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From the TurfNet NewsDesk

  • John Reitman
    It is plainly obvious that members at Desert Highlands love their golf course. In fact, that's what they tell superintendent Phil Shoemaker all day.
      "And I never get tired of hearing it," said Shoemaker, who has been superintendent at the private Scottsdale club - for the second time - since 1999.   Conditions like those found at Desert Highlands do not just happen. They are the result of years of trial and error, as well as working with academia, local government agencies and other superintendents from throughout Scottsdale.    Although overseeding is pretty much a thing of the past in many parts of the country, it remains a necessity in Scottsdale and likely will for some time to come. And it remains a practice that the success of which is highly dependent on weather.    "Thanksgiving to Easter are our money months," said Shoemaker, who also was superintendent at Desert Highlands from 1982-86. "We've gotta have the ryegrass then.   "Sometimes we hit the weather just right. Sometimes it's a test. This year was a test. Ten days after seeding we had record-high temperatures, then rain for a couple of days, which I'll take, then near-record highs again."   And sometimes, that is easier said than done since so much of the success of overseeding depends on weather.   Shoemaker has redefined conditions at Desert Highlands through a regimen that includes an aggressive fairway topdressing program, helping to lead an effort that resulted in better quality recycled water and eliminating some of the cultural practices associated with overseeding that made the process more challenging.   About a decade ago, Shoemaker began a program that included covering the fairways with heavy amounts of sand. The next five-six years included changing out turf in the fairways, upgrades to the water source and eliminating the aggressive verticutting in advance of overseeding. The reason for the changes were native soils that were so hard they also served as the base for roads in Scottsdale they would barely drain the few times a year in Arizona when it does rain.    In those early days, sand was applied at rates of up to 100 tons per acre that helped raise the profile about 3 inches per year. Today, Shoemaker, who has taken the profile up about 7 inches, continues topdressing 40 acres of fairways two times per year with as much as 800 tons of sand per application.   He also has stopped aggressive verticutting in advance of overseeding, a tip he picked up several years ago at the urging of former Texas A&M professor Milt Engelke, Ph.D.   "Milt bugged me for a couple of years to quit doing all that verticutting and mowing," Sheomaker said. "When you do that, you take out all the Bermuda and there is nothing to come back the next spring. You're taking all the carbs away from the plant.    "The ryegrass is going to grow anyway. This way it might take a little longer, but it's going to fill in."   When Shoemaker arrived at Desert Highlands, the quality of Scottsdale's recycled water was so poor that keep the course lush and green like members demand was a challenge. About six years ago, Shoemaker and superintendents from the other 20 or so courses in the North Scottsdale Corridor approached the water utility for a solution. The provider agreed to upgrade the treatment plant, at the expense of local golf courses, to include a mix of water that has undergone reverse osmosis, which cut the number of dissolved salts in half. During the summer, when recycled water supplies run short when snowbirds return north, the utility pumps in water from the Colorado River through a system of canals that run to the Phoenix area.   "I had to tell members that I needed two years to reclaim that soil after 20 years of pumping bad water on them," he said. "It's not just like flipping a switch. Each year, it started getting better."   Match that cleaner water with a fairway turf mix that includes three Canadian ryegrasses as well as 20 percent Chewings fescue that Shoemaker went to two seasons ago, and transition is a bit easier.   "When the temps hit 90 in the spring, the fescue is going to choke out, and suddenly 20 percent of my grass is gone, and that helps get the Bermuda going," he said.    "Transition here used to be horrible. I mean appallingly horrible. I regrouped on the agronomy program, and now you don't even notice the golf course transition from one grass to another. It's basically green all year.   "For the last four years now, it's actually been fun."  
  • Developing a spray program can be a daunting experience for a golf course superintendent. Putting together a program that accounts for various types of pests on different turf types throughout the golf course that change with the seasons can be a lot to absorb for anyone. It doesn't have to be that way, says one former superintendent who speaks from a great deal of experience.
      "Spray programs, fungicides, fertility, herbicides, insecticides, greens, tees, fairways, approaches and roughs: All of a sudden it can get very overwhelming," said Eric Greytok. "It doesn't have to be that way. You can simplify it."   In his 15 years as a superintendent, Greytok was the youngest host greenkeeper for not just one but two U.S. Open Championships at Pebble Beach Golf Links in 2000 and again at Winged Foot Golf Club in 2006. Now the national sales director for Macro-Sorb Technologies and SMS Additive Solutions, he also has worked at places like Merion, Congressional and Riviera. In that time, he's had a lot of success stories, and a lot of failures, he said to a group of assistant superintendents gathered recently at Poppy Hills Golf Course in Pebble Beach, California.   When developing a spray program, Greytok says it pays to think like a journalist and ask the five W's.   "You have to know the who, what, where, when and why for everything you are going to treat, whether it's an insect, fungus or weed. You really have to become informed about what you're going to do, why you're going to do it and how you're going to do it," Greytok said. "The No. 1 thing to do in my opinion is to learn everything you can about the target. You have to understand the cause of what you are treating."   During his days as a superintendent, Greytok said he would use a pair of 4-foot-by-8-foot dry-erase boards to would label each area of the golf course, noting historical issues or challenges for each. He then shared the information to his assistants and interns to research.   "The No. 1 thing in my opinion is to learn everything you can about that target. Understand the cause," he said.   "We'd sit down and hash it out. We researched each area and decided what we needed to do with insecticides, fungicides, herbicides and fertilizers. Then we broke down each area for winter, spring, summer and fall."   If the same turf-related problem historically recurs in the same area "you need to delve into why it is happening, organize your information and come up with a game plan," he said. Often, that game plan might include cultural practices that help alleviate some of these problems without the need for chemical applications.   "Sometimes when applying a pesticide, you are seeing the end result of something because of something else," he said. "You need to go back and ask, Why am I seeing anthracnose? Why am I seeing salt build up?' You need to start asking yourself those questions to stop it from happening. Applying pesticides are just the result of not fixing the cause of the problem."   Greytok suggests keeping detailed records and, in the case of a job change, examining records of predecessors, discussing conditions with other staff members and other departments from throughout the operation such as the golf pro.   "You have to understand what you are trying to control and what causes these issues. You need to know what causes Pythium blight, you need to understand rapid blight," he said.   "Look at USGA reports, consultant reports, historical records and ask why it happened. Was it a board that wouldn't let the superintendent aerate, or didn't like topdressing? If it's something like that, then you might have to change the culture to take care of the problems you have."   He suggests testing all new products on a nursery or practice green before turning them lose on the golf course.   "The worst feeling in the world is pulling something off the shelf, knowing nothing about it and having to trust it," he said. "But that happens, and it will happen to you. But if you can test things prior to that you will sleep a lot better. It's not a good feeling when you go to bed thinking I hope it's all right in the morning.'   "If you understand the mode of action, what you are trying to control, when you're trying to control it, you'll save yourself a headache, you'll save yourself some money and you'll save yourself some sleep."   If something didn't work, further investigation was warranted. He recalled a time when he couldn't coax more than three days of Pythium control from a popular fungicide. Further tests revealed pH levels of 10. After adding a buffer that cut those levels nearly in half, he was able to extend coverage to about a week.   "Fungicides are really sensitive to pH," he noted. "If the pH in your water is too high, you might only get five days or less of control."   "I should have checked the water first."  
    I thought the Bermuda was dormant enough. It wasn't. Coming out of winter, it wasn't so pretty, but it was the best thing I learned."
      Timing is equally important, particularly on the West Coast and throughout much of the Sun Belt that have a year-round golf season and where there might be multiple preventive and curative herbicide apps throughout the year.   He's learned some lessons the hard way, including applying a liquid herbicide to offseason Bermuda that was still actively growing.   "I thought the Bermuda was dormant enough. It wasn't," he said. "Coming out of winter, it wasn't so pretty, but it was the best thing I learned."   During his years as a superintendent, Greytok called in chits when developing his spray programs.    "Contact your pathologist, call in chemical company reps and salesmen, call the person who sold the product and ask what people are mixing with it. Don't be afraid to ask questions, because it's your ass at the end of the day," he said. "Make sure you know where you're putting it and why."   He also used chemical reps, members of academia, consultants and even fellow superintendents to help him write his spray program.   "It doesn't mean you have to use any of them," he said. "But let them help you. You don't have to do it all yourself."
  • Ever wonder what to do with those old irrigation parts?   For superintendents in California and Texas, the answer just got a little simpler.   Hunter Industries and Ewing Irrigation are partnering in those two states to test a new sprinkler-recycling program that they hope gives new life to old sprinklers and keep them out of landfills.   All plastic Hunter rotors and spray head sprinklers - except those with stainless steel sleeves and Hunter's G80 series - will be collected at most Ewing stores in both states where collection bins already are in use.    Reusable materials from the collected sprinklers will be reclaimed and used by Hunter to manufacture new products. This recycling program is being offered at least through March 31, 2016.   To recycle your Hunter sprinklers, check with a Ewing location in California or Texas for drop-off availability.  
  • Stress related to crossing swords with an angry member on the golf course can trigger emotions similar to those one might experience when being chased by a bear, says one expert on managing workplace stress. 
      The difference between stress that comes with the threat of being devoured by a foul-tempered carnivorous beast and that which is caused by coming face to face with a bear is that, all joking aside, a bear encounter, for better or worse, typically comes to an abrupt end, while troubles on the golf course can nag all day. The inability to relieve this stress can have lasting negative health effects, said Cory Rosenberg of the Outpatient Behavioral Services department of the Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, at the recent Northern California Golf Association Assistant Superintendent Bootcamp.   Stress triggers an autonomic response known in the scientific community as Fight or Flight. Thrust into survival mode by some sort of acute stress, the brain sends a message to the adrenal gland that releases adrenaline into the system triggering a waterfall of physiological responses, such as dilated pupils, increased heart rate, faster breathing and muscles that are flush with blood as the body prepares to either fight the bear real or figurative or run from it. Learning how to manage that stress can be the difference between a life and career that are long and successful or those that end all too quickly, Rosenberg said. And the cure might be a lot easier than you think.   "Fight or Flight is good for short periods of time because it helps us get out of certain situations, so you can run away from the bear," Rosenberg said. "But what happens if the bear follows you onto the golf course and follows you around all day? That would be pretty stressful."   That lingering stress happens on the golf course all the time. Workers no-show, equipment breaks down as do irrigation lines as well as lines of communication, resulting in myriad problems with no easy fix. But just because the problems can follow assistant superintendents and others around a golf course all day, it doesn't mean the stress has to accompany it.     "You can't control when equipment breaks down. You can't control when someone on your staff is sick. And you can't control the drought. These are all things outside your control. That is the first component of stress," Rosenberg said. "The second component of stress is how we react to it."   Unresolved stress leads to a host of problems. For example, a rigid posture with locked knees impedes the flow of blood back out of the lower legs. And too much blood in the extremities for long periods of time translates to a shortage of blood in the brain, and that can compromise critical thinking. Glucose, which is released by the body to fuel short, quick bursts of energy during bear encounters and other crises, can cause long-term damage to blood vessels in those who make a habit of living with stress rather than managing it.    Turns out, the body has answers for that.    When Rosenberg asked bootcamp attendees how they managed stress, smoking and drinking were two common answers. Although both can produce the desired effects, there are better ways to take the edge off a rough day, she said.   "Smoking is convenient, and it's pretty effective she said. It's simultaneously relaxing and energizing, and it allows you to take a break," she said. "But it is bad for you."   Exercise is one of the best ways to relieve stress because physical activity also purges all those chemicals from the system, she said.   Alcohol consumption triggers the release of a chemical called GABA, which reduces neuron activity in the brain, producing a calming effect that comes when it's 5 o-clock somewhere. This also is the source for impaired thinking and motor skills that accompany alcohol consumption.   Too much GABA knocks the body out of equilibrium, resulting in the release of glutamate. That chemical counteracts GABA in an attempt to bring the body back to center. These forces working against each other, especially when the flow of alcohol has stopped, are responsible for feelings of agitation after a night of drinking has ended, Rosenberg said.    "Your body doesn't like that feeling that comes with the release of too much GABA," Rosenberg said.   "The two chemicals are opposite and work against each other because your body likes to be in balance."   Exercise, deep breathing through your mouth, proper diet, nurturing relationships with others and getting plenty of rest, she said, are much healthier solutions to beating stress.   "The No. 1 thing I tell people to do when they are stressed is to breath deeply," Rosenberg said. "People always say, Cory, you have to be kidding. That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard,' " she said. "But it works."   And the results, she said, can last a lifetime.   "Stress takes a toll physically, and it is cumulative over years and wears down your body," she said.   "The key to stress management is being aware of what is going on in your body when the stress is happening. So often, what happens is you go into crisis mode when you have a problem to solve. You don't take time to notice what is going on with your body. You have to notice what is going on with your body in the moment."

  • News and people briefs

    By John Reitman, in News,

    Collett named Georgia GCSA Superintendent of the Year
      Berry Collett, CGCS, director of golf course maintenance at Sea Island Golf Club on St. Simons Island, has been named the recipient of this year's Georgia Golf Course Superintendents Association Superintendent of the Year award.    Collett is host superintendent for the PGA Tour's McGladrey Classic, Nov. 16-22. He oversees four courses at Sea Island, where he has worked for 15 years. He was nominated by former employee Chuck Moore, who is now superintendent at The King and Prince Golf Club. I think at one time or another just about every superintendent in this area has worked for Berry, Moore says. The best thing about Berry is he is always there to help with advice if called upon.    Collett will receive the award Nov. 9 at the Georgia GCSA annual awards banquet at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.     Seedway acquires Merritt Seed
      Seedway LLC recently acquired the assets of family-owned Merritt Seed Co. Located in Baldwinsville, New York, Merritt Seed was owned by Stanley Boots for more than 60 years.   Longtime Merritt employee Matt Bartkowiak, who will operate the business from Lysander, will be responsible for serving golf courses, municipalities, school districts and contractors.   Seedway also has a long history in the turf business, offering turf seed varieties as well as proprietary and custom seed mixtures, mulch, fertilizer, erosion-control products and more. Seedway also has offices in Trumansburg and Mecklenburg, New York, Shoreham, Vermont as well as Mifflinburg, Emmaus and Elizabethtown in Pennsylvania, Pelham, Georgia and Lakeland, Florida.   Rounds played inch up in September
      The number of year-over-year rounds of golf played in the United States in September rose by 1.2 percent, marking the sixth time in nine months that more rounds were played compared to the same month last year.   Year-to-date rounds played are up 0.7 percent through September compared with the first nine months of 2014, according to Golf Datatech Monthly Golf Rounds Played Report.   The biggest gains were made in South Carolina and Wisconsin, where play was up 11 percent; followed by Michigan, up 10 percent; then Colorado, Iowa, North Dakota and South Dakota, all up by 7 to 9 percent in September.   The worst losses were in Arkansas, down 13 percent.
  • When members at Highlands Falls Country Club had a vacant room in their clubhouse that served no purpose, it was Fred Gehrisch, CGCS, who responded, turning the vacant room into a shrine honoring the club's history and its golf course architect.  
      When the village of Highlands, North Carolina needed help clearing a lot to build a municipal park, Gehrisch was there. When the village needed help planting trees to beautify its downtown district, again it turned to Gehrisch.    Gehrisch goes above and beyond the normal call of a superintendent when it comes to serving members at the club where he works and the residents of the town where he resides. It's why he was named the 2014 TurfNet Superintendent of the Year at this year's Golf Industry Show in San Antonio.   Since 2000, the TurfNet Superintendent of the Year Award, presented by Syngenta has been honoring Gehrisch and others like him for their ability to excel at the following criteria: labor management, maximizing budget limitations, educating and advancing the careers of colleagues and assistants, negotiating with government agencies, preparing for tournaments under unusual circumstances, service to golf clientele, upgrading or renovating the course and dealing with extreme or emergency conditions.   Nominations for his successor can be made by clicking here, and will be accepted through Dec. 11.   The winner will be chosen from a list of finalists determined by our panel of judges from across the golf industry and named during next year's Golf Industry Show in San Diego. The winner will receive a trip for two to Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, courtesy of presenting sponsor Syngenta.   Previous winners include: Chad Mark, Kirtland Country Club, Willoughby, Ohio (2013), Dan Meersman, Philadelphia Cricket Club (2012); Paul Carter, The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay, Harrison, Tennessee (2011); Thomas Bastis, The California Golf Club of San Francisco (2010); Anthony Williams, Stone Mountain (Georgia) Golf Club (2009); Sam MacKenzie, Olympia Fields (Illinois) Country Club (2008); John Zimmers, Oakmont (Pennsylvania) Country Club (2007); Scott Ramsay, Golf Course at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut (2006); Mark Burchfield, Victoria Club, Riverside, California (2005); Stuart Leventhal, Interlachen Country Club, Winter Park, Florida (2004); Paul Voykin, Briarwood Country Club, Deerfield, Illinois (2003); Jeff Burgess, Seven Lakes Golf Course, Windsor, Ontario (2002); Kip Tyler, Salem (Massachusetts) Country Club (2001); Kent McCutcheon, Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort (2000).      
  • Don't look now, but two entities finally are stepping forward to do something about sustainability issues in golf rather than just talk about them.
      The USGA and the University of Minnesota announced a five-year joint effort to not just identify and study some of the most significant challenges facing the golf industry; they plan to find solutions to them, as well.    "This partnership is really set out to define, advance and really focus on agronomic practices, business models and environmental stewardship solutions that are sustainable for the golf course industry," said Brian Horgan, Ph.D., professor of horticulture science at the University of Minnesota.   The partnership will allow for both the university and the USGA to identify potential projects individually and leverage the school's resources to find solutions based in innovation. The College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, Carlson School of Management, College of Science and Engineering and the Humphrey School of Public Affairs all are expected to participate in and contribute to the program over the next five years.   The program will utilize turf research facilities at the university as well as its Les Bolstad Golf Course and extensive research and computing facilities elsewhere throughout the campus.      The partnership gets students and researchers involved with an industry in need of innovative solutions to real problems in hopes of advancing the goals of the golf industry.   "Participation and growth are central issues for the health of our game, but there are many other critical and complex factors that will contribute to its long-term sustainability," said USGA executive director Mike Davis in a news release. "This agreement will further the USGA's mission to apply fact-based research and deliver tested solutions back to the industry, particularly in three areas: the game's cost, the time it takes to play and golfer enjoyment."   Projects will focus on agronomic, economic and environmental issues, course design. This arrangement could include anything that will help contribute to the strength and vitality of the game, including advancements in equipment. The aim will be to educate superintendents and others working inside the golf industry as well as players and others interested in the game.   "We are a really data driven organization, especially here in equipment standards," said John Spitzer of the USGA equipment standards division. "And the thought that we might be able to take advantage of the reams and reams and reams of data and apply that and take advantage of their super computing center is just phenomenal. Those are the kind of things that we now have a wide-open sky where we might be able to do anything. There are no limitations on the technology that we can bring to bear to solve a problem and protect the game."   More information on the program here.
  • Standing in the middle of the "O" at midfield at Ohio Stadium is an unlikely place to find a hockey guy from New Jersey. But for Tim Moraghan, that moment from the late 1990s stands as a symbol of his appreciation for a longstanding regional turfgrass that likely never would have materialized if not for the urging of Keith Happ, a longtime friend, colleague, OSU alum and Buckeyes fan.
      Whether it was his expertise on all things agronomic, his desire to help educate superintendents through his position as a USGA agronomist or his love for his alma mater, Happ always was willing to share his opinions to the benefit of others.   "There was no topic of discussion, from Buckeye football to Pythium crown root rot, which he wasn't confident in his response or referenced (the) latest data from research," said James Campion, CGCS at NCR Country Club in Kettering, Ohio.   And he called on all of those traits to help kick start a long relationship between Moraghan and the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation Conference and Show, who has taught on several occasions since.   "He invited me to the Ohio Turf show, and while I was there he took me to the middle of the O at the football stadium, the statue of Woody Hayes, all that stuff. It was a pretty cool day," said Moraghan, director of championship agronomy with the USGA for 21 years before beginning his own consulting firm Aspire Golf in 2007. "He got me started going to the Ohio Turf show, and I've taught there almost every year since. It's one of the great regional shows, and I would never have gone if it wasn't for Keith."   OTF and Ohio State will have to search elsewhere for an ambassador to take over the role filled by Happ, who died Oct. 28 after a bout with cancer. He was 58. A memorial service will be held from 2-5:30 p.m. Nov. 2 at Scioto Country Club in Upper Arlington, Ohio.   A native of Chardon, Ohio, graduated summa cum laude from Ohio State and was a former golf course superintendent at Legend Lake Golf Club in Chardon before joining the USGA Green Section as an agronomist in the Mid-Atlantic region in 1993.   He worked for many years alongside Darin Bevard in the USGA's Mid-Atlantic region under legendary director Stanley Zontek, who died three years ago.   "For sure, Stan, Keith and I had a very special relationship, and that is what I will miss the most," Bevard said. "We always worked as a team within our region. Stan insisted that we all have relationships throughout the region which made it possible for us to visit courses in any part of the mid-Atlantic. There was never an issue with Keith or Stan providing input at a course that I worked with, or vice versa. Before Stan's passing in 2012, we represented 75 years of course consulting experience between the three of us. Stan, Keith and I were a team that worked together to promote the USGA Green Section, but really to support golf course maintenance operations in every way that we could."   Happ eventually opened a regional USGA office in Pittsburgh in 2000 to better serve courses on the western edge of the district, namely Oakmont Country Club, site of many recent USGA events, including the U.S. Open, U.S. Women's Open and the U.S. Amateur   "He was my USGA agronomist for the past 15-16 years here at Oakmont. More importantly, he was also a great personal friend," said Oakmont superintendent John Zimmers. "Keith and I hosted the 2003 Amateur, 2007 U.S. Open, and the 2010 U.S. Women's Open. He also worked with me in the early stages regarding the upcoming 2016 U.S. Open. He was a great person and was absolutely the best at representing the USGA and his chosen profession."   Happ was named director of the Green Section's north-central region in 2013 and a year later was named director of the Central Region after realignment reduced the number of regions nationwide from eight to four. Bob Vavrek took over the position earlier this year from the ailing Happ.   Jason Mahl of Moraine Country Club near Dayton had been looking forward to calling on Happ's expertise during a recent restoration project.   "Keith was a breath of fresh air with new ideas and always thought outside the box when trying to solve a problem," Mahl said. "He would always call and check in to make sure things were going ok and was always willing to help in anyway he could. He was very instrumental in helping me solve the challenges I faced at Moraine. I was really looking forward to having his helping hand during this year's renovation project; I know he was looking forward to it as well. There were many days I could have used his advice and support during this year's golf course renovation, I really missed having him by my side."   Colleagues, friends, superintendents and those in academia who worked with Happ all noted his quiet, yet confident persona. Those same qualities helped provide a calming effect on those who needed it most.   "We worked together the year prior to and after the 2013 USGA Women's State Team Championship," Campion said. "He always had this way of listening to our plan and seamlessly providing his guidance and expertise. In the end, you knew your plan just got better. He had a very calming and direct presence."   Cale Bigelow, Ph.D., of Purdue University agreed that Happ brought calm to an industry that desperately needs one.   "A great husband, father, friend and outstanding USGA Green Section staff member, in that order. I always admired his work ethic, dedication and ability to balance things," Bigelow said. "I admired his high standards and that he was the consummate professional. More importantly, Keith was a much-needed steady ship in the sometimes-volatile golf turf world we navigate. You never saw him becoming too excitable or too frustrated."   Happ also was the consummate educator who remained dedicated not only to today's golf course superintendents, but tomorrow's as well.   "He would help our assistants prepare for interviews and serve as a reference," said Chad Mark of The Kirtland Country Club in Willoughby, Ohio. "But I will remember him more for the personal conversations we had about family and life in general."   Oakmont's Zimmers shared a similar relationship with Happ. So did his assistants.   "Keith was always willing to take a call, answer questions, and was constantly checking to see if there was anything he could do to help in any way," Zimmers said. "Keith went as far as keeping in touch with my past assistants even when they were not working in his region. Words really do not do enough justice to explain my feelings for Keith. Simply put, it would be a better world if we all had a little more of Keith in us. My team and I hope to honor him in some way for the 2016 U.S. Open."   Survivors include wife Mary Beth and sons Ian and Chris, and he is pictured on the front page with his family at a Notre Dame football game. The family requests that donations be made to the Urban Zen Integrative Therapy Program Fund at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
  • In a 40-plus-year career as a third-generation golf course superintendent, consultant, headhunter and entrepreneur, Bruce Williams, CGCS, has picked up a thing or two about what golf courses are looking for in a superintendent.
      Williams was on hand recently to share his years of experience with dozens of would-be greenkeepers at this year's Northern California Golf Association Assistant Superintendent Boot Camp. His advice included scripting the perfect resume, interview tips, what to wear to an interview and to work after and general know-how on separating from the pack.    "You have to look the part if you're going to be part of the golf facility. You have to look the part if you want to go up the ladder," Williams said. "People doing the interviewing are going to think more highly of someone if they are dressed the part. But you must have substance behind that appearance."   Assistants who expect to succeed in a world that includes ever-increasing golfer expectations for premium conditions, shrinking budgets that mean doing more with less and a profession that lacks employer loyalty should have a career plan and regularly review it, said Williams. He should know. He spent 21 years as superintendent at Bob O'Link Golf Club in Highland Park, Illinois and nearly 13 years at The Los Angeles Country Club.    "Have a plan," he said. "Know where you are, where you want to go and what you need to do to get there."   With nearly 20 years a principal in the headhunting firm Executive Golf Search that specializes in matching employers with top-flight agronomists, Williams said nowadays a vacant superintendent's job might generate as many as 200 resumes.   Each resume he receives immediately is placed into a pile.   "There are those that absolutely no way in hell will get an interview, those who maybe will get an interview and those who highly likely to get an interview. You don't want to be in that pile that is the crapola pile," he said. "You have to separate yourself from the pack."   That includes having someone else proof your resume for spelling and grammar.   "If you don't care enough to get it right, why should I care enough to hire you?" he said.   More than anything, Williams said, clubs want someone they know can manage a diverse staff and stay within budget while producing the best possible conditions.   "You have to be able to communicate your skills," he said. "They don't want to hire a professional cup cutter. They want people who will manage, lead and train."   David Robinson, CGCS, senior director of golf and grounds for Marriott Golf, echoed Williams' sentiments about the importance of career planning and regularly reviewing that strategy to ensure you are on track. To hammer home his point he even quoted late Baseball Hall of Famer Yogi Berra who was credited with saying "If you don't know where you're going, you might wind up someplace else."   He also told attendees to broaden their skill set, and "go outside your comfort zone with everything."   Polishing those communications skills is especially important, he noted.   "For example, it's easy to sit back at a conference like this and not participate," Robinson said. "I'm one of those people who enjoys getting up in front of people and talking. I might not be that great at it, but I enjoy doing it."   For those frightened by speaking in front of large groups at events like assistant superintendent boot camps or green committee meetings, there are ways to become a better communicator, such as joining Toastmasters, a nationwide club that exists solely to help people become better at public speaking.   "Of the hundreds of interviews I've been part of, I've never heard anyone say they should hire someone because he can grow grass better than the competition," Williams said. "It's their golf course, and they are proud of it. They are going to want to like you.   "Rarely do I go into a superintendent search and find out the previous superintendent is gone because grass is dead. The No. 1 thing I hear is that he was not a good communicator."   Both speakers also underscored the importance of networking.   "You're more than likely going to get that next job because of someone you know," Robinson said. "That's just the way the world works."   Williams agreed.   "You look around the industry and you think that there are all these people with great jobs who are lucky. You have to make your own luck," Williams said. "That means developing your network. Get to know the movers and shakers of this business. It's not what you know. It's who you know and who they know that will connect to help you get that job."
  • There are two kinds of golf courses in the world, those challenged by water quality and availability now, and those that will be some time in the near future.
      A recent study conducted by researchers at New Mexico State University shows that use of plant growth regulators and soil surfactants can help turfgrass managers use water more efficiently, at least on certain varieties of Bermudagrass and paspalum.   According to the study, which was conducted in 2010-12, use of Trinexapac-ethyl on Princess Bermudagrass and Sea Spray seashore paspalum resulted in acceptable visual quality when watered using both potable and saline sources with sprinklers or drip irrigation at 50 percent of ET.   "Over the course of the three-year study, chemical treatments and drip irrigation had a positive effect on stand quality," the researchers wrote in their conclusion. "After (three years) of prolonged drought stress, the quality of sprinkler-irrigated grasses dropped below an acceptable rating of 6. Our results suggest that TE in combination with SDI may help to maintain plant stand quality and functionality during drought conditions."   Results of the study, which also included how some surfactants influenced soil moisture during times of drought, were published earlier this year in Crop Science.   Plots at the university's Turfgrass Salinity Research Center were irrigated at 80 percent of ET in the spring and fall and once every two weeks during the winter. Throughout the summer, water was applied at 50 percent of ET using either water source, potable and saline (2,300 ppm dissolved salts).   According to the study, visual quality in both turf varieties was acceptable when irrigated with dirty water on all data collection dates during the first two years of the study, but declined in 2012. The results were the same throughout all three years of the study for Princess 77 using both sprinkler and drip irrigation. However, on the Sea Spray samples irrigated with dirty water, visual quality was higher in year 3 in plots watered with dripline technology.   Turf quality and cover also was measured as Normalized Difference Vegetation Index. When comparing the interactions of turf type, water quality and applications of growth regulators, turf quality as measured by NDVI slowly declined in each year of the study for Princess 77 and Sea Spray. In fact, by year 3, the lowest ratings for both Princess 77 and Sea Spray plots were plots irrigated from sprinklers with potable water.   "Our results indicate," researchers wrote, "that appropriate water conservation strategies can be applied in arid zones without a significant loss of functionality of the turf stand."

  • News and people briefs

    By John Reitman, in News,

    DryJect expands management team
     
    DryJect has named Jeffrey Broadbelt and Thomas van Drumpt to its management and business development team.    A former superintendent and golf course owner, Broadbelt served as head superintendent at Chester Valley Golf Club where he was responsible for course preparation for a Senior Tour event and as president and partner at Agrostis Golf Management, where he owned and operated several golf facilities. Most recently he was general manager at Broad Run Golf Club.   Thomas van Drumpt is joining DryJect to help manage and develop the company's web and social media efforts. Van Drumpt has been working with DryJect as a machine operator periodically since 2002. He has a BS in Business Administration from The College of New Jersey, and a MS in Environmental Science from Mid Sweden University.    
     
    Profile expands portfolio with acquisition
      Profile Products recently acquired the erosion control and landfill cover business of Central Fiber.   The deal closed Oct. 20. Terms were not disclosed. The deal does, however, supplement Profile's product portfolio with Central Fiber's Second Nature and Enviro Fiber hydraulic mulches. Profile already makes Flexterra HP, ProMatrix and Base mulch hydroseeding solutions for erosion control.   Profile's product line also includes technologies for golf course construction and maintenance, sports field conditioning, vegetation establishment and landscaping.   Advanced Turf acquires Midwestern distributor
      Advanced Turf Solutions recently acquired AgroLogics, a regional green industry distributor serving Missouri and Illinois.   Founded in 2001, Advanced Turf Solutions is an independent green industry distributor offering products for the turf, ornamental and aquatics markets. The acquisition will help the company expand its reach in the Midwest. The company serves customers in Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee.   Agro-Logics will continue to operate as a distinct brand through the end of the year and will be relabeled as Advanced Turf Solutions in January.
  • Even if next year's Golf Industry Show isn't in the budget, there are many regional educational opportunities coming up in the next few months to fit the needs of any professional turfgrass manager.

    We've pulled together information on some of them so you don't have to.
     

     
    Ohio Turfgrass Foundation Conference and Show
    After a change of venue last year on the shores of Lake Erie, the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation Conference and Show returns to the Greater Columbus Convention Center.

    Scheduled for Dec. 7-10, this year's even includes tracks in golf turf, sports turf, business management, lawn and landscape, pest management, chemical application technology, equipment technician training, ornamentals, plant selection, fertilizer strategy, sustainability and arborist training.

    The keynote speaker at this year's event is Ohio State wrestling coach Tom Ryan, who coached the Buckeyes to the national championship last season.
    Carolinas GCSA Conference and Show

    With some 2,000 attendees annually, the Carolinas GCSA Conference and Show is the country's largest regional event and presents tremendous networking opportunities.

    This year's show is scheduled for Nov. 16-18 at its regular home, the Myrtle Beach Convention Center.

    A combined effort of chapters in North and South Carolina, the show will feature nearly 30 seminars on a wide range of topics and will offer pesticide points for attendees from not only the Carolinas, but Georgia and Tennessee as well.

    Many classes are taught through a combined effort of Clemson University and North Carolina State University.
     
    Rocky Mountain Regional Turfgrass Association Conference and Trade Show

    The 62nd annual Rocky Mountain Regional Turfgrass Association Conference and Trade Show offers a mix of long and short courses for all turf, irrigation and landscape professionals from Dec. 8-10.

    Day 1 of the three-day show held at the Crowne Plaza at Denver International Airport includes a slate of half-day sessions in golf, sports turf, irrigation, landscape, service and pesticide applicator tracks.

    The second day features all one-hour seminars, as well as a trade show that runs throughout the day and a silent auction.

    The show concludes Dec. 10 with a mix of short courses ranging from 30 minutes to an hour in length.
     



    Tennessee Turfgrass Association Conference and Show

    The Tennessee Turfgrass Association Conference and Show has historically been held in Franklin, just outside Nashville. Next year's show still will be held in middle Tennessee, but this show, which is growing in popularity and size, has moved to a new location - the Embassy Suites in nearby Murfreesboro.

    Scheduled speakers include David Stone of The Honors Course, 2011 TurfNet Superintendent of the Year Paul Carter, CGCS, Chris Hartwiger of the USGA Green Section and Chris Tritabaugh of Hazeltine National Golf Club, who will discuss preparations for next year's Ryder Cup Matches.

    Former University of Tennessee football coach Phillip Fulmer, who coached the Vols to the first BCS National Championship in 1998, will deliver the keynote address.
     
    New York State Turfgrass Association Turf and Grounds Exposition
     
    With nearly 50 exhibitors scheduled for the trade show, the New York State Turfgrass Association Turf and Grounds Exposition is a formidable regional turf show.
     
    The event is scheduled for Nov. 17-18 at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center.
     
    Speakers will include Jennifer Grant, Ph.D., and Frank S. Rossi, Ph.D., Rich Buckley, Ph.D., of Rutgers, Alex Ellram, Ph.D., of SUNY-Delhi, Geunhwa Jun, Ph.D., of UMass, Eric Lyons, Ph.D., of the University of Guelph, Adam Moeller of the USGA Green Section and more.
     
    The event includes tracks such as IPM, management of natural grass/artificial turf sports fields, disease management, weed management, invasive species, water issues in New York and Cornell research updates.
     
    The two-day event also will include a turf bowl for future superintendents and turf managers.
     
    Nebraska Turf Conference

    The 2016 Nebraska Turf Conference, scheduled for Jan. 12-14, includes pre-conference workshops, along with full conference seminars.

    Scheduled for Jan. 12-14, the conference will be held at the LaVista Conference Center in LaVista, Nebraska.

    Speakers will include Bill Kreuser, Ph.D., of the University of Nebraska, Lee Miller, Ph.D., of the University of Missouri and Michael Boettcher of the Milwaukee Brewers, to name a few.

    Pre-conference workshops will include topics on equipment management, soil and water analysis, lawn care and pesticide recertification.

    Arkansas Turfgrass Association Trade Show and Conference

    Scheduled for Jan. 13-14 at the Hot Springs Convention Center, the 2016 Arkansas Turfgrass Association Trade Show and Conference will include tracks in golf, sports turf, lawn care and pesticide recertification.

    The event typically includes sessions led by researchers from the University of Arkansas as well as other instructors from turfgrass programs throughout the country.

    Former University of Arkansas professor Aaron Patton, Ph.D., of Purdue University will be among this year's speakers. That list also will include Dale Bremer, Ph.D., of Kansas State University and Bruce Martin, Ph.D., of Clemson.
  • Each spring brings a similar story to The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay, and other golf courses throughout the transition zone: Bermudagrass fairways that show signs of stress after a winter cold spell.   At this state park golf course a few miles north of Chattanooga, Tennessee, the areas in question are limited to the same three holes, and the challenges affecting them, said Paul Carter, CGCS, always center on drainage and shade. The solutions? They're always the same, too: add more drainage, aerify like crazy and resod.   "Our problems are on No. 1, the front of No. 5 and the landing area on No. 10," Carter said. "Those are the issues we've had, and you can pretty much mark it every year. This is where we are going to have those problems."   "This year, we kept traffic off the No. 10 fairway from Thanksgiving until the middle of March. It helped us out a good bit, but we still had a shade issue from a grove of trees. You can see where the damage follows a shade line where a shadow is cast from the trees each winter," Carter said. "We added surface drainage in the fairway, but the problem is this happens where everyone lands. Coming out of winter, if it doesn't look good, what do you do? You can't just shut it down to sod it. So, what are your options? A lot of aerifying in the summer, a lot of extra fertilizing trying to grow it in. Honestly, I don't know if we won't be doing it again next year, because we can never get a good healthy stand of Bermudagrass in the four-month growing period we have before it's back under stress again."   This year, Carter finally approached Mike Nixon, director of golf operations for the Tennessee State Parks, for a solution.   Carter pointed to a stand of about 50 trees mostly sweet gums towering more than 100 feet into the air as the cause of problems on the No. 10 fairway. When Carter said he'd sodded the area three straight years and likely would have to again every year as long as shade was an issue, Nixon gave the OK to remove the trees.   The impact was almost immediate.   "More grass has grown in since we dropped those trees, and we've also gotten some afternoon sun on 11 green," Carter said.   Jimbo Thomas also has faced some winter-related challenges at TPC Southwind in Memphis.    "It's all about the location," Thomas said. "Winterkill affects the same location because the problem that causes it doesn't get fixed. I can be caused by multiple problems. "It can be a place that gets too much morning shade, it can be a wet spot, or it can be a dry spot."   Those issues have mostly been solved since a recent fairway renovation project that included regrassing the Bermuda playing surfaces with Meyer zoysia, which is more tolerant to shade and cold.   "When we had Bermuda fairways, I could go out at 9:30 in the morning with a paint gun and draw a line where we had shade from pine trees," Thomas said. "I could guarantee you that was the area that was going to be dead."   Although eliminating the source of the shade is the preferred method for dealing with winterkill on Bermuda grass, eliminating trees isn't always possible. Carter is in talks with researchers at the University of Tennessee about the benefits of using topdressing sand and a lot of it to help protect the crown of the Bermudagrass plant throughout the winter.   He also has been raising the height of cut in the fairways this year in hopes that it produces a healthier Bermudagrass plant throughout the summer and into next spring.   "People are trying to hold onto lower cutting heights longer into the season. We're raising the heights in the fairways," he said. "We're not waiting until October to do it. We're keeping them higher in the summer. With growth regulators, we've gone from 0.500 inches to 0.600 inches.   "We get no Bermuda growth until the end of June or early July. By then, we only have 45 to 60 days where we can really push that grass. It comes down to how much cultural practices can you do. We slice without coring, we've done that a lot. It has a lot to do with what membership will allow you to do, but we weren't going to sod that area anymore."
  • When Steve Cook, CGCS, says his upcoming climb of the mountain known as Ama Dablam is part of a long journey, he's talking about much more than ascending a Himalayan peak rising more than 22,000 feet into the air.
      Throughout Cook's career, scaling geological formations have been part vacation, part physical workout and part mental escape. But the pending climb of Ama Dablam is even more significant for Cook. The 56-year-old director of agronomy at famed Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, has turned the trip to Nepal into a fundraising effort that will benefit critically ill children in Michigan.   By turning to social media, Cook has raised about $30,000 through donations. That money will help fulfill dreams for four Michigan kids through Make-A-Wish America.   Cook and his wife, Robin, don't have children of their own, but the Michigan chapter of Make-A-Wish has been near and dear to them since Robin served the nonprofit entity in a volunteer capacity a decade ago.   "I talked to my wife about how I could turn this into something bigger," Cook said. "That's how the Make-A-Wish Foundation came to the surface."   Cook is scheduled to leave for Nepal on Oct. 17 and will return Nov. 19. In between he, along with two other climbers, a coach and as many as a half-dozen sherpa, will ascend Ama Dablam, with an elevation of 22,349 feet.   Throughout the fundraising process, Cook has crossed paths with a lot of people, and he figures he will meet more throughout the trip. He has been reading up on Buddhism and Nepalese culture so he can totally immerse himself in the experience.   "I don't know who I'm going to meet on the way over there, or when I get there and how my life will change due to that,"  he said. "This is just part of the journey.   "I want to tag that summit, but if I don't, I won't be devastated. I've already reached the summit through the donations I received."   Cook wanted to raise money at the rate of $1 per foot of climb. Even the people at Make-A-Wish told him they believed that goal was as lofty as Ama Dablam's summit. He turned to social media and soon, donations poured in from friends, family, colleagues, club members, people he hadn't talked to in years and total strangers.   "I figured I'd have to have a garage sale," he said. " I received $20 here, $100 there from people I don't even know.."   Make-A-Wish, which grants wishes to children diagnosed with life-threatening medical conditions, already have been identified four children who will benefit from Cook's climb.   "The driving force for me has been knowing that nothing I go through compares to what these kids are facing," he said. "It puts everything in perspective.   "This experience is about more than the climb. Reaching the summit is only about 10 percent of the experience. The other 90 percent is about the rest of the experience."   An experienced climber, Cook has been to the top of places such as the Grand Tetons in Wyoming and Washington's Mount Rainier. Although Ama Dablam is somewhat dwarfed by nearby Mount Everest's 29,000-foot summit, it outshines anything else he's climbed so far. The climb will take about two weeks, while descent takes about two days. The climb up will require getting used to oxygen depletion of nearly 50 percent that occurs at such heights.    "At 22,000 feet it is going to feel like someone is standing on your chest," he said.    "My cup already is overflowing. If it's in God's plans for me to summit that mountain, I will; if not, I won't. Make no mistake, I want that summit pretty bad, but I'm trying to keep everything in perspective."
  • Editor's note: This letter on developing a philosophy and team leadership was submitted by 2014 Superintendent of the Year finalist Jorge Croda. Jorge is a Mexican national living and working in Burleson, Texas, where he is superintendent of Southern Oaks Golf Club.
     
    Developing a solid philosophy that is based on the vision, mission and values of the organization is the foundation that successful employees and teams are built upon. Vision in business requires that you clearly see where you choose to be in future and formulate the necessary steps to get your organization there. Creating and sustaining a vision for an organization calls for discipline and creativity.
     
    The vision for my department is to provide a challenging yet enjoyable course and an environment where guests of all golf levels, from casual to expert, can create memorable experiences.
     
    A leader must have the passion, strength of will and necessary knowledge to achieve long-term goals. Our vision drives our goals. A focused individual who can inspire his team to reach organizational goals is a visionary leader. To cultivate this loyalty the attitude of supervisors is of utmost importance. Growing grass is very easy; to form and grow a team is a challenge that requires vision, attitude and discipline. As a leader, I strive to make leaders out of my staff in order to encourage them to learn and grow both within and outside of their job functions and department. It is important to create a personal sense of ownership and belonging for employees.
     

     
    We also designed a mission, values and rules that my department follows to meet the expectations of our members, guests and owners. Our mission is to provide exceptional recreational and social opportunities to our members, guests and anyone interested in gaining positive experiences through maintaining high expectations of excellence. Our values include:
    Our members are our most important asset. Our staff is a critical and vitally important element in our continued success. We treat all people, fellow members, guests, staff and suppliers, as we would like to be treated. We are respectful, friendly, courteous and honest in our relations. We value friendships and enjoyable recreational and social experiences. We value teamwork and volunteerism in pursuing excellence. We value the traditions, heritage and etiquette of the game of golf. Leadership and management will be open and transparent as they strive to continuously improve our quality customer satisfaction in a fiscally responsible manner. The objective is to foster skills that will benefit employees in both their professional and personal lives. There are five core rules that establish discipline expectations and govern our department. 
    Be Safe. Be kind to others. Give each task your best. If you make a mistake, tell someone. Have fun. These rules are essential to the smooth operation of our facility and ensure that we are all operating within our philosophy each and every day. We have weekly meetings within the department to discuss important issues such as; member and guest comments, management announcements, tasks that need focus and improvement and ideas/suggestions on how it can be done, congratulations for hard work, encouragement for giving best efforts, reinforcement of our vision and rules and an opportunity for employees to voice comments, suggestions and/or questions. These meetings are an important facet of our philosophy because it is a structured reminder of the philosophy and expectations of our department.
     
    We focus on these skills:
    Interpersonal skills - proper introductions when greeting someone or meeting someone new and how to effectively communicate with others. Intrapersonal Skills - techniques for managing thoughts and emotions. Goal setting - setting attainable milestones to reach desired goals and dreams. Resiliency - strategies to adapt, manage and overcome challenges.  

     
    Our employees are offered opportunities to acquire skills beyond just their job specific duties such as classes to build and improve English skills, computer skills and cross training that can translate into other areas of their life and create employees that are more well-rounded people. A strong philosophy should focus on developing a company's greatest asset, its employees.
     
    A well-treated and motivated staff will develop loyalty and remain with a company for a long time. The goal is to create a culture of gratitude within your department. The role of the leader of the department is to effectively role-model the ways to show gratitude at all possible times. Here are three strong examples of ways you can establish a culture of gratitude within your organization or department. The first example is to encourage employees to celebrate each other This could be done by some type of structured recognition program where people can praise co-workers for specific behaviors or attitudes or another option would be a more anonymous recognition program where employees are encouraged to leave notes of gratitude for other employees in a designated location.
     
    The second example is to show your appreciation for the entire team by hosting special events or activities. I do this in my department by having a monthly luncheon to show appreciation for my staff and their hard work. Another major event was a scramble tournament for employees that we planned. This allowed the employees to play golf on the course and increase team building skills while experiencing the importance of etiquette and safety, seeing things from the perspective of a member or guest on the course and recognizing what guest/member needs are. The main guideline for the scramble tournament was be positive, enjoy what you do, have fun, be happy and you will be successful. Last, but not least, make "thank you" a phrase heard daily. These two simple words have a significant impact on making employees, and people in general, feel valued and appreciated. By establishing a culture of gratitude, you will not only have happier employees, but employees who are more engaged, motivated, and loyal.

    My philosophy focuses on teaching and demonstrating to my employees the values for life, teamwork, etiquette, communication, leadership and motivation and then most importantly, having the expectation that they put these skills to use every day on the job. Richard Branson once said: "Train people well enough so they can leave; treat them well enough so they don't want to."
     
  • More than a dozen greenkeepers and golf industry professionals teamed up to help Team Ireland retain the TurfNet Emerald Isle Challenge golf tournament.
     
    Contested Oct. 13 over the 121-year-old Portmarnock Golf Club, the biannual event was held in conjunction with this years TurfNet members trip to Ireland.
     
    Comprised of 14 greenkeepers and other golf industry associates, Team Ireland finished with 279 points, topping Team TurfNet by 13 points in the tournament scored using the Modified Stableford scoring system.
     
    Ireland also won the Emerald Isle Challenge played earlier this year at The Quarry in San Antonio during the Golf Industry Show. The next challenge will be played in February in San Diego in conjunction with the 2016 Golf Industry Show.
     
    TurfNet is in Ireland for its fourth trip to the country overall, and seventh members trip overall.
     
    Plans are being made to hold this event in San Diego in advance of the 2016 Golf Industry Show.
     

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