NORTHERN MICHIGAN TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION 3733 APOLLO DRIVE • TRAVERSE CITY, MICHIGAN 49684 • 616-943-8343 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE FIRST MONTHLY MEETING IN 1988 WILL BE MARCH 16th WHERE? HOLIDAY INN, GRAYLING Thomas Brogger President Last years March meeting on "THE RIGHT TO KNOW" was so successful, it was recommended that we try another meeting this year with a different theme. This will Paul Holmes be a meeting where everyone can attend and we encourage Vice President you to bring your Greens Chairman, Club Officals or anyone associated with their golf course operations. Jonathon Scott, CGCS Golf Association of Michigan will have the most people Immediate Past President to offer information and explain their position on golf in our state. Their will also be a representative of the United States Golf Association, plus others who Directors Kimberly Olson will offer very interesting information in the operation Jeffrey Holmes of golf clubs. Wm. Brent Nelson Thomas Courtemanche Jeff Revard, Executive Director of GAM will explain Damian Kurkowski Charles Menefee, CGCS The G.A.M. and what it does. James Olli, CGCS David Sapp Jim Farrell(USGA)will talk on Preoaring For A Tournament. Robert Steinhurst, CGCS Jeff Gorney (Sup't-Architect) will speak on the same subject from a Superintendent's view having hosted the Past Presidents Greater Grand Rapids Senior Tour Event for several years. Ed Karcheskl C. E. “Tuck” Tate, CGCS David Longfield, CGCS Joe Luyckx (GAM) subject is Handicapping & The Superintendent Bill Dickens (GAM) speaks on What Brings Them Back. Executive Secretary Thomas Reed Neil McPhee (GAM) with a panel including Golf Course Ownep, 3733 Apollo Dr. Manager, Superintendent and Pro will explain what we would Traverse City, Ml 49684 all like to understand, Working Together To Make Things Phone 616-943-8343 Work. Volume 17 No. 1 Dm} Inaddition, there will be a general discussion so if you Editor have any good ideas, please write them down and present C. E. "Tuck" Tate them for discussion. P. 0. Drawer U72 Frankfort, Michigan Cost will be $15.00 which includesCoffee and Donuts in the U9635 morning and a hot buffet at lunch. Registration begins at Phone: 616/352-U398 8:45 A.M. and the meeting will run from 9:30 to 3:00. We must be able to tell Holiday Inn of the number that will be present so please return the enclosed postcard immediately. Contact the people that you are bringing along while fresh on your mind. Lets make every meeting something to remember, this year. ********************************************************** Mark your calendar for Monday, April 11th, for the mini COLLECTION Michigan State University Seminar at Traverse City Golf and Country Club. Further and final details will be forthcoming in our next newsletter. BEHIND THE GREENS A Monthly Message From the Board by Tom Brogger, President Hello again and welcome to another year with your Northern Michigan Turf Manager's Association. It's the middle of February and we have just experienced a slight warming trend. My calendar reminds me that this change in our weather pattern coincides with a new moon. I had an old farmer friend from Bay City who used to tell me that when you experience a change in the weather on or near the time of a new or full moon, you should see that same basic pattern continue for the next ten days or so. He also told me that a change is more likely around a new moon rather than a full moon. Now, if you've got all that straight, let's think back to the last half of February and see just how true this is. How many of you attended the Michigan Turfgrass Conference in Lansing? I did, and once again, found it to be extremely informative. Michigan State University has always been on the leading edge in research and along with several other "top notch" speakers from around the country, we had what was probably one of the best conferences ever. Our hats go off to the Michigan Turf Foundation for organizing such a quality event. Incidentally, we all can feel very proud in the fact that our strong support to the MTF Benefit Tournaments has helped make these turf conferences such a huge success. While down at State, Damian Kurkowski and his Education & Scholarship Committee conducted interviews with several MSU Turf students who had applied for our annual scholar­ ship award. This year's recipient is Thomas L. VanSipe. Tom is from Alpena and got interested in turf while working at the Alpena Golf Club. He carries a 3.5 GPA and last summer did his placement training with the Robert Trent Jones organization while in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Tom came across as being very friendly, down-to-earth and dedicated to his future profession. We are proud to have selected Tom VanSipe as our Scholarship Award winner and wish him good luck in his future endeavors. The GCSAA Conference and Show in Houston, Texas was one of the highlights in my professional career. I guess I was surprised more than anything else. I didn't realize how much emphasis is put on the Trade Show. The amount of information that can be gained from something like this is unbelievable. With an area larger than a football field, we are exposed to equipment and other golf course related products that we might otherwise never have heard about. In the two days I spent on the show room floor, I probably wasn't able to talk to even a third of the manufacturer's on display. Having them there is another great feature in all of this, because if you have any kind of question‘about a particular product, they'll be right there to answer it for you. For those who have been thinking about joining the GCSAA and attending their annual conference and show, I would encourage you to do so. I'm sure you'll find it worth the time and money, as I did. One final note from Houston: If you think you have an invention or idea that could be salable, you might want to look into it. Jerry Maas did and Standard liked it. Jerry is a NMTMA member and greens superintendent at Maple Hill Golf Club in Hemlock. What he's done is come up with a way to fill ball washers while eliminating the mess and hastle. It's a twenty (20) gallon cubical plastic container with a small water pump that runs off your vehicle's battery. There is a medium length of flexible tubing that fits right inside the ball washer and goes to work while you change towels, empty trash or whatever. I imagine it will have a lot of uses like filling electric golf car batteries, watering outdoor flower baskets, as well as the ball washer idea. Good luck, Jerry, and we'll be looking for your name in the Fortune 500 real soon. In closing, I would like to say that I am looking forward to serving you in the upcoming year. Our Board of Directors has been working very hard to make our organization the best possible. There are a lot of worthwhile programs planned, and we encourage your continued support. For the latest information on upcoming events, check your monthly newsletter. 2 MEMBERSHIP NEWS Mike Barton who was superintendent at Wequetonsing Golf Club, Harbor Springs has moved to Sylvania Country Club, Sylvania, Ohio as their golf course superintendent. Dominic Bragg who was assistant Super has assumed the position of superintendent at Wequie. We have two new members to report this month: Tim John, from Miller West, Inc. Paul Galligan,assistant superintendent, Bear Course, Grand Traverse Resort. Welcome aboard. *************************************************************************** MICHIGAN TURFGRASS FOUNDATION Tuesday, January 19th, at the Michigan Turfgrass Conference, M.T.F. held their annual meeting with the election of new Directors. Four directors were elected for a three year term: Kurt Thuemmel was elected representing Western Michigan G.C.S.A. Jim Bogart was elected as representative of Commercial Turfgrass Suppliers. Jeff Gorney was elected asan At Large candidate. Tom Mason was also elected as an At Large Candidate. At the Board Meeting following the Conference, Kurt Thuemmel was elected President, Tom Mason was elected Vice-President, Jeff Gorney was elected Treasurer for one year. Others on the M.T.F. Board are: GordonLaFontaine, Execeutive Secretary, Lawn Equipment, Novi. Hank DeVries, DeVries Beautiful Lawns, Hudsonville. Tim Doppel, Atwood Lawn Spray, Sterling Heights Charles Gaige, Lakelands Golf & Country Club, Brighton Ron Juip, Brown City Sod and Produce, Brown City Kurt Kraly, Wilkie Turf Equipment, Davisburg. David Longfield, Garland Golf Course, West Branch Jon Maddern, City of Farmington Hills Fritz McMullen, Forest Lake Country Club, Bloomfield Hills, Jim Bogart, Turfgrass, Inc., Rockfort Michigan Turfgrass Foundation funds almost all research being done in the state of Michigan therefore anyone involved in the green industry should be a member. If you or your employer is not a member, we suggest that you procure an application and become a member. ******************************************************************** ****** BY-LAW CHANGE UNDER MEMBERSHIP CLASS Class"G" Sustaning Members. To qualify for Sustaining Membership, an applicant must be a business firm, governmental body or other organi­ zation interested in the growing, management or production of turfgrass. Each sustaining member shall have the right to name it's owners, employees or other agents as it's representative to the Association. Such represen­ tative shall have the privileges of the Association as the Board may specify from time to time by standing rules, INCLUDING those of voting and holding office as now specified under Article IV. This change would allow these business members to vote and hold office. This is just a proposal from the Board of Directors. A vote will be taken on this possible amendment at the April meeting at Traverse City. I'nliciJ Stiles Regional Affairs ¿4aMoa