NORTHERN MICHIGAN TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6TH, 1981 ■ Kv GREEN HILLS GOLF CLUB FRANK HEMINGER. SECRETARY-TREAS. PINCONNING,MICHIGAN 1 1 47 SANTO TRAVERSE CITY, Ml. 49684 PHONE: 616-947-9274 Next meeting of this Association will be as shown above with the same program of golf, "Happy Hour", dinner and our business meeting. For those of you that are not familiar with the location, Pinconning is north of Bay City on Michigan 13. Anyone coming either north or south, that can use 1-75 should get off at the Pinconning Exit, go east to M-13 and turn south on M-13 at the light, then 4 3/4 miles south to Green Hills Golf Club on the west side of the road. Tom and Dan Courtemanche have extended to you an invitation, to play their fine 18 hole golf course. Here you will find beautiful fescu e fairways that are not common in Michigan but might be what we see further down the road in time with the high escalating energy and fertilizer costs. Lunch is available at the club house, no starting times are necessary and golf carts are available. So ——— bring along your best game and enjoy yourselves. Don't forget to put your two bucks in the prize kitty when you register for golf. Dinner will be served in the club house and we expect to eat at 6:15 P.M., or as close to this time depending upon some getting off of the golf course. So those of you wishing to play, please use this target time and pace yourselves accordingly keeping in mind Happy Hour. We must know the number that will be there for dinner so please get this postcard back as quickly as possible. DO IT NOW. Our speaker for the evening will be Dr. Paul E. Rieke who will speak on dormant fertilization plus have a word relative to snow mold if there has been any new development that we should know about. Paul as you know is now 50% on turfgrass extension and he will be the one for us to depend upon should problems arise throughout the year. We will look forward to an Interesting evening. *########*###**#*##########♦#################***####*#*******#*#******* We had a very successful meeting at Grand Traverse Hilton with 108 being present for dinner and the speaker, Tommy Sasser, who is Jack Nicklaus' head construction boss. At this meeting, three directors were elected to serve three years on the Board. At this meeting at Pinconning, the Board will elect the officers for the year 1982. Remember our fiscal year starts Nov. 1st and ends October 31st. This means that if you have not paid 1981 dues, you will be about due to pay for two years. We are happy to report that at our last Board meeting, the Board has decided that dues will not be increased for 1982. *«****«4«*«**#««««*«*'»«««**#*«««**‘»«««*«««»*###***««*««*«**#*»«««««««'K Membership cards for 1982 will be a beautiful yellow so bring your check along for our Secretary-Treasurer Frank Heminger and your new card will be in your hands in a few days. This new card will not be available to you if you have not paid 1981 dues. You must be current. **«**«***«***«««««*«««*««««***««*«*«***«*«*«««##*««*»«*****«*********** New Fusarium Blight Treatment by Dr. Joseph M. Vargas, Jr. he debate among plant gen fertility in the summer months and against traditional beliefs of heavy in­ T pathologists still goes on over the cause of the disease known as Fusarium blight. However, while the debate of the cause light frequent irrigation during the warm weather. Kentucky bluegrass turf undergoing senescence (natural aging and dying) is more susceptible to frequent irrigation to encourage deep root growth. The idea behind this is that the soil will dry from the top down and the turfgrass root will grow down or causes of Fusarium blight goes on, Fusarium blight than those not under­ in search of moisture. Heavy infrequent a new chemical management tool has going senescence. Nitrogen fertility in irrigation will encourage deep root pene­ come on the market. the summer helps prevent the Kentucky tration in the spring and fall when the The fungicide is triadimefon which bluegrass from undergoing senescence. soil temperatures are cool. However, re­ will be sold under the trade name of This goes against traditional beliefs of gardless of how a turf is irrigated in the Bayleton. It has been one of the most only applying nitrogen in the spring and summer, the natural tendency of all effective fungicides for the manage­ the fall on Kentucky bluegrass and turfgrass species is to have shorter roots ment of Fusarium blight in research avoiding summer nitrogen application. in the summer when warm soil tem­ trials at several universities including However, these recommendations were peratures occur. Therefore, the argu­ Michigan State. Triadimefon is dif­ based primarily on research demon­ ment for heavy, infrequent irrigation ferent from other Fusarium blight strating the times of year Kentucky to encourage deep root growth in the fungicides in that it is only effective bluegrass could best utilize the nitro­ summer is not valid. when applied as a preventive treatment. gen coupled with data showing high Light, frequent irrigation does re­ Other Fusarium blight fungicides can be rates of nitrogen makes Kentucky duce the severity of Fusarium blight. applied either preventively or curative- bluegrass more susceptible to heat and Its action is probably three-fold. One, it ly. This means if triadimefon is to be drought stress. This would all be rele­ supplies water to Fusarium blight in­ effective it must be applied to the turf vant if your primary goal was “growing fected plants that have only short root before Fusarium blight symptoms ap­ grass” but it isn’t, or at least it shouldn’t systems. Secondly, if applied at mid­ pear or before the “frog eyes” from be. The primary goal of any turfgrass day, helps cool the turf better enabling previous years become active again. manager should be “maintaining turf”. it to survive heat stress. The third ef­ This will vary from one location to More explicitly maintain healthy, dense, fect may be the encouragement of mi­ another. One should check with the pest-free turf. Whether the plant can croorganisms which are antagonistic to turfgrass experts in their area to deter­ better utilize the nitrogen in the spring the Fusarium fungi or other precursors mine the date when Fusarium blight and fall compared to the summer is of Fusarium blight. normally occurs. Triadimefon should not the point The point is Kentucky The lawn care industry now has a be applied 2-3 weeks prior to the time bluegrass needs some nitrogen applica­ new fungicide for the management of Fusarium blight symptoms normally tions in the summer to avoid senescence Fusarium blight, triadimefon occur. and severe Fusarium blight outbreaks. (Bayleton), to go along with the other- The exact rate for effective manage­ While excess nitrogen, 2 to 3 Ibs/mo. fungicides Tersan 1991, Fungo 50 and ment of Fusarium blight with tri­ in the summer, may make Kentucky Cleary’s 3336. The main difference adimefon are still being investigated. bluegrass more susceptible to heat and with triadimefon is that it must be ap­ The test results range from 2 oz/1000 drought stress, 1/2 lb actual nitrogen plied preventively before Fusarium sq. ft. to 8 oz/1000 sq. ft. and from in June, July, and August will not blight begins to develop. Regardless of one to two applications/season. This noticeably increase Kentucky bluegrass which fungicide is used to manage should not be surprising considering the susceptibility to heat and drought stress Fusarium blight, it will be far more ef­ confusing nature of this disease. But and it will reduce its susceptibility to fective if it is incorporatèd with good even more important in explaining the Fusarium blight. —~ cultural practices discussed above. rate difference may be the cultural Light frequent watering also goes regimes under which the Kentucky bluegrass was maintained. Kentucky bluegrass turfs maintained with good cultural practices should have milder outbreaks of Fusarium and, therefore, The doctor explained to Walters that he had a serious ailment lower rates should be more effective in for which an operation was absolutely imperative. managing Fusarium blight. Fungicide The patient turned pale and asked, “Isn’t it very dangerous?” treatments are far more effective for ~ “Yes,” the doctor replied. “Five out of six who have more diseases where good cultural operation die, but as for you, you have little to worry abou practices for disease management are .«“Why not?” eagerly inquired the patient. •< followed. “Well, you see you’re a cinch to recover because my last Good cultural practices for Fusari­ patients died,” the doctor reassured him. The Bagpipe um blight management consist of nitro- EVALUATING YOUR OPERATION With the passing of summer, golf course superintendents in If you are challenged by your employer, your daily records will show why, how, and when each job was many parts of the country have an opportunity to sit back, performed. This may prove to be a major part in take a deep breath and evaluate their operations. On many holding jobs in these days of tough competition. courses, heavy player traffic has slowed, seasonal employees Properly used, the Turf Test Kit can aid in producing have gone and budget time is approaching. It’s time to take superior turf. That is the job we are being paid to do. inventory. Besides the problems of getting the course and equipment Bill Lyons has put together a limited number of ready for winter and infentorying leftover supplies, it’s also the Lyons Turf Test Kits mentioned in the time to look back over the summer and take a mental inven­ preceding article. Each tool box includes a year’s supply of Daily Weather & Turf Reports in a three- tory of your operation’s strengths and weaknesses. ring binder, plus all the tools needed for moisture For example, what went wrong during the season? Was and temperatures sensing and for chemical testing of dew, clippings, and thatch. It even in­ your course damaged by insects or disease? If so, what can be cludes a weather radio. For further information done to prevent a recurrence? Now is the time to figure out contact Bill directly at Lyons Den Golf Inc., Canal Fulton, OH 44614 (phone 216 I 854-9910). In what should be done and when. Canada contact Boyce Agro-Consulting Limited, Were your crew members aerifying the course on the day of 517 Highland Ave., Ottawa, Ont. K2A 2J8 (phone 613/722-1679). a club tournament? The slow seasons are the time to work out lines of communication to prevent such misunderstandings from happening next year. What can be done to improve the course? Take an objective look at your irrigation system, your equipment and the design and condition of your course. Maybe this is the time to plan improvements. While you are evaluating your performance over the last season, don’t overlook the things that went especially well, either. Did you pick up any additional responsibilities this year, responsibilities you might like to continue? Did you try a new scheduling program that was effective? How can it be changed to work even better? Which of your employees really came through for you? Did an assistant take over some of your responsibilities and run with them? Which employees are willing to put out a little WILLIAM’S EVAPORATOR GAUGE extra effort? Which ones seem to have good ideas? Did one of List of Materials: your seasonal employees prove to be especially hardworking 1 Plastic Shoe Box (Approx 3x7x12) and reliable? If so, you will want to make arrangements to 6 Coarse textured cellulose sponges 2 Fiber glass or stainless steel rods 14” long have him back next year. . 1 12” plastic ruler (with metric scale too) Now take a look at those projects that were put off all Assembling: The sponges are cut to stand 1” above the top of summer. Now is the time to dust them off and get to work on box. The rods are forced thru so the sponges are them. held at the 1” level. This represents a grass blade 1” high. Cut plastic ruler 2-1/2” and same length in Here is where a good filing system comes in handy. By metrics. Glue on end. taking clear notes on problems and opportunties as they Top of box is used as a shelf. Support with 2-5” shelf brackets. Be sure it is mounted level. Mount occur, and by adding to those notes when you evaluate your this in a sunny area. operation at the end of the season, you can develop a handy Each morning fill it and make a record of how much water lost. On sunny days, make observa­ reference tool for use in the future. tions at 9 a.m., 12 noon and 3 p.m. This is an ex­ Whatever your evaluation of the summer proves, it’s im­ cellent tool to judge water requirements. Suggest mounting near rain gauge; and where portant to reap whatever benefits you can. If everything went the golfer can see what you are doing. Good public relatively well, it’s just as vital to know why as it is to uncover relations. (Use Yellow, Pink, Green and Blue Sponges.) the causes if there were problems. By building on the past year’s achievements and avoiding its mistakes, we can face anything the future has to offer. —Credit: Forefront "Old Bill" Lyons has been caring for golf course turf for more than 30 years. Besides being president of Lyons Den Golf Inc. of Canal Fulton, Ohio, Bill is past president of the National Association of Public Golf Courses, a director of the Musser International Turfgrass Foundation, and a member of the * ★ ★ GOLF BUSINESS Advisory Board. He was a founder of the The husband was very unhappy. "Why Midwest Regional Turfgrass Foundation and the originator do you keep talking about the mistake I of Nimisila bentgrass. made? I thought you said you hadforgiven and forgotten.” "I have forgiven and forgotten,” she snapped. "But I just don't want you to forget that I haveforgiven andforgotten!’ ’ ★ ★ * UPGRADINGTHEK301KOHLER ENGINE I am writing this article because I feel my mechanic and I have found a very inexpensive way in which to upgrade the Kohler K301 twelve horse engine. Since I have been at Troy C.C. we have had a problem with the Super Pro and Greensmaster three triplex mowers over heating. Discussing this with other superintendents I have found this to be a problem on hilly courses, such as ours with this engine. Four years ago we purchased a new Greensmaster three triplex mower. It had a new upgraded engine, the K301 fourteen horse. The added two horsepower was enough to alliviate our problem. We also learned the manufacturer had upgraded the Super Pro engine in the same manner to solve the over heating problem. Three years ago we were going to put short blocks on our Super Pro and Greens­ master three, which had the twelve horse engines. Both engines have had the cy­ linders bored to .030 a few years before. We thought we could not have them bored again because the cylinder walls would become to thin. We began comparing the K301A fourteen horse engine with the K301 twelve horse engine. The model numbers being almost the same meant the blocks themselves were identical. Only the specification numbers were different, meaning internal parts would differ. With a Kohler small engine manual we started comparing the different specifications. We discovered the only difference was the cylinder bore size. In the twelve horse engine it was 3-3/8" verses the fourteen horse which was 3-1/2". This being the only difference all we needed to purchase was a piston and a set of rings for the fourteen horse engine. Then we took the engine to a machine shop and had the cylinder bored to 3-1/2". We put the engines back together and these two machines are currently in their fourth summer of use. They have never overheated and have performed as well, if not better, than I could have ever expected. Our cost analysis was a saving of approximately $325.00 on the two machines. I am passing this information along as it is an easy way to upgrade these engines at very little cost. Mark Graves Credit: "Our Collaborator" Vnl 26 No. 3 June 1981 Another Scientific Marvel: Finding Thoughts VWhat . Turned '„ / the Greens to Browns on the Business of Life By Heywood Klein After other diagnostic tools failed, David Staff Reporter of The Wall Street Journal L. Roberts, a graduate student at Michigan CHICAGO-Dead grass in the front yard State University, solved the mystery with an may be just an ugly nuisance. On the put­ electron microscope. He found a strain of ting green, it’s a disaster. bacteria, the first known to attack golf- Vitally important for a Over the past year or so, disaster has course grasses. “There were so many in young man or young woman been attracting more attention in the Mid­ there,” he says, “they were stopping the wa­ west, wherethe putting greens of hundreds ter movement. The plant would wilt and is, first, to realize the of golf courses sprout a special grass called eventually die.” value of education, and then to cultivate earnestly Toronto C-15. A mysterious disease has at­ Spikes or Putters? tacked the greens of about 50 courses, in­ Researchers suspect golfers spread the aggressively, ceaselessly, cluding at least one course on the Profes­ disease when they walk on an infected green the habit of self-education. sional Golfers of America tour. Without fresh supplies of in spiked shoes and play their next roun on In response, a histopathologist was flown* another course. Other possibilities: mowers, knowledge, the brain will from Virginia to examine the grass fibers. A putters, even birds’ feet. not develop healthily and mycologist in Ohio checked for fungi, and a vigorously any more than nematologist searched for worms. A pathol­ Tetracycline, the antibiotic used to con­ the body can be sustained ogist, a microbiologist and a chemist also trol bacterial infections in people, can cure without fresh supplies tried to diagnose the disease. Houston B. the grass. But the cure is expensive and offood. Couch, the Virginia Polytechnic Institute probably only temporary; eventually, the B.C. Forbes histopathologist who coordinated the investi­ bacteria are likely to resist the medication. gation, jokes that to pro golfers an epidemic Reseeding ailing greens with another grass “would be like all the Lincoln Continentals can take years, and the results can leave and Mercedes-Benzes dying at the same greens uneven. time.” The only other known cure: the grass and the soil beneath, and then replant I always try to tell them Bumps and Bacteria with another variety. That has been done at that it's what you learn All the victimized courses can trace their Butler National Golf Club in Oak Brook, 111., after you know it all grass to an experimental plot grown in the (site of the Western Open) and, more re­ that really counts. 1940s on the ninth green at Westmoreland cently, at the Village Links in Glen Ellyn,! Harry S Truman Country Club, Wilmette, 111. The disease 111. Replanting at Glen Ellyn cost $30,000 but1 makes greens so bumpy and discolored that the course will be closed until next spring,| some golfers call them “browns.” costing the club another $200,000 in revenue. 1 CREDIT: “The Cactus Patch” (Southern Arizona GCSA), October, 1980 lize the electrified pesticide cloud when the charge is too large. Too small a charge, however, does RESEARCH COMPLETED not deposit enough pesticide. ON ELECTROSTATIC SPRAYING A calibrating and monitoring system maintains a properly charged spray cloud in the field. A moni­ 'Electrostatic spraying equipment could help golf toring electrode in the nozzle corrects voltage set­ course superintendents do a better job of applying tings to adjust for varying conditions, such as pesticides and also save them money, according temperature and humidity changes. to Loren Bode, Agricultural Engineering Dept., Law’s laboratory and his field tests both indicate University of Illinois. Despite the fact that this that producers can control insects by applying half relatevely new equipment isn’t on the market to­ the recommended pesticide rate in one gallon of day, the basic research and development has been water per acre. completed and patented. The electrostatic system appears to be adaptable Other industries have used electrostatic spray to areas other than row crop spraying. Law says a equipment for years to paint appliances. The system for turf would use the same technology a$ charged spray particles are attracted to the the row crop spraying system. He also has begun grounded appliance and form a very even paint investigating orchard spraying and says he expects coat on the appliance surface. to develop a similar system for use in that area. Trying to adapt this principle to crop spraying The electrostatic system would be suitable for without the controlled industrial conditions, creat­ home gardening because the electrode can be ed several, problems. powered by a transistor radio battery. It would be Recent research has identified and solved many safe to use because all high voltage components of these problems, creating a new life for are insulated and embedded in the nozzie. electrostatic spraying of living plants, including A single-nozzle sprayer’s mobility would be turf. limited only by a hose leading to a small air-com­ Early attempts of electrostatic crop dusting in pressor similar to those currently used. the 1960’s were unreliable in regards to testing. Ed Law, University of Georgia agricultural engineer, says he believes his newly designed and patented system overcomes the problems of eariier electrostatic machines, giving consistent results. Law’s system uses electrostatic induction to charge the spray drops. Air transports the charged An extremely wealthy man of ques­ tionable character was having marital drops to the plants. problems with his beautiful blonde Each nozzle has a washer-like electrode embed­ wife. He didn’t want to get a divorce ded in a conventional air-atomizing spray cap because he knew it would cost him a device. The electrode is connected to a miniaturiz­ bundle, so he oalled on his old friend Artie, who was a- “hit man’’ for the ed built-in power supply, converting ignition bat­ Mafia. tery output to 1000-2000 volts at a low amperage. “Artie, how much would you charge The electrode sets up an intense electrical field in to get rid of my wife for me?” the insulated nozzle. “Why, you’re an old friend,” replied The spray droplets in the nozzle take on a nega­ Artie. “I wouldn't charge you a cent.” “No, I wouldn’t feel right about that. I tive charge. A stream of compressed air carried the want to pay you.” spray toward the plant. The air stream also keeps “O.K.,” replied Artie. “If it will make the electrode dry to prevent discharges within the you feel better, give me a dollar. Now, nozzle. where is the best place to make the The negative charge of the spray increases paint hit?” "Every morning she goes to the coverage two ways. First, because like charges Safeway market at nine o’clock sharp. repel, the spray cloud drives the plant’s negative She's a beautiful blonde, and drives a ions into the ground, leaving the plant with a posi­ powder blue Cadillac.” tive charge. Because opposite charges attract, the The next morning Artie waited in the Safeway parking lot, and sure enough, negative spray particles are drawn onto the plant. in drove the powder blue Cadillac with At the same time, the negatively charged drops a beautiful blonde. When she parked in the spray repei each other, expanding the cloud Artie rushed over and choked her. and drawing it to any grounded surface. The spray Just as he was rushing away, another identical car with a beautiful is distributed under emerging leaves and stems, blonde pulled up and parked. “Gosh,” covering the plant more evenly than uncharged thought Artie. “Maybe I got the wrong sprays can. gal. I promised my old friend I’d help The charge level of the spray cloud necessary him out." for maximum effectiveness varies and differs for So he ran over and choked the second lady. Satisfied he had done the different plants. Points or irregular leaf tips neutra­ job and ready to leave, a third blue Cadillac with a beautiful blonde pulled in the lot. So, just to make sure, Artie rushed over and choked her too. The next day, the headline in the paper read, "Artie Chokes Three For A Dollar At Safeway." * * *■ With the fiscal year ending, any member that would like his classification changed, should do so NOW. Any Class "3" member that wants changed to Class "A" or any other change, must notify the Sec.-Treas. otherwise your present classification will continue as is. These changes are the responsibility of the individual. Below is a form for you to make any such change in classification, mailing address, spelling, telephone number, club affiliation or whatever. This will also be the instructions that we will use when we print the 1982 membership booklet unless advised differently. Please get your check into the mall immediately: Class "A" Membership $15.00 Class "B" Membership 10.00 Class "E" Membership 7.50 Class *F" "G" 25.00 Class "S" (Student) 7.50 Name ............................................... (Please Print) Home Address ............................................. City, State, Zip Code ......................... Club Affiliation or Firm .................. f Residence phone, include area code ................................Business Phone.......... Send Mall to ............................................. Are you a member of GCSAA? Yes No .....Do you want an application? Type membership Class Any Recommended Change? .................................. If you are a new applicant for membership in our Ass*n and do not understand the category of membership that you might fit into, please ask any of our officers for assistance. Mail to our Sec.-Treas. **##**##****#######*#**#######**#*#**##*#*###*#####***##*****#*##### SURPRISE SURPRISE SURPRISE SURPRISE SURPRISE This October 6th Meeting will be a "JOINT MEETING" with our new adjoining golf course superintendent group formed this year from east central Michigan, "The Mid Michigan Turfgrass Association". Jerry Faubel is President and George Carson, Secretary-Treasurer So this will be an introduction to another group with all of us interested in furthering our profession in turfgrass, the same goal. This all came about over the telephone without official sanction of either Association’s Board and like surprises should be very interesting and above all, very enjoyable. We will look forward to your being with us at this special occasion. *»#***#*♦#####*####*##*#*♦*###***###*##'»♦##*#*#####*#*###****##♦♦*♦ Another letter is in the mail relative to the Social Party Oct. 10th, Get your check in the mail for that as only a check is confirmation. ##*##**###*#*#»»#*#*#*####«***####***#*****###**#******#*#**********