Newly Elected in 1996 to the W.M.G.C.S.A. Board At the annual meeting held in October at Cascade Hills Country Club six positions on the board were filled. Newly elected are: • Paul Schippers CGCS - President • Doug Boyle CGCS - Vice President • Kieth Paterson CGCS - Sec./Treasurer • Kurt Thuemmel CGCS - Director • Jeff Hopkins CGCS - Director • Tom McGuinness - Director Leaving the board are Steve Tedhams CGCS and Chris Fochman CGCS. Remaining on the board as immediate past President is Harry Schuemann CGCS, Al Bathum, Kathy Antaya and Mike Herbst CGCS as directors. Please congratulate the newly elected and the outgoing members of the board! Professional Development Catalog is Key to Year-Round Planning The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) re­ cently distributed a new, comprehensive Professional Development Catalog that provides more information on educational opportunities and association services than any previous publication. Presented in partnership with the Valent U.S.A. Corporation, the catalog provides mem­ bers a more integrated approach to GCSAA services. The Career Development section of the catalog outlines services and materi­ als that can help individuals define a ca­ reer path and achieve related career goals. For example, the Employment Referral Service, available only to GCSAA mem­ bers, is a weekly list of employment op­ portunities. The Employment Resources Kit offers tips on topics such as how to network and prepare for interviews. More than 160 GCSAA seminars in 80 locations across the United States and Canada are outlined in the catalog. Seven seminars, including "Lake and Aquatic Plant Management", "Spanish and Golf Course Management", and "The Super­ intendent as Grow-In Manager" are of­ fered for the first time in 1995-96. Semi­ nars being held at GCSAA’s 67th Inter­ national Golf Course Conference and Show are described in detail as well. Two new correspondence courses: "Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know”, and "Personal Protec­ tive Equipment for Pesticide Applica­ tors", have been added to the menu of options that allows students to learn at their own pace. Eight GCSAA correspon­ dence classes, each designed to be com­ pleted in seven to 14 hours, are now avail­ able. Also included in the catalog is in­ formation on two important GCSAA edu­ cation programs: the Environmental Man­ agement Program and the Certification Program. Program participants can now more easily review options for classes in their areas of study. GCSAA Technical Information Ser­ vices (TIS) listings form another large section of the catalog. TIS offers a wide selection of prepackaged materials that provide answers to some of the most com­ mon issues facing superintendents. Text­ books, GCSAA research reports, train­ ing videos and copies of GCSAA's tele­ vision show, "Par for the Course", also are included in the TIS bookstore listing. Free copies of GCSAA's Profes­ sional Development Catalog may be ob­ tained by calling 800/472-7878. Since 1926, GCSAA has been the leading professional association for the men and women who manage and main­ tain golf facilities in the U.S. and world­ wide. From its headquarters in Lawrence, Kansas, the association provides educa­ tion, information and representation to more than 14,500 individual members from more than 50 countries. GCSAA's mission is to serve its members, advance their profession, and enrich the quality of golf and its environment. Fall Party a Success— The annual fall party was held at Blythefield Country Club on November 3rd. Steve Tedhams and Kathy Antaya, party organizers, did a great job as usual. Doug Boyle and the staff at Blythefield did an excellent job to prepare for the evening. The group of one hundred lis­ tened to the fine D.J., Rick Ruether, and enjoyed a sumptuous meal. If you did not attend, plan to next year. It's a great way to enjoy the end of the season and treat your spouse to a nice evening out. Editor's Note: Elea se rrile me if you intetÆexTinaoing an article for us at: WesteriDtilw} wÿ&â&r ' ' ' '' ° Cats: A Worldwide Problem. Editor's Note: You may ask what this has to do with g o lf course man­ agement, but if you are involved in d evelo p in g o r have an a ctive audubon program, this may be o f in­ terest! Several recent studies have been confirm ing a long-standing belief among wildlife managers: free-roam­ ing cats pose a worldwide threat to wildlife. Game birds and small mam­ mals are particularly vulnerable. The scope of the damage has not been pinned down yet, but the studies indi­ cate that the problem is huge. So far, some of the most solid re­ search has been done in Australia, where cats have become public enemy number one, largely owing to their im­ pact on w ild life. In M elbourne, bumper stickers proclaim: "The Only good cat is a flat cat." Several Aus­ tralian m unicipalities are officially "cat-free zones." Cat curfews are in place in many urban areas. Free-roaming Australian cats do tremendous damage to local wildlife. In one study, David Paton of the Uni­ versity of Adelaide estim ated cats prey on 186 species of Australian birds, 64 mam­ m als, and 97 reptiles and am­ phibians. His re­ search show ed th at the 1.8 million cats in Victoria and New South wales alone killed some 60 mil­ lion vertebrates a year. Each cat av­ eraged eight birds, 16 mammals, and eight reptiles annually. On average, cats destroy more birds than are pro­ duced in urban areas, Paton con­ cluded. He thinks Australia's cats kill 3.8 billion animals a year. Carole Webb of the Victoria Cat Protection Society thinks that within 10 years all Australia cats will be con­ fined to residences all the time. According to Tom Dal yell, sci­ ence editor of New Scientist maga­ zine, domestic cats have been respon­ sible for the near-extinction of many species of sea birds on some remote oceanic islands. In Britain, cats kill over 70 million wild mammals and birds a year. In North America cats have also been damned for their impact on wild­ life. N ova S cotia b io lo g ist Bob Bancroft estimates Canada's five mil­ lion cats kill close to 70 million wild birds a year. "States and provinces could con­ trol cats; it seems logical that cats run­ ning at large should be controlled," said Moi Chromek, a wildlife legal specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources in Toronto. "For centuries, European law has classed cats at large as pests, to be destroyed." "But house cat control is a tricky matter," he added. "So many people like them. People don't like to clean out litter boxes, so they send cats outside, knowing they kill birds. This is not Mother Nature at work. Letting cats kill wildlife is not a crime, but it is not ethical, either." Alex D zubin, form erly w ith the C anadian W ildlife Service, thinks that cats kill many nesting ducks, especially in dry years. There is no doubt that cats im­ pact heavily on U.S. wildlife. • 1915 — The Massachusetts Agri­ cultural Bulletin warned that cats caused "an enormous decimation of birds." • 1940 — The Missouri Game Com­ mission claimed "cats in Missouri kill more game each year than do hunters." • 1949 — The New Yorker estimated that cats "probably kill a hundred million birds a year." • 1956 — The Massachusetts Com­ mission of Fisheries and Game at­ tributed two million bird deaths a year to cats in that state. • 1960s — U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service researchers found that 226 cats under study killed 2.7 birds and small mammals daily per cat. Prey included woodcock, grouse, prairie chicken, bobwhites, pheasants, grey partridge, snipe, doves, wild tur­ keys, rabbits, hares, and squirrels. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin estimate that cats are the most plentiful mid-sized predators in W isconsin and M innesota. Stan Temple, biologist at the University of W isconsin, estim ated recently that cats in that state kill "hundreds of m illions o f creatures a year." He thinks that cats destroy 47 million rabbits in the U.S. annually, and called the scope of mortality "shock­ ing." At the root of this enormous loss of wildlife is cat biology. According to biologist R.G. Browne of the Uni­ versity of Massachusetts, hunting be­ havior is innate in kittens and is rein­ forced by parental example. Further­ more, cats continue to hunt whether hungry or not. "Domestic cats do not Continued on page 3 Cats, continued hunt out of necessity," he explained. "They hunt for pleasure." Temple calls m ost house cats "subsidized predators" because they are fed well at home. One M ichigan study found a single cat killed 1,660 mammals and birds in 18 months, even though it was fed at home. In addition to the predation by cats on wildlife, there is also the el­ evated risk to natural ecosystem caused by cat-borne diseases. "Cats are important vectors for carrying dis­ eases, especially toxoplamosis," said wildlife disease specialist Ed Addison of the Ontario M inistry of Natural Resources Research Station at Maple. "They also carry feline imm unodefi­ ciency virus, feline distemper, feline leukem ia virus, and rabies." Cats are enormously abundant in North America. In 1966, the U.S. cat population was estimated to be about 35 million. By 1987, the figure had leapt to 56 million. At present, there are believed to be close to 70 million cats in the U.S. and 5 m illion in Canada. Studies by researchers at Cornell University indicate each cat prowls over an area of about 100 acres, but some roam much farther afield. Various measures have been con­ sidered to deal with cats, but few have been put into practice. "Cat control has been widely discussed, but it usu­ ally goes nowhere in North America," Chromek said. "There is a fear of too much flak from cat lovers. Cats are like sacred cows." The best cat control method is contraception, according to James Richards of Cornell University. The World Health Organization recom ­ mends vasectomy. Gonadotropic con­ traception holds some promise. The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals recently issued a statement claiming "irate citizens are tired of outdoor cats killing birds and generally making a nuisance of them­ selves." The SPCA hopes to convince governments to put in place "manda­ tory cat identification" involving mi­ crochips, tattoos, and external tags. There is no lack of evidence in­ dicating cats kill wildlife. It is becom­ ing something of a dilemma whether to even conserve w ildlife habitat w here burgeoning cat predation threatens to reduce wildlife popula­ tions to the degree where such mea­ sures do not work. "W hat's the point of worrying about bird habitats if we turn a blind eye to what cats do to those same birds?" Bancroft observed. From an article by Dr. Robert Allison printed in "Critter Chatter" Turf Management Report: How to Solve Winter Turf Injury. by Nor-Am Turf in a weakened condition re­ sulting from disease or pest damage, low or excessive moisture, lack o f fertility, or poor root development is much more susceptible to winter damage. At no time is the importance o f healthy turf more significant than during fa ll months. But even a lush, vi­ brant turf often can­ not withstand the pressures o f se­ vere w inter weather. Winter injury re­ sults from many different extreme con­ ditions. Symptoms are often complex, since many o f the injuries can interact. Some o f the conditions include: Ice Sheet Damage: Turf covered with ice for extended periods can expe­ rience injury from oxygen suffocation and toxic gas buildup, but these condi­ tions are rare. More commonly, freez­ ing and thawing cycles cause crown hydration, which reduces winter hardi­ ness. (Crown Hydration occurs when plants stand in moisture following a thaw, causing tissues to absorb high levels o f water. When temperatures drop again, ice crystals form within the plant cells, rupturing cell walls and killing tissue. The plant crown, or grow­ ing point, is the most criti­ cal tissue af­ f e c t e d by these freezing and thawing cycles. Damage appears in irregular-shaped areas, similar to direct low temperature kill. Poa annua is most susceptible to this type o f winterkill.) Low Temperature Damage: Direct kill may occur in freezing-thawing situ­ ations, when turf experiences a rapid drop in temperature (usually below 20°F). Poorly hardened plants with a high moisture content are more suscep­ tible to this type of winterkill. Leaves and stems appear water-soaked, turn brown and become matted. A foul odor is often evident, and damage occurs in large, irregularly shaped areas. Chill Injury: Most commonly seen on warm-season turf grasses, chill in­ jury occurs when green pigment produc­ tion ceases during periods when tem­ peratures dip below 55°F along with Continued on page 4 Turf Management, continued high light intensity. Generally, grass leaves appear light brown to white. or Desiccation Injury: This condition is common in regions with high winds and low relative humidity, but can oc­ cur anywhere turf remains unpro­ tected and soil moisture is limited due to low tem­ peratures drought. Leaves and shoots turn white to silver and plant tissue is not matted down. Dam­ aged areas vary from small patches to large irregularly- shaped areas. Frost Heaving In jury: Freezing and thawing cycles on wet soils move the sur­ face during ice formation, pushing crowns and roots out of the soil. Roots can be severed from the plant. Symp­ toms include tissues turning white or silver to tan. This condition is most com­ mon on seedling turf. Traffic Injury - Frozen Ground: Foot and vehicle traffic on frozen leaves causes mechanical injury by rupturing cells in leaves and shoots. Frost dam­ age is common when traffic occurs in early morning before frost leaves the turf. Damage to frozen turf appears as white or silver areas, taking on the shape of footprints or tire tracks. Traffic Injury - Slush-Covered Ground: Traffic on slush-covered turf causes crown hydration and reduces winter hardiness. Damage is most se­ vere when temperatures drop below 20°F following heavy traffic injury, ex­ cept patterns tend to be more regular. Diagnose Winter Injury Early: early diagnosis of turf winterkill or in­ Hiring? 12 Questions to Streamline the Process 1. D e sc rib e your p re se n t job responsibilities. Which are most difficult and why? Which are most enjoyable? 2. Of which accomplishments in your present job are you most proud? What was your best idea regardless of achievement? 3. W hat w ould you like to have accomplished but haven't in your present job? W hat prevented you from doing so? 4. W hat p articu lar strengths and weaknesses would you bring to this position? 5. W hat do you know about our golf course and this position? 6. W hat would it take to succeed in this position? 7. W hat elem ents are important to your job satisfaction and that of your subordinates? 8. D escribe w hat qualities w ould m ake an id eal b oss for this position. 9. What are your short- and long-term career objectives? are W hat 10. th e b ig g est frustrations in your career? 11. How would you describe your p erso n ality ? H ow w ould your associates describe you? 12. Why shoul d we hire you ? Source: David Stefan, President, ChaseAmerica Inc., Jupiter, Fla. and GCSAA Newsline jury is essential to alleviating damage. Diagnostic steps should be taken prior to normal greenup in the spring. If you suspect winter injury, take the follow­ ing steps to determine the extent of turf damage: Collect turf plugs from suspected sites. • Place plugs in suitable container for short-term growth. • Place containers in a green­ house or well-lighted area, prefer­ ably a window facing south. • Keep turf ad­ equately watered, irf will initiate green­ ing in 5-7 days, depending on growing conditions. • Assess the extent of greening after two to three weeks. Areas with less than 50% greenup should be considered extensively dam­ aged, and will require renovation to en­ sure satisfactory quality. Lesser dam­ aged areas can be recovered with extra attention to proper fertilizing, watering and mowing. Keep traffic off damaged areas until adequately recovered. Take Action Early: If you deter­ mine that your turf suffers from winter injury, plan early to reseed those areas in the spring. Some of the steps you may wish to consider include: • Communicate with your membership or customers to alert them that some turf areas will be under renovation. • Ascertain equipment needs. • Arrange your seed purchases and lo­ cate the best source. • Plan your herbicide and fertility pro- Clubs Don’t Get What They Pay For... They Get Much More When I first became a golf course superintendent, I thought to myself, "Boy, are we ever well paid for what we had to know and were responsible for." It was pretty sim ple with no stimpmeter, little television coverage and minimal government interference. However, towards the end of my career and now as a sales rep I say to myself, "Boy, the golf course superintendent of the 1990's is grossly underpaid." If you ever get away from this profession, I guarantee that you will realize it more than ever. First of all, personnel management is almost a full-time job. Many crews are as much as 50% larger than what they were in the 70's. Also dealing with your employees is much more difficult. You can't just fire an employee because he is a worthless worker without expe­ riencing all kinds of repercussions. You have OSHA, R ight-To-K now and MSDS sheets... all good things, but they tie up your golf turf perfecting effort. The government with its environ­ mental concerns has the superintendent dancing to their tune of rinse pads, chemical storage facilities, certification, posting, ground water, wetlands, rivers, streams and lakes. You’re dealing with the DNR, EPA, fire departm ents, audubon societies and preservations groups that protect fish, geese and birds... and pterodactyls if they could. Mowing and cultural practices are at a level that could not have been dreamt of years ago. If you don't keep up, your members/patrons will play somewhere else, or you will be work­ ing somewhere else. Public courses are maintained more like or better than many private clubs of the 70's. Thanks to television, your mem­ bers are expecting their golf facilities to be maintained like that of Augusta- National or that year’s U.S. Open. They * do not realize that those courses are m aintained clim actic superintendent's performance and not a day in, day out effort. to a Today, tools of the trade range from the stimpmeter to the self-contained weather station to soil temperature and moisture gauges. Computerization is part of the irrigation systems, pumping stations and also spray equipment. Chemicals were simple, inexpen­ sive and long lasting. Now there are PGR’s, DMI's, systemics and very tar­ get specific compounds. Twenty-five acres of fairways are chemically treated like only greens were. Years ago dollar spot, brown patch, snow mold, cut­ w orm s and dandelions were the superintendent’s only concerns. Today anthracnose, summer patch, ataenius, aphodius, Japanese beetle grub and plant growth regulation are also con­ siderations in the day-to-day program of the golf turf manager. On top of all of this, play has in­ creased dramatically, not to mention outing play, which is so critical to each club's income. Just try to get some work done! The golf course superintendent has always worn many hats (including bud­ get manager), but the extent of respon­ sibilities, vastness of expertise expected and time given makes him the most un­ der-compensated of all club employees. Chris Fochtman Please patronize our advertisers as they have made this newsletter possible. Advertisers AgrEvo............................................... (614) 726-2857 A m turf................................................ (616) 792-2241 Benham Chemical.............................(313) 474-7474 Boylan Sales......................................(616) 685-6828 Century Rain A id............................... 1 -800-347-4272 Chipco/Specialty Products............... (313) 782-0323 Custom Aerification........................... 1-800-269-6181 D&CDistributors................................ 1-800-888-7779 D&G Irrigations................................. 1-800-334-7011 E-Z-Go Textron................................. 1-800-336-1016 Ellis S ales.......................................... 1-800-962-4128 Fitzgerald Henne Inc......................... (517) 482-8810 Green & Grow................................... (616) 964-9989 Kleins Fertilizer................................. 1-800-642-3172 Kubota of Grand Rapids.................. (616) 364-7031 Kurtz Bros. 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(616) 842-5180 Superior Uniform Sales.....................1-800-536-0718 T.C.I.....................................................(517) 725-7145 Terra International Inc....................... 1-800-321-9347 Tire Wholesalers Company, Inc.......(616) 775-6666 TriTurf................................................. (616) 943-8343 Turf Drain Inc......................................(810) 471-6750 Turfgrass, Inc.....................................(616) 866-9389 Turf Services......................................(616) 842-4975 United Horticultural Supply..............(810) 852-2838 Valley Turf..........................................(616) 532-2885 Van Manen O il.................................. (616) 453-6344 Water Tronics.................................... 1-800-356-6686 W.F. Miller Co.....................................(313) 349-4100 Wilbur-Ellis........................................ 1-800-873-5599 Classified Ads______ For Sale - 1992 Cushman GA-60 Fairway Aerifier. Only 122 hours on it. Excellent shape. Asking $13,000 or best reasonable offer. Call Jon Maddem at 517-785-4683. GCSAA Seminars Coming Soon To Your Area Turf Management, continued grams. Proactive Approach Pays Off: Even if you experience severe winter injury on your turf, you can assure your membership or customers of a quality turf in the spring by planning early to re-establish damaged areas. A proactive approach will yield posi­ tive results a few months down the road. Presented as a public service to professional turf managers by NOR-AM Chemical Company and Hoechst-Roussel Agri-Vet Company Assistant Golf Course Superintendent needed. Call Steve Tedhams at 616-949- 8330. For a more detailed description of seminars, with dates and regis­ tration forms, please refer to your GCSAA Professional Development Catalog 1995-96. You may also ref­ erence your monthly issue of G o lf Course Management. Watch your mail for reminder •ostcards high­ lighting seminars in your areal BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID GRAND RAPIDS, Ml PERMIT NO. 582 estern V iews Official Publication of m e West Michigan Golf Course Supemvenaer's Association 3725 Cascade Rd., S.E. • Grand Rapids, Ml 49546 P ete C o oki ngham MSU Main L i br ar y W - 212 Blast L a n s in g MI 48824