Pinehurst s U.S. Open is Jett Propelled. [ search engine powered by magazooms.com ] Plus Skin Care Matters The Nuts and Bolts on Service Technicians

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1 Pinehurst s U.S. Open is Jett Propelled Plus Skin Care Matters The Nuts and Bolts on Service Technicians

2 TO MAKE THE BEST WALK-BEHIND MOWER, THE ONE THING WE COULDN'T CUT WAS CORNERS. Introducing the new John Deere B Series Walk-Behind Mowers. There are no shortcuts to being the best. That s why we spared no small detail with our new 18-, 22-, and 26-inch walk-behind greensmowers. From our new adjustable handlebar height adjustment down to our terribly efficient grass catcher, our new B Series walks are without peers in their category. A larger muffler, along with a smaller pitched chain and new chain adjusters, puts a damper on sound levels. New bedknife-to-reel knobs allow for easy adjusting. And a new oil drain funnel makes changing oil quick and neat. We did all of this and more to ensure one thing: to give you and your operators a cut pattern that is straight and superior. For a demo, please call your local John Deere Golf & Turf Distributor. REVELS TRACTOR COMPANY GREENVILLE TURF & TRACTOR 2217 N. Main Street 3420 Macklen Road 701 Sandy Springs Road Fuquay-Varina, NC Myrtle Beach, SC Piedmont, SC (919) (843) (866) (800) (800) NOTHING RUNS LIKE ADEERE

3 INSIDE 2005 OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS President Vice President Secretary-Treasurer Past President Directors: MICHAEL D. BROWN, CGCS Starmount Forest country Club Greensboro, NC (336) DANNY B. ALLEN Camden Country Club Camden, SC (803) BILLY W. LEWIS Carolina National Golf Club Shallotte, NC (910) ROBERT J. WARNER, CGCS Whispering Pines Golf Course Myrtle Beach, SC (843) WILLIAM D. ANDERSON, CGCS Carmel Country Club Charlotte, NC (704) JEFFREY S. CONNELL Columbia Country Club Columbia, SC (803) T. BLAND COOPER, CGCS The Sulstone Group Charlotte, NC (704) JOHN F. DAVIS Secession Golf Club Beaufort, SC (843) JAMES H. DUKE Bradford Creek Golf Club Greenville, NC (252) CRAIG A. HOOKS River Ridge Golf Club Raleigh, NC (919) PAUL T. JETT, CGCS Pinehurst, Inc. Pinehurst, NC (910) STEVEN R. NEULIEP, CGCS Country Club of Asheville Asheville, NC (828) MITCHELL WILKERSON, CGCS Moss Creek Owners Association Bluffton, SC (843) MAY - JUNE 2005 Columns and Departments 2 President s Message 5 Executive Director s Message 7 Turf Talk 10 USGA Green Section 15 Headliners Superintendent Makes Air Waves 19 Current Research Update on Status of Bermudagrass Greens 44 Local Association News 53 Industry News 58 Our Friends 59 New Members 60 What s Next News and Features 25 Summer Skin Care The Heat is On 28 Pinehurst Preview Jett Hosts U.S. Open 35 Turf Technicians Combine TETAC is a Growing Concern 38 Orlando s Bloom Carolinas Faces at the National 42 What Are Words Worth One Superintendent s Experience Cover Shot: The American flag and the U.S. Open hang over Paul Jett, CGCS, but he is comfortable and confident that Pinehurst No. 2 will meet all challenges. Published bimonthly by the CAROLINAS GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION Executive Director: Charles M. Borman, CAE CAROLINAS GREEN: Editor: Trent Bouts tbouts@cgcsa.org Design: Pam Latour and Rachel Mumford CONTACT INFORMATION: 17 N. Commerce St., P.O. Box 210 Liberty, SC Phone: Fax: Web: CAROLINAS green 1

4 PRESIDENT MICHAEL D. BROWN, CGCS Mind Games Can Really Matter I am not kidding, this really happened last year. I played a round of golf at the course where I am employed, Starmount Forest Country Club, and in the same week, played golf at one of our main competitors in the area, Greensboro Country Club. Here are the highlights: Mike Brown, CGCS, outside the Carolinas GCSA offices in Liberty, SC. Hole 1 At Starmount: A member, not in my group, asks if we mowed the greens today and wants to know if they re rolling at 4.5 on the stimpmeter. Tee shot O.B. I take an eight on a par 4 and cuss aloud. At Greensboro Country Club: Greensboro member says he played Starmount yesterday and had a great time. Pats me on the back. Tee shot down the middle. Make par. Hole 7 At Starmount: Score soars out of control. Still mad about the 4.5 stimpmeter comment. Decide putter is evil. Set putter free to live at the bottom of the pond for eternity... or until a diver pulls it out. Either way the putter is evil and must die. Greensboro: One over par. Very, very good for my skill level. Make the comment, I could break my course record, theoretically. I believe it, too. Hole 15 At Starmount: Am in the pocket more holes than not. Had a double Crown Royal on the rocks at the turn. Called a bag-boy to bring me another on the 13 th. New putter I bought at the turn is also evil. May set this one free too. Greensboro: Can do no wrong. Can t hit a bad shot if I tried. Now one under par. Having so much fun I m about to pee my pants. 19 th hole At Starmount: Drinking heavily, eating greasy comfort food. Offer to sell clubs for $50. Make public statement, I m never playing golf again. I believe it too. At Greensboro: Finish one over par, a personal best. Eat apple and drink bottled water. Offer the rest of my foursome tips on how to improve their golf swing. Make statement, This is the greatest game in the world. I believe it too. Moral of the story One good comment or bad comment can set the tone for the rest of the day, and if we allow it to, can ruin an otherwise good time for ourselves and those around us. If we re not careful, this same scenario while maybe not as pronounced - can happen professionally. Choosing carefully how to deal with factors or comments not within our control is important. Letting our emotional side control us is not always in our best interest. It affects our friends, our professional standing, and perhaps most importantly, our health. The final choice is always ours to make. Choosing to deal with adversity in a positive manner will always provide us with better friends, work, and health. And for the record, the greens were rolling 10.9! 2 CAROLINAS green May - June 2005

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7 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CHUCK BORMAN, CAE ADVERTISERS INDEX Andersons Technologies, Inc...46 Carolinas Superintendents Take Center Stage BASF...39 Bayer Environmental Science...48 Buy Sod...41 BWI...27 Carolina Club Care...14 The week of June 13 19, Pinehurst, NC, will be the center of the golf world as Pinehurst No. 2 and Paul Jett, Chuck Borman addresses local association leaders. See page 57. CGCS, once again host the U.S. Open. This tournament is the high point of an extraordinary 75 days of golf in the Carolinas featuring the MCI Heritage hosted by Harbour Town Golf Links and superintendent, Gary Snyder, on Hilton Head Island; the Nationwide Tour s BMW Charity Pro-Am hosted by the Cliffs Communities and Daniel Brazinski in Upstate, SC; the PGA Tour s Wachovia Championship hosted by Quail Hollow Club and Jeff Kent, in Charlotte, NC; and the Rex Hospital Open on the Nationwide Tour hosted by the TPC Wakefield Plantation and Todd Lawrence, CGCS. Before the year ends, Dan Winters at Forest Oaks Country Club in Greensboro, NC, will host the PGA Tour s Chrysler Classic of Greensboro; Ron Gilmore, CGCS, and Prestonwood Country Club in Cary, NC, will host the PGA Champions Tour, SAS Championship; and Guy Hollar and Rock Barn Golf and Country Club in Hickory, NC, will host the PGA Champions Tour Greater Hickory Classic. That means that in 2005 the Carolinas will host the USGA s premier championship; three PGA Tour events; two PGA Champions Tour events and two PGA Nationwide Tour events. That s what I call being at the center of the golf world. But when it comes to being the center of golf, in my mind, that distinction goes to each of the superintendents hosting those tournaments and to each of their colleagues in the Carolinas. Though you may not be hosting a high visibility tournament, you still strive each day to provide the very best playing conditions possible with the weather and resources you are dealt. Just as Paul, Gary, Daniel, Jeff, Todd, Dan, Ron and Guy will be critiqued on the condition of their golf courses during the week of their tournament, so will you be scrutinized the entire year at your course. You can bet that at some point during the televised events in the Carolinas, or during events at your own course, you will receive some criticism. Some will arise from conditions beyond your control; some may be justified and stem from issues within your control, and some will simply be unjustified. How you react to each situation will go a long way to determining your level of success and satisfaction. When the criticism follows events beyond your control, the goal is communication, communication, communication. The key to weathering circumstances beyond your control is to ensure that everyone is fully aware of the cause and the limits of what can be done to rectify or manage it. Where criticism is justified and centers on issues within your control, the key is to be professional enough to step up, be open, and solve it as soon as possible. In this instance too, communication is the key to receiving continued support from those you work for. The last and most difficult criticism you receive is that which is unjust, has no basis in fact and in some cases is inspired by personal agendas. In each case, your knowledge and expertise is the key to a successful resolution. Provide quality information to correct misconceptions, and be prepared to share that information far and wide. Individuals with personal agendas have a hard time overcoming an educated majority. Carolina Turf Farms...6 Corbin Turf...39 Course Crafters...50 Course Doctors...52 Divots...58 Dry Ject Carolinas...51 E & S Soil...59 Eastern Turf Equipment...17 Golf Agronomics...21 Greenville Turf & Tractor/John Deere... inside front H&E Sod Nursery...23 Harrell s...3 Jacobsen, A Textron Company...11 Laserturf Southeast...56 Mackilwean Turf Farm...16 MCMG Turf Services, LLC...13 Modern Turf...56 Oakland Plantation...9 PBI Gordon...26 Pro Green...inside back Reddick Equipment...20 Revels Tractor/John Deere... inside front S & R Turf & Irrigation Equipment...24 SePRO Corporation...36 Shapemasters...37 Simmons Irrigation Supply Co...54 SISIS, Inc...37 Smith Turf & Irrigation Co...back cover TifEagle Growers...12 TifSport Growers...34 Tifton Physical Soil Testing...50 Tri-State Pump & Controls...4 Trumac Sales...49 Unimin Corporation...18 Valent USA Corporation...43 Vereens Turf Products...30, 31 CAROLINAS green 5

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9 TURF TALK A Healthy Green Gathers No Moss My membership is getting frustrated over the increase of moss on my bentgrass greens. What exactly is moss and what can be done about it? Mosses are categorized as Bryophytes, a class of primitive plants noted for their lack of roots and vascular (xylem and phloem) systems. This is the first clue as to why most control products are inconsistent since these plants lack functional roots and vascular systems to absorb and translocate materials throughout the plant. Mosses are also 400 million years old, thus, are not very likely to disappear anytime soon. Of the over 9,500 moss variations that occur, the major one found on golf greens is silvery thread moss (Bryum argenteum Hedw). Bryum, unlike most mosses, grows well in both wet, shady environments as well as hot, dry sites in full sun (Figure 1). These are nonparasitic to plants, and spread mainly asexually, via plant fragments, and less so as airborne spores. Bryum species are able to photosynthesize and fix nitrogen, thus, another clue why these have become problematic in recent years. With lower mowing heights and reduced nitrogen rates on greens, sunlight is better able to penetrate to the soil surface where moss can grow. Moss can become very competitive in lower nitrogen sites since it can fix its own, which explains why little moss is seen on higher mowed and fertilized bentgrass areas such as collars or fairways. Typical occurrence of silvery thread moss on greens is initially on weak turf areas such as ridges or mounds where the grass is thinned from scalping or drought. It also establishes in summer following periods of rainy, overcast, warm days and is favored by poorly drained, heavily shaded turf sites with acidic infertile soils. Moss infestations are also noted to Figure 1. Silvery thread moss (Bryum argenteum) is the most common moss variation inhabiting golf greens. be a sign of soil poverty. The literature suggests mosses are more problematic on calcium-rich and potassium-poor soils. This nutritional trend has been observed in turf the last 10 years. If calcium levels are high, treating with Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) may help while sulfatepotash treatments often help potassium deficient soils. Weekly applications of liquid ammonium sulfate at 0.10 to lb N per 1,000 sq.ft. often promote a more competitive turf, help desiccate the moss and also acidify the soil to discourage moss and patch diseases. Finally, the elimination of fungicides containing heavy metals such as mercury has encouraged moss as the heavy metals in these products displace the central magnesium atom in chlorophyll molecules. By reducing or eliminating chlorophyll in moss, they eventually weaken and die. Metals with higher atomic weights, such as mercury, cadmium, and silver, are generally more effective than lighter atomic weight metals such as zinc, copper, and iron. A holistic approach to control is necessary as healthy turf is the only means to prevent and cure moss occurrence. As you might expect, increasing mowing heights and fertility are necessary to promote turf health, thus, discourage moss. Air circulation and light penetration on greens can be improved by installing fans, improving surface and subsurface drainage. Providing sufficient potassium and moderate calcium levels should also be considered. A number of products have been evaluated for moss control with most of these providing inconsistent results or excessive turf damage. These include: Junction (mancozeb + copper hydroxide); Fore (mancozeb); Kocide 2000 (copper hydroxide); No-Mas and DeMoss, both fatty acid soaps; dishwashing soap such as Ultra Dawn; iron-containing products such as ferrous ammonium sulfate and iron BERT McCARTY, PH.D. Dr. Bert McCarty, Research and Extension Turf Specialist at Clemson University, will address any turf-related question in this column. Write to him c/o: Clemson University, Department of Horticulture, Box , Clemson, SC or: bmccrty@clemson.edu CAROLINAS green 7

10 TURF TALK Table 1. Control of silvery thread moss (Bryum argenteum) with various rates and timings of Quicksilver 1.9L. Clemson University, Figure 2. Many moss control products act as desiccants, thus, should not be used during warm (>80 F), dry weather, as turf injury can result (Courtesy of Fred Yelverton). Figure 3. Control of silvery thread moss on a golf green (right) with three applications of Quicksilver T&O (carfentrazone) at 2.1 oz product per acre. Little, if any, turf damage has resulted from Quicksilver use. sulfate; ground limestone; baking soda (sodium hydroxide); Zerotol (hydrogen dioxide); copper sulfate; copper soaps; and zinc sulfate. Most of these must be used in cooler weather and only at limited rates to avoid turf burn or nutrient deficiencies from the buildup of heavy metals (Figure 2). Of these, copper hydroxide, fatty acid soaps, or iron products have been reported to work best with multiple (five to seven) applications in cooler climates such as the Northwest. In recent times, TerraCyte (sodium carbonate peroxyhydrate), and silver nitrate have been explored for moss control. TerraCyte trials in Arkansas at 12 lbs per 1,000 sq.ft. with six applications % Silvery Thread Moss Control 25-June 28-July Quicksilver 1.9L 1 oz/a 30 0 Quicksilver 1.9L 2 oz/a 3 20 Quicksilver 1.9L 1 fb 1 oz/a Quicksilver 1.9L 2 fb 2 oz/a Quicksilver 1.9L 1 fb 1 fb 1 oz/a Quicksilver 1.9L 2 fb 2 fb 2 oz/a Quicksilver 1.9L 1 fb 1 fb 1 oz/a + NIS* Daconil Ultrex fb 174 fb 174 oz/a 90 0 Applied 5/20, 6/3, 6/17/04 * Nonionic surfactant applied at 0.25% v/v spaced two weeks apart, have provided up to 97 percent control. Junction applied at six oz per 1,000 sq.ft. also has provided ~80 percent control while Ultra Dawn at four to six fl oz per 1,000 sq.ft. in two gallons water applied every two weeks, has provided excellent control in some tests but not others. Inconsistent control along with potential for turf injury and legalities must be considered before using these products. Work by Fred Yelverton and associates in the mountains of North Carolina identified chlorothalonil (Daconil Weather Stik or Daconil Zn) as providing acceptable moss control with no turf damage. Various rates of each product were used with four oz per 1,000 sq.ft. Daconil Weather Stik and six oz per 1,000 sq.ft. of Daconil Zn providing similar results. Being a desiccant, control is best with sequential applications every seven days for at least three consecutive weeks and when air temperatures at the time of application are at least 80F, preferably, 85F. This minimum temperature requirement explains why cooler regions have not had as consistent control results with chlorothalonil as Southern states. The latest material to show promise as a moss management aid is carfentrazone, or Quicksilver T&O. Carfentrazone acts as a membrane disrupter in plants, thus, is another desiccant. With carfentrazone, however, temperatures do not appear to be as important for successful control as with chlorothalonil. Best results in North Carolina and my program in South Carolina, have been with the current highest rate, 2.1 oz of product per acre, with a repeat application in 14 days (Table 1 and Figure 3). Two to five gallons of spray solution should be used per 1,000 sq.ft. for adequate moss coverage. Currently, Quicksilver is not labeled for bentgrass golf greens. However, its manufacturer, FMC Corporation, is entertaining a greens label with increased use rates up to seven oz product per acre. Obviously, the higher rates provide more consistent control with little, if any, turf damage. As control commences, the infested areas should be spiked or sliced, raked, verticut or heavily groomed and topdressed to remove the impervious dying moss layer and smooth the putting surface. Note, however, that unless cultural practices are changed to shift the competitive edge back to turf, moss reoccurrence is inevitable and repeat applications will be necessary. 8 CAROLINAS green May - June 2005

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12 USGA SOUTHEAST REGION, GREEN SECTION March Madness: Chris Hartwiger It was the Best of Times, It was the Worst of Times Patrick O Brien GREEN SECTION Core aeration followed by filling the holes with sand topdressing are two key steps to diluting organic matter. March Madness is upon us. In the golf industry, March Madness is much more than a month. It is a state of mind that lasts throughout the spring. It begins with the NCAA basketball tournament, continues with the first major championship of the golf season, and stretches well into the summer. For golf course superintendents, March Madness can be the best of times or the worst of times. And the funny thing about March Madness in the Southeast is that one superintendent can be mired in the worst of times while his neighbor is enjoying the best of times. This is not a cruel twist of fate. Instead, it is expected and it is occurring for a reason. In this article, we will examine several maintenance strategies that dramatically influence golfer attitudes during March Madness. We will also make an attempt to offer guidance for superintendents, owners, and course officials when these issues arise. Fairway Overseeding: Beauty or the Beast? Our office receives many questions about overseeding. Are these questions asked in June, August, or October? No. Are they asked during March Madness? Absolutely, and there is a simple reason why it occurs every year. There is no doubt that compared to thriving, gorgeous perennial ryegrass, a non-overseeded bermudagrass fairway, tee, or rough looks like the homeliest, sickest nag anyone has ever seen. Triple the despair if winter annual or grassy weeds are thriving. The solution is simple then, isn t it? Overseed next year and enjoy the best of times. Before making the leap, be sure to read the next paragraph. (continued on page 13...) 10 CAROLINAS green May - June 2005

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14 Columbia Country Club, Columbia SC Jeff Connell, Golf Course Superintendent Sod It.Sprig It. No-Till It. TifEagle Will Give You the Ultimate Ultradwarf Putting Surface TifEagle is fast becoming the variety of choice of golf course architects, golf course superintendents and hard to please greens committees at clubs all over the Southeast. From the mountains, Piedmont and coastal courses of Georgia and the Carolinas to the palm-lined greens of the Sunshine State, TifEagle is landing at high-end clubs and pay-for-play courses alike. It s no mystery. TifEagle has proven to be a premiere putting surface with a number of unique advantages for golf course superintendents. For starters, TifEagle was bred to stand up to the physical stress produced by lower mowing heights. With frequent brushing, grooming and light top dressings, TifEagle requires less verticutting to control thatch buildup than the other ultradwarfs. TifEagle also recovers more quickly from injury, has better color, and is extremely cold hardy, drought tolerant and disease resistant. So whether you re involved with the repair or restoration of your existing greens, or installing an entire new course, insist on the best. Specify TifEagle Bermudagrass by name. You can sod it, sprig it or even no-till it under the right conditions. Call for more information. Contact One of These Quality-Conscious TifEagle Growers for More Information Pike Creek Turf, Inc. Adel GA Tifton Turf Farms Tifton GA NewLife Turf Norway SC Southern Turf Nurseries, Inc. Alapaha GA CAROLINAS green May - June 2005

15 (...continued from page 10) USGA SOUTHEAST REGION, GREEN SECTION To sort through the confusion of the overseeding or no overseeding dilemma, let us start with an understanding of why golf courses overseed or do not overseed. The majority of golf courses that overseed do so because they place a greater premium on what the golf course looks like with mature overseeding and less on how the golf course plays. A quality overseeding program does not happen accidentally and overseeding has direct and indirect costs. Overseeding requirements such as seed, labor, fertilizer, water, different herbicides, equipment wear and tear, etc, are direct costs. These are easy to calculate. Indirect costs are more difficult to estimate. For example, if green grass attracts golfers in the spring, what is the cost in revenue if the golf course experiences turf decline during a bad transition in the summer? What is the cost in extra sod, fertilizer, water, labor to grow in weak bermudagrass turf after a bad transition? What is the cost in terms of dollars and enjoyment when the overseeding establishment ruins the best time of year, the fall, for bermudagrass fairways? What is the cost when, not if, Poa annua becomes a larger issue in the putting greens? These indirect costs are hard to estimate, but make no mistake, they are real costs. The majority of golf courses in the Southeast region do not overseed bermudagrass areas and for a specific set of reasons: 1. Playability throughout the entire year is valued more than course appearance in late winter or early spring. Dormant bermudagrass is a fine playing surface. It can be kept at a high level of quality all winter if cart traffic is restricted to cart paths. 2. A no overseeding program allows the golf course superintendent to set up his entire maintenance program around the needs of the bermudagrass. Every day the temperatures are warm enough to grow bermudagrass, the bermudagrass is growing free from competition. 3. No overseeding is more environmentally friendly because it uses fewer resources: less water, fertilizer, and pesticides. 4. No overseeding is less expensive in both direct and indirect costs. Lower costs keep the game more affordable for more people. The key to determining if an overseeding program is appropriate for a golf course is to focus on both the intended and unintended consequences of over- seeding. Review the factors above. Calculate expected direct costs and estimate indirect costs. Review expectations for turfgrass quality during each season of the year on a non-overseeded and overseeded golf course. Most importantly, remember that with either system, turfgrass quality will not be optimal every week of the year. Once a decision is made, stick with it and when experiencing the worst of times, remind everyone why the decision was made in the first place. Core Aeration: They Don t Do This at Other Courses Another one of the rites of passage in spring is core aeration. Although a few brave souls have tried no aeration during the spring, in the end they have paid for this decision dearly with deterioration of the putting surfaces over the long term, particularly in the summer. Unfortunately, we are sad to report that we receive many calls and questions similar to this one, What can we do about this practice of aeration? Other courses don t do this and those that do, use smaller tines that heal more quickly. In order to get to the bottom of this question, we must separate myth from fact. Myth: Other courses do not aerate. Fact: Core aeration is recommended highly in the spring. Core aeration followed by filling the holes with sand topdressing and surface topdressing applications are two key components in an organic matter dilution program. Virtually all courses in the Southeast with bentgrass putting greens core aerate in the spring. Myth: Aerating twice as often with ¼ inch tines impacts as much surface area as one aeration with ½ inch tines, assuming the spacing is the same. Fact: It would require four aerations with ¼ hollow tines to equal one aeration with ½ inch tines assuming the spacing is the same. Also, larger tines create bigger holes which are much easier to fill with sand. Myth: Aeration ruins the greens for six weeks. Fact: The aeration date plays a major role in the healing time of the aeration holes. Aeration performed on March 1 in the Southeast will have a much longer healing time than aeration performed on April 15 assuming all other factors such as fertility are the same. The reasons are warmer soil temperatures and longer days. One of our standard recommendations to help make March the best of times on bentgrass putting greens is to schedule the aeration at a time when healing time is kept to a minimum. In other words, the golf course should schedule aeration when it will disrupt as few days of golf as possible. Some clubs in the Southeast have decided to move aeration into mid-april for these reasons. To further minimize aeration disruption, private clubs can work together on scheduling aeration dates and create a reciprocal agreement with a nearby course for play during aeration recovery periods. Aeration always will be the worst of times for putting quality, but it is a necessary evil and it can be managed to keep the pain and suffering to a minimum. Conclusion We have reviewed a few reasons why March is indeed so maddening. It is a time of year when the best of times and the worst of times are on a collision course like two ships converging in the open ocean. Unfortunately, there is no way to avoid this. The crash is predictable and it happens every year. Anticipate it. Get ready for it. And most of all, remember that March Madness will end. And then the Summertime Blues arrive, but that s another story.... MARK STODDARD, CGCS OVER 25 YEARS IN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT We specialize in Golf Course Greens Aerification Shallow Tine: solid and hollow Deep Tine: solid and hollow Spiking Aerify Tees and Fairways Spraying Verticut and Vacuum CAROLINAS green 13

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17 HEADLINERS Carolinas Green features coverage of superintendent issues and personalities as part of a media awards program presented in partnership with Syngenta Professional Products. Reporters can win up to $1,000 and superintendents are eligible for a $500 prize. Details at The following report details the efforts of one golf course superintendent embracing talk radio as a venue to promote awareness of the profession. Golf Radio Show Covered by Ivy By Craig Distl As golf course superintendent for Rocky River Golf Club Spencer said. He was very out- Mason did extremely well, at Concord, NC, Mason Ivy often going and well informed, not rises early on Saturday mornings. only to the general public, but we Such was the case February 19, in the studio learned from him although not for the usual reason. about the various things you have Instead of getting up and heading to the course, Ivy reported to Because the show aired in to do to maintain a golf course. Charlotte s WFNZ radio studio at February, one of the main topics covered was overseeding of 6:45am for a guest appearance on the station s golf talk show. The bermudagrass turf in the winter. show is On the Green with Reid Rocky River rarely overseeds, Spencer, hosted by Spencer, a and Ivy is a proponent of that. local golf writer. Ivy was selected I d prefer not to because the as a guest to share with the public overseeding hurts the bermuda his insights on maintaining a coming out of dormancy, said course. Mason Ivy, away from the radio microphone at Ivy. We talked about why golf I thought it was an area of Rocky River Golf Club. courses in Myrtle Beach and golf we don t often discuss on the Pinehurst almost have to overseed for their tourist play. air but is extremely interesting, said Spencer, who also writes golf books for The Sporting One caller asked Ivy about the differences between News. Judging from the response we got, that was indeed bermuda and bentgrass greens. He had been stationed in the case. People came up to me afterwards and said that was Japan and played a course with two greens per hole one really an interesting show. bentgrass and one Bermuda. It kind of caught me off guard Ivy was one of three in-studio guests on the threehour show. He was joined by Ed Sehl, general manager of I talked about it being cost prohibitive. But the more I because I was unfamiliar with that kind of set-up, Ivy said. Tega Cay Golf Club; Allen Avakian, golf professional and thought about it, in Japan it might make sense because they instructor at Targeted Golf in Charlotte; and Terry Mauney, charge hundreds of dollars per round of golf and if I was former PGA Tour and Champions Tour player. By all accounts, the superintendent did a super job. golf, I d want the greens to be perfect. So maybe you going to plop down the equivalent of $700 for a round of have CAROLINAS green 15

18 HEADLINERS two sets of greens and you manage them separately and when it s time to aerify, you play on one set and aerify the other. Another topic of course maintenance was technology and how it s changed the way superintendents do their job. Fortunately for Ivy, he was at home in the studio. He worked as a DJ at his college s radio station at Georgia Southern, so the process wasn t new. Also, he received calls from two colleagues, which made him feel at ease. Cedarwood Country Club superintendent, Paul Query, called to say hello and talk about the major restoration project that noted architect Kris Spence is doing at Cedarwood. They also talked a good bit about greens construction and grass selection. I was surprised to hear from Paul, but apparently he s an avid listener of the program, Ivy said. Another call came from Carolinas GCSA member, Sam Murphy, director of golf course operations at Myers Park Country Club. Murphy asked about the moss problem that s sprung up at several Piedmont courses. Naturally, the entire three hours was not devoted to course maintenance. The fivesome also covered the latest news on the PGA Tour and the resurgence of Phil Mickleson, among other topics. Ivy was able to hold his own in those conversations, partly thanks to a resume that also includes stints as an assistant golf professional at Cabarrus Country Club in Concord and the Trophy Club of Atlanta. He was eager and able to pitch in on the general golf issues we talked about, Spencer said of Ivy. He wasn t a one dimensional guest at all. Ivy was thankful for the opportunity to talk about his profession, which is sometimes overlooked in the golfing world. Anytime you can use a public forum to advance your profession and inform people of what you do, it s got to be a benefit, Ivy explained. I think some people have an image that we are like Carl Spackler of Caddyshack that we are just laborers but our jobs entail much more than that. Ivy also used the forum to promote his course, a municipal layout that s quite upscale and was recently ranked No. 78 in the state by North Carolina Magazine. Although he has a background in radio, Ivy doesn t believe that s necessary for a superintendent who might find himself on the air. He said it s just important to be yourself and talk as though you were speaking to a group of friends. I tried to make an effort not to be too technical, to put things in terms the public can understand, he said. You don t have to over-simplify, but you also don t have to use big fancy words and confuse people. I think you keep in mind the kind of people that are listening to the program. It s a program for them, not for superintendents. Spencer said he told Ivy he would like to have him return as a guest. When asked why other golf shows rarely include guests as important to the game as superintendents, Spencer said it s probably just a product of habit, or of not being connected. A lot of the hosts aren t really that dialed into the golf communities and don t really know that many superintendents, Spencer said. It s not the first thing you think about when doing a golf show. You re thinking about what s going on, the latest equipment, current events and things like Tiger Woods and the majors. 16 CAROLINAS green May - June 2005

19 Brian Hicks, GCS Eagle Point Golf Club, Wilmington, N.C. Just some of the Carolina's golf courses utilizing PlanetAir technology. Anderson Creek Club Bryan Park GC Daniel Island G & CC Eagle Point GC Lochmere GC Long Cove Club May River GC Myers Park CC Oldfield GC Palmetto Hall Plantation Quail Ridge GC Sea Pines CC The Club at Seabrook Island Aerate. Mow. Play. Our shatter knife technology creates new root growth with each use. Greens Aeration Fairway Aeration Distributed in the Carolinas by: Eastern Turf Equipment, Inc. Fayetteville, North Carolina [800] CAROLINAS green 17

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21 Diseases on Bermudagrass Greens: Some Perspectives By Bruce Martin P.h.D. and Jim Camberato P.h.D. CURRENT RESEARCH Golf course superintendents managing bermudagrass greens are achieving a high level of putting quality previously associated only with bentgrass. Unfortunately, this performance comes at a price similarly associated with bentgrass - increased maintenance costs and a higher frequency of turf management problems. Often disease is an issue and disease management has become critical to maintaining the high level of performance and quality expected from bermudagrass today. This article addresses important bermudagrass diseases and their management and offers perspectives based on our experience and research. Disease Severity 1-9, with 9 best Spring Dead Spot, Argentina 2004 Rubigan, 3x/4 oz Untreated thiophanate methyl 1x, 4oz myclobutanil 1x, 0.5 oz ai myclobutanil 2x, 0.5 oz ai azoxystrobin 1x, 0.4 oz azoxystrobin 2x, 0.4 oz Rubigan 2x, 4 oz Rubigan, 2x/6 oz thiophanate methyl 2x, 4oz Figure 1. Control of SDS on TifEagle, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Azoxystrobin (Heritage), myclobutanil (Eagle), and thiophanate methyl were applied at 0.4 oz, 1.2 oz, and 4 oz per 1000 sq.ft., respectively. Data courtesy of Mr. Guillermo Busso, agronomist, Argentina Golf Association. Spring Dead Spot Spring dead spot (SDS) is by far the most important disease of bermudagrass in the transition zone and appears to have been more prevalent recently. The distribution of SDS may also be expanding, with its prominent occurrence noted on Champion and TifEagle bermudagrass greens as far south as Hilton Head. Evidently, classic symptoms of SDS can occur anywhere that bermudagrass undergoes at least partial winter dormancy. The reduced use of Rubigan for Poa annua control is likely the foremost reason for increased SDS. The primary use of Rubigan on bermudagrass greens was for Poa annua control (see supplemental label). Because Rubigan is primarily a fungicide, this strategy also was beneficial for SDS control with the additional dosage (12 oz/1000 sq.ft.) and because applications coincided during presumed infection periods for SDS pathogens. Conversion of older bermudagrass cultivars and bentgrass greens to the new ultradwarfs has increased. Greens fumigated during renovation or those newly constructed, have little or no need for Poa annua control, so in many cases no Rubigan was applied. In other cases, alternative materials have been used for Poa annua control, for example, Kerb, TranXit, or Dimension, but a fungicide for SDS was not applied. In addition to Rubigan, fungicides labeled for suppression of SDS include Eagle, Banner Maxx, Heritage, and Clearys However, their level of SDS control is less than that achieved with Rubigan based on recent trials in North and South Carolina and in trials conducted with our cooperation in Argentina (Figure 1). Eric Luc is a Ph.D. graduate student working on SDS with Dr. Martin. His recent isolations have shown Ophiosphaerella korrae to be the predominant causal agent of SDS in South Carolina, consistent with findings in North Carolina. He currently has extensive fungicide and management trials at Pee Dee Research and Education Center, Columbia Country Club, Camden Country Club, and White Plains Country Club. Findings will be reported as they become available. Bermudagrass Decline Most of the basic research documenting bermudagrass decline on putting greens was conducted by Dr. Monica Elliott in Florida. She showed Gaeumannomyces graminis var. graminis to be the causal agent and clearly demonstrated that the severity of disease was enhanced by environmental stresses and certain management practices. Interestingly, Gaeumannomyces graminis var. graminis has been documented on symptom-free as well as diseased bermudagrass. Reduced sunlight is a primary factor, along with consistent short cutting heights. Bermudagrass decline occurs in late summer and early fall when there is prolonged cloudy, rainy weather and days are shorter and night temperatures may be cool enough to slow bermudagrass growth. In South Carolina, this is mostly a phenomenon on the coast when thunderstorms arise frequently in late summer or when tropical systems stall over the coast. Cutting heights on TifDwarf as low as inch induced the symptoms of bermudagrass decline - yellow, thin turf and rotted root systems. With ultradwarf bermudagrasses, which are better able to take inch height of cut, the disease is less severe, but the disease occurs on the ultradwarfs at lower cutting heights in conjunction with the environmental stresses noted above. Raising the height of cut preventively lessens the severity of bermudagrass decline. Only two fungicides are labeled specifically for bermudagrass decline - Bayleton and some formulations of thiophanate methyl, including Clearys These fungicides have shown some effectiveness but have some limitations CAROLINAS green 19

22 CURRENT RESEARCH Figure 2. Note that March dates in Buenos Aires, Argentina would correspond to fall in the Carolinas. This trial was established to mimic a Poa annua control program, with the last date being 30 days prior to overseeding with rough bluegrass. Photo courtesy of Mr. Guillermo Busso, agronomist, Argentina Golf Association. Figure 3. Curvularia blight symptoms in stressed bermudagrass putting green. Untreated Rubiban, oz / M Mar 1, 15, 29 respectively as well. High rates of Bayleton and other DMI fungicides may lead to turf thinning and algae development. Late summer applications of thiophanate methyl may increase Bipolaris leaf blotch ( Helminth ). Both fungicides should be applied at high dilution rates (two gal/1000 sq.ft.) and they should be watered into the root zone immediately before sprays dry. Other fungicides that have helped with this disease syndrome include Chipco Signature + Fore Rainshield (tank mix) at four and eight oz/1000 sq.ft. This combination probably is improving vigor of the turfgrass as well as controlling secondary foliar pathogens, thus helping to preserve the root system. It is not watered in. Heritage has also provided some control preventively, and should be watered into the root zone. Declining Bermudagrass There are several reasons bermudagrass will decline, so we are distinguishing these from the bona fide disease, bermudagrass decline. Declining bermudagrass can be caused by numerous stress factors and pathogen interactions. These include 20 CAROLINAS green May - June 2005

23 nematode infestations, nutrient deficiencies, low ph, shade, poor drainage, excessive drainage, compaction, and combinations of these factors and their interaction with fungi. Two fungi that have been frequently documented on declining bermudagrass are Curvularia (several species) and sometimes Leptosphaerulina. Neither of these pathogens will kill bermudagrass, but they will reduce visual turf quality. Most pathologists consider Curvularia to be secondary, weakly pathogenic fungi on both warm and cool season grasses. Curvularia typically invades the senescent leaves on bermudagrass and the putting green will visibly appear brown, unthrifty, and perhaps exhibit faint patch symptoms (Figure 2). However, the stolons, rhizomes and shoot tissues, other than the leaves, frequently are intact with little damage. Some fungicides may suppress the symptoms temporarily, but until the stress factors are identified and managed appropriately, Curvularia may persist. Helminthosporium Diseases and Dollar Spot Helminthosporium is an old name of a fungus that has since been taxonomically split into two fungi in the genera Bipolaris or Drechslera. Bipolaris species usually attack warm season grasses more than cool season grasses, and Drechslera species prefer cool-season grasses. For example, Drechslera poae causes leaf spot and melting out of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis). Regarding bermudagrass, we have documented increased bermudagrass leaf blotch disease, caused by Bipolaris cynodontis. Previously, we documented increased dollar spot and leaf blotch in greens mixes with excessive drainage (Carolinas Green, Jan-Feb 2004, 40(1):20, 22, 24). Unfortunately, leaf blotch disease has been a problem in fairways and tees as well as greens in recent years. We can reduce the disease with increased fertility (balanced N: K ratio) and with fungicides including mancozeb (Fore, Pentathlon, Dithane, etc.), chlorothalonil (Daconil, etc.), iprodione (Chipco 26GT, etc.), vinclozolin (Curalan, etc.), Heritage, Compass, and Insignia (Figure 3). Remember that thiophanate methyl, which may be used for bermudagrass decline, may lead CURRENT RESEARCH to increased Bipolaris leaf blotch. Dollar spot is increasing on bermudagrass greens and on overseeded bermudagrass greens. If putting greens are overseeded with rough bluegrass, we see more dollar spot than when overseeded with perennial ryegrass. With nutrient deficiencies due to droughty greens mixes, we have documented increased dollar spot compared to greens mixes with more moisture retention. Sites using gypsum to displace sodium also leach K, Ca, and Mg, so those nutrients must be replaced. So, more attention is needed for nutrient management without promoting excessive thatch (a tall order in ultradwarf bermudagrasses). We have found that about 0.25 lb of N per growing week is about right for ultradwarfs in Florence, SC, on mature, sand-based putting greens. There are many ways to apply that amount of N through granular/foliar/slow-fast-moderate release fertilizers. Several fungicides such as thiophanate methyl, chlorothalonil, iprodione, and vinclozolin that provide good control of dollar spot. Be careful of DMI fungicides on bermudagrass in summer, but you can CAROLINAS green 21

24 CURRENT RESEARCH Control of Rhizoctonia Leaf and Sheath Disease in Burmudagrass Percent Disease Insignia, 0.9 oz Heritage, 0.4 oz Prostar 70, 4.5 oz Fore RS, 8 oz Eagle, 1.2 oz Banner Maxx, 4 oz Check Figure 7. Control of Rhizoctonia leaf and sheath spot with fungicides, B. Martin. Photo B. Martin, Figure 4. Control of bermudagrass leaf blotch (Bipolaris cynodontis) with formulations of mancozeb. Photo Dr. B. Martin Subdue Maxx, 1 oz Cleary 3336, 6 oz Chipco Signature, 8 oz Figure 5. Mini-ring symptom resembles some patch diseases, fairy rings, or Rhizoctonia leaf and sheath spot in bermudagrass. Figure 6. Rhizoctonia leaf and sheath spot (R. zeae) affecting TifDwarf Bermudagrass, October, 2004, South Carolina. Photo Dr. B. Martin use them on overseedings in the fall and winter in the Carolinas judiciously for good dollar spot control in most cases. Fairy Rings, Localized Dry Spots, and Related Disorders Fairy rings continue to be a problem in bermudagrass putting greens. We see them in greens constructed of 100 percent sand as well as greens of native soil and all combinations in between. Mostly, the fungi infesting the greens are species of Lycoperdon, a small white puff-ball. When Lycoperdon is the fairy ring fungus at fault, we have achieved pretty good suppression with Prostar and Heritage (see labels). We have also noted suppression with Insignia, but further testing of this new fungicide is needed to determine efficacy and residual suppression. Control of the other fairy ring fungi has not been studied extensively. Consequences of fairy rings in putting greens are usually worse in greens constructed with greater percentages of sand. More hydrophobicity occurs in sand-based root zones, than in native soils. This is true also of localized dry spots as well as hydrophobic soils that have not developed localized dry spots. We have documented positive benefits with the preventive use of soil wetting agents to turf quality in sand based greens cultured to ultradwarf bermudagrasses. This has been beneficial even without the use of a wetting agent in a tank-mix with Heritage or Prostar. Mini-Ring Maybe we are seeing some new diseases in bermudagrass putting greens (Figure 4). Or, perhaps we are seeing increased incidence of some old diseases. One of these is a disease that has been called mini-ring. Certainly this is a bona fide disease base on the distinct, patch-like and dramatic symptoms (Figure 4). The disease has been noted in bermudagrass putting greens in Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, and South Carolina. Frog-eye circular patches from four to 18 inches develop in late summer and fall. Centers of patches may be a more intense green color than the perimeter. Patches seem to be most distinct on higher, drier portions of greens, and affected areas are frequently hydrophobic. These symptoms have occurred in TifDwarf, TifEagle, and Champion bermudagrasses in South Carolina in the past three years and very closely resemble necrotic patches caused by Rhizoctonia zeae. The causal agent is still undetermined for this disease. In Martin s lab, Rhizoctonia zeae has been isolated from affected turf, primarily from leaf sheaths and where shoots attach to stolons. Root isolations have yielded confusion so far. Fungicide control has been very erratic. One problem with fungicide control is that symptoms are occurring in the fall when bermudagrass is slowing in growth, so recovery of turf may be slow. In one trial conducted in South Carolina in 2004 by Martin, control was achieved with Prostar, Heritage and Banner Maxx (Banner was phytotoxic), but not with Insignia, Eagle, Compass, Fore, Chipco Signature, Cleary 3336, or Subdue. Control with Prostar implies a Basidiomycete causal agent, such as a species of Rhizoctonia or fairy ring fungus. With this trial, the entire plot area was fertilized with a fertilizer from Helena containing manganese, magnesium, iron, sulfur, and potassium. We have consistently seen a positive response from bermudagrass with this fertilizer, and others, when subtle deficiencies occur (i.e., slow growth, poor clipping yield, brown turf). 22 CAROLINAS green May - June 2005

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27 NEWS FEATURE Summer Confronts Superintendents With Chad Tulloch was surprised to discover the free skin cancer screening booth at last year s Carolinas GCSA Conference and Show in Myrtle Beach, SC. But after 10 years on golf courses subjecting his skin to the elements, he thought he should finally spare 10 minutes to let an expert survey any damage. Light-haired and fair-skinned, Tulloch, who is golf course superintendent at Firethorne Golf Club in Waxhaw, NC, suspected he fell into the susceptible category. His ears and nose had been sunburned more than he cared to remember so he also expected the chiding he received after a brief examination. He was less prepared for what he learned about the pinhead-sized blemish on the back of his left hand. The spot was a squamous cell carcinoma, a form of skin cancer that can prove fatal if left untreated. After a more extensive visit to his local dermatologist, Tulloch endured a couple of rough months that included a biopsy and painful removal leaving him with a pretty nasty scar about the size of a nickel. That scar continues to heal but Dr. Robert Purvis, the dermatologist who provided screenings at Conference A Burning Issue By Trent Bouts Chad Tulloch and Show, says Tulloch s experience is only the beginning of what fellow superintendents can expect if they don t start taking better care of their skin right now. The risk is very real for golf course superintendents, Dr. Purvis says. Given the amount of time they spend outdoors exposed to the sun, people with fair skin or a family history of skin cancer may even want to consider an alternative career. If you think the good doctor is being a touch alarmist, try convincing the families of the 60,000 Americans who die from skin cancer each year. The Skin Cancer Foundation says more than 90 percent of all skin cancers are caused by sun exposure yet less than a third of people routinely use sunscreen. The culprit it seems, as with tobacco, is the long lag time between the action and its impact. Tulloch, 32, concedes as much. You get sunburned and there are two or three days where you re a bit sore and then it peels and you forget about it, he says. I ve got plenty more years in this business, I know I need to start doing a better job of looking after my skin. What to Watch For Superintendents can help themselves by keeping an eye out for changes in their skin, anywhere on their bodies. Everyone has moles or spots. Be alert to irregularities in shape, edges, color, and size, of any markings. The Skin Cancer Foundation offers the following ABCDs to watch for during self-examinations. A - Asymmetry Most early melanomas are asymmetrical: a line through the middle would not create matching halves. Common moles are round and symmetrical. B - Border The borders of early melanomas are often uneven and may have scalloped or notched edges. Common moles have smoother, more even borders. C - Color Common moles usually are a single shade of brown. Varied shades of brown, tan, or black are often the first sign of melanoma. As melanomas progress, the colors red, white and blue may appear. D - Diameter Early melanomas tend to grow larger than common moles - generally to at least the size of a pencil eraser, about ¼-inch, in diameter. However, they may also be smaller. Report any irregularities to your dermatologist immediately. CAROLINAS green 25

28 NEWS FEATURE No one knows which cigarette activates cancer and no one can point to any one sun exposure as the trigger. Yet every expert agrees that every puff and every moment in the sun adds up. It s difficult for smokers to take a look at their lungs and see the wear and tear. It s different when it comes to measuring the sun s toll. The skin on your buttocks looks like the skin you were born with, Dr. Purvis says. But before you put your neck out trying to see what he means, consider how easy it can be to reduce your risk of skin cancer. Wear sunscreen with an SPF rating of 30 or higher. Apply it liberally and evenly 30 minutes before going into the sun and reapply every two or three hours. Keep a bottle at home, at your office and in your vehicle. Wear a hat, preferably with a broad brim. Baseball caps do not protect the ears, back of the neck or sides of the face, areas that are all potential danger zones. Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts. Some manufacturers now offer fabrics that won t steam you while you keep the sun off. One option is Be aware that the sun is at its most potent between the hours of 10am and 4pm. Schedule outdoor tasks around these hours where possible and make use of shade when it s convenient. Do a little background. Spend 10 minutes on the Skin Cancer Foundation website: Schedule regular visits to a dermatologist, at least annually but preferably every six to three months for superintendents. With the hottest days of the year upon us, Dr. Purvis urges superintendents in the Carolinas to think of their skin as they do their greens. If the superintendents do not protect their skin now, their faces will end up looking as worn as a green full of ball marks, he says. I imagine if they were even half as careful with their skin as they are with their putting greens they would be a lot better off. More than 60 Conference and Show attendees made use of the free skin cancer screening in November. Many, like Tulloch, were encouraged to make appointments for more extensive examinations with a dermatologist. The Carolinas GCSA is working to secure a follow-up screening booth for this year s Conference and Show in Myrtle Beach in November. 26 CAROLINAS green May - June 2005

29 Monument TM 75WG Herbicide is a selective post-emergence herbicide for the control of certain weeds in commercial warm season turf markets, including golf courses, sod farms and commercial property management. CONTACT YOUR BWI REPRESENTATIVE GREENVILLE/SPARTANBURG (800) CAROLINAS green 27

30 Paul Jett, CGCS, checks in on intern, Ian Daniels. The Open Returns And Paul Jett is Ready By Trent Bouts Photos: Thomas Brown I t s a device employed widely in politics, comedy - yes, the two are different - and in literature. Vice-presidential candidates sling the dirtiest mud so their bosses appear cleaner. Abbott s straight man amplified the humor in Costello s bumbling. And Dr. Watson s pedestrian intellect made Sherlock Holmes deductions seem anything but elementary. Cynics might wonder, but there is no one at the USGA so masochistic as to try the same thing with the nation s greatest championship. Yet a pattern is beginning to emerge around the U.S. Open that could hardly be better scripted to make Pinehurst No. 2 look good. No. 2 had the Open in 1999, a year after a torturous pin placement on the 18 th green at the Olympic Club made headlines for all the wrong reasons. Payne Stewart said the hole location bordered on the ridiculous after an eight-foot birdie putt in the third round left him with a 20-footer for par. When he won on No.2 12 months later, Stewart declared the golf course to be perfect. As at the Olympic Club in 1998, the 2004 Open at Shinnecock Hills was overshadowed by controversy when the seventh and 17 th greens edged towards unplayable. Water had to be applied during play to try and slow things down. Jerry Kelly steamed, This isn t golf. Period. This June, the Open returns to Pinehurst, once again with some healing to do. Paul Jett, certified golf course superintendent at No. 2, speaks with a degree of confidence that suggests it will happen. The golf course is going be better than in 99, he says. Now it s going to be up to the players to keep up their end of the bargain. If past results truly do point to future performance, the blue jackets at the USGA must be relieved to be heading back to the North Carolina sandhills. Jett and the extended golf course maintenance team at Pinehurst and No. 2 certainly got it right in That he is still there for the encore, along with Brad Kocher, CGCS, 28 CAROLINAS green May - June 2005

31 Payne Stewart s memorial statue at Pinehurst stands as a reminder of life s fragility, a fact Paul Jett, CGCS, is all too aware of. CAROLINAS green 29

32 Brad Kocher, CGCS, senior vice-president for golf course management at Pinehurst. senior vice-president for golf course management, and Bob Farren, CGCS, grounds and golf course manager, offers the kind of security that is the hallmark of any major institution. And a Major institution is exactly what No.2 will become if 2005 matches 1999, with a prominent role on the Open roster. For Jett, 1999 is the benchmark of relevance, not Shinnecock Hills or anywhere else for that matter. I don t want to make comparisons with anything that happened at Shinnecock, he says. We re going to maintain the golf course in a condition that provides for an incredible championship. We have members and guests who are going to go out on the same golf course on the Tuesday after the event and they will need a surface they are happy to play on. Just as they were in Away from the golf course, the lead up to this Open has already been a huge success for Jett. Speaking to about 250 fellow superintendents and other golf industry leaders at the annual USGA Green Section conference at Pinehurst in March, Jett offered a brief glimpse into a personal life he carefully distances from the professional one. Shortly before the Open in 1999, he was diagnosed, operated on and treated for testicular cancer. Few were aware of his ordeal until long after the event. So there were many in the auditorium this past March who were genuinely touched when Jett shared his sense of triumph. His voice thickened ever so slightly as he explained that in the corresponding week six years earlier he was laying in a hospital bed recovering from cancer surgery. And in a sentence, that was that. On with the show. Jett detailed changes to No.2 since While the focus was squarely on the new G-2 greens in 1999, the first at an Open constructed to USGA specifications, preparation for 2005 has centered on tees and bunkers. Six tees have been pushed back, on holes two, four, seven, 11, 12 and 14. Jett says that s a total of about 40 yards although other figures are out there, most in excess of 100 yards. Even at the most conservative number, No. 2, a par 70, would rival Bethpage Black as the longest in U.S. Open history at 7,214 yards. The extra length will be enough to compensate for increased driving distances since the Open s last visit, Jett says. Each of No.2 s 107 bunkers was reconditioned. Extensive as the project was, players are likely to notice little change in playability but Jett believes there is an improvement in look and maintainability. On the face of quite a few, Jett s staff found a build-up of as much as three feet of sand above the native soil, suggesting heavy use and astute placement by architect, Donald Ross. Probably the most significant change players will notice this time is narrower fairways. Expanses that played between 28 and 32 yards in 1999 will be constricted to as little as 22 yards in 2005 with most playing between 24 and 26. Thinner land- 30 CAROLINAS green May - June 2005

33 ing areas will further counter the game s increased length off the tee. A 330-yard bomb into U.S. Open rough often runs a poor second to 280 yards down the middle of the fairway. Even at three inches instead of the customary four, the bermudagrass rough at No. 2 is gnarly enough to be nasty. Yet it is on and around the greens that Ross and No. 2 really apply the heat. Placement off the tee is necessary to set up the ideal line to the flag. Anything less places even further stress on the second shots that Ross valued so highly. No. 2 s famed turtleback greens tend to spit out anything but the best approaches. Running at 11.5 on the stimpmeter as they are targeted to be for the duration of the tournament, they may be less receptive than they were in the early damp and cool of And even then, Stewart was the only man to beat par at one under. Jett s agronomic skill is complemented by his knowledge of the game. A scratch handicapper and four-time runner-up in GCSAA s national superintendent championship, he can weigh-in with added credibility on course set-up issues. And he did so in 1999 in ways that may well have averted a serious faux pas or two on the part of the USGA, whose set-up men don t have the superintendent s intimate knowledge of every nook, cranny and nuance. For all that, Jett says a major factor in the success of the 1999 U.S. Open was a force of sterling volunteers. Close to 50 The view from the 17th green to the 18th fairway where crowds will await the 2005 U.S. Open champion. Bob Farren, CGCS, Pinehurst s grounds and golf course manager, addresses the USGA Green Section s annual conference in March. CAROLINAS green 31

34 signed on for the dubious privilege of working their tails off back then. Some like, Bill Fishburne, now with TurfAir, can t wait to do it again. Fishburne, who has volunteered at more than a dozen PGA Tour events including other Majors, says the experience at No. 2 was among the highlights of a long career in the golf industry. You were made to feel like your contribution was valued, that it meant something to the success of the event, he says. One volunteer said after 99 that it was the greatest week working that he didn t get paid for, Jett says, adding that as many 65 will serve in June. I know the sense of occasion is great and it s a thrill to be involved. But I don t know that we could ever thank the volunteers enough. One way Jett, Kocher, and Farren do try and show their appreciation is by providing good meals and easy access to the golf course, something that is not always standard elsewhere. Outstanding support from various golf industry suppliers helps put on three meals a day, every day for volunteers, Jett says. The collaboration between Pinehurst s big three is clearly among the keys to the success of the golf operation. Both Kocher and Farren have been with ClubCorp, which owns the Pinehurst Resort, since the early 80s. I don t think we could pull off the things we do here at Pinehurst if we didn t have such a strong working relationship, Jett says. All the superintendents get together weekly and each of us has our own time to interact with both Brad and Bob. They are very good at giving you the autonomy you need while still being there and weighing in when it s appropriate. Of course one individual, whose role in the success of the 1999 event could never be underestimated, will not be there in June. Payne Stewart s death in a freak aircraft malfunction in October of 1999 left a hole in golf and in the history of the championship. A stunning bronze statue of Stewart s victorious fist pump as the final putt fell to the bottom of the cup now overlooks the 18 th green. As much as a reminder of the golfer s talent and considerable personal presence, that statue stands as testimony to the fragility of life itself. Who could have known that Stewart would not be around to defend his championship. The answer is no one, obviously. But there must have been moments back in 1999 when Paul Jett questioned if he might be denied a chance at the superintendent s version of defending. For him it is easy to see why this Open year has already been a huge success long before a ball has been struck. 32 CAROLINAS green May - June 2005

35 The card for No. 2 in to 65 golf course maintenance volunteers, up from 50 in the multiple by which golf course maintenance hours increase TOP LEFT: The pond on the 16th hole is the sole encounter with water that No.2 offers. BOTTOM LEFT: Wire grass further complicates the challenge for golfers who find the fairway bunker on the left of the 16th. ABOVE: Paul Jett, CGCS, will command a force of up to 65 volunteers in addition to his permanent golf course maintenance staff during the championship. 3-17,000 bales of pine straw 4-23,000 bleacher seats, up from 17, ,600 tournament volunteers from 47 states and eight countries 6-100,000 sq. ft. of temporary paving 7-10 acres of corporate village (largest in U.S. Open history) 8-400,000 sq. ft. of roofing and flooring for corporate sites 9-65 corporate tents, up from burlapped bulb trees 11-20,000 container plants miles of security fence, up from seven 13-24,000 hours of security patrol, up from 7, homes the number that could be powered by on-site generators portable toilets, up from ,000 Krispy Kreme donuts to be consumed 17-75,000 hot dogs ,000 beers Par: An epic event, though maybe with just a touch of indigestion. CAROLINAS green 33

36 Any Way You Cut It, TifSport Can Stand Up To Frequent Lower Mowing Heights. TEES: 3/8 Thanks to TifS[port s superior turf density, sod strength and good lateral growth rate, it s perfect for high traffic areas like tees. It also shows improved resistance to and quick recovery from divot injuries. ROUGHS: 1-1/2 You can maintain a good TifSport rough of up to 1-1/2, so why not stick with the same grass you have on your tees and fairways? You ll really be cutting down on your management headaches. FAIRWAYS: 5/8 TifSport s leaf blade orientation and stiffness make it ideal for fairways. A lot of superintendent s are hearing from golfers that TifSport gives a better ball lie than other bermudas. SURROUNDS: 3/8 TifSport has just what it takes for a perfect landing area. It holds good shots and it s tough enough to take lots of shots without injury. No wonder more and more superintendent s are using TifSport on their greens collars. 34 Unlike many bermudagrass varieties, TifSport can handle a wide range of mowing heights. That s why it s so ideal for tees, fairways, roughs and approaches. Wall to wall TifSport. Talk about a superintendent s dream. TifSport also recovers very quickly from injury, has excellent cold-tolerance, color, texture, and density, as well as CAROLINAS green May - June 2005 TIFSPORT CERTIFIED BERMUDAGRASS To Order Your Certified TifSport Sod or Sprigs Contact One of These Licensed TifSport Growers improved pest resistance. And while it might green up a little later than some bermudagrass come spring, once it takes off it s very aggressive. Alot of superintendents feel this is a big plus when they re dealing with fluctuating spring temperatures. TifSport. Specify it by name for your new course or renovation project. United Turf, Inc. Powells Point NC Sandhill Turf, Inc. Candor NC Oakland Plantation Turf Farm, Inc. Council NC Super Sod Orangeburg SC

37 NEWS FEATURE The stereotype of a golf course mechanic as a guy of perhaps limited abilities, covered in grease and turning a wrench on a golf cart, is something the Turf Equipment Technicians Association of the Carolinas (TETAC) would very much like to change. There s a lot more to being a turf equipment technician than that, says Dale Rogers, president of the three-and-half-year-old organization. Today s golf course mechanic - or turf equipment technician - generally has far more responsibilities than in the past and is maintaining equipment that is far more technologically advanced, says Rogers. I d like to see a little more credit going to the profession. Computerized diagnosis takes a higher level of thinking than your shade tree mechanic has to have, he says. The service technician is responsible for parts inventory and for shop organization. Technicians at some larger golf courses have their own budgets and sometimes help manage the crew, particularly when the superintendent is not around. There is a little more to it than just changing spark plugs. Although service technicians have talked occasionally about forming an association for years, Rogers traces TETAC s roots to a seminar that took place at the Carolinas GCSA Conference and Show in Myrtle Beach, SC, in The seminar, entitled The 100 Most Frequently Asked Questions By Service Technicians, was added to the conference seminar line-up when a previously scheduled seminar had to be scratched. It all kind of happened by accident at the 2000 show, says Rogers. We were talking about equipment and then the topic kind of turned toward maybe getting an association started. A more formal meeting to explore the idea was scheduled for the 2001 conference. Rex Floyd, who served as Carolinas GCSA president in 2001 and who hosted the service technician seminars both years, recalls not knowing what to expect at the Turf Equipment Technicians Do More than Change Spark Plugs By Larry O Connor Roger King, turf equipment technician at the Country Club of Asheville, plays a critical role in maintaining smooth progress during spring aerification. organizational meeting, which took place immediately after a regular educational seminar. I figured that after the seminar, we might have five people stay for the meeting, says Floyd, who began his golf course maintenance career as a mechanic before spending more than 20 years in the superintendent realm. By the time the organizational meeting began, however, roughly 60 mechanics had crowded into the room. After 15 or 20 minutes the room was just buzzing. These guys were just networking and asking questions. After about an hour of discussion, I said, Let s see a show of hands of people who want to see a service technician association started. The whole room raised their hands, says Floyd, who has continued to serve as an adviser to the organization. According to TETAC s mission statement, the purpose of the organization is to enhance the professional image of turf equipment technicians, to improve the technical knowledge of TETAC members though education and communication with the turf equipment industry, and to raise the safety awareness of technicians. Rogers, who recently went to work as a field service technician for Jacobsen Textron after seven years as a golf course technician, says that TETAC also provides a framework for service technicians to network about work-related issues. To that end, he says the association is developing a database that includes the contact information of member technicians and the type of equipment that is used at their golf courses. Technicians who have maintenance or repair problems with a particular piece of equipment can use the database to call on fellow technicians who may be able to offer practical advice. It s an organization for technicians to get together to hash out issues and to attend seminars and to really try to better the profession through education and self-image, says Rogers, a native of Carthage, NC. CAROLINAS green 35

38 NEWS FEATURE The Turf Equipment Technician Association of the Carolinas is now seeking nominations for the 2005 Rex Floyd Award, which honors a deserving service technician as the association s Turf Technician of the Year. Superintendents are invited to submit a one- or two-paragraph statement explaining Rex Floyd why their equipment technician should receive the award. The winner will be announced in November at the 2005 TETAC Conference, held in conjunction with the annual Carolinas GCSA Conference and Trade Show in Myrtle Beach. The award was named after Rex Floyd, a Carolinas GCSA past president and adviser to TETAC. Floyd, who was a golf course superintendent for 15 years, spent his first five years in the golf business as a golf course mechanic. He now works as a territorial sales manager for the Jacobsen Division of Textron, Inc. in Charlotte, NC. Nominations for the Rex Floyd Award should be mailed to TETAC, PO Box 289, Southern Pines, NC, or ed to dhlb99@mindspring.com. TETAC attracted between 60 and 80 members in its first year. Since then the organization has grown to include roughly 200 members, which Rogers believes makes it the largest state or regional turf technician association in America. Membership in TETAC is open to anyone involved in the turf equipment industry but Rogers estimates that 75 percent of members are golf course service technicians. The remaining 25 percent consists of vendors, vendor field technicians, and superintendents. While the majority of members live in North Carolina or South Carolina, there are also members from Georgia, Tennessee and Virginia. Despite the impressive growth of the association in its first three and half years, Rogers says he expects TETAC membership to increase even more in coming years. We didn t have in mind at its inception how big this could actually get and how quickly. And so far we ve only tapped about 10 percent of the total number of technicians in North and South Carolina, he says. Coinciding with the Carolinas GCSA Conference and Show in November, TETAC hosted its first stand-alone seminar series at Horry-Georgetown Technical College in Conway. Access to the college allowed TETAC, for the first time, to offer hands-on seminars, something that was not possible previously at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center where the Carolinas GCSA event is held. The two-day TETAC conference included a round-robin series of seminars that included sessions on hydraulic pumps, centrifugal pumps, computerized record keeping, diesel engine trouble shooting, welding, shop organization and other topics. The Horry-Georgetown college has a golf equipment Research, demonstration trials, and superintendent use has shown that Cutless and Primo MAXX as a tank-mix using half rates of each product provided better overall turf quality than either product alone. The key tank-mix benefits include: Superior dark green turf color Greater turf density Better overall turf quality More uniform growth regulation Reduction of bronzing (initial off-color) Reduction in scalping See for yourself why the Cutless and Primo MAXX tank-mix can improve your golf course turf s overall quality and playability. For more information contact your local SePRO distributor or Ken Wheeler at , kenw@sepro.com, or visit our web site at Turf Growth Regulator *Trademark of SePRO Corporation. Primo MAXX is a registered trademark of Syngenta Professional Products. Always read and follow label directions SePRO Corporation. SePRO Corporation Carmel, IN CAROLINAS green May - June 2005

39 NEWS FEATURE technicians program, complete with laboratories and classrooms, which proved an ideal site for the TETAC Conference, Rogers says. The seminar series attracted between 130 and 140 technicians, some of whom later joined the association. Such educational opportunities are the key for professional development of service technicians and for the continued growth of TETAC, Rogers says. Technology changes so much, especially in golf course equipment, he says. It is getting a lot more complicated with computers and other innovations. It really helps the technician to stay on top of improvements and changes that vendors are making. Rogers credits much of the TETAC success and pins its future prospects to strong support from the Carolinas GCSA. And an important goal of the technicians association is to enhance the working relationship between equipment technicians and golf course superintendents, he says. Chuck Borman, Carolinas CGCSA executive director, says it is in superintendents own interest to support their equipment technicians association. If you give the choice to most superintendents as to who the most important person on their crew is, they will tell you that it s their equipment maintenance technician. Having a good, qualified technician is directly proportional to how successful they are. Anything we can do to help make sure that they get the training they need and that they re recognized for how important they are just helps the superintendents and their own profession, Borman says. For membership information about the Turf Equipment Technicians Association of the Carolinas, log onto org or call Bill Davis at (864) Larry O Connor is a freelance writer based in Raleigh, NC. MAXIMUM THATCH REMOVAL MINIMUM SURFACE DISTURBANCE Extra-durable tipped blades Floating heads to follow ground contours En-Bio non-burn hydraulic oil option SISIS INC, PO Box 537, Sandy Springs, SC29677 Phone: Fax: sisisinc@bellsouth.net Web site: CAROLINAS green 37

40 NEWS FEATURE Carolinas Night Rocks Orlando Robert Sinclair, from Dataw Island Club, and wife, Terri, cut dashing figures. Neal Duff, of Revels Tractor Company, Chris Stanley, of Tri-State Pump and Controls, and Robert Coiley, from Raleigh Golf Association, enjoyed the chance to catch up. Golf course superintendents are generally more focused on smooth roll than hard rock but the reverse was true during Carolinas Night in Orlando. Close to 400 members and friends of the Carolinas GCSA celebrated at the Hard Rock Café during the Golf Industry Show in February. The Hard Rock hosts turned on a red carpet welcome for attendees and posted the Carolinas Golf Course Superintendents Association name in lights, literally, on the marquee at the front of the building (see above). The apostrophe was about the only thing out of place all night. 38 CAROLINAS green May - June 2005

41 Michael O Neill, of Master of the Links, and wife, Mary, found a table off to one side. David Jacob, from Benvenue Country Club, Lyne Tumlinson, of GCSAA, Greg Benton, from Grove Park Inn Resort, and Kim Heck, of the Sports Turf Managers Association, made for a happy a group. Golf course owners, managers and owners association leaders Dee Johnson, Scott Yoder, Faith Klimczak, Jan and Terry Sedalik, David Rock Lucas, and Cary Corbitt were welcome guests. Rick Henderson, from Skybrook Golf Club, Adam Ancherico, of Eastern Turf Equipment, Craig Current, of Legacy Golf Management, and Mike Norton, from Legacy Golf Links, trade tales by the bar. Scott Givens and Gary Hardin, both of Simmons Irrigation Supply and Brad Peterson of Smith Turf and Irrigation are deep in conversation. more CAROLINAS green 39

42 NEWS FEATURE Faces from the Show Floor Carolinas GCSA members played prominent roles in this year s Golf Industry Show in Orlando. Among those to give presentations were 2005 U.S. Open hosts Paul Jett, CGCS, and Bob Farren, CGCS, from Pinehurst, along with Bland Cooper, CGCS, of the Sulstone Group, and Steve Neuliep, CGCS, from the Country Club of Asheville. Carolinas-based researchers were also busy presenting education seminars. Old Tom Morris award winner, Jack Nicklaus, peers over the shoulders of Johnny Burns, CGCS, from The Carolina Country Club, Chris Burns, and Harold Burns, CGCS, from the Country Club of Spartanburg. Charles Sheffield, from Croasdaile Country Club, takes a seat back in time on this old Ford tractor. Tommy Clark, from Linville Ridge Country Club, browses golf art and memorabilia. Bob Farren, CGCS, from Pinehurst, leads an informal class during green construction on the trade show floor. Al Hicks, of Georgia Turf and Tractor, takes a call at the John Deere booth. Par four: Rob Hamrick, of Golf Agronomics, Scott Conlin, from Headwaters Club, Robert Rogers, of Golf Agronomics, and Bill Fishburne, of TurfAir. Tim Maxfield, from Palmetto Hall Plantation, and Ken Wheeler, of SePro Corporation, catch up on the trade show floor. Jack Helmann, of Sandhills Community College, and wife, Cynthia, study a sketch of Ken Venturi. 40 CAROLINAS green May - June 2005

43 CAROLINAS green 41

44 INFORMATION The Write Stuff: A lesson in language Good communication is an integral step towards success in our field. That is why I signed up for the class Writing for Superintendents at this year s Golf Industry Show. While I know that writing is very important, I am not very good at it. I hoped the seminar would help me improve my writing, as if there might be some trick to it. But one of the clearest lessons I did learn was that, for novices like me, there is no magic bullet. Good writing requires constant learning, so a half-day seminar was what you might call a crash course. But it was extremely helpful, all the same. The course was taught by Bradley S. Klein, Ph.D., author of several books and the editor of Golfweek s Super News, and a man that I know personally to be a fantastic communicator and entertaining speaker. Even after careful scrutiny of GCSAA s catalog of educational offerings, it still seems like a gamble when it comes to selecting courses in the realm of professional development. Then you hope that the instructor delivers on the subject that you were told would be presented. This particular class and its instructor were absolutely outstanding. In four hours, I learned a great deal about improving my writing as well as gaining a new appreciation for good writing. In brief, the goals of the course were to enhance our communication skills, provide an appreciation for good writing, and teach us how to write more clearly. Klein briefly covered the basics of grammar and the structure of good writing. We wrote sample memos for critiquing. He also identified the most common writing mistakes and provided solutions. It was incredible to see how many of the most common mistakes we each made and it was equally incredible how much clearer the texts became once these common mistakes were repaired. If you want to become a better writer, read good writers, Klein said. The importance of writing in our By Mike Pilo business is underrated. Klein pointed out in his seminar that writing says something and says something about the writer as well. That is why good communication is paramount to golf course superintendents projecting a strong professional image. Whenever I write something, whether newsletter articles, minutes from meetings, or responses to inquiries, I keep in mind that what I write could end up on the board room table and often times it does. One of the common shortcomings Klein identified in superintendent writing was finding the right language to present maintenance issues in a way that is relevant to golfers and their goals. Superintendents need to write in a way that links our work to the interests of the game and the golfer. Too often we are too technical and expect our readers to have a level of turf knowledge that they are unlikely to possess. If we fail to explain agronomic issues in a way that connects to the reader, then we will fail to do our jobs effectively. Perception is reality, and if our writing does not establish that relationship with the reader or fails to link up to golfers or the game of golf, we can expect little support or understanding from those audiences. Whether it is a short memo or a newsletter article, writing needs to get the point across effectively. One way Klein suggested superintendents can make sure of that is to engage an editor. Our spouses can make great editors, he said, because if they cannot understand our writing, then it is unlikely our target audience will. Reading over what we have written and being prepared to re-write are also helpful means to improving any document. I realize that it will take practice to become a good writer, and I will be honing my skills on a daily basis writing s and memos. As a result of taking Writing for Superintendents, I now appreciate the fact that I need to read more works by good writers as well. There is always room for improvement, and I feel that it is of the utmost importance that golf course superintendents take advantage of opportunities to enhance all of their business skills, including writing. As a matter of fact, I consider writing this article a maiden voyage into a new world of writing something other than my daily communiqués. I would also like to use this forum to thank Bradley Klein for achieving the goals he set forth in his seminar. He provided a fantastic learning opportunity. I asked fellow classmate, Michael Haq, from Myers Park Country Club, if he felt he was a better writer after taking the class. He replied, Absolutely. Not a good writer, but a much improved writer. I, too, would not claim to have mastered the art of good writing; however, I urge anyone interested in improving their job performance and projecting a professional image to look for courses like this one in the future. There is no trick that will make us better writers overnight, but there are ways to improve if we are prepared to work at it. Mike Pilo is golf course superintendent at Charlotte Country Club, in Charlotte, NC. 42 CAROLINAS green May - June 2005

45 Still trusted. Still the best. Still here. ORTHENE TURF, TREE & ORNAMENTAL Growers have relied on Orthene TT&O products since 1974 and are still using them today on golf courses, sod farms, trees, shrubs and other ornamental plants, landscapes, and for mound treatment of fire ants. For the best broad spectrum insect control, there s nothing else like Orthene TT&O. Products That Work, From People Who Care VALENT ( ) Read and follow the label instructions before using. Products That Work, From People Who Care is a trademark of Valent U.S.A. Corporation. Orthene is a registered trademark of OMS Investments, Inc Valent U.S.A. Corporation. All rights reserved. 05P CAROLINAS green 43

46 LOCAL NEWS Gene Maples, Turfgrass Council of North Carolina executive director, Matt Martin and Marty Walker discuss the agenda for the annual Southeastern NC Turfgrass Conference. Superintendent Sam Green presented some of the best dormant bermudagrass fairways you could hope to play in March. Strong Turnout In Wilmington Cape Fear More than 100 golf course superintendents and other turf industry professionals attended the annual Southeastern North Carolina Turfgrass Conference at the Coastline Convention Center in Wilmington, NC, in March. This event has established itself as a high point on the calendar and we thank all those who attend and who support our efforts with sponsorships. Once again we enjoyed an outstanding slate of speakers whose education will help us all serve our members and golfers that much better in the coming season. Thanks to Dr. Fred Yelverton, Dr. Rick Brandenburg, Dr. Leon Lucas, Pat O Brien and Dr. Lane Tredway. The Cape Fear GCSA is fortunate to have the Turfgrass Council of North Carolina and North Carolina State University as partners in staging this event. Day one of the conference centered on a golf tournament at the Dye course at the Country Club of Landfall. Our host superintendent Sam Green and his staff were gracious hosts and presented some outstanding conditions to play in. No doubt we will be just as fortunate when we head to Riverwood Golf Club, in Clayton, NC, May 3 for the first of TurfPAC fundraiser golf tournaments this year. This is an extremely important cause and we look forward to a strong turnout from Cape Fear GCSA members and other areas. - Marty Walker, Magnolia Greens Golf Plantation (910) Triangle In February, the Triangle Turfgrass Association held its annual pesticide conference at Prestonwood Country Club, in Cary, NC. About 60 people from the Triangle and Sandhills GCSA attended. Travis Gannon, a research associate from North Carolina State University spoke on herbicides and plant growth regulators under the heading, What is New and What is Different. Tom Hayes from the North Carolina Department of Labor spoke on commonly overlooked hazards in golf course maintenance activities. Thanks to both gentlemen. They did a great job and gave us very important information that we could all take back and put to use. In April, the Triangle held its annual spring fundraiser at UNC Finley Golf Course. Ross Fowler, the golf course superintendent, was our wonderful host for the afternoon. June 8 is the Carolinas GCSA regional seminar to be held at the Bayer Research Facility in Clayton. The speaker for the day will be Patrick O Brien of the USGA Green Section, speaking on organic matter accumulation. He is a wonderful speaker and always provides lots of information with a touch of humor. We encourage everyone to make plans to attend. July 14, the Triangle will host a family function and baseball night at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. This promises to be a funfilled evening with exciting baseball, great food, family, and friends. So make plans to join us for an evening of relaxation. The Triangle looks forward to an exciting summer. Participation in our events drives the success of our local association. Mark your calendars and we look forward to seeing you. - Todd Lawrence, CGCS, TPC at Wakefield Plantation (919) Sandhills In March, Dr. Keith Karnok and associates provided the association with four hours of information on wetting agents, their use and purpose. The information was well presented and audience participation was good. There were many favorable comments concerning the subject matter. Our 2005 schedule is starting to take shape. President, Dave Fruchte, CGCS, held a board of directors meeting early March and several suggestions are being staffed to determine feasibility. On May 11 we will have a golf outing at Legacy Golf Links. It will be a 12pm shotgun start, straight golf, and the cost is $35 per person. The association also plans to send one or more teams to the Carolinas GCSA Local Association Team Championship May 23 and 24. We also plan to compete against the Piedmont GCSA in June at Asheboro Country Club. The date for that event is still to be determined. Other summer and fall events are being arranged but details are still being confirmed. Our annual fund-raiser will be held at Seven Lakes Country Club, October 20, details to follow. 44 CAROLINAS green May - June 2005

47 LOCAL NEWS The association web site, is being developed and should be on line as you read this. It will contain general association information, schedules of events, announcements and a newsletter section. - Jack Helmann, Sandhills Community College (910) North-South In late February, the North-South Turfgrass Association presented the CleanStreams training program at Colonel Francis Beatty Park in Charlotte, NC. The presentation brought together some excellent speakers from the NC Cooperative Extension Service, Mecklenburg County Land Use and Environmental Services and Charlotte Mecklenburg Storm Water Services. Rusty Rozelle of Mecklenburg County Water Department spoke on the waters of the Southern Piedmont. He discussed causes of water pollution, the quality of our surface waters and what is being done to help protect and restore water quality. Mitch Woodward gave a talk on the various river basin systems and dealing with urban stormwater. Dr. Charles Peacock spoke on working with best management practices to effectively maintain turf. He covered nutrient management and the necessity to return to sound agronomic practices to offset being on the edge of failure. The afternoon session included Dr. Art Bruneau who spoke about management practices to protect water quality on golf courses. The seminar concluded with Dr. Rich McLaughlin who touched on pesticides, their fates and pesticide effects on water quality. We concluded with a test, which earned the attendees a certificate Some of architect Pete Dye s trademark bunkering tested golfers at Hampton Hall Club. Lowcountry As I write, the Lowcountry has been underwater for the last couple weeks with no relief in sight. I guess our rainfall deficit has now become a surplus. We are moving into our busy spring season with plenty of work to do. The association is undergoing a few minor changes to improve communication and our operation as a whole. We have started a website, www. LCGCSA.org, we have become incorporated, and there are a number of new faces on the board. Many new ideas were brought to the table at our first board meeting and we are prioritizing the best for implementation. In March, we held our Ninth annual Pro-Superintendent golf tournament at Hampton Hall Golf Club in Bluffton, SC. Matt Sapochak, our host superintendent, and Bryan Rhame, head professional, helped make it a success. Thirty teams participated from all over the Lowcountry. Kevin Lashley and Char Cormier from Fripp Island took home the hardware firing a sizzling 66. Jay Boring and Matt Presnell from Berkeley Hall were runnersup, and Jerry Ross and James Emerson, also from Fripp Island, came in third. Upcoming events for our association are in the works. May 10 is our vendor appreciation day at The Golden Bear at Indigo Run. We are working on scheduling a speaker prior to the golf tournament. Golf course superintendent, Bobby Wallace, of The Golden Bear, is also holding a grade school field day in conjunction with South Carolina Birds of Prey in May. He is anticipating 70 to 80 grade school students coming out to observe two bald eagles nesting on his 10th hole. We are also looking forward to visiting in May, not only to see that, but also to see all the positive changes he has been making to his golf course. Then in June we will have two half-day educational seminars. These are always well-attended events, as are most of our meetings. Overall, we are looking forward to a very successful year here in the Lowcountry. The PGA Tour converged on the island in mid-april for The Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links. Superintendent, Gary Snyder, assistant John Wright, and all who volunteer for this event always do a great job. The following week, the Champions Tour moved onto Hutchison Island to play the Mutual Legends of Golf at Savannah Harbor. Superintendent Lynn Childress and all his staff were set for another successful event. These events are just two of the reasons our area is so special, and Gary and Lynn are two people who make us look good year after year. - Patrick Wake, Palmetto Dunes Resort (843) CAROLINAS green 45

48 Gets the Active Ingredient To The Turf...Fast! Now you can improve the efficacy of turf treatment, eliminate mower pickup, and enhance distribution of active ingredients all in one application! DG Pro is a dispersible granular carrier that disperses almost immediately upon contact with water. One 150 SGN particle + water = 190,000 dispersed particles Quality Andersons products containing DG Pro FUNGICIDES AGC8539 AGC8573 AGC8583 Description Systemic Fungicide on DG Pro (2.3%Thiophanate-Methyl) Fungicide VII on DG Pro (0.59% Bayleton) Golden Eagle on DG Pro (0.39% Myclobutanil) HERBICIDES Description AGC166BR % Barricade 40% Poly-S w/ DG Pro AGC211BR Fertilizer 50% Poly-S w/0.426% Barricade and DG Pro (50 or 1000#) APTDG48BR % Barricade on DG Pro AGC54BR Fertilizer w/0.48% Barricade and DG Pro (50 or 1000#) AGC12FEBR Fertilizer w/0.48% Barricade and DG Pro (50 or 1000#) AGC197BR Fertilizer 40% Poly-S w/0.48% Barricade and DG Pro (50 or 1000#) AGC8695 KOG Weed Control on DG Pro (0.7%Dicamba) APTDG25B % Balan w/ DG Pro APTDG5TF4.3 5% Treflan w/ DG Pro APTDGT24.1 2%Team w/ DG Pro APTDG25DM5 0.25% Dimension on DG Pro AGC5DGDM % Dimension w/ DG Pro AGC14DM % Dimension w/ DG Pro INSECTICIDES Description AGC Insecticide III on DG Pro (1.34% Chlorpyrifos) APT8CR5 8% Carbaryl on DG Pro AGC Fertilizer 100% Poly-S w/0.2% Merit and DG Pro (50 or 1000#) AGCDGMR Fertilizer w/0.2% Merit and DG Pro (50 or 1000#) For more information, contact your local distributor, or call your Andersons Territory Manager Steve Dearborn at CAROLINAS green May - June 2005 When Every Square Inch Counts

49 LOCAL NEWS of completion for the Clean Streams initiative. The Clean Streams program shows how many agencies and people are involved in raising awareness to further protect the environment for many years to come. Thanks to all the wonderful speakers and attendees. Close to 30 North-South members convened at Rolling Hills Country Club in Monroe, NC, on March 17 for the monthly meeting and golf outing. Unfortunately the golf outing was canceled after more than an inch of rain that morning. Dr. Lane Tredway of NC State was the featured speaker and the rain thankfully allowed him to present an in-depth and informative update on his research. Dr Tredway presented the latest on the new unknown bentgrass disease. He also presented his research on resistance of dollar spot to major classes of fungicides. David Wrenn and Southern Ag. provided the delicious lunch. The association would like to thank host superintendent, Greg McDanel, CGCS, and his staff for their hospitality. We are sure the course would have been in great condition. We would like to thank all our sponsors and look forward to a great summer. - Michael Haq, Myers Park Country Club (704) Eastern NC On May 26, we head down to Paradise Point Country Club in Jacksonville, NC, with Gary Appleton as our host superintendent. We are fortunate enough to have officers from Camp Lejeune Marine Base to share their knowledge and experience with us on workplace safety. This should be a very informative meeting, and we look forward to having a great turnout. On June 28 we will go to Timberlake Country Club with Dr. Lane Tredway coming to speak with us on updates on the new disease that has become a recurring problem on bentgrass greens throughout the state. This will be our first meeting at Timberlake since it is one of the newer courses in our region, and I m sure we will have great time playing the course. We had our annual fundraiser golf tournament back in April at Wedgewood Country Club. The golf course was in excellent condition and we had a very good turnout for this event. The tournament was a huge success and pictures are available on our website at - Brad Edens, Walnut Creek Country Club (919) Coastal Plains We held our Superintendent-Pro golf tournament at Turtle Point Golf Club on Kiawah Island in Feburary. The host team from Turtle Point of Steve Agazzi, and Steve Youngner, won the low gross event. The team from the River Course at Kiawah Island Club of Jim Musci and Steve Kelleher won low net honors. Steve Agazzi and his crew are to be commended for a job well done as the course was in excellent shape. Also we would like to thank all our sponsors Ned Mullis, Harrells, Tom Player from Carolina Eastern Malony, Mitch Williams from Lesco, and Robert Rogers from Golf Agronomics, for closest-tothe-hole prizes. Before the golf tournament we had a lecture with Dr. Smiley on lightning protection for trees. It was sponsored by Bartlett Tree Experts. A big thank you goes out to them from the Coastal Leather gloves and long-sleeves helped Jamie Puckett and Mike Holt survive the cold at Palmetto Golf Club. Midlands The Midlands Turfgrass Association got off to a windy start this year. We had our first meeting of the year in March at Palmetto Golf Club in Aiken, SC. We had the opportunity to have Randy Register come and give us valuable information related to the requirements of OSHA in the workplace. He spoke about working with OSHA and how to obtain relevant information in great detail. He has always given us an informative and eyeopening talk, when we have asked him to speak. This was a great way to start our year, since we do have a little time to work more on the office side of things during all the rain and cold. Afterwards we played golf and enjoyed a great day outside. Rhett Baker, superintendent, hosted the day and it was a treat for everyone in attendance. The golf course was wonderful, even if the weather was not. Still Randy Register, right, provides Chris Williams with information on health and safety in the workplace. we had a great crowd for that first meeting and expected a bigger crowd for the April meeting at Orangeburg. Sam Cheatham, South Carolina Turfgrass Foundation president, was set to give us an update on the current status of the foundation including the status of the chemical manual which should be in distribution shortly. - Chris Williams, Spring Valley Country Club (803) CAROLINAS green 47

50 Issue No. 24 What s up? News from Bayer Environmental Science Development Tips for Using Revolver More Effectively Revolver is a sulfonylurea herbicide intended for professional use on golf course turf, sports fields, commercial lawns, cemeteries, parks, campsites, recreational areas, home lawns, roadsides, school grounds, and sodfarms to control cool season grasses and weeds in Bermudgrass and zoysiagrass. As experience with any product grows, we learn how to use it more effectively. The following is a list of recommendations to maximize your success with Revolver. 1. Transition Revolver kills ryegrass very rapidly (7-14 days) when temperatures are warm (> 60 degrees daily average temperature). Application is best timed when Bermudagrass is actively growing and the probability of frost or cold periods that might set back Bermudagrass is low. 2. Clumpy Ryegrass Revolver removes unsightly clumps of ryegrass in roughs and around tee boxes without injury to Bermudagrass. Note that clumps can be removed in any season of the year provided that temperatures are warm (> 60 degrees after treatment). 3. Annual Bluegrass Revolver has outstanding activity on Poa annua. Use Revolver in the late fall after Poa has germinated or during warm periods during the winter months on non-overseeded Bermudagrass or zoysiagrass (dormant or actively growing). Revolver may be applied up to 2 weeks prior to overseeding with ryegrass for control of existing Poa annua. As with ryegrass, the speed of control is increased by timing the application during warm periods. 4. Poa trivialis Revolver effectively removes Poa trivialis overseeded on Bermudagrass greens. In warm periods, removal is very rapid. Pay close attention to those Bermudagrass varieties that are listed as tolerant on the label. Others may be tolerant and new varieties are constantly being evaluated. Contact Bayer Environmental Science for the latest information on varietal tolerance. 5. Goosegrass Goosegrass is a tough warm season grass. Revolver controls goosegrass, but expect that multiple applications will be necessary. Like many weedy grasses, control of goosegrass is best achieved before tillering. The most effective interval between applications (7-10 days) will depend on local conditions and be identified by experience using the product. Tank mixtures of Revolver and Sencor at 0.33 lbs of product per acre may improve control. 6. Other weeds Other grassy and broadleaf weeds are being evaluated. Contact Bayer Environmental Science for the latest label updates for new weeds controlled by Revolver. 7. Tracking Allow Revolver to dry thoroughly prior to allowing foot or equipment traffic. If possible, apply when traffic is minimal. Apply Revolver after mowing to allow the product to be absorbed by the plant. Provide an adequate buffer of untreated turf around sensitive cool season grasses such as bentgrass greens to minimize potential for tracking. If dew is present the morning after application, irrigate treated turf areas surrounding sensitive cool season turf prior to allowing traffic in the area. 8. Movement Revolver must dry on the treated area before irrigation or rainfall occurs. Revolver does not need to be watered in after application. Do not allow the spray to drift onto the non-tolerant turfgrasses. Do not use on warm season turfgrass collars surrounding bentgrass greens or provide an adequate buffer of untreated turf. * Revolver, and Sencor, are registered trademarks of Bayer CropScience Don Myers, PhD Product Development Manager, Herbicides Bayer Environmental Science Bayer Environmental Science 95 Chestnut Ridge Road, Montvale, NJ / CAROLINAS green May - June 2005

51 LOCAL NEWS Plains GCSA. At press time we were looking forward to our annual challenge against the Midlands TA at Orangeburg Country Club. If anyone has any questions, concerns, or would like information on joining our association, please contact me at the number below or Troy Sanders at (843) Frank O Rourke, Berkeley Country Club (843) Western NC Golf season has finally arrived. Although for many of us the weather was warmer in January than it was in March. The Western North Carolina Turfgrass Association hosted our first event of the year in conjunction with the Turfgrass Council of North Carolina. More than 150 participants attended the demo day and knowledge network at Catawba Valley Community College in Hickory, NC. We would like to thank all the vendors who supported this event. This month s member spotlight is on Ken Russell. We all know there is much more to Ken than the harmonica, but did you know how much more? Ken was born and raised on a beef cattle farm and dogwood tree nursery in McMinnville, TN, and was active in Vocational AG and FFA throughout high school. He received a BS in Agricultural Education/Turf and Ornamental Horticulture and Landscape Design from University of TN, Knoxville in Then he received a MS in Weed Science/Turf Management from University of TN, Knoxville in He joined Ciba-Geigy Ken Russell in 1978 and moved from Knoxville to Memphis, TN. There he worked as a field sales representative selling agricultural chemicals to the cotton, soybean, and corn markets until In May 81 he moved to Greensboro to accept a corporate office position and worked as a customer service regional manager for three years. In 1984 he was promoted to technical sales representative selling Ciba- Geigy s active ingredients to formulator customers such as Lesco, Scott s, TruGreen- ChemLawn, and The Andersons, among others, covering about one third of the U.S. for five years. In 1988 he was promoted to turf and ornamental territory manager covering seven Southeastern states. It took 10 years to get the job that he trained for in school to be involved in the green industry. He currently covers most of North Carolina and Virginia as territory manager for Syngenta. This involves working with distributors, end users and interfacing with university personnel in the golf, lawn care and landscape, sod, and ornamental markets. CAROLINAS green 49

52 LOCAL NEWS Ken currently serves as a board member for the WNC- TA, TCNC, LGMA, and VTC. In addition, he is a member of seven golf course superintendents associations, four nursery and greenhouse associations, and various other professional organizations in the green industry. And we thought we were busy. When he is not working he enjoys lawn and gardening activities around the home, golf, reading, and spending time with his wife of 30 years and their 15-year-old daughter. We would like to thank Ken for serving on our board and providing valuable input. - Jeremy Boone, CGCS, Smoky Mountain Country Club (828) Piedmont and Syngenta for sponsoring lunch. Dr. Bruneau of North Carolina State University encourages other associations to contact him at (919) to set up a clean streams presentation. In April, we pulled out the clubs at Oak Hollow Golf Club and enjoyed comments by Dr. Leon Lucus, agronomist with the Carolinas Golf Association. We roll into May with our annual championship at Forest Oaks Country Club on May 4. The second annual assistant superintendents tournament will take place at Deep Springs on June 6. Joining us to speak will be Mike Brown, CGCS, Carolinas GCSA president. We ll tee up in match cup play with the Sandhills GCSA on June 22 at Pinewood Country Club after hearing from speaker, Dr. Lane Tredway of NCSU. Twin Oaks will be the site for a relaxing evening on July 14. Jay Gardner will host our annual fundraiser scheduled for October 17 at Jamestown Park Golf Course as well as November 8 for the ever popular employee tournament. Another educational meeting is planned for December that will once again offer GCSAA education points and NCDA pesticide credits being coordinated by Allen Crockett. What we hope will be a widely attended event this summer is our Kids and Golf evening to be held Thursday, August 4 at Union Cross Driving Range. With local area golf professionals donating their time we will offer an evening of golfing tips, reconditioned clubs, food and beverages and what hopefully will be a great time for children who might not otherwise have an opportunity to enjoy this great sport that we are all dedicated to. Donated clubs, new and gently used, can be brought to any chapter event and will be collected by John Adkins and Rob Corey. Please participate and help us provide a fun evening for the youth of our area. As always, your attendance and willingness to lend a hand make a huge impact on what we can do as an organization. Please continue to check the website at for updates and always feel free to contact any board member with ideas or comments. - David Johnson, High Point Country Club (336) The Piedmont GCSA started out strong with our first chapter meeting held in March at Tanglewood Park, Winston Salem, NC, with host superintendent, Lee Barefoot. A special thank you to Bob Ragland, Keith Huff, Mitch Woodward, Dr. Peacock, Dr. McLaughlin, Toby Bost and Dr. Bruneau for their time and efforts in presenting this program entitled Clean Streams. Another thankyou is extended to Ken Russell 50 CAROLINAS green May - June 2005

53 A never-been-seen-before close-up look at what actually happens under the surface. Each DryJect blast forms a unique aeration channel that fractures the soil three dimensionally and fills it with the amendment you select. At typical 3 inch spacings, you can see how one application substantially modifies the sub-soil root zone all in one process. Excellent for applications on golf courses and sportsfields, anywhere fine turf is grown. See the full animation on our website. For the first time ever, see the unique aeration and subsurface injection of DryJect. Nobody has ever seen before the unique, dynamic pattern of three dimensional channels that are created by a typical DryJect application. The aggressive subsurface changes created allow for air, water and nutrients to feed the root zone like no other system on the market today without disrupting the surface. DryJect has been used on some of the nation s top golf venues including Oakmont, Winged Foot and Merion. Also, the Dallas Cowboys Training Center uses DryJect. Only DryJect Contractors give you this 3 dimensional, dynamic effect. DryJect does two unique functions at once. First, as an aerator. Most aeration equipment punches, drills or slits; some pull plugs. Only DryJect aerates three dimensionally-side to side, front to back and even connects hole to hole. There s no glazing of hole walls, broken tines on buried rocks, changing tines or depth concerns of cracking drainage or other buried lines. It s a revolutionary concept using powered water - a patented Venturi process - to open the soil for air, water and amendments in high volume without disturbing the surface. Secondly, it s the only machine that can inject while aerating. Following a water blast into the turf, it instantaneously injects a selection of flowable dry amendments sand, peat, diatomaceous earth, calcine clay, zeolites, top dressing, seed, wetting agents, insecticides, or biological products, you select the mix. For root zone modification, DryJect can use about one ton of material per green. DryJect Service Center Contractors eliminate the traditional need for a crew to drag, fill and remove cores; saving a tremendous amount of labor and time. Some have calculated savings into six figures for a year. What s more, DryJect allows you to start a soil modification program even as part of your regular aeration. Why own equipment when you can contract for it with an authorized, experienced DryJect Service Center Contractor? With over two dozen territories nationally, there s a dependable DryJect contractor near you. Check out the full animation on our website or phone today for more details, pricing. Call today for a free DryJect demonstration. Only DryJect Contractors can inject while aerating. Advanced Agro Technologies, Inc; DryJect LLC, " x 10" Ad 2005B CAROLINAS green 51

54 Peak condition. Peak performance. Peak demand. Course Doctors puts your course at the top of its game Full service golf course construction, renovation and custom rock work Since 1992, Course Doctors has been the choice of celebrated designers and superintendents to make their course designs a reality. And for good reason. Course Doctors brings to every project wide-ranging experience, proven ingenuity and complete focus. In addition, Golf Digest Magazine consistently ranks our new constructions among the Best New Courses: Victoria Nat l Golf Club, Newburgh IN, 1999 Eagle Point Golf Club, Wilmington NC, 2000 Belterra Resort Golf Course, Belterra IN, 2001 Calusa Pines Golf Club, Naples FL, 2001 Rock Barn Golf & Country Club, Conover NC, 2002 We are chosen repeatedly to perform renovations to prepare courses for PGA tournaments: Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte NC, 2002 & 2003 Forest Oaks Country Club, Greensboro NC, 2002 & 2003 Rock Barn Golf & Country Club, Conover NC, 2002 Le Triomphe Golf & Country Club, Broussard LA, 2003 And we work with many top design firms such as Fazio Golf Course Designers, Robert Trent Jones II, Hurdzan/Fry Golf Course Design, Davis Love III, and many others: Course Doctors has an exceptional working knowledge of the nuances required to produce quality golf courses. Steve Curtis Pinnacle Entertainment 52 CAROLINAS green If you want a course built to play and stay at its peak, call us to discuss your next project at or visit us online at 34 Highland Golf Drive, Flat Rock, NC fax: coursedoctors@mindspring.com Licensed General Contractor (NC, VA, LA, SC) Member: Golf Course Builders Association of America, CGCSA, NGF May - June 2005

55 INDUSTRY NEWS USGA Event a Major Success Close to 250 golf course superintendents, owners, architects, and other golf industry leaders attended this year s USGA Green Section conference at Pinehurst Resort in March. The event is co-hosted by the Carolinas GCSA and executive director, Chuck Borman, described it as Jay Reins, CGCS, of Southern Ag. Insecticides, extracts himself from a bunker on Pinehurst No. 4. one of the most successful ever held. We had an excellent turn out for golf at the No. 4 course and the conference speakers were simply outstanding, Borman says. The USGA folks, Pat O Brien, Chris TurfPAC Events Seek Sponsors The Turfgrass Council of North Carolina is soliciting sponsorship and support for its 2005 TurfPAC Fund Raiser Golf Tournament Series. The golf events raise money to develop and maintain TCNC s working relationships with elected policy makers. TCNC executive director, Gene Maples, says TurfPAC resources are used to help ensure the election and re-election of those who understand, support and stand up for the turf industry s best interests. Hartwiger and Roger Harvie, did an excellent job bringing the program together. This year s program carried a strong U.S. Open flavor with the event returning to Pinehurst s famed No. 2 course in June. No. 2 s certified golf course superintendent, Paul Jett, and Pinehurst s manager of grounds and golf courses, Bob Farren, CGCS, gave attendees and engrossing insight to preparations for the Open. Brad Klein, editor of Golfweek s SuperNews, used a comprehensive statistical analysis to illustrate the declining role of accuracy off the tee in the modern game. Winners from the golf tournament at No. 4: First flight Net: Gregory Cross, Don Tew 70. Gross: Kevin Adkins, Todd Hall 70. Second flight Net: Todd Joefreda, Brett Wolf 69. Gross: Joey Hines, Tim Lee 70. Third flight Net: Phil Hunt, Chris Stanley 53 points. Gross: Jay Gardner, Justin May 33. Golf events are planned at Riverwood Golf Club in Clayton, NC, on Tuesday, May 3, and in the fall at Rock Barn Country Club in Conover, NC, on Wednesday, November 2. For information on the spring tournament, call Keith Noxon at (910) and for the fall tournament, call Michael Haq, (704) Wallace Lands Pair of Eagles Bob Wallace, golf course superintendent at the Golden Bear at The Golf Club at Indigo Run on Hilton Head, SC, Carolinas GCSA president, Mike Brown, CGCS, right, presented a plaque to Bob Farren, CGCS, left, and golf course superintendent, Kyle Brown, as hosts of the golf tournament on No. 4. Fourth flight Net: Jeff Corn, Brent Miller 50. Gross: Curt Collins, Chris Skibba 31. Fifth flight Net: Miller McClintock, Tommy Pinson 50. Gross: Brad Fellrath, Andrew Wheeler 29. Sixth flight Net: Russell Spangler, Ed Wyatt 48. Gross, Jason Crawford, Stephen Walker 29. Seventh flight Net: Kim Alford, Rick Neisler 43. Gross: David Levin, Bob Wallace 18. Nearest the pin No. 4: Geoff Simril. No.6: Chris Mahoney. No. 12: Brett Wolfe. No. 14: Brent McLay. recorded a couple of eagles that made front page news in The Island Packet newspaper recently. And he did it without a club in his hand. The eagles were in fact a pair of bald eagles that decided to build a nest alongside the 10th hole. The bald eagle is listed as a threatened species but they are in no danger at the Golden Bear. Wallace restricts the use of blowers and mowers in the area near the birds. All work in the immediate vicinity is done by hand. Signs provided by the Department of Natural Resources alert golfers to keep their distance. I started seeing them fly over, Wallace told the newspaper early this year. Then I started noticing them up in the tree and then I noticed the nest being built. We re trying not to do anything to disturb it. The nest is one of about 200 known in the entire state. Dubose is Certified Clayton A. Dubose, golf course superintendent at The Tradition Golf Club, Pawleys Island, SC, has been designated a certified golf course superintendent by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. Dubose, who was previously the grow-in super- w w w. c g c s a. o r g CAROLINAS green 53

56 54 CAROLINAS green May - June 2005

57 INDUSTRY NEWS intendent at Diamond Back Golf Club in North Myrtle Beach, SC, has been superintendent at The Tradition Golf Club since July, As part of the certification process, an on-site inspection of Dubose s golf course operation was conducted by two certified golf course superintendents, Max Morgan Jr., from Myrtle Beach National and Patrick Donelan, Barefoot Resort and Golf, North Myrtle Beach. Sales Region Reconfigured Bayer Environmental Science recently reconfigured its Southern golf sales region, which includes service to the Carolinas. Our six Southern golf sales territories were restructured to allow sales representatives to more thoroughly cover golf course and distributor accounts, says David Ravel, Southern regional sales manager. Scott Harms will relocate to the Nashville, TN, area later this year to take over the Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee and Atlanta areas. Trey Warnock is responsible for northeast Georgia, South Carolina, western North Carolina and the southwestern tip of Virginia. Mike Willey will serve eastern North Carolina, southern West Virginia, Virginia and Myrtle Beach, SC. Scholarships Deadline Children or grandchildren of current Class A, B, and C Carolinas GCSA members are encouraged to apply for education scholarships in The deadline for applications is July 1. Application details are available at the Carolinas GCSA website or by calling the head office at (800) Last year seven students received $1,000 scholarships to assist in their continued education. Clemson Day September 13 The 2005 Clemson University Turfgrass Field Day runs from 8am to noon on September 13 at the Pee Dee Research and Education Center in Florence, SC. The field day will be followed by lunch and with the annual Charles P. Willimon, Sr. Golf Tournament at 1.30pm. For information contact: James J. Camberato Professor Entomology, Soils, and Plant Sciences Clemson University, Pee Dee Research and Education Center 2200 Pocket Road, Florence, SC Office: (843) ext 226 Mobile: (843) Fax: (843) Jennings Triumphs At Super Bowl Phillip Jennings was strolling across Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, FL, around 11 o clock one night in February when he received a comment that had a championship ring about it. Jennings was inspecting the field shortly after the New England Patriots held on to defeat the Philadelphia Eagles securing Super Bowl XXXIX. A senior staffer from the NFL pointed to the field then turned to Jennings and said: You know, we could mow this, vacuum it, and come straight back out and play another game right now. For Jennings, a Carolinas GCSA member, whose GA-based company Phillip Jennings Turf Farms, supplied 100,000sq. ft. of turf for the Keith Martin, left, of Barenbrug USA, presents Matt Owens with a check to cover expenses for his trip to next year s Golf Industry Show in New Orleans. Kenneth Fishback and son, Thomas, look forward to a $1,000 shopping spree for fishing gear. Owens Wins GIS Contest Matt Owens, acting director of golf maintenance at the 54-hole Sea Trail Resort and Golf in Sunset Beach, NC, has won an all expenses paid trip to next year s Golf Industry Show in New Orleans. Owens name was drawn among thousands at this year s GIS in Orlando. The contest was sponsored by Barenbrug USA and includes airfare, meals, registration, lodging, and car rentals for a value of $2,500. Everyone who attended had their names in the drawing so I didn t give it much thought. Hundreds of people from all over the United States were entered, Owens says of his win. When they called to tell me that I had won, I couldn t believe it at first. Damon Ryba, from Indigo Creek Golf Club in Murrells Inlet, SC, won a Palm Tungsten T5 from Bayer Environmental Science in a drawing at the GIS in Orlando. Kenneth Fishback, certified golf course superintendent at Oak Valley Golf Club in Advance, NC, is the January winner of BASF Corporation s 2005 calendar sweepstakes. After correctly answering a quiz question from a calendar created by BASF, Fishback was randomly selected as the Bass Pro Shops $1,000 gift card winner. Fishback has been superintendent at Oak Valley for 10 years. My nineyear-old son and I have just recently gotten into fishing, Fishback said. This gift card will be very helpful as we look for new fishing equipment. My son is as excited as I am. CAROLINAS green 55

58 INDUSTRY NEWS From left: Tom Macom, of Bayer, braves a sting or two to put a fire ant on close display for Greg Williard, from Grandover Resort in Greensboro, NC, John Parrish, from Devils Ridge Country Club in Holly Springs, NC, and Jeffrey Crouse, from Verdict Ridge Golf Club in Denver, NC. Next Generation Visits Academy The region s next generation of golf course superintendents gathered recently at Bayer s facility in Clayton, NC, for the second annual Future Superintendents Academy staged in partnership with Smith Turf and Irrigation. Close to 50 assistant superintendents from North and South Carolina attended the two-day event that offered education and an important chance to network. Speakers included representatives of both companies, university educators, former golf course superintendents, and individuals from the Carolinas GCSA and the Turfgrass Council of North Carolina. From left, Joe York, from North Ridge Country Club in Raleigh, NC, and William Peters, from the Preserve at Jordan Lake in Chapel Hill, NC, tour Bayer s greenhouse facility with Bayer s Astrid Parker. Super Bowl playing field, it was the ultimate compliment. But it wasn t the last. In the weeks that followed, George Toma, the NFL s turf guru, called Jennings to say the field was one of the best in Super Bowl history. Several Patriots also went to the trouble of finding Jennings phone number to say thanks for the perfect turf. Jennings attended the Super Bowl, his first, and was something of a celebrity given that he had appeared in countless newspaper and TV news reports leading up to the game. Quite a few people recognized me and were calling out hello and so on, Jennings says. And I noticed that a lot of girls and women sitting nearby kept looking too but I found out afterwards that the guy sitting next to me was Lionel Richie. Phillip Jennings Turf Farms secured the job of pre- 56 CAROLINAS green January - February

59 INDUSTRY NEWS paring the Super Bowl turf after the NFL ruled out shipping sod from its recent supplier in California. Jennings says the triumph in Jacksonville was the result of a combined effort of Pennington Seeds, West Coast Turf and Phillip Jennings Turf Farms. The Super Bowl field was a base of Princess 77 bermudagrass, overseeded with perennial ryes and Kentucky bluegrasses. Great Thinkers Step Forward The Carolinas GCSA is issuing a call for all members with great ideas to share their successes with their colleagues through the Innovative Superintendents panel at this year s Conference and Show in Myrtle Beach, SC, in November. Conference and Show committee chair, Steve Neuliep, CGCS, urges all local associations to tap into the talent pool of superintendent speakers that exists in the ranks. We are looking for four or five superintendents to present minute talks on innovative and cutting edge topics, he says. We are looking for novel approaches to anything related to turfgrass management. We have some great thinkers out there and want to hear from the best. To allow for adequate planning and program production time, the deadline for candidates to submit proposals for the panel is June 10. Candidates can nominate themselves or be nominated by their local association. Nominations can be called in to Carolinas GCSA education coordinator, Cindy Baldwin, at (800) or ed to cbaldwin@cgcsa.org. Please include a one or two sentence outline of the innovation and its value to other superintendents. Rusty Petrea, a Carolinas GCSA member and principal of Global Perspectives Inc., outlines leadership attributes to local association leaders and Carolinas GCSA directors including, from left, Dan Hendry, Steve Neuliep, CGCS, Jeremy Boone, CGCS, Bland Cooper, CGCS, and Paul Query. Local Leaders Take Seminar All 12 local superintendent and turfgrass associations in the Carolinas were represented at a special leadership training session at Carmel Country Club in Charlotte, NC, in February. Presidents or vice-presidents from the local associations heard presentations on leadership skills from Carmel s former long-time manager, Graeme McDeson, a past president of the Trio Makes Final List Congratulations to a trio of Carolinas GCSA members who were finalists in Golfweek s SuperNews 2004 superintendent of the year award. Carolinas GCSA finalists were David Fruchte, CGCS, from Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club and Mid Pines Inn and Golf Club in Southern Pines, NC; Bill Samuels, CGCS, from Biltmore Forest Country Club in Asheville, NC; and Brad Fellrath, CGCS, from Raintree Country Club in Charlotte, NC. Overall winner was Stu- Club Managers Association of America, and Rusty Petrea, a principal of Global Perspectives Inc. The leadership session was a shift from previous local association president gatherings where associations shared stories of success and failure. The session was designed to help local leaders strengthen skills that would in turn benefit their local organizations. art Leventhal, CGCS, from Interlachen Country Club in Winer Park, FL. Congratulations also go to Dave Downing, CGCS, from The Pearl Golf Links in Sunsent Beach, NC, and Bob Graunke, CGCS, from Tidewater Golf Club and Plantation in North Myrtle Beach, SC, on becoming quarter-century members of GCSAA. Downing is a director of GCSAA and was unsuccessful in his first attempt to become the organization s secretary-treasurer at the annual meeting in February. Officers traditionally run twice before gaining election. CORPORATE PARTNERS The following companies provided generous support for the Carolinas Golf Course Superintendents Association s Annual Conference and Trade Show in Myrtle Beach, SC. SMITH TURF & IRRIGATION, TORO, TORO FINANCE Golf Championship GOLF AGRONOMICS PHILLIP JENNINGS TURF FARMS Tuesday Seminar Luncheon SYNGENTA Tuesday Evening Reception Media Awards BAYER ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE Wednesday Buffet Luncheon JOHN DEERE GOLF & TURF ONE SOURCE REVELS TRACTOR COMPANY GREENVILLE TURF & TRACTOR GEORGIA TURF & TRACTOR Wednesday Evening Reception 27-Hole Challenge HARRELL S Refreshment Breaks DUPONT Cyber Cafe CAROLINAS green 57

60 OUR FRIENDS James Jim O. King, founder of Regal Chemical Company and one of the great pioneers in the turf industry, passed away Feb. 26, King was born in Sentinel, Okla., in Based in Alpharetta, Ga., Regal Chemical Company started in 1970, when there was a need for better products, information and service in the golf and turf industry. Over the past 34 years, Regal Chemical Company has expanded throughout the Southeast, Northeast, Southwest and western United States. King is survived by his wife of 52 years, Frances G. King; daughters, Meryl L. Cook, Leigh Ann Durrence and Lisa Goodyear; son, William (Will) King; grandchildren, Kevin Cook, Dana Durrence and Darby Goodyear; and sister, Genave K. Rogers of Tulsa, Okla. Joseph Coady, formerly at The Landings Club, Savannah, GA, is now Assistant Superintendent at the Club at Seabrook Island, Seabrook Island, SC. David Collins, formerly at Myrtle Beach National Golf Club, Myrtle Beach, SC, is now Assistant Superintendent at World Tour Golf Links, Myrtle Beach, SC. Weldon Davis, formerly with Lan-Yair Country Club, Spartanburg, SC, is now Superintendent at Creek Club, Inc., Spartanburg, SC. Kevin Fortune, formerly at Oakland Hills Country Club, Bloomfield Hills, MI, is now Assistant Superintendent at Farmington Country Club, Charlottesville, VA. Anthony Howard, formerly at Seccession Golf Club, Beaufort, SC, is now Superintendent at the Country Club of Beaufort, Beaufort, SC. James Jeffrey, formerly with Palmetto Hall Plantation, Hilton Head Island, SC, is now Assistant Superintendent at Sea Pines Country Club, Hilton Head Island, SC. Ryan LaFontaine, formerly at Broadmoor Golf Links, Fletcher, NC, is now Superintendent at Kenmure Country Club, Flat Rock, NC. Scott McArthur, formerly at Verdict Ridge Country Club, Denver, NC, is now Superintendent at Cleveland Country Club, Shelby, NC. Patrick Murphy, formerly at Cherokee Run Golf Club, Conyers, GA, is now Superintendent at The River Golf Club, North Augusta, SC. Joshua Newnam, formerly at Pleasant Ridge Golf Club, Greensboro, NC, is now Superintendent at Heather Hills Golf Course, Winston Salem, NC. Joshua Scruggs, former student at North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, is now Assistant Superintendent at Bear Creek Golf Club, Hilton Head Island, SC. Mark A. Steffer has been promoted from Assistant Superintendent to Superintendent at UNC Finley Golf Course, Chapel Hill, NC. Jake Stewart had been promoted from Assistant Superintendent to Superintendent at Stonebridge Golf Club, Monroe, NC. Buddy Tate, formerly at The Rock at Jocassee, Pickens, SC, is now Superintendent at Broadmoor Golf Links, Fletcher, NC. Kent Taylor, formerly at Santee National Golf Club, Santee, SC, is now with Southern States Cooperative, Carterville, GA. Charles Tyner, formerly at Carolina National Golf Club, Bolivia, NC, is now Assistant Superintendent at World Tour Golf Links, Myrtle Beach, SC. Carl VanderVere has been promoted from Assistant Superintendent to Superintendent at Sleepy Creek Golf Club, Dudley, NC. Trent Venters has been promoted from Assistant Superintendent to Superintendent at The Players Club at St. James, Southport, NC. Congratulations to Dean Farlow, Superintendent at The Pines at Elizabeth City, Elizabeth City, NC, and his wife Amy on the birth of their daughter, Aldyn Elizabeth, born January 6, She was 7lbs. 14oz. and 20 inches long. Congratulations to Doug Lewis, Superintendent at Porters Neck Country Club, Wilmington, NC, and his wife Christine on the birth of their son, Maxwell Michael Lewis on March 2, CAROLINAS green May - June 2005

61 WELCOME NEW MEMBERS Bill D. Andrews, Class Af, United Golf, Phoenix, AZ. Mark L. Benton, Class C, Assistant Superintendent, Sea Trail Plantation, Sunset Beach, NC. Bill Berst, Class A, Superintendent, Ratcliffe Golf Services, Charlotte, NC. Buckley Brockman, Class C, Assistant Superintendent, Kinston Country Club, Kinston, NC. Jerry L. Broome, Class A, Superintendent, Santee National Golf Club, Santee, SC. Terry W. Burchfield, Class C, Assistant Superintendent, Timberlake Golf Club, Chapin, SC. Shawn Childress, Class S, Student, Horry-Georgetown Technical College, Conway, SC. Bradley M. Conrad, Class C, Assistant Superintendent, Wade Hampton Golf Club, Cashiers, NC. Steven R. Farrington, Class Af, Sales Representative, Gowan Company, Orlando, FL. Mario-Martinez Fernandez, Class S, Student, Horry-Georgetown Technical College, Conway, SC. Judith A. Fountain, Class C, 2 nd Assistant Superintendent, The Landings Club, Savannah, GA. Scott E. Fretz, Class B, Superintendent, Wachesaw Plantation Club, Murrells Inlet, SC. John F. Galczynski, Class B, Superintendent, Anderson Creek Golf Club, Spring Lake, NC. William R. Hadaway, Class C, Assistant Superintendent, Dataw Island Club, Beaufort, SC. Michael S. Harrelson, Class C, Assistant Superintendent, Carolina Golf and Country Club, Charlotte, NC. J. Lee Holmes, Jr., Class C, Assistant Superintendent, Mount Vintage Plantation Golf Club, North Augusta, SC. Mike Johnson, Class Af, District Manager, Precision Laboratories, Inc., Myrtle Beach, SC. Jeff Kent, Class A, Superintendent, Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte, NC. Dylan J. Kinneman, Class C, Assistant Superintendent, Charlotte National Golf Club, Indian Trail, NC. John Knight, Class S, Head Spray Technician, Grandover Resort, Greensboro, NC. Mark A. Letson, Class C, Assistant Superintendent, Palmetto Dunes-Arthur Hills Golf Course, Hilton Head Island, SC. David B. Levin, Class C, Assistant Superintendent, Golden Bear Golf Club at Indigo Run, Hilton Head Island, SC. Kevin B. Madden, Class C, Assistant Superintendent, The Reserve at Lake Keowee, Sunset, SC. Andrew T. Maguire, Class C, 2 nd Assistant Superintendent, The International Golf Club, Bolton, MA. Tom Martin, Class Af Corp, Bartlett Tree Experts, Charlotte, NC. Brandon S. Mckenna, Class C, Assistant Superintendent, Players Club at St. James Plantation, Southport, NC. Christopher J. Noll, Class S, Student, Sandhills Community College, Pinehurst, NC. William B. Peters, Class C, Assistant Superintendent, The Preserve, Chapel Hill, NC. Jeff Kent is the new superintendent at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, NC, that will host the PGA Tour s Wachovia Championship in the first week of May. Kent arrives after service at Atlantic City Country Club in Northfield, NJ. I am excited about this tremendous opportunity and I look forward to meeting many new friends and associates throughout the Carolinas superintendent community, Kent says. David G. Robertson, Class C, Assistant Superintendent, Sea Pines Company-Ocean Course, Hilton Head Island, SC. Ryan Lebrook Sentell, Class C, Assistant Superintendent, Long Cove Club, Hilton Head Island, SC. Nathan Smith, Class B, Superintendent, Charlotte Golf Links, Charlotte, NC. John Sowers, Class A, Superintendent, Mimosa Hills Country Club, Morganton, NC. Bret P. Sutton, Class B, Superintendent, Capital City Club- Brookhaven, Atlanta, GA. Michael D. Thomas, Class C, Assistant Superintendent, The Landings Club, Savannah, GA. Jeffrey C. Vanderburg, Class B, Superintendent, Ratcliffe Golf Services, Charlotte, NC. Mark Williams, Class AfCorp, Jacobsen, A Textron Company, Charlotte, NC. Shawn Woods, Class Af, Regional Manager, Estate Management Services, Inc., Brunswick, GA. Jason V. Worley, Class C, Assistant Superintendent, Brook Valley Country Club, Greenville, NC. Evan C. Yopp, Class C, 2 nd Assistant Superintendent, North Shore Country Club, Sneads Ferry, NC. Joey G. Young, Class C, Assistant Superintendent, Sea Gull Golf Club, Pawleys Island, SC. William C. Young, Class C, 2 nd Assistant Superintendent, Capital City Club-Crabapple, Woodstock, GA. Regal Chemical, Class AfCorp 1, Sales Representatives, Russell Blanton, W. Reid Hobbs, Lesley Bailey, Alpharetta, GA. CAROLINAS green 59

62 WHATS NEXT New Event Offers Bragging Rights And Big Bucks Regional bragging rights and a shot at two televised $100,000 pay-outs will be on the line at the new-look Carolinas GCSA local association team championship at Sea Trail Golf Resort in Sunset Beach, NC, on May 23 and 24. This promises to be one of the most enjoyable events on our calendar, says Carolinas GCSA golf committee member, Billy Lewis, from Carolina National Golf Club in nearby, Supply, NC. With two days of competition and camaraderie among our members from every part of the Carolinas, it s going to be hard to beat. Each of the 12 local associations will enter up to three four-man teams in the 36-hole strokeplay event. The best three gross scores in each team will decide the overall championship, which comes with a $1,000 check and a cup for the winning association. There will also be a net division which will also carry a $1,000 prize for the winning association. The same team cannot win both divisions. The second day of the event will also serve as regional qualifying for the 2005 People vs. Pros tournament in partnership with BASF. Four Carolinas GCSA superintendent members will qualify for an all expenses paid trip to Barton Creek Resort and Spa in Austin, TX, where they will compete for the right to play head-tohead with tour pros for $100,000. There will be qualifying spots for two players from each of North and South Carolina, with each state providing a qualifier age 49 and under and 50 and over. The People vs. the Pros is a national event contested by fields of around 100 players in each age group. The winner in the 49 and under group will compete against Justin Leonard and the 50 and over winner will go up against Ben Crenshaw. Each of those matches carry $100,000 prizes for the winner and $50,000 prizes for the runner-up. Those matches will screen prime time on ESPN September 19. Water and pine forests await local association team championship competitors on Sea Trail s Rees Jones course. What: Carolinas Cup Local Association Team Championship Where: Sea Trail Golf Resort, Sunset Beach, NC When: Monday, May 23, and Tuesday, May 24. Entry fee: $150 per player, includes two rounds of golf, dinner, breakfast, lunch, and shared accommodation. What s on the line: Bragging rights Two $1,000 prizes Four all expenses paid golf trips to Texas Four chances at competing for $100,000 BASF representative and Carolinas GCSA member, Willie Pennington, says the union between the People vs. the Pros event and the Carolinas GCSA team championship is a perfect fit. We re thrilled to be able to help put on such a first-class event that gives everyone in the Carolinas GCSA a chance to go head to head with the big guys, he says. It s our company s way of saluting the crucial contribution of superintendents to the golf industry. People vs. the Pros qualifying is restricted to Class A and B members. To compete in the Carolinas Cup Local Association Team Championship, competitors must be current members of that local association. Each team may include one affiliate member. Team composition and entries will be coordinated by the local associations. Please contact your local association leaders if you wish to compete. Matt Owens, acting director of golf course maintenance at Sea Trail, says the event will be played on the Rees Jones and Dan Maples courses. This will be the first time I have ever been at a course that has hosted a Carolinas GCSA event and I am definitely looking forward to it, he says. The Jones course has that trademark Jones mounding along each side of the fairway and the Maples course has plenty of undulations on the greens that protect par. Future Meeting Dates May 23-24, 2005 Carolinas Cup Local Association Team Championship Sea Trail Golf Resort Sunset Beach, NC July 25, 2005 Carolinas Invitational Superintendent and Club Officials Belfair Plantation Hilton Head Island, SC September Fall Meeting Grove Park Inn Resort Asheville, NC November 14-17, 2005 Carolinas GCSA Conference and Trade Show Myrtle Beach, SC 60 CAROLINAS green May - June 2005

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64 We know how critical after-sale service is to your productivity. As a result, we virtually work around the clock to deliver what you need THE SUNNEVER SETS ON OUR SERVICE. most quick response. From timely solutions for unexpected problems to next-day parts delivery when you re in a crunch, our trained turf and irrigation service technicians will get you what you need when you need it. Because we re more than just a vendor we re your partner. And we won t rest until you do. Office Orders