WM. H. BENGEYFIELD Western Director V o l. 8 - No. 1 yc^cvovvivwwcvovyov*^ Phone KEllogg 2-2935 • W e s t e rn T u rf l e t t er • "Today's man is a kind of technological Adam, standing on the threshold of a new world of millions of discoveries. Each year from nox* on will see more technological change than formerly took place in a genera- tion/ 1 J. Lewis Powell n ,! Starting with this issue, the Western Turfletter will be sent to all * * USGA Member Club Green Chairmen throughout the west* This is part of the * * USGA program to keep clubs well informed on matters of turf technology. M r. * * Richard S. Tufts, former President of the USGA (1956-1957) has stated that * the organization's most important work is its Green Section for improvement * * Through this additional Green Section service, it is hoped that * * of turf. * * golfing turf improvement will be served throughout the west. * * If your Club is not already subscribing to the Green Section Visit- * * * ing Service, you will be interested to note that this marks the 8th year * * where a consulting Green Section Agronomist is available for direct visits * * to Western Courses. Last year, 117 Western Clubs supported this program. * * * The visiting service fee for 1959 is as follows: * * * * * * * Further details are available from "Golf House" or from this office. The * * USGA Green Section mission is to serve those responsible for golfing turf • * * management by keeping them up-to-date on advances in turf technology. * Less than 18 Holes: 18 to 27 Holes: 36 Holes: $100.00 $125.00 $150.00 Don't Guess S O IL T E ST The divining rod, the full moon and the Farmers Almanac were all fine for the old days, but the push of modern Agriculture has brought us even more reliable tools. Soil testing is one of them. For the past 30 years, agricultural scientists have been at work per- fecting soil testing procedures. During the time, they weathered a tremendous storm of criticism. Yet today, soil testing is a proven tool in American farm- ing and should be one of the turf manager's "Secret Weapons." More Western Golf Course Superintendents should take advantage of this important aid. Soil test- ing has come of age'. Don't Guess SOIL TEST (CONT'D) The Right Sample: 2. No one will deny that a major factor in producing high yields is "Proper Fertilization." And to fertilize properly, of course, takes some knowledge of what your soil needs. This knowledge is gained through soil tests. And one of the most important steps toward an accurate soil test is the right kind of soil sample• In fact, modern soil testing procedures are, for the most part, much more accurate than the soil sample being tested. To obtain a good sample from a green, take a uniform core from the sur- face soil to a depth of exactly two inche s. Repeat this in 4 or 5 other places over the green. Place all plugs from this green in a clean container, label clearly and allow the sample to thoroughly Air Dry. Do not dry samples with arti- ficial heat. The Right Test: After collection and drying, many soil testing laboratories are avail- able to the Superintendent; some free of charge. Your State College may offer this service as well as privately operated testing laboratories. Several ferti- lizer companies including the Milwaukee Sewerage Commission offer the service. Testing procedures often vary from one laboratory to another. This is simply because there is no one best testing procedure. What is important, is that each chemical procedure is correlated with actual crop production. One laboratory may extract plant nutrients from the soil with a rather strong extracting solu- tion. Another laboratory may extract the plant food \fith a weak solution. Some laboratories use an electrical method to remove available plant food. If you sent the same sample to all three laboratories, you would receive three different chemical results. This is not important the Superintendent. The important fact is that each soil testing procedure be calibrated with carefully conducted field experiments or observations. although it can be very confusing to The Right Interpretation: Interpretation is one of the most difficult phases of testing soils for turf areas. Unfortunately, not all soil testing laboratories have a spe- cialist in turf management on their staff. A man trained in potato culture, corn, cotton, oranges or any other crop i¿ not qualified to interpret a soil sample from a putting green unless he has thoroughly studied the nutritional re- quirements of grass under putting green conditions. The wrong interpretation is just another way of spelling "trouble." There can be no such thing as "rubber stamping" a fertilizer recommendation for all crops. Each has a different re- quirement and must be handled separately. The Right Facts: Along with your soil sample, send the testing agency other informa- tion such as type grass, drainage, lime or lead arsenate application, past fer- tility practices, etc. This will help you receive an accurate test and an ac- curate recommendation for your green, tee or fairway. The progressive Superintendent will keep an accurate, running check on his soils every three to five years. Only four or five "representative" greens need be tested during this time. Of course, "troublesome" greens may be checked more frequently. aid to your profession sending samples. and right now is the best time for collecting and Remember that soil testing can be an important A RE Y OU A G O OD B O SS (Part VIII - Conclusion) 1 Here is your chance to find out . Next to each of the twenty-five questions listed below, put a check mark in the appropriate column at the right (Always, Usu- ally, Sometimes, Rarely, Never), Then follow scoring in- structions below. > c > KÎ CO a in a > tr4 4 r Ki 11 of everything I do? I. 2* 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Do I know the "Why Do I do anything not essential to the job? Do I seek help from others when I need it? Do I know how to do all phases of my job? Do I make a positive approach to my job - avoid complaining? Do I plan my work for the day each morning? Do I maintain good communication in three directions? (up-down-sideways) Do I maintain good working relations with others? Do I maintain good team spirit? 8. 9. 10. Do I think with my people? II. Do I treat superiors as I would want to be treated? 12. Do I always stay on top of my job? 13. Do I delegate work that others can do equally well? 14. Am I training an understudy? 15. Do I find interest in my assignment? 16. Am I alert to ways of improving my job? 17. Do I accept responsibility cheerfully? 18. Do I accept criticism cheerfully? 19. Am I open-minded to suggestions? 20. Do I work to get ahead instead of complaining when I don't? 21. Do I set up standards in order to measure my own performance? 22. Do I follow a plan to develop my own team? 23. Do I give credit for a job well done? 24. Do I listen to my subordinates? 25. Do I do my work in the easiest way? 50 > W r« Kj 2 < td CO o PJ H M CO __ __ __ i _ __ __ __ _ __ _ _ __ a __ __ _ __ __ ! _ __ ___ _ _ __ _ __ _ __ __ _ __ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Number of checks in each column Multiplied by Column score Total score (add columns) _4_ ~JL _JL 0 _ _ _ _ 60 to 70 is fair; below 60 is poor. A score of 90 to 100 is excellent; 80 to 90 is good; 70 to 80 is adequate; •k & Jc -k i< We live too much in platoons; we march by sections; we do not live in our individuality enough; we are slaves to fashion in mind and heart, if not to our passions and appetites. Edwin Hubbell Simmons U. S. GOLF ASSOCIATION GREEN SECTION W E S T E RN OFFICE P.O. Box 567 Garden Grove, California BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID Garden Grove, Calif. Permit No. 83 Mr* Ralph W. W h i t s, J r. D e p t. of Ornamental Horticulture University of Florida G a i n s v i l l e, F l a.