greenmaster
January/February 2013
official publication of cgsa
◗ l e a d e r s h i p ◗ a d v o c a c y ◗ e d u c at i o n
Toronto 2013 Canadian International Turfgrass Conference and Trade Show Toronto, January 25-29, 2013
plus ◗ Spring startup ◗ Setting yourself apart in the job hunt ◗ TURF BLOGGING ◗ conserving water with Turfgrasses
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spon s ors
The following companies generously support the canadian golf superintendents association through partnerships on specific events/programs: CITCTS 2013
Canadian Golf Superintendents Association Board of Directors 2012–2013 Tim Kubash, MS, AGS, President Master Superintendent Salmon Arm Golf Club PO Box 1525, Salmon Arm, BC V1E 4P6
Basf Bayer Environmental Science Civitas John Deere Golf Rain Bird International Syngenta Crop Protection Canada Inc. additional events Bayer Environmental Science – Fall Field Day John Deere Golf – Fall Field Day, Equipment Technician Award Club Car – Environmental Award The Toro Company – Future Superintendent Award, Classic Reception/Fall Field Day, Gordon Witteveen Award
JOHN MILLS, Vice President Superintendent Northumberland Links Golf Club PO Box 2, Pugwash, NS B0K 1L0 T: 902-243-2119 F: 902-243-3213 jwmills@ns.sypatico.ca Christian pilon, MS Secretary/Treasurer/Quebec Director Master Superintendent Mount Bruno Country Club 665 Chemin des Vingts, QC J3V 4P6 T: 450-653-1265 F: 450-653-8693 cpilon_mbcc@bellnet.ca debbie amirault, AGS, Past President Superintendent The Quarry #404-1013-114 Street Edmonton, AB T5K 2S6 T: 780-482-1425 debamirault@shaw.ca
kyle kellgren Saskatchewan Director
james flett, AGS Ontario Director Superintendent Muskoka Lakes Golf & Country Club PO Box 280, 1330 Ferndale Road Port Carling, ON P0B 1J0 T: 705-765-3165 F: 705-765-6990 jflett@mlgcc.com Greg Austin
Superintendent Jackfish Lodge Golf & Conf. Ctr. PO Box 10, Cochin, SK S0M 0L0 T: 306-386-2150 F: 306-386-2840 jackfishproshop@sasktel.net
Darren Kalyniuk Manitoba Director Superintendent St. Boniface Golf & Country Club 100 Youville Street Winnipeg, MB R2H 2S1 T: 204-233-2497 F: 204-237-9794 darren@stbonifacegolfclub.com
British Columbia Director Superintendent Revelstoke Golf Club PO Box 9153 RP03, Revelstoke, BC V0E 3K0 T: 250-837-5000 F: 250-837-6123 gregaustin.rgc@gmail.com
Kendall Costain Atlantic Director Golf Operations Manager Westfield Golf & Country Club 8 Golf Club Road Grand Bay-Westfield, NB E5K 3C8 T: 506-757-2907 kendallcostain@hotmail.com
N
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OCIATION • CA ASS N
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CGSA Fall Field Day
UP ERINTEN DE N
6/30/10 3:13:01 PM
E GOLF • CANAD TD IA AN
485041_club.indd 1
James beebe Alberta Director Superintendent Priddis Greens Golf & CC #1 Priddis Greens Drive Priddis, AB T0L 1W0 T: 403-931-3391 F: 403-931-3219 jbeebe@priddisgreens.com
Hole #7, Wascana Country Club
Monday September 23rd, 2013 Wascana Country Club Regina, Saskatchewan
4 greenMaster | www.golfsupers.com
Host Superintendent:
Mike Kupchanko
e di tor ’s n ote ◗ bill garrett January/February 2013
greenmaster Vol 48, no. 1
bill garrett, CEM managing editor
◗ Exactly 46 years ago (January 1967), golf course superintendents across the country opened their copy of GreenMaster to read the following: “Starting with this issue, GreenMaster will be the official publication of the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association.” “…It will be the policy of the GreenMaster to promulgate the aims and purposes of the National Association. This means that we shall stress the value of education and learning and by so doing, promote the position of the superintendent in the golfing world.” Well GreenMaster has been the official publication of the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association ever since but as of this historic January/February 2013 issue, GreenMaster is going back to its roots and is being published internally by the CGSA. This recent decision by the Board of Directors is the result of feedback from readers and advertisers who have felt that GreenMaster needed a change in direction
if it was to maintain its dominance as the sector publication of choice. GreenMaster is your publication and the editorial content is in your hands. We will continue to publish only original articles so if you are a writer, think of GreenMaster first. If you have a story to tell but would prefer not to write, think of GreenMaster first and we will assign a writer. This conference issue delivers some insight into how we communicate with each other and how we can build on the education and networking that takes place every year at this time. From Brian Youell’s piece on the art of public speaking to Jamie Downton’s instructive article on how to start a blog and the benefits that come from reaching out this way, you will feel the enthusiasm and want to keep the networking alive all year. You will also find some great tips on getting ready for the coming season as Rick Woelfel interviews seasoned superintendents on their secrets. We hope you enjoy what you read on the following pages. We need constant feedback so please call us or email us with your likes and dislikes. Here’s to another 46 years! GM
March 3rd – 5th, 2013
Canadian Golf Superintendents’ Association 5520 Explorer Drive, Suite 205 Mississauga, ON L4W 5L1 Tel: 905-602-8873 / Toll Free: 800-387-1056 Fax: 905-602-1958 cgsa@golfsupers.com www.golfsupers.com Printing Provided by Blenheim INK 4305 Fairview Street, Suite 232 Burlington, ON L7L 6E8 Tel: 289-337-4305 Fax: 289-337-4187 www.blenheim.ca
©2013 Canadian Golf Superintendents Association. All rights reserved. The views expressed by the authors of articles or letters published in GreenMaster are not those of the Association and, therefore, the Association shall not be held liable for any of these views. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of the Association.
JANUARY 27th – 29th, 2013
Western Canadian Turfgrass Association Conference and Trade Show
Managing editor & Advertising Sales: Bill Garrett, CEM Tel: 905-602-8873 ext. 224 bgarrett@golfsupers.com
Art Direction & Design by Jeanette Thompson Tel: 519-650-2024 jeanettethompson@mac.com
COMING EVENTS
Sheraton Toronto Centre Hotel 123 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario
CGSA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Ken Cousineau, CAE Tel: 905-602-8873 ext. 222 kcousineau@golfsupers.com
Contact: Terry Davey | terry@blenheim.ca
We want your feedback! Email us at: cgsa@golfsupers.com
Canadian International Turfgrass Conference and Trade Show
GreenMaster is published six times a year (Jan/Feb, March/April, May/June, July/Aug, Sept/Oct, Nov/Dec) by the Canadian Golf Superintendents’ Association:
Penticton, British Columbia For further information go to: www.wcta-online.com SEPTEMBER 23rd, 2013 CGSA Fall Field Day
GreenMaster® is a registered trademark of the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association. All rights reserved. CANADA POST PUBLICATIONS MAIL PUBLICATIONS AGREEMENT No. 40025905 Return undeliverable copies to: Canadian Golf Superintendents’ Association 5520 Explorer Drive, Suite 205 Mississauga, ON L4W 5L1
Wascana Golf and Country Club Regina, Saskatchewan Host Superintendent: Mike Kupchanko
January/February 2013 | greenMaster 5
Grigg Brothers® Sustainability Means: • Protecting the environment, realizing economic value and providing the best quality turf solutions • Technology advanced and proprietary fertilizer formulations using all natural, plant-derived chelating agents unlike synthetic agents similar to EDTA which can not be metabolized by the plant • Proven nutrient uptake efficiency increases plant use and minimizes the potential for leaching or runoff loss • Science based best fertilizer management (BFM) and integrated pest management (IPM) tools • Balanced and complete formulations to enhance plant vigor and provide program simplicity • Highly effective and extensively researched Elicitor® Technology for increased plant stress tolerance
con te n ts ◗ january / February 2013
23
18
IN THIS ISSUE
DEPARTMENTS
12
FROM THE EDITOR
5
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
8
Conserving Water with Turfgrasses
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE
10
Managing an Essential Resource
NEWS FROM THE GREEN
11
16
Turf Blogging
MECHANIC’S CORNER
33
THE BACK NINE
35
18
Spring Startup
23
Growing for Golf
31
Stand Up and Deliver
14
Setting Yourself Apart in the Job Market
Putting a successful plan into action
2013 CITCTS: Education Sessions, Map & Exhibitor List
The art of public speaking
14 January/February 2013 | greenMaster 7
v ie wp oi n t ◗ tim kubash
“As a superintendent and a CGSA volunteer, I recognize that I benefit from much of what the association does every day whether or not I am a member.” Tim Kubash, CGSA President Tim Kubash, president
So long, but not goodbye. ◗ As my term as President of the CGSA draws to a close, I must say it’s been an absolute honor to serve as your president. As much as I felt prepared for the presidency, it was still a challenging task, but a task I enjoyed immensely. One of the most rewarding achievements of the year was being involved in the development of a new strategic vision for the CGSA. The new strategic plan includes a vision that the association become essential to success in the golf course management profession and a mission that calls on the CGSA to renew and intensify its work to support and promote the profession. The mission is something that the association lives every day, the vision is what we aspire to be. To appreciate the true value of a national association, I believe it is important to look beyond the programs, services, products and events and to take a long term view of our needs as professional golf course managers. One of those needs is representation. Representation of the profession is one of the key examples of a service the association provides that benefits all superintendents across the country, regardless of whether or not they are members. The CGSA never goes into
a discussion or interaction of any kind and argues that what it is promoting, advocating for or offering is only for its members. When the government makes a decision based on the efforts of the CGSA, that decision impacts all superintendents, not just CGSA members. The CGSA promotes superintendents as environmental stewards and as being an important part of the golf facility team. That message has positive implications for all superintendents. Our certification programs and our policy initiatives form the basis for professional recognition and provincial advocacy initiatives as well as place our members among the most recognized leaders in the Canadian golf industry. This recognition, although well deserved, is not yet consistent across the industry or the country. The benefits associated with CGSA’s efforts in the areas of promotion of the profession, certification, professional development and advocacy affect us all and these efforts must continue. As a superintendent and a CGSA volunteer, I recognize that I benefit from much of what the association does every day whether or not I am a member. I think it is important that all Canadian
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they made this publication possible. 8 greenMaster | www.golfsupers.com
superintendents consider the importance of having a national association, such as the CGSA, support our profession. It is also important to recognize that financial support of the association through membership is instrumental in the survival of the CGSA. We will be in good hands with John Mills as he steps into the president’s role. His common sense approach and intellect will serve us well as we continue on our path to be an essential association to the golf course industry. Thanks to Debbie Amirault for her hard work and dedication to the CGSA while serving as Alberta Director and CGSA President. Her wisdom and guidance will be missed. I would be remiss if I did not thank the Board of Directors, Ken Cousineau, our Executive Director and the staff of the CGSA for the hard work they do to ensure our association continues to provide the services and representation our members need. Thank you to my employer the, Salmon Arm Golf Club, General Manager Doug Herron, the Board of Directors and last but not least my talented staff. Without their support, my involvement with this great association would not have been possible. While I am on the topic, thanks to the CGSA members, past presidents, mentors and advisors (they number too many to list) for supporting your fellow members and this great profession by your participation in the CGSA. After having the opportunity to sit on the CGSA throne, so to speak, and see the inner workings of our national association, I can comfortably say that I strongly believe the association is headed in the right direction. I hope we can count on you, our members for your continued support. GM
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v ie wp oi n t ◗ ken cousineau
“The CGSA offers benefits to the sector and the industry that go beyond the products, programs and services that everyone sees.” Ken Cousineau, CGSA Executive Director ken cousineau, CAE executive director
Supporting Golf’s Advocacy Efforts ◗ The CGSA has for years been involved in advocacy on behalf of the profession of golf course superintendent. The intent of any and every advocacy effort is to gain an advantage or a change that will have a positive impact on a situation that affects an individual, specified group or community. The dictionary definition speaks directly to the use of “active verbal support” for a cause or position. It would be fair to suggest that most, possibly all, professional associations such as the CGSA are founded specifically for the purpose of engaging in advocacy on behalf of the population that it represents. The earliest advocacy was about promoting superintendents as professionals. Active verbal support was provided to convince owners, general managers and boards of directors that superintendents added value to the golf facility. This objective was supported by poster and direct mail campaigns and helped build the association and its profile in the early years. The next advocacy undertaking was probably around the issue of professional development and certification. This involved engaging with industry leaders and members to establish professional development as a necessary component of golf course operations and a necessity to keep your operation competitive. The association was also involved in advocacy with its own members to actively seek their support for a professional designation program. That program is now effectively operating and has been since 2006, but it took several years of “active verbal support” to ensure that the members had a program that would be supported. That advocacy program involved surveys, focus groups, studies of
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similar organizations and many debates and discussions and three different iterations of the program to get where we are today. The effort continues. The current focus is on providing top quality opportunities, advocating on behalf of superintendents to make sure that they have access to the opportunities and advocacy with superintendents to encourage their support of the association and the program through attendance and participation. The most compelling and possibly the most advantageous use of advocacy for superintendents over the past 10 years is most assuredly the participation by the association in the discussions and interactions related to the use of pesticides by the golf industry. For many years, the industry considered this matter a “superintendent issue” and essentially left it to the CGSA and related organizations to develop the arguments and present those arguments to the regulatory authorities. The first advocacy in this regard was two pronged – one with the regulators and one with the golf industry. The regulator process involved the development of reasonable and rational arguments and the presentation of these arguments in a way that made it possible for the regulators to understand how, why, where and when pesticides are used by superintendents. The golf industry process was focussed on explaining many of the same things to industry representatives; the difference was that there was an added focus on how non-use of pesticides would affect the golf course and both the economic and enjoyment components of the game. There are other components to the practice of advocacy and the golf
industry put a couple of those in place over the past five years. Irrefutable statistical data and reasonable rational policy statements are key pillars to any advocacy strategy. The golf industry has a strong policy framework, the environmental components of which have been developed and promoted by the CGSA. The industry has also put in place an economic impact analysis and a consumer behaviour analysis, both of which serve purposes other than advocacy, but both remain relevant to the advocacy efforts being conducted across the country. The CGSA was a key element in achieving both of these studies, along with its NAGA partners. These are studies that will need to be repeated in the future in order to continue to support the advocacy process. The CGSA offers benefits to the sector and the industry that go beyond the products, programs and services that everyone sees. Some of these, such as the advocacy efforts discussed above, benefit all superintendents and golf facilities regardless of whether they participate in the association. For the CGSA to be successful in these efforts, the support of all members of the profession would be extremely helpful and would lead to our advocacy efforts being much more persuasive. CGSA needs to find a way to make advocacy and the other benefits that it provides accessible and essential to all superintendents or to advocate with all superintendents to let them discover that membership is an investment and not an expense. GM
NEWS F ROM T H E G REEN ◗ Marc Cousineau
◗ If you think trying to hit onto the fairway was hard enough as it is, try doing it with one more hazard in your way; a shark on the tee. That’s what golfers at San Juan Hills Golf Club were faced with one day last October when a small shark was discovered on the 12th tee by a course marshal. The marshal reported the surprising find to the clubhouse before driving it there. It was then put in a bucket of saltwater and brought to the nearby Pacific Ocean and freed. Director of Course Operation, Melissa McCormack, says one theory for how the shark could have landed on the tee is a bird snatched it from the water as food and dropped it on the course.
B.C. town scraps pesticide bylaw ◗ The town of Alberni in British Columbia has rescinded its cosmetic pesticide ban after it met with limited success. One of the major reasons the bylaw, which was put in place in 2009, was scrapped was the poor results of alternative solutions to weed and pest problems. Hard surface burning, applications of vinegar and manual cultivation were all tested by city staff in an attempt to control weeds, but all were found ineffective or too labour intensive, according to the Alberni Valley News. The bylaw also put a financial burden on the city. Parks and Recreation manager for Alberni, Scott Kenny says applying Fiesta, a product allowed under the ban, would cost $32,000 to apply per year. The product Killex, banned under the bylaw, would only cost $1,600 to apply every four years, says Kenny. Kenny also added that the bylaw was hard to enforce. The town has opted to create an annual pest management plan in place of the cosmetic pesticide ban. Alberni’s city council came to the same conclusion as the provincial Special Committee on Cosmetic Pesticides, which published a report advocating that a provincial ban not be imposed.
“…despite the intensity of the arguments in favour of the ban on cosmetic use of pesticides,” says an excerpt from the report, “there is insufficient scientific evidence to support a province-wide ban on pesticides for cosmetic use.”
Vancouver says ‘yes’ to booze carts on courses ◗ Golfers on Vancouver’s municipal courses won’t have to hike back to the clubhouse to get a drink if city council gets its way. Vancouver’s city council voted in favour of allowing two beverage carts to be added to each of the city’s three community-owned golf courses. The final approval now lies in the hands of the province which must sign off on the proposed changes. Beverage carts are already a common sight at a long list of courses in the area, including Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club, Northlands, Morgan Creek and Greenacres. A staff report on the issue estimated the beverage carts could generate upwards of $100,000 a year. Signs were put up at the city’s three municipal courses to inform residents of the proposed changed, but the city only came away with two responses. According to a staff report on the issue, “One of the respondents… had concerns with golfers consuming alcohol while golfing, public urination and smoking on the course. The other respondent felt that one beverage cart was adequate for the entire course.”
LEOPARD SHARK
Canadian Open Returns to Royal Montreal in 2014 ◗ The Canadian Open will go back to its roots when the event is hosted by Royal Montreal in 2014. Royal Montreal, in Ile Bizard, Quebec, was the sight of the first Canadian Open in 1904 and has hosted the event nine times previously. It was also the venue for the 2007 Presidents Cup. The announcement that the Canadian Open will be returning to the oldest golf club in North America was made by Golf Canada and RBC last November. “Royal Montreal shares a long and storied history with both Golf Canada and Canada’s National Open Championship dating back more than a century,” said Golf Canada Executive Director and CEO Scott Simmons in a statement. “We are thrilled to add to that special legacy again in 2014.” “The Royal Montreal Golf Club is proud to be hosting the 2014 RBC Canadian Open,” stated Royal Montreal President George Waters. “This will be another opportunity for spectators to watch some exciting golf on our challenging Blue Course. We are looking forward to making this a very successful and memorable event,” The history of Royal Montreal makes it one of the most renowned courses in Canada, but it may also make it the most likely place to end the 58-year drought for Canadian golfers. The last home-grown winner of the event was Pat Fletcher, who also served as head professional at Royal Montreal from 1956 to 1975. GM
credit: Golf canada archives
Something fishy about California course
Royal Montreal, North America’s oldest golf club, will host the 2014 Canadian Open. credit (above): royalmontrealgolfclub.info
January/February 2013 | greenMaster 11
fe ature ◗ Bruce r. williams, cgcs
Setting Yourself Apart in the Job Market New skills to get an employer’s attention ◗ North America has seen a dramatic
change in the job market for golf course superintendents in the last four or five years. There are a variety of reasons as to why this has happened. One of those reasons are there are fewer golf courses today than there were five years ago, a trend that is expected to continue. The recent, slumping economy has also resulted in fewer superintendent jobs. Additionally, superintendents are working longer than the previously considered age of retirement of 65 because of financial need and better health conditions. This leaves less job openings for those entering the workforce. With a conservative estimate of at least 100 recognized turfgrass programs for certificates, associate degrees and bachelor’s degrees and at least 20 students graduating from these universities per year, that would mean approximately 2000 students entering the work force each annually. Many of those graduates would have sought an assistant superintendent position in the past, but assistants are increasingly staying six to eight years in that capacity rather than a couple of years that we saw a decade ago. This is creating a log jam for new graduates, an obstacle that is hard to overcome during a job search.
Current Situation for Employment
It is clear supply far out paces the demand for golf course superintendent positions at this time, making it a buyer’s market
12 greenMaster | www.golfsupers.com
for filling these jobs. Competition is extremely keen and it is not unusual to see as many as 200 applicants for many open superintendent jobs today. It is the strong that will survive and excel in this environment. Knowing what to do and how to do it will hopefully prepare one for presenting yourself in a professional manner via your resume and cover letter and compete in this increasingly fierce job market. Preparing yourself to interview well is something that most people are not accustomed to. Superintendents tend to stay at their jobs an average of about seven years, so it is not unusual to have six or seven years in between interviews. However, being well prepared could make the difference in an interview. It was not long ago that you were a front runner in any job search if you came from a club with good pedigree. If you had 20
years of experience it was a plus. Those days are mostly over. I do think those factors will aid anyone, but you must possess other skills to attract potential employers. Many times it is all about value for the employer. Many golf courses are looking to save money and may not want to pay high salaries for top jobs anymore. While I am not a supporter of this, it has been a noticeable trend over the last five years.
Marketing Your Skills
Employers look very favorably at those possessing matching skill sets. In almost every posting for employment there will be a list of items that the employer is looking for. The more one holds the better chance to earning that job. This list often includes skills that were not necessary requirements for employment just a few years ago, but are increasingly essential to run a modern golf course. Let’s look at the basics first. We all know the ability to manage a golf course well is paramount. All superintendents are expected to have good agronomic skills. Without that skill you will not be advancing far. Beyond great grass growing skills, there are a variety of other skill sets that are required by most employers today. Some of those skills requested are: • Management • Leadership • Team Builder • Trainer
• Safety conscious • Efficient • Value oriented • Able to cut costs • Environmentally conscious • Excellent communicator • Knowledgeable of current technology • Golfer When a golf club considers you for employment they want to be sure you can manage a budget of at least $800,000 and a staff of at least 12 to 20 people. The larger jobs have larger budgets and more staff but in any situation, management skills are key. Club officials are always looking to hire someone that embodies their ideals. They are often leaders and want to hire leaders in their top level positions. They are normally volunteers as well and like to hire people who also show a spirit of volunteerism. All clubs ask for their next superintendent to be able to take things to the next level. One of the ways to accomplish this is by training your staff well and building your team around you. Showing examples of times you have been a successful team builder and trainer makes you more desirable to employers than simply saying you have these skills. Clubs pay significant premiums for insurance. We all know that many potential accidents are possible in the golf course maintenance department. Illustrating that you have taken steps to lower your club’s premiums in the past shows initiative. Conducting your own internal safety inspections also displays resourcefulness. Not only do these successes increase safety, they also show owners you know how to operate in a business mode and look out for their financial well-being. Operating at peak efficiency is also a major selling point to potential employers. Be able to share examples of how you might develop the manpower and scheduling if you were to be hired. Knowing how to reduce the overall payroll is also bound to give you an edge. Be aware that employers are looking for value in their new hires. Just because a club
paid $100,000 to its last superintendent does not mean it will pay that amount for their next one. Be prepared to take a lower starting salary than your predecessor, but negotiate the ability to quickly get to the level of the previous superintendent and beyond. Look at the goals the owners set forth and develop a plan and schedule for meeting and exceeding those goals. The move toward environmentally conscious golf courses and superintendent stewardship began a couple decades ago and has only strengthened since then. Be able to share examples of what you have accomplished in this arena. It may push you over the top if you can explain your plan to make your new course more environmentally-friendly, like attaining the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program certificate. Lack of communication is often the reason that there is a vacancy at a golf club in the first place. Most clubs that have hired me as a headhunter let me know that they made a change due to poor communication from the prior superintendent. Be ready to show examples of your speaking skills, writing prowess and any and all communication vehicles you have used in the past. Having experience using social media like Twitter and Facebook for communication or creating a successful blog or website to share information on anything from aerification schedules to frost delays shows an aptitude for modern technology and communication. Being skillful in this area is important because your competition is more than likely to have these tools in their portfolio as well. Lastly, golfers tend to hire golfers. For those with single digit handicaps it is pretty easy to connect with future employers. For those who are bogey players, imparting a love and passion for the game and highlighting it as a primary hobby is crucial. Superintendents that know the game, play it well, understand the rules, have a feel for design and have a passion for it tend to get hired.
The Total Package
These days, employers are looking for the best qualified individual to manage their golf courses. It is no longer enough to have a green thumb. Clubs are looking for people with multiple skills. The candidates that have the requested skills will likely appear on the short list for interviews. People that can show a lifelong commitment to learning will prosper. Individuals that are immersed in their profession through volunteerism and leadership will do well. Know the current economy and position yourself properly. Be realistic in your expectations of the packages being offered. Be more concerned about the potential for advancement within a job and less concerned about the entry level salary. Many employers will happily pay market rate for high level production. Show your value to the club and you will likely be rewarded. Now you know the skills it takes to set yourself apart in the job hunt. Having these tools is great, but the next step is to sell yourself to a potential employer. That is done via your cover letter and resume. Fine tuning your resume and cover letter to show off these skills will get you the interview and hopefully the job. For those that do not have all these skills, now is the time for you to develop your career plan and work on the gaps to make you more attractive in your job hunt. GM
Bruce R. Williams, CGCS is an industry veteran who spent 4 decades managing golf facilities. He is now a successful writer for various trade publications including Golf Course Industry, Golf Course Industry International and Boardroom magazines. Bruce runs Bruce Williams Golf Consulting and Executive Golf Search, Inc. He serves as executive director of The California Turfgrass and Landscape Foundation and is the chief agronomist for Great White Shark Golf Management.
January/February 2013 | greenMaster 13
fe ature ◗ gordon johansson, ags
TWCA Research Plot
Conserving Water with Turfgrasses Managing an Essential Resource ◗ This past August, I was given the opportunity, with the help of Sean Moher from Manderly Turf and the CGSA, to visit the Turfgrass Water Conservation Alliance (TWCA) in Albany, Oregon for a seminar on all things water, specifically drought tolerant turfgrasses. It couldn’t have come at a more appropriate time with much of Ontario in the middle of one of the hottest, driest seasons in the past couple of decades. So I headed out on a whirlwind trip across the continent with hope of coming home with some information that would be helpful the next time Mother Nature felt compelled to wreak havoc with the careers of hard working superintendents. Failing this, it would at least give me a much needed couple of days away from the workplace. But what is the TWCA? In 2009, three 14 greenMaster | www.golfsupers.com
grass seed production and marketing companies and an internationally recognized turf grass breeding and research station formed the Alliance. The parties involved in this ambitious plan include Pennington Seed, Proseeds Marketing, Turf Merchants Inc. and Nexgen Turfgrass Research. Their goal was to form an independent foundation that promoted plants proven to have water conservation benefits. They started with establishing protocols for acute and chronic drought stress on individual varieties using digital image analysis (DIA) and measuring the exact amount of living plant material during various stages of water deprivation. This is far removed from the traditional methods using a subjective 1-9 visual rating.
TWCA, Albany, OregoN
The director of research at NexGen, Kenneth Hignight, began our day by describing in full detail how turfgrass is evaluated at this fine facility. Using industry standards for planting rates,
This article is eligible for the
Gordon Witteveen Award designation for the author.
“…the simple act of dropping soil moisture thresholds by two percent can result in water savings of 50 per cent.” Dr. Mike Richardson, University of Arkansas establishment and fertilizer programing, the turf is allowed to mature for a full year before testing begins. Prior to initiating drought stress, the area (which comprises of many different grasses and varieties) is saturated to eliminate any dry patches. Then irrigation is withheld to encourage drought stress symptoms. The response of the turfgrasses to the stress is then evaluated twice a week using DIA. Once all the plots fall below 25 per cent green turf cover, the area is again saturated to initiate drought recovery. The plots are then irrigated and the recovery is evaluated, both on a weekly basis, until the plots reach 100 per cent green cover. Now having a better understanding of what goes on at this TWCA facility, as well as the other three similar facilities strategically placed across the country, it was time to focus on why this type of research is so important. Dr. Mike Richardson of the University of Arkansas, in his calm and confident way, was able to objectively explain why turfgrasses have an undeserved reputation as a water waster. Some factors that contribute to this reputation include the use of poor soils, the use of less than ideal irrigation systems, a limited understanding by the public of drought resistance, and finally, poor irrigation practices. But what can be done to move towards a solution to draught-plagued turfgrass? Turfgrass breeders are now starting to look seriously at drought resistant varieties. President of Pure Seed Testing Inc., Crystal Fricker, enlightened the participants to the investment in resources required in bringing a new variety to market. Her most notable comments included the fact that only five to ten per cent of all varieties bred go into production and of those that do only half last longer than five years. In addition, breeding can take up to
10 years and production another three to five years. This is a daunting task breeders face in helping conserve water by discovering drought tolerant varieties of turfgrass, but an all too necessary one. Sensing the sombre mood and the need for a motivational boost, Mike Richardson reminded us that keeping it simple may be the best approach. He cited the following actions as great examples of what we, as turfgrass managers, can do on our own: • Performing simple irrigation audits can save considerable amounts of water. • Using industry best practices for proper irrigation, like the “right time of day” approach and using multiple cycles to avoid runoff. • Using irrigation technology like soil moisture sensors, ET calculators and rain sensors. As a vivid example of the benefits of these technologies, Richardson stated that the simple act of dropping soil moisture thresholds by two percent can result in water savings of 50 per cent. Back inside and away from the relentless sun, Kenneth Hignight thought it best to share some very sobering statistics and comments to ensure we didn’t soon forget the importance and gravity of the situation. Some of these included: • One acre of grass creates four times the amount of oxygen as one acre of trees. • The planet is made up of 71 per cent water and 29 per cent land. • Fresh water represents just one per cent of total water on the planet. • By 2030 the world’s population will need 25 per cent more water than it did in 2012. • One in six people in the world don’t have access to clean water. His warnings did not fall on deaf ears as many people now believe that water
Digital Image Capturing Equipment
will soon become the planets’ most valuable resource and as such will be what future wars are fought over. This is not a new idea; Mark Twain is attributed as saying, “Whiskey was meant for drinking, water was meant for fighting over.” Although what the future holds for us and our children in relation to clean water can be very scary and sobering, we can take some solace in the fact that there are committed and brilliant people working to attain a thorough understanding of smart water use and are promoting conservation. As managers of this precious resource, all superintendents have the responsibility to do their part in preserving this most essential resource. GM
Gordon is a member of the CGSA Environment Committee, President of the Ottawa Valley Turfgrass Association and a member of the OVTRF Committee. January/February 2013 | greenMaster 15
fe ature ◗ Jamie Downton, AGS
Turf Blogging After having operated a blog for more than two seasons, at two different facilities, these are my sole opinions on operating a turf blog in the Golf Industry. ◗ I was never known amongst the English
If you can surf the internet, you can start a blog. It really is that easy. The two most commonly used host sites for blogs are WordPress and Blogger. Both sites make it very quick and easy to get your blog started.
16 greenMaster | www.golfsupers.com
department at Southwood Secondary School as an exceptional student. In fact, I struggled to grasp the concept that high school English assignments and questions didn’t necessarily have a correct answer, but rather contain open-ended theories and possibilities. I therefore gravitated towards math where there was always an answer to a question and always gave me a sense of closure. So it has become a bit of a surprise over the course of my career that I have found great pride and even some stress relief in the process of writing, specifically about turf. I would suggest that most facilities in the country have some means of communication between the turf department and its members and/ or guests. Whether it is as simple as a chalkboard at the clubhouse or as detailed as a newsletter or blog, we have all had to, in some way shape or form, convey a message about the happenings on the course to our clientele. My career as a golf course superintendent started out this way, with simple flyers being posted on the doors of the clubhouse and first tee. When I arrived at Sawmill Creek Golf Resort and Spa, in Camlachie Ontario, I had the pleasure of working with some great golf shop professionals. The circumstances upon my arrival were less than ideal and it became apparent very quickly that a large divide had opened up between not just the turf department and the membership, but also the golf shop and the turf department. Clearly the lines of communication had broken down between these three areas and something had to happen, and fast. At that time, Tony Griffi of the CPGA had been sending the members of Sawmill Creek a weekly email update containing everything they needed to know about events, rules, specials, etc. There was no question, members loved the information. Naturally I jumped on board and started sending out a weekly email as well. To say the feedback I received from this form of communication was successful
would be an understatement. With more than 500 members at that time the feedback was incredible. The membership loved hearing what was going on with their golf course and it certainly helped put out those clubhouse fires that we have all have to manage in our careers. The word was coming directly from the source when it came to issues arising on the golf course, as opposed to rumours being spread. It helped form a camaraderie and a trust between the membership and the turf department. We spent about two years updating the membership (even through the off-season) with this form of communication, when I started to become aware of the new emerging trend of turf blogs. Together the management team decided that to open up our communication to the entire world via a blog would be beneficial to the club, as it could showcase what we were doing to the golf course at all times. We were proud of the condition of our club and we wanted the world to know it.
My Introduction to Blogging
Blogging was something that I had been keeping my eye on for some time. In fact, I had been following the website of Superintendent Jerry Richard at Craigowan in Woodstock Ontario, (www.craigowan. com) whom has been updating his website since approximately 2002. At that time, Jerry took over the operation of the club’s website with his father-in-law and in the process of completing updates to the site, figured he might as well add in a page of his own. Jerry has found that the blog has helped build a trust with the membership and has saved him a lot of time in not having to repeat his actions to members over and over again. In his eyes, if only one in every eight members reads the blog, they have the potential to spread the good word to the remaining membership population.
Getting Started
If you can surf the internet, you can start a blog. It really is that easy. The two most commonly used host sites for blogs are WordPress and Blogger. Both sites make it very quick and easy to get your blog started. You can add pictures, videos, biographies as well as many other gadgets
This article is eligible for the
Gordon Witteveen Award designation for the author.
to start up your site. You can make it as detailed or as basic as you wish, but within minutes your site is alive and you are ready to post.
What to Write About
Once you have committed to starting a blog, it is a good idea to set out some personal ground rules. You can never lose sight of the fact that anything you post can and will be seen by people from all across the globe. If you are a public golf course, is it wise to blame a green suffering from heat stress on your antiquated irrigation system? Most certainly not, so it would be wise to make sure you have a set of ground rules that you abide by during the writing process. You control what you want to put in your blog, be it explaining the benefits of cultural practices or updates on a certain construction project. Some turf bloggers like to include a personal touch in their blogs as well. Andrew Hardy at Pheasant Run Golf Club in Sharon Ontario (http://pheasantturf.wordpress.com) has incorporated many blogs containing information about himself and his family. His goal is to give the member the perspective that he is not just there to ruin their round of golf and that, in fact, he is out there doing his job so he can go home to his family every day.
Exactly who is reading these Blogs?
I would hazard a guess and say 99 per cent of all superintendents who start blogs are targeting the members or patrons of their respective golf courses as an audience. What many of us are finding is that site views are coming primarily from other turf professionals and those in the golf industry. I estimate that 75 per cent of the total site views I receive come through my twitter account or through other websites posting turf blogs on a community board such as www.gcmbloggingworld.blogspot.com. I spoke with several superintendents about this issue and most agree that it is primarily colleagues who contribute the vast majority of site views, but that the target audience is still being reached. In fact, Jason Haines, the superintendent at Pender Harbour Golf Club in Madeira Park BC, has started a second blog that is more golfer-friendly. Jason’s blog (penderharbourgolf.blogspot. ca) includes some amazing trials and research he has performed, specifically with regards to the effects of rolling turfgrass. However, what he was finding is that his
blog has morphed into a scientific research page and was quickly losing the interest of the average Joe golfer. He has now created a second blog, a more golfer-friendly version, to make sure his targeted audience is receiving the information that they are interested in. Make no mistake; your blog will be viewed by your peers from around the world. For some, this is an enormous benefit in that you will receive great feedback and some very positive suggestions. But also keep in mind that it may leave you vulnerable to being questioned or critiqued for your opinions and practices.
Successful Bloggers
There are many successful turf bloggers, especially in Canada. This trend seemed to start in 2011 with a growing number of superintendents jumping on board since that time. Blogging has become a vital part of some turf operations whether you are a new superintendent just trying to make a name for yourself or whether you are a seasoned veteran such as Peter Vidler at Sandhills Golf Resort in Port Franks Ontario (http://slipperypetevidler.wordpress.com). Jason Hooper, superintendent at Quilchena Golf Club in Richmond BC, (http://qgolfclub.blogspot.com) is in my opinion one of the most successful bloggers in this country. His blogs are updated regularly ensuring his members continue to visit the site often enough to stay current. His blogs are professionally written, informative and include photos and videos of the daily happenings of his department. For the 30 to 60 minutes Jason spends on updating his blog weekly, there is no question the return on investment is large.
Other Benefits to Blogging
Blogging may not be for everyone, but certainly it has its place in the turf industry.
Many bloggers have found great stress relief has come from the simple fact of writing about their day to day operations. I can attest to this benefit as it has been a great way to decompress after a week of torture from heat and humidity or the other stressors that turfgrass may bring on. You can also update your blog from anywhere in the world; be it your office, your mobile device or on your home computer after you have put the kids to bed. It is a way to stay connected to your membership at a time that is most convenient to you. Your club may even choose to use the blog as a marketing tool to promote the club. Craig Evans the owner of Pheasant Run has been very supportive of Andrew Hardy`s blog, including his additions of the personal information about his life. He views the personal touches as the exact essence of what Pheasant Run was meant to be; a family golf club.
Conclusion
I have enjoyed my blogging experience and would recommend it to anyone. Blogs can be as simple as a few lines of text with a picture or can become longer, more detailed explanations as to how our operations run. You can control how much or little you want to display for the world to see. I do suggest however, once you make the decision to start a blog be consistent in the number of updates you provide so as to keep your readers interested. It’s free, it’s quick and it’s an easy way to keep your golfers in the know about what is happening to their golf course.
Jamie Downton is the General Manager at Heritage Heights Golf and Curling Club, http://heritageheightsgolf.blogspot.com
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January/February 2013 | greenMaster 17 1/15/09 10:47:28 AM
fe ature ◗ Rick Woelfel
Spring Startup Démarrage printanier ◗ Spring is the season of renewal. For the golfer, the coming of spring means last year’s swing issues are no more. He or she is anticipating hitting the ball further than ever, shooting their career-best round and perhaps winning their flight at the club championship. Of course, the golfer is anticipating doing all this on immaculate fairways and pristine greens. It falls on the superintendent to create those conditions, but matching members’ expectations requires considerable planning and effort long before anyone puts a tee in the ground. Dean Baker has spent more than four decades in the golf industry, after taking a part-time job at a golf course at age 15. He’s spent 23 years as a superintendent and just completed his first season at the 500-member Burlington Golf and Country Club in Burlington, Ontario. The private facility was designed by Stanley Thompson and opened for play in 1923. ◗ continued on page 20 18 greenMaster | www.golfsupers.com
◗ Le printemps est la saison du renouveau. Le golfeur ou la golfeuse laisse tomber tous ses doutes sur l’efficacité de son élan, et renouvelle son espoir de frapper la balle toujours plus loin, d’obtenir la meilleure ronde de sa carrière et peutêtre même de gagner le tournoi du club. Bien sûr, le golfeur ou la golfeuse s’attend à réaliser tous ses rêves sur des allées immaculées et des verts parfaits. Cela revient au surintendant de créer ces conditions de jeu, mais pour combler les attentes des golfeurs, il faut beaucoup de planification et d’efforts, avant même que le premier joueur place un té dans le sol. Dean Baker travaille depuis plus de quarante ans dans l’industrie du golf. Il avait quinze ans quand il a commencé sa carrière, à temps partiel, sur un parcours. Surintendant de golf depuis 23 ans, il vient tout juste de terminer sa première saison au Club de golf de Burlington, en Ontario. Ce parcours privé, qui compte 500 membres, a été conçu par Stanley Thompson et a ouvert ses portes en 1923. ◗ suite à la page 21
Example of very challenging green site to maintain healthy turf where moisture (snow melt/rains) from the surrounds flows across the putting green surface. Not good for any type of turfgrass especially Poa annua where freezing and thawing is a major concern and a cause of winter turf damage. Exemple d’emplacement de vert offrant un défi de taille pour maintenir un gazon en santé ou l’humidité (fonte des neiges/pluie) provenant des alentours s’écoule directement sur la surface du vert. Néfaste pour n’importe quel variété de gazon mais spécifiquement pour le Pâturin annuel pour lequel les cycles de gel/dégel sont un problème majeur et une cause de dommages hivernaux. credit: Kerry Watkins, Superintendent, The Glencoe Golf and Country Club
January/February 2013 | greenMaster 19
fe ature ◗ Rick Woelfel
◗ continued from page 18
It is not uncommon to see superintendents and their staff working on greens during the winter months, breaking up ice with shovels, picks, or by whatever means are available.
20 greenMaster | www.golfsupers.com
Baker’s golf season runs from April through November. His preparations for spring actually begin with his fall aeration. “Late September and October is a huge time for us for aerifying,” he says. “What we’re doing is building a root system. The roots are always in decline in the summer because of the heat and the traffic and just the wear and tear. “When you get into September and cooler temperatures, there is less golf and things are starting to slow down. We want that plant to start to build up a strong root system for the winter.” During the winter months, Baker covers some of his poa/bent greens with permeable tarps and others with sand. “I use a very, very thick topdressing of sand,” he says. “It almost completely covers the plant and definitely covers the crown. “Then in the spring you’ve got a good sand covering and the plant just comes up right through there. I look at it as a win-win. It’s a good cover in the winter but a good base in the spring.” “The preparation that I do in the fall is to make sure the plant is as healthy as possible to go through the winter. Then in the spring it’s that much easier.” Stewart McMillan has spent 15 years as the superintendent at Lively Golf Club in Lively, Ontario. The semiprivate facility, situated about 15 minutes west of Sudbury, boasts some 350 members. It opened its gates in 1960. McMillan’s golf season officially runs
from May 1 to the end of October. He covers his greens with tarps through the winter, starting around December 1, then wrestles with the question of when to remove them in the spring. Warm spring temperatures raise the temperature of the soil but an early thaw followed by a freeze could have catastrophic consequences. “Taking (the greens) out of dormancy early is one of the things that scares us the most,” McMillan says. “The timing of taking off the tarps is a key thing. You don’t want to put (the greens) into shock, but on the other hand, if the plant comes out of dormancy and it starts growing then all the gasses get locked up inside and it creates death (suffocates the plant).” McMillan’s task is complicated by the fluctuating springtime temperatures in northern Ontario. He notes those variations in temperature have been more extreme in recent years. “The last couple years we had an awful warm spell in March,” he says. “So what happens is the snow on the tarps starts melting, but you can’t get to them.” The idea of all this is to prepare for the new season by raising soil temperatures gradually, rather than abruptly. “A lot of time we’ll take the tarps off during the day,” McMillan says, “then put them back on at night to bring the soil temperatures up while reducing the possibility of damage due to cold nighttime temperatures.” ◗ continued on page 22
Jason Hanna operating the blower to remove loose snow from the top to expose ice/frozen layer on top of the solid cover on #16 green. Jason Hanna opère la souffleuse afin de retirer la neige de la surface et ainsi exposer la glace ou couche glacée sur la toile imperméable du vert #16. credit: Jeff Stauffer, Superintendent, Credit Valley Golf and Country Club
◗ suite de la page 18
La saison de golf de M. Baker se déroule entre avril et novembre. Les préparatifs du printemps commencent à l’automne, avec l’aération. « La grande période d’aération a lieu pour nous vers la fin de septembre et en octobre », déclare-t-il. « Il faut rétablir le système racinaire. Pendant l’été, les racines dépérissent toujours à cause de la chaleur, du va et vient continuel et de la dégradation normale. » « Quand on arrive en septembre, les températures sont plus froides, les golfeurs sont moins nombreux et l’activité commence à ralentir. Nous voulons que le gazon commence à se refaire un bon système racinaire pour l’hiver. » Pendant les mois d’hiver, M. Baker couvre certains de ses verts de pâturin/agrostide avec des bâches perméables et d’autres avec du sable. « Je fais un épandage très épais de sable qui couvre presque tout le gazon et certainement toute la couronne. » « Ensuite, au printemps, vous avez une bonne couverture de sable et le gazon perce tout simplement au travers. De cette façon, je fais d’une pierre deux coups. J’ai une bonne couverture en hiver et une bonne base au printemps. » « Ma préparation d’automne m’assure que le gazon est aussi en santé que possible pour passer l’hiver. Ensuite, au printemps, ça devient beaucoup plus facile. » Stewart McMillan est surintendant
depuis 15 ans au Club de golf Lively, en Ontario. Ce parcours semi-privé, situé à 15 minutes environ à l’ouest de Sudbury, compte 350 membres. Il a ouvert ses portes en 1960. La saison de golf de M. McMillan se déroule officiellement entre le 1er mai et la fin du mois d’octobre. Vers le 1er décembre, il commence à couvrir ses verts avec des bâches pour l’hiver, mais au printemps, il se demande toujours à quel moment les enlever. Les journées chaudes du printemps élèvent la température du sol, mais un dégel hâtif suivi d’un gel peut avoir des conséquences catastrophiques. « Sortir hâtivement les verts de la dormance est l’une des choses qui nous inquiète le plus », déclare M. McMillan. « Il est essentiel d’enlever les bâches au bon moment. Il ne faut pas perturber les verts, mais d’un autre côté, si le gazon sort de sa dormance et commence à pousser sous la bâche, tous les gaz restent prisonniers à l’intérieur et le gazon suffoque. » La tâche de M. McMillan se complique en raison des températures fluctuantes dans le nord de l’Ontario au printemps. Il note que ces variations de températures ont été plus extrêmes au cours des dernières années. « Ces dernières années, nous avons eu beaucoup de vagues de chaleur en mars », déclare-t-il. « Ce qui arrive dans ce cas, c’est que la neige commence à fondre sur les bâches, mais vous ne pouvez pas les atteindre. » « En fait, ce que nous essayons de
faire, c’est de se préparer pour la nouvelle saison en élevant les températures du sol graduellement, plutôt que brusquement. » « Souvent, nous enlevons les bâches durant la journée, poursuit M. McMillan, et nous les remettons ensuite pendant la nuit pour élever les températures du sol. Ceci permet de réduire les risques d’endommager le gazon en raison des températures plus froides la nuit. » Comme pour plusieurs de leurs collègues dans toute l’Amérique du Nord, MM. Baker et McMillan sont très conscients des possibilités de grand gel. Les gaz s’accumulent alors sous la couche de glace et suffoquent rapidement le gazon. Le surintendant fera tout ce qui est nécessaire pour empêcher que cela ne se produise. « Si vous avez une couche de glace, il faut suivre la situation de très près », poursuit M. Baker. « Le pâturin survivra 30 jours sous la glace. L’agrostide survivra un peu plus longtemps, peut-être 90 jours, si vous avez de la chance. » ◗ suite à la page 22
Pendant les mois d’hiver, il n’est pas rare de voir des surintendants et leurs employés casser la glace sur les verts avec des pelles, des pics ou par tout autre moyen. January/February 2013 | greenMaster 21
Solid cover being removed by CVGCC team members Les membres de l’équipe du CVGCC retirent une toile imperméable. credit: Jeff Stauffer, Superintendent, Credit Valley Golf and Country Club
◗ continued from page 20
Like their colleagues across much of North America, Baker and McMillan are ever alert to the possibility of a hard freeze. Gas builds up underneath a layer of ice and will suffocate the turf beneath in short order. A superintendent will do whatever necessary to prevent that from happening. “If you get an ice cover, you’re on the clock,” Baker says. “Poa annua will last 30 days under ice. Bentgrass has a little more resilience, maybe 90 days if you’re lucky. “But a hard freeze is the one thing we all kind of dread. You get that heavy rain, mild temperatures, then all of a sudden it freezes up. We had that situation a couple years ago and a lot of us lost grass because of ice damage.” Indeed, it is not uncommon to see superintendents and their staff working on greens during the winter months, breaking up ice with shovels, picks, or by whatever means are available. But even in those seemingly dire circumstances, they must proceed with care. “Going out there to try to break up the ice is hard on the plant,” Baker says. “I’m going to hope it melts on its own.” Once the ice is broken up, Baker prefers to leave it on his putting surfaces, rather than removing it. “I don’t physically remove the ice,” he says, “as long as I can get through to the plant and bust up what’s there. I’ll leave it on the green because it does provide protection to some degree, but as long as I can get air down there to the plant, then we’re good.” Most superintendents, McMillan and 22 greenMaster | www.golfsupers.com
Baker among them, hope for substantial snowfall during the winter months. A snow covering provides a natural layer of protection for their turf. But as spring approaches and the snow begins to melt, superintendents must be on guard against snow mold. For much of McMillan’s career, Quintozene was his fungicide of choice to combat the problem. The product was taken off the market in 2009 (superintendents had to use their stock of Quintozene by the close of the 2010 season). Since then, McMillan has been experimenting with alternatives. “I’ve tried Trilogy for snow mold,” he says. “A mix of Insignia® and PREMISE® is supposed to work for snow mold but I’ve just tried that on my tees. “It’s a cheaper way of doing things. Insignia® and PREMISE® go a long way. So I’ve tried that on my tees and maybe next year I’ll be using that on the greens.” GM ◗ suite de la page 22
« Nous craignons tous les grands gels. Parfois, les températures s’adoucissent, il se met à pleuvoir, et tout à coup tout gèle rapidement. Nous avons eu ce problème il y a quelques années et de nombreux surintendants ont perdu beaucoup de gazon pour cette raison. » En fait, pendant les mois d’hiver, il n’est pas rare de voir des surintendants et leurs employés casser la glace sur les verts avec des pelles, des pics ou par tout autre moyen. Mais même dans cette situation très
difficile, ils doivent procéder avec soin. « Quand on casse la glace, le gazon en souffre », déclare M. Baker. « Il vaut toujours mieux qu’elle fonde tout seul ». Une fois la glace cassée, M. Baker préfère la laisser sur place plutôt que l’enlever. « Je n’enlève pas la glace cassée, parce qu’elle protège le vert jusqu’à un certain point. En autant que l’air puisse circuler jusqu’au gazon, ça peut aller ». La plupart des surintendants, dont MM. McMillan et Baker, souhaitent qu’il tombe beaucoup de neige au cours de l’hiver. La neige offre une couche de protection naturelle au gazon. Mais dès que le printemps s’annonce et que la neige commence à fondre, il faut faire très attention à la moisissure des neiges. Pendant la plus grande partie de sa carrière, M. McMillan a utilisé le Quintozene, son fongicide préféré, pour combattre ce problème. Ce produit a été interdit il y a quelques années à cause de son contenu élevé en mercure. (Les surintendants ont pu s’en servir jusqu’à la fin de la saison 2010.) Depuis, M. McMillan a mis à l’essai quelques solutions de rechanges. « J’ai essayé Trilogy pour la moisissure des neiges », déclare-t-il. « Un mélange d’Insignia® et de PREMISE® est supposé faire l’affaire contre la moisissure des neiges, mais je l’ai essayé seulement sur mes arbres jusqu’à maintenant. » « Ça permet de faire les choses à meilleur marché. Insignia® et PREMISE® produisent de bons résultats. J’ai déjà essayé ces produits sur mes arbres. Peut-être que l’année prochaine je les essaierai sur les verts. » GM
C a n adia n i n ter n atio n a l tur f grass co n f ere n ce a n d trade show
J a n ua r y 25 t h – 29t h, 2013
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Growing for Golf s h e r ato n c e n t r e to r o n to h ot e l
| to r o n to, O n ta r i o
Get in on the action! At CITC 2013 there are countless ways to learn, connect and have fun. With 40 specialized learning workshops and education sessions, 80 vendors and 35 plus speakers this year’s conference and trade show never stops opening the door of opportunity. So come and join hundreds of golf management professionals from across Canada as they strengthen the industry and have a good time doing it. Follow @GolfSupers and #CITC2013 on Twitter to get all the latest news before and during the conference. See you there!
2013 citc ts
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keynote speaker:
Sean Foley PGA Tour Instructor
MONDAY January 28, 2013
educat i o n sess i o n s
SUNDAY January 27, 2013 Summer Stress – You Know it’s Going to Happen Speakers: Jack Fry, Ph.D. and Bingru Huang, Ph.D.
Cultural strategies for preparing a summer stress – tolerant plant will be covered, as well as ways to reduce injury in the midst of stress.
Disease Update – The Latest and Greatest Speaker: John Kaminski, Ph.D.
This session will discuss the latest turfgrass disease updates. The where, when and
why these diseases occur and some ideas on how to avoid invasion on your turf will be presented.
Golf Cart Fleet Maintenance Speaker: Daniel Harris
This session will cover aspects of the fleet maintenance of golf carts including safety, today’s electric golf cart vs. yesterday’s… the demand on batteries, fleet preventive maintenance, warranties and service agreements.
Recovering from Winter Ice Damage Speaker: Kevin Frank, Ph.D.
Although winterkill may cause you to think about polishing your resume, successfully recovering from winterkill could make you a star. No matter the specific cause of death, the biggest challenge with winterkill is growing the turf back in the spring when golfer demands are high. This presentation will discuss the basics of winterkill, focus on reestablishment options, and discuss scenarios of success and failure. ◗ continued on page 23
January/February 2013 | greenMaster 23
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educat i o n sess i o n s
SUNDAY January 27, 2013
Annual Bluegrass Control: Who Knew?
MONDAY January 28, 2013
Having that Difficult Conversation!
Speaker: Zac Reicher, Ph.D.
Keynote Address
This session will focus the discussion on the biology, opportunities and limitations of annual bluegrass and the most recent control strategies.
Sean Foley
And other conversations that will make your career and life easier! Speaker: Kevin MacDonald
Superintendents have so many skills they have to call upon to be Extraordinary in their vocation. For leaders who have such a key role in their organizations, their communication skills can make the difference in whether they are seen as Extraordinary, Ordinary, Ineffective or Unemployed. This session will be focused on ideas and strategies that will support participants in having more effective communication with Greens Chairs, Committees, General Managers, Staff, Other Department Leaders, Spouses, Teenagers! The better you are as a communicator, the less drama you will have in your life. If you would like to have less drama, come to this session.
Tier 4 Emission Standards Speaker: Barry Cochrane
Discussion and presentation of the Tier 4 Emissions legislation and standards that take effect on January 1, 2013. What is the impact on Canadian golf courses?
Soils and the Health of Your Turf Speaker: Brian Horgan, Ph.D.
Even in northern climates, heat stress during summer months impacts plant health and turfgrass function. The purpose of this session is to describe the impact of heat stress on root growth, basic plant physiology and nutrient uptake.
Pace of Play – It’s Your Issue Too! Speaker: Steve Southard, CGCS
This session will bring the issue of Pace of Play to light and how the superintendent can assist with this issue at their golf course. Take a look at how the pace of play is affected by a variety of factors and can be completely controlled by your management team.
24 greenMaster | www.golfsupers.com
The Modern Turfgrass Professional – Making Technology Work for You Speaker: John Kaminski, Ph.D.
We will take your communication and visibility to another level by talking about the various forms of technology that will hopefully help you become more efficient and productive. This presentation will focus on the benefits (and potential negatives) of various mobile devices and tablets as well as some mobile and web-based applications. Attendees will learn a few shortcuts and tips to help reduce what can initially seem like a very time intensive practice. Everyone is encouraged to bring your ideas, questions and comments as this will be both informative and interactive.
Fine Tuning the Agronomic Program for Your Putting Greens Speaker: Aaron Patton, Ph.D.
This presentation will cover information on how to assess golf course putting greens and create an agronomic program that takes into consideration fertilization, soil tests, topdressing, cultivation, pests (insects, disease, weeds), PGRs, wetting agents and more. Whether you want to create a new program for your putting greens or you want to take a fresh look at your current program, this presentation will help you fine tune your maintenance practices.
The Reel Story Speaker: Erik Sides
Superintendents are re-examining frequency-of-clip as a budget-friendly way to improve greens performance. This session will cover the latest in reel technology, including advances in frequency-of-clip control and adjustment.
PGA Tour Instructor
Uplands Golf Club Speaker: Brian Youell, Master Superintendent, Superintendent of the Year, 2012
This session will discuss the changes and improvements Brian has seen at his club and the things he has done to lead to a successful career in the industry.
The Business of Golf Speaker: Stephen Johnston
Stephen Johnston, Partner of Global Golf Advisors will present an extremely informative and thought-provoking look at the business of golf in Canada. Stephen will discuss trends with a focus on business and the impact of these trends on superintendents. He will also discuss the development of a business plan at your facility and what you should know about that process. Stephen will also provide an overview of key issues facing the golf industry and superintendents and conclude his presentation with a Q & A opportunity.
Industry Town Hall The Industry Town Hall panel will provide insights and commentary both on Stephen’s perspective of the golf business in Canada as well as in response to questions from the audience. The panel will be moderated by Mr. Johnston and will include Steve Mona, CEO of the World Golf Foundation; Joe Murphy, General Manager of St. George’s Golf and Country Club; Don MacKay, Owner of Muskoka Highlands Golf Course; Vito Cirone of R. J. Burnside and Associates Limited and Dave Bradley, President of TaylorMade Adidas Canada. The members of the panel will provide some unique and interesting perspectives on what is right and wrong with the golf industry and how we can work together to make it better.
J a n ua ry 25t h – 29t h, 2013
Equipment Technician Roundtable Moderators: Warren Wybenga and Troy Fisher
Bring your challenges and solutions to discuss; whether it be trade tricks that you can share, shop set up or helping golfers understand what you do bring it to the table to discuss with your colleagues from across the country.
Certification – How To Prepare Speaker: Gerry Lettner
This three (3) hour session will provide you with a better understanding of how to effectively prepare to challenge the Accredited Golf Superintendent exam leading to the achievement of the AGS designation. You will review the publications that form the basis of the exam, review sample questions and get tips on how best to prepare for an open book, multiple choice examination.
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Golf Course Tree Management Planning Speakers: Cory Janzen and Phillip Van Wassenaer
In addition to managing turf health and course playability, golf courses typically maintain a large inventory of trees along fairways and in naturalized areas. Effective tree management on golf courses requires superintendents to be flexible and adaptive, while working towards realizing a longer-term vision. This presentation is based on the development of a golf course tree management plan, and illustrates how the components of such a plan can improve course safety, playability, and sustainability while reducing management cost and complexity.
Tour of Granite Club Maintenance Facility and On-Site Workshop Host: Troy Fisher
TUESDAY January 29, 2013
Preparing for and Hosting the Ryder Cup
Tricks of the Trade
Speaker: Curtis Tyrrell, CGCS, MG
This session will feature various presenters sharing their tricks of the trade. Ideas that help to save time and money will be shared by those doing it!
Environmental Aspects of Turfgrass Management Speaker: Martin Petrovic, Ph.D.
There has been considerable concern about the role that turfgrass, including golf courses, have on the environment including water quality. Many Canadian municipalities have banned the use of pesticides on lawns based on the belief that the human health risks are much greater than any benefits from pesticide use. Maintaining a dense turf has been shown to drastically reduce the risk of pesticide contamination of surface and ground water, thus golf course management practices that promote good plant health also have a positive environmental benefit.
This session will walk the delegates through the renovation work and processes leading up to 2012, describe the 2012 season along with other grow in challenges and provide a first hand look at tournament week activities.
Limited Input Golf Course Management Systems Speaker: Tony Koski, Ph.D.
With the number of restrictions faced by turf managers today there needs to be alternative ideas presented to look at lowering inputs required for golfing surfaces. This session looks to examine some of the systems available.
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about technologies based on the needs of the turf while keeping in mind economic considerations.
Katerina Jordan: Dealing With Common Insect Pests on Turf Speaker: Katerina Jordan, Ph.D.
This talk will go over some of the major insects pests encountered on golf courses with an emphasis on proper scouting methods and timing, cultural management practices and understanding their biology and life cycles.
Brian Youell: Effective Communication Skills Speaker: Brian Youell, Master Superintendent
Brian Youell has his “Advanced ToastMasters Designation”, and is also the Winner of the ToastMasters Golden Gavel Award. He will give today’s superintendent tips on how to structure a speech, and effectively communicate to meet the demands of a golf course superintendent. He will also cover the use of PowerPoint, and how to avoid common pitfalls when using PowerPoint for your presentations. He will illustrate story structure so superintendents can organize their information to make a presentation that “sticks”.
Poa Cure: Dr. Suk-Jin Koo and Dr. Jim Baird Speakers: Suk-Jin Koo, Ph.D. and Jim Baird, Ph.D.
In this talk, Dr. Koo will introduce the new turf herbicide PoaCure (methiozolin) in terms of fundamental biology and typical uses patterns based on extensive research in the USA and commercial uses in Korea. Dr. Baird will share the research that is currently being done in the US.
Innovation Overload: Fertility Simplified Speaker: Eric Lyons, Ph.D.
Advances in fertilizer technologies and organic based products have overloaded the market place with options for golf course superintendents. The goal of this session will be to examine research on new products and help golf course superintendents make informed decisions January/February 2013 | greenMaster 25
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f lo o r p l a n
26 greenMaster | www.golfsupers.com
J a n ua ry 25t h – 29t h, 2013
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s h e r at o n c e n t r e t o r o n t o h o t e l
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t o r o n t o , O n ta r i o
January/February 2013 | greenMaster 27
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Advanced Equipment Sales John Janmaat 519-527-2929 advancedequipment@tcc.on.ca
Booth # 213 Aerway. SAF-Holland Canada Joe Todd / Matt Meyer 800-457-8310 Joe.todd@aerway.com
Booth # 618 Turf Aerators
Air2G
Claus Kruse 515-943-1880 ckruse@air2g.ca
Booth # 808 Airatron Machine “Air to Grow”
Alliance Agri-Turf Simon George 519-841-3378 simong@agri-turf.ca
Booth # 1100 Fertilizer and plant protection products
Allturf Ltd.
John Alpaugh 705-431-0561 john@allturf.ca
Booth # 1210 Golf Course Supplies
The Andersons, Inc.
Jesse Walle 419-891-2910 Jesse-walle@andersonsinc.com
Booth # 1200 Aquatrols
Walter Dea 514-602-8410 Walter.dea@aquatrols.com
E x h i b i t o r l i st
Bannerman Ltd.
George Bannerman 800-325-4871 George@sportsturfmagic.com
Booth # 114 Seeding and aeration machinery
Baroness
Bob Yokoi 510-215-2111 b.yokoi@baroness.us
Booth # 903 Greens Mowers, Fairway Mowers
Braemar Building Systems Mary Brenzil 905-772-3551 mbrenzil@braemarbuildings.com
turf equipment sales and service
Paul Syracuse 716-592-2700 Paul.syracuse@buffaloturbine.com
Bayer Environmental Science Dawn Graham 519-767-3880 Dawn.graham@bayer.com
Booth # 1301 BES is dedicated to the research, development and marketing of plant protection products for golf courses, turf management and pest management industries.
Bernhard and Co., Grinders Kim Furnell 888-474-6348 Kim.furnell@bernhard.co.uk
Booth # 101 Bernhard Grinders
Border Control Bird Dogs
Booth # 302
Heather Williams 613-395-5805 assetkennels@bordercollie.con
Water Management, wetting agents
Booth # 110
28 greenMaster | www.golfsupers.com
Dakota Peat & Equipment
Booth # 105
Nate Brewinski 800-477-8415 nate@dakotapeat.com
Burnside
Booth # 116
Booth # 622
Booth # 901
Booth # 211/310
Buffalo Turbine
Booth # 108
Cal Surgenor 204-633-8881 csurgenor@baycogolf.com
Booth # 1202
Booth # 304
BASF Canada, Inc.
Bayco Golf
E-Z-GO / G.C. Duke Equipment
Thom McLean 519-882-2008 tmclean@completeturf.com
Vito Cirone 905-686-3067 vcirone@rjburnside.com
Scott Hodgins
Complete Turf Equipment Ltd.
Engineers, Hydrogeologists, and Environmenta Consultants servicing the needs of the golf industry
Canadian Turf Specialty Products Inc. Connie Draper 705-445-9513 cdraper@canturfsp.com
Booth # 113 Civitas
Jamie Gullaher 905-804-3630 jgullaher@suncor.com
Booth # 701 Civitas fungicide is changing the game, turning on your turf’s natural defenses to promote plant health and fight off disease.
Club Car
Karen Gordon 519-623-2000 Karen_gordon@clubcar.com
Topdressers, Material Handlers, Peat, Blending and Lab Testing
Direct Solutions
Rebecca Erickson 604-940-5435 rerickson@agriumat.com
Booth # 208 Engage Agro
Dayna Horgan 519-826-7878 daynahorgan@engageagro.com
Booth # 309 Turf Protection Products
Enviro-Sol
Jackie Keim 519-249-0600 Customer.service@nutrite.com
Booth #1214 ESD Waste2Water, Inc. John Glover 716-316-7684 jglover@waste2water.com
Booth # 104
Booth#1204
Evergrip ProRake
World class manufacturer of golf cars and light duty vehicles. Ask us about our full-featured mobile golf information system - Visage.
Booth # 111
Kyle Rasmusen 888-655-5512 info@evergripindustries.com Evergrip Bunker Rakes
Robin Ambrose 905-637-5216 rambrose@gcduke.com
EZ Street Asphalt Canada Carlye Taylor 604-575-7063 ctaylor@mainroad.ca
Booth # 906 Permanent Asphalt
Foley United
Greg Turner 715-426-5151 gregturner@foleyunited.com
Booth # 608 Foley United Grinders offer more features, more capability, and more options producing the finest grind in the world - come see how and why!
FTT Golf and Grounds Equipment Training Matthew Chianelli 416-298-6093 matthewc@fttweb.com
Booth # 300 FTT specializes in skill based safety training on all makes of equipment since 1978. We offer professional training to fulfill OHSA compliance.
Greenhorizons Sod Farms Steve Schiedel 905-971-7490 steve@justsodit.com
Booth # 811 Sod and Sodding Services
GreenJacket
Garry Sullivan 888-786-2683 garry@greenjacket.com
Booth # 1101 Turf Covers
J a n ua ry 25t h – 29t h, 2013
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Grigg Brothers
IPM Golfpro
LS Training Systems
Sports Fields. Golf Courses and Sports Fields Construction and Renovation
Plant Products Co. Ltd.
Booth # 1000
Booth # 800
Booth # 308
Nutrite
Booth # 620
Foliar Fertilizer - Granular Fertilizer
Spray Management Software Program designed specifically for Golf Courses
Online Safety Training.
Mark Grigg 208-673-6340 mark@griggbros.com
GTP Spatial Solutions Jeff Giesler 403-837-0670 jgiesler@gtpspatial.com
Booth # 1307 GTP Spatial Solutions is a Geographical Information System (GIS) consulting company specializing in GIS application development, field mapping and GIS systems for golf courses.
HARCO Fittings
Shelley Jennings 434-845-7094 sjennings@harcofittings.com
Booth # 813 Hustler Golf Equipment
Paul Schlinderer 519-494-7783 paul@agri-conequipment.com
Booth # 106 Hustler Golf Equipment - Fairway, triplex, greens, walk behind, rough mowers
Hutcheson Sand & Mixes
Angelo Capannelli 800-461-5521 acapannelli@hutchesonsand.com
Booth # 201 Quality topdressing and specialty sand for golf course applications
Ihammer Technologies Mike Kean 519-421-6783 mkean@mjkean.com
Booth # 707
Caiden Fairbairn 519-939-2992 caiden@ipmgolfpro.com
Jacobsen
Sharon DeWolfe 704-504-6630 sdewolfe@textron.com
Booth # 409 John Deere Golf
Neill Smith 905-317-5131 smithneill@johndeere.com
Booth # 501 Lakeshore Sand Company/ Fairmount Minerals Eric Porter/Mirsada Cataldo 905-547-3571 Eric.porter@fmsand.com
Booth # 410 “Best Sand Golf Products - Ohio 535 Bunker Sand/Tour Grade Signature/ Signature Blend/Topdressing Sand”
Lastec/G.C. Duke
Robin Ambrose 800-883-0761 ext. 119 rambrose@gcduke.com
Booth # 614 Suppliers of tow behind articulating rotary mowers & wide area articulating zero turn mowers.
Lebanon Fertilizers and Seed
Arden Urbano 877-482-2323 arden@landscapesafty.com
Maredo BV Netherlands Marinus Reincke +31624569293 m.reincke@maredo-bv.com
Booth # 904 Heads for Greens Mowers
Masters Turf Supply Ltd.
Everett Nieuwkoop 519-510-8873 Everett@mastersturfsupply.com
Booth # 700 Masters Turf is a full line supplier of turf products. From fertilizer, seed, environmental products, tools, soil testing and water testing. Proud to be celebrating 10 years in the turf industry.
MTS Environmental Holdings Inc.
Scott Thompson 519-871-2015 s.thompson@mtsenvironmental.com
Booth # 812 Environmentally friendly turf management programs. Turf Pro Gold
National Leasing Golf & Turf Financing
Julie Noschese 204-954-2222 tradeshows@nationalleasing.com
Booth # 802
Randy Rogers 517-339-1987 rrogers@lebsea.com
Financial Services
Booth # 1309
Yves Brousseau 514-863-9107 ybrousseau@nmpgolf.com
Fertilizers, Organics, Foliars, Seed, Spreaders, Specialty Slow release fertilizers for Turf
NMP Golf Construction Inc.
Jackie Keim 519-249-0600 Customer.service@nutrite.com
Booth # 805 Ontario Seed Company Dave Schmelefske 519-886-0557 dave@oscturf.com
Booth # 804 Grass Seed, Syngenta, Bayer,Engage Agro, Bayco,Nutrite, AquaAid
Ontario Turf
Steve Mayne 519-452-3540 smayne@ontarioturf.com
Booth # 109
Sandy Carlton 905-793-7000 scarlton@plantprod.com
Plant Science, Inc.
Rob Field 905-320-6449 rfield@plantscience.com
Booth # 711 Manufacturing Distributor of Fertilizer and Plant Protection Products
Precision Turf Technologies/Slack Reel Service Amy Parps 905-335-2200 sales@precisionturf.ca
Booth 412
Biological Soil Conditioner
Precision Turf Technologies – Sprayer components including booms, controls and nozzles. Sprayer services and repairs. Chemical mixing stations. Full line of hoses, water pumps and pressure washers. Slack Reel Service – Reel sharpening service. Complete shop for equipment repairs. On road contract service. Full line of turf equipment parts.
Par Aide Products Co.
Premier Equipment Ltd.
Overton Environmental – Eco-Tea Dale Overton 204-612-8121 daleoverton@gmail.com
Booth # 704
Dan Brown 651-429-4513 dan@paraide.com
Booth # 311
Ryan Hicks 519-669-5453 Ryan.hicks@premierequipment.ca
Booth # 1102
The Personal Insurance Company
Tammy Dockery 905-785-1361 Tammy.dockery@thepersonal.com
Booth # 1218 Home & Auto Insurance
Trimble Precision Guidance & Application Technology
Pumps Plus
Steve Wilkinson 705-428-5332 pumpsplus@rogers.com
Booth # 203 Golf Pump Station Sales/Service
Booth # 810 Expertise Project Management Specialized in Golf Courses and
January/February 2013 | greenMaster 29
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E x h i b i t o r l i st
Pumptronics Inc.
Standard Golf Company
Turf Canada Inc.
Wiedenmann North America, LLC
Booth # 1001
Booth # 209
Booth # 715
Booth # 705
Pump Stations
Golf Course Accessories
Foliar / Granular Fertilizer, Soil Amendments and Accessories
Quali-Pro Canada
Sylvite Specialties
Wiedenmann will be displaying their Terra Spike XF-G deep tine aerifier along with a Super 500 sweeper/verticutter/flailmower.
Rick Ziegel 905-469-6444 rickz@pumptronics.ca
Philip Somerville 905-304-1168 psomerville@manainc.com
Booth # 315 Rain Bird International Serge Gauthier 514-448-1281 sgauthier@rainbird.com
Booth # 801 Irrigation Products
Redden Net Custom Nets Ltd. Elisa Newton 604-530-2213 elisa@redden-net.com
Steve Tyler 319-266-2638 stevet@standardgolf.com
Carrie Nancekievill 888-485-7737 cnancekievill@sylvite.ca
Booth # 102 Fertilizer manufacturer and distributor
Syngenta Canada Inc.
Marie Thorne 416-460-4866 Marie.thorne@syngenta.com
Booth # 703 Fungicides
Synthetic Turf International / GolfWEST
Golf Netting & Installation
Scott Smockum 250-864-6531 scottsmockum@gmail.com
Redexim Verti-Drain / G.C. Duke
EZ-Tee, Driving Range, Target Greens, Putting Greens
Booth # 1003
Robin Ambrose 905-637-5216 rambrose@gcduke.com
Booth # 313 Supplier of Aerators, Top Dressers, Overseeders, Turf Cleaning & Renovating Products
Salsco Inc.
Sal Rizzo 800-872-5726 sal@salsco.com
Booth # 112
TDS/Turf Drainage Systems Ltd. Melissa Van Roestel 519-227-0731 Melissa@tdsdrainage.com
Booth # 1007 Drainage Specialist
True-Surface
Terry Plemons 800-443-8506 terry@true-surface.com
Booth # 1107
30 greenMaster | www.golfsupers.com
William Wallace Garden Furniture Inc.
Booth # 212 Trade publication for Canadian turfgrass industry.
Booth # 809 Benches
Turfco Manufacturing / G.C.Duke
Wood Bay Turf Technologies
Booth # 214
Booth # 408
Robin Ambrose 905-637-5216 rambrose@gcduke.com
Untied Agri Products Canada (UAP Canada) Charlotte Swanson 519-268-5917 Charlotte.swanson@uap.ca
Lyall Adams 800-661-4942 ladams@woodbayturf.com
Greens iron 3900 turf roller; FDS 9200 dethatcher dyna blades
Yamaha Golf Cars/Turf Care
Booth # 1305
Annette Jack 905-836-0988 annettej@turfcare.ca
Turf Management Products - herbicides, fungicides, nutrient, water agents
Booth # 1103 Yamaha Golf Cars
Vergeer Golf Inc.
Zander Sod Co. Limited
Tedd Hopkins 519-317-0885 thopkins@vergeergolf.com
Booth # 100
WeedsBGone
Golf Maintenance Equipment
Will Wolverton 912-790-3004 wolverw@terraspike.com
David Wideman 800-505-3370 dave@wwallace.ca
Booth # 301
Smithco / G.C. Duke
Supplier of sand trap vehicles, sprayers, & greens rollers in gas and electric configurations
Bart Crandon 519-582-8873 Turf.bart@on.aibn.com
The Toro Company
Booth # 200
Booth # 610
Turf & Recreation Publishing Inc.
Vergeer Golf Inc.-Specializing in Golf Course and Sports Field Construction, Renovation, Drainage and Maintenance. Exclusive distributor of Klingstone, The Permanent Bunker Solution.
Jace Bertsch 952-887-7186 Jace.bertsch@toro.com
Robin Ambrose 800-883-0761 rambrose@gcduke.com
Trevor Parkes 416-579-0559 tparkes@turfcanada.com
Joe DeMarco 905-373-4422 weedsbgone@rogers.com
Booth # 1005 Aquatic Weed Suppression Products
Alexander Dickie 905-505-5014 alexander@zandersod.com
Booth # 205 Specialty Turf Services and Custom grown sod
This article is eligible for the
Gordon Witteveen Award
fe ature ◗ Brian youell
designation for the author.
Stand Up and Deliver: The Art of Public Speaking ◗ Some people say public speaking is
their number one fear, a statement that conjures up this infamous quote from Jerry Seinfeld, “to the average person, if you have to go to a funeral, you’re better off in the casket than doing the eulogy. Public speaking may seem intimidating, but it can also be mastered easily. It’s hard to believe that public speaking is difficult when the average person speaks about 15,000 words per day, although I think my daughter hits around 20,000. In 1999, a keynote speaker gave my colleagues and I some advice. “Join a Toastmasters club for a minimum two years,” he said, “and you will be amazed at the number of doors of opportunity that will open for you!” I followed his advice and found he was right! I have had the great fortune to teach for the past twelve years, speak at conferences internationally and host numerous club functions, eulogies and charitable events, all because I challenged my number one fear: public speaking. I would like to share with you what I have learned that transformed my
speaking career. We all do public speaking, we just don’t’ know it. Whether it’s reciting staff orders each morning or presenting a new equipment purchase to an owner or board of directors, we are engaging in public speaking. If done properly, you will be amazed at the influence you can garner and the way you can grab an audience’s attention. We are fortunate enough in this day and age to have witnessed great presenters like Bill Clinton and Steve Jobs. We are able to see how they captivate people, how an audience hangs on every word, waiting in anticipation for the next. Both of these men have one thing in common; they are connection makers. Through stories, analogies and the use of word-pictures, they are able to connect to the audience and make speeches an enjoyable experience. They both use simple language and tell stories that stick. If you engage your listeners, present in an easy-to-remember way, sell the benefit and paint a picture with stories, you can keep the attention of your audience. A good start to any presentation includes giving your audience a verbal
outline. Saying something like, “I will be talking about four points on public speaking today,” is effective as is opening and closing each point this way. This simple technique will give your audience a road map to your presentation. The first point in any presentation is your vision or argument. If it can’t be summed up in ten words or less, it’s too long. We see way too many presentations lose the audience’s interest because of a lengthy preamble at the beginning. Imagine presenting your idea to purchase greens rollers for your club to the board of directors. Saying something like, “We can have our greens rolling as smooth as Augusta!” sums up your vision with enthusiasm, outlines its benefits and also mentions Augusta, which gets any golfer to listen intently. Secondly, it is important to chant your theme throughout your presentation so it is easily remembered. These crucial points need to be specific and concise. Rolling multiple times per week will smooth our surfaces and give our members great ball roll. Once again, your key message is the use of rollers to smooth out your surfaces.
We are fortunate enough in this day and age to have witnessed great presenters like Bill Clinton and Steve Jobs. We are able to see how they captivate people, how an audience hangs on every word, waiting in anticipation for the next.
Left: Brian Youell, Superintendent, Uplands Golf & Country Club January/February 2013 | greenMaster 31
fe ature ◗ Brian youell
Whether you are presenting a piece of equipment or speaking to an audience, you need to be chanting your key message. Next, we need to sell the benefit. Ultimately, decision makers ask the question, “What’s in it for me?” Well, in the greens rollers scenario, their greens will be better, their putts will roll truer and their greens will be competitive in the local market. Remember the next time you are standing before an audience, board of directors or an owner, they are likely asking themselves: Why do I need to listen to this person? What am I going to learn? Am I going to gain anything? Use images, stories or details of current problem to answer these questions. By saying “The greens are slow! The greens are bumpy! Greens are faster at other clubs!” you have created visual images they can relate too. Too often speakers present the solution before the problem. It is much easier for the listener to follow if you flip it around. Finally, we need to paint a picture of our vision. In this case the vision is to add greens rollers to our maintenance fleet. Stick to the rule of three; no more than three points per topic. We’ve all come across at least one of these recognizable examples of the rule of three: “Stop, drop and roll” “The good, the bad and the ugly.” It is easier to remember three points
which makes it easier for a speaker to emphasize these points. Keep your three points visual. As an example, think about which set of features for a new iPod is more memorable: • PP 5020-processor chip • 16 gig of memory • Lithium ion battery Or: • Super-Fast • Like having 5,000 songs in your pocket • Battery lasts for over 10 hours Probably the second one because it provides images and benefits you understand and relate to. Your speech loses its meaning if the audience doesn’t retain any of the information. Interference is the chief cause of forgetting a lecture, particularly when the lecture is too fast. A stand-up comedian’s routine is about 30 per cent silence. This allows the audience time to digest what they have just heard. Your audience will need time to digest your words, especially if it’s technical information. Have a nice even speech rate. Don’t put pressure on your self when speaking. The average person makes a verbal mistake once every 10 words. Avoid the mistake of trying not to make slip-up. It is more important to know your material. After finishing a presentation, a speaker usually finds they have four versions of their speech; the one they delivered, the one they prepared, the one the crowd
heard and the one they think of on the way home that they wish they delivered. Always use the same slide and text transitions. You can often tell when a speaker is using PowerPoint for the first time because they use every transition or animation offered. This will distract the listener from your key message. Only include relevant text on a slide; that is, text you are talking about. If you display an entire slide of text, the listener will be reading it, finish and be bored. Never hand out your presentation material before you speak, your listeners will read ahead on what you are speaking about. There are a wide variety of great websites and groups that can assist you with public speaking such as Toastmasters, Ignite public speaking events, Pecha Kucha and TED Talks. Many have videos that you can watch of other public speakers as examples of what to do right. Start your public speaking today by starting off small. Practice by giving out morning orders, speaking at a staff meeting or speaking at a local meeting. You will be amazed at the doors that will open for you if you practice the art of public speaking. GM
Brian is Superintendent at Uplands Golf and Country Club in Victoria, BC and the 2012 CGSA Superintendent of the Year
You’ve read it. Now be a part of it! GreenMaster is looking for your ideas and original articles on golf course management. No story or idea is too small. If you have a story you have written or an idea for one you would like to see in the pages of our magazine please send it to bgarrett@golfsupers.com. We welcome all submissions. Your stories and ideas will make the magazine come alive and help golf course professionals across Canada. Those stories written by superintendents and assistant superintendents that appear in GreenMaster will also automatically be considered for the annual Gordon Witteveen Award. Grow with the CGSA!
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MEC H ANIC ’S CORNER ◗ EDDie konrad
A flew 2100 greens head. Ensuring mowers are ready for use in the spring should be prioritized over other machines used later in the season. credit: Troy Fisher, Granite Golf Club
The Art of Planning: How to keep ahead so you don’t fall behind ◗ Let me start with wishing you a happy, healthy and prosperous year 2013. Another article telling you what you’ve already done or should have done isn’t what I had in mind. There are already enough articles around that discuss how to prepare your equipment during the winter shut down or slow down. So let’s talk about planning ahead. Planning ahead includes preparation, setting up, development, arrangement, scheduling, forecasting, training, research and groundwork. All of these words have meaning for an equipment manager on a golf course or turf field and all of them require effective time management to achieve. If you routinely manage your time efficiently, you are one of the achievers. If you use these skills well, then you’re able to function exceptionally, even under intense pressure. But when you master these skills it means taking control of your workload and saying goodbye to the often intense stress of work overload. At the heart of time management is an important shift in focus. It is crucial to concentrate on results, not on being busy. It seems for many of us there’s just never enough time in the day to get everything done. Once we know how to manage our time we gain control. Spending your days in a frenzy of activity will achieve very little because you’re not concentrating any
effort on the things that matter the most. Rather than busily working here, there and everywhere (and not getting much done anywhere), effective time management helps us choose what to work on and when. Prioritizing tasks is key to effective time management. Tasks for the new season should be to get equipment clean and mowing-ready, not working on an aerator you need later on in the season. If you are completing tasks at the last minute or need more time to do them, setting aside time for planning and scheduling can go a long way to solving this problem. Planning and scheduling can only be done after communicating with your superintendent about the priorities for the coming days, weeks and months. Planning and scheduling also allows you to chart how much time you’re spending on various jobs, how often you deal with interruptions and how your schedule could be affected by the unexpected. Prioritizing what needs to be done is especially important. Without it, we may work very hard, but won’t achieve the results we desire because the work we are
doing is not of strategic importance. Most people have a “to-do” list of some sort. The problem with many of these lists is they are just a collection of things that need to get done. To work efficiently we need to plan our to-do list with the most important equipment on top. This way we won’t get caught scrambling to finish something critical at the last moment when the machinery is needed. The next issue is minimizing the interruptions we face during the day. It is widely recognized that equipment managers get very little uninterrupted time to work on their priority tasks. There are phone calls, information requests, questions from operators and repairs that crop up unexpectedly. Some do need to be dealt with immediately, but others need to be managed. There has to be time available for people when they need help – interruption is a natural and necessary part of life. We do what we sensibly can to minimize it, but make sure we don’t scare people away from interrupting when they should, since this can be the cause of operators not reporting problems with equipment.
At the heart of time management is an important shift in focus. It is crucial to concentrate on results, not on being busy. January/February 2013 | greenMaster 33
M EC H ANIC ’ S CORNER ◗ EDDie konrad
Procrastination is as tempting as it is deadly. “I’ll get to it later” has led to the downfall of many a good mechanic. After too many “laters” the work piles up so high that any task seems insurmountable. Reward yourself for getting jobs done and remind yourself regularly of the horrible consequences of not doing tasks. Much of time management comes down to planning ahead effectively. When we know what our goals and priorities are, we then need to know how to go about creating a schedule that keeps us * Wash Water Recycle on track and protects us from stress. We not only have to schedule priority tasks, we * Pesticide Storage have to leave room for interruptions and * Chem Mix contingency time for those unexpected * Fuel Management repairs that otherwise wreak chaos with our schedule. By creating a robust * Spill Containment schedule that reflects our priorities, we have a winning combination: One that EPA Best Available Technology will allow us to control our time and keep Complete Layout Design our equipment running flawlessly. In other words we have to plan ahead with proper scheduling. 800-242-1150 In order to be able to make a plan, you email: info@carbtrol.com www.carbtrol.com need to have a goal. The goal always has to be having equipment available and performing perfectly when needed. To achieve your goal you have to manage 410455_Carbtrol.indd 1 12/9/08 9:39:51 AM your time efficiently. During the year we use different machinery. Diversity calls for planning ahead if we want that equipment to be honed to perfection. SIGNS With winter work just finished, and spring on the horizon we have to make certain our machinery will come to life again once needed. Opening the golf course or sports facility in spring can challenge our planning. Consulting with Quality Signs Since 1983 the superintendent is important so we can know a starting day for cleanup. Looking at the long term weather forecast is a start. The weather forecast might supply the Toll Free: 1 (800) 909-9927 time frame available to get equipment ready. Fax: (403) 346-6261 Next we have to find out what E-mail: info@wallahsigns.com equipment will be used and the HOC for golfsales@wallahsigns.com the first cut of greens and tees. Equipped with that knowledge we can sit down and fill our calendar with tasks. These tasks Eastern Distributor include bringing equipment into the shop, checking hydraulic oil for contamination Jim Schwan Sports over the winter months, removing snow (705) 437-4280 chains from tractors, checking PTO shafts, getting blowers ready for operation and Beaverton, ON installing the PTO driven ones on the 3-point hitch. Looking through files from Complete Golf Course years past allows us to see when and what Signage & Accessories equipment was needed in previous years
Environmental Management Center for Golf Maintenance Facilities
www.wallahsigns.com
Red Deer, Alberta
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and the sequence it was put to work. Now that we identified our projects, we have to think about the project scope and the work breakdown structure. Once we established our schedules we can proceed to details. Use a checklist to make sure nothing gets forgotten. Download such a list from your supplier’s website and use it when working on equipment. A quick reference for your entire fleet lets us avoid mistakes or oversights. Crossing off the tasks performed reminds us what is done and what we still have to do. This way nothing is overlooked or forgotten. One of the next entries in your calendar should be training. Everyone according to law, new or returning, old or young, should be trained. If they are hired to do a job they should be trained to do it. Training your operators will improve awareness of why the task must be performed correctly and how to do it correctly. If possible make tasks easier to ensure compliance and to achieve superior performance. Servicing machines is another crucial activity made easier by charting time for it on your calendar. Plan service intervals by checking hour meters on equipment at week’s end. Don’t forget to include ordering parts for the necessary service. Sufficient time for maintenance or repair documentation has to be built-in when scheduling. Maintenance and service history can be an important factor to plan repairs or to trade in equipment. Service history of years past can help significantly when planning ahead. It can show weak points on machinery and what parts to stock for repairs. During the season there has to be sufficient time for grinding. Green, tee and fairway mowers need their CU’s honed to perfection throughout the season. We also need time for unexpected repairs or break downs. Scheduling these tasks and knowing your priorities goes a long way to ensuring the season goes smoothly. Planning makes it possible to have time in your schedule to carry out all these important tasks. Improving our personal time management skills is essential to planning ahead and being an effective equipment manager. GM
Eddie was the head mechanic at the Ladies Golf Club of Toronto for 22 years, regularly contributes to GreenMaster magazine and is a contract professor at Seneca College in Ontario teaching Reel Technology.
bac k n i n e ◗ david mcpherson
Calgary Superintendent uses lessons learned in short-lived pro football career ◗ What do tackling and tending turf have in common? Lots, says CGSA member Scott MacArthur, the superintendent at Country Hills Golf Club—a 36-hole private club situated in Calgary’s north-end. Though it’s been nearly 30 years since he felt the thrill of a well-executed tackle on the gridiron, the lessons learned from a short-lived professional football career are everpresent. Flash back to 1981. The Calgary Stampeders drafted MacArthur to play in the Canadian Football League (CFL). At the time, the CFL had a “territorial exemption,” aimed to encourage teams to invest in and develop high-school and amateur football players in their region. MacArthur began playing football in junior high and went on to star as a defensive lineman for four years for the University of Calgary. MacArthur was named to the all-Canadian team in his third and fourth year. More impressive, in his final year of university, he won The J.P. Metras Trophy, awarded to the league’s most outstanding lineman. Today, the superintendent is happy he doesn’t have to bang bodies for a living. Football took its toll. A knee injury in his first pro season was his ultimate demise, and despite a couple of surgeries, his CFL career ended in 1985 when he was cut at the end of training camp. “It was just a matter of time before I wasn’t going to be able to play anymore,” MacArthur recalls. “Playing football was a lot of fun. There are a lot of good things about it, but especially now when I look at how big and how obese a lot of the players are … it’s not a great thing. There are also a lot of head and spinal injuries; it’s not good bashing your head over and over!” One wonders what lead MacArthur from the football field to the turf business. It took time. First, he obtained a journalism degree from Mount Royal College. After graduation, he worked in public affairs for several years, but soon realized it wasn’t the right fit. “I don’t like being inside all the time,” he admits. So MacArthur did some soul searching. This led him to reflect back on a stint he did at Silver Springs Golf Course in the
late 1970s working for Jim O’Connor. “I looked back at that job and I thought of all the things that I’ve done in my life, I liked that the most because you go out at the beginning of the day, you have a plan, get engaged in a project, and at the end of the day you can actually see what you’ve accomplished,” he explains. “Whereas working in a big corporate environment or institution it is very difficult to get that feeling of accomplishment.” Football gave MacArthur that sense of satisfaction. With each defensive stop, and with each win or loss, there was a tangible result. Athletics was also the carrot that initially encouraged MacArthur to attend university. More importantly, as part of a team, he met a lot of high achievers. These are all skills he uses and relies upon every day to lead and motivate his crew. “My job working at a golf club is similar to a coach running a team,” MacArthur explains. “Every spring you bring in new people that you need to train. At the same time, you have experienced employees returning who you can rely on to help you train these new team members. You also have to make cuts… fire people that don’t show up on time, etc.” What’s different in sports, according to MacArthur, is that for athletes playing the game is the intrinsic reward. “We don’t have that. For some staff, I might promote them to use a different piece of equipment and that’s reward enough, but for many members of my turf crew, after a while, they need extra motivation. You need to give them constant feedback and show them how what they are doing helps the organization… show them a direct tangible result between their work and what the customer sees.” MacArthur offers the following example. When he trains staff on bunker maintenance, he takes a sand wedge with him to demonstrate how members will experience different shots depending on how the sand in the bunker is raked. “I always focus on the process,” he concludes. “I show them that how they do their job has a direct relation to what the golfer experiences.” GM
Scott MacArthur, Calgary Stampeders, circa 1982.
“I always focus on the process. I show them that how they do their job has a direct relation to what the golfer experiences.” Scott MacArthur
David McPherson is a regular contributor to GreenMaster. The Toronto-based golf writer also runs a communications consulting business (McPherson Communications). Reach him at david_mcpherson2002@yahoo. ca or follow him on Twitter @aspen73 January/February 2013 | greenMaster 35
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