TURF COMMS I Ł e-7 PURPOSE: To pass on what we learn willingly and happily to others in the profession so as to improve turf conditions around the country. "YOUR NUMBER ONE PIECE OF SAFETY EQUIPMENT IS YOUR HEAD«" Spent one and a half days at a workshop for those in the cockroach, termite and rat killing business (urban pest control>. It was an educational change of pace« Heard all about "crack & crevice" work; that dust was better than fine sprays for inside walls; and that one should buy microencapsulated materials for long term control of bugs in restaurants and homes. The urban concerned qualified wins the pest control industry perhaps more than you are very about coming changes in the pesticide laws- One well speaker felt that regardless of which political party next presidential election the "environmentalist" would be in position to push thru Congress stricter pesticide laws. Certification of pesticide users will go to a 2 or 3 tier approach- You the supervisor will have a more intensive test to pass. Your applicator will be taking a test similar to the relatively easy test you have taken in past years. Such a proposed law is presently before the Texas Legislative body for regulating the urban pest control industry. He said not. to expect too much from the State Extension Service in the way of training as they are under severe budget restrictions that are getting worse. He predicted that you would see more manufacturers and consultants getting into the training busi ness. TURFCOMMS~i»~publim and publishers Douglas T. Hawes, Ph D Certified Professional Agronomist Specializing in Golf Course Maintenance Consulting 2408 Roundrock Trail Piano, Texas 7507S (214) 867-0176 Subscription cost is «10. Send checks to Doug Hawes at the above address. This same individual predicted increased speci al i sat i on in the pest control industry to make -for easier training of personnel and more economical insurance coverage. That training will be a much bigger part of budgets in the future was another prediction. This same well qualified speaker felt that the new tax law would push up equipment and chemical prices dramatically over this next year. Fuel he said would go to $1/gal Ion by the end of the 1987. DDT for AIDS prevention - The next speaker mentioned that old "DDT" was being suggested as an AIDS prevention. The DDT he was talking about was the old warning: "Don't Do That". This speaker mentioned Rat Catcher's Child as a good book to read if you were interested in a history of the urban pest control industry. An industry you are not. that far removed from. If you suddenly find yourself with out a position and don't want to pick up the family and move take a look at it. The next speaker was Charlie Rogers of the Texas Water Commission who talked on Small Generators of Pesticide Waste. Apparently it is the Water Commission's task in Texas to assure proper handling of hazardous waste. EPA's list of hazardous wastes is 80 percent pesticides according to Mr. Rogers. For more information on hazardous waste generation call EPA's RCRA/Superfund Hotline (800) 424-9346 and ask for a copy to be sent to you of Understanding the Small. Qdl^ntity. Generator Hazardous Waste Rules: A Handbook of Smal1 Business. MOST ALL OF YOU ARE BY LEGAL DEFINITION SMALL HAZARDOUS WASTE GENERATORS. It is going to pay you and your golf course to learn how not to be a hazardous waste generator. It may mean new equipment which allows you to spray mixing the water and concentrated pesticide only at the instant they are sprayed. That is mixed at the nozzles not in the tank. This approach eliminates contaminated tank rinse water (hazardous waste), or left over spray (hazardous waste) needing to be dumped. "Hazardous wastes" can not legally be dumped any more. You must store it in 55 gallon drums and have it hauled to an approved site by an approved carrier. Enforcement is based on a skeleton staff as I see it. But, if they have records of you having received a potential hazardous waste material you better have a record of where all of it went. "All of it" including the container, rinses of the container, and rinses of the spray tank. More paper work. Your seller will 
supply the EPA the information that you received the hazardous waste (pesticide). That is part of their record keeping. Be sure you do your part. To: Membership (? guests, golfers ?) From: Superintendent (? and Green Committee Chairman ?) Subjects What it takes to make the course playable. 1 * Mowing of greens, tees, approaches, and fairways starts at 6 A « M * daily during summer months« When mowers interfere with normal play, it is usually the result of a shortage of help, inclement weather, or equip-ment breakdowns- Please be patient if mowing occurs during your early rounds. Maintenance is scheduled as follows» Mowing greens . - . . , . — 6 times/week !lS.i4iJ19L tees & approaches, . 3 times/week MQMLQfiL col 1 ars, * — « . , , 3 times/week Mowing, fairways - . * - — - 4-5 times/week depending on growth and tournaments Mowing roughs 1-2 time&/week, depending on growth Mowing, tee and green ban} CUD. changing Sand traps raked, . , Grooming around trees , iressing greens, « , i,. 1 time/week , 6-9 times/week , 4-6 times/week , every 3 weeks — twice monthly 2, The maintenance staff works 7 days/week between April 1st and October :15th. 3« Aerification is tentatively scheduled as follows: Fairways: Twice yearly: Late June, early August Greens: March, October Tees: Twice yearly: Early to mid May, July Purpose: To relieve compaction that has resulted from golfers, carts, and maintenance equipment. Results: Increases movement of air and water into the soil which results in better root growth and micro-b i a1 act ion. Which in turn results in reduced thatch, grass plants better able to withstand the stresses of heat, and traffic. 4. Syringing (Misting of the greens with water) is one of the most crucial maintenance practices taken during the golfing season. Why? The shortly mowed bentgrass by midsummer has an equally short root system« A light misting applies just enough water to act like an evaporative cooling system- Thus the plant gets thru the stress period of the day in bet-ter condition. When? On very hot days between 11 A.M. and 3s30 P.M. Syring-ing of a green, and collar should take approximately 3 minutes. Employees will try to work between foursomes, thus inconveniencing the golfers as little as possible. You may not a slight slowing of putting speed immediate-ly after syringing. Please be patient with the syring-ing crew. Their job is critical. 5. The following would be appreciated by golfers playing behind yous a) Replace tee and fairway divots b) Repair ball marks on greens (if time permits, fix several) c> Rake trap footprints d) Pickup discarded papers and cans e) PI ease - Keep golf carts 30 yards from greens In Closing: We try to schedule our maintenance programs to interfere as little as possible with your golfing plea-sure. All employees are instructed to show courtesy to all golfers. Our job is to provide a beautiful surround-ing for the members' pleasure. Remembers A lot of work goes into providing this surrounding. EDITOR'S COMMENTS You are encouraged to copy and or modify the above for your membership. This is a modification of one such letter sent to the membership of Mil burn C. C. by the superi ntendent, Don Cook. FAREWELL MONTY Mr. James h. "Monty" Moncrief died of a heart attack after his daily round of golf February 25, writes Bi .1 ] Bengeyfi el d. "He was a fine individual!" Your editor remembers well Monty telling me what to say on USGA turf advisory service visits, "Just tell them what is best for the grass plant." Farewel1 Monty, it was good to have known you.