Oc^bev'J z-\ ¿3 n Volume 16 #U /€/* M,fiA£? NORTHERN MICHIGAN TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION © EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 3733 APOLLO DRIVE • TRAVERSE CITY, MICHIGAN 49684 • 616-943-8343 Il s a goo J old -fashioned cuslom Wh en Christ mas time is kere Thomas Brugger President To renew our friendly Ges wifi, fliose Well, ink o f rough the year, Paul Holmes And so il s only natural Vice President To send th is wish to you - - Have a very Merry Christ mas David Longfield Immediate Past President And the ha ppiest of New Years, too! Directors James Bogart Thomas Brogger Your Board of Directors would like to w' sh you a MERRY CHRISTMAS and Thomas Courtemanche A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR. They hope that your s'ock’ng w'll be stuffed Damian Kurkowski with good health, good weather,good grass, cooperation by Mother Charles Menefee Nature and very few problems in ma’ntaining your green area :n 1988. James Olli David Sapp Robert Steinhurst ******************************************************************** David Little November 20, 1987, GCSAA announced that Mr. Jim Olli, superintendent of Hidden Valley Resort has been designated a Certified Golf Course Past Presidents Superintendent. Olli has been superintendent of the Gaylord, Mich’gan Ed Karcheski C. E. “Tuck” Tate course since 1983. He lives at 1L07 Hayes Road, Gaylord, Michigan. To be certified, a candidate must be employed currently as a golf Executive Secretary course superintendent, have fie years experience and be a class A Thomas Reed 3733 Apollo Dr. member for two years. The superintendent also must pass a rigorous Traverse City, Ml. 49684 six-hour examination testing knowledge of the rules of golf practical Phone 616-943-8343 turfgrass management, plant protectant chemicals, business adir's- stration, personnel management and the history, ethics, purpose and procedures of GCSAA and the profession. This certification program was instituted in 1971 as a means of recogoniting outstanding and progressie golf course superintendents. We are very proud of you Jim and our congratulations. Olli is also a member of or Board. ******************************************* *************************** 1988 is not far away and with it, will come many new opportunities to learn and stay abreast of what is happening in the green industry. The first and probably the roost important to we Michiganders will be the 58th Annual Michigan Turfgrass Conference held Monday through Wednesday, January 18-20, 1988 at the Clarion Convention Center in Lansing. This is a conference sponsored by Michigan State University and the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation. A very strong program is slated for this year to address a number of key issues facing the turf industry. Many out of state educators and scientists will be here, there will be 8 basic schools from which to select topics of COI I EC ¡ION interest - L on Monday afternoon and L on Wednesday afternoon. The Tuesday afternoon program will be a joint session addressing "Public Concerns with Pesticides in Turf Maintenance" a very important issue in this industry. Make your arrangements now for this conference. BEHIND THE GREENS A Monthly Message From the Board by Tom Brogger, President Merry Christmas from your NMTMA Board of Directors. What a great time of year for those of us in the turf industry. After "missing out" most of last summer due to extremely demanding work schedules, we can now begin to relax and enjoy the Christmas season. Most importantly, we have families to reacquaint ourselves with. Those long summer hours put a lot of strain on the ones we care most about and finally now it's time to catch up. With winter shifting into second gear, we're also looking forward to the MSU Turf Conference in January. What a great way to start out 1988. For some there will be the GCSAA National Conference in Houston in February, or maybe this will be the year you head south for that long awaited vacation. Whatever the case might be, this is the time, while our turf is on hold, to get ourselves in shape for the coming year. At this time, I would like to thank 1987 NMTMA President, Jon Scott, for all the time and effort he has given our organization. Not only as president, but also as vice-president and dedicated member during his five years at the Grand Traverse Resort. Jon's organization, working attitude and great knowledge of the industry, allowed him to take on a tremendous amount of work and somehow always have it done on time. You're leaving this organization in very good shape, Jon, we thank you for that and wish you well in your new job. Jon will stay a member of our organization while from his new location at the Valahala Golf Club in Lexington, Kentucky. Looking back on 1987, we see many good things happening within the NMTMA. In March, along with our fellow Mid-Michigan group, we had a session in Grayling with Ed Fredericks from the Michigan Department of Labor, discussing the Right 6 to Know Law. This meeting answered many questions where beforehand there had been some confusion on what was actually required of us in order to comply. The Turf Management Seminar at Traverse City Country Club in April was extremely well attended and had a program that was not only timely, but applicable. Each year our mini-conference brings up all the top researchers from MSU and this year also featured golf course architect, Jerry Matthews, O.M. Scott and Sons' Eugene Mayer and Garland Golf Course Superintendent, Dave Longfield. It was a day packed full of new information and bright ideas that really got us off and running as we began to prepare for the coming season. It was about this time when we began to pick up many new members. The next big event was our Michigan Turf Foundation Benefit Day at the Treetops Golf Course in Gaylord. The participation here was outstanding. Both shotguns were filled and many new sponsors got involved. The bottom line to all of this is that at MSU in January, soon after our Spartans thump USC in the Rose Bowl (I had to get that in), we will be turning over $6,500.00 to the MTF, which represents our largest donation ever. Once again, many thanks go to host-superinten­ dent, Damian Kurkowski and all those affiliated with making our tournament such a huge success. It should be noted that as tough a summer as it was, wherever we went for meetings in 1987, we always found turf healthy and the courses in excellent condition. How lucky we are to have all this natural beauty right here in Michigan. The Musser Benefit at the Bear in September was down a little this year, but still raised a significant amount of money that will go toward safer sports turf, with our children and other youngsters the main beneficiaries. The final event of the year was the Third Annual "Tuck Tate" Membership Tournament. Although many of us drove snow-covered roads on our way to Schuss Mountain that day, Gary Pulsipher stayed hot and won medalist honors with a 77. An unbelievable score under those conditions. 2 Behind the Greens page two There were many more highlights in 1987, as I have really just touched on a few. As our organization continues to grow, the opportunities to further our knowledge has also expanded. If there is something you would like to hear more about, or if you have any ideas concerning the NMTMA, please notify myself or anyone of the Board members. We are already getting ready for next year. Have a Happy Holiday and I hope to see you soon. ************************************************************* 59th International Golf Course Conference & Show February 1*8, 1988 George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, Texas ♦ 30 Seminars ♦ Golf Championships ♦ Trade Show ♦ Annual Meeting For Conference, Seminar or Exhibitor Information: l*800/GSA*SUPT or 913/841*2240 Golf Course Superintendents Association of America 1617 St. Andrews Drive Lawrence, KS 66046*9990 FIFTY YEARS 1936-1986 NEWS MB October 15,1987 1H HI » RELEASE ™ For Immediate Release NATIONAL GOL F FOL GOLF COURSE MAINTENANCE INDUSTRY EXCEEDS ¿3 BILLION (JUPITER, Fla.) According to the new 1907 edition of the Golf Course Maintenance Report, the estimated worth of golf course maintenance industry in the U. S. today is $3-5^ billon. This figure includes the cost of labor, equipment and supplies needed to maintain the 1.2 million acres of land occupied by the nations 12,38^ golf facilities. The 80-page report was co-produced by the National Golf Foundation (NGF) and the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA). "The golf course superintendent is a vital element in the golf ndustry and plays a critical role in maintaining the nation’s golf courses so they are enjoyable for the 20.2 million U.S. golfers," says NGF President David B. Hueber "And the NGF is pro d to have been part of this all important study." The new report supersedes a much less comprehensive 25-page joint study report done in 1985« "We feel that this year’s expanded report pro ides valuable information not available through any other source in the golf course and turfgrass industries," says Donald E. Hearn, GCSAA President. The 1987 report is broken out in nine geographic regions, and, by the public and private facilities within these regions. It covers irrigation sources, expenses, labor hours and wages, golf car fleet size and maintenance costs, environmetal conditions and professional responsibilities for each region. The data was collected through a 10-page survey sent to more than 2,000 golf course superintendents throughout the U.S. in November 1986. The data is presented in a manner that allows the superintendents to make a comparative anaylis of their operation to others within the region. "To collect and analyze the differing operations of the superintendents throughout the country and then segment them by facility type is a service that not only directly benefits every superintendent but also, impacts everyone who enjoys the game,"Hueber says. "Golf course superintendents and others involved in the maintenance of the nation’s golf courses will find the information contained in this report to be useful in determining the factors that make their golf courses unique from others in their region," says Hearn. " Golf course superintendents were responsible for the purchase of over $2lU mill;on in new equipment in 1986," adds Hueber. "This report is an outstanding indication of the professionalism and dedication of the GCSAA and its members." A two-page summary of the Golf Course Maintenance Report is available from both the NGf and GCSAA at no charge. The complete report sells for $90« NGF is golf’s report and promotional organization founded in 1936. Its membership includes more than 500 golf companies, national, state and local golf associations; golf course architects andbuilders; golf publications; and more than 3,000 golf courses across the United States. L October 8, 1987 , was the date of the 3rd ANNUAL TUCK TATE CHAPTER GOLF TOURNAMENT and the Annual business meeting of this Association held at Shuss Mountain Golf Club near Mancelona. There was an excellent turnout for this tournament and much business was accomplished for the Association. We would like to bring you up to date with what transpired and what was accomplished. WINNERS IN THE TUCK TATE CHAPTER CHAMPIONSHIP LOW NET CHAMPIONAND TROPHY WINNER HOWARD ALTMAN 68 LOW GROSS WINNER GARY PULSIPHER 77 CLOSEST TO THE HOLE DAVID SAPP LONGEST DRIVE DAVID HOFACKER SKINS WINNERS DAVID SAPP PAUL HOLMES DAVID HOFACKER DAN LUCAS TOM BRUGGER GARY PULSIPHER BOB MALESKI SR. Howatd Altman as winner of this tournament received a trophy plus a Rolex watch donated by Tuck Tate. He will be the defending champion in 1988 at the 4th annual event. ****************************************************************** It is possible that many of you do not know that at every one of our meetings, a beautiful green jacket is given to someone that attends. These green jackets if bought in a store would retail for about 150 dollars. At our meetings, everyone receives a ticket and the door prize is the green jacket. Mr. Jim Inman with Spartan Distributors was the lucky winner in October. Your chances of winning is as good as any other member however you must attend to participate in the drawing ******************************************************************* After the treasurers report of the need for increased income at this meeting, a dues increased was voted by the membership. This will be the first increase in over five years and is needed to meet the increased cost of operating the Association. Beginning with the fiscal year starting November 1, 1987, Class A membership dues will move from 20.00 to 30.00, Class B from 15.00 to 20.00, Class C to remain the same at no set amount, Class D to stay at 15.00, Class E to remain at 10.00, Class G to remain at 30.00 and student class to increase from 12.50 to 15.00. No individual invoice for dues will be sent out to each member and this should serve as notification for you to mail in your correct amount of dues to our Treasurer Damiam Kurkowski, 755 Pine Briar, Gaylord, Michigan 49735 or give to our Executive Secretary Tom Reed. Your cooperation in getting your check in their hands as quickly as possible will be appreciated. ************************* ****************************************** I’ve always allowed that the rigors of life are better than rigor mortis. John M. Cline 5 October being the date of our Annual Meeting, election of directors took place. Three directors were elected to serve a term on the Board for a period of three years. They are Jeff Holmes (Grand Traverse Resort), W. Brent Nelson (Shanty Creek) and Jim Olli CGCS (Hidden Valley). Also elected to the Board for a two year term was Kim Olson (Lawn Equipment). Completing their term on the Board was Jim Bogart and Dav^ Little. We want to than these gentlemen for contributing their time and service for the benfit of all we members. Normally after the election of new directors, the officers for the new fiscal year are elected however due to the lateness of the meeting officer election was put off until the November 10th, Board Meeting at the Holiday Inn, Grayling. At this November meeting, Thomas Brogger was elected President, Paul Holmes was elected Vice-President and Damiam Kurkowski was elected Treasurer. Afterthe election of officers for the fiscal year, the following committees were then appointed : PROGRAM & GOLF COMMITTEE EDUCATION & SCHOLARSHIP Paul Holmes (Chairman) Damiam Kurkowski (Chairman) Charlie Menefee Jim Bogart Brent Nelson Kim Olson All Meeting Day Host,s Jeff Holmes David Sapp Andy Norman BYLAW & CODE OF ETHICS MEMBERSHIP Bob Steinhurst, Jr.(Chairman) David Sapp (Chairman) David Longfield Tom Reed Charlie Menefee Kim Olson Jeff Holmes Tom Courtemanche PUBLIC RELATIONS M.T.F. BENEFIT DAY Jeff Holmes (Chairman) Charlie Menefee (Chairman) Tom Reed Tom Brogger David Longfield Jim Olli Brent Nelson Paul Holmes Damiam Kurkowski David Longfield FUND RAISING G.C.S.A.A. LIAISON Jim Olli (Chairman) Charlie Menefee Brent Nelson Kim Olson Tom Courtemanche MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY MUSSER FOUNDATION Damiam Kurkowski (Chairman) Jeff Holmes (Chairman) Tom Reed Damiam Kurkowski Bob Steinhurst, Jr. Brent Nelson Tom Reed Newsletters for the fiscal year will be forthcoming to members beginning in December, February, April,May, June, July, August, September and October. These letters will be designed to inform you of current happenings in the Association and the green industry. To make these letters more interesting, we would like input from members. Anyone wanting to write an article, suggestion or activity which would interest all of us, would be welcomed. So, if we have any authors out there, please come forth with what you have of interest. ******************************************************************* As we reported in our last letter, Jon Scott, our ex-president was transferred to Louisville, Kentucky by the Jack Nicklaus organization. We are happy to report that our new Board member Jeff Holmes has been promoted to golf course superintendent of both of the Grand Traverse Resort courses. Our congratulations Jeff and good luck in your new executive position. ******************************************************************** The 1988 Membership Booklet is expected to be printed and ready for distribution in early April. We would like the information on members to be as current and up to date as possible. If there is any wrong information relative to your name, address, zip code, telephone number or change that you would like, will you please make the corrections on a piece of paper or postcard and either mail or give to either Damiam Kurkowski, Tom Reed or Bob Steinhurst, Jr. We thank you for your cooperation in advance. ******************************************************************** In June a Michigan Turfgrass Benefit Day was held at the Sylvan Resort "TREETOPS" Course, near Gaylord. It was a very successful benefit and as a result, a donation wof 6500 dollars will be made to the M.T.F. at the Michigan Turfgrass Conference. Presentation at that time will be made by our new President Tom Brogger. Also at this Conference, a scholarship will be given to a deserving student in the name of the Northern Michigan Turf Managers Association. The amount of this donation has been increased to seven hundred and fifty dollars, this year. ******************************************************************** Golf Association of Michigan (GAM) has indicated through Jeff Revard, their Executive Director that they would like to conduct an education­ al meeting with our Association sometime in either late February or early March. No details have been worked out on this subject however we will keep you informed when it develops. ********************************************************************* Thinking ahead to the month of April, again this year it is planned to have another seminar with Michigan State University at the Traverse City Golf and Country Club. As details are worked out on this event you will be informed. Meantime, please mark your calendar and plan on being at this educational seminar. 7 If Tree Care Drives You Up A Tree You're Doing It Wrong significant degree even when trees are considered dor­ If ever there was a member of the growing world that Is mant. Frequent watering is advised in dry periods espe­ abused, misused and generally forgotten, It's the tree. cially during the winter months. One of the Indications is when a tree's normal water and Many superintendents stop watering trees in the winter nutrient uptake by the roots is interrupted. The roots can­ even though the soil may be bone-dry down deep, the not function simply because they have been separated atmospheric humidity at its lowest and cold, drying winds from the water and soil— it's nutrient source. At the same are generally the strongest. Evergreens, of course, suffer time, the top of the tree continues to use water and nut­ first because they have a full leaf surface throughout the rients at a greater pace than the root system can replace. year. This results in an immediate shortage of both water and The fertilizing of trees should be done to stimulate leaf nutrients. production and rapid growth. Apply a pound per inch of Tree planting or transplanting usually places them In a stem diameter of a balanced fertilizer such as 5-10-5, precarious condition for survival. Correct planting tech­ 4-12-4, or 10-10-10. Do not use fertilizer at the time of niques are critical to insure the survival of new planted transplanting. It may burn the tender new roots and cause trees. There are many factors to consider when planting— severe injury or death of the newly planted tree. Do not including time of the year, width and depth of the plant­ exceed the recommended dosage rate of the fertilizer. ing hole, watering, and support and protection of trunks. Professional advice concerning maintenance and Many golf courses are spending hundreds of dollars each care of trees is available from several sources. The State year planting trees and every year they are pulling out as Agricultural Experiment Station or the County Co­ many hundreds of dollars worth of dead trees. This can be operative Extension Service office are two helpful souces. attributed to bad timing of planting and the improper They also have many publications that contains detailed care of the trees after they have been planted. Information which may answer your particular questions The best time of the year for planting, usually early about trees. Keep in mind that prevention is the best spring or late fall, is important and varies with the species solution to tree disease problems, and people-pressure and location and dormant plants (not in leaf) undergo disease can be prevented only through awareness, con­ less drastic changes. If the conditions for transplanting are cern, and the positive action of the people themselves. not favorable, the tree suffers "transplant shock." The degree of "shock" depends upon soil and atmospheric conditions as well as the state of growth of the tree. Credit: New Mexico GCSA For instance, a tree moved bare root (no soil attached) while in full leaf on a hot day with low humidity, will expe­ rience greater shock and have less survival chances than one moved with soil attached to the roots, in a dormant “Remember, a plant is a living thing, and state and during cool, moist weather. This is why bare root should be treated accordingly. Unlike most material is handled only during the short dormant season in early spring. Planting holes should be wide and deep living things, it has no way to make its enough to accommodate bare-rooted trees without cramping the root. needs known other than its appearance, For balled-root stock, holes should be at least a foot which will reflect the kind of treatment it wider than the diameter of the ball. Burlap wraps should be untied and rolled back from the trunk after planting. receives from its guardian—you!” Plastic burlap and plastic bag wraps will not decompose in the soil and should be completely removed. It is recommended filling the hole with topsoil and cover it to the depth that the tree was growing in the nursery. Water must be added immediately after planting and water periodically for two seasons. One of the major reasons why Renew so many trees are lost, many people might water after planting but forget to follow up. Watering should be heavy near the roots about once a week for several hours Your unless there is enough rain to saturate the soil. Watering should continue seven to ten days after the last rain and continued throughout the growing season and well Into Member­ the fall. Trees lose water rapidly when temperatures are high, the humidity is low and the wind velocity is strong. Such ship conditions result in a steep gradient between tree surface and the air. If the tree is in full leaf, it will loose water faster than when Its not In leaf. Water, however, is lost to a Now!