President’s Message The NMTMA is loking for a few good people. A few good people who would like to become more involved in the NMTMA and the GCSAA First, the NMTMA needs a chapter delegate to attend the 1997 chapter delegates meeting at GCSAA headquarters in Lawrence, Kansas. The meeting will be held September 5-7. The delegate would attend meetings and an open house with a chance to tour the GCSAA headquarters and meet the staff. Also, this will be the only opportunity to meet and speak with candidates running for office in 1998. This is important information that the voting delegate for the NMTMA uses to make an informed decision during the 1998 elections. This is an excellent opportunity for anyone wanting to become more involved in our organization. There is no cost involved. The NMTMA is responsible for round trip airfare and the GCSAA covers lodging, meals and transportation from the airport. Please contact me if you are interested. Secondly, elections are coming up for the NMTMA board of directors. We are looking for members interested in being candidates for those elections. The board does the bulk of its work during the winter months. If you are interested in becoming a candidate contact Dan Bissanette at (616) 535-2373. Brian Holmes Scott Named Director of Agronomy Türrrrr* Jonathon L. Scott has been named Director of Agronomy for the PGA TOUR, Scott succeeds the late Allan MacCurrach.“Following in the footsteps of Allan MacCurrach is a unique experience, which I have had the opportunity to do twice, first with Golden Bear and now with the TOUR,” said Scott, who served as Consulting Agronomist, Golfturf, Nicklaus Design, since 1988. “Allan was both a friend and mentor to me in the second half of my career, and it is an honor for me to be able to carry on the tradition of excellence and dedication he demonstrated in all of his work.” In addition to his nine-year stint with Golden Bear, Scott worked for 15 years as a golf course superintendent and spent two years in the landscape maintenance management business. “We are fortunate to have someone with Jon Scott’s background available to take over for Allan MacCurrach, ” said W. William (Bill) Calfee, Executive Vice President of Competitions for the PGA TOUR. “Course conditioning is such a critical component of tournament play, and Jon is the ideal person to shepherd this phase of our game.” The 48-year-old Michigan native served as the first golf course superintendent at Key Biscayne GC in Miami from 1972-73. He later worked as superintendent at CC Aventura (now Turnberry Isle), North Miami, FL; Montclair CC, Dumfries, VA; Andrews Air Force Base GC, Camp Springs, MD; and Valhalla GC in Louisville, KY site of the 1996 PGA Championship He also served as Director of Maintenance at Se Pines, Hilton Head, SC , and Grand Traverse Resort, Traverse City, MI. A 1972 graduate of Michigan State University, Scott also attended Ferris State University in 1967-68. He will relocate from Grand Rapids, MI to PGA TOUR Headquarters in August. He and his wife, Anne, have three children. The perfect shot shouldn’t mean the perfect lie. By Denis Griffiths With sites containing more and more limitations- whether they be related to size, terrain or environment - Years ago, when the links courses of Scotland designing to this American style of golf often involves and England were laid out in and around the natural extensive earthwork to reform the ground, especially to dunes and land forms, man moved minimal earth to prevent blind shots and provide level play areas. It also provide contiguous golf holes. Everything on the requires green construction methods, irrigation system links was adapted to fit existing conditions. You design and grass selection that have reached a level of might say that Mother Nature was actually the buil­ sophistication almost beyond comprehension. All in the der, and the course designer was merely the one who name of perfect playing conditions. discovered routing. While meeting golfers’ expectations, these This use of nature often provided courses that designs have and will continue to drive course con­ were testing and frequently offered imperfect lies, struction costs higher. The dramatic upswing in blind shots and unmanicured turf. Part of the enjoy­ maintenance costs is likely to continue as well. (It is ment of these courses, however, resided in having to not uncommon for the average annual maintenance respond to these challenging circumstances, often cost of a 25-year-old facility to exceed the original through creative shotmaking. cost of construction for the same course!) All of which But somewhere along the line, the American has lead to an overall rise in green fees perception of the game strayed from its European It is my belief that the quality of a game of golf roots. That perception, which has been a major influ­ should be judged more on the integrity of the course’s ence on course design around the world, applauds design than its condition. The goal of the golf course wonderfully maintained, impeccable golf courses. It architect is to create variety, demanding that players also encourages complete fairness in design, and is use every club in their bag. Less-than -perfect turf skeptical of “unusual ” design measures such as the conditions provide an additional variable that should occasional blind shot. not necessarily be considered a negative. TV, golf magazines and the PGA Tour have all When playing older courses where the condition had a hand in furthering this perception, particularly in of the turf is determined by the most recent weather setting expectations that are often mistaken for stan­ cycle, golfers are required to adjust their game to the dards. Announcers banter on about how players are specific conditions every time they play penalized for anything less than a perfect lie and I believe we should consider changing our touring professionals complain about course conditions. expectations and returning more to the original con­ Meanwhile, we nod in empathy. But must a good cept of the game. In this concept, the ball is played as tee shot always be rewarded with a perfect lie? Must it lies, and there is not always a reward for a perfect every shot be hit to a clearly visible target? Must it shot. In doing so, we will expand the opportunity for always be possible to advance a ball from a sand more affordable golf. We will also obtain a better bunker? Must every green hold approaches? Must the appreciation of what the game has to offer. play area contain 100-percent turf coverage through­ out the season, no matter what weather conditions exist? I am the first to agree that these conditions can contribute to the game’s overall enjoyment level. But I also feel this “Americanization” may eliminate many shots that are required on the traditional Scottish and 1997 English courses... shots that add to the game’s chal­ Calendar lenge and finesse. In discussions with other members of the American Society of Golf Course Architects, I September 9 NMTMA Fundraiser find that most strive to meet these Americanized Belvedere G.C., Charlevoix expectations. As a result, today’s course architecture may best be described as a study on how to best October 8 Mistwood G.C., Lake Ann modify terrain to create the desired golfing experience. Safety Message “End ofthe Summer Laugh” Eye Protection The following funny bone was in the Profes­ sional Engineering newsletter and was taken Loss of eyesight is probably one of the most from the Meat & Poultry magazine “Feathers” traumatic experiences a person can endure. It is ofthe California Poultry Industry. your responsibility to ensure personnel always use adequate eye protection. If you don’t have the It seems the U.S. Federal Aviation Adminis­ required eye protection for a job, don’t start the tration (FAA) has a device for testing the strength job! This may sound rather basic, but how many of airplane windshields. The gunlike device times have you seen someone doing a job without launches a dead chicken at a plane’s windshield at eye protection just because it was only going to approximately the speed the plane flies. If the take a minute? It only takes a second for you or windshield doesn’t crack from the carcass impact, others to lose eyesight forever. theory has it, the windshield will survive a real collision with a flying bird. Make sure the eye protection provided is usable. If it is scratched and cloudy, people This interested the British, who wanted to will generally not use it since it makes their test the windshield on a brand new, high-speed work more difficult. locomotive. They borrowed the FAA’s chicken launcher, loaded a chicken, and fired. The ballistic chicken shattered the windshield, went through the engineer’s chair, broke an instrument panel, and embedded itself in the back wall of the engine cab. Stunned, the British asked the FAA to check -------------------------------------------------------------\ whether everything had been done correctly. The Farmers Almanac Forecast FAA reviewed the test thoroughly and had one October 1997 recommendation: “Use a thawed chicken.” The late seasonable weather of September will carry through until October 11-12. For the month temperatures will be 49.50 - about 2 1/2 • below normal. After that there will be a 3 day cold snap after which a period of Indian Summer with some showers will mark the southern Great Do you have an address change, or do you need some information on Lakes. Indian Summer will also occur in the NMTMA, or do you need to call in your northern and western portions of the region. They reservation for a meeting? will end there around October 24 and about three You can do all of this now by calling days after that in the southern portion. By October Kay Patrick at: 27 the region will be gripped in a cold wave. s________________________________________ > (517) 327-5474 Write this number down, it will come in very handy! The NMTMA appreciates the support from the following businesses,.. •IRRIGATION • • FERTILIZERS, CHEMICALS & SEED • • EQUIPMENT, SERVICE & SUPPLIES • Thielen Turf Irrigation, Inc. Benham Chemical Corporation Spartan Distributors, Inc. Golf Course Installation Serving Michigan and Ohio Your Full Line Toro Distributor (517) 773-3409 800-482-6520 800-822-2216 Century Rain Aid Tri-Turf D & C Distributors, Inc. Now There’s A Third Option - Legacy Golf A Warehouse on Wheels Your One Stop Shop 800-347-4272 (616) 943-8343 800-888-7779 • 248-349-7779 C.J. Colein & Associates, Inc. Chipco Tire Wholesalers Company Irrigation Design and Consulting Bob Dugan Dan Cress - Tires & Tubes (810) 656-6805 (313) 782-0323 (616) 775-6666 • SOD, SOIL & CONSTRUCTION • Turfgrass Inc. Turf Services, Inc. We Serve You Better Matt Heiss Beck Sod Farm (800) 521-8873 (616) 842-4975 George or Lois Beck (517) 864-3549 • Fax (517) 864-3055 The Scotts Company W. F. Miller Company Ed Carmody Your Cushman, Ransomes, Ryan Connection Huggett Sod Farm (616) 946-6594 (800) 555-8189 Bent & Bluegrass Sod, Bulk Peat & ShadeTrees 800-432-2763 • 517-635-7482 Lebanon-Seaboard Fertilizer & Seed The Best Agronomics/Value Available • GOLF CART SALES & SERVICE • • CONTRACT SERVICES • Randy-810- 673-7146 Boylan Sales Inc. Mechanical Soil Technology Sweeney Seed Company Yamaha USA Contract Verti-Drain Aerification Service It Pays to Plant The Best (616) 685-6828 800-743-2419 • 309-342-2419 (800) 344-2482 (517) 773-5391 Commercial/Environmental Turf Services Turf Chemicals, Inc. John Kirtland Fertilizers For Better Turf 800-231-5296 • 810-858-7700 517-725-7145 Fax 517-723-7410 ...and we encourage you to support them. Northern Michigan Turf Managers Association P.O. Box 80086 Lansing, Michigan 48908 Dr . James Bearcl Internaitonal Sports Turf Box 10065 College Station, TX 77842 NMTMA Executive Committee Brian Holmes - President Doug Kendziorski - Vice President Jon Maddern - Secretary/Treasurer Tom Reed - Executive Secretary Brian Conklin - Recording Secretary