WESTERN OFFICE 13267 Verano Garden Grove, California WM. H. BENGEYFIELD Western Director Western Turf l e t t er • Vol. 6 No. 2 March April 1957 it it it it it it it it it it k it it it it it it k it it it it k it it it it it it Vc it Vi sV >'wV k V? V? it it * * * * Your Western Green Section Office now has a new address. Please * make any necessary changes in your records . A CHANGE TO NOTE it ->V Vc it it /V V<* /V k 'V Vc Vc it k Vc /V it Vc Vc -/V it ^ * "k it it it it it it * USGA Green Section - Western Office P. 0. Box 567 Garden Grove, California And a new phone number - LEhigh 9-8702 (Temporary) it it it if k it it it it k it it it it it it it it i< it k k it it it k it it k it it i< it it k k it k it k k it k it it it k it -k k it it it it it k it it k it it it it k it it it it it it it k Goings On-- A R O U ND T HE W E ST Like a woman's handbag, a 'traveling agronomists' notebook is soon filled with many and varied an article. Especially true, if he travels the West and visits with Western superintendents. Here are a few samples: Secretly, every superintendent has had the urge to dynamite his MAN BLOWS UP GREEN'. worst green and, with one blow, solve all of its problems. If you carry out such a plan this spring, take comfort in knowing that you will not be the first; it has already been done. The man who did it is Boyd Gourley, Superintendent at the Everett Country Club, Everett, Washington. And Boyd still remains as their top superintendent. Despite an extensive tile system, No. 5 Green never drained properly. It was always soggy and always a problem. The only solution seemed to be more tile and the work crew started trenching. When they hit a hard pan (about 15 inches down), Gourley hit upon an idea. "If we could only jar this green with a little dynamite ". Into a small hole about 3% feet deep, Gourley placed a half stick of 'stumping' powder and then uncorked the charge. Since the surface of the green did not tear or bulge, he repeated this procedure five or six more times around the green. Next morning, No. 5 was firm and has ever since remained well drained. The total cost for this drainage operation less than $2.00. HOW GO THE BETTER GRASSES? There are more greens of improved bentgrasses in the State of Utah than in all the other western states combined1. But the gap is closing. Progressive Superintendents are taking the improved grasses out of their nurseries and putting them to work on their courses. Jim Haines, Dencer C. C., has the tremendous job of relocating six COLORADO greens this spring. He has brought Toronto and Cohansey along in his nursery and the new six will be stolonized to these better bentgrasses. Ted Rupel, Cherry Hills C. C. has developed an outstanding demonstration nursery. Ben Conrad, Park Hill G. C, feels that Cohansey and Poa annua might make a fine turf combination. "If you can't beat it, join it", says Ben. Elmer Border, Olympic Club reports that plugging Congressional NORTHERN CALIFORNIA into a few greens has been very successful and plans a stepped up program this year. At the Orinda C. C. a practice green was resodded last fall with Arlington and Congressional (C-l and C~19) . More on this in a later issue. Cliff Wagoner, Del Rio C. C., can show us a huge practice tee in U-3 bermuda. Dick Viergever, Woodbridge C. C., reports that T-35A bermuda is going well and Cohansey shows high promise. Dick is also trying Meyers zoysia on 'wear areas' around greens. Ed Silva, Silverado C. C. has Merion bluegrass on outstanding tees. Ed Berardy, Lake Merced C. C., has one of the best demonstration bent nurseries in the west. WASHINGTON has a huge nursery and long range plans to convert all other greens. Milt Bauman, Overlake C. C., finds that Merion bluegrass is the one for his tees. Ken Putnam, Seattle Golf Club has Congressional on one green. He also Jay Richardson and Matt Broderick, Utah Copper Golf Course established a UTAH Pennlu green last fall: the first Pennlu bentgrass green in the West. More on this in a later issue. Joe B. Williams, new superintendent at the Salt Lake City C. C., takes over an Arlington - Congressional Green from retiring Karsten Hansen. A new 9 holes at the Bonnieville Course, under A1 Emery, also has 'The Combination * . Harold Stelling, Santa Ana C. C., has the oldest Arlington- SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Congressional green on the West Coast. Jack Baker, The Valley Club in Santa Barbara has established a practice green in Pennlu and T-35A bermuda is going into his tees . Gomer Sims is experimenting with several improved bents at his Meadowlark course, Clarence Hazlett, Brentwood C. C., has an excellent nursery of bermuda selections. NEW OFFICERS FOR NORTHER AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SUPERINTENDENTS Walter Boysen, Sequoia C. C., is the new President of the GCSA of Northern California. Harrison White, Los Altos C. C., becomes VP. and Cliff Wagoner, Del Rio C. C., is Secretary - Treasurer. Board members are Chas. Metzger, San Jose C. C., Fred Layton, Cypress Point; Leigh Hulbert, Presidio Golf Course and Dick Viergeyer, Woodbridge C . C . In Southern California, Jack Paul, Los Angeles C. C. takes over the reign as President with Rod Barker, Sr., Fullerton G. & C . C., the Vice President, Elmo Feliz, Griffith Park is Secretary and Joe Martinez, Bel-Air, the Treasurer. Congratulations to all. Goings On IN T HE G R E EN S E C T I ON The Green Section staff now covers the entire country1. A Mid-Continent office has been established and USGA Agronomists now number eight. The new men are James M. Latham, Jr., Southeastern Agronomist (replacing B. P. Robinson); James B. Moncrief, Southwestern Agronomist; James L. Holmes, Mid-Western Agronomist and T. T. Taylor, Northeastern Agronomist. Although not affecting the Western Region, Turfletter coverage has also been changed. The new Turfletters are designed for the 'Eastern1, 'Southern1, 'Mid- Continent1 and 'Western* regions. USGA RESEARCH MONEY - IN THE WEST For 1957, USGA funds for turf Research and Education will total over $18,000. Of this amount, the University of California at Davis will receive $2,000 for a fellowship in irrigation, under Dr. Robert Hagan. At UCLA, a grant of $400 will help support studies of cool season - warm season grass combinations . Throughout other sections of the country, USGA supported studies include Poa annua research, nematode studies, relationship between soil mixtures and compaction, 2,4-D effects on seedlings and many others. Complete details will appear in the USGA Journal and Turf Management. 1957 USGA CHAMPIONSHIPS - IN THE WEST Two USGA Championships will be played in the West this year. The National Womens Amateur will be held at the Del Paso Country Club, Sacramento, California on August 19th - 24th. The Girls Junior will be played at the Lakewood Country Club, Denver, Colorado on August 12 - 16th. Fred Vogel is the Lakewood turf manager. USGA FILMS AVAILABLE The third official USGA sound and color movie has just been released. Its title is "Play Them As They Lie". Johnny Ferrell introduces the film and gives several actual demonstrations. Lindsey Nelson is the narrator. Other USGA films include "Inside Golf House" and "Rules of Golf - Etiquette" . Further information may be obtained from National Educational Films, Inc., 165 West 46th St., New York 36, N. Y. "k ic if Vc >V i< V? i< "Every man who rises above the common level has received two educations: the first from his teachers; the second, - more personal and important, from himself" . Edward Gibbon U. S. GOLF ASSOCIATION GREEN SECTION WESTERN OFFICE 13267 Verano Garden Grove, California Mr. O, J. Noer Milwaukee Sewerage Commission Jones Island Milwaukee t &is. BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE P A ID Los Angeles, Calif. Permit No. 19900