Official Publication of the Michigan & Border Cities Golf Course Superintendents Association ■ LET THE EXPERTS AT J. J. DILL HELP YOU MAKE IT BUY DIRECT • SAVE MONEY GET FAST DELIVERIES Your budget will buy more — in chemicals and equipment to apply them — when you deal direct with Dill. As manufacturer, formulator and/or distributor, Dill can save you money. Consistently. Dill offers the most com­ plete line of quality turf chemicals in the midwest . . complete with appli­ cation instructions. is headquarters for complete Dill lines of: • Fungicides • Herbicides • Algaecides • Insecticides • Fog- gers • Sprayers. PR O M PT D ELIVER Y throughout southern Michigan and northwestern Ohio, including weekly shipment via our trucks covering the Detroit, Flint, Lansing and Toledo areas. Call Dill collect for information, prices, and to place orders. (616) 349-7755 » TIP OF THE MONTH IT ’S SPR IN G ................ Now is the time for broad leaf control with KLEEN TURF MCPP and 2,4-D AMINE. Spray now for leaf spot, F L O W A B L E MANEB is a good choice. Start now for broad spec­ trum systemic control — Call us for the newest developments and recom­ mendations. VALUABLE CATALOG Latest edition, up-dated in all respects. Contains a wealth of in­ formation. Lists and describes hundreds of chemicals, pesticides and equipment for maintenance of grounds and waters of golf courses, parks, recreation areas and resorts. J. J. DILL COMPANY KALAMAZOO, Ml 49005 Gentlemen: Please send your latest Turf Care Catalog. Box 788 Dept. PG-4 NAME ___ ADDRESS CITY____ . STATE. .Z IP . "A Patch of Green" 31823 Utica Road, Fraser, Michigan 48026 (313) 293-3540 Published monthly by the Michigan and Border Cities Golf Course Superintendents Association Circulation 1,050 Ted Woehrle, Oakland Hills C.C. Clem Wolfrom, Detroit Golf Club Co-Editors Blakeman Publications Graphic Arts/Circulation A D V E R T IS IN G R A T E S Double Page Spread...........................................• 100.00 Back O utside P a g e...................................................65.00 Full P a ge.......................................................................55.00 Half P a ge.......................................................................35.00 Quarter P a g e................................................................25.00 Eighth P a g e............................... 12.50 Sixteenth P a ge...............................................................7.50 C la ssified Ad (per in ch )...........................................5.00 DISCOUNT RATES One Year 10 % THIS MONTH’S ADVERTISERS Agrico (Bud Camp) American Research Corp. Century Supply Corp. Certified Laboratories, Inc. Cowbell Seeds, Inc. J.J. Dill Company Lakeshore Equipment Lawn Equipment Corp. W.F. Miller Garden Miller Sprinkling Systems (Sisco) Milwaukee Sewerage Comm. O.M. Scott & Sons Company Terminal Sales Corp. Turfgrass, Inc. (Agrico) Turf Supplies, Inc. Wilkie Turf Equipment Co. 3 MICHIGAN AND BORDER CITIES GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION P R E S ID E N T OAKLAN D HILLS COUNTRY CLUB TED WOEHRLE Birmingham. Michigan O ff. 644-3352. R es. 646-6512 TAM -O-SHANTER COUNTRY CLUB V IC E P R E S ID E N T GERALD GILL 3466 Walnut Lake Road Orchard Lake. Michigan Off. and R es. 626-8325 S E C R E T A R Y -T R E A S U R E R BOB HOPE KNOLLWOOD COUNTRY CLUB 6330 Inkster Road Birmingham. Michigan Off. and R es. 626-6062 B O A R D O F D IR E C T O R S C. H. WOLFROM, JR. D E TR O IT GOLF CLUB Detroit, Michigan 530 Kendry (R e s.) ALBERT KALTZ M APLE LAN E GOLF CLUB Sterling H gts.. Michigan Off. 268-2130, R es. 463-2892 ROGER GILL R O YA L OAK GO LF CLUB R oyal Oak, Michigan Off. 549-7125, R es. 573-6859 GEORGE W. PRIESKORN 5341 Brighton R oad (R e s.) Brighton. M ichigan 48116 BURROUGHS FARMS GOLF CLUB R es. 227-1381 WILLIAM W. MILNE COUNTRY CLUB OF D ETROIT G rosse P ointe Farms, Michigan Off. 881-8000, R es. 886-9319 220 C.C. Drive BAY POIN TE GOLF CLUB DONALD LA FOND 3635 Union Lake R oad Union Lake, Michigan R es. 363-1142 P R E S ID E N T E M E R IT U S WARD SWANSON PLUM HOLLOW GOLF CLUB 29642 W estfield (R e s .) L ivon ia, Michigan Off. 352-2436, R es. 421-8049 The President’s Message Now that Spring has sprung and our courses are back in full swing, we should take time to plan our association schedule and determine how involved we want to become. Our goal this year is one of service through education. Because our pur­ pose for belonging is education, we should all do our part. Bring your problems to us and we will attempt to help you solve them. There is a great deal of comfort in knowing that the entry membership is willing to help if and when help is needed. Bill Milne, our education chairman, is always attempting to bring timely subjects and expert speakers to our I Management Seminar I Management Seminar - I scheduled for April 4-5, 1973 at Cleveland, Ohio, was cancelled due to lack of interest. Full particulars on future seminar subjects and schedules will appear in f ut ur e i s s u e s of “ The Patch of Green’ ’ . monthly meetings so that we are able to stay on top of the problems of maintaining our courses. We are always striving to help you become a professional person in your chosen field. Please help when asked. We are all in this together. Your President, Ted Woehrle Bud Stoll Retires Bud Stoll, age 68, the Superinten­ dent of the Ann Arbor Golf and Outing Club recently retired after some 43 years. He served as Superintendent since 1952. Bud has turned over the operation to his son, Gerald L. (Gerry) Stoll, just as his dad did back in ‘52. Bud’ s dad, Albert Stoll, became Superintendent was back in 1906. So the family has been there a long time. Gerry has two sons, Gerald and Dale, who already know their way around the course, so who knows? The family may complete an entire century. No synthetically produced fertilizer can compare with MILORGANITE Go If Courses Use M ore MILORGANITE' Than Any Other Fertilizer l.-A> ÏÎJ-; TERMINAL SALES CORR 12871 EATON AVE. DETROIT, MICH. 48227 (313) 491 -0606 4 March Meeting Our March Meeting was held at Bay Pointe Golf Club, Don LaFond, host S u p e r i n t e n d e n t . Over 70 members attended our season opener to discuss our plans for the year. Above: Ted Lazaroff proudly displays his going-away gift. (An expensive piece of luggage. former Superintendent A gift was p r e s e n t e d to Ted Lazaroff, of Forest Lake Country Club, who was a t t e n d i n g his last meeting before heading down to the Seminole Golf Club in Florida. The Fall Golf Day was announced as September 17, 1973 at Bay Pointe Golf Club. Details will follow. PROFESSIONALISM More than education, More than experience, More than training, It's a state of mind. Gordie LaFontaine, on right, wishing Ted job in Lazaroff good Florida. It looks like Gordie is about to be relieved of something in his pocket. luck on his new 5 What is Leafspot? WEEDS TREES and TURF, March 1973 to Because leaf spot often goes unde­ tected until most of the damage is done, it is important for golf course superintendents and other turf man­ agers initiate a total preventive control program against this common turf grass disease. leafspot fungi are host-specific pathogens, each attack­ ing only certain non-resistant varie­ ties of grasses. If the turf manager causing The In Memorium Ford Goodrich, 92, ex-Superin- tendent at Flint Golf Club died March 2. Mr. Goodrich’ s great-grandfather and great great uncle bought land in the Flint area in 1835 and 1838. In 1917, when Mr. Goodrich was farming land in Atlas Twp., J. Dallas Dort supervise the plowing, grading, and preparing of the land for the Flint Golf Course. asked him to Mr. Goodrich remained with the golf course until his retirement in 1955. He helped organize the Golf Course S u p e r i n t e n d e n t s Association of America as a founder member and he was a member of the Michigan and Border Cities Golf Course Superin­ tendents Association. leaves a daughter, son, three grandchildren, and 11 great grand­ children. He I have found that the greatest help in meeting any problem with decency and self-respect and whatever courage is de­ is to know where you yourself manded, stand. That is, to have in words what you believe and are acting from. — William Faulkner 6 is has sown a diverse seed mixture, the disease will likely attack only one type of grass and the rest will remain healthy. This is the reason that the disease often goes unnoticed until severe thinning of a particular grass variety has occurred. Leafspot caused by several species of the H e l m i n t h o s p o r i u m fungus H. Vagans is the major causal agent in the bluegrass turf of the northeast while H. sorokinianun is prevalent in the central states. On bentgrass, H. erythrospilum and H. in sorokinianum central areas are and H. giganteum is primarily con­ fined to southern localities. Although the species vary, the symptoms, life cycles and results are similar. it The leaves, fungi attack the older lower leaves and basal sheaths and stems. Dark brown or purple spots appear first and “ choke o f f ’ nutrients to the upper turning them yellow. The grass may die and severe thinning will result, allowing weeds a foothold. Frequently, the turf manager will not notice the damage until thinning has occurred and the disease itself has subsided. is a common mistake to blame the damage on drought or weed encroachment. In these cases, Leafspot is most likely to occur between April 1 and May 15 when temperatures are cool and the turf is moist. It then appears again in the fall between September and November. Grasses are coming out of winter or hot summer dormancy at this time and are under stress, making them es­ pecially susceptible to the disease. Helminthosporium present year- round, however, and can cause damage during cool, wet periods of the summer and fall. is Agrico puts you eighteen Agrico Country Club fertilizers will help you get the most out of your golf course... the most people, the most wear, the up on the competition, before the most green We ve spent a lot of time developing a custom-tailored program for your golf course. We sincerely believe that it’s the best there is. If you want a greener, competition even begins thicker golf course, use Agrico. And you can stay eighteen up all year long. 0 Agrico Representative: Bud Camp Phone (219) 485-6828 See your Agrico Country Club Products Distributor 7 * Changes in the Demand for Superintendents ...A Superintendent’s Viewpoint by GEORGE W. CLEAVER Superintendent Chestnut Ridge Country Club Lutherville, Maryland Newly elected Director of the GCSAA Problems generated by the rapid growth of golf in the past indicates a genuine need for concern in the future, especially with regard to the future demand trained, ex­ perienced golf course superintendents. for qualified, sport According the National Golf Foundation, golf is the most popular participation its popularity having doubled since 1950- ten million golfers played on Over over ten facilities in 1971. thousand golf in America, to increased slightly during Beginning in 1754 with the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, golf courses have, through the years, in numbers. persistently Growing the early years, the number of courses increased steadily through the 1920’ s, dropped slightly during the 30’ s and 40’ s, bounced back in the 50’ s and took off in the 60’ s. Today, there are approxi­ mately 10,500 golf facilities in North America, and the number of players tripled. From a sport once re­ has served it has become Everyman’ s thriving business as well. Beginning in there developed a shortage of qualified superintendents the many new courses. There were few formal means to train golf course superintendents, forcing course owners to acquire their personnel from the area of commercial agriculture. While not the ideal source, commercial agriculture provided the major supply of employable knowledge for the elite, the 1950’ s, game and for a 8 of learned g r o w i n g at the time to meet the c u l t u r a l demands of growing grass. The agricul­ the funda- ■ tural personnel mentals grass and ! maintaining turf through the education received school or experience gained on the farm. They learned to maintain the golf course by \ reacting to conditions they could see j and feel. in agriculture ' Fortunately, we no longer must > rely on such a source of expertise, i Colleges have recognized the need for 1 golf course superintendents and now offer two-and four-year courses geared ! toward providing the needed technical knowledge. Many young men have also [ become aware of the potential in this field the required courses in increasing numbers. Some colleges have begun to offer a winter­ time course to non students, these are geared for men in the field who have the lack the technical knowledge. experience but who and are taking The profession has, itself, taken steps to insure a supply of skilled personnel. A handful of progressive 1 GCSAA members had the foresight to , recognize the critical need for more professionally trained superintendents, i As a result, the GCSAA Scholarship * and Research Fund was developed and put in 1956. Since that the Scholarship and Research date, Fund has awarded 416 individual scholarships and 63 research grants, Over of GCSAA scholarship recipients are presently active golf course superintendents and are mem- j bers of the GCSAA. into action 30% j i Though nized, superintendents the shortage the problem was recog­ of qualified continued the Continued on Next Page into the need, 60’ s. As course owners became aware of the superintendents’ status and job recognition were ele­ vated, and fledgling signs of profes­ sionalism appeared. Older, experienced superintendents became consultants for other courses. As the turf student g r a d u a t e d , he would become an assistant superintendent and serve a training period managing a course under supervision of an “ old timer.” This system was beneficial to both. It provided the student with the practical, tried-and-true methods andl the “ old timer” with fresh, new ideas. As the older men retired or passed on, the younger men shouldered the full responsibility. the While the golf course superinten­ dent’ s job has grown in status and professionality, it has also grown in complexity. The superintendent does not stop at providing good turf for the golfer.* He must prepare accurate budget estimates, maintain efficient operational schedules, and purchase equipment wisely. In addition to the years of experience needed to analyze and the superintendent must keep abreast of the multitude of changes and improve­ ments offered by modern science and technology. These new techniques, chemicals and equipment are costly and present a challenge to the pro­ gressive is the constant need to change and improve that makes the job so interesting. superintendent. conditions, evaluate turf It The most dramatic growth of golf facilities occurred in 1967, when 664 facilities were built or under construc­ tion. This was, in part, a result of the 1965 Outdoor Recreation Program sponsored by the United States De­ partment of the Interior. According to Colonel Harry Eckhoff o f the National Golf Foundation, the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation “ ...makes grants from the Land and Water Conservation Fund to states, and through them to political subdivisions for planning, acquisition, and develop­ other units, and the facilities, this program ment of public outdoor recreational areas and including golf courses. Funds apportioned to states under finance 50% of total allowable project costs on a matching basis.” Financiers and real estate men were quick to invest in the golf boom and huge parcels of urban acreage were turned into golf facili­ ties. As the number of golf courses law of supply and skyrocketed, regard demand with to qualified superintendents took effect. Clubs began to bid for the services of good superintendents. Salaries went up. Superintendents were from one club to another. This pirating was often a result of a golfer playing as a club. He would guest observe in better condition than his own course and, upon returning home, set to work to “ steal” the superintendent. If he was successful, the now superintendentless club would seek to steal another club’ s superintendent, who would, in turn seek to steal...etc. This game of chair “ musical superintendents” resulted little more than salary increases for the objects o f all this attention. the course to be at another pirated in Ultimately, club officials recog­ nized the need for c o n t i n u i t y of maintainance in order to protect their investment. This made for a better relationship between the superinten­ dent and club officials and added to job security and financial advance­ ment. This constantly rising status of golf course superintendents, coupled with the continuing demand, motivated young men to enter turf school in record numbers. We are now to the point that, in my opinion, our profes­ sion can not adequately absorb the young graduates as superintendents or even as assistant superintendents they are becoming as available. A solution must be found for these future turf managers. satisfactory rapidly as Continued on Next Page 9 Superintendent’s Viewpoint Cont. Many factors affect the cost of maintaining a golf course for play today. Among them are increased play, the demand for closer cut turf, and finer standards of manicuring. New approaches and precise planning have never been more important than today in the golfing industry. Contributing to this need is the acute labor shortage directly affecting the superintendent and his course. The superintendent will, as in the past, be expected to meet the new challenge. Tools now at his disposal will become even more sophisticated and the whole operation of maintaining a golf course will be more scientifically and technically oriented. Thus we have three prob­ (1) a surplus of qualified turf lems: school graduates, the need for (2) New GCSAA Address Please be advised that we have changed our mailing address, effective April 23, 1973, from: The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America 3158 Des Plaines Avenue Des Plaines, Illinois 60018 TO: The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America 1617 St. Andrews Drive Lawrence, Kansas 66044 Also, any subscription you may for Nick Geannopulos or THE have GOLF will remain at the 3158 Des Plaines Avenue address until further notice. SUPERINTENDENT FA LL GOLF DAY SEPTEMBER 17, 1973 BAY POINTE GOLF CLUB 10 more over-all sophistication in the day- to-day work of maintaining a golf course, and (3) the need for a reliable source of labor. Is not one possible solution evident? Why not employ the surplus o f turf students as golf course workers? The obvious difficulty lies in the term “ golf course worker” or “ labor force,” and in the relatively low pay these people receive. This can be overcome by upgrading the work. Give these employees dignified titles and pay them as the worth of their chosen profession requires. This will be more expensive, but we all know the cost of maintaining a golf course will increase along with every­ thing else in this world. This solution offers the golf course superintendent labor and knowledgeable supporting personnel. It offers the turf school graduates a place in their field where they may gain the experience neces­ sary for advancement while compensa­ ting them adequately in terms of pay and status. feel there will always be a golf course demand they must be superintendents. But qualified in many ways. They must have desire and ambition. They must be well grounded in the technical and theoretical aspects of their profession, and they must gain experience. Times have changed since the 1950’ s when most their way up on the basis of experience with their technical knowledge acquired only through “ osmosis” . The 60’ s saw the requirement for formal training to produce a well-rounded superintendent. The 70’ s promise even stiffer demands. The day is drawing near when, in order to advance, the superintendent will have to be certified. He will need, in effect, a graduate degree in his field. superintendents worked qualified I remember hearing Leonard Strong (GCSAA Past President) say, “ Golf is big b u s i n e s s today, so to the superintendent I say: Think big - be big - but first be sure you qualify.” I for TORO helps you Take Better Care GREENSMASTER 3 OUTPERFORMS 4 MEN Here’s the kindest cut of all, as well as the fastest. The new GREENSMASTER 3 gives you the best of both worlds, by delivering 18 ribbon-cut greens in about 3!^ hours, and paying for itself in a single season. The GREENSMASTER 3 saves time because of simplified operator controls - simple pull knobs to change cutting heights - single foot control to raise or lower cutting units, with simultaneous engage- disengage - a mere 15 inch turning radius inside a 58 inch cut width - and a transport speed of 7 MPH. Wilkie Turf Equipment Company The Anderson Division 23455 TELEGRAPH RD., SOUTHFIELD, MICH. 48075 • PHONE: 353-5300 11 Remember. . . How Good Your Golf Course Looked When You Last Used . . . Well G & F? Borden's Famous G & F (Greens & Fairways) is Available in Michigan Again for ’73 . . . IN NOT JUST ONE, BUT SIX G & F's - TO GIVE YOU ULTRA-MODERN, HIGH ANALYSIS, NON-BURNING FERTILIZERS IN SUPER-UNIFORM, DUST-FREE PELLETS. 16-5-11, 50% Organic with all needed trace elements. GREENS & FAIRWAYS " THE GREENSKEEPER" 13-3-9, 65% Organic, Fine Texture, all trace elements. 16-8-8, All Mineral, Uniform Fairway Pellets. GREENS GREENS