' v- Turf Times X CM" ^ers«N* The newsletter from the Northern Michigan Ttirf Managers Association Bi-Monthly Update November/December Volume 34, No. 4 % Senator’s Message Well this is it. The last time you will read this form from the “Senator”, now the past president of NMTMA. Every one has come out of the woods with their big bucks and even bigger stories. Everybody is getting ready for the holi­ days so let me start off by wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a great New Year. I have spent a lot of time traveling back and forth in the state of Michi­ gan these last few years working on water issues facing the state and have had the opportunity to represent the golf industry in which I never imagined I would be in. To only imagine that now I would be counting the days when we meet with the senate in February and I would be done. Well let me tell ya, the senate thinks we are doing such a great job they want us to keep up the good work so they have senate bill 851 headed to the floor. As I write this there are 8 water bills in the house and 6 in the senate. This issue is not go­ ing away, so it looks like I have a ways to go before I can get out of this one, any takers? If you haven’t heard, the Emerald Ash Borer has found a new home in Bnmiey State Park. So the state has opted for removing 460 ash trees there. I have to wonder as I see these signs alfover the state not to trans­ port wood, fire wood etc, if they would talk to some golf course superintendents, they could have saved a boat load of money on these signs. Think about it, how many signs do we put on the course, such as cart path only, stay out of the high grass, carts away from the greens and tee areas, the list goes on. Have we ever had one day on the course where the rules have been followed out to the tee, I think not. How can the Michigan Department of Agriculture think any one is going to read their signs? Well I have to say one fella in a big RV pulling a trailer could not read. He stopped in Mac City and took the wood from his trailer to his RV thinking he could sneak it up in the U.P. He got to the toll booth in St. Ignace and was asked to pull over to be searched. You see someone on a cell phone called ahead. I believe he ended up with a $2,000 fine. Maybe that’s what we need to do, is a “stay on the cart path” fine? Here’s another one from the State. Let’s transplant 800 geese to Drummond Island from Oakland County. I know we are located close to Canada, 1 mile to the east but isn’t Windsor a little closer to the south then Drummond? Hey I have to give some “Thank You’s” to past and present board members for the last six years as they come to a close. Thanks to past Presidents Brain Holmes, (yes he is alive, I saw him at deer camp) for get­ ting me onto the board, Dan Bissonette for having the vision to move us into the high tech age (stirring things up) Steve Hammon for all the work you have done and continue to do on the web page. I have to say thanks to Scott Pulaski. He and I came into this together and have seen a lot of folks come and go in the last 6 years and they have all been great. Scott has taken over the NMTMA Directory and will continue to stay on and work wonders with the message of the current board. Thanks to the all the NMTMA members and best wishes for the up coming season. I turn the helm over to Joe Breighner from Boyne, good luck! The Rock Craig A Hoffman HAPPY holidays to all What’s up with the Statewide Association? At the time of print for this Turf Times, there was nothing to report on the statewide association devel­ opment. What the board does know is that the process is moving along. In October, it was decided that a vote would not take place and that more research would go into the formation of the statewide asscociation. You may have noticed that a vote is supposed to take place at the conference in Grand Rapids. It is still undecided whether this will take place. There are still more questions that need to be answered and the NMTMA board urges everyone who has a question about the formation of a statewide association to speak up or go to the nmtma.org website to help answer your questions. Things in the works for 2006 NMTMA Mini-Conference: March 13, 2006 @ Treetops Resort MTF Fundraiser: Forest Dunes in June August Meeting: The Rock on Drummond Island NMTMA Fundraiser: 27 hole challenge on Fazio/Par-3 course in September Tuck Tate Championship: Crystal Mountain in October Your 2006 BOD and Committees Program & Golf: Breighner, Ikamas, Larson President: Joe Breighner Student Scholarship: Bluck, Shane Vice President: Jim Bluck Members Scholarship: Bluck, Shane Treasurer: Paul Galligan Membership: Princinsky, Atchison, Sump Secretary: Paul Emling By Laws/Ethics: Shane, Galligan Director: Jason Roznowski Finance: Galligan, Breighner, Emling Director: Adam Ikamas Education: Breighner, Bluck, Princinsky Director: Steve Sump MTF Fundraiser: Breighner, Galligan, Atchison Director: Brent Larson NMTMA Fundraiser: Emling, Ikamas, Sump Director: Steve Shane Environmental: Roznowski, Sump Director: Jim Atchison GCSAA Liaison: Shane, Bluck Director: Steve Princinsky MTF Liaison: Shane Publications/Website: Pulaski, Emling, Hammon Hospitality Room: Emling, Ikamas Members Welfare: Atchison, Larson Mechanics: Emling, Atchison, Ertl Page 2 NMTMA Recycle Recap 2005 The 2005 NMTMA recycle program continues to be a successful program with many golf courses con­ tributing to the program. This year NMTMA teamed up with Turfgrass Inc. for a season long collection of containers. Turfgrass Inc. helped with the project by providing a year-round storage for the containers and provided the service of picking up clean and empty containers throughout the year. According to early calcu­ lations we will have met or surpassed the goal of the project. In November a meeting was held at Treetops Resort that recapped the recycle program. Around 65 people attended and learned legislative and state issues on recycling in Michigan, resistance management, tank mixing strategies, modes of action of products, calibration of sprayers, nozzle selection and leaf coverage. Due to the positive response of the talks, the NMTMA board would like to try and cover these topics more in depth at the Mini-Conference. Community Service Award Applications Available The 2006 NMTMA Board of Directors is proud to announce that it will continue the NMTMA Community Service Award for the 2006 season. The Community Service Award will be presented at the 2006 Mini- Conference to a member of the NMTMA that volunteers their time to a specific organization or community. This year we are opening it up to anyone who goes above and beyond the golf course business to help better their community. We have changed it so that even if you get paid to help out your community, you can still qualify. For example: coaches, referees, etc. The award winner will receive a $500.00 check made out to the organization of their choice in their name. The simple rules are as follows: 1. The person being nominated or applying for this must be a current member and have been for the past two years. 2. Must have been volunteering for the organization for two years, one including the present year. If you would like to nominate a person or would like to apply for this yourself, please contact Scott Pulaski @ (989) 732-6711 Ext. 2809 for an application. Your NTMMA dues have been mailed out and if you have not received them, please contact Kay Patrick (517-327-5474) for a current invoice. If your dues are not received by March 1, 2006, your information will not be included with the 2006 NMTMA Directory. Page 3 Michigan Turfgrass Conference and Great Lakes Trade Expo January 9th-llth, 2006 Devos Place in Grand Rapids, Michigan A great opportunity awaits all turfgrass professionals at the 2006 Great Lakes Trade Expo (GLTE) January 9-11, 2006 at the DeVos Place in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This year, the Michigan Turfgrass Founda tion (MTF) combines forces with the Michigan Nursery & Landscape Association (MNLA) and the Michigan Forestry & Park Association (MFPA) to sponsor one of the largest green industry educational conferences and trade shows in the Midwest. Eleven education tracks spanning golf to arboriculture to nursery will run during all three days. Over 300 suppliers will exhibit in the newly constructed DeVos Place, a state-of-the art confer­ ence center. Currently, almost 95% of the booth space has been sold. Numerous social activities will be held during the event to offer non-stop education, networking and purchasing opportunities. Registration packets have been mailed. More information can be found on the official web site: www.glte.org. The booking code for hotel rooms at the Amway grand is MNLA 06. GCSAA Educational Points are available: Monday: .50 educational points Tuesday: .25 educational points Wednesday: .30 educational points Items For Sale @ NMTMA.ORG Items from Interlochen Golf Club Lely centerliner fertilizer spreader Forklift (3) Jacobsen LF100 fairway mow­ Company: Treetops Resort Company: Treetops Resort ers $1,250.00 each or Best Offer Description: 3 point hitch, 1 ton ca­ Description: owantonda fork lift, needs (3) Toro GM3 Triplex Mowers: $750.00 pacity repairs, make offer. each or Best Offer Contact: Mark Wildeman, CGCS Contact: Mark Wildeman, CGCS (1) Ransome 180 Trim Mower: $750.00 Email: mwildeman@treetops.com Email: mwildeman@treetops.com or Best Offer. Phone: 989-732-6711 Ext. 2810 Phone: 989-732-6711 Ext. 2810 (1) Dedos Aerifier: Make Offer Howard Price Rough Unit Company: Treetops Resort 1990 Alkota Model 122 Steam Description: cleaner Contact: Mark Wildeman, CGCS Company: Walloon Lake Country Club Email: mwildeman@treetops.com Description: Phone: 989-732-6711 Ext. 2810 Used steam cleaner... details Contact: Daniel J. Bissonette Email: dan@upnorth.net Phone: 231-535-2373 Page 4 This Turf Times article was written by your 2005 board of directors: (this blank page) Steve Sump, Paul Ending, Steve Shane and Jim Atchinson. Page 5 r "i The NMTMA appreciates the support from the following businesses... *SOD, SOIL, & CONSTRUCTION* *FERTILIZER, CHEMICAL & SEED* *GOLF CART SALES & SERVICE* Tri Turf Soils, Inc. Lebanon Fertilizers and Seed Kodiak Equipment Company Tom Reed, Sr. Better Technology For Today’s Turf New / Used E-Z-Go Golf Cars and Utility Vehicles (888)616-7806 “Mesa”- SR N & “EXPO” - SR N-K (231) 264-9900 / (888) 746-0800 Huggett Sod Farm Grigg Brothers Boylan Sales, Inc. Bent & Bluegrass Sod, Shade & Ornamental Trees Specialty Fertilizers Jim Atchison (989) 635-7482 (888) 246-8873 (269) 685-6828 / FAX (269) 685-6051 Beck Sod Farm, Inc. Tri-Turf Ellis Sales Inc. David Beck Serving all of Michigan Bob Hope (800) 968-2325 (800) 636-7039 (269) 375-3535 / (800) 962-4128 Great Lakes Golf Construction, Inc. Christopher Furness (231) 582-6783 *EQUIPMENT/IRRIGATION* *EQUIPMENT, SERVICE & SUPPLIES* Spartan Distributors John Read (Equipment) / Kris Early (Irrigation) Weingartz Golf & Turf (800) 822-2216 / (800) 232-6288 FAX John Deere One Source *TIRES & TUBES* (877) 465-9040 / (616) 696-2913 * Automatic Irrigation Supply Company Tire Wholesalers Company, Inc. The Automatic Advantage W. F. Miller Golf & Turf Dan Cress 877-222-0240 Jacobsen, Smithco, Turfco, National (231)775-6666 (800) 555-8189 Waterways Irrigation Ken Morrison (989) 906-3338 Jim VanAntwerp (231) 838-3330 and we encourage you to support them. j Northern Michigan Turf Managers Association P.O. Box 80086 Lansing, MI 48908 Information Center GCSAA 1421 Research Park Dr. Lawrence, KS 66049 MTMA Executive Committee Craig Hoffman President Joe Breighner Vice President Paul Galligan Treasurer