Bi-Monthly Update Mar/April 1997 Vol. 26, No. 1 ^gers-^ The newsletter from the Northern Michigan Turf Managers Association CCSAA AFFILIATE t ............ President’s Message Greetings to all of you. I hope this slower time of the season finds everyone renewed and ready for another busy golf season. I would like to extend an invitation to all our NMTMA members to become more actively involved in our organization. This can be accomplished in several ways: hosting a golf event, volunteering to serve on a committee, writing an article for our newsletter, or running for the board of directors. The NMTMA is only as good as the people who are involved. If you have an interest in any of the above mentioned activities, please contact a board member. However, the best way to get involved is to participate in the educational opportunities presented by the NMTMA. As an organization, education has always been our main objective, so plan to attend as many events as possible this year. Some events that come to mind are: • GCSAA Educational Seminars • NMTMA Mini Conference, April • M.S.U. Field Day • NMTMA & MTF Fund-raisers • Golf and Education Programs (May - September) Brian Holmes --------------------- The 5 Major Time Wasters---------------------- Time Management_____________________________________________________________ Here are five major time wasters: others screen your calls. Use an answering machine • Spreading yourself too thin by trying to do too when you don’t want to be disturbed. Schedule a many things at once. Suggestion: You must set telephone hour to return all calls. priorities for each day and, if necessary, each hour. • Procrastination. Suggestions: Get those un­ Get the most important things done first. pleasant chores done first - if they’re important. • Being afraid to delegate. Suggestion: Convince Divide large tasks into smaller ones. Reward yourself yourself that it’s not necessary to do everything your­ when you accomplish something. self. You can still be certain things are being done the way you want them to be when you delegate. Source: Dr. Jan Yager, writing in Woman’s Own, Harris • Not wanting to say “no” to requests. Publications Inc., 1115 Broadway, New York, NY 10010. • Being a slave to the phone. Suggestions: Have _ ideas that work COLLECTION Happiness is Shoveling Snow Not to sound negative, but this white stuff is killing me! and from there, I fling it out onto my driveway. Now I can remove it with the snow blower where I must blow it into the front yard, to Down state friends are always envious of my living up north. They the north, and into the wind. wonder what I do with my free time: skiing, snowmobiling, ice fishing perhaps? Nope, for six months I move snow from point A, I can spend the entire weekend breaking up ice dams and moving to point B. snow. Ice dams can grow as much as an inch per day if the conditions are right. If left unchecked, soon I’ll see rivulets on the When I first moved up north, I actually liked the idea of becoming siding which is a scary sight. Time to get out the ladder. Then an expert with the snow blower and plow truck. By the end of the there’s forty-five minutes every day for weeks blowing off the first winter this somewhat romantic vision of the northern Michi­ driveway. Soon I’m convinced the county snowplow driver has a gan working class hero was rapidly fading. vendetta against me. The other day I came home and literally had to back my car up to get a running start at my driveway and blast my Unfortunately, my wife and I did not design our house with a 200 way in. That pile of snow and ice chunks was sixteen inches deep + inch annual snowfall in mind. One mistake we made was and ten yards wide. By the time I arrived with my blower, the snow designing our house in the “L” shape. In the valley where the had turned into ice. The only good news was my mail box was still garage meets the house, the snow piles up unbelievably fast. I can standing. I know he’s just doing his job, but I’m beginning to think go up there and find the snow waist deep after one night of lake of him as the enemy. effect snow and twenty m.p.h. winds. If I don’t remove the snow, we risk the ice' dam factory kicking into high gear. All this gets me thinking about spring and number thirteen green, where the deepest snow in all of Antrim County is currently waiting. This problem brings us to our next design flaw. We placed the front I should save some strength for shoveling that baby! door near that dreaded comer. Now when I shovel the snow off the roof, I’m forced to throw it down on my porch and sidewalk, Pete Hohn IRRIGATION TECHNICIAN 1997 Grand Traverse Resort is currently accepting Calendar applications for a full-time irrigation technician to May 14 Schuss Mtu. G.C., Bellaire work as part of our Golf and Grounds team. Experience to include pump house maintenance, June 2 MTF Fundraiser, Garland installation and repair, parts inventory and general July 15 Green Briar G.C., Lupton maintenance of a live irrigation system. Must be self-motivated, flexible and willing to work as part August 18 Eagle Glenn, Farwell of a large team. Benefits available. Apply in September 9 NMTMA Fundraiser person at the Resort’s Human Resources Office, Belvedere G.C., Charlevoix Monday through Friday, 8-5 p.m. EOE. October 8 Mlstwood G.C., Lake Ann 1992 John Deere 3325 Fairway Mower ••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 1615 hours, very good condition, 10 blade reels, 50% reel life, 11 ft. 6 in. cutting width. Asking For Sale $12,000. Call Tom or Dick at Eagle Glen G.C. (517)588-6599. • Older Jacobsen Walker - 2nd • • mower for parts, all for $600, • Do you have an address change, or • Jacobsen 5-yard-many spare parts • do you need some information on NMTM A, or do you need to call in your reservation for • $1OOO, Greens Aire needs engine • a meeting? • $500, Toro Gm3 $1000, Joel * You can do all of this now by calling Kay Patrick at: Z Swanson Cobi Piars Golf Course Z (517)327-5474 Z (616) 723-3885 • Write this number down, it will come in very handy! <.....................J Dear Friends of the Turfgrass Management Industry: The Northern Michigan Turf Managers Association will offer its members and related businesses two publica­ tions for 1995. Both of the following publications will offer advertising directed and mailed to Golf Course Su­ perintendents, owners, and our advertisers throughout the year. The circulation of Turf Times and Turf Times Update reached over 250 superintendents, assistant superintendents, mechanics, owners and 30 businesses dur­ ing the 1994 season. 1. A Membership Directory Booklet - with a full color cover of our 1995 MTF Fund Raiser Golf Course, along with membership and business listings - will be mailed to all our members and advertisers this coming April. 2. A six page Monthly Newsletter, entitled Turf Times, will feature professionally typeset news articles from our area and across the country, as well as current meeting information and announcements. Enclosed is an advertising reservation form. Please reserve advertising for the entire year by returning the en­ closed form and all of your advertising copy before February 11,1995, to: Michael Morris P.O. Box 1575 Frankfort, MI 49635 (616) 352-4241 Please note: You must purchase an advertisement in the Membership Directory if you want to advertise in the Monthly newsletters. Advertising does not need to be camera ready, but should be of good quality. If you have any-questions about the form of your advertisement, call Bob McNabb at BaySide Printing Inc. in Frankfort, Michigan; Phone (616) 352-4440, Fax: (616) 352-6380. Attached are sample pages from the Turf Times showing you the advertising space in our format. All advertising will be on a first-come, first-served basis. After we have confirmed your advertising reservations and have received all of your advertisement copy for the entire year, we will send you an invoice with your copy of the Membership Directory. Thank you for your support of our organization and its publications. Sincerely, Michael Morris Editor Enclosures Turf Managers Membership Directory Full Page Advertisement 4 3/4" X 7 1/2" Sample Bi-Monthly Categorized Business Listing - Total Space 7 1/2" X 5" The NMTMA appreciates the support from the following businesses... EQUIPMENT, SERVICE FERTILIZERS, SOD, HYDROSEEDING, & ACCESSORIES CHEMICALS, SEED SOILS & CONSTRUCTION Spartan Distributors Tri Turf Your Name Your Full Line Toro Distributor “A Warehouse on Wheels ” Slogan (616) 887-7301 (616) 943-8343 Phone Valley Turf, Inc. Turfgrass, Inc. Jacobsen, SmithCo and more “We Serve You Better” (616) 532-2885 1 (800) 521-8873 CONFERENCE & GOLF IRRIGATION Your Name Your Name Slogan Slogan Thielen Turf Irrigation Phone Phone Commercial & Residential Installations (517) 773-3409 Your Name CONSULTING, DESIGN Slogan GOLF CART SALES & ARCHITECTURE Phone Boylan Sales Your Name Your Name Yamaha USA Slogan Slogan (616) 685-6828 Phone Phone ... and we encourage you to support them. To the NMTMA Members: Due to the fact that I recently got married and moved With the 1997 GCSAA National Conference and out of the Northern Michigan area, I am formally Show behind us, it is time to reflect on what an exciting resigning from the NMTMA Board of directors. As year it has been for many turfgrass professionals in of March 1,1997.1 would like to take this opportunity Michigan. This year we were fortunate to recognize to thank the board of directors whom I have had the pleasure of working with (past and present). It was a three professionals for their past achievements to the great experience for me to be a part of such a fine group turfgrass industry in Michigan: of people. Dr. Paul Reike: 1997 USGA’s Green Section Award Being on the board gives you an opportunity to meet Dr. Joe Vargas: some exciting people, test your organizational and GCSAA 1997 Distinguished Service Award time management skills, work on team projects, Mr. Gerald Faubel, CGCS: problem solving, and so much more. I am so thankful GCSAA 1997 Distinguished Service Award for the time spent on the board of directors. I feel I Also, we should commend Jon Maddem, CGCS on have grown from the experience and I would like to his attempt to be elected to the GCSAA Board of thank the members of the NMTMA for allowing me Directors. Hopefully we will see Jon’s name on next to participate. years ballot. All of these professionals have made extraordinary Although I am no longer living in Northern Michigan, contributions to the turfgrass industry. If you happen I plan to stay involved in the turf industry. I will once to see them, be sure to thank them for what they have again be a member of the MTF conference planning done for the game of golf. committee and I am still part of the new GCSAA/ -Scott Pulaski RISE/PLCAA ambassador program. This is an exciting program that has been created by our < ' 1' > national association to help spread the message that Farmers Almanac Forecast the GREEN INDUSTRY is good. As we speak to for the Great Lakes local civic groups and schools, we inform them, as turf managers, we are educated and concerned about what April 1997: A good chance of a snowstorm April happens to the environment. 8-10. Temperatures will rise sharply during the month. They will average 47°. Precipitation will be very heavy for the region. I would encourage each member to consider running May 1997: Average temperatures will be below for the board. The friendships that are made and the normal. There will be periods of heavy rain May shared experiences (professional and personal) are 2-3 and May 8-10, but for the entire month priceless. Be proud to be a member of the NMTMA precipitation will be moderate. A cold snap will and get involved if you can. I’m sure you will grow start about May 11. By May 20 a steady warming from the experience. i will begin. J Again, thanks for the opportunity to be on the board Motivation and experience so much. You motivate by your personal example of commitment to excellence and hard work. You motivate by filling your people with an unshakable belief in their own abilities, pride in their efforts and satisfaction at being an - Karen Gray important part of a productive team. It is easier to motive when everything is going well. The truly outstanding leader is able to motivate in the face of discouragement or failure. To keep your people’s confidence in them­ selves and in you, you must not become demoralized by adversity. Instead, you must exploit even your less than successftil ventures, as opportunities from which to learn. -Vice Admiral Beran 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 1995 Or - James Bearci I ritornai tonai Sports Turi 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 COLLECTION