That's pretty cool...

Craig DeJong, Hendersonville Country Club, Hendersonville, NC:

"I have said it before: Some of the ideas the previous Superintendent and the staff here had are pretty good. The photo to the right is a great example. They built an apparatus to move a Lely fertilizer spreader around, allowing for easier mounting to a tractor. They simply took an old pallet, added some re-enforcement, and mounted casters to the bottom. I have heard of this being done before; it makes the process of attaching the spreader so much easier! The secondary benefit is the ease of storing the spreader — simply push it out of the way.

Visit Craig's blog at hccgcgd.blogspot.com

Housekeeping (before and after)...

David Smith, Fawn Lake Country Club, Spotsylvania, VA:

"Waxing the break room floor and painting Gene's shop are annual events. We save them for foul weather in the winter so it doesn't interfere with our work on the course and grounds."

Before.

After.

Visit David's blog at flccturfcare.blogspot.com

Reducing Chemical Use...

Brandon Collins, Country Club at Woodmore, Mitchelville, MD:

"It has been a long-term goal of the Greens Department to have Woodmore registered as an Audubon Certified Cooperative Sanctuary. The process is extensive and can take several years. We have completed two stages of the program and were recognized by the Audubon society for our efforts in environmental planning and water conservation.

We recently got our third certification in Chemical Use Reduction and Safety from the Audubon Society. This stage required us to make several changes to the operation. A new chemical storage and loading structure was constructed (see below pictures) to ensure the proper containment of spills and we built a shelter for our maintenance equipment. Also, our chemical and fertility programs were closely scrutinized and changes were made to make sure we were only using what was absolutely necessary to maintain the golf course up to member standards.

BEFORE-Chemical Storage and Load Area AFTER-Chemical Storage and Load Area

We now have three of the six certificates required to obtain our full certification and we hope to complete two more this calendar year. These require encouraging a diverse blend of wildlife to inhabit the golf course and maintaining and improving the quality of water on the golf course."

Visit Brandon's blog at www.ccwoodmoregcm.com.

Tree work behind #8 green...

Grieg Barker, Highland Country Club, London, Ontario

"Years ago there was a trend in golf that is referred to as backstopping. This is where blocks of trees were planted behind green sites to frame or define the site. There are a couple of issues with this practice. First and foremost, these 'screens' block air movement and sunlight from reaching playing surfaces. Secondly, they detract from the natural beauty of both the architecture and property. Typically, coniferous trees were used for this task as they grow and fill in quickly.

Behind our 8th green we have removed a screened planting of leaning, deteriorating cedars to open up the area. In the first picture you can see the cedars prior to removal. In the second you can see the more natural and open look and feel of the green site. Between the 8th green and the 12th tee we have now exposed three maples that were previously hidden from view by the cedars. Once we are able to work the ground on the golf course we will be stripping, prepping and re-sodding the area to improve both aesthetics and playability."

BEFORE: #8 green "backstopped" by red cedars. AFTER: Red cedars removed.

Visit Grieg's blog at highlandccgroundsdept.blogspot.com.

Exposure makes a difference...

Sean McCue, Country Club at Castle Pines, CO:

"Exposure or orientation of a golf hole not only makes a difference in playability but it makes a huge difference in agronomics as well. Direct sunlight has a tremendous effect on soil temperatures and direct growth of turfgrass especially in the shoulder season of active plant growth.

This effect is very visible on the golf course right now in relation to snow cover. All of our northern exposures are still deep in snow cover, while areas receiving full sun have melted away and are in the process of initiating spring growth and green up. Approximately 1/3 of our golf holes are north facing and still look like Antarctica and the others look to be ready for golf. All of these differences occur from hole to hole, some areas are as close as 300 yards apart even though they seem to be on two different continents.

Here is a great look at two of the holes on the course that you would never guess the pictures were taken on the same day — let alone same season."

Hard to believe these photos were taken of the same golf course, on the same day!

Visit Sean's blog at cccpgcm.blogspot.com.

Golembiewski Leaves Oregon State University...

David Phipps, Stone Creek Golf Club, Oregon City, OR:

"Last week I received a phone call that I never imagined I would receive. A few years ago the turf community was pondering how they were going to replace Tom Cook at Oregon State University. The Oregon Superintendents came through with $50K to assure Tom's position would be fast tracked in order to keep the program running on a smooth course. I was asked by the University to serve on the selection committee and was overwhelmingly pleased to meet Dr. Rob Golembiewski, who we eventually agreed to offer the position. Dr. Rob and I developed a great friendship and often spoke on the future of the turf program and how it could reach new heights.

Since coming to Oregon State University, Dr. Golembiewski picked right up where Tom Cook left off and immediately began to develop new programs and interest in research at Oregon State. He began by constructing 50,000 square foot putting green and began trials on michrodochium patch, anthracnose and most notably, a green speed trial that mirrored Tom Nikolai's trial at Michigan State, but only on annual bluegrass instead of creeping bentgrass.

Dr. Golembiewski's impact to the turf community was immediate. In his first year he made over 30 appearances across the Northwest, speaking to various groups on turfgrass management. His enthusiasm was unbelievable and everyone was excited for the future of the turf program at OSU. I know this sounds like a eulogy but rest assured Rob is doing fine and well. The phone call I received was Rob informing me that he had been offered a position with Bayer Crop Science in Columbus, Ohio. Rob didn't have to explain it to me because I knew that eight of his siblings would be close at hand in Michigan and he would be much closer to his family. There was no doubt that the offer must have been pretty sweet as well. It was not an easy decision to make but I know it was right for him and I would have done the same if I were in his shoes.

We will all miss Rob here in the NW and will always look fondly on the impact he had on the turf program within such a short time. Our focus will now go toward preserving the turf program and finding a replacement as soon as possible. I have already been contacted by Anita Green, the department head, and asked to meet with the Dean. It will be imperative to show industry support for the position and to assure them that our support and funding will continue.

Rob is not the only university professor that has recently been lured away from academia. Most recently, Dr. Frank Wong from UC Davis has gone to Bayer Crop Science, Dr. Lane Tredway from UNCS has gone to Syngenta, and Dr. Eric Miltner from Washington State has gone to Agrium Advanced Technologies. This is a disturbing trend to say the least as far as universities go. Is this a sign of a failing university system that has become so reliant upon outside funding sources that once a turn in the economy, the programs begin to fail? I feel this is a trend that has begun long before this recession. States budgets have become stretched to the point where the idea of a land grant university is a notion of the past.

Dr. Golembiewski has been referred to as a "one man show", which is no exaggeration. Back in the days when I was at Oregon State there was a complete landscape curriculum as well as a turfgrass curriculum. That continued for many years until funding became short and they couldn't retain the landscape professor and he was off to greener pastures. The university needs to offer both programs to retain its viability but the funding is still short for a full time landscape professor. Dr. Golembiewski's position is funded but he is still required to fulfill 125% of a single full time equivalent. (FTE) This is why we still need to raise more funds to enable the university to bring on another position.

Is this a sign of a failing university system that has become so reliant upon outside funding sources that once a turn in the economy, the programs begin to fail?

The only way universities can retain quality people any more is through endowments. The Oregon State Foundation has been extremely supportive of the superintendents and has helped us set up an endowment for the program. Jack Holpuck of the OSU Foundation has been a great supporter of the turfgrass program and has worked tirelessly to secure funding. In 2008 the Giustina family donated $1 million to endow the faculty position in turf management. Without this donation the program would probably be a wash today.

We are headed into a new chapter of leadership at OSU and I am excited about the new opportunities ahead . Turf programs on the west coast are few and far between, leaving mainly Oregon and Washington State as programs to educate our future superintendents and turfgrass managers.

Rob, I'll miss you.You can move to Ohio but you cannot hide. Our friendship will remain and I'll look forward to spending time together at future GCSAA conferences."

Visit David's blog at stonecreeksuper.blogspot.com.