NORTHERN MICHIGAN TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION I C. E. "TUCK" TATE, PRESIDENT THOS. J REED, SECRETARY-TREAS. MICHAEL T. GARVALE, VICE-PRESIDENT it v* 3733 APOLLO DRIVE BEARD C0LIEC1ION TRAVERSE CITY. Ml. 49684 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2nd, 198i+ PHONE: 616/943-8433 GRAND TRAVERSE RESORT,ACME Our next meeting will be a very special one in that we will be permitted to play golf on the new Jack Nicklaus "BEAR" course at Grand Traverse Resort. Jack’s Involvement in golf in Northern Michigan has helped to make this area a great golfing mecca as well as a beautiful area to live in. Jon Scott, CGCS the golf course superintendent has gone all out to get starting times from 10:00 A.M. until approximately 2:00 P.M. with golf and carts being courtesy of the Resort. As is usual with our golf, we will have a little tournament of sort which will cost each entry the sum of three dollars. This is an exceptional occassion in that only members of our Association will be permitted to play golf and no guests. Everyone will have to have a starting time and the number to call for that is 6l6/938—1620. Doug Grove is the golf professional dnd this number is at his golf shop in the building of The Sand Trap. Lunch is available in the Sand Trap so one can have lunch, pick up your golf cart and use your starting time. Dinner will be served up in the hotel building which is north of where the intersection of M-72 and U.S. 31, on U.S.31. A cash bar will be set up at the hotel for "Happy Hour" or a place to relax for those coming for dinner and the meeting. There will be no restrictions on guests for dinner so you may bring along a prospective member, your wife or your gal friend. Dinn er will be served at 6:30 P.M. Our speaker for the meeting after dinner will be Dr. Joseph M. Vargas,Jr and at a very important time in our business. Dr. Vargas is one of the outstanding plant pathologists on disease in this country and with winter almost here with its variety of killing diseases, it is always good to have the latest information on protection and how we can avoid the worst. As usual, the postcard is enclosed, time is not too plentiful so please don’t procrastinate, make up yoir mind and mail the card, immediately. We operate on a fiscal year starting our 1985 year as of November 1st. Everyone will owe dues for 1985 with few exceptions where some have already sent in their check. Dues have not been increased for the new year, a bill will be sent to you however you can help make the job of your fellow associate a little easier by sending your check to our Sec-Treas. Tom Reed at his address shown above. If there is any question as to the amount, ask Tom or a member of the Board. We appreciate your cooperation. Thanks. 9 Holes of Golf will be played on the "Bear" Course and 9 holes on the other course, of the Grand Traverse Resort. Going Around with Big Wheels by LARRY W. GILHULY Director, Western Region, USGA Green Section AZINESS HAS probably been intendent, his staff, and the playing ability, wheel sizes, etc., should be dis­ I responsible for more shortcuts, 4not to mention valuable inno­ membership. One such idea originated in 1958 with vations, than we are ready to admit.Earl Morgan, owner of Similk Beach Most of us are always looking, at least Public Golf Course, in Anacortes, cussed. These tires and wheels may be available at outlets across the country. In this case, however, an Oregon firm manufactured the wheels in their machine subconsciously, for easier ways to per­ Washington. Morgan, who also owns an shop for the specific tire size. They must form laborious or routine tasks. oyster farm, needed a machine that first know the make, model, and year of An example of imagination spurred would provide traction over the oyster the tractor. Next, they go to a local on by outright lethargy is contained in beds but cause little harm during the dealer and get the stud bolt size for the the story of an old mountaineer and his harvest of the oysters. Using the same wheels, mount the tires, and ship them wife who were sitting in front of the idea in 1960, he used the big tire tractor to your door. Tires and wheels can be fireplace one evening just whiling away on his golf course for mowing fairways made for most conventional tractors, the time. After a long silence the wife and roughs under the moist conditions such as John Deere, International, Ford, said, “Jed, I think it’s raining. Get up of northwestern Washington. Massey Ferguson, etc. and go outside and see.” Milt Bauman, retired superintendent The size of the tires varies according The old mountaineer continued to at the Seattle Golf Club, in Seattle, to personal wishes. The front tires are gaze into the fire for a second, sighed, Washington, borrowed the idea and 31 x 15.50 x 13. They cost $400 per wheel then said, “Aw, Ma, why don’t we jest applied it to the rolling hills of Seattle and $250 per tire, or $1,300 to equip the call in the dog and see if he’s wet.” Golf Club (Figure 1). He was not only front of the tractor. The rear wheels are Although this story illustrates laziness pleased with the mowing results, but he 48 x 31 x 20, or 44 x 41 x 20. (Although at its extreme, we will all agree that at also began using the big tire for many the tractor pictured here has an overall times everyone feels this way. When other operations that previously had width of 11 feet, recent modifications ideas evolve that will speed maintenance been done by heavier and slower pieces allow the width to be reduced to 9 feet operations and do less damage to the of equipment. 6 inches.) For the 31-inch wide wheel, the turf, they can become very valuable Before the specific jobs are outlined, cost is $450. The tire cost is $2,000 each, inventions for the golf course super­ some pertinent data about price, avail­ or $4,900 to equip the rear of the tractor. Figure 2. Fairway mower in operation. I It É '<$* .-' ;T low ^x4s$£K3khibs& •Wtó'4^ «3 /j^^,- ’ *~'A‘-*'ii'- ’«■ ' *‘ T/ }< ‘J&* a’’-1 e< Figure 1. (Left) Milt Bauman, CGCS(retired), left, andfairway mowerman George Howen stand next to the “shaved” rear wheels. Figure 3. (Below, left) Overseeding ofgreens is one of the many operations possible with the high flotation tires. Figure 4. (Above) Overseeded bentgrass re­ sults three weeks after using the large slicer/ seeder on No. 5 green, Seattle Golf Club. The total cost in 1984 to equip a tractor with big tires would be approximately $6,200. At this point, it is very easy to dismiss these tires and wheels as being too costly. However, let us go over a list of functions these tires perform and then come to a decision. As for Seattle Golf Club and Bauman’s experience, he states, “The best thing about big tires is that, if you can walk on the golf course, you can work the tractor. If it is too wet to work, the tractor will spin out, but it causes little damage to the turf. I maintain we cannot afford to be without these tires.” UST WHAT MAKES big tires such J a good investment? First, the tires are 10-ply and, at this time, the tires at Seattle Golf Club are 12 years old and still going strong. This fact alone, how­ ever, does not show where the time savings lie. What makes the large tire USGA GREEN SECTION RECORD 3 JULY/AUGUST 1984 cost effective is the reduction in com­ Club provided some of the smoothest, slicer/seeding and was repeated in one paction and versatility in its operation. tightest fairways to be found anywhere.” week. After two weeks, the greens were With the advent of the large 7-gang 2. Fertilizes the entire golf course. back to normal and bentgrass popu­ hydraulic lift mowers, the need for a When ammonium sulfate is applied to lations were increased. standard turf or farm-type tractor might fairways, tees, greens, and rough at 5. Overseeding fairways or seeding seem to be on the decline. However, how Seattle, it takes the operator five hours new areas. The big tire equipped with versatile are the large hydraulic units? to complete the task (Figure 3). To fer­ the fairway slicer/seeder does a very Once they have mowed the fairways or tilize greens alone, only 30 minutes is good job of overseeding existing fair­ roughs, their use ends. This seems a required for 18 greens. After a green or ways. With the wide width of the tires, costly piece of equipment (over $30,000) tee is fertilized, it is difficult to deter­ the overlap of the tires provides a rolling to sit in the maintenance facility with no mine where the tractor actually drove, action to permit better soil/ seed contact. alternate use. because there are no wheel marks and After new areas have been seeded, the On the other hand, the big tire tractor no compaction. This one task saved large tires are perfect for rolling. performs many tasks:. countless dollars in labor costs and, 6. Brush removal. In the Pacific North­ 1. Mows fairways and roughs. The according to Bauman, nearly paid for west and elsewhere, severe wind storms tires come equipped with large tread for the tires. can cause considerable damage to trees. traction. However, for golf course man­ 3. Light topdressing of the greens. Many times, these winds are followed agement operations, this tread most be Whether using a Lely or Meter-R-Matic by excessive moisture, and conventional removed (Figure 2). By making a slick II topdresser, the big tire provided little tires mar the turf or are unable to get tire and leaving just enough tred for compaction when applying small onto the golf course. The high flotation traction, the tractor can mow effectively amounts of sand. It also greatly speeded tires are able to go anywhere a good until the course becomes too wet to the operation. operator wants to go and will not rut work. One good aspect of this tire is that 4. Allows the use of a large fairway the turf. This tractor, combined with when it spins, the turf is not damaged sheer/seeder on greens. As shown in trailers (also with large tires), is an and it will not tear out chunks of sod, Figures 4 and5, the tractor gave excellent efficient labor-saving vehicle in inclement as most tractors do. As William C. results with little disruption when using weather (Figure 6). Furthermore, when Campbell, former President of the USGA, this equipment on greens. The bentgrass the course is too wet to haul material commented after the 1981 USGA Senior seeding operation takes approximately with small dump trucks, the big tire Amateur Championship, “With the use 45 minutes to one hour per green. Light tractors and trailers offer good alter­ of the high flotation tires, Seattle Golf topdressing immediately followed the natives. 7. Aerification or slicing fairways. Under wet conditions, the use of the high flotation tractor will cause little or no Figure 5. (Below) Fertilization and light topdressing provide little compaction damage during the aerification or slicing and increased efficiency in the operation. of fairways. It also does a good job Figure 6. (Bottom) The “big tire“combined with a large-tire trailer is excellent of smoothing the surface during the for brush cleanup or soil movement under wet conditions. operation because of the tire overlap. 8. Allows fairways and roughs to be swept under wet conditions. Many times the golf course superintendent and his staff are frustrated by the inability to clean up the golf course during wet con­ ditions. Although the sweeper may cause some rutting, the tractor will work well under these conditions. 9. Allows closer access to greens or tees for spraying operations. The big tire, combined with large tires on the spray rig, allows an operator to move closer to the green and not rut or compact the area around a green or tee. Again, this speeds the operation and reduces employee fatigue. These are some of the many jobs this versatile piece of equipment can perform. Whether the large tires would effectively fit into your operation will be determined by the climate, topography, type of soil, etc., with which you must deal. They have worked well at Seattle Golf Club and others report similar success. They should work well for you. After all, maybe you can teach old, wet dogs new tricks! USGA GREEN SECTION RECORD Hi-Tech Equipment Calls for Higher Skills and Better Training by KARL ED OLSON Agronomist, Eastern Region, USGA Green Section AT TODAY’S PRICES for golf OPERATING CONTROLS traced to several factors: 1) low wages, /^course maintenance equipment, 2) temporary nature of employment, jL Jk^can any golf club really afford 3) inadequate training, and 4) little or minimum-wage operators? And are you, no communication between operators the golf course superintendent, constantly and supervisor. It was not uncommon sharpening your teaching skills and years ago to find permanent employees training techniques? Of course the who could be responsible for operating, answers should be “no” to the first and adjusting, and maintaining a piece of “yes” to the second question. But equipment strictly on their own. This honestly, is this reality? Too often, gave them a sense of pride and a feeling perhaps, the answer is “no” to that of belonging to the organization. It question. frequently resulted in a consistent, safe, Careless operation and haphazard and efficient operation. At many courses maintenance can cost a golf course today, employees are expected to operate thousands of dollars each year in repair all kinds of equipment, but they have no and replacement. Expensive, sophisti­ responsibility for maintaining any of it. cated equipment requires high operating If a superintendent was ever offered skills and sound mechanical mainte­ a brand-new hydraulic greens mower for nance. What can be done to protect the $300, he would probably think twice club’s investment and the superinten­ before accepting the offer. At that low dent’s reputation? Put “hands-on “the operating manual before price, something must be wrong, stolen, A number of surveys have shown that “hands-on “ the machine. or missing. Yet that same superintendent operator abuse of equipment can be is expected to hire reliable, permanent (Continued on next pageO USGA GREEN SECTION RECORD MAY/JUNE 1984 (Continued from page 5) help for $5 an hour or less. Most quali­ means reading the manuals, studying engage the cutting units, when to dis­ fied people laugh at that salary. The first the machine, and attending training engage the cutting units, and where to step in hiring a capable crew is to offer a seminars. turn. Then, have the employee start the wage commensurate with their abilities unit and drive through the mowing and responsibilities. Remember, these WORD ABOUT safety. We should process without actually mowing. Tell people are going to be maintaining your golf course, worth millions of dollars, A mever, under any circumstances, him when he will begin to cut, stop allow an employee to alter or bypass cutting, and turn. By using a dry-run and they will be doing it with equipment safety stops on equipment. If the machine approach, turf and equipment damage that costs tens of thousands of dollars. does not work properly, it should be caused by inexperience can be avoided. thoroughly checked out by the mechanic. Now is the time for the employee to HAT KIND OF people do you An hour in the shop is considerably less establish the habit of constantly check­ W look for when hiring? Running a greens mower, in many ways, is more expensive than a maimed operator. Always have a downed piece of equip­ ing what work he has done. Explain how the reels and bedknives work. Show him complicated than operating an auto­ ment repaired properly. Showing the what a proper cut looks like and what mobile. Don’t assume that if someone employees that you are concerned with to watch for when a cutting unit is out can drive and maintain a car, he can run their well-being will make them more of adjustment. Tell him also to watch and maintain a greens mower. Further­ conscious of their own safety. for hydraulic fluid on the green and more, experience on another golf course After the employee has completely show him pictures of this problem so doesn’t mean the person knows what is read the manual, it is time to move the he can identify it. By constantly checking expected of him on a new job. The most machine. Depending on the circum­ his work, the mower operator will soon important qualities to look for are stances, the actual trainer may be the discover a leaking hydraulic line well maturity and common sense. superintendent, assistant, or foreman. before six greens or more are mowed. When new employees are hired, how The first step is checking out the machine. The employee should be told, at this much time should be allotted for train­ The employee should check tire pressure, time, what to do in the event of a ing? Is one week enough? Is three weeks oil levels, and hydraulic lines. He should hydraulic leak. He should know whom too much? Is enough time allowed for check for signs of leakage where the unit to contact and where the proper materials training before the person is needed as was parked. Safety features should also are stored in case of trouble. an active participant on the course? Too be checked, and the mechanic should go often an employee is expected to properly over the complete check list. The NLY AFTER the employee is mow greens after only verbal instructions. To begin with, a new employee, or old employee should then start the unit and be shown the proper driving pattern O thoroughly comfortable with the mechanics of mowing should he actually employees dealing with a new piece of from the shop to the yard and to the move to the real thing. Send him out equipment, should read the operator’s golf course. If all employees know the with an experienced person the first portion of the equipment manual before traffic patterns, accidents can be avoided three or four times to show him the most ever turning a key. Once confident that in the shop area. Time should be spent effective way around the golf course and the person understands the manual, the practicing starting, stopping, and park­ to help him with any problems. This can mechanic should go over the book and ing the units. Also, by assigning each be a critical point in an employee’s the unit withthe employee. The mechanic unit its own parking spot, it is easy to career. While he doesn’t need the careful should let the employee know what tell if that piece of equipment has an watching he needed while learning, he ongoing daily maintenance procedures undetected leak. should feel free to come to the super­ he (the operator) will be responsible for. Show the employee what to do when visor and mechanic whenever he has a This step makes the operator under­ he brings the unit in for the day. If there problem. He should also be told when stand that he plays an active role in the is an equipment log or a service form to he is doing a good job. This builds his operation of his machine. be filled out, he should be instructed in confidence and makes him a more valu­ Having the operator work closely the proper procedures. He should check able employee. At the same time, the with the mechanic will also help prevent to see if the unit is due for routine main­ employee should understand that he operation of a piece of equipment whose tenance and, if so, inform the mechanic. will be accountable for the job he does. performance is not up to par. The Keeping up with preventive maintenance This will also improve his performance. operator needn’t know how to replace on equipment can prevent costly repairs Without a doubt, the most valuable an engine or restore a hydraulic system, and engine replacements before their assets in any golf course maintenance but he should be responsible for and time. operation are the personnel on the crew. know how to clean filters, check tire When the employee feels comfortable Therefore, it stands to reason that, if pressures, oil levels, hydraulic lines, and with the operation of the machine, it is they are treated and trained properly, steering cables before operation. The time to move him to the course. For they will gain great respect and pride in operator should know what weight oils example, let’s assume the person is the job they do. Quality personnel will go into what machine, and he should learning how to mow greens. The best significantly affect equipment operating check these levels often enough to avoid place to practice would be a nursery or costs and productivity while minimizing damage to the hydraulics and the engine. practice green. Show the employee the expensive machine down time and re­ For this portion of the training pro­ proper speed and angle of approach, pairs. But selecting and training per­ gram, the superintendent and the then park the machine. Follow this with sonnel is not easy; therefore, it is one of mechanic must thoroughly know about a walk through, explaining when to slow the qualities found in great golf course the piece of equipment themselves. This to mowing speed, when to lower or superintendents. USGA GREEN SECTION RECORD 6 Fall Planting and and thawing. This damage is characterized by vertical splits and or a loosening of the bark from the trunk. During periods Transplanting of Trees of wet, rainy weather the practice of wrapping can be delayed, or substituted by a burlap screen placed a short distance from Howard Pidduck, Cornell University the tree. Under no circumstances should the first wrappiing Fall planting can extend the work season and offer the be left on indefinitely, but should also be removed within the grounds manager the opportunity to improve the landscape first year. Failure to remove it can cause girding as the trunk during the time of reduced work loads. There are some basic continues to expand. rules of good plant care that must be observed before any Eighth, little or no fertilizer need be added if the soil used planting program can be successful. to backfil has resonable nutrient levels as determined by a First, provide a soil media suitable for good plant growth, previous soil sample. Small amounts of phosphorus and devoid of rubble and road salts, yet capable of anchoring the potash can be added (J/4 cup per bushel of soil) if desired. tree firmly. Never place the fertilizer in the hole so that it can come in Second, provide adequate water to encourage root growth direct contact with the exposed roots. Nitrogen based fertilizers during the fall, before winter freeze up. Watering should also need not be used as they promote top growth. New growth aid in the setting of the soil and reduce the chance of large in the crown is to be avoided. air pockets, which tend to dry out the roots, creating a Ninth, The success of failure of all plantings often can be barrier to the movement of soil moisture by capillary action. attributed to the planting depth. Although some species may Overwatering or excessive repeated watering can lead to survive for short times with minor grade changes. NEVER drowning, the suffocation of the roots by water completely change the depth at planting time. The rule here is “plant filing the open porous spaces between the soil particles. The at the same depth to which it has been growing”. loss of soil oxygen is as much a detriment as the lack of water. Care should be used when transplanting to firmly tamp the Third, choose species best suited to the landscape site most soil so that no large air pockets persist around or under the able to survive fall planting. These include Norway and sugar soil ball. These same pockets can exist when using the pointed maples, sycamores, red and pin oaks, lindens, ginko (maiden tree spades to excavate the planting hole. hair), horsechestnuts and almost all of the conifers. Avoid exposure to open, severely windy sites. These are best left Credit: H to a spring-time planting. Root systems with a thick fleshy covering as a rule, are best planted in the spring. Example of these are dogwoods, tulip trees, magnolia, yellowood, sweetgum, beech, birch and tupelo. If you have a wood burning stove or Fourth, nursery grown trees that have been root pruned the fireplace, this should interest you: year before and have had the crown properly shaped offer Beechwood fires are bright and clear the best hope of survival. Selecting forest grown trees requires If the logs are kept a year. an exceptionally large root ball, disproportionate with the Chestnut’s only good, they say crown in order to assure sufficient roots to support the top. If for long it’s laid away. Larger equipment is then required to complete the move, Birch and Fir logs burn too fast. making it more expensive plus making it a riskier process. Blaze up bright and do not last. Fifth, staking the tree securely is often overlooked or Elm wood bums like churchyard mold, omitted. It is necessary to stop or reduce movement of the Even the very flames are cold! Poplar gives a bitter smoke, crown which flexes the tree, creating a cavity around the base Fills your eyes and makes you choke. of the tree at the soil line. Water can then collect in the Applewood will scent your room cavity, freeze, and destroy the bark, thus interrupting the cam­ With an incense like perfume. bium flow at the soil line, resulting in death of the plant. Oak and Maple, if dry and old, Mechanical damage is also caused to the root system as the Will keep away from winter cold. crown flexes, resulting in slower establishment, or may cause But ash wood wet and ash wood dry the tred to tip and expose the roots. Staking systems can vary A king can warm his slippers by! but success is best accomplished when two or three hardwood stakes are utilized. Stakes are placed on more than one side and aligned to protect the tree from the force of the prevail­ ★ ★ ★ ing wind. Wires should never completely circle the trunk and The nurse had prepared an attractive should always be covered with a length of old garden hose, young lady for surgery and wheeled her thus preventing any injury to the trunk of the tree. The larger out to the examination room. Presently a man dressed in white clothes came into the trees need the added support of the three wire system room. He stopped, looked at the girl, placed equally about the trunk, fastened at least halfway up lifted the sheet, nodded his head and the main stem and far enough at the base to be beyond the walked away. A few minutes another rootball. A 45 degree angle for the supporting wires is best. white clad fellow came in and did the Sixth, enough cannot be said for the practice of mulching same thing. He was followed by still another man who repeated the process. fall planted tree. Mulching aids in preserving the soil “For goodness sake, when are you temperatures, giving a longer period of time for roots to going to stop looking and operate?” the establish themselves before winter freeze up. Moisture is re­ patient asked the last man. tained and weeds are reduced during the followng growing “Darned if I know, lady,” came the reply. “We’re just the painters.” season, thus improving the appearance of the planting. ★ ★ ★ Seventh, wrapping the trunk with burlap or a special paper tree wrap protects the trunk from damage through freezing s Additions To By-Laws Section VII, C. : Every member will be responsible for guests brought to meetings or any other affair of this Association. Should the guest of a member be out of line in his conduct, the member may be called upon to meet with the Ethics Committee or the Board of Directors or Both. This is a new paragraph in our By-Laws therefore the present paragraphs C and D, will move one letter down the alphabet, becoming paragraphs "D" and "E". Section IV: A: Any member of the Board of Directors who misses two or more Board Meetings in succession without a valid reason, may be replaced by action of the Board. Replacement will be in accordance with Article IV of this Constitution-By-laws. The present paragraph in this section will be paragraph "B". * #####*######## -M- ft«##« -Si- *#*# # -M- -M- -M- ■«••¡(•■«•■Sr If- ft- ft-ft-ft- ft ft -it- ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft We are looking for locations to have several of our 1985 meetings. If you and your club would like to offer your facilities, will you please contact "Tuck" Tate. Please do this in person, note or telephone at his new number 616/352-^398. You might also make this change in your membership booklet for ready reference. ftftftftft it- ftftftftftftftftftft ft ftft -it- ########«•## -if- * -if- * ftftft ftftft ft O# * ftftft ft ftftft ft ftftft * ftftftftft* * ftft * * * f ti 'n a _________/ Make Sure __ ^BEARD Yy°u “T:mper” colleciion Your Temper Temper tantrums and fits of anger ger . . . Frequent shows of temper ruin are luxuries the wise executive cannot the effectiveness of a legitimate show afford. Consider these costs next time of anger. Anger inspires actions that you are tempted to fly into a rage: haven’t been thoroughly thought out. Employees lose respect for an em­ We are more interested in getting even ployer who regularly loses poise and than in acting evenly. self-control. Employees who see the employer Administrators who can’t control them­ acting capriciously, even if they aren't selves can’t control others either. Fear the targets, are wary. They are con­ of an employer’s temper can result in cerned that they could be the next isolation from a free flow of informa­ targets of unreasonable wrath. Those tion and ideas. Problems won’t be who habitually taste the brought to his/her attention for fear of administrator's anger will oppose good creating a scene. ideas as well as bad ones. Loss of the effect of legitimate an­ Ocotber 27th, 198*1, is the definite date of our big social party for the gals. It will be held at McGuires, Cadillac so gals, plan to make a day of it. Details will be sent to you, but reserve the date.