CGSA_GM_V48.2

greenmaster

MARCH/APRIL 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

In the loop Wildlife, Water Use and Sustainability at Oslerbrook

plus ◗ John B. Steel Award winner Pelino Scenna ◗ A look inside Ontario’s IPM Public Meetings ◗ CGSA Environmental Policies ◗ Water Use Efficiency

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UP ERINTEN DE N

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LF S GO

OCIATION • CA ASS N

A S SURIN NE DE TEN EN D DI

Join the CGsA

• TS

E GOLF • CANAD TD IA AN

ShARE ThE BEnEFITS:

AdvocAcy Programs and Services Promotion of the Profession

Professional Development

Representation certificAtion

REAP ThE REwARDS:

tGif AcceSS GolfSupers.com

national tournament Program

Fall Field Day

Manulife Group RRSP

GreenMatter

CGsA Live LeArninG Centre

GreenMaster CITCTS AD&D and Life and Health Group Insurance On the Fringe Lower Event and Service Rates AnD wIn PRIzES! All new CGSA members receive a CGSA ball mark repair tool and a chance to win other great prizes like a 2014 conference registration, including travel and hotel accommodation and an Apple i-Pad!

Join noW! www.golfsupers.com/become-member or contact Lori micucci at 905-602-8873 ext. 226

spon s ors

The following companies generously support the canadian golf superintendents association through partnerships on specific events/programs: CITCTS 2013 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

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Canadian Golf Superintendents Association Board of Directors 2013 – 2014 JOHN MILLS

JAMES BEEBE

GREG AUSTIN

President Superintendent Northumberland Links Golf Club PO Box 2, Pugwash, Nova Scotia B0K 1L0 T: 902-243-2119 F: 902-243-3213 jwmills@ns.sympatico.ca

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

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

CHRISTIAN PILON, MS Vice President Master Superintendent Mount Bruno Country Club 665 Chemin des Vingts, QC J3V 4P6 T: 450-653-1265 F: 450-653-8393 cpilon_mbcc@bellnet.ca KYLE KELLGREN Secretary Treasurer/Saskatchewan Director Superintendent Jackfish Lodge Golf & Conference Centre PO Box 10, Cochin, SK S0M 0L0 T: 306-386-2150 F: 306-386-2840 superintendent@jackfishlodge.com

TIM KUBASH, MS, AGS Past President Master Superintendent Salmon Arm Golf Clujb PO Box 1525, Salmon Arm, BC V1E 4P6 T: 250-832-8834 F: 250-832-6311 tkubash@salmonarmgolf.com

DARREN KALYNIUK

KENDALL COSTAIN

Manitoba Director Superintendent St. Boniface Golf & Country Club 100 Youville Street Winnipeg, MN R2H 2S1 T: 204-233-2497 F: 204-237-9794 darren@stbonifacegolfclub.com

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

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

Quebec Director Superintendent Summerlea Golf and Country Club 1000 Route De Lotbiniere Vaudreuil – Dorion, QC J7V 8P2 T: 450-455-0929 F: 450-455-8898 john.scott@summerlea.com

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e di tor ’s n ote ◗ bill garrett MARCH/APRIL 2013

greenmaster Vol 48, no. 2

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:

bill garrett, CEM managing editor

◗ As spring approaches, we find ourselves on the heels of another successful conference and trade show held this year in partnership with the Ontario Golf Superintendent’s Association at the Sheraton Centre Hotel in Toronto. Read the follow up article by Kathryn Wood for all of the details you may have missed.

Welcome now to the 2013 Environmental Sustainability issue of GreenMaster. The response to our ‘call for articles’ was astounding. This is indeed a hot topic in all parts of the country. Jason Honeyball has contributed our featured cover story on Sustainable Storm Water Management at Oslerbrook Golf and Country Club. Read this and the rest of our environment centred pieces by Eric Lyons, Scott Morrison, Rick Woelfel and our Mechanic’s Corner contributor, Eddie Konrad then turn to the special section on the CGSA Environmental Policies. You may want to keep this for future reference.

We hope you will write to us if any ideas spring to mind after reading these pieces or if you have an environment story to tell yourself. We’ll publish your response in a future issue.

CGSA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Ken Cousineau, CAE Tel: 905-602-8873 ext. 222 kcousineau@golfsupers.com

Follow the amazing life and career of the 2012 CGSA John B. Steel Award winner (and CGSA Past President), Pelino Scenna from his farming days in Italy to his eventual long time position as Superintendent at the Burlington Golf and Country Club in Ontario. It’s a wonderful life!

Looking to the future, we also have heard from 2012 Future Superintendent of the Year, Cam Shaw and his “Fantastic Voyage”.

The editorial team on GreenMaster has now completed two issues and is in full swing for the coming year. We will be meeting in the coming weeks with the Communications, Marketing and Public Relations Committee to map out the editorial direction for the next 18 months.

We get our ideas from our readers so let us know what topics are important to you.

We plan to introduce new features that will encourage interaction and even debate. Thanks for your participation in a great magazine. GM

Assistant Editor: Marc Cousineau marccousineau2@gmail.com

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 Contact: Terry Davey | terry@blenheim.ca Art Direction & Design by Jeanette Thompson Tel: 519-650-2024 jeanettethompson@mac.com

We want your feedback!

Email us at: bgarrett@golfsupers.com

©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.

GreenMaster® is a registered trademark of the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association.

All rights reserved.

COMING EVENTS SEPTEMBER 23rd, 2013

FEBRUARY 22nd – 21st, 2014

CGSA Fall Field Day

Canadian International Turfgrass Conference and Trade Show

Wascana Golf and Country Club Regina, Saskatchewan Host Superintendent: Mike Kupchanko

Managing editor & Advertising Sales: Bill Garrett, CEM Tel: 905-602-8873 ext. 224 bgarrett@golfsupers.com

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

Vancouver Convention Centre Vancouver, British Columbia

MARCH/APRIL 2013 | greenMaster 5

con te n ts ◗ MARCH / APRIL 2013

46

40

IN THIS ISSUE

DEPARTMENTS FROM THE EDITOR

5

Showcase of Innovation and Learning

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

8

16

MOE to Measure Effectiveness of Ontario Public Meetings

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE

10

18

Big Business Sustainability Concepts Golf Should Adopt

NEWS FROM THE GREEN

12

MECHANIC’S CORNER

52

21

CGSA and Environmental Policies

THE BACK NINE

54

37

Water Use Efficiency and Expectations

40

Sustainable Storm Water Management

46

John B. Steel 2012

48

Fantastic Voyage

14

2013 CITCTS

Award Winner Pelino Scenna

48 MARCH/APRIL 2013 | greenMaster 7

v ie wp oi n t ◗ john mills

“It is an ongoing challenge to ensure that CGSA is able to continue to provide the quality services back to you the member during these challenging economic times.”

John Mills, CGSA President John Mills, president

Let’s All Recruit a New Member!

Recrutons tous un nouveau membre! ◗ I am honoured and humbled to serve the CGSA membership as your President.

It is certainly a highlight of my career and I promise to work diligently on behalf of the membership to serve your needs and to help further the objectives and goals of CGSA. There is no question that the economic down turn that has lingered since 2008 has impacted the golf industry.

Superintendents have had to adjust to the changing economics by being creative with budgets to ensure that course conditions do not suffer. As a result of this industry belt tightening, CGSA’s revenues have also dropped as our revenues come directly from either golf course operating budgets or our industry partners through their contributions to trade shows, advertising opportunities and sponsorships. Likewise, CGSA’s operating expenses are increasing due to inflation, just as they are at our golf facilities. As such, CGSA has had to examine all aspects of its operation in an effort to reduce costs and maintain service levels.

It is an ongoing challenge to ensure that CGSA is able to continue to provide the quality services back to you the member during these challenging economic times.

The Board of Directors has been actively involved in helping to set a strategic direction for CGSA while keeping the current economics in mind. CGSA’s new strategic plan, developed in February of 2012, has as its vision a pledge to keep CGSA essential to success in the golf course management industry. This is to be achieved by way of a mission which calls upon the CGSA to provide support for and 8 greenMaster | www.golfsupers.com

promote the golf course management profession.

Three key initiatives that CGSA will focus on in carrying out this strategic plan are: a) Membership value, b) Leadership, and c) Quality products, services and events.

I will talk about leadership and service quality in the coming months but for now let’s focus on membership value.

Membership value is critical since CGSA is a member-based organization whose primary mandate is to serve member needs and provide value to its members.

In 2012 we launched a recruit a member campaign and as a result saw a 0.7 % increase in our membership while other national superintendent associations saw decreases in the 3 – 5% range. However, we need to do better and I believe with your support that we will. I am asking all members to recruit a friend or colleague that is currently not a member. We need your support with this initiative. If your assistant or equipment technician are not members consider a membership for these key staff. This investment will pay dividends for your golf facility and will help CGSA become stronger.

By growing our membership we help stabilize our bottom line and remove financial risk from the Association’s operation. Let’s set a goal to increase membership by 200 members in 2013. I see no reason that this goal should not be attained but it requires you, the grass roots member, to actively help seek people out. This is our association. Let’s all make it a priority to recruit at least one member before September of this year.

I often hear the question – What do I

get for my membership? The short answer is that you are provided with a number of programs and services including professional development and recognition opportunities, weekly and monthly professional communication vehicles, GreenMaster magazine, access to survey results on compensation and best practices and environmental stewardship policy reports just to name a few of the programs and services.

However, in the long term, the question that you need to ask is - What does your membership mean to CGSA? Well first and foremost it means that CGSA is financially viable and will have the capacity to properly fulfill its mission to promote and support the golf course management profession. It means we have a national and international presence and a voice on key matters such as the advocacy efforts for pesticide laws and tax laws, national recognition and certification programs and respect from industry partners both large and small.

Step back and ask – Where would my profession be without a national organization speaking on key issues? I think the answer here is obvious and I for one have the utmost respect and admiration for our CGSA founders and all previous board members who helped. We have all benefitted from the security that goes with proper recognition and respect for our profession in all sectors of our society.

So please do your part and help recruit a new member in 2013, you will have done a great service for your profession. GM

◗ Je suis très honoré et très ému de pouvoir servir les membres de l’ACSG à titre de président. Il s’agit certainement d’un point fort de ma carrière et je vous promets de travailler avec diligence pour répondre à vos besoins et poursuivre les objectifs de l’ACSG. Il ne fait aucun doute que le ralentissement économique qui sévit depuis 2008 a fait du tort à l’industrie du golf. Pour s’ajuster aux variations de l’économie et s’assurer que les conditions de jeu sur le parcours n’en souffrent pas, les surintendants doivent faire preuve de beaucoup de créativité dans l’établissement de leur budget. En raison de ces restrictions budgétaires, les revenus de l’ACSG ont également chuté puisqu’ils proviennent directement du budget d’exploitation des parcours de golf, ou de nos partenaires de l’industrie mis à contribution dans les salons commerciaux, la publicité et les commandites. Ajoutons à cela que les frais de fonctionnement de l’ACSG augmentent en raison de l’inflation, comme ceux des terrains de golf. Par conséquent, l’ACSG a dû revoir toutes les facettes de son activité, de manière à réduire ses coûts tout en maintenant la qualité de ses services.

Malgré cette période économique difficile, l’ACSG se montre résolue à continuer d’offrir des services de qualité aux membres. Le conseil d’administration a participé activement à la définition de l’orientation stratégique de l’ACSG, sans jamais perdre de vue la réalité économique actuelle. Ce nouveau plan stratégique, élaboré en février 2012, vise à maintenir le rôle essentiel joué par l’ACSG dans le succès de l’industrie de la gestion des terrains de golf. L’ACSG réalisera cet objectif en apportant son soutien et en donnant de l’essor à la profession de gestionnaire de parcours de golf.

Pour mener à bien ce plan stratégique, l’ACSG mettra l’accent sur trois initiatives clés : 1) les avantages de l’adhésion, 2) le leadership et 3) la qualité des produits, des services et des événements offerts.

Je parlerai à un autre moment du leadership et de la qualité de nos services.

Pour l’instant, j’aimerais insister tout particulièrement sur les avantages de l’adhésion.

Le mandat prioritaire de l’ACSG est de servir ses membres et de leur apporter une plus-value. En 2012, nous avons lancé une campagne de recrutement qui nous a permis d’augmenter nos effectifs de 0,7 %,

alors que les effectifs d’autres associations nationales de surintendants ont chuté de trois à cinq pour cent. Cependant, nous devons faire mieux et je crois qu’avec votre soutien nous y arriverons. J’aimerais que tous les membres recrutent un ami ou un collègue qui ne fait pas encore partie de notre association. NOUS AVONS BESOIN DE VOTRE SOUTIEN pour atteindre cet objectif. Si un membre clé de votre personnel n’est pas encore membre, par exemple votre adjoint ou votre technicien de l’équipement, demandez-lui de le devenir. Cet investissement rapportera des dividendes à votre terrain de golf et contribuera à renforcer l’ACSG. L’augmentation de nos effectifs nous aidera à stabiliser la situation en réduisant les risques financiers de notre association.

Fixons-nous comme objectif d’accroître nos effectifs de 200 membres en 2013.

Je ne vois aucune raison de ne pas y arriver, mais nous avons besoin de vous, nos adhérents, pour recruter activement de nouveaux membres. Ceci est notre association. Donnons-nous tous comme priorité de recruter au moins un membre avant septembre prochain.

J’entends souvent la question : « À quoi ça sert d’adhérer à l’ACSG? ». Pour répondre brièvement, l’adhésion donne l’accès à une foule de programmes et de services, y compris des programmes de perfectionnement et de reconnaissance professionnels, des instruments de communication hebdomadaires et mensuels, la revue GreenMaster, l’accès aux résultats des enquêtes sur la rémunération et les pratiques d’excellence et les rapports d’orientation sur la protection de l’environnement, pour en nommer quelques-uns.

Cependant, à long terme, la question qu’il faut se poser est la suivante : « Qu’estce que votre adhésion signifie pour l’ACSG? ». D’abord et avant tout, elle permet à l’ACSG d’assurer sa viabilité financière et d’avoir la capacité de bien remplir sa mission visant à promouvoir et à soutenir la profession de gestionnaire de parcours de golf. L’ACSG nous donne une présence nationale et internationale

et une voix sur des questions clés qui nous touchent de près, dont les lois sur les pesticides et la fiscalité, la reconnaissance professionnelle nationale et les programmes d’agrément, et le respect de nos partenaires de l’industrie, grands et petits.

Prenez un peu de recul et demandezvous : « Où en serait notre profession sans une organisation nationale pour plaider en notre faveur sur les enjeux primordiaux nous concernant? ». Je crois que la réponse est évidente. Je ressens beaucoup de respect et d’admiration pour les fondateurs et pour tous les membres du conseil de l’ACSG depuis les débuts.

Leur travail nous a aidés à faire reconnaître notre profession et notre contribution au monde du golf. Nous profitons maintenant de la sécurité que cette reconnaissance professionnelle nous apporte et du respect qui en découle pour notre profession dans tous les secteurs de la société.

Je vous demande donc instamment de faire votre part et de nous aider à recruter un nouveau membre en 2013.

Vous rendrez ainsi un grand service à votre profession. GM

“Malgré cette période économique difficile l’ACSA se montre résolue à continuer d’offrir des services de qualité aux members.”

John Mills, CGSA President MARCH/APRIL 2013 | greenMaster 9

v ie wp oi n t ◗ ken cousineau

“The CGSA message is consistent. Pesticides used by golf courses are used in accordance with label requirements and are not used for cosmetic purposes.”

Ken Cousineau, CGSA Executive Director ken cousineau, CAE executive director

Environment Committee Update Nouvelles du comité sur l’environnement ◗ Each year the CGSA involves itself in a number of environmental initiatives through the Board of Directors and the CGSA Environment Committee. The Environment Committee is appointed by the Board of Directors from amongst the volunteers that submit names as Committee volunteers. The Committee includes twelve individuals including the President and a Chair and Vice-Chair that are appointed from the Board of Directors. The nonBoard appointees are selected to ensure that the committee has representation from across the country. This Committee meets quarterly to establish CGSA policy, respond to issues and initiatives that impact superintendents and review and monitor environmental events/discussions that are happening across the country.

As part of the regular meeting agenda, the Committee reviews pesticide, water and nutrient related activities happening in each province or region. This exchange serves to provide the entire Committee and the Board of Directors with a periodic snapshot of what the issues are and how golf is responding or being impacted. Activity levels vary from province to province and year to year but pesticides and nutrient use continue to be the most prevalent talking points. The issue identification process also includes a review/monitoring of the “advocacy issue matrix” of the National Allied Golf Associations (NAGA).

In British Columbia, the current government has decided not to impose further restrictions on the use of approved pest control products. This follows an extensive public consultation process led by the Special Committee on the Use of 10 greenMaster | www.golfsupers.com

Cosmetic Pesticides. The golf industry, through Allied Golf Associations BC (the British Columbia version of NAGA), was instrumental in presenting the BC Government with information regarding the environmental practices used by golf course managers. The CGSA provided several templates with examples of submission materials as well as its pesticide policy document to help form the basis for the golf industry submission in BC. The CGSA also made a submission to the Special Committee on behalf of the BC members of the CGSA. In Alberta and Saskatchewan, although there are no significant restrictions with respect to pesticide, water or nutrient use, there are occasional, localized discussions related to the use of pesticides for cosmetic purposes. The CGSA message is consistent.

Pesticides used by golf courses are used in accordance with label requirements and are not used for cosmetic purposes. These provinces are monitored at each meeting of the Environment Committee to determine if any localized “hot spots” are emerging.

Water restrictions or increases in the cost of using water are more likely to be imposed than pesticide use restrictions at this juncture, particularly during drought periods or when application is being made for water taking permits.

In Manitoba, golf course managers are currently dealing with nutrient use restrictions, particularly within specific distances of bodies of water and with the requirement to submit annual nutrient use plans for approval. There is also consideration being given by the provincial government to the imposition of additional

restrictions on cosmetic pesticide use.

Again, CGSA has provided templates and sample submissions and made a CGSA submission to the Manitoba government on behalf of golf course managers in the Province. Indications are that if restrictions are imposed, golf facilities will retain the ability to use approved pest control products.

The Ontario IPM protocol for pesticide use on golf courses is three plus years into implementation. Golf courses are required to have an IPM agent, who is certified by the IPM Council of Canada, and to comply with the requirements set out in applicable regulations to maintain the ability to utilize pesticide products. In 2012, golf courses were required to hold a public meeting to present their annual report. This process is currently being assessed by the golf sector to determine if a case can be made for reducing or eliminating this part of the regulatory requirements.

The Province of Quebec imposed a three year pesticide reduction plan requirement for golf courses in 2006. Under this provision, each golf facility was required to submit a three year plan which established the level of reduction in pesticide use it expected to achieve on an annual basis for the duration of the plan. The government has recently proposed a new approach to pesticide use restrictions for golf and NAGA Quebec is in discussions with provincial representatives to determine the feasibility of this new approach. CGSA has been involved in the development of the position to ensure that it is consistent with the overall pesticide use policy of the Association.

In Atlantic Canada, the requirements

vary from the standard pesticide control act in Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island which allows for the use of approved products to a slightly more restricted approach in Nova Scotia that requires golf courses to comply with an industry developed protocol to an Ontario-like IPM system that applies to golf facilities in New Brunswick. Nutrient restrictions also apply in PEI but thus far these have not been problematic.

This issue of GreenMaster has been themed to present a number of articles that are environmentally focussed. It presented the perfect opportunity to provide a glimpse of the effort and the discussion that occurs at the committee level of CGSA in an attempt to provide representation, recognition and advocacy on behalf of superintendents across Canada. GM ◗ Chaque année, l’ACSG appuie un certain nombre d’initiatives environnementales par l’entremise de son conseil d’administration ou de son comité sur l’environnement. Les membres du comité sur l’environnement sont nommés par le conseil d’administration parmi les bénévoles intéressés. Le comité comprend 12 personnes, dont le directeur, le président et le vice-président qui sont nommés par le conseil d’administration.

Les autres membres, nommés par une instance autre que le conseil, assurent une représentation de toutes les régions du pays dans le comité. Le comité se réunit tous les trimestres pour établir les politiques de l’ACSG, répondre aux questions et préoccupations des surintendants sur les initiatives prises par le comité, et faire le point sur les événements et discussions ayant cours au pays sur les questions environnementales. À l’ordre du jour de ses réunions ordinaires, le comité fait le point sur la situation en ce qui a trait aux questions reliées aux pesticides, à l’eau et aux nutriments dans chacune des régions ou provinces du pays. Ces rencontres offrent à tout le comité et au conseil d’administration des instantanés périodiques sur les enjeux actuels du monde du golf, sur les réponses apportées et sur les conséquences possibles. Même si la réalité varie de province en province et d’année en année, l’utilisation des pesticides et des nutriments continue d’être le point chaud des discussions.

Le comité s’intéresse également à la campagne de sensibilisation lancée par la National Allied Golf Association

sur les bienfaits du golf sur la santé, l’environnement et l’économie.

En Colombie-Britannique, le gouvernement actuel a décidé de ne pas imposer d’autres restrictions sur l’utilisation des produits antiparasitaires approuvés.

Cette décision a été prise à la suite d’une vaste consultation publique entreprise par le comité spécial sur l’utilisation des pesticides à des fins esthétiques. L’industrie du golf, par l’entremise de l’Allied Golf Associations BC (le pendant de la NAGA dans cette province), a déposé un mémoire au gouvernement sur les pratiques environnementales des directeurs de parcours de golf. L’ACSG l’a appuyé dans cette démarche en lui fournissant plusieurs modèles de présentation de mémoire et de la documentation sur ses politiques en matière de pesticides. Un mémoire a également été présenté au comité spécial par l’ACSG au nom de ses membres de la Colombie-Britannique.

Même s’il n’existe aucune restriction sévère en Alberta et en Saskatchewan sur l’utilisation des pesticides, de l’eau ou des nutriments, des discussions ciblées se poursuivent à l’occasion sur l’emploi des pesticides à des fins esthétiques. Pour sa part, le message de l’ACSG reste toujours le même : les pesticides ne doivent pas être utilisés à des fins esthétiques et le mode d’emploi recommandé doit être respecté. À chacune des ses réunions, le comité sur l’environnement tente de déterminer si des problèmes sérieux sont apparus dans l’une ou l’autre de ces deux provinces. Pour l’instant, on redoute davantage les restrictions dans l’utilisation de l’eau, ou encore l’augmentation des coûts d’approvisionnement en eau, que des restrictions dans l’utilisation des pesticides, particulièrement pendant les périodes de sécheresse, ou lorsqu’une demande de permis de captation d’eau est déposée.

Au Manitoba, les directeurs de parcours de golf font face à des restrictions dans l’utilisation des nutriments, particulièrement aux abords des plans d’eau, et doivent soumettre au gouvernement un plan annuel sur leur utilisation. Le gouvernement provincial considère également la possibilité d’imposer des restrictions supplémentaires sur l’utilisation des pesticides à des fins esthétiques. L’ACSG a défendu les intérêts des directeurs de parcours du Manitoba en leur offrant toute la documentation pertinente pour défendre leur cause et en faisant elle-même des représentations en leur nom auprès du gouvernement. Tout

porte à croire que si des restrictions sont imposées, les terrains de golf retiendront leur capacité d’utiliser les produits antiparasitaires approuvés.

En Ontario, le protocole sur la lutte intégrée contre les parasites (IPM) a été mis en vigueur il y a plus de trois ans. Les parcours de golf doivent désigner un responsable de la lutte antiparasitaire, agréé par le conseil IPM du Canada.

Pour maintenir sa capacité à utiliser des produits antiparasitaires, le responsable doit se conformer aux exigences fixées par la réglementation. En 2012, les terrains de golf ont été obligés de tenir une réunion publique pour présenter leur rapport annuel. Le secteur du golf tente présentement de déterminer comme il serait possible d’assouplir ou d’éliminer cette dernière exigence réglementaire.

En 2006, la Province de Québec a imposé aux terrains de golf un plan de trois ans de réduction des pesticides. En vertu de cette disposition, chaque terrain de golf a été obligé de soumettre un rapport annuel établissant le niveau de réduction atteint pour la durée du plan. Le gouvernement a proposé récemment une nouvelle manière de faire pour restreindre l’emploi de pesticides sur les parcours de golf.

NAGA Québec discute présentement de la faisabilité de ce nouveau plan d’action avec des représentants provinciaux. L’ACSG a participé à l’élaboration de la position défendue par la NAGA afin de s’assurer de sa conformité avec la politique générale de l’Association sur l’utilisation des pesticides.

Dans la région de l’Atlantique, les exigences varient selon les provinces. La loi sur le contrôle des pesticides à TerreNeuve et à l’Île-du-Prince-Édouard permet l’utilisation des produits approuvés, alors qu’en Nouvelle-Écosse une approche un peu plus restrictive exige que les terrains de golf se conforment aux protocoles élaborés par l’industrie. Le Nouveau-Brunswick pour sa part applique un système IPM semblable à celui de l’Ontario. L’Île-du-Prince-Édouard applique également des restrictions sur les nutriments, mais, à ce jour, cela n’a pas posé de problèmes.

Dans ce numéro de GreenMaster, plusieurs articles portent sur les questions entourant l’environnement. Nous en avons profité pour examiner le travail réalisé par les comités pour servir la cause des surintendants, défendre leurs intérêts et accroître la reconnaissance et la valorisation de notre profession. GM

MARCH/APRIL 2013 | greenMaster 11

NEWS F ROM T H E G REEN ◗ Marc Cousineau

Canadian Dealers Grab Honours in San Diego

Pictured here (from left) are David Withers, President of Jacobsen, Phil Jangl, President of O.J. Compagnie, Don Gordon, Vice President of Operations for O.J. Compagnie and Benoit Huot, Vice President of Agronomy for O.J. Compagnie.

◗ Canadian turfgrass equipment dealers won big at the Golf Industry Show in San Diego last month.

Jacobsen announced the winners of their annual awards for excellence with a couple of Canadian dealers in the spotlight.

The Dealer of the Year Award went to O.J. Compagnie, a Quebec-based dealer with more than 60 years in the industry Another Canuck claimed one of the prizes when it came time to give awards to individual salespeople.

Paul Turner of G.C. Duke, based in Burlington, Ontario, won the individual honour, along with salespeople from the U.S and Mexico.

The awards honoured dealers and salespeople from around the world including those from South America, Japan and New Zealand.

Even with so much to commemorate, Jacobsen turned its gaze to the horizon during a speech by parent company Textron’s chairman, president and CEO Scott Donnelly.

“He gave an impassioned and inspiring talk,” said Ric Stone, vice president of sales for Jacobsen in a press release.

“It was the perfect capstone on a night where we celebrate success and look ahead to tomorrow.”

Dakota Dunes Golf Links is the setting for one of the PGA of Canada’s events this summer. credit: grahamcooke.ca

12 greenMaster | www.golfsupers.com

PGA Tour of Canada to Visit Courses of CGSA Members ◗ The inaugural season of the renamed PGA Tour of Canada season kicks off with eight events that feature some of the best maintained courses from coast to coast.

The new chapter in Canadian professional golf will start with the Times Colonist Island Savings Open at Uplands Golf Course, where CGSA member Brian Youell keeps the greens.

From there the tour will hit Scott MacArthur’s course Country Hills Golf Club in Calgary for the ATB Financial Classic followed by the Dakota Dunes Open at the Golf Links maintained by Marc Robert.

The Prairie swing will also stop in at Jeff Hacior’s Fort McMurray Golf Club for the Syncrude Boreal Open and the Player’s Cup at Pine Ridge Golf Club.

The tour will go to Upper Canada Golf Course for the Waterway Classic before making its first trip to the Atlantic coast in 12 years as Matthew Blackburn and The Lakes Golf Club take charge of the Cape Breton Celtic Classic.

The final event on the schedule is the Tour Championship of PGA TOUR Canada at a location that has yet to be announced.

The season will run from June to September with the top five players headed to the Web.com Tour at the end of the season.

Environmental Management Center for Golf Maintenance Facilities

New Program Aims to Put Golf Clubs in Hands of Hockey Players

The site of the proposed golf course for the Rio Summer Olympics in 2016. credit: worldlandscapeachitecture.com

Olympic Golf Organizers Fall Behind in Construction Process ◗ Organizers of the 2016 Rio Olympics seem to be hitting from the rough when it comes to building the course that will host the golf events, according to Sportsnet News.

An ongoing legal dispute involving the land set aside for the golf course was flagged by an IOC judge in February as the game makes its first appearance in the Olympics since 1904.

There has been a long legal dispute over the land which is claimed by two different companies, one of which plans on building a commercial and housing complex on the site instead of a golf course.

The snag has caused construction to be delayed from its planned start date of October 2012. Organizers have admitted that there is no Plan B and the International Golf Federation has reportedly expressed concern over the course.

In other Olympic golf news, it was announced that the species of turfgrass used on the course will be mostly Zeon Zoysia. This announcement came at the at Golf Industry Show in San Diego by Dr. Frank Rossi, a consulting agronomist on the project.

According to David Doguet, Zeon Zoysia grower and president of Bladerunner Farms, the species was chosen because of its sustainability.

“Zeon Zoysia is very environmentally friendly,” said Doguet.

“The grass needs very little water, and very low amounts of nitrogen fertilizer, while still looking and playing great.

◗ Two of Canada’s most popular sports have joined together to create a new program that is getting youth involved in * Wash Water Recycle golf. * Pesticide Storage The She Swings, She Scores program, led by the Golf Association of Ontario * Chem Mix and Golf Canada’s Women’s Fund Player * Fuel Management Development Grant, aims to introduce the * Spill Containment game of golf to 1500 girls that are already involved in Ontario hockey leagues.

The program launched in January EPA Best Available Technology in Cobourg, Ontario and will continue Complete Layout Design through to the summer as it aims to help young women transition from the rink to the links as a team.

800-242-1150 Also on board to promote the program is email: info@carbtrol.com www.carbtrol.com Sami Jo Small, three-time Olympian and five time world champion as part of Canada’s national women’s hockey team.

12/9/08 9:39:51 “Golf is a sport that keeps you active in 410455_Carbtrol.indd 1 the off-season,” said Small, “and can help make you a well-rounded athlete, and I only wish that I’d started golfing earlier in my career.”

SIGNS Jeff Thompson, Chief Sport Development Officer with Golf Canada, was also excited about the prospects for the program.

“Partnering with “like sports” such as hockey… seems like a great marriage Quality Signs Since 1983 for our sport. An initiative such as this that targets a group of very active young girls has a great deal of potential and we look forward to seeing the results,” said Thompson Toll Free: 1 (800) 909-9927 The program will be stopping off at Fax: (403) 346-6261 hockey tournaments all across Ontario over the winter and spring. GM E-mail: info@wallahsigns.com

www.wallahsigns.com

Red Deer, Alberta

golfsales@wallahsigns.com

Eastern Distributor Jim Schwan Sports (705) 437-4280 Beaverton, ON The She Swings, She Scores program aims to get young, female hockey players involved with golf. credit: golfcanada.ca

Complete Golf Course Signage & Accessories

MARCH/APRIL 510531_Wallah.indd 1

2013 | greenMaster 13 PM 12/15/10 12:26:42

AM

fe ature ◗ Kathryn Wood, CMP

2013 CITCTS – Showcase of Innovation and Learning Education program featured 45 speakers and 50 topics ◗ The 2013 Canadian International

Turfgrass Conference and Trade Show, held January 25 – 29, 2013 in Toronto, ON was co-hosted by the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association (CGSA) and the Ontario Golf Superintendents’ Association (OGSA).

A nice complement of Specialized Learning Workshops on Friday and Saturday offered many of the topics that today’s turf professionals are looking for.

Topics such as leadership, soil and fertility, cool season turfgrasses and disease management engaged over 200 attendees.

Conference co-chairs, Jim Flett, AGS and Rob Gatto kicked off the conference on Sunday morning with the Opening Ceremonies and included Tim Kubash, MS, CGSA’s President, Doug Breen, OGSA’s President and Marie Thorne from Syngenta

Crop Protection Canada. Syngenta continued their support of the conference education program for the 2013 event.

The Annual Awards Luncheon, sponsored by Bayer Environmental Science, highlighted the award winners for the previous year. On hand to receive their awards were: • Pelino Scenna, MS Emeritus, recipient of the John B. Steel Award; • Brian Youell, MS, winner of the CGSA Superintendent of the Year Award; • Cam Shaw, CGSA Future Superintendent Award winner; • Robin Sadler, MS, Environmental Achievement Award winner; • Colin Atherton, Equipment Technician Award winner

• Braydon Gilbert, Gordon Witteveen Award winner Other awards presented as part of the ceremonies included the 2012 AGS and AAGS Designations and MS Designation recipients, and the membership service awards for 25 and 30 year members.

The education program featured over 45 speakers and 50 topics over the three day conference period. Speakers included renowned educators, superintendents, researchers and related specialists.

For those who attended the conference and trade show with an all-inclusive or conference education package you will be able to view the sessions through the CGSA Live Learning Centre.

The trade show, made numerous exhibitors available to discuss their products and services. Over 92% of delegates spent time in the show learning about new products and services or innovative ways to improve their course conditions.

New booth awards were presented this year using new criteria including: Best Interactive Booth: Rain Bird International Best First Impression Booth: Allturf Ltd. Most Innovative Booth: Air2G

Pelino Scenna

John Mills & Brian Youell

Bary Cochrane & CAM SHAW

Robin Sadler & Pierre Fradette

COLIN Atherton & Tim Kubash photo credit: The Image Commission

14 greenMaster | www.golfsupers.com

Prize draws were also held during the trade show social hour. For those who registered for an all-inclusive or conference education package you were automatically entered into a draw for one of five iPad Minis.

The morning of Monday, January 28th marked the CGSA’s 46th Annual General Meeting. Members received updates on the current activities of the CGSA and saw the election of the new Board of Directors.

The election results included: • John Mills, President (1 year term) • Christian, Pilon, MS, Vice President (1 year term) • Greg Austin, British Columbia Director (2 year term) • James Beebe, Alberta Director (2 year term)

The President’s Welcome Reception, sponsored by Rain Bird International was held at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel.

It featured excellent networking after a full day of education.

The Monday Night Party took place at Steam Whistle Brewery, where delegates were treated to some live entertainment featuring the Swollen Stolons – a group formed of industry professionals and The Strumbellas featuring another industry professional on bass! Jeremy Taggart drummer from Our Lady Peace was our special guest and MC’d the event. What a treat and an exceptional performance by all! Sponsored by John Deere Golf the event allowed for a casual evening of fellowship and networking.

The Annual Banquet, held at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel featured

a delicious meal and speeches from both the outgoing and incoming CGSA and OGSA Presidents. The evening finished up on a funny note with comedian Dave Hemstead getting the crowd laughing.

The local coordinating committee, made up CGSA and OGSA members are to be congratulated for a job well done.

Their hard work to make this a successful event should be recognized. Many thanks to all those who supported and participated in the events of the week.

Mark your calendars for the 2014 Canadian International Turfgrass Conference and Trade Show. It will be held in Vancouver, British Columbia from Friday, February 21 – Tuesday, February 25, 2014. Take a look at your calendar and budget today! GM

• Kyle Kellgren, Saskatchewan Director (2 year term) Also announced during the AGM was John Scott’s appointment as Quebec Director. John will take over the remaining year of Christian Pilon’s term.

The annual Refer a Member prize draw also took place at the meeting. Trevor Smith will receive a $500 travel voucher to be used for travel to a future CGSA event.

Congratulations and thank you again for referring new members to CGSA!

MARCH/APRIL 2013 | greenMaster 15

fe ature ◗ Rick Woelfel

MOE to Measure Effectiveness of Ontario Public Meetings Low attendance raises concerns In 2012 a new mandate kicked in, requiring golf clubs to host an annual meeting for the purpose of documenting and explaining its pesticide-usage policy to its neighbours and other interested parties.

16 greenMaster | www.golfsupers.com

◗ It is not uncommon for golf course

superintendents to find themselves battling through a thicket of government regulations.

In Ontario, however, that task has grown more onerous in recent years. In the spring of 2009 superintendents in Ontario found themselves dealing with the ramifications of the Cosmetic Pesticide Ban Act. Implemented by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment (MOE), the Act banned the use of Class Nine pesticides for cosmetic purposes. Any usage not connected to an agricultural purpose or an edible product was considered cosmetic.

This created a potential nightmare scenario for superintendents, since the Class Nine products include most common herbicides, fungicides and insecticides that are used on golf courses.

In the wake of a lobbying effort by the golf industry, golf courses were exempted from the ban. The exemption, however, came at a cost.

Since 2010, golf facilities using Class Nine products have been required to submit an annual report to the MOE documenting pesticide usage. They must also become certified by the Integrated Pest Management Council of Canada, a non-profit organization which brings together various factions of the turf industry together under one umbrella.

On the surface, documenting pesticide usage doesn’t pose significant difficulties for superintendents, many of whom have long made a regular practice of doing so.

But under the Act, the same report that is submitted to the MOE must also

be posted prominently on club property, made available to the general public and copies made available on demand.

In 2012 a new mandate kicked in, requiring golf clubs to host an annual meeting for the purpose of documenting and explaining its pesticide-usage policy to its neighbours and other interested parties.

Violet Van Wassenaer is a pesticides specialist with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment.

“An annual public meeting provides public transparency,” she says.

“It gives golf courses the opportunity to provide context and practical meaning to an otherwise technical report on the types and amounts of Class Nine pesticides that are being used and why they are necessary.”

Golf facilities are required to follow certain protocols in the days leading up to the meeting. Written invitations must be extended to all residents living within 100 meters of the club. Clubs are also required to post written notice of the meeting in a local newspaper at least 15 days in advance.

Keith Bartlett is a veteran of some two decades in the turf industry. He’s been in charge of the turf at St. George’s Golf and Country Club in the west end of Toronto since 2007.

Because of the population density in the area around the course, the club was required to send out 250 letters to nearby residents, inviting them to attend a first-ever pesticide usage presentation.

The meeting was held late on a Friday afternoon, last fall.

A total of five citizens accepted the invitation.

The actual meeting, which lasted roughly half an hour, started off with a video. The video was a collaborative effort, funded by all sectors in golf, to give the public a clearer perspective on pesticides.

“The video was something extra,” Bartlett said. “We wanted to put the meeting into a context, as opposed to just reading a usage summary report.” “(The video) explained what the IPM program is for golf courses, our obligations under the regulations, the benefit of golf courses to the environment and what we contribute, how we use pesticides.”

The meeting itself was conducted by a facilitator, who handled the same responsibility for other clubs, a total of more than 100 meetings in all.

One of the facilitator’s chief responsibilities was keeping the meeting on topic.

“The idea was to separate the issues of what we were there for,” Bartlett said, “versus issues the neighbours may have with the club on other unrelated issues.”

Rob Ackermann has spent 12 years as the superintendent at the Weston Golf and Country Club, which is also situated in Toronto.

Ackermann, also a double decade, golf industry veteran, mailed out some 250 letters to area residents inside the 100-meter bubble around his golf course.

One dwelling was an apartment building in which the club was prohibited, by law, from going door to door to hand out individual invitations to the meeting.

A notice was posted in the lobby instead.

Ackermann conducted his meeting on the last Monday in November, 2012. He prepared a detailed presentation on the club’s pesticide usage during the 2011 season. On the morning of the meeting however, no one from the community appeared, save for one neighbour who stopped by with a question on an unrelated topic.

Ackermann wound up giving his presentation to members of his club’s management team, taking advantage of the opportunity to provide them with information about his pesticide-usage program.

Though none of the club’s neighbours were on hand to raise concern about pesticides, Ackermann says arranging gatherings of this sort is an effective way

to reach out to the community.

“It’s an opportunity to communicate with and educate our neighbours,” he said, “and teach them about issues related to pesticide usage.”

Bartlett echoed that message of transparency.

“I think those that came have a better understanding of what we do,” he said.

“I think there’s still a perception that we spray when it’s windy and (the pesticides) drift into their property and we answered that concern.”

“I actually had two phone calls from neighbours who could not attend the meeting but support what we do as a golf course and appreciate what we do at the golf course. For example, the fact that we control grubs on the golf course means they have less infestation. Plus our golf course is very appealing to them, appearance wise.”

As this story was being completed, some superintendents were already preparing for their 2013 public meetings, some of which were expected to be held as early as March, to view data from the 2012 season.

Mark Prieur, the superintendent at Trafalgar Golf Club in Milton, Ontario represents the golf industry on the IPM Council of Canada and presently serves as its president.

When Prieur hosted a public meeting at his own club last October, none of the 12 area residents who received invitations attended. He spoke in front of an audience of seven of his peers from other clubs.

On the positive side, Prieur notes that he and his colleagues have become more

comfortable with presenting their annual reports to the general public.

“There was a lot of apprehension before the first round of public meetings were done,” he said, “but now that everybody has done their public meetings I find the perception has changed quite a bit.”

In a survey of some 800 clubs in Ontario (roughly 300 responded), superintendents showed concerns over how useful the meetings actually are, pointing to the cost involved in hosting them and the low attendance figures.

Some members of the general public have expressed concern as well.

When one club mailed out its letters of invitation, it inadvertently made public some tax information that should have remained private, creating a backlash in the community.

Some in the golf industry would doubtless like to see the public meetings eliminated, but it seems certain they will be part of the landscape for the foreseeable future.

Van Wassenaer says the MOE will be measuring their effectiveness.

“Public interest and engagement (in the initial round of meetings) was varied,” she said.

“The ministry will continue to monitor golf course public meetings over the next couple of years to gauge the public’s response. To encourage more participation, the ministry has suggested that golf courses schedule meetings when most people can attend such as on a weeknight evenings, rather than on weekdays.” GM

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MARCH/APRIL 2013 | greenMaster 17 1/15/09 10:47:28 AM

fe ature ◗ scott morrison

Big Business Sustainability Concepts Golf Should Adopt Sustainability is not the fad you thought it was ◗ Global markets are mobilizing

around global concerns and local markets around regional concerns. As the biggest companies in the world (79 per cent of Global Fortune 5001) are producing annual sustainability reports (CSR, GRI, ESG), so are small to medium sized businesses that see the opportunity to understand resources, grow market shares and maintain consumer confidence in an increasingly skeptical world.

The golf industry is no different, but so far we’ve mostly been caught up in defining the term and attempting to fit it into “business as usual”. The biggest corporations in the world have made these oversights and lost big. Luckily we can learn from their experiences and apply some of the basic concepts that have been proven throughout all industries to improve sustainability performance.

Addressing the 3P’s has raised awareness of issues concerning the People, Planet and Profit dimensions of golf, but this concept was born out of environmental centric and left wing perspectives and doesn’t capture the competitive needs of our industry.

More recently, financial sectors and investors have realized the value of sustainability metrics and reporting and have adopted an approach that considers Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) factors, but with a

strong focus on business processes.

This approach lends itself to the golf industry, where innovation leads to competitive advantages and redefining “business as usual” to reflect the concerns of resource scarcity, environmental quality, societal fairness and the evolution of corporate governance.

Two concepts that have redefined the

ways companies view sustainability are within their Accounting & Reporting and making the connection between Supply Chain and Waste Stream. I’ve provided some examples to how we are seeing these factors at play in big business and in the Canadian golf industry, and I believe these are applicable to courses of all sizes and ownership models.

Figure 1: Examples of KPI’s of ESG for Golf Course Operations Performance Metrics

Management Strategy

Impacts E ❱ Fuel use of fairway mowers, or energy use of irrigation pump.

E ❱ Protect water quality on and off the golf course, or other basic BMP’s.

S ❱ Members rating of conditioning, or neighbors rating of sound.

S ❱ Commitments or policies for community engagement.

G ❱ Website visits as a result of Social Media Campaign, or total economic impact of the community.

G ❱ S tandards & Codes of Conduct.

Innovation E ❱ Use of a Field Use EIQ model in choosing fungicide AI’s to be applied within 30 ft of water body.

E ❱ Experiment with lower toxicity products, or a waste management policy.

S ❱ Survey response from golfers regarding changes in management strategy.

S ❱ Commitments for providing opportunity to under privilege youth.

G ❱ Lobby government on policy.

G ❱ Participate with allied golf organizations.

(Note: Examples in this table are broad in spectrum to show the diversity of ESG metrics)

18 greenMaster | www.golfsupers.com

Accounting & Reporting

The world’s financial markets are riddled with risks. Companies are now turning to sustainability accounting and reporting to communicate ESG performance to potential investors. By identifying and benchmarking key ESG indicators over time, companies are able to respond and mitigate risks. Through transparent reporting investors can make educated decisions based on more than just economic factors. Offering these values voluntarily gives early adopters an even sharper competitive edge.

Let’s bring this back to golf now. Do golfers invest in a membership because the electric powered beverage cart sells certified fair trade organic coffee in reusable BPA-free cups? This is a classic 3P approach that has (unfortunately) little relevance in the world of golf membership sales.

But what if that club comes under fire for “excessive tree removal”, a fuel spill, or club expenses raise uncontrollably because lack of preparedness for energy prices? Are operational risks a concern now?

By identifying and benchmarking these dimensions in your operations, you can make more informed decisions and exploit sustainability as an opportunity for risk assessment, cost reduction and even revenue generation.

You can’t manage what you don’t measure…

The “accounting” of Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) demonstrate achievements and presents opportunities to make managerial decisions based on this data. I’m sure you’ve experienced the thrill of realizing you’ve saved 10 per cent on something that you’ve continually measured and managed through time.

Now, imagine the impact of 10 per cent on 100 things. That is the value of sustainability accounting.

Each golf course is going to place different values on KPIs based on their own needs. For example, a golf course in Montreal, Que. that has unlimited allowances on water taking will place less value on water conservation performance metrics and management strategies than a course in Osoyoos BC because there are less ESG risks associated with water as a business resource.

Although there are hundreds of benchmarkable metrics applicable to golf course management, for the purpose of

this article I will only show one for each of the ESG dimensions (Figure 1). If you are interested in a sustainability framework with benchmarks specific to golf course operations, the Golf Environment Organization’s “On-Course” program can be found at www.golfenvironment.org.

A Clear Message

Transparency is the communication of your management strategy to the public or the reporting of performance metrics to investors (see Figure 1). It’s a precondition of accountability, since without access to consistent, clear and current information, it is impossible to judge whether the performance claimed has been met.

Companies are empowered by presenting results that build investor and consumer confidence.

In some cases, government regulates public reporting of industry KPIs. This largely underminds business efforts because it is framed as an involuntary

and compulsory requirement of doing business.

In the case of Ontario Regulation 63/09, which requires golf courses to post annual total use of Active Ingredients (AI) on a publicly accessible website (Figure 2a), there is very little supportive context regarding the decision making process that leads to the application of a pest control product, or how this relates to their ESG policies on a whole.

Similarly in Manitoba, Regulation 94/88R calls for AI values from post-seasonal reports filed by Pesticide Permit Holders to be turned in each calendar year. These AI values are available through Manitoba Conservation to anyone who wishes to frame and present the data in whatever manner they wish, like what the Winnipeg Free Press did in 2012 (Figure 2b).

◗ continued on page 20

Figure 2a: Compliance Reporting Provides Little ESG Context Class 9 Active Ingredient Reason for Use (AI) Applied

Total Quantity AI Used (kg)

Reason for Difference from Previous Calendar Year

Triflowystrobin

Fusarium Patch, Pink Snow Mould, Grey Snow Mould

2.93

Pest pressure was less than last year.

Rotation of available active ingredients was practiced to minimize the risk of pest resistance to the product.

Trinexapac-ethyl

Growth Regulation

9.30

With the help of a growing degree calendar we were able to time applications better and use less than last year.

Above example was randomly selected from public reporting data posted in relation to the Ontario Regulation 63/09.

Source: www.ipmcouncilcanada.org/epar/en-CA/Default/courses.aspx

Figure 2b: Interactive Graphic of Pesticide Use Pesticides used on Manitoba Golf Courses:

Developed by the Winnipeg Free Press, this interactive graphic allows the user to select specific information and then generates a chart of the selected fields.

To view the interactive “pesticides used on Manitoba golf courses” visit it at the Winnipeg Free Press website: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/INTERACTIVE-Pesticides--151625705.html

MARCH/APRIL 2013 | greenMaster 19

Business As Usual

Water Pollution, Health Risks High Operating Costs, Power Loss ■ Landfill, High Disposal Costs How ■ Inherant Carbon Emissions it leaves?

■ Water Pollution, Health and AirRisks Pollution ■ High Operating■Costs, High Power LabourLoss Costs ■ Off-Site ■ Landfill, High Disposal Pollution Costs ■ Inherant Carbon Emissions and Air Pollution ■ High Labour Costs ■ Off-Site Pollution ■

Toxic Chemicals ■ Figure 3: Linear vs. Circular Inefficient Equipment ■ Non-Recyclable Products ■ Long Distance Supply Chain ■ Labour Inefficiencies ■ ■ Toxic Chemicals Non-Renewable Energy ■ ■ Inefficient Equipment What Non-Recyclable Products ■ comes in?

Long Distance Supply Chain ■

■

How What Business it’s used? comesAs in? Usual

How it’s used?

How

Linear System it leaves?

Labour Inefficiencies ■ Non-Renewable Energy ■

Linear System

Sustainable Business Low-Persistance & Risk Pest Control Efficient Equipment ■ Recyclable, Reusable & ■ Refurbishable Products Low-Persistance ■ Localized Supply Chain ■ & Risk Pest Control Educated Employees ■ ■ Efficient Equipment Renewable Energy What ■ ■ Recyclable, Reusable & comes in?

Refurbishable Products ■

■

How What Business Sustainable it’s used? comes in?

Localized Supply Chain Educated Employees Renewable Energy

Water Quality, Employee Safety Lower Operating Costs Energy Conservation How ■ Low Waste, Cradle to Cradle it leaves?

■ Support of Local Industries, ■ Water Quality, Employee Safety Jobs & Communities ■ Lower Operating Costs Energy ■ A Culture of Conservation Conservation ■ Energy Impact ■ Low Waste, CradleLower to Cradle ■

How it’s used?

How it leaves?

Circular System

■

■ ■

■

■

■

In some ways these regulations undermine the companies that are managing their ESG risks and force companies to be evaluated through numbers with no context.

Circular System way: What comes in? How is it used? And how does it leave?

If you look at any of your company’s departments through these lenses, you’ll immediately find opportunities. Here are some questions and tips to consider when reviewing your operations.

Supply Chain = Waste Stream

What comes in?

◗ continued from page 19

Sustainability is a cycle of creation and of use and re-use (or recycle, refurbish, renovate, reclaim, etc). It’s moving from a linear process of ending up with the same problem, time and time again, to a cyclical process of reusing or repurposing valued materials and resources. It is where you start to consider moving from a typical “pollution, dilution, solution” cycle to not polluting at all.

When we purchase products we purchase the ESG implications too. For example, the social implications of the product’s manufacturing, the expense of disposal or the implications of its operation. These factors have typically been considered externalities, or, quite simply, the cost of doing business.

But what if that cost was reduced or even eliminated? That is the power of evaluating your supply chain and waste stream.

Three simple questions can help put this into perspective and start you on your

20 greenMaster | www.golfsupers.com

Support of Local Industries, Jobs & Communities A Culture of Conservation Lower Energy Impact

A Procurement Policy establishes guidelines for employees to follow when choosing products or services. By streamlining the purchasing standards, waste reduction and environmental performance goals can easily be met.

• Are there local providers of this services or product?

• Are there rebates available?

• Are there packaging alternatives that work better? Communicate this to the manufacturer or distributor. Businesses don’t just respond to product feedback.

How is it used?

Best management practices are meant to guide day-to-day operations and to consider environmental impact. Are these in use? What are the protocols?

• Document performance; keep metrics consistent across the facility.

• Conservation strategies, how can we influence employee and customer behavior?

• Maintenance schedule, proper training, implications of storage and use, is it seasonal?

• Be prepared and precise with hazardous products.

How does it leave?

• Are there alternative uses we (or others in our community) have for its materials?

• Will the manufacturer take it back?

• Are there methods or partnerships that can reduce need for infrastructure?

• Measuring diverted waste from landfill.

To help you visualize this concept further I’ve included an info-graphic to demonstrate differences between the wasteful linear system and a leaner cyclical approach. http://www.ceres.org/incr/engagement/ corporate-dialogues/shareholder-resolutions/ cabot-oil-gas-sustainability-report-2012 1

Scott J Morrison studies Sustainability Management at UBC and works with golf courses, associations and manufacturers on sustainability issues. sjmconsults@gmail.com

UP ERINTEN DE N

LF S GO N

OCIATION • CA ASS N

A S SURIN NE DE TEN EN D DI

po l icy s tate m e n t ◗ overview

• TS

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CGSA and Environmental Policies L’ACSG et les politiques environnementales ◗ The Canadian Golf Superintendents Association (CGSA)

represents over 1,400 individuals involved in the management of golf facilities across Canada. Its mission mandates the Association to promote and support the golf course management profession in Canada. As part of this mandate, the CGSA Environment Committee has worked diligently to prepare several policy statements on behalf of the superintendents in Canada and the Canadian golf industry.

The CGSA and the golf industry in Canada have worked for over two decades to educate the industry, the public and government on the environmental benefits of golf courses and the management of turfgrass. In fact, Canada was the first country to introduce Environmental Guidelines for Golf Courses and has been referenced in the Environmental Principles for Golf Courses in the United States and An Environmental Strategy for Golf in Europe. The Canadian guidelines were developed in 1993 by the Royal Canadian Golf Association in consultation with the CGSA. They were revised in 2007.

In 2001, the CGSA developed the Environmental Management Resource Manual for golf. This guideline was distributed to all of its members and was recognized by both the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America and the British International Golf Greenkeepers Association as a key resource in the area of golf course management. This valuable resource is now in its sixth edition. In addition, since 1997 all superintendent and assistant superintendent members of the CGSA have been required to be licensed through their respective provincial government authority in the proper use of approved pest control products.

The motivation for these and many other initiatives is both economic and environmental. The use of all additives on golf courses can be an extremely expensive proposition, particularly in today’s economy. The result is that golf courses consistently employ cultural practices as a means of reducing the need to use pest control products, nutrients and water. There are instances where the only feasible approach that can be employed that will protect the golf course asset is the use of an approved pesticides, nutrient additives and water.

◗ L’Association canadienne des surintendants de golf (ACSG) représente plus de 1400 professionnels de la gestion des parcours de golf au Canada. Son mandat consiste à promouvoir leur profession et à les soutenir dans leur travail. Dans le cadre de ce mandat, le comité de l’environnement de l’ACSG a travaillé fort afin de produire plusieurs déclarations de principes au nom des surintendants et de l’industrie du golf.

L’ACSG et l’industrie du golf collaborent depuis plus de 20 ans au Canada pour démontrer au monde des affaires, au public et au gouvernement tous les avantages que représentent les parcours de golf et la gestion du gazon pour l’environnement. En fait, le Canada a été le premier pays au monde à mettre au point un guide sur la gestion environnementale des parcours de golf. Le guide américain Environmental Principles for Golf Courses in the United States et européen An Environmental Strategy for Golf in Europe citent le guide canadien en référence. Le guide canadien a été réalisé en 1993 par l’Association royale de golf du Canada, en collaboration ave l’ACSG. Une mise à jour a été réalisée en 2007.

En 2011, l’ACSG a publié un Manuel des ressources en gestion environnementale des terrains de golf. Deux associations de surintendants, la Golf Course Superintendents Association of America et la British International Golf Greenkeepers ont reconnu le rôle clé de ce manuel, que nous avons d’ailleurs distribué à tous nos membres. Nous en somme maintenant à notre sixième édition.

Soulignons également que depuis 1997, tous les surintendants et surintendants adjoints membres de l’ACSG doivent détenir un permis provincial de gestion des produits antiparasitaires approuvés.

Plusieurs de nos initiatives découlent d’une motivation économique et environnementale. Les adjuvants peuvent coûter très cher et le contexte économique actuel ne permet pas toujours d’en faire usage. Certaines pratiques culturales permettent de réduire les besoins en produits antiparasitaires, en nutriment et en eau, et plusieurs surintendants les adoptent systématiquement.

Mais il reste toujours des cas où la seule manière possible de protéger le parcours est d’utiliser des pesticides approuvés, des nutriments complémentaires et de l’eau.

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◗ suite à la page 23 MARCH/APRIL 2013 | greenMaster 21

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po l icy s tate m e n t ◗ summary

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The value of the golf course as a “green” enterprise within the community has never been more important than it is today.

La valeur d’un terrain de golf à titre d’entreprise « verte » dans la collectivité n’a jamais été aussi grande qu’aujourd’hui,

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From the perspective of the environment, stewardship has always been at the forefront of the profession of golf course management in Canada. As such, the value of the golf course as a “green” enterprise within the community has never been more important than it is today. This value is further enhanced by the current industry focus on issues such as the reduction of water and nutrient use, carbon reduction, habitat protection and the need to maintain green space corridors within urban settings.

In drafting the policies that appear in this issue of GreenMaster magazine the intent was to provide the association, the industry and the CGSA members with a resource on which to base future government advocacy submissions. These policies provide everyone within the industry with a guideline with respect to advocacy. They allow for all components of the golf sector in Canada to submit a consistent, rational response to government initiatives in any of the policy areas, particularly where those government ideas would impact a superintendent’s ability to do their job or the industry’s ability to operate in an effective manner. We know that a large percentage of the regulatory and legislative issues affecting golf are environmental in nature and, as a result, these policies can be incredibly helpful in the advocacy process. They can be utilized nationally, provincially and locally and should be made available to golfers at all golf facilities across Canada. These policies have been adopted by Golf Canada and by the National Allied Golf Associations and they are consistent with the environmental statement approved at the International Golf Greenskeeper Summit in Australia in June of 2012.

The CGSA will continue to consider new subjects and to develop helpful guidelines and policy initiatives to assist the Association, superintendents and the industry to respond in a reasonable, responsible and logical manner to both supportive initiatives of government agencies and those that are detrimental to the industry and the profession.

La protection de l’environnement a toujours été au centre des préoccupations des gestionnaires de terrain de golf au Canada. Par conséquent, la valeur d’un terrain de golf à titre d’entreprise « verte » dans la collectivité n’a jamais été aussi grande qu’aujourd’hui, d’autant plus que notre industrie insiste plus que jamais pour réduire notre utilisation en eau et nutriments, diminuer les émissions de carbone, protéger l’habitat et maintenir des corridors de verdure en milieu urbain.

Les politiques environnementales présentées dans ce numéro de GreenMaster fournissent des ressources à l’association, à l’industrie et aux membres de l’ACSG pour les guider dans la défense de leurs intérêts auprès des gouvernements. Elles donnent les moyens à toutes les composantes du secteur du golf de répondre de manière cohérente et rationnelle aux initiatives gouvernementales, particulièrement lorsque ces initiatives empêchent les surintendants de bien faire leur travail et l’industrie de fonctionner de manière efficace. Nous savons qu’un fort pourcentage de la réglementation et des lois nous concernant touche à l’environnement, et c’est pourquoi nos politiques environnementales nous aideront beaucoup à défendre nos intérêts à l’échelle nationale, provinciale et locale. D’ailleurs, les golfeurs de tous les clubs de golf du Canada devraient être mis au courant de nos politiques en matière d’environnement. Ces politiques ont été adoptées par Golf Canada et par la National Allied Golf Associations et elles sont conformes aux déclarations environnementales approuvées par l’International Golf Greeskeeper Summit d’Australie en juin 2012.

L’ACSG continuera d’élaborer des guides et des directives pratiques pour aider l’association, les surintendants et l’industrie à répondre de manière raisonnable, responsable et logique aux initiatives des agences gouvernementales, qu’elles soient positives ou contre-productives pour l’industrie et la profession.

MARCH/APRIL 2013 | greenMaster 23

po li cy s tate m en t ◗ use of ipm

Use of IPM to Manage Golf Courses ◗ Golf course management involves the provision of golf course conditions that are consistent from hole to hole on any given golf course. These conditions are achieved and maintained through the implementation of an Integrated Pest Management Plan. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a decision-making process that uses all necessary techniques to suppress pests effectively, economically and in an environmentally sound manner.

Within the IPM framework or toolbox are a number of options from which the superintendent may choose when managing the golf course property.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an approach for planning and managing a site to minimize pest problems and to assist in decision-making about when and how to intervene when pest problems occur. It is a sustainable approach, combining biological, cultural, physical, and chemical methods to manage pests so that the benefits of pest control and turf health are maximized and the health and environmental risks are minimized. A key initiative in IPM is to take action against pests only when their numbers or effects warrant it, rather than as a routine measure.

IPM extends far beyond the use of pest control products, whether chemical or “alternative,” and can include a wide variety of prevention and treatment techniques.

IPM reduces reliance on pesticides as the sole approach to pest management. IPM is a system designed to keep pest damage within acceptable levels. For a golf course, acceptable levels can be defined as the number of pests or the amount of damage by pests, beyond which the aesthetics of the course and the playability of the turfgrass are compromised. It should be emphasized that IPM is not pesticide free turfgrass management. IPM should however result in more efficient use of pesticides.

The CGSA supports the following protocols and practices related to integrated pest management: 24 greenMaster | www.golfsupers.com

• Through regular monitoring and record keeping, identify the pest problem, analyze the conditions causing it, and determine the damage threshold level below which the pest can be tolerated.

• Amount of shade present; • Density of ornamental plantings or other barriers which may restrict air movement; • Soil fertility;

• Devise ways to change conditions to prevent or discourage recurrence of the problem. Examples include: utilizing improved (e.g., drought resistant, pest resistant) turfgrass varieties, modifying microclimate conditions, or changing cultural practice management programs.

• If damage thresholds are met, select the appropriate control strategies to suppress the pest populations with minimal environmental impact and to avoid surpassing threshold limits. Control measures include biological, cultural, physical, mechanical, and chemical methods.

Biological control methods must be environmentally sound and should be properly screened and tested before implementation.

• Non-chemical and biological control measures should focus on practices such as the introduction of natural pest enemies (e.g., parasites and predators), utilizing syringing techniques, improving air movement, soil aerification techniques, and mechanical traps.

The CGSA also supports the following five steps to the implementation of an IPM program for a golf course: 1. The collection and understanding of course conditions and characteristics.

This includes the collection of information on existing course conditions which could impact the ability of turfgrass to withstand pest infestation. This includes the collection of information on: • Inventory of turfgrass types throughout the course;

• Site drainage; • Current cultural practices (e.g. mowing, fertilization, irrigation, pesticide application, aeration, etc.) and; • Any other site conditions which could limit turf vigour, or promote the presence of a specific pest.

2. The surveying of pests at the golf course on an annual basis and keeping historical records. This component involves determining the identity, location and populations of the following pests: • Weeds • Insects • Undesirable animals(eg: rodents) • Diseases It may be necessary to retain the services of a biologist to assist with the identification of specific pests.

3. Defining pest response thresholds. Pest response thresholds are the levels of pest infestation (i.e. disease, insect or weed) which can be tolerated relative to course aesthetics and playability.

Threshold levels can be very general (e.g. spraying for dandelions when they become noticeable visually), or quite specific (e.g. insecticide applications based on actual counts of insects).

4. M onitoring provides the information required to make decisions on pest management measures. Objectives of a monitoring program are as follows:

1. Determine the extent and nature of any turfgrass damage.

2. Determine the presence and population of pests.

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3. Establish ambient environmental conditions (e.g. temperature, sunlight, humidity and precipitation) and the associated impacts on pests.

4. Identify the growth stage of the pest and its susceptibility to treatment.

5. Identify the current life or growth stage of the pest’s host (if applicable) and its conditions.

6. Identify the presence, identity and population levels of beneficial insects, wildlife and birds.

Specific monitoring techniques are dependent on the type of pest, and the budget and resources available to the superintendent. The most common technique is frequent visual inspections and the monitoring of environmental conditions by the superintendent. Other techniques include setting traps for insects and retaining biologists to carry out independent reviews and inspections.

Maintenance of good records is an important component of a monitoring program. Specific information to be recorded will include:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

The name of the pest.

Where it was encountered.

The amount of damage.

Date of occurrence.

Weather conditions present.

Control measures used.

5. Developing and implementing pest control strategies can involve either cultural or non-cultural methods.

Cultural methods are essentially preventative measures which block or reduce the extent of pest problems and focus on turf health. Examples of cultural methods are as follows: • Select turfgrass cultivars adapted to local climatic conditions; • Conserve native grass species or establish diverse grass species where possible;

• Incorporate organic amendments (such as peat moss, compost or straw) in areas where organic content of the soil is low to improve water and nutrientholding capacity, enhance drainage and promote aeration; • Aerate compacted soil; • Provide good drainage; • Use fencing to prevent injury over the winter; • Place protective covers on greens and tees over the winter, if deemed necessary; • Raise mowing height and reduce mowing frequency; • Mow with sharp blades; • Return grass clippings to grass areas, wherever possible; • Use high quality seed stock / varieties that are disease-free and diseaseresistant; • Manage soil fertility, weed control and irrigation to help maintain a strong, healthy grass stand and increase disease resistance; • Schedule early-morning irrigation in areas that are susceptible to disease; • Thin tree stands on the windward sides of greens and tee boxes to promote adequate air circulation; • Minimize shade in areas susceptible to disease; • Avoid putting green slopes with a northern aspect, if possible; • Spread dark organic material on greens and tees to accelerate snow melt, but avoid substances that could generate toxic runoff or sedimentation; • Use snow blowing equipment and snow fencing to distribute snow evenly; • Till exposed soil at new courses or new areas within existing courses to kill growing weeds; • Prevent the spread of disease and weeds by equipment;

• Hand-pull or spot treat weeds growing in small patches; • Select native or pest-resistant trees, shrubs, and ornamentals; • Use traps or repeated flooding of burrows to control gophers and ground squirrels; • Use tree guards to control damage by rabbits and porcupines; • Use traps to control beavers, or remove their dams and lodges; • Focus on the early recovery of turfgrass areas affected by mice; • Aerate ponds; • Use mechanical methods for removing vegetation, taking care to remove roots and plant debris, and; • Control aquatic vegetation.

Non-cultural methods utilize either biological controls or pesticides for pest control. Biological controls involve the use of specific organisms (e.g., weedeating fish, snails, etc.) to control the pests. Other control organisms include bacteria, predatory insects, bats and birds.

Given that the use of biological controls is relatively new, combined with the potential adverse consequences of introducing new species into the local environment, you should consult with a biologist prior to implementing any of these control options.

In addition to the above steps in the implementation of a golf course IPM program, the CGSA supports the use of federally registered pest control products identified for use on golf courses, if and when they are to be used as part of an IPM program.

These protocols, implementation steps, and pesticide use guidelines are all integral parts of a successful IPM initiative at any golf property.

MARCH/APRIL 2013 | greenMaster 25

po li cy s tate m en t ◗ use of ipm

Intégrée contre les parasites dans la gestion des parcours de golf ◗ La gestion d’un parcours de golf exige le maintien de conditions de jeu uniformes sur chacun des trous d’un parcours donné.

Ces conditions de jeu sont obtenues et maintenues grâce à la mise en place d’un programme de lutte intégrée contre les parasites (LIP). La lutte intégrée contre les parasites est un processus de prise de décision qui utilise toutes les techniques nécessaires pour supprimer les organismes nuisibles de manière efficace, économique et dans le respect de l’environnement. À l’intérieur de la boîte à outils de la LIP, nous trouvons un certain nombre d’options mis à la disposition du surintendant pour gérer un terrain de golf. La lutte intégrée contre les parasites (LIP) est une méthode de planification et de gestion d’un site dont l’objectif est de minimiser les problèmes causés par les organismes nuisibles et d’aider à la prise de décision sur le moment et la manière d’intervenir lorsqu’un problème survient. Il s’agit d’une pratique écologiquement viable qui allie les méthodes biologiques, culturales, physiques et chimiques de manière à maximiser les bénéfices de la lutte contre les parasites et les avantages d’un gazon en santé, et réduire au minimum les risques environnementaux. Un point clé de la LIP consiste à agir seulement lorsque le problème le justifie en raison du nombre ou des effets des organismes nuisibles, plutôt que d’intervenir systématiquement.

La LIP englobe beaucoup plus que l’utilisation des produits de lutte antiparasitaire, qu’ils soient chimiques ou « alternatifs », et peut inclure une large variété de techniques de prévention ou de traitement. La LIP permet de réduire la dépendance aux pesticides en tant que moyen unique pour gérer les organismes nuisibles. La LIP est conçue pour maintenir à un niveau acceptable les dommages causés par les parasites. Pour les parcours de golf, les niveaux acceptables peuvent se définir par la quantité d’organismes

26 greenMaster | www.golfsupers.com

nuisibles ou par les dommages causés au-delà desquels la qualité de jeu du gazon ou la beauté du parcours seraient compromises. Il faut souligner que la LIP n’est pas une méthode de gestion du gazon sans pesticides. Elle permet cependant de les utiliser de manière plus efficace. L’ACSG soutient les méthodes et pratiques suivantes de lutte intégrée contre les parasites: • Par l’entremise d’un contrôle suivi et de la tenue de dossiers, préciser le type d’organisme nuisible à la source du problème, analyser les conditions le favorisant, et déterminer le seuil de nocivité acceptable au-dessous duquel cet organisme nuisible peut-être toléré.

• Trouver des moyens de modifier les conditions environnementales afin de prévenir ou de décourager la réapparition du problème. Par exemple : utiliser des variétés de gazon améliorées (par ex. du gazon résistant à la sécheresse ou aux organismes nuisibles), modifier les conditions du microclimat ou modifier les programmes de gestion des pratiques culturales.

• Si le seuil de nocivité est atteint, choisir les stratégies de lutte appropriées pour supprimer les populations nuisibles en causant des effets minimums sur l’environnement, de manière à revenir en-dessous du seuil acceptable. Les mesures de lutte contre les parasites peuvent inclure des méthodes biologiques, culturales, physiques, mécaniques et chimiques. Les méthodes de lutte biologique doivent être écologiques, sélectionnées avec soin et mises à l’essai avant d’être appliquées.

• Les mesures de lutte biologique et non-chimique doivent mettre l’accent sur un certain nombres de pratiques, comme par exemple

l’introduction d’ennemis naturels (parasites et prédateurs), l’utilisation de techniques d’injection, l’amélioration du mouvement de l’air, les techniques d’aération du sol et les pièges mécaniques.

L’ACSG soutient également les cinq étapes suivantes de mise en place d’un programme de LIP sur les parcours de golf : 1. Procéder à la collecte d’information sur les conditions et caractéristiques du parcours qui pourraient avoir des conséquences sur la capacité du gazon à résister à l’infestation d’organismes nuisibles : • Inventaire des types de gazon utilisés sur le parcours; • Surfaces d’ombre; • Densité des plantations ornementales ou des autres obstacles pouvant restreindre le déplacement d’air; • Fertilité du sol; • Drainage du site; • Pratiques culturales actuelles (p.ex. tonte, fertilisation, irrigation, épandage de pesticides, aération, etc.) et; • Toute autre condition du site pouvant limiter la vigueur du gazon ou promouvoir la présence d’un organisme nuisible en particulier.

2. Faire une enquête annuelle sur les organismes nuisibles et tenir des dossiers sur la question. Déterminer l’identité, l’emplacement et les populations d’organismes nuisibles suivantes: • Mauvaises herbes • Insectes • Animaux indésirables (p. ex: rongeurs) • Maladies ◗ suite à la page 28

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CGSA Fall Field Day

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Hole #7, Wascana Country Club

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MARCH/APRIL 2013 | greenMaster 27

po li cy s tate m en t ◗ use of ipm

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3. Préciser les seuils de réponse aux parasites. Ces seuils correspondent aux niveaux d’infestation (ex. maladies, insectes ou mauvaises herbes) qui peuvent être tolérés du point de vue de la beauté du parcours ou de la qualité de jeu. Ces seuils peuvent être déterminés d’une manière générale (p. ex. pulvérisation des pissenlits lorsqu’ils deviennent visibles), ou très précis (p. ex. épandage d’insecticides déterminé selon un nombre précis d’insectes).

4. Le contrôle continu fournit les renseignements nécessaires à la prise de décision sur les mesures de lutte antiparasitaire. Les objectifs du contrôle continu sont les suivants :

1. Déterminer l’étendue et la nature des dommages causés au gazon.

2. Déceler la présence et évaluer la population des organismes nuisibles.

3. Préciser les conditions environnementales ambiantes (p. ex. la température, la lumière du soleil, l’humidité et la précipitation) et les conséquences qui en découlent pour les organismes nuisibles.

4. Déterminer le stade de croissance de l’organisme nuisible et sa susceptibilité au traitement.

5. Déterminer la vie actuelle ou le stade de croissance de l’hôte de l’organisme nuisible (le cas échéant) et ses conditions.

6. Déterminer la présence, l’identité et les niveaux de population d’insectes, d’animaux ou de plantes dont les effets sont bénéfiques.

Les techniques de contrôle spécifique dépendent du type d’organisme nuisible, et du budget et ressources à la disposition du surintendant. Pour le surintendant, la technique la plus courante est l’inspection visuelle et le suivi des 28 greenMaster | www.golfsupers.com

conditions environnementales. Parmi les autres techniques, mentionnons la pause de pièges à insectes et le recrutement de biologistes pour mener des enquêtes et inspections indépendantes. Le maintien de dossiers précis est également un élément important du contrôle continu. Parmi les renseignements précis à conserver, mentionnons les suivants:

• Installer des couvertures protectrices sur les verts et les tertres de départ au cours de l’hiver, si nécessaire;

1. Le nom de l’organisme nuisible.

2. L’endroit où il a été vu.

3. Les dommages causés.

• Utiliser des graines de qualité et des variétés de gazon saines et résistantes aux maladies;

4. La date survenue.

5. Les conditions atmosphériques présentes.

6. Les mesures de lutte utilisées.

5. L’élaboration et la mise en place des stratégies de lutte intégrée contre les parasites peuvent mettre à contribution des méthodes culturales et non•culturales. Les méthodes culturales sont essentiellement des mesures de prévention qui neutralisent ou réduisent la portée du problème et se concentrent sur la santé du gazon.

Voici quelques exemples de méthodes culturales : • Choisir des cultivars de gazon adaptés aux conditions climatiques locales; • Conserver les espèces de gazon indigènes ou établir diverses espèces de gazon là où c’est possible; • Incorporer des amendements organiques (dont la tourbe-mousse, le compost ou la paille) aux endroits où le contenu organique du sol est maigre; ceci permettra d’augmenter la capacité de rétention de l’eau et des éléments nutritifs, à améliorer le drainage et à promouvoir l’aération; • Aérer le sol compacté; • Assurer un bon drainage du sol; • Élever une clôture pour prévenir les dommages de l’hiver;

• Élever la hauteur de coupe et réduire la fréquence de coupe; • Tondre avec des lames effilées; • Retourner les coupures de gazon dans les zones de gazon, si possible;

• Gérer la fertilité du sol, la lutte aux mauvaises herbes et l’irrigation de manière à maintenir du gazon sain et vigoureux et augmenter la résistance aux maladies; • Programmer l’irrigation tôt le matin dans les zones susceptibles aux maladies; • Planter des bosquets d’arbres minces du côté d’ou vient le vent près des verts et des tertres de départ afin de promouvoir la circulation adéquate de l’air; • Réduire l’ombre au minimum dans les endroits susceptibles aux maladies; • Éviter si possible l’exposition des verts du côté nord; • Répandre des matières organiques noires sur les verts et les tertres de départ de manière à accélérer la fonte des neiges, mais éviter les substances qui pourraient générer des déversements toxiques ou la sédimentation; • Utiliser des chasse-neige et des paravalanches pour distribuer la neige également; • Labourer le sol découvert sur les nouveaux parcours ou les nouvelles sections d’un parcours existant de manière à empêcher la pousse de mauvaises herbes;

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• Prévenir la propagation des maladies et des mauvaises herbes à l’aide de l’équipement approprié; • Sarcler à la main ou traiter individuellement les mauvaises herbes qui poussent en petites touffes; • Choisir des arbres, arbustes ou plantes ornementales indigènes ou qui peuvent résister aux organismes nuisibles; • Utiliser des pièges ou inonder les terriers pour lutter contre les marmottes et les écureuils;

En plus des dispositions présentées ci-dessus pour mettre en place un programme de LIP sur un parcours de golf, l’ACSG soutient l’utilisation de produits enregistrés de lutte antiparasitaire sur les parcours de golf, s’ils sont utilisés en conformité avec le programme de lutte intégrée contre les parasites.

Ces protocoles, les dispositions de mise en pratique et les directives sur l’utilisation des pesticides font partie intégrante d’un programme de LIP couronné de succès sur un terrain de golf.

• Utiliser des protecteurs pour arbres afin de contrôler les dommages causés par les lapins et les porcs-épics; • Utiliser des pièges pour contrôler les castors, ou détruire leurs barrages et gîtes; • Mettre l’accent sur la guérison rapide des sections du gazon affectées par les souris; • Aérer les étangs; • Utiliser des méthodes mécaniques pour enlever la végétation, en prenant soin d’extraire les racines et d’enlever les débris de plantes; et; • Limiter la végétation aquatique.

Les méthodes non-culturales utilisent la lutte biologique ou les pesticides contre les parasites. La lutte biologique utilise des organismes précis (par exemple des poissons qui mangent les mauvaises herbes, les escargots, etc.) pour lutter contre les parasites. Les autres organismes de lutte biologique comprennent les bactéries, les insectes prédateurs, les chauve-souris et les oiseaux. Étant donné que l’utilisation des moyens de lutte biologique est relativement récente et que l’introduction de nouvelles espèces dans l’environnement local peut avoir des conséquences défavorables, il est préférable de consulter un biologiste avant de mettre en pratique l’une ou l’autre de ces options.

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po li cy s tate m en t ◗ use of pesticides

Use of Pesticides as a Component of Golf Course Management ◗ CGSA supports the use of federally registered pest control products as part of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program in order to provide consistent and quality playing conditions on Canadian golf courses.

Registered pest control products are those that have been approved and are regulated by the Federal Government Pest Management Regulatory Agency for use on golf courses. These approved and regulated products should only be used by those who are trained and licensed in their use and handling. Superintendent and assistant superintendent members of the CGSA are required to maintain a valid pesticide license as a condition of membership in the Association.

The CGSA support for the availability and use of registered pest control products is conditional on the following provisions; • Golf courses should use only products that are approved for use on golf courses; • All pesticide storage facilities provided on golf courses should conform to the applicable provincial regulations; • All pesticide containers and pesticide wastes should be disposed of in accordance with applicable provincial regulations; • All mixing, loading and application of pesticides should be performed by provincially-licensed pesticide applicators; • The application of pest control products should follow provincial recommendations and regulations related to environmental conditions such as maximum wind speeds, width of buffer zones and distance from adjacent properties.

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• Licensed applicators should use best management practices to minimize drift, leaching, run off and other forms of contamination of non target areas.

• All pest control products should be used according to label directions; • Superintendents should utilize appropriate methods to communicate with members of the golfing and nongolfing community as to the rationale for an application of pest control products; • Superintendents should observe provincial regulations for the public posting of product applications and all applicable Material Data Safety sheets should be kept onsite and be readily available.

• Golf course personnel should participate in a provincial pest management accreditation program, where available.

Conscientious turf management practices and the implementation of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles should ensure the continued health and playability of turf on golf courses. The CGSA supports ongoing research to constantly improve turf management practices furthering the enjoyment of the game of golf.

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L’utilisation des pesticides dans le cadre de la gestion d’un parcours de golf ◗ De manière à offrir des conditions de jeu uniformes et de qualité sur les parcours de golf canadiens, l’ACSG soutient l’utilisation des produits de lutte antiparasitaire autorisés par le gouvernement fédéral, dans le cadre d’un programme de lutte intégrée contre les parasites (LIP).

Les produits autorisés de lutte antiparasitaire sur les parcours de golf sont approuvés et réglementés par l’Agence de réglementation de la lutte antiparasitaire (ARLA) du gouvernement fédéral. Ces produits approuvés et réglementés doivent être utilisés et manipulés seulement par des personnes formées et diplômées.

Les surintendants et les surintendants adjoints doivent détenir un permis valide d’utilisation des pesticides comme condition de l’adhésion à l’ACSG. L’ACSG soutient l’utilisation et la disponibilité des produits de lutte antiparasitaire aux conditions suivantes : • Les parcours de golf doivent utiliser seulement les produits approuvés pour les parcours de golf.

• Toutes les installations d’entreposage des pesticides sur les parcours de golf doivent se conformer aux lois provinciales applicables.

• Tous les contenants et déchets de pesticides doivent être jetés de la manière prévue par les lois provinciales applicables.

• Le mélange, le chargement et l’épandage des pesticides doivent se faire par des épandeurs de pesticides détenant un permis provincial et dans le respect des lois provinciales.

• L’épandage des produits de lutte antiparasitaire doit se faire en suivant les recommandations et réglementations provinciales relatives aux conditions environnementales, comme par exemple la vitesse des vents, l’étendue des zones tampons et la distance par rapport aux propriétés adjacentes.

• Les épandeurs diplômés doivent utiliser de bonnes pratiques de gestion pour minimiser les dérives de gouttelettes, le lessivage du sol, les écoulements et autres formes de contamination des zones non ciblées.

• Tous les produits de lutte antiparasitaire doivent être utilisés selon le mode d’emploi.

• Les surintendants doivent utiliser les méthodes de communication appropriées pour justifier auprès des golfeurs et des non golfeurs l’épandage de produits de lutte antiparasitaire.

• Les surintendants doivent observer la législation provinciale sur les avis publics concernant les épandages et toutes les fiches techniques applicables de santé sécurité doivent être gardées sur les lieux et être facilement accessibles.

• Les employés du parcours de golf devraient adhérer au programme d’agrément provincial sur la gestion antiparasitaire, là où un tel programme est offert.

Les pratiques consciencieuses de gestion du gazon et la mise en place des principes de la lutte intégrée contre les parasites (LIP) devraient permettent d’assurer de bonnes conditions de jeu et des parcours en santé. L’ACSG soutient la recherche continue afin d’améliorer les pratiques de gestion du gazon pour le plus grand plaisir des golfeurs.

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po li cy s tate m en t ◗ water use management

Water Use Management Policy ◗ Water is essential for the health and growth of plants and therefore an essential input in golf course management.

Increasingly water and the management of this renewable resource have gained public attention due to issues related to quality, cost and access and, in some cases as noted above, availability. Due to their visibility, golf courses are often perceived by the public as significant water users.

Golf courses use water in a manner so as to sustain and enhance the natural plant communities found in a golf course environment. More often than not water is re•used on a golf course and the water quality is enhanced through its relationship with the golf course environment.

Surrounding environments to a golf course often benefit by using a golf course loop to buffer and enhance water qualities within the local environment. As such, water management and water conservation have become and will increasingly be important golf course management issues.

CGSA supports the wise use of water both from an environmental and a financial perspective. Through continuing education, ongoing research and discussion with all levels of government and various government agencies, the CGSA is working to promote awareness and wise water practices within the golf industry. These efforts are focused on water quality and efficient use practices and the development of best practices in water management and conservation.

From a policy perspective CGSA supports and promotes the following: • that golf course superintendents are professionals and environmental stewards that take a responsible approach to water management as an integral component of overall plant health and environmental management;

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• given that water is essential to plant health and that the golf industry is a multi•billion dollar industry in Canada, that water be considered an essential input for golf; • that the CGSA welcomes every opportunity to consult and work with governments and their agencies to develop sound, collaborative policy statements with respect to water use, cost, quality and conservation; • that innovation and research with respect to alternative water sources (effluent, storm, re•claimed), technology (irrigation system design and equipment), plant species, best management practices and continuing education is encouraged and supported so as to encourage continuous improvement in the area of water quality, conservation and use; • that golf course superintendents, builders, designers and owners take into consideration which plant/turf species are best suited for the soil and climate conditions that are relevant to a particular golf course in order to maximize water use efficiency; • that superintendents utilize best management practices with respect to nutrient management, mowing heights, soil cultivation, drainage, irrigation schedules, tree maintenance and golf course traffic to encourage adequate turf quality and water conservation; • that governments consider tax breaks or rebate programs for golf courses that utilize irrigation design and technology and other methodologies related to species use, cultivation and mowing height and that can demonstrate a reduction in water use as a result of these practices;

• that tertiary treated water (effluent water) and other sources of “reclaimed” water be used in circumstances where water quality can be verified, where supply is dependable and where the golf course could act as a further filtration process without endangering the health of golfers, the turf, or the environment and; • that golf course superintendents use the best available irrigation techniques to promote healthy turf.

CGSA is committed to monitoring and being an active participant, along with other national golf organizations, in government processes that relate to the availability and use of water by the golf industry. Our Board of Directors, volunteers and staff are available to participate in advisory committees and to take part in the development of viable, environmentally•based policy decisions that protect and enhance water management initiatives across Canada.

CGSA will maintain its Environmental Best Management Practices Manual so as to provide a valuable reference source for its members relative to water management issues and the association will continue to build the reference material available through its website and other resources so as to provide its members with ready access to this information.

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Politique de gestion de l’eau ◗ Essentielle à la santé et à la croissance des plantes, l’eau représente un élément incontournable dans la gestion d’un terrain de golf.

En raison des enjeux reliés à la qualité, au coût, à l’accès et dans certain cas à la disponibilité de cette ressource renouvelable, l’eau attire de plus en plus l’attention du public. En raison de leur visibilité, les terrains de golf sont souvent perçus comme de gros utilisateurs d’eau.

L’eau est utilisée de manière à maintenir et à améliorer les groupements végétaux naturels présents dans l’environnement du terrain de golf. La plupart du temps, l’eau est réutilisée et la qualité de l’eau rehaussée grâce à son rapport avec l’environnement du terrain de golf. L’environnement immédiat d’un terrain de golf peut souvent profiter de la présence d’une zone tampon autour du parcours pour protéger et améliorer la qualité de l’eau. La question de l’utilisation et de la conservation de l’eau est maintenant à l’ordre du jour et elle prendra une place de plus en plus importante dans la gestion d’un parcours de golf.

Aussi bien du point de vue environnemental que financier, l’ACSG soutient l’utilisation judicieuse de l’eau. Par l’entremise de la formation continue, de la recherche incessante et des discussions avec les divers paliers du gouvernement et agences gouvernementales, l’ACSG se fait le porte•parole de l’utilisation judicieuse de l’eau dans l’industrie du golf. Ses efforts portent principalement sur la qualité de l’eau et la mise en place de bonnes pratiques de gestion et de conservation de l’eau.

Dans le cadre de sa politique sur l’eau, l’ACSG met de l’avant les principes d’action suivants :

• recommander aux surintendants de terrains de golf, spécialistes de la gérance environnementale, de gérer l’eau de manière responsable puisqu’il s’agit d’une composante indispensable de la santé des plantes et de la qualité de l’environnement; • mettre l’eau au premier plan de nos préoccupations, en tant qu’élément vital pour toute l’industrie du golf, qui se chiffre au Canada par milliards de dollars; • profiter de toutes les occasions possibles pour travailler avec les gouvernements et leurs agences à la mise au point en commun des énoncés de principes sur l’utilisation, le coût, la qualité et la conservation de l’eau; • mettre l’accent sur la qualité et la préservation de l’eau en encourageant l’innovation et la recherche en ce qui a trait aux sources d’eau de remplacement (d’effluent, pluviale et de récupération), aux technologies d’irrigation (conception et équipement des systèmes), aux espèces de plantes, aux bonnes pratiques de gestion et à la formation continue; • sensibiliser les surintendants, constructeurs, concepteurs et propriétaires aux espèces de graminées et de plantes les plus adaptées aux conditions du sol et du climat d’un terrain de golf en particulier, de manière à permettre une utilisation plus efficace de l’eau; • inciter les surintendants à utiliser de bonnes pratiques de gestion des éléments nutritifs, des hauteurs de coupe, de la culture du sol, du drainage, des horaires d’irrigation, de l’entretien des arbres et de la circulation sur le parcours de manière à favoriser un gazon de qualité et la conservation de l’eau;

• plaider auprès du gouvernement en faveur de programmes d’allègement fiscal ou de baisses d’impôt pour les parcours de golf qui utilisent des systèmes d’irrigation, espèces végétales, techniques de coupe et méthodes de culture permettant de réduire leur consommation en eau; • utiliser l’eau tertiaire traitée (eau d’effluent) et autres sources d’eau de récupération si on peut en vérifier la qualité, si la source d’approvisionnement est sûre et si le terrain de golf peut parfaire le processus de filtration sans mettre en danger la santé des golfeurs, du gazon et de l’environnement; • encourager les surintendants de parcours de golf à utiliser les meilleures techniques d’irrigation offertes sur le marché pour promouvoir la santé du gazon.

L’ACSG s’engage à suivre de près et à participer activement, en collaboration avec les autres associations nationales de golf, aux programmes gouvernementaux relatifs à la disponibilité et à l’utilisation de l’eau par l’industrie du golf. Notre conseil d’administration, nos bénévoles et nos employés sont disposés à travailler au sein des comités consultatifs et à prendre part à l’élaboration des décisions de principe sur l’amélioration de la gestion de l’eau et la protection de cette ressource vitale dans tout le Canada. L’ACSG continuera d’offrir à ses membres, par l’entremise de son site web, des outils de référence et de la documentation variée dans le domaine de la gestion de l’eau, en plus de maintenir à jour son manuel sur les meilleures pratiques de gestion environnementale.

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po li cy s tate m en t ◗ Nutrient use

Nutrient Use on Golf Courses ◗ Nutrients are essential for plant life, including grass. Healthy golf course turf helps to stabilize the soil, prevent erosion, maintain or improve water quality, keep the surrounding environment cool in the summer and provide a safe, consistent “playing field” for golfers. Properly fertilized turf discourages weed growth and reduces the need for pesticides.

Fertilizer plays a critical role in maintaining proper nutrient levels for the turf on golf courses. Proper management of nutrient applications requires a detailed annual plan that is specific to the golf course site, conditions and level of use. The critical components of a nutrient treatment plan include: • the determination of the correct amounts of each nutrient required based on plant and environmental conditions; • the timing of applications so as to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency; • the use of the proper form of nutrient (slow release, water soluble, liquid, etc.), and; • the identification of the area(s) of the golf course where nutrients are required.

The proper objective of a fertilizer management program is to supply plant nutrients at the proper time and in the proper amount to supply sufficient food for the turf with no excess.

Fertilizers are necessary to maintain healthy turfgrass that is under heavy use.

The primary necessary turfgrass fertilizer nutrients are nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) and potassium (K). Excessive applications of N and P can encourage weed growth and turf disease and result in the contamination of both ground and surface waters.

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newly seeded areas, on steep slopes, when application is done at improper times, and during rehabilitation of depleted or damaged turfgrass. Recommendations are: • determine the rate of application of nutrients to any area based on the source of nutrients being used, the amount of traffic on the area being treated, the time of year, the nature of the soil media and the amount of sunlight that the treated area receives; • Follow irrigation practices suggested by the manufacturer so as to reduce or minimize the possibility of leaching; • Test soil conditions regularly and use the information from these tests to assist with decisions concerning the type of nutrients that are needed and the alternatives that can or should be used; • Develop and document fertilizer programs for each area of the golf course. Nutrient needs vary by cultivar, soil conditions, and use pressure.

Establish a fertilizer plan that addresses the different needs of each area of the course; • Keep detailed records of the application frequency, timing, formulation and amount, soil and weather conditions for each application; • Never exceed the application levels noted on the package label; • Avoid fertilizer applications during dry soil conditions or just prior to significant rainfall events; • On coarse textured soils, use lower amounts applied more frequently in order to meet the turf nutrient requirements; • Maintain a fertilizer free transition zone around all surface waters, including storm water retention facilities; • Transition zone grasses that receive no fertilizer act as buffers or filter strips.

This zone should be considered the upper area of the riparian buffer;

• Use moderate applications of fertilizer on newly seeded areas. Grasses lacking a fully developed root system are unable to assimilate high levels of nutrients. Use several light applications in the critical establishment phase; • Soil additions and alternatives to nutrients should be considered to reduce the amount of nutrient required and reduce the chance for leaching, and; • Support research into products that provide for better transfer of nutrients to the plant and that reduce the chances of nutrients either being washed into surface water or leached into ground water.

Applying too much fertilizer is wasteful, not cost effective and can harm the soil or be lost to the environment. At the same time, too little fertilizer can leave turf weakened and susceptible to disease due to a lack of nutrients.

CGSA is prepared to work with governments and government agencies to establish the appropriate standards for fertilizer or nutrient use. The association is also willing to work with the fertilizer industry and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (Fertilizer Section) to establish national use standards. These stakeholders also need to work cooperatively to communicate the importance of responsible nutrient use.

The effective use of fertilizers in golf course management also needs to be proactively communicated to the media and to golf course managers, owners, and golf course leaders. Politicians and government officials need to have the facts about fertilizers and the ways that golf course superintendents use fertilizer to help protect lakes and rivers.

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l’utilisation des substances nutritives sur les terrains de golf ◗ Les substances nutritives jouent un rôle

essentiel dans la vie des plantes, y compris celle du gazon. Sur les parcours de golf, le gazon en bonne santé aide à stabiliser le sol, à prévenir l’érosion, à maintenir ou à améliorer la qualité de l’eau, à garder la fraîcheur de l’environnement immédiat, et à offrir de bonnes conditions de jeu aux golfeurs. Le gazon bien fertilisé permet de prévenir l’apparition de mauvaises herbes et de réduire l’utilisation de pesticides.

Les engrais jouent un rôle critique dans le maintien des éléments nutritifs à un niveau suffisant dans le gazon des terrains de golf. La gestion adéquate de l’application des substances nutritives exige d’élaborer un plan annuel détaillé conçu précisément pour le site visé, les conditions particulières des lieux et l’intensité d’utilisation du terrain de golf.

Voici les composantes critiques d’un plan de traitement en substance nutritive : • détermination des quantités appropriées de chaque élément nutritif à utiliser en tenant compte de l’état des plantes gazonnantes et des conditions environnementales; • le moment des applications de manière à en maximiser l’efficacité et le rendement.

• l’utilisation de la forme appropriée des substances nutritives (engrais•retard, solubles dans l’eau, liquide, etc.); • délimitation de la ou des zones du parcours qui ont besoin de substance nutritive.

L’objectif visé du programme de gestion des éléments nutritifs est de répondre aux besoins du gazon au bon moment et en appliquant la dose adéquate sans faire d’excès.

Les gazons utilisés intensivement ont besoin des engrais nécessaires pour se maintenir en santé. L’azote (N), le phosphore (P) et le potassium (K) sont les principaux éléments nutritifs du gazon.

Des applications excessives de N et de P peuvent favoriser la croissance des mauvaises herbes et des maladies du gazon, et entraîner la contamination des eaux de surface et souterraines.

L’écoulement de surface des gazons établis et en santé ne transporte pas habituellement une quantité nuisible de N et de P. Le potentiel d’écoulement d’éléments nutritifs contaminés s’accroît dans les zones nouvellement ensemencées, sur les pentes raides, lorsque l’application se fait à un moment inapproprié, et au cours de la régénération des gazons épuisés ou détériorés.

Recommandations : • déterminer le taux d’application des substances nutritives dans une zone ou l’autre en tenant compte de la source des éléments nutritifs utilisés, de l’intensité du piétinement et de l’ensoleillement dans la zone traitée, du temps de l’année et du milieu de culture; • suivre les pratiques d’irrigation suggérées par le fabricant de manière à réduire ou minimiser la possibilité de lessivage du sol;

• analyser régulièrement les conditions du sol et utiliser l’information recueillie pour contribuer aux décisions prises en ce qui a trait aux types de substances nutritives qui sont nécessaires et aux solutions de rechange possibles; • élaborer et documenter les programmes de fertilisation de chaque zone du terrain de golf. Les besoins en éléments nutritifs varient selon le cultivar, les conditions du sol et l’utilisation faite. Établir un plan de fertilisation qui prend en considération les besoins différents de chaque zone du parcours; • conserver des dossiers détaillés sur la fréquence et le moment des applications, sur la formule et les doses administrées, ainsi que sur le sol et les conditions atmosphériques pour chaque application; • ne jamais dépasser les niveaux recommandés sur les étiquettes des produits; • éviter les applications d’engrais lorsque le sol est sec ou juste avant une forte pluie; • sur les sols à texture grossière, réduire le volume mais augmenter la fréquence des substances appliquées, de manière à répondre aux besoins du gazon en éléments nutritifs; • maintenir une zone de transition sans engrais autour de tous les plans d’eau, y compris les bassins de retenue des eaux de ruissellement;

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po li cy s tate m en t ◗ Nutrient use

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• l’herbe des zones de transition qui ne reçoit pas d’engrais sert de zone tampon ou de bande à filtrer. Cette zone doit être considérée comme la région supérieure du tampon riverain; • faire des applications d’engrais modérées sur les zones nouvellement gazonnées. Le gazon qui n’a pas encore développé de système radiculaire n’est pas en mesure d’assimiler de hautes concentrations en éléments nutritifs. Faire plusieurs applications légères dans la phase critique d’engazonnement; • pour réduire le volume requis en substances nutritives ainsi que les risques de lessivage du sol, les additions de sol et autres options de remplacement doivent être prises en considération; • soutenir la recherche sur les produits qui permettent un meilleur transfert des éléments nutritifs vers la plante et réduisent les possibilités qu’ils ne s’écoulent vers les eaux de surface ou souterraines.

L’engrais appliqué à trop fortes doses est un gaspillage, n’est pas rentable et peut nuire au sol ou se perdre dans l’environnement. Par contre, l’insuffisance d’engrais peut affaiblir le gazon et le rendre sujet aux maladies en raison de l’insuffisance d’éléments nutritifs.

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L’ACSG est prête à collaborer avec les gouvernements et les agences gouvernementales afin d’établir les normes appropriées d’utilisation des engrais ou substances nutritives.

L’association est également prête à travailler avec l’industrie des engrais et l’Agence canadienne d’inspection des aliments (section des engrais) pour établir des normes d’utilisation nationales. Toutes les parties prenantes doivent travailler en coopération afin de sensibiliser l’opinion à l’importance d’utiliser de manière responsable les substances nutritives.

Il faut également prendre l’initiative de sensibiliser les médias et les gestionnaires, les propriétaires et les chefs de file de l’industrie du golf à l’utilisation efficace des engrais dans la gestion des terrains de golf. Les politiciens et les responsables gouvernementaux doivent connaître les faits sur les engrais et les méthodes utilisées par les surintendants pour en faire l’application de manière à protéger les lacs et rivières.

fe ature â—— Eric lyons

Figure 1: Lack of sufficient wear tolerance is a major issue for fine fescue fairways.

Water Use Efficiency and Expectations Exploring strategies of dealing with drought â—— Protecting water resources, and

the supply of fresh water, is a primary challenge facing the golf industry today. Choosing the right species and variety of that species is an important aspect of being able to maintain the sustainability of the game of golf moving forward. Turfgrasses have many different mechanisms to survive drought and understanding these mechanisms can help the golf course superintendent manage water resources more effectively by choosing the best varieties and by managing the varieties they have most effectively.

Drought tolerance mechanisms can be complex traits that are altered significantly by the environment. Some turfgrass species avoid drought by having deeper

roots (Bonos et al. 2004, Crop Sci. V44).

Different cultivars and species have an increased ability to remain active at lower water potentials through physiological osmotic adjustment (DaCosta and Huang 2006 J.AM.Hort.Sci. V131). Comparisons of drought tolerance have been made in the past (Qian and Frey 1997, J.AM.Hort.

Sci. V122) while valuable information can be garnered from these comparisons a better predictive understanding of future drought tolerance can only be found through an understanding of the strategies of dealing with drought and how to manage them. Water use of turfgrasses and other landscape plants are often measured under high water availability (Beard et al. 1992, Hortsci.

V.27) resulting in favorable ratings for

plants that conserve water, as opposed to plants that grow rapidly when water is present and then use dormancy as a mechanism to reduce the need for supplemental irrigation. This provides an incomplete view of drought tolerance as the mechanism of water conservation and drought tolerance is specific to the use patterns of the turfgrass being selected.

An example of matching use patterns with the selection of drought tolerance can be found when comparing different grasses that are found on golf greens.

Velvet bentgrass has long been reported to use less water and be more drought tolerant than creeping bentgrass.

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figure 2: courses in scotland use cup cutters to plug out divots in High traffic areas.

â—— continued from page 37

One interesting aspect of water use and water conservation that is often ignored is how golfers expectations impact water use on golf courses.

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Research has confirmed that Velvet bentgrass has increased ability hold onto water (DaCosta and Huang 2006) and depletes soil water slower than other bentgrasses in the presence of deficit irrigation (DaCosta and Huang 2006 Crop Sci. V46). This water conservation comes at a cost as velvet bentgrass has not been widely adopted possibly because the water conservation may come at a cost with regard to growth rate. General ecological theory dictates that the more stress tolerant a plant species, the slower the growth rate. Having a grass that preserves water but grows too slowly to recover from the wear stress from day to day play is not sustainable. With regard to velvet bentgrass this can lead to a desire to increase the growth rate by increasing the nitrogen rate resulting in nitrogen toxicity of the velvet bentgrass (Watson et al. 2012 HortSci. V27). There has been some recent research from our lab that implicates the form of nitrogen may cause this toxicity (Xu et al, 2011 ASPB Abstract #15038) and there may be ways to get a better growth rate out of this drought tolerant species.

While golf greens often get the most attention with regard to water use, the area of a golf green is relatively small and so while water use may be high

on a square meter basis, the number of square meters is small and therefore the water consumption of greens is relatively small. The largest area of golf courses that consistently receive water is the fairways, because of that they are the areas that can lead to the greatest water savings by altering species selection and management. Fine fescues are often promoted as being drought tolerant and a good variety of grass to be used for golf course fairways. A major issue with fine fescue fairways is the lack of sufficient wear tolerance, particularly tolerance of the wear of golf carts resulting in cart being restricted from use on fescue golf courses (Figure 1). Fine fescues fairways respond well to seasonal water availability associated with the oceanic climates of Scotland and of the Pacific Northwest.

One of the major issues with these grasses is they are slow to recover from excessive wear and many high traffic courses in Scotland have gone to using cup cutters to plug out divots in high traffic areas (Figure 2). The lack of recovery from high play rates and the inability of the grass to withstand cart traffic limit the sustainability of fine fescue as a fairway grass for much of North America.

One interesting aspect of water use and water conservation that is often ignored is how golfers expectations impact water use on golf courses. Generally if a fine

fescue fairway were to be maintained to the same standard of green that is expected of a creeping bentgrass fairway it probably would not be considered drought tolerant. Many golfers accept that fine fescue fairways may be brown, hard and somewhat inconsistent at times throughout the year. The same golfers may be the ones who expect a traditional North American golf course with creeping bentgrass and Kentucky bluegrass to be lush and flawless. If managed to maintain a green consistent surface the water savings from fine fescue fairways would be limited. It is plausible that existing traditional varieties can be quite efficient with watered if managed with a different mindset.

One of the biggest hurdles that the golf industry in North America must over come to increase its sustainability is the industry’s obsession with consistency.

There exists a pervasive attitude within the industry that golf greens should be the same today as they were yesterday.

That somehow the first green that is played at 8:30 am should put the same as the 17th green at 11:30 am. This is not only not impossible to achieve but it negatively impacts the sustainability of the game. The player believes that the course should be a certain way everyday and therefore demands it. The course, to stay in business, tries to deliver the product being demanded and in the end the sustainability of the entire industry is put at risk due to a perception of not preserving the water resources.

A good example of this is how the desire to deliver consistent putting surfaces has resulted in the proliferation of a weed and the need for increased use of pesticides in the environment.

Water affects ball roll distance in many ways most profoundly through firmness.

Greens that are drier have greater ball roll distance. One way to achieve consistently fast greens is to apply small amounts of water daily. This allows for some plant growth but for much of the day the turfgrass is experiencing drought conditions. The result of this consistent low water availability is the drought tolerance mechanisms of our

desired turfgrass species rely on water uptake from the soil by roots. By watering very lightly everyday we are selecting for species that have a drought tolerant mechanism that rely on surface water uptake and quick emergence from dormancy. Light frequent watering often applied to achieve consistency can increase the amount of silvery thread moss on golf course putting greens (Lyons et al. 2012 Act. Agri. Scand. B. V62).

Maintaining the turfgrass health and playability of the course while protecting water resources with the current varieties on the course is the challenge most golf course superintendents must overcome.

To achieve this goal understanding the drought strategies of our turfgrass plants is essential. Both Kentucky bluegrass and creeping bentgrass are somewhat drought tolerant. One way they tolerate low water availability is to go dormant and turn brown. As alluded to earlier, this is generally accepted by the industry on fescue fairways but is not when playing bluegrass and bentgrass fairways. The problem with dormant grass is although it is very consistent it is not growing and recovering from wear. Ideally the best way to manage turfgrasses for sustainability is to water them as infrequently as possible and to a depth just below the current rooting depth.

The surface will slowly dry out through the periods between irrigation and the playability of the grass will change as this occurs. Before the grass becomes dormant repeat. If we do this in a growth chamber or under a rainout shelter this

method may actually use more water than watering a little bit each day. The water savings come not from needing less water but from the fact that you are more likely to have a rainfall event that prevents you from watering at all.

When making decisions regarding drought tolerance selecting more drought tolerant varieties it is important to consider a number of factors. The drought tolerant variety must grow fast enough to recover from the wear it will receive. If we are consistently reseeding and resodding areas the reduce water use will not be realized and sustainability of the species will be limited. Many of our traditional species are quite drought tolerant when allowed to go dormant or watered deeply and infrequently. This of course has implication with regards to client expectations. Newer varieties have been selected that stay green longer without water and this may help with client expectations with regard to the aesthetics of the course but the playability and wear may still be impacted by the lack of water.

Water use on golf courses is about more than just agronomics, it is about user expectations and sustainability.

Drought tolerance can be measured with regard to surviving prolonged drought or it can be measured by how long a grass stays green. For golf courses sustainability is dependent on good water management and in order to achieve that with traditional or newer varieties the expectations of the clientele need to be addressed. GM

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MARCH/APRIL 2013 | greenMaster 39

fe ature ◗ jason honeyball

Sustainable Storm Water Management ◗ Water is now widely accepted as a non-renewable resource, something the science world has been stating for years.

The general public is increasingly focusing on and scrutinizing the golf industry for its judicious use of fresh water. This may seem like a negative reaction, but it is good, both for golf course management professionals and the environment.

OslerBrook Golf and Country Club (OBGCC) was envisioned, designed and built with sustainable golf principles in mind. The club’s principles were: • The club was to breed world class athletes and world class people.

• The club was to be about family and to be more than a golf club.

• The club was to be a leader and maintain environmental morals, integrity and standards that would be sustainable indefinitely.

The conception of these eco-friendly goals can be traced back to the early 1990’s when the idea was born amongst a few members of Osler Bluff Ski Club (there is no tie between the two clubs except for the members) and were thereafter maintained 40 greenMaster | www.golfsupers.com

until the project to build the course truly began in 2004 and into the present. The implementation of these environmental standards started a few years before, with the design of OBGCC. There was strong opposition and high expectations in the form of criteria to be met before the approval would be granted for construction, regardless of the fact that the OB representatives had a clear understanding of environmental awareness and a mandate to be environmental stewards of the lands they took care of.

Some of the criteria was the first of its kind, like the Good Neighbour Agreement (GNA), which is an inch thick legal document outlining the understanding between OslerBrook and its seven different neighbours.

These neighbours include those that have been successful in their own right and farm the land, mainly for livestock, and neighbours who have homes on the land. All neighbours had plenty of time to scrutinize the proposed OslerBrook GCC and its environmental proposals.

Extensive groundwater and surface

water studies were also done and still continue today in order to validate negligible impact on the water supply and watershed.

The permits for construction stated that no groundwater be taken and only 10 per cent of peak flows from two water sources (one being a roadway ditch and the other being a tributary) where to be used for irrigation of the golf course.

The solution to these criteria is a closed loop storm water management system.

This system is comprised of seven components; five real infrastructural components and two academic components.

The seven components of a closed loop storm water management system are: 1. Design 2. Ponds 3. Meadows 4. Drainage 5. Reservoir 6. Location 7. Management ◗ continued ON page 42

This article is eligible for the

Gordon Witteveen Award designation for the author.

OslerBrook Golf and Country Club was built for the members by the members with no exit strategy ever in mind.

It will be here for our children’s children and we will respect the lands we are on like the indigenous people before us. We will care for the land like it is our own.

MARCH/APRIL 2013 | greenMaster 41

fe ature ◗ jason honeyball

The management of a closed loop system, and any system for that matter, provides academic understanding from two sources: learning while doing work and learning from the results of the work.

42 greenMaster | www.golfsupers.com

◗ continued from page 40

The first five are real infrastructural components that create the closed loop system and can be created anywhere.

The last two components, location and management, are more academic, meaning they are measurements and procedures based on external factors through which you can draw data and conclusions to better facilitate a course’s water system.

For example, with a course’s location comes a certain amount of annual precipitation by way of snow or rain. This measurement can be used for a very base line understanding of acre/inch calculations which can then be used to define Potential Water Harvesting. For example, one acre inch of water equals 27,154 gallons of water, meaning if you covered an acre with an inch of water you would have 27,154 gallons of water covering that acre.

To put this into context, 2012 began as a winter drought. There was little

precipitation and we began watering hotspots in April for the first time ever.

The golfing season was impeccable as there was nothing but sun and warm temperatures. Our water source, the reservoir, provided 20 million gallons for watering quite comfortably, but it was only just the beginning of August.

Later that month, OslerBrook received two significant rainfalls (deluge rain). The first rain event dropped four inches into our rain gauge and we harvested six million gallons of water back into the reservoir.

The second rain event dropped almost six inches and we harvested another 10 million gallons of water. These two events served to make the reservoir almost full again.

Another factor that is linked to location is neighbouring lands and their water sources. This had huge impacts in more ways than one for OslerBrook due to the GNA. For example, the two neighbouring lands to the south of the property are fairly extensive and are large fields mainly used for livestock and crops. This represents an

Aerial view of OslerBrook and sampling of wildlife credit: Jason Honeyball, OslerBrook Golf And Country Club

additional 100 acres of water that we must take on within our drainage system.

With one field of 50 acres completely drained and tiled directly into our storm drains, we recognize a significant surge of water at certain times of year. Water quality tests of these water inputs need to be collected and monitored as they are not in the club’s control.

The management of a closed loop system, and any system for that matter, provides academic understanding from two sources; learning while doing the work and learning from the results of the work.

For example, OslerBrook has both upper and lower transfer pumps that must be managed and records kept for each. The ponds have winter and summer operating levels that must be understood and managed. The staff must be trained and held accountable for record keeping, efficiencies and following EMS protocols and SOP’s. Testing is done continually at a worthy operating cost. Producing good data for permits requires upkeep.

The design of the golf course, or better put, the use of the land, is the masterful

work of the Cooke/Miller design team hired by the OslerBrook steering committee. The drawings came out of Graham Cooke’s office and Jason Miller had the fortune of being the in-field architect.

They had 232 acres of land to work with in total. However, the actual golf course and its playing surfaces sit on approximately 130 acres with only 70 acres of highly managed turf.

The GNA gave rise to Minimum Distance Separation Arcs (MDS) and existing woodlots and hedgerows were maintained or enhanced by the design team during construction to meet the criteria.

The elevation change at OslerBrook is substantial, showing a gradual climb of 220ft from front to back. This allowed for some great land movement on the playing surface and resulted in a cut/fill balance for the project. The construction team was extensive and will be mentioned at the end.

The drainage of the golf course is extensive and highly efficient within its closed loop. Bunkers, fairways, USGAstandard greens, roughs, ponds and

neighbouring properties all tie into the system at some level and are all interconnected.

Pipes were upsized and expanded during build and the estimates for greater water harvesting quantities were able to become a reality. With 130 acres of drained playing surface, we had the ability to harvest 3.5 million gallons for every inch of water through precipitation plus the inputs from neighbouring lands that we were required to receive.

Where is all this water going?

It was mandated that the course’s ponds not receive any groundwater during construction and this was achieved.

The ponds are interconnected and have outflows with valves set at an invert elevation to allow for standard summer and winter pond levels to be met.

◗ continued ON page 44 MARCH/APRIL 2013 | greenMaster 43

fe ature â—— jason honeyball

Original concept drawing for meadows, wet meadow and reservoir, under construction. credit: OslerBrook Golf and Country Club

44 greenMaster | www.golfsupers.com

â—— continued from page 43

The ecology was always first in mind during the construction of the ponds.

This began with habitat building and plant selection through hydro seeding and planting pots and plugs for bank stabilization (over 24,000 plugs and pots were planted during construction).

Littoral shelves were created to encourage diversified ecology and a turtle nesting site was created from one of the pond edges where a blended sand gravel liner was placed. Special thanks to Scott Martin and Wild Canada for his guidance, knowledge and passion for the project.

The meadows are designed into the golf course and serve as one of the connections between ponds. These treasures create diversified ecology from end to end when approached properly.

They also mature and beautify the property year after year.

The meadows are bio filters for all the water moving through the property and circulating through the ponds. This creates such great pond ecology that

OslerBrook has stocked all of its ponds with native fish populations consisting of small and large mouth bass, jumbo perch, bluegill, rainbow trout and pickerel. Each of these species was established in their own, separate pond, but there has been some migration between ponds. This achieves the end goal to have native fish communities in the ponds at OslerBrook.

Special thanks to C&M Aquatics for their execution of the project. A drawing I created became reality in the design/build of the wet meadows which made this part of construction one of my biggest highlights of the whole construction process.

Plant selection from wet to dry was carefully examined and was only to be native to the region. Basking sites, amphibian pools and a snake hibernacula were all constructed. An existing peat pocket was also rescued for its native seed source and qualities and was re-established in areas throughout the meadows.

Yes but where’s the water going?

The reservoir, half lined, sits above golf.

It is connected to ponds and meadows all the way down the property.

The reservoir is eight acres in size, approximately 27 feet deep and holds 52 million gallons of water, with approximately 47 million useable gallons.

It cost $1 million to construct and can be effectively considered a dam as a larger portion is built above ground than below ground.

An engineer was stationed with the reservoir throughout its build and it is what closes the loop on sustainable at OslerBrook GCC. The reservoir is typically filled with top of the invert from each of the ponds on the property before the season’s first freeze and then sits and waits to be used the following growing season.

Our lowest annual irrigation demand was nine million gallons pumped onto the playing surfaces and our highest, not including grow-in, was 21 million.

This means there is enough water in the reservoir, when full, for a few growing

Above: The lower nine from the clubhouse at OslerBrook credit: Jack Pasht

seasons without a drop of precipitation falling from the sky.

The reservoir is connected to the irrigation pond via one 3ft-diameter pipe which gravity drains and is force pumped when filling up the reservoir.

It was originally said that it would take five years to fill the reservoir, but we did it in the first season of operation. In fact, I would suggest it could be filled several times per season if needed based on our closed loop storm water management system.

OslerBrook Golf and Country Club was built for the members by the members with no exit strategy ever in mind. It will be here for our children’s children and we will respect the lands we are on like the indigenous people before us. We will care for the land like it is our own. But that’s for another story. GM

Special Thanks to: Peter Kingsmill (OB visionary), Geoff Davies, OB (construction and hiring committee), Lloyd Gilbert, OB (construction committee), Larry Hall, Dunc Hawkins, Brian Hickey (hiring committee), OslerBrook Steering Committee (Peter Bryce, Heather Stuart, Sandy Rhind, Michael Pratt, Peter Ortved, Peter Gallop), OslerBrook members at-large, Rich Miles (OB Greens Chairman), Marc Ryan, Deni Terenzio (OslerBrook Construction team), Tom Jackson (OB General Manager at time), Jason Miller (Miller Golf Design), Graham Cooke (Cooke and Associates), Dan Hurley, Jeff Aiket (CC Tatham and Associates), Charles Garrard (Honorary Wyandote tribe member), Scott Martin (Wild Canada), Doug Yeates (Ontario Seed Company), Jack Campbell, Dan Minduik (Hamilton Construction), Shapers, Scrapers, Packers, Ho’s and Trucks (Hamilton Construction), Corrie Almack (Almack Agronomics), Pete Atkinson and the lads from the East Coast that are Atkinson Irrigation, Graham Carnegie (Carnegie Golf), Steve Wilkinson and Al Blackburn (Pumps Plus), Dave Smith, Bruce Flowers (Persimmon Golf), Mayor Ferguson, Michael Wynnia (Clearview Township), Goose my best friend, All of my girls at home.

MARCH/APRIL 2013 | greenMaster 45

fe ature ◗ marc cousineau

John B. Steel 2012 Award Winner Pelino Scenna ◗ Pelino Scenna’s approach to

Pelino Scenna, the 2012 John B. Steel Award winner, has been a member of the CGSA for 43 years and has enjoyed a career that stretched over five decades. credit: The Image Commission

46 greenMaster | www.golfsupers.com

maintaining golf courses was very simple and remained unchanged for much of his 43-year career.

“Golf courses are like a little baby,” he says, “and you would not leave your baby alone. It would need to be babysat all the time and if you cannot do it yourself, you better have someone very qualified to look after your little baby. And I looked after my baby, the golf course, seven days a week.”

It was this kind of fatherly devotion to not only a single golf course, but the entire golf course management industry, that netted Scenna the John B. Steel Award at the Canadian International Turfgrass Conference in January.

The award honours those that have made an outstanding life time contribution to the advancement of the profession of golf course superintendent.

Scenna began meeting this requirement almost as soon as he set foot in Canada after emigrating from Italy in 1957.

His experience with farming in Italy and his interest in science combined to make golf course management an ideal path.

“I had taken high school in Italy and I liked taking chemistry so I thought working at the golf course would be related to this,” says Scenna.

Scenna began working under Vince Piccolo at Brantford Golf Club and credits him with being the greatest influence in his career.

“I started working with Vince Piccolo and that was just a few days after coming from Italy. As I worked with Vince at the golf course, after a few days, I decided I would become like him,” says Scenna.

“And six years later I did become like him and I became a golf course superintendent at Galt Country Club in Cambridge, Ontario.”

Scenna says Piccolo was the one that gave him a chance to rise up in the industry. That was the only chance he needed to succeed.

“My number one mentor was Vince,” says Scenna of Piccolo, “because he was the one that took me to my first conference at the University of Guelph and through him I got my first job as a greenskeeper.”

Scenna never looked back after getting the position at Galt CC, spending 21 years at the course in Cambridge before taking over at Burlington G&CC for another 21 years.

Scenna has had to ride many waves of change over the course of his long career. He says one of the most noticeable changes has been the emergence of technology, from his first experiments with the computer in 1974 to the ever-growing power of the present day internet.

“Now a days, anyone who is keen can go online and ask a question and get an answer,” says Scenna.

“That was only possible in the last few years I was working. It makes it more important to be a good communicator and to know what you’re talking about because the information is more available.”

He has also been witness to the giant leaps in knowledge that the Canadian golf course management industry has taken.

He still remembers the very first conference for Canadian golf superintendents at the University of Guelph in 1963 and how far the profession has come since then.

“It was very amazing that the first nine pages of the booklet given to us were about farming and just on the last page was the information about how to grow Kentucky bluegrass,” recalls Scenna.

And although the CGSA and its conferences have evolved, from dozens of attendees in 1963 to hundreds every year in the new millennium, his passion and belief in the benefits of these events has remained unchanged. “(The conferences) were and are one of the only opportunities to get together with other superintendents and industry professionals to spend a few days

together and keep up to date with any new research, new chemicals and new equipment,” says Scenna.

“For me it was also very important because I did not have a degree from university and so it was very important to go to the seminars and lectures.”

Scenna decided to give back to the industry that gave him a career, he says, and did this by sitting on several committees during his 43 years as a CGSA member. This included sitting on advisory committees to turfgrass schools, and many of the CGSA committees, among others.

Scenna’s son Paul, the superintendent at Beacon Hall Golf Club in Aurora, Ontario, says that Scenna’s fierce pride for his adopted country is what drove his passion for the CGSA. “His passion was about growing the profession,” says the younger Scenna “He was an immigrant to Canada, but he always considered himself Canadian first and was very proud of being Canadian.

That led to him wanting the CGSA to grow and do well.”

Scenna says being recognized for his decades of service and his part in growing the profession is an honour.

“It means a lot,” says Scenna of receiving the John B. Steel Award.

“It means everyone in the industry liked what I did and I’m thankful for that.”

Paul Scenna echoes his father’s feelings towards the award.

“I’m really happy for him. I’m proud he was chosen and I know it’s humbling for him and humbling for our family. It’s very much appreciated,” says Paul.

Scenna has not only gained success and accolades from his years as a superintendent, but also wisdom, something that inspired his son Paul and taught him many lessons.

“There were many years of me just listening to him at the dinner table and his wisdom and experience and I have benefited from that,” says Paul.

It was the dinner-time stories and the first-hand experiences with Scenna that guided Paul to the career he has today, the Beacon Hall greens keeper says.

“I was exposed to (the industry) through him, of course,” says Paul, “and he really enjoyed his job. His love for his profession really rubbed off on me, and when it came time to go to university it kind of clicked that I enjoyed working on the golf course too.”

So what advice does Scenna have for the next generation of aspiring

Pelino and Dianne Scenna (centre) and their family.

superintendents and golf course management professionals?

He says it all starts with giving your all, every day.

“It doesn’t matter what you want to do, you have to devote 100 per cent to that job. No matter what you are, you can’t want to just be one of the workers, you have to want to be one of the leaders,” says Scenna.

He also advises others to be consistent with their hard work, something he preached every day on the golf course.

“I have always believed in giving 100 per cent and not 110 per cent,” says Scenna.

“The reason is, I used to like a little bit of scotch and if you give me a full glass that’s 100 per cent full. But if you give me 110 per cent, some gets spilled and wasted. If I give 100 per cent every day on the job then nothing gets wasted and I can give the same effort tomorrow.”

And looking back on his career, Scenna says nothing has been wasted. For him, it was a career, and a life, lived with no regrets.

“There’s nothing left undone,” reflects Scenna.

“It’s been a very fruitful life. I have a good family and a good career and now I play golf. I have enjoyed my profession since day one and if I had to do it all over again, I would do the same thing.” GM

credit: The Image Commission

The award honours those that have made an outstanding life time contribution to the advancement of the profession of golf course superintendent.

MARCH/APRIL 2013 | greenMaster 47

fe ature ◗ Cam shaw

Fantastic Voyage CGSA Future Superintendent of the Year ◗ It’s hard to know where to even begin.

A six week trip exploring the best golf courses the U.K has to offer is not a tale that one simply breezes through. With that in mind, even the most cleverly told tales of trips such as this, fail to capture the true atmosphere and genuine feelings the traveller experienced during their adventurous meanderings. Regardless, it is a story that must be told, and it only seems fitting to start at the beginning.

I won’t soon forget the moment I received “the call”. It was a hot and dry July morning when Lori Micucci, Manager of Member Services for the CGSA, called me with the brilliant news. My knees buckled when I heard her utter the words, “You have been chosen as our winner.” I had just won the CGSA Toro Future Superintendent of the Year Award and I could barely contain myself. Just like the Travis Olsens, Mitch Davidsons and Darryl James’ before me, I had been selected to embark on the trip that accompanied the honour, a journey that, up until now, had only existed in my fantasies.

I wanted to call everyone I knew, but I had to refrain. This was to be kept a secret until the official announcement at the Fall Field Day, which was a month and a half away.

But was I getting ahead of myself? Before I went anywhere, I needed to ask my brand new boss “Oh, by the way, do you mind if I take six weeks off in October?” Honestly, what entry level, salaried employee gets six weeks off in the turf industry? Lucky for me, I work for a few good men and was only required to suffer the brunt of a few sarcastic remarks before the handshakes and man hugs began.

The path was now paved for the journey of a lifetime, and it was all smooth sailing.

That is to say, until I arrived in Scotland.

This is the first conversation I had upon landing: Customs Official: “How long will you be in 48 greenMaster | www.golfsupers.com

the U.K for?”

Me: “Six weeks.”

Customs Official: “Six weeks!? That’s a bugga’ of a long time, what will you be doin’ he’ya?”

Me: “Well I won an award through Toro and the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association and I am to take part in an educational experience at a few golf courses across Scotland and Ireland.”

Customs Official: “Right-o then lad, let’s have a look at your visa.”

Me: “What visa?”

This carried back and forth for about an hour; me explaining that I didn’t need a visa and him insisting that without one I could not enter the country. But persistence paid off and eventually I was granted a phone call.

I dialed the only contact number I was given and then handed the phone back to the customs officer. It was only after a lengthy explanation from Carol Borthwick, Director of International Golf and Student Services at Elmwood College (Scotland’s leading turfgrass institution) that I was allowed entry.

Now, I have heard that it rains a lot in the U.K and I think it’s fair to say that most Brits would agree with such lore. True to the stories, the spring and summer of 2012 were some of the wettest on record. These weren’t the typical, light rains Scotland was used to, but heavy downpours that lasted for days and weeks on end.

On the other hand, if you ask me about the weather, I’d tell you it was great. Save for a few foggy overcast days, it was 16 degrees and sunny wherever I went, for most of the trip. The journey was awash in shining, golden fescues with the pin flags roaring and the Scottish people acting as if they hadn’t seen the sun in twenty years.

My first stop was the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at Kingsbarns. The event was a major success! The choice weather made for great working conditions and

a big spectator turnout in the galleries.

With the dry and firm greens cut at four millimeters and stimping nine and a half, The European Tour officials and players alike were heralding rave reviews.

Wait a minute. Greens cut at 4mm and rolling 9.5 for a Tour event?! Rave Reviews?!

How could this be? North American courses are often criticized for greens rolling below ten, yet these pros seemed ecstatic about a nine.

I was beginning to break free from the shackles of the Western golf paradigm.

Brown was the new green. Anthracnose was a natural poa cure. Nitrogen; what’s that? Sand Pros, fly mows and line trimmers; what are those? Hand watering? Sorry mate, not on the links.

My world was being turned upside down, but in a most curiously appealing way.

Royal Dornoch, Turnberry, The Old Course, Royal County Down, Castle Stewart, Port Marnock and Royal Portrush are some of the world’s top courses and yet they were

This article is eligible for the

Gordon Witteveen Award designation for the author.

definitely not manicured the way I was familiar with.

This was golf’s older, more rugged, wild cousin. The cousin who doesn’t shave or comb his hair. The cousin who toughs out the rain with a wool sweater and a flask of scotch. This cousin is a little less vain and a lot more honest about his sport. At those courses, complaints about un-raked bunkers, poor sand quality and long rough only get you a good laugh and a pat on the back. But that laugh is nothing compared to the cackle you get when you ask for a cart.

If you are playing golf on the Scottish links, you’re taking a ride on the heel-toe express. ◗ continued on page 50

above: Foggy morning at Castle Stewart. Inverness, Scotland right: Royal Portrush.

Portrush, N. Ireland MARCH/APRIL 2013 | greenMaster 49

fe ature ◗ Cam shaw

above: Bunker prep at Kingsbarns for the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship above right: Root Beer Bunker – Revetted bunker face Restoration on the Old Course

◗ continued from page 49

But seeing Scotland and Ireland is not all about golf. There is a myriad of sights and road stops along the way as you pass down the narrow and winding highways scattered across the country.

50 greenMaster | www.golfsupers.com

In between my work experiences, I did my best to get off the beaten path and explore a few hidden gems along the way. Kingarrock Golf Club is one worth mentioning.

Now operated by the Scottish National Trust, this not-for-profit heritage golf club still employs most traditional turf maintenance practices from the 1920s and boasts about it. From horse drawn gang mowers and hand-laid topdressing to bringing in livestock to forage the rough, Kingarrock really does it old school.

But they don’t stop there. In order to play, you must also swing hickory clubs, tote a canvas bag and knock around a gutty golf ball fabricated by a local craftsman.

What’s more, they also give you an hour gap between groups to provide an uninhibited golfing experience. As if that’s not enough, they also suggest that you begin your round with a snifter of port and finish it with a swig of ginger beer and a nugget of corn bread.

It was certainly one of the most memorable highlights of my trip.

But seeing Scotland and Ireland is not all about golf. There is a myriad of sights and road stops along the way as you pass down the narrow and winding highways scattered across the country. The region is full of hikes in the highlands, local pubs, rustic rocky shorelines, sheep, fish and chips shops, more local pubs, drinking scotch on ocean cliffs, tweed jackets, plaid kilts, castles, museums, Nessie and of course all the colourful and quaint local pubs.

For most of us, there is a tale of ancestry and family lore that begins in the lands of Great Britain. My parents decided they would come join me for a week while I was staying at St. Andrews and working at The Old Course. They had enjoyed a five week honeymoon in Scotland 34 years ago and thought it would be an ode to nostalgia to do it all over again.

I had arranged with Elmwood College to have them stay with me at the student/ hospitality suite atop the St. Rule Club along the 18th hole at the home of golf. As far as golf accommodations go, this is the crème de la crème. The view alone is worth more than a Monet original. Looking outward the panorama begins with the 18th green and 1st tee complex of The Old Course.

Next, the magnificent and timeless R&A headquarters appears, sitting affront of the endless, sandy shores of the Atlantic Ocean.

In our free time, we travelled the hillsides of Pearthshire, searching for an old cemetery where our oldest known ancestor, Peter Stewart, was supposedly buried. After a series of wrong turns, pull-overs, false alarms and references to a crude, handcopied map, we eventually found it. Eerie as it was, my parents and I sat down for a picnic beside the wolf stone that marked Peter’s eternal resting place. A brick of aged cheddar, 3 Guinness and a few multigrain buns later we said our goodbyes and headed back to our loft in St. Andrews, feeling a little more enlightened about our family’s origins.

The place I wish I had afforded myself more time to visit was Ireland. I only

had a week in the country and I did the best I could to get the most out of it, but everything had to be rushed to fit it all in.

Ireland is home to some of the world’s most treasured golf destinations. Royal County Down and Port Marnock Links Resort were stops that I forced myself to make time for. However, some great memories were also made at the lesser known courses that are found on the road less travelled.

One such golf course was the Curraugh Golf Club which I would never have found without the power of Twitter. John Dempsey (or @J_J_Dempsey on Twitter), the head greens keeper, and I follow each other on the popular social media platform. As I was posting updates of my trip, John sent an invitation for me to stop in. I snatched up the opportunity and traveled to Kildare where I met John and his wife for tea in the clubhouse. After tea, we toured the quaint track (which by the way is the oldest golf club in Ireland). Later, they both took me out on the town to share stories over a few pints and a hot Irish meal. John is in the process of acquiring his PhD in disease pathology, with a research focus on using phosphites to suppress Michrodochium nivale.

It had also been arranged for me to attend the Irish Links Initiative Conference held in County Wexford on the South East coast. This was a wonderfully unique

experience that offered me the chance to meet and chat with some of Ireland’s most talented and creative links greens keepers.

The conference was created in response to the growing demand for more competitive and manicured golfing conditions. The golf tourism-driven economy is constantly under pressure from western tourists to soften the threat of pot bunkers, change the traditional grass species (fescue to bent), reduce cutting heights and increase weed management.

The meeting allows for greens keepers and greens committee members to share opinions and debate ideas regarding the state of their courses, their expectations, maintenance practices and long term visions. The end goal of the initiative is to re-educate, unite and empower those who wish to protect and preserve the traditions and values of the authentic links courses.

Having the opportunity to attend was incredible and I couldn’t help but think initiatives such as these might be useful back home in dealing with some of the political and social pressures North American golf faces.

This trip offered me so many sensational and unique opportunities that I am not able to include them all in this article. But how does one describe the experience of playing a course such as Castle Stuart anyways?

Even a perfect photograph coupled with

a few well-placed adjectives would never capture the sound of ocean waves crashing on the rocky coast of Turnberry or earthy, peat-rich smells emanating from the soils of Royal Portrush. How does one capture the emotion and anxiety one endures when teeing off on the first hole of The Old Course in front of 50 ogling spectators?

I just hope I can find the right words to show my deepest gratitude and appreciation for being offered this opportunity. It was a tremendous honour to have been chosen amongst the handful of other worthy candidates across Canada.

Humbling, too, is the notion that I have awfully big shoes to fill if I am to follow in the footsteps of this award’s previous winners. I consider myself fortunate to have chosen a career path within an industry where our professional associations, business associates and colleagues proudly support the individuals who will take turf management into the next generation.

In closing, I would like to thank all my hosts who took time from their busy schedules in order to accommodate my stay and show me all the warm hospitality a weary traveller could hope for. I would also like to extend my most profound and heartfelt thank you to both Toro and the CGSA. I will never be able to fully express how grateful I am for having had this experience. GM

Above: Glenfiddich distillery, Scotland – the source of all things great!; right: The view from my flat in St Andrews MARCH/APRIL 2013 | greenMaster 51

MECH ANIC ’S CORNER ◗ EDDie konrad

Gas tanks on concrete flooring greatly reduces the risk of leakage and soil contamination. credit: Eddie Konrad

Equipment Technicians Have Large Part to Play in Making Golf Green ◗ Golf, a comparatively green pastime in every sense of the word, needs to make a stand and help the planet. The ideas presented in this article will encourage creative thinking among equipment managers, superintendents and staff as they manage their golf courses and the environment.

Each item I write about may or may not apply to your golf course. It will not be all-inclusive, nor is it intended to be a recommendation for your golf course.

When reviewing these ideas, it is up to each individual golf course to determine whether the idea will change the desired standards of the course and whether this is acceptable. In golf maintenance this means that it is necessary to always communicate proactively with course officials if the standard is being lowered.

No one should doubt the green credentials of today’s golf course architects, constructors and developers. The whole business has become increasingly environmentally-friendly in all of its practices over the last two decades; from the planning and application stages, through to construction, maintenance and even the types of grasses used to seed the tees, fairways and greens. Policies by the CGSA ask for the use of IPM (Integrated Pest Management) to manage golf courses, specify nutrient use on courses, detail the use of pesticides as a component of golf 52 greenMaster | www.golfsupers.com

course management and lay out water use management guidelines.

There are four major areas in which course operations have the potential to impact the environment for the equipment manager: fuel storage, the equipment washing and pesticide mixing area, emissions regulation and equipment maintenance.

Fuel storage is a major environmental issue for most golf courses. The major problem areas are fire safety and the potential for soil and/or ground water contamination. Leaking storage containers can cause tremendous environmental damage and the cleanup of contaminated soil can be extremely costly.

There are good options for improving fuel storage. Options include removing and replacing the existing storage tanks before they cause problems. A containment structure consisting of concrete flooring would prevent leakage from contaminating the underlying soil.

Mowing is one of the primary tasks accomplished on any course. During the washing of equipment, grass clippings and other residues are discharged into

the drainage area. The clippings contain nutrients and may contain some pesticide residue as well. Fertilizer and pesticide equipment are also washed following use.

For these reasons, equipment washing areas should be closely scrutinized for their possible environmental impact.

To reduce the possibility of chemical contamination during the washing of pesticide application equipment, calibrate the equipment carefully to keep leftover solution to a minimum. This issue has become such a concern throughout the country that rinsate recycling equipment is now available for golf courses. This equipment is similar in design and function to the filters used for swimming pools, although special modifications are included for neutralizing chemical residues and removing solid debris such as clippings.

Concerns regarding global warming have increased the pressure on equipment manufacturers to decrease emissions of CO2 from vehicles. Carbon dioxide emissions are directly related to the efficiency of the combustion unit; the higher the efficiency, the lower the CO2 emissions.

Leaking storage containers can cause tremendous environmental damage and the cleanup of contaminated soil can be extremely costly.

The diesel engine has a relatively high efficiency and, therefore, the carbon dioxide emissions are lower as compared to other, less efficient prime movers.

Diesel engines have several advantages over other internal combustion engines; mainly they burn less fuel than a gasoline engine performing the same work.

Gasoline engines are typically 20 to 25 per cent efficient while a turbo diesel engine can convert 40 per cent more of the fuel energy into mechanical energy.

About 94.5 per cent of diesel exhaust gases are a combination of nitrogen, oxygen and water; elements which are part of the natural atmosphere and not harmful to the environment. Carbon dioxide contributes only about 5 per cent of the total volume of diesel exhaust. The remaining 5.5 per cent (including CO2) are the elements that can be harmful to the environment and should be controlled.

The majority of our turf care equipment can be converted to being eco-friendly.

Since most of our equipment is powered by gasoline or diesel, eco-friendly would mean using electric motors or reducing fuel use. Anything we have to change or replace during maintenance is also subject to review.

Last, but not least, we have to look at the way we maintain our turf. Examples of cultural methods to maintain good turf are aeration of compacted soil, providing good drainage, raising mowing heights and reducing mowing frequency, mowing with sharp blades and returning grass clippings to grass areas, wherever possible.

Equipment managers have to combine IPM and preventative maintenance procedures. This requires the utmost understanding of both the IPM plan and the effects of PM (Preventative Maintenance). To achieve this understanding, communication between superintendent and equipment manager has to be flawless. Both have to agree on the reduction of CO2 and the methods of doing so.

Mowing is one of the primary tasks accomplished on any course. Equipment used will produce CO2. Reducing greens, tees and fairway mowing will reduce output of CO2. Perfectly working machinery will use less fuel and therefore CO2 production is reduced.

Reducing the total amount of water applied also makes a difference. There is a partial kilowatt-hour behind every drop of water applied. Reducing irrigated areas can save water and electricity.

Superintendents will utilize best management practices with respect to nutrient management, mowing heights, soil cultivation, drainage, irrigation schedules, tree maintenance and golf course traffic to encourage adequate turf quality and water conservation.

Applying too much fertilizer is wasteful, not cost effective and can harm the soil.

Application will also result in the release of CO2. At the same time, too little fertilizer can leave turf weakened and susceptible to disease due to a lack of nutrients.

Re-applications will produce CO2. The equipment manager’s role in all this is

Rinsate systems help to limit pesticide residue from grass clippings. credit: Eddie Konrad

to to ensure that spreading or spraying equipment will perform perfectly to reduce harmful effects.

Conscientious turf management practices and the implementation of IPM principles combined with impeccably performing equipment provided by equipment managers should ensure healthy and playable turf on golf courses and produce the least amount of CO2. This will ensure that all operations present the lowest possible risk to employees, golfers, the public and the environment. 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.

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!

MARCH/APRIL 2013 | greenMaster 53

back n i n e ◗ MARC COUSINEAU

Environmental Award Winner, Robin Sadler, Green from the Get Go ◗ Robin Sadler walked from seminar to seminar at the Canadian Turfgrass Conference wearing a green-striped shirt, a look that has probably never been more appropriate on him after winning CGSA’s Environmental Award for 2012.

But then again, Sadler has a long history of going green before claiming the honour this past January, a history that stretches back to his childhood.

Sadler, the superintendent at Silvertip Resort in Canmore, Alberta, grew up outside of Strathmore, Alberta on a farm, an atmosphere he credits with sparking his love for the environment.

“There’s no question that from a young age I loved being outside, I loved doing stuff outside,” says Sadler, “and being around the farm gave me respect for the land and made me understand that the environment was not something to be abused.”

Sadler began to work at golf courses in high school as a way to make money while still being able to enjoy the outdoors.

This summer job, however, turned into something much bigger.

“I’ll never forget driving down the fifth hole one morning and just stopping and taking it all in; the sunrise, the smells, the wind, all of it. I remember realizing that I loved doing this and from there I checked in to schooling and it progressed from there.”

His passion for the environment and his love of the golf industry has led Sadler to Silvertip, where he has been part of the team since the construction of the course in the late 1990s.

“I took the job at Silvertip for less money and no position title. I was picking up rocks and helping build the course from the ground up,” says Sadler of his early days at the resort.

Sadler rose quickly through the ranks after the course opened in 1998, going from foreman to assistant superintendent and finally superintendent, the position he has held for nine years.

The promise of working in the rugged environment of the Rocky Mountains drew Sadler to Silvertip, but the wildlife that surrounds him has compelled him to stay.

54 greenMaster | www.golfsupers.com

“The wildlife is a huge thing in the area we are in at Silvertip. We have everything from a herd of 50 elk that live on the course to black bears and even the occasional grizzly bear,” says Sadler.

“It’s the way you co-exist with that wildlife that’s exciting. When I went to turf school I didn’t have the wildest dreams that I’d be managing such extraordinary wildlife.”

Sadler has shaped his enthusiasm for the animals on his course into the cornerstone of some of his biggest environmental initiatives.

Sadler and others at Silvertip devoted five years to developing a wildlife management plan that has benefited visitors to the course, both human and animal.

“The education, information and training initiatives are really successful parts of the program,” says Sadler.

But Silvertip’s program isn’t just procedures and protocols, according to Sadler.

“Another successful part was removing the food sources for wildlife on the property. What that does is keep the bears from popping out on the golf course,” he says.

“It’s a win-win because there’s a reduced chance of an encounter between animals and customers and staff and fewer bears being relocated.”

Achieving the Audubon Certification was another monumental eco-success for Sadler. The accomplishment has had a trickledown effect in the everyday operation of the course.

“I don’t look at the Audubon program as just one thing. It encompasses everything we do on a daily basis and every way we look to do better every day,” says Sadler.

And it was the evolution of Sadler’s course and eco-initiatives that earned him the Environmental Award at the CGSA’s annual conference in January.

“The first word I can think of is wow!”

Sadler says about receiving the award.

“I’m a small town farm boy and it’s fantastic that some of our efforts have been recognized by my peers at a national level, but there have been a lot of people

Robin Sadler, LEFT accepts his award from Pierre Fradette, Club Car. credit: The Image Commission

over the years who have been involved in creating the environmental programs at Silvertip and this award is a credit to those people. Our owner has always been very supportive of anything green and environmental and it’s really nice to have that support.”

But Sadler doesn’t see the award as the end point in his environmental journey, but rather a sign post in his constant quest for improvement.

“We can always be better, we can always learn more and do new things. It’s never ending. I’m never going to sit here and say I’ve done it all,” he says.

“It’s been so easy to have the passion for where I’m at, there’s so much to it and no two days are the same and I thoroughly enjoy that.” GM

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