^\NTE\O/, Quarterly AFFILIATE The newsletter from the Northern Michigan Turf Managers Association — EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE NMTMA Jeffrey Holmes President Getting it together As our profession continues to grow and the Northern Michi­ Paul Holmes gan Turf Managers Association remains in the spotlight, it is im­ Vice-President portant to advance the Association whenever an opportunity is presented. Currently the Board of Directors is trying to obtain Thomas J. Reed non-profit status and incorporate the Association. Treasurer In accomplishing this goal there are several obstacles in front of us. They can all be conquered, but we will need some addition­ Tom Brogger al help from a lawyer and a certified accountant. Immediate Past President These people will be able to lead us through the various paper- President Jeffrey Holmes Work while offering the proper information to us. With their help Directors we should be moving through the process fairly rapidly. The important part of this whole Tom Brogger Brian Holmes process is to do everything necessary and complete it properly. That is tne reason for em­ James Inman ploying our outside agents to help. David Little, CGCS The purposes of the non-profit status is to be properly registered as a tax-exempt organi­ Charles Menefee, CGCS zation, wnich would then qualify our group to be exempt from paying income tax and Michael Morris Wm. Brent Nelson sales tax on any purchases that we make. Kimberly Olson The purposes of our Association obtaining an incorporated status are several. A couple Robert Steinhurst, CGCS of factors are: to create a corporate veil, and to be in compliance with the Internal Reve­ nue Service. Past Presidents A corporate veil would protect an individual that is sitting on the Board from being open Ed Karcheski to a lawsuit filed against the Association. We would also want to scruntinize our By-laws C.E. "Tuck" Tate, CGCS to correspond with our Articles of Incorporation. David Longfield, CGCS Jonathon Scott, CGCS With the Association being registered as exempt and incorporated it will hold more va­ lidity when using it as an association member listing. It was the Board's intent to have all this in place for the October 2 meeting which is also MTF Liaison David Longfield, CGCS our annual membership meeting. Since it was impossible for the Board to have all the work completed, we will work on it through the next few months. When all the paper­ work is in place, we will call a special membership meeting and make the final step ofthe GCSAA Liaison Charles Menefee, CGCS incorporation and exempt status official. GCSAA education program earns accreditation Newsletter Editor The continuing education program offered by the Golf Course Superintendents Associa­ C.E. "Tuck" Tate 719 Whitfield Ave. tion of America fcCSAA) has earned official accreditation from the Accrediting Council for Sarasota, FL 34343-1304 Continuing Education and Training (ACCET). ACCET is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Phone 813-355-6570 Education as the official accrediting agency for non-collegiate continuing education. (Summer Address) P.O. Drawer 472 "Receiving accreditation confirms our belief that GCSAA offers topflight educational ben­ Frankfort, Ml 49635 efits to our members," said John M. Schilling, GCSAA executive director. "Few professional associations take this extra step to ensure quality education for their members." GCSAA's senior director of education and marketing, Colleen Smalter Pederson, added Executive Secretary Thomas Reed that, "We chose to pursue accreditation to get public verification of the scope and quality 3733 Apollo Dr. of GCSAA's educational programs. It is important to us to have our programs measured Traverse City, Ml 49684 against established standards." The ACCET Accrediting Commission voted Aug. 18 to ap­ Phone 616-943-8343 prove GCSAA for full accreditation status, culminating a two year preparation, application and evaluation process. Full accreditation recognizes the association's current curriculum of more than 50 one- and two-day seminars designed to provide information on up-to-date golf course maintenance practices and to sharpen the management skills of golf course su­ perintendents. • Editorial • The Customer is King In a summer '90 issue of The Grass Roots, the newsletter of the Wisconsin Golf Course Superintendents Association, Monroe Miller wrote an editorial entitled "A Letter to CEOs". Mr. Miller's editorial was directed to CEO's of turfgrass maintenance equipment companies, asserting that the products and services we purchase from these companies lack quality, integrity and reliability. One consequence of this problem is that customers are not getting what they've paid for and are becoming increasingly dissatisfied. Another consequence of this problem is that a significant share of the U.S. turfgrass equipment market risks being overtaken by overseas companies, much like our beleaguered automobile industry. Mr. Miller articulated a situation that must be painfully obvious to anyone who purchases turfgrass maintenance equipment. You don't have to be an engineer or an economist to understand this problem. Have you ever bought a new piece of equipment which failed to perform as expected, and then were charged to purchase and install updated parts? Have you ever received a new piece of equipment, or tried a new demonstrator, which was not set up for use or malfunctioned because of defective parts? Have you ever tried to order a single part or component only to find out that you have to purchase the whole assembly? Unfortunately, most turfgrass managers can answer "yes" to all of these questions and also generate a lengthy list of examples for each situation. The bad memories of poor equipment performance and service last longer than the satisfaction of having a machine function as it should. Here are some real life experiences that I have heard about just this season: a spraying rig delivered with a faulty pump and components; a $10,000 mower that could not mow ten hours per week without breaking down; having to purchase an entire clutch and linkage assembly to replace a couple worn components; having a used machine delivered to an owner who had a preapproved check for a new machine ready for the delivery driver. Sound familiar? The greatest misfortune of this shoddy business practice is that it seems to be accepted by turfgrass managers as the norm, or else accepted because there is nothing better to choose. Another question: How can any business survive with sales and service which fails to satisfy the customer? I know that at least one of the businesses involved with the preceding examples has lost all of its business with at least one golf club in northern Michigan. Suppose I buy a new automotible/triplex mower for $14,000. At delivery, I have to adjust the carburetor myself. Within the first year of ownership the brakes fail: the company then apologizes, warranties the parts, sends the parts one week later, and I install the parts. After a year or two of disgruntled ownership, my automobile/triplex mower is obsolete, and I want to purchase a new machine that is more reliable and is backed with better service. Do I go back to the same compnay? Maybe I should discuss this with a Honda or Toyota owner who used to drive GM products. Turfgrass equipment companies are tied intrinsically with our local and national associations, and they contribute a great deal to our associations through research and development, advertising, and fund raising. But if money is the problem, I would gladly trade their current contributions for better service. Turfgrass managers should not even have to ask for this. When a club purchases a piece of equipment for $500 to $35,000, the club deserves more than iron and plastic. The club wants a reliable product that will perform as desired, and that will be backed up by the company: Business Management 101. In his editorial, Monroe Miller pointed out the fact that there once was a time when American companies were built on quality, integrity, and responsibility - a time when business believed that the "Customer is King". For the prices we pay for equipment today, we deserve more than we are getting. Along with Mr. Miller, I urge our manufacturers and distributors to work with turfgrass managers to set new standards of quality and integrity. As turfgrass managers, it is our responsibility to demand the highest quality service and products for our market, and to refuse anything inferior or mediocre. If either party in this business fails in their respective responsibilities, turfgrass managers are doomed to overpriced and inadequate service; and businesses will face the fate of other companies that do not compete, progress, excel, and care for their customers. Michael Morris 2 I've trod the links with many a man, And played him club for club; The Civic Minded Turfgrass Manager 'Tis scarce a year since I began And I am still a dub. But this I've noticed as we strayed Along the bunkered way, The season's almost over and our irrigation systems No one with me has ever played should be well rested after this year. My article this As he did yesterday." month isn't going to be about golf or golf course mainte­ It makes no difference what the drive, nance. For the past few years we have been talking pro­ Together as we walk, fessionalism and representing ourselves in a more pro­ Till we up to the ball arrive, fessional manner i.e. dress code for our outings and I get the same old talk: "To-day there's something wrong with me, even dressing a little better for our jobs. What I want to Just what I cannot say. discuss is getting involved in your local community. Would you believe I got a three Paul Holmes, CGCS We all come from small towns or relatively small towns, For this hole - yesterday?" so it is very easy and rewarding to become involved. By being involved I'm talking I see them top and slice a shot, about joining a service club, like Kiwanis, Jaycees or Rotary. Get involved in your lo­ And fail to follow through, cal church groups, Boosters club or any other local organization that may interest you; And with their brassies plough the lot, or even become a little league or soccer coach. The very way I do. To six and seven their figures run, The reason I bring this subject up is I have been involved in some of these groups And then they sadly say: and have been able to meet and work with some of the leaders of our community. ", neither dubbed nor foozled one These people find out we are not just "Turf heads". They find out we have good ideas W'hen I played - yesterday." and we are managers with organizational skills. This is also a good way to "get away" I have no yesterdays to count, from your golf course in the summer and wrap yourself up in something else for a few No good work to recall; hours. Each morning sees hope proudly mount, By being active in your community you come up with a new sense of pride in your Each evening sees it fall. "Hometown" you never had before. My only regrets are I didn't do these things soon­ And in the locker room at night, When men discuss their play, er. One of the hardest things to do when you move to a new town is to meet people. I hear them and I wish I might Being in active organizations is a great place to meet people your own age or with Have seen them - yesterday. similar interests. I realize we are all very busy during the golf season and sometimes we put all our efforts into our courses and we don't have time for other outside activi­ Oh, dear old yesterday! What store Of joys for men you hold! ties, you need to make time mainly for yourselves. Get away from your course for an I'm sure there is no day that's more hour or so. Do something that will benefit others less fortunate. Believe me, it's not Remembered or extolled. bad therapy, maybe you will forget about that hydraulic leak on #3 green for a couple I'm off my task myself a bit, of hours. Some of the people on one of your committees may be members at your My mind has run astray; I think, perhaps, I should have writ club and they can see you as a human being not the guy spraying greens in the morn­ These verses - yesterday. ing or aerating on the day he planned to play. Our profession is very misunderstood. By getting out into the community and work­ - Edgar A. Guest ing with different people, they will ask questions about our jobs and you can explain technical or simple aspects to them. I hope everyone had a great year and we will see you at the Christmas Party. We need our own logo! The GCSAA has denied us the use of their logo. We must design Mechanic's Corner one for ourselves. If anyone has an idea or some artisitic ability, By Nick Polchuck please design a logo for the NMTMA and send it to Tom Reed Here at Gaylord Country Club, we needed a faster and better way of or Michael Morris before putting in black plastic pipe. I went to the junk pile and pulled out six December 1, 1990. feet of 2 inch galvanized pipe, an old bedknife and a three inch piece of Letters to the Editor 1 inchpipe that I ground down to look like a bullet. You can communicate directly I cut the pipe into two pieces and welded them into an L. Then I weld­ with the NMTMA and your fellow members by writing to: ed part of the bedknife to form a T and hooked the 1 inch pipe shaped like a bullet on the end of the bedknife. Turf Times c/o Mike Morris I used the rest of the bed knife for a brace. Take a piece of chain and P.O. Box 1575 connect to a tractor and clamp your polypipe to a connection of the bul­ Frankfort, Ml 49635 let and pull to your heart's content. Share your thoughts and If you have any questions, call me at the Gaylord Country Club (616) feelings about our organization 546-3233. or the industry in general. ______________ _____________ / 3 A tribute to Mr. C.E. "Tuck" Tate There is probably no individual in our association who has con­ tributed more of his own time, efforts, and money to turfgrass man­ agement in northern Michgian, statewide, and nationally than our friend Tuck Tate. Tuck first became interested in golf when he was a sales repre­ sentative for Sun Oil Company in the late 1930's. One of his cus­ tomers was Riley Heckert, the superintendent of Harrisburg Coun­ try Club in Pennsylvania. Tuck was impressed and inspired by Mr. Heckert's professionalism and skills as a turfgrass manager. The friendship and mutual respect between these two men continued to grow through Tuck's early years at the Frankfort Golf Club when Mr. Heckert helped Tuck fine tune the golf course design and man­ agement practices at Frankfort. Tuck served our country during World War II in Europe. Even during those trying times Tuck continued to nurture his interest in golf. He somehow acquired three or four golf clubs, and as time allowed he played various courses in France and England. In 1955 Tuck bought the Frankfort Golf Club and began building upon his love for the game and his interest in turfgrass manage­ ment. Tuck turned the Frankfort Golf Club into a very successful public course, and operated it as owner, superintendent, and club professional for 29 years. In August of 1984, Tuck sold the Frank­ fort Golf Club to Bill Bengeyfiela, who was then the National Di­ rector of the USGA Green Section. Tuck continues to be involved with local and national golf course assocations. This year in Las Vegas will mark Tuck's 32nd year as a member of the GCSAA and his 32nd annual conference. Tuck served on the board of MTF for six years, including two years as president during the time when the Hancock Research Center was initiated. Tuck became a PGA club pro in 1959, and contin­ Tuck Tate with his wife, Becky ues to keep his game sharp and PGA status intact. at the Frankfort Golf Club, circa 1978 Tuck is one of the main reasons that the NMTMA exists today. In 1971, Mike Thomas, a county extension agent in Leela­ nau County, collaborated with Tuck, Ed Karcheski, and Frank Hemminger to establish the NMTMA. Untold time, effort and money went into getting this association up and running. These men's goals in establishing the NMTMA were to provide edu­ cational sessions and establish research plots in northern Michigan, and the success of our organization speaks for itself. Tuck has diligently served the NMTMA as a member from its inception, leading our group as president from 1972-1983. Tuck developed the NMTMA newsletter in 1971 and continues to serve the NMTMA as co-editor with Michael Morris. This newsletter is one of the main reasons our organization stays together and continues to grow. For the last three years Tuck has presented the "Annual Tuck Tate Scholarship" to students of turfgrass management at Mich­ igan State University. Tuck established a private trust of $100,000 for this scholarship. When Tuck no longer maintains this trust it will be turned over to the MTF for their jurisdiction. This brief and sketchy resume of Mr. Tate's accomplishments and contributions to our industry is undoubtedly the envy of almost everyone in our profession who loves golf and turfgrass management. Tuck continues to be a tremendous resource and inspiration to our organization. In talking with Tuck, he urges our association to continue to emphasize the founder's goals of education and research in our meetings and publications. Certainly our association has a rich heritage to uphold, and we owe a great deal of this to Mr. C.E. "Tuck" Tate. Tuck Tate/NMTMA Superintendent's Championship winners named The following winners for the Tuck Tate/NMTMA Superinten­ Low Net dents golf championship held October 2 at the Gaylord Coun­ 1 st place - Kimberly Olson, 65 try Club were: 2nd place - Ray LaCombe, 68 Low Gross 3rd place - Bob Rieschel, 70 1 st place - Tom Brogger, 76 4th place - (tie) Maynard Garner, 72 2nd place - Paul Holmes, 79 Dane Gamble 3rd place - David Little, 82 72 6th place- Rick York, 74 4th place - Darrell Loar, 85 Closest to the Pin winners: 5th place - (tie) Don Riddle, 85 Bruce Wolfram, Don Stough, Dan Pillard, and Jim Olli, 85 Dane Gamble. Long Drive: Rick York 4 Winter Covers, Let's Again by Roger A. Stewart, Jr. CGCS This past winter proved to be an excellent evaluation of ers. We still have little or no germination on those same winter green covers used on bentgrass greens that were in greens and it is the beginning of May. Obviously "dormant various stages of establishment. The stages of development seeding" is also very suspect. I didn't believe it would work at Stonebridge ranged from greens that were about 85% es­ before and I don't believe it will work now. All in all I have tablished to greens that were overseeded in mid October found that with germination and some growth prior to cov­ with little or no germination prior to December 1. er application there are some very good benefits to be had. As a result we were able to see the effects covers on all One piece of advice I must strongly issue is the meticu­ these situations. The most dramatic effect was on the more lous use of fungicide for snowmold protection prior to cov­ established turf. The covers helped increase the stand by 5- ering and the daily inspection under the covers in the 10%. That may not seem like much but on new greens it is spring to avoid disease problems. Disease is more preva­ pretty dramatic. Probably not as dramatic to the eye was lent under covers and fungicide application prior to cover­ the effect on the greens that were seeded later in the year ing is absolutely necessary. I didn't have a sprayer last fall around the end of September or beginning of October. so fungicide was applied with a granular carrier and every These greens had some germination but were considerably area where the overlap was insufficient or coverage was thinner than those previously mentioned. The covers did a poor snowmold was a problem. Pythium can creep up on good job of protecting these very young plants from dessi- you under the covers in the early spring, especially when cating during the winter and enabled us to get those plants dealing with new seedlings and daily inspections are a ne­ going this spring with a little shot of fertilizer. The greens cessity. that were seeded last in the second week of October had lit­ I hope some of these experiences can help you avoid tle or no germination before covers were applied in late No­ some of the same problems and provide you with excellent vember. Those greens showed no improvement with the results from the use of winter green covers. use of covers. That just tells me that if you haven't got some Credit: Verdure 5/89 growth in the fall don't waste your time and money on cov- MILLER WEST, INC. 274 Mart Street, S.W. Grand Rapids, Ml 49508 Gillisoiis Fabrication, Inc. (616) 241-4481 1-800-531-2151 (in Ml) 3033 BENZIE HWY. • BENZONIA, Ml 49616 OR YOUR JACOBSEN DISTRIBUTOR 1515 WOODMERE ST. • TRAVERSE CITY, Ml 49684 AND PHONE 616/882-5921 OR PHONE 616/946-0177 NATIONAL MOWER CO. 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In 1965, Campbell was awarded the USGA's highest Campbell will be presented the award during the closing honor, the Bobby Jones Award, for his sportsmanship in golf. banquet of the 62nd GCSAA International Golf Course Con- Campbell recieved the William Richardson Award from the fernce and Show on Feb. 12 in Las Vegas, Nev. Golf Writers Association of America in 1983 for his outstand­ GCSAA President Gerald L. Faubel, CGCS, said, "No one ing contributions to golf. has given more to the game of golf than Mr. Campbell. He In his nomination for the Old Tom award, Campbell was has dedicated his life to promoting the game and has dem­ also cited for his efforts to tighten the bonds between the onstrated many times his support for the golf course superin­ USGA and CGSAA. During his presidency, the USGA tendent. GCSAA is honorea to present this award to Mr. launched major fund-raising campaigns to finance the devel­ Campbell." opment of Golf House and the establishment of test facilities In addition to being a USGA past president (1981-82), for clubs and balls, as well as a long-term program for turf­ Campbell also served as captain of the Royal and Ancient grass research, notably in the area of drought-tolerant grass­ Golf Club of St. Andrews, Scotland. Campbell is only the es. third American to be named captain, joining Francis Ouimet Campbell joins Arnold Palmer, Bob Hope, Gerald Ford, and Joseph Dey. He is the only American to have held both Patty Berg, Robert Trent Jones Sr., Gene Sarazen, Chi Chi the presidency of the USGA and the captaincy of the R & A. Rodriguez and Sherwood Moore, CGCS, as recipients of the During his USGA term, Campbell also presided as Joint coveted Old Tom Morris honor. Chairman of the World Amateur Golf Council. The Old Morris recipient is nominated and selected by the In 1985, Campbell was honored by GCSAA with a Distin­ GCSAA board of directors. GCSAA established the Old Tom guished Service Award. In 1990, he was elected to the PGA Morris Award in 1982 to recognize individuals who have World Golf Hall of Fame. He was the recipient of the Na­ made outstanding lifetime contributions to the game. The tional Golf Foundations's Herb Graffis Award in 1989 for his award is named in memory of Old Tom Morris, greenskeeper efforts in preserving the true spirit of the game. and golf professional at tne R & A, clubmaker, ballmaker, One of America's most dintinguished amateur golfers, four-time British Open champion and golf course architect. The GCSAA/Hall-Kimbrell Compliance Assistance Program: Guidance and Direction in a Complex World of Environmental Regulations President George Bush has been emphatic in challenging his newly appointed environmental leaders to "chart a course of environmental activism." Bush indicated recently that he was not only interested in pressing civil suits, but that criminal pros­ ecutions would be part of his drive to clean up the environment. Every industry must carefully analyze its practices to assure strict adherence to guidelines and demonstrate "moral" responsi­ bility in protecting workers and the environment. Golf course superintendents, as a group, have long recognized the seriousness of the health and environmental issues asso­ ciated with modern golf course operations. The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, however, has recog­ nized the need to take aggressive measures to stay ahead of the wave of environmental concern. With that in mind, GCSAA recently introduced a member benefit program with Hall-Kimbrell Environmental Services, Inc., one of the nation's leading environmental engineering and analytical firms, to help superintendents respond. The GCSAA/ Hall-Kimbrell Environmental Compliance Assistance Program provides golf course superintendents a means to identify areas of operations affected by environmental regulations and identify changes that should be implemented to achieve compliance. "This is an important program for every golf course in America because no course can afford not to assess every area of its operations," said Dennis D. Lyon, CGCS. "Our main goal is for superintendents to develop a high degree of industry involve­ ment - but there's also a very real payoff in dollars that superintendents will realize in improved management efficiency and reduced liability exposure." Lyon added that one fine or incident would vastly overshadow the nominal cost of the self audit. The self-audit package gives superintendents a unique opportunity to act on their own. If a regulatory agency was to evalu­ ate the same issues, violations would be reported and dealt with through legal channels. The self audit allows superintendents to evaluate their practices on their own and make modifications accordingly. The Hall-Kimbrell/GCSAA Self-Audit Package constists of a 30-minute videotape program that outlines eight common areas of regulation and the regulatory self-audit. Tne self-audit is a book containing more than 500 questions that allow the superintendent to easily and concisely report his prac­ tices in an answer booklet. Completition of the self-audit generally takes about eight hours of a superintendent's time. Most have found it better to split the time over a week or so rather than attempt to move through it from start to finish in one ses­ sion. The answer booklet is forwarded to Hall-Kimbrell, where it is scanned by a computer to summarize and sort the data provid­ ed by the superintendent. (Continued on Page 7) 6 GCSSA/Hall-Kimbrell compliance assistance program explained Nothing Runs Like a Deere (Continued from Page 6) Hall-Kimbrell scientists and environmental experts then re­ view the data and compile a detailed report on the course's practices and how well they meet the applicable regulations. The report also contains concise overviews of regulations, phone numbers and addresses for federal and state agencies that issue and enforce the regulations and information on state programs that vary significantly from federal require­ ments. The response report not only tells superintendents if they are in compliance, it also helps them evaluate procedures and management practices. The self-audit is not a fault­ finding tool, but rather a fact-finding tool, explains Hall- Kimbrell Project Manager Steve Wharton. "People may have a natural tendency to provide what they expect are the 'de­ sired responses' rather than the honest answers. The value of the package is in the superintendent's review of the resulting reports based on actual situations." The self-audit and regulatory compliance efforts are not a "one-shot" effort. Existing regulations are often modified and stress periodic review of management practices as new regu­ lations continue to be introduced. One of GCSAA's consider­ 3325 PROFESSIONAL TURF MOWER ations in selecting Hall-Kimbrell was the firm's commitment to an ongoing effort. The self-audit serves as a prerequisite for follow-up services that include annual up-aate proce­ KLOOSTER dures. By periodically updating the audit, it becomes a dy­ EQUIPMENT, INC. namic management tool for continual education of practices, RON HAGELSTEIN Ellsworth taking into account new products, regulations, and training SALES REPRESENTATIVE (616)599-2541 requirements. 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That sound advice bailed me out on several occasions and I have been ever mindful of first impressions throughout my career. Fortunately, we all have the opportunity to create first impressions every day, and it is our re­ sponsibility to ourselves, our reputation, family and to workplace, to make this a favorable and David Longfield, CGCS lasting one. What a key, those last two words - lasting one! Our professionalism on the job and at our business meetings, seminars, and social events, most obviously creates impres­ sions on our peers, as does our conversation as an active learned and informed member of our industry. Impressions do last, and we surely want them to be looked upon with favor. What an opportunity we have in the golf course industry to create a favorable impression to our guests as they enter the drive to the clubhouse, or walk up to the golf shop. Landscaping, even in the simplest form, but well manicured, colorful and cheery, can say, "Welcome to our golf course - we are glad you are here." Another example is at the first tee, where a flower bed or rock garden might brighten a dreary day, or a crowded Saturday. Dressing up key locations reminds the golfers that you want them to enjoy their visit to your golf course. Each golf course is unique in its own way, and that allows us all as individuals to create our own favorable first impression. It may be true that you only get one chance to make a favorable first impression, but on the other hand, we get the opportunity to do it again and again. And, it lasts and lasts! 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IheCCS> Lawn Fertilizer Division P O.Box 119 Andersons Maumee, Ohio 43537 Tom Held 217 West 16th Call Toll Free (Customer Service): Traverse City, Ml 49684 Ohio: 1-800-251-LAWN (5296) ProTurf PH: 616-922-0502 Outside Ohio: 1-800-253-LAWN (5296) ___________ __________________________ / /AREHOUSE ON WHEELS Golf Course Tees: An Architect's View By Brian M. Silva, Golf Cource Architect courses share. In 1834, when King William IV conferred the Cornish & Silva, Inc., Fiddlers Green, Amherst, Mass. title Royal and Ancient upon the links of St. Andrews, 18 holes became the standard for any new course because St. Many have made note of the fact that golf is one of the few Andrews had 18 holes. Interestingly enough, 70 years previ­ games played on a field with virtually no rigid dimensions. ous the first four holes had been eliminated because the So­ The reasons for this are obvious. First of all, there is the scale ciety of St. Andrews golfers found the holes not sufficiently of the golf course. An 18-hole layout genera ly requires well challenging. Had this not taken place, in April of each year over 100 acres of land, and while it is easy to standarize rela­ we could well be asking, "How did Jack do on the front elev­ tively small spaces such as football fields and tennis courts, en at Augusta today?" such a large area resists strict standardization. Secondly, the With respect to cultural practices, all clubs mow, fertilize, game is played in many different locales, on widely diverse irrigate, and the like. While not all clubs can aspire to the terrains. triplex mowing of fairways practiced at many clubs, many It's not feasible, much less desirable, to create a standard principles of maintenance are shared among the 21,000 or playing field adaptable to all sites. Finally, the influence of so courses throughout the world. the golf architect and his thoughts on how his craft should be This brings us to another shared characteristic. While practiced have led to an infinite variety of layouts. The archi­ there are exceptions to the rule, most notably courses built tect's influence on variety imposes an even more substantial in the last 25 years, tee enlargement and renovation is one effect when one realizes that, as an example, the great Robert of the most frequently observed construction projects at es­ Trent Jones has made significant changes in his own style tablished courses. Let's trace the evolution of the tee area over the course of his career. throughout the history of the game in order to gain a refer­ In spite of this variety, there are characteristics that all ence point for this discussion. The links of the British Isles were responsible for the first authentic golf courses. The earliest courses were one-holers on unimproved land. A hole would be cut in the ground and then a determined distance and direction paced away from the hole. Play then began and continued until the ball was holed out. Then a new distance and direction was chosen TEAM TURF and the procedure repeated. Eventually, the idea of creating several holes took shape. In 1744, the Honorable Company of Edinburgh Golfers de­ vised a code of rules, 13 articles that became the basis for the rules of golf. Article #1 instructed, "You must tee your ball within a club length of the hole." In this manner, the green just played became the teeing ground for the next hole. It was not until the mid-19th century that the first improve­ ments in teeing areas were seen. A revised rule designated the tee as a special area located 8 to 12 club lengths from the previous hole. At least the tee has now moved from di­ Team Turf is Kubota’s response to three of the turf care industry’s foremost needs - equipment quality, economy rectly adjacent to the cup to somewhere the edge of the and dependability. Team Turf includes fuel-efficient green!!! Kubota Tractors. Front and Mid-Mount Mowers. Part of the definition of the teeing ground, as approved by Tillers. Implements like Front Loaders, Posthole the United States Golf Association, states that the teeing Diggers, and Box Scrapers. ground is the starting point for the hole to be played. It is a Kubota equipment works well in outdoor parks, golf rectangular area two club lengths in depth. In the early days courses or private residences .. . anywhere top-quality of the game, the teeing ground as defined was adequate in work is preferred. Team Turf has power steering. Comfortable seats. Hydrostatic transmission. Safety and size. However, as the game became more popular, tee en­ noise suppression features. Kubota turf equipment largement became a number one priority at many clubs. works with most existing implements and attachments, With the foregoing as an introduction, we'll begin with, or independently. and try to bear in mind throughout our discussion, the major Quality is fundamental. So is performance. See components of quality for good playability on tees. These Kubota today. Get on Team Turf tomorrow. include a surface that is smooth, firm, and level, and a turf cover that is dense, uniform, and closely cut. ^KUBOTH . Nothing like it on earth. Those of you with tees of the postage stamp variety may find this tough to take but there are clubs that are contour mowing their large tees in order to reduce maintenance costs. The general guidelines for minimum tee size, 150 GINOP SALES inc. square feet per thousand rounds on wood shot holes and 200 square feet per thousand rounds on iron shot holes, can 11274 M-68, Alanson • (616) 548-2272 9040 E. M-72, Williamsburg • (616) 267-5400 serve as a bench mark to be figured in your specific situa­ 1-800-344-4667 tion. (Continued on Page 15) 10 Pruning Deciduous Trees By Nancy Pierce Turf researcher, University of Guelph V________ _________ / Pruning is a horticultural practice that is as old as the histo­ ciduous trees (like birch and maples) should be pruned in ry of civilized man. Ancient Babylonian, Egyptian, Greek, late winter as they tend to 'bleed' profusely in the spring. Ev­ Roman and Chinese civilizations developed their own unique ergreens will be set back the least if they are pruned just be­ pruning styles - ranging from the Greek and Roman art of fore spring growth occurs. trimming plants into unnatural, ornamental shapes (called to­ Pruning after spring growth has occurred will have a gen­ piary) to the Japanese art form of bonsai. Their pruning skills eral dwarfing effect on the plant. This type of pruning is re­ and creativity helped to capture and preserve the very es- quired when a plant has outgrown its alloted space - indi­ sense of each civilization's culture. cating that perhaps a more suitable plant could have been Despite its antiquity, or perhaps because of its mysterious chosen for that area. Summer pruning usually encourages and fascinating history, the purpose and proper procedures of the plant to produce new growth to replace only that which pruning are not well understood. Today, pruning is done for has been removed. Pruning too late in the summer can be more practical and economical reasons. Trees, shrubs and dangerous as the new growth seldom has time to harden be­ vines are pruned to eliminate dead and diseased tissue, con­ fore frost arrives. trol and direct growth, promote structural strength and to in­ Some trees that bloom on year-old wood must be pruned crease the yield of flowers and fruits on crop bearing plants. after spring bloom if a maximum yield of flowers is impor­ A woody plant will not require pruning unless it fits into one tant. Removing year-old wood bearing flower buds in the of these groups. Once you've decided which group a partic­ spring will naturally result in a very disappointing bloom. ular plant belongs to the 'whens' and 'hows' of pruning are simple. Response of Plant Parts Usually, the growth resulting from pruning trees properly A Little Plant Biology is very easy to predict. Removing a segment of stem or Understanding the nature of plant parts and how they will branch that bears a terminal bud will stimulate one or more respond to different treatments is the key to pruning with con­ lateral buds on that branch to develop when spring arrives. fidence. In figure 1 the basic parts of a deciduous tree are The end result of removing a terminal bud is a denser, bush­ shown. The trunk is the main stem of the tree. The leader (or ier plant. central branch) is a continuation of the trunk. Scaffold (or Removing lateral branches will encourage growth at the main) branches are those which are joined to the trunk. Lat­ terminal end of the mother branch or stem. The end result eral branches arise from scaffold branches. Spurs are short, will be a taller, more open tree. compact twigs found on fruit trees on which flowers and fruit are produced. These five types of branches form the structure (Continued on Page 12) of a deciduous woody tree. The structure of a deciduous tree is much more apparent in its leafless state. Buds are a critical component of pruning. A terminal bud is always found at the tip of a stem or branch and its direction of growth is upwards or outwards. Lateral buds are found along the length of stems and branches in a distinct pattern. Lateral buds develop into either leaves or branches depend­ ing on the size of the plant. Some lateral buds do not break when the others do. These are called latent buds and they're often found on the lower portion of a branch. They are much smaller than other lateral buds and won't break unless the wood above them is damaged or removed. Flower buds ap­ pear on spurs and can be either in a lateral or terminal posi­ tion. Adventitious buds are found in unusual locations on a stem or branch (i.e. they don't follow the regular pattern pro­ duced by the lateral buds) and their formation is often the re­ sult of some injury. Severe cutting will stimulate adventitious buds to break forming 'suckers' and 'water sprouts'. When to Prune The time of year is important in determining how the plant will respond to pruning. The traditional time for pruning is late winter or early spring when the buds are still dormant and the temperature is not too cold. Pruning done during this time will'elicit the most vigorous response in most species. Although most deciduous trees can be safely pruned anytime during the period betweel leaf-fall and spring growth, pruning should not be attempted if the temperature drops below -7 degrees C (20 degrees F) since dieback may result. Some de- Figure 1 : Parts of a deciduous tree 11 Pruning deciduous trees ... (Continued from Page 11) the size or density of a tree is when others fail to notice it has been pruned. Pruning Young Trees The earlier you can start to shape and train the growth of a Making the Cut tree, the less attention it will need in later years when large All that has been mentioned up to now is where and when branches increase the difficulty of pruning and large wounds to make cuts. The following deals with how to make the increase the chance of infection. Ideally, a young tree cuts. should be pruned the same day it's transplanted (normally 1) Cutting Back to a Bud done in the spring). During the transplanting operation, root It is usually desirable to cut back to an 'outside' facing bud injury is likely to occur leaving less roots to support the same as this will form new branches that will grow away from the amount of above ground tissue. Resist the temptation to pre­ trunk or mother branch rather than growing inwards and serve every branch - pruning about 1/3 of the top growth crowding existing branches. If the tree has a large vacant away will result in a tree that will quickly outgrow one that space that needs filling, then you may wish to cut to an in­ has not been pruned. ward facing bud. Some deciduous trees like maples and ash­ If you have a good idea of the future use of the tree, decid­ es, have their buds arranged opposite one another on the ing where to trim off the excess third is easy. First, start with branch. In this situation, it's recommended the cut be made weak or broken branches and any branches that will eventu­ just above one of the double buds, with the slant point out­ ally criss-cross. Never remove the leader as this will result in ward (the desired direction of growth). Then cut or rub off a stunted squatty tree not true to type. Any branches that an­ the inside bud. Always use a slanting cut about 1/4 inch gle up too closely to the trunk should also be removed. As above the desired bud. The top of the slant should be point­ the tree grows, sharp angled branches will produce a weak ing in the direction of the desired new growth. If you leave crotch which will probably split sometime during the life of more than 1/4 inch above the bud, the stub above the bud the tree. Generally, the wider the angle, the more sound the will die creating an entryway for decay organisms and in­ structure. Cut any branches you want to keep back if they sects. are longer than the leader. This may have to be repeated for 2. Removing Branches the first few years until the natural shape of the tree is estab­ The most important rule when removing entire branches is lished. not to injure the inner bark of the stem or mother branch. Once this 'necessary' cutting is done, you can start pruning This inner bark or cambium forms a scarlike, healing tissue to train the tree to meet its intended purpose. Take a good called a callus that gradually grows over the exposed wood. look at it and identify the leader, scaffold and lateral branch­ A small wound is often completely healed by tne end of the es. If you want an airy tree with a lot of open space, remove growing season. Controversy arises among experts as to or shorten most of the lateral branches and leave the scaffold whether or not these larger wounds should be dressed or branches with their terminal buds intact. You've retained the painted, and if so, what kind of material to use. The most length of the main branches while directing their growth out­ common type of dressings used are asphalt based tree wound ward. paints available under various trade names. To produce a denser, more compact tree, cut all lateral and There is also some controversy as to where a branch scaffold branches back to half their length. Removing the ter­ should be cut off. Some maintain a cut made flush with the minal bud in this manner will result in the cut branches be­ mother branch or trunk is desirable. Most people though coming stronger and the tree will develop into a more com­ suggest that a slanting cut should be made close to but be­ pact shape. yond the branch collar. If the branch collar is not visible, cut For a tree with sufficient clearance to walk or drive a golf slightly beyond an imaginary line that would join the upper cart under, remove all branches that join the trunk at a height and lower points of the branch attachment. Branches pruned of about 7 feet or lower. This cannot be done until the tree is in this manner leave a smaller wound to heal than if the a little older and will still have 3 or 4 scaffold branches re­ branch were cut flush to the trunk and there is less chance of maining after the lower branches are removed. injury to the cambium. Do not leave a large stub however, as it will rot and be susceptible to diseases which can spread Pruning Mature Trees throughout the tree. Pruning large branches may injure the Pruning mature trees is a difficult, potentially dangerous tree if not done properly, since tne weight of a branch may and time-consuming job. If at all possible, prune trees when cause it to break before the cut is complete, tearing away they are young to avoid the problems encountered when large pieces of bark with it or even splitting the tree. To pre­ working on large trees. However, many golf courses have vent this, a 3-cut method is used. The first cut is 6-12 inches trees on them that are older than the course itself. While away from the trunk or mother branch, beginning at the bot­ most are probably just fine, some may have been lopsided, tom and cutting upwards about 1/3 of the way through. A too dense, diseased or damaged over the years. Before at­ second, downward cut is made about 1 inch above the first tempting to correct these problems remember that large trees cut until the limb breaks off. The stub is then removed. form strong architectural ines and it's well worth the invest­ ment in time to stand back and think before cutting branches Credit: Greenmaster off in a haphazard manner. Try to retain the natural shape of the tree. The finest comment a person can get after reducing 12 Elements of Pruning Advanced Pruning Herbaceous Plants & Ground Covers Planting Techniques Part 1 : Trees & Shrubs Green Side Up: Professional Sod Laying Train the Trainer 1. preparing the trainer 2. conduction of one on one training 3. leading group training How to Hire the Best Person for the Job How to Prevent Back Injuries Landscape Equipment Maintenance Series Dear Members, 21 inch Mower, Edger/Trimmer, String Trimmer It looks like "the season" is going to start winding down, may­ be for some of you it already has. Come November and the Power Blower, Power Shears rest of the winter months you will have time to catch up on Trouble Shooting Automatic Sprinkler Systems Automatic Sprinkler System Scheduling your reading, the latest turf research, and those other impor­ Cutless Growth Regulator tant items that took backseat to minding the turf. It will also be a good time to check out the NMTMA's new video li­ Expedite Spray System brary. More tapes have been added and our current list of Accu-Procut Operation Banner Fungicide available tapes is as follows: Bio-Groundskeeper Photosynthesis & Respiration Reveal Disease Detection Kits Plant Nutrition Professional Turf Management Triumph Insecticide Protecting Golf's Environment Kubota Products Don't hesitate to contact me if you are interested in view­ Integrated Pest Management ing one or more of the videos. They are your tapes so take Growing Media For Landscape Plants Plant Movement and Transport advantage of them. I'm looking forward to hearing from you. SINCE 193S Palms. 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TerraCover • Our Bent Grass sod is managed just as you Markers Richway, Blazon manage your golf greens. • For faster play on your greens call us for your sod installations. • We specialize in green installations, tees and problem patchwork. • Call to place your sod order or to arrange for installation of your greens. One green or your 1-313-437-1427 Kimberly Olson entire golf course. Office Turfgrass Agronomy ROHOZA TURF PROFESSIONALS 1-800-521-8873 Gene Johanningsmeier (Michigan Only) Turfgrass Agronomy SEWICKLEY, PA 15143 412/266-4138 — 412/266-1140 14 Golf Course Tees: An Architect's View (Continued from Page 10) Most everyone appreciates the aesthetics and strategy in­ Optimum tee size is double these minimums as is minimum volved in a tee shot that has to thread its way through a tun­ tee size under shaded conditions. nel of trees. Contemporary tee areas often total six to eight thousand With only brief mention of light intensity, air circulation square feet and above in sizes. Multiple tees are common to­ and the like, there is another important reason for going day and permit more efficient use per unit area than many of about clearing of trees adjacent to tees in a careful manner. the long landing strip tees. The no-man's land found between Just picture this situation: You step onto the tree-lined tee of marker settings on long tees is eliminated when multiple tees an unbearably long par three. There's somewhere between are designed. thirty-five and forty cents riding on the match and you're nine Some settings mandate the use of multiple tees due to sever­ holes down with nine holes left to play. You really wail ity of topography. More flexibility in setting tees into the sur­ away at it, catch it on the toe of your three wood, and the roundings can be gained and this minimizes problems asso­ ball, at a couple hundred feet per second, heads right for the ciated with steep banks, eases maintenance, and most trunk of one of those beautiful trees immediately adjacent to importantly on existing courses, reduces fill requirements dur­ the tee. Just as you look up, ever optimistic, to see your tee ing construction. shot land on the green, the ball ricochets back and catches MULTIPLE TEES PERMIT various angles of play and degrees you right in the, ah, right in the leg. As your partners scrape of difficulty on the same hole. Problems encountered when you up off the turf, the first thing you can say, in a high the front of a long, single level tee blocks the view of a land­ pitched voice, just happens to be the last name of your attor­ ing area or par-three green from the back of that same tee can ney. be avoided through the use of multiple tees. A good deal of thought has to go into clearing immediately Many clubs are building a minimum of three, and some­ adjacent to tees. The aesthetic effect of such tree and tee times four tees per hole. Some clubs tie specific tee use to work can be striking, but safety has to be a concern. handicaps. For example, the beginning golfer would start at AS FAR AS SURFACE GRADE is concerned, some like tees the front set of markers and have to lower his or her handicap crowned, some pitched from side to side, some sloped from to a specific level before being permitted to move back to the end to end. There is no set rule other than they have to ex­ next set of markers. These clubs have found this to greatly hibit surface drainage. This rules out flat tees, and interest­ speed up play and be a tremendous motivating factor for im­ ingly enough, many of the equipment operators feel the provement. The golfer is not allowed to bite off more than he toughest tee to grade is the perfectly flat one. We prefer a or she can chew distance or difficulty-wise and tees are re­ one percent grade down from the front to the back. The fin­ ferred to by color, not by championship, men's and ladies'. ish grade at the rear of the tee should be raised at least one The regular tee should comprise 50 to 60 percent of the to­ foot above the surrounding grade. tal tee area. This tee should usually be wide enough to allow In addition to size limitations, tee construction is often splitting the width of the tee with the markers. When markers mandated by original construction techniques using soils are set to the full width, the golfer sets up in the preferred part high in fines that compact under heavy levels of play. Cau­ of the tee. Splitting the tee with the markers results in more tion should be exercised with regard to the common response even distribution of wear. of mixing sand into such a soil in order to improve aeration The specifics of play at your club must be considered. If and drainage. In research work at Illinois, Art Spomer high­ blue and red play are not excessive, these tees need not be lighted the threshold principle. When a coarse textured any larger than 1,000 square feet each. Minimum tee size is amendment, in this case, sand, is added to a soil in the hopes also important. The gals feel unloved, deprived and basically of improving aeration, drainage and resistance to compac­ tread upon when red tee area falls below 750 square feet or tion, aeration and resistance to compaction initially decrease. so. As you begin adding sand, you are actually making the situa­ Make an effort to keep the red tees out of the direct line of tion worse. Drainage characteristics, aeration and resistance sight and play from the back tees. All too often, the view of a to compaction improve only after the threshold proportion is fairway bunker or similar feature can be blocked by the red reached, sand particles bridge, or in other words, are in con­ tee when playing from the middle to back of the main tee on tact with each other. With the sand particles in contact with a particular hole. each other, large pores are formed between the sand parti­ The game is full of rectangular or otherwise geometrically cles, enhancing drainage, aeration, and resistance to compac­ shaped tees. We've seen so many that we've reconciled our­ tion. The lesson here is that a significant amount of amend­ selves to this totally unnatural form as a standard. The shape ment, the threshold proportion, is required before physical of the tees should be limited only by your imagination and the improvement of the soil is affected. Tnis amount of amend­ maneuverability of your tee mower. ment is usually quite height, often 75-90% of the total bulk IN CHANGING THE LOCATION and orientation of exist­ volume. With this in mind, complete reconstruction is often ing tees, adjacent homes, holes, or private property can pose easier and more reliable. liability problems. An architect's input can be helpful here. In most of our tee construction today, we're leaning strong­ Court action that results in an eight or seventeen-hole layout ly in the direction of the principles behind putting green con­ can significantly dim the lustre of a course. struction. This type of construction begins with the subgrade Much is made of tees that don't face exactly down the mid­ being shaped in direct relation to the finish grade. dle of the fairway. The late Jimmy Demarest wasn't too far off the mark when he suggested that all tees be round, then (Continued on Page 16) they'd all be facing correctly. 15 Golf Course Tees: An Architect's View (Continued from Page 15) That is, if the finish grade at the front of the tee is to be one foot above the finish grade at the rear of the tee, then the sub­ grade at the front of the tee should be one foot above the subgrade at the rear of the tee. A four-inch layer of pea gravel is ten spread over the entire subgrade. In addition to agronomic benefits, this stone layer helps greatly in grading a smooth surface, especially where the subgrade material is not uniform. A sand conforming to USGA Green Section specifications is then brought in to an 8-inch settled depth over the stone and four to six standard bales of peat per thousand square feet are disked into the sand with a rotary plow. Whether the mixing method be on or off-site, the importance of thorough and even mixing can't be overemphasized. Pockets of sand and peat will lend new meaning to the phenomenon of localized dry spots. Care needs to be taken to achieve the proper mix over the entire playing surface. When on-site mixing small amounts of peat into the sand, with proper supervision, the results can be very good. During this process, we should bear in mind that our goal is the development of surfaces on which the game of golf can be played. This leads to the selection of a grass adapted to the playing characteristics desirable on tees. One of the most important of these characteristics is a closely cut turf. Rather than allowing the grass to determine the resulting playing con­ ditions, as is the case with the bluegrasses, we prefer to permit the playing conditions desired to determine grass selection. A close cut turf is essential and a grass capable of delivering this characteristic is selected. Penncross and Penneagle, creep­ ing bentgrass, are the most common selections. On bentgrass tees, the bentgrasses should be planted only on the surface of the tee and not on terrace slopes or banks. Grass should be maintained at the tee height only on playing surfaces from which a tee shot can be struck. Surrounding turf should be cut at rough height or higher. Of the various playing surfaces on a golf course, tees have doubtlessly come the longest way in the shortest time. Even an old timer like myself can remember playing off dirt tees where no attempt was made to maintain a turf cover. These were dirt tees by design. To make a good tee out of a bad one, I come down squarely on the side of complete reconstruction. We see a good many tees renovated simply by receiving a giftwrapping of new sod. However, this sod fails, often all too soon, due to in­ herent problems of sizes, soils and the like. Hopefully the design, construction and maintenance principles outlined in this session will lead to finished products that both you and your club can take pride in. Credit: The Gateway Green -----\ 1990 CALENDAR OF EVENTS OCTOBER 17 Boylan Service School, Plainwell Ml 18 NMTMA Mechanics Meeting, West Branch Country Club NOVEMBER 8-9 GCSAA Regional Seminar: Managerial Productivity, Lansing Ml DECEMBER MMTA Annual Christmas Party, Date and Place to be announced 10-14 Ohio Turfgrass Conference, Cincinati, OH JANUARY Commercial Pump Winter Service School, Swanton, OH Dates to be announced. For information: 1 -800-426-0370 FEBRUARY 5-12 GCSAA lnternationa)£^nference and Show, Las Vegas, NV a > ^"beard COLLECTION