NORTHERN MICHIG F MANAGERS ASSO CIATION C. E. TUCK” TATE. PRESIDENT FRANK HEMINGER, Secretary-Treas. BEARD FREDERICK J. POWELL. Vice President 1147 SANTO COLLECTION TRAVERSE CITY, Ml 49684 PHONE 616 947 9274 On behalf of our Board of Director«, we would like to wish everyone a "Very MERRY CHRISTMAS and A HAPPY NEW YEAR" filled with good health, good weather, good turf and very few problems in maintaining your beautiful area. This being our first message since our social party on October 23rd held at Michawye Hills Country Club, we would like to say that any of you that missed this affair have left a void in your life. It was delightful in every respect, starting with a "happy Hour", thanks to Ferguson’s, W.F. Miller Co., Sandy Mac Corp, and Spartan Distributors. Thia followed by an excellent dinner of prime roast beef cooked as only Michawye Hills can do with a followup of three hours of dancing and entertainment by a wonderful two piece band that really had rhythm, beat, song, who could ask for more. All in all a very delightful evening regardless of the fact that there was inches of snow on the golf course. It was an evening to be remembered. The next big date on your calendar should be January 18 and 19th, 1977, the dates of the l»7th Annual Michigan Turfgrass Conference, Kellogg Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing. An excellent program with out of state speakers: Dr. Ralph Engel, Turfgrass Management, Rutgers University Dr. James Latham, Agronomist, Milwaukee Sewerage Conmission Dr. Robert Shearman, Turfgrass Specialist, University of Nebraska Dr. James Wilkinson, Director of Research, Chem-Lavn Corp, and formerly at Ohio State University Registration begins Tuesday morning - January 18th, 8:00 A.M. and Conference starts at 9:00 A.M. Any further question, please contact Dept. of Crop A Soil Sciences, M.S.U., E. Lansing, Michigan U882U. Northern Michigan Turf Managers Association membership for 1977 will soon be going to press therefore anyone that has not paid their 1977 dues, given any change of address, new telephone number or club affiliation change, could come up with a wrong listing or no listing at all if 1976 or 1977 dues have not been paid at the time of printing. Please bring yourself up todate without further notice by sending your check to our Sec.-Treas. Frank Heminger, whose address is listed shove. If you are preparing for federal or state tests leading to certification or licensing as a pesticide applicator, a new publication may be just the thing you need to get ready. Entitled Pesticides: An Auto-Tutorial Approach, the book was written by George W. Pesticides made easy Ware, professor and head of the entomology department at the University of Arizona. Fundamentals of pesticide chemistry are thoroughly covered, along with how various for superintendent pesticides work and how they can be handled safely. Ware also studies the applicator’s appreciation for the “super chemicals” of the 20th century. The book is available from the W. H. Freeman Co., 660 Market St., San Francisco, CA 94104. Michigan Department of Agriculture will conduct the *Pesticidew examination at Traverse City Golf & Country Club for N.M.TeM.A. membersMay 9thj 1977* Further Information will be forthcoming in future letters to you. George Blake of the Soil Science Department, University of Minnesota, passes along this Are you drowning tip to superintendents about overwatering your course. According to Blake, too much your own course? water is wasted on golf courses these days. “Plants normally grow if watered thoroughly, but less frequently,” says Blake. “Healthy roots aren’t developed in wet soils. They develop during the drying out cycle.” Some overwatering problems are due to poor system design. A good shop drawing is one thing, but more often than not systems are set up without taking into consideration the contours and low ground areas on the course. Cut down on your sprinkling time. See how little irrigation you can get away with. Ad­ just down till you border on the lean side. Your turf should respond with greater health and vigor. __ A little girt w^watching her mother spread cold cream on her 1977 GCSAA Conference face. “What’s itipr, Mummy?” she asked. “That’s to make me beautiful, darling,” replied the mother. To Explore Synergism; The little girl watched her mother in silence until the mother. began to remove the cream. Then in a tone of sadness she whis­ Tournament in Monterey pered, "It didn’t work, did it?” The 48th International Turfgrass Conference and Show, sponsored by BIRD LIST - If you are going out for some bird watching GCSAA, will attract some 5,000 this holiday season, you might check with DNR Wildlife members, exhibitors, speakers and representatives of allied associations, Division, Box 30028, lensing, Mi. U8909 and ask for their government, industry and education to free pocket size checklist of all bird species seen in the gem of the Pacific Northwest, Michigan since 1965« Portland, Ore., Feb. 6-11, 1977. The theme of the Conference is HB 6139 - The Governor of Michigan signed into law this “Turfgrass Management: A Synergistic bill which allows homeowners a property tax exemption for Approach,’’ and the educational program up to $U,000 worth of repairs each year, such as painting, will focus on the interdependence and new plumbing, roofs, or driveway and/or sidewalk repair. interrelationships among the many parts of golf course management. More than 70 Write your Representative for a copy of the House Bill. speakers will address 20 educational sessions and four preconference seminars. There's one good thing about having an unlisted number. The keynote speaker will be Heywood If you get an obscene call, at least you know its from a Hale Broun, CBS sports essayist and friend ————————----------- —T commentator. In addition to more than 500 hours of educational opportunities, the Con­ ference and Show will offer more than Maples Directs GCSAA Education 100,000 square feet of exhibits, tours Palmer Maples Jr. has been appointed director of education for GCSAA, of the Oregon seed industry and five according to an announcement by the executive director, Conrad L. Scheetz. Portland area golf courses, a women’s Maples, a past president of the Association, will begin his new duties the first of program featuring a tour of the Pacific December. coast and inland forest areas, social events His qualifications are impressive: He has been a golf course superintendent for 17 and the GCSAA annual meeting and years, first at the Charlotte (N.C.) Country Club and most recently at The Standard election. Club in Atlanta. He is a certified golf course superintendent, he completed a two-year turf course at Abraham Baldwin College in Tifton, Ga., and he studied Before the Conference begins, a agronomy at North Carolina State College and Texas A & M before graduating from maximum of 200 persons will play in the the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Science degree in agronomy. 1977 GCSAA Golf Tournament, Feb. 3 As director of education, Maples will produce and disseminate teaching aids, and 4, on the beautiful Monterey coordinate the educational program for the International Turfgrass Conference and Peninsula in California. The tournament Show, oversee GCSAA’s certification program, develop educational seminars and courses will be Spyglass Hill and the assist with the Association’s Scholarship and Research Fund. Dunes Course at the Monterey Peninsula A member of GCSAA for 16 years, Maples served as secretary-treasurer in 1973, as Country Club. No practice rounds will be vice president in 1974 and as president in 1975. He is currently serving as a director played at either course because of in his capacity as immediate past president, but he will resign when he joins the extensive advance bookings, but there will GCSAA staff. be practice rounds at other courses. Maples also has been a member of the Carolinas GCSA, which he served as vice Details will be available at check-in at the president and president, a member of the Georgia GCSA, which he served as a Monterey Holiday Inn on Feb. 2. The director, and a member of the Southern Turfgrass Association and the USGA Green women’s tournament will be Feb. 3 at the Section Committee. Rancho Canada Golf Club. The He is married and the father of six children. tournament registration deadline for both men and women is Dec. 31. Conference brochures and registration Several elderly church members were being asked to what they materials have been sent to all GCSAA attributed their longevity. members. Nonmembers may request materials from GCSAA Headquarters, “Anna, why ddryou think God has permitted you to reach the 1617 St. Andrews Drive, Lawrence, age of 92?” one wealthy old lady was asked. Kan. 66044. Without hesitation she responded: “To test the patience of my relatives.” Purpose is what (jives Ufe a meaning. Stahding Still Is Falling Behind _____________ — Johnny Miller, sometimes called the pro Sharing knowledge enriches the sharer O.C.S.A.A. Executive Committee tour’s thinking golfer, commented recently doubly, and writing an article for a that many golfers reach a certain level of has Just announced that the pro­ magazine is one way to share. How about perfection and then can’t seem to progress THE GOLF SUPERINTENDENT? ceedings of the 1977 Conference any further. That’s because they don’t Challenging yourself and your know­ at Portland will be published keep learning constantly, in spite of how ledge through testing is another way and available at a cost of $3*00 much they already know. many people have chosen to improve er copy to GCSAA members and The good golf course superintendent is much like those golfers. He often has themselves. While it soon will be a requirement in all states for superintend­ ents to be tested if they use restricted J U.50 to non-members. Orders will be taken during the Conference in reached an admirable level of perfection — his course is in great shape, he knows chemicals on their courses, the Golf Portland and through GCSAA Hdq. what to watch out for and how to treat Course Superintendents Association of in Lawrence, Kansas. The deadline problems, and things generally are going America has offered superintendents the for orders is Feb. Ik, 1977« along quite well. professionalism yardstick of a certification I program since 1971. Payment must accompany all orders. But then something happens. Maybe it Preparing for any test will require you isn’t noticeable for a while, but slowly, to at least refresh your knowledge if you almost imperceptibly, things begin to go want to perform acceptably on the test, 1977 G.C.S.A.A. Membership Direct­ downhill compared to other courses. That and it usually will reveal new areas of isn’t because the once-expert superinten­ knowledge you may have overlooked. ory to be mailed Dec. 1st or very dent has lost what he already knew. It’s Similar to most professional association shortly thereafter to current mem­ often because he has failed to keep up certification programs, and like the bers. Non-members can obtain a with new ideas, products and methods in copy by sending $25.00 to GCSAA golf course management. licensing requirements of other profes­ sionals (teachers and pilots, e.g.), the Hdq. at Lawrence, Kansas. Members Those superintendents have become GCSAA certification calls for continued wanting additional copies may get confident and satisfied, and with good demonstration of improvement at least them at a cost of only $2.00 by reason. But in today’s world where things every five years in order to renew move rapidly, standing still is really the certification. Certified Golf Course forwarding payment to Hdq. same as falling behind. Superintendents demonstrate their How can the superintendent keep up abilities and knowledge and they thereby and progress? First he can consciously challenge themselves, for their personal Due to a tax reform law, exhibit­ think about and work at learning new betterment and that of the profession. Most of all, growth can come from ors will be allowed to take over things. It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day operational decisions and listening to what others have to say. the counter orders for the first problems and not find the time or the Johnny Miller put it this way: “I’m not time at Portland. Bring along your motivation to look into new develop­ afraid to listen to anybody . . . because I checkbook and make your deal on ments, including some that might not feel that if you’re smart and know what you’re doing, then another guy might say the spot for new equipment. directly apply to him and his course. Where can a person look for new ideas? something that’s not even right but it will There are the obvious answers — books, spur you to think about something that is "Do more than exist —live papers, magazines, literature about new right. Or he may trigger some thought. You might be able to take a primary level Do more then touch--- feel equipment and products, GCSAA Do more than look — observe Conference and Show, seminars, and thought and go ahead and put it up at the chapter meetings. . . . level in your own mind. If it’s not a Do more than hear — listen Volunteering to teach someone else is a good thought you can just say it doesn’t Do more than listen - understand way for some superintendents to progress work for you. So I don’t mind listening to Do more than talk ----- professionally. The students’ questions anybody. I love to talk to people.” Cultivating the,skill of listening makes SAY SOMETHING." and the superintendent’s preparations to John H. Rhoades teach open up areas the superintendent it possible for even experts to learn from might not have though about for a long other experts and from amateurs. Being time. Everyone who teaches also learns. an expert in one’s field today doesn’t Some superintendents continue to grow necessarily mean that a person will be an by speaking at meetings, offering to teach expert in that field tomorrow. Stagnation their specialties to younger superinten­ is negative, no matter at which level it sets When we are young— dents and working more closely with their in, and it can be avoided by concentrating and some of us never get over it- crews. Some take on hadicapped workers and making continued efforts to grow and we are apt to think that applause, and teach them useful skills. At the same progress. Remember, no one really stands conspicuousness and fame still, because those who stand * ill are constitute success. But they time, the superintendents learn more quickly passed by others. about their own courses, themselves and are only the trappings, the turf management procedures. trimmings. Success itself is FOREFRONT Taking extension courses through a the work, the achievement that published by the university is another way to increase Golf Course Superintendents evokes these manifestations. knowledge, and so is delving deeply into a Association of America The man or woman who values the 1617 St. Andrews Drive, applause more than the effort subject that has been interesting for years Lawrence, Kansas but that there has never been time to Executive Director — Conrad Scheetz necessary to elicit it is not apt really study. To understand turfgrass Director of Communications — to be deafened—at least not for physiology, for instance, a superintendent Douglas Fender any length of time. Concentrate Associate Writer — Diane M. Wilson on your work and the applause could take advantage of the many excellent books on the subject and be will take care of itself. could also talk with university, extension Endurance is the best B.C. Forbes and industry experts who are nearby or success insurance. accessible. Ahnold Glasow