California GCSA Board of Directors Meeting: November 2006, Ontario, CA

Environmental Certification
California Golf Course Superintendent, David P. Major, CGCS at Shady Canyon Golf Club, Irvine, CA has earned the environmental management specialist certificate from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) for completing a specialization program in Integrated Pest Management.

California Superintendent Jeff Comer, Participates at BASF ‘People vs. the Pros’

Jeff Comer won the Jan. 12 regional People vs. the Pros qualifier tournament held for members of the Hi-Lo Desert GCSA. From L: BASF Sr. Sales Specialist Fred Eckert, tournament winner Jeff Comer and BASF Regional Manager Steve Jackson.

Jeff Comer, superintendent at the Avondale Golf Club, Palm Desert, Calif., represented golf course superintendents nationwide during the 2006 BASF People vs. the Pros golf tournament, held Aug. 18 – 22 at Pinehurst Resort, Pinehurst, N.C.
Comer and 21 other BASF-sponsored superintendents were a part of a field of 200 competitors vying to play against PGA professionals Retief Goosen or Gary McCord for the opportunity to win $50,000 for the charity of the winner’s choice. The top two scoring superintendents not playing against the pros competed against one another in the third annual BASF Superintendent’s Cup. 
    As the tournament’s title sponsor, BASF hosted more than 1,000 superintendents who participated in 18 regional qualifier tournaments held in conjunction with Golf Course Superintendent Association (GCSA) chapters from across the country. Each regional qualifying superintendent won an all-expense-paid trip to compete in the Pinehurst final, and BASF donated $2,000 to the hosting chapter’s education fund.
Playing with his USGA handicap of 26.7, Comer’s net beat out 82 participating superintendents from across the Hi-Lo Desert and Southern California Golf Course Superintendent Associations during the first regional qualifier held Jan. 12 at the Desert Princess in Cathedral City, Calif.
   “To be one of the few superintendents to win a local qualifier and compete at the People vs. the Pros seemed far-fetched as I considered my handicap index of 27.4 back in January,” said Comer. “Thanks to the handicap system, the opportunity became a reality.”
   Though Comer did not qualify to play against a pro or in the BASF Superintendent’s Cup final match, he enjoyed the opportunity to experience Pinehurst, network with his peers and contribute to increasing the professional visibility of the golf course superintendent. Comer finished the three-day, 54-hole tournament with a net score of 272. 
   “This annual event promotes the game of golf and the potential that an amateur like me has a chance of playing a pro like Goosen or McCord, and maybe even winning – though I did neither,” said Comer. “However, I did get to meet superintendents from across the country and formed several lasting relationships.”

   The Grand Prize Match of the BASF People vs. the Pros and highlights from the BASF Superintendent’s Cup are currently scheduled to air on ESPN2 on Oct. 17 at 7:30 p.m. EST.
   “The public who will see this event on ESPN will gain an appreciation for the game and learn how the handicap process levels the field— from a seasoned pro to a single digit handicapper to a once-a-year player,” said Comer. “Viewers will also get to hear about how superintendents from around the world are making golf courses environmentally friendly places for both the public and the surrounding wildlife.”
Reprint; BASF ‘People vs. the Pros’ News Release

2007 California Hospitality Suite Plan: 
The California Hospitality Suite planning has been completed. The location selected, "The House of Blues" 1530 S. Disneyland Dr. Anaheim, CA, on Thursday, February 22, 2007, from 6:30 - 9:30 PM.
2007 California Hospitality Suite Sponsorship / Link to: Online Registration Form

Doug recently accepted the superintendent position at Marrakesh Country Club. Marrakesh is an eighteen hole, private, thirty-five year old golf course. Doug is enjoying the challenge of maintaining the course and common areas for 365 houses. Since Doug has a BS degree in Ornamental Horticulture from the University of Minnesota, as well as a Turf degree from Penn State, he is well experienced for both rolls.

After completing four years in the military, Doug got a job on a course in Willmar, MN. While there he met Dr. Jim Watson, who advised Doug to attend Penn State. Doug followed his advice and moved to Pennsylvania. During his college years he worked as an assistant for former desert superintendent, DJ Pakala, at Philadelphia Country Club. From there he worked in Denver, CO as an assistant. From there he went to Alliance, NB, as the Director of Parks and Public Grounds. While there Doug hosted the 1975 Nebraska State Amateur Open, as well as the 1976 State Little League Playoffs.

Doug decided to return to school in his home state of Minnesota on the GI Bill and complete his BS degree in Horticulture. When he finished, DJ Pakala once again had a position for Doug, this time in Palm Desert at The Vintage Club. Doug accepted the assistant superintendent position and helped DJ finish construction of the Desert Course in 1983. While there, Doug met his wife, Janet, sitting in the dentist’s chair. I’m not sure how he was able to start up a conversation with a tooth polisher in his mouth, but somehow he managed! She was also from Minnesota, so naturally they hit it off.

In 1985, Doug left for Arizona to take over the superintendent position at Gainey Ranch, where he stayed for 2 years. He and Janet got married in Las Vegas that same year. He then came back to the desert to take over at Indian Wells Country Club, where he hosted five Bob Hope Classic PGA tournaments. The last two years were spent in remodeling the course, which included a new Rainbird irrigation system, bunker work, adding tees, and installing cart paths on the new nine.

In 1992 Doug moved to The Vintage Club, where he again began bigger projects. Every summer for the next ten years Doug was involved in various upgrades from installing irrigation systems on two courses, to changing out 270,000 sq ft of greens to A-4 Bentgrass. Doug was one of the first superintendents to have the sub-aire system in his greens. Doug spent 9.8 million in the ten years at The Vintage Club

After fifteen years in high profile/ high stress jobs, and 12 years of nonstop projects, Doug decided to move his family to Idaho for a better life. However, Coeur d’Alene Golf Resort was also a high profile position with a 2.1 million dollar renovation project which included all aspects of course renovation. He remembers sodding the floating green one boat at a time.

Idaho turned out not to be the better life for the family, so they returned to the much better weather of the desert. He worked with Mark Smith of The Quarry for the second time, until the superintendent’s position at Silver-Rock Golf Resort opened up for the grow-in of the new course. Doug was further challenged by receiving 15 inches of rain in 15 months, unheard of for the desert. Our annual average rainfall is 3-4 inches per year! With Silver-Rock sitting next to the mountains in La Quinta, the runoff was incredible. Water could be heard rushing down the arroyos, flooding and washing out some of the course. This happened four different times. After delaying the opening, the course opened for play in February 2005.

After two years, Doug had the opportunity to move to Marrakesh. After many years of major projects, Doug is happy to have a mature little course in a maintenance mode. He feels he has his life back and now has time to spend with the family. Doug has two daughters, Shannon (20), a student at Boise State and Sarah (17), a senior at a private school in Arizona. Janet takes care of the home and family

Doug’s goals are to improve playing conditions for the well-deserved homeowners. He feels he has the best superintendent job in the valley and hopes to someday retire from Marrakesh.

By Shannon Lichliter, CGCS / High Tech Irrigation

All GCSAA members in the initial three-year renewal cycle who failed to meet the ongoing requirements for maintaining their Class A status will be reclassified to Superintendent Member classification. In order to regain their Class A status, the Superintendent Member must meet their initial requirements, plus an additional 5.0 points, with a minimum of 2.0 education points. At the time these requirements are met, the member will be eligible once again for Class A status.
Members who actually earned points or possessed a pesticide license, but failed to get this information posted prior to the June 30th deadline, should contact GCSAA at (800) 472-7878 to learn about possible options for receiving credit for points earned prior to the deadline.
To review information on your education and service points and post pesticide license information, visit the “My Member Central” tab at www.gcsaa.org or request information and affidavits by calling GCSAA’s Fax-on-Demand line at (888) 838-4419. 

For more information about maintaining your membership, contact R. Scott Woodhead, senior manager of governance and member standards, at 
(800) 472-7878, ext. 4418. 

For more attendee & online registration information: Information & Registration

For Details; visit the GCSAA Web Address: http://www.gcsaa.org/education/webcast/webcast.aspx
Or call Kyle Kreighbaum 800-472-7878 x5167
 

Several recent decisions by the EPA will have significant impact on many turf management programs. Some of the key decisions are listed below: 

PCNB: On August 2, 2006, the EPA announced that all uses of PCNB on turf were ineligible for reregistration <http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-PEST/2006/August/Day-02/p12485.htm>. Although the product may be retained for a few agricultural uses, PCNB was deemed to present too many environmental risks with too few benefits in turf. There is a 60-day period for public comment, but unless these arguments are extremely compelling to EPA, their plan is to cancel all uses of PCNB on turf following the 60 day period (by October, 2006). 

MSMA and DSMA: The EPA announced last week <http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/reregistration/methanearsonic_acid/> that organic arsenical herbicides (including MSMA and DSMA) present more risks than benefits and are therefore ineligible for reregistration. There is a 60-day period for public comment, but once again, unless these arguments are extremely compelling to EPA, their plan is to cancel all uses of these products following the 60 day period (by October, 2006). 

Thiophanate-methyl: Late in 2004, the EPA determined that thiophanate-methyl (Cleary's 3336) <http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/REDs/tm_red.pdf> could continue to be used on golf course turf, but with several new restrictions that limit the maximum rate used per application, the maximum amount used per year and the minimum number of days (no less than 14 days) between applications. Restrictions are more severe in the state of Florida than elsewhere. Make sure that you are in compliance by carefully reading the label on your product. If the new mitigation label <http://www.clearychemical.com/support/label/4172SL%20Mitigation.pdf> is on the product in your shop, then you must abide by these new restrictions. 

Reprint with permission:
Larry Stowell, Ph.D.
Pace Turfgrass Research Inst.

Pace Web Site:

Black Layer, metal ion concentration and the ECe were higher in the affected turf samples. Not only were the metal ion concentrations higher, but the available phosphorus concentration in many of the samples was low.

The Environmental Institute for Golf is funding a research project that will benefit us all, “A Critical Review of Water Quality Impacts by Golf Courses:  Update and Trends.” The USGA is cosponsoring this effort, which is a continuation of a previous national assessment published in Golf Course Management (November, 1997) and the Journal of Environmental Quality.

This project is intended to acquire as much data as possible from golf courses that are conducting surface and/or ground water monitoring projects. The intent of the study, conducted by Environmental & Turf Services, Inc., Wheaton, MD, with Dr. Stuart Cohen as principal investigator, is to publish a critical review of the quality of surface and ground water as affected by golf courses.  Such data are very important to accurately assess the ecological implications of land use planning regarding the construction and maintenance of golf course facilities.  This information can also have implications for pesticide registration decisions.  Most important, the results of this study will give important feedback to superintendents who not only manage their courses, but who live in the environment. Target analyses are pesticides, pesticide metabolites, nitrate, and phosphorus.

We need your help.  If your golf course is conducting surface and/or ground water monitoring projects or have in the past and you are willing to share the data, please contact Juleen Lam at: 

Juleen Lam
Environmental & Turf Services, Inc.
11141 Georgia Avenue, Suite 208
Wheaton, MD  20902
Phone:  (301) 933-4700
Fax:      (301) 933-4701
Email: JuleenLam@aol.com 

We would like to have the water quality data as soon as possible but no later than September 30, 2006. 
Data from individual golf courses will be held in confidence. Only aggregate data will be presented. 
Our goal is to ensure that golf courses contribute to a healthy environment.  Your assistance is very much appreciated. 

Printable version of full report 

by Wendy Gelernter, Ph.D. and Larry J. Stowell, Ph.D.

Plainfield, IL – When precision irrigation decisions count, the AE50 award-winning Field Scout TDR Series offers growers the tools to eliminate the guesswork.  Based on proven time-domain measurement technology, these portable units accurately measure soil moisture across the full range of soil moisture conditions.  Now with an additional mode for use in high clay soils.

The Field Scout TDR Series has two volumetric water content modes; one for standard soils and one for higher clay soils. In volumetric water content (VWC) mode, the meter converts a measured electrical signal into percent soil moisture content using an equation valid over a wide range of mineral soils. In irrigation mode, the meter displays a relative water content (RWC) on a scale of 0 to 100 corresponding to a user-defined upper and lower soil moisture reference level. Water deficit, the amount of water needed to bring the soil moisture content up to the upper reference level, is also calculated and displayed. The reference levels are easily programmed into the meter with the accompanying software. Create up to 2 management sites based on your soil types and crop needs. Use the raw reading mode (measurement period in microseconds) to do soil-specific calibrations.  An internal data logger and RS-232 port allow for use with a DGPS for geo-referenced soil moisture measurements(TDR 300 model only). Includes software and PC cable.

Perfect for Researchers, Consultants, and Turf Management! 

Spectrum Technologies, Inc. manufactures and supplies affordable weather and field measurement technologies that help growers make better decisions on crop inputs.  To receive a free catalog complete with hundreds of climate, soil, and plant health monitoring devices, contact Spectrum Technologies, Inc., 12360 S Industrial Dr. East, Plainfield, IL 60585, toll free (800) 248-8873,  (815) 436-4440, fax (815) 436-4460, or at www.specmeters.com.

Professional grade trimmer and brushcutter,  25.6-cc, low emission, M-Series engine for efficient, quiet, and long-lasting use. Solid steel, straight, 59-inch shaft for reduced vibration and increased durability, 17-inch cutting swath. Commercial EZ Load™ string head provides fast, accurate line feed for increased productivity. 
Anti-vibration clutch housing, anti-vibration front handles, and over-molded throttle for smooth, comfortable operation. Low-tone, glass-wool-lined aluminum mufflers for quiet operation, Lightweight at 12 pounds (5.4 kg) for ease of use and operator comfort.