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COLUMNS
06 | From the editor
The various turf types we saw this summer.
78 | Duffer
Living the dream of working from home. DEPARTMENTS
06 | In the news
Glen Abbey superintendent
Andrew Gyba answers media’s questions on eve of RBC Canadian Open.
12 | Health & Safety
Know what to do in the event of a bee or wasp sting while working outdoors.
Meet Canada’s new sports turf manager of the year
Barrie, Ont.’s Joe Breedon selected by Sports Turf Canada for the honour.
BY MIKE JIGGENS
Guide 2019 A
By Mike Jiggens
Turfgrass on display in its various forms
Some of the finest and most varied sports turf on earth were showcased this summer for the entire world to see on television.
Within a period of just one month, sports fans from around the world got to see the Wimbledon tennis championships played on the famed grass courts in England, the FIFA World Cup soccer championship played in Russia, and the Open Championship (British Open) played at Carnoustie Golf Links in Scotland.
Three entirely different sports were played on three vastly different playing surfaces.
Here in North America, we’re accustomed to playing tennis or watching it being played on asphalt surfaces. To most tennis aficionados on this side of the pond, playing the game on grass is virtually an alien concept.
The FIFA World Cup marked the first time in its history that the championship final was played on a surface that wasn’t 100 per cent natural. It was close enough, though, to satisfy the athletes who – to a man –are adamant about playing on a natural surface.
A new hybrid surface consisting of 95 per cent natural turf and five per cent synthetic fibres was put into play for the final at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium. Called SISGrass, it was developed by a British company that claims the com-
bination of both grasses offers better stability and longer life than 100 per cent natural turf.
Since 95 per cent of it was natural, it allowed some of the finest footballers in the world the feel of a completely natural playing surface while decreasing the amount of field wear. It satisfied the demands of the most discriminating athletes.
Owners and members are Augusta-obsessed and want all things green
Artificial turf sports fields have become increasingly more popular than ever before in this millennium, largely due to the fact that weather isn’t as much of a factor as it is with natural turf. A longer season can be played on synthetic turf, and the quality of the field itself has come a long way since the days of Astroturf. Although it is safer and more aesthetically pleasing than ever before, it hasn’t quite reached the point where it is universally embraced. It’s still Miracle Whip to real mayonnaise or margarine to butter.
Because artificial turf is not a living, breathing organism, it will probably always fall just short of the real thing, but it certainly is better than it ever was before. Perhaps this SISGrass system is the compromise that will appeal to both athletes and groundskeepers alike.
British Open. Armchair golf enthusiasts who might watch only the sport’s four major championships may well have asked, “Why is the grass so brown at the British Open yet it’s so perfectly green at The Masters?”
For those of us in the know, the brown grass at Carnoustie was just fine in terms of its health. Its superintendent wasn’t about to put his job in jeopardy to risk the well being of Carnoustie’s fairways, especially when putting it on the world stage. The Royal & Ancient Championship Committee obviously feels that turf allowed to go a little dormant isn’t going to adversely affect the way the game is played. It’s what gives these British venues such character and sets this particular major apart from the others. Well, that and the pot bunkers.
Those outside the industry who might think the superintendent is goofing off and failing to do his job because the fairways are more on the brown side need to do a little research. Some might argue that he and his colleagues working at other British courses actually have the right idea, that aesthetics aren’t everything and that the course can still play without the need for copious amounts of water.
This is something that North American golf needs to realize, but course owners and members are Augusta-obsessed and want all things green. To accomplish that, irrigation systems must be turned on more frequently. Never mind the fact that a little brown isn’t going to hinder the course’s playability.
www.turfandrec.com
Editor Mike Jiggens mjiggens@annexbusinessmedia.com
National Advertising Manager Nashelle Barsky 905-431-8892 nbarsky@annexbusinessmedia.com
Sarah Otto 519-400-0332 sotto@annexbusinessmedia.com
Account Coordinator Mary Burnie 1-888-599-2228 ext 234 mburnie@annexbusinessmedia.com
Group Publisher Scott Jamieson sjamieson@annexbusinessmedia.com
President & CEO Mike Fredericks
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CIRCULATION
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Toronto spares life of its oldest tree through city decree
The life of a 350-year-old red oak tree in Toronto has been spared after city council granted permission to city staff to negotiate acquisition of the North York home whose yard houses the tree.
The tree, which is older than both Toronto and Canada, is compromising the foundation of the home as its growing root system pushes against the structure.
Baseball program in jeopardy if ball field converted
A half-million dollars in renovations to Veteran’s Field in North Bay, Ont. is striking out with user groups. A bone of contention is that another city field that two local baseball organizations depend on to accommodate their games is being converted into a softball field. The two leagues feel the growth of baseball in North Bay is dependent upon the use of two baseball-specific diamonds.
The user groups are expected to come up with $75,000 over 10 years to help pay for the renovations.
Goats are keeping Calgary park free of weeds
An urban park overlooking downtown Calgary is being kept weed free by a herd of goats. About 130 goats are at work at McHugh Bluff in Sunnyside as part of a two to three-year program.
The goats tend to feed on broadleaf weeds instead of targeting the turf itself. Their hooves also help with planting beds with their degree of soil disturbance. This gives seeded native grasses and flowers a better chance of establishing.
Superintendent speaks to media on eve of RBC Canadian Open
$75,000
The amount of money two user groups are expected to pay in renovations
Andrew Gyba, superintendent at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont., was interviewed by the media prior to the start of the RBC Canadian Open which got underway July 26. This marks Gyba’s fifth Open, and he was asked about his course preparations, his fondest memories of past Opens he has worked and what advice he would give to another superintendent about to host such a high-scale tournament.
Q. What is the ideal scenario?
Gyba: I don’t know if there is one, is there? Ideally, you’d love to be frozen through the winter and just a gradual warm-up in the spring. What you really want to avoid is the fluctuation in temperatures, the up and down. But getting above that, having your soil temperature get above that 10 to 12-degree mark in the winter time can be incredibly dangerous, especially with very
delicate poa annua like we have on some of our valley holes.
Q. Do you as a superintendent, when you look back on this tournament, whether or not it comes back to Glen Abbey, do you have any specific memories or specific things that stand out to you about this course?
Gyba: I’m always ever impressed with how my staff comes together and when we bring volunteer help in, we basically double the size of our crew, so we’re up around the 80 mark with grounds crew and staff members on the grounds crew this year. It absolutely blows me away. Everything we ask of them… 4 a.m. starts and finishes at 10 p.m., and finishes at midnight… how enthusiastic and how optimistic, and how happy they are to be out there, and how they come together when people have only known each other for a day or two.
Andrew Gyba, superintendent, Glen Abbey Golf Club.
The year tree is believed to have started growing
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Meet Canada ’ s new sports turf manager of the year
Barrie, Ont.’s Joe Breedon says the weather is his ‘boss’
and presents the greatest challenges
By Mike Jiggens
Canada’s sports turf manager of the year was caught off guard upon learning he was chosen for the 2018 honour by Sports Turf Canada (STC).
While attending April’s annual general meeting of the association in Hamilton, Ont., Joe Breedon, outdoor recreation facility coordinator for the City of Barrie, was introduced to a couple of western Canadian members of STC by outgoing president Tab Buckner. Unbeknownst to Buckner, Breedon hadn’t yet been informed of the news and was introduced as the new sports turf manager of the year.
“I must have had a surprised look on my face, and Tab realized it was the first time I had heard about this,” Breedon said. “He said, ‘You didn’t know? They didn’t tell you?’”
Breedon decided to “play along” when he was formally announced as sports turf manager of the year at the appropriate time during the meeting, yet added he was surprised at having been selected for the honour.
“I was pretty shocked with a bit of butterflies. I wondered, ‘Why me?’ There are hundreds of me out there.”
Breedon joined the City of Barrie in 2005 as an assistant with the municipality’s recreation services department and was promoted to lead hand in 2008. One of his primary responsibilities upon his advancement was to take charge of operations for the Barrie Sports Complex in nearby Minesing, Ont. Prior to being hired by the city, he was employed directly by the then privately-owned sports complex, starting his career there in 2000. When the city acquired the complex, Breedon was brought on board as a new city employee.
Although his background was in recreation and leisure services, the 37-year-old took it upon himself to better educate himself once joining the city staff. While working full-time, he took the “back way” into his career through various online courses offered by the University of Guelph, Ohio State University, Sports Turf Canada and the Ontario Recreation Facilities Association.
Leading a staff of 17 employees, Breedon is responsible for the upkeep of the fields within the sports complex as well as another 90 fields elsewhere in the city. The fields within the 118-acre complex include eight baseball diamonds arranged in two sets of “pinwheels,” a larger skinned infield diamond designed for championship level slo-pitch, and a 1,600-seat stadium that is home to the Intercounty Baseball League’s Barrie Baycats. Additionally, the complex includes six multi-purpose fields used for soccer, lacrosse, football and rugby. One of those fields is geared more towards the city’s football team, complete with gooseneck uprights, a scoreboard and bleachers to accommodate 500 people. Another field is dedicated to the Barrie Rugby Club. The unlit pitch measures 70 metres by 100 metres and was built on a 50-50 basis between the city and the rugby club. Rounding out the complex’s facilities are four regulation size beach
The Barrie Sports Complex is a high-end sports facility that includes elite baseball diamonds and multi-purpose sports fields.
volleyball courts, three amenity buildings equipped with washrooms and change rooms and a pavilion backing onto one of the pinwheels that is licensed and serves as a headquarters during baseball tournaments.
BARRIE SPORTS COMPLEX
The eight pinwheel-arrayed diamonds measure 300 feet down the left and right field lines and are 320 feet to centre field. All are lit for evening play. The slo-pitch field measures 325 feet down the sides and 360 feet to centre. Field dimensions for the premier stadium field – called Coates Stadium – are 325 feet down the base lines and 405 feet to centre field. The stadium includes a full amenities building with washrooms, change rooms, concessions and the Baycats club office.
The multi-purpose fields measure 64 metres by 100 metres and feature regulation end zones to match the specific sport.
All fields at the complex are irrigated. As premier category fields, the playing surfaces at the complex are booked solid throughout the summer.
“Every single week throughout the summer up to the end of September, there is always something going on –some sort of tournament on weekends and regular night play Monday to Thursday. All the fields are basically taken up each evening with the local groups and youth sports.”
When the complex was privately owned, staff looked after all of the field setup for the various sports events, including field lining. The municipality decided to continue the practice once the complex became city owned.
“Being a private business, the groups depend on you to provide the services,” Breedon said. “When the city took over, we adapted that model. The idea is for people to come and play and then leave and not worry about the setup.”
User groups generally don’t know how to properly line fields or look after other setup responsibilities, he said, so they appreciate having that done for them. A small fee for the service is incorporated into the cost of booking a diamond or field.
Painting a football field can take upwards of five or six hours, depending on the number of staff involved. Considerations include timing, the rate of turf growth and the weather.
“It brings a lot of challenges because the weather is our boss. You have to be prepared and organized. There is a lot of trust in the staff, and training is a big thing, too, because one needs to know a bit of everything just to understand the operation.”
Outside of the complex, the individual user groups are responsible for field setup, including field lining and setting up bases. Breedon said he and his staff, however, are prepared to dispense any necessary advice.
‘Ninety per cent of the time you always go to Plan B with everything in this industry’
About half of Breedon’s time is devoted to the needs of the complex while the other half is earmarked for the city’s other fields that include category C fields and diamonds as well as school diamonds and non-irrigated park fields.
STAFFING
None of his 17 staff members is dedicated to any specific set of fields. Each has a hand with everything.
“I try to keep it interesting. I have a great staff. They love coming to work. They hang out outside of work on their own time.”
Included among Breedon’s staff are three full-time employees who work at the arenas and community centres during the winter months, four casual employees who work from early April until mid-November, eight
Joe Breedon
students who are employed from May through August and two part-time employees who work during special events.
Because fields are open for play nightly until 11:30 and on weekends, shift work is assigned to the staff. Scheduling of employees can be challenging when vacations are involved or during family emergencies or other uncontrollable circumstances.
“Ninety per cent of the time you always go to Plan B with everything in this industry.”
The weather, however, is usually the biggest challenge.
“Each year is always different, depending on the winter.”
Winter’s freeze-thaw cycles and extended ice cover will play a hand in field conditions. Breedon said he tries to keep up with soil sampling and water testing.
“We have some pretty high bicarbs coming through and tying up the soil on all the fields (at the complex). It’s a struggle and a slow process to get turf recovery and for the turf to take off, especially in the springtime.”
Each field must be treated as if it’s “your own baby,” and different issues will arise on different fields or different parts of the same field, often depending on where the sun is shining. Some
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fields have trees that cast shade on one side of a field for much of the day while the other half is largely in full sun.
“Your best friends are the soil and water samples you’re taking.”
Breedon said it’s an expense to continually take samples, but it’s one that pays for itself. He said it’s dangerous to surmise the turf is ideal based on how it looks. It may appear green and healthy, but if it fails a tug test there are problems and it’s important to know what is happening beneath the surface.
Networking with his peers in the industry is important to Breedon as well as giving back to the industry and helping out when he can. He said attending Sports Turf Canada events and the annual conference of the Sports Turf Managers Association in the United States are key opportunities to remain abreast of what is happening within the industry.
When it comes to hiring staff, he said experience and schooling are important, “but I don’t look for anything but character and the character that fits into our model.”
Staff can be trained to do the job, but having people who get along with one another and who bond as a team to produce good morale is perhaps more important, he said.
“Attitude is number one in my book.”
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Know what to do when stung
It’s mid-summer and you’re probably noticing that bees and wasps are especially active these days. It’s their favourite season!
Bees sting and leave their stinger in your skin. Wasps don’t leave a stinger, but their stings tend to cause worse reactions. In general, most stings only cause temporary pain, swelling and skin redness. In more severe cases, however, stings can have life-threatening effects, depending on where the sting occurs and what allergies you may have. Being stung in the throat for example, may cause fluid to build up and cause swelling in the tissues around the throat. The swelling makes it difficult to breathe. Although rare, the most severe allergic reaction to a sting is anaphylaxis (also called anaphylactic shock). Of those people who die from a severe allergic reaction to a sting, half die within 30 minutes and three-quarters within 45 minutes. This reaction can occur the first time you are stung or with a subsequent sting.
Watch for these symptoms, which tend to appear immediately or up to 30 minutes after you have been stung:
• Hives, itching and swelling in areas other than the sting site
• Swollen eyes and eyelids
• Wheezing
• Tightness in the chest and difficulty breathing
• Hoarse voice or swelling of the tongue
• Dizziness or sharp drop in
blood pressure
• Shock
• Unconsciousness or cardiac arrest
What precautions can you take?
Stay away. The best way to avoid getting stung is to avoid insects. Be alert for hives or nests, or where insects are gathering, entering and exiting an opening. Stinging insects are also attracted to certain foods and may be found near garbage cans, dumpsters, fallen fruit beneath fruit trees, pet food, and other sources of food residue.
Avoid provoking the insects. Do not swat at them or make sudden movements. Let them fly away, or you can slowly walk away or gently “blow” away the insect. If you have disturbed a nest and hear wild buzzing, act quickly – protect your face with your hands and run from the area.
Power tools such as lawnmowers, weed eaters and chainsaws sometimes stir up the insects. If you are startled or
stung while you are working with these power tools or machinery, you could end up getting injured by both the insect and the machine!
Let your employers know if you have allergies to insect stings, especially if you work outdoors. Co-workers should be trained in emergency first aid, be aware of the signs of a severe reaction, and know how to use the bee sting kit (selfinjectable epinephrine). When working outside, carry a cellular phone in case you need emergency medical help.
Don’t be a bug magnet. Reduce your chance of being stung by wearing light coloured clothes such as khaki, beige, or blue, and long sleeved shirts and long pants. Wear footwear to protect against bees and wasps attacking your bare or sandaled feet. Avoid wearing scented, perfumed products, and make sure the insects can’t hide or get tangled in your hair, or in the folds of clothing and towels. Be aware that insect repellent (“bug spray”) does not affect these stinging insects.
If you must be near bees or wasps, wear a hat with netting to cover your head, neck and shoulders and tape your pant legs to your boots and socks, and your sleeves to your gloves.
In the event of a sting:
Try removing the stinger right away (the venom can still be injected for up to a minute afterwards) by scraping sideways with your fingernail or a credit card, at the narrow end of the sting. You might have to use tweezers if the venom sac breaks off, leaving the sting in the skin. Be careful not to squeeze the venom sac. An application of ice (wrapped in a towel to prevent freezing the skin), anti-itch cream and/ or an antihistamine pill can help reduce the effects of the sting.
Do not scratch a stung area. Scratching may cause a break in the skin, which could lead to an infection.
If you or a co-worker is stung in the eyes, nose or throat, or show any sign of a reaction to a sting, call emergency medical services right away, even if you’re not sure.
If you have experienced a severe allergic reaction to an insect sting in the past, expect a similar or worse reaction the next time. Ask your doctor to prescribe a bee sting kit and carry it with you at all times. If you are hypersensitive to stings, you should also wear a medical alert bracelet.
If you are ever stung multiple times, talk to your doctor. It might be wise to monitor your health over the next few days or weeks.
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Canadian Golf Distributors
Atlantic Provinces
Irri Plus Inc. (902) 405-4774
Québec
Triad Solutions
St-Michel, QC (800) 567-2473
Ontario
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Alberta SiteOne Calgary, AB (403) 236-0102
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REEL GRINDING EQUIPMENT
OAKCREEK GOLF & TURF
18785 96th Ave.
Surrey, BC V4N 3P5
Tel: 604-882-8399 Fax: 604-882-8721
Toll-Free: 1-888-773-7335 www.oakcreekgolf.com
OAKCREEK GOLF & TURF
15 - 4970 Polkey Rd. Duncan, BC V9L 6W3
Tel: 250-701-0766 Fax: 250-701-0767
Toll-Free: 1-888-773-7335 www.oakcreekgolf.com
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Tel: 250-721-5300 tufturf@shaw.ca, tufturf.ca
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XL:Early's XL 6/21/16 1:27 PM Page 1
CHEMICALS
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Canadian Commercial Distributors
British Columbia
Oakcreek Golf & Turf Inc.
Kelowna 250-860-5090
Surrey 604-882-8399
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Alberta Oakcreek Golf & Turf Inc.
Calgary 403-279-2907
Edmonton 780-469-2332
Saskatchewan Oakcreek Golf & Turf Inc.
Saskatoon 306-975-1110
Manitoba Mazergroup
Winnipeg 204-253-2900
Ontario Turf Care Products Canada Limited
Carp 613-821-1880
Medina 519-349-2400
Newmarket 905-836-0988
Québec Les Produits Turf Care Canada Limitée
Vaudreuil-Dorion 450-218-4544
Atlantic Canada Vesey’s Equipment
York, P.E.I. 902-892-8873 1-866-455-TURF (8873)
OAKCREEK GOLF & TURF
111 Eldorado St.
Warman, SK S7N 1Y3
Tel: 306-975-1110 Fax: 306-975-1184
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REEL GRINDING EQUIPMENT
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What Matters Most to You Matters Most to Us.
It’s a numbers game. You need to get more jobs done fast and right the first time, optimize your club’s resources and stay within budget. Toro’s new Outcross 9060, a multi-purpose and turf-friendly workhorse, combines purpose-built, all-season functionality with intuitive operation – with virtually anyone on your staff – and unprecedented versatility to deliver impressive results. Even better, Outcross can power your existing attachments utilizing its 3-point connection and power take-off*, haul over two tons in its supersized cargo/dump-bed, and tow up to 16,000 lbs. (7,257 kg)**, which is more than three times its own weight. The weight-balanced, fourwheel steer and full-time four-wheel drive powerhouse can get it all done without damaging sensitive turf. The all new Outcross 9060 is a Jack-of-all-trades, and Jack is jealous.
• Walk-behind, pull-type or tractor-mounted Millcreek Large Area Topdresser
• Capacities from 1 cu. yd. up to 5 cu. yds. • Sabre tooth beater for even wet material spreading • High flotation turf tires • Tractor PTO or hydraulic drive
• Handles slopes up to 75 degrees
3pt. hitch front and rear Lynex LX1000 Extreme Slope Radio Controlled Mower
• 40” flail head • 800m range • 22 hp gas engine
• Tracks with rubber spikes won’t damage asphalt
• Replaces up to 10 men with string trimmers
Gandy Sweepmaster
• Quickly brushes topdressing into established turf
The Trackless MT offers more than 20 attachments that easily mount to the tractor, making it the most complete and versatile piece of equipment in your fleet. 50 years of experience manufacturing the leader of municipal tractors. Trackless Vehicles leads the market in technological design, efficiency, safety features, operator comfort and overall performance.
INSECT/MOSQUITO CONTROL
FISH FARM SUPPLY CO.
116 Bonnie Cres.
Elmira, ON N3B 3J8
Tel: 519-669-2864
Toll-Free: 877-669-1096
info@fishfarmsupply.ca www.fishfarmsupply.ca
KAM’S GROWERS SUPPLY INC.
Unit 2 - 32 Airpark Place Guelph, ON N1L 1B2
Tel: 519-821-1684 Fax: 519-821-5714
Toll-Free: 1-877-821-1684
orders@kams.ca, www.kams.ca
LAWN LIFE NATURAL TURF PRODUCTS 935023 Airport Rd. Mono, ON L9W 6C6
ONTARIO SEED COMPANY 77 Wellington St. S. Kitchener, ON N2G 2E6 Tel: 519-886-0557 Fax: 519-886-0605 Toll-Free: 1-800-465-5849 seeds@oscseeds.com www.oscturf.com
822 Line 2 Rd, Niagara on the Lake L0S1J0 Tel: 905-933-7810 info@degrootlasergrading.com • degrootlasergrading.com TR_George de Groot_AugSept18_MLD.indd 1 2018-08-03 9:39 AM
Distributeur au Québec, Ventes Location/Achat, Pièces et Service Pour les produits commerciaux et d’irrigation toro les produits d’éclairage paysager meule à aiguiser express dual voiturettes de golf yamaha & produits d’alimentation tracteurs kioti ampoules et luminaires illumicare aérateurs otterbine rouleaux salsco husqvarna solutions financièrs produits de drainage
Greenjacket-1-6-Turf and Rec.qxp_Layout 1 4/12/17 4:28 PM Page 1
PLUS:
• GreenJacket PERMEABLE Grow-in Covers to dramatically i n c re a s e t h e sun’s ability to germinate and GROW healthier turf while allowing the underlying turf and soil to breathe
• Patented IMPERMEABLE Reinforced Cover to protect your turf from cold-weather damage.
NAPA AUTO PARTS/ JEAN C. DUPONT LTD. 260 Chemin Canada Edmundston, NB E3V 1W1 Tel: 506-739-8343
PARTS FOR TRUCKS 15 MacDonald Ave. Dartmouth, NS B3B 1C6 Tel: 902-468-6777 Toll-Free: 1-866-822-8777 info@partsfortrucks.com www.partsfortrucks.com
RELIABLE TRUCK PARTS 137 Dorchester St. Sydney, NS B1P 5Z3 Tel: 902-564-5439
TC TRAILER & WELDING SERVICE LTD. 249 Lockhart Rd. Jacksonville, NB E7M 5K3 Tel: 506-325-1280 Fax: 506-325-9134 info@tctrailer.com
PO Box 178 Brentwood Bay, BC V8M 1R3 Canada Tel: 250-652-5888 www.neudorffpro.com
NEW BRUNSWICK QUALITY TURF 1189 Route 2 Hwy. Maugerville, NB E3A 8K5 Canada Tel: 506-357-2268 www.NBQT.ca
NUTRITE
180 Southgate Dr., Unit 2 Guelph, ON N1G 4P5 Canada Tel: 519-249-0600 Fax: 519-249-0286 Toll-Free: 1-800-265-8865 customer.service@nutrite.com www.nutrite.com
OREGON/BLOUNT INTERNATIONAL 4909 SE International Way Portland, OR 97222 USA Toll-Free: 1-800-223-5168 oregonproductsupport@blount.com www.oregonproducts.com
ZANDER SOD CO. LIMITED 17525 Jane St. Kettleby, ON L7B 0J6 Canada Tel: 905-727-2100 Fax: 905-727-8546 info@zandersod.com www.zandersod.com
Scott Wintrip has changed how thousands of companies across the globe find and select employees, helping design and implement a process to hire top talent in less than an hour. Over the past 18 years, he built the Wintrip Consulting Group (WintripConsultingGroup.
How to hire the best possible candidate
Even the most impressive resume paints an incomplete picture of the candidate’s potential.
It’s always exciting when you receive a resume from a job candidate who seems like a great fit. It’s even more exciting when the candidate nails the first interview, and then the second. And there’s nothing quite like the relief and satisfaction you feel when the person accepts. Now you’ve got yourself a brand new employee. Unfortunately, sometimes the fairy tale stops here. Hiring expert Scott Wintrip points out that quite often, people who give great interviews turn out to be bad hires.
“It’s a sad truth that most employers and hiring managers have experienced being blindsided when an exciting candidate turns out to be a really disappointing employee,” Scott Wintrip, author of High Velocity Hiring: How to Hire Top Talent in an Instant (McGrawHill Education; April 2017; ISBN: 978-12598594-7-2; $30), said. “It’s always disappointing when the person you interviewed is not the same individual who shows up to work. You find yourself wondering what went wrong. It usually comes down to a few mistakes that you can easily remedy.”
Wintrip explains that even the most impressive resume paints an incomplete picture of the candidate’s potential. So, unfortunately, relying too heavily on a resume is no better than judging a book by its cover. To combat this common problem, keep reading to learn four of
An employer’s excitement about a candidate’s resume can interfere with sound decision-making, and the wrong person can be selected for the wrong reason when feelings get in the way.
Wintrip’s tips to help you avoid making hires you regret later.
DEVELOP CLEAR HIRING CRITERIA.
Your excitement about a candidate’s resume can interfere with sound decisionmaking. Wintrip explains that we can select the wrong people for the wrong reason when our feelings get in the way.
To counter this tendency, develop clear hiring criteria complete with a detailed list of skills and personality traits that the right person will exemplify. Also be sure to list the undesired traits you need to avoid.
“It’s important to remember that feelings are not facts,” Wintrip said. “Emotions, left unchecked, easily become
false evidence that candidates fit roles when they do not. Don’t let an outstanding resume blind you to the fact that the candidate is not right for the position you’re hiring for. Always refer back to your hiring criteria when you think you’ve found the perfect match. This step checks your accuracy and ensures that you seek proof that the talent matches the job you need to fill.”
POSE
WRITTEN QUESTIONS TO ACCOMPANY THE RESUME.
Resumes are a mere glimpse into someone’s experience, background, and skills, providing an incomplete picture of the job candidate. Not to mention candidates want to put their best selves forward in a resume, and often this includes incomplete details, exaggerations, and sometimes outright lies. Asking candidates to submit written answers to several questions helps provide you with a clearer picture of who they are.
What should you ask your job candidates? The best strategy is to pick key details from your hiring criteria and pose specific questions to gather those details. For example, for a sales position, you could ask, “How do you sell? Be specific, but limit your response to two or three paragraphs.” Only those candidates who followed your directions and whose answers match your criteria should move on to the next phase of your selection process.
SEEK MORE PROOF OF FIT THROUGH
EXPERIENTIAL INTERVIEWS.
Conventional interviews don’t really work because candidates are always on their best behaviour. They say what you want to hear, share only the best parts of their backgrounds, and make promises of how well they will perform on the job. Unfortunately, these promises don’t always translate into quality work. Wintrip says experiential interviews are the answer to this problem.
“Instead of listening to a candidate’s promises, seek truth. Focus your interviews around having candidates perform sample work that demonstrates the skills and
experience noted on their resume. This work should focus on key aspects of the job. Have salespeople demonstrate how they sell. Require computer programmers to write code. Set up a scenario where a customer service manager has to solve a real business problem. Watch carefully as they do the work. You’ll quickly see whether the candidate is a good fit or not.”
ASK CANDIDATES ABOUT THEIR WORK FAILURES; THEN LISTEN CAREFULLY.
Everyone has failed at some point in their careers, yet Wintrip points out that some potential hires may be hesitant to share about their failures during interviews. This is a red flag you should watch out for.
“When a candidate glosses over past failures, beware,” Wintrip warned. “This indicates that they won’t be a transparent employee or leader within the company. But candidates who are honest, humble, and able to share openly about past failures will positively contribute to your company’s success. The failure question is a great way to identify the candidates who are willing to bring transparency to their role within your organization.
‘Emotions, left unchecked, easily become false evidence that candidates fit roles when they do not’
“An impressive resume doesn’t always mean your candidate will perform as expected. And conventional interviews don’t work the way we wish they did. To hire the best talent each time you interview, you need to take a closer look at your candidates. Learn who they are, assess their performance and integrity, and then rate them with your specific job criteria in mind. These extra steps will help you gain a clear view of every applicant, so you know exactly who is showing up for work on Monday morning...and you won’t be disappointed.”
System creates mosquito-free barrier for backyard features
Residential customers who have invested greatly in new backyard features for their homes will want to spend quality time there during the summer months, but often they are driven inside by the relentless onslaught of mosquitoes. They are pleased with the quality work done by the landscape contractor they hired, but can’t reap the full enjoyment of their new features because of the pest insects.
Landscape contractors may want to recommend to their customers the NuTone Haven, a backyard mosquito repellent system that produces an invisible zone of protection that repels biting mosquitoes.
Each Haven mosquito repellent fixture contains a vaporizer that releases an odourless, invisible repellent that protects a 12-foot diameter area. A four-pack kit provides up to 440 square feet of coverage. An additional fixture can be added to provide a greater protection zone on decks, patios or outdoor areas.
Each kit provides season-long mosquito protection on the assumption of a 90-day season and 2.4 hours per day of use. Each repellent cartridge provides more than 216 hours of mosquito protection.
The NuTone Haven system is designed for do-it-yourself installers in five easy steps in less than two to three hours. It operates with low-voltage, so there is no need for an electrician. Before installation, it is important to determine the number of fixtures needed to cover the targeted area. The controller can support a maximum of five fixtures. The company recommends the installation of the five fixtures at the same time.
Installation recommendations are:
• Measure the patio, porch or deck
• Determine the location for the controller
• Lay electrical cable down to outline the protection zone
• Determine the best location for each fixture
Fixtures should be spaced 10 to 12 feet apart and the main cable should be buried into the ground. The four-pack kit includes four fixtures, four repellent cartridges, low-voltage wire and one controller. An expander kit featuring one fixture and one repellent cartridge is also available as well as a four-pack repellent refill kit.
The repellent is harmless to people and pets yet is effective against all types of mosquitoes. Simply press the control button to turn the system on or off. An LED indicator will flash to indicate it is time to check or replace the repellent. The controller must be connected to a 120-volt, waterproof electrical socket.
The system doesn’t need to be uninstalled at the end of the season. The fixtures are robustly built and can be left outside all year round, as well as the repellent refills.
The Haven system does not kill mosquitoes. It merely keeps them
away from the targeted protection zone. The repellent is bee-friendly, yet is toxic to aquatic organisms. Installation, therefore, should be conducted a safe distance away from ponds.
A USER’S CASE STUDY:
“My wife and I decided to give this system the ultimate test. During our recent two-week camping trip to Ontario’s Lake Simcoe region – a campground notorious at dusk for its swarms of mosquitoes – we installed the system adjacent to our tent where we would ordinarily eat and relax in our camp chairs. The system was straightforward to install (we had an electrical site). Once dusk set in we were able to sit comfortably outdoors and watch movies on our laptop, never once having to swat at mosquitoes. The campers at the site next to ours asked us the next morning how we were able to put up with the mosquitoes, telling us the insects were so bad that they were driven inside their camper for the night. We showed them the Haven system and explained how it worked. Our inquisitive neighbours took out a cell phone and photographed the Haven box so that they could look into acquiring a system of their own once their trip concluded. Before our camping trip ended, we fielded several other questions about the system from other curious campers. We thoroughly enjoyed our two weeks of mosquito-free camping. If this system could pass the test at a densely-wooded campground, we knew it would be ideal at home.”
— MIKE JIGGENS, EDITOR, TURF&REC
For more information about the NuTone Haven, visit http://www. nutone.ca/haven.asp.
AD INDEX
Adama Canada Ltd./Quali-Pro 17
Agrimetal 42, 62
Alliance Agri-Turf Inc. 77
Bannerman Ltd. 10
Bauman Manufacturing Ltd. 46
Billy Goat Industries Inc. 58
Botanix-Oxford Insta-Shade Inc. 54
Buffalo Turbine LLC 43
D & L Robinson Sand 50
Dakota Peat & Equipment 15
Eastern Farm Machinery Limited 39
Echo Power Equipment Canada 80
ECO Earth Science Inc. 16
Ecolawn Applicator 68
Field Master /KOTRA 21
Fish Farm Supply Co. 43
George de Groot Laser Grading & Excavating Inc. 53
Green Jacket Turf Covers 66
Gro-Bark (Ontario) Ltd. 67
Hinspergers Poly Industries (Evergreen) 57
Hutcheson Sand & Mixes 67
John Deere Ltd. 5, 13, 29
Kubota Canada Ltd. 7
Lakeshore Sand Company 52
Mar-Co Clay Products 36
Neudorff North America 40
OJ Companie 61
Ontario Seed Company 55
Ontario Turf Aeration 77
Outdoor Supplies and Equipment Inc. 70
Pickseed Canada Inc. 77
Practical Turf Care 77
Pro-Power Canada 49
Progressive Turf Equipment Inc. 38
Quality Seeds 77
Rain Bird Canada 18, 19
Redden Net Company Ltd. 21
Reist Welding (Elmira) Ltd. 47
RTF Turf Producers Association 27
Scott Richmond Ltd. 41
STIHL Limited 2
Syngenta Canada Inc. 11
Target Specialty Products 77
The Anderson’s Inc. 79
The Grasshopper Company 37
The Toro Company 30, 31
Trackless Vehicles 45
Vanden Bussche Irrigation & Equip. Ltd. 23
Walker Manufacturing Company 35
Wood Bay Turf Technologies 44
Zander Sod Company Ltd. 48, 51
Products enhance plant strength, help turf in extreme conditions New stuff
A complete line of professional turf solutions bearing the name Turf Fue® are available to industry professionals to enhance plant strength and prepare intensely managed turf for extreme growing conditions.
Turf Fuel products are available exclusively at Target Specialty Products. The products address such needs as plant nutrition, soil and foliar surfactant management technology, plant strength, extreme growing conditions preparation, improving soil moisture management, and maximizing pesticide performance.
“The Turf Fuel product line is part of a key element of Target Specialty Products’ strategy going forward,” David Helt, president of Target Specialty Products, said. “Turf Fuel products are designed to provide exceptional, cutting edge performance and differentiated value to our turf customers.”
Alliance2013:Layout
Target Specialty Products’ Turf Fuel product development division is developing the next generation of soil remediation products as well as substantial enhancements in foliar adjuvants that work to improve both pesticide performance and increase plant resilience to both biotic and abiotic stress. Turf needs the right fuel to endure the rigors of continuous stress. Energy conservation is the key to survival and the Turf Fuel product line was developed to continuously aid plant energy and protein production.
Every ingredient in a Turf Fuel product is added for a specific reason and at an agronomically beneficial value. Turf Fuel’s product development philosophy is designed to be simple, to give plants the nutrients and stress fighting components they need, in the best raw material forms possible, and create strong plants. The Turf Fuel solutions give turf managers the nutritional tools they need.
Afew years ago, I was given the chance to work from home. Looking to trim some of the fat away from our overhead, my employer figured it would be more cost-effective for everyone to work from his or her place of residence.
I could see the benefits from his perspective. He wouldn’t have to pay rent or utilities any longer on office space, email and Skype could keep the lines of communication going, and new employees wouldn’t necessarily have to live in the immediate area.
From my own perspective, a number of thoughts went racing through my head. I can go to work in my boxers from now on. I don’t have to comb my hair or shave if I don’t feel like it. I don’t have to go out in the bitter cold on a January or February morning to drive to work. I don’t have to worry about polluting the bathroom if someone else needs it after I’m done.
The list of advantages went on and on. I was actually giddy with excitement at the prospect of being able to work from home. Not only was the company going to benefit from a healthier bottom line from this move, I was, too. I did the math in my head and realized what I’d save in gas from commuting everyday would equate to a nice little windfall.
After a near tearful farewell among the employees on our last day together in the office, this new chapter in my working life was ready to begin. We would still be able to hear one another’s voice during periodic conference calls and the odd meeting over Skype, and the annual Christmas get-together was still a go, giving us the chance to actually see one another in person at least once a year. It’s amazing how much someone can age over the course of just one year, or how much weight they can gain, or how much balder they can become, or…
It was winter when I marked my first day of working from home. My attire that day
Working from home is a dream, but I’m afraid I’m going to be caught with my pants down
consisted of a pair of boxers, a T-shirt and a bathrobe. Actually by noon that day, I began to feel a little guilty about how I was dressed so I ditched the bathrobe and pulled on a pair of jeans. Still, I was comfortable and was about as productive from home as I ordinarily would have been on a typical day at the office.
But it just didn’t feel the same. After about a week, I began to miss the day-today routine I had become so accustomed to during the previous couple of decades. My morning stop at the Tim Hortons drivethru on my way to work had become a thing of the past. The daily banter with a co-worker about the previous night’s sports contests had ended. The availability of the office vending machine for a late afternoon snack was no more.
When a near 20-year routine changes all of a sudden, it takes a while to adapt. To go from interacting daily with about 16 co-workers to being home alone (my wife was out of the house at work) is a shock to the system. Nevertheless I knew what my job expectations were and managed to crack down each day and be productive. The TV remained off and there were no other distractions to derail my productivity.
In fact, I soon found I was able to get
more done during an eight-hour period at home than I could achieve during the same time frame in an office setting. Occasionally by mid-afternoon, I might find myself getting a little sluggish, so I’d remedy the situation by going out for a brief walk around the block or even giving in to a 20-minute power nap. I figured since my output was consistent with that from my years working in an office environment, I could justify the little bit of R and R.
And the liberties! If I felt the urge to scratch a part of my body that shouldn’t be scratched in view of others, I was able to scratch away to my heart’s content. If I had a buildup of gas, I could let one rip without offending anyone. If I felt a belch coming on, there was no need to stifle it. If I needed to use the bathroom, it was always available and would never bear the lingering stench of Big Bob’s 20-minute visit.
During the heat of summer, I could work shirtless. The former office dress code no longer applied. If I wanted to work with music playing in the background, I was no longer relegated to wearing ear buds plugged into my iPod. Now I was free to crank up the stereo.
The advantages of working from home are too numerous to mention. Near the top of the list, however, is the ability to multitask. I’ve lost count of the number of loads of laundry I’ve done while working. After loading the washing machine, adding detergent and pushing the start button, you simply walk away from it for about an hour while getting some honest-to-goodness work done. Then you take another minute to remove the laundry from the washer, toss it in the dryer, push the start button and walk away for about another hour. These are tasks you would otherwise have to do in the evening on your own time. Now, that time is yours to use as you please. Working from home is a dream. But one of these days I’m afraid I’m going to be caught with my pants down… literally. If an unexpected FaceTime call comes in and I’m not wearing pants that day, I’d better be sure the camera is pointed well upward.
Rod Perry, aka Duffer, is a Niagara-based freelance writer.
SG
Introducing Foltec SG, a new, innovative foliar nutrient technology from The Andersons. Different by design, Foltec SG will change the way superintendents think about complex foliar nutrition programs.
Designed to optimize turf nutrition, Nutri DG is a combination premium turf nutrients and The Andersons patented Dispersing Granule Technology. Experience enhanced nutrient distribution and improved playing conditions when you apply Nutri DG.
A unique bio-amendment that combines natural dihydrate gypsum and humate in a homogenous granule. Black Gypsum improves soil conditions and reduces the affects of harmful salts and excess sodium.
Dispersing humic acid granules improve fertilizer efficiency, improve soil structure and enhance nutrient uptake. Humic DG’s increased surface area provides greater efficiency at lower application rates than conventional screened humate. For more information visit AndersonsPro.com
