t - * WM. H. BENGEYFIELD Western Director Vol. 7 No. 2 O N LY T HE F A C T S, M A ' AM Facts are stubborn things. For example, at 3 P . M. (PDST) on June 21st, the sun's northerly declination will reach 23 degrees, 27 minutes — and Summer 1958 will o f f i c i a l ly arrive. Are you, your Green Committee and maintenance crew ready to meet this fact? As in all summers past, our putting green turf will be growing — and therefore need attention -- seven days a week. co-operate with us in a Monday through Friday work schedule plus a spot check on Saturday morning. Zeke Avelia (Supt. - Hacienda Country Club, California) puts it this way, "Greens always seem to have their most serious trouble on week-ends, when no one is around." Are you making plans to have someone "around" all day Saturday and Sunday this year? Wilt won't wait and Monday is often too late'. It is factual that grass will not Back in 1932, the USGA published "The Bulletin - Turf Diseases and Their Control." D r. John Monteith, J r. and Arnold S. Dahl were the authors. stated facts: They "The most convenient way to determine the amount of water in the soil is to examine a small plug from the green. be pressed out of the plug several hours after watering, the green has been overwatered. It is better to keep the turf somewhat dry and thus avoid a multitude of turf troubles." If the water can Although the statement is twenty-six years old, the facts continue to "ring t r u e ." The production of good golfing turf today represents a very sizeable investment. In a 1958 survey made by a Southern California Golf Association Committee, eleven clubs reported golf course expenses averaging $ 8 6 , 7 9 0. per 18 hole course'. is his professional duty to produce the highest quality turf for his members that their investment will afford. It is the Superintendent who oversees this expenditure and it Putting greens represent the most expensive agricultural land in the world. They present a most d i f f i c u lt task of maintenance during the summer. is a fact that a top turf manager will check the greens many times a day during periods of high temperatures. He will follow a preventative disease control program, he will supply nitrogen lightly but frequently and iron w i ll be often used. The putting green must receive his top priority in the summer —-- all else is secondary. It These are facts — not designed to create fear, but intended to alert us, to refresh our thinking and to encourage us to plan now for the warm days ahead. Facts are stubborn things. 1958 CONTROLS FOR TURF INSECTS Turf damage from cutworms and sod webworms was extensive last year on many Western courses• The following table represents the latest recommendations for the control of these pests by State Experiment Stations and the USDA: WETTABLE POWDERS 40% Chlordane, Dieldrin, 25% 25% Heptachlor, EMULSIFIABLE CONCENTRATES Chlordane, Dieldrin, Heptachlor, 75% (8 lbs. per g a l .) 1% lbs. per gal. 2 lbs. per gal. AMOUNT OF MATERIAL PER 1000 SQ. FT« 5 0 2. o z. 4% oz. fluid 0 2. 2 6 fluid 0 2. 4% fluid oz. The ,fwettable powders11 are preferred over the nemulsifiable concentrates'1 as they are less likely to cause turf damage. Some oils used in emulsifying produce a discoloration to grass. All materials should be applied during the late afternoon or evening for best results. Avoid irrigation on treated areas for 24 hours if possible. Some work conducted last year in California indicates that Heptachlor is more effective on both sod webworm and cutworm than Chlordane or Dieldrin. Do not try to economize with the rates of application. In order to do the job right, apply the recommended rate of material. BETTER BERMUDAS ARE BEING BUILT There are many encouraging reports concerning T-328 or Tifgreen bermuda. This hybrid, made by B. P. Robinson, former USGA Green Section Director and J. M. Latham, J r ., USGA Agronomist in the South, is a cross between a common bermuda selection made in Charlotte, North Carolina and a South African Bermuda. In the West, Mr. Art Snyder (Supt. - Paradise Valley Country Club, Arizona) and sons Carl and Jim have done considerable work with T-328 (Tifgreen). They report that it is far superior to any bermudagrass they have observed. It is producing excellent greens in the deep south and outstanding tees in more northerly areas. Dr. Felix Juska, Turf Specialist with the USDA in Beltsville, Maryland, reports that Tifgreen has over wintered on his plots at Beltsville. bermudagrass country in the west, seriously consider establishing a plot to Tifgreen on your course this year. It offers great promise. If you are in MAIL CALL Unfortunately, the "USGA Journal and Turf Management" is not received by all superintendents. The turf management section of the Journal presents the latest authoritative research information and is semi-technical in nature. is correlated and edited by Dr. Marvin Ferguson, USGA Research Co-ordinator. It The Journal is published seven times yearly and a copy is sent to every club subscribing to Regional Turf Service. Why not ask your club office to save this copy for you? i 4 » r A RE Y OU A G O OD B O S S ?* (A Continuation - Part I I I) The qualities of leadership may be acquired and developed. A man makes himself a leader -- brains, ability and skill are necessary. 1. Loyalty - Are you capable of lasting loyalty to your assistant, to your club, and to yourself? Only by being loyal yourself can you inspire loyalty. Remember your assistant's success is your success. 2. Ambition - Have you the driving will to improve yourself; does that will carry over to the improvement of others? 3. Persistence - Have you the nstick~to-it-ivenesslf to carry through your plans and ambitions? 4. Patience - Are you able to hold back; wait a few minutes; repeat instructions; give the other fellow a fair chance? 5. Friendliness - Do you like people and treat them so they like you? 6. Tact - Can you work in harmony with others; can you say and do things without causing resentment and annoyance? 7. Cheerfulness - The surest sign of this; people like to have you around. 8. Good Judgment - What percent of your decisions prove successful? 9. Acceptance of Criticism - Can you take criticism, even from your subordinates; then evaluate it and Apply it to yourself? 10. Ability to Evaluate Worker's Performance - Are you able to evaluate the performance of your workers and help them improve their performance; are you able to change your opinion once established? 11. Economy - Do you save time and effort and material because you appreciate their value; have you made a serious effort to find a quicker, easier method of doing each job in a better way? 12. Neatness - Are you neat and orderly in work as well as in personal habits? 13. Self-Expression - Can you express your ideas clearly and convincingly? 14. Fairness - Are you fair in your judgments; do you always look at both sides? 15. Self-Confidence - Do you have faith in yourself; enough, yet not so much that it makes you oversure? 16. Capacity of Delegate Work - Can you place responsibility successfully? This list should not discourage you. These traits can be developed and the development in your case is up to you. k k k k k k k nA man may fail many times, but he cannot be called a failure until he starts blaming someone else.11 XL S. GOLF ASSOCIATION GREEN SECTION WESTERN OFFICE P.O. Box 567 Garden Grove, California BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE P A ID Garden Grove, Calif. Permit No. 83 Dr. J. R. Vatson» Jr. Cheif Agronomist Toro Manufacturing Córp. Minneapolis tf ; inn.