North Carolina Turfgrass - March / April 2023

The control panel allows the operator to conveniently make adjustments for a precise application. Maximize ground coverage with two 60-gallon spray tanks and a 250 lb. hopper capacity. Reduce operator fatigue with rubber compression in the foot plate and a larger padded knee bolster.

NEW FEATURE

Flip up hopper provides easy access to the engine and battery for maintenance.

From the President

WELCOME TO SPRING!

This is always a busy season for our turfgrass community, and it is at TCNC too! Our Board made a commitment to create more excitement, activity, and value in 2023 for our members. When we sat around the table in November 2022 to look at our strategic goals for 2023, and there were several powerful conversations. One important conversation was on the membership benefit of peer networking.

We explored the idea of peer networking and the tagline The Best Are Here (at TCNC) shone through. Our membership is comprised of amazing turfgrass professionals dedicated to high standards, continuous learning, and a community that connects, invests and grows our industry throughout North Carolina… the best truly are here.

According to a Forbes article on the topic, peer networks “can make us smarter, more engaged, and better connected.” It makes the individual better at his/her job, and it can make industry-wide improvements through consensus and discourse over many topics. Peer-networking can also influence large organizations that may not typically notice individual companies. You can also gain helpful insights from your peers, and a fresh perspective. TCNC is committed to supporting and creating events to engage and strengthen its networking community.

We just had our first TCNC Meet Up at Mother Earth Brewing in Kinston, NC on February 28th. Thank you to Mother Earth Brewing for hosting our event and amazing brewery tour! A sense of community is such an important part of TCNC membership. You can see your peers, meet new people… borrow ideas and learn from the best! Stay tuned for our next TCNC Meet Up event in May.

If you are looking for additional opportunities to connect, learn and grow – you will find them on our website at www.turfgrasscouncilnc.org! This year will bring new and numerous opportunities to connect within our community – online and in person.

I look forward to connecting, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us!

Sincerely,

Kevin Herrmann

TCNC President

North

Fax

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

TCNC

PRESIDENT

VICE PRESIDENT Wilson Sutton Falling Creek Golf Club Kinston, NC

PAST PRESIDENT

Gene Queen Nature's Select Winston Salem, NC

TREASURER

Jonathan Richardson, NCCTP NCCTP Chairman Green Resource Dunn, NC DIRECTORS

Brian Beane Southern Turf Winston-Salem, NC

Greg Harris Leap Frog Land Care, Inc. Cary, NC

Shaun Kerr

Gates Four Golf and Country Club Fayetteville, NC

TCNC Deluxe Members

Companies wishing to support TCNC with multiple members can join as Deluxe Members. Deluxe Memberships can be purchased in one of three tiers: 1–5 employees; 6–10 employees; or 11+ employees.

If you'd like to learn more about the Deluxe Membership, please contact the TCNC office at 984.301.6450 or info@turfgrasscouncilnc.org.

Thank You to Our DELUXE MEMBER

ORGANIZATIONS

The Budd Group

The Biltmore Company

Barefoot Lawn Care Inc.

Carolina Farm Credit

Carolina Green Corp.

City of Raleigh

Parks & Recreation

Fairway Green

Fayetteville Technical Community College

Givens Estates Green Resource Leap Frog Landcare, Inc.

Murray's Landscape Maintenance and Horticultural Services

Quality Turf Smith Turf & Irrigation

Sod Solutions Inc.

Southern Ag

Southern Seeds Inc

Town of Cary Public Works

Town of Garner

Turf Mountain Sod Inc

Vandemark Farms LLC

Wake Forest University Weed Man

2022 – 23 Renewal as of 2/2/2023

Don't see your company's name? Renew today at www.turfgrasscouncilnc.org

CROP AND SOIL SCIENCES

Matt Martin Extension Associate 910.409.5899 matthew_martin@ncsu.edu

Dr. Travis Gannon Assistant Professor 919.515.2647 travis_gannon@ncsu.edu

Emily Erickson Crop Science Lecturer 919.513.2034 emily_erickson@ncsu.edu

Dr. Susana Milla-Lewis Professor & University Faculty Scholar 919.280.3443 susana_milla-lewis@ncsu.edu

Dr. Grady Miller Professor & Extension Specialist 919.515.5656 grady_miller@ncsu.edu

Dr. Charles Peacock Professor and Director of Crop Science 919.906.1324 charles_peacock@ncsu.edu

Dr. Rob Richardson Associate Professor & Extension Specialist 919.515.5653 rob_richardson@ncsu.edu

Dr. Thomas Rufty Distinguished Professor 919.515.3660 tom_rufty@ncsu.edu

Dr. Wei Shi Professor 919.513.4641 wei_shi@ncsu.edu

Dr. Fred Yelverton Professor & Extension Specialist 919.515.5639 fred_yelverton@ncsu.edu

Dr. Terri Billeisen Extension Associate 919.515.7464 tlhoctor@ncsu.edu

Dr. Rick Brandenburg Extension Leader 919.515.8876 rick_brandenburg@ncsu.edu

Lee Butler NC State Turf Diagnostics Lab 919.513.3878 ebutler@ncsu.edu

Dr. James Kerns Professor and Extension Specialist 919.513.4820 jpkerns@ncsu.edu

Dr. Danesha Seth Carley Director, Southern IPM Center & Associate Professor 919.513.8189 danesha_carley@ncsu.edu

Index of Advertisers

Your New Go-To Grass

Developed by the turfgrass experts at Oklahoma State University, Tahoma 31 Bermudagrass pushes the geographic boundaries of bermudagrass into the northernmost reaches of the Transition Zone. Highly cold tolerant, the name “Tahoma” comes from the Native American word that

All claims based on research results from National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) trials & Oklahoma State University. Visit our website for full reports.

See Tahoma 31 in the Transition Zone for yourself at: Brook Hollow Golf Club, Dallas, TX (fairways, tees, roughs)

Chillicothe Country Club, Ohio (fairways)

Liberty National Golf Club, New Jersey (driving range tee)

Naval Academy Golf Club, Maryland (fairways, tees)

Congressional Country Club, Maryland (8-acre driving range)

Southern Hills Country Club, Oklahoma (collars)

COLD

Plant Tahoma 31 further north for a strong base in the winter that fights wilt in the sumner.

COLOR

Blue-green most of the year. Golden in dormancy. Earliest green-up for spring color.

PLAYABILITY

Thick, dense turf. ¼ to ½-inch mowing height for tees, fairways.

QUALITY

Rated #1 for beauty and resilience. Heals fast from divots & wear.

DROUGHT

Use less water. Takes 18% less water than TifTuf.

SHADE

Got trees? Handles up to 63% shade.

CAROLINA TURF FARMS PO Box 850, Raeford, NC 28376 910-875-6141 ncsodman@carolinaturffarms.com carolinaturffarms.com

The Turfgrass Council of North Carolina (TCNC) serves its members in the industry through education, promotion and representation. The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the association, its staff, or its board of directors, North Carolina Turfgrass, or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or TCNC members, does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services featured in this, past or subsequent issues of this bimonthly publication. Copyright © 2022 by the Turfgrass Council of North Carolina. North Carolina Turfgrass is published bi-monthly. Subscriptions are complimentary to members of TCNC. Presorted standard postage is paid at Jefferson City, MO. Printed in the U.S.A. Reprints and Submissions: North Carolina Turfgrass allows reprinting of material published here. Permission requests should be directed to TCNC. We are not responsible for unsolicited freelance manuscripts and photographs. Contact the managing editor for contribution information. Advertising: For display and classified advertising rates and insertions, please contact Leading Edge Communications, LLC, 206 Bridge Street, Suite 200, Franklin, TN 37064, 615.790.3718, Fax 615.794.4524.

SPOTLIGHT MEMBER

SETH KLOPP

NCCTP

Why did you join TCNC?

I joined after I was hired because I needed to become an NC Certified Turfgrass Professional within six months of being brought on to the City of Raleigh. I also realized the opportunity in continuing my education, gaining valuable knowledge, and making connections with others in the industry. This also gave me an opportunity to further my leadership abilities and to help make me a more well-rounded professional.

What do you love most about TCNC?

I really think TCNC does a good job at relaying information and events going on around the turf industry in North Carolina. Since I am a graduate of North Carolina State University, I appreciate the fact that the Council works so closely with the University and is able to use professors and turf experts at conferences and shows to help new and old people interested in turf, or are working within the industry.

How has your career benefited from being a member?

Having the NCCTP certification makes me a more valuable employee, leader, and supervisor. I am able to better represent the industry as well as help others and connect with those who may be working on similar projects, work issues, or other relatable products and needs with and around turf in North Carolina. Also, I take a lot of pride in knowing I belong to a Turf Council who has the industry's best interests in mind.

What is your favorite TCNC event and why?

I've only been to a few, but I would say any time there is an opportunity to catch a Council meeting and to have a meal and time to connect with other turf professionals. I usually run into someone I haven't seen in a while, or professors that I had at State around 13 years ago. This also is a great opportunity to learn more from the state's greatest turf scientists at these types of events.

How do you define success in the turf business?

MEMBER SINCE 2016

Success in the turf business may be defined as having the ability to meet the needs of all user groups. We, as turf professionals, are being challenged more and more each day. When considering the safety of the users, the safety of the environment, and the safety of our employees, it is so important to follow recommended fertilizer and pesticide rates, making sure to clean equipment properly, and using PPE. We also need to keep in mind the importance of relaying information and educating coaches and user groups as to "why" we are doing what we are. Also, we have to be advocates for each other. Whether it's equipment, funding, or other resources, we need to be able to tell our story to the people in charge of spending and budgeting so that we are given the tools needed to provide the best product.

City of Raleigh Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources

"WhatIseeisthatExcaliburhasastrongerinfluenceonturfdensityandqualitythan Divanemalone.ThecomboissuperiorandisthestrongesttreatmenteffectIhave everseenfromDivanemandawettingagent"

-Dr.BruceMartin

TCNC MEET UP at

Mother Earth Brewing

Weheld our first TCNC Meet Up for 2023 at Mother Earth Brewing in Kinston, NC. Our meet ups are a great way to connect in your community with other TCNC members and turf professionals! Thank you to Dean Baker and Mother Earth Brewing for hosting our event! Cheers!!

The 411 on FIRE ANTS

By Terri Billeisen, Ph.D., Turfgrass Entomology Lab, North Carolina State University

INTRODUCTION

In turfgrass, the red imported fire ant (RIFA; Solenopsis invicta) is of primary concern both for its potential to create unsightly mounds and its readiness to sting anyone who disturbs it. RIFA entered the US in the 1930s and quickly spread throughout the southeastern states. Currently, RIFA continues to expand its distribution (Fig. 1) with new counties being added to the USDA quarantine map every year.

MOVEMENT

Fire ant expansion into new areas can be attributed to both active movement, with newly-mated queens flying to establish new colonies, and passive movement, through the transportation of infested plant material. RIFA queens typically fly 1 – 1.5 miles to establish a new colony and are capable of flying as far as six miles. In the case of severe flooding, fire ants can also link together to create a raft-like structure and float on the water surface into new areas.

RIFA Survival Annual Rainfall USDA Quarantine (May 2000)

Improbable Undetermined

Possible

Certain

< Not Enough > Enough

US (USDA image)

“Potential United States Range Expansion of the Invasive Fire Ant.” Imported Fire Ant and Household Insects, USDA-ARS, 5 Oct. 2017, https://www.ars.usda. gov/southeast-area/gainesville-fl/center-for-medical-agricultural-and-veterinaryentomology/imported-fire-ant-and-household-insects-research/docs/potentialunited-states-range-expansion-of-the-invasive-fire-ant/.

Figure 1: Fire Ant Distribution in Southeastern

MOUNDS

RIFA mounds are more likely to occur in areas of high soil temperature. Turf in full sun or adjacent to an impervious surface such as cement, concrete or asphalt is more likely to attract fire ant activity, particularly in the spring. Fire ants will also take advantage of the extensive root system of trees and large ornamental plants, creating mounds near the base of these plants to use the root network to gain easy access to the water table. Unlike nuisance ants that create mounds with a hollowed-out center with an entrance hole through which they travel, fire ants create dome-shaped mounds and travel in and out via foraging tunnels (Fig. 2). Fire ants will sometimes travel for 1 – 2 feet underground before coming to the soil surface in search of food. For this reason, labeling on many bait products will indicate that baits should be placed approximately two feet from the center of a mound for individual mound treatments. This ensures that foraging ants traveling in and out of the nest will be more likely to encounter the product.

SCOUTING

Prior to applying any insecticide for fire ant control, it is essential to confirm fire ants are active and as close to the soil surface as possible. Early in the season, this is usually when air temperatures are in the 50s and after a significant rainfall event. Before application, ensure fire ants are active

near the soil surface by placing a potato chip or slice of hot dog 1 – 2 feet from the center of a mound. If fire ants are active, they will find the source of food within 3 – 5 minutes and provide visible confirmation that it is the right time to apply ( Fig. 3 ).

Figure 3: Fire ants foraging on hot dog slice (Photo Credit: B. Royals, NC State University)

Figure 2: Cross-section of Fire Ant Mound Greenberg, L., and J.N. Kabashima. Red Imported Fire Ant: Integrated Pest Management In and Around the Home.

Edited by K. Beverlin, UC-IPM, Dec. 2013, https://ipm.ucanr.edu/pdf/pestnotes/ pnredimportedfireant.pdf.

Adapted from Texas Agric. Exten. Serv. File photo.

MANAGEMENT

Management approaches for fire ants will depend on a number of factors. Primarily, the number of mounds and required speed of efficacy will determine the best method for application. Application methods can be generally grouped into two approaches: individual mound treatments (IMT) and broadcast applications. Because you are treating each mound individually, this approach is more time-consuming and require large volumes for an effective application. Formulation selection is less important than choosing an appropriate active ingredient, however, for IMT applications, it is best to choose one that has contact activity against fire ants. In an IMT, mounds should be left undisturbed until the equipment and applicator are ready. Products can be applied through soil drench or injection to the top of the mound and should be applied in a large volume

to flood down through the tunnels and fill the nest chambers of the mound (Fig. 4). Ideally, enough volume is applied to reach the queen that is likely deep underground. If you are able to reach the queen, this approach can provide long-lasting control and generally uses less product compared to broadcast treatments, which can minimize impact on off-target beneficial insects in the landscape.

Broadcast treatments are quick and easy to apply – usually in a spreader or sprayer – to cover large areas. Liquid or granular formulations with contact activity can be effective, however, only ants active at the soil surface will be impacted. Depending on active ingredient, these applications may not have an effect on the colony. An exception to this would be products containing fipronil which will provide much longer lasting control. Unlike IMTs, broadcast applications will impact beneficial insects within the landscape, including native ant species.

Figure 4: Dry formulation application to Fire Ant Mound Layton, B. “Control.” Fire Ants, Mississippi State University, http://extension.msstate.edu/content/control.

Planning for weather conditions

Accurate budget forecasts plus or minus half a penny

Balancing irrigation costs with equipment and labor costs

Workboard updates and task re-re-re-assignments

Maintenance schedule and equipment assignment mayhem

If it’s on your mind, it’s OnLink.

The John Deere OnLink Golf Course Management Solution can help you see your course more clearly than ever before. Maintenance schedules. Team assignments. Workboard updates. Cost projections. These all can now be viewed and managed in one place. What’s on your mind? Link it with John Deere OnLink Golf Course Management Solutions today at JohnDeere.com/Golf

Trusted by the best.

John Deere, the leaping deer symbol and John Deere’s green and yellow trade dress are the trademarks of Deere & Company.

Bait products can be applied in either an IMT or broadcast application and can also provide more long-lasting control. Baits must be placed two feet from the center of the mound and kept fresh and dry in order to be effective. If there is significant dew formation on the turf, wait until the areas have dried before placing a bait product. If fire ant control is needed but there is consistent rain in the forecast, give yourself at least a 5-6 hour window for fire ants to forage, find the bait, and bring it back to the nest before it rains. Bait products are considered more “slow-acting” than contact insecticides and provide control within 3 – 14 days of application, depending on active ingredient. See Fig. 5 for a complete list of active ingredients by application method and speed of efficacy.

Biological control options for fire ants are limited. Botanical or plant-derived products are generally not effective. Products containing spinosad, a soil bacterium, can be effective against fire ants but results are inconsistent. Biocontrol products are

generally sensitive to environmental conditions and can be negatively affected by prolonged sun exposure, hot temperatures and dry conditions.

As we start to see temperatures increase, keep an eye out for fire ant activity, particularly following significant rainfall events. In North Carolina, we tend to see a sharp uptick in fire ant activity in late February and early March. Early spring is a great time to get a head start on fire ant control, particularly with insecticides with longer residual or bait products. Unlike other insects in turf, fire ants are very consistent and tend to be an issue in the same areas from year-to-year. The key to effective management is to 1) always make sure fire ants are foraging prior to making an application and 2) select the appropriate application method and product for control. For additional resources, be sure to check out NC Turf Bugs (“Resources” tab) for specific fire ant control and quarantine information.

Figure 5: Diagram for Fire Ant Control. *Note* High vs Low Traffic Area prompt determines the need for immediacy of efficacy. High traffic (or sensitive) areas may require immediate control where baits may not be a realistic option.

Fire Ant FAQs

1. Should I disturb the nest to bring the ants to the surface before drenching?

a. Applicators should drench the mound surface first and then break open the mound with a talc-coated shovel to saturate the interior of the mound.

2. Do fire ants sting or bite…or both?

a. Fire ants sting and cause a skin reaction (blister) where the venom is injected. For most people, it’s an itchy annoyance that lasts a week or two. However, in sensitive individuals, reactions are more severe and can require hospitalization. Fire ants do have mandibles (teeth) that they can use to latch on to the skin while they sting. For that reason, the best way to remove fire ants from your body is to wipe points of contact with your hands to physically separate the mandibles from the skin and remove the fire ants.

3. Do fire ants prefer certain soil types?

a. We observe them more often in clay soils but a lot of that has to do with areas where they are most prevalent. They will infest and inhabit basically any type of soil.

4. Can they be moved from place to place on a mower? Or, are they located in mulch?

a. Yes, it is pretty easy to move individual ants from one place to another on any equipment/vehicles. However, unless you move a newlymated female to a new area, individual ants are not going to establish new colonies. It’s possible that you can have fire ants in a big (and undisturbed) pile of mulch, but the activities of loading and unloading of that mulch generally disrupt and scatter the colony (if there was an entire colony in one). There are generally a bigger problem in stacks of wheat straw that may be used after seeding a new lawn. If these stacks are undisturbed for months, fire ants might relocate a nest under or in a bale. As such, we recommend keeping the bales off the ground in storage.

ORIGINS OF TURFGRASS PART 2

GOLF AND THE TRIUMPH OF TURFGRASS

In part one “Origins of Turfgrass,” we delved into the history and roots of turfgrass. Here

By Jay McCurdy Ph.D., Associate Professor, Turfgrass Extension Specialist Department of Plant & Soil Sciences Mississippi State University

popularity of lawns, the ability to maintain turf, and turfgrass in general, are all interlinked with the game of golf. Golf courses comprise less than 3% of maintained U.S. turf, yet the turfgrass industry is heavily impacted by the technology and agronomics that make the game possible. Golf’s origins are unclear and debatable. The earliest mention of colf (dutch for club) was in 1261. In 1297 Utrecht (modern day Netherlands), there’s mention of the colf or kolf used to play a ball sport.

Golf was banned at various points throughout its history: in 1360 the Council of Brussels banned the game under penalty of 20 shillings (or confiscation of one’s overcoat); in 1457 King James II prohibited golf due to distraction from archery practice; in 1471 and 1491 it was banned in Scotland because it was said to be an “unprofitable sport”; it was banned again in 1490s by King James IV; and in 1592 it was prohibited on the Sabbath in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Modern golf’s 18-hole format originated in Scotland, and most consider that country’s landscape and culture to be formative to the role of turfgrass on modern golf courses. The oldest sanctioning golf club is disputed—either the Royal Burgess Golfing Society (1735) or the Honourable Company of Edinburgh (records dating to 1744; originally played at the Leigh Links near Edinburgh and now hosted by Muirfield). The “Articles and Laws in Playing at Golf,” the oldest surviving rules of the game, are dated 1744 and are preserved in the National Library of Scotland.

Scotland and the North Sea coast of Europe share similar landscapes and environments that have shaped the game of golf and turfgrass culture over the centuries. Their proximity to the sea moderates temperature and assures ample and frequent moisture for the growth of common forage grass species. Those cool-season species thrive in this environment and have been shaped for millions of years by foraging livestock. Furthermore, the area’s links-land landscape (Photo 1) has harsh reliefs and rocky crags that are inviting to wallowing livestock seeking shelter and grazing. The seaside terrain is characterized by rolling hills of sand or links (via the Scottish or Northumbrian language from Old English “hlinc” which means “rising ground or ridge”). Away from the coast, the terrain remains pock-marked with the familiar “Kame and Kettle” topography that is mimicked by golf course architects the world over. These environments were shaped by glaciation—having been covered several times by ice over the last 500,000 years. These glacial landscapes are as dramatic as the Scottish Highlands and as placid as the moraine landscapes further south. These conditions were conducive to the original game of golf—played by shepherds and yeoman farmers with their crooks while tending their livestock. In fact, the “bunkers” that have evolved into common penal features of most modern courses originated in these sandy landscapes. The earliest golf course architects highlighted the natural beauty of the game’s home at new locations, and the game (and the grasses) spread. The game of golf had evolved from a yeoman’s sport to one for the wealthy who could afford custom equipment.

we explore turf’s march towards modernity by focusing on the game of golf.

Photo 1: Links land

Allan Robertson (1815-1859) (Photo 2) is widely considered one of the earliest influential golf course architects and greens keepers. He was also the period’s renowned ball and club maker and oversaw course renovations and general supervision of the St. Andrews Links as well as the 10-hole course that eventually became Carnoustie.

His protégé Thomas Mitchell Morris (Old Tom Morris) assisted Robertson in his shop, and they played as a pair with great success. Robertson ultimately fired him after Morris beat him using the gutta ball, a competitor to Robertson’s featherie ball, and a superior piece of equipment that soon replaced other alternatives. Morris became greens keeper at Preswick in 1851 and returned to St. Andrews in 1865. He mentored the likes of C.B. Macdonald, Donald Ross, and A.W. Tillinghast. He

is credited with more than 60 course designs and remodels throughout the British Isles. He was an early advocate for frequent sand top-dressing to improve playing conditions of greens.

In the late 19th century, golf began to spread worldwide. Golf course architecture and greens keeping became popularized as professions/careers. Renowned Scottish Architects Harry S. Colt, Willie Park Jr., and W.H. Fowler moved to the United States. The Chicago Golf Club opened in 1892. Architect C.B. Macdonald, famous for National Golf Links of America (1911), coined the term “Golf Course Architect.” In 1913, Francis Ouimet won the U.S. Open sparking a golf boom in America. He is considered by many to be the father of amateur golf in the U.S.

Photo 2: Allan Robertson, Pioneer Professional Golfer at St Andrews, Scotland, about 1850.

Credit: Thomas Rodger, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Photo 3: Toro Greensmaster eTriflex 3370, an example of a modern reel mower. Photo courtesy of Toro.

Photo 4: Pebble Beach, a modern links style course. Credit: Big Stock Photo / Tupungato.

In the 1920s, the rapid growth of the game led to more than a thousand new courses. Prominent architects included A.W. Tillinghast (Bethpage State Park), Donald Ross (Pinehurst), William Flynn (Merion), and Alister Mackenzie (Augusta National). Between 1930 and 1950, golf’s growth in popularity slowed tremendously due to the Great Depression and World War II.

Tremendous post war expansion and an exodus of intercity middleclass fueled the growth of suburbs and accompanying amenities, including golf courses, but also parks and community green space. This was the era of “free-way” style golf courses, characterized by straight forward golf game rather than strategy and risk. This simplistic design commodified the game for the masses and led to a great golf-boom.

Expansion slowed in the 70s and 80s due to oil shortages and economic contraction. In the 90s and early 2000s, there was tremendous growth of the industry sparked by economic growth and the peak golfing age of baby-boomers. The game of golf, and the diverse industry surrounding it, has waxed and waned due to the prominence of professional golfers, the likes of Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods. A post-pandemic golf boom has most recently strengthened the industry around the world.

Throughout its history, golf course architecture and maintenance has pushed the bounds of technology necessary for cultivation of turfgrass in some of the harshest environments on the planet. Equipment spawned for the manufacturing of textiles (principally, the modern reel mower, Photo 3) quickly became available for golf course maintenance—first drawn by horses or pushed by man, but then mechanized with early combustion engines. Modern, high-maintenance golf courses would be almost unrecognizable to the earliest golfers, but the game remains reliant upon the people that design, build, and maintain the turfgrass playing surface.

PLAYING THE LONG GAME

Overcoming Supply Chain Challenges in Sports Field Management

By Julie Holt, Managing Editor, Leading Edge Communications

A Chain is Only as Strong as its Weakest Link

While COVID was the domino that set the reaction in motion, a labor shortage was a well-established challenge even before raw material shortages resulted in production delays, which then created an environment ripe for higher cost and limited availability of products ranging from bottled water to tractor parts. In effect, each link in the supply chain has been weakened. When pandemic lockdowns prevented workers from all parts of the supply chain (Figure 1) from maintaining production, the process nearly ground to a halt.

The reopening of those lines was sluggish, and certainly not linear. In the nearly three years since the beginning of the pandemic, overseas lockdowns have ebbed and flowed, creating an unpredictable pipeline bottleneck. The ultimate result has been soaring prices and low or nonexistent stock of products and tools.

Sports field managers have always been known to have a great deal of resilience in the face of unexpected challenges. Just take a quick glance at the weather patterns of the past five years and you’ll find extremes in all directions – record heat, record cold, drought, record snowfall, floods and even tropical storms. And don’t forget weeds, pests, and disease on natural grass fields. But if you also visit the sports news archives, you’ll find that sports carried on, mostly uninterrupted. From Little League to MLB and NFL, athletes didn’t miss opportunities to compete.

As ever, sports field managers show up and figure it out. Through hard work, cooperation and ingenuity, each of those challenges have been overcome and the resilience of those professionals has been proven over and over.

Now, entering another winter season, and looking ahead to the busy spring sports season, SFMs are working to solve yet another wrench in the plans: supply chain disruption. What started as a result of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic has now firmly set in as status quo, at least for the foreseeable future. These delays have been affecting the sports field industry (and many others) for nearly two years, and the light at the end of the tunnel isn’t visible just yet. However, almost as soon as this challenge arose, professionals in all segments of sports field and turfgrass management began looking for answers and work-arounds to keep the industry moving forward.

Factors contributing to Supply Chain Challenges:

COVID-19 Pandemic Response

Labor Shortages

Raw Material Shortages

Freight Cost

Production Delays

Port Congestion

Policy / Regulation

Natural Disasters

FIGURE 1: Simplified Supply chain.

Regulation and policy locally and globally certainly play a role in the supply chain, and adaptation to the current climate has been sluggish. The latest challenge that has resulted from these factors is a looming diesel shortage, which certainly will cause price increases that will be passed along to the consumer (Figures 2, 3).

A Proactive Solution

The supply chain problem is well-documented, but what about the solution? Every distributor, supplier and salesperson echoes the same line: plan ahead and be proactive. What does this entail, exactly?

Ian Lacy, Lead Project Advisor at Tom Irwin emphasizes that SFMs must place great emphasis on a forward forecast. Understanding that equipment that formerly would have taken three months to arrive may now be closer to a year means you must take careful inventory of your existing product and equipment and forecast two to three years out, rather than one year. This approach requires diligent planning, but if this is to be the “new normal,” this type of planning must be our standard. “To repeat the old cliché, we have to ‘prepare for the worst, but hope for the best’,” Lacy shares.

Another shift in procedure that mitigates for shipping issues is looking for product closer to home. Understanding the many variables at play (see sidebar box), eliminating the need to have product shipped from overseas can speed the arrival of some products.

Adam Ferucci, Sales Representative at Read Custom Soils reiterates the need to plan ahead, but also to continuously monitor prices and delivery times. Asked how his customers have had to adapt, he says they must “be more proactive and give proper lead time to deliver,” and “reach out for quotes more frequently to be able to budget for price increases.”

While suppliers can’t magically make stock appear, they can keep their customers informed and encourage them to be forward thinking. Ian Lacy shared an example of just how frustrating this situation can be. “We helped a client rebuild a baseball field. The weather slowed us down, but we had time. But then the supply chain slowed us down. We ordered the part, a simple water meter, and what should have been delivered in three weeks, was up to 16 weeks. The contractor had already seeded the outfield, but we had no water. This one small part that only took three hours to actually install, set us back months.” Nearly every SFM can tell a similar story.

But as this industry does, we’ve come together to share solutions that help to ease the burden of this supply chain bottleneck. Professionals in all areas of sports field management have put their heads together to innovate and educate their peers, and even competitors, on solutions to this challenge.

Mark Casey, Sales Territory Manager in Massachusetts for Finch Turf shares his transparent communication process with his customers. “To be helpful and to best serve customer interests, the conversations have substantially changed. We are recommending they take stock of their inventory today, draw a plan to secure their fleet for the current and coming season and have a plan B for all scenarios if a machine goes down. Managers need continuity of operations and now aren’t always able to count on a dealer loaner or demo machine support, which in this

Source: https://www.eia.gov/petroleum/gasdiesel/

climate have been fewer and limited. The purchase of used & refurbished machines have become a popular, viable, and more available option. We are helping more customers assess fleet strength and provide long term plans for replacement.”

The current supply chain crisis may have taken the industry off guard, but one thing is certain – sports field managers are well-equipped to adjust, re-evaluate and find winning solutions.

Figures 2, 3: Gas and diesel price trends contribute to higher shipping and freight costs.

SPRING DEAD SPOT

‘Springing’ to Influence Player Safety on Athletic Fields

The

Turfgrass Pathology lab at Virginia Tech has placed a major effort on managing and better understanding spring dead spot (SDS) of hybrid bermudagrass. We have written several articles in the Virginia Turfgrass Journal about the most effective ways to manage the disease over the last few years. Why such an emphasis on this one particular disease? Aesthetics are always an important part of properly maintained turfgrasses, but the most critical factor is how spring dead spot impacts the surface dynamics of the playing surface. More specifically, do these dead patches actually change the characteristics of a turfgrass playing surface enough to affect the playability of the field and safety of the athletes using these fields? We know that SDS disrupts the surface, but we have never taken a deep dive into how that impacts field uniformity until now.

Previous studies have reported numerous factors that influence an athlete’s interaction with either the ball or playing surface such as a field’s pitch, grass species, construction (native vs. sand capped soil), soil organic matter, soil texture, soil moisture, firmness, uniformity, and/ or cultural practices implemented by turfgrass managers. Each of these factors may have a positive or negative athlete interaction depending on how the athlete’s applied forces, either direct or indirect, respond to these variables. Athletes must commit to making swift decisions based on their anticipated response to the field’s surface or how a ball will roll/rebound across the field. When a sports field’s surface is inconsistent, detrimental injuries can materialize such as concussions or severe ligament injuries. To date, there have been no studies that address how turfgrass diseases compromise field playability.

Hybrid bermudagrass is one of the most widely used turfgrass species for sports field playing surfaces. Hybrid bermudagrasses grown in areas that experience winter dormancy (like Virginia) are susceptible to SDS. The pathogen causing SDS feeds on the bermudagrass’s stolons, rhizomes, and roots, weakening the plant as it approaches dormancy, leaving the grass vulnerable to winter injury. The results are SDS patches apparent at spring greenup (Figure 1). Observing these pitted areas are what stimulated the hypothesis that they could potentially compromise the field’s surface dynamics.

After some promising preliminary data collection in 2020, we initiated research to investigate SDS impacts on field conditions at the Dorey Park Recreation Center in Henrico, Virginia in May 2022. Data were collected from three SDS-infested ‘Tifway 419’ hybrid bermudagrass athletic fields grown on native soil. At each field location, 20 SDS patches were randomly selected and compared against asymptomatic areas directly adjacent. We collected data on a series of metrics with a focus here on ball rebound (BR), clegg hammer (CH), soil moisture (SM), and shear strength (SS). Additionally, we collected data using the Field Marshall (Figure 2) developed by Sports Labs (Chattanooga, TN) that measures surface firmness, vertical deformation, and energy restitution of a surface all in one tool.

Soil Moisture

We measured soil moisture in asymptomatic and diseased patches. Overall, soil moisture varied considerably by field location, with Field 8 being the wettest. Overall soil moisture may play a crucial role in player safety as it relates to field hardness and ground collision injuries. In our study, soil moisture was drier inside of spring dead spot patches in our study, regardless of field location. These effects were most evident in our wettest field. The influence of spring dead spot on soil moisture likely drives other metrics of field safety.

Figure 1. Spring Dead Spot on a ‘Tifway 419’ hybrid bermudagrass field in Richmond, Virginia in May 2022 showing the severe depression left behind during the spring green up period. Figure 2. The Field Marshall measures several metrics of field dynamics in one portable tool.

The Disease that is

By Ava Veith, Travis Roberson, Aaron Tucker, David McCall Ph.D. and Mike Goatley Ph.D.

Someof thelightestmowersintheirclass, our SL PrecisionCut™ and E-Cut Hybrid walk-behinds allow effortless turning and better engagement with the turf.

Our rough, trim and surrounds mowers greatly increase efficiency and trimming capability. From reels to rotary decks, we have you covered in the rough and surrounds.

Our new A-Model PrecisionCut and E-Cut Hybrid Fairway Mowers give you more control and better results, thanks to our revolutionary TechControl display.

Pate Kincaid - RegionalSalesManager (864) 419-6986

pkincaid@beardequipment.com

Tim Boles - TerritoryManager (770) 845-0610

tboles@beardequipment.com

Rick Henderson - TerritoryManager (864) 419-4907

rhenderson@beardequipment.com

beardequipment.com/golf

Ball Rebound

We tested ball rebound from 6.5ft above the surface in accordance with FIFA standards. Our data indicates that diseased areas were firmer than surrounding asymptomatic bermudagrass as vertical rebound was four inches higher within spring dead spot patches ( Figure 3 ). However, we did not see this dynamic with our Clegg Hammer data (not shown), another metric of surface firmness. Field location also impacted ball rebound ( Figure 4 ). Rebound was lowest on the field that was also the wettest, though more research is needed to confirm whether the two metrics are related. Our data alludes to variable ball rebound dynamics during game play in the presence of spring dead spot, with a potentially greater effect when fields are also wet. This non-uniformity in the field surface may impact athletes’ perception of ball bounce and overall performance.

Energy Restitution

Energy restitution is a measurement of energy being returned from the field surface back to the athlete. It is influenced by firmness and soil moisture, among other things. Essentially, a field with low energy restitution is similar to jumping on a trampoline with worn out springs. More energy is needed to accomplish the same task. This is an important metric to consider when discussing the implications of a surface that is either too firm or too soft. A surface too firm facilitates a higher speed of play, which encourages collisions between players as well as an increase of ground-contact injuries such as concussions or fractures. On the contrary, a surface that is too soft absorbs more energy, causing less of this energy to be returned to the player. This leads to an increased risk of ligament and other leg injuries due to the accelerated rate of player fatigue. Energy restitution was calculated by evaluating the difference between the energy of a falling mass (player) before and after collision with the ground surface using Sports Labs new

Figure 3. The influence of spring dead spot on ball rebound (BR) and soil moisture (SM) across three bermudagrass athletic fields, all locations. Figure 4. Mean separation of ball rebound (BR), Clegg hammer (CH), and soil moisture (SM) of all sampled locations for each ball field tested. Figure 5. Means of field location (FL) x Treatment for all three locations for energy restitution (ER) and shear strength (SS). Figure 6. Ball rebound device, suspending a soccer ball by a magnet to be released in a steady and consistent fashion. Figure 7. Rotational resistance device used to measure the force required to shear the playing surface and simulates an athlete’s rotational force of a cleat. Figure 8. Spectrum soil moisture TDR with 1.5” probes used to measure soil moisture for all sampled areas.

device dubbed The Field Marshal. Our results did not show a significance between field location or treatments alone, but an interaction affect. Overall, regardless of either SDS or H areas on locations did not have a significance except for SDS areas on F8 (Figure 5).

Shear Strength

The shear vane is meant to simulate a player’s rotational cleat force. It replicates the turfgrass’s ability to overcome the force generated by the athlete thus supporting their applied force as they change directions. In our study, we found that spring dead spot did not impact shear strength on two of three fields. However, shear strength was negatively impacted by spring dead spot on the wettest field tested, once again suggesting that soil moisture plays a prominent role in the extent of damage caused by spring dead spot. Our data suggests that athletes are more likely to slip in spring dead spot patches when the fields are wet. This higher likelihood of slipping could result in greater chances of sustaining ligament injuries though we have not tested this.

CONCLUSIONS

Spring dead spot will continue to be an important disease of bermudagrass on athletic fields and other recreational areas. We found several metrics to suggest that the disease has a negative impact on field uniformity. However, many of the differences we found are likely biologically insignificant in the real world. While we are just scratching the surface of how spring dead spot impacts player safety, soil moisture seems to guide the ship from what we have found to date. What we have found is that soil moisture magnifies many of the metrics associated with field uniformity in the presence of spring dead spot. We will continue to focus efforts on this in the future, as well as evaluate how other diseases with different symptomology impact player safety.

The Manager’s Dilemma

By Neal Glatt, GrowTheBench.com

"We

have a dilemma” is how one of my employees, ten days into managing her first direct report ever, started the conversation. The issue was that there were some concerns about the work her new employee, who started with the company only ten days previously, had just submitted. It wasn’t that the work was wrong or necessarily bad, but it was certainly a bit different than the typical work we do.

Much to my manager’s credit, she told me that she wanted to give feedback but was concerned about how it would be received. Should she encourage the initiative, excitement, and action of the new employee by accepting the work as it was submitted? Or should she enforce the quality standards of work at our company by correcting the new employee?

In fact, every manager faces this dilemma on the job. How can an employee’s engagement be increased while providing constructive criticism? A manager who picks one or the other usually has mediocre team prone to expensive employee turnover. Yet often trying to pick a middle-of-the-road approach leads to neither objective being realized.

There are three pitfalls managers are subject to which leads to this situation. By taking action, they can avoid the problem and engage high-performing employees who produce great work.

LACK OF TRAINING

The reason employees typically don’t perform to the standards expected is because they simply were never taught effectively. Training isn’t something that happens once but rather must be ongoing. The best organizations and teams realize that in a rapidly changing business environment there must be continuous learning from trainers who can add new value.

My first-time manager recognized this issue immediately and told me that while she had trained her new employee on how to technically create the work, she had been planning to have a conversation around the quality and specifics in the coming days. This absolutely explains why the work done wasn’t exactly what had been expected. More training would have prevented the dilemma in the first place.

LACK OF TIME

Unfortunately, the demand of most workers today is to do more work in less time. For both employees and managers, finding the time to adequately train while meeting all their other daily obligations is difficult. Yet by expecting production too soon, it leads to greater issues than extending deadlines would have. Most managers realize only when it’s too late that by not slowing down, they lose employee engagement and limit the potential of future production forever.

Our new employee was so excited to get started working that my first-time manager gave her the green light to get started. Yet if she had extended more time for the project, she could have easily allowed the new employee to create a draft and meet for a scheduled review discussion where feedback would have been expected and easily received. If those expectations were in place, and the time constraints lifted, she would not have landed in the current predicament.

LACK OF TRUST

The type of critical feedback that managers often want to deliver is never an issue when their employees trust them implicitly. People greatly care about the intentions of those who give them feedback and these intentions become known from competence, consistency, and character demonstrated throughout a relationship. Managers can build more trust through frequent and transparent conversations which back up consistency between values, intentions, and outcomes.

For my first-time manager, I could deliver a criticism via text with no negative engagement ramifications because there is a high level of trust built over years of working together. But her dilemma was caused because it’s impossible to have this level of confidence in another person after only ten days on the job. As a result, this issue became a true dilemma and navigating the conversation successfully required care and expertise.

In the end, my first-time manager succeeded in achieving both outcomes of employee engagement and high quality, a testament to her sharp intuition as well as the care she has for both the company and her direct report. But this result was only possible with much effort and time because the manager’s dilemma is not an easy one to navigate. Most of all, she learned a valuable lesson that will help her plan for the training, time, and trust, to avoid these situations in the future.

Neal Glatt is the Managing Partner of GrowTheBench, an online training platform for the green industry. You can learn more about him and his solutions at NealGlatt.com.

Blue

Chlorpyrifos

Chlorpyrifos

Mole

Latron

Snail

Soil

Soil

Soluble 30–7–14

Soluble 20–20–20 Spreader

Become a NC Certified Turfgrass Professional!

North Carolina Certified Turfgrass Professional (NCCTP) program is a comprehensive program developed to enhance the technical competency of turfgrass professionals, while elevating their professional image, that of your business and of the turfgrass management industry. Administered by the Turfgrass Council of North Carolina, the NCCTP designation confirms your expertise in turfgrass management to prospective customers and your peers.

Reasons to Begin Earning Your NCCTP Designation Today

The NCCTP program increases and enhances your turfgrass industry knowledge, career, and business development through a course of study of in-depth coverage of the science of turfgrass management.

The NCCTP designation offers immediate confidence and credibility of turfgrass management practices to customers and prospective employers.

Promote and market yourself as a North Carolina Certified Turfgrass Professional.

• Use the NCCTP logo on your business materials.

• Use NCCTP pins, uniform patches, and vehicle decals.

• Your TCNC Member Directory listing is distinguished with the NCCTP logo.

We Are Partnered With The NC State Turfgrass Professional Short Course

The NC State Turfgrass Professional Short Course, a comprehensive turfgrass education program, is offered at select NC State Extension offices and at NC State University. This Short Course offers a full curriculum of the science of turfgrass management as well as Continuing Education Credits for NCDACS Pesticide and NCLCLB Landscape Contractors’ license holders, and it will help you prepare for the NCCTP exam.

This Short Course is recommended but not required to take the NCCTP exam.

Enrollment Requirements:

Hold a current TCNC membership. If not currently a member, go to www.turfgrasscouncilnc.org and click ‘JOIN NOW’ to join online or download an application. Have a minimum of one full year of work experience in the turfgrass industry.

Agree to the Certified Turfgrass Professional Code of Ethics as detailed on the application form.

Submit:

• A current and valid NC Pesticide Applicators license

• A completed NCCTP application (current TCNC members may apply online).

• NCCTP Program Application: $150

• Self-Study Materials: $50

• Exam Fee: $50

Curriculum and Exam:

Curriculum covers nine core areas: Turfgrass Characteristics; Establishing Turfgrass; Soils & Nutrient Management; Cultural Practices; Pests & Integrated Pest Management; Pesticides & Plant Growth Regulators; Landscape Safety & Pesticide Use; Calculations & Calibration; Turfgrass Business & Economics.

Candidates have six months from the date of their enrollment acceptance to complete the NCCTP exam. Candidates have six hours to complete the exam and must score 80% or more on each section to receive the NCCTP designation.

Exams can be taken at the TCNC office in Raleigh during normal business hours, or arrangements can be made at your local NC State Extension location.

Exams will not be graded if any application information is missing or if TCNC membership status cannot be confirmed. Please allow two to three weeks for exam grading and reports.

Upon successful completion of the exam, candidates will receive communication with their results and either next step options or their graduation packet.

Maintenance Requirements:

Maintain a current TCNC membership as a means of demonstrating ongoing support for the industry. Submit an annual $50 renewal fee, which supports the NCCTP program and related promotional activities. Designation year is the same as the TCNC membership year, from July 1st to June 30th.

Hold a current NC Pesticide Applicator’s License. Subscribe to, actively support and uphold the TCNC Certification Code of Ethics.

The NC Certified Turfgrass Professional designation (NCCTP), the NCCTP logo and related programs materials are the trademarked property of the Turfgrass Council of North Carolina and cannot be used without TCNC’s written permission.

For additional information, contact TCNC at 984.301.6450.

NCCTP Certification Program ENROLLMENT APPLICATION

QUALIFICATIONS / REQUIREMENTS

Please read the items below and check each one that is true for you.

MEMBERSHIP: I am now, or I am applying here to be, a member in good standing of the Turfgrass Council of North Carolina.

PESTICIDE LICENSE: I hold a current North Carolina Pesticide Ground Applicator License with subclass L, turf, and ornamental (or equivalent from another state).

EXPERIENCE: I have completed a minimum of one full year of turfgrass industry professional work experience.

EXAM: Upon acceptance into the program, I plan to complete my study and take the required exam within six months.

DUTY: I have initialed the following page of this application to show that I strongly support and willingly subscribe to the Certified Turfgrass Professional Code of Ethics, and I pledge to uphold the credibility and integrity of the program.

CONTINUING EDUCATION: I agree to successfully complete additional future curriculum materials or sections that may be required as a result of new technology or regulation.

Describe your turfgrass industry professional work experience; one full year is required to apply.

NCCTP Application Fee: $150, Study Materials: $50, Exam Fee: $50, TCNC Dues (call for amount, based on date)

Check Number__________________ (payable to TCNC)

TOTAL $

Credit Card: AMEX Visa MC Discover Billing Zip Code

Credit Card # Exp. Date Sec Code

Name on Card Signature

By signing this application, I verify that all the information is true and correct, I acknowledge and assume full responsibility for the charges on this application, and I agree to honor and abide by the terms of this non-refundable payment.

CODE OF ETHICS

Please read and initial each section below that you support and commit to uphold.

DUTY TO THE PUBLIC

Conduct service first and foremost with regards to the safety, health, and welfare of the general public. Provide service, recommendations, and information based upon honest experience, and scientifically accurate and factual knowledge. I AGREE

I AGREE

DUTY TO THE ENVIRONMENT

Operate in such a manner to protect and preserve our environment. Use and monitor all equipment, products, and materials in a manner consistent with the label and safe for the environment.

DUTY TO THE LAWS OF OUR LAND

Abide by all laws and regulations affecting the turf industry and support the enforcement of these laws.

DUTY TO OUR FELLOW PROFESSIONALS

Refrain from the use of false, misleading, or deceptive marketing and advertising practices. Practice and insist upon sound business management practices. Maintain the highest standard of personal conduct to reflect credit and add stature to the turf industry. Recognize the importance of strong relationships within the industry. Abstain from untruthful debasement, or encroachment upon, the professional reputation or practice of another turfgrass professional.

DUTY TO THE ASSOCIATION

Participate in association activities and events to help further the profession. Abstain from any unfair exploitation of my association, industry, or profession.

By signing this Code of Ethics, I agree to follow the duties and intentions outlined above, and I commit to supporting and upholding these ethics with consistency and integrity.

Printed Name

Signature Date

Please Return Entire NCCTP Application To TCNC Via: email: info@turfgrasscouncilnc.org fax: 919.459.2075 or mail: TCNC, P.O. Box 641, Wake Forest, NC 27588

Hunter Bryant Thompson Landscape Company

Highlands, NC

William Keep Living Oaks Landscaping Virginia Beach, VA

Tyler Sutton Falling Creek Country Club Kinston, NC

John E Swicegood Just My Style Landscape Services, Inc. Willow Spring, NC

Isaiah Wells Thompson Landscape Company, Inc.

Highlands, NC

Calendar