President’s Message Snow is finally falling in Director: Craig Hoffman you dedicated to the Association. our neck of the woods, so I took The Rock at Woodmoor P.D.I.... You will be receiving a the opportunity to write my mes­ Director: MikeNormand ballot in the mail asking for your sage for the NMTMA gossip col­ The Loon vote on this proposal. Our umn. I hope your course is put to Director: Jim Bluck NMTMA voting delegate will bed for the winter just the way Director: Mike Allison cast your vote YES you had planned. Everyone Spartan Distributors unless you indicate a NO vote cross your fingers until Spring. Director: Kim Olson before December 29, 2000. Oh Elections were held at our Board Turfgrass Inc. yeah, this isn’t Florida, your vote Meeting early November and the does matter on this issue. We results are as follows: I requested a hand have an outstanding board that President: Daniel Bissonette recount for the presidents posi­ has been elected by you and we Walloon Lake C.C. tion but was denied due to a look Vice-President: Steve Hammon Florida law. A special thanks forward to representing your Traverse City C.C. goes out to Kevin Henley and wishes. Feel free to contact my­ Treasurer: Dan Hunt Jim Olli for serving on the self or any board member to ex­ Treetops Resort NMTMA Board for the past press comments or questions. Secretary: Doug Kendziorski three years. They were commit­ Happy Holidays to you and your Black Lake G.C. tee chairman for Education and families. Director: Jim Tollefson Golf respectively. An excellent A-Ga-Ming G.C. job was done by both and it will Green side up, Director: Scott Pulaski be difficult to fill their voids. Daniel J. Bissonette Treetops Resort Thank- you again for your time In case you were wondering?????? • In the September/ It was written by our very own the GCSAA. November issue of the Turf Jim Tollefson, CGCS from A-ga- • Congratulations to Jim Times, the Presidents message Ming Golf Course. Thank you Inman on receiving this years was written by Jodie Bissonette. Jim for that wonderful article. Distinguished Service Award. A Her name was cut off the bottom • In the 2001 “Tuck Tate article is to follow in the next is­ of the article in the printing Championship, vendors will be sue of the Turf Times. process. able to receive awards for par­ • There was no winner • Who wrote the out­ ticipating in the event. in the $250.00 writing contest. standing article “Reflection of • Congratulations to Pat The money was allocated to the Michigan Turfgrass Field Day“? Hospice Foundation in Tuck Mertz on becoming certified by Tate’s name. I Need your help !! Submitted by: Jon D. Maddern, CGCS While at the chapter dele­ way he is looking to make a dents from Michigan let show gates meeting a fellow superin­ positive out of it. Thinking of all this man and the rest of our fel­ tendent who I have gotten know of us instead of himself and his low superintendents around the over the years from Oregon, disease. He informed me that he country how giving and suppor­ (because of his involvement in did not have a flag from Michi­ tive we are. Please send a logo GCSAA and his chapter), was in gan. I said that will change and flag to: attendance and is dealing with it has. He said that he has con­ cancer. During the meeting we tacted GCSAA Foundation and Walter Mattison, CGCS were told that this person has a is working with them on an idea 61272 Killowan Lane flag collection and we were of taking this flag collection and Bend, OR 97702 asked when we got back if we making it into a 365 day calendar could to send him a flag. with money going to fund schol­ I thank you for your support and arship^). He said how excited god bless and hope you had a A few days ago I re­ he was and how he felt this was great season and have a joyous ceived a call from this person and what god had given to him to holiday season. he was very up-beat and excited. work on. He is not able to work It seems since the delegates full days. Thank you, meeting his flag collect has ex­ ploded and only in his un-selfish So my fellow superinten­ Jon D. Maddern, CGCS Noted Michigan Architect dies. W. Bruce Matthews, known to many as the father of had been a member of the Ameri­ can Society of Golf Course Ar­ founded the Michigan Turfgrass Association. Memorials may be T course architecture in Michigan, chitects since 1970. Matthews, made to Hospice of North died Sept. 28. He was 96. Mat­ who earned a bachelor's degree Ottawa Community (1515 South thews designed and renovated in landscape architecture from DeSpelder, Grand Haven, Mich., more than 106 courses, including Michigan State University 49417) or to the Western Michi­ Grand Haven Golf Club, which in 1925, also co-founded the gan Superintendents he designed, built and owned. professional golf management Association's Bruce Matthews The Grand Haven resident was program at Ferris State College, Scholarship Fund (8585 inducted into the Michigan Golf started the W. Bruce Matthews Winter Forest, Rockford, Mich., Hall of Fame in 1993 as the first Scholarship Fund through the 49341). landscape architect to receive Western Michigan Golf course this recognition, and Matthews Superintendents Association and Congratulations Congratulations to Kevin Brown and his wife on the birth of a healthy baby boy. Patrick Joseph Brown was born on October 25, weighing 71bs, 4 oz. Kevin is employed with Elmbrook Golf Course. Page 2 Getting the Word Heard: Marketing PDI to Employers Kim Heck, Sr. Director of Career Development, GCS-L4 The first step in any marketing program is to create the identity that you want to promote to a spe­ cific audience. Our audience is employers and influential golfers. PDI creates the identity of educated, knowledgeable and competent superintendents, which can then be promoted A “Yes” Vote If the vote at the annual meeting and election supports PDI, the next step will be the execution of a multi-faceted marketing campaign during the next several years. Communicating the benefits and value of PDI is a long-term process that involves the joint efforts of the association and its members. A Rewarding Goal Our goal in communicating the benefits of PDI to employers is to have employers acknowledge the value they receive from employing a general member, a class “A” member and a certified member. We do not plan to explain the intricacies of the classification system but focus instead on the results this system will provide. Consequently, employers will recognize and reward their superintendents for the competitive edge that they bring to their golf course operations and golfers will enjoy the results of superintendents’ work - a Jpuperb golf experience. GCSAA Marketing Strategy The association will use external and internal communication methods to position the benefits of cer­ tified, class “A” and general superintendents to employers and other audiences. We will continue to use national media, such as television and magazines, to promote the superinten­ dents’ role and value in managing golf courses. Our national public relations efforts have been laying the groundwork for this initiative during the past several years, positioning the superintendent as key to golfers’ enjoyment of the game, and consequently having a direct impact on the golf course's economic success. To effectively reach employers, GCSAA will target the publications they read and the Web sites they access. We will send press releases and articles to golf trade and consumer publications and Web sites about PDI’s approval, and what it means to the business of golf, the golfer and the employer. In addition, we will work with our allied associations to get the message out through their publications, such as NGCOA’s Golf Business, CMAA’s Club Management, the NGF’s Golf Market Today, their Web sites and in other appro­ priate venues. GCSAA also uses many publications and materials today to market the golf course management pro­ fession. We will continue to use those vehicles. Information will be placed in Golf Course Management, Leader Board and on our Web site. Other resources that support the profession, such as standard job de­ scriptions, information on certification, the benefits of joining the association and materials that employers use in hiring superintendents, will include information on the competencies of superintendents. In other words, the message that PDI allows us to develop about the superintendent profession will become a standard business practice for GCSAA materials and resources. I (Continued on page 4) Page 3 PDI (Continuedfrom page 3) Members’ Marketing Responsibility Members have the opportunity to prove and communicate the benefits of PDI to their employers. Demonstrating effective management of the golf course is perhaps the most important validation of compe­ tence. Discussing with your employer your commitment to continuing education, achievement of proficiency and, if certified, use of the Professional Development Resource (PDR) is strong support during your annual performance review. GCSAA will also provide you with the resources to help you communicate the value of PDI to your employer. We will develop a package of information in an easy-to-understand format, with suggestions on how you can present the specific benefits of PDI to your employer on a continuing basis. A “No” Vote If the vote does not support PDI, an identity around the commitment of golf course superintendents to competency-based education and professional development will be created and promoted to employers. Tuck Tate Chapter Championship Tom’s Night Job This year’s chapter cham­ Steve Hammon and Paul As if working 100+ con­ pionship was held at Traverse Holmes. Two long drive prizes secutive days in the heart of City Golf & Country Club. Be­ were given to Doug Kendziorski every Michigan summer wasn’t fore a total of 54 players teed and Steve Hammon. enough, after 29 years of main­ off, a moment of silence was taining golf courses I took a sec­ shown for the passing of one of Included in the entree fee ond job this season. Something a our chapter founders, Tuck Tate. was a five-dollar donation per little different to open my eyes Leading the pack with rounds of person ($270.00 total) which will and help make ends meet. First, 75 were Joe Breighner and Paul be sent to the Traverse City hos­ a little background. I have al­ Holmes. Host superintendent pice program in Tuck’s name. A ways loved baseball and in 2000 Steve Hammon finished third yearly donation will be given to the Detroit Tigers opened their with a score of 79. The low net this local program after the Tuck new stadium, Comerica Park. round of the day went to Fred Tate championship. On a similar Heather Nabozny is the Head Miller, 2nd place Steve Adamczyk note, a unanimous decision was Groundskeeper at Comerica Park and 3rd place to Scott Lingerman. made by annual meeting at­ and sent out a job referral before tendees to add this years Turf the season started to fill a few Five people came away Times article of the year award spots on her crew. 1 applied and with skins despite the windy, dry ($250.00, which was not needless to say she has been put­ conditions. Bob Doezema (2), claimed) to Tuck’s donation, ting up with me since. Being in­ Jack Wilhelm, Brian Conklin, bringing this years donation volved in golf all my life, I’ll Dave Farnsworth and Jim Bluck amount to $520.00. Thanks to have to admit that I didn’t think all walked away with some extra everyone who attended this there was too much to do in cash in their pocket. year’s chapter championship. maintaining a baseball field but my eyes were soon opened - Closest to the pin prizes went to Steve Hammon wide. First of all, in golf I have Dick Buurma, Joe Breighner, Traverse City Country Club worked the Men’s and Women’s U. S. Opens and learned the Page 4 (Continued on page 6) It could happen to you!!!!!!! Let’s say it’s 6:15p.m. order.) into the lungs and coughing and you’re driving home, (alone Without help the person movements squeeze the heart of course) after an unusually hard whose heart stops beating prop­ and keep the blood circulating. day on the job. You’re really erly and who begins to feel faint, The squeezing pressure on the tired, upset and frustrated. Sud­ has only about 10 seconds left heart also helps it regain normal denly you start experiencing se­ before losing consciousness. rhythm. In this way, heart attack vere pain in your chest that starts However, these victims can help victims can get to a phone and, to radiate out into your arm and themselves by coughing repeat­ between breaths, call for help. up into your jaw. edly and very vigorously. A You are only about five deep breath should be taken be­ Tell as many other people miles from the hospital nearest fore each cough, and the cough as possible about this, it could your home; unfortunately you must be deep and prolonged, as save their lives! don’t know if you’ll be able to when producing sputum from make it that far. What can you deep inside the chest. A breath Life means many things do? You’ve been trained in CPR and a cough must be repeated to many people. If you value life but the guy that taught the about every two seconds without more than anything else, please course neglected to tell you how let up until help arrives, or until send this article to as many to perform it on yourself. the heart is felt to be beating nor­ friends as possible. (Since many people are mally again. alone when they suffer a heart Author Unbrown attack, this article seemed in Deep breathes get oxygen Idiots Idiot from “Up North” signed. When I asked why, she leaving the $20 bill on the coun­ A man walked into a Bur­ explained that it was necessary to ter. The total amount of cash he ger King in Ypsilanti, Michigan compare the signature on the got from the drawer? $15. at 8:50 AM, flashed a gun & de­ credit card with the signature I manded cash. The clerk turned just signed on the receipt. So I Seattle Siphon Idiot him down because he said he signed the credit card in front of When a man attempted to couldn’t open the cash register her. She carefully compared that siphon gasoline from a motor without a food order. When the signature to the one I signed on home parked on a Seattle street, man ordered onion rings, the the receipt. As luck would have he got much more than he bar­ clerk said they weren’t available it, they matched. gained for. Police arrived at the for breakfast. The man, frus­ scene to find an ill man curled up trated, walked away. A Louisiana Idiot next to a motor home near A man walked into a Cir- spilled sewage. A police spokes­ Idiots Retail cle-K, put a $20 bill on the coun­ man said that the man admitted I was signing the receipt ter & asked for change. When to trying to steal gasoline & for my credit card purchase when the clerk opened the cash plugged his hose into the motor the clerk noticed the I never drawer, the man pulled a gun and home’s sewage tank by mistake. .signed my name on the back of asked for all the cash in the regis­ The owner of the vehicle de­ T:he credit card. She informed me ter, which the clerk promptly clined to press charges, saying that she could not complete the provided. The man took the that it was the best laugh he’d transaction unless the card was cash from the clerk and fled, ever had. Page 5 Tom‘s Night Job (Continued from page 4) is still being maintained and is be­ pressure of getting ready for The skin is the most im­ ing used for an upcoming HBO these major championships, but portant part of the field and is movie with Billy Crystal produc­ seeing the pressure of having a where about 90% of the game is ing it. Although Heather has baseball field in great shape for played. Baseball players are like been able to learn to adjust to the every game is every bit as chal­ golfers, they both have opinions new soil conditions at the new lenging - in ways that are both what is the best playing surface. stadium she still deals with the similar and different to what I’ve Some ballplayers like a smaller soil conditions she worked with experienced in golf. size Turface on the skin so the at Tiger Stadium last year. ball doesn’t take a bad bounce, One big difference that I while many golfers like firm sand After working up the lad­ discovered right away was the in a bunker so they can spin the der and becoming a golf course terminology used at the stadium. ball better out of the bunkers. superintendent and learning the Terms like skin, pit, box and the Heather has two different sizes soils on many different golf track (I got that one). The skin of Turface for the infield and has courses it was something of a is the base path surface, the pit is blended them for a smooth play­ shock to start all over and being the area in front of batters box ing surface to accommodate the a fledgling again. MyjobwhenI and the box is the area behind infielders. get to the ballpark is to sweep that including the batters box. the granite off the foul lines on Lets face it greens, tees, fair­ Careful selection of mate­ the warning track. The job does­ ways, U S. Opens and the rials to optimize playability is im­ n’t sound like much but consider USGA have been in my vocabu­ portant in golf course bunkers. if an umpire has to make a cru­ lary for most of my life, but not At Franklin Hills Country Club cial call while the Tigers are bat­ the foreign language of baseball. we are beginning a bunker reno­ ting and he can’t see the foul line vation project and are seeking and the Tigers lose. I surely Next lesson - standards. firm sand that will have the good, wouldn’t be working the next In golf, the USGA has developed consistent playability and without day. The fun part of the job is a uniform way to build greens for having fried egg lies. We have the walk from first base line to golf courses; baseball field con­ tested nine different sands from third with all the young kids lean­ struction has basically copied the local pits in hope to save on ing over the outfield wall same design with drainage under­ trucking cost. Once the sand has “yelling mister give me a ball.” It neath a 10 inch sand base. Co- been selected we plan to do an brings back memories of when I merica Park was sodded with a in - house renovation of the was that kid yelling at that old blend of low mow bluegrasses 1927 Donald Ross design. The man and trying to get a ball. I (Blacksburg, Midnight and sand will be removed and drain­ never got one and needless to say America). The sod was cut at 7/8 age added. Some of the bunker I haven’t thrown one into the inches and delivered from faces will also be restored. stands yet. I’m not a mean per­ Peotone, 111. and laid last No­ son, but I could lose this great vember. The warning track is Much has been said lately job if I got caught. crushed granite. The skin is 6” about Donald Ross design golf thick and is 15% clay, 45% silt courses and restoring them back While the sports them­ and 40% sand. The skin is then to the original design. Comerica selves are different, game day covered with a gray Turface Park tried to keep many of the preparation holds one overall MVP. The pit and the box are same features, as the old Tiger similarity, the importance of a made up of different textures of Stadium that was recently va­ standard routine. At Comerica clay and usually tamped into cated - even home plate was Park, right after batting practice place and pitchers mound has the moved from Tiger Stadium to (BP) the field is cleared of the same clay as the box. Comerica Park. Tiger Stadium screens and the batting cage, the Page 6 (Continued on page 7) Tom‘s Night Job (Continued from page 6) was quite humbling to be treated fans every game and thousands field is then dragged and watered like a beginner and again climb of more when the game is tele­ for the game. Some of the play­ that ladder. It is also nice to see vised. The field is in perfect con­ ers like the skin to be wet and that I’m improving; I’m just glad dition and gets recognized quite others like it to be dryer. The I didn’t trip and fall. often by the local sports writers. amount of water changes from After the game we sweep Franklin Hills Country Club on first base to third base depending the dugouts and pick up the field, the other hand gets 150 rounds a on each infielders wish. During next game day it starts all over. day and is 160 acres and it seems the game you are on call until the By the time I get in, Heather and like there is always a few bad top of the fourth inning and top her full - time staff have mowed spots that I’m worrying about. of the seventh inning, when the the field and prepared it for bat­ Heather peaks the field for every skin is dragged to give the play­ ting practice. I believe the rou­ game while I try to peak the golf ers a smooth infield and hope­ tine at Comerica Park has added course for my yearly invitational. fully eliminate bad hops for the a spark to my job at Franklin Both the baseball field and the rest of the game. Six people Hills. I guess I’m trying to get golf course pay close attention to drag the infield and two others back to the basics. Like every­ water application and both work smooth the piles of Turface left one in the business, seeing the on having a good root system for from the dragging. I started out same thing day in and day out the duration of the season. the beginning of the season try­ you start to miss some of the de­ ing to be the last person (I tails that might catch you before When the baseball sea­ wanted to make sure no one got the end of the season. sons has ended, I don’t know if I lost on the base paths), but really One big difference, no will have been much help work­ I had trouble keeping up with the matter how you look at it, is the ing at Comerica Park, but I sure rest of the crew. Then my big fields themselves. At Comerica have had a lot of fun. break came and I got to be the Park the field is about two and a lead person dragging the skin. It half acres in size seen by 40,000 Tom Gray-Franklin Hills CC The Michigan Turfgrass Foundations 71st Annual Conference $250 Anyone? Holiday Inn South/Convention Center, Lansing MI January 15-18, 2001 In an effort to install a little creativity and addition to Join your colleagues for an outstanding our Turf Times, we are awarding educational experience at our premier winter event. $250.00 and a plaque to the Over 40 different speakers will address issues member of the NMTMA who affecting Michigan turfgrass managers. Get a jump submits an article to be judged start on the 2001 season by listening to the latest and published in the Turf Times. research interacting with your peers and gaining Once the article is submitted, it practical information you can use! will be reviewed by a committee to be put into the final judging, Highlights include. • 25 Workshops • Michigan done by the members at the an­ Department of Agriculture recertification credits nual board meeting. •Awards Dinner • MDA Pesticide Testing Please submit articles to: • Job Fair Scott Pulaski 4787 Winnie Hill Rd. Watch the mail for registration brochures and housing Gaylord, MI 49735 information. Fax: 517-983-2908 Please call Kay Patrick for more information at E-mail: scottp@freeway.net 517-321-1660. Page 7 The NMTMA appreciates the support from the following businesses... •IRRIGATION* •FERTILIZER, CHEMICAL A SEED* •EQUIPMENT, SERVICE & SUPPLIES* Theilen Turf Irrigation, Inc. 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Colein A Associates, Inc Carol Colein OTHER - Holiday Inn Grayling (616) 541-3000 / Pager (616) 230-9158 (248) 656-6805 Dawn Umphrey we encourage you to support them J Northern Michigan Turf Managers Association P.O. Box 80086 Lansing, Michigan 48908 Information Center GCSAA 1421 Research Park Dr. NMTMA Executive Committee Dan Bissonette President Steve Hammon Vice President Dan Hunt Treasurer Tom Reed Executive Secretary Doug Kendziorski Recording Secretary