WMGCSA 1997 Meeting Schedule Mar. 4 G.A.M. Meeting Mar. 4-5 G.C.S.A.A. Seminars Mar. 17 Roundtable Meeting Apr. 22 Spring Meeting May 13 St. Ives Blythefield Gaylord Railside Grand Haven G.C. June Not yet determined July Not yet determined Aug. 18 Kaufman G.C. Sept. 15 Golf Day Blythefield Oct. 8 Annual Meeting The Moors Nov. 1 Fall Party The Pohlcat * Upcoming events will be listed in next issue. MEMBER NOTICE... All meeting expenses will be on a CASH ONLY BASIS. There will be NO CHARGES ALLOWED. This will give us more control of all transactions and will elim inate having the host club having to handle all the billings. Meeting Cancellation Policy - This is a reminder of a current policy. If you make reservations for a meeting and are unable to attend, and you do not cancel, you will be billed and expected to make a payment. r i t e w Editor m ections or if you are interested in doi^g an article for us at: hciG^ir&&\pS? y & frrrrectio 0O Western 3..mPan Rd., S.E. T3s, MI 49546 President's Message With the 1997 golf season fast approaching, how many of us are really ready? Have you done your homework on new products and practices, and what about IPM, where does that fit in? All of the above subjects are what we as professional turf managers should be working on. It is our responsibility to best manage our clubs employees, turf and budgets. Coming off two fine conferences at Michigan State and in Las Vegas, everyone should be fired up for the new year. Just in case you want additional information, we have two more dates to keep in mind. March 4th is the GAM Greens Seminar at Blythefield Country Club. GAM executive Brett Marsh has put together a strong team of speakers. On March 17th the WMGCSA Round Table will be at Railside Golf Club. The education committee has worked very W. Bruce Matthews Legacy Award____ Just a reminder that the W. Bruce Matthews Legacy Award applications The completed are due soon. application must be received by April 15. They should be mailed to the WMGCSA at 8585 Winter Forest, Rockford, MI 49341. Children or stepchildren of WMGCSA members are eligible for the $1,000 award. A January notice sent to all members details the qualifications and criteria. If you have any questions, please call me at 616-895-1005. Good Luck! Kathy Antaya hard on this program, which includes a survey sent out prior to this meeting. I encourage aH A,B superintendents and their assistants to participate in this informative day. During the last couple of months, we have had several new members join our association. As President, I welcome you to WMGCSA and look forward to meeting each and every one of you. 1997 promises to be a challenging year and your board of directors is up to the task with an outstanding list of meeting sites. Our association only works as well as we do, so get involved. Also, if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me or any member of the board of directors. So in closing, think Spring, it will be here before you know it. Paul Schippers President Highlands Meeting ________ The Highlands meeting went well. President Schippers opened the meeting with an introduction of our host Gary Peters. We would like to thank Gary and the Elks Club for annually hosting the winter meeting. It is an excellent chance to get together in the winter. Keith Paterson gave the Treasurer’s Report. Our current balance is $16,067. Schippers announced that Dave Datema won the Western Michigan Scholarship that was presented at Michigan State's Conference. There were 59 people in attendance. 1997 Board of Directors JOHN FULLING CGCS 1609 Whites Rd. Kalamazoo 49008 Home: 616-327-0439 Work: 616-343-2895 Fax: 616-345-9290 KURT THUEMMEL, CGCS 6489 Park Lake Rd. East Lansing 48823 Home: 517-339-8633 Work: 517-332-6060 Fax: 517-332-0437 KATHY ANTAYA 10848 60th Ave. Allendale 49401 Home: 616-895-4409 Work: 616-895-1005 Fax: 616-895-1002 PAUL SCHIPPERS CGCS 7950 Moorsbridge Rd. Portage 49002 Home: 616-323-2753 Work: 616-323-2680 Fax: 616-323-8705 DOUG BOYLE CGCS 3060 Rogue River Rd. Belmont 49306 Home: 616-364-1164 Work: 616-363-5945 Fax: 616-361-1673 Winter Burn---- by Dr Dave Roberts Plant & Pest Diagnostic Clinic Many samples and phone calls have been received at the diagnostic clinic regarding leaf/needle browning on various conifers and broadleaf evergreens. There are reports that rhododendrons in protected sites have been severely affected. In most cases, the leaf browning is attributable to "winter burn" injury. Remember those very cold windy days in January and February when the wind chill seemed to be close to 273 degrees below zero? In some instances, even bright sunny days during very cold conditions contribute to leaf browning because transpirational losses cannot be replenished due to the frozen soil. The winter of 1996 appears to (desiccation) ALBATHUM 8121 Cowan Lake Dr. Rockford 49341 Home: 616-691-7450 Work: 616-949-1420 Fax: 616-949-0835 ROGER BARTON 605 Fairway Dr. Weidman 48893 Home: 517-644-3238 Work: 517-773-4331 Fax: 517-772-4952 JEFF HOPKINS 7719 Bass Creek Ct. Hudsonville 49426 Home: 616-669-7574 Work: 616-878-9191 Fax: 616-878-3882 KEITH PATERSON CGCS 8585 Winterwood Rockford 49341 Home: 616-874-8937 616-363-6728 Work: Fax: 616-363-5441 HARRY SCHUEMANN CGCS 1516 Roslin Rd. Benton Harbor 49022 Home: Work: 616-944-1800 616-944-9125 Fax: New Members _ Kristopher Louden Superintendent Gull Lake View Stonehedge Paul Witte Sales Klein Fertilizer, Inc. Jeffrey Sweet Asst. Superintendent Travis Pointe CC Henry Heinz Asst. Superintendent Wuskowhan Players Club Timothy Dyczko Asst. Superintendent Morris Park CC Mark Mulder Sales W.F. Miller Scott Hill Superintendent Willow Wood CC Firmness is that admirable quality in ourselves that is merely stubbornness in others. have been the worst year for this type of winter injury in many years. Unfortunately, some individuals have misdiagnosed the problem as needlecast diseases, and some have even applied sprays to the trees. Some plants have already been unnecessarily removed. Depending on the size of the plant, symptoms of "winter burn" may appear on needles or shoots tips over the entire plant, or symptoms may be more prominent on one side. A number of samples of seedlings have been submitted from nurseries where conifers have exhibited severe browning to most needles. The buds and cambium of these trees exhibited good viability. Hence, in many cases, the plants will recover. The approach for checking potential viability from winter injury is to examine cambial tissues beneath the bark and buds. Viable tissue will appear green and succulent. The long term effect on viable plants should be minimal. Other plants more severely affected may be killed or set back in growth until tissues heal. What can be done to remedy the situation of winter injury? At this time, nothing. I recall the instances of winter injury several years ago when many viable trees were destroyed without justification. Many of these trees would have recovered. Wait until at least mid-spring to determine which plants are truly viable. Whole plants or sections of plants can be eliminated if they prove to be necrotic. Opinions... I am opposed to the golf course. The following is a letter written to a local Western Michigan Newspaper by a concerned resident and a rebuttal letter written by yours truly. Hopefully this is not the attitude and belief held by many about Superintendents and Golf Courses. If so, we have a large credibility gap to bridge! Alan C. Bathum Golf Course a bad idea... Editor, I am writing in response to Chris Coffman's letter about Plainfield Township's park decision. I confess that I may not be fully informed on the matter and I intend to comment on one area only. I am opposed to almost all golf courses. Chris's reference to a golf course as a "greenspace" is the reason I'm opposed to them. A golf course greenskeeper uses more water and chemicals to maintain his "lawn" in one year than most homeowners (proportionately) would use over many years. The result in an increased burden on the water table and chemical runoff into our rivers and streams. I'll grant you that the land is over an old waste management site. This site may be cause for concern. But that decision is history and must be dealt with as such. We still have a chance to be responsible when it comes to how we manage our future and until greenskeepers become truly "green" I think a golf course is a bad idea. Editor, I am writing in response to the letter Paul Jager of Rockford wrote concerning the proposed golf course on the old land fill site at 131 and 10 Mile Road. More importantly I would like to address some of Paul's concerns with Golf Course Superintendents use of water and chemicals and their overall outlook and treatment of the environment. Paul states that he is not fully informed about the issue of the landfill and proposed golf course. He then states his opinion about (greenskeepers) and their blatant use of chemicals and water to maintain the golf courses they manage and refer to as greenspaces. It appears to me that this is another area that Paul is not fully informed about. Paul, the term greenskeeper was last used in the 50's and 60's as a popular job description for the people who managed golf courses. This business like many others in the past 30 years has changed and become much more technical. Today the term used is Golf Course Superintendent or Turf Manager. With the management changes and increased need for technical experience most superintendents have college educations specializing in turfgrass. With this has come the increased awareness by the professional of the regulated use of water and chemicals to maintain turf on golf courses. We are required by state and federal government to be licensed through testing to apply chemicals. We are also required to keep accurate records of the regulated chemicals that we use. How many home owners do you know that can tell you to the 10th of a pound how much nitrogen that they've applied to an area of lawn in a given year. Paul, in my opinion a park or a golf course would be a great idea for the property in Rockford because it would be an area that people could enjoy for years to come as the area becomes more developed with houses, parking lots and office buildings. We in the golf industry realize that along with government regulation there must be self regulation. Annually our professional organizations raise money for research to find better ways to maintain turf with decreased use of pesticides and water. Golfers have also gotten into the act to be responsible to the environment. The United States Golf Association as well as the Golf Association of Michigan who are supported by golfers have raised millions of dollars for research in recent years to not only improve management technic's on golf courses but to prove how well managed turf and golf courses can benefit the environment. Most studies have proven that turfgrass acts as a filter for pesticides and fertilizers keeping them tied up in the root systems and not letting them contaminate ground water or runoff. As a new father, and aqrerson who enjoys the outdoors I share your concern for the environment. Please base your beliefs on well researched facts not on emotional hear say. We stepped in and altered the environmental makeup of ecosystems long ago. The landfill is evidence of that. We now must use sound research and reasoning to improve as we grow. Alan C. Bathum Golf Course Superintendent and Neighbor in Rockford. Please patronize our advertisers as they have made this newsletter possible. Advertisers A m turf....................................................(616) 792-2241 Benham Chemical.................................(313) 474-7474 Boylan Sales.........................................(616) 685-6828 Commercial Turf Equipment................ 1-800-231-5296 Custom Aerification Services............... 1-800-269-6181 Ellis S ales............................................. 1-800-962-4128 Green & Grow....................................... (616) 964-9989 Kleins Fertilizer..................................... 1-800-642-3172 Kubota of Grand Rapids...................... (616) 364-7031 Lebanon Fertilizers...............................(313) 673-7146 Lesco .....................................................(616) 975-9946 Mechanical Soil Technology................ 1-800-743-2419 Michigan Sand Co................................. (517) 773-2030 Michigan Turf Equipment.....................(616) 554-3310 (616) 940-1441 J. Mollema & Sons (616) 361-2106 O.M. Scott.............. (616) 458-1546 Parmenter & Andre.................... 616-891-1294 Professional Lake Management 1-800-334-9745 Rhône-Poulenc.......................... (616) 887-7301 Spartan Distributors................... (616) 842-5180 Standard Sand........................... (517) 725-7145 T.C.I................ (810) 471-6750 Turf Drain Inc. (616) 866-9389 Turfgrass, Inc (616) 842-4975 Turf Services Valley Turf (616) 532-2885 Van Manen O il...................................... 1-800-654-4244 W.F. Miller Co........................................ (313) 349-4100 Opinions... Continued from page 3 The January '97 issue of Golf Digest presents the results of a random survey of 500 subscribers to several questions re­ lating to golf. Questioon #36 was "Who is the most important person at your club or course?" Course superintendent 48% Club pro 25% Club manager 14% Of course, we've known this all along! It still remains a mystery though as to why the superintendent is usually the least compensated of these three. Bill Farrell Oceana C.C., Shelby, USA Classifieds_______ Seeking Employment: Ambitious M.S.U. Turfgrass Management Student Graduating in March 97 seeking employment as Assistant Superintendent. Have experience on several golf courses around the state over the past 5 years. Please mail or call response to Richard Buzzard, 234 N. Hagadorn St., East Lansing, Ml 48823 (517) 337-4532. Irrigation Technician Needed: Experience helpful but not necessary. 10 month seasonal position, compensation negotiable, job duties include, daily scheduling, adjustments and maintenance. Contact Kathy Antaya, 895-1005. Lesco 300 For Sale: Good condition, rebuilt gangs, runs well. Call Tom, 874-5558 Guide to perennials available from MSU For variety and versatility in the landscape, it's hard to beat perennial flowers. They've been growing in popularity in recent years as gardeners have discovered the wealth of forms and colors they offer. Information on how and why to use perennials, garden design, and selecting and growing perennials is available in a new bulletin from Michigan State University Extension. "Growing Perennials," NCR 556, offers not only general information on design, selection and care, but also specifics on flower colors, flowering height, mature spread and form, bloom period, light requirements, hardiness, division, special characteristics such as fragrant foliage, and notes on pest problems, drainage, mulch, staking and other topics. Ask for NCR 556, "Growing Perennials," at your local county MSU Extension office. BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID GRAND RAPIDS, Ml PERMIT NO. 582 3725 Cascade Rd., S.E. • Grand Rapids, Ml 49546 Pet e Cook i n gham MSU Main Library W - 212 East Lansing Ml 48824