WMGCSA 1997 Meeting Schedule Sept. 15 Golf Day Blythefield Oct. 8 Annual Meeting The Moors Fall Party The Pohlcat Turfgrass Ecology Lansing, MI Nov. 1 Jan. 23 1998 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 eliminate 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. write me if you have^any corrections or if you are i n t e r in dhirig an article for us at: Grand Rapids, MI 49546 President's Message Holiday Inn has to offer plus the close convenience of the Casino just across the street. With the summer weather what it was and a busy fall coming up, I would like to take some time to congratulate all of you for coming through another season. A few members of note who deserve a nice round of applause are Jeff Holmes, Harry Scheumann and Kurt Thuemmel and their staffs for hosting major tournaments that went off without a hitch this past summer. I hope all of you have a good fall and hope to see all of you at the upcoming events. Remember participation is the key word for our association. Sincerely, Paul Schippers President Where has the summer gone? Although not a summer of 1995, the summer of 1997 did have its moments of difficulty. Many of us were very thankful for the much needed rainfall and cool weather at the end of August. Golf Day at Blythefield should be a great event to raise money for turf research. Please plan to attend and have a good time. Elections for new Directors and Officers for the Western will be coming up at the Annual Meeting this fall. Please plan to be there to let your interests be known through the voting process. The Fall Party this year will be held at the Holiday Inn in Mt. Pleasant. Roger Barton is our host as the PohlCat is affiliated with the hotel. It sounds like a good time with all the amenities that the 1997 W. Bruce Matthews Award Five applications were received this year for the W. Bruce Matthews Award. This monetary award is available to children, stepchildren, and grandchildren of WMGCSA members. Its purpose is to help defray the cost of a college education. Applications are judged by an independent panel of college educators. The criteria include an essay, academic achievement, community service, and extra curricular activities. Our 1997 winner is Melissa Magee! July and August Meetings Well Attended! The July Meeting at Hawk Hollow was well attended. It was a Joint Meeting with the Greater Detroit Area Super­ intendents. Once again we came away victorious with much credit due to our better players. Steve Fiorillo and the staff did a great job preparing for us and we appreciate that. The August Meeting was also a big success at Kaufman. Boy what a classic track. W. Bruce Matthews did a nice job designing the course also. If you haven't made it to a meeting this summer, please plan to attend the final few. I can promise you that you won't be disappointed. Melissa’s father, Mark, is superintendent at The Country Club of Lansing. Melissa graduated in the top 10% of her high school class, played on the high school golf team, and participated in a wide variety of performing arts. In addition to other community service activities, she personally assembled a mobile library for homeless children. Melissa should be very proud of both her academic career and contributions. Congratulations Melissa! community Collection Facility Vriesland Growers (616) 669-3120 5. Ensure that containers are not leaking prior to transporting to collection facility. • inspect steel drums for excessive rust, pinholes or deficient seams. • over pack all leaking containers in a clear plastic bog or a rigid, leak proof container • if a container is at all questionable, over pack it for safety. Nine Safe TVansport Tips For Waste Agricultural Chemicals 1. Usable fungicides, herbicides and insecticides are acceptable at the collection facility. 2. Keep products in original, sealed and labeled containers. 3. Do not mix the contents of unknown or unlabeled containers. 4. If portions of an agricultural pesticide are placed in a new container, duplicate the existing label and place it on the new container. 6. Do not transport containers with open tops. 7. Secure all containers in vehicle to ensure that they cannot slide, tip or spill contents during transport. 8. Place chemicals in transport vehicle away from passengers. 9. To over pack a large container, such as a 30 to 55 gallon drum, call the collection facility contact listed for further assistance. Ottawa County Pesticide County Environmental Health can provide repackaging materials if you need it. No pesticides will be accepted at Vriesland without an appointment. The Ottawa County Pesticide Disposal Facility comes to you as a result of the efforts of Ottawa County Environmental Health, Michigan Department of Agriculture, Ottawa County MSU/ Extension and Vriesland Growers Cooperative. Clean Sweep - Pesticide Disposal Ottawa County in cooperation with Vriesland Growers Cooperative has established a permanent agricultural chemical disposal facility. This site will handle the storage and disposal of waste agricultural pesticides (herbicides, insecticides, fungicides) because they are no longer labeled or useful. The new facility will accept pesticides from area agricultural operations and will arrange for the safe disposal at no cost to the farmer. Beginning April 1st, the collection facility will accept agricultural chemicals by appointment only. Please call Ottawa County Environmental Health at 393-5638, or Dan Harrigan (phone 669-3120) at Vriesland Growers Cooperative to arrange for drop-off. Before you call, make a list of the pesticides you wish to dispose, identify them by trade name and common name, indicate whether the product is still usable and most importantly estimate 4529 48th Ave. • Hudsonville, MI weight and volume. Check to see if the item needs to be repackaged. Ottawa GCSAA Nominating Committee Approves 1998 Slate of Candidates "With my understanding of the The Nominating Committee of the demands and hectic schedule placed on Golf Course Superintendents Association the superintendent, 1 am pleased to see of America met at association there are some willing to give up personal headquarters in July to examine eligibility time in order to give back to their and qualifications of those nominated to profession, "says Gary T. Grigg, CGCS, serve on GCSAA’s 1998 Board of nominating committee chairman. Directors. Also serving on the nominating GCSAA members will have the committee are Jack D. Birdwell; Robert opportunity to decide three officer posts W. Graunke, CGCS; James B. Hodge and and elect two directors from a field of four Ross James O'Fee, CGCS. candidates for the 1998 Board of Candidates for the 1998 Board of Directors during the annual meeting, Feb. Directors will be introduced at the 7, during GCSAA's 69th International Chapter Delegates Meeting, Sept. 5-7, at Golf Course Conference and Show, Feb. GCSAA headquarters. Candidates will 2-8, in Anaheim, Calif. The following offer brief presentations and participate slate of candidates was unanimously in one-on-one, question-and-answer approved by the nominating committee. For President: George Renault 111, sessions. In-depth profiles of the candidates will be included in the official CGCS, Burning Tree Club in Bethesda, notice of annual meeting to be mailed to Md. For Vice President: David W. all members in December. Fearis, CGCS, Blue Hills Country Club Enjoy Puerto Vallaría While Earning 1.2 CEUs The Professional Golfers' Sport Psychology Program is going to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico! Researched with PGA members, this two day school has just opened to certified golf course superintendents. 1.2 CEUs have been approved by the GCSAA for credits toward renewal requirements only. Classes will be held from 7:30 AM - in Kansas City, Mo. For Secretary/Treasurer: Tommy D. Witt, CGCS, Wynstone Golf Club in North Barrington, 111.; and R. Scott Woodhead, CGCS, Valley View Golf Club in Bozeman, Mont. For Directors: Joseph H. Emanuel Jr., CGCS, Hurstbourne Country Club in Louisville, Ky., Jon D. Maddern, CGCS, Elk Ridge Golf Club in Atlanta, Mich., Ken Magnum, CGCS, Atlanta Athletic Club in Duluth, Ga., and Wayne P. Remo, CGCS, Rock Spring Club in West Orange, N.J. Samuel R. Snyder VII, CGCS, and Michael Wallace, CGCS, each have one year remaining on their two-year director terms. Paul S. McGinnis, CGCS, 1997 President, will serve as 1998 immediate past president, and Bruce R. Williams, CGCS, 1997 immediate past president, will retire from the board. 2:30 PM on December 10-11, 1997. Reduced rates of $90/dbl (if reserved by October 27th) are available at the Marriott CasaMagna resort. Enjoy golf and diving in your free time. Call (800) 228-9290 for accommodations. The two day school is taught by Dr. Natalie Newton. The fee for GCSAA certified members is $300. To register, please call (609) 463-1997 ext. 1 or fax (609) 463- 1010. PGSPP is designed to improve play ability and enhance communication and management skills. Bring along the pro! PGA members attending the school are certified as PGSPP instructors. The cost for PGA members, including certification in PGSPP and a teaching handbook, is $365. This school is approved for 13 PDP for PGA members. certification USGA, GCSAA, NTEP join forces to administer on-site golf course testing for grass varieties The United States Golf Association (USGA), the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) and the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) are combining resources to manage a new national research project that will evaluate grass varieties (also known as cultivars) on actual golf course settings. "On-site testing of turfgrass cultivars is not a new concept," said Robert C. Shearman, Ph.D. NTEP executive director. "However, the joint sponsorship of on-site putting green trials is new. Golf course superintendents have been asking for some time to have information that bridged the game between small-plot university trials and their end-use needs." Practice putting greens built to USGA specifications at 16 different golf courses across the nation, featuring bermudagrass and/ or bentgrass varieties, will be monitored to provide data for golf course personnel in the building and maintenance of facilities. The northern locations will integrate bentgrass cultivars, and far-south venues will employ bermudagrass varieties. Both will be used in transition zone climates. The USGA originally funded variety testing research on golf courses in the 1930s and 40s. Testing then moved to university research settings in the late 1940s. While this research has been the backbone of the turfgrass industry, there was a void of actual on­ site testing for those in the golf industry. The USGA/GCSAA/NTEP project will use the combined efforts of superintendents, university researchers and USGA Green Section staff for monitoring and evaluation. Annual reports will be filed over a five-year period, with an evaluation of the program for possible continuation with the same or different grass varieties. "The greatest gains in turfgrass research have and will continue to come from universities," said GCSAA Director of Research Jeff Nus, Ph.D. "But this project allows us to do 'real world' testing and replicate actual conditions in order to provide the best data to those Continued, page 4 ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ T V T T V T T ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARD AWARD Consider yourself a candidate. Applications for the 1998 Environmental Stew­ ard Awards are available from the August issue of Golf Course Management, GCSAA Online (www.gcsaa.org), affiliate chapter presidents, program sponsors and the GCSAA service center (800/472-7878). We ’ll look forward to receiving your application by October 31, 1997. tl) N O V A R T I S Ra in ^ B ir d P U RSELL. JA CO B SEN A partnership program benefiting The GCSAA Foundation "The way I see it, if you want to see the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain. Dolly Parton Aerification, healthy putting greens, and golfer's expectations came to mind when I read this quote! Please patronize our advertisers as they have made this newsletter possible. Advertisers Am turf.................................................... (616) 792-2241 Benham Chemical................................(810) 474-7474 Boylan Sales......................................... (616) 685-6828 Century Rain/Legacy G olf................... 1 -800-347-4272 Commercial Turf Equipment................ 1-800-231-5296 Ellis S ales.............................................. 1-800-962-4128 Environmental Turf Services, Inc......... 1-800-231-5296 Green & Grow....................................... (616) 964-9989 Green Spike.......................................... 1-800-757-8711 Kleins Fertilizer..................................... 1-800-315-5777 Kubota of Grand Rapids...................... (616) 364-7031 Lebanon Fertilizers...............................(810) 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..................... O.M. Scott................................... (616) 361-2106 Parmenter & Andre.................... (616) 458-1546 (219) 272-9050 Peerless-Midwest...................... Professional Lake Management (616) 891-1294 Rhône-Poulenc.......................... 1 -800-334-9745 Spartan Distributors................... (616) 887-7301 Standard Sand........................... (616) 842-5180 T.C.I............... (517) 725-7145 Turf Drain Inc (810) 471-6750 1-800-521-8873 Turfgrass, Inc Turf Services (616) 842-4975 Valley T u rf.... (616) 532-2885 Van Manen O il...................................... 1 -800-654-4244 W.F. Miller Co......................................... 1-800-555-8189 BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID GRAND RAPIDS, Ml PERMIT NO. 582 fl NN ESTERN ^lEWS 3725 Cascade Rd., S.E. • Grand Rapids, Ml 49546 Pete Cookingham MSU Main Library W - 212 East Lansing MI 48824 Classifieds Turfgo Metermatic Topdresser Model F15A Self-propelled 5.5 hp Honda engine, purchased in 1993; less than 100 hours on the machine, excellent condition, available for inspection. Asking $2,500 or best offer. Kathy Antaya, The Meadows Golf Club (616) 895-1005 GCSAA/USGA/NTEP Cont. in the golf course maintenance profession. Golfer expectations and golf course conditions have changed so much in the last three decades that we need to study cultivar performance based on the conditions demanded by today's golfers." Because traffic is an important factor in cultivar performance, all of the putting greens constructed for the project will be used as actual practice greens at the respective facilities. Preliminary work has begun on the construction of greens at some locations, while sponsors/companies have entered the various bentgrass and bermudagrass cultivars to be considered by researchers for use in the trials study. The list of cultivars to be included in the test will be determined later this fall. Welcome New Members... Please welcome these new members! Norm Risk, Christian Reformed Recreation Center Jeff Zeman, Hawk Hollow Golf Course Kurt Grost, Walnut Hills Country Club John Underwood, Elks Golf Course Dowagiac Locations of On-Site GCSAA/USGA/NTEP Research Trials Researcher David Kopec, Ph.D. (Univ. of Arizona) David Chalmers, Ph.D. (Virginia Tech Univ.) Jim Murphy, Ph.D. (Rutgers Aniv.) John Dunn, Ph.D. (Univ. of Missouri) John Cisar, Ph.D. (Ft. Lauderdale-REC) Elizabeth Guertal, Ph.D. (Auburn Univ.) Robert Green, Ph.D. (Univ. of California) Clark Throssell, Ph.D. (Purdue Univ.) Tom Voigt, Ph.D. (Univ. of Illinois) Richard White, Ph.D. (Texas A&M Univ.) Tony Koski, Ph.D. (Colorado State Univ.) Ali Harivandi, Ph.D. (Univ. of California) Bryan Unruh, Ph.D. (Univ. of Florida) A.J. Powell, Ph.D. (Univ. of Kentucky) Milt Engelke, Ph.D. (Texas A&M Univ.) Gwen Stahnke, Ph.D. (Washington State Univ.) Facility, City, State, Type C.C. of Green Valley, Green Valley, Ariz. (private) Westwood G.C., Vienna, Va. (private) Westchester C.C., Rye, N.Y. (private) The Missouri Bluffs, St. Charles, Mo. (public) The Jupiter Island Club, Hobe Sound, Fla. (private) The C.C. of birmingham, Birmingham, Ala. (private) SCGA Members Club, Murrieta, Calif, (public) Purdue University North, West Lafayette, Ind. (public) North Shore C.C., Glenview, 111. (private) Lakeside C.C., Houston, Texas (private) Fox Hollow at Lakewood, Lakewood, Colo, (public) Crystal Springs G.C., Burlingame, Calif, (semi-private) C.C. of Mobile, Mobile, Ala. (private) Boone Links/Lassing Pointe G.C., Florence, Ky (public) Bent Tree C.C., Dallaz, Texas (private) G.C. at Newcastle, Bellevue, Wash, (public) NOTE: To reach the above individuals, contact Jeff Bollig or Kristi Frey in the GCSAA Media/Public Relations Dept., 800/472-7878 Superintendent Mark Clark, CGCS Walter Montross, CGCS Joe Alonzi, CGCS Robert Deardeuff Rob Kloska Lee McLemore, CGCS John Martinez Jim Scott Dan Dinelli, CGCS Mike Sandburg Don Tolson, CGCS Ray DAvies, CGCS Ron Wright, CGCS Jerry Coldiron, CGCS Keith Ihms, CGCS David Hein, CGCS Grass species bentgrass/bermudagrass bentgrass bentgrass bentgrass/bermudagrass bermudagrass be ntgrass/be rm udagrass bentgrass/bermudagrass bentgrass bentgrass bermudagrass bentgrass bentgrass bermudagrass bentgrass/bermudagrass bentgrass bentgrass