President s Message As the golf season begins to slow down, it gives us time to reflect on practices we used this season and what we can do to make improvements for next season. One of the thoughts that comes to mind is what can be done to increase interest and participation at meetings of the NMTMA. I don’t have the numbers at hand, but attendance at meetings seems to be on the decline. I realize everyone is busy during the season and it’s hard to make every meeting. The following suggestions have been made: * Reduce the number of meetings during the season, * Meetings be educational, without golf, * Meetings be more social than educational during the middle of the season, * Attract speakers who are more recognized in the turf industry. COI ! r< I do feel that each one of us should make the commitment to attend as many meetings as possible. I think we all benefit from getting together with friends and colleagues, visiting properties to see what other superintendents are doing, and stepping back from our own operations for possibly a new outlook. I would welcome any input you feel would be helpful to increase interest in our meetings. Thank you and I’ll see you at the next meeting. Brian Holmes J “ To mix or not Mix” Getting the most out ofyour Pesticide program. Because pesticide products are among the highest - If you are tank-mixing pesticides, tank mix problems priced products per pound that you as a Golf Course Superin­ aren’t very common, but when they do happen, they can be a tendent can buy, using them effectively helps keep overall real nightmare. Product labels don’t always list all the tank maintenance costs low. mix incompatibilities, because the label maker can’t anticipate Rarely do pesticides fail. It’s usually other things that all the combinations you could come up with. can cause the product to not perform up to expectations. Most If you find yourself needing to mix up a number of of the time, it’s the Golf Course Superintendent or one of his different products in different formulations, one easy way to applicators who is at fault: not knowing the pest to be con­ remember the correct order to add products to your spray tank trolled, not mixing the pesticide correctly, not reading the is the four letter word “W.A.L.E.” . The “W” stands for label, or one of numerous other oversights. The key is to know wettable powders or water soluble bags or a product that needs each chemical, because they all have their own properties, and to be suspended. The “A” stands for agitate to get the WP or accurate identification of the pest is essential whether the WSB suspended. The “L” stands for liquids or flo-ables such “Pest” is a weed, insect or a turf disease. as iron, fertilizer, etc. And last but not least the “E” stands for Each pest responds differently to different products. emulsifiable concentrates such as Dursban, so any solids are Pesticides should be applied for a specific pest. In the case of truly in suspension and separated. Before you put any product turf diseases, too much or too little precipitation or irrigation into your spray tank, be sure to fill your spray rig at least half full can mean an increase or decrease in initial disease appearance, with water, especially when using WP or WSB type products. so controlling water is one of the cultural means you have to I hope everyone has a great fall and winter, and I’ll see limit your pesticide use. everyone at the MTF conference in January. Eric Denoyer CMP' Tee Construction One of the representatives of the USGA Greens Section shovel can accomplish. Spread soil with the shovels and use the was making the tour of my course a few years ago and he asked, common wooden hay rake with 2” gap in the teeth to pull a rough “How often do you topdress your tees?” I replied, “almost never, grade. Get it shaped up fairly decent and then roll with a light roller - why?” How did you get them so level,” he asked, I replied, “We built power or hand - our tennis court roller, no water, was just right. Rake them that way.” for grade - roll again. Do this over and over till the top is level, the So, for the record, here is the way we built them...all hard banks are gently sloping and there is just a hint of a slope from front work but not very complicated. to back, and as you stand on the tee facing the fairway an even fainter Don’t handicap your turf growing expertise by locating a tee in hint of a slope from your right to your left. This is to insure surface the shade where tree roots will invade it (even years from now, you drainage. If, as sometimes happens, the back of the tee butts a slope, may still be there) or in an area where trees or other features (hills, make sure no water can be entrapped there. A tile at the low point is fences, buildings, etc.) will hamper the free flow of air movement. good insurance and fairly easy to install in new construction. Conditions may be such that you must build in a cul de sac, in shade At this point I find I get the, “Can’t see woods because the and right beside a willow. Cutting away brush to form air channels, trees are in the way” syndrome. I’ve looked so long and hard at the trimming to let the sun in and trenching to cut roots will all help but grade level I loose my perspective. The cure is simple - leave the each adverse factor will work against you. construction till the following day. Sizing it up after an absence of a Elevate the tee slightly for drainage and better air movement. few hours, the need for corrections will be self evident. Bank run gravel, a minimum of one foot should be the base. Don’t In any given group of ten greensmen, only two will be able to make the mistake of thinking just any old fill will work - it might - fíne grade a tee to the desired level. The other eight will continually but you need every edge you can get. Use the lightest equipment you undermine the project unless they are directed by the two who have can to shape this up into rough grade; a light tractor with a bucket on this born-with skill. the front and a blade on the back. Bulldozers do a great job but tend You will find that your most aggressive and intelligent to pack the mass down there by decreasing drainage. workers have this knack - which is a combination of interest, self - Align the base to the fairway by standing in the middle of the confidence and practicality. After all, it is simply moving the high proposed tee and facing a spot about where an average drive should spots into the low spots until they are both eliminated. land. Put your arms out, hands shoulder high, palms down. This will I find that when you think it is finished and the grade is give you the angle for the front edge of the tee. Drive in two stakes, “perfect” you should rake it at least four more times, right side to left, one in each front corner. Do your angle shot again. Again from fifty left side to right, front to back and finish with back to front. This feet in back of the tee. Go out in the fairway and look back at the should not be an attempt to move soil, the corrections in this move stakes from 200 yards. Make any adjustment needed. Drive two will be very subtle, gravity and the head of the rake will do it, with no stakes in the back corners. Determine size now. A good rule of thumb effort on the part of the raker. Fertilizer or lime can be raked in with is to make it twice as big as you (or anyone else) had planned. If it is this last grading. too big you need not mow it all as tee. If it is too small, you get to Mason line and a line level is an aid in determining the grade rebuild in a few years. Make the choice now. when you start out but for the finishing touches I discard the cord and Grade the base as close to the finished tee as you can. Put on rely on the human eye. about one foot of the best topsoil you can get...screened sandy loom In summary : do not build in any problems - build it big if I had a choice. Again use light equipment, even keeping the tractor enough and avoid shade and tree roots. Provide for air movement and off the actual teeing area unless it is so large as to be impractical. I drainage. Work on the final grade until you are satisfied then fuss for am always amazed at how much a few interested hands and the #2 another hour. Credit Foreground The 68th Annual Michigan Turfgrass Conference will be held January 19 - 22, 1998, at the Holiday Inn - South Convention Center in Lansing, Michigan. Details regarding this event will be mailed in early November. For further information contact Kay r For Sale A at (517) 321-1660 Toro 7 gang. Newer frame with box of good parts. Very good condition. Asking $3800.00. National 84 Very good condition, asking $1800.00. Important 60 Sand Trap Rakes. $150.00. Remember to let Kay know of any changes Call Dan or Tom at Fox Run Country Club, to your membership information. These changes (517)348-4410 will be needed in order to update the membership Ransome 350-D, 1991,8 blade reels, 2,600 hours, $7,500.00 BroyHillGrainsbush with mounting kit for Toro, $2,500.00 directory. Kay has been receiving dues payments Ideal Reel Grinder, model 800, $850.00 without updated information. Any questions/ Vicon spreader, $1300.00 concerns call Kay Patrick at 517- 327-5474 Steve Hammon, Traverse City Golf & C.C. (616) 947-0487 J Safety Message For Your^nforrnation Chainsaws Sportswear now available with the NMTMA logo! I could fill this newsletter discussing chainsaw Embroidery Today in Gaylord ( 124 W. Main) has the safety. Let me relate one personal experience that I’ll goods. Contact them at (517) 732-4399. bet happens frequently. ITEM COLORS SIZES PRICE It was getting near the end of a long day of work, and I was getting tired (don’t run a chainsaw when you’re tired). Polo Shirt White/Maroon S-2XL 22.00 S-XL My saw was not running good (never use a chainsaw if it’s Navy/Black 24.00 2XL not running properly!!). I was a long way from the mainte­ Red/Gray nance building, but was determined to finish up this tree Kelly Grn/Royal Blue (don’t let your stubborn male ego override common sense). If I did not keep revving the saw, it would stall (uh-oh). So Sweat Shirt White/Maroon S-2XL 25.00 S-XL as I was walking around with the saw, the chain was Navy/Black 27.00 2XL moving continuously on the bar (a recipe for disaster). I Red/Gray lifted my leg over a log. Unfortunately, my weary arms did Forest/Royal Blue not lift the chainsaw in unison, As a result, my knee T-Shirt White/Maroon S-2XL 15.00 S-XL contacted the moving chain (should have been wearing Navy/Black 17.00 2XL chaps). Even though the chain was relatively dull, (another Red/Gray error in chainsaw operation) this nick cost me seven Forest/Royal Blue stitches and considerable embarrassment. It could have been much worse. Does any of this sound familiar ? This Golf Hat White/Forest Adjustable 10.00 w/logo whole story is a case study in how not to operate a chainsaw. Red/Jade When the doc was stitching me up, he told me an old Navy/Royal Blue woodsman from over near Atlanta had just been in. This old-timer had just received a kickback on the head. The doc put over a hundred stitches in his head. The Hey, you computer junkie’s call Kay Patrick or E-mail her with your E-mail address and we will include amazing thing is, this guy wasn’t even going to come in your address in the 1998 N.M.T.M.A. ROSTER. You can and have it looked at! reach Kay at (517) 327-5474 or E-mail at mtfturf@msn.com. Look forward to seeing you on the web. Be careful out there! coming soon to Anaheim, Calif., the 69th International Golf Course Conference and Show will be held in the Anaheim Convention Center. Don’t miss this action- packed week of educational opportunities, the newest golf course products and services, and the chance to network with fellow professionals. Educational feminars Educational (fessions & ^Forums Monday through Thursday, Feb. 2-5 Thursday through Sunday, Feb. 5-8 and Saturday, Feb. 7 CjCSAA E°lf Championship QTrade cfhow Saturday, Jan. 31, Practice Round Friday through Sunday, Feb. 6-8 Sunday, Feb. 1, Four Ball Championship ^Distributor ^Preview fflour Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 2-3, Friday, Feb. 6 Championship GCSAA’s 69* International Golf Course 1421 Research Park Drive Conference and Show ► Lawrence, KS • 66049-3859 Z M February 2-8, 1998 ^X^JF/ 800/472-7878 REGISTER TODAY! Anaheim Convention Center www.gcsaa.org Trade Show: February 6-8 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 Beard Internaitonal Sports Box 10065 College Station, TX 77842 NMTMA Executive Committee Brian Holmes - President Doug Kendziorski - Vice President Dan Hunt - Secretary/Treasurer Tom Reed - Executive Secretary Jon Maddern - Recording Secretary