TASKFORCE 200 • 2000 lb. Load Capacity • Power Steering • Four Speed Manual Transmission • Highly Maneuverable • 18 hp. Kohler Command Engine The Taskforce 200 Delivers the Type of Performance required by your most demanding tasks! $8300 0 WEINGARTZ — Michigan’s Largest Lawn, Snow & Outdoor Power Equipment Dealer 0 Utjca 46061 Van Dyke 1/2 Mile North of M-59 (810) 731-7240 Since 1945 Best Price Best Service Best Selection F a n r iin g t M 39050 Grand River East of Haggerty (810) 471-3050 A Patch ot Green - 2 - Spring Issue, 1997 Greater Detroit Golf Course Superintendents Association The Official Publication of the Greater Detroit Golf Course Superintendents Asociation Officers President Paul Dushane Vice President Paul Kolbe Committee: GAM Seminar, Christmas Party, Historian President Emeritus Jay Delcamp Committee: Ethics, By-Laws, Nominating Secretary/T reasurer Roy Szyndlar, C.G.C.S. Committee: Finance, Welfare, Policy Book, Co-Hospitality Room Directors Tim Dorner, C.G.C.S. Committee: POG Editor, Publicity Ed Hock, Jr. Committee: Co-Special Olympics, Co-Golf Day, Member Relations/Membership Mike Jones Committeee: Co-Education, Co-Golf Day Co-Special Olympics Mark McKinley Committee: Co-Golf Day, Co-Hospitality Room, Co-Awards Rick Murphy, C.G.C.S. Committee: Co-Awards, Co-Education Industrial/Environmental Relations Gary Thommes, C.G.C.S. Committee: Co-Special Olympics, Picnic, Co-Golf Tom Mason Committee: GCSAA Liaison, GCSAA Voting Delegate Contents ....................................................Team Michigan ............... On Par With The President 5 6 .................. John Walter Announcement 7 ............................ View From M.S.U. 8 & 9 .......................... Golf Course Liability 1 0 11 ................................. Member Viewpoint 1 2 ........................ GDGCSA/GAM Seminar 1 4 ................................. Salt River Meeting 1 5 .............................................. Legal Brief 1 7 ...................... Heritage Award Essay 18 & 19 . . . Hospitality Room in Las Vegas 2 0 ............. Member Receives Certification 21 ......................................The Cutting Edge 22 & 23 . . . . . . GCSAA Alternative Spikes 25 & 2 6 ............................................. Board Meetings 27, 28 & 29 ............... New Member Roster 3 0 .............................................. Calendars Contact for Kate Mason GDGCSA Executive Secretary Information GDGCSA P.O. Box 173, Troy, Ml 48099 (810) 362-1108 Fax (810) 362-1736 Printed by: Schaltenbrand Printing Company 16315 Harper Avenue Detroit, Ml 48224 (313) 882-4343 A Patch of Green - 3 - Spring Issue, 1997 TURFGRASS SPECIALISTS FREE NEXT DAY DELIVERY BRIGHTON (800) 482-3130 FAX: (810) 632-5840 BRADLEY (800) 632-1998 FAX: (616) 792-0700 A Patch of Green - 4 - Spring Issue, 1997 par president Ever wish that you had a personal advisor to aid you with difficult decisions or difficult situations that arise every day in the workplace? I may have found the next best thing to an advisor. I take that back- probably better; this advisor doesn’t say "I told you so". It is a book, a reference of sorts, that I happened upon atop a friend’s coffee table and after a glance at the forward and table of contents couldn’t put it down. Before I tell you the name of this book, allow me to make a brief explanation about self help books and the like. I never before put much stock in them. I had an American Thought and Language class in college whose professor required the students to read and comment on a number of these types of books and I could never quite understand them. It seemed to me that each author spent too much time trying to devise a new and fashionable "quick fix" to human dilemma and that each never actually gave you any solid information or cases to integrate into real life situations. These books would brush over conflicts and resolutions very briefly and then come up with some cock and bull solution that no one would ever try to use without some sort of apprehension or outright embarrassment. That is the main reason I never pursued this type of literature beyond my ATL class and probably never would have seen the book: Yes You Can!, by Sam Deep and Lyle Sussman, had it not been on my friend’s table. If you have ever felt or still do feel this way about self-help or motivational books, please set these feelings aside and consider reading this book. Yes You Can! is chock-full of suggestions that you can put to use in real life situations almost immediately upon taking just a quick glance at the contents and checking out how to use the book as its authors recommend. The chapters cover such topics as: "Think Positively", "Communicate Effectively", "Motivate Others" and "Prosper at Work". Under each of these chapters is listed a number of scenarios that may confront you at any given time during your career or your lifetime. Under each of these scenarios is listed a number of suggestions, or as the authors call them, "advisements" to help you to resolve the situation in a multitude of ways. Besides excellent ideas for solutions, there may also be listed other references that could be pertinent to the situation to give you even more choices for a resolution. In a day and age that places more and more demands on our time each and every day, we can all use some sound advice on how to quickly and easily resolve conflicts and to help each of us make those difficult decisions a little easier. I keep this book handy just to glance through occasionally, to keep my mind open to suggestion for solutions and advice while dealing with everyday life. I write this to each of you now as just a suggestion, just some friendly information to pass along that you may or may not find helpful. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t believe this book is "all knowing" or the answer to everyone’s prayers, but it has helped me a time or two already, and it is my hope that it may do the same for you. Check it out, give it a glance, you may be surprised at how useful a simple book can be. Here’ s to 1997 being a good season for each of us. Thanks to each of you, Michigan turf is, and shall always be, the best to play on. Paul Dushane A Patch of Green - 5 - Spring Issue, 1997 John Walter Award Announcement Mike Jones, superintendent at Lochmoor Club, was presented the John Walter Award at the Salt River meeting. This award is for the best article written by a superintendent and which is published in the Patch of Green. Mike’s article, Producing Quality Putting Surfaces Through Overseeding, exemplifies the importance and benefits of superintendents sharing their experiences with others. There is much we can learn from each other, and through these articles, we can advance the professionalism of our association and profession. This year, Tim Dorner, editor of the POG, has initiated some incentives to encourage us all to contribute to the magazine. In addition to being eligible to win the John Walter Award (plaque and $100), any article of 500 words or more that is published will receive a $50 credit toward dues or any of our meeting costs. There is a limit of two articles per year; however, a potential of $100 could offset all the dues money, as well as a part of one meeting expense. This is a good opportunity to not only save some money for yourself or your club, but to give back to your association. You’ll feel good for doing so! THIS IS THE SMITH’S POOL DECK... THIS IS THE SMITH’S RETAINING WALL... THIS IS HOW THE SMITHS DID IT ...474-3211 Fendt Builder's Supply has the pavers (many colors and shapes) and Keystone self-locking retaining wall systems that can make your home a showplace. Call for the name of a dealer near you. The Symetry paver and the Keystone retaining walls are distributed exclusively through Fendt Dealers. The natural beauty of stone Fendt Builder's Supply, Inc. 22005 Gill Road • Farmington Hills, Ml 48335 • 810-474-3211 3285 West Liberty • Ann Arbor, Ml 48103 • 313-663-4277 A Patch of Green - 6 - Spring Issue, 1997 Put Science Your Side Biostimulants PanaSeá Plus Liquefied Sea Plant Extract Biostimulant BioGate Lawn Biostimulant Landscape, Ornamental and Soil Conditioners Sand-Aid' The Optimal Organic Amendment The Optimal Organic Fertilizer OptiMil Soil Conditioner Biologicals Thatch-X: for Thatch Control BacMan Excess Nutrients A Breakthrough in Bioremediation Bacterial Management to Reduce Fertilizers & Micronutrients SeaQuential A New Generation of Fully-Chelated Iron and Micronutrient Supplements Complete Organic Fertilizer BioBloom for Flowering Plants Bio Turf Gro The Leaders in Probiotic Fertilizers Em erald Isle, Ltd. 1-800-628-GRQW Safe, effective products for turf growth and maintenance. © 1997 Emerald Isle, Ltd. Bio Turf Gro is a trademark of Grigg Bros. The View From M.S.U. Tips fo r 1997 Gregory T. Lyman Turfgrass Environmental Education Specialist Let me pass along a few tips from the legislative area as you launch the 1997 golf season in southeast Michigan. The three areas I want to discuss include information on pesticide labels, "ready-to-use" pesticide products, and concrete coatings for mixing and loading areas. First, let’s dissect a few of your labels. I received many calls last year concerning labels that had restricted re-entry times listed on the label of 12, 24, or 48 hours! There was obvious concern about this language on the label and wonderment evident in the callers’ voices. Here’s the skinny. You may remember a system that applies to traditional agriculture called the Worker Protection Standard (WPS). This is a federal law that is intended to protect employees who work at the following operations - farms, forests, nurseries, and greenhouses. It does not apply to golf course turf operations. The areas that need to comply with the WPS are required to conduct certain training programs for the employees, have protective equipment available, and are required to restrict entry of employees into pesticide treated areas for the interval listed on the label. The minimum re-entry period is 12 hours. The confusion arises on those labels that have a wide spectrum of pests and sites that can be treated. For example, some fungicides can be effective for disease control on golf turf, sod farms, ornamentals grown in landscapes or nurseries, and even on potted plants grown in the greenhouse. In this case, the WPS is imposed on those sites defined as a farm, forest, nursery or greenhouse... but not on golf or home lawn turf sites. Other labels that you use are dedicated strictly to turf application and in that case there will be no WPS language located on the label. I suspect that over time labels will get more and more specific so the "Directions for Use" sections can be tightened down to specific instructions. The conclusion - read the label and raise your eyebrow when you see WPS directions. You can then declare "This area does not apply to us!" Now, let’s review ready-to-use formulations. The MDA has refined the regulations slightly and a person who uses a ready-to-use formulation of a pesticide is not required to have any applicator credential (certified applicator, registered technician). This only applies to non-licensed business such as golf course or grounds maintenance operations. All applications conducted by lawn care businesses need to be done by certified personnel. For example, a spray bottle of Roundup to spot spray weeds around trees may be performed by anyone on the crew. Remember however, this only applies to ready-to-use materials. No products can be used that require mixing, repackaging, loading, etc. by these individuals without being certified. Finally, those who are interested in concrete sealers for mix/load pads or storage areas may give me a call. I have a list of products from Mr. Ben Darling at the MDA who has been reviewing the performance of many of these products. Some are available locally and the cost is reasonable, about $1.00 per square foot. Just contact me and I’ll fax you the list, along with some tips. Enjoy the 1997 golf season. A Patch of Green - 7 - Spring Issue, 1997 TURFGRASS INC. Serving you better wi Technical information Free timely delivery .. .Quality products Fertilizers Chemicals Seeds Spreaders & Sprayers Golf Supplies Enviromental Equipment Safety Equipment Soil Management The Andersons, Lebanon, Sustane, Country Club, Nitroform, Nutralene, Pursell Polyon, Turfgrass Custom Blend, Harmony Ciba-Geigy, W.A. Cleary, Chipco, Roots, Daconil, Miles, NAIAD, Monsanto, Dow-Elanco, Riverdale, PanaSea', Miller, Agri-Plex 4X Lawnplex, No-Mix, Regal Chemical, Dimension, Sand-Aid, Roundup, Dissolve, Agrevo Medalist America Grass Seed, Bloomcoat Wildflower Seed, Zajac Confidence Seed, Seed Research Spyker, Solo Back Pack, Wheely, Spray-Hawk, Chem-Pro Par Aide, Standard, Fore-Par, Fox Valley, Master of the Links Plia Pads, Haz-Store Storage Buildings Mine Safety Equipment Grid System, TerraFlow, TerraBond, TerraCover Markers Richway, Blazon Recycled Plastic Hammer's Recycled Plastics 1-810-437-1427 O ffice 1-800-521-8873 (M ichigan Only) Keith Richards Dan Johanningsmeier Doug Johanningsmeier Richard Locke Darold Howard Todd Griebe General Manager Golf Courses and Liability Reprinted from December/January, 1996-97 Fairway Forum A major concern for golf courses and golf course operators today is liability in its various forms. The golf course has been "discovered" by the legal profession and individuals who are looking for a quick way to feather their nests. An out-of-court settlement is usually the desired procedure, even though a considerable amount of saber-rattling goes on prior to such a resolution. As a result, the golf industry is under attack and needs to be informed of potential liability issues. Areas we look at are generally broken into two major categories. On-Course Injuries In the past, if you were hit by a golf ball while playing golf, you accepted it as part of the risk of being on the golf course where high speed projectiles are flying. Today, we must be aware of the potential for a golfer’s ball hitting another golfer. Ample opportunities for errant shots include tee areas that are too close to an adjacent green. Another situation may be an approach shot that wanders to the side of the intended green or the tee shot that is "toed, "heeled," or "shanked". Usually, there isn’t enough time to yell "fore". A golf course should identify these potential hazards and provide berms, trees, and screens to stop balls. A more substantial change might be to move tees or greens farther away from the congested area. If you encourage access to the tee by stairs, ramps, between ropes, etc., make certain the accessing golfer is safe while some­ one is teeing off. Access to the tee also has been a problem. Additionally, those stairs, ramps, or slopes might result in a slip, with the result being broken bones. Steps seem to be disasters waiting to happen. A cleat can easily catch on a worn step or the edge of a step. Carpeting is often worn and loose. Steep, smooth, hard surfaces are something to avoid or replace. Ricochets off ball washers, signs, rocks, walls, etc. can result in eye injuries as well as all kinds of bodily bruises and cuts. Sunken trenches over irrigation lines, irrigation heads, animal burrows, and other imperfections on the course are lurking and should be repaired to avoid sprains and broken bones. Low branches from trees should be pruned. Remove broken limbs that could fall on someone. Golf carts are necessary and welcome revenue generators, but they do create additional dangers. Many golf course architects will not design cart paths due to the injuries that can occur with irresponsible golfers. Make certain that approaches to bridges do not allow a cart to miss and tumble into a creek, lake, or ravine. Watch for curves that are too sharp or that are banked the wrong way. The driver may know where he is going, but the passenger usually does not. Curbs can help control play and cart circulation, but they can also create tipping problems. Carts should be prohibited from dangerous slopes or areas of the course where they could hydroplane on early morning dew or after a rain. A Patch of Green 8 - Spring Issue, 1997 Off-Site Injuries and Damage While many older courses are not designed with golf holes running through housing developments, we still have found boundary scenarios that create safety problems. A case in point occurred at a 70-year-old country club in the Midwest. A back tee was redesigned and built closer to the boundary line (street) and the hole was lengthened. A neighbor across the street claimed that golf balls were being hit onto his property. It is very difficult to prove one way or another, since no accurate records were kept before the alleged problem arose. This example should warn us to study the potential consequences of any changes to a golf course that relate to adjacent land uses. Most courts are not friendly when existing land uses appear to be suddenly suffering from golf-ball-itis. Plaintiffs seem to easily find expert witnesses who will testify that the problem area is a design error or an operational issue. Properly placed trees, shrubs, mounds, or temporary screens might well resolve the situation if it is rectified before it reaches the courts. Most problems become serious then communication between the parties ceases or if the golf course is not willing to mend the situation. Not only should we be concerned about property damage to adjacent areas of courses, we also must be concerned about personal injuries that could occur. We have been made aware of many cases where people are afraid to use their decks, patios, backyards, etc., due to the number of golf balls entering their property. Unfortunately, while it is not possible to prevent every golf ball from leaving the course, efforts should be made to reduce the likelihood. Some shots in the direction of housing may be inevitable; others may not originate from a tee, but may be coming in on second or is responsible for his actions and must be made aware of such through signage on the course. third shots. Ultimately, the golfer Some other areas of potential liability include whether early warning systems for lightning or storms have been installed; whether the course meets ADA legislation (if required); what types of liability releases are in place for spectators at tournaments; and the use of chemicals on the course to golfers with allergic reactions. that may be harmful In summary, every existing golf course should have a insurance adjuster, or qualified golf course architect, perhaps an attorney their potential areas of exposure. The old saying still applies: an ounce of prevention... review Richard M. Phelps is president of Richard M. Phelps, Ltd., Golf Course Architects, Evergreen, Colorado, and is a past president of the American Society of Golf Course Architects. Lost Turf? from Messy Service Shop? Soft Spots in Parking? OIL SPILLS PUT SIMM !! • An Environmentally Friendly fix for these problems • Researched by the MSU Dept, of Botany & Plant Pathology as an effective means of reducing dam age to turf • Prevents stripping and resodding of damaged turf • Does not allow hydrocarbons absorbed to leach out and do further dam age to the environment • Suitable for landfill disposal • A variety of kits to choose For more information call 800- 927-6947 ZdSRBIT TECHNOLOGIES INC. A Patch of Green - 9 - Spring Issue, 1997 TEAM MICHIGAN By: John No As the cold January winds blew across the frozen ponds, hockey players from Team Michigan anticipated the start of the hockey tournament. The 3rd Annual Golf Course Hockey Challenge was scheduled January 22 at Niagara University. Teams representing the golf industry were comprised of Kitchener, Toronto, Western New York, Niagara, London and Team Michigan. Team Michigan was comprised of talented hockey players coming from different parts of the state, as well as Guelph, Ontario. On the cold, blowing morning we all gathered at the Windsor tunnel to start our travels, led by Coach/player Ken DeBusscher. Team Michigan players Ed "Boom Boom" Heineman, Steve Tate and Jim Eccleton in the locker room easy. The loss was quickly suppressed, as we were greeted by the Club Car representative with new hats, pizza and ice cold refreshments. Much was questioned as we traveled to the hockey tournament. The quality of play, were our new jerseys flashy enough, would the Canada teams be out to win their pride back after the loss in the World Cup? Our third game against Niagara started on a bad note. Not only did they steal our locker room refreshments, but unlocked our "left wing lock" play. We gave them a hard fight right to the end, only to come up short. Once the puck was dropped, our many questions were answered. We met our toughest challenge in game one against the young Kitchener team. Our jet lag caught us In the last five minutes of the game, where we came up short. Our flying center, Tim Osburn, had a great start by scoring the hat trick. Eddie "Boom Boom" Heineman and Ken "The Rocket" DeBusscher both blasted shots past Kltchner’s goalie. Our second game was again a big challenge. Team Toronto was experienced and aggressive, to give us our second loss. It was by no surprise Coach Ken sent out our toughman, Mark McKinley, to mix things up a little. Mark showed the Canadian boys we were not going down The long trip home was shortened by the conversation in the vans. How we enjoyed ourselves at the new Niagara Casino, the Awards Banquet, meeting new friends and how next year’s team will win the trophy. Many thanks need to be mentioned: Coach/player Ken DeBusscher for organizing the team along with Rick Murphy, Jim Eccleton for gathering our team sponsors, player’s participation and the support from our wives, girlfriends, children and places of employment. If you are Interested in next year’s hockey team, please contact Ken DeBusscher. Again, thank you to all of our wonderful sponsors who helped make this event happen. RAIN BIRD MAXI NIMBUS STORM WATCH FLOWTRONEX PSI RAIN BIRD RAIN BIRD X z0 OC I E o Ooc 5 z 5oc MOBILE IRRIGATION TECHNICIAN VALLEY TURF TURF AN D IRRIGATION EQUIPMENT INCORPORATED VALLEY TURF, INC 11711 E. GRAND RIVER RI). BRIGHTON, MI 49116 810-220 2040 810-220 2750 253 0 ? 1 § 5 > o pcO Team Michigan player Rick Murphy VALLEY TURE, INC. 3185 VROOM RI). SOUTH BOARDMAN, MI 49680 616 369 3482 616-369 3334 RAIN BIRD MAXI NIMBUS S TORM WATCH ELOWTRONEX PSI RAIN BIRD RAIN BIRD VALLEY TURE, INC. 3721 28th STREET SW GRANDVILLE, MI 49418 616-532-2885 616-532 5553 A Patch of Green -1 0 - Spring Issue, 1997 Member Viewpoint by Bob McMurray Whatever Happened to Maintenance? to live in a modern suburb with two new cars is a management lifestyle. Cooperation is considered better than competition when maintenance is a priority. One of the most significant effects of this is a wide dispersion of benefits. Everyone in the community wins when you take good care of your equipment. Golfers don’t pay higher greens fees due to capital purchases and parts suppliers are often smaller, local operations. Fewer people win bigger prizes when the equipment is neglected in favor of a replacement schedule that benefits large equipment suppliers. Respects for others is another subtle good nourished by maintenance. People engaged in maintenance practices routinely get their hands dirty. Soil under your fingernails would be an admission of failure to a manager. Highly paid professionals are white-collar; therefore, a lawyer charging $150 an hour is unchallenged, but we feel justified in griping if a plumber charges $65 dollars an hour. Somewhere it has crept into our minds that anyone with dirty hands possesses a lower grade of knowledge than someone who went to college. it If you’re not People who do maintenance are not viewed as professionals, because is based upon common knowledge. riding the wave of new technologies and ideas, those who are -- and those who are in awe of them - look down upon you as backward, or quaint. The presumption of good rests with the new. The culture of scientific infallibility is so prevalent that anyone who has doubts is actively discredited, or discreetly ignored. In maintenance, there are plenty of opportunities for everyone to do well. In a management system, people rejoice at the failure of others and look for ways to exploit it. Complaints of unethical behavior, job insecurity and lack of loyalty are common today because we’re trying to be business managers. Where management dominates, information and (continued on page 13) "Doing work that has to be done over and over again helps us recognize the natural cycles of growth and decay, of birth and death, and thus become aware of the dynamic order of the universe. 'Ordinary' work, as the root meaning of the term indicates, is work that is in harmony with the order we perceive in the natural environment." -- Fritjof Capra Mowing turf, changing cups, raking traps, providing these are some of the more water and nutrients: prominent tasks that have to be done daily during the golf season. As I am well-versed in these activities, I admit some pleasure in the foregoing words. What some people call ordinary, I call maintenance. I enjoy being able in golf course maintenance. Now that I’m in a position of management, I have the the pleasure of greater control in maintenance decisions. to say I work As I perceive it, I manage the activities of employees. I help them to understand the goals of work and provide directions on how to be successful. In relation to the golf course, I consider myself a maintenance person. To suggest that to comprehend is the definition of arrogance. I manage a system I can’t begin in his How we communicate reflects our unspoken beliefs. No man right mind would say he manages a relationship with his wife. The implicit assumption of power would be offensive. Amongst equals, relationships are maintained. It isn’t simply a linguistic matter. Consider the continuum of our values, and ask yourself where we place maintenance. To say we could give a rodent’s hiney for maintenance is mild. On the golf course, I feel best about my work when I maintain healthy turf. When I’m forced to manage a breakdown, I figure I’ve made a mistake somewhere. Hopping to another might be an interesting premise for a Steven Segal movie, but I prefer a calm life. from one crisis Similar to other mental shortcuts, the prejudice against maintenance is destructive in subtle, chronic ways. The recent controversy over air-bags killing children is an instructive lesson in management values pushing aside maintenance. Only a devoutly technological society could define the issue only in terms of equipment. What the hell are we doing riding our kids around like this? Rather than build a better air-bag, couldn’t we work towards a better world where one parent stayed home with the kids? Whatever happened to a neighborhood school? Parenting is a maintenance value, two incomes to walking v E R T I Mechanical Soil Technology — Contract Aeration Service — Serving The Entire Midwest ^ 456 Pine St. A * N. Galesburg, IL 61401 David Strang Ph.(800)743-2419 Res. (309) 342-2419 A Patch of Green -11 - Spring Issue, 1997 GDGCSA / GAM Seminar The Detroit Golf Club was once again the host for the annual GDGCSA/GAM seminar, that was held on March 22nd. As always, it was a well-attended seminar that covered several golf industry topics. The non-metal spikes issue and greens maintenance were discussed by Dr. Rieke and Chris Andrejicka, superintendent of Essex Golf and Country Club. Studies to compare steel spikes with other types of shoes have been conducted in 1948, 1958, and 1983. The recent I996 study by Thom Nikolai at M.S.U. on Pennlinks putting greens showed an increase in stimpmeter readings from three inches to over 12 inches using Greenspikes and Soft Spikes. Chris mentioned that turf quality improvement was immediate on greens, and tee boxes were also improved by the reduction of the twisting and ripping that occurs with steel spikes. They also discontinued the practice of changing cups twice a day to accommodate the 30,000 rounds played and were able to use the better pin position more often. Those who have not used spikeless shoes are missing the comfort they provide without losing the stability. Expect the GDGCSA to have a spikeless shoe policy in effect before our first golf meeting. The GAM is going spikeless in all sponsored tournaments and over 1,300 courses across the nation have implemented spikeless policy. Joe O’Brien and Tommy Whitt, CGCS, both representing the GCSAA, talked on the GCSAA’s role with the superintendent and with your club and how the golf course is the revenue generator for clubs. The superintendent role influences many aspects of the club operations - golf carts, driving range, recruitment of new members by the condition of the course. Biological control is another growing trend which was discussed by our members Mike Edgerton, Meadowbrook C.C., Paul Dushane, Knollwood C.C., Mark Jackson, CGCS, C.C. of Detroit and Dr. Joe Vargas. The Bioject machine with the Psuedemonas bacteria was discussed. The advantages are less pesticide usage, less exposure to golfers and workers, and non-sprayed areas are healthier (roughs, bunker banks, etc.). Paul Dushane showed the differences in bacteria population between the non-treated and treated areas and the irrigation system is an excellent vehicle in spreading the product. There are other biological control products in the market and testing them can add another tool to our turf management practices. Greg Lyman talked about grass clippings dispoal and how to avoid disposal into drainage systems. Some tips were: blow off clippings with air, use screens inside catch basins for collection and the new recycling centers that are coming out in the market. Always use common sense and avoid washing directly into a water source. James Moore, Director USGA Golf Course Construction, went through his report card on greens. You should individually rate each green upon many criteria and Jim has his own grading scale for different conditions. It’s like a agronomical slope rating for your course. You should do this report before any reconstruction project is considered. To receive his report card and guidelines, call his USGA Construction office at (817) 776-0765 or web site www.usga.org. Thanks to Detroit Golf Club and Clem Wolfrom annual educational event. hosting this for Commercial Turf Services Contract Aerif¡cation Includes: Soil Reliever Aerifier Terra Topper Top Dresser Terra Power Broom Schedule your appointm ent early ’ 1-800-231 LAWN (5296) 1-810-858-7700 FAX 1-810-338-0429 A Patch of Green - 12 - Spring Issue, 1997 GDGCSA/GAM Seminar Tommy Witt, CGCS, Wynstone Golf Club, Illinois, talked on superintendents' role in revenue making Member Viewpoint (continued) technology becomes standardized: what works in research labs is assumed to be universal. What is good for one golf course is good for all others, and what is required of one superintendent becomes necessary for others. Due to this homogenization of expectations, managers can be plugged into positions, regardless of circumstances. Maintenance superintendents require a few years on a course to be effective. The very word implies a long-term relationship. As I’ve hinted several times, there is a lottery mentality driving our choice of management over maintenance. Everyone is hoping to strike it rich in management world, in part because money will allow us to escape the consequences of our values. If I can get wealthy enough from catering to golfers demands for slick greens, you’ll find my home the chemical plants necessary to keep greens alive. far away from I’ve envisioned Nobody is going to get exceptionally wealthy in the maintenance field. Many people accept that, and I try to do the same. Golf course superintendents probably never had a heyday such as what in comparisons of maintenance versus management. We likely never will, because we’re all different. Given the relatively short history of golf, I suppose there isn’t much of a tradition to golf course maintenance. Yet I can’t help being baffled that we’re not defending maintenance values more actively. When management-type norms define success, those of us who want to do maintenance wind up feeling like Amish tourists in Los Angeles. Chris Andrejicka, superintendent at Essex Golf and C.C., talked on the benefit o f spikeless shoes GREENS ★ FAIRWAYS ★ BUNKERS ★ Dr. Vargas explained how biological controls worked using Pseudemonas bacteria 810-752-3489 810-752-1026 FAX 810-560-3388 PAGER CALL FOR DETAILS TERRY MALBURG PRESIDENT A Patch of Green -13 - Spring Issue, 1997 Salt River Meeting February On Monday, annual educational/bowling meeting at Salt River took place. Jerry McVety, host superintendent, and the Salt River staff provided everything for a wonderful meeting. Attendance was great with approximately 70 members in attendance. 1997 the 24, The educational topic was "Computers and the Internet", presented by Mike Plague and Tom McGilligan. With the use of a computer projector they took us right onto the world web and helped us understand the basic principles of the internet and ease of its use. The main theme of the day was not to be intimidated by the internet and to just get on and play with it. Even after the meeting Mike and Tom were answering questions. Bowling followed the meeting and everyone had a great time. The big winners were as follows: High Individual Gross Game - Ron Adams (248) High Individual Gross Series - Brian Birdwell (569) High Individual Net Game - Mike Jones (268) High Individual Net Series - Mike Casey (717) High Team Gross Series - Brian Birdwell, Steve Hanson, Todd Gierke, Jim Vanatwerp High Team Net Series - Ken Egler, Jerry McVety, Marty Dominick, Don Knop Mystery Game - Bob Pylar Strike Ball Pot #1 - Ron Adams ($77) Strike Ball Pot #2 - Ron Adams ($77) Rick Murphy (left) and Jim McGuire bowl at Salt River John Cooney, Keith Richards and Dan Johanningsmeier TIRES FOR SODANO SOIL t r e a d TIRE & RUBBER PRODUCTS WE SELL CARLISLE LAWN & GARDEN TIRES. Tire Wholesalers Company, Inc. SOUTHFIELD CADILLAC WAREHOUSE WAREHOUSE 19240 W. 8 Mile 303 Hawthorne St. Cadillac, Ml 49601 TROY DISTRIBUTION Southfield, Ml 48075 CENTER 1783 E. 14 Mile Troy, Ml 48083 (810) 589-9910 (810) 354-9910 (616) 775-6666 Turf Chem icals Inc. 1011 E. Main P.O. Box 451 Owosso, Michigan 48867 Phone: (517) 725-7145 FOR ALL OF YOUR FERTILIZER, CHEMICAL AND GRASS SEED NEEDS EXPERIENCED, DEPENDABLE PEOPLE TO SERVE YOU • Russ Hancock • JaySiddock • Fred Miller • Wes Riddle • Ted Kasel • Mike Horvath A Patch of Green -1 4 - Spring Issue, 1997 LEGAL BRIEF By Bruce M. Hug Attorney and Counselor If you have a question or topic that you would like Bruce to address, please fax or mail suggestions to Tim Dorner, Editor A Patch of Green. Question: Recently, my neighbor unexpectedly passed away. He did not have a will and the family Is now experiencing legal problems settling his estate. What can be done to avoid a similar situation happening to my family? fail to be transferred to the proper people, if the owners of the property don’t die in the order expected, and transfer by title will do nothing to minimize or eliminate federal estate taxes and can cause greater income taxes than inheritance by will or other methods. Answer: Years ago (really, not so long ago), when people didn’t earn much, and owned even less, a person either wrote a will before he died, or he didn’t, and it didn’t make a lot of difference. It was sufficient to serve as a guide for who was to receive the dead person’s meager belongings. Then people started earning enough money to actually acquire property to leave to their heirs and, of course, the government created taxes to make sure it got its share. At that point, even average wage-earners began to seek ways to pass their property on to their immediate families, rather than to Uncle Sam. What follows is a general introduction to some of those ways, which are referred to in general as estate planning. When doing estate planning, people generally have three goals in mind, although there are many others: 1. Insuring that their property passes to the right people, in such a manner that best fits the family’s needs. This can be extremely important if the heir is a minor child or has a physical or mental disability. 2. Eliminating unnecessary income taxes and federal estate taxes. Federal estate taxes usually affect those estates which have a value of greater than $600,000, (which includes the value of life insurance). 3. Minimizing expense, delay, unnecessary loss of privacy. inconvenience and There are, in general, three ways that property can be transferred at death: First, property will be automatically transferred which already is in more than one name. A common example of this is joint ownership of real estate by a husband and wife. Title has the virtue of simplicity-the property will be transferred with a minimum of expense, delay and inconvenience, but it has the disadvantage of failing to meet the other two goals--property held in joint name can The second way in which property can be transferred at death is through probate. Whether or not an individual has prepared a will, property held solely in the name of the individual must be transferred through the probate process. Probate is a public court procedure designed to transfer a deceased person’s property at death. While a will is simple and inexpensive to prepare, and probate will accomplish the first goal, a simple will does nothing to minimize taxes. In addition, while probate is not as horrible as it used to be (or as you may have heard), nevertheless, it can often be a time-consuming and expensive process. The third way in which property can be transferred at death is through contract. One common form of contract is the beneficiary designation on life insurance policies and pension plans. Another form of contract which has become very popular is the Living Trust. A Living Trust is a contract which has been designed for the purpose of meeting all three goals set forth above, and will usually simplify the legal steps that must be taken by your heirs when you die, saving money which would otherwise be spent in probate court. Also, for estates that would be subject to federal estate tax, the use of Living Trusts often saves substantial taxes. The choice of a will, title, or a Living Trust is a personal decision which must be made on an individual basis, and there is no blanket rule of thumb as to which is the best method under all circumstances. Only after a thorough analysis of your estate will you be able to decide which method is best for you. Bruce M. Hug is a tax and estate planning attorney in West Bloomfield, Michigan. If you have questions about this topic or any other legal matter, contact Bruce at (810) 360-4950. A Patch of Green -1 5 - Spring Issue, 1997 Introducing the new advantage in irrigation repair, replacement and upgrade. From LESCO and Bear" Irrigation comes the advantage you've been looking for in golf course irrigation. Improved performance from a new line of components designed to upgrade your Toro® 600 and 700 Series valve-in-head sprinklers. Congratulations to: John and Jackie Cooney on the birth of their first child, Alison Jim Timmerman for bowling his first sanctioned 300 game » » & & # « €> €3> « €} « « & & & & # & €3> « €3> €3> €> €3> €3» & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & To the stafff and contributors of A Patch of Green, which finished first runner-up in the 1996 GCSAA Chapter Newsletter contest Recovering: Eric Edgerton, son of Mike Edgerton, from injuries sustained in a skiing accident Mary Woehrle, wife of Ted Woehrle, from heart by-pass surgery We DriveTheWorldTb Work And Play. Aou may know Club Car as the most prestigious name on the golf course. But our Carryall Utility Vehicles are powerful enough to take on the toughest jobs at any work site, any day of the week. So no matter how hard you work or play, count on Club Car for world- class performance and the power to drive you there. CLUB CAR, INC. MICHIGAN BRANCH (800) 482-8830 A Patch of Green -1 6 - Spring Issue, 1997 L A N D S C A P I N G T I P S FOR G O L F C O U R S E S ( century Rain aid] Improve Your Clubhouse Grounds with Landscape Lighting and Water Features v*< , * * , ■ « » ,. ^ ' ; • --r .s f. ». • «.». *•<« * . .■i'.riy ' Landscape Lighting Many golf courses have discovered that low-voltage landscape lighting adds beauty and security to club­ house areas at night. Espe­ cially since it has become more affordable than old-fashioned 120-volt installations. Nighttime lighting brings new drama to attractive landscaped grounds and makes them more inviting for clubhouse guests, even during the autumn or winter months. Low-voltage lighting also improves the safety of walkways, especially around steps, decks, curves, low shrubs and sprinkler risers. And it helps to deter vandalism or burglary on the grounds at night. ________________ Your Century Rain Aid golf course professional can show you a wide range of new landscape lighting systems. They install faster, are more economical to operate and offer greater long-term reliability. Ask to see Century's outstanding selection of path and spread lights, up and accent lights, ground well lights and more. Light Up a Cross Country Course If your course is used for cross country skiing during the winter months, landscape lighting will help bring in more guests. A Century Rain Aid lighting specialist can show you how to create a "winter wonderland" by lighting a trail area for night­ time cross country ski use. Golf Course Fountains and Streams Today's most popular golf courses have attractive water features that work both as hazards and scenic amenities. Waterfalls, ponds and streams present new challenges to your players and add beauty to the course. Century golf course design professionals can help you create small water features on the course or around the common areas, often using existing streams and ponds. ¡Century Rain Ami There's a branch near you. 800-347-4272 Century Coif Course Professionals have Solutions for Irrigation and Drainage, Landscape Lighting, Water Features, Fountains and more. Call Century today: 800-347-4272. 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Like Legacy G70 golf rotors from the world leader in gear-drive technology. It's compatible with all existing systems, has a sturdy, impact-resistant body and delivers even water distribution. Call Century today for solutions to golf course irrigation problems : 800-347-4272. ¡Century AidI 2- 1/2 Rotor G70 Valve-in-Flead Rotors (3) 7" Quick Coupling Valve-QCIOOY (1) 2" PVC Pipe Class 200 BE (200 Ft) 2 1/2" PVC Pipe Class 200 BE (40 Ft) From as low as $400.00 Legacy C 70 Valve-in-Head Rotor List Price $137.00 Also Available in Hydraulic LEGACY I r r i g a t i o n G o l f Heritage Award Essay In 1996 GDGCSA initiated the Heritage Award to recognize individuals in non-turf related post graduate secondary education, whose parents are members of our association. The recipients are selected on the basis of an essay. This year’s participant’s essays were based on their response to the following question: Describe your own perceptions of the role of golf in American society today, and how your life has been impacted by your parents’ involvement with this industry. Award winners for 1996 were: Alison Dushane, daughter of Kevin Dushane; Elizabeth Edgerton, daughter of Mike Edgerton; Jetti Fields, daughter of Don Fields; Kerry Skaife, daughter of John Skaife. One of the winning essays will run in each issue of A Patch of Green. Information regarding the 1997 Heritage award will be published in a future issue of A Patch of Green. If you have questions about the Heritage Award, contact Awards Chairman Rick Murphy, CGCS. Essay by Alison Dushane Not too long ago, when most people from my generation heard the word "golf" they associated it with an activity where a middle-aged guy would aimlessly swing at a dinky ball in an attempt to land it in a hole. Golf, in otherwords, was perceived as a boring, purposeless sport which lacked physical contact (a quality that arouses the attention of a typical sports fan who watches a sport for the "blood, guts and glory"). As time progressed, many people’s perceptions, including my own, about golf altered. Golf is finally beginning to gain acceptance in American society. I believe golf has evolved as a respectable sport as a result of the diversity linked to it. People from all age groups, sexes and ethnic backgrounds are emerging in displaying an interest in golf. School-aged youth to senior citizens use golf as an outlet for leisure. I am able to vouch that my generation is actually getting out and playing golf. Over half of my friends have swung a golf club at least once. In this respect, I perceive golf as a sport that exhibits a common ground between youth and their elders. It is much more conceivable to play 18 holes of golf with your grandfather than engaging in an intense game of football. Professional athletes who play baseball, football and basketball are being seen out on the golf course. These are the same athletes who are getting bruised and beat up on the field or court and at the same time are glorified by American society. Perhaps when a fan sees their favorite basketball player taking a swing at a golf ball, he might say to himself, "Hey, maybe golf isn’t so bad after all!" feel that golf is a game I that exhibits great sportsmanship. Though it is a competitive game, the players appear to be engaged in a friendly match. It is rare that you would see a golfer take a swing at a fellow golfer or harrass the people in the gallery. I believe many sports have gained negative press as a result of the childish behavior some players exhibit. Golf, on the other hand, is usually perceived as a "gentlemen’s sport" as a consequence of the player’s positive image on and off the golf course. I believe my dad’s involvement in the golf industry has had both a slightly negative and positive impact on my in life. The negative aspect linked with my dad’s job is that it consumes a great deal of his time. The hours my dad works, especially are usually unpredictable. He would often leave for work in the early morning hours and not return home until dark. As a result of his long hours, it was difficult for my dad to get away from work. Our family would go on a camping trip each summer and my dad was never able to go. summer, the Though there is a negative aspect linked to my dad’s involvement in the golf industry, I feel the positive aspects outweigh the negative. My dad’s stamina at work encouraged me even more to attend college. He has an amazing work ethic, which I attempt to model myself after. Over the span of several years my dad has also been very involved in his industry, on and off the golf course. My aspiration is that after I graduate from college, I can achieve the exact success in my career that my dad has in being involved in the golf industry. Another positive impact my dad’s job has had on my life is that his knowledge and resources have proved to be quite useful in aiding me with my school work. Over the years, I have taken courses such as biology, chemistry and ecology, where my dad has been able to help me with homework and with projects. My first year in college I was assigned to create a web page for my ISB (Integrative Studies in Biology) course. The topic of my web page was pesticides and I was certain that my dad would be able I had obtained some information about pesticides from other web sites on the internet. My dad looked over the information and he was able to expand on some of the pesticide information that was already presented. As a result of using my dad as a resource, I ended up getting a good grade on my web page. to help me. The sport of golf, overall has had a positive impact on my life. It has supplied a career for my dad and even has enabled employment for me for the past two summers. I never had an interest in golf until recently. My friends and I enjoy getting out and playing a round of golf every once in awhile. I predict that the game of golf will evolve even further when people begin to see it for what it really is. A Patch of Green -1 7 - Spring Issue, 1997 Thanks To Those Who Supported The 1997 Michigan Hospitality Room And Made It Another Success Story! SUPER BOOM' _________ _________ •Jf l W I _____ I B P K ' f I ~ ~ yv w , :$.<****>- , ' & ■» - ' f . ■ - *T*'X