*   CGCSA News!

*   2008 California Hospitality Suite Sponsors

*   Online Membership Directory 

*    2008 CGCSA Annual Conference, Trade show & Golf Championship

*   California GCSA Government Relations Network 

*   Job Opportunities

*   GCSAA "News"

*   Built by Association - Featuring Bruce R. Williams, CGCS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Seth Strickland captured his second Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) National Championship in dominating fashion on Tuesday at the Independence Course at Reunion Resort in Orlando.

Carding his third consecutive round of 4-under-par 68, the GCSAA Class A member at Miami Shores Country Club in south Florida finished the three-day event with a total of 12-under-par 204, the lowest total winning score in the tournament's 58 year history. Strickland won the 2005 GCSAA title, also conducted in Orlando.

His margin of victory of 16 strokes over runners-up Mike Stieler, GCSAA certified golf course superintendent at Riverbend Golf Club in Coarsegold, Calif., and Shawn Westacott, GCSAA Superintendent Member at Jackson (Tenn.) Country Club, was also the largest in tournament history.

Mike you are running away with the runner-up finish, how many times has it been. My count is three! 

GCSAA Golf Classic:
California players the finished in the top 5.

First Flight: Fifth place Gross: Rafael Barajas , CGCS , Hacienda Golf Club
Second Flight: Second place Gross:  Michael Scott , CGCS , Cypress Ridge Golf Club
Second Flight: Net division, 5th place: Michael Scott , CGCS , Cypress Ridge Golf Club 

Gross Division: Third Flight, Fourth Flight, Fifth Flight, Sixth Flight, SeniorI, SeniorII & Super Senior Flight : No top 5.
Net Division:Third, Fourth, Fifth & Sixth Flights: No top 5.
Net Division, SeniorI: Fourth place; James Ward , CGCS , City of Los Angeles Golf Manager, Fifth place; Blake Swint , Rossmoor Golf Course.
Net Division Super Senior: Third place; Ronald Nolf , CGCS , Vista Valley Country Club

Chapter Teams: Highest finishing California Team was 7th in the Net division, and 18th in the Gross division.

Two Man Teams Net 1 Division
Team Player Name 
Paul Mayes & Michael Sommer  62 

Jim Husting, CGCS has applied for membership in the Off-road Implementation Advisory for the In-Use Off-road Diesel Vehicle Regulation. Jim will represent the California Golf Course Superintendents.

Strickland runs away with second GCSAA national golf title

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Seth Strickland captured his second Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) National Championship in dominating fashion on Tuesday at the Independence Course at Reunion Resort in Orlando.

Carding his third consecutive round of 4-under-par 68, the GCSAA Class A member at Miami Shores Country Club in south Florida finished the three-day event with a total of 12-under-par 204, the lowest total winning score in the tournament's 58-year history. Strickland won the 2005 GCSAA title, also conducted in Orlando.

His margin of victory of 16 strokes over runners-up Mike Stieler, GCSAA certified golf course superintendent at Riverbend Golf Club in Coarsegold, Calif., and Shawn Westacott, GCSAA Superintendent Member at Jackson (Tenn.) Country Club, was also the largest in tournament history.

Mike you are running away with the runner-up finish, how many times has it been. My count is three! 

Earlier this week, the GCSAA board conducted a series of second-round interviews for the CEO search and the process is continuing in good order. With the Golf Industry Show behind us, we anticipate working through the rest of the process without delay. 

Having reached this point, we feel comfortable working with Steve Mona to set a date certain for his last day. After discussing this among the board and Steve, we have agreed upon Friday, Feb. 29, as his official last day at GCSAA. He will start fulltime at the World Golf Foundation on Monday, March 3. We greatly appreciate Steve’s dedication in continuing to serve as GCSAA CEO for more than five months after announcing his acceptance of his new position. Steve also has agreed to devote some time to assisting with transition once the new CEO is on board. 

In order to maintain our normal governance structure and operations for the time span between Steve’s departure and the actual hire and start date of our new CEO, the board has appointed Cam Oury, GCSAA’s chief financial officer and managing director of finance, to serve as interim CEO, effective March 1. While Cam will not assume the travel and representation duties that Steve fulfilled, he will have full decision-making authority and reporting responsibility as outlined in the Board/CEO compact. 

In addition to these developments, I also want to announce that Diane Kearns will eventually be leaving GCSAA to continue as Steve’s executive assistant in his new role. However, she will remain fulltime at GCSAA for a few months to handle executive office functions and ensure a smooth transition for the new CEO. Her start date at the World Golf Foundation will be June 1. Please join the board and me in thanking Diane for her 12 years of loyal service to GCSAA, and wishing her and her husband, Don, the best in their move to Florida. 

Please contact me if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

ddowning@signaturegolfgroup.com
David S. Downing, CGCS
GCSAA President

Because the 2008 Golf Industry Show (GIS) will start at the end of this month (see pg. 97), Bruce Williams, Superintendent of The Los Angeles Country Club (LACC), was the natural choice for this issue’s “Super to Super” interview. 

In addition to his exemplary work in helping to develop and maintain two of the most renowned and scenic parkland-style city courses in the world (LACC’s North Course has been described as “exciting and similar to having a golf course in Manhattan’s Central Park”), Bruce has been a key contributor to the growth and influence of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA), which has been the driving force behind the industry’s new “mega-show.” And, as you will learn through the interview, he is actually the second generation of his family to have taken an important leadership role to help shape and guide the primary organization for our profession. 

As the GCSAA, and the GIS, enter important new phases of their development, I thought it would be very useful to get Bruce’s insights into how where he sees the association, the show, and the superintendent’s role in the club and resort business evolving to in the future.

Q Bruce, tell us about yourself, your career, and your goals, and how your involvement with GCSAA has been an important part of each. 

A I grew up in a golf family whose involvement with the sport dates back to the early 1900s. My grandfather owned a golf course in Wauconda, Ill., named Bel Air Country Club. My Dad was a greenkeeper there and eventually went on to get a degree at the University of Massachusetts and become the President of GCSAA. 

I followed in his footsteps and became a Golf Course Superintendent at Bob O’Link Golf Club for about two decades, before moving on to The Los Angeles Country Club, where I’ve now been for 11 years.

Like my father, I was president of GCSAA, as well as of four GCSAA chapters. Overall I served for a stretch of about 25 years on various GCSAA committees, and spent eight years on the Board of Directors. I am still actively involved in teaching seminars across the country for GCSAA, as well as for the Professional Golfers Association and the Club Managers Association of America, and remain involved on committees and task forces when asked to serve. 

As far as my goals, they are simple: I want to provide a wonderful golf course for my members each and every day. I am a bit of a perfectionist and have mentored many young men and women in the industry. We try to instill professionalism and attention to detail, which is what businesses have come to expect. 

Q What challenges do you see golf, golf course management and in particular the superintendent facing in the near future?

A The challenges that lie ahead are many. Superintendents will continue to be asked to do more with less. Expectations will continue to go up, while budget increases will be moderate at best. Golf is recovering and is a reflection of the overall economy. Superintendents need to continue to become part of the solution, relative to growing the game and the business. 

In addition, environmental pressures will increase, as will legislation and regulations. Water resources will diminish in availability and quality, and go up in cost. All told, it certainly looks like a very “interesting” period lies ahead of us.

Q How does GCSAA help prepare superintendents to meet these challenges?

A GCSAA has an outstanding education program that is unlike any other to be found in the allied associations of this industry. It is extremely well-attended and received by our members, and only will be more so, as online and other forms of “distance” education grow by leaps and bounds in the coming years. 

The best superintendents are those that continue to grow educationally and professionally. Constant and consistent strengthening of our educational offerings is imperative, to keep GCSAA members at the forefront of science and technology in the golf turf industry. Business acumen and interpersonal skills training will also be more necessary for our members, and the number of offerings in these areas will increase as well.

Q The GCSAA will have a leadership change this year, with Steve Mona moving on after doing much to help the organization grow to where it is today. In your opinion, what will the new CEO of GCSAA need to address and focus on as priorities?

A First, the new CEO will need to assess his team and organization at GCSAA. Many questions should be asked: Do we have the right team in place? Do we have the right programs in place? What resources are welacking? What is the most efficient way to do business? What is the satisfaction level among GCSAA members? Are we accomplishing the goals set by the indicators from member surveys? What is our vision for the next decade? What will spell success for each individual GCSAA member?

The new CEO will need to build a successful team to help address each of these important questions. There is no reason that we should not be able to either develop internally, or attract externally, the brightest and the best talent for this team. It should be an exciting time for GCSAA. Change can be good, and good team members will readily adapt to new leadership, a new culture, and new concepts. 

Q How important is certification today for the individual superintendent, as well as for the facility that he or she works for? 

A Historically, about 22-25% of eligible GCSAA members become certified. I do not see that changing significantly. Certification is not for everyone. However, for those who choose to challenge themselves, it is a very rewarding experience. The rewards come not only in the form of personal satisfaction and better preparation for the challenges of the job, but financially as well: Certified Golf Course Superintendents earn approximately 15% more than those who aren’t certified. 

Q The Golf Industry Show has many opportunities for those who attend. What are some specific reasons why people should take the time to attend and participate?

A The GIS has tremendous value to not only golf course superintendents, but all of the key decision-makers at any facility. The event is divided into two major components, including educational sessions and the trade show. Educational offerings abound for not only superintendents, their staff and employers, but also the allied associations. The trade show provides, under one roof, the latest innovations, technology, equipment, tools, etc. to provide wonderful golf courses worldwide.

Often I hear people say that they cannot afford to go the GIS, or that their club will not pay for them to attend. I think this is sad. I know that for myself, I never cease to find cost-saving ideas and ways to improve the quality of my facility at the show. The return on investment for attendees is huge, and it’s not hard to provide a written summary of the experience to show its value to your employer. GCSAA has an outstanding team that manages our show, and in my view, it is simply “The Best Show on Turf.”

Q Finally, Bruce, as you look back at all that you’ve accomplished in this business—as well as at what may lie ahead—what would you say are the best and worst parts of your job?

A The best part of my job is meeting the many challenges that I face daily. Most of us got into this business expecting to spend the majority of our days solving turf issues. Anymore, that is expected—but it’s the things like managing a team, a fleet, a business, dealing with members’ expectations or communication issues, etc., that now take up the better part of our day. 

While I really do not feel there is a bad part of the job, I do have some occasional regrets. Growing up as the son of a golf course superintendent, I learned early on about the demands of the job. I learned what was expected by my employers daily, and the sacrifices that one must make. When you add volunteerism and leadership to the mix, as I have chosen to do, it can really be taxing. 

Knowing this, I have tried to balance my family time with my work and industry activities. I am sure there may have been a concert, a baseball game, or a church function that I’ve missed, and that can be a source of regret. But I have had a wonderful wife of 30 years and four wonderful and loving children, and I can certainly say that life has been very good to me.

Chapter members, interested in reading other “Super to Super” interviews that we have archived on our site (as well as other features dealing with Course & Grounds topics and more general club/resort management issues.  Club & Resort Business web site; www.clubandresortbusiness.com
 

GCSAA Webcast Series
GCSAA's live education webcasts will be 90 minutes long and will take place at the computer of your choice. 
To increase the event's interaction, we recommend the use of a microphone, but you can ask questions and participate using the text chat feature.
Visit the system check today to learn more about what's required and test your system, free of charge.

GCSAA's live education Webcasts Series;  All Webcast times are Central.
03/05/08     Fungicides, Resistance & Disease Control                                                  10:00 am 
03/13/08    Excel: Chart & Graph Development to Enhance Your Budget                        2:00 pm 
03/17/08    ID, Biology and Current Control of Poa Trivialis-2008                                   12:00pm 
03/20/08    Phosphorus Fertilizers and Pollution - What Turf Managers Need to Know    10:00am 

To register today, use our online shopping cart. From the details description page, select "Add to Cart" from the quick facts box to put your course in a shopping cart. 
When your cart is full, "View cart/Check out" will take you to the payment options. You may also complete and fax the registration form to (785) 832-4449. 

Visit the ON DEMAND Webcast events, Choose any of our recorded webcasts - view them when you want and as many times as you want (within one year from purchase.)

For Details; visit the GCSAA Webcast ON DEMAND Address: http://www.gcsaa.org/education/webcast/webcast.aspx
Or call  (800) 472-7878 x 5167 

Let the lawn "show" you when it needs water. Look at your footprints, a bluish-green or bluish-gray cast or wilted leaves. 
You don’t have to water the entire lawn. Consider only those areas that need water. Look for signs of thirst to identify highly drought-prone areas: high spots; sandy locations; and areas adjacent to sidewalks, patios and driveways. 
In lawns on compacted clay soil where water does not penetrate easily, consider aerifying the lawn. Loosen up the soil with a spading fork or use a powered machine that creates holes or "pores" in the lawn by the action of spoons or tines mounted on a drum or reel. As the machine rolls over the lawn, it removes cores of soil from the ground, loosening the soil. The holes also serve as water reservoirs by collecting water that reduces surface runoff. Cool-season lawns are best aerified in the fall; warm-season lawns in the summer. 
For an in-ground, automatic sprinkler system, set the time clock to "off" and manually turn the system "on" when the lawn needs water. The automatic position on the time clock is useful when you are away for more than a few days. Even then, the clock can be made to operate more efficiently by installing a rain shut-off device that overrides the system when it rains. 
Fix leaky hoses, spigots and valves. A considerable amount of water is wasted with leaky hose connections and worn-out spigots. Check sprinkler heads for an even spray pattern and direction of spray. Check for damaged sprinkler heads and replace heads that leak. 

MANAGING THE LAWN DURING STRESSFUL SUMMERS
Follow these steps to help the lawn deal with the stresses of summer weather:

Get your soil tested and follow a fertilization program according to the test results. Add the appropriate amount of lime and maintain adequate levels of phosphorus and potassium to encourage deep rooting and drought tolerance. 
Reduce thatch layers thicker than half an inch by dethatching. Heavy thatch layers may contain more grass roots than soil, thus making the grass plants less tolerant to drought and more susceptible to heat injury. 
Use natural fertilizers with "slowly available" or "water-insoluble" nitrogen and synthetic fertilizers that contain slow-release nitrogen, such as urea formaldehyde or sulfur-coated urea. The nitrogen in these types of fertilizer does not quickly wash away, and it provides green color without causing excessive leaf growth. 
Do not water when rain is forecast. 
Raise the mowing height of the lawn mower during summer months; a higher mowing height encourages root growth and reduces heat stress. A well-established fescue lawn can be allowed to go drought dormant in the summer without serious damage. A new lawn of fescue that is less well-established, only a few months old and has a limited root system can be severely thinned and may need to be replanted. 
 
 

Table 1. Time required to apply water for a given irrigation rate

	Irrigation Rate  (Amount of water per hour)
	0.5 in.           1 in.          1.5 in.        2 in
Amount of water to be applied	Minutes to run each zone

0.25 in.	30	15	10	8
0.5 in.	60	30	20	15
0.75 in.	90	45	30	23
1 in.	120	60	40	30

Equation 1.
 
 

Minutes required to run each zone  =   Amount of water to be applied x 60                                                              Your calibrated irrigation rate

For example, if the sprinkler system applies water at the rate of 2 inches per hour and you wish to apply 0.75 inches of water, then you would need to run your sprinklers for about 23 minutes.

Excerpted from the South Carolina Master Gardener Training Manual, EC 678. 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prepared by Bob Polomski, Extension Consumer Horticulturist, and Debbie Shaughnessy, HGIC Information Specialist, Clemson University.

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (Jan. 17, 2008) – The Toro Company is pleased to introduce the Pro Force™, an engine-driven debris blower with a turbine-type design that offers unmatched performance.  This exciting new product will be available for purchase through your local Toro distributor in early summer 2008.

Your product, the golf course, is on display every day.  Early morning tee times or busy conditions may limit the time that you have to prepare your golf course for play.  Your agronomic practices, such as aeration, typical fairway and rough mowing applications, and mother nature all combine to create a debris situation that must be managed to achieve your aesthetic and playability standards.

Our product – the Pro Force – will allow you to experience superior productivity.  More available air flow creates greater debris clearing air power.  This power gives you the capability of faster removal of grass clippings, leaves, twigs, pine needles, aeration cores, garbage or other undesirable debris from your maintained turf or paved areas.

“Our golf course superintendent customers have had the opportunity to provide product feedback through every stage of the development of this new debris blower,” said Wade Tollison, marketing manager for the Toro Commercial Division.  “They have asked us for a debris blower that has more power, greater efficiency, and that is easier to use to help achieve their desirable outcomes.  The result is the Pro Force, a debris blower with superior productivity and operational simplicity that delivers unmatched performance.”

Its single piece, high density, impact resistant, plastic nozzle is extremely durable and less prone to damage than metal ductwork.  An electronic governor gives the operator precise engine speed control.  This control is activated by a hand-held wireless RF controller, which provides the capability to start and stop the blower, adjust engine throttle up and down for high to low RPM range of operation, and rotate the nozzle 360 degrees – all from the seat of a Toro® Workman® or similar utility vehicle.

For more information about the Toro Pro Force debris blower, contact your local Toro distributor at 1-800-803-8676 or write to Toro Commercial Equipment, 8111 Lyndale Avenue South, Bloomington, MN  55420.  Additional information will be available soon at www.torosports.com and www.toro.com.

About The Toro Company 
The Toro Company (NYSE: TTC) is a leading worldwide provider of outdoor beautification products, support services and integrated solutions. With sales of $1.9 billion in 2007, Toro is committed to providing environmentally responsible products of customer-valued quality and innovation. Since 1914, the company has built a tradition of excellence around a number of strong brands that serve a customer base that includes golf course superintendents, groundskeepers, sports field managers, landscape and irrigation contractors, fruit and vegetable growers, and homeowners. The Toro Company is headquartered at 8111 Lyndale Avenue in Bloomington, Minn. Visit the company Web site at www.thetorocompany.com.