44th Annual Conference
Takes Shape
Program
The program for the 44th Northwest Turfgrass Conference and Exhibition schedule for September 17-20,
1990 at the Rippling River Resort in Welches, Oregon has
been finalized by William Griffith, Conference Program
Committee Chairperson.
This year's conference program will again include the
mixed general and split session format that was so well
received at the two previous annual conferences. One of
the split session tracks will be designed for golf course
personnel while the second track will be aimed at parks,
grounds and athletic field personnel.
Speakers
Dr. A. J. Turgeon of Pennsylvania State University and
Dr. Robert Sherman of the University of Nebraska, along
with many other excellent speakers, will provide over 30
outstanding presentations including such topics as: pesticide regulation compliance; red thread management;
pesticide spill response; computers and turf management;
weed control in turf; putting turf; herbicide update; turf-soil
relationships; tree fertilization; tank mixing pesticides; wild
flowers and low maintenance; water use; integrated pest
management; aquatic weed control; turf renovation; crowd
control-rebuilding waterfront park; sprayer selection and
calibration; and more, more, more!
Pesticide Recertification and GCSAA CEUs
Oregon and Washington pesticide recertification credits and GCSAA CEUs will be available for program attendees.
Exhibition
The 7,000 square conference center, one of the largest
meeting facilities of any resort in Oregon and Washington,
will serve as the center for our conference Monday evening
welcome reception and exhibition. The show will be in a
table-top format encompassing a hosted delectable hosted
hors d'oeuvres reception. The response from selected potential exhibitors to the new show format and scheduling is
exciting and everyone is looking forward to it.
Accommodations
The Rippling River Resort and Conference Center is
the essence of simple elegance in a spectacularly beautiful
"all Oregon" alpine setting...tall fir trees, crystal clear river,
lush fairways, nestled in the foothills or Mt. Hood, just east
of Portland.
The resort is a full service resort facility with over 200
hotel rooms and condominiums, two restaurants, meeting

space for over 1000 people, swimming pool, sauna, hot tub,
six tennis courts, a BBQ area and bicycle rentals.
Transportation
Portland International Airport is served by all major
commercial airlines. At the airport you will find all the normal
automobile rental services. The resort is a short, beautiful
45 minute drive from the airport.
For those driving, the resort is located 45 minutes east
of Portland just off Highway 26 at Welches, Oregon.
Golf
The annual men's and women's Turfgrass Conference
Golf Tournaments will be held Monday on the Rippling
Resort golf courses. Rippling River is headquarters for over
250 golfing events annually. Over 70 rental carts are
available in addition to a complete line of rental equipment.
The pro shop and sport boutique offer excellent shopping
values.
At present, there are three separate nine-hole courses
available for play with an additional nine-hole course on the
drawing boards. The original 2665-yard South Course was
built in 1922 by founder Billy Welch. Rated at 33, the course
plays through tall firs and features three outstanding par
threes. The 3341-yard North Course was built in 1968 by
Gene Bowman and it carries a rating of 35. The West
Course, the most challenging carries a rating of 35 and
plays along the Salmon River.
Turfgrass Facilities Tour
The third annual Turfgrass Facilities Tour will also be
conducted Monday. The tour plans are being finalized now;
however, a three stop tour is expected with a variety of
information topped with an outstanding box lunch.
Spouse/Guest Offerings
As usual, a luncheon and tour are being planned for
spouses for Tuesday and Wednesday. In addition, the resort offers an abundance of recreational opportunities for
those not involved in the professional development sessions.
Registration Materials
Registration packets for attendees will be mailed near
the end of the summer. Potential exhibitors will receive
sign-up materials around the same time. Keep an eye
openfor your materials.
For further information on the Rippling River Resort,
contact: Rippling River Resort, 68010 East Fairway Avenue, Welches, Oregon 97067 (503) 622-3101.
For further information on the conference and conference-related activities, contact: NT A, P.O. Box 1367, Olympia, Washington 98507 (206) 754-0825.

President's Corner
by Dr. William J. Johnston

"How to Participate In the NT A "
In the last issue of Turfgrass
Topics I promised to discuss ways
that we all could participate more
in the Northwest Turfgrass Association. To participate effectively
we need to be informed, or know
where information we need can be
obtained. In most instances, inforWilliam J. Johnston
mation can be obtained by contacting the NTA Office, whose address and phone number
are given prominently below; other specific phone numbers
are also given. The motivation for preparation of this list is
to open more lines of communication so that we all can participate more fully in the benefits of NTA membership and
to enable the NTA Board of Directors to better serve you.
NORTHWEST TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION
P.O.BOX 1367
OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON 98507
(206) 754-0825

Nominations - Mike Kingsley (509) 255-6602
Conference education program - William Griffith (509) 527-4336
Conference golf tournament - Alan Nielsen (206) 256-1530
Conference spouse program - Rebecca Michels (206) 228-5779
Conference Turfgrass Tour - Pat Nibler (503) 682-6076
Membership - David Jacobsen (503) 224-6100
Publications - Blair Patrick (206) 754-0825
Research & Scholarship - Tom Wolff (206) 868-1600
Exhibits (Conference & Summerfest) - Pat Nibler (503) 682-6076
Long Range Planning - Rebecca Michels (206) 288-5779
Summerfest golf tournament - Don Hellstrom (206) 684-7521

To provide suggestions for new projects, services, or
policies:
Write to NTA President William Johnston (Department
of Agronomy and Soils, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-6420) or to the chairperson of the committee whose work relates to the matter. Respond to requests
published in Turfgrass Topics for suggestions from the
membership. Attend the NTA annual meeting on Tuesday,
September 18,1990 at Rippling River.
To submit a nomination for honorary life membership:
Contact the NTA Office for the criteria and procedure
for election.

To join the NTA:
Write or call the NTA Office for application forms and
information or contact the membership committee chairperson, David Jacobsen (503) 224-6100.
To contact an NTA Board of Directors member:
Current board members are listed on the back cover of
each issue of Turfgrass Topics along with their address and
phone number.
To learn about NTA coming events:
Consultthe Calendar of Events listed on the back cover
of each issue of Turfgrass Topics. Important turfgrass
meetings in the northwest are listed. These events need to
get on your calendar. If you are aware of an important
turfgrass event that needs publicity, contact the NTA Office
well in advance of the event so it can be listed in the
Calendar of Events.
To participate in the activities of a regional turfgrass
group:
Write or call the regional group (officers are listed in
your 1989/90 NTA Directory p 66-73) and express your
interest.
To become or recommend a candidate for an NTA
office:
Contact the chairperson of the NTA Nomination Committee Mike Kingsley (509) 255-6602 and express your
interest in nominating yourself or a colleague.
To serve or assist on an NTA committee or join a work
group:
Familiarize yourself with the work of the specific committee by contacting the chairperson to express your interest and describe your qualifications. Contact the following:

Scott has the
answer to minor
element deficiencies
in turf
To provide your turf with all the major
nutrients along with selected micronutrientsmagnesium, sulfur, copper, iron, manganese,
molybdenum and zinc-and to prevent
deficiencies from occurring, incorporate
ProTurf» 26-4-13 Fertilizer with Minors in
your fertilizing program.
Ask your ProTurf
Tech Rep for details.
Don Clemans
(206) 254-8748
M a r k Jones
(509) 255-6033

26-4-13

Fertilizer
with Minors

Contact Pat Nibler (503) 682-6076 or the NTA Office
(206) 754-0825..

Monday, June 25th, the R. L. Goss Research Golf
Tournament will be held at Canterwood Golf and Country
Club.
Tuesday, June 26th, the annual Turfgrass Field Day
at the Turfgrass Field Day at the WSU Puyallup Research
and Extension Center, Field Laboratory - Farm 5 will be
held.
Following the field day there will be a Turf Grounds
Maintenance and Irrigation Equipment Display and
Demonstration and great luncheon cookout at High Cedars
Golf Club. Wally Staatz, owner/manager of High Cedars
Golf Club, has donated his club and facilities. Registration
information has been mailed but if you need a packet, call
the NTA Office (206) 754-0825.

To submit items for publication in Turfgrass Topics:

1990/91 Board Director Positions

Send material regarding recent publications of turfgrass
interest, people in the news, announcements of forthcoming meetings and conferences, etc. to Blair Patrick at the
NTA Office. Material should be received the 1st of the
month preceding publication of Turfgrass Topics.

The Nominations Committee, chaired by Mike Kingsley,
is soliciting the names of individuals interested in serving as
board directors on the NTA Board of Directors.
There will be at least three board director vacancies on
the Board. The board director positions will be open for
election at the Annual Meeting of the Members held during
the 44th conference. Board Directors are elected for three
(3) year terms.
If you are interested, please contact the NTA Office at
(206) 754-0825.

To contribute to the Roy L. Goss Turf grass Endowment Fund:
Dr. Goss has challenged the turf grass industry to
donate money for education and research. Roy has offered
to match every $15 donated with $1 out of his own pocket.
Contributions may be made to the Roy L. Goss Turfgrass
Endowment Fund, 223 Hulbert Hall, WSU, Pullman, WA
99164.
To exhibit at the Turfgrass Summerfest or Annual
Conference:

To submit an obituary for publication in Turfgrass
Topics:
Send a signed obituary notice to the NTA Office.
To send a letter to the president or editor of Turfgrass
Topics:
Do you agree or disagree with the contents of a recent
issue of Turfgrass Topics? If yes, send a letter to me or the
NTA Office. Do you have something important to share with
the membership regarding the turfgrass industry or the
NTA? If yes, send a letter.
To advertise in Turfgrass Topics:
Contact the NTA Office (206) 754-0825. Advertising
deadline is the 15th of the month preceding publication.
As I stated in the last issue of Turfgrass Topics, one of
the purposes of the NTA is to serve its members. Its ability
to accomplish this task is in direct proportion to the involvement of the membership in the organization. I again urge all
members to become actively involved in the NTA in 1990.
I hope to visit with all of you at the 1990 Turfgrass Summerfest on June 25th at Canterwood Golf and Country Club, or
on June 26th at the WSU Puyallup Turfgrass Field Day and
the display/demonstration at High Cedars Golf Club.

1990 Turfgrass
Summerfest
If you haven't already registered, don't miss the NTA
Turfgrass Summerfest June 25 & 26,1990. The Northwest
Turfgrass Association, with the corporation of the WSU
Puyallup Research and Extension Center, Canterwood
Golf & County Club, and the High Cedars Golf Club, is
sponsoring the event.
The event is planned to provide the opportunity for
friends, colleagues, co-workers and everyone involved
with the turfgrass industry to get together to share problems
(and solutions); hear about recent research activities; see
the "state of the art" in industry equipment demonstration;
and, practice your golf game.

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Research and Scholarship
Fund Raising Campaign

Fertilization, Mowing and Water are
Keys to Quality

Tom Wolff, chairperson of the NTA Research and
Scholarship Fund Committee, asks everyone to remember
the 1989/90 Research and Scholarship fund raising campaign currently underway.
Intimately involved with turfgrass management, we
realize more than most, that today's turfgrass quality is the
result of knowledge and technological gains resulting from
research and education accompanied by hard work and
effort. We owe our thanks to those who their time and
money to make the research and education possible, for
without them we would have to rely on our own slow trial
and error methods.
Few of us are independently capable of nor prepared
to conduct the research or develop the education program
necessary to keep the industry on the leading edge. Recognizing this, the Northwest Turfgrass Association created
a research and scholarship fund to help make it possible for
each of us to participate significantly in the advancement of
present and future knowledge. Through this fund, each of
us can financially contribute to industry research and
education advancements.
Donation forms have been mailed to members and
industry supporters. Contributions are tax deductible and
those contributing to the research and scholarship fund
each year are recognized in the NTA Annual Directory.
Buy a share today in better turfgrass for tomorrow.

LAGUNA HILLS, Calif. —

u

"You can do more with turf in terms of appearance
easier and quicker than any other part of the project," says
Dan Heiny, owner of Allseasons Landscape. "Irrigation,
fertilization and mowing are the keys."
Heiny offered tips to fellow landscapers at a recent
show. Here are excerpts:
• Always mow dry ground. Be sure the lawn is not
watered the day prior to mowing. Also, never mow twice in
the same direction.
• Fertilize every month with a uniform supply of fertilizer.
• Don't use string trimmers around trees. If customers
insist on grass abutting trees, tell them it's risky. Instead,
use a hoe, shovel or handpick to make a six-inch dirt barrier
around the tree. And be sure not to mow too close to the
tree.
• Aerify regularly, "It'll make you look like a real whiz,"
Heiny says, "An aerif ier is one of the best machines you can
use," Afterwards, water to break up the plugs, then mow.
• Test soil moisture regularly.
• Check drainage regularly, especially on rainy days.
• Clear weeds in the walkways. "It's something that
gives the extra little detail to a project," he says.
• Check for tree roots in the asphalt. If unchecked,
they will eventually break the asphalt and you could be held
liable.

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• Specify snail and gopher control. These are timeconsuming jobs, so the contractor should not be responsible unless they are specifically stated in the contract.
Source: Landscape Management/March 1990

Industry Associations Meet to Form
New Coalition
Turf and Landscape trade organization at both the
national and state levels are finding it necessary to join
forces and create a more powerful voice in the political
arena in order to counteract the political forces that may
adversely affect the industry.
Nine industry associations agreed, during a meeting in
September, 1989, to draft governing documents for a new
industry-wide coalition, the Landscape & Environmental
Resource Council. Participating in the meeting were the
American society of Landscape Architects, the American
Sod Producers Association, the Associated Landscape
Contractors of America, the International Society of Aboriculture, the Irrigation Association, the National Arborist
Association, the Professional Grounds Management Society, the Professional Lawn Care Association of America
and the Lawn Institute.
Those participating in the meeting expressed a continuing need for a unified voice on issues that affect the
represented industries, as well as an improved means to
more fully cooperate with each other on joint projects.
The group also advanced several projects initiated
during its first meeting, which was held in Chicago in
February, 1989. The group agreed to undertake an economic profile survey of its nine member groups, to circulate
appropriate publications in development for review and
potential endorsement, to expand its inventory listing of
educational programs and publication, to identify legislative and regulatory issues of potential importance to the
groups, to define environmental benefits provided by all
segments of the groups represented, and to develop
computer-linking specifications and procedures.
The next meeting has been set for March 29,1990, in
Washington, DC. At that time, the group intends to act on
a mission statement and develop formal guidelines for
governance, issues identification, reporting, public relations and funding.
For more information, contact Doug Fender, Executive
Director, American Sod Producers Association, 1855-A
Hicks Road, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008. 708-705-9898.
Source: Turf Tales/March 1990

McCarthy Receives GCSAA
Scholarship
Thomas J. McCarthy of Bellevue, WA,. has received on
of ten 1990 scholarships presented by the Golf Course
Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA).
McCarthy is majoring in horticulture — specializing in
turfgrass management — at Oregon State University.
McCarthy has attended Oregon State since September 1988. He has worked in turfgrass management at the
Sand Point Country Club in Seattle, WA.

Organized in 1926, GCSAA is an international professional association dedicated to promoting the principles
and techniques of responsible golf course management.
This year, GCSAA's Scholarship and Research Fund presented a total of $28,500 to its ten scholarship finalists.
Since its inception in 1956, GCSAA's Scholarship and
Research Fund has provided more that $750,000 in financial support for individual students and university research
programs.

NTA Scholarship
Awarded for 1989/90
Michael T. Conklin, a student at Oregon State University, and Kurt Noonan and Clifford J. Timms, both students
at Washington State University, are the recipients of the
1989/90 Northwest Turfgrass Association Turfgrass Management Scholarships.
Scholarship recipients are determined through an application and screening process conducted by the NTA Research and Scholarship Committee. The scholarship program is designed to provide assistance and encouragement to students pursuing a career in the turf industry. Each
recipient received a $500.00 scholarship.

1990/91 NTA Annual
Directory Advertising Space
The last opportunity to purchase advertising in the
1990/91 NTA Annual Directory is nearing. Those interested
in being included as advertisers need to contact the NTA
Office now for advertising in formation and order forms.

Seed Research Forms
Technical Advisory Committee
Seed Research of Oregon is happy to announce the
formation of the Seed Research technical advisory committee. The advisory committee consists of thirteen golf course
superintendents from around the country who have demonstrated professional excellence and dedication to the
turfgrass industry.
The purpose of this committee is to advise Seed
Research on the specific needs of golf courses regarding
turfgrass species, varieties, blends, and mixtures. The
committee will also evaluate new Seed Research products,
assist in writing technical papers on turfgrass management
and to advise on future marketing programs.
The members of the Seed Research advisory committee are: Armeny Suny, Castle Pines golf Club, Castle
Pines, Co; David Fleming, Golf Properties Management,
Inc., El Cajon, CA; Tony Anfinson, Riverside Country Club,
Portland, OR; Charles Joachim, Champions Golf Club,
Houston, TX; Lee Redman, Sunset Country Club, St.
Louis, MO; Ken Goodman, Bull Valley Country Club,
Woodstock, IL; Kevin Ross, Falmouth Country Club, ME;
Raymond Beaudry, Patterson Club, Fairfield, CN; Jeff
Broadbelt, Chester Valley Golf Club, Malvern, PA: Walter
Montross, Westwood Country Club, 800 Maple Ave. East,
Vienna, VA; Bob Farren, Resorts of Pinehurst, Pinehurst,
NC; Ralph Heinz, The Landing, Savannah, GA; Scott
Lewis, Menlo Country Club, Woodside, CA and Henry
Singh, City of Roseville, Roseville, CA.

Tank Insurance
Required Soon
ORLANDO, Fla. - Is underground storage tank insurance a big deal? It must be, since the Environmental
Protection Agency has set an official deadline for financial
responsibility for groundwater contamination caused by
leaky containers: October 26,1990.
Thankfully, the GCSAA has made the insurance forthis
latest government assault bearable with an affordable
insurance program.
Financial Guardian of Kansas City is the u nderwriter for
the insurance. Cost of coverage will range from $431 per
year up to $1685. Premiums are reduced by seminar and
self audit credits. The coverage provides $1 million in
aggregate coverage, and includes a $1000 minimum
deductible and third party liability coverage.
Bare steel tanks more than 20 years old will not be
covered. According to Richard Shanks, a Financial Guardian spokesperson, no company but Financial Guardian
spokesperson, no company but Financial Guardian will
insure a bare steel tank that is more than 15 years old.
"Make no mistake," says Robert Ochs, GCSAA legal
counsel, "the EPA will enforce the law, an it will be costly
once it's enforced."

7 Ways to Get More Done
During the Normal Work Day
Here are a few suggestions by Dr. Roger Fritz, President of Organization Development Consultants in Naperville, III., to help make your time more productive. One may
work well for one individual; another for someone else.
Experiment with each technique to find the one that works
best for you.
1. Do it immediately. Rush jobs do deserve priority...
but all work should be weighted for relative importance.
2. Don't avoid unpleasant tasks. The problem with
avoiding an unpleasant task is that you carry its emotional
burden with you until it's done... and that slows you down.
3. Take care of the easier jobs first. For the slowstarter, this can be a good way to "build up a head of steam"...
and hopefully, the momentum will keep you going. A good
list of accomplishments, early in the day, can provide an
emotional uplift for more trying tasks ahead.
There are other situations in which this technique is
useful. At a meeting where controversial decisions must be
reached, for example, better relations may result if the
easier problems are resolved first.
4. Do jobs in the order of their importance. This can
be an excellent approach unless all the important jobs are
tiring and/or boring. It is not an excuse to put off the item of
lesser priority, however, so be sure that all tasks are
handled within a reasonable period of time.
5. Alternate Difficult and easy tasks. Alternating the
difficult with the easy provides you with an occasional rest
and with something to look forward to. The variety can
increase your motivation.

6. Group Similar tasks. It's just good sense to
complete several tasks that require the same data, the
same materials or the same personnel before going on to
something else. It reduces duplication of effort and provides you with "momentum" from one task to the next.
However, be sure that you don't use this approach as a
means of avoiding other, less appealing tasks.
7. Change tasks about every two hours. This approach can be helpful when you are doing routine, monotonous tasks. A different type of work can relieve the boredom, lift the spirits and give you something to anticipate.
Source: Clearing House Newsletter

Jacklin Seed
Company Recognized
Jacklin Seed Company is proud to have been selected
by the editorial board of Seed World publication as one of
three "Seed Industry Giants."
The editorial stated:
'This is Seed World's second annual edition focusing
on "The Seed Industry Giants.' Last year we noted the
'giants' issue had been a difficult and challenging one to
prepare. This year proved no different - the main reason
being 'giant' can connote different things to different people.
"It should come as no surprise that we highlight companies like Pioneer and Sandoz, since they are considered
the world's largest seed companies in terms of sales. This
year, however, we also feature Jacklin Seed Company.
While certainly not the size of the multinational in employee
numbers or sales, Jacklin remains a leader in the turfgrass
business. Its owners also are forward-thinking in the area
of research."
The November issue of Seed World then detailed
Jacklin's operations.

Course Superintendent Testifies
On Golf's Environmental Impact
Speaking about the environmental safety and benefits
of golf courses, William R. Roberts, CGCS, an officer of the
Golf Course Superintendents Association of America
(GCSAA), testified March 28, 1990 before the Congressional Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Toxic Substances.
As part of the hearing on the use, regulation and
potential health risk of commercially applied chemicals on
turfgrass, Roberts'testimony highlighted two areas in which
GCSAA is considered to be the industry-leader:
Research Into the Effect of Turf Chemicals on
Groundwater - An independently conducted, GCSAAfunded study completed on Cape Cod, Mass., showed that
virtually no turf chemicals move through the soil structure
into groundwater an that golf courses which employ best
management practices in their application of turf chemicals
can greatly minimize the risk of potential groundwater
leaching.
Education Programs-The membership of GCSAA is
responsible for preserving the delicate balance of the golf
course environment and, to that end, has developed a

highly structured educational and certification program for
its members.
Roberts, a golf course superintendent at Lochmoor
Club, Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich., was invited to testify by
Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev) because of GCSAA's recognized
leadership in the field of turf chemical application and
research.

TURF-SEED PRODUCTS

ARE DISTRIBUTED IN THE
NORTHWEST BY 'THE CHIEF

Norm Whitworth

Six Big Mistakes
To Avoid When Hiring
Some managers get involved with recruiting and selecting new employees so infrequently that it is understandable that they never really get good at it.
When it is time to hire, they are often so caught up in the
day-to-day activities and problems of the job that they don't
find the time that is necessary for a successful hiring
process.
Hiring for the wrong job.
The first mistake managers make in hiring is when they
add another person without analyzing the workflow or the
workload. You should hire for the position that will solve
your problems best. And that position may not even exist at
the moment.
Here's an example: You manage a department with
three senior people all performing the same work, and a
junior or support staff person. The workload increases to a
point where your existing staff can't complete it. Do you hire
another senior person with all the necessary skills at the
senior salary level? Or do you take the least skilled activities they perform, the "C" functions, from each of your three
people and create a new medium value position. Now, of
course, your senior operators have more time to spend on
their "A" activities. These are the duties you hired them for
in the first place and which they are more challenged to
perform.
If you follow this second suggestion, you have another
decision to make. You can promote your junior and hire a
new support staff person, or you can hire anew person from
outside to fill the newly created position. Either salary level
is lower with the second method than that of another senior
member. So, with a little creative workflow analysis, you
have saved salary dollars and motivated everyone in your
department.
Not setting objectives
The second mistake many managers make when they
need to hire is they do not prepare complete job and
candidate specifications. When the preparation step is
lacking, all the following steps break down. The interview,
for example, becomes haphazard, the interviewer talks
more than the applicants so, they gather only technical
information and use unsystematic methods of evaluation.
You need to understand the job duties and responsibilities so you can decide "what a candidate should do" in the
way of education, experience, track record, etc. From the
job specifications, you can also make some decisions
about "what a candidate should be like" in the way of
personal characteristics. You should also consider the
"personality" of your department supervisor, and hire an
applicant with a personality that "fits."

KENTUCKY
BLUEGRASSES

FINE FESCUES

•Shadow •Flyer
• Fortress

HARD FESCUES

• Aurora •Waldina

Columbia'Midnight
Challenger
Galaxy Blend

PERENNIAL
RYEGRASSES

• Citation D« Birdie II
• Omega II • Manhattan II
• CBS D Blend

SHEEPSFESCUE TALL FESCUES

• Bighorn

CREEPING
BENTGRASSES

•Olympic *Apache
• Monarch
•Triathalawn Blend

•Penncross'Penneagle
Wildflower mixture
•PennLinks
•Pennway blend
• Bloomers

Norm Whitworth
Turf Products Division
P.O. Box 68314 • Oak Grove, OR 97268

503/659-3114

This specifications stage is critical. You have to know
what ideal profile you are ultimately searching for so you
can plan the questions and the other pertinent investigation
tools you need to uncover the relevant information necessary to make a valid decision. In other words, you must
have a goal before you can plan how to reach it.
Divide the qualities you are looking for into "musts" and
"wants". A must is a minimum requirement. It can't be
negotiated, therefore it is a knockout factor. A reasonable
number of musts is five or fewer. The more you itemize, the
smaller the population you have from which to choose. The
wants are everything you are looking for in the ideal
candidate.
You should realize that it is highly unlikely that you will
be able to find a candidate to satisfy all your wants.
"Being able to type 65 wpm" should not be a must.
"Being able to type" is a must; "at 65 wpm" is a want. "Having
sales management experience" is a must; 'live years
experience" or" in our industry" are wants.
Making it difficult for applicants
Now that you have made the decision to hire and have
written a job candidate spec, you can write your recruiting
ad or call your personnel agency. Don't make the mistake
of approaching this in terms of your interests. Your wanting
"sound knowledge of computer payroll applications" doesn't
really grab the interest of many payroll clerks. What shipping agent is concerned about your need for "a candidate
experienced in the container trade"? You should approach
the writing of your ad or the discussion with your recruiter
from the applicants' point of view. Tell them what they want
to hear.
Tell payroll clerks that you have a "pleasant, friendly
atmosphere" or provide the "most up-to-date computerized
system". Shipping agents will want to know about the
prestige of your firm and that "to support you, we provide the
most complete communication and locating network available to the industry". Consider the headline and the first
paragraph of the ad as your sales presentation for the job
and your organization.
Asking applicants to mail a resume to a blind box
number in care of a newspaper or magazine is a mistake
because this approach makes it as difficult as possible for
people to reply.
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people to pursue your opportunity is to telephone you. So,
include your name, phone number and your address for out
of town applicants. Certainly, you are going to get calls from
people who are not qualified. Yes, you are going to be tied
to the telephone for a couple of days. But that's better than
not even knowing about the qualified person who doesn't
have an updated resume because he/she is relatively
happy in their current job.
If recruiting is a major function of your job, you should
do anything necessary - suffer through all those many
phone calls - to discoverthe best available candidate forthe
job. If you just don't have the time to follow all the right steps,
you should use a third party recruiter.
Actually, it is a mistake not to use a third party professional recruiter. (They put their hone numbers in their ads.)
If your agency works on a contingency basis, it won't cost
you anything unless you hire their applicant. So you can
see what your ad produces and compare it to what the
agency produces. In the end, you hire the best candidate
knowing that you have drawn from the largest candidate
bank available.
Not weighing the results from all sources
There are many selection tools available to a hiring
manager and you should use them all. Don't make the
mistake of putting the entire decision on one device.
In many supervisor's minds, the interview is the most
important tool. However, the results from the interview
should be corroborated with the results of tests, reference
checks, other written evaluations, and third party interview
opinions inside and outside your organization. If one reference is less than complimentary about a specific candidate, you would want to weight it against your other
findings. It is highly likely the positives will outweigh the
negative and you would go ahead. There are no "perfect
people", so there will be some negatives with every applicant. Your job is to put them in perspective in relation to the
job, your corporate culture, etc.
One very important tool to use when selecting people
is Management Judgement, ye, your intuition (often referred to as a "gut feeling"). Hiring decisions are just like any
other decision you make in life: you wish you had more
information or more accurate information before you make
that decision. Of course, you want to be sure you make the
right choice. But, there comes a time when you have to face
the situation and perform one of your major responsibilities
as a manager and make a decision.
Remember, however, to add your intuition only after
you have gathered as much information as is practical
using the other selection tools available.
Demanding specific experience
Another mistake made more often lately by manager is
they put too much emphasis on the applicant's specific
experience. "Can do" considerations are important, but
only generally. Sales managers in particular ask for years
of their specific industry experience. It has been said that 87
percent of properly selected candidates fail because of
personality factors.
So, instead of spending the bulk of the selection time
determining the applicant's technical skills, the greater
portion should be spent predicting whether the individual
"will do" the job.
For example, you are trying to decide between two
close applicants for a word processing position. The first

one has the personality and the motivation that complements your firm's environment and will be promotable in the
future, but he/she doesn't have experience with the specific
software your firm uses. The other applicant has the
precise software experience, a stable work history and
good references. It is recommended that you hire the first
individual. It is easier to train a willing person on your
software than to motivate the second applicant after the
novelty of the job wears off. You will get better long term
results which is really why you are hiring.
Hiring in your own image
Senior people in an organization and entrepreneurial
personalty types who tend to make decisions quickly often
make the mistake of hiring in their own image. Actually, it is
recommended that you don't hire anyone who reminds you
of yourself.
It is unfortunate when a less capable candidate is hired
because he/she has some similarity to the hiring manager.
You don't want to hire in a narrow image. Much though
should be given to meeting your firm's organizational goal
through expanding and enriching the diversity of its personnel. A McGill University study showed that managers who
fall into this category tend to make their hire/no hire decision within the first four minutes of an interview and that
unjustifiable weight is given to one unfavourable impression.
It appears that those who are guilty of hiring in their own
image are also committing several of the other mistakes.
Hiring mistakes are costly in more ways than one. In
dollars it has been estimated the mishiring can easily cost
two or three times the annual salary. The non-dollar costs
include loss in productivity, the negative effect on morale,
the lost management effort while they are tied up hiring and
training, the increased administrative workload and cost,
and on and on.
So don't let these mistakes interfere with your hiring
practices. Invest your time in following the positive rules so
you can realize the highest return when making hiring
decisions.
Source: Green Master

Groundwater, Turf Management,
and Public Perception
by Michael L. Agnew, Iowa State University

Groundwater is defined as any water which occurs
beneath the surface of the earth in a saturated geological
formation of rock or soil. It accounts for the drinking water
of half the total United States population and 95 percent of
the rural populations. Atone time, groundwater was generally thought to be protected from contamination by impervious layers of subsoil, clay, rock, and the soils' own
degradation process. However, in 1979 the pesticide Aldicarb was found in wells on Long Island and in Wisconsin.
This along with detection of nitrate in groundwater, forced
groundwater contamination to become the top environmental issue.
The primary sources of groundwater contamination
can be classified as either point source or nonpoint source
contamination.
Point source contamination can be traced back to a
specific source. In 1988, the U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency reported that deficient septic tanks, leaking underground storage tanks, and agricultural activities (i.e. fertilizer application) were the most frequently cited sources of
groundwater contamination.
A nonpoint source of contamination is one that cannot
be traced back to a specific source. In water that did not
meet state use designations by the EPA, nonpoint sources
of pollution were cited as the cause of water quality degradation in 76 percent of lake acres, 65 percent of stream
miles, and 45 percent of estuarine water. Examples of
nonpoint sources of contamination include agricultural
fertilizer and pesticide runoff, agricultural fertilizer and
pesticide movement through the soil, and sediment from
construction sites.
Factors Influencing Contamination
Understanding the soil type, solubility of chemicals,
water table depths, topography, and vegetation can assist
in the site evaluation for groundwater protection.
Soils that have higher infiltration and percolation rates
are more susceptible to groundwater contamination. Sandy
soils, modified sand golf greens, and modified sand athletic
fields are examples of areas having high percolation rates.
With the exception of native sandy soils, these areas are
constructed in a 12 to 24-inch soil profile with water diverted
from the modified soils to soils with lower percolation rates.
However, native sandy soils can be found in most states.
These areas are highly susceptible to groundwater contamination.
The solubility of pesticides can directly influence groundwater contamination. The EPA has identified several
turfgrass pesticides as having potential for leaching into the
groundwater. They are Carbaryl, Chlorothalonil, 2, 4-D,
DCPA, Dicamba, Fenamiphos, and Trifluralin. Only a few
of these products actually remain soluble in water. The
Farm Chemical Handbook provides information on pesticide solubility.
Fertilizer sources also vary in their rate of solubility.
Nitrogen is more likely to move into the groundwater when
present in the soil in a soluble form. Soluble forms of
nitrogen include synthetic nitrogen sources (ammonium
nitrate, ammonium sulfate, calcium nitrate) and urea. Slowrelease nitrogen sources have a lower water solubility than
the soluble forms of nitrogen. Within the slow-release
nitrogen group, some slow release nitrogen sources are
more soluble than others. For example, ureaform and
milorganite are less soluble than short chain methylene
urea.
Nitrogen Sources
Water Soluble
Slow Release
Synthetic Inorganics
Natural Organics
• Ammonium Nitrate
• Milorganite
• Ammonium Sulfate
• Sustane
• Calcium Nitrate
• Restore
Synthetic Organics
Synthetic Organics
• Urea
• Ureaform
• Methylene Urea
• Sulphur Coated Urea
The depth of the water table directly affects the susceptibility of the groundwater to contamination. Shallow water
tables are more likely to be contaminated than deep aquifers. In Iowa, much of the drinking water is from shallow
water sources.

The topography of the site also influences the movement of fertilizers and pesticides. Heavily sloped areas are
more like to lose water, nutrients, and and pesticides
through runoff. All other conditions being the same, it
stands to reason that the greater degree of slope, the
greater the water loss due to the increased velocity of water
flow. The length of the slope also influences the movement
of fertilizers and pesticides. The greater the extension of
the sloped area, the greater the concentration of the
flooding water.
The presence of vegetation on the soil surface will
greatly affect the loss of fertilizers and pesticides through
both runoff and leaching. The kind of grass, the thickness
of the stand, and the vigor of its growth greatly affect runoff
an dare of great importance in the control of pesticide and
fertilizer movement. A thick, healthy stand of cultivated
turfgrass is much less susceptible to runoff than are pastures. Pastures are more compacted and are not as thickly
vegetated as lawns. In research conducted at Penn State,
nutrient loss through runoff was greater on seeded sites
than on sodded turfgrass sites. The loss of water by
percolation is also less on vegetated lands than bare soil.
The roots of a turfgrass plant will be in the upper 8 to 12
inches of the soil profile. These roots are excellent extractors of soil water.
In summary, sandy turfgrass sites treated with soluble
chemicals are more prone to leaching loss, whereas heavy
clay turfgrass sites on sloped areas are more prone to
runoff loss.

Management Practices That
Protect Groundwater
The manager of a turfgrass site has ultimate control on
protecting the groundwater. This is especially true for
sandy turfgrass sites. Thus the nitrogen source, nitrogen
application rates, timing of nitrogen application, and irrigation practices can directly influence groundwater contamination on sandy sites.
As stated previously, slow-release nitrogen sources
have a lower solubility than inorganic nitrogen sources.
Slow-release nitrogen sources are recommended for use
on sandy soils. Research has shown that nitrate leaching
is less when applied as a natural organic form (Milorganite)
or a synthetic organic form, (ureaform)
If soluble nitrogen sources are preferred, rates should
be adjusted to prevent movement through the soil profile
into the groundwater. For example, nitrogen applications
with urea on high sand content golf greens should be at a
rate of .1 to .25 lb. N/1000 sq. ft. per application. Anything
greater may leach below the root zone. Once this occurs,
the nitrogen is no longer available for plant use. However,
if slow-release nitrogen sources with a high water insoluble
nitrogen ratio are used, N rates can be as high as 2 lb. N/
1000 sq. ft. per application on Kentucky bluegrass.
Certain types of weather will favor nitrogen leaching.
For instance, cool rainy weather favors the movement of
nitrogen beyond the root zone into the groundwater. Increased leaching potential occurs because cool temperatures decrease denitrification, volatilization, microbial activity and plant nutrient uptake. Thus, application of high
rates of nitrogen on sandy sites during the late fall, winter
or early spring can lead to nitrate movement into the
groundwater.

Irrigation practices that result in water movement below the root system will increase potential nitrogen and
pesticide leaching. Irrigation on a daily basis during cool
months will increase leaching losses. On the other hand,
infrequent deep irrigation to well below the root system will
more than likely move nutrients with the water. Irrigation
should only be provided to replace what water has been
removed by plant uptake and evaporation.
Source: NYSTA Spring 1990 Bulletin 138

Thoughtful Tree Planting
by Paul Vemeulen, U.S. Golf Association

To the novice golfer or average club official, planting a
tree on a golf course seems fairly straightforward. After all,
it only takes a short trip to the nursery and 10 minutes to dig
a hole.
Well, not exactly. An improperly placed tree of the
wrong species can seriously interfere with the original
intent of the course architect or, even worse, completely
destroy a putting green.
The following are 10 guidelines that one should ponder
before attempting to plant a tree. Hopefully, these guidelines will help ensure that a new tree becomes and asset to
the entire club rather than a thorn in the superintendent's
side.
Before reviewing these guidelines, please realize that
each may not always apply strictly in all situations. For
example, a large tree planted 25 yards away from a putting
green on the south side will cause greater problems than a
tree planted the same distance on the north side, due to
heavy shading.
Guideline No. 1
Make sure to select a planting location so that the
mature canopy of the tree will not protrude on the line-offlight between a tee and fairway. Trees with protruding
limbs dramatically reduce the usable size of a tee.
For example, a tree planted too close to the front righthand side of a tee will promote concentrated use on the lefthand side of the tee. The result of such concentrated
divoting on one side of the tee usually promotes discussion
about the superintendent's abilities. The solution to large
overhanging limbs is usually sympathetic pruning that
leaves the tree permanently disfigured. Actually, complete
removal of the tree could be the best solution.
Guideline No. 2
To allow for vital air movement and exposure to sunlight, resist the temptation to plant dense groves of trees
around greens, tees and fairways. Poor air circulation,
especially in areas where greens are located, produces
soaring temperatures and humidity during the summer that
in turn promotes harmful disease development. Furthermore, poor air circulation and dense shade during the
winter produces cooler soil temperatures that severely
retard the growth rate, leaving greens helpless against foot
traffic. In situations where poor aircirculation and restricted
sunlight penetration cause unacceptable turf loss, tree
removal is absolutely necessary.

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Guideline No. 3
Never try to completely fill in rough areas between
adjacent fairways with trees for the sake of safety. No
matter how many trees you plant to protect neighboring
players, the odds are the first high handicapper will find a
way through. Once they do, took out!
The player automatically feels qualified to join the PGA
tour and aims directly into the oncoming players, hoping to
hit a high f adeback over the trees. If your intent is to protect
golfers in adjacent fairways, then plant groups of trees
strategically near the tee. This will prevent errant shots from
even having a chance to stray. Leave several openings
between adjacent fairways near the landing area so that if
someone does stray, they have the opportunity to return to
their fairway uninhibited.

Guideline No. 8
When selecting a tree, choose species that match the
existing vegetation and have favorable characteristics.
Cottonwoods and large fruit trees are not good candidates
for golf courses because they are either strong surface
rooters or require continuous maintenance.
In addition, try to limit the number of different species
as much as possible. A continuous vegetation scheme is
often the trademark of many of America's highest ranked
courses. For example, the site of this year's U.S. Open was
Oak Hill CC in Rochester, N.Y. This particular course has
a continuous theme of oak trees from the first tee through
the 18th green. Courses that tend to plant a potpourri of tree
species are usually unf latteringly referred to as tree zoos or
specimen parks.

Guideline No. 4
Never plant large trees closer than 75 feet from a green
or tee, because they will become serious competitors for
available water and nutrients. Most individuals are under
the mistaken impression that tree roots cannot extend
outward from the trunk further than the drip line of the tree.
In reality, tree roots can extend outward from the trunk
approximately one to one and a half times the total height
of the tree.
For example, if a tree is 100 feet tall, its roots can
extend as far 100-150 feet. Once tree roots have invaded
underneath a green or tee, they sap water and nutrients
away due to their overwhelming size. In situations where
tree roots are a problem, sever them with a trencher and
install a permanent barrier.

Guideline No. 9
Try to naturalize the appearance of large tree plantings
by randomizing the distance between each tree. A good
way to develop a randomized tree planting would be to hit
several dozen golf balls into a rough area from a distance
of 200 yards. Then place a small flag where each ball has
landed and selectively remove one flat at a time until there
are an appropriate number left.

Guideline No. 5
Without question, flowering trees add unmistakable
beauty to any course. However, due to their tender bark
and dwarf stature, they are extremely sensitive to mower
damage. This extreme sensitivity makes most flowering
trees a poor candidate for use on golf courses unless they
can be carefully protected. Augusta National is a good
example. The beautiful flowering dogwoods and azaleas
have been planted underneath pine trees where there is
never an occasion to operate heavy mowing equipment.
Guideline No. 6
Try to avoid screening out scenic vistas. Scenic vistas
include the clubhouse, ocean or mountain views, lakes or
other open areas of the course. Once a scenic vista has
been lost, it is usually forgotten and consequently may be
lost forever.
Guideline No. 7
It is often best to avoid using a standardized tree
planting as yardage indicators. Problems arise in the future
when one of the planting is tost or damaged.
For example, if palm trees are used on each hole to
indicate a distance of 150 yards, it will be impossible to
replace a dying palm with one of matching size. In addition,
a tree planted to the edge of the fairway can severely
penalize a golfer.
A better means of indicating yardage may be to mark
large, landmarktrees already present throughout the course
with a small wooden or metal plaque. The advantages of
marking landmark trees is that they blend in with the course
surroundings, they are already present throughout the
course, and because of their size they can be seen by
golfers that stray into adjacent fairways.

Guideline No. 10
To prevent unnecessary neglect of newly planted trees,
never plant more than the maintenance staff can adequately maintain. During the first year of establishment,
small trees require extra attention and frequent handwatering during the summer, if you must purchase trees in
large numbers due to cost, it might be best to establish a
tree nursery near the maintenance facility where they can
be easily cared for. Then, over the next several years,
slowly spread them over the course.
Summary
Remember that a good tree-planting program on any
course starts with a long-range plan. What makes a golf
course different from a park or from your front yard is the
presence of sensitive putting greens and the integrity of the
game.
The agronomic impact of misplaced trees is commonly
seen in the form of shade, root competition and poor air
circulation. Thoughtful tree planting should not only improve the appearance and payability of your course, but
more importantly remove the thorn from your
superintendent's side.
Source: Golden State Fairways

Ecological Side-Effects of Pesticide
And Fertilizer Use On Turf
by Daniel A. Potter, University of Kentucky
Professor, Department of Entomology

Turfgrasses, which cover an estimated 19 to 25 million
acres in the United States, are often the most intensively
managed plantings in the urban landscape. A growing
number of home lawns, golf courses, and other turf areas
are being maintained with regular applications of insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, and fertilizers because of
public demand for dense, uniform, dark green turf.

Pesticides and fertilizers are indispensable tools of the
modern turf manager. However, it is clear from other
agricultural systems that frequent or excessive chemical
applications can sometimes have undesirable side-effects.
Because pesticides may kill beneficial organisms as well as
pests, their use can increase the risk of pest resurgences
or outbreaks of secondary pests. For example, it is well
documented that use of insecticides again key orchard
pests such as the codling moth can severely reduce the
populations of predatory mites, allowing injurious spider
mites to reach outbreak levels. Pesticides and fertilizers
may also affect earthworms and other soil-inhabiting creatures that play important roles in conditioning the soil and
in the natural breakdown of plant litter.
The observation that excessive thatch accumulation or
outbreaks of pest insects rarely occur on minimally managed turfgrass suggests that healthy turf is a relatively
stable habitat in which thatch production is balanceed by
decomposition and in which pest insects are held in check
by predators and parasites. However, surprisingly little is
known about the side-effects of common turf management
practices on these important natural processes. The issue
of the environmental side-effects of common turf management has added significance in light of charges leveled at
the lawn sen/ice industry by certain elements of the media
and general public that the use of pesticides on lawns and
golf courses is ecologically and environmentally unsound.
This article summarizes recent research which has begun

4

A

J

to clarify how turf management practices may affect earthworms, predators, and other beneficial creatures inturfgrass,
and how this in turn may affect thatch decomposition and
natural regulation of pest populations.
Thatch Accumulation and Decomposition
The Greek philosopher and scientist Aristotle called
earthworms the "Intestines of the earth". Indeed, earthworms and other soil-inhabiting invertebrates have been
shown to play a major role in the decomposition of plant
litter and nutrient recycling in forest an pasture soils. These
animals pull down and mix organic material into the soil,
enrich the soil with their excreta, and help to fragment and
condition plant debris in their guts prior to further breakdown by bacteria and fungi. Plant litter decomposition is
much faster with the combined action of soil animals and
micro-organisms; medium mesh, to exclude earthworms
but admit smaller invertebrates such as soil mites; or
coarse mesh, to admit all components of the soil fauna,
including earthworms. In a companion experiment, thatch
pieces were buried in identical coarse mesh bags in untreated turf, or in turf that had been treated with chlordane
and furadan to eliminate the earthworms.
Thatch pieces from each experiment were periodically
dug up, reweighed, and analyzed for mineral soil content
and loss of organic material. Dramatic differences were
apparent in both experiments after only three months.
Without earthworms the structure and composition of the

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thatch remained nearly unchanged, but the pieces were
broken apart and dispersed when earthworms were present (Fig. 1). The most striking effect of earthworm activity
was a significant increase in the amount of soil incorporated
into the thatch, from about 30% soil content by weight
without earthworms to about 70% soil by weight with worms
present. The effect of this natural process is similar to that
achieved by core cultivation or by topdressing as is practiced on golf greens.
Do Natural Enemies Help To Control Pest
Populations?
In addition to familiar pest species such as white grubs,
sod webworms, and chinch bugs, turfgrass is inhabited by
a great diversity of insects, mites, spiders, and other small
creatures which feed on plant debris, fungi, or other insects.
Many of these creatures are predators or parasites which
play a role in reducing pest populations.
Insecticides applied for the control of pest insects are
generally also toxic to beneficial invertebrates. In one
study, a single surface application of an insecticide reduced populations or predatory mites, spiders, and insects
by as much as 60% (2). More than six weeks after treatment
numbers of predators had still not recovered to levels found
in untreated (control) plots.
There is a fair amount of circumstantial evidence that
heavy or repeated insecticide applications can sometimes
lead to increased pest problems. In Florida, for example,
outbreaks of chinch bugs were observed on heavily treated
St. Augustinegrass lawns, but not on untreated lawns
where predators and an egg parasite of the chinch bugs
were abundant (10). Similarly, reductions in populations of
predatory mites following chlordane or carbaryl applications apparently contributed to resurgence of hairy chinch
bug populations and outbreaks of winter grain mites on
home lawns in New Jersey (15,16). In Kentucky, outbreaks
of greenbugs appear to be more common on high maintenance lawns than on untreated turf (8).
In another study (3), we compared the rates of natural
predation on sod webworm eggs in untreated Kentucky
bluegrass vs. turf that had been treated with a single
surface application of chlorpyrifos (Dursban) at label rate.
Eggs were obtained from field-collected female moths and
placed on disks of filter paper in small dishes set level with
the ground surface. Groups of 500 eggs were set out in
untreated and treated plots at 1, 3 or 5 weeks after the
insecticidal application, and the number of eggs that were
eaten or carried off by predators was recorded. We were
surprised to find that predators, primarily ants, consumed
or carried off as many as 75% of the eggs in the untreated
plots within 48 hours. It is also noteworthy that there was
almost no predation in the treated plots for at least three
weeks after the treatment. Predator populations were
severely reduced by the insecticide, but had begun to
recover by 5 weeks after the treatment. At that time,
predation rates between treated and untreated plots were
similar. To date, this study is the only experimental evidence that natural enemies are important in reducing pest
populations in turfgrass, and that this process can be
affected by pesticide applications.
Side-Effects of a Total Lawn Care Program
Although it is clear that application of pesticides and
fertilizers can sometimes have undesirable side effects, a
recent study (1) suggest that the overall impact of high-

maintenance lawn care programs on the turfgrass ecosystem may be less severe than might be expected.
Plots of Kentucky bluegrass were maintained for 4
years on a schedule of fertilizer, herbicide, and insecticide
treatments and changes in soil and thatch characteristics,
earthworm populations, and numbers of pests and beneficial insects were monitored. The plots received 5 lbs. of N/
1000 ft. sq. per year, broadleaf weed control (2,4-D, MCPP,
and dicamba) in spring and fall, preemergent crabgrass
control (bensulide) in early spring, two applications for
surface-feeding insects (chlorpyrifos), and diazinon in late
summer for grubs. This annual schedule is similar to that
used by many lawn service companies.
Even after 4 years on this relatively heavy treatment
schedule there was no significant reduction in earthworm
numbers in the treated plots. In fact, populations of some
beneficial soil mites actually increased. Furthermore, there
was only a modest decline in soil pH (6.2 to 5.9), perhaps
because the site had been treated with agricultural limestone two years before the start of the experiment. Thatch
accumulation was significantly greater in the high-maintenance turf (3.3 vs. 10.7 mm), but was still not excessive.
While predator populations were reduced by insecticidal
applications, the treated areas were by no means devoid of
predators. Predators repopulated the treated plots by the
following spring and some groups were, in fact, captured in
great numbers in the high-maintenance than low maintenance turf .The apparent recovery of the turf from perturbations caused by our relatively heavy schedule of treatments
suggests that the impact of more moderate programs
would be even less severe and of shorter duration.
Other Considerations
Two other problems that may be encouraged by repeated pesticide use on turfgrass are acquired resistance
of pests to insecticides or fungicides, and enhanced microbial degradation of pesticide residues.
Acquired resistance can become a problem when
insecticides are applied repeatedly over a number of seasons. An excellent insecticide may be rendered nearly
useless within a few years because of the development of
a resistant insect strain. Acquired resistance has been
documented for a number of turfgrass pests, including
webworms, chinch bugs, billbugs, greenbugs, and several
species of white grubs (11). Judicious use of insecticides,
and alternation of materials from different chemical classes
(e.g., organophosphate followed by carbamate) when treatments are necessary will help to delay or prevent the
development of acquired resistance.
Enhanced microbial degradation of pesticide residues
is a phenomenon in which an insecticide is degraded more
rapidly than usual by micro-organisms. Enhanced biodegradation apparently occurs as a result of micro-organisms
becoming adapted to a pesticide to the point of being able
to use it as an energy source. The phenomenon has been
demonstrated in soil for several insecticides, including
diazinon, carbofuran, fensulfothion, and isofenphos. Recent experiments (6) indicate that this alarming pattern may
also occur in turfgrass. When isophenfos (Oftanol) was
applied to golf course fairways that had a history of
isofenphos treatments, more than 90% of the insecticide
degraded within three days. In contrast, practically no
degradation occurred in previously untreated fairways. It
appears likely that enhanced microbial degradation of
isofenphos residues in thatch is the cause of at least some

reported cases of poor residual control of white grubs (6).
Even more disturbing is the report that other insecticides,
including diazinon, chlorpyrifos (Dursban), carbaryl (Sevin),
and isazophos were rapidly degraded when applied to
turfgrass that had been previously treated with isofenphos.
Final Thoughts
The intent of this article is not to support or condemn
chemical turf care programs, but rather to provide "Food for
thought" for the homeowner and professional turf manager.
There are clearly many situations in which the use of
pesticides is essential to the maintenance of quality turf.
Although pesticide applications, like human medicines,
may have some side-effects, these must be weighed
against the overall benefits that the treatment provides.
The accumulated evidence suggests that turfgrass is a
complex system with many buffers. However, we are only
beginning to understand the roles of micro-organisms,
earthworms, predators, and other creatures in maintaining
this natural balance. It does appear that excessive or
unnecessary pesticide applications can sometimes aggravate thatch and pest problems by interfering with the
activities of beneficial organisms, or by encouraging the
development of acquired resistance or enhanced microbial
degradation. Awareness of these potential side-effects
may make it easier to develop turf management programs
that get the job done without disrupting the natural processes that are important to healthy turf. Homeowners and
turf grass managers can minimize such problems by striving to use pesticides at the proper time and rate, and only
as needed to control specific problems. Avoid repeated
applications unless they are necessary. It is wise to alternate pesticides rather than use the same material year after
year and, when feasible, to select those that have fewer
known adverse side effects (e.g., earthworm toxicity). In
general, it takes a better manager/grower to use less
pesticide.
References available, call the NTA office, (206) 7540825.
Source: NYSTA Spring 1990/Bulletin 138

Environmentally Sound
Turf Management
To address growing concerns related to current pesticide application practices, the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA), in conjunction with
the Environmental Protection Agency, is reprinting Integrated Pest Management for Turfgrass and Ornamentals.a
compendium of articles on "IPM". GCSAA is underwriting
the cost of reprinting the book in order to ensure its

ULIY7MILLER.

COMMERCIAL
TURF PRODUCTS
BS^SFSaS

Fertilizers • Seed • Chemicals

TheChas. H. LILLY Co.
PORTLAND
(503)256-4600
1 -800-433-3015 (In Oregon)
1 -800-523-3668 (Outside Oregon)

SEATTLE
(206)762-0818
1 -800-562-7013 (In Washington)
1 -800-562-7823 (Outside Washington)

availability to golf superintendents and other turfgrass
managers.
The book contains articles that explain how to avoid
unnecessary use of chemicals by advocating careful
monitoring of pesticide applications. By stressing the judicious use of pesticides and herbicides through an IPM
philosophy, golf superintendents can reduce their reliance
on chemicals in maintaining their courses.
The book will be available May 7 through the GCSAA
Office of Government Relations. Cost is $10 for GCSAA
members and $12 for non-members.

NIP & GM Education Conference
This year, the National Institute on Park and Grounds
Management (NIP & GM) 20th Annual Educational Conference will be held in Reno, Nevada, October 21-24,1990.
This is as close as they have been to the Northwest. They
do hold Athletic Turf Management Seminars about every
three years in the area, the last two in Seattle.
They usually have concurrent programs with one relating to turf management. The other two programs may have
items of interest to NTA members also. Delegates can
attend any session on any program, selecting what is most
helpful to them.
A "half price" registration is being offered to NTA
members who are current at the time of the conference. At
this writing, they still have a few costs to plug in, but they
think they will be close to 1989 costs. Those were $145 for
early registration for Institute members, $190 for nonmembers, additional delegates from the same department,
$100 and $125. Cost to NTA members would be half of
these costs, so an Institute member who is an NTA member
would really get a deal. This would only apply to delegates,
not spouses. Some deadline on the offer will be established
but none has been set, yet.

Pumping Tips
Preventive maintenance plays an important role in
keeping pump equipment operating efficiently and reducing equipment failure. The majority of this sen/ice should be
performed by a qualified technician. However, many components of the pump station require only nominal skills and
instruction to maintain. Here are some of the components
that can be serviced by in-house staff.
Pumps
The pump packing should never be tightened to prevent leakage, otherwise the pump shaft will wear and can
break. Pump packing, after it has been "run-in", should
have a small leakage around the pump shaft. The leakage
cools the pump shaft and packing gland and should be
enough to prevent the pump shaft and gland from getting
hot. Allow approximately 60 drops per minute.
Over time, repeated tightening will compress packing.
Additional rings may be installed as required to compensate, but no more than two additional rings should be
added. After two rings have been added and there is no
more adjustment available, it is time to repack the box.
Have a qualified technician do this.
Most packing boxes have copper drains to carry the
leakage back to the pump vault. These drains invariably get
plugged and have to be cleaned periodically, otherwise the
water drains on the floor, creating a real mess.

Motors
The vertical motors used with the turbine pumps have
two lubricated bearings thrust and guide bearings. The
thrust bearing is more critical because it is the one carrying
the weight of the pump shaft. On most motors the thrust
bearing is more critical because it is the one carrying the
wright of the pump shaft. On most motors the thrust bearing
is on the top and is oil lubricated. Light turbine oil is used and
it should be changed twice per year. The color of the oil
should be monitored. If the oil blackens, this is a sign of the
oil overheating and that the bearing is going out. Guide
bearings are generally grease lubricated and on the lower
part of the motor. These bearings should be lubricated at
least twice per year. Be sure to remove the grease relief
plus is not removed, grease can be forced into the motor
and short out. Before replacing the plug, run the motor until
warm and allow the grease to expand.
Clean the screens covering air passages. If the screens
are covered with debris, cooling air flow will be restricted,
causing the motor to run hotter and shorten its life.
Control Valve
Control valve strainer requires cleaning periodically.
Most often the screen is screwed into the side of the valve
and requires draining the upstream piping. The control
valve can be simply locked shut and the upstream piping
drained. Muriatic acid does an excellent job of cleaning the
screen.
Have your service technician review the preventative
maintenance procedures with your staff. Routine inspection and simple maintenance by in-house staff will build a
better understanding of the equipment and reduce risk of
equipment problems and down time.
Source: Cactus and Pine, GCSA

Reducing Mower
Downtime
by Robert L Tracinski, John Deere & Company

While most lawn care specialists probably don't think of
themselves as mechanics, even the best in the business
are only as good as their equipment. Engine trouble, poor
performance and equipment that's just not doing the job
can mean frustration and lost profits.
Some of the most common mower problems involve
basic operational systems like the engine or transmission:
others may affect the end result, such as an uneven cutting
job. Whatever the situation, you don't have to be an expert
mechanic to deal with it. By learning to recognize and
correct routine mower problems quickly and efficiently, you
can devote more time to the productive work lawn care.
With a big mowing job ahead, the last thing you need
is a temperamental engine. A variety of factors, from
weather changes to worn parts, can contribute to hard
starting.
Your first task is to determine whether you're getting a
spark. Using insulated metal pliers, remove the spark plug
and touch the threaded area of the plug to a metal surface
on the engine. Turnover the engine and look for a blue
spark. If you don't have a good spark, the problem may be
in the ignition or electrical system.
First try replacing a worn or corroded spark plug with a
fresh one. Next, take a look at the battery condition. Check

cause the battery to run down. Among the possibilities:
accessories are left on after the vehicle is turned off,
draining the battery: the vehicle has been idle for three
months or more, during which time the battery has deteriorated; battery cables or connections are heavily corroded,
leading to voltage seepage.
If you do get a good spark after testing the spark plug,
the problem may be in the fuel.
Fuel Problems
Be sure you're using fresh fuel with an alcohol content
of less than 10 percent, and the right blend for season.
Often, engines that start just fine in winter won't budge in
summer, and vice versa. That's because summer-grade
fuel can be less volatile in winter, while winter blends can
cause vapor lock in warmer weather. If you're not sure what
blend of fuel you're using, check with your filling station.
Another culprit may be the fuel system. Check fuel flow.
Pulse lines should be connected and the fuel vent open and
clear. Look for pinched or blocked fuel lines, especially in
cold weather wen moisture or ice can form; keep the tank
full in winter to prevent moisture condensation.
If the fuel system checks out, try the carburetor. Make
sure it's clean, and compare the adjustments on your
carburetor to the settings recommended in the operator's
manual. If you routinely store your mower for the winter or
extended periods of time, be aware of possible problems
caused by leaving fuel in the tank.
Fuel that remains in a vehicle during long-term storage
can deteriorate, turn to varnish and cause engine difficulty
or damage.
Remove Fuel
Before storing a vehicle for more than three months (or
less in warmer environments), it's best to remove all fuel
from the system. If you don't drain the fuel, be sure to add
a stabilizer. Use one ounce of stabilizer per gallon of fuel,
then run the engine for at least five minutes to insure that
the stabilized fuel is distributed to all parts of the system.
If you must store a vehicle with fuel and without adding
stabilizer, replace the fuel and filter and remove and clean
the carburetor before use.
Heavy oil consumption
If the mower consumes too much oil, the engine isn't
operating as eff iciently as is could be. One symptom of this
problem is blue smoke blowing from the exhaust during
mowing.
Over consumption of oil usually indicates an engine
problem. If you suspect this is the case with you mower, use
the following checklist to identify the specific engine problem:
Oil level is too high. Drain off the excess and keep an
eye on the level in the future.
Improper weight oil being used. Reviewthe operator's
manual for recommended weights for summer and winter
operation.
Operation of engine above recommended speeds
causes oil to foam. Follow guidelines for engine operation
in the operator's manual.
Overheating engine thins the oil and causes it to
break down. Refer to the operator's manual for instructions on cleaning the cooling fins.
Slow response from a hydrostatic transmission, steering difficulty or a slow deck lift speed can also mean

reduced productivity. To get back up to speed, check the oil
level according to the procedure outlined in the operator's
manual. Check for moisture in the oil. Change the oil filter
if you have problems with contamination or if it has not been
changed in the past season.
If a hydraulic filter is plugged with debris, it will restrict
oil flow. Fill the filter with the proper oil before installing it in
in the mower.
Uneven cutting, skipped areas or poor performance
indicates a problem with the mower deck or cutting blade.
In some cases, striping may depend on the cutting conditions. For example, wet grass may be more prone to
uneven cutting than drier turf. If possible, wait until the
grass is dry before cutting, and this particular problem may
solve itself.
It's also possible that you're trying to do the job too fast.
A slower ground speed may solve the problem. Also,
cutting too much grass at one time often results in an
uneven lawn. Try taking less of a cut—11/2 inches at most.
If the grass you're cutting is exceptionally fine, it might
help to go to a lower lift blade.
If the problem is the mower, there are several possible
culprits. First and most likely is a dull blade. Keep the blade
sharp; corners should not be rounded. You can sharpen the
blade yourself or take it to a dealer to be sharpened and
balanced.
Cleaning underneath
Keep the underside of the mowing deck clean, and
inspect to make sure that it isn't warped or distorted. If the
deck has a toe guard at the discharge chute, check that the
guard is not bent or damage.
If you're using a belt drive model, be sure that the belt
is properly tensioned and that the idler moves freely.
Safety features are designed to reduce problems during mowing. While they do not cause problems in an d of
themselves, they can lead to trouble if an operator decides
to tamper with or remove them for any reason.
Don't invite additional problems. Before mowing, always make sure that safety mechanisms are in place and
working.
What if, despite your best efforts, you can't seem to
locate or correct a mower problem? The next step may be
to go to your dealer for help. It's a good idea to use dealers
who service what they sell.
Some manufacturers have established a "hotline"
service which allows a dealer to call the manufacturer,
describe a problem and get and answer in one phone call.
In any case, your dealer should be able to assist you in
solving the problem.
It doesn't take an expert mechanic to keep equipment
up and running and business at its best. Learn to identify
common mower problems, correct the trouble at its source,
and get back to business.
Source: Landscape Management/April '90

Upgrading Your
Irrigation System
by Robert B. Nichol, CGCS

Most golf courses have an irrigation system these
days. The extent and complexity varies widely, however,

ranging from having 3/4" spigots adjacent to the greens; to
state-of-the-art computerized, weather-monitoring automatic systems. Sooner or later an irrigation system will
have to be upgraded or replaced because of breakdown,
labor problems, or a little of both.
In any case, a lot of research and work is involved no
matter how extensive the changes are. If you are entertaining thoughts of making changes, give yourself a head start
for when the time comes by presenting your problems,
gripes, etc. to the people pulling purse strings. If you do not
have the facts concerning past, present and expected
repair costs, labor breakdowns, and general condition of
the system, you will have a hard time selling your ideas to
your superiors.
Take the time to document everything about the irrigation system. Study the maps (if any exist) of the underground facilities, to determine if any piping changes are
needed. Make sure you know what kind of pipes are in the
ground. Any good for twenty-five years or so. If you have
P.V.C. plastic or transite (asbestos-cement) it should be
useful for forty or fifty years. Pipe that is too small for your
proposed changes will have to be replaced (a good rule of
thumb is to have a flow rate of no more than five feet per
second). Be careful!
If you cannot find documentation as to when the pipe
was installed, assume it is as old as the facility and proceed
from there. You could wind up with egg on you face (or
worse) if changes are made, and the present pipe fails to
perform the job.
Next, look at the control system, if there is any. Think
of what is there, and what is really needed, or wanted.
Again, keep in mind that the useful life of underground
electrical systems for irrigation control is finite: Twenty-five
years is about all you can expect, and have it be reliable. If
problems have been cropping up, your best bet is to replace
it, also.
The most versatile controls available today are computerized: Buckner, Motorola, Rain-Bird and Toro all offer
computerized control systems (as well as electro-mechanical). The microprocessor controls will do everything but yell
at your employees, and should be considered seriously if
the money is available. Carefully review the options, and
how they fit into your irrigation schedules, give the flexibility
of the various computer programs, the cost of these computer controls varies, but estimate $20,000 to $25,000
more than an electro-mechanical control system to cover
the software, computer, extra control wiring and electrical
14
line conditioners" necessary for the protection of the
microprocessors. If computing is the way you would like to
to, you will again have to sell the advantages over the extra
cost. The flexibility, ease of control, accuracy of control, and
in some cases, having fewer controllers in the field can be
selling points. Pump running times can be reduced, and the
accuracy of control can reduce water usage, compared to
manual or simple automatic control. Another advantage of
a system with a computer is having the equipment there for
other purposes. The software for the irrigation program
does not use up all the computer storage capacity, so other
programs can be utilized. Software can be obtained to run
your pesticide program, monthly reports, inventory control
and spreadsheets, to increase your overall efficiency.
The sprinkler heads on the course are an important
variable to deal with, but you will probably find that the type
of head chosen will be more according to personal preference. Do you like brass or cycolac?

Impact, cam or gear driven? Valve-in head or valveunder-head? Pressure-regulated or not? This decision is
the most subjective, and if you feel strongly about one style
over the other, make your reasons known. Your decision
may not be the final one, but give it your best shot. The most
important aspect of sprinkler heads is the installation. An
improperly installed head will either not work as intended,
or even fail prematurely. Swing joints should be assembled
tightly enough to prevent leaks, but loosely enough to
accomplish their intended purpose-to absorb shock. There
are also pre-assembled swing joints that seal with double
o-rings, not thread tightness, and these should be investigated. If you are undertaking the installation yourself,
consult with your local distributor or an experienced installer for the correct method. A lot of aggravation can be
avoided down the road, at very little or no cost.
The heart of an irrigation system is the pumping station.
Unless you are a hydraulic engineer, again consult a specialist for his (her) opinions and expertise. An upgraded
system will likely demand that at least the electrical control
panels to modernized to support the field controllers. The
latest technology is the variable frequency pump station,
which reduces the sudden pressure surges and can be
much easier on piping. Some electrical savings can be
realized, also, but your overall sayings will vary greatly
depending on region, electrical costs, and usage patterns.
Pump sizing is critical for the performance of the
system, so pay attention to whomever your consultant is. If
you are not sure the design will fit your needs, do not be
afraid to get a second opinion. The pump station designer/
manufacturers usually will design a system at no cost to
you, in the hopes you will become a customer.
In the end, your decisions on upgrading a system will
depend on the money available to you. This, in turn, will
depend on your preparation. Get the facts, and present
them in a professional manner. At the very least, you will
have gained considerable knowledge of irrigation, and your
goal of better playing conditions could be realized.

Is Coated Seed Worth It?
by Norman W. Hummel, Cornell University

Turfgrass managers have always looked for ways of
hastening seed germination. Methods now used in the
industry include pregermination of seed and seed priming.
In recent years, a process of coating seed with fertilizer and
fungicide was developed with improved stand establishment in mind. Nutri-Kote plus Apron® is a process that
coats seed with 50% fertilizer and fungicide (metalaxyl) by
weight.
Research conducted at Cornell compared Nutri-Kote
treated perennial ryegrass and creeping bentgrass seed to
untreated seed. The trials were planted as spring (May 25),
summer (July 5), and fall (September 10) seedings at
normal recommended rates. Nutri-Kote treated seed was
also seeded at half rate. This treatment was included to see
is a half rate. This treatment was included to see if a half rate
of seed was sufficient to establish as acceptable turfgrass
stand. The cost of Nutri-Kote treated seed is about twice
that of untreated seed. Scotts Starter Fertilizer (18-24-3)
was applied in conjunction with treated and untreated seed.

Perennial Ryegrass
Nutri-Kote treated perennial ryegrass seed had slightly
greater seedling vigor than untreated seed in the summer
seeding, and only at the higher seeding rate. We found half
the number of plants present when we seeded at half rate.
The half rate of Nutri-Kote treated perennial ryegrass seed,
while having an economic advantage, is not an acceptable
option.
The best turf was grown where we used starter fertilizer
in the seedbed, regardless of seed coating. Coated seed is
not an adequate substitute for a starter fertilizer in the
seedbed. If you do not use fertilizer in a seedbed, however,
a full rate of coated seed is better than untreated seed
alone.
Creeping Bentgrass
The seedling vigor of creeping bentgrass was greatest
where a starter fertilizer was used in the spring seeding, but
seemed to reduce vigor in the summer seeding. Studies in
North Carolina also had reduced establishment of bentgrass
that was coated.
The half rate of treated seed usually produced thinner
stands. Like the perennial ryegrass studies, these results
demonstrated that coating seed is not an acceptable substitute for seedbed fertilization. The fact is seedbed fertilization masked any benefits from seed coating. Also, you
must seed bentgrass at the full "seeding rate"to produce an
acceptable quality turf.
What are the Benefits?
After looking at these results, one might ask "What are
the benefits of using coated seed?" If the situation should
arise where it would be impossible to apply fertilizer in the
seedbed, coated seed should result in better stand establishment than uncoated seed. However, since you will have
to seed at a full rate, your seed costs will be double that of
uncoated seed. Seed Nutri-Kote treated seed at 10 lb and
2 lb seed per 1000 square for perennial ryegrass and
creeping bentgrass, respectively.
Seed coating would be beneficial for extending a
limited seed supple. When bentgrass seed was in short
supply, some seed distributors coated a portion of their
seed to stretch the amount that they had available to sell.
While coating seed with fertilizer and fungicide may
seem to make good sense, our studies failed to find many
benefits to coating seed.

Oregon Bureau of Labor and
Industry Role
The following questions were given to Mary Wendy
Roberts, commissioner of the Oregon Bureau of Labor and
Industries. She provided the following written answers.
Q. Can you explain what the BOLI Technical Assistance
Unit does?
A. The Technical Assistance Unit holds seminars for
business and labor. The seminars, which are open to
the general public, inform e mployers about the laws the
bureau enforces. Upon request, the TAU will also hold
a one-on-one seminar with a particular business.
Q. Are there agricultural specialists in the TAU?
A. There are no agricultural specialists in the Technical

Assistance Unit. The TAU trainers are specialists in all
aspects of the laws enforced by BOLI, which cover all
employers in the state.
Q. Does an employer in the state automatically receive
informational mailings from BOLI, or do employers
need to request being placed on a mailing list?
A. In order to receive specific publications from BOLI, or
receive seminar notices, an employer must request to
be on TALI'S mailing list. The Bureau does maintain a
mailing list of employers in the state who receive official
mailings concerning minimum wage, parental leave
laws, etc.
Q. If an employer requests assistance from the TAU, for a
serious problem, will the issue be turned over to an
enforcement unit before resolution can be achieved?
A. If an employer has a serious problem, he or she may
contact our hotline number 229-5841. TAU will respond with an answer to any employer question within
24 hours.
TAU does not share any information discussed with
an employer with BOLI's enforcement divisions.
Q. Are seminars, posters and literature available from
BOLI which are specific to agriculture?
A. Yes. Once a year TAU holds a seminar for agricultural
employers at the end of January. The work permit unit
publishes a brochure about minors working in agriculture. And the publications from the wage and hour
division address how laws apple to agricultural employers.
In addition the Wage and Hours Division holds a
series of seminars for growers, farm labor contractors,
camp operators and others with interest in establishing
a migrant labor camp in Oregon. These seminars are
held from March 5 through April 5 in locations throughout the state.
Q. Are there currently programs in place to monitor the
supply of agricultural labor in Oregon?
A. Yes. We work closely with the Agricultural Labor
Commission and the Employment Division which oversee such programs.
Q. If there are monitoring programs in place, and a shortage exists, are they designed to react quickly to grower
needs, such as at harvest time?
A. Yes. The Employment Division recruits seasonal agricultural workers.
Source: OAN Newsletter

Information Worth Waiting For.
Agro Diversified Industries, manufacturerof hydroseeding tackifiers and related equipment, is offering a 26-page
booklet entitled, 10 Ways to Reduce Hydroseeding Costs
and Improve Seed Germination. According to the company, it is the first information piece of its kind that recognizes hydroseeding as a discipline unto itself instead of a
sideline for landscape contractors. For a free copy, contact
ADI at Chimney Rock Road, Bldg. 3W, Bound Brook, NJ
08805, (800) 242-2476.

More than 120 videotapes, slide sets and manuals on
horticulture-related subject—working safely with pesticides,
professional sod laying, plant propagation, plant identification, etc.—are listed in a free catalog offered by Vocational
Education Productions, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407. The materials are
geared for high school and college students, and make
excellent training tapes for workers in landscape architecture, gardening, lawn care and related fields. For a copy,
write to the above address or call (800) 235-4146. In
California, call (805) 756-2295.
Ryder Truck Rental, which will sell approximately 15,000
4- and 5-year-old vehicles this year from its leasing rental
fleet, offers a free brochure on How to Buy a Used Truck.
It contains information that is helpful to first-time as well as
repeat buyers of used vehicles. Call Ryder at (800) 4465511 or write PO Box 020816, Miami, FL 33102-0816,
Attention: Used Vehicle Sales.
Proven techniques and products for growing and maintaining healthier, more beautiful turf and ornamental plans
are detailed in a full-color, 32-page publication titled Weed
and Disease Control Guide for Turf and Ornamentals. It
includes descriptions of individual diseases and a detailed
list of symptoms, conditions favoring development, susceptible plant varieties and photographs that illustrate
disease appearance. For your free copy, write to Fermenta
ASC Corporation, PO Box 8000, Mentor, OH 44061-8000.
Sources: Grounds Maintenance/March 1990

Projecting Crew Labor Hours
Do you wish for a system that would tell you how many
crew members it takes to maintain a given site?
Ron Robertson, park services manager for the eastern
area of Anaheim, Calif., can tell you exactly how many
workers it takes to maintain each park, ballfield, grassed
median, the city library grounds or even a new 5-acre park.
He uses PASS—the Park Acreage Standards System—that the parks division administrators developed in
1976. This is what they did:
1. Administrators conducted an extensive work-measurement study to determine the exact time and labor
required to maintain grounds areas.
2. Staff members attended a special seminarat which
they watched time-and-motion-study films and learned
how to evaluate work efforts.
3. The staff then inventoried all city parks and grounds
areas to determine the number of:
• Ballfields and acres to be mowed,
• Linear feet to be edged,
• Acres requiring litter pick-up, etc.
4. They developed standards for the length of time it
takes to complete each activity—minutes per 1,000 square
feet, per acre, per occurrence, etc.
5. Then they factored in the frequency of each activity
for both the 9-month summer season and the 3-month
winter season.
6. The result: PASS, the total labor hours required to
maintain each park and grounds area.

1989-90
NTA Board of Directors
President
William J. Johnston
Agronomist Turfgrass Science
Department of Agronomny & Soils
Washington State Universiey
Pullman, Wsahington 99164
(509) 335-3620

Directors (continued)
Thomas M. Wolff
Golf Course Superintendent
Sahalee Country Club
21200 N.E. 28th Street
Redmond, Washington 98053
(206) 868-1600

Vice President
William B. Griffith
Golf Course Superintendent
Walla Walla Parks & Rec. Dept.
Veterans Memorial Golf Course
P.O. Box 478
Walla Walla, Washington 98362
(509) 527-4336

Patrick J. Nibler
Operations Manager
PRO GRASS
8600 S.W. Salish Lane
Wilsonville, Oregon 97070
(503) 682-6076

Treasurer
Bo C. Hepler
Turfgrass Agronomist
Senske Lawn and Tree Care
P.O. Box 9248
Yakima, Washington 98909
(509) 452(0486
Past President
Mike L. Kingsley
Golf Course Superintendent
Spokane County Park Dept.
NeadowWood Golf Course
N. 111 Wright
Liberty Lake, Wshington 99010
(509) 255-6602
Directors
Don L. Hellstrom
Golf Course Suiperintendent
Seattle Dept. Of Parks & Rec.
Jackson Park Golf Course
1000 N.E. 135th
Seattle, Wsahington 98125
(206) 684-7521

Alan L. Nielsen
Golf Course Superintendent
Royal Oaks Country Club
8917 N.E. 4th Rain Blvd.
Vancouver, Washington 98662
(206) 236-1530
David P. Jacobsen
President
Farwest Turf Equipment
2305 N.W. 30th
Portland, Oregon 97210
(503) 224-6100
Director Emeritus
(Nonvoting)
Roy L. Goss
Extension Agronomist
(Retired)
13716 Camas Road
Anderson Is., Washington
98303
(206) 884-4978
NTA Executive and Editorial
Office
P.O. Box 1367
Olympia, Washington 98507
(206) 754-0825

Rebecca R. Michel s
President
Messmer's Landscaping Svc. Inc. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
2466-156th S.E.
Blair Patrick
Kent, Washington 98042
(206) 228-5779

NORTHWEST
TURFGRASS
ASSOCIATION

H
9 5*
s is
9> 75?

Calendar of Events
May 14

NTA Board of Directors Meeting
Contact: NTA Office (206)_ 754-0825

June 8-10

Oregon Seed Trade Association Convention
Contact: OSTA (503) 226-2758

June 25 & 26

NTA Summer Turfgrass-Fest
Contact NTA Office (206) 754-0825

July 11

Inland Empire Golf Course Superintendent:
Association Meeting
Contact: IEGCSA office

July 25-27

American Sod Producers Association Summer
Contact: ASPA (708) 705-9898

August 13

NTA Board of Directors Meeting
Contact: NYA Office (206) 754-0825

September 16

NTA Board of Directors Meeting
Contact: NYA Off ice (206) 754-0825

September 17-20 NTA 44th Northwest Turfgrass Association
Conference & Exhibition
Contact: NYA Office (206) 754-0825
October 10

Inland Empire Golf Course Superintendent:
Association Meeting
Contact: IEGCSA office

December 12-14 Second Annual Pacific Coast Turf and Landscape
Conference and Trade Show
Contact: Jones and Associates (509) 327-5904

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15th OF MONTH
PRECEDING PUBLICATION

ADDRESS
CORRECTION
REQUESTED

NONPROFIT ORG.
U S POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT NO. 385
OLYMPIA. WA

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P.O. Box 1367
Olympia, Washington 98507
(206) 754-0825

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" r l m e n t a l s Northwest
OSU Horticulture Dept.
Corvallis OR 97331

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