Safety Edu­ involved. How do you start? Let a board member or myself cation and Training know and we will get you on a committee helping out. It may be just making a few phone calls, or taking money at a This program is being finalized and submitted to the De­ meeting, or helping set up a meeting. Nothing too difficult partment of Agriculture for recertification point values. Once or time-consuming, but definitely a big help and a way to this is received It will be mailed out to you with the registra­ meet new people or get to know some people better. I hope tion form. I hope this is by October 31, 1992. A key change to this year is a Golf I and II sessions on you had a great 1992 season and look forward to seeing you Wednesday afternoon, to repeat key talks. This is because of at a meeting soon. room sizing and problems we had last year with people not Jon D. Maddern Jjeing able to hear or see the key talks._________________ PRESENTING..... A WAREHOUSE ON WHEELS (616) 943-8343 3751 Biair Town Hall Rd. Traverse City, Ml 49684 Suppliers of Quality Products A Total Turf Care Distributor To The Turfgrass Industry • Consulting • Technical Information • Chemicals • Fungicide Programs • Fertilizers • Fertilizer Programs • Grass Seed • Soil Management Programs • Golf Supplies • Soil Testing • Safety Equipment • Parts & Accessories Call Tom Reed Sr • Tom Reed Jr. • Soil Management Materials Eric Denoyer • Robert Reed • Soil Construction Materials 616) 943-8343 4 Training Makes the Difference By Tom Doppelt In the 1990's, we have heard a lot about pesticide expo­ tor. This information backs up a study done at Michigan sure and how to minimize the risk to employees and others State University several years ago that showed proper uni­ who may come in contact with the pesticides. A recent forms decrease overall exposure dramatically. study at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, Another aspect of this study looked at exposure to the looked at the entire spectrum of exposure to pesticides and sprayed turf or who were bystanders to the application. Cer­ reported some very interesting results. In a nutshell, every­ tainly, these are concerns for everyone who applies pesti­ thing we have believed as true was verified, but let's look a cides on golf courses. The bystanders had no measurable ex­ little closer at some of the information we now have. posure for 96 hours after the application; and of the persons The study looked at 2, 4-D exposure by professional ap­ who walked on the turf, the only ones who had a measura­ plicators. The total exposure was measured, that is, how ble response were those in bare feet and shorts who sat on much 2, 4-D these people handled and then how much 2, the turf within an hour of the application. Even so, the ex­ 4-D was excreted from their bodies over a period of time. crement was below any World Health Association accepta­ Since 2, 4-D and other pheonoxy herbicides are such a hot ble daily intake levels. The good news here is that if people topic with so many people today, this presents some good are wearing shoes (and most of our players do!), then their information with which you should become familiar. potential for exposure is exceedingly low, if not nil. The results found no correlation between how much 2, 4- The bottom line from this study is that proper training D was handled and how much was excreted. In fact, the does make a difference. Any time spent teaching our appli­ person who was the loader/mixer at the firm actually had a cators and other employees about the proper use of pesti­ lower excrement level than some of the applicators. The ap­ cides and waiting until the applications dry before coming plicators themselves had all different levels of excrements in contact with the turfgrass, will pay big dividends in em­ when they were exposed to virtually the same amount of 2, ployee health and safety. One word of warning: Don't as­ 4-D. sume that your long-term employees don't need the remin­ So what makes the difference? Very simply, it came down ders! The MSU study indicated that it was the more to the care taken by the person handling the pesticide. The experienced applicators who were a bit more careless and mixer/loader understood, apparently, that he was handling a had higher levels of exposure. All employees need constant more concentrated material and, therefore, was more cau­ encouragement to work safely and to use the proper safety tious. The applicators had varying levels of exposure. Roll­ equipment. As the superintendent, it is your job to be sure ing up hoses with bare hands, not using boots or long pants, they follow the directions. all increased the amount of 2, 4-D excreted by the applica­ Credit: A Patch of Green, August 1992 Tee Time® Quality Turf Care Products ___ ACQs U JCcUUMJuVtlO Tee Time • Homogeneous Greens Fertilizers OF MICHIGAN Fertilizer 25-5-15 with Nutralene™ • Greens and Fairway Ferti­ lizers with Nutralene the professional's • Shelters • Storage Buildings partner* • Quality Sulfur Coated Area Fertilizers • Rest Rooms • Bridges • Combination Products • Benches • Litter Receptacles • Granular Insecticides • Tables • Pool Furniture • Granular Fungicides ★ Hazardous Material Storage Buildings ★ Distributed by : Call’ RecYclecl O Produc^s TURFGRASS, INC. P.O. Box T Call Toll Free: 1-800-521-8873 or 28064 Pontiac Trail (313) 437-1427 1-800-632-4153 S. Lyons, Ml 48178 (Call Collect) 5 Computer Use in Golf Course Management by Marc P. Davison, Colf Course Superintendent, BlackwolfRun Golf Course Computers are very much a part of our everyday life mentioned three factors to produce a monthly labor today and without question will continue to be more so amount. By adjusting any one of the three, the totals in the future. automatically change. Once the spreadsheet is set up, Computers are being used everywhere you look: the making the adjustments is simple and the results are weathermen use them with their forecasts; engineers use produced instantly. them to aid in designing structures; pro shop personnel Projecting capital equipment replacement is another use them to record member's scores and then produce area where Lotus can be very helpful. I created a their handicaps. spreadsheet to help me lay out a five year replacement Computers are very powerful machines, in fact, far too program. Listed in the left margin, or Column A, are the powerful for most of us to conceive. These powerful primary pieces used and also replaced on a regular basis: machines are now becoming useful in the turfgrass utility vehicles, sand trap rakes, green mowers, fairway industry. We see them used in controlling pump stations mowers, etc. and irrigation cycles, disease prediction, monitors on Column B contains the 1992 price for each piece of sprayers, record keeping and electronic bulletin board equipment. Column C shows the number of pieces of networks, to name a few. We also have the capability of each type of equipment in our fleet and Column D is the retrieving information from the Michigan State Library expected life of each piece. Turfgrass Information File through the use of our For the five year projection, I use two columns for computer. each year. One column for the required number of units These were some of the uses I found while researching (Column E) to be replaced in a given year and the the potentials of having a computer in my office. In the second (Column F) to show the cost. meantime, our pro shop purchased a tee-time reservation Column F is a mathematical operation; it takes the software system which forced them to buy three new number of units required from column E and multiplies computers. by the 1992 price found in Column B. The hospitality division at the Kohler Company also For the year 1993, I built in a 5% inflation factor. So implemented a network system that links all of our the 1992 price of a piece of equipment is multiplied by businesses together via telephone lines and computers. 105% and then multiplied by the number of pieces being Through the development of this large network system, requested in 1993. The inflation is increased by 5% each many other computers were purchased and I was (Continued on page 7) fortunate enough to receive a computer as part of this expansion. When I first saw this new computer in my office, my initial reaction was, "Now I have a computer, how do I use it?" Fortunately my computer was equipped with a John Deere hard drive which basically eliminates the use of disks. r - Included in the hard drive were four software programs: D-Base, Lotus 1,2,3, WordPerfect, and ProComm. The next step was to learn how these programs could benefit my department. Each of these programs has a specific function: D-Base is a database file system; Lotus 1,2,3 is a spreadsheet program; WordPerfect is a word processing program; and ProComm is a telecommunication program needed if a modem is used. Lotus: Lotus 1,2,3 was the first program I worked with; it truly fascinated me. This program deals strictly with numbers and number operations. Its format consists of columns and rows, commonly called a spreadsheet. I have found this program to be very useful in budget preparations, recording of weekly man-hours, keeping monthly records on individual accounts, chemical price quotes, monthly labor expense projections and capital equipment replacement schedules. PROFESSIONAL TURF MOWER Labor comprises about half of my operating budget. Thus, when it comes time to reduce the budget, labor is the most scrutinized account. Lotus is perfect for adjusting my labor account. I received a program from KLOOSTER EQUIPMENT, INC. my accountant that deals strictly with labor budgeting. The file is broken down into monthly columns. The rows WORK ’N PLAY SHOP consist of adjustable factors such as average wage, head RON HAGELSTON ELLSWORTH count and average hours worked per week. The program SALES REPRESENTATIVE (616) 599-2541 is set up to automatically multiply the previously 6 Computer Use in Golf Course Management... (Continued from page 6) hazardous materials training. year; i.e., 1994 is equal to 1992 price times 110%. Another database file I have developed is an Equipment The columns are then totaled for each year to give an File. In this file I have all the equipment stored in our annual equipment replacement cost projection. This has building listed with date purchased, purchase price, proven to be very beneficial as capital dollars are always vendor, serial number, Kohler asset number, type of fuel being adjusted. I can easily work backwards from a target used, the department equipment is owned by, figure or show how I need a certain amount due to life maintenance records, and dollars spent repairing each expectancy and the numbers that we operate with. piece of equipment. By entering a few commands, In addition to the examples listed above, Lotus is information such as a list of all Toro equipment, all 1989 capable of calculating more in-depth, involved functions. It Club Cars, or all Jacobsen equipment purchased in 1991, can average, sort, round-off, format and graph figures. costing between $5,000 and $10,000 and using diesel fuel Numbers in a spreadsheet can easily be converted into a can be extracted. line, bar or pie graph. The most recent database file we developed consists of D-Base: The second program I dove into was D-Base. all the hazardous materials in our maintenance building. The main function of D-Base is to compile and extract We started this file to aid in the development of our data in various fashions. Some of the data base files that I hazardous communication program. The information stored have developed using D-Base are an employee File, an in this file on each hazardous file includes: common Equipment File, and a Hazardous Materials File. name, trade name, type of material (fungicide, fertilizer, The Employee File contains a complete history of each oil, fuel, cleaner, etc.), location of material (mechanic's employee working in my department. Included are the shop, broom closet, etc.), department that purchased names, addresses, phone numbers, clock numbers, date material, quantity on hand, MSDS on file yes or no, and hired, classification, which course they work on, wage, where to find MSDS in our Hazardous Communication date of last pay raise, amount of last pay raise, training Book. received, and any disciplinary notices. After all of this Having this information in the computer allows us to information has been entered, it can be pulled out in keep an up-to-date file on all the hazardous materials almost any format. Some examples of how information found in our maintenance building. When a new product might be pulled from the file are: a list of all employees is purchased it will be entered into this file. We then have earning between $5.00 and $5.25 per hour; a list of all the capability of printing out a complete list of all our employees hired in 1991; a list of all employees and hazardous materials or, more specifically, all hazardous phone numbers; or a list of all employees who have had materials used by the janitor or mechanic. Hazardous communication books have been developed for each area in our building that houses these materials: i.e., pesticide room, fertilizer room, mechanic's shop, etc. The first page The of each book is a listing of all hazardous materials found in the area that the book is located. TORO The list includes commonly used name, trade name, and a location where to find the MSDS of each item *of Competition within the book. As products are added or deleted, this list can easily be updated on the computer and a new list printed out and placed in our Hazardous Communication Book. YOUR COMPLETE LINE OF IRRIGATION Following this list in each book is a copy of our PRODUCTS AND SERVICES Hazardous Communications Program, which we keep in our word processing program, and the third section Toro Irrigation Products includes all the MSDSs for products listed on page one. Databases are wonderful filing systems. They allow you PVC Pipe, Fittings, Wire, Etc. to retrieve information readily and in a variety of ways. Otterbine Foundations, Sales & Service They are not that difficult to use and I am sure I will find On-site Irrigation Service many other ways to use mine in the future. Word Processing: Word processing is probably used Pump Stations, Equipment & Accessories more than any other type of computer program around. Certified Irrigation Designers Word processing and the computer have replaced the old-fashioned typewriter. System Design - Computer Aided Typing with the use of a word processor can make a typist out of anyone. Mistakes are easily corrected by back spacing and making the corrections. Margins are easily set Spartan Distributors, Inc. through the use of a few simple commands. Complete paragraphs can be moved to another location within a 487 W. DIVISION ST. • P.0. BOX 246 • SPARTA, MICHIGAN 49345 document, to another document, or erased. After completing a letter, paper, etc., a great feature 616-887-7301 known as a spell checker can be used. This scans through s_________________________________________________________ > (Continued on page 8) 7 Computer Use in Golf Course Management. (Continued from page 7) temperature maps; wind forecast maps at various altitudes; your paper, stopping at any words not in its dictionary selected major interstate highway weather forecasts, which and offering alternatives. Many word processors also gives a brief forecast for all the major cities a selected have Thesauruses, Grammar Checkers, and Style interstate passes through; satellite pictures which include Checkers. jet streams, high and low pressure areas, and frontal Through the use of a word processing program, an locations can be viewed on you computer screen and article such as this can be typed at home and then taken printed out. into your office to finish off. Once the article is finished After selecting a topic you wish data on, you are asked it can be sent to Monroe Miller on a disk who can then to be specific on the area of interest. National maps are load it onto his computer and edit and correct it as available with topics. Some offer details for portions of much as he likes. the country such as north central, north east, etc., and Word processing is also used to type form letters. From others will ask for a specific state and then a specific a list of names and addresses, a single letter can be zone within the state. The service truly is remarkable, personalized to every person on the list. Mailing labels very useful, and affordable. can also be generated from the same list. TurfByte, a bulletin board system for turf professionals, Modems: Computers have the ability to communicate is another useful tool available to us through a modem. with other computers through the phone lines and a The bulletin board is operated in Lawrence, Kansas, and small device called a modem. A telecommunications operated by superintendent Duane Patton. program, one of which is ProComm, is necessary to This is a great way to communicate with other turfgrass operate a modem. Modems convert digital computer professionals around the country and the only cost is a information into analog information that can be long distance telephone call to Kansas. Messages can be transferred over the phone lines. This allows the already written off-line and then transferred into the bulletin powerful personal computer to link up to other board when connected, saving you connect time. computers and have access to much more information. Messages can also be downloaded into a file and then Modems provide a convenience which allows the user read at your leisure, again minimizing the amount of time to access information from a distant location. Computer you are connected. controlled irrigation systems can be accessed from your New ideas, questions, comments, surveys or just casual home through the use of modems. Salesmen are able to conversation goes on every day in TurfByte. An hook into their company's database via their modem and abundance of good information passes through the a laptop portable computer. bulletin board which anyone can gain from just by There are many services available to us through the reading the messages. I try to call at least once a week use of a computer and a modem. Weather Brief, and download the messages since I was last connected. I TurfByte, and the Turfgrass Information File (TGIF) are feel this is a valuable service. three of the services I benefit from through the use of my Turfgrass Information File (TGIF), located in the Library modem. at Michigan State University, is yet another tool available Weather services around the country are available to to turf managers through a modem. Calling the library via supply a large variety of weather data to us. I subscribe your computer is the fastest way to access the turfgrass to a service in Salt Lake City, Utah, called Weather Brief. file; however, information is also available by calling the The initial cost to purchase the program is $35.00. A library on a standard telephone. Whichever way you get charge of $.20 per minute while connected seems it, almost all the information ever written on turf is minimal since I spent only about $25.00 on it last year. available to you. When calling via computer, it's like The long distance calls are additional, though. having the card catalog at your fingertips. Information can Depending on the type and amount of data requested, be requested on a specific subject or by a specific author. most of my requests are downloaded in a minute or two. Completes articles are not available, but abstracts are, and Every morning during the golf season I call Weather they can be downloaded into your computer. There is an Brief to get the day's forecast and a five day forecast for annual subscription fee of $75.00 per year to use this zone 13, which is Sheboygen County, Wisconsin. If rain service. is predicted I will also request a radar map of the Computers can benefit you as a turfgrass professional. Midwest to see where the precipitation is and how large Computer use is everywhere and growing. Just last week I of an area is being affected. ordered a program called Qqest for our mechanical The day's forecast is then duplicated and a copy faxed repairs department. It will keep all the repair parts or delivered to the-pro shop for any golfers that may call inventoried and remove them from inventory as they are or stop in and ask about the weather forecast. This has used. Preventative maintenance schedules also pop up proven to be very beneficial for our pro shop staff. when they are due. The information and detail available through Weather Having only been involved with computers for a year, I Brief is phenomenal. There are 26 different selection am surprised at all the uses I have found for them that topics available. Following are a few of the topics greatly assist me at the golf course. It's already hard for subscribers can choose from: 5, 15, 30 and 90 day me to imagine doing my job without the assistance of forecasts, radar maps including current, 12, 24, 36 and such a tremendous tool as the COMPUTER. 48 hours ago, which is helpful when monitoring storm history; severe weather alerts and warnings; soil Reprinted with permission from THE GRASS ROOTS 8 An 'Environmentally Sensitive' Approach to Golf Courses The 1990s have been labeled the "Decade of the and preserve wildlife. Environment." This prompts many landscape managers - "Some courses are already doing wonderful things," golf course superintendents in particular - to evaluate (or says McKay. "But they still sign up and we can tell them re-evaluate) their impact on the environment. how to enhance their existing programs." There is a movement afoot (spurred by the golfing The sanctuary registration system began in 1990. More industry, its clientele, and 'environmentalists') for new than 400 golf courses are already participating. golf courses to be environmentally sensitive, and for For more information, write or phone the Audobon existing golf courses to embrace some of the same Society of New York State, Inc. at: Hollyhock Hollow concepts. Sanctuary, Route 2, Box 131, Selkirk, NY 12158; (518) John's Island West Golf Course in Vero Beach, Florida 767-9051. was designed by Tom Fazio to be such a course. Dr. Long grasses - David Stone at the Honors Course in John Fitzpatrick, executive director of the Archbold Oolteway, TN uses broomsedge, weeping lovegrass, Biological Station near Lake Placid, Florida, is an ardent lespedezia and tall fescue between greens, tees and fan of John's Island West. landing areas. Native shrubs and tall grasses border the "The property is one of the rarest habitats in North roughs, streams and pond shorelines for bird nesting. America," he told The Florida Green magazine. "Every "Our course looks different from one season to the square meter is precious to wildlife. There is a fairly next, and that adds interest," Stone says. large number of endangered species, and it is now a An avid naturalist, the Honor Course's superintendent permanent habitat preserve that also provides recreation developed several programs to help identify, monitor and and beauty." encourage a variety of wildlife species using the course's Loads of wildlife - Wolf Run Golf Club in Zionsville, environment. Not surprisingly, The Honors Course was IN is also a haven for various forms of wildlife, recognized in 1991 by the USGA for its conservation and particularly birds. preservation activities, the first course so honored. Wolf Run features bluebird houses and duck feeding Ugly weeds in the tall grass are mechanically removed programs. Its owner, Dr. Jack Leer, will not allow by chopping. Stone also uses a Bushhog on different parts maintenance crews to remove selected dead trees of the course at different times of the year. because they provide nesting areas for certain indigenous "Brush piles are great places for rabbits to hide/" Stone species of owls. says. "But there is a fire hazard." Another of Wolf Run's environmentally sensitive plans Birds also play an important role in the course's is to incorporate as much tall unmowed grass as "environmentally sensitive" approach. Stone and his crew possible. These grasses serve as nesting places for raised 11 birds in three years; eight still survive. wildlife. The wetland question - another environmental question "We've got a lot of unmowed fine-leaf fescue blend mark that could face superintendents in the future is that provides 30 to 40 acres of prairie-type long grasses," preserving freshwater wetlands. According to a report by says superintendent Joe Kosoglov. "The place is just the GCSAA, "protection of wetlands and other valuable loaded with birds, squirrels and snakes - even though I'm aquatic habitat has became an important part of golf not thrilled with the snakes." course management." The course was grassed in the fall of 1988. "We The GCSAA's position statement says: "Wetlands act as actually do have sections of the property that were both a sponge and a filter to provide a built-in water untouched during development," Kosoglov notes. quality maintenance system. Golf courses also benefit And Wolf Run's unique look is gaining some attention wetlands. . . by providing large recharge areas that help from local landscapers who want to pick up tips on how supply wetlands with much needed water. . .and provide to integrate such programs into residential and secondary filtration to purify water entering wetlands." commercial landscapes. Says GCSAA government relations manager Don "I've had a pretty steady stream of landscapers check Bretthauer: "In some cases, golf courses are creating out the long unmowed fescues," Kosoglov admits. "I've wetlands. It's a give and take type thing: take away got a feeling they'll be using them on slopes and wetlands, give some back. It's then the superintendent's unmowed areas. I've worked with some of the responsibility to preserve the wetland." landscapers, and we've developed pretty good Embracing the virtues - Golf course superintendents and relationships." landscape/lawn care companies alike argue that they, like The Audobon program - "The New York State their detractors, are also "environmentalists." Audobon Society has a program to register properties," Golf course architect Pete Dye may have pointed the says Kosoglov, "One of the types of properties they want way for his colleagues when he used 15 miles of to get registered is golf courses. underground pipe in the design of the Ocean Course at "They provide information on how to improve the Kiawah Island, S.C. The drain system picks up 300,000 properties for birds. We've enacted a few (of the gallons of freshwater every day, Dye says - "50 percent programs), but not as many as we'd like." of the water that we need to irrigate the golf course." The Audobon Cooperative Sanctuary System works like As the courses and landscapes of the '90s are designed, this, according the the society's staff ecologist Jean more and more are embracing the virtues of being McKay: for a $100.00 fee, a participating golf course is "environmentally sensitive." asked to fill out a "wildlife inventory." The Audobon Society then sends the course a written report with Reprinted from the June 1992 issue of Landscape Management suggestions about how it can take specific steps to attract & IGCSA Newsletter 9 Dinah Shore selected for Old Tom A ward Ask 10 people what accounts for Dinah Shore's very spe­ golf in general make her a perfect addition to the illustrious cial place in the hearts of countless fans around the world, group of Old Tom honorees." and chances are you'll get 10 entirely different answers. The respected annual Nabisco Dinah Shore Tournament Dinah is a popular entertainer, a singer with nine gold al­ just celebrated its 21st anniversary (it started out as the Col­ bums, a national talk show hostess, an expert golfer, a top­ gate Dinah Shore). Designated a "major" by the LPGA in selling author, a tireless humanitarian. She is all of these - 1983, the tournament is the first leg in the grand slam of and more - which is why she is a not only a favorite among women's golf (followed by the Women's US Open, the du audiences and critics alike, but also a genuine role model to Maurier Classic and the LPGA Championship). millions. Ms. Shore works very closely with her tournament's major Most importantly, Dinah is as beloved among her friends charities, the Desert Hospital, The United Way of the Desert as she is among her fans. The woman they know and love and the Boys' and Girls' Club of Palm Springs. away from the spotlights is just as warm, gregarious, honest She often donates the proceeds of her concerts to organi­ and unpretentious as the famed show business figure. For all zations such as the March of Dimes and Junior Achieve­ of her long-standing and ongoing success in so many di­ ment. She is also a founder of the National Board of Con­ verse arenas, perhaps Dinah's greatest achievement is hav­ gressional Awards for young people, a national board ing attained that success without losing sight of who she is member of Junior Achievement, and a key participant in the or what she believes in. National Leaders Conference. She has been honored with Added to her numerous professional and societal activi­ the USO Medallion Award, the Juvenile Diabetes Founda­ ties are her "starring" role in the annual Nabisco Dinah tion's Woman of the Year Award and the Ben Gurion Uni­ Shore Golf Tournament and her strong relationships with the versity Lifetime Achievement Award. tournament's major charities. Often referred to as golf's first lady, Ms. Shore was the first Now Dinah Shore has been selected to receive GCSAA's woman to be honored with the Entertainer of the Year highest honor, the Old Tom Morris Award. Award from the President's Council on Physical Fitness and The award will be presented Jan. 30, during the Annual Sports. Banquet closing GCSAA's Conference and Show. LPGA In 1977, she was made an honorary member of the LPGA. champion and golf legend Patty Berg will present the award In 1985, she received the LPGA's Patty Berg Award for out­ to Ms. Shore. When Ms. Berg received her Old Tom Award standing contributions to women's golf. in 1986, it was presented by her good friend, Dinah Shore. GCSAA established the Old Tom Morris Award in 1982 to This time the two long-time friends will switch places. recognize individuals who have made outstanding lifetime "Dinah Shore's name is synonymous with the great names contributions to the game. in golf, like Crosby and Hope," says GCSAA President Wil­ liam R. Roberts, CGCS. "Her contributions to the LPGA and Reprinted from August 1992 GCSAA Newsline Johnny Bench to keynote Anaheim Hall-of-Fame catcher Johnny Bench will keynote the 1993 ball. He has also hosted a wide range of television shows, GCSAA Conference and Show in Anaheim. Bench will including "The Baseball Bunch," an Emmy Award-winning speak during the Opening Session which is scheduled at instructional show. 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 26. Last year, he began hosting "Golf in Paradise," a half-hour A long time catcher for the Cincinnati Reds, Bench was show featuring the world's best golf resorts, celebrity guests elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989. He was Na­ and golf instructional tips. Thirteen half-hour segments have tional League Rookie of the Year (1968), National League already been produced, and thirteen more will be produced Most Valuable Player (1970 and 1972), World Series MVP this year. The series airs on Prime Cable Network. (1976), 14-time All-Star and a 10-time Gold Glove winner. Bench works with the American Heart Association, The In 1980, Bench set a major-league endurance record by American Cancer Society, Hike for the Handicapped, the catching 100 or more games for 13 consecutive seasons. Kidney Foundation and the Muscular Dystrophy Associa­ Since retiring form the game, Bench has spent eight years tion. He also supports Public Television, the Cincinnati Sym­ with CBS radio, broadcasting the National Game of the phony, the Museum of Science and Industry, and the Johnny Week, the All-Star Game, the League Championship Series Bench Scholarship Fund, which aids Cincinnati college stu­ and the World Series. He has also worked Reds baseball on dents. television, doing pre-game specials related to that coverage, and he co-hosts a daily radio show that comments on base­ Reprinted from GCSAA Newsline Change of Address, Membership Application info available Any member with a change of address should immediately contact Thomas J. Reed at 3733 Apollo Drive, Traverse City, Ml 49684. He should also be contacted if any person would like to apply for membership in NMTMA. 10 r' > Supreme Court Rules ffi&Œ JOiötributovö, 3fm. State 'Took' Land 51000 Grand River Wixom, Michigan 48096 (313) 349-7779 FAX (313) 349-4670 The government must compensate private property own­ ers whose land value is decreased as a result of government Midwest’s Largest Stocking Dealer regulation, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled. For By a 6-2 vote, the justices said that when a state regula­ R&R PRODUCTS tion effectively eliminates the entire value of private real es­ tate, the state is obliged to pay property owners for their losses. The case could be liberally applied to companies QUALITY REPLACEMENT PARTS and individuals whose land is subject to environmental or TORO JACOBSEN HAHN-WESTPOINT safety regulations, both of which include golf courses. CUSHMAN RYAN ROSEMAN Compensation is due a property owner even if a regula­ RANSOMES MOTT NATIONAL EXCEL tion blocking development addresses a "serious public YAZOO FORD REEL SHARPENING COMPOUND harm," the high court said. The court ruled in this case that a South Carolina law reg­ ulating construction on its environmentally sensitive shore­ FLYMO - POWER PRUNER - AaB-SORBOIL EMULSIFIER line could be considered the equivalent of physically occu­ pying or confiscating the land. CALL US TOLL FREE 800-888-7779 A state agency had barred the construction of two houses on the land under a 1980 environmental law. The owner YOUR ONE STOP SHOP FOR YOUR GOLF COURSE MOWING EQUIPMENT sued, saying the regulation denied him all "economically vi­ REPAIR PARTS AND SUPPLY ITEMS able use" of the land. 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Hudson, Ph.D. and Karl Danneberger, Ph.D., Department of Agronomy, Ohio State University Hydrophobic (non-wettable) soils occurring on bentgrass an extraction of wettable soil from bentgrass sand greens, and sand greens constructed to USGA specifications have been pre­ so it could not be determined if the fulvic acid associated with viously described and partially characterized. These areas, LDS was unique compared to those in the wettable areas. which resist wetting, have been termed localized dry spots Studies were conducted at Ohio State University from 1989 (LDS). The LDS syndrome starts with the turf turning a blue- through 1991 to provide a more complete characterization of green color followed by a loss of turgor and finally shoot die- the organic matter and soil characteristics associated with LDS, back. The symptoms observed are usually in irregularly shaped and included samples from wettable areas for comparative pur­ patches of variable size. Frog-eye patches, characteristic of poses. First, several common classes of soil organic matter were some patch diseases, have been observed, but aren't dominant. quantified and analyzed structurally using several techniques. Symptoms are most severe in hot, dry weather. Lower tem­ Structural analyses of lipids (compounds that are similar to oils) peratures and adequate water will result in regrowth of the were accomplished by gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy shoot system of plants that survive. Management practices for (GC/MS) and the large molecules that were extracted in alka­ the control of LDS are inconsistent at best, yet the following line solution, i.e. fulvic and humic acids, were analyzed by IR practices have aided in reducing symptom severity. Topdress­ and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Second, ing with sand that contains a minimal amount of fine particles. particle size distributions were determined and the extent of As will be discussed later, small particles (especially in the silt- non-wettability determined for each size range. While particle clay size) may tend to aggravate the problem over time. Repeat­ size distributions have been determined in previous studies, ed core cultivation, especially in the spring and fall, has helped there were no reports of which fractions were the most hydro- reduce the severity of LDS. Wetting agents, which reduce the phobic, if any. Also, the area in the soil profile that displayed surface tension of the water, have given some degree of control the most hydrophobicity was determined using soil columns for LDS, but are best used in a preventative program. Syringing collected from greens with LDS, allowed to dry down, re­ of the greens may be used as a stop-gap measure, but primarily wetted from the bottom, and the distance that was infiltrated re­ serve to lower the canopy temperature and rarely will alleviate corded at one and two minutes. Finally, since bentgrass roots symptoms. Frequently, various combinations of the above strat­ have been reported to be colonized by various fungi, both path­ egies are necessary, and a trial and error type of approach is ogenic and non-pathogenic, roots associated from wettable and needed to achieve adequate control of LDS. non-wettable areas were stained and examined for the extent of Previous studies have shown an organic coating is present on fungal colonization present. sand grains associated with LDS and removal of the coating Results obtained from the organic matter extraction and anal­ yields substances with an infrared (IR) spectra characteristic of ysis indicated that LDS soils had greater amounts of all organic fulvic acids. Fulvic acids are a diverse group of large mole­ matter fractions studied than soils that were wettable. The only cules, common in most soils, that are extractable in solutions structural difference observed was from LDS that occurred on with a high pH and do not precipitate when the pH is lowered greens that were three years old, and this was only detected fol-^ to approximately 1 or below. Previous studies did not include lowing an initial extraction with methanol. It appears that there is either a unique structure, or interaction between several structures, occurring in the LDS sample. One possible scenario For every Lag of i8-3-i8 you buy, to explain these results is that a unique structure or structures act to "prime" the LDS areas, and then the syndrome is intensi­ well donate 5o(t to research fied by subsequent drying cycles, which after several years may mask the unique component that initiated the LDS. The origin of the organic compounds could not be determined, but it is on groun< water quali probably derived from bentgrass roots, soil microflora, or both. Particle size distribution analysis showed no significant differ­ We can t afford to make ences between the wettable and non-wettable soils. Hydropho­ compromises on the quality of bicity, as determined by how long it took a water drop to pene­ our groundwater. That s why trate the sample, indicated that particles less than .25 mm in size were the most hydrophobic. Since the greens are construct­ we re donating 5o